...you see long ago when Jess was merely a child...

her parents had emmigrated to the US from Ireland. They bought some land and farmed. Jess was teased in school for being Catholic in the sweaty small southern town they lived in. She fought for everything all her life...just to stay afloat.

She got out of jackson, kentucky as soon as she could to make a life in D.C. She was a journeyman right out of highschool, but joined the Navy the year after. From there it was honor guard, secret service...etc, etc.

She watched as Nixon went down and Bill was embarrassed by his 'bro. Now, years later and assignments gone by, she was at the docks in Philadelphia with some skinny soldier and a buncha civilians who looked more tired than intelligent.

A few minutes later the Jeep reached Dock road just as dawn was breaking over the port.
"Got it!" Jess said a moment later. "They are on board a vessel at Pier 2" . "That will be the early morning ferry" said Derrick, who was familiar with this side of the city.
Rakyatan followed the sign for Pier 2, turning off the highway and in to the lane leading to the Ferry.The huge military jeep was directed in to line with other large trucks and semi's boarding the ferry, and it wasn't long before they were aboard and parked up.

"Time for breakfast" said Rakyatan. Melanie could not remember how long it had been since she had last eaten, as they all piled out of the Jeep.
They climbed the stairs from the parking deck, found the way to the onboard cafe and it wasn't long before they were all sat round a table eating breakfast.
"What now?" asked Melanie lighting a cigarette, and sounding far more confident than she felt. " We wait until we arrive and disembark, then we are going to steal a truck, that is to say, what is inside the truck." said Ratyatan. Melanie looked at Derrick, then at the others, then back at Rakyatan, "Steal a truck? We are just going to steal a truck?" she said, she could not believe she was hearing this.

"It will not be too difficult if you all keep your heads" said Jess. "Keeping my head,not getting it blown off, is important to me" replied Derrick, just as the Ferry horn blew a long blast, and the tannoy system advised passengers to be ready to disembark, as the ship slowly entered port. Rakyatan stood up and said "Come on, we must return to the Jeep, and Jess, you need to discover which truck as we disembark".

What was in the truck Melanie pondered, and if they were to steat it, how were they going to steal it, it was with very mixed emotions she returned to the Jeep.

Melanie was certain Rakan, and now Jess, had plans for her and Derrick, but what were they and how dangerous would they be? Thinking about this, she began to tremble again and with a shaking hand, lit another cigarette. She knew she had to be very careful about what she allowed her mind to contemplate. She was beginning to figure out just how their telepathic ability worked and who among them had the capacity . Rakan, Torgo, the red eyed poodle, two of Rakan's lead men, one they called Pony and the other Larrson or Lars. Both of these men talked a lot and seemed to think everything that Rakan said was hysterically funny. She was also starting to figure out how their telepathy worked. If they were distracted or engaged in conversation with each other, the ability to read minds was greatly reduced. Yes, Melanie would have to be very careful about formulating a plan of escape. Glancing at Derrick, she thought to herself, "Can I trust this man or is he somehow connected to this horrible nightmare?"....

everybody had been pretty short on explanations. She gazed down the long rows of vehicles waiting to disembark. Where were they? New Jersy? Delaware? Melanie got out of the jeep on the pretext of using the restroom. As soon as she was far enough away, she approached one of the ferry shipmen. "Hey, hello, I am being kidnapped. I need you to hide me - quick - I 'll explain later!" The shipman stared in disbelief but her eyes were earnest and voice trembling. "Either she's crazy, or it's true," he said to himself. it was one of those lifetime moments when one tries to do the least harm.

He went along with her on the outside chance that she was telling the truth. He did not want to be responsible for anyone being harmed. The shipman grabbed her hand and said, "c'mon, get in my car it's at the end of this row." They walkead quickly toward a blue pick up and he put her in the bed under some tarps and tools. "Don't tell anyone where I am," explained Mel, hurriedly, "no matter what anyone tells you....please....you never saw me." With that she disappeared under a tarp.

The shipman shook his head and went to the front to resume his duties before someone noticed his absence.

"Jess! Go and have a look where Melanie has got to, she should be back" said Rakyatan as the Jeep inched forward in the queue to disembark.
"On my way" she said jumping out of the Jeep. Jess had sensed something would happen, Raky had put the fear of God in to her at breakfast, in his usual blunt approach. She has done a runner she thought as she ran down the line of slow moving trucks to where one of the ships officers stood waving the vehicles on.

