Part Eighteen
It was Liz's idea that each of them pair up as human/alien couples for safety. Somehow without an actual discussion on the matter the eight of them divided themselves into the relationships that were most familiar to them.
Kyle and Tess had the first role. They left immediately from Michael's apartment to the Grange to find the woman who was supposed to pick up the files. The motel was a small one just at the edge of Roswell. It didn't take long to find her. She was the only new check-in and the only single woman. They discovered this by some basic detective work. Tess mindwarped the clerk and Kyle studied the records. Her name was Agent Megan Harris.
The two of them parked close by to her room and after making sure she was in, phoned the Sheriff to send someone to keep an eye on her. They didn't inform the sheriff the entire plan and surprisingly he didn't ask. He just sent one of his deputy's to the motel with strict orders to notify them if she left. Unfortunately being in school meant even with a rather understanding father, staying out all night with a girl was not something that would go down well and so they had to adjust the plan. In the morning the two of them would return and relieve the deputy from stake out duty.
Max and Liz were in charge of the next part. It was decided that Liz would plant a couple of bugs in the Congresswoman's office. This was mainly because she could do this early in the morning by entering the office without raising any suspicions because of her job. She would just say if caught that she forgot something and came to fetch it. Max was going along in case something went wrong and to open any doors that may need to be opened.
The next day Max and Liz arrived at the Congresswoman's office around seven. There was no one there yet so Max using a little bit of his powers unlocked the doors, both the entrance and the office door. Alex had given them two listening devices to use, one for the phone and one for the office. Both of them had to practise placing the bug in the phone many times the night before under Alex and Maria's strict supervision. With all the practise they had done, it all went smoothly. Max stood lookout at the door and Liz placed the bugs both out of sight. After a short test to see if Alex and Isabel could hear, they left for school. One of the other decisions made the night before had been that at least four of them would have to go to school to avoid rising any suspicion as would be if all eight of them were missing.
Alex was responsible for all the high tech stuff. It was his expertise after all. Isabel was his partner in crime. The teens were using the listening devices they had found after their last run in with the FBI and Nacedo. Alex and Isabel were staked out in Michael's apartment which was within range of the Congresswoman's office. The two of them would listen in and report to Michael and Maria and Kyle and Tess. Just in case they were to skip school and stay all day. The two of them were also home base and everyone was to report to them and update them with any new developments.
*****************
Kyle and Tess pulled up at the Grange just minutes before Agent Harris left. The Congresswoman was already in her office based on video feed from the office device and so far nothing suspicious had been overheard. Kyle and Tess followed the agent to the Congresswoman and waited outside for further instructions.
Alex and Isabel listening in the apartment with Michael and Maria who copied and memorised all the information on the whereabouts of the FBI Headquarters and the meeting and retrieval of the files. Michael and Maria then left for the meeting while Isabel sent Tess the go ahead.
The plan was simple. Tess would mindwarp the Agent into stopping her car thinking there was a red robot and then further convince her that she received new orders to go back home. Maria would then replace her at the meeting and retrieve the files while Kyle and Tess would return to school after only missing the first two periods. So far everything was going accordingly and a complete success. The Agent was on her way home and the only part left, and the most difficult, was Maria's role to collect the files.
Michael insisted that he go along for protection. It was the concession they had made to get to him to agree to the plan. In addition he was the only other person who had any experience in imitating a FBI Agent. Maria was all dressed up in her power suit and Michael had already adjusted his clothes. Maria's identity document had also been changed by Michael reflecting Agent Harris's details, all collected by Kyle and Tess.
The headquarters was half an hour away. It was a silent drive filled with unspoken thoughts. Michael and Maria were a strange contradiction in many ways. While both of them could be extremely vocal especially towards one another, some of their best communication was made in silence. Both of them knew what the other was thinking. It wasn't necessary to say it out loud.
Getting into the building was easy. At the entrance all they had to do was show the identity before they were waved in. Michael remained in the car ready to leave immediately or go in and help if he felt Maria ask for it. Maria got out of the car in one smooth moment. She didn't say goodbye to Michael and he didn't wish her good luck. The two of them just exchanged one glance, an emotion filled glance that said all that needed to be said before Maria tuned and walked into the building.
The building was a nondescript grey two story. It seemed like any other office building except for all the security that surrounded it. No one would have suspected it being the headquarters of an elite and secret FBI Task Force. Maria walked in, seemingly confident. Her outer appearance and expression revealed none of the inner turmoil and nervousness she was feeling at that moment. She took a deep breathe before approaching the reception and then smiled as what resembled a light breeze from within went through her. It was a message from Michael telling her that she would be fine and that everything would be okay.
