SLD-142 (Book 4 Chapter 13)
Majestic Theater Backstage
Robert whispered advice and warnings as they navigated the hidden spiral staircase to the second floor of the theater.
"They can be tricky. You have to watch every word and gesture," said Robert.
Anna whispered back, "We are meeting our allies for heaven's sake. You make them sound like dragons eyeing us for their next meal."
"Fine. Ignore my advice. Just you wait," replied Robert.
"I was intimidated by Jacques at first and he was Scarecrow to the Red King's Abelard. I imagine it's some learned behavior," said Anna. "You can be pretty intimidating yourself, Robert."
"The King looked at me as if I was a lowly bug to squash under his shoe," groused Robert.
"You were imagining things. Did you expect him to welcome you with open arms?"
"No but a little professional respect would have been nice. He acted like he'd never heard of me."
Anna suppressed a laugh. "Um, I'm sure it was an oversight."
Robert held the door open to the upper floor open. "And, Anna, they're ANCIENT! I thought Jacques was old fashioned but THESE people are ... are nearly medieval. Before medieval even. Don't say I never warned you."
Anna stepped through the door and paused. She put a hand on Robert's arm and looked up at him. "The talks with Sean and Connie have really put you in a sorry mood."
"I'm ... I'm smarting a bit on the inside," admitted Robert. "Everything I said came out wrong. I tried to clarify. To backtrack. But they weren't receptive. I'll let them cool off and try again."
"No more solos, Scorpio. Next time make sure I'm there with you," said Anna. She walked alongside her husband holding on to his forearm as they made their way down the short corridor to the Writers Room. "You've got a lot on your plate. You need to share."
"It's not like your social calendar is empty, luv."
"I use my minions with free abandon. I got that trick from you, remember?"
"Some things can't be delegated. They caught me off guard. Connie more than Sean. I have to earn their trust back. That's a high priority. They don't have to love me or respect me but, dammit, they have to trust me. How can I protect them if they don't believe my motives are good ones?"
They came to a stop in front of the Writers Room door. They faced each other.
Anna chose her words carefully. "Trust can't be turned on and off. It's either you do or you don't. Deep down, they DO trust you. When ... when you don't know all the angles, it's easy to think the worse of anyone."
"I suppose."
"Don't push yet. Let them breathe and think."
"I can't let things go too far for too long, Anna. Not much left of a friendship once trust has walked away."
"They'll come around. You have to believe that," said Anna.
"Connie thinks I'm as bad as Faison. I can't have her thinking that."
"It may not be lack of trust. Maybe they're afraid for you. Worried about you," said Anna. "Trusting someone doesn't mean being blindly obedient. We both know that. They are reacting to new information, new ideas and doubts. Give it some time like you did with Luke. That's turned out right in the end."
"When you're right you are so right. The grand operation is out in the open. I guess it was foolish of me to think that I could exert the same control over it as before." Robert placed a hand on the door knob. "Well, ready to face the dragons in their den?"
Robert braced himself then opened the door. He trailed Anna into the room. He was readying the proper introductions in his head when a smiling Augusta stepped boldly forward holding out both hands to Anna.
"Anna, it is a true pleasure to meet you at last," said Augusta fairly blasting Anna with genuine approval and warmth.
Anna couldn't help but respond in kind. She grasped both of Augusta's hands and smiled back. "I am so sorry for your long wait. I didn't think-"
"Not at all, my dear. We put the time to good use," said Augusta. She glanced at Mr. Hare. "Anna, this is my associate Mr. Hare."
Robert's brow rose at Augusta's endearment. Mr. Hare's shy smile and small bow to Anna nearly made Robert's jaw drop.
"Mrs. Scorpio, I must admit my expectations have been exceeded in every way," said Mr. Hare.
"Oh, I'm relieved. Enormously," said Anna. "Please call me Anna."
"Thank you. I shall," replied Mr. Hare.
Manners ingrained from childhood came rushing forward as Anna led the way to the sofa. "Please. Do sit down. Have you had tea? Refreshments?"
