Chapter 40 of Tessa and The Stranger in the Plane

Posted by Goodsport from adsl-216-102-199-185.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net on September 04, 1999 at 15:16:52:

: Chapter 40 [The State of Emotions] (written by Deirdre)

: "What the hell happened here?!" Indy asked, looking at the shattered glass and the broken window.
: "I don't know," Meg replied clearly puzzled herself.
: "Yeah, BAYBEEE!" Austin Powers loudly announced, coming out of a room and into the hallway where Indy and the others were. "Looks like your friends have flown away! I've had all my groovy men search the place. They're nowhere to be found, baby! The hospital staff is all right, and they're not much help. Total darkness, baby!"
: "Thanks Austin," Indy replied.
: "No sweat, friend!" Austin replied. "I've got to split! Take care, you all! And just give my regards to my groovy friend, Indiana Jerico!"
: The others nodded trying to hide their snickers as the sixties-dressed Brit agent stepped out onto the stairs. As if on cue, the elevator opened, and in stepped Indiana Jerico and Short Round.
: "What the hell happened here?!" Short Round asked, in exactly the same tone as Meg.
: Suddenly, Indy looked up at them, horrorstricken. "Goodsport and Aragorn!" he exclaimed.
: Hurriedly, they ran to Goodsport's room. Even before they opened it, they already knewÖ it was as they had feared. Goodsport and the others were gone.

: - - -

: What am I doing? Aragorn asked himself in the silence of the first-class section of the plane he and the Lambert brothers were taking. What have I done? He couldn't understand what had made him spontaneously jump to this ...deed.... running away from his responsibilities.... to go off with these two.
: He glanced sideways to where James was sleeping in the seat beside him, mouth wide open. Then, his brows wrinkling, he turned away again and stared out of the plane window, into the darkness of the night sky.
: His thoughts again drifted.
: He knew James from way back. Jimmy had been his best friend. But that had been long ago...before he had been able to join the agency; before he had become this hotshot agent that he was now. Aragorn chortled, musing. Even then, he had adopted the name 'Aragorn', from his favorite book. What had James been then? He tried to remember. James had been the happy-go-lucky-to-hell-with-everything type. Sighing deeply, he recalled how James had often gotten into a rumble or two with some of the boys in their place, and how painstakingly he'd save his best friends butt so many times. No wonder he took the path in which he was up to his neck in, right now. Time and again, he had often wondered how reckless James was.
: He then looked to the other side of the aisle where Brett was reclining; tired from whatever it was that he and that stewardess had been doing in the washroom. He still couldn't believe Brett had turned out to be this kind of guy. More so when he found out that he and James were both brothers.

: He recollected the time when Brett applied for the computer specialist position in the agency. He had read his files, and when he found out that his last name was Lambert, he immediately remembered his old friend, James. At first, he dismissed it as just a mere coincidence. 'Lambert' was such a common family name after all!
: Time passed, however, and his notion had proven to be incorrect. More and more, he noticed that Brett acted the same way as James did on more than one incidence. Granted, Brett was a genius at his craft, but he was also a little bit too reckless. He often got into fights with his colleagues. There were even times when he acted like a kid, again resembling James. It was often that which got him into scrapes with the others, especially his partner Indiana Jerico, who was one who could never tolerate childish behavior nor abide excessive naivete. Because of this, Brett had always prefered him rather than his partner.
: And then, as the plane was gliding calmly through the night, Aragorn's thoughts drifted to his former group, the Agency; which had become family for the last five years. Micah and Michaelson, who had been like a father to him. Ever since his family broke apart due to personal problems five years ago, these two had been there with him. Michaelson was a close friend of his father's, and when he ran away, he brought him under his wing, and put him in the Agency. That's where his new life had started. And although the matter with his family was finally resolved in the courts, with his parents finally divorcing, he refused to be with either parents and had loyally remained with the Agency subsequently. That was also where he had met his close friend and partner, Jerico. Now, when he contemplated on the past, he seriously doubted the course of action he had recently taken. He was being brash, and he was clearly not thinking straight. His feelings were in turmoil. Which should he chose? His second family, the Agency, or to the friends that he had in the past?
: He sighed and tried to sleep, but he was afraidÖ of the VoiceÖ of the darkness. The fainting spells that he had acquired lately bothered him. What was happening to him? Was he too involved with his job? Is this why he acted the way he did, deciding that it would be better to just run away from it all? Forgetting about saving the world, and just slinking away to wherever James and Brett would take him?
: And if this was true, then what had he become?
: With these thoughts stabbing at his wearied mind, he finally drifted to an uncomfortable sleep.

: - - -

: Goodsport impatiently gazed at the lounge clock. It was already thirty minutes past eight in the evening. Where the hell was Aragorn?
: They were sitting in the airport's departure lounge. Their plane would be leaving in an hour, and still Aragorn hadn't shown up. Something inside Goodsport told him that the circumstances were more than just unusual. He tried to brush away the premonition by talking to the old man.
: "How do you know about Valinor anyway, Mr. Jones?"
: "It's Doctor Jones," Indiana Jones replied. "But you can call me Indy."
: "Yeah, right," Goodsport snickered. "A big fan of Indiana Jones too, I see."
: "I am Indiana Jones, son," Indiana Jones answered matter-of-factly.
: "Sure, sure," Goodsport said, evidently doubting the old man. "Next thing you're gonna tell me is you're an archaeologist."
: "I did say Doctor, didn't I?" Indiana Jones grinned. "That's how I know about Valinor."
: "Yeah, whatever," Goodsport replied. The old man was obviously delusional. However, he seemed to know about Valinor, so he pressed on. "What do you know about Valinor?"
: "I think it is real," Indiana Jones said. "Just sitting there somewhere. A lot of countries disappear in the course of the earth's history, you know. Atlantis, Lemuria. Why shouldn't Valinor be any different?"
: "Myths?" Goodsport answered.
: "No, son," Indiana Jones sighed and gave him a lop-sided smile. "Every myth holds a truth in them. That truth is what I am trying to find out. Valinor exists. My instinct tells me so."
: You have no idea how right your instincts are, Goodsport thought.

