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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 #45 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 Wednesday, October 3 2001 Volume 01 : Number 045 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2001 10:49:09 +1200 From: "Anne Olsen" <anneo@paradise.net.nz> Subject: (arfic-l) All That Glitters (12/20) This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0094_01C14CC2.329E8320 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable All That Glitters (12/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimer in Part 0 Feedback to anneo@paradise.net.nz **** Part Twelve=20 "Jim Valenti. I'm the local sheriff. " Valenti held out his hand. "Sorry = for the intrusion but my son, Kyle," he indicated the dark haired well = built teenager standing beside him, " thought there was something weird = going on here and asked me to check things out. It sounds as though he = was right, from what I've heard." Bill stared at the sheriff and tried to pull himself together, wondering = how much the man had heard of the conversation. Hopefully not too much, = but the way things were going today, it wouldn't surprise him if his = luck was taking an extended vacation somewhere. How the hell had they = entered without being noticed? Bill mentally hit himself over the head. = He was so caught up in what was going down that he was slipping. This = situation was far too personal, he wasn't reacting the way he should. = No. He was reacting like a parent whose kids were in danger. Which they = were. Bill looked on all the Tomorrow People as his kids, as his = responsibility, not just Marmaduke. He took Valenti's proffered hand and introduced himself. "Bill Damon. = Look I appreciate your concern and I know you're only trying to do your = job, but the situation is under control." Bill could see from the other = man's expression that he wasn't buying what he was saying one little = bit. "Certainly sounds like it from where I'm standing," Valenti replied, = looking at him intently. Bill knew he was trying to 'read' him, trying = to get an idea of what he might be thinking. He laughed to himself. If = only the Sheriff knew how ironic that was, in the present situation. = "Kyle and I came in through the back in time to hear enough of the = conversation to know that if you want your son back unharmed you're = going to need help. I've had experience with this kind of thing." Experience with this kind of thing? The man had no idea what he was = getting into. Hell, no one had the experience to deal with this one. Valenti frowned before continuing. "Look, I'll be straight with you, and = hope you can do the same for me. Kyle noticed you appear out of thin air = with a girl about twenty minutes ago. I know it sounds unbelievable but = I know my son. He wouldn't say he'd seen something like that unless it = were true." The room had grown very quiet and Bill suddenly put two and two together = as to the reason. He looked at the Tomorrow People, wondering what they = were talking about. He'd known them long enough by now to realise there = was a telepathic conversation taking place. Ami stepped forward. "We've decided to trust you, Sheriff," she told = him. "But you've got to understand that what you are about to hear goes = no further than this room." "Sure," Valenti agreed. "You can trust us, can't she, Kyle?" Well of = course the man would say that. Bill realised that ironically his earlier = words to Geoff about trust were in effect being thrown back at him. He = could never understand the Tomorrow People's tendency to trust others. = Maybe their own inability for violence hindered their ability to realise = how others seemed to almost thrive on it? Kyle nodded. The boy still had a look of puzzlement on his face. Not = that Bill blamed him. He remembered his reaction when he'd first seen a = teleport. Hearing about it had been quite different to actually seeing = one. The fact that it had been his own son hadn't helped matters either. "Are you sure about this, Ami?" asked Bill, checking his watch at the = same time. He was supposed to meet Masters in under an hour, and he = didn't dare to be late. His old enemy had spelled out in no uncertain = terms what he would enjoy doing to his son if he didn't obey the = instructions he had been given to the letter. "We trust Kevin's feelings on this, General," Ami replied. Kevin's = feelings. He should have known. Adam and Ami seemed to put a lot of = stock in Kevin's empathic abilities. Still they knew more about it than = he did, and hopefully Ami knew what she was doing. He wasn't convinced = this was a good idea, bringing even more people into the loop. "Besides," the girl continued. "What choice do we have? If we're going = to save the others we're going to need all the help we can get." Ami = looked around the room, catching Kevin and Jade's eye, before turning to = Valenti. Here comes the TP 101 lecture, thought Bill. More people to add = to the list of people for me to keep an eye on after this is over. "We call ourselves the Tomorrow People," Ami explained. "We have a few = abilities that you don't, such as the teleportation Kyle saw earlier. = That's the reason Masters kidnapped Adam and Megabyte." Bill recognised the look on Valenti's face all too well as one he upon = mirrored on his own. The man knew he wasn't hearing the full story. = Still, now wasn't the time and place for all that, thought Bill, = checking his watch again. "Okay," he said. "Explanation time over. I've = got to meet Masters shortly and I don't want to think about what will = happen if I'm late." His cellphone rang again, and he reached into his pocket trying to keep = the anger he was feeling under control. "I told you I'd be there, = Masters," he snapped into the phone. "Oh, Geoff, it's you. Sorry, thought you were someone else." Bill heard = the worried tone in the boy's voice. "Is something wrong? Has something = happened to Millie?"