Part 45 – 2030
Rik smiled at the reporter and shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. I am ineligible for nomination. I have no affiliated party and I haven't yet met the minimum age requirement."
"But you do admit that you express an interest."
"Ma'am, I'm a lawyer. A good one and I am fully aware of what you're asking me. Tonight was just about hearing everyone's thoughts and ideas. No one planned on anyone being nominated tonight."
"Mr. Kasey! What do you have to say about the rumors that you will run for the presidency in 2036?"
"2036? We're a ways off from that election. Let's focus on candidates for 2032, shall we?" Rik shook his head and made his way into the restaurant where his family was waiting. His mother rose to kiss his cheek, Zan reached up to shake his hand. Rik dropped kisses on Kelly and Bree's heads before taking his seat beside his wife. "Miss me?"
"Next time, we take an alternate route to a restaurant, we'll make sure to make the reservation in someone else's name." Ruby kissed his lips.
"Ya'll're gross." Bree wrinkled up her nose at them.
"How'd you get famous all of a sudden?" Zan peered at the window where reporters were still waiting.
"I'm not famous." Rik shook his head. "Did you order?"
"Yes. Your usual." Ruby rolled her eyes. "Should be out in a minute or two."
"What's the big surprise?" Erika demanded. "What's with the fancy dinner?"
"Well." Rik cleared his throat. "It's a few things. You know I was doing pro bono work in Windfall. Today I was officially named town magistrate. It's so cut off, even with the damned sub route."
"What does that mean?" Erika shook her head in confusion.
"That now, the state government pays him for doing what he's been doing for free the last two years." Ruby squeezed his hand.
"How are you going to do that and take care of paying clients?"
"I'm keeping my important clients of course. I only have to appear in Windfall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I have enough time to work with my remaining clients and… next term, not the one upcoming but the following… I'm going to run for mayor."
"Of Windfall?" Zan blinked at his son.
"Of New York City."
"You're certain of that already?" Erika had to take a breath.
"I wasn't sure I wanted to do it but… I've caught the bug." Rik nodded to himself and for the second time in his life, he was absolutely sure about something. "And I'm going to win."
"Well, this is a reason to eat all fancy." Zan gave his son a nod.
"We still have more news." Ruby bit her lip and looked up at her husband who nodded. "Rik and I are going to be parents this July."
"What?" Erika and Zan sat up at the same time.
"You're gonna have a baby?" Kelly grinned. "That's cool."
"No…" Bree shook her head. "You can't. I won't let you."
"Won't let me?" Rik turned to his baby sister. "What are you going to do? Stop the baby from coming?" He looked up to his parents and gave them a look. "I waited as long as possible before making you two grandparents."
Zan had to take a moment to clear his throat. "Congratulations, Chief. It took you long enough. I was beginnin' to think I was gonna have to wait on the girls to grow up before I got any."
"Congratulations, sweetie." Erika smiled across the table.
--
The Evans passed the rolls and various dishes along the table. Liz leaned over to straighten Isaiah's tie. "Mom, stop."
"My baby got accepted to med-school, I just want him to look nice at his celebratory dinner." She kissed his cheek and wiped off the lipstick.
"We're very proud." Diane nodded to them.
Max was perhaps the proudest of all at the table. "So, I've got myself a lawyer and a doctor who will work for free."
"You planning on needing a doctor and a lawyer?" Darin raised an eyebrow at him.
"I'm planning an alien invasion. I think I'll need both and a lot more."
"Don't listen to him, Max. He won a big case and his ego is over inflated." Valerie poked her husband in the side.
"Which reminds me, I got in touch with the Norwegian consulate. We have to do some negotiating in the next few years." Max explained with tired eyes.
"Enough alien talk." Liz chided and served Lucas who sat on her other side.
"Mom, I'm not a baby." He whined.
"Sh. And eat."
"Liz, honey, how are your parents?" Diane stopped Philip from serving himself more pot roast, murmuring to him about his blood pressure.
"Enjoying retirement in Florida." Liz shook her head. "Just wait until hurricane season and see if they want to stay there."
"And Maria?"
"She complains everyday that she hates the Crashdown but she enjoys it. It's not like she's serving customers every waking moment. She's the boss this time and that she enjoys. She says it keeps her from strangling Michael."
"The book!" Diane blurted out. "How is that going?"
"Almost finished. Michael's a little disappointed that he can't do any illustrations for it. He really likes that but he's got other authors to draw for, now." Liz explained but sat up, proudly. "The first of my series is coming out this spring in theaters though."
"The one with the little boy and the alien family?" Diane pressed.
"Mom…" Isaiah rolled his eyes.
"Kids love those books." Liz squeezed her son's hand. "You were my inspiration the whole time."
"That's it. No one ever finds out you're my mother."
"Isaiah." Max cleared his throat. "We're all very proud of your mother and she's doing what she loves. Acknowledge her praise of you. She loves you so much, she wrote an entire book series on your young life. It's paying for your medical school."
Thoroughly chastised and apologetic, Isaiah reached over to hug his tiny mother. Without her, he could be lost after coasting through the child service system all his young years.
"Stop growing." Liz teased him lightly.
"I think I've hit my height." Isaiah tried to reassure her but he was 6'4", having overshot his big brother and father and stood a full foot taller than his mother.
"Was his father very tall?" Diane asked absently as she poured honey on Philip's roll instead of butter.
"Taller?" Liz looked to Max, who was focused on his dinner. He glanced up when he felt her gaze on his face. "Kevin, how tall was he?"
"About Isaiah's height give or take an inch, I think. I think was a basketball player in high school or something." Max shrugged. "Which means Lucas isn't allowed to get any taller. I've already got two sons taller than me."
"I'm gonna be six foot, Dad." Lucas protested.
"5'10", that's my final offer." Max teased the boy.
"Daddy, can I go to the party on Friday?" Hannah piped up.
"No." Max shook his head firmly.
"Max, honey." Diane stared at her son, he had gone from happy to grumpy in ten seconds flat, oddly enough reminding her of his teen years.
"It's a boy-girl party at a boy's house that I've never met. She can't go. Not until she's 16."
"You let Isaiah go to parties when he was 13. I am 14 years old." Hannah protested.
"Chill." Max ordered. "Isaiah went to a party with family friends. You're going to a house full of strangers. It is not the same thing."
"Children, really." Diane tsked them and focused her gaze on Darin and Valerie. "And speaking of which. When am I going to be a great-grandmother?"
"Diane." Philip set down his fork with a loud sigh.
"We're putting it off a while." Valerie explained while she served Darin more potatoes and reached for the Tabasco sauce. "I'm three credits from my diploma and then after I'm settled into a job, we save some money and then we'll start trying."
"It's a good solid plan." Philip rubbed his wife's arm, consoling her. “You’ll get them soon enough.”
“Rik called me today.” Darin cleared his throat. “I’m sure he’d like to tell you himself but just act surprised when he gets around to it. Ruby’s pregnant.”
“Really?” Diane and Liz gasped together.
“Like you didn’t know.” Max gave Liz a look.
“I’m practicing acting surprised.” She gave him one back.
“Mom, I don’t want my yellow stuff.” Lucas complained.
“Put Tabasco on it and then try it.” Max passed the bottle over.
“But it looks funny.”
“I know but it’s good. Just try it.”
--
Rik lay beside Ruby, his eyes level with her belly button as he caressed the exposed skin on her middle. "Who do you think is in there?"
"You want to call your aunt and ask her?"
"No. I never know when she's telling the truth." Rik scoffed but enjoyed the feeling of her fingers sliding through his hair over and over.
"Come on. She's not that bad."
"When she first told me about you… it was after I had met you and I didn't believe her because it didn't sound like you." He traced his finger in a wide circle over her belly, unable to wait much longer until her flesh would push outward in a sign that his child was growing within her. "I don't always see them coming. I don't see them before they're conceived and I can't see ours…"
"We don't need to see. We can do it the way our mothers and fathers did before us. Wait and see…"
"I always wondered if Dad knew I was going to be sick or if he just happened to be there when I came out sick."
"I think that your father was there because he wanted to be there and when he found out you were sick, he did his best to fix you without letting anyone know." She kept up stroking his head and listened to his silence for a while. "I know it's gotta be hard for you, Rik. You thought he had abandoned you and he didn't. He can say he loves you all he wants but somewhere inside you always doubt. You feel bad about it."
"You saw it yourself. He had only aged a year from the last time I could remember seeing him and he was… 19. Technically… he's 33."
"Technicality. So what. He's still your dad and he's… aging well… because really… he's like a hundred or something. He was a king for who knows how long before he died the first time and then it was only really 12 years until he died again…"
"I want to be… I want those years back is what I want. I want to go back and change things so that he never died and he can be the kind of dad to me that he is for Kelly and Bree. I’m jealous."
"Maybe you are jealous of them. I'm jealous of you." She slid her hand down to cover his where it rested on her belly. "My parents were always physically there for me but they weren't emotionally. They didn't hug me. They didn't congratulate me on a job well done. I only wish I could have had a father like Zan and he's only my in-law."
"I'm sorry… I just wonder sometimes."
"And I know that you are going to be the best dad in the world to this little bundle."
--
"Um, Mrs. Maples. There's a package for you." Darin whispered in his wife's ear.
"Hmm… do I need to sign for it or can I just rip it open?" Valerie paused in drying the dishes.
"Not in my kitchen." Liz called in the open door as she passed.
The Maples chuckled and kissed each other briefly before Darin excused himself to join Max where he was looking through some papers. Max held up the forms. "Just to get an audience."
"It's going to be a lot of work but the mainframe is down." Darin reassured him. "I think we can work something out. The economy being what it is overseas, the Norwegians will welcome some aid in keeping their people on the island. Eventually, hopefully, not too many years, we'll have complete control over it."
"Will they listen to me though? I'm not exactly a political figure." Max sighed and tossed the pages down.
"Not officially, you're not but you did some really good work on your out-reach programs. How many cities now?" Darin took a seat.
"Fifty by now I think. I don't have the numbers I'd like but they're getting better all the time."
"Precisely. You know how to get results. That's what they want to see. You aren't confined by higher political machines. So what it's just a bunch of scientists babysitting a bunch of horny seals. They still pay for the studies and someone has to foot the bill. All you need to do is achieve the same progress with fewer people. Teach these scientists what you've been teaching kids all over, that you can absorb more with the right techniques." Darin cleared his throat. "You work the Norwegians and Rik and I will take care of Washington."
"I still can't believe that I have to become the patron saint of seals in order to secure my alien people a place to live on Earth." Max sank down in his seat. "What I don't want is for this to turn around on us and look like a conspiracy to overthrow."
"That's why when we finally approach the world, it has to be through the United Nations. That's my goal. Rik is taking care of getting us political favor. He's got some little projects for himself but he's running for Governor next election. Everyone thinks he's running for Mayor or president but he's going for Governor and then for President, hopefully during the term that the first of them arrive. We're doing everything possible to smooth the way."
"And that won't look like a conspiracy to take over? An Antarian prince in the White House and another in the United Nations." Max sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I don't want to have to move my family there… but how will it look when I announce my sovereignty over this island and I don't live there?"
"All that will be explained at the United Nations meeting when the time comes. We have time to figure these things out." Darin took a breath. "It will probably be 15 and not ten years…"
"Well, whenever."
TBC
In Search of... (Zan, CC / Mature) (Complete)
Moderators: Itzstacie, Forum Moderators
Part 46
Part 46 – 2033
Rik stared at the inquirer and hoped he looked dumbfounded enough. “Are you suggesting that I cannot perform the duties of Governor because my father can’t remember where he comes from?” He paused and a chuckle broke out in the back of the room. “That was the purpose in the question, right? I can’t quite understand the relevance if that’s not what you’re asking.” More chuckles. “I have a birth certificate and a social security number just like my opponent. I have a high school diploma, a masters from NYU, not dissimilar from my opponent. Why didn't you ask her where her parents are from?”
“Both of her parents have all of those things that you’ve just said. Your father doesn’t.”
“So… what about my mother? She doesn’t have a masters from any college.”
“Mr. Kasey—“
“My parents’ qualifications aren’t the question. My qualifications are the question. If you have to point to an orphan’s miseries to get dirt on me, you’re out of luck. I’m the one in question. I’m the one running for governor. I’m the one you should be concerned with. My father is not running for governor.”
“Nor is my father.” Olivia Jenkins jumped in. “Questions about my parents will be treated in the same manner. I think my opponent and I would like some real questions now. On the subject of the issues in this race.”
--
Max and Darin listened to the terms as they were read from the contracts in their hands. "So, I would fund the research until it has reached its conclusion in four years?"
"That is the presumption, Mr. Evans."
