Living in the Loop: Life #145 – developments new and old
Disclaimer: none of the characters are mine, but belong to their respective owners.
10-1
"So, you're not Dylan?" Toby curiously asked the blonde woman in dressed as an animal control officer before them.
"No, I am actually Melissa Conner, a doctor of medicine," the blonde replied grandly – you could practically hear the capital letters of "Doctor of Medicine" in her voice – before adding, in a more subdued manner. "Mind you, I'm a relatively new at doctoring, especially since I've spent so much time in your world or universe or whatever you call it."
"Really?" Toby raised an eyebrow.
"Really. I don't mind, actually – I love working in the hospital, but your world is more exciting while mine is more routine, so it creates a nice balance all in all."
Toby blinked. "You know, you come off kind of prudish?" she asked.
Melissa shrugged. "Well, I always do, when I don't pretend to be Dylan," she replied. "Anyways, what's the situation concerning this loop?"
"I'm not sure," Toby confessed. "This is where a Titanis – a terror bird – that was captured earlier – escapes from the military, but I don't remember this happening this loop, which means that something else has happened – and where are the others?"
"Mac's downstairs."
"Then where is Evan? And Ange?"
"...Judging by the fact that we're being confronted by a Spinosaurus rather than a bird of any kind, I'm guessing that my presence in lieu of Dylan's isn't the only thing different," Melissa shrugged. "Any ideas how we stop it?"
Toby glared.
10-2
"And so, we come to Ange Finch," Walter Simmons of Miami CSI told the rest of the team. "Yes, she is 'not quite there', talking about reincarnation and Groundhog Day and living one's live over and over again at a whim of a god, but she is also harmless and clearly not a military commando or anyone like that. Still, her attitude did upset Dr. Olshansky, and so, a doctor, who hated death ended up with a patient who hated life. Sparks did fly, but not of the romantic kind..."
Horatio Caine nodded thoughtfully. In part he was listening to his underling's narration, because it was important to the case, but in part he was wondering: according to the loops that he had shared with agent Gibbs and the rest of the NCIS crew Angelika Finch was some sort of a crazed commando turned killer-for-hire at least some of the times that they have encountered her. Thus, he expected...anyone but harmless cat lady, if truth to be told.
Horatio sighed. Sadly, no one else was aware and conscious in this loop, which meant it was up to him – and he hated when that happened...
10-3
"Let me get this straight," Alexis Castle said flatly. "There is this woman, Angelika Finch, who has appeared several time in your loops and she'd been giving you trouble?"
"Yes?"
"And you're aware that I'm aware that this is a loop – a fused one – and decided to check her out anyways, especially since she is largely a background "character", not a main one?"
"Yes. So?"
"I don't know," Alexis looked askance at Ziva and Tony. "She seems to be rather harmless, a friend of my grandmother in this incarnation, and not even a particularly nasty one."
"In this incarnation?"
"Loop. There was one that some sort of nightmare fusion of Star Wars and Oz, several slavery ones, several where my grandmother and I switched places, several, when detective Beckett's captain had a closer, more maternal relationship with her-"
"Slavery?" DeNozzo asked. "What time?"
"Before the Civil War," Alexis replied, sceptically. "Why you are asking?"
"We had several loops set during the time of the Roman republic," Tony replied evasively. "They got slavery too-"
"Well, that's nice," Alexis did not sound particularly interesting. "Well, thank you for your time, now I got to go home and listen to my dad and detective Bennett reminiscence about the time the two of them ended up in the Austrian imperial court." She left.
The NCIS agents looked at each other. "I think she likes us," Tony said brightly.
Ziva slapped him.
10-4
"Ms. Finch."
"Mr. Cane," Angelika Finch was not particularly happy to see the CS Inspector – innocent or not, he and his people have caused many problems for her during the case. "What do you want now? You've got your man, or men, or women, and I am not that woman."
"Groundhog day," Cane said without a flinch. "I know about it. I know about going over and over and over in a loop."
"Come in," Angelika Finch replied without twitching a muscle, and once the inspector complied she turned onto him. "So, you know about this. So what? So does the NCIS, and Connor Temple. This does not make us friends or even friendly disposed towards one another."
