ADULT: Meeting Of Minds - Part 26 of 26
Dana Short (DanaShort@aol.com)
Thu, 24 Jun 2004 03:30:10 EDT
Sorry for the numerous delays of late. It is to avoid this from here=20
on out that Act 3, which is almost a separate story in it's own right=20
in a way, will not be released until it is complete. As of today,=20
most of Chapter 27, parts of Chapter 28, quite a bit of Chapter 29,=20
and all of the final chapter (probably 34) is done. The rest, it but=20
a dream, or perhaps, a nightmare, depending on the perspective. Once=20
more, many thanks to those who have helped me via Alpha, Beta, or=20
Proof reading this beast. This story would be but a pale, unreadable=20
shadow of itself without your efforts.
Dana=E2=80=A6=20
This story may be considered PG-13 due to both the situation, and=20
the occasional use of profanity (Chapter 11) when a char was upset.
Please direct flames/comments to DanaShort@aol.com=20
Please note the story title in the subject line, or your message will=20
be lost to my SPAM filter.
Legal Disclaimer: See first post, or visit the URL below for full=20
disclaimer. Just let it be known I don't own this universe.=20
Archive only according to rules mentioned in full disclaimer.=20
I hope you enjoy the story.=20
Fully formatted text of Acts I and II will be available at:=20
http://www.DanaShort.com/HL-MOM.htm
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Chapter Twenty Six=20
A Golden State
The RV acted as a moving island in the swirling river of night time=20
traffic as it made its way down the freeway and into the Greater Los=20
Angeles area.
Adam, currently at the wheel, followed Sue's occasional directions as=20
they headed towards the coast.
"Are you sure you want to head straight to the airport?" Sue asked=20
again, "I have plenty of room for everyone. It is a big house, with=20
three empty guest rooms."
"Yes, Sue. Trust me, the quicker Sally and I can get to the Tribunal,=20
the quicker we can get this whole situation resolved. And Cassandra=20
is really looking forward to catching up with Duncan."
"Yeah, but can we even make it to the airport in this thing in time=20
to get you three on the 11:30 flight?" Sue asked, looking out her=20
side window and catching a glimpse of her Geo bouncing along behind=20
on its trailer.
"If you can get me to the airport, we should be fine." Adam replied,=20
changing lanes to pass a slowly moving truck, one which apparently=20
actually believed in the 55 mph speed limit advertised by the white=20
signs every few miles along the road.
Once past the truck, Adam returned himself to the second lane in,=20
where his relatively slow 60 mph progress wouldn't impede the faster=20
cars constantly whizzing by on the left, and occasionally on the=20
right as well. The slower moving truck dwindled in the rear and was=20
replaced by a blue Cooper, which came up behind the Geo on its=20
trailer and decided to honk at it.
Cassandra hung up Adam's phone, and came up to hang between the front=20
seats as she told Adam, "Ok, we've got tickets. The last two they had=20
in First Class, and one for myself in coach."
"Alliance?" asked Adam.
"Yes. 11:10pm departure, gate 12. Currently still on-time."
"Good, I like their beers." Adam replied.
"Take the 110 up here," Sue advised, "West."
Adam followed her directions, while he asked Cassandra, "You said=20
Sally and I are up in front, with you in coach, why?"
"Couple of reasons, first, with that bump on her head this afternoon,=20
she really shouldn't be left alone. Second, with the two of you=20
together, you can get started on strategizing how you're going to get=20
Sue's neck here off the chopping block, so to speak."
Sue looked over her shoulder and saw Adam nodding as he=20
answered, "Yes, that is a good idea."=20
Sue felt a flush of emotions as she noted the protective expression=20
on Adam's face.
Once Adam was on-track for the airport, Sue got up and made her way=20
to the back of the RV. Sally was sitting at the dinette, facing=20
forward, holding the side of her head. "Vampires. Who woulda thought=20
thea were nae jus' fiction?"
"I wouldn't of thought them possible if I hadn't seen them go 'poof'=20
myself when they lost their heads." Sue replied, "Speaking of which,=20
how's yours?"
