Will and Fate
By Jeremy

Chapter 14

September 14, 1997

The penthouse of the exclusive Limeric Lion Hotel was truly exquisite: white or blue-tiled floors or rich, high-price carpets brough all the way from Argentina, walls covered with oak panes from Canada, maple tables of the finest make, chairs of real leather, indian curtains and a bed of oak with Brazilian silk shetts. Add to this a pool, a private dinner room, a small but luxurious study a large living room with large bay windows that overlooked the city, and a luxurious shower, and you had one of the summits of excentricity and wealth, the kind of place only the very rich or the very powerful could dream of being in for any length of time, much less sleep in it.

Kale happened to be both of these qualificatives.

Righ now he sat in a armchair, sipping some nice bordeaux, a 1956 Chateau-Laffite to be precise, after having eaten a dinner made of a top sirloin cut of nice, Irish beef, some vegetables and a few cuts of fromage de chèvre, an excellent dinner worthy of this hotel's French chef. His chef, actually, for the Limerick Lion was his, after all. He smiled at the view, as he smiled at so many things. The city was sleepy, night drawing it in, and it was illuminated like a sprinkle of stars.

"Ah, Limerick, you always make me want to smile." he said softly, the burst out laughing. He then felt Everick's presence. "Yes, my friend?"

"We have him." was the usual stoic, calm response. The dark man was back to his old mannerism, which suited Kale just fine.

"Ah! Then bring him in by all means!"

Everick nodded, went to the door, opened it and gestured. Immediately two large, grey clothed council Acolytes appeared, impassively dragging a struggling Sebastian Sharell between them. The Canadian struggled with all his might, but that wouldn't save him. Strong he migh be, but he wasn't as strong as the two men holding him. And, even if he could, there was the impassable, black-clothed wall named Everick. The man seemed to be caught between terror and anger, and seemed unable to choose which he should pick. But he would know soon.

"Sebastian!" greeted Kale, eyes alight and wide smile, as if the man was an old friend. "How good of you to come here! We have something to talk about, you and I!"

The man seemed reluctant to speak, but finally put up a brave facade. "What do you want here Kale?" he asked.

"Why, I though you knew. Ah, news travel so slowly. Perhaps you've forgotten that you've been made to look like a fool back in Canada, while the Circle lost face and a lot of money." his tone, although still merry, took on a steely touch that forebode nothing good. The man's eyes widened. He started to sweat Terror was the only thing in his eyes now. About time. Kale wondered how such a glory-grabbing, hollow fool could have been put in charge of such a lucrative business.

"Listen, Kale. That wasn't my fault. These people, they were..."

"Two SCDs and a Shinobi. Yes I know. Three people. Only three. And you failed in your task. You failed the Circle. And you made me look bad. Now what am I supposed to do now?" he crossed his arms, as if pondering. He then snapped his finger. "Of course! I'll kill you and find a better guy of the Maple Flag to take your place! What do you think, Everick?"

"A fine, logical course." was the calm reply.

Kale laughed, slapping his friend on the shoulder. "Its so nice to be appreciated by people of quality." he turned his eyes to the now heavily struggling Sharell. "Now, as for you."

Sharell suddenly started to cough, his hands reaching for his throat. He looked at Kale with eyes that were wild with fear. Kale's eyes, for their part, blazed a purplish red, his Outer Powers manifesting fully. The man tried to struggle again, gagged and started to jerk around like a madman, so much the two men holding him let him go. He lunged at Kale with croak, his face turning a sickly, purplish blue. He never made it to Kale. A black-wrapped form put himself between the executioner and his prey and with mighty shoved, pushed the man down on the floor. The man jerked in spasm, agonizing. He then gave a garbled cry, and lay still at last. Kale gave the corpse a look of disgust.

"I can see that your methods are as swift as ever." came a voice. A deep, commanding voice, the exuded control and the slightest bit of amusement. Kale knew that voice extremely well, and turned to see a tall, muscular figure dressed in a crimson uniform, looking at him with a bare grin.

"Bison." he breathed, some fear and much excitement booming inside him. He mastered his expression. "Everick, take care of the Canadian problem. And tell Marcel to be ready if our illustrious guest wishes to eat something."

Everick nodded. If he was fazed by Bison's sudden appearance, it did not show. He had to give a sharp command to the two gaping acolytes, who dragged the body outside the penthouse. In a matter of moments, all was quiet and left the two men. The silence did not last long, however.

