Chapters 1-8 of Tessa and The Stranger in the Plane (typos-corrected)

Posted by Goodsport from 216.32.185.198 on July 21, 1999 at 11:21:09:

In Reply to: Chapters 1-8 of Tessa and The Stranger in the Plane (Revised) posted by Goodsport on July 21, 1999 at 07:11:06:

Sorry about all the typos in the last chapter... here it is again. :)

: : -----

: : Chapter 1 [The Trip] (written by Deirdre)

: : Tessa is sitting in the plane bound for Poland when a lone figure of a very, very masculine stature walks up to their aisle and asked in his husky polish accent:
: : "Es zis seat taken, Madam?"
: : And Tessa looks up and meets dark brooding dark-blue eyes and for a moment is at loss for words, then she remembers she is married with kids and replies:
: : "Oi believ' so."
: : And the stranger sits down beside her...then...

: : -----

: : Chapter 2 [Mystery Man] (written by Goodsport)

: : Tessa gazed at the man sitting next to her. "Do you really talk like that?", she asked.
: : "No, not really," the man smiled, "I just wanted to get your reaction."
: : After sharing a laugh, Tessa wondered, "Have we met?"
: : Shifting in his seat, the man replied, "Well, kind of. It's me, Goodsport... from the Indyfan forum."
: : "Oh," Tessa retorted in shock, , "it's... uh... nice to meet you."
: : The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the stewardess. "Can I get you two anything?"
: : "I'm fine," replied Goodsport, as he stood up, "I'll be right back."
: : As the man headed to the restroom, Tessa noticed what looked like a wallet fall from his back pocket. By the time Tessa picked it up, the man was out of sight. Noticing a white piece of plastic sticking out of the wallet, Tessa pulled it out and read it.
: : Looking at what turned out to be the man's driver's license, Tessa gasped as she discovered the name on the driver's license was not Goodsport, but instead The Man with The Hat.

: : -----

: : Chapter 3 [Disaster in the Sky] (written by Indiana James Lambert)

: : Just as soon as the man opened the washroom door, the other washroom door gently creaks open. An adolescent male steps out, wearing partial Indy garb. He pulls his fedora brim down, down low so no one can get a good look at him. He walks quickly down the aisle passing Tessa, who is still in a state of shock over the past incidents. She notices the fedora-clad young man walking briskly past her. For some reason his mannerism seems vaguely familar. He is Indiana James. He walks out of her vision and into first class seats. And then into the pilots cockpit.
: : "What are you doing here? Get back into your seat please." The co-pilot says with a little annoyance.
: : "Not today."
: : James pulls something from his pocket. It's a gas canister!
: : "What are you doing you'll kill us all!!" The pilot screams in vain as James pulls the switch. Gas sifts out gently and the pilots fall into a graceful sleep. James holds a mask to his face and sits in the pilot's seat. He positions the craft on a nose-dive into the ocean. Meanwhile he puts on a parachute and grabs a rubber inflatable raft. He hears the screams of the passengers as he falls gently from the sky. The plane slams into the ocean.
: : There are no survivors... or are there?

: : -----

: : Chapter 4 [Retribution] (written by Goodsport)

: : As Indiana James inflated his raft, he slid out of the water and watched with glee as the passengers were flailing their arms and legs in the cold North Atlantic water.
: : "This is so cool!", he thought aloud as he prepared his rifle.
: : Indiana James quickly aimed at the head of Tessa, swimming in the water.
: : He aimed.
: : He pressed the safety switch off.
: : The sky above him darkened completely.
: : Indiana James shot his head up barely in time to see the plane's wing land right on top of him and his raft, the water's wake creating a tidal wave that swept through the passengers a good distance away.
: : "Everyone, to the wing!" Tessa alerted the passengers, as they all safely made it out of the water and onto the drifting wing.
: : Once everyone was on board (except Indiana James, of course), Tessa sought out The Man with the Hat. Upon finding him, she angrily questioned, "What the hell is this all about, Man with the Hat?!?"
: : "Huh?", The Man with the Hat replied, already knowing that his cover was blown, "how did you know I wasn't Goodsport?"
: : Tessa flashed his driver's license in front of his face.
: : The Man with the Hat was dejected. "Oh. Well..."