=20 Bill listened for a moment and then turned to the Tomorrow People. = "Geoff thinks there's someone hanging around the house," he explained. = "With everything that's happening would one of you mind going and = checking things out and maybe taking them somewhere safer. Millie's my = daughter, Sheriff." The last comment was directed at Valenti and Kyle. Kevin spoke up. "I'll go. If I don't like the look of what's going on I = can always take them to the island. They'll be safe there." Bill hesitated before turning to Valenti. Even though Kevin was capable, = the thought of the Tomorrow People going into danger, not really being = able to defend themselves was something Bill was never going to be = comfortable with. He wasn't happy about Kevin maybe walking into = whatever was going down in the first place, but really what choice did = he have? "I'd feel happier if Kevin had some company, though I'm not = sure I have the right to volunteer." Valenti interrupted him, anticipating his suggestion. "Good idea. Kyle?" Kyle looked at his father and back to Bill. "Okay, I'll help. I just = have no idea what I'm getting into here so I want you guys to remember = that when I regret this later." "You'll be careful though won't you boys?" said his father. "No taking = chances or playing the hero. If things look dangerous you get out of = there." Kyle nodded, as did Kevin. "Thanks for your help, Kyle." As Kevin spoke = he held out his hand and Kyle looked at him suspiciously. "Why do you want to hold my hand for?" he asked. "Hey you're not, you = know." Kevin stared at Kyle, a look of disbelief fleeting briefly across his = features. Jade giggled. "It's so that you'll go with him when he = teleports, silly." "Teleports? Hey what's wrong with using a car?" "You might find it takes a while to get to London by car," explained = Kevin, reaching out and putting his hand on Kyle's shoulder before he = had a chance to change his mind. "London?" exclaimed Kyle, as Kevin closed his eyes and they both = vanished in a flash of white light. Valenti stepped forward in concern. "Where did my son go?" he asked. "Help's on the way, Geoff," Bill spoke into his phone. "Oh okay, they're = already there. Good." He listened to Geoff's description of what Kyle = was saying and smiled. "Yes okay, I'll pass that on. Good luck and be = careful." Bill turned to Valenti. "Kyle's still adjusting to the whole teleporting = thing, I think. He's saying, and I quote 'Get your hands off me, and = keep your hands away from my father.' I think Kevin's got his hands full = there." "Where's my son?" Valenti repeated his question. "How do I know he's = okay?" Ami put a reassuring hand on him but he pulled away, looking uneasy, = which Bill could understand. After all, Kyle had disappeared after Kevin = had done the same thing. "It's okay, sheriff." There was concern and not quite fear in the man's = eyes. "Kyle wanted to help and so Kevin teleported him to London that's = all. He's fine, just suffering a bit of aftershock from experiencing a = teleport." She paused for a moment, and then grinned. "Kevin says he's = still trying to come to grips that he's travelled to another country in = the blink of an eye." "Kevin says? What do you mean Kevin says? Kevin's in London." He sat = down at one of the tables. "Of course, why didn't I think of that = before. You kids are telepaths aren't you?" Poor guy, even though he was = working things out quickly, there was still a lot to take in. "Good move Jade," said Michael sarcastically. "Go on, tell the sheriff = all your secrets. After all that's what he's here for, to find out all = about you.Ow!" Bill noticed the boy glare at Maria as she gave him a = swift kick. "Michael." Maria began, exasperation sounding in her voice. Bill interrupted before things got out of control. "Yes, that's right = Sheriff. They are telepathic. Look I'm sure Kyle's okay. The first time = you teleport it takes a bit of getting used to. I remember that only too = well." He glanced at his watch again. "I know you're worried about your son, but at the moment I'm more = worried about mine. Masters made it only too clear what sort of things = he'd do to Megabyte if I didn't make the meeting place. You guys can = talk all you like but I'm going to make that meeting. Now can anyone = tell me where the UFO centre is?"=20 Valenti moved closer towards him and spoke quietly, so not to upset the = young people in the room. "Bill, " he said, "Do you mind if I call you = Bill?" Bill shook his head.