Chapter 41 of Tessa and The Stranger in the Plane

Posted by Goodsport from adsl-216-102-199-185.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net on October 10, 1999 at 01:05:27:

: Chapter 41 [Emotions Revealed] (written by Deirdre)

: "Excuse me, is this seat taken?"
: Jerico, who had been immersed in his own thoughts, snapped out of his reverie and looked at the speaker.
: It was Meg.
: "No," he said.
: She picked up the newspaper from the seat and stuck it in the compartment before her as she sat down beside him.
: "You left Indy all alone?" Jerico asked, looking out of the window. There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
: "He's already asleep," Meg said.
: "Maybe you should, too," Jerico said. He looked at his Tag. It was already 3 a.m. "We'll be landing in about a few hours."
: "I'm not sleepy," Meg replied, fighting back a yawn.
: Silence.
: "I'm sorry about how I snapped back at you in the airport," Jerico finally broke the silence.
: "Yeah," she answered, her face not giving away anything of how hurt she'd been by his behavior, "why did you?"
: "I don't know," he answered, avoiding her eyes, "never been much with emotions."
: "So I've noticed," Meg answered. Tenderly, she placed her hand over his. Caught off balance, he turned his head and looked her in the eyes. Those emerald green eyes. "Jerico, you aren't jealous, are you?" Her frankness surprised him.
: Jerico looked away again, perplexed. "Please Megan, don't ask me such things."
: "But I want to," Meg cooed. "I want to know. Jerico...I...I don't understand you. C'mon. Tell me. Help me understand that man, under the mask you are wearing"
: "No one could ever understand me," he insisted, tight-lipped. "Not when it comes to matters which pertain to human relations."
: "Try me,"
: "MegÖ.IÖ." Jerico said. "Not now. I cannot speak it out. I cannot explain it. And I don't want to. Don't make me. Please."
: Meg fell silent. She wanted to ask him so many things. Tell him her part too. She cared for Indy... but not as much as she had begun to care for Jerico. Sighing, she rested her head on his shoulder.
: "Jerico?"
: "Yeah?"
: "I understand, and I can wait."
: Then without anyone saying anything, for it was understood, he put his right arm around her fragile shoulders and held her close. The low monotone humming of the airplane slowly faded into their subconscious as they both fell peacefully into a deep and much-deserved sleep.

: - - -

: The Fiddler woke up. He found himself sleeping in the garbage truck. He looked at his watch. It was half-past three in the morning. He cursed himself for being so callous and careless. He took out his cell phone and dialed Deirdre's number again. He expected a busy signal. Instead, to his surprise, it rang.
: "Yeah?" A woman's voice answered.
: "It's about damn time you answered!" the Fiddler said. "I've been trying to contact you for the past five hours!"
: "Ah well," Deirdre answered nonchalantly. "I turned my phone off. Couldn't have myself being disturbed while I was sleeping."
: "The Lamberts," the Fiddler went on.
: "What do you mean the Lamberts?" Deirdre inquired indignantly. "Don't you mean Indiana James?"
: "He's got a brother who worked for the other side," the Fiddler said. "He's defected 'coz he wants to be with his brother. Now James has gone too. His damn brother shot me. Fortunately, he was a lousy shot."
: Deirdre cursed. "I knew we should've killed that bastard when we had the chance. Where're they now?"
: "They went to Switzerland," the Fiddler informed her. "Word I heard was that they have a studio there. Lambertfilm." He spat the last word out.
: "Okay," Deirdre said. "I already have Tessa. We're heading to Chicago. Boss Nobody's going to be there. D'you think you can get there?"
: "I need money," he added. "I've only got a thousand bucks or so here."
: "No problem at all. I'll have another thousand wired to your account in Zurich. The rest you can get from Rob, he'll also supply you everything else you'll be needing."
: "Zurich, good." The Fiddler said. "I'll search for those damned brothers in Switzerland."
: "Don't kill them just yet."
: "What?!" The Fiddler growled, not believing his ears.
: "Don't kill them," Deirdre repeated calmly. "His brother was a member of Micah's group, right? We're gonna need info. Torture them, if you want. But don't kill them."
: "Okay," The Fiddler said. "But what if I 'accidentally' kill one?"
: "Then," Deirdre sighed in her prima donna voice,"you'll be 'accidentally' killed, too." Then the line went dead.
: The Fiddler muttered obsenities as he flung the phone from his hands. Then, he grinned. She did say he could torture them. That would be just fine with him. He laughed out loud, causing a bunch of alley cats scavenging before him in the trash to scatter away. Haha... just fine...

