Many of the characters within this story, and the universe they inhabit, are the intellectual property of Jason Katims Productions.
Roswell: Re-Imagined
Written by Horatio Jaxx
Chapter 44: The Roswell Thirteen
They had been waiting inside a large Pentagon conference room for more than an hour. General William Pittman sat just to the left of center of the table. Captain Ryan Kawecki sat next to General Pittman, at the right of center. The large, polished wood, table supported ten chairs down either side and one on each end. The room was not spacious, but it easily accommodated the table and a ring of chairs along the walls.
Captain Kawecki and General Pittman had been assured several times that the meeting would take place. When the door opened seventy-four minutes after the scheduled start time, they both were anticipating that the receptionist was returning with another report on the delay. To their surprise, the individuals they had been waiting for filed into the room, one after the other, at a rushed pace. They each promptly took seats on the opposite side of the table. Ryan was personally familiar with all but one of the four men who came into the room. The fourth man he was professionally familiar with.
Secretary of Defense Patrick Drenning sat directly opposite General Pittman. To his right was Deputy Secretary of Defense Kevin Bartley. To the left of Patrick Drenning was General Spencer Garber, and to his left was General Glen Snyder. They all sat back in their chairs and focused their attentions onto General Pittman in short order. Without preamble, Secretary of Defense Patrick Drenning began the meeting with a brief instruction.
"Okay, General Pittman, let's hear it."
"Thank you, Mr. Secretary," General Pittman responded as he put on his reading glasses and opened the folder in front of him. "A year ago, an unusual sample of blood came into our possession. Our scientists tell us that the owner of this blood is genetically several thousands of generations more advanced than any naturally born human on the planet."
General Pittman referenced repeatedly the papers in front of him as he spoke.
"These same scientists say that the odds against that occurring by accident are astronomical," General Pittman continued with only a brief hesitation. "They tell us that this person had to have been engineered."
General Pittman looked across the table from him for a reaction to anything he had said so far. It took him a second to note that Secretary Drenning was not impressed.
"We now know that there are twelve more of these genetic anomalies living in Roswell, New Mexico," General Pittman began again, with greater emphasis to his words. "… all seventeen years of age, and all with fraudulent birth certificates. This, Mr. Secretary, is astronomical times thirteen."
Secretary of Defense Patrick Drenning was aware of most of what he heard. What was news to him was the fact that they found twelve more of these extraterrestrial humans. He reacted to this with a glance to his Deputy to his right and then to the two Generals to his left. They, in turn, looked to him with mild expressions of surprise. He then looked across to General Pittman and asked his first question.
"I thought there was supposed to be fourteen?"
"We haven't found him yet," General Pittman answered straight away.
"And you're sure number fourteen is a male?" Secretary Drenning questioned with a curious inflection.
"That's our guess," General Pittman answered with a nod towards Ryan. "If the pattern holds true, number fourteen should turn out to be the seventh male."
Secretary Drenning paused to ponder that information. He gave no deference to anyone else as he did this. A few seconds later he queried General Pittman again.
"What can you tell me about the thirteen we do know about?"
In response to this, General Pittman removed a sheet of paper from the file in front of him and set it aside. He then flipped forward in the folder and procured an eight by ten picture with a factsheet attached to the back. General Pittman took a second to examine the name on the fact sheet and then slid it across to Secretary Drenning. The instant he did that, he began reading data from the paper he set aside for himself.
"Michael Guerin … seventeen … a student at Roswell High … his adoptive parent is Russell Guerin … the adoptive mother left when he was five. The father is a mechanic by trade and is the part owner of an automotive repair shop. Michael has had some run-ins with the law, nothing major. And he maintains a C average at school."
Secretary Drenning examined the picture and the data on the back as General Pittman read that information. After General Pittman finished reading the broad particulars about Michael, he slid a second picture across to the Secretary and began his recitation anew.
"Jeremy Stratton … seventeen … a student at Goddard High … adoptive parents … Devon and Yvonne Stratton … the father is an Office Manager for an insurance company. His mother is a Loan Processor at a local bank. Jeremy is holding a B average in school and has never been in trouble with the police."
General Pittman acquired another picture and then slid it across to the Secretary. As he did this, Secretary Drenning slid the first two pictures out to the individuals sitting to either side of him.
