MGLN: Through a Mirror, Darkly
Chapter 4: Suspicious Minds
Xx~~*~~xX
Teana stared at the other woman, not believing her own ears. “What did you say?!”
Her opponent answered with a barrage of magical bullets that forced Teana on the move, concrete exploded all around her, filling the air with smoke and debris. Teana dove through a narrow crack in the ground, dropping to a lower level to temporarily escape her assailant, certain that she had heard the words clearly.
“So, it looks like this will be the second Lanster I take down.”
She hadn't heard wrong, and so the implications were clear. Was this the mage that had killed her brother? Or was it merely someone who knew about her past and was trying to goad her? It was impossible, wasn't it? After all this time, on pure chance, to run into the criminal that had taken Tiida's life? Either way, it did little for her mood.
“Cross Mirage, prepare Tracking Shot,” she commanded, while working up a volley of Crossfire bullets. If she could just land that spell, she could follow her mysterious adversary later.
As she suspected, her opponent leapt down after the Enforcer Agent. But what she didn't expect, was the large barrage of nearly four dozen magical bullets the woman came down with. They all roared at her in the next instant, forcing Teana to release her own spell in response. They were just barely enough Crossfire bullets to carve out a small space for her to avoid the other woman's shots, but she had to quickly fire a few more while diving for cover, including her tracking shot. She cursed inwardly at being forced to use it prematurely, hoping it had connected at least.
But the big question in her mind was; how the hell did she deal with that extremely high rate of fire? She was used to shooting down an opponent's shots, but nowhere near this volume! And there was still one other thing bothering her.
“Who are you?” she demanded to know while reloading cartridges.
The answer she got, was not quite what she expected. “If you're interested, perhaps we can meet again on Mid-Childa... if you survive, that is!”
Before she could even ponder that, her furtive opponent changed tactics and poured fire into the ceiling, sending debris crashing down. Teana sprinted away from it, but quickly realized her attacked was using her second gun to bring down the ceiling in that direction as well... and she was walking both volleys together, trapping Teana in the middle.
As the ground gave way beneath her, and the ceiling came down from above, Teana threw all her magic into a barrier, hoping it would be enough.
x~~*~~x
"DRIVE!" Galiboni ordered as he practically leapt back into the car, and then grew angry when his driver made no move. "I said, DRIVE, NOW!"
"I'm afraid he is currently in no condition to go anywhere," Galiboni's high-class escort explained with a smile next to him in the back seat while holding up a single finger.
Galiboni stared at the small ball of yellow magic, crackling with electricity, floating above the finger, comprehension finally dawning on him. "You're a mage!"
"Enforcer Fate Takamachi, and you're under arrest," she told him, smile disappearing, promptly hitting him with the bolt of magical electricity which rendered him unconscious.
Fate set several binds on him just in case, her sexy dress morphing into her barrier jacket as she slid out of the car and into the chaos of the parking garage. Dust from the debris of destroyed concrete filled the immediate vicinity, obscuring the view. And with the jamming still in effect, Fate was unable to hear what was going on. She may as well be blind and deaf.
"[Sephia, this is Fate; if you can hear me, move in!]" she sent telepathically, trying anyway while looking for another target to apprehend.
“[Roger, we are surrounding the building now,]” came the immediate response, much to Fate's relief. At least telepathic communication still worked.
Out loud, she amplified her voice with magic and gave the rote command, "This is Enforcer Fate S.H. Takamachi of the Time-Space Administration Bureau. All individuals herein are ordered to cease and desist all activity immediately!"
She obviously didn't expect her order to be followed – criminals rarely surrendered to them outright - but protocol demanded it. Explosions and squealing tires echoed throughout the garage, signaling that combat was still in progress and the suspects were fleeing. Fate sprinted towards the shadowy silhouette of an automobile moving quickly through the haze, sending a wave of special Photon Lancer bolts towards it. The vehicle promptly disappeared into the smoke, but she was confident her shots had connected and thus she knew the car's engine should now be dead. That particular spell was designed to overload a car's electrical system and fry the circuitry within.
However, before she could even follow up on that, several thin arrow-like bolts came bursting out of the clouds in a spread shot, too fast for her to dodge them all or even put up a shield. She instinctively lifted her armored left hand to shield her face while tossing her body to the side, grimacing in pain as one of the arrows lodged itself in her forearm. She grit her teeth in surprise as all feeling promptly left her arm, leaving it dangling limply at her side. The arrow of magical light promptly disappeared in a puff of smoke, and left no visible wound, but it had done its damage; her arm was useless.
