Chapter 36: Rude Discovery
The World is a Game.
And we are only Players.
Is destiny fated?
Or do the Players control their destinies?
Only time will tell.
*************************
Jarod dove behind one of the dance platforms. He could see movement coming from across the room. He slowly crept around the main walkway and hid behind the next set of round stages. He pulled the 9mm from the holster he had been given at Angel's Hope.
Lily's eyes had adjusted to the darkened room and had slipped behind the curtain on stage left. She moved the curtain with the nose of her gun and saw movement by the entrance door. She strained to see if the figure looked like Lyle or the Sweeper teams.
The figure moved along the wall. It seemed like it stumbled over something. Jarod approached from the front, Lily from the figure's right. Just as both pointed their weapon at the figure, the lights suddenly came on.
"Ahhhhhh." A scream was heard. Mark lifted his arms up in front of his face. "Don't shoot!"
Lily dropped her arms out of the firing pose. "What the hell do you think you're doing turning the lights out!"
Jarod holstered his gun. "You almost got yourself shot."
Mark looked bewildered at both of them. "What are you talking about? I came in through the door, the place was dark, then the lights go on and the two of you are standing here pointing guns in my face."
"You didn't turn off the lights?" Lily asked.
Parker stepped out from the hallway that was attached to the back of the stage. "No, I did."
Jarod turned to look at Parker. "Whatever possessed you to turn off the lights? We could have killed Mark."
"But you didn't. You're both ready. Ready to face the Centre." Parker smiled.
"And what brings you to that conclusion now?" Lily asked with anger in her voice.
"Listen. It's all fine and dandy that you have your little plans and schematics, but the Centre doesn't always play by the rules. I needed to know that the two of you could adapt." Parker looked at Lily. "That Lily could react to change and not panic." She then turned to Jarod. "That you wouldn't react to save Lily verses dealing with what was happening." She paused looking at the two siblings. "I don't want to lose the two of you."
Lily calmed down. "Good job. Keep me on my toes. I don't want you ever to feel like I am complacent with a situation."
Jarod went and put his arms around Parker. "You're not going to lose me. You've spent too many years trying to catch me."
Lily and Mark stood smiling. Parker moved uncomfortably in Jarod's arms. He knew that she wasn't use to showing emotion in front of people.
Lily picked up on Parker's uneasiness and grabbed Mark's hand. "Come with me. We have to check that thing in the other building."
"That thing?" Mark looked at Lily. Lily was using her eyes and tilted her head to indicate Parker. "Oh. That thing. Yes, we have to check that. Definitely." Mark smiled as Lily led him by the hand out the front door.
Parker watched the two go out the door. "Well that made Mark's day. They're really subtle aren't they?" She relaxed a little in Jarod's arms. "So I guess we've been outted. We're officially a couple."
"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Jarod said as he brought Parker around and kissed her.
"No. You have been neglectful in that area, but I think you could make up for it." She pulled him back down into another kiss. She pulled slowly away so she was looking into Jarod's soft brown eyes. "But first things first. Do you feel more confident that Lily can handle herself?"
Jarod sighed. "You think I'm overreacting don't you?"
"No. You're not overreacting. What Lily is doing is very dangerous. Raines is ruthless and relentless. If anyone knows that, it's you."
Jarod decided to voice what he was thinking earlier. "I don't think I could take losing Lily. When Kyle died, a part of me died too. The pain I was feeling turned into anger. It started eating me inside. I saw a part of me come out that I never really wanted to see. A part I didn't know existed till then."
Parker looked into Jarod's eyes again. "So you understand now why Lily has to do this." She paused for a moment to think of how to phrase what she had observed. "Lily is remembering the atrocities of her childhood. She's seeing a part of herself come out that she doesn't understand or like. She tries to play like she is in control and powerful, but at times you can see that she is frightened of what she is becoming. How her past at the Centre is being integrated into her personality."
"When did you become a psychologist?" Jarod asked.
"I must be hanging around Sydney too much. Honestly. The two of you are very much alike. In analyzing you all these years, I can read her."
