For the first time in his life, Simon saw so many stars at once. Through the window of the transport capsule he could admire shimmering dots and colourful nebulae. Next to him sat Lena, who was constantly holding a strange electronic pen in her hands - her favourite toy. They were flying to asteroid Alpha-9, home to the most unusual school in the Milky Way. The school looked very different from Earth's buildings. It had transparent walls and a huge dome, under which blue trees grew and green furry animals jumped. In front of the entrance was a welcome board with the words: "Welcome to Space School Alpha-9!" Simon read it aloud and felt a thrill of excitement. On the very first day, the children were invited to a lesson on "Alien Ecosystems". Ms Zorka, their teacher with silver eyes and hair like optical fibres, showed them the school garden. Inside grew glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, giant carnivorous flowers and a small, bubbling lake where transparent fish lived. Simon and Lena approached each plant with curiosity, touching their delicate leaves and listening to the strange sounds. At the end, Mrs Zorka said: - Remember not to go near the corner of the garden behind the red bush. This place is under special observation. Of course, it was this sentence that stimulated Simon and Lena's desire for adventure. The next day, when the whole class was going to lunch, they slipped out of the classroom and ran to the garden. With their hearts pounding, they snuck behind a red bush. There they saw something completely unexpected - under the dome of the garden pulsed a soft blue-gold light that had not been there before. In the middle of the clearing lay a round object resembling both a shell and a mechanical egg. Something inside moved slightly, as if a rhythmic sound was coming from within. Lena reflexively grabbed Simon's hand. - Do you think it's... - she started, but did not have time to finish. A soft, melodious voice, completely unlike any earthly sound, came from inside the strange egg. The children froze motionless, staring wide-eyed at the pulsating light. Something was beginning to happen...