[Numbing shot!] she instinctively realized, leaping sideways upon touching down. [And it pierced my gauntlet!] One thing was immediately clear: she was up against a highly-skilled mage. Not only had this person pierced her barrier jacket defenses, but had managed to track and shoot her through the smoke field.
Undeterred, she continued her sideways movement in an attempt to throw off her unknown opponent's aim, but another wave of speeding magical arrows somehow came straight towards her with uncanny accuracy. She dove in an attempt to dodge them, but another one managed to catch her right foot, and she immediately lost all feeling in it; exactly like what had just happened to her arm.
But her greater concern was how he was able to track her through the chaos, even Bardiche was unable to obtain locks on individuals; there was some sort of jamming chaff in the air, reflecting all search magic and creating too many ghost signals. So how was her opponent doing it? Fortunately, Bardiche had created a map of the area before the jamming started, and the direction off the shots indicated he or she had been heading towards a stairwell.
The garage shook with a massive explosion, causing Fate to stumble into a concrete pillar to regain her balance, but before she could resume her chase, a voice sounded in her head.
"[Sorry...]" came Teana's strained voice in her head, as if she was under some great pressure. "[Could use some help...]"
"[Teana?]" Fate replied, concerned. "[What happened?]"
There was a bit of a dark chuckle. "[Someone.... brought the house down... on me. Put up a barrier, but can't hold it... much longer.]"
Fate shot one glance toward the stairwell in frustration, then made a quick decision, flying towards the direction of the previous explosion while sending a telepathic message to Sephia.
x~~*~~x
Enforcer Sephia Cheville directed the squad to cover various access points, growing concerned as part of the building collapsed. She had been in the midst of entering herself, when she received Fate's message.
"[Suspect fleeing through east stairway, please intercept. Armed with numbing magic fired via arrow-like shots.]"
Unable to spare anyone due to the two enforcer squads they had access to, she decided to take up this particular chase herself, notifying the rest of the squad. While changing her device into its long, slender katana form, she quickly reached the bottom of the stairwell and flew straight up. It didn't take her long to find the suspect, who promptly fired at her. With long practiced ease, she deflected each shot with a spin of her blade, coming to a stop in mid-air.
Braced on the stairwell, a man with a bow had several magical arrows prepped and ready, and aimed in her direction. She considered the implications and situation carefully... and then Sephia lowered her sword.
"You're lucky," she told him.
He smiled slightly and nodded, lowering his own weapon. "I had a feeling you were nearby."
She gestured with her head. "Go, quickly; you aren't being pursued at the moment."
"My thanks," he told her, readying a teleport spell. Before he vanished, he added solemnly, "For the light."
"For the light," she repeated back softly, as the bow-wielding Baleno disappeared.
x~~*~~x
“...recovery was stalled due to Bureau forces arriving a bit quicker than expected, but even so, we barely even hit 10% of our goal,” Lance was saying from Dagger's viewscreen. Both were wearing their masks, as per custom. While each was aware of the identity of the other, all actions were taken in the name of utmost secrecy. “Your new pet went a little overboard with that attack. If we want to stay on schedule, you will need to exert better control over your tool.”
Dagger waved his hand dismissively. “It was a test, more than anything. We still have plenty of time, and everything is well in hand.”
Lance studied him for a moment, but if he was hiding something, she couldn't see it. “You should take better care. All of our butts on are the line here. And I am the one with the army, lest you forget.”
“I am well aware of that,” he told her, meeting her eyes through the small slits in the masks. “That is why, ultimately you are in charge. You have the power.”
[For now,] he added silently.
Once more, she eyed him, and then apparently dismissed her concerns. “Very well. We must all work together for the Light. Have you picked the next target?”
Dagger nodded. “I've narrowed it down to a few, and you should have plenty of material this time.”
“We'll be fine processing what we have for the next few days, so you should hold off a bit,” Lance instructed him. “It will also give some time for things to quiet down at the Bureau. Contact me when you are ready. For the Light.”
“For the Light,” Dagger responded automatically as the image on the screen vanished, but his mind was contemplating future actions.
x~~*~~x
“You won't be home tonight, either?” Nanoha questioned, hoping her voice didn't sound too unsteady.
