Jefferson pulls his car to the side of the gravel road and sets the emergency break. He opens the door of his blue Saturn SL2 and steps out into the gusting wind of the desert. It’s hot and Jefferson takes a moment to remove the coat of his dark suit.

It feels good to strip away the extra layer of fabric and, in a fit of nonconformity, he also lowers the knot on his tie a good inch.

The sky is a little overcast, but Jefferson still casts a shadow across the sand and scrub brush. He looks at his shadow, then at the sky. It’s clear enough, he thinks to himself. It’s clear enough that they’ll all see the show.


* * *


INTSatellite Task Status

Task
**TOP SECRET**TOP SECRET**
Authorized
**TOP SECRET**TOPSECRET**

9.1.2007
14:37:20
IMINT TARGET ACQUIRED

Long: -119.89890575408935
Lat: 46.7877782327987

COMINT acquisition pending


* * *


Jefferson reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes. He quit smoking three years ago when he went underground. But today is special. Today he is coming in from the cold.

He stopped in Vantage an hour ago and purchased a pack of Parliaments before heading east across the bridge, then south on interstate 243. He took a left just north of the Wanapum dam and headed out into the high desert of Central Washington.

It’s good to be back in no man’s land, Jefferson thinks as he inhales a mixture of cigarette smoke and hot desert air. He takes one last drag and drops his cigarette into the sand. He places the toe of his leather shoe gently on the smoldering butt and presses it into the earth.

He looks at his watch. He looks at the sky. Then Jefferson Guidry, former operative for the United States government’s Central Intelligence Agency, reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cellular phone.


* * *


IntelSAT intercept
9.1.07
14:41:53

(1) Origin: 509-555-3968
(2) Targ: 703-555-6874

COMINT transcript

1: general bayden
2: yes.
1: this is jefferson guidry.
2: (inaudible) not secure (inaudible) cell phone.
1: you tried to kill me last week in tacoma sir
2: i don’t know what you’re talking about
1: now i’m cutting a deal with them
2: that’s a mistake
1: i’m tired of running
2: that’s a mistake
1: newfall was a mistake you’re running majority twelve into the ground general
2: you have-
1: you should have listened to the scientists general they were right you know
2: you have the boy(?)
1: for now
2: what (inaudible) look, you know(?) think about it the (inaudible) are the enemy-
1: no we’re the enemy we’ve always been-
2: you are a traitor Jefferson you’re committing treason
1: (inaudible)

*END intercept*
14:43:04

ECHELON keys: GeneralBayden, Majority12, JeffersonGuidry, NEWFALL


* * *


Jefferson’s phone snaps shut. His hand disappears into his pocket and reemerges with his cigarettes. He raises another Parliament to his lips as a grin makes its way across his mouth. General Bayden was always such a hot head, thinks Jefferson, it’s a puzzlement how a man like that could find himself Director of the Agency, much less an organization like Majority 12.

Jefferson knows that at this very moment, 2500 miles away, Bayden is scrambling. He’s making phone calls to other buildings in Washington DC. He’s coming clean. He’s promising access to files that don’t exist. He’s guaranteeing full debriefings from involved individuals. He’s begging for help to clean up the mess he made.

Of course, there’s only one way for General Bayden to clean up this mess now, Jefferson thinks as he looks at the two passengers in the back seat of his car.

The General started this whole thing with a whisper, but he’ll have to end it with a bang.


* * *


CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

***TOP SECRET***

WORK ORDER REPORT

DATE: March 23, 2000

TO: Jefferson Guidry

FROM: General Milhouse Bayden

RE: PROJECT WINDFALL

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


As a part of PROJECT WINDFALL you will report to Nellis AFB on March 30 for transport to [REDACTED].

You are being assigned to protect and escort one Mary Contreras, a civilian now intimately involved with PROJECT WINDFALL.

Ms. Contreras was recently discovered and enrolled by the Agency due to her significant abilities in the area of telepathic communication. She is being assigned to PROJECT WINDFALL as a telepathic liaison, and will be provided the opportunity to interact daily with the Alpha Greys currently detained at the [REDACTED] underground facility.

Her safety, comfort, and reliability are paramount to the success of this project.

end


* * *


Jefferson sits on the hood of his car. He looks at his watch. They’ll be here in three minutes, he thinks to himself.

Then comes the first wave of regret.

He knew it would come. Jefferson knows that the desire to get in his car and run was inevitable. He looks at his watch again. He smiles. He’s surprised it took this long actually.

He doesn’t want to do this, after all. He misses them already. He wants to live a long life with her and the boy. But that just isn’t an option. Jefferson twists around to look through the windshield into the back seat of his rented Saturn. His two passengers rest comfortably in the back seat. Another wave of sadness washes over Jefferson. The CIA satellites are picking up their heat signatures right now, despite the arid desert. There are three of them, some tech is telling General Bayden, one adult outside the vehicle, one adult and one child inside.