"I took some Aspirin, and drank that infernal Rescue Remedy you gave=20
me. The pain is fading." Sally answered with a slight move of her=20
shoulders that was more wince than shrug. "I didn't get a chance to=20
say it before, but I am really glad you four were there. An' that you=20
took care of them."
"Four?", Sue asked.
"I'm a Watcher, lass. I may not of picked up on it right away, but I=20
know why ye resigned. An' I have my suspicions 'bout Adam. I think=20
he's older than he looks, a lot older. But that isn't any o' my=20
problem. My job is ta watch my 'mmortal, an' keep her chronicle. I=20
hope I can revise it a bit before I die though. Let Adam know that in=20
a few years, in case I don't get a chance to. For now, as you yanks=20
say, I'll let sleeping dogs lie," she finished with a sideways glance=20
at the coyote laying on the floor in front of the door well.
"I don't know what to say," Sue said, a flush rising to her face.
"Don't say a thing, because the less you say, the less I have ta=20
pretend not ta hear. I just wanted you ta know, is all."
Sue couldn't respond to that verbally, so she did the only thing she=20
could, and gave the redhead a solid hug. "I hope you come sometime=20
and visit me." She said, letting go.=20
"Probably. An' probably wi' Cassandra, if I know my 'mmortal." Sally=20
responded with a grin.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
As they approached the airport, Adam worried a bit about getting such=20
a large vehicle in, especially with the car on the trailer behind it.
"I don't think there are any restrictions, Adam. The only problem I=20
see is parking, but if we just pull up and everyone gets out, Patrick=20
can take the wheel and orbit while you get checked in. I can go in=20
with you, just to make sure you get through security all right, and=20
then I'll go back out, and wave Patrick down the next time he comes=20
by."
Plan decided upon, Adam deftly maneuvered the RV through the airport=20
traffic, until he got to terminal seven. He then slid over to the=20
right, and double parked beside a row of cars disgorging passengers.=20
Leaving the engine running, he slid from behind the wheel, and moved=20
over to let Patrick take his place.=20
Cassandra and Sue had moved Sally's, Adam's, and Cassandra's bags=20
into the kitchen, and placed them on the floor. Cassandra had taken=20
special care to pack her sword, and unseen by Sally, Adam's much=20
larger bastard sword into the golf bag she normally used to check her=20
weapon. Adam looked at his coat worriedly for a moment, before=20
Cassandra lifted it off the bed and tossed it forward to him,=20
saying, "See me in Seacouver."
Adam nodded as he bent to pick up the golf bag. "This is heavy", he=20
said, lifting the load.
"Yeah, but it works. I keep a case in there for the swords, of which=20
I normally carry three, my regular one and two spares, just in case,"=20
she explained.
Adam nodded, and slinging the bag over one shoulder awkwardly, bent=20
to lift his own duffel, which was lighter than usual when he was at=20
an airport. He nodded, and said simply, "Thanks."
Sue had already opened the door and was lifting out Sally's case and=20
heading for the terminal as a traffic officer started strolling=20
over. "You'll have to move that thing, it's blocking access to the=20
loading zone," He called.
Sue stopped, and turned to look at the RV behind her. Adam had=20
already exited, as had Cassandra. Sally was the last one out, and she=20
gently closed the door of the RV, as the coyote looked out after=20
them, his tail wagging like he thought he was a dog.
"It'll be gone in a moment, just dropping some folks off. I hope its=20
ok if it stops in a while to pick me back up, I promise it won't take=20
but a moment for me to get inside."
The officer shook his head and replied, "Double parking like that is=20
illegal here, Miss. But considering that it would take five or six=20
car lengths to park it legally, I'll let it slide this time. But you=20
really shouldn't use an RV to drop off passengers, and you aren't=20
supposed to board vehicles on this level at all. Next time, use a=20
car, drop everyone off up here, and have them go downstairs to pick=20
you back up, if you have to go in for some reason. You know you can't=20
go to the departure gates any more, right?"
Sue nodded, and said, "I just want to make sure they get through=20
security in time to make their flight, then I am heading home. We=20
just returned from a long trip, and time is tight."
The officer grinned, and replied, "Then you'd better get moving,=20
hadn't you?"
