Thank you for the reviews, Senri Shiki Fan, whitedino, Rai180, autobotgirl12328, ArmoredSoul, Yuro-Faita911, Trickster91, andFoghornLeghorn83! It's nice to see some old faces, as it were. :-P
EVERYONE-- IF YOU WANT ME TO BRING IN AN AUTOBOT, SUCH AS Bluestreak, Cliffjumper, Hound, OR Mirage, YOU WILL HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT THEIR PERSONALITY IS LIKE, WHO THEY'RE FRIENDS WITH, WHO THEY'RE NOT FRIENDS WITH, HOW OLD THEY WOULD BE IF HUMAN, ANY SPECIAL FEATURES FOR THEIR ROBOT MODE, COLOR SCHEME, HOW BIG THEY ARE, AND WHAT THE PREFFERED MODEL OF CAR WOULD BE. FOR THE LAST, IF IT IS AN OLD MODEL OF CAR, I WILL ATTEMPT TO FIND SOMETHING CLOSE TO IT IN TODAY'S CARS. Thank you! (And I already have said stats for Cliffjumper and Mirage, except or the age thing, provided by Trickster91. Could someone give me the stats on Hound and Bluestreak? Thanks!) REMEMBER, THOUGH. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT I WILL INCLUDE THEM!
Yuro-Faita911-- Alive and well. XD
Trickster91-- (small snippet from review reply, so others can see) Black and white, door wings. Got it. XD And I have since decided that he's going to be a Chevy Impala, since that seems like a common police car. Thank you!
Once again, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, especially the twins' conversation on football. XD
Chapter Ten – Welcome to Nevada
Kate awoke with that after-nap buzz in her head, feeling a little groggy, yet wide awake. I hate it when this happens, she grumbled to herself, and to Vor. The voice chuckled at her, amused. Rather disconcerting, is it not, dearie?
I told you to stop calling me that!
But you are my dearie! My dear Katherine. Now, where is that Jack fellow?
He'll be along in a few minutes. I told him eleven-thirty, and it's eleven-twenty now. I guess I should stay put until he gets here, so . . . Ah! My iPod!
Heaven forbid that you be separated from your music, came the reply, and soon American Child was playing, Kate singing along.
"I was ten, I was thin, I was playing first base," she sang, blocking out the rather drab walls of her room and entering her own little sanctuary. Linkin Park'sWhat I've Done ended just in time for her to hear the knock on the door, and she opened it to find Jack. "Hey, there," she greeted him, stowing away her iPod and earbuds. "They here yet?"
Jack grinned at her. "No, but they're on their way. Want to go play Call of Duty 4 on the X-Box 360?"
She gave him an evil smirk. "Sure. May the best gamer win. Say, I was wondering, why are the ceilings so high in the hallways? And the elevators."
The man shrugged as he led her back to the rec room, casting his own gaze around. "Well, this was one of the original storage levels of the warehouse. I figure they had lots of big stuff to store, and they had to have room for big vehicles. You're in one of the old worker bunk rooms, so that's why your doors are an average size, as are the doors to the kitchen and bathrooms. That's also why we're able to fit that TV in there – the big room thing, I mean. That used to be a storage room, which we turned into our rec room. Ben's getting a couple more couches for us in there, so we'll have more seating for when our current whole gang is here."
"How many of you were there?"
"Well, we were quite the neighborhood. Two, three dozen maybe. At the least. We even had a cop among us. Michael Edwards, my best friend. Real serious, logical fella, hardly ever cracks a smile, but man did we try."
Kate smiled sadly. "Is he dead?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Least, I don't think so. Haven't heard from him since the evac. We've got the word out, though, so hopefully he'll find us. And when he does, he'll be giving the twins big cleanup jobs, you can bet on that."
The girl laughed at that, able to picture it in her mind. "Kept your neighborhood in order, eh?"
"Much as he could. He lived there, and he patrolled there. He was helping families evacuate, and I was elsewhere, doing the same thing, and we lost contact. Haven't had any word, yet, on what's happened to him."
She watched Jack carefully, eyeing his slightly slumped shoulders and the barest melancholy expression he bore. "You miss him."
Jack smiled. "Well, yeah, he's my best friend. At least ten years my senior, but the closest thing to a brother I've ever had. I hope you get to meet him someday."
"I look forward to it," Kate answered. "Now, last one to the rec room is a rotten egg!"
As she bolted forward, Jack let out a yelp. "No fair!"
........
Kate: 4. Jack: 3.
