Donovan possessed the knowledge of what could very well be the second largest news event of the century: A third invasion of Earth by the Visitors. Yet, he had to keep it a secret for the time being. Instead of using his anchor position at KDHB to warn the general population about the impending threat, like a good reporter, he had to investigate the whole story before he could share.

He could only imagine how people might react… Mass panic would quickly spread across the globe. Stockpiling of weapons and food would take place complete with the criminal activities necessary to carry out the preparation. Resistance groups would form while the unprepared went into hiding. Some citizens might seek refuge in the areas of the world still protected by the Red Dust bacteria.

Donovan worried not only for the safety of Earth's citizens, but especially those closest to him: His son Sean who'd once been loyal to the Visitors and the woman he loved who carried his next child. Julie had spent most of the morning hunched over his toilet, heaving. And Donovan nearly regretted being responsible for her condition. Julie's sickness caused a delay in his and Sean's ability to shower and get ready for the day, an no one set out for Santa Monica until a quarter after eleven. Julie drove separately, saying she needed to go by her place and freshen up, while Donovan ushered Sean into his Camry, then explained the purpose of this urgent trip to Maggie Blodgett's house. Sean had a lot of questions for Donovan, mostly pertaining to the impending social limitations of a teenager. Sean knew he'd soon be separated from his friends, and wanted to share the reason why as soon as possible.

"Not a word til I say so," Donovan said, parking the car across the street from Maggie's house. Several other vehicles blocked the driveway.

"Like that's fair," complained Sean as they headed up the driveway. "If a killer was coming to our house, we'd want to be told in advance. My friends have just as much of a right to survive as we do. Besides, some of them might even prove to be good resistance fighters."

That's just what we need; A bunch of underage militants, thought Donovan sarcastically. Maggie's front door opened as he approached. Knocking wasn't necessary.

"Where's Julie?" Maggie asked, ushering Donovan and his son inside.

"She had to stop at home." Donovan noted the presence of several more ex and potential freedom fighters. He nodded a t Ham Tyler who sat in the middle of an L-shaped couch.

"Well, were not waiting for her," Ham stated. "You guys are late as it is. Sit."

"Do you want anything to drink?" Maggie asked. "How about a Coors."

"Whatever."

"Forget the drinks. This isn't Happy Hour," said Ham. He focused his attention on the ex-Fifth Columnist Robert, sitting next to Glenda and Max on metal diner-style chairs pulled in from the dining room. "Speak."

Over the next several minutes, Robert summarized what little information he'd shared before, only to be interrupted by Julie's arrival. Realizing that there were no more chairs to sit in, Donovan pulled her onto his lap, and hoped she felt better physically than she did earlier.

"She doesn't need briefing," he said to Robert. "I told her everything you said last night."

"The question is, what do we plan to do about it?" asked Ham. "Do we let 'em come back, or do we stop them?"

Julie shifted her weight to Donovan's other knee. "Stop them?"

"You still have access to large quantities of Red Dust, right?"

Donovan couldn't believe what Ham was proposing, and guessed at Julie's thoughts… To reinfuse the Red Dust into Earth's atmosphere in mass quantities would put Earth's inhabitants at risk for the same problems with genetic mutations, mammalian respiratory issues, sterility and countless other issues. Not to mention that if Julie came in direct contact with the bacteria, it would greatly increase her chance of miscarriage.

"You know that isn't plausible," Julie said. "Besides, for all we know, they may have developed their own antidote to the toxin by now."

"They haven't," said Robert. "Philip said so."

"But using the toxin again, will put the planet at risk," said Donovan.

"So Julie and her friends can fix it," Ham said, matter-of-factly.

Chris placed his can of beer on the coffee table. "There ain't no other way to stop a complete invasion, other than to welcome them with a poison they ain't got no defense against."

"Neither do we," Julie protested. "Science has made little progress in stopping the damage done already. I don't want to contribute to the problem."

"That little amount of progress sure has you rolling in the dough," he added. "So why don't you take the vaccine you and Maitland created and inoculate everyone before the infusion of the dust."

"That vaccine isn't tailored for all mankind," Julie explained. "That's why we're only using it in trials on a small segment of the adult population in the state of Washington. We have to see who it will work on and who it won't before we can administer it to mass society."

"We don't have time to wait, Julie!" Ham snapped. "The lizards are due to arrive in about three weeks. "And we don't know what Elizabeth is capable of now that Diana has her. You get a sample of the toxin, and we'll set up operations for mass production." He motioned to Kyle Bates. "You haven't sold the facility yet, have you?"

He'd made a reference to Science Frontiers, and Donovan didn't like the thought of sending Julie there to work with the toxin for several reasons, not only having to do with their unborn child, but it was the very place where she'd been critically injured just months ago.

"Julie's not helping produce the toxin," he announced. "And sure as hell not there."

Ham locked his gaze on him. "What's it to you, Gooder? Letting your feelings for her impede your better judgment as usual?"

He said nothing in his defense.

"No, he's not," Julie answered. "It's my decision."

"You still have respiratory problems because of the pneumothorax, don't you?" Maggie guessed.

Donovan was only a little relieved that Maggie's assumption would ward off the real truth for now.

"Some," Julie answered. "I'm not 100% certain this is the best solution."

"Then you'd better find one," Ham said.

"Or what?" she demanded. "You know you always step in, take charge, whether or not we want you in charge. Who said it's all up to you, Tyler?" She got up quickly from Donovan's lap, muttered, "Excuse me," and then headed down the hallway.

The bathroom door slammed behind her.

Maggie looked at Donovan. "She's not well today either?"

He shook his head.

"Then why don't we decide on a base location in the meantime," she suggested.

"Out of the city," Donovan added, not wanting to draw attention to a large gathering of former freedom fighters within the city limits of L.A.

As the group engaged in discussion about where they would meet up during the next war, Donovan could hear Julie making her noises in the bathroom and didn't doubt the others could too.

"How far is San Bernardino?" Sean asked at one point, between Julie's heaves.

"'Bout an hour," said Chris. He shot Donovan a startled look as if he'd heard more than he wanted to. "You'd better check on your old lady."

"I should've let her stay home," Donovan agreed, getting to his feet. He walked to the bathroom and rapped softly on the door.

"Julie, you want me to take you home?"

She heaved again, and didn't answer him. He marveled at the the fact she could vomit so much on what seemed like an empty stomach. It was less than a minute before Maggie was at his side.

"This isn't normal recovery from a pneumothorax," she noted. "Something else has to be wrong."

"We have an appointment with a specialist on Monday," he said.

Next came the predictable question.

"What kind of specialist?"

The door knob turned and Julie opened the door. Donovan studied her face's pale complexion. "You okay now?"

"Mmm… dizzy. Need to lay down," Julie mumbled.

Donovan swooped her up and started for Maggie's room.

"Grab a trash can," Julie said to Maggie over Donovan's shoulder.