| J. Edgar Hoover Building Washington D.C. Thursday, May 17, 2001 1:16 P.M. I was doing something on the office computer--I don�t really know what it was because my mind was elsewhere--and just listening to the pleasant buzz of Will�s thoughts as he typed on another computer he�d put together himself (despite being scrounged together, it�s better than the one Skinner has). It was just a regular day for us; sitting at base camp, waiting impatiently for Mom and Dad to check in every hour like they�re supposed to but don�t always do, filling out the basic report for the cases. All in all, just another day. Then someone poked into my head. They are coming. Who? The Barsiks. We cannot stop them! ETA? Eight earth hours. Damn. I looked over at Will, who, noticing my lack of work, looked up and met my gaze. He just stared at me for a moment, finally saying, � They�re coming . . . aren�t they?� I nodded and we both sprang into action. Unloading our laptops from our backpacks, we began hacking into government files and erased every last trace--birth certificate, social security number, badge number, license number, everything--of two people. Then we rushed out, barely taking the time to tell Skinner, � They�re coming, Uncle Skinner. Hide.� Once home, we raided their bedroom just to make sure they had all their identification with them. When that was done, we got back on our bikes and raced to the schools, bursting into the classrooms of our younger selves. � Emily?� Sam asked, standing up as everyone--even the teacher--jumped at my entrance. � Mel? What�s going on?� � Come on, Sam. We have to leave.� � Why?� she persisted as she gathered her things. � No. Leave those here. Bring your bag and any food, but leave everything else. Do you have your gun?� She pulled it from her shorts pocket, checked the clip, and nodded. The teacher was astonished and the other kids� eyes lit up with new respect. � But what�s going on, Emily?� � They�re coming, Sam. Hurry.� She flung her navy blue pack up onto one shoulder and ran to me. The teacher tried to stop me. � You can�t just---� � Shut up!� I snapped. � Look, you might think I�m crazy but I�m not. Aliens are coming to take over. Send the children home---No, keep them here so their parents can get them.� The teacher shook her head. � Sam, don�t go with them.� � It�s okay, Mrs. Renald. Emily�s my big sister. She wouldn�t lie about something like this.� � Come on,� Will urged. � We have to get m---Will.� I grabbed Sam�s hand and took off for the parking lot. Despite her shorter legs and stride, she kept up well. I swung one leg over the bike and pulled her up in front of me by her hand. I handed her my helmet and rushed after Will. We exploded into the middle school classroom. � Will! Come on!� � What?!� he demanded, dumping his books then putting his pack on one shoulder. � They�re coming! Where�s your gun?!� He drew it and checked the clip as Sam did, then nodded. � Got it.� The male teacher was more confrontational than Sam�s. He stalked toward us. � You can�t do this! Will must have a note and he must be called to the office to---� I turned to him, levelling my gun with his face. � This is a dire situation, sir. Shut up. The only danger Will is in is from those who seek to kill him. Back off.� We left and Will gave little Will his helmet. � We have to get to Mom and Dad and confiscate their I.D.!� my brother shouted over the roar of the motorcycles� engines. � Where are they supposed to be?!� I concentrated briefly to knock on his mental door. He allowed me into his head and I answered, Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania? Yes. We�ll never get there in time! Won�t know until we try. We did, in fact, get there in time. It wasn�t hard to find them; badge-flashing gets you lots of places. � What are you doing here?� Dad asked coolly as we nearly broke down the door. � They�re coming.� Both looked up, terror written all over their features. Little Will and Sam read this look and turned to Will and I. They knew that when Mom and Dad were scared like they were now, Will and I were in charge. � Now what?� � Now we get out of here,� Will returned. � We have to go somewhere they won�t be able to find us easily and build a network from there.� � Where do we go?� � A store,� was his answer. � We need lots of warm clothing. We might as well raid every store we happen upon. We�ll need the supplies later.� Mount Robson British Columbia, Canada Wednesday, July 25, 2001 8:47 A.M. Will burst from the brush not twenty feet from where I was standing. � Run! Run, Sam!� I dropped everything I had and ran. A shot rang out, followed by another. I heard a body fall to the frozen earth, but didn�t look back. A second later, something slammed into my shoulder and threw me to the ground. I tried to get up, but it had been tranquilizer and I was unable to do more than flop uselessly. I was roughly picked up and carried to a covered military truck. They tossed me in the back and my wrists and legs were chained. � Emily?� I weakly turned to look at little Sam as the truck started on its way. � Yeah?� � Are you okay?� � I�m okay. Where is everybody?� � Back there.� So nobody got away. Damn. <--Index Division 2--> |