"What have we got Chief?" Detective James Ellison didn't stop to hear his Guide's answer as he moved to the driver's side of his truck. With his Sentinel enhanced hearing he could have heard Blair's voice from several blocks away, so picking up his words over the noise of a busy, downtown street was no challenge at all.
"Kidnapping from the Thornton School for Gifted Guides." Blair Sandburg climbed into the passenger side of the truck and buckled his seat belt while he spoke. "Student's name is Ezra Patrick Standish, son of Maude Standish Hampton who is the widow of…"
"Walter Hampton the Third, the west coast shipping tycoon." Ellison pulled away from the curb and entered the heavy traffic. "How much are the kidnappers asking for and what's our deadline?"
"Ten million transferred to a Swiss bank account in 24 hours. Since it involves a Guide the case is being left with us for now." Blair fished into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a hair-tie that he quickly used to gather his shoulder length, wavy hair into a tail at the back of his neck. Slipping on his reading glasses, he opened a folder across his knees and began reading while Jim navigated his way to the scene of the kidnapping.
"Ezra P. Standish. Sixteen. Moved to Cascade two years ago to attend advanced courses in Shielding and Empathy Control at Thornton." Blair paused to let out a surprised whistle. "Seems his last test scores put him at 115 for empathic response and 130 for shield integrity."
Jim grinned as he glanced over at his partner. "So, are the Sandburg High Scores in danger?" Ellison mentally winced as the question left his lips. Even though he'd been Bonded with Blair for almost a year he still had the occasional slip of the tongue. But his partner's constant, energetic and upbeat outlook on life made it so easy to forget that his had not been a happy awakening into the world of Sentinels and Guides. Even now, Blair treated Ellison's gaff as a shared joke.
Giving a small snort, Blair shook his head. "No way. If I had been tested at his age I'd have been way off the charts. Being a Dark Guide and all I mean." The smirk may not have been on his face but it was definitely in his voice. "Still, I'd guess he's pretty close to what my levels might have been if I had been a regular Guide. He's definitely Shaman material."
Giving a mental sigh of relief that he was sure his partner could feel, Ellison relaxed and focused once more on their newest case. "So how sure are we that this is a straight ransom snatch?"
"You mean the request for money might be a diversion when what the kidnappers are really after is an un-Bonded, Shaman class Guide?" Blair shook his head. "Standish is only sixteen. The average Guide's brain doesn't start producing the necessary chemical for Bonding until their early to mid twenties. Burton's theory was that a Guide needed to reach a certain level of maturity before taking on the responsibility of working with a Sentinel so …"
"Yeah, yeah. Been there done that, my t-shirt shrank in the wash." Jim smiled to take the sting out of his teasing words. He considered himself to be very lucky to have Bonded with Sandburg and would never say anything to intentionally hurt him. And while it was true that Blair's power as a Dark Guide made him the perfect match for Ellison's Dark Sentinel, it was the young man's warm and generous nature for which Jim was the most grateful.
"So was Standish taken directly from the campus?"
"No way. Security there is tighter than Hymalthan holy drums. It has to be. The families of those student Guides shell out enough money in one semester to pay the entire salary of Major Crimes. It looks like he left the campus alone using a very high tech white noise generator. There were two others found in his room."
Blair fell silent as he thought about Standish's education and how much it differed from his own. Thornton specialized in training Guides that scored above average on their skills tests. Similar institutions could be found for exceptional Sentinels as well. For run of the mill and less financially endowed young Guides and Sentinels there remained the government operated public training centers.
Of course none of that had been an option for Blair who had spent his childhood constantly on the move with his mother Naomi. While there was no doubt in his mind that everything she had done for him had been based on love and with the best of intentions; there was also no denying that she was almost solely to blame for three hellish years and a very near brush with death.
Naomi Sandburg distrusted all things governmental with a passion second only to her love for her one and only child. The fact that most Sentinel and Guide jobs were government funded was just an unfortunate fact of life. Sentinels excelled in lines of work that allowed them to use their enhanced senses for the good of the people; law enforcement, rescue, military, and security were a few of the more popular fields. And while yes, there were a few exceptions it just seemed that genetically, Sentinels preferred the high risk, very physical professions. And where the Sentinel goes...
Blair could honestly say he'd never imagined himself working with the police let alone in the Major Crimes division but then, he'd never imagined himself as a Dark Guide either. The rarest and strongest of all Guides and the most sought after, it had only been a matter of time before his path crossed with that of a strong Sentinel looking for a Bond. Maybe if Naomi had been a little more trusting of the system he might have been better prepared or at least known his options.
