Tari leaned back against the wall, a heavy sigh escaped her and deep concern clouded her features. She feared for her brother. What had he seen or done to make the visitors hunt him like this? Surely what he told her he had seen had been a mistake. It had to be something else. She could not believe the visitors were Reptilian of all things. It just was not possible. And to believe Martin was anything but what she saw was simply unthinkable. She knew he was not human, of course he wasn't, he had come from another planet.

She had felt the coolness of his touch rationalizing that it was only the fact that his people had a much lower body temperature than humans. Ok so some of them ate live meat, Tari shuddered. That was ridiculous. But then again they did come from another place. There were people on earth that ate snails, worms, and chocolate grasshoppers. Tari felt her stomach turn. There were others who preferred their meat next to raw. Though these were all eating habits Tari found revolting it didn't mean the people who practiced these eating habits were bad people.

Pushing her self from the wall Tari made her way slowly to her bedroom and donned a nightshirt, preparing for bed. Maybe that was the reason the visitors sought out her brother. For heaven's sake, if he thought they were horrible reptilian creatures they would surely want to set the record straight. Prove to him that he was wrong. And then the bulletin that had crossed the television replayed itself in Tari's mind. It had said that Mike was part of the scientific conspiracy. Tari was becoming more worried; this didn't make sense.

She walked into the kitchen once more and poured herself a fresh cup of herbal tea. She then returned to her bedroom where she curled up on the bed and leaned against the headboard as she sipped her hot drink and worried.

Martin stood at his superior's side watching as she punched in a code on the vidscreen while she explained orders to the trooper standing on her other side.

"I want this girl found Captain, and I want no excuses." Diana commanded in a cold and authoritative tone.

A picture began to appear on the screen. Martin stood silent as the picture materialized. His heart jumped to his throat.

"This is Tareesa Donavan, Mike Donavan's sister. My sources tell me the two are very close. If anyone knows where to find him it would be her. I want her found and brought to me immediately. Once she is converted, I will have the elusive Mr. Donavan once and for all." Diana sneered, not seeing the look on Martin's face. As she handed a small computer like object with all the information that they had on Tari Donovan and her picture to the trooper.

The Captain took the object and tucked into his vest.

"I won't disappoint you Diana." He assured his superior before he turned and left.

Martin tried to think quickly. He had to get to Tari and he had to go now. He needed an excuse.

"Diana." he began trying desperately to keep his cool as a thought came to him.

" Joseph is known for his bumbling. I would suggest you send someone you can trust to over see his assignment. I would be willing to take charge if need be?" Martin hid his anxiousness trying to conceal it with a mischievous smirk.

Diana studied Martin with suspicion.

"Why Martin, in all the time you have been my lieutenant I've never known you to volunteer for such a mission."

"I just think this is to important and detrimental a mission to be left to a bungler such as Joseph." He told her confidently.

Diana glared at Martin a moment longer as she contemplated his suggestion.

"Perhaps your right." She finally agreed. "Follow him. And if he fails, bring him to me." She ordered. Her voice promising excruciating pain if they failed.

Martin wasted no time and hurried off.

Tari had fallen asleep on her bed. Her empty tea cup still in her hand. When a loud pounding on her front door woke her with a start. She jumped dropping the cup on the floor as she sprang up in bed. The knock pounded again. Tari was frozen in her spot. She gripped her pillow momentarily stunned, too frightened to move.

When the pounding continued Tari slowly made her way from the bed and walked cautiously to the door. Her body trembled with fear. She stood hoping that who ever it was would either identify themselves, or go away. She prayed for the later. But it was not to be. One loud roar and the door flew open as the shock troopers kick it in. Instinctively Tari turned and ran but didn't get far as she was snatch but one of the troopers catching her around her waist. Tari screamed and struggled but the trooper held her firm. One trooper walked authorativly in front of her and glared with a smirk frozen on his lips.

"Diana wishes an audience with you Miss Donovan. It seems you have some information that she is most anxious to receive."

Taris wide terror filled eyes were glued to the troopers as they glared at her.

As Joseph and his men began to lead Tari toward the door laser blasts tore threw Taris apartment. Screams were ripped from her throat as the guard that held her fell hit by one of the blasts. She was too petrified to move at first, but as the shock wore off Tari backed away her eyes still staring at the fallen trooper until she felt the wall at her back..

As quickly as it had started it was over, stillness surrounded the apartment. Burn blasts scoured the walls and dead shock troopers littered the front room of Tari's apartment. A familiar figure stood among the three dead bodies.

"Tari!" he called out as he rushed to her.

"Martin!" Tari called back a relieved sigh escapiong at the same time as she recognized him and fell into his arms as he reached her.

"Are you alright?" he asked concern emanating from his eyes.

Tari nodded her head against his chest as he held her comforting her.

"I am now." She said in an almost whisper.

Martin looked toward his two companions that had entered unnoticed by Tari until now.

"Take them back to the ship." He motioned toward the still bodies. "Tell Diana a group of humans apprehended the weapons and killed them and the girl got away." He ordered.

"Yes Martin." one of the men said obediently and began to help the other gather the bodies and take them to the shuttle.

Martin turned his gaze back to Tari.

"Get your things. I'm taking you to your mothers." he insisted.

"Tari looked at him in shock. "My mothers!? Why? I don't want to go there. What's going on? Why are your people looking for my brother? Why did they come here?"

Martins' eyes left her.

"I..I can't tell you that." he said quietly.

"Why not? Martin, what are you hiding from me? Why can't you tell me?"

