At first light in the day, when Lincoln Broadsheet was finally going to bed after spending the night watching the pub across the street from his window, the phone rang.
An unexpected call from the military base requesting his presence?
"Can I ask what this is about?" Lincoln asked with some concern.
The voice on the other end of the line was vague. They assured Lincoln that everything would be explained upon his arrival at the base.
"This is General Grunt, and there's nothing to worry about. We just need you here for a little conversation. You'll be fully briefed when you arrive."
The Strangetown Military Base 47 was situated in the most remote area of the city, at the base of a colossal crater.
Lincoln Broadsheet entered the base's conference room, where General Grunt with two colleagues were waiting for him.
General Chester greeted him with a firm handshake. "Mr. Broadsheet, nice to finally meet you. We have a task for you. Take a seat."
"We've called you to a specific article," General Luger began. "We want you to write an article about a local boy named Johnny Smith. He's half-alien, with green skin. This article should be about his school and sports achievements. It is not necessary to write something worthy of the Pulitzer Prize."
Lincoln nodded.
"We want this article to be positive, painting Johnny in a favorable light," General Chester added. "We believe that there may be other aliens in... Well, somewhere. This article could potentially draw them out."
Lincoln had mixed feelings about the assignment. A part of him cringed at the thought of using a teenager's alien heritage for military purposes, but how not to feel honored to have been chosen to write it?
After a moment of contemplation, Lincoln took a deep breath.
"I understand the importance of this article for you, gentlemen. I'll do my best to write a positive piece about this Johnny Smith. But if I'm going to portray him in a favorable light, I'd like to interview him personally."
General Grunt nodded in agreement with Lincoln's request.
"Very well," he said. "You are free to interview the young Smith. But remember this, Mr. Broadsheet: the true objective of this interview must not be revealed to anyone. There will be severe consequences for you if our real intentions become public knowledge."
Jenny Smith sat at the kitchen table with Johnny and the journalist.
Lincon Broadsheet closed his notebook smiling at Johnny.
"Well, I think I've got everything I need for my article. Thanks for the interview, Johnny."
"No problem, Mr. Lincoln. It was fun chatting with you."
Suddenly, the door opened, and Johnny's father, Mr. Smith, walked into the room.
"Ah, you must be Lincoln Broadsheet, the journalist," said Mr. Smith, spoking in a slightly high-pitched, yet strangely gentle voice. "How nice to meet you."
Lincoln stood up to shake his hand, and taking all his courage he asked
"Mr. Smith, could you too talk with me for a moment, please?"
As Johnny reached his little sister Jill, to brag about the experience he had just had, Lincoln and Mr Smith headed to the other room.
"It’s hard to explain why, but I would like to know, Mr Smith, if there are other alien families near our city" Lincoln asked.
Mr Smith lost his friendly smile and became very serious.
"Why are you asking? Who..."
"Mr Smith," Lincoln said, "don’t ask me to go into detail, please. I have to think about my safety first. But I have a conscience, and if I didn’t try to do the right thing, I wouldn’t have any respect for my self"
Lincoln tried to swallow, but his mouth was dry.
"I have reason to believe that... "Base 47" is planning something. Something against your... species."
