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From: owner-arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com (arfic-l-digest) To: arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: arfic-l-digest V1 #42 Reply-To: arfic-l-digest Sender: owner-arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-arfic-l-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk arfic-l-digest Saturday, September 29 2001 Volume 01 : Number 042 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 10:25:56 +1200 From: "Anne Olsen" <anneo@paradise.net.nz> Subject: (arfic-l) All That Glitters (7/20) This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_014C_01C148D1.2025D6C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable All That Glitters (7/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimers in Part 0 Feedback to anneo@paradise.net.nz ***** Part Seven Megabyte felt as though he was trying to climb out of a thick mental = fog. As he forced his eyes open, he felt the sharp prick of a needle = slide into his arm. "Hey that hurts," he protested weakly, trying to move his arm away from = the man leaning over him. "Stop moving, or it will hurt even more." Doctor Brooke-Smythe spoke = with a clipped British accent. "We need blood samples taken before we = fit the device." "It's A positive. Can you stop now?" Megabyte tried to sit up and found that he seemed to be strapped = securely onto some sort of trolley. His eyes began to focus more clearly = as he looked around in a panic. The British man leaning over him seemed = to be in his early fifties and was tall and thin, with grey hair and a = moustache. To the side of him the redhead could see Max, the teenager he and Jade = had met at the UFO centre in Roswell. Jade, where was Jade? Megabyte = looked around and couldn't see the young British girl anywhere. His gaze = settled back on Max who was staring at the needle in undisguised horror. Brooke-Smythe smiled. The guy was enjoying inflicting his own weird = brand of torture judging by that sick grin. "Don't worry, young man, = you're next." He nodded towards a blond man, whom Megabyte remembered = seeing in the UFO centre, as he carefully finished placed the blood = samples into a test tube rack. Hawkins moved towards Max as the boy started to struggle against the = restraints, and drew his weapon. "Didn't you hear what Doctor = Brooke-Smythe said to your friend? Stop struggling! I don't want to have = to shoot you again." Max winced as Brooke-Smythe slid the needle into = his arm. This guy certainly needed some lessons on how to take blood. = Someone also needed to tell him about the whole bedside manner thing. As he watched Max's reaction to Brooke-Smythe's vampire imitation, = Megabyte tried to fight the fear he could feel rising within him. Get a = grip. Losing it isn't going to help anyone, least of all yourself. At = least they only have you. The other Tomorrow People were still free. = Maybe Jade made it to the ship. Help could be on the way even now. The frosted glass doors to the laboratory swung open as a voice called = out in an authoritative tone, "No, don't use the weapon. I want to make = sure they are conscious when the device is fitted." Megabyte looked towards the owner of the voice, his feelings of panic = multiplying as he recognised the speaker all too well. Yeah, the man = still looked the same as ever. He'd never been able to get that face out = of his head, the guy still had the same look in his dark eyes, that look = that betrayed his ruthlessness and total lack of decency. "Colonel = Masters." he started to say, and then stopped as he heard a familiar = voice in his mind. [Megabyte, are you okay? Can you teleport?] Adam's telepathic voice = sounded very urgent, and extremely worried. Megabyte looked up and saw = his friend being escorted through the door by one of Masters' goons. "I thought I warned you about using telepathy," hissed Beckett, as he = pushed the Australian sprawling towards his fellow Tomorrow Person. [Adam, are you okay?] What was Adam doing here? What the hell was = Masters up to?=20 Megabyte noticed Max look at Adam and then back again at Masters, a look = of surprise briefly cross his features. Weird. It was almost as though = Max had reacted because he'd overheard the telepathy. That wasn't = possible. Megabyte tried to process all the information running around = frantically in his brain, then decided to give up. Wait till whatever = they gave you wears off. You're not functioning on warp drive yet. Get = yourself past impulse first. Masters gestured towards the two Tomorrow People. "You heard what the = man said. Use speech please. At this point in time it might pay you not = to rely on your so-called special powers too much. If this experiment is = a success, you're not going to be able to use them for much longer = anyway." Not going to be able to use them much longer? What had Masters meant by = that comment exactly? Megabyte didn't feel like sticking around to find = out. This guy was seriously up to no good and he had the sneaking = suspicion that he and Adam weren't going to enjoy whatever it was the = creep had in mind. Adam repeated his earlier question, [Megabyte, can you teleport?] Megabyte shook his head, before he thought about what he was doing. [I = don't think so,] he 'pathed back. [My head's too fuzzy from whatever = they zapped me with. I don't think I could concentrate enough. I'm = having enough trouble with telepathy at the moment.] Adam gasped as he doubled over from the effect of the gun butt hitting = him in the stomach. "Adam!" Megabyte glared at Beckett, as he felt the waves of pain coming = from his friend. "What did you do that for?" "Now, come on Megabyte," answered Masters in a silky tone that made the = young American really wish that there were exceptions to the Tomorrow = People couldn't kill rule. "Don't act dumb. I know you and your = Australian friend were talking telepathically after you were warned not = to. While you are my guest, you need to learn to follow my rules. After = all we wouldn't want to have to damage the merchandise, so to speak." Adam pulled himself to his feet. "Is that what we are to you, = merchandise?" "I believe that is what I just said wasn't it? You should feel = privileged, having the opportunity to help your kind save mankind from = the curse you have brought upon it. If this treatment works, we will be = able to use it to help others as well." Adam frowned, his brow creasing as he looked at Megabyte, and then at = Max. Their options seemed to be running out really fast. From what = Masters had said they had better get out of this place while they still = had the powers to do so. His eyes met Megabyte's, and the redhead could = sense the unspoken question running through his friend's mind almost as = clearly as if Adam had used telepathy to ask it. [Teleport, Adam. Grab Max and teleport. Worry about me later.] Megabyte = decided it was time to take action, at least as much action as they = could under the circumstances. Masters snorted in disgust, and gestured to Beckett and Hawkins, who = grabbed Adam, restraining him on the vacant bed between his two friends. = He then marched over to Megabyte and slapped him over the face, hard. Megabyte felt his face grow hot, and opened his mouth to retort. As = Masters started speaking he