Chapter 4: Diana's Accusation

Julie had set Donovan's alarm for five A.M., giving herself ample time to return home to shower and get ready for work in the morning. She had enjoyed her evening with him; Lately, it had felt like they were drifting apart, and she had worried about their relationship. Although Donovan often teased about getting married when the war ended, that ending seemed like an eternity away.

Julie pulled her RX-7 into the Science Frontier's parking lot at 7:45 A.M. After passing through several of the building's security checkpoints, she entered Nathan Bates' office for their daily meeting about her progress with Red Dust research. But instead of finding Nathan Bates sitting behind his desk, Julie recognized the red uniformed, dark-haired woman sitting in the chair that Julie usually sat in.

She froze as Diana swiveled the chair around to face her.

A slow smile spread across the alien commander's lips. "Good morning, Julie."

"Wh-Where's Nathan?" The question fell from Julie's lips before she could catch it.

Diana shrugged her shoulders. "Running late, I suppose. How are you this morning? I take it you had a good night's rest?"

"Sure," Julie said, wondering why Diana suddenly cared about how she tended to herself. Being alone in this room with her made Julie nervous, and she hoped Nathan would show up soon.

"Did you enjoy Donovan's company last night?"

Julie's jaw tightened. "No, I stayed home last night."

Diana's false eyelashes did a little dance of amusement. "Then I don't need to worry about you and he marrying after he kills me and the war ends, do I?"

Julie's stomach knotted. It was as if Diana had eavesdropped on Donovan's very words to her last night, and Julie knew to retort would be an admission of guilt.

"Of course, you will send Nathan Bates an invitation to the wedding, won't you?" Diana continued. "I'd hate to see the two of you make him feel left out."

"Donovan and I aren't seeing each other anymore."

"Oh, don't lie to me, Julie," Diana sang. "I guess Donovan didn't tell you about the trick I played on him when I had him a few weeks ago. I pretended I was you and we were married."

You pretended you were me? Julie asked, only in her mind, wondering how it was possible.

"And let me tell you," Diana continued, "He couldn't tell the difference between you, or I when I kissed him. In fact, I think he rather enjoyed it."

Julie thought she was about to lose the slice of toast she had eaten for breakfast. She held her reply and started for her office door (which was accessible through Nathan's).

"He does love you so, Julie. It's too bad you, he and Sean aren't family yet. I think the boy loves me."

Julie turned, ready to go off on Diana when Nathan Bates walked into the room.

"Good morning, Ladies," Bates said. "Diana, I wasn't expecting you today."

"Oh, I know, Nathan," Diana admitted. "But there's a very urgent matter I need to discuss with you and Julie."

"Problems with the resistance?" Nathan eased into his chair and lit a cigar.

Julie remained in her office doorway, hoping Nathan would not summon her over.

"Have a seat, Julie," Diana said. "I'm afraid it mostly concerns you."

Julie exchanged puzzled looks with Nathan and said, "Diana, I have some experiments to check on."

"Oh, it will only take a few minutes."

Nathan motioned to an empty chair and Julie hated him for it.

What? Is Diana going to tell him that she eavesdropped last night? Did she? The thought horrified Julie.

"About that little conversation we had yesterday, about Donovan breaking into my embassy…" Diana began.

"You have proof?" Nathan taunted.

"Better than that, Nathan."

Julie watched as Diana pulled a small round object, the size of a large watch battery, but thicker, out of the breast of her uniform.

"What is that?" Julie asked.

Nathan's face reddened. "I told you not to bug my office."

"Not your office, Nathan," Diana said. She pushed a button, but nothing happened.

Her eyes fixated on the object and her face muscles tensed then she pressed the button again. She tried several more times.

"I'm waiting Diana," Nathan said.

"It's malfunctioned," Diana explained.

Julie got up from her chair, wondering if the device was some sort of audio recorder and if her suspicions were correct about Diana eavesdropping, or bugging Donovan's bedroom last night.

"Diana, if you're finished making a fool of yourself," Julie began.

"Dr. Parrish," Nathan warned.

"…I do have work to attend to."

Diana glared at her. "You're not going anywhere, Julie. Tell Nathan who you've been sleeping with!"

"I haven't been sleeping with anybody!"

Nathan looked at her then Diana. "Diana, you've crossed the line. Dr. Parrish's private life is none of your concern."

"Oh, but it is your concern, Nathan. You don't know what secrets she's been feeding Mike Donovan about our conversations when they're in bed together. She's a spy for the resistance."

"She's assured me she isn't," Nathan said. "And I suggest you watch where you stick that fake nose of yours, when it comes to my employees."

"Then you won't be checking into it?"

He stabbed his cigar into the ashtray. "I want you to leave now."

Diana stood as she pocketed the broken device. "Fine Nathan, but one day you will discover that she's been lying to you. And then you'll feel like a fool."

The door slid shut behind her. Nathan's gaze shifted to Julie…


A/N I'm taking moment to encourage readers to download the app for this website (if you have a smart device). I've been using the Audio playback tool with the voice of Aaron English (America) selected. And the speech speed is set almost to the middle of the slider. Of course, I'd rather have the V cast read for these characters, but Aaron does a pretty good job :D