Tari Donovan climbed out of the water as her assistant Randolph extended his hand to help her steadie herself to her feet on the cement side of the large aquarium.She took off her snorkel gear and lifted her goggles over her eye's and slid them past her hair that was tied in a pony tale. The dolphins clicked and whistled their disappointment at their playmates departure.

"I don't think they have any idea your studying them." Randolph commented with a grinn.

Tari wrapped a towel around her trim waist and grabbed another to somewhat dry her long dark brown hair, then ran it over her face, arms, and top of her swim suit. She smiled at the older man.

"They like it..it's just play to them.It's fun for me to. I really enjoy it."

Suddenly the dolphins in the aquarium began jumping,splashing and making frightened clicking whistles that almost sounded like screams. Tari and Randolph both abruptly turned to see what it was the dolphins where getting so upset about. Tari squatted near the edge of the pool and called soothingly to the mammals.

"Hey,Cindie,Sally..what is it? C'mon girls,you know I can't stay in the water with you all day." she cooed.

The dolphins swam up to her letting her stroke the top of their noses. Suddenly they jumped from her touch and dived into the depths of the aquarium.

"What the..?"Tari turned looking at her assistant confused as to the strange and uncharacteristic reaction she was getting from the two mamals she had come to know so well over the last year and a half since their arrival at the Los Angels Marine land Institute.

Taris confused expression was met with the same look on Randolphs face.

Their bewilderment soon took on a more frightened essence. A sudden huge shadow began to move over them. The sky seemed to darken as the shadow moved directly over head. The two looked upward and both gasped in shock.

A huge circular space ship floated directly overhead.It had to be at least two maybe three miles around in either direction.

"Oh my god!" Tari exclaimed in a quiet overwhelmed voice.

Randolph nodded, his eyes mesmerized on the craft overhead. "Ditto" was all he could say.

"wh..what is it?" Tari asked still stunned.

Randolph shook his head."Damned if I know.But what ever it is..It's BIG!"

The two stood astounded at the sight they beheld. When Jack and Rae came bursting from the building next to the aquarium.

"Have you seen it?!" Jack,a young man of about 23 was yelling excitedly pulling the young auburn haired woman, Rae, behind him. They were both staring into the sky as they ran over to Randolph and Tari.

"It's amazing." Rae commented.

"It's the end of the world i tell ya." Jack spoke up.

"Randolph and the girls looked at each other. Normally they would have been amused at Jacks overly excited over reaction. But with this recent event hanging so planinly in view they simply shrugged uncertainty written in their expressions.

Tari felt a strange chill flood threw her veins giving her goose bumps as she watched the craft hovering above. She had no idea what this phenomenon meant.But she felt it would have a drastic affect on the world she knew,not only the world, but her personally,something she couldn't quit put her finger on,something strange ,it made her feel warm yet frightened. She shivered shrugging the bizarre feeling off,wishing her brother Mike were in the country.As it was he was in El'Salvador covering the guerrilla fighting over there.She almost chuckled thinking about how ticked off he was going to be when he found out he had missed his chance to cover what was probably the biggest story of the century.

***Later that same day******

Tari pulled her dark blue pathfinder into the parking lot of the Shamrocks Pride health club she managed.She quickly reached behind the front seat and pulled out her pack pack from off the floor and ran inside. The normally active place was unusually quiet. It was no wonder with what was happening today. Tari hurried into her office where she found Maggie Jones glued to the small TV set in the corner of the room.The news caster talking with the strange saucer in plain view in the background.

"God..Tari have you seen this?! There all over the world!"

Clink, clink, clink.

The soothing sound repeated over and over again. A steady beat in the silence of the room. Maggie's hand held the hammer steadily as she carved another notch in the piece of stone she was working with. How many times she'd done this she didn't know, or care. When Maggie got involved in her sculpting nothing mattered, not time, not food, and not people. She'd lost more than one boyfriend because she'd forgotten them.

