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Chapter -19- Storm on the Horizon

Friday, August 27, 2049 - 5pm Seattle, Washington ...

Rufus Darken groaned softly and sat up. He placed his hand over his gut and felt stitches. He looked around but wasn't in the jail cell. Instead, he was in the bedroom of a rustic cabin. He heard the sound of sloshing water, followed by hissing water.

Seconds later, the water stopped, followed by a hollow thud of what sounded like a plastic bin dropped on a hard surface. Rue cringed. He knew what a bedpan sounded like and assumed the worst.

A woman stepped from the bathroom - Rufus recognized her immediately. He sat up, back straight and shoulders wide. "Ulfey!"

A wry grin tugged at the Icelandic woman's face. She appeared to have only aged by five years or so since last they saw one another in 2023. "Rue. You're up."

"I cain't believe..."

She approached and put a finger on his lips. "Believe it. So, you're friends with the new oracle? Cybil thinks very highly of you, Rue."

He reached up and took her hand into his. "Let me get a good look at'cha, darlin'. Damn. It's been twenty-five years. You're a sight to see, y'know that? And am I crazy or do you have a son, now?"

"Rama," she replied with a nod. "He's yours."

"I'll be damned. The DNA test weren't no lie."

"That's a double negative. Rufus, I wish you could meet him but ... he and his girlfriend went on some sort of walkabout." She paused, swallowed, and feigned a smile. "They're looking for you."

"For me? I came here looking for y'all."

"I told him he was being impatient but he didn't listen. He heard you're alive and he convinced that poor girl to follow him across the country."

Rufus started to ease up a bit more then winced at the stretching of his stitches. "You want me to bring him home to ya?"

"Yeah ... I do, actually." She leaned down and kissed his nose gently. "Why didn't you transform after being shot?"

"Because it'd have scared the bejesus out of those boys in the cell - they had a gun and they would have blasted away if I turned into..."

"Say no more," she told him. "Is it true that you were living with Aris Falcon, staying under the radar?"

"Yeah. That's right true. Until I could escape proper-like."

"You know, you came here stinking of two other women."

"That's a long, complicated story. Wait, two?"

"Yes, two. A succubus and a virgin. I haven't smelled the scent of a succubus in decades. I didn't know they still exist. Still, a succubus and a virgin, Rue. That's quite a difference."

"It's a long-damn-story, too, momma-wolf." He winced and made a strained expression. "I must'a bit my tongue when I took that bullet. You mind if'n I get outta' this skin and into some nice furs?"

"Not right now, Rufus. We're sharing the land with Native Americans and FBI agents. How about you take a shower first? Mind your stitching. There is waterproof tape over the wound. I was going to sponge-bathe you if you didn't wake up today. I was getting sick of the stench of two other women on you. Anyway, it's good to see you again."

"Aw, man, momma-girl, if I change then I won't need these damn stitches."

"You can change tonight. We run and hunt at night. There aren't many of us here. Most of the remaining werewolves live in a village about forty minutes outside of Anchorage."

"Up wit' them-there Eskimo-types, huh?"

"Inupiat," she corrected. "People have said the term 'Eskimo' with hate in their tone. The Inupiat, some at least, have grown to dislike the term. No one uses 'Eskimo' anymore."

"Aw, shucks, I always thought it were a cute kinda' name. Like Eskimo kisses, 'n all that. Anywho, how you been?"

Ulfey looked him over then sat down beside him. "Lonelier than you."

"Aw, maybe but I doubt it. You've had Rama. I ain't had a soul."

"You've had two women. Recently."

"Touché, momma-wolf."

"Why're you calling me that?"

"Cause you's my baby's momma. I only just learned I even got me a son. I cain't begin ta tell you how amazing that is, and how sorry I am that I missed it. And I'm even more-damn-sorry that'cha had to do it alone. I wanna make it up to him. He deserves to know the details. He should know I didn't stay away because I 'didn't love'em' or whatever kids might think when they grow up without a dad. Fact is, I didn't know. I feel right shitty about the whole..."

"Don't," she said in a firm voice. "When he was young, I told him that his father was killed trying to literally save the world. The Oracle, YiaYia, needed my help at the time. So I moved to Greece and I protected her. I lived with her. She helped me raise Rama. And when he found out that you're still alive ... I was so shocked I didn't know what to say or do. At first, I was angry that YiaYia never told me you were still alive. Maybe she didn't see it. I don't know. She never lied to me, so it couldn't have been that."

