Ouroboros Part 3: Vindication
By JayVitolo
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Pretender. I'm just offering
closure.
The black Lincoln pulls into a tiny motel in a small part of New York. Jarod steps out of the driver's side as Miss Parker adjusts her seat. She looks out the window and lets out a sigh of frustration.
"Five years ago I dedicated my life to tracking Jarod down. Now I'm on the run from the only place I've known as home. What the hell have I gotten myself into?" Miss Parker looks at her reflection in the window as Jarod comes back out.
"Room 23," says Jarod as he starts the car back up. Miss Parker looks back at him with a grin on her face.
"What name this time?"
Jarod looks at her as the pull into a spot in front of their room. "Dr. Jarod Livingston."
Parker lets out a chuckle. "Dr. Livingston I presume?"
They finish getting the room situated as Miss Parker's cell phone rings. She looks at the phone sitting on the dresser with an inquisitive look on her face. She pops it open and notices the caller ID says Sydney.
"What?" Miss Parker spits into the phone as Jarod looks on.
"Parker? I have some really bad news." The older man sits into his chair looking around his office before continuing. "Lyle has ordered you to be shot on sight."
Parker's eyes grow wide as she looks at Jarod. "And our Boy Wonder?"
Sydney clears his throat. "Renewal Wing."
Parker smiles into the phone as Jarod looks nervous. "That isn't fair. I get the easy way out and Jarod turns into a couch potato. I think I'm a bit more important than he is."
Jarod hears this and runs his hand through his hair. He sits down on the bed as Parker looks at her reflection in the mirror. She sees Jarod through the mirror and can't help but chuckle inside.
"Be careful Parker. I don't know when I can speak with you again. We're being watched by Lyle." Sydney looks down at his desk before looking at a red light in a corner. He shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
"Thank you Syd. We'll see you soon." Parker closes her phone and looks at Jarod. "We're wanted dead or alive."
Jarod's eyes dart around the motel room with a puzzled look on his face. "That isn't good. How're we going to finish what we started?"
Jarod looks up as Miss Parker walks into the bathroom. He walks over to the TV and switches it on before walking back to one of the beds and starts to flip through the channels. A weather update comes on for the small town as Miss Parker can be heard running some water.
Miss Parker sticks her head out of the bathroom and looks at Jarod. "We need to pick up a few things. Namely food."
Jarod grabs his coat as he heads out. Parker walks back out of the small bathroom and lies on the bed as she looks at her phone again. She picks it up and contemplates dialing a number, she finally decides to and waits for the response.
"B-Broots here." The technician sheepishly answers.
"Broots? I need you to look something up for me." She smiles anticipating his response. Surprisingly, it isn't what she expected.
"What do you want from Lyle now?"
"Going a spine there, Brootsy? I need you to find out what he is doing and why he wants Jarod back so bad."
On the other end, Broots shakes his head already realizing this isn't good. He hangs up the phone without responding to Miss Parker ad leaves his desk, realizing now is the chance since Lyle isn't there.
A few minutes after she hags up the phone, Jarod walks back in and drops a bag full of stuff on the chair by the door. Parker looks up at him before getting off the bed and walking over to see what he bought.
She can't help but crack a smile as she empties the bag. "Twinkies, Oreos, Pez, and what's this? Bubble gum? Why is this not surprising?"
Jarod looks back at her before breaking open the box of Twinkies. "Just shut up and eat something. We need to be up and out early, I saw a sweeper walking down the street after I left the store."
After a bit of planning about when they will leave, the two decide to take turns watching for sweepers or any other sign of the Centre. Jarod is the first to sleep as Parker watches the outside from a chair next to the window.
Later that morning, she awakes to see Jarod pacing back and forth in front of the window. She rolls over and notices that the clock doesn't even read five o'clock. She sits up and brushes he hair out of her face as she watches Jarod. He sees her face but then turns back to pacing in the small room.
"What happened?" Jarod looks back at her.
"Sydney called me. Lyle has organized a search party after he heard a conversation involving Broots. Evidently they know where we are and are on their way. We have to leave now."
