Disclaimer: I get nothing from these stories with the exception of feedback and temporary sanity.
PS: If you sue me, you'll receive a paperclip, 28 cents, and a piece of string. Sorry if you were expecting a rich fourteen-year-old.
Rating: PG, all around a warm fuzzy family story. At least, it would have been but for a secret covert evil organization that will remain nameless. (She coughs and it strangely sounds like the word "Centre" was spoken).
Summary: Either you've been reading this story, or you want to confuse yourself. In this chapter, Jarod and Elf 17 finally meet, and when Elf 17 makes her decision known, the winds of change begin to blow…
Authors Note!** * I've been kindly told about ten different times the same thing in my feedback and I've come to realize that you're all really frustrated at Elf 17's name. Someone even wrote telling me should have an elf name instead of just the word elf, and then finally I was hit on the head by the spirit of Obviousness, (is that even a word?) and discovered that nobody understands her name. So, though I was going to put off the reason for her name until the end of the story (there will be an end by the way) I have decided to include it early in this chapter. Hope you'll get it now! Thanks for the feedback! (P.S: Kudos to Molly Morrison for the Los Angeles spelling. I've lived in CA, but I never had to spell Los Angeles before. Thanks again!)
Authors other note!**** the story's ending soon in about two or three, (I'm not sure yet) chapters, but don't worry, there will be a Major climax. I just want to warn you guys though that because of all the stuff I'm going to have to write for the chapters, I might have to post later than expected. It will only be three or four days maybe five, but I just want to give you all a heads up!
Feedback: (ShadowElf has just escaped being yet another near-death experience and is trudging through the woods, fed up with her past audiences.) "Those ungrateful idiots! I hardly ever get past my basic intro. [Sits down on a log.] "It's always, 'I need feedback, I live for feedback,' and then somebody tries to kill or eat me. [Slouches] "Life as a bard sucks."
[A frog hops over next to her feet and the two stare at each other. ShadowElf raises and eyebrow.]
"If I told you a story you wouldn't try to kill me would you?"
"Ribbit."
[ShadowElf smiles] "That's what I thought."
----ShadowElfBard
Here The Story Comes To Save The Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6:49 PM
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood
Jarod's Lair (Abandoned Parking Garage Basement)
Jarod waited perhaps half a millisecond before turning around and rushing for the door.
Elf 17 had been preparing however, and sprung like panther off of the bed and wrapped her arms around his arms and her legs and around his waist.
He toppled to the ground.
He began struggling with every ounce of power in his body, and Elf 17 had to raise her eyebrows in appreciation of his muscular strength and determination. But still, when you're struggling against the every embodiment of Nature's wild children, your strength and skills are somewhat diminished.
Elf 17 rolled him over onto his back while moving herself so that she now sat positioned on his chest, pinning his arms to the floor and using her weight to keep him from getting up.
Jarod looked into her eyes, expecting to see triumph and victory from what he believed was a Centre operative, when instead he found pity and sympathy. It was a sight so rare and surreal that he stopped struggling and lay as docile as a lamb beneath her.
Elf 17 felt so sorry for this man, though he was truly just a boy, and his beautiful brown eyes shone with yearning for freedom and mercy. He suddenly went limp under her hold and she released his arms and took a deep breath, composing herself.
"I'm going to get off of you now Jarod, and I need you to promise me that you're not going to run away."
He nodded, if somewhat hesitantly, and she let him stand.
"I won't run." He told her. "Besides," he added ruefully, looking down at his leg, "I doubt I'd get very far."
Elf 17 looked down at the leg he was staring at and realized with a sudden horror that he was bleeding freely from a deep cut, and a large purplish bruise was beginning to form over it.
Her ears went back in shock and she looked into his eyes with misery and sorrow. "I- I did that? I had no idea…" she trailed off, at a loss for words.