"So. To what do I owe the honor, Lord Bison?" he said with dancing eyes.

"Is simply wishing to see how my younger brother is doing not enough?" retorted the larger and far more imposing man. Kale watched as Bison actually seemed to relax, to be at ease. It wasn't something he did often. Only Kale, the ex-Circle Lady Rose and perhaps Elder Jattrus had ever seen this powerful man drop his guard even slightly.

"Maybe, but I doubt you'd take time from rebuilding and fortifying Shadowlaw just for seeing me." he laughed softly. "I'm not the man you are, Pet...Bison, but I'm not stupid."

Bison nodded, as if very pleased. "And I can see that now. My lessons were well-learned." he looked at the bordeaux for a moment, then looked back at him. "And yet you managed to surpass me in some fields, like your astounding taste for wines."

Mere moments later Bison was comfortably enscounced into the very armchair Kale had used moments before, with the younger man serving him some of the bordeaux that had just been talked about. There was a familiarity in the room, a familiarity that would have surprised anyone who thought knew the two men. But then again, Kale knew, they were brothers, even thought they had a quarter century of difference in age - the one who was born too early and the other, too late. The two unwanted. The two powerful ones.

Kale settled into another chair, hands on his knees. "Okay. There's only the two of us here. So what's going on in that twisted mind of yours, Bison." even thought the sentence was structured teasingly,it was still spoken with a very great deal of respect.

Bison sipped his liquor for a moment before answering. "I want you not to attack the SCD right now." he said simply. Like he was laying down the law. For a moment Kale gaped, at a loss. But the strength returned soon, and so did his voice.

"That's not possible. They made me look like a complete fool. The Elders laugh behind my back. I must show them that this little gouvernmental band won't stop the likes of me." he looked steadily into bison's eyes, a blue so soft it was undistinguisable from the white of the white that surrounded it. "Not to attack would seem like weakness. I can't have that happen..." he trailed off as Bison raised a hand with a deep chuckle.

"I did not ask you NOT to attack them. I said not right now. There is something in SCD that I want again." his eyes narrowed. "She has escaped my control. I must find out how. And break her for doing so. Ever since I had the...mishap...with Ryu Hoshi and Ken Masters, I have been secretely rebuilding, reinforcing my Shadowlaw's position. Regaining that...tool...would be appropriate in showing that I am indeed master of all who work there, that there is NO escape." he fell silent.

"But, then...why not take her - for I think I know who you mean - right now? With your power..."

"Yes, but she is supported much and I have no wish yet to waste my time with SCD. I wish to wait for a time when she is already breaking down inwardly. That will make the job...easier...afterwards."

"I...see. And how would that help me? For this doesn't seem to be profitable to my standpoint." Kale mused.

"Ah, but it is!" Bison sipped the bordeaux again and gave a very small smile. "There is a way for both of us to have what we want. Here is my plan, listen well..."

* * * * * * * * * *

Four days later...

Rose was much older than it appeared. And she had seen and her and even felt more than most greybeards and old crones could ever brag about. From this knowledge had come compassion, and a great deal of wisdom. However, as she looked to the woman seated, nervous and ill-at-ease, in front of her, she knew that even with all her knowledge and powers, she knew this little meeting would be...tricky.

The young woman had been sent by her friend Julia, who had privately told her all she could about this young woman and her problem. She really needn't have bothered, for the lavender-haired woman could see much just by looking at her temporary ward attentively. The first thing she felt was that she was strong. Physically, that was plain, but mentally as well, if the demons she held were as strong as she thought. The eyes that looked back at her spoke of defiance, of a very hot temper that could easily flare, but also of deeper things, horrible events she had no wish to talk about. The eyes also spoke of sadness, of loneliness and of somwthing that seem to gnaw at her, something beyond the nightmares and the pain.

The young and, she had no trouble admitting, beautiful Cammy White was far more complex than one would think at first - part of the reason Rose hated most first impressions. But this wasn't the time to make such considerations. She had to gauge this woman first.

"I will not ask you what has happened in detail, my dear girl, " she said softly, affably. "But I will have to ask some things of you, or I will be unable to help you."

The woman in front of her did not flinch, althought she could easily read the efforts it was taking. Quite a toll. Her opinion of the girl rose swiftly. "I've come here because I wanted to know how to get rid of this," was the reply. "If you need answers, I will give those which I can."