Martin turned his eyes back to her.

"Tari please don't ask me anything more! I care too much for you. I want you safe. Your mothers house is protected by Steven you'll be safer there. Trust me, please just trust me." He pleaded

"I want to Martin." Tari answered still confused. "I do,but, there's so much I don't understand."

"You will understand in time." He assured her. "Now get your things." he told her sternly. "I am taking you to your mothers. No more arguments. Go." he gently moved her out of his embrace.

With one last hurtful look Tari did as Martin insisted.

The ride to Eleanor Dupraes home was a quiet one. Neither Tari nor Martin spoke. Martin made one pass over the house to be sure Steven was not there, then set the shuttle down a few houses away. After making sure as well as he could that no one was watching he helped Tari out of the hatchway.

"Will I see you again?" Tari asked hopefully.

Martin gently touched her cheek then answered softly.

"No."

Tears fell from Taris eyes as she looked deep into Martins.

"You must not tell anyone what you saw tonight. Promise me this?" he asked as he let his hand slowly slide from her cheek.

"I promise." she answered as she wiped a tear from her face. "I don't understand. But I would do any thing for you."

Martin's painfiled eyes locked with Taris. He fought the urge to take her in his arms and run away with her. Some place far away where they could hide and never be found. But he knew his dream was in vain, their love could never be.

"Go now." he urged. "I won't leave until I see you are safe inside your mothers home." He reached inside the shuttle door and lifted Taris back pack and shoulder bag from inside and handed them to her. She took them and placed them over each shoulder with one last look to him Tari turned and walked toward her mothers' house.

Arthur Duprae took another drink from his glass. The brandy felt smooth as it flowed down his throat. The knock at the door broke him from his revere as he enjoyed the taste of the liquid.

His eyes widened in shock when he opened the door and found his step daughter Tari standing on the other side.

"I need a place to stay." She explained softly "They came to my apartment looking for Mike. When they left I took some things and came here. I'm scared Arthur." She could hold back the tears no longer as she gave her stepfather a made up excuse as to why she had come. But the part about being afraid was not a lie. Tari was afraid. Afraid for her brother, afraid of what ever it was that was happening around her. She felt alone and there was no where to turn and no one to turn to.

Arthur took her in his arms. He had never had children of his own and he cared for Tari as if she were his.

"Of course you can stay here honey. You know you are always welcome here."

Tari let her tears fall. Dropping her bags she embraced her stepfather. grateful for a sympathetic shoulder even though he didn't know the whole reason behind her tears.

Two days later Caleb set up the rendevouz for Ben and Leary, the two men meeting at a secluded place that Leary hid from the others, including Maggie. Within three days of the meeting the SEAL's and Maggie had moved from the ramshackled cabin to a huge series of tunnels under Los Angeles. As to how Leary came to find out about the tunnels all he would say was that Ben had contacts in the right places.

Now Leary sat drinking his coffee and wondering what they would do now. As if to answer his silent questioning the faint sound of music could be heard from further down the tunnel and a grin touched Leary's face as he realized Maggie was working out. A grin that turned extrememly wicked as he realized that he'd sent the other's on reconnaisance and that just left him and Maggie alone in the tunnels. Chuckling evily Leary pushed the coffee cup he'd been holding aside and started out of the room and down the hallway, contemplating just how energetic he was going to be.

Several hours later.....

Maggie sighed softly as she rolled over in her bed, turning to the warm body laying next to her. She stared at Leary as he lay resting next to her, the sweat drying on his naked skin. She still couldn't believe they'd given in so suddenly to the passion that they'd shared, that SHE'D given in so suddenly. But she'd been working out for the first time in weeks, losing herself in the music, when Daniel had appeared in the doorway with such a look of desire and longing on his face she couldn't resist.

And now she lay in his arms, their passion spent, and all she could do was stare.

He looked down at her with a sleepy grin on his face and gently swiped the hair out of her face. Leaning down he kissed her lips gently and then pushed her head back down on his chest.

"Go to sleep. We'll talk in the morning."

Kissing his skin, she nodded, then closing her eyes she fell asleep.

There talk was not to be as the next morning Rexer returned with a message from Ben saying there was going to be a meeting for those interested in opposing the Visitors. Maggie, who'd been using the past few days to catch up on what the Visitor's had been up to, had been eager to go, to tell others of who and what the Visitors really were. So the three of them, Maggie, Rexer, and Leary, had made there way to the meeting.

Walking into the storage room where the meeting was held, Maggie could hear murmured voices coming from the back. Before she got to far into the room Leary pulled her aside, letting Rexer go first.

"Maggie, I want you to do something for me," Leary said in a voice only she could hear.

"Yes?"

"I don't want you to tell them what you saw, okay?"He sounded as if he were preparing to have her argue with him.

"Why not?" Maggie said in a reasonable tone, trying to control her temper and not fly off the handle before she heard him out.

"Because we don't know these people. Any of them could be working for the Visitors and until I know you are safe I don't want to put you in any danger. Just stand there and listen and let me do the talking, okay?"

Maggie started to answer, but as she opened her mouth he held up his hand.

"Maggie, love. Please don't argue. I'm not trying to play the commander or the big man, I just want to keep you safe, okay? He asked again. The expression on his face clearly saying he was expecting further arguement.

"Okay." Maggie answered, getting a inward thrill at the look of increduilty that crossed his face at her captipulation.

"Okay?"

"I said okay, so just shut up Oh great leader and lead on." Maggie said with a giggle as she followed him into the room.