"Okay. I just wanted to be clear."
"Once the research project has been completed, you will be responsible for finding an acceptable use for the island. The seals have nearly reached respectable numbers and are off the endangered species list. You have four years, Mr. Evans, to find a reason for the Norwegian consulate not to regret its decision to place you as overseer on this project. Your interest and in depth research on the subject has lead us to believe you can turn things around."
"Mr. Evans understands the trust and faith being placed on his shoulders." Darin addressed the counsel members.
"Does Mr. Evans have a tentative projection for his plans after the seal project is completed?"
"I believe the island is a good place to test a nitrous-oxide transformation process. I don't have all the details today but in one year I will have much more." Max promised.
"This is a study?"
"Yes, a sleep-study." Darin offered. "The island is in such a position that it would be optimal to create the correct environment…"
--
Rik got home and did not feel the day leave him until he was checking on his son in his little bed. Ruby and his mom were talking in the kitchen with his sisters. It was Zan who came to check on him after he'd been removed from the table so long. "Little guy didn't want to go down. Wanted to wait for his old man."
"I think I've got a good shot of winning."
"Of course you do." Zan took a seat in the rocking chair. "We got our inspection today. Most drug-free club in the city."
"Congratulations."
Zan felt the awkwardness and had to comment on it. "They asked about me, didn't they?"
"Yeah but we put them down and out. Livvie is a good opponent… we win either way, really."
"You know her?"
"Rivals in college." Rik shrugged and brushed Derek's hair out of his face.
"I'm proud of you, Chief." Zan blurted out. "You make me proud. Even with all the alien crap, you stand up."
"Got some lessons about grace under pressure."
"Not from me." Zan snorted.
"From Mom."
"She's my hero, too."
--
Darin sank onto the bed and rolled over to hold his sleeping wife. It was late and she would probably be up for work soon. Valerie snuggled into his arms. "I'm ovulating."
"That was the sexiest thing I've ever heard you say." He chuckled into her hair.
"I was afraid you weren't going to get back until I was already gone."
When she rolled over, her blue eyes fixed on his. He brushed her sandy hair from her face and for the millionth time wished he could meet her mother so he could thank her for putting up with Kyle long enough to have Valerie. "How long do we have?"
"An hour before I have to get up and get ready for work. Are you too tired? How long have you been awake?"
"Two days but I think I can manage an hour more."
"We can wait if you need to recharge?"
"I'm ready." He shifted against her, bringing their bodies flush against one another. "What's wrong?"
"I… just… I'm not sure I can be a good mom."
"You will be the best mom." He reassured her, dropping kisses onto her lips, rolling her beneath his body. He stared at his wife. "Why couldn't I have waited for you?"
"Because you're a ho." She stretched so she could remove her nightgown without pushing him away. "I'm really lucky you're disease free."
"Ha ha. You're so funny." He reached down to remove her panties and his boxers. "Watch your attitude, if you're sassing me when we conceive… the kid will never take me seriously."
"I promise… no more sassing… make love to me, Darin."
2037
Max stood behind the scientists who were murmuring over a signal. "SETI wants us to confirm origin, Mr. Evans."
"Lock onto it, then."
"This isn't our expertise." The technician tuned the frequency upward instead of outward. "It's not terran. It's definitely further out than the satellites." He turned to watch Max nod and pick up his cellphone. "Who are you calling?"
"President-Elect Kasey."
"But… SETI said…"
"I know people SETI doesn't. Where? How far is the signal originating from?" Max tapped the screen and waited until someone from Rik's camp picked up. "I need President Kasey on the phone."
"President-Elect Kasey is being sworn in just now."
"Okay. Good. You tell President Kasey to call his uncle first thing. It's important."
"The President will be busy."
"The President will make time for his uncle. Tell him we've got a long-distance call from the old country." Max snapped the phone shut and examined the readouts for something he could use.
"It's… passing Pluto."
"Passing?"
"It's on the move."
"Mr. Evans, this isn't what we're trained for. We're zoologists. We're seal experts."
"You're leaving in a week." Max cleared his throat. "My people are coming in tomorrow and you can go on your way. We'll deal with it."
"We'll have to notify the consulate."
"I'll do that… tonight… after I talk to the President of the United States."
--
Rik sipped his cider and was tapped on the shoulder by his PR guy. "What's up, my man?"
"During the ceremony you got a call from a Norwegian island by a man claiming to be your uncle. He insisted that you be told there was a long distance call from the old country. I wasn't going to say anything because I thought the guy was a crack pot but… SETI just patched in a call to the Director of Defense. There's a signal. The Norwegian outpost has a lock on the origins. I think it's serious." The guy cleared his throat. "The Director will be in soon to talk to you."
"Alright. Get me on the phone with Seal Island."
"Mr. President."
"I've got it under control. Just get me on the phone with my uncle. He called from Seal Island and I've been expecting his call." Rik stepped into his office with his wife in tow. "It's happening."
--
Darin rushed into the room, combing his hair down from an unexpected cheerio shower he'd gotten as he was leaving the breakfast table. "Mr. Maples." He turned at the voice to find he was being beckoned into a different meeting room with more powerful people in it. "Have a seat."
"Our representative at the… so dubbed "Seal Island" is taking control of monitoring the signal. Do you know anything about that, Mr. Maples?"
"Mr. Evans was monitoring for signals as a side project." Darin explained quickly, looking through his briefcase. "Initially he was going to do a study on sleep effects in cold climates. A sleep study with nitrous oxide, I think. He's willing to shift focus and monitor the signal full time."
"You've already spoken with him?"
"Ah… yes… He left me a message when he understood the importance of having an American in the control room on Seal Island." Darin lied smoothly.
"Who notified the president? He's been in office for two hours and he's already all over this." A man at the far end of the table barked. "Plausible deniability only works if no one tells him."
"No one in the White House told him." Darin interrupted. "President Kasey is acquainted with Mr. Evans. Mr. Evans would like to stay on and be our go-to guy on this project."
"Project Crank Call?" The man sat up. "This is preposterous."
"SETI, Seal Island and Japan have all verified that the signal originated beyond Pluto when it was first picked up. Subsequent readings confirm that it has already broken Pluto's orbit and is crossing Uranus's orbit within a month."
"It's getting closer?"
"It would seem so."
The room exploded with conversation and accusations and panic. Darin climbed onto the table and whistled loudly. "Gentleman… and ladies." He nodded to the women on either side of the table. "There is no cause for alarm. President Kasey is going to handle communications with the object… as it will be confirmed to be in six months. I'm making long-term projections on behalf of the White House. I didn't expect to be in this room so soon but I won't keep you in the dark. We have engineers building a radio of sorts with which to communicate with the object before it reaches Earth."
"Why would it come to Earth?" A man blurted out.
A woman glared at him and gestured to the solar system haphazardly mounted on the far wall of the boardroom. "We're the only planet capable of life and communication in this solar system. Of course, it's headed here."
"What I would like to know is why… what is your name?"
"Darin Maples."
"Why IDA man, Mr. Maples, is privy to the president's actions when I got off the phone with him three minutes before arriving?"
"He's just been promoted to UNESCO and is a member of the General Assembly and Security Council." A woman murmured, scribbling away on her notepad. "I'm the head of the crisis analysis team, by the way." She opened a huge notebook. "We assume the object is hostile."
"We don't assume anything until communication is achieved on a two way band." Darin hopped off the table. "Today is not the day for a crisis. Today is a day for news and informed preparation. There are people in our government who have been preparing for this for fifteen years. I don’t expect to even see the object for another year."
"Would you mind telling us how a lawyer from New Mexico is privy to this information?" The Secretary of Defense cleared his throat. "Even given your multiple seats with the U.N."
"I have the most experience in this arena. I was briefly involved with UNESCO before with regards to Seal Island." Darin cleared his throat. "This isn't just a U.S. interest. The Island is a co-venture with Norway but… it will concern the whole world."
TBC
Rik stared at the inquirer and hoped he looked dumbfounded enough. “Are you suggesting that I cannot perform the duties of Governor because my father can’t remember where he comes from?” He paused and a chuckle broke out in the back of the room. “That was the purpose in the question, right? I can’t quite understand the relevance if that’s not what you’re asking.” More chuckles. “I have a birth certificate and a social security number just like my opponent. I have a high school diploma, a masters from NYU, not dissimilar from my opponent. Why didn't you ask her where her parents are from?”
“Both of her parents have all of those things that you’ve just said. Your father doesn’t.”
“So… what about my mother? She doesn’t have a masters from any college.”
“Mr. Kasey—“
“My parents’ qualifications aren’t the question. My qualifications are the question. If you have to point to an orphan’s miseries to get dirt on me, you’re out of luck. I’m the one in question. I’m the one running for governor. I’m the one you should be concerned with. My father is not running for governor.”
“Nor is my father.” Olivia Jenkins jumped in. “Questions about my parents will be treated in the same manner. I think my opponent and I would like some real questions now. On the subject of the issues in this race.”
--
Max and Darin listened to the terms as they were read from the contracts in their hands. "So, I would fund the research until it has reached its conclusion in four years?"
"That is the presumption, Mr. Evans."
"Okay. I just wanted to be clear."
"Once the research project has been completed, you will be responsible for finding an acceptable use for the island. The seals have nearly reached respectable numbers and are off the endangered species list. You have four years, Mr. Evans, to find a reason for the Norwegian consulate not to regret its decision to place you as overseer on this project. Your interest and in depth research on the subject has lead us to believe you can turn things around."
"Mr. Evans understands the trust and faith being placed on his shoulders." Darin addressed the counsel members.
"Does Mr. Evans have a tentative projection for his plans after the seal project is completed?"
"I believe the island is a good place to test a nitrous-oxide transformation process. I don't have all the details today but in one year I will have much more." Max promised.
"This is a study?"
"Yes, a sleep-study." Darin offered. "The island is in such a position that it would be optimal to create the correct environment…"
--
Rik got home and did not feel the day leave him until he was checking on his son in his little bed. Ruby and his mom were talking in the kitchen with his sisters. It was Zan who came to check on him after he'd been removed from the table so long. "Little guy didn't want to go down. Wanted to wait for his old man."
"I think I've got a good shot of winning."
"Of course you do." Zan took a seat in the rocking chair. "We got our inspection today. Most drug-free club in the city."
"Congratulations."
Zan felt the awkwardness and had to comment on it. "They asked about me, didn't they?"
"Yeah but we put them down and out. Livvie is a good opponent… we win either way, really."
"You know her?"
"Rivals in college." Rik shrugged and brushed Derek's hair out of his face.
"I'm proud of you, Chief." Zan blurted out. "You make me proud. Even with all the alien crap, you stand up."
"Got some lessons about grace under pressure."
"Not from me." Zan snorted.
"From Mom."
"She's my hero, too."
--
Darin sank onto the bed and rolled over to hold his sleeping wife. It was late and she would probably be up for work soon. Valerie snuggled into his arms. "I'm ovulating."
"That was the sexiest thing I've ever heard you say." He chuckled into her hair.
"I was afraid you weren't going to get back until I was already gone."
When she rolled over, her blue eyes fixed on his. He brushed her sandy hair from her face and for the millionth time wished he could meet her mother so he could thank her for putting up with Kyle long enough to have Valerie. "How long do we have?"
"An hour before I have to get up and get ready for work. Are you too tired? How long have you been awake?"
"Two days but I think I can manage an hour more."
"We can wait if you need to recharge?"
"I'm ready." He shifted against her, bringing their bodies flush against one another. "What's wrong?"
"I… just… I'm not sure I can be a good mom."
"You will be the best mom." He reassured her, dropping kisses onto her lips, rolling her beneath his body. He stared at his wife. "Why couldn't I have waited for you?"
"Because you're a ho." She stretched so she could remove her nightgown without pushing him away. "I'm really lucky you're disease free."
"Ha ha. You're so funny." He reached down to remove her panties and his boxers. "Watch your attitude, if you're sassing me when we conceive… the kid will never take me seriously."
"I promise… no more sassing… make love to me, Darin."
2037
Max stood behind the scientists who were murmuring over a signal. "SETI wants us to confirm origin, Mr. Evans."
"Lock onto it, then."
"This isn't our expertise." The technician tuned the frequency upward instead of outward. "It's not terran. It's definitely further out than the satellites." He turned to watch Max nod and pick up his cellphone. "Who are you calling?"
"President-Elect Kasey."
"But… SETI said…"
"I know people SETI doesn't. Where? How far is the signal originating from?" Max tapped the screen and waited until someone from Rik's camp picked up. "I need President Kasey on the phone."
"President-Elect Kasey is being sworn in just now."
"Okay. Good. You tell President Kasey to call his uncle first thing. It's important."
"The President will be busy."