He'd just turned 16 when he began taking classes at Rainer, a prestigious college known for its excellent Anthropology courses as well as its advanced Guide programs. Unfortunately Blair was totally unaware of the growing strength of his own as yet untapped abilities and had completely ignored the free testing clinics or the various classes being offered to strong empaths. He'd remained blissfully ignorant of his destiny for five whole years until the day Alex Barnes; mad, bad and dangerously demented Dark Sentinel had arrived on campus looking for a Guide. Dark called to Dark, whether it was fully awakened or not. Alex had known what Blair was from the moment she smelled him and nothing as insubstantial as the law or Blair's personal wants or desires would get in her way.
Blair's natural shields began eroding after their first encounter thanks to Alex's not so subtle pushing. Two short weeks later he'd been desperate for help and turned to the only person that seemed strong enough to offer relief. Blair was lost and confused, newly awakened to a world he knew nothing about and Alex was impatient to claim her Guide and return to her mercenary way of life. At first he'd gone with her willingly, but while the two forces recognized their similarities, something crucial that was necessary for a true Bond was missing. Blair did his best to cope but as the days stretched into weeks he began to realize that something was desperately wrong. But by then it was too late.
It was several months before he'd finally managed to escape from Alex Barnes and her physical abuse; but her legacy of mental anguish continued for two more years and had very nearly driven Blair to suicide. Her repeated attempts at forcing a Bond had left him mentally scarred and Sentinel shy. As soon as he'd regained his freedom he'd thrown himself into studying and learning everything there was to know about Guides and Sentinels, but carefully and discreetly, so as to keep his own growing powers a secret. He learned what drugs were available to dampen empathic receptors in the brain. He practiced his meditation to the point he could safely control his heart rate and the amount of carbon dioxide he expelled. And he discovered a mixture of scents and spices that would effectively mask his unBonded, on-line, Dark Guide musk. For two years he lived, studied and taught at Rainer, essentially hiding in plain sight.
But the drugs manufactured to help average Guides were never meant for someone with Blair's abilities. Larger doses did little to shore up his failing barriers and the painful side effects became increasingly detrimental to his health. The medication kept him awake at night and caused ulcers to form in his mouth and stomach. His poor health was reflected in his sub par work at the university and he was given an ultimatum; shape up or ship out. In desperation he'd finally sought the help of a visiting Shaman named Incacha who had most certainly saved his life while at the same time saving the life of newly re-awakened Dark Sentinel James Ellison.
Of course it hadn't been a quick or easy fix. Their first arranged meeting had been a disaster. Years earlier, a young, unBonded James Ellison had locked his abilities away after a failed mission to Peru which had cost the lives of his entire squad. He was angry that the senses that had failed him then were once more trying to take control of his life just when he had found a place for himself in Cascade's Major Crimes. When Guide and Sentinel first met, Jim's anger at the situation, his physical size and military bearing only served to fuel Blair's fear of being abused by a Sentinel. Guide and Sentinel, two men longing for their independence yet desperately in need of each other for survival. Neither one willing to take the first step despite the fact they both felt a deep, almost spiritual attraction. Cordial greetings lead to forced pleasantries and stiff conversation. Within minutes Jim had started lashing out verbally and Blair gave as good as he got. They'd parted company before coming to blows with vague promises of meeting again in another lifetime. Ironically enough it was the return of Alex Barnes that had led to their second meeting and sealed their fate.
The last time Blair had seen Barnes she had been wounded by a museum security guard's bullet and lost in a deep Zone that he himself had instigated. Having her suddenly appear in his small office at Rainer was like a classic scene from a horror movie, 'Return of the Undead Dark Sentinel.' Sheer adrenalin fueled panic got him out the door and halfway across the campus before she caught him. If it had been a fair fight and Blair had eaten and slept in the previous 48 hours, he might have stood a chance. He did manage to actually land one blow before a roundhouse kick sent him crashing into the fountain. Even sick and dazed he would have managed to pull his face out of the water but two strong hands dug into his scalp and kept his head below the surface.
As consciousness began to fade, the dull roaring in Blair's head transformed to the enraged scream of a panther. Suddenly the encroaching darkness shattered in an explosion of blue light and the young Guide was shocked to find himself lying in a jungle clearing. A snarling, guttural cry jerked his attention to the tree line where two huge, predator cats fought with fang and claw. He should have been terrified or at least concerned but the emotion that filled him was... pride. He watched the black panther slash a deep furrow in the jaguar's side and silently cheered. A rumbling 'snort' of approval seemed to echo his sentiment and for the first time he noticed the large wolf sitting at his side.
'Spirit guides.' The revelation sent a spasm of shivers racing down his spine. Blair realized that he was in the spirit realm and the wolf was his guide. On an instinctual level he also knew that the panther was the guide for Ellison and the jaguar belonged to Barnes. He also knew that the fight he was witnessing was a spiritual reflection of actions taking place in the physical world so when he saw a bloody wound suddenly open on the panther's side without a blow from the jaguar; he knew Barnes had resorted to a weapon of some kind.
