Chapter Three
A/N: For a complete introduction to Major Bellaq, please read my earlier fic "Major Bellaq".
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Teela jogged down Market Street, threading her way through the crowded bazaar.
Teela, called the Sorceress telepathically.
"I'm here," Teela replied.
Lysia is on the move, said The Sorceress. She's now heading south along Harbor Road ... AWAY from the rendezvous point.
"Blast," grumbled Teela. "Try to cut a person a break and THIS is the thanks I get!"
She had no intention of surrendering, said The Sorceress. All of this was an elaborate ruse to lure you into an ambush at Founder's Park.
"Do me a favor," said Teela. "Keep an eye on her … track her. Keep me posted on her movements."
That's what I'm here for … to help, said The Sorceress. Where are you?
"I'm heading west on Market Street. I'm at Market Street and Fifteenth Avenue."
Before Teela could utter another sound, she found herself bathed in white light. In the next instant, the light vanished and she found herself standing in an alley. "Sorceress? Where am I?" she asked.
Harbor Road and Glover Avenue, The Sorceress replied. Lysia is heading south, straight towards you. Straight ahead and to your right.
She doesn't waste time, Teela thought. Then again, we DO have a fugitive on the loose. Following The Sorceress's directions, she ran straight ahead and emerged from the alley onto the wharf. She turned right and ran north along the wharf, towards Lysia. Something tells me this is NOT going to be your run-of-the-mill collar.
"How will I recognize her?" Teela asked The Sorceress. "What should I be on the lookout for?"
Long dark hair, short black leather dress, brass bustier, purple silk cape, and large, brass, claw-shaped epaulets, The Sorceress replied. Be advised, she's armed with a sword.
Teela's trained eye came to rest on Lysia as she strolled up the road. Long dark hair, short black leather dress, brass bustier, purple silk cape, claw-shaped epaulets, she thought, silently ticking off the list of identifying features The Sorceress had given her. Got her. "I see her," she said, her voice just above a whisper. "I'm going in."
Be careful, said The Sorceress telepathically.
"LYSIA!" Teela called to her. "Teela, Royal Guard! HALT!"
Lysia stopped and stared at the oncoming Teela, her eyes wide with shock. Teela! she thought. She's supposed to be across town! How the blazes did she FIND me? She then dove into a nearby alley, Teela hot on her heels. No time for that now.
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Lysia led Teela on a mad chase through the maze of back streets and alleys that was Eternos's south side. All the while, The Sorceress of Grayskull was guiding Teela telepathically, maneuvering her like a pawn on a chessboard, cutting off Lysia's avenues of escape. She must be watching her from the air, Teela thought.
As Lysia led the pursuing Teela ran down an alley, she reached underneath one of her epaulets, pulled out a large diamond-shaped object, and threw it back at Teela. All at once, the object exploded, filling the air with a deafening BOOM and a thick cloud of blue gas. As Teela stumbled headlong into the blue gas cloud, her vision became blurry and painful, her eyes filled with tears. I'm blind! she thought panickedly. Her ears were filled with a roar, leaving her deafened.
She could just barely hear someone -- a masculine voice -- calling her name. He then said something that sounded like "Major Bellaq" ("Major Bellaq" was the guise/alter ego of a male soldier that The Sorceress of Grayskull occasionally assumed whenever she had to venture out in public.) She indistinctly saw a figure lifting her up, putting her on their shoulders, and carrying her away.
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Major Bellaq emerged from the gas cloud with the fallen Teela draped over his shoulders in a fireman's carry. He was a tall, trim, athletic man in his mid-to-late thirties with red hair and blue eyes. Today he was wearing black tights, dark gray boots and body armor, and a holstered black blaster pistol strapped to his leg.
As expected, Lysia was nowhere to be found, having made her getaway long ago. No time to worry about her now, The Sorceress thought. Teela needs help. Major Bellaq gently set Teela down up against a nearby wall, safely out of harm's way.
The Major crouched down in front of the blinded Teela. "Teela," he called to her. "Teela … Can you hear me?"
"Who's there?" said Teela weakly. "Where are you? Can't … hear anything."
The Major gently cupped his hands over Teela's ears. "Hold still," he murmured. Teela suddenly felt her ears burning, pulsing with energy. After a few moments, the burning and the pulses ceased. The Major removed his hands from Teela's ears; the roar had vanished and her hearing had been restored to normal. He's healed me, Teela thought.
Major Bellaq -- and The Sorceress -- took note of the tears streaming down Teela's face. Looks like tear gas, The Sorceress noted to herself.
Teela, this is The Sorceress, said The Sorceress telepathically. Can you see?
Teela shook her head. "No," she said. "Hurts … to look."
I want you to do something, said The Sorceress. I want you to close your eyes.
Teela obeyed and closed her eyes. "What are you going to do?" she asked nervously.
I'm going to draw out the poison. With that, Major Bellaq gently held Teela's head in his hands and placed his thumbs on her eyelids. The area around Teela's eyes began to pulse with energy. After a few moments, the pulses ceased and The Major removed his hands from Teela's face.
You can open your eyes now, said The Sorceress.
Teela opened her eyes. The figure before her was blurry at first. Her vision eventually resolved itself into crystal clarity, revealing the red-haired Major Bellaq crouching before her.
"Major," said Teela as she greeted him.
The Major smiled in reply. How do you feel? asked The Sorceress.
"Better," Teela replied. If the Major is here, then it must've been The Sorceress who healed me, Teela concluded silently.
Can you see?
"Yes," said Teela. "Thank you," she said weakly. She then looked around and said, "It seems we've lost Lysia."
No, we haven't.
"Huh?"
She's about ten blocks south of here.
Great, Teela thought. "Guess I'd better get going, then," she said as she rose to leave.
Major Bellaq put a hand on Teela's shoulder, bidding her to sit. I'm not going to make you run that far, said The Sorceress.
Teela stared at Major Bellaq in confusion. "How ELSE are we supposed to catch her?" she asked.
Major Bellaq grinned evilly in reply. You'll see, said The Sorceress.
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Twelve blocks away, Lysia strolled down an alley. I'm home free, she thought. Teela will NEVER find me now.
From out of nowhere, Teela suddenly appeared before Lysia.
"You, again," Lysia snarled. She reached underneath her other epaulet, pulled out another diamond-shaped grenade, and threw it at Teela. "Guess one wasn't enough for you, huh?" she cackled as she turned and ran away.
Teela stood stock-still, awaiting the inevitable. Guess this is it, she thought. It was then that the unexpected happened: the grenade landed at Teela's feet … without exploding.
Teela, go, said The Sorceress. I've contained the grenade.
Teela hesitantly took a couple of steps forward -- and then looked back at the grenade lying on the ground. Tell me this isn't happening.
Some distance away, Lysia stopped and looked back towards Teela. Where's the KABOOM?
TEELA, GO! cried The Sorceress, this time with an edge in her voice. GET A MOVE ON!
It was then that Teela broke out into a run towards Lysia. If you say so. Once Teela was a safe distance away,The Sorceress released the containment field, allowing the grenade to explode in a cloud of gray-black smoke. Teela and Lysia each looked back at the grenade one more time before breaking into a run once more.
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Three blocks later (and with Teela still in hot pursuit), Lysia came upon a sewer grate. With all the strength she could muster, she lifted the iron grate, heaved it to one side, and jumped into the sewer.
Great, thought Teela as she witnessed Lysia entering the sewer. One MORE thing I didn't need to have happen today. "Let's see if you're as good in a sewer as you are on the street," she said as she climbed into the sewer, hoping The Sorceress of Grayskull was listening.