Aliances

Daniel Todd was wandering around his office in a very nervous
fashion. All this time he had been watching Antelope, hoping to bring her in
on the action, so to speak and her majordomo turns out to be Alexander
Thailog!

"My God!" he whispered. "To think that while I slunk around,
dragging my heels on this, Thailog got to her first!"

Daniel had to admit that he found himself extremely conflicted. He
was in some ways ecstatic about having the chance to team up with Thailog
and destroy that corporate harpy, Destine. He would perhaps come out way on
top...after all, once Thailog had full control of Nightstone, he might want
another partner.

Which brought him to the downside of the equation. He definitely
found himself attracted to Liz in more than just a professional way. Problem
was that she and Thailog...

"Argh!" He kicked his desk, causing his favorite paperweight, a
magnetic base with paperclips piled up in heap, to fall on the floor. In a
moment over one hundred of the bloody things scattered in all directions.

"Dammit!" he spoke aloud. "If he chooses anyone as his business
partner, it's going to be her."

Todd began gathering the paperclips together. The task helped him
to clear his mind and put things in perspective. He liked Antelope. Alot. To
have her, he would have to get rid of Thailog.

He also wanted to destroy Destine.

He wanted power, money and the social status which came with them.
His best chance of doing that was to work with and ultimately for Thailog.
To make sure that he got in close with the Man, he would have to get rid of
his rival - Elizabeth Antelope.

The paperweight slid out of his fingers and ended up back on the
floor as he pondered the problem. "What do I do?" he muttered.

RING!

The sudden noise caused him to jump, but in a moment he scrambled
up off the rug and threw himself toward the phone. His secretary announced
that Liz was holding on line one.

Taking a few deep breaths to compose himself, Daniel took the call.

"Good morning, Liz. What's the word?"

"Mr. Thailog and I discussed it and we've decided that we have a
better chance of bringing down Destine if you work with us."

"Great! How about if we meet at the old burger shop on Leclerk
street at say, twelve thirty?"

"We'll be there Daniel."

Click.

Daniel immediately dialed his phone. It was answered on the first
ring.

"High Tech Repairs," came a female voice.

"It's Todd."

"Are we on?"

"We'll be there around one. Make sure everyone is present."

"Anything else?"

"I want Antelope to take the test. Choose somebody."

"Cool! Wait till I tell the others!"

Click.


Liz and Stoneman were eating burgers at the counter when Daniel
arrived.

Seating himself next to Antelope, he ordered a burger platter as
well. "I might as well join you for lunch before we get down to business,"
he stated.

They made polite conversation during their meal and a few minutes
before one, Daniel paid the check and led them out to his car.

It was a Delorian.

Liz gaped at it. "Is that a..."

"It is indeed." Todd grinned at her. "It's gonna be a tight
squeeze, but we're all friends here, right?"

"You don't really expect us all to fit in that?" Stoneman groused.

Liz took his arm. "Aw, come on - I've wanted to sit in one of these
ever since I saw 'Back to the Future'."

Lyath looked confused. "What is back-to-the-future?"

Liz and Daniel both laughed at his expression but in a moment they
had all managed to squeeze into the car.

The drive to the warehouse took less than five minutes. Todd pulled
up to a large metal garage door and parked. Liz wiggled out of the car and
stood next to it taking in the surroundings. The street was run down, with
huge holes on the crumbling blacktop. Tall, brick buildings which had seen
better days, lined each side of the street. There was not another living
soul to be seen. Stoneman emerged from the car and stood by her side. He was
taking in the surroundings as well.

They both started as the garage door began to open. It made a
horrific amount of noise which echoed up and down the street.

"I really need to get that old thing replaced," said Daniel as he
headed toward the warehouse. "I didn't realize that it had gotten this bad."

With Liz and Lyath in tow, Todd led the way inside.

The inside of the warehouse looked innocent enough. There were
several vehicles in different states of repair, crates stacked up
haphazardly all over the place and even a large workbench in the rear
covered with electronic equipment which was also apparently being repaired.
Off to the right was a glass-enclosed office area.

Daniel headed toward the rear of the building where a massive
wooden door hanging on an overhead track could be seen. He produced a small
electronic device from his pocket and pushed one of the buttons. The door
rolled to one side revealing...

A bricked up opening? What-in-the-world...' Liz had time to think,
before Todd pushed another button on the device.

A large section of the bricked up wall suddenly swung away from
them as though it were on hinges. The room beyond was well lit and voices
could be heard as well as the hum of computer fans.