: - - -

: It was ten in the morning. Jerico was waiting for his companions in the lobby of the Holiday Inn where they checked in after their flight. They immediately took some much-needed rest, and later changed their clothes. Jerico then called a surprised Michaelson on his cell phone. He could still remember how it went.
: "Michaelson," he said. "This is Jerico."
: "Jerico!" Michaelson said, relief in his voice. "Did you get the briefcase?"
: "Yes," Jerico said.
: "Good!" Michaelson said. "Where are you?"
: "At a hotel," Jerico said. "Michaelson, listen. I---"
: "Proceed directly to the Zurich National Bank," Michaelson interrupted. "the manager there is my friend, and---"
: "We are not at Switzerland," Jerico said. "We're in Washington."
: "You're in WHERE???"
: "Washington," Jerico repeated. "Look. I'm tired of being in the dark! It's time I get to know the full rundown of what happened! Everyone's all here except Aragorn. Where is he, anyhow???"
: "He's in Switzerland," Michaelson said.
: "He's in WHERE???" Now it was Jerico's turn to be surprised. "Look. Explain to me everything when we get there. Have us picked up here in about three hours. Holiday Inn, Sixth Avenue."
: Michaelson sighed. "Okay. I'll have someone pick you there. Until then, try not to do anything brash, okay?"
: "Yeah," Jerico said. He turned off the phone.
: That was three hours ago, and Jerico was patiently waiting at the lobby of the hotel. He was dressed in his neatly pressed black trenchcoat, black pants and spandex shirt. Now, however, he was wearing black CAT boots instead of his usual brown ones. His Predator sunglasses still covered his eyes.
: It wasn't long until the others stepped out of the elevator. Goodsport was dressed in a new beige suit with matching khakis and tie, looking more like an executive. His dirty-blond hair was neatly combed back to expose a high forehead, which only accentuated his clean good looks.
: On the other hand, Indy looked more like an agent now, with his black tux, pants, and shiny black boots.
: The old man still wore his old clothes, which were now pressed, and a new fedora was perched on his head.
: Shorty was wearing an oversized printed T-shirt and cargo shorts. He was clutching his cap in his hand.
: Meg wore a tight-fitting, black vinyl tank top and black leather pants. Her boots were black as well, giving her a stylish, yet respectful, appearance.
: Everyone surmised everyone else, not missing out on the compliments. Then the bellhop announced that their limousine had arrived.
: Wordlessly, they got in and the limo sped off.

