Chapter Six
She reached for the amulet, but stopped. She had no idea why, but was suddenly reluctant to touch either object. Instead she put down the box and picked up the letter. It was hand written, and she recognized Yori's neat script. Obviously this was something important.
Tara-chan,
Please read this letter and consider your next actions very carefully before you make them.
I find that it has been very difficult to write, as I fear to say too much, or too little.
It is my duty to inform you that a choice has been placed before you, and your answer will
affect forever the path you take in life. It was not my desire, nor Sensei's, to impose this
burden, most especially without your consent, but the nature of certain prophecies make
it necessary.
Tara looked up at a poster of the O Boyz she had never gotten around to taking down. 'I'm being forced to make a life changing decision, right here and now, with no warning...' she thought. Despite her passive nature, Tara felt a flash of both anger and fear, feelings she knew well from having to watch as Jenny was taken away to face prison on her home world. She took a deep breath and calmed herself before reading further.
If this angers you, I beg that you strive to calm yourself and understand before taking any
action. Forces are already in motion, and the choice must now be made. Remember that
refusing to choose is a choice as well.
It must be emphasized that this decision is yours and yours alone. That is, unfortunately,
the nature of prophecy. I beg that you not seek advice for this, as the whereabouts of the
Amulet, as well as its nature, must be kept secret.
The choice is this: whether or not to take up and wield the object before you.
What you have been given is the Amulet of Protection, created by the Mystical Monkey Monks
and worn by Yamanouchi warriors in battle many times over the centuries. It protects the one
who wears it, and has never failed in its task. It also endows the wearer with certain other
abilities in line with its purpose. The scroll explains.
If you choose the Amulet, you will become far more useful to your friends, but will also expose
yourself to great danger. You already know these risks, and the Amulet is not perfect. In this
case, read the scroll before donning the Amulet.
If you choose not to bear it, you will become its Guardian and must protect it at any cost.
This role has its hazards as well. The Amulet and scroll are greatly desired by certain people
who must not get them. The risk of keeping it at the school has grown too great, which is
why it is entrusted to you. In this case, hide it well.
Once again she paused. 'I have to keep a magical amulet safe, if I don't want to wear it...' she thought, 'And if I do, I can help Jenny and Kim and Ron. Wow, this IS life-changing...' She felt a bit of pride that Sensei thought she was worthy of keeping such a secret.
Tara-chan, you have all the wisdom and courage you need to make this decision. I urge
you to think and act with all of it. The knowledge is just enough, and I am sorry I cannot
give you more. Think well, but not too long.
I ask that you put the skills you learned here to use, and meditate on your decision, and let
me know what it is.
You are a friend of the Yamanouchi School and will always be welcome here, no matter what
you decide.
Your Friend,
Yori
She folded the letter and put it in the box. Then she put the box under her bed. She looked at the computer and was tempted to call the school, but Yori had emphasized that she couldn't be told any more. This was big. As big as anything she had ever faced in her life.
'I'm going to take Yori's advice and meditate on it,' she thought. Then looked at the clock. 'Tomorrow. Sleeping on it will probably be a good idea.'
kpkpkp
Over the next few days Tara was quiet and pensive. Her mom became concerned, but was reassured there was nothing wrong. "I have to make a decision about something, but I can't talk about it. I'd ask you for advice if I could, Mom," she said.
Her mom raised a blond eyebrow. "Does it have to do with the school in Japan?"
"Yeah, but like I said, I can't talk about it," Tara repeated.
Well, okay, I won't pry. You know I trust you, so do your best. And remember you can always come to me," said her mom.
"I know, mom, and thanks!" Tara gave her a hug.
She spent as much time with her friends as possible, watching them, and asking for details about their missions. The others thought nothing of that, since she was now in the loop.
She read the letter several more times and tried to think of what it could mean. This Amulet of Protection would keep the person wearing it safe, and it could do other things she wouldn't find out about unless she decided to take it up.
She thought about cheating and reading the scroll, but when she tried, that same reluctance to touch it came on her. It was weird, and must be part of the magic. In the end she decided not to read it, trusting Yori and Sensei to know what they were doing.
kpkpkp
A few days later, following an afternoon of volunteer work at an animal shelter, she sat on the bed and meditated, going over and over everything she knew. She visited her memories of Yamanouchi, to see if she could find any hints. The place held many secrets, and they were well-guarded. There was nothing she could think of to guide her.
Just then, a sound her computer had never made before broke her concentration. BEEP! BEEP! BE-DEEP!
When she looked, the screen saver had turned off, and a video window opened. It was divided into quarters, and Wade, Ron, Kim, and Jenny each filled one.
"What's the sitch, Wade?" asked Kim.
"Tara, you there?" asked the computer genius.
"Yep, right here!" she said, sliding off the bed and sitting in the chair at the desk.
"Welcome aboard!" said Jenny with a grin.
"Got a hit on the site," said Wade, "And you'll never guess who from! Shego!"
There were four incredulous looks on Wade's monitor, becoming five when Rufus' head popped into view.
"It came from Drakken's lair," said Wade, "Let me stream it." he tapped the keyboard, and the video came up.
"Kimmie, I need help," said Shego in a low voice. She looked over her shoulder, then back at the camera. "Dr. D's lost it. He attacked the henchmen with a ray of some kind. I think some of them are dead. He keeps yelling about everyone holding him back from taking over the world." She paused, and turned toward a door on the left in the background.
Everyone gasped. The back of her costume was burned open, and singed around the edge of the hole. Her pale skin was reddened. She turned back, and the pain on her face was clear.
"I can hear him coming!" she said, a note of desperation creeping into her voice.
"Oh, SHEEEEGO! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Drakken's voice came clearly over the feed, "I have some nice cocoa-moo for you!" The singsong was positively creepy.
The feed cut, just as Drakken appeared in the door.
"Wade, go back to that last second, and freeze," said Kim.
The boy genius did so. Drakken was halfway in the room, holding the weapon in front of himself. His normally toothy grin was as wide as ever, and the maniacal gleam in his eyes was very bright. Shego was part way out of frame, and actually looked scared.
"How long ago?" asked Jenny.
"About two minutes," said Wade.
"KP, I've got a bad feeling here," said Ron. Rufus nodded. "It's screaming trap!"
"I think so too, Ron, but we can't ignore this," she replied, "Was that the Middleton lair?"
"Yeah," said Wade.
"Okay. Ron, we'll pick up you and Rufus in three minutes," said Kim.
"We'll be ready," was the reply, and the screens in Wade's room darkened, except for Tara's.
"What happens now?" she asked.
"There's nothing to see until they get to the lair, in about twelve minutes," said Wade, "But I'm keeping you in the loop."
Wade disappeared from Tara's monitor, to be replaced with a map of Middleton. Her house, Kim and Jenny's, and Ron and Rufus' were marked, as was a place just outside the city limits, which she figured must be the lair.
As she watched, a red dot left Kim's house, stopped briefly at Ron's and headed toward the odd place.