=20 Valenti continued, "I know how you are feeling about your son. Hell, = mine's just disappeared into thin air and I'm still dealing with that. I = really don't think you're in any position to be making decisions at the = moment, you're too worried. Think about it. What's meeting with this = Masters going to achieve? It will just mean that he will have you as = well as your son and the others. Don't think for a minute that Megabyte = will be safe once you give in to this man. From my experience in this = sort of thing." His experience? Bill felt his anger rise as the Sheriff repeated the = phrase he had used earlier. He knew the sheriff was only trying to help = but he had no idea what it was like living with a son who was a Tomorrow = Person. Megabyte had gotten into so much trouble and danger over the = last few years, and yet Bill had always dreaded the day when something = like this would happen. Mad scientists and the like he could handle for = some reason, but Masters? Bill sighed. Maybe it was because he somehow = felt responsible that the man was still out there, that he had been able = to get his hands on Megabyte in the first place. Jade swayed and would have fallen if Alex hadn't caught her. Oh hell. = What now? Don't tell me something else has happened? Bill was beginning = to think he'd be lucky to get to the end of the day without losing his = sanity. Well as long as it was just his sanity and not anyone he cared = about, that would be fine. "Kevin!" exclaimed Jade. "Something's happened to Kevin."=20 Naturally. Something always happened to the Tomorrow People when they = went to check something out. By now you'd think he would know better. = Send the kid to help. Stupid move Damon, stupid move. "Are you sure Jade? How do you know?" He tried not to think the worse. = After all if Kevin was in trouble, what was happening to Millie, Geoff = and Kyle? Jade sat on the seat where Alex had led her to and looked up. She = started to speak, but stopped, overcome with emotion. Ami put her arm around her fellow Tomorrow Person, trying to comfort = her. "Jade, are you okay?" Jade nodded. "I guess I'm not as over that whole taser shooting thing as = I thought I was." Valenti looked at the two girls. "You said something's happened to = Kevin? Did he tell you that?" Ami paused. Bill felt himself grow cold. Every time Ami hesitated before = replying to that sort of question, he knew bad news was coming. She = probably wasn't sure how much she should tell the Sheriff. Still Kyle = had been with Kevin, he would be worried about his son. "Kevin's = unconscious, Sheriff. At least as far as we can tell. He's been hit by = one of those taser weapons. Jade and I felt him get shot." "Oh, great," groaned Bill. "That means that Masters' men must have him." Valenti pushed for more information. "You mean you kids can pick up = stuff like that from each other too? You said you felt him get shot. = What do you mean by that exactly?" He's wondering what exactly he and = his son have walked into. Poor guy. "Exactly what Ami said," snapped Jade. "We felt the sensation of the = taser shock as it went through him, well an echo of it anyway." She = looked at Ami and blushed. "Sorry I snapped your head off, I'm worried = about my friends." "That's okay, Jade. I'm worried about them too," replied Valenti. He = looked between the two girls. He had picked up on the fact they had used = telepathy too. Quick study. I wonder if that's a good thing or not Bill = thought, rising to his feet. "I'm sorry Sheriff, but that's the clincher for me. If Masters has both = my kids, I'm going to meet him. At this point in time I really don't = care what happens to me, I'm more worried about keeping the kids safe. = Even if meeting him just buys them some more time, it will be worth it." "But ." Valenti opened his mouth to argue and then closed it again. = Good. Bill wished the other man luck if he thought he was going to make = him change his mind. He suspected Valenti was worried about his own son = now, and that had given him a bit more of an insight to Bill's own state = of mind. This was one of those situations where teleporting was a = nightmare. The kids were so far away there was no way to get to them to = help. Not unless you were a Tomorrow Person, and there was no way he was = going to let Ami or Jade walk into the same trouble the others had. "Now can anyone tell me where to find this UFO centre?" Bill demanded. = "Or do I have to find it by myself?" Liz stood up, her heart going out to the older man. "I'll show you," she = offered. "Then you're coming straight back," ordered Valenti, deciding it was = time to take charge of the operation. "I don't want you kids to take any = more chances, do I make myself clear?" "Crystal." said Michael. Maybe it was authority in general the kid had a = problem with, judging by the tone in his voice. Bill headed out the door of the Crashdown and followed Liz over to what = he presumed must be the UFO centre. He glanced behind him as he did so, = catching the beginning of Valenti's next statement. "And that means Ami and Jade too." Valenti was trying to take charge = alright, that was for certain. Good luck to him. He was going to need = it. **********************=20 End of Part 12 - ------=_NextPart_000_0094_01C14CC2.329E8320 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 (12/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimer in Part 0 Feedback to <A=20 href=3D"mailto:anneo@paradise.net.nzPart">anneo@paradise.net.nz</A> **** Part Twelve "Jim Valenti. I'm the local sheriff. " Valenti held out his = hand.