: - - -

: Jerico deftly picked the door of the Jeep Cherokee, which was parked in the hospital's basement parking area. Indy, Meg and Short Round were lurking nearby, standing watch for anyone who might catch them in their handiwork.
: "I still can't understand why we can't take the truck," Indy whispered. "I mean, it still runs."
: "Yeah, it runs," Jerico hissed back, while pushing the pick.
: Soon there was an audible click as the Jeep's door unlocked itself. "But it'd look out of place in the airport. Besides, it's not often you see a Jeep in Poland." He opened the door and unlocked the passenger and back doors from the inside.
: "Okay, we're all set."
: "Short Round, you sit in the passenger seat," Indy said. "Meg and I will sit in the back. In case someone tails us."
: Jerico surreptitiously glanced at Indy and Meg from the corners of his eyes. A twinge of jealousy passed through him. For the past few hours, ever since Indy found Jerico and Meg in the hospital, Jerico had noticed how Indy would always manage to be near Meg. Calm it, Jerico, he told himself as he hotwired the Jeep. They're old friends in the academyÖ nothing more. 'sides, Meg's his commanding officer, remember?
: The Jeep roared to life. He glanced at the rearview mirror for a while, catching Meg's eyes. Meg smiled at him, and he guiltily turned away. However, he didn't miss catching Indy lean over to Meg and examine her shoulder wound, obviously asking how she was doing so far. Trying to clear his thoughts of malices, he shifted gears and backed the vehicle out, roaring into the city streets.
: For a full ten minutes, no one spoke.
: "I think the airport's this way, Jerico," Short Round, breaking the silence. "I distinctly remember that bookshop in the corner."
: "UhÖ yeah," Jerico mumbled. "Thanks Shorty." He cursed himself silently. Strictly business, Jerico, he told himself. Your mind on the case, as you always have. Personal feelings aside.
: Soon they entered the airport gate. Jerico found a free space in the parking lot and managed to squeeze the Jeep between two Audis.
: "Okay, we're here." he announced, foolishly not coming up with a better remark.
: Biting his lip, Jerico groped for his Staedtler pen and rummaged in the glove compartment for some paper. He found some suitable writing material (a tissue from some Italian restaurant), wrote "Thanks!" on it in Polish, and added a few hundred American dollars to it as he replaced the note in the compartment.
: "Hmmm," Meg leaned between the front seats, smiling. "A car thief with a conscience."
: Jerico didn't reply, trying to ignore her voice. He took out his handkerchief and started cleaning the wheel, the windows, and everything else he had touched.
: "Clean everything," Jerico called out to the others, who had already stepped out. "We can't afford to have fingerprints. They'll trace us."
: They didn't move for a while. "Well?!" Jerico said, his voice a little harsh.
: "Okay, okay," Indy said, taking out his handkerchief. "Sheesh, Jerico. How come you've become so hot-tempered all of a sudden?"
: "You don't want to know," Jerico mumbled. "Now start cleaning up. We got a plane to catch."
: Shrugging, they got back in and started eliminating any proof of their having ever been there. In a few minutes, they'd finished. Meg gave the car a last check, locked the doors and ran after her companions, who'd walked over to one of the huge garbage bins in the parking lot.
: "We have to get rid of our guns", Indy said. Short nodded agreeing. There was no way they could get through the metal detectors at the airport with them.
: Glancing about them and making sure no one was watching them, Indy, Meg and Short Round disposed of their weapons in the bin. Ruefully, Indy shrugged as he threw in his MP-5. "I'm gonna miss that gun."
: Meg gave him a wink and teased him that they were going to get him a new one.
: "Aren't you going to throw away your pieces, too?" inquired Short Round, who observed that Indiana Jerico still hadn't thrown away his guns.
: Jerico didn't answer. "Are you all ready?"
: "Yeah, let's go," Indy answered
: Soon, their footsteps echoed in the half-empty airport arrival and departure area. Jerico noticed a man in a black tux approach him. He motioned to the others to go ahead, and that he would join them at the gates. Calmly, he stalked in the same direction as the stranger who handed him the silver-colored briefcase. Jerico took it without a word, not even bothering to watch the stranger walk away. Expressionless, Jerico halted by a dimly lit part of the airport and opened the briefcase, took out his guns, and put them in a secret compartment in the suitcase that was x-ray proof. He then joined his companions again.
: They entered the airport lounge. Jerico put the briefcase onto the conveyor belt, and it passed through the detector.
: It was then that Meg spotted Goodsport on the opposite side, walking toward the exit to the field. Together with him was an old man with an eyepatch. It looked like they were about to board their plane.
: "Goodsport!" Meg shouted. The others glanced to where she was pointing.
: Goodsport turned around, evidently surprised at hearing his own name. Then he recognized Meg and the others, who were now swiflty walking towards him. Something was clearly amiss.
: "Where's Aragorn?" Jerico questioned, and then realized that Goodsport was asking him the same question..
: Goodsport raised his eyebrow inquiringly. So did Jerico.
: "I thought he was with you!" Goodsport and Jerico asked again in unison.
: Now they knew something was certainly NOT right. They both spoke up ...again at the same time. "Something's not right."
: "Stop it!" Jerico and Goodsport said to each other. This time Jerico closed his eyes, placing a hand on his hips.
: "Okay, okay," Goodsport said. "You go first."
: "Where are you going?" Indy finally asked, having had enough of this dramatical display.
: "This is the flight to Chicago," Goodsport said.
: "Chicago?" Indy asked. "That's where we're heading to!"
: "Uh-uh...not anymore," Jerico shook his head, nodding to them to follow him to a less conspicuous place by the airport windows. Outside, it was dark as a bat.
: Mystified, they faced him, demanding an explanation.
: Goodsport lent the old man an apologetic look and shrugged noncomittedly.

