Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 18:38:13 -0400 (EDT) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 10 (end) Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id SAA24844 If anyone is missing any part of the story, e-mail me and I will send that piece to you. The passage from the bible is from the book of John, in the New Testament. I used the Light of the World bible, but it's around 20 years old, so some of the passage may differ. ~~~~ Chapter Twelve (New Los Angeles Community Hospital) Lucas hears someone clear their throat and looks up from his cup of luke-warm coffee. The doctor caring for Christi is a tall, middle-aged brunette, with dark oval eyes, framed by horned rimmed glasses. Lucas stands, and shakes hands with her. “How’s she doing?” he asks. The doctor sighs. “Well, she’s lost more blood than I really would have liked her to, and her wound was not cared for properly, but she should be fine,” she replies. Lucas nods. “Can I see her?” he asks. “Yes, but she’s asleep, so don’t wake her. She may be asleep for the next twenty four hours.” Lucas nods and follows the doctor to Christi’s room. The doctor leaves, and Lucas sighs. As he sits in a chair, he looks over at Christi and takes her hand, surprised at how cold it is. Christi’s left arm is bandaged, and there is an IV feeding blood and clear liquid into her right arm. His mind is flooded by images of Christi. Images of the many times he had been with her, and his thoughts are absorbed with his feelings for her. ‘How can I protect her? She’s so strong-willed that she tried to take on the whole UEO!’ Looking at her sleeping face, he thinks about how serene she looks, when only a few hours ago, she was all hell and fury. “Christi, when this is all over, we’re going to take a long overdue vacation together. Far away, where nothing and no one can bother us,” he whispers softly. His thoughts are interrupted by the doctor coming in. “What’s the clear liquid?” he asks. The doctor smiles. “Just sugar water pumped with vitamins and an antibiotic to fight off an infection.” Lucas looks up. “Infection?” he asks. The doctor nods. “A minor infection, caused by an old bullet.” Lucas nods. He stands. “I should see if Captain Hudson is here. Christi...I mean, Lieutenant Gorman, she’ll be monitored carefully, right?” he asks. The doctor nods. “She’ll be fine, Lieutenant. We have ten nurses in this wing. If anything happens, one will be here within seconds,” she replies. Lucas sighs with relief and walks to the waiting room, and sees Captain Hudson, the newly arrived Commander Ford, and a small security team waiting. “She’s asleep. She’s lost a lot of blood, but the doctor said that she should be fine.” Captain Hudson nods. “The Section Seven guy who shot her used an old bullet, and she has an infection.” Commander Ford speaks up, “We’ll move her to the boat as soon as the doctor here gives us the okay.” Lucas shakes his head. “She’s expected to sleep for at least the next twenty four hours, and she’ll want to go to Athena’s funeral.” Captain Hudson and Commander Ford both look confused. “Who’s Athena?” Captain Hudson asks for both of them. Lucas sits down. “Athena was Christi’s friend, and she was the leader of the Gothics in the New LA area. She was poisoned, and she died two days ago.” Commander Ford nods. Lucas stands. “I’m going back into her room,” he says. Captain Hudson stops him. “How do you feel about spending the night here, Lieutenant?” he asks. Lucas nods immediately. “I can do that, Captain, if you want me to,” he replies. Captain Hudson smiles slightly. “I’ll have them set up a cot for you in Lieutenant Gorman’s room. Keep me posted,” he says, and lets Lucas continue his walk to Christi’s hospital room. Chapter Thirteen For two days, Christi remains in a deep sleep, her body in need of rest and recovery. Lucas spends most of the two days at her bedside, reading and thinking about the vacation they’ll take when she is fully recovered. The hospital staff is attentive and look in on her frequently. On the morning of the third day, Lucas walks into Christi’s hospital room. Seeing her sitting there and reading a book, a smile immediately lights up his face. “Christi, you’re up! How are you feeling? I’ve been so worried! I’ve been sitting here for two days, watching you sleep. I just went out for breakfast, and here you are, sitting up and reading a book!” Christi looks up and puts the book down on a night table. “I guess two days of sleep restored a lot of my strength. I’m so glad you’re here.” “Where else do you think I would be?” Lucas replies. “You have Captain Hudson’s permission, don’t you?” Christi asks. “He practically ordered me to stay here, Christi! What are you reading?” he asks. “Red Badge of Courage. I woke up and found this on the nightstand.” Lucas chuckles. Christi raises an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?” she asks. Lucas shakes his head. “Captain Hudson is always giving that book out. I’m not surprised that he left it here.” Christi smiles and raises the back of her bed a bit more. “Where have I seen this situation before?” she asks herself. Lucas grimaces and looks down at his leg. “Don’t remind me,” he says, and kisses her hand. Christi moves her left arm a little. “Don’t worry, Lucas. We aren’t going through that again. But Lucas, tell me, what’s happening with the UEO? Is there any news on the generals?” she asks. Lucas nods. “You’ve created a pretty big uproar. The UEO admitted yesterday that O’Brien and Heller had been killing Gothics. They issued a public apology to the Gothics. The preliminaries for the trial started this morning. The prosecutors are the best lawyers in the UEO; the defence doesn’t stand a chance. They’re using the evidence you found, but you don’t need to testify. This hospital has been trying to keep a lot of your friends out of the room, since you’ve been asleep for so long.” Christi nods. “Well, I’m awake, so they should be allowed now,” she says. Lucas nods. A man dressed in black walks in, and sits down in a chair next to Lucas. Christi smiles. “Lucas, this is Darius; Darius, this is Lucas,” she introduces them. The two men shake hands, and Darius looks at Christi. “So, when you get out of here, you have to appoint a stand-in.” Christi shakes her head. “I already know who the stand-in will be. Darius, are you willing?” she asks. Darius’ eyes widen, but he nods emphatically. “Of course I am! Christi, this is a big honor...” Christi shakes her head. “Darius, you deserve it. How are you dealing with everything?” Darius shrugs. “I’m not. I don’t think that I can deal with it just yet. She was...the most important person in my life, and now she’s gone,” he replies. Christi nods. “I mean, I loved her so much that it hurt, and someone poisoned her; someone killed her!” Lucas looks over at him, to see tears in Darius’ eyes. ‘God, he really, really loved her. Christi, were they dating?’ he asks in his mind. Christi looks over at him. ‘They were lovers. Darius was going to propose to her, but she got sick before he could.’ Lucas nods almost imperceptibly. ‘I understand how he feels,’ he thinks. Christi’s eyebrows knit together. ‘What do you mean?’ she asks. Lucas smiles at her. ‘He’s feeling how I’d feel if I lost you,’ he replies. Christi smiles back, then sobers when Darius looks at her. “Her funeral is tomorrow. Can you come?” Christi nods. “I’ll be there.” “They’re holding it at the place where they held Michael’s funeral.” Christi nods, and Darius stands. “I will see you tomorrow, Christi. It was nice meeting you, Lucas,” he says, and leaves. Chapter Fourteen Christi stands and walks to the front of the room, her left arm in a sling. Behind her is Athena’s closed coffin. She clears her throat and begins to read. “A reading from the book of John. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in me. In my father’s house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? I am indeed going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be. You know the way that leads where I go. ‘Lord,’ said Thomas, ‘we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus told him: ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father also. From this point on you know him; you have seen him,’” she reads from a bible. She finishes, and walks back to her seat. Darius comes up to the front, and takes a piece of paper out of his pocket. “Athena Nethros was the leader of the Gothics in New Los Angeles, but she was more than that. She was a friend: a confidante, a lover, a sister. She was a kind, caring woman, and we shall never forget her. “She was my world. We spent two years together in New Los Angeles. I was about to ask her to be with me forever when she died. Oh God...” Darius trails off and gets choked up. “I’m sorry, I can’t...” He walks out of the room, choking back tears. Christi looks at Lucas, then gets up and goes after him. Darius walks over to a small bench, and sits on it. After a few moments, Christi arrives, and sits down. “I hope this seat isn’t taken,” she says. Darius shakes his head and turns to her. “Christi, this Lucas, is he your lover?” he asks. Christi nods. “Yes, Darius. He is my lover.” Darius nods and looks at her, his face stained with tears. “Don’t ever let him go, Christi. Don’t leave him, ever. It hurts too much when someone is taken away from you,” he says. Christi nods. “I know, Darius.” Darius shakes his head. “How am I going to live without her?” he asks. “She was my everything!” he shouts to the wind. “Do you hear that, God? You took away my everything! You took away my reason to live!” Christi places her right hand firmly on his shoulder. “Darius, you are never going to stop missing her, I know that. But you will learn to deal with it and not let her death overwhelm you to the point that you curse God every day of your life.” Darius sighs. “What will I do, Christi?” Christi shakes her head sadly. “I don’t know, Dare. I don’t know. But Darius, we have to go back in. We owe it to Athena, to say what has to be said so that she can rest in peace.” They return to the chapel, and Darius walks back up to the podium to complete his eulogy. After the funeral, back at the Gothic House, Darius is speaking with some of his fellow Gothics. Christi leaves the conversation and walks over to where Lucas is standing. “Is he going to be all right?” Lucas asks, as he wraps his arms around Christi, careful not to jostle her left arm. Christi shakes her head. “I hope so, but he’s taking her death very hard,” she replies. Lucas nods, and kisses her forehead, then lets go of her. “There’s a shuttle waiting for us at the dock. Captain Hudson said to be there by 1700. Where are your things?” he asks. “Upstairs. It will only take me a few minutes to go up and pack,” Christi replies. Lucas looks over at her. “Are you all right, Christi?” he asks. The right corner of Christi’s mouth pulls up in a half-smile. “Sometimes, Lucas, you have to go to hell and back to survive all of it. And I did. I survived it,” she replies. The End ~~~~~~ I ask for nothing but feedback. I want to know how you all liked it!! Please, _please_ send me feedback! ~*Artemis Neptune*~ Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 08:34:43 -0500 (EST) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 1a Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id HAA19831 Disclaimer for Characters: I own only the characters that you do not recognize from SeaQuest 2032. Lucas, Hudson, etc., all belong to guys in business suits with a lot more money than I have. Disclaimer for Content: Christi Gorman would not be Gothic if I didn't like Gothics, so I mean no offense to anyone related to that crowd. My Thanks to Alexia for editing my story twice, even though she was really tired, and to my mother, who helped me out with expansion, and didn't pull me away from the computer when I was on a roll. This story has been rated PG-13 for general content, subject matter, and violence content. Enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hell and Back Prologue It is a clear, balmy night in New Los Angeles. Twenty-five-year-old Athena Nethros, the leader of the Gothics in Hera, is walking with her boyfriend and lover, twenty-six year old Darius Armstrong. The two are dressed in very formal clothing; they have just come from a musical: ‘Rent.’ “So, Athena, what did you think of the show?” Darius asks, looking at her. Athena smiles and kisses his cheek. “I think that the show was wonderful, and that I want to get the CD at some point,” she replies. “It’s not what I usually listen to, but it’s very good. I keep singing ‘Seasons of Love’ in my head.” Darius nods in agreement and, as they pass by a news-stand, he frowns slightly. Stopping, he looks at the front page of the New Los Angeles Times. ‘Five Gothics found beaten to death in a back alley,’ he reads silently. “Athena, what’s going on? That’s the fourth incident in two weeks,” he says, becoming worried. Athena shakes her head. “I don’t know, Darius. You know that I'm against senseless violence. I don't know what this is,” she answers, frowning. Chapter One The SeaQuest is gliding through calm waters in the Pacific Ocean. It is night-time, and the lights onboard are dimmed to half power, in order to create a twilight effect. Christi is in bed, alone. Her face is placid, and she seems to be peacefully asleep. Lucas walks out of the bathroom, clothed in boxers, and crawls back into bed. Just as he is about to fall asleep, a transmission comes in on the vid-link. Sighing, Lucas gets up, and grabs a bathrobe before walking over to the vid-link. He taps a key, and the vid-link opens. A young man, perhaps twenty five, is on the line. “Hello?” Lucas asks, wiping the sleep out of his eyes. The person on the other end sighs. “I thought this was Christi Gorman’s number,” he says, frustrated. Lucas nods, suspicious. “It is. Let me get her for you,” he replies. He goes out of the view of the vid-link for a moment, and looks at Christi, who has turned over. Leaning down, he kisses her forehead. ‘Sorry, sweetheart, but you have to wake up now,’ Lucas thinks, and shakes her gently. Christi’s eyes flutter open, and she yawns. “Lucas, it’s got to be like 3am. Why are you waking me?” she asks tiredly. “Because someone on the vid-link wants to talk with you,” Lucas replies patiently. “So get some clothing on.” Christi looks down and blushes. “All right. Throw me a T-shirt, would you?” she asks, standing, and staying out of the vision of the vid-link. Lucas opens a drawer and takes out a black T-shirt, then takes Christi’s black bathrobe from a hook by the bathroom, and throws both to her. Christi slips on the T-shirt and ties her bathrobe around the waist, then walks over to the vid-link. “Hello?” she asks, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. The man on the vid-link smiles. “Christi, it’s good to see you. I just wish it could be on better terms,” he says. Christi nods. “It’s good to see you too, Rick. What do you mean, ‘on better terms’?” she asks. Rick sighs. “Christi, Athena’s really sick. We don’t know what she has. She's gone for tests, but they haven't come back yet. They think it’s food poisoning or some other type of poisoning.” Christi frowns. “Poisoning?! But who would poison her?” she asks. Rick shakes his head. “I don’t know, Christi. I called because she’s asking for you. Do you have shore leave soon?” he asks. Christi looks over at Lucas, who shrugs. “You can ask Hudson for some,” he suggests. Christi turns back to the vid- link. “Yeah, I do. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Is she in the hospital?” Rick shakes his head. “The Light Center for Medical Research and Treatment, which is normally cordial with Gothics, can’t test her for this kind of thing, and you know that the New Los Angeles Community Hospital refuses to treat us. She’s with us, at Hera. Goodnight, Christi. God bless,” Rick says, cutting the link. Christi cuts her end and sits down in her director’s chair. “God, who would poison Athena?” she asks herself. Lucas stands in front of her. “Christi, she may not have been poisoned. It may be something else.” Christi nods. “Well, I’ll ask Captain Hudson for shore leave as soon as I can,” she says, standing. She takes off her bathrobe and climbs into bed, Lucas following her. “Night, Christi,” Lucas says sleepily, wrapping his arms around her. Christi yawns. “See you in the morning, ashulla,” she replies softly, closing her eyes, attempting to sleep. However, she is still awake for a while, thinking of Athena. ‘God, Athena’s been my friend since I was eleven. We've had so many experiences together. I remember the time when we got in trouble for listening to some old Marilyn Manson CDs during study hall. We spent a whole week in detention for that. And the time we took that trip to Camp Sloane. We were up all night talking about life and boys, and music. What am I going to do if something happens to her? What will Darius do if something happens to her? She’s my best friend; what would I do without her?’ Christi’s thoughts wander, keeping her awake. Eventually, though, she succumbs to her body’s need for rest, and falls asleep, feeling protected in Lucas’ gentle embrace. ~*Artemis Neptune*~ Date: Mon, 29 Mar 1999 07:34:53 -0500 (EST) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 1b Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id GAA08128 Disclaimer: See part one a. Rating: PG-13 ~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter Two The next day, Christi rises early and practices what she is going to say to Captain Hudson. Her concern for Athena gives her the courage to approach his office. Christi tentatively knocks on Captain Hudson’s hatch. “Come in,” Captain Hudson says, his voice faint from behind the hatch. Christi opens the hatch and walks into Captain Hudson’s quarters, then stands at attention. “At ease. Speak your mind, Lieutenant,” Captain Hudson says. Christi assumes the ‘at ease’ position. “Thank you, Sir. I’d like to ask for a short leave of absence,” Christi begins. Captain Hudson nods. “What for, Lieutenant?” Christi lowers her head and looks down at the floor, trying to keep her composure. After a few moments she looks directly at the Captain and says, “Well, Sir,” her voice quivers, “one of my closest friends is very sick, and I received a call this morning from her, her...brother, saying that she had been asking for me.” Captain Hudson nods. “How long do you think you’ll need, Lieutenant?” he asks. Christi sighs. “I’m not entirely certain, Sir. It could be from two days to two weeks. The hospital doesn’t know what she has, only that if they don’t find out soon, she could die.” Captain Hudson’s eyes widen a little. “Very well, Lieutenant. I’ll have someone ready a launch. You’ll leave at 1900.” Christi nods. “Thank you, Sir,” she says, and comes to attention again. Captain Hudson nods. “Dismissed, Lieutenant.” Christi walks out of the room, closing the hatch behind her. Seeming relieved, she looks at her chrono. ‘1400...I’ve got a few hours to pack and eat dinner, then get to the launch bay,’ she thinks, then heads towards her quarters. A few hours later, Christi is seated in a launch, a large duffel at her feet. Throughout the whole night's ride, she can’t keep herself from thinking about her friend and whether or not she will get there in time to help. She tries to occupy her mind by reading the most recent edition of the New LA newspaper. Its headline reads, ‘Four Local Gothics Found Dead of Stab Wound.’ As she reads the newspaper, she learns about some Gothics who were found near the area formerly known as the Mission District. The article makes reference to several other Gothic deaths over the last few weeks. New LA, June 10- A gruesome scene was found yesterday in the Mission District of New Los Angeles. Four ‘Gothics’ were found in a back alley, dead. It was apparent that they died of multiple stab wounds. Two were male, and two were female. They have yet to be identified by other members of the ‘Gothic’ crowd in New LA. This is the tenth incident involving Gothics over the past few weeks. In all, thirty ‘Gothics’ have been killed. The police have no suspects, as the ‘Gothic’ population in New LA has deliberately set themselves apart from the other New Los Angeles citizens.... The next morning, the shuttle docks. Christi takes her duffel and walks out into the early morning daylight of New LA. She walks over to a group of young men and women dressed in black and other dark colors. “Morning, everyone. How’s Athena doing?” she asks. One of the women steps forward and embraces Christi gently, then steps back. “Not well, I’m afraid. The docs said that she’s been poisoned. They haven’t determined what type of poison. They took a blood sample, and they’re trying to find an antidote. She’s been asking for you non-stop since yesterday,” the woman says, as they begin to walk towards the Gothic house. They arrive within a few minutes, and someone leads Christi up to Athena’s room. Christi walks over to the bed, and sits in a chair next to the bed. She looks at the deathly pale woman in front of her. Athena’s jet-black hair frames her face, making her look even paler. “Hi, Athena. It’s me, Christi,” she says, taking Athena’s hand. Athena opens her blue eyes. “Hey, Christi,” she replies softly, in a trembling voice. “How are you feeling?” Christi asks. Athena shrugs. “I don’t know, Christi. This could be anything from the flu, to food poisoning.” Christi nods. “Christi, I’m so happy you’re here. I wanted you to come as soon as possible because I have some important things to tell you. I need your help. There is a meeting between some of the most influential Gothics and a committee sent by the President to find ‘better’ ways for us to express our individuality. I was supposed to lead the Gothic delegation. I need you to go in my place. Christi, it’s important that you be there. Things are happening that need to be discussed. Over 50 Gothics have been killed recently, not just here, but all around the world. Some of these have been classified as ‘accidental deaths,’ but I think these events are all connected, so be careful, Christi. I’m not sure that they are isolated events. You need to raise this issue at the meeting. These killings need to be investigated. The meeting is in an hour. Change your clothing and get to the UEO/US state building on 3rd and Bourbon. Good luck,” Athena finishes, closing her eyes, resting. Christi nods and leaves the room. ~~~~~~~ Hated it? Liked it? Comments? ~*Artemis Neptune*~ Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1999 11:52:02 -0500 (EST) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 2 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id RAA04286 Disclaimer: I own those you do not recognize Rating: PG-13 ~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter Three It is a cloudy day in New Los Angeles. Every now and then the sun peaks through from behind a cloud to provide a feeling of a perfect day, if only for a few minutes at a time. As Hera is only a few blocks away, Christi decides to walk to the UEO building. On her way, she begins to wonder why so many Gothics have been killed. ‘It’s perfectly senseless violence. No one has been fighting lately; why are so many of us dying?’ she asks herself. She finally arrives at Third and Bourbon. The huge UEO building appears to be over sixty stories high. It’s gray, granite facade looks imposing, indicating the importance of the functions that occur inside. Christi walks in and looks at the directory, and then takes the elevator to the third floor. Entering conference room 5, she sits down, and nods at the other Gothics seated at the table. One of them stands, and greets her respectfully. “Christi, it’s good to see you again. When did you arrive?” he asks. “About an hour ago, Joseph. When does the meeting start?” Christi asks. Joseph smirks. “Anxious to get started, are we? Well, everyone’s here, so I guess we can.” There are ten people sitting at the table, five Gothics, and five men and women, typical bureaucrats, dressed in very drab and conservative business attire. One of the bureaucrats stands. “My name is Thomas Jacob. I am the chairman of the committee. “Let’s brush past the formalities and get right to the point of this. The five of us are here to help you find ways to express your...individuality, without dressing and acting like you do. We’re going to help you all assimilate into ‘acceptable’ society, and then help you to lose your Gothic behavior. People in the United States don’t want Gothics running around, scaring their children. People dressing in black with all that hideous make- up just isn’t right.” Christi’s eyes widen and she looks over at the Gothics, who seem to be intently listening. She stands quickly. “I’m sorry, Sir, did I hear you correctly? You’re going to help us all throw away our Gothicism, and become ‘ordinary?’ Are you inferring that we are a threat to society?” The man nods. “In essence, yes, that is what we are going to do.” Christi’s eyes burn slightly. She closes them and takes a deep breath before replying. “You can’t do that. What have we done? We’re no threat to society!” “Miss, you’re talking to an official of the United States Government. This committee has been charged with a mission that I intend to carry out.” Christi clenches her fists and takes a deep breath before replying. “You know, Sir, one of the most important principles that our country was founded on is that every citizen has the right to free speech and freedom to express our individuality anyway we want, as long as it doesn’t harm anyone. This principle is embedded in our bill of rights. Why is it that we can’t live together side-by-side? Why is there a need for this change? What have the Gothics done? I think back on our history, and I remember wars being fought to eradicate prejudice and racism. How is this any different? Why can’t we just let the Gothics be?” The man nods. “The constitution does give us these rights, but the government has to ensure that the rights of the majority are protected, and we are enforcing the voice of the majority.” Christi shakes her head. “You can’t just bypass a basic human right! Gothicism is not a cult or a group planning on overthrowing the government, we’re just people who live and socialize a little differently from you.” One of the other Gothics stands. “She’s right; we would be violating the constitution if we went through with this.” The other Gothics in the room stand, nodding. One of the female bureaucrats punches a button on her comm. “I’d like two guards in conference room five on the third floor,” she says, then looks at Christi, smirking haughtily. Within minutes, two guards arrive in the room. “Who needed us to report here?” one asks. The woman smiles. “I’d like you to escort this lady off of the premises. She’s causing trouble.” “Wait a minute, I thought that this was going to be a meeting where we could come to a compromise about the government’s policies towards the Gothics! You can’t bypass the constitution! It’s there so that everyone, including Gothics, is treated fairly!” Christi exclaims. The female bureaucrat motions to the guards to take Christi out of the room. With their guns pointed at her, she is marched down to the main floor, where they escort her to the door. Christi walks out of the building, walks down the steps, and crosses the street, to head back to Hera. ‘I cannot believe that the president would want to send a committee to stop the Gothics from being Gothic. He, of all people, should know what this country stands for. Something else must be going on.’ Suddenly, she hears a loud blast and is thrown to the sidewalk as the UEO/US State building she just left explodes in a fiery inferno. The force of the explosion had caused debris to fall down on the surrounding streets, including where Christi is walking. Before she can even get up, police arrive on the scene. “Call headquarters! Tell them to send over fire trucks and ambulances. And arrest that girl over there,” the head police officer commands, before pulling his cell phone out. Christi looks around and sees that she is surrounded by broken stones and other debris. She is in a slight daze from falling to the ground, and a little bruised. She attempts to get up by leaning against some of the rubble, and brushes off the ashes and dust from the explosion as two policemen approach her. They help her up, but then grab her arms, pulling them behind her. She is handcuffed and taken to the local police station, as a suspect. “Name?” a man asks, as Christi is forced to sit down at a long table. “Gorman, Christi, Lieutenant Junior Grade, serial number Ltjg006770-536475.” The man raises an eyebrow. “Oh, a military broad, huh? Guess we’ll have to send you down to the UEO HQ,” he says. Christi’s eyes widen. “For what? If you think that I set up a bomb or something in that building, you are seriously mistaken.” The man smiles and nods. “That’s what they always say when we arrest them.” Christi is taken to a small, dark cell and thrown in. She sits on the floor, and brings her knees up to her chest. ‘What the hell is going on here? Who blew up that building?’ she asks herself. A few hours later, Christi is taken out of her cell and put in a military vehicle, in handcuffs. A soldier starts up the vehicle, and they begin to drive down the highway to San Diego Island. When they arrive, she is taken into UEO HQ, and put in another cell, this one worse than the last. As they put her behind the barrier, she sits down on the floor again and looks at the guard. “As a citizen of the UEO and the USA, I demand to know why I have been dragged from New LA to San Diego Island by the very people I fight for,” she says forcefully. The guard frowns. “You have no rights, Macronesian scum!” Christi’s eyes widen. “I am _not_ Macronesian! Sure, I’m not wearing my uniform, but if you check the databases, you’ll find that I serve on the SeaQuest.” Another guard, this one female, looks over at Christi. “How old are you? Do you know that you probably just threw your entire life away by blowing up that building?” she asks. Christi sighs in combined exasperation and exhaustion. “I didn’t blow up that building, and the only reason those police were so quick to arrest me is because I’m Gothic. Look, just get a link to SeaQuest and ask Captain Hudson. He’ll assure you that I’m not one to blow up buildings.” The male guard sticks his gun in the bars and shoots the at the wall behind Christi. The bullet grazes her cheek, leaving a thin bloody wound. “Shut up already!” Christi walks to a corner of the cell, wiping the blood on her cheek away with the back of her hand, and then sits with her back against the wall. The guard nods and goes back to talking with one of his colleagues. Chapter Four Lucas looks over at the empty seat on the bridge, and sighs. Thinking about Christi, he realizes that, over the past year and a half, he and Christi have spoken to each other every single day. Even when they were separated by distance, they agreed that, on a daily basis, one or the other would call at a set time to speak to each other. They had shared so much during this time, that being apart was always painful. But when they got back together their reunion was intense and exciting. How grateful they were for such a relationship. People around the world wish everyday for such a bond. What was it that Christi had said before leaving? “Lucas, no matter where I am , I am with you.” Returning from his reverie, he goes back to his work, but then looks up, realizing something. ‘She hasn’t called yet today, and she said she’d call in every day at 1700.’ Lucas looks at his chrono, and his eyes widen. ‘It’s 1900! Where is she?’ he thinks, looking at Captain Hudson. “Something wrong, Mr. Wolenczak?” Captain Hudson asks. Lucas nods. “Lieutenant Gorman said that she would call in every evening at 1700. She’s two hours late. Something’s wrong.” Captain Hudson puts his hand on his chin. “Did she give you a number to reach her at?” he asks. Lucas nods. “Yes, Sir.” “Then call the number when your shift is over,” Captain Hudson replies, going back to his work. Lucas sighs. ‘It’s not like her not to call,’ he thinks. Christi, meanwhile, is sitting at a conference table, while a soldier walks around her, eyeing her suspiciously. “And you say that you have no idea of who would bomb that building?” he asks. Christi nods. “I don’t know who would want to kill that many innocent people,” she replies. The soldier nods. “What were you there for?” he asks. Christi rests her head in her hands. “I was attending a meeting between the Gothics and the US Committee for Gothic Affairs.” “What was the meeting for?” “Ostensibly to improve relations with the Gothics . In other words, to find a way to get rid of them.” “Was the meeting still going on when you left?” “Yes. One of the people on the committee had me thrown out because they thought I was the ringleader and about to cause trouble. That’s what happens when you stand up for your rights!” she continues. “So you walked out of the building, and...Boom! The building blew up?” Christi nods. “That’s what happened. I was headed back to Hera and already across the street when the blast occurred. There was pandemonium on the streets. All of a sudden, I was approached by two policemen and arrested. They brought me to the local precinct and put me in a holding cell almost as bad as the one here. Then they dragged me here in handcuffs.” The soldier sits across from Christi. “Did you demand a vid-link call or a phone call?” Christi shakes her head. “When someone is pointing a gun at you, it’s best to remain silent.” The soldier sighs. “Look, I can’t help you...” He searches for a name. “Lieutenant Gorman,” Christi provides. The soldier smiles weakly. “I can’t help you if that’s all that you know.” “Well, I do know that the deaths of those four Gothics in the building brought the world death toll to at least fifty four.” The soldier looks confused. “The world death toll?” he asks. Christi nods. “In the past month, fifty four Gothics have been killed. They were either stabbed, died in car accidents, or were victims of a bomb,” she says, getting angry. The soldier nods. “I see. Guards, bring her back to her cell. Get some rest, Lieutenant. You’re going to need it,” he replies, as two guards begin to take Christi out of the room. ~~~~~~~ Comments? Feedback is quite welcome! ~*Artemis Neptune*~ Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 10:06:46 -0500 (EST) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 3 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id JAA03509 Rating: PG-13 Christi Gorman Copyright Artemis Neptune 1998, 1999. ~~~~~~~~ Chapter Five Lucas waits as the vid-link rings on. Just before he cancels the call, someone picks up. “Yes, who are you?” a young woman asks. Lucas smiles weakly. “Look, I’m Lucas Wolenczak and...” The woman cuts him off. “You’re Christi’s friend? We’ve been trying to contact you,” she says, relief in her voice. “Christi went to a meeting at a UEO/US state building. There was an explosion. The entire building was blown up. They’ve accounted for everyone who was there with the exception of Christi. They didn’t find her. We can only hope that she left the meeting before the explosion. Have you heard from her?” the woman asks. Lucas looks stricken. “Oh my God,” he whispers softly, letting his head drop into his hands for a moment. ‘What if she _was_ in the building? She might be dead!’ he thinks. He takes a few minutes to try and regain his composure, and then looks back up at the vid-link. “I was calling because I _haven’t_ heard from her. Do you know where she might have gone?” he asks. The woman shakes her head. “The police might have arrested her, but we called them and they said that there was no prisoner under her name.” Lucas nods. “Which means that because she’s UEO, they would have transported her to San Diego Island!” The woman’s eyes widen. “But she’s a Gothic!” she exclaims. Lucas nods. “She’s also in the Navy. I’m sorry, but I have to go tell my Captain. I’ll call back if I find out anything.” The woman nods, and they both cut the channel. Lucas gets up and walks to Captain Hudson’s quarters. Meanwhile, Christi looks at the two guards escorting her back to the cell. Her mind is racing, trying to assess her next steps. ‘I have to get out of here. I have to find a way to get to a Gothic house,’ she thinks, and looks down at the metal handcuffs encasing her wrists. ‘They have to take the cuffs off before they put me in the cell. Maybe I could get a hold of one of their guns before they shove me into the cell...’ She looks at the guards again, then looks ahead as she is brought into the prison area. She watches one of the guards punching in the numbers to open the door, carefully memorizing them. The two guards bring her over to a cell. One of the guards punches a few buttons and the cell door opens. He begins to unlatch her handcuffs. Christi suddenly throws her full body weight into him, effectively pushing him into the cell bars. She uses the handcuffs, still on her wrists, to strangle the other guard into unconsciousness. She rummages through their pockets and finds the key to the handcuffs, unlocks them, and grabs a gun from one of the unconscious guards. ‘That was entirely too easy, but I have no doubts that getting out of the building will be a tad harder,’ she thinks to herself, and punches a few buttons. The outer prison area door opens, and Christi walks out, trying to be as quiet as possible. ‘Okay, they brought me in through the front door. I should, therefore, go out the back. I need a map of this place.’ She runs over to a computer terminal and chuckles quietly. ‘A directory. The UEO thinks of everything.’ She types in something, and a map of the building comes up. She raises an eyebrow and smirks, then sets off down a corridor. A few minutes later, Christi finds herself near a large door. ‘I’m almost home free. This has been too easy. I should tell McGath to step up on security once this situation is resolved.’ All of a sudden, she hears a slight sound from behind her. She turns quickly. “And what are you doing out of your cell, prisoner?” a Section Seven guard asks, raising both his eyebrows. Christi notes that he has no gun in sight, and raises her own gun, pointing it directly at the guard. “I am not a prisoner. I work for the UEO,” she replies. The Section Seven man comes at her, kicking her in the ribs. Christi gasps as the air is knocked out of her, but she fights back, using a swing-kick to knock the man’s feet out from under him. Wheezing, the man gets to his feet and kicks her in the chest, sending her sprawling. Christi gasps again and gets up, groping for her gun. The second Section Seven officer steps on her hand, hard enough to hurt, but she isn’t deliberately trying to break Christi’s fingers. Christi looks up and, using her other arm, she knocks the guard’s foot off of her hand. She stands. ‘Just when I thought that I was going to get out of here unharmed,’ she says to herself, and grabs a gun right out of the first Section Seven man’s holster, pointing it at both of them. “I’m not going to kill you. I’m not your enemy,” she says, noting that both are looking at her with derision. “You’re not going to kill _us_?’” the first Section Seven man asks. “Don’t you mean that you don’t want to be killed, Gothic?” he asks. Christi’s eyes narrow and she clicks the gun’s safety off and then sets it on ‘stun.’ “I’m not a murderer. I didn’t want to do this, but, you see, I really have to get out of here,” she says, and turns cold. Christi dispassionately shoots the man, who falls to the ground. Looking at the female guard, she again raises her gun. “If you turn yourself in now, I will tell them not to kill you,” the woman says. Christi shakes her head. “I am sorry to do this, but I have to prove my innocence,” she says, and then blinks. Setting the gun on ‘stun’, she shoots the woman, and runs out of the building, still gasping for air, noting that her ribs are very painful. She runs to a phone booth, and types in a phone search. ‘San Diego Gothic house. Fifty-five Sadrine Street. That’s only a few miles from here,’ she thinks, and sets off, careful to keep to the shadows. Lucas knocks on the door of Hudson’s quarters. “Come,” Captain Hudson calls from inside. Lucas walks in and stands at attention. “At ease, Lieutenant. What did you come to see me about?” he asks. Lucas assumes the ‘at ease’ position and sighs again. “Captain, Lieutenant Gorman is missing. I contacted the place where she was supposed to be staying, and they told me that she had disappeared. She was attending an official meeting when the building blew up. She had apparantly left the building before it blew up, but she might have been arrested and transported to UEO HQ on San Diego Island.” Captain Hudson nods. “They think she might have blown up the building?” he asks, tapping in a vid-link command. Lucas nods. “Yes, Sir.” Secretary General McGath comes up on the vid-link. “Captain Hudson, to what do I owe this call?” he asks. “One of my crew, Lieutenant Christi Gorman, has disappeared. Sources have led me to believe that she might be at UEO HQ.” McGath nods. “She was here.” “What do you mean, she was there?” Lucas asks, before being silenced by Captain Hudson. “I mean, she escaped custody an hour ago. We have Section Seven after her, but...” Lucas gets angry and interrupts him. “You’re getting Section Seven to go after her!?!!?” “Mr. Secretary, call off your Section Seven. My Lieutenant is not the ‘bad guy’ in this picture.” McGath sighs. “I wish I could, Captain, but Lieutenant Gorman was involved in an act of sabotage, and she stunned several guards while escaping. Is that the behavior of an innocent person? I’ll keep you posted. McGath out.” McGath cuts the channel and leaves Lucas and Captain Hudson staring at the UEO symbol. “Lucas, where would Lieutenant Gorman go?” Lucas shrugs. “I’m not entirely sure, but she’s a Gothic, so my best guess would be the local Gothic house.” Captain Hudson nods. “Find it, Lieutenant, before Section Seven finds her.” Lucas nods, and leaves Hudson’s quarters. He walks back to his quarters and logs onto the Internet. He begins a search, typing in ‘Local Gothic Houses’. After an hour’s search, he finally finds a map of San Diego Island, which points out the local Gothic house. He prints the map out, and shuts down his computer, then rushes back to Captain Hudson’s quarters. ~~~~~~~ Feedback is quite welcome ~*Artemis Neptune*~ Date: Thu, 01 Apr 1999 12:02:31 -0500 (EST) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 3 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id LAA00430 This is the last part I'll be able to send until next week because I won't have access to a computer for the week. Rating: PG-13 ~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter Six Christi knocks softly on the door of the Gothic house, and waits until a young man opens the door. “Who are...Oh my God, are you all right?” he asks, as Christi nearly passes out, exhausted. She nods slightly. “I need to speak with someone in charge. I’m a Christian Gothic; don’t worry.” The man nods and helps her in, taking her to a large, dark room, containing various Gothic artifacts. A huge fireplace with twin candelabras provides the main focal point. In front of the fireplace is a large table, piled with books and used coffee mugs. Christi enters, and stands by the fireplace. A man in his late twenties enters the room. “Who are you? Peter said that you were a Gothic, and by your looks you are, but you aren’t from San Diego. Who sent you?” he asks. Christi sighs and looks at a chair. “May I sit down?” The man nods, and Christi drops into the nearest chair. “Athena Nethros, in New LA, sent me. The UEO/US state building in New Los Angeles, was blown up about a day ago, and the police took me into custody and transported me here, to UEO HQ, since I’m military.” The man nods. “I saw that on the news. The UEO has a warrant for Christi Gorman’s...” he trails off and looks at Christi a little more closely. “Oh my God! You’re the one they have the warrant for!” Christi nods and wipes a hand over her eyes. “Yes, but I didn’t do it. There were Gothics in that building: very influential ones. And they were my friends. I wouldn’t kill them.” The man nods again and seems to come to a decision. “I trust you. I also know Athena, and she wouldn’t trust just anyone. How is she doing?” Christi shakes her head. “Not well. She’s been poisoned, and no one knows who did it. We think that there is a conspiracy against the Gothics. Over fifty Gothics have been killed, world-wide, over the last month. Twenty of them were from New LA. I think that there are people trying to eradicate the entire Gothic population,” she says. All of a sudden, she gives a gasp, passes out, and falls to the ground. The man opens a door. “Get a medic and some strong men in here!” he shouts. A few minutes later, Christi is lying on top of a bed, her shoes and jacket removed. A medic has two of his fingers pressed to her neck. He removes them, and sighs. “Well, her pulse is slower now. She’s absolutely exhausted, and she has two cracked ribs. I’ve managed to bandage them, but she’ll be asleep for at least ten hours.” The man nods. “That’s fine. Peter, make sure she isn’t disturbed. Marilyn, get her some clean clothing for when she wakes up,” he says, and leaves the room. All the other Gothics follow, and leave Christi to sleep off her exhaustion. Lucas reaches Captain Hudson’s quarters and knocks on the hatch again. “Come in, Mr. Wolenczak,” Captain Hudson replies to the knock. Lucas opens the hatch and walks in, standing at attention, after closing the hatch. “At ease, Lieutenant. I assume that you’ve found something?” he asks. Lucas nods. “Yes, Sir. I found a map that shows where the Gothic house in San Diego is. I’m pretty sure Lieutenant Gorman is there,” he says. Captain Hudson nods. The comms channel comes on. “Captain, you have an incoming vid-link from Secretary General McGath,” Lieutenant Commander O’Neill says, over the comm. “Put him down in my quarters, Mister O’Neill,” Captain Hudson replies. McGath appears on Captain Hudson’s vid-link, and sighs. “Captain, your Lieutenant has disappeared from the San Diego area. Section Seven put out an APB for her, and the police have been ordered to shoot her on sight,” he says, sighing again. Captain Hudson stands. “Mr. Secretary, you have not even given me a perspective of what is going on and you’re telling me that my officer is going to be shot if anyone in the UEO or police force sees her?” McGath nods. “Yes, Captain, that is what is going on. Supposedly, she blew up a building. Section Seven took it right out of my hands. I need you to tell me if she contacts anyone on SeaQuest,” he replies. Captain Hudson nods. “I will co-operate in that; however, I am going to perform my own investigation, and if Section Seven kills her, I’m not the only one you’re going to have to answer to.” Captain Hudson cuts the channel and looks at Lucas. “Well, Lieutenant? Do you think she’s still there?” he asks. Lucas shrugs. “I can call New LA again and have them call San Diego, since the Goths in San Diego don’t know me,” he replies. Captain Hudson nods. “Make the call here; this vid-link is the most secure.” Lucas nods, and taps in a number. A few seconds later, a young man (Rick) comes on. “Glad to see you called back, Lucas. Has there been any information about Christi?” Lucas sighs. “Well, we know that she escaped UEO custody yesterday. I’m pretty sure that she went to the Gothic house in San Diego. Can you contact them and find out if she’s still there?” he asks. Rick nods. “I’ll get back to you in a few minutes,” he says, and disconnects the channel. Christi moans softly and yawns. Her eyes flutter open and she looks around. ‘Where am I? Oh yeah, I’m in San Diego, in the Gothic house,’ she thinks, and climbs off of the bed. She places her hands on her rib cage, feeling the pain from the cracked ribs. She sits back down on the bed for a few minutes, thinking about the last few days. ‘I’ve got to find out what’s going on,’ she thinks. ‘Things are happening so fast. Fifty four dead, Athena is poisoned, that building in New Los Angeles blown up. What’s the connection?’ She finally puts her shoes on and walks downstairs, to see Rick on the vid-link, speaking with the leader of the Gothic house. “Rick!” she calls, and runs up to the vid-link. Rick smiles, but gasps. “Christi, what the hell happened to you?” he asks. Christi shrugs. “The UEO thinks I bombed one of their buildings.” Rick nods. “That much we know. Your friend, Lucas Wolenczak, called a few minutes ago and asked where you were.” Christi sighs. “Don’t tell him; it will just put him in danger. But, tell him I’m safe, for now. I’m leaving in a little while anyway.” Rick nods from his end, and disconnects the channel. Christi looks over at the leader of the Gothic house. “You never told me your name,” she says, looking up at him. He smiles slightly. “Call me Zephyr,” he replies. Christi nods. “Well, thank you, Zephyr, for letting me stay here. I’m afraid that I must ask another favor of you, however,” she says, trying to keep her voice even. Zephyr smirks. “And what would that favor be, Christi?” he asks. “I need access to a computer. A good, very fast computer.” Zephyr nods. “That is easy. You can use Cedric’s computer,” he replies. Christi nods. “Thank you.” Zephyr nods and takes her to a small in-home office. He boots up a computer, and pulls over a chair for her. “Call Cedric or myself if you need anything,” he says, and leaves the room, closing the door after him. Christi goes onto the Internet and begins to type. ‘I wish that I knew how to hack as well as Lucas does,’ she thinks as a password box comes up. She clicks something, and runs a high-speed dictionary search. After passing that barrier, she comes across a small UEO/US file. She opens it, and looks through quickly. Finding nothing of importance, she clicks on a link and follows it to another password box. After running another high-speed dictionary, she comes across a password box for a UEO/World Confederations file. Using a tactic that Lucas taught her, she bypasses the box and tries to find a back way in. Typing, she comes across the layers of protection that have been slapped on by the UEO. ‘This thing looks like it was put together by someone out to screw over the entire UEO,’ she says to herself, and starts to break through the layers. Once she is past the layers, she begins to look through the files very quickly. She saves everything to the hard drive and shuts off the Internet before anyone can trace her, and begins to look through the file a bit more thoroughly. She tries to sort her way through the first seven pages of military jargon, becoming more and more sure that the file has something to do with all of the Gothic murders that have been occurring. Finally, she comes across what looks like an order from Section Seven. ‘ General O’Brien is in on this, and so is....who the hell is code name Arawn?’ Christi asks, seeing that all of the files are signed General O’Brien and Arawn. She looks through more of the files and comes up with more documents, all signed by General O’Brien and Arawn. She sighs. ‘This is why I wish Lucas were here,’ she thought. ‘Maybe I can contact him...Lucas?’ she asks, sending out a thought to him. She hears a faint reply. ‘Christi? Is that you?’ Lucas asks. ‘I can barely hear you; you aren’t loud enough.’ Christi sighs in relief. ‘Lucas, I need you to get to a computer. I need voice prints of all the top generals in the UEO.’ ‘Christi, where are you? I’ve been worried to death! What’s happening out there?’ Christi responds, ‘I don’t have time to get into that now. I need your help.’ ‘I can send you the voice prints, but where should I send them?’ Christi answers, ‘Send them as attached files to gothsd@gothic.net. I can’t tell you where I am, Lucas. It would put you in too much danger. All I can tell you is that I’m safe, for now anyway.’ ‘You aren’t safe, Christi. Section Seven has an APB out on you. The police have been ordered to shoot you on sight.’ Christi sighs. ‘Well then, I’ll just have to stay out of sight, won’t I?’ Lucas shakes his head from where he is, on the bridge of SeaQuest. Captain Hudson looks at him. “Something wrong, Mister Wolenczak?” he asks. Lucas sighs. “Lieutenant Gorman is safe, for now. She won’t tell me where she is, though,” he replies. Captain Hudson raises an eyebrow. “And just when did she tell you this?” he asks. Lucas closes his eyes. “Uh, sometimes we can hear each other’s thoughts, Sir.” Captain Hudson nods. “Well, good to hear that she is safe, Lieutenant.” ~~~~~~~ Comments? ~*Artemis Neptune*~ Date: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 16:48:49 -0400 (EDT) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 5 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id QAA29851 I knew I did something wrong the last time I sent a posting... the second 'Hell and Back- Part 3' post was actually part four... if anyone deleted it please send me an e-mail because you'll be a little lost without chapter six... The medical stuff in this part may seem a little weird... Xanax (Alprazolam) is real, it is used as a depressant and sleep-aid. According to an explanation of what it is, it can cause unconsciousness and coma in an overdose. I haven't asked a doctor, though, so it may not be entirely correct. (Please don't hurt me, I have jet lag and I'm not being clear today...) ~~~~~~~~~ Chapter Seven While Christi is waiting to hear from Lucas, she spends her time at the Gothic house alone, in a room off the parlor, sitting at the computer. Every now and then, she gets up from the desk and paces the floor. Anxious to hear from Lucas, she returns to the computer and accesses the Internet again, going to the San Diego Gothic house e-mail address. Relieved, she sees that Lucas has sent all the voice prints to her and she downloads them without listening to them. She finishes, and gets off the Internet, then begins to listen to the voice prints. ‘Well, I’ll copy all the voice prints onto a disk, and then load a voice match program onto my laptop when I get back to New LA,’ she thinks, inserting a second disk into the drive on the computer. After copying the prints to a disk, she deletes the originals, and then copies all of the files from the UEO/World Confederations file. She ejects the disk and puts it in her pocket. ‘This isn’t enough information to do what I need to do. I’ll have to look some more. If I can’t find anything else, I’ll have to find a way into Section Seven.’ Meanwhile, back at SeaQuest, in order to feel that he is helping Christi, Lucas continues to hack on the Internet. As each password box pops up, he runs high-speed dictionaries and breaks them down. After an hour or so of this, Lucas realizes that he really doesn’t know what he’s looking for and that he’s probably wasting his time. He begins to compose an e-mail message to Christi. ‘Christi, tell me what you’re looking for. I taught you a few of my hacking secrets, but they aren’t enough to help you,’ he writes, and clicks send. A few minutes later, a reply comes through. ‘Lucas, I don’t want to get you involved.’ Lucas sighs and types in a reply. ‘Christi, if I send you the files you’re looking for, I won’t be in any danger. Just tell me what you need to find.’ He clicks send again, and waits. A reply arrives a few minutes later. ‘All right. I need to find any UEO/US/World Confederations files that are signed by Joint Chief General O’Brien, and code name Arawn. I also need any files that have this name or contain this phrase: Project: Goth Eradication. Also, anything with Mission: Goth Eradication or Goth Extermination would be helpful.’ Lucas’ eyes widen. ‘Someone’s trying to get rid of all the Gothics in the world!?’ he replies. ‘Yeah. General O’Brien is second in command on the entire thing, and Arawn, whose real name I don’t know, is above him. I have reason to believe that Arawn is one of the generals who report to Secretary Gen. McGath.’ Lucas begins to hack again. After fifteen minutes, he’s finally able to access one of the Confederation files. Scanning through the file, he sees an entry entitled ‘Project: Obliteration: Top Secret.’ Thinking that this might be a file that could pertain to Gothic eradication, Lucas decides to send it to Christi. A few minutes later, he comes across another file, code named ‘Project: Black and Blue: Top Secret.’ Again thinking that this might be a reference to Gothics, Lucas uploads the file to Christi. As Christi receives them, she downloads them, gives them a quick once-over, and puts them on a disk. After several hours, Lucas ends his hack. ‘That’s all I can find, Christi. If there’s anything else on the Internet, then I can’t find it. Is what I found enough?’ he writes in the e-mail. A reply comes back swiftly. ‘This is enough for what I need to do. Thank you, Lucas,’ is the short reply. Lucas logs off the Internet and walks out of his quarters, and down to the moon pool. He leans on the edge, and watches Darwin. “Lucas sad?” Darwin asks. Lucas smiles. “No Darwin, I’m not sad.” “Lucas afraid?” Lucas sighs. Sometimes it amazes him how well Darwin picks up on his thoughts and feelings. “Yes, Darwin, I am afraid.” “Why? SeaQuest is safe,” Darwin clicks. Lucas laughs a little. “I’m not afraid for myself, Darwin. Christi’s disappeared.” Darwin circles in the tank. “Christi Darwin’s friend. Darwin find Christi for Lucas?” Lucas laughs shortly and shakes his head. “No Darwin, you can’t find Christi. She isn’t on the boat.” Darwin continues to circle. “Christi safe?” Lucas closes his eyes. “I don’t know, Darwin. I just don’t know.” Lucas begins to feel drowsy, the pent-up anxiety and stress from the last few days building up. He sits down, leaning against the wall. He succumbs to his exhaustion and falls asleep. Christi shuts off the computer and leaves the room. She walks over to where Zephyr is standing. “Thank you, Zephyr. I’m going to get back to New LA now, so I’ll see you around,” she says. Zephyr shakes his head. “First off, you need some clean clothing. Second, there’s an APB out on you. They’ll shoot you on sight! I will get someone to drive you back to New LA. There’s some clothing laid out in the room you were in before. Madeline will be ready to drive you in an hour,” he replies. Christi nods. “Thank you for all that you’ve done for me. I know that it puts you in danger.” Zephyr shrugs. “I know about the killings. If I didn’t help you, then all of the Gothics would die. Another fifteen were killed in a train wreck yesterday, and twenty were killed when a plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean. That brings the killings up to ninety-four.” Peter runs into the room. “Make that one hundred, Zephyr. Six from England were killed in a car accident a few hours ago.” Christi gets a pained look on her face. “I don’t have a lot of time. I need to stop this before there aren’t any Gothics left,” she says, and walks into a room, closing the door behind her. She sits down on the bed. Leaning her elbows on her knees, she buries her face in her hands. After a few minutes, she lets out a deep sigh, opens her eyes, rises from the bed, and begins to dress. About ten minutes later, she comes out in a pair of blue jeans and an off-white sweater. Zephyr raises an eyebrow. “Those aren’t exactly Gothic clothes,” he comments. Christi nods. “That’s exactly why I’m wearing them. Even though there’s an APB out, they’re looking for a Gothic. I don’t look Gothic, so they won’t notice me as much. Have Madeline wear non-Goth clothing, too. She doesn’t need to be killed for being a Gothic.” Peter, who is still there, nods and walks to another room. “Stay safe as you can, Christi. Godspeed, and God bless for doing this.” Christi smiles her thanks, and waits for Madeline. A few minutes later, a woman in her late twenties walks out of a room. “You’re Christi, right?” she asks. Christi nods. “Then let’s go; I don’t have much time to get you to New LA.” Madeline begins to walk downstairs, and Christi follows her quickly. They reach a car, and Madeline hops into the driver’s seat, and Christi gets in on the passenger’s side. Ensign Tony Piccolo walks into the moon pool and sees Lucas asleep by the water. He gently shakes his shoulder, and Lucas wakes up groggily. “Hey, Tony,” he says. Tony smiles. “What are ya doing down here?” Lucas shrugs. “I was talking with Darwin. I guess I fell asleep.” Tony nods. “Did you find Christi yet?” he asks. Lucas shakes his head. “I talked to her a few hours ago, but she wouldn’t tell me where she is, and since it wasn’t from a vid-link, I couldn’t trace her. She told me that she was safe, but I doubt it,” Lucas replies, stretching. Tony pats him on the back. “Well, Lucas, I’m sure she’ll be all right. It’s too bad that she’s Gothic, though.” Lucas looks up sharply. “What do you mean by that?” he asks. Tony holds up a hand. “Nothing against her or any other Gothics. Her social crowd is having a bad luck streak. Over one hundred Gothics have been killed so far over the last month.” Lucas sighs. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence, Tony. Christi’s been hacking from land. Someone’s killing off the Gothics, and she’s trying to find out who.” On a street in San Diego, a dark-clothed man steps into an alley and turns on his cellphone. He dials a number, and waits as the phone rings. “Hello? Oh good, it’s you. I just found out from my contact; the dove is nearly dead,” he says quietly. “Good. Have you given the bird food to the vet?” the person on the other end asks. “Yes. The dove will be down in less than forty-eight hours. My contact has informed me of the swan’s position.” “And?” “She is nearly in the nest. I’ve sent in a ‘sheep in wolf’s clothing,’ so to speak, to stop her. I will talk to you again when the dove is dead,” the man finishes, and hangs up. ‘I will be glad when this is over,’ he thinks, putting the cellphone away and walking back out into the daylight. In New Los Angeles, it is a dark, clouded day. In Hera, the New LA Gothic house, the quiet of early afternoon, usually comforting, seems oppressive. Darius Armstrong is pacing outside of Athena’s room, waiting for a doctor to some out. ‘What’s going on? How long does it take to get a sample of blood?’ he asks himself, just as the door opens. A middle-aged doctor clad in a set of sterile whites walks out, and shuts the door firmly behind him. “Well, how is she?” Darius asks, then sees the grim look on the doctor’s face. “I can’t do anything more for her, Darius. The poison has a strong grip on her, and there is no antidote. The most you can do for Athena is to make her comfortable. I’ll be very surprised if she makes it through tomorrow,” the doctor replies, trying to be gentle. Darius turns away, hiding his face as his eyes begin to fill with tears. “Thank you, doctor,” he manages to choke out. “See Willow on your way out, she’ll write a check for you.” The doctor pats his shoulder and walks away, leaving Darius to his grief. ‘I only wish that there was another way to do this. I wish that Athena were not Gothic. Well, at least she will go quicker this way,’ the doctor thinks, and stows a small bottle that says ‘Xanax: Alprazolam: Depressant and Sleep Aid. Use only as directed’ in his pocket. In Athena’s room, there is an IV set up, and it is dripping liquid into Athena’s veins. About half of the bag is filled with clear liquid. The other half is a dark red liquid, the Xanax. Athena is also hooked up to a heart machine, which is beating steadily. As the Xanax begins to drip into Athena’s body, her heart rate drops. Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 17:07:10 -0400 (EDT) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 6 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id QAA24403 You might want a tissue or two for this part...maybe. For anyone who doesn't live in the US or has never been to California, the painted ladies are a set of Victorian-style houses painted in different colors. (That's not why I suggest having a tissue nearby). If you want to see what the characters look like, go to http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dreamworld/1600/character.html. Pics for most of the characters are there. One more note: If you haven't read any other pieces in the series that I've written, Michael was Christi's twin brother, he was stabbed to death a while back (Reference: Dead or Alive [For those who have read the other pieces]) ~~~~~~ Chapter Eight As with all Gothic houses, Hera, in New LA, is a Victorian building. It was built to resemble the famous ‘painted ladies’ in San Fransico, which was a tourist attraction during the late twentieth century. Its many rooms vary in size. True to Gothic style, it is decorated with heavy drapes covering the windows, and deep, cushioned chairs, which provide comfort to its denizens. At Hera, fifteen Gothics live in a communal lifestyle, and at least fifty more pass by every day. Christi arrives at Hera late in the afternoon. Madeline pulls into the long driveway, and turns to Christi. “Here we are, Christi. I hope that you’ll be okay, and that you can help us,” she says. “I’ll do my best, Madeline. I’ve got to find out what’s going on before it’s too late.” Madeline lets Christi out and drives away quickly, after declining Christi’s invitation to come in. Christi walks over to the atrium, and a Gothic stands indignantly, not seeing her face at first. “We do not invade your houses; do not come into ours,” the Gothic exclaims, and then, upon recognizing Christi, he says, “Christi! Christi, it’s you!” Christi nods. “It was safer to dress in non-Goth clothing for the trip here. How is Athena?” she asks. The Goth sighs. “She is not well, Christi. This morning, the doctor told us that she may not make it through the day.” Christi nods sadly. “Is it all right if I see her?” she asks. The Goth nods. “It can’t hurt her any. In fact, maybe seeing you will do her some good. She’s in the same room as before, just go on up. Your things are in