Chapter Twentyone
It was seventytwo hours before Heaven's Day, seventytwo hours before the wedding. This was the first time for either Roger or Rowan that the holiday festivities were pleasant, rather than an annoyance. There were just a few last minute things that needed to be taken care of. Dastun had asked Roger to drop by Military Police HQ that morning. Rowan and Norman had some things to do at the school (which was closed for the holiday.) All four were going to meet for lunch.
Roger entered the major's office, curious about why Dastun had been so insistant about his showing up in person. He hoped the major hadn't planned a bachelor party...those always turned out to be more embarrassing than they were worth. He knocked on the office door, then let himself in. "Well, Dastun, I'm here like you asked. What's this all about?"
Dan smiled. "This is for you and Ro," he said, as he carefully placed a dusty gift-wrapped package on his desk. The foiled paper was so old it had started to turn green with age.
Roger's black eyes widened in surprise. "Is this a joke?" he smirked. He touched a fragile ribbon with one gloved hand - it crumbled to dust under the slight pressure. "C'mon, Dastun, I know they don't pay you much, but this is ridiculous."
The major looked down at the gift, and shrugged: "I know it looks ridiculous, but this is serious, Roger. Open it...carefully, please."
Smith started to say something sarcastic, then thought better of it. Let's see what this is first, he thought, now curious. The negotiator carefully undid the the wrapping, revealing an equally old cardboard box with foreigh writing on it. He opened it and pulled out a tightly sealed crystal liquor bottle, filled with a beautiful reddish amber liquid. A small silver plaque was hung 'round its neck. Roger held it close to see the finely engraved lettering.
"Read it aloud," said Dastun. Roger complied: "For our daughter Rowan on her wedding day." He looked at Dastun, unsure of what to think. "Where did you get this?" he asked. It was a magnificent gift.
Dastun rubbed the back of his neck before answering. He was feeling very emotional about this and wanted to compose himself. "Hanae and Stephan, Ro's parents, entrusted that to me when the troubles started. I honestly never thought it would be opened."
Dastun stuck his right hand out towards Roger. The negotiator put down the bottle and was reaching for the major's hand when the entire building shook slightly. The distant sound of fire alarms could be heard a few moments later.
"What the hell?!" yelled Dastun. He pushed past Smith and grabbed the first cop in the hallway. "What was that?" he demanded.
"An explosion near North Dome, sir" - that got Roger's attention fast. The school was near North Dome. "Officer," Roger asked quickly, "where exactly?" The young officer glanced at the major, who nodded yes, though puzzled himself (why would Roger care about the North Dome area? So much of it was abandoned.)
"It's an empty office building, sir" the young officer answered, then gave the street address. It was the school.
Roger paled, then turned towards the major: "You've got to get people out there, Dan! It's not abandoned -" He was interrupted by another officer: "He's right, sir. We found an injured man outside the building, in fact he insisted he had to talk to either you or Roger Smith." He pointed to the phone. "He's on line-2, sir; says his name is Norman Berg."
Smith seized the phone and punched in line-2. "Norman? What the hell is going on?" He could hear fire engines in the background, the noise making it hard to hear Berg's words: "Master Roger, they took her! I tried to stop them, I'm so sorry sir!" There was a brief sound of muffled sobbing as the older man broke down, then managed to regain his self-control.
"They used stunguns on us, sir. Before I passed out, I think I heard them say they were going to her lab to clean things up...please hurry sir, I fear for Miss Rowan!" Roger heard another voice in the background. It sounded like someone was telling Berg to get off the phone and get looked at. "Norman," Roger said quickly, "let them take care of you. I'll get her back!" He hung up the phone, his face a grim mask.
"Get who back? What's going on?" the major demanded.
Roger spoke fast: "Rowan had a free school in that building," (surprised dismay crossed Dastun's face) "and whoever blew it up has taken her forcibly to her lab. I'm going there now to get her back - are you coming?"
Furious, Dastun nodded vigorously: "Let me get on the horn and get all the help I can - I'll be right behind you - now GO!"
"Right!" Roger dashed to his Griffon. He sped through traffic, forcing other cars out of his way in his haste. He prayed he wouldn't be too late.
