Carter stroked Vally's hair, trying to comfort the little girl. She was crying now, the anger in the room palpable and bringing her nothing but dread. Her father's strong arms offers only a small shield against the onslaught that she, even being as young and innocent as she was, knew would come.
It was finally Galatea that spoke.
"So…you and Madrid's mom, huh?"
Carter stared at her, utterly confused. "What the…"
Madrid snapped out of whatever spell had frozen her, stomping forward and grabbing Vally. "Let go of her, you sick freak!"
"NO!" Vally wailed, reaching out as Madrid tore her away. "Daddy!"
"I told you he was getting to close to her…" Sergei glared at Carter, disgusted at his mere presence. "What games did you teach her? Play House…Mommy/Daddy time."
Carter's face twisted in horror. "What the hell do you think I am?"
"Pedaphile, monster, child molester…want me to continue."
Tina frowned. "Watch it!" She snapped. "You don't know anything."
"I know he shouldn't be near her again." Sergei replied with utter conviction. He raised his hand, barbs slowly sticking out. "I should put you down."
"NO!" Vally screamed again, rushing over and kicking Sergei in the ankle. "No hurt daddy!"
"Would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" Lee demanded.
Galatea shrugged. "As far as I can figure, Carter and Madrid's mom did the cha cha under the sheets."
"Galatea…" Tina said, patting her shoulder, "not helping."
"I didn't sleep with Madrid's mother!" Carter snapped. "Jesus…I'm a freakin' virgin…"
The rest of the group paused, looking at Carter, who grit his teeth. "Well…" Lee finally said, "no one would say that and be lying."
Madrid stood up, holding a wiggling, squirming Vally in her arms. "Then what…you really are a pedaphile?"
"NO!" Carter roared, eyes flashes. "I would never touch a child like that…let alone my own daughter."
"How can you have a daughter and be a virgin?" Lee asked. He snapped his fingers. "Did Madrid's mother and a toilet seat…"
Galatea slapped Lee across the head.
Carter shook his head. "You wouldn't believe me if I explained."
"Try me." Madrid snarled.
The young man looked towards the ceiling. "Tina's father…Linderman…he had my mother gather some of my genetic material…he was working on producing new, advanced children."
"Why you?" Lee questioned. "I mean…I know you're powerful…"
Carter took a deep breath. "Apparently…I'm some sort of chosen one…"
"Like Anakin Skywalker? Because…no offense, but we saw how it went for him." Lee replied.
Sergei pounced, his skills as a trial lawyer finally put to good use. "Yes…a chosen one…we have heard you proclaim to be the Voice of God. Tell me, Mr. Daniels, does God often speak to you? Does he command you to do things…to show little children his "glory"?"
"I-didn't-touch-Vally." Carter ground out. "And second, God has no gender. Besides, I never met him/her."
Sergei began to pace. "Oh…then how exactly are you the Voice of God."
"You know about…my death…"
Sergei rolled his eyes. "Yes…your mysterious return to the living world."
Lee was getting a chaffed by Sergei's comments. "Hey, Boris…" he grabbed one of his drawings, summoning a locust. "I can make things come alive…you fire blood out of your hands like needles. Is resurrection that crazy?"
Sergei waved him off. "There is a difference between the fantastic and the impossible. We all have witnessed these powers…only the 'Metatron' here has had the sudden religious experience that has him judging people and acting like some angel descended to earth."
Carter took a step forward. "Funny…I thought you were concerned with me hurting Vally…sounds more like you got a problem with me…"
"Maybe I do…and it stems from you convincing that little girl you're her father, so you can do who knows to her…scar her for life…"
Madrid wrapped her arms around Vally, holding her closer. "I think you need to leave, Carter…I don't want you any where near my sister."
Vally shook her head. "Daddy…" she whimpered.
"I'm going no where." Carter said sternly. "Least of all with you people near my daughter."
"She isn't your daughter…" Madrid snapped.
"What do you mean, 'you people'?" Galatea questioned, Jessica rearing to be let out.
Carter looked at each of them in turn. "I had a talk with my grandfather while you three…" he motioned at Lee, Galatea and Tina, "…dealt with Lee's clone mom and the killer twins."