: : - - -

: : Waking up in the darkness, Goodsport carefully stood up.
: : "What the..." he thought as he opened the closet door to the airport.
: : Checking to see that he was in one piece, especially since the last thing he remembered was getting hit in the head from behind as he was rushing to catch the connecting flight from SFO to O'Hare, Goodsport saw that he wasn't too badly hurt.
: : "Oh man," Goodsport realized, looking at his watch, "I missed my flight to Chicago. But who hit me?"
: : Goodsport turned around quickly as he heard a voice behind him asking for his name.

: : -----

: : Chapter 5 [The Meeting] (written by Indiana Jerico & Tessa's husband)

: : "Goodpsort, I presume?" a voice asked.
: : Instinctively, Goodsport turned around and assumed a self-defense stance.
: : "Hey, I wouldn't do that if I were you," the young man said.
: : Goodsport took this time to observe the man. He was about 20 years of age, with tanned skin and lean built. His hair was raven-black. His eyes dark brown. A mole was on his nose, as well as on his left upper cheek. Upon closer inspection, there is one on his chin as well. He looked Asian. He was wearing a dark overcoat, a black shirt and black Levi's jeans. The only thing not black about his apparel was his CAT shoes. He was grinning.
: : "Who are you?" Goodsport asked warily, his eyes slitting.
: : "Indiana Jerico", the young man replied. He extended out his hand in greeting. Goodsport looked at it warily and then, shook it.
: : "I was told to meet someone of your description in the airport," Indiana Jerico said. "I just didn't expect you to be lying in there. It seems that someone beat me to you." He grinned. "No pun intended."
: :"Yeah," Goosport replied, touching the back of his head. It was still sore. "Couldn't imagine why, as nothing was taken from me."
: : "I do," Indiana Jerico replied. "They're trying to get to her."
: : "Her?" Goodsport asked.
: : "Yeah, her," Indiana Jerico replied. By now, they were walking towards the airport waiting room. "Tessa. Of the Indyfan Forum."
: : "The Indyfan Forum!" Goodsport exclaimed. "So that's why your name sounds familiar! What...what's going on? What do those guys want? The ones who knocked me out, that is."
: : "Your identity," Indiana Jerico answered. "For some days now, the group I was working in has been monitoring the Indyfan Forum. We have reason to believe that our number one enemy has been posting in the Forum."
: : "Your group???" Goosdport asked.
: : "Yes. I work with some of the members of the Forum. You might know them. Aragorn, Brett Lambert, Nick Kismet, Walker. There are others, but they're on the higher ups."
: : "Exactly what is going on???" Goodpsort asked.
: : Indiana Jerico sighs. "Let's sit down, and I will explain what you need to know."
: : They found a seat and sat down. Indiana Jerico was talking in a hushed voice.
: : "We have been after a particular group for sometime now, involved in terrorism activities. We have information which points out that these group are using the Indyfan.com to lay low for awhile..."
: : "Wait wait," Goosposrt interrupted. "Are you saying that Indyfan.com is a big cover-up???"
: : "No," Indiana Jerico answered. "And if you'll let me finish, I'll clear it up!"
: : "Sorry," Goodsport mumbled.
: : "Anyway, as I was saying, this group has been using Indyfan.com to mask their activities. We don't know what they've been up to, but lately, they seemed to have begun an operation. An operation so pressing that some members went so far as to show themselves up. Clearly, they're anxious."
: : "Operation?" Goodsport asked.
: : "The Forum novels," Indiana Jerico said. "Apparently, Tessa unknowingly stumbled on their plans through her Forum novels. She doesn't know this but..."
: : "Her life's in grave danger!" Goodsport suddenly realized.
: : "Yes," Indiana Jerico finished, his face serious. "And we're here to see that nothing happens to her."

