Meeting the parents

Part 5

It was nearly dust when the ringing phone drew Dorothy's attention. The caller ID flashed the number she'd been waiting for and she answered quickly.

"Dorothy?" A crisp base male voice started the conversation

"Yes Richard, I am so glad you could get back to me so quickly. I am in desperate need of your help."

"You know I am here for you, Dorothy. Is Charlene alright?"

"She is for the moment, but she is involved in a dangerous situation. It has to do with some illegal aliens. My daughter is being detained by these people and I need you to help me get her free." Dorothy made her voice shake a little to add just the right amount of drama.

"Dorothy, why in heaven's name haven't you called the police?"

"I couldn't, Richard, it's very involved and much more complicated then I can explain. These persons aren't what you think. All I can tell you is if I don't stop her, Charlene will ruin the rest of her life. If you will help me, I promise you'll be more than pleased with what it will mean for your career."

"You are being very cryptic, Dorothy. You want me to stop these people, but you can't tell me any more then they are illegal aliens. That's just not enough to go on, I have to have more information before I can authorize getting my people involved."

"Oh really, when you were looking for funding for your latest project you were more than will to get involved. I told you this has to do with my daughter's future, possibly her life and if I can't depend on your help now…."

"Alright, Dorothy, alright. What do you need for me to do?"

" Thank you, Richard. You will have my undying gratitude."

" May I ask if Charles knows anything about what's happening?"

" Yes, he knows, in fact he's part of all this madness. But when you arrest those people I must insist that my husband and daughter are not to be implicated in the slightest way."

"You are not making this very easy, Dorothy. I can't promise anything but I will do the best I can."

"That is all I ask. There is a Justice of the Peace located about 20 miles out from the city limits, do you know where that is?"

"No, I'm not familiar with that area?"

"If you meet me at the Center street turn off I will show you how to get there."

"The Justice of the Peace, Dorothy? Your daughter is marring one of these aliens? Now I understand. How is she going to feel about you doing this?"

"That's my worry. These people are here illegally and are a danger to national security, that's all that should concern you. Leave my family to me."

"What ever you say, I just hope you know what you are doing and these people are as dangerous as you say. I am going out on a limb and I'd better be able to explain the manpower this will cost.

"Trust me when you have them in custody you'll understand everything and you will thank me, good-bye."

Dorothy Davidson, for the first time in her life, felt a twinge of uncertainty. But this was for Charlene's future, even if the child couldn't see it. Young people never know what's best for them, so it's a mother's duty to make sure they don't make the wrong decisions. Dorothy convinced herself as she went up to get dressed and do what her motherly obligation made necessary to do.

                                                            ****

Gates glance up at the clock briefly looking away from the make-up mirror then over to Charley, "Well, girlfriend in all of 20 minutes we will be getting hitched. Are you scared?"

Charley answered not taking her eyes way from putting the last finishing touches on her face, "Oh no, I'm steady as the rock of Gibraltar. What's to be scared of?  Not only am I going to married a man from Mars, which in itself sounds too strange to actually believe but I'm leave everything I know to live on a world where, other than you, I'll be an alien. Nope, no reason to be scared there, it happens every day? But ask me if I would change a second of it. Not for all the gold gills in the whole Plutarkian Empire," she looked over and gave a best friend a reassuring wink.

"Same here," Gates smiled. "Well, let's get this party started."

                                                                         *****

Cornel Jackson had secured a small battalion of well-armed men and was in route following Dorothy to the place her husband had said Charley and her friends would be performing the ceremony. The group stopped a mile away from the small white house with the white pick fence and flowered covered walk way. Parked out side were a number of motorcycles including the one her husband recently dug out of storage.

The Cornel commanded half his men to go around to the back of the house, a number of them station themselves on each side of the porch leading up to the front door and the remainder to follow him. Dorothy sat in her car going over in her mind what she would say to her husband and daughter and trying once more to justify her actions.

Cornel Jackson moved slowly up the porch to the brightly painted green door and stood next to it trying to hear what was happening on the other side. He could hear the sound of organ music playing softly in the background. Carefully leaning up on the door he looked through the three small windows at the very top and could see two couples standing in front of an older man who must have been the one performing the ceremony. A number of people were standing around watching and strangely all where dress in some type of motorcycle gear and some still had their helmets on.

He signaled to each man standing on either side of him. Then standing back he kicked the door open and all of the men rolled into the room, "EVERYBODY STAND RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE AND NO ONE WILL GET HURT!!!"

Everyone stood motionless, instinctively holding their hands above there heads. The older gentleman looked as if he was about to have a heart attack and his sliver haired wife almost fainted from shear fright.

Having secured the situation he called to have Dorothy brought in to identify that these where the persons she'd spoken of. Coming in she immediately looked at the young red haired woman in shock. She walked over to the man and snatched the helmet off his head.

Who are you and where is my daughter?" She commanded seeing the shocked look on the young human's face.

"I don't know what you're talkin' about, who's your daughter and what's this all about. When did it become a crime to get married?" He glared around to the guns being pointed at his family and friends.

"At ease men," the Cornel commanded walking over to the group lowering his weapon and giving Dorothy Davidson a confused look. "Well Dorothy, would you care to explain who this is?"

"This is some sort of trick. You are a part of this deception, where are they?" Dorothy grabbed the young man's jacket shaking him.

"Whoa lady, ease up. I don't know who you're lookin' for. A friend of mine asked if I'd like to use this place to get married. He said he'd pay for everything including a Hawaiian honeymoon." The man pushed her hand away and stood looking at the Cornel waiting for him to explain why he and his men had disrupted the ceremony.

"There has been a big mistake, I'm really sorry, here let me make amends for our rude intrusion", the Cornel went in his pocket and pulled out enough money to repair the damaged he and his men had done. "The lady just made a big mistake. Enjoy your wedding." The embarrassed army officer grabbed Dorothy by the arm and led her out.

"No, this is a trick, that's my husbands sliver machine out there I know it. How did they get it if they don't know Charlene."

"The big machine is mine a wedding present. I got the pink slip if you wanna check." He pulled the paper out and handed it to the Cornel.

"Everything is legal, the bike was bought, brand new, by a Jack McCyber and this young man is now the legal owner. Thank you sir, we won't hold you folks up any longer. Come along Dorothy," he regained a firmer hold on her arm and they left.

Outside she yanked away. "You are going to do nothing!? I know that under handed, Mc Cyber, he's party to this elaborate plot. He's helping them get away and back to their own planet, taking my daughter with them."

"Their planet, Dorothy? Are we talking about alien from outer space? No wonder you wouldn't tell me anything. Dorothy maybe you and Charles need to take a nice long vacation somewhere. I think you have been working too hard."

"Don't you dare patronize me! I tell you she's marring a large, white, mouse looking alien from Mars and you have to help me stop her!"

"Look Dorothy, I have to see how I'm going to explain all this in my report. I have to get back to my office. Maybe you should let one of my men drive you back and call a doctor until Charles gets there."

 She glared at him, "Never mind, I don't need you or your men to do anything." The furious woman stormed off getting in her car and screeching away.

A young officer came up behind the Cornel, "Sir, we are all secure. Should we head back now?"

Cornel Jackson shook his head and waved for the young man to start back. "That's what happens when you have too much money and too much time on your hands," he sighed watching the dust that followed Dorothy's car trail, than got back in his jeep and left for his office.

To be continued to the… "Wedding."