[ A.N. : You know how this goes...I do not own PRETENDER characters...yatta yatta yatta... I did in fact create Riley (I know! wow for me!)...my words...my story...not my characters...get it? Sorry if some of the chapters are too long. I had planned to write this in parts before the whole chapter thing came out... okie. ENJOY!]
Project Unity- Ch. 2- The Decision
By Lichelle
Riley thought over the propostition in her head over and over. Would she tell them about Jarod's location for moments of freedom, or would she hold back and be secluded forever? A resolution came into her mind. In her situation, it was the only way choice she could make.
"Okay, Lyle," she said slowly with hesitation. "I'll find Jarod for you."
"I knew you'd know to do the right thing. I want you to know that it would have killed me to not be able to see you again. I really love you," he gave her a good big brother hug. He did too. Lyle couldn't ever deny the love he had for his baby sister.
_____________________
Miss Parker was going through the Project Unity files on Riley when the phone rang.
"Parker," she said with half-hearted interest.
"Find the truth yet?"
"Jarod? You talk to Riley too?" Miss Parker asked.
"No, but I've seen her whole life. Well, at least since age three."
"Yeah, I've been through her files. Talk about extensive training. I mean, even you never did some of the things Riley had to."
"She is trained in combat, weaponry, and military tactics..."
"What are they doing to this child?"
"You mean what have they already done. She's already designed a deadly missile and sold it to the military. There is a good aspect though. Her weakness, like mine, is family. Her inner sense is stronger than anyone else's. It connects her stronger to all her family members."
"Is her inner sense really all that complex compared to me or you?" Parker didn't quite understand.
"Her's is extremely complex. She can see past the facade you set up, and really see you for your true self. She is so connected to us that if we are hurting just enough, she feels the pain we feel. She felt my pain, but she felt the most pain for you."
"Jarod? What?" Parker said, but he was already gone.
She left her office and went to find Broots with a new package from Jarod.
"It just got in," Broots said to Parker.
Miss Parker opened the package to find a head with a full-head mask of Miss Parker with an angry look that could turn lava into ice. She peeled off the head mask, and under it was Miss Parker's head with a bright smile.
"What it mean?" Broots asked confused.
"She can see past the facade set up, and really see you for your true self," Miss Parker quoted Jarod about Riley.
To the head, a DSA was attached. Broots took it a loaded it.
The DSA showed Riley in the corner of her bed crying for only the second time in her life. "Tommy. Gone now. Bring Tommy back. Melissa wants Tommy, needs Tommy." Riley repeated it over and over again while rocking back and forth.
They skipped ahead on the DSA.
They watched Riley lay in bad for weeks refusing to eat. On one occasion, she had attacked Willie for no reason. She jumped on him and screamed, "Brigitte! You made her sad." It took four sweepers to control her enough to try to sedate her.
"When was this DSA?" Miss Parker asked fighting to hold in tears.
"End of February of '99," Broots answered her.
"The same time Thomas was killed," Sydney said.
"Jarod was right," Parker said.
"Right about what?" Riley asked while walking into the room accompanied by Mr. Lyle.
"Oh, uh, Riley. What are you doing here?" Miss Parker was surprised to see them.
"She is our next step to finding Jarod," Lyle answered.
"How?" Parker was trying to get Lyle to tell her more about Riley's talents.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that she will find him."
"It matters to me. This is MY pursuit. You tell me what help it is that she can give us, or you can walk out right now because I'm running the show when it comes to capturing Jarod."
"Whether or not this is your pursuit, I'm running the WHOLE show. Got it?"
"Fine," Parker said her nerves running out of patience. "Be my guest."
"Whoa! Talk about sibling rivalry..." Riley smurked.
"Get to work, Riley," Lyle said.
"Okay, okay."
Riley started to go through the things Jarod had last sent Miss Parker, and she started sifting through the objects from his previous lairs. Within moments, she was fully aware of where Jarod was, but she played it off as if she needed more the to figure it out. He was in New York pretending to be a technichian for a Centre data archive storage facility. He'd be there for two more days so she had to stall for as long as she could.