Jefferson turns back around and rubs his eyes for a moment.

Normal people get normal lives happily ever after. People who accept jobs with the CIA don’t. There’s no life. There’s no happy. And, apparently, Jefferson thinks as he pulls out one last Parliament, there’s no ever after.


* * *

continued

* * *


August 28, 1998

Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (MJ12)

THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS, TITLE 50, USC, SECTION 421, THE TRANSMISSION OR REVELATION OF WHICH IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Executive Summary

In July of 1947, substantial amounts of alien tissue were obtained from the well-publicized incident in New Mexico. The tissue was recovered by Army HAZMAT and delivered to RAAF. From RAAF, the material was transferred to Fort Worth Army Air Field and placed under the governance of General Roger Ramey of the Eighth AF. The Agency was provided unimpeded access to the material at this time, which allowed placement of Dr. William Davison (MJ12) as lead of the team charged with analyzing the tissue as part of joint PROJECT MINOR. It was during this time that Dr. Davison was able to covertly remove a portion of the sample and return it to MJ12 laboratories in [REDACTED].

Considering advances in technology over the past fifty years, these tissue samples will now be pulled and re-analyzed. The scientific team responsible for this project will be led by Dr. Fabian Ross. Dr. Ross has been contacted by General Bayden and notified of his primary and secondary foci during his analysis.

The secondary focus of this analysis will be to identify the following:

(2a) Potential weakness in tissue structure including tolerances to contemporary weaponry.
(2b) Previously undiagnosed threats in terms of contact with human tissue.
(2c) Foreign chemical compounds capable of isolation for further development.

The primary focus of this analysis will be as follows:

1a) Isolate alien DNA structures.

Analysis will be labeled PROJECT NEWTON and require NULL12 clearance for access.

[truncated]

This paper has not been coordinated outside MJ12. The MJ12 group would welcome either written or oral comment, addressed to REDACTED.

The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not represent official views of the Agency.

It is suggested that recipients retain their copies of the various chapters as issued, for later binding in chronological order into a loose-leaf book.


* * *

The wind picks up. Jefferson holds a hand over his eyes to protect his vision from the whirling sand. A chill drips down his spine.

They’re here.

Jefferson takes one last moment to think about Mary. Her face. Her laugh. Her body. Her breath. Then he focuses on Isaac. His tiny feet. His shimmering eyes. His hugs.

Then he locks them away in a distant corner of his brain. Everything about them. Everything he’s ever known about them. Gone. Soon, the groping telepathy of the Alphas will enter his mind and they must find nothing. Mary and Isaac are his treasure now.

The Alphas will search his thoughts, hoping to unlock the memories of the loving husband and father Jefferson has become over the last few years. But they will not find those memories. They will only find the disciplined brain of a CIA operative waiting for them. They will only find remnants and lies.


* * *


CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PHONE RECORD

**TOP SECRET**
October 24, 1999
09:34:56

Received: x2272 General Milhouse Bayden
From: (702) 555-0434 – (record: Dr. Fabian Ross)

Bayden: Hello?
Ross: It’s Dr. Ross.
Bayden: Dr. Ross.
Ross: We did it. It’s true.
Bayden: Describe it to me.
Ross: Do you believe in God?
Bayden: No.
Ross: You should…
Bayden: Why?
Ross: It’s exactly the same.
Bayden: (inaudible)
Ross: Absolute…I’m…our DNA…we share a DNA structure with them, General.
Bayden: I will contact you.

END CALL
9:35:20


* * *


The words come into Jefferson’s mind like the first breeze preceding a tornado.

“Jefferson Jefferson Guidry Guidry you’re here you’re waiting for us we’re here and you’re here waiting for us.”

Jefferson focuses his eyes on the alien craft hovering above him. As it descends to the desert below, Jefferson closes his eyes and delivers a thought to the Alphas inside the vessel.

I’m here.

The response is immediate and Jefferson’s legs buckle.

“The boy our boy our boy our boy is here is he here our boy the boy?”

Jefferson thinks about handing Isaac over to these creatures and his heart aches. Tears well up in his eyes and his lower lip quivers.

He’s here. The boy is here.


* * *


INTSatellite Task Status

Task
**TOP SECRET**TOP SECRET**
Authorized
**TOP SECRET**TOPSECRET**

9.1.2007
15:00:56
IMINT TARGET ACQUIRED

Long: -119.89890575408935
Lat: 46.7877782327987

Unidentified vessel image capture.

Classification: ***TOP SECRET***
Notify General M. Bayden IMMEDIATELY.


