MASK: Legacy Saga 3: The Fallen

Chapter 5

Author's notes: Wow, it's been almost a month since the last update! No wonder co-author Lisa needed to give me a reminder to update the ongoing Saga. I can't help it…I love a good cliff-hanger, especially one that keeps people guessing. And we plan to keep that up throughout this Saga, so if you think you've got it all figured out, you may want to think again.

Thanks again to everyone who is still reading and reviewing! Enjoy the next chapter!

Scott sat at the kitchen table in his apartment, staring blankly at nothing as his still jumbled and troubled mind tried to make sense of everything he had seen today. It had been nearly two hours since he had left Roxanne's apartment and he still hadn't been able to shake his worry for his sister, as well as the reaction he was going to get from Annie. He had told them both, as well as himself, many times over the years that he wasn't going to choose between them, but he had the distinct feeling that somehow it was going to come to that. God, what the hell am I supposed to say!

"NO! NONONONO!"

Annie's ear splitting scream of terror didn't leave Scott much time to plan as he automatically jumped out of the kitchen chair and sped into the living room. She stared right at him with the most heart-shattering expression he'd ever seen and nearly leapt off the couch before he automatically sat down and pulled her close, rubbing her back as he began the arduous process of trying to comfort her.

"Shhh, Annie, shhh, it's okay," Scott soothed her quietly as she trembled ferociously in his arms. In all the years he'd known her, he had never seen her react this badly to anything, and trying to calm her was proving to be no easy task.

"She killed them…she killed them ALL…" Annie wailed through heavy tears, muttering continuously, "…all my Ranger friends…she tried to kill me…"

"Everything's fine, baby…we're home, and everything's fine," He continued to repeat, almost as much for his benefit as hers. "It was just a dream, a really bad dream…" A complete and utter real life nightmare, and I can't wake up or pretend that it didn't even happen…

Annie pulled away from him and shakily brushed a piece of hair away from her face as she regarded him with a semi-wild look, her voice thick through tears that were still falling. "It wasn't JUST a dream, Scott. The threats on my life weren't 'just a dream', you almost dying because of it wasn't 'just a dream', and my Phoenix knife disappearing and turning up bloody on a homemade dart board of me in your sister's apartment isn't 'just a dream' either. She wants me dead…and she's going to keep trying to make it happen."

I don't want to have to do this… But the reply left his lips automatically, "Annie, you saw the cabinet full of drugs…you heard what Jess said, and you heard the message she left here. Roxy probably doesn't even remember more than half of what she's been doing. She's been set up…it's all a very carefully planned setup…" It has to be…I refuse to believe anything else.

"Buddy believed Roxanne was behind all the threats, too." Scott's eyes widened in shock as Annie shot back with information she had never really meant to tell him.

"What!"

Annie laughed somewhat deliriously, "Buddy and I just never told you, because she somehow managed to convince him she was innocent…" Then she tried to pull herself together by wiping away her tears and sliding closer to him. "Scott, I know this is hard for you to understand or even accept, but please…" She pleaded with him, "…please, you have to believe me on this…"

"No, Annie…" Scott shook his head and she could see the tears forming in his eyes. "…I'm not going to believe you, or Buddy, or anyone else. I am not going to believe that my sister is a murderer."

"Why?" It was Annie's last plea for a dying cause.

"The same reason you wouldn't believe your father was a traitor all those years ago."

The recoil was just as sharp as though Scott had physically slapped her. She scrambled off of the couch and nearly tripped over the coffee table as she gaped open mouthed at him; unable to express the total shock he'd just given her. Hot tears of disbelief, anger, and fear fell down her cheeks as she mumbled the only reply she could come up with.

"How…could…YOU…"

Without another word, Annie bolted into their extra bedroom and slammed the door harshly, crying piteously as she fell onto the bed and hugged the pillows tightly.

Scott could hear her from where he still sat on the couch, and he let out a deep sigh as he noted that he was too emotionally drained himself to care.

The door to the spare bedroom opened early the next morning. Annie was curled up on her side, sleeping somewhat soundly with her arms still snuggled around her pillow. The smell of fresh coffee brought her around, and she opened her eyes to find Scott standing over her with a full mug. "Your watch just went off."

