Elf 17 chapter two
Disclaimer: Not mine. Never was mine, isn't mine, never will be mine. Don't you just love, past, present, and future tenses?
Rating: Still PG-13 thought this chapter is more of a PG.
Time and Setting: Same as what I put in the other chapter.
Summary: When a project that Raines has kept hidden for thirteen years is discovered, the Centre decides to use it to their advantage…and Jarod's capture
Feedback: Do I have to go down on my knees and beg? [excitedly] Because I can! Really well too!
[Shadow Elf gets down on knees and straightens out medieval style clothing.] Oh please, help out a poor, cold, lonely, Elf. I am but a lowly bard and need the food that feedback provides to live another story. Oh woe is--[passing knight picks up the Shadow Elf by the collar and flings her into the snow.] [sputtering snow out of her mouth angrily] Oh just forget it.
*Special Note* I really want to thank those who gave me feedback so, here it goes. Thank You Soooooooooooooo much people who gave me feedback! (Not bad eh?")
P.S: Thanks for the Triumvirate's real spelling!
***********************************ShadowElfBard********************************
10:45 AM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
T-board meeting room
Again nothing could be heard but the 'chirping of crickets' in the dark and scary T-board room. What Raines had just said so nonchalantly had tried to be accomplished for nearly three years. Three long, tedious, and nearly bankrupt years for the Centre thanks to Jarod. To simply say that a teenage girl can so easily do what has come to be thought nearly impossible, was insane. Completely, and utterly, insane.
At least, that was the opinion of the board that were now staring at Raines in what could only be described as shock, and astounded silence.
Bridgett cleared her throat. "I'm sorry luv, maybe I didn't here you. Are you saying that this little girl can do what full grown, armed, and determined adults couldn't?"
"Easily."
Bridgett bit the candy part of her lollipop in half.
Elf 17 was becoming confused, which happened perhaps only once in a blue moon. She understood what they were asking, that they wanted her to, for some unknown reason, go out, track down and bring back a pretender that went AWOL. But what she didn't get was how the hell she was supposed to be able to do so easily what (from what she'd surmised) nearly the entire Centre couldn't. Plus, what made them think that she would just go and perform this task like a good dog?
Well now that's a stupid thought. She chided herself. You know *exactly* what makes them think that and you know that they're right. She sighed as she listened to her voice of reason. Ah well. At least it was nice to imagine you had a say in this…
"Well Raines," Mr. Parker said at last, after having mulled over the prospects of his idea. "You said that she was a pretender right?"
"Yes."
"Then I suppose I can see how she might be able to accomplish it." he brightened noticeably. "Perhaps we can finally catch him. Wouldn't that be wonderful." He seemed to get lost in his own, twisted dream of having Jarod back at the Centre, his spirit broken and performing sims.
While Mr. Parker was fantasizing Raines took the opportunity to ask for approval from the rest of the board.
After a few hesitant seconds, they all agreed. Everyone but Sydney.
"Dr. Raines," Sydney said, saying 'Dr.' like it was something foul and filthy, "I don't believe that this girl will make any difference in my and my fellow colleagues search. If anything she would only hinder our progress--"
"Which is why Mr. Sydney, she would not be working with the pursuit team…She'd be going alone. That way she'd be able to use her abilities freely and without constriction from your, 'colleagues'." Raines shot back, feeling his hatred for Sydney rise up.
Sydney set his jaw and narrowed his eyes at Raines and for a while, the two were locked in a staring contest. Mr. Parker, finally coming back from his daydream, interrupted them.
"Now, now Sydney. Anything to bring Jarod back home right?"
"Of course Mr. parker, if the girl needs to find him on her own, let her go on her own." Sydney lied, trying to keep from sharing his opinion of Jarod's "home".
Mr. Parker laughed. "That's the attitude to have Sydney! Determination!"
Sydney rolled his eyes but was not noticed.
That's when Elf 17 spoke. "Um, excuse--"
Before she could finish speaking all twenty eyes in the room were focused on her.
She raised her eyebrows.
"Go ahead. What is it?" Raines growled at her.
"I was going to say, sir, that if it were all right with the board and yourself, I would like to have someone accompany me for the…hunt of this 'Jarod'."
Raines raised an eyebrow. "Why?" he rasped.
She thought up a quick lie. "I-I have no real experience out on my own sir. True I know what things are like from sims, but I would feel much more secure and be able to work better if I had someone with me who lived in the real world and knew what to expect." she mentally crossed her fingers.
Raines seemed to consider it. "Knowing you, you already have someone in mind…who is it?"
Elf 17 smiled. "With your permission sir, I would like to bring Mr. Broots."
In the back of the room, Broots nearly passed out from shock. His eyes dilated and he took on the look of a frightened rabbit.
The board was surprised but Sydney was merely curious. What was the girl up to?
