§ § § -- September 15, 1996

"Um…hello?" At that point they all looked around and noticed Michiko standing in the doorway, looking very uncertain. "I'm sorry to intrude, but I just wanted to know if Miss Foster's going to be all right."

"She'll be fine," Leslie assured her. "We found an antidote and she's okay."

"What a relief," Michiko said, lighting up. "I'm glad. Mr. Roarke, I realize I have no business being here, but I have a couple of things that might interest your guests there, if you don't mind the indulgence."

Roarke smiled. "That's up to the Fosters, Michiko," he said kindly.

"That's Michiko Tokita, the singer!" Daphne blurted. "Let her in already!"

They all laughed, even Shara, and made room for Michiko around Shara's bed. The group introduced themselves and Michiko shook hands with them all. "How on earth is it that you're here and you know about us?" Joy asked.

"I'm a native of Fantasy Island, and Leslie and I have been friends for years," said Michiko, sparing her friend a grin that was promptly returned. "My husband and stepchildren and I are here for a vacation at the moment. I've seen you perform—I was at your first show at the supper club, and also at the last one this afternoon at the amusement park with my stepdaughter. I think all of you are incredibly talented, and my stepdaughter was very favorably impressed as well. Now I have a little proposition for you. I'm taking an extended break from my own recording career, trying to decide what to do, and I think I've just found an answer." She looked at Shara. "I assume you're going to spend some time recovering from your addiction, but after you're back on your own two feet, I hope you and your sisters will come to Arcolos. I'd like to sponsor your entry into show business and get your recording career off the ground. You can record your debut album in my studio, and I'll see to it that my own staff handles publicity and production. What do you think?"

For a second or two there was a stunned silence; then all five singers exploded at one time into a frenetically excited babble that made Roarke and Leslie grin at each other. At last Michiko lifted both hands, laughing, till they subsided. "I guess that's a yes. Good, then I'll give you my e-mail address and you can keep me updated on Shara's progress in recovery. Which one of you should I be speaking with?"

"Joy's kind of the leader," Shara spoke up. "You can stay in touch with her."

Michiko nodded. "Thanks, then I'll do that."

"What was the other thing you thought they'd be interested in, Michiko?" Leslie asked then, recalling Michiko's words from a few minutes earlier.

"Oh, that's right…thanks, Leslie." Michiko grinned and turned to Shara again. "Do you mind watching a little TV? The eleven-o'clock news should be on shortly, and I think you might be interested in the lead story."

Shara shrugged. "Okay, sure. Brooke, I think the remote's on the table there."

Brooke found the device and clicked on the television set, peering at Michiko. "What story are we supposed to be watching here?"

"It's a good one," Michiko said, grinning mysteriously. "I happened to see a promo ad for it before I came over here, and the subject material sounded fascinating."

Before anyone could react, the familiar fanfare for the local newscast sounded from the speaker and all eyes went to the set. Roarke and Leslie both recognized the weekend's other guest sitting in the anchor chair. "Good evening, and welcome to the late news; I'm Joseph Charles, with sports reporter Andy Ewing and weathercaster Kara Ball. Our top story of the night follows the breakup of a major drug-dealing operation." Over Joe Charlimansky's shoulder, a photo of Calvin Dill appeared, eliciting gasps from the Foster Sisters. "Calvin Dill, a talent scout for Goliath Records, has been arrested under charges of dealing in a rare drug known as black lightning. Authorities have been after this organization for several years now, but had never been able to press charges until this weekend, when he was secretly videotaped selling drugs." Leslie glanced at Shara, whose eyes were wide with apprehension. "One of Dill's underlings, a Howard Helms, was arrested last evening on Fantasy Island and made a full confession this morning. Dill is expected to go on trial shortly after he is extradited from Fantasy Island back to the U.S. In other news…"

The rest was drowned out by cheers from the Fosters, and Roarke and Leslie laughed as Brooke shut off the TV. "Was I the one he was taped selling drugs to?" Shara asked in a worried voice.

"No," Roarke assured her, "your involvement is as yet unknown by anyone other than Mr. Dill and Mr. Helms."

Shara took a deep breath. "Well, maybe it should be. Mr. Roarke, I've decided I'm going to testify at Dill's trial. I want to be sure he gets put away." She grinned at Michiko. "Then I can't wait for us to get started on our career, thanks to you."

