Author's Note

Finally, after an extremely long hiatus, I give you an update. Unfortunately this chapter doesn't really have much excitement in it. All the cool action sequences and revelations happen at the end of the story. Sorta like a climax. I might even throw in a flashback to explain LIX's creation. And next chapter should have Jack and LIX's meeting. But again don't expect anything fast. I'm now a full-time working girl with school as well. Writing will happen when I have the time, which is a rare commodity. That said, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Reviews = Love

Disclaimer

I do not own Race to Witch Mountain or it's characters. The only things that I can claim as my own are LIX and the additions and changes that occur to the story's plot because of her presence.

Chapter 5

The three stepped out of the cab, and Jack caught the attention of a man in a valet outfit. The man barely glanced at the others, his gaze passing over them quickly before returning to Jack.

"Here," said Jack as he handed the valet a couple hundred-dollar bills and the keys, "I need you to keep the cab close and to give the dog some water." He paused for a moment before adding, "And, uh, get him a meaty treat."

Ushering Seth and Sara away from the sidewalk, Jack made them walk in front of him and behind LIX. As they entered, the two extraterrestrials found their eyes met with an array of strange sights. Models of spaceships, aliens, and robots filled the large entrance hall.

Seeing a group of people dressed in aluminum foil with pink tennis balls stuck to them walk by, Seth said to no one in particular, "LIX was correct, everyone does dress oddly here." His sister merely nodded in agreement, her eyes following the strange group till they disappeared back into the crowd.

Chuckling at the two's astonishment, LIX grabbed their wrists. "Come on guys, Dr. Freidman should be this way." Dragging the two away from the door, LIX led the way into the strangely dressed crowd. Still adjusting to the strange new environment, Seth and Sara followed speechlessly, with a bemused Jack trailing behind.

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" asked Jack when they paused for a moment in what was probably the center of the room.

Her head twisting from side to side as she quickly scanned the layout of the area, LIX said, "Of course I do." Apparently having found what she wanted, she plunged back into the crowd, still dragging the two blondes with her.

Grumbling under his breath, Jack followed. Being larger then the teens, he rapidly fell behind and had to use the occasional glimpse of blonde hair and fluffy cat ears to stay on their trail. They disappeared completely when a group of people wearing gold body suits with their faces painted bright orange passed in front of him. Standing at his full height of 6'4" he could see over a good bit of the crowd, but the cat ears were nowhere in sight. Just as he was about to start mumbling curses under his breath he felt a tug on the back of his jacket that made him turn.

Standing to his side with her hand holding his jacket was LIX. Tugging again at his jacket, she grinned. "Come on Jack, we found the conference room. You almost got left behind."

Jack glared at her but it only made her grin take on a Cheshire quality, so he rolled his eyes instead as she dragged him through the crowd. Paying no heed to the large number of people that she smacked with her tail, LIX pulled him out of the crowded main room and down a much emptier hallway.

Seth and Sara were waiting for them by a door with a large sign beside it announcing Dr. Freidman's seminar along with something about cattle mutilation.

"Hurry," called Seth as he caught sight of them. "A large number of people have recently exited the room. We may have missed Dr. Freidman's presentation."

As he spoke, Sara pushed the door open and ushered them inside. The room itself was constructed along the same lines as most presentation halls. It was long with a slightly slopping floor so that the numerous rows of seats all had a relatively good view of the stage that was located at the front. All in all the room was quite large and quite empty. The only inhabitant was a woman standing at the front beside the podium.

"Come on." Taking the lead, Jack led the way towards the front of the room. "Hi," said Jack, drawing the woman's attention, "Dr. Freidman, we need to talk with you."

"The cattle mutilation lecture doesn't start for an hour, but grab a seat, this place'll be packed." She paused as she crumpled up the cup she was drinking from. Throwing it away she continued bitterly, "It always is."

"We're here to see you actually," said Jack as the four came to a stop. He held his hand out in greeting, "It's Jack Bruno, we met earlier."

