Chapter Two of the Crossroads Stories
"Why do you want Joe?!"
"Because he's a hottie! Did you see the butt shot??!!!"
"Yeah, so? You got Seph!" The black wolf looked up at her human friend.
"Ladies, what are you arguing about?" Seph walked into the entertainment room of the WereDen. It was fairly empty. Jill and Cindy were seated on the couch watching their tape of Gatchaman, "Another guy I assume." he sighed to himself.
"So what? You had a guy long before me, or have you forgotten your precious Brian?"
The wolf stared at Jill, mouth hanging. Her wolfishness melted away, revealing the brown-haired human Jill so rarely saw anymore. She wore ragged black shorts, a swimsuit, and a light blue cotton overshirt. Her mouth closed to a straight line, her eyes began to fill with tears. She leaped from the couch and ran for the door. "Cindy!" Jill called, reaching out.
"Brilliant, my dear." Sephiroth settled himself onto the couch. "You know Brian is the only person she misses from your old home."
"Yeah, but . . ."
"Face it, Jill. You were wrong, come on, let's go find her." He helped Jill up then led the way out of the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where is she? We've looked everywhere!" Jill leaned against the guardrail of the balcony in the ancient tree.
"Not everywhere" Seph countered, looking up.
"Oh no, you don't think she . . ."
Seph nodded, "She's quite fond of altitude and there's nothing higher or more lonely than the cliffs. I saw her up there a few times last week."
"How do we get up to her? She can turn into a bird."
Seph looked at her, arms crossed, "You're the Scorceress."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few minutes later, they found Cindy seated on the edge of the WereDen Cliff. Jill grasped Sephiroth's waist tightly, "Cindy, why did you have to come up HERE?" she whined.
"Well, when one plans on being alone, they tend not to consider other peoples feelings when choosing a location." Cindy did not turn to her friends, she simply gazed across the valley, watching the sky.
"I'm sorry, Cindy. Maybe I could open a dimensional doorway for you to go visit him."
Cindy snorted, then half-way looked over her shoulder, "Our old dimension doesn't have enough magic to maintain that! It has enough to open about the size of a telephone wire, but that's about it."
"Then how'd we get here?"
"The amount of magic in the destination is what matters, there's tons of magic here."
"Why don't I bring Brian here?" Jill asked with a knowing grin.
"Would you?" Cindy's voice was pleading and hopeful.
"Of course, I was just waiting for YOU to ask me to." Jill giggled.
Cindy growled good naturedly then jumped to her feet. "Hey, did you see that?"
"What?"
"A flash or something. . ." Cindy trailed off. "There! Look."
Jill squinted, "Is that the phoenix?" Cindy nodded. "Cinny, you go check it out."
"Right." Cindy lept off the cliff, her arms turning to wings.
"She really is in a human mood, isn't she?" Seph asked.
"Yeah, whenever Brian's on her mind . . . lets get the heck off this cliff before I fall." Jill whispered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cindy glided slowly over the woods, ("Jill, can you hear me?")
("Yeah, what's up?")
("This mental connection sure comes in handy.") Cindy hovered above some clouds. ("They landed in that clearing in the woods. They left Joe and Rocky, the rest are talking a look around.")
("Why don't you land and offer our help?")
("Will do.") Cindy flared her wings and parachuted down, landing on the phoenix.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe watched from his car as the strange winged girl landed. "Eagle One, this is Condor Two, Ken, someone just landed on the Phoenix."
"Someone? What do you mean?"
"A winged girl flew down and landed on the Phoenix . . . she was looking around, now she's spotted me."
"Okay, we'll be right there."
Cindy looked down. She could see Joe watching her nervously, then their eyes locked.
Joe was intent on any sudden movement, not knowing whether he was watching friend or foe. Ken flew his jet over and she spread her wings in surprise. Joe fired his weapon quickly misinterpreting the action.