She sat up and took the mug from him, eyeing the room sleepily as she took a few sips. "I don't even remember where I left it."

"On the counter." He paused, then mentioned by way of apology, "I called Dad to see if I needed to wake you, and he said he needs you as soon as possible. He has more news on Roxanne. Whenever you're ready, we can go."

"We?" Annie hated to broach another possible subject for argument, but she couldn't let this go. "You haven't…"

"I know I'm not cleared for duty yet, Annie, but I want to know what's happened to my sister." To defuse any more remaining animosity between them, he added, "I'll leave the rest in your capable hands."

Scott and Annie were surprise to see a massive mob of old friends accumulating in the Boudlerhill headquarters. They both had expected Alex, Bruce, Brad, Buddy, Julio, and Dusty to be present, since they continued to offer MASK backup support. But they never expected Matt to call everyone to active duty, especially the few agents who thought MASK was just a thing of their past. NASCAR title holding mom Gloria Baker officially left MASK the day she said her wedding vows, to racecar competitor Jeff Gordon. Professor Hondo Mclean pursued his dream job at Harvard, while acting as a consultant to the FBI. Calhoun Burns became a famous horse whisper and preferred a simple life on his ranch, while Jacques Lafleur spent his retirement making millions with his lumber industries in Quebec.

"You feeling alright?" Brad asked suppressing an urge to hug his daughter, as he approached her. It was obvious somebody had told him she fainted by the looks he was giving her.

"Yeah dad just a bit rattled." Annie glanced around the room at faces she hadn't seen in awhile. In her mind, this was a little extreme asking everybody to put aside their own lives for a killer. "Was this really necessary?"

"Yes," Matt responded coming up behind her, "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Now if you'll take your places we'll get started. We don't have much time."

"What do you mean, dad?" Scott asked a tad worried.

"This is why," Buddy put the breaking news on the overhead for everybody to watch.

"This is Kris Johnson reporting live from PNA headquarters. In a few moments, head of PNA terrorist investigation unit Inaya Vendun will address the public concerning the death of PNA president Duane Kennedy."

The camera paned in closer the moment Inaya stepped up to the podium. "Thursday at 10:47pm Duane Kennedy and his wife Alice were murdered. It has been determine two individuals were involved in the murder. Unfortunately only one person can be identified. We are issuing a warrant for the arrest of Roxanne Trakker for the murder of Duane and Alice Kennedy. If you see or hear anything regarding her whereabouts call our tip line. Whatever you do. Do not approach her and use extreme caution. Now I'll take your questions."

One of the reporters raised his hand out of the crowd, "This Roxanne Trakker is the same daughter of millionaire Matt Trakker?"

"Indeed," Inaya replied with no hint of surprise, "She has had pervious connections with a terrorist group known as VENOM. But Mr. Trakker and his son had no involvement with this. It appears his daughter has gone rouge and choose to take matters into her own hands by siding with the enemy."

Buddy shut off the overhead, as thought the live news report would reveal very little more.

"That can't be true!" Scott shouted, "Roxy would never kill in cold blood like that!"

"The knife in Roxanne's apartment was covered in Duane blood and her finger prints." Buddy quietly added. "In addition strands of Roxanne hair were found at the murder scene. Everything points to her being involved, so the PNA decided to issue a warrant her arrest. We tried to plea for more time, but they refused our request."

"But…" Scott spoke up overwhelm with anger, "But she was set up…we can all see that…somebody set her up. What about her doctor? You get any information from him."

"Negative," Jess replied, "He skipped town. How ironic is that?"

"That can't be a coincidence he had to been working for Contra World. That's proof enough that she was set up...what more do we need," Scott insisted.

"Hard evidence Scott," Alex reminded. "Yes the doctor missing, but that doesn't prove anything but speculates his involvement. He's been working for the PNA as a doctor long before your sister was found. She wasn't his only patient, so we can't isolate this to one incident."

"In other words," Julio remarked, "The best we can do is haul him in for medical malpractice for issuing her improper drugs for her condition and take away his license."