Parker gets out of the bed and hurries to the bathroom. Water is running and then shuts off as Jarod can hear tapping of a toothbrush. She walks back out and throws her suit coat on before the two leave the room.
Back at the Centre, Lyle watches as Sydney is talking with Broots. He walks out of the shadows and watches the looks on the two men's faces turn sour. He smiles at this and puts his arms on their shoulders, making sure Broots see his thumb less left hand. Broots' face turns to a look of fear and disgust as Lyle clears his throat.
"Gentlemen, I need Angelo for a few minutes. Jarod left a few scrapings on the wall down in SL-6. I figured that maybe he can tell us where they were going, what they were thinking, and how in the hell Jarod is always a step ahead of us."
Broots can't stop looking at Lyle's hand as he tries to answer. "Y-Yes Mr., Mr."
Sydney ends Broots' sentence, "We'll get him down there as soon as possible."
Lyle smiles as he walks in front of the two others. He turns around and faces the two as an elevator door opens behind him.
"That's good. Especially if 'as soon as possible' happens to be now. I'll see you two down there," he looks at his watch and then back at Broots and Sydney, "in five minutes. Bring Angelo."
Lyle turns on his heels and enters the elevator. He adjusts his tie as the doors close separating him from Sydney and Broots.
Broots looks at Sydney. "What are we going to do?"
Sydney's eyes don't leave the elevator doors. "What Lyle told us to. Let's get Angelo."
Jarod is outside the car pumping gas as Parker is inside the building trying to get directions. Jarod finishes and places the pump back before placing the cap back onto the car. He walks in just as Parker finishes finding out where to go.
She looks over her shoulder as Jarod places the money on the counter for the gas. "Let's go. Time to clean the Centre."
The two get back in the car as Jarod starts the drive towards Blue Cove. Parker turns the radio on as they pick up "Highway to hell" about halfway through. The two passengers look at each other and can't stop laughing.
"Why is that so ironic?" Jarod barely chokes out through the laughs.
Back at the Centre, Angelo is freaking out at the marks on the wall. "Jarod scared! Miss Parker nervous!" He runs over to the door and slides down it. He looks up to Lyle with a sad face. "Raines dead."
Lyle walks over to Angelo and grabs him by the shirt, pulling him to his feet. "That's good Angelo. But where are Jarod and Miss Parker now?"
Angelo looks Lyle in the eyes and back at the floor. "Here."
Lyle looks back up and smiles. He walks over to Willie and tells him to keep an eye out for Jarod and Parker before he leaves the room. Sydney walks over to Angelo and helps him up.
"Thank you Angelo. Jarod and Miss Parker would appreciate you lying for them."
Angelo looks up to Sydney. "No lie. Jarod and Miss Parker here."
Sydney quickly rushes out of the room and is closely followed by Broots. Angelo sits in the corner that Jarod was in 48 hours before. He leans against into the corner of the wall before rocking back and forth. He smiles at the thoughts going through his head.
"Jarod has plan for Centre. Miss Parker helps."
Angelo picks up the stone Jarod was using and starts to write on the wall behind him, picking up where Jarod left off. When he is done, there is a picture of a tombstone with "Miss Parker" written on it.
"Death." Angelo sits in front of the picture and rocks himself to sleep.
"Arube? I have some good news for you and the Triumvirate." Lyle spins his chair around to look out his window as he twirls the chord in his fingers. "We have the scrolls and Jarod is coming back to us."
Arube snorts, "I was not informed that he got away again."
Lyle clears his throat, remembering he never reported the escape from the airplane. "Yeah, he um, kidnapped Parker and is holding her for ransom. For a strange reason he agreed to meet me back here for an exchange." Lyle holds his breath hoping the lie works.
"See to it he does not escape again. Bring him to us." Arube shoots back.
Lyle holds the phone away from his ear as the sound of a slamming phone fills his ear. "Arrogant Zulu. You'll get Jarod. But only if I get what I want."
Lyle gets out of his chair after he knocks his phone off his desk. Willie walks into his office preventing Lyle from leaving.
"Sir, we have Jarod and Parker."