Yuuno appeared apologetic. “Sorry, Nanoha, but I'm still training an assistant to deal with the increased workload, so I need to stay close at hand in case she need help. But hopefully, in a few days, she can take over and I can start coming home again regularly.”
“I said I'm going to be at the library all this week and next... I have a new intern to train.”
Nanoha shook her head, trying to clear the remnants of the nightmare. [He's not like that! I should trust him!]
“I see,” she said out loud, tightening her grip on the kitchen towel. “So it is because of your work. Then I suppose there is nothing you can do.”
“Who is she?”
“I'm really sorry,” Yuuno apologized again, and then rubbed the back of his head with his hand while giving her an embarrassed smile. “It looks like this increased Bureau activity has chained both Fate and I to heavier workloads, haha.”
“The intern you're cheating on me with!”
Nanoha gave him her best, reassuring smile in return, trying to ignore and force down the voices of doubt and uncertainty clawing in her mind. “It can't be helped. I suppose I'm feeling a bit left out, since I am currently off-duty.” And because it is getting harder to get around and do things with this fat belly, she didn't add. She wasn't about to say that to him, mostly because she knew herself to be stronger than that.
Yuuno smiled softly. “I suppose that's something all three of us share; an ardent passion for our work.”
“Yuuno, I'm having difficultly with this spell,” came a feminine voice from off screen. “Can you give me a hand?”
“Who is she?”
Nanoha winced and grabbed her head; the voice flashback was stronger that time.
Yuuno didn't see her reaction, however, as his eyes trailed to respond to the person off screen. “Sure, I'll be there in a moment!” He turned back. “I suppose I'll need to... are you okay?”
Nanoha gave him another smile while rubbing her temples. “It's nothing, just a bit of fatigue, I think.”
“Well, take care of yourself,” he told her sympathetically. “I should get going.”
“I love you,” Nanoha felt suddenly forced to say, as it almost appeared as if he wasn't going to say it.
As usual, he appeared embarrassed at the notion, but eventually softened and replied in kind. “I love you, too.”
As his screen flicked out of existence, Nanoha almost thought she felt a bit better, but there was still that worry in the pit of her stomach, gnawing at her. Despite her efforts, she couldn't fully dispel it.
“When did I become like this?” she said out loud, shaking her head and clenching her fists. “This isn't like me at all. It's just the pregnancy and a bad dream, playing havoc with my hormones and mental state. Yuuno and Fate are both doing their best, and I have to as well. They are working hard, so I have to as well. maybe... if they can't come to me...”
Brightening as the idea entered her mind, she opened up another holoscreen and made a second call, spirits lifting as the female secretary answered.
“Oh, Mrs. Takamachi, how can I help you?” came the cheerful and friendly inquiry.
“Yes, could you tell me when my husband leaves the library and heads to the room he sleeps in when he spend the night there?”
The secretary paused for a moment as she looked up her information, but Nanoha was feeling a bit strange at the puzzled look that crossed the secretary's face. “I'm sorry, he appears to have left the library already, but he wasn't headed to his room. I am afraid he didn't tell me where he was headed.”
Ice seemed to form in Nanoha's veins, but she steeled herself through long practice, and put on a disarming smile. “Okay, thanks anyway. I'll contact him later myself.”
She held that friendly face as the screen closed and the call ended, and then immediately felt a bit shaky. A female intern? And he had left the library? The dots were starting to connect themselves in her head.
[He couldn't...] she told herself. [He wouldn't...]
But he's been spending the night there quite often lately...
She nearly jumped; that thought hadn't been part of the nightmare, and she was unsure where it had come from. Was it hers? Had she really thought that?
“I can simply clear this up right now,” she stated confidently out loud, reaching up and bringing a new holoscreen up. But her hand paused on the call button, unable to touch it for some reason. She bit her lip, and then shook her head, letting the holoscreen fade out. “No. I trust him.
Nanoha contacts Yuuno, and learns he has been training a new person to help, so he can spend more time at home. Nanoha remembers her dream, and suddenly grows jealous and angry, but quickly backtracks and apologizes, and tells him to take his time. Yuuno is unsure, and decides to come back anyway, delaying the replacement's training for a day or two.
x~~*~~x
“A purely visual scan indicated elevated heart rate and agitated nervous system,” the young female voice reported from the jewel on his bracelet.
Yuuno blinked, and then glanced down as the short hologram of Alicia flickered into existence, the Ai program from the device he had obtained from Al Hazard. “You could tell that just from looking at her through a holo screen?”
