There's an old adage that says if at first you don't succeed, try, try
again. Now, for some people, I would definitely suggest that you quit
while you're ahead.or at least while I still had mine.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Darien lay in the infirmary of the Agency. He felt as though he'd been awake the entire night before. His brain was awake, but he struggled to open his eyes. He felt something nudge his hand. He reached for it blindly. Nothing was there. He heard a giggle, then, it nudged his hand again. He slowly lifted one eyelid. There, just behind the edge of his bed, stood Violette, with a bandage on her head from her surgery. She giggled again and reached for his hand again. This time, Darien was ready. He grabbed her hand and opened both his eyes. "Eeeek!!!" Violette squealed. "Hmm," Darien said playfully, "Now it seems that something keeps poking me." Violette giggled. "Gee, I wonder if it was a little girl I know." "I don't know what you're talking about," she said innocently. "Oh, really?" he said sitting up. He winced slightly. Oh yes, that's right; he had been stabbed. "Darien?" Violette asked concerned. He smiled and slowly picked her up and placed her on his lap. All his muscles were sore, but he didn't want Violette to worry. "I'm fine. What are you still doing here anyway?" Violette smiled. "Claire said I needed to stay a little longer, just in case.and I came to visit Maman. She still needs a prince to kiss her." She tilted her head slightly and wrapped her arms around his head. "I'm so glad your okay. I thought you had some bad boo-boos." "Mmmph, mmph, mmph, mmph mmph," he said into her hug. Violette giggled gleefully. "Hey, now, kiddo," Hobbes said from the doorway. "I think Darien needs to breathe." "Okay, Uncle Bobby," Violette said as she let go of Darien's head. "Phew," Darien said jokingly, "I was getting a little light-headed." Violette laughed. "Hey, partner," Hobbes said, taking Violette off Darien's lap. "How ya feeling?" "Well, considering what happened," Darien said, a bit pained, "I feel just a notch above Super Dave after he'd been dropped off a building." "Who's that?" Violette asked. "Don't worry about it," Hobbes said. "Darien's old. Super Dave is long before your time." "I'm old?" Darien said, feigning offense, "You should talk, grandpa." "Hey!" Bobby said, slightly offended, "watch it, sick boy. Remember who can move." "I see someone's feeling better," said a voice from the doorway. It was Claire. "Alright, you two, stop pestering my patient." Violette giggled and looked between the Keep and Hobbes. She winked at Bobby and nudged his side. He looked down at the little girl. His eyes widened. "I think I'll get this little girl out of here," he said quickly. "See ya later, Fawkesy." Hobbes carried Violette out. Claire waved good-bye. "That was abrupt," she said. "Well, anyway, Darien, how are you feeling?" "A little blurry, Keep," he said. "I'm not surprised. You have a concussion." "Great," he said, rubbing his head. "What exactly happened anyway?" Darien said. "All I remember happening was that woman.and then Hobbes came.and then nothing." "Well, I wasn't there for the entire time. All I know is that she stabbed you just left of your right shoulder blade. Bobby tried to stop her; it was just crazy. Bobby matched her every move, but she got away in a flash of smoke." "Geez," Darien shook his head. "It sounds like one of those Japanese cartoon thingies." "Yes," Claire said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Darien, do you know anything about that woman?" "It's really a fog." Darien said, shifting his position on the bed. "I remember she looked Asian.She seemed to hesitate when she had me alone.I don't know why.Um, she said something.something that reminded me of someone."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You're really becoming a festering wound, Fawkes," Stark said.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I remember now," Darien said, sitting up. He winced as his wound reminded him that it was there. "Stark said something similar to me when I met with him at the camp." Darien smiled. "I made him strip.you should have seen the look on his face." Claire feigned a smile; she'd humor him since he was injured. "So, you think it was Chrysalis?" "Maybe," Darien said scratching his head. "It's too coincidental that they said the same thing. I." Suddenly, they could hear gunshots outside the room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Alex walked down the hall, deep in thought. She was a complete wreck. How could she just freeze like that? She was a five star A. It was just impossible. And then Bobby just took control. He was amazing. She'd never seen that side of him before. He was so masculine. He was so. Alex spotted Bobby leave the infirmary with a little girl in his arms. She'd never him seen him fatherly; it was