Hey everyone! And here, for your reading enjoyment (I hope...) is Chapter 8! LOOOONNNG Chapter, I might add!
TONS AND TONS of stuff happens....REVIEWS!! YOU BETTER WRITE THEM!! I mean, if I can take time away from
my beauty sleep and write this for you....AND never leave you hanging....I think I should get some reviews...don't
you agree?
A/N: To clear a few things up which might have seemed ambiguous in the last chapter...sorry if that caused any
confusion...Beryl is very stupid. She saw, from far away, Serena and Darien, Amy and Zack, and standing off to
the side, Anila (aka Haruka/Uranus). Whom she thought was a guy and the agent. Whom she then described to
Demando. Who thought she was talking about Agent Jadeite. Yes, she is very stupid. Which I had tried my best
to make apparent.
As for the many people who want me to to know when I update...I update every day. =) So check every day =)
Okay that's it for author's notes this time, unless I think of other stuff by the end of the chapter! ~_^ As usual,
all disclaimers apply. I am dirt-poor and own next to nothing...so suing me would be pointless and you wouldn't
even break even from the lawyer fees...
Now, Chapter 8...
~Thalia
* * *
Demando thoughtfully stroked his sharp chin with his long, ivory-pale fingers. Now, the agent he was up against
wasn't stupid. And like the entire bunch, probably paranoid now that Peridot and Bloodstone had already made
appearances. He sighed in irritation: he was running out of good assassins, the ones he had left had no chance
against the agent if he was able to dispatch both of them. No, he had to do it in a way that would make it look
like some freak accident...hmm......
Demando suddenly remembered Rubeus. Rubeus, Saffir, Esmeraude...his most powerful followers. All gone now. A
firebrand, and a reckless, arrogant one at that, Rubeus had at times been a royal pain, but he had been fearless
and loyal. Saffir was equally ruthless, but more calculated, less explosive, cold versus Rubeus' heat. A man who
truly gave the definition to the phrase "evil genius". Esmeraude, he suspected, had a rather strong crush on him.
She was rather tiresome at times, simpering and flirting with him, but she did have a hard head for business and
despite her Southern-Belle coy flirtatiousness, no basic compassion or softer feelings for others. Which was very
useful to him as well. She, the fool, had started a gun war with the bastard Kunzite, who had more sharpshooter
medals than L.A. had skyscrapers, and was a blasted William Tell with a gun. Needless to say, she was shot...so
riddled with bullet holes that she was virtually unrecognizeable. He sighed, then smirked. Esmeraude had always
made sure she looked stunning...to think that when she died, she was little more than a bloody pulp. Oh well, he
shrugged, at least she had died quickly. Saffir was not so lucky. He'd managed to capture that fiery-tempered
little spitfire Mars and strap a bomb onto her, but it just so happened that he had way too much confidence in
his bomb-making abilities, and left her alone. The little bitch had managed to defuse the bomb, then surprise him
by punching and breaking his nose. At that moment, that blasted agent Jadeite had arrived, furious that Saffir
had taken Mars, and had also started to rough on him. Saffir had been careless and although he had taken away
her gun and the dagger she had hidden in her boot. However, she had worn a pair of silver chopsticks in her hair
and, when he had tried to shoot at her, she had somersaulted into the air, hands flying to hair to take out the
chopsticks, and had stabbed him with them. He'd died in agony. As for Rubeus, he had been poisoned by a tube
of penicillin lipstick...one of Luna's bitches had found out that he was fatally allergic to penicillin, and had given
him a veritable kiss of death before snapping his neck. This one was more careful than agent Jadeite, and had
made sure not to leave any traces of her behind. Demando had yet to find out who she was.
All of the sudden, he smiled. It was absolutely brilliant! He had found out some very useful information about the
agent Jadeite. Although otherwise perfectly healthy and fit as a fiddle, Jadeite was diabetic. Now, it would be a
simple matter for one of his assassins to slip sugar into his food, then, when he was weakened, to send three to
finish him off. Then, he could easily grab Serena and Darien. And THEN, the fun begins...
~ ~ ~
"Good morning everyone." Darien greeted his wife, Amy, Zack, Anila, Meredith, Yen, Thane, Soren and Skylar. It
was the monthly informal meeting at a local cafe, to discuss business and whatever else they felt like talking of.
