Chapter 9

Marshall's POV

I've known what it's like to be excited. I distinctly remember Carrie coming to me, looking completely solemn, right before she told me that she was pregnant. I remember when I was helping Sydney bypass Toni Cumming's (man, that chick is hot) lethal response system when she (Carrie, not Toni or Sydney) came to me saying, "It's time." My first mission is engraved in my mind (that Chinese man, Dr. Lee I think it was, is truly creepy). All of these times were more of a nervous excitement more than anything, but excitement nonetheless.

Knowing what will happen tomorrow, I'm filled with excitement. The best part is that it's not even nervous excitement. It's excitement, pure and simple. I am going to be present for the formation of world history. The euphoria I feel is unbelievable.

This turn of events makes me think that perhaps, in time, Star Trek may not be so far fetched. "Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Their continuing mission: to explore strange, new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilization; to boldly go where…"

Jack starts speaking, and I focus my attention on him. "With the visit from the ambassador from our parallel universe taking place tomorrow, there are some points I'd like to bring to the forefront.

"First, although we are operating under the assumption that these…beings…are peaceful, I'd just like to state that we could be wrong. Does everyone understand? Sending one person in to do reconnaissance is actually a tried and true military tactic. That could very well be what they're doing; sending in one operative to scope out our military might in order to adjust their offensive schemes to lay waste to our resistance.

"Now that I've stated the potential risk, I'm also going to point out that we are not to use force unless we are fired upon."

"Excuse me, Mr. Bristow," I say raising my hand.

"Yes, Marshall?"

"I clear my throat. "As much as I'm looking forward to tomorrow, meeting intelligent life from another planet, and all of that, I am concerned about one aspect of this meeting."

"Which is?"

"Well," I start, trying to vocalize my apprehensions. "Have you ever seen Independence Day? It's that movie with the big, um, saucer-shaped ships that fly all over the world, destroying all big cities with that blue laser-type thing," (I continue, knowing I'm babbling, but how can I convey the technical aspects of the "laser-type thing" as I phrased it. Would they have known what I was talking about if I called it the super-compressed heat-wave emitter with incendiary capabilities?) "Everyone panics, and Will Smith, I can't remember his name in the movie, punches out that alien, and then takes it to Area 51, where they discover there's another alien in the head, and it says, 'Die! Die!'

There's mass panic everywhere, not quite on the lines of Savogda, but you know…people are panicking, the media's going crazy, and whatnot?"

"I fail to see the relevance, and yes, I am familiar with the movie."

"Right, um, what I was getting to was the reaction of both the public and the media. How are we going to control that?"

Jack's jaw hardens and I know the next news isn't going to be pleasant. "There's going to be an…'accident' that will…'persuade' people not to venture outside tomorrow. Do you understand?"

I nod, eyes wide. Did Jack just state that they were going to endanger several lives to keep the landing a secret?

As I look around the table, I notice I'm not the only one apprehensive about what was just said. Jack clearly noticed the reactions, also.

"Come on, people, and think it through. It's not going to be real. Haven't you ever heard of cover-ups? Haven't you ever heard of JFK's assassination?"

(Wow, Jack just admitted that there was another shooter from the grassy knoll.)

A nervous chuckle fills the room, but the chuckles turn into groans when Jack continues. "In order to be here for the meeting and to avoid the accident, I will need you all here by 3 o' clock tomorrow."

"A. M?" Weiss asks, and Jack glares at him.

"Yes, Agent Weiss, 3 o' clock a. m."

More groans.

"Since you all have an early day tomorrow, you may all go, except for you, Agent Vaughn."

I gather up my stuff, and leave Jack and Vaughn in the room alone. (I do not envy Vaughn right now.) I look over and see Sydney looking down, confusion on her face.

"Is everything all right?"

"Everything's fine. I've just got some…personal issues I'm dealing with now."

"Does it have something to do with Vaughn, or whoever he is?"

"A little bit, yeah."

"Oh, well, I hope you figure it out."

"Thanks."

I nod and walk away. When I reach my Mini Cooper, I start looking for my keys. (Figures I'd lock them in my car.) I pull out my cell phone, and start modifying it so that it would broadcast the unlock frequency. (This isn't the first time I've had to do this.)

The lock pops up, and I climb in and head home. I pull up in front of the house and notice that Carrie's car is gone. Obviously she's at work.

I play my phone messages (my three terabyte computer is finally in), and as I'm walking by my place at the table I see a note.

Marshall, when you get this, we need to talk.

I try Carrie's phone, but I don't get an answer. Grabbing my…not again (cell phone, work your magic)…unlocking my car door, I grab my keys and drive over to the NSA building, where I request a meeting with Carrie.

Minutes later, she comes down, smiling when she sees me. Her eyes are red. Apparently she's been listening to Jodi Michaels, no, that's not right, Joni….what? Joni Mitchell, the name suddenly pops into my head.

She hugs me when she reaches me. "What are you doing here so early?"

"Work let out early. What's going on?"

She swallows hard. Oh, no, I think to myself.

"I had my yearly physical last week. Most of the stuff was simple; I passed it with flying colors. My blood work, however, was taking a while."

"Why?"

"There were heightened levels of HCG."

"HCG?" I ask, bewildered.

"Human chorionic gonadotropin," she answers, but doesn't answer why she's acting like she is.

"Which is?"

"Marshall," she says, placing her hand on my shoulder, "I'm pregnant."

I feel very light-headed. The world spins, and everything goes black.

…TBC…