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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 #50 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 Monday, October 15 2001 Volume 01 : Number 050 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 09:49:05 +1300 From: "Anne Olsen" <anneo@paradise.net.nz> Subject: (arfic-l) All That Glitters (20/20) This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0019_01C15303.214100C0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable All That Glitters (20/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimers in Part 0 Feedback to anneo@paradise.net **** Part Twenty "Max, you're okay." Liz sounded very relieved as Max, Jade and Megabyte = materialised in front of her. She got up from under the large tree she = had been leaning against, and walked over to Max. As he looked down at = her, Max noticed her eyes seemed unnaturally bright. She'd been crying, = he realised, though she was trying hard to hide it.=20 "Be back in a moment," promised Megabyte as he disappeared in another = flash of light. "He's gone back for Isabel and Alex," explained Max. "General Damon = thought it might be a good idea if we weren't around when the = authorities turned up. He thinks he's going to have enough fun = explaining what's been happening as it is." Max felt Liz sidle up against him and slid his arm around her, almost = without thinking. It felt so good to be with her again. He'd come so = close to almost never seeing her again that it scared him. As he'd = watched Megabyte and Jade together after Michael and the others had left = for London, Max hadn't been able to get Liz out of his mind. What if = Masters had killed them before help had arrived? What if the truth had = come out about who he really was? What if.what if? One thing he did know for certain was that he wasn't going to go on not = knowing if he and Liz had a future. It was time he acted on his = feelings. You make your own future. Yes, it was dangerous for Liz to be = involved with him because of who he was, but if she was willing to take = the risk, well maybe he should too. After all it was fairly obvious by = the fact she was here, waiting for him that she was more concerned about = his welfare than her own. If she was ready to think of him first, it was = only fair that he did the same. "Michael. Where's Michael?" Maria looked around anxiously. Max looked up = guilty as she came out from behind the tree. He'd been so wrapped up in = seeing Liz again that he hadn't even noticed she was there. "Do you have = any idea what it's been like for Liz and I hanging around here, not = knowing what's been going on? Well do you?" As if in answer to her question, there was another flash of light and = Michael, Kyle and Adam appeared next to her. Maria threw herself at Michael, who backed off looking very = uncomfortable. "Hey, why don't I get that sort of greeting?" Megabyte re appeared, this = time with Isabel and Alex in tow. Jade grinned and threw herself at the American Tomorrow Person, whose = face quickly began to change to match the colour of his hair. Adam laughed. "I think you asked for that one, Megabyte." "Yeah, whatever. I just left Dad and Sheriff Valenti working out what = they are going to tell the police." Max noticed that although Megabyte = had changed the subject he hadn't pushed Jade away. The redhead leaned = back against the tree Liz had been taking shelter under when Max had = teleported in with him a few minutes earlier, Jade still staying close. "Where's my dad?" Kyle wanted to know. "I need to see him, to let him = know I'm okay." Adam looked hesitant. "But what about keeping a low profile?" "He's the sheriff's son," Max pointed out. "I don't think they're going = to question it too much if he goes in looking for his dad. He can act = like he doesn't know what's been happening. Can't you, Kyle?" "I *don't * know what's happening. Nothing that happened today makes any = sense, and I think it's easier to keep it that way," Kyle said. "Look, I = owe you guys. I'm not going to let on that I know about all that = teleporting stuff. Now where's Dad?" "He's down by the main gates talking to the cops," Megabyte told him. = "It might be safer if you go on your own though. If I teleport you my = Dad will kill me." "Fine by me," Kyle turned to head towards the old factory, then turned = and paused. "Adam thanks for what you did in London, hope Kevin is okay. = If I don't see you guys again." He stopped, obviously unsure of what to = say. Michael coughed and Max stifled a grin.