(revised 6/13/2022)
Chapter One: Photographic Memories
Juliet Parrish packed her bags to start a new life, one which would not involve defending Los Angeles against the Visitors. She folded ragged sweatshirts and faded blue jeans. A small collection of photographs also went in the suitcase. There was one of her and Dr. Metz with Ruth and Ben Taylor. They were memories of her past. There was also one of her and Robert Maxwell with a very young Elizabeth, the Starchild, who had gone off with the Visitors yesterday.
Julie had a restless night the evening before, thinking about Elizabeth's departure, and how the young freedom fighter by the name of Kyle Bates went after her. Neither Julie nor Donovan (the only other resistance member still living at the base) had received an update on Kyle's whereabouts from Philip. Philip had also promised the return of Donovan's son, Sean, who had been abducted and brainwashed by the Visitors on more than one occasion. This was a promise yet to be fulfilled and Julie contemplated Sean's return.
This time last year she had been so close to Mike Donovan that they were talking of marriage and her becoming Sean's stepmother. Donovan and Julie's relationship did not survive the stresses of the second war. She ended it a few months ago. Donovan said he understood, but Julie knew that did not necessarily mean his feelings for her were not there anymore. He just did not let them show. And now, being stuck here at headquarters alone with him, Julie felt awkward. She had kept her distance from him all morning and afternoon and hoped for a way out of the base without relying on Donovan. With her lemon of an RX-7 in need of a new transmission, Julie knew she would have to figure out a way to contact her friend Maggie Blodgett in Santa Monica. Without a functioning telephone at the resistance base, Julie would have to depend on a CB radio in hopes of contacting someone who could get in touch with Maggie. If not, she thought of hitch-hiking.
"Leaving so soon?" Donovan poked his brunette head into the tiny, makeshift bedroom.
Julie glanced up at him. "When I find a ride."
She watched Donovan stuff his leather-gloved hands into his pockets.
"I hoped you'd wait for Sean," he said quietly.
Julie did not want any involvement in the situation, but she knew what Donovan wanted was for her to examine and evaluate Sean. She had heard through the grapevine that Sean's mental condition had worsened, under the training of Klaus, his deceased Visitor martial arts guru. Sean was dangerous, a trained killer.
"Of course, I will," Julie said, closing the lid on her suitcase.
Donovan stood there, gazing down at her as if realizing this was the first time they had been totally alone in a long time. "Where will you go, Julie?"
"Umm… I'm not sure yet."
In the irony of the moment, Julie reflected on leaving her last beau, Dennis Lowell after things had turned sour in their relationship. Denny had grown not to trust her, believing the propaganda lies about the Scientific community spread by the Visitors. Julie had gone underground for the first time, eventually becoming the leader of the L.A. Resistance Movement. Almost three years had passed since the Mother Ships first appeared over the earth. And so much had taken place in between…
As Julie lifted the suitcase from her bed to place it on the floor, a photograph which had stuck to the underside of it, drifted to the ground face down. Donovan bent down to pick it up. It was of him hugging her, on New Year's Eve before last.
Julie had not noticed the photo among her things as she packed. She imagined his thoughts as he slipped the photo in her fingers. Their eyes met, but neither had the courage to say anything.
Turning toward the doorway, Donovan muttered, "I'll scrounge us up something to eat."