"The President will make time for his uncle. Tell him we've got a long-distance call from the old country." Max snapped the phone shut and examined the readouts for something he could use.
"It's… passing Pluto."
"Passing?"
"It's on the move."
"Mr. Evans, this isn't what we're trained for. We're zoologists. We're seal experts."
"You're leaving in a week." Max cleared his throat. "My people are coming in tomorrow and you can go on your way. We'll deal with it."
"We'll have to notify the consulate."
"I'll do that… tonight… after I talk to the President of the United States."
--
Rik sipped his cider and was tapped on the shoulder by his PR guy. "What's up, my man?"
"During the ceremony you got a call from a Norwegian island by a man claiming to be your uncle. He insisted that you be told there was a long distance call from the old country. I wasn't going to say anything because I thought the guy was a crack pot but… SETI just patched in a call to the Director of Defense. There's a signal. The Norwegian outpost has a lock on the origins. I think it's serious." The guy cleared his throat. "The Director will be in soon to talk to you."
"Alright. Get me on the phone with Seal Island."
"Mr. President."
"I've got it under control. Just get me on the phone with my uncle. He called from Seal Island and I've been expecting his call." Rik stepped into his office with his wife in tow. "It's happening."
--
Darin rushed into the room, combing his hair down from an unexpected cheerio shower he'd gotten as he was leaving the breakfast table. "Mr. Maples." He turned at the voice to find he was being beckoned into a different meeting room with more powerful people in it. "Have a seat."
"Our representative at the… so dubbed "Seal Island" is taking control of monitoring the signal. Do you know anything about that, Mr. Maples?"
"Mr. Evans was monitoring for signals as a side project." Darin explained quickly, looking through his briefcase. "Initially he was going to do a study on sleep effects in cold climates. A sleep study with nitrous oxide, I think. He's willing to shift focus and monitor the signal full time."
"You've already spoken with him?"
"Ah… yes… He left me a message when he understood the importance of having an American in the control room on Seal Island." Darin lied smoothly.
"Who notified the president? He's been in office for two hours and he's already all over this." A man at the far end of the table barked. "Plausible deniability only works if no one tells him."
"No one in the White House told him." Darin interrupted. "President Kasey is acquainted with Mr. Evans. Mr. Evans would like to stay on and be our go-to guy on this project."
"Project Crank Call?" The man sat up. "This is preposterous."
"SETI, Seal Island and Japan have all verified that the signal originated beyond Pluto when it was first picked up. Subsequent readings confirm that it has already broken Pluto's orbit and is crossing Uranus's orbit within a month."
"It's getting closer?"
"It would seem so."
The room exploded with conversation and accusations and panic. Darin climbed onto the table and whistled loudly. "Gentleman… and ladies." He nodded to the women on either side of the table. "There is no cause for alarm. President Kasey is going to handle communications with the object… as it will be confirmed to be in six months. I'm making long-term projections on behalf of the White House. I didn't expect to be in this room so soon but I won't keep you in the dark. We have engineers building a radio of sorts with which to communicate with the object before it reaches Earth."
"Why would it come to Earth?" A man blurted out.
A woman glared at him and gestured to the solar system haphazardly mounted on the far wall of the boardroom. "We're the only planet capable of life and communication in this solar system. Of course, it's headed here."
"What I would like to know is why… what is your name?"
"Darin Maples."
"Why IDA man, Mr. Maples, is privy to the president's actions when I got off the phone with him three minutes before arriving?"
"He's just been promoted to UNESCO and is a member of the General Assembly and Security Council." A woman murmured, scribbling away on her notepad. "I'm the head of the crisis analysis team, by the way." She opened a huge notebook. "We assume the object is hostile."
"We don't assume anything until communication is achieved on a two way band." Darin hopped off the table. "Today is not the day for a crisis. Today is a day for news and informed preparation. There are people in our government who have been preparing for this for fifteen years. I don’t expect to even see the object for another year."
"Would you mind telling us how a lawyer from New Mexico is privy to this information?" The Secretary of Defense cleared his throat. "Even given your multiple seats with the U.N."
"I have the most experience in this arena. I was briefly involved with UNESCO before with regards to Seal Island." Darin cleared his throat. "This isn't just a U.S. interest. The Island is a co-venture with Norway but… it will concern the whole world."
TBC
Part 47
Part 47 – 2039
"President Kasey, being a father, aren't you at all concerned for the safety of your children if these aliens are received and become hostile?"
Rik took a breath and raised his voice to be heard. "I regret that we had to keep some of our dealings with the Antarians a secret. I believe that you all should know what you're dealing with and not dealing with. I do not fear for the safety of my family nor the safety of any families in our great country… nor in any other country. The Antarians are not hostile."
"We received Intel this morning that says the only information you've passed on to the 'Antarians' were coordinates of a landing site."
"That is true." Rik knew this could be his last act as president if it wasn't received well. He would have to pull his name from the ballot in the following year as well. "Communications with the ship have been limited. Our technologies are not compatible enough to do much else. This isn't the first communication we've had with the Antarians or other races also from the Whirl-Wind galaxy as we call it."
"Who else was involved in these communications? I don't see how someone years ago with inferior technology could have contacted someone, such as the Antarians, over such a great distance."
"You would be assuming that someone from Earth initiated the contact." Rik answered as evenly as he could. "Antarians have lived on Earth since the 1940s. They have walked among us undetected for the most part. Only two individuals were ever caught and known for certain to be aliens on appearance alone. One other individual was… illegally seized and detained for suspicion of being alien, as he looked no different than you and me."
"We've never heard of this."
"No, and it is regrettable. That it occurred, that it was not known to have occurred."
"If they walk among us, who are they?"
"The first Antarians on Earth are now dead." Rik signaled to Kal, his hand sliding across the top of the podium, that his secret was safe. "The two native Antarians have passed away one way or another. The other hundred who looked human, were subject to the limitations of their space suits."
"They wore suits but looked like us."
"They wore suits which looked like us."
"They weren't detected?"
"Did anyone suspect New Mexico Congresswoman Whitaker in 2000 of being an alien?"
Gasps ran through the room. "What proof do you have?"
"None, except that if her body were exhumed, there would be nothing but dust… and that isn't possible for a human being." Rik sipped from his glass of water, hoping he didn't look as nervous as he felt. "There was a second wave of Antarians who emerged in the 1980s. They were even less detectable than the first group. They, for the most part, still walk among us. They have jobs and families and share the same worries as the rest of you. 15 years ago, these Antarians attended a Summit, here on Earth, where it was discussed how to proceed with the remaining Antarians located in the Whirl-Wind galaxy. Their King decreed that those who opposed his sovereignty should stay behind but those who wished not to live under a foreign government and to be reunited with his Highness, should find the means to travel to Earth."
"Are you saying that the Antarian King is on Earth?"
"And has been for decades."
"It sounds like a science fiction flick."
"It does… but it is real." Rik cleared his throat again. "Antar suffered a great blow a hundred years or so ago. Its great ruler, King Gizan, died. His son became King Zan. The wars on Antar were great. A civil war which decimated the population caught in the cross-fire. In the end, just a few short years after his ascension, the royal family was murdered by the enemy, an Antarian called Kivar. The Queen Mother cloned her son and daughter, sending with them his bride and war commander to live safely on Earth until such a time as they were able to return and save their home from the tyrant Kivar."
"Without our knowledge?"
"Not wholly. We knew they had arrived but we did not know who they were. On arrival, the ship crashed. It was the early hours of the morning on July 5, 1947, outside Roswell, New Mexico." Dumbfounded silence greeted his statement. "The royal protectors tried to protect their charges but they were injured and their charges taken into military custody. Not long after, the royal were recovered and hidden away but one protector was caught and experimented on for years. To ensure the survival of the royals, two sets were made. They were separated and hidden away, emerging from their cocoons in the late 80s as children. One set was taken into homes, unaware of who the children were. They were raised as humans, and feel they are as such."
"What about the other set?"
"They were…" Rik felt his voice catch as he thought about his father, waking up in a sewer. "They were hidden in a sewer, where they emerged and grew up, without the benefit of a human household. Between 2000 and 2002, four of these eight Antarian Royals were murdered or otherwise died… leaving, united, one full set of Royals to live on our planet, in our country. Forced out of their homes by a secret and detached government sect, they spent the next 14 years running. 24 years ago, two ships landed on Earth. One carried the Antarian Queen Mother, the other carried the Tyrant Kivar. A battle was waged and largely ignored by the press and our government who could not see the signs. Rules of ethics and morals of two worlds were broken in order to gain access to the Antarian throne. At the end of the battle, fifty federal agents were dead. Kivar was dead. Four deceased Antarians were cloned and resurrection, three were killed once more."
"Hold on. Cloned and resurrected? How?"
"This is a technology that will not be shared with Earth. Antarians have outlawed it and with good cause after the damage inflicted on those remaining." He waved off the next question. "In the aftermath of this battle on our soil… we were left with five royal members, and several Antarian-Human children. That was 23 years ago. 15 years ago, another Summit was called and the leaders of five worlds were present. All had conflicting ideas of what to do with the remaining Antarians on their planets, where they've been living since Antar was left for dead. The request was made and delivered… where massacres and riots depleted their numbers and a paltry 150,000, out of several million, were left to come to Earth, seeking refuge.
"It is the decision of the United Nations to welcome the Antarians to Earth. A U.S.-Norwegian territory, void of human life, will be their new home, under their own government with a seat on the U.N. to promote peace between us all, as states in the U.N. charter signed so long ago by all its members on this planet."
"How many Antarians currently reside on Earth?"
"Five Royals, all married to humans, between them all, there are 26 children, and nine grandchildren. All with varying degrees of Humanity and Antarian factors. All are U.S. citizens." Rik cleared his throat. "I am to uphold that they all are afforded the most basic of human and American rights."
"But they are neither." Came the call that made Rik's face flush with anger.
"They are both. The Antarian-Americans that are alive today are all human to a degree. Even the King himself is half human. His son is half human. His grandson is three-quarters human. Americans are not persecuted for the color of their skin or their religious beliefs. Antarians will not be persecuted simply for being forced off their home world. The Antarians arriving later this year will not look like humans, they will not be able to transform into humans. They will be Antarians. Full-blooded Antarians. They will live on their island until after quarantine and it will be their choice to live where they feel the safest." He took a deep breath before he opened his mouth again, ignoring all the questions shooting out of different mouths all over the place. "Humans don't have the best track record for peace and understanding. I have decided to comply with some basic safety issues and not reveal the identities of our Antarian-American citizens as they have the right to work and have families without judgment. No crimes have been committed. They are just immigrants… from a little farther off."
--
Zan hugged his son, the president, when he got back to the room where the family had gathered to watch the proceedings. Derek watched from where he was seated with his mother. He had been bored all night. His little sisters, Penny and Patty, had fallen asleep two hours ago. Rik hugged his mother when she rose to greet him, dressed conservatively but still in a leather skirt. He knelt to hug Kelly, who was unable to get to her feet at the moment, but he rubbed her belly before catching Bree in a hug.
Greeting each of his daughters with a kiss, he moved them to other places to sleep so he could greet his wife properly. His beautiful Ruby, pregnant with what she assured him was the absolute last child they were having.
--
Max sat back in his chair. They had one wing on the facility with oxygen generators. That's where they had watched the broadcast. Isaiah and his wife were watching the seals on one of the monitors with their son laughing and babbling at the screen. Hannah leaned against a wall, watching the signal's ripples on a screen while she chatted with her boyfriend, some guy she had yet to bring to a dinner. Lucas was at the computer, chatting with Jimmy about the goings on. Liz and Maria were trading pictures of grandchildren and Michael looked like he was sleeping.
"I'm not asleep." Michael mumbled.
"Sure, you're not."
"I'm not… I'm listening. I hate that kid."
"Your son-in-law?"
"Where does he get off moving my daughter to Florida. They have hurricanes and floods and… monsoons." Michael grumbled.
"Michael… your daughter… is 29. I think she can make a decision or two with her husband."
"I don't like the kid." He sat up and pulled out his wallet. "If it wasn't for this kid… I'd have the bastard murdered."
"How is Angelica?"
"She's not an Angel…" Michael touched his granddaughter's picture once more before putting it away. "She's driving Mandy crazy. I told her it was payback for what she did to me."
"That's it. I've gone soft." Max turned to Isaiah. "Bring Kevin over here."
"Hey Kevvie…" Isaiah lifted his son out of his wife's arms. "Want to go sit with Grampa?"
Max took his grandchild and bounced him on his knee. "Whatcha doin' buddy?"
"Valenti ever forgive you for stealing two of his daughters?" Michael snorted but had to admit the kid was cute.