"I'm still not sure if meeting Lyle is the best thing. I don't trust him." Jarod walked to one of the tables, bringing Parker with him. He pulled out the chair and Parker took a seat. Then he took a seat next to her. "After everything he has done to me..."
Parker interrupted. "Want to know something that I will never admit to ever again." Parker paused. "Somewhere deep down I'm hoping that Lily succeeds."
Jarod looked at Parker in shock. "You have been the biggest opponent to all of this. When did you change your mind?"
"I've been thinking allot about my life. I grew up without my mother, a father who was absorbed by his work, and have had nothing more than boarding school and lovers in my life. The only people, besides my mother, who showed me any affection were Thomas and you."
Jarod could see Parker was choking up. "You don't have to talk about this."
"Yes I do. I have kept my emotions inside ever since my mother died. My father showed me how to be emotionless and unfeeling, when I really needed love and compassion. I miss having a family Jarod. Robert Parker is dead. I will not acknowledge Raines as having any right to call himself my father. So the only family I have left is..."
"Ethan and Lyle." Jarod finished.
Parker corrected him. "If Lily is right, then all I have left is Ethan and Bobby. Lyle was never my brother."
Jarod reached across the table and took Parker's hand. He understood now what she was trying to say. "So if Lily can get in touch with Bobby, then maybe Lyle will cease to exist."
"I don't know if he will cease to exist. I'm not even sure Lyle has any essence of who he was still inside. I don't know if he could learn to live without the terror and find compassion for others. But if there is, then maybe we'd be able to help each other find out who we were."
"The fact that he agreed to meet Lily and remembers her may be a good sign. That's if he doesn't bring a Sweeper team with him." Jarod could see that Parker was looking off and looked as if someone was talking to her. "Are you hearing something with your inner sense?"
"Yes. It's still hard to hear, but I don't think he is. Somehow I think I would know if he were going to do something bad. I think my mother would warn me."
"I hope so. So that both our families can heal and grow." Jarod smiled at Parker.
"Grow?" Parker asked with visions of what Jarod had meant. "I think you have the wrong woman. I can't even take care of Mr. Wiggles by myself."
Jarod laughed. "You wouldn't be by yourself. But for now we better just get through today. So we better get over to the other building and help Lily and Mark with that thing."
Parker smiled now. "Oh - that thing. Yes, we better go help them."
Jarod stood up and extended his hand out to Parker. She placed her hand in his and stood up. They exited the building hand in hand as dusk was falling.
*************************
Lyle walked quickly down the block. Dusk was falling. He was unconsciously playing with the medallion hanging around his neck. When he had gotten two blocks away, he hailed a cab. Lyle climbed inside the cab and gave the cabbie the address Broots had given him. The cab took off.
The figure that had been shadowing Lyle sat in the cab he had hailed when Lyle had motioned for his. The man instructed the driver to follow the other cab.
Lyle sat in the cab debating with himself on what the hell he was doing. He was feeling a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Lyle looked out the window of the cab as he remembered the face he had seen on the screen in his office. He remembered the words she had written on the note, which he had in his pocket.
"Seek the theater of Truth and you will find me. I know the secrets and have the solutions. I will see you in two days at the city of Angels."
Hearing her voice had given him a warm feeling. Some part of him longed for that feeling, another part despised it.
"Let me know when we are about two blocks away." Lyle instructed the cabbie.
"Yes Sir." The cabbie replied. About ten minutes later, the man spoke. "Sir, we are stuck in traffic. It will take a little while to get there."
"Great." Lyle looked at his watch. "Just great." Lyle sat in the cab and stewed.
After a half an hour, the cab started moving again. "Must have been an accident Sir. We should be there soon." After about fifteen minutes, the cabbie announced. "Sir, we are about two blocks out."
"Stop the cab. Let me out here." The cabbie pulled over to the curb. Lyle leaned up to the little window that separated the driver from the rear of the cab. "Which way is it to the address I gave you?"
The cabbie pointed straight ahead. "Two blocks up. One block to the right. You can't miss it. You'll see the crowd."