: : - - -

: : "Now, why the hell did you pretend to be Goodsport?" Tessa demanded.
: : The Man With The Hat stared to reply when Tessa saw the plane sinking fast. She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a small pack.
: : "What's that?" The Man With The Hat asked.
: : Tessa ignored him and pulled a string, inflated the pack, which turned out to be a lifeboat. The Man With The Hat stared and said, "You always have that with you?"
: : "You should see what's in my purse," she smirked and she jumped in the raft, "Coming?"
: : The Man With The Hat joined her in the raft as she rumaged in her purse. She pulled out a gun as The Man With The Hat said, "Don't kill me!"
: : "What are you psycho or something?" she pointed the gun in the air and then they heard the faraway sound of ship horns coming towards them.

: : -----

:
: : Chapter 6 [The New Shadow] (written by Aragorn)

: : The ship drew nearer, ever slow and steady upon the water. Yet slower was the raft of the Man With The Hat and Tessa, and soon it was known by both of them, that they might soon be overcome. Who was on the ship? It could never be known by either of them. Only time might spill the secret, and so it would, as they silently sat and watched. At last it came into view, and they saw.
: : There it was, looking at them curiously from above. A strange bearded face, a long beard reaching downward from it, white and fair as snow, peared downward; a tall, white hat stood upon his head, and a staff was held in his hand. A shining ring shone on his finger, it's inset stone gleaming in the light of even that terrible fog.
: : The Man in the Hat and Tessa waved to the strange man of the ship in greeting; though old he appeared to be, in the length of his beard and the wisdom that might have been imagined through his eyes, there was a strength and deep awareness about him that they could neither ever explain. He could help them; that much they knew, and they thankfully waited for the raft to draw closer.
: : "Who are you?" The Man in the Hat asked the bearded man, when he and Tessa stood at last comfortably upon the deck of the ship. They had climbed the length of the white-clad man's staff, which had brought them swiftly again to their feet.
: : "I am Mithrandir, also known as Gandalf, the White Wizard, friend of Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor."
: : "Aragorn... yes, Aragorn." They spoke to him. "That noble name so gently whispered upon and over the threads of the Forum. We know him well."
: : "Then you are fortunate;" the White Wizard told them. "There isn't much time. Darkness has overclouded the land, in defiance of all the prophesies of my great Age of long ago, the Third. We must speak quietly, even here upon my fair white ship, for the ears of the enemy might be listening. I am now bound for the land of Valinor. You might accept the task I was going to give you, if you choose."
: : "Task?" Tessa asked him. "What might it be?"
: : Gandalf turned to her, his face lined and gravely set. "Aragorn lives again, and it is he that the darkness desires. For reasons I do not know, terrible things will happen if it is allowed to reach him. He must be led from his home, and brought to the safety of the Undying lands of Valinor. Bring him here, to my ship, and all will be righted. The darkness cannot survive without him."
: : "Bring him here?!" The Man in the Hat exclaimed. "You're a wizard yourself, Sir Gandalf. Can't it be done by you yourself?"
: : "Nay, sadly, it cannot." Gandalf straightened his tall hat and shook his head. "My day and age is over, as I have said already. This is a matter for the children of earth, now and today. I will await you here, my swan-boat hanging within the sea and mists of time and immortality, and await you, if you choose to rescue Aragorn."
: : "Wait not long," Tessa told him. "We shall return with your friend."

: :-----

: : Chapter 7 ["Why haven't you KILLED her yet?!?"] (written by Deirdre)

: : Indiana James Lambert(who had endured the accident in Chapter 4--but not without some minor injuries; a head wound and a broken left thumb) bowed his head avoiding the heated stare of the oriental young woman, dressed in a beautifullly hand-crafted sarong, standing before him."I- I... tried my best."he muttered.
: : "Well your best just wasn't good enough!"the woman, who couldn't be more than 22, who but stood a mere 5'5", was glaring at James in anger. If she hadn't been so angered, James thought, she would actually look attractive. Her dark brown hair was dark, smooth and almost reached to her waist. Even her almond-shaped eyes were of a dark brown, yet her exotic asian features were hidden behind ill-fitting spectacles.
: : "James," she continued and walked over to the window of the penthouse on top of Asia's tallest skyscraper,"See to it that she and her little friends are illiminated."
: : He looked up startled,"But...DEIRDRE! That wasn't part of the plan!"
: : Her back is turned to him, as she is passively staring out of the glass window, cradling her white siamese cat in her arms."Please,"her sarcastic voice sends a shiver over his back, "You don't want to end up like the late agent Jim Carib, do you?"