Rufus drew her close and hugged her. After a moment, Ulfey relented, and let him hug her. Rufus rested his head on hers and, in a soft voice, said, "Sorry I smell like a sleazy man, darlin'. I'll wash-on-up right quick. I only let it happen b'cause I was plum lonely. ...And an idiot. And a dumb man. You know how we men can be. We confuse right easily."

She gently poked him in the stitches, causing him to flinch and wince. Ulfey smiled a bit. "At least you weren't cheating on me with men like my fiancé, twenty-five years ago. He'd tell me he was wrestling the other boys to assert manliness. But whatever ... it was supposed to be an arranged marriage anyhow."

"Still, I feel like a real dumb sonnuva bitch."

Ulfey sighed through her nose. "Are you still 'lonely' Rue?"

"Well, yeah, I suppose. But I won't seek out any more playmates."

"What if I gave you a reason to stop seeking out ... 'playmates'?"

"I ... would like that more than I could ever put into words. This'll sound like a load of bullshit, but the truth is ... I was just lookin' to replace the connection I found with you, Ulfey. I just wanted to feel it again. With someone - anyone. I came close once, but not close enough."

"I've had my share of male suitors to keep me comforted. And the company of lovers never made up for feeling unwanted."

"How ya mean?" asked Rue.

She looked away somewhat. "They never knew how to make me feel wanted. Maybe it's all in my head because I wanted you. Twenty-five years after having your son, I built this storybook romance in my head, and you were the center of it. If someone asks, I tell them my husband died at sea. They don't ask any more questions. Eventually, I started to believe my own stories. You were this dashing mutt with a heart of gold. And there's probably no way you'll ever live up to what I created about you in my head. But I have to give you the chance to try."

Rufus shrugged gingerly, careful of his stitched wound. "Yeah, well, I'd like that a whole bunch. Why didn't you call Rama on his cellphone?"

"We've had our cellphones deactivated. You see, we've known about people like Dakota and Jackson. They're efficient and their methods are effective. That's how they tracked you so easily. Your cellphone. I suggest you get a new one ... under a different name."

"No worries, Ulfey. I hate to ask, but ... this seems like it's a mega-happy ending to my story. Do I get a kiss for all my trouble, princess?"

Ulfey grinned at him. "Why don't you go wash off that stink, first? Then, yes. I think you'll have earned a kiss. You went through a lot. Cybil told me how you were captured by Dakota, then you cleverly caused yourself to be arrested in an attempt to stay safe from Dakota. It sounds like you went through a lot. Cybil also told me that this is the second time you were shot this year. Not to mention, he told me that you escaped a submarine by blowing the hatch a few years ago, and you swam to shore, and wound up in the District Coast. You're obviously blessed by Fenris."

"That Cybil. He's a damn trip."

"But a good man. He was there for you twice."

"True." Rufus eased his feet onto the floor and stood up. "I want that kiss when I get outta that-there shower."

"Mmhmm. I'm sure you do."

"One other thing," said Rue.

"Yes?"

He nodded towards her phone on a nearby stand. "Call yer friends in Anchorage. Tell'em a group of tigers, about six or so, plans to attack this village and end the bloodline of Fenris. We all know if our kind dies, Fenris wakes up, breaks his chains, devours Odin, and starts the Ragnarök."

"It's all just mythology. Hmm, I didn't know you were a believer."

"Sweetheart, I seen demigods. They seem to think our belief in them is what gives'em life. I don't want to test how many people believe in Armageddon. I'd rather just avoid it happenin' altogether. Give them Alaskan wolves a call, y'hear? There ain't anymore Wolf Nations, or tribes, or clans of any sort. There ain't many of us left. We're all one people, now."

She stared at him for a moment, somewhat moved by his conviction. "Take your shower. You don't want the wound to become infected before your transformation - that will heal physical injury, not infections." She waited for him to head to the shower then reached for the phone.

She dialed a number and waited. The line rang three times, followed by a gruff voice on the other end. Ulfey took a deep breath to calm her nerves and then she said, "There are less than ten. We have to make our stand in Seattle. It has to be soon." She paused to listen to a reply on the other end, then, in a reverent voice, said, "The prophecy is fulfilling itself. Being spread apart didn't help. We can't outrun destiny. Just ... gather everyone you can find and meet me here when you're able."

X

---

X

Friday, August 27 - 9pm PDT Lance Patterson's home... San Francisco ...

