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From: "Jackie Clark" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: Do you mind?
Date: 01 Feb 2003 11:47:27 -0000

I am currently working on an adaptation of a story I wrote five years ago
which was never posted to tpfict. It is a story about tpdis and the
anniversary dinner and has many list members as it's main characters. Does
anyone object to being included in this story? I will use your real names
but not your real mail addresses... Mail me off list if you don't want to be
included.

Thanks

Jackie

P.S. Can anyone beta read this story overnight?  (hopefully I'll have it
completed by later today or early tomorrow)
----
"May your senses be enlightened and your dreams be fulfilled."
                                            Traditional  Manyarnern Greeting
http://www.effdee.demon.co.uk/HomeFrameset-1.htm

http://www.The-Tomorrow-People.co.uk




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Jackie Clark" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: Re: TPDIS: Do you mind?
Date: 01 Feb 2003 17:29:06 -0000

I have been asked by the list ops to pose this question another way. Who
would like to be included in my story? If I hear from you (off list)  in the
next day or so I'll include your name if not then I'll make up some listees
instead.

Thanks

Jackie





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Anne Olsen" <[e-mail]>
Date: 01 Feb 2003 23:48:58 -0700

<[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: tpfict

Murphy's Law (1/4)
By Anne Olsen

Rating/warnings this chapter This Fic has been rated in accordance with
the approved TTFF Rating System. OK (Oz/Kiwi spelling/grammar etc) - PG
- Angst, drama.

Author's notes This fic is part of the 'Tears in Heaven' series. More
info and stories in this timeline can be found at
http//www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes It can be read on its own
but there are references to previous stories in the arc.

This fic will also be archived at the new Expressions site.

Summary The new breakout witnesses a grizzly murder, and insists that
his new history teacher is responsible. Are things really that simple?
Disclaimer The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price,
Thames/Tetra and ITV television. Highlander is the property of
Panzer/Davis, Rysher/ Gaumount Televison. Stargate SG1 are owned by
Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret
Productions, and Gekko Products.

Alex MacDonald belongs to me and shouldn't be used without permission.
Thanks to Big hugs to Megan for her support and beta reading. Also to
Sakura for her wonderful eye for typos, beta reading and helpful
comments. And Wendy for her suggestions and comments.

Feedback to anneo @ paradise.net.nz


/Nothing is as easy as it looks
Everything takes longer than you expect
And if anything can go wrong
It will
At the worst possible moment
~ Anon./


March 2000


Chapter One
The man was still there in the far corner of Le Blues Bar, Joe Dawson
noticed, after glancing up from the glass he was drying. As if in
response the dark haired man looked askance at Joe, and then, as though
he knew he was being watched, diverted his stare back to the drink he'd
been nursing all evening.

Tapping his fingers against the bar, unconsciously matching the rhythm
of the evening's bass guitarist, Joe thought again about the information
he'd received about General William Damon. Somehow it didn't seem to
match the man who'd sat in the bar observing him for most of the night.
One thing about being a Watcher was that it made it easier to recognise
when you were being watched yourself.

It made sense, he supposed, that if Damon had been given a copy of the
same CD-ROM Joe had, he'd be running the same investigation but in
reverse. If the information he'd received about the existence of a race
of teleporters was correct, then Damon already knew what was still news
to Joe. To many it might seem like something out of a science fiction
novel but Joe had spent enough time observing Immortals to believe that
anything, even teleporters, could exist.

Sorting through the scenario in his mind, he leaned back on his cane and
shook his head. From what he'd heard about Masters, the man responsible
for sending the information to Trent, he could understand why he'd have
interests in common with the head of the Hunters. Masters had seemed as
fanatical as Horton himself had been about the idea of a race that
wasn't 'human.'

Damon didn't strike Joe as being in the same league. True, he'd headed
the teleporter project for several years before leaving suddenly, but
nothing in his life pointed a clear finger at what the personal reasons
he'd cited for doing so might be. He was married with two kids; the
research on his home life hadn't unearthed anything out of the ordinary.
There was nothing out of the ordinary about Damon, period, but all that
confirmed was that he'd had plenty of practice hiding behind the charade
of Joe Average.

Pouring a drink for another customer, Joe couldn't help but remember how
he'd made the error of taking Methos at face value. Joe had spent over a
decade believing the guy was no one more extraordinary than Adam
Pierson, mild-mannered historian and Watcher. /Bet you had a good laugh
over that one, old man./ Joe shook his head again. What took the cake
was that the wily old Immortal had managed to make sure he was in charge
of the search for himself. It was no wonder he never seemed to get
anywhere though the situation would have appealed to his sense of
humour, Joe was certain.

Damon glanced at his watch, comparing it with the time on the large
clock over the bar. /How long are you going to sit there and observe?
How long am I going to sit here and play spectator?/ Joe thought. /One
of us is going to have to make a move or it's going to be one hell of a
long night./

*******

Alex MacDonald plodded home, taking a shortcut through the sports field
of the local college. Mum was going to wonder why he'd cut his music
lesson short and was home so early. He grimaced at the memory of going
to pieces on that scale for the third time.

Mrs Frazer's concerned voice still rang through his mind. "Alex, are you
okay? You usually play better than this."

Blushing, he remembered how he'd muttered his apologies and rabbited on
about headaches and late nights. Other people managed to stay up late
without feeling as though they hadn't slept for a week, why couldn't he?
Alex swung his school bag over his shoulder, shifting it to distribute
the weight more evenly, before heading across the field. There should be
a law against making kids lug around heavy textbooks, he decided. And
another one against teachers torturing students with copious amounts of
homework. At least his music teacher had been sympathetic. Letting him
leave early had probably been in both their interests. If he were in her
shoes he wouldn't have wanted to hear the piano being played that badly
for another ten minutes either.

Why couldn't it come as easily to him as it had for Jamie? He loved
music as much as his brother did but just didn't seem to have that same
flair for it. Everything came easier to his older brother, yet another
verification of the long standing suspicion that Jamie seemed to be one
of those people fate smiled upon. Alex stumbled and kicked the empty
beer can he'd tripped over in a sudden burst of anger. He stared up at
the early evening sky, certain that someone, somewhere up there, didn't
like him.

Several stray drops of rain landed on his glasses, blurring his vision.
/Oh great./ Now he was going to get drowned just to add insult to
injury. He pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his lenses, dropping his
bag on the ground. It hit a boggy patch slightly off the path he was on,
a smell permeating the air after the canvas connected with it, and he
wrinkled his nose in disgust. Gross. Why couldn't people train their
dogs to do their business somewhere else? They'd managed to train Ewan,
why couldn't others do the same?

Alex bent down to rescue his bag, wiping the bottom of it with his
handkerchief. Mum was going to go ape shit when she saw the state of it.
He muttered a few choice words under his breath, pausing after a sound
echoed around the large deserted playing field, loud in comparison to
the sudden quietness of his surroundings.

/What was that?/ Weird. It sounded like steel against steel.

Stopping to listen again, he soon realised that the noise seemed to be
coming from the direction of the creek that ran through the boundary of
the school grounds. Alex shrugged. After the day he'd had, what did he
have to lose? He might as well live dangerously and check it out.

He replaced his glasses, starting towards the pine trees lining the
banks of the creek, reassuring himself with the knowledge that he'd be
able to hide behind those trees if necessary. He wandered along the
narrow trail, his body on autopilot as he mused about the origin of the
noise.

/What the hell?/ Glancing down he noticed he'd walked straight into a
small patch of gorse around the boundary of the netball courts. /Aren't
the caretakers supposed to get rid of this stuff?/ he groused. Bending
to remove the prickles caught on his trousers, he felt the sharp end of
one scratch his hand. /Ouch! How worse can this day possibly get?/ So
much for trying not to draw attention to himself. At this rate he might
as well hang a sign telling everyone in the valley where he was.

Ignoring the thin trail of blood running down his fingers, Alex crept
past the courts towards the creek, taking care to stay within the
shelter of the trees as the rainfall intensified. He drew nearer to the
source of the sound, the voices accompanying it growing in a crescendo
of anger.

A shiver of excitement ran through him as he tried to imagine what could
be going down. He winced after his headache, which he'd almost forgotten
about returned with a vengeance and started to build in intensity.

************
Bill Damon glanced at his watch, before returning his attention to the
slowly decreasing drink he'd been nursing for at least a couple of
hours. What exactly was he going to say to this Dawson guy now that he'd
found him?

Reading over Frank's research, it was obvious that this was the same Joe
Dawson who'd been mentioned on the CD taken from Masters' computer
before he'd died. The fact that his brother-in-law, no make that
deceased brother-in-law, had been James Horton had been the decider.
What Bill couldn't work out was why a guy working with someone like
Masters would be running a blues bar in Paris.

Watching Dawson behind the bar, he seemed harmless enough. He was older
than Bill, his hair and beard streaked with grey, the lines on his face
suggesting he'd seen more of his fair share of the not so good side of
life, yet not enough to dim the twinkle in his eye. He'd also been
through the Vietnam War not entirely unscathed, the loss of his legs
corroborated by the cane he'd used to move about the place chatting to
one of the musicians. Yes, he looked dangerous, very dangerous. Bill
snorted. Why couldn't the bad guys have a sign on them just to make his
job easier? He mentally kicked himself, realising how much that sounded
like something Marmaduke would say. That saying was true. 'Insanity is
hereditary. You catch it from your kids.'

Bill lowered his head to study his drink again after he noticed the man
in question glance over his way. /I wonder if he knows I'm watching
him,/ he thought. Maybe he was out of practice with surveillance? These
days he seemed to spend most of his time chasing after his kids, and
cleaning up the messes the Tomorrow People seemed to get themselves into
with alarming regularity.

/Hey there's a thought. I could just go up to Dawson and lay my cards on
the table./ 'Hi, I'm Bill Damon and my son is a Tomorrow Person. I'd
just like to ask you some questions about your involvement with a
certain psychotic named Masters.' He smiled. Oh yeah, imagine
Marmaduke's reaction to that one. 'Way to go, Dad.'

The door of the bar opened, interrupting Bill's reverie and a tall
well-built man entered, surveying the room. After he located Dawson he
stopped, and walked quickly towards the bar. He didn't look very
impressed. In fact his expression told Bill that something or someone
had annoyed him a great deal.

Time to get a refill on that drink. Bill stood up, noticing the twinge
in his back. He was getting too old for this sort of stuff, he decided,
figuring that Marmaduke and his friends had a great deal to do with his
current lack of wellbeing. His stress levels had sky rocketed over the
last few years, taking with it a great deal of his health. He couldn't
remember the last time he'd had a decent night's sleep. No on second
thoughts he could. 1992. The year Megabyte had become a Tomorrow Person.
That had also been the year Bill's own peace of mind had disappeared out
the window, never to return.

Seating himself on one of the wooden stools at the bar, Bill made sure
he was far enough away from Dawson and the new arrival as to not arouse
suspicion, but close enough to hear the conversation. He leaned back
against the welcome support of the low-backed hard stool, trying to give
the impression he was examining his drink with great interest while he
wondered how long it would be before he would have to switch to coffee.

The dark haired man, whom he surmised was in his early thirties, maybe
older, spoke with a faint Scots brogue, and as Bill's earlier
observations proved correct, was as annoyed as hell. "You'd think at his
age he'd be a bit more responsible by now wouldn't you?"
Dawson laughed, a deep chuckle which suggested they'd had this
conversation, or one similar, in the past. "Pierson? Responsible? Let's
face it, Mac, he's probably done this just because he knew he'd get a
reaction from you."

/Pierson?/ Bill mentally shook his head. Now there was a name he hadn't
expected to hear again. No, it must be a coincidence.
Mac shook his head, pushing back his shoulder length hair with one hand.
He then glanced over at Bill, to catch his eye with a friendly smile,
before returning to his conversation with the bartender.

/He knows I'm listening,/ thought Bill. /Am I losing it that much that I
can't even eavesdrop without being noticed?/ There was something in the
Scot's eyes that reminded Bill of someone else, but it was eluding him
for the moment. He took another sip of his drink, averted his gaze from
the two men, and settled back to listen to Mac tell Dawson the rest of
his story.

"I knew it was a mistake giving the old man the key to the barge. I
finally get back to Paris and what do I find? Tidy little pyramids made
of beer bottles all over /my/ barge. I nearly broke my neck on the way
in." He lowered his voice before continuing, and Bill found he was
having to strain to hear the rest of the conversation.

"Pyramids made of beer bottles?" Dawson grinned, changing the volume of
his voice to match his friend's. "I take it they were empty?"

Mac rolled his eyes. "This is Pierson we're talking about. Of course
they were bloody empty. And it's not just a couple of bottles, Joe. It
looks as though he's sat on the barge for at least a couple of weeks
doing nothing but drink to get the volume of empty bottles I'm talking
about here." He took a sip from the bottle in front on him. "I don't
suppose you've seen him lately?"

"The last time I saw him was on our trip to Colorado," Dawson answered,
shaking his head. "He disappeared shortly afterwards muttering something
about prophecies and his peace being gone forever. I haven't seen him
since, although it's starting to look as though wherever he went it was
via Paris and the barge."
Colorado? Prophecies? What exactly was Dawson involved in? Pierson must
be the same Pierson he, Adam and Megabyte had met in Colorado Springs.
Adam Pierson a.k.a. Methos. Did Dawson know about Immortals as well as
Tomorrow People? /What the hell was going on here?/

"That's what I thought you'd probably say. Knowing the old man, we'll be
lucky if we see him again for months, maybe even years." Mac brightened.
"Every cloud has its silver lining. If you see him, tell him I want a
word. No, on second thoughts, don't. If he shows up, let me know and
I'll just.surprise him."

Dawson nodded. "Just make sure I get a ring side seat, because I don't
want to miss out on the fun. Oh and Mac? Don't kill him till I've had
the chance to get his bartab paid first. That thing is the size of the
national debt."

Mac laughed. "Dreams are free, Joe." He glanced at his watch, and
draining the rest of his drink, placed the empty bottle on the counter.
"I promised to meet Richie at the barge. If you hear anything in the
meantime, let me know. Not that I'm really expecting you to, but hey,
one can dream."

"Still the eternal optimist, I see," Dawson busied himself tidying up
after his friend headed into the Parisian night air.

The bar was almost deserted, Bill noticed. If he waited another ten
minutes or so, only he and Dawson would be left in the place. After
hearing Pierson's name he'd come to the decision that it was time to
stop putting off what had to be done. He had to talk to Dawson and find
out what his connection was to Masters.

One thing did puzzle him. Dawson and his friend sounded as though they
were on good terms with the five thousand year old immortal. They had
also referred to him as the old man, confirming Bill's suspicions that
they knew full well who or what he was. Bill owed Pierson, owed him for
Megabyte and Adam's lives. If Dawson and Masters had plans against
Pierson as well as the kids, they needed to be stopped.

**********

Creeping closer to the loud voices, Alex became aware of a growing
dampness spreading into his shoes and up through his trousers. /Oh
great. My shoes are leaking and I'm getting covered in mud and grass.
Mum's going to be so pleased, not./ He stopped and wiped his glasses on
his sweatshirt again, trying to ignore the falling rain growing heavier
with each passing minute.

"I warned you I don't like to fight." Alex peered through his hiding
place behind a tall pine tree, narrowly avoiding a hanging branch
threatening to poke him in one eye, as one of the voices suddenly became
louder.

/I know that voice./ He edged even closer and saw two men fighting with
swords. Swords? Alex, certain he must be seeing things, checked his
glasses to make sure they weren't fogged up from the rain.

The tall slim dark haired man who had spoken before disarmed his
opponent with one quick flick of his wrist. He placed the sharp point of
his weapon against the other man's throat, and smiled slowly. The man
seemed almost amused by the situation. Talk about sick.

Alex took a short sharp breath and the man's head came up like an animal
sensing its prey. He turned his head in Alex's direction and their eyes
met. Mr O'Neill? What was the new history teacher doing out here holding
a sword to someone's throat?

A similar look of recognition crossed Mr O'Neill's face and Alex
groaned, thinking back to earlier that morning. Not for the first time
he regretted bringing attention to himself in class and the
embarrassment caused by that stupid theory he'd read by a Dr Jackson
about the pyramids being built by aliens. O'Neill had ridiculed his
suggestion in front of the class and made him feel like an idiot. It was
definitely the last time he was ever going to speak up in public again.

Forget that last thought. If he didn't get out of here, it probably
would be that last time he did anything ever again.

The blond heavily built man on the ground started to struggle, bringing
his arm up to try and overpower the history teacher. O'Neill shrugged.
"If you insist," he said, a note of sarcasm in his voice. To Alex's
horror he raised his sword, bringing it down again to cleanly slice off
his victim's head.

Oh shit. Oh shit. "Oh shit." O'Neill turned his head towards Alex again
and he realised he'd said his last thought out loud.

The man knew who he was.

He had a sword in his hand.

He'd just killed someone.

Alex tried to move but found himself frozen as fear took over. /I've got
to get out of here. If I don't, he'll kill me, next. Move it, Alex, move
it. You've got to get out of here./ He closed his eyes to shut out the
horrific scene in front of him.

