Chapter Six

Katrina Cazza paced back and forth across the cold marble floors. Her black boots clanked with every step, her fingers tugging at her short blond hair. She was nervous and anxious, waiting for the phone to ring with a message from Ted. I'm sure everything will be all right, Katrina reasoned. It's not like this kind of thing hasn't happened before.

Working in the AOE-B1, Antarians of Earth Building One, Katrina was always in the thick of things, always part of the alien conflicts that arose. There was always some kind of slight problem, whether it involved a human seeing an alien using his or her powers, or a concern about the FBI. Building One was the main location for alien problems. The two other buildings in the AOE dealt with humans who knew about the aliens, as each human trusted with the secret had to be written down on files. It wasn't like the AOE watched everything the hiks (humans in the know) were doing, it's just that when whole races of beings were at stake, it was important to make sure that one person would blow the whole cover. For the most part though, AOE had found that most humans were very trustworthy. Over two hundred people knew about aliens; they just kept it secret out of respect and consideration. Yet not all humans were this way, the FBI special unit alien hunters definitely did not have 'respect' as a high priority on their To Do list.

"RRRRIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!" Katrina jumped when she heard the phone next to her ring. She picked it up, "Hello? Katrina from B1 here, may I ask who's speaking?"

"Hey, Katrina, it's Ted," the other line answered.

Katrina breathed a sigh of relief. "I've been waiting for your call for ages, Ted. What's the news?"

"Well, it seems like thing are getting pretty hectic." Ted held a spying job for the AOE. He always had direct information about the FBI. "They've definitely taken Joshua Parker. I believe it's two special unit agents that have got him trapped in a desert around Roswell."

"What are they doing to him?" Katrina shook lightly as she thought about the terrible things the FBI would to innocent people. "He's just a little boy!"

"I think they're just questioning him now, but you can bet they will get violent if they're not happy." He paused for a second, and then continued, "They want proof, Kat. They want final evidence to bring to the government. They're tired of all the undercover stuff. They want written confirmation, photographs, video and audio recordings that aliens do exist on Earth. They think that with the whole world behind them, they could finally exterminate us."

There was silence on both lines of a couple seconds, until Katrina spoke, her voice shaking, "Why the innocent ones, though?" Her voice cried out with agony, "Why do they have to capture children? Why the hiks? They're so peaceful and loving!"

"You know the answer to that already, Kat." Ted spoke softly. "Deep down, they're afraid of us, afraid of anything different. Why do you think the FBI's only captured hiks? They're afraid of what us aliens will do to them with our powers. So they go after the innocent humans. The children are easy to break, easy to torture for information." His voice was soft and soothing, as Katrina tried to contain her sobs on the other line.

"I'm sorry, Ted. I've got to keep myself under control. It's just the thought of that kid Josh, what he's going through right now, no child should go through that Ted. No child."

"No being whatsoever should go through that kind of torture, Kat. The best we can do right now is notifying the aliens out of town and enlist the help of anyone willing. Do you think you can do that?"

"Of course, Ted. Since when could you not count on me?"

"Never."

"You just wait, I'll have the most secretive support group out looking for Joshua in record time. We won't let them get anything out of him."

A couple towns away, Ted smiled at his friend's determination. "Great, Kat. You do that."

*

Michael flipped another pancake. The smell of frying butter was everywhere yet Michael couldn't help grinning. His mind kept drifting off into memories from the past couple weeks.

Married life with Maria was definitely cool. They would wake up late in the morning and make each other breakfast. On weekdays they would spend thirty minutes saying goodbye before work. On weekends they would go to the park, or dancing at a club, and sometimes they would just stay home to have sex over and over.

"What are you grinning at, Space Boy?" Michael felt someone kissing the side of his neck from behind. He turned around to face Maria in her silky pajamas, "Oh nothing."

"Nothing?" Maria raised her eyebrows at some of the burnt pancakes. "You haven't been daydreaming about anything in particular?" Her teasing tone spoke loads.

"Well, I was thinking about using some ropes to tie you up later…" Maria hit him on the shoulder, "Michael!"

"Just kidding. I was only thinking about how great married life has been." He put his arms around her.

"Mmmm. It has been pretty awesome, huh?"

"Definitely." Michael took her lips with his, picking her up and onto the counter. Maria's hand touched the frying pancakes, "Owwww!"

"Oh, what's wrong, baby?" Maria showed him her slightly red finger. Michael kissed it lightly, then put it in her mouth and sucked lovingly on it. Maria was just about to lean down to run her other hand through his hair, when the phone rang. "RRRIINNNGGG!"

Michael swore and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Michael?"

"Ya, hey Maxwell. Do you have to call so early on a Saturday?"

"Michael, it's 10:00 am."

"So?" Michael looked at Maria with an apologetic smile. She just nodded her head and began to set the table. "Okay, whatever. So what's up?"

"Actually, Michael. Not good news. You know what Katrina told you before?"

"Ya…" Maria noticed her husband's slightly worried tone.

"Well, it wasn't entirely true. She got the information wrong. You see, an Antarian boy decided to tell his best friend, Joshua Parker, that he was an alien. Katrina thought Joshua had tipped off the FBI, but actually Josh had done nothing wrong. The FBI, apparently, was just keeping close tabs and had noticed that Josh was in the know. So they kidnapped him- "

"Wait, Maxwell. Katrina just told you all this?"

"Yes. But I'll get to that part later."

"Okay but why did the FBI go after this Joshua when there are tons of other hiks?" Michael asked.

"I don't know. But the point is, they did. And now Katrina and the AOE want to get some people together to look for him. I want to help."

"Why Maxwell? I thought your motto was: Don't get involved at all costs."

"It was. But I feel drawn to Joshua and his family somehow. I helped his brother Charlie a couple days ago. I've met their mother and seen her on TV. I feel like I need to, almost have to, get involved this time. It's like intuition or something."

"So you want me to help too." Michael stated blandly.

"Well, only if you're not busy or anything."

"I trust you, man. So, when are we starting this search party thing?"

"In a couple hours, about three pm. Thanks Michael."

"No problem. I'll see you at your house in a couple." Michael hung up and turned to Maria who had been listening by the table. Before Michael could apologize for leaving, Maria had placed her finger on his lips, "I know, Michael. You're a busy man. I can't keep you all to myself."

"Well we do have s few hours…" Michael raised his eyebrows suggestively.

"I see. And what did you have in mind?" Maria started backing up into the bedroom. Michael just grinned, "You know we too well."