"Alex!"
The girl's call echoed through the corridors of King's Row. It was a familiar one, as familiar as the sight of the bespectacled girl walking down the street looking very annoyed. She was safe from most of the denizens of the area, not just because she was so young (and obviously had nothing to steal,) but because of her parents. Therra Arcson and Col. Johnathan Snow were known very well, and the gangs knew full well that if Erin or her brother had anything happen, they'd feel the full wrath of the heroic couple.
The various petty thugs and street toughs knew they didn't want to experience that again.
Erin stopped and crossed her arms, tapping her foot as she considered a street and two alleys - then looked up.
Idiot, she thought, the ancient refrain of all girls with brothers. She'd spotted his backpack on the edge of the roof of the old apartment building, and knew he was probably three feet away from getting into trouble. Carefully, she made her way up the fire escape.
"Alex, what are you..."
"Shh," he said. "Keep it down." Idiot, he added, the historic refrain of all boys with sisters. He waved her over, then waved her down. "Watch these guys. They're training some new recruits, it looks like."
"Alex, you're going to get caught and beaten up." She raised an eyebrow at him. "And probably start it, knowing you."
"I'm fine. They won't touch us - that guy doesn't move fast enough. The guy in the black jacket there keeps using the same pattern, too..."
"Alex, mom's looking for you. If she knew you were over here - "
Alexander stopped her with a glare. "She won't know unless someone tells. And that someone would have to say how she knew then, wouldn't she." He sighed. "If she's looking, it's dinner, I know. And I'm supposed to be at the library. She didn't say she was coming to get me, did she?" He looked relieved as his sister shook her head. "Cool. Ok, lead on, sis," he said, backing away from the edge.
Alex shadowboxed as they went down the street. "I could take them. I know it."
His sister just rolled her eyes. "Yeah. And do what before they cracked you in the head with a bat or shot you? They're bigger than you, and not nice people. I could fix you sometime, but I don't know how yet - " Erin suddenly shut up as her brother turned his head towards her, excited.
"The tests came back? You can heal, really? The bird wasn't a fluke? Cool, we'll be heroes!"
Erin didn't answer.
A few weeks earlier, she'd found a bird in the yard while she was helping her mother with the gardening. She watched it flutter, agitated at something and obviously hurt. She felt awful seeing it there like that, and just felt like she had to do something. Her parents had had to talk to her about bringing animals home before - the worst ones always seemed to calm down around her, and they'd become a common sight around veterinarian offices in the area as Erin had yet another stray that needed help.
Still, this one was in the yard. It was already at her home, so she felt responsible for helping it. As she got closer, she realized it had at least a broken wing.
"Mom!" she called over, pointing at the bird. Her mother watched, about to tell her to be careful as Erin picked it up. She scooped it carefully in her hands, wanting to keep it warm, let it know it was safe.
By the time she crossed the yard, the bird's wing had healed. It flew off when she opened her hands, surprising them both. Therra had studied her daughter at that point, considering. Her own powers had come initially from a patron goddess, one she'd learned she was linked to because of her family, and later through a merging with a Kheldian. Her husband - well, he was a long story, primarily used now as an object lesson about nanotech.
Days later, they'd taken both Erin and her brother in to be tested for developing abilities. Erin had been as reluctant as her brother was excited - he'd always pestered their parents for more stories of what they'd done (though Erin was sure they left a lot out,) while she was content to curl up on the couch with them and watch TV, safe by her mother's side.
It's not fair, Erin thought now, her brother hanging onto her arm and almost bursting with excitement. He wants this. I don't. She only half listened as they crossed the park, getting close to the tram that would take them closer to home.
"Alex," she said when he finally came up for air. "They didn't find anything with you. Just me."
She felt miserable saying it, and her heart almost broke for her brother as she saw him finally hear what she'd said. "I'm sorry, but it's what they said. Maybe something will show up later for you," she added, trying not to let him get disappointed. "They say girls grow faster, maybe it's just that."
"Yeah. Maybe," he said, not sounding convinced. His voice was as crestfallen as his expression. They continued on towards the station, Erin wishing she hadn't said anything.
"Aww, wassamatter, poor little Alex looks like he's going to cry. Anyone have a tissue?"
The two looked up at the sneering voice, the chuckles in the background only adding to their irritation. In front of them stood a trio of kids they really didn't want to see. The two of them (as well as a few others) referred to the group as 'Creybabies.' Insufferably smug, generally rich kids of Crey executives and officers who were sent to the school for the same reason Erin and Alex as well as other heroes kids were - a combination of better schooling and better security than the public schools could offer.
There was no love lost between their little group and the rest of the school.
Erin could feel Alex getting angry even without seeing the glare he shot the boy or the fist he was forming. "Leave him alone, Jason," she said, starting to guide Alex around them.
It was, of course, the wrong thing to say. The Crey-babies laughed. "Look at that, little sister there to defend her brother, how sweet." The leader, Jason, reached out and poked Erin. "What are you going to do about it?"
"Leave her alone, Jason," said a girl's voice from the group. "They're in the Row with the rest of the trash, no need to get our hands dirty." Erin looked over to a dark haired girl, her own nemesis in Ms. Sephiroth's class. "Who knows what you'd get from her."
Erin nudged Alex. "Look, it's Kelly. Living proof money can't buy good taste." Alex grinned as the girl turned red.
"Why you... just wait 'til gym, hero-tramp," she spat at Erin.
"And you'll do what, run out of breath two laps behind me as usual?" Erin asked, raising her eyebrow. "Or try to gag my by not taking a shower after gym?" She pinched her nose shut as she said the last.
"I ought to teach you some manners" growled Kelly, coming forward.
"Have to have some before you can teach anyone else," said Erin in reply. She didn't like fighting and didn't really want to fight, but she couldn't stop herself from answering.
"Girl fight!" called Jason, grabbing Erin's arm and yanking, shoving her towards Kelly, who seemed as surprised as Erin. She still took advantage of it, shoving Erin to the ground and jumping on her, grabbing a handful of hair and jerking. Alex, meanwhile, balled up a fist and drove it into Jason's gut.
In the minute or so before the cop made it over to break it up, all five kids were bruised up, most with scratches or torn clothes. All of them sat in the station on adjacent benches, silently fuming and glaring at each other as they waited for their parents.
"Mind telling me what you two were doing in King's Row?" Therra asked when she came to pick them up, Kelly's mother shortly behind her.
It was a quiet dinner that night - as well as the next week's worth while the two were grounded.
Their lives changed considerably over the coming months and years. Erin ended up going to after school programs being mentored by active heroes, learning to use and control her powers. She learned to defend herself, as well, turning her empathic abilities on their head, causing those who attacked her to feel pain or paralysis without causing actual physical damage.
Her brother learned to fight. His physical skill, taking various sorts of martial arts training and blending them together, was matched by his penchant for tinkering. The day his sister - then his parents - found he'd actually assembled a "base of operations" hidden in a side tunnel off the PTA tracks was -
Let's just call it interesting.
Both ended up registered as provisional heroes, following in their parents footsteps. Both had their share of run ins with the Crey kids for a while, though over time they just seemed to fade away.