closed it again quickly, his feelings of = panic quickly being replaced by those of anger. Shut up before you say = something you or Adam will regret later. "I can see you have a problem with following orders, Marmaduke. Maybe we = need to invite Millicent to join our little party. Maybe her presence = would be enough to encourage you to do as you are told." Masters kept a close eye on Adam as he continued. "Adam, don't even = think of teleporting. You only have time to grab one of your friends and = I will have no hesitation in killing or severely injuring the other one. = I know neither one of them is capable of teleporting themselves at the = moment. There is enough of the drug still in their bloodstream to = prevent their escape." Megabyte was finding it harder to control the growing anger within him. = Get a grip. If you lose it now Masters has won. "You leave Millie out of = this. This is nothing to do with her. I'll cooperate, just leave her = alone." He sent a look of apology to Adam. It was bad enough that his = father was mixed up in the Tomorrow People's affairs. There was no way = he was going to let his sister put her life at risk as well. Megabyte still remembered the day Millie had found out about his special = powers. He'd been out late with Kevin and had teleported into his = bedroom, hoping that he could avoid his father and the usual lectures = that accompanied his coming home at all hours of the night. To the = redhead's surprise, Millie had been passing by his open bedroom door and = had seen him teleporting. Trying to convince his sister that she had been seeing things had so not = been the way to go.=20 Once she had got over her initial shock he'd told her about the Tomorrow = People, and made her promise not to tell anyone about them. She'd agreed = but still tended to use the information to talk him into doing favours = for her. Of course Megabyte would have done those favours for her = anyway, but there was no way he would ever tell her that. Millie had = formed a close friendship with Jade, after the two girls had met, as = well. They seemed to have a lot in common, teasing Millie's older = brother being one of them. "Whether I leave her alone totally depends on you doesn't it? Of course = she's in safe hands at the moment, being in the hospital. Really close = shave with that car you know. If it hadn't been for her boyfriend, = things could have been a lot worse." Megabyte swallowed hard as Masters continued. What did the man mean by = hospital? What had happened to Millie and Geoff? The young man tried = hard not to let his feelings show. There was no way he was going to give = that madman the satisfaction of seeing his concern. "Of course, I wouldn't have needed to use Millicent to send a message to = your father, if I'd known you were going to appear in Roswell. I'd love = to see the expression on General Damon's face when he realises you are = missing." As the man stopped and laughed, a cold chill crept through = both the Tomorrow People.=20 ***********=20 Max listened to the conversation between Megabyte and Masters in growing = horror. Whoever this man was, there was no love lost between himself, = Megabyte and Adam. He felt his head clear, and realised that the drug given earlier was no = longer affecting him. Maybe it was because of his different physiology. = According to Masters' timetable, it shouldn't have worn off yet, for = otherwise the man would have fitted these devices he had mentioned = earlier. Coming to a decision, Max concentrated on the straps keeping him on the = trolley bed, feeling them loosen as he did so. Someone had to stop this = Masters before he hurt anyone else, and once Brooke-Smythe analysed the = blood taken earlier, the fact that he wasn't exactly human was going to = be out in the open, anyway. Max had nothing to lose and everything to = hide. Adam and Megabyte seemed to have some sort of powers, maybe with = any luck, Masters might presume that whatever Max did were a different = manifestation of those same powers. As Max threw himself off the bed, Beckett spun around and fired his = taser weapon towards the young alien. Acting on an instinct he didn't = know he possessed Max raised his hand as he had seen Michael do, to = protect himself. Immediately a form of force wall came into being in = front of him. The wall seemed to be made up of pure energy, and Max = stared at it in amazement. Didn't know I could do that. I wonder what = other things we're capable of that we don't know yet? "Cool!" exclaimed Megabyte. He watched Max for a moment and then spoke = to his friend. Max could hear the urgency in his voice. "Teleport, Adam. = Go now while you can."=20 As he spoke Megabyte closed his eyes in concentration for a moment. The = air around the redhead crackled, he faded out and then solidified again. = Megabyte looked around, noticing the teleport hadn't worked and glanced = again at Max. The unspoken question was clear. Megabyte couldn't work = out why his powers still weren't working properly. After all if Max = could project a force wall, why couldn't he teleport? Max glanced behind him wondering what to do next, and noticed the glass = vials with the blood samples sitting on a table. Max edged back, keeping = the force wall in front of him, and waved his other hand over the test = tubes. That should keep them guessing for a bit longer. The young alien = looked up to see what he could do to help his companions, and noticed = that the force wall seemed to be losing its integrity. Obviously = splitting his concentration to change the molecular structure of the = contents of the test tubes had been enough to weaken it. Maybe when he = had had a chance to experiment with this new power, he'd be able to = solve that problem, but now wasn't exactly the time to think about it. Max dived behind the big wooden table and yelled out to Adam. "Go, get = your friend and get out of here. I can look after myself." Adam shook himself out of the shock of seeing Max's powers in action and = teleported out of his restraints. He appeared close to Megabyte, = readying himself to teleport his friend out. He'd noticed Megabyte = teleport minutes before, only to reappear again. His friend's powers = were nearly back to full strength, but he was clearly too weakened by = the effects of the drugs to initiate a teleport properly. Masters, on seeing Megabyte's teleportation attempt, held the redhead = down on the trolley and cocked the gun, pushing the barrel against the = boy's head. "Do you really think you can teleport faster than a bullet?" = he asked Adam. Adam shook his head, moving away from his friend as his eyes glazing = over momentarily. [Did you hear that Megabyte? I could have sworn I = heard Kevin. Maybe he and the others are trying to contact us?] The = Australian turned his head away from Masters as he 'spoke.' He's making = sure the man can't see him using telepathy, Max surmised.=20 The Australian closed his eyes, ready to obviously send a reply to = whomever he had heard, as Hawkins and Beckett grabbed him from behind. = Adam struggled but he didn't dare teleport, not with Masters holding a = gun on Megabyte.