“As you know, in order to better understand the emotions of humans, I have taken to analyzing their subtle audio/visual responses,” she explained. “It is my hope to eventually be able to mimic said responses, once I have enough data.”
He was intimately aware of it; the AI program had been curious ever since Nanoha had broken her attempted programing of Yuuno with a simple kiss, that had help jump start his relationship with both Nanoha and Fate. And although the program had merely taken on the appearance of Alicia, the latest individual to be assimilated into Al Hazard's master computer system, as well as her memories, it wasn't quite able to figure out human intuition and emotion. Taking the name of Alicia, she had decided that it was critical that she study humans to understand these particular traits.
“So, did you detect something wrong with her?” Yuuno asked, concern creeping into his voice.
“I am... unsure,” Alicia replied, and the expression that appeared on her face, made it hard to tell if she was really uncertain, or just trying to fake the expression. “Nanoha is normally a confident and self-assured individual. I have rarely detected the combination of subtle autonomic feedback that I observed just now.”
Yuuno thought for a moment, and then sighed. “And if something was bothering her that she didn't think we could do anything about, she wouldn't tell us, either. She knows that the Bureau has Fate and I booked solid with work, so perhaps it is finally getting to her.” And to tell the truth, he was beginning to feel guilty about leaving a pregnant Nanoha to take care of Vivio alone.
Alicia shrugged, her clueless expression greatly making her appear more human. “Perhaps.”
He thought about it some more, and then snapped his fingers. “Alicia, work on a schedule that will allow me to take this Friday evening off; that's four days away. I'll double up where I can, working through breakfast and dinner.”
“Do you want me to inform Nanoha?” she inquired.
Yuuno shook his head and then smiled. “No, I'll let it be a surprise.”
“Yuuno?” came the young girl's almost-impatient inquiry from the next room.
“Oh, sorry, Els,” he replied, raising his head. “I'll be right there!”
x~~*~~x
“Any updates?” came Tre's voice in her ear communicator.
Quattro yawned, absently gazing out at the window towards the spacious condo below and across the street. General Atrai was visible within, sitting on his couch, hunched over a few data tablets spread out on his coffee table. Auris had become convinced Atrai was up to something, and while Quattro agreed, she found stakeouts rather boring, and thus really desired ways to pass the time.
“None, as usual,” she replied absently, lazily raising her finger to tap a square on the holoscreen in front of her. “I would have let you know if there were. He had dinner and then a shower, and now he's currently reading some assignment reports, but nothing unusual. He's probably the most boring General in the Armed Forces.”
“Understood, I'll relay that to Auris,” Tre replied, and after a short pause, added in a disapproving voice, “And I hope you're actually paying attention and not playing Minesweeper again.”
Quattro quickly closed down the window and chuckled, winking at Sette who had turned back to level a gaze at her. “Why, of course not!”
“...right,” Tre responded, not sounding entirely convinced. “Well, I'll check back in at 2300 hours.”
Sette sighed and resumed watching through her high-tech binoculars as the #3 cyborg signed off. “You
could assist me in keeping watch. This is our assignment and we should be fulfilling it to the best of our abilities.”
Quattro sighed internally; Sette was the same as always, ever the consummate warrior. Out of all the Numbers, she was the closest to being the perfect soldier. No matter who was involved or what the situation comprised, she would carry out her mission with tireless dedication. Hardened devotion to duty, and nearly perfect control of emotions; those were the two traits that best defined her in Quattro's eyes. Regardless of the task and distractions, she could carry it out in as clinical and emotionless as possible.
“I've already hacked his house security systems and planted all my trackers and recording devices,” the electronic warfare cyborg countered, waving her hand to open up several holo screens showcasing various camera angles. “And I've have stealth programs combing through his personal files, although there isn't anything interesting there. Whatever he's doing, he's keeping it off his books.”
Sette shrugged, continuing to keep a close eye on Atrai in his condo. “Perhaps this really is a waste of time, then.”
Quattro studied one particular holo screen, reading the lines of data that scrolled past. “I doubt that. There are a few too many suspicious holes. For one, his whole 'Saint Church Initiative' where he wants to have the council legislate that the Church join the Bureau, and thus bring it directly under army supervision.... there isn't any reasons written down in his files as to why he wants this. No proposed Enforcer rotations to deal with it... no hint as to what would come after. What are his plans? What is he after? What little fun game is he playing?”
