Chapter Three, the end
Becker sat in a canteen booth between Abby and Emily.
"This is a mistake," he said, sing-song.
"Perhaps, but something must be done, and I believe this is less foolhardy then the raptor plan."
"I don't know," said Abby.
"Ya, I think I'm liking the raptor more, right now," said Becker.
"You must give it a chance, and have positive thoughts."
"Em, you know what I think about this business. It's a fake and a scam," said Abby.
"Really? You still feel that way, even after the possess...incident?" asked Becker.
"I don't know what that was. Something was wrong, but I know it wasn't a spirit cast out by Mme Laurel."
"Lorraine," said Becker.
"That is an extremely bold statement, Abby. How can you be certain, completely certain there is no other world?"
"Easy, science."
"That's what happens when you fall in love with Temple," said Becker.
"I'm surprised you believe," said Abby.
"Abby, I know you think its crazy, but there was something in me, something evil. I didn't do those things."
Abby looked at the man beside her. "I know you didn't. I just think there's another explanation, one more logical."
"Like perhaps something came through the portal that links distant times to this one?" asked Emily, with a grin. "It is more logical, is it?"
Becker chuckled. "I'm liking you more these days, Emily."
"Thank you, Captain. I shall always be indebted to you for trying to save me from Ethan. I believe that a good man sits beside us."
"Thank you," said Becker softly.
Abby was quiet. "I don't doubt that," she said at last.
Bernie came out of the kitchen, putting food dishes on the counter. He looked at the three in the booth, and smiled at the ladies. He did not glare at Becker, but he did not smile.
Kim came out with kettles of hot water, and smiled at all three of them, including Becker.
Lester, Connor, and Matt walked into the canteen, followed by Jess and an older woman.
"Once again, Miss Parker, you have talked me into something idiotic, how surprising."
"It's not idiotic," said Jess. "It's just a simple get together."
"With tea made from peppermint leaves for change, allspice for courage and strength, orange and apple blossom for peace and happiness, and cinnamon and hazel for healing," said Connor, holding bags of spices. "Did I get those right, Madame Lorraine?"
"Yes, dear, you did. Thank you," she said, as Connor took the other things she carried from her.
"White, blue, and pink candles, little vials of oil, lots of stones, salt, and what's this?"
"That my dear is a special forgiveness potion that I had to make ahead. I must be ritually cleansed, and make it in the light of a full moon."
Matt rolled his eyes. "Did you need hair of a werewolf, too?"
"Matt, how rude!" said Jess.
Mme Lorraine laughed. "I thought it was funny, dear. Now, Jess, you have made sure that the three women who were accosted by the spirit will be here."
"Yes."
"Good. I realize you have a long employee list, and since I will perform the ceremony once, I need those actually harmed or threatened by the spirit to be physically present as witnesses."
"You're not going to cleanse all 500 staff members?" asked Matt.
"No, dear. I need my beauty sleep, and it would take all night," she said with a grin. "Matt, and Mr. Lester must stay, even though you don't believe. You too, Abby dear. All of you were in contact directly with the spirit. The canteen boss should be her and what which fish is used as the nickname?"
"The barracuda," said Matt with a smile. "She'll be here. We all will. We support Becker."
Mme Lorraine smiled, and sighed happily. "This has a good chance of working then. Becker, dear, are you ready?"
"Yes. I hope this doesn't make it worse, though. People may see it as...weird."
Mme Lorraine smiled again. "They always do, dear."
Connor and Jess helped Mme Lorraine set up on a long table that faced the rest of the tables in the canteen. Other members of the ARC began arriving.
Robin, Kim, and Stella, as well as Lester, Jess, Bernie and the team were all seated toward the front. Jess had gone through the footage of that day, and anyone present during the possession, especially if they had contact with the spirit was told to be at the canteen. So, Flowers, the medics who sedated Becker, the orderlies who took care of the restrained Becker, anyone else, were all seated in the canteen.
"Welcome," said Madame Lorraine "I know you are all hungry, and I promise to let you eat in just a few minutes. As you all know, there has been tension among you all lately. Today, I have come to offer a blessing, a cleansing of the negative energy, and finally a ceremony for peace and forgiveness. You will act as witnesses on behalf of all of the employees."
She lit the first candle, a white one. "I ask for purity. Rid your thoughts of tension, anger, and distrust. Think of hope, kindness and unity."
With the white candle, she lit a blue candle, " I ask for peace. Fill your thoughts with peace. Share peace and forgiveness with each other."
Then she lit the pink candle with the blue candle. "I ask for love and friendship. Turn your thoughts from suspicion and pain and instead think of trust, love, and friendship."