: - - -

: "Stop squirming, bitch!" an irritated Deirdre said to Tessa, as they stepped inside the elevator that was to lift them to the top of the towering building in the middle of Chicago. There were the three of them - Deirdre, Tessa and Mack.
: Tessa snapped back, "I would if Mr. Bodyguard here would stop clutching my arm. I am not gonna run away, don't worry!"
: "Can't take any chances now, can we?" Deirdre smirked, pushing a button on the elevator controls. "You had us going all the way to Poland just to catch you."
: "What have I done, huh?!" Tessa replied angrily. "Is this some sort of government conspiracy??? Who the hell ARE you people???"
: "Questions, questions," Deirdre mutterd, adjusting her black wire-framed glasses and admiring her make-up in the reflection of the mirrored walls of the lift, "You shouldn't ask too much. Besides, you'll have your answers soon enough!"
: "And to think that just yesterday, I was on a plane to Poland." Tessa sighed sarcastically. "Now I'm back to Chicago. Is there something wrong with my airline ticket?" Mack's chuckle died in his throat when Deirdre shot him a warning look.
: "Look, if you don't want Mack here to bruise that pretty little face of yours, then shut up!" Deirdre's low but demanding voice bore into Tessa.
: Wisely Tessa held back her smart-ass reply and consented by trying to tug free of Mack's grip of steel.
: The way up seemed endless, but the little bell above the sliding door finally chimed their arrival on the topmost floor. When the elevator opened, Tessa sighed in relief, only to be rudely pushed out of the shaft and into the corridor.
: Mack held Tessa roughly by the arms while Deirdre led the way to the big door at the end of the hall. Deirdre placed her hand on the electronic scanner and looked straight ahead into the optical scanner. The machine immediately affirmed her identity, and it wasn't long before the big door mechanically opened.
: Before them a spacious penthouse opened up, filled with expensive modern art and antiques. The huge glass window overlooked the whole city.
: In the middle of the room a big bald man in black expensive designer suit was reclining. He was holding a glass of champagne in one hand. Beside him was a big man who was just as smartly dressed.
: The bald man turned and saw Deirdre. He smiled.
: "Ah, Deirdre, I am glad to see that you're finally here."
: "We finally have her, Sir," she said. She snapped her fingers. Mack dragged Tessa beside Deirdre. "May I introduce you to... Tessa."
: "Well done, Deirdre!" Nobody drawled out. "I knew I could count on you."
: Deirdre surmised at the man beside Nobody.
: "Oh, by the way," Nobody said. "This is Krede. He knows about Valinor, and has allied himself with us."

