*****Later that afternoon***

Tari walked from the locker room where she had traded her concerviative swim suit for a pair of straight leg levis and an oversize thin white sweat shirt.Gathering her back pack with her wallet,car keys and exersize clothing in it she flung it over her shoulder and headed for the parkinglot.

Sensing more than seeing somone walking tword her she looked up from scrambling thre her bag for her keys.

"Mike!" she called out in surprise.And ran to her brother,leaping into his arms giving him a huge bear hug. Mike Donovan return his sissters hug almost lifting her off the ground.

"hey kido,how are you?" he asked with a smile as he released his arms from around her waist.

"Im fine..I've been worrried about you? I saw the news the other night..What was it like? What are they like?" She asked excitedly refering to Mikes excursion into the Strange ship that still hung in the skys of their Los Angelas home.

Mike laughed."Well if you've got time for a cup a coffe I'll bye ya a cup and tell you all about it."

Tari looked at her watch. "I've got to be at the club in an hour.But..c'mon we can grab a cup at the coffe shop."She smiled.

They made thier way to the coffeshop within the compound of the Marineland park. Mike told her all about the ship and the aliens residing in it from what he had seen.Tari was awed as she listened to her brother's story.

"I'm gonna get a better look see as soon as I can figure out how to get up there without being noticed." he grinned sheepishly.

"Mike"Tari scolded. "You be carful,there's no telling what would happen if they caught you."

"Hey" Mike smiled."I'm a newsman,danger is my middle name."

Tari gave him a wary look and grinned half heartly then gave a quick glance at her watch.

"I've *got* to get to the club.Magggie's probly wondering what happened to me."

"Ok sis,I'll walk you to your car."

When they had reached Tari's vehicle Mike gave his sisster a peck on the cheek and left for his own car.

By the time Tari had reached the health club Maggie was pacing.

"Tari!" she screeched as her freind entered threw the doors. "Finaley! I've been waiting to talk to you all day."

Tari looked concerned."Why? What is it?Is somthing wrong?"

Maggie excitedly told her about the visiters Jim had brought in that morning.

"What?!" Tari asked astonished. "They were here?..Oh my god."

"yep"Maggie replyed."And they said they would be back,observing."

Tari was nervouse.She hated human observers as it was,and Alien ones surley would make her even more on edge.

"What is it they are wanting to observe?"

"Well, Jim says that they are interested in the physiological differences between are two species and they are just fascinated with the concept of 'exercise'. I guess they want to see what and how we do it. I just can't believe they are gonna be here everyday! This will give me time to watch them to. I feel a new sculpture starting to form." Maggie answered, her eyes taking a far off look for a moment as she seemed to look at something Tari couldn't see.

Tari studied her freind for a moment longer then smiled. When ever Maggie talked of sculpting she always had that far off look.She realy enjoyed her sculpting,probaly as much as Tari herself enjoyed working with her dolphins.

"Hey..earth to Maggie." Tari teased.

Maggie turned tword her freind and grinned embaressed."Sorry,I was thinking."

"C'mon." Tari nudged her."We have arobics classes to teach."

******* 3 weeks later********

Tari sat on the edge of the dolphin Aqarium getting ready to go in the water. Randolph came from inside the bulding where he was reading fish to feed the dolphins.

"Tari" he called out from the door way.

She turned.

"Phone" he told her "It's your mother."

Tari stood and made her way to the bulding. Once there she picked up the phone.

"Hello Mother."

"Tareesa dear." her mothers voice sounded excited. "I have wonderful news. Aurthers plant was selcted as one of the plants to make the chemical the visiters need!.Isn't that wonderful?"

"Yes,I suppose it is mother." Tari didnt sound as enthused. she new her mother had to have had a hand in it.She was always pushing her stepfather to get ahead. Power,that was her mothers real love.And Tari resented it. Elenore hadn't caught Taris unenthusiasum or she had just overlooked it and kept on with the reason she had called.

"The Visiters are moving into the plant tommarrow morning around 11.There's going to be a small celabration. You *are* going to be there arnt you?" It sounded more like an order than a question..

