V: THE WASHINGTON CRISIS (NEW EDITION)

by Markab

Planet Earth has been visited by aliens. But are the Visitors all they appear to sed on the same time-line that was the setting of the original TV mini-series in 1983, this time in the US capital. All rights to V and any characters that appear from the TV series belong to Kenneth Johnson. This Edition takes a new path and goes with the second generation story set twenty years later

5. Chapter 5

FRIENDS & ENEMIES

-EPILOGUE-

Introduction from the words of Kenneth Johnson V: The Second Generation...

THE VISITOR WAY (THE BIG LIE)

Twenty years ago, the Earth was a real mess. Just about every country in the world had some sort of crisis. Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, El Salvador. War and suffering were everywhere and it looked as though things would only get worse. But suddenly...THEY arrived.

The VISITORS had come asking humanity to help their struggling civilisation and in return they offered them all the fruits of their knowledge.

Being a reptilian race, the VISITORS were afraid they'd look a little too ALIEN...and since they needed protection from the suns ultraviolet radiation anyway, their doctors created their human looking skin. It helped them fit in more easily among the people of Earth. They also needed dark sunglasses to protect their eyes which are considerably more sensitive than human eyes.

The VISITORS were happy to be on Earth and mankind welcomed them with open arms...but suddenly...a conspiracy of scientists wanted to undermine the VISITORS from helping...These scientists committed acts of sabotage and tried to gain control of several VISITOR motherships. These scientists finally confessed to causing much of the planets turmoil for their own glory and financial gain.

Most scientists are now rehabilitated, and gladly work alongside the VISITORS. But, unlike the VISITORS, some of humanity have not yet forgiven the scientists for their criminal acts, so for their own protection, scientists and their families live within their own communities. But there are still a few misinformed social misfits who resist the help the VISITORS are offering. So everybody must be vigilant and immediately report any suspicious behaviour to the authorities.

The VISITORS soon got Earth running smoothly under the dynamic guidance of their Great Leader. Working in mankind's best interests, the VISITORS settled petty disputes like the Middle East by suppressing unruly elements. With advanced VISITOR surveillance technology, the VISITORS ferreted out rogue troublemakers and virtually snuffed out global terrorism.

World leaders, like the revered U.N. Secretary General, and the US president quickly realised that the VISITORS were a powerful force for good. All the top human leaders happily stepped aside to let VISITOR wisdom streamline government and bring peace.

The VISITORS have shown how to create cheap fuel cells that eliminated dependence on oil. They ended famine, and gave miraculous cures for heart disease, AIDS, and most cancers.

Crime is nearly gone because the VISITORS created The Visitor friends programme, that has evolved to become the Teammates. All over the age of 13 train and serve at least part-time in these groups that encourage, discipline and spirited camaraderie. All Earths armies have been transformed into Teammate units. Many assist police forces against anti-social behaviour, and keep cities safe.

And still, Humanity help the VISITORS save their struggling civilisation, and continue to help them manufacture the life saving chemical compound they so urgently need. Feedback has come back that it really has made a difference. Now the VISITORS have found time to help save EARTHS civilisation, they saw that the Earth was going to die unless they helped immediately.

Decades of industry have poisoned the oceans. The VISITORS have shown how oceanic pollution was far deadlier than the very modest science understood. The poisoned oceans are the very root cause of ALL worldwide ecological problems, including the disappearing ozone layer which shields Earth from deadly ultraviolet radiation.

So the VISITORS are taking the water to purge it of toxins, to purify it, and then return it back. The VISITORS compare it to a huge dialysis on a planetary scale, the VISITORS are the masters of that sort of massive purification. Much of the polluted sea water has already been collected and compressed within their huge Motherships - where it has been cleansed. Pouring it back into foul water is counter-productive. Mankind will have to wait until the bulk of the toxic water is removed until it can be returned.

The Earth will be saved and revitalized, and advanced VISITOR technologies will make it a much healthier world for the future generation. In-fact, the impurities the VISITORS remove are actually HELPFUL to them, so everybody benefits. For their effort, the VISITORS will keep about ten percent of the water to use as fuel for their spacecraft.

On a fantastic note, the VISITORS will not desert mankind when they leave, they will continue to use Earth for further space exploration, which all the people of Earth will share the fruits of.

Life has NEVER been better or more promising. ALL have a terrific, harmonious future together.

IT'S ALL THANKS TO THE VISITORS...

-CHAPTER ONE-

Tony Moncheni was wounded as he limped along the street that lead him to the bank of the dried up Potomac river. It was 3am and the full moon was high up in the night sky. It was the first time in his living memory he could see a clear night without it being hampered by the massive shield of the Visitors Mothership.

