Disclaimer: I don't own aliens. Every character in this fic is mine. If you steal any of them, I'll turn you into alien food.

Chapter 9

Business Venture

Tom Herrera strode into the compound. The mansion was surround by a high wall. The owner in question owed Tom a favor and it was time to collect.

Tom strode toward the door. A guard dressed in a black suit stood in his way. Tom frowned as he held out his hands and ordered him to stop.

Tom sighed. "Just tell Vice President Clemmons that Thomas Herrera is here."

The man spoke into a microphone hidden beneath his suit. After the reply he stood aside and gestured for Tom to enter. Tom walked past and threw the doors open.

"President Clemmons is in the garden," the guard said. "Do you need an escort?"

"No," Tom crossed the large room. The mansion was large and very inch of it screamed of great wealth. Tom could have had one just like it, but he had never saw the need of it.

The garden was a climate-controlled room in the back of the house. Tom entered the green house. The room was full of green plants. Clemmons had planted it because he found it relaxing to sit back and view the greenery.

The Vice President sat in a seat next to the door sipping a glass of lemonade. He was an old man dressed in white.

"Tom! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Clemmons asked cheerfully.

"Business," Tom said emotionlessly. "I need your help."

Tom had backed Clemmons' political campaign. So naturally Clemmons owed him a few favors.

"Well, what do you want?" Clemmons asked gesturing for Tom to sit.

"Well, Jack," Tom said sitting down. "Are you aware of my research with the bugs?"

Clemmons nodded. "Yes, I… You aren't still working with those things despite the ban on it?"

"No, of course not," Tom said. "But some of my scientist that were working on the project found their way into government employ. Some of them were unhappy with their new working environment and have kept me informed on your progress."

Clemmons sat up slowly. "You know about the experiments on GX-2?"

"Yes, indeed," Tom replied. "And for some reason my contact suddenly stopped sending me info. I was wondering if you could shed some light on this."

Clemmons glanced out at the lush green forest and sighed. "We don't know what happened exactly. Things were going very well. We thought we had all the bugs worked out and now all that research…"

"I would expect you to send out some kind of recovery team," Tom said. "And since that's the case, I should think that you would need some help."

"What do you mean?" Clemmons asked.

"I want in on this," Tom said. "If I'm excluded from this I'm going to inform the public of your experiments. I should think that would really hurt your chances for reelection."

"Yes, it would among other things," Clemmons nodded. "I'll talk to the president. I'm sure he'll agree with you."

Tom smiled. His company was certainly very powerful. Being able to manipulate the government. It filled him with pride. "I'll want a copy of all the information your researchers have collected and any other important information."

"Yes, I suppose you will want someone to go with our team?"

Tom nodded. "Yes, in fact I want several some ones on the team that are on my payroll. I'll even go myself."

"Yourself?" Clemmons repeated. "It could be dangerous. We have no idea what happened at the facility. The experiments could have gotten lose."

"I am well aware of the dangers, Jack," Tom said. He got up and turned to leave. "Do your best, Jack, and I won't forget it."

Tom strolled out of the mansion and to his limo. He smiled imagining the profits of this venture.

Tom's apartment. A day later.

Tom opened the apartment door and chucked his keys to the ground. They clattered on the floor. Tom ripped the top of the plain brown envelope off and dropped the computer disk in it into his hands.

Tom moved to his lab top. He passed the screen on the wall as it rang. Tom sighed and pressed the button on its side. The screen flashed on and the president's frowning face appeared on it.

"Happy? You got what you want," the president growled then his face softened into a smile. "But I think you might find something rather… unpleasant in there."

"Oh, and what is that?" Tom asked frowning.

The president smiled again. He had never liked Tom and Tom had never liked him.

"I think I'll let you find out for yourself," the screen blinked off.

Tom frowned and sat down at the table. He popped the disk into the computer and downloaded its information content. Tom scrolled down the file page reading the various reports and accounts.

He found nothing of interest in any of the files. Most of the tests had been unsuccessful until they had successfully transformed an old prisoner. There was also accounts of several other successes, but most of them had gone crazy or committed suicide.

Finally he read the name of the last testee. Anthony Herrera. He blinked and checked the name again. Beside the file was a picture of Anthony. Tom looked at the test results. Successful.

Tom frowned. So his son had left the plant to get away from him and had somehow wound up on GX-2. Looking through the file on him, he saw that his son had hidden out in a cargo hauler that the general had recruiting for them.

Tom jumped up as at knock sounded at the door. Tom muttered angrily wondering who that could be this late in the mourning. Tom walked to the door and pulled it open.

His ex-wife, Jean, stood in the hallway looking angry, Tom wondered what she could possibly want.

"Why wasn't I informed of Anthony's disappearance?" Jean asked angrily.

"I'm his guardian, you did not need to know," Tom replied sliding the door shut.

Jean pushed through the door however and turned to face him. "He ran away," Jean said. "Why do you think he did that?"

Tom stayed silent. Jean smiled triumphantly. "I'm willing to bet that you and he weren't seeing eye-to-eye. Am I right?"

Tom growled. "He is my son. What I want for him is law. He's going to have to learn that. And as soon as I get him back, he will."

"So you know where he went?" Jean said. "Good, cause when he's back, you and I are going to court and this time I'll bet that all your money won't be enough to buy the verdict. Especially after Anthony has run away."

"I don't know. My influence goes far," Tom smirked.

"Where is he?" Jean demanded icily.

"You don't need to know," Tom replied containing his anger. "I'll get him back and you can take this to court. I don't care. I'll win just like last time."

Jean glanced back at Tom's computer. The screen still showed a picture of Anthony. Jean moved toward it, but Tom quickly grabbed her wrist.

Jean grunted and wrenched her hand from Tom's grasp. "I have plenty of right to know where he is!" Jean punched her former husband's face and sent him sprawling across the carpet.