=20 Brooke-Smythe fitted some sort of metallic band around Adam's head. He = swooned,=20 then collapsed on the floor screaming, clutching his head in pain. "You psycho! What have to done to him?" Megabyte looked at Adam and = seemed to concentrate just as a similar device slide onto his own head. = Must be trying to reach his friend, Max reasoned. As Max watched the = redhead let out a gasp of pain. His eyes rolled back into his head and = he fell back on the trolley, unconscious.=20 Max automatically stepped forward to help, when he felt the barrel of a = gun in the small of his back. He'd been so busy watching Adam and = Megabyte that he'd forgotten about the failing force field and the = danger he himself was in. It looked as though his options had suddenly = become non-existent again. As he struggled against the two men bringing = him over to Masters, Max really hoped his now unconscious companions had = been able to tell whoever they had been talking to what was going on. Masters surveyed the two unconscious young people before him and = directed his next statement at Max. The man's eyes were cold and he = spoke with an air of calmness. "As you can see the device can be quite = hazardous to your health if you attempt to use any psychic abilities = while you are wearing it."=20 Max felt a chill climbing up his spine. This man was dangerous, very = dangerous. He prayed that Adam and Megabyte were okay. What had that = headband done to them? He felt a pressure on his head as realised that = Brooke-Smythe was fitting one to him also. Max gritted his teeth, = fighting the urge to run. He felt himself struggle against the guards, = but knew he was wasting his time. Whatever this Masters had in mind, it = seemed he was now as much a part of it as Megabyte and Adam. He could = see the man watching him, waiting for a reaction. Well he's not going to = get one. Of that Max was determined. At least he doesn't know who I am, = at least he doesn't know who I am. The phrase repeated itself over and = over in his mind, almost like a mantra. He looked Masters in the eye, = and then turned away. That man was so full of hate, most of it directed = towards the two still forms in front of him. What on earth had happened = between them? Masters was silent for a moment and then added, almost as an = afterthought. "Oh, and I wouldn't bother trying to remove the one on = your own head either. You'll only cause yourself a considerable amount = of pain." Masters gestured to his men to take the three young people away, and = turned to Brooke-Smythe. "Well, it looks as though you got that field = test you wanted after all, Doctor. I think it's about time we contacted = Mr Trent to let him know of our success with phase two." He straightened = his tie, and slicked back his dark hair with his hand. Max glanced back as he was led out of the room. Phase two? What was = phase two? Who was Trent? He had this nasty feeling that what had just = happened was only the beginning of whatever plans Masters had up his = sleeve.=20 ************ end of part 7 - ------=_NextPart_000_014C_01C148D1.2025D6C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV> All That Glitters (7/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimers in Part 0 Feedback to <A=20 href=3D"mailto:anneo@paradise.net.nzPart">anneo@paradise.net.nz</A> ***** Part Seven Megabyte felt as though he was trying to climb out of a thick mental = fog. As=20 he forced his eyes open, he felt the sharp prick of a needle slide into = his=20 arm. "Hey that hurts," he protested weakly, trying to move his arm away = from the=20 man leaning over him. "Stop moving, or it will hurt even more." Doctor Brooke-Smythe spoke = with a=20 clipped British accent. "We need blood samples taken before we fit the=20 device." "It's A positive. Can you stop now?" Megabyte tried to sit up and found that he seemed to be strapped = securely=20 onto some sort of trolley. His eyes began to focus more clearly as he = looked=20 around in a panic. The British man leaning over him seemed to be in his = early=20 fifties and was tall and thin, with grey hair and a moustache. To the side of him the redhead could see Max, the teenager he and = Jade had=20 met at the UFO centre in Roswell. Jade, where was Jade? Megabyte looked = around=20 and couldn't see the young British girl anywhere. His gaze settled back = on Max=20 who was staring at the needle in undisguised horror. Brooke-Smythe smiled. The guy was enjoying inflicting his own weird = brand of=20 torture judging by that sick grin. "Don't worry, young man, you're = next." He=20 nodded towards a blond man, whom Megabyte remembered seeing in the UFO = centre,=20 as he carefully finished placed the blood samples into a test tube = rack. Hawkins moved towards Max as the boy started to struggle against the=20 restraints, and drew his weapon. "Didn't you hear what Doctor = Brooke-Smythe said=20 to your friend? Stop struggling! I don't want to have to shoot you = again." Max=20 winced as Brooke-Smythe slid the needle into his arm. This guy certainly = needed=20 some lessons on how to take blood. Someone also needed to tell him about = the=20 whole bedside manner thing. As he watched Max's reaction to Brooke-Smythe's vampire imitation, = Megabyte=20 tried to fight the fear he could feel rising within him. Get a grip. = Losing it=20 isn't going to help anyone, least of all yourself. At least they only = have you.=20 The other Tomorrow People were still free. Maybe Jade made it to the = ship. Help=20 could be on the way even now. The frosted glass doors to the laboratory swung open as a voice = called out in=20 an authoritative tone, "No, don't use the weapon. I want to make sure = they are=20 conscious when the device is fitted." Megabyte looked towards the owner of the voice, his feelings of panic = multiplying as he recognised the speaker all too well. Yeah, the man = still=20 looked the same as ever. He'd never been able to get that face out of = his head,=20 the guy still had the same look in his dark eyes, that look that = betrayed his=20 ruthlessness and total lack of decency. "Colonel Masters…" he = started to say,=20 and then stopped as he heard a familiar voice in his mind. [Megabyte, are you okay? Can you teleport?] Adam's telepathic voice = sounded=20 very urgent, and extremely worried. Megabyte looked up and saw his = friend being=20 escorted through the door by one of Masters' goons. "I thought I warned you about using telepathy," hissed Beckett, as he = pushed=20 the Australian sprawling towards his fellow Tomorrow Person. [Adam, are you okay?] What was Adam doing here? What the hell was = Masters up=20 to? Megabyte noticed Max look at Adam and then back again at Masters, a = look of=20 surprise briefly cross his features. Weird. It was almost as though Max = had=20 reacted because he'd overheard the telepathy. That wasn't possible. = Megabyte=20 tried to process all the information running around frantically in his = brain,=20 then decided to give up. Wait till whatever they gave you wears off. = You're not=20 functioning on warp drive yet. Get yourself past impulse first. Masters gestured towards the two Tomorrow People. "You heard what the = man=20 said. Use speech please. At this point in time it might pay you not to = rely on=20 your so-called special powers too much. If this experiment is a success, = you're=20 not going to be able to use them for much longer anyway." Not going to be able to use them much longer? What had Masters meant = by that=20 comment exactly? Megabyte