Not that Maggie had really cared. It wasn't that she didn't want someone of her own. It was just that after 27 years Maggie still hadn't found a man who she wanted to be with more than she wanted to sculpt. And she doubted if she ever would, she would admit if she were asked. But that didn't matter now, nothing did but revealing what was locked within the stone.

It was the darkening of the room that pulled Maggie back from her task. She'd just had sky lighting put into the small studio at the back of her tiny house. Her friend Shadow, an artist, had been raving about the her new sky lighting and after seeing how much more light was added to Shadow's own studio Maggie had decided to splurge a little of the trust fund she'd been left by her mother's mother. She hadn't regretted it once. That is until she lifted her head and saw the huge metal shape hovering over her house and blocking the sunlight. She never noticed the sound her chisel made as it slipped from her fingers and fell to the floor.

"Oh My God." She exclaimed, as she stood staring up in shock.

Several seconds passed as she stood staring up in shock at the sight of the craft, then panic set in and she literally ran to the phone. Her fingers were shaking badly as she fumbled to pick it up and dial out.

"Damn, damn, damn." She muttered as she tried to calm herself.

Doot, doot, doot.

Beep, beep, beep.

"DAMN!" She exclaimed as she heard the busy signal blaring in her ears. Slamming the phone back onto the receiver, she quickly moved to the door and went outside. Up and down the street people were gathered in small groups and the only sound heard was the quiet, frightened murmurs as they tried to make sense of the craft overhead.

"Maggie! Oh my god what is THAT?" Mrs. Gohansen exclaimed as she hobbled over.

"I don't know." Maggie replied as she gently gripped the older woman's hand and tried to offer some comfort. A feeling of dread washed over her and she knew that life as they knew it was about to change. "But I don't think it's anything good."

Maggie sat quietly in the gym, waiting for others to come straggling in. She'd been here for hours and only the few people who'd been there when she arrived were in the building. Loners like me, she thought as she sat in the chair in the manager's office.

She'd left Mrs. Gohansen in the hands of some neighbors a few hours back as it appeared the craft overhead wasn't going to move. She'd come to the gym because outside of her home it was the only other place she felt safe at. And at least there will be people there, she'd thought as she'd gathered her purse and walked to Shamrock's, all the time wondering what or who was hovering above her head.

She'd found Jim, the owner of the club, Marla, his wife, and Caleb, one of the weight trainers, in Tari's office watching the television. Marla had told her that, though the big ship covered over two miles of the city, it didn't block television or radio transmissions. The news reporters had no information other than they asked people to remain calm and to stay in their houses until further notice. As the hours had gone by Jim and Marla and then Caleb had left, all of them wanting to be with their families and loved ones. Jim had asked Maggie to stay incase Tari showed up; Maggie had agreed not wanting to be by herself. It was times like these that made Maggie wish she and her family were closer.

Maggie had just listened to the reporters saying that the huge ships were covering cities all over the world when Tari came hurrying into the office.

"God Tari! Have you seen this!? They're all over the world!" she exclaimed as she looked at one of her closest friends.

"The WORLD?" Tari asked as she sat down her bag and moved closer to Tari. /P>

"Have they said what they want? Does anyone know what they are? Has anyone seen them?"

"Not as far as the reporters are saying and so far they've made no motions to make contact as far as I can tell." Maggie said as she sat in her chair.

"You mean they've just parked themselves and that's it? That doesn't make sense." Tari said after a few minutes of silence.

"No it doesn't. And all this waiting it driving me nuts. At first I was scared, who wouldn't be? But now, I don't know. I mean it's got to be a good thing they haven't done anything yet, don't you think?" Maggie said as she pulled an empty chair close to the TV so Tari could sit down.

"I don't know, Maggie. I certainly hope so." Tari said as she sat down to watch the reports. "I do know one thing, I wish Mike were here. He'd know what to do, he always does."

Maggie smiled as she thought of Tari's brother Mike. He certainly was a handsome devil, charming too. Maggie had met him a couple of times and liked him. And he took rejection well, she thought back on the one time he'd asked her out.

