Unraveling

The first day of a new semester: the feelings of suspense, aloneness, frustration and surprise set in. Will the class be hard? Will there be heaps of homework? Will it be interesting? Will there be people there you recognize? Will you make it to class on time? Can you even find the room?

All these questions flooded through Sally's mind as she trudged down the long hallway unwrapping the colorful scarf from around her face. Removing her gloves she pulled her schedule from a pocket and eyed it again. Room 1107. She looked at the nearest door and realized she still had another seven doors to go.

Upon entering a large lecture hall, Sally found a seat in the forth row and draped her heavy coat over the back of the swiveling chair. She adjusted her ball cap and took a seat, pulling her notebook and pen from her backpack.

As she was setting her bag on the floor, her heart leapt. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, telling herself that it could not be possible. Sitting upright once more she scanned the room for the person that she had seen out of the corner of her eye.

In the second row, on the other side of the room, a man was setting out his notebook. His back was to her, but she could swear that it was the same light brown hair, the same type of frame. She blinked, forcing herself to look away. It can't be he's in Britain.

But still... Look at him.

She sighed, giving in. I wonder if he has the same facial features.

She watched as the young man's pen rolled off the long table. Oops, she giggled to herself. He swiveled in his chair and she gasped as he ducked to retrieve it. When he was visible again he glanced around the room and their eyes met.

He smiled politely and Sally tried her best to hide the flush she was feeling in her face as her mind shouted: He's got the same sweet smile! She gave a friendly smile in return and forced her mind to focus on the professor who had just entered and was standing at the bottom of the lecture hall.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"You can make my heart jump from a thousand miles away," Sally said into the phone as she lay on her bed.

"Oh, how's that?" Daniel asked.

"I thought I saw you and my heart stopped beating for a moment." She heard him smile.

"Well, I was thinking of you all day, too. I swear, tattooed on my memory is the image of my Angel's face. And my roommate, I mean flat mate, was not happy when I called him Sally this afternoon."

She giggled.

The couple talked for almost two hours before Daniel excused himself to bed.

- - - - - - - - - - -

The next day Sally found herself going through the same uneasy emotions. Finally in the early afternoon her last class approached and she found herself in a classroom set with large tables, each with three chairs.

Sally sat at the edge of the third table back and began to unpack her supplies. She started doodling in her notebook and ignored the other people as they entered. She didn't look up until the professor called their attention to the front of the class.

He introduced himself and passed out a syllabus, pointing out the main objectives of the course. Then he told them each table would be a group, and all their work was to be done in these groups.

Sally glanced at the people in her group. There was a pretty girl sitting next to her. And on the other side of her was the guy she had seen the day before. He was scribbling in his notebook.

After a short lecture, the teacher excused them to get to know the people in their groups. Sally introduced herself to her partners. The girl said her name was Tami. She was very pleasant and smiled nicely. Then they turned to the male third of their group.

"I'm Rick," he said with a shy smile. Instantly Sally realized his eyes were bluer than Daniel's. She tried to hide her giddiness, but just couldn't help but be reminded of her love.

His eyes focused on Sally's and she averted them, trying to pretend she hadn't been staring.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"Hey Sally."

The girl looked up from her notebook as she heard her name being called.

"Mind if I sit next to you?" asked Rick. They were in the large lecture hall again.

"Uh... sure." She scooted her books over to make room for him.

"Nice doodle you got there," he said, smirking as he eyed her notebook.

"Oh," she blushed slightly, "it's nothing. Just waiting for class to start. I always tend to be early."

"Have you looked at the homework for our class yet?" he asked as he sat down and took out his notes.

"Not really," she admitted.

"I was wondering if you were free Friday evening. We could at least look it over," he grinned at her.

"Uh... Rick, I already have a boyfriend." Her face flushed.

"Well, I won't make a pass at you," he tried to hold back a smile. "Tami will be there to chaperone us."

Sally's face flushed bright red and she tried to hide her gaze from him with her hand.

"Oh, it's okay," he tried to make her feel more comfortable. "I did phrase it in a date sort of way. I can see where you could have taken it that way."

With her face still shaded by her hand she changed the subject. "So where are you from, Rick?"

"Kansas City, and you."

"My parents live in Topeka, but I graduated High School from Salina."

"South or Central?"

"South," she answered. "Do you know Salina pretty well?"

"No," he smirked. "Just trying to be conversational."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After staring at their homework and going through their lecture notes, Tami sighed and pushed away from the large table in the library.