Sergei scoffed. "Wonderful…more family. Atleast tell me this man is alive and not an angelic messenger."
"Or like Terrence." Galatea added.
"Neither. He did inform me, however, that one of you has been in contact with another one of Lee's relatives." That got their attention. Carter held up his hand, trying to get them to quiet down as they all demanded he talk. "I don't know who…neither does my grandfather. All he knows is that each of you has a motive for betraying me and Vally…" He locked eyes with Madrid. "Even you."
"Me?" Madrid scoffed. "She's my sister…I might betray you, but here…"
"Lets just say I heard an interesting conversation between you and some friends…involving Vally's need only to coo to get attention…"
Madrid paled, remembering all to clearly how she had felt when her parents had brought the little attention stealer home from the hospital. Desperate to get the attention off of her, Madrid went with the only topic to pull their eyes and thoughts from her. "And again with you and Vally…you are not her father!"
Carter was about to snap at her, make a comment about he pitching tired old comments, when he noticed something…something he needed to point out. "Tina." The psychiatrist jumped slightly. "You haven't said a word…" Realization dawned on him. "Linderman was the one that arranged for Valencia's birth…you knew." He took a step closer. "didn't you?"
Tina locked eyes with Madrid, who was staring at her in shock. "I…I didn't know how to tell you…how to explain…" She glanced up at Carter. "We need to tell her the rest."
"Rest…what rest?" Madrid demanded, turning towards one then the other. "What is going on."
"It's…it's about Vally's mother." Carter said softly.
"What…now going to convince me you slept with my mom?" Madrid said snidely, Sergei nodding and lending his support.
"Your mother is not Vally's mother." Carter answered.
"Wait…so Madrid isn't related to Vally?" Lee asked.
"Not quite…" Carter said nervously.
"What do you…"
"You're her mother…Madrid." Tina said, cutting to the chase. "My father used eggs he took from you when you went in for surgery, fertilized them with Carter's semen and made your mother a surrogate."
Vally's eyes widened. "Maddy's my mama?"
Madrid felt like slapped Tina. "Don't you dare fill her head with those lies." She glared at Carter. "You buy her off to pretend all of this is true?"
"Madrid…" Carter began.
"Maddy…no wanna be my mama?" Vally asked, bottom lip quivering.
Madrid sighed "Vally…just…go to the other room." She motioned towards the door that contacted their hotel rooms.
Vally began to cry, wiggling as hard as she could, trying to escape. "Maddy…hate…me!" She wailed.
Normally, Madrid would have taken the time to comfort her daughter, reassured her that she did love her and that if the tales Carter were telling were true, of course she would love to be her mother. But her rage…rage at the situation, rage at the people in the room, rage that she had been left with a bratty toddler and no money all because of her parents' need to help others…caused her to focus inward.
"Vally…go." She said sternly.
To her surprise, Vally stomped her foot down."No!" Vally screamed. "Want daddy!"
"He isn't your daddy!"
"Yes he is!" She said stubbornly.
Madrid locked eyes with her. "No he isn't…" She grabbed her shoulders. "Now you listen to me…you will do what I say, right now."
"No. No listen to you." Vally said stubbornly.
"Vally…" Carter said, his tone brokering no argument. "Go in the other room…watch Darkwing Duck with special bear."
Vally complied instantly, heading to the door, snatching the bear from the bed. Madrid was utterly floored. "Why are you listening to him and not me?" She demanded.
The toddler turned to glare at Madrid. "He-the-daddy…you-just-Maddy." She said as if she were the adult and Madrid the child. She closed the door, leaving the adults to argue.
"Someone is cranky." Lee muttered.
"Dora the Explorer is pissed." Galatea said with a chuckle, sharing her first honest-to-goodness laugh with Lee since Philly. The artist noticed this, and couldn't help but smile back. Maybe…just maybe…he could learn to like this new Galatea.
Sergei crossed his arms, glaring at Tina as she moved towards Carter. "Your father kidnapped each of us…personally tortured me…I am not surprised that you would side with this pervert."