Riley tried hard to reach out to Jarod telepathically. If she tried hard enough and if Jarod would let her into his mind, she would be able to send him a mental message. She would try again when they would be closer to Jarod.
She tried her best withholding Jarod's location to at least the end of the day, but she was being pressured greatly by Raines.
"I know that you know where Jarod is, Riley," Raines said short of his patience.
"It takes more concentration than you think," she replied.
"Don't play this game with me. I know the capabilities of your gift. I can easily get you to tell us Jarod's location by alternative techniques of course."
A chill ran down the length of Riley's spine. She recalled the terrible memories of her past, and sure as hell didn't want to relive any of them.
"Okay," she said reluctantly. "He's in New York."
"Where in New York?" Raines said.
"When we get there I'll tell you, but for now, you know what direction to go in and that's all you need to get going."
"Is this so kind of game?"
"It's to ensure that I get to go."
"Fine. You can have your moment. Get the jet ready for New York."
They were on their way out almost immediately. Excitement flowed through Riley as she would be leaving Centre grounds for the first time. Sure she had escaped periodically, but she had always stayed within the Centre's perimeter. This time she would be out in the world. As she stepped out into the sunlight, she felt the difference in breathing in the fresh air versus the stale air she had been breathing for years. Sunshine filled every pore of her body as her hair was gently blown by the wind. It wasn't quite freedom, but it was very close.
She took advantage of the feeling of total ecstasy. On the way to the airport, she rolled down her window and held her hand out the window and moved it in the wind. She engraved the picturesque scene into her mind forever. The private airport wasn't that far away. She had secretly memorized the route in which they took to get there. She knew where everything was now on the way to the airport, and she drew a mini map in her head of where the gas station was and where the convienient store was located.
Riley felt like a little kid as they approached the jet. She had been in many simulations where she was in a jet but had never truly flown in one so she was excited. She knew how the jet worked. Hell. She designed a couple of jets herself for the military. She went into the cozy little jet, sitting next to Lyle. She took the window seat of course. As they took off, Riley could see the massive building of the Centre disappear into the distance. A twinge of joy went through her. She was actually away from the Centre. She looked out the window to the sight below her.
"God! It's gorgeous," she said to Lyle.
"Yeah, sometimes I forget how beautiful it really is," he said looking back to Riley. "What am I thinking right now?"
"That's easy. You're thinking about how I'm such an awesome sister, and what a great big brother you are. The same as always," she said flashing a smile. Lyle smiled back.
"It's not fair that you have the advantage of your 'gift'," he said.
"Well, you try. What am I thinking?" She sent her thoughts somewhat to him.
"You're thinking what an awesome brother I am and what a fun sister you are... and Jarod. You're thinking about Jarod." The smile from his face faded slowly.
"Don't look at me like that."
"Riley," Lyle said at a low voice so Willie or anyone else wouldn't hear. Mr. Raines was going to meet them there when they confirmed Jarod's location. "You're not planning on doing something to jeopardize what freedoms you have at the Centre are you?"
"I don't know yet."
"Riley, please don't do this to me. I would hate to lose you."
"You won't," she smiled again.
She spent the rest of the time trying to reach Jarod telepathically. She couldn't seem to get into his mind. It was like searching aimlessly in the dark looking for a door to open. She still hadn't gotten through when their plane landed.
"So now what?" Miss Parker asked.
"He's at a hotel on 83rd Street," Riley told them.
"Okay let's go," Lyle said.
Lyle and Riley went in a car together. Miss Parker, Broots, Sydney, Willie, and Sam went into the limo. Riley had Lyle put down the convertible top so she could feel the breeze and get the feel of the city. On the way, she worked her hardest to get through to Jarod. They were fast approaching the motel. As they entered the parking lot, the door was opened. She got through. Her inner sense was amplified. She had been able to work her inner sense without looking like she was doing anything. As they were heading up the stairs, she was telling Jarod to get out of his number eight hotel room. She could feel that he received her message, and she felt a thank you in return.
"Here it is room number eight," Lyle said as he kicked down the door. "Yeah this was his room, but no sign of Jarod."
