It had been a busy few weeks for Jahv and his friends. First off, Niklas had brought Jason and Fabian out to meet Jahv and Keyro. That had been more difficult for Niklas than he had thought. He'd never kept secrets from his friends, but he had kept silent about Jahv and Keyro. So he hadn't been sure how to bring up the subject.

One morning, both Jason and Fabian had come to Niklas' house, just as Mrs. Edlund was taking Tina shopping. "Niklas is asleep, boys, but I'd appreciate it if you'd get him up, anyway. I don't want him sleeping the summer away." As usual during the summer months, Niklas had slept late. Jason and Fabian stood over the bed wondering what the best — and most amusing — means of awakening their friend might be.

"Water balloon?" suggested Fabian quietly.

Jason shook his head. "Did that three weeks ago, remember? And his mom got upset about the damp sheets. What if we just yank the covers off?"

Fabian frowned. "Look at him. Dead to the world. I don't think he'd notice. Yank his shorts off?"

Jason giggled. "That'd be fun, but I'm not sure he'd notice THAT, either. What if we jumped on the bed?"

"We did that four weeks ago, and I didn't like the way the frame squeaked." said Fabian. "I don't want to have to explain a collapsed bed."

Jason looked serious. "You know, no one else is home. That does expand our options somewhat."

"I can't believe he hasn't woke up with us just standing here talking." remarked Fabian. "What's it going to take?"

"Okay, let's try part of one of your ideas." said Jason. "We yank his shorts off, and if that doesn't work, we pick him up, and if he's still not awake, we put him in the shower and hit the cold water."

"You're suggesting that we throw him in the shower, without his shorts but with his shirt, sound asleep, and nail him with a cold shower?" said Fabian. "That is a hideously evil concept. I love it. Now I hope he DOESN'T wake up."

The two boys carefully drew back the tangled covers. Niklas twitched but was still sound asleep, flat on his tummy and with his legs outstretched. "Well, step two should be easy enough." remarked Jason.

The boys each grabbed one leg of the lightweight shorts Niklas had worn to bed and pulled. The shorts slid off, but Niklas was still asleep. "I don't believe this!" whispered Fabian. "I've never seen him sleep like this!"

"What do we do if the shower doesn't work?" asked Jason.

"Check him for a pulse." replied Fabian.

"Bet he wakes up when we start to carry him." said Jason, who grabbed Niklas' legs. Fabian slipped his hands under Niklas' arms and lifted. Niklas remained asleep. The two boys carried Niklas into the bathroom, but the youngster gave no sign of waking up.

"Unbelievable." said Jason, as they gently leaned Niklas against the wall of the shower opposite the nozzle itself. "Well, this HAS to do it. Set that thing as far to cold as possible, and turn it on full blast at the count of three."

"Aye-aye, sir!" replied Fabian, adjusting the shower controls and making sure the nozzle was pointed directly at Niklas.

"Ready?" asked Jason. Fabian nodded. "One — two — thr…"

"Three!" yelled Niklas, instantly alert even as Fabian turned on the shower. Niklas grabbed his two friends by their shirt collars and dragged them into the shower, drenching all three of them in freezing cold water. Niklas was laughing and shrieking at the same time. Fabian and Jason were just shrieking. Fabian finally deactivated the shower, and the boys climbed out of the shower enclosure.

"All right, WHEN?!" asked Fabian, shaking water out of his hair and wringing out his shirt.

"I think it was when you said 'water balloon'." answered Niklas.

"You were awake ALL that time?!" exclaimed Jason.

Niklas grinned. "I just wanted to see what you guys would come up with."

Fabian rolled his eyes. "And I thought WE were being sneaky." The group headed back to Niklas' room, whereupon Niklas pulled on a T-shirt and some jeans.

"So, any ideas on how to spend the day?" asked Jason of no one in particular.

"Yeah, actually, I do." said Niklas. "There's something I need to show you guys out by that pond near where Davy lives."

Fabian raised an eyebrow. "You been keeping secrets, Niklas?"

Niklas sat down on his bed, and frowned. "Yeah, guys, I have, and I'm sorry. But the only reason I did was because you weren't out there when it happened, and what's out there is so weird that if too many people know about it, it could be dangerous."

"Dangerous?" asked Jason. "What do you mean? What's out there?"

"This is going to sound pretty crazy, guys." said Niklas.

"Tell us." said Fabian, more curious than angry at whatever Niklas had kept from them.

Niklas related the entire story. How he and Davy had been playing in the pond on one of the many insufferably hot days this summer had produced, and how there had been a bright light and a blast of sound, that had dropped a young alien boy whose name was best pronounced «Jahv» into their midst, and how later, a second, younger alien, Jahv's brother Keyro, had also arrived. Niklas told them about the hidden tent-dome, and everything Jahv and Keyro had been up to since then, mostly with Davy, Martin, and Keith.

"Keith and Martin know about these — aliens, too?" asked Fabian.

"Davy introduced them." said Niklas. "You know how tight those three are."

"It would explain some of the stuff you guys have been up to this summer." said Jason. "Fishing around for computer parts a while back. Keith getting more time away from his stepfather. And those military vehicles around here a while back."

"So why tell us now?" asked Fabian. "I mean, I'm glad you did, and I kinda understand why you couldn't before, but — why now?"

"They want to meet more people." said Niklas. "So you believe me?"

"Hey, we've promised to always tell each other the truth, right?" stated Jason.

"All right!" said Niklas. "Then let's go!"

It was a long bike ride out to the pond, but the three boys were there by late morning. They dropped their bikes, and Niklas started looking for where the tent-dome was. If you knew that it was out there, and had a general idea of where it was supposed to be, you could sort of find it.

Jason and Fabian held back. "What do you think?" asked Jason.

"I'm not sure what to think." replied Fabian. "Truth is one thing. Story-telling is something else. But there HAVE been some weird events around here recently. And why come all the way out here just to pull a prank?"

"I don't believe in aliens." said Jason. "I'm going to have to see this to believe it."

Niklas found the edge of the tent, and pulled the door aside. To Jason and Fabian, both suddenly astonished, it looked as thought Niklas had just ripped a hole in the open air, and there was something beyond it.

"Jahv!" called Niklas. "You in there? Got someone I want you and Keyro to meet."

Seconds later, Jahv and Keyro emerged, naked as usual. But that made their appearance that much more surprising to Jason and Fabian. A lot could be done with face paint and fancy uniforms, but here were two boys, one green, the other lavendar, with white, feathery hair, huge eyes, antennae on their heads, and no clothes.

"About that belief of yours…" said Fabian.

"Never mind." said Jason.

Niklas grinned, and made introductions all around. Jason and Fabian took distinct note that Jahv and Keyro only had four fingers per hand, instead of five. Jason seemed fascinated by their antennae. He reached up to Jahv, who flinched. Jason suddenly realized he was being impolite. "May I —?" he asked.