FUTURE IMPERFECT

By

Passionate-Muse

Copyright 2003

 All rights Reserved

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from both The Lord of the Rings novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Or the Lord of the Rings films, by Peter Jackson. I make no profit from this story and use it only for entertainment purposes only.

The characters of Scion/Bethany, Tanith, Memnon and Elf and the corporation AlexTech are created by my own warped imagination.

Interesting fact: The Furies are actually taken from Roman Mythology. They punished people for crimes they had committed.

Author's note: I'm sorry this is such a short chapter. It will get better, and hopefully I will be able to post more frequently soon. Fingers crossed.

Also in response to a query about the film Reign of Fire. No I haven't seen it. Though I'm dying to, but don't want to ruin this story by watching it. Does that make sense. Anyway, please keep those helpful reviews coming.

Another author's note: The first part of this story was supposed to be included on the first chapter. Yet for some reason it didn't get there. Sorry if it seems out of place.


Chapter Two

Dawning

The shallow water shimmered over the smooth pebbles and stones. Its flow watched closely by a tall lithe form sitting motionless on the lush grass of the stream's bank.

His hand dipped in to the cool water scooping up a handful then trickling it slowly in to his mouth. It dripped over his lips and down to his chin, the coolness refreshing his warm skin.

He gazed around at the expanse area, blue eyes taking in every fine detail. He truly loved this tranquil place where he often came to reflect on his thoughts and memories.

A small languid sigh escaped his parted lips as his thoughts turned to the astounding rumours that had been spreading faster than any wildfire.

Could it be true?  He yanked at a blade of grass breaking it low on its stem; he trailed it along his chin. Caught up in his moment of reflection. He placed the blade between his lips tasting the dampness that was still on his chin, his keen ears picked up the light footfalls of someone approaching.

Barely turning his head he caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye of someone dressed in a long royal blue cloak. He pulled the grass from his clenched lips throwing it in to the stream, watching as it was carried away.

He glided to his feet never turning to face his friend, instead allowing the elder to stand beside him. Both watching the sparkling water that seemed to exude life in to the land and themselves.

His eyes rose up to the clear azure sky, not really wanting to know the answer to the question he knew he had to ask. "Is it true?" He turned his head to meet the intense eyes of the elder, trying to discern any information from his blank expression.

"Yes, it is true."

He sighed again, this time more forcefully. He had hoped that there would be more than just that simple sentence. "Is she sure?" He closed his eyes slowly, pursing his lips together in anger at his foolish question.

"From your own reaction I do not think I need to justify that question with an answer."

He nodded casually turning himself fully to behold the elder. "I believe I have known. I believe that perhaps I have always known that this day would come. I do not know yet though whether my heart shall sing about it, or if it will mourn the beautiful place."

"We have always known, truly, in our hearts. If we have learnt anything from our lifetimes it is this--nothing lasts for eternity."

They both smiled at the ironic humour of the words. He turned his head away from the elder, "I know I shall miss this place but I look forward to this new grand adventure."

A hand was placed on his shoulder, gripping tightly. "Legolas, I am now quite sure you have spent too much time with those of the Arda. For only they would welcome a moment like this."

Legolas turned to his friend, "perhaps my lord Elrond. Yet I cannot help but wonder what will be left for us to fight for."

"Our homes, our people. The time is upon us. The Fifth age is dawning, once more my friend it is the time of the Elves."


Beth pulled the dark grey blanket up, tucking it under Tan's chin. She lightly brushed the blond bangs from her forehead feeling the sweat that rested there. Hang on in there baby.

They had managed to remove the arrow but had nothing to dull the pain that racked the small teen's body. Beth glanced over at the doctor watching as she darted around each of the many patients.

Supplies were running out. Even the simple antibiotics were as rare as grass now. Nothing was getting in or out of the Badlands, the stranglehold AlexTech had on the decimated area was finally taking its toll. Not just on the sick either. Her hopes and dreams lay in her small sister, her promise of one day leaving the Badlands and going on a trek to find trees. The promise was all that kept her going.

She knew without doubt that it would never happen, but it instilled hope into Tanith and as long as Tanith kept giving her one of the dazzling smiles she loved then she would persevere despite the stacked odds.

A hand rested on her arm. She looked up at the doctor, her long brilliant blond hair falling over one shoulder as she leaned in to check Tan's pulse. "You should be resting Scion."

"Yeah right Elf!" Beth turned away from her, ignoring the penetrating glare from her steel blue eyes. Elf -the name Memnon had given to the doctor – just slowly walked away.

Beth saw her return with another blanket, gazing at her careful movements. Elf wrapped the blanket around Beth's shoulders, giving her a warm smile that did not betray what was truly happening to her.

"Does it still hurt?" Beth asked. Not truly sure why, or even if she cared to know. Though something inside her seemed to want to know.

"Now and again, I have gotten used to it, the pains now as familiar to me as my Stethoscope." To emphasise, she picked up the disc end waggling it at Beth, before walking away towards her small office that used to be some form of ticket booth.

Damn AlexTech and all their damn experiments! Beth had seen all too well what AlexTech could produce. The searchers were well feared, and for good reason to, they were heavily armed but lacked quick movement.

Their shining achievement was the Walkers. They were to be feared. Beth decided that she would rather fight a thousand Howlers than ever have to take on another Walker ever again.

Glancing over her shoulder at Elf, she could see the woman was writing notes in files. Elf had been lucky; it was only her eyes that had been replaced by AlexTech. Though they found it highly amusing when they discovered they no longer needed an X-Ray machine thanks to the new-fangled bio-mech eyes.

Six hours, they had Elf in their keeping for only Six hours and they managed to do that. She turned her attention back to her sister watching as the young girl moaned painfully in her sleep. Her breathing was heavy and made her nostrils flare.

Beth knew it was a nightmare that was all her little sister suffered from these black days. Losing Martin had been hard on Beth, yet Tanith had seemed remarkably strong through it all. Though Beth knew otherwise, Tan would always go on in blissful ignorance when something tragic happened. Almost as though she thought if it didn't exist in her mind, then it never truly happened.

Though the day that acceptance had dawned on her was more painful than the day Martin died. Beth could still see her huddled in the tiny cubicle of their last refuge. A similar box to the Doctor's office, except it had only one window to see out of.

The howling sobs that echoed off the wooden walls sounded more like a howler caught in a trap. And for a while Beth had been convinced that was what it was. When she'd peeked shyly through the window her weapon ready, her heart had constricted so much she felt actual physical pain.

The tiny mass dressed in oversized brown clothes huddled in to one tiny-cobwebbed corner. Slowly rocking herself to and fro sobbing so hard her whole body quaked.

Beth had instantly placed the gun done and circled the box looking for the door. It was on the far side of the cubicle and when Beth had reached out to push it open a pale hand had stopped her. "Let her cry, Scion. She needs to heal in her own way."

It was the first time she'd ever raised her hand against another Fury. Beth closed her eyes still seeing herself snatching her hand back, balling it in to a fist. "You're not her mother, you cannot be there all the time. One day, you may not be there at all."

Beth had lashed out at his quiet, calm words. Though he had proven to fast for her. His hand closed around her fist, his iron grip clenching hard enough just to caution her of his strength. "Never raise your hand to me again, Scion. I do not say my words to be cruel, I say what we both know is the truth."

Beth opened her eyes as the blanket that laid over Tan started to lash about. She was again caught in the throes of her nightmare. Beth watched her, her lips upturned slightly in a stale smirk. Memnon was right, Tan had to come through this dark patch herself. For she suspected that he was also right about her not always being there for her sister.