: :-----

: Chapter 8 [The Quest Begins] (written by Goodsport)

: After parting company with Gandolf on his white swan-boat, both Tessa and The Man with the Hat hopped onto their raft and began sailing off.
: "Listen," Tessa suddenly remembered, "you still haven't told me why you were impersonating Goodsport."
: "Let's worry about that later," answered The Man with the Hat, "where did Gandalf tell us look for Aragorn?"
: Tessa pondered for a minute. "I'm not sure, but we were supposed to take him to Valinor... I think."
: The Man with the Hat pulled out his pocket map of the world. "I can't seem to find it anywhere on this map."
: "Oh no!" Tessa shrieked, "We forgot to ask him!"
: As they turned around to see the ship, however, they noticed that they were all alone in the wide ocean.
: In frustration, Tessa shoved her hand into her pocket, but was surprised to feel an unfamiliar object. As she pulled it out, she observed that it was a gold ring.
: The Man in the Hat looked equally surprised. "Where'd you get that?"
: Tessa shrugged her shoulders. She examined the ring. Her eyes widened to see an inscription inside the ring.
: " 'To The Fairest, My Pretty' ", Tessa read. She glanced at The Man with The Hat, who only answered back with a shrug.

: - - -

: "I've got tickets for Poland," Indiana Jerico revealed to Goodsport, "I believe that's where Tessa was headed."
: "All right," Goodsport agreed, rubbing his still-sore neck, "I'll be back in a second."
: Entering the restroom, Goodsport poured cold water from the faucet on his neck, washing away what little of dried blood that was left, his somewhat tanned skin barely hiding the fact that there was still a bruise. It made him feel a little better, but he still felt beat up.
: "Goodsport, you've had better days!" Goodsport told himself quietly, his hazel eyes staring at the image of himself he was facing, the toll of the previous few hours making him look a little older than his 27 years.
: As Goodsport was brushing back his previously messed up dirty-blond hair, Indiana Jerico rushed into the restroom.
: "Uh, we have a problem!" Indiana Jerico exclaimed, "the flight's leaving in 15 minutes, and it's at Gate 13!"
: Goodsport grinned at him. "What? A little superstitious, are we?"
: "It's not that," retorted Indiana Jerico, "Gate 13 is on the other side of the airport."
: "Oh," Goodsport sighed, "follow me, then!"
: They rushed out of the restroom and outside to the thick Bay Area fog. Goodsport led Indiana Jerico to a blue car with a driver inside.
: "Where to, Dr. Jones?" the driver asked Goodsport in a mock-Asian accent.
: "Short Round, there's no time for that now," Goodsport replied hastily, "We need to get to Gate 13 now!"
: "Okay, calm down dude," Short Round said in his normal voice, "Hop in."
: The two hopped in, and the car screeched into motion.

: - - -

: Deirdre led Indiana James to the door, where a limousine awaited him.
: "Now that's style!" Indiana James admired.
: "Make sure you don't mess up again!" snapped Deirdre, "Or next time it'll be a hearse!"
: She handed him an envelope, that Indiana James discovered was filled with an airline ticket to Poland.
: "Poland?!?" Indiana James wondered aloud, "And what exactly am I supposed to find there... besides Tessa, that is?"
: Deirdre stared directly into his eyes as she answered, "The way to Valinor!"