"It's late, guys," she said. "And I don't think we can do this next part until after the next lecture."

"I think you're right," Sally agreed rubbing her face. "It's too complicated to be any of these earlier lessons. Let's put it aside and meet again next week."

Rick nodded as he stretched his arms high above his head.

"Is next Thursday good for everyone? Same time?" asked Tami. The other two consented. "I'm off then." She gathered her things and left.

Rick and Sally gathered their things and headed out too.

"Are you walking?" asked Rick

"Yeah, I don't live very far," Sally said as she wrapped herself in the scarf Tonya had made her.

"I could give you a lift," he offered. "My car is just over here." He thumbed toward the parking lot.

Sally looked out at the cold air and nodded. "Sure," she shrugged.

As they drove through the quiet town he turned to her.

"Mind if I ask you a question?" Rick asked slowly.

"Sure," she answered carefully.

"Is it my imagination, or do you seem to stare at me sometimes?" He glanced sideways at her.

"Sorry about that," she apologized. "It's just that you look so much like my boyfriend. It's kinda scary."

Rick turned his head to look at her fully. "Really?"

She nodded. "Turn right up here," she advised him.

"On Rainbow Garden? You live in that Mansion?"

"Yeah."

"I'd like to meet him some time," Rick said as he pulled up to the gate. Sally grabbed the gate opener from her pocket.

"Who?"

"Your boyfriend. I'd like to meet my double ganger. What's his name?"

"Daniel. And you can't really meet him, he's away in Britain working at the International Botany Institute for the semester."

Rick shook his head. "I don't believe it! I'm living with this British guy for the semester, and his old roommate is doing some botany work in Britain."

"You're rooming with Peter?"

"Yeah," Rick shook his head again. "Small world I guess. But he never said anything about me looking like his old roommate."

"He probably doesn't stare at Daniel all the time." She blushed slightly as Rick chuckled.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Abra Pirata pulled her cloak around her tightly. The January wind was atrocious and seemed to fill every nook and cranny of her costume. She jumped down from the roof of a building, but the alleyway seemed to only amplify the howl.

"Get away from me!"

Abra heard someone yelling in the distance and she ran toward it, forgetting the chill of her body. As she turned a corner she witnessed a man smack a girl across the face.

Abra shouted a warning to them. The man turned to look then pushed down the girl and bolted.

"He has my purse!" cried the girl.

The pirate swiftly ran past the young woman and chased after the man. She vaulted a fence and her feet landed in his back, knocking him to the ground. The purse flew from his grasp and its contents scattered. She wrestled his arms to his back and handcuffed him, winding the chain around a pipe.

She then turned to collect the scattered evidence.

Suddenly she tensed as cold metal was being set against the side of her neck.

"What's this?" she heard a familiar voice ask. "One of The Others, caught off her guard?"

Abra eyed the metal blade at her throat. It seemed like an antique and yet it held the power and shiny glimmer of one newly forged. The blade almost seemed to glow with strength. Her eyes followed the glistening sword up to its hilt; then to the face of her attacker. He grinned his all-powerful smirk and his blue eyes flashed like the dawn.

"Let me up, and I'll teach you how to use that blade correctly, Face," she warned.

"Don't you even think about going for your weapon, Abra," he warned. "I have come to make you a proposition."

Abra glared at him. "Trusting you has only caused treachery."

"Oh, Abra," he rolled his eyes. "I have come to inform you that I am changing my ways. After our last rendezvous I am no longer loyal to my employer and therefore am trying to regain my former life. However," he returned her glare, "this requires your assistance.

The pirate stared up at him. "How can I trust you if you're holding a weapon at my throat?"

"You can trust me," he stated as if there was no alternative. "The question is: Can I trust you?" He paused then continued. "I am sure your trained eye has already realized that this blade that is so elegantly resting against your vital windpipe is none other than that which you were to retrieve from me the last time our paths crossed. I shall trade it with you, for something of far less material or historical value. I simply require the disk you and your partners stole from me when we met in the observatory in exchange."

Abra Pirata narrowed her eyes. "That is government property," she reminded him.

"My dear pirate," he interrupted. "I do so hope you know which government you are working to uphold. Meet me Saturday in this same spot at 0200. Bring the disk or you'll never see this sword again." He raised it from her neck and quickly turned and ran.

Abra sprang to her feet and gave chase, but when she came out onto the street there was no sign of him. Crap, how does he do that?!