very. "Hey, Munroe," Hobbes said, "How ya feeling?" Alex smiled weakly. Weakly? She straightened up and walked confidently over to the two. "I'm fine.. Who's this?" she said looking at the little girl. "This," he said, setting the girl on the ground, "is Violette. She's Lillianne's daughter.Violette, this is Alex Munroe." Violette smiled sweetly and curtsied. "It's very nice to meet you, Ms. Munroe." Alex smiled. "It's very nice to meet you too, cutie." She felt a slight pang in her heart. She missed James so much. Alex lifted Violette into her arms, just to see what it would be like. Violette smiled and hugged Alex. "This little sweetheart has a tendency to win people over instantly," Hobbes pointed out. Alex closed her eyes to savor the feeling. She imagined that it was James in her arms. She slowly opened her eyes. She spotted something strange. Footprints were appearing out of nowhere. She squinted to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her; they weren't. She carefully gave Hobbes Violette and leaned in close to his ear. "Get some back up," Alex whispered. She tilted her head towards the footprints. Bobby glanced carefully behind him and nodded. He took Violette in his arms and walked calmly down the hall. Alex pulled out her gun and aimed it in the vague direction of where the person would be. "I know you're there," Alex said, in an unsteady voice. "Surrender now, and no one will get hurt."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Eberts," the Official grunted, "what is the meaning of this behavior?" Eberts swallowed guiltily. He didn't know what to say. He was just swept up in. "Eberts," the Official said in a low voice, "explain." "S-s-sir.I.I-I-I." Eberts closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "Sir, remember that advice you gave me, to invite Ms. Stratford to a Star Trek movie using my best Shatner impression?" "What?" the Official said perplexed. Then he suddenly remembered. "Oh yes.so?" "Well, it worked, sir." "It what?" "I've been spending my time with Avon." "Eberts.are you trying to say that you have a sex life?" the Official said with a slight chuckle. "Not exactly in those words, but." Eberts said bashfully. The Official's smile disappeared. A slight shudder went through his body. "Eberts, if you neglect your duties here one more time, I will have to ask you to cease and desist." Eberts nodded solemnly. He was about to say something with a shot rang out from the hallway. The Official and Eberts turned to look what happened.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Trinity crawled through the ventilation system of the Agency. The drugs she was given clouded her mind. All she could think of was one thing. She had to finish her mission. If she did that, she would get her drugs again. Her heart was pounding. She could feel he was close; she could almost smell him. She came to a vent, which pointed down. She looked carefully through the slits. Seeing no one around, she quicksilvered and jumped down to the ground. Silently, she walked toward the infirmary. Her senses were buzzing; the lights around her seemed to flash and swirl. Still she kept focus; she had to get back in Stark's good graces. As much as she despised him, she needed him. Suddenly, she felt someone behind her. She stopped, holding her breath. Slowly, she turned around. There stood Alex, holding her gun up in the air, aiming approximately in her direction. "I know you're there," Alex said, in an unsteady voice. "Surrender now, and no one will get hurt." Trinity stayed silent. How did she know that she was there? She tested Alex, shifting slightly to her left. Alex followed her. Trinity unquicksilvered, realizing that she could not escape. "How did you know?" Trinity asked, her eyes shrinking to slits. Alex looked down. There were dusty footprints from Trinity. It was fully apparent that the Agency hadn't cleaned out its air ducts in decades. Trinity sneered. "Humph," she said, "there's no way you can take me alone." Trinity unsheathed her blade. "Oh, I don't plan on it," Alex said, with a sudden smirk on her lips. "I think they'll help me out." Trinity looked behind her, there were now several armed men, with Hobbes leading the group, pointing guns at her. She narrowed her eyes again. The blood in her head was pounding. Everything in the hall seemed to be in slow motion. She ran towards Alex, without warning. Instinctively, Alex fired two shots at the woman. Trinity dodged the first and the second bullet, kicking the gun out of Alex's hand. She then knocked her down and poised to stabbed Alex deep in the chest. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot into Trinity's neck. She pulled out a large dart from her neck. The room slowly began to blur. Trinity could feel her muscles failing. She fell to the floor and rolled onto her back. The last sight she saw was of the agents pointing guns at her head. She tilted her head to the side and saw Claire in the doorway of the infirmary, holding a dart gun in her hand.