Tari stumbled for words.She hated public gatherings and her mother knew it.She enjoyed doing her shows with the dolphins,but that was difrent. There her mother didnt have her on display as the very eligable bachloret looking for Mr. wealthy.Tari didnt think of the shows as public gatherings. She equated it to telling a large group of people about dolphins, her life's work and love. And thus saw the group in a different light than she did social functions.

"Ohh,Mother..you know I'm busey at the Aqarium at that time. I have to get the dolphins ready for thier afternoon show."

"Well." Elenore huffed. "Those fish are more important to you than being there to support the man who put you threw that rediculous schooling."

*Here we go* Tari rolled her eyes. *the guilt trip.*

"They arn't fish mother..they're mamals. and it's my job. Aurther would understand." Tari said bluntly,not taking the responsablity her mother was trying to saddle her with.

"Well you *will* at least be present at the small welcome party I have planned for the visiters won't you?"Elanore was still pressing.

Tari looked over at Randolph and rolled her eyes. Randolph smiled and shook his head disgust.He figured Tari's mother was up to somthing when she had called.She rarly called Tari at work,when she did it was usiualy to badger her about meeting some nice *RICH* man she had picked out for her,or to goat her into a swaray of some sort where she could put her very eligable daughter on display. at least that was how He saw it.

"Mother." Tari spoke her voice more stern."You know I have to be at the health club in the evenings.I work,I dont have time to socialize."

Elanore decided maybe she could catch more bee's with honey and her tone became softer. "Tareesa..dear,you work much to hard.You need to get out,meet people."

"Mother."Tari was becoming annoyed.

"OH!"Elanore let out a disgusted sigh. "I give up..here Aurther you talk to her."

Tari wanted to slam the phone down.Aurther had a very suttle and mischievious way of getting Tari to do what ever he wanted.He had always treated and loved her as if she were his own.She rarley denied him and her mother new it.

"Hello Tari." Came her stepfathers kind and gental voice. "You dont'have to come to anything if you dont want to.But It would be nice to see you."

Tari sighed."Alright..I bend.." She said before he could say another word.she knew in some way he would coax her into it so she saved him the trouble,tiring of this game of cat and mouse.

"That was easey."Aurther joked.

Tari let out a laugh."Well you'll manage to talk me into it sooner or later so I may as well give in now. What time? what should I wear?"She asked untenthuseastcly.

I"ll let you talk to your mother with those details.Thank you Tari..I'm lookikng forward to seeing you.It's been weeks since you've visited."

Tari supressed another laugh. "all right Aurther..I said yes"

Elanore return to the phone and gave Tari the nessasary time and note on the proper attire. When she hung up the phone Randolph had finished reading the fish for the dolphins.

"Talked you into another one huh." he grinned.

Tari gave him a side ways glance. "Want to be my date again?keep the wolves at bay?"

"OH no..not me, the last time I did that your mother cartted me off with some man hungry widow and I was stuck there all night.Your on your own this time kid."

"Great,thanks,freind." Tari gave him an annoyed look,suppressing a grinn as she remebered the poor man being saddled with the wealthy widow Chambers. The woman had practicly fallowed him home that night.It had all been for nothing anyway as Randolph had been set up with the widow Chambers Elanore had had an alternative motive. Tari had been introduced to Nicholas Cloby A very prominate bank manager on his way to the a councilmans seat. The man was a total bore and had more concete than she had ever imagined one person could posses.She swore this time if that man showed up no matter what, manors be damned,she was leaving, and leaving quickly.

******** The next day******

Tari left the Aqarium earley. She had asked Maggie to cover for her at the club while she reluctanly attended her mothers party.She rumaged threw her closet finaley finding a suitable dress to where. A slate blue knee length,the ends were jagged and the short sleeves gathered slightly.The top a v type neckline angled down and tied loosly on her hip at the left side. She slipped on her white pumps and gave her hair the once over again as she secured one side back with a comb that mirrored the color of her shoes. Taking her wallet from her back pack and grabing her keys she could think of nothing else to stall so finaley made her way out the door and to her car.