That was where the score stood more than an hour later, as they were fully absorbed in the Shipment level of multiplayer. Kate was having the time of her life with one hundred rounds in her weapon as Survivalist, and Jack had settled on Grenadier. It hadn't taken the girl long to get in the swing of things, and she was currently ahead by ten kills. With ten minute rounds and no score limit, Kate had upwards of three hundred points. Half of her deaths came from not being able to get out of the way of Jack's dropped grenades in time, and the other half was split up into kills from behind and kills from the side or front.
She turned, and there he was, ready to fire. Jack let out a disappointed cry as she gunned him down, and a yelp as he was shot immediately upon respawn. "How do you do that?!" he moaned, and their audience laughed. From where he sat on the other couch, Ray gave Jack an amused smirk. "She just happened to see you. Face it, Jack Turner. You're being owned."
Kate grinned. "Hearing those names together sounds totally ironic. You know, Pirates of the Caribbean."
Jack only smiled, then turned a glare on Ray as the round ended. "Pick up a controller," he ordered.
The doctor grinned. "Sorry, Jack. I've got things I need to do."
"Dude, you just got owned again!"
The glare redirected its aim to Jackson, who was doubled over in laughter in the doorway. The scientist was barely able to stay on his feet as he vented his amusement at his friend's expense.
Jack scowled. "Gee, thanks for bruising my already bruised manly pride."
"Jack, you have no pride, manly or otherwise."
Kate laughed as Ray was forced to vacate the couch in the face of Jack's outrage, shown in the form of a flying pillow. "That was so uncalled for!" the black man pouted, making the girl and Jackson both crack up even harder.
Ray grinned. "The look on your face isn't helping your 'manly pride' any, you know. Come on, Jackson. Let's leave him to his fate."
"Yeah, thanks for the support!"
Kate managed to tamp her laughter down to snickers, and passed Jack's dropped controller back to him. "Another round?"
He considered that, then nodded, grinning in good humor. His ire, it was clear, had only been for show and laughs. "Why not? I'm a glutton for punishment. Not Shipment, though. Let's do that warehouse training grounds map."
"Sounds good to me. Pick your poison."
"Hmm." Jack glanced at the open door, which both doctor and scientist had just left by, then adopted a considering look. "I think I'll try what's been working for you."
"Survivalist? Just to warn you, it doesn't work for everyone."
"Yeah, I know. But hey, if the aim carefully method doesn't work, might as well try the spray everything in sight way."
"Actually, you do need to aim, regardless of how it may look. But hey, I'm a computer diva and video gamer, so I'm not really surprised I'm beating you. I've played a lot of X-Box in the past few years."
Jack raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Computer diva? How so?"
Kate smiled. "Nuh-uh, that's my little secret. Let's just say that I can work them real well."
Mr. Eyebrow went higher. "If you say so. Mac or PC?"
"Mac. My brother gave me the one I have, which I managed to rescue from my kidnappers when I escaped. I find them much easier to use, though PCs do have their perks. You can play games on them, for instance."
Jack grinned. "Is that it?"
With a shrug, Kate turned back to the game. "I'm sure there's more, but that's enough. Say, you going to move, or do you want me to snipe you?"
"Huh? Wagh!" Jack's soldier sprinted towards the cover of the building, but it was too late. Next he knew, he had respawned on the other side of the map.
Kate burst out laughing again. "Nice reaction."
"Yeah, he's got quite the startled yelp, doesn't he?"
She froze at the unfamiliar voice, then turned to find a redhead grinning charmingly at her from where he leant against the back of the couch. His hair was a cute sort of messy, and his eyes were the same unearthly blue as Jack's and the others', although they all had varying shades. His were a little paler, edging toward ice blue. His red button up collared shirt seemed to compliment him quite well, and a black tie hung loosely about his neck. A white and blue sports jersey sort of jacket went over the shirt, giving him a sort of patriotic look. Red shirt, white jacket, blue sleeves. Blue jeans and brown sneakers completed the look, and overall he was quite good looking, and seemed to be a very exuberant sort of guy. In contrast, the man standing just behind him, a little to the side, didn't look like he really wanted to be there. His hair was blonde, the same length as that of who was obviously his brother, but styled neatly. His eyes were the exact same shade as his twin's, and he wore the same style jeans and shoes. His shirt, however, was a dark yellow, and his tie, also black, was correct and orderly. A black leather jacket completed the ensemble, not all that unlike Jack's own jacket. He had the "touch me, you're dead," sort of vibe, but at the same time, he looked relieved to see the black guy on the couch, as if he hadn't fully believed in his safety before then.
Jack grinned upon seeing the two, his own eyes sparkling with happiness. "Max! Micah! Safe trip?
If Max's grin got any brighter, there'd be a supernova, Kate was sure of it. "As much as it could be. Ran into trouble in L.A., but we taught those punks a lesson. Now, Jack, dude, you gonna introduce us? Or are we gonna have t' guess?"
