Fallen + Marli & Lalo (Fallen Invasion, #3) (15 page)

A
round 10 a.m. the next morning I got a call from Kallen, saying it would be a good time to go to the lab.  Ashley, Ren, and their group decided to go find the meteorites after all.  I would at least have thirty minutes.

Lalo and I left immediately.  As we took off, he shifted to simulate someone else.

“How am I supposed to keep up with you?” I asked.

“Don’t,” Lalo said.  “And if anyone asks my name is Dr. Andy Young.”  He pulled out an ID card with his info on it.

“How did you get that?” I said.

“Kallen dropped it on the floor yesterday,” he said.

Great!  They were communicating in secrecy around me again!

The parking lot was empty at the lab.  I considered going around to the back to park, where we could be hidden, but decided I’d rather face punishment by Dr. Stevenson than be caught by violent aliens.  At least in the front people would see us being attacked from the highway.  They could call for help.

As Lalo and I approached the building, I sought out a solution to open the front door.  What a surprise!  It wasn’t on lockdown.  My card opened it right up.  Happy about the finding but anxious that we were being watched, I tip toed into the building.  Lalo followed me close behind, paying a high level of attention to our surroundings.  We made it past the offices and into the lab with no problems.  Everyone at least took heed to the warnings to stay away from work.

I ran over to the microscopes and began examining Lalo’s meteorite.  Then observed the one we found at the crime scene.  They were similar but slightly different.  Lalo took a peek.

“This is exactly what I expected to find,” Lalo said.

“And what was that?” another voice asked.

I jolted my head up to see Marcus approaching us. 
How did he get in the door without us hearing?

“Aren’t you supposed to be at home Marli?” Marcus asked.  “And who is this?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” I said.  I swallowed, pushing down the fear that he would attack us. 
Be brave!
  The one good thing we had going was that he didn’t know Dr. Young was Lalo.

“If you must know, I had a feeling you were hiding something,” Marcus said.  “Well, you, Ashley, and Ren.  So I camped out here, in the lab.”  His eyes caught a glimpse of the rocks.  “Those are the meteorites aren’t they?  The ones you found today.  Ashley invited me too.  I declined.”

So he didn’t know they were from the crime scene?

“Yes,” I said.

I tensed and backed up as Marcus came to my side to see the meteorite through the microscope.  “Nothing extraord—” Marcus said, lifting his head.

He froze when he saw Lalo’s rock.  “Where did you get this?” Marcus asked, picking up Lalo’s rock as if he knew it was alien without using the microscope.  He put it back on the counter.  “Lalo?” he asked as he directed his attention to Lalo.

“I don’t know what—” Lalo said.

“You are!” Marcus said.

How did he know?

“You’re alive!”  Marcus grabbed Lalo and hugged him.  Lalo remained expressionless and motionless.  “It worked!”

“It worked?”  He had to be referring to the signs he used to find Lalo.  Marcus was in charge of the kidnapping.  He was our suspect.  Just like I thought.  It wouldn’t be a good idea to let him know we knew what he was up to.  We could be in danger.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Marli, I knew it,” Marcus said.  “I knew you were the one that connected to Lalo when I shook your hand over at the lake.  I sensed him.”  Marcus paused when we didn’t respond.  “Don’t do this to me. 
I’m on your side.
  We heard that the alien, who goes by the name of August, wanted you to be executed Lalo.  This is the same alien who overthrew me when I was the leader of The Revolution.  I sent a message back home to let the others know so they could save you.  Lalo, there’s so much to tell you.  Everything changed!  August tried to execute me and a few others who didn’t want to be under his reign.”

“Didn’t you want the same things?” Lalo said.  “You wanted all humans dead.”

No!  Why did you reveal yourself Lalo?  He wants you dead!

“Lalo, I looked up to you,” Marcus said.  “So I thought about what you said when we got to Earth, how killing humans was wrong.  And at first I didn’t agree.  We, The Revolution, had plans to go after what we wanted: the humans dead and control over the Masqysava Empire.  But things changed.

“We had to put ourselves into the society,” Marcus continued.  “We saw that all humans weren’t the evil ones that the Emperor made them out to be.  We changed our minds.  We would go after our freedom and freedom alone. 

“But a small group didn’t agree.  They still wanted to destroy all humans.  None of my advisors knew how strong this group was.  Before those of us who simply wanted freedom knew what was happening, August became The Revolution’s leader.  He sent soldiers to kill me, and we went on the run.

