"I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?" - Zhuangzi

Club; Dublin, Ireland

Monday, August 9, 2020

Liam Dougherty moved through the colorful, pulsing crowd. Loud music and happy people, it was definitely his scene. He made his way around the dancers, and briefly eyed a couple guys that were probably straight; their loss. A familiar face already occupied a stool at the bar. Seeing Locke made him think of Nessa's boyfriend. That would be fun, but he didn't think Nessa would arrange it for him again.

"Long time." Liam claimed a chair with his back to the bar.

"Aye." Locke smiled. From his expression, he'd already had to much to drink.

"Want to dance?"

"'Shrooms." Locke laughed. "I'd land on my face."

Liam turned around to order a drink. The girl at the other end of the bar looked young and familiar. It took a moment to place her.

"What are you having?"

"What's on tap?"

Liam barely heard the bartender as he watched Jeannette Dove. He ordered a beer. "The Welsh girl," Liam motioned. "She's sixteen."

"ID says eighteen."

"Her sister would disagree." Liam pulled his mobile and wallet from his pocket. Unsure the best explanation, he took a couple pictures and sent them. There was no way Nessa could hear over the music. He simply texted her the location.

Nessa's response was quick. Please keep an eye on her. I need fifteen to twenty minutes.

Liam quickly counted out money as the bartender set a draught in front of him. "Thanks. And her sister's coming for her."

A few minutes later, she noticed him watching her. He smiled and walked over. He hadn't meet Jeannette. He'd seen pictures of her and once saw her walking into Nessa's building after he left.

"Looking for company?" He smiled.

She sipped a mixed drink. "Maybe." Her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Liam sipped his beer. "Long day?"

She nodded.

"I had a tourist ask me why I got sunset colors wrong in one of my paintings."

"You're an artist?"

"Mostly landscapes for the art impaired. You?"

"Poetry. I want to take creative writing classes."

"Ireland is a good place for that." Liam deepened his accent. "We write passionately about fighting, love, family and fighting with family."

Jeannette smiled again, her eyes sparkling. "Why do you paint landscapes?"

Liam shrugged. "The tourists buy them."

"Sounds soulless."

"Not always. One of my customers yesterday was a photographer. Nice-looking guy wearing cheap jeans and a fancy Swiss watch."

"Gay?"

"Mostly." Liam grinned.

Jeannette laughed. "You want to dance or bitch about guys?"

"Either." Liam laughed. "I can bitch while I finish this." He motioned at his beer.

Nessa's Flat; Dublin Ireland

General Trefor Williams was coming out of the bathroom fresh from a shower when he saw Nessa grabbing her keys. She looked worried, and hadn't said anything about leaving.

"Hey."

"Jeannette's at a bar. Liam is keeping an eye on her. I wouldn't trust him with a hamster."

"Nessa, give me a couple minutes to get dressed."

"I got it."

"Yeah." He reminded himself he had his own issues. "You're freaking out and shouldn't drive."

"She's sixteen with a fake ID."

Trefor suspected Liam was not as flaky as he appeared. The background check showed Liam had a degree in art history with good grades, and managed the small store where he sold his paintings. Nessa would think it was jealousy, if she knew. He just wanted her safe.

Liam Dougherty reminded himself not to check his watch. If she figured out he was babysitting, she'd take off. It wasn't the greatest neighborhood. Even straight guys traveled in groups.

Jeannette's mobile announced a text message. When she fished it out of her purse, he saw a big baggie of something. He hoped it wasn't drugs.

"What's that?" He asked carefully.

"'Shrooms."

Liam nodded, trying to sound casual. "Must be popular."

"I hope not." She checked her messages. "I bought the crap because it could mess people up. If they're going to sell party drugs, they should know what they hell they're selling."

"What?"

"You know that big drug scandal in Cardiff months ago? The kids that died? Same kind of crap. Not as strong as the fatal stuff, but bad."

"How do you know?"

"You wouldn't believe me." She quickly typed out a response to the text. "She insists we come out tonight. It would be fun. And then she doesn't show up. The bitch."

Liam made a show of checking his mobile. He had it on vibrate. Check your sister's purse for drugs.

What kind? Nessa wrote back.

Mushrooms.

Has she taken any?

I don't know.

If she starts looking agitated or angry, I need to know immediately.

Liam wondered. Jeannette must have a history with drugs. No shock or denial. Just keep an eye on her.

"Cute guy?" Jeannette asked.

"No. Friend drama." He smiled. "Her boyfriend is hot."

Jeannette nodded. "My sister has an absolutely gorgeous guy. I don't get it. He's too rigid. She's a free spirit."