"Yeah, he'd be flying a plane to get closer pictures of the ships." Maggie said with a mischievous grin as Tari laughed out loud.

"You're right about that. If anyone would be biting at the bit to get aboard that ship it'd be Mike." Tari said with a smile that didn't last long.

Maggie wondered at the sadness that surrounded her friend. It wasn't anything overt, but every now and then Maggie caught glimpses of it and was tempted to ask Tari about it. But inevitably her own demons would whisper across her mind and she'd stopped herself just short of asking. Maggie wasn't sure she was ready to share her demons with anyone, not even a close friend like Tari.

Suddenly the TV reporters report was broken with an announcement from the TV.

Tari and Maggie staired unbelieving and nervously at the television. A strange pulsing sound suddenly boomed threw the air. Tari and Maggie both jumped startled by the sound. at the same time a strangly resonant voice came across the telivision while the news commmentator contiued to speak.

"twenty,ninteen,eighteen.."

The two girls looked at each other in bewilderment,a hint of fear apparent on both their faces. The voice was being herd all over the world,each in thier own language. Then the count down stoped.

A short pause and the voice spoke again... "Citezens of the planet earth. We bring you greetings,and we come in peace. May we resectfuly request that your secratary General of your united Nations please come to the top of your United Nations buliding in New York at 0100 Greenwhich mean time this evning..Thank you."

"Oh my god" Maggie exclainmed. "What could that mean?"

"I don't know" Tari replyed quietly. "0100 Greeenwhich time.What time is that here?"

The Television news man answered for her. "Eight o clock our time."

The girls sat in disbeilef,nither speaking for a long moment when the telephone ring broke the silence. Both girls jumped then each breathed a relieved sigh and gave each other a look of releif relizing it was the phone. Tari picked up the reciever.

"Shamrocks Pride" she answered.

"HI..Aunt Tari" her nephew Seans excited voice eckoed on the other end.

"Sean!" Tari said surprised. "How are you? are you ok? is your mom ok?"

Tari had been close to her nephew even after the divorce of his parents. She and Marjorie.seans mother, were still sival to each other.They had never realy been close,but had always been freindly.

"Ya were both ok, Have you seen em Aunt Tari? have you seen the news?" he asked enthusiasticly.

"Yes,I've seen it Sean. are you scared?"

"no..not realy..do you think dads seenem?" His tone became a little quieter.

"I'm sure he has honey."

"Has he called you?" the boy asked his voice still low.

"No sweetie,I havent herd from him. But he isn't suppose to be back from El Salvador for a couple days yet. Dont you worrie,your dads just fine. He'll be back soon."

"Ya, I know..I just...I just wish he was here now."

Tari felt a pang of sarrow hit her heart. Poor sean,These were times his dad should be with him. but She also knew Sean loved his father and understood about his work always taking him so far from home. it was his mother that had never understood. Still she knew though Sean wouldn't admit it he must be scared,and needing his father right now.

Just then she herd Marjories scolding voice eckoing in the back ground. "Sean Donovan! What have i told you about using the phone with out permision? Who are you talking with?"

"It's aunt Tari mom..I called her about the UFO's"

"Let me talk to your mom Sean.I'll talk with you later ok..I love you." Tari told him hoping she could smooth over her ex-sisterinlaws anger.

Sean said his goodbys and handed his mother the phone.

"I'm sorry Tari" Marjorie appologised."Did he disturb you?"

"NO not at all..I love hearing from him.He can call me any time you know that. I think he's just a little excited and scared is all."

"Yes"Marjorie said her tone a bit shakey "Arnt we all."

"Are you ok Marj?" tari asked concerned.

"Yes..I'm fine..."

"well..if you or sean need anything dont' hesitate to call."Tari reasured her.

"Thanks tari..take care."

"Good bye Marjorie."

Maggie had been glued to the TV as tari talked to her nephew and X-sisster-in-law. Finaley the news cast over for the moment she looked out into the loby.

"You think anyones going to show up this evning ?"