Jarod was dumbfounded but didn't dare show it. Normal Centre agents wouldn't give a damn. Then again, he thought, looking at her pointed ears and slim but obviously powerful teenage body, perhaps this isn't a normal Centre agent.
Elf 17 refocused her eyes on his leg once more, to see just how bad the wound was. She noticed with half relief that though she'd caused the bruise, the cut that was bleeding hadn't been her doing. The impact of hitting the floor had just reopened old scar tissue.
"How did it happen?" she asked softly.
Jarod decided to test her, and see if she truly worked for the Centre. But first he had to do something about his leg. He slowly moved over to a bag beside his cot, careful not to lead her to believe he was trying to run again, and as he worked on his leg using supplies from a First-Aid kit, he told her. "Sweeper bullet. It was aimed poorly and grazed the side of my leg. I suspect that because of the bruise that's no doubt forming and its re-opening, I'll be limping for a while."
She cringed and apologized, both actions nearly causing Jarod to drop the iodine bottle he was holding. Elf 17 looked at the expression on his face and then nodded somewhat resignedly.
"Yes Jarod, I came from the Centre. I, I've been sent to bring you back."
Jarod had packed away the stuff he'd used to bandage his leg and was finishing rolling his pant leg back down when he heard her. His head shot up and he set his jaw. So, the niceties had all been acted. She was here to bring him back and she could probably care less about his wound. Anger flooded through him, driving out all other emotions as it swept through his system on the warpath.
"Well, then you know my opinions on the matter and that I would rather sever off my arm with a rusted steak knife than go back there."
She gave a slight smile at this. "Yes. And that's a pretty gruesome image by the way."
"It was meant to be."
Jarod faintly wondered why he wasn't in his usual "wise guy" routine and trying to get her furious. Perhaps it was how strange it was for the Centre to send someone so young, perhaps it was because, for some reason, he felt that she didn't deserve to be treated like that.
"Jarod?" she asked quietly, as if afraid that by saying the wrong thing he'd try to snap her neck. "I need to ask you something."
"Go ahead," he responded, mildly curious and planning possible escapes from this girl.
"I need you to do something for me."
Instantly his eyes were ablaze and though he didn't raised his voice, his words held obvious scorn that seemed to bite at Elf 17's fragile hearing.
"I don't know anything about you except that you work for the very bane of my pathetic life. Give me a plausible reason as to why I should even listen to what you have to say."
"Because though I've been ordered to, I'm not going to bring you back to the Centre."
"You're not going to bring me back?" Jarod asked with childlike innocence.
"No. I was thinking about letting you go since yesterday, but up until a few hours ago, I was going to bring you in."
Jarod laughed, and it was a laugh of surprise and joy. "Who are you?"
She grinned, "I'm a pretender."
He ceased laughing instantly. "You're joking."
"No. I'm a pretender. A feral pretender to be exact, but a pretender nonetheless."
"A feral pretender? Are you saying that you're able to pretend to be an animal?"
"Yes, and as you've probably noticed," she pointed to her ears, "it has side effects."
Jarod sat back down on his bed. "If you're a pretender, then why are you roaming free? The Centre is usually very strict on such matters."
"This is a test trial for me. I was a secret project of Raines, and bringing you in is supposed to prove my worth to the Centre and Triumvate."
Jarod ran a hand back through his hair. "To be raised by Raines…I'm surprised that you seem so sane."
She gave a short chuckle. "That's another story entirely."
Jarod was trying very carefully to steer away from two questions that were at the moment completely occupying his thoughts. Why was she even here and not hiding from the Centre with her newfound freedom, and, was she a better pretender than him? The second question was very important, because if she were, than the Centre would almost definitely give up the search for him and send out orders to have him shot on site. It was an extremely hard thing to take an unwilling person somewhere they don't want to go alive and well, it was a very easy task to kill them. Jarod would have to work much harder at staying away from the Centre if they changed the rules on him.