It was cold and he could see his breath in the bright moonlight. Moncheni reached some railings and slid down the bank to the dark shadows. To his west he could see Arlington memorial bridge. There was some light traffic on it and a police siren wailed in the distance.

He thought about that last evenings events. The raid on the DC area Visitor interrogation center. They had tried, and unsuccessfully rescued Sara Fisher. She, a long member of the Washington resistance cell, had died in the rubble. The Visitors had blown up the facility to make it look like a terrorist attack.

He took in a laboured breath and continued down the bank and westward towards the derelict warehouse that was falling into decline over the years since it's use as a shipping hangar. There was no water, so there was no ships.

He looked up to the sky one more time and then climbed up to the dried path towards the back of the building.

VVV

Inside the warehouse, Joey Carter thumped his fist down hard on the rusty metal table. It was littered with empty cartons of cold coffee and a spread-out copy of the plans to the Visitor facility. Joey was in his late thirties and had an athletic build that hinted to his college baseball playing days that had long passed.

"Damn it! I didn't want to lose anybody else...Sara's loss is gonna hit us hard"

Kerry Lomax clutched the rifle on her shoulder, she had a mop of dark curly hair and an aggressive attitude, especially with the Visitors who had cold bloodedly cut down her scientist parents when they tried to escape the city twenty years ago,

"Do you think they made her talk? We gotta be ready for a raid...I heard what they do to people in those places"

Joey was in her face with gritted teeth, "Sara wouldn't spill her guts! She'd die before she'd talk"

Tyler Shaw came forward and nodded in agreement. Tyler used to be a TV News personality before the Visitors cut short his fledgling career when they shut down the all the media, "That's right, but the resistance is constantly on the move. We have to be to stay one step ahead of the Visitors"

Darryl Mason, a big man with a mop of greying hair pointed a finger. He had been a chemical plant technician during the early days of the Visitor occupation, "Jesus we are screwed if she has"

Joey glanced up to Caitlin Ryan, his fellow council leader in the Washington resistance cell, "what do you think?"

Caitlin stood up from the ancient couch from where she had sat and sighed. Caitlin had attended the same college as Joey in Washington DC when the Visitors arrived. When the Visitors opened one of the first healing centers here Sixteen years ago, she had taken her heart disease ailing mother along, and she had been miraculously cured of the condition. It was only after, she found out it had come at a high cost. "I'll contact Marc...He'll know if the Visitors have found out our current position...and he'll know who that guy is that lead the attack on us"

Joey rested a hand on her shoulder, "hey...can you trust Marc? He may have his own agenda by helping you"

Caitlin held his gaze, "This isn't the time and place..."

The group looked up to see an older woman in tatty jeans come hurrying over, "Hey you guys, it's Moncheni, he's made it"

VVV

In a truck that was set out as a basic medical unit, Tony Moncheni laid back on the bunk gritting his teeth in pain.

Joey climbed in to the rear of the truck and shook the mans hand tightly, "Tony! I'm so glad you made it man!"

"Yeah...but Sara didn't...I'm sorry, but the whole mission was a disaster"

Caitlin called in, "Hey, Dr Feldmann's here"

Corey Feldmann climbed in the back of the truck with his medic case. He rolled up his sleeves, and glanced at Joey, "Sara didn't make it I hear"

Corey Feldmann had trained as a doctor in New York. But after the Great Purge back in 1999, when the Visitors crashed two of their chemical tanker ships into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, wiping out hundreds of innocent people, the 'resistance terrorists' were framed for the attacks. Most of the resistance were either denounced or captured and killed soon after. It was then Corey decided to return to his home city of Washington.

Joey shook his head at the older man, "No...The Visitors made sure of that"

Moncheni seethed in pain as Corey surveyed the wound, he could also see a slight hesitation in the others mans stance, "You are a doctor right?"

"I'm the best you are gonna get buddy...you're new here...I'm told you've been a great asset...and yes, what you've probably been told is true, I wasn't much a medic in the beginning"

Corey began to close the wound.

"Yeah, I heard you'll a bit of a novice...so how'd you finish your training then?", Tony asked trying to weather the pain.

"A good old Doctor in New York City, She finished my medical training, without her, I wouldn't be able to help you lot today, or get a job at the hospital"

Tony inspected the work. It was neat, but he could see some sadness in Corey's eyes, like he was having a moment.

"I guess she isn't here no more"

Corey closed his case up and nodded, "no...she was killed on Brooklyn bridge, when a Visitor sky fighter collided with her car back in '92"

VVV

CHAPTER TWO

As the sun rose over Washington, the massive Mothership had returned to it's position in the skies above. The Memorial obelisk seeming to touch the very belly of the gigantic metropolis in the air.

