No, Helena's not pregnant. Guess again. ;)
Thanks to Aimofdestiny for the beta.
Helena ran and ran. She didn't know why she had started running, but she knew it was important. She had to get to her destination quickly. It was important. So she ran, without knowing where she was going.
The darkness surrounded her, as it always did. It crept up her shoulders, strangling her, leaving her no air to breathe. Helena was afraid of becoming motionless again, of being unable to run, of being frozen in bronze again. Of being unable to go where she had to go.
Light cut through the darkness of her dream. There was a person kneeling a few metres in front of her. She had no idea who this person was, even though she had already seen her face. Often. The intruder of her dreams, the woman that had once given her strength: now she was kneeling there looking utterly helpless. Dark, curly hair fell in front of her face so Helena couldn't see it. But the writer knew what she would see if that woman looked up. She knew that this woman had green eyes. They were bright and usually full of hope, even though there wasn't anything here that could give them hope.
The woman wept, she shivered. Made Helena shiver in reaction, made her feel anxious.
"Please." The intruder of her dreams whispered breathlessly. "Please."
"What can I do?" Helena demanded. "Why are you here?"
The woman looked up, let the Victorian find those green eyes with the slight tinge of grey. They bored into her own, bright and desperate, glistening with tears. Helena tumbled back when she looked into those eyes. Eyes she had seen before on another woman. Eyes that belonged to a different face.
"Who are you?" She hissed, desperate to know the answer. Who was this intruder of her dreams who had Myka's eyes?
"Please." The woman whispered again, not reacting to her questions. The expression on her face was desperate, helpless. Something was wrong.
"Please help me."
Helena jolted upright in her seat next to Myka on the plane. She was breathing heavily, trying to find out where she was. She could feel the younger woman's hand on her shoulder. HG turned her head to look at her. The American's eyebrows were furrowed in confusion, and apparently this was because she was worried about Helena.
"You have had a bad dream." Myka explained like it was necessary. It wasn't. Helena had had nightmares since she had been de-bronzed. Since she had come back into this world. HG was so used to it, and still it made her feel unsettled. She was unable to fight those dreams, to deal with them properly. To not let them get to her this much.
But this dream had been different. There had been this person. Helena looked into Myka's bright green eyes, watched the slight hint of grey in them. She asked herself if she had really seen exactly these eyes in the intruder's face. If she had really seen somebody with Myka's hair and her eyes, asking for her help. But Myka was here. Myka was here, so she could...
"One of many more." The Victorian said weakly. She leaned over to cuddle into the younger woman's arm. Myka embraced her tightly, pulled her closer and softly stroked her hand over the writer's hair.
"You have nightmares?" She whispered. "Regularly? Is this why you didn't sleep tonight?"
They were entangled with one another in these small plane seats, surrounded by so many people and Helena really didn't know if she wanted to talk about this right here and now. But this was Myka. Myka was good. Myka wanted to be good for her.
So HG nodded. "Yes." She replied. "I do. They are awful." And so Helena told her love about the dreams she kept having, about losing Christina, Adelaide or Myka at night. Not every night, but often enough to keep her occupied. To let her fear the darkness.
She told Myka about the men she had killed. Here she lowered her voice, whispered the words into the younger woman's ears while she felt the soothing carress of Myka's hand on her scalp. The plane was bringing them back to South Dakota; Helena's dreams were bringing her back into her past.
But Myka didn't judge. She didn't judge. Instead, she listened attentively to every word Helena told her. Occassionally, she nodded or added something. But all the time, she looked like she cared about Helena. And HG knew she did.
And still, even though she allowed Myka to see her own dark side, now, Helena wasn't confident enough to tell her about that woman with the green eyes who had intruded her dreams.
"Damn it!" Sarah slapped her hand against the steering wheel repeatedly, while driving the car through Sioux Falls. Claudia had just called her via Farnsworth to update her that currently, everything in the B&B was alright. Now they could only wait for the delivery guys to show up.
Meanwhile, the time traveller struggled with the past's traffic (right after she was done struggling with adjusting the car's seat to Steve's body).
