Sorry for the long wait. 2014 so far has been a string of tragedies so I didn't feel much like writing. But I really want to bring this fic to a conclusion, so you can expect more regular updates from now on. Thanks for reading! And if you really want to make my day, leave me a review.
Once again the four youngsters as well as Bishop sr. and jr. found themselves in the barn, surrounding the mini dome that rested in the hay.
"So, how do we communicate with this thing?" Angie asked. "Should we just talk to it, or do we have to touch it?"
Peter had been eyeing the sphere thoughtfully. "I think one of us should touch it. When Junior did, he had an encounter with a representation of his mother. When we all touched it we only got images."
"Makes sense," Joe agreed. Then he looked around their circle. "But who should do it?"
The answer was given by the mini dome. A glowing handprint appeared right in front of Norrie. The girl went slightly pale. Walter, who was standing next to her, patted her shoulder encouragingly.
"No need to be frightened, child. There has not been any indication so far that this probe means us any harm."
"It's not that," Norrie replied. "But I'm not sure if I could handle it if this thing showed me my mother again."
There was an uncomfortable silence. "Think positive," Angie finally said. "You're about to meet E.T."
"Right," Joe added. "He'll probably ask you to let him 'phone home'."
"And you'll ride off into the night on a flying bicycle," Junior added.
Norrie couldn't help but smile at these images. And before her initial fear could take a hold of her again, she put her hand against the side of the mini dome.
For a while nothing happened. Norrie just stood there, eyes closed. Then the mini dome slowly started to rise from the ground until it hovered right in front of the girl. Norrie gave a small start, then she took a step forward, pushing the floating sphere ahead of her toward he barn doors.
"Quick, open them!" Peter called to Junior, who was closest. The young man obeyed. Norrie and the dome exited the barn and set out across the meadow, the rest of the group following in single file.
When they reached the edge of the forest their progress became slower since the dome had to navigate the trees, but it unerringly found a path. Until they met with an obstacle. In the middle of the forest path they were following stood Max, flanked by two goons who pointed machine guns at the small group.
AN: This week's prompt was to include a Disney movie.