: - - -

: Jerico paused, staring at a spot on the floor. When he had their full attention, he looked up and met their curious stares "I'm fed up with hopping into places, having no idea what we are about to do or what has really happened. It's about time I get to know what is going on. I suggest we go to Washington DC."
: "Washington DC???" Short Round asked, obviously puzzled. "What is there?"
: "The Agency's Main HQ?" Indy supplied, not getting the point much himself. Jerico nodded and turned to Goodsport. "Where's the card I gave you?"
: "Here," Goodsport said, handing him the American Express card. "What about our tickets?"
: "Refund 'em. I do it all the time!" Henry spoke up, chuckling.
: Three surprised heads turned in his direction. As if for the first time, they noticed the old man with the eyepatch standing silently and patiently behind Goodsport.
: "Who's he?" Meg arched a carefully plucked eyebrow.
: Grinning, Goodsport pointed over his shoulder. "Oh, him. I forgot to introduce you folks to... Errr... this is Henry Jones."
: The old man nodded in acknowledgment to the others, not hiding his amusement.
: "Wow!" Short Round exclaimed. "He's got the same name as Indiana Jones! Too bad he's not a 'Jr.' "
: "Uhh," Goodsport said. "In fact, he is. An archaeologist, too."
: Openmouthed, Short Round gawked at the old man, as if seeing his hero for the first time. "Indy?"
: Puzzled Indy eyed Shorty. "Huh?"
: "Aww... not you!" Shorty declared and pointed, "Him!"
: Indiana Jones chuckled and ruffled Short Round's hair. "Well, at least somebody believes in me. What's your name, kid?"
: "Short Round!" Shorty answered enthusiastically. He didn't know specifically why, but he seemed to know that there was something special about this old man.
: "Short Round!?" Indiana Jones exclaimed, laughing. His wrinkled face seemed to become younger when he smiled. "I can still remember the boy who got the same name a long time ago. One hell of a kid, too."
: "Really?" Short Round asked, entranced.
: "Yeah, well," Jerico interrupted. "Hate to break up this Kodak moment, but time's running out. We'll have the introductions on the plane, okay?" He turned to Goodsport. "What's he doing here, anyway?"
: "You won't believe this, Jerico," Goodsport said. "But he found this!" He held out the spearhead. Then realizing that he should not divulge too much knowledge of the spearhead without giving his identity away, he added. "He... uhm...said that it's the key to Valinor!"
: Jerico, Meg and Indy looked at the spearhead in astonishment. "The ...Aztec Spear!"
: "ThÈoden's Spear," Jerico said. "One of the keys to Valinor!"
: Goodsport secretly looked at Meg in surprise. How did he know?, his eyes seemed to ask. Meg nodded at him, as if to tell him that she would explain later.
: "He found it in the book," Goodsport said. "It's been with us all along!"
: "I knew you're real!" Shorty reveled in glee, looking adoringly at Indiana Jones. "See? He found out! This is the Indiana Jones, you numbskulls!"
: Meg just smiled and ruffled Short Round's hair. "Whatever you say, Shorty," she said in consolation. Kids, she thought, how I wish I had their belief and imagination.
: "You're okay, old man!" Indy said. "Nice name, too. You really live up to your namesake, considering your age."
: "How old are you, anyway?" Meg inquired.
: "Just turned one hundred last July first, young lady," Indiana Jones answered.
: The others looked at each other questioningly. The same thought passed their minds: Delusional tendencies. The only one who didn't have any doubt written on his face was Short Round. He believed.
: "Okay," Jerico finally said. "I'm going to change our tickets to the late night flight. You can all stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can."
: "I'll go with you," Meg said, starting to walk towards him.
: "NO!" barked Jerico, his voice harsh. "Stay here."
: "ButÖ" Meg started to say.
: "Look, Meg," Jerico said, looking at her straight in the eyes. "Last thing I need is for someone to slow me down. JustÖstay with Indy, will ya?"
: Meg clearly looked hurt. Her pretty eyes narrowed. She swallowed hard, trying to remain composed. She turned her back on him and walked away without uttering a word. Jerico sighed. Before his guilt could make him run after her and apologize, he quickly stalked into the opposite direction, towards the ticket counters.

: - - -

: AragornÖ
: He shifted uncomfortably.
: Middle-earth needed you, and you were thereÖ
: He groaned a little in his sleep.
: Valinor needs you nowÖ where are you?
: He mumbled. "Gandalf?"
: The Dark Enemy is back, Aragorn. And he has his dark Eye set on you. Remember the Third Age, Aragorn.
: "Imaginations," he mumbled in his sleep. "Tolkien's imaginationsÖnot realÖMiddle-earthÖ. ValinorÖ"
: You know in your heart it is real, Aragorn. You have lived again. And Valinor now needs you. Lady Arwen Evenstar held her trust in you, just as I do now. They need you, son of Arathorn, now reborn.
: His breath became ragged. He twisted in his sleep. "NoÖ.confusedÖ.."
: Choose your path, son of Arathorn, now reborn. Go with Faramir in arms, or go with the Dark One.
: "FaramirÖ.?" he mumbled.
: Faramir lives, Aragorn. You have met him. Search your heart. Faramir was with you, in your time in Middle-earth, and he is with you now, though you recognize him as someone else.
: "FaramirÖ.my stewardÖ"
: Aye, Elfstone, steward he was, but not anymore. Now, Faramir is with you not as the Steward of Gondor, but as the friend of Aragorn.
: "WhoÖisÖÖFaramirÖ.?"
: You know him, Aragorn. Friend has he been to you since you joined him five years past, in your lifetime. You know who he is, son of Arathorn, now reborn.
: One thought flashed in his mind. "JericoÖ"
: Go with Faramir, Aragorn, or else the world will feel the darkness that Middle-earth had gone through in the Third Age.
: "GandalfÖdon't goÖÖhelp meÖ.."
: My time has ended when the Third Age ended, son of Arathorn. I go with Celeborn and Galadriel and Frodo and Bilbo to Valinor. And now, we need your help. Choose wisely, son of Arathorn. Darkness is seen in the future.
: Aragorn screamed, but it was in his sleep. Then his mind drifted back as it turned black, and he slept in unease.

: - - -

: Jerico took a seat on the plane, choosing a place a few aisles away from the others. He needed time to think; to do that, he needed to be alone. Since this was the late flight to Washington, there weren't very many passengers. And, try as he might to deny it, there was another reason.
: "Vodka or martini?" the pretty stewardess asked Jerico, interrupting his thoughts.
: "Hmm?" Jerico muttered. "Oh, uhhÖno. Black coffee, please, if you have one."
: The stewardess smiled in acknowledgment. "Yes, of course." she poured him a steaming cup, smiled again and went to assist the other passengers.
: Jerico took a sip of the brew, then opened the briefcase and took out the bunch of classified papers. They were a report of what had happened that day. Everything was taken into account. Micah sure is thorough. He browsed over the mass of papers and rubbed his eyes. Right now, he didn't feel like reading anything. Neatly, he sorted the papers back into the briefcase and shoved it back into the compartment above him.
: Jerico rested his face in his hands. Fleetingly, he glanced where the others were sitting. There was Goodsport. Behind him, Short Round's mouth was hanging open, his eyes sparkling to a tale the old man was telling him. The orange juice lay untouched in his chair tray. The old man had black coffee, which he occasionally sipped between his ramblings.
: Indiana Jerico's gaze went back to Goodsport, who was reading a Time magazine, trying to ignore the woman beside him who clearly was having a hard time in catching his attention with her futile attempts of batting her eyes and sending her seatmate flirtatious looks. Jerico found himself grinning. But his smile soon faded as he observed Indy seated several feet away from him. And beside him, of course, was Meg. Their heads close together, they were laughing at something that must have been quite amusing....
: He turned away and tried to focus his attention on the darkness outside his window. Silently, he stared at nothing. Into the starsÖ as long as it was away from them.