It was no surprise when, days before graduation, Erin announced her intention to join Longbow. Her father was proud of her, and made sure she knew. Her mother was worried about her, and made just as sure she knew that. Her brother, having just gotten control of his trust fund, which had been getting the money from his patents put into it, thought she was nuts.
"Just stay here. Go to school like you said you wanted to. I'll pay for it, Erin, you know I would. Why get wrapped up with them?" he asked as they sat in her room the night she made her announcement. "Nobody will know who you are, you'll just be another number."
"That's part of why, Alex." She plopped onto her bed, grabbing a teddy bear she'd had for years. "We've been protected, and you know it. Nobody messed with us except the Crey kids, and they didn't know better. We've always been the Snow kids, with hero parents." She looked up at him. "Yeah, we've both been out doing stuff, but even then it wasn't - I don't know, wasn't real. Well, except some of the trouble you got yourself into. We always had mom and dad, or the group in my case, to back us up, and we were still mom and dad's kids." She set the teddy bear to the side and leaned back against the wall, drawing a knee up to her. "I need to know I can do this on my own. I won't be one of the Snow kids there. I'll be Erin Snow, recruit, and anything I do right or wrong, any promotions or trouble, will be because of me."
"I'd still rather have you here. I'm starting a company to deal with the patents and research, and you've got a good head for the numbers and organizing things."
"You mean you don't want us to be apart," she replied after studying her brother's face. "We never have been. It's always been you and me, even with that mess with Steve. You were always there to back me up and tell me how stupid I was being for him."
"Yeah, well, you were. See, you need me," Alex added with a grin. He had to admit to himself that she was probably right, though. The two of them never had been apart for more than a week or so. And even when they were, with one of them at camp or something, they'd call and talk. "And I need you to help me with the company."
Erin shook her head. "No, you don't. YOu're as good with all that as I am. And the company will be something of yours, Alex, whether it takes off or fails. It'll still be all yours." She sat up, leaning forward to take her brother's hand. "Don't deny me the same thing. Let me have something of my own, too, even if it's with Longbow."
Alex looked up. "I don't want you to go, sis."
Erin nodded. "I know. Part of me doesn't either. Which means I really should."
Alex was the one who finally convinced Therra to let her daughter join, be her own person out from under their shadow. Erin rose steadily through their ranks with a good solid record, growing personally as well. Two years into her service, she announced she had gotten two promotions, one to lieutenant, one to fiance' - something that came as a surprise to nobody.
It was the announcement two months later that shook everybody.
Alex sat at his desk in his makeshift base, goggles on his forehead, his latest project sitting untouched to the right. His attention was riveted fully on the screen in front of him as he played the message again, feeling a sinking in the pit of his stomach.
"... sort of chance I've always wanted. I can make a difference, a bigger one than I've been able to so far. But we won't be able to talk directly, Alex, and I'm going to miss that. There'll be a monthly drop back and forth, but other than that, I'm going to be deep undercover."
He paused, looking at his sister's picture, the excitement shining through her eyes before she pulled herself back.
"I'm going to be - well, different. I can't explain it, since it's all classified and hush hush, you understand. But even what I'll have to go through to start this could help so many people, it's just amazing. It'll push our understanding of our own powers so much father too."
He saw his sister get serious, waiting for the part that made him - well, scared, if he'd admit it to himself.
"Alex, I've said this to mom and dad, too, as well as to my fiance'. You may... see, and hear, some things. They may not be nice things. I need you to be strong for me, all of you. I don't know how long I'll be gone, hopefully they'll wrap this up fast but it may be a few months or longer. Don't worry about what you hear. And don't come looking for me to save me or bring me back. I know you, Alex. I need you to trust me.
"I'm going to need you all when I get home." Erin looked off screen to a voice he couldn't make out. "I have to go and get started. I love you, Alex. You're not just my brother, but my best friend. Tell mom and dad I love them too. And keep an eye on hubby-to-be for me. The timing sucks for him, but this is important and I need him to understand that too."
He watched as Erin gave him her usual wide smile and wave. "Bye for now." He could see that she needed something more to say as she paused. It felt so weak to him, too, and not for the first time he reached out to try to stop her from turning off the recording.
He hadn't felt so alone. But she needed him, and was counting on him.
It didn't help that he hadn't figured out what to do in the week since this was delivered.
He felt helpless and frustrated. He looked down at his bandaged hand, and the dent in the cabinet where he'd punched the wall the first time and cracked his knuckle.
Sighing, he made sure - again - to have a backup of the recording, and did the only thing he could think of her asking him to do. He went to their parents' house to try to help them through this.
Erin ran to the bathroom and knelt over the toilet. The injections and the - what did they want to call it, spell? Ritual? - had seemed to work, but they had warned her that her body would take time to adjust, and she'd need time to learn her new abilities.
Right now her ability seemed to be feeling more miserable than she'd ever felt in her life. It didn't help she couldn't have her family near or even talk to them. In fact, there were very few people she could talk to - all three of them were associated with the mission. Even her old squad commander wasn't allowed to know where she was or what was going on.
She waited until the urge to vomit passed, then got up, rinsing her face and her mouth with cold water anyway. She made her way back to her bunk - well, bedroom, and the bed was certainly more comfortable than much of what she'd slept on the past two years.
Erin wished she could talk to her mom. Her mom hadn't had powers, as far as she knew, until she was attacked coming home from school. Erin, meanwhile, had been born with them. She tried to remember what her mother had told her about getting her abilities. It was one thing Erin did love hearing about - let Alex hear about the battles, she enjoyed hearing about her mother coming into her abilities. Even when things went wrong. She'd learned from the stories, and even helped other, younger heroes deal with their own developing powers.
She'd also learned some lost family history, revealed to Therra. Her family had, long ago, been favored priestesses of a goddess. Though she wasn't worshipped and hadn't been for hundreds of years, the women in her family would still, on occasion, exhibit powers and abilities. This had gotten several of them killed during witch hunts, despite them universally helping others or defending their home villages. The last woman before Therra to show any powers existed back in the 1700s. This goddess had explained to Therra that she'd withheld her gifts from the family for their own protection, that they were now safe to have again.
Erin tried to remember her name. All she was known as to her mom was the Lady.
She got up and paced, then walked to the mirror, looking at her short-cropped hair in it, already growing out a much darker red than it used to be. Am I betraying our Lady by having this done? I don't even know her, I've never talked to her. Is this why I'm so sick?
A laugh that Erin could only describe as 'Chimes on winter air' came to her.
No, child, you aren't. You have made me proud, and do now as well with the sacrifice you're making. A feeling of a bemused elder came over Erin. I had wondered if you'd call on me.
"Lady?" Erin asked. She looked around, seeing nobody in the room. Am I having hallucinations now? she wondered, considering paging the doctor.
In response, a woman... condensed in the corner. It was the only way Erin could describe it - a cloud appearing, coming together in the shape of a red-haired woman in a blue-green diaphanous gown. She could see herself in this woman - as well as her mother, her grandma, and pictures of her great (and older) grandmother. She wasn't quite sure what, exactly, other than the red hair. There was an absolute feel of power in her, as well, ancient and controlled, all enveloped in an aura of peace and serenity.
"No, daughter, you are not hallucinating."
Erin wasn't quite sure what to do. She hadn't faced a deity before, so she did the one thing that came to mind and saluted. If anyone's a superior, I think she fits the definition.