She nodded. "While you were in Shadowlaw, were you beaten?"

Silence. And then a slow nod.

"Tortured?" she was asking this calmly, but inwardly Rose disliked the whole discussion. She quite saw that these simple questions were the of the kind that the braided girl hated. But she had to ask them.

"Yes." slow, painfully said. Memories probably coming back unbidden. The answer was expected. After all, torture was a very common way to break up someone's spirit. Somehow, however, this was something she really didn't think had broken this MI6 Agent. Strong-willed, with a temper to match, this could have shaken her, badly. But not broken her.

Oh, well, why was she doing this? She knew quite well what had broken her in the end, rendering her psyche vulnerable to Bison. An ugly thing, a despicable thing, that had to be laid on the table right now, to make things clear.

"Raped?" she made her voice so compassionate, so gentle. Who would have thought you were just as hot-tempered as this one, when you were younger, heh, Rose? She saw a flash of pain in the girls eyes, a repressed shiver. She didn't even need to see her nod. She knew that Bison had abused her much. After all, she was to be a tool of her later on, and a very beautiful one. So why not use it in as many ways as one could? Yes, this was certainly what he had thought. It certainly matched what she remembered of him.

No wonder, with all the psychic meddling he had wrought in her head, that Cammy couldn't help but seeing him everytime she was afraid or angry. He was the paragon of both emotions to her. Rose laid back on her chair, considering this problem. Psychic problems were something that one tread with very carefully.

Strange, but she detected a psychic link withing her, something faint. As if she was linked with another mind somehow. Was this possible? Was this why she had been able to escape Bison's control? Perhaps. Yet she chose not to talk about the link. It would only make the young woman nervous.

"Do you have a man in your life?" she asked suddenly. From the expression the young woman shot her, it had been the last thing that she had thought to be asked about. "And I do not ask to know if you consider men friends. I mean a lover, someone you are intimate with."

At the words 'lover' and 'intimate', Cammy had shivered slightly, her eyes glazing slightly, her expression strange before she shook her head, wordlessly. But there was something in the way she did it, something timid, fearful. An hopeful little light. Rose almost smiled. She knew what that look meant.

"You don't have one, but you'd want one who already loves you." She stated it simply. It wasn't a question, it was a fact.

The young woman shook her head slightly, her eyes slightly downcast. "I...I don't know if he really loves me. I..."

"Oh, nonsense! You wouldn't be so hesitant to talk about it if you didn't think that he had something for you."

Again the young woman seemed to hesitate, but Rose cared not. She saw hope now. Althought seemingly superfluous, her question about a lover was quite sound. Abused people tended to eschew relationships with the opposite sex, for obvious reasons. For many of them, the very thought of an intimate relationship was something frightening and impossible for long, sometimes for an entire lifetime. Cammy was frightened, very frightened, but she did not discount the possibility. For a normal traumatized person, that was something. For a person who had been traumatized by a PSYCHIC, it was even more. This girl truly was of the finest mettle. That and her strong Inner...Chi had certainly been driving points in her 'recruiting'.

"Very well. I think I know this young man. Jeremy Storm, is that it?"

Her eyes widened. "Well, if you must know, yes. But how do you know him?"

"My dear girl, I once held him in my arms." she stated. She saw the flash of hurt and jealousy that went throught the blond woman's face and quickly amended her statement with a soft laugh. "No, nothing like THAT! I held him in my arms when he was a baby, perhaps not three months old."

"B-but that was nineteen years ago. You must have been..."

"Younger yes. But I looked nearly the same as I do now. I know his family well. His wise grandfather...and..." She stopped, her eyes flashing sadness for a second. "And his mother. He comes from good people. And I know from this and from what I hear of Julia Simmons, that he is a good man, someone you can depend on." she smiled "And that is good, for the easiest way to defeat what Bison did is throught him."

"What? Him? How?" the tone was sceptical, unsure.

"By telling him. Everything. All that happened to you. To open up to him fully, without fear. That would be my first step. Or it need not be the first, but it is a very important step."

That's when she saw the soldier's look crumble, that she saw the fragile girl that was underneath the though exterior. The concept she had just told her about was common practice, and common sense. It was a very important step to anyone with a trauma: to talk about it with someone you trusted, someone whom you knew could understand. The idea had occured to Cammy, it seemed. And it scared her terribly. Once again, and surely not for the last time, she cursed Bison, the Circle and all those who used their Outer Powers to hurt and maim people. Bison especially, for he was the most powerful of those, and by far the worst.