Dr. Freidman's brow furrowed as she tried to place the name. "We did?"

Seeing her confusion he continued, "Cab. Airport to hotel." Pointing at himself he added, "Driver."

"Ah," she nodded and gave a little depreciating laugh, "the non believer. What're the odds?"

"Hey is there some place we can talk?"

Dr. Freidman actually looked around at the empty room before she asked, "The, uh, crowds in here making you uncomfortable?"

"Somewhere even more private than this?" said LIX, jumping into the conversation.

Dr. Freidman shook her head, "Look no offense, but I'm pretty sure that-"

"She's doubting her thesis on Gleaza 5.81 and Alqubare's Warp-drive." interrupted Sara, making Dr. Freidman turn back to look at her in surprise.

"How did you know that?" Her voice was just a whisper of shock.

"Oh it gets a lot better," said Jack, "trust me."

"Alright, I know somewhere." Dr. Freidman shook her head and gestured for them to follow her. She led the way out of the room and down the hall. A moment later they were back in the entrance hall.

"Try not to get separated this time," said Jack, as they followed Dr. Freidman through the crowd.

LIX grinned cheekily at him. "We could all hold hands."

Jack just grinned right back. "What a great idea." Still grinning, he grabbed both LIX and Sara by the arm. Without taking his eyes off of Dr. Freidman's back he said to Seth, "Hold onto your sister."

LIX's smile turned into a pout as she was dragged along. Beside her Sara laughed at the way her ears and tail drooped dramatically.

"In here," said Dr. Freidman as she ushered them into the Mars Exhibit that was closed for construction. "I like to come here to get away from the crowds."

After Jack released them, the teens made their way further into the exhibit towards a laptop that had been set up on a small table.

"Is this yours?" asked LIX, indicating the computer and the picture it showed on its screen.

Dr. Freidman nodded, "Yes. I was planning the details of my presentation here." Turning to Jack she asked, "So what is this about?"

"Well," said Jack slowly, obviously unsure as to how he should start. He pointed at Seth and Sara, "Those two are aliens."

"What?"

Jack sighed before trying again, his face and voice serious. "They're aliens. They're on the run from the government and they need to find their spaceship so that they can go home."

"Are you insane?" whispered Dr. Freidman harshly.

Jack held his hands out in a non-threatening way as he tried to placate her. "I just thought that you of all people would understand. And want to help!"

"Why?" she asked angrily. "Because I'm the nut job speaking at the UFO convention?"

Jack opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by her finger and a quick, "Don't answer that."

"I know it sounds really crazy," began Jack, only to be cut off again by Dr. Freidman's sarcastic, "Ya think?"

Seeing the three teenagers fiddling with her laptop she raised her voice back to normal levels to get their attention. "Hey, please don't touch that!"

Ignoring her request, Seth picked the computer up. "You-you captured an image of our ship."

"The smudge?" At the two blondes' nods she asked incredulously, "You're telling me you think that smudge is your spaceship?"

"No, we don't think it is our spaceship," said Sara, her excitement clear, "We know it is our spaceship."

"How can you be sure?" asked LIX as she peered intently at it over Seth's shoulder. "It just looks like a smudge."

Dr. Freidman glanced from Sara to the image and then back again before turning to Jack and raising her hand. "That's it, I'm out." She shook her head, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll just grab my laptop and -" As she spoke she reached to grab it, only for her hand to pass right through Seth's arm, making him drop it. Jumping back, she could only stare in shock as the laptop floated in midair above the ground before beginning to rise slowly.

Sara directed the laptop to right itself before dropping it into Dr. Freidman's outstretched arms.

"Oh," added Jack, "they can also do all this, stuff, too." He chuckled a little at Dr. Freidman's shocked expression, but restrained himself at LIX's glare.

"Who are you?" Dr. Freidman's voice was barely a whisper as she looked from Seth to Sara.

