I don't own. I'm making no money. Disney owns. Buy their products. Make them money when/if they ever release the supposed 10th Anniversary of Gargoyles on DVD. Other people also have rights. I am not one of them. I am doing this for fun. I am not officially endorsing Disney. Giving them money is merely my personal suggestion :)
Oh, and a small note. I realize that I am probably over simplifying the process of archaeology. Countries have very strict regulations on the ownership of antiquitarian pieces found on their soil. But, seems how Xanatos has obviously obtained pieces in the past. Lets just suspend our disbelief shall we?
Oh, and yes there is an evil cliffhanger at the end of this chapter.
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With an angry face, Elisa Maza blew through the doors of David Xanatos's office.
David looked up with a mildly amused smile on his face, "Why Detective, this is just like old times. I haven't seen you this agitated in a while. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Elisa growled at him.
David's eyebrow rose, "I'm sorry, while you and Goliath have obviously spent much time together and you seem to understand such things, I would like to point out to you that I am not fluent in the translation of various primeval grunts."
Elisa's face grew even darker than it had been before, "You KNOW what this is about, Xanatos. Don't even try to play that game with me."
This sentence made David Xanatos very uneasy. Not simply because he did not know what he had in fact done to anger the detective, but because he was angry that he did not know. He was one of the most powerful men in the world. He prided himself on always being twelve steps ahead. He hated not knowing what had irritated dear Detective Maza. How was he supposed to enjoy it otherwise?
Thankfully, his brain kicked back into gear quickly. If he did not know something, Owen would. Discretely, he pushed the call button beneath his desk to signal Owen.
In the mean time, he smiled pleasantly at Elisa. She glowered back. Soon, a nasal voice interrupted their staring contest.
"Yes, Mr. Xanatos," Owen spoke blandly as he entered the office.
"Owen, the Detective here seems to be irritated at me for some reason. Any thoughts on the matter?"
Owen glanced once at Elisa, "Perhaps the Detective has seen the new roster for the historical research department."
David steepled his fingers in front of his face. Obviously, Owen knew what had mad Maza angry. But what? Xanatos had always devoted a fairly tidy budget to a specialized team to find, obtain and catalogue various historical and mythological objects. Surely the detective did not think that he had abandoned his pursuits into that area entirely. Vainly, he tried to remember what the last report he had read had said. He remembered that it had been boring and that Fox had been much more interesting…
David was roused from his thoughts when Owen discretely cleared his throat and nudged the report on the desk. Nonchalantly, he began to sift through the pages while Elisa tried to see if her stare could indeed turn him into stone. When his eyes lit upon the item that had so upset Elisa, David did not know whether to do his normal suave and totally in control routine, or to sink under his desk and pray that Owen would protect him.
Of course, he only considered the second option for a scant second before all thoughts of 'I'm going to die' vanished in place of immediate scheming.
"Well, Detective, I can't say that your sister's decision to join our team is not shocking, but we do have one of the best funded archaeological teams in the world and access to several exclusive dig sites."
Elisa growled, "What did you do to her? Beth would never have joined up with you. Not after what you did to my brother."
David would like to know that answer himself. He was pretty certain Oberon frowned on that much mind control, and Puck was not about to risk being Owen for the rest of his life just to have some fun with Alex, but he could be wrong.
"Owen?" David queried in his best 'I-really-know-what-is-going-on-but-I'm-not-admitting-it' voice
"Ah, you see, Detective Maza that while I am not entirely certain about your sister's choice, she apparently has more faith in Mr. Xanatos's recent movements in relation to both your brother and your Gargoyle friends than you do. She was, after all, at the top of her graduating class and Xanatos industries has a reputation for hiring only the best and the brightest, not to mention our exclusive dig sites as Mr. Xanatos mentioned. When she put in her application, I could not pass it over, even though she is your sister."
"Are you trying to tell me she actually applied?!" Elisa asked, obviously not believing him.
"Indeed I am, Detective. Your sister, I am certain, would be more than willing to corroborate this story."
Elisa shook her head, "I really don't believe it. Beth told me she got hired this morning."
"So you naturally assumed I had something to do with it?" Xanatos shot back.
Elisa crossed her arms, "You want to tell me who else could have done this?"