Huh? For a moment he felt a weird tingling sensation through his body
like a mild electric shock, followed by a strange sense of something he
could only describe as dislocation. O'Neill hadn't had any other weapon
on him but his sword, had he? /You've been watching way too much science
fiction again,/ he thought. Although the situation was weird, it wasn't
this weird. Was it?

Come to think of it, the background noises seemed different too, as
though his sense of reality had changed subtly. The sound of the
surrounding nature and the hum of the cicadas had been replaced by
something different, something which seemed to permeate senses other
than just the ones he was used to. /Oh for goodness sake,/ he told
himself crossly. /Get real./ That last thought hadn't even made sense.
Maybe this was his imagination's way of dealing with the danger he was
in?

"Please tell me you aren't mucking about with the ship, Megabyte?"

What? Alex opened his eyes after hearing a male voice with a distinctly
Australian accent. Two young men were staring at him. One, darkhaired
and very slim, and definitely a good few years older than Alex, gave him
a friendly smile.

The redhead, whom he was sure he knew from /somewhere/, rose to his feet
and grinned, a twinkle in his blue eyes as though he was sharing a
private joke with his companion. "Told you I knew what I was doing,
Adam."

******

TBC




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Anne Olsen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: [Fic] Murphy's Law (1a/4)
Date: 02 Feb 2003 19:54:41 +1300

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_031E_01C2CAF4.ED380E20
Content-Type: text/plain;
    charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable




Murphy's Law  (1a/4)

By Anne Olsen

Rating/warnings this chapter: This Fic has been rated in accordance with =
the approved TTFF Rating System. OK (Oz/Kiwi spelling/grammar etc) - PG =
- Angst, drama.

Author's notes: This fic is part of the 'Tears in Heaven' series. More =
info and stories in this timeline can be found at =
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes It can be read on its own =
but there are references to previous stories in the arc.=20

This fic will also be archived at the new Expressions site.=20

Summary: The new breakout witnesses a grizzly murder, and insists that =
his new history teacher is responsible. Are things really that simple?

Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, =
Thames/Tetra and ITV television. Highlander is the property of =
Panzer/Davis, Rysher/ Gaumount Televison. Stargate SG1 are owned by =
Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret =
Productions, and Gekko Products.

Alex MacDonald belongs to me and shouldn't be used without permission.

Thanks to: Big hugs to Megan for her support and beta reading. Also to =
Sakura for her wonderful eye for typos, beta reading and helpful =
comments. And Wendy for her suggestions and comments.=20

Feedback to: anneo @ paradise.net.nz=20

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

/Nothing is as easy as it looks

Everything takes longer than you expect

And if anything can go wrong

It will

At the worst possible moment

~ Anon./



March 2000



Chapter One

The man was still there in the far corner of Le Blues Bar, Joe Dawson =
noticed, after glancing up from the glass he was drying. As if in =
response the dark haired man looked askance at Joe, and then, as though =
he knew he was being watched, diverted his stare back to the drink he'd =
been nursing all evening.

Tapping his fingers against the bar, unconsciously matching the rhythm =
of the evening's bass guitarist, Joe thought again about the information =
he'd received about General William Damon. Somehow it didn't seem to =
match the man who'd sat in the bar observing him for most of the night. =
One thing about being a Watcher was that it made it easier to recognise =
when you were being watched yourself.=20

It made sense, he supposed, that if Damon had been given a copy of the =
same CD-ROM Joe had, he'd be running the same investigation but in =
reverse. If the information he'd received about the existence of a race =
of teleporters was correct, then Damon already knew what was still news =
to Joe. To many it might seem like something out of a science fiction =
novel but Joe had spent enough time observing Immortals to believe that =
anything, even teleporters, could exist.


Sorting through the scenario in his mind, he leaned back on his cane and =
shook his head. From what he'd heard about Masters, the man responsible =
for sending the information to Trent, he could understand why he'd have =
interests in common with the head of the Hunters. Masters had seemed as =
fanatical as Horton himself had been about the idea of a race that =
wasn't 'human.'=20

Damon didn't strike Joe as being in the same league. True, he'd headed =
the teleporter project for several years before leaving suddenly, but =
nothing in his life pointed a clear finger at what the personal reasons =
he'd cited for doing so might be. He was married with two kids; the =
research on his home life hadn't unearthed anything out of the ordinary. =
There was nothing out of the ordinary about Damon, period, but all that =
confirmed was that he'd had plenty of practice hiding behind the charade =
of Joe Average.=20

Pouring a drink for another customer, Joe couldn't help but remember how =
he'd made the error of taking Methos at face value. Joe had spent over a =
decade believing the guy was no one more extraordinary than Adam =
Pierson, mild-mannered historian and Watcher. /Bet you had a good laugh =
over that one, old man./ Joe shook his head again. What took the cake =
was that the wily old Immortal had managed to make sure he was in charge =
of the search for himself. It was no wonder he never seemed to get =
anywhere though the situation would have appealed to his sense of =
humour, Joe was certain.=20

Damon glanced at his watch, comparing it with the time on the large =
clock over the bar. /How long are you going to sit there and observe? =
How long am I going to sit here and play spectator?/ Joe thought. /One =
of us is going to have to make a move or it's going to be one hell of a =
long night./

*******

Alex MacDonald plodded home, taking a shortcut through the sports field =
of the local college. Mum was going to wonder why he'd cut his music =
lesson short and was home so early. He grimaced at the memory of going =
to pieces on that scale for the third time.=20

Mrs Frazer's concerned voice still rang through his mind. "Alex, are you =
okay? You usually play better than this."

Blushing, he remembered how he'd muttered his apologies and rabbited on =
about headaches and late nights. Other people managed to stay up late =
without feeling as though they hadn't slept for a week, why couldn't he? =
Alex swung his school bag over his shoulder, shifting it to distribute =
the weight more evenly, before heading across the field. There should be =
a law against making kids lug around heavy textbooks, he decided. And =
another one against teachers torturing students with copious amounts of =
homework. At least his music teacher had been sympathetic. Letting him =
leave early had probably been in both their interests. If he were in her =
shoes he wouldn't have wanted to hear the piano being played that badly =
for another ten minutes either.=20

Why couldn't it come as easily to him as it had for Jamie? He loved =
music as much as his brother did but just didn't seem to have that same =
flair for it. Everything came easier to his older brother, yet another =
verification of the long standing suspicion that Jamie seemed to be one =
of those people fate smiled upon. Alex stumbled and kicked the empty =
beer can he'd tripped over in a sudden burst of anger. He stared up at =
the early evening sky, certain that someone, somewhere up there, didn't =
like him.

Several stray drops of rain landed on his glasses, blurring his vision. =
/Oh great./ Now he was going to get drowned just to add insult to =
injury. He pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his lenses, dropping his =
bag on the ground. It hit a boggy patch slightly off the path he was on, =
a smell permeating the air after the canvas connected with it, and he =
wrinkled his nose in disgust. Gross. Why couldn't people train their =
dogs to do their business somewhere else? They'd managed to train Ewan, =
why couldn't others do the same?


Alex bent down to rescue his bag, wiping the bottom of it with his =
handkerchief. Mum was going to go ape shit when she saw the state of it. =
He muttered a few choice words under his breath, pausing after a sound =
echoed around the large deserted playing field, loud in comparison to =
the sudden quietness of his surroundings.=20

/What was that?/ Weird. It sounded like steel against steel.=20

Stopping to listen again, he soon realised that the noise seemed to be =
coming from the direction of the creek that ran through the boundary of =
the school grounds. Alex shrugged. After the day he'd had, what did he =
have to lose? He might as well live dangerously and check it out.


He replaced his glasses, starting towards the pine trees lining the =
banks of the creek, reassuring himself with the knowledge that he'd be =
able to hide behind those trees if necessary. He wandered along the =
narrow trail, his body on autopilot as he mused about the origin of the =
noise.=20

/What the hell?/ Glancing down he noticed he'd walked straight into a =
small patch of gorse around the boundary of the netball courts. /Aren't =
the caretakers supposed to get rid of this stuff?/ he groused. Bending =
to remove the prickles caught on his trousers, he felt the sharp end of =
one scratch his hand. /Ouch! How worse can this day possibly get?/ So =
much for trying not to draw attention to himself. At this rate he might =
as well hang a sign telling everyone in the valley where he was.=20

Ignoring the thin trail of blood running down his fingers, Alex crept =
past the courts towards the creek, taking care to stay within the =
shelter of the trees as the rainfall intensified. He drew nearer to the =
source of the sound, the voices accompanying it growing in a crescendo =
of anger.

A shiver of excitement ran through him as he tried to imagine what could =
be going down. He winced after his headache, which he'd almost forgotten =
about returned with a vengeance and started to build in intensity.=20

************

TBC

- Duo swallowed hard, trying to find something eloquent to respond with, =
but in the finish settled for the all purpose "Huh?" - Domino, Episode =
One
"...readers should remember that the opinions expressed by the =
characters are not necessarily those of the author..." - James Jones     =
                                                     =20
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDQB - terrorist cell leader - Society for =
the Defense of Quatre's Balls
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/love_trowa - Love Trowa mailing list
Defy the Stereotype - =
http://www.angelfire.com/gundam/serendipity/defy.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NZfanfic/
NZfanfic archive  http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/slice_of_heaven


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<P>Murphy=92s Law  (1a/4)</P>
<P>By Anne Olsen</P><FONT size=3D2></FONT>
<P>Rating/warnings this chapter: This Fic has been rated in accordance =
with the=20
approved TTFF Rating System. OK (Oz/Kiwi spelling/grammar etc) =96 PG =
=96 Angst,=20
drama.</P>
<P>Author's notes: This fic is part of the 'Tears in Heaven' series. =
More info=20
and stories in this timeline can be found at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes">http://www.angelfir=
e.com/ab7/shadesandechoes</A> It=20
can be read on its own but there are references to previous stories in =
the arc.=20
</P>
<P>This fic will also be archived at the new Expressions site. </P>
<P>Summary: The new breakout witnesses a grizzly murder, and insists =
that his=20
new history teacher is responsible. Are things really that simple?</P>
<P>Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, =
Thames/Tetra and=20
ITV television. Highlander is the property of Panzer/Davis, Rysher/ =
Gaumount=20
Televison. Stargate SG1 are owned by Stargate (II) Productions, =
Showtime/Viacom,=20
MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Products.</P>
<P>Alex MacDonald belongs to me and shouldn't be used without =
permission.</P>
<P>Thanks to: Big hugs to Megan for her support and beta reading. Also =
to Sakura=20
for her wonderful eye for typos, beta reading and helpful comments. And =
Wendy=20
for her suggestions and comments. </P>
<P>Feedback to: anneo @ paradise.net.nz </P>
<P>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</P><I>
<P>/Nothing is as easy as it looks</P>
<P>Everything takes longer than you expect</P>
<P>And if anything can go wrong</P>
<P>It will</P>
<P>At the worst possible moment</P>
<P>~ Anon./</P>
<P> </P></I>
<P>March 2000</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Chapter One</P><U></U>
<P>The man was still there in the far corner of Le Blues Bar, Joe Dawson =

noticed, after glancing up from the glass he was drying. As if in =
response the=20
dark haired man looked askance at Joe, and then, as though he knew he =
was being=20
watched, diverted his stare back to the drink he'd been nursing all =
evening.</P>
<P>Tapping his fingers against the bar, unconsciously matching the =
rhythm of the=20
evening's bass guitarist, Joe thought again about the information he'd =
received=20
about General William Damon. Somehow it didn=92t seem to match the man =
who=92d sat=20
in the bar observing him for most of the night. One thing about being a =
Watcher=20
was that it made it easier to recognise when you were being watched =
yourself.=20
</P>
<P>It made sense, he supposed, that if Damon had been given a copy of =
the same=20
CD-ROM Joe had, he'd be running the same investigation but in reverse. =
If the=20
information he'd received about the existence of a race of teleporters =
was=20
correct, then Damon already knew what was still news to Joe. To many it =
might=20
seem like something out of a science fiction novel but Joe had spent =
enough time=20
observing Immortals to believe that anything, even teleporters, could =
exist.</P>
<P></P>
<P>Sorting through the scenario in his mind, he leaned back on his cane =
and=20
shook his head. From what he=92d heard about Masters, the man =
responsible for=20
sending the information to Trent, he could understand why he=92d have =
interests in=20
common with the head of the Hunters. Masters had seemed as fanatical as =
Horton=20
himself had been about the idea of a race that wasn=92t =91human.=92 =
</P>
<P>Damon didn't strike Joe as being in the same league. True, he=92d =
headed the=20
teleporter project for several years before leaving suddenly, but =
nothing in his=20
life pointed a clear finger at what the personal reasons he'd cited for =
doing so=20
might be. He was married with two kids; the research on his home life =
hadn't=20
unearthed anything out of the ordinary. There was nothing out of the =
ordinary=20
about Damon, period, but all that confirmed was that he'd had plenty of =
practice=20
hiding behind the charade of Joe Average. </P>
<P>Pouring a drink for another customer, Joe couldn=92t help but =
remember how he'd=20
made the error of taking Methos at face value. Joe had spent over a =
decade=20
believing the guy was no one more extraordinary than Adam Pierson, =
mild-mannered=20
historian and Watcher. <EM>/Bet you had a good laugh over that one, old =
man./=20
</EM>Joe shook his head again. What took the cake was that the wily old =
Immortal=20
had managed to make sure he was in charge of the search for himself. It =
was no=20
wonder he never seemed to get anywhere though the situation would have =
appealed=20
to his sense of humour, Joe was certain. </P>
<P>Damon glanced at his watch, comparing it with the time on the large =
clock=20
over the bar. <EM>/How long are you going to sit there and observe?</EM> =
<I>How=20
long am I going to sit here and play spectator?/ </I>Joe thought. =
<EM>/One of us=20
is going to have to make a move or it=92s going to be one hell of a long =

night./</EM></P>
<P>*******</P>
<P>Alex MacDonald plodded home, taking a shortcut through the sports =
field of=20
the local college. Mum was going to wonder why he=92d cut his music =
lesson short=20
and was home so early. He grimaced at the memory of going to pieces on =
that=20
scale for the third time. </P>
<P>Mrs Frazer=92s concerned voice still rang through his mind. "Alex, =
are you=20
okay? You usually play better than this."</P>
<P>Blushing, he remembered how he'd muttered his apologies and rabbited =
on about=20
headaches and late nights. Other people managed to stay up late without =
feeling=20
as though they hadn=92t slept for a week, why couldn=92t he? Alex swung =
his school=20
bag over his shoulder, shifting it to distribute the weight more evenly, =
before=20
heading across the field. There should be a law against making kids lug =
around=20
heavy textbooks, he decided. And another one against teachers torturing =
students=20
with copious amounts of homework. At least his music teacher had been=20
sympathetic. Letting him leave early had probably been in both their =
interests.=20
If he were in her shoes he wouldn't have wanted to hear the piano being =
played=20
that badly for another ten minutes either. </P>
<P>Why couldn=92t it come as easily to him as it had for Jamie? He loved =
music as=20
much as his brother did but just didn=92t seem to have that same flair =
for it.=20
Everything came easier to his older brother, yet another verification of =
the=20
long standing suspicion that Jamie seemed to be one of those people fate =
smiled=20
upon. Alex stumbled and kicked the empty beer can he=92d tripped over in =
a sudden=20
burst of anger. He stared up at the early evening sky, certain that =
someone,=20
somewhere up there, didn=92t like him.</P>
<P>Several stray drops of rain landed on his glasses, blurring his =
vision.=20
<EM>/Oh great./</EM> Now he was going to get drowned just to add insult =
to=20
injury. He pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his lenses, dropping his =
bag on=20
the ground. It hit a boggy patch slightly off the path he was on, a =
smell=20
permeating the air after the canvas connected with it, and he wrinkled =
his nose=20
in disgust. <I>Gross.</I> Why couldn=92t people train their dogs to do =
their=20
business somewhere else? They'd managed to train Ewan, why couldn't =
others do=20
the same?</P>
<P></P>
<P>Alex bent down to rescue his bag, wiping the bottom of it with his=20
handkerchief. Mum was going to go ape shit when she saw the state of it. =
He=20
muttered a few choice words under his breath, pausing after a sound =
echoed=20
around the large deserted playing field, loud in comparison to the =
sudden=20
quietness of his surroundings. </P><I>
<P>/What was that?/</I> Weird. It sounded like steel against steel. </P>
<P>Stopping to listen again, he soon realised that the noise seemed to =
be coming=20
from the direction of the creek that ran through the boundary of the =
school=20
grounds. Alex shrugged. After the day he'd had, what did he have to =
lose? He=20
might as well live dangerously and check it out.</P>
<P></P>
<P>He replaced his glasses, starting towards the pine trees lining the =
banks of=20
the creek, reassuring himself with the knowledge that he=92d be able to =
hide=20
behind those trees if necessary. He wandered along the narrow trail, his =
body on=20
autopilot as he mused about the origin of the noise. </P><I>
<P>/What the hell?/</I> Glancing down he noticed he'd walked straight =
into a=20
small patch of gorse around the boundary of the netball courts. =
<EM>/Aren't the=20
caretakers supposed to get rid of this stuff?/ </EM>he groused. Bending =
to=20
remove the prickles caught on his trousers, he felt the sharp end of one =
scratch=20
his hand. <EM>/Ouch! How worse can this day possibly get?/</EM> So much =
for=20
trying not to draw attention to himself. At this rate he might as well =
hang a=20
sign telling everyone in the valley where he was. </P>
<P>Ignoring the thin trail of blood running down his fingers, Alex crept =
past=20
the courts towards the creek, taking care to stay within the shelter of =
the=20
trees as the rainfall intensified. He drew nearer to the source of the =
sound,=20
the voices accompanying it growing in a crescendo of anger.</P>
<P>A shiver of excitement ran through him as he tried to imagine what =
could be=20
going down. He winced after his headache, which he=92d almost forgotten =
about=20
returned with a vengeance and started to build in intensity. </P>
<P>************</P>
<P>TBC</P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>- Duo swallowed hard, trying to find =
something=20
eloquent to respond with, but in the finish settled for the all purpose =
"Huh?" -=20
Domino, Episode One<BR>"...readers should remember that the opinions =
expressed=20
by the characters are not necessarily those of the author..." - James=20
Jones           &n=
bsp;           &nb=
sp;           &nbs=
p;            =
;          =20
<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes">http://www.angelfir=
e.com/ab7/shadesandechoes</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDQB">http://groups.yahoo.com/group=
/SDQB</A>=20
- terrorist cell leader - Society for the Defense of Quatre's =
Balls<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/love_trowa">http://groups.yahoo.com=
/group/love_trowa</A>=20
- Love Trowa mailing list<BR>Defy the Stereotype - <A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/gundam/serendipity/defy.html">http://www=
.angelfire.com/gundam/serendipity/defy.html</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NZfanfic/">http://groups.yahoo.com/=
group/NZfanfic/</A><BR>NZfanfic=20
archive  <A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/slice_of_heaven">http://www.angel=
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Anne Olsen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: [Fic] Murphy's Law (1b/4)
Date: 02 Feb 2003 19:57:11 +1300

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Murphy's Law  (1b/4)

By Anne Olsen

Rating/warnings this chapter: This Fic has been rated in accordance with =
the approved TTFF Rating System. OK (Oz/Kiwi spelling/grammar etc) - PG =
- Angst, drama.