didn't feel like sticking around to find out. = This guy=20 was seriously up to no good and he had the sneaking suspicion that he = and Adam=20 weren't going to enjoy whatever it was the creep had in mind. Adam repeated his earlier question, [Megabyte, can you teleport?] Megabyte shook his head, before he thought about what he was doing. = [I don't=20 think so,] he 'pathed back. [My head's too fuzzy from whatever they = zapped me=20 with. I don't think I could concentrate enough. I'm having enough = trouble with=20 telepathy at the moment.] Adam gasped as he doubled over from the effect of the gun butt = hitting him in=20 the stomach. "Adam!" Megabyte glared at Beckett, as he felt the waves of pain = coming from=20 his friend. "What did you do that for?" "Now, come on Megabyte," answered Masters in a silky tone that made = the young=20 American really wish that there were exceptions to the Tomorrow People = couldn't=20 kill rule. "Don't act dumb. I know you and your Australian friend were = talking=20 telepathically after you were warned not to. While you are my guest, you = need to=20 learn to follow my rules. After all we wouldn't want to have to damage = the=20 merchandise, so to speak." Adam pulled himself to his feet. "Is that what we are to you,=20 merchandise?" "I believe that is what I just said wasn’t it? You should feel = privileged,=20 having the opportunity to help your kind save mankind from the curse you = have=20 brought upon it. If this treatment works, we will be able to use it to = help=20 others as well." Adam frowned, his brow creasing as he looked at Megabyte, and then at = Max.=20 Their options seemed to be running out really fast. From what Masters = had said=20 they had better get out of this place while they still had the powers to = do so.=20 His eyes met Megabyte's, and the redhead could sense the unspoken = question=20 running through his friend's mind almost as clearly as if Adam had used=20 telepathy to ask it. [Teleport, Adam. Grab Max and teleport. Worry about me later.] = Megabyte=20 decided it was time to take action, at least as much action as they = could under=20 the circumstances. Masters snorted in disgust, and gestured to Beckett and Hawkins, who = grabbed=20 Adam, restraining him on the vacant bed between his two friends. He then = marched=20 over to Megabyte and slapped him over the face, hard. Megabyte felt his face grow hot, and opened his mouth to retort. As = Masters=20 started speaking he closed it again quickly, his feelings of panic = quickly being=20 replaced by those of anger. Shut up before you say something you or Adam = will=20 regret later. "I can see you have a problem with following orders, Marmaduke. Maybe = we need=20 to invite Millicent to join our little party. Maybe her presence would = be enough=20 to encourage you to do as you are told." Masters kept a close eye on Adam as he continued. "Adam, don't even = think of=20 teleporting. You only have time to grab one of your friends and I will = have no=20 hesitation in killing or severely injuring the other one. I know neither = one of=20 them is capable of teleporting themselves at the moment. There is enough = of the=20 drug still in their bloodstream to prevent their escape." Megabyte was finding it harder to control the growing anger within = him. Get a=20 grip. If you lose it now Masters has won. "You leave Millie out of this. = This is=20 nothing to do with her. I'll cooperate, just leave her alone." He sent a = look of=20 apology to Adam. It was bad enough that his father was mixed up in the = Tomorrow=20 People's affairs. There was no way he was going to let his sister put = her life=20 at risk as well. Megabyte still remembered the day Millie had found out about his = special=20 powers. He'd been out late with Kevin and had teleported into his = bedroom,=20 hoping that he could avoid his father and the usual lectures that = accompanied=20 his coming home at all hours of the night. To the redhead's surprise, = Millie had=20 been passing by his open bedroom door and had seen him teleporting. Trying to convince his sister that she had been seeing things had so = not been=20 the way to go. Once she had got over her initial shock he'd told her about the = Tomorrow=20 People, and made her promise not to tell anyone about them. She'd agreed = but=20 still tended to use the information to talk him into doing favours for = her. Of=20 course Megabyte would have done those favours for her anyway, but there = was no=20 way he would ever tell her that. Millie had formed a close friendship = with Jade,=20 after the two girls had met, as well. They seemed to have a lot in = common,=20 teasing Millie's older brother being one of them. "Whether I leave her alone totally depends on you doesn't it? Of = course she's=20 in safe hands at the moment, being in the hospital. Really close shave = with that=20 car you know. If it hadn't been for her boyfriend, things could have = been a lot=20 worse." Megabyte swallowed hard as Masters continued. What did the man mean = by=20 hospital? What had happened to Millie and Geoff? The young man tried = hard not to=20 let his feelings show. There was no way he was going to give that madman = the=20 satisfaction of seeing his concern. "Of course, I wouldn't have needed to use Millicent to send a message = to your=20 father, if I'd known you were going to appear in Roswell. I'd love to = see the=20 expression on General Damon's face when he realises you are = missing…" As the man=20 stopped and laughed, a cold chill crept through both the Tomorrow = People. *********** Max listened to the conversation between Megabyte and Masters in = growing=20 horror. Whoever this man was, there was no love lost between himself, = Megabyte=20 and Adam. He felt his head clear, and realised that the drug given earlier was = no=20 longer affecting him. Maybe it was because of his different physiology.=20 According to Masters' timetable, it shouldn't have worn off yet, for = otherwise=20 the man would have fitted these devices he had mentioned earlier. Coming to a decision, Max concentrated on the straps keeping him on = the=20 trolley bed, feeling them loosen as he did so. Someone had to stop this = Masters=20 before he hurt anyone else, and once Brooke-Smythe analysed the blood = taken=20 earlier, the fact that he wasn't exactly human was going to be out in = the open,=20 anyway. Max had nothing to lose and everything to hide. Adam and = Megabyte seemed=20 to have some sort of powers, maybe with any luck, Masters might presume = that=20 whatever Max did were a different manifestation of those same = powers. As Max threw himself off the bed, Beckett spun around and fired his = taser=20 weapon towards the young alien. Acting on an instinct he didn't know he=20 possessed Max raised his hand as he had seen Michael do, to protect = himself.