"Not that I like to bring up unpleasant topics, but you do have several enemies, and not all of them are unskilled in matters of manipulation. Besides, perhaps your sister is really joining my company because she wants to."
Elisa frowned, "I can't believe you actually expect me to trust you."
"Would I lie?"
Elisa looked at him.
David smiled back, "Would I lie when you have a 300 pound boyfriend who sleeps on my parapets?"
Elisa mimicked David's earlier expression and raised one eyebrow.
Xanatos frowned, "Why didn't you ask your sister why she chose to work for me?"
"I did. She said that it would be career suicide to not work for Xanatos Industries Archaeology, and that you seemed to have changed given your recent treatment of Goliath and Derrick."
"And you don't believe her," David replied.
"Would you?"
"Come now, Detective, if I was going to use your sister in a scheme of mine, I would have hired her into a position that I have much more direct control over."
Elisa shook her head, "I'm not that stupid, Xanatos. You don't need to be in direct control to be calling the shots."
"Detective, you flatter me, but really what do you plan to accomplish with your presence? Your sister is an adult capable of making her own decisions, and I am certainly not going to fire her because she is your sister. It would be illegal to fire someone because of who they are related to, and I certainly wouldn't want that."
Elisa frowned, "Watch your back, Xanatos. I'm going to be watching it very closely."
With that she stormed out of his office in a very determined stride.
David watched amused as the doors swished closed behind her, "Owen, what exactly is Detective Maza's sister doing working for us?"
"Truthfully, I am not certain, Sir. She had already made it into the final round of interviews before I looked over the roster. Apparently, she is very skilled in translations. The head of our archaeology department thought she would be a good addition to our team."
"Hmmm, Owen, I want you to keep a close eye on Beth Maza for me. I want to know everything. This could prove to be a most amusing distraction," David said.
"Yes, sir," Owen replied.
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Owen's brisk stride echoed rhythmically in the empty hallway as his shoes contacted the white linoleum. With his custom stoic face, he entered into a large room where the Xanatos Corporation's archaeological division stores its latest shipments. The building was located just outside of Manhattan in what used to be a warehouse. David Xanatos had purchase the building in order to have the latest objects he had acquired be closer to hand. When he obtained the rights to certain artifacts, he usually had them flown in to be properly identified and catalogued. It was in this building that Beth Maza worked.
She had received accolades on her translation abilities, and the head of the department had said it would be a crime not to hire her, so Owen had given his approval. The fact that she was Detective Maza's sister was a bonus. Inside of his Owen shell, Puck had practically done cartwheels in anticipation of the intrigues that were bound to occur.
As he neared the station that Beth was working at, he could make out the sounds of an argument.
"That isn't what it says," an upset female voice hissed.
"Look, kid, I've been at this a lot longer than you have. I know what it says. Don't start back talking me, Maza."
"Is there a problem here?" Owen cut in before Beth could reply.
"Yeah," the man who Beth had been arguing with replied, "this new employee here seems to think that she can dispute my translations."
Owen reached out his good hand for the piece. Analytically, he stared at the inscriptions.
"And what exactly is she disputing?" he asked in his normal nasal voice.
"I merely pointed out that he was missing the end of the inscription on his translation. Jonas here decided to take it as an insult," Beth answered.
"I wouldn't have taken it as an insult if you were right," Jonas shot back.
"Yes, well, Mr.," Owen paused to read the man's name tag, "Thompson, I will handle this. Go on about your work. Miss Maza, please follow me."
Owen turned and walked towards a small office area that was vacant. Beth followed and closed the door behind her as she went in the room after him.
"Are you going to get after me for being out of line?" Beth asked before Owen opened his mouth.
"Not at all," Owen replied calmly, "I was wondering how you came to the conclusion that the translation that Mr. Thompson had was inaccurate."
Beth shook her head, "There is more inscription on that than what he had translated. Here, let me show you," Beth moved to where Owen was and picked up the piece of pottery from his hand, "Jonas only translated to here, but he didn't translate these lines. I realize that you have to take my word for it, but…"
"On the contrary Miss Maza, I know exactly what this shard says," Owen cut her off.
Beth stopped in shock, "You do?"
"I do. I also know that Mr. Thompson translated exactly what he saw. You see, Mr. Thompson cannot see the last of the inscription because it has a magical block on it. The question is, why can you see it?"