=20 "Sorry for the intrusion but my son, Kyle," he indicated the dark haired = well=20 built teenager standing beside him, " thought there was something weird = going on=20 here and asked me to check things out. It sounds as though he was right, = from=20 what I've heard." Bill stared at the sheriff and tried to pull himself together, = wondering how=20 much the man had heard of the conversation. Hopefully not too much, but = the way=20 things were going today, it wouldn't surprise him if his luck was taking = an=20 extended vacation somewhere. How the hell had they entered without being = noticed? Bill mentally hit himself over the head. He was so caught up in = what=20 was going down that he was slipping. This situation was far too = personal, he=20 wasn't reacting the way he should. No. He was reacting like a parent = whose kids=20 were in danger. Which they were. Bill looked on all the Tomorrow People = as his=20 kids, as his responsibility, not just Marmaduke. He took Valenti's proffered hand and introduced himself. "Bill Damon. = Look I=20 appreciate your concern and I know you're only trying to do your job, = but the=20 situation is under control." Bill could see from the other man's = expression that=20 he wasn't buying what he was saying one little bit. "Certainly sounds like it from where I'm standing," Valenti replied, = looking=20 at him intently. Bill knew he was trying to 'read' him, trying to get an = idea of=20 what he might be thinking. He laughed to himself. If only the Sheriff = knew how=20 ironic that was, in the present situation. "Kyle and I came in through = the back=20 in time to hear enough of the conversation to know that if you want your = son=20 back unharmed you're going to need help. I've had experience with this = kind of=20 thing." Experience with this kind of thing? The man had no idea what he was = getting=20 into. Hell, no one had the experience to deal with this one. Valenti frowned before continuing. "Look, I'll be straight with you, = and hope=20 you can do the same for me. Kyle noticed you appear out of thin air with = a girl=20 about twenty minutes ago. I know it sounds unbelievable but I know my = son. He=20 wouldn't say he'd seen something like that unless it were true." The room had grown very quiet and Bill suddenly put two and two = together as=20 to the reason. He looked at the Tomorrow People, wondering what they = were=20 talking about. He'd known them long enough by now to realise there was a = telepathic conversation taking place. Ami stepped forward. "We've decided to trust you, Sheriff," she told = him.=20 "But you've got to understand that what you are about to hear goes no = further=20 than this room." "Sure," Valenti agreed. "You can trust us, can't she, Kyle?" Well of = course=20 the man would say that. Bill realised that ironically his earlier words = to Geoff=20 about trust were in effect being thrown back at him. He could never = understand=20 the Tomorrow People's tendency to trust others. Maybe their own = inability for=20 violence hindered their ability to realise how others seemed to almost = thrive on=20 it? Kyle nodded. The boy still had a look of puzzlement on his face. Not = that=20 Bill blamed him. He remembered his reaction when he'd first seen a = teleport.=20 Hearing about it had been quite different to actually seeing one. The = fact that=20 it had been his own son hadn't helped matters either. "Are you sure about this, Ami?" asked Bill, checking his watch at the = same=20 time. He was supposed to meet Masters in under an hour, and he didn't = dare to be=20 late. His old enemy had spelled out in no uncertain terms what he would = enjoy=20 doing to his son if he didn't obey the instructions he had been given to = the=20 letter. "We trust Kevin's feelings on this, General," Ami replied. Kevin's = feelings.=20 He should have known. Adam and Ami seemed to put a lot of stock in = Kevin's=20 empathic abilities. Still they knew more about it than he did, and = hopefully Ami=20 knew what she was doing. He wasn't convinced this was a good idea, = bringing even=20 more people into the loop. "Besides," the girl continued. "What choice do we have? If we're = going to=20 save the others we're going to need all the help we can get." Ami looked = around=20 the room, catching Kevin and Jade's eye, before turning to Valenti. Here = comes=20 the TP 101 lecture, thought Bill. More people to add to the list of = people for=20 me to keep an eye on after this is over. "We call ourselves the Tomorrow People," Ami explained. "We have a = few=20 abilities that you don't, such as the teleportation Kyle saw earlier. = That's the=20 reason Masters kidnapped Adam and Megabyte." Bill recognised the look on Valenti's face all too well as one he = upon=20 mirrored on his own. The man knew he wasn't hearing the full story. = Still, now=20 wasn't the time and place for all that, thought Bill, checking his watch = again.