CONQUERED
Chapter 4

Alexis nearly jumped out of her skin when the front door opened and in walked her dad. He was followed by two people, each with two large suitcases. "DAD!" Alexis rushed over to him and hugged him as if her life depended on it.

"Where's your grandmother?"

"Upstairs in her room. Grams was having second thoughts about what to pack." Alexis looked the two new people over.

Rick introduced them. "Alexis, meet Dean and Laura Neymar. Dean and Laura, this is my daughter, Alexis. They have agreed to my plan."

Dean shrugged. "We didn't have one of our own."

"I love your hair." Laura was expecting someone young but maybe a lot younger since Rick had said daughter.

Alexis ignored Laura. She was expecting two older people, more her dad's age. These two were not that old, late 20s at best. "You own a jet?" He looked a little young for that.

"Bombardier Global to be precise. She has the range to reach Europe if we wanted to. Victoria is a walk in the park," Dean replied.

"We have to unpack the car. Care to help?" Rick asked Alexis. "Mother can wait for now."

"Alright." She wasn't sure by what he meant by unpack the car. She soon learned that her dad's trunk was full of loose canned goods while the Neymars had driven their car into the parking garage and parked where they could. Their car had two more suitcases as well as boxes filled with food. None of it needed refrigeration. Surprisingly, one of the boxes was labeled as containing MREs.

"We emptied our place," Laura explained since she saw a perplexed look on Alexis's face.

"Alexis, they get the spare bedroom upstairs."

"So, where are you going now?" Both cars were empty, and Dean and her dad seemed to be leaving again.

"The airport," Rick stated.

"Airport?" Alexis looked at Laura as Dean and her dad left.

"All communication is down. All everything gives us is that list of laws. My husband is betting this means plane communication is down as well," Laura explained.

Alexis thought about that for a moment. "Good God!"

"Yeah, that's what we're afraid of. Planes already in the air have no way to communicate with airport towers. How do they land? Where do they land? My husband wants to fill the plane with fuel before these aliens decide that getting the fuel is stealing and kills him, me, all of us for theft." Yes, she and her husband had read all of the laws. It was exceedingly stupid not to.

"Then how do we take off with no communications? More to the point, how do we land?" Her dad's place sounded safe enough, but getting there was nearly impossible. It was over 3,000 miles away.

Laura shrugged one shoulder. "I don't know, Alexis. That's something we still need to discuss. My husband says he has a thought about that, so I guess we wait and see."

O~O~O

Laura was introduced to Martha before the two men made it back. "You made it." Alexis rushed her dad and hugged him.

"Piece of cake," Dean said even if he was exaggerating. Martha and Alexis watched as those two kissed each other, and Laura was happy to let her husband hold her.

"Define cake." Alexis was pretty sure it hadn't been that easy.

"It is nuts out there. However, the jet is at a small private airport, not someplace like LaGuardia or JFK. So long as the runway is clear, we can take off. Landing might be more of a challenge, though." Dean was going to have to play that by ear.

Laura and Alexis had put all the food away that they had space for while Martha drank a glass of wine and listened to Laura talk about herself and her husband.

Alexis asked all of them. "Okay, what's the plan? You brought food, so I'm guessing we stay here for now."

"Rick's idea is sound enough if it works out," Dean agreed. "We all stay here for the next month. We'll need to keep the meals down to a minimum so we don't run out of food. Thirty days from now, the aliens will start killing people."

"That sounds cold." Martha didn't like the sound of it, and truth be told, neither did Alexis.

"Human nature. Everyone willing is out looting and stealing. Eventually, they'll start stealing again, and when they do, the aliens will kill them. It's going to get ugly real fast. More so than it is even now, or two weeks from now." Dean had argued for waiting it out and then leaving.

"I'm afraid he's right, Pumpkin. When the food they have runs out, they'll go looking for more and steal it. Thou shalt not steal," Rick quoted from the Bible even if he meant an alien law.

"People will start to panic and probably begin killing to get what they want, not believing that these aliens will do anything. That it's all a bluff. And maybe they'll be right. We won't have a good answer to that for another 30 days. It's just if they can do this, what else can they do?" Dean questioned.

"So we sit here, wait it out, and see what happens?" Laura asked even though she had been part of this argument.

"Do you have a better idea, honey? My parents are in Europe somewhere, so reaching them is out. Yours are presently on a 13-day cruise far from here and definitely out of communications range," Dean argued yet again. "It was a wedding anniversary present from us. It sounded like a good idea at the time." Not so much now.

"No." Laura was ready to admit it. She just didn't like it.

"So we wait. Um, Dad? Can Michael come over? He's in the dorm with his roommate. He can sleep on the sofa if he has to." Alexis would prefer if it was her bed, but this was her dad's place and his rules.