: -----

: Who wants to contribute Chapter 9? :)

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: Sorry about all the typos in the last chapter... here it is again.  :)

: : : -----

: : : Chapter 1 [The Trip] (written by Deirdre)

: : : Tessa is sitting in the plane bound for Poland when a lone figure of a very, very masculine stature walks up to their aisle and asked in his husky polish accent:
: : : "Es zis seat taken, Madam?"
: : : And Tessa looks up and meets dark brooding dark-blue eyes and for a moment is at loss for words, then she remembers she is married with kids and replies:
: : : "Oi believ' so."
: : : And the stranger sits down beside her...then...

: : : -----

: : : Chapter 2 [Mystery Man] (written by Goodsport)

: : : Tessa gazed at the man sitting next to her. "Do you really talk like that?", she asked.
: : : "No, not really," the man smiled, "I just wanted to get your reaction."
: : : After sharing a laugh, Tessa wondered, "Have we met?"
: : : Shifting in his seat, the man replied, "Well, kind of. It's me, Goodsport... from the Indyfan forum."
: : : "Oh," Tessa retorted in shock, , "it's... uh... nice to meet you."
: : : The conversation was suddenly interrupted by the stewardess. "Can I get you two anything?"
: : : "I'm fine," replied Goodsport, as he stood up, "I'll be right back."
: : : As the man headed to the restroom, Tessa noticed what looked like a wallet fall from his back pocket. By the time Tessa picked it up, the man was out of sight.  Noticing a white piece of plastic sticking out of the wallet, Tessa pulled it out and read it.
: : : Looking at what turned out to be the man's driver's license, Tessa gasped as she discovered the name on the driver's license was not Goodsport, but instead The Man with The Hat.

: : : -----

: : : Chapter 3 [Disaster in the Sky] (written by Indiana James Lambert)

: : : Just as soon as the man opened the washroom door, the other washroom door gently creaks open. An adolescent male steps out, wearing partial Indy garb. He pulls his fedora brim down, down low so no one can get a good look at him. He walks quickly down the aisle passing Tessa, who is still in a state of shock over the past incidents. She notices the fedora-clad young man walking briskly past her. For some reason his mannerism seems vaguely familar. He is Indiana James. He walks out of her vision and into first class seats. And then into the pilots cockpit.
: : : "What are you doing here? Get back into your seat please." The co-pilot says with a little annoyance.
: : : "Not today."
: : : James pulls something from his pocket. It's a gas canister!
: : : "What are you doing you'll kill us all!!" The pilot screams in vain as James pulls the switch. Gas sifts out gently and the pilots fall into a graceful sleep. James holds a mask to his face and sits in the pilot's seat. He positions the craft on a nose-dive into the ocean. Meanwhile he puts on a parachute and grabs a rubber inflatable raft. He hears the screams of the passengers as he falls gently from the sky. The plane slams into the ocean.
: : : There are no survivors... or are there?

: : : -----

: : : Chapter 4 [Retribution] (written by Goodsport)

: : : As Indiana James inflated his raft, he slid out of the water and watched with glee as the passengers were flailing their arms and legs in the cold North Atlantic water.
: : : "This is so cool!", he thought aloud as he prepared his rifle.
: : : Indiana James quickly aimed at the head of Tessa, swimming in the water.
: : : He aimed.
: : : He pressed the safety switch off.
: : : The sky above him darkened completely.
: : : Indiana James shot his head up barely in time to see the plane's wing land right on top of him and his raft, the water's wake creating a tidal wave that swept through the passengers a good distance away.
: : : "Everyone, to the wing!" Tessa alerted the passengers, as they all safely made it out of the water and onto the drifting wing.
: : : Once everyone was on board (except Indiana James, of course), Tessa sought out The Man with the Hat. Upon finding him, she angrily questioned, "What the hell is this all about, Man with the Hat?!?"
: : : "Huh?", The Man with the Hat replied, already knowing that his cover was blown, "how did you know I wasn't Goodsport?"
: : : Tessa flashed his driver's license in front of his face.
: : : The Man with the Hat was dejected. "Oh. Well..."