"Aaron Crawford," General Pittman continued. "Seventeen … a student at University High … adoptive parents … Bernard and Alice Crawford … the father is the owner of a plumbing company. The mother is a housewife. Aaron is averaging a B plus at school and has no record with the local authorities."
General Pittman reached into the folder, procured another eight by ten and slid it across to the Secretary after noting the attached name. He began reading from his sheet once again.
"Julie Kessler … seventeen … a student at Goddard High … adoptive parents … Scott and Betsy Kessler … the father is a Construction Superintendent, and the mother is a manager for a local jewelry store. Julie is averaging a B plus as well and has no external records worth mentioning."
General Pittman produced two eight by tens, one after the other, slid them across to the Secretary and began reading the pertinent information about them both.
"Max and Isabel Evans … both seventeen years of age … adoptive parents … Phillip and Diane Evans. The father is a lawyer and a senior member of a law firm that specializes in business law. The mother is a housewife. Max and Isabel are students at Roswell High with averages of B and B plus, respectively. Max was arrested for trespassing onto the White Sands Missile Range a year back. No charges were filed."
"Do we know what that was about?" Secretary Drenning quickly questioned.
"No," General Pittman answered in quick anticipation of the question. "The arresting officer thought that it was likely a prank or a dare. But there was an open gate, and the warning sign wasn't visible because of that. The officer in charge didn't think it was worth pursuing under those circumstances."
General Pittman paused to receive any additional questions regarding his report. Secretary Drenning pondered over it for a few seconds before responding.
"Have you looked into it?"
"Yes," General Pittman answered without hesitation. "And we've found nothing so far."
Secretary Drenning thought about that answer for a couple of seconds more and then closed the matter with an "okay."
General Pittman promptly produced another eight by ten after and slid it over to Secretary Drenning.
"Maria DeLuca," General Pittman promptly announced. "Seventeen … a student at Roswell High … adoptive parents … Gerald and Amy DeLuca … the father is deceased. He died when she was nine … cancer … The mother is the owner/operator of a novelty store. Amy is averaging a B minus at school and has no record with the local authorities."
General Pittman promptly picked up another eight by ten, examined it quickly and sent it across to the Secretary Drenning who continued to pass his discards to the left or right of him.
"Ashley Trilling," General Pittman announced quickly. "Seventeen … a student at Goddard High … adoptive parents … Nicholas and Stella Trilling ... the father is a furniture store manager, and the mother is a Real Estate Agent. Ashley is averaging an A minus in school and has no record with the local authorities."
Once again, General Pittman produced another eight by ten, examined it and passed it across to the Secretary. And once again he began reading data about that person from off the paper in front of him.
"Tess Harding … seventeen … a student at Goddard High … adoptive parents … Christopher and Sharon Harding … The father is an Electrical Engineer for a locally based company … The mother was killed in an automotive accident when she was twelve. Tess is averaging a B in school and has had no troubles with the local authorities."
General Pittman quickly went to another eight by ten, examined it and the handed it to Secretary Drenning. Without hesitation, he went into the data regarding that individual.
"Kyle Valenti … seventeen … a student at Roswell High … adoptive parents … James and Susan Valenti … The adoptive mother is deceased … cancer … the adoptive father is the Sheriff of Chaves County."
General Pittman paused for a response to that report. Secretary Drenning continued to examine the backside of the eight by ten he was given and gave no special notice to the information. General Pittman continued his report a few seconds later.
"Kyle is averaging a B plus in school. He's an outstanding athlete and is likely to be offered several athletic scholarships by the end of his senior year. He is presently holding a B plus average at Roswell High."
"Next, we have Eve Glasser," General Pittman announced after sliding the eight by ten across the table. "Seventeen … a student at Goddard … adoptive parents are Robert and Denise Glasser. The father owns and runs three cleaners and Mrs. Glasser maintains the home … Eve is holding a B average and has no record outside of school worthy of mention."
General Pittman picked up the next eight by ten, examined it and then slid it across to Secretary Drenning. He then began his report on individual pictured.
"Jason Ross … seventeen … a student at Goddard … adoptive parents … Bruce and Suzanne Ross … employed pharmacists … both of them … Jason is presently holding an A minus average at school."
