A Place in the Sun

Summary: Sequel to 'Topsy Turvy' and 'How to Save A Life.' Linksano, Jade, and Charlene are living a very happy life with their friends and family. But when Charlene and SOI are kidnapped by a shadowy government agency, their fathers undertake a perilous journey to get them back.

Warnings: Violence, strong language, off-screen torture of a child.

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Jade and Charlene, along with any other , belong to me. Everyone else belongs to the lovely people that created them.

Chapter One: A Surprise and a Capture

Linksano snuffled in his sleep, pressing closer to Jade. Outside, the rain beat steadily on the roof, but it had no chance of waking him.

The door to the bedroom opened a crack, and a pair of bright blue eyes peeked in. Slowly, the door opened more, revealing a small, pajama clad child clutching a brown teddy bear. The child took a deep breath, then ran into the room and leapt onto the bed, landing smack dab on Linksano's stomach.

His eyes shot open as the air whooshed out of his lungs. "Ahhh! We're being invaded!"

The child giggled. "It's me, Daddy!"

Linksano glared at his daughter. "So you say! But I know better. You're an evil being bent on conquering me! Well, I have found a way to defeat you!" With that, he began tickling her. Charlene screeched in laughter and tried to wriggle away. "Aha, you are no match for my tickle beam! Surrender!"

Charlene was breathless with laughter. "Heeheee, stop Daddy! Heeheeehee!"

"Oscar, I thought it was Charlene that was four, not you." Jade had been awoken by the laughter. She rolled her eyes in amused exasperation at her family. "Charlene, why have you decided to wake us up at five in the morning?"

Charlene grinned. "Do you know what today is?"

Linksano thought for a moment. "Friday, I believe. Why?"

Charlene's grin didn't waver. "It's SOI's birthday!"

Her parents exchanged glances. Linksano turned back to Charlene. "Sweeting, SOI doesn't have a birthday. He wasn't exactly..born."

Charlene rolled her eyes in a perfect imitation of Linkara. "I know that, Daddy. But he's my best friend, and I think he deserves a birthday. So I talked to him, and we decided that his birthday would be today. We're going to have the party at Uncle Linkara's apartment!"

Jade bit her tongue to keep from laughing as she imagined the look that would be on Linkara's face. "And does Uncle Linkara know about this party?" Charlene blushed, twisting a strand of hair between her fingers. "I thought not. Does anyone else know about this besides you and SOI?"

"Unkpoony." Charlene mumbled. Linksano sighed.

"Speak up, Charlene."

"Uncle Spoony. He promised not to tell anyone! He and SOI were going to sneak in and set everything up. He got a cake and balloons and streamers and everything!"

Jade and Linksano sighed in unison. This was shaping up to be a great day.

"WHAT THE FUNK AND WAGNALL IS GOING ON?!" Linkara's day had started out normal enough. He woke up, stumbled into the bathroom, washed his face and brushed his teeth, got dressed, and came downstairs-

To discover that the living room, kitchen, and hall were covered in streamers and balloons, bowls of chips, pretzels, and candy on the coffee table, party hats on the Cybermats(which seemed to enjoy them, judging from the happy chirps), and a large banner across the bookshelf that said 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOI.' Before Linkara could work out a coherent thought as to why exactly his apartment had turned into Party Central, Spoony came out of the kitchen. "Oh. Hey, you're awake."

Linkara blinked. "Spoony, what are you doing here?"

The gamer grinned. "Setting up."

"...For what?"

"SOI's birthday, of course. Hey SOI, come on out here." Linkara made a few incoherent sounds as SOI came floating out. "Tell Linkara what's going on."

"Riki, riki, tee. Riki Riki Rik!"

Linkara sank onto the couch, head in his hands. "Why choose my place? And why didn't anyone tell me?"

Spoony scooped up a pretzel. "One, you've got plenty of room. Two, I wanted to, but SOI and Charlene still haven't really grasped the concept of a 'surprise' party." He chuckled, ruffling SOI's tendrils. "But I can't say no to those eyes." He sat next to Linkara, elbowing him in the ribs in a friendly manner. "Come on, man, it'll be fun."