- - - - - - - - - - -

"He had Excalibur with him?" asked Jed.

"Why didn't you just lash out at him or something?" Dee commented. "You could have whipped his sorry ass."

"The sword was at my throat," Sally said. "And I don't think Poopsie can heal decapitation."

Poopsie shook her head no, a horrified look on her face.

"So, what did he want in exchange?" Tonya asked.

"That disk we took from him when he was hacking into that satellite."

They all turned to Techno.

"I haven't touched it," he said. "Decrypting and reading anything on that disk could result in serious trouble with the government."

"The Face said something that lead me to believe it wasn't from our government," Sally told them.

Techno raised an eyebrow. "Let me think about it."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Hello?"

"Hey Daniel," Sally said into the phone.

"Hey, Angel," he replied. "It's good to hear your voice."

"I thought about you all week, wondering if it's possibly this cold in Britain."

"It's actually not too bad here. We get that nice Atlantic current, you know. How cold is it there?"

"Highs are in the lower thirties. It makes me feel like I'm back in North Dakota, except no one knows how to drive on ice."

"Hey, did Peter find anything lying around the house?"

"Yeah, actually. He wanted to know what to do with it so I gave him your phone number through a mutual friend. Did you know that the guy staying there is in two of my classes?"

"Really?"

"And you know what's even weirder?"

"What?"

"He looks like you. It's kinda freaky."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Well, he has the same light brown hair, and the same body shape and some of the same facial expressions. But his eyes are slightly bluer than yours."

"You've been looking into this guy's eyes?" Daniel asked, not sure what to think of the comment.

"Not like that, Daniel. He's in my engineering computation group." She heard him sigh into the phone, giving up on that line of conversation.

"Well, Peter hasn't called me. Could you stop by there and look for the stuff for me? I believe it's all in one box."

"Sure, I have to stop by there on Thursday anyway. And I just made some chocolate chip cookies. That'll make a nice care package, huh?"

"You're going over to the apartment on Thursday?"

"Oh, Rick's car won't start, so I told him I'd pick him up for our homework session." There was silence on the other end. "Don't worry, we won't be alone if that's what you're worried about."

"No," he answered slowly. "I trust you. I'm just not sure I trust him."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thursday evening Sally knocked on the apartment door.

Peter opened it and stepped aside as she entered. "'Ello," he said. "It's been awhile."

"Yeah," she replied. "How was your holiday?"

"Just dandy." He turned and put on his coat. "I've got to get going, but I think that box is in Daniel's room, in the closet. I'm sure Rick will help you out, he's a fine chap." Peter winked and left.

Sally walked through the living room and down the short hallway where she knocked on the door that used to lead to Daniel's room, the door opened slightly at the weight of her hand. Peeking in she saw the flesh of Rick's tan back and noticed as small circular tattoo on his left shoulder blade before it was covered with a shirt.

"Just a minute," she heard Rick call out.

"It's me," she called back to him. Then added, "Sally."

"Oh, hey?" his voice came back through the door as she heard some rustling. "Did you get that email from Tami?"

"Uh... no. I haven't checked since noon."

"She's sick and won't be able to make it tonight." He opened the door, a bit surprised at how close to the door she was. "Do you just want to study here or are you set on going out into the cold air just to sit in that drafty old library?"

Sally smiled. "Gee, when you put it that way..."

He smiled, and then turned back into his room and pick up a box that was sitting on his bed. "I think this is what you're looking for." He carried the box into the living room. "I'll just set it by the door, so you won't forget it."

"Thanks."

"You wan't anything to drink? I think we have cocoa."

"Uh, sure, that'll be fine."

"Just make yourself comfortable, I'll only be a minute."

Sally unwrapped herself from her winter coat and emptied the contents of her backpack as she sat down on the sofa. It was weird to be in the apartment without Daniel.

"Want any marshmallows?" he called from the kitchen.

"Sure." He returned shortly and handed her a mug of warm cocoa sprinkled with marshmallows. "Thanks."

"Just trying to be a good host. This is actually my first time living on my own." He took a sip of his drink. And Sally did the same.

"Well, you've been very courteous, Mr. Host, sir. So how do you reckon we should do this next problem?" she asked staring down at her notes.

"It's actually just a simple graph function that initiates a print to screen and print to file, formatted into a table."

Sally looked at him shocked.

"I uh ...read ahead... a bit."