He surveyed the people present. As usual, Anila and Yen were bantering; exchanging good-natured insults back
and forth. Had he not been more daring, Darien would have inserted a comment about the two flirting with each
other, but that would have caused Anila to fly at him and possibly incapacitate his reproductive system for such
a ridiculous and impertinent suggestion. Thane and Meredith were fairly quiet, as was their nature. Serena, as
always, was glowing...even more so. That morning, she had given him wonderful news: she was expecting! He
felt a wave of tender love as he looked into his wife's cornflower blue eyes. Speaking of love...he looked at Amy
and Zack. She was feeding him chocolate covered espresso beans, and smiling. With Zack around, Amy was a
good deal less serious, more cheerful. Darien smiled to himself, it was quite romantic and sweet that two agents
who had been sent to protect himself and Serena, two people with very different personalities, who had never
met before, were unmistakeably falling in love. He watched as Zack grabbed Amy's hand that was feeding him
the espresso beans, and laid a gentle kiss on each fingertip. She blushed, then interlaced her fingers with his.
Darien's gaze shifted to Soren and Skylar. The two, although very chary with public displays of affection, were
very devoted to each other. At the moment, they sat side by side, heads touching and bent over an article in a
medical journal.
They were waiting for their food and drinks to arrive. Soon, a waiter came up to them, with a trayful of drinks. A
cappuccino for him, a glass of lemonade for Serena, mint tea for Amy, hot chocolate for Zack, a peach-mango
smoothie for Meredith, caramel mocha for Thane, green tea for Skylar, orange chai for Soren, iced tea for Yen,
and coffee for Anila...Coffee which, as soon as she tasted it, she screwed up her face and spit it out.
Amy, ever alert, grabbed Anila's coffee cup and examined the coffee closely. "What's wrong with the coffee?"
Anila made a face. "I always drink black coffee, but someone just dumped a shitload of sugar in here."
Amy's eyes widened, then narrowed. "But why would they do such a thing? There's sugar and sweet-n-low here
at the table, as well as creamer. They should give you black coffee as a default." She chewed on her bottom lip,
deep in thought.
Zack, too, looked deep in concentration, his brow slightly furrowed. Then, all of the sudden, his eyes flashed in
grim comprehension. He started whispering rapidly in Amy's ear...
~ ~ ~
"I think I know what is going on." Zack whispered into Amy's ear. "Do you remember that red-haired girl in the
lobby that day, watching us intently? She must have been a spy of Demando's, to try to figure out the identity
of who killed Peridot and Bloodstone. She must not have been a very important or skilled spy, because Demando
did not want to risk losing any more important followers. She saw Serena and Darien, and you and I, and didn't
think much of us. If you remember, that day, Anila was also standing with us, although a little ways off and by
herself. The redhead, from far off, could not see her that clearly, and probably thought that she was a man, and
that she was the agent. And then, she probably gave the description of the agent as a 'guy with short sandy
blond hair'. And Demando must believe, from that description, that Agent Jadeite is the one protecting them."
Zack's voice lowered slightly and was even grimmer. "I don't know if you know this, but James is a diabetic."
Amy gasped. So THAT was Demando's plan now. As he no longer had many skilled assassins under him, Demando
did not want to send off any more to get killed by whoever was protecting Darien and Serena. Instead, first, he
would weaken the agent protecting the two, then make his move. "Thank God that it was not in fact Jadeite."
She whispered back to Zack. "I bet you anything that there are assassins out there right now, lying in wait to
overcome 'Jadeite'. But first, summon the waiter. We need to know who put the sugar in that cup."
Zack nodded, then said, aloud, "Hey Anila, why don't you complain to the waiter about the coffee? Maybe they
will replace it."
Anila shrugged, "Er, okay. I was just going to drink it, but sure, why not? Waiter! This coffee, you put sugar into
it! I don't like sugar in my coffee!" She called out loudly.
The waiter and the cashier both strode up to the table. Both of them suddenly got very unpleasant looks on their
faces. And in an instant, Anila found a gun cocked at her head. The spunky woman, although scared, had enough
strength to say, in a tight voice, "What the fuck is the meaning of this?"
The waiter and cashier, as well as a 'customer' in a nearby table, all drew out guns. "The next person to move is
dead." The cashier said in a menacing voice. The waiter jerked Anila roughly to her feet, gun still at her temple,
and turned away to steer her towards the door. Amy and Zack exchanged a glance. It was time to come out in
the open. Amy hissed to the people at the table, "When I give the signal, all of you DUCK!"
Everyone, petrified with fear, nodded slightly. "NOW!" All of the sudden, the waiter who had captured Anila gave
a cry and fell forward, a knife imbedded in his back. Anila sprang away, but not before catching the assassin's
gun as he fell. Wildly, she fired at the cashier, landing a bullet in his arm. Cursing, he shot at her, but Zack had
sprang into the air and landed a kick to his head, felling him. By then, Amy's gun was out, and the cashier took a
bullet full in the chest, and was dead before he hit the ground. When he fell, he had crashed into the third thug,
and knocked the gun out of his hand. Zack quickly kicked it out of his reach, under the table where Serena and
the rest of them were hiding. Amy somersaulted into the air as well, and together with Zack, faced off with the
assassin. He kicked at the gun in her hand, and she put a bullet through his foot. Screaming in pain, he collapsed
to the ground. In a flash, she had crouched down on the floor next to him, her gun, as well as Zack's, aimed at
him. "Have fun in hell!" She smiled at him before coolly and deliberately putting a bullet through his head.