Half an hour later Tari stood at the doorway to her mothers lavish home. Ringing the doorbell she was greeted by Jonus. The butler her mother often hired when she held such scocial afairs. After leaving her wallet and keys in the drawer of the small table in the door way Tari made her way to the back yard where the guest were all mingling amungst them selves and the visiter guests.

Robert Maxwel and his wife Kathren were there.Tari remebered they lived only a few houses down the street. Among other noble guest were the congresman and his wife. Tari felt a pang of uneasiness hit her as she scanned the area with so maney people in attendance,it made her want to run but she ignored it and searched the surroundings for her brother.

Before she could locate him Aurther saw her and walked up to her.With him was a tall man with grey/blond hair. He wore the familur jumpsuit of the new visiters. She rembered having sen him on the Telivision as the first of his race to be seen.

Aurther gave her a hug and introduced her to John the visiters supreme comander.Tari smiled politly.But Somthing about him made her nervouse,he was to polite,to freindly.She was thankful when he and Aurther finaley left to greet another guest. Her relife was short lived as her mother came up to her on the arm of another of the Visiter comanders.

"Tareesa,Darling, where have you been? I was getting worried." Elanore greeted her with a smile but her eyes were scolding.

"I'm sorry I'm late Mother." Tari appologised not realy meaning it.

"Well your here now,thats all that matters." Elanore told her giving her a motherly squeez.

Then Elanore turned to her guest.

"Dear,I want you to meet Stephan.He will be over seeing the work at the plant."

If John had made her nervouse Stephan actualy made her skin crawl.Though he smiled and shook her hand with the politness of a true gentalman there to was somthing about him that made Tari wary.Somthing in his eye's.She couldnt quit put her finger on it,but she was certian it wasnt good. Never the less she greeted him with her best social manors,hiding her fear.

Out if the corner of her eyes she finaly spotted Mike.She escused herself from the presents of her mother and Stephan and made her way quickly to her brothers side. Mike greeted her with a hugh and peck on the cheek.

"Your late." he teased.

"If I could have figured a way out of this I wouldn't even be here." she spouted. "These *visiters* they make me me nervous."

Tari gave him a small grinn. "Well that to. So,wheres your date?"

Mike motioned to a table where Christien sat in deep conversation with another of the aliens. A female,long dark hair and beutiful features.

"Thats Diana,she seems to be one of the head people with them.Chris is trying to set up an interview."

"Oh" Tari retorted.She had been less than pleased when her brother had told her who would be attending the party with him. Tari had never liked Christein Walch. She would do anything to get ahead and walk over who ever got in her way.Tari had always feared her brother would end up being one of Christien's steping stones,and she didnt like it.

*** some time later****

Tari stood near the buffet table trying to look as inconpicuous as possible. god how she hated these gatherings. She wished she had taken Mikes lead and left and hour ago. Her mother was parading around in all her glory stroking up to all the councilmen and thier wives,not to mention the visitor leaders. Especialy, the one called Stephan seemed to particularly hold intrest for her. And Aurther,lord he was getting just as bad.

Tari shook her head thinking to herself *What a joke*. Spying a secluded spot a few feet from the crowd under one of huge trees that adorned her parents back yard Tari made her way over to it. She leaned against the tree with her back to the crowd of mingling politcle people and high ranking Visitors. Wondering if she could just slip past her mother and step father and make her way to her car unnoticed. Tari let her mind wonder as she staired up at the stares above.She remebered maney nights sitting under these trees with her brother when they were teens,discussing the stares, seeing who could find what constalation first between the branches. This was the place her long time boyfreind Marc Dawson had asked her to marry him. It was also the same place Mike had first broke the news of her fionces death. They had shared maney tears under this tree remebering Marc. They had discusssed family problems as well as shared with eachother thier hopes and dreams threw out the years. She wish Mike were still here now to keep her company. He enjoyed these rediculous gatherings as much as she did.

Tari was abruptly torn from her thoughts by a strange yet gentle voice from behind.

"Good evning,am I disturbing you?"

Tari spun around startled by the reverberating voice she recognized to be the voice of a visitor. Her eyes fell upon a man seemingly to be about the age of her brother. Beutiful blond hair cut, styled neatly,and the most striking green eyes she had ever seen. His gental smile making her almost at ease as he spoke.He was not like the other visiters she had met tonight.He didnt make her nervous or afraid,he was difrent. His smile was not manufactured,and his politness semed genuenly sincere.