Sue turned, and saw that Sally, Cassandra, and Adam were all waiting=20
for her in front of the doors into the terminal. With a grin, she=20
answered the officer, "I suppose so. Thanks for making an exception=20
for me. I promise we won't get in your hair again."
With that she turned to the terminal and followed the three travelers=20
inside.
Cassandra made her way straight to the First Class check-in counter,=20
waving for Sally, Adam, and Sue to follow her.
"Hello. Thanks for flying Alliance Airlines. Where are you four=20
traveling this evening?" the girl at the counter asked with a plastic=20
smile. Behind her was a doorway leading to some sort of back room,=20
in which several people could be seen standing around with drinks and=20
cookies in their hands.
Cassandra returned a natural smile for its forced counterpart, and=20
replied, "Just three of us, actually, and Seacouver. Cassandra=20
Woods. I was booked in just a while ago, we barely made it here in=20
time. Hopefully it won't be a problem, but only two of the tickets=20
are really in First Class, but all three are in my name."
The airline employee's plastic smile slipped a bit at that, "I'm=20
sorry Ms. Woods, but this counter is only for first class check-ins.=20
Your other person will have to wait in that line over there," she=20
said, pointing at the long line waiting for the other three=20
attendants.
Cassandra looked at her, and asked, "I see. Will they be able to=20
check in without me?"
The attendant shook her head, her smile back to its sterile=20
artificiality, "I'm afraid not, but I will have you checked in long=20
before they can get to the front of the line."
Cassandra looked back at the line then asked, "And if I wait in that=20
line, what are the odds of my making it on the Seacouver flight this=20
evening?"
The attendant punched some keys on her computer, then looked back=20
up, "I'm afraid not good, since once you get checked in, you still=20
have to go through security, and that can take over half an hour,=20
even at this time of night. Your flight boards in forty five minutes,=20
and leaves in a bit under an hour."
"And you are telling me that even though I have two First Class=20
tickets, that since I am traveling coach myself, that we all have to=20
check in through the regular window, which has over a half an hour=20
wait, while people are apparently partying in the room behind you. =20
Is that correct?"
The smile vanished for a full three seconds before returning in all=20
it's artificial glory, "What we do, or how we do it is no concern of=20
yours, Ms. Woods. Next time, I advise you to show up at least three=20
hours before your flight time, not just over an hour before your=20
departure."
Cassandra calmly nodded her head. "I hadn't even purchased the=20
tickets two hours ago. I suppose I should blame my travel agent. =20
Just to make sure, before I call her and raise a stink with both her=20
and her husband, Charles Waterman is still the CEO of Alliance?"
The plastic smile slipped again, as the woman nodded.
"Then you had better hope I can make it through that line and catch=20
my flight after I check my two first class passengers here in, hadn't=20
you Ms. Cunningham?" Cassandra said coldly, her own smile as extinct=20
as the dinosaurs.
"Are you threatening me, Ms Woods?" the attendant asked, her plastic=20
smile vanishing and being replaced by an entirely neutral expression=20
which looked every bit as false as the smile it had just replaced.
"No, I am not threatening a thing. But Charlie will hear from me if I=20
miss my flight, of that you can be certain," Cassandra=20
replied. "Especially if I miss it because his clerks were not doing=20
their jobs."
The attendant just looked back coldly and replied, "I see. Well, I=20
think I have had enough attitude from you, Miss. I am taking my break=20
now." The plastic smile returned, as she added, "Have a nice evening.=20
I think there is another flight to Seacouver leaving at 6 tomorrow=20
morning, if it's not full."
Cassandra nodded, then made her way to the rear of the regular check=20
in line, as the woman closed the First Class window and made her way=20
through a door in the back of the counter area an disappeared. Sue=20
watched as Cassandra calmly pulled out her cell phone, and placed a=20
call.
