Alias Mars

By Michael Weyer

Part four: A Ride Down Memory Lane

Keith Mars tapped his fingers as he stared at the man sitting across from his desk. "So I'm just supposed to take your word on this?"

Jack Bristow was impassive as he replied. "Yes. You are. Your daughter is helping us with an important investigation. She is fine and in good health. Hopefully, she'll be back by tonight."

Keith pursed his lips. "You'll forgive me if I'm just a little skeptical. For all I know, you could have abducted her."

"Do I look like a kidnapper, Mr. Mars?"

"In my experience, the people who look the least guilty are the ones who are guilty as sin."

Jack inclined his head. "You understand human nature better than I expected." He brushed at his coat. "This is not a kidnapping, Mr. Mars. I can't go into all the details but your daughter is helping investigate the truth behind this bus crash. I would think you would that as well."

"What I want is to know my daughter is safe," Keith coldly bit out. "And it'll take more than a fancy badge to convince me of that."

Jack slowly rose to his feet. "Your daughter will be back by tonight. We would appreciate you keeping quiet about her until then."

"Mr. Bristow," Keith said as he stood up and leaned across his desk. "If I don't hear from my daughter by then, I will come after you. Not the police, not the FBI. Just me. And you don't want that."

Jack didn't even flinch but instead returned Keith's look. "Mr. Mars…I would advise some caution there. You don't want to make an enemy of me." He turned and walked out of the office, leaving a slightly chilled Keith Mars behind.

One more wire and I'll be hooked for Tivo. Veronica shifted in the plush reclining chair, trying to hide her nervousness. She had several small electrodes attached to her forehead and temples and on her arms as well. She looked to the mirror on the side and gave it a thumbs-up.

On the other side of the one-way glass, Mac sat in between Sydney and Vaughn, all watching as a middle-aged woman in a nice suit sat before Veronica. "Veronica, I'm Dr. Judy Barnett," she said. "I'll be helping you with the regression."

Veronica nodded. "Okay. Um, I don't mind admitting I'm a little nervous about this. I do have to say that if I end up taking off my top every time someone sings a Kayne West song, I'll be pissed."

Barnett smiled at her humor. "It's nothing to worry about, trust me. You'll be aware of what's going on. I'm just going to help you remember what you saw that day, with better clarity. Now, sit back and take some nice deep breaths and let out the tension."

Veronica did, breathing in and out slowly as the doctor instructed. "Now close your eyes and picture someplace you feel comfortable. Someplace safe." Veronica did and conjured up the image she'd had before of the pool at Lily's place. She listened to the doctor speak, hearing her talk of how soothing she felt. Veronica felt her own nervousness start to fade as the image came crisper. It was as if she could feel herself floating on a futon in the pool, just letting the water sway her back and forth and let go of all the tension inside...

Barnett checked the readings given from the electrodes attached to Veronica. She nodded as she saw the patterns indicating Veronica was in the REM state. She gazed at the young woman, who lay back, eyes shut and a content look on her face. "Veronica…how do you feel?"

"Good…peaceful…" Came the murmured reply.

"Okay, Veronica. Listen carefully. I want you to imagine you're watching a movie. You're in a nice soft chair watching the screen. Only the screen is showing your memories. Can you see it?"

Veronica nodded softly.

"Good. Now, I want the screen to go back, to rewind to that day, the day at the ballpark. I want you to remember everything you saw. Everything, even the things you didn't notice at the time. Let it all unfold in your mind. Do you see it?"

Veronica nodded. "Goodman's talking…He's telling us about his plans…his big deal with running and wanting support…usual political stuff…"

"Okay, Veronica. Keep your eyes on him. Just on him. I need you to…edit the movie. I need you to see only Goodman, whatever you saw of him, even if it was out of the corner of your eye. Just focus on him and him alone. Can you do that?"

"…Yes…"

"Okay then. Watch him. Tell me what you see him doing. Is he talking to anyone?"

"One of the players….Then some guy comes up…Think he's an aide…He whispers someone's there and Goodman…looks worried for some reason."

"What does he do, Veronica?"

"He goes over to talk to the guy."

"What does he look like?"

"Looks in his thirties…kinda hot…blond hair, blue eyes, in suit. He looks intense and they talk…can't tell what they're saying but…"

"But what?"