"Dad didn't steal them… he happened to have two sons too irresistible to pass up." Isaiah primped in a mirrored surface.
"Sara, get your husband under control." Max swiped at Isaiah but missed. "Doc, you're going to have this kid thinking looks are all that matters."
"They're not all that matters but they're high on the list."
Sara shook her head at her husband. "That ego is out of control. It's just going to get worse. He's up for a residency slot."
"I'm not going to take it." Isaiah shook his head and knelt to look his son in the eye. "I'm going to Seattle to oversee the institution of some new regulations for construction workers… and to open up the new emergency center… The Kevin and Julie Baker Emergency Medicine Hospital." He looked up at his father. "I had the building renovated for additional hospital housing for long term patients. The buildings next door were torn down to build the hospital."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Max sat up.
"I just… needed to do something for them… because I don't even remember them anymore. Darin helped me find the funds."
Liz crossed to hug her tall son. "I know they would be so proud of you. I am so proud of you."
"I have a lot to live up to. My dad is an alien king." Isaiah winked at his father but had to blink back tears. He pulled the wrinkled and cracked picture out of his pocket and held it out to Max. Max took it and waved his hand over it, restoring it for what had to be the tenth or fifteenth time. "Thanks."
"You should get a frame for that." Liz whispered.
"We're going to, this time." Isaiah reached for his wife. "We're naming the next one Julie and I'll let Sara name all the others."
"Assuming there are others." She smacked him.
"We're having a baseball team." He kissed her neck.
"Good. I want twenty grandkids total so they can pay for my exotic island retreat where your mother and I can live like royalty without having to worry about whether or not her next book will sell." Max stood to snap off the TV, taking little Kevin with him. "Are you gonna be a doctor like your daddy?"
"Absolutely but the future Dr. Evans needs to go down for bed now." Sara took her son from his proud grandpa. "Between you and Dad, I hardly ever get to hold my own son."
"We're just proud."
--
Darin watched his kids dozing on either side of their grandfather, who had passed out as soon as the broadcast was over. Jimmy had taken over the TV as soon as it was over and jammed to the videos on MTV4. "Did you pass your driver's test?"
"Yeah, but Dad is holding my license hostage until I pay him back for backing into the basketball post." Jimmy bobbed his head to the music.
Kyle Jr. shook his head and sipped his coffee. "When are you and Val taking off?"
"Tomorrow I guess. The ship will be landing next month and I don't want a lot of attention drawn to the fact that there are a lot of civilians on the island." Darin sighed.
"Don't tell Paula when you get there but… mom tried contacting me again. I don't want to see her and I don't know if Paula does but… Anyway, she's heading out there right now and… you know…"
"I'll feel her out, then decide if she should know."
"Thanks."
"Deputy Valenti, what are you still doin' here?" Ava found them in the kitchen.
"Getting some coffee." He raised his cup to her. "Jimmy's still up."
"What?" Ava turned and tossed a potholder at her kid. "You have school tomorrow."
"Mom…" Jimmy groaned but snapped off the TV and got up.
"I was watching that." Kyle sat up, suddenly, blinking rapidly.
"No you wasn't. You was snorin'." Ava rolled her eyes at him.
"Hey Ava." Valerie emerged from the back room. "Do you mind if the kids sleep here tonight? I don't want to wake them up."
"It's cool."
"Darin, let's go. Your grandma's probably waiting up and you know she should get some rest."
"Yeah, come on."
TBC
"President Kasey, being a father, aren't you at all concerned for the safety of your children if these aliens are received and become hostile?"
Rik took a breath and raised his voice to be heard. "I regret that we had to keep some of our dealings with the Antarians a secret. I believe that you all should know what you're dealing with and not dealing with. I do not fear for the safety of my family nor the safety of any families in our great country… nor in any other country. The Antarians are not hostile."
"We received Intel this morning that says the only information you've passed on to the 'Antarians' were coordinates of a landing site."
"That is true." Rik knew this could be his last act as president if it wasn't received well. He would have to pull his name from the ballot in the following year as well. "Communications with the ship have been limited. Our technologies are not compatible enough to do much else. This isn't the first communication we've had with the Antarians or other races also from the Whirl-Wind galaxy as we call it."
"Who else was involved in these communications? I don't see how someone years ago with inferior technology could have contacted someone, such as the Antarians, over such a great distance."
"You would be assuming that someone from Earth initiated the contact." Rik answered as evenly as he could. "Antarians have lived on Earth since the 1940s. They have walked among us undetected for the most part. Only two individuals were ever caught and known for certain to be aliens on appearance alone. One other individual was… illegally seized and detained for suspicion of being alien, as he looked no different than you and me."
"We've never heard of this."
"No, and it is regrettable. That it occurred, that it was not known to have occurred."
"If they walk among us, who are they?"
"The first Antarians on Earth are now dead." Rik signaled to Kal, his hand sliding across the top of the podium, that his secret was safe. "The two native Antarians have passed away one way or another. The other hundred who looked human, were subject to the limitations of their space suits."
"They wore suits but looked like us."
"They wore suits which looked like us."
"They weren't detected?"
"Did anyone suspect New Mexico Congresswoman Whitaker in 2000 of being an alien?"
Gasps ran through the room. "What proof do you have?"
"None, except that if her body were exhumed, there would be nothing but dust… and that isn't possible for a human being." Rik sipped from his glass of water, hoping he didn't look as nervous as he felt. "There was a second wave of Antarians who emerged in the 1980s. They were even less detectable than the first group. They, for the most part, still walk among us. They have jobs and families and share the same worries as the rest of you. 15 years ago, these Antarians attended a Summit, here on Earth, where it was discussed how to proceed with the remaining Antarians located in the Whirl-Wind galaxy. Their King decreed that those who opposed his sovereignty should stay behind but those who wished not to live under a foreign government and to be reunited with his Highness, should find the means to travel to Earth."
"Are you saying that the Antarian King is on Earth?"
"And has been for decades."
"It sounds like a science fiction flick."
"It does… but it is real." Rik cleared his throat again. "Antar suffered a great blow a hundred years or so ago. Its great ruler, King Gizan, died. His son became King Zan. The wars on Antar were great. A civil war which decimated the population caught in the cross-fire. In the end, just a few short years after his ascension, the royal family was murdered by the enemy, an Antarian called Kivar. The Queen Mother cloned her son and daughter, sending with them his bride and war commander to live safely on Earth until such a time as they were able to return and save their home from the tyrant Kivar."
"Without our knowledge?"
"Not wholly. We knew they had arrived but we did not know who they were. On arrival, the ship crashed. It was the early hours of the morning on July 5, 1947, outside Roswell, New Mexico." Dumbfounded silence greeted his statement. "The royal protectors tried to protect their charges but they were injured and their charges taken into military custody. Not long after, the royal were recovered and hidden away but one protector was caught and experimented on for years. To ensure the survival of the royals, two sets were made. They were separated and hidden away, emerging from their cocoons in the late 80s as children. One set was taken into homes, unaware of who the children were. They were raised as humans, and feel they are as such."
"What about the other set?"
"They were…" Rik felt his voice catch as he thought about his father, waking up in a sewer. "They were hidden in a sewer, where they emerged and grew up, without the benefit of a human household. Between 2000 and 2002, four of these eight Antarian Royals were murdered or otherwise died… leaving, united, one full set of Royals to live on our planet, in our country. Forced out of their homes by a secret and detached government sect, they spent the next 14 years running. 24 years ago, two ships landed on Earth. One carried the Antarian Queen Mother, the other carried the Tyrant Kivar. A battle was waged and largely ignored by the press and our government who could not see the signs. Rules of ethics and morals of two worlds were broken in order to gain access to the Antarian throne. At the end of the battle, fifty federal agents were dead. Kivar was dead. Four deceased Antarians were cloned and resurrection, three were killed once more."
"Hold on. Cloned and resurrected? How?"
"This is a technology that will not be shared with Earth. Antarians have outlawed it and with good cause after the damage inflicted on those remaining." He waved off the next question. "In the aftermath of this battle on our soil… we were left with five royal members, and several Antarian-Human children. That was 23 years ago. 15 years ago, another Summit was called and the leaders of five worlds were present. All had conflicting ideas of what to do with the remaining Antarians on their planets, where they've been living since Antar was left for dead. The request was made and delivered… where massacres and riots depleted their numbers and a paltry 150,000, out of several million, were left to come to Earth, seeking refuge.
"It is the decision of the United Nations to welcome the Antarians to Earth. A U.S.-Norwegian territory, void of human life, will be their new home, under their own government with a seat on the U.N. to promote peace between us all, as states in the U.N. charter signed so long ago by all its members on this planet."
"How many Antarians currently reside on Earth?"
"Five Royals, all married to humans, between them all, there are 26 children, and nine grandchildren. All with varying degrees of Humanity and Antarian factors. All are U.S. citizens." Rik cleared his throat. "I am to uphold that they all are afforded the most basic of human and American rights."
"But they are neither." Came the call that made Rik's face flush with anger.
"They are both. The Antarian-Americans that are alive today are all human to a degree. Even the King himself is half human. His son is half human. His grandson is three-quarters human. Americans are not persecuted for the color of their skin or their religious beliefs. Antarians will not be persecuted simply for being forced off their home world. The Antarians arriving later this year will not look like humans, they will not be able to transform into humans. They will be Antarians. Full-blooded Antarians. They will live on their island until after quarantine and it will be their choice to live where they feel the safest." He took a deep breath before he opened his mouth again, ignoring all the questions shooting out of different mouths all over the place. "Humans don't have the best track record for peace and understanding. I have decided to comply with some basic safety issues and not reveal the identities of our Antarian-American citizens as they have the right to work and have families without judgment. No crimes have been committed. They are just immigrants… from a little farther off."
--
Zan hugged his son, the president, when he got back to the room where the family had gathered to watch the proceedings. Derek watched from where he was seated with his mother. He had been bored all night. His little sisters, Penny and Patty, had fallen asleep two hours ago. Rik hugged his mother when she rose to greet him, dressed conservatively but still in a leather skirt. He knelt to hug Kelly, who was unable to get to her feet at the moment, but he rubbed her belly before catching Bree in a hug.
Greeting each of his daughters with a kiss, he moved them to other places to sleep so he could greet his wife properly. His beautiful Ruby, pregnant with what she assured him was the absolute last child they were having.
--
Max sat back in his chair. They had one wing on the facility with oxygen generators. That's where they had watched the broadcast. Isaiah and his wife were watching the seals on one of the monitors with their son laughing and babbling at the screen. Hannah leaned against a wall, watching the signal's ripples on a screen while she chatted with her boyfriend, some guy she had yet to bring to a dinner. Lucas was at the computer, chatting with Jimmy about the goings on. Liz and Maria were trading pictures of grandchildren and Michael looked like he was sleeping.
"I'm not asleep." Michael mumbled.
"Sure, you're not."
"I'm not… I'm listening. I hate that kid."
"Your son-in-law?"
"Where does he get off moving my daughter to Florida. They have hurricanes and floods and… monsoons." Michael grumbled.
"Michael… your daughter… is 29. I think she can make a decision or two with her husband."
"I don't like the kid." He sat up and pulled out his wallet. "If it wasn't for this kid… I'd have the bastard murdered."
"How is Angelica?"
"She's not an Angel…" Michael touched his granddaughter's picture once more before putting it away. "She's driving Mandy crazy. I told her it was payback for what she did to me."
"That's it. I've gone soft." Max turned to Isaiah. "Bring Kevin over here."
"Hey Kevvie…" Isaiah lifted his son out of his wife's arms. "Want to go sit with Grampa?"
Max took his grandchild and bounced him on his knee. "Whatcha doin' buddy?"
"Valenti ever forgive you for stealing two of his daughters?" Michael snorted but had to admit the kid was cute.
"Dad didn't steal them… he happened to have two sons too irresistible to pass up." Isaiah primped in a mirrored surface.
"Sara, get your husband under control." Max swiped at Isaiah but missed. "Doc, you're going to have this kid thinking looks are all that matters."
"They're not all that matters but they're high on the list."
Sara shook her head at her husband. "That ego is out of control. It's just going to get worse. He's up for a residency slot."
"I'm not going to take it." Isaiah shook his head and knelt to look his son in the eye. "I'm going to Seattle to oversee the institution of some new regulations for construction workers… and to open up the new emergency center… The Kevin and Julie Baker Emergency Medicine Hospital." He looked up at his father. "I had the building renovated for additional hospital housing for long term patients. The buildings next door were torn down to build the hospital."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Max sat up.
"I just… needed to do something for them… because I don't even remember them anymore. Darin helped me find the funds."
Liz crossed to hug her tall son. "I know they would be so proud of you. I am so proud of you."
