(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 50
THE SLAYERS
Rezo and Luna had left early Wednesday morning to go home. They would return before lunch for 'the gathering' as it was affectionately becoming called—the re-telling of the story to the police, CIA, FBI, and each other. The kids were to eat, shower, change clothes, and rest beforehand.
Zel and Xelloss were awaiting their nurse help.
"I wanted to die, you know," Xelloss said quietly.
"No. You didn't." Zel said curtly.
"Yes. Craven me. I didn't want to face having to deal with a real future. Plans. Goals. Reality."
"Well, now you do," Zel sighed. "You're not alone."
"Aren't I? I have no mother or father…"
"Damnit! You have ME! Rezo! We're family…currently brother and father and permanently…you know those other things. You have Lina, Val… the rest of our friends to lean on, too. We have the band to rebuild, recordings, school to finish, SUMMER… blessed summer vacation! That means beach trips, a visit out to Nahga's dude ranch bad-girl school…"
Xelloss raised a dubious eyebrow and added gloomily, "Endless doctor's appointments, lawyers, court appearances…"
"Finances and living arrangements to work out… yeah, lots of gritty stuff BUT we do it together, one day at a time with help from others. It's not all on our shoulders, Xelloss. No secrets, no hidden agendas… let's share this load, all right?" Zelgadiss reasoned.
"Oh…"
"If Rezo leaves, he'll need help. I can't leave him alone…" Zel began.
"No. I suppose not."
"I won't leave you alone either," Zel assured his friend.
"Really?"
"God, Xelloss, are you suddenly dense or something? As soon as we get the a-okay, we go home, buy food, go to school, and move on ahead with our lives. Together."
"I guess so. Where do we live?"
"I'm not sure, but your place, that is my…our house…to start anyway. Val's living there too," Zel started to lose tract of his point.
"He's got his own place to go back to, if he wants…so do you. Rezo never sold his place, " Xelloss reminded his friend.
"So he gets a maid and moves out and our house becomes an all-teen-male hangout while Val's place gets fixed up. We'd be the envy of the high school-- you know that? No A-dult SU-per-VI-sion… as Val would say," Zel smiled.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Xelloss half-smiled in return. "We could stay up as late as we wanted…"
"Playing video games all night…"
"Eat when and where and what we wanted to and…have girls over anytime…" Xelloss was getting into it now.
"Ah…maybe…that really depends on…who…" Zel blushed.
"I meant our friends…the band. Zelgadiss, what were you thinking?" Xelloss' visible eye twinkled.
This was about the time the nurse rolled in. This was the pretty, young nurse who'd been stuck with them since the beginning. "Time to get cleaned up, boys!"
Zelgadiss grabbed his sack of clothes and sped to the bathroom, "I'll take care of myself!"
Xelloss opened his one visible eye and looked at the young nurse, "Oh, I remember you. Sorry I never called, but I'm a novice with the Big Seyruun shrine and can't date."
"That's okay. You can call me later. Right now, its bath time…"
Val was wearing Gourry's clothes. Rezo was a good man, but it never occurred to him to bring clothes for Val, too, and obviously nothing of Zel's would fit the tall kid. Since Gourry was injured and could only wear button-down shirts, it was even one of Gourry's little-worn dress shirts. The pants Val could stand—they were just khakis—but he was having difficulties with the stiff orange shirt.
"Man, I'm gonna lose my touch! I miss my black! If I don't wear anything with studs, I'm gonna turn into ZEL!" Val cried.
"Oh, so I'm the antithesis of cool now? What about my stud bracelet? My multiple piercings? My leather jacket?"
"Yeah, but you only wear that stuff when you're playn' rock star with the band." Val cracked a grin. "That would make you a POSER!"
"Am not! I'm actually a guitar player, unlike all your punk-rocker friends who couldn't find 'C' if their lives depended on it!"
"Relax, relax! I'm just givin' you a hard time. You're the coolest nerd in the school, 'kay? Man, and my hair!" he moved on capriciously. "I don't have no gel, so its all so limp and—"
"—natural? Acting like HAIR, instead of some sort of molded plastic form?"
"Oh, like yours? Wait, that IS natural, I fergot! Dude, I wish my hair was all wiry like that! I'd save millions on gel!"
"I never thought of it that way…" Zel sighed. Fashion was so beyond him. He had his own vague limits and goals, but they were few and simple: drab was good, loose was good, black was good, all-encompassing was a must, a leather jacket was the crowning achievement.
"Don't even talk about hair!" Xelloss moaned, thinking about the unclean, unbrushed mess under his bandages—if it was even there. They couldn't have cut it all off, could they? No, they wouldn't—would they? "Or clothes. Why don't I get any clothes?"
"No one wants to bother to dress ya," Val joked.
"Actually, it is too much trouble to put you into clothes. You're too bandaged up yet. You and Lina can just stay in wheel chairs and compare blanket wraps," Zel smirked.
Val was looking Xelloss over carefully. "You feel okay? You look kinda glazed."
Zel folded his arms and said, "You would, too, if you'd been on a Morphine diet all night."
Xelloss shook his head, "Not anymore. I told the nurse I wanted to he clear headed for this meeting. My head hurts, that's all. That and everything else. Course I just had a bath at the hands of a lovely young lady, so life has its pluses as well. She's not bothered by my scars either. She's seen worse, she says…probably thinking of Zelgadiss," he smirked.
"Why is it YOU break the law and then get the drugs AND the girl, while I get jailed!" Val laughed. "Well things are gonna get different fast. I'm gonna…"
Milgasia and Filia walked into the large hospital conference room, followed by Amelia and Sylphiel with their fathers. Rezo and officer McGywn were chatting off at the side, and then stopped to wave Milgasia over. Doctor Adams entered with Luna pushing Lina in a wheel chair. He hadn't wanted Xelloss or Lina to attend, but acquiesced after they had insisted they'd find a way around him anyway.
"Before we get any farther, I'd just like to let you kids know how proud I am of you," the Mayor said.
"It was a foolhardy, dangerous, adolescent thing you kids all did—and I'm proud of you, too," McGywn added.
"Pride…I have no words to describe it…relief that you are able to all be together again, and sorrow for all your suffering," added Nels Lahda.
"I've begun a new life at nearly the cost of my two boys and I am ashamed at my lack of courage…until almost too late," Rezo said softly.
"I am humbled in the presence of such overwhelming bravery and by the blackness, at times, of my own conduct," Milgasia said shaking his head.