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Darien lay in the infirmary of the Agency. He felt as though he'd been awake the entire night before. His brain was awake, but he struggled to open his eyes. He felt something nudge his hand. He reached for it blindly. Nothing was there. He heard a giggle, then, it nudged his hand again. He slowly lifted one eyelid. There, just behind the edge of his bed, stood Violette, with a bandage on her head from her surgery. She giggled again and reached for his hand again. This time, Darien was ready. He grabbed her hand and opened both his eyes. "Eeeek!!!" Violette squealed. "Hmm," Darien said playfully, "Now it seems that something keeps poking me." Violette giggled. "Gee, I wonder if it was a little girl I know." "I don't know what you're talking about," she said innocently. "Oh, really?" he said sitting up. He winced slightly. Oh yes, that's right; he had been stabbed. "Darien?" Violette asked concerned. He smiled and slowly picked her up and placed her on his lap. All his muscles were sore, but he didn't want Violette to worry. "I'm fine. What are you still doing here anyway?" Violette smiled. "Claire said I needed to stay a little longer, just in case.and I came to visit Maman. She still needs a prince to kiss her." She tilted her head slightly and wrapped her arms around his head. "I'm so glad your okay. I thought you had some bad boo-boos." "Mmmph, mmph, mmph, mmph mmph," he said into her hug. Violette giggled gleefully. "Hey, now, kiddo," Hobbes said from the doorway. "I think Darien needs to breathe." "Okay, Uncle Bobby," Violette said as she let go of Darien's head. "Phew," Darien said jokingly, "I was getting a little light-headed." Violette laughed. "Hey, partner," Hobbes said, taking Violette off Darien's lap. "How ya feeling?" "Well, considering what happened," Darien said, a bit pained, "I feel just a notch above Super Dave after he'd been dropped off a building." "Who's that?" Violette asked. "Don't worry about it," Hobbes said. "Darien's old. Super Dave is long before your time." "I'm old?" Darien said, feigning offense, "You should talk, grandpa." "Hey!" Bobby said, slightly offended, "watch it, sick boy. Remember who can move." "I see someone's feeling better," said a voice from the doorway. It was Claire. "Alright, you two, stop pestering my patient." Violette giggled and looked between the Keep and Hobbes. She winked at Bobby and nudged his side. He looked down at the little girl. His eyes widened. "I think I'll get this little girl out of here," he said quickly. "See ya later, Fawkesy." Hobbes carried Violette out. Claire waved good-bye. "That was abrupt," she said. "Well, anyway, Darien, how are you feeling?" "A little blurry, Keep," he said. "I'm not surprised. You have a concussion." "Great," he said, rubbing his head. "What exactly happened anyway?" Darien said. "All I remember happening was that woman.and then Hobbes came.and then nothing." "Well, I wasn't there for the entire time. All I know is that she stabbed you just left of your right shoulder blade. Bobby tried to stop her; it was just crazy. Bobby matched her every move, but she got away in a flash of smoke." "Geez," Darien shook his head. "It sounds like one of those Japanese cartoon thingies." "Yes," Claire said, shaking her head in disbelief. "Darien, do you know anything about that woman?" "It's really a fog." Darien said, shifting his position on the bed. "I remember she looked Asian.She seemed to hesitate when she had me alone.I don't know why.Um, she said something.something that reminded me of someone."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You're really becoming a festering wound, Fawkes," Stark said.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I remember now," Darien said, sitting up. He winced as his wound reminded him that it was there. "Stark said something similar to me when I met with him at the camp." Darien smiled. "I made him strip.you should have seen the look on his face." Claire feigned a smile; she'd humor him since he was injured. "So, you think it was Chrysalis?" "Maybe," Darien said scratching his head. "It's too coincidental that they said the same thing. I." Suddenly, they could hear gunshots outside the room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Alex walked down the hall, deep in thought. She was a complete wreck. How could she just freeze like that? She was a five star A. It was just impossible. And then Bobby just took control. He was amazing. She'd never seen that side of him before. He was so masculine. He was so. Alex spotted Bobby leave the infirmary with a little girl in his arms. She'd never him seen him fatherly; it was very. "Hey, Munroe," Hobbes said, "How ya feeling?" Alex smiled weakly. Weakly? She straightened up and