=20 "Oh yeah, thanks, Michael." Kyle muttered his reply so softly that Max = had trouble hearing him. He then turned and started walking briskly down = the hill towards Masters' former base of operations to meet his father. "I think you were lucky to get that out of him, Michael," pointed out = Liz. "Kyle feels quite uncomfortable around you guys. It will probably = take him a while to come to grips with what he's been through today. He = didn't find out about you did he?" Michael shook his head. "I used my powers in London but I'm sure Kyle = didn't see it. I think he though all the weird stuff came from Adam, not = me." "See, Adam," Megabyte said with a grin. "I always told you I wasn't the = only weird one around here." "Yeah right, Megabyte." Adam grinned back at his fellow Tomorrow Person. = "So I take it the sheriff doesn't know about you guys either?" The last = question was directed at Max who shook his head. "We'd prefer to leave it that way too if that's okay. Megabyte, your = father." Max glanced down at the factory gates again. Luckily the large = tree they were sheltering behind also hid them from anyone who might be = looking out from Masters' former base. He shivered. The old building = looked so harmless from the outside, quite at odds to how close they had = been to losing everything while within its walls. Still the person = behind that was dead now, dead and gone. Hopefully the threat he posed = had died with him. "No, he won't tell," the redhead reassured him. "Dad's good at keeping = secrets. He's had loads of practice over the last few years. When I = left, he and Kyle's dad were telling the cops that Masters had come = after us because of his job." "Yeah, but what about Max?" Maria wanted to know. "Surely the cops know = that he isn't connected to General Damon?" "Yeah, but Max got involved because Masters thought he was me," Adam = reminded them. "If they stick to that story, I don't really see a = problem." Max looked around the group again. Megabyte and Jade were leaning = against the old tree, his arms casually around her. Maria had moved = closer to Michael, though he was pretending not to notice. Alex had his = arms around Isabel and Max realised how comfortable his sister looked = next to him. Maybe he hadn't been the only one who had realised you = needed to embrace happiness while you still could. Max looked again at = his friends, both old and new, and smiled to himself. It was reassuring = to see them all together again. After the events of the day he had = wondered if that was ever going to happen again. They'd *all * come so = close to losing everything that mattered. Max frowned. Someone was missing. Ami hadn't returned from London with = the others. He turned to ask Adam and noticed the young man was standing = quietly, seemingly staring into space. "Is Kevin okay?" he asked the = Australian "Where's Ami?" "Kevin's fine," Adam reassured him. "He'll be in the hospital for a = while, but he's out of danger. I was just talking to Ami, she going to = stay with him for a while." "Hey, I almost forgot about this." Alex reached into his pocket and = pulled out a CD. "Ami and I got some information from the computer in = Masters' office. Maybe you guys should take it and give it to General = Damon." He walked over from where he was standing with Isabel and handed = the disc to Megabyte. "Masters sent a whole lot of information about the = Tomorrow People to someone called Simon Trent." Adam frowned as a thought occurred to him. "If Masters was working with = someone else, maybe the danger isn't over yet. Do you know if there is = anything on here about Max?" Alex shook his head. "I had a look through the information on the = computer before I initiated the transfer, and I didn't see anything." "You saw all the information Masters sent?" Michael asked, shifting his = position to stand in front of Alex. Max could see what his friend was = thinking. If this Trent had information about the existence of aliens, = they would be in as much danger as the Tomorrow People. "Yeah. Hawkins didn't show up until after I started the file transfer, = at least I didn't think he did." Alex saw the puzzled faces around him = and continued. "Hawkins was that young blonde guy working for Masters. = Except he wasn't really working for Masters, at least he said he wasn't. = He told us he was working undercover for someone else but wouldn't say = who." "Did you believe him?" Isabel wanted to know. "Come on Alex, it's = important." "He was doing a good bad guy impression when he shoved a gun into my = back at the UFO centre," Megabyte remembered. "I wouldn't trust anyone = who worked for Masters. That guy was one fry short of a Happy Meal." He = looked down at Jade, an expression of anger fleeting briefly over his = features. "How do we know this Hawkins guy hasn't legged it straight = over to Trent? After all no one's seen him apart from Alex and Ami. He = must have disappeared after you guys teleported to the basement." "We don't," admitted Adam, looking worried. "That's why I'm wondering if = maybe we shouldn't come here again." He moved to stand alongside Max. "But, Adam," protested Jade. "We've made new friends, friends who know = what it's like to be different from everyone else. We can't just say = goodbye and never see them again." Max thought for a moment about what Adam was suggesting and then spoke = up. "I'm sorry, Jade, but I agree with Adam on this one. This whole = thing happened because Masters thought I was Adam, right?" "Looks that way," commented Michael, glancing at Adam, Max and then back = to the Australian again. "If the only information on that disc is about the Tomorrow People, and = we never see them again, there is less chance of that happening a second = time." "But Max." Isabel protested. "We've finally found others who know what = we're going through. I can't see how it would hurt to at least stay in = contact." Max shook his head. "I know what you're saying, Izzy, but what if that = contact led someone else like Masters to us, to