"Damned straight, all of ya!" shouted Luna. "These kids are the best of Seyruun. I say let's treat them to a pizza party right here, right now…while we talk, of course!"
No one argued as, on cue, pizzas, rootbeer, plates, and napkins rolled in on carts for everyone. It had been pre-planned, but nice just the same. The entire meeting was being recorded. Each person had a microphone; even Xelloss and Lina had one attached to their wheelchairs.
Xelloss and McGywn whispered back and forth, then the officer announced, "To begin these proceedings, Xelloss would like to start. Go ahead when you are ready…"
Xelloss took a shuddering deep breath, and began, "I want to absolve my friends of any crimes related to this incident. I have been the only one cognizant of the game being played out and the only one who should be held responsible for their actions…"
Lina, Val and Zel interrupted him with declarations to the negative. McGywn called them to silence.
After a moment Xelloss continued, "It all started in September with my first assignment. My entire life up until that point was a nightmare preparing me, creating a monster under Her control. I was to meet Lina. Make friends. I was incapable the year before, but I watched you. I knew who you were…Lina, Val-entine, and Zelgadiss. Lina was the key. I served my Master/Mistress well. She had me under her control."
He was again interrupted by his friends. Zelgadiss was about to start yelling, but since the object of his anger was sitting beside him, he growled, "Xelloss, you bastard! No wonder you wanted to die rather than admit to Lina, Val, and me that we were part of your assignment from the start. Part of your machinations for … how long? As long as I've known you?"
Xelloss shifted uncomfortably, "I didn't really have a choice then…I changed, Zelgadiss. You know my friendship is real, don't you?"
Before Zel could snarl some insulting reply he'd regret later, Mayor Phil interrupted, "Now, boys…in a way, Zelas didn't do anything differently than any other concerned parent would do. Listen to what I say, I do have a different point of view here. I've often had to direct my daughters' activities, against her desires at times, and encouraging Xelloss to make new friends with kids SHE knew something about is not bad parenting. Just about everything ELSE I've heard her do to you was though…but in this case, Zelgadiss, I think your friend was being directed as any parent might. She knew Lina, unfortunately from many office visits the year before because she was sigh getting into trouble with my dear, troubled daughter Nahga. I'm sure she knew Lina was a good open-minded girl who could use some new friends herself. Am I right? Lina's a great kid, cream off the top! That brought you, Zelgadiss, into contact with Gourry, Val, and Xelloss, who now number among your best male friends, correct? That's right. Not to mention that Xelloss would benefit from Lina's female contacts as well. Good, smart, moral girls from excellent stock!"
Amelia, Sylphiel, and Filia all blushed at that reference.
"Daddy! That's no way to talk about us, like we're…" Amelia began.
"Breeding material? Stock…moooo" Xelloss grinned, or tried to with that part of his mouth that was visible.
"XELLOSS!" Lina screamed with most of her strength dissipating instantly after the outburst.
Phil glared at Xelloss, but taking pity on the helpless kid, he simply cleared his throat and continued on, "So…Zelgadiss? You understand my point?"
Zel was trying hard to suppress a grin himself. "Ah, yes sir. I shouldn't blame Xelloss for being such an annoying bastard because his mother made him do it…Ah…I'm just kidding, sir. I get that maybe encouraging him to make friends was a good idea, I just don't buy the 'good parenting' part of the motivating force. Some of the terrible things I've heard her say to him…she was trying to desensitize him into an automaton."
"Thanks, Zelgadiss. Make me feel good," Xelloss muttered.
"Well, she didn't succeed, right? She even lost control over other parts of your life…like winning the Dubois/tape battle, becoming a priest, turning against the syndicate, and surviving it all. Feel better? You're no automaton," Zel smirked.
"And?" Xelloss prodded.
"He's not interested in turning any of us into syndicate fodder either. He's made that pretty obvious," answered Filia loudly into her microphone.
"Thank you, Filly-dear," Xelloss sighed. "I have more to say, before I … have to go back to my drug drip." He winced and then continued.
"Any way, my hatred for my 'mother' disabled me from making friends with girls in particular for the longest time. Sorry, Filia, but your blonde hair set off all kinds of negative feedback from the moment that we met. Zelas was certain I would follow her orders. You see, she had made sure that I was incapable of normal emotional responses. My…treatment at the hands of …Dubois was to prevent close personal ties to be made with Zelgadiss and Val as well.
"She was wrong though. I fell in love. With life. I'm sorry that I used Kiki and Martina some to distract attention off the rest of you…but you can see what happened to Kiki? At least she never got hurt! And Martina? No, I didn't 'transfer' her-- as much I would have liked to—that was done from the principal's office. It was nice…being liked for once… However, my close personal, but emotionless, contacts were to be with Lina, Zelgadiss and Val.
"I became a novice for mental healing and an excuse to avoid contact and learn to deal with my overwhelming feelings for you all. And it helped, and still does. I didn't know what her plans were. Just 'make friends'. The plans were slowly revealed, but mostly uncovered by Zelgadiss and myself—like our pasts and Lina's father—and later Val's connection became clearer. I was a tool to be used to gain control over enormous amounts of money and territory and power. All of which would be mine someday, if I survived.
"But…I fell in love and that was stronger than anything else. I began a plan to save my friends from certain evil; one I couldn't avoid myself. I did take one precaution -- sorry Zelgadiss…I didn't mean it to hurt you too -- and that was to get the Dubois tape.
McGywn help up a video tape saying, "A copy. The original is safe. The DA agreed that the evidence was incriminating enough for us to hold her on child abuse charges until the other evidence was in. Go on…"
"The rest of the plan came together as we learned more from Rezo, about the Red Priest and Sairaag, then I deciphered my father's journal. Once I understood the real cause of his death…Her behavior…and the intertwining of Milgasia, Wolf Pack Island, and… Gaav. I didn't know him as Gaav. My first stepfather was a big, loutish Scandinavian, Uugard Nomed. For those unversed in syndicate lore, that backwards is Draguu Demon. Gaav's title. Dragon Demon Gaav."
"Well, Milgasia's name led me to hospital records and Dr. Adams, Sr. … and to his role in the syndicate laundering drugs and money through the mental institute. Sorry, Dr. Adams, but if you want to protect him, I can tell you where the disc of info is to destroy all the evidence. No? Good… I just owe you so much, that's all…
"So… I wanted to get Gaav first. To stop him from hurting Val anymore, you know? I tried to formally join the syndicate under…Zelas and be assigned to turn in Gaav. Her opinion of my abilities left me no choice but to try an alternative direction. Looking back, she probably had quite a few laughs at my expense. For those that missed the highlights of my life program, she felt I should offer myself to draw him out. As repulsive an act as that was then, I had no idea who he was…Instead, she transferred me to another syndicate leader, at least her equal."