Sara gave her brother a slight nod. "Show her."

Seth stared at her for a moment before pulling his strange little device out of his pocket. He fiddled with the controls for a second, before setting it where the laptop had been sitting earlier. He pushed a final button and a bright flash of light filled the room.

The light condensed and shaped itself, till it looked like they were standing in space. Around them planets and stars twirled in orbits, while meteors and space dust floated randomly by.

"Wow," whispered LIX, voicing what the two adults were both thinking, as she watched a planet revolve around a fiery orange star.

Jack dodged a meteor that was traveling towards his head, while Dr. Freidman played with some space dust that was drifting by her. She caught Jack's eye and let out a happy laugh.

"This is…huge." Her voice was soft and breathless. Turning back to Seth and Sara excitedly, she said, "I have so many questions. Even though, you are the answers. Here, standing right in front of me!"

Jack cleared his throat loudly to bring her back to reality.

"I'm sorry," said Dr. Freidman, "very excited." She took a deep breath to center herself, "Right. Wh-where are you from?"

Sara pointed to the planet that was floating between her and Seth. "Our planet is located some three-thousand light-years from Earth."

"That's a long way off," muttered LIX to herself as she flicked her tail at a passing comet.

"Space travel of such sizable distance…" Dr. Freidman trailed off.

Seth picked up where she had stopped, "…is possible using paradoxical passage in the unbounded-"

"Wormholes!" exclaimed Dr. Freidman with a laugh. "That's it!" Turning to Jack she regained a bit of her composure before she continued, "My presentation at the Seti National Convention was right. Interstellar travel is possible using wormholes as a shortcut through space."

"Th-that was my first guess as well, wormholes." said Jack quickly, but he trailed off as everyone looked at him oddly. Embarrassed he left the conversation. "Um, continue doctor."

"Wh-why did you come to Earth?" Dr. Freidman's voice shook a little from the excitement she was feeling.

"Our planet is dying," said Sara seriously. "Millennia of neglect has rendered our atmosphere unbreathable."

"That sounds familiar," muttered LIX as she moved to get a better look at the planet Sara was pointing to.

"Our parents are scientists, who have studied Earth's changing climates in hopes of finding a solution to our own planet's future," said Seth, continuing the explanation.

"Our people's fears began to rise," said Sara, picking up where Seth left off seamlessly, "and then our parents discovered something our leaders were very interested in."

"Your planet, makes a suitable living environment for our kind," Seth said slowly. "It would be simplest to abandon our dying planet…and…occupy yours."

Jack interrupted indignantly, "Okay, so wait. I'm helping you conquer my own planet?"

"No!" said Sara intensely. "Most of the people on our planet are fiercely opposed to this plan."

"But fear of extinction triumphed among our people," continued Seth.

"But then our parents discovered a solution. An experiment at an outpost here was successful in regenerating life into all previously dying plants and trees," explained Sara earnestly.

Dr. Freidman nodded as she continued Sara's statement. "Which would enable the reoxygenating of your poisoned atmosphere."

"Alright, so what's the problem?" asked Jack.

"Our military," said Seth quickly. "They preferred the solution of occupation over science."

"Which is why we had to hurry and retrieve the experiment. All proof that our planet can be saved and your planet spared is in here." As she spoke she pulled out the device that they had found earlier in the weird stalagmite.

"Where are your parents again?" asked Jack, realizing that he'd never actually asked before.

Sara put the device back in her pocket. "They were arrested for their opposition."

"We agreed to complete the task for them, " added Seth.

"What about that assassin?" asked LIX, finally deciding to join the conversation.

"Wait, assassin?" interrupted Dr. Freidman. "What assassin?"

"The Syphon Warrior series Durranian 75 was created by our military," explained Sara.

Her voice hopeful, Dr. Freidman asked, "They're bred to…hunt?"

"They're bred to kill," said Seth seriously. "And if we don't return back home in time…the invasion will proceed."