"Hello", she said to the officer. "Have you seen a young woman come this way on foot in the past few minutes? She has escaped from our Jeep" Jess pointed to the now quickly approaching Jeep as it moved closer to them. "She is up for a courtmartial and has escaped from us, if I cannot find her you must stop off loading these vehicles now, while we secure and search the ship". The officer new the Ferry was on a tight schedule and could not be delayed to allow the military to search the ship.
He pointed to his blue pick-up and said, "I think I saw someone climb in the back of that pick-up". "Thanks" said Jess. "Leave this to us."

Jess ran to the pick-up and pulled back the tarp, "Listen Mel" she said, "We need your help will you come back to the Jeep now? All will be made clear soon and no one else knows you tried to run. If you don't help, Derrick will be working on his own". Melanie thought for a moment, she couldn't leave whatever it was to Derrick, so she climbed out of the pick-up. "Good to have you back" said Jess as she held Melanie's hand and led her back to the Jeep.

"Come on Jess, we need to know which truck before they are too far away" said Rakyatan as they got back inside the Jeep.

Melanie wondered whether she had done the right thing in returning as the Jeep rolled down the ramp, but she new she could not leave it all to Derrick, whatever it was they were expected to do.

Derrick, looking at him now caused Mel's heart beat a little faster. Did he know how handsome he was?
Sighing softly, she shook off her foolish thoughts and focused on her surroundings. Gone was the harsh starkness of the loading docks and the drab asphalt framing the towering city skyline. In its place was beauty so spectacular it took her breath away..Wide eyed and with mouth agape, Melanie took in the splendor of the lush tropical forest, sparkling white sand beach, and magnificent aqua blue ocean. The only thing missing was people...My God, though Melanie, where have they taken me!...

As if feeling the panic that Melanie was beginning to have, Jess walked over and sat next to Melanie.

Melanie, said Jess. Do you remember anything about your mother?

I have been raised by my grandma replied Jess. My mother died at birth and she has raised me since. My grandmother passed away only a short while ago. And at the thought of her grandmother her hand went to the point of her sweater where her locket lay underneath.

You do not know this, but I am a good friend of your grandmother. We were the best of friends as children. Things were hard for me when my parents came here from Ireland. She became as close as a sister to me.

Has your grandmother talked to you extensively about your mother?
In thinking about it, well only a few times as a young child she surely must have asked about her mother. But she couldn't remember what they were, or what her grandmother had told her. She only knew that her grandmother was her mother figure and had loved, protected made her life happy so there needn't have been anyone else.

Then there is much you should know. You are the key that will help to save man kind from destruction. It is our job, no duty, to keep you safe from the dark side office.

At hearing this one of Rakyatan's diminutive partners came forward and kneeled to Melanie. Yes my dear lady we are all here to protect you. Consider me, Loki you can call me.... at your service.

And even though Rakyatan can be a little, stern shall I say?, It is only that he has such great concern for your safety, said Jess.

The metal case had somehow become unstable again causing Jess to loose the signal, so with little choice Rakyatan had turned off the road. Parking the Jeep in the shade beneath palm trees and far enough back from the highway not to be seen from the road or air. They had all climbed out in to the sunshine, and were now either sat in the shade talking, or thinking about what was going to happen next.

"Jess!" shouted Rakyatan. Jess left Melanie and the others and walked towards where he had been sat since they arrived.

Suddenly they all heard a strange sound, a faint clanking sound coming from the direction of the road. Derrick whispered "I will go and have a look" he darted forward using the cover of the palm trees as much as he could and was soon out of sight. The sound grew louder, and they all waited anxiously for Derrick to reappear, the minutes passed, the sound was now so close that whatever it was must have been only yards away. Where was Derrick?
Rakyatan shouted "Everyone in the Jeep now!" just as Derrick appeared from the undergrowth. They ran to the Jeep, Derrick blurted out, "It's a tank!"
Moments later they were heading away from the road and away from any danger that might pursue them, not stopping until several miles had been covered.
"It was certainly a tank" said Derrick as they came to a halt, "No driver, or anyone else that I could see, and it was searching for someone along that road that I am sure"
It was nearly dark as Rakyata said , "We shall stay here tonight it seems we are safe for now, and Jess, see if you can you find that signal again in the morning."

With mounting concern Jess turned her attention to the receiver. The signal was becoming unreliable and without it all would be doomed. It was their only hope of keeping Melanie, and now Derrick, out of harms way. Jess glanced toward the group. Ever since she joined Rakan and his men at the docks and discovered Rakan had defied orders and brought along the outsider, her anger had been building. Rakan was becoming harder and harder to control and Jess made a mental note to speak to the elders when they returned to the safety of the compound...

meanwhile Melanie was reconsidering whether she had made the best decision to return. It was only her feelings for Derrick, and not wanting to leave him alone with these strangers that kept her there.