Raines narrowed his eyes. "Why him?"
Elf 17 had already prepared an answer. "His computer skills are admirable sir, and they would be a great asset. Also, he lives away from the Centre and has what most would consider a more normal life than many of the other Centre employees."
Raines almost laughed out loud. "What makes you think that his computer skills are that good Elf 17?"
Elf 17 smiled took on a look of innocence. "They were formidable enough to discover information about me in Centre files."
Raines stood still for a moment and then his eyes seemed to catch fire. They were burning with hatred and he turned around slowly and looked back at the bench that Ms. Parker and Broots were sitting on. Ms. Parker glared back at him, while an extremely nervous Broots looked at his shoes and twiddled his thumbs.
"So may I have your permission sir?"
Raines turned back around, trying to smother his anger. He was about to tell her flat out no, when Mr. Parker answered her question.
"Come on Raines, we want to do what's best for the Centre. If your project feels that she might need Mr. Broots' help, then she should have it. Anything to bring in Jarod."
If possible, Raines looked even more furious. But he quickly gave Mr. Parker a false smile. "Of course Mr. Parker. Broots… will accompany Elf 17 on her search." And then he will burn in a hell that I will gladly prepare for him.
Broots' eyes widened. "B-but sir, my daughter! I can't leave her!"
Elf 17 caught on to where he was going with this and she realized her mistake. She desperately turned to Mr. Raines. "Mr. Raines, I didn't know he had a daughter. I can't make him leave her. I take it back, I'll be fine on my own I-"
Raines gave her a chilling look. "Nonsense Elf 17. your reasons were for bringing Mr. Broots were valid. He will come."
Elf 17 all but exploded on him. "Sir, he has a daughter! I don't need him--"
Her head turned violently as Raines backhanded her. She turned her head back around slowly, biting her tongue and drawing forth blood to keep from changing and attacking Raines flat out. While her cheek still stung from the force of his blow, she met his intense glare and then lowered her head in submission, realizing that the man wasn't about to change his mind.
Mr. Parker, Lyle, Bridgett and the Triumvirate member all watched in silent observation. It was easy to tell easily from their indifferent looks whose side they were taking. Sydney however, felt like jumping up and strangling Raines.
Broots felt nauseated, knowing that the girl had just been hit trying to help him. Beside him Ms. Parker put a hand over her mouth in shock at Raines' brutality, and how easily the other board members were able to turn a blind eye to it.
Raines looked at the board. "I believe all matters have been sorted out Mr. Parker?"
Mr. Parker nodded. "You may go Raines."
Raines turned and left, wheeling his oxygen tank rolling alongside him. He motioned at the sweepers when he reached the door, and they walked over to Elf 17 and grabbed her arms to "escort" her back to her room.
One by one the board members left, many looking much happier than when they'd first entered. Almost everyone cleared out but Ms. Parker, Sydney and Broots remained.
"Well that was a cheery meeting." Ms. Parker sneered, wishing she'd brought her cigarettes.
Sydney sighed. "Somehow I can't help but wonder how Raines and all the others go to bed at night with a clear conscience."
Ms. Parker snorted. "That's an easy one Syd. It's because they don't have one."
Broots swallowed. "I-I guess I'd better go home and pack. I need to find someone to watch Debbie."
Ms. Parker rolled her eyes upward and placed a hand on Broots' shoulder. "I'll watch Debbie."
"But I-I don't want you to go out of your way. I mean-"
"It's no trouble Broots. Besides it'll be…safer." She looked at him meaningfully.
Sydney raised an eyebrow and gave him a grin. "You know she's right Broots. The Centre wouldn't dare come near her if she's with Ms. Parker."
Broots nodded. "All Right." He smiled sheepishly at Ms. Parker. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it." She narrowed her eyes. "Ever."
Sydney laughed and they all left, trying fruitlessly to act as though the things they saw and heard in the T-board room, both from past and present, never happened.
11:01 AM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL 26, holding block 14
Elf 17 kicked the locked metal door in agitated frustration.
That psychotic, demented, scientist from Hell! He's lucky that I didn't transform and slash open that oxygen tube he sucks on. She paused in her raging. Or, seeing as I would have had sweepers on me in seconds, perhaps I'm the lucky one. She sighed and slumped to the floor. Ah well, what's done is done. Then she brightened. It all worked out for the best in the end though didn't it? After all, I get to see what the outside world's like now. And I'll have company! Her elfin-like ears drooped. Though I'm not really sure if that's a good thing or not. Poor Broots. I forgot about him having a daughter.
Her ears detected the sound of expensive and over-polished shoes coming squeakily down the hall. She sprung away from the door and after jumping on her bed, feigned drowsiness, resisting the urge to attack the man that was coming in the door.