Author's notes: This fic is part of the 'Tears in Heaven' series. More =
info and stories in this timeline can be found at =
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes It can be read on its own =
but there are references to previous stories in the arc.=20

This fic will also be archived at the new Expressions site.=20

Summary: The new breakout witnesses a grizzly murder, and insists that =
his new history teacher is responsible. Are things really that simple?

Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, =
Thames/Tetra and ITV television. Highlander is the property of =
Panzer/Davis, Rysher/ Gaumount Televison. Stargate SG1 are owned by =
Stargate (II) Productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret =
Productions, and Gekko Products.

Alex MacDonald belongs to me and shouldn't be used without permission.

Thanks to: Big hugs to Megan for her support and beta reading. Also to =
Sakura for her wonderful eye for typos, beta reading and helpful =
comments. And Wendy for her suggestions and comments.=20

Feedback to: anneo @ paradise.net.nz=20

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D

Bill Damon glanced at his watch, before returning his attention to the =
slowly decreasing drink he'd been nursing for at least a couple of =
hours. What exactly was he going to say to this Dawson guy now that he'd =
found him?

Reading over Frank's research, it was obvious that this was the same Joe =
Dawson who'd been mentioned on the CD taken from Masters' computer =
before he'd died. The fact that his brother-in-law, no make that =
deceased brother-in-law, had been James Horton had been the decider. =
What Bill couldn't work out was why a guy working with someone like =
Masters would be running a blues bar in Paris.=20

Watching Dawson behind the bar, he seemed harmless enough. He was older =
than Bill, his hair and beard streaked with grey, the lines on his face =
suggesting he'd seen more of his fair share of the not so good side of =
life, yet not enough to dim the twinkle in his eye. He'd also been =
through the Vietnam War not entirely unscathed, the loss of his legs =
corroborated by the cane he'd used to move about the place chatting to =
one of the musicians. Yes, he looked dangerous, very dangerous. Bill =
snorted. Why couldn't the bad guys have a sign on them just to make his =
job easier? He mentally kicked himself, realising how much that sounded =
like something Marmaduke would say. That saying was true. 'Insanity is =
hereditary. You catch it from your kids.'=20

Bill lowered his head to study his drink again after he noticed the man =
in question glance over his way. /I wonder if he knows I'm watching =
him,/ he thought. Maybe he was out of practice with surveillance? These =
days he seemed to spend most of his time chasing after his kids, and =
cleaning up the messes the Tomorrow People seemed to get themselves into =
with alarming regularity.

/Hey there's a thought. I could just go up to Dawson and lay my cards on =
the table./ 'Hi, I'm Bill Damon and my son is a Tomorrow Person. I'd =
just like to ask you some questions about your involvement with a =
certain psychotic named Masters.' He smiled. Oh yeah, imagine =
Marmaduke's reaction to that one. 'Way to go, Dad.'=20

The door of the bar opened, interrupting Bill's reverie and a tall =
well-built man entered, surveying the room. After he located Dawson he =
stopped, and walked quickly towards the bar. He didn't look very =
impressed. In fact his expression told Bill that something or someone =
had annoyed him a great deal.

Time to get a refill on that drink. Bill stood up, noticing the twinge =
in his back. He was getting too old for this sort of stuff, he decided, =
figuring that Marmaduke and his friends had a great deal to do with his =
current lack of wellbeing. His stress levels had sky rocketed over the =
last few years, taking with it a great deal of his health. He couldn't =
remember the last time he'd had a decent night's sleep. No on second =
thoughts he could. 1992. The year Megabyte had become a Tomorrow Person. =
That had also been the year Bill's own peace of mind had disappeared out =
the window, never to return.

Seating himself on one of the wooden stools at the bar, Bill made sure =
he was far enough away from Dawson and the new arrival as to not arouse =
suspicion, but close enough to hear the conversation. He leaned back =
against the welcome support of the low-backed hard stool, trying to give =
the impression he was examining his drink with great interest while he =
wondered how long it would be before he would have to switch to coffee.


The dark haired man, whom he surmised was in his early thirties, maybe =
older, spoke with a faint Scots brogue, and as Bill's earlier =
observations proved correct, was as annoyed as hell. "You'd think at his =
age he'd be a bit more responsible by now wouldn't you?"

Dawson laughed, a deep chuckle which suggested they'd had this =
conversation, or one similar, in the past. "Pierson? Responsible? Let's =
face it, Mac, he's probably done this just because he knew he'd get a =
reaction from you."

/Pierson?/ Bill mentally shook his head. Now there was a name he hadn't =
expected to hear again. No, it must be a coincidence.

Mac shook his head, pushing back his shoulder length hair with one hand. =
He then glanced over at Bill, to catch his eye with a friendly smile, =
before returning to his conversation with the bartender.=20

/He knows I'm listening,/ thought Bill. /Am I losing it that much that I =
can't even eavesdrop without being noticed?/ There was something in the =
Scot's eyes that reminded Bill of someone else, but it was eluding him =
for the moment. He took another sip of his drink, averted his gaze from =
the two men, and settled back to listen to Mac tell Dawson the rest of =
his story.=20

"I knew it was a mistake giving the old man the key to the barge. I =
finally get back to Paris and what do I find? Tidy little pyramids made =
of beer bottles all over /my/ barge. I nearly broke my neck on the way =
in." He lowered his voice before continuing, and Bill found he was =
having to strain to hear the rest of the conversation.

"Pyramids made of beer bottles?" Dawson grinned, changing the volume of =
his voice to match his friend's. "I take it they were empty?"=20

Mac rolled his eyes. "This is Pierson we're talking about. Of course =
they were bloody empty. And it's not just a couple of bottles, Joe. It =
looks as though he's sat on the barge for at least a couple of weeks =
doing nothing but drink to get the volume of empty bottles I'm talking =
about here." He took a sip from the bottle in front on him. "I don't =
suppose you've seen him lately?"

"The last time I saw him was on our trip to Colorado," Dawson answered, =
shaking his head. "He disappeared shortly afterwards muttering something =
about prophecies and his peace being gone forever. I haven't seen him =
since, although it's starting to look as though wherever he went it was =
via Paris and the barge."

Colorado? Prophecies? What exactly was Dawson involved in? Pierson must =
be the same Pierson he, Adam and Megabyte had met in Colorado Springs. =
Adam Pierson a.k.a. Methos. Did Dawson know about Immortals as well as =
Tomorrow People? /What the hell was going on here?/

"That's what I thought you'd probably say. Knowing the old man, we'll be =
lucky if we see him again for months, maybe even years." Mac brightened. =
"Every cloud has its silver lining. If you see him, tell him I want a =
word. No, on second thoughts, don't. If he shows up, let me know and =
I'll just.surprise him."

Dawson nodded. "Just make sure I get a ring side seat, because I don't =
want to miss out on the fun. Oh and Mac? Don't kill him till I've had =
the chance to get his bartab paid first. That thing is the size of the =
national debt."

Mac laughed. "Dreams are free, Joe." He glanced at his watch, and =
draining the rest of his drink, placed the empty bottle on the counter. =
"I promised to meet Richie at the barge. If you hear anything in the =
meantime, let me know. Not that I'm really expecting you to, but hey, =
one can dream."

"Still the eternal optimist, I see," Dawson busied himself tidying up =
after his friend headed into the Parisian night air.=20

The bar was almost deserted, Bill noticed. If he waited another ten =
minutes or so, only he and Dawson would be left in the place. After =
hearing Pierson's name he'd come to the decision that it was time to =
stop putting off what had to be done. He had to talk to Dawson and find =
out what his connection was to Masters.=20

One thing did puzzle him. Dawson and his friend sounded as though they =
were on good terms with the five thousand year old immortal. They had =
also referred to him as the old man, confirming Bill's suspicions that =
they knew full well who or what he was. Bill owed Pierson, owed him for =
Megabyte and Adam's lives. If Dawson and Masters had plans against =
Pierson as well as the kids, they needed to be stopped.


**********

Creeping closer to the loud voices, Alex became aware of a growing =
dampness spreading into his shoes and up through his trousers. /Oh =
great. My shoes are leaking and I'm getting covered in mud and grass. =
Mum's going to be so pleased, not./ He stopped and wiped his glasses on =
his sweatshirt again, trying to ignore the falling rain growing heavier =
with each passing minute.

"I warned you I don't like to fight." Alex peered through his hiding =
place behind a tall pine tree, narrowly avoiding a hanging branch =
threatening to poke him in one eye, as one of the voices suddenly became =
louder.=20

/I know that voice./ He edged even closer and saw two men fighting with =
swords. Swords? Alex, certain he must be seeing things, checked his =
glasses to make sure they weren't fogged up from the rain.=20

The tall slim dark haired man who had spoken before disarmed his =
opponent with one quick flick of his wrist. He placed the sharp point of =
his weapon against the other man's throat, and smiled slowly. The man =
seemed almost amused by the situation. Talk about sick.=20

Alex took a short sharp breath and the man's head came up like an animal =
sensing its prey. He turned his head in Alex's direction and their eyes =
met. Mr O'Neill? What was the new history teacher doing out here holding =
a sword to someone's throat?

A similar look of recognition crossed Mr O'Neill's face and Alex =
groaned, thinking back to earlier that morning. Not for the first time =
he regretted bringing attention to himself in class and the =
embarrassment caused by that stupid theory he'd read by a Dr Jackson =
about the pyramids being built by aliens. O'Neill had ridiculed his =
suggestion in front of the class and made him feel like an idiot. It was =
definitely the last time he was ever going to speak up in public again.=20

Forget that last thought. If he didn't get out of here, it probably =
would be that last time he did anything ever again.

The blond heavily built man on the ground started to struggle, bringing =
his arm up to try and overpower the history teacher. O'Neill shrugged. =
"If you insist," he said, a note of sarcasm in his voice. To Alex's =
horror he raised his sword, bringing it down again to cleanly slice off =
his victim's head.

Oh shit. Oh shit. "Oh shit." O'Neill turned his head towards Alex again =
and he realised he'd said his last thought out loud.=20

The man knew who he was.=20

He had a sword in his hand.=20

He'd just killed someone.=20

Alex tried to move but found himself frozen as fear took over. /I've got =
to get out of here. If I don't, he'll kill me, next. Move it, Alex, move =
it. You've got to get out of here./ He closed his eyes to shut out the =
horrific scene in front of him.

Huh? For a moment he felt a weird tingling sensation through his body =
like a mild electric shock, followed by a strange sense of something he =
could only describe as dislocation. O'Neill hadn't had any other weapon =
on him but his sword, had he? /You've been watching way too much science =
fiction again,/ he thought. Although the situation was weird, it wasn't =
this weird. Was it?

Come to think of it, the background noises seemed different too, as =
though his sense of reality had changed subtly. The sound of the =
surrounding nature and the hum of the cicadas had been replaced by =
something different, something which seemed to permeate senses other =
than just the ones he was used to. /Oh for goodness sake,/ he told =
himself crossly. /Get real./ That last thought hadn't even made sense. =
Maybe this was his imagination's way of dealing with the danger he was =
in?=20

"Please tell me you aren't mucking about with the ship, Megabyte?"=20

What? Alex opened his eyes after hearing a male voice with a distinctly =
Australian accent. Two young men were staring at him. One, darkhaired =
and very slim, and definitely a good few years older than Alex, gave him =
a friendly smile.=20

The redhead, whom he was sure he knew from /somewhere/, rose to his feet =
and grinned, a twinkle in his blue eyes as though he was sharing a =
private joke with his companion. "Told you I knew what I was doing, =
Adam."

******=20

TBC

- Duo swallowed hard, trying to find something eloquent to respond with, =
but in the finish settled for the all purpose "Huh?" - Domino, Episode =
One
"...readers should remember that the opinions expressed by the =
characters are not necessarily those of the author..." - James Jones     =
                                                     =20
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDQB - terrorist cell leader - Society for =
the Defense of Quatre's Balls
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/love_trowa - Love Trowa mailing list
Defy the Stereotype - =
http://www.angelfire.com/gundam/serendipity/defy.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NZfanfic/
NZfanfic archive  http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/slice_of_heaven


