As the five headed toward Palmdale, the Los Angeles police went to Whitney High and found the two gunmen handcuffed in Bill's car. As they took the men to jail, a third person watched from a distance. "So, my men couldn't get your wife, Hinkley," said the man with a frown. "A minor inconvenience. Just you wait, soon you'll have to cooperate with my plans after I take the school hostage."
He looked at the scene and saw the patch of blood on the ground. He smiled when he saw a ring mandrel lying nearby. "Well, well, my men really did wound your daughter. I see they at least they did their homework. Well, I guess that's a step in my favor after all," he said with a grin. "If she dies, then you'll be too grieved to be much of a threat to begin with. Soon, my plans will be in force and you'll be powerless to stop me."
---------------------------------------------
As the van reached the desert in Palmdale, Tony again looked at the scene around him. Ralph and Pam were still keeping an eye on Aidan so she didn't go into arrest again, and Bill was watching the steering wheel move without any assistance. He knew something was amiss, and he wanted answers. "Maxwell, come on, I've been playing along with you guys for long enough," he said. "What's so special about Palmdale, and why's Mr. H wearing that funny outfit? I want to know what the hell is going on..."
Bill started to say something, but Ralph interrupted. "Look Tony, what Bill said is true. When we meet who I think we're about to meet, they want you to come when they want you to come. Why now when Aidan's hurt I don't know, but I think we're going to find out."
The older FBI agent groaned, remembering a night in Las Vegas all those years ago. "Kid, you don't think it's our, uh, time, do ya," he said with a slight shiver in his voice. Tony looked at the older agent curiously, but decided since no one was telling the whole truth, not to even bother asking.
Ralph shook his head. "I don't know, Bill. It's been a long time, so who knows what it is. Could be what happened at the school, but still why the five of us to Palmdale."
"Our luck, it'll be some lecture again like they did last time..."
"Bill, I don't think that'll happen, since. ..."
"Uh, guys, I think we're here," said Pam as the van's engine died and it rolled to a stop.
"What is this, this is no time to be star watching," said Tony, still upset he didn't get any straight answers.
"Tony, unfortunately, this is the perfect time," said Pam as she looked out the front window. Tony looked up and saw what looked like a neon hubcap come down from the sky. He noticed Bill started backing into his chair while he felt himself doing the same thing, blanching a bit as well. Pam and Ralph looked up and gave a soft smile, knowing they would help Aidan. It had happened before ... many years ago.
"What the hell is that," said Tony with a slight squeak in his voice.
"It's a spaceship Tony, possibly the same one Bill and I met 25 years ago," said Ralph.
Just then the radio turned on, causing Tony to jump up in his chair, hitting his head on the ceiling. "Please... come... all... we're... here... to... help...to ... change...," said the radio as it scanned the stations.
When the doors unlocked, the four conscious passengers got out of the van. Ralph bent back into the van and picked up Aidan in his arms again. As he carried her, he realized that she felt her weight, which was odd as the suit let him pick up the heaviest of men as though they were a feather. "Things have changed," he said softly as he started to catch up to the others already heading toward the spaceship.
Ralph reached the others and, after walking a short distance, they all stood under the ship. The four looked up, either awe or fear, and knowing what was next, Ralph held on to Aidan a little tighter so he didn't drop her. The ship shot down a beam of light, and the group was beamed aboard. The ship lifted and headed to outerspace again, and those inside were about to make a change that would affect the entire group.