Vampire, and Darius made sure no one disturbed them.” Christi smiles, but it quickly turns into a frown. “I will thank him when I next see him. Andrew, how many more Gothics have died since yesterday?” The Goth (Andrew) shakes his head. “From New LA, five more have died. From around the world, twenty more.” Christi sighs. “That brings the death count to one hundred twenty-five. I have to hurry. Thank you, Andrew,” she says, and walks up to Athena’s room. She knocks on the door, and, hearing no response, she opens it and walks in, careful to close the door after her so as not to let in too much light. Athena is lying on the bed, her eyes closed, and her face as pale as milk. Her skin is so translucent that Christi puts her hand to her mouth to stifle a gasp. “Hello, Athena,” she says, sitting in a chair. Athena opens her blue eyes and offers a weak smile as a sign of recognition. In a very soft voice, she says, “Christi, you’re alive! Many of us here thought you died in the explosion. Where have you been?” “The police arrested me and took me into custody, then took me down to San Diego and UEO HQ. I escaped, and got to the San Diego Gothic house. I talked the leader there, Zephyr, into trusting me. I must have collapsed, because there’s an at least ten hour blank between then and when I began to gather information on all of this.” Athena tries to sit up, but Christi pushes her back down. “Rest, Athena.” Athena nods. “What is going on, Christi? What have you been gathering information on?” Christi sighs. “There’s a major conspiracy going on. Someone is committing genocide to eliminate the Gothics. I’ve found out who the two largest conspirators are. One is General O’Brien, and the other is code named Arawn.” Athena gasps. “Arawn was the god of death and the underworld in Celtic mythology! Whoever it is, he’s very arrogant. When are you going to try and get this information to someone?” she asks. Christi shrugs. “I’m not entirely sure. I still need to go over some of the files, and I need to find out when there is a meeting among Secretary-General McGath and some other high-ranking people in the UEO. Most likely there will be one before the week is out. I need to make a trip somewhere first, though. Michael’s apartment hasn’t been sold yet, and I think that there are some files there that I can access to help me find out who code name Arawn is.” Athena nods. “Be careful, Christi.” Christi smiles slightly and nods. “Okay, Athena. Now, get some rest.” As she gets up to leave, Athena says, “No, wait, Christi. I need your help again. Christi, I know that I am dying. I don’t have much time left. You’re the only Gothic I know who could take over for me here, but you’re assigned to SeaQuest. I need you to appoint your stand-in, when I die,” she says. Christi shakes her head. “You aren’t going to die, Athena!” she exclaims. Athena smiles weakly. “There is no antidote. The poison has infiltrated my entire system. As a good friend, I need you to deal with the situation when I’m gone. I know that we normally fight over who leads, but I don’t want more bloodshed. There’s been enough already. Go, Christi, and save us. And don’t worry about me,” she replies. Christi nods and walks over to the bed, noticing that Athena’s breathing is getting more labored. She also notices a red liquid in Athena’s IV. ‘What is that? I’ve never seen an IV with red liquid, except for blood transfusions,’ she thinks. “This might be good-bye, Athena. You’re a good leader.” Christi kisses her palm and places it on Athena’s forehead. “I shall see you in the next world, perhaps.” Athena nods, takes a short, shallow breath, and closes her eyes. Tears drop from Christi’s eyes. She closes her eyes and clasps her hands together. Standing over Athena, she silently prays, not only for Athena, but for the strength to save the Gothic community and to keep her promise to Athena to resolve the future leadership. After a while, she turns and leaves the room, closing the door softly behind her. Darius, a Gothic with brown hair and eyes, comes up to her. “How is she?” he asks. Christi, whose eyes are downcast, looks up, her face tear-streaked. “I’m so sorry, Darius. I know you loved her,” she whispers in answer. Darius looks stricken, and fights to hold back his tears. Christi sighs in sadness. “We were able to speak for a few minutes. She knew it was coming, Darius. And I think she was at peace. She was very concerned about the leadership transition. She wanted me to be the leader, but we realized that I needed to appoint a stand-in until I resign from the Navy.” Darius nods. “We usually fight over leader, though.” Christi shakes her head. “Athena didn’t want anymore bloodshed. Enough of us have already been killed. Darius, I want you to call everyone into the meeting room. Do not tell anyone that Athena is dead, yet. I want everyone to find out together, so that there are no rumors. I will be down there in ten minutes.” Darius nods. “I will, Christi,” he says, and leaves the hall. Christi sighs and walks into ‘Vampire’: a completely black room with a metal canopy bed. She unpacks her laptop, and loads a disk in. After loading everything onto the laptop, she runs a voice match program on a print entitled ‘Arawn’, which Lucas has found for her from an outside Section Seven database. ‘93% match. So, one of the Generals is Arawn. I can find out which one when I get to a Foreign Affairs meeting,’ she thinks. She shuts down her laptop and walks downstairs to the meeting room, where most of the Gothics are. She steps up to the platform, and several gasps come from the audience. “It’s Christi!” “Why is she wearing non-Goth clothing?” “I thought she was dead!” Christi signals for silence, and the whispers and gasps stop. “I have something to discuss with all of you. I just left Athena’s room. It was her dying wish that we’d all react to her death with renewed determination to stand fast against our adversaries. Athena died just a few moments ago. She was a good leader, and I know that she was a good friend to many of us, including myself, here. She will not be forgotten. She knew that she was dying, and I believe that she was at peace. I know that this is a very sudden leadership change for all of you. While she wanted me to lead, she realized, that, because I am an officer in the UEO Navy, I can’t lead right now. Therefore, before I return to SeaQuest, I shall appoint a stand-in, and lead through that person. There is more that I must tell you: more which deals with the recent deaths of Gothics from around the world. But first I want us to all close our eyes and have a moment of silence for Athena. Please think about an event or an interaction with Athena that stands out in your mind when thinking about her.” After a few minutes, Christi says, “Now I must tell you about what’s happening. “There are two generals who have conspired to wipe out the entire Gothic population. That’s why so many of us have died over the last month or so. If we don’t stop it, it won’t be long before there aren’t any of us left. I know who one of the conspirators is, but I don’t know why they’re doing it. Anyone who could give me possible motives, other than general prejudice and bigotry, that would be greatly appreciated. I need to get to my late brother’s apartment, so if someone could lend me their car for a few hours, that would help a lot. “Section Seven has an APB out on me. It’s a sure thing that they’ll come here. If they do, tell them that I have not contacted you and that you have no idea where I am. If they tell you they want to search the house, ask them for a search warrant. If they say they don’t need one, don’t let them in,” Christi finishes her speech. Two of the Gothics stand. “I can find possible motives for you,” Darius says. Christi smiles. “I can lend you my car,” another volunteers. Christi nods and smiles widely. “Thank you, both of you, for helping me. I will be leaving in under an hour. Marial, if you can see me in the atrium after this? Darius, if you can, I’d like to hear the motives you have come up with, when I return.” Both Gothics nod, and sit. Christi steps away from the front of the room. “Meeting is adjourned if no one else has anything to add.” No one responds, so Christi nods. “Meeting adjourned.” The Gothics walk out of the room, some in groups and some solo. Marial, the Gothic who has volunteered her car, walks to the atrium. Christi follows her, and stops her once they arrive. “Thank you, Marial, for doing this,” she says. Marial, a tall blond with green eyes, shakes her head. “Christi, if you don’t get to the UEO with the information you have, we’re all dead. Here are the keys. Just try to bring it back in one piece, all right?” she replies, as she hands Christi a set of keys. Christi smiles. “Of course, Marial. I do know how to drive.” Marial nods and leaves the room. Christi walks out a few minutes after her, then goes up to Vampire, grabs her laptop, and walks to Marial’s car. She starts it up, and begins to drive to the apartment building her brother once lived in. ~~~~ How is it so far? Is it worth sending the rest? Feedback, comments? ~*Artemis Neptune*~ http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dreamworld/1600/index.html Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 17:37:45 -0400 (EDT) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 7 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id QAA29329 Some violence in this part... rating is still PG-13, though. The part with the dog is possibly the craziest bit I've ever written...Lucas is _not_ referring to Christi as a member of the canine family. ~~~~~~~ Chapter Nine Captain Hudson sighs as Lucas walks in, nervous. “You wanted to see me, Sir?” he asks. Captain Hudson nods. “Lieutenant, Secretary General McGath has asked that you to give a presentation on your vochorder to the top generals and some Foreign Ambassadors at the next meeting, which is in two days.” Lucas nods, and smiles slightly. “So, basically, they need something to show off and, since the vochorder is classified, they think that it would impress them?” he asks. Hudson sighs. “If you want to think of it like that, then yes,” he replies. Lucas smiles slightly. “It’s been a while since I’ve had to explain it,” he comments. Hudson nods. “We leave tomorrow morning; get packed and be in the launch bay at 0700. Dismissed, Lieutenant,” he says, and watches as Lucas leaves the room. Lucas walks slowly back to his quarters. As he does so, he thinks about whether his going ashore might provide an opportunity to find Christi. His thoughts are all jumbled. ‘Where could she be? Does she need my help? Is she safe?’ These thoughts continue as he prepares his materials for his presentation to the foreign ambassadors. Finding it difficult to concentrate, he shuts off his computer and sits down on his bunk. He thinks back to when he was eight years old. His dog, Shakespeare, was a big Golden Retriever who weighed about sixty pounds. How he had loved him. Shakespeare used to wait for him just outside the school and would walk home with him. Once, Shakespeare had disappeared for three days. He somehow had the uncanny ability to sense how Lucas was feeling, sometimes even what he was thinking. On the third day after the disappearance, Lucas had gone outside and sat on the porch, thinking about Shakespeare, and how sad he was that he had disappeared, and how much he had missed him. All of a sudden, Shakespeare had come bounding down the block, and, upon seeing Lucas on the porch, had run up to him and jumped up with his front paws onto Lucas’ chest, barking and licking his face. What a wonderful feeling, to finally be reunited with his beloved dog, he thinks, wiping a hand across his face. He looks over at a small picture frame, with a picture of Christi in it. “Oh Christi, is everything okay?” he says aloud. Driving through the streets in New LA, Christi recognizes many of the places of her adolescence, which makes her reminisce about her family. ‘Oh, mom and dad, give me the strength to deal with this situation. Help me find the answers,’ she thinks. Christi arrives at Michael’s old apartment. Taking the key from her side pocket, she opens the door and enters the dark apartment. She walks over to the windows and pulls up the shades to let some light in. Walking over to a filing cabinet, she begins to look through some old files. After a few minutes, she hears the sound of a throat being cleared, and the click of a gun. She turns slowly, and looks at the man in front of her, who is dressed in Section Seven clothing, and is holding a gun on her. “Lieutenant Gorman. I suggest that you put down the folder, and walk over to me slowly.” Christi smiles grimly and flings the folder at him. The man pulls the trigger of his gun, and Christi screams in pain as a bullet lodges itself in her upper arm. “Thank you so much for that,” she says sarcastically, and kicks the gun out of his hand. She grabs the folder, and runs out of the apartment, then gets into Marial’s car and drives away from the building quickly. Going back the way she has come, she tries to concentrate on driving, but the bullet wound in her arm feels like a hot fire, creating a tremendous amount of pain. Tired and feeling as if she can’t go on any longer, she arrives back at the Gothic house, and lets herself in. Within an instant, Darius rushes over to her, concerned. “What the hell happened, Christi?” he asks. Christi looks down, noticing the red blood coating her arm. “A Section Seven guy shot me. Can you find a medic here?” she asks. Darius nods. “Let me help you into the atrium and then I’ll get Nurse Werlin.” Christi smiles slightly and, with the help of Darius, moves to the atrium to wait for Nurse Werlin, the woman who always seems to be patching her up.