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>
<P>Murphy=92s Law  (1b/4)</P>
<P>By Anne Olsen</P><FONT size=3D2></FONT>
<P>Rating/warnings this chapter: This Fic has been rated in accordance =
with the=20
approved TTFF Rating System. OK (Oz/Kiwi spelling/grammar etc) =96 PG =
=96 Angst,=20
drama.</P>
<P>Author's notes: This fic is part of the 'Tears in Heaven' series. =
More info=20
and stories in this timeline can be found at <A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes">http://www.angelfir=
e.com/ab7/shadesandechoes</A> It=20
can be read on its own but there are references to previous stories in =
the arc.=20
</P>
<P>This fic will also be archived at the new Expressions site. </P>
<P>Summary: The new breakout witnesses a grizzly murder, and insists =
that his=20
new history teacher is responsible. Are things really that simple?</P>
<P>Disclaimer: The Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, =
Thames/Tetra and=20
ITV television. Highlander is the property of Panzer/Davis, Rysher/ =
Gaumount=20
Televison. Stargate SG1 are owned by Stargate (II) Productions, =
Showtime/Viacom,=20
MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Products.</P>
<P>Alex MacDonald belongs to me and shouldn't be used without =
permission.</P>
<P>Thanks to: Big hugs to Megan for her support and beta reading. Also =
to Sakura=20
for her wonderful eye for typos, beta reading and helpful comments. And =
Wendy=20
for her suggestions and comments. </P>
<P>Feedback to: anneo @ paradise.net.nz </P>
<P>=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D</P>
<P>Bill Damon glanced at his watch, before returning his attention to =
the slowly=20
decreasing drink he=92d been nursing for at least a couple of hours. =
What exactly=20
was he going to say to this Dawson guy now that he=92d found him?</P>
<P>Reading over Frank=92s research, it was obvious that this was the =
same Joe=20
Dawson who'd been mentioned on the CD taken from Masters=92 computer =
before he=92d=20
died. The fact that his brother-in-law, no make that deceased =
brother-in-law,=20
had been James Horton had been the decider. What Bill couldn=92t work =
out was why=20
a guy working with someone like Masters would be running a blues bar in =
Paris.=20
</P>
<P>Watching Dawson behind the bar, he seemed harmless enough. He was =
older than=20
Bill, his hair and beard streaked with grey, the lines on his face =
suggesting=20
he'd seen more of his fair share of the not so good side of life, yet =
not enough=20
to dim the twinkle in his eye. He'd also been through the Vietnam War =
not=20
entirely unscathed, the loss of his legs corroborated by the cane he'd =
used to=20
move about the place chatting to one of the musicians. Yes, he looked =
dangerous,=20
very dangerous. Bill snorted. Why couldn=92t the bad guys have a sign on =
them just=20
to make his job easier? He mentally kicked himself, realising how much =
that=20
sounded like something Marmaduke would say. That saying was true. =
'Insanity is=20
hereditary. You catch it from your kids.' </P>
<P>Bill lowered his head to study his drink again after he noticed the =
man in=20
question glance over his way. <EM>/I wonder if he knows I=92m watching =
him</EM>,/=20
he thought. Maybe he was out of practice with surveillance? These days =
he seemed=20
to spend most of his time chasing after his kids, and cleaning up the =
messes the=20
Tomorrow People seemed to get themselves into with alarming =
regularity.</P><I>
<P>/Hey there=92s a thought</I>. <I>I could just go up to Dawson and lay =
my cards=20
on the table./</I> =91Hi, I=92m Bill Damon and my son is a Tomorrow =
Person. I=92d just=20
like to ask you some questions about your involvement with a certain =
psychotic=20
named Masters.=92 He smiled. Oh yeah, imagine Marmaduke=92s reaction to =
that one.=20
=91Way to go, Dad.=92 </P>
<P>The door of the bar opened, interrupting Bill=92s reverie and a tall =
well-built=20
man entered, surveying the room. After he located Dawson he stopped, and =
walked=20
quickly towards the bar. He didn=92t look very impressed. In fact his =
expression=20
told Bill that something or someone had annoyed him a great deal.</P>
<P>Time to get a refill on that drink. Bill stood up, noticing the =
twinge in his=20
back. He was getting too old for this sort of stuff, he decided, =
figuring that=20
Marmaduke and his friends had a great deal to do with his current lack =
of=20
wellbeing. His stress levels had sky rocketed over the last few years, =
taking=20
with it a great deal of his health. He couldn=92t remember the last time =
he=92d had=20
a decent night=92s sleep. No on second thoughts he could. 1992. The year =
Megabyte=20
had become a Tomorrow Person. That had also been the year Bill=92s own =
peace of=20
mind had disappeared out the window, never to return.</P>
<P>Seating himself on one of the wooden stools at the bar, Bill made =
sure he was=20
far enough away from Dawson and the new arrival as to not arouse =
suspicion, but=20
close enough to hear the conversation. He leaned back against the =
welcome=20
support of the low-backed hard stool, trying to give the impression he =
was=20
examining his drink with great interest while he wondered how long it =
would be=20
before he would have to switch to coffee.</P>
<P></P>
<P>The dark haired man, whom he surmised was in his early thirties, =
maybe older,=20
spoke with a faint Scots brogue, and as Bill=92s earlier observations =
proved=20
correct, was as annoyed as hell. "You=92d think at his age he=92d be a =
bit more=20
responsible by now wouldn=92t you?"</P>
<P>Dawson laughed, a deep chuckle which suggested they'd had this =
conversation,=20
or one similar, in the past. "Pierson? Responsible? Let=92s face it, =
Mac, he=92s=20
probably done this just because he knew he=92d get a reaction from =
you."</P><I>
<P>/Pierson?/</I> Bill mentally shook his head. Now there was a name he =
hadn=92t=20
expected to hear again. No, it must be a coincidence.</P>
<P>Mac shook his head, pushing back his shoulder length hair with one =
hand. He=20
then glanced over at Bill, to catch his eye with a friendly smile, =
before=20
returning to his conversation with the bartender. </P><I>
<P>/He knows I'm listening</I>,/ thought Bill. <EM>/Am I losing it that =
much=20
that I can't even eavesdrop without being noticed?/ </EM>There was =
something in=20
the Scot's eyes that reminded Bill of someone else, but it was eluding =
him for=20
the moment. He took another sip of his drink, averted his gaze from the =
two men,=20
and settled back to listen to Mac tell Dawson the rest of his story. =
</P>
<P>"I knew it was a mistake giving the old man the key to the barge. I =
finally=20
get back to Paris and what do I find? Tidy little pyramids made of beer =
bottles=20
all over <EM>/my/</EM> barge. I nearly broke my neck on the way in." He =
lowered=20
his voice before continuing, and Bill found he was having to strain to =
hear the=20
rest of the conversation.</P>
<P>"Pyramids made of beer bottles?" Dawson grinned, changing the volume =
of his=20
voice to match his friend's. "I take it they were empty?" </P>
<P>Mac rolled his eyes. "This is Pierson we=92re talking about. Of =
course they=20
were bloody empty. And it's not just a couple of bottles, Joe. It looks =
as=20
though he=92s sat on the barge for at least a couple of weeks doing =
nothing but=20
drink to get the volume of empty bottles I=92m talking about here." He =
took a sip=20
from the bottle in front on him. "I don=92t suppose you=92ve seen him =
lately?"</P>
<P>"The last time I saw him was on our trip to Colorado," Dawson =
answered,=20
shaking his head. "He disappeared shortly afterwards muttering something =
about=20
prophecies and his peace being gone forever. I haven=92t seen him since, =
although=20
it's starting to look as though wherever he went it was via Paris and =
the=20
barge."</P>
<P>Colorado? Prophecies? What exactly was Dawson involved in? Pierson =
must be=20
the same Pierson he, Adam and Megabyte had met in Colorado Springs. Adam =
Pierson=20
a.k.a. Methos. Did Dawson know about Immortals as well as Tomorrow =
People?=20
<EM>/What the hell was going on here?/</EM></P>
<P>"That=92s what I thought you=92d probably say. Knowing the old man, =
we=92ll be=20
lucky if we see him again for months, maybe even years." Mac brightened. =
"Every=20
cloud has its silver lining. If you see him, tell him I want a word. No, =
on=20
second thoughts, don=92t. If he shows up, let me know and I=92ll =
just=85surprise=20
him."</P>
<P>Dawson nodded. "Just make sure I get a ring side seat, because I =
don=92t want=20
to miss out on the fun. Oh and Mac? Don=92t kill him till I=92ve had the =
chance to=20
get his bartab paid first. That thing is the size of the national =
debt."</P>
<P>Mac laughed. "Dreams are free, Joe." He glanced at his watch, and =
draining=20
the rest of his drink, placed the empty bottle on the counter. "I =
promised to=20
meet Richie at the barge. If you hear anything in the meantime, let me =
know. Not=20
that I=92m really expecting you to, but hey, one can dream."</P>
<P>"Still the eternal optimist, I see," Dawson busied himself tidying up =
after=20
his friend headed into the Parisian night air. </P>
<P>The bar was almost deserted, Bill noticed. If he waited another ten =
minutes=20
or so, only he and Dawson would be left in the place. After hearing =
Pierson=92s=20
name he'd come to the decision that it was time to stop putting off what =
had to=20
be done. He had to talk to Dawson and find out what his connection was =
to=20
Masters. </P>
<P>One thing did puzzle him. Dawson and his friend sounded as though =
they were=20
on good terms with the five thousand year old immortal. They had also =
referred=20
to him as the old man, confirming Bill's suspicions that they knew full =
well who=20
or what he was. Bill owed Pierson, owed him for Megabyte and Adam=92s =
lives. If=20
Dawson and Masters had plans against Pierson as well as the kids, they =
needed to=20
be stopped.</P>
<P></P>
<P>**********</P>
<P>Creeping closer to the loud voices, Alex became aware of a growing =
dampness=20
spreading into his shoes and up through his trousers. <EM>/Oh =
great.</EM> <I>My=20
shoes are leaking and I'm getting covered in mud and grass.</I> <I>Mum's =
going=20
to be so pleased, not</I>./ He stopped and wiped his glasses on his =
sweatshirt=20
again, trying to ignore the falling rain growing heavier with each =
passing=20
minute.</P>
<P>"I warned you I don't like to fight." Alex peered through his hiding =
place=20
behind a tall pine tree, narrowly avoiding a hanging branch threatening =
to poke=20
him in one eye, as one of the voices suddenly became louder. </P><I>
<P>/I know that voice./ </I>He edged even closer and saw two men =
fighting with=20
swords. Swords? Alex, certain he must be seeing things, checked his =
glasses to=20
make sure they weren't fogged up from the rain. </P>
<P>The tall slim dark haired man who had spoken before disarmed his =
opponent=20
with one quick flick of his wrist. He placed the sharp point of his =
weapon=20
against the other man's throat, and smiled slowly. The man seemed almost =
amused=20
by the situation. Talk about sick. </P>
<P>Alex took a short sharp breath and the man's head came up like an =
animal=20
sensing its prey. He turned his head in Alex's direction and their eyes =
met. Mr=20
O'Neill? What was the new history teacher doing out here holding a sword =
to=20
someone's throat?</P>
<P>A similar look of recognition crossed Mr O'Neill's face and Alex =
groaned,=20
thinking back to earlier that morning. Not for the first time he =
regretted=20
bringing attention to himself in class and the embarrassment caused by =
that=20
stupid theory he'd read by a Dr Jackson about the pyramids being built =
by=20
aliens. O'Neill had ridiculed his suggestion in front of the class and =
made him=20
feel like an idiot. It was definitely the last time he was ever going to =
speak=20
up in public again. </P>
<P>Forget that last thought. If he didn't get out of here, it probably =
would be=20
that last time he did <I>anything </I>ever again.</P>
<P>The blond heavily built man on the ground started to struggle, =
bringing his=20
arm up to try and overpower the history teacher. O'Neill shrugged. "If =
you=20
insist," he said, a note of sarcasm in his voice. To Alex's horror he =
raised his=20
sword, bringing it down again to cleanly slice off his victim's =
head.</P>
<P>Oh shit. Oh shit. "Oh shit." O'Neill turned his head towards Alex =
again and=20
he realised he'd said his last thought out loud. </P>
<P>The man knew who he was. </P>
<P>He had a sword in his hand. </P>
<P>He'd just killed someone. </P>
<P>Alex tried to move but found himself frozen as fear took over. =
<EM>/I've got=20
to get out of here. If I don't, he'll kill me, next. Move it, Alex, move =
it.=20
You've got to get out of here./ </EM>He closed his eyes to shut out the =
horrific=20
scene in front of him.</P>
<P>Huh? For a moment he felt a weird tingling sensation through his body =
like a=20
mild electric shock, followed by a strange sense of something he could =
only=20
describe as dislocation. O'Neill hadn't had any other weapon on him but =
his=20
sword, had he? <EM>/You've been watching way too much science fiction=20
again,/</EM> he thought. Although the situation was weird, it wasn't =
this weird.=20
Was it?</P>
<P>Come to think of it, the background noises seemed different too, as =
though=20
his sense of reality had changed subtly. The sound of the surrounding =
nature and=20
the hum of the cicadas had been replaced by something different, =
something which=20
seemed to permeate senses other than just the ones he was used to. =
<EM>/Oh for=20
goodness sake,/</EM> he told himself crossly. <EM>/Get real./</EM> That =
last=20
thought hadn't even made sense. Maybe this was his imagination's way of =
dealing=20
with the danger he was in? </P>
<P>"Please tell me you aren't mucking about with the ship, Megabyte?" =
</P>
<P>What? Alex opened his eyes after hearing a male voice with a =
distinctly=20
Australian accent. Two young men were staring at him. One, darkhaired =
and very=20
slim, and definitely a good few years older than Alex, gave him a =
friendly=20
smile. </P>
<P>The redhead, whom he was sure he knew from <EM>/somewhere/</EM>, rose =
to his=20
feet and grinned, a twinkle in his blue eyes as though he was sharing a =
private=20
joke with his companion. "Told you I knew what I was doing, Adam."</P>
<P>****** </P>
<P>TBC</P></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>- Duo swallowed hard, trying to find =
something=20
eloquent to respond with, but in the finish settled for the all purpose =
"Huh?" -=20
Domino, Episode One<BR>"...readers should remember that the opinions =
expressed=20
by the characters are not necessarily those of the author..." - James=20
Jones           &n=
bsp;           &nb=
sp;           &nbs=
p;            =
;          =20
<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes">http://www.angelfir=
e.com/ab7/shadesandechoes</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SDQB">http://groups.yahoo.com/group=
/SDQB</A>=20
- terrorist cell leader - Society for the Defense of Quatre's =
Balls<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/love_trowa">http://groups.yahoo.com=
/group/love_trowa</A>=20
- Love Trowa mailing list<BR>Defy the Stereotype - <A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/gundam/serendipity/defy.html">http://www=
.angelfire.com/gundam/serendipity/defy.html</A><BR><A=20
href=3D"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NZfanfic/">http://groups.yahoo.com/=
group/NZfanfic/</A><BR>NZfanfic=20
archive  <A=20
href=3D"http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/slice_of_heaven">http://www.angel=
fire.com/realm2/slice_of_heaven</A><BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

------=_NextPart_000_032C_01C2CAF5.46557880--




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: AKA Anonymous <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: Re: [SE_Updates] [Fic] Murphy's Law (1/4)
Date: 02 Feb 2003 12:00:04 -0700

[e-mail], [e-mail]
In-Reply-To: <030601c2ca84$a7899260$[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Sender: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk
Reply-To: tpfict

Anne! *Glomp*

I'm so glad you're continuing this--it's like being
sucked back to high school! WAIT! That didn't come
out right! *Rewind, strike that, try again...* I
remember reading alot of TP & Highlander back in high
school, including your stuff.

I love this series, as I think I've told you before,
and to see a new part out of the blue is so cool!
Alex's character is cute! I love how he keeps
thinking how his mom's going to bite his head off
about his appearance. Of course that's the /least/ of
his problems now! *G*

I also liked Gen. Damon' and Dawson's attitudes to
each other. They know the other knows they know or,
at least, they think they think they know. *Blinks*
Mwahahaha! Duncan's comments lamenting his barge was
well done, too. I can truly picture it, as well as
Methos hiding somewhere close by to snicker at his
little joke at his friend's expense.

 > It will
 >
 > At the worst possible moment
 >
 > ~ Anon./

*Sigh* Yet another of my distant relatives, I see.
^_~

Keep this going! It's great!!!
--Anon (umpteenth of that name)

__________________________________________________

Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.
http://mailplus.yahoo.com




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Jackie Clark" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: A Good Dream Disclaimer
Date: 04 Feb 2003 21:08:50 -0000

A Good Dream Gets Even Better or Pantheistic Multiperson Solipsism
A short Story by Jackie Clark
February 2003

Disclaimer

This fan fic was inspired by a debate on tpdis about John's last name that
happened over five years ago. Due to my naivety at the time I have never
had this story archived and felt that it was time to resurrect it and move
it forward into the present day.

All the characters used in this story are real. One of them might even be
you! Apologies if you wouldn't say the things I've written or react the way
I've depicted, there's no offence intended. I feel that I know many of you
so much better now than I did back then. ;-D

The extract quoted is from 'The Number Of The Beast' by Robert A. Heinlein
published by Hodder & Stoughton ISBN 0-450-04675-3.

'Oh You Pretty Things' is copyright David Bowie. It is taken from the album
Hunky Dory.

The Tomorrow People was created by Roger Price and Thames Television. The
characters of Elena and Paul are copyright to Big Finish Productions.

All original story ideas remain copyright of Jackie Clark Feb 2003.

Thanks to Emma and Kristin for Beta reading this at short notice.
Please feel free to e-mail me with comments.

Enjoy
[e-mail]








-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Jackie Clark" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: A Good Dream Part One
Date: 04 Feb 2003 21:14:25 -0000

A Good Dream Gets Even Better or Pantheistic Multiperson Solipsism
A short Story by Jackie Clark
February 2003

Part One

Is this story true? That's for the reader to decide. To be honest I'm not
really sure myself!

Is this all a dream?  I cannot answer that either, but time will tell.

I am reminded of a quote by a famous quantum physicist. "The world is not
only queerer than we imagine but it is queerer than we can imagine!" (J.B.S.
Haldane)

__________________________________

It all began when I first got on line. I trawled through various fantastic
web sites, amazed that other people remembered the Tomorrow People as much
as me. Then I came across an on-line discussion group called tpdis. It was
run by the friendliest and I must add, most intelligent, bunch of people I
had ever met. Settling into the routine of checking my mail from work each
morning I eagerly awaited the arrival of my first home computer and the
chance to take part in one of the fascinating debates.

Strange how my first mail to that group was about a dream. It was an odd
topic to use as an introduction but how could any of us know that it was the
start of some very bizarre happenings. 'The Dream', as I call it, began as a
flight of fancy. Where it's taking me I have no idea, but there's one thing
for certain. The dream keeps getting better and better!

___________________________________


Date Sent: Tues, 5 May 1998
Send reply to: tpdis @lists.xmission.com

Hello every one. I'm new to the group and thought I would introduce myself
and tell you how much I like the Tomorrow People. My name is Jackie but most
people call me Jack. I've been a fan of the show since I was eleven and am
really pleased to find other TP fans out there in the cyber-verse.

I had a really strange dream today. John came to my room and was trying to
speak to me telepathically. I just couldn't understand what he was trying to
say.

Do you think I need a psychiatrist?

Regards
Jack.

Date Sent: Wed, 6 May 1998
Send reply to: tpdis @lists.xmission.com

Hello every one
Guess what? I had the dream again today.

Am I breaking out?
Jack



Date Sent: Wed, 6 May 1998
Send reply to: [e-mail]

>I had a really strange dream today. John came to my room and was trying to
>speak to me telepathically. I just couldn't understand what he was trying
>to say.

Welcome to the list.

You're not alone I had the same dream. But I doubt you're breaking out.
This is very strange.

