Upon their immediate return from London, The Collective were summonsed back at The Facility where they were expected to stay until a debrief had been carried out. No one had quite seen The Secretary quite so hysterical as she was at times during the debrief, trying to work at what happened and why.

Terri had been around Madam Secretary long enough though to realise that the anger she was presenting onto The Collective was as a result of anger she was getting from higher up, and it wasn’t really a reflection of what she thought of them all and the job they did out there.

Everyone had something to be scared of now. The triplets, and especially Do’Lânqwa. Madam Secretary would be scared that her supervisors wouldn’t have the confidence in her to do her job. The US Government would be scared of the repercussions for looking like they enabled an invasion- which was the media’s words- to happen, killing hundreds of unsuspecting British citizens. And the entire world’s population would be scared that this could all happen again.

Yes, this was a new world now and no one had the rules for engagement and navigating through it. So of course, the buck fell with The Collective.

But amongst all the fear and the uncertainty, there was always another angle to spin. There were dozens and dozens of requests coming through from the printed press, vloggers, TV networks and radio stations all wanting to do features on the mysterious and extra terrestrial edgy looking newest members of The Collective. And this was the positive press that Madam Secretary was looking to spin.

“No way. I’m not doing it,” Do’Lânqwa said defiantly when The Secretary made her proposal. “My wife hasn’t been dead three days and I now have my son to care for. I’m not going on television or speaking to anyone about the life I no longer have and that I miss so much.”

The room fell silent. No one had the heart to try and change his mind.

“Power of Three? Kimona?” The four looked at each other and agreed to it.

“Doing what we do, it’s difficult to remain anonymous. Only a few manage it,” Terri explained. “The Red Cardinal managed it, and so does Boy Beaver and Japan’s Tetsuo now. We’ve all been there where we’ve been discussed in the press. This way, we’re in control. They want to know about you. It’s a chance to put a positive spin on it.”

“I’ve always dreamt of having a magazine feature done on me. I just hoped it would’ve been about my world record flight in ’39,” sighed Kimona.

Madam Secretary looked a little relieved and sat back in her chair. “Ok, well the four of you and I will discuss this later on, but thank you for agreeing.”

“I’m going to be with my son now,” Do’Lânqwa stated, getting up and leaving the room.

New York City. Five days after London.

Terri and Ferris clinked their glasses together stood at the balcony of their hotel room. Their room overlooked Central Park and the sky was looking romantic as the sun set and the clouds had turned a pinky purple.

Despite the humdrum of the city that never sleeps, there was a calm. A serenity that perhaps was more psychological, given the pace of their lives recently. It had been a crazy few days after returning from London and the two love birds decided to get away for a few days.

“I’m glad we have been able to do this,” Ferris said, gently caressing her face.

Terri agreed, “I don’t feel like we’ve seen each other properly since we got back. It’s just been briefing after meeting and trying to pacify The Secretary….”

Ferris smiled. He knew what she meant about The Secretary. She gave him a telling off for completely destroying the technology the Peacekeepers were using and not bringing it back for testing. You try and do a good thing… he had thought.

“I know, but remember what we agreed to do whilst away?” reminded Ferris.

“Yes, I know. No shop talk!” she admitted, and they both laughed.

“That’s right! Amen to that! If we take anything away from all of this, it’s that life is too short, but also the possibilities of life are limitless. You went into space for crying out loud. To another planet! Doesn’t that put things into perspective?”

“Yes. Yes it really does Ferris. It goes to show that anything is possible. It’s an exciting new world we live in now.” Terri leaned in to kiss her boyfriend softly on the lips.

Ferris gently pulled away, dropping to one knee in front of her. Terri gasped, her hands going straight to her mouth.

“You’re right babe. And I couldn’t think of anyone better to enter into this new world than with you by my side. Terri, will you marry me?” A huge grin spread across her face, tears streaming down her face.

“Yes! Yes Ferris, I will marry you! Oh my God, yes!” Ferris got back up and embraced his fiancé with wide arms.