"Dorms?" Dean looked between Rick and Alexis and offered his help. "We should go now before it gets worse."

O~O~O

Two hours later, Alexis and Michael were sitting on the sectional speaking in whispers while everyone else was sitting at the dining room table talking.

"We can reach Victoria, but all my maps are on the plane. I'm not sure I have a map of the Victoria airport or any airport in that area." Dean had his own problem that eventually needed fixing.

"The Internet is down or we could get one that way. Maybe it will be back up after 30 days." It was all Rick could say.

"Maybe everything will be back up after 30 days. Not that I'm expecting anyone to be in any of the control towers for any airport." Dean was anticipating that it would be bad. Like seriously bad.

Laura spoke up with a valid question. "Any chance the military can do something?" Every nation, including America, had a military.

"An alien race in a spaceship with technology that could send that first message?" Dean shook his head. "A spaceship that can reach us will have technology that we might not've even dreamed about yet. Launch a bunch of ICBMs at it?" Dean shook his head again.

"Sadly, he has a point. If they can get here and carry out their plan to kill people that violate their laws with no risk to themselves?" Rick exhaled deeply. "We're ants, and they're the humans with big cans of Raid."

Alexis and Michael joined them. Alexis turned to Laura. "So, you're a genius with plants?"

"I studied Horticultural Science in college at Cornell," Laura said. "It's where I meet Dean. I had classes in Nursery Management, Greenhouse Management, Plant Biology, Organic and Sustainable Plant Production."

Dean grinned at her with a wide grin. "I was her knight in shining armor."

"Some jackass wouldn't take no for an answer. Dean stepped in and got him to leave. Except then he never left." Laura glared at him about that memory.

"Good thing, too. I'd be lost without her." Hearing Dean say that got Laura to smile a little.

"He wore me down eventually. Then I found out his family was rich," Laura sighed. "That was actually a bit of a turn off at first. Rich kid doing what his daddy told him to do."

"She finally explained what her problem was, and that was when I set her straight. My father didn't believe in silver spoons. Oh, he was and still is rich. But I had to earn my money the hard way," Dean added.

"Then I finally let him start dating me and fell in love with him," Laura said and smiled. "Would you believe that if I let him, he would kill every plant in the house?"

"It's true, unfortunately. I kill 'em, and she grows 'em. I'm happy to eat what she grows, but I can't do it. I think the plants hate me and die just to spite me." Dean was still pretty sure that was it.

Dean looked at Michael. "College, I hear. So what is your major, Mike?"

"I prefer Michael, and my major is Marine Biology with a minor in Automotive Engineering," he responded. "The plan was to make it to Ferrari or Mercedes and help design engines for Formula 1 if Marine Biology doesn't work out."

Dean approved – if he could make it. "My apologies, Michael. And you made a good choice! Just so long as it's not NASCAR. All they do is go around in a circle. That might be racing to some but doesn't sound very challenging. Now Ferrari or something sounds far more challenging."

"Yeah, now I'm not so sure," Michael added.

"Stupid aliens," Alexis muttered since they were screwing with her boyfriend's plans.

"You'll get no argument from me there. It's going to be a long 30 days," Dean agreed.

O~O~O

It has been 38 days since that first message

Kate was sitting at her desk. She was all alone. She was alone on the fourth floor and was willing to bet she was completely alone in the entire building.

It hadn't been an easy month for anyone. Kevin and Jenny had finally caved in weeks ago and left the city. She had family in the country so that was where they were going. Javi had just stopped coming into the precinct. Kate didn't know what had happened to him, but she feared the worst. She hadn't seen or heard from Lanie for almost a week, and she didn't know where she was.

Kate's apartment never had any food in it and getting food from a grocery store was out of the question. Those stores had been looted days, if not weeks ago. Her dad at least had food, and she had been doing some cooking for the past month. Sadly he had also disappeared. Now she was running rather low on food even there.

She had even seen people simply vanish. While driving into the precinct from her dad's place, she had watched this man come out of a building with an armful of something. He promptly vanished right before her eyes. His clothes and everything he was carrying fell to the concrete. And his body disappeared.

She didn't see any killer death ray. There wasn't even a flash of light. He just…vanished. Driving into the precinct today had been like driving through a ghost town. No taxis were moving. No one was on the streets. At least not on the streets she traveled.

Her car had gasoline. Getting it was easy. The police station had its storage tank outback. Just pull up, fill the car's tank, and drive away. It technically wasn't stealing since she didn't even have to pay for it. She just had use the card she'd been issued to unlock it.

For the last two days, it had been only her and Gates, yet this morning it was only her. She really didn't know what else to do. There was nowhere else to go. Food was soon going to be a problem that needed a solution.