* * *


CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PHONE RECORD

**TOP SECRET**
September 1, 2007
15:02:04

Received: x2272 General Milhouse Bayden
From: x1057 NSA OPS

Bayden: hello
OPS: it’s barry
Bayden: barry
OPS: you want to tell me what the hell’s going on
Bayden: i’m not (inaudible)…look Barry…
OPS: my satellite’s got a craft the size of burtonsville landing in washington state
Bayden: that’s-
OPS: and rumor has it that your boy jefferson guidry is on the ground
Bayden: barry listen to me
OPS: what the hell’s going on out there
Bayden: (inaudible) not good (inaudible) threat
OPS: i don’t understand
Bayden: you’re going to get something else on screen in a minute
OPS: okay
Bayden: it’ll be a b-2 out of fairchild
OPS: holy mary
Bayden: it’s the only way

END CALL
15:02:59


* * *


Jefferson watches in awe as the three Greys float down to the sand. He remembers the first time he saw one of these graceful creatures and how angelic they seemed to be. He knows differently now.

“We will not will not hurt him the boy. We care for love him and give him love and care. He will bridge the close the gap he will bring our races together bring us tie us the boy will heal us all of us.”

Jefferson smiles.

What a load of crap.


* * *

continued

* * *


February 6, 2001

Office of Current Intelligence
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (MJ12)

THIS MATERIAL CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE ESPIONAGE LAWS, TITLE 50, USC, SECTION 421, THE TRANSMISSION OR REVELATION OF WHICH IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Executive Summary

In August of 1998, PROJECT NEWTON was initiated with the primary focus of isolating the DNA structure from alien tissue removed from the incident at Roswell, New Mexico.

A team of scientists, led by Dr. Fabian Ross, successfully accomplished this task late in the year 1999.

The initial analysis of the alien DNA structure revealed that it held significant, if not total, similarity to human DNA. Continued testing proved that this surprising assessment was accurate.

After extended conversations regarding the impact of this discovery, and decisions that must be made pursuant to the discovery, it is the decision of this organization to proceed aggressively in the further exploration of the alien genes.

Possibly the most significant attributes of the alien race as we know it, is the ability to communicate via telepathic means and otherwise manipulate matter in basic ways (see PROJECT WINDFALL studies documenting telepathic and kinetic abilities), allowing low level levitation and, in some documented instances, apparently unarmed destruction of adversaries.

It is with these benefits in mind that alien DNA will be used to recreate human male spermatozoa, will be planted in a human female, and the ensuing hybrid child be carried to term and subsequently studied.

It is the firm belief of MJ12 that a hybrid race is inevitable and preemptive maneuvers to secure control of that race will pay long-term benefits regarding unavoidable conflicts with the Alpha Grey race, and the preservation of the pure human race in general.

Dr. Fabian Ross has targeted civilian operative Mary Contreras as a viable candidate for implantation. Her extensive experience and tolerance to telepathic intrusions provide us the greatest opportunity for success.

Implantation and analysis will be labeled PROJECT NEWFALL and require NULL12 clearance for access.

[truncated]

This paper has not been coordinated outside MJ12. The MJ12 group would welcome either written or oral comment, addressed to REDACTED.

The views expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not represent official views of the Agency.

It is suggested that recipients retain their copies of the various chapters as issued, for later binding in chronological order into a loose-leaf book.


* * *


Jefferson’s body tightens in a vicious seizure. His body drops to the ground and he finds himself staring up at a patch of pure blue in the sky. He tries to relax as the Greys take control of him. It’s their security check. It’s how they “frisk” people. Jefferson has always hated the process.

He focuses on the blue in the sky. He lets it envelope him. He thinks about Mary. He thinks about the countless hours he spent with her during the early years of PROJECT WINDFALL and on through her pregnancy. Comforting her. Doing his best to protect her. Now he thinks about Isaac. The most anticipated child ever born. Living in the depths of the underground facility at Dulce.

And now Jefferson Guidry thinks about how he must sacrifice one for the other. Tired of running since their daring escape from Dulce. Tired of avoiding the limitless gaze of the CIA and the Grey race. Jefferson thinks about how he is going to walk to the back of his car, take the hand of his stepson, walk him to his new guardians, and use him to purchase a future with Mary.

Jefferson is ashamed of the decision. He won’t be able to look at Isaac. But he will do it. He has to do it.

The Greys let go of Jefferson.

“Stand rise get up. Bring him the boy to us the boy.”


* * *


FAIRCHILD AFB
COM TRANSCRIPTION

9.1.07
15:05:34

ABB: b2 alpha bravo bravo heading two eight niner
FAFB: roger alpha bravo bravo
ABB: requesting authorization for final bombing run
FAFB: affirmative alpha bravo bravo you are go for final
ABB: damn tower please tell me this is a drill
FAFB: negative


* * *


Jefferson stands, brushes the sand from his pants and coat. He straightens his tie, pushing the knot back up to his neck where it belongs.

He begins to walk back to the car.