Reno glanced up from a desk. The weight of the fancy wooden desk kept it solidly seated regardless of all its drawers pulled open. A grin spread across his face at the sight of Kalen Kincade. "It's about time you woke up and joined the group. Is it sundown already?"

"Funny, Reno."

Nevada changed his tone, asking, "Did you hear some guy broke into the mansion today and tried to kill Conner with a gun?"

Kalen frowned with a nod. "Sinopa informed me of the attack. I'm here to help for a while. However, I'll be headed back to the mansion before midnight to take the nightshift. I don't want the attacker coming back while everyone sleeps."

"Yeah. Good idea." Reno paused then tilted his head. "You do know that the mansion has countermeasures, right?"

"Excuse me?"

"Electric window sills, for starters. They're like cattle prods, waiting for any would-be master thief rival that wants to break in. If you land on the sill, your body seizes up and you fall back out the window. I electrified one earlier but the attacker dove right over it. Then Conner gave me this lecture about possibly shorting out the components and blah, blah, blah."

"Is that so?" Kalen looked around Lance Patterson's study. "Sounds like showy mind-game traps put in place by a wealthy, eccentric family."

Reno grinned again. "Heh. It was funny, though - a teenager trying to lecture me while laid out in bed like that."

"Mm. So, did you find anything useful in regards to Lance's disappearance?" asked Kalen.

"Not yet. This guy had lots of information about everything and anything. I found some recent studies that might have led scientists to find our kind, for example. He also had lots of information on mythological people and historical figures and such."

"Anything helpful to the investigation?"

"Nah." Reno shrugged somewhat and said, "It's going to take a while to figure out his last few days leading up to his disappearance."

"He was a very smart man. I'm hoping he was only abducted. If someone murdered him, we've all lost a very, very great mind. And the saddest part is that the world will never mourn such a loss due to their ignorance in the matter."

Reno frowned. "Wow. You liked the guy, huh?"

"He was practically a part of the Kincade family due to his romance with Natalia. They were quite close. She will be devastated to hear he is missing."

"That might be a long time before you have to tell her."

"No, Reno. If Lance is no longer in the picture, I will have to awaken Natalia to lead us."

"Oh. Didn't know that was an option." Reno went back to rummaging through the desk drawers. Along with the change of topic, he changed his tone, saying, "So I'm looking for anything that might resemble an appointment book, or any notes with times or dates."

"What do you suggest I search for, Reno?"

"Thing is, the guy was pretty apt at staying with the modern times. He embraced technology; he lived his life with it. And, man-oh-man did he have a lot of connections."

Kalen replied with an expectant look.

"Well, like, he has what looks like classified reports from alphabet soup groups I'm not really familiar with, like, uh," Reno trailed off and read the ledger from one file, "The DIA, the uh, 'Defense Clandestine Service,' and he was monitoring projects for DARPA, which, as I understand, is some Government think-tank, or like, some sort of DOD Research and Development group. Anyway, I don't know how he gets this stuff, or if they even know he has it. It's a lot of shit to sort through, you know?"

"Mm, it sounds to me as though Lance never changed."

"So you've known him a long time huh?"

"Yes I have, Reno."

"What was his name before it was Methos?"

"Just ... keep looking for something we can use to try and find him. I don't want to miss anything because of small talk."

"You really don't want to wake up Natalia and tell her he's dead, huh?"

"If you meet her, you'll see why. She is very ... shall we say ... eccentric. First she lost Niall, and now it's possible that she has lost Lance."

"Can she fight?"

"With the strength of what one would expect from a vampire who has lived for as long as she. But she prefers not to."

"So I shouldn't try to arm-wrestle her?"

"You're suddenly acting like Rufus, or perhaps Karla. Please, let's just find Lance Patterson."

"Are you afraid of her? Does she have a temper?"

"No. I simply do not wish to wake her prematurely and explain to her that I could not protect her mate."

"Alright, man. Alright." Reno began rifling through the desk drawers again. "You take the living room. I've got the study covered."

"Very well." Kalen walked out of the cozy den, heading up the hall to the living area.

X

---

X

Friday, August 27 - 11pm PDT San Francisco ...

Conner gave his coveted staff a twirl and turned around, snagging his wallet off the end of his bed. He winced, arm extended, and brought his free hand to his abdomen, where he had been stabbed straight through by the very cane he now wielded. He grimaced, suppressing the memory.

Conner brought the wallet to himself, slowly, and tossed it back on the bed. "Goddamn," he murmured in pain. "Thieving was so much easier before."