=20 Immediately a form of force wall came into being in front of him. The = wall=20 seemed to be made up of pure energy, and Max stared at it in amazement. = Didn't=20 know I could do that. I wonder what other things we're capable of that = we don't=20 know yet? "Cool!" exclaimed Megabyte. He watched Max for a moment and then = spoke to his=20 friend. Max could hear the urgency in his voice. "Teleport, Adam. Go now = while=20 you can." As he spoke Megabyte closed his eyes in concentration for a moment. = The air=20 around the redhead crackled, he faded out and then solidified again. = Megabyte=20 looked around, noticing the teleport hadn't worked and glanced again at = Max. The=20 unspoken question was clear. Megabyte couldn't work out why his powers = still=20 weren't working properly. After all if Max could project a force wall, = why=20 couldn't he teleport? Max glanced behind him wondering what to do next, and noticed the = glass vials=20 with the blood samples sitting on a table. Max edged back, keeping the = force=20 wall in front of him, and waved his other hand over the test tubes. That = should=20 keep them guessing for a bit longer. The young alien looked up to see = what he=20 could do to help his companions, and noticed that the force wall seemed = to be=20 losing its integrity. Obviously splitting his concentration to change = the=20 molecular structure of the contents of the test tubes had been enough to = weaken=20 it. Maybe when he had had a chance to experiment with this new power, = he'd be=20 able to solve that problem, but now wasn't exactly the time to think = about=20 it. Max dived behind the big wooden table and yelled out to Adam. "Go, = get your=20 friend and get out of here. I can look after myself." Adam shook himself out of the shock of seeing Max's powers in action = and=20 teleported out of his restraints. He appeared close to Megabyte, = readying=20 himself to teleport his friend out. He'd noticed Megabyte teleport = minutes=20 before, only to reappear again. His friend's powers were nearly back to = full=20 strength, but he was clearly too weakened by the effects of the drugs to = initiate a teleport properly. Masters, on seeing Megabyte's teleportation attempt, held the redhead = down on=20 the trolley and cocked the gun, pushing the barrel against the boy's = head. "Do=20 you really think you can teleport faster than a bullet?" he asked = Adam. Adam shook his head, moving away from his friend as his eyes glazing = over=20 momentarily. [Did you hear that Megabyte? I could have sworn I heard = Kevin.=20 Maybe he and the others are trying to contact us?] The Australian turned = his=20 head away from Masters as he 'spoke.' He's making sure the man can't see = him=20 using telepathy, Max surmised. The Australian closed his eyes, ready to obviously send a reply to = whomever=20 he had heard, as Hawkins and Beckett grabbed him from behind. Adam = struggled but=20 he didn't dare teleport, not with Masters holding a gun on Megabyte. = Brooke-Smythe fitted some sort of metallic band around Adam's head. = He=20 swooned, then collapsed on the floor screaming, clutching his head in = pain. "You psycho! What have to done to him?" Megabyte looked at Adam and = seemed to=20 concentrate just as a similar device slide onto his own head. Must be = trying to=20 reach his friend, Max reasoned. As Max watched the redhead let out a = gasp of=20 pain. His eyes rolled back into his head and he fell back on the = trolley,=20 unconscious. Max automatically stepped forward to help, when he felt the barrel of = a gun=20 in the small of his back. He'd been so busy watching Adam and Megabyte = that he'd=20 forgotten about the failing force field and the danger he himself was = in. It=20 looked as though his options had suddenly become non-existent again. As = he=20 struggled against the two men bringing him over to Masters, Max really = hoped his=20 now unconscious companions had been able to tell whoever they had been = talking=20 to what was going on. Masters surveyed the two unconscious young people before him and = directed his=20 next statement at Max. The man's eyes were cold and he spoke with an air = of=20 calmness. "As you can see the device can be quite hazardous to your = health if=20 you attempt to use any psychic abilities while you are wearing it." Max felt a chill climbing up his spine. This man was dangerous, very=20 dangerous. He prayed that Adam and Megabyte were okay. What had that = headband=20 done to them? He felt a pressure on his head as realised that = Brooke-Smythe was=20 fitting one to him also. Max gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to = run. He=20 felt himself struggle against the guards, but knew he was wasting his = time.=20 Whatever this Masters had in mind, it seemed he was now as much a part = of it as=20 Megabyte and Adam. He could see the man watching him, waiting for a = reaction.=20 Well he's not going to get one. Of that Max was determined. At least he = doesn't=20 know who I am, at least he doesn't know who I am. The phrase repeated = itself=20 over and over in his mind, almost like a mantra. He looked Masters in = the eye,=20 and then turned away. That man was so full of hate, most of it directed = towards=20 the two still forms in front of him. What on earth had happened between=20 them? Masters was silent for a moment and then added, almost as an = afterthought.=20 "Oh, and I wouldn't bother trying to remove the one on your own head = either.=20 You'll only cause yourself a considerable amount of pain." Masters gestured to his men to take the three young people away, and = turned=20 to Brooke-Smythe. "Well, it looks as though you got that field test you = wanted=20 after all, Doctor. I think it's about time we contacted Mr Trent to let = him know=20 of our success with phase two." He straightened his tie, and slicked = back his=20 dark hair with his hand. Max glanced back as he was led out of the room. Phase two? What was = phase=20 two? Who was Trent? He had this nasty feeling that what had just = happened was=20 only the beginning of whatever plans Masters had up his sleeve. ************ end of part 7</DIV></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_014C_01C148D1.2025D6C0-- - - To unsubscribe to arfic-l, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe arfic-l" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 12:13:49 +1200 From: "Anne Olsen" <anneo@paradise.net.nz> Subject: (arfic-l) All That Glitters (8/20) This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01C149A9.5C75A8C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable All That Glitters (8/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimers in Part 0 Feedback to anneo@paradise.net.nz **** Part Eight Ami leant against Millie's bed to steady herself, her mind bombarded by = powerful psychic images. She pulled herself back to reality, as she = became aware of someone talking to her. "Ami, are you okay?" Caroline Damon sounded very concerned. Ami didn't answer her for a moment, she was still feeling quite shaken = by what she had seen and felt. She'd never received such feelings of = anger and fear from Adam before and it scared her. The mental picture of = Megabyte being restrained with a gun pushed up against his head hadn't = helped her state of mind either. The images had disappeared as fast as = they had come, almost as though someone had flicked an off switch on the = telepathic transmission. As she prepared to answer Mrs Damon, Ami = received another flash, much weaker this time, from Megabyte. Adam, what = had they done to Adam? Then suddenly Megabyte's presence was gone as = well, totally. One minute she had been aware of him in her mind, the = next nothing, absolutely nothing. Ami sent out a telepathic probe, = hoping to pick something up from either of her two friends. [Ami?] [Kevin, what's happening?] Ami felt relieved to hear the familiar mental = voice. [I just received a couple of flashes, a powerful one from Adam = followed by a much weaker one from Megabyte.] [Yeah, so did we. I think you need to get over here straight away. There = are some people you need to meet.] Kevin paused before continuing. [Did = you see the face of the man holding the gun on Megabyte? It was Colonel = Masters!] Ami could feel the anger coming from the younger boy. Even though she = had never met Masters herself she knew from what Adam, Megabyte and = Kevin had told her, how dangerous and ruthless the man was. If he had = their friends. Well it didn't bear thinking about. [I'll be there as soon as I can, Kevin. Don't do anything silly, like = trying to go after Adam and Megabyte on your own.] No answer.