"Great!" Mike grinned. "I needed that news! Thanks, Doc! And thanks to the rest of
you for your support in regards to my test today. I'm grateful for the patience you've had with me while I've been working here and had to do my share in the lab. And Jeanie, that especially goes to you. I apologize for giving you the wrong idea, but we decided to make the shield a surprise to cheer you people up; raise your moral a little!"
"It sure worked!" Jeanie replied, hugging him. "Now we have a small margin of hope for the future, anyway! Oh, Mike, I just know you'll do the job! I'll just be glad when it's over!"
"Me too, darlin', me too," Mike sincerely said.
In fifteen minutes after the praises from his co-workers were done, Mike lay on his sofa just dozing off for a nap. He'd just gotten fully to sleep when he was startled awake by a presence he felt in the room. It was like someone was watching him; someone that was not human, but not a spirit, either.
"Jeanie, is that you?" he called, thinking she'd come home early to check on him. As he sat up slowly, shaking his head, Mike noticed a small form beginning to take shape as his vision cleared. He couldn't believe what he finally saw! Between him and the table stood a little, brown-skinned man dressed in a shiny blue garment that had the appearance of a space suit, and a uniform combined. He was about two-and-a-half-feet tall, and looked like a human male, except for the fact he had large, black eyes which took up most of his face, and a small nose. His mouth was very thin, with almost no lips, and he had no visible ears. From what Mike could see under his helmet he was bald. The man's arms and legs were terribly thin. He had less than five fingers and wore white gloves. Mike knew this wasn't a being from Earth, if such a thing was possible.
"Who are you? What do you want? How did you get in here?" Mike shouted.
"Where origin place?" the little man asked in a thin, high voice.
"What do you mean? You didn't answer my question. Who are you?"
"Where origin place?" the stranger repeated. "I must know. Is this origin place?"
"I....I don't understand what you mean. What do you want with me?"
"Name not important, but mission here is. If this is not your origin place, you will be in grave danger of being terminated by my people."
"Why? Who are your people?" Mike was getting more upset by the minute by the stranger's elusive replies. He thought a moment, then said, "I am from this planet, if that's what you mean."
"I do not know whether to believe you," the man said. "After what I witnessed you do today. Now tell me the truth. Is this origin place?"
"Yes!" Mike yelled. "I was born right here in The United States Of America, my mother was killed and later I moved here. Will you please tell me what the hell you're doing here, and why I am in danger?"