"Giles has seen to our every need," said Augusta. "We have kept ourselves occupied watching all that went on downstairs especially the runway show. It was very revealing."
"Revealing? Um, well, we ... I ... the humiliations we endure for charity," said Anna.
Augusta sat next to Anna. "My dear, I meant it revealed so much of your character. It was a brave thing to do. So graceful and poised you are. Posture straight as an arrow."
"My nannies were sticklers for posture. I had to do the whole book on the head bit." Anna gestured with her hand forming the shape of a book above her head.
"You certainly stood out I thought," said Augusta.
"Thank you. And I had a smidge of ballet early on. Every little bit helps, um, ah-"
"Augusta, please."
"Oh, I couldn't. That's far too informal," protested Anna.
Augusta's eyes shone bright with kindness and curiosity. "I want you to think of me as family. Perhaps you could call me Aunt Augusta. Would you like that?"
Anna smiled shyly. "Yes. I would. Thank you."
"Then that is settled," said Augusta.
Sitting in the arm chair, Robert observed everything and understood very little. This was not how he thought the meeting would go. He expected to be on the defensive. Instead he was witness to a tandem charm offensive that left Anna offering tidbits of her childhood without caution or hesitation. He muttered, "Hell, even the accent is coming back."
Anna glanced towards her husband. "What was that? Did you say something?"
"Nothing too important," said Robert. "Our guests have come a long way and-"
"Right you are, Robert," said Anna in the poshest tones that Robert had ever heard slip from her mouth. She turned to her guests. "It's been a trying day and I'm not helping things am I? You asked for this meeting after all. You have our full undivided attention, Aunt Augusta."
Robert stared at Anna as if seeing her for the first time in his life.
"My decision was not initially met with enthusiasm," began Augusta.
"Our hesitation was understandable given the circumstances," added Mr. Hare.
"And now?"
"My objections are objections no longer." Mr. Hare addressed Robert directly. "Your operation is most impressive. Your people are more so. I shall report same to my superior."
Stunned by this declaration, Robert could only nod in acknowledgment.
"You have shared much with us and I am here to reciprocate. Alliances work best when the exchange is equal," said Augusta. "Heloise was following Jacques' instructions when you both attended court. While I believe that Jacques' intentions were sound, his tendency to keep too many cards hidden or kept within the deck is not always conducive to building strong relationships. The alliance between the Court and Trident must be founded on the most unshakeable of grounds."
"We want the same," said Robert.
"There is much you need to know to avoid involvement in things beyond your capabilities."
Robert's eyes narrowed. "That sounds familiar. We do want to avoid stumbling into things we can't handle."
"We only have guesses to work with," added Anna.
"Allow me to turn conjecture into facts." Augusta reached within the folds of her evening gown to a hidden pocket. She held out to Robert a flash drive. "This is information on a very real Game. One played on a board that spans distances and histories. You have unwittingly placed yourselves on the game board. Your recent movements have riveted the attention of a select few. You are an unknown quantity but that quality shall not last long. If you are to use surprise to your best strategic advantage then you must be sure of your terrain, your enemies and their goals."
Robert took the drive and put it in his inner jacket pocket without comment.
"By giving you that data, I have broken covenants-"
"Several," added Mr. Hare.
"Therefore, this exchange must never have happened. Your perceived ignorance may protect you for some time yet."
"Why give this to us at all?" asked Anna.
"Because, my dear, there comes a time when the urge to be truthful outweighs the instinct to survive," said Augusta. "I have placed the Court upon a perilous path in doing this. I have defied my husband's counsel as never before. I have done this in hopes of establishing trust between ourselves - the four of us here, my King and a handful of the inner court. After what we have seen here tonight, I feel my mission is fully justified."
Robert and Anna glanced at each other. Robert asked, "What do you need us to do?"
"First must come knowledge. That is the data I have given to you," said Augusta. "The second is understanding which will only come after knowledge is fully realized. I require the both of you, and only you, to read the data. Absorb it. Learn it. Make no copies or notes. Destroy the drive before our next meeting."
"Which would be when? Where?" asked Robert.