He placed the end of the staff on the floor and leaned his weight on it. His eyes lowered, looking down at the scratch marks on the staff where the hospital had unsuccessfully tried to saw through it. He reached down and ran his fingertips over the scratch marks and sighed through his nose.

"You're embarrassing yourself," came a voice from behind. "Why not hand it over and make things easier on yourself? You want it back? You earn it by stealing it back. Just like your father and I used to..."

Conner's face contorted into a look of disgust. "Get out of my house, old man."

"I'm hardly old. I'm still in good shape, boy."

"Look," Conner turned towards the man standing several feet in front of his bedroom door ... Joe Pendleton Sr. He held an old German Walther pistol.

"Go on..."

Parker narrowed his gaze at the older man. "I don't know what took you this long but I knew you'd come back. I knew you'd avoid all the night traps in the house."

"Ah, but our arrangement."

Conner grit his teeth. "Yeah. I told you I'd get you a piece of orichalcum, and I will. Have some goddamn patience."

Joseph nodded towards the staff in Conner's hands. "Just give me that."

"Just suck my dick, Pendleton. Now ... I give you props - you caught me off guard, dropping the building on my head. Never saw that one coming. But you remember the chick who melted your Luger, earlier? If you wake her up, she will come in here and end you, man. Then our little game is over, and I have to clean up your crispy ashes from my flame-retardant carpet. Then I have to find an urn to mail your remains to Joe Junior. Just go back to jolly old England, pal."

"I came here to do a job, mate. Your electrified friend is across town with another friend who said he will stay there until midnight. So here I am, with an hour to spare, ready to show you why I'm..."

"Just shut up and do your best with that piece of garbage antique handgun."

Pendleton screwed a flash suppressor to the front of the Walther handgun. "Mm, I'm an Englishman handling a Walther with a silencer ... makes me feel a bit like James Bond. I even rented an Aston Martin to come here. Funny how these things come together, hmm? And Bond always wins in the end, Conner."

"Christ, are you serious with that shit? You really think you're Double-Oh-Seven, man? You need to get your head on straight. Go back home. 'Cheers' and all that."

"Your mates aren't here to protect you, lad. Hand over the cane. You're in no physical condition to dodge a magazine of rounds, Conner. We both know you barely survived my last attack."

Conner pushed his tongue into the gap where one of his front teeth had been shattered in the building collapse. "If you kill me, my 'mates' will make you suffer. They'll end you. They'll end your whole line, Pendleton. The chick who was with me when you brought the roof down on us? She's a fast healer. And she holds grudges against people who try to kill her - she told me so. She won't think twice about teleporting your body into a floor and telekinetically kicking your head off your shoulders. That's a thing she claims she does to people who upset her."

"Again with the active imagination, boy."

"Kid? Lad? Boy? What's with the nicknames? They're not even good ones."

Pendleton dashed into the room. He jumped up on the bed and performed a kick, aimed at Conner's head.

Conner crouched somewhat and used the hook of his cane to pull Pendleton's other foot away from the bed.

The man fell onto his side and quickly bound back up, performing a cartwheel across the floor. He dropped into a split and punched upwards, meeting Conner's cane at groin-height. Parker brought his knee up into Pendleton's face, instead.

Joe Sr. rolled back and kipped up onto his feet, hand on his cheek. "You fight pretty good, wounded."

"Are you kidding? You're not even trying. Are you going easy on me because I'm wounded? I'll break a stitch before I wear out. Stop dicking around."

Pendleton unleashed a volley of kicks and sharp palm thrusts, which Conner deflected with the cane. Conner performed a backflip. He stumbled from the pain in his abdomen and snatched a small capsule from the top drawer of his dresser. All in one smooth move, he flattened the small device against the floor with his cane.

The capsule burst, creating a bright flash and a loud sound, followed by thick smoke, which dissipated seconds later. Pendleton rubbed his eyes with the backside of his wrist while using his other hand to rub his ears. He looked around but Conner wasn't in the room. "You're running away? Are you serious?"

Joseph hurried out the door and saw Conner headed down the hallway. Pendleton aimed down the length of his pistol, lined up the shot, and pulled the trigger.

"Stop!" The voice didn't belong to Joe Pendleton.

Conner stopped at the end of the hallway and looked around. Leaning against the wall was a Spaniard, arms and ankles crossed. Further up the hallway, Joe Pendleton was motionless, gun extended. A blurry splotch of grey surrounded the front of the weapon.