By this time, Sette had turned back to observe Quattro's expression grow more and more animated. “Well, at least someone is enjoying herself.”
“Oh my, you got me!” Quattro replied slyly with mock embarrassment. “I have to admit, I thought this would be boring. While Auris is no Jail, she is rather crafty, and these games are entertaining.” She paused, her grew growing more mischievous. “And what about you?”
“Me?” Sette questioned doubtfully.
If it was at all possible, the Cheshire grin only widened.“Well, you have been spending more and more time with that... what was his name? That Benzo fellow?”
She was rewarded with the barest of blushes gracing Sette's cheeks, who quickly snapped her attention back to the binoculars. “He requested extra warrior training, and I have been assisting him with that. I admire his spirit.”
“Spirit, right,” Quattro said, nodding. “And that's all you admire, hmm?”
Truth be told, Quattro didn't really care about Sette's ongoing affair with the young lieutenant from that mission to the secret moon awhile back. But teasing and probing for new information were two of Quattro's most cherished pastimes, with torture being a close third. And this fulfilled all of them, as well as made the time pass quicker. And it was very seldom that Sette had showcased anything that would allow Quattro this chance; it was a rare and golden opportunity.
“So,” she continued. “That movie he took you to...
The Enforcer's Last Stand... was merely training? And the meal that came afterward, just simple nourishment?”
But apparently Sette was either in no mood for this line of conversation, or didn't know how to handle it. “We're on the clock.”
Quattro sighed, knowing she'd have more opportunities in the future. “You're no fun.”
The response wasn't what she expected; Sette's body had suddenly gone tense and focused. “Something's happening. His aide, Chiage Anras, has shown up.”
Qauttro focused in on the living room camera, as Atrai stood up and Chiage whispered into his ear. She frowned; the bugs were designed to pick up and enhance any sound, but it was detecting no audible voices. It could have been a small spell to mask their talk, but why bother if he thought he was safe in his own home?
Finally, there came a voice, when Atrai spoke out loud. “She has? I should have expected as much. I'll handle it later. I'll forward the information on.”
Chiage nodded, and then left the room, and there was nothing more said about it, but Quattro was even more intrigued; none of the reports on his table seemed to correlate with what he had just said. The incident with Sette now long forgotten, Quattro focused in on her primary challenge: what General Atrai was up to.
From personal experience, she knew when someone had hidden motivations and plans; Due had trained her well in that regard. And if there was one thing these days that gave her life meaning, it was a worthy opponent. She gleefully rubbed her hands together, and dove back into the computer files with renewed vigor.
x~~*~~x
"Are you okay?" Fate asked her former partner as the woman entered the command center.
Teana glanced at her bandaged arm and leg, suddenly distracted out of her thoughts. Her mind had been repeatedly going over what her opponent had said; If she was speaking the truth, was that mystery woman the person who had killed her brother? At the time, that particular mage had managed to get away, and there weren't many clues as to who it was. All the data she had obtained from her brief tangle with her own opponent, was a series of blurry and unclear pictures.
Teana shook her head and then glanced at Fate, who was currently leaning against the wall, taking weight off her right foot."I could ask you the same thing."
Fate's smiled ruefully. "It's still a bit numb, but feeling is returning. Looks like we all had issues this time around. Even Sephia's target get away."
"My apologies," the solemn woman leaning against the wall stated, lowering her head in a humble bow. "But he had apparently prepped a teleport spell upon entering the stairwell. I caught the tail end of the spell effects, however, I regret that I was unable to identify the suspect."
"But at least you got Galiboni and his driver," Teana added, her thoughts going back to her own mysterious opponent. "How is the interrogation going?"
"He has yet to awaken," Shari answered, the fourth and last person in the room. She had been tapping away at a keyboard, going over data. "He's being prepped for transfer back to the main branch for questioning, though. However, we have a new problem: a few days ago, a small town on Mid-Childa was attacked an wiped out. So far, only two survivors, a pair of young children. Ginga and Cinque are heading up the investigation."
Teana's eyes widened.
“If you're interested, perhaps we can meet again on Mid-Childa... if you survive, that is!”
She bit her lip; it couldn't be coincidence... could it?
"I'm thinking that one of us should head back to personally share our intelligence on this," Fate suggested.
"You feel there is a connection?" Sephia questioned, raising an eyebrow. "I do not see how. Why not just send them our our data?"
