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above.
    “We got to do this,” Bubba said.
    Collin’s nod was subtle. He didn’t like it. But one thing was clear: these weren’t normal times. Their very survival depended on doing things they weren’t remotely comfortable with.
    Collin stood, aimed his MK5, and fired two rounds at a point near the alien’s feet. Startled, the alien crouched down and spun on his heels. He noticed the three humans—each pointing a weapon at him.
    Collin rushed forward. “Walk with me, spread out to the sides.”
    The furry alien stayed perfectly still, his eyes moved between the three—eventually settling on Collin.
    “Now what, Frost?” Bubba said.
    “Um … I guess we try to communicate with him.” Collin gestured with the muzzle of his rifle for the alien to rise up. He did so, slowly—standing up to his full height, several inches below Collin’s own.
    Taking care not to make any abrupt movements, the creature pointed to something around his neck—some kind of device. The three teens raised their weapons in unison. He shook his head and raised his palms. He tapped at it with a series of quick finger movements and then spoke. “I am no danger to you. I am not your enemy.”
     

Chapter 11
     
     
    The alien’s accent was thick and his voice sounded raspy. “My name is …” He hesitated, as if trying to think of the proper way to say it. “My name is Cine.”
    The three boys exchanged glances. Collin said, “What are you doing here?”
    Cine gestured toward the ship: “I am trying to get this broken-down heap into the air … to get off this collector ship.”
    Up close, Collin saw that Cine was more cat-like than wolf- or dog-like. His teeth were small and sharp and he had ears, which continually twitched, that stood straight up on the top of his head.
    “Looked like all you were doing was crashing the thing,” DiMaggio said.
    “Is it your ship?” Collin asked.
    “As much mine as anyone’s. What’s left of my ship is a hundred feet below us, in multiple pieces. Thanks to the Notares and this collector … what’s called a sim rover … I’ve been marooned here for weeks.”
    “The Notares?”
    “The beings that sent this ship to both your planet and mine.”
    “And it was you that I saw down below,” Collin said, more of a statement than a question.
    “Yes, that was me. I was looking for food. Much of my time is spent looking for food.”
    “Wait … How do you know about the Notares?” Collin asked, suddenly suspicious.
    “The Notares began invading my home world several years ago. We’ve learned much about those people, humanoids like you, over time.”
    Collin took a step toward the little ship. “There room in that vessel for all of us?”
    The cat-like man scratched at his chin. “Yes. There’s more than enough room. But, as you saw, it’s not operational. It’s never getting us out into space.”
    “So you’re giving up?”
    “This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to put that ship into the air,” Cine said. “It’s time to give up. Don’t put your hopes on that ancient wreck.”
    Bubba stared down at the furry man. “Just because you failed doesn’t mean we will.”
    “And why is that?” Cine asked back, looking resigned in defeat.
    Bubba looked at DiMaggio, then at Collin, and then back to Cine. “Because we’re Texans … because we’re Lone Stars.”
    Maybe because he was only the kicker—had limited time on the field—but in all the time he’d played on the team, he’d never gotten pulled into the whole rah-rah team-spirit thing. It wasn’t because the Middleton High School Lone Stars were a sub-par team; they almost always won. But right now, listening to Bubba’s deep baritone—the pride in his voice—Collin finally got it.
    “Show us the ship,” Collin said.
    Cine looked like he was going to resist. Bubba stood up a bit taller and looked even meaner than normal.
    “Follow me,” Cine said, taking the lead toward the battered old ship.
    DiMaggio leaned