"I have a lot to live up to. My dad is an alien king." Isaiah winked at his father but had to blink back tears. He pulled the wrinkled and cracked picture out of his pocket and held it out to Max. Max took it and waved his hand over it, restoring it for what had to be the tenth or fifteenth time. "Thanks."
"You should get a frame for that." Liz whispered.
"We're going to, this time." Isaiah reached for his wife. "We're naming the next one Julie and I'll let Sara name all the others."
"Assuming there are others." She smacked him.
"We're having a baseball team." He kissed her neck.
"Good. I want twenty grandkids total so they can pay for my exotic island retreat where your mother and I can live like royalty without having to worry about whether or not her next book will sell." Max stood to snap off the TV, taking little Kevin with him. "Are you gonna be a doctor like your daddy?"
"Absolutely but the future Dr. Evans needs to go down for bed now." Sara took her son from his proud grandpa. "Between you and Dad, I hardly ever get to hold my own son."
"We're just proud."
--
Darin watched his kids dozing on either side of their grandfather, who had passed out as soon as the broadcast was over. Jimmy had taken over the TV as soon as it was over and jammed to the videos on MTV4. "Did you pass your driver's test?"
"Yeah, but Dad is holding my license hostage until I pay him back for backing into the basketball post." Jimmy bobbed his head to the music.
Kyle Jr. shook his head and sipped his coffee. "When are you and Val taking off?"
"Tomorrow I guess. The ship will be landing next month and I don't want a lot of attention drawn to the fact that there are a lot of civilians on the island." Darin sighed.
"Don't tell Paula when you get there but… mom tried contacting me again. I don't want to see her and I don't know if Paula does but… Anyway, she's heading out there right now and… you know…"
"I'll feel her out, then decide if she should know."
"Thanks."
"Deputy Valenti, what are you still doin' here?" Ava found them in the kitchen.
"Getting some coffee." He raised his cup to her. "Jimmy's still up."
"What?" Ava turned and tossed a potholder at her kid. "You have school tomorrow."
"Mom…" Jimmy groaned but snapped off the TV and got up.
"I was watching that." Kyle sat up, suddenly, blinking rapidly.
"No you wasn't. You was snorin'." Ava rolled her eyes at him.
"Hey Ava." Valerie emerged from the back room. "Do you mind if the kids sleep here tonight? I don't want to wake them up."
"It's cool."
"Darin, let's go. Your grandma's probably waiting up and you know she should get some rest."
"Yeah, come on."
TBC
Part 48
Part 48 – One Month later
The building stood tall and proud in the middle of the island. Huge panels of glass taking up large portions of the walls. Rik could see it from the ship were he'd been forced to stay as a safety measure. Ruby held onto him and waited like everyone else, hand over her small unborn child. Zan was smoking off a balcony, Erika rubbing his back to calm his nerves. Bree was flirting with a soldier. Kelly and her husband had to watch from home as she was due any day.
Derek, Penny and Patty were staying with Grandpa and Grandma Evans while the aliens arrived. They had protested but it had been the advice of the Secret Service agents that the children not be present on the ship. They hadn't wanted Ruby on the ship either but she had insisted. Impatient, Rik and Ruby moved to join Zan and Erika, Rik accepting a cigarette though he hadn't smoked since he was a teenager.
Rik just wanted the photographers to stop. Then he saw it. It burned for a few brief moments high up in the atmosphere but something happened and flames turned to smoke. Shading his hand he peered up into the sky, wishing he could be on the island. Its speed had slowed considerably when it entered the Earth's atmosphere. Still it seemed to take an eternity until it hovered over the skyscraper and landed. It was a huge ship. This first of many containing 2,000 Antarian citizens at its inception but over the past 15 or so years now contained 3,200 Antarian citizens.
Then he saw the green shield pop up. Max. Rik shook his head. They didn't have a hatch compatible with the ship's docking system. Rik just hoped Max didn't wear himself out. As night fell, Antarians continued to disembark from their vessel, which had been home all these years. Generators inside were flipped on and they could see through the glass as they began filling up the station as it had been dubbed by the media some time ago.
Ruby tilted her head and patted her husband's shoulder. "Doesn't that look like the Space Needle in Seattle?"
"Huh… Interesting." He turned when a captain something or other grabbed his attention. "What's that?"
"Mr. President, Mr. Evans from the island has just confirmed that the ship is empty, all Antarians are in the station. They are breathing just fine… but I am concerned about some of the emissions from the station."
"What kind of emissions?"
"Don't know. Humans emit carbon dioxide. I don't know what Antarians emit. I'm not even sure what they breathe."
"Nitrogen or a compound thereof."
"Like laughing gas?"
"They must be a very cordial people." Rik joked. "In a day or so, Mr. Evans will let us know what it is."
"Nitrous oxide… yeah." Zan nodded as he inhaled his cigarette. "Antar is only one-30th dioxide. They'll have to screen it out to breathe okay. They should adapt soon enough. Larek says they emit trioxide."
"Trioxide?" The captain started to reach for his chemical compound listings.
"Ozone." Rik supplied for the upset captain.
--
Darin and Max rode the elevator back down to the first level where their wing met the rest of the station. They would have to sit in a room with an intercom and glass walls so Max could talk to Garniz, the magistrate on the ship. When they reached the conference room, Garniz was already there. "Your Majesty, we thank you for your planet's generosity."
"It did take some doing." Max smiled wanly and took a seat. "My son, Darin."
"Lord Zan…"
"Max… my name is Max."
"Lord Max." Garniz took his seat carefully, unused to plush seats. "This outpost is very nice. We will be making adjustments to accommodate our people. The atmosphere outside? Is it not agreeable? We appreciate your personally seeing us into the building but… is it deadly?"
"We were told so." Max nodded. "One fifth of our atmosphere is oxygen. Humans breathe dioxide, which I'm given to understand suffocates Antarians."
"No…" Garniz looked to the Antarian next to him. "Explain, please."
"You've gathered this Intel from those who walked among you before?"
"Skins." Max nodded. "When the seal on their skins were broken, they disintegrated."
"Kivar's men were experiments. They were not shapeshifters as the slaves were. They had to wear the suits… Kivar made them symbiotic with the host… but they turned parasitic. They would have been unable to breathe without them if they wore them for very long."
"They wore the suits for fifty years."
The Antarians sat up straight in horror. They exchanged words in Antarian. "Kivar was a cruel being. Antarians breathe nitrous oxide, all but readily found but we can make the conversions. We can contain the concentration. We noticed the thinning layer of trioxide… is that not hazardous?"
"It is but we've found no reversal for it."
"We can help… but it may take time."
Garniz cleared his throat. "This is but one outpost."
"We've spoken with the governments and they are afraid." Darin explained. "They have no proof that Antarians are solely refugees. They would like to restrict us to this island for the time being… at least until they're sure we didn't bring any diseases to Earth."
"Humans will be afraid because you look different. They will be afraid because they don't know what Antarians are capable of. Build what you must… but here until we can get a safe ruling for colonization in other countries." Max took a breath and leaned forward. "It will happen one day. I only plan for this island to be the docking station for arrivals."
"You are our King, you should not have to bend to their whim."
"I am your King. Not theirs. I am but a citizen in one of their more powerful countries… but… You know of the cloning?"
"Lord Larek mentioned it." Garniz nodded.
"My clone is named Zan, his son is the leader of this country and he is working hard to make it safe for us. To make Humans understand. He needs for Antarians to comply and reflect their peaceful nature so he can get elected to another term… further helping our chances to make the Humans understand that the Antarians arriving today are not warmongering people. That Antarians want peace and will work for it… just like all the other inhabits on this planet."
"I understand, Lord Zan… your original ambitions for Antar will be carried out on Earth." Garniz inclined his head toward the glass barrier, as did his colleague.
"Yes." Max nodded, ignoring the use of his alien name. "I haven't told them just who I am yet but when I leave the island, they will know." He rose to leave the room but turned. "When is the next ship expected?"
"Four Earth years."
"I'll be in touch… just… hit the button there to call someone over until we figure out how to modify the station for co-habitation by Humans and Antarians."
Over the following Months
Caption:
President Ronald Kasey shares a cigarette with his father, Zan Kasey, as the Antarian ship makes its final touch down on the so-dubbed Seal Island.
Excerpt:
The Antarian ship, a very large disc-shaped object, settled atop the Antarian building recalling memories of the Space Needle in Seattle. An unearthly green light shone from its roof and then lights and movement were detected inside the building. The docking took hours as a reported 3,200 Antarians took their first step off the ship in 15 years. The Antarian building has been outfitted with solar panels to fuel its stations and has been made airtight for quarantine. An Antarian has yet to be photographed as reporters were relegated to guest decks of the President's escort ship, three miles out. The island can only be reached by helicopter, though now by alien spacecraft.
Caption:
Within two weeks of landing, a second building began construction on Antarian Island, as it has now been dubbed.
Excerpt:
Communication from Antarian Isle has come through very specific channels, defying most protocol. Parties on the Isle have been confirmed to be human, but identities have been kept secret to protect their families stateside. President Kasey assures concerned politicians that the Antarians will keep the word of their King Zan. That they will remain on the Isle until such a time that it is possible for them to breathe our atmosphere and the quarantine has been lifted. It is not expected that an Antarian will be seen by the public for quite some time.
Caption:
President Kasey addresses the nation regarding Antarian Isle. Also present: First Lady Kasey, Vice President Jenkins and her husband.
Excerpt:
Quarantine on Antarian Isle was lifted but it may still be some time before the average American will catch a glimpse of one of Earth's newest citizens. "The natural form of an Antarian could be quite shocking and we will do our best to introduce our new brethren in the least traumatizing fashion," words from President Ronald Kasey's address. The lights in the ship were turned off for the first time in six months, signaling that the ship has been retired for the time being. The Isle is roughly 25 square miles and used to be the site of observation for seals in their mating season, hence it's previous moniker Seal Island. In the past few months, it has been host to a bevy of activity as more and more buildings are going up. All of them are airtight and have one difference from the first building. A shaft extending from the top to meet the ships that are years off in arrival. The original outpost is a quarter mile in radius and extends 200 stories toward the sky. All of our reports have come from satellite and rough description as no Humans have been allowed to visit. It is believed that President Kasey could be the first visitor to the Isle in six months.
Caption:
(Left) Air Force One lifts off, escorting President Kasey to Antarian Isle. (Right) Antarian Outpost at night.
Excerpt:
President and First Lady Kasey departed for Antarian Isle Saturday evening along with their four children, a niece and a nephew. This show of good will and faith is rumored to endear our President to King Zan, who has yet to step off the Isle.
Caption:
President Kasey has high hopes of being reelected but will not place his name on the ballot until after an address to be made from the Isle tomorrow night.
Excerpt:
In a startling revelation, President Ronald Israel Kasey announced to the planet that he is of Antarian descent. When asked why he lied to the world, he replied, "I never lied to the world. At the time, my classification was not relevant. I am first and foremost an American citizen, born on Planet Earth, in New York City, New York."
Why he withheld this pertinent information would seem obvious, his influence over the American government aided in the warm welcome the Antarians have received. "I did not know of my alien heritage until I was 16 years old. At the time, it was crucial that I keep this information to myself. For my protection, for my family's protection. Now, that's not as important. These people are recovering from nearly a century of warring. They need all the help they can get and my admission of my ancestry is becoming crucial."
The broadcast from Antarian Isle included many such admissions of silence from President Kasey. "I have one more announcement before I introduce the Antarian King. I am also Prince Ronald Kasey of the Antarian court. My uncle… King Max Evans."
The Antarian King turned out to be none other than a man supposedly persecuted in his youth by an alleged secret government sect in charge of alien hunting. Max Evans disappeared from his high school graduation ceremony in 2002 when militia stormed the ceremony and detained the crowds until it could be ascertained that Max Evans and those in his company were not among them. He did not resurface into public record until 2016 when he opened a mentoring center in New York City, New York, which then spread across the country helping teenagers escape the trappings of low income neighborhood and using government aids to reach levels unattained by previous generations.
Most recently, Max Evans was appointed to United Nations counsel with regards to 'Seal Island' and its seal studies. His wife, Liz Evans, is a children's author whose popular series 'My Alien Parents' has sold millions of copies and were made into the popular movie serial of the same name. The series is about a little boy who is adopted by aliens trying to pass for humans and who comically nearly fail while fortuitously remaining below the radar of evil aliens and bungling alien hunters. It has been the recent suspicion of this paper that perhaps the series is autobiographical in nature. The subtext of the series is being examined to shed some light on the years between 2002 and 2016, to tell us what may have befallen King Max and his band of roving aliens.