Shaun


Date Sent: Thur, 7 May 1998
Send reply to: [e-mail]

>You're not alone I had the same dream.
>This is very strange

Guess What?

I had the same dream too. It's probably just a coincidence.

 Do you think we should investigate further?

Beth

And so we held a survey of all the listees and, as you have already guessed,
many of them had had a similar dream. The scientist in me wanted to dismiss
this as mass hysteria but somehow things didn't feel quite right. I was sure
there was something going on. Mass breakout was one possibility that the
rational me quickly rejected. But somehow the nagging feeling that
everything was about to change kept creeping back into my mind.

After a few months these feelings faded into the background and I almost
forgot about 'The Dream'.


Date Sent: Mon, 10 May 1999
Send reply to: [e-mail]

Hi All

Does anyone remember be telling you about my TP dreams a year ago? Guess
what? They're back, and this time Elizabeth and Stephen were there too!
Stephen was holding a copy of Cult TV Mag. I caught a glimpse of the date
but not the content.

This is weird!

Jackie

Date Sent: Tues, 12 May 1999
Send reply to: [e-mail]

>This time Elizabeth and Stephen were there too. Stephen was holding a copy
>of Cult TV Mag. I caught a glimpse of the date but not the content.

I saw what was inside the mag. There's to be some sort of sci-fi convention
held in England on May 10th 2003. We were all standing together in a
photograph with the TP's. Could it be a premonition?

Beth.

End Part One







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Jackie Clark" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: A Good Dream Part Two
Date: 04 Feb 2003 21:23:48 -0000

A Good Dream Gets Even Better or Pantheistic Multiperson Solipsism
A short Story by Jackie Clark

Part Two


As I walked into the room they were all there. Wendy, Beth, Warren, Emma,
Carolyn, Matty, Rachel, Viv, Kristin and many many more.

The last verse of 'Oh you Pretty Things' was playing over the loud speakers
as I weaved my way between the tables and took up the microphone. Looking
back across the room I was amazed that so many people had made such an
effort to be here tonight and hoped, almost prayed, that they would have a
great time. 'Gotta make way for the Homo-Superior' I hummed to myself as the
door opened to reveal the celebrity guests waiting for their entrance cue.



By the year 2003 I had completely forgotten about the dream. I had so many
things on my mind about the dinner that I couldn't think of anything else.
Had I called the DJ to request Nick's favourite song? Would the cake look
like I had planned? How could I get a dozen helium balloons to the hotel in
the back of one car with three passengers? And that was not all. Would all
the guests arrive on time? Would they get on with one another once put in
the same room? Would PVC and Nick have us in stitches like on the DVD
commentaries or would they end up insulting anyone with their comments?
Would Warren buy me that drink he's always promising ;-)


Many things had changed over the years, names had changed, and occupations
had changed too. I can hardly believe it when I recall that the younger
group members were now at university. And through all these changes one
thing remained constant. We all still loved the Tomorrow People as a show.
Whether it was New Series, Old Series or CD's, somehow these stories meant
something to everyone in the room.

"Welcome to the Tomorrow People 30th Anniversary Dinner" I said smiling.
"It's great to meet you all at last.We are here tonight to celebrate 30
years
of our favourite TV show so please give a warm welcome to our guests for
tonight."

The audience stood and started to applause, everyone straining to get a
glimpse of their favourite personality as they entered the room. In the
background the TP theme was ringing out, filling the air with a real buzz of
excitement.

My head began to swim. 'I shouldn't have had that second glass of champagne'
I thought. 'Just hold it together Jackie. A few more minutes and you can sit
down and relax!'

In the next instant the room exploded into a scene of utter chaos. The patio
doors behind me ruptured into a million shards of lethal glass as they were
hit by the particle beam. The table was upturned by another blast of the
weapon, it's carefully arranged place settings instantly shattered, throwing
crockery and decorations high into the air.

People screamed and dived for cover behind or beneath their own tables. My
beautifully decorated room was in utter disarray!

Frozen to the spot I looked tentatively over my shoulder just as another
blast from the laser weapon spat past my ear.

"Get down!" Shouted Stephen from beside me.

"W...What.?"

Grabbing me by the sleeve he pulled me behind the DJ's console. "Stay here
out of the way while we deal with this."

Without warning John appeared beside him... yes you heard me... he appeared
out
of thin air... jaunted I should say... but at the time I was too shocked by
events to take in what I was actually seeing.

"Is she ok?" Asked John.

"She'll be fine once we get her back to the lab."

"We better deal with them first."

Finding that I could speak my brain formed the only sensible question it
could think of. "Who are they?"

"Sorsons." Hissed John. "And from the look of it they've had this raiding
party planned for some time." He must have seen the look of utter horror on
my face and smiled warmly. "It's ok Jackie. We came prepared." Opening his
jacket he revealed a stun gun nestling in its holster. "You stay here until
the coast is clear."

With an understanding nod they both touched their belts and vanished.

Across the room I could see Timus, his arms stretched upwards to form a
protective telekinetic shield saving Viv and Leah, crouched close by, from
the worst of the Sorson onslaught. Beyond him were Elena, Kevin and Paul
busily healing the wounds of many injured people and ushering them away to
safety.

Looking across at the figures crouched behind the nearest table I made eye
contact with Wendy. She gave an understanding nod as if to say 'yes I saw it
too' and I was relieved.

End Part Two







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Jackie Clark" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: A Good Dream Part Three
Date: 04 Feb 2003 21:31:01 -0000

A Good Dream Gets Even Better or Pantheistic Multiperson Solipsism
A short Story by Jackie Clark
Part Three

I almost jumped out of my skin as Elizabeth appeared beside me. "Put this
on." She urged, handing me a jaunting belt. "We've got to get you out of
here."

Taking the belt my hands were shaking as I tried to fasten it around my
waist.

"Look out Jackie " Came a hysterical shout instantly recognizable as Carol.
"Jackie nooooo.."

Then it hit me. A shearing pain in my left shoulder as the Sorson laser
ripped through my flesh. Screaming in agony I collapsed onto the floor and
passed out.


I was the last one to wake. I opened my eyes to find the others smiling down
at me.

"Yes." Said Wendy. "We're in the lab. Although I've no idea how we got here.
And it's not just those who came to the dinner. Shaun's over there talking
with Kathryn, and Beth thinks that's Mike." She pointed across at a couple
deep in conversation. The man was tall and slim and both he and the woman
had startling red hair. "Do you know who the woman is?"

"Kristy." I mumbled absentmindedly then realized that this was a friend I
hadn't chatted with in a long time "Hey it's Kristy!" I surveyed the crowd
of people squashed into the room in more detail. "You mean the entire list
is here?"

"Welcome tpdis," said TIM. "Please don't be alarmed at me bringing you here
like this. It was essential that the Tomorrow People speak to you."

My head began to spin and I'm sure that I went a deathly shade of white, but
this was not the only shock in store for us. Slowly they all emerged. Led by
John, they approached from the direction of the workshop. Behind him were
Elizabeth then Carol, Stephen, Tyso, Mike, Hsui Tai, Andrew, Megabyte,
Kevin, Ami, Elena and Paul.

John's authoritative voice rang in my ears. "Welcome to the Lab, I know that
each and every one of you has spent a lifetime dreaming of this moment."

"What's going on?" Asked Shaun. "What happened at the dinner?"

"Yeah!" Added Warren. "Last thing I remember you were having a stun gun
shoot out with those..." His words tailed off as John held up his hand.

"All will be revealed in good time. Let's just say that we anticipated the
Sorson threat and eliminated it."

Now it was TIM's turn to speak. "What John is telling you is correct. The
Galactic Federation's intelligence network learned of the threat five years
ago. Their investigations revealed that the Sorsons had planned this raid on
the TP dinner for some time. They allowed the Sorsons to believe that their
plan would work."

"You mean they used us as bait?" Said Wendy indignantly.

"It was the only way." Replied Stephen apologetically." We knew that they
had spies everywhere in this quadrant of the Galaxy. The dinner was the
ideal opportunity for them to come out of hiding and for us to round them up
once and for all!" He stepped forward and looked me in the eye. "I'm sorry
Jackie. After you put so much effort into the event. We had to play along
with the idea that it was just a fan convention. That way the Sorsons would
take the bait and expose themselves."

"Stephen's right. We're sorry to risk your lives this way but we had no
choice. The Sorson threat to the Earth had to be eradicated." Added
Elizabeth.

Now it was Viv who found her voice. Jumping down from the bio-bed she took
two steps forward. "So you're telling me that everything I just witnessed
was for real? That there really are Tomorrow People?"

Elizabeth giggled as she led Viv over to the couch. "Give John a chance and
he'll explain everything. You know you've been waiting for this moment for
years."

"What I have to say is very important." Began John. His words seemed to
reverberate around my head, echoy voices as if they came from far away.
'Wow!' I thought. 'They're using telepathy. This is what real telepathy
feels like.'

Stephen smiled at me and my heart skipped a beat. Holding his finger to his
lips I felt, rather than heard, his plea for silence and stopped thinking...
At least, I thought I stopped.

John began again. "We are the Tomorrow People created by Roger Price and
shown on your television stations world wide. Except that your world is not
our own. We are in another dimension from you and our existence relies
entirely on your knowledge of us. Every time a fan of a TV show thinks of
their favourite characters it strengthens our universe. Back in the 70's we
were much stronger than today. Children all over Britain played TP games and
avidly watched their TV's each week. When the show was cancelled we began to
fade away, luckily the 90's version rekindled the imaginations of the
world's kids.
More recently each of you have included us in your fan fiction,
e-mails and web pages and the DVD releases have made people worldwide
remember us again. It was this that gave us the strength to cross over into
your dimension and make contact with you. To put it succinctly we owe you
our very existence."

"But we not only make you exist we make the Sorsons exist as well." Stated
Shaun in a soft Australian drawl.

"Exactly. And we're very sorry that we had to drag you into our mess."

Elizabeth stepped forward. "TIM brought you here today to demonstrate that
we do exist, and for us to stress the importance that you keep our memory
alive. As long as there are people out in your world thinking of us we will
continue to be here." She smiled at each of us in turn. This was a smile
that I had known all my life, Elizabeth's warm-hearted personality shone
through and we all relaxed.

"Tell us more." Urged Beth.

Someone I didn't recognize pushed his way to the front of the gathering.
"Hi, I'm John Merullo. Can you tell us all about the Federation and the
Trig?"

"I want to know what it feels like to have special powers?" Added Warren

"I wish people would stop calling them that!" Snapped Beth, digging Warren
in the ribs good-naturedly.

"In good time." Smiled John. "All in good time."

After many hours of questioning it was time for us to leave. We reluctantly
stepped onto the jaunting pad and waved our good byes.

"Can I ask one last thing?" Said Beth stepping forward to address John.
He nodded slowly and I wondered if he already knew what the question was.

"Go ahead."

"What is your last name?"

"Exactly what you want it to be." He replied and with this the lab faded out
of view as we jaunted.

-------------------------

Finding myself back at the hotel I ran from my room and knocked insistently
on Carolyn's door. Throwing it open she stepped through and we hugged
excitedly. "I can't believe it" I exclaimed jumping up and down like an
excited schoolgirl. "They're real. I always knew they were for real."

"I'm stunned. I don't know what to say."

"What you both need is a stiff drink." Said a voice from down the hall.
"Meet you in the bar in five minutes."

"Thanks Warren. I knew I'd get you to buy me that drink eventually."
Swinging around I ran back into my room. "There's something I want to get
first. Cya there."



When we arrived in the bar I was shocked to find normality had returned.
There was no sign of the damage caused by the battle and the hotel staff
seemed oblivious to the happenings in their restaurant only hours before.
Once we had all assembled conversation began to buzz around the group about
the possible use of psycho-hypnosis to wipe their memories and the
Federation's use of us as bait for the Sorsons. It was in the early hours of
the morning that the topic of conversation eventually came round to the
revelation that the TP's really did exist in a parallel dimension from us.

"There is an explanation for all of this you know." I suggested tentatively.

"What?" Asked an extremely tired Kathryn. "I keep expecting to wake up any
minute to find myself still on the flight from Australia."

Taking a deep breath I looked at each of the assembled group in turn. "It's
a bit fanciful, but it could just explain all this. It's not my idea. I read
it in a book by Robert Heinlein a long time ago. He called it pantheistic
multiperson solipsism."

"Well go ahead, I've been trying to figure it out all evening and any
explanation is better than none at all." Shaun responded.

Reaching into my bag I retrieved a novel. I turned to the pages that I had
carefully marked and started to read.


'I'd like to try an experiment,' Hilda went on. 'Write down the twenty
stories you have enjoyed most. Or groups of related stories - the OZ books
would count as one, so would the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars series, and so
would the four voyages of Gulliver's Travels. Make them stories you reread
for pleasure when you were too tired to tackle a new book.'
'Sharpie, is it cheating to ask how you mean to use this?'
'No, Zebbie. If my theory is right, the next time we rotate and find
ourselves near a planet, it will turn out to be a scene of a story or group
of stories that appear on all four lists.'


I looked around the group again. "What Heinlein was trying to say was that
we create these other dimensions or worlds by the power of our own minds. I
know this is only a work of fiction but perhaps he knew something we don't."

"And perhaps Roger Price knew it as well." Commented Matty as I began to
read again.


'Sharpie, you have just invented pantheistic multiperson solipsism. I didn't
think that it was mathematically possible.'
'Zeb, anything is mathematically possible.'
'Thanks, Jacob. Zebbie, "solipsism" is a buzzword. I'm saying that we've
stumbled onto "The Door in the Wall", the one that leads to the Land of
Heart's Desire. I don't know how and have no use for fancy rationalisations.
I see a pattern; I'm not trying to explain it. It just is.'


Placing the book down on the table I looked up at the group. We sat in
silence at first them the conversation took off in all sorts of directions
at once. Was this the answer to the age-old philosophical debate about the
nature of reality? Had we all been party to some mass delusion? Had we all
broken out for real?

It was nearly daylight when we decided to retire to our respective rooms to
think on the issues. As my head touched the pillow I looked across at my
sister sleeping in the next bed. Where had she been all evening? I wondered.
But she wasn't a TP fan... Perhaps, for her, the 'Land of Heart's Desire'
was
another TV show that she visited only in her dreams?


Date Sent: Mon, February 3rd 2003
Send reply to: [e-mail]

Hello everyone

I had a really strange dream today. We were all at the anniversary dinner
when we were attacked by the Sorsons but the TP's saved our lives and took
us back to the lab.

Do you think I need a Psychiatrist?

Jackie


The End


Here is a challenge to all other writers out there. Why not make write your
own story that links to this one? Whether you attend the TP dinner or not,
if you are a member of tpdis then you would find yourself in the lab with
the rest of us. What would you do? How would you react? What question have
you always longed to ask the TP's?









-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kristin Dunn <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: Age of NS TP
Date: 04 Feb 2003 14:35:46 -0800 (PST)

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Okay, I'm taking a stab at writing my first (and maybe only) fan-fic, and I need some help. Does any one know how old the NS TP would be now? More specifically Kevin,  Megabyte and Jade. I realize that I can put them at any age that I want to work with, but it's easier if I have a range to work with at least. Thanks!
Kristin  ----Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum! Miami University Rugby Team 2003Studying gives you knowledge. Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. I am learning how to be corrupt. "I'm going to bed before either of you two come up with another clever idea to get us killed, or worse expelled!" Hermione GrangerHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world." Ron Weasley Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets


"It's great to be known, but it's even better to be known as strange." -Takeshi Kaga ~Iron Chef
"Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." -Brillat-Savarin
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Zen Proverb


Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now
--0-98104351-1044398146=:12349
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<P>
<TABLE id=INCREDIMAINTABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD id=INCREDITEXTREGION style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; CURSOR: auto; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" width="100%">
<DIV>Okay, I'm taking a stab at writing my first (and maybe only) fan-fic, and I need some help. Does any one know how old the NS TP would be now? More specifically Kevin,  Megabyte and Jade. I realize that I can put them at any age that I want to work with, but it's easier if I have a range to work with at least.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thanks!<BR>Kristin</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>----</DIV>
<DIV>Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum! Miami University Rugby Team 2003</DIV>
<DIV>Studying gives you knowledge. Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. I am learning how to be corrupt. </DIV></DIV>
<DIV>"I'm going to bed before either of you two come up with another clever idea to get us killed, or worse expelled!" Hermione Granger</DIV>
<DIV><U>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</U></DIV>
<DIV>"Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world." Ron Weasley <U>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</U></DIV>
<DIV><U></U> </DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P><BR><BR>"It's great to be known, but it's even better to be known as strange." -Takeshi Kaga ~Iron Chef<br>"Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." -Brillat-Savarin<br>"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Zen Proverb<p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
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--0-98104351-1044398146=:12349--



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: TPFICT: Age of NS TP
Date: 04 Feb 2003 19:13:45 EST


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I have no basis for this at all but I'd say in the first story that Adam was
about 13 or 14, Megabyte about 12 or 13, and Kevin about 11 or 12, maybe even
a youngish 13. Lisa I'd say is about 14, maybe 15 if you push it. By series
end, I guess add by 3. Adam certainly seemed about 16 or 17. I can't even
recall the other girl's name but I guess she's Adam's age. And whatsherface,
the little girl, I 'd guess is 12 or 13 ni her debut, maybe even 11.