On board, a dark long haired Visitor female was at her station in the Cent-Com, the very heart of command operations in the vessel,

"We have arrived at our position over the city Commander", she reported as she scanned the incoming reports that were linking up to their communications bank.

Commander Gerald looked up from his command chair and smiled at her, his blonde wavy hair making him look like a human male in his mid-thirties, the same age as he looked two decades ago when he first arrived to the Earth.

"Thank you Jenna"

She smiled back at him. A smile that didn't go unnoticed by others in the cent-com, "Commander, our Interrogation facility have sent us an urgent transmission during our absence"

Gerald leapt from the chair and was peering over her shoulder looking at her screen, "I see that it is code red...I will take the transmission in my private quarters"

Jenna turned and held his gaze, "As you will, Commander", Gerald broke the moment and marched off out the door. Another female Visitor with short cropped hair stood from her position and approached her with a sour look on her face.

"Jenna, the Commander may be pleased with your efforts here in the Cent-Com, but I am still watching you very closely...I still feel you are too under-qualified to be part of the command staff aboard this ship"

Jenna looked up at her all innocently.

"Yes, Sub-Commander Rosa, I am learning all the time and am aware that I am not perfect and make mistakes...but...I am at your service just as much as the Commander"

Rosa raised her eyebrows at her, "Naturally"

VVV

Corey Feldmann had returned to his apartment in Foggy bottom, where his partner Kandy Clark was waiting for him with breakfast on the sun terrace. The sun was shining over them, and their was a gentle breeze as Kandy got up from the lounger, still in her bathrobe, and gave him a hug and a kiss.

"Sorry, I didn't wanna risk running during curfew again"

Kandy poured the coffee, "it's okay...what was so urgent this time?"

Corey sat down and picked up a slice of freshly made toast, "One of them was injured during a raid"

Kandy bit her lip and leaned forward, "You are going to have to be more careful"

Corey met her eyes, "they need me...they have nobody who's a fully trained doctor..."

"It's dangerous. That's what resistance does to you...you know how I feel about all this...it's too dangerous Corey - besides - the Visitors haven't done you any harm, have they?"

Corey sighed, "Only to those who I cared about back in New York. I'm just seen as lucky and too co-operative"

Kandy shook her head as to empathise that bit, "that's why you are still here and they are not...", she stood and tightened the cord of her bathrobe, "It's not that I like it...I hate it...I hate how the Visitors have somehow stuck a wedge into our society for the last twenty odd years, but what choice do we have...and you have to remember...YOU have a Teammate as a daughter..."

Corey realised that much, "I'll be careful, I promise..."

"I hope so...", and she went inside to dry her hair.

VVV

At a bookstore off Capitol Hill, an over-excited fan graced her praises on Kristine Walsh who was sat at a desk with towers of her new book 'KRISTINE: THE EVENT OF THE CENTURY' stacked around her.

Kristine was a tall and a very well groomed woman in her early fifties. Everything about her, from her expertly applied makeup and hairstyle to her level, measuring gaze, proclaimed her as one of the, if not highest, TV reporters in the business for more than twenty years.

A position that made her the once human spokes-person of the Visitors, chosen by the Visitor leader Diana herself.

"Your book is so interesting!", cried the fan.

Kristine smiled at her and handed over a book she had scribbled her signature across the first page, "Why, thank you...here's your signed copy"

The fan took it hugging it to her chest, and hurried off with the biggest grin. A younger girl then came over and at sight of her, Kristine rose from her chair.

"Hi Mom...", the girl said smiling.

"Hi Delia...it's good of you to stop by...this book signing is a God-send...I always knew I'd get a book out of my experiences"

Her daughter was a 19 year old student of nothing. A lady of leisure who lived life to the full going out shopping, and spending her Mothers gained fortune over the years was a keen hobby. A spoiled child who was just as pretty as she was clever and used it to get what she wanted from keen male admirers.

Delia nodded pulling on her dark brown hair, "Great...look, I was wondering whether you mind me seeing Jake...I know it's still early days but..."

Kristine rounded the table and took hold of her daughters arm and lead her away from the mounting line of fans waiting for a copy of her book, "I think Jake is a wonderful young man...he's a Teammate that is held in the highest regard...that will do you wonders for you, honey"

Delia was pleased at her mother's praise, "I hope so...he just told me he was the one who tipped off that facility downtown that was attacked by those terrorists"

Kristine looked grim at the news of a terrorist attack on the Visitors installation. She had given news reports of several hundred of them over the passed twenty years,

"Yes...and look what they did...if it wasn't for him, there'd would have been so much more carnage...no, Jake is a fine young man...plenty of fire in his belly to stop those who want to undermine the Visitors good intentions"

They hugged one another and Delia went along her way, Kristine turned back to her fans and widened her smile, "Right...whose next..."