: - - -

: The Man with the Hat stumbled again, for the fifth time this night. He had managed to find a scarf, which he had used as a bandage for his wound, although he was still losing blood. He had to get to a doctor, and quick.
: The hotel, he thought. I have to get to the hotel!
: Then, realizing he needed something to cover his bloodied clothes so as not to attract attention, he ambled to the side street and waited. Presently, he saw a man in a trenchcoat pass by him. Without warning, The Man with the Hat gave him a chop on the base of the neck. The man fell, unconscious. The Man with the Hat took his trenchcoat and mumbled an apology.
: He hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to take him to his hotel. They sped off.
: The Man with the Hat rested his head on the back seat of the car. He tried to think of what to do next. His mission was definitely not going right. He needed to contact his group and tell them of the recent happenings. But first, he needed medical attention.
: Presently, the driver stopped the car in front of the hotel. The Man with the Hat paid the fare and told the driver to keep the change. He walked, unsteadily, to the desk.
: "Good evening," the man behind the desk said in Polish. "Are you all right?"
: "I got mugged and shot," The Man with the Hat answered. "But it just grazed me. Do you have any doctor in the hotel?"
: The manager looked at the Man with the Hat's pale face. "Oh, yes. It looks serious."
: The Man with the Hat grinned, trying to make his wound look light. In reality, his head was spinning. "Oh, no. It's not that seriousÖ just a graze. Please, I don't want to cause any alarm or panic here, that's why I discreetly asked if you have a doctor. The other patrons would be quite alarmed at seeing a bloodied man, don't you think?"
: The manager's eyes widened. "Oh dear, yes! We can't have that. I will call an able physician immediately! But please, could you do it in your room, so as not to alarm the others?"
: "I would be grateful," The Man with the Hat answered. "I'm in Room 766."
: "766," the manager repeated.
: "Thank you," The Man with the Hat replied. He walked to the elevator and pressed the number of his floor. He was sweating now, and he kept seeing spots in front of his eyes.
: Finally, the door opened and he ambled into his room. He lay down in his bed and waited.
: A few minutes later, there was a knock. The Man with the Hat stood up and opened the door. It was the doctor.

: - - -

: "I was so glad when I found out you were going to be my C.O., Meg," Indy leaned over to push a strand of her hair back over her ear.
: "Really, is that a fact?" Meg grinned back.
: "Uhm, yeah." Indy said, giving her one of his devilish looks.
: "It doesn't intimidate you or anything?" Meg asked. "I mean, your C.O. being a woman and everything."
: "Hell no!" Indy grinned. "Just as long as that woman is you."
: Meg's laugh floated over the seats, but it was a little strained. "If I knew any better Indy, I could've sworn that you were hitting on your C.O."
: "Swear it!" Indy grinned, looking into her eyes. "It's true."
: Meg punched him lightly in the arm. "Kidder."
: Indy laid back and took a deep breath. "AhhhÖ.this is the life. Flying first class, seeing some action, and having a beautiful lady by my side." He grinned at Meg and winked. "What more could a guy want?"
: "Stop being sweet, Indy," Meg said. "I'd bet you said that to every girl you see."
: "Uhm, no," Indy said. "I mean, it's not every time that I get to fly first class, save the world, and have the girl by my side."
: "Oh?" Meg asked, flattered.
: "Yeah," Indy beamed. "Usually, I only have the girl by my side!"
: They laughed.
: "Sorry, Indy, you're charming," Meg sighed. "But right now, my mind's still on work. This is my first big case, and I don't intend to blow this up. Business first, before pleasure."
: "Well," Indy said reassuringly. "You don't have to worry about that. When it comes to mixing business with pleasure, I'm on the top of the class."
: "I don't recall learning that in the academy." Meg remarked dryly.
: "They don't teach you that in the academy," Indy said. "It's only for, uhh ...men. Ever wonder how James Bond managed to have a babe and a gun at the same time?"
: The laughed again. She looked back at where Jerico was sitting a few seats back. She caught him turning away. Meg suddenly felt uncomfortable.

: - - -

: The treatment took about an hour. Fortunately, the bullet just passed through. The Man in the Hat had lost a considerable amount of blood and the doctor insisted that he be admitted to the hospital. He ostensibly refused. Seeing as there's nothing more he could do, the doctor went away.
: He lay in his bed, with his eyes closed. All he needed was a little rest and a little food, and he'd be all set. But before that, he needed to make a call.
: He got the phone and dialed a number. He gave the operator a number, and the operator patched him through. Then, he waited as a second operator took his call. He supplied the password. A few minutes later, a man answered on the other line.
: "Yeah," the voice asked. It was low and monotone.
: "They tried to kill me!" The Man with the Hat said. "Did they know I was planted???"
: "No, Mitos," the voice said, calling him by his group name. "They do not. And the key?"
: "I didn't get the Ring," The Man with the Hat said, breathing heavily. "She woke up before I could get it off her."
: "You could've killed her, Mitos and taken away the key," the voice said. "Why didn't you?"
: "I am not a murderer, Krede," The Man with the Hat said. "Not anymore. I refuse to bring myself down to their level."
: "We staged an assassination attempt on one of their men," Krede answered. "A woman, actually. But she lived. You might know her as the one they call Deirdre."
: "What???" The Man with the Hat exclaimed. "She ordered me shot, Krede! Just a little while ago! Damn it. What if they knew? What if they already know?!"
: "They won't," Krede answered. "And don't worry. They do not."
: "What are we going to do?" The Man with the Hat asked. "The Vanguards already have the other key."
: "That only leaves one unaccounted for," Krede said. "As for what we are going to do, MitosÖ you are not going to do anything. Stay there, and as of now, you are off the case."
: "ButÖKrede! IÖ!" The Man with the Hat said.
: "Good day, Mitos." Krede said. And the line went dead.
: The Man with the Hat held the phone in his hands for a while. Then, his jaw tightened. "I'll be damned if I'll stay!"
: He started to lie down and, after a few moments, he slept.

