Entry For Deck Log 4-10AR Abbreviated Report: The Alien Vagabonds

Three of the smaller aliens had passed through the airlock before the alarm went off. The Captain yelled to abort the transfer and get the remaining aliens back inside their shuttle. The airlock had malfunctioned.

The Yardmaster gladly shouted, "Prepare for emergency separation." Just a few minutes earlier he had cursed the Captain for picking up these migrant aliens, "Damn it, we can't pick up every drifting alien in this quadrant; these vagabonds are not our problem."

"We can't let them perish," replied the Captain.

"The bastards have blue skin and stink like sulfur, they are not like us," said the Yardmaster. He stared through the window at the five gentle creatures. They looked starved and defenseless.

"Begin separation protocol," said the Captain.

"Gladly," replied the Yardmaster.

He had never seen this species of alien before. One was holding a baby and gently passed it to another. It then stood in front of the Yardmaster and looked at the three smaller aliens. They held their arms towards each other and purred. The Yardmaster realized this was a family with strong affections.

The aliens moved towards their shuttle. Two walked very slowly and had wrinkly skin. The other ones gently helped them along. Then they paused and looked back. Liquid blue drops came out from their ears and rolled down their long necks.

The Yardmaster watched intently. Something stirred inside of him. He realized he had misjudged them and had rejected them solely on idiotic rumors. He could see they weren't monsters with fangs, stories made up by people like him who had never met one before.

He stared through the window.

The Captain yelled, "Begin separation."

They will be dead in a few minutes thought the Yardmaster.

The Captain yelled, "Let’s GO."

The alien baby looked directly at the Yardmaster with large blue toned eyes; it lifted a hand towards him. "Please, don't do that," said the Yardmaster.

The Captain screamed, "Get moving."

The Yardmaster paused and then began a flurry of action. "I have an idea," he hollered.

"It's too late," said the Captain.

"No, give me a minute," pleaded the Yardmaster.

The Yardmaster opened the side panels and began a calibration sequence. The five aliens stepped into their shuttle.

The Captain was in a panic.

The Yardmaster shouted, "Stop, STOP, I fixed ......" At that moment, there was a whish sound and the ship shuddered. The Yardmaster looked through the window. The back of the airlock was open and he could see the shuttle powerlessly drifting away toward the planet below.

He saw one of the aliens looking at him through the shuttle window.

The Yardmaster sat down. Why didn't he move sooner? Why had he wasted time being so critical of the aliens? He could have fixed the airlock. Then, he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. The three smaller aliens gazed at him and leaned kindly against him. He lowered his head and cried.

Moments later a small explosion was recorded near the mother ship.