3.
Michael's shift had finished so he was sitting with Max at one of the booths. Despite being here nearly all day it was the typical hangout so he didn't mind sticking around.
The door opened and Michael was surprised to see Alex without Isabel.
"Hey guys," Alex said to them. "Where's Isabel?"
"She left with you about an hour ago," replied Michael.
"Um no she didn't," said Alex
"Yeah she did," Michael threw back. "I saw you come in here and she went with you. You even told her the food here sucks."
Alex and Max looked at each other and then Alex looked back at Michael.
"Okay that's crazy. I would never say the food here sucks. Considering how much I eat here I'm surprised I haven't started packing on the pounds."
Michael looked at Max before getting up from his seat and darting out the door. Max followed him and all Alex could do was stare as they left. What the heck just happened?
The sun was starting to set and Isabel was starting to worry. Trusting Alex wasn't the problem, it was the fact that they were driving further out of town than seemed necessary.
"Alex, just exactly where are we going?"
"What are you scared?"
Isabel thought about Alex's words. He would never tease her in that way. What was up with him?
"Okay Alex I think I'm ready to go back now."
"Not yet, we haven't even gotten to our special spot yet."
Isabel looked at Alex, really looked at him. "You're not him are you?" she asked.
"Score one for Miss Popularity. I'm surprised it took you this long to figure it out. Guess I really do pull off a good Alex Witman don't I?"
"Who are you, what do you want with me?" she said instinctively placing a hand on her abdomen.
"Relax," said Nasedo. "I wouldn't dream of hurting you or the child you're carrying."
Nasedo pulled over to a stop. Checking all around him to make sure there was no one around, he placed his hand in front of him. Isabel had to cover her eyes from the blinding light. When she looked back at him she kind of gasped.
"There, much better," he said.
"Mr. Harding," Isabel simply stated.
"Well yes but not really. You can call me Nasedo. I've been the one who has been protecting you."
"I'm supposed to be grateful? You just kidnapped me?"
"It was the only way to get you alone."
"Yeah I got that. Why me? You know Max and Michael are going to be looking for me."
"Oh I don't doubt that. You all have become very resourceful but there was a reason I chose you Isabel."
"And you're not going to tell me are you?"
"Isabel you're the first hybrid to successfully become impregnated. I hadn't anticipated it to happen this soon but now that it has you deserve to know everything: Where you come from, what will happen during your pregnancy and for that consider me your midwife of sorts."
"I'd rather not," Isabel said as she looked out the window.
"Well like it or not, I'm the only person you've got. I've had experience with this kind of thing."
Isabel looked over at Nasedo wanting to press him but decided not to, at least not yet.
The way was dark but Nasedo knew where he was going. It was clear that this was a dirt road he had traveled many times before. They finally came to a stop at an old torn down ranch house. Nasedo and Isabel got out of the car.
"This is what they called the 'debris field' back in '47," said Nasedo.
"I can't see anything."
"That's because you're seeing with your human eyes. You and your friends have much to learn Isabel. Learn to look closer." Nasedo continued with the rest of his story. "There was a reason this place was chosen. This area that we're standing on has one of the highest radiation readings on this planet. You'd find others across the world but this place is more inhabitable than others. Our people have been to Earth long before others settled in this region. It's one of the reasons why that shack is there. Beneath it is an underground bunker. It belongs to you now. No human can get inside it."
"If this place contains as much radiation as you say isn't that bad for when we go back into town and even worse for theā¦"
Nasedo smiled at Isabel. "You can say it Isabel, 'baby'. And no, it's not bad. Our bodies are different than humans, even yours despite your hybrid status. We absorb radiation much in the same way that humans absorb the minerals they eat. Radiation poses no threat to us or to your baby. I wouldn't have brought you here otherwise."
A car was rolling in behind them, their headlights focused on Isabel and Nasedo. Michael jumped out of the jeep before it came to a halt.
"Then why bring us here," Max asked.
Tess got out from the back seat. "I'm sorry they made me tell them."
"It's okay Tess," said Nasedo, "I had a feeling the boys wouldn't be far behind."
Michael went over to Isabel and hugged her. "Isabel, are you okay?"
"I'm fine Michael."
"Did he hurt you?"
"No, really I'm okay," she said trying to reassure him.
"And the baby," he asked worried just as much for his son as he was for its mother.
Isabel patted her stomach softly. "Safe and sound," she said.
Michael looked over at Nasedo placing himself squarely between him and Isabel. "What do you want with her, what do you want with us?"
"To show you the truth," said Nasedo.
He walked over to the car and reached for a bag. He began walking into the shack that looked like it was about to collapse any moment.
"I don't have to tell you to follow me do I?" Nasedo asked with his back towards the group as he headed to the shack.
Isabel looked from Max to Michael to Tess. Max led the way with Michael behind him as he held onto Isabel's hand. Tess was behind the three.
As the five of them walked down to the basement Nasedo moved a stack of boxes which revealed a metal door. He opened it as if it weighed nothing. He then descended down into the darkness while the others followed.
When they entered the room it started to light up. The group looked around the room and was surprised to see that it resembled the cave where they had performed Michael's healing ceremony on the reservation. It was nearly exact down to the very shape of the V constellation on the wall only with other foreign symbols around it.
"What is this place," Max asked.
"A safe haven," was all Nasedo said as he was grabbing some things from the bag he brought down with him. He pulled out some stones as well as the orbs.
"Where did you get those," asked Michael. "How?"
Nasedo smiled, "I can be very resourceful when I need to be."
Nasedo placed the stones in the V symbol indentions on the wall. They lit up and then Nasedo touched each stone separately creating a pattern. Taking a step back the V symbol folded in on itself and morphed into the symbol that was on the silver orbs. A bright light appeared from the symbol and a holographic image of a man and a woman appeared.
The group just stared in awe.