"Envious?" He didn't want to know, but it was the obvious question.

"Nah. I look. I dance. I flirt a little. Dating is dangerous."

I'm so sorry, Liam thought. Nessa mentioned her sister had been through hell. Liam hadn't asked. "Yeah. Have you taken self-defense classes?"

"No." She eyed the baggie in her purse. "I should. My sister's boyfriend is in law enforcement. I just don't want to ask. He gets all self-righteous and preachy."

"He's a cop?" Liam tried to remember exactly what Trefor had said. Security, he was sure Trefor said security was the family business.

"Torchwood."

Shit. That would explain a few things. "I thought that was based in Wales?"

"What's wrong?" General Trefor Williams asked.

"Liam says she has mushrooms." Tears were streaming down Nessa's face. "I need Jack's mobile number. If she's taken…"

Trefor recited the number and Nessa dialed. He could see the acting out. The fake ID and bar were not completely unexpected. Jeannette was hurt and angry and doing stupid things. Intentionally taking CN was another story altogether. There had to be more to it.

"Harkness."

"Jack." Nessa wiped at the tears. "Jeannette may have CN. Trefor and I are in the car. We don't have the shield or the…"

"Destabilizer. Can you switch to speaker?"

Nessa did.

"No warning signs, Jack. Everything Jeannette has said indicates she's afraid of the drugs and what happens when she takes them."

"What is her state of mind?"

"Calm, as far as we know. She's at a bar with a fake ID. A friend of Nessa's is babysitting until we get there."

"I'm heading for the armory. I need a location as soon as you have one." Jack paused. "You know what she did to the last guy that betrayed her."

"Knowing Liam, they're talking about fashion or stupid tourists. She probably thinks he's gay."

"Has she talked about Eddie?"

Nessa closed her eyes. "She can't even look at a picture of him. Even Malcolm wishes he could hurt Eddie for what he did."

Liam Dougherty followed Jeannette outside. After the text message, she said she wanted air. He couldn't blame her; he would have been pissed. With no idea what excuse would work, short of dancing and Nessa would kill him, he followed Jeannette's lead.

"This is a bad neighborhood."

She linked her arm in his. "We'll stay where it's lit."

He hoped Nessa showed up soon.

"Is anything still open around here?"

Nowhere he was willing to take a sixteen year-old. "Not much."

They walked in silence until a van parked in front of them. Liam turned around, intending to walk back and a car came out of the alley. He stepped back, putting his back to a wall and grabbed his mobile. He had no bars. There was no way he had no bars.

"Is your mobile working?"

Jeannette fumbled the mobile out of her purse and handed it to him. "You asked me how I know about the drugs." Her tone changed as she removed the baggie from her purse. "Did you see the report about the fireball that killed Eddie Cattrel in Cardiff?"

"Yeah."

"That's what happens when I take CN. I get angry and I throw fireballs."

"Uh. Nessa should be here soon. Wouldn't she bring Trefor with her?"

"You… you know my sister?"

The van door opened.

"Yeah. I dated her."

Jeannette opened the baggie with tears streaming down her face. "The friend with the hot boyfriend?"

"I was worried."

"Just stay behind me." She started eating the mushrooms. "These aren't the strongest I've had, but they are stronger than the party drug."

The hairs stood up on his arms. "What's happening?"

"You need to let me go and step into that doorway. When Torchwood gets here, they will come at me with an energy shield and a strange looking weapon. I don't know how I'll react. Stay out of the way."

Two men approached from the van. One had some type of rifle. The other had a Taser.

After eating half the bag, she handed it to him. "No matter what, do not get in front of me."

She suddenly stretched her hands out in front of her. The men stopped. The one with the gun pointed it at her. "Go now and I will let you live." Tears well in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks.

The man fired and than screamed. A burst of energy knocked the men over. They were rolling around trying to put the flames out.

"Go!"

The car door opened. Jeannette shifted, holding her hands out in front of her in opposite directions. "Don't make me do this. Go!" Another shot rang out, this one louder. Another burst of energy hit the car and it exploded, flames reaching for the sky.

As the van sped away, Liam's mobile rang. His hands were shaking so badly, he had trouble answering it. "Hello?"

"Thank the gods," Nessa said.

"They tried to shoot her."

"Can you put it on speaker?"

Liam struggled to change it. "There."

"Jeannette," Nessa said softly, "Can you talk to me?"

"I'm in control."

"Jack is coming. He's going to have to tranq you. We can't safely move you conscious."

"I know." Jeannette cried. "They wanted to abduct me. A friend set me up to be abducted."

"You're going to be okay, sis."