CHAPTER 18

HEY TIGER

Blue Cove, Delaware

The Centre

February 28, 2003

4:07pm

"Parker." Sam said standing at the doorway of the infirmary.

"Hum?" She said not looking away from the sleeping forms of the three boys.

"Did you still plan on seeing Peter today?"

"Oh my God, Peter! Sam what time is it?" she asked turning around to face the sweeper.

"Just after four." He said looking at his watch

"Oh no I'm late. I told Peter's nurse that I would be there at three- thirty." She gasped. Sam began to smile.

"Come on in squirt."

"Parker!" Yelled the three-year-old. He unlike Will and the other children wore a red shirt, a pair of blue jeans, and a pair of sneakers.

"Hey there Pete. I'm so sorry that I forgot to came and get you." She said picking him up and swing him around.

"S'okay." The toddler replied.

"What's going on?" Will asked sleepily, he and his brothers haven been woken by the sound of a screaming three year old.

"Boys I'd like to introduce you to my little brother Peter. Peter, this is Will, Arron and Andros." She said indicating the boys

"Hi." Peter said burying his he into his sister's shoulder.

"Peter Parker Huh." Arron said grinning.

"Do you fight crime Pete?" Andros gently teased.

"What are you two babbling about?" Parker asked. The three older boys looked at her dumbstruck.

"Before you named your brother Miss. Parker, you might have wanted to have read a few issues of Spider-Man." Will said.

"What does Spider-Man have to do with my baby brother?"

"Spider-Man's real name is Peter Parker!" Arron said exasperated.

"You mean to tell me that my brother shares the same name with a comic book character who runs around in spandex?"

"Technically he web-slings." Andros said, and the three brothers burst into a fit of giggles.

"So Tiger, are you shy?" Will asked the toddler, lightly touching his back.

"No." Peter said, meeting the other boys' eyes for the first time.

"Hi. I'm Will." He said extending his hand to the toddler.

"I'm Arron."

"I'm Andros." The two boys said each taking a turn to shake the younger child's hand.

"Boys why don't the three of you look after Peter for me? I need to talk to Sam and Mr. Parker. Okay?" She said sitting her little brother on the bed.

Okay Miss. Parker." Will replied.

"Who's gonna watch us?" Arron inquired.

"I'll talk to Sam down here. Once were through talking he's going to stay down here while I go and talk to Mr. Parker. Peter you be good while I'm gone."

"Kay, Parker." The little boy replied.

"So Tiger you wanna see a trick?" Will asked as Parker walker over to Sam. Peter nodded his head vigorously. "All right noting up my sleeves and nothing in my hands. Spark a dark where's my sire will I lay me will I stay me bless this hand with fire." The toddler clapped in amazement when Will produced a flame in the form of a horse in his hand.

"Again! Again!" the little boy chanted.

Blue Cove, Delaware

The Centre

February 28, 2003

4:35pm

"So did you talk to Mr. Parker" She asked

"Yes" Sam said, his eyes never leaving the figure of the four boys.

"What did he say?"

"Lyle knows what he's doing."

"Keep an eye on the kids. I'll be back shortly." Parker commanded. She stormed off to her "father's" office.

"I'm sorry Miss. Parker but your father is busy right now." Mr. Parker's sectary said, when she saw Miss. Parker approaching.

"What else is new!" She snapped. Parker stormed into Mr. Parker's office not bothering to knock. "Out." she commanded Cox.

"Excuse me?"

"Maybe you didn't hear me Cox. I said Out. Now!" Cox looked to Mr. Parker for conformation. The chairman nodded his head and the younger man left.

"Now Angel what is the meaning of this?" He asked.

"Lyle. He almost killed The Centre's so called prized possession and you did nothing!" She yelled.

"Angel I think that you're getting a bit attached to Phoenix and The Black Files." "I am not getting attached Daddy." She said in a calmer voice. "I'm just worried about the children. Lyle might have killed William today. And this is not the first time this has happened. I've read the files; those children have spent more time in the infirmary than in the Sim Lab. If these children are the Centre's top moneymakers then maybe Lyle and Raines should stop trying to kill them. According to studies a pretender who is afraid of their environment is not as apt to perform as well a pretender who feels safe in their environment."

What are you getting at Angel?"

Parker leaned on the chairman's desk and looked him in the eyes. "I want to be put in charge of Project Phoenix and The Black Files."

"And the Hunt for Jarod?"

"Will continue, just as it always has. The only difference will be I will now have the help of fifteen brilliant children at my disposal."

"Raines Lyle and Cox will not be pleased." He warned her

"And I'm suppose to care?"

"You have no experience with rearing pretenders, Angel."

"I may not, but I have two people on my team who do Sydney and Sam. Sam may I remind you is more or less the caretaker of the children. These children listen to me Daddy! And unlike Lyle I don't have to beat them in order for them to obey me. Besides I'm not the one who lost a pretender."

"I assume your referring to the disappearance of the girl?"

"Yes, Alexandra. It is my understanding that she escaped some time this morning."

"Yes." Mr. Parker said not pleased with the way the conversation seamed to be going. "The girl did escape, we have already set up a team to search for her. We obviously can't have the other children searching for her, can we now?" He said trying to change to topic, unsuccessfully.

"What about my proposition Daddy?" Parker asked undeterred.

"They're yours Angel." He sighed. "But if I don't see any improvements with in a month, I give them back to Lyle and Raines." He threatened.

"They won't be getting them back." Parker said, fire in her eyes.

It wasn't until after she left the Mr. Parker realized that his "daughter" protected the children as if they were her cubs. But then again he thought with a chuckle the were hers, hers and the damned pretender's.