The Lady chuckled. "At ease, as you say. Fitting, as that's what I'm here to do - put you at ease." She gestured to the bed, patting the side of it as she sat down. "You wonder if you're doing the right thing. There are many right - and wrong - things, but at this moment you are," she said as Erin joined her.
Erin started to say something, but the Lady stopped her. "My time here is short, for now, and the rules by which I must abide are many or I'd have revealed myself to you earlier. But you are in need, and you called, and so I am here."
"We have met once before, though you don't remember. Your mother was sick before you were born. Even then you could tap your powers, and you protected yourself, your brother and your mother, calling to me. Without that, you would have been lost. And I have watched you since. You have done well."
"Now you prepare to go to a place of darkness, and go through this change to hide and survive." The woman caressed Erin's cheek. "The need is coming faster than they think. You will not be able to heal as you have, though some will still come through. You will be able to protect, defend, attack though. You will be a warrior by your own right."
Erin seemed somewhat saddened by the loss of what she could do before, and the Lady rubbed her back, holding her close. "Do not be sad. Take on the new duties with joy and honor, daughter. But with this change, you must put aside your old ways, your old self. You must take on the other name your mother gave you. You are no longer Erin, but Caitlyn. To all but your family."
"And with this, I ease your way," she said, standing, taking Erin by the hands. She ran her hands over Er... Caitlyn's head, her chest, her heart and belly. "Your powers are changed as you sleep. No more sickness. The drugs are gone, no longer needed. And you have the knowledge to use them," she said, easing Caitlyn to the bed. "Use them wisely."
The Lady smiled back at Caitlyn as she realized she was being tucked in to bed. She realized a moment later her uniform was gone, noting it folded up on the counter, and that she was in her favourite nightshirt from home. Her mom hadn't tucked her in in ten years, and she'd never had it done by a goddess. "Thank you," Caitlyn replied, suddenly very sleepy, feeling a brush of cool lips against her forehead as the lady vanished.
Warrior, she thought as she slipped into sleep. I can do that. Alex would never believe it.
The next morning, she found herself the object of a battery of tests, both trying to figure out where her powers had come from and, surprisingly to them, how she knew to use them. To lower temperature, make shards and weapons of ice to fight and protect with. Even the martial training that would normally come to someone with these powers was found to be unneccessary. She fought as if she'd held the weapons for ages instead of hours.
Thank you, Lady, Caitlyn - as she'd requested to be called officially - thought.
Two weeks later, after heavy briefing, Caitlyn Haruspica was "arrested" and thrown in the Ziggursky Penetentiary, unrecognized even by those she had put there, soon making a name for herself as one not to be messed with. A week after that, she and several others were broken out and found themselves on the way to the Rogue Isles.
The small smile on the redhead's hard face caused the others - even some of their Arachnos watchdogs - to shy away from her a bit during the quiet flight back.
Six months later
The Arachnos sergeant nudged another of his squad. "Check that out. I think I can come up with a few destinies for her, eh?" He chuckled crudely and waved at his squad, stopping when they didn't move.
"What, don't feel like having some fun with some meat?"
"Sarge, that's Caitlyn Haruspica. No effing way I'm going anywhere near her." The others nodded. "I'd want two or three more squads with us before 'having some fun' with her, and I still don't think - uh oh," he said.
The sergeant turned to find icy eyes looking at him from beneath a mane of red hair. He started to back up, only to find himself encased in ice, feeling it starting to contract around him as she got closer. "I can think of a few destinies for you too, spider-boy. None of them have you living past the next five minutes." She glanced at the rest of the squad. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
The sergeant tried to turn his head and failed as he heard the rapid retreat of boots behind him.
"Now, sergeant. Tell me, since you're so fond of destinies. Do you know what haruspice is?" The sergeant tried to shake his head. "It's a diviner. One who tells destinies in a very... specific... way." She drew a finger across his face, drawing it down his chest and stomach as she talked. "See, they'd take a sacrifice, slit open its gut and draw out its entrails, reading the future from them - color, possibly twitching, blood, all signs and portents. Now, if you're really still interested in destiny, I can give you a demonstration. I don't think you'll end up getting to tell others what you learned, though. No?" she asked as his eyes grew wide and he shook his head as vigorously as he could.
"It's probably for the best," she said, reaching over and freezing his mace, then snapping it with a twist of her wrist. "Now, go join your squad. And if I find you've been playing with other 'meat,' I may just have to shatter something else of yours."
She waved a hand and the ice melted rapidly. "Now, shoo. You've wasted enough of my time."
The sergeant took off at a dead run. Caitlyn watched him, shaking her head. Her assistant came over. "Was that a good idea, boss?"
"He knows who I am now, and will think twice about his 'fun.' That's good enough for me." She looked over. "Go tell the doctor I'll be there in a moment. I have one other errand I have to take care of first."
She watched as he went on. She'd managed to get herself into the good graces of her target's organization, as well as build up a little manpower of her own. This doctor was - well, nuts. And as bent on either destruction or domination as most of the nutcase scientists in the Isles. He was more of a threat than most - even Aeon had a leash on him, which this one didn't.
Caitlyn scanned the buildings, finally seeing the two chalked stripes on the corner of a bar. The drop point changed each time. The stripes told her exactly which one to go to. She went to pick up the small data chip and leave her own. She'd be sure to have time of her own, not just to receive her instructions but hear from her family again. Tucking it away, she went on to her meeting. They were so close to bringing him down and making him pay for his experiments... not to mention the results of his research getting out to various terror groups. Still, she had to keep her focus or it would all be for nothing.
She was nearly at the lab when her comm alerted her. "What?"
"Boss, the doc had to put off the meeting 'til tomorrow. There's some trouble at the lab - looks like Wyvern." Caitlyn swore. "Yeah, that's what he said, too." She heard an explosion in the back. "I'll meet you back at the ranch with his new instructions."
"Got it. Get out of there in one piece."
"Aww, boss, I didn't know you cared," he came back with a chuckle. She did, honestly - he was easy to talk to, and listened. Probably the closest she'd call a friend here, though she didn't dare open up too much to him. He could, after all, be bought.
"Of course I do. You're expensive to replace," she said with a small chuckle of her own. "Now get moving." She flipped her cell off.
Damn Wyvern. Why can't they keep their noses clean of our ops? She wondered how much this would set their plans back. The doctor would surely increase security, and she wasn't sure she was close enough to not be under suspicion. She'd have to see how this played out.
Of course, I get to read my mail early then, she thought to herself with a small smile.
She regretted that later, her assistant coming into her private room later after hearing an unusual sound - Caitlyn, his boss, crying after getting her fiance's... well, now ex-fiance's message that he couldn't live like this, and couldn't wait any longer, that he was sorry but he had to move on with his life. Her family hadn't let on any of this - and he said he couldn't face them to tell them, either.
She considered talking to him, the assistant she'd groomed, who'd stuck with her - but she didn't dare. The message itself was safe, the data chip erased and destroyed. And she couldn't explain it to him anyway without blowing her cover. She sent him away, needing to be alone.
Dammit, why'd he have to do this? And why now? she thought. How much more will I lose before this is over?