Lyle pulled his wallet out and pushed a fifty through the hole. "Keep the change. But you never saw me. Understand?"
The cabbie took the fifty and pocketed it. "Saw who?"
Lyle opened the door and got out. He slammed the door shut and the cab drove off.
The cabbie saw the man walking off in his rear view mirror. He took out his cell phone and dialed. "He's on his way." The cabbie shut the phone and drove off into the night.
*************************
Lily stood in the room dressed in a silver jumpsuit that glistened in the light. She had put on a silver wig and had been applying false eyelashes and glitter makeup. Her phone rang. She picked it up and flipped it open. She listened to the person on the other end and then hung up the phone. "He's on his way. I'm outta here."
Jarod came from the corner of the room he had been sitting in. "Please let me be in the club Lily. I won't interfere."
Lily had headed for the door. "Jarod we have been through this over and over. I go in with Ronnie and Joel. They will be in the audience and watching my back. You and Parker are too important to have on the front line. Ronnie will watch my back - she always has. And there will be agents on the street and in this building. You will be watching from here and connected to me by this earpiece. You will hear everything and I will hear you. Don't worry." Lily slapped her brother's chest. "Let the Game begin." Lily headed for the door with Ronnie and Joel on her heels. Joel closed the door. Lily went to the guard outside the door. "No matter what happens, don't let him go over to that building. He stays here till Joel and Ronnie return and then all of you get the hell out of here. Understood?"
"Yes Ma'am." The guard responded.
Lily headed to meet her destiny.
*************************
Lyle approached the tall building. He looked up at the towering building before him and tried to calculate what exits the building may have. He then looked around and at the crowd of people that had gathered around the entranceway of the building. He saw a sign that read. "Theatre Dance Club". It had gotten dark and the lights glittered in the night sky.
He could spot no one that looked like a threat, but then figured Lily was smart enough to disguise anyone who would be in her employ.
The people mulling around the club were in their twenties. Dressed in baggy pants and t-shirts, mini leather skirts and tank tops, and other various forms of party dress. Lyle looked out of place in his dress shirt, tie, and suit pants. So he decided to ditch the tie. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt and then decided he still looked out of place.
He walked up to the front of the building. A marquee on the outside of the building said that the club inside was a theatrical nightclub experience. There were live acts that performed dance numbers along with live band dancing.
Lyle approached the front door of the building and paid the rather large doorman a rather large tip to gain entrance into the club before everyone that was standing in line. Lyle walked past the man and entered the wide double doors. There was a red carpet leading through to the dance floor and ended at the stage area. He could see a large protruding stage and some smaller round ones, a dance floor, and tables set up to the rear. Lyle spotted a table near one of the round stages. He made his way through the dancing crowd and sat at the table.
A waitress came and asked him if he wanted a drink. Lyle ordered and the waitress brought him a seven and seven. Lyle surveyed the crowd looking for Lily, but couldn't spot her. The crowd was dancing to the song "I Will Survive." Just as he was wondering whether Lily had sent him on a wild goose chase, the lights went down in the club.
The stage lights lit up and there were dancers posed in various positions on the stage. The music started. It was the song Mr. Roboto by Styx.
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto
Mata ah-oo Hima de
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto
Himitsu wo Shiri Tai
The dancers dance around the stage, some positioning themselves on the smaller circular stages. The lights were flashing and flickering with techno precision. Lyle looked up at the dancer who had positioned herself in front of him. He looked into the face of Lily dressed in silver and sparkling in the lights. She started to sing:
You're wondering who I am.......
*************************
The Game has entered it's final phase.
The Players have positioned themselves.
Will the answers they seek be found?
Only they will be able to tell.
Disclaimer: All the Pretender characters are the sole property of "The Pretender" creators Steve Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle. All other characters are created by the author of this work with no correlation to anyone living or deceased. The song Mr. Roboto is also the sole property of the group Styx. This written work is produced solely for recreational purposes, to honor "The Pretender" series and to entertain its fans.
