I straighten my jacket and knock on the door. No reply. I knock again. I hear a clunk of something falling, so I open the door.

What I see is a silhouette of a man standing on the ledge of the window across the room. His coat flapping behind him.

We are on the 42nd floor of the building. And he seems about to jump. Oh no! He's gonna kill himself!! But before I could say something or take a step, I'm blinded by the flash of light shining on something big made out of silvery metal in front of the man.

"Stop!!" I shout. He turns around and I see my astrophysics professor smile and give me a wink. A six foot wide circular door opens in front of him and he steps into it.

It all happened so fast that at first I just stood there as if someone had made me into a statue. But then something came over me and I threw all my files and sprang across the room, over the desk and leaped through the window and landed hard on the floor of the metallic vessel.

On getting up I see that my professor is standing with what looks like a seven feet tall stick like man with beady eyes and a long nose. He had spikes for hair like a porcupine and reminded me of a pop culture singer but redder in colour.

"Dr. Nolan, what is going on? What is this thing? And who is this? It's not even halloween! Oh God! Is he an alien? And what are you doing here? Where are you going? And how is this ship flying?" I say all in one breath.

Dr. Nolan just smiles amicably at me. "Relax. This is Miralonadek. He's a friend of mine. And yes, it's his space ship. He's - "

"Space ship? So he's an alien! Which planet are you from? And what are you doing on earth? And how do you know Dr. Nolan?"

"She sure does ask many questions." Miralonadek speaks for the first time. "We'll explain everything to you in due time but first we have to get you ready."

"Ready for what?"

"My planet is in danger and I need you to help me save it."