Awakening: The First Tale of the Trine (Trine Series Book 1) by D.B. West

simply sat there, occasionally closing its eyes as though resting.
    Once the equipment was in place, the guards motioned for the alien to take a seat at the table they had arranged, then backed into the airlock together before sealing the door. The alien stood by the chair, but continued to watch the airlock, as though expecting someone else to come in. Concerned that the alien may have misunderstood their intent, Director Spencer prepared to send them back in, when the airlock door opened again. At the same moment, the lean young technician Director Spencer had sent out earlier burst back into the observation room, still wearing his hazmat suit.
    Director Spencer watched aghast as the huge dog bound into the quarantine room, just as the technician pulled off his helmet in the observatory. “Sir,” the tech said in a panicked voice. “We have a problem.”
    Director Spencer sat down at the observation room monitor, and began the feed to the video conferencing equipment. Waving his team to silence, he watched the blue armored alien hug the dog’s neck. The animal’s tail was wagging furiously in a familiar gesture of greeting.
    Seeing that the video feed was working, Director Spencer activated the microphone nearby. “I am FBI Director Nathan Spencer,” he said formally. “Can you see and hear me?”
    The two aliens moved to the camera and screen set up on the table. “Director Spencer,” the white-haired humanoid said. “I asked my companion to rejoin me so that we might better aid you through this process. Please, let us introduce ourselves formally. I will then attempt to answer any questions I can.” Adjusting the camera on his end, the alien brought both he and the canine into frame. “We are called Oraki,” it said. “I am Orak, and this is my kazir , whose name is Aki.” His English was flawless, but delivered in a gravelly, mechanical voice through his armored mask.
    The Director and his team gathered in the observation room sat stunned as the dog opened its mouth and said in a high, clear voice, “While we truly regret the situation that led to this meeting, know that we are pleased to speak with your species, and look forward to guiding you through the collision of our races.”
    “I told you we have a problem,” the young technician said to the Director, before being waved to silence.
    The two aliens sat quietly while they waited for their audience to process what had just happened. Director Spencer sat stone-faced, glaring at the screen. Finally, he said, “Let’s start from the beginning. What are you?”
    The two aliens stared at each other for a long moment, as though this was a particularly difficult question. Taking a deep breath, Orak said, “We are two members of what is called a Trine. I am the originator, and Aki is my second. My third is named Kio. Collectively we are called ‘Orakio’. A Trine is a network of souls bonded together through a ritual known to my people.”
    Director Spencer simply continued to stare unblinking at the screen. Aki raised a paw and placed it on Orak before he could continue. “I believe his question was a bit more basic. Allow me, please. Orak is an Elv, born on the planet Elva. His race is known as the Elvahn.”
    “An Elf?” the Director asked incredulously.
    “An Elv, ” Orak growled. “Your people have been bastardizing the name since the first time we met.”
    “The first time?” Director Spencer repeated slowly. “You’ve been here on Earth before?”
    “Yes,” Aki interjected. “And that is likely the best place to begin. We were not the first to discover your world. To the best of our knowledge, you were first found millennia ago by a race your kind named the ‘Abbadon.’ The Elvahn were at war with them, and when they discovered that the Abbadon had invaded your world, they came here as well to protect your species from destruction.”
    “I know that word,” Director Spencer said, holding up a hand to stop Aki. “It’s Hebrew,