"That insane Phibrizzo kid?" asked McGywn.
"H.M. Phibrizzo. Hell Master Phibrizzo. Nice names, these syndicate people have, eh? He's a kid younger than Amelia. He runs the Middle East Oil holdings for the syndicate, indirectly of course. His old man makes the decisions, I believe, but he was not the inheritor. Like Zelgadiss who inherited the Red Priest's portions rather than his father here? I think he was another unfortunate kid, could have been me, without my friends. A puppet controlled by some father far away…living with another hell-for-a-guardian 'grandfather', who happens to be Saygram's father living at the…in town. He wanted a friend and thought he'd found one in me…I'm glad I wasn't there to betray him in person…" his voice faded away as he winced in pain.
"I think it's time for a break," said Dr. Adams. "Nurse, take Lina back to her room and I'll get Xelloss back to his. One hour."
Many hours passed, more statements were made, and more breaks later…
Val had taped up a sign on the door so everyone could see it on entering. It read: HOSTAGE SITUATION -- hour 5.
As everyone took their seats or were rolled in, Val stood and waited for their attention. "We, ah, have a little skit for ya, so…"
Zelgadiss began, "So, how does it feel to be a hero, Xelloss?"
"Wonderful… bring on the morphine-drip! How about you, Val?"
Val pointed back at the sign on the closed door, "Like jail. I share a room, got no freedom, wear bad clothes, and eat crappy food. Zel?"
Zelgadiss gave him a smirk then answered, "Like home. My home away from home, only with room service and … those other things. I've spent so much time in hospitals, I kind of like them. What do YOU think, Xelloss?"
"Gotta love 'em, little brother. Since I became a teenager, I've spent more time in hospitals than school. Yes, hero's welcome for us all. NO? So I guess we're not heroes after all…Then what are we?"
"Well," Zel began ticking off on his fingers. "We did leave a couple shrines in ruins, after breaking into them and attempting to steal protected computer files. I remember blackmail, breaking into DMV records, and tampering with hospital records and sealed court documents…"
Xelloss added, "Don't forget carrying unconcealed weapons! Val-ly… didn't you break the law?"
Val shook his head, "Nah, I'm clean. No drugs…no way I broke any laws. 'Course I got the Metallium/Graywords curse…ya know the one that goes… 'I wonder who I'm related to today?' Cool, huh?"
"Then…we're not heroes… we're criminals… at least we're all treated that way," Zel sighed. He turned to McGywn and said, "So why don't you just arrest us? Why don't we have a lawyer present? What are our rights? We just want to go home! Home, wherever that is…What's going on here?"
Val nodded, "The End."
Rezo was smiling. He'd come to recognize, and sometimes appreciate, his son's sarcastic – if not arch – sense of humor.
"There are no lawyers because…there are no charges. In fact, none of the events you've described will ever be known. The clan will not know, the shrine, the media, and especially the syndicate," answered officer McGywn.
Xelloss chuckled, "Zelas is ALIVE! She knows! Don't you think the syndicate will be sending a fleet of lawyers to gain her release? Then…"
"That's not a'happening. She has signed a paper, resigning her syndicate position, releasing yer from all syndicate obligations…" McGywn tried to explain.
"Can I see it? The paper…" Xelloss asked.
The officer opened the file of loose papers and sorted through the stack. "Here is a copy," he said, passing the crisp copy to Xelloss.
Xelloss looked it over, and then shook his head, "Syndicate won't buy it. It hasn't her stamp."
McGywn raised an eyebrow. This kid knew something very important. They'd had trouble proving syndicate operations involvement in the past, because of some 'signature' difficulty.
Xelloss looked around and caught Filia's eye. "May I see your pendant, Filia? Zel, could you go to our room and get mine out of the top drawer?"
"Ah, sure. I don't always wear it…here," she said, getting up, walking over and dropping the chain into his hand-- as Zel left the room. Filia asked, "So, show me what's so important."
Xelloss held it up for all to see, "These inscriptions show the Cephied-Shabrinigdo connections on this side. On the other…Cephied family hierarchy, which I'm sure Milgasia knows more about than anyone else present."
While Milgasia took a turn at explaining what he would, Zelgadiss returned with Xelloss' stamp. When Milgasia was finished, he sat down.
"This," Xelloss began waving his pendant like Filia's, "is similar to hers on the one side, but on the reverse—there are the syndicate brethren in symbol-form." He proceeded to explain in detail the symbols and then, "The only way a document is made official, is by the application of this stamp. See? If I tape over these parts and press this on an ink pad, only the seal showing…Zelas, in this case, will print. That is her signature."
So simple. The CIA agent whipped out his cellphone and walked outside. He'd seen many papers with various odd, unidentifiable stamps on them. Now he hoped many crimes could be linked back to the syndicate member responsible.
"I sold my soul to Hell Master that way," he said closing his eye and sitting back, tired and in pain again. "Lucky for me…he's dead. Contract's over."
McGywn was out the door as well.
"Looks like a few more loose ends…" Amelia sighed.
"Loose? His whole backup plan's unraveling, if you ask me. Which no one has…" muttered Zelgadiss.
Dr. Adams demanded another break and bed rest for Xelloss and Lina. He looked over Gourry, Zel, Amelia, and Sylphiel and declared them fit for bed rest too. The meeting broke up to be resumed in three hours.
~*~
Val hunted out Filia, who was looking dazed and lost. "Yo."
"Oh, Val. Hi."
"Wanna take a walk?"
"Will they let us?"
He grinned, "I found a way out. Come with me." He led her to Gourry's room, where he signaled 'Don't tell' to his friend, who nodded ' course not'. Val opened the window and stepped out onto the ledge. He turned to Filia and offered her a hand, beckoning her to join him, "Just a little climb to the fire escape, and we are free!"
Filia smiled and grabbed onto his wrist, "Better not let me fall!"
"Not a chance," he whispered into her ear.
From the fire escape, it wasn't far to the alley. He leaped the final few feet then helped Filia to the ground.
"Fun, huh?" he grinned.
She blushed, "Well, it shouldn't be…"
Together they left the alley and made for the downtown. "Wow, it seems like I've been gone a year!" he exclaimed. Then, remembering how he looked, he froze.
