Cretchal, Ernap and myself are crouched behind a small boulder observing the others that we have discovered here. In a large clearing, sits a transport vessel and several of its inhabitants are setting up equipment.

"Catek," whispers Ernap. "Are they Skrahl?"

I watch the aliens as they go about their work. Like us, they are bipedal, with four limbs, a torso and head. I notice that unlike our grey skin, theirs is golden. One of them looks in our direction and we all crouch down lower. As I consider their appearance, I'm overtaken by a strange magnetism because everyone of them is stunningly beautiful.

I look round at my companions. "I'm not sure."

"If they are then we have to leave, right now," says Cretchal.

I know that she is right, the Separation must remain in place. If they really are Skrahl, we should go. However, looking at these people, I don't want to leave.

Ernap taps my shoulder. "Catek, are we leaving?"

"We must," Cretchal says. Her expression as she looks at me is one of anxiety but still I don't move.

From birth we have been instructed concerning the Separation and that it is our most scared law. The only reason ever given is that the Othal and the Skrahl are deadly to each other. Nobody has ever told me how or even why this is so, or how it was discovered. Because of this, like many others, I have formed my own theories.

In every teaching that I have received, one thing has always been made very clear. There must be no physical contact. This has always made me wonder if the Skrahl carry some kind of deadly virus and in my dreams, I've always thought of them as being somehow monstrous. Yet standing here today, it is hard to consider them as dangerous.

I watch them for a few minutes longer, then turn away. "Very well, let's Translate somewhere else first."

"Where too?"

"Our arrival point," I say. "You two go ahead and I'll collect our equipment and follow."

Standing together, Ernap and Cretchal vanish. I collect the three survey packs and attach them to my belt. Closing my eyes, I expand my awareness.

Someone speaks. "What are doing?" I don't recognise the voice, it sounds strange. "Are you in difficulty?"

Confused, I open my eyes. Standing in front of me is one of the others. Huge deep blue eyes stare back at me from a face with similar features to my own. Long, almost completely white hair falls haphazardly on their shoulders and their skin is a smooth golden colour. Its at that point that I realise there is no clothing or coverings on their bodies.

"Do you require help?" The voice is high and whispering.

My first response is to back away. "Stay back," I say, but even as I speak them, my words seem foolish.

The alien doesn't move. "There is no need for concern. I will not harm you."

I relax slightly, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, you surprised me."

Several of the others walk over, all with the same friendly, peaceful demeanour.

"You are Othal," says one of the others.

"That's correct," I say. "Are you Skrahl?"

"Yes."

"I can understand you," I say. "How is that possible?"

"Our vessel has a communication device that interprets your speech and relays it to us, so we can learn how to speak with you."

I look at the Skrahl who first spoke to me. "I am known as Catek. What is your name?"

"Amiah. I am the commander of this vessel. Are you also a leader?"

"I am," I say. "There are two others with me. They are on a different part of the planet."

One of the others steps forward.

"I am Fyoc, this is a momentous occasion."

"Why do say that?"

"This is the first time in many millenia that our two races have met," says Amiah, extending a hand. "We should celebrate."

I take a step back. "Please don't come closer."

Amiah appears puzzled. "Catek, what is wrong?"

"We cannot touch," I say. "The Separation must remain intact."

Amiah looks even more confused. "But youre wearing a suit. And what is the Separation?"

I'm incredulous and begin moving away from the group. They must know about Separation, shouldn't they? But why don't they know? Have their government teachers not instructed them? Then I collect myself and stop moving.

"You seem afraid, Catek," says Amiah. "We will not hurt you. Our entire civilisation is built upon a peaceful precept that all life, no matter how different, is sacred and precious. We have formed relationships with many races across the galaxy but your people have always eluded us."

I shake my head in disbelief. "This doesn't make sense. From birth we are taught to avoid you. It is a law that we call the Separation, it is one of our most fundamental laws. Breaking this law carries a death sentence."

Amiah takes a step toward me and I instinctively step back.

"Catek watch out."

Behind me, the ground gives way and I slide across the damp mud towards the edge of a crack in the ground. My hands grab helplessly at the slimy surface. The ground begins to slope downward and I slide off the edge. As I desperately dig my fingers into the mud but I know that I am falling. I close my eyes, attempting to translate but I can't concentrate. I scream and pass out.

To my surprise, my eyelids open again to a bright sunlight. I am lying in a comfortable place and feel rested. I can hear voices, high pitched and chattering like children's voices.

A hand touches my brow and some kind of scanner is placed on my bare chest. It's then that I realise, the terrifying truth and a rising panic grips me. I'm not wearing a suit.