"I...I don't know if I...can do that." Cammy whispered.

"You must. One day. But as for the nightmares, the images that reccured far too easily, that is psychic." she sighed "And there is only one way to treat that to make it controllable."

"And that is?" was the question. A very judicious question. Just not one that she really wanted to answer right off. But the ball was rolling, there was no more turning back.

She brought her chair nearer, trying to banish the nervousness which was suddenly growing within her. This was the trickiest part of this entire meeting, and she knew she could not fail here. If she did, the girl might be lost to her, unwilling to listen anymore. And that may be her doom.

"I will explain to you." she said gently, a bit of nervousness creeping into her voice. "All of it. Before you react, you must hear me out until the end. Agreed?" she looked intently into the other woman's eyes.

A slow nod came. Reluctant, wary. This wasn't going to be a moment either was going to enjoy. Not at all. Taking a deep breath, collecting her thoughts Rose, one of the most powerful psychic and fighter in the world, started to explain her idea, the way to save Cammy's psyche from Bison's damage.

* * * * * * * * * *
At about the same time...

Returning from his late evening walk, Nathan McIntyre looked at his watch, and incredulously read 11:06, and ran the rest of the way home. Well, it was running, but a slower, clumsier run, accented by the repeated TOC TOC TOC of his cane, which was trying to keep in beat with his rythm. Groaning against the pain in his leg - pain that lanced out everytime he did anything very stressful, pain that would always be there, waiting - he managed to cover the block in far less time than he should. His watch marked 10:09.

Ten minutes late! his mind screamed as he bolted inside his home.

The home of the McIntyre family was rather large - two storied, four bedrooms, large dining room, comfortable livingroom - all furnished in as way that showed rightly that these people had a bit more money than others. Why not? Maria Smith-McIntyre was an University teacher and Bob McIntyre vice president of a small computer company. All of this did not matter to Nate, who rushed throught the house, barely acknowledging his father, who was watching some late show, and descending the stairs with haste. He entered his bedroom, passed the personal library that he was building up after six years of collecting books of all sorts, and came to his monstrous, high-speed, cable-connected 600mhz Pentium with scanner, printer, speakers, modem, and all sort of other technological knick-knacks that was a all another positive side to a father who worked in computers. He opened his screen, immediately restarting the mainframe which had been put on standby, and logged on to his Instant Messenger. He looked at the list of connected people and was joyous to see Kelly56 online.

Kelly56: HI!!! I WAS STARTING TO WONDER WHEN YOU'D SHOW UP!

He sighed in relief, typing back his answer.

WhiteMage: SORRY. I WAS WALKING AROUND AND FORGOT THE TIME.

Kelly 56: HEY, NO PROBLEM! THESE THINGS HAPPEN! ^_^
SO, WHAT'S UP?

WhiteMage: OH, THE USUAL. GATHERED SOME INFO FROM MY CONTACTS, STROLLED AROUND, GOT INSULTED BY SOME STUPID ***HOLES. REALLY, THE USUAL. ^_^

Althought he wrote the last as if it didn't bother him, it did. A lot. He could remember what the stupid fool had said, as he walked down the street, alone, just taking in the fresh, autumn air. Two guys, probably worthless bums who had no education, had spotted him. And one of them just couldn't resist the temptation of hurting what he saw as an inferior, crippled man.

Hey, grampa! You be careful out there! You just might be hurt later! And then he had laughed, contemptuously, as if his bad joke was worth a million. and the other guy had laughed, with contempt as well. And worse. Pity. As if he was something a level below them, something broken down, someone useless. And he had hated these two kids for it, hated them with a passsion.

Pity. He had never needed it, never wanted it and sure as hell never EARNED it! His friends hadn't pitied him, except in the beginning, then they had accepted the situation. He had forgiven Claudia for it almost immediately after she stopped, Jeremy and Alex later, probably because he saw them - young athletes, strong and swift, who probably turned every single female pair of eyes when they walked on the street. But the two had never acted superior with him, and he had thought, foolishly, that these people, who struggled so hard to become strong in body, understood his feelings, his situation.

