Martin

If For A Moment

Jack's room is very small and the lights are very subtle. Just a bed with a small table at the end of the bed. He has his own bathroom with a shower and a small closet. Otherwise, the room appears bare, the opposite of his loud and upbeat personality. "You know, you don't have to be our pilot." Jack lifts his heavy brow. "Oh, wait. Sadie."

Martin shrugs, "Changed your brows this time did you not." He shrugs again. "I really do want to take you over...Yeah, I do want to see her. We have been talking every night since we met." For a moment he can see her slender face with the sweet smile and her beautiful eyes fixed on him.

Jack touches him on the shoulder. "I understand, but you need to be careful."

There is an endless moment of silence as Martin looks down to the floor and takes a deep breath. "It's just nice to have something to look forward to. Just to enjoy female companionship." He shakes his head as in disbelief. "She seems to like me as well. I just need this even if for a short time." He takes another deep breath. "Could be she is someone who will be good for our cause."

Jack is now standing shifting from one foot to the other. "Perhaps she could be, but I warn you. You must be careful, tell her nothing. Unlike you, she is not one of the numerous aides as Diana has. Rita has three and I am told they are very close to her. Sadie I have been told is Rita's pilot and no other."

Martin tilts his head for a moment. "I think she wants what we want. Our discussions have been intense." He holds his hand up for a moment to keep Jack from interrupting. "No, she knows nothing. However, after as I get to know her better; and I think that I will with this trip. Well, I believe having someone like her will be something we can't take advantage of."

Jack shakes his head solemnly. "Please, please, do not say anything until we both know for sure. She is so close to the wrong people." He clears his throat. "I have doubts, doubts which I know you do not share."

"I promise, I will say nothing. You will know first before me...I mean if I believe, she is right for the Fifth Column, this I promise." Martin insists. "I will do nothing to betray us. Again I promise, I will not betray us not even out of some emotional...I don't know what to say. Except that I won't." Then he stares intently into Jack's eyes. "Remember though risks must take place in order to succeed."

Jack nods. "Good. Now back to taking us to the Huston ship. What do you think of this new bleach and dye job the superiors are wanting to perform?"

"Do they plan to do this on all of us? Or sadly, just on the Whipelli, hopefully. I mean they are the ones that spend most of their time with humans. The idea of undergoing yet more pain, to look more human without having..." Martin touches his face. "This. I mean we are already having our palms and the bottom of our feet; under eyes." He shivers, "Our rectal area and privates. What human wants to see me take a..."

"A shit! Or do you mean piss?" Jack tosses his head back and laughs loudly. "Don't forget your nostrils, your ears. So much done already, just a bit more." He shakes his head and keeps laughing.

Martin holds up his hands quickly to get Jack to stop. "Stop, just stop. You hate it as well and it's your job." He looks down for a moment. "We know it can be a year or more before," Martin holds a hand up displaying his palm, "this goes away and my true color comes back."

Jack shrugs. "The more interaction with humans, the more likely for them to find out that we are different. The back of the hands and your feet do not have what humans call the scaled look. Remember we had that newsman find out already."

Martin frowns. "His name is Mike and he is a cameraman. No, I guess I understand. Is it going to happen to all of us at once?"

Jack shakes his head and says nothing as Martin sits still looking at his hands.

"Funny," Martin says. "I am just like those two Youth Leaders you told me about. I think it was Brian. He even brought his glasses so he could see his true face. Well, except for bleached parts."

There is a long pause from Jack. "Actually, I am thinking that you may want to volunteer. Never, know when you may need to shall we say, pass as human for real. More human better. Anyway, yeah they are going to begin with the Whipelli first."

"Wow, we need to leave." Martin walks over to the door, when it opens he calls out. "Nancy, you all ready to go?"

"Yes, all set," Nancy answers back and walks up to him and asks him quietly. "I heard of your adventure with a certain young lady." She then giggles, but then sees the look on Jack's face. "Everything is okay. Yes, or no?"

"All is fine." Martin turns to Jack. "You ready?"

"Sure all is fine." Jack says.

Nancy walks away and Martin turns to Jack. "You're okay. I am not saying anything to her."

"I hope so." Jack says with a stern look.

"If you have any suggestions for me to find out how she really feels about this. Please let me know."

"I have none."

"We all need someone in our lives, but I will end it before it even begins if I see we can't trust her or if she is not good for our little project."

Jack nods, "I know that you are feeling lonely." He takes Martins arm. "Please be careful."

Nancy joins them again and with a grimace she says, "Are we going or not?" She chuckles, "Love to see how they are going to do the new seam between skin and fake skin."

Martin watches Jack as his jaw becomes stiffer. "I promise Jack. I promise. Even for a moment to feel..."

"I understand. We all want love. Even when we say we don't. Truly good luck."

Nancy mutters as she turns her back on them. "Men, such idiots."