Everyone started searching the room, but Riley heard something down the hall. She thought it might have been Jarod, but her inner sense told her it was more dangerous than not. She went anyways out of curiosity. She went down the hall into another room, and quickly wished she had trusted her instinct.
Project Unity- Ch. 2- The Decision
By Lichelle
Riley thought over the propostition in her head over and over. Would she tell them about Jarod's location for moments of freedom, or would she hold back and be secluded forever? A resolution came into her mind. In her situation, it was the only way choice she could make.
"Okay, Lyle," she said slowly with hesitation. "I'll find Jarod for you."
"I knew you'd know to do the right thing. I want you to know that it would have killed me to not be able to see you again. I really love you," he gave her a good big brother hug. He did too. Lyle couldn't ever deny the love he had for his baby sister.
_____________________
Miss Parker was going through the Project Unity files on Riley when the phone rang.
"Parker," she said with half-hearted interest.
"Find the truth yet?"
"Jarod? You talk to Riley too?" Miss Parker asked.
"No, but I've seen her whole life. Well, at least since age three."
"Yeah, I've been through her files. Talk about extensive training. I mean, even you never did some of the things Riley had to."
"She is trained in combat, weaponry, and military tactics..."
"What are they doing to this child?"
"You mean what have they already done. She's already designed a deadly missile and sold it to the military. There is a good aspect though. Her weakness, like mine, is family. Her inner sense is stronger than anyone else's. It connects her stronger to all her family members."
"Is her inner sense really all that complex compared to me or you?" Parker didn't quite understand.
"Her's is extremely complex. She can see past the facade you set up, and really see you for your true self. She is so connected to us that if we are hurting just enough, she feels the pain we feel. She felt my pain, but she felt the most pain for you."
"Jarod? What?" Parker said, but he was already gone.
She left her office and went to find Broots with a new package from Jarod.
"It just got in," Broots said to Parker.
Miss Parker opened the package to find a head with a full-head mask of Miss Parker with an angry look that could turn lava into ice. She peeled off the head mask, and under it was Miss Parker's head with a bright smile.
"What it mean?" Broots asked confused.
"She can see past the facade set up, and really see you for your true self," Miss Parker quoted Jarod about Riley.
To the head, a DSA was attached. Broots took it a loaded it.
The DSA showed Riley in the corner of her bed crying for only the second time in her life. "Tommy. Gone now. Bring Tommy back. Melissa wants Tommy, needs Tommy." Riley repeated it over and over again while rocking back and forth.
They skipped ahead on the DSA.
They watched Riley lay in bad for weeks refusing to eat. On one occasion, she had attacked Willie for no reason. She jumped on him and screamed, "Brigitte! You made her sad." It took four sweepers to control her enough to try to sedate her.
"When was this DSA?" Miss Parker asked fighting to hold in tears.
"End of February of '99," Broots answered her.
"The same time Thomas was killed," Sydney said.
"Jarod was right," Parker said.
"Right about what?" Riley asked while walking into the room accompanied by Mr. Lyle.
"Oh, uh, Riley. What are you doing here?" Miss Parker was surprised to see them.
"She is our next step to finding Jarod," Lyle answered.
"How?" Parker was trying to get Lyle to tell her more about Riley's talents.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that she will find him."
"It matters to me. This is MY pursuit. You tell me what help it is that she can give us, or you can walk out right now because I'm running the show when it comes to capturing Jarod."
"Whether or not this is your pursuit, I'm running the WHOLE show. Got it?"
"Fine," Parker said her nerves running out of patience. "Be my guest."
"Whoa! Talk about sibling rivalry..." Riley smurked.
"Get to work, Riley," Lyle said.
"Okay, okay."
Riley started to go through the things Jarod had last sent Miss Parker, and she started sifting through the objects from his previous lairs. Within moments, she was fully aware of where Jarod was, but she played it off as if she needed more the to figure it out. He was in New York pretending to be a technichian for a Centre data archive storage facility. He'd be there for two more days so she had to stall for as long as she could.
Riley tried hard to reach out to Jarod telepathically. If she tried hard enough and if Jarod would let her into his mind, she would be able to send him a mental message. She would try again when they would be closer to Jarod.