"Hello, Samantha? Yes, It's me, Cassandra. No, I'm at the airport.=20
Yes, I know what time it is. No, that's why I'm calling. Is Charlie=20
there? Thanks. Hi Charlie. Good to hear from you as well. Sorry to=20
disturb your breakfast. Yes, I'm sorry my call this morning to=20
Samantha woke you up. No, that's part of why I called. What? No, I'm=20
at LAX. Well, there are only three windows open. Yes, I know what=20
time it is, but I am sure you have at least eight or nine people back=20
there from what I could hear. No, I'm not sure, but I do know that if=20
I don't get checked in right now I and my party will miss the flight.=20
No, I don't want you to hold the flight, I know how much of a hassle=20
that is. What then, I would like you to light a fire under your=20
people's behinds. Especially one Miss Wanda Cunningham. No, Cunning,=20
as in smart, but in her case, the ham must of canceled it. Yes. She=20
was the attendant at the first class window, who decided to take a=20
break instead of check me in after telling me I would have to miss my=20
flight. That would be so kind. Thanks, Charles."
The smile was back as Cassandra hung up the phone. Sue looked at her=20
and asked, "Did you just call the CEO of the airline, and ask him to=20
chew out that bitch?"
Cassandra's grin widened, and she replied, "His wife is a friend of=20
mine, and has been my travel agent since before they were married.=20
She still books all my flights and most of my hotels. She was the one=20
I called this morning, and I specifically asked her not to bump=20
anyone from First Class just for me. She would have though. Charlie=20
just offered to hold the whole plane for me. Such a sweet man."
Abut that time, attendants began to come pouring out of the back=20
room, opening windows up and down the counter, until all but the=20
First Class window was open. As the line started moving at a=20
reasonable pace, Cassandra looked for a specific face, but failed to=20
find it.
A few moments later, some older gentleman's head poked out, and he=20
scanned the waiting line of people. Spotting Cassandra and her group=20
at the end of the regular check in line, his head disappeared back=20
through the door like a groundhog through his hole. He re-emerged=20
several moments later, escorting Ms. Cunningham around from behind=20
the counter, and past the waiting people to Cassandra and her waiting=20
group.
"Mrs. Woods?" he asked, plaintively.
As Cassandra nodded, Ms. Cunningham's face went three shades paler,=20
until it looked more appropriate for a corpse, or considering the=20
painted appearance of her lips and eyes, perhaps a manikin.=20
"I'm George Hemming, third shift manager. We just got a conference=20
call from the vice president of operations, and Mr. Waterman, our=20
CEO. They were both quite imperative that you and your party make the=20
eleven-ten flight to Seacouver." The gentleman explained.
Cassandra looked at him and nodded her head. "Yes?" she asked.
"Well, if you and your party would accompany me back to the First=20
Class window, I'll check you in, and then escort you through security=20
to the gate. For some reason Mr. Waterman was quite insistent that we=20
don't have to hold the plane. He said that if you didn't make it for=20
an on-time departure, that the explanation I am going to have to give=20
on man-hour allocation and customer satisfaction would be the least=20
of my concerns. While I am not exactly sure what that meant, I am=20
rather certain that it is something I would rather avoid," the man=20
replied, gesturing towards the vacant window.
Cassandra looked at him as she shook her head sadly. "I'm afraid that=20
the woman working that window told me I had to wait in the regular=20
line. I would hate to disobey an airline employee, and I am afraid I=20
simply can't bring myself to skip ahead of all these other people=20
unfairly, nor will I be willing to bypass the line for security. If=20
your operation is being run so inefficiently that it takes more than=20
an hour to get from the terminal door to the departure gate, then=20
that is something that Charlie needs to know. If he doesn't, then he=20
is doing a disservice to all his customers. They shouldn't have to=20
come to the airport three hours before their flight just to wait in=20
lines."
Mr. Hemming looked at his watch, then back at the line of customers=20
still waiting in front of Cassandra, then over at the Security line=20
as well. "I'm afraid I can't do much about the delay caused by the=20
TSA. I can backdoor VIPs to bypass the line, but I can't make them=20
move any faster than they do, they are a government agency, after=20
all."
Cassandra nodded her head, and agreed, "Very well. I'll let=20
you 'backdoor' me as you put it, but I will wait here like all the=20
other passengers. Some of them might also be planning on taking that=20
flight to Seacouver. I really would suggest you open the First Class=20
window to general passengers, and try to clear out your backlog as=20
fast as possible, then once that is done, your people can resume=20
taking their breaks, but it would be a good idea for them to refrain=20
from doing it all at once. I am afraid that after my phone call this=20
evening, that Charlie will probably be taking a closer look at the=20
way things are run here."