She felt a soothing presence settle on her. Strength, daughter. It hurts, I know. I know. But soon it will be done.
Caitlyn turned over on her bed, looking for the Lady, worried she'd be seen. She felt the presence withdraw, leaving lingering traces in her soul, a trickle of strength and comfort coming to her.
---
Far away, Therra looked up, feeling her heart ache, feeling her daughter's turmoil along with her patron's presence. A touch of that presence, and she understood, just picturing herself holding Erin... no, Caitlyn, close and warm.
AT the same time, Alex looked out the window of his office. He didn't know why, but he knew Erin needed him. He had pieced together what she was doing, and the occasional message they got meant she was fine. He recognized her on a news clip or two, in the background of some stories from the Rogue Isles.
And he remembered her message, how she'd need him where he was, need him when she got back, need his strength.
If you need it, sis, you've got it. I've got your back.
He'd been furious at her fiance' when he finally told the family, wanting to break the guy's jaw, ruin his life - but he let that flash of anger pass. She'd been reassigned so soon after the engagement, and if they missed her, it had to be worse for him, wondering if this was how their life would be. He wouldn't know diferently. And Alex knew he wanted some stability, a family. Instead of breaking his arm, he'd let the man go with a handshake, saying he could, somewhat, understand.
It'd be what Erin would want, after all. Though he wished she were there.
Somehow he knew that's what this was about, too, and pictured himself with his sister as he had since getting the news, knowing she'd need him to help her. So he remembered Steve, the boyfriend he'd warned her about, and how he helped her through his arrest and trial. He never said 'I told you so,' though she expected - even prodded him to. He just was there for her.
He turned, sure he felt another presence in the room, but all he saw was his office.
Caitlyn couldn't sleep.
It wasn't the message from her fia... her ex. She'd managed to tuck that, and the emotions involved with it, away in a little corner of her mind. She'd mourn for what might have been later, once all this was done. They were too dangerous to deal with right now. No, instead she worried about Wyvern.
She'd been dropped on the island with the sole purpose of infiltrating The Doctor's organization. Longbow knew he had contacts he used to get things done. They knew his associates, his lieutenants, and the tendancy for individuals who failed him to disappear. They knew he had had contacts with the Facemaker and, through her, Dr. Vahzilok. They suspected him of involvement with Malta and the Council, and with the disappearance (or defection, depending on who you listened to) of several Vanguard agents.
What had set off alarms in Longbow, however, was the discovery of "tagged" chemicals, not just in Paragon and the Isles, but in three seperate terrorist attacks - one in China, one in Germany and one in Greece. All of these had had molecular tracers on them - all of which led back to the Isles, to stolen shipments that were reported in the Doctor's posession. More components were traced from rocket attacks that had occurred on various nuclear facilities - and the raw materials that could go into either a reactor, or a bomb, depending on how they were processed. A longbow minisub had picked that tracer up, as well, before the sub was destroyed - also apparently heading for The Doctor.
The uses he could put these to were worrying, to say the least. Longbow and the Vindicators would have been happier if Aeon had had the material instead. He was just as nuts, but slightly less amoral and certainly under some degree of control. Plus Arachnos would use the material for their own ends. The Doctor would sell to the highest bidder.
Standard Longbow infiltration teams had failed to make it in. They'd recorded Arachnos teams also failing. A different approach was needed.
And so they'd changed and dropped Caitlyn.
She'd done odd jobs for his "feeler" contacts, quickly and efficiently, making sure to run other scams as well so he wouldn't feel watched. They'd already lost two operatives who had seemed 'too eager.' When they finally brought her in, she kept up appearances, efficiently hijakcing shipments (and tagging them,) stealing (and copying, sometimes modifying) data - and setting up his inner circle to fall, one by one. Leaked information led to two of them being captured and put away for a few decades. More information led to a raid on a third by Arachnos, with no non-Arachnos survivors. She'd planted clues that led to two others no longer working together, working actively against one another until The Doctor executed one of them.
Not much of a retirement plan, she thought to herself as she smiled. Still, the information and various tags led to the disruption of several arms shipments and the capture of two more terrorist cells, saving who knows how many lives. She wished she could have done more, but she knew if too many operations were completely disrupted, he'd be far too suspicious and likely dig deeper into her backstory. Two other "facilitators" like her had disappeared when he suspected them of being the cause. Still, enough evidence had gotten out that when they took him down, it would stick and he'd be gone for a long, long time.
It was one of the few things that made the more... distasteful elements of the job manageable for her.
She was now one of the few he relied on, her and the small group she'd built around her. She didn't thinks he'd say 'trusted,' but if she wasn't part of the inner circle, she was close. She knew about some of the disappearances. She knew about some of the labs that existed, though she hadn't been allowed in, or told what went on in there. She had her guesses, though. And soon, she'd know for sure. The final piece of the puzzle, perhaps.
If Wyvern hadn't shattered all that and made The Doctor suspicious. If Wyvern hadn't ramped his paranoia back up. If, if, if.
Where did they get their information? What were they after? she wondered, vexed at the curveball they may have just thrown her. She couldn't ask if Longbow knew, but nothing about it was in the lastest packet. She was sure they were probably scrambling for information, as well.
All she could do was wait for her meeting with him tomorrow, and prepare. She checked her boot knives, making sure they slid in and out of their sheathes with ease. Small throwing knives were next, an oddly flexible "stick" of them she could fit up her arm. Pistol, derringer, both loaded and ready. Last but not least, a little surprise she didn't think the Doctor knew about - a small, fine wire that could be used as a garotte or, with the application of a little current, a long, think stiletto.
She looked at her collection with some sadness. Yes, they were all tools. Yes, they'd helped her survive more than once when someone thought her helpless, or her powers would have been the wrong thing to use - or just not available. But she seemed a hair's breadth away from being an assassin - a job she'd do if she had to, but which wouldn't bring justice to The Doctor's victims.
The realization she didn't want to or relish the thought was, itself, oddly comforting. It reassured her that she hadn't lost herself yet, despite all she had to do here, despite the world she had to live in in the Isles.
Feeling somewhat better and as prepared as she could be for tomorrow, she lay back down, easing the covers back over herself, and finally slept.
"The Doctor will see you now."
Caitlyn stalked in, her assistant and a few bodyguards behind her. "You never get tired of that joke, do you," she asked the mousy woman who'd let her in. She knew better than to push her far, though - the woman was obviously crazy, and completely in thrall to The Doctor.
The woman laughed, sounding much like a hyena as she did. "Your guards will have to stay out here, I'm afraid. He's a little touchy after yesterday. He's sure you'll understand."
"Of course." She fixed the woman's stare. "And they'll be here, alive, unaltered, exactly as I left them, when I get back." She'd warned her guards about what to expect. Not that she thought any of them would be taken in by this nutcase, but they'd all been given a general antitoxin, had gas masks handy and wore long, fully concealing clothing despite the heat of the Isles. All had their own water, as well. She'd tried to counter anything that could be slipped into or onto them, or otherwise done to them, without them being physically restrained.
Not that that hadn't been done in the past. They knew better than to irritate this woman.
"If you insist," she replied, then opened the door. Caitlyn and her assistant followed her down the hallway with various labs and offices to the sides. It was a parody of a clinic, frankly, one that would give many people nightmares, but this section was just for show. They followed her through anther door and into a much more office-like setting where they were told to wait.