"Well, could you please explain that in laymen's terms for those of us who don't understand computer jargon very well?"

"Sure," he leaned closer to her on the couch so he could see her notes. "This function here," he pointed to a line of code, "will print to the screen whatever you push on the keyboard. And this line tells the computer how to print it out the brackets represent matrixes of data, and these codes with the ampersands tell it which typed character to put into that designated spot."

"You are explaining this so much better than T."

"Oh, who's that?"

"Oh, one of my roommates. He's a whiz at computer stuff, but he can't really explain it to anyone else. He's in his own little world."

"How 'bout I get my laptop? Then we can run the code and I'll be able to explain it better." He left the couch then returned in a moment. He plugged it into the wall, then set it on the coffee table. When he turned it on a wallpaper of various plants filled the screen. He opened up the program and continued to explain various parts of the code.

"Why are you even in this class?" Sally asked awed at his knowledge. "It seems you know way more than the average student."

"I need the credit; it's one of my required courses."

As they worked out the code for their assignment, Rick started to ask questions about Daniel.

"Didn't you say he grew up in Kansas City, too?"

"Yeah. Think we should put a do loop here?"

He nodded. "What about his parents?"

"Well, his mother died when he was ten..."

"That's terrible," he said with a grave look on his face.

"And his dad is a pretty charming fellow."

"Does he have any siblings?"

"Nope, only child. Although I think he wishes he wasn't. Sometimes, I think he's jealous that I have two brothers. What about you, do you have siblings?"

"Yeah, an older brother."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sally set the cardboard box on the floor as she shed her heavy winter wardrobe in the foyer. Bowie came in wagging his tale gleefully. He sniffed the box.

"What's that funny smell?" he asked.

"What smell?"

"It's coming from this box," he sniffed again. "It kinda smells like Daniel, but not really."

"Well, it might be Rick," she explained. "He lives in Daniel's room now. That's where the box was."

"Oh, I smell Daniel on the box; yes, I do, but there's a different smell too. It kinda smells like Daniel, but not really." Bowie pushed his nose into the corner of the box where a small opening was. He sniffed long breaths that seemed to be magnified inside the box.

"Are you saying Rick smells like Daniel?"

"But not really."

"You're weird," she said as she picked up the box.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The characters on the screen began to change then suddenly everything stopped and a large yellow circle floated across the screen, chomping as it went. Sally shook her head, Techno, you nerd. Then she skimmed over the page, reading random lines. It seemed to be briefings of some sort.

Operation: British Blade

Top Agent Simon Erikson

900 25 October, 1985

No news yet on the actual whereabouts of artifact... Eastern British dig is coming along nicely with no notice by civilian archaeologists.... Assistant dig master Book hypothesizes object is farther to north, but none are willing to take claim seriously. Junior Agent Daft worried about civilian interference, although I have reassured him the project is covert and no one is the wiser.

Top Agent Simon Erikson

1900 17 July, 1989

We are closer to finding artifact than ever before. Northern dig produced a great discovery of an ancient map, indicating the last great battle... Although Agent Daft disagrees with me wholeheartedly, I believe we should join leagues with the young American archaeologist Book who seems to know what he's doing after all.

Top Agent Ivan Daft

1400 29 March, 1995

We do not have the artifact in our possession yet. We are keeping a close eye on Book's dig, although we are sure we have the correct site. The civilians seem suspicious of our presence.

Top Agent Ivan Daft

300 30 September, 2002

Artifact successfully attained by Agent Face... However, interference has caused us to loose the object.

Sally knew exactly what they were talking about, the sword that was presumably Excalibur. This must be the agency The Face works for. But what does this have to do with Daniel?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sally was suiting up for her meeting with Face, when Techno knocked on the locker room door.

"Come in," she called, "I'm decent."

T pushed open the door and walked in nervously. Sally looked up as she pulled on a boot.

"Never been in a girl's locker room before, T?" she teased.

He ignored the comment. "I want to prepare you for tonight," he replied. "You are to get the sword in exchange for this disk," he handed the three inch floppy to her. "And then let him go."

Sally stared at him wide-eyed. "What?"

"You heard me," he said quietly but sternly.

"But Techno, we've been after him forever..."

"Sally," he cut her off with the sharpness with which he said her name. "You have your orders." Then he turned to leave. She threw her other boot at him, but it hit the door as it swung shut.