As Conner came back up the hallway, cautiously, he noticed a strange visual distortion trailing from the weapon. In front of the Spanish man, a bullet hovered in midair, frozen in time.

Conner approached it, curiosity in his eyes. He reached for it and touched it then quickly drew his hand back. "It's hot."

"Si, Senior Parker. It was ejected from the weapon by igniting gunpowder. That is how guns work, amigo."

"Wait, am I dreaming? And who are you?"

"Raul Poliandro. This is my ability. Karla sought me out to help you. Be lucky I'm jet-lagged; I was the only one awake in the house."

Conner followed the distorted trail from the bullet back to the weapon. He waved his hand in front of Pendleton's eyes. "Holy shit, man." Conner closed his hand into a fist and struck Pendleton in the gut but the man didn't move. He brought his knee up into Pendleton's groin but it had no effect.

Conner hobbled back down to where the bullet hovered in the hallway, adjacent to the Spanish man. "Is this for real?"

"It's for real."

Conner made his way back down the hall and used the hook of his cane to open the doorknob leading into Sinopa's room. She was frozen in time, eyes wide open, halfway off the bed with one foot on the floor. Her nightgown was frozen in mid-ripple from hurrying out of bed.

He waved his hand in front of her face. "God that's creepy. She must have heard my smoke pill. It's got a magnesium charge, to disorient people's hearing." He stepped back out of her room and closed the door then turned back up the hallway. "Raul, huh?"

"How does your abdomen feel?"

"I've definitely torn a stitch or two." Conner looked down where a bit of blood was staring to saturate the front of his shirt. "I'll live."

"Si, thanks to me. He had you dead to rights, amigo. Look at his feet."

Conner moved back towards Pendleton and looked at the way the man stood. "Huh. He was going to shoot and run before Sinopa could catch him. He'd have come back later for the cane, I suppose. What a dick."

"This bullet will be problematic for your walls."

Conner made his way back to the floating bullet. He reached for it again. It was hot to the touch but not hot enough to burn flesh. He closed his hand over it and winced, trying to move it. "God damn. I think I can budge it, but it's heavy as hell." He blew on his palm and waved it as though having just touched a hot stove burner on its lowest setting. "Hot."

"Si, genius. That bullet is traveling approximately ... Mm ... I would guess eight hundred miles an hour. One pound is about seven thousand grain - a bullet weighs about one hundred fifteen grain. So a sixtieth of a pound, multiplied by eight hundred. Loose math, that bullet weighs a little under five hundred pounds, Señor Parker. I haven't done that sort of math in a while, I could be wrong."

Conner put one foot against the wall and used his cane against the side of the bullet so as not to touch it. He tried to force the bullet off course, managing only to change the trajectory slightly. He opened up another two stitches, causing blood to stain his shirt.

Conner crouched on the ground, leaning his cane against the wall. "That's a lot of force against my palms, you know, when deflecting his shots the other day. That's like three adults standing on a dowel rod, and holding them up ... with just my cane."

"Deflecting and bending your arms reduces the pressure," said Raul. "You're bleeding quite a bit."

"It'll dry."

"You know there is a faster way to heal. I could age you a few weeks in a matter of moments."

"Really? That would be awesome."

"It's best I don't do it all at once. Unless you want to know what it's like to go without eating, or urinating for that long. However, I suppose we can work together to help you age by two months ... But spread it out over a few days' time."

"That would still be awesome."

Raul replied with a slight grin, amused by the boy's enthusiasm. "But it will be very boring, and the world around you will appear painfully slow. You will live this way, as if in seclusion, for what feels like two months. But very little physical time will pass. It will be maddening if you cannot handle loneliness."

Conner looked down at the blood on his shirt. "What if the whole team goes through this with me? We could all train together for two months, at the same speed, and only a day or two will pass."

"Mm. Imaginative."

"Could you do it?"

"Perhaps. But using a toilet that takes hours to flush the handle, and days for the water to come back ... it could be problematic for you."

"We don't use water-based toilets. It's a waste of water. My family uses waterless ones."

"Mm, it will still take a while for the bowl to drain each time you go. Multiply that by everyone in your group. We need to consider every angle. And they would have to agree to such. Two months of focused healing, working out, and training condensed into two or three days. You wouldn't be able to use an elliptical. You would have to use your body weight and jogging."

"Wait, can't you bright the gym into the 'time field' with us, so they are at our speed?"