"Get up Elf 17." Raines ordered. Two sweepers flanked him. One of them was Willie.
Elf 17 raised her eyes up at Raines slowly, and then seemed to grudgingly roll off the cot and land on her feet. She stood straight and tilted her head to one side. She did this, and nothing more.
Raines snapped his fingers and the first sweeper came forward and handed her a black case. Once Elf 17 held it in her hands, she knew what it was. She moved the case to her other hand to be sure she had identified all of the contents, and upon hearing the clink of metal, she added one more item to the list.
From what she could guess by its weight, and what she could smell inside of it, it was packed full of clothing, a First Aid Kit, hygienic supplies, cash, a cell phone, and, (probably for the pretender she was hunting), a pair of manacles.
She looked at Raines and blinked, awaiting the instructions she was sure she'd receive.
"You and Mr. Broots will be boarding the Centre jet in ten minutes…. Broots has gotten a lead on Jarod and you'll be flying to Utah to check out what is sure to be an empty lair… Based on what you find there, you will take over and begin the real search. The jet will leave right after you get off so you'll be using the money inside the briefcase for transportation expenses." He took in some ragged breaths. "You will find Jarod and you will bring him back, or you will suffer the reprimands…I trust I am making myself clear?"
Elf 17 gave him a smile that was as false as her reasons for bringing Broots. "Crystal sir. Crystal."
Raines nodded and then actually patted her head. Elf 17 suppressed the instinctual reaction to flinch under his touch, and stayed perfectly still. "Good." He said, and then just as unexpectedly as he'd come, he left, leaving Elf 17 to consider washing her hair fifty times.
11:12 AM
Blue Cove, Delaware
Indeterminable Location
Inside The Centre Jet
The take-off had been rather unexciting. There'd been no fanfare, no people to wave the two off, no kind parting words of any kind. Then again, this was the Centre. Elf 17 would have been worried if she saw any of that stuff. She was perfectly content with the few stony-faced sweepers who had led them to the jet, though she cold have sworn she saw Willie give a brief smile and a wink.
The jet was small, but not compact and claustrophobic in any way. It was comfortably and simply designed and was only made for four passengers. The seats were soft and a cream colored vinyl, and there was lots of legroom.
When the jet had taken off Elf 17 had been worried that Broots would still be angry with her for requesting that he be brought. Her logic had told her that he wouldn't, but people were so unpredictable that you could never really tell. Her logic had indeed been right in the end. Broots was unhappy at leaving Debbie behind, but he in no way blamed Elf 17. Much to her relief.
After about two hours in the air, Broots, getting rather bored, had tried to engage Elf 17 in conversation. Before he could get even two words out though, Elf 17 shook her head gently, and softly put a finger to her lips. Using a notepad and pen that had been in a storage box under her seat, she quickly wrote him a brief message:
I don't mean to be rude, but since we are traveling on a Centre plane that is most likely bugged, I really don't want to give the Centre any more information than absolutely necessary. Please don't be mad.
After reading it Broots quickly wrote back:
It's OK. I Understand.
Elf 17 had smiled at him with happiness and the two had been silent the rest of the trip.
12:15 PM (Time Change Will Now Apply)
Cedarville, Utah
Field by barn
No Specified Position
Elf 17 picked up the large briefcase she'd been given, her ears seemingly trying to fold in on themselves. She cringed at the loud, roaring, and almost deafening thunder from the jet as it took off once more.
Broots watched her pained expression in confusion as he slung his backpack over his back, holding his laptops' carrying case in his hand. What's wrong with her? So far she was a mystery to him. She had seemed to have almost no life in the T-board room, and had even seemed vicious. And, with the exception of her brief outburst, she hadn't really even seemed…human.
After her face muscles had relaxed and her ears had moved straightened, he cleared his throat.
"Hey, uh, um…"
"Elf 17."
He raised his eyebrows. "Elf 17? That's your name?"
She nodded.
He shook his head. "Weird. Anyways, I was just wondering if you were all right. You looked as though you were in pain."
"It's just that, with having heightened senses, I also have delicate hearing. What you heard when the jet took off, and what I heard when the jet took off, was like a mewing kitten compared to a roaring tiger."
"That bad huh?"
She laughed. "Worse actually. But I guess we better start checking out his last residence hmm?"
Broots gave a solemn nod. "Yeah I…I guess so."
The two figures walked steadily across the tall grass towards the clearly falling-apart barn. Once they'd entered they saw exactly what they'd expected to see; an empty room.
There was old and molded hay on the ground, except for in the loft where fresh hay was piled into what vaguely resemble a bed. There was a table in the center of the barn, with a TV on it that had somehow been rigged to run without being plugged in. Hooked up to the TV was a VCR, and inside it was a tape.
Broots pushed play on the video player, and then turned on the TV.