She surveyed the group. Derrick was, once again, sleeping as usual. She paused for a moment to laugh to herself at the way this young man could fall asleep any where no matter the situation or circumstances. She imagined he could sleep through a rocket launch.

Raky and Jess were hovering over some communication electronics, mumbling, muttering and commiserating. At least they were busy. The two henchmen were drinking beers and looking at something on a laptop. "That can't be good," chuckled Mel, "but at least they are preoccupied."

So, she gently shook Derrick's arm. "Hey sleeping beauty," she whispered. " CAn we talk?"

Daylight came and with it the loud sqawking of some large birds flying close by looking for their breakfast. The smell of burgers drifted past her nose and she heard the sizzling of something cooking, Melanie's tummy rumbled again, when was is they last ate? She walked to the rear of the jeep and their where Jess was leaning over a portable kitchen, she turned as Melanie arrived. "Well equipped these Jeeps, the foods not brilliant but edible, start putting some on those plates would you" she said
as she poured coffee in to metal cups. The sounds and smell of food soon brought everyone to the Jeep, they ate breakfast quickly.

Rakyatan's guys Poni and Lars started to break camp, packing the gear back inside the Jeep, as Rakyatan said " Not good news". Was it ever thought Melanie.
"We cannot trace the signal, we are not sure where we are, and the A51 piece of kit may be playing up" Jess was now close to the Metal Case that had come from Area 51
and was peering at the screens. " We need to back track to the highway in the hope we can regain contact, we must find the truck that came over on the Ferry with us"

Minutes later they were retracing their path back to the highway, when Jess said, " Found something, cannot be certain the signal is not too clear, but if it is them they are stopped in a town approximately 20 miles further along from where we left the highway" Rakyatan turned the jeep towrds the general direction of the town. "We will not risk the road, guide us in on that signal Jess we will go overland" he said in a purposeful tone of voice, as the Jeep ploughed on through the lush tropical vegetation.

tropical vegetation in New Jersey? Melanie awoke with a start. The ferry had docked and she was still under the tarp in the blue pickup. "can't believe I slept" , she thought. cold and hungry, and thinking about finding a mcdonald's....it occurred to mel that she was on the everyman for him/herself mode...

she heard the midshipman telling Jess that he had seen no one come back this way on this trip but he'd tell her if he saw anyone...."a young lady 20-something with reddish blonde hair, skinny and serious looking..." "ok, " he said, "gotcha." and he continued to wave vehicles into lines for dismebark.

as soon as Jess moved on, mel peeked out from under the tarp and listened, looked around. It was quiet and she could hear the ferry docking. She decided to stay put until the midshipman came back to his truck. she'd go where ever he was going...anything to get away....anything not to be running or be held against her will.

listening to the water lapping against the side of the ferry she was reminded of the days when her dad would take them rowing. he'd talk about the geese overhead and the reflection of the trees in the river...

lost in reverie, she didn;t notice the midshipman watching her and smiling.

she felt kinda bad about Derrick. but whatever. It was time to end this nonsense and return to some sanity. that was one helluva dream and she really wanted out of this weirdness....

BRAVO TO U ALL

"Bravo to you all" Screamed Rakayatan for the second time as the Jeep rolled off the ferry and out of the terminal. "All you guys had to do was keep an eye on each other, but no, we have just allowed Melanie to walk away, if we don't find her there will be a lot of explaining to do" he said calming down a little.

They had not travelled far along the highway when Rakayatan pulled the Jeep off the road and parked in a motel car park, not a word had been spoken by the others since leaving the ferry, as they wondered how they would find Melanie. "OK Jess" said Rakayatan after they had come to a halt. "Let's see if you can pick up any signal from Melanie's locket, I noticed she was wearing it". Derrick suddenly sat up and said "Yes, she was wearing a locket, one her grandmother had given her she had said".
Jess was looking intently at the screens that were set in to the top of the machine that had come from Area 51, as they all looked on and waited for her reply.

"Come on!" Shouted the midshipmen as he held out his hand. "Thanks" said Melanie climbing out of the back of the pick-up. "I am on my way for some lunch would you care to join me?" asked the young midshipman. Melanie thoughts were not on food, she remembered Derrick and started to realise that he was now alone and perhaps not among friends?. What should she do now she was free, her thoughts raced...