Liz counted nine women ranging from approximately eighteen to
twenty five years of age. As the three of them entered the room, the women
(presumably the high tech mystery gang) quieted down and drew near. One of
the older women stepped forward. She was an attractive black woman with long
hair done completely in cornrows. It was tied back in a loose ponytail.

"Brenda, is everything set?" Todd asked.

"Yes. Whenever you're ready." Brenda looked Liz up and down in a
way which instantly alarmed her.

"Well then, let's get down to it." Todd led the way forward through
the gathered gang.

Liz was on her guard, but still took the time to study the layout
of the room. There were several doors on one side of the room. Cabinets,
counters and lockers occupied the back wall. The other side of the room had
several cubicles set up, each with a computer. The center of the large room
was empty except for a circle twenty feet in diameter painted on the floor.

It was in this circle that Todd stopped. He turned to face her as
the gang gathered around the circle's perimeter. "You led a gang for a very
long time, am I right?"

Liz now knew what was coming. Glancing at Stoneman she realized
that he had no clue as to what was about to happen and prayed that he
wouldn't embarrass her in front of everyone.

"Yeah, I did," she answered as she looked at the faces around her.
"And yeah, I did have to fight a time or two to maintain that leadership,
but after the last fight nobody was stupid enough to challenge me again."
She turned back to look Todd in the eye. "I'd prefer not to have to hurt one
of your girls."

"Don't worry about it. We found you a very eager opponent."

Lyath, who had figured it all out, stepped forward. "Is this really
necessary? What is it you wish to accomplish?"

"Sir, I wish there was another way, but I've got to be sure that
she is who she says she is. If she led a gang, then she's got to be a street
fighter and a great one at that. I have too much on the line to risk trusting
her without some sort of proof." Here he swung back around to Liz. "It's
nothing personal."

"That's what they all say." She began removing her jacket, then
kicked off her heels. "Let's get on with it!"

A woman entered the ring wearing a cropped top and a pair of cut-
off jeans. Lyath recognized her immediately. "Janette!"

She smiled crookedly at Liz. "Your majordomo fired me. The way I
see it, I've got a right to hold a grudge. You better be good or you're
gonna be laid up a good long while!"

"You know what? I'm glad he fired you," Liz spat as she shucked off
her skirt. 'Thank goodness I decided to wear the bodysuit today,' she
thought.

Lyath leaned close to her. "Be careful," was all he said as he left
the circle with Todd.

Clad only in her bodysuit, Liz went into a 'ready'
stance. Her opponent did as well. They remained perfectly still, but
watchful of the slightest motion their opponent might make.

They moved only when Brenda stepped forward and shouted, "Fight!"

The two of them circled each other warily for a few moments. Liz
kept her breathing even and her motions smooth. She projected a cool,
unhurried demeanor, perfectly content to allow Janette the first move.

Janette's eyes shifted nervously in her head. 'Good,' thought Liz,
'she's nervous and confused - definitely not a pro.'

On the sidelines, Lyath watched the fight with baited breath. He
knew that Elisa was very good at hand-to-hand, able to take down men much
larger than herself in fact, but still he worried. She was not fighting a
man this time, but one of her own sex - and younger than her to boot. She
would no longer have the advantage of faster reflexes, nor would she be able
to slip under her opponent's guard as easily.

He watched as Janette charged Elisa. A quick step to the side and a
blow of her elbow on her opponent's back as she passed put the girl off
balance. She landed on her knees as Elisa completed her turn so that they
once again faced each other.

Several of the girls watching the fight hissed at Janette in
frustration and encouraged her to 'teach that uppity bitch a lesson'.

Janette , red-faced with embarrassment, rose back to her feet and
glared at Liz. Liz smiled at her, infuriating her even more. Once again
Janette charged, but this time she slowed as she neared Liz, determined not
to repeat her last mistake.

As Janette struck at Liz with her fists, Liz stepped back and
brought her leg up in a kick which connected with her opponent's jaw.

To the astonishment of the onlookers, Janette crumpled in a heap
and lay still. Todd turned a brilliant smile on Lyath and clapped him on the
shoulder, but before he could say anything a chorus of gasps erupted around
them, drawing their attention back to the combatants.

Janette was getting back on her feet and letting loose with a
string of curses. Lyath's heart skipped a beat as he realized that she was
holding a switchblade.

Liz raised her voice so she could be heard over the onlookers. "If
you're smart, you'll put that knife down now or I guarantee that you'll
regret it!"

"You're the one who's gonna regret it, puta!"

Lyath fought down the panic which threatened to consume him. He
briefly thought about tackling Janette himself, but realized that Elisa was
going to have to win the fight herself if they were to get any respect from
the gang.