King Evans is the 'Zan-clone' that the Antarians recognize as their leader. President Kasey is the 'nephew' of King Evans, meaning he is the son of the 'Zan-clone' who was rejected as leader several years ago. This decision was based on the Summit meeting described in early Antarian accounts, King Evans' son was rejected as heir to the throne at birth and President Kasey accepted as a suitable substitute while King Evans attempted to regain control of his people. This non-linear rite came about due to the special circumstances and controversies surrounding the royal genetics on Antarian Isle. His and Her Majesty have three children together. Dr. Isaiah Baker Evans, 29, is an adopted son and has just opened an emergency hospital in Seattle. He is married to a childhood sweetheart with whom he has one son, age 2. Hannah Evans, 22, is a publicist for Happenstance Books, her mother's publishing company. Lucas Evans, 18, is a recent graduate from West Roswell High.
Caption:
President Kasey and his extended family at the White House following his reelection to office, greeting Antarian Delegate for the United Nations Darin Maples and his family.
Excerpt:
President Ronald Kasey's second Inaugural Ball included many additional guests this term. The controversy of his first election was overshadowed by that of this second. Originally his character was called into question because of his roots in one of New York City's worst neighborhoods and the mysterious origins of his father. This election, his character was not under attack, but his own mysterious origins were as his father, Zan Kasey, is one of the Antarian 'Zan-clones' who bear Antarian blood while appearing, for all intents and purposes, Human.
Due to the great success President Kasey had in maintaining efforts put into place by Former-President Declan Gerald, his presidency will solely be remembered by the phone call he received from SETI, declaring that aliens were trying to communicate with Earth. It has since been realized that President Kasey had been expecting such a phone call since he was 25 years old. Polls were split in indecision when he announced he would, in fact, be running for a second and final term. Risky as it was to announce his ancestry just before placing his name on the ballot, the tides turned in his favor. His opponent, Lance Peterson, was open about his dislike of Antarians and their place on Earth. After all the impassioned speeches from President Kasey inspired by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the American public spoke loud and clear. Lance Peterson did not speak for the interest of Americans or the world who would like to maintain good relations with our new neighbors. Antagonism this early in the bridging relationship could disrupt the peaceful year just past.
President Kasey has invited Darin Maples into his fold. A member of many United Nations councils, Darin Maples was recently named official Delegate to Antarian Isle. This term will, hopefully, unveil the mystery surrounding our new neighbors and could possibly see them into integration with the rest of the world… though it would seem our alien friends would like to expand their territory, they are hesitant to mingle given the history for fear and violence amongst Humanity's many cultures. Rumors of the Antarians' special abilities have yet to bear fruit as they have not yet mastered the ability to breathe for long periods in our atmosphere.
TBC
one more part kiddos
The building stood tall and proud in the middle of the island. Huge panels of glass taking up large portions of the walls. Rik could see it from the ship were he'd been forced to stay as a safety measure. Ruby held onto him and waited like everyone else, hand over her small unborn child. Zan was smoking off a balcony, Erika rubbing his back to calm his nerves. Bree was flirting with a soldier. Kelly and her husband had to watch from home as she was due any day.
Derek, Penny and Patty were staying with Grandpa and Grandma Evans while the aliens arrived. They had protested but it had been the advice of the Secret Service agents that the children not be present on the ship. They hadn't wanted Ruby on the ship either but she had insisted. Impatient, Rik and Ruby moved to join Zan and Erika, Rik accepting a cigarette though he hadn't smoked since he was a teenager.
Rik just wanted the photographers to stop. Then he saw it. It burned for a few brief moments high up in the atmosphere but something happened and flames turned to smoke. Shading his hand he peered up into the sky, wishing he could be on the island. Its speed had slowed considerably when it entered the Earth's atmosphere. Still it seemed to take an eternity until it hovered over the skyscraper and landed. It was a huge ship. This first of many containing 2,000 Antarian citizens at its inception but over the past 15 or so years now contained 3,200 Antarian citizens.
Then he saw the green shield pop up. Max. Rik shook his head. They didn't have a hatch compatible with the ship's docking system. Rik just hoped Max didn't wear himself out. As night fell, Antarians continued to disembark from their vessel, which had been home all these years. Generators inside were flipped on and they could see through the glass as they began filling up the station as it had been dubbed by the media some time ago.
Ruby tilted her head and patted her husband's shoulder. "Doesn't that look like the Space Needle in Seattle?"
"Huh… Interesting." He turned when a captain something or other grabbed his attention. "What's that?"
"Mr. President, Mr. Evans from the island has just confirmed that the ship is empty, all Antarians are in the station. They are breathing just fine… but I am concerned about some of the emissions from the station."
"What kind of emissions?"
"Don't know. Humans emit carbon dioxide. I don't know what Antarians emit. I'm not even sure what they breathe."
"Nitrogen or a compound thereof."
"Like laughing gas?"
"They must be a very cordial people." Rik joked. "In a day or so, Mr. Evans will let us know what it is."
"Nitrous oxide… yeah." Zan nodded as he inhaled his cigarette. "Antar is only one-30th dioxide. They'll have to screen it out to breathe okay. They should adapt soon enough. Larek says they emit trioxide."
"Trioxide?" The captain started to reach for his chemical compound listings.
"Ozone." Rik supplied for the upset captain.
--
Darin and Max rode the elevator back down to the first level where their wing met the rest of the station. They would have to sit in a room with an intercom and glass walls so Max could talk to Garniz, the magistrate on the ship. When they reached the conference room, Garniz was already there. "Your Majesty, we thank you for your planet's generosity."
"It did take some doing." Max smiled wanly and took a seat. "My son, Darin."
"Lord Zan…"
"Max… my name is Max."
"Lord Max." Garniz took his seat carefully, unused to plush seats. "This outpost is very nice. We will be making adjustments to accommodate our people. The atmosphere outside? Is it not agreeable? We appreciate your personally seeing us into the building but… is it deadly?"
"We were told so." Max nodded. "One fifth of our atmosphere is oxygen. Humans breathe dioxide, which I'm given to understand suffocates Antarians."
"No…" Garniz looked to the Antarian next to him. "Explain, please."
"You've gathered this Intel from those who walked among you before?"
"Skins." Max nodded. "When the seal on their skins were broken, they disintegrated."
"Kivar's men were experiments. They were not shapeshifters as the slaves were. They had to wear the suits… Kivar made them symbiotic with the host… but they turned parasitic. They would have been unable to breathe without them if they wore them for very long."
"They wore the suits for fifty years."
The Antarians sat up straight in horror. They exchanged words in Antarian. "Kivar was a cruel being. Antarians breathe nitrous oxide, all but readily found but we can make the conversions. We can contain the concentration. We noticed the thinning layer of trioxide… is that not hazardous?"
"It is but we've found no reversal for it."
"We can help… but it may take time."
Garniz cleared his throat. "This is but one outpost."
"We've spoken with the governments and they are afraid." Darin explained. "They have no proof that Antarians are solely refugees. They would like to restrict us to this island for the time being… at least until they're sure we didn't bring any diseases to Earth."
"Humans will be afraid because you look different. They will be afraid because they don't know what Antarians are capable of. Build what you must… but here until we can get a safe ruling for colonization in other countries." Max took a breath and leaned forward. "It will happen one day. I only plan for this island to be the docking station for arrivals."
"You are our King, you should not have to bend to their whim."
"I am your King. Not theirs. I am but a citizen in one of their more powerful countries… but… You know of the cloning?"
"Lord Larek mentioned it." Garniz nodded.
"My clone is named Zan, his son is the leader of this country and he is working hard to make it safe for us. To make Humans understand. He needs for Antarians to comply and reflect their peaceful nature so he can get elected to another term… further helping our chances to make the Humans understand that the Antarians arriving today are not warmongering people. That Antarians want peace and will work for it… just like all the other inhabits on this planet."
"I understand, Lord Zan… your original ambitions for Antar will be carried out on Earth." Garniz inclined his head toward the glass barrier, as did his colleague.
"Yes." Max nodded, ignoring the use of his alien name. "I haven't told them just who I am yet but when I leave the island, they will know." He rose to leave the room but turned. "When is the next ship expected?"
"Four Earth years."
"I'll be in touch… just… hit the button there to call someone over until we figure out how to modify the station for co-habitation by Humans and Antarians."
Over the following Months
Caption:
President Ronald Kasey shares a cigarette with his father, Zan Kasey, as the Antarian ship makes its final touch down on the so-dubbed Seal Island.
Excerpt:
The Antarian ship, a very large disc-shaped object, settled atop the Antarian building recalling memories of the Space Needle in Seattle. An unearthly green light shone from its roof and then lights and movement were detected inside the building. The docking took hours as a reported 3,200 Antarians took their first step off the ship in 15 years. The Antarian building has been outfitted with solar panels to fuel its stations and has been made airtight for quarantine. An Antarian has yet to be photographed as reporters were relegated to guest decks of the President's escort ship, three miles out. The island can only be reached by helicopter, though now by alien spacecraft.
Caption:
Within two weeks of landing, a second building began construction on Antarian Island, as it has now been dubbed.
Excerpt:
Communication from Antarian Isle has come through very specific channels, defying most protocol. Parties on the Isle have been confirmed to be human, but identities have been kept secret to protect their families stateside. President Kasey assures concerned politicians that the Antarians will keep the word of their King Zan. That they will remain on the Isle until such a time that it is possible for them to breathe our atmosphere and the quarantine has been lifted. It is not expected that an Antarian will be seen by the public for quite some time.
Caption:
President Kasey addresses the nation regarding Antarian Isle. Also present: First Lady Kasey, Vice President Jenkins and her husband.
Excerpt:
Quarantine on Antarian Isle was lifted but it may still be some time before the average American will catch a glimpse of one of Earth's newest citizens. "The natural form of an Antarian could be quite shocking and we will do our best to introduce our new brethren in the least traumatizing fashion," words from President Ronald Kasey's address. The lights in the ship were turned off for the first time in six months, signaling that the ship has been retired for the time being. The Isle is roughly 25 square miles and used to be the site of observation for seals in their mating season, hence it's previous moniker Seal Island. In the past few months, it has been host to a bevy of activity as more and more buildings are going up. All of them are airtight and have one difference from the first building. A shaft extending from the top to meet the ships that are years off in arrival. The original outpost is a quarter mile in radius and extends 200 stories toward the sky. All of our reports have come from satellite and rough description as no Humans have been allowed to visit. It is believed that President Kasey could be the first visitor to the Isle in six months.
Caption:
(Left) Air Force One lifts off, escorting President Kasey to Antarian Isle. (Right) Antarian Outpost at night.
Excerpt:
President and First Lady Kasey departed for Antarian Isle Saturday evening along with their four children, a niece and a nephew. This show of good will and faith is rumored to endear our President to King Zan, who has yet to step off the Isle.
Caption:
President Kasey has high hopes of being reelected but will not place his name on the ballot until after an address to be made from the Isle tomorrow night.
Excerpt:
In a startling revelation, President Ronald Israel Kasey announced to the planet that he is of Antarian descent. When asked why he lied to the world, he replied, "I never lied to the world. At the time, my classification was not relevant. I am first and foremost an American citizen, born on Planet Earth, in New York City, New York."
Why he withheld this pertinent information would seem obvious, his influence over the American government aided in the warm welcome the Antarians have received. "I did not know of my alien heritage until I was 16 years old. At the time, it was crucial that I keep this information to myself. For my protection, for my family's protection. Now, that's not as important. These people are recovering from nearly a century of warring. They need all the help they can get and my admission of my ancestry is becoming crucial."
The broadcast from Antarian Isle included many such admissions of silence from President Kasey. "I have one more announcement before I introduce the Antarian King. I am also Prince Ronald Kasey of the Antarian court. My uncle… King Max Evans."
The Antarian King turned out to be none other than a man supposedly persecuted in his youth by an alleged secret government sect in charge of alien hunting. Max Evans disappeared from his high school graduation ceremony in 2002 when militia stormed the ceremony and detained the crowds until it could be ascertained that Max Evans and those in his company were not among them. He did not resurface into public record until 2016 when he opened a mentoring center in New York City, New York, which then spread across the country helping teenagers escape the trappings of low income neighborhood and using government aids to reach levels unattained by previous generations.
Most recently, Max Evans was appointed to United Nations counsel with regards to 'Seal Island' and its seal studies. His wife, Liz Evans, is a children's author whose popular series 'My Alien Parents' has sold millions of copies and were made into the popular movie serial of the same name. The series is about a little boy who is adopted by aliens trying to pass for humans and who comically nearly fail while fortuitously remaining below the radar of evil aliens and bungling alien hunters. It has been the recent suspicion of this paper that perhaps the series is autobiographical in nature. The subtext of the series is being examined to shed some light on the years between 2002 and 2016, to tell us what may have befallen King Max and his band of roving aliens.