all of us. Jade is lucky = to be alive, what if next time she isn't so lucky? What if Trent's = organisation, whatever it is, gets hold of one of the other Tomorrow = People because of the contact between us? It's not worth the risk." Adam nodded his head in agreement, running his hand through his hair. "I = agree with Max, though my concern goes both ways. If contact with us = caused something to happen to you guys, we'd never forgive ourselves." "Yeah, but what if Alex is wrong and there is information about Max on = that CD?" pointed out Megabyte. "What then?" "We'll worry about that if and when it happens. I'm hoping that Masters = only passed on information about us. Remember it's the Tomorrow People = he wanted to get his hands on. After all, before the mix up, he didn't = even know about the existence of aliens." Adam was trying to take charge = of the situation, Max realised as he listening to the Australian. "Yeah, okay, if you put it that way." Megabyte turned to Jade. "Sorry, = kid I think Adam's right." Jade opened her mouth and closed it again, a look of resignation = forming. "Well I guess this is goodbye, then." She went over to Liz and = then Maria and gave them each a hug. "I suppose I can't even see you = guys again even though you aren't like them." Liz shook her head. "I wish I could say different, Jade, but I can't. I = couldn't handle it if someone got their hands on Max again, I'm sorry. = Look I know it wasn't your fault, that's not what I'm saying but." Her = voice tailed off as she started to choke on her words. Maria reached for her hanky and sniffed. "We wouldn't want anything to = happen to you guys either you know. Maybe the world isn't ready for = Czechoslovakians yet, either alien or home grown." Liz left Max's side = and put her arm around her friend "Czechoslovakians?" asked Megabyte. "Code word for aliens, right?" Maria nodded but Michael spoke up before she could say anything else. "I = think Max and Adam are right, for what it's worth. Better to be safe = than sorry. Come on, give me your keys Maria. It's time we left." He = looked down again at Valenti and General Damon talking, grabbed the keys = out of Maria's hand and started walking towards the roadside on the = other side of the small hill they were on. Maria shrugged and followed, = a look of resignation on her face. "Michael's not real big on goodbyes," Isabel explained. "I'd better go = after them. Thanks for helping to save my brother." She gave the = Tomorrow People a brief hug and then turned and ran after Michael and = Maria. "All part of the service." Megabyte looked a bit embarrassed. "Come on = Jade, I think we'd better go. Looks like Dad is nearly finished up with = the sheriff. He was going to sort out some stuff in town and call me = later when he wants a 'ride' home." "I'd better go after Isabel," said Alex. "Hey if you have any problems = with that disc, or find anything that shouldn't be on it." "We'll be fine," promised Megabyte. He looked at the disc again before = sliding it back into his pocket. "Hope this thing isn't a sign of more = trouble," he commented. "Hope not," Alex echoed his words. "See you guys later. Well I won't, = but you know what I mean." He looked towards Isabel's retreating form, = waved at Megabyte, Jade and Adam and broke into a trot to catch up with = her. Jade walked over to Max and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thanks = for saving my life, Max," she said simply. "I'll always remember you." = She closed her eyes and teleported. "I'd better go after her." Megabyte stood up straight, leaving the = shelter of the tree and walked over to where Jade had been moments = before. He shook Max's hand. [Thanks for everything]=20 Max could feel the emotion behind the 'unspoken' thanks the Tomorrow = Person mentally sent him. Not a problem, he thought. "Coming, Adam?" Megabyte asked his friend. "In a minute. I'll see you at the ship, okay?"=20 Megabyte grinned. "Okay." He closed his eyes to initiate the teleport. = "Hey at least we've learnt one thing from all this." Max looked at him, wondering what was coming. Beside him he could hear = Adam quietly groan in anticipation. "We are not alone." Megabyte looked at the faces in front of him, an = innocent look on his face. "Maybe Mulder does have a point after all." = He grinned at Adam. "Jade's calling. Don't leave me alone in her = clutches for too long, okay?" He concentrated and disappeared, heading = for the Tomorrow People's ship and Jade. Max smiled to himself. "You Tomorrow People take care of yourselves, = too. Maybe one day when the world is ready to learn about the existence = of both of us, we can meet again." Adam nodded. "Hope it's sooner rather than later. Sorry about getting = you into this mess, Max. We owe you." Liz came and stood by Max's side. The others would be waiting for them = down at the roadside, probably impatiently waiting if the truth were = known. "We owe you just as much, Adam," she pointed out as she kissed = the Australian gently on the cheek. "Thanks for bringing Max back to = me." Max could swear he saw the young man blush as he disappeared in a flash = of white light. "Come on, Liz," he said as he put his arm around her and headed back to = the others. Max smiled to himself. Megabyte was right, he decided. Even = though the two groups had to part ways, at least now they knew they were = no longer alone. A quote he'd heard once in English class came unbidden = to his mind. 