~ ~ ~
"So let me get this straight. Some psychotic badass is after your butts, and Zack and Amy are actually agents
who are here to protect you guys?" Anila said in disbelief afterwards. Amy, who was putting away the assassins'
guns in evidence bags, nodded. "And, what's more, they thought *I* was the agent, because I look like another
agent, and they stuck that shitload of sugar into my coffee because that agent happens to be diabetic."
Amy sighed. "Yes, more or less. Now, this information must not be disclosed. Zack and I will install some devices
to ensure your safety. These assassins have been killed, so I daresay that your identities will not be known. Now,
remember, NO MATTER WHAT, we are just regular employees working at Terrelunia Inc."
Everyone nodded in understanding. No business was discussed at that meeting.
~ ~ ~
"AAAAUURRRGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! DAMN AND BLAST!" Demando cursed. His three assassins Topaz, Tourmaline,
and Obsidian had all been killed by the blasted agent. Desperate times called for desperate measures. No longer
would he go after the agent, or even Serena and Darien. Instead...Demando smiled sadistically and cruelly to
himself...he would have Serena come to him voluntarily.
He looked around him. One single good assassin left...the best of the bunch after Rubeus, Saffir and Esmeraude.
Aquemireen, real name Adrian Negre, was a fencer, a 3rd degree black belt in ju jitsu and a chemistry expert who
specialized in poisons. At the age of 31, the handsome, ice-blue-haired man with greenish blue eyes looked like
an angel. But he was no angel. Aquemireen was as cold and ruthless as Saffir had been, a man who would have
looked a 3-year-old child in the face and then shot him without a single twinge of conscience. Truly, a man after
Demando's own heart, or lack thereof. Besides Aquemireen, he had four thugs. Not very smart, or even very good
at fighting, but good enough to add an element of brute force.
This would be it...the final show-down. He summoned all of his minions to him and started giving them a set of
very specific directions.
~ ~ ~
Irene Argent, Serena's mother, was setting her freshly baked cherry pie on the table when the doorbell rang. "I
wonder who it is..." Irene wondered. She opened the door a crack, and all of the sudden, someone pressed a wet
cloth tightly against her nose and mouth. Irene, a former biology and chemistry professor, recognized the smell.
"Chloroform..." was her last conscious thought before she passed out unconscious.
~ ~ ~
"Good morning, Terrelunia Inc. Serena White speaking, how may I help you?"
"Good morning Serena." Serena's face grew ashen. Dominic Dark was on the phone! Without hesitation, she took
the alarm button that Amy had given her and pressed. A moment later, Amy, gun drawn, ran into the room.
"Oh my God, Demando's on the phone!" Serena gasped.
"Yes, how nice to know that you still recognize my voice." Demando laughed chillingly. "Look at your computer
screen."
Serena numbly obeyed, and the sight that greeted her caused her to start sobbing. Her mother was tied to a
chair, her mouth duct-taped shut. "I do believe that I have something here that you want."
Amy's eyes widened in horror, then narrowed in hate. Serena sobbed into the phone, "How much money do you
want, Demando?"
"Oh, but I do not want any money, my darling." Demando drawled. "I have a proposition for you. And I think that
it's a reasonable one." He paused, and in the computer screen, Serena could see him with a savage smile on his
sharp face. "You, my darling, will come to my place. In return, I will let her go. However, you must not bring any
other...visitors. I shall only allow you inside. And only when you have entered will she be set free. Do not think of
sending another blue-eyed blonde to take your place, I will be checking fingerprints. You have six hours to think
about my offer. But! Let me remind you...if you refuse, I will ruin you and that husband of yours...when the news
gets out that you let your mother get kidnapped and killed and you did not pay any ransom, you can kiss that
business of yours good-bye." His predatory smile, even on the computer screen, seemed to sweep over her. "I
look forward to seeing you, my sweet." Abruptly, both the computer screen and the phone went dead. Serena
collapsed onto her desk, her head on her arms, crying bitterly. Amy patted her back consolingly, her brain working
rapidly on a plan.