"Paul!" She adressed her brother. "I want you to give me every bit of information on that delivery service. I want to know everything about everybody currently employed there."
Oh, yes, just wait for me to find my magic wand. Paul replied dryly. What do you expect me to do? Go there and ask?
There was the noise of Julia and Adelaide giggling.
"Listen, brother." Sarah growled. "They had a computer. You are Claudia Donovan 2.0. Do something. If that computer has ever been connected to the internet, you should be able to find something out, shouldn't you?"
You think that I can hack into a computer that existed 30 years ago? Paul asked interestedly.
"I expect you to do it, Paul. I need you to do it." His sister huffed. The younger child was silent for a while, then she heard him sigh.
I have to say that I feel slightly challenged. He stated.
"Good." Sarah grinned to herself. "Then I'll have to say that I'm actually challenging you."
Well, what else can I do than accept? Paul replied in a smug tone of voice. I'm going to need time.
His sister just drove onto the Highway. "Well." She smiled. "You have about four hours."
Don't expect me to say I'd do it in two. This is going to need time.
"Okay." The time traveler nodded.
Oh, and Sarah? Paul suddenly sounded quite amused.
"Yes, brother?" The writer rolled her eyes.
Did you know Steve's cover is the ATF and not the Secret Service? Paul quietly giggled.
"You let me...?" Sarah's eyes widened, but then she shook her head. "You're an asshole, Paul."
I'm sorry. You were so wonderful in that role... Her brother giggled again, but Sarah decided to ignore him.
"Is Julia around?" She asked carefully.
Yes I am, Bells. The voice of her best friend reached her.
"I'm sorry that my life is a mess." Sarah sighed. "I promise that I'll do as much as possible to keep you out of this."
That's a nice offer, Sarah. But have you considered that I maybe don't want to be kept out of your messy life? Julia replied in a serious tone of voice.
Sarah's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
Just... well, just go there and do what you have to do. We'll figure this out. Meanwhile, I'll check on your condition and wait for you to be ready to tell me. There was something in the other woman's voice that caused Sarah to wince. How could they ever get back to normal now?
"Adelaide?" The writer needed to talk to her voice of reason now.
Yes, Sarah? The Regent seemed to try to sound innocent.
"Firstly: Thank you. We'll talk about this later." Sarah sighed. "Secondly, you were there that day, weren't you? What happens next?! Tell me you know."
Adelaide seemed to struggle. Actually. She said hesitantly. Claudia sent Abigail and me away that day. After that delivery service showed up. Abigail had to put her signature on the forms from a very tall guy and then we went away. I spent some time with Abs in the car and we went for ice cream. I had the feeling there was an amazing adventure happening without me. But well, now I know it isn't really happening without me.
Hours later, Sarah was almost in Univille, when Paul spoke again. Three hours into the trip, Claudia had called them to mention that the delivery guys were now there. She would try to make them stay as long as possible to be able to look out for anything artifact-y.
So I've downloaded all the data left from their computer. Paul stated in a proud tone of voice. But don't ask me how I did it. It was complicated and I don't want to talk about it.
Sarah smiled. "I knew you would manage that, Littlefoot."
Thank you very much, Ferret. He was quiet for a short moment in which she could hear him typing. You wanted information on the employees?
"Yes, everyone who could have been sitting in that truck and could now be in the B&B." The time traveler demanded.
Okay, in spring 2014, there are pay checks for six persons. Well, Jake McKenzie and Tony McKenzie... I think those are the ones who run the service, judging from the name tag.
"Next one." Sarah shook her head. She knew it wasn't them and couldn't explain why. "Just read out the names."
Ruth Thompson, Alan Irvin, Kurt Parker and Joa-
Sarah stirred. "Kurt Parker!" She exclaimed. "I have the feeling to know that name."
But why? Paul asked confusedly.
"Well, I have the feeling that I know that name already, but I cannot remember why. Since I don't have that eidetic memory." The writer shrugged.
Hm, okay... So at least there aren't any paychecks anymore after March. It seems he quit. Paul sounded like he was deeply in thought.