"Val? What's wrong? Are we caught?" Filia asked in excitement.
"Uh, nah…it just, well I look like a…"
"Like an ordinary guy. That's okay, I know some places we can go where I KNOW you won't run into anyone you know. And if you're good, I'll buy you a new shirt, okay?"
He nodded. She was nice. In addition, true to her word, he never saw a familiar person his age. He did have to visit a ceramics shop, where he learned more about vases than he had ever cared to know. And a boutique, where he found a NEW black shirt they both liked. And a bath shop, where Filia bought each of her hospital-bound friends a small bottle of scented shampoo.
"Sylphiel will appreciate it, she was complainin' the other night 'bout the kind her father brought her. Xelloss too, when he gets that bandage off. Uh, and thanks fer the shirt. I'll pay ya back when I get some money. I'd get ya somethun ta eat, but…"
"Val. It's okay. I brought money. You didn't. Don't get all bent out of shape, okay? Now, I'm taking YOU to a tea house. It is tea time!" she smiled.
"Tea House?" he tried to say, but it came out, "Erk?"
The waiter placed them by the back window at a table covered with white linen and a vase of pink carnations. Val felt uncomfortable, but he could tell Filia was relaxed and happy, so he looked out the window and said, "I'll have whatever you're having."
Filia smiled, "Of course."
The requisite pot of tea and two delicate porcelain teacups and saucers were placed in the table's center. Filia poured and offered him milk and sugar. He declined both.
Before the food arrived, an elderly woman and her younger associate greeted Filia, "My daughter and I were just about to go back to the settlement, when I said, 'Now Sarah, isn't that the Ul Copt girl with her beau, the one who spoke so nicely to us at the door when her mother had just had that baby!' And, low and behold… it is you, isn't it?"
"Yes, Mrs. Saunders. I'm Filia, and this is Val. We're in town with Milgasia today."
"Oh, well. I won't keep you then, enjoy your tea." The woman gave Val a good look, and smiled, "Such a handsome young man too. You must be from the Ancient clan. That's where all the good-looking, green-haired men come from. Too bad we lost so many…"
Val jumped out of his seat, "Excuse me…Mrs. Saunders? But…Could you stay and talk some more?" He pulled out a couple chairs for the two ladies. He explained what he knew of his past; the airplane crash and eventual loss of contact with the clan. "So if ya know anyone who mighta known my folks or had any pictures, would ya let Filia know? She'll know how ta reach me."
The women nodded and promised to gather SOMETHING for him. When the kid's food arrived, the women waved and left.
"These sandwiches are kinda small, but they taste good, don't they?" he asked casually.
"Um, yes," Filia smiled.
"Uh, what's the matter? You're all quiet and all."
"You. Out of your element, you are so different. Nice different."
"Oh," he looked down at his plate.
"I like your hair that way. I never noticed how long it was. You wore it tied back at the settlement. I could trim the split ends, if you want…sometime," she noticed that he was a little embarrassed, and so, checked her watch and said, "I guess we'd better get back before someone notices we're AWOL."
"Sure," he said quietly and watched her pay the cashier and leave a tip.
On the way out, Val held open the door for Filia. He smiled and shook his head at that. She noticed, but pretended not to. Instead, she reached out for his hand, and together they walked slowly back to the hospital.
He stopped her before entering the sterile environment. "Filia? Thanks fer the tea and shirt and comin' with me. I like bein' with ya."
She smiled back, "Really? I wasn't so sure. You were awfully quiet, for you!"
Val placed his hand on her shoulder so he could look at her face, "I was thinkin'… Would ya like ta do somethun like that with me again? Just me an' you, I mean."
"You are asking me out on a date, right?" she asked him.
"That's right, a date. Don't tease me, Filia. Just say no, if ya don't wanna," he said guardedly.
"I'm not trying to bug you, so don't get all defensive. I just wanted to hear you say it that way. Sure, I'd like to do something, sometime with just you," she agreed finally.
"Doesn't gotta be tea, does it?"
"No. What did you have in mind? Or do I want to go there?" she grinned.
He returned her smile. He knew she was kidding him now. "I was thinkin' 'bout pickin' up a book at the bookstore and maybe goin' to the art museum. Ya seem ta like pottery and I noticed the signs ad-ver-tiz-n a new show 'bout that stuff."
"That sounds like two dates. I only agreed to one," she watched his smile waver a bit then said, "But two's okay."
He nodded, "That's it? I don't gotta ask yer father's permission or nothin'?"
"God, Val," she sighed. "It's not like we're getting married! I'm not THAT sheltered. They've met you. They like you...enough. Of course, they like Xelloss too, so who knows about their taste, huh?" she laughed.
So on that discordant note, they entered the hospital, understanding that their friendship had changed in an afternoon.
~*~
Gourry had slept like a log. He hadn't noticed that Val had returned to drop off his borrowed shirt. His cracked and bruised body was healing well. He turned over and sighed.
~*~
"Hi, Lina."
"Hi, Zel. And I thought you'd lost visitation rights," she joked weakly.
"I'm not supposed to be in here, but I just wanted to talk. If it's too strenuous for you—"
"Zel, when has it ever been too 'strenuous' for me to talk?"
"Heh. But you've never been…shot before, so maybe you should take it easy."
"I don't ever intend to get shot again, I can tell you that. I really never thought it'd happen even once."
"None of us did. Oh, Lina, we just rushed into this whole thing without thinking."
"I know."
"I mean, we thought we were invincible. Xelloss talked about dying, but we all were sure that he wouldn't. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to have him in a coma, much less gone forever."
"I know."
"Just, thinking back…did you have any concept of what we were getting into? You realize how…how really big this was now, don't you?"
"Of course. The others…Sylphiel and Amelia, Gourry, even Val and Filia, they still don't really understand. You and me, Zel. Xelloss, too, but right now, its just you and me. That what you want to talk about, the gravity of the shit we just went through?"
"Um…yeah. Is that okay?"
Lina was silent for a moment. There was a layer of glaze on her eyes for a moment, a barrier between them. Then it was gone. "We just started to take down the 'syndicate.' The 'syndicate' is basically a web of organized crime that stretches all the way around the world, they act like a secret society or a cult, a dark version of the Cephied Believers. Phibrizzo is gone, Gaav is gone, and Zelas is out of the picture. That's three out of five, right?"