* * *


CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OUTBOUND PHONE RECORD

**TOP SECRET**
September 1, 2007
15:05:50

Placed: 509-555-9872 (FAIRCHILD AFB)
From: x2272 General Milhouse Bayden

FAFB: mcmurray
Bayden: where’s my bomber
FAFB: en route
Bayden: i need it now darren i need it there right now
FAFB: it’s not a (inaudible) cessna bayden
Bayden: get it there now

END CALL
15:06:00


* * *


Jefferson puts his hand on the handle of the car.

I’m sorry Isaac, he thinks. Time to say bye-bye, baby.


* * *


FAIRCHILD AFB
COM TRANSCRIPTION

9.1.07
15:05:34

ABB: b2 alpha bravo bravo on final
FAFB: roger alpha bravo bravo
ABB: oh my god what the hell is that thing
FAFB: alpha bravo bravo you are go for final
ABB: there are people down there
FAFB: just drop it michael
ABB: god
FAFB: drop it


* * *


The Greys are behind Jefferson now, their excited anticipation swirling in Jefferson’s brain like Mardi Gras.


* * *


CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
PHONE RECORD

**TOP SECRET**
September 1, 2007
15:05:35

Received: x2272 General Milhouse Bayden
From: x1057 NSA OPS

Bayden: barry
OPS: they’re making the handoff
Bayden: where is my (inaudible)
OPS: wait
Bayden: what
OPS: there it is I got it


* * *


Jefferson opens the door and stands aside. The Greys are silent, their tiny mouths drooping open like wilting buttercups.


* * *


FAIRCHILD AFB
COM TRANSCRIPTION

9.1.07
15:05:40

ABB: b2 alpha bravo bravo one away
FAFB: roger alpha bravo bravo
ABB: god


* * *


“Where’s the boy the boy there is no boy where is the boy?”

The anger of the Greys begins to pound into Jefferson’s brain like bullets. The aliens do not understand why there are two mannequins sitting in the back of the car. The mannequins are strapped to space heaters that whirr gently.

Silhouettes and heat signatures, Jefferson thinks. The road map of the black ops community. Jefferson winces as the Greys lift him off his feet and reach for his heart with the trembling fingers of their fury.

Jefferson looks up at the blue sky. He hears the gentle whisper of the B-2 overhead.

Time to say bye-bye, baby.


* * *


SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
Page A1

RADIOACTIVE EXPLOSION ROCKS GORGE
Residents of Eastern Washington were stunned yesterday to see a large mushroom cloud rise out of the desert just south of the Quincy Game Reserve. A load of radioactive material traveling to the Hanford Nuclear Reactor in Richland detonated late Saturday afternoon, leaving a large portion of the Columbia Gorge quarantined. Officials say that no access will be granted for…


* * *

continued

* * *


Mary,

Welcome home. This is not going to be a pleasant note so please sit down and make yourself a drink. We may be out of gin but there’s the rest of that lemon vodka you like in the freezer.

Please know that I tried to think of another way to do this. You know how complicated our lives really are even though we got so good at pretending otherwise. Here is the truth, Mary:

A man known as Malcolm tried to kill me and take Isaac when we went to Point Defiance last week. He is ex-CIA and a favorite tool of General Bayden.

They found us, Mary.

Now that Malcolm missed us, Bayden will get desperate and he’ll take NEWFALL public to the Agency pretty soon. Once he does that he’ll have access to Agency resources and we’ll be in trouble, Mary. Our only advantage to this point has been that we’re a big big secret.

Hey we dodged them a long time, didn’t we baby? They will find us though. We knew they would. If not MJ12, the Alphas. They’ll all keep searching forever. I hated not telling you about this, Mary.

All I can think about is Isaac getting dragged away and turned into something horrible. He’s such a perfect little guy, Mary. He is going to do great things someday and I’m already so proud of him. I love him and I love you, Mary. I love you so much.

You will need to move. There are two Canadian passports for you in the safe, along with other ID paperwork and cash. Be careful, but don’t panic. By the time you read this everyone will think you, me, and Isaac are dead.

Unfortunately, Mary, I will be. Please know that I do this with complete peace of mind. Trading my life for yours is a steal. You are a beautiful, strong woman with a child that will change everything.

And now you are free. And that makes me so happy.

Please give Isaac a kiss for me and a hug. Please give him a kiss and hug every day.
I’m sorry to keep you in the dark. Arguing with you would break my heart.

Yours forever,
J



end

Wonderful ! Your attention to details makes it very interesting.
You took a "begining" and made a whole story out of it. I'm sitting here
wondering what will happen next. You will "run-with-it" won't you?
Very very good.

I agree with Seige, and I'll go further to call this story a mini-masterpiece in it's own right. It's great to see all the members taking inspiration from the threads and putting their own creative spin on it. Great job, Essedarius.