PART TWO

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP

Chapter Seven

The First lady, Gillian Armstrong had dinner with Rosemary Kennedy in a glitzy restraurant in Washington's Capitol Hill district.

"...but it must be an honour to have the Supreme Commander to hand", cooed Rosemary with a hint of envey in her tone, as she watched the smart waiter refill their champagne glasses.

Gillian took hers and rose it to her lips, "yes it is, I suppose...but nobody seems to remember who actually invited them - it has all happened too fast - before I knew it, my home has been invaded by aliens!"

Rosemary chuckled as she took a sip of champagne from her glass, "and very handsome ones too, may I add...", she pointed out, and then she chuckled again, "...ohhh dear..I am beginning to sound like my teenage daughter!"

Gillian picked at her starter with her fork, "handsome they are...but it feels...it feels like your home is never your own anymore...and Neil is always in some meeting with John or one of his own team...", she rose her glass, "...here's to normality returning some day soon, huh?"

Rosemary didn't necessarily agree with her friend, but she took hold of her glass and returned the toast, "not too soon for some of us..."

VVV

Over at the news studios, Ralph Harrison rounded up the days events and finished off his news broadscast. His colleague anchor woman, Susan Feldman, turned to him and shuffled her papers, "So...have you heard the latest? Kristine Walsh has been made the official mouthpiece for the Visitors"

Ralph hid his disappointment as he tidied his news desk, "well...Kris was there right from day one, wasn't she?"

Susan stood up and unclipped her mic from her blouse, "yeah, I guess you are right... and I'm sure she's shrude enough to get something out of it for herself...I'll see you tomorrow"

Ralph nodded and watched her walk across the cable strewn floor of the set towards the dressing rooms.

He swung in his chair and stood up. He was feeling quite glum now - what did Kris Walsh have and not him? He didn't let on to Susan how he really felt...and that was him seething with jealousy.

He pulled a sigh and picked up his papers from the desk.

VVV

Caitlin Ryan came down the front steps of her house and saw her mother Juliet pruning the hedge, "have a good day at college, honey"

Caitlin smiled at her and started to walk up the damp sidewalk of the treelined street to where the yellow school bus stopped for her.

As the bus came to a halt, she jumped aboard and went and sat next to Ben Greene.

"Hi...are you okay?"

Ben turned in his seat, "that creep Randy...look at him...he's such a jerk", Caitlin turned her head around to see Kerry Laden coo, "Hey Randy! You look real cool in your new uniform!"

Caitlin rolled her eyes and faced front again, "Yeah you are right! Just because he has joined this Visitor friends youth scheme, he thinks he's every girls dream!"

Even with the bus moving, Randy came down the aisle and sat next to Joey Carter, "hey Joe...aren't you not gonna be joining up? Or are you not man enough?", he teased.

Joey turned from the window and looked at him, "Course I am joining up, what do you take me for!"

And as he said it, he could feel Caitlin's disapproving glare boring right into him.

VVV

At the White house, the Visitors Supreme Commander came down the ramp of his personal shuttle and headed towards the President who stood waiting for him with his closest aids..

"Thank you for seeing me so promptly John, there's just a few issues I need to go over with you", Neil told him with a welcoming smile.

John warmly returned the smile, "not at all Mr President...there is also a few things I want to discuss with you if I may..."

As they went inside the White House and made themselves comfortable in Neil's office, John handed over some paperwork that he had carried in his carry case.

"You will see that I am continuing to make more progress in our peoples co-existance together, and your security personnel have made a few suggestions that I feel are very beneficial"

Neil glanced over at the paperwork that landed on his desk, he looked up, "Police departments working with your security forces? Why is there a need for your security forces to be present on our streets anyway?"

John smiled, " I feel - the coalition, however feel, that both our races can only benefit from eachothers expertise - from arms to just simple negotiations, that is all...and, it is only a suggestion, like I said..."

Armstrong leaned back in his leather chair, "I can see the benefits yes - maybe I can suggest a trial scheme can be implemented - now I do have some pressing matters to discuss with you...

John raised his eyebrows, "Oh...? Of course I am at your service to help..."

"I've been been put under a lot of pressure for these science seminars to start...can you give me a date", asked Neil making direct eye contact with the alien leader.

The Supreme Commander shifted in his seat and chuckled sincerely, "of course...I will relay your request to my senior science team aboard the..."

Neil cut him off in mid flow of his response, "This is not a request John - It's an order...chemical and steam plants all over the United States and across the world have been re-tooled to produce this life saving chemical compound you so urgently need - an emergence to your end of the bargain must be pushed forward..."

John could only react with a smile, "of course Mr President...I will see to your order personally - but in the meantime -please go over these ideas I have prepared...I just know you will go along with our ways of thinking..."

VVV

Ben Greene came out of the science lab at the college and paused at his locker. He saw Randy Revell in his baig Visitors friends uniform and bragging to who was interested about what the scheme offers.

There was shuttle rides - controlled tours of the motherships - even target practice with their laser weapons that the Visitors had so recently started carrying about their person.

Ben closed his vandalized locker and watched as Randy pushed passed him with his friends in toe.

Maybe he could join the scheme...

No sooner had he thought about it, he left Caitlin Ryan to eat her lunch in the college canteen and went to see the young Visitor girl at the entrance to the sports hall where the scheme had been set up.

The Visitor girl beamed a white toothy smile at him as he approached, "hello...I am Deborah, how I can I be of assistance? Are you interesting in joining up?"

Ben took the leaflet she handed out to him and then followed Deborah inside.

VVV

Over at the Memorial research center, a Visitor science team arrived in a shuttle that touched down at the front parking lot.

Senior scientist, Rosa, came down the extended ramp along side Commander Gerald, "the President has been putting a lot of pressure onto the Supreme Commander for these science seminars to begin - just put the word around that they will begin within a few days...that should shut them up"

Rosa nodded in her cap and sun visors, "at your request commander"

She began to organise her team.

VVV

From the center's second floor windows, Amy Appleton turned and pointed, "hey guys - it looks like we have company, my guess is that the science seminars are set to start...", she cried in excitement.

Toni turned from her microscope, "it's about frigging time...I can't wait until they get started -just imagine all the wonderful things they can help us with..."

Dr Vincent Lee smiled thinly as he came to watch at the window with his hands in his pockets, "well...I'll reserve judgement until I actually attend one...jury's out for me until I do..."

VVV

Angela Kennedy strolled up the corridor towards the college sports hall that was acting as the Visitors youth scheme facililty. A Visitor female was handing out leaflets to students passing by. Angela bit her lip and approached the alien, "excuse me..."

Deborah turned to her, "hello...I am Deborah...would you like information? Here's a leaflet of what the youth scheme offers..."

Angela quickly scanned through it, "it all sounds really cool...wow"

Deborah smiled at her, "I can see that you are interested...would you like to register? It is a very quick sign up and will not take more than 5 minutes of your time"

Angela was in two minds - the baig uniform wasn't particularly flattering to the female figure, but...

She looked up to see Ben Greene dressed up in one such uniform and cap - a Visitor male had his hand firmly placed on the students shoulder looking deep into his eyes.

It was him! It was the attractive male Visitor that had been with Gerald at her parents party a week ago.

Angela hid her blushes and turned to Deborah, "where do I sign...?"

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