'For knowledge itself is power.' And with that power came the strength for them to face their future, = whatever it might hold. *********** ~Fin~ The next story in the 'Tears in Heaven' series will be 'Where the Winds = Blow' and is a Tomorrow People story. End of Part 20 - ------=_NextPart_000_0019_01C15303.214100C0 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 (20/20) by Anne Olsen Disclaimers in Part 0 Feedback to <A=20 href=3D"mailto:anneo@paradise.netPart">anneo@paradise.net</A> **** Part Twenty "Max, you're okay." Liz sounded very relieved as Max, Jade and = Megabyte=20 materialised in front of her. She got up from under the large tree she = had been=20 leaning against, and walked over to Max. As he looked down at her, Max = noticed=20 her eyes seemed unnaturally bright. She'd been crying, he realised, = though she=20 was trying hard to hide it. "Be back in a moment," promised Megabyte as he disappeared in another = flash=20 of light. "He's gone back for Isabel and Alex," explained Max. "General Damon = thought=20 it might be a good idea if we weren't around when the authorities turned = up. He=20 thinks he's going to have enough fun explaining what's been happening as = it=20 is." Max felt Liz sidle up against him and slid his arm around her, almost = without=20 thinking. It felt so good to be with her again. He'd come so close to = almost=20 never seeing her again that it scared him. As he'd watched Megabyte and = Jade=20 together after Michael and the others had left for London, Max hadn't = been able=20 to get Liz out of his mind. What if Masters had killed them before help = had=20 arrived? What if the truth had come out about who he really was? What = if…what=20 if? One thing he did know for certain was that he wasn't going to go on = not=20 knowing if he and Liz had a future. It was time he acted on his = feelings. You=20 make your own future. Yes, it was dangerous for Liz to be involved with = him=20 because of who he was, but if she was willing to take the risk, well = maybe he=20 should too. After all it was fairly obvious by the fact she was here, = waiting=20 for him that she was more concerned about his welfare than her own. If = she was=20 ready to think of him first, it was only fair that he did the same. "Michael. Where's Michael?" Maria looked around anxiously. Max looked = up=20 guilty as she came out from behind the tree. He'd been so wrapped up in = seeing=20 Liz again that he hadn't even noticed she was there. "Do you have any = idea what=20 it's been like for Liz and I hanging around here, not knowing what's = been going=20 on? Well do you?" As if in answer to her question, there was another flash of light and = Michael, Kyle and Adam appeared next to her. Maria threw herself at Michael, who backed off looking very=20 uncomfortable. "Hey, why don't I get that sort of greeting?" Megabyte re appeared, = this time=20 with Isabel and Alex in tow. Jade grinned and threw herself at the American Tomorrow Person, whose = face=20 quickly began to change to match the colour of his hair. Adam laughed. "I think you asked for that one, Megabyte." "Yeah, whatever. I just left Dad and Sheriff Valenti working out what = they=20 are going to tell the police." Max noticed that although Megabyte had = changed=20 the subject he hadn't pushed Jade away. The redhead leaned back against = the tree=20 Liz had been taking shelter under when Max had teleported in with him a = few=20 minutes earlier, Jade still staying close. "Where's my dad?" Kyle wanted to know. "I need to see him, to let him = know=20 I'm okay." Adam looked hesitant. "But what about keeping a low profile?" "He's the sheriff's son," Max pointed out. "I don't think they're = going to=20 question it too much if he goes in looking for his dad. He can act like = he=20 doesn't know what's been happening. Can't you, Kyle?" "I *don't * know what's happening. Nothing that happened today makes = any=20 sense, and I think it's easier to keep it that way," Kyle said. "Look, I = owe you=20 guys. I'm not going to let on that I know about all that teleporting = stuff. Now=20 where's Dad?" "He's down by the main gates talking to the cops," Megabyte told him. = "It=20 might be safer if you go on your own though. If I teleport you my Dad = will kill=20 me." "Fine by me," Kyle turned to head towards the old factory, then = turned and=20 paused. "Adam thanks for what you did in London, hope Kevin is okay. If = I don't=20 see you guys again…" He stopped, obviously unsure of what to = say. Michael coughed and Max stifled a grin. "Oh yeah, thanks, Michael." Kyle muttered his reply so softly that = Max had=20 trouble hearing him. He then turned and started walking briskly down the = hill=20 towards Masters' former base of operations to meet his father. "I think you were lucky to get that out of him, Michael," pointed out = Liz.