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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=3D2>I have no basis for this=20=
at all but I'd say in the first story that Adam was about 13 or 14, Megabyte=
 about 12 or 13, and Kevin about 11 or 12, maybe even a youngish 13. Lisa I'=
d say is about 14, maybe 15 if you push it. By series end, I guess add by 3.=
 Adam certainly seemed about 16 or 17. I can't even recall the other girl's=20=
name but I guess she's Adam's age. And whatsherface, the little girl, I 'd g=
uess is 12 or 13 ni her debut, maybe even 11.</FONT></HTML>

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Meg Freeman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: TPFICT: Age of NS TP
Date: 04 Feb 2003 20:10:03 -0600

Okay, there are ages stated in the series.

The news reporter says that Kevin was 10, that was in 1992. So he'd be 20/21 now.

Megabyte is 13/14 by my best estimation in 1992, putting him at 23/24 now. He's friends with Kevin so I wouldn't go past 14, because after that they wouldn't be travelling in the same circles. But if you think that maybe Kevin was about to turn 11 and Megabyte was just 13/14, then it's plausible that they'd hang around. Because they'd only be about two grades apart.

Jade was somewhere around 12/13 in Culex, and that was in 1993, so that makes her about 22/23. She doesn't look any older than 15 to me in the Living Stones.

Lisa is either 15 or 16. Because the news says that Lisa is 15, but Lisa says she's 16. So she'd be 25/26 now. I think that maybe she had a birthday or something or was going to have a birthday.

Adam is anyone's guess. I put him at 17 (the actor's age at the time) in 1992, making him somewhere around 27ish.

As for Ami, I think she's actually maybe the same age as Adam. To me she looks 16/17 in Culex, which would make her about 26/27 today. She does look older than Megabyte, to me at least.

I hope this helps.

Write on!
Megan

****
I'd like to meet a spaceman
who's got it going on
sailin' through the stars at night
until our world is gone
- Morcheeba
"Over and Over"



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kristin Dunn <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: TPFICT: Age of NS TP
Date: 04 Feb 2003 19:42:11 -0800 (PST)

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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii


Yahoo!! Thank you very much.. See Wendy... Pimping for fics does work!
Kristin
 Meg Freeman <[e-mail]> wrote:Okay, there are ages stated in the series.

The news reporter says that Kevin was 10, that was in 1992. So he'd be 20/21 now.

Megabyte is 13/14 by my best estimation in 1992, putting him at 23/24 now. He's friends with Kevin so I wouldn't go past 14, because after that they wouldn't be travelling in the same circles. But if you think that maybe Kevin was about to turn 11 and Megabyte was just 13/14, then it's plausible that they'd hang around. Because they'd only be about two grades apart.

Jade was somewhere around 12/13 in Culex, and that was in 1993, so that makes her about 22/23. She doesn't look any older than 15 to me in the Living Stones.

Lisa is either 15 or 16. Because the news says that Lisa is 15, but Lisa says she's 16. So she'd be 25/26 now. I think that maybe she had a birthday or something or was going to have a birthday.

Adam is anyone's guess. I put him at 17 (the actor's age at the time) in 1992, making him somewhere around 27ish.

As for Ami, I think she's actually maybe the same age as Adam. To me she looks 16/17 in Culex, which would make her about 26/27 today. She does look older than Megabyte, to me at least.

I hope this helps.

Write on!
Megan

****
I'd like to meet a spaceman
who's got it going on
sailin' through the stars at night
until our world is gone
- Morcheeba
"Over and Over"


"It's great to be known, but it's even better to be known as strange." -Takeshi Kaga ~Iron Chef
"Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." -Brillat-Savarin
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Zen Proverb


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Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now
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<P>Yahoo!! Thank you very much.. See Wendy... Pimping for fics does work!
<P>Kristin
<P> <B><I>Meg Freeman <[e-mail]></I></B> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Okay, there are ages stated in the series. <BR><BR>The news reporter says that Kevin was 10, that was in 1992. So he'd be 20/21 now. <BR><BR>Megabyte is 13/14 by my best estimation in 1992, putting him at 23/24 now. He's friends with Kevin so I wouldn't go past 14, because after that they wouldn't be travelling in the same circles. But if you think that maybe Kevin was about to turn 11 and Megabyte was just 13/14, then it's plausible that they'd hang around. Because they'd only be about two grades apart. <BR><BR>Jade was somewhere around 12/13 in Culex, and that was in 1993, so that makes her about 22/23. She doesn't look any older than 15 to me in the Living Stones. <BR><BR>Lisa is either 15 or 16. Because the news says that Lisa is 15, but Lisa says she's 16. So she'd be 25/26 now. I think that maybe she had a birthday or something or was going to have a birthday. <BR><BR>Adam is anyone's guess. I put him at 17 (the actor's age at the time) in 1992, making him somewhere around 27ish. <BR><BR>As for Ami, I think she's actually maybe the same age as Adam. To me she looks 16/17 in Culex, which would make her about 26/27 today. She does look older than Megabyte, to me at least. <BR><BR>I hope this helps. <BR><BR>Write on!<BR>Megan<BR><BR>****<BR>I'd like to meet a spaceman<BR>who's got it going on<BR>sailin' through the stars at night<BR>until our world is gone<BR>- Morcheeba<BR>"Over and Over" <BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>"It's great to be known, but it's even better to be known as strange." -Takeshi Kaga ~Iron Chef<br>"Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." -Brillat-Savarin<br>"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Zen Proverb<p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Wendy Perkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: TPFICT: Age of NS TP
Date: 05 Feb 2003 13:11:05 -0600


>Yahoo!! Thank you very much.. See Wendy... Pimping for fics does work!

LOL! Just don't expect a share of the profits :)

...
Wendy




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kristin Dunn <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: looking for a beta reader
Date: 05 Feb 2003 21:23:33 -0800 (PST)

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Hello gang!

I'm looking for some beta readers. Pretty short story, and not quite finished. If your interested, let me know!

Kristin

PS~better to contact me through this email address [e-mail] just please keep the same subject so I don't delete it by accident. ^_^*



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<P>Hello gang! </P>
<P>I'm looking for some beta readers. Pretty short story, and not quite finished. If your interested, let me know!</P>
<P>Kristin</P>
<P>PS~better to contact me through this email address <A href="mailto:[e-mail]">[e-mail]</A> just please keep the same subject so I don't delete it by accident. ^_^*</P><p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com">Yahoo! Mail Plus</a> - Powerful. Affordable. <a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/mail/mailsig/*http://mailplus.yahoo.com">Sign up now</a>
--0-1221853663-1044509013=:74211--



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Helga J" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: TPFICT: Age of NS TP
Date: 06 Feb 2003 23:39:30 +0000

I've always had a problem with Kevin being 10. It might just be my memory
though... :)

Weren't Kevin and Megabyte wearing school uniform in the pilot? Or at least
it was implied that they went to the same school? Usually in the UK you
start secondary school (High School) when you're 11 and leave when your
16-18, which should make Kevin at least 11.

I suppose Kevin could have been put up a year because he was clever, or they
might have been in a area which had a slightly different system, or it could
have been a private school, or the reporter could have got it wrong, or it
was never suggested that they went to the same school at all...

But I don't think that it changes too much either way :)

Helga

Look at your children
See their faces in golden rays
Don't kid yourself they belong to you
They're the start of a coming race

---David Bowie 'Oh you pretty things'





>From: Kristin Dunn <[e-mail]>
>Reply-To: [e-mail]
>To: [e-mail]
>Subject: Re: TPFICT: Age of NS TP
>Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 19:42:11 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>Yahoo!! Thank you very much.. See Wendy... Pimping for fics does work!
>Kristin
>  Meg Freeman <[e-mail]> wrote:Okay, there are ages stated in the
>series.
>
>The news reporter says that Kevin was 10, that was in 1992. So he'd be
>20/21 now.
>
>Megabyte is 13/14 by my best estimation in 1992, putting him at 23/24 now.
>He's friends with Kevin so I wouldn't go past 14, because after that they
>wouldn't be travelling in the same circles. But if you think that maybe
>Kevin was about to turn 11 and Megabyte was just 13/14, then it's plausible
>that they'd hang around. Because they'd only be about two grades apart.
>
>Jade was somewhere around 12/13 in Culex, and that was in 1993, so that
>makes her about 22/23. She doesn't look any older than 15 to me in the
>Living Stones.
>
>Lisa is either 15 or 16. Because the news says that Lisa is 15, but Lisa
>says she's 16. So she'd be 25/26 now. I think that maybe she had a birthday
>or something or was going to have a birthday.
>
>Adam is anyone's guess. I put him at 17 (the actor's age at the time) in
>1992, making him somewhere around 27ish.
>
>As for Ami, I think she's actually maybe the same age as Adam. To me she
>looks 16/17 in Culex, which would make her about 26/27 today. She does look
>older than Megabyte, to me at least.
>
>I hope this helps.
>
>Write on!
>Megan


_________________________________________________________________
Chat online in real time with MSN Messenger http://messenger.msn.co.uk




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: TPFICT: posting trouble?
Date: 07 Feb 2003 08:39:49 -0500

HI, i posted the last part of my story The Threat of Darkness to the list twice (the second time yesterday) and it hasn't appeared in my inbox to say that it went to the list. are there posting problems??

Cath



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Drew Thiele <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: TPFICT: posting trouble?
Date: 07 Feb 2003 11:43:08 -0800

--=======5EBE7172=======
Content-Type: text/plain; x-avg-checked=avg-ok-22B95D3D; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

At 08:39 AM 2/7/03 -0500, you wrote:

>HI, i posted the last part of my story The Threat of Darkness to the list
>twice (the second time yesterday) and it hasn't appeared in my inbox to
>say that it went to the list. are there posting problems??
>
>Cath

There might be, because I haven't gotten any of it here. You may want
to  break it up into parts.  I wanna read it! :)

-Drew


>---
>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.445 / Virus Database: 250 - Release Date: 1/21/03

--=======5EBE7172=======
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-avg=cert; x-avg-checked=avg-ok-22B95D3D
Content-Disposition: inline


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.445 / Virus Database: 250 - Release Date: 1/21/03

--=======5EBE7172=======--




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Wendy Perkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: TPFICT: posting trouble?
Date: 07 Feb 2003 14:01:28 -0600

I've already responded to Cath off-list, but I'd like to take a moment to
stress:

Please, please don't post things more than once before talking to me first. If
something didn't come through within a few *hours* of being sent, email me off
list to see if I know why. Usually I do. Usually I'll tell you to repost.
Sometimes
there are bigger problems, and resending your post (especially a large one)
will just make them worse. Sometimes I can take care of the problem myself,
but I have to find out about it first, and (tho it may appear otherwise <g>)
I'm not online constantly.

I have received a couple of messages today from people who haven't seen
messages they sent to the list. Since none of them have shown up in my
mailbox, I can only assume that there's some problem with the mail server
at Xmission. This happens from time to time, usually the result of spammers.
If there is a problem, Xmission will fix it as soon as they can. If there's
not, then
the posts will either show up or bounce in the next couple of days.

...
Wendy




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: TPFICT: The Threat of Darkness Part 13a/13
Date: 07 Feb 2003 17:55:29 -0500

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From: [e-mail]
Subject: TPFICT: The Threat of Darkness Part 13b/13
Date: 07 Feb 2003 17:57:19 -0500

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: TPFICT: The Threat of Darkness 13c/13
Date: 07 Feb 2003 17:59:26 -0500

Here's the last of it.  I hope that everyone had enjoyed this story.  feedback should go to [e-mail].  that's for good responses and bad ones.  Don't be afraid to rip on my stories, i'm used to it.

Love,
Cath


When Morgan left the LightΓÇÖs ship shortly after Jake and Nathalie did, her thoughts were of her mother.  In her mindΓÇÖs eye, she saw her motherΓÇÖs body, shriveled, dehydrated, shrunken, dead, not at all the vibrant, wonderful woman that she had been in life.   As she reappeared on a nearly deserted residential street in Marseilles, she had a different picture in her mind; that of a lost three year old with blond hair and stunning silvery blue eyes, crying because her mother, who she so greatly resembles, is gone.
  Morgan closed her eyes for a moment against the tears welling in her eyes.  /I canΓÇÖt let that happen./  She thought to herself.  /No one should have to grow up the way I did./
  She looked around the street.  Directly in front of her was a large apartment building with an 18th Century façade and white marble pillars.  There was music and shouts of celebration coming from the house.  Someone had spread the news that the Dark’s ship had been destroyed.   The building was like a safe house for the Lights and she knew that they party would go on for days.

Morgan looked around, but no one was on the street.  The moon peaked out from behind the clouds and added its light to that of the street lights.  ΓÇ£Piper?ΓÇ¥  She called.  ΓÇ£Piper, where are you?ΓÇ¥

She doubted that Piper would have gone into the safe house at all unless she had been captured on the street.  Morgan started walking up and down the sidewalk calling her name until she got back to where she had started.  She doubted that Piper would have gone far after the DarkΓÇÖs ship had gone up, but she was loathe to go into the safe house both because she had been a Dark and because of the simple fact that she was a Gray.   ΓÇ£Piper!!  Come on, I know you have to be here somewhere.ΓÇ¥

ΓÇ£Morgan?ΓÇ¥

She whipped around.  The voice had come from behind her in the alley but it had also been very faint.  Morgan caught a flash of blond against one wall and hurried over to her.  Piper Cerrano was collapsed against the brick wall of the apartment building, her blond hair disheveled, a large bump on her forehead and a painful looking black eye, beginning to darken.

ΓÇ£Piper,ΓÇ¥ Morgan said in relief.  Crouching beside her, she said, ΓÇ£what happened?ΓÇ¥

Piper sat up dizzily and Morgan helped her to lean against the wall.  ΓÇ£I passed out when the ship was destroyed.ΓÇ¥  She said weakly.  ΓÇ£I was sent here with Jaina to destroy the safe house, but the ship went up and we couldnΓÇÖt anymore.   The Lights got Jaina shortly after, but they didnΓÇÖt see me.ΓÇ¥

Morgan smiled.  ΓÇ£ThatΓÇÖs good.ΓÇ¥  She said,  ΓÇ£Cause I really didnΓÇÖt want to go in there after you.  IΓÇÖm not ready for that yet.ΓÇ¥

Piper chuckled.  ΓÇ£What are you doing here Mor anyway?ΓÇ¥

ΓÇ£IΓÇÖm here to bring you home.ΓÇ¥

ΓÇ£Why?ΓÇ¥  She asked.

ΓÇ£Because your little girl shouldnΓÇÖt have to grow up without a mother.ΓÇ¥  Morgan said.  ΓÇ£Come on, letΓÇÖs get you up.ΓÇ¥  Slowly, Morgan helped Piper lever up to her feet.  She looked around the alley and down to the safe house to see if she as clear and teleported back to PiperΓÇÖs home.   They reappeared in the living room and Morgan helped Piper to stretch out on the couch.

Shortly after PiperΓÇÖs head hit the pillow, Shelby came running into the room.  ΓÇ£Mommy!!ΓÇ¥  She exclaimed.  ΓÇ£Where have you been?ΓÇ¥

Piper gathered her daughter in beside her and Shelby curled up against her.  ΓÇ£It doesnΓÇÖt matter honey,ΓÇ¥ she said stroking her daughterΓÇÖs hair.  ΓÇ£IΓÇÖm home now.ΓÇ¥

Morgan sat down in one of the chairs, head in hands so no one could see the tears, but jumped up to her feet again when another figure entered the room.  She wiped quickly at her face but knew that Piper had seen for she gave her a reassuring smile.   Corey CerranoΓÇÖs darkly tanned face was lined in worry, but that vanished when he saw his wife.

ΓÇ£Piper,ΓÇ¥ he said breathlessly, hurrying over, and kissing her gently.  ΓÇ£Are you all right?ΓÇ¥

ΓÇ£Never better,ΓÇ¥ she said.  ΓÇ£The warΓÇÖs over, the DarkΓÇÖs are gone.  We have nothing to worry about any more.ΓÇ¥

He smiled, and turned to Morgan.  ΓÇ£How can I ever repay tou for bringing her home to us?ΓÇ¥

ΓÇ£I was just doing you and Shelby a favor that I wish someone had done for me.ΓÇ¥  She said feeling her eyes fill again.   The scene of husband and wife and daughter reunited was almost too much.

ΓÇ£WhatΓÇÖs your name?ΓÇ¥  He asked extending a hand.

ΓÇ£Morgan, Morgan DiPietro,ΓÇ¥ she answered taking his hand.

ΓÇ£Corey Cerrano.ΓÇ¥  He introduced himself.  ΓÇ£Thank you so much.ΓÇ¥

ΓÇ£It was something that I had to do.ΓÇ¥  She said.  ΓÇ£But I have to go.  Let you guys have some quality family time.ΓÇ¥

Piper sat up on the couch slowly, with Shelby on her lap.  ΓÇ£Thanks again Mor,ΓÇ¥  She said holding up an arm.