"Bitch! No way are you winning this fight!" Turning to his wolf, Blair pointed at the battling felines. "Well, what are you waiting for? Sick'er boy!"
But apparently the wolf had either more faith in the panther or simply more common sense because he remained seated by Blair's side. And when Blair tried to take matters into his own hands the spirit animal used just enough force to knock him down and keep him pinned to the ground. Distracted by his own struggles, Blair missed seeing the end of the fight but he did hear the crackling snap of vertebra that spelled the death of both the jaguar and Alex Barnes.
The next moment found Blair looking up into a pair of blue eyes surrounded by glossy, black fur. A deep, rumbling purr of satisfaction let Blair know that the panther was very pleased with itself. He smiled as whiskers tickled his face and he reached a hand up to stroke the animal's head. A jolt of energy coursed from his palm to his chest making him cry out in surprise. Suddenly his arm felt way too heavy and the blue glow of the jungle began rapidly fading. Blair looked around for his wolf guide but both it and the panther were gone. He opened his mouth to call out but found himself choking and gasping for breath.
The next time Blair opened his eyes he found himself laying on the ground next to the university fountain. A forest of legs surrounded him but it was a pair of pale blue eyes that caught and held his attention. He tried again to lift his arm and this time another hand was there to catch his. Pressing Blair's palm against his chest, Dark Sentinel James Ellison spoke the words that would change two lives forever.
"Claimed and marked, Guide."
Dark Guide Blair Sandburg smiled and in a hoarse whisper that only his Sentinel could hear, responded the only way possible. "Claimed and marked… Sentinel."
Of course there had been hurdles to overcome. Ellison and Sandburg both wound up at the hospital and while the Sentinel's injuries had been the most life threatening, Blair was the one that got the extended stay. Malnourished, dehydrated, and physically exhausted to the point of collapse; even without his near death in the fountain he would have wound up there anyway. Added to all of that was the cocktail mix of chemical dampeners that had gradually built up to almost toxic levels in his bloodstream. During their first few weeks together, Blair was not at his best to say the least. Jim didn't help matters any by being in maximum Blessed Protector mode twenty-four seven. Everyone around them breathed a sigh of relief when the Dark Guide was finally well enough to order his Sentinel to 'back off' and actually have the man obey.
While not working with Ellison in the Major Crimes division of law enforcement for Cascade, Blair continued to attend classes at Rainier University but this time his main area of focus was increasing his empathic controls and learning the skills of a Shaman. In fact, Rainier's most notable claim to fame was its unique Shaman curriculum. High-level Guides traveled from across the world to train with Shaman Elders; the oldest and most powerful level of Guide. It was an interesting and challenging field of study not only because of the fantastic mental powers involved but also because of the way the classes were organized. True Shaman Elders were rare and tended to travel with their Sentinels to wherever they were needed the most. So while there was always at least one at the university; it was unpredictable as to who that instructor might be or what topics they might choose to cover.
The current Shaman Elder on staff was a Japanese man by the name of Miyazaki. It seemed that most of his course revolved around meditation techniques, which the Guide could understand, and origami which was...interesting. And while Blair didn't quite follow the connection, he was certainly becoming an expert at making paper animals.
Blair's straying thoughts were abruptly pulled from the past by the sound of his partner's voice.
"I thought Thornton students had to be accompanied by a Bonded Sentinel bodyguard whenever they left campus." Jim made a sharp right turn and unconsciously reached out his arm to brace his Guide. By now Blair was used to such instinctively protective gestures from his Sentinel and continued with reading the information in the file.
"From what it says here Standish finished up his last class of the day at 4:30. He complained of a headache and told his dorm mother, Mary Collins that he was going to skip dinner and spend the evening in his room that is located on the second floor. Apparently Ms. Collins takes the title dorm 'mother' literally. She decided to take Ezra some dinner about 6:45, which was when she found his room empty with the window open and an emergency fire ladder hanging from the sill."
"Private room? Ladder standard fire safety equipment?"
"Yes to both. Security called in a couple of the campus Sentinels and they both verified that Ezra was the only one down the ladder and through the surrounding shrubs. They followed his trail to the nearest bus stop and lost it. Security narrowed down the time he left and figured out which bus he took from that point. The driver was interviewed and 'thinks' he remembers a teenager matching Ezra's description getting on but couldn't say at which stop he got off. The Sentinels were able to verify Ezra's presence by his scent."
"The bus route?"
"Downtown. Not one of the better routes."