“However, I have spies within The Revolution.  My secret advisers.  They gave me August’s plans.  That’s how I found out he wanted you dead.  But there is hope!  The aliens still in The Revolution are waiting for you.  August is a temporary leader.  That’s why he wanted to assassinate you—to get rid of the competition.  You can still influence them Lalo.  That’s why everyone is trying to find you.”

“Where are the rest of your followers?” Lalo said.

“In hiding,” Marcus said.  “We discuss this every week, but we don’t know what to do exactly.  We can’t tell the government an attack is coming.  They will imprison us.  We don’t have the power to take back control of The Revolution.  We don’t have contact with the new aliens coming down.  We’re lost.”

“You kidnapped the homeless though,” I said.  “Why didn’t you figure out how to find Lalo another way?”

“No,” Marcus said, shaking his head.  “That wasn’t me.  I was on a plane from New York to Dallas.  And it wasn’t my idea to move here; Dr. Stevenson found and hired me.  It had to be another seeking you Lalo.  It must have been August.  Although August and his followers hide, they have the technology to track meteors.  And they have spies back at home, among the Masqysava, in high positions.  When you escaped, they were the first to know. I couldn’t depend on their information until I saw you though.  I’m so glad you’re here!”

“So what does August look like?” I asked.  “Is he tall?  Strong built?”

“I don’t know,” Marcus said.  “I never saw him.”

“You said you have spies within The Revolution,” I said.  “They never described him to you?”

“No,” Marcus said.  “They’ve never seen him either.  That’s why he is so powerful.  No one knows who he is.”

I squinted.  “Then how do you know he was in charge of the kidnapping?  And how do you know it is a ‘he’ you are talking about?”

Marcus chuckled.  “Let’s not be ridiculous.  I highly doubt this is a female we are talking about here.”

“You do know of Naya don’t you?” Lalo said.

“She is one of a kind,” Marcus said.  “And she hadn’t arrived yet.”

“Marcus,” Lalo said, “I want to believe you, but you match the description of the kidnappers.  And I have concluded that these kidnappers also want me dead.”

“Please Lalo, you’re like a brother to me,” Marcus said.  “I wouldn’t lie to you.  And I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“You are violent,” Lalo said.

“Not anymore,” Marcus said.  “I’ve learned how to change here on Earth.  I can control my anger now.  I wouldn’t have hurt other people to find you.”

The creaking of the door ceased our conversation.  We whipped our heads to look.  Dr. Stevenson slid into the room.

Ashley must have called him.

Lalo snuck his meteorites into his pocket.

“To what do I owe this great pleasure?” Dr. Stevenson said.  “Dr. Young, associating with
my
team.  I thought you already left for California.”

“I was wrapping up a project,” Lalo said.  “I called these two in.  I thought I could use their expertise, being that they are an integral part of your team.”

Dr. Stevenson approached us.  “Aren’t they?” he said, full of happiness.  “Marli was one of the best hires I ever had.  Marcus as well.  They both led me to you, Lalo.”

“Who’s that?” I asked.

“Aww, now don’t go lying to me Marli,” Dr. Stevenson said.  “Lalo is standing next to you.  I knew you would find your connector once you came, Lalo.  All I had to do was find the connector first.  Then you would come to me.”

Dr. Stevenson used me?
My mouth was wide open.

“It was one of the most exhausting projects I took on,” Dr. Stevenson continued.  “I had been searching for five years before I found Marli.  I scoured every job that I thought she would work in.  I knew of every psychic, physics major, astronaut wanna be, counselor, and the like who graduated in the past five years.  I searched so much, and then it came to me.  What if she didn’t know of her abilities?

“Well, it took me about six months, and then I found you Marli.  Everything was perfect from your age to your birthplace.  Those longitudes and latitudes lined right up.  The bonus was that you were also an ecologist. 

“When you came to Millsee, I stuck Kallen on you because he is obsessed with aliens.  I didn’t get the impression that Kallen recognized you as harmful.  So I found out he didn’t have the abilities that I believed he possessed.  Not willing to let you go yet, I thought about it and searched again.  And I found Marcus.  Who would have known?  One of our leading ecologists.  When he paused, shaking your hand, I knew you were the one.  I simply had to sit back and watch.  I almost thought your ex-boyfriend coming to town would ruin it all, but alas, Lalo found you!  And together you and I, Lalo, we will rule over the world!”  A huge grin spread across Dr. Stevenson’s face.