* She sits down and crosses her arms, holding the wounded part of her arm in her hand. Leaning back, she closes her eyes and grimaces as the pain continues to grow. Christi holds back sounds of pain as Nurse Werlin stitches and binds up her wound. “Now, try not to move this for a few days.” Christi shakes her head. “Not possible. I need to get to San Diego, and I’m going to have to move my arm to do it. You need to give me something for the pain.” Nurse Werlin sighs and nods. “Well, try not to move it too much, then.” Christi smiles. “All right, Nurse,” she says, and stands, before Nurse Werlin pushes her back down. “The only reason you aren’t feeling like the walking dead is because you’re in shock. Sit back down and I’ll get you some coffee,” she says firmly and walks towards the kitchen. Christi sits back in the chair, trying to block the pain out. ‘She’s probably right,’ she thinks, closing her eyes. A few minutes later, Nurse Werlin comes back in and hands Christi a large mug of coffee with a lot of sugar in it. Christi sips it gratefully, starting to feel better. She finishes the mug and gets to her feet, then walks out of the room. She goes over to Marial, who is in the game room, and hands her the keys to her car. “The driver’s seat is a little bloody, but I managed not to dent it,” she says, and leaves the game room, walking over to where Darius is, in the kitchen. “Christi, I’ve found possible motives for you. You’ll want to sit down.” Christi nods, and sits at the kitchen table. Darius sits across from her. “There have been rumors going around in the UEO that we’re trying to overthrow the government and lead the world. Maybe this Arawn person, whoever he is, told General O’Brien that all of this was true.” Christi nods. “But then why would Arawn tell him that? What’s Arawn motive?” she asks. Darius sighs. “Joseph Nethros, Athena’s brother, killed a non-Goth in self-defense. The non-Goth was named Anthony Heller, and he was a drug addict. He was trying to kill Joseph so that he could get more money to feed his addiction. Rumor has it that he came from a prominent family. Maybe there’s a connection. Maybe it is to get back at the Gothics for Heller’s death.” Christi nods. “Okay. Thank you, Darius. Could you do me one more favor?” she asks. Darius nods. “Name it.” Christi smiles. “Can you drive me to 453 Debson Avenue? I know how to get into UEO HQ.” Darius nods in affirmation. “Sure. When do you want to leave?” he asks. Christi sighs. “I need to get a little rest before we go. Let me rest for a few hours, and then we can go,” she says. Darius smiles. “Of course. Get some rest, and I’ll wake you in a few hours.” Christi nods. ~~~~~ *= Nurse Werlin was mentioned in Dead or Alive, on my website. Liked it? Want to tear it up in shreds? Comments are welcome! ~*Artemis Neptune*~ 'The heart of the wise man lies quiet like limpid water.' - Camerounian Proverb Date: Tue, 13 Apr 1999 18:16:37 -0400 (EDT) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 8 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id RAA14623 Chapter ten of fifteen... the story will draw to a close soon. ~~~~~~~ Chapter Ten Later that day, Darius drives Christi to Debson Avenue. Christi knocks on the door and is let in by a young woman in Section Seven uniform. “Christi, they have an APB out on you! Why the hell are you knocking on my door? I’m part of Section Seven!” the woman says. Christi closes the door and sighs. “Sulome, I have nowhere else to go for help at this point. I need you to get me into UEO HQ on San Diego Island the day after tomorrow.” Sulome Anderson shakes her head, her brown curly hair shaking with it, and her green eyes cloud with confusion. “Why should I help you? You’ve been accused of blowing up a UEO/US state building!” Christi sighs again. “Sulome, I didn’t blow up that building and I can prove it. The three most influential Gothics in the world were in that building. Why would I blow up the Gothic leaders?” Sulome sighs. “If you didn’t blow it up then why did you escape UEO custody? What’s going on, Christi?” Christi nods. “I suggest that we sit down. This could take a while.” Sulome nods and leads her into her sitting room. At that moment, Sulome realizes that Christi is wounded, as she sees some blood staining Christi’s shirt sleeve. “Christi, you’re wounded! What happened?” “As I said, it’s a long story.” Christi sits down in a chair and begins an explanation of what has happened to her in the past week, and who is involved. After around a half-hour, Sulome stops her. “I trust you, Christi. I can get you into UEO HQ. I rank pretty high in Section Seven so I know when and where the meeting is. We’ll leave tomorrow. You’ll crash here tonight, in my guest-room. You need the rest and you need to keep your arm still.” Christi nods. “Thank you, Sulome,” she says, smiling. Sulome smiles back. “Do you know how guilty I’d feel if I didn’t help you? We’re talking about the lives of over 500,000 Gothics! Get some sleep; you need it. You know where everything in the house is. I have to work tomorrow, but I’ll be done before six.” Christi nods and leaves the room, heading up to Sulome’s guest bedroom. Exhausted, without taking off her clothes, she climbs into bed and pulls the covers up around her. Within a few minutes, she is sound asleep. The next morning, Christi wakes up and gets dressed, then walks down to the kitchen, and makes herself breakfast. She sits down at the table and begins to eat the meal, then stops suddenly as a sharp pain shoots through her left arm. ‘I forgot about that thing. I’d better take some painkillers,’ she thinks, and stands, then looks through the cabinets for a bottle of Tylenol. After taking two pills, she sits back down again and returns to eating her breakfast, not noticing the blood seeping through the bandages. Lucas wakes up and dresses in his uniform, then packs a large duffel bag to go to the foreign affairs meeting. He zippers the bag and sets it on his bed, then leaves the room to go eat some breakfast, and then picks up his duffel on the way to the launch bay. He and Captain Hudson board MR 5, and set out on their journey to San Diego Island, and the foreign affairs meeting. Sulome arrives back at her house to find Christi in the sitting room, waiting with a duffel and her laptop. “It’s about time you got home. When does the meeting start?” Christi asks. Sulome smiles. “It starts tomorrow at ten am. Are you ready?” she asks. Christi nods in affirmation. “Then let’s go.” The two women get into Sulome’s car and they begin to drive to San Diego. Lucas and Captain Hudson arrive in San Diego and are transported by a UEO vehicle to a UEO hotel. They are shown to their rooms, and told when the meeting is. Lucas looks around at his temporary room. “Not too military,” he observes. Captain Hudson walks into his room. “Get some sleep, Lieutenant. You have a long day tomorrow,” he says, patting him on the shoulder. Lucas nods. “I just hope that maybe I can find Christi...I mean, Lieutenant Gorman, while we’re here.” Captain Hudson smirks. “I am well aware that you and Lieutenant Gorman are involved, Mister Wolenczak. You don’t have to keep correcting yourself when around me,” he replies. “I hope we can find her too, Lieutenant,” he finishes, and walks out of the room. Christi and Sulome get to San Diego at one am, and Christi directs Sulome to the Gothic house. When they arrive, Christi knocks tentatively on the door, which is soon opened by a young woman. “What do you want?” she asks, bad tempered. Christi raises an eyebrow. “We’d like to speak with Zephyr. Tell him that it’s Christi,” she replies. The woman nods and disappears for a moment, then reappears with Zephyr beside her. “Christi, back so soon?” he asks. Christi smiles slightly and nods. “Yes, Zephyr, I am back ‘so soon’.” “How is Athena doing?” Christi frowns. “She passed on yesterday.” Zephyr looks down, closes his eyes, and remains silent for a few seconds. Looking back up at Christi, with tear-filled eyes, he laments, “What are we going to do without Athena? Oh, excuse me, Christi, please come in. You too, um...” “Sulome,” Sulome provides. Zephyr nods. “Come in, both of you.” Once Christi and Sulome are inside, Zephyr gets right to the point. “Athena was a good leader for the Gothics. Her strength and support will be sorely missed. At least she is at rest and no longer in pain. Now Christi, how can I help you? What is it that you need at one in the morning?” he asks. Christi blushes. “We both need a place to stay for the night, before I bring the UEO conspiracy out in the open.” Zephyr smiles. “This much I can do for you. Christi, you’ll stay in Darkness, and, Sulome, you’ll stay in Forest. Have a good night’s sleep. Daria, show them to their rooms, please,” he says, and leaves. A young woman takes them up to their rooms, and then leaves them both to sleep. ~~~~ What goes down here? A plea for feedback. http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dreamworld/1600/index.html Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 17:44:28 -0400 (EDT) From: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com Subject: Hell and Back- Part 9 Sender: owner-tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu To: tales@mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu Reply-to: Fyrebyrd99@aol.com X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 13 X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mcfeeley.cc.utexas.edu id QAA14395 Comments so far?? Chapter eleven of 14... I just found out my brain wasn't working cause I forgot to put in chapter 12 and skipped to 13, so there are only 14 chapters now. Minor foul language... ~~~~~ Chapter Eleven The next morning, Christi is awakened by the sound of a neighbor’s lawnmower. She gets up, thinking, ‘There ought to be a law preventing people from mowing their lawn before eight in the morning.’ Looking out the window, she sees that it is going to be a bright, sunny day, and thinks how she wishes she could share such a beautiful day with Lucas, rather than what is ahead of her. After breakfast, she and Sulome set off for UEO HQ. She notices that Sulome has put a gun in her pocket. “A gun, Sulome?” she asks. Sulome nods. “If we want to convince them that you’re a prisoner, then I have to be holding a weapon on you,” she replies. Christi nods and turns her head to look out the window. Because the traffic is light, it takes them only fifteen minutes to arrive at headquarters, where they park the car just outside the gate. As they get out of the car, Sulome pulls out her gun and holds it against Christi’s back. Christi stiffens automatically as the guard stops them. “I’m sorry, ladies, but no one can go through for the next few hours.” Sulome sighs in mock exasperation. “Look, I’m under orders to deliver this prisoner to McGath himself. She’s holding some very sensitive files, and refuses to give them to anyone but him. Check your computer files for Lieutenant Christi Gorman. I’m assuming the reluctance is because of the foreign affairs meeting? Call McGath if you have to, but he won’t mind being interrupted for this.” The guard sighs. If he interrupts the meeting for something minor, it could cost him his career. If he doesn’t let them in and it really is that important, then he will still lose the career that he has worked so hard for. “All right, you can go through,” he says. Sulome smiles. “Okay, Gorman, let’s go,” she says, and leads Christi to a large set of doors, noticing that Christi’s left sleeve has red tinges to it. In the conference room, McGath signals for silence. “I’d like to introduce the creator of this project, Lieutenant Junior Grade Lucas Wolenczak.” Lucas stands, and there are several murmurs from the audience, mostly because of his young age. The audience, which is seated at a set of tables in a ‘T’ formation, is made up of high generals in the UEO, as well as foreign ambassadors from countries such as France, Italy, and England. He walks to the front of the room and begins to speak. “As you all know, the vochorder is what allows the dolphin you just saw, Darwin, to speak. It works by taking Darwin’s sighs, clicks, and whistles, beaming them into a computer database, which performs translations between the dolphin and human languages, and then...” Lucas is cut off when the door swings open and two young women walk in. McGath stands indignantly as the door shuts. “What is the meaning of this?” he asks. One of the women, Christi, Lucas realizes, takes the gun from the other woman, and points it at McGath. Captain Hudson stands. “What is going on here, Lieutenant Gorman?” he asks. Christi looks at him, keeping the gun trained on McGath. “Captain, I would really suggest that you sit. You