"I'm sorry,I didn't mean to interupt if you would prefer to be alone." he said nervously.

"No,thats quit alright." Tari answered timidly. I'm just not very comfortable at these sort of things."

The visitor smiled again as he looked around behind him at the mingling groups of people and visitor alike.

"Nither am I I'm afraid." He admited truning back to face the human girl. "Please forgive me." he sounded annoyed at himself. "My name is is Martin." He held out a freindly hand.

Tari nervously took it. "Tari..Tari Donovan." She introduced her self. The feel of his cool skin gave her shivers. Not fearful,but a sensation she had not felt in years. She pulled out of the freindly hand shake slowly.Taking in the site of his handsom face.

"Donovan? a realation to mike Donovan?" Martin asked.

"Guilty." Tari joked.

Martin looked at her questionly and Tari smiled relizing he did not understand the sarcasum.

"Yes." she reworded her answer. "I'm his sisster."

" I see, I met him breifly this evening."

Tari smiled. "Yes,he decide to cut out earley early day tommarrow I guess."

Suddenly a look of horror crossed her delicat features as she looked pass Martin and saw her mother talking to a tall distinguished looking dark haired man. They both seemed to be looking for someone.

"Oh Lord." she exclaimed quickly turning her back to them and Martin.

Martin looked confused and turned to see what it was that may have upset the girl. not seeing anything out of the ordinary he returned his gaze tword her.

"Is somthing wrong? Can I help?" he asked sinserily.

Tari turned to face him agian. "That man my mother is talking to."

"Your mother?" Martin asked still bewildered.

"The partys hostes I'm afraid,Elanore Duprea."

"Ah yes."Martin rembered.

Tari felt the blood rush from her face as she turned back to see her mother making her way over to her. Nicholas Cloby in tow.

Martin saw this.Still unsure of the problem he once more turned to see who she was looking at.Seeing Tari's mother walking tword them on the arm of who must have been the man the girl was speaking of.He returned his eyes tword Tari Questioningly.

"His name is Nicholas Cloby." Tari was saying quietly." A very prominate bank manager on his way to the a councilmans seat. My mother has been desperatly trying to arrange a realationship with him and me for the past year." Tari's Voice held an annoyed tone. "He is a complete bore, and has more confidence in himself than anyone person should ever admit to,He's such an arogant jerk."

Martin smiled understanding that Tari was adimet in her dislike for this man.

"I take it you are not intrested in this so called relationship your mother is trying to arrange?" he asked a bit amused.

"Not in the *least*" Tari told him keeping her eyes on her mother and Mr. Colby trying desperatly to think of a way to make an escape.

"Would you like to take a walk Miss Donaovan." Martin asked bluntly. Wanting not only to help the human girl out of a unwanted situation,but, he to wanted nothing more than an excuse to leave this uncomfortable event himself.

Tari smiled this was her chance to make a get away. "I would love to." She answered.

Martin felt a strange burst of glee at her answer.It was a feeling he was unacustum to and it made him nervous. None the less he was pleased, though kept his feeling of excitment well undercontrol. He held out his elbow politly and Tari entwined her arm threw his as the started off. Leaving Elanore and the promenant Mr.Colby shocked at her abrupt departure without so much as a word to them.

The heavy beat of the music helped to keep Maggie's mind centered on the exercises she was performing not the chaos the last several days had brought into her life.

"And lift and stretch. And lift and stretch. Come on ladies you can do it! Just five more. Five, four, three, that's it just two more. Two, and One. OK!! good job! Now it's time to cool it out. That's it take it nice and slow." Maggie chanted as she stretched to her full 57 height. Her long red hair pulled back in a pony-tail, while the sweat dripping down her pale skin was captured by the white headband around her forehead.

As Maggie led her last class of the evening she tried not to keep staring at Carl. She'd thought hed become a permanent fixture in the gym since he'd been introduced to her several weeks before and it seemed he hadn't moved from in front of the viewing window since then. Maggie was beginning to wonder if he'd grown roots.