Morgan crossed the room to hug her tightly, a tear spilling out of one eye.  ΓÇ£DonΓÇÖt be a stranger okay?ΓÇ¥  She whispered in MorganΓÇÖs ear.

She nodded, unable to speak as she rose to her feet.  Wiping a tear away she saw Piper wrap Shelby up in a hug so that her eyes were covered and nodded to Morgan.  She smiled and crossed the room again.

The last thing that she heard as she teleported from the room was ShelbyΓÇÖs small voice saying, ΓÇ£See Mommy. I said youΓÇÖd be all right.ΓÇ¥  Morgan felt tears come then as the room disappeared in a flash of light.




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: TPFICT: Zine Announcement - Mind Music - A Tomorrow People zine
Date: 07 Feb 2003 20:33:17 -0500

Mind Music is almost ready - we plan to premiere it at a convention in Houston in mid-March.

We're looking at about 150 pages and 9 (possibly 10) stories and art.
based on the original series.

E-mail me off list if you're interested or
send a note to:

Tia's Pals' Press
c/o Vivian Arney
P.O. Box 144842
Austin, Tx 78714-4842

The price will be $18 U.S. - will post the OverSeas price as soon as I have it.

We'll be attending the Tomorrow People 30th Anniversary dinner in May and will have copies with me.

Please make checks payable to Vivian Arney.


take care
Viv



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: TPFICT: Zine Announcement - Mind Music - A Tomorrow People zine
Date: 07 Feb 2003 20:45:30 EST


--part1_5f.34a15c7e.2b75bb3a_boundary
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I would like the zine but I do not have your email to email you off list.

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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=3D2>I would like the zine but=
 I do not have your email to email you off list.</FONT></HTML>

--part1_5f.34a15c7e.2b75bb3a_boundary--



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Meg Freeman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: New Tomorrow People Archive
Date: 08 Feb 2003 20:56:31 +0000

Dear List Members,


I am very happy to announce that today is the official opening of the
Expressions TPFICT Archive. This new archive will be a place for both
unfinished (or works in progress - WIP) Tomorrow People fiction and adult
Tomorrow People fiction.

The archives have a list, one for each type of fiction. You can find the
address for subscribing to these lists on the Expressions page.

The address for the new archive is:

http://expressions.populli.net

Any comments or questions about the archive should be sent off-list to
[e-mail].

Thank You,
Megan Freeman, Expressions Webmistress.

****
http://expressions.populli.net
Expressions - Just a Little Bit Different




_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE*
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kristin Dunn <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: A Changing Tomorrow Part 0/1
Date: 12 Feb 2003 13:47:52 -0800 (PST)

--0-35836384-1045086472=:463
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii


A Changing Tomorrow

By Kristin Dunn [e-mail]

Copyright ⌐ 2003, Kristin Dunn



Disclaimer--- I donÆt own the Tomorrow People. It belongs to Tetra, Thames, Nickelodeon, and is the brain child of Roger Price.

Megabyte, Kevin, and General Damon are not my characters. They are property of Tetra, Thames, and Nickelodeon.

Anya, Melissa (Mel), and Chenney are mine.

Side note-Megabyte is 21 years old, and Kevin is 20 years old.



Telepathy is shown by [] and stress with **



This is my first attempt at writing a fanfic, so comments are very much appreciated! This has been lurking in the depths of my head for a while, and I have finally gotten the guts to write it. I havenÆt read a story with the TP going to college, so I took a stab at what they might be like in school.



This is still a work in progress.



Thank you very much for my beta readers Emma, Joe, Lorien, and Helga.You all have helped me so much!!!








"It's great to be known, but it's even better to be known as strange." -Takeshi Kaga ~Iron Chef
"Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." -Brillat-Savarin
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Zen Proverb


Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
--0-35836384-1045086472=:463
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii

<FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>A Changing Tomorrow</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>By Kristin Dunn [e-mail]</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>Copyright ⌐ 2003, Kristin Dunn</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=1></FONT> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=1>Disclaimer--- I donÆt own the Tomorrow People. It belongs to Tetra, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place>Thames</st1:place>, Nickelodeon, and is the brain child of Roger Price. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>Megabyte, Kevin, and General Damon are not my characters. They are property of Tetra, <st1:place>Thames</st1:place>, and Nickelodeon.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>Anya, Melissa (Mel), and Chenney are mine.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>Side note-Megabyte is 21 years old, and Kevin is 20 years old.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>Telepathy is shown by [] and stress with **</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>This is my first attempt at writing a fanfic, so comments are very much appreciated! This has been lurking in the depths of my head for a while, and I have finally gotten the guts to write it. I havenÆt read a story with the TP going to college, so I took a stab at what they might be like in school. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>This is still a work in progress.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>Thank you very much for my beta readers Emma, Joe, Lorien, and Helga.You all have helped me so much!!!</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1></FONT></o:p> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1></FONT></P></P><BR><BR>"It's great to be known, but it's even better to be known as strange." -Takeshi Kaga ~Iron Chef<br>"Tell me what you eat, and I'll tell you who you are." -Brillat-Savarin<br>"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Zen Proverb<p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/O=1/I=brandr/vday03/text/flow/*http://shopping.yahoo.com
/shop?d=browse&id=20146735">Yahoo! Shopping</a> - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
--0-35836384-1045086472=:463--



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kristin Dunn <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: A Changing Tomorrow Part 1a/1
Date: 12 Feb 2003 13:51:16 -0800 (PST)

--0-2066569866-1045086676=:27622
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii


***

It was another hot summer day. Anya looked around the crowded parking lot. æAh yes, move in day. Yet another day where thousands of students, parents and cars, all attempt to be on campus at the same time.Æ ôI donÆt understand why there is this huge rush to move inàö she sighed to herself turned, and grabbed a full trash bag from the trunk of her car, and started toward her dorm.



It was AnyaÆs third year at college, by now, most students her age had moved out into the surrounding town to get away from university rules, and live a life of their own. Anya rather liked living in the hall. Living in the dorms gave her excitement. She loved to meet new people, and it kept her constantly involved. She was one of the types of people where if she wasnÆt busy with doing something, she was going to go nuts.

ôHey Anya, welcome back to Thomson!ö It was one of her friends, Melissa, from upstairs.



ôHey Mel! WhereÆs Chenney?ö



ôSheÆs not here yet, I just called her, and sheÆs not leaving her house until later today. Her parents want a last meal with her.ö



ôAww come on! ItÆs not like sheÆs a freshmen anymore! And besides, theyÆll only be an hour away, if that! YouÆd think that she was moving out for good at the rate theyÆre going.ö



ôYeah, wellà you know how her parents can be.ö Melissa started to walk down stairs again, ôHey, IÆll talk to you later; I have to go finish throwing my stuff into my room.ö



ôOkey dokey! IÆll see you later!ö Anya got about half way up a flight of stairs when Melissa turned to talk to Anya.



ôHey Anya,ö Melissa called in a sing-song voice.



ôYeah?ö Anya was slightly annoyed. Her trash bag was getting cumbersome and rather heavy.



ôI saw some new guy moving into the corridor across the roof!ö



ôYes Melissa, one would expect there to be newbies moving in here, *duh*!ö Anya shook her head. ôSo, whatÆs up with them?ö



 ôHummàö Melissa said in a teasing fashion, ôwith that attitude, youÆre just gonna have to wait until dinner tonight, arenÆt you?ö She laughed as she went outside.

AnyaÆs curiosity was peaked. Melissa usually didnÆt point out guys unless there was something up.





Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
--0-2066569866-1045086676=:27622
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>***</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>It was another hot summer day. Anya looked around the crowded parking lot. æAh yes, move in day. Yet another day where thousands of students, parents and cars, all attempt to be on campus at the same time.Æ ôI donÆt understand why there is this huge rush to move inàö she sighed to herself turned, and grabbed a full trash bag from the trunk of her car, and started toward her dorm.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>It was AnyaÆs third year at college, by now, most students her age had moved out into the surrounding town to get away from university rules, and live a life of their own. Anya rather liked living in the hall. Living in the dorms gave her excitement. She loved to meet new people, and it kept her constantly involved. She was one of the types of people where if she wasnÆt busy with doing something, she was going to go nuts.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôHey Anya, welcome back to Thomson!ö It was one of her friends, Melissa, from upstairs. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôHey Mel! WhereÆs Chenney?ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôSheÆs not here yet, I just called her, and sheÆs not leaving her house until later today. Her parents want a last meal with her.ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôAww come on! ItÆs not like sheÆs a freshmen anymore! And besides, theyÆll only be an hour away, if that! YouÆd think that she was moving out for good at the rate theyÆre going.ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôYeah, wellà you know how her parents can be.ö Melissa started to walk down stairs again, ôHey, IÆll talk to you later; I have to go finish throwing my stuff into my room.ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôOkey dokey! IÆll see you later!ö Anya got about half way up a flight of stairs when Melissa turned to talk to Anya.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôHey Anya,ö Melissa called in a sing-song voice. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôYeah?ö Anya was slightly annoyed. Her trash bag was getting cumbersome and rather heavy.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôI saw some new guy moving into the corridor across the roof!ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôYes Melissa, one would expect there to be newbies moving in here, *duh*!ö Anya shook her head. ôSo, whatÆs up with them?ö</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=1><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>ôHummàö Melissa said in a teasing fashion, ôwith that attitude, youÆre just gonna have to wait until dinner tonight, arenÆt you?ö She laughed as she went outside.</FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>AnyaÆs curiosity was peaked. Melissa usually didnÆt point out guys unless there was something up. </FONT></P>
<P> </P><p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/O=1/I=brandr/vday03/text/flow/*http://shopping.yahoo.com
/shop?d=browse&id=20146735">Yahoo! Shopping</a> - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
--0-2066569866-1045086676=:27622--



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Kristin Dunn <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: A Changing Tomorrow Part 1b/1
Date: 12 Feb 2003 13:53:11 -0800 (PST)

--0-390283377-1045086791=:4761
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii


***

Megabyte threw a duffel bag onto one of the beds in the corner of the dorm room. He just didnÆt understand why he had to go to college in Ohio. It had to be one of the dullest places in the United States. And to top it off, it was his DadÆs idea.



ôCome on, Dad, why do I have to go to school in the Middle-of-Nowhere Ohio? Why couldnÆt I have stayed at school in London?ö



ôNow son, you need to understand something, our lives have been turned inside out for ten years. IÆm sure that your friends will understand. You have a future to worry about.ö

General Damon had decided to move back to the States in the middle of June. Not that he had been tired of living in England, but he wanted to slow down the pace of life that his family had been living. He hoped that by moving it would make Megabyte take his studies more seriously, instead of him running off every day to save the world from some mad scientist.



ôAnd remember Marmaduke,ö Megabyte had sent his Dad a hard look, ôthat you havenÆt been cut off from your friends entirely. Kevin will be arriving in a few hours.ö That was the one thing that kept Megabyte from teleporting right back to the Ship and hiding until his Dad got this wild idea out of his system. They had managed to talk KevinÆs parents into letting him come to school in the States with Megabyte.



ôIt will be a good experience.ö his Dad had argued, ôHe hasnÆt been to the US, and think of what the experience will do for him in the future.ö Little did KevinÆs parents know that he had, in fact, been to the US ten years ago when they were looking for Lisa. It was one of the many secrets that they had to keep from them, and some of the less understanding parents.



ôWhen is he supposed to get here?ö



ôWell,ö thought the General aloud, ôIf I remember correctly, heÆs set to arrive around 4:00. Now, IÆll leave here at about 2:00 to pick him up from the airport. You are coming, right?ö



ôNo, IÆm going to finish unpacking KevinÆs and my stuff while you go get him. I donÆt understand why you wouldnÆt let him just teleport here. You let us teleport some of our stuff into storage here. It would have saved a lot of time and money.ö



ôWell son, I donÆt want you kids doing any more illegal things than what you have done already.ö With that, General Damon turned and left the room.





Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
--0-390283377-1045086791=:4761
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>***</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>Megabyte threw a duffel bag onto one of the beds in the corner of the dorm room. He just didnÆt understand why he had to go to college in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State><st1:place>Ohio</st1:place></st1:State>. It had to be one of the dullest places in the <st1:country-region><st1:place>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. And to top it off, it was his DadÆs idea. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôCome on, Dad, why do I have to go to school in the Middle-of-Nowhere <st1:State><st1:place>Ohio</st1:place></st1:State>? Why couldnÆt I have stayed at school in <st1:City><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:City>?ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôNow son, you need to understand something, our lives have been turned inside out for ten years. IÆm sure that your friends will understand. You have a future to worry about.ö</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>General Damon had decided to move back to the States in the middle of June. Not that he had been tired of living in <st1:country-region><st1:place>England</st1:place></st1:country-region>, but he wanted to slow down the pace of life that his family had been living. He hoped that by moving it would make Megabyte take his studies more seriously, instead of him running off every day to save the world from some mad scientist. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôAnd remember Marmaduke,ö Megabyte had sent his Dad a hard look, ôthat you havenÆt been cut off from your friends entirely. Kevin will be arriving in a few hours.ö That was the one thing that kept Megabyte from teleporting right back to the Ship and hiding until his Dad got this wild idea out of his system. They had managed to talk KevinÆs parents into letting him come to school in the States with Megabyte. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôIt will be a good experience.ö his Dad had argued, ôHe hasnÆt been to the <st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and think of what the experience will do for him in the future.ö Little did KevinÆs parents know that he had, in fact, been to the <st1:country-region><st1:place>US</st1:place></st1:country-region> ten years ago when they were looking for Lisa. It was one of the many secrets that they had to keep from them, and some of the less understanding parents. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôWhen is he supposed to get here?ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôWell,ö thought the General aloud, ôIf I remember correctly, heÆs set to arrive around <st1:time Hour="16" Minute="0">4:00</st1:time>. Now, IÆll leave here at about <st1:time Hour="14" Minute="0">2:00</st1:time> to pick him up from the airport. You are coming, right?ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôNo, IÆm going to finish unpacking KevinÆs and my stuff while you go get him. I donÆt understand why you wouldnÆt let him just teleport here. You let us teleport some of our stuff into storage here. It would have saved a lot of time and money.ö </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=1>ôWell son, I donÆt want you kids doing any more illegal things than what you have done already.ö With that, General Damon turned and left the room.</FONT></P>
<P> </P><p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/O=1/I=brandr/vday03/text/flow/*http://shopping.yahoo.com
/shop?d=browse&id=20146735">Yahoo! Shopping</a> - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day
--0-390283377-1045086791=:4761--



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Lorien Willow" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: TPFICT: A Changing Tomorrow Part 1b/1
Date: 13 Feb 2003 09:24:26 -0600

Looking good so far!  So, have you been working on part 2?

Lorien

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Anne Olsen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: TPFICT: [Fic] Murphy's Law (2/4)
Date: 14 Feb 2003 11:08:54 +1300

Murphy's Law (2/4)
By Anne Olsen
Rating/warnings this chapterThis Fic has been rated in accordance with the
approved TTFF Rating System.

OK (Oz/Kiwi spelling/grammar etc) - PG - Angst, drama.

Author's notesThis fic is part of the 'Tears in Heaven' series. More info
and stories in this timeline can be found at
http//www.angelfire.com/ab7/shadesandechoes

It can be read on its own but there are references to previous stories in
the arc.

This fic will also be archived at the new Expressions site.

SummaryThe new breakout witnesses a grizzly murder, and insists that his
new history teacher is responsible. Are things really that simple?

DisclaimerThe Tomorrow People belong to Roger Damon Price, Thames/Tetra and
ITV television. Highlander is the property of Panzer/Davis, Rysher/
Gaumount Televison. Stargate SG1 are owned by Stargate (II) Productions,
Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Products.
Alex MacDonald belongs to me and shouldn't be used without permission.

Thanks toBig hugs to Megan for her support and beta reading. Also to Sakura
for her wonderful eye for typos, beta reading and helpful comments. And
Wendy for her suggestions and comments.

Feedback toanneo @ paradise.net.nz

******

Chapter Two

"Mr Dawson?"

Glancing up at the sound of a strong American accent, Joe saw Damon sitting
at the bar. He'd known the man had been listening in on his conversation
with MacLeod earlier, and had been waiting for him to approach.

"Yes, that's me. Last time I looked anyway. What can I do to help you? Mr?"
Joe noticed the last of the patrons had finally left. /So you were waiting
for the place to empty, is that it? Let's see exactly how much you know
about what's really going on/.

"Damon. General William Damon." Damon reached into his coat pocket and
pulled out his identification, throwing a small white card onto the counter
top in front of Joe. "I work for an organisation called WorldEx. We're
investigating a couple of individuals and I've been led to believe that you
might be able to help."

The general looked tired, Joe decided, pouring himself a whisky. He offered
one to Damon but the other man shook his head. Moving out from behind the
bar, Joe made his way over to one of the small tables, indicating that
Damon should follow. "If you want to ask questions, we might as well be
comfortable," he explained. "Now, how can I help you?"
"I've been led to believe that you have connections with a Simon Trent,"
Damon explained, sighing.

Shaking his head, Joe was curious to see what Damon's reaction would be to
his answer. "Never heard of him," he lied.