I turn to see who touched me and to my horror I see the golden face of Amiah. I'm suddenly wide awake and scrambling to get away.

"What have you done?" My voice is raw and dry which makes me cough convulsively. "I can't survive without a suit and...." I stop and catch myself. I'm breathing, my skin is not burning and most importantly, I'm alive. I focus on Amiah's confused face. "How long have I been here?"

"A day," says Amiah. "Jekta, one of our number, managed to grab you before you fell. It was a deep chasm, I doubt you would have survived the fall."

"Then I owe you my thanks," I say, becoming calmer. "Have my companions tried to find me?"

"They have not," says Amiah. "One of us remained at the place we met but, no one has returned."

I raise myself into a sitting position and examine my surroundings. I am in a white walled semi-circular room with a floor to ceiling transparency looking out into the forest. Several Skrahl are working near the tree line.

"Is this your ship? How far have you travelled?"

Amiah nods. "Our journey has taken us a quarter way across the galaxy."

"That's impossible," I say. "Nothing can travel that fast."

Amiah smiles. "Our vessel isn't fast. We have spent the journey in suspension."

I nod my understanding and then I realise.

"Ernap and Cretchal," I say. "I need my suit, my communication device is in it." Amiah nods again and retrieves my suit from a nearby hatch. I take it and activate the communicator. "Ernap, Cretchal, this is Catek."

There is a long pause. "Catek?" It's Cretchal. "Where are you? We haven't been able to contact you."

I'm puzzled, surely they could have Translated back.

"Why didn't you come and find me?"

"That's the problem," says Cretchal. "We haven't been able to self project. We can't Translate. Catek, we can't get home."

"Alright," I say. "Keep calm, stay in camp and I'll join you as soon as I can."

"But Catek."

"Don't be concerned," I say, trying my hardest to project a attitude of calm. "We'll get home." The link ended and I turned to look at my alien nurse. "Would you be able to take me to my team in your ship?"

Amiah smiled. "It would be an honour." The Skrahl comes to sit next to me and I don't feel like I have to retreat. "Are you feeling well enough to travel?"

"I think so," I say. "I could probably use my clothes."

"Your bodily coverings," says Amiah. "I will get them, though you probably won't need them now."

"Why is that?"

"We have wrapped you in a dermal field to protect you from the environment. That is how we survive here." I notice a small round silver disc attached to the back if hand. "That is the field generator." Amiah shows me their wrist. "To disengage, just tap the disc in the center and it will remove itself from your arm."

I study the small device. "Amazing. So have these fields been on permanently while you've been caring for me?"

"That is correct," says Amiah.

I breathe a sigh of relief. "Then we have not touched."

"I am curious, Catek. What do you think will happen if we do?"

"I don't know," I admit. "Some say, instant death. Some say slow painful death and others speculate that war or pestilence will break out. There is one theory that says all life will end."

"And why do you think this?"

"From what I understand, our races have met before, many eons ago, and something catastrophic happened as a result. We have been separate from you since that time."

Amiah looked thoughtful. "That doesn't make sense, Catek. Jekta was wearing no field when you were rescued. Your suit was torn and direct contact was unavoidable."

I look down at my own naked body in panic but it almost instantly subsides as I realise that there is nothing wrong.

I meet Amiah's eye. "I don't understand this. According to everything I have been taught, I should be dead."

This makes Amiah laugh. "Well clearly, you are most definitely alive." As we laugh, we both deactivate our fields. I reach out and take Amiah's hand. We both hold our breath but nothing happens. "You see, Catek. All is well."

"I know," I say, then I realise that I haven't withdrawn my hand. Mysteriously, I find that I don't want to, its like magnetism. The two of us together feels completely natural and right. "This is indescribable."

"This doesn't feel wrong," says Amiah. "And you are so very beautiful."

Before I know what's happening, we are falling into each others arms, drawing each other closer, we kiss, tumbling onto the bed in an uncontrollable frantic act. Closer than I have ever been with anyone, as if it were possible to merge together as one being. We remain joined for many hours, neither of us eager for this to stop. Finally, as the sun begins to set, we are at rest, lying beneath the stars.

"My mind is a whirl," I say. An arm moves across my chest.

"Mine too," Amiah's voice whispers in my ear. "How do you feel about us now?"

I roll onto my side and look at Amiah's beautiful golden body. I look into those captivating eyes. "That our teachers are wrong. I know now for certain that the Separation is a lie."

"And yet something is different," says Amiah, and looks down at their feet. To our amazement, we see that our bodies below the waste are somehow merging together. As this merging of our bodies continues, we begin to radiate light. Two becoming truly united as one new being. It isn't frightening, it is miraculous.