"Oh, please, Señor Parker, make sure you give me a challenge, then!" Raul pushed off the wall and shook his head. "Pardon my sarcasm. We will talk to your team and see who wishes to protect the mansion for two days, and see who wishes to undergo this ... training retreat with you."

"Answer my question, por favor."

"Yes, I can quantum entangle your gym, Señor Parker."

Conner fidgeted for a moment. "We can do it at the vault. It's in the South Pacific. I can take James, Reno, and anyone else who wants to..."

"Dios mio, and I thought _I_moved too quickly. Slow down. Let's talk to your amigos first."

"Okay, sorry. I'm just ... excited. I've never seen someone stop time before."

"Does it meet your approval?"

"Are you kidding? It exceeds all expectation! With you at our side, we're invulnerable! We can't be shot. We can't die because you can go back and stop it from happening. We can break into Falcon's city and if we get caught or killed, we can just do things over. This is amazing!"

"I cannot move through time ... at least not currently."

"Wait, what?" Conner frowned.

"Before you are expressing your disappointment," Raul held both hands up. "I am not understanding of why. There is an energy field being put out by the scientist beneath the Atlantic Ocean. I am doubting that he is knowing it has an effect on me, or that my ability is even existing. But I can only move forward or back by mere minutes. I can stop time. I can slow time and speed up time. I can also leave this time stream and go into the distant past or future, but I'm afraid I may not ... how you are saying ... _be able to_return to this time if I do leave."

"I don't understand."

Raul sighed. "I was just explaining..."

"No, I mean ... how did you get to 2049 to begin with? That's proof you can get here, right?"

"No. I'll say it in Spanish - no. I'll say it in French - non. I'll say it in..."

"I get it. But how did you get here?"

Raul rubbed his face. "By using my unique ability to fix things in the time stream. It is giving me a feeling of accomplishment. I came to 2048 to fix something and realized I was stuck here. I tested the ability to be sending a message in a bottle back fifty years. Methos retrieved it. He changed his name to Lance Patterson. I met up with him and he confirmed taking possession of the message in the bottle in 1998. I've been stuck here for a year. I could have abandoned this timeline, but then I wouldn't have figured out what is inhibiting my abilities."

"So the soonest you could appear is 2048? Last year?"

"Si. Pero, I would be having to avoid myself for a whole year and show up a year older to be taking my place in this timeline again after so long."

"This is confusing. Speaking of words that end with -ing, can you try not to speak like that?"

"I am saying, Señor Parker, this year has become a dead-zone with no 'reception' in a matter of speaking. And I cannot be going forward at all until quite a number of years in the future after now."

"Really? Like ... how far? Am I still alive?"

"No, it's long after you've grown old and passed away. Karla, however, is still alive. She has two more children. But someone, possibly myself, sent her a number of years into the future. She didn't simply age further. It is why I was having trouble believing she was so old now. And yes, it is confusing."

Conner stole a glance at the frozen Joe Pendleton then turned back to Raul. "So do you mind explaining the bit where you mentioned another you?"

"Time travel is confusing for many. I am existing every day I'm entangled to a timeline. Any of those versions of me could conceivably decide to travel through time. I have only seen myself three times and I did my absolute best to avoid making direct contact with myself each time."

"Why, what will happen?"

"I ... honestly am having no idea."

"So how do you know something bad will happen?"

Raul smiled. "Because if it ever happens in the future, my future self would come back and tell my past self that it's harmless. That never happened. I've never contacted myself, so I have to assume it is best I never do."

Conner rubbed his eyes. "That's really confusing."

"To you, perhaps. Are we finished with Twenty Questions?"

"Uh ... what? Sorry, yeah, I just have a few more."

Raul sighed. "Go on."

"When does the world end?"

"I've not gone far enough forward. Humanity is still here four thousand years after the birth of Christ. Humanity is not being, ah, 'confined' to Earth, however. They travel the stars in the future."

"Okay, that's pretty freaking awesome."

Raul shrugged as though it was no big deal. "Si. The population has diminished, however. And South America is endless farmland protected from pollution. But much of Earth is being far too cold for my taste, so I avoid going that far into the future. Anything else?"

"When were you born?"

"I was born thirty kilometers north of Madrid on January 1st, at midnight of the year 2000. I moved through time for the first time when I was twenty-three. I age slowly. But ... I still age. Lance measured something called a Telomere and suggests I am approximately thirty-seven. It is hard to keep count when moving about as I do. Anything else?"

