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"No, I'm not a Sentinel." Joshua said.
"But you have been experiencing things you can't explain - you sensed the bomb didn't you?"
"Yes, I 'saw' the bomb in something akin to a vision, but my senses aren't caused by any genetic component."
"Then what could it possibly be?"
"A couple of months ago, I was kidnapped. I'm sure you remember hearing about the story?" Blair nodded, "Agent Sandoval is the one who kidnapped me. He planted a device in my head, called an NSI, Neural Sensory Inducer. It's designed to enhance one's senses. It couldn't be removed but the doc found a way to deactivate it. But still, it has to be what's causing this. Otherwise, I should have experienced these things before that."
"And you think that the device, though it's inactive, is the source of the vision in the building?" Augur started.
Joshua nodded, "Along with the other ones I've had, and the headaches too."
"You've had others?"
"I didn't want to tell anyone. I was afraid I was going crazy."
Augur nodded, "Intriguing theory, it would explain everything. But you really couldn't say for sure that you aren't a Sentinel."
Sandburg added, "Yeah, just because it hasn't manifested itself before now means nothing. In fact, in my experience, something would trigger the senses to become activated."
Augur said, "Even if you aren't a Sentinel genetically, you could argue that you're a Taelon-made one." Joshua winced at the description so Augur quickly added, "Sorry to make it sound so matter-of-fact."
Joshua acknowledged Augur's apology with his eyes, then turned back to Blair, "Look, I have a conference meeting I have to attend. I'll be back in two or three hours. I know you want to be out there looking for your partner but your best bet to help him is to work with Augur - see what you can find on the computers." Blair opened his mouth to protest. He needed to find Jim - and he needed to feel like he was doing something that was semi-productive. "Listen Sandburg, I know you want to believe that things like this don't happen here - that people don't get kidnapped by their own government but that isn't true. It happened to me and it's happened to your partner. You aren't going to get him back by going to the police or even taking on the government itself. This is way bigger than that. If they want you, they can make you disappear too and they can make sure no one finds you. Your ONLY chance to save Jim is to work with us and do it biOUR/b/i way. I'll be back as soon as I can be. I hope I'll see you then."
Joshua entered some coordinates into the portal and was gone. Blair looked over at Augur, already busy digging up records.
Blair spoke, "You know, there's one thing I don't understand," Augur looked up, "If they wanted to test the NS . . whatever, why did they kidnap someone with such a high profile, that would be missed?"
Augur's expression softened, "They didn't kidnap him to test the NSI, at least not exclusively. They wanted information. The Inducer can be modified to send waves of pain into the person - torture, in other words.
Blair looked horrified, "Well, why hasn't anyone stopped Sandoval?"
"Because, as much as we know that he's behind it - we have nothing that concretely connects him. And even if we did, I'm not sure it would be enough to take him down. Witnesses seem to have a way of disappearing around Agent Sandoval."
***********************
Liam sat in the café, waiting. He had hoped that he'd be able to steer Detective Ellison away from being a protector without giving the outward impression that he was trying to do so. Failing that, he would warn him of all the potential consequences of becoming one. He sighed and looked at his watch. Ellison was over thirty minutes overdue. He had tried Ellison's cell phone but it was evidently turned off, and he didn't think he'd be at the police station.
Another fifteen minutes later, Liam finally decided to do something. Opening his global, he looked up Ellison's home address and decided to drop by. It was a fairly short distance there, so he walked. Granted, not the best idea in Cascade at night, but Liam figured no one would be very eager to mess with a companion protector.
He arrived safely at the apartment building and searched for the room. Liam was surprised to find the door open and several men standing inside, obviously policemen, by the way they carried themselves. He stepped up to the door and knocked on the frame.
Everyone turned to stare at him, Liam said, "I'm Major Liam Kincaid. I'm looking for Detective Ellison."
A black man with glasses looked at him suspiciously, "I'm Captain Simon Banks, Cascade PD. Detective Ellison is currently missing, and as you can see, his apartment's been gone through," the man gestured at the mess. "Exactly who are you again?" A couple of the policemen edged closer to Liam, outwardly suspicious of why he was there.
"I'm Major Liam Kincaid, companion protector to Da'an." The men relaxed visibly, "Detective Ellison was supposed to meet with me about an hour ago."
"Why was Jim going to meet with you?"