"Right. And if you've been watching the news, the destruction of Gaav and Phibrizzo coincides with new crises in the Middle East and South America—oil and drugs," Zel pointed out.
"That's what I thought…'unrelated news' my ass. Just scares the shit out of you to think about how connected all that 'unrelated news' really may be, eh?"
"Indeed. So, how did we do it? That's what I don't understand. How did a bunch of High Schoolers take down the syndicate? At the time, it just seemed totally natural. 'Gee, I feel moody today. Guess I'll go blow up some shrines and kill a few crime bosses while I'm at it!'" Zel snickered.
"Heh, heh, heh. That's how I feel for a week out of every month, but you're a guy, so it doesn't mean anything to you. Jeez, sorry for bringing it up! They're just the facts of life, don't be so sensitive! At least you don't have to go through it! I deserve to get to talk about gross stuff, if I have to go through it!"
"Fine, fine, fine! I'll just cringe while you're not looking. Can we get serious now?"
"I was serious! But, really, Zel, you need to lighten up. If you don't, you'll go mad. You can't be intense all the time."
"Watch me. Every time I try to be funny, I end up getting you all mad at me…"
"Oh, boo-hoo. You can't 'try' to be funny and light, you just have to 'be.' Anyway, back to the grave situation. How did a bunch of half-cocked, ill-prepared teens take 'em down, you asked?"
"Yeah."
"It's because we were a bunch of dumb kids that it worked. Think about it. They underestimated us. Yeah, they were interested in getting a hold of us for various reasons, and we were viewed as a minor obstacle, but not a threat. They didn't expect us to actually act. I don't think they expected us to follow Xelloss. Also, they didn't anticipate our connections. They didn't know that Rezo—your dad—wasn't on their side, they didn't think we'd be able to get Milgasia and the clan backing, and they didn't think we'd have the mayor and his resources on our side."
"Yeah, that helicopter sure came in handy."
"So did Milgasia. I guess they expected us to be so freaked out by what was happening that we wouldn't dare tell anyone. They didn't know how good you, Xelloss, and I were at talking to adults!"
"And they used to worry about us in second grade when we stayed in at recess to discuss Lord of the Rings with our teachers!" Zel chuckled.
"Fools. Fools, all, to doubt us. We were destined for greatness from the beginning, Zel! You and I, we're the geniuses. Xelloss is damn smart, but he has zero life skills and common sense. You and me, we're gonna--"
"Have the nurses in here if we don't keep our voices down!" Zel shushed her. She must have been tired, since she was starting to rave. He sighed and shifted in his chair. "So, how are you feeling, Lina?"
"That's supposed to be the first thing you say to me! Insensitive twerp." She winked. "I feel like crap, but less bad crap than before. You?"
"The same, more or less. Having you and Xelloss back…takes a weight off my mind."
"I'm so glad I can lighten your load. But its good to know you can hear again. I was scared we were gonna have to break up the band—we could never find another guitar player like you."
"Lina…that was very touching."
"Wasn't it though? Drummers are a dime-a-dozen, but guitar players—especially ones who can sing sappy songs that make middle school girls swoon…"
Zel laughed. "By the way, I'm writing this one piece…"
The nurse swept into the room, followed by Luna.
"Zelgadiss! You are both supposed to be resting before the next session. You are such a bad influence on Lina! Do I have to have you BANNED from this room?" Luna yelled to his retreating form.
"Ah, sis, we were just talking," Lina drawled, closing her eyes and dropping off.
"I know. That's what you always said back home too," Luna sighed and turned off the lights. "At least the dumb blond has better manners than disturb you and that other nuisance can't move on his own. Who'da guessed my little tom-boy sister would be such a man-magnet?"
Before Lina could respond to that allegation, there was a slight tap at the door.
"What's that?" Lina turned to the door, which was creaking open a crack.
"Lina?" Gourry's soft voice called out.
Luna marched to the door. "Ya got five minutes then OUT! Understand?"
"Uh, yes, ma'am," he nodded and smiled over her head at Lina. Luna shook her head and left Lina and Gourry alone.
"Hi."
"Hi, Gourry. How're ya feelin'?"
"Okay. I fell asleep and, ah, feel better now. All that talkin' is tirin' huh?"
"Yeah. I just wanna get better and go home and, I MUST be nuts to say this, but…I even miss school!" Lina chuckled.
"Well, lunch, mebbe," he smiled. "I, ah, like your hair up like that. It makes ya look taller, too."
"It does? Well, I'll have to wear it up more, then. It's cooler for summer, anyway…" she closed her eyes. Fatigue was settling in again.
Gourry fidgeted with the blanket covering her, "Um, about the other day…"
Lina opened an eye, "Gourry, I'm sorry I slapped ya so hard. Just my natural reactions…"
Gourry placed a finger to her lips, "S'okay. Didn't hurt, you were pretty weak…didn't even make a mark." He leaned in closer so she could see. "Ya probably weren't much awake either."
I am now! What are you up to? Lina thought, opening both eyes to watch his face.
"Better go, now…" he smiled and hesitated a second, then kissed her forehead and stood up. "See ya later, Lina."
"Uh, sure, later…" Lina said watching the tall kid close the door behind him. "When I'm a LOT stronger…"
~*~
Zelgadiss found that his room was a bit crowded for his tastes. Luna and Rezo were chatting in one corner, while Dr. Adams was hovering over an, apparently, sleeping Xelloss.
"Ah, Zelgadiss, good I wanted to run a new hearing test and check you over. Take off your shirt, please and have a seat on your bed."
Zel looked over at the 'company'. He'd come to decide privacy was a 'many splendored thing'. Hospitals, and doctors in particular, gave you little of it. Now he was to disrobe at the drop of a hat, with non-family members present! Oh, joy…
"How's he doing?" he asked while unbuttoning his shirt.
"Xelloss is improving remarkably. He needs to rest more. I'm not allowing him to return to the meeting with the rest of you if he's still asleep. He's responding well to the medications, which are stabilizing his brain chemistry. I think I'll bring in a good friend of mine, a psychiatrist, to evaluate him further. I'd like for all of you kids to talk to him."
Zel's hearing must have returned to normal. He could hear that old familiar sharp intake of breath, as Luna saw his scarred chest and back for the first time. Luckily, the rib taping covered up some of his marks. He turned his head toward her and said in a low voice, "If you think I look scary, you should see what Dubois did to him! I'm just a freak by accident. He's…" but he didn't say anymore. He couldn't.