"Tomorrow evening. At your home. That would be best." Augusta glanced at Hare. "Where may they retrieve us tomorrow?"
"We have reservations at the Metro Court Hotel. But roads have been closed due to the storm and recent developments have made our choice of lodgings untenable. Please suggest suitable alternatives," said Mr. Hare.
"Would you consider staying at our home tonight and for as long as you want?" offered Anna. "We have a rather novel way around roadblocks to get you there. You will have all our resources at your disposal at the villa."
"Lady Augusta must remain unseen as much as possible," said Mr. Hare in a voice that brooked no argument.
"Of course. We'll use tunnels from here to the dock then board a boat that will take us straight home," said Anna.
"That is acceptable," replied Mr. Hare.
"We will wait upon your convenience," said Augusta.
"I'd rather that Anna and I make ourselves scarce. Soon," said Robert rising to his feet. He glanced meaningfully at Anna.
"Is your presence not necessary?" asked Mr. Hare.
"This place has become City Hall and disaster relief all in one. We won't be missed," said Robert.
Anna stood. "We'll make arrangements. Giles will let you know when."
Robert added, "Be ready to leave within forty minutes."
"Very well. We will be ready," said Augusta.
In the hallway, Robert closed the door behind him. "Is the Oscar Wilde play over?"
"What? Were you listening to a word we discussed?" asked Anna walking towards the monitor room.
"To everything and everyone. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it."
"Believe what?"
"Anna Devane regressing to childhood."
"You saw no such thing."
"Didn't I?"
"I had to adapt to our guests. They are extremely English and things had to be done a certain way. That's all."
"If you say so."
"I do."
"The queen was very open with you and vice versa."
"I couldn't help it." Anna's expression softened. "She reminds me of my father's younger sister. The aunt who took Lindsay and me in when our parents died. Kind but strict. And I like her voice. Very aunty-ish."
"That is the last word I'd use to describe her," said Robert. He patted the pocket where the drive lay. "Why do I get the feeling that she hasn't done us any favors by giving this to us?"
Anna opened the doors of the monitor rooms. "I feel the same but for some odd reason I don't feel afraid. We are not sleeping a wink until we read all of it. Agreed?"
"We probably won't want to sleep afterwards. I hate surprises." Robert began to issue orders left and right.
KA-RA-BOOM!
Emergency Room, General Hospital
Bay 5 was a picture of frantic activity. Doctors and nurses mobilized in trained synchronicity as they performed life saving procedures on an unmoving patient. Tom held the defibrillator paddles in his hands. Sweat dribbled down his face. His pants and shirt were dotted with splotches of blood. Opposite him, Matt looked much the same.
"Everybody clear!" commanded Tom. For the seventh time, Tom pressed the paddles against the dying man's exposed chest.
The patient's body surged up then collapsed back on to the bed. The monitors continued to display a flat line.
"Time?" asked Tom.
Matt consulted his watch. "Forty-two minutes."
"I'm calling it." Tom put the paddles down and left the bay. His shoulders were slumped in exhaustion. "Matt, tell the OR to take the next patient."
Audrey approached her son. "How is he?"
Tom nodded. "The mayor is dead. If ... if we could have stablized him before surgery, he had a chance."
"He was in cardiac distress when they brought him in plus his other injuries," said Audrey. "You did what you could. Everyone did."
"I'll just keep telling myself that, Mom. Is Mrs. Floyd out of surgery?" said Tom.
"No. Monica told me that her internal injuries were worse than she'd thought at first. She's called in Patrick to assist."
Tom scanned the ER. "Are things tapering off? It's gotten quiet."
"Ambulances aren't being sent out. Same for police and fire. Too dangerous out there," said Audrey. "According to the news, the rain has started to come down and the wind is picking up. Stronger than before."
"This is crazy! Completely crazy!" exclaimed Tom.
Majestic Theater
The lobby took on the ambiance of a bunker as the hours ticked by. Sheets of plywood covered the tall windows. People trickled through at random through the single entrance door left unprotected by plywood. The chandeliers burned as bright as ever as if in defiance of the howling wind and pelting rain outside. The heating system was turned low but still managed to keep enough of the chill at bay assuring reasonable comfort for all. The banquet rooms had been transformed into city offices during the crisis. People sat where they could on the stairs and the floors. The auditorium was reserved for resting and sleeping.