"How about we not throw names around, Sergei." Lee said, focus pulled from Galatea.
Carter nodded. "or do I need to tell the class about your dear ol' dad." Sergei paled. "The sins of the father don't pass to the son…remember that."
Madrid stepped closer to Carter, pointing a finger at him. "I want you leave…now. I don't want you near my sister…and you better pray to the being you're the supposed voice of that I don't rip your tongue out if you say one more word about you being her father or me her mother." She whirled on Tina. "And you…nice to know who myfriends are…Judas."
Tina's face cracked eyes growing watery. "Madrid…"
"You lie to me…pose as my friend…you disgust me…both of you."
Carter grabbed Tina by the shoulder. "We'll go for a walk…let everyone cool off…then answer any questions you have."
Sergei nodded. "Perhaps that would be wise…give you chance to prepare your defense."
"And your prosecution." Tina said snidely, disliking the man that had taken over her role as Madrid's best friend.
"enough." Carter demanded, turning to Lee and Galatea. "…watch out for them while we're gone…there's still a traitor in the group…be careful." Carter made towards the door, arm wrapped around Tina, but turned to lock eyes with the artist. "And Lee…I forgive you…for everything."
Lee nodded slightly, startled by Carter's raw words. "Yea…me too." He finally admitted, the door shutting with a clasp.
The room was silent as each worked through their emotions, trying to figure out exactly how they were suppose to react to this development. Only Madrid was sure, still raging at the man that had wormed his way into Valencia's heart.
"Did…anyone think that sounded less like a 'see ya' and more like a 'goodbye'?" Galatea finally asked.
Lee had been pondering something else. "Since when has Darkwing Duck been on the air?" The others turned to glare at him. "What…I like the cartoon…use to watch it back when I was in high school."
The comment dropped like a lead balloon.
"Vally…" Madrid said with a shudder, darting to the connector door and ripping it open. "Vally?" She called out, looking at the still running television.
"A code word…genius." Sergei muttered, noticing Vally's backpack was gone.
"Vally…" Madrid cried out in a panic, tearing open the door and looking up and down the hallway. "VALLY!"
&&&
"Did you see their faces when the pipe burst?" Linda asked gleefully.
"You are enjoying this waaaaay too much." Kelly muttered, the two of them heading back to Paulette's house.
Linda shrugged. "I enjoy dealing with idiots like that…putting my power to good use."
"A professor shutting down a school…no wonder your students love you."
Linda was about to retort when a car pulled up, Hank popping his head out the window. "Hey…come on…we need to go!"
"What?" Both asked.
"Get in!" Marshal snarled, opening the back door and getting them seated. "Major news."
"How major."
"Real major." Hank said. "Carter's alive."
The girls fell silent.
"HOW?"
"WHAT?"
"ARE YOU SURE?"
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND!"
"IS THIS A JOKE?"
"QUIET!" Helena screamed. Once the girls were silent, she began to speak. "I don't know how or why…all I know is a few hours after he was put in the morgue, my son killed 50 guards and escaped with Tina Linderman, Madrid and Valencia Alverez, some guy named Sergei, Marshal's sparring partener Galatea, and Lee Malion."
"Lee…" Kelly questioned. "The guy that made the clones…"
"The guy who killed Carter?" Linda exclaimed.
Marshal frowned. "We know as little as you…except that Carter is Las Vegas…along with his dau…"
'Live and let die…live and let die….live and let die…'
Helena answered her cellphone. "Hello?"
"Mrs. Helena Daniels?"
"Yes…who is this."
"Listen to me carefully…I have been watching you and your son for many days…and I can not stay quiet a moment longer. The Metatron is in grave danger."
"Who is this?" Helena demanded. "What do you mean, danger?"
"My name is Hana Gittlemen…and if you do not do as I say, your son will be dead within the hour."
&&&
"Where we goin'?" Vally asked, peering at her father as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Someplace…fun." Carter lied.
"Is Maddy coming?" She asked softly.
"No…no she isn't princess." Carter admitted.
Vally nodded sadly. "I'm sowwy I yelled at her."