Taking a deep breath to process everything, Dr. Freidman sighed and said, "We seriously need to find your spaceship."

"Yes," said Sara, "and we require your help to do so."

"Alright, just give me a moment to process all of this." Gathering her thoughts together, Dr. Freidman began pacing the room and summarizing everything she had just learned. "Alright," she began as the others watched, "Jack, the cab driver, found two aliens who are on a mission to save their planet from destruction and Earth from occupation. They have lost their spaceship and need my help to find it so that they can go home." She stopped pacing and nodded to the others, "Okay, I think I've got it. I just have a few questions."

"We shall answer them to the best of our ability, Dr. Friedman," said Sara.

"Well, um," Dr. Friedman trailed off before she blushed in embarrassment, "what are your names?"

The teens all blinked in surprise and Jack had the decency to look embarrassed at his forgetfulness.

LIX shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Leave it to Jack to introduce them by simply saying 'they're aliens'." Having drawn Dr. Friedman's attention to herself she began introducing everyone properly. "You have already met Jack." She waved her hand negligently in his direction before turning to point at the two blondes. "These two are Seth and Sara." Pointing to herself she said, "My name is LIX, short for Alexia. Spelled capital L, capital I, capital X."

Dr. Friedman opened her mouth to say something but was cut off as LIX continued.

Pointing to the doctor LIX cheekily added, "And you are Doctor Alex Friedman, scientist and UFO enthusiast."

"You can call me Alex," Alex told them before asking, "So, LIX, how do you fit into all this and why is your nickname 59 in roman numerals?"

"Um, well I-" LIX wasn't sure how she wanted to answer that and sent Seth an appreciative smile as he cut her off.

Seth cut across LIX's stuttering saying, "LIX is Jack Bruno's ward. She is also assisting us in our mission."

"Alright," Alex nodded in understanding. Turning back to Jack she said, "I'm afraid I don't have the first idea as to where the government would take a spaceship." Seeing Jack about to say something she cut him off by raising her hand and quickly continuing, "But I do know someone who will."

"You know where we can find this person," said Sara, obviously having pulled the information from Alex's mind.

Alex nodded and gathered her things up as she spoke. "Yes, they have a booth on this floor."

"That makes sense," said LIX as she and the others followed Alex out of the exhibit and back into the mainstream of traffic in the hall, "it is a UFO convention after all."

"Their booth is on the other side of the food court," said Alex as she set off at a fast pace down the hall, clearly expecting the others to keep up.

Being the last to leave the exhibit, LIX found herself a bit behind and she quickly lost sight of the others as a larger group of convention goers walked in front of her.

Seeing that they were losing her, Seth grabbed his sister and the two of them paused to wait for LIX to catch up to them. "There you are," said Seth when she found them. He held his hand out to her, "In order to avoid losing each other in the crowd, it would be best if we maintained contact."

LIX stared at him for a moment as one of her eyebrows rose and her lips twitched upwards, but she eventually took his hand in her own. "You know you could have just said that we should all hold hands."

Seth looked indignant at her suggestion but didn't say anything as he let Sara begin leading them down the hall in the direction that Jack and Alex had disappeared in.

"We have fallen a large distance behind Dr. Friedman and Jack Bruno," said Sara worriedly as she led them through the crowd glancing every which way for a glimpse of either of the adults.

Trailing along behind the two blondes, LIX tried to calm her down. "Don't worry, we'll find them. This hallway doesn't really have many exits and we know that their destination is just on the other side of the food court. I'm sure we'll see them, Jack isn't exactly tiny."

The three suddenly broke through the crowd to find themselves at the entrance to a large room filled with tables and chairs.

Seth glanced around. "This appears to be the food court Dr. Friedman mentioned."

Tugging on his hand, LIX led the way across the room to the hall on the other side. "So they should be somewhere over here." The three wandered for a bit before LIX stopped suddenly. She held up a hand to keep the other two quiet as her ears began to twitch. "I can hear Alex." Her ears twitched a bit more as she dragged the other two forward. "They're over here."