"Blondie's poking him in the chest…he looks so cold and scary…Goodman looks intimidated…He wants to argue but Blondie just turns away and walks. Then…"

Veronica tensed suddenly and took in a breath. "Veronica? Veronica, what's wrong? "Barrett quickly asked.

"He looks at me…his eyes are…cold and scary…he looks all over at all of us and…" She sucked in another breath. "He narrows his eyes…he's so cold…he looks like he…he wants to…" She heaved for breath, fear on her face. "It's him…it's him…he…he…"

"Veronica, Veronica, listen to me!" Barrett said quickly. "Listen! Calm down…let the movie stop…but remember that image of the man. Remember him. Now I'm going to count to three and when I reach three, you will be awake and remember that image. One..two…three."

Veronica's eyes snapped open and she sat up. She sucked in a breath as the memories flew into her head. "Oh, God," she whispered as she tore the electrodes off. "Oh, God, he was right there. I didn't even know I saw him but…he was there."

"Do you remember what he looked like?" Barrett asked.

Veronica nodded. "I'll never forget."

Barrett nodded back and glanced to the glass window. "Then I think we've got a place to start."

The small room Veronica found herself in was about the size of the computer lab at Neptune High. Every single spare inch was crammed with computer monitors, keyboards and over a dozen different types of mainframes. There were also yards of wires and devices crammed into the shelves, whose purpose Veronica could only guess at. She stood with Mac and Sydney, watching the curious little man before the keyboard at the desk.

"Okay, so, the program will allow you to help us create an image of the man you saw," Marshall was saying in an excitable manner. "Now, you gave me his basics before and now I can use it to create the image, just need you to tell me how to do it. Kinda like creating your own RPG character for Neverwinter Nights or something, ya know?" He giggled before seeing the blank look on Veronica's face and turned back to the screen to start typing.

"Wow, this is some system," Mac said, glancing around. Her eyes widened. "Whoa! Is that the new Mac driver? I thought that wasn't coming out until next year!"

"Oh, it's not," Marshall said. "But I got a peek at some of the plans and I kinda jury-rigged my own version so I can use it and it's been going good so far."

Mac stared at him. "You jury-rigged your own Mac?"

Marshall shrugged. "Ah, I kinda fool around with stuff in my spare time. Which isn't a whole lot with the wife and the kid and the whole trying to keep the world safe thing but I like to dabble and tinker and all that."

And I do believe we've finally met Mac's long-lost uncle, Veronica thought as she rubbed her arms.

Mac leaned in toward her friend. "You ok?"

Veronica shrugged. "Just trying to deal with it. I hope I can make this work."

"Just remember it wasn't your fault," Sydney said in a gentle tone. "It was this man who gave the order to do it, not you. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Veronica smiled. "Thanks. Sydney, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah, sorry we didn't get to talk earlier. And for the, you know, knocking you out part."

"Ah, what's a little chloroform between friends?" Veronica said.

"I've been talking to her a little while you were at your appointment," Mac said. "She seems cool."

"Oh, she is! She is!" Marshall piped up. "She's like a grown-up Kim Possible!" Sydney shot him a look as he babbled on. "My kid loves that show. I mean, I assume he does, he's still a baby and he watches but he kinda drools a bit when he sees her, which, you know, I think is just the baby thing but, maybe he's lusting over her which, I mean, you know, may not be a good sign, lusting over a cartoon character but then at least I know he's straight! I mean…I hope he's straight, I don't want to sound all homophobic and stuff but, I mean, I can't handle it because…."

Veronica shot Sydney a baffled look that basically asked What the HELL is this guy on! Sydney just gave a tiny shrug, used to the reaction Marshall brought out in people.

An image flowed on the screen of a man with blonde hair and flat features. "So, is this, um accurate?"

Veronica moved past him to look close. "No…nose was a bit shorter and centered." Marshall hit some keys and the nose shifted in place. "Okay…eyes were smaller…no, not that small," Veronica said as Marshall kept shifting the picture as per her description. "The hair was shorter, too, a bit more swept-back. Yeah, like that. Okay and his mouth wasn't so full in the lips. No, smaller. Okay, that's it. Yeah…yeah, that's him."

Mac and Veronica both realized a silence had gone out as both Marshall and Sydney tensed at the image of the handsome man on the screen. "What?" Veronica asked, looking from one to the other. "What is it?"

Sydney simply stared at the screen, at the image of a man she'd hoped she'd never see again.

"Sark."