Lyle smiles as they both leave his office.
TBC. Tell me what you think.
The black Lincoln pulls into a tiny motel in a small part of New York. Jarod steps out of the driver's side as Miss Parker adjusts her seat. She looks out the window and lets out a sigh of frustration.
"Five years ago I dedicated my life to tracking Jarod down. Now I'm on the run from the only place I've known as home. What the hell have I gotten myself into?" Miss Parker looks at her reflection in the window as Jarod comes back out.
"Room 23," says Jarod as he starts the car back up. Miss Parker looks back at him with a grin on her face.
"What name this time?"
Jarod looks at her as the pull into a spot in front of their room. "Dr. Jarod Livingston."
Parker lets out a chuckle. "Dr. Livingston I presume?"
They finish getting the room situated as Miss Parker's cell phone rings. She looks at the phone sitting on the dresser with an inquisitive look on her face. She pops it open and notices the caller ID says Sydney.
"What?" Miss Parker spits into the phone as Jarod looks on.
"Parker? I have some really bad news." The older man sits into his chair looking around his office before continuing. "Lyle has ordered you to be shot on sight."
Parker's eyes grow wide as she looks at Jarod. "And our Boy Wonder?"
Sydney clears his throat. "Renewal Wing."
Parker smiles into the phone as Jarod looks nervous. "That isn't fair. I get the easy way out and Jarod turns into a couch potato. I think I'm a bit more important than he is."
Jarod hears this and runs his hand through his hair. He sits down on the bed as Parker looks at her reflection in the mirror. She sees Jarod through the mirror and can't help but chuckle inside.
"Be careful Parker. I don't know when I can speak with you again. We're being watched by Lyle." Sydney looks down at his desk before looking at a red light in a corner. He shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
"Thank you Syd. We'll see you soon." Parker closes her phone and looks at Jarod. "We're wanted dead or alive."
Jarod's eyes dart around the motel room with a puzzled look on his face. "That isn't good. How're we going to finish what we started?"
Jarod looks up as Miss Parker walks into the bathroom. He walks over to the TV and switches it on before walking back to one of the beds and starts to flip through the channels. A weather update comes on for the small town as Miss Parker can be heard running some water.
Miss Parker sticks her head out of the bathroom and looks at Jarod. "We need to pick up a few things. Namely food."
Jarod grabs his coat as he heads out. Parker walks back out of the small bathroom and lies on the bed as she looks at her phone again. She picks it up and contemplates dialing a number, she finally decides to and waits for the response.
"B-Broots here." The technician sheepishly answers.
"Broots? I need you to look something up for me." She smiles anticipating his response. Surprisingly, it isn't what she expected.
"What do you want from Lyle now?"
"Going a spine there, Brootsy? I need you to find out what he is doing and why he wants Jarod back so bad."
On the other end, Broots shakes his head already realizing this isn't good. He hangs up the phone without responding to Miss Parker ad leaves his desk, realizing now is the chance since Lyle isn't there.
A few minutes after she hags up the phone, Jarod walks back in and drops a bag full of stuff on the chair by the door. Parker looks up at him before getting off the bed and walking over to see what he bought.
She can't help but crack a smile as she empties the bag. "Twinkies, Oreos, Pez, and what's this? Bubble gum? Why is this not surprising?"
Jarod looks back at her before breaking open the box of Twinkies. "Just shut up and eat something. We need to be up and out early, I saw a sweeper walking down the street after I left the store."
After a bit of planning about when they will leave, the two decide to take turns watching for sweepers or any other sign of the Centre. Jarod is the first to sleep as Parker watches the outside from a chair next to the window.
Later that morning, she awakes to see Jarod pacing back and forth in front of the window. She rolls over and notices that the clock doesn't even read five o'clock. She sits up and brushes he hair out of her face as she watches Jarod. He sees her face but then turns back to pacing in the small room.
"What happened?" Jarod looks back at her.
"Sydney called me. Lyle has organized a search party after he heard a conversation involving Broots. Evidently they know where we are and are on their way. We have to leave now."