~ ~ ~
Soon, Darien, Zack, Amy and Serena had gathered in Serena's office. Everyone had been informed of what had
transpired, and listened to Amy's plan. Amy was going to have the people working in the lab to create a pair of
prosthetic hands for her, prosthetic hands that had Serena's exact fingerprints, along with other things. In short,
she planned to turn herself into a perfect replica of Serena, and go in Serena's place to Demando's. Then, after
Irene Argent was set free, she would have a showdown with Demando. Zack would drive her there, and be the
'chauffeur' in the car to take Irene home. He could also kill any guards at the entrance after Serena's mother had
been secured. Meanwhile, Amy had called Mina, and she and Kevin had promised to come over immediately, and
protect Serena and Darien while Amy and Zack were at Demando's.
"Amy! That's insane! You'll get killed, I won't allow it!" Zack shook his head adamantly. Amy looked up at his face:
the concern in his green eyes warmed her heart. "You know that you're going to pass through a metal detector,
get searched, the whole works...you won't be able to have your gun or anything! This is suicide!!"
Amy gave a smirk, "I've faced death many times, it's part of my job, and it's never stopped me before. I know the
risks associated. This time is no different from several other previous missions."
Zack smiled sadly at her. She was standing next to him, her blue head against his shoulder. She smelled like lilies
after a spring rain. Wearing a blue-gray dress with a white chiffon overlay, she had the ethereal, guileless beauty
of a water-nymph. Bending his head, he whispered into her ear, "But it is different this time. In previous missions,
you didn't have a man who was deeply and desperately in love with you waiting for you outside, knowing full well
that you were alone in there facing a madman, that at any moment, you could be killed."
Amy gave his hand a squeeze. He loved her...and she loved him. She was not sure exactly when they two had
stopped "acting" like they were in love and acted in earnest. All she knew was that...she loved him with all her
heart. Underneath his casanova tendencies was a sensitive, courageous, caring man who truly understood her.
The missing half of her soul. She looked deeply into his beautiful green eyes for a moment, conveying in her gaze
her love for him, reassurance and sorrow. "There is no other way, Zack. I need to do this."
Zack sighed. He knew that she was right. She was right more often than not. But......he looked at Serena and
Darien. The two had sympathy and understanding on their faces, and sorrow as well, for through the course of
this mission, they had become friends. Serena's face was a mix of emotions: but included in that mix was a look
of hope...hope that her mother might be rescued. Finally, his eyes full of pain, he nodded slowly.
~ ~ ~
They got to work immediately. Within hours, they had made for Amy a voice device, prosthetic hands, contacts,
a wig and a mask. Mina and Kevin had arrived, and taken Serena and Darien away to the agency. Amy stepped
into the bathroom with her new lab-created implements and the pink floral dress that Serena had worn that day,
and emerged looking like Serena's twin. By the time the phone rang again, everything was ready.
"So, darling, have you made your decision yet?" Demando, an arrogant smirk on his face, asked. Amy, in Serena's
voice, had said in sorrow and resignation, "Yes. I agree to your proposition."
"Excellent, I knew you would see it my way." Demando grinned.
"However, I have one request, which I believe is for your good as well as mine. I'm going to your place myself, it
will not be necessary to have me picked up. Because I don't trust anyone YOU might send. And also because you
should know that this place will soon be swarming with police, and your goons will just get arrested, and then my
mom will get killed." 'Serena' logically said.
Demando considered. "Fine. However, no one must come out of your car except for yourself, and your mom will
not be set free until you have stepped inside. If anyone else even sticks a finger or foot outside the vehicle, she
will be killed."
"Agreed. Now, how do I get there?"
~ ~ ~
Zack sat in the driver's seat of Serena's silver Lotus, looking at the blonde girl sitting next to him. Even with an
entirely different face, Amy's spirit shone through, at least to him. Her face was blank. Controlled. She had no
more idea than she did about the mission's outcome. Soon, they arrived at the gate of Demando's secret hideout.
Amy turned her head and looked at him. "Zack, in a moment, those gates will open, and we will both be silent. I
will be led in, and Serena's mother will be let out and led to this car. As soon as she is safely situated in the car,
tell her to cover herself entirely with the blanket in the backseat. It's made of Teflon. Then, try to dispatch as
many agents as possible. Don't try to come after me, just make sure that Serena's mother is safe."
Zack nodded. Amy continued, her voice no longer businesslike, instead, quivering with rare emotion. "And Zack, I
need to tell you something before I go in." Gently, she used 'Serena's' hands to hold his face. "I love you, Zack."
Tenderly, she leaned in and caught his lips in a soulful kiss. He kissed her back fiercely, although the feeling was
a little off. 'Serena's' lips didn't feel the same as Amy's under his. But the love was there. Then, without another
word, they drove in.
* * *
Okay....that was a LONG chapter!! I WANT REVIEWS!! LOTS AND LOTS OF REVIEWS!!!!