Elf 17 could tell that something was occupying Jarod's thoughts, and from her pretends, she had an idea as to what it would be. But for the question she had no real answer. She was pretty sure that if he was fearful that she was a better pretender than him, than he shouldn't worry about it, but still, she had no idea herself.
Jarod finally put away the questions he had and cleared his throat. "What was it you needed my help for?"
Elf 17 thought carefully. "I need you to help me find out the truth."
"I've been searching for that elusive item for the better part of three years. I don't know how great your chances would be."
She transformed for a brief moment and Jarod's eyes widened. "I will do whatever it takes. I have lived at the Centre ever since I can remember. I know I was picked up at an orphanage, but I need to know if something else was going on."
Jarod's heart almost stopped. "The orphanage here in Los Angeles?"
"Yes. I know that your pretend has something to do with it. I need to find out what you know. Would you be willing to come with me to a cabin I rented? Its secluded enough that you don't have to worry about anybody finding you, and I have…certain computer equipment that might prove useful."
Jarod thought it over. "Well, seeing as I have almost no info to give you and my searches haven't been working out, I guess trying to use your equipment wouldn't hurt any." He gave his famous grin and stuck out a hand.
Elf 17 grabbed it and the two shook on it, though Elf 17 had no idea what he was doing.
"By the way," Jarod said, releasing her, "you know my name, but I don't know yours."
Elf 17 backed her ears. "Believe me, you don't want to know."
Jarod noticed the flicker of pain in her eyes and left it at that. He collected what little possessions he had, grabbed his DSA case, and together they headed off to catch a bus out of Hollywood.
8:50 PM
Los Angeles, California
Mountain Ridge Area
Rented Cabin
Jarod and Elf 17 walked steadily and slowly through the forest, while the sky above rapidly darkened. They had gotten as close as they could on the bus, seated in a more secluded corner of the vehicle, and they had exchanged what little they knew of their own lives and pasts. Jarod had been absolutely shocked to learn about Willie's true nature, and was interested in Elf 17 abilities. Elf 17 felt that she would be having many nightmares from the things she'd heard about Jarod's life at the Centre, and it made her all the more pleased that she wasn't worth as much to them. A slightly selfish joy perhaps, but it was how she felt.
The two had headed into the woods about half an hour ago and Elf 17 had assured him from her position up front, that they were rapidly approaching. With everything going dark around them, Jarod had been thankful for Elf 17's nocturnal eyesight. Very thankful.
"This is it." Elf 17 announced, stopping and moving to the side so that Jarod could see.
He stepped beside her and looked over at the beautiful cabin. It was a dark reddish brown, medium in size, and from what he could see into the cabin from the lit up windows, nicely decorated. The cabins' grounds were only about two kilometers of dirt in either direction, so the cabin looked positively boxed in by the surrounding wilderness.
Jarod and Elf 17 made their way to the door and when they reached it, Elf 17 knocked loudly. Jarod glanced at her in surprise and she just winked at him.
They could hear someone scrambling inside, and soft cursing as the person tripped over something probably left in the hall. The door was thrown open and a disheveled Broots came out.
"Gosh you're late El-" his mouth went agape at the sight of Jarod.
Jarod, equally surprised, gave a trademark grin. "Hello again Broots."
"J-J-Jarod?" The computer technicians' eyes bugged out and he shot a questioning look at Elf 17.
Elf 17 turned to the pretender. "Jarod, I'd like you to meet my computer equipment."
"Broots? You're going to use him to find get into the orphanage's files?"
She gave a slight shrug. "He's more than qualified for it. And from what you've told me about your experiences so far with this place, their computer security was too tough for you to break into." She then folded her arms and gave him a playful scolding look. "Now are we going to freeze to death out here or what?"
Jarod gave an exasperated sigh and everyone walked into the cabin, Broots still staring in awe and complete and utter confusion.
After the door had been shut and Jarod went off to explore the cabin, Broots pulled Elf 17 over to the side. "Elf 17 what's he doing here?!" he hissed. "And walking around freely?!"