=20 [Kevin?] [Don't worry, Ami. I'll make sure he doesn't.] Jade sounded as though = she was trying hard not to cry. The younger girl was obviously very = upset by the whole thing. [I'll be there soon, Jade. Don't worry, we'll get them out of this. I = promise.] Ami tried to sound positive as she reassured her fellow = Tomorrow Person, something she wasn't exactly feeling herself. "Ami?" Mrs Damon repeated her earlier question. "Are you sure you're = okay? Geoff, go and get Millie's father, will you? He's in reception = talking to the police." "Is it Megabyte?" asked Millie. "Has something happened to Megabyte?" As = the girl spoke, she pushed her shoulder length red hair back off her = face. Not for the first time, Ami marvelled how alike Millie and her brother = were. Same hair, pale complexion and the way those blue eyes could = change in intensity when they knew you were trying to hide something. = Megabyte was quite a bit taller than his younger sister but basically = that was the main difference between the two. Of course Ami had more = than enough sense not to point this out to her fellow Tomorrow Person. = Sibling rivalry was alive and well in the Damon household, that was for = sure. Ami realised that Mrs Damon was also waiting for answers, her expression = reminding her of Megabyte. Genetics had seemed to favour their mother's = side of the family as opposed to the General's. Ami knew that both = Millie and her mother knew about Megabyte's powers and a little of some = of the dangers he had got himself mixed up in before, but wasn't sure = how much she should tell them about the current situation. At the moment = they had enough to worry about. She sat down on the end of Millie's bed and tried to put some words = together, tried to work out what exactly she should tell them. They = needed to know what was going on, but at the same time it might be = easier for them if they didn't. Ami looked up as General Damon pulled = back the checked curtain that separated the cubicle from the rest of the = A&E department. "Geoff tells me you almost fainted or something. What's going on, Ami? = Has something else happened?" Ami could tell from the man's expression = that he had a fair idea what had probably just happened. She'd realised = during their previous conversation that he suspected well enough how = much trouble Adam and Megabyte were in.=20 Ami nodded, coming to a decision. " Mrs Damon, Millie, I'm sure = Megabyte's okay." He and Adam have to be, she thought furiously before = continuing. "I just received a message from him, that's all. He and Adam = have got involved in something." Steve, the nurse, bustled into the cubicle before Ami could go any = further. "Right, young lady," he said. "You're very lucky, that arm's = not broken, just very badly sprained. I just need to strap it, and = you'll be as good as new in no time." The young blond man ushered General Damon and Ami out as he continued. = "Sorry, I need a bit of space to do this. Her mum can stay if she wants = but the rest of you can come back shortly."=20 "Is that okay with you, Millie?" he asked.=20 Millie lay back on the pillow as she replied. Her lack of colour was due = to more than just her injury, Ami surmised. She'd be worried about her = brother. Millie shot her father a look as he was leaving. Make things = right. Damon gave his daughter a quick smile of reassurance as he left = the cubicle, though Ami could tell he wasn't feeling as sure of things = as he was trying to make out. He's trying to put on a brave face to stop = his family worrying. Poor General Damon, his life has never been the = same since he found out about the Tomorrow People. "Yeah, I'd like Mom to stay. Ami, come back and tell me what's going on, = please." Millie sat back on the bed and leaned against the hospital = issue pillow.=20 Mrs Damon put a hand on Ami's shoulder. "Talk to Bill," she said. "I'll = stay here with Millie. Go." ********** As Ami and General Damon walked outside into the fresh air, looking for = somewhere to talk in private, they didn't notice Geoff following them at = a distance. The boy had gone to get a drink after tracking down Millie's = dad and had just caught the tail end of the conversation between Ami and = the Damons. Something was definitely going down here, something serious = that affected the safety of Millie and probably her brother as well. = Geoff had been puzzled as to why Megabyte hadn't come to the hospital to = see his sister, put two and two together and worked out something must = have happened to him. What he had overheard just confirmed his = suspicions. Maybe it was something to do with General Damon's job he = supposed, after all the man must have made some enemies over the years. = The teenager was going to find out what exactly, and do something about = it. No one tried to run over his girl and got away with it. Nobody. He pulled his jacket around him, it was certainly much colder outside, = and watched Ami and General Damon sit down on one of the hospital = benches. Geoff edged behind one of the trees near where they were, and = strained his ears to try and make out what they were saying. ******** "What did you see? Is Max okay? Someone talk to me." Liz couldn't stand = the silence any longer. Liz had watched the Tomorrow People and the two = aliens link hands to initiate this mind-merge thing Kevin had explained = to them. How had he put it again? Pooling their powers, something like = that. The blue glow that had surrounded the quartet had fascinated the = scientist in her, but then when it had suddenly cut out and she had seen = the expressions on the faces of her friends, Liz had become quite = concerned. Kevin and Jade had also seemed quite unsteady on their feet = for an instant, she noticed. Whatever they had picked up on, it had = affected them quite strongly, more so than Michael and Isabel. Jade in particular seemed very upset. In fact the younger girl seemed = close to tears. As Liz put her arms around her, she noticed the British = Tomorrow Person seemed suddenly preoccupied.