Then she dribbled wax from each candle into a jar filled with herbs and incense. She then took three vials of oil and dropped a single drop of each one into the jar.
"I ask for forgiveness, and renewal of friendship and trust."
Then she took a white crystal, a blue topaz stone, and pink crystal and placed them in the jar. She then took the special forgiveness potion and poured it into the jar. She shook it.
"Will Jess, Robin, Kim, and Stella all please come forward."
The four women walked up to Mme Lorraine.
"Will the offender, or the one who possesses the body that had been corrupted by the foul spirit come forth?"
Becker walked up, ignoring Matt's smirk.
Mme Lorraine handed him four daffodils.
"The daffodil represents forgiveness and new beginnings. Becker dear, dip each one into the jar make sure the potion gets on the flower. Good, now will each young lady come up, one at a time, and accept a flower from Becker's hand."
Jess went first, taking a daffodil from Becker, than Kim, Robin, and Stella.
"Excellent. Becker, do you ask forgiveness?"
"Yes."
"Do you vow to move ahead, with courage, peace, and friendship, promising to be pure and true?"
"I do."
Mme Lorraine smiled. "Jess, do you accept his plea to be forgiven?"
Jess smiled at Becker. "Of course I do."
"Good, then give your daffodil back to Becker, completing the bond of forgiveness and faith."
She walked up to him and gave the daffodil back to Becker.
"Kim, do accept the plea of forgiveness?"
"I do," and she gave her daffodil back to Becker.
"Stella, do you accept his plea to be forgiven?"
"I guess so." She gave her daffodil to Becker, and leered at him.
"Robin, do you accept his plea to be forgiven?"
Robin looked doubtful.
"Madame Lorraine," said Becker. "Don't make her do this. It isn't right. She isn't ready to forgive me yet, and that's OK. I haven't forgiven myself, either. It's OK, Robin. I'm very sorry for pushing you against the wall, but I swear it wasn't me. I wouldn't do that to you, or Jess. I'm in love with her, and I wouldn't betray her, not even for you."
"Well," said Robin quietly. "That stinks. I'm much better than Jess," she said with a smirk to Jess. "I'm sorry but I don't trust the man that cornered me against the wall. I can't. I do, though, trust the man who led his men toward a raptor to save me and my colleagues, even if it was just a drill. I forgive you, Becker," and she gave her daffodil back to him.
Becker stared at it. "Thank you," he said, tearfully.
"The ceremony is complete. Let all be well in the ARC," she said with a dramatic pause. "And let us eat!"
Bernie happily dished out the food. Rosemary, orange, and clove roasted chicken; Carrot and apple salad; parsley and thyme potatoes, and cinnamon, hazel and orange dinner rolls; they were all on the menu Bernie devised with help from Madame Lorraine.
Becker was served last, by his choice.
"This was very humble, Captain," said Bernie. "It was good of you to go through with that."
Becker smiled. "It was good of the ladies. Tell me, Bernie, is Kim OK?"
For the first time in days, Bernie smiled genuinely at Becker. "Yes, sir. She is."
"Good. I'm glad. Thank you, Bernie," said Becker.
"My pleasure, Captain."
Becker glanced back and saw Bernie smiling at him. Ryan looked at him, but did not glare. The servers all seemed more at ease and relaxed.
Becker walked past a table on his way to sit with Jess and the team.
"Captain Becker?"
Becker turned toward the call and saw Robin.
"How are you doing?" he asked her.
"Better. Thank you. I'm not afraid, any more."
"Good," said Becker. "I don't want you to be afraid."
Robin smiled. "Are you really OK, now? Is it...gone?"
Becker didn't know if she really believed the spirit explanation or if she was humoring them all.
"It is," he said.
She smiled. "Then there's no need for court. The wrong man would be put on trial," she said, and left before he could reply.
"Hey, gorgeous," said a voice behind him. He turned to see the barracuda, Stella, leering at him.
"Hi, Stella," he said.
"It's too bad you're back to normal. We could have had such a good time."
"No offense, but I'm really glad we didn't. I'm in love with Jess."
Stella shook her head, and said, "Such a waste," and shook her head as she walked away.
Finally, Becker made it to the table. "Robin's not going to pursue a trial."
"Oh, Becker," said Jess, leaning over to kiss him.
"So, we have our head of security back," said Lester.
"Yes, we do," said Jess.
The soldiers all cheered.
"Sir, I respectfully, return command of these idiots back to you," said Flowers.
"Oh, well, I guess it is my job," said Becker.
"That's the spirit," said Lester. "Sorry, bad pun."
The end