It was seventytwo hours before Heaven's Day, seventytwo hours before the wedding. This was the first time for either Roger or Rowan that the holiday festivities were pleasant, rather than an annoyance. There were just a few last minute things that needed to be taken care of. Dastun had asked Roger to drop by Military Police HQ that morning. Rowan and Norman had some things to do at the school (which was closed for the holiday.) All four were going to meet for lunch.
Roger entered the major's office, curious about why Dastun had been so insistant about his showing up in person. He hoped the major hadn't planned a bachelor party...those always turned out to be more embarrassing than they were worth. He knocked on the office door, then let himself in. "Well, Dastun, I'm here like you asked. What's this all about?"
Dan smiled. "This is for you and Ro," he said, as he carefully placed a dusty gift-wrapped package on his desk. The foiled paper was so old it had started to turn green with age.
Roger's black eyes widened in surprise. "Is this a joke?" he smirked. He touched a fragile ribbon with one gloved hand - it crumbled to dust under the slight pressure. "C'mon, Dastun, I know they don't pay you much, but this is ridiculous."
The major looked down at the gift, and shrugged: "I know it looks ridiculous, but this is serious, Roger. Open it...carefully, please."
Smith started to say something sarcastic, then thought better of it. Let's see what this is first, he thought, now curious. The negotiator carefully undid the the wrapping, revealing an equally old cardboard box with foreigh writing on it. He opened it and pulled out a tightly sealed crystal liquor bottle, filled with a beautiful reddish amber liquid. A small silver plaque was hung 'round its neck. Roger held it close to see the finely engraved lettering.
"Read it aloud," said Dastun. Roger complied: "For our daughter Rowan on her wedding day." He looked at Dastun, unsure of what to think. "Where did you get this?" he asked. It was a magnificent gift.
Dastun rubbed the back of his neck before answering. He was feeling very emotional about this and wanted to compose himself. "Hanae and Stephan, Ro's parents, entrusted that to me when the troubles started. I honestly never thought it would be opened."
Dastun stuck his right hand out towards Roger. The negotiator put down the bottle and was reaching for the major's hand when the entire building shook slightly. The distant sound of fire alarms could be heard a few moments later.
"What the hell?!" yelled Dastun. He pushed past Smith and grabbed the first cop in the hallway. "What was that?" he demanded.
"An explosion near North Dome, sir" - that got Roger's attention fast. The school was near North Dome. "Officer," Roger asked quickly, "where exactly?" The young officer glanced at the major, who nodded yes, though puzzled himself (why would Roger care about the North Dome area? So much of it was abandoned.)
"It's an empty office building, sir" the young officer answered, then gave the street address. It was the school.
Roger paled, then turned towards the major: "You've got to get people out there, Dan! It's not abandoned -" He was interrupted by another officer: "He's right, sir. We found an injured man outside the building, in fact he insisted he had to talk to either you or Roger Smith." He pointed to the phone. "He's on line-2, sir; says his name is Norman Berg."
Smith seized the phone and punched in line-2. "Norman? What the hell is going on?" He could hear fire engines in the background, the noise making it hard to hear Berg's words: "Master Roger, they took her! I tried to stop them, I'm so sorry sir!" There was a brief sound of muffled sobbing as the older man broke down, then managed to regain his self-control.
"They used stunguns on us, sir. Before I passed out, I think I heard them say they were going to her lab to clean things up...please hurry sir, I fear for Miss Rowan!" Roger heard another voice in the background. It sounded like someone was telling Berg to get off the phone and get looked at. "Norman," Roger said quickly, "let them take care of you. I'll get her back!" He hung up the phone, his face a grim mask.
"Get who back? What's going on?" the major demanded.
Roger spoke fast: "Rowan had a free school in that building," (surprised dismay crossed Dastun's face) "and whoever blew it up has taken her forcibly to her lab. I'm going there now to get her back - are you coming?"
Furious, Dastun nodded vigorously: "Let me get on the horn and get all the help I can - I'll be right behind you - now GO!"
"Right!" Roger dashed to his Griffon. He sped through traffic, forcing other cars out of his way in his haste. He prayed he wouldn't be too late.