VVV

Cent Com Supervisor Jenna stood in the shadowy corridor of the Washington Mothership. She had rode the travel tube that took her to the opposite end of the vast vessel. She composed herself and pressed the chime to the Commanders private quarters.

Inside, Gerald swung around in his swivel chair away from his personal console and called out "Enter"

The door slide across.

"Jenna, this is a nice surprize"

She stepped inside and the door slid shut behind her.

"Commander...Gerald...I have concerns"

Gerald farrowed his brow, "Oh?...what concerns?"

Jenna went and sat on a side bunk nearby, it was next to a set of small compartments of small scurrying animals mounted on the wall. She was too nervous to meet his gaze, "I am...with child"

Gerald was taken aback for a moment, "Already? But we..."

Jenna snapped to attention and stood to leave, "You are angered...I can go see one of our Scientific staff to get a procedure..."

Gerald was too fast and an arm barred her way. He took his hand and lifted her chin to meet his fake green human eyes, "That will not be necessary...I am...pleased...I have only six daughters at present...maybe this one will be male..."

She managed a smile for him, "Yes, a son would do good for your social standing"

She then rested her head gently on his chest. And that image played out on a small monitor screen in a side lab on the other side of the Mothership. Rosa had a hand resting on the on/off control to the screen and flicked it off with a venomous flash in her dark eyes.

"That bitch...I knew she was ambitious...but having ambition can sometimes be dangerous...", she then stood up and quickly departed the lab.

VVV

CHAPTER THREE

In Georgetown, Delia Walsh watched the music video on the TV by some upcoming popstar Emma, she watched as the singer sprawled back on the nose of a Visitor shuttle craft with a mic singing her latest hit. Growing bored, Delia switched the TV off and walked towards her Mother's bedroom to see her sitting on the bed going through some photographs. Kristine paused at one in particular and managed a sad smile, Delia pushed the door open and pointed to the man in the photo,

"Who's that?"

Kristine almost jumped out of her skin and tried to look like the picture wasn't anything special, "What? This?"

Delia perched her bum on the bed and shook her head,"Yeah...it looked like you were trying to hide it"

Kristine tried to make light of it, "Well...I wasn't trying to hide it..."

Delia took hold of the glossy photo and scrutinized the image more closely, "Who is he? He's kinda cute"

"Don't you know?"

Delia tilted her head, "Well...I recognise him...wasn't he the Worlds most wanted man?"

Kristine took the photo back from her and nodded as she briefly gave it another glance before returning it to the pile of others, "Was, his name was Michael Donovan...I think he's dead now...I think he was killed during the London Uprising back in '91...I used to work with him when the Visitors first arrived..."

Delia frowned sensing there was more to it, "So why do you keep a picture of him?"

Kristine was thinking on her feet as she gathered up all the paperwork and photos on her bed, "Errrrrrrrr...well...it was for my book...you know, research...he was a big part of my life...knowing someone...being close to someone and then realize that they are a terrorist leader"

Delia shrugged and stood up, "Well, I need to go and call Jake...I'll see you later..."

Kristine watched her daughter leave the room, then bit her lip thinking back. It was hard not to think of Mike when she looked into Delia's eyes. They were so much alike...

VVV

Up on the Mothership, Gerald sat in the conference room going through his reports, then the door glided aside unannounced and he was up on his feet in a split second, "I said I wasn't to be disturbed..."

He closed his mouth at the sight of Commander Frank in the doorway as it slide shut, "Sorry...I didn't get the message"

Gerald looked annoyed, "What are you doing back? I thought you were now sorting out the rebellion problem at the Keyes in Florida?"

Frank helped himself to a mouse that was in one of the compartments on the wall. "That's all been taken care of", his neck bulged out slightly as he jerked and swallowed the mouse live.

Gerald sat back in the chair and ran a hand through his fake blond waves, "So you thought you'd come back here...remember it was the great purge of the resistance that sorted things in this city...it was nothing to do with you, and there is no reason for you to be here now"

Frank chuckled, "Maybe I like it around here"

Gerald stood and circled the conference table as he spoke, "You still haven't a Mothership to commander yourself so you think you'll muscle in on mine again?"

Frank sat down, "I could just take it from you entirely"

Gerald laughed at him, "I'm in complete control here, like I've always been"

"Shame Diana decided to swipe the flagship status to California, you still gutted over that"

Gerald stood and made for the door, "I think I'll contact Diana and have you removed"

Frank laughed at him, "You do that...but I think Jeremy will have other ideas"

Gerald frowned at him, "Jeremy? The leaders envoy"

Frank nodded, "And a friend of mine...yes, he arrived yesterday...and is expecting a conference with all the fleet commanders, the Leader wants to upset the mission to endgame"

Gerald was seething that he had no knowledge of this, he hurried off as Frank smiled and sat back feeling confident that the endgame would be soon...for all of them.