"I know you are." Carter said as he hurried out of the lobby. "She knows too. But Madrid needs time to deal with the fact that she's your mommy. That's why she was upset…I was upset when I found out…" At Vally's tears, he backpedaled. "Because I didn't know before…every mommy and daddy want to be their when their baby is born, and Madrid and I missed that. I was angry thinking about missing your first step, first words…I had a whole year to accept everything…and learn to enjoy what would come." He smiled. "That's why she sent Tina with us…Madrid told her to come to make sure you knew how much your mommy loves you."
Tina nodded, going along with the lie. "That's right shortround…we'll be like the 3 musketeers…and when your mommy is ready…we'll meet up with everyone again."
"Can we have a pawty? With cake and a pony and every not yelling?" Vally asked innocently.
Carter nodded, praying to God that the wishes of children would come true. 'Be a happier place if they did.' He thought as they made their way down a back alley.
"A party?" A woman's voice called out. "I like parties. Can I come Valencia?"
Carter and Tina turned around, each tensing as the woman stepped forward.
"Elle." Tina snarled, remembering the girl quite well from her days working with her father. She hated the bitch with a passion…Elle being one of the ones that had enjoyed torturing her. "Where's your partner…company policy states you get a regular to back you up."
"You warrant special tactics." A man said, stepping forward. Carter instantly tenses. "Two supers…no humans for you three."
"Terrence."
"Hello brother." Terrence said. "We're here for my niece."
"Over my dead body."
Elle grinned as she summoned her blue lightning. "Goodie…I was hoping you'd say that."
&&&
Author's note: Originally, Tina was not going to come with Carter. But I realized while writing this, it makes no sense that Tina sides with Carter, then lets him get kicked out. The two of them would leave, taking Vally with them.
&&&
And now, Mr. Chaos presents to you the exclusive trailer for the brand new miniseries based on the world of Elsewhere.
(Screen fades to black, and we hear the twang of a guitar)
????: What would you do…?
(We see a man in a suit backing away in fright, a red glow illuminating from a wicker crib as a baby coos. The screen goes black)
????: If the world turned against you…
(The screen begins to lighten, revealing a red sun rising over the desert, a baby screams as a horse rides towards him, the child left to die)
????: If all you knew was made dirt…
(We see a priest lift the baby up, the child's red eyes glowing brightly as he howls. The screen goes black)
????: All you loved torn asunder…
(We fade in on a church, where a young boy with red eyes listens at the feet of the priest that saved him)
Born a monster…
(We see the young boy pulled out a hunting knife, throwing it and killing a fly that buzzed in the back of the church)
Raised an angel…
(We see the boy now a man, accepting a white collar from him)
Trained as a holy man…
(We see the man standing at the church door, staring out at something, eyes still glowing red)
Protected by God…
(We see the man place a flower on a dusty grave)
Baptized by Tragedy…
(We see the man removing the cross from his neck, picking up a gun)
Reborn by Vengeance
(We see the man kill another man, a town preacher cradling the dead body as the man coldly puts on his black cowboy hat.)
Preacher: Isaiah Ellis…you murderer!
(Screen goes to black)
Isaiah: What…would you do?
(We see Isaiah riding across the desert, a hanging posse on his heels, as Indian war drums beat steadily faster. We then see the man in the suit, older now, shocked when a lightning strike reveals Isaiah standing next to a portrait of himself as a newborn. The shot switches to Isaiah marching through a church, guns blazing)
From Mr. Chaos, creator of Elsewhere, The Son Becomes The Father, and GX: Hunters…
(We see Isaiah throwing a woman into a wall, a gun pressed to her head. Next, a shot of him crying as he drapes himself over a golden cross, blood coating his body. Finally, we see him surrounded by men, eyes blazing as he slowly reaches for his guns)
Comes a new vision of the past…
(We see Isaiah standing before the old church in the desert, the building in flames, eyes burning red)
Before you can become a myth…you must first become a legend
(The drums stop and we have a Close-up of Isaiah's eye as the screen goes red)
Shades of Yesterday: The Legend of Isaiah
The 7 Part Series
December 10, 2007