Larry Ashton kept his vigil behind the bar. Needing something to do, he had volunteered to help out with food services. He could manage making drinks and pouring out soda. He eavesdropped at the conversations around him.
One patron in a rumpled evening jacket looked at his smartphone in disgust. "Juice but no signal. What a joke!"
"You got a message through?" asked his tuxedo-clad friend.
"Barely. My brother got my kids and the sitter to his place. Thank god!"
A burly man nursed his drink and looked at the lights. "Lights, water, food. Good thing they're prepared."
"Trident's got their act together. No doubt about it," said the patron beside the burly man.
CRASH!
No one flinched or looked up. They were used to flying debris hitting the windows and plywood.
"What do you think? Bulletproof windows?" asked Chase as he sipped a scotch. The bar was nearly out of spirits.
"To take that kind of abuse and still look like a thin glass window, transparent Kevlar is my guess. Or something like it," said Arn.
"That's not possible," said Chase.
"After what happened downstairs, I don't think it's beyond them," said Arn. He looked at his watch. "You know the power has been on for hours. All of them. These bulbs aren't modern energy efficient ones. Not a single low power emergency light in use. Everyone is charging their phones. The press has their equipment on non-stop. The heat is warm and constant. The power consumption must be incredible. What are they using for generators?"
"God and Scorpio only knows," said Chase. "We need to get on their side. We really do."
Larry's ears pricked up at the mention of the familiar name. He'd heard enough to guess that these particular gentlemen were in Robert's line of business.
KA-RA-BOOM!
Shadows darted across the stone walls of the tunnels. Volunteers distributed food, drinks and blankets to people that huddled together in groups and clumps along the walls. Perched on a stool, Mac finished hanging a series of bright blue cold lights on a long wire running the length of the tunnel segment.
"Things seem calm," said Sargeant Jardine.
"Under control anyway. It's not like these people have much of a choice to go somewhere else." Mac stepped off the ladder. "How is it outside?"
"I barely made it over here. Wind is fierce. The flying debris can cut a man or kill him. Good thing I remembered the access hatch." He shook his dripping raincoat. "Wet but in one piece."
"And the docks?"
"The insurance bills are gonna be astronomical," said Jardine. "The older docks with foundations set deep into the bedrock are still safe. The rest have damaged pylons or are just gone. I've never seen a storm like this."
Mac grinned. "I've learned that anything can happen in Port Charles. Just roll with it, Walter."
"Since the theater is the only place with lights still on, Chief sent me over here to see if you have spare diesel or gas," said Walter. "Electric isn't expected to be up and fixed tomorrow so no gas stations, cell towers or much of anything."
"What about the supplies at City Hall?" asked Mac. "I know they had to keep some in storage for disaster relief."
Jardine looked disgusted. "Excess fuel was deemed an unnecessary expense in the last council meetings. The bulk was sold off."
"Let me guess. Sold at substantial discount to the mayor's friends."
"Heh, I didn't say it," said Jardine. "What we found in storage we've already spread between us, GH and Fire. Chief is worried we're going to be empty and have no backup by tomorrow noon."
Mac led Jardine out of the tunnels. "Let's get with Lars and Alys. There must be something we can do."
Looking for Alys and Lars, Mac and Jardine wandered around the lobby and auditorium. Many times people greeted Mac with sincere thanks yous and compliments. Reporter Eva Gomez captured him and managed to tape a short interview.
"Commissioner, I mean, Mr. Scorpio, did you know that people are showing up at the door asking for shelter?" asked Eva.
"We're doing our best to not turn anyone away but it's just a building. There's only so much room," said Mac. "We're housing some citizens in the tunnels under the theater. It's not ideal but it's dry and reasonably safe."
"On behalf of my station, I'd like to express our gratitude to your family for their incredible help and leadership during this crisis," said Eva.