VVV

Dr Corey Feldmann was in the middle of his shift at the Georgetown university hospital. He stepped out of the sliding doors with his white coat wrapped around him. He lit up a cigarette in the warm February sunshine. Because of the wide spread global turmoil with climate due to most of the water gone, it felt like mid May rather than February.

Corey looked across the way to see the Visitor ambulance back up to a section of the hospital that had been turned into a Visitor specialist hospital. It was a restricted area of course, no human medic in any way shape or form was allowed anywhere near. They had all been told that only specially trained Visitor doctors could treat their own, because of their alien reptilian anatomy and physiology.

"Hey daddy!", came a cry.

Corey looked up to see a girl running over to him from a Visitor car. Aaron Armstrong, her Teammate supervisor and the son of the US President, was with her.

"Lucille!", it was his daughter.

"Daddy! I have some good news", cried Lucille in happiness.

Lucille was the real reason Corey never stayed with the resistance full time. His daughter had quit college and joined the Teammates. Corey didn't have the heart to tell her about the huge alien deception against the human race. If her told her, he didn't know how she would react.

Some recruits in her group had denounced on their own parents, and also there was the fact that she could react badly enough for her to just simply disappear.

"What news?", asked Corey.

Aaron placed a hand over her shoulders, both looking identical in their matching uniforms and side arms.

"We are gonna get married", announced Lucille proudly, as she stared into Aaron's dark eyes.

Corey was open mouthed in shock. It didn't go unnoticed by Aaron who asked, "Aren't you going to congratulate us Dr Feldmann?"

Aaron was the US presidents son. A president who was rarely seen and was more a ceremonial figure then anything, and was only brought out when the Visitors could use him. "Didn't you hear me? Aren't you going to congratulate us, Dr ?", Aaron asked with a smug grin he'd sooner like to punch into next Tuesday. But instead, he extended his hand out to Aaron and shook his hand, "yes...congratulations to you both..."

VVV

CHAPTER FOUR

Caitlin Ryan stood at the gates of the North DC chemical plant. The high smoking stacks seemed to meet the blue sky above them. She watched as a Visitor chemical tanker craft lifted off and another smaller shuttle came and landed in it's vacant spot.

Caitlin looked up and down the street near the cyclone fencing. There was a small junior high school beyond and a group of kids were playing basketball in the high fenced court.

She turned and saw the Visitor male tip his cap to her and she approached him. He approached her too, and they stood on opposite sides of the chemical plant gates looking at each-other.

"Good to see you"

Caitlin held his eyes, "You too Marc...have you got that information for me?"

Marc smiled at her and studied her further through his protective sunshades, "Always straight down to business...I see that you've done your homework on this one, he was the Teammate that lead the attack at the facility...his parents were...leaders in the cause"

"Yes they were...and it'll be that reason that will fire his ambition for us"

"By all accounts...his fired ambition is the reason he is flying through the Teammate ranks so quickly"

"and for the wrong reasons...I just need to make him see the truth...will you recommend him for the job...I mean, he will want to see what's on the Vids even if he is forbidden not to"

Marc held her gaze, "I have...and I'm sure all will fall into place...I will speak to Kristine Walsh...her daughter is close to him and she will prove his downfall in their ranks..."

"and it's traitors like her that will pay when all of this is finally over"

Marc reached out and gave Caitlin a USB disk through the fence, "It's all on there...his entire history...there will be nothing you don't know about him that he doesn't know himself and more"

Caitlin winked at him, "You are as smooth as ever"

The Visitor winked back at her, "got to keep my human girl happy haven't I", and with that he turned and walked off. Caitlin watched him go then turned the disk in her palm and then hurried off towards her parked car across the street, as Marc's shuttle flew over and cruised back to the Mothership.

VVV

Dr Corey Feldmann did his shift at the hospital. After attending to a crash victim, he went into the staff rest room to take five. A nurse came in and turned, "Hi...I can't believe how busy it is...hey, are you alright?"

Corey looked like he was staring off into space where he sat, and looked at her questioningly, "Huh..?"

"You...are you alright, you flew away just then...somewhere nice I hope"

Corey smiled, "nowhere particular, Hannah"

Hannah laughed and flicked through a magazine with Diana's smiling face on the front fold, "Well...I've lined myself up a date for tonight"

Corey raised his eyebrows, "Oh...who is it this time, not that Brad guy from upstairs again? You know how bad he treated you last time"

Hannah laughed that off with a wave of the hand, "Oh no, not that jerk! No...this one's special...real special...with him being a Visitor and all"

Corey was thin lipped, "Your date is with a Visitor?"