I dobt it."Tari answered her. "the roads were jamed when I was coming from the Aqarium.I bet they'er totaly untravalable now.We should probly just close up and go home.I want to be near a TV when the news comes on at eight."

"Hey!I've got an idea..instead of both of us going home alone and being scared out of our wits alone.Why dont we catch some dinner and hit drakes corner?We could watch the news there ,they have a TV over the bar.And we can have a nerve settler while we're at it" Maggie grinned,Then her expresion turned serious. "I realy dont want tobe alone right now."

Tari smiled faintly and gave her best freind's hand a sqeeze.

"I think thats a good Idea, I could use a drink,and I don't particularly want to be alone either."

The two girls grabbed their purses and locked up all the doors in the health club and walked next door to the restraunt. Both barley touched the Salads theyd ordered. the place was practicly empty,and the silence was almost frieghting.

When they had finished they decided driving the two blocks to Drakes Corner was safer than walking and took Taris' pathfinder. They entered the bar and stood a moment letting thier eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Both took a seat at the bar and ordered Tom Colenses.

Mac,the bartender stood at the end of the bar and watched the news with the two girls, and the three other customers at the other end.

The bar was silent as they watched the shuttle craft float down from the huge Ship hanging in the sky.They held thier breath as did most of the world as the secratary General entered the craft.And sighed with relief when he had reemerged with a smile.

Tari gasped in astonishment as she watched the news people enter the craft for thier tour of the mother ship.

"Tari!" Maggie exclaimed "Isn't that.."

"Mike!" Tari spoke up surprised. her delecate features held the look of worrie as she watched her brother enter the craft with the other news people.Her eyes were glued to the set as she watched her only sibling diapear into the small ship.

Maggie reached over and gave her freinds hand a gentle sqeeze. "he'll be ok."

Tari tryed to look optamistic and smile. But her concern was evident.

"Told you he'd do anything to get a look at that thing." She tryed to joke.

"And I bet he gets a pulitzer for it to." Maggie chimed in trying to keep her freind freting to much.....

Tari smiled.."I just bet he will."

As Maggie sat next to Tari she tried to imagine what it would be like to have a family member entering into the huge alien vessel. To not know what was waiting inside for them or if they'd even come back out again. Maggie certainly didn't envy Tari at this moment. Maggie wasn't that close with her family, but she was glad it wasn't one of her brothers entering the ship. She gripped Tari's hand hoping she could offer assurance at least in this little way.

"Of course he will. You know, if any man can come out of this ok it'll be Mike Donavan. How many times have you told me your brother's got the luck of the Irish? Besides I thought I saw Tony beside him and you know he looks out for Mike like a father."

As Maggie said this she saw Tari smile and laugh softly. Maggie hoped she'd managed to lighten her friend's mood just a little, things were scary enough as it was. Maggie had heard the-thing, for lack of a better word, on the TV, say they'd come in peace but she couldn't quite buy into it. Why she wasn't sure, but it seemed that a race of beings that had the technology sophisticated enough to travel in space would see the people of Earth as much of a threat.

*And just what did they want from us that they'd use the words "come in peace" anyways?* Maggie wondered as she and Tari sat watching the chaos surrounding the ship on the TV set.

The sound of a glass being set on the counter startled Maggie from her revelry. Turning she saw a middle aged, run down looking man at the end of the bar thumping his glass of beer against the wooden top as he talked loudly to his two friends. "I'm telling ya they ain't here for no good! I mean why would anyone with that kind of setup be afraid of us?" He asked his friends in agitation, his words mirroring Maggie's thoughts.

"Well, I don't know Hank. I mean they did let the Secretary General come out, so they can't be all that bad."

"Yeah. And besides they got to be peaceful. Like you said they got the technology, so if they wanted to cause trouble they could. And just maybe they don't know if we've got space ships of our own or not. Maybe they're trying to be nice just in case." Piped up the third man who looked to be gearing up for an argument.