All he could do was watch as Janette lunged at his love, swiping
viciously with the knife. Elisa suddenly dropped down and swept Janette's
legs out from underneath her with her own right leg. Jumping up, she
delivered a brutal stomp to her opponent's knee causing everyone present to
flinch at the sound of shattered bone and cartilage. The knife skittered
across the floor, but Elisa seemed not to hear it as she drew her arm back
to deliver a final blow to Janette's face.

Lyath stepped forward and gripped Liz's elbow tightly, halting its
momentum. "I don't think that will be necessary," he said in an
authoritative tone.

However, as soon as he released her arm she followed through with the brutal punch.

He gaped at her as she replied, "Oh yes it is!"

Liz took a few calming breaths and brought herself down from the
adrenaline rush. Lyath threw an arm around her shoulders giving her a brief squeeze. She looked down and became aware of Janette clutching her ruined knee and sobbing as some of her friends splinted her up for a ride to the hospital.
Her nose was a bloody ruin and her eyes already swelling shut.

There was a new respect in the eyes of the girls who gazed at her. Not only had she ensured that none would ever challenge her again, but she made them aware that the knife had earned her opponent a ruined face. And it could have gone a whole lot worse for Janette.

Goliath hissed next to her, drawing her back to reality. He was
looking at the hand which he had removed from her shoulder. It was covered
with blood. She looked over at her right shoulder at the same time that he
spoke. "My love, you're injured!"

"It's not bad. I was barely aware that it happened."

"But you are bleeding! You need medical attention!"

"I doubt that it's that bad. Really, stop worrying and help me get
the sleeve away from it." Liz turned so that he could carefully tear the
sleeve away from her wound.

It WAS worse than she had thought. She had a very deep cut on the
deltoid and queasily realized that part of her bone was visible when she
moved the arm. Blood dripped over her fingers and onto the floor in a steady
drizzle. Thankfully, Todd slapped a sterile four-by-four over the wound and
instructed Lyath to press on it. He handed over her skirt and shoes and with
some help from Goliath, she was able to get dressed. Todd led them to his
car for a ride to the local emergency room.

"Don't worry, Liz. I sent Janette to a different ER" he remarked
as he closed the door on her side of the vehicle.

Liz leaned her head against Goliath and relaxed during the ride to
the hospital. Her arm had begun to hurt like hell and she used her ability
to 'zone out' to help control the pain. Goliath kept a steady pressure on
her arm and from time to time kissed her forehead.

"I'm O.K. big guy. Really," she smiled wanly up at him. "A few
stitches and I'll be good as new."

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Have I ever told you that
watching you fight...what's the phrase? Ah...turns me on?"

Liz gave him an elbow in the ribs, but she was laughing out loud.
"You say the nicest things!"

He kissed her forehead again and then glared as he noticed the sour
look on Todd's face. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I just wish I had checked Janette for the knife." He
glanced over at Liz. "Sorry about that. Will we still be able to meet
later?"

"Let's see what her Doctor says first." Stoneman effectively ended
the conversation.


Three hours later they were back at the penthouse. Elisa had been
stitched up, given a tetanus shot and told not to overextend her arm for the
next few days. The muscle would be sore and need several weeks to recover
but she had been fortunate in that no nerves or major blood vessels
had been damaged.

She had refused to take the codeine tablets the doctor had
prescribed for pain, telling Goliath that they made her crazy and that she
needed to be able to think. Elisa had stashed them in the medicine cabinet
and instead made herself comfortable on the sofa with a very large glass of
wine.

Goliath had fussed over her for a while, but she had managed to
distract him by asking him to order them some dinner. He was currently in
the kitchen and on the phone with the restaurant ordering enough food to
feed an entire office. She knew the reason why. Sunset was not a long way
off.

They had bid Todd goodbye at the hospital and asked him to call them
later on. She had gotten off the phone with him a short while ago. They
would meet again tomorrow morning at the warehouse. Janette had been
admitted to the other hospital and was to have surgery on her knee tomorrow.
Elisa tried to feel sorry for her but just couldn't quite do so. "That'll
teach her to pull a knife during a sparing match," she grumbled under her
breath.

"Did you say something?" Goliath had just returned from the other
room.

"No, but I just realized that Conners and Maddox will probably be
showing up some time tonight. You'd better be ready to hide."

"When they show up I'll drop by the warehouse and see what's going
on."

All things said and done, they managed to spend a relatively
peaceful evening together. Goliath's surveillance of the warehouse turned up
nothing and the detectives left early so that Liz could get some rest.

Goliath held Elisa close to him all night. She awakened once,
around one a.m. and when the pain threatened to keep her awake, he stroked
her hair until she relaxed and drifted off.