Kate was presently sitting there, looking at her computer screen. That was one thing that had happened after the 30 days had passed. That message stopped, and everything went back to normal.

Normal only lasted for a few days, though. The number of people in the city dropped very quickly. It was either because they left the city, or because they were killed.

Information was all over the Internet at first, but for the last couple days that had practically stopped. There was nothing on TV or the radio. Her cell phone started working again, but all her calls to her dad, Lanie, and even a couple to Castle had gone straight to voice mail.

Literally no one had called her since it had started working again. Doing a search for anyone she knew hadn't produced any results.

Kate was still sitting there, wondering what she was going to do, when suddenly Gates sat down in what had been Castle's chair next to her desk. "Sir!"

"I just got back from what's left of 1PP," Gates told her. "It's mostly empty. They've decided to close all the precincts. Not that it matters much. If you steal something, the aliens kill you. If you so much as mug someone, the aliens kill you. You steal anything, no matter how small, the aliens kill you. The Board of Commissioners concluded that there was no longer need for the police force."

"I see." She was out of friends and now out of a job. DAMN ALIENS!

Kate watched as Gates put an envelope on her desk. "This is it, Kate. This is the last thing I can do for you. I'm going home now. My family's going to try and reach an aunt and uncle on my husband's side of the family. They own a farm in Missouri. Maybe – hopefully – we can reach them.

"This envelope has your last paycheck in it, all in cash. There are also two more things in there. I got them from Mayor Weldon. He's taking pity on you, and he's leaving the city today as well. Oh, and one thing from me." Gates laid down a piece of paper.

"Your unmarked car is yours. This is the title and you now have legal ownership of it. With luck, if you use it to leave the city, the aliens won't kill you for it.

"Kate, I know it's been rough. It's just who I am. I don't know what happened between you and Castle, but now would be a good time to bury the hatchet. Come clean if that's what it takes. Put what's in that envelope to good use. That might be your very last chance.

"This is one of those If only I had done that moments. Don't waste it. Life is cheap and so very short these days. Good luck, Kate. I don't think we'll ever see each other again." Gates said nothing else. Then she got up, walked down the stairs, and out of the building.

Kate was left sitting there, looking at that envelope and wondering what was in it. She finally opened it and yes, there was cash inside it, along with a letter.

Katherine Beckett,

I couldn't get Rick to tell me what happened between you two, but in my view, it's a pity thatthe pair of you couldn't work out whatever it was.

At the bottom of this, you will find his satellite phone number. I've used it to talk to him a little, enough to say goodbye. He built himself a place in a bay outside of Victoria, British Columbia, in Canada. He talked about it being a retirement home. It's become something else now.

If you can reach him, put that number to use and talk to the man. What've you got to lose? I know he lives there with Alexis, her boyfriend, Martha, and two other people. I think he has room for one more if you're willing to try. It's a long drive because no one is flying these days.

I wish you luck, Katherine. I know Rick used to care a lot about you, so maybe there's still something there. Love isn't a switch. It's not easily turned off. Falling in love isn't easy, either. I don't believe we'll ever talk again.

Best of luck,

Bob

P.S. If you do make it, tell Rick he owes me big.

Kate did indeed see a satellite phone number at the bottom. Should she call him before she tried the impossible or simply risk it?

"Damn it!" Part of her wanted to try this, and part of her was telling her it was far too late. She had done too much to him already.

First, she needed to decide if this was even possible. She could feel herself wishing this would work. A final chance to earn his forgiveness and explain herself.

Google showed her how to get there. Depending on the route she took, it was either 3,003 miles or 3,133 miles. Forty-seven or forty-nine hours. But her heart nearly broke when she found Victoria was almost an island. She needed a ferry crossing from Vancouver to Victoria.

She knew that wasn't going to happen. Stealing or even borrowing a boat to try it would mean instant death.

O~O~O

Kate was sure she had lost her mind. She had one suitcase in the trunk and a carry-on in the passenger seat. She had her cash, what was left of the canned food, a spoon and fork, and a can opener with her. It wasn't enough, but maybe there would be something along the way.

It was all Interstate for the most part. She also noticed that part of her trip was a toll road. She wasn't sure how that would work out, so she had all the change she could find at home.

Interstate 80 was first. She was relieved that getting out of the city was easy. Apparently no one or very few people, had been killed while driving, so the Interstate was mostly empty. It was also damn quiet. There was no radio to listen to, and her car didn't have a CD player.

O~O~O

When the gas gauge read half full, she made a point to pull off the Interstate where there was anything that sounded like a large gas station. Like Loves or Flying J. Any large place, and not a smaller station like Exxon.