=20 "Kyle feels quite uncomfortable around you guys. It will probably take = him a=20 while to come to grips with what he's been through today. He didn't find = out=20 about you did he?" Michael shook his head. "I used my powers in London but I'm sure Kyle = didn't=20 see it. I think he though all the weird stuff came from Adam, not = me." "See, Adam," Megabyte said with a grin. "I always told you I wasn't = the only=20 weird one around here." "Yeah right, Megabyte." Adam grinned back at his fellow Tomorrow = Person. "So=20 I take it the sheriff doesn't know about you guys either?" The last = question was=20 directed at Max who shook his head. "We'd prefer to leave it that way too if that's okay. Megabyte, your = father…"=20 Max glanced down at the factory gates again. Luckily the large tree they = were=20 sheltering behind also hid them from anyone who might be looking out = from=20 Masters' former base. He shivered. The old building looked so harmless = from the=20 outside, quite at odds to how close they had been to losing everything = while=20 within its walls. Still the person behind that was dead now, dead and = gone.=20 Hopefully the threat he posed had died with him. "No, he won't tell," the redhead reassured him. "Dad's good at = keeping=20 secrets. He's had loads of practice over the last few years. When I = left, he and=20 Kyle's dad were telling the cops that Masters had come after us because = of his=20 job." "Yeah, but what about Max?" Maria wanted to know. "Surely the cops = know that=20 he isn't connected to General Damon?" "Yeah, but Max got involved because Masters thought he was me," Adam = reminded=20 them. "If they stick to that story, I don't really see a problem." Max looked around the group again. Megabyte and Jade were leaning = against the=20 old tree, his arms casually around her. Maria had moved closer to = Michael,=20 though he was pretending not to notice. Alex had his arms around Isabel = and Max=20 realised how comfortable his sister looked next to him. Maybe he hadn't = been the=20 only one who had realised you needed to embrace happiness while you = still could.=20 Max looked again at his friends, both old and new, and smiled to = himself. It was=20 reassuring to see them all together again. After the events of the day = he had=20 wondered if that was ever going to happen again. They'd *all * come so = close to=20 losing everything that mattered. Max frowned. Someone was missing. Ami hadn't returned from London = with the=20 others. He turned to ask Adam and noticed the young man was standing = quietly,=20 seemingly staring into space. "Is Kevin okay?" he asked the Australian = "Where's=20 Ami?" "Kevin's fine," Adam reassured him. "He'll be in the hospital for a = while,=20 but he's out of danger. I was just talking to Ami, she going to stay = with him=20 for a while." "Hey, I almost forgot about this." Alex reached into his pocket and = pulled=20 out a CD. "Ami and I got some information from the computer in Masters' = office.=20 Maybe you guys should take it and give it to General Damon." He walked = over from=20 where he was standing with Isabel and handed the disc to Megabyte. = "Masters sent=20 a whole lot of information about the Tomorrow People to someone called = Simon=20 Trent." Adam frowned as a thought occurred to him. "If Masters was working = with=20 someone else, maybe the danger isn't over yet. Do you know if there is = anything=20 on here about Max?" Alex shook his head. "I had a look through the information on the = computer=20 before I initiated the transfer, and I didn't see anything." "You saw all the information Masters sent?" Michael asked, shifting = his=20 position to stand in front of Alex. Max could see what his friend was = thinking.=20 If this Trent had information about the existence of aliens, they would = be in as=20 much danger as the Tomorrow People. "Yeah. Hawkins didn't show up until after I started the file = transfer, at=20 least I didn't think he did." Alex saw the puzzled faces around him and=20 continued. "Hawkins was that young blonde guy working for Masters. = Except he=20 wasn't really working for Masters, at least he said he wasn't. He told = us he was=20 working undercover for someone else but wouldn't say who." "Did = you=20 believe him?" Isabel wanted to know. "Come on Alex, it's important." "He was doing a good bad guy impression when he shoved a gun into my = back at=20 the UFO centre," Megabyte remembered. "I wouldn't trust anyone who = worked for=20 Masters. That guy was one fry short of a Happy Meal." He looked down at = Jade, an=20 expression of anger fleeting briefly over his features. "How do we know = this=20 Hawkins guy hasn't legged it straight over to Trent? After all no one's = seen him=20 apart from Alex and Ami. He must have disappeared after you guys = teleported to=20 the basement." "We don't," admitted Adam, looking worried. "That's why I'm wondering = if=20 maybe we shouldn't come here again." He moved to stand alongside = Max. "But, Adam," protested Jade. "We've made new friends, friends who = know what=20 it's like to be different from everyone else. We can't just say goodbye = and=20 never see them again." Max thought for a moment about what Adam was suggesting and then = spoke up.