Jack blinked, then nodded in understanding. "Guys, this is Kate. Kate, this Max and Micah Creigo. Don't mind Micah, he's always like that."
Micah snorted. "You'd be, too, if you had this for a twin."
"Hey! I resent that!"
"Good!"
Kate had to grin. "It's nice to meet you. Jack's told me a lot about your guys' pranks."
"Has he?" Max vaulted over the back of the couch and landed with a plop between the two. "What ones?"
"Well, mostly about the ones he participated in. Something about pink trucks."
"Yes, and he has yet to be paid back for that." Kate rotated her head again to look at the door, past Micah to where Hyde stood, scowling. She heard and saw the others do the same, and Micah cracked his first grin since they came in. "Hey, Uncle Hyde."
Hyde targeted him with a glare. "Jack, you had to tell them, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah, how else would I torment you right now?"
Max shared a grin with his twin, then turned to the older man in the doorway. "Uncle, uncle, uncle," he began to chant. It didn't take long for Hyde to step forward, pinning the redhead with a poisonous look.
"Call me that again," he snarled, "and you'll have good reason to say uncle."
Kate clapped a hand over her mouth to hold back her laughter as Max clammed up fast. "Does that mean I can't?" she asked as soon as she felt it was safe. Hyde looked at her in surprise, then shook his head. "You are free to call me that. They are not. If they even think of calling me it again, their most prized possessions, namely their cars, will receive a makeover of epic proportions. As for Jack, he has yet to pay for telling these two about it."
Jumping up, Kate ran around the couch to the old war veteren, then stood on her toes to whisper in his ear. After telling him of her plans for the twins, Hyde adopted a smirk that threatened to turn into a full-on grin. He nodded once, turned, and left the room.
When Kate turned back to the others, they were giving her looks that were equally wary and amused. Jack was smiling knowingly, however, and she walked back to sit next to him and reclaim her controller. "You two want to play?" she asked, looking expectantly from one twin to the other.
One glance at each other later, and Micah had joined them on the couch, seating himself on the other side of Max, who had scooted over to let Kate sit between him and Jack. Max had grabbed the other two controllers, and now they logged in as Kate ended the game.
Kate blinked as she saw the usernames they chose. "'Ninja' and 'The Idiot's Brother'?"
Jack laughed. "Not so sure about the ninja one, but the other is pretty accurate."
"Hey!"
"Oh, chill, Max, you know it's true." Micah shoved lightly at his brother, which in turn sandwiched Kate between Max and Jack. She yelped, and Jack helped her out by reaching around and pushing Max back the other way. He steadied himself before crashing into his brother, which prevented Micah from retaliating.
"Easy, guys," Jack admonished. "You can't horse around here unless you go sit on the other couch."
The twins had the grace to look sheepish. "Sorry, Kate," Max said, scratching the back of his head. He elbowed Micah in the gut, earning a mumbled apology from the blonde.
Kate smiled forgivingly back at them. "It's okay. I used to play with my brother before he died. Soccer with his friends could get a little rough. So, what map would you two like?"
She saw Micah grin maliciously at Max, who returned the look in kind. "Shipment," they said unanimously.
Jack groaned. "Oh, no!"
........
Five hours passed before Kate finally got around to acting on her plan. Jack supplied the feathers, from a couple feather pillows that were in storage. She had no idea where Hyde got his hands on that much honey, but she wasn't complaining. After some helpful tips on how to set something like this up, she had a trap standing by, all ready to be triggered the moment the twins walked through the door.
Ray, Jackson, and Peter were warned away from the rec room, and last she saw of the former two, they were making popcorn in the kitchen. She had no idea where Peter was.
She ended up borrowing a camera from Jackson. It wasn't video, but Jack said the security cameras would capture whatever video they needed. Still shots would be just fine for her purposes, even though a video camera would be easier to use in her need to snap and run. Then again, the camera had a video option. Still, photographs would be just fine.
At last, it was time.
Jack and Hyde were camped out in the security office when she left them, having been tracking the twins on the monitors for that level. All the other screens were black, because, Jack told her, the cameras on the lower levels that were being remodeled weren't active yet.
Camera in hand, Kate moved quickly toward the rec room. Max and Micah had proved to be excellent rivals in Call of Duty 4, but Micah was a little grumpy about the fact that he still hadn't been able to beat her. And so, it seemed, the twins were heading back to the X-Box to practice for the next big match.
They were deeply embroiled in an argument over who they thought should be in the upcoming Superbowl that winter as they approached their doom. "The Patriots are looking to have a perfect season this year," Micah pointed out. "I think they'll go all the way, and win the Superbowl."
