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Title:Reasons Maia is kidnapped.
Author:Rodlox.
Summary:Just a few reasons why Maia might be kidnapped...each reason is a chapter.

Author's notes:This plot idea came to me before I saw the previews during 'Being Tom Baldwin'...but I just couldn't think of whole stories. So I've borrowed from the method of "five things that are definately not true about.
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ONE:

POV:MAIA.

The room will be lime green with pastel yellow in the windowframes that're up against the ceiling. Someone takes the blindfold away, and I can see with my eyes again. The room is lime green, and just short of the ceiling are pastel yellow windowframes. Standing under one frame is a tall man leaning against the wall. Waiting. Always patient. I look around the room, seeing it empty but for me, him, and - "Aunt April!" I exclaim, running to where she's tied up, forced to lean against the wall on the other side of the room, not moving.

Marco will tell me and mom that my aunt was injected with a strong sedative. After a week of looking, he'll find a near match in a kind of cone snail. Mom'll wonder how many 4400s are paralyzers. "You're okay," I tell my aunt as I untie her wrists and ankles. "You'll be fine," I say, and add, "I'm sorry."

The man waits until I'm done untying before saying, "Hello, Maia Rutledge."

"Skouris," I correct him. "My name is Maia Skouris, Ian Polenko."

He nods. "So it is now. I thought it a courtesy to tell you what you cannot see."

Is he trying to tell me I'm going to change my name back to Rutledge at some point in the future? I wouldn't. I can't see my future, but I know I wouldn't do that. "Thanks," because my parents always told me to say thank you to people who are trying to be nice to you. "Why did you kidnap me?"

"Formality. You see, I know what your answer will be," he tells me.

"Then why did you kidnap me?"

"As I said, formality, mostly." Shrugging broad shoulders, "I saw you here in these circumstances, and who was I to argue?"

"We see what happens," I said glumly, knowing the feeling all too well.

"Why is she here?"

"Motivation," Ian says. "Her role in things to come is rather peripheral, but the key players can best be stirred by their reactions to her. And they do need to be stirred, for the war's sake."

"You're part of the Nova Group," I say.

He nods. "By neccessity -- it was the only way I could stay sane. I'm like you now, Maia Rutledge, I can see the future. For the last two years, however, I was tortured by what I could do."

"You were?" What's worse than seeing the future of everyone but yourself?

"Oh yes," Ian nods, taking a ball out of his pocket and dropping it, catching it when it bounced back up. "Imagine that, for two years," holding the ball between his thumb and index finger, "the only future you could see was whether or not the ball hits the ground," dropping it once more."

I don't say anything. I just try to imagine that, and fail.

"Maia?" aunt April asks, slowly waking up.

"You'll be all right," I tell her. She jerks back, her eyes scared, looking at me like she doesn't recognize me. I guess I deserved that after what I did...I thought you'd forgiven me, aunt April...I guess your goodbye was just you putting a brave face on. "I'm sorry," I tell her, sorry for what I'd done.

She relaxes. "Maia," and hugs me, whispering, "you're real." Normal-voiced, "Maia, am I ever glad to see you..." trailing off. "Check that, I'm sorry you're here."

"No reason for that," Ian says. "You're both free to go."

"Just like that?"

"The Nova Group brought the two of you here as payment in kind, after all I've done for them. They've got no reason to hold either of you any longer than I needed." He pauses. "The name, for the report your sister will file," Ian says, "is Ian Polenko, circa 1991."

And he really does let us go. I'll see you again, Ian.
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