"Sorry. I just ... this is really wild."

"What are your plans for him," asked Raul, nodding towards Pendleton. "Don't use my ability to kill him. You'll have to be doing that on your own."

"I, uh..." Conner made his way back up the hallway and moved behind Joe Sr.

Raul furrowed his brows, watching with amusement.

Conner reached around the man from behind, and guided Pendleton's gun up, beneath his own chin. Conner carefully reached his cane beneath Pendleton's right arm and hooked the end around the man's wrist, as if using his cane to snag the man's arm.

"That looks ... interesting," Raul mused.

"Okay, get out of the hallway and unfreeze everything. I promise not to kill him using your ability to catch him off guard. I'm just going to scare him."

"Get some rest. Speak to your friends. We will be in consideration of your idea for focused training tomorrow." Raul headed down the hall, descended the stairs, and found a place where a hallway met the foyer to watch from below.

Time lurched forward at normal speed. Conner tightened his arms, using the hook of his cane to keep Joe Pendleton's weapon hand tucked against the man's chest, so that his pistol barrel was against Joe's chin.

Conner leaned forward and whispered into Joseph's ear from behind. "If you pull the trigger again, you'll put a bullet in your own head. I'm faster than you think, you piece of shit. Now you know you're messing with a professional master thief. You'll never be this good, or this fast. Do you understand?"

Joseph swallowed, feeling the warm flash suppressor barrel under his chin. He sank to his knees using his free hand to favor his abdomen, and groaned in intense pain. His hand slid down over his groin. He appeared to act lightheaded, blinking as though dazed. "How...?"

"My secret, jackass."

A door further down the hallway swung open and Sinopa hurried into the hall. She turned away from them then, hearing them speaking, she turned to face them and made her way up the hallway. "You!" she said, glaring at Joe Pendleton on his knees. "Did you not learn the first time?"

"I've got him," said Conner with a sly smile. "I tricked him with misdirection." He leaned over Joseph's shoulder from behind and said, "I ought to make you spackle my wall. Is that a nine millimeter?"

"Thirty-two caliber ACP," Pendleton said in a breathy tone, still stunned from taking a knee to the groin, earlier, while frozen. "Same size round Hitler used to kill himself."

"Say what?"

"I ... I figured if it's good enough to kill Hitler, it's good enough for me to shoot my enemies."

Conner thought about the size of the bullet for a moment and asked, "That's like half the grain of a nine millimeter, man. That doesn't weigh anything at all. Like, less than two hundred pounds of force."

"What are you going on about, kid?"

"Nothing. I should have been able to lift it. You messed me up pretty good the other day. Just imagine when I'm actually back on my feet." Conner tightened his grip, forcing Joseph's gun into the man's jawline. "How's that feel? Get your ass back to England and stay there until I mail you a little nugget of Orichalcum. And be happy with it. Do you understand me?"

"I shot you in the back of your head," Pendleton grunted.

"Keep telling yourself that."

"Why would you send me anything after trying to kill you several times, lad?"

"Lad my ass. Because I'm a man of my word."

Sinopa took a deep breath to calm herself and asked, "You're letting him go free?"

The teenager glanced up at his kitsune grandmother. "He thought I couldn't protect myself without my friends. Now he knows better." Conner whispered into Joseph's ear from behind, "Don't you?"

"Yes."

"Louder," Conner demanded. "Say it."

"I know better," Joseph said in a normal speaking voice.

"Louder," Conner repeated.

"I KNOW BETTER!"

Conner unhooked his cane from Joe's wrist. He put his foot on the man's mid-back and shoved him down onto his elbows and knees. "Ask your son what happens when you shoot at me. I nearly deflected a bullet back into his face. Ask him. Then, next time you come at me, don't bring a gun," he leaned over Pendleton and whispered, "like a pussy." Conner looked up at Sinopa to make sure she didn't hear him.

However, Sinopa's fox ears laid flat with disdain, hearing him speak in such a way. She said nothing of it but the look on her face told Conner he spoke too loud.

"I'll leave," said Pendleton. "I'll head to England tonight."

Conner stepped back and put his cane against the side of Pendleton's throat to keep the man from doing anything sudden. "I'll charter your flight and have Kalen Kincade drive you to the airport."

"The one who said he would be coming back at midnight? Is he the one with the lightning?"

"Nope." Conner teasingly patted the golden hook against the man's cheek from behind.

"What's his ability?"

"He's undead," Conner said in a matter-of-fact tone. "That means you can't kill him."

