Twin Peaks: Conjunction
Story by Ann White
Cover art by Rae Weston
Dedicated to the memory of Kimberly Murphy-Smith, editor of PowerStar Magazine. I'll see you in the trees, my friend.
This is a "not for profit" amateur fan publication, and is not intended to infringe upon the rights of ABC Television, Lynch/Frost Productions, Worldvision Enterprises, Pocket Books, or any other Twin Peaks license holders. All original text, fiction, and illustrations are copyrighted to the individual writers and artists. Please don't sue us!
Prologue
"I am become Death,
the destroyer of worlds."
- the Bhagavad Gita
Special Agent Dale Cooper, FBI, was trapped in a place called the Black Lodge. Cooper was running through the Black Lodge, pursued by his double, which was the part of himself that he had traded for Annie's life. Or was it his erstwhile partner, Windom Earle? He couldn't remember. All he knew was that he was desperately trying to find the way out of this maze.
Cooper was beginning to become afraid. Did Annie get out? Was she all right? He ran aimlessly through red-curtained rooms of the Black Lodge, dwelling on the problem, trying to think his way out. His double caught up to him. The two Coopers faced each other. His double changed into a thin, pointed-faced man with long, unwashed, gray hair. He realized in that moment that Bob had stolen his soul, his memories, and his life-force.
"Coop, what happened to Annie?" Bob leered at him.
"Don't touch her! Let her go. I gave you my soul for her. We had a deal."
"How touching. Too late, Coop. I have to go. Your friends are waiting," he said. He pointed a finger, and Cooper felt a burst of energy surge through his body. He felt as if he were burning up from the inside. He had just enough time to scream before the darkness took him.
Nothingness. Blackness. He fought his way up from what seemed like an ocean of black. "My name is Dale Cooper," he said aloud. "I am," what? He couldn't remember.
"Lie still," a female voice said. "Take it easy. It will all come back to you." Cooper felt that he should recognize the voice. He opened his eyes. There was a beautiful, sad-faced Chinese woman with short hair leaning over him.
"I know you," he realized. "Your name is Josie."
"Very good," she answered. "I am Josie Packard."
Now he remembered. Josie, the woman who shot him, and died mysteriously in a hotel room. Josie, the woman who was supposedly in love with his friend, Sheriff Harry Truman. "I have to get out of here," Cooper tried to sit up, but then fell back.
"No, you must rest. You have no where else to go," she said sadly. "None of us can leave. We were hoping that you could help us, but you were defeated."
Cooper closed his eyes. Yes, everything was slowly coming back, as the woman said. He was an agent with the FBI. He was in love with a young, blonde, innocent woman named Annie. Some words came back to him. "I take my refuge in the Buddha. I take my refuge in the Dharma. I take my refuge in the Sanha." Dale repeated to himself.
More memories came back. Another woman, older than Annie. This was Caroline Earle, the wife of his partner, who he fell in love with, and died in his arms. Then another memory. A woman again, only this one had black hair and black eyes. She was smiling at him, and was standing in front of a bridge. She had said something to him. What was it? Think, Dale... come on... yes.
"I want you to know, that if you should ever need me, just call me. Somehow, knowing you the way I do, I don't think you'll use a telephone," she had said. Who was she? Yes, his former teacher. The woman who had taught him about the mysteries, and how to trust his intuition. Well, I don't remember your name yet, but if I can, I'll call you. What had she taught him about telepathy? Focus on the person's energy. It doesn't matter where they are in relation to you. Just focus on them.
"God, if You exist, help me. Help me find this woman, so I can escape from this place," he prayed, although he couldn't remember why. He focused on the memory of the dark-haired woman's face and called her.