=20 Jade turned to Liz, seeming to suddenly realise she was there. "Sorry," = she apologised "I was talking to Ami in London. She's worried that Kevin = might try and go after Masters by himself." "Who's Masters?" butted in Maria. "Did you manage to contact Megabyte = and Adam?" She looked around the room and it suddenly dawned on Liz who = she was looking for. Where was Alex? Oh yeah, he'd popped home to pick up his laptop. Liz = felt her face grow warm as she realised why. Surely Michael hadn't asked = him to do some research on their new friends? One of these days he was = going to have to trust someone. It wasn't something Max would have done = but then that definitely wasn't the time and place to mention that fact = to Michael. Or was it? Kevin had trusted them by telling the Tomorrow = People's secrets. Wasn't it time that information went both ways? Liz = wished Max were here. He'd know what to do. "How much exactly did you guys see and hear?" Kevin directed his = question at Isobel and Michael. "Enough to know that we need to get Max and your friends out of there, = fast," Michael surmised grimly. "Was Masters the one holding the gun on = Megabyte?" Maybe Michael was finally realising that the time for secrets = was over. If they didn't work together, they'd never get Max and the = others back. That fact was growing clearer by the moment. Kevin nodded. "Megabyte, Adam and I have met him once before, when = Megabyte and I first became Tomorrow People. Masters' a real creep, = wouldn't surprise me if he's on some sort of revenge kick or something." = Another thought occurred to him. "Wonder what that band thing was on = Adam's head? That's the thing that really worries me. The second flash, = the one from Megabyte, stopped very abruptly. They must have fitted one = on him as well. Maybe it stops us using our powers or something?" "What second flash?" asked Michael. " I only saw one, I'm sure of it. I = didn't see that headband thing you just mentioned either." "Megabyte sent a flash as well, but it was very faint. It must have been = too weak for you guys to see. Obviously your telepathy isn't as strong = as ours." Jade reached for her handkerchief as she continued. "Adam was = on the floor screaming, with some sort of band on his head. Megabyte was = yelling at Masters, he was really angry and I could feel how scared he = was." She wiped her nose with her hanky. "I don't remember ever picking = up fear like that from either of them." "What about Max?" Liz realised none of them had mentioned Max. Was he = okay? What was this Masters going to do with him?=20 "Max looked okay, don't worry. If this head band is designed to affect = Tomorrow People, he's probably in no immediate danger." Michael shook his head. "Don't be so sure of that. We don't know exactly = where our powers come from. You said yourself we seem to have some = telepathic abilities. Maybe we're not as different from you as what we = think. Besides what if this Masters realises he has a real live alien in = his clutches? What do you think he'll do to Max then?" **************** End of Part 8 - ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01C149A9.5C75A8C0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV> All That Glitters (8/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimers in Part 0 Feedback to <A=20 href=3D"mailto:anneo@paradise.net.nzPart">anneo@paradise.net.nz</A> **** Part Eight Ami leant against Millie's bed to steady herself, her mind bombarded = by=20 powerful psychic images. She pulled herself back to reality, as she = became aware=20 of someone talking to her. "Ami, are you okay?" Caroline Damon sounded very concerned. Ami didn't answer her for a moment, she was still feeling quite = shaken by=20 what she had seen and felt. She'd never received such feelings of anger = and fear=20 from Adam before and it scared her. The mental picture of Megabyte being = restrained with a gun pushed up against his head hadn't helped her state = of mind=20 either. The images had disappeared as fast as they had come, almost as = though=20 someone had flicked an off switch on the telepathic transmission. As she = prepared to answer Mrs Damon, Ami received another flash, much weaker = this time,=20 from Megabyte. Adam, what had they done to Adam? Then suddenly = Megabyte's=20 presence was gone as well, totally. One minute she had been aware of him = in her=20 mind, the next nothing, absolutely nothing. Ami sent out a telepathic = probe,=20 hoping to pick something up from either of her two friends. [Ami?] [Kevin, what's happening?] Ami felt relieved to hear the familiar = mental=20 voice. [I just received a couple of flashes, a powerful one from Adam = followed=20 by a much weaker one from Megabyte.] [Yeah, so did we. I think you need to get over here straight away. = There are=20 some people you need to meet.] Kevin paused before continuing. [Did you = see the=20 face of the man holding the gun on Megabyte? It was Colonel = Masters!] Ami could feel the anger coming from the younger boy. Even though she = had=20 never met Masters herself she knew from what Adam, Megabyte and Kevin = had told=20 her, how dangerous and ruthless the man was. If he had their = friends… Well it=20 didn't bear thinking about. [I'll be there as soon as I can, Kevin. Don't do anything silly, like = trying=20 to go after Adam and Megabyte on your own.] No answer. [Kevin?] [Don't worry, Ami. I'll make sure he doesn't.] Jade sounded as though = she was=20 trying hard not to cry. The younger girl was obviously very upset by the = whole=20 thing. [I'll be there soon, Jade. Don't worry, we'll get them out of this. I = promise.] Ami tried to sound positive as she reassured her fellow = Tomorrow=20 Person, something she wasn't exactly feeling herself. "Ami?" Mrs Damon repeated her earlier question. "Are you sure you're = okay?=20 Geoff, go and get Millie's father, will you? He's in reception talking = to the=20 police." "Is it Megabyte?" asked Millie. "Has something happened to Megabyte?" = As the=20 girl spoke, she pushed her shoulder length red hair back off her = face. Not for the first time, Ami marvelled how alike Millie and her = brother were.=20 Same hair, pale complexion and the way those blue eyes could change in = intensity=20 when they knew you were trying to hide something. Megabyte was quite a = bit=20 taller than his younger sister but basically that was the main = difference=20 between the two. Of course Ami had more than enough sense not to point = this out=20 to her fellow Tomorrow Person. Sibling rivalry was alive and well in the = Damon=20 household, that was for sure. Ami realised that Mrs Damon was also waiting for answers, her = expression=20 reminding her of Megabyte. Genetics had seemed to favour their mother's = side of=20 the family as opposed to the General's. Ami knew that both Millie and = her mother=20 knew about Megabyte's powers and a little of some of the dangers he had = got=20 himself mixed up in before, but wasn't sure how much she should tell = them about=20 the current situation. At the moment they had enough to worry about. She sat down on the end of Millie's bed and tried to put some words = together,=20 tried to work out what exactly she should tell them. They needed to know = what=20 was going on, but at the same time it might be easier for them if they = didn't.=20 Ami looked up as General Damon pulled back the checked curtain that = separated=20 the cubicle from the rest of the A&E department. "Geoff tells me you almost fainted or something. What's going on, = Ami? Has=20 something else happened?" Ami could tell from the man's expression that = he had a=20 fair idea what had probably just happened. She'd realised during their = previous=20 conversation that he suspected well enough how much trouble Adam and = Megabyte=20 were in. Ami nodded, coming to a decision. " Mrs Damon, Millie, I'm sure = Megabyte's=20 okay." He and Adam have to be, she thought furiously before continuing. = "I just=20 received a message from him, that's all. He and Adam have got involved = in=20 something…" Steve, the nurse, bustled into the cubicle before Ami could go any = further.