At the very first shot, Cindy launched herself into the air. She didn't make it very far, Joe's feather darts hit her wings and she fell with a shriek. She hit her head hard and everything got very fuzzy. ("CINDY! What happened!").Cindy saw dark shapes over her face, "Are you all right?" one asked.
"Voices . . . in my . . . head . . ." She whispered before everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She woke up in the middle of an argument. "You over-reacted, Joe! You didn't need to shoot at her."
"Did you hear what she said before she blacked out . . . " Jimmy interrupted. "Crazy."
"And how her wings turned to arms, that's weird." Rocky added.
"I am not crazy, thank you very much."
"She's awake!" June gasped.
"Yes, with a terrible headache, I assure you." Cindy's face went blank like she was looking into her mind.
("Cindy!")
("Don't yell, Jill. This hurts enough as is. I'll be there in a little.")
"We're sorry about that . . . " Ken started.
"No need," Cindy smiled. "I came here to offer my help."
"Help, with what?" Joe asked, suspiciously.
"Well, you're not supposed to be in the Crossroads, I'm sure my friend Jill and I can help get you where you're meant to be. I'll explain more if you'd take me to the WereDen." Cindy grimaced. "Jill should have something to heal this."
"All right, where is it?"
"At the base of the cliffs, by the ancient tree."
Soon they were landing outside the entrance. Ken helped Cindy down as Jill rushed towards them. Seph following slowly behind her. "You scared me soooooo much!" Jill cried. "First you stopped sending me thoughts, then I felt surprise, pain and finally confusion. What did you do?"
"I crashed, what does it look like? Could you help?"
"Of course!" Jill conjured a healing wind that wrapped itself around her friend.
"Better?"
"Much thanks."
Sephiroth stepped behind Jill. "I convinced her to do a few work like things while you were away. One, set up a computer with a connection to your old world. It may be helpful."
Cindy nodded. "I need to find some more info on how this could happen."
"Well, if you can keep yourself from getting distracted . . . she brought something a little bigger than a computer through." He gestured towards the balcony.
Looking up, she saw a familiar person leaning over, watching her. "BRIAN!" She squealed. Leaping into the air, she flew up to him. Tears shined in her eyes, "I missed you so much!" she hugged her boyfriend tight, sobbing.
Joe stepped down from the jet, Jill lifted her eyebrows as she watched him, an unintelligible sound left her throat. Seph cleared his throat and crossed his arms.Jill leaned into him and looked at his face, "What's the matter, Sephy-poo?" she crooned. "Jealous?"
He cocked one eyebrow as he look down at her. "Sorry, Sephy." She nuzzled his chest, getting him to put his arms around her.
"These are the people offering us help?" Jimmy dropped down next to Agatha June. "They need help themselves, the loons."
"Jimmy!" She scolded. "Don't say things like that."
Anger flashed in Jill's eyes. "You're calling us loons?" Thunder clouds began to build as Seph squeezed her tighter.
Cindy looked down, "Uh-oh, come on Brian." She hoisted him up, then dropped down to the ground with him. Raising a hand to her friend, Cindy spoke softly. "Jill. Chill, chickary." Then turned toward the Gatchaman team, "We didn't properly introduce ourselves, I am Cindy, the ShapeShifter, and that is Jill, the Scorceress. These two gentlemen are Brian and Sephiroth."
"Shapeshifter . . . Scorceress, what are you really?" Joe asked.
"Other than human?" Cindy smiled. "Denizens of the WereDen, and keepers of the Crossroads, at your service."
"You mentioned the crossroads before, what are they?" Ken asked.
"The Crossroads is the world between dimensions, we live here and maintain the life here. Without us there wouldn't be any life, just magic." Jill explained,
"Unlike normal dimensions, the Crossroads does not have infinite space. That makes it easier on us. Come on, lets go into the WereDen and see if we can find out what's going on." She led the way into the den, climbing the stairs into the entertainment room.
Cindy rushed over to the computer, "Hey! It's purple!" She cried.
"But it's not a Mac. . ." Brian grumbled.