Pendleton opened his mouth but words failed. "I won't apologize. You attacked my son."

"No, I defended myself against your son. I made sure I didn't hurt him seriously. He tried to kill my uncle. I've been beyond patient with you two. Now get out of my life, douchebag."

Karla came up the stairs. "What the hell is going on up here?" She narrowed her eyes, glaring at Joe Pendleton. "Wait, are you the guy whose museum we raided?"

Conner grinned. "Yes he is, Karla. He brought that roof down on us on purpose. While you were unconscious, he took my cane and personally ran it through my stomach." Parker leaned forward over Pendleton and, in a soft tone, added, "My diet has been screwed up for days. Thanks a lot, douchebag."

Karla teleported from the stairs to Sinopa's side. She put her pink lacquered nails against Pendleton's throat, brushing away the adjacent cane hook. "I'll tear his throat out right now."

"No," said Conner. "He's the only family related to the Parkers. Maybe one of the Pendleton grandkids will have common sense. I'm done sending messages, though. If he attacks just one more time, I'll stomp his ass."

Karla spied Conner's shirt. "You're bleeding ... a lot."

"I ripped a few stitches. I've had worse headaches." Conner poked his tongue into the broken front tooth. "Not looking forward to going to the stupid dentist, though."

"Why?" Karla asked, adding, "Good drugs, babe."

"Karla," Sinopa scolded.

"Drugs?" Conner arched his brows. "Why, so I start babbling family secrets? Nope. Not going to happen. I'll have to deal with it fully lucid - it's going to suck."

The succubus lowered her gaze to Joseph. "Get up," Karla said, keeping her hand on Pendleton's throat. She glanced at Conner and asked, "Where should I take him?"

"Can you drop him off at the airport? I'll call and charter a flight back to England. Make sure he boards the plane and stays on it until it takes off."

A sly grin spread across Karla's lips. "Let's drop him off on the District Coast. That's most of the way home. Let him figure out the logistics to get off that hellhole without any money."

Conner tilted his head as if thinking about it. "Okay. Let him get by on his wits surrounded by filth and poverty. Take his phone so he can't swipe-pay, and take his wallet - mail it to his son."

A brilliant smile found her pink-painted lips. "Call to charter the flight. Tell them to be ready to leave in fifteen minutes." Karla lifted her hand and grasped a fistful of Joseph's hair. "Let's go, pal." She disappeared with the man, leaving Conner and Sinopa alone in the hallway.

Conner leaned over the railing and waved to Raul. "Thanks again."

"De nada. Donde esta ... Mm, I am meaning to ask, where's your liquor cabinet, amigo?"

Conner leaned his cane against the hallway wall. He gently touched Sinopa's shoulder to let her know she could relax. He headed for the stairs and said, "Raul, I will have a bottle of Dalmore whiskey just for you. Unless you prefer the Glenfarclas."

"I don't recall knowing either brand name, Señor Parker."

"How about Macallan?"

"Oh, yes, definitely."

Conner grinned. "I'll get you a bottle that sat in an oak barrel for twenty-five years. C'mon." He led Raul downstairs, to the sublevel of the mansion. Meanwhile, he fished out his phone from the pocket of his pajama pants. "Real fast, I need to call the airport before Karla gets there."

"No rushing, amigo. I am having all the time in the world, if you are knowing what I mean."

Conner nodded emphatically. "And tomorrow, I'll want to talk to you about going out to the Parker Island Vault with James and Reno. We need to be at our best." He thought about asking permission to meet Jonathan Parker, or spend a week with Topaz in her hay-day, or something selfish but decided against it.

"What's with the contemplative look being on your face?"

"Nothing. It's ... it's nothing."

"No, you cannot go back and be meeting Jesus or Gandhi or..."

"No, I was thinking about my mother or grandfather."

"Maternal or paternal grandfather?"

Conner replied with a sour face. "Either."

"Just curious." Raul grinned. He gave Conner a firm pat on the shoulder. "The answer is still going to be no, either way. Thank you for resisting the urge to be asking."

"Yeah. C'mon, let's go and get you that drink, now. I had to learn Spanish, French and Japanese growing up. Maybe I can help you figure out your English."

"There's nothing being wrong with my English."

"We'll make it a drinking game. Every time you get a sentence right, you get a shot."

Raul laughed. "Well in that case, I'll be having my Masters in that language in no time at all."

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Next Chapter: https://www.sofurry.com/view/761566