"We see them LIX," said Sara, dropping the others' hands. Alex and Jack stood with their backs to the teens beside a booth called 'Government Lies; Alien Truth'. They were talking to a short blonde bespectacled man wearing a light tan shirt and holding a clipboard. Sitting a bit to the side was a tall man wearing a black shirt, who was watching the conversation with rapt attention.

The three teens came to a stop behind Alex and Jack.

"Listen," said Alex, sounding rather annoyed, "we need to see Harlan right away."

The guy with the clipboard opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the guy wearing black, who had been manning the booth. Standing up he moved to stand beside his co-worker, who barely came up to his shoulder, and said, "Doctor Harlan is presently unavailable for consultations. We're more than qualified to answer any questions you might have-"

Alex cut the guy off before he could finish. "There is no time for that. It is a matter of life and death that we see Harlan now.

"They seem to be having a problem finding the whereabouts of Dr. Friedman's expert from those two men," said Seth quietly.

Sara nodded and glanced at LIX. Tentatively she offered in a quiet voice, to avoid drawing the arguing adults attention, "Perhaps we should attempt to assist them?"

LIX crossed her arms over her chest and, shaking her head, reassured them, "I'm sure Jack will get them to share the information without much trouble."

The tall guy shared a glance with his partner before shaking his hands in pretend terror and mockingly saying, "Life and death, ooh, uber scary, drama queen theatrics." Turning back to Alex he asked, "What's the 411 sitch?"

Obviously annoyed, Alex began, "Okay-" only to be cut off by Jack's hand on her shoulder.

Stepping closer to the two men, Jack looked them both in the eye. "You're currently alive. Unless you take us to Harlan, you'll be dead." Behind him, LIX let out a low rumbling growl.

The two men looked at each other for a moment before they both started babbling about how the group should just follow them.

"This way," said the one in black.

The one with the clipboard nervously ushered the group forward. "We should probably go together."

Ignoring the nervous chatter of their guides, the group made its way out of the building through an 'Employees Only' exit. They emerged into a back-lot crowded with vehicles. They wove their way between cars and trailers till they found an old RV near the middle of the lot.

Their guides moved to the side as Alex stepped forward and knocked on the RV's door.

"Go away!" yelled a muffled voice from inside. "The book signing's not till 4:30. Read the brochure!"

"Harlan, it's Alex Freidman," said Alex loudly.

A moment later the door opened to reveal an old man with messy white hair. He grinned at them. "Doctor Freidman. Kelsepries?"

Alex ignored him and quickly said, "We need to speak with you immediately, it is incredibly important."

"Oh alright," said Harlan amiably, his grin still present, "Come on in." He moved away from the door and beckoned them inside.

"Jack," LIX tugged on his sleeve as he moved to enter the RV, making him stop and turn to look at her. "I'm gonna stay out here and keep an eye out."

Jack looked at her for a moment. "Too crowded?"

She gave him a little smile and nodded, "Yeah."

"Have fun," said Jack, ruffling her hair before joining the others inside and leaving her alone.

LIX let out a tired sigh as the door closed behind him and leaned back against the RV's side. Through the thin paneling she could hear Alex's voice, but couldn't make out what she was saying. Sighing again, she let herself slide down to sit on the pavement. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them. After giving the empty parking lot a quick scan, she lowered her head and closed her eyes, as she let herself doze a little. Her ears twitched alert on top of her head at the various sounds that reached them.

A few minutes later a shout of "Witch Mountain!" from inside the trailer startled her out of the light catnap she'd slipped into. With a tired groan she pushed herself back onto her feet and did a little stretch. The muffled talking continued for a bit and then the door opened and the group came filing back out.

"We get what we needed?" asked LIX, her eyes catching sight of the rolled up poster Alex was now carrying.

Jack nodded and with the others following made his way back the way they had come earlier. "Yep, hopefully we've still got a lead on those government guys."

