Oh, it's so much fun to get reviews! Kudos to y'all! Here's chapter 3, and the introduction of Libby's little brother. I think you'll like him; I know I do! Okay: (cracks knuckles) Here we go!

Author's Note: If you're going to continue reading this story, you'd better get comfy and have LOTS of time, 'cause these chapters are kinda long.

Chapter 3: Rising Conflict

"...by."

His small voice reached out for her.

"Libby."

The grown Egyptian stirred.

"Libby, wake up!" he called. She moaned and opened her eyes. The sun blinded her where his shadow didn't cover her.

"Oh," she groaned, "Jamal? What happened?" She met her little brother's brown eyes full of concern and sat up. She and the others were still in the park, and the others also stirred awake. Jimmy frantically looked around. Cindy was gone!

"A lady came while you were all asleep, Libby," the seven-year-old told her, "She told me to give this to you guys." He held out a DVD in a thin CD case. Libby took it and gave it to Jimmy.

"Did you ask where she was going?" Libby gently grabbed the child.

"I asked her," he said, "but she wouldn't tell me. All she said was that Jimmy would figure it out, and then she got pulled up into a helicopter."

"She must've taken Cindy!" exclaimed Alex the genius.

"Sound familiar, anyone?" Jimmy asked with underlying anger. All but Alex nodded grimly.

"Come on!" he shouted, "To the lab!"

"Come with us, Jamal," Libby took his hand, "You've witnessed a kidnaping, so you need to stay with us."

"I don't get it!" he complained, "What's witness? What's kidnaping?" As the hovercar sped off, Libby held Jamal on her lap.

"Kidnaping," she explained, "means that lady took Cindy without asking permission. It's a very bad thing to do, and you can get in a whole lot of trouble for it. Witnessing means you saw it happen, Jamal, so the lady might try to hurt you."

"No!" Jamal got scared and clung to her bodice, "Don't let the lady hurt me, Libby!"

"Don't sweat it, bro," Libby held him, "As long as you stay with me or Sheen or Carl or Jimmy or Alex or Goddard, no one's going to hurt you."

"What about Cindy?" he looked in her face, "Will the bad lady hurt her? What's gonna happen to her?" Libby looked at Alex, and Alex looked at Jimmy. Alex smiled at Jamal and tok his hand.

"Jimmy's going to find her, Jamal," she assured him as they landed, "And we're helping him. As long as we get Cindy back safe, nothing's going to happen."

Gee, and you thought she was a genius.

In the lab, Jimmy popped in the DVD and everyone crowded around his computer chair. Libby held Jamal so he could see, and because he was scared.

Beautiful Gorgeous appeared on the screen. By some miracle, the only "sign of the times" for her was a white spot at her temples. It was actually really nice for an age sign. Other than that, she was in the same look she'd always had. Alex remembered now!

'That's her!' she thought, 'That's the face I saw before I passed out!'

"Hello, Jimmy," said Beautiful Gorgeous, "Long time, no plot. If you're watching this, then our little messenger was successful." Jamal clutched onto Libby's neck and whimpered. Alex rubbed his back. Jimmy growled at the monitor. Beautiful Gorgeous walked to the right and continued.

"Let me be the first to say congratulations on your engagement to your sweetheart after all these years. Even I was getting tired of your bickering. I was so happy for you two, I decided to bring her over." The camera stopped as she knelt next to Cindy. She was lying on her stomach facing the camera with duct tape on her mouth and around her wrists, crossed behind her. She was lying on an almost flat mattress with her head on a pillow. Beautiful Gorgeous pulled her up by her arms and faced the camera.

"See, Jimmy?" she said holding Cindy's chin, "I'm just having some girl talk with your beautiful bride here. (Then, in a patronizing, talking-to-a-baby voice:) There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" Jimmy heard Cindy growl loudly and knew that if she hadn't had her mouth taped, Cindy would have bitten her. He chuckled at the thought, in spite of himself. He was also relieved to see that Cindy was more irritated than scared (why should she be? They've been through this before!). Beautiful Gorgeous must've read his mind, because she dropped the act and shoved Cindy back on her little cot.

"Neither of you appear to realize the magnitude of the case here," she glowered into the camera and lowered her voice dangerously, "So let me illuminate to you the precarious situation in which you have found yourselves." She whipped out a gun and held it up all cool-style next to her own head. Now Cindy was worried!

"You're not kids anymore, Jimmy," she said seriously, "From now on, we're gonna act like adults. I'm gonna teach your little soulmate to dance, and you're gonna drop by for a lesson. Bring your little friends; I don't care. I'll just pick them off one–by–one." She pointed her gun at the camera.

"You're playing with big kid toys now." (BANG!)

The camera fuzzed out. No one moved or spoke. Jamal's breathing was frightened.

"Is she gone?" he whispered.

"Yes, Jamal," Libby put him down, "For now."

"Well, James?" Alex touched his shoulder behind him, "What's the plan?" Jimmy looked up at the young woman he'd come to call his "sister" and his friends, then at the little Jamal by his side. He smiled.

"First off," he lifted the child to his lap, "We leave our little witness with protection."

Author's Review:

Well? How was that? As you can see, Beautiful Gorgeous ain't screwing around this time! Yikes! Don't worry; no one dies (yet). BUT DON'T PANIC! Oh, and the whole "dance lesson" thing isn't literal, in case y'all didn't get it. I know you're not stupid, but I realized some people might be going "Huh?" so I'll translate: There's gonna be a shoot-out next chapter, and some humor.