"The community has to stick together during the hard times. That's what's happening. People should stay home and stay calm until authorities have given the all clear. The stom will pass. Just wait it out." Mac waved and smiled at the screen. "I have to go, Eva. Thank you."
"Thank you, Mr. Scorpio. We are awaiting the swearing in ceremony of succeeding mayor Gunderson. We will bring that to you as soon as it begins. At this time, we have no further news on the condition of Mrs. Andrea Floyd except to say that she is still in surgery at General Hospital. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Floyd family at this time." Eva looked down on her notes. "The Fire Chief has informed us that the damage in the Asian Quarter is extensive. The Asian Quarter has ... had some of the oldest buildings in the city and most were not up to fire codes. Temporary housing will have to be found until the affected areas are rebuilt."
On the Kestrel
KA-RA-BOOM!
In the salon, the passengers held tight to anything within reach as the vessel was buffeted by shrieking winds and icy waters. Robert gazed steadily out through one of the port holes. He kept a grip on a metal hand hold.
"Robert, what are you doing? Sit next to me. It's more comfortable," said Anna calling out from a sofa bolted to the floor.
"Come over here," replied Robert. "I want you to see something."
On unsteady legs, Anna made her way to him. She looked at the view. She couldn't see anything noteworthy. "What are you looking for?"
"Not for. At. That's Spoon Island. You can just make out the outline. Watch when lightning hits the island." Robert positioned Anna to stand in front of him. She leaned back against his body to steady herself. "Just wait. Another one's coming. It's ... it's almost predictable."
They stood silently watching.
KA-RA-BOOM! CRACK!
Lightning illuminated the sky. Two bolts one after the other landeds on the island. A hazy green glow seemed to form around the island like a misshapen halo. The glow lasted for nearly a minute before dissipating.
"See that?" asked Robert.
"Yes. What about it?"
"Eerie green light. Spoon Island. Horrible storm. Ring any bells?"
"Oh, my god! Don't go there," said Anna. "Really, Robert, now?"
"I've seen it happen four times already. Not a fluke. Lightning then the glow. Too many coincidences to ignore the possibility of other worldly-"
"You've knocked your head on something." Anna took him by the hand and pulled him along to the couch. She sat down and said softly, "It's not possible anyway."
"Why not?" asked Robert in a low voice.
"Because he ... Casey used all the Lumina crystals his people left behind when he went home," said Anna.
"You sure?"
"That's what he told me. Besides, you saw what was left. Shards of the bigger crystals blackened and burned up. That's all," said Anna. "Where DID those rocks end up?"
"I put them in a box and handed them to Ross." Robert's eyes widened. "You don't suppose he gave them to ... to ..."
"Now you're just reaching. What could Faison do with those useless rocks?"
"Maybe souvenirs. Or maybe he hasn't given up on his plans to use the crystals in some way. You told me that he shared with you the plot for-"
"We are going to sit here quietly. When we get home, we are having a filling dinner and making pots of coffee. We are going to lock ourselves in our room with our pots and read until we have read everything at least twice," said Anna.
"You had me at locking our room," teased Robert. "Okay. No more Faison talk tonight."
"Thank you."
SHARATAK! KA-RA-BOOM!
"That sounded right on top of us!" said Robert pulling Anna close to him instinctively.
CRACK!
Intense light filled the cabin. The boat pitched violently to the left.
Command and Control
Genji fiddled with the monitor controls while speaking into his headset. "Kestrel should be in sight. How's the dock?"
Chamberlain's voice came through the static background. "Holding. Flood light is on but visibility is near zero. They better get here soon."
SHREEK! SHREEK!
Genji whipped his headphones off his head. "Where's the sound filtering?"
"It was working before," said Dani looking over his shoulder.
SHARATAK!
SHREEK! SHREEK!
Lights flickered once then went out completely leaving C&C in total darkness.
"The emergency lights will turn on. Give it a second," said Genji.
A minute passed in darkness.
"Sixty seconds enough?" asked Dani.
"Dani, get to the docks." Genji got to his feet and made his way to the steel door entrance to the lair. He reached up to trip the manual override. He began to tug at the door. "Need ... to check ... below."