All that had changed a few weeks ago, when the young ninja - Ibuki, was it? - had answered with his comment about driving to the Storms' home with an incredulous 'YOU drive?'. He had been angry then. Angry and hurt as hell, and he thought that if her whole Clan was like that, then that Clan was shit, for all its power.

If you were crippled, Ibuki, what would you do? he thought viciously, then recoiled as the meaning of what he had just thought sunk in. Dear God, had he gone THAT bitter? He sincerely hoped not. So engaged was he that he didn't even see the answer that flashed back at first. He then snapped back to reality.

Kelly56: NOW YOU STOP RIGHT THERE, NATHAN! I CAN SEE YOU COMING WITH YOUR 'I'M A CRIPPLE AND I HATE IT' THING! SAVE IT! YOUR ANYTHING BUT THAT! YOU'VE GOT A BRILLIANT MIND, AND A VERY GENTLE PERSONALITY. I NEVER COULD'VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THOSE QUALITIES!

Nathan read the rant with a smile, wondering how in only three months she could read him so well. But then, she was a very bright girl indeed, and read into people well. He then read something in the message that made him jump slightly. Thinking he'd read it wrong, he read it again. It wasn't wrong. With slightly shaking hands, he wrote back.

WhiteMage: FALLEN IN LOVE, AREA?

Long there was no answer. And then...

Kelly56: DARN. I REALLY BLEW IT THIS TIME, HUH? :(

WhiteMage: NO! I LOVE YOU TOO, AREA! ITS JUST THAT YOU'RE A WORLD WARRIOR! I'M LIKE SO LAGGING BEHIND YOU PHYSICALLY...

Kelly56: OH, NATHAN! IS THAT WHAT'S BEEN BOTHERING YOU EVER SINCE YOU LEARNED THAT? DON'T YOU REMEMBER I'M IN THEIR LEAGUE BECAUSE OF MY FATHER'S INVENTIONS? WITHOUT THEM, I WOULDN'T BE MUCH STRONGER THAN THE AVERAGE GIRL. HUM...IS IT TRUE? DO YOU LOVE ME?

Nathan didn't even hesitate for an instant. For him, there was only one answer that could be given, the only one that was in his heart.

WhiteMage: AREA, I FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU LONG, VERY LONG BEFORE EVEN SAW A PICTURE OF YOU, OR HEARD YOUR VOICE ON THE PHONE THAT TIME, THREE WEEKS AGO.

It sounded a little lame, he knew, but he had never been good with romantic words. His volontary isolation after that crazed monster that had once been, well, not friend like Jeremy but friendly acquaintance, Thomas Storm, had taken him for a 'betrayer' and nearly killed him, had not helped. However, he knew also that what he had said was meant. And Area could tell, she divined him so well.

Kelly56: I...I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY! I THOUGHT I WAS MAKING A FOOL OF MYSELF, THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL THIS. A DREAM.

WhiteMage: ARE YOU HAPPY, AREA?

Kelly56: YES! VERY! HEH...FINDING LOVE ON THE NET. WHAT WOULD OUR FRIENDS THINK?

WhiteMage: YOURS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT MINE WOULDN'T MIND. THEIR LOVELIVES WERE...PECULIAR TO SAY THE LEAST! ^_^

As he sent this message, the scarred man was reminded of Melissa. Beautiful Melissa, who had been savagely killed, no butchered, by Tom. Yes, Jeremy had a very peculiar lovelife...a very sad one. That was why Jeremy and he communicated so well - they both walked wounded. Jer just didn't look it as much as he.

Kelly56: DARN, I HAVE TO GO. MY DAD NEEDS ME FOR SOMETHING. YOU'LL BE THERE TOMORROW? ON TIME ^_^

WhiteMage: EARLY! ^_^ GOOD NIGHT, AREA, I LOVE YOU.

Kelly56: I LOVE YOU TOO. G'NIGHT!

And she was off, leaving Nathan alone in his room again. Alone? Not truly, for he felt something within him, something that made him want to shout and dance like a crazy fool. It came directly from his soul, filled his heart, and illuminated his mind. She loved him. Area loved him.

And that was something incredibly delicious to him. For the first time in years, he felt like the Nathan McIntyre of before.

For the first time in years, he felt whole.

* * * * * * * * * *
Thirty minutes later...