"You can put your shirt back on, while I setup the monitor here," Dr. Adams told Zel. "And, Zelgadiss, if it bothers you that much, you know you can do something about the scars…anytime."
"I'm still thinking about it…Xelloss has told everyone that I'm an elf. It's pretty funny. Yeah, I can hear that, and that, and that…"
"I haven't started the test, yet!" the doctor chuckled.
"No? Well you turned on the machine and it puts out a background signal at about .005 kHz. I can hear that. I can hear Rezo fumbling with two coins in his pockets, a…quarter and a dime. Right? Father? Yeah, I got that elvish hearing all right," Zel grinned.
Dr. Adams looked at Zel, "How long have you had hearing like this?"
"Since I woke up in the hospital after the lab explosion."
"You're kidding? Professor, what was in that chemical lab, if I may ask? I understood you to be studying cloning."
Rezo reluctantly entered the conversation. Zelgadiss was curious to know more. He'd never asked. He was sure that he'd never get an answer, but with both Luna and Dr. Adams present, maybe…
"You are correct. At the University, our department worked in conjunction with the biochemistry and medical school labs on a joint cloning project. However, I had my own laboratory at home, where I conducted research of my own. I was attempting to find a cure for my own blindness. I had successfully created a neural transmitter that could enhance nerve impulses, even very weak ones, from the retina to the brain."
"Or from the ear to the brain, maybe?" the doctor wondered.
"Perhaps… I never considered the possibility… I wasn't aware that Zelgadiss had unusual hearing until…lately. If this is true, then, it worked! All these years and it worked. Well, what do you know?" he smiled slightly.
"Father, if that's true…if you could re-create your notes… deaf people might be cured--or at least near-deaf could be helped. Did it ever get tested on anyone besides me?"
"No. And everything was destroyed. I never went back to that room or to that research."
"But, what if I wanted to? What if we worked together? I know I'm just a kid, but I…" Zelgadiss looked anxiously at his father.
Rezo looked thoughtful, "Let's think and talk more about this later, son. It dredges up many sad memories…for both of us. You're also talking about a huge under-taking. There's rebuilding and file recovery…"
"Gourry's dad is in the construction business and Xelloss and I are quite adept at getting data out of…"
"Unlikely and secured locations…I KNOW that. I just wish you didn't sometimes. There are legal complications to some of your activities, Mr. Greywords," Rezo said sternly, but not harshly.
"I am aware of my…transgressions, father. Acutely! I suffer nightmares regularly about being caught and chide myself for being so weak. I really used to hate the way Val and Xelloss lacked moral integrity…then found that I, too, would sometimes believe that the end justified the means. That's why I was asking about lawyers. We're in there testifying without representation. Like idiots, we could be digging our own graves!"
"Mayor Phil has had his lawyer, Mr. Fribrizzo, write up some legal mumbo-jumbo to release you all from prosecution. I believe he's arranged to have all of Val's police records cleared as well. He was looking for him earlier, at break. You don't know where he might have gone, do you?"
"Ah, no. I think he and Filia took a walk around the hospital. There are lots of floors, you know," Zel smiled to himself. Those were all true statements. Unrelated, but true!
Dr. Adams insisted that the two boys be allowed to sleep in peace, and ushered Luna and Rezo out the door.
"So what's the story behind Xelloss and Dubois?" Luna asked Rezo.
"Ah, well…that's a long one and not a very happy one to relate. How about I tell you short version while we walk downstairs to the cafeteria and I'll buy you dinner? We need to collect Milgasia as well." Rezo said in a low voice.
"Dinner? Sure. Now tell me everything…"
~*~
Xelloss woke up as the meal trays were delivered. "Do I get food too? Oh, goody! Mashed potatoes, gravy with…what are those? Bits of turkey? Okay. Peas, a roll, and what's for dessert? JELL-O? What does he get? PIE? I want pie too! Okay, just trade, then. He won't eat anything anyway. Of course he likes Jell-O! Dotes on it! Thanks, you're nice. What's your name? Candy? Hi, Candy, I'm…that's right! My name's on the chart isn't it? That's my little brother, Zelgadiss. Funny name, huh? Oh, is he still sleeping? Go ahead, wake him up, he won't want to miss…his Jell-O!"
Xelloss was feeling chipper.
"Hel-looo! Dinner time, Zel-GAAAA-Disss!"
"Shuddup you asshole! I needed that sleep."
Zelgadiss was not (feeling chipper).
"Hey, be nice. Candy's here!"
"WHO?! Oh, hi…"
"Bye, Candy! See? She brought us dinner. You like Jell-O, right?"
"Oh, sure. God, what a plateful of crap…You want it?"
Xelloss made a face, "You have to eat or they'll put you on the IV next."
Zelgadiss paled, "All right…" He picked up an awkward spoon/fork combination tool and dug into the potato mess. " Why can't they just give us regular implements to eat with? Why a 'spork' or 'foon' and no knives…they afraid I'll try to stab myself? How does one butter a roll with a…coffee stirrer? What did she bring us to drink? MILK! I haven't had milk… no…it won't kill me…"
Zelgadiss took another bite, "Where's YOUR Jell-O? PIE? How come YOU have pie? No. I don't want yours. I want mine. I hate everything that jiggles…including your stinking waterbed!"
"It doesn't stink. Ahhhh, how I'd like to be floating on it right now."
"You sound pretty floaty as it is…How much of that pain killer have you ingested today? Shit. They'd better be planning on getting me some before I kill you," Zel growled and returned to eating.
Xelloss found his bed adjustment buttons and sat up higher, then sank slowly down…then he popped right up again. Down. Then UP! DOOOWWWNNN. UPPPP!
FRUWAP! SLUMP
Zel's Jell-O slipped down Xelloss' sleeve and onto the floor.
"Not very sporting of you, Zelgadiss! Say, I bet I can walk!"
Zelgadiss couldn't watch.
"Zelgadiss? Could you give me a hand here?"
"I have changed my name."
"Oh? Here just stand by me while I get up so if I fall you can…"
"Zel."
"Huh?"
"My name. Zel. Say it."
"Zel Zel Zel … Now will you appear and help me?"
"Yes. You realize that I have nine broken ribs so if you can't support your own weight you can't lean on me."
"Whoa…swirly…"
"Sit down before you fall down! Now move slowly…" Zel cautioned his spacey friend. He really didn't want Xelloss to fall.
"O-kay do-kay! I can stand now…I'm walking to the bathroom…"
"All right, but I stop at the door," Zel insisted.