"Sure...what's so wrong with that?"

Corey shrugged, "Just be careful..."

Hannah looked around to see one of the Visitor-human hybrids that had popped up all over the planet in the last twenty years, emptying the trash. She stood up with distaste and turned to Corey, "I'm not intending to get Pregnant relax, we all know how the dregs are all treated in society, catch you later"

Corey signed thinking about Lucille. She was 18...too young for marriage, how was he going to change her mind? Make her see sense that Aaron Armstrong was a power hungry bastard with a reputation of sleeping around. He stood up, he needed to get back on shift.

As he stood up a Visitor medic came in the staff room, "Dr Feldmann...I need your help please...

VVV

Jake McKenna stood on the front porch of Kristine Walsh's George town mansion and could hear Delia talking on her cellphone, "...yes, that is what I am trying to say...he's rising through the ranks of the Teammates, he lead the attack that wore of the terrorists the other night and I believe in him"

Jake closed his eyes and smiled at her praise for him.

"...look I've gotta go, he will be here soon, and we are going to have a nice night in...I'll talk to you tomorrow Vanessa...bye"

Jake watched her through the door then removed his teammate cap and strode in, she turned from her view of the bay window, "Ohhhh Hiii...", she came over to him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Hi"

Delia took his hand and led him over to the couch, "I'm so glad you've got time off...we can have that night in"

Jake looked at her closely, "I heard you talking on the phone...who was that?"

Delia stood up and fixed them both a drink from the liqueur trolley, "Oh...that was Vanessa...you know Vanessa, she lives a few blocks away"

Jake nodded, "Yeah...oh her...look...", he stood and smiled at her at the trolley, "I'm gonna go up to grab a shower"

Delia was alluring, "I can come and...scrub your back along with other things..."

With a huge grin, he reached out and pulled her with him, and they headed off up the stairs to the luxury bathroom.

VVV

Caitlin Ryan sat in a Cafe with Vanessa Van de Berg in Capitol Hill, the traffic was busy in the street. Both had a latte coffee and a cake.

"So how is Delia?"

Vanessa placed the cell phone on the tablecloth, "She's Delia...she's expecting Jake at any minute"

Caitlin looked up, "Delia is using Jake, like she uses everybody, she takes after her mother"

Vanessa sighed, "You know that, I know that...but does he? He's besotted with her...she'll do anything to keep herself in favour with the Visitors..."

Caitlin watched a couple cross the street at the crossing, "She gets that from her mother...with her history of being their official human mouthpiece...and her father was rumoured to have been part of the old government"

Vanessa finished her latte and sat back in the sunshine, "He wasn't her real father...Kristine Walsh just said that because it suited her life style...I believe the other rumour that Delia is the bastard child of Michael Donovan...but, it's just a rumour I heard a few years ago...", Caitlin made a mental note.

"so, about Jake, You still wanna recruit him?"

"I'd like to...I've done some digging...", she held up the USB stick, "...did you know that his parents were big too?"

Vanessa shook her head, so Caitlin enlightened her"...they were resistors in Delaware...it was them who were responsible for those two Visitor chemical plants being blow sky high back in 97...the Mckenna's were picked up and taken...the resistance were framed and Jake was convinced it was them who were responsible for his parents capture"

Vanessa leaned forward as two Visitor shock troopers walked by with their rifles sling over their shoulders, and whispered, "what ever became of the McKenna's"

"Our source says they were held in Capsule storage aboard the original DC Mothership...that ship departed the Earth nearly a decade ago"

Vanessa realised the reality of that, "then he'll never see them again"

"look...like her mom, Delia is only interested in what she can gain...we can gain a whole lot more from him if I can get him to join the resistance"

"And how are you gonna do that?"

Caitlin leaned forward and smiled, "You know when you said you loved playing the spy? Well, I've gotta job for you..."

VVV

CHAPTER FIVE

The Visitor shuttle was in flight over Maryland. Inside, Corey Feldmann sat opposite the Visitor medic that requested his help at the hospital.

"I don't understand all this secrecy...you can at least tell me where I am headed...?"

The Visitor medic looked up, "I can see this is all rather ominous...let me introduce myself for a start...I am Kieron...like yourself I am a medic"

Corey looked at him in the dim lit confine of the shuttle, "you work at your Visitor hospital...I have seen you there a few times", told Corey.

Kieron nodded, "I was called out earlier to treat a woman amongst your people that are...being detained"

Corey could tell that Kieron was being very cautious with his words.

"Detained? Why are they being detained?"