* * * * * * * *

The young man stood facing the mirror, staring into the reflection before him. Turning the sink on he bent and cupped the cool water to his face. Re-erecting himself his cool hands glided down to his neck, cooling the muscles. Running gelled fingers through his ebony locks he readied his appearance. Then once more he looked at the eyes of the man in the mirror, and the blazing blue eyes flashed back at him and he grinned. But it faded as his watch began to beep. He looked at it and scowled, pressing the button.

"I'm busy," he shot out.

"Is everything in order?" a voice replied.

"You've got to let me do this my way," he commented.

"Are you even sure they will show?"

"Don't you trust me with this matter?"

"It's not a matter of trust," the voice said, sounding agitated. "Just get the job done." There was a soft click as the connection was broken. He pushed the button again, scowling once more at the interruption. He hated the man for his insistent criticism and relentless need to be in control of every little detail. And yet he was the only father figure he had had since he was nine. The young man sighed. This fact made him hate his superior even more.

- - - - - - - - - -

Abra walked over to the edge of the room and looked down, fingering her sword as she scouted the alleyway below. Seeing her adversary standing against the building in the shadows she leapt down, landing lightly.

"I've been waiting for you," The Face said.

"Here I am", she replied with attitude as he stepped into the faint light. The sword was resting on his shoulder like a bat.

"You have the disk?" he cocked an eyebrow, refusing to offer her the reward until he saw his prize.

She reached into her cloak and pulled out the floppy. Flashing it at him. But she refused to move closer. For a moment they stood and stared at each other. Then Face grinned.

"This is getting us nowhere," he said. "I say we call a truce and approach each other as simple acquaintances."

"If you want it," she replied sternly still eyeing him. "Come and get it."

He looked to the ground and sighed, rolling his eyes. When his eyes came back to her, he gave her a friendly smile, but she refused to return it.

"I don't want any trouble, Abra," he said smoothly. "I just want what is rightfully mine." He dropped the sword from his shoulder and began to step toward her. She tensed, preparing herself for anything.

He grabbed the blade of the sword lightly in his hand and held out the handle to her. She looked at it for a moment. Was he really offering it to her as a truce, or was it a ploy?

For the first time, his face faltered from the usual haughty look as he pondered his next move if she tied to use force.

As her hand lifted to reach for the hilt of the elegant sword, the alley was filled with bright light. Abra winced as her eyes filled with the harshness. Suddenly she was surrounded by shadows of men and she lashed out, unable to see. She felt her boot come in direct contact with a bone as she kicked hard at a dark form. Her fist missed as she swung wildly, but as she pulled back she elbowed someone hard and heard a grunt of pain and a thud.

Abra gasped as she suddenly smelt something foul in the air. She drew one last breath and held it. Removing her sword she unleashed the sharpest blade she could think of and began to swing at anything within reach. As her lungs began to ache, she felt her sword hit something else metal, and saw it straining against the glistening Excalibur. Face stepped out of the bright fog, now just another shadow. Finally with her innards about to burst she let out her breath and gasped in the gas, immediately feeling its effect. Her vision began to blur and she fell to her knees, dropping her sword, which clanged on the cement. She coughed, taking ragged breaths and flopping onto her back. She saw two bright blue eyes above her as The Face appeared over the fallen girl.

"I've got you," he whispered.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"Nothing that lived around there saw anything," Lucy Diamond reported. "Although there were a lot of dead bugs in the alley they were suppose to meet in, like a bug bomb had gone off or something."

"I found this," Tygeress said, laying Abra's forgotten sword on the table in the cave.

Lucy gasped, covering her mouth in horror. Shashani grasped her friend's shoulder.

"I also found this," she continued, producing a small canister. Zarbon grabbed it from her and walked over to his chemistry table, beginning the usual tests. "But the gas it had given off covered up all the smells. There was nothing to track."

"Damn it!" Slick Pimp Patti shouted.

"I haven't gotten a trace on her since two fifteen," Techno added. "And she was still in the alley."

"You'd better devise better trackers, T," Sebastian commented. "It seems that all the villains we encounter know how to block them."

Techno rolled his eye, refusing to dignify it with a verbal comment.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"I can not believe you didn't let me handle this!" the Face called ahead of him as he strode down the nondescript hallway.

The tall man turned to look at him, a grin on his face that could rival his young apprentice's. Face glared at him.

"Don't talk to me that way, young man," he said, the words hissing from his mouth as if it were a cruel joke.

"I had it all under control; she was willing to give me the disk," he explained.