: -----

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: : Chapter 40 [The State of Emotions] (written by Deirdre)

: : "What the hell happened here?!" Indy asked, looking at the shattered glass and the broken window.
: : "I don't know," Meg replied clearly puzzled herself.
: : "Yeah, BAYBEEE!" Austin Powers loudly announced, coming out of a room and into the hallway where Indy and the others were. "Looks like your friends have flown away! I've had all my groovy men search the place. They're nowhere to be found, baby! The hospital staff is all right, and they're not much help. Total darkness, baby!"
: : "Thanks Austin," Indy replied. 
: : "No sweat, friend!" Austin replied. "I've got to split! Take care, you all! And just give my regards to my groovy friend, Indiana Jerico!"
: : The others nodded trying to hide their snickers as the sixties-dressed Brit agent stepped out onto the stairs. As if on cue, the elevator opened, and in stepped Indiana Jerico and Short Round.
: : "What the hell happened here?!" Short Round asked, in exactly the same tone as Meg.
: : Suddenly, Indy looked up at them, horrorstricken. "Goodsport and Aragorn!" he exclaimed.
: : Hurriedly, they ran to Goodsport's room. Even before they opened it, they already knewÖ it was as they had feared. Goodsport and the others were gone.

: : - - -

: : What am I doing? Aragorn asked himself in the silence of the first-class section of the plane he and the Lambert brothers were taking. What have I done? He couldn't understand what had made him spontaneously jump to this ...deed.... running away from his responsibilities.... to go off with these two.
: : He glanced sideways to where James was sleeping in the seat beside him, mouth wide open. Then, his brows wrinkling, he turned away again and stared out of the plane window, into the darkness of the night sky. 
: : His thoughts again drifted. 
: : He knew James from way back. Jimmy had been his best friend. But that had been long ago...before he had been able to join the agency; before he had become this hotshot agent that he was now. Aragorn chortled, musing. Even then, he had adopted the name 'Aragorn', from his favorite book. What had James been then? He tried to remember. James had been the happy-go-lucky-to-hell-with-everything type. Sighing deeply, he recalled how James had often gotten into a rumble or two with some of the boys in their place, and how painstakingly he'd save his best friends butt so many times. No wonder he took the path in which he was up to his neck in, right now. Time and again, he had often wondered how reckless James was.
: : He then looked to the other side of the aisle where Brett was reclining; tired from whatever it was that he and that stewardess had been doing in the washroom. He still couldn't believe Brett had turned out to be this kind of guy. More so when he found out that he and James were both brothers.

: : He recollected the time when Brett applied for the computer specialist position in the agency. He had read his files, and when he found out that his last name was Lambert, he immediately remembered his old friend, James. At first, he dismissed it as just a mere coincidence. 'Lambert' was such a common family name after all!
: : Time passed, however, and his notion had proven to be incorrect. More and more, he noticed that Brett acted the same way as James did on more than one incidence. Granted, Brett was a genius at his craft, but he was also a little bit too reckless. He often got into fights with his colleagues. There were even times when he acted like a kid, again resembling James. It was often that which got him into scrapes with the others, especially his partner Indiana Jerico, who was one who could never tolerate childish behavior nor abide excessive naivete. Because of this, Brett had always prefered him rather than his partner. 
: : And then, as the plane was gliding calmly through the night, Aragorn's thoughts drifted to his former group, the Agency; which had become family for the last five years. Micah and Michaelson, who had been like a father to him. Ever since his family broke apart due to personal problems five years ago, these two had been there with him. Michaelson was a close friend of his father's, and when he ran away, he brought him under his wing, and put him in the Agency. That's where his new life had started. And although the matter with his family was finally resolved in the courts, with his parents finally divorcing, he refused to be with either parents and had loyally remained with the Agency subsequently. That was also where he had met his close friend and partner, Jerico. Now, when he contemplated on the past, he seriously doubted the course of action he had recently taken. He was being brash, and he was clearly not thinking straight. His feelings were in turmoil. Which should he chose? His second family, the Agency, or to the friends that he had in the past? 
: : He sighed and tried to sleep, but he was afraidÖ of the VoiceÖ of the darkness. The fainting spells that he had acquired lately bothered him. What was happening to him? Was he too involved with his job? Is this why he acted the way he did, deciding that it would be better to just run away from it all? Forgetting about saving the world, and just slinking away to wherever James and Brett would take him?
: : And if this was true, then what had he become?
: : With these thoughts stabbing at his wearied mind, he finally drifted to an uncomfortable sleep.

: : - - -

: : Goodsport impatiently gazed at the lounge clock. It was already thirty minutes past eight in the evening. Where the hell was Aragorn?
: : They were sitting in the airport's departure lounge. Their plane would be leaving in an hour, and still Aragorn hadn't shown up. Something inside Goodsport told him that the circumstances were more than just unusual. He tried to brush away the premonition by talking to the old man.
: : "How do you know about Valinor anyway, Mr. Jones?"
: : "It's Doctor Jones," Indiana Jones replied. "But you can call me Indy."
: : "Yeah, right," Goodsport snickered. "A big fan of Indiana Jones too, I see."
: : "I am Indiana Jones, son," Indiana Jones answered matter-of-factly.
: : "Sure, sure," Goodsport said, evidently doubting the old man. "Next thing you're gonna tell me is you're an archaeologist."
: : "I did say Doctor, didn't I?" Indiana Jones grinned. "That's how I know about Valinor."
: : "Yeah, whatever," Goodsport replied. The old man was obviously delusional. However, he seemed to know about Valinor, so he pressed on. "What do you know about Valinor?"
: : "I think it is real," Indiana Jones said. "Just sitting there somewhere. A lot of countries disappear in the course of the earth's history, you know. Atlantis, Lemuria. Why shouldn't Valinor be any different?"
: : "Myths?" Goodsport answered.
: : "No, son," Indiana Jones sighed and gave him a lop-sided smile. "Every myth holds a truth in them. That truth is what I am trying to find out. Valinor exists. My instinct tells me so."
: : You have no idea how right your instincts are, Goodsport thought.