Kieron looked uncomfortable but smiled, "they are scientists and their family's that have been put into camps for their safety...please, when we arrive...you will soon understand why they are there..."

VVV

Jake finished making love to Delia in the silky sheets of her bed and he rolled on his back and panted. Delia smiled and leaned up onto her elbow, a finger drew circles on his belly, "I have news...remember that Visitor supervisor my mother knows? Well, he's going to ask to see you tomorrow...I think he's got something big for you to get your teeth into"

Jake looked at her, "Yeah? How do you know?"

Delia nodded, "I heard Mom talking on the phone to him and praising you up as the best Teammate Washington's got, and you deserve something juicy to put to task"

"The best Teammate in Washington? I think my friend Aaron Armstrong would contest that!"

Delia laughed, "He just thinks that because he lives in the White House, you are far more superior than that jerk!"

Jake wondered what the Visitors had in mind for him, "What do you think it is?"

"I don't know...but I'm sure they can count on your loyalty...because I know I can"

He smiled at her and met her for a kiss on the lips before he rolled back on top of her.

VVV

The Shuttle had touched down outside the scientist camp in Maryland. As Corey Feldmann exited the ramp, he took in his surroundings. He was standing outside the checkpoint entry gate to a huge enclosure, that was surrounded by 20 foot high mesh fencing that was topped with rolls of ugly bard wire.

Inside, he could see people walking about the dry dustbowl ground, some were in groups, some were on their own and some were with children. Corey focused on the perimeter fencing and glanced at Keiron who seemed to be able to read his thoughts.

"Don't be too concerned about the high fence Dr Feldmann...it really is for their safety"

"Their safety?"

"Indeed...it's function is to safeguard them from attack. Many scientists and their family's here have fallen victim from mobs of vigilante thugs that want revenge for the outrageous lies your scientists have brought to your people over the decades...at least here all together in their own little community they are safe and secure...wouldn't you concur Dr Feldmann?"

Corey didn't know what to think. He nodded forward, "Why have I been brought here?"

Kieron ushered the way forward towards a group of tatty looking out-buildings near the perimeter fences left wing, "One of the women here is giving birth, but there are complications that we are not familiar with..."

Corey guessed that human and Visitor births were probably very different, "You better show me to her..."

VVV

Jake Mckenna entered the Teammate training camp at the college. As he went to get his task master from main reception, A Visitor Captain came over to him, "McKenna...I have a job for you"

Jake swallowed down, "Oh...Sir?", he didn't want to sound like he had been tipped off.

The Visitor Captain watched a flood of Teammates head off into the main assembly room, "I see you after role call, I have a job for you that will do wonders for your career Jake..."

Jake smiled.

VVV

At the scientist camp in Maryland, Corey Feldmann was examining his patient. He had been quite impressed of what he had found. The building had looked quite tatty on the outside, but inside there was a capsule room that was sterilised clean and white with Visitors medic staff on hand. His patient was on a steel trolley and had been given adequate pain relief.

"The baby is in breech"

Kieron looked at him as if he didn't know what that meant. Corey elaborated, "the baby is going to be born backside first..."

Kieron glanced at his fellow Visitor medics and then focused back to Corey, "Is this something you are an expert in? Of course we can assist and be of service in anyway you require..."

Corey nodded, "We'll need clamps...more pain relief and a little of Gods help...there maybe a lot of tearing and blood loss...she should have had an emergency C section, but that's too late now..."

Kieron handed him a surgical gown that was orange and had a big Visitor symbol down it's front, "You will find everything you would need here, I'm sure Dr Feldmann..."

VVV

At the Teammate Facility, The Visitor Captain turned and held up a Vid Disk in his hand in the office, "This is what your task is Jake...these have been flooding the area recently...at first there was the odd one going around, now they are greater in number in the community"

Jake frowned at the disk, "What's on it sir?"

The Visitor looked at him, "Illegal that is what it is...your job is not to ask what...it is simply to confiscate these disks in quick precision"

He handed a sheet to Jake, "This is all the information you need"

VVV

Dr Corey Feldmann had successfully delivered the breech-birth. It had been one of those half-breed hybrids. Mother and baby were doing well. As he cleaned himself up and scrubbed off into the stainless steel sink, he looked towards a door that was slightly on ajar. He crossed over and peeked through it, to view a sea of camp beds and dirty laundry hanging from ropes across the rafters.

There were shapes in the camp beds, and some folk were sitting up and staring off into space. The living conditions looked filthy, but it was hard to squint through the half light.

He heard someone approach and hurried back to the sink and dried off. Kieron walked into the changing room, "Well, thank you again Dr Feldmann...the woman is back with her family"

"Where exactly is that? With a newborn child...it needs to be clean...you know..."