The Doctor showed up a few minutes later.
"Ahh, Caitlyn, good to see you. My apologies for delaying the meeting. Apparently one of my competitors thought they could use Wyvern to steal some of my research while they went after my client lists. It wasn't a bad plan, really, but of course they were stopped. The damage will take about two days for my robots to finish repairing, unfortunately."
Caitlyn nodded, making sure this was getting recorded.
"Thanks to the attack, however, some new opportunities have opened up for you. I appreciate and award efficiency. I won't insult you by saying loyalty, I know full well that money talks in the Isles as it does anywhere else. However, I think that once you hear my offer and see what I have, you won't want to work for anyone else."
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. "Really? And who do I have to kill? Or did that happen yesterday?"
The Doctor ran a hand through his buzzed off brown hair, then laughed. "Yes, that's one of the things my robots can't fix, unfortunately." He offered her a seat. "Come. Let's talk business." He waited for them to sit before doing so himself. "As I indicated, another of my more trusted assistants met an unfortunate end yesterday. This man had connections and talents that were most useful to me. His loss is a setback. However," he said, meeting her eyes, "I have you."
"You've managed to build quite the little network. You manage to ship goods and agents around the various agencies' efforts better than eighty percent of the time. I'm sure with more resources, you could be even more efficient." He leaned back and spread his hands. "I, of course, have those resources, and am willing to share them with you." The Doctor leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and clasping his hands. "I also find myself in not quite the bargaining position I'd hoped to be in when I made this offer. I have clients who are a little antsy to get their products. Governments to overthrow, ethnicities to cleanse, enemies to purge, all the things that make life simpler for some, shorter for others, and make me rich."
He pulled out a sheet of paper and started writing. "My proposal is simple. You work exclusively for me for the next three years." He looked up. "Before you ask, I know that sounds short. We'll renew if needed, but it never has been. Competition truly is cutthroat in the isles," he said with a sick grin. "You'll have greater access to my facilities, some manufacturing and sales at your disposal - I'm sure some of your contacts could appreciate my services. In response, I'll pay you this."
He slid the paper over to her. She raised an eyebrow. "I make this in a month, Doctor. Just because I don't flaunt it doesn't mean I don't *have* it." She wrote another figure, with two extra digits, and slid it back. "You want exclusivity, pay that. That should cover what I need to expand my network, as well. First month up front. I'll have to buy a few other silences myself."
"That's outrageous!"
"Replacing people is costly. You indicated such yourself," she said, leaning back and steepling her fingers. "We both know it full well."
He wrote another figure, removing a digit. "This. And you get 50% of arms and materials sales you make."
She looked at the figure. "Eighty percent."
"Sixty."
She considered a moment, making one more alteration to the figure. "This, and sixty five." She looked up. "I think the repeat business from what I know you have will make up the other fifteen percent nicely."
The Doctor looked at the figure, looked at her and smiled. He knew he had her. "Done, and done." He slid a pin across to her and, a moment later, to her assistant. "Come with me. Wear those, or the defense systems will shoot without question."
He led them down another hall to an elevator, which opened out into a lobby - then into what looked like a manufacturing line. "Just so you see what you'll be helping sell."
Caitlyn let go a low whistle. Workers in white suits were busy. She could see tubes of some sort going down a line, deactivated robots against the far wall, reinforced barrels... She looked closer.
"Very nice. Now where's the real line?" she asked. "Since you're buying my trust and all."
"What ever do you mean, my dear?" he asked innocently. And so she pointed.
"Those barrels and those crates are dusty. They probably haven't been moved in weeks, at least. The workers have firearms stashed away. That line is rusty and likely to bind at any time. You probably don't run these more than a few minutes at a time, just long enough to give a show. And there, there, there.... and there, are the most obvious turrets, which means there are probably a few more hidden around." She looked at him and crossed her arms. "This line is a decoy, set up specifically to be attacked. Some of the crates and barrels are probably explosives or gasses, at the very least." She gave him a wink. "You do, after all, produce them. I should know. I've run enough of them."
The Doctor laughed. "Very good. Clever girl. I knew hiring you would not be a mistake." He went to a wall comm. "OK, show's over. And Ms. Haruspica has a few items for you to improve on." He looked at her. "Shall we, then? You, I'm afraid, can't come any farther," he said, indicating her assistant, "but there are donuts and coffee in the break room. Same ones my workers use, so don't worry about them."
Caitlyn looked at him with a warning to be careful. "Show them what I pointed out, as well. We don't want another Wyvern attacker or Longbow spy picking up those same clues."
He looked uneasy. "Whatever you say, boss." He went down the stairs indicated as The Doctor led her away. Another, reinforced room and an elevator ride followed.
"I always have to wonder how anything stands on the Isles with all the burrowing," Caitlyn said. The Doctor laughed. "Indeed. We had to go down quite a ways to avoid some other warrens. But we'll be quite safe. There could be a nuclear strike and we wouldn't notice. Ahh, here we are."
The Doctor led her through a hall, then had her put on a white 'bunny suit' with facemask and respirator. "Can't risk contaminants," he said, putting one over his own clothes. Thus suited, they went into the lab.
Cell after cell was filled with people who had lost all hope. Some had lost limbs, several had lost blood, and a few had growths or marks she didn't want to think of. She felt sick to her stomach, but held it in, tucking the revulsion and anger away. They went from the regular cells to some special ones, thick transparent walls and biohazard signs everywhere.
"These have been most profitable, both in money and in research data." She jumped slightly as a purplish blast splattered against one of the walls, the cell inside filled with brownish-green gas.
"Those walls are solid enough to deal with a pounding like that for more than a few minutes, I hope," she said. The Doctor nodded. "We have yet to have anything break through, even at full strength, even with a week of trying. Unfortunately, they're all one use. That one can't even be opened for cleaning, or incinerating. The organisms survive most temperatures we can create."
"Have you tried going the other way instead of burning them? Extreme cryo?"
The Doctor looked thoughtful. "That may just work." He laughed. "Even great minds get stuck in ruts and ways of doing things. But come, this isn't what I wanted to show you." He led her down another corridor after sealing off the lab, then opened into another manufacturing plant.
This one was definitely real.
"Robotics over there, light units on the first floor with many of the arms you've helped sell. Heavier robotics in the middle. Bio chem at the bottom."
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. "Well." She looked around. This was, by comparison, a real factory. "I certainly haven't seen some of these before." The Doctor nodded.
"The heavier ones are more special order. Also more difficult to get out. And power was always a concern, until recently, as was control." Seeing her look, he continued. "There was a reason I requested the acquisition of some of Malta's titans. They've got a very unique control system, but I think we've got that figured out. It just has to be shielded from the reactor core."
"Reactor... You have nuclear material. I'd heard rumors someone got their hands on some." She verified this was being recorded.
"Indeed. Just a little bit can power these, and their weapons, for some time. I have enough for a few thousand of these 'mechs. But only a hundred or so will be produced." He waved her forward, into the next room. "Because we're going to be making these. Stay behind the screen, please. I'd like to be able to renew that contract sometime."
Inside the painfully white room, other robots were producing... something, in the form of heavy cylinders. She watched as they were moved, then put in a case, then that case put into a heavier one.