Mr. Hemming again looked at his watch before heading back towards the=20
First Class window, Ms. Cunningham following meekly in his wake. Once=20
back behind the counter, he set Ms. Cunningham back to work at her=20
own window, and proceeded to make his way up and down the line of=20
attendants, swooping in to speed things along wherever they looked to=20
be bogging down, and occasionally glancing at his watch.
It was only another fifteen minutes later, and a meer twenty minutes=20
before departure time, when Cassandra finally made it to the front of=20
the line. Hemming, seeing her position, made his way to the attendant=20
who was just finishing up a check-in, and waved her over personally,=20
again glancing worriedly at his watch to check the time.
"Welcome to Alliance Airlines," the harried young man at the counter=20
said as she approached, throwing a worried glance over his shoulder=20
at the manager hovering behind him. "Where are you traveling this=20
evening?"
Cassandra replied, "Seacouver. Three tickets, all in my name."
The young man's glance took in Sue, Adam, Sally, and Cassandra, and=20
he asked, "Will there be four passengers? I think that flight is sold=20
out."
Cassandra smiled back at him and replied, "No, just the three. Sue is=20
just here to make sure we get off ok. She was worried about the time."
At that, Mr. Hemming flushed and looked at his watch again worriedly.
The young man proceeded to check Cassandra, Adam, and Sally in, and=20
issued them boarding passes. As he took their bags, he commented, "I=20
don't know if these will make it on the flight. Guaranteed baggage=20
cutoff is thirty minutes before boarding, and that was over forty=20
minutes ago.
Hemming broke in saying, "Don't worry Ms. Woods, they'll make it.=20
I'll walk them over myself. I will personally guarantee that your=20
bags will be on your flight."
Cassandra nodded at that, and taking her boarding pass, turned away=20
to get in the line for Security.
Mr. Hemming ran around the counter and caught up with her before she=20
had made it even a quarter of the way. "Here, let me walk you up to=20
the checkpoint and ask them to backdoor you through."
Cassandra looked at her own watch, then at the line of people snaking=20
out into the terminal, and finally acquiesced. "Ok. This one time."=20
Looking over at Adam and Sally, she said, "Let's go people, we've got=20
a plane to catch."=20
A look of relief spread across Hemming's face as he lead them past=20
the waiting line of passengers and took them strait to an unoccupied=20
security station. He waved at one of the TSA men who set down his=20
coffee and came over, "Yeah, George?" the man asked.
"Sal, could you run these folks through VIP? They are trying to catch=20
the eleven-ten to Seacouver," Hemming explained.
The TSA man looked at his own watch, then at the group of passengers,=20
then at Hemming's desperate face. Seeing something there decided him,=20
and he nodded. "Right this way folks," he said, gesturing towards=20
another station.
Sue gave Sally, then Adam, and finally Cassandra a hug, then stood=20
there watching them pass one at a time through the scanner.
She turned away from the security station for a moment and saw=20
Hemming rushing back to the counter, probably to "personally" carry=20
their bags to the plane. Somehow, she knew that he'd get them there.=20
Not that it would do all that much damage control for his job. But it=20
might be enough to save it. Depending on that manpower presentation=20
he gave.
Sue waved again as Adam, Cassandra, and Sally headed away from the=20
security checkpoint towards their gate, vanishing into the crowd=20
beyond.
With a sigh, she turned away, and started to make her way past the=20
ticket counters towards the entrance, so she could catch Patrick as=20
he made his next pass through the airport.
It had been an exhausting day, with the pre-dawn start for the=20
ceremony, through the long drive the rest of the way here to L.A.,=20
including the brief fight with the Vampires in Sunnydale.
She was looking forward to getting back to her house, and finally=20
getting settled down in her own bed, and getting some much needed=20
sleep.
Tomorrow would be soon enough to start worrying about what to do=20
about the watchers, and Patrick, and that coyote which seemed to have=20
adopted them.