: : - - -

: : Jerico deftly picked the door of the Jeep Cherokee, which was parked in the hospital's basement parking area. Indy, Meg and Short Round were lurking nearby, standing watch for anyone who might catch them in their handiwork.
: : "I still can't understand why we can't take the truck," Indy whispered. "I mean, it still runs."
: : "Yeah, it runs," Jerico hissed back, while pushing the pick.
: : Soon there was an audible click as the Jeep's door unlocked itself. "But it'd look out of place in the airport. Besides, it's not often you see a Jeep in Poland." He opened the door and unlocked the passenger and back doors from the inside.
: : "Okay, we're all set."
: : "Short Round, you sit in the passenger seat," Indy said. "Meg and I will sit in the back. In case someone tails us."
: : Jerico surreptitiously glanced at Indy and Meg from the corners of his eyes. A twinge of jealousy passed through him. For the past few hours, ever since Indy found Jerico and Meg in the hospital, Jerico had noticed how Indy would always manage to be near Meg. Calm it, Jerico, he told himself as he hotwired the Jeep. They're old friends in the academyÖ nothing more. 'sides, Meg's his commanding officer, remember?
: : The Jeep roared to life. He glanced at the rearview mirror for a while, catching Meg's eyes. Meg smiled at him, and he guiltily turned away. However, he didn't miss catching Indy lean over to Meg and examine her shoulder wound, obviously asking how she was doing so far. Trying to clear his thoughts of malices, he shifted gears and backed the vehicle out, roaring into the city streets. 
: : For a full ten minutes, no one spoke.
: : "I think the airport's this way, Jerico," Short Round, breaking the silence. "I distinctly remember that bookshop in the corner."
: : "UhÖ yeah," Jerico mumbled. "Thanks Shorty." He cursed himself silently. Strictly business, Jerico, he told himself. Your mind on the case, as you always have. Personal feelings aside.
: : Soon they entered the airport gate. Jerico found a free space in the parking lot and managed to squeeze the Jeep between two Audis. 
: : "Okay, we're here." he announced, foolishly not coming up with a better remark. 
: : Biting his lip, Jerico groped for his Staedtler pen and rummaged in the glove compartment for some paper. He found some suitable writing material (a tissue from some Italian restaurant), wrote "Thanks!" on it in Polish, and added a few hundred American dollars to it as he replaced the note in the compartment.
: : "Hmmm," Meg leaned between the front seats, smiling. "A car thief with a conscience."
: : Jerico didn't reply, trying to ignore her voice. He took out his handkerchief and started cleaning the wheel, the windows, and everything else he had touched.
: : "Clean everything," Jerico called out to the others, who had already stepped out. "We can't afford to have fingerprints. They'll trace us."
: : They didn't move for a while. "Well?!" Jerico said, his voice a little harsh.
: : "Okay, okay," Indy said, taking out his handkerchief. "Sheesh, Jerico. How come you've become so hot-tempered all of a sudden?"
: : "You don't want to know," Jerico mumbled. "Now start cleaning up. We got a plane to catch."
: : Shrugging, they got back in and started eliminating any proof of their having ever been there. In a few minutes, they'd finished. Meg gave the car a last check, locked the doors and ran after her companions, who'd walked over to one of the huge garbage bins in the parking lot.
: : "We have to get rid of our guns", Indy said. Short nodded agreeing. There was no way they could get through the metal detectors at the airport with them.
: : Glancing about them and making sure no one was watching them, Indy, Meg and Short Round disposed of their weapons in the bin. Ruefully, Indy shrugged as he threw in his MP-5. "I'm gonna miss that gun."
: : Meg gave him a wink and teased him that they were going to get him a new one.
: : "Aren't you going to throw away your pieces, too?" inquired Short Round, who observed that Indiana Jerico still hadn't thrown away his guns.
: : Jerico didn't answer. "Are you all ready?"
: : "Yeah, let's go," Indy answered
: : Soon, their footsteps echoed in the half-empty airport arrival and departure area. Jerico noticed a man in a black tux approach him. He motioned to the others to go ahead, and that he would join them at the gates. Calmly, he stalked in the same direction as the stranger who handed him the silver-colored briefcase. Jerico took it without a word, not even bothering to watch the stranger walk away. Expressionless, Jerico halted by a dimly lit part of the airport and opened the briefcase, took out his guns, and put them in a secret compartment in the suitcase that was x-ray proof. He then joined his companions again.
: : They entered the airport lounge. Jerico put the briefcase onto the conveyor belt, and it passed through the detector. 
: : It was then that Meg spotted Goodsport on the opposite side, walking toward the exit to the field. Together with him was an old man with an eyepatch. It looked like they were about to board their plane.
: : "Goodsport!" Meg shouted. The others glanced to where she was pointing.
: : Goodsport turned around, evidently surprised at hearing his own name. Then he recognized Meg and the others, who were now swiflty walking towards him. Something was clearly amiss.
: : "Where's Aragorn?" Jerico questioned, and then realized that Goodsport was asking him the same question..
: : Goodsport raised his eyebrow inquiringly. So did Jerico.
: : "I thought he was with you!" Goodsport and Jerico asked again in unison.
: : Now they knew something was certainly NOT right. They both spoke up ...again at the same time. "Something's not right."
: : "Stop it!" Jerico and Goodsport said to each other. This time Jerico closed his eyes, placing a hand on his hips.
: : "Okay, okay," Goodsport said. "You go first."
: : "Where are you going?" Indy finally asked, having had enough of this dramatical display.
: : "This is the flight to Chicago," Goodsport said. 
: : "Chicago?" Indy asked. "That's where we're heading to!"
: : "Uh-uh...not anymore," Jerico shook his head, nodding to them to follow him to a less conspicuous place by the airport windows. Outside, it was dark as a bat. 
: : Mystified, they faced him, demanding an explanation.
: : Goodsport lent the old man an apologetic look and shrugged noncomittedly.