The World is a Game.
And we are only Players.
Is destiny fated?
Or do the Players control their destinies?
Only time will tell.
*************************
Jarod dove behind one of the dance platforms. He could see movement coming from across the room. He slowly crept around the main walkway and hid behind the next set of round stages. He pulled the 9mm from the holster he had been given at Angel's Hope.
Lily's eyes had adjusted to the darkened room and had slipped behind the curtain on stage left. She moved the curtain with the nose of her gun and saw movement by the entrance door. She strained to see if the figure looked like Lyle or the Sweeper teams.
The figure moved along the wall. It seemed like it stumbled over something. Jarod approached from the front, Lily from the figure's right. Just as both pointed their weapon at the figure, the lights suddenly came on.
"Ahhhhhh." A scream was heard. Mark lifted his arms up in front of his face. "Don't shoot!"
Lily dropped her arms out of the firing pose. "What the hell do you think you're doing turning the lights out!"
Jarod holstered his gun. "You almost got yourself shot."
Mark looked bewildered at both of them. "What are you talking about? I came in through the door, the place was dark, then the lights go on and the two of you are standing here pointing guns in my face."
"You didn't turn off the lights?" Lily asked.
Parker stepped out from the hallway that was attached to the back of the stage. "No, I did."
Jarod turned to look at Parker. "Whatever possessed you to turn off the lights? We could have killed Mark."
"But you didn't. You're both ready. Ready to face the Centre." Parker smiled.
"And what brings you to that conclusion now?" Lily asked with anger in her voice.
"Listen. It's all fine and dandy that you have your little plans and schematics, but the Centre doesn't always play by the rules. I needed to know that the two of you could adapt." Parker looked at Lily. "That Lily could react to change and not panic." She then turned to Jarod. "That you wouldn't react to save Lily verses dealing with what was happening." She paused looking at the two siblings. "I don't want to lose the two of you."
Lily calmed down. "Good job. Keep me on my toes. I don't want you ever to feel like I am complacent with a situation."
Jarod went and put his arms around Parker. "You're not going to lose me. You've spent too many years trying to catch me."
Lily and Mark stood smiling. Parker moved uncomfortably in Jarod's arms. He knew that she wasn't use to showing emotion in front of people.
Lily picked up on Parker's uneasiness and grabbed Mark's hand. "Come with me. We have to check that thing in the other building."
"That thing?" Mark looked at Lily. Lily was using her eyes and tilted her head to indicate Parker. "Oh. That thing. Yes, we have to check that. Definitely." Mark smiled as Lily led him by the hand out the front door.
Parker watched the two go out the door. "Well that made Mark's day. They're really subtle aren't they?" She relaxed a little in Jarod's arms. "So I guess we've been outted. We're officially a couple."
"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Jarod said as he brought Parker around and kissed her.
"No. You have been neglectful in that area, but I think you could make up for it." She pulled him back down into another kiss. She pulled slowly away so she was looking into Jarod's soft brown eyes. "But first things first. Do you feel more confident that Lily can handle herself?"
Jarod sighed. "You think I'm overreacting don't you?"
"No. You're not overreacting. What Lily is doing is very dangerous. Raines is ruthless and relentless. If anyone knows that, it's you."
Jarod decided to voice what he was thinking earlier. "I don't think I could take losing Lily. When Kyle died, a part of me died too. The pain I was feeling turned into anger. It started eating me inside. I saw a part of me come out that I never really wanted to see. A part I didn't know existed till then."
Parker looked into Jarod's eyes again. "So you understand now why Lily has to do this." She paused for a moment to think of how to phrase what she had observed. "Lily is remembering the atrocities of her childhood. She's seeing a part of herself come out that she doesn't understand or like. She tries to play like she is in control and powerful, but at times you can see that she is frightened of what she is becoming. How her past at the Centre is being integrated into her personality."
"When did you become a psychologist?" Jarod asked.
"I must be hanging around Sydney too much. Honestly. The two of you are very much alike. In analyzing you all these years, I can read her."