She tried her best withholding Jarod's location to at least the end of the day, but she was being pressured greatly by Raines.
"I know that you know where Jarod is, Riley," Raines said short of his patience.
"It takes more concentration than you think," she replied.
"Don't play this game with me. I know the capabilities of your gift. I can easily get you to tell us Jarod's location by alternative techniques of course."
A chill ran down the length of Riley's spine. She recalled the terrible memories of her past, and sure as hell didn't want to relive any of them.
"Okay," she said reluctantly. "He's in New York."
"Where in New York?" Raines said.
"When we get there I'll tell you, but for now, you know what direction to go in and that's all you need to get going."
"Is this so kind of game?"
"It's to ensure that I get to go."
"Fine. You can have your moment. Get the jet ready for New York."
They were on their way out almost immediately. Excitement flowed through Riley as she would be leaving Centre grounds for the first time. Sure she had escaped periodically, but she had always stayed within the Centre's perimeter. This time she would be out in the world. As she stepped out into the sunlight, she felt the difference in breathing in the fresh air versus the stale air she had been breathing for years. Sunshine filled every pore of her body as her hair was gently blown by the wind. It wasn't quite freedom, but it was very close.
She took advantage of the feeling of total ecstasy. On the way to the airport, she rolled down her window and held her hand out the window and moved it in the wind. She engraved the picturesque scene into her mind forever. The private airport wasn't that far away. She had secretly memorized the route in which they took to get there. She knew where everything was now on the way to the airport, and she drew a mini map in her head of where the gas station was and where the convienient store was located.
Riley felt like a little kid as they approached the jet. She had been in many simulations where she was in a jet but had never truly flown in one so she was excited. She knew how the jet worked. Hell. She designed a couple of jets herself for the military. She went into the cozy little jet, sitting next to Lyle. She took the window seat of course. As they took off, Riley could see the massive building of the Centre disappear into the distance. A twinge of joy went through her. She was actually away from the Centre. She looked out the window to the sight below her.
"God! It's gorgeous," she said to Lyle.
"Yeah, sometimes I forget how beautiful it really is," he said looking back to Riley. "What am I thinking right now?"
"That's easy. You're thinking about how I'm such an awesome sister, and what a great big brother you are. The same as always," she said flashing a smile. Lyle smiled back.
"It's not fair that you have the advantage of your 'gift'," he said.
"Well, you try. What am I thinking?" She sent her thoughts somewhat to him.
"You're thinking what an awesome brother I am and what a fun sister you are... and Jarod. You're thinking about Jarod." The smile from his face faded slowly.
"Don't look at me like that."
"Riley," Lyle said at a low voice so Willie or anyone else wouldn't hear. Mr. Raines was going to meet them there when they confirmed Jarod's location. "You're not planning on doing something to jeopardize what freedoms you have at the Centre are you?"
"I don't know yet."
"Riley, please don't do this to me. I would hate to lose you."
"You won't," she smiled again.
She spent the rest of the time trying to reach Jarod telepathically. She couldn't seem to get into his mind. It was like searching aimlessly in the dark looking for a door to open. She still hadn't gotten through when their plane landed.
"So now what?" Miss Parker asked.
"He's at a hotel on 83rd Street," Riley told them.
"Okay let's go," Lyle said.
Lyle and Riley went in a car together. Miss Parker, Broots, Sydney, Willie, and Sam went into the limo. Riley had Lyle put down the convertible top so she could feel the breeze and get the feel of the city. On the way, she worked her hardest to get through to Jarod. They were fast approaching the motel. As they entered the parking lot, the door was opened. She got through. Her inner sense was amplified. She had been able to work her inner sense without looking like she was doing anything. As they were heading up the stairs, she was telling Jarod to get out of his number eight hotel room. She could feel that he received her message, and she felt a thank you in return.
"Here it is room number eight," Lyle said as he kicked down the door. "Yeah this was his room, but no sign of Jarod."
Everyone started searching the room, but Riley heard something down the hall. She thought it might have been Jarod, but her inner sense told her it was more dangerous than not. She went anyways out of curiosity. She went down the hall into another room, and quickly wished she had trusted her instinct.