: : : - - -

: : : Waking up in the darkness, Goodsport carefully stood up.
: : : "What the..." he thought as he opened the closet door to the airport.
: : : Checking to see that he was in one piece, especially since the last thing he remembered was getting hit in the head from behind as he was rushing to catch the connecting flight from SFO to O'Hare, Goodsport saw that he wasn't too badly hurt.
: : : "Oh man," Goodsport realized, looking at his watch, "I missed my flight to Chicago. But who hit me?"
: : : Goodsport turned around quickly as he heard a voice behind him asking for his name.

: : : -----

: : : Chapter 5 [The Meeting] (written by Indiana Jerico & Tessa's husband)

: : : "Goodpsort, I presume?" a voice asked.
: : : Instinctively, Goodsport turned around and assumed a self-defense stance.
: : : "Hey, I wouldn't do that if I were you," the young man said.
: : : Goodsport took this time to observe the man. He was about 20 years of age, with tanned skin and lean built. His hair was raven-black. His eyes dark brown. A mole was on his nose, as well as on his left upper cheek. Upon closer inspection, there is one on his chin as well. He looked Asian. He was wearing a dark overcoat, a black shirt and black Levi's jeans. The only thing not black about his apparel was his CAT shoes. He was grinning.
: : : "Who are you?" Goodsport asked warily, his eyes slitting.
: : : "Indiana Jerico", the young man replied. He extended out his hand in greeting. Goodsport looked at it warily and then, shook it.
: : : "I was told to meet someone of your description in the airport," Indiana Jerico said. "I just didn't expect you to be lying in there. It seems that someone beat me to you." He grinned. "No pun intended."
: : :"Yeah," Goosport replied, touching the back of his head. It was still sore. "Couldn't imagine why, as nothing was taken from me."
: : : "I do," Indiana Jerico replied. "They're trying to get to her."
: : : "Her?" Goodsport asked.
: : : "Yeah, her," Indiana Jerico replied. By now, they were walking towards the airport waiting room. "Tessa. Of the Indyfan Forum."
: : : "The Indyfan Forum!" Goodsport exclaimed. "So that's why your name sounds familiar! What...what's going on? What do those guys want? The ones who knocked me out, that is."
: : : "Your identity," Indiana Jerico answered. "For some days now, the group I was working in has been monitoring the Indyfan Forum. We have reason to believe that our number one enemy has been posting in the Forum."
: : : "Your group???" Goosdport asked.
: : : "Yes. I work with some of the members of the Forum. You might know them. Aragorn, Brett Lambert, Nick Kismet, Walker. There are others, but they're on the higher ups."
: : : "Exactly what is going on???" Goodpsort asked.
: : : Indiana Jerico sighs. "Let's sit down, and I will explain what you need to know."
: : : They found a seat and sat down. Indiana Jerico was talking in a hushed voice.
: : : "We have been after a particular group for sometime now, involved in terrorism activities. We have information which points out that these group are using the Indyfan.com to lay low for awhile..."
: : : "Wait wait," Goosposrt interrupted. "Are you saying that Indyfan.com is a big cover-up???"
: : : "No," Indiana Jerico answered. "And if you'll let me finish, I'll clear it up!"
: : : "Sorry," Goodsport mumbled.
: : : "Anyway, as I was saying, this group has been using Indyfan.com to mask their activities. We don't know what they've been up to, but lately, they seemed to have begun an operation. An operation so pressing that some members went so far as to show themselves up. Clearly, they're anxious."
: : : "Operation?" Goodsport asked.
: : : "The Forum novels," Indiana Jerico said. "Apparently, Tessa unknowingly stumbled on their plans through her Forum novels. She doesn't know this but..."
: : : "Her life's in grave danger!" Goodsport suddenly realized.
: : : "Yes," Indiana Jerico finished, his face serious. "And we're here to see that nothing happens to her."