Doing that the first time was her first big test. She used her credit card and got the pump to work. She was grateful and relieved that there was still power, so she filled the tank with gas and then went inside.

Of course, the gas station had been looted long ago. But thankfully, there were still things to be picked up. Kate looked for all the protein food items she could find, like power bars, and skipped the junk food.

There were still a few cold drinks, but no hot food and no produce of any kind. That was also where she learned that these places had showers in addition to restrooms, so she didn't have to travel dirty.

As she walked around and made her selections, she carefully wrote down what each thing cost. Once at the counter, she added it all up, included sales tax, and left an extra two dollars on the counter to cover any shortage.

Kate stopped at the door. If she was wrong when she stepped out, she would vanish, never to be seen or heard from again.

O~O~O

Eight hours later, she was just outside Cleveland. She decided to stop for gas yet again at the same type of place, something big, not just some little gas station.

She didn't have a weapon. If she even shot at someone, she would die. If someone shot at her, he or she died even if she didn't. So having a weapon was useless.

This time it was a Flying J. Walking around, she saw that if she stayed and worked at it she could make herself a pizza. Actual hot food. She just had to find out what it cost and pay for it along with anything else she could find. So far, she'd been on the road for eight hours. It would be dark soon, but she had gas and a purpose, so she just kept driving.

Five hours later and she was in the outskirts of Chicago. Still on Interstate 80.

She didn't want to be tired. What she wanted to do was keep driving. But it was dark, and she also didn't want to fall asleep behind the wheel, so she found another gas station. She made a list of the cost for everything she'd found and paid extra after adding sales tax. So far, using her credit card to pay for the gas was working out perfectly. Each place still had power, so the pumps worked.

Kate found a place to park and got into the back seat. She had prepared for it, so she could be somewhat comfortable while she slept. She had blankets and pillows, and this place had a shower she could use for a price. The restrooms were free, but not the showers and hot water.

Five hours after waking and finding the sun was up, her dad's watch told her what time it was. It was after lunch when she pulled into Des Moines. More gas, more of whatever she could find in the store. She paid cash and left again.

So far, it was amazingly simple. Each place still had power, and that was wonderful since it meant she could continue her journey. The food choices weren't that great, but she bought what she could find and kept going. Water was free, and she had empty water bottles she could fill. What she realized was that she was lonely. Talking to herself didn't accomplish anything.

O~O~O

She decided to stop and sleep in Lincoln, Nebraska at the first large gas station she could find. That was after filling her tank with gas while the power lasted, and buying what she could find. Sleeping in the back of her car wasn't the most comfortable. However, behind locked doors with a window cracked and parked undercover in the event it rained again, meant it was safer. Though, given if anyone did attack her, they died. But maybe they were suicidal by now.

Crossing Nebraska seemed to take forever. Worse, the landscape was flat and unremarkable. Yes, it was still the same Interstate, but there just wasn't anything to take her mind off of the damn road! That had her stopping to keep from falling asleep at the wheel. After coming upon a place to stop for more gas, just to be sure, and buying what she could find, she was finally out of Nebraska and into Wyoming.

The next stop was Cheyenne, Wyoming. It was the same old, same old. Get gas since the power was still on. Walk inside, keep a list, and leave cash at the counter. Fill up her water bottles. Use the restroom, and if she could, take a shower.

Interstate 80 turned into 84, and she was finally going north into Idaho. A stop outside of Twin Falls, and she was back on the road again.

She was dead tired when she pulled into Portland, Oregon. It was here that she stayed for a while at yet another large gas station off of the Interstate. She got more gas, bought what she could find, used the restroom, took a shower, and slept in the back of her car while it rained on the canopy above her.

She even stayed here and went back inside to find more food and make sure all her water bottles were full. She also needed to change out her tampon for a fresh one. That was one more thing she needed to find. What she didn't know was how many of those Castle might have, assuming he would let her join them.

O~O~O

According to her map, Interstate 5 would take her through Seattle and straight in Vancouver, British Columbia. She made a stop just north of Seattle for the hell of it since it was still raining. It wasn't a heavy rain, it was one that never seemed to stop.

Interstate 5 turned into highway 17, and out across the levy, she drove till she was at something called Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. That was as far as her car could take her. From here, she was going to need Castle, or this was a wasted trip.

She didn't need gas, and thankfully she had a little food from her last stop. Her butt ached from all the driving, and she desperately needed to stretch and get some solid sleep. Still, she slept in her car while it rained on her and waited for the sun to rise bright and early the next day to call Castle.

She needed the time to work out what she was going to tell him. That was assuming he didn't just up and hang up on her and never answer another of her calls. Not that she would blame him if he did. So she needed to work out what to say before he did hang up on her.