We walked out of the Mars exhibit and through the crowds of people in alien costumes and tourists. Alex had said she knows a guy who could help.
"So how well do you know this guy?" Jack asked, always the one to be skeptic.
"We've had a few panels and debates together on opposite sides." Alex said and I tuned out, looking back at the siblings. I wanted to know more and Sara immediately read my mind and answered for me.
"What else do you wish to know Emily?" She asked.
"Well..." I hesitated, "first I just wanted to point out that we have something in common." I said.
"And what is that?" Seth asked.
"Both of our parents are scientists." I told them.
"I am sorry for your loss." Sara said, putting a hand on my arm comfortingly.
My eyebrows furrowed, "But I never...oh." I said and Seth looked confused.
"Sara, what is it?" He asked.
Sara looked at me for permission and I nodded.
"My parents were killed." I said in a low voice to him so that Jack would hear.
Seth's eyes widened, "Killed by whom?"
"Nobody. It was an accident. It was a car crash." I said, "It happened six months ago."
"How does Jack Bruno not know?" Sara asked.
I hesitated, "No one bothered to tell him. I couldn't leave him in the dark but I didn't want to...I don't know...cause him to beat himself up over it, so I waited until the summer to tell him. And I was going to, until..."
"Until..." Seth said.
"Until we showed up." Sara finished.
I nodded.

Suddenly Jack and Alex stopped in front of a skinny guy with glasses who said, "Well, hello Dr Friedman. So, you've finally decided to accept my offer of a romantic Benihana dinner for two. Huzzah!"
I made a face of disgust and confusion.
"What?" Alex asked.
The guy cleared his throat awkwardly, "Uh...three years ago, a screening of the Cooper footage. You were in the fourth row, second seat, in a saucy flower print."
My eyes widened, "Wow that is just sad." I muttered.
"This is how males usually speak their minds to the opposite gender?" Seth asked me.
I shook my head, "Thankfully not all guys. Just these type of guys." I said and Seth nodded.
"Am I this 'type of guy'?" He asked.
I giggled, "No, you're not Seth, don't worry."
Seth nodded in relief.

While Seth and I had that conversation, Alex was saying, "Sorry, I keep my work and social life separate. I don't date...colleagues." She struggled to find the right word.
"Colleagues," the guy said, "Indeed." He took a bow.
"Listen, we need to see Harlan right away." Alex told him.
"Dr Harlan is currently unavailable for consultations." Another man stood up from a table sitting a little further away from us, "We're more than qualified to answer any questions." He said.
"There is no time for that, it is a matter of life and death that we we see Harlan now." Alex interjected.
"Life and death, ooh!" The second man mocked and turned to the first guy, "Uber scary drama queen theatrics." The first guy laughed, "What's the 411 sitch?" He asked Alex.
I crossed my arms in annoyance. Why do guys always call girls drama queens in serious situations like these?
"Okay-" Alex began but Jack answered for her, putting his hand on he shoulder which I raised an amused eyebrow at.
"You're currently alive. Unless you take us to Harlan, you'll be dead." He said and the two skinny nerds took one look at my Uncles' sizable build and immediately gave in, jumbling over words before leading us outside towards a caravan sitting in the parking lot.

Halfway over, I unconsciously took Seth's hand. I don't know what came over me but it felt comfortable and normal. What was more, Seth didn't even react. He simply intertwined our hands and we continued walking.
The first nerd knocked on the caravan door and stepped back and immediately a voice yelled out, "Go away! The book signing is not till 4:30. Read the brochure!"
"Harlan, it's Alex Friedman." Alex called out and immediately, the door to the caravan opened to reveal and smiling old man.
"Dr Alex Friedman." He said, leaning on the door frame, "Quelle surprise."
"We have to speak with you immediately. It is incredibly important." Alex informed him.

Jack, Alex, Sara, Seth and I all filed into the caravan, leaving the two nerds to stand at the back and Alex explained everything to Harlan, about the siblings and Jack and I.
When she was finished, Harlan said, "So, you're saying the four of you witnessed this reported UFO crash?"
Seth, Sara and I nodded and Jack said, "That's right."
"We were wondering if there was any intel amongst your sources." Alex said to him.
"I hate lying. I really don't like lying." Harlan said, "I can tell when people are lying to me." Then he smiled, "But thankfully, your story checks out."
We all sighed in relief and exchanged glances. I squeezed Seth's hand which was still intertwined with mine.
"With all the reports I got from SETI and NORAD and NASA." Harlan continued.
Seth stepped forward, and leaned forward as Harlan leaned back, obviously uncomfortable with Seth's aggressiveness, "We have reason to believe a team of government-sponsored operatives recovered the spacecraft." He said.
"Okay, back up a little, this is not space camp." Harlan said to him and Seth leaned back, "Let the experts do their work."
I gently pulled Seth back to where I was standing.
"You're very lucky, you two, that you didn't come face to face with the aliens who were in that craft." Harlan continued and I saw Seth tilt his head in confusion, "They're like deadly praying mantises. They eat your flesh."
I pursed my lips, trying very hard not let myself laugh and gave Sara a look to go along with what he was saying.
"Oh, oh. Yes we are, indeed, lucky kids not to have had our flesh eaten by the aliens." Sara said and Seth nodded along with her.
"You got that right." Harlan agreed, "Okay, lets get to work here."
Alex stepped forward past the siblings and I to get a closer look at what he was doing, "I got an email from a source that sent me this Sat-grab." Harlan was saying.
"Where would they take the spaceship?" I asked, "51? Nellis? Wright-Patterson? Vandenberg?"
Again, Jack looked at me in confusion at my extensive space knowledge.
"What?" I said to him, "I talked-talk about it a lot with Dad."
I stumbled over my words, going from past tense to present tense to not let Jack know about my parents' death.
"From the size and scope of the crash, little lady, I would say there's only one possibility. Witch Mountain."
"Witch Mountain?" One of the nerd guys up the back said at the same time and we all turned around to look at him.
"What, are we a singing group here? Let me talk, and you guys nod a bit." Harlan said and, again, I kept in a laugh.
"I apologize. I'm sorry." The guy said.
"Witch Mountain." Harlan said again and turned back to his computer, "Let's take a look, here we go. California."
We crowded in a bit to get a closer look at what Harlan was doing, "About fifty miles from the border of Nevada. And it's one of our top-secret facilities. I got a schematic here someplace." He then turned around to face us, "You know, if you're planning on visiting, don't. When I say this place is fortified up to the yin yang, I'm making an understatement." He said, "Here's the schematic." He handed a rolled up piece of paper to Alex who placed it under her arm with a mutter or thanks, "And do you have the book?" Harlan asked her, holding up a thick book from his desk.
"Yes I do." Alex replied.
"Alright then, here's an aerial view." He said, handing an envelope to her.
Alex smiled at him, "Thank you, Harlan, for everything." She said and we all nodded in agreement and turned to leave.
"Whatever trouble you're in..." Harlan said, stopping us in our tracks, "trust no one."