Heiser-The-Facade - Sparkling Eyes

"We need to get something out in the open," Brian said, taking charge of theconversation, "I hold nothing against Melissa, and I won't be happy if I have to listen toanyone cut her down. She said what she said to me because of some of her own issuesthat needed to be dealt with, and we've been through them. We've had little else to do inthe last few days but talk, and things between us have changed a lot--all for the better.What's done is done; I forgive her, and if I can do it, I expect all of you to do the same."The room again fell silent. Brian surveyed their faces expectantly. No one seemedready to take the initiative to respond."Nice try," Melissa said sincerely, patting Brian's hand, still clasped to her arm."I'd like to go now." He released her."Hold on," Malcolm finally spoke to her. "I know Brian wouldn't lie to us, and ifthat's the way he feels, it's cool. I'm sorry for my attitude a moment ago. I have a habit ofjust saying whatever pops into my head.""What a revelation," Deidre rolled her eyes."Thanks, Malcolm," Melissa managed a smile."No problem."Mark looked at her a little dubiously, but finally nodded his approval."Good to have you back," Deidre gave her a hug."I missed you, too," Melissa replied, feeling relieved."I hate to interrupt this Hallmark moment," Malcolm cracked, "but we need to getboth of you up to speed before the big meeting.""What meeting is that?""The one that starts in about twenty minutes," Mark replied. "I take it you haven'tseen Dr. Bandstra or the Colonel yet." He shook his head."The Colonel told us when we got here that the purpose of this little excursionwas to show us irrefutable proof that he was telling us the truth—finally—that we reallyhave been visited by extra-terrestrials, and that they're calling our bluff on disclosure.""So what was the proof?" Brian asked."We still haven't seen it," Malcolm whined. "Five days later.""You haven't been exactly bored, Malcolm." He shrugged."What does that mean?" Melissa asked."Malcolm's managed to see just about everything in reasonable walking distance.""The security here isn't as tight as at the Facility," Malcolm explained with awink. "You'd be amazed how far our badges get us around here.""It isn't like there's much to see," Mark complained, "unless you're fascinated byfood stockpiles and forklifts.""What is this place, anyway?" Brian inquired."Mount Weather is about 46 miles west of D.C. It's the nerve center for FEMA'sunderground empire," Deidre replied in her familiar sarcastic tone."FEMA—that stands for `Federal Emergency Management Agency,' right?" Brianasked."Right. Jimmy Carter created FEMA by writing an Executive Order rememberthose from my talk'? FEMA runs nearly one hundred underground command posts, or ifyou prefer the political double-speak used at our briefing, `relocation centers.' This one'sthe biggest, most well-supplied, and the most secret.""Relocation centers'? Who are they planning on `relocating'?" Melissa wondered251