"Oh deal, Brian!" Jill teased. "It's just like your dad's old computer, Cinny, except maybe faster. Color scanner, color printer, 15" monitor, speakers, Win 98 . . ."
"Gawh, Jilli! I know what my dad's computer was like! I'm glad you thought to get one like what I was used to."
"It's got an addition."
"What?"
"It has a magical database. Everything I know is in it, and as you work on it, what you know will be magically entered."
"Cool!" Cindy glanced at Ken, "Can you tell me what happened before you ended up here?"
As he spoke, Cindy typed on the computer. He told of a secret island they had infiltrated to destroy the Galactors' new powerful weapon. "Did you succeed?" Brian asked. Cindy and Jill already knew the answer.
"Yes," Joe answered.Cindy pierced at the screen, a large calculation filling the screen.
"The explosion caused a dimensional rift . . . That's what got them here, the question now is, how to get them back."
"Can't we send them back, like I did with everyone else?" Jill asked.
Cindy shook her head, "There's almost no magic there, besides, it's not just them, the Phoenix and the other vehicles have to go back too." She slammed her hand down on the desk. "Secudan didn't know how to do that. . . So I don't. And they have to get back quickly."
Jimmy looked up, "Why?"
"Your world isn't done with you . . . If we do not get you back quickly, your dimension's future would change, or worse. . ."
"Worse how?" Joe demanded.
"The entire dimensional barrier could collapse, destroying it. Everything would cease to exist." Cindy looked sullen.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" June asked.
"Not without more information." Jill answered.
"Knowledge is a very precious commodity." Seph added.
Rocky rubbed his chin, "Is there anyone who would know more?"
"There may be," hope lit up in Cindy's eyes. "Everyone, stay here. . . Jill, come on, we have to do something. . . alone."
Cindy dragged her friend from the room. Brian sat down at the computer, "What do you think they're going to do?"
"I'm not sure. . ." Seph walked over, and glanced at the screen and drew a sharp breath. "Cindy, are you insane?" He gave a cry and fell to his knees, gripping the desk tightly. "Jill. . . no" he whispered.Regaining his strength, Seph rose and raced for the door. "Hurry follow me."
"What are they doing?" Brian asked anxiously.
"They're going to try to talk to Sirius, Cindy's guardian."
"Yeah, so?"
"He lives on a star. They have to combine their magic's . . . become one creature to keep them both safe."
They hurried down the stairs, Brian next to Seph. "Okay, what's wrong with that? If I keeps them safe . . ."
"The risks, if one magic rejects the other, they're dead. If they stay that way for too long, they'll be trapped as one."
Soon they reached the cave opening, Cindy and Jill stood just outside, hands clasped. A powerful wind circled them tossing their hair around their faces. The wind was too strong for Seph to pass. He tried to plunge through but it beat him back. "Cindy!" he yelled "Don't! It's too dangerous!" The wind blocked his words sweeping them away.The girls began to glow, soon the light became a blinding flash. In their place stood a two-headed white dragon.
Without looking back, the beast launched itself into the air. Soaring out of sight. "Good Luck" Sephiroth whispered before climbing to the balcony to watch for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
("Can we reach Sirius in time, Cinny?")
("Yes, we're moving fast, we'll be there soon.")
Past the sun they flew, on and on with magical speed. Suddenly Cindy roared and the dragon stopped. ("What's wrong?") Jill could feel Cindy's anxiety growing.
("I'm lost, it looks so different on the ground") Cindy shook her head. "SIRIUS!" she cried.
("You called?") A great, greenish voice echoed in their head. A tall man appeared in front of them, great green wings spread out behind him. ("You are very bold to try and reach me, my dear. Now then, why are you here?")
("There are people trapped in the Crossroads that aren't meant to be here, Jill and I cannot send them home. We don't know how.")
("The Gatchaman team. . . Then that fool was telling the truth.")
("What? Who?")
("A lesser luminary, he doesn't maintain anything luckily . . . He's an idiot. He created the rift that brought Gatchaman there, he wants the Galactor to win.")
("What can we do?")