Kieron stepped aside, "That abomination has been disposed of, please, come this way Dr Feldmann...the shuttle is waiting to take us back to the Washington"

Corey pressed further, "Disposed of? I know it was...you know..."

Kieron stared at him, "A dreg yes...it's best to put then thing out of it's misery before the real misery sets in, now this way"

Corey realised there was no budging. He knew deep down that the scientists here were prisoner.

Quickly, Kieron led him back through the narrow corridor and out to the exit. Passing by a half open steel door, Corey could see a strange looking chair with what looked like dried blood around the base of it. His heart raced. He was glad to be leaving this place, but guilty for leaving all those others behind.

VVV

Delia Walsh fingered through the rich garments at the department store. She didn't know whether to go with the red or blue. She turned and pointed to the sales woman, "You...is the blue this years line...or last"

The blond girl smiled, "this years...everything in the store is this years"

Delia dismissed her with a wave, "as if YOU would know", she studied the blue dress again and then back to the red, "Ohhh I can't decide on which one, I'll just go with them both"

"As you say madam"

Delia handed the sales assistant a gold-card , "Here, put all this on my mothers account...and get some lacky to parcel them up now please, I haven't all day"

The shop girl nodded taking the card, "very good madam...", she then walked across to the back store and pointed to the half-breed girl that looked like she had been working non stop with out any sleep, "You. Dreg-girl. Go and pack up the clients garments and handle them with utmost care or I'll make sure the manager knows all about it"

The half-breed girl was about to go onto the shop floor when the sales assistant grabbed her arm and shoved her back, "NOT NOW YOU STUPID DREG! Wait till the client is out of sight, I'm sure she doesn't want to see the ugly likes of you in her way"

The half-breed nodded and waited and watched through the one-way mirror as Delia was ushered to the pay-point and then to the exit. She then nipped out the storeroom and took the two dresses from the rack and removed them to the back where she carefully parcelled them up with utmost care.

The fabric was divine. She could day-dream of owning such a dress, let alone two. She closed the lid to the decorated box and waited until the porter was ready to take it out.

Out on the street the white limousine pulled up and the driver got out and immediately opened up the trunk for the porter to place the parcel.

There was a video sign across the street streaming a message across it above the entrance to the Metro. It read, See something suspicious? Report it!

The driver opened the back door and Delia graciously got in. Once the driver was back behind the wheel, he drove the limo away.

The Half-breed watched from the 5th storey window. The sales assistant laughed as she leant in the doorway, "You can watch. But that's all you can do Sally...you see...the likes of YOU don't ever to get to live like that..."

Sally turned, "and what's your excuse Freda Wallis? You slave away here just as I do...the only difference is the jobs we do...you are out there on show and I'm behind here..."

"...out of sight, just how it should be...now, Suze has said the bathroom needs a once over...DO IT"

Sally scowled and grabbed the mop and bucket and wheeled it up the corridor, Freda smiled.

VVV

Corey Feldmann walked into his apartment in Foggy bottom and closed the door and loosened his tie. Kandy Clark was sunning herself on the veranda and removed her shades as he stepped out from the French doors.

"Corey...you are late...I thought you said you were finishing your shift early and was taking me out..."

Corey shook his head, "I stayed on for a while", and then he told her about what he had done and saw that day at the camp.

Kandy sighed and looked at him touching his 5 O'clock shadow with her beautifully manicured fingers, "Honey...they were scientists...it's not that it matters, not really...you said they told you they were being kept there for their own protection...hasn't it even occurred to you that they might be telling you the truth? That scientist who used to live across the street...her house was firebombed remember...maybe this is what they need..."

Corey was fuming, "really! You think that a mother and her new born baby should be living in squalor...have no access to a hospital...and forced to sleep on a skanky camp bed that's probably hasn't seen a clean sheet for weeks!"

Kandy stood up and placed her hands on her hips, "It is none of our business Corey! If those scientists hadn't lied to us in the first place...keeping back cures for cancer because of their own greed for research grants...then maybe they wouldn't be in this position in the first place! Corey...I know the Visitors aren't saints...I have seen the brutality on the streets over the years...I know that just maybe, our government is no longer running the country...but like it or not Corey, these people mean business... you only have to look at the fire power they carry? Do you really think the human race can stand up to them? No Corey we can't, didn't the great purge tell you that?...they'd wipe us all out at the flick of a switch...", she went to go back inside and paused and looked at him, "it's all just war games Corey...the resistance won't stand a chance...not against them..."

"So we just roll over and take it...?"

"I think...we have no choice...but to do just that"

Corey watched her go back in and sighed heavily. Kandy was just one person. It was a damning thought that there was 100s of 1000s out there who felt the same way as her.

CONTINUED: FRIENDS & ENEMIES