Xelloss stuck out his tongue and giggled.
Zel slumped beside the shut door sighing, "He's the goofball again. I'm moving out… my old house? Hell, I'll have enough money to buy one, right? Nah, too much trouble…" He saw a familiar face peak in at the hall, "Gourry! Hey, Hi! Come in! Haven't seen you in awhile!"
"Uh, hi, Zel. You okay?"
"No. Xelloss is in his goofball persona again and… I'm not in a tolerant mood, I guess."
Gourry smiled, "I'll stay here and you can go see Amelia and Sylphiel."
Zelgadiss figured this would be an okay exchange. Gourry and Xelloss could entertain each other just fine.
"Zel?" Xelloss called from inside the bathroom. "Are you there?"
"No, it's me, Gourry. Zel's—"
"Zel? You turned into Gourry? What shall we do?! Though I guess that makes it a lot easier for Lina to choose—"
"Xelloss? Are you okay?" Gourry seriously worried about his friend's mental health.
"Okay-Dokay! Just a minute, I'll come out to talk to you…" Xelloss' cheery voice rang out. "I haven't any clothes, do I?"
Gourry checked around, "There's some stuff in a bag here…Could fit, maybe." He tossed a pair of jeans and a shirt to Xelloss, who took one look and shook his head.
"Whose stuff is this? Tight black jeans? I'll take the underwear. I can barely get these pants zipped! Maybe if I exhale… I bet Zel can't even wear these. Good thing I stopped eating for a few days. Okay, now let me see that shirt. Who bought me this? Its stretchy and synthetic, and it doesn't fit!"
Gourry was moving toward the door. "I got one that will. Hold on!"
Xelloss grabbed Gourry's arm, "Okay, Dokay! I'm HOLDING ON!"
By this time Gourry knew his friend was more than his usual goofy, he was downright nuts. He gently unwound the pale fingers and guided him back to his bed. "Ah, just stay here and I'll bring ya another shirt. Ya like orange?"
"Yep! Oranges…lemons…limes…citrus of all different kinds!"
"Ah, well… don't move," Gourry shook his head and made it to his room in record time. The discarded dress shirt lay on the floor where Val had tossed it earlier. Gourry snatched it up and ran back before Xelloss could do who-knows-what on his own.
Xelloss, as commanded had not moved, possibly not even blinked by the time Gourry returned. "Ah…sorry, you can move now." Gourry avoided looking at the horribly scarred and thickly bandaged chest of his friend as he helped him into the shirt. Xelloss rolled up the cuffs and buttoned up.
"I'm not sure if I can even tuck it in. It's not my usual garb, but it beats the gown, eh?" he smiled halfway.
"The, ah, orange and black is…not purple!" Gourry said encouragingly.
An older, mature nurse strode into the room. "What are you doing up, young man?"
Xelloss swept her up in his arms and stepped around the room gingerly, "DANCING!"
~*~
Filia and Val had parted in the hall near Sylphiel and Amelia's room. Sylphiel need to buy some things in the drug/gift shop down stairs for herself and Amelia (whose period had just kicked in unexpectedly).
"But, like… I don't know where it is…I don't want to get lost or get into trouble with all these guards around here." Sylphiel quivered.
Filia needed to talk to Amelia, so she designated Val as her guide, "Val's the man about town, you know. He knows his way around this place, too. Go on. I need to speak to that Amelia girl. Oh, Amelia! What an awful cast!" Filia cried out and disappeared into her room leaving Val with the hovering Sylphiel.
"Come on, Sylphie. I won't bite. I've been downstairs to the shop. It's got a pretty good selection of stuff, too. Whatcher look'n fer?" he asked helpfully.
"I want to fix my nails and Amelia needs pads…girl things, you know what I mean?"
Val colored slightly. Never in his life had he spent so much time around girls as he had since he added his body to the count at the lunch table. Previously he'd mostly hung out with druggies, skaters, and rockers—no one who was going to share personal stuff like that. His actual experience with girls was mostly talk. He wasn't particularly attracted to the kind that had liked to hang on him, so he hadn't advanced much beyond the kiss and grope stages. Even then, that had been limited to a couple unfortunate experiences. So, to actually sit and talk and listen and emotionally involve himself in the day-to-day lives of four open and engaging young women had been an eye-opening, mind-expanding experience for the kid over the past months. He had a vague idea what Sylphiel was talking about, so he nodded.
~*~
Zelgadiss had decided to take a walk on his own before visiting the girls. He wanted to think about the future, his future, without anyone else's input.
~*~
"Oh, Filia! Isn't it ugly? I can't wear pants and I only have these two long skirts. I feel so…"
"Stately, it makes you look like royalty walking amongst your minions," Filia laughed with her younger friend. "You look great, actually."
"Hmm, Zelgadiss was over the other evening with Mr. Val and Mr. Gourry and he drew portraits of me and Miss Sylphiel. I was wearing this then too."
"Portraits? He drew pictures of all of you?" Filia quizzed.
"He's going to," Amelia answered evasively.
"Amelia… I was wrong about encouraging you to chase after that nerd. He's not worth groveling in the dirt for…I mean it!" Filia said expansively.
Zelgadiss knocked once and pushed the door open a crack, "Amelia? Sylphiel? I thought I heard…oh, hi, Filia…Amelia. I, um…Gourry's giving me time off from Xelloss, who's being particularly trying right now. Val's back? Maybe I should go find him…"
Filia grabbed his arm and pulled him into the room. "Val and Sylphiel are on a mission. I had wanted to say something to Amelia, but since you're here, and you need to hear this too, it will save me time."
Amelia froze. OH no Filia…!
Zelgadiss felt his stomach lurch, "If this is about forcing Amelia into that shrine with that crazed maniac, I...I'm sorry. I didn't know what to expect, but she couldn't walk, that was clear, and I couldn't just leave her lying helpless on the ground, could I? So I carried her into the most dangerous situation I could find and nearly got her and all of us killed! Satisfied?"
Filia was not. "Zel-ga-diss. You are so…OH I don't know the words to describe you sometimes…but I'll think of them in a minute! First, Amelia. You have been crazy about this guy all year and gotten practically NOWHERE. One measly kiss…oh, yeah, two. You pour out all your time and energy on him and he hardly nods his head in your direction. If fact, I'd say he actually avoids you! What's with you? Ice-cold bastard…yeah, that's the description of you, Zel, which comes to mind. Amelia, there are dozens of better guys interested in you and yet this …creep… is what you fall for?"