=20 "I'm sorry, Jade, but I agree with Adam on this one. This whole thing = happened=20 because Masters thought I was Adam, right?" "Looks that way," commented Michael, glancing at Adam, Max and then = back to=20 the Australian again. "If the only information on that disc is about the Tomorrow People, = and we=20 never see them again, there is less chance of that happening a second = time." "But Max…" Isabel protested. "We've finally found others who = know what we're=20 going through. I can't see how it would hurt to at least stay in = contact." Max shook his head. "I know what you're saying, Izzy, but what if = that=20 contact led someone else like Masters to us, to all of us. Jade is lucky = to be=20 alive, what if next time she isn't so lucky? What if Trent's = organisation,=20 whatever it is, gets hold of one of the other Tomorrow People because of = the=20 contact between us? It's not worth the risk." Adam nodded his head in agreement, running his hand through his hair. = "I=20 agree with Max, though my concern goes both ways. If contact with us = caused=20 something to happen to you guys, we'd never forgive ourselves." "Yeah, but what if Alex is wrong and there is information about Max = on that=20 CD?" pointed out Megabyte. "What then?" "We'll worry about that if and when it happens. I'm hoping that = Masters only=20 passed on information about us. Remember it's the Tomorrow People he = wanted to=20 get his hands on. After all, before the mix up, he didn't even know = about the=20 existence of aliens." Adam was trying to take charge of the situation, = Max=20 realised as he listening to the Australian. "Yeah, okay, if you put it that way." Megabyte turned to Jade. = "Sorry, kid I=20 think Adam's right." Jade opened her mouth and closed it again, a look of resignation = forming.=20 "Well I guess this is goodbye, then." She went over to Liz and then = Maria and=20 gave them each a hug. "I suppose I can't even see you guys again even = though you=20 aren't like them." Liz shook her head. "I wish I could say different, Jade, but I can't. = I=20 couldn't handle it if someone got their hands on Max again, I'm sorry. = Look I=20 know it wasn't your fault, that's not what I'm saying but…" Her = voice tailed off=20 as she started to choke on her words. Maria reached for her hanky and sniffed. "We wouldn't want anything = to happen=20 to you guys either you know. Maybe the world isn't ready for = Czechoslovakians=20 yet, either alien or home grown." Liz left Max's side and put her arm = around her=20 friend "Czechoslovakians?" asked Megabyte. "Code word for aliens, = right?" Maria nodded but Michael spoke up before she could say anything else. = "I=20 think Max and Adam are right, for what it's worth. Better to be safe = than sorry.=20 Come on, give me your keys Maria. It's time we left." He looked down = again at=20 Valenti and General Damon talking, grabbed the keys out of Maria's hand = and=20 started walking towards the roadside on the other side of the small hill = they=20 were on. Maria shrugged and followed, a look of resignation on her = face. "Michael's not real big on goodbyes," Isabel explained. "I'd better = go after=20 them. Thanks for helping to save my brother." She gave the Tomorrow = People a=20 brief hug and then turned and ran after Michael and Maria. "All part of the service." Megabyte looked a bit embarrassed. "Come = on Jade,=20 I think we'd better go. Looks like Dad is nearly finished up with the = sheriff.=20 He was going to sort out some stuff in town and call me later when he = wants a=20 'ride' home." "I'd better go after Isabel," said Alex. "Hey if you have any = problems with=20 that disc, or find anything that shouldn't be on it…" "We'll be fine," promised Megabyte. He looked at the disc again = before=20 sliding it back into his pocket. "Hope this thing isn't a sign of more = trouble,"=20 he commented. "Hope not," Alex echoed his words. "See you guys later. Well I won't, = but you=20 know what I mean." He looked towards Isabel's retreating form, waved at=20 Megabyte, Jade and Adam and broke into a trot to catch up with her. Jade walked over to Max and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. = "Thanks for=20 saving my life, Max," she said simply. "I'll always remember you." She = closed=20 her eyes and teleported. "I'd better go after her." Megabyte stood up straight, leaving the = shelter of=20 the tree and walked over to where Jade had been moments before. He shook = Max's=20 hand. [Thanks for everything] Max could feel the emotion behind the 'unspoken' thanks the Tomorrow = Person=20 mentally sent him. Not a problem, he thought. "Coming, Adam?" Megabyte asked his friend. "In a minute. I'll see you at the ship, okay?" Megabyte grinned. "Okay." He closed his eyes to initiate the = teleport. "Hey=20 at least we've learnt one thing from all this." Max looked at him, wondering what was coming. Beside him he could = hear Adam=20 quietly groan in anticipation. "We are not alone." Megabyte looked at the faces in front of him, an = innocent=20 look on his face. "Maybe Mulder does have a point after all." He grinned = at=20 Adam. "Jade's calling. Don't leave me alone in her clutches for too = long, okay?"=20 He concentrated and disappeared, heading for the Tomorrow People's ship = and=20 Jade. Max smiled to himself. "You Tomorrow People take care of yourselves, = too.