"I'm still not sure if meeting Lyle is the best thing. I don't trust him." Jarod walked to one of the tables, bringing Parker with him. He pulled out the chair and Parker took a seat. Then he took a seat next to her. "After everything he has done to me..."
Parker interrupted. "Want to know something that I will never admit to ever again." Parker paused. "Somewhere deep down I'm hoping that Lily succeeds."
Jarod looked at Parker in shock. "You have been the biggest opponent to all of this. When did you change your mind?"
"I've been thinking allot about my life. I grew up without my mother, a father who was absorbed by his work, and have had nothing more than boarding school and lovers in my life. The only people, besides my mother, who showed me any affection were Thomas and you."
Jarod could see Parker was choking up. "You don't have to talk about this."
"Yes I do. I have kept my emotions inside ever since my mother died. My father showed me how to be emotionless and unfeeling, when I really needed love and compassion. I miss having a family Jarod. Robert Parker is dead. I will not acknowledge Raines as having any right to call himself my father. So the only family I have left is..."
"Ethan and Lyle." Jarod finished.
Parker corrected him. "If Lily is right, then all I have left is Ethan and Bobby. Lyle was never my brother."
Jarod reached across the table and took Parker's hand. He understood now what she was trying to say. "So if Lily can get in touch with Bobby, then maybe Lyle will cease to exist."
"I don't know if he will cease to exist. I'm not even sure Lyle has any essence of who he was still inside. I don't know if he could learn to live without the terror and find compassion for others. But if there is, then maybe we'd be able to help each other find out who we were."
"The fact that he agreed to meet Lily and remembers her may be a good sign. That's if he doesn't bring a Sweeper team with him." Jarod could see that Parker was looking off and looked as if someone was talking to her. "Are you hearing something with your inner sense?"
"Yes. It's still hard to hear, but I don't think he is. Somehow I think I would know if he were going to do something bad. I think my mother would warn me."
"I hope so. So that both our families can heal and grow." Jarod smiled at Parker.
"Grow?" Parker asked with visions of what Jarod had meant. "I think you have the wrong woman. I can't even take care of Mr. Wiggles by myself."
Jarod laughed. "You wouldn't be by yourself. But for now we better just get through today. So we better get over to the other building and help Lily and Mark with that thing."
Parker smiled now. "Oh - that thing. Yes, we better go help them."
Jarod stood up and extended his hand out to Parker. She placed her hand in his and stood up. They exited the building hand in hand as dusk was falling.
*************************
Lyle walked quickly down the block. Dusk was falling. He was unconsciously playing with the medallion hanging around his neck. When he had gotten two blocks away, he hailed a cab. Lyle climbed inside the cab and gave the cabbie the address Broots had given him. The cab took off.
The figure that had been shadowing Lyle sat in the cab he had hailed when Lyle had motioned for his. The man instructed the driver to follow the other cab.
Lyle sat in the cab debating with himself on what the hell he was doing. He was feeling a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Lyle looked out the window of the cab as he remembered the face he had seen on the screen in his office. He remembered the words she had written on the note, which he had in his pocket.
"Seek the theater of Truth and you will find me. I know the secrets and have the solutions. I will see you in two days at the city of Angels."
Hearing her voice had given him a warm feeling. Some part of him longed for that feeling, another part despised it.
"Let me know when we are about two blocks away." Lyle instructed the cabbie.
"Yes Sir." The cabbie replied. About ten minutes later, the man spoke. "Sir, we are stuck in traffic. It will take a little while to get there."
"Great." Lyle looked at his watch. "Just great." Lyle sat in the cab and stewed.
After a half an hour, the cab started moving again. "Must have been an accident Sir. We should be there soon." After about fifteen minutes, the cabbie announced. "Sir, we are about two blocks out."
"Stop the cab. Let me out here." The cabbie pulled over to the curb. Lyle leaned up to the little window that separated the driver from the rear of the cab. "Which way is it to the address I gave you?"
The cabbie pointed straight ahead. "Two blocks up. One block to the right. You can't miss it. You'll see the crowd."