As she was walking past the ticket counter, she felt the brush of=20
another Quickening across her mind.
Looking around, she tried to spot the Immortal, hopefully before he=20
spotted her.
Not seeing anyone looking, she tried to use one of Cassandra's=20
tricks, closing her eyes and focusing on the feel of the Quickening,=20
to identify the direction, and possibly distance it was from her.
She felt an odd twisting, apparently as it moved, and she was pretty=20
sure it was getting stronger as well. Somewhere to her left, towards=20
the doors. If she turned around, and headed back towards the security=20
booths, she should be fine. She was feeling naked without her coat,=20
and its concealed katana. The plastic bowie knife under her blouse=20
seemed little consolation.
It was definitely moving, and moving towards her. If the other=20
Immortal hadn't sensed her yet, she was sure they would soon.
Opening her eyes, she started to turn away, when she spotted an older=20
looking gentleman, his hair a stark white, yet his face relatively=20
unlined, suddenly stop in his tracks and start looking around.
The man seemed to spot her immediately, and his face light with=20
recognition. Sue however was sure she had never seen the man before=20
in her life.
He waved at her and called out, "Julie!"
Sue hoped he was waving at someone behind her, as she turned and made=20
her way back up the walk, towards the checkpoint and the stairs. She=20
thought if she passed the checkpoint she might be able to get out on=20
the other side of the terminal. It was either that or face some=20
unknown Immortal.
Just as she was passing the checkpoint, preparing to dive into the=20
crowd on the other side, a hand settled roughly on her=20
shoulder. "Janet, stop," a harsh voice hissed, with a faint German=20
accent.
The hand spun her around, to face the white haired man, a harsh=20
expression now darkening his face. "You have changed, come into your=20
legacy, I can feel it. You must come with me, and tell me how this=20
happened."
Sue tried to wiggle free, the pain from her shoulder making her wince=20
in agony. "Let me go, whoever you are. I don't want to fight you,=20
especially not here."
The man laughed almost contemptuously as he replied, "Fight me,=20
child, you couldn't fight a jewden. What makes you think you could=20
ever fight me! You should know better. What ever tricks you may think=20
you have learned in the last year, they are nothing to what I know.=20
You would lose your pretty head in an instant, and that would be a=20
waste, considering how much time and effort I put into creating it."
Sue pulled away from him again, finally breaking his grasp, and=20
taking several steps back. "I don't know you, I've never seen you=20
before in my life, and I have no idea what you are talking about.=20
Just leave me alone. I just want to go home."
"Very well, Julie. We will go home. I still have your room for you,=20
ya? You will not argue with me or make a scene, and we will go home=20
now?"
Sue felt her heart skip a beat. Whoever this man was, he thought he=20
knew her, and wanted to take her to his house. Apparently he expected=20
her to meekly follow along, wherever he led. "Uh, no, I won't make a=20
scene. I just want to go, ok?"
He nodded gravely and then replied, "Very well, you will walk in=20
front. Slowly, back the way we came. We will go out side, and Buck=20
will take us home, ok? I will get Myra's tickets later."
"Um, ok. I'll walk outside with you." Sue agreed, her eyes darting=20
around. She could try to get the attention of the security guys, but=20
considering the metal-detector proof knife she had strapped to her=20
back, official intervention in a security conscious airport didn't=20
seem the best idea at the moment. She would just have to play along,=20
and see what happened.
"Go ahead, Julie. You remember Buck's car, yes?" the man said,=20
roughly shoving her back, his hand almost brushing against the halter=20
holding the bowie knife.
Sue started walking back the way she had come, keeping her eyes open=20
for anything she could use to her advantage. Hoping against hope for=20
a large luggage cart, or some other type of obstacle she could use to=20
put some distance, and possibly confusion between herself and the mad=20
man behind her so she could escape.
Before she knew it, the doors were coming up, and she was nudged=20
outside by a hand on her shoulder.=20
She looked up and down the line of parked cars, hoping against hope=20
to see the RV there, or even the friendly traffic cop, but there was=20
nothing. Then she spotted it, moving in from the Loop, and pulling up=20
to a stop with its side door almost opposite her, on the other side=20
of the line of waiting cars.