Amelia was humiliated. There was some truth to her words, but still…right to his face! Zel wasn't too happy either.
He blew. "Filia, it's you who doesn't understand. Not everyone's the same. She has plenty else on her plate besides…romance. School government, clubs, the stuff she does with the mayor's office, and the band! I'm in the band. We share friends. I'm really not that important to get all worked up about, Filia. We're just friends and she's just a kid. Quit trying to make something more out of all this, quit pushing her into situations she's not ready for yet, all right? Amelia's only what...barely fifteen. That's excessively young to have a boyfriend. What are you thinking, Filia? You feeling sorry for the poor, freaky-looking guy, too? So sorry that you'd try and push him off onto one of your friends in order to 'save him'? NO, thanks!"
Added to that emotional outburst from Zelgadiss was that potent overwhelming hormone surge going on in her own body. Little Miss Amelia blew. She snapped up a crumbled ball of paper, probably something Zel had left, and shook it in the air.
"Miss FILIA, Mr. Zelgadiss! Stop! Stop it, right now! See this wad of paper? That's like my feelings…complex and all folded up and partially hidden, protected."
Amelia smashed the paper and smoothed it out into its original rectangular shape. "Now, this is what you did to them. Laid out what YOU could see... all in plain sight… for anyone to get at."
Amelia shredded the paper with her fingernails and cried, "Now this is what's left!" She covered her eyes with her hands and cried.
Zel was shocked. He thought he was protecting her and himself from untrue accusations. But Amelia was crying. He didn't mean to hurt her feelings. He wasn't all that cold; he had feelings. He just didn't want to expose himself to ridicule. Filia should be feeling bad. She said those things. Amelia, crazy about me? Turning away others, for me? No. She's wrong, and now Amelia's crying, for gods'sakes! Now, Amelia, yell at Filia and you'll feel better…
Filia crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn't finished. "That's right, he doesn't care about your feelings. Typical guy, treats you like a little girl and acts all superior to make up for his own inadequacies, you know. Busy? What girl's too busy for her boyfriend? Who doesn't like a little romance in her life? Huh? What a bunch of bullshit! Come on, let's get you all fixed up…Oh, here's Sylphiel. Let me do your nails and toenails so the ones peaking out of the cast will look cute, okay?"
Sniff! "O..okay, Miss Filia. I'd like that…sniff" cried a tearful Amelia.
Zelgadiss nearly got whiplash from the impact. What just happened here? I'M the bad guy? No, I'm a 'typical' guy and an inadequate one at that! What did I do? I thought I did a nice thing by carrying her when she was hurt. I didn't know she'd be in so much danger. But that wasn't what they were talking about. That was dismissed as…'ice-cold bastard'? Filia! What do they expect of me anyway? I need someone to talk to about something I understand! I'm talking myself to death here. I can't really talk to Gourry…or Val…or especially Xelloss! Lina. There's someone I can talk seriously to…Oh, right, I'm banned from that room. Oh, joy…I think we've all been stuck in too close quarters for too long with too many unhappy situations to contend with… He turned to leave the room when Gourry rushed in.
"Zel, ya in here?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I'm on my way out, though. Is there a problem? Why not? As if there weren't enough already. "
"Ah, yeah, I think so. The police guy is look'n fer ya and yer dad. He's with Xelloss in yer room now."
"Thanks," Zel nodded and walked down the hall to his room. Rezo, with a CIA agent escort, was just entering the room. Xelloss, in his striking black and orange ensemble, stopped his chatter when everyone clamored in.
McGywn looked somber, "Come in and find a seat. Something terrible has happened and I want you to know immediately."
He had everyone's attention. The CIA agent spoke next, "I'm sad to report that your wife, Professor Graywords, your mother, boys… was shot to death in her secured holding cell thirty minutes ago. We have every reason to believe that it was a syndicate inside job, but how…"
Zelgadiss flew at the man's throat, ignoring his own aching, taped sides, grasped the agent by the collar and screamed, "You BASTARDS! I saw you run out of here with that pendant of his after he explained its usefulness. What kind of statement did you falsify with her signature? How did you get that into the syndicate's hands THAT fast? I thought you were protecting her! She had answers to some important questions we'll NEVER know the truth about now. And HIM! He's got to live with the knowledge that he was responsible for his own mother's death! After Val, and my father went to so much trouble to see that she was captured safely. Oh…I can't believe this…I can't believe it!" he moaned and released the man.
Before anyone else could recover out of the stunned silence, Xelloss began to laugh. He hopped up and danced out the door singing, "Ding Dong! The witch is dead. Which old witch? The wicked witch! Ding Dong! The wicked witch is dead!"
He was hauled back in by one male and one female nurse. "Maybe we should sedate him? Check his meds… IV… sedate… medicine…drugs…"
Zelgadiss couldn't understand the madness happening around him! "Stop!" he shouted. "Don't give him anything! Let him talk, or sing, dance or scream…just leave him alone! He's lost his mother, for gods'sakes! Dead. His father and two stepfathers…all dead! Why don't you all go…get OUT OF HERE! You've done your jobs, now go! Leave him alone! GO! GO! GO!"
Everyone left, but Rezo. Rezo, Zel, and Xelloss were alone to sort out their lives. For about five seconds.
Val had run into Luna and Milgasia, who'd told him that something was up when an agent for the CIA was taking Rezo away from his dinner. Val loped further up the hall, where he caught McGywn's attention, "What's goin' on?"
"Well, there's been some bad news, son. We just had to tell 'em Zelas was murdered a few minutes ago," he muttered.
"Zelas? Dead!" Val began. "Ah, shit…" He ripped open the door to Zel's room and slammed it shut behind him.
"You may not have been aware of this, but she just might have been his mother as well," Milgasia said in a low voice.
McGywn did not know. He groaned, "Not another poor kid…This mess just gets worse and worse."
Zel stuck his head out of the door, looked at the men standing there and announced, "The meeting is over. We have nothing more to say to any of you. Tomorrow, we go home. Lina too, if she can…I'll pay for private in-home, 24 hour, round-the-clock nursing care, if that's what it takes! But we're all going home. This is over. The hostages are being freed! We are done!" He punctuated his final sentiment by slamming the door.
CRASH!
Authors' Note:
Congratulations! You have just completed over 1000 type-written pages of Seyruun High Jinx! That should count for something, right?! Thanks for your continued interest. 'See' you for next week's installment! -- Frog & Rat
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val