Lyle pulled his wallet out and pushed a fifty through the hole. "Keep the change. But you never saw me. Understand?"
The cabbie took the fifty and pocketed it. "Saw who?"
Lyle opened the door and got out. He slammed the door shut and the cab drove off.
The cabbie saw the man walking off in his rear view mirror. He took out his cell phone and dialed. "He's on his way." The cabbie shut the phone and drove off into the night.
*************************
Lily stood in the room dressed in a silver jumpsuit that glistened in the light. She had put on a silver wig and had been applying false eyelashes and glitter makeup. Her phone rang. She picked it up and flipped it open. She listened to the person on the other end and then hung up the phone. "He's on his way. I'm outta here."
Jarod came from the corner of the room he had been sitting in. "Please let me be in the club Lily. I won't interfere."
Lily had headed for the door. "Jarod we have been through this over and over. I go in with Ronnie and Joel. They will be in the audience and watching my back. You and Parker are too important to have on the front line. Ronnie will watch my back - she always has. And there will be agents on the street and in this building. You will be watching from here and connected to me by this earpiece. You will hear everything and I will hear you. Don't worry." Lily slapped her brother's chest. "Let the Game begin." Lily headed for the door with Ronnie and Joel on her heels. Joel closed the door. Lily went to the guard outside the door. "No matter what happens, don't let him go over to that building. He stays here till Joel and Ronnie return and then all of you get the hell out of here. Understood?"
"Yes Ma'am." The guard responded.
Lily headed to meet her destiny.
*************************
Lyle approached the tall building. He looked up at the towering building before him and tried to calculate what exits the building may have. He then looked around and at the crowd of people that had gathered around the entranceway of the building. He saw a sign that read. "Theatre Dance Club". It had gotten dark and the lights glittered in the night sky.
He could spot no one that looked like a threat, but then figured Lily was smart enough to disguise anyone who would be in her employ.
The people mulling around the club were in their twenties. Dressed in baggy pants and t-shirts, mini leather skirts and tank tops, and other various forms of party dress. Lyle looked out of place in his dress shirt, tie, and suit pants. So he decided to ditch the tie. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt and then decided he still looked out of place.
He walked up to the front of the building. A marquee on the outside of the building said that the club inside was a theatrical nightclub experience. There were live acts that performed dance numbers along with live band dancing.
Lyle approached the front door of the building and paid the rather large doorman a rather large tip to gain entrance into the club before everyone that was standing in line. Lyle walked past the man and entered the wide double doors. There was a red carpet leading through to the dance floor and ended at the stage area. He could see a large protruding stage and some smaller round ones, a dance floor, and tables set up to the rear. Lyle spotted a table near one of the round stages. He made his way through the dancing crowd and sat at the table.
A waitress came and asked him if he wanted a drink. Lyle ordered and the waitress brought him a seven and seven. Lyle surveyed the crowd looking for Lily, but couldn't spot her. The crowd was dancing to the song "I Will Survive." Just as he was wondering whether Lily had sent him on a wild goose chase, the lights went down in the club.
The stage lights lit up and there were dancers posed in various positions on the stage. The music started. It was the song Mr. Roboto by Styx.
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto
Mata ah-oo Hima de
Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto
Himitsu wo Shiri Tai
The dancers dance around the stage, some positioning themselves on the smaller circular stages. The lights were flashing and flickering with techno precision. Lyle looked up at the dancer who had positioned herself in front of him. He looked into the face of Lily dressed in silver and sparkling in the lights. She started to sing:
You're wondering who I am.......
*************************
The Game has entered it's final phase.
The Players have positioned themselves.
Will the answers they seek be found?
Only they will be able to tell.
Disclaimer: All the Pretender characters are the sole property of "The Pretender" creators Steve Mitchell and Craig Van Sickle. All other characters are created by the author of this work with no correlation to anyone living or deceased. The song Mr. Roboto is also the sole property of the group Styx. This written work is produced solely for recreational purposes, to honor "The Pretender" series and to entertain its fans.