Genji felt force being applied from the other side of the door.
"Andrew? That you?" asked Genji.
Andrew's muffled affirmative came through. Another minute of pushing and pulling and the door was open. "Power is all gone. That should not have been possible. What happened?"
The Dock, Villa Scorpio
it was a bruised and battered boat that bobbed and swayed on the suddenly calm waters. Dani's team illuminated the dock and path using flashlights. Passengers stepped off and hurriedly made for the Villa.
Robert felt the air. There was barely any wind and the rain was gone as if by magic. "What's going on, Dani?"
"No idea. We got some interference, lightning, thunder then the power went," said Dani leading the way to the Villa.
"Was Spoon Island on surveillance by any chance?" asked Anna.
"I don't believe so," said Dani.
"Once the power is back, put cams on there," ordered Anna.
"Are you convinced now? It could be you-know-who or you-know-what," pressed Robert. "That blackout is a classic sign."
"Just covering the bases," said Anna. "Let's try to get through the night with our sanity intact. Please."
General Hospital Room 405
Lulu lay sleeping. By the windows, Luke and Tracy had watched the storm ebb, gain ferocious strength then suddenly dissipate.
"Weird weather pattern. In Port Chuckles. In winter," said Luke.
"You've got to be kidding," said Tracy.
"You have a better answer? Look! The wind is down. The moon is out. The sky is clear. That's unnatural."
"We're between the ocean and the Great Lakes. We always have unpredictable weather," said Tracy. "I'll give you a bizarre El Nino storm, okay?"
"Go on living in Denialville. There's a new better weather machine out there. I can feel it!" exclaimed Luke. "I ... I gotta tell Robert. THIS! This is why he really came back. The WSB knew something was up but they didn't want to panic anyone. So they sent Robert and Anna undercover like Robert did before. THAT'S IT! It all makes perfect sense to me. It was all a cover!"
"Voice of reason to Luke. Come in Luke!" said Tracy.
Luke began to pace. "They rode Helena outta town but that ... that didn't end things. Of course not! This is Helena and the Cassadines we're talking 'bout! They take revenge to a whole other level! Helena strikes back with stormin' style! Scorpio has to hit back. How? What is he going to do and how can I help?"
Nikolas stood leaning on the door frame. "The Cassadines are out of the weather making business, Luke."
"Thank you," said Tracy.
"But we got mad rain, bad wind then nada in like seconds!" said Luke. "That contradicts the laws of nature. Most of them."
Nikolas watched Lulu as she slept. "The last audit didn't turn up any weather-related projects. It's probably what Tracy said. A freak storm affected by our changing climate."
"Global warming? That's your excuse?"
"It's more plausible than a weather machine," said Nikolas with a smile. "Helena's funds are completely cut off. She has zero financial resources and no scientific talent to even attempt making a machine. Sorry."
Luke slumped into a chair. "A little adventure would have been so GOOD! Why does the universe rain on my parade? Why?"
Majestic Theater
Mac and Frisco surveyed the damage done to the front of the theater. Lars and his team were doing what they could to restore power. The new mayor made rounds assuring everyone that all would be well. A police car pulled to a stop a few feet from Mac. Police chief Samantha Wells came out.
"Now we have a black out. What's next?" asked Sam. "Mac, Frisco, I need your help to keep order in this part of the city. I just don't have the manpower."
"You got it," said Mac.
"You can count on me. The blackout hit the entire city, Sam?" asked Frisco.
"Yeah. The power grid is completely down. The utility people are freaking out. They said this kind of thing was impossible. They can't find anything physically wrong on the switch end. They said it was like someone had vacuumed all the juice off the grid at one time," said Sam.
"Interesting," said Frisco.
"I'm glad it's not my problem," said Sam. "Can you handle a four by four block area, Mac?"
Mac nodded. "Should be able to. I'll let Sean know. His staff can cover the Court area."
"Perfect. I have to thank Lars for the fuel. It's going to last us for another twenty-four hours."
"Just don't ask him where he got it," said Mac.