"So let me get this straight; the kid leaves campus by himself and the next day a ransom note is delivered to his mother?"
"Ransom email actually. His mother is in England right now."
"This sounds more like a joke by a spoiled rich kid than a kidnapping. He's probably hiding out at a friend's house."
Blair shook his head as he continued reading the file on his lap. "Totally out of character. The only time he was ever in trouble was when he was caught playing poker with some campus handymen."
"Was he winning?"
"What?" Blair looked at his partner in confusion.
"Was he winning at poker? Does he have a gambling problem?"
"You're thinking he owes someone a lot of money and staged the kidnapping? No way man, not ten mil. Not playing against janitors and grounds keepers. And why the Swiss bank account?"
"Smoke screen."
"Jim, get real! The kid is going to be a Shaman some day. He …"
Blair was interrupted by the ring of his cell phone. "Hello? Hey Simon… What?"
As soon as Jim heard the name of his captain he turned up his hearing so that he could listen to both sides of the conversation.
"I said forget the kidnapping case. You and Jim head over to the Carson Warehouse on twenty-eight. We just got a report that a gun bust went bad and there are at least three Sentinel-Guide pairs down."
"Three? Who…?" Blair held the phone tight to his ear with his left hand and braced himself against the dashboard with his right as Jim made a very illegal u-turn in the middle of the road. He scowled at the scattered papers covering his feet but wisely decided to wait before attempting to gather them up.
"Taylor and Grayson were on loan from SWAT. They're confirmed down. The others are from the Denver ATF office that followed some suspects here for a big buy."
Jim spoke up as he dodged through traffic. "That would be Sentinels Wilmington and Sanchez."
Blair frowned at his partner. "How come you know their names?"
"Because I'm the Senior Sentinel Prime for Cascade. They had to check in with me when they arrived."
"And you didn't bother telling me? I am the Senior Guide Prime for Cascade."
"Guides don't have a natural instinct to fight over territory. Look, I meant to tell you but…"
"Sandburg, you and Ellison can discuss Sentinel social etiquette later." Captain Banks' annoyed sounding voice drew the pair's attention back to the phone. "The only information we have from the scene is that the Sentinels covered their ears right before they fell and the Guides went down at almost the same instant. When the regular force moved in there were shots fired. I don't have a report of any casualties among the regulars but not all the suspects were apprehended. You and Jim take care of the Sentinels and find out why they went down. I'll send Hart and Carter to help round up the gun runners when you give the all clear."
"Right." Blair flipped his phone closed and shoved it back into his pocket. He could feel the Dark Guide trying to push forward as his temper flared but he gritted his teeth and maintained his control. "I don't suppose you bothered to find out the names of their Guides while you were busy playing Alpha Male?"
Ellison heard and felt the energy of the Dark Guide and did his best to rein in his own temper knowing it could only make a touchy situation worse. "Buck Wilmington is paired up with a kid named John Dunne and Josiah Sanchez is teamed with a field medic named Nathan Jackson. All of them are Primes. Their plane arrived late so they barely had time to make it to the meeting. They planned to drop by the precinct after the bust to pay their respects. I meant to tell you but forgot." The last was fairly growled as Ellison felt his own Dark persona trying to emerge. "Enhanced senses do not mean a perfect memory."
Whatever comment Blair might have made in response was lost in a squeal of tires as Jim suddenly slammed on his brakes causing the truck to fishtail in the middle of the deserted warehouse street. Covering his ears with his hands, Ellison hunched over the steering wheel.
"Subsonic vibrations! There must be a wave generator set up in the warehouse." Jim gasped and threw his head back. "That might have taken down Taylor and the others."
Blair didn't wait around. He knew his Sentinel couldn't go any closer because there was no way he could dial his sense of hearing down to block a subsonic pulse. Unbuckling his seat belt, Blair fairly leaped from the cab of the truck. "Looks like it's your turn to stay in the truck and call it in man."
"Sandburg! Damn it!" Ellison cursed as his grasping fingers just missed his Guide's arm. The vibrations were pounding in his head making it hard to think straight, let alone come up with an argument his partner would listen to. "Be careful Chief! Remember the Guides went down too! And the suspects are armed!"
"Got it! Move the truck back down the street until you're out of range. I'll call you when we have the generator shut down."
"Right." Ellison forced his hands back to the steering wheel and floored the gas pedal. With a squeal of tires he made it to the end of the block where he was once more out of range of the generator. While subsonic generators were crippling to Sentinels, unlike normal sound waves that gradually faded out, the subsonic waves had a definite, finite range. It galled Ellison that he would have to simply sit in the truck while his partner faced danger alone. Now they knew what had paralyzed the Sentinels but what about the Guides? Was the danger still present and was Blair going to be effected?