: - - -

: Ever since he could remember, Michaelson had never seen Micah's room this full of people. And for the first time since he could remember, he had never felt as much tension in the room. He took particular notice of the old man with the eyepatch, who they introduced to him as Henry Jones, Jr. - archaeologist. Like the others, he marveled at the coincidence between their hero and this old man.
: "Okay, Michaelson," Jerico said. He shed his trenchcoat and was now in his spandex shirt. Two holsters were on each side of his torso, with his beloved black guns. "What's Aragorn doing in Switzerland?"
: "What???" Goodsport asked. "He's in Switzerland?!"
: Michaelson raised a hand, asking for silence. "Yes, Aragorn's in Switzerland. He got a call from the Lamberts asking him to join them. We figured this was a good way to catch the two, so we bugged him and sent him to them. Problem is, we lost track of him."
: "What do you mean, 'lost track of him'???" Indy asked.
: "The blip just went off the map," Michaelson said.
: "So, he's caught?" Meg asked.
: "Yes," Michaelson said. "Either that, orÖ."
: "Aragorn wouldn't do that," Jerico said, looking at Michaelson. "I know him. He's not the betraying kind."
: Michaelson shrugged in understanding. "Look, I know how you feel, Jerico. I know you feel inclined to protect your partners after what happened toÖ."
: "I don't want to talk about it, Michaelson," Jerico said, getting defensive. "Get to the point."
: Michaelson sighed. "The point is, we have to be open to possibilities. So many things have happened, and---"
: "You know," Jerico interrupted, standing up. "I don't know what's happening anymore. Can we talk about what's happened so far and clear things up?"
: "Okay, what do you want to know?" Michaelson asked.
: "Exactly how many players are in the field?" Jerico asked, his eyes narrowing.
: "We can't be too sureÖ" Michaelson started.
: "Tell us!" Jerico said.
: "Three," Michaelson sighed. "But I suppose you must have already figured that out."
: Jerico cursed.
: "Four," Goodsport suddenly said.
: Meg and Short Round looked at Goodsport in astonishment. Surely, he wasn't going to tell them???
: Indy and the others looked at him in as much astonishment as well.
: Goodsport glanced swiftly at Meg and Shorty. Then, he looked at the others.
: "Uhm, correct me if I'm wrong, but did you say four?" Indy asked.
: "We are the Vanguards of Valinor," Goodsport suddenly stood up. "We knew Valinor existed, although we do not know where it is. For countless centuries we have been the keepers of the keys of Valinor, and it has been our task from the beginning to watch over them. Exactly 2000 years ago, the keys were stolen. Since then, it has been our task to find them, and to keep them from falling into evil hands. We have Vanguards in various government agencies, in every country."
: "Keys???" Indy asked. The others motioned him to be silent.
: "The third group you spoke of are our ancient enemy, The Order of the Ringwraiths. Sometimes, we jokingly refer to them as the Men With Hats. The one who knocked me out at the San Francisco airport was a member of the Order."
: "Ringwraiths," the old man said for the first time. "Sauron's Nine mortal men doomed to die, in Tolkien's story."
: "Exactly," Goodsport said. "Except that this one is just an order. A group."
: "What do they want?" Indy asked.
: "Dr. Jones supplied part of the answer," Goodsport said. "It is their task primarily to find the One who will lead the Dark One's eight Ringwraiths to eradicate Valinor."
: "Let me see if I get this right," Jerico said, raising an arm as if asking a question in a class. "They want to revive the Nine Ringwraiths to eradicate Valinor?"
: "Yes," Goodsport affirmed.
: "You said 'keys of Valinor'," Indy asked. "You mean to say, there's more than one?" He picked up the spearhead.
: "There are three keys of Valinor," Goodsport said. "Theoden's Spear, Faramir's Ring, and Aragorn's Sword."
: "AragornÖ" the others asked.
: "Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Goodsport said. "We have Theoden's Spear. We don't know where Aragorn's Sword isÖ."
: "And Faramir's Ring?" the old man asked.
: "We think Tessa has it," Goodsport said.
: "What???" Indy asked. "Tessa??? Why does it always end to her???"
: "Does the Dark World Order know about this???" Micah asked.
: "Only about the Spear, I think," Goodsport said. "After all, they only started taking an interest on her when she put her Aztec Spear story in the Forum, right?"
: Micah and Michaelson nodded.
: "So the man who knocked you outÖ." Jerico asked.
: "Wanted Tessa's Ring," Goodsport finished. "And maybe, they also thought, like the DWO, that Tessa knew the whereabouts of the Spear herself."
: "As Alice used to say," Indy said, "everything is getting curiouser and curiouser."
: Meg and Short Round remained silent.
: "You said the Order of the Ringwraiths want to reform the Nine Riders," Jerico said. "In the story, the Nine Riders had a general. The best of all the Ringwraiths. Have they already searched for this one?"
: "No," Goodsport said. "That one, the Dark Lord picks himself. And he has already picked him, from among the many men in Earth's history."
: "Who?"
: "You haven't figured it out?" Goodsport asked Jerico. "It's Aragorn."
: Everyone was silent. The only sound was the beating of their hearts..
: "You keep saying 'we'," Jerico asked him.
: "I'm sorry, Jerico," Meg suddenly spoke up. "I'm a Vanguard. And so is Short Round."
: Indy's eyes almost popped out of his head, and his mouth hung open.
: Jerico almost fell off from the table he was leaning. Meg looked at him with apologetic eyes.
: "Jerico, IÖ.."
: Jerico stood up and walked out of the room. His fists were clenched.

: - - -

: She found him leaning on a large window in the hall, which overlooked the whole city. From the distance, Washington's Monument could be seen. His arms were crossed. She walked up to him.
: "Jerico," Meg said softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't meanÖ."
: "You lied," Jerico said, not looking at her. "How much of it was the truth, Meg? How stupid did I look when I showed you the book I found in the library?"
: "No," Meg said. Tears were starting to form in her eyes. "You didn't look stupid. In fact, I think you were brilliant. Jerico, I just cannot tell youÖ"
: "It was good, then, that I did not trust you in the beginning, is it?" Jerico said.
: "Please," Meg pleaded. "Don't be like this."
: "But I did place my trust in you, in the hospital," Jerico said. "I told you something of my past, Meg. One of my innermost memories. It hurt, but I told you. Do you know why?"
: Meg didn't reply. She was sobbing.
: "I loved you," Jerico finally said. "I loved you so much I trusted you. And nowÖ."
: "Damn it!" Meg cried. "Why won't you listen?!"
: It was then that Jerico looked at her. His eyes still showed no emotion. "Right now, I'm afraid it'll just be a lie."
: Then, Jerico walked away into the elevator. The doors closed, but still, his head bowed.

: -----

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