“It was you!” Marcus said, pointing to Dr. Stevenson.  “You set up the kidnapping!”

“And y’all saw the sign, found my rocks, and are here,” Dr. Stevenson said.  “Lalo, I agree.  They are very integral to my success.  I never would have known I found you if it wasn’t for Marli and Marcus.  So integral, yes indeed!”

“You were honored by the President!” I said.  “And you’re a kidnapper!  You hurt those people!”

“Marli,” Dr. Stevenson said.  “Save the dramatics for later.  Those people are safe.  Safer than you’ll be when the invasion takes place if you don’t do as I say.

“Come now Dr. Young, since that’s what you want to be called,” Dr. Stevenson continued.  “I’m afraid we don’t have time to spare.  I never planned for August to exist.  We need a strategy for his destruction, fast.  We need to let the others know you are here. 
And
that I will lead with your council.”

Dr. Stevenson extended his hand and rounded the table we were standing behind, trying to get close to Lalo.

Marcus positioned himself to fight.  “We’re not going anywhere with you.”

“Really?” Dr. Stevenson said.  The words amused him.  “You think you can take me on?  One alien verses two humans and a weak alien.  Allow me to give you a proper education.”

Dr. Stevenson sprang toward us.  My vision went hazy for a couple of seconds.  The next thing I knew Lalo and I were squatting in the corner of the room.  One of his hands was wrapped around my back.  The other covered my head.

I looked for Marcus.  Dr. Stevenson threw unsuccessful jabs at him, missing every single time.  Marcus was too swift.  Marcus’ punch connected and Dr. Stevenson was sent spinning in the air.  Unfortunately, Dr. Stevenson regained his balance mid-air and landed firmly on the ground.  He squinted.  “Huh.  Never thought you would be an alien too Marcus.  Never crossed my mind that you too are on August’s kill list.  Consider my offer, co-lead.”

“Never,” Marcus said.  “You are too concerned with power to lead.”

“Au contraire.” On the contrary.  “I do kind of lead multiple important programs in the human society,” Dr. Stevenson said, “thus giving me a lot of power and connections.  I don’t fail at that.  You may want to reconsider.  I couldn’t imagine being hunted by both humans and aliens at the same time.”

“No!” Marcus said.

“Step out of the way then,” Dr. Stevenson said.  “You and I both know the clock is ticking.”

Marcus motioned for Dr. Stevenson to come and fight him.  Dr. Stevenson ran at Marcus with speed and performed a few quick moves, jumping to the wall, to land behind Marcus and pound him in his back.  Then he swept Marcus’ legs, making him fall forward.  Marcus broke the fall with his arms but was too weak to get up.  He cried out.

Dr. Stevenson laughed then he directed his attention to us in the corner.  “Now, for my prize.”

Lalo and I stood up.  I held my arms up.  Though Dr. Stevenson was an alien, I was going to give him the best fight I could.  He wasn’t going to take Lalo away from me.  He wouldn’t have his chance to kill him.

“Isn’t that sweet?” Dr. Stevenson said.

“What’s going on?” I heard Ashley say.

We spotted Ashley, Ren, Alessandro, and Sahar at the door.  Sahar held meteorites in a clear bag.

“You brought goodies?” Dr. Stevenson said.  “Come right in.”

“What are you doing?” Ren said as they advanced into the room.  “Why are they in the corner?”

“Part of a project,” Dr. Stevenson said, curving to face them.  “Listen, we are all going to Florida for a few weeks.  They found some other animals that migrated in a similar pattern.  We’re leaving tomorrow.  Why don’t you all go home, get your things packed, and we’ll meet here to leave together at 9 a.m.”

“Dr. Stevenson, are you alright?” Ashley asked.

“Go now,” Dr. Stevenson said.  “While there is still daylight.  Who knows if there will be another attack?  All of you.”  He motioned for Lalo and me to go too, but we stood our ground.

Ashley and the rest of the group didn’t move either.  Dr. Stevenson strolled towards them.  “Go,” he said.

Marcus stood up, still in pain.

“Marcus!” Ren said.  “What did you do to him?”

“Stop right there!” Dr. Stevenson yelled as Ren moved to get closer to Marcus.  Ren mouthed the word “what” as he squinted.

“I called myself letting y’all off the hook,” Dr. Stevenson said.  “This has nothing to do with you.  But since you don’t want to go, you’ll just have to reap the consequences.”