King Evans is the 'Zan-clone' that the Antarians recognize as their leader. President Kasey is the 'nephew' of King Evans, meaning he is the son of the 'Zan-clone' who was rejected as leader several years ago. This decision was based on the Summit meeting described in early Antarian accounts, King Evans' son was rejected as heir to the throne at birth and President Kasey accepted as a suitable substitute while King Evans attempted to regain control of his people. This non-linear rite came about due to the special circumstances and controversies surrounding the royal genetics on Antarian Isle. His and Her Majesty have three children together. Dr. Isaiah Baker Evans, 29, is an adopted son and has just opened an emergency hospital in Seattle. He is married to a childhood sweetheart with whom he has one son, age 2. Hannah Evans, 22, is a publicist for Happenstance Books, her mother's publishing company. Lucas Evans, 18, is a recent graduate from West Roswell High.
Caption:
President Kasey and his extended family at the White House following his reelection to office, greeting Antarian Delegate for the United Nations Darin Maples and his family.
Excerpt:
President Ronald Kasey's second Inaugural Ball included many additional guests this term. The controversy of his first election was overshadowed by that of this second. Originally his character was called into question because of his roots in one of New York City's worst neighborhoods and the mysterious origins of his father. This election, his character was not under attack, but his own mysterious origins were as his father, Zan Kasey, is one of the Antarian 'Zan-clones' who bear Antarian blood while appearing, for all intents and purposes, Human.
Due to the great success President Kasey had in maintaining efforts put into place by Former-President Declan Gerald, his presidency will solely be remembered by the phone call he received from SETI, declaring that aliens were trying to communicate with Earth. It has since been realized that President Kasey had been expecting such a phone call since he was 25 years old. Polls were split in indecision when he announced he would, in fact, be running for a second and final term. Risky as it was to announce his ancestry just before placing his name on the ballot, the tides turned in his favor. His opponent, Lance Peterson, was open about his dislike of Antarians and their place on Earth. After all the impassioned speeches from President Kasey inspired by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the American public spoke loud and clear. Lance Peterson did not speak for the interest of Americans or the world who would like to maintain good relations with our new neighbors. Antagonism this early in the bridging relationship could disrupt the peaceful year just past.
President Kasey has invited Darin Maples into his fold. A member of many United Nations councils, Darin Maples was recently named official Delegate to Antarian Isle. This term will, hopefully, unveil the mystery surrounding our new neighbors and could possibly see them into integration with the rest of the world… though it would seem our alien friends would like to expand their territory, they are hesitant to mingle given the history for fear and violence amongst Humanity's many cultures. Rumors of the Antarians' special abilities have yet to bear fruit as they have not yet mastered the ability to breathe for long periods in our atmosphere.
TBC
one more part kiddos
Epilogue
Part 49 - Epilogue – 2042
Caption:
President Kasey and the First Lady share a kiss on the White House lawn before the helicopter takes off for Air Force One.
Excerpt:
Early this morning a report from SETI and Antarian Isle confirmed that the second Antarian ship is arriving but much sooner than once thought. A complication with its navigational system has inhibited its ability to slow down. The Antarians will meet with the Secretary of Defense to discuss what should be done in the event that the ship is not able to regain control of its speed before it reaches the inner orbits of our solar system.
--
Rik bounded up the steps to the oxygenated side of the complex. It had been a day full of flights and he was feeling unsturdy on his land legs. He greeted Max and Liz when they stepped forward. "How's it going?"
"It's speeding pretty fast. If they don't slow it down by the time it reaches Mars…" Max shrugged his shoulders, though Rik could see the pain in his eyes. "That ship has… quite a few people on it… in the neighborhood of 5,000. I think… it was sabotaged by Yari."
"Yari? But she sent them all back."
"She sent a ship to Antar, one way. They modified it for travel."
Liz gripped Rik's hand. "It's going to happen fast and it has to be done precisely."
"Liz?" Max blinked at his wife. "What did you see?"
"We need Darin and Rik both here… with Paula and Valerie. They're the best boosters we have. We have to stop it with powers alone." Liz whispered, her knees weakening beneath her. Max grasped her and held her up while she kept her hand in Rik's. "Garniz has a scope that will send your thoughts to the ship but after you know where it is, you're on your own. You'll have to tell the ship to back up. It won't stop its forward momentum but it will slow down. By the time it reaches Earth, it will be still and Garniz can use his ship to set it down on the other building."
"She hasn't done that in a while." Max murmured as he pulled her hand out of Rik's. "I think she's had a tickle of something for a few days but she didn't know how to access it." Liz slumped into her husband's arms until a guard could get a chair beneath her.
"The Antarians can't do anything?"
"Not until it slows down enough." Max shook his head and led the way to the conference room where the Secretary of Defense was waiting, having spent much of the previous months speaking with the Antarians. "The ship was stripped of most of its functions so it could sustain them longer. The second ship has the blueprints for the artificial environments that all Antarians will need to make use of this island and any other place that they want to live."
"Yari." Rik breathed out as he entered the room and shook has with the Secretary. "She's… I didn't think she was going to be such a pain in the ass when she… then again. She didn't… RAHH!" He turned to a window and shook his head. "I really should have known she would do something to ensure Antarians would not be a threat to her in the future."
"If it is Yari, she just declared war on Antar. She's being spiteful. Kathana was difficult but Kathana wanted peace. Yari wants to cordon off her planet so that no one can ever hurt her. She's going to be just as bad as Kivar on that score." Garniz's voice reached them from the monitor set up for communication between the species.
"Kivar was ruled by his pride." The Secretary sat up. "I've been going over all the moves that Kivar made in the war against the monarchy and how they affected his people. He didn't care about his people. He was obsessed with power and himself. This Yari person has blamed Antar for Kathana's death. She… isn't motivated though or we would already have reports of her waging war on Earth. She just sabotaged a one-way transport to keep it that way. If that ship collides with Earth, we're all gone. The power in the ship on the roof is enough to ensure a nuclear winter of sorts… this ship is larger. It's got more people. From all reports, they're not engineers."
"No but they are carrying the information they would need to fix it. They must have locked up the data… if it's in the ship's mainframe… it would explain a lot." Garniz nodded.
"My wife just came up with a plan that is risky and would depend on all governments trusting us." Max cleared his throat. "President Kasey, Mr. Maples, his wife and her sister will all need to be on top of this building once it hits Mars."
"Absolutely not." The secretary of defense rose out of his seat.
"It is necessary. They are the only four powerful enough to stop it."
--
Liz smiled at Darin when he sat next to her. "I've been put to bed like a child."
"When was the last time you had a vision?" He took her hand in his, rubbing it to warm her up and to keep her calm.
"It's been a while." She admitted. "Things have been going so well that I haven't needed them."
"It's okay. It'll all work out." Darin promised and stroked back her gray hair, remembering when it was a deep brown. He probably had more than enough gray on his own head at this point. He hadn't had time to look in a mirror in a while now. "Dad will be out soon."
"It means you giving up and confirming all those rumors about you being an alien." Liz mocked him.
"It could only last so long." He nodded and kissed her hand. "They made all the other connections but… I felt like it was the most obvious one and no one ever…"
"It's obvious to us." She gave him a wry smile. "You're just some lucky guy who went to school with President Ronald Israel Kasey back in the day. It was the connection of a lifetime. It's not like they could find the birth certificate with Max's name on it…"
"It feels like… I've been searching for this moment all my life. When I stop balancing my life and start… realizing it."
"It felt like that for us all." Liz nodded. "When we stopped hiding, stopped running and started living… really living it. Unafraid of what alien was going to pop out of the darkness, uncaring if the government set up another unit to hunt us down. Knowing that we would take back what was ours… what we let them take from us because we were too young and naïve to see that if we were willing to make the necessary sacrifices that we could have taken our lives back years ago."
"Stop it. You're scaring me." Darin muttered.
"And me too." Isaiah called from the doorway. "You need to rest. You're sapped."
"I have no regrets." Liz shook her head at her son and step-son. "Any other path would have kept us from having the two of you. Where's my grandson?"
"Taking his nap. Julie, too. Take your nap and when you wake up, you can play." Isaiah teased her.
"Dad will be in here soon to check on you. He's trying to convince the warmonger that we have to risk our president in order to save the world."
"It's not a risk. I saw it. It happens the way I saw it." Liz shook her head.
"Mom, sleep… or I'll stick you with something that will make you sleep." Isaiah warned.
"Okay, I'll sleep."
--
Erika stuck next to her husband for the meetings. They had all but abandoned the club since Rik's first election. Steve and Mere kept it going just fine. She was worried but reassured by Liz's prediction. All the same, she was glad the girls were stateside and far away from the Isle. Zan needed to be hands on with his involvement with the Antarian governing and so she had spent more time on the Isle than anywhere else.
--
Caption:
From the U.S.S. Baltimore, the view was spectacular. The dark shadow is the newly arrived ship from Antar itself, halted by a force unseen.
Excerpt:
Panicked officials requested that President Kasey return to the White House pending the result of the approaching Antarian craft, said to be from the dying planet itself. The previous ship was from a planet called Lathros according to Mr. Zan Kasey. It is assumed that all left behind on Antar have perished due to lack of energy, supplies and rations. Scientists predicted that the craft would collide with Earth near Sydney. A collision did not happen. In an amazing feat, the ship began to slow as it passed Mars and when it halted, it remained in low orbit for several hours before a beam from the landed ship shot out and caught it somehow and set it safely on a building for docking and unloading.
President Kasey and First Lady Kasey are said to be greeting the captain of the newly landed craft in the presence of Max Evans. They are said to be in discussions with the United Nations to expand the territory which could be occupied by the Antarian. Antarian Isle will hardly be large enough to sustain life of the large number of Antarians expected to make the journey from various planets in the Whirlwind Galaxy system which houses four other royal houses.
Caption:
U.N. official Darin Maples and his biological father, Max Evans, at the session to discuss colonization of Antarctica.
Excerpt:
Scientists gathered from all over the world to discuss the ramifications of consistent presence on previous uninhabited areas of the world. Dr. Shamizu has spent the last six months on Antarian Isle, working with scientists on the Isle, developing a form of 'rebreather' which might be employed by Humans visiting Antarian colonies or for Antarians visiting off the Isle. A translucent dome has been effected over the structures on the Isle to contain breathable air for our guests.
"Antarian-Human Hybrids do not have much difficultly breathing within the dome." Max Evans explained. "The scientists who created us, created the adaptability necessary for habitation on both worlds. I feel a little sluggish sometimes but I am otherwise fine. I have moved my family to another building where my wife can breathe but our children and grandchildren seem to have adapted just fine to coming and going between the atmospheres."
The 'rebreather' was demonstrated in session. Microorganisms within a thin rubbery mask are programmed to filter air in and out of the mask depending on what the mask is programmed for. Unoas, an Antarian scientist, has taken the liberty of studying asthma to contribute to those inhibited by their own environments. "Breathing is basic to all creatures large and small. A Human with this asthma has trouble taking in enough oxygen to maintain calm. This 'rebreather', properly programmed, would allow more oxygen into the nose and mouth, also pushing out the carbon dioxide. The microorganisms would feed on smog and pollution, allowing nothing but fresh air into the lungs. I wear this mask before you all, programmed to weed out most oxygen in the air I breathe. To allow more nitrous into my lungs. To push out the trioxide I breathe out."
--
Darin guided himself through the corridors to the office he needed. "You wanted to see me?"
"Absolutely. Have a seat." The director motioned for Darin to have a seat. "Mr. Maples… I've been going over your involvement with this organization and now I see that you've placed yourself to be indispensable to us."
"I did have alternative motivations for some of the positions I took."
"I hear you want to run for president in twelve years." She leaned back in her seat.
"My children are young… and… If an amendment passes, I might. My situation is unique. I'm the only American citizen not born on the planet, forget the country."
"I'm told that you will not be recognized as prince when your biological father steps down." She watched him carefully. "That doesn't bother you?"
"They passed me over for potential ruler when I was a few months old. I don't remember it. I never expected to have it."
"I see. Would you like to make your temporary position as Ambassador permanent?" She leaned forward on her desk. "The pay would compensate you and your family, you'll be in on all the dealings with Antarian Isle. They know you. We know you. You can spend time with your children while they're still young. It's not the presidency but I need you on my side. On our side. There are still rumblings of distrust and I need for someone with your charisma to help me make the world see that everything is just as calm as it seems."