"What one is this, Forty-Two? Don't forget your towels, people! So long, and thanks for all the fish, say the dolphins."
"Why did I ever let you convince me to watch Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?" the blonde groaned.
"Dunno. But I read the books, too. Seven-part trilogy!"
"But that makes no sense!"
"Not supposed to, brother-mine. Anyway, I think the Buckeyes should go to the Superbowl."
"The Buckeyes are a college team, you idiot. Ohio State University."
"Oops! Hmm, okay, then. Packers, 'cause of Brett Favre."
"Isn't he thinking of retiring?"
"Where'd you hear that? Betcha he don't stay retired!"
"You mean you think he'll be one of those indecisive types?"
"Not exactly. I just think he loves the game too much to stay away. Hey, we should play Madden!"
"No. Call of Duty 4. I want to be able to beat the kid next time."
"Aw, give her a break. Let her be good at something! You know martial arts, after all. Hey, Mortal Kombat!"
"Heck, no!"
"Aww!"
Kate was glad Jack was recording this. The conversation was priceless! Oh, they were almost there . . .
Max was back on the football tangent by now. "If the Patriots do get to the Superbowl, I hope an underdog team beats them."
"You don't want them to have a perfect seventeen-and-oh season?"
"Nah. Let the Packers, Colts, or Giants, or someone beat them. Crush their aspirations!"
"This is because of that checkers game at lunch, isn't it?"
"Not at all."
"Sure it is! You just don't want me to be right because I beat you at a game involving a checkered board and little disks!"
"La-la-la-la! I can't hear you! La-la-la-laWagh!"
Kate jumped up at the startled cry. Obviously, the twins had triggered the trap.
She barely held in her laughter as she stood in the doorway, staring. Max and Micah were both covered in honey, just as planned, and their expressions of shock were priceless.
The second trap was sprung an instant later. Thousands of tiny feathers rained down upon the twins as they stood stock still, too surprised to do much of anything except stare at each other.
She had to do it now. Raising the camera, Kate snapped off the picture, startling the two victims with the clicking noise. As one, their heads whipped around to face her, and she couldn't resist taking another photo, and another as Micah's expression turned furious, and Max looked even more shocked.
She lowered the camera and beamed at them. "Welcome to Nevada!" she called, then turned and took off down the hall.
She heard Micah's cry of outrage and Max's yelp of realization right before answering footsteps came after her. She laughed as she ran, feet pounding on the concrete.
"Give me that camera!" Micah shouted at her. In reply, she executed a sharp turn and took off down an adjacent hallway.
She slipped inside Jackson's lab as soon as she got to it, closing and locking the door to prevent the twins from following. The scientist was standing by to help her, and soon had the pictures uploaded from the digital camera.
Pounding at the door drew their attention to it just as Jackson finished. He called up the feed from the hall camera, and they watched as Micah drummed his fists against the heavy metal door. "Open up!" he cried. Max did nothing to help his brother, and had instead collapsed against the wall in laughter. "Well done, Kate!" he called. "Well done!"
Jackson turned to her, bemused. "You do know Micah's going to hate you now, right?"
Kate grinned. "Maybe. Maybe not."
"And you do know that you'll have to clean that up, right?"
"Actually, Jack volunteered to help me clean up the honey after this, so yeah, I know."
"And you do know that you have presented an invitation to the twins to prank you to no end, correct?"
"Yup. Vor says I must have a death wish."
"Well, then." Jackson grinned. "As long as we're clear on that."
A snort alerted Kate to Ray's presence in the room, and she turned to see him approaching from another monitor on the opposite side of the room, a bowl of popcorn in hand. "I'll wring Micah's neck if he ever tries to hurt you for this."
Kate grinned at the doctor, then pointed to the monitor. "He won't. Look, he's calming down, now."
Jackson put his hands on his hips. "Is that . . . resignation and respect I see?"
Kate took a handful of popcorn as she was offered it. "He's found a rival, in both video games and pranks. He'll be competitive, as will Max, but he knows when he's beat for the moment. He knows he's lost this round."
The scientist ruffled her hair, prompting a hurried attempt to fix her ponytail with one hand. "And Jack said I was being the psychiatrist."
"Actually, in this case, it would be psychologist. And I've kinda had to learn to read people. It's part of what's kept me alive."
Kate knew they were worried about her by the look the two shared. "I'm fine," she assured them. "Half insane, but alive and well otherwise."
She didn't know whether to frown or smile at her next thought, and the expression came out kind of twisted. "Somehow, I get the feeling tomorrow will be an interesting day . . ."
Edited 4-21-10