The other man's face was unreadable as he sighed again. "Colonel Charles
Masters?"

Joe shook his head.

"James Horton?" Damon wasn't even consulting a list, Joe noticed. He knew
his prey extremely well and had done his research. Noticing Damon run his
hands though his dark hair in a gesture of frustration, Joe surmised that
this was a man very much on edge. Years of watching Immortals had also
taught him to read people extremely well.

"My brother-in- law's name was James Horton," replied Joe. There was no
point lying about what was on public record for the whole world to see.

"So you're telling me you have never heard of either Trent or Masters?"
Damon shook his head. "I'm sorry, Mr Dawson, but I don't believe you. What
would you say if I told you that I had evidence to the contrary, evidence
which linked your name with theirs?"

Joe glanced at his watch. "I'd say that information was incorrect, General
Damon. I'm a busy man. Is there anything else you want to know?" Anger
crossed Damon's face fleetingly. Good. If the man got angry, he'd get
sloppy and then Joe would have a better chance of finding out what exactly
was going on.

"Yes, there is and I suspect you know that. Stop playing games - we both
know you know these guys." Damon rolled his eyes. "You have no idea what
you're dealing with. I'm a busy man too, Dawson; a busy man who hasn't the
patience to put up with being given the run around."

Joe decided to push the man a bit more. "Can't you tell me what this is
about? How can you expect me to help you if I don't know what you're
talking about?"

"Okay. I suppose that's a fair question." Damon paused and Joe guessed he
was wondering which piece of information to share. "Do you know what Horton
was involved in before he died? After all he was your brother-in-law."

Nodding, Joe decided that maybe if he threw out a tidbit of information to
the man, he might bite. "All I know is that he was working on some sort of
classified project, a scientific experiment which had gone wrong. He was
cleaning up the mess, or words to that effect." Joe frowned after seeing
Damon's reaction to information he knew the man already had. But hadn't
that been basically what was on the CD? This so-called race of teleporters
had been some scientific experiment, nothing more. He pitied the poor lab
rats at the receiving end of those experiments. Knowing Horton, they would
have been vagrants perhaps, people who wouldn't have been missed. It
sounded as though Horton's replacement, Trent, had been continuing his work
with the same zealous attitude. Horton might be dead, but unfortunately his
name seemed to be living on, as were his twisted ideals.

"Cleaning up the mess? Is that what he called it? I hope you're not trying
to tell me you condoned his actions? I hope for your sake you didn't, I
truly do."

Damon had turned white and seemed close to losing it. If he pushed the
right buttons, this might be the way to find out what exactly the man was
involved in. Joe knew it was risky; he'd seen this kind of reaction before.
But if they were talking about one of Horton's schemes here there were a
lot of lives at stake, not only those poor experiments, but the Game and
Immortals as well. The Game had been going far too long for it to be
brought to a halt by some maniac's delusions of a threat to mankind that
didn't exist.

"And what if I did agree with him?" Joe shrugged. "What's it to you? >From
what I've heard it was just a scientific experiment gone wrong. Most
scientists put down the lab rats when they've finished with them."

The glare that Damon shot his way was one of total contempt. Before Joe
knew what was happening the man was on his feet. He was trying to keep his
temper under control, that was obvious, but what was equally as obvious was
the fact he wasn't succeeding. Now he knew his hunt for Damon's trigger had
been successful, Joe wasn't entirely sure it had been a sensible move on
his part. None of the research he'd done on Damon had prepared him for a
reaction like this.

Suddenly, Joe's chair was knocked out from under him and he hit the floor.

Damon's eyes were burning in anger. "Lab rats? Lab rats?"

"Calm down, Damon," Joe said, trying to reassure the man while he looked
around for something to lean on to pull himself into an upright position.
Damn these artificial legs. It was times like this when he felt the most
defenceless. He glared at Damon, feeling his own anger rise to the surface.
"What the hell are you playing at? You can't just come in here, throw
things around and still expect to me to answer your questions."

"Calm down?" Damon was so angry, he wasn't to be reasoned with. "You
condone Trent and Masters' plan to kill my son and his kind and you expect
me to calm down?"

Joe grew cold. What the hell was Damon on about? "Your son?" he asked, his
voice little more than a whisper. "My God, I had no idea." Damon's son? No
wonder the man was in the state he was. Joe knew how he had felt when his
own daughter's life had been threatened. Damon's son was one of these
teleporters? But how?

"You had no idea? Masters had them kidnapped, experimented on, nearly
killed and you had no idea?"

"The teleporters are kids?" Joe asked, looking up at the angry man leaning
over him. "My God," he repeated his earlier statement, knowing the shock he
was feeling was mirrored on his face. All that had been on the CD had been
facts and figures. No names or indication that it had been anything but a
scientific experiment that had gone horribly wrong. "He's been
experimenting on kids? I had no idea, I truly had no idea."

******

Megabyte looked at the boy standing in front of himself and Adam. /I knew
trying to fix the ship's beacon had been a good idea/, he thought smugly.
At least the kid's damp exterior hadn't come from the ocean. The days of
unexpected baths were over. He frowned, sensing something brush against his
mind as the frequency of the hum from the ship changed momentarily and then
returned to normal. [Yeah, okay. Maybe you had something to do with it,
too,] he 'pathed. The ship was sure getting temperamental these days,
wanting credit for stuff it hadn't even been responsible for.

"He's got a sword," the new arrival sounded almost hysterical, as he
glanced between the two Tomorrow People. He was tall, Megabyte noticed, at
least four or five years younger than himself or Adam, and probably much
the same age he'd been when he'd broken out. He could still remember how
disoriented he'd felt, being dangled over that balcony one minute and
landing in the sea the next. But then he'd had the advantage of being able
to guess what had just happened because of Kev breaking out before him. "He
just cut off that man's head with a sword."

An Immortal? Megabyte could sense a similar feeling of surprise from Adam.
Unless there were others who did that whole cutting heads off to survive
gig, of course it would have to be. What was this kid doing watching a
couple of Immortals? "A sword? Are you sure about that, kid?" he asked,
leaning back again the column he'd been working on, or mucking about with,
as Adam had called it.

"Of course I'm sure. You don't tend to forget your history teacher cutting
someone's head off." History teacher? Megabyte grinned. The kid had hardly
been a TP five minutes and he'd found trouble. Maybe his dad's theory about
trouble magnets wasn't so far out after all.

The new kid stopped suddenly, took off his glasses, and made a show of
cleaning them carefully with the edge of his sweatshirt, eyes darting
peripherally around the interior of the ship. /He's just realised he's not
where he was a few minutes ago./ Took him long enough, but probably seeing
the fun beheading had sidetracked him. Poor guy. If this was how he reacted
to mild weirdness he'd be cleaning those glasses till he fell over.

He stared at Megabyte, the puzzled expression he'd given him upon arrival
turning to one of recognition. "I know you. You're Lisa's friend, Megabyte.
I met you that day in the park when Kevin found Ewan." [1] He paused and
glanced around again before coming out with the obvious. "Hey, this isn't
where I was a few minutes ago." Observant with it too. Megabyte remembered
Alex now from their fun day of R&R in New Zealand.

"Got it in one," he grinned back. Alex seemed to be calming down, though
the poor kid was still a bit shell-shocked. Megabyte glanced at Adam,
looking for some reaction to the mention of Lisa's name. He hadn't talked
about what had happened between the two of them after he'd gone after her
that day, over a month ago, but only told them he doubted they'd see her
again. After feeling the pain coming from their friend, the pain not even
his usually strong shields could hide, none of them had pressed for further
information.

"How did I get here?" asked Alex. "And more importantly, where's here?"
[/I'm dreaming, I must be. I'll wake up in a moment and that guy will be
still coming for me with his sword/.]

They'd have to teach the guy some shielding, that was for sure. It was so
not a good idea to think that loudly around here. Al could get himself into
some serious trouble without even trying. Megabyte smirked, and ignored the
glance of disapproval Adam sent his way. Okay, so they'd teach him sooner,
rather than later.

"You teleported, Alex," Adam told him, starting in on the beginners guide
to TP lecture. "You're like us. We call ourselves the Tomorrow People.
We're the next stage of human evolution. We can teleport, speak
telepathically..."

"Do you mean teleport like in Star Trek?" asked Alex, still looking
bewildered. Megabyte fought a desire to say something smart and tried to
remind himself that he'd been in this position a few years ago. "Or do you
mean psychic powers, that sort of thing? Is that how you know my name?"

So the kid watched a bit of science fiction. Always a good sign.

"Speak for yourself, Megabyte," commented Adam, nodding absently in
response to Alex's last question. Of course the fact that Jade had told him
about that day in minute detail had helped, but why spoil the guy's theory?
The way the kid was broadcasting, giving out his name should be the least
of his worries. Speaking of which he hadn't exactly 'pathed that last
comment Adam had replied to, had he?

"Stop eavesdropping," said Megabyte giving his friend a dig in the ribs
after moving over to stand next to him. "Yeah," he told Alex. "Psychic
powers. Hey, Adam, are you thinking what I'm thinking about the swords and
stuff?"

His brow creasing into a frown, Adam nodded. "Immortals. If an Immortal saw
Alex teleport, it's not good, Megabyte. From what Pierson told us, it could
be dangerous if Immortals found out about our existence." Understatement
much, pal? Of course the Immortal, whoever he was, had seen Alex teleport.
Teleporting wasn't something he could have missed. The loud noise and
bright light were kinda obvious.

As Adam kept talking, Megabyte felt sorry for the new kid. Not only had he
just broken out, but he'd run straight into the whole fun Immortal thing
too. Breaking out on its own was enough to take in. "He seemed to think
they could see us as a dangerous adversary, a threat to the outcome of
their Game. Think, Alex, are you sure the man saw you teleport?"

Alex nodded. "He saw me staring at him after he cut that guy's head off.
He's my new history teacher, Mr O'Neill." Alex face turned slightly green,
as he remembered what he'd seen.

/Gross/, thought Megabyte, catching the tail end of his thoughts. Shields
101 sooner rather than later, definitely.

O'Neill? Weird that the Immortal would share the same name as...Megabyte
frowned, his thoughts interrupted by three light signatures solidifying
around them as Jade, Kevin and Ami teleported in.

A broad grin spread across Kevin's face after he glanced around the ship
and noticed the newest Tomorrow Person. "Alex!" he exclaimed. "Hi, I'm
Kevin. Remember me?"

/If he didn't, he does now, Kev/, thought Megabyte, watching his friend's
enthusiasm with amusement.

That day hadn't been one any of them had talked about much, with the whole
Lisa angle. Megabyte took another glance in Adam's direction, but the
Australian had his shields up and wasn't giving anything away. Not like
that was anything new. Poor Adam. Now that Alex was one of them it put a
different spin on the situation. Kevin had been sure Lisa was involved with
Alex's brother, but with not having the option of knowing for sure, and not
wanting to bring up the subject again for Adam, they'd canned the
conversation quickly and moved onto other things. It hadn't looked as
though they'd ever see Lisa again so there hadn't been any point in
pursuing it.

Alex smiled, but said nothing, suddenly growing quiet with the arrival of
the others. Kid seemed to either prattle on or lose his tongue. That's what
Kev had noticed the first time they'd met, Megabyte remembered. Mr
Observant seemed to notice stuff like that, unlike himself of course, or so
his friend kept telling him. /Hey, different people notice different things./

Still talking to Alex, Kevin introduced Ami and asked about what had
happened. Alex just stood there quietly, watching the others and nodding as
Kevin showered him with questions.

Jade glanced over at him, and he could sense the puzzlement coming from
her. /Nice perfume/, he thought appreciatively. Jade coughed, and he
realised she'd asked him something. "What?" he asked, suddenly aware that
she wasn't the only one staring at him.

"What's going on, Megabyte?" she asked. "I was at Ami's when we sensed what
must have been Alex's arrival. You guys don't seem too happy about the fact
we've got a new Tomorrow Person." He could see her watching him, that way
she did when she thought he wasn't paying attention to her. It was weird
how no one else seemed to notice how warm it was in here. One of these days
he was going to have to play around with the thermostat on the ship. The
stupid thing must be playing up again.

"When Alex teleported an Immortal saw him," Adam explained. Megabyte rolled
his eyes with that one.

/Make it sound simple, why don't you, Adam?/

"An Immortal?" asked Ami. "You mean like Adam Pierson?" He and Adam had
made a point of not using Methos' real name when they'd related the events
that had happened at Cheyenne Mountain. [2] They owed the Immortal their
lives; it was the least they could do in return. The fewer who knew that
Adam Pierson was really Methos, the oldest Immortal, the better.

"No, like the other guys who run around with swords cutting each other's
heads off." Megabyte smirked, choosing not to notice the annoyed glare Ami
shot his way.



Ami, with her weird interest in Egyptology had asked a lot of questions
about the Immortal when he and Adam had returned to Colorado. She'd also
perked up when she'd heard they'd met Daniel. He would have thought the run
in with Rameses would have done something to slow her interest down in that
area, but nope, it was still alive and kicking. Or should that be dead and
buried?

Ignoring his reply to Ami's question, Adam nodded. "I think Megabyte and I
had better check it out and make sure this guy isn't a threat to us."
Right, and what did Adam think they were going to do when they found the
guy? Ask him nicely to forget what he'd seen? Megabyte mentally shrugged.
Adam was right about one thing, they couldn't not check it out. They'd just
have to find out what was going down exactly and play things by ear once
they got there.

"Good idea," agreed Ami, "but I'm coming with you. I know how you guys love
to get into trouble." She was wearing that 'don't try and talk me out of it
expression' Megabyte knew so well. Trouble? Yeah like she didn't. Last he
looked she seemed to attract bad guys just as well as the rest of them. Of
course telling /her/ that wouldn't be the way to go at the moment. Ami,
when she got her mind set on something, wasn't a person to be argued with.

A frown crossed Alex's face after he looked down at his wet shoes, and then
behind him. He hadn't even asked about Immortals, but just followed the
conversation closely. But then the word Immortal and the whole seeing the
beheading was self-explanatory. "Oh great," he exclaimed. "I've left my
school bag behind." The frown was quickly replaced by a look of panic.
"It's got my name and address in it. You don't think he'd come after me do
you?"

Adam nodded. "That's exactly what I'm worried about, Alex." This scenario
was becoming more fun by the minute. Adam ran his hand through his dark
hair, a gesture that meant he was more worried than he was letting on.

"I'm coming too," said Jade, her gaze meeting Megabyte's.

"No you're not," he said. "No way." As he knew would happen the blonde girl
snorted.

"Yeah right, Megabyte. Why not?" Her voice took on that argumentative tone
which usually preceded the realisation that she wasn't going to listen to
reason. As far as he was concerned she was, this time, whether she liked it
or not. Jade brushed her long blonde hair back off her face, her bangs
hanging softly around her face, and he let his eyes linger on her
momentarily before replying. He wondered if she had any idea just how
pretty she was, just what effect she was having on him, standing there with
her mouth turning up slightly...Megabyte pulled himself up sharply.
"Because it's dangerous, that's why. You can stay here and help Kev give
Alex the TP 101 lecture, okay?"

The real reason was because he wouldn't take the chance that something
might happen to her. He still remembered all too clearly the anguish he'd
felt when he'd nearly lost her a couple of months ago. [3] No way was he
taking any chances of it happening again.

"Well if it's so dangerous why are you going then?" Jade didn't look very
impressed with his answer, but then what else was new. She didn't seem very
impressed by a lot of what he'd done lately, period. Maybe he did
overreact, occasionally - he knew that, it was just the way he was. She did
the same herself at times. Women never seemed to see it that way for some
reason. Maybe it was time he got his act together and had that talk with
her he'd been putting off. But not now, with all this other stuff going down.

"Because I'm older and wiser," he replied smugly, catching Adam's
expression and choosing to ignore it. He shrugged. What else was he
supposed to tell her? They wanted to get to this guy before he legged it
didn't they?

"We'll be careful, don't worry." Adam added as they initiated the teleport.

Megabyte hoped they were doing the right thing, not just giving this
immortal more reason to tell the rest of his kind about their existence. He
remembered Methos' last words to them, as they'd parted ways in Colorado,
before the old guy had disappeared for parts unknown. 'Not all Immortals
are like me. Think about that before you reveal yourselves to just anyone.
I'm not running a babysitting service. Next time you guys are on your own.'
He snorted. Babysitting service? Get real. Methos might have been so many
thousand years old, but he and the other TPs weren't exactly kids either.

Yeah, this was going to be a fun trip. He could just see it now. Hopefully
the guy would be long gone, taking his headless body with him and things
could get back to what passed for normal these days.

*******

[1] In the previous story, 'Where The Winds Blow'

[2] Refers to events in the first story in the 'Tears in Heaven' series,
'The Medusa Stone'.

[3] Story three - 'All That Glitters.' Yes, I'm playing referencing the
previous stories in the arc, in this chapter, as they all tie together in
the series...eventually.

*******

End of Chapter Two

TBC

*******

- Duo swallowed hard, trying to find something eloquent to respond with,
but in the finish settled for the all purpose "Huh?" - Domino, Episode One

"...readers should remember that the opinions expressed by the characters
are not necessarily those of the author..." - James Jones

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