Chapter 16

The following day, they were due to leave Boston early afternoon. However, Isaac, being Isaac, couldn't resist the opportunity to get up to his shape shifting tricks at the shopping centre.

Just for a change, and no doubt a laugh, he turned himself into a buck-toothed, stereotypical sci-fi nerd. Complete with alien shirt and thick-rimmed glasses.

It was so much fun.

"Hey you! Yeah you!" he exclaimed, heading over to a guy sitting by himself. "You!"

"What?" asked the guy, giving him a weird look.

Isaac looked around, pretending to be worried about being followed.

"Shh! Not so loud! They might hear you!"

"They?"

"Yeah… the aliens."

"Right… sure…"

"Don't tell anyone what I'm telling you. The aliens… they wanna take over the planet. And Bill Gates is in on it too. He's purposely, y'know, sabotaging the world's computers with his faulty Microsoft products. It's a conspiracy!"

"Crack." The guy commented, walking off.

Isaac found himself trying to wrestle a grin off his face.

"Oh my gosh, really?" said a girl, walking over to him.

Isaac gave her a look.

"Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear." She said. "These aliens, how much do you know about them?"

Isaac paused, wondering how to handle this. He stared into her eyes suspiciously.

"How do I know you're not one of them huh? Huh?"

"I'm not! Really! I'm not!"

"We-ell… I know… actually… I'm one of them. I'm trying to find my earth contact, but I suspect he's been kidnapped by the, ahh… by the FAIU."

"The FAIU?"

"Yes. A secret government unit called the Federal Alien Investigation Unit. They're a bunch of xenophobes."

The girl nodded seriously. Isaac couldn't believe he'd actually gotten someone to believe him. This was a video for Taylor!

"That story I just told?" he went on. "That was to be how I met my contact. I thought that guy was him… apparently not."

Isaac looked around, and to his amusement, the girl looked around too.

"We have to be careful. They could be anywhere. It could be a trap. I'd better go. Tell no one what I've told you. No one. Your very life is in the balance."

The girl nodded again.

"Can, can I do anything to help?"

"I let you know. Don't try and find me, I'll find you."

On that, Isaac stood up and left, trying very had to stop himself from cracking up laughing.

Chapter 17