"I should turn a blind eye?"
"Nothing illegal. The people who renovated the theater added some features you wouldn't find in a theater. For example very large tanks for water and fuel."
"That sounds good."
"Well, the quantities involved are ... ridiculous," said Mac. "We're talking supplies for an end of the world scenario."
Frisco muttered to himself. "Hmm, storm, blackout, power grid. Instant juice-be-gone. The impossibles become possibles."
"What, Frisco?" asked Sam.
"Nothing. Just talking to myself. Ignore me."
"Mac, I have no experience at this kind of disaster operation. You do. Can you help me out on the sly?" asked Sam.
"Sure. Happy to do it."
"I have to report to the mayor in a few minutes. Is there anything I absolutely need to do?"
"From what I can tell you've done all the right things so far. Communication is key," Mac led Sam towards the entrance and into the theater.
Frisco stared at the sky in front of the marquee then turned around in a complete circle. "He's back. That's what Sean, Anna and Robert are hiding. No wonder they were so secretive. It's not about me or the WSB. Spock is back. What else could it be?"
He grinned and shouted into the sky, "Hello, Spockie, wherever you are!"
Ural Mountains, Russia
Behind a desk, Cesar Faison mentally counted to twenty as he waited for a satisfactory answer. Standing in front of the desk, professors von der Recke and Egerhoff glared contemptuously at each other.
"Explain what happened or rather what did not happen," said Faison.
"As I said before, the calculations are wrong," said Professor von der Recke. "Increasing power made no difference to the outcome."
"If my calculations were wrong, which they are not, then no weather effect would have been possible. NONE!" emphasized Professor Egerhoff. "The experiment would have failed to begin!"
"You have a point. If not the power or the calculations, what else could have caused my ... my non-result?" asked Faison.
"Perhaps it is the focusing machine that is defective. It has been more than two decades since it was installed on the island. Untested," said Egerhoff. "Machines fail no matter how flawless the engineering or the design. We were fortunate to have had some results after all this time."
"It is also possible that we did not not scale the focusing mechanism to adequately manage a power increase of this magnitude," added von der Recke.
"Mechanical failure. Yes, that is most likely. It will be difficult to gain access to the island unnoticed."
"Can we use a more accessible target? Mt. Etna and Sicily are ideal candidates."
"Not as good as the island. The Lumina crystals resided there for so very long. Their energies were absorbed by the soil and rock," said Egerhoff. "The residual energy readings taken in 1991 prove the island's advantage as a test site. The levels remain abnormally high. Higher than on Etna."
"It must be Port Charles for our first and most devastating public test. I want the city in ruins," said Faison. "But the test has not been a complete failure. The concept of the celestine prophecy is proved. It can work. It does work. Now, we must perfect it."
The two professors nodded their agreement.
Faison rubbed his chin. "I shall have to think of a way to check the condition of the focusing machine. How long will it take to build a replacement machine?"
Engerhoff was lost in thought for a minute. "If we had all the required components, four months for fabrication. One month for assembly. One month for testing. Six months. Is that satisfactory, Cesar?"
"Yes. Excellent. Provide me with a list of components you require. You will have them within the week if possible," said Faison.
"It will be my pleasure, Herr Krieg," said von der Recke.
Villa Scorpio
On a shelf in Andrew's room, the volcanic rock was no more. It was now an electric blue riddled with veins of silver and gold. It made no noise. It simply sat silent and sparkling in the darkened room. The warm pulsing energy that had transformed it during the storm was ebbing. Soon, it would once again be cold and hard instead of hot and malleable. Just another rock. For now.
- Story Note : On GH 1990, the Celestine Prophecy was the title of the book that Faison in his guise as author P.K. Sinclair was completing. He wanted Anna to read the manuscript after she and Casey arrived on the island. The book was based on his research on the crystals and their power. The book was never published. Faison did demonstrate to Anna the crystals' power. First, he caused a blackout of the city and, lastly, Casey used the energy to return to Lumina. Not having any working crystals any longer, Faison was supposed to leave town but instead decided to stay around to court Anna.