Julia Simmons had never liked being left out of something. Ever since she had been that little runt at an orphanage, she had hated it with a passion. Even when the people who left her out had a good reason, or simply had the right to do so. It still pissed her off somewhat. This was exactly how she felt as she stood like a vigil in front of Rose's Palace, waiting as Cammy and the owner and homonym of the little shop finished their conversation. No one stopped to talk to her, as she had positioned herself in a place and a way that made her well-nigh invisible. She liked that ability. It gave you time to think.

She really couldn't believe she had done it, taken the time, and expenses, so that this meeting could be arranged. She certainly wouldn't have done it to Cammy. To Julia, the braided woman was still Shadowlaw. Who cares if she was brainwashed, who cares if the things she had done weren't exactly her fault, she STILL had done these things. She had said so to Giorgio vehemently, more than once.

"We've done our share of 'things' too, Julia." had been his calm, deadpan answer. Darn him, anyway!

But she couldn't refuse Jeremy. Although she considered jim a little naive at times, the young man had always given her a very good impression. Morover, he had helped a lot in patching up the last misunderstanding between she and Giorgio. She owed him a favour, and she knew it. So, in the end, she had had no choice at all. And so here was the end result. To wait out a meeting she knew nothing about, outside, in the cold air of early morning, thousands of miles away from London.

What the hell are they talking about, anyway?!? She fumed. They've been in there together for over an hour! Is this a damn counselling session or what?!?

Breathe in, breathe out, calm down. There's no point to being upset. She tried to tell herself that, but it didn't work very well. She still felt irritated. She tried Jeremy's little calming litany, which seems to work on her so well. Family Litany, he'd called it. Who cared? It really seemed to work, and to Julia Simmons, results were extremely important.

Never let anger cloud your judgement. Let your mind be clear. Focus on the task and not on the reason for the task. Let your mind be clear. See behind the hate and the violence. Let your mind be...

Her little mental sing-a-song was brutally interrupted as the door to Rose's shop burt open, and Cammy White nearly ran out, red-faced, with an expression that contained fear and not just a little bit of wrath. A frigthening look. The young woman passed Simmons without seeing her, and the higher-ranking agent was too surprise, on that very moment, to call out to her to stop as the other girl litterally charged down the street. First things first, she decided, she had to check on Rose and find what the hell was going on.

She opened the room to find Rose still sitting at the same chair that she had been sitting in when she had left them alone, a slightly troubled look on her classical, lavender-framed face. She looked as thought she was saddened by what had happened. Saddened, but not really surprised, however. She looked towards her as Julia entered.

"Okay," said the small, frail-looking, black-haired SCD officer. "I'll be blunt here: what just happened?"

A sigh. "I told her the solution that she would need, what would help her cure herself. She did not like it. But it would be better if she told you about it."

"Why do I have the distinct impression that this has become a very bad morning?" groaned Julia.

"Perhaps it is so, most probably. Go now, my dear. Find her and try to calm her down. The solution is a good one, she will see that in time."

From the look Cammy had had when she left, one could really have doubts on that. But now was not the time to argue. Julia had to find the girl. For the younger SCD had a very nasty, unstable temper nowadays, which Joan said meant she had problems dealing with her newfound emotions, that made her pretty loose cannon and unpredictable - even the Shinobi girl had said so.. She gave her goodbyes to Rose, promising to call and visit again, and took off to find her wayward charge.

She found her quickly. Cammy might beat her in may things, but she wasn't the fox that she was at finding people. She managed to catch up to her after ten minutes of hurried but stealthy pursuit. She decided not to grab her - that would bring her only trouble. She decided that voice contact was far better.

"So leaving like you seen a ghost, White?" she called.

That stopped the girl, who turned around slowly. The fear had faded from her eyes but the wrath, to Julia's discomfort, was still way present. Not good. Not good at all. This situation was officially delicate as of now.

Finally the braided girl spoke. Well, spat was closer to the term, but at least it was coherent a spat. "That damn know-it-all SEER! When did I ever think that seeing a low-class psychic to discuss my problem?!?"

Julia fairly bristled when she heard her old friend and helper called a 'low-class psychic", knowing Rose was probably one of the most powerful in the world. However, she understood that the other girl was in the middle of something that prompted her to spit venom on everything, and kept her cool.

"Whenever the moment, you thought it, so DEAL with it. What did she propose?"