("I wasn't going to get involved, almost breaks the rules, you know . . . but if you want my help, I'll give it to you . . .")
("Thank you, Sirius.")
("I hate to burden you more. . . but I need a mortal body to go down there.")
("Of course. . .")
("Give me your fore-claws") Gently, he took the dragon's front feet in his hands.
His body becoming a bright light that flowed into the beast.
The dragon jerked suddenly and shrieked. It's two heads became one and the scales began to glow a deep green. ("Cindy, he' so powerful . . .") Jill's thoughts sounded breathless, faint.
("Hang in there, Jill . . . three minds is pushing a body a little far. . .")
("It won't be long, girls, as soon as we touch the ground I'll set Jill free.") the green dragon dived, falling like a star.
Reaching the ground, the dragon split into two bodies. One became Jill, the other Sirius.
"Jill!" Sephiroth walked quickly from the WereDen, Brian and the Gatchaman team followed. "You scared us with that stunt . . . scared me."
"I'm sorry Sephy . . . at least we got Sirius' help."
"Where's Cindy?" Brian asked.
"Right here." Sirius tapped his head, "As soon as I send Gatchman back, I'll set her free. Are you all ready to leave? We must get you back."
Ken nodded then turned to Jill, "Thank you for your help, without it, who knows what the future would have held."Jill nodded, "Something much worse, I'd imagine."
Joe jumped into his car, "Tell Cindy I'm sorry for shooting at her." Jill smiled and nodded again.
Soon the whole team was aboard the Phoenix and the great jet was airborne. Sirius raised his arms and began to shout in a sing-song voice. The words, they were another language, seemed ancient, from the beginning of time. The light seemed to bend making almost a wall in the air. The wall moved like water, rippling in waves. The Phoenix flew through it and disappeared.
"NO!" A voice roared from the heavens. "Curse you, spoilers! You ruined it!" A translucent winged man appeared, glowing yellows and reds. He flung his arm at Sirius and Jill. Sirius fell to his knees, Jill was tossed through the air. Her crumpled for landed several feet away. Sirius' form became fuzzy, the shape had two voices, both howling in rage. It split into the winged wolf and a large white winged hound.
The hound's eyes glowed from an inferno within, blazing green. His ears were blood red, his wings a pale green, the rest of his body was snow white. His body glimmered and became translucent like the other luminary. The wolfling looked at her friends, "Seph, Brian, take Jill inside and stay there . . . This won't take long."
Brian patted her head, "Be careful, Cindy."
"I will, sweetie. . . love you." She swiped her tongue across his hand then turned toward Sirius. ("Who chews on what?")
("You stay out of this")
("No way, he hurt Jill!")
("And can hurt you.")
("But that's why you're supposed to protect me.") The wolfling launched herself at the man.
With both Cindy and Sirius tag-teaming him, the luminary was soon down and out. Sirius became a man again, "I'll take him to trial, if he's banished I'll make sure it's away from the Crossroads." He smiled. "Try not to get into trouble, it's hard to be a guardian with two constellations to maintain."
Cindy panted a wolfish grin, "I'll try. . . Thanks for your help, Sirius, but now I have to go to Jill." Cindy returned to human form and trotted into the WereDen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She found her friends in Jill's bedroom. Jill was on her bed still unconscious.
Cindy took Jill's hand her right hand and touched her forehead with her left. After a moment, she rose and went to Jill's bookcase, pulled out a book, and while she read, plucked a few leaves from some of Jill's herbs. She crushed the leaves and waved the sweet-scented mess under Jill's nose.
Slowly her friend began to awaken, "W - what happened?"
"A bad guy knocked you out. It wouldn't have been so bad . . . but you were exhausted."
"Oh." Jill yawned. "Still am actually. Did we win?"
"Yeah, get some sleep, Jill." Cindy stretched. "You guys get out, go get aquatinted or something. . . this has been a very tiring day and I need a nap." She shooed Seph and Brian from the room, then disappeared into her own bedroom. She curled up in her own bed and was soon fast asleep.