"...Fine."

Spoony and SOI grinned in triumph.

Five hours later, Linkara had to contend that Spoony was right. It had been a lot of fun. 90's Kid was of course thrilled at the idea of a party, while Harvey had taken it all in stride, even singing 'Happy Birthday' to SOI. The others had had a blast too. Charlene had been quite proud of herself, and SOI had been over the moon the whole time.

"Riki tee!"

Insano grinned at his son. "Yes, of course we can do this again. Only next time, perhaps some advance warnings might be in order." He looked over at Charlene. "No doubt the secrecy was your idea."

"Yeah." SOI floated over to her, nuzzling her happily. "Aww, thanks. I had fun too." Charlene hugged him, kissing his cheek, and SOI turned even pinker.

Insano stretched and yawned. "SOI, we'd better get going. Daddy's got work to do." His son's face fell.

"Riki, riki."

"I'm sure Linksano and Jade have plans as well."

Jade shook her head. "Not really. If SOI wants to spend the day with Charlene, that's fine. I can take them to the park."

This remark prompted a barrage of cheers and dancing. "Park! Park! Park! Park!" Insano laughed.

"Well, I guess I'll pick SOI up later this evening, then. You behave yourself, understand?"

"Riki!"

Jade sat on a bench, watching as SOI and Charlene ran around, chasing each other. The park was fairly deserted, which suited both children fine. It wasn't that they didn't get along with others, but both knew how different they were.

A shadowy figure watched them playing. After a bit, the figure pulled a phone out of his jacket with a gloved hand. "Grimm calling Andersen. Have located the targets. They are accompanied by a woman. Please advise."

"Neutralize the threat. Do not allow yourself to be seen. We are nearing the location."

The man-Grimm-replaced the phone and pulled out what looked like a blowgun and two hypos. He placed one in the gun and aimed for Jade, then blew as hard as he could.

Jade winced as she felt something sting her neck. She slapped at the spot, then felt an overwhelming wave of dizziness before collapsing.

"Threat neutralized. Engage beams."

SOI and Charlene, who had been playing tag, found themselves caught in a bright green light. SOI whimpered, and Charlene clung to him as the transport pulled them away.

"Jade! Jade, wake up!"

Jade's eyes shot open. Night had fallen. Linksano was kneeling over her, relief and fear on his face. "Oh, thank Tesla you're alright! Where's Charlene?"

Jade bolted upright. "What do you mean, where's Charlene?! She's right over..." her voice trailed off as she took note of the empty playground. "CHARLENE?"

Linksano took a deep breath. "We'll find her. She can't have gone far." He pulled Jade into a hug. "We'll find her, love." His phone rang. "Hello? Oh, hello Insano. Look, I don't have time to...what? No, not since they left earlier for the park. Yes, of course I would tell you. OK, you too." He hung up, looking over at Jade. "SOI appears to be missing as well. What's the last thing you remember?"

"Something stung me, and then I collapsed."

"Where?"

"In the back of the neck."

"No, where were you when you got stung."

Jade spread her arms. "Right here." Linksano knelt in front of the bench, examining it closely. "Aha! Here's the stinger!" He held the dart gingerly. "Pretty advanced tech." He pocketed it, then pulled out his transporter. Jade grabbed his hand, and they beamed to Linkara's apartment.

"Where's Charlie?" Harvey asked. Jade shook her head, and Linksano answered.

"We fear that something may have happened to her and SOI. Nimue?"

'ONLINE.'

"This is going to be an odd request, but could you beam Insano here? This concerns him."

'AFFIRMATIVE.'

Charlene opened her eyes to utter blackness. She couldn't see or hear a thing, and it was very cold. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Riki?" SOI's voice was very low, and Charlene had to strain to hear it.

"SOI? Where are you?"

"Riki."

Charlene crept towards the voice, hands outstretched. After a while, she felt smooth tendrils wrap around her fingers. "Riki, Riki Tee!" She stroked him.

"I'm scared too. But our Daddies are the smartest people alive. They'll find us."