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TONS AND TONS of stuff happens....REVIEWS!! YOU BETTER WRITE THEM!! I mean, if I can take time away from
my beauty sleep and write this for you....AND never leave you hanging....I think I should get some reviews...don't
you agree?
A/N: To clear a few things up which might have seemed ambiguous in the last chapter...sorry if that caused any
confusion...Beryl is very stupid. She saw, from far away, Serena and Darien, Amy and Zack, and standing off to
the side, Anila (aka Haruka/Uranus). Whom she thought was a guy and the agent. Whom she then described to
Demando. Who thought she was talking about Agent Jadeite. Yes, she is very stupid. Which I had tried my best
to make apparent.
As for the many people who want me to to know when I update...I update every day. =) So check every day =)
Okay that's it for author's notes this time, unless I think of other stuff by the end of the chapter! ~_^ As usual,
all disclaimers apply. I am dirt-poor and own next to nothing...so suing me would be pointless and you wouldn't
even break even from the lawyer fees...
Now, Chapter 8...
~Thalia
* * *
Demando thoughtfully stroked his sharp chin with his long, ivory-pale fingers. Now, the agent he was up against
wasn't stupid. And like the entire bunch, probably paranoid now that Peridot and Bloodstone had already made
appearances. He sighed in irritation: he was running out of good assassins, the ones he had left had no chance
against the agent if he was able to dispatch both of them. No, he had to do it in a way that would make it look
like some freak accident...hmm......
Demando suddenly remembered Rubeus. Rubeus, Saffir, Esmeraude...his most powerful followers. All gone now. A
firebrand, and a reckless, arrogant one at that, Rubeus had at times been a royal pain, but he had been fearless
and loyal. Saffir was equally ruthless, but more calculated, less explosive, cold versus Rubeus' heat. A man who
truly gave the definition to the phrase "evil genius". Esmeraude, he suspected, had a rather strong crush on him.
She was rather tiresome at times, simpering and flirting with him, but she did have a hard head for business and
despite her Southern-Belle coy flirtatiousness, no basic compassion or softer feelings for others. Which was very
useful to him as well. She, the fool, had started a gun war with the bastard Kunzite, who had more sharpshooter
medals than L.A. had skyscrapers, and was a blasted William Tell with a gun. Needless to say, she was shot...so
riddled with bullet holes that she was virtually unrecognizeable. He sighed, then smirked. Esmeraude had always
made sure she looked stunning...to think that when she died, she was little more than a bloody pulp. Oh well, he
shrugged, at least she had died quickly. Saffir was not so lucky. He'd managed to capture that fiery-tempered
little spitfire Mars and strap a bomb onto her, but it just so happened that he had way too much confidence in
his bomb-making abilities, and left her alone. The little bitch had managed to defuse the bomb, then surprise him
by punching and breaking his nose. At that moment, that blasted agent Jadeite had arrived, furious that Saffir
had taken Mars, and had also started to rough on him. Saffir had been careless and although he had taken away
her gun and the dagger she had hidden in her boot. However, she had worn a pair of silver chopsticks in her hair
and, when he had tried to shoot at her, she had somersaulted into the air, hands flying to hair to take out the
chopsticks, and had stabbed him with them. He'd died in agony. As for Rubeus, he had been poisoned by a tube
of penicillin lipstick...one of Luna's bitches had found out that he was fatally allergic to penicillin, and had given
him a veritable kiss of death before snapping his neck. This one was more careful than agent Jadeite, and had
made sure not to leave any traces of her behind. Demando had yet to find out who she was.
All of the sudden, he smiled. It was absolutely brilliant! He had found out some very useful information about the
agent Jadeite. Although otherwise perfectly healthy and fit as a fiddle, Jadeite was diabetic. Now, it would be a
simple matter for one of his assassins to slip sugar into his food, then, when he was weakened, to send three to
finish him off. Then, he could easily grab Serena and Darien. And THEN, the fun begins...
~ ~ ~
"Good morning everyone." Darien greeted his wife, Amy, Zack, Anila, Meredith, Yen, Thane, Soren and Skylar. It
was the monthly informal meeting at a local cafe, to discuss business and whatever else they felt like talking of.