=20 "Okay," he said. "Explanation time over. I've got to meet Masters = shortly and I=20 don't want to think about what will happen if I'm late." His cellphone rang again, and he reached into his pocket trying to = keep the=20 anger he was feeling under control. "I told you I'd be there, Masters," = he=20 snapped into the phone. "Oh, Geoff, it's you. Sorry, thought you were someone else." Bill = heard the=20 worried tone in the boy's voice. "Is something wrong? Has something = happened to=20 Millie?" Bill listened for a moment and then turned to the Tomorrow People. = "Geoff=20 thinks there's someone hanging around the house," he explained. "With = everything=20 that's happening would one of you mind going and checking things out and = maybe=20 taking them somewhere safer. Millie's my daughter, Sheriff." The last = comment=20 was directed at Valenti and Kyle. Kevin spoke up. "I'll go. If I don't like the look of what's going on = I can=20 always take them to the island. They'll be safe there." Bill hesitated before turning to Valenti. Even though Kevin was = capable, the=20 thought of the Tomorrow People going into danger, not really being able = to=20 defend themselves was something Bill was never going to be comfortable = with. He=20 wasn't happy about Kevin maybe walking into whatever was going down in = the first=20 place, but really what choice did he have? "I'd feel happier if Kevin = had some=20 company, though I'm not sure I have the right to volunteer…" Valenti interrupted him, anticipating his suggestion. "Good idea. = Kyle?" Kyle looked at his father and back to Bill. "Okay, I'll help. I just = have no=20 idea what I'm getting into here so I want you guys to remember that when = I=20 regret this later." "You'll be careful though won't you boys?" said his father. "No = taking=20 chances or playing the hero. If things look dangerous you get out of = there." Kyle nodded, as did Kevin. "Thanks for your help, Kyle." As Kevin = spoke he=20 held out his hand and Kyle looked at him suspiciously. "Why do you want to hold my hand for?" he asked. "Hey you're not, you = know…" Kevin stared at Kyle, a look of disbelief fleeting briefly across his = features. Jade giggled. "It's so that you'll go with him when he = teleports,=20 silly." "Teleports? Hey what's wrong with using a car?" "You might find it takes a while to get to London by car," explained = Kevin,=20 reaching out and putting his hand on Kyle's shoulder before he had a = chance to=20 change his mind. "London?" exclaimed Kyle, as Kevin closed his eyes and they both = vanished in=20 a flash of white light. Valenti stepped forward in concern. "Where did my son go?" he = asked. "Help's on the way, Geoff," Bill spoke into his phone. "Oh okay, = they're=20 already there. Good." He listened to Geoff's description of what Kyle = was saying=20 and smiled. "Yes okay, I'll pass that on. Good luck and be careful." Bill turned to Valenti. "Kyle's still adjusting to the whole = teleporting=20 thing, I think. He's saying, and I quote 'Get your hands off me, and = keep your=20 hands away from my father.' I think Kevin's got his hands full = there." "Where's my son?" Valenti repeated his question. "How do I know he's=20 okay?" Ami put a reassuring hand on him but he pulled away, looking uneasy, = which=20 Bill could understand. After all, Kyle had disappeared after Kevin had = done the=20 same thing. "It's okay, sheriff." There was concern and not quite fear in the = man's eyes.=20 "Kyle wanted to help and so Kevin teleported him to London that's all. = He's=20 fine, just suffering a bit of aftershock from experiencing a teleport." = She=20 paused for a moment, and then grinned. "Kevin says he's still trying to = come to=20 grips that he's travelled to another country in the blink of an = eye." "Kevin says? What do you mean Kevin says? Kevin's in London…" = He sat down at=20 one of the tables. "Of course, why didn't I think of that before. You = kids are=20 telepaths aren't you?" Poor guy, even though he was working things out = quickly,=20 there was still a lot to take in. "Good move Jade," said Michael sarcastically. "Go on, tell the = sheriff all=20 your secrets. After all that's what he's here for, to find out all about = you…Ow!" Bill noticed the boy glare at Maria as she gave him a = swift kick. "Michael…" Maria began, exasperation sounding in her voice. Bill interrupted before things got out of control. "Yes, that's right = Sheriff. They are telepathic. Look I'm sure Kyle's okay. The first time = you=20 teleport it takes a bit of getting used to. I remember that only too = well." He=20 glanced at his watch again. "I know you're worried about your son, but at the moment I'm more = worried=20 about mine. Masters made it only too clear what sort of things he'd do = to=20 Megabyte if I didn't make the meeting place. You guys can talk all you = like but=20 I'm going to make that meeting. Now can anyone tell me where the UFO = centre is?"=20 Valenti moved closer towards him and spoke quietly, so not to upset = the young=20 people in the room. "Bill, " he said, "Do you mind if I call you = Bill?" Bill shook his head. Valenti continued, "I know how you are feeling about your son. Hell, = mine's=20 just disappeared into thin air and I'm still dealing with that. I really = don't=20 think you're in any position to be making decisions at the moment, = you're too=20 worried. Think about it. What's meeting with this Masters going to = achieve? It=20 will just mean that he will have you as well as your son and the others. = Don't=20 think for a minute that Megabyte will be safe once you give in to this = man. From=20 my experience in this sort of thing…" His experience? Bill felt his anger rise as the Sheriff repeated the = phrase=20 he had used earlier. He knew the sheriff was only trying to help but he = had no=20 idea what it was like living with a son who was a Tomorrow Person. = Megabyte had=20 gotten into so much trouble and danger over the last few years, and yet = Bill had=20 always dreaded the day when something like this would happen. Mad = scientists