"Why do you want Joe?!"
"Because he's a hottie! Did you see the butt shot??!!!"
"Yeah, so? You got Seph!" The black wolf looked up at her human friend.
"Ladies, what are you arguing about?" Seph walked into the entertainment room of the WereDen. It was fairly empty. Jill and Cindy were seated on the couch watching their tape of Gatchaman, "Another guy I assume." he sighed to himself.
"So what? You had a guy long before me, or have you forgotten your precious Brian?"
The wolf stared at Jill, mouth hanging. Her wolfishness melted away, revealing the brown-haired human Jill so rarely saw anymore. She wore ragged black shorts, a swimsuit, and a light blue cotton overshirt. Her mouth closed to a straight line, her eyes began to fill with tears. She leaped from the couch and ran for the door. "Cindy!" Jill called, reaching out.
"Brilliant, my dear." Sephiroth settled himself onto the couch. "You know Brian is the only person she misses from your old home."
"Yeah, but . . ."
"Face it, Jill. You were wrong, come on, let's go find her." He helped Jill up then led the way out of the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where is she? We've looked everywhere!" Jill leaned against the guardrail of the balcony in the ancient tree.
"Not everywhere" Seph countered, looking up.
"Oh no, you don't think she . . ."
Seph nodded, "She's quite fond of altitude and there's nothing higher or more lonely than the cliffs. I saw her up there a few times last week."
"How do we get up to her? She can turn into a bird."
Seph looked at her, arms crossed, "You're the Scorceress."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few minutes later, they found Cindy seated on the edge of the WereDen Cliff. Jill grasped Sephiroth's waist tightly, "Cindy, why did you have to come up HERE?" she whined.
"Well, when one plans on being alone, they tend not to consider other peoples feelings when choosing a location." Cindy did not turn to her friends, she simply gazed across the valley, watching the sky.
"I'm sorry, Cindy. Maybe I could open a dimensional doorway for you to go visit him."
Cindy snorted, then half-way looked over her shoulder, "Our old dimension doesn't have enough magic to maintain that! It has enough to open about the size of a telephone wire, but that's about it."
"Then how'd we get here?"
"The amount of magic in the destination is what matters, there's tons of magic here."
"Why don't I bring Brian here?" Jill asked with a knowing grin.
"Would you?" Cindy's voice was pleading and hopeful.
"Of course, I was just waiting for YOU to ask me to." Jill giggled.
Cindy growled good naturedly then jumped to her feet. "Hey, did you see that?"
"What?"
"A flash or something. . ." Cindy trailed off. "There! Look."
Jill squinted, "Is that the phoenix?" Cindy nodded. "Cinny, you go check it out."
"Right." Cindy lept off the cliff, her arms turning to wings.
"She really is in a human mood, isn't she?" Seph asked.
"Yeah, whenever Brian's on her mind . . . lets get the heck off this cliff before I fall." Jill whispered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cindy glided slowly over the woods, ("Jill, can you hear me?")
("Yeah, what's up?")
("This mental connection sure comes in handy.") Cindy hovered above some clouds. ("They landed in that clearing in the woods. They left Joe and Rocky, the rest are talking a look around.")
("Why don't you land and offer our help?")
("Will do.") Cindy flared her wings and parachuted down, landing on the phoenix.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe watched from his car as the strange winged girl landed. "Eagle One, this is Condor Two, Ken, someone just landed on the Phoenix."
"Someone? What do you mean?"
"A winged girl flew down and landed on the Phoenix . . . she was looking around, now she's spotted me."
"Okay, we'll be right there."
Cindy looked down. She could see Joe watching her nervously, then their eyes locked.
Joe was intent on any sudden movement, not knowing whether he was watching friend or foe. Ken flew his jet over and she spread her wings in surprise. Joe fired his weapon quickly misinterpreting the action.
At the very first shot, Cindy launched herself into the air. She didn't make it very far, Joe's feather darts hit her wings and she fell with a shriek. She hit her head hard and everything got very fuzzy. ("CINDY! What happened!").Cindy saw dark shapes over her face, "Are you all right?" one asked.