=20 Maybe one day when the world is ready to learn about the existence of = both of=20 us, we can meet again." Adam nodded. "Hope it's sooner rather than later. Sorry about getting = you=20 into this mess, Max. We owe you." Liz came and stood by Max's side. The others would be waiting for = them down=20 at the roadside, probably impatiently waiting if the truth were known. = "We owe=20 you just as much, Adam," she pointed out as she kissed the Australian = gently on=20 the cheek. "Thanks for bringing Max back to me." Max could swear he saw the young man blush as he disappeared in a = flash of=20 white light. "Come on, Liz," he said as he put his arm around her and headed back = to the=20 others. Max smiled to himself. Megabyte was right, he decided. Even = though the=20 two groups had to part ways, at least now they knew they were no longer = alone. A=20 quote he'd heard once in English class came unbidden to his mind. 'For = knowledge=20 itself is power.' And with that power came the strength for them to face their future, = whatever=20 it might hold. *********** ~Fin~ The next story in the 'Tears in Heaven' series will be 'Where the = Winds Blow'=20 and is a Tomorrow People story. End of Part 20</DIV></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_0019_01C15303.214100C0-- - - 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: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 14:28:01 -0700 From: Ailie S McFarland <aixla@juno.com> Subject: (arfic-l) Hole in my Soul 1/1 Title: Hole in My Soul Author: Ailie McFarland E-Mail: aixla@juno.com Fandom: BtVS Pairing: W/O, W/T Rating: R (sex, language) Timeline/Spoilers: Between seasons 5&6 Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive Archives: http://www.geocities.com/aixla/fanfic.html Feedback: Please. ItÆs been ages since IÆve had time to write, and IÆm in feedback withdrawal! Disclaimer: Oz is not mine. Sigh. I wish he was. IÆd treat him right. And if she was good, I might share him with Karen. *L* The song is ôHole in My Soulö by Aerosmith. //I'm down a one way street With a one night stand With a one track mind Out in no man's land The punishment sometimes Don't seem to fit the crime// The alley was cold, dark. Oz shivered in the dampness and pulled the threadbare coat tighter around his bony frame. How many pounds had he lost since this all started, ten? Twenty? HeÆd stopped keeping track weeks ago. His health was the last thing on his mind at this point. Things had finally started to get better. Oz had started to be able to sleep through the night without nightmares. Sometimes those dreams had come in the form of torture at the hands of the scientists at the Initiative. Sometimes his mind tried to reconstruct the events surrounding VerrucaÆs gruesome demise. Most of the time the nightmares had been of Willow, and what her insides would look like as the wolf feasted on them, or fantasies of ripping Tara limb from limb as she was forced to watch. But with meditation and a great deal of soul searching, those things began to pass. There had been a point where he could go almost an entire day without thinking of her. Without missing her smile, her companionship, her kisses. And when those thoughts did occur, they were not quite a longing, but rather a fond remembrance of days gone by. Whimsical thoughts of a past love, almost a past life. //Yeah there's a hole in my soul But one thing I've learned For every love letter written There's another one burned So you tell me how it's gonna be this time// And then it started. The first time Oz had been deep in meditation. After almost two years of practice, he was now quite skilled at blocking the outside world. In fact, an entire room of his apartment in Bangkok was dedicated to this art. When he entered that space, everything was left at the doorway. Here there was only himself and the air he breathed. But on that particular day, something changed. ôOz.ö Barely a whisper. Just a tickling in the back of his mind. But it was there. WillowÆs voice, inside his head. ~ Odd. ~ Oz thought to himself as he gathered himself and tried to return to his relaxed state. It had been a long time since any thoughts had been able to pierce the veil of his meditation, let alone thoughts of her. //Is it over? Is it over? 'Cause I'm blowin' out the flame// The rest of the session continued without incident, and Oz decided it was just ôone of those things.ö Until it happened again two days later. This time he had been walking down the street, heading toward the market. His thoughts were nothing more complicated than trying to remember if he had enough milk at home, when she intruded again. ôOz.ö Louder than the first time, WillowÆs voice startled him enough to cause him stop and turn around, looking for her. ôOz.ö Again, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere. ôCome home.ö ôWillow?ö he whispered, aware that he was now attracting stares from passers-by. ôWillow?ö But there was no response. //Take a walk outside your mind Tell me how it feels to be The one who turns The knife inside of me Take a look and you will find There's nothing there, girl Yeah I swear, I'm telling you, girl// The occurrences became more and more frequent as time went by. Oz was unable to sleep through the night without hearing his name called at least once. ôOz, come home!