: : : - - -

: : : "Now, why the hell did you pretend to be Goodsport?" Tessa demanded.
: : : The Man With The Hat stared to reply when Tessa saw the plane sinking fast. She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a small pack.
: : : "What's that?" The Man With The Hat asked.
: : : Tessa ignored him and pulled a string, inflated the pack, which turned out to be a lifeboat. The Man With The Hat stared and said, "You always have that with you?"
: : : "You should see what's in my purse," she smirked and she jumped in the raft, "Coming?"
: : : The Man With The Hat joined her in the raft as she rumaged in her purse. She pulled out a gun as The Man With The Hat said, "Don't kill me!"
: : : "What are you psycho or something?" she pointed the gun in the air and then they heard the faraway sound of ship horns coming towards them.

: : : -----

: :  
: : : Chapter 6 [The New Shadow] (written by Aragorn)

: : : The ship drew nearer, ever slow and steady upon the water. Yet slower was the raft of the Man With The Hat and Tessa, and soon it was known by both of them, that they might soon be overcome. Who was on the ship? It could never be known by either of them. Only time might spill the secret, and so it would, as they silently sat and watched. At last it came into view, and they saw.
: : : There it was, looking at them curiously from above. A strange bearded face, a long beard reaching downward from it, white and fair as snow, peared downward; a tall, white hat stood upon his head, and a staff was held in his hand. A shining ring shone on his finger, it's inset stone gleaming in the light of even that terrible fog.
: : : The Man in the Hat and Tessa waved to the strange man of the ship in greeting; though old he appeared to be, in the length of his beard and the wisdom that might have been imagined through his eyes, there was a strength and deep awareness about him that they could neither ever explain. He could help them; that much they knew, and they thankfully waited for the raft to draw closer.
: : : "Who are you?" The Man in the Hat asked the bearded man, when he and Tessa stood at last comfortably upon the deck of the ship. They had climbed the length of the white-clad man's staff, which had brought them swiftly again to their feet.
: : : "I am Mithrandir, also known as Gandalf, the White Wizard, friend of Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor."
: : : "Aragorn... yes, Aragorn." They spoke to him. "That noble name so gently whispered upon and over the threads of the Forum. We know him well."
: : : "Then you are fortunate;" the White Wizard told them. "There isn't much time. Darkness has overclouded the land, in defiance of all the prophesies of my great Age of long ago, the Third. We must speak quietly, even here upon my fair white ship, for the ears of the enemy might be listening. I am now bound for the land of Valinor. You might accept the task I was going to give you, if you choose."
: : : "Task?" Tessa asked him. "What might it be?"
: : : Gandalf turned to her, his face lined and gravely set. "Aragorn lives again, and it is he that the darkness desires. For reasons I do not know, terrible things will happen if it is allowed to reach him. He must be led from his home, and brought to the safety of the Undying lands of Valinor. Bring him here, to my ship, and all will be righted. The darkness cannot survive without him."
: : : "Bring him here?!" The Man in the Hat exclaimed. "You're a wizard yourself, Sir Gandalf. Can't it be done by you yourself?"
: : : "Nay, sadly, it cannot." Gandalf straightened his tall hat and shook his head. "My day and age is over, as I have said already. This is a matter for the children of earth, now and today. I will await you here, my swan-boat hanging within the sea and mists of time and immortality, and await you, if you choose to rescue Aragorn."
: : : "Wait not long," Tessa told him. "We shall return with your friend."

: : :-----

: : : Chapter 7 ["Why haven't you KILLED her yet?!?"] (written by Deirdre)

: : : Indiana James Lambert(who had endured the accident in Chapter 4--but not without some minor injuries; a head wound and a broken left thumb) bowed his head avoiding the heated stare of the oriental young woman, dressed in a beautifullly hand-crafted sarong, standing before him."I- I... tried my best."he muttered.
: : : "Well your best just wasn't good enough!"the woman, who couldn't be more than 22, who but stood a mere 5'5", was glaring at James in anger. If she hadn't been so angered, James thought, she would actually look attractive. Her dark brown hair was dark, smooth and almost reached to her waist. Even her almond-shaped eyes were of a dark brown, yet her exotic asian features were hidden behind ill-fitting spectacles.
: : : "James," she continued and walked over to the window of the penthouse on top of Asia's tallest skyscraper,"See to it that she and her little friends are illiminated."
: : : He looked up startled,"But...DEIRDRE! That wasn't part of the plan!"
: : : Her back is turned to him, as she is passively staring out of the glass window, cradling her white siamese cat in her arms."Please,"her sarcastic voice sends a shiver over his back, "You don't want to end up like the late agent Jim Carib, do you?"