A handsome, dark-haired man came on the screen. Age-wise he looked about forty, but Elf 17 clearly saw a boy of six in his dark brown and sparkling eyes. He wore a smile, and a cowboy hat and flannel shirt.
"Howdy!" he said, waving enthusiastically. "Sorry that ya'll are too late to come and see me, but my work here was done and I thought it best to get a move on." He winked. "Though I am mighty sorry 'bout not being able to see you Ms. Parker, I hope you understand my reasons." He took on an exaggerated look of pity. "But, just to help ya'll out, I have three clues to give you about where I'll be next. One's in the box under the hay in the loft." He tipped his hat. "Now if ya'll excuse me, I need to go west and see the stars." He gave a boyish grin that made Elf 17 smile before his image blinked out.
Broots had left before the message had fully finished and was now climbing down from the loft with a tiny box in his hand.
Elf 17 joined him and they opened the box.
Inside, along with three paper cows that had Broots, Sydney, and Ms. Parkers' faces on them, and that were branded by a red C that apparently stood for the Centre, there was a tiny plastic Monopoly hotel.
Broots laughed as he saw how strange Ms. Parker's face looked on the body of a cow. "It's a good thing that Ms. Parker wasn't here to see this. Otherwise when Jarod was caught there wouldn't be enough left of him to bring in."
Though Elf 17 thought that the Pretender's portrayal of the Centre employees was creative, she was far more interested by the tiny plastic piece. "It looks vaguely like a hotel. Though how he made one so small without the right tools…"
Broots chuckled. "It's from a board game. He probably just took it from that."
"Oh."
Broots looked expectantly at her. "So where did he say the other clues were?"
Elf 17 looked at him in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"
"I mean where did he hide the other clues?"
"He didn't hide any other clues."
Broots was puzzled. "But he said he'd give us three clues."
"He did."
"Well where are they?!" Broots yelled in exasperation.
"They weren't hidden. Right before the tape ended he said he needed to 'go west and see the stars'. Those were the two clues."
"Oh."
Elf 17's analytical and pretender mind began warming into its element. "Well, go west is easily known but there are at least four other states in the western direction. There's Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, California…"
Broots abruptly started laughing. He laughed and laughed almost until tears came out of the corners of his eyes.
Elf 17 became scared. She wasn't sure how to react. Extreme anger, sorrow, and even psychotic behavior she had been taught to deal with. But extreme joy? That was a new one.
Broots calmed down and smiled. "I get the piece's clue now. 'Hotel California'." She gave him a blank look. "It's a song. One of my personal favorite songs actually."
"Oh, I see. He anticipated his last residence would be found and that the regular pursuit team would be coming to check it out so he gave a clue that only a certain member from that team could understand. Cute."
Broots was amazed at how she could take such a funny idea and compact it into psychiatric terms. I have a feeling Sydney would like her.
Elf 17 didn't take notice of his awed look and continued on thinking aloud. "So he's gone to California. But where in California I don't know. He said he was going to see the stars and an entire side of California is on the coastline so I can't imagine him meaning starfish…"
Broots snapped his fingers. "I know! Hollywood."
"What do burning balls of gas have to do with Hollywood?"
Broots sighed. He was going to need to work on her. "No. Hollywood is famous for their movies and actors. Actors and Actresses are commonly referred to as stars."
"Ah. Sorry I um, don't get out much." She said, a bit embarrassed.
"Nobody who has the misfortune of being in the Centre does." Broots grumbled in anger.
The two did a round up search for items that Jarod may have left behind, but, of course, the search was fruitless.
6:00 PM
Los Angelus, California
Hollywood
Abandoned Parking Garage Basement
Jarod smiled as he pulled the handmade blankets (he'd been given them on his last pretend by a woman and her husband he'd helped) over his tired and fatigued body.
The last pretend had taken awhile, but it had been because he'd loved the place so much. That quiet city in Utah had been the hardest place to leave. Everything about that area had been clean and…pure. Even the trouble he'd gone down to investigate had turned out to be a harmless mix-up. He'd enjoyed the wilderness, the grass the trees, the flowers, and he'd especially enjoyed the clean air that had been filled with the scent of life. The people had been so kind. They lived so close together in such a small area that they all knew each other and were all neighborly and friendly. If ever he got tired of playing games with the Centre and decided to settle down, he might just consider going to Utah.
As he drifted to sleep, his mind filled with memories from the place of beauty he'd just come back from, he had no idea that soon, very soon, the game he played, was about to turn on him. And in the worst possible way…
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Nice, ominous feel to the ending huh? What can I say I'm a sucker for that sort of stuff. But hey, why take my opinion? Tell me your own! (hint, hint, wink, wink) Pease! I need feedback! To coin a phrase that I've twisted a bit, "Help me Fan fiction readers, you're my only hope."
----ShadowElfBard