"I never had any intention of abdicating as Ambassador. My family is both. I have Antarian parents. I have Human parents. My wife is Human. Our children are hybrids. There are more Antarians coming and… in my lifetime, I will see an Antarian walking the streets of New York City, safely. I will see Antarians in laboratories as doctors and scientists, not subjects. Whatever I decide, I will see to it that they didn't come searching for us for nothing. Everyone deserves to find what they spent their lifetime searching for."
"And what's that?"
"Home."
Caption:
President Kasey dines with his extended family.
Excerpt:
A lot of pressure has been put on our president in his second term. He has been able to balance his roles of President of the United States and Prince of Antarian Isle thus far. Along with those two notable positions, he is still a husband, father, brother, uncle and son. Zan and Erika Kasey celebrated our president's 43rd birthday. He was greeted by his sisters, their husbands and children. Kelly and Mitchell Daniels with their daughter. Bree and Tarek Masters and their son. All of the Kasey children were in attendance. Derek, age 11, Penelope and Patricia, age seven, and Samuel, age three. Also in attendance were Mary and Steven Ensen, First Lady Kasey's niece and nephew of whom she had split custody since the death of her sister. The Ensen children lived their teen years in the former governor's home in New York City as well as in the White House for President Kasey's first term.
"My family is everything to me." President Kasey told this interviewer. "Every American feels the same way about their own family. I have to think that the decisions I make will allow my family to live better and prosperous lives. My Human family. My Antarian family. My family. Not only do I think about them, I think about the millions of families in our country… and the thousands of Antarians just next door. We are all a family. We share this Earth, this land, this air and we all want to live peacefully."
THE END
Caption:
President Kasey and the First Lady share a kiss on the White House lawn before the helicopter takes off for Air Force One.
Excerpt:
Early this morning a report from SETI and Antarian Isle confirmed that the second Antarian ship is arriving but much sooner than once thought. A complication with its navigational system has inhibited its ability to slow down. The Antarians will meet with the Secretary of Defense to discuss what should be done in the event that the ship is not able to regain control of its speed before it reaches the inner orbits of our solar system.
--
Rik bounded up the steps to the oxygenated side of the complex. It had been a day full of flights and he was feeling unsturdy on his land legs. He greeted Max and Liz when they stepped forward. "How's it going?"
"It's speeding pretty fast. If they don't slow it down by the time it reaches Mars…" Max shrugged his shoulders, though Rik could see the pain in his eyes. "That ship has… quite a few people on it… in the neighborhood of 5,000. I think… it was sabotaged by Yari."
"Yari? But she sent them all back."
"She sent a ship to Antar, one way. They modified it for travel."
Liz gripped Rik's hand. "It's going to happen fast and it has to be done precisely."
"Liz?" Max blinked at his wife. "What did you see?"
"We need Darin and Rik both here… with Paula and Valerie. They're the best boosters we have. We have to stop it with powers alone." Liz whispered, her knees weakening beneath her. Max grasped her and held her up while she kept her hand in Rik's. "Garniz has a scope that will send your thoughts to the ship but after you know where it is, you're on your own. You'll have to tell the ship to back up. It won't stop its forward momentum but it will slow down. By the time it reaches Earth, it will be still and Garniz can use his ship to set it down on the other building."
"She hasn't done that in a while." Max murmured as he pulled her hand out of Rik's. "I think she's had a tickle of something for a few days but she didn't know how to access it." Liz slumped into her husband's arms until a guard could get a chair beneath her.
"The Antarians can't do anything?"
"Not until it slows down enough." Max shook his head and led the way to the conference room where the Secretary of Defense was waiting, having spent much of the previous months speaking with the Antarians. "The ship was stripped of most of its functions so it could sustain them longer. The second ship has the blueprints for the artificial environments that all Antarians will need to make use of this island and any other place that they want to live."
"Yari." Rik breathed out as he entered the room and shook has with the Secretary. "She's… I didn't think she was going to be such a pain in the ass when she… then again. She didn't… RAHH!" He turned to a window and shook his head. "I really should have known she would do something to ensure Antarians would not be a threat to her in the future."
"If it is Yari, she just declared war on Antar. She's being spiteful. Kathana was difficult but Kathana wanted peace. Yari wants to cordon off her planet so that no one can ever hurt her. She's going to be just as bad as Kivar on that score." Garniz's voice reached them from the monitor set up for communication between the species.
"Kivar was ruled by his pride." The Secretary sat up. "I've been going over all the moves that Kivar made in the war against the monarchy and how they affected his people. He didn't care about his people. He was obsessed with power and himself. This Yari person has blamed Antar for Kathana's death. She… isn't motivated though or we would already have reports of her waging war on Earth. She just sabotaged a one-way transport to keep it that way. If that ship collides with Earth, we're all gone. The power in the ship on the roof is enough to ensure a nuclear winter of sorts… this ship is larger. It's got more people. From all reports, they're not engineers."
"No but they are carrying the information they would need to fix it. They must have locked up the data… if it's in the ship's mainframe… it would explain a lot." Garniz nodded.
"My wife just came up with a plan that is risky and would depend on all governments trusting us." Max cleared his throat. "President Kasey, Mr. Maples, his wife and her sister will all need to be on top of this building once it hits Mars."
"Absolutely not." The secretary of defense rose out of his seat.
"It is necessary. They are the only four powerful enough to stop it."
--
Liz smiled at Darin when he sat next to her. "I've been put to bed like a child."
"When was the last time you had a vision?" He took her hand in his, rubbing it to warm her up and to keep her calm.
"It's been a while." She admitted. "Things have been going so well that I haven't needed them."
"It's okay. It'll all work out." Darin promised and stroked back her gray hair, remembering when it was a deep brown. He probably had more than enough gray on his own head at this point. He hadn't had time to look in a mirror in a while now. "Dad will be out soon."
"It means you giving up and confirming all those rumors about you being an alien." Liz mocked him.
"It could only last so long." He nodded and kissed her hand. "They made all the other connections but… I felt like it was the most obvious one and no one ever…"
"It's obvious to us." She gave him a wry smile. "You're just some lucky guy who went to school with President Ronald Israel Kasey back in the day. It was the connection of a lifetime. It's not like they could find the birth certificate with Max's name on it…"
"It feels like… I've been searching for this moment all my life. When I stop balancing my life and start… realizing it."
"It felt like that for us all." Liz nodded. "When we stopped hiding, stopped running and started living… really living it. Unafraid of what alien was going to pop out of the darkness, uncaring if the government set up another unit to hunt us down. Knowing that we would take back what was ours… what we let them take from us because we were too young and naïve to see that if we were willing to make the necessary sacrifices that we could have taken our lives back years ago."
"Stop it. You're scaring me." Darin muttered.
"And me too." Isaiah called from the doorway. "You need to rest. You're sapped."
"I have no regrets." Liz shook her head at her son and step-son. "Any other path would have kept us from having the two of you. Where's my grandson?"
"Taking his nap. Julie, too. Take your nap and when you wake up, you can play." Isaiah teased her.
"Dad will be in here soon to check on you. He's trying to convince the warmonger that we have to risk our president in order to save the world."
"It's not a risk. I saw it. It happens the way I saw it." Liz shook her head.
"Mom, sleep… or I'll stick you with something that will make you sleep." Isaiah warned.
"Okay, I'll sleep."
--
Erika stuck next to her husband for the meetings. They had all but abandoned the club since Rik's first election. Steve and Mere kept it going just fine. She was worried but reassured by Liz's prediction. All the same, she was glad the girls were stateside and far away from the Isle. Zan needed to be hands on with his involvement with the Antarian governing and so she had spent more time on the Isle than anywhere else.
--
Caption:
From the U.S.S. Baltimore, the view was spectacular. The dark shadow is the newly arrived ship from Antar itself, halted by a force unseen.
Excerpt:
Panicked officials requested that President Kasey return to the White House pending the result of the approaching Antarian craft, said to be from the dying planet itself. The previous ship was from a planet called Lathros according to Mr. Zan Kasey. It is assumed that all left behind on Antar have perished due to lack of energy, supplies and rations. Scientists predicted that the craft would collide with Earth near Sydney. A collision did not happen. In an amazing feat, the ship began to slow as it passed Mars and when it halted, it remained in low orbit for several hours before a beam from the landed ship shot out and caught it somehow and set it safely on a building for docking and unloading.
President Kasey and First Lady Kasey are said to be greeting the captain of the newly landed craft in the presence of Max Evans. They are said to be in discussions with the United Nations to expand the territory which could be occupied by the Antarian. Antarian Isle will hardly be large enough to sustain life of the large number of Antarians expected to make the journey from various planets in the Whirlwind Galaxy system which houses four other royal houses.
Caption:
U.N. official Darin Maples and his biological father, Max Evans, at the session to discuss colonization of Antarctica.
Excerpt:
Scientists gathered from all over the world to discuss the ramifications of consistent presence on previous uninhabited areas of the world. Dr. Shamizu has spent the last six months on Antarian Isle, working with scientists on the Isle, developing a form of 'rebreather' which might be employed by Humans visiting Antarian colonies or for Antarians visiting off the Isle. A translucent dome has been effected over the structures on the Isle to contain breathable air for our guests.
"Antarian-Human Hybrids do not have much difficultly breathing within the dome." Max Evans explained. "The scientists who created us, created the adaptability necessary for habitation on both worlds. I feel a little sluggish sometimes but I am otherwise fine. I have moved my family to another building where my wife can breathe but our children and grandchildren seem to have adapted just fine to coming and going between the atmospheres."
The 'rebreather' was demonstrated in session. Microorganisms within a thin rubbery mask are programmed to filter air in and out of the mask depending on what the mask is programmed for. Unoas, an Antarian scientist, has taken the liberty of studying asthma to contribute to those inhibited by their own environments. "Breathing is basic to all creatures large and small. A Human with this asthma has trouble taking in enough oxygen to maintain calm. This 'rebreather', properly programmed, would allow more oxygen into the nose and mouth, also pushing out the carbon dioxide. The microorganisms would feed on smog and pollution, allowing nothing but fresh air into the lungs. I wear this mask before you all, programmed to weed out most oxygen in the air I breathe. To allow more nitrous into my lungs. To push out the trioxide I breathe out."
--
Darin guided himself through the corridors to the office he needed. "You wanted to see me?"
"Absolutely. Have a seat." The director motioned for Darin to have a seat. "Mr. Maples… I've been going over your involvement with this organization and now I see that you've placed yourself to be indispensable to us."
"I did have alternative motivations for some of the positions I took."
"I hear you want to run for president in twelve years." She leaned back in her seat.
"My children are young… and… If an amendment passes, I might. My situation is unique. I'm the only American citizen not born on the planet, forget the country."
"I'm told that you will not be recognized as prince when your biological father steps down." She watched him carefully. "That doesn't bother you?"
"They passed me over for potential ruler when I was a few months old. I don't remember it. I never expected to have it."
"I see. Would you like to make your temporary position as Ambassador permanent?" She leaned forward on her desk. "The pay would compensate you and your family, you'll be in on all the dealings with Antarian Isle. They know you. We know you. You can spend time with your children while they're still young. It's not the presidency but I need you on my side. On our side. There are still rumblings of distrust and I need for someone with your charisma to help me make the world see that everything is just as calm as it seems."
"I never had any intention of abdicating as Ambassador. My family is both. I have Antarian parents. I have Human parents. My wife is Human. Our children are hybrids. There are more Antarians coming and… in my lifetime, I will see an Antarian walking the streets of New York City, safely. I will see Antarians in laboratories as doctors and scientists, not subjects. Whatever I decide, I will see to it that they didn't come searching for us for nothing. Everyone deserves to find what they spent their lifetime searching for."
"And what's that?"
"Home."
Caption:
President Kasey dines with his extended family.
Excerpt:
A lot of pressure has been put on our president in his second term. He has been able to balance his roles of President of the United States and Prince of Antarian Isle thus far. Along with those two notable positions, he is still a husband, father, brother, uncle and son. Zan and Erika Kasey celebrated our president's 43rd birthday. He was greeted by his sisters, their husbands and children. Kelly and Mitchell Daniels with their daughter. Bree and Tarek Masters and their son. All of the Kasey children were in attendance. Derek, age 11, Penelope and Patricia, age seven, and Samuel, age three. Also in attendance were Mary and Steven Ensen, First Lady Kasey's niece and nephew of whom she had split custody since the death of her sister. The Ensen children lived their teen years in the former governor's home in New York City as well as in the White House for President Kasey's first term.
"My family is everything to me." President Kasey told this interviewer. "Every American feels the same way about their own family. I have to think that the decisions I make will allow my family to live better and prosperous lives. My Human family. My Antarian family. My family. Not only do I think about them, I think about the millions of families in our country… and the thousands of Antarians just next door. We are all a family. We share this Earth, this land, this air and we all want to live peacefully."
THE END