"Vhere eis he!" the man behind her hissed, "I tolt him to vait!"
Sue looked again, trying to find some way to distract him long enough=20
for her to make the dash the few feet to the RV. She was sure Patrick=20
had felt the other Immortal's quickening as he drove up, but she=20
hadn't felt Patrick's, so she was equally sure the man behind her=20
hadn't either.
An idea sprung to the front of her mind, and she suddenly pointed=20
towards the back of the row of cars, as though spotting=20
someone, "Isn't that him there? Perhaps the police made him move."=20
Stepping out between the pair of cars which were sandwiched between=20
the RV and the curb, as though to get a better look, Sue pointed back=20
and said, "That looks like him, doesn't it?"
The man behind her turned to look for himself, unconcerned she may=20
try to escape with her path blocked securely by the cars on either=20
side and the white RV in front of her. As his eyes followed her hand=20
down the line of cars, she took the chance, and leapt for the door,=20
yanking on the latch, and dragging it open so hard the side banged=20
into the back of the car on her right.
Leaping through the door and slamming it closed behind her, she=20
yelled, "Patrick, get OUT of here!"
She was thrown against the side of the steps as Patrick hit the gas,=20
the RV lurching forward. Through the side window, she could see the=20
man leaping after her, and heard him bang off the rear of the RV as=20
it pulled out into the airport traffic.
Sue climbed the steps, and made her way to the bedroom in the back,=20
where she could see the man climbing to his feet and gesturing=20
frantically at the departing RV, then reaching into his coat to pull=20
out a cell phone and jab angrily at it's keys.
Sue lost sight of him as the RV swung on around the loop, heading=20
towards the Aviation exit, and the 405 beyond.
Turning back towards the front, she came up and flopped into the=20
passenger seat across from Patrick, taking an odd comfort from the=20
bowie knife digging painfully into her back as her heart slowed it's=20
frantic pace.
By the time they had made it up Aviation to make their right turn to=20
catch the South-bound 405 towards Torrance, she was almost entirely=20
recovered. Softly she told Patrick that Sally, Cassandra, and Adam=20
were on their way on the flight to Seacouver, and how Cassandra's=20
call to her travel agent managed to get them through on time. Then=20
she told him about the encounter with the madman in the=20
terminal. "Thank god you showed up when you did! I don't know what=20
would of happened if it had been his friend out there instead of=20
you." Sue concluded.
"Heh, I was just orbiting like you told me, I saw you come out, and=20
pulled in, thinking the timing was perfect. First thing I knew there=20
was a problem was when I felt his Quickening as I was pulling up. I=20
didn't think it was yours, or rather Eadgils's, 'cause it wasn't=20
strong enough, and it was too strong for you, so I knew someone was=20
around. And I could see he was kind of watching you, so I thought=20
something might be up. I was trying to figure out if it would be=20
better for me to get up and get out, or stay at the wheel, when you=20
banged the door and yelled at me to go."=20
Sue smiled at him, as they pulled onto the freeway, and headed=20
towards the Crenshaw exit a few miles away. "You did good, Patrick.=20
Really good." She replied, proceeding to give him directions to her=20
childhood home.
Neither one noticed the small black BMW following a few cars behind,=20
even as they exited the freeway on Redondo, and headed towards the=20
college, and Sue's house a few blocks beyond.=20
They didn't notice as it drove slowly past the branch into the cul-de-
sac on Delia, stopping back on Cherry, where it still had a good view=20
of the RV as it pulled to a stop in front of the driveway at the end,=20
before the two story brown house, with the back yard fronting on the=20
concrete riverbed. Sue's house, with the upstairs bedroom with it's=20
sky blue walls, covered with posters, and the large tree growing just=20
outside it's window in the back yard.=20
Neither of them noticed the bald headed young man talking excitedly=20
into his cell phone as they climbed out of the RV, and Sue used her=20
keys to finally open the door to the place she had been heading, ever=20
since she first woke up after that rainy night in Georgia, a scant=20
week before.=20
And neither of then noticed as the driver got out, then used a small=20
digital camera to snap pictures illuminated only by the cloud hazed=20
moon and the surrounding streetlights of the RV where it was parked=20
in front of the house, the Geo on it's trailer behind it, or the two=20
tired people making their way inside the darkened building. Neither=20
one of them noticed a thing.