=20 "Right, young lady," he said. "You're very lucky, that arm's not broken, = just=20 very badly sprained. I just need to strap it, and you'll be as good as = new in no=20 time." The young blond man ushered General Damon and Ami out as he = continued.=20 "Sorry, I need a bit of space to do this. Her mum can stay if she wants = but the=20 rest of you can come back shortly." "Is that okay with you, Millie?" he asked. Millie lay back on the pillow as she replied. Her lack of colour was = due to=20 more than just her injury, Ami surmised. She'd be worried about her = brother.=20 Millie shot her father a look as he was leaving. Make things right. = Damon gave=20 his daughter a quick smile of reassurance as he left the cubicle, though = Ami=20 could tell he wasn't feeling as sure of things as he was trying to make = out.=20 He's trying to put on a brave face to stop his family worrying. Poor = General=20 Damon, his life has never been the same since he found out about the = Tomorrow=20 People. "Yeah, I'd like Mom to stay. Ami, come back and tell me what's going = on,=20 please." Millie sat back on the bed and leaned against the hospital = issue=20 pillow. Mrs Damon put a hand on Ami's shoulder. "Talk to Bill," she said. = "I'll stay=20 here with Millie. Go." ********** As Ami and General Damon walked outside into the fresh air, looking = for=20 somewhere to talk in private, they didn't notice Geoff following them at = a=20 distance. The boy had gone to get a drink after tracking down Millie's = dad and=20 had just caught the tail end of the conversation between Ami and the = Damons.=20 Something was definitely going down here, something serious that = affected the=20 safety of Millie and probably her brother as well. Geoff had been = puzzled as to=20 why Megabyte hadn't come to the hospital to see his sister, put two and = two=20 together and worked out something must have happened to him. What he had = overheard just confirmed his suspicions. Maybe it was something to do = with=20 General Damon's job he supposed, after all the man must have made some = enemies=20 over the years. The teenager was going to find out what exactly, and do=20 something about it. No one tried to run over his girl and got away with = it.=20 Nobody. He pulled his jacket around him, it was certainly much colder = outside, and=20 watched Ami and General Damon sit down on one of the hospital benches. = Geoff=20 edged behind one of the trees near where they were, and strained his = ears to try=20 and make out what they were saying. ******** "What did you see? Is Max okay? Someone talk to me." Liz couldn't = stand the=20 silence any longer. Liz had watched the Tomorrow People and the two = aliens link=20 hands to initiate this mind-merge thing Kevin had explained to them. How = had he=20 put it again? Pooling their powers, something like that. The blue glow that had surrounded the quartet had fascinated the = scientist in=20 her, but then when it had suddenly cut out and she had seen the = expressions on=20 the faces of her friends, Liz had become quite concerned. Kevin and Jade = had=20 also seemed quite unsteady on their feet for an instant, she noticed. = Whatever=20 they had picked up on, it had affected them quite strongly, more so than = Michael=20 and Isabel. Jade in particular seemed very upset. In fact the younger girl seemed = close=20 to tears. As Liz put her arms around her, she noticed the British = Tomorrow=20 Person seemed suddenly preoccupied. Jade turned to Liz, seeming to suddenly realise she was there. = "Sorry," she=20 apologised "I was talking to Ami in London. She's worried that Kevin = might try=20 and go after Masters by himself." "Who's Masters?" butted in Maria. "Did you manage to contact Megabyte = and=20 Adam?" She looked around the room and it suddenly dawned on Liz who she = was=20 looking for. Where was Alex? Oh yeah, he'd popped home to pick up his laptop. Liz = felt her=20 face grow warm as she realised why. Surely Michael hadn't asked him to = do some=20 research on their new friends? One of these days he was going to have to = trust=20 someone. It wasn't something Max would have done but then that = definitely wasn't=20 the time and place to mention that fact to Michael. Or was it? Kevin had = trusted=20 them by telling the Tomorrow People's secrets. Wasn't it time that = information=20 went both ways? Liz wished Max were here. He'd know what to do. "How much exactly did you guys see and hear?" Kevin directed his = question at=20 Isobel and Michael. "Enough to know that we need to get Max and your friends out of = there, fast,"=20 Michael surmised grimly. "Was Masters the one holding the gun on = Megabyte?"=20 Maybe Michael was finally realising that the time for secrets was over. = If they=20 didn't work together, they'd never get Max and the others back. That = fact was=20 growing clearer by the moment. Kevin nodded. "Megabyte, Adam and I have met him once before, when = Megabyte=20 and I first became Tomorrow People. Masters' a real creep, wouldn't = surprise me=20 if he's on some sort of revenge kick or something." Another thought = occurred to=20 him. "Wonder what that band thing was on Adam's head? That's the thing = that=20 really worries me. The second flash, the one from Megabyte, stopped very = abruptly. They must have fitted one on him as well. Maybe it stops us = using our=20 powers or something?" "What second flash?" asked Michael. " I only saw one, I'm sure of it. = I=20 didn't see that headband thing you just mentioned either." "Megabyte sent a flash as well, but it was very faint. It must have = been too=20 weak for you guys to see. Obviously your telepathy isn't as strong as = ours."=20 Jade reached for her handkerchief as she continued. "Adam was on the = floor=20 screaming, with some sort of band on his head. Megabyte was yelling at = Masters,=20 he was really angry and I could feel how scared he was." She wiped her = nose with=20 her hanky. "I don't remember ever picking up fear like that from either = of=20 them." "What about Max?" Liz realised none of them had mentioned Max. Was he = okay?=20 What was this Masters going to do with him? "Max looked okay, don't worry. If this head band is designed to = affect=20 Tomorrow People, he's probably in no immediate danger." Michael shook his head. "Don't be so sure of that. We don't know = exactly=20 where our powers come from. You said yourself we seem to have some = telepathic=20 abilities. Maybe we're not as different from you as what we think. = Besides what=20 if this Masters realises he has a real live alien in his clutches? What = do you=20 think he'll do to Max then?" **************** End of Part 8</DIV></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01C149A9.5C75A8C0-- - - To unsubscribe to arfic-l, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe arfic-l" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of arfic-l-digest V1 #42 **************************** - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.