"Nukes," she said simply. "And unless I'm going blind from this, the right size for a suitcase or a small missile." She looked over at her escort. "No wonder you didn't argue over that figure more. A few of these will make that seem like chump change."
"Indeed," he said. "And part of the reason I'm so far underground. The refining process is too easy to pick up otherwise. Nukes from above aren't the only thing I'm worried about. The facility is a mile away. We won't be going there." His voice radiated pride. "A small change in formulation and they can be as clean or dirty as the client likes."
"All this is well and good," she said, "but just one question." She saw The Doctor tense up. "How do you expect me to move these? Or the bots? They certainly aren't going up through the office."
In response, he led her back out, showing two different docks and a mini-sub base. "Though I doubt the latter will be that useful for most of the goods."
"Quite the contrary. Perfect for your special packages from the white room," she said, already planning the assault. "The water above should help shield any stray radiation, too."
"So, we have a deal?" he asked, pulling out a pistol.
"A pen works better for signing, Doctor," Caitlyn replied. "You had me sold earlier. Yes, we have a deal. I have some contacts who may be very interested in new goods."
He relaxed, putting the pistol away. "I'm glad to hear it. The nukes get cleared through me, as do the large bots. Everything else is free rein." He put out a hand, and Caitlyn shook it.
They emerged an hour later, picking up Caitlyn's assistant on the way. "Good news, boss?"
"Very good news, yes. We now have a very profitable exclusive with the Doctor here," she explained as they went to the exit. "I'll want you to get in touch with a few people once we exit. Tell them to have their checkbooks ready." She turned as they picked up her bodyguards. "Doctor, it's been a pleasure doing business with you."
And hopefully you'll be out of business very, very soon.
Caitlyn went for a walk along the beach later that evening.
Her assistant was used to this, as she'd do this when she needed a change of scenery, just to clear her mind and think. He didn't mind, honestly. Not only was the boss more relaxed afterward, but he rather liked it himself. It was certainly one of the easier parts of his job.
Given what she'd let on, he figured he'd need some time to let it all sink in as well.
Caitlyn, meanwhile, had picked this beach for a reason. She was reasonably certain that the docks and sub pen came out somewhere near here, but the island stopped before her memories of the walk said it should. Right now she'd be over the lab, perhaps. She looked out over the water, the sun at her back. All she could see were tiny, outlying rocks...
Perspective. Duh. She picked up a rock and skipped it. We didn't go all the way to the docks, he just showed me the tunnels. The smaller islands have been converted. And the sub pen is probably a little farther out. She studied the surface of the water, looking for some sort of disturbance. How did they construct it without anyone noticing?
She picked up and skipped a few more rocks, then dropped the rest - with a pin she'd bought months ago at a souveneir shop - in a very specific pattern as she sat down. She'd leave another data chip at a throwaway drop point on the way back.
They had to know about this.
Ten minutes later, she collected her assistant. "Come on. We've got customers to make arrangements with."
A week later
The Doctor was almost spitting, his face red with rage. "How could we lose a sub? That had my nukes on it!"
Caitlyn stared at him coolly. "It doesn't help when they nearly run into a US Navy sub, probably dropping off Longbow or something. They should have shot first. We'd probably be free several sets of ugly tights, too."
He didn't have a sense of humor at the moment. "We've been betrayed. That has to be it!"
"Calm down, Doctor," Caitlyn said. "They haven't found the docks, nobody's storming the gates. It was bad luck. It's why the crews are expendable. Still, in the interest of avoiding these problems again - don't forget, it will interfere with my deliveries, too - I may have a solution."
She waved the still angry but curious Doctor over.
"Eliminate the crews completely," she said, pulling out a disk. As he opened his mouth, she held her hand out. "Not execute them. Not yet, anyway. Manned subs might still be useful. But one of my distributors has a new item that might be of interest. I started looking when you mentioned the new devices."
She pulled up a screen, showing something that looked much like a manta ray.
"Robotic submersibles. Slightly larger cargo capacity in a much smaller size - and no crew to worry about buying off or screwing up." Seeing The Doctor raise an eyebrow, she went on. "They can dive deeper, run quieter, and react much faster than our mini subs. Their range is shorter, but they only need to get out to the freighters that make the actual cargo runs. They're stealthier, too. No more collisions, unless we want them."
"Interesting. And what would your contact want - "
"Negotiable, though I'm sure they'd be interested in the nukes, I'd say we start smaller. Customize some of the robots for extreme environments, I think we could do about a 12:1 exchange of bots for subs at worst. Once we're satisfied... something bigger." She looked up and smiled. "Once we're satisfied, we'll have more leverage. They've got one product we want, we have se -"
She was cut off by alarms going off. "What is that? The manufacturing..."
"We're under attack!" The Doctor said, cursing. He went and got on the intercom as caitlyn turned to her assistant. "Call the boys, have them stand by to coordinate with..."
"Coordinate with nothing. They're attacking the sub base and the docks. They're already inside the manufacturing plant. But how?" He glared at Caitlyn, then turned back to the comm. "They're coming in through the front, too. They have all of our exits covered!"
"Hold this point," she told her six bodyguards. "Doctor, you don't have another way out of here? You're kidding, right?"
"There's one way," he said. "I won't let them take this." He looked at Caitlyn. "I'd really like to know how they learned of the sub base," he said, then pulled out a pistol and aimed it at her. "Satisfy my curiosity."
"Doctor, we don't have time for this. We lost a sub to a US Navy sub. You don't think they'd wonder what was going on around there? Subs don't appear out of nowhere."
"You have an answer for everything, don't you, Caitlyn," he said, his eyes crazing further.
"Doctor," she said, growling, "you can [censored] around with this or we can get out of here. Which will it be?" Her guards turned to look, their guns pointing at the Doctor.
The pistol shook in his hand as he considered, and Caitlyn heard an explosion in the hallway. "Hell with this," she said, freezing him in a block of ice. "Prepare for..."
Everything else was lost in the explosion.
Caitlyn didn't remember much of the flight. She woke up to someone fussing over her head and shoulder, a heaviness in her. She could feel restraints, hear the whine of the engines of the helicopter, but other than that it was all hazy - to the point where they injected her and knocked her out again.
She woke up in a cell, one over from The Doctor. He was glaring at her, and she glared right back.
"If you hadn't gone all paranoid we wouldn't be in this mess. For a smart guy, you're [censored] stupid."
"You froze me, traitor!" he spat back.
"You had a gun to my head, nutjob!"
A door creaked open, then slammed shut very solidly. "Ahh, good. You're awake. Feeling better, boss?"
Caitlyn and the Doctor both spun. When what she was seeing registered in her brain, she started laughing. "You. You son of a [censored]." Angry as she was, she still laughed. Her assistant, decked out in a Wyvern outfit, cocked an eyebrow at her, as did the Doctor.
"You let that spy in...."
"Shut up, doc. Be smart." She didn't know how much the Wyvern agent might know, so she still played her role. "I took care of you. I trusted you. What. The. [censored], Gene? How could you sell me out? It can't be the money. You could buy a small island with what we've made together."
"Sorry, Kate. Can I call you Kate?"