"Voices . . . in my . . . head . . ." She whispered before everything went black.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She woke up in the middle of an argument. "You over-reacted, Joe! You didn't need to shoot at her."
"Did you hear what she said before she blacked out . . . " Jimmy interrupted. "Crazy."
"And how her wings turned to arms, that's weird." Rocky added.
"I am not crazy, thank you very much."
"She's awake!" June gasped.
"Yes, with a terrible headache, I assure you." Cindy's face went blank like she was looking into her mind.
("Cindy!")
("Don't yell, Jill. This hurts enough as is. I'll be there in a little.")
"We're sorry about that . . . " Ken started.
"No need," Cindy smiled. "I came here to offer my help."
"Help, with what?" Joe asked, suspiciously.
"Well, you're not supposed to be in the Crossroads, I'm sure my friend Jill and I can help get you where you're meant to be. I'll explain more if you'd take me to the WereDen." Cindy grimaced. "Jill should have something to heal this."
"All right, where is it?"
"At the base of the cliffs, by the ancient tree."
Soon they were landing outside the entrance. Ken helped Cindy down as Jill rushed towards them. Seph following slowly behind her. "You scared me soooooo much!" Jill cried. "First you stopped sending me thoughts, then I felt surprise, pain and finally confusion. What did you do?"
"I crashed, what does it look like? Could you help?"
"Of course!" Jill conjured a healing wind that wrapped itself around her friend.
"Better?"
"Much thanks."
Sephiroth stepped behind Jill. "I convinced her to do a few work like things while you were away. One, set up a computer with a connection to your old world. It may be helpful."
Cindy nodded. "I need to find some more info on how this could happen."
"Well, if you can keep yourself from getting distracted . . . she brought something a little bigger than a computer through." He gestured towards the balcony.
Looking up, she saw a familiar person leaning over, watching her. "BRIAN!" She squealed. Leaping into the air, she flew up to him. Tears shined in her eyes, "I missed you so much!" she hugged her boyfriend tight, sobbing.
Joe stepped down from the jet, Jill lifted her eyebrows as she watched him, an unintelligible sound left her throat. Seph cleared his throat and crossed his arms.Jill leaned into him and looked at his face, "What's the matter, Sephy-poo?" she crooned. "Jealous?"
He cocked one eyebrow as he look down at her. "Sorry, Sephy." She nuzzled his chest, getting him to put his arms around her.
"These are the people offering us help?" Jimmy dropped down next to Agatha June. "They need help themselves, the loons."
"Jimmy!" She scolded. "Don't say things like that."
Anger flashed in Jill's eyes. "You're calling us loons?" Thunder clouds began to build as Seph squeezed her tighter.
Cindy looked down, "Uh-oh, come on Brian." She hoisted him up, then dropped down to the ground with him. Raising a hand to her friend, Cindy spoke softly. "Jill. Chill, chickary." Then turned toward the Gatchaman team, "We didn't properly introduce ourselves, I am Cindy, the ShapeShifter, and that is Jill, the Scorceress. These two gentlemen are Brian and Sephiroth."
"Shapeshifter . . . Scorceress, what are you really?" Joe asked.
"Other than human?" Cindy smiled. "Denizens of the WereDen, and keepers of the Crossroads, at your service."
"You mentioned the crossroads before, what are they?" Ken asked.
"The Crossroads is the world between dimensions, we live here and maintain the life here. Without us there wouldn't be any life, just magic." Jill explained,
"Unlike normal dimensions, the Crossroads does not have infinite space. That makes it easier on us. Come on, lets go into the WereDen and see if we can find out what's going on." She led the way into the den, climbing the stairs into the entertainment room.
Cindy rushed over to the computer, "Hey! It's purple!" She cried.
"But it's not a Mac. . ." Brian grumbled.
"Oh deal, Brian!" Jill teased. "It's just like your dad's old computer, Cinny, except maybe faster. Color scanner, color printer, 15" monitor, speakers, Win 98 . . ."