There was silence. Angry silence, that seemed to stretch. Thank The Lord that there were few pedestrians walking around at this hour, or they look like two fools. Thinking no answer would be forthcoming, she started to ask again, more impatiently, but was cut off by the answer.

"She wants to use her powers to block off the worst of Bison's meddling, or so she says." she growled.

"What?"

"You heard me."

Julia was tempted to laugh, but refrained. This was ridiculous. There was nothing wrong with that, as far as she was concerned, and asked what was wrong with that. She wasn't prepared for the eruption that ensued.

"THE PROBLEM?!?!? THE PROBLEM'S THAT THE FUCKING SOLUTION OF HERS IS TO HAVE HER TELEPATHIC SHIT IN MY HEAD!!" she spoke a bit softer then, but the ire remained. "No way am I letting any of these people get inside my head!"

"Hey, hey! Hold on! Rose's NOT Bison. She's bloody trying to help you!" Julia snapped. The only answer she had at first was a hand that grabbed her coat and brought her on eye-to-eye level. Althought they were the same height, Cammy was far more athletic and far, far stronger. The grip was steel.

"You don't know these people like I do!" came the hiss. "How they think they can plumb through your mind, search for its weaknesses. I will never let that happen to me again. Ever."

"Let go of me, White." Julia growled back.

They both locked eyes for a moment, showing each other just how much they did not trust one another - Julia was starting to wonder if Cammy COULD trust - and finally the blond agent trust her senior back, letting go. She looked around, calming down, trying to patch up the volatile situation before it escalated again, but Cammy beat her to the punch.

"Let's get out of here. This trip was an unfortunate waste of time."

"Rose doesn't seem to think so."

"I don't CARE what Rose thinks." with that the braided lass walked away. Julia did not try to stop her this time.

Maybe you don't care, but I do. thought Julia. If Rose saw hope, she wouldn't start thinking this trip was a waste. She trusted the older psychic woman to come up with something to help the girl. Bloody hell, even she was tempted to help her now. If Jer hadn't gone training these days, he probably would have come. Maybe he could have helped prevent this little fiasco.

Couldn't he?

* * * * * * * * * *
Three days later...

Nathan McIntyre felt good as he strolled about the streets of Greenway. He had been feeling well for three days now, and had a very good reason to: he was in love. And love tended to bring out the best moods from people. It stemmed from the fact that the feeling was very much mutual, but also because he had once though the relationship impossible, and had thought so from the moment their tentative net and phone flirtation had started. First because he believed that long-distance relationships were an impossibility, second because he thought no athletic fighter would want to have anything to do with a cripple. He'd been wrong on both counts. And that made him extatic.

He might have known, after all. Area seemed different. It was easy to talk to her, and she understood how his mind worked - something his friends had never achieved, even Claudia, and she'd known him since he was three. But then they'd never been interested quite THAT way in each other. Oh, perhaps some puppy love, but nothing really solid. It had all gone away once Alex had entered the picture, and he felt no grudge: they indeed were a marvelous couple, even if he happened to be a foot taler than she and look more than twice as wide.

But this relationship, it was one that he had built, and a real one. Not just frienship there. There was love in it. And he hoped it was relationship that would last. After all, he didn't want to end up alone when he got old.

So intent was he on his pleasing thoughts, he nearly passed the little backstreet. It was just when a cry of pain was uttered that he realized that, perhaps not twenty meters into that alley next to him, three guys were in the process of beating the crap out of another. He stared, unsure what to do, unsure of what he COULD do. He knew Alex or Jeremy would've been in the fray as soon as they saw the situation, but then they were strong and skilled. Nathan was neither. He could go get help, but by the time he did, these three would beat the guy even more. Hell! Flaming Hell! How he hated this situation. But he'd been around fighters and willful people for far to long to back out of this. Darn, he was willful himself! He'd take care of these punks!

Yeah, right...

"Hey, you there!" he shouted suddenly, surprising himself. "You stop that right now!"

They stopped all right. They let go of the poor guy, who tried to rise, and turned to him. Young folk, no more than sixteen, armed with nothing but fists - thank god for small favors. Nate wasn't an athlete, but his natural outlook wasn't so bad and since he looked older, it made the young ruffians pause. For about one second. And then they saw his cane. And smiled at him.

"Hey, its a cripple!" said the tallest, a guy with a bandanna, the leader obviously. "Listen you broken-up jerk, you just pass your way and you won't get hurt."