: : - - -

: : Jerico paused, staring at a spot on the floor. When he had their full attention, he looked up and met their curious stares "I'm fed up with hopping into places, having no idea what we are about to do or what has really happened. It's about time I get to know what is going on. I suggest we go to Washington DC."
: : "Washington DC???" Short Round asked, obviously puzzled. "What is there?"
: : "The Agency's Main HQ?" Indy supplied, not getting the point much himself. Jerico nodded and turned to Goodsport. "Where's the card I gave you?"
: : "Here," Goodsport said, handing him the American Express card. "What about our tickets?"
: : "Refund 'em. I do it all the time!" Henry spoke up, chuckling.
: : Three surprised heads turned in his direction. As if for the first time, they noticed the old man with the eyepatch standing silently and patiently behind Goodsport. 
: : "Who's he?" Meg arched a carefully plucked eyebrow.
: : Grinning, Goodsport pointed over his shoulder. "Oh, him. I forgot to introduce you folks to... Errr... this is Henry Jones."
: : The old man nodded in acknowledgment to the others, not hiding his amusement.
: : "Wow!" Short Round exclaimed. "He's got the same name as Indiana Jones! Too bad he's not a 'Jr.' "
: : "Uhh," Goodsport said. "In fact, he is. An archaeologist, too."
: : Openmouthed, Short Round gawked at the old man, as if seeing his hero for the first time. "Indy?"
: : Puzzled Indy eyed Shorty. "Huh?"
: : "Aww... not you!" Shorty declared and pointed, "Him!"
: : Indiana Jones chuckled and ruffled Short Round's hair. "Well, at least somebody believes in me. What's your name, kid?"
: : "Short Round!" Shorty answered enthusiastically. He didn't know specifically why, but he seemed to know that there was something special about this old man.
: : "Short Round!?" Indiana Jones exclaimed, laughing. His wrinkled face seemed to become younger when he smiled. "I can still remember the boy who got the same name a long time ago. One hell of a kid, too."
: : "Really?" Short Round asked, entranced.
: : "Yeah, well," Jerico interrupted. "Hate to break up this Kodak moment, but time's running out. We'll have the introductions on the plane, okay?" He turned to Goodsport. "What's he doing here, anyway?"
: : "You won't believe this, Jerico," Goodsport said. "But he found this!" He held out the spearhead. Then realizing that he should not divulge too much knowledge of the spearhead without giving his identity away, he added. "He... uhm...said that it's the key to Valinor!"
: : Jerico, Meg and Indy looked at the spearhead in astonishment. "The ...Aztec Spear!"
: : "ThÈoden's Spear," Jerico said. "One of the keys to Valinor!"
: : Goodsport secretly looked at Meg in surprise. How did he know?, his eyes seemed to ask. Meg nodded at him, as if to tell him that she would explain later.
: : "He found it in the book," Goodsport said. "It's been with us all along!"
: : "I knew you're real!" Shorty reveled in glee, looking adoringly at Indiana Jones. "See? He found out! This is the Indiana Jones, you numbskulls!"
: : Meg just smiled and ruffled Short Round's hair. "Whatever you say, Shorty," she said in consolation. Kids, she thought, how I wish I had their belief and imagination.
: : "You're okay, old man!" Indy said. "Nice name, too. You really live up to your namesake, considering your age."
: : "How old are you, anyway?" Meg inquired.
: : "Just turned one hundred last July first, young lady," Indiana Jones answered. 
: : The others looked at each other questioningly. The same thought passed their minds: Delusional tendencies. The only one who didn't have any doubt written on his face was Short Round. He believed.
: : "Okay," Jerico finally said. "I'm going to change our tickets to the late night flight. You can all stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can."
: : "I'll go with you," Meg said, starting to walk towards him.
: : "NO!" barked Jerico, his voice harsh. "Stay here." 
: : "ButÖ" Meg started to say. 
: : "Look, Meg," Jerico said, looking at her straight in the eyes. "Last thing I need is for someone to slow me down. JustÖstay with Indy, will ya?"
: : Meg clearly looked hurt. Her pretty eyes narrowed. She swallowed hard, trying to remain composed. She turned her back on him and walked away without uttering a word. Jerico sighed. Before his guilt could make him run after her and apologize, he quickly stalked into the opposite direction, towards the ticket counters.

: :  - - -

: : AragornÖ
: : He shifted uncomfortably.
: : Middle-earth needed you, and you were thereÖ
: : He groaned a little in his sleep.
: : Valinor needs you nowÖ where are you?
: : He mumbled. "Gandalf?"
: : The Dark Enemy is back, Aragorn. And he has his dark Eye set on you. Remember the Third Age, Aragorn.
: : "Imaginations," he mumbled in his sleep. "Tolkien's imaginationsÖnot realÖMiddle-earthÖ. ValinorÖ"
: : You know in your heart it is real, Aragorn. You have lived again. And Valinor now needs you. Lady Arwen Evenstar held her trust in you, just as I do now. They need you, son of Arathorn, now reborn.
: : His breath became ragged. He twisted in his sleep. "NoÖ.confusedÖ.."
: : Choose your path, son of Arathorn, now reborn. Go with Faramir in arms, or go with the Dark One.
: : "FaramirÖ.?" he mumbled.
: : Faramir lives, Aragorn. You have met him. Search your heart. Faramir was with you, in your time in Middle-earth, and he is with you now, though you recognize him as someone else.
: : "FaramirÖ.my stewardÖ"
: : Aye, Elfstone, steward he was, but not anymore. Now, Faramir is with you not as the Steward of Gondor, but as the friend of Aragorn.
: : "WhoÖisÖÖFaramirÖ.?"
: : You know him, Aragorn. Friend has he been to you since you joined him five years past, in your lifetime. You know who he is, son of Arathorn, now reborn.
: : One thought flashed in his mind. "JericoÖ"
: : Go with Faramir, Aragorn, or else the world will feel the darkness that Middle-earth had gone through in the Third Age.
: : "GandalfÖdon't goÖÖhelp meÖ.."
: : My time has ended when the Third Age ended, son of Arathorn. I go with Celeborn and Galadriel and Frodo and Bilbo to Valinor. And now, we need your help. Choose wisely, son of Arathorn. Darkness is seen in the future.
: : Aragorn screamed, but it was in his sleep. Then his mind drifted back as it turned black, and he slept in unease.

: : - - -

: : Jerico took a seat on the plane, choosing a place a few aisles away from the others. He needed time to think; to do that, he needed to be alone. Since this was the late flight to Washington, there weren't very many passengers. And, try as he might to deny it, there was another reason.
: : "Vodka or martini?" the pretty stewardess asked Jerico, interrupting his thoughts.
: : "Hmm?" Jerico muttered. "Oh, uhhÖno. Black coffee, please, if you have one."
: : The stewardess smiled in acknowledgment. "Yes, of course." she poured him a steaming cup, smiled again and went to assist the other passengers.
: : Jerico took a sip of the brew, then opened the briefcase and took out the bunch of classified papers. They were a report of what had happened that day. Everything was taken into account. Micah sure is thorough. He browsed over the mass of papers and rubbed his eyes. Right now, he didn't feel like reading anything. Neatly, he sorted the papers back into the briefcase and shoved it back into the compartment above him.
: : Jerico rested his face in his hands. Fleetingly, he glanced where the others were sitting. There was Goodsport. Behind him, Short Round's mouth was hanging open, his eyes sparkling to a tale the old man was telling him. The orange juice lay untouched in his chair tray. The old man had black coffee, which he occasionally sipped between his ramblings.
: : Indiana Jerico's gaze went back to Goodsport, who was reading a Time magazine, trying to ignore the woman beside him who clearly was having a hard time in catching his attention with her futile attempts of batting her eyes and sending her seatmate flirtatious looks. Jerico found himself grinning. But his smile soon faded as he observed Indy seated several feet away from him. And beside him, of course, was Meg. Their heads close together, they were laughing at something that must have been quite amusing....
: : He turned away and tried to focus his attention on the darkness outside his window. Silently, he stared at nothing. Into the starsÖ as long as it was away from them.