"Gawh, Jilli! I know what my dad's computer was like! I'm glad you thought to get one like what I was used to."
"It's got an addition."
"What?"
"It has a magical database. Everything I know is in it, and as you work on it, what you know will be magically entered."
"Cool!" Cindy glanced at Ken, "Can you tell me what happened before you ended up here?"
As he spoke, Cindy typed on the computer. He told of a secret island they had infiltrated to destroy the Galactors' new powerful weapon. "Did you succeed?" Brian asked. Cindy and Jill already knew the answer.
"Yes," Joe answered.Cindy pierced at the screen, a large calculation filling the screen.
"The explosion caused a dimensional rift . . . That's what got them here, the question now is, how to get them back."
"Can't we send them back, like I did with everyone else?" Jill asked.
Cindy shook her head, "There's almost no magic there, besides, it's not just them, the Phoenix and the other vehicles have to go back too." She slammed her hand down on the desk. "Secudan didn't know how to do that. . . So I don't. And they have to get back quickly."
Jimmy looked up, "Why?"
"Your world isn't done with you . . . If we do not get you back quickly, your dimension's future would change, or worse. . ."
"Worse how?" Joe demanded.
"The entire dimensional barrier could collapse, destroying it. Everything would cease to exist." Cindy looked sullen.
"Isn't there anything you can do?" June asked.
"Not without more information." Jill answered.
"Knowledge is a very precious commodity." Seph added.
Rocky rubbed his chin, "Is there anyone who would know more?"
"There may be," hope lit up in Cindy's eyes. "Everyone, stay here. . . Jill, come on, we have to do something. . . alone."
Cindy dragged her friend from the room. Brian sat down at the computer, "What do you think they're going to do?"
"I'm not sure. . ." Seph walked over, and glanced at the screen and drew a sharp breath. "Cindy, are you insane?" He gave a cry and fell to his knees, gripping the desk tightly. "Jill. . . no" he whispered.Regaining his strength, Seph rose and raced for the door. "Hurry follow me."
"What are they doing?" Brian asked anxiously.
"They're going to try to talk to Sirius, Cindy's guardian."
"Yeah, so?"
"He lives on a star. They have to combine their magic's . . . become one creature to keep them both safe."
They hurried down the stairs, Brian next to Seph. "Okay, what's wrong with that? If I keeps them safe . . ."
"The risks, if one magic rejects the other, they're dead. If they stay that way for too long, they'll be trapped as one."
Soon they reached the cave opening, Cindy and Jill stood just outside, hands clasped. A powerful wind circled them tossing their hair around their faces. The wind was too strong for Seph to pass. He tried to plunge through but it beat him back. "Cindy!" he yelled "Don't! It's too dangerous!" The wind blocked his words sweeping them away.The girls began to glow, soon the light became a blinding flash. In their place stood a two-headed white dragon.
Without looking back, the beast launched itself into the air. Soaring out of sight. "Good Luck" Sephiroth whispered before climbing to the balcony to watch for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
("Can we reach Sirius in time, Cinny?")
("Yes, we're moving fast, we'll be there soon.")
Past the sun they flew, on and on with magical speed. Suddenly Cindy roared and the dragon stopped. ("What's wrong?") Jill could feel Cindy's anxiety growing.
("I'm lost, it looks so different on the ground") Cindy shook her head. "SIRIUS!" she cried.
("You called?") A great, greenish voice echoed in their head. A tall man appeared in front of them, great green wings spread out behind him. ("You are very bold to try and reach me, my dear. Now then, why are you here?")
("There are people trapped in the Crossroads that aren't meant to be here, Jill and I cannot send them home. We don't know how.")
("The Gatchaman team. . . Then that fool was telling the truth.")
("What? Who?")
("A lesser luminary, he doesn't maintain anything luckily . . . He's an idiot. He created the rift that brought Gatchaman there, he wants the Galactor to win.")
("What can we do?")
