" Where are we?"
Timmy asked while looking excited in his oversized spacesuit because of his small stature.
Timmy was a brilliant 7-year-old boy. That's why he had been chosen for the space mission of collecting materials necessary for the human species to continue living because planet earth had run out of resources.
"Calm down, Timmy; we're getting to the next planet of extraction." Draden, a lizard-like man, of the Arnada race, from a planet close to Earth, Reassured him.
"I am closer to the place right now; I have seen in my biomechanical panel the existence of more resistant minerals than there may be on Earth," Timmy Spoke fast.
"Maybe there is a relative of mine," Anna a perfect spherical rock, which levitated and moved freely with a smooth and soft bluish dial, as if it had been polished, without mouth or eyes, yet she shines with a small golden flash when she speaks commented mockingly.
"I don't think so; it's a new planet." Draden sneered.
Timmy rolled up the sleeves of his spacesuit and grabbed his suit by the neck so he could poke his head out. "I need samples of all the materials on the planet!" He said excitedly.
"We've arrived, let's go out to collect." Said Draden with an expression depicting seriousness.
"Rolling!" Anna continued.
"There are rocks and minerals of all kinds here!" Timmy reflected While moving far away from the group.
"look at that..." said Anna "This one has a composition similar to mine." She pointed to one rock lying at the feet of Draden.
"Really?" Draden, bent over to check the rock's composition with the biomechanical panel of his spacesuit.
"Look, Timmy, this rock shines like Anna." Draden Laughed as he turned around to see if Timmy had seen the discovery.
"Anna, where is Timmy?" A hint of worry trembled in Draden voice as he couldn't see him anywhere around.
"I thought he was here," Anna replied.
Timmy had advanced with such great excitement that he separated from the group, leaving himself alone in the middle of a stony and unknown terrain.
"I'll read this rock with my panel; I will call my discovery TM2." Timmy thought aloud, approaching a bizarre glowing rock that increases its glowing as Timmy gets closer.
Timmy touched the rock, and an electric shock ran through his body. "What was that?" Timmy reacted with a scary expression. "It hasn't hurt...but it was terrifying... I will take the sample and return to the ship..." Timmy did not give much regard to his words. He stood from the ground and began to move.
"Where is this stupid boy...Timmy... Timmy ?" Draden and Anna were mainly concerned about his safety. They called the boy for long, nerve-wracking minutes without a response.
"Look, there he comes," Anna said with relief and excitement written over her at the sight of the approaching child.
"Guys, I found many types of rocks. One of them was shining." Timmy was cheerful as he did not know the drama his friends endured and was unaware of the time that had passed.
I think we have already collected enough materials to study." said Draden. " I'm worried you will separate from us again. As much as you are brilliant, you're still a small and irresponsible child. We are on an unknown planet. Something might have happened to you." Said Draden, feeling relieved yet very angry at Timmy.
"Don't worry, I'm fine, and I know what I am doing." Timmy couldn't quite figure out the drama. He doesn't understand why they are so worried about him.
"Come on, let's get into the ship and return to Earth." Anna hurried them up as they all entered the ship and took off.
"I see you've found many materials." Said Draden after he calmed himself down. "Help me take them to the cold room."
"Yes," Timmy answered.
Upon returning, they saw Anna on her seat.
"Is the route set correct, Anna?" Draden asked
"Yes sir, coordinates 2378-1 established, in quadrant 93, address: Earth," Anna answered very specific and adequately.
"93...93... 93..." A repeated voice came out from the entrance door area of the spacecraft.
"What..." The three responded out of surprise as they quickly turned towards the direction of the voice.
The voice belonged to an old man sitting there at the entrance looking so innocent and confused.
"Who are you?" Timmy asked, looking surprised and frightened at the same time.
"Don't get close to him. We don't know where he came from." Said Draden has he stopped Timmy with his hand.
"93... hahaha... " The old man repeated as he sat on the floor, laughing and pointing towards Anna's direction.
"Who is he...Where did he come from...?" Anna asked
"I don't know, but he is looking like a human," Draden responded.
"He's wearing the same space suit like ours." he went announcing as he kept pointed toward the whacky old man.
"Poor, sir. Are you okay?" Timmy approached the old man. He ignored the warning of Draden and touched the old man's shoulder. An electric shock ran through his body again, and he fell to the floor.
"Are you okay" Draden and Anna hurried towards him and helped him get up from the floor.
"What was that?" Draden freaked out.
"I don't know, but it's the same shock I experienced after touching one of the rocks I came across on that planet." Said Timmy.
"Planet... planet..." The old man repeated and pointed at Timmy.
"Do you think he was lost on that planet... and then got on our ship when we were out?" Anna asked while feeling sorry for the confused old man. Draden thought it is possible, but he asked how the man has the same suit they are wearing.
"Poor man. Where is he from? What planet? where is his home?" Timmy kept wondering.
"Home...home..." the old man repeated.
"Maybe he's from the Earth." Anna Tried guessing as she carefully tried to touch the old man with a little fear of electrocution because of Timmy's experience.
"We can check it when we get home," Draden concluded.
"Look... his glove has the same spots as mine, it even has the same location I picked up the rocks."
"The same, the same." Repeated, the old man while smiling and nodding his head in confirmation of Timmy's words.
Upon arrival on Earth, doctors received the space crew for each space trip's routine medical check-up.
"Rock-A crew." the doctor Indicates while mentioning Anna, Draden, and Timmy.
"We come accompanied," Timmy said while holding the old man's hand. Everyone realized that the old man was no longer electrifying since Timmy could hold him.
"We will do the corresponding tests to know if he is a human and if he does belong to the earth, but, for now, he will be in quarantine." The doctor said with full determination.
"Quarantine, quarantine." Repeated the old man looking frightened as the three companions were separated from the old man and led to the infirmary waiting room.
"Do you think it's a new alien race?" Anna asked her friends.
"Apparently, he looks like a human, but you're right, it could be a race that is not from planet Earth," Draden answered.
"He was a good man," Timmy thought aloud.
"What are you saying?" Said Draden. "You don't even know him..."
"I feel like I knew him...I felt the same as I feel about my grandfather." Timmy spoke with his head lowered when he remembered his beloved grandfather.
"What is this electric current when I touched him and the rock on that planet..." Timmy continued
"Maybe you found your long lost relative on that planet, hahaha." Anna joked.
At that moment, the doctor accompanied by a military officer and the old man entered the room.
"We have the results." Said the doctor.
"The specimen is from an unknown origin, but it has the same DNA as Timmy."
"What..." The three were stunned.
"Is he a relative to me like a grandfather or something?" Timmy was confused.
"Or your great-great-grandfather lost in space, hahaha." Anna joked again.
"No, Timmy, actually, it is you." The doctor Answered, looking at Timmy with a serious countenance.
"Me? How can it be me?" Asked Timmy.
"Well, it's a kind of clone form your DNA...an older version of you. Just like you." Said the Doctor.
"That rock, that electricity..." Whispered Timmy.
"It doesn't pose a danger..." said the doctor.
"No danger for Timmy..." the old man spoke.
"We decided to call him Gail..." The doctor smiled as he looked at the old man.
"Gail..yes..." the old man Gail nodded his head in agreement.
"And... Gail has been assigned as your new partner in the Rock-A ship staff." The military officer commanded.
"Why...?" The three asked in surprise.
"You all will return to the planet with Gail... you Timmy discovered something amazing... only Gail can bring it safely without duplicating again.
A hard feeling kicked in the three friend's stomachs as they looked at Gail.
"only Gail..." The old man smiled slyly
THE END
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