"First and foremost, you need to get out of the hospital," Michiko said. "Right now, though, I think I should leave so you can get some rest and spend some time with the others here. Thanks so much for letting me butt in."

"You can butt in anytime, Miss Tokita," Daphne said eagerly, evoking laughter. The Fosters shook hands with Michiko, each in turn, before she departed. Roarke and Leslie made their excuses a moment later and headed for home themselves.

"So Howie Helms talked, and Joe Charlimansky got his fantasy big-time," Leslie said, relaxing in the passenger seat of the jeep. "I think that's the first connection I can ever remember between completely separate fantasies. What a great ending."

"Mr. Charlimansky showed a great enthusiasm for the news-reporting business, and it appears he makes a reasonable sleuth as well," Roarke remarked. "He took the risk of going in himself, outfitting himself with a hidden camera and microphone and conducting extensive interviews with Calvin Dill under the guise of reporting a human-interest story about the recording business. While I'm not completely clear on how he managed to get footage of Mr. Dill selling black lightning, it's quite plain that he succeeded admirably in helping to close down the drug ring." He fell silent, staring with only partial concentration at the road in front of them. "I must admit," he finally said softly as Leslie watched him with concern, "I had never expected to encounter black lightning here, on my very own island."

"You don't suppose there are others who have it, do you?" Leslie asked.

Roarke shook his head. "No—once Mr. Dill and Mr. Helms have been taken back to the United States, it will be well and truly gone, and there will be no further dealing with it."

Leslie studied him, barely aware of their arrival back at the main house, and at last took the plunge. "Father, how do you know so much about black lightning and amakarna? Is there some big secret you'd rather not tell me, or what?"

Roarke stopped the jeep, cut the engine and turned to her. "It's not so much a secret, Leslie, but it brings back some painful memories for me." She winced and he smiled at her. "I can tell you, however, that I have had extensive past experience with both the spice and the drug. I have seen too many people whose lives are affected by both." He hesitated, then said gently, "My own life has been affected as well. But that's a story for another time. It's very late, and we must be up early to see our guests off."

Leslie wanted to ask more questions, but she knew he was right, and something in her was afraid to press him too hard. "Okay, Father. I don't mean to pry."

"Oh, you aren't prying, my child. One day I'll fill you in, for I think you should know more than you do. It's simply that this isn't the right time." He smiled then. "Why don't we go on in, and you can let Christian know that his and Marina's help saved Shara Foster's life. I have no doubt they will both be very gratified to know that."

"I agree completely," Leslie said with a return smile. "I'm so glad Michiko came in to check up on Shara. What a great way for things to turn out. I'd heard Joy and Brooke complaining that the talent scouts didn't seem to be jumping at the chance to offer the group a recording contract, so it's fabulous to see Michiko taking them under her wing. It works out well for her too, because she wasn't sure what she wanted to do while she was taking a hiatus from her singing. So everybody's happy."

"That's the aim of Fantasy Island," said Roarke warmly, leading the way into the house. "When everyone is satisfied, I know I've done my job." He glanced at the stairs. "If you'll be so kind as to turn out the lights here when you've finished composing your message to Christian, I'll be grateful. I am afraid I find myself quite tired."

"Go ahead, Father, I don't mind at all," Leslie said and watched him go up before checking for phone messages and then settling at the computer. She brought up a new message, typed Christian's e-mail address into the top field, then began to tell her tale.

Hi, Christian!

It's all ended well. I told Father what you and Marina told me, and you were right: he knew the antidote. He was even able to produce a certain ingredient that he said was vital to its composition. The stuff saved our guest's life, and she's well on the way to recovery already. Not only that, but Michiko, my longtime friend and the wife of Prince Errico of Arcolos, has offered to sponsor the sisters' fledgling recording career. I'm so happy everything came out like this. The group got their fantasy, and Michiko has something exciting to look forward to. I don't think it would have happened if you hadn't recognized the symptoms I told you about. Tell Marina that both Father and I thank her from the heart. And as for you...I love you, and I miss you. But of course, you already know that!

Love always, Leslie

She smiled to herself and sent the message, then signed off and shut down the computer. There were still more mysteries than answers surrounding amakarna, but for the moment, she was just happy to see another successful weekend come to an end. Someday, she was sure, they'd all know the truth…


A/N: The puzzle that is amakarna deepens! How does Roarke know what he knows about it, and where does it ultimately all end up? The answers are still a long way off, but Roarke and Leslie will encounter the stuff again one day when they least expect it…