"I doubt it," said LIX as she held the 'Employees Only' entrance door open for them. "They have a lot of resources. It's hard to give them the slip."

Alex pulled to the lead beside Jack to help navigate through the maze-like booths and quietly asked, "Personal experience?"

Jack just gave a small nodded, his mouth a tight line. Pushing away the dredged up memories, he plowed on. "I've got a plan that might give us more time."

"What did you have in mind Jack Bruno," asked Seth from the back of the group.

"Well if we could just change cars it'd help," said Jack. "They're looking for the cab, so it'd be best if we could find another ride."

"I know we're in a hurry," said LIX, interrupting Jack's planning of how to get to Witch Mountain, "but do you think we could possibly get me some clothes? I keep getting leered at."

Jack opened his mouth to say 'no', but it snapped shut without a sound as his brain processed what she'd said. He spun in a slow circle, taking in the number of boys and men staring at them, or rather at his adopted daughter. He gave a nod and with a glare at the assembled males, he moved to stand protectively beside her. "Right, new plan, we buy LIX some clothes and then we worry about the cab.

With LIX now in the center of their group they headed to the Convention's main floor.

"Thank you," said Sara getting the group to halt as they entered the Hotel's large foyer, "all of you. Seth and I understand that you don't have to go forward with us and yet you choose to."

Alex didn't hesitate at all to respond, "You're welcome. And don't worry, we're gonna get you home, I promise." Turning to Jack she continued, " Now, I'm gonna go grab my stuff. Let's meet upstairs in the convention at my booth, then we get your cab."

"Alex, uh listen," started Jack slowly, as if gathering his courage, "I can't let you come with us."

Alex reared back a little as she heard him. "What?"

Jack lifted his hands in a placating way. "If half of what Harlan says is true it's way too dangerous. They got in my cab, they're my problem."

"Um, no." Alex had recovered from her momentary shock and began to advance on him. "I have spent my entire life preparing for this moment and now, when I have two actual aliens in need of my help, you want me to walk away? It's not going to happen. Man up soldier, I'm in." Seeing from his face that she had won, she eased up a bit. "Just, lay low till we meet up."

Jack nodded "Sure. Right. Lay low, easy. How hard could that be?"

Alex gave him and the teens a smile and walked into the crowd towards the elevators.

"She thinks you're very handsome," said Sara snapping Jack out of the dazed thoughts he'd settled into.

Blinking he asked, "Really?"

Sara nodded, "And smarter than you think you are."

A grin bloomed across Jack's face. "So she was thinking about me huh?"

Sara just nodded again. "At least as much as you are thinking about her."

"Here LIX," said Seth, drawing her attention away from what Sara was picking up from Jack's mind and toward a table that was setup nearby and had a rack of costumes for sale beside it. "They might have something suitable."

Grabbing Sara as Jack began to ask something else about Alex's thoughts, LIX pulled the girl after Seth to the booth. He was pulling one of the outfits off the rack as she got close enough to read the name of the booth. A feeling of dread washed over her when she registered 'Hercules and the Women from Mars' and a picture of scantily clad barbarian warrior women.

"I don't think that this will decrease the number of stares that LIX has been receiving," said Sara, drawing LIX's attention to the rather skimpy outfit Seth was holding and the blush that was slowly spreading across his cheeks.

Eyeing the costume that was basically leather underwear LIX agreed. "I think I'll just stay like this for now."

Seth nodded and quickly placed the outfit back on the rack. Ignoring the booth owner's mutterings about prudes, he rejoined the girls. "Where is Jack?"

The three teens looked around, but the tall man was nowhere in sight.

"Perhaps he went upstairs already," suggested Sara.

LIX shrugged, "If not he'll be heading up there in a bit anyway since that's where we were going to meet Alex."

"Let us try upstairs then," said Sara, as she grabbed hold of LIX and her brother and began pulling them towards the nearest escalator.