All right, Kitty, ask and ye shall receive…this time. Thanks for the review.

(three)

Episode 18

Fin was back in his proper dimension shortly before lunchtime. The time he spend with mother was always precious and returning to the world where adults were absent left a longing in his heart that wasn't easy to forget. This time that hole was doubly great because he learned that while he had been absent Brad made his journey to the other side. "So he's really gone?" Fin sighed. Knowing it was coming somehow didn't lessen the shock as he'd hoped it would.

"I saw him off myself." Fractal told him solemnly; throat tight with emotion. Brad had been close to the genius for a long time. Loosing him was a blow. "He just got in that battered old row boat of his and the current took him. When he neared the wall it became like mist, he passed right through to the other side. Fractal bit the arm of his glasses contemplatively for an instant then launched into a one-sided dialogue on his latest hypothetical musings. "I'm not certain mind you" the genius explained, "but Jay was watching from the shore same as I was and it seemed he perceived Brads crossing somewhat differently than I did. I suspect that though the wall seems quite solid there is more to the barrier than brick and mortar. Our world once possessed great reserves of magic. I suspect the ancients forged the barrier from magic. Perhaps those that cross-over understand how it works better than we do. Of course I intend to study the matter more fully when time allows. At present the matter of Jay is most pressing.

"Jay has no place in this world. I wish I'd been here beside you instead of him." Fin told the genius shaking his head ruefully.

"I understand the sentiment my friend…but it seems Jay's presence hear may be more important then we had assumed. My latest computations suggest the natural disasters we have been experiencing may be the result of the vacuum created when he leaves this world. Media thinks it will destroy us…Don't you my dear?"

Fin jumped. For some reason, his normally exceptional senses failed to warn him of her entrance. In fact she was almost at his elbow before Fractal brought her to his attention. "S-so as long as Jay is in our world the quakes stop. But if he leaves for good we're in trouble?" he said valiantly trying to act as if Media's presence had no effect on him. But in truth it seemed the nearness of her drowned out all else.

"So it seems." Fractal agreed.

"Then I'd best make an inspection tour of the tower to be sure the underpinnings are secure." Fin used his most businesslike tone hoping it would be enough to secure his escape.

"Underpinnings?" The enchantress asked. The way she shaped the unfamiliar word almost made Fin blush… But Fractal gave Fin something else to occupy his wayward mind.

The genius simply said "Show us, Fin."

That one short phrase loosed a tumult of memories in Fin's mind and sent him rifling about the cluttered laboratory for colored blocks, cardboard and random bits and pieces.

Media sent a curious look at the rumpled inventor, as if chastising him for wasting her valuable time, but said nothing. "You'll want to see this I think." Fractal assured her.

Fin dumped the bucket of blocks out in the middle of an oriental rug and began sorting through them. In no time a detailed model of the tower began to take shape. Each support beam and buttress was represented with exacting precision. The stalwart commander sat cross-legged, fully engrossed in his project. As he worked he explained how his representation was actually not as strong as the original because it was ridged. "The tower has give—It sways a bit which actually makes it stronger. It is less likely to break when subject to stress, like a reed in the wind.'

"No one knows the tower like Fin does." Fractal explained. "He knows every crevice and cubbyhole. You can't imagine how difficult it was keeping a leash on that boy."

"I don't know about that," Media smiled to her self, "I can imagine quite a bit."

Fractal took no notice of the comment, lost in his own reminisces. "He's quite ingenious my Fin, it is like he knows instinctively how things go together…and how they'll come apart. You know he has even explored the tower from the outside? I found him crouched on the ledge outside a window on the fifty sixth floor."

"Aren't there bars on the windows that high up?" the enchantress asked.

"NOW there are." The genius explained, "After Brad learned Fin had been out there on the ledge, he was worried something would happen so he had me install the grates. Most kids assume they are only decretive but I know better. In retrospect Brad may have been overreacting a bit. As far as I know Fin was the only kid in tower history to insist he be allowed outside the window to chase the 'sky-rabbits and he is somewhat past that now."

As Fin was finishing his building project the volume of his narrative increased. "So in light of the tremors I need to check the I-beams hear, hear and here. While I'm at it I should be sure these support columns are free of cracks and such. It would take quite a lot to undermine the foundation. The tower was constructed to last the ages but the slightest pressure hear—" Fin nudged the slip of paper beneath the central beam and the magnificent tower came tumbling down. "You see." Fin said…Only now taking serious note of his audience. "That's why its important I check them from time to time—especially now that the worst of the quakes is over we should use the time to make any necessary repairs."

"You seriously think you could repair the tower?" Media raised an eyebrow…Never had anyone made a statement so pregnant with meaning.

The monitor captain's offhanded shrug and casual, "What else should I do? Let it fall?" did little to bolster her confidence.

She had already sent the first tendrils of her power into Fin but clearly it would take more to counter the threat he posed. If only there were some way to do so and still manage to exploit the potential she saw in him. Finger had much promise, there was no denying it… the question was…promise to do what?

Even an enchantress can get her heart broken…and that was something Media was determined not to allow.

"Go on Fin, Make your inspection and take Savage with you. There is water leaking out from under the door of my bathing room. Either there was an indoor rainstorm I didn't notice or he's ignored your warning and left the water running, again. Get him out of there so I can call the janitorial staff to clean it up or we'll have floods to worry about as well as storms and earthquakes.

Fin was almost inclined to believe the rainstorm explanation when he entered the chamber and found water dripping from the ceiling as well as all over the floor. "Savage." The captain shook his head in disbelief. "I told you to get cleaned up…not make more mess."

"Water's got to be cleaner than dirt…don't it?" the wild boy reasoned brushing wet bangs from his forehead. "Bug-eye's has boats. Can we have boats?" the boy asked.

"His name is Fractal." Fin frowned. "And you should be grateful he let you use his bathing chamber at all. They are for tower kids…which we aren't."

Monitor headquarters didn't have nice tile bath rooms like the tower…For general cleaning they usually used a large wooden washtub in the shed out back. The lads also made periodic pilgrimages to a system of pools near the hot springs in winter and went swimming in the lake during the summer. Finger hadn't thought their situation was the proper venue for a fleet of toy boats. Then again… there was no reason his monitors shouldn't have boats. --Savage was a master at the pathetic puppy-dog look-- "We'll have to see about the boats." Fin told the soaked savage as he desperately tried to towel up the worst of the flood. By the time the wild boy had changed into dry clothes Fin was ready to leave the rest of the mess to professionals.