walked confidently over to the two. "I'm fine.. Who's this?" she said looking at the little girl. "This," he said, setting the girl on the ground, "is Violette. She's Lillianne's daughter.Violette, this is Alex Munroe." Violette smiled sweetly and curtsied. "It's very nice to meet you, Ms. Munroe." Alex smiled. "It's very nice to meet you too, cutie." She felt a slight pang in her heart. She missed James so much. Alex lifted Violette into her arms, just to see what it would be like. Violette smiled and hugged Alex. "This little sweetheart has a tendency to win people over instantly," Hobbes pointed out. Alex closed her eyes to savor the feeling. She imagined that it was James in her arms. She slowly opened her eyes. She spotted something strange. Footprints were appearing out of nowhere. She squinted to see if her eyes were playing tricks on her; they weren't. She carefully gave Hobbes Violette and leaned in close to his ear. "Get some back up," Alex whispered. She tilted her head towards the footprints. Bobby glanced carefully behind him and nodded. He took Violette in his arms and walked calmly down the hall. Alex pulled out her gun and aimed it in the vague direction of where the person would be. "I know you're there," Alex said, in an unsteady voice. "Surrender now, and no one will get hurt."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Eberts," the Official grunted, "what is the meaning of this behavior?" Eberts swallowed guiltily. He didn't know what to say. He was just swept up in. "Eberts," the Official said in a low voice, "explain." "S-s-sir.I.I-I-I." Eberts closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "Sir, remember that advice you gave me, to invite Ms. Stratford to a Star Trek movie using my best Shatner impression?" "What?" the Official said perplexed. Then he suddenly remembered. "Oh yes.so?" "Well, it worked, sir." "It what?" "I've been spending my time with Avon." "Eberts.are you trying to say that you have a sex life?" the Official said with a slight chuckle. "Not exactly in those words, but." Eberts said bashfully. The Official's smile disappeared. A slight shudder went through his body. "Eberts, if you neglect your duties here one more time, I will have to ask you to cease and desist." Eberts nodded solemnly. He was about to say something with a shot rang out from the hallway. The Official and Eberts turned to look what happened.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Trinity crawled through the ventilation system of the Agency. The drugs she was given clouded her mind. All she could think of was one thing. She had to finish her mission. If she did that, she would get her drugs again. Her heart was pounding. She could feel he was close; she could almost smell him. She came to a vent, which pointed down. She looked carefully through the slits. Seeing no one around, she quicksilvered and jumped down to the ground. Silently, she walked toward the infirmary. Her senses were buzzing; the lights around her seemed to flash and swirl. Still she kept focus; she had to get back in Stark's good graces. As much as she despised him, she needed him. Suddenly, she felt someone behind her. She stopped, holding her breath. Slowly, she turned around. There stood Alex, holding her gun up in the air, aiming approximately in her direction. "I know you're there," Alex said, in an unsteady voice. "Surrender now, and no one will get hurt." Trinity stayed silent. How did she know that she was there? She tested Alex, shifting slightly to her left. Alex followed her. Trinity unquicksilvered, realizing that she could not escape. "How did you know?" Trinity asked, her eyes shrinking to slits. Alex looked down. There were dusty footprints from Trinity. It was fully apparent that the Agency hadn't cleaned out its air ducts in decades. Trinity sneered. "Humph," she said, "there's no way you can take me alone." Trinity unsheathed her blade. "Oh, I don't plan on it," Alex said, with a sudden smirk on her lips. "I think they'll help me out." Trinity looked behind her, there were now several armed men, with Hobbes leading the group, pointing guns at her. She narrowed her eyes again. The blood in her head was pounding. Everything in the hall seemed to be in slow motion. She ran towards Alex, without warning. Instinctively, Alex fired two shots at the woman. Trinity dodged the first and the second bullet, kicking the gun out of Alex's hand. She then knocked her down and poised to stabbed Alex deep in the chest. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot into Trinity's neck. She pulled out a large dart from her neck. The room slowly began to blur. Trinity could feel her muscles failing. She fell to the floor and rolled onto her back. The last sight she saw was of the agents pointing guns at her head. She tilted her head to the side and saw Claire in the doorway of the infirmary, holding a dart gun in her hand.