and=20 the like he could handle for some reason, but Masters? Bill sighed. = Maybe it was=20 because he somehow felt responsible that the man was still out there, = that he=20 had been able to get his hands on Megabyte in the first place. Jade swayed and would have fallen if Alex hadn't caught her. Oh hell. = What=20 now? Don't tell me something else has happened? Bill was beginning to = think he'd=20 be lucky to get to the end of the day without losing his sanity. Well as = long as=20 it was just his sanity and not anyone he cared about, that would be = fine. "Kevin!" exclaimed Jade. "Something's happened to Kevin." Naturally. Something always happened to the Tomorrow People when they = went to=20 check something out. By now you'd think he would know better. Send the = kid to=20 help. Stupid move Damon, stupid move. "Are you sure Jade? How do you know?" He tried not to think the = worse. After=20 all if Kevin was in trouble, what was happening to Millie, Geoff and = Kyle? Jade sat on the seat where Alex had led her to and looked up. She = started to=20 speak, but stopped, overcome with emotion. Ami put her arm around her fellow Tomorrow Person, trying to comfort = her.=20 "Jade, are you okay?" Jade nodded. "I guess I'm not as over that whole taser shooting thing = as I=20 thought I was." Valenti looked at the two girls. "You said something's happened to = Kevin? Did=20 he tell you that?" Ami paused. Bill felt himself grow cold. Every time Ami hesitated = before=20 replying to that sort of question, he knew bad news was coming. She = probably=20 wasn't sure how much she should tell the Sheriff. Still Kyle had been = with=20 Kevin, he would be worried about his son. "Kevin's unconscious, Sheriff. = At=20 least as far as we can tell. He's been hit by one of those taser = weapons. Jade=20 and I felt him get shot." "Oh, great," groaned Bill. "That means that Masters' men must have = him." Valenti pushed for more information. "You mean you kids can pick up = stuff=20 like that from each other too? You said you felt him get shot. What do = you mean=20 by that exactly?" He's wondering what exactly he and his son have walked = into.=20 Poor guy. "Exactly what Ami said," snapped Jade. "We felt the sensation of the = taser=20 shock as it went through him, well an echo of it anyway." She looked at = Ami and=20 blushed. "Sorry I snapped your head off, I'm worried about my = friends." "That's okay, Jade. I'm worried about them too," replied Valenti. He = looked=20 between the two girls. He had picked up on the fact they had used = telepathy too.=20 Quick study. I wonder if that's a good thing or not Bill thought, rising = to his=20 feet. "I'm sorry Sheriff, but that's the clincher for me. If Masters has = both my=20 kids, I'm going to meet him. At this point in time I really don't care = what=20 happens to me, I'm more worried about keeping the kids safe. Even if = meeting him=20 just buys them some more time, it will be worth it." "But …" Valenti opened his mouth to argue and then closed it = again. Good.=20 Bill wished the other man luck if he thought he was going to make him = change his=20 mind. He suspected Valenti was worried about his own son now, and that = had given=20 him a bit more of an insight to Bill's own state of mind. This was one = of those=20 situations where teleporting was a nightmare. The kids were so far away = there=20 was no way to get to them to help. Not unless you were a Tomorrow = Person, and=20 there was no way he was going to let Ami or Jade walk into the same = trouble the=20 others had. "Now can anyone tell me where to find this UFO centre?" Bill = demanded. "Or do=20 I have to find it by myself?" Liz stood up, her heart going out to the older man. "I'll show you," = she=20 offered. "Then you're coming straight back," ordered Valenti, deciding it was = time to=20 take charge of the operation. "I don't want you kids to take any more = chances,=20 do I make myself clear?" "Crystal…" said Michael. Maybe it was authority in general the = kid had a=20 problem with, judging by the tone in his voice. Bill headed out the door of the Crashdown and followed Liz over to = what he=20 presumed must be the UFO centre. He glanced behind him as he did so, = catching=20 the beginning of Valenti's next statement. "And that means Ami and Jade too." Valenti was trying to take charge = alright,=20 that was for certain. Good luck to him. He was going to need it. ********************** End of Part 12</DIV></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_0094_01C14CC2.329E8320-- - - 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: Thu, 04 Oct 2001 00:02:28 +0000 From: "Mandi Ohlin" <weird_web@hotmail.com> Subject: (arfic-l) FIC: "Sharp Edges" (2/?) Title: Sharp Edges Author: Mandi Ohlin Rating: PG (language) Part: 2 of ? Fandom: Witchblade(the TV series)/BtVS Category: Crossover/Action/Humor Archive permission: If you want it, wait til I get it done and revised and please ask. Summary: Sara Pezzini's latest murder case is a weird one... and her only lead is a bleached-blond vamp in search of a runaway. Timeline: After "The Gift"; post fifth-season BtVS. For Witchblade, after "Periculum." Pretty much deviates from continuity after that. (Now that "Bargaining" has aired, this sucker is now officially AU.) Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and all related indicia belong to 20th Century Fox (although, IMO, Joss Whedon deserves the rights). "Witchblade" (the TV series) and all related indicia is property of Top Cow Productions and I think TNT has a hand in that cookie jar. No profit is being received from this piece of fan fiction, and no copyright infringement is intended. Author's Note: Umm... tell me if you want me to keep posting this, and please let me know if something seems off. This is one of those stories that may balloon into an epic or spin off on a tangent since I don't have a clear idea of where it's going. (Yes, I am enjoying this...) Sharp Edges by Mandi Ohlin Part Two Sara could tell where the crime scene was the moment she entered the townhouse. She didn't need to use the Witchblade. She didn't need to look for the cops clustered around the door. All she had to do was follow her nose. Literally. The stench was overpowering as she stepped through the bedroom door, jerking backwards slightly as the miasma assailed her senses. No one laughed; even the "veterans" at the scene - the cops who'd seen it all - were covering their faces to block out the odor. Bill Riley, the man who ate onions for breakfast, looked a little green. It wasn't just the scent of a two-day-old corpse, but a mixture of scents. There were overtones of something that reminded Sara of a wet dog. A very large and shaggy wet dog that hadn't bathed in several months, had turkey bacon for breakfast and had just had a roll in the garbage. The two-day-old corpse had been identified as one Edward Travers, the fifty-ish owner of an antique book store downtown. Sara had passed the place a few times. Judging by the townhouse he owned, it did pretty good business. It was going to be hell to get the stench out of the carpets. Some of the cops moved aside to let her through, and a hand thrust a roll of paper towels into her hand. She turned to see Jake standing there, a handful of paper towels pressed against his nose and mouth. "Sorry, Pez," he said, muffled by the towel. "Only thing we could find." She gave him a weak, but grateful smile, tearing several towels off the roll and pressing them to her face. It still stank, but at least now she could breathe. "God, couldn't anyone find a gas mask?" "Dante's too cheap for that," someone muttered. The body, naturally, lay in the epicenter of the stench, but its appearance belied the smell. True, there was nothing pretty about a mauling, but Sara had expected the victim to be in far worse condition. He was in his mid-fifties, his leathery face twisted in pain and rage - more angry than afraid, but it was hard to tell with the parallel gashes crisscrossing his face. Definite claw marks. Jake stood beside her, looking ill but doing a good job of suppressing it. Sara smiled. Most rookies would probably have dashed for fresh air by now. "Damn. Looks like he had a run-in with Wild Kingdom." Sara crouched down beside the body, somehow managing to retrieve and don a pair of latex gloves while keeping the towels pressed to her nose and mouth. God, the smell was worse the closer one got. She steeled herself and brought her attention back to the victim. The claw marks on his face were an angry red, but they were needle-thin; deep, but the claws that made them were small. It looked like a cat had gotten in a really lucky and direct shot. They were the only marks of that kind, however. The sleeves of his cotton shirt were rolled up, and his arms were festooned with small teeth marks. "Hey, Jake, check this out." She turned the arm ever so slightly so he could get a good look at the most visible bite. "Whatever it was tried for a taste. Several times." "Looks like a weasel bite," Jake said confidently. Sara stared at him, wondering where on earth that had come from. "Camping trip. Long story." "Uh-huh." She glanced at the hole in the victim's chest. Jake flinched a bit. "Know any weasels that could do this kind of damage?" He looked up at the ceiling, thinking, but mostly trying not to look at the corpse. "I don't know. Something chomped on him after the fact?" "Not that fresh." Sara stood up, giving Jake a worried look. He was putting up a brave front, but he wasn't looking well. "You check the downstairs. I'll meet you out front." For a second, he looked like he was about to protest, but then he understood. "Thanks, Pez." "Anytime," she muttered as he beat a hasty retreat. Most of the officers had drifted out of the room, ostensibly to take care of other matters now that she and Jake were there. Sara knelt down by the body again. It was only then that she noticed the victim's left hand. His fingers were bloody stumps - even the bone was gone. Gnawed away. Sara frowned. Who - or what - would follow this kind of M.O.? It made no sense. Responding to her unspoken question, the crimson stone of the Witchblade flared to life. Her surroundings seemed to dissolve, the sunny, ransacked bedroom replaced with a darkened corridor, made blurry by movement and fear. There was the sensation of running, thundering through a house that could not possibly have been as big as it seemed, knocking over furniture and dashing through hallways in search of escape. A black shadow trailing behind, radiating animal musk and pure hunger. Yet it was not purely animal; there was an edge of calculation, perception that no beast would have... A door was flung open, and slammed again too late for the pursuer to follow, battering ineffectually at the barrier. There was a pause, a moment's relaxation, and the world exploded into blackness and pain, a series of hazy, indistinct impressions. So many of them... swarming, snarling, teeth tearing to the bone... testing his boundaries... Surging forward and clawing, scraping away existence, thought, reality... Sara jerked back to the present with a gasp, wrenching herself out of the vision. A hand touched her shoulder and she jumped, turning to see a tall, skinny man standing there. It took her a second to recognize the photographer. "Hey, Pezzini? You all right?" She glanced around, noticing that they were the only two left in the room. Everyone else had found some excuse to escape. _How long was I out?