Saturday, June 6, 1987-Morning

Two springs ago, the Visitors blackmailed Dr. Steve Maitland, forcing him to work on a virus which temporarily rendered Humans into a state of feeblemindedness. As he worked aboard the Mother Ship, Julie came back into his life, stirring up old feelings, making him marvel at the beautiful woman who'd stolen his heart during their pre-med days at Southern California University. After the war ended, he asked her out, hoping one day she'd become his wife. They soon moved in together, settling into an apartment on the city's southwest side. A few months later, Steve proposed, and Julie agreed to marry him.

He knew their problems began with the birth of CJ Faber, and Julie spending too much time at Maggie and Chris' house. Steve's plans for romantic weekend getaways with Julie often went unfulfilled. She'd often insist Steve accompany her to cookouts at Maggie and Chris'.

Steve couldn't stand Chris, or his buddy Ham Tyler's crude humor. He'd once confronted Julie in front of the two idiots, demanding to know how she'd put up with them during her time with the resistance. That didn't go over well. Chris threw Steve out of the house, instructing him not to return.

Steve sat in his living room sipping Sangria mid Saturday morning when his phone rang.

He snatched it up. "Hello?"

"Stevie, it's Connie again." He hated when Julie's mother called him Stevie. "Is my daughter there?"

How long will she keep phoning for Julie? How long does Julie expect me to keep up this facade? Why can't she just tell Connie the truth?" he wondered.

"No, she's-"

"Did you tell her I called?"

"I haven't had the opportunity! I haven't seen her since yesterday."

"What do you mean; you haven't seen her since yesterday?" Didn't she come home last night?"

"She moved out three months ago."

"Oh? Why didn't you just tell me that yesterday? Did you have a quarrel?"

"It's a long story, probably one that should come from her lips and not mine," he said, realizing how pitiful he sounded. "I can give you her number, but she's not at home. She's meeting with her friend Donovan today. You know the guy from the Resistance."

He wondered how much Connie knew about Julie's past relationship with Donovan.

"I'm familiar with him, Stevie."

"He's employed by Channel Six," Steve continued. "He's doing a series of reports on the toxin eco-damage and interviewed her ex-colleague, Dr. Pico from Science Frontiers."

Connie snickered. "Oh dear. I thought you were going to tell me she and Donovan were on a date."

It depends on how you look at it, he mused. "Dr. Pico lied about her research. She's on the warpath to expose him."

"Doesn't Donovan believe her, given their history together?"

"I don't know, Mrs. Parrish. I don't trust Donovan myself."

"Why?"

He paused for a few seconds before answering, "Because, she'd never tell me their history."

"And you still love her?"

"I've always loved her." His mind went back to that first day he'd met her on the campus of Southern Cal, her beautiful, blonde hair and that deep-dimpled smile that could make any man's troubles vanish.

"Then give me her number. When I reach her, I'll try to talk some sense into her. I know how stubborn she can be. She's like her mother, remember?"

"I know." He said then gave her the information.

#

With only a glimmer of light coming in from a single basement window, Donovan struggled to see the digital readout on his Timex. He pressed a button, illuminating the numbers 10:49. Nearby, Julie hobbled around, using her flashlight to scan through documents in filing cabinets, searching for any that were her own.

Not wanting to believe all Julie's records had turned to ashes in the smoldering barrel, Donovan opened a few of the metal drawers to search.

"Kyle should be here in ten minutes," he said.

"But will he be able to find us?"

Donovan eyed the basement window. "Maybe if I can find something to bust that glass with, I could yell when he comes."

"How about a filing cabinet?" Her tone dripped with sarcasm. "They're all so damned useless anyway." She slammed a drawer shut, slid down to the floor and started to sob.

"The window's too high up," he said, taking a spot on the floor next to her. He slipped his arms around Julie's shoulders, pulling her close.

"H-How could Pico do this?" she cried. "I needed those records for my present assignment. I-I should've called Kyle months ago."

"You didn't know." He rubbed her shoulders, feeling tense muscles through the cotton tank top. "I promise you, I'll help anyway I can."

As she placed her head against his chest, he felt her tears soaking through his t-shirt. Smoothing strands of dampened hair away from her face, he took in the sweetness of her perfume. She'd worn the same heady scent the night before.

After a few minutes of silence, Julie stirred. Lifting her head, she asked, "Is this what you needed?"

"Yeah." He thought of how good she felt in his arms, and about the last time he'd held her. He felt a cold metal object being pressed into his right hand and realized that she was inquiring about it instead of the embrace…

Clearing her throat, Julie moved away from him and stood. "Wh-what did you think I meant?"

"This." He held the object out.

"Uh-huh."

With as straight of a face as he could muster he asked, "If I hoist you up, can you break that window?"

"I think so."

After they'd walked over to the wall, Donovan let her climb up onto his shoulders. "Just like old times, huh?"

"Look away!" she ordered then swung the metal bar. The window exploded on impact, and sent shards of glass flying.

Outside, a car door slammed.

"It's Kyle," Julie said.

"Can you see him?"

They heard the padding of footsteps coming up the sidewalk.

The individual outside coughed a few times.

Doesn't sound like Kyle, Donovan thought.

"It's Pico," Julie shrieked. "He has gas cans and a gun. Put me down!"

Donovan quickly lowered her as Pico called out, "Who's down there?"

A shadow hovered near the window. Donovan and Julie stayed still. Footsteps quickly descended away outside.

"He's coming down here," Julie gasped.

"To burn more records?"

"There should be some data disks. I don't know if they're in a separate storage area."

Donovan drew his Colt .45. "Stay out of sight! I don't want you getting injured."

"I brought my gun too."

"I don't suppose a bulletproof vest would've been compatible with a swimsuit."

"I didn't think it was necessary!"

"Shh." He grabbed her, forcing her to squat behind one of the metal filing cabinets. "Stay down!"