"You're the one with the keys," she replied. "Sonovabitch. I can't believe you did this right under my nose."
Her "assistant" went to a control panel. First the view of the Doctor was blocked, as were the views into the other cells. Then a humming started - a power dampening field. "Stand back from the door," he said, as two female Wyvern agents pointed weapons at her. Two others entered her cell with an orange jumpsuit, one removing her binders.
"We've already removed your physical weapons. I know you can fight, Kate. I suggest you don't. I'm going to step away while you change into that. The ladies here will keep an eye on you. I'll be back in a few minutes." A similar conversation was being held in the next cell, ending with the Doctor's voice suddenly cut off.
After she'd changed and had the binders put back on, her a... Gene returned. He pulled up a chair.
"Most of the network you built up is coming down. We've had agents in for a while now. It's quite the coup." Seeing her glare at him, he shrugged. "I'm sorry, for what it's worth. I can only suggest you help out the investigation. The Doctor there has so many charges against him he won't be out ... well, ever. You - I don't know. Given where those arms went and what was done with them, the money, everything else..."
"You have no idea, do you," Caitlyn said. "No idea what was going on."
"Twenty counts of shipping circumscribed arms. Seven known counts of aiding terrorist groups - fortunately their attacks were stopped, but it still won't look good. Three of treason for attempts to undermine the government of the United States. Kate, I don't know if you're getting out before you... Do what you can to help yourself. Please."
She just looked at him and smiled. He shook his head.
"There's no way out of this, Kate. At least if you help, maybe they'll give you parole in twenty years, with good behaviour. You could have some sort of a life. Might even find someone - that's what you were upset about that night, weren't you? Nobody cries like that without something similar."
He watched as she wrote something down, and handed it to him, a finger to her lips. "You really think I'll sell out?" she said, glancing towards the Doctor's cell, still blocked. "I know my network, they'll end up selling ME out and trying to pin enough crap on me to make that little list of yours look cute by comparison. I've got nothing to lose."
He hadn't opened the note yet. "So what's this? Your lawyer?"
"My lawyer," she said with a wink.
He unfolded it, keeping it out of sight.
Agent Erin Caitlyn Snow, Lieutenant, Longbow. A.N. IC/X-98348Delta847.
You nearly screwed up my op, but we'd have been there in another day.
Call Commander Wainwright, Pennsacola office. He will confirm.
I should kick your [censored] anyway. Next time, try coordinating.
He looked up to see her looking irritated, her eyebrow raised, but trying very hard not to laugh. He shook his head, then went to call.
She was bundled out of the cell as part of a "prisoner transfer" half an hour later, just after The Doctor. The Doctor's last view of her was her being bundled into a reinforced van, still shackled and in prison orange.
Her head was down and her eyes adjusting from the brightness outside when a hand came over, unlocking her shackles. She looked up, and fell into the arms of her parents and brother, trying to hug them all, laughing and crying as they drove to the waiting Longbow airbase.
Caitlyn spent the better part of a week in the Longbow base between debriefings, explaining the network that had been set up, verifying sources and destinations of supplies and shipments. All of the months of data she'd collected were shipped over, and two days were spent with Gene, the Wyvern agent, filling in blanks in each others' information.
"No, they went to Brazil for assembly, Gene," she said, sitting at a table and being generally irritated. She didn't quite feel right in her Longbow uniform any more. "From THERE they went to Angola. You'd have them shipping them back and forth twice as much."
"But my data says..."
"Your data is screwed up. I set UP the shipping, remember, as well as the occasional 'pirate raid' on them." He wasn't this irritating as my assistant, she thought sourly. "Don't tell me you had them rerouted."
"Some, yes."
Caitlyn half-growled, half screamed in frustration. "Why the hell didn't you people talk to us? I bet those were the same shipments we couldn't find and track... yeah, this one, this one, and.... this one, for instance?" Gene looked at the data and nodded, whereupon Caitlyn pounded her head on the table. "That third shipment that we couldn't find was used in an attack on a village in the Mediterranean. Interpol was furious that they didn't get a heads up about its location!" She put her head in her hands. "At least nobody was killed in that one since the tourist season was slow." She'd lost her picture of this man as competent and efficient. Of course, he was part of an organization that loved to run roughshod over the Isles, too.
She wondered if they'd be bringing in Wyvern en masse soon.
The meeting went on like that, sometimes with their superiors and other officers, usually not. Finally, four o'clock came around.
"That takes care of the last bit of information I needed. Was there anything else for you?"
Caitlyn got up. "Nope. I'm good." She stretched. "God, I'm glad that's over." She didn't indicate if she meant the meeting or the operation.
Gene assumed the latter, and nodded. "I agree. A long undercover stretch gets to be rough." He stopped as he gathered his files. "I liked working for you, even with what we were doing, for what it's worth. I'm actually glad I didn't have to put you behind bars. One question, on a personal note, though," he said.
Caitlyn looked at him, and sighed. "Yes. My fiance' broke up with me that evening. Well, a few evenings before that, but that's when I learned about it."
Gene shook his head. "I don't know that I'd have been able to tuck all that away like you did. In any case, they're rotating me back here for a bit. Apparently my superiors agree with you that we need to communicate and coordinate more." He shook her hand. "I look forward to working with you some more, Agent Snow."
She smiled wryly. "Agent Snow is my dad. Lieutenant works for me. Though I won't be around here much longer."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Gene said, releasing her hand. "New op?"
"In a way. Good luck, Gene."
Her superior came in as Gene left, and Caitlyn handed him the folder. "Lieutenant, what was that all about? You don't have a new op. I know that things seemed strained between the two of you, but..."
"Ma'am," she said, "it isn't that. Longbow's been good, and we did a lot of good there, but - "
Caitlyn sighed, and reached down for another folder, handing it to her superior, as well as her rank pips and ID. "I'm resigning."
The colonel looked at Caitlyn. "I'm sorry to hear that. But I'd ask you to reconsider, as I had something for you, as well." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a jewelry case. "Effective as of this morning, you are a Captain. Paperwork just finished going through and getting approved."
The colonel gestured to a seat, and Caitlyn sat down. "I've had those types of ops, Caitlyn. I understand wanting to just leave it all behind. The rank's official, and if you leave now, you still leave as Captain Caitlyn Snow." She smiled. "Looks good on the resume, too." She looked at the resignation documents. "I can put these through, especially with what you went through personally. Nobody would argue. But if I can make a suggestion?"
Caitlyn looked up from her bars, then nodded. "Of course."
"Post-date these for a month and take the time off. Think about it. You need to relax, decompress, and get used to not being down there any more. Spend time with the family. You'll still be drawing pay for your new rank, as well, which can't hurt. If you still want to go, I'll be sorry to see it, but I'll put them through." She grinned again. "Besides, it's considered extremely tacky to go to your welcome back/promotion party in the mess just to say you're leaving."
That did bring a smile to Caitlyn's face. "Well, ma'am, I can't have that, now, can I." She looked at the bars again, and nodded. "I'll take the time off and think about it. Thank you, Ma'am."
"You're on vacation as of now, and off duty. It's Ellen." The two women rose. "Come on. They have chocolate cake."
Caitlyn found herself on the couch curled up against her mother, much as she used to as a little girl. Of course, she didn't have glasses now and Alex wasn't running around or trying to steal the book she was reading. Things were a bit quieter these days.