He surveyed the people present. As usual, Anila and Yen were bantering; exchanging good-natured insults back
and forth. Had he not been more daring, Darien would have inserted a comment about the two flirting with each
other, but that would have caused Anila to fly at him and possibly incapacitate his reproductive system for such
a ridiculous and impertinent suggestion. Thane and Meredith were fairly quiet, as was their nature. Serena, as
always, was glowing...even more so. That morning, she had given him wonderful news: she was expecting! He
felt a wave of tender love as he looked into his wife's cornflower blue eyes. Speaking of love...he looked at Amy
and Zack. She was feeding him chocolate covered espresso beans, and smiling. With Zack around, Amy was a
good deal less serious, more cheerful. Darien smiled to himself, it was quite romantic and sweet that two agents
who had been sent to protect himself and Serena, two people with very different personalities, who had never
met before, were unmistakeably falling in love. He watched as Zack grabbed Amy's hand that was feeding him
the espresso beans, and laid a gentle kiss on each fingertip. She blushed, then interlaced her fingers with his.
Darien's gaze shifted to Soren and Skylar. The two, although very chary with public displays of affection, were
very devoted to each other. At the moment, they sat side by side, heads touching and bent over an article in a
medical journal.
They were waiting for their food and drinks to arrive. Soon, a waiter came up to them, with a trayful of drinks. A
cappuccino for him, a glass of lemonade for Serena, mint tea for Amy, hot chocolate for Zack, a peach-mango
smoothie for Meredith, caramel mocha for Thane, green tea for Skylar, orange chai for Soren, iced tea for Yen,
and coffee for Anila...Coffee which, as soon as she tasted it, she screwed up her face and spit it out.
Amy, ever alert, grabbed Anila's coffee cup and examined the coffee closely. "What's wrong with the coffee?"
Anila made a face. "I always drink black coffee, but someone just dumped a shitload of sugar in here."
Amy's eyes widened, then narrowed. "But why would they do such a thing? There's sugar and sweet-n-low here
at the table, as well as creamer. They should give you black coffee as a default." She chewed on her bottom lip,
deep in thought.
Zack, too, looked deep in concentration, his brow slightly furrowed. Then, all of the sudden, his eyes flashed in
grim comprehension. He started whispering rapidly in Amy's ear...
~ ~ ~
"I think I know what is going on." Zack whispered into Amy's ear. "Do you remember that red-haired girl in the
lobby that day, watching us intently? She must have been a spy of Demando's, to try to figure out the identity
of who killed Peridot and Bloodstone. She must not have been a very important or skilled spy, because Demando
did not want to risk losing any more important followers. She saw Serena and Darien, and you and I, and didn't
think much of us. If you remember, that day, Anila was also standing with us, although a little ways off and by
herself. The redhead, from far off, could not see her that clearly, and probably thought that she was a man, and
that she was the agent. And then, she probably gave the description of the agent as a 'guy with short sandy
blond hair'. And Demando must believe, from that description, that Agent Jadeite is the one protecting them."
Zack's voice lowered slightly and was even grimmer. "I don't know if you know this, but James is a diabetic."
Amy gasped. So THAT was Demando's plan now. As he no longer had many skilled assassins under him, Demando
did not want to send off any more to get killed by whoever was protecting Darien and Serena. Instead, first, he
would weaken the agent protecting the two, then make his move. "Thank God that it was not in fact Jadeite."
She whispered back to Zack. "I bet you anything that there are assassins out there right now, lying in wait to
overcome 'Jadeite'. But first, summon the waiter. We need to know who put the sugar in that cup."
Zack nodded, then said, aloud, "Hey Anila, why don't you complain to the waiter about the coffee? Maybe they
will replace it."
Anila shrugged, "Er, okay. I was just going to drink it, but sure, why not? Waiter! This coffee, you put sugar into
it! I don't like sugar in my coffee!" She called out loudly.
The waiter and the cashier both strode up to the table. Both of them suddenly got very unpleasant looks on their
faces. And in an instant, Anila found a gun cocked at her head. The spunky woman, although scared, had enough
strength to say, in a tight voice, "What the fuck is the meaning of this?"
The waiter and cashier, as well as a 'customer' in a nearby table, all drew out guns. "The next person to move is
dead." The cashier said in a menacing voice. The waiter jerked Anila roughly to her feet, gun still at her temple,
and turned away to steer her towards the door. Amy and Zack exchanged a glance. It was time to come out in
the open. Amy hissed to the people at the table, "When I give the signal, all of you DUCK!"
Everyone, petrified with fear, nodded slightly. "NOW!" All of the sudden, the waiter who had captured Anila gave
a cry and fell forward, a knife imbedded in his back. Anila sprang away, but not before catching the assassin's
gun as he fell. Wildly, she fired at the cashier, landing a bullet in his arm. Cursing, he shot at her, but Zack had
sprang into the air and landed a kick to his head, felling him. By then, Amy's gun was out, and the cashier took a
bullet full in the chest, and was dead before he hit the ground. When he fell, he had crashed into the third thug,
and knocked the gun out of his hand. Zack quickly kicked it out of his reach, under the table where Serena and
the rest of them were hiding. Amy somersaulted into the air as well, and together with Zack, faced off with the
assassin. He kicked at the gun in her hand, and she put a bullet through his foot. Screaming in pain, he collapsed
to the ground. In a flash, she had crouched down on the floor next to him, her gun, as well as Zack's, aimed at
him. "Have fun in hell!" She smiled at him before coolly and deliberately putting a bullet through his head.