They'd probably have done it, too. Plus, it was the sensible thing to do. But Nate had fought tooth and nail against a crazy Thomas Storm, and refused to be intimidated by three little bums. He didn't budge.

"No. I don't think so." he said calmly, although there was an icy knot in his stomach.

The three teens looked at each other in some surprise. They didn't think a crippled man would stand up to them, that was obvious. They quickly covered it up with a laugh that was somewhat nervous.

"Well, then what are ya gonna do about it? Try to stop us with that cane of yours?" the leader guffawed.

"Well..." he said softly, his eyes flashing. "That's not a bad idea." and with that, he threw his cane.

His arms were used to supporting more weight than they should. Consequently the throw was very strong and very precise. And hit the bullseye, hitting the leader's shoulder. The young thug grasped his arm, crying out in pain. He snarled at the waiting Nate.

"Man, you damn fucking asshole! You're fucking dead, you hear me? You're dead!!"

The detective-like man sneered. "Bla, bla, bla. Small talk. Uncultured, unimpressive. You guys are whimps."

"Damn you! Get him!" came the rageful answer. The two youths immediately ran to him. Using the tricks Jeremy and Alex had drilled into him in an event much like this one, he gauged them.

These guys were quick, but undisciplined. They showed no defense, simply barging in. No telltale signature of any style he could see. These guys were worthless bums, kid trying to act though. And that meant they chose their victims and surprised it, never giving it any chance. That meant they never were in a real fight. And that meant no endurance for pain!

One of them swung at him as soon as he got near. Nate ducked under, rising with an uppercut. It was a crude one - Jer would've clucked his tongue in distaste. But it did the trick. The guy was flung a few steps back, completely groggy. As he though; no endurance, no way to take a shot. These guys WERE whimps.

The other guy barely three steps behind, stopped as his partner was nearly knocked out.That cost him. Nate appraoched him fast, hopping to him with his good leg. The boy reacted by punching him in the gut. McIntyre was too slow, and it connected. However, he had had far worse from Thomas, and he easily fought off the pain, giving an abdominal punch of his own - with greater effects. That youth gagged, lurching forward, and the cripple man gave a swift blow to the guy's temple with his elbow. The teen dropped like a stone. He faced the leader, who still clutched his shoulder.

"So, it seem things have gone around." he stated pleasantly "What are you going to do now?"

"Damn you."

"Oh, just get the hell out of my sight, you weasel. There's no way you can win this."

The bum seemed to consider the situation. His two friends were out of the game, he was facing a man knew could defend himself, and the youth they had been having fun beating up was getting on his feet, probably filled with ill intent. Bandanna man seemed to come to the conclusion that he was in a very dangerous position now. He started to backtrack.

"I'll get you for this, you damn cripple!" he vowed, and ran away, away from Nate.

"Anytime, loser." was the quiet answer. He looked over at the boy that had been in trouble. He looked more roughed up than wounded, and bore only a few bruises. Obviously nothing serious had ben done yet.

"Hey, you okay?" he called. The youth blinked, still somewhat faint on his legs, it seemed. He trudged towards Nate.

"I...I think so, thanks." was the hesitant answer. Nathan nodded.

He went to retrieve his cane, which still lay on the floor of the alley. That in hand, he looked at the two bum. They were stirrring, soon they would be able to cause trouble again. However, Nathan McIntyre had no intention to be anywhere near the alley when that happened. He gestured to the boy.

"C'mon, I'll treat you to a nice soup and coffee, it'll make you feel better. What's your name."

"Ha...Harold."

Nathan smiled. "Well Harold, lets be off. These two goons are starting to get up and I don't want to fight more today. Come."

And with that, the two went out the alley, into the street, and started to walk towards the nearest café. And all the while, something released inside the crippled man. Despite his disadvantage, he had done the right thing and held his own despite his handicap. The fear of being hurt because his leg was crippled was waning, he found.

Area was right. He wasn't inferior to the people that were 'whole' after all. She had believed that. She had been right. That made him love her even more.

____________________________________________________

Another chapter done, and the end of the second phase. I have to tell you that the next phase will certainly be harsher, and that the content will be sometimes hard to read. But' then again' there will be much more action too' and it should only serve to better the entire thread of Will and Fate.

As ever, I crave ideas and feedback! What do you think I should do for the next phase?

See ya!

Jeremy