After that, Michael saying that he had faith in her and that he trusted her, Maria found the rest easy. Within minutes she had asked for the contact and been ushered into a small room just of the entrance to receive the files. Maria's hair had been changed to a reddish brown colour and the length adjusted by Max to match the description of the woman who she was pretending to be – one of his Girlfriend duties as Maria put it. Similarly her face matched the identification she carried. Maria didn't even blink when upon displaying it, the man the Congresswoman was paying for inside information scrutinised the identification and compared her face. She trusted Michael and he did good work especially when it counted.
Both Maria and the identification passed the test. The man handed her a small envelope containing two disks. Maria didn't open up the envelope. She just took it, smiled and said thank you, waved goodbye and walked out the building. The second Michael felt her get closer he moved the car and pulled up directly in front of the building just as Maria strolled out. She jumped into the car and at his questioning gaze gave a small smile of triumph.
Michael restrained himself from yelling in excitement even after he drove out the entrance gates. Maria on the other hand wasn't as hesitant and screamed loudly before leaning over and giving him a loud kiss. Then she sat back with a huge cat got the cream grin on her face. He just laughed in response. Before they had much of a chance to enjoy the moment, Maria's cell phone rang. It was Isabel.
*******************
Alex and Isabel had been sitting in Michael's apartment for a couple of hours now. Waiting was a horrible job and Isabel was bored out of her mind. They were waiting for news from Michael and Maria to see if everything went according to plan. Listening to the Congresswoman, apart from the morning meeting with Agent Harris, had proved useless so far. Nothing out of the ordinary had been said. Even Alex looked slightly dissatisfied which was strange because he loved to play with little gadgets.
Isabel had her head resting on Alex shoulder as usual when the phone on the screen they were watching rang. Without much enthusiasm Isabel and Alex both reached for the headphones to listen in on the conversation.
The conversation. It made Isabel wish with all her heart that she could go back to being bored again, back to when the hardest thing the 8 of them had to do was retrieve some files from the heart of a secret FBI Headquarters.
The strange thing was, with all this time, since the cave that they had been waiting for some move from the enemy and nothing had happened in months, part of Isabel just hoped and believed that nothing would ever happen. Even the thing with the files hadn't changed her belief, since the FBI was just an old enemy not something new.
She looked at Alex in a panic but found no comfort there. He was just as terrified as she was. Only four were left. Max and Liz. Kyle and Tess. All gone. She had to phone Michael. He and Maria would fix it. They were the strong ones in the group. Alex handed her the phone, reading her mind, the number already dialled. On the other end, Michael's voice could be heard. Isabel could hear the smile in his voice and knew that the mission had been a success even before he said anything. And she knew that the second she spoke that smile would be gone.
End part 18
It was Liz's idea that each of them pair up as human/alien couples for safety. Somehow without an actual discussion on the matter the eight of them divided themselves into the relationships that were most familiar to them.
Kyle and Tess had the first role. They left immediately from Michael's apartment to the Grange to find the woman who was supposed to pick up the files. The motel was a small one just at the edge of Roswell. It didn't take long to find her. She was the only new check-in and the only single woman. They discovered this by some basic detective work. Tess mindwarped the clerk and Kyle studied the records. Her name was Agent Megan Harris.
The two of them parked close by to her room and after making sure she was in, phoned the Sheriff to send someone to keep an eye on her. They didn't inform the sheriff the entire plan and surprisingly he didn't ask. He just sent one of his deputy's to the motel with strict orders to notify them if she left. Unfortunately being in school meant even with a rather understanding father, staying out all night with a girl was not something that would go down well and so they had to adjust the plan. In the morning the two of them would return and relieve the deputy from stake out duty.
Max and Liz were in charge of the next part. It was decided that Liz would plant a couple of bugs in the Congresswoman's office. This was mainly because she could do this early in the morning by entering the office without raising any suspicions because of her job. She would just say if caught that she forgot something and came to fetch it. Max was going along in case something went wrong and to open any doors that may need to be opened.
The next day Max and Liz arrived at the Congresswoman's office around seven. There was no one there yet so Max using a little bit of his powers unlocked the doors, both the entrance and the office door. Alex had given them two listening devices to use, one for the phone and one for the office. Both of them had to practise placing the bug in the phone many times the night before under Alex and Maria's strict supervision. With all the practise they had done, it all went smoothly. Max stood lookout at the door and Liz placed the bugs both out of sight. After a short test to see if Alex and Isabel could hear, they left for school. One of the other decisions made the night before had been that at least four of them would have to go to school to avoid rising any suspicion as would be if all eight of them were missing.
Alex was responsible for all the high tech stuff. It was his expertise after all. Isabel was his partner in crime. The teens were using the listening devices they had found after their last run in with the FBI and Nacedo. Alex and Isabel were staked out in Michael's apartment which was within range of the Congresswoman's office. The two of them would listen in and report to Michael and Maria and Kyle and Tess. Just in case they were to skip school and stay all day. The two of them were also home base and everyone was to report to them and update them with any new developments.
