"We observed what happened to your planet. When we saw ships approaching our planet, we were ordered to stay underground. They want nothing to do with you. That thing," Mart continued, "Is a Shift. It's a wild animal; there is nothing sentient about it. It takes the form of another creature and becomes linked with it. I'm not gonna do that cause I'm not a total barbarian." Mart ticked off each point with her fingers.
"Okay then." James says putting away his gun. "You seem docile, so I think it's okay guys." He says to Aza and Alley. "Can we offer you anything to eat or drink while you explain more? I have lots of questions if you don't mind answering them?"
"I highly doubt you have anything I could consume." Alley slowly lowered her gun, still suspicious.
"Oh you'd be surprised, Mart. We have plenty of food on the ship. Are you vegan or something?" James asks, heading out the freezer door.
"No. Unfortunately, I cannot consume Earthian food. I survive by consuming different minerals. I prefer iron and gold, but they're delicacies for a reason."
"Man, that kind of sucks, but to each their own. I know there's some people on Earth who sprinkle gold flakes in their food but that kind of seemed like a waste of gold." James says to Mart. "Do you drink water or milk or anything? I just want to make sure you're good before we ask questions."
"Oh I can probably summon minerals," Aza said and flicked her wrists. Twin chunks of gold appeared in her hands. "Here you are, strange alien," she said and handed Mart the gold.
Mart shook her head again.
"We don't have those on Mars, and it would harm me."
Mart gratefully accepted the gold, popping one into her mouth. She chewed, eyes closed in happiness.
James looked a little perplexed, but he brushed it off. "Mart, if you all (aliens) knew about our planet, why didn't you ever stop by? I mean, I've watched Ancient Aliens, but that seems exaggerated."
Mart hesitated for a moment.
"Well… when we first discovered life on Earth, our higher ups covered it up as well, saying there was too much water for anything to survive. However, they were no longer able to keep this secret. For several years, there was a period of mass hysteria. Strict laws were passed that no contact be made, so that the same would not happen on your planet."
"I see. And-" James was interrupted by a deep electronic hum and the lights shutting off. "Oh no…" He murmured.
Aza uttered a chirping sort of laugh and held up her hands. The lights flickered back on.
James nodded in thanks. The ship suddenly took a dive down, and then straightened. "Someone's at the helm!" James said while realizing it. "I have to go-" He was interrupted by someone turning on zero gravity.
Feet coming off the ground, James was weightless.
Aza floated momentarily but used the magnetism to pull herself back down. "Be careful, James!"
Alley pointed her gun at Mart again. Both of them were floating.
"Who the hell did you bring with you?!" Alley nearly screamed.
"No one, I swear!" Mart put her hands up, which sent her spinning around.
"Don't kill her, Alley, just detain her. Mart may turn out to be a friend," James suggested, kicking off the wall to gain momentum.