_ "I'll live. Where's my partner?" "Dry-heaving out front." The cloth over his face obscured his smile, but she could see it in his eyes. She stood up. "Yeah, I think I'm gonna join him." He snorted, and she could hear his startled murmur as he got a good look at the body as she made her escape downstairs. Jake was leaning against the railing when she came out. He looked pale and queasy, and the only reason he wasn't getting harassed was because the smell had gotten to most of the cops out there. "Sorry, Pez. Just couldn't take it in there anymore." "Another second and I would've passed out. Don't worry about it." She took a deep breath of air. The lingering exhaust from traffic smelled like a spring breeze after five minutes at the crime scene. "Any witnesses?" The change of topic was enough to distract him from his condition. "Next-door neighbor said she heard some heavy thudding late last night, but she thought he was moving furniture again. No sign of forced entry, and no one in the area noticed anything unusual." _Except for the smell this morning,_ Sara added silently. That was what had tipped off the neighbors in the first place. Travers wasn't a recluse, but he'd been under the weather, so his neighbors assumed that he was staying in sick. "They don't see a lot of strays around here, do they?" "Nah. I asked around. No sign of any stray animals." She scowled, remembering the vision. It was vague - too vague, especially for the Witchblade. While it certainly supported the assumption that it had been an animal responsible, that didn't explain that presence, the calculated menace which meant that there was a method behind the murder. It occurred to her that she was being watched. Sara glanced up in time to see a dark shadow perched on a nearby roof. When she looked again, it was gone. No matter. She knew who it was. She was aware that Jake was staring at her, and forced herself to lighten the mood. "No swarms of rabid weasels?" Jake snorted. "Not unless you count the lawyers on this block." Sara actually smiled at that. "All right. Let's finish up here and see what we can dig up on Travers." ***** Ian Nottingham watched them go from his perch, wrinkling his nose slightly as his heightened senses picked up a whiff of the stench below. No wonder some of the officers looked distinctly ill. He'd thought that it was just Sara's partner being useless, but for once he could identify with McCartey. But he still didn't like the man. Irons' orders had not been very specific - they never were, but he was more vague than usual. His guardian was trying to hide it, but he was clearly uncertain about something. So Ian had simply decided to watch over Sara, since he didn't need to be told to do that. She'd seen him, of course, but he wasn't trying to hide from her. Something was going on. Ian was sure of that. He would just have to wait and see what. ***** The brown-haired girl was back again. Bryan had first seen her a few days ago while walking dogs, and was immediately fascinated by her - and not because she was cute. Oh, she was pretty - slim but not anorexic-thin, large eyes and a curtain of chocolate-brown hair. Problem was, she couldn't be any older than fifteen or sixteen, and the word "jailbait" immediately came to mind. There was something startlingly real about her that seemed to clear the air wherever she went. He couldn't put his finger on just what it was about her that had that effect. At first, he'd mistaken her for the typical yuppie runaway, the type that took off because of problems that a good shrink could sort out. The type whose Daddy and Mommy didn't pay enough attention to. But she was a little too smart - the motel she'd picked was just cheap enough to let her stretch out some cash, but just clean and nice enough so she wouldn't have to worry about drug dealers. She'd done her homework. Then he'd managed to touch her on the street - not a bad touch, just brushing past her in the crowd. It was enough to get a hint of her feelings, a hint of the pain. He'd been able to pick up on emotions since he was twelve. It was a gift, and one that came in handy around here. It helped him figure out who was worth helping... and who was just looking for a free lunch. This one might be worth helping. ***** tbc... - -- Mandi Ohlin (Mandolin) member of the SisterHood of Evil fanfic fanatic and nitpicker extraordinaire "THIS is the crack team that foils my every plan? I am deeply shamed." --Spike, "BtVS: Something Blue" http://www.weirdweb.net _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp - - 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 #45 **************************** - 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. 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