("I wasn't going to get involved, almost breaks the rules, you know . . . but if you want my help, I'll give it to you . . .")
("Thank you, Sirius.")
("I hate to burden you more. . . but I need a mortal body to go down there.")
("Of course. . .")
("Give me your fore-claws") Gently, he took the dragon's front feet in his hands.
His body becoming a bright light that flowed into the beast.
The dragon jerked suddenly and shrieked. It's two heads became one and the scales began to glow a deep green. ("Cindy, he' so powerful . . .") Jill's thoughts sounded breathless, faint.
("Hang in there, Jill . . . three minds is pushing a body a little far. . .")
("It won't be long, girls, as soon as we touch the ground I'll set Jill free.") the green dragon dived, falling like a star.
Reaching the ground, the dragon split into two bodies. One became Jill, the other Sirius.
"Jill!" Sephiroth walked quickly from the WereDen, Brian and the Gatchaman team followed. "You scared us with that stunt . . . scared me."
"I'm sorry Sephy . . . at least we got Sirius' help."
"Where's Cindy?" Brian asked.
"Right here." Sirius tapped his head, "As soon as I send Gatchman back, I'll set her free. Are you all ready to leave? We must get you back."
Ken nodded then turned to Jill, "Thank you for your help, without it, who knows what the future would have held."Jill nodded, "Something much worse, I'd imagine."
Joe jumped into his car, "Tell Cindy I'm sorry for shooting at her." Jill smiled and nodded again.
Soon the whole team was aboard the Phoenix and the great jet was airborne. Sirius raised his arms and began to shout in a sing-song voice. The words, they were another language, seemed ancient, from the beginning of time. The light seemed to bend making almost a wall in the air. The wall moved like water, rippling in waves. The Phoenix flew through it and disappeared.
"NO!" A voice roared from the heavens. "Curse you, spoilers! You ruined it!" A translucent winged man appeared, glowing yellows and reds. He flung his arm at Sirius and Jill. Sirius fell to his knees, Jill was tossed through the air. Her crumpled for landed several feet away. Sirius' form became fuzzy, the shape had two voices, both howling in rage. It split into the winged wolf and a large white winged hound.
The hound's eyes glowed from an inferno within, blazing green. His ears were blood red, his wings a pale green, the rest of his body was snow white. His body glimmered and became translucent like the other luminary. The wolfling looked at her friends, "Seph, Brian, take Jill inside and stay there . . . This won't take long."
Brian patted her head, "Be careful, Cindy."
"I will, sweetie. . . love you." She swiped her tongue across his hand then turned toward Sirius. ("Who chews on what?")
("You stay out of this")
("No way, he hurt Jill!")
("And can hurt you.")
("But that's why you're supposed to protect me.") The wolfling launched herself at the man.
With both Cindy and Sirius tag-teaming him, the luminary was soon down and out. Sirius became a man again, "I'll take him to trial, if he's banished I'll make sure it's away from the Crossroads." He smiled. "Try not to get into trouble, it's hard to be a guardian with two constellations to maintain."
Cindy panted a wolfish grin, "I'll try. . . Thanks for your help, Sirius, but now I have to go to Jill." Cindy returned to human form and trotted into the WereDen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She found her friends in Jill's bedroom. Jill was on her bed still unconscious.
Cindy took Jill's hand her right hand and touched her forehead with her left. After a moment, she rose and went to Jill's bookcase, pulled out a book, and while she read, plucked a few leaves from some of Jill's herbs. She crushed the leaves and waved the sweet-scented mess under Jill's nose.
Slowly her friend began to awaken, "W - what happened?"
"A bad guy knocked you out. It wouldn't have been so bad . . . but you were exhausted."
"Oh." Jill yawned. "Still am actually. Did we win?"
"Yeah, get some sleep, Jill." Cindy stretched. "You guys get out, go get aquatinted or something. . . this has been a very tiring day and I need a nap." She shooed Seph and Brian from the room, then disappeared into her own bedroom. She curled up in her own bed and was soon fast asleep.