"We were going to discuss what it means to be a Companion Protector."
"For what reason?"
"Well, Detective Ellison was invited to become a protector - he had some questions, I suggested we meet."
"A Companion Protector? Jim?" Banks laughed, "Can't say that I can see that. Don't get me wrong, Jim's a great cop, but he doesn't exactly follow orders too well." His face turned serious again.
Liam spoke, "I'll do some checking myself - if there's anything you need, any way I can help - please let me know."
Banks nodded and the two men shook hands, "Thank you Major."
***********************
Jim's heart raced. The Volunteers had done as Sandoval had ordered. He was in some kind of weird harness that they used to put people in this sensory deprivation stuff.
As a member of a Covert Ops team, Jim had been taught to deal with all kinds of torture. He had even had some exposure to sensory deprivation. It was NOT a pleasant experience. And that was before this Sentinel thing that had changed his life. He shuddered to think how it would feel now . . .
The only good thing was that Blair was safe. And as long as he was safe . . . Jim would deal with whatever he had to . . .
He caught a glimpse of the tank they were fixing to put him in . . . His senses enabled him to see it quite clearly. Sandoval clearly underestimated the Sentinel/Guide connection if he thought that depriving Jim of his senses would make him betray Blair. A Sentinel would do anything, would endure anything to protect his Guide - pain, torture, even death. What had Jim worried the most was that he knew Blair would try to rescue him and if he did he feared that he would be captured.
Jim remained silent, stoic, as they moved him closer to the tank, in an attempt to make him uncomfortable. No need to let them know it was working. Jim was somewhat surprised that Sandoval wasn't there to try and goad him.
The Volunteers wordlessly lowered him into the tank. He stretched out his senses, in almost panic, taking in everything. The was he was suddenly cut off . . . it was all gone, replaced by . . . nothing.
***********************
Blair yawned again. He and Augur had worked far into the night. Shortly after Joshua had left, Augur had helped Blair send an untraceable email to Simon, letting him know that Blair was okay, but had been forced to "disappear" for a while.
After that, Blair and Augur had been able to dig up several Taelon documents that showed an interest in Sentinel research. They had apparently followed Blair's research closely since their arrival and consequently, Jim's career after Blair became his partner. The Taelons had put two and two together and had somehow gotten four.
If only he had been a little more careful . . . if he hadn't gone to the meeting with Doors, if he'd not made a fuss about Jim coming with him . . .
Blair put his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes. When he uncovered his eyes he found himself in the familiar surroundings of the "vision jungle".
Hearing the growl of a panther, he moved quickly through the "underbrush", instinctively knowing where to go, and for once, not really caring why he knew.
He entered a clearing and saw the panther lying there. It got up slowly, and turned into Jim. "Blair!"
"Jim!" Blair embraced his friend. "Where are you? What happened? Are you okay?"
"Chief, Sandoval's got me in some kind of sensory deprivation tank. They need you. They're trying to find you. They need both of us, for whatever they're planning. You can't let yourself be captured."
Blair nodded, "Don't worry Jim, I'm safe. Are you going to be okay?"
"Don't tell me where you are, just in case." Jim added, purposely avoiding Blair's question.
"We'll get you out. I'm sorry that I wasn't there . . ."
"No Chief. If you'd been there, they would have both of us. There were just too many of them. Because you left, because you weren't there, we have a chance." Jim paused then added, "Brackett's here too."
Blair grimaced inwardly, "So they really do know. Jim, are you going to be able to hang on til we get there?" Blair
Jim nodded.
"Listen, It's almost time to go. We can't stay here much longer. I know it's gotta be rough - being deprived of all your senses, in fact, that's probably why you're here. Just keep your mind busy. I'll be here again. Trust me, man, we'll get you out."
Jim nodded again, "I trust you Blair." then slowly Jim faded into the panther and faded away, leaving Blair alone.
Blair was ready to leave but something, some feeling compelled him to stay. He turned and made his way through the jungle, back to the original clearing and what he saw puzzled him.
What he saw was a mass of swirling Taelon-like energy, imitating human form. He reached out to touch it and his arm passed through - but not as thru energy. It passed through as if nothing were there. As if, the energy were a part of the vision world in some sense but unable to access it or be an active participant.
Then, as suddenly as he had entered the jungle, he was in reality again, in his chair, Augur hovering over him worriedly.
***********************