***

Chicago. Fifteen days after London.

“I’m so glad you made it Do’Lânqwa, thanks for coming!”

“Yeah, it means a lot bud. Thank you.”

“It’s my joy. I won’t be here for long so I can get back to Wo’Trendsont, but I wanted to be here for you.”

“I know it’s not been an easy time for you lately,” Ferris admitted.

“No, but you two have been good to me and this is a happy time. A time to celebrate. I’m glad to be here.” Terri went in for a hug.

They were greeting guests to their engagement party. It was a boat party on Lake Michigan, soon to be departing the harbour. Despite the need to have a private party, they still managed to fill the boat with friends and family.

“Excuse me Sir and Madam,” the boat’s captain said, approaching the two on the dock. “But we will be departing in ten minutes.”

“Ok, thank you Captain,” Ferris said, but noticed Terri was frowning. “What’s up babe?”

“Have you seen Dylan arrive?”

“Um no, I don’t think I have yet. Have you not heard from him?”

Terri checked her phone. “Nope, there’s still nothing from him.”

“It’s ok Terri. Something probably came up. He’ll be in touch I’m sure.” Terri shrugged and followed Ferris onto the boat. Both decks were full of glamorously dressed party goers and catering staff were milling around serving canapés and glasses of bubbles. Terri took one each for her and her fiancé.

“Oh will you give me a moment, I’m just going to say hi to the triplets and Kimona. Go and work the room honey!” Terri smiled, taking her and her drink off to catch up with the new celebrities.

“Oh heyyy! Can I have your autographs please?!” Terri joked, playfully pouncing on the four who were standing and chatting. The triplets looked confused, like they didn’t really understand what Terri had just said. “Oh, right!” she said, realising it probably needed explaining to them. “Autographs are something people used to ask for from famous people when they met them. It’s a quick way writing of your name.”

The triplets smiled awkwardly. “You humans have strange customs,” chuckled Blane, the idea of writing your name for someone else seeming unusual. Kimona got it though.

“But why do you need my name? I know you,” Mindy said, still not getting her head around it.

“Please, forget I said anything,” Terri laughed. “I just wanted to let you know I’ve seen all your magazine cover debuts!”

“What do you think?” gushed Kimona.

“What do I think?! I love them! You all looked so fab!”

In the last two weeks, Kimona and the triplets had embarked on their publicity campaign to introduce them to the world and put a positive spin on what happened in London, and to distract the public from the fact that the US Government had kept them hidden for months.

They appeared on various talk shows, news featurettes and in the written press. Kimona and Mindy had appeared in top fashion magazines whilst Blane and Holt had covers and interviews in magazines aimed at men. Holt had also done the rounds in the gay press in the UK. And it seemed to be working.

With a public inquiry started by the United Nations, the initial public anger and fear at the presence of other world beings on Earth had started to weaken. They were being likened to the Enhanced Beings that they were already so to used to working with and the people seemed to be on board with that realisation.

Do’Lânqwa had refused any form of publicity and had concentrated his time being with his son and Ta’Balshén. Homeland Security had officially named him as The Astral Sheriff and whenever he was talked about in the press, it was by that name only. He was going to be anonymous, and the Secretary had supposed that he would be happier operating that way.

“Thank you! It was quite intense for ten days or so- I’m just glad it’s all over and people have grown to accept us,” said Kimona.

“Well I’m glad you guys have done it and I’m even happier that you could be here tonight. Please eat and drink and maybe even have a dance. I’ve seen you dancing Kimona! Go and have some fun!” Terri gave Mindy a hug and went back to weaving her way around the boat.

From across the crowd, Terri caught eyes with Ferris who was talking to Lucas and she raised her glass towards him, which he warmly returned. She thought to herself that she couldn’t have been any happier than she was in this moment.

Right here, in this new world.

Next week in Flip #4, ‘Flower Power’...

despite his best intentions, Dylan learns that whilst you can take the guy out of The Collective, you can’t take The Collective out of the guy.