Parker gets out of the bed and hurries to the bathroom. Water is running and then shuts off as Jarod can hear tapping of a toothbrush. She walks back out and throws her suit coat on before the two leave the room.
Back at the Centre, Lyle watches as Sydney is talking with Broots. He walks out of the shadows and watches the looks on the two men's faces turn sour. He smiles at this and puts his arms on their shoulders, making sure Broots see his thumb less left hand. Broots' face turns to a look of fear and disgust as Lyle clears his throat.
"Gentlemen, I need Angelo for a few minutes. Jarod left a few scrapings on the wall down in SL-6. I figured that maybe he can tell us where they were going, what they were thinking, and how in the hell Jarod is always a step ahead of us."
Broots can't stop looking at Lyle's hand as he tries to answer. "Y-Yes Mr., Mr."
Sydney ends Broots' sentence, "We'll get him down there as soon as possible."
Lyle smiles as he walks in front of the two others. He turns around and faces the two as an elevator door opens behind him.
"That's good. Especially if 'as soon as possible' happens to be now. I'll see you two down there," he looks at his watch and then back at Broots and Sydney, "in five minutes. Bring Angelo."
Lyle turns on his heels and enters the elevator. He adjusts his tie as the doors close separating him from Sydney and Broots.
Broots looks at Sydney. "What are we going to do?"
Sydney's eyes don't leave the elevator doors. "What Lyle told us to. Let's get Angelo."
Jarod is outside the car pumping gas as Parker is inside the building trying to get directions. Jarod finishes and places the pump back before placing the cap back onto the car. He walks in just as Parker finishes finding out where to go.
She looks over her shoulder as Jarod places the money on the counter for the gas. "Let's go. Time to clean the Centre."
The two get back in the car as Jarod starts the drive towards Blue Cove. Parker turns the radio on as they pick up "Highway to hell" about halfway through. The two passengers look at each other and can't stop laughing.
"Why is that so ironic?" Jarod barely chokes out through the laughs.
Back at the Centre, Angelo is freaking out at the marks on the wall. "Jarod scared! Miss Parker nervous!" He runs over to the door and slides down it. He looks up to Lyle with a sad face. "Raines dead."
Lyle walks over to Angelo and grabs him by the shirt, pulling him to his feet. "That's good Angelo. But where are Jarod and Miss Parker now?"
Angelo looks Lyle in the eyes and back at the floor. "Here."
Lyle looks back up and smiles. He walks over to Willie and tells him to keep an eye out for Jarod and Parker before he leaves the room. Sydney walks over to Angelo and helps him up.
"Thank you Angelo. Jarod and Miss Parker would appreciate you lying for them."
Angelo looks up to Sydney. "No lie. Jarod and Miss Parker here."
Sydney quickly rushes out of the room and is closely followed by Broots. Angelo sits in the corner that Jarod was in 48 hours before. He leans against into the corner of the wall before rocking back and forth. He smiles at the thoughts going through his head.
"Jarod has plan for Centre. Miss Parker helps."
Angelo picks up the stone Jarod was using and starts to write on the wall behind him, picking up where Jarod left off. When he is done, there is a picture of a tombstone with "Miss Parker" written on it.
"Death." Angelo sits in front of the picture and rocks himself to sleep.
"Arube? I have some good news for you and the Triumvirate." Lyle spins his chair around to look out his window as he twirls the chord in his fingers. "We have the scrolls and Jarod is coming back to us."
Arube snorts, "I was not informed that he got away again."
Lyle clears his throat, remembering he never reported the escape from the airplane. "Yeah, he um, kidnapped Parker and is holding her for ransom. For a strange reason he agreed to meet me back here for an exchange." Lyle holds his breath hoping the lie works.
"See to it he does not escape again. Bring him to us." Arube shoots back.
Lyle holds the phone away from his ear as the sound of a slamming phone fills his ear. "Arrogant Zulu. You'll get Jarod. But only if I get what I want."
Lyle gets out of his chair after he knocks his phone off his desk. Willie walks into his office preventing Lyle from leaving.
"Sir, we have Jarod and Parker."
Lyle smiles as they both leave his office.
TBC. Tell me what you think.