~ ~ ~
"So let me get this straight. Some psychotic badass is after your butts, and Zack and Amy are actually agents
who are here to protect you guys?" Anila said in disbelief afterwards. Amy, who was putting away the assassins'
guns in evidence bags, nodded. "And, what's more, they thought *I* was the agent, because I look like another
agent, and they stuck that shitload of sugar into my coffee because that agent happens to be diabetic."
Amy sighed. "Yes, more or less. Now, this information must not be disclosed. Zack and I will install some devices
to ensure your safety. These assassins have been killed, so I daresay that your identities will not be known. Now,
remember, NO MATTER WHAT, we are just regular employees working at Terrelunia Inc."
Everyone nodded in understanding. No business was discussed at that meeting.
~ ~ ~
"AAAAUURRRGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!! DAMN AND BLAST!" Demando cursed. His three assassins Topaz, Tourmaline,
and Obsidian had all been killed by the blasted agent. Desperate times called for desperate measures. No longer
would he go after the agent, or even Serena and Darien. Instead...Demando smiled sadistically and cruelly to
himself...he would have Serena come to him voluntarily.
He looked around him. One single good assassin left...the best of the bunch after Rubeus, Saffir and Esmeraude.
Aquemireen, real name Adrian Negre, was a fencer, a 3rd degree black belt in ju jitsu and a chemistry expert who
specialized in poisons. At the age of 31, the handsome, ice-blue-haired man with greenish blue eyes looked like
an angel. But he was no angel. Aquemireen was as cold and ruthless as Saffir had been, a man who would have
looked a 3-year-old child in the face and then shot him without a single twinge of conscience. Truly, a man after
Demando's own heart, or lack thereof. Besides Aquemireen, he had four thugs. Not very smart, or even very good
at fighting, but good enough to add an element of brute force.
This would be it...the final show-down. He summoned all of his minions to him and started giving them a set of
very specific directions.
~ ~ ~
Irene Argent, Serena's mother, was setting her freshly baked cherry pie on the table when the doorbell rang. "I
wonder who it is..." Irene wondered. She opened the door a crack, and all of the sudden, someone pressed a wet
cloth tightly against her nose and mouth. Irene, a former biology and chemistry professor, recognized the smell.
"Chloroform..." was her last conscious thought before she passed out unconscious.
~ ~ ~
"Good morning, Terrelunia Inc. Serena White speaking, how may I help you?"
"Good morning Serena." Serena's face grew ashen. Dominic Dark was on the phone! Without hesitation, she took
the alarm button that Amy had given her and pressed. A moment later, Amy, gun drawn, ran into the room.
"Oh my God, Demando's on the phone!" Serena gasped.
"Yes, how nice to know that you still recognize my voice." Demando laughed chillingly. "Look at your computer
screen."
Serena numbly obeyed, and the sight that greeted her caused her to start sobbing. Her mother was tied to a
chair, her mouth duct-taped shut. "I do believe that I have something here that you want."
Amy's eyes widened in horror, then narrowed in hate. Serena sobbed into the phone, "How much money do you
want, Demando?"
"Oh, but I do not want any money, my darling." Demando drawled. "I have a proposition for you. And I think that
it's a reasonable one." He paused, and in the computer screen, Serena could see him with a savage smile on his
sharp face. "You, my darling, will come to my place. In return, I will let her go. However, you must not bring any
other...visitors. I shall only allow you inside. And only when you have entered will she be set free. Do not think of
sending another blue-eyed blonde to take your place, I will be checking fingerprints. You have six hours to think
about my offer. But! Let me remind you...if you refuse, I will ruin you and that husband of yours...when the news
gets out that you let your mother get kidnapped and killed and you did not pay any ransom, you can kiss that
business of yours good-bye." His predatory smile, even on the computer screen, seemed to sweep over her. "I
look forward to seeing you, my sweet." Abruptly, both the computer screen and the phone went dead. Serena
collapsed onto her desk, her head on her arms, crying bitterly. Amy patted her back consolingly, her brain working
rapidly on a plan.