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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Act 2 Afterward
--------------------------
Hello readers.
When I started this story, nine odd months ago, I had a simple plot=20
in mind. To show what happened when two distinct personalities got=20
tossed into one head, and how the individual to whom that happened=20
came to cope and adjust to the situation.
The venue for that plot was to be my protagonist's journey home,=20
which was to take several weeks of time, and probably ten chapters of=20
story. Yep, ten chapters. Something went very wrong with my plans. I=20
know right when the story diverged from my original concept. Sue, or=20
rather, Eadgils, was sitting in an Arby's, watching a rowdy bunch of=20
kids at the counter. Then Patrick came along.
Some people said I kept killing poor Patrick for way too long.=20
Perhaps. But it was only for four days. It just seems longer than=20
that when you keep dying.
At this point, Sue has been Immortal for just a bit under a week. And=20
I've passed the 110,000 word mark on the story. And those ten=20
chapters? I just finished up chapter 26. And some of those 26=20
chapters were big enough that they ought to count double. Three of=20
them, to be exact. So one could reasonably say I have gone three=20
times as far as I had intended. And still have at least as much story=20
left to write as I had planned to write in the first place. How so?=20
By my current outline, the final special effects laden conclusion to=20
the story, which is already written, by the way, is numbered as 33.=20
It is followed by an epilogue, much as Chapter 1 was preceded by a=20
prologue. I like logues apparently. In any case, assuming I can stick=20
to that, then I should have a story of about 150,000 words, more or=20
less. Certainly a good sized novel.=20
Plot wise, well, Sue has made it home already. Now what? Well, in the=20
intervening months, I learned that even as the writer of the story my=20
characters can surprise me. Patrick came entirely from left field. I=20
had never intended for Sally to know about Sue being an Immortal.=20
When she told Sue she knew that last night in the RV, I was probably=20
more shocked than anyone. The guy in the airport was not as much of a=20
surprise to me though. As you will see in Act 3, the seeds for it=20
were planted way back in Chapter 1. Yes, that long ago. Granted, they=20
took a long time to come to fruition, most villains make their=20
appearance before the last third of a story. But in this case, Sue=20
was not around for him to menace before now. Now that she finally is,=20
he has a whole lot of catching up to do. Thus we come to the subtitle=20
for Act 3. While it's working title has varied, from "LA Plot" to=20
simply "Home", I think it's current incarnation, "Perils of Sue" is=20
most apt. For that will be what most of act 3 consists of. Perils, of=20
one sort or another, either from without, or from within, for Sue to=20
survive or endure.=20
It will be a while before I can give it to you. I have yet to finish=20
a single chapter, other than the actual last one, of Act 3. By my=20
best guess, it will be some time near September, about one year from=20
when I started this story, when it will be done. For now I leave you=20
with the consolation that Sue is finally at home. Asleep, in her own=20
bed.=20
I leave you with the image of her sleeping peacefully, in an upstairs=20
room with sky blue walls, covered with boy-band posters from the=20
90's, along with various other posters and pictures of interest to=20
the teenaged Sue who so decorated them. The air in the room has a=20
slight damp fresh rain smell, and a faint sound of running water can=20
barely be heard from outside.
A large tree sits vigil outside her window, swaying gently in the=20
night time breeze, as a soft rain patters gently against the slightly=20
open window. Rainwater rushes by in the riverbed behind her house,=20
disappearing down the channel under the Camino College parking lot.=20
Patrick is asleep in one of the guest rooms somewhere, probably=20
downstairs.
And in the living room, on the carpet before the fireplace, where a=20
dimly glowing bed of coals marks the remnants of a once roaring fire,=20
the coyote keeps a silent watch, his golden eyes seeming to glow in=20
the near darkness. He knows what is coming. Ask the Indians, they can=20
tell you. Coyote knows the future, and if he offers you a warning,=20
you should follow it, or you will face the consequences. Coyote=20
knows.=20
Dana Short
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