: : - - -

: : The Man with the Hat stumbled again, for the fifth time this night. He had managed to find a scarf, which he had used as a bandage for his wound, although he was still losing blood. He had to get to a doctor, and quick.
: : The hotel, he thought. I have to get to the hotel!
: : Then, realizing he needed something to cover his bloodied clothes so as not to attract attention, he ambled to the side street and waited. Presently, he saw a man in a trenchcoat pass by him. Without warning, The Man with the Hat gave him a chop on the base of the neck. The man fell, unconscious. The Man with the Hat took his trenchcoat and mumbled an apology.
: : He hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to take him to his hotel. They sped off.
: : The Man with the Hat rested his head on the back seat of the car. He tried to think of what to do next. His mission was definitely not going right. He needed to contact his group and tell them of the recent happenings. But first, he needed medical attention. 
: : Presently, the driver stopped the car in front of the hotel. The Man with the Hat paid the fare and told the driver to keep the change. He walked, unsteadily, to the desk.
: : "Good evening," the man behind the desk said in Polish. "Are you all right?"
: : "I got mugged and shot," The Man with the Hat answered. "But it just grazed me. Do you have any doctor in the hotel?"
: : The manager looked at the Man with the Hat's pale face. "Oh, yes. It looks serious."
: : The Man with the Hat grinned, trying to make his wound look light. In reality, his head was spinning. "Oh, no. It's not that seriousÖ just a graze. Please, I don't want to cause any alarm or panic here, that's why I discreetly asked if you have a doctor. The other patrons would be quite alarmed at seeing a bloodied man, don't you think?"
: : The manager's eyes widened. "Oh dear, yes! We can't have that. I will call an able physician immediately! But please, could you do it in your room, so as not to alarm the others?"
: : "I would be grateful," The Man with the Hat answered. "I'm in Room 766."
: : "766," the manager repeated.
: : "Thank you," The Man with the Hat replied. He walked to the elevator and pressed the number of his floor. He was sweating now, and he kept seeing spots in front of his eyes.
: : Finally, the door opened and he ambled into his room. He lay down in his bed and waited.
: : A few minutes later, there was a knock. The Man with the Hat stood up and opened the door. It was the doctor.

: : - - -

: : "I was so glad when I found out you were going to be my C.O., Meg," Indy leaned over to push a strand of her hair back over her ear. 
: : "Really, is that a fact?" Meg grinned back.
: : "Uhm, yeah." Indy said, giving her one of his devilish looks.
: : "It doesn't intimidate you or anything?" Meg asked. "I mean, your C.O. being a woman and everything."
: : "Hell no!" Indy grinned. "Just as long as that woman is you."
: : Meg's laugh floated over the seats, but it was a little strained. "If I knew any better Indy, I could've sworn that you were hitting on your C.O."
: : "Swear it!" Indy grinned, looking into her eyes. "It's true."
: : Meg punched him lightly in the arm. "Kidder."
: : Indy laid back and took a deep breath. "AhhhÖ.this is the life. Flying first class, seeing some action, and having a beautiful lady by my side." He grinned at Meg and winked. "What more could a guy want?"
: : "Stop being sweet, Indy," Meg said. "I'd bet you said that to every girl you see."
: : "Uhm, no," Indy said. "I mean, it's not every time that I get to fly first class, save the world, and have the girl by my side."
: : "Oh?" Meg asked, flattered.
: : "Yeah," Indy beamed. "Usually, I only have the girl by my side!"
: : They laughed.
: : "Sorry, Indy, you're charming," Meg sighed. "But right now, my mind's still on work. This is my first big case, and I don't intend to blow this up. Business first, before pleasure."
: : "Well," Indy said reassuringly. "You don't have to worry about that. When it comes to mixing business with pleasure, I'm on the top of the class."
: : "I don't recall learning that in the academy." Meg remarked dryly.
: : "They don't teach you that in the academy," Indy said. "It's only for, uhh ...men. Ever wonder how James Bond managed to have a babe and a gun at the same time?"
: : The laughed again. She looked back at where Jerico was sitting a few seats back. She caught him turning away. Meg suddenly felt uncomfortable.

: :  - - -

: : The treatment took about an hour. Fortunately, the bullet just passed through. The Man in the Hat had lost a considerable amount of blood and the doctor insisted that he be admitted to the hospital. He ostensibly refused. Seeing as there's nothing more he could do, the doctor went away.
: : He lay in his bed, with his eyes closed. All he needed was a little rest and a little food, and he'd be all set. But before that, he needed to make a call.
: : He got the phone and dialed a number. He gave the operator a number, and the operator patched him through. Then, he waited as a second operator took his call. He supplied the password. A few minutes later, a man answered on the other line.
: : "Yeah," the voice asked. It was low and monotone.
: : "They tried to kill me!" The Man with the Hat said. "Did they know I was planted???"
: : "No, Mitos," the voice said, calling him by his group name. "They do not. And the key?"
: : "I didn't get the Ring," The Man with the Hat said, breathing heavily. "She woke up before I could get it off her."
: : "You could've killed her, Mitos and taken away the key," the voice said. "Why didn't you?"
: : "I am not a murderer, Krede," The Man with the Hat said. "Not anymore. I refuse to bring myself down to their level."
: : "We staged an assassination attempt on one of their men," Krede answered. "A woman, actually. But she lived. You might know her as the one they call Deirdre."
: : "What???" The Man with the Hat exclaimed. "She ordered me shot, Krede! Just a little while ago! Damn it. What if they knew? What if they already know?!"
: : "They won't," Krede answered. "And don't worry. They do not."
: : "What are we going to do?" The Man with the Hat asked. "The Vanguards already have the other key."
: : "That only leaves one unaccounted for," Krede said. "As for what we are going to do, MitosÖ you are not going to do anything. Stay there, and as of now, you are off the case."
: : "ButÖKrede! IÖ!" The Man with the Hat said.
: : "Good day, Mitos." Krede said. And the line went dead.
: : The Man with the Hat held the phone in his hands for a while. Then, his jaw tightened. "I'll be damned if I'll stay!"
: : He started to lie down and, after a few moments, he slept.

: : -----

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