~ ~ ~
Soon, Darien, Zack, Amy and Serena had gathered in Serena's office. Everyone had been informed of what had
transpired, and listened to Amy's plan. Amy was going to have the people working in the lab to create a pair of
prosthetic hands for her, prosthetic hands that had Serena's exact fingerprints, along with other things. In short,
she planned to turn herself into a perfect replica of Serena, and go in Serena's place to Demando's. Then, after
Irene Argent was set free, she would have a showdown with Demando. Zack would drive her there, and be the
'chauffeur' in the car to take Irene home. He could also kill any guards at the entrance after Serena's mother had
been secured. Meanwhile, Amy had called Mina, and she and Kevin had promised to come over immediately, and
protect Serena and Darien while Amy and Zack were at Demando's.
"Amy! That's insane! You'll get killed, I won't allow it!" Zack shook his head adamantly. Amy looked up at his face:
the concern in his green eyes warmed her heart. "You know that you're going to pass through a metal detector,
get searched, the whole works...you won't be able to have your gun or anything! This is suicide!!"
Amy gave a smirk, "I've faced death many times, it's part of my job, and it's never stopped me before. I know the
risks associated. This time is no different from several other previous missions."
Zack smiled sadly at her. She was standing next to him, her blue head against his shoulder. She smelled like lilies
after a spring rain. Wearing a blue-gray dress with a white chiffon overlay, she had the ethereal, guileless beauty
of a water-nymph. Bending his head, he whispered into her ear, "But it is different this time. In previous missions,
you didn't have a man who was deeply and desperately in love with you waiting for you outside, knowing full well
that you were alone in there facing a madman, that at any moment, you could be killed."
Amy gave his hand a squeeze. He loved her...and she loved him. She was not sure exactly when they two had
stopped "acting" like they were in love and acted in earnest. All she knew was that...she loved him with all her
heart. Underneath his casanova tendencies was a sensitive, courageous, caring man who truly understood her.
The missing half of her soul. She looked deeply into his beautiful green eyes for a moment, conveying in her gaze
her love for him, reassurance and sorrow. "There is no other way, Zack. I need to do this."
Zack sighed. He knew that she was right. She was right more often than not. But......he looked at Serena and
Darien. The two had sympathy and understanding on their faces, and sorrow as well, for through the course of
this mission, they had become friends. Serena's face was a mix of emotions: but included in that mix was a look
of hope...hope that her mother might be rescued. Finally, his eyes full of pain, he nodded slowly.
~ ~ ~
They got to work immediately. Within hours, they had made for Amy a voice device, prosthetic hands, contacts,
a wig and a mask. Mina and Kevin had arrived, and taken Serena and Darien away to the agency. Amy stepped
into the bathroom with her new lab-created implements and the pink floral dress that Serena had worn that day,
and emerged looking like Serena's twin. By the time the phone rang again, everything was ready.
"So, darling, have you made your decision yet?" Demando, an arrogant smirk on his face, asked. Amy, in Serena's
voice, had said in sorrow and resignation, "Yes. I agree to your proposition."
"Excellent, I knew you would see it my way." Demando grinned.
"However, I have one request, which I believe is for your good as well as mine. I'm going to your place myself, it
will not be necessary to have me picked up. Because I don't trust anyone YOU might send. And also because you
should know that this place will soon be swarming with police, and your goons will just get arrested, and then my
mom will get killed." 'Serena' logically said.
Demando considered. "Fine. However, no one must come out of your car except for yourself, and your mom will
not be set free until you have stepped inside. If anyone else even sticks a finger or foot outside the vehicle, she
will be killed."
"Agreed. Now, how do I get there?"
~ ~ ~
Zack sat in the driver's seat of Serena's silver Lotus, looking at the blonde girl sitting next to him. Even with an
entirely different face, Amy's spirit shone through, at least to him. Her face was blank. Controlled. She had no
more idea than she did about the mission's outcome. Soon, they arrived at the gate of Demando's secret hideout.
Amy turned her head and looked at him. "Zack, in a moment, those gates will open, and we will both be silent. I
will be led in, and Serena's mother will be let out and led to this car. As soon as she is safely situated in the car,
tell her to cover herself entirely with the blanket in the backseat. It's made of Teflon. Then, try to dispatch as
many agents as possible. Don't try to come after me, just make sure that Serena's mother is safe."
Zack nodded. Amy continued, her voice no longer businesslike, instead, quivering with rare emotion. "And Zack, I
need to tell you something before I go in." Gently, she used 'Serena's' hands to hold his face. "I love you, Zack."
Tenderly, she leaned in and caught his lips in a soulful kiss. He kissed her back fiercely, although the feeling was
a little off. 'Serena's' lips didn't feel the same as Amy's under his. But the love was there. Then, without another
word, they drove in.
* * *
Okay....that was a LONG chapter!! I WANT REVIEWS!! LOTS AND LOTS OF REVIEWS!!!!
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