ö He tried calling Willow and TaraÆs room once, but the voice that picked up the connection half a world away was unfamiliar, and unable to help. He supposed he could have called the Rosenberg home, or maybe Giles or Buffy ... but what good would that do? They would just put him in touch with Willow, and she would be worried about him. After all, he was hallucinating. Willow had made things perfectly clear the last time they spoke. Someday they might find each other and be friends again, but this was not the time. And besides the fact that she had no reason to do this, she also didnÆt have the capability. At least, she hadnÆt the last time Oz had seen her. So this was obviously in his head. He just wasnÆt dealing the way he needed to. Somehow, he would find a way to get through this, alone. //There's a Hole In My Soul That's been killing me forever It's a place where a garden never grows There's a Hole In My Soul Yeah, I should have known better 'Cause your love's like a thorn without a rose// Oz tried everything. Her voice invaded every meditation and mantra he attempted. Even his music couldnÆt drown out her call. As time went on, the voice only seemed to get stronger. ôOz, come home. Please!ö Eventually he turned to vice. Alcohol, drugs, one night stands with women whose names he couldnÆt remember the next morning, although whether he had known them at all was questionable. And for a while, the fog he surrounded himself in seemed to do the trick. Oz was in bed one night, weeks after this all began, and not alone. As he released himself into the nameless female form below him, he looked into her eyes and gasped as they changed from brown to a deep green. WillowÆs face stared back at him. ôOz,ö phantom lips formed the words. ôListen to me.ö ôNo!ö He wasted no time dismounting the confused girl in his bed. Barely taking the time to cover his nakedness, he ran out into the street. //I'm as dry as a seven year drought I got dust for tears Yeah I'm all tapped out Sometimes I feel broken and can't get fixed I know there's been all kinds of shoes Underneath your bed Now I sleep with my boots on But you're still in my head And something tells me this time I'm down to my last licks// And so now he sat in the alley; cold, wet, and alone. There was really no other choice. The voice in his head just wouldnÆt stop. She wouldnÆt shut up. So he would have to silence her himself. OzÆs hands shook as his infirm fingers struggled with the child-proof cap. ôOz? Oz can you hear me?ö The pharmacy bottle fell to the ground as his hands went to his ears. ôNo. No! Shut up! Leave me alone!ö ôThere isnÆt much time. ItÆs difficult for me to ...ö ôDifficult? Difficult?ö People began to stare as Oz staggered out of the alley, shouting to the stars. ôMy life. My life now! You have no right, no place! Get out of my fucking head bitch!ö ôOz ...ö ôShut up!ö Twin lights sped toward him. It wasnÆt what he had planned, but it would do. And he couldnÆt wait anymore. Oz finally succeeded in drowning the voice. WillowÆs last call was lost in the blaring horn of the truck. //'Cause if it's over Then it's over And it's driving me insane Yeah, is it over? Yeah, it's over And I'm blowing out the flame// Tara arrived home to find Willow staring into the flickering flame of a black taper candle. ôHoney.ö Willow jumped as her loverÆs hand brushed her shoulder. ôOh, Tara.ö She tried to smile, but her eyes betrayed their weariness. ôI didnÆt hear you come in.ö With a knowing, sad smile, Tara sat down beside her. ôAny luck today?ö Willow shook her head. ôNo. I thought I finally reached him, but ... it was strange. It didnÆt feel like him. Does that make sense?ö ôOf course it does,ö Tara murmured as she pulled Willow into her arms. They stayed that way for quite some time before Tara spoke again. ôYou should get some sleep.ö ôNo,ö Willow pulled away, her eyes determined. ôSomething was different this last time. I have to try again.ö TaraÆs brow furrowed with concern. ôWillow, you canÆt do everything. YouÆve gotten so strong, but ... but maybe heÆs just too far away for you to reach.ö Willow started to inturrupt, but Tara continued. ôI know you want him here. He was BuffyÆs friend. And he deserves to know about all this, about Dawn. And ... and he might be able to help with the spell. But youÆre killing yourself trying to do this. Maybe itÆs just too much.ö WillowÆs eyes hardened as she pushed TaraÆs comforting hands away. ôItÆs not to much.ö That had come out much harsher than she meant it to be, so she backtracked a bit. ôNo, I mean, I think I finally reached him. ItÆs like, I can talk to him maybe, but he canÆt talk back yet. Or something. But last time I felt like we connected somehow. And then ... usually I just lose my grip on him, or something. Instead it was like he hung up on me, like we got disconnected. And IÆm scared that ... that maybe something happened to him.ö ôShh, baby. ItÆll be alright.ö Tara tried to console Willow. ôI guess so,ö she sighed, resigned. Willow allowed herself to be led to the bedroom. But even as they made love, she couldnÆt shake the feeling that something irreparable had been done that day. Later, as she watched Tara sleeping, for a moment she thought she saw him lying there in her bed ... still as death. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ailie McFarland ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ That'll put marzipan in your pie plate, Bingo! ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! 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