too, Lieutenant Wolenczak. This may take a while.” Lucas sits, and motions for Hudson to do the same. “Mister Wolenczak, do you know what she’s doing?” Hudson whispers. Lucas shakes his head. “She didn’t tell me. All I know is that she’s still on our side, and that something big is about to go down in this room,” he replies. Christi looks around at the room. “As some of you, certainly you, Mister Secretary, may know, I was arrested a few days ago, without a warrant, for blowing up a UEO/US building,” she says, as she sets up her laptop. One of the generals interrupts. “Did you blow it up?” she asks. Christi looks at her like she’s crazy. “Of course not. There has been a conspiracy going on, which I found out about when I went to the Gothic Affair’s meeting. I have conclusive evidence that proves that there is a plot to eradicate the Gothics. I’d appreciate it if none of you would call security or use the intercoms at this time,” she says, as an ambassador reaches for the intercom button. “General O’Brien, I’d appreciate it if you would put your hands on the table, where everyone can see them.” General O’Brien interrupts her. “I will certainly not! McGath, who is this girl? Who are you working for?” he asks. Christi smirks. “Oh, I work for the UEO,” she replies, sarcasm laced in her tone. Lucas looks up at her and locks his eyes with hers. “Let her talk, General,” he says quietly. General McGath looks at him. “She is holding a gun on me, Lieutenant. I don’t negotiate with people who are holding weapons on me,” he replies forcefully. Christi looks at the gun in her hand and puts it down on the table, then slides it over to Lucas. “Do you negotiate with people who are not holding guns on you?” she asks, watching as Lucas picks up the gun. McGath shakes his head. “Wolenczak, you have the gun; arrest her!” he commands. Lucas shakes his head and looks at the gun. “Let her speak. She just showed you that she’s on our side,” he replies, then opens the barrel of the gun. He half-smiles. “Actually, she did that even when she had the gun pointed at you; the thing isn’t even loaded.” Christi looks at McGath. “Now will you let me explain this?” she asks. McGath sighs and nods. “Go ahead, Lieutenant,” he replies. Christi smiles slightly and types something up on her laptop. “General O’Brien has killed, or ordered killed, over one hundred Gothics. He and someone with the code name Arawn -the Celtic god of death and the underworld- a higher general, have been trying to kill all of the Gothics. O’Brien was convinced, by Arawn, that the Gothics were trying to overthrow the government. He was given falsified evidence, which he believed,” she says, contempt in her voice. “How dare you accuse me of this crime! I do not kill Gothics!” O’Brien exclaims. Christi types up something on her laptop, and connects it to an overhead. A document comes up, and O’Brien gasps, but tries to keep his cool. “Where did you get that? It looks like a Section Seven document!” Christi shrugs and looks at Lucas. “I have good connections,” she replies. “I wonder if you recognize it, General,” she finishes. O’Brien looks at the document, and shakes his head. “Of course I don’t recognize it! Why should I? I told you that I am not involved in this supposed crime!” he exclaims. “Well, General O’Brien, this document orders the assassination of several Gothics in London, and in New Los Angeles. It specifically identifies the targets, methods, and time frames for the assassinations. Let me bring your attention to a specific paragraph. I quote, ‘Athena Nethros- currently residing in New Los Angeles and a key leader of the Hera Gothic House should be terminated within two weeks. Records indicate that she will be attending a musical on June 3rd. Our operatives, disguised as food vendors, will be prepared to give Nethros a contaminated drink when she orders one.’ Unquote. The list goes on, to provide the same detail for six other assassinations: Joseph Nethros in New LA, Nicholas Fries in London, Janet Reis in London, Artemisia Davenport, also in London, Adrianna Ruden in New LA, and Diane Peters in New LA.” Christi shakes her head and zooms in on a signature. “Do you recognize the signature, General O’Brien? You should, because it’s yours,” she says, contempt dripping from her voice. “That’s a fake! You forged this material!” General O’Brien shrieks. “I am sure that the original of this document continues to be on file at Section Seven Headquarters. Mister Secretary, you could easily order it found. I have several more Section Seven documents, such as this one.” Christi types something, and a second document comes up on screen. General O’Brien gasps again, this time barely able to keep his cool. “This document orders the killing of hundreds of Gothics all over the world. I quote from this document: ‘Gothics are to be killed as quickly and as discreetly as possible. The killings are to look like accidents or freak murders, and cannot in any way look like the work of a Section Seven agent. Use extreme caution and kill only at night,’ unquote. So, not only are leaders being killed, regular Gothics are too. This was also signed by General O’Brien and Arawn,” Christi says. “Well, perhaps you’ve proved that General O’Brien was in on this, but how does the bombing tie into it?” another general asks. Christi closes her eyes, then opens them after a moment. “Arawn, not O’Brien, ordered the building to be blown up, because the three most influential Gothics in the world were in that building. Why would I kill the three people that represent me in Gothic affairs? Three people who were my friends.” Another general speaks, “You won’t live through this, you know. The UEO doesn’t admit to their faults, and so they’ll just arrest you for the bombing anyway,” he comments. Christi looks down at her laptop before responding. ‘91% match. That must be Arawn! No one else in the room matches the voice prints,’ she thinks, and looks at a file on her screen. ‘General Heller.’ Christi looks up at the general. “Do you feel guilty about any of this?” she asks. General Heller looks around for a moment, before realizing that she is speaking to him. He smirks. “Like I said before, you won’t survive.” Christi shakes her head in disgust, then gets a confused look on her face. “Why did you do it? I know why General O’Brien killed Gothics; he was only following orders. But why did you tell him to kill us?” Christi looks over at Lucas and backs away from the table, towards him. She looks at him. “Lieutenant Wolenczak, tell me, why do people kill?” she asks, then looks back over at General Heller, angered. Lucas closes his eyes, thinking. “They kill because of love, hate, power, money, or revenge.” Christi returns to the table. “Well, it wouldn’t be power or money, so that leaves love, hate, and revenge. I know that Anthony Heller was killed...” Christi trails off and her eyes widen. “Go on, Lieutenant,” McGath says, as she leans on the table. “Oh God. Anthony Heller was your son,” she says, looking at General Heller. Heller nods. “Yes, he was my son,” he replies, “And the Gothics murdered him. He was my only child, and they killed him.” Christi takes a deep breath. “Anthony Heller was killed by the late Athena Nethros’ brother, the late Joseph Nethros. Both were Gothic. Anthony was a drug addict, and he was trying to kill Joseph so that he would have more money to feed his addiction. Sir, did you know that your son was a drug addict? Did you know that Joseph only killed him in self-defense?” she asks, then answers her own question. “No, of course you didn’t, because Anthony would have _never_ done drugs, right? So it had to be the Gothic’s fault! So, you decided that Athena and her brother should not live. You convinced General O’Brien that we (the Gothics) were going to take over the government. You told him to poison Athena with something that worked quickly, and caused a lot of pain. Then you had him set a bomb in the UEO/US state building and have it blown up, then blame it on a Gothic: blame it on me. If you had stopped when you killed Joseph and Athena, then this would have been different. But you didn’t stop there, right? You couldn’t stop there! By now you were convinced that Gothics were evil, and so you couldn’t let any of us live. So, you arranged, through O’Brien, accidents that would kill off the Gothics. You’ve attempted genocide of Gothics, and you’ve already killed over one hundred world-wide. Fifty were from the North Pacific Confederation, and the others were from other confederations. You’re a murderer. You’re a mass murderer,” Christi finishes. She looks at McGath. “I want you to...” She trails off as her arm begins to feel like it is on fire. She takes a deep breath, and continues, “I want you to promise me that General O’Brien and General Heller will be punished for what they’ve done,” she says. McGath nods, and looks at Captain Hudson. “If they are guilty, they will be punished, and it won’t be buried. We need time, though. I am authorizing a full investigation. If what you’ve suggested proves true, they will be put on trial, and I have no doubt that Section Seven will...” Christi interrupts him. “Disband Section Seven. They’re too powerful, and they’re the ones who have been doing the dirty work of O’Brien and Heller.” McGath nods again. “I will have to consider that. How do you suggest that we get rid of Section Seven?” he asks. Christi thinks for a moment. “If you feel that Section Seven is absolutely necessary, then give most of their powers to other areas of the UEO. All of the officers who were involved in the Gothic eradication should be tried and put in prison,” she replies. “I’ll get non-Section Seven security here to be on the safe side,” McGath says. Christi nods and types something on her laptop. “How fast can they be here?” she asks. McGath sighs. “Around two hours,” he replies, and touches the intercom button. “I’d like a non-Section Seven security team here as soon as possible,” he says into the speaker. “Why non-Section Seven?” someone on the other end asks. “Don’t ask questions, just get them over here!” McGath replies. He shuts off the intercom and looks at Christi. “We’ll need the time before they arrive to discuss what you have just shown us,” he tells her. Christi nods slightly, about to say something, then stops and puts her right hand on her left arm. ‘Oh shoot,’ she thinks, and looks at Lucas, who raises both eyebrows. ‘What happened?’ he asks. Christi breathes in, trying to control the pain. ‘A Section Seven bastard shot me,’ she replies, and looks back at McGath. “Would you be willing to watch the prisoners?” McGath asks. Christi starts to nod, then gasps in pain, leaning against the table. “Maybe it would be better if you had Lieu...Lieuten..._Lucas_...watch them,” she replies softly, gasping. She tries to stand straight and looks at Lucas helplessly as the room begins to get fuzzy and dark. Lucas stands quickly and barely manages to catch Christi as she collapses. He then lays her on the ground, and gently checks her pulse. He looks at McGath. “Call an ambulance and a med-unit!” he says urgently. McGath slaps on the intercom. “I need a med-unit, fast! And call an ambulance!” he shouts and slaps the intercom off. Lucas brushes a piece of hair out of Christi’s face, one hand still on Christi’s neck, feeling her pulse. He sighs, knowing that Christi’s forehead is very warm, too warm to be normal. Captain Hudson walks over to them, and crouches down by Christi’s left arm. “How is she?” he asks. Lucas shrugs, concerned with her arm. “I don’t know, Sir. She has a fever, and her wound has started to bleed again,” he replies, pointing to the growing patch of blood on Christi’s shirtsleeve. Captain Hudson raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean, ‘again’?” he asks. Lucas looks up. “A Section Seven man shot her in the arm. I’m guessing it was about two days ago. Do you have anything I could use to cut off her sleeve?” he asks. Hudson shakes his head. Lucas sighs and rips Christi’s left sleeve off, to see a bandage wrapped around the bullet wound, blood seeping from it. He quickly rips Christi’s other sleeve off and uses that to staunch the blood flow. He looks up at Hudson. “Sir, the gun Christi gave me, it’s empty. How am I supposed to watch O’Brien and Heller?” he whispers. Hudson raises an eyebrow. “Let me worry about that, Lieutenant. They didn’t let you carry a loaded gun, but I was allowed in with one because I’m a captain. I’ll watch them,” he replies quietly. A med-unit arrives, and they load Christi onto a stretcher. “I’ll go with her, and keep you informed, Captain,” Lucas says and runs out after the med-unit. Captain Hudson nods, wanting to go, but knowing that he can’t. “Well, it seems that we have some time until the security team arrives. Could I, uh, interest anyone in a cup of coffee?” McGath asks, almost speechless. Captain Hudson stands and takes a gun out of his pocket. “Allow me, Mister Secretary,” he says, and looks at Generals O’Brien and Heller. “I’ll watch the prisoners for you until the security team arrives,” he finishes. ‘And then I can get to the hospital to make sure Lieutenant Gorman is all right,” he thinks. ~~~ Hate it? Think it's good? Comments are asked for! ~*Artemis Neptune*~