As Told by Ginger copyright Viacom

Chapter 18: Families Reunited… and Hostages Taken

"Oh just great now there's another alien we have to deal with," Miranda muttered. An identical creature to Nomar had just climbed out of the recently crashed Saucer. "Not only that. He's also a cop."

"But isn't your father a cop, Miranda?" Dodie asked.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Don't get me wrong. It's just been my experience that cops are over-serious people devoid of any sense of humor. At all."

"Your dad doesn't seem all that bad, Miranda," Ginger said.

Life is too harsh for such trivialities, the alien countered.

Miranda considered. Then shook her head. "No, I don't think so. Making fun of other people's misery is what makes life worthwhile. Besides you still haven't explained why you abducted these people."

"Uh, guys," Carl said, climbing out of the other Flying Saucer, "this isn't the time to debate the meaning of life. Is everyone here? We've come to rescue you guys." He frowned. "There couldn't be. Lola isn't here."

Ginger looked around. Carl was right. Mrs. Foutley was missing. As well as Mrs. Gripling and Macie. Where were they? And where were Courtney and Mipsy?

"I'm sure that they're show up sooner or later," Miranda observed.

By now Darren, Hoodsey, and Noelle had all followed Carl out the hatch. "Is this everyone, Carl?" Dodie asked.

"Yes, of course it's everyone. Unlike you people, we'll much too organized to just go around losing people."

"We didn't think that we needed to have everyone in one spot until you decided to bash your spaceship until ours."

"No, it was you that decided to stop right in front causing us to crash into you."

"We didn't stop. How do we know that you didn't deliberately crash your ship into ours."

"That's ridiculous, Bishop. Why on earth should do we that for?"

"That's hardly matters, Carl, considering we aren't on earth. And Miranda's right. Just what are you doing here?"

Carl opened his mouth, then he look helplessly toward the alien. "What am I doing here, Notek?"

To help identify your friends of course.

"That makes sense, I guess."

"Did I miss anything?" Courtney had reappeared, and Ginger was relieved to see that she was dressed again. "UFO's crashing into each is when exciting things start to happen."

"Not much, Courtney," Miranda said. "Just Notek here explaining to us that the alien we hitched a ride is a wanted criminal?"

Courtney didn't look moved. "Does he have proof of these allegations, hmmm?"

Miranda's grin was crooked. "No. He does not."

"Then what's the problem?"

"Oh, there's no problem. Mipsy and I just so happen to have evidence for Mr. Notek's claims."

Don't patronize me.

"There's no way that Nomar could be a wanted criminal. He's the most wonderful, kindest man that has ever walked the Earth, and I won't stand by idlely while talk that way about him. He even gave a ride in his spaceship. And nothing anyone can say will change my mind."

Panting, Mipsy barged into the chamber. "I confronted Nomar about the ship and he has gone into hiding."

OOO-

Lois and Claire shook hands after striking up a deal. Ginger was to be in charge of the kids, as she was the most mature one, while the grown-ups (namely them) would take a nap. After that had been decided, the hatch opened and Macie poked her head in. "I don't know if you know this, but something hit us."

Lois turned to Claire, who shook her head. "No, we haven't heard a thing. What was it?"

"I don't know. But I'm going back there to find out." She waited half a minute before disappearing with the hatch closing behind her.

"You think it could be serious, Claire?" Lois asked.

"No. Whatever it is, I'm sure that Nomar is on top of it. Let's just go find the girls and announce our plan to them."

"Agreed. But no getting undressed until we return to Earth."

Claire crossed her brow at Lois. "I thought we already had that settled."

OOO-

"How's that for proof, Courtney?" Darren asked.

Courtney ignored him. "You're just overreacting, Mipsy," She said. "I'm sure that it's all a big misunderstanding."

"Oh, Courtney," Mipsy said. "He also said he was a fugitive from the law."

"He was probably just kidding with you."

But it is true, Notek said. Nomar is a wanted man in twelve systems.

"What did he do?" Dodie asked nervously with her fingers near her mouth.

Forty-two known felonies, countless misdeamors, and generally being a nuisance of himself. But his favorite pastime is luring girls like yourself onto his spaceship and then sell them to inter-galactic zoos.

There was a chill in the air as Notek said those thoughts. And what he had to say next didn't help matters much either.

And I'm afraid he isn't above murder.

"That's obviously a completely different Nomar," countered Courtney. A little defensively. "Mine would never do anything like that."

"You don't own him, Courtney," Miranda argued.

Notek shook his head sadly. How could you humans be so naïve? Don't you read the papers?

Carl said after a completive notice, "From the context in which you speak, I would say not."

I would say not. Notek nodded toward Mipsy. If you would do the honors.

"I would be glad to."

Ginger grew wary. "What are you talking about?"

Didn't you know? Mipsy here has complete control of Nomar's ship.

"You're kidding!" Hoodsey said.

"Nope," Mipsy said with pride. "I have already have Nomar's ship under my complete control. Though to tell the truth, it isn't really his ship. He couldn't even break my hold on it. I wonder whose ship this is," she mused.

This ship belongs to the Plutonian ambassador.

Mipsy nodded her thanks.

"Nomar no longer has control, huh?" Carl asked.

Mipsy said, "Yes."

"That must mean that," Carl began to think aloud, "if he wanted a ship… he would to have steal Notek's."

"That's crazy, Carl," Noelle said. "How's he going to do that? Notek would stop him for sure."

Ginger remembered that not everyone was present. "Unless he had a hostage."

OOO-

While making her way toward the source off the troubling noise, she suddenly felt something press against her back. Don't make a move until I tell to. It took a moment for Macie to realize that it was actually Nomar speaking, and not some stray thought. Now raise your hands, he said a moment later.

Macie raised them and was soon prodded forward.