"So what did you do?" Therra asked, the television playing softly in the background. Alex was leaning forward, and her father was listening just as intently.
"I told them I'd think about it," she said with a shrug. "So I'm on leave, I'm still with longbow, non recallable, for the next month, I'm still a Captain, and if I say so they'll turn the papers in. They did make a good point about needing to decompress, especially after the last week of meetings and such. I just haven't had a chance to."
"Well, when" Alex started, then held up his hand, "If you decide to leave them, my offer's still open."
"What offer?" Therra asked. Caitlyn just smiled.
"He offered to hire me so I wouldn't join Longbow. He has some delusion that I have organizational skills that would help his company."
"I wouldn't call it a delusion, honey," said her father. "Look at what you did. Not only did you set up your own network, but you managed to keep it hidden, and set up a secondary network with the timetables and data to intercept shipments from the first, keeping that hidden from the first network and your 'employers.'"
"Plus I'm the only one who can see that on your resume," Alex added with a grin. "You don't have to answer now. They're right, you need a vacation. But I am serious. And someone has to keep an eye on you so you don't run off like that again."
"Alex, I'm older than you."
"By five minutes. Hardly wisdom of the ages there," he said, his grin growing with their old familiar back-and-forth.
"OK, you two, any more of that and I turn this couch around and nobody gets ice cream," Therra said, chuckling. "Erin, your room's still where it was. You look exhausted."
Caitlyn yawned in response. "Thanks, mom."
As she left, followed shortly by Alex, Therra got up and just stood, watching the door after a stretch. She found her husband's arms wrapped around her waist. She leaned her head against his chest. "I have my baby back finally," she said, feeling months of stress and worry just melt away.
===
Caitlyn was just getting undressed, putting her uniform to the side when she heard the knock. "Just a minute, Alex." She finished getting into her nightshirt and let him in. "Hey." She knew to expect him. They'd never been apart this long.
"So. Now you can tell me. Are you OK?"
Caitlyn just looked at him, and he came to sit behind her on the bed, putting his arms around her waist as she broke down crying, stroking her hair and holding on to her. "Thought so," he whispered, just rocking. "It's ok, I'm here. You don't have to tell me, just let it all out." He handed her kleenex as she needed it.
"All those people, Alex. Every shipment we missed. I knew what the things I was sending out could do, we tried to stop them but if I did, we'd lose him and more people... And the people in his lab, those poor people, the things he was doing to them... and I'm not getting married any more, he left me when I needed him not to, needed him here... and not being able to talk to anyone, and the things I had to do just to get to that madman...." It all spilled out as she sobbed, balled her fists, wanted to scream, wanted to cry more, months of it just coming out.
He just sat there and held her, reassuring her, the two of them talking as she calmed until he saw her head droop, then gently lay her down, tucking her covers up and kissing her forehead. He looked around and smiled, then tucked the teddy bear of his he'd given her as a child on another night she'd been frightened under her arm. He got up knowing she was finally all right.
"Sleep tight, sis."
Alex turned the lights off as he left.
Three weeks later
It was a particularly dreary day in Paragon. The rain fell colder than was usual this time of year. All the news was about The Doctor and the fuss over jury selection, where the trial would be held, all the technicalities of putting someone away for life. Longbow had made sure the papers included a little blurb about an "unnamed assistant" having pled guilty and "being moved to a maximum security facility, her first chance of parole coming up in fifty four years."
Caitlyn ignored the news. She'd worked on her tan a bit, enjoying being able to go to the beach to just relax instead of send messages, go without a retinue of armed guards, go and wear a bikini. She'd shopped, eaten all the wrong things, caught up with friends, watched a movie (and been able to enjoy it instead of waiting for a contact or having to remember to be armed before she went,) slept 'til noon... She was on vacation.
But she had a decision to make.
In truth, she'd made it a while ago. She told Alex when she joined Longbow that she needed something of hers. And she'd worked her way up to Captain, brought down The Doctor and several terrorist cells. She still felt a little guilty about the people that had gotten hurt, but she'd finally realized that many, many more would have been hurt if not for her.
Caitlyn figured that one of the lessons of growing up was simply "You can't win them all." It sucked, but it was true. And as much as the good outweighed the bad, she figured she could live with that.
She watched as she crossed the street, rain sloughing off her raincoat, the ends of her hair that weren't under the plastic rain bonnet getting soaked. A few minutes later she was in the house.
"Sweetie, you're soaked!" Therra said, reaching for her coat. Caitlyn just grinned and held her coat close, causing Therra to raise an eyebrow. "I see," she said, letting a little smile through. "John, Alex, would you come here for a minute? I think Erin has something to tell us." She turned, holding out her hand as Erin took off the hat and hanging it to dry in the closet.
"What's up?" asked her father as he and her brother came around.
"I've made my decision," Erin said. "Alex, as far as your offer - I'll accept, but more as a salaried consultant, if that's OK. I need a real job, but it has to deal with odd hours."
"Of course, sis. So you're not going back to Longbow?" he replied, figuring it was what she'd say.
"Nope," she said, removing her coat with a flourish. "I'm going out on my own."
The three smiled at her as they looked at the newly revealed costume she'd just gotten from Serge, the black and green contrasting nicely in a distinctive pattern, the skirt ending with a flare. "I've got one with actual legs for winter. I might be able to control ice. Doesn't mean I want to feel like it." She curtseyed at the applause, reddening a little as she had when they'd done the same thing with her prom dress. Caitlyn still wasn't comfortable with attention.
"And your name?" Therra asked. "What did you register under?"
"I decided I wasn't hiding any more. I've had enough of that." She walked up and hugged her parents. "You two fought in your own names, and Alex, even with a company to risk, hasn't hid his identity. I've been someone else for months, and I'm not leading a double life any more. Besides, I'm proud of my family, and proud of who I am. Let them know my name - the one the Lady chose. Caitlyn Snow."
You posted it! YAY!
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
Dark_Respite's Farewell Video: "One Last Day"
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
[ QUOTE ]
You posted it! YAY!
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
[/ QUOTE ]
That I did. 
Thanks!
...
...
.. One word.
AWESOME!
Self-Proclaimed Number one Fanboi of the RP Forums and it's writers.
Me: How about "Zeus, The Pimp God"?
A friend: It'd be too hard to dress him up like a bull
Beautiful.
"City of Heroes. April 27, 2004 - August 31, 2012. Obliterated not with a weapon of mass destruction, not by an all-powerful supervillain... but by a cold-hearted and cowardly corporate suck-up."
Very nice. Thank you for sharing.
global handle: @Celtic Coders 1, @Celtic Coders 2
That was a fantastic read, man. Plan on continuing?
Ah, to bad. Still a fantastic story though.
Well done! *applause* A great read
Enjoyable read. The twist with Gene was an interesting way to resolve the inevitable confrontation with The Doctor without neccesarily revealing the whole truth to him. There's plenty of material here for a follow-up if you ever did decide to write one.
Maybe even fodder for a Mission Architect. 
I originally wrote this just on my SG's site. After someone whose opinion and talent I greatly respect saw it and suggested posting it here - well, a few days later, here it is. Enjoy.