Not that Maggie was really complaining, she'd been studying him just as intently as he'd been studying the humans in the room and just as he was learning from them, she was learning from him. Her artists eye had taken note of every visible inch of him, the way he moved, the tilt of his head, and the way he carried himself. It must have been her excitement at first, but as the days had gone by shed noticed little things that seemed not quite right about him. It wasnt anything she could place her finger on, but where at first shed thought there was really no outward physical differences between the Visitor and humans, now she wondered.

Get a grip girl! She admonished herself as she finished up the last set of exercises and began the cool down section of her workout. Youre just imagining things.

Maggie had kept her observations about the Visitors to herself. Not wanting to start rumors that could possibly cause her trouble. She'd also thought it was just her imagination due to the excitement of the Visitors arrival. So she pushed all her doubts to the back of her mind and unconsciously channeled it into her sculptures. Her work had never come so freely as it had since that day three weeks ago. Shed already managed to sale several of the smaller pieces shed created, and shed been offered commissions for two bigger pieces. All in all, Maggie was happy with life at this time.

"Okay ladies, that's it. I'll see you tomorrow night and we're going to add another move to our routine, so rest up." Maggie laughed as she heard the groans from her group at that announcement. "Night ladies."

She'd been very fortunate that her love of exercise had coincided with the rise in popularity of aerobics. When shed moved to Los Angeles two years before aerobics had been her salvation. Shed applied for a job at Shamrock s Pride shed met Tari and her life had taken a turn for the better. Realizing shed been staring into space for several minutes, Maggie shook her head and began cleaning the workout room before heading for the shower. Looking up she saw that Carl had left his post. Thinking hed left with the last group, Maggie sighed at having missed an opportunity to question him some more about his people and the world they had come from.

***Half an hour later***

Maggie finished running the towel over the damp hair hanging over her shoulders, as she headed toward the office to do the evenings paperwork before she locked up and went home. Shed changed into a pair of shorts and a dark blue mans work shirt and sandles, feeling more comfortable in them than she did in the tight suits and tennis shoes she wore to work out in.

When Tari had asked her to work for her this evening Maggie had been happy too. Shed just finished the first of her two commissions and she had to deliver to the patron whod commissioned it. That had taken up most of the morning and that had meant she would have had to miss a days pay, if Tari hadnt asked her to fill in for her.

Slowly she began balancing out the accounts, posting into the gyms journals all the payments and purchases that had been made that day. She was so involved in the process she failed to hear the sound of the office door being pushed open.

"Hello Maggie.

"HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD!" Maggie exclaimed as she nearly fell out of the chair in shock at the sound of Carls voice.

"Dammit you scared me! I thought youd left with the last class. she said with a nervous laugh as she rightened herself and stood up.

"I am sorry, I did not mean to scare you. I had been talking with my superior and he wanted me too find out some information. I saw you enter this room and I came in to ask you about it. Carl said, using the same civil tone he always had when addressing anyone.

"Sure, and Im sorry for acting the way I did. Why dont we go into the lobby to discuss your questions Maggie said with a grin, as she maneuvered them out of the office and into the lobby area. For all her fascination with them, the Visitors still made her nervous whenever she was alone with any of them. Another thing shed refused to dwell on and as the events over the next few minutes would show, a feeling she would wish shed have paid more attention.

She and Carl walked into the lobby and shed moved to let him pass, as she'd moved her sandle got caught on the white shag rug Jim had insisted they put down. Unable to get her balance she stumbled and reached out her hand for the first thing she could, which happened to be Carls hand, to stop herself from falling flat on her face. Her look of apology turned to one of horror as she watched the cold feeling skin under her hand rip, revealing a slimy green texture beneath it.

"OH MY GOD! Maggie exclaimed as she stood up and began backing away from Carl, the fear obvious in her blue eyes as she stared first at the skin hanging off her fingers, than back at him. What in the Hell are you?"

She never got her answer for she felt herself bump into something hard and as she turned to look she felt something wet hit her face. Maggie screamed as she brought her hands to her face, as a stinging, fiery pain like shed never know made her drop to her knees. She was still trying to wipe her eyes as something smacked into her head and the world went dark.