"Shortly after there was a delivery in Univille? Don't tell me that doesn't sound suspicious." Sarah grunted and forced herself to concentrate on the street. "Do research on him."
In her head, she tried to browse through her memory to find out where she already had heard this name. Why did she have the feeling to know that name?
A few minutes later, Paul let out a small Oh.
"Yes, please?" Sarah asked interestedly.
Well, it seems he has a criminal record. He is a techy, Sarah. Has done some smaller hacks to get money that doesn't belong to him before he started working at the delivery service. And he seemed to have done it to finance his drug addiction. Her brother explained. Been to jail for a short time, left for good conduct. No drugs after that.
"Ah! Drug addict. Seems he is the right one for having fun with an artifact that gives you random euphoria. What happened to him afterwards?" The girl demanded to know.
Well it seems he couldn't really find a job due to his criminal record but then found this one at the delivery. After that, he seemed to have decided to not come back. There isn't even a letter of resignation in his record, he just didn't show up again. Paul seemed to be at a loss.
"After that? Is there some information on him? Can't you google him or anything?" Sarah was desperate. She needed to know more about this guy and the reason she had the feeling she knew his name.
No, nothing after 2014- Oh wait... Parker data corp. If it's him, he has founded a smaller data research and management company in 2024. You know, the real criminals who sell digital informations from ...oh... what was that sites name again?... Facebook? Paul sighed. It seems he has made a little money with that. Not that he's rich... just well-off.
"So, after he disappeared for ten years, he suddenly founds a company that deals with selling data?" Sarah narrowed her eyes. "He'd probably been able to get proper information really quick."
Information like? Her brother sounded confused.
"You really won't like this at all Paul. I have a really strange feeling." She took a deep breath to steady herself, rubbing her forehead. She still didn't feel that good. "What if... What if he knows something about the Warehouse? I mean... there must be a reason every last one of our family is in the Warehouse and they are all frozen in stone."
Are you suggesting he's a Walter Sykes who is really mad about the fact that we have taken that artifact away from him and now wants it back? Paul sounded alarmed.
"Perhaps. Could you... do more research on him? Find out every small detail about him? Where is the headquarter of his company?"
Washington. Paul replied. He seemed to have lived there for a while.
"Have lived?" His sister's eyebrows darted up. "So where does he live now?"
The whole company moved to New York three years ago. Paul typed aggressively into his keyboard.
"Find out more. I'm going to meet him in a few minutes." Sarah turned into the street in which the B&B stood. She parked the car in front of the building and looked out of the window. There was a white truck with 'McKenzie delivery' printed on it. The time traveller sighed. She looked at her belt to find the Tesla. Better take it out. One never knew what might happen. She turned off the car and left it without bothering to lock it. She also left the keys. If it would come to a car chase, this could give her some time. Sarah snorted. Okay, she was really thinking like a writer.
Clutching the stun gun tightly, she approached the house.
Sarah? Paul suddenly said, causing her to freeze.
"Yes, Littlefoot?" She asked while trying to peek through the windows.
There is another thing. We've been so occupied with all this, and before you go inside, you have to know that you have to hurry a bit. Her brother replied.
"What's going on?" The time traveler tilted her head questioningly.
To her surprise, it was Julia who replied. I only found out in the last half hour, Bells. There is a problem with the time machine and your brain.
"That doesn't sound frightening at all." Sarah smiled a little mischievously.
I seems that you won't be able to be in this machine any longer than two hours. I don't know what it is, but your connection is decreasing. Probably one shouldn't be in there that long. Julia seemed to be utterly interested in the medical process behind the time travel. But she also seemed to be a little angry about it.
"Paul?" The writer asked.
She's right, Ferret. I don't know how long it will be exactly, but surely not much longer than two hours. I've tried a lot, but there isn't anything left to do. Paul stated, sounding pitiful.
"Well, it's not like I didn't tell you so, right?" Sarah took a deep breath before placing her hand on the B&B's front door knob. She knew that this meant she was now close to finding the artifact