"True, but this isn't a friendly call," Cane stood his ground. "I know from NCIS encounters that you...got issues and am an active, rather passionate woman with a questionable moral compass. So why are you behaving as if you are not? I take care of Miami very seriously, and if you think that you will quietly blend into the background until this is over..." he paused. "You may think that your strategy is sound, but you're wrong. You cannot change your spots by going cold all of a something, and you cannot do it by yourself. If you want help...I can help. If you do not and are just plotting something – I will still keep an eye on you."
"So what's your point?"
"This is my point."
"I see. Here is mine. A KA-BAR knife is almost thrice as effective as an American Recon-1 knife. I am proficient with that blade. When dealing with agent Gibbs' minions I discovered that stabbing some of them sometimes ended the loop, and sometimes it did not. You, in general, are similar to agent Gibbs – insufferable American men, though you try to pretend to have more compassion than agent Gibbs does. Either way, do what you want – I do not want to get involved with you, in this Loop or any other. Now, please leave."
And Horatio Cane left.
10-5
"And so, two of Jethro Gibbs' agents were around during the last loop," Alexis Castle told Veronica Mars. "Apparently they've got beef against Cross Photonics' people – at least one of them. Ergo, next time you are doing a fused Loop with them-"
"With whom? With Gibbs' people or Cross Photonics?"
"You've encountered them before?"
"Yes, Dylan Weir and Melissa Conner. They're not quite twins, you know?"
"...Melissa who? Are you sure that you did a loop with Cross Photonics?"
"There were dinosaurs, and prehistoric giant crocodiles, and similar monsters – oh yes," the short blonde nodded fervently. "The trick is that Melissa Conner isn't a part of that world either – she lives in eastern Canada instead, and is a doctor in one of private clinics, and there are no dinosaurs in her world. However, she and Dylan have developed some sort of a psychic connection, and can switch minds regardless of whatever world, or Loop, one of them are. Between Dylan's animal knowledge, and Melissa's medical knowledge, and the fact that both of them have a very fair understanding of law, makes the two of them very, very formidable."
"Wait. A mind link? Is it even possible?"
"Apparently yes, it has been known to happen from time to time. Usually in fused Loops, and after that is over the link – or any other power – fades, but sometimes it sticks." Veronica paused and added. "I bet that Gibbs' issue with their CP person is that he or she is also formidable and may not play nice, as my Dylan/Melissa combo did-"
"My dad and detective Beckett have encountered her, supposedly, in some of the Loops when I wasn't around," Alexis said thoughtfully, "and according to them, Ms. Finch was okay."
"There you go, first impressions are the key!"
10-6
"Angelika Sedai, can I speak with you?"
"Of course, Elaida Sedai, feel free to do so."
"Why are you friends with Moiraine Sedai all the time?"
"...In case you haven't noticed, Moiraine Sedai isn't spending much time in White Tower lately, and in fact, our relationship-"
"Your relationship stays the same. The Wheel and the Serpent spin and respin our world time after time, but the two of you get along – always. Why?"
"You're aware that our world changes time and time again...or rather time does?"
"Yes."
"I see. Well, to answer your question, let us talk about the Game of Houses. The Aes Sedai of old have created it for reasons of their own, but in this day and age, all it does is drive people apart, most importantly – people in power. Our Aes Sedai sisters are probably the most obvious example – all of them, all of us, always have their own schemes, so really, and they are interchangeable in that they will always turn on you, if it is necessary for some reason or other. Considering that the Shepherd of the Night plans to end us all by his final assault, this division isn't a good thing."
"And the Dragon Reborn?" Elaida asked with a certain gleam in her eye.
"The Dragon Reborn," Angelika met the other Aes Sedai face on, "seeks to unify us all against the Shepherd. The thing is, that at this day or age, everyone has only two choices – join the Dragon and help him save all of us, or not, and help the Shepherd doom or enslave all of us. It's that simple."
"I see," Elaida said. "And your friendship with Moiraine Sedai?"
"Moiraine has her flaws, as do I, as does everyone else, except for the Whitecloaks' Light, I suppose – I never really understood them. However, she does support the Dragon, so that is good enough for me. Anything else, Elaida Sedai?"
"No," Elaida shook her head. "Have a good day, Angelika Sedai." She stood up and left.
Angelika Sedai looked at the Red Ajah's retreating back and muttered. "Well. That was weird."
End.