DISCLAIMER: This story features the characters of the dramatic television series "The Pretender" which are the property of MTM Entertainment and NBC Productions. It also features characters from the original Bionic Woman and from Warner's Brothers' Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. All used for the purpose of free entertainment and parody with no infringement intended. (Copyright 1998-2001)

Part One

"Jarod!" Miss Parker cried, rushing around a corner and dodging past a trash can that blocked her path. She tripped and nearly fell into a tall woman who appeared suddenly in her path.

The woman caught her by the shoulder and helped her regain her balance.

"Out of my way!" Miss Parker panted ungratefully.

The tall woman smiled brightly and asked, cheerfully, "What? What happened to a simple thank you?"

"I have to catch him, " explained Miss Parker quickly.

"Who?"

"Jarod."

"Jarod," the woman repeated in a baffled tone that meant 'And that should explain everything--NOT.' The tall woman ran her fingers through her hair and said, "Let's start over. My name's Jaime and you are?"

"I won't ask again," Miss Parker said in a steely voice pulling out her gun.

Quicker than thought, the gun had been wrenched from her hand and Jaime was holding it, leaving Miss Parker grasping the empty air.

"Now you tell me who you are?" Jaime demanded, squeezing the gun tightly.

"How did you...?" Miss Parker stared at Jaime in disbelief. She sighed and yielded. "My name is Miss Parker and you have just hampered me from the capture of a very dangerous man."

"And that just makes all the difference," Jaime replied. "Now sit down, you and I have to talk."

"Talk?" Miss Parker asked, confusedly. "Why should I talk to you?"

Jaime squeezed the gun tighter in her right hand and it fell apart.

Miss Parker sat down on a crate promptly, grumbling to herself and wondering where are the sweepers when you need them?

"I abhor violence," Jaime explained, wiping her hands. She glanced around quickly but always kept one eye on Miss Parker. "Now, it seems to be lunchtime and all this excitement has made me kind of hungry so if you would be so kind...?" Jaime motioned towards a diner she had spotted.

Miss Parker sat like a statue staring at Jaime for a moment. Then, she stood up made a wry face and marched past Jaime towards the diner.

Inside and waiting for their orders, Jaime began once again while Miss Parker listened, still having not fully recovered from the stunning idea that this woman could pop a metal gun in one hand as easily as a water balloon.

"I am known as Jaime Sommers professionally. I am a retired agent of the OSI, temporarily reactivated (much to the dismay of my husband, Steve)," she slipped in this side of information with a fond smile and then grew serious once more, "... and I need to ask you some questions."

"OSI?" Miss Parker asked.

"Office of Scientific Intelligence, headed by Oscar Goldman," Jaime enlightened briefly. "You see, several weeks ago there was a man working there who called himself Mr. Byron Nic. He worked on some top secret and classified projects and improved them quite a bit. But a day after he left, it was discovered that he never worked for any division of the OSI and so quite a little mystery developed."

Miss Parker took sudden interest. She frowned. "Jarod," she whispered, under her breath.

"Jarod?" Jaime replied. "So you know him, do you? Good. Now, why were you after him? I mean, were you chasing him, just now?"

Miss Parker wondered how in the world Jaime had heard her. Did she have super hearing too? No, can that idea. A plan developed in Miss Parker's brain.

"Jarod is a chronic impersonator. He has...mental problems. My family has hired me privately to bring him back to keep him from becoming a danger to himself and others."

"Oh," Jaime said, nodding rapidly and sipping her coffee. She set the cup down and said in tone that spoke volumes, "And I suppose that that gun was out of the loving concern of his family and friends?" Jaime stood up and she was obviously angered by the lie but in spite of this, her tone of voice was not raised, it simply became more intense, "Now listen missy, I have been on this planet at least twenty years longer than you and I don't appreciate being lied to. Just have the decency to tell me the truth because--don't you think that is what everyone deserves? If there is any goodness in life, then it must be established on trust and you'll go a lot farther that way and this will all be over much more quickly."

Miss Parker groaned inwardly and when she felt her guilt rising, outwardly as well. She stood up and ran out of the diner, stopping dead in her tracks when she realized that Jaime was either a professional sprint runner or the fastest thing on two legs. Her opinion was inclined towards the latter.

"All I need to know is: Who is Jarod?" Jaime said. "And that's it...you'll be free to go." Jaime brushed some strands of dark blonde hair out of her face. "So what do you say, hon? Is it a deal?"

"Sam!" Miss Parker cried, spotting her favorite sweeper as he came around a corner. She pointed at Jaime. "Get her!"

Sam attempted to follow orders. He saw Miss Parker. He saw Jaime. He lunged for Jaime, only suddenly found she wasn't there. A shrill whistle came from behind him and he turned to see Jaime standing there, smiling. Once again, he lunged but this time he saw the reason for his unsuccessfulness. The woman had actually jumped over the top of his head.

He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned once more. "Sorry about this," Jaime said, grabbing him by the tie, she threw him like a sack of meal into some cardboard boxes which cushioned his landing and there he was content to lay.

"Now," Jaime said, turning to Miss Parker once more. "You got anything else for me???"

Miss Parker's eyes were as large as saucers. Her survival instinct kicked in and she did the same thing she had done when being held hostage in the bank. She decided it was best to give this amazing Jaime Sommers everything she wanted.

"There are Pretenders among us. Geniuses with the ability to become anything they want to be. In 1963 a corporation known as the Centre," she began.

THE CENTRE

Blue Cove, Delaware

Miss Parker walked into the tech room.

"You're late," Sydney said.

Miss Parker shrugged and growled, "Don't ask!" She strolled out of the room.

Broots looked up from the keyboard in puzzlement. "She's never late."

"I know," Sydney said. "Did you notice the way Sam looked when he came in?"

Broots snickered. "Yeah. The look on his face. You'd think he had a run in with The Bionic Woman."

Sydney looked at the computer tech. "Broots," he said.

"What?"

"You watch too much TV."

OSI HEADQUARTERS

Dr. Rudy Wells Office

"Well, Jaime. I'm glad to know that your bionic arm, legs and ear are all in perfect working condition," Doctor Rudy Wells informed her.

"Thank you very much, Doc," Jaime replied. "Didn't I tell you not to worry when I convinced Oscar to let me take that assignment?" She hopped off the examining table.

Rudy smiled and Oscar laughed as he walked into the room. "Convinced me did you? And what did you think of the assignment?"

Jaime made a so-so motion and then smiled quickly and said, "It was exciting."

"But?" Oscar prodded.

"Well," Jaime admitted slowly. "Don't get me wrong but, it seems young people's manners have changed a lot over the years."

"Still the same old Jaime," Oscar laughed and Rudy joined him.

"Old?" the bionic woman asked, pretending to be offended. "Gentleman, watch your tongues, if I'm old then you must be ancient--no, more than ancient, prehistoric!"

"How 'bout lunch with these two doddering gentleman to make up for that remark?" Oscar suggested, exchanging a glance with Rudy.

Jaime smiled. "Deal! Just give me a sec."

Rudy Wells and Oscar Goldman exited the room. Jaime picked up her purse and followed, exiting the room and our story.