General Pittman looked into the folder and retrieved the final eight by ten. He examined the fact sheet slightly longer than he did any of the others and then passed it across to Secretary Drenning.
"Finally," General Pittman spoke with emphasis. "We have Elizabeth Parker. Her adoptive parents are Jeffery and Nancy Parker. They own and operate a restaurant. She holds an A average at Roswell High, and she was arrested along with Maxwell Evans for trespassing onto the White Sands Missile Range."
General Pittman paused to let that much sink in. He then continued with his final bit of information about Liz.
"We owe Ms. Evans for this discovery," General Pittman announced without referring to the paper in front of him.
Secretary Drenning looked up from the eight by ten in his hand to give notice to that remark. General Pittman began providing the explanation for that remark without urging.
"She was accidentally shot during a fight in her parent's restaurant. The doctor, who operated on her, Dr. Whitesell, was so impressed with her recovery that he sent samples of her blood to a lab to be studied. The results of that study eventually got to us. If it wasn't for her, we might never have known about any of them."
The Secretary of Defense, Patrick Drenning, looked back down at the picture of Liz Parker and pondered over it for several seconds. Everyone else in the room watched him. Shortly, Secretary Drenning looked up and gave his decision.
"Okay, we continue to watch them. Let's allow them to finish out their senior year of high school. That at least will give us time to search for fourteen. I would prefer to take them all at the same time."
Secretary Drenning paused again to ponder something, and then he continued on with his deliberation.
"After they graduate, the day after they graduate … I want them all picked up, them and their parents."
"What if we don't find number fourteen by then?" Deputy Secretary Bartley questioned.
"We'll have to risk it," Secretary Drenning explained in an even voice.
"Why are we waiting until after they graduate?" General Garber questioned with a look of confusion.
"When they graduate, they'll stop being under the supervision of the public school system," Secretary Drenning instructed from off the top of his head. "The parents will be the only problem we'll have to deal with after that."
"The public school system has no jurisdiction in this," General Garber countered softly. "These teenagers are aliens."
"Yes," Secretary Drenning agreed. "But the schools might make noise when a handful of their students suddenly disappear. To explain their disappearances, we would have to assert our authority publicly."
Everyone paused to consider that thinking. A moment later, General Snyder spoke into that silence with a shake of his head.
"Mr. Secretary, I think waiting is a mistake. What if they decide to leave at some time between now and then? I really think we should pick them up right now."
"I don't think so," Secretary Drenning countered in a ponderous tone. "These kids were two years old when this Lieutenant Hytner extracted them from wherever she got them. They may not know who, or what, they are."
Secretary Drenning paused for several seconds to sort through his thoughts. Everyone noted that he was not finished and waited on him. Seconds later he continued explaining his thinking.
"I think when those aliens crashed outside of Roswell, whatever plan they had crashed with them. Lieutenant Hytner wasn't part of the plan. I think she was an improvised solution to a problem."
A second after speaking that supposition, Secretary Drenning perked up as if he had just thought of something brilliant. He then finished his thought with an assertion and a hint of excitement.
"I think we have an opportunity here gentlemen. I don't think these kids know who or what they are. I think they're stranded … orphans, with no memories of their past lives. And I don't think they're going anywhere."
Secretary paused to think about that for a moment more and then finalized his decision with one more directive to Deputy Secretary, Bartley.
"The day after they graduate, and not a day longer, I want the Roswell Thirteen collected, … and locked down ... All of them."
"Yes, Mr. Secretary," Deputy Bartley replied.
Secretary of Defense Drenning turned and left the room without delay. Generals Garber and Snyder followed behind him with equal expediency. Deputy Bartley held his stance at the table and focused his attention on General Pittman who was standing in front of him along with Captain Kawecki.
"General Pittman, you'll be running the collection," Deputy Bartley began without hesitation. "You'll have your orders in writing by the end of the day. Contact me for anything you need."
General Pittman puffed up with pride as though he had just been given a badge of honor. "Yes sir," he returned in response to the directive.
Deputy Bartley gave no special notice to General Pittman's reply and promptly turned his focus toward Captain Ryan Kawecki.
"Captain," Deputy Bartley began and than stopped as though he was considering what he should say. "Well done," he finished after the pause.
Ryan accepted the approval with a nod of his head. Deputy Bartley turned and then left the room.