"I don't care what you two bozos think, I still say they ain't up to no good! You can't tell me anyone who can travel in space wouldn't know we can't hardly get a man to the moon and back! I'm telling you-" Maggie turned back to Tari to see if she was listening to the conversation between the three men. But her friend was still staring intently at the TV as if she could will her brother to come out of the ship.

"Tari? You want to go back to my place and watch from there when this is done?" Maggie asked when the television announcer appeared saying that they would be showing the reports from those aboard the ship in half an hour.

"Umm, Sure. Do you mind if I use your phone to call my folks? I am sure they are about to freak out right now."

"Of course you can use my phone. I don't know if you'll get through on a clear line though. I am sure they are all overloaded with people calling family and friends." Maggie said with just a touch of sadness in her voice.

"Oh Maggie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories." Tari said, as they paid for their drinks and made their way out to Tari's Pathfinder.

"That's ok. I mean, at least I don't have to worry bout anyone trying to get a hold of me. Ya know?"

Smiling Tari put the pathfinder in gear and made her way to Maggie's small house.

Two days later..

"And reach and stretch. And reach and stretch. Come on ladies you can do it. Just 5 more stretches and then we can cool off. That's it . . . 5, 4 , 3, 2, and this is it . . . last one. Ok let's cool off. Good work out gals."

Maggie finished her aerobics class up, noting two things. One, that her class was more full than it normally was, making it nearly impossible for the women to move. And two, she could see the three figures watching them from behind the glass paneling between the aerobics room and the lobby area. She attributed her class being overfull to two of the three.

One of the three watching them was Jim, the gym's owner, not a reason for so many women in class. But the other two were "Visitors", as they'd asked to be called, beings from the ships over head. Being honest with herself Maggie would never have been able to tell they were not humans if it weren't for the distictive clothing they wore. Red body-suits, with black boots, a black baseball cap type hat and the dark sunglasses that covered their eyes. Everything else about them was not any different than a human's apperance.

Michael, the gym's janitor, had said that the two were delegates of the "squad" of Visitors assigned to this section of LA. She'd yet to meet them, a part of her was looking forward to it, while another part of her-the more primal part of her personality-was screaming at her to run away. Shaking her head, Maggie waited till the last of the ladies exited than she began to straighten up.

"Why do you do that?"

Maggie started at the strange sounding voice from behind her. Slowly turning she felt her already rapid heart beat increase as she realized she was so close to one of the Aliens.

It's like they gargle as they talk, she thought as she turned.

"Why do I do what? Clean up?" Maggie asked as she looked the alien slowly up and down and received a similar look in return. It was like looking at any person on the street, except this person wasnt a person at all.

"No, why do you do all that "aerobics"?" He asked, stumbling a little over the obviously unfamiliar word.

"Well, it's because we want to stay in shape." She said with a faint smile, noting she didn't get one in return.

"Stay in shape?"

"Yeah, you know keep our bodies health and strong."

"Ah." The male replied. "Do all humans "stay in shape"?

"Not hardly." Maggie said with a loud laugh as she moved around the Visitor to finish cleaning up the room, trying not to let her nervousness show by keeping busy. "Probably about 99% of us are overweight and have very bad health."

Before Maggie and the Visitor could continue their conversation Jim came hurrying in.

"Ahhh. . .Maggie. I see youve met Carl. Hes one of the Visitors who will be observing our place for a few days, to better assess how our two cultures might fit together. Jim said as he began leading Carl away. Im sure you two will have plenty of time to talk later, but right now Id like to show Carl around a bit more."

"Sure thats fine. Maggie said, hiding her disappointment at not getting to talk more with the alien. I have to clean up this room anyways. Nice to meet you Carl."

Carl just nodded as he let Jim lead him from the room.

Maggie could barely suppress the urge to run to the nearest phone and call Tari at the Aquarium. She knew her friend would be anxious to hear about these observers that would be at the gym. I wonder what Tari will say when she hears we will have them actually in the building? Maggie thought as she finished in the aerobics room and made her way back toward the showers.