With Patrick’s usual driving, we arrived at the barn in short order. We plunked down in our favorite chairs, I pulled out my phone and pressed the walkie-talkie app to bring Sheldon in, and we were ready.

“So,” Patrick said. “What’s the plan?”

I opened my mouth to reply and stopped. After a moment, I glanced at Nat.

“Jesus,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Look, the Tate Industrial Park administration office is too small to be the whole Lorannic presence. It’s like a half dozen people. So we have to scan the whole park and try to figure out where all the Loranna are. And we need to do it in less than forever.”

I held up a finger. “Hold on a moment. Sheldon, do you have anything like a small drone in your inventory?”

“Drone? As in small flying device? No. The drive system cannot be miniaturized to anywhere near that level.”

“Okay, fine. Can you duplicate one off the internet?”

“Certainly. Do you want me to start?”

“Just an additional item or two. Add a cloaking device, a detector, and a subwave connection. Oh, and a directional mike.”

“Acknowledged. I will have your toy ready tomorrow morning.”

“We can’t just fly a drone around the park without attracting attention,” Patrick said.

“We can if it’s invisible,” I replied. “And if we detect cloaking fields, they’re probably Loranna.”

“Unless there’s a third alien species roaming around,” Nat added.

“There is no evidence of that, Natalie,” said Sheldon. “Nor did Alaric suggest it. Jack’s assumption is high enough probability to qualify as de facto proof of Lorannic presence.”

“Okay fine. But we all have to be at work, so you’ll have to handle the surveillance.” Nat glanced in the direction of the invisible spaceship. “And just as important, we all have to act normal all day.”

“So, terminally bored and resigned to our fate,” I replied. “And impatient for the day to be over. Like every other day.”

Chapter Twenty-Five: Surveillance

Chapter Twenty-Five: Surveillance

Day 19. Tuesday

I got up early, rushed through breakfast, then hurried out to the barn. It wasn’t just a question of excitement. I had to get the preparations done before my father was ready to leave. He’d wait if I was late, but explanations would be required, and the less I had to lie to my dad, the better.

I was surprised to see Patrick drive up, Nat in the passenger side. “Hey, Jack,” he said, leaning out the window. “We decided to give you a ride. And get a look at the drone, but that’s just coincidence.”

“Sure.” I pulled out my phone and tapped a quick text to my father. A reply came in almost immediately. Saw Patrick drive by. Figured as much.

Well, the pressure was off, anyway. I gestured with my head and turned toward the barn.