The Ambush

To show her point to her astonished husband, Virginia began to chant a spell. Suddenly, a white-hot light began to show between her outstretched palms. Soon, these lights began to form into a shape that looked exactly like the staff they had found when they'd defeated the Emperor of Marduke and freed Duke Pergrucci. The staff then gained a physical form, and the young woman griped it in her hand.

"This weapon helps us to concentrate on our magic much better," stated Virginia, "It is also useful when striking an enemy with it. If I was to run out of Bullet Clips for my ARMS, I will be able to protect myself and anyone else if it comes down to that. Most Shamans carry around a staff in addition to the ARMS they might purchase in case they have to fight but not reveal themselves. But only the members of the Royal Family can use the Dist Dims, since it's bestowed on the wielder by a ceremony."

Virginia chanted another spell, and the staff turned back into light. It then began to dispel, and re-entered her body. She seemed a little tired from the effort, and lay down on the couch, with her head on Jet's lap. He took her in his arms, and held her closely in order to make her feel better.


"Don't worry, I'll take care of you Ginny. Victoria, where is the bedroom? I think it'll be a good idea if she takes a nap, and regains her strength. I can't stand to see Virginia in pain," he said.

Victoria told him, "Just go up the stairs, and enter the first room on your right. That's my room, you can stay there. I don't mind sleeping on the couch tonight. Maybe we should put the children to bed too, it is getting kind of late for them. Last thing we need is irritable children in the morning."


So Jet carried Virginia up to the bedroom, and tucked her in the bed. He gave his wife a kiss, and then went to search out the twins and Cecille. The young man found them playing in Cecille's room, goofing around with basic healing and protection magics. Virginia hadn't gotten around to teach the two six-year-olds any offensive magic too, and he guessed that Emily hadn't done it either.

He looked at the three kids. "It's time for bed you three. Ashley, Lilka, get your nightclothes on. Cecille, your mother is looking for you. It's getting late, and you all need your rest."

Jet was surprised at how fast his children responded. Usually they gave him and Virginia plenty of trouble around bedtime. He figured that they were only being cooperative because of the crisis that the family was facing, and that they'd be back to their wild selves once the problems had passed.

* * *

"Hey, Ashley, Cecille," Lilka whispered the next morning, "Look outside. Something seems to be up. I wanna go check it out, let's all go together. It might have something to do with Mommy's problem."

So the three children began to get dressed. Cecille put on her blue Shamanistic Robes, while the twins put on their red ones. Then, Cecille grabbed a small staff of her mother's from the weapons drawer, as well as a pair of ones for the twins. The three Shamans went outside, and looked around.

Vincent was there, waiting for Virginia to come outside for one reason or another. He was quite shocked when he saw three children in robes instead. But he was also a little curious about it.

"Excuse me, children. Who are you? Are any of you the children of a woman named Virginia Enduro? Can you ask your mommy and daddy to come on outside?" he asked them.

They ignored him for some time, causing Vincent to get quite impatient. After all, he'd been polite, he hadn't insulted the three kids at all. And he asked for Virginia and Jet really nicely. So he inquired of the trio, "Didn't you hear me? I would like to see Virginia and Jet Enduro. I've got good reason to believe that they are here. Can you three get them to come outside?"


Lilka, being the oldest, hid her brother and friend behind her. She turned to face her estranged uncle, with determination in her eyes. "My mommy told me never to talk to strangers. So I can't talk to you either Mister. If you want to talk to mommy, wait until she wakes up." They turned to leave.

"I'm not a stranger," Vincent told her, "I'm your Uncle Vincent. I haven't seen my dear sister in so long, not since she took to the Wastelands as a Drifter. I came here to surprise her with my visit."


"Uncle Vinny, Mommy told us that you're trying to hurt her, cuz you were separated from your mommy when you were very little, and you think it's her fault. So we aren't gonna talk to you any more, we're going to go back inside and warn Mommy that danger is here," stated Ashley.

Vincent replied, "That's too bad. I guess I'll have to take matters into my own hands. You little brats are going to be the bait I need to get my revenge. I wonder how she'll react when her three kids are no longer nearby. Will she care about you more than her mother cared about me?"


Cecille backed off from the scene, apparently scared of the madman. "Excuse me, Mister. I'm not their sister, just a friend. My grandma and their grandma were best friends, grandma even helped Aunt Virginia when she was being born, and after her mommy died."

But Vincent didn't buy her story. He switched the bullets in his ARM to Paralysis Shells, and shot each of the three kids in their arms. Then, he took the trio with him, and left to head towards his hideout. But before he headed out, he nailed a note on the door for Virginia and Jet to find to tell them what was going on, and where they were to go in order to find their children.

* * *

"Oh Guardians!" exclaimed Virginia in a really frantic voice that was on the verge of tears, "Jet! Come here! Ashley, Lilka, and Cecille have been kidnapped by Vincent!"

Jet ran up to her, followed by Emily, Victoria, and Emily's husband Leonard. Virginia handed the note to her husband, who read it out loud. The words sent a shock of fear in his heart.

"I've taken your three little brats, my dear sister, and I use the word 'dear' loosely. If you would like to see them again, come to my hideout in the Zenom Mountains near Baskar. But you must come quickly, unless you want my patience to wear thin, and I'll shoot them. Hope you care about them more than mother cared about me. See you very soon, Vincent."

"Oh, Jet, we must go instantly. I'd hate to see something happen to them," Virginia said.

So they all set out. Emily and Leonard wanted to save their daughter, and Victoria was the one who knew the most about Vincent. Using the Teleport Orb, they warped to Baskar. From there, they began their track to the Zenom Mountains, and the final showdown.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

I know there are similarities and differences from Irv, Alley, and Annie from my WA2 stories. Ashley and Lilka aren't pranksters like Irv and Alley were. And this time it isn't their fault for making their parents search for them, they're getting kidnapped, not rewiring their father's Hovercraft. But the format, pair of twins of opposite gender along with a girl a year younger than them, is the same. I didn't notice until I started to write.