Matt looked around at everyone, before asking something that weight heavily on his conscious. "I know many of you at this table have never cared for Roxanne, but I'm asking as a friend for your help. The PNA refuses to have MASK involve in the hunt, because of a conflict of interest. She's ill and in trouble. I'm going to look for her with or without the PNA help."

"Lets say we do find her," Dusty crossed his arm, "You just going to hide her. She's wanted for a double murder."

"Dusty your being harsh," Gloria scold. "Matt asking for help and your more worried about if she's gonna get away with it."

"He's right," Hondo rested a hand on his chin, "This isn't some small accident you can cover up for her. Are you willing to do the right thing and turn her in, if we in fact do find her?"

"No absolutely NOT!" Scott shot up in his seat. "She didn't do it!" Annie glanced at Scott in anger, but she kept her mouth shut. She did too...and I don't care what you say. Even with cold hard evidence in front of your still blinded by your heart.

"Scott, we're well aware of what your sister means to you and your father." Calhoun added, "It's not easy to believe that somebody you love could do something so ghastly."

"Yes," Matt responded with hesitance.

"But dad!" Scott slammed his fist into the table. "It was the PNA who gave her that doctor. How the heck can you trust them to her custody again."

"If it meant saving her I would, even if it would be the hardest decision I could ever make. It would be for her safety to be locked up."

"Then you can count us in Matt, but where do you suggest we start the search? If she was that easy to find, I'm sure the PNA would have her by now." Jacques asked.

"Contra World is after a missile guidance system that was partly created by my brother." Matt started to pace around the table. "To gain access you need two keys and the location of the control station. Contra World has one key, now they need the second."

"If you don't mind me asking. What's so special about this guidance system? It should only be able to destroy missiles or change their destructive path." Brad curiously asked.

"More like a time bomb," reminded Bruce. "Andy was using crystal technology to power the system. It was never perfected, until a few PNA scientists undertook the project. If Contra World gets their hands on it, they will undoubtedly overload the system, send the satellite hurling into the earth, causing massive radiation damage and even death. Which will result in the PNA downfall and lost of public trust."

"They haven't exactly been favored in the public eye these past few years, with the rise of terrorism," Matt reminded. "This is all Contra World needs to accomplish to cause an uproar. Living proof the PNA is abandoning its mission of peace and is no better then a terrorist organization itself. Anyways the second key is with the UN president Jean Ping. He's currently hiding out in his home country in Africa. If we stop them from succeeding their plan, I have a feeling that somehow we'll find Roxanne."

"Won't the PNA try to stop us?" Dusty inquired believing this mission had more consequences then any of them have taken in account.

"I'd like to see them try," Matt added with a crooked smile. "It's your choice ladies and gentleman the transport is leaving in exactly 4 hours. I'll understand if you back out."

The moment the meeting adjourn Scott rush up to this father, "I'm coming too."

"I can't let you do that," Matt replied putting a proud hand on his shoulder and looking directly into his eyes. "You're still recovering, until the doctors say otherwise you're off duty. I'll be checking every vehicle on board and every corner of that transport, so don't even consider attempting to stowaway."

"But I can't just stay here and do nothing."

"What if she comes home?" Matt reminded, "Whose going to help her, if she comes back to this empty hallow shell? If you won't do it for me…do it for Roxy sake."

Scott let a big sigh realizing his father was right. If there was any chance she did make it home in her condition, she'd be a nervous wreck without him or Matt there, "I understand. Just bring her home dad."

"I will son."

Annie strode purposefully over to where Matt and Scott were standing, ready to give the latter the heave-ho right out of Boulderhill until she realized that Matt had beaten her to the punch. Instead, she changed tactics and prepared to shoo both of them off until it was time for the transport to leave.

"You both look like hell. Go…do something…bond for a while… I don't care, as long as you do it away from here. This is going to be a tough mission, and if you're leading it," she glanced pointedly at Matt, "I need you refreshed and ready to go. I don't want to see you here anytime within the next four hours," she admonished sharply, then turned a determined look on Scott. "And YOU, I better not see at all."

Annie crossed her arms and gave both Trakker's her best 'I'm not backing down' look. Matt looked ready to protest, and then rubbed his eyes in defeat. "I take it you'll make all the necessary preparations…"

"Count on it. I'll have your team debriefed and ready to go by the time you get back."