*****************
Kyle and Tess pulled up at the Grange just minutes before Agent Harris left. The Congresswoman was already in her office based on video feed from the office device and so far nothing suspicious had been overheard. Kyle and Tess followed the agent to the Congresswoman and waited outside for further instructions.
Alex and Isabel listening in the apartment with Michael and Maria who copied and memorised all the information on the whereabouts of the FBI Headquarters and the meeting and retrieval of the files. Michael and Maria then left for the meeting while Isabel sent Tess the go ahead.
The plan was simple. Tess would mindwarp the Agent into stopping her car thinking there was a red robot and then further convince her that she received new orders to go back home. Maria would then replace her at the meeting and retrieve the files while Kyle and Tess would return to school after only missing the first two periods. So far everything was going accordingly and a complete success. The Agent was on her way home and the only part left, and the most difficult, was Maria's role to collect the files.
Michael insisted that he go along for protection. It was the concession they had made to get to him to agree to the plan. In addition he was the only other person who had any experience in imitating a FBI Agent. Maria was all dressed up in her power suit and Michael had already adjusted his clothes. Maria's identity document had also been changed by Michael reflecting Agent Harris's details, all collected by Kyle and Tess.
The headquarters was half an hour away. It was a silent drive filled with unspoken thoughts. Michael and Maria were a strange contradiction in many ways. While both of them could be extremely vocal especially towards one another, some of their best communication was made in silence. Both of them knew what the other was thinking. It wasn't necessary to say it out loud.
Getting into the building was easy. At the entrance all they had to do was show the identity before they were waved in. Michael remained in the car ready to leave immediately or go in and help if he felt Maria ask for it. Maria got out of the car in one smooth moment. She didn't say goodbye to Michael and he didn't wish her good luck. The two of them just exchanged one glance, an emotion filled glance that said all that needed to be said before Maria tuned and walked into the building.
The building was a nondescript grey two story. It seemed like any other office building except for all the security that surrounded it. No one would have suspected it being the headquarters of an elite and secret FBI Task Force. Maria walked in, seemingly confident. Her outer appearance and expression revealed none of the inner turmoil and nervousness she was feeling at that moment. She took a deep breathe before approaching the reception and then smiled as what resembled a light breeze from within went through her. It was a message from Michael telling her that she would be fine and that everything would be okay.
After that, Michael saying that he had faith in her and that he trusted her, Maria found the rest easy. Within minutes she had asked for the contact and been ushered into a small room just of the entrance to receive the files. Maria's hair had been changed to a reddish brown colour and the length adjusted by Max to match the description of the woman who she was pretending to be – one of his Girlfriend duties as Maria put it. Similarly her face matched the identification she carried. Maria didn't even blink when upon displaying it, the man the Congresswoman was paying for inside information scrutinised the identification and compared her face. She trusted Michael and he did good work especially when it counted.
Both Maria and the identification passed the test. The man handed her a small envelope containing two disks. Maria didn't open up the envelope. She just took it, smiled and said thank you, waved goodbye and walked out the building. The second Michael felt her get closer he moved the car and pulled up directly in front of the building just as Maria strolled out. She jumped into the car and at his questioning gaze gave a small smile of triumph.
Michael restrained himself from yelling in excitement even after he drove out the entrance gates. Maria on the other hand wasn't as hesitant and screamed loudly before leaning over and giving him a loud kiss. Then she sat back with a huge cat got the cream grin on her face. He just laughed in response. Before they had much of a chance to enjoy the moment, Maria's cell phone rang. It was Isabel.
*******************
Alex and Isabel had been sitting in Michael's apartment for a couple of hours now. Waiting was a horrible job and Isabel was bored out of her mind. They were waiting for news from Michael and Maria to see if everything went according to plan. Listening to the Congresswoman, apart from the morning meeting with Agent Harris, had proved useless so far. Nothing out of the ordinary had been said. Even Alex looked slightly dissatisfied which was strange because he loved to play with little gadgets.
Isabel had her head resting on Alex shoulder as usual when the phone on the screen they were watching rang. Without much enthusiasm Isabel and Alex both reached for the headphones to listen in on the conversation.
The conversation. It made Isabel wish with all her heart that she could go back to being bored again, back to when the hardest thing the 8 of them had to do was retrieve some files from the heart of a secret FBI Headquarters.
The strange thing was, with all this time, since the cave that they had been waiting for some move from the enemy and nothing had happened in months, part of Isabel just hoped and believed that nothing would ever happen. Even the thing with the files hadn't changed her belief, since the FBI was just an old enemy not something new.
She looked at Alex in a panic but found no comfort there. He was just as terrified as she was. Only four were left. Max and Liz. Kyle and Tess. All gone. She had to phone Michael. He and Maria would fix it. They were the strong ones in the group. Alex handed her the phone, reading her mind, the number already dialled. On the other end, Michael's voice could be heard. Isabel could hear the smile in his voice and knew that the mission had been a success even before he said anything. And she knew that the second she spoke that smile would be gone.
End part 18