: : :-----

: : Chapter 8 [The Quest Begins] (written by Goodsport)

: : After parting company with Gandolf on his white swan-boat, both Tessa and The Man with the Hat hopped onto their raft and began sailing off.
: : "Listen," Tessa suddenly remembered, "you still haven't told me why you were impersonating Goodsport."
: : "Let's worry about that later," answered The Man with the Hat, "where did Gandalf tell us look for Aragorn?"
: : Tessa pondered for a minute.  "I'm not sure, but we were supposed to take him to Valinor... I think."
: : The Man with the Hat pulled out his pocket map of the world.  "I can't seem to find it anywhere on this map."
: : "Oh no!" Tessa shrieked, "We forgot to ask him!"
: : As they turned around to see the ship, however, they noticed that they were all alone in the wide ocean.
: : In frustration, Tessa shoved her hand into her pocket, but was surprised to feel an unfamiliar object.  As she pulled it out, she observed that it was a gold ring.
: : The Man in the Hat looked equally surprised.  "Where'd you get that?"
: : Tessa shrugged her shoulders.  She examined the ring.  Her eyes widened to see an inscription inside the ring.
: : " 'To The Fairest, My Pretty' ", Tessa read.  She glanced at The Man with The Hat, who only answered back with a shrug.

: : - - -

: : "I've got tickets for Poland," Indiana Jerico revealed to Goodsport, "I believe that's where Tessa was headed."
: : "All right," Goodsport agreed, rubbing his still-sore neck, "I'll be back in a second."
: : Entering the restroom, Goodsport poured cold water from the faucet on his neck, washing away what little of dried blood that was left, his somewhat tanned skin barely hiding the fact that there was still a bruise. It made him feel a little better, but he still felt beat up.
: : "Goodsport, you've had better days!" Goodsport told himself quietly, his hazel eyes staring at the image of himself he was facing, the toll of the previous few hours making him look a little older than his 27 years.
: : As Goodsport was brushing back his previously messed up dirty-blond hair, Indiana Jerico rushed into the restroom.
: : "Uh, we have a problem!" Indiana Jerico exclaimed, "the flight's leaving in 15 minutes, and it's at Gate 13!"
: : Goodsport grinned at him. "What? A little superstitious, are we?"
: : "It's not that," retorted Indiana Jerico, "Gate 13 is on the other side of the airport."
: : "Oh," Goodsport sighed, "follow me, then!"
: : They rushed out of the restroom and outside to the thick Bay Area fog. Goodsport led Indiana Jerico to a blue car with a driver inside.
: : "Where to, Dr. Jones?" the driver asked Goodsport in a mock-Asian accent.
: : "Short Round, there's no time for that now," Goodsport replied hastily, "We need to get to Gate 13 now!"
: : "Okay, calm down dude," Short Round said in his normal voice, "Hop in."
: : The two hopped in, and the car screeched into motion.

: : - - -

: : Deirdre led Indiana James to the door, where a limousine awaited him.
: : "Now that's style!" Indiana James admired.
: : "Make sure you don't mess up again!" snapped Deirdre, "Or next time it'll be a hearse!"
: : She handed him an envelope, that Indiana James discovered was filled with an airline ticket to Poland.
: : "Poland?!?" Indiana James wondered aloud, "And what exactly am I supposed to find there... besides Tessa, that is?"
: : Deirdre stared directly into his eyes as she answered, "The way to Valinor!"

: : -----

: : Who wants to contribute Chapter 9? :)

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