"First off Broots," and she gave a slight nod at the hand he was using to hold her wrist. He looked down at it, let go, and almost pissed himself.
"Sorry," he turned beet red.
"No harm done. Now Broots, I'm sure that you already know that I come form an orphanage here in Los Angeles." He nodded. "Well, Jarod came here fort he sole purpose of snooping it out. He has reason to believe that something is going on there, that it might be connected to the Centre in more ways than just an undercover agent." She looked pleadingly at him. "Broots, I need to know if I was truly just abandoned or if something else was going on. Besides, I can't take him back to the Centre. I won't."
To her surprise, Broots gave a large sigh of relief. "Oh thank God. I couldn't bring him back after what he's done for Debbie and me. This make thing so much better."
Elf 17 just smiled, thinking that perhaps, things were going to be easier than expected. She watched as Broots and Jarod talked together, Broots complimenting Jarod on all of the wacky things he always left behind for Ms. Parker and the rest of the pursuit team to find. Elf 17 held back tears. She was going to have to somehow hide Broots and Debbie after she let Jarod go, and she was slightly afraid of what would be waiting for her when she returned to the Centre without their pretender. She was going to take the blame of course, and maybe it would make the Centre ignore the fact that Broots was gone. All she knew was that even if it resulted in spending the rest of her life in the sublevels of the Centre, she would gladly help out the man who was one of her only friends, and who had given her a few brief days of freedom.
"Hey Jarod?" Broots asked, having just started the check over of the orphanage's rundown. Jarod and Elf 17 were both seated on a couch behind him, while a fire roared and gladly provided light and warmth in the cabin.
"Yes Broots?"
H turned his chair around and pointed at the screen. "Is this the security program you were having trouble gaining access to?"
He was pointing towards a file that apparently held records on all of the children dropped off at the orphanage, and that when clicked on turned the screen completely black and began running various numbers and letters down the screen at high speeds, in different colors and sometimes different language symbols.
Jarod came and looked over his shoulder, and then sighed. "Yep, that's the one."
Broots stared at him blankly for a moment and then a lit up look came over his features. "Oh. Wow. Well how about that…"
"What?" Elf 17 asked him, sitting up straighter.
"It's just that, well, I designed this security program."
"You what?!" They both shouted.
"Yeah." He said still stunned himself. "I made it for the Centre as a test to prove I was qualified when I applied for the job. I always wondered how well it worked, seeing as they took away all of the copies of it…" He smiled proudly. "Wow. The smartest man in the world couldn't break my security program." He gave an even wider grin. "Gosh, just wait until I tell Ms. Parker…"
Jarod started. "Whoa Broots! I'm impressed, but I don't know if you should tell Ms. Parker." The worry in his voice made Elf 17 laugh, seeing that the only thing that truly scared the pretender was not the Centre, but the woman in the Centre.
Elf 17 finally stopped laughing and Jarod looked a bit embarrassed.
Broots just shook his head and began clicking on various symbol and numbers and the concentration in his eyes was almost as intense as Elf 17's own glares when she was in her animal mode. Finally there came a "Beep, be, de, eep beep beep beep!" Broots sighed happily and slouched in the chair, the symbols and numbers faded and just when everyone thought that the files were going to open, a small white box popped up in the middle of the screen.
"Huh?" asked Broots. He read it and then winced. "Oh shoot."
"What?" Asked Elf 17. She got up from the couch and came over as Broots spoke.
"They sure set this system up good. You can't just go to a menu of the various children's files, you have to type in one individual file to access any of from the main file. But it's not typing in just a child's name or such, you have to type in a number sequence, most likely the child's birthday. And the only record of the children's birthday's-"
"Are in the file we're trying to get into," finished Jarod sourly.
"Basically."
Elf 17 swallowed roughly, and fought against the emotions now nearly capsizing her judgment. She closed her eyes and steadied herself.