"You're concerned a possible leak in the Bureau, too, aren't you?" Teana accurately guessed.
Fate confirmed it with a nod. "It's only a hunch, but something tells me more is going on here. We have to be careful of who we trust, what information we share, and what channels we use, so this has to be done personally. One of us can handle the interrogation of Galiboni and his driver, and the third can handle the search of the planet for the other members of the Orion syndicate. Even locking down the starport, I don't think we can stop them from fleeing the planet, but we have to try."
"I'll go to Mid-Childa," Teana stated confidently, meeting Fate's gaze. "I work well with the Nakajima family. Also, the Bureau has wanted to assign a new aide to me for Enforcer training, which I put off to continue helping out here. I might as well take them up on it. If there is a connection, that reason alone will give me cover to avoid suspicion."
Fate studied her former student. Her years of long service let her know that Teana seemed to be holding something back, something else that motivated the younger agent's desire to return to Mid-Childa. If Shari and Sephia weren't present, Fate might have pressed Teana to spill it. But then she also remembered that Teana was a full-fledged Enforcer now, and she had to trust the other woman; Teana would tell when the time was right.
Fate nodded. "Very well."
"I can handle the interrogation," Sephia added. "I am highly skilled in such matters."
"Then I will take the squad and handle the search," Fate stated. "I wish we had more people available, but the Bureau is stretched thin at the moment."
"Orussia is requiring nearly a full division all by itself, to respond to the planet's government's request for aid in the expanding civil war," Teana noted, then her eyes widened in sudden realization. "I think I might see the reason for your hunch... is it a ploy to leave the main branch or Mid-Childa open for attack?"
Fate shook her head. "I'm not sure. But even if it was, we'd need more proof than just my hunch. Find out if there is any threat to Mid-Childa or the main branch, and we'll be able to get the Bureau to redirect forces. Good luck; I know you'll do a good job! "
She would tell herself later, that if she had only known what was coming, she would have gone back herself instead of sending Teana.
x~~*~~x
Dagger caught the end of the training session, and thus was waiting as the woman exited the room. “How is she progressing, Nanoha?”
She shot him a dark look, and then shrugged. “Rough around the edges, but highly skilled when she reaches a sufficient level of focus. Power is still a bit lacking, and she doesn't seem to plan her tactics much, though she is beginning to think more. She seems to rely mostly on her inherited skill set.”
He glanced once through the window, where the pupil had yet to move from her position at the bottom of the newly formed crater. For a moment, he had wondered if Nanoha had left the girl alive, and then he saw the barest hints of movement. He glanced warily at Nanoha's back; she was very much the demon he figured she would be. Only the control spells woven into her summoning, prevented her from turning that awesome power on him. And there was no mistake she would; she had made her dislike of him obvious.
“I see,” Dagger said simply, falling into step beside her. “How soon do you think she will be ready?”
Again, Nanoha shrugged. “Another week or two, maybe as long as a month, if she keeps at this rate. Raising her magic power level will take considerably longer, but I should have the kinks ironed out.”
He nodded; that was within the accepted time frame. “I have another mission for you.”
“Another small village?” she spat with obvious distaste.
He shook his head, reaching into his cloak to pull out a piece of paper to hand to her. “No, this time, I it will be something that I think you'll find more... palatable.”
She stopped, the edges of her lips twitched as she scanned it, and then the paper vanished, incinerated in a flash of magic. “I should have figured. But this time, I want something.”
He nodded again; she was acting the way he expected. “I thought you might ask. And if you complete this task, I will work on it. However, it will take something considerable to bring her here to Mid-Childa.”
She eyed him, the barest hints of surprise in her deep blue eyes; but that was all he could read from her and he found it a bit troubling. “Very well.” She turned and rapidly walked off.
“Remember, we ultimately want the same things, you and I,” he reminded her, calling after her but making no move to follow. “Continue to serve the Light, and your goals shall be met as well.”
She paused again, partially turning her head back toward him, a smile on her face that reminded him of the tightrope he was walking. “Yes, they will.”
Xx~~*~~xX
Author's notes:
The plot thickens, and hopefully I've set out quite a few clues. Depending on how well you know the original material, you may pick up quite a bit, or at least work out some things. Title for this chapter comes from a particular song. If you are familiar with the song, you can see why, but I think it encompasses most of what this chapter contained.
Stay tuned for more twists and turns to come!
2012-07-17, 04:38
Author
You got one diverse group of friends, Val.