"Broots, type in 5/12/6 " she said softly.
"But what's tha-"
"Please Broots!" She held back tears. "Just…please."
"Okay Elf 17." He said a bit warily and typed it in.
Jarod swiftly turned around. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Your name is Elf 17?" At seeing her nod, his mind began racing. "Elf…E is the fifth letter of the alphabet, L is the twelfth, and F is the sixth." His eyes widened. "Elf stands for your birthday doesn't it?"
She gave an almost angry smile. "Yes. May 12, 1986."
Jarod suddenly looked sick. "Wait the 17 doesn't stand for…"
"Afraid so. There were eighteen pretender hopefuls that were brought in for Raines' testing procedure." She turned her head to the side and her face shook with fury. "Out of the eighteen I was the only successful subject. The others either died, went insane, or just didn't meet his standards and were sent off to be used in other Centre projects."
Jarod heaved a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry."
"You couldn't have known. Besides, you were still in the Centre at the time, sucking down the lies that they fed you. "
"I've got it!" Broots shouted to them.
They both came over. They'd reached a main record page. Broots clicked a few times, typed in some words for the program's search engine, and then the very information that Jarod had come to find was revealed, and Elf 17's questions were answered. And when she'd finished reading, when the truth that she'd been so determined to find was flung out naked and exposed for what it truly was, Elf 17 let out a howl of blind rage and fury that rivaled with that of the wolves…
11:21PM (Eastern Time)
Blue Cove, Delaware
You Guessed It, The Centre
Raines Private Office
Raines had gotten off of the phone nearly two hours ago, giving the sweepers and their leader a new location to head to. From the signal Raines had received it seemed that Elf 17 and the damnable technician had finally settled somewhere, which had led Raines to believe that his project had caught the pretender she'd been sent to track down, and he'd been happily awaiting the call that this was so. Within the past hour though, Raines had realized that something was wrong, and that perhaps she was having second thoughts. He'd quickly decided that it might be best to send the retrieval team his projects current location, and to possibly, help her with her decision.
Suddenly he was called on his private intercom.
"What?" he rasped.
"S-s-sir?" came the nervous secretaries reply. "You have a call from a Mr. L-"
"Put him on."
"Yes sir."
He picked up his phone and he heard chuckles from the other side.
"Quite a mousy secretary you have there Raines."
"What is this about?"
"Just wanted to tell you we've arrived at the location you gave us, and after a rather quick talk with a bus driver who stopped near here, the helpful gentlemen told us that he saw your project and Jarod together." Raines could practically envision the smirk on the other man's face as he said, "and Jarod wasn't in cuffs."
Raines gripped the phone angrily. "They are now at the cabin?"
"Presumably."
"You are to make use of the twenty sweepers I sent you. Surround the cabin and all it's possible escape routes. Jarod will be easy enough to get if you catch him as he comes out, but Elf 17 is trained to work in woodland areas, and with her animal instincts guiding her." He paused. "You remember the two tools I gave you?"
A chuckle from the other side. "How could I forget?"
"Set the trap for her and use the gun and all should work well, as long as she is herded in the right direction." He thought for a moment. "Do it tonight. Elf 17 will be the only one who can see in that light, Jarod will be easier to catch. Your men are all fitted with night goggles and flashlights?"
"Yes."
"Good. The jet will be there for the cargo and your men in four or five hours. There's a field east of the woods you're going to where it can land."
"All right then. Until later Raines." He hung up.
Raines put down the phone and then got up to head down to the sweepers in the sublevels. It was time that someone got Jarod's new room prepared.
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Gotcha! I love cliffhangers. You didn't actually think that I'd let you guys get off that easy did you? Nope, you have to keep the audience crawling back for more, that's what I always say!
(Angry fans brandish weapons and glare at ShadowElfBard with looks that would frighten Satan himself.)
Eeep!