"From where I stood, it looked like you were willing to give up your father's life work, to correct a blunder that you yourself created." He grinned as if he held the boy's life in his hands.

Face glared back even stronger. How dare he bring up his father after all these years! The hatred raged as his eyes seemed to burst into blue flame and bore into the man's soul.

"I know what you were going to do with that disk," the man looked down his pointy nose at the boy. "And you, or others, could seriously be punished for even considering such a thing. If you ever step out of line again, Miller will take your place among the elite."

"Then it will no longer be the elite," he retorted under his breath. The Face looked away, staring at the ground. Then his gaze returned to his superior. "What about the prisoner?"

"She will be disposed of in the usual manner." He turned to continue on his way, then shot back over his shoulder, "I suggest you act quickly if you want to say goodbye to your little girlfriend."

- - - - - - - - - -

Abra awoke as someone opened the door to the tiny room in which she was trapped. She raised her head from her chest, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness. Her fluttering eyes winced as the light flicked on and the figure approached her. She struggled against her bonds.

"That won't do you any good," The Face said. "The gas they used will have deminished your powers for the time being."

She glared at him, feeling the strain in her arms. Her whole body felt week, and her mind foggy.

"Would you like some water?" Face asked holding out a cup with a straw in it; her hands were tied behind her and she was firmly anchored to the chair with not rope, but chains. "Te gusta una bebida?"

"Gracias, pero no," she replied, "Fish make love in it."

Face smirked, but it wasn't the usual one he flashed, it revealed genuine amusement.

"I like Indiana Jones too," he commented. "Especially Last Crusade; I always fine it intriguing when foes must work together to accomplish their goals."

"Yeah," she admitted, "Then one's greed overcomes the truce and everything goes to hell and someone ends up falling into a great crevasse." She looked smugly at him. "I'm glad I know what side I'm on."

His smile faded. "The ark is here, Marion."

In the silence that followed Abra tried to judge his expression. Is he saying what I think he's saying?

- - - - - - The Penitent Man Is Humble - - - - -

Her form crunched against the wall as she slammed into it, the chains clinking with every move. The guard raised an eyebrow then relaxed slightly as Face closed the door through which he had just shoved the prisoner. The posted man gave a questioning look to the Agent.

"I want to say good bye to her," he smirked wickedly, "in a more intimate way." His hand grasped the chains and he pulled her to her feet. She glared at him. "Si, Senorita Pirata," his eyes flashed at her. "You are finally mine." He put his mouth upon hers and she struggled against the bonds to push him away.

He yanked hard on the chain and she felt a sting of pain pull her down the hall after him. He led her to an elevator and they entered.

When they were alone inside he walked around behind her, eyeing her whole body. Then he traced a finger along the exposed area of her cheek then down her neck, his eyes seeming to burn into her flesh.

Suddenly he shoved her against the elevator wall as a soft ding sounded and the doors opened.

"Oh, please," hissed a voice from behind him. He turned as if surprised at the presence of his superior. "Couldn't you have done this in the holding room?"

Abra's eyes widened as Face stepped aside, revealing the man. She forced her face into a scowl as her captor dragged her past Daft.

"You now I like to do things my own way," he replied. "Besides, this will be so pleasurable, I may want to do it more than once."

The balding man rolled his eyes as he straightened the thin tie of his suit. "Just remember the assignment in the morning is still going to happen whether you're there or not." Then the door closed, leaving Abra and the Face in the hallway alone.

"Bastard," he mumbled.

He pushed her into the door at the end of the hall, and pulled at a string around his neck, producing a key. Once he had opened the door, he shoved her through, and she tripped, stumbling onto the carpeted floor. She looked around at her surroundings. It was very much like a hotel room, with nothing out of the ordinary anywhere. A couple wildlife portraits hung on each side of the bed. It all seemed sterile as if no one actually lived there.

"Welcome, to my humble abode," he said as he jerked her off the floor and threw her upon the double bed. She struggled against her bonds. "Ah-ah," he wagged a finger at her, playfully. "That doesn't come until later, my little pirate. But if you really want to get started now..." He smirked as he crawled toward her across the bed. She tried to squirm out of his reach, but he was soon upon her. He began to kiss her neck, then stopped suddenly. "You know," he said looking up into the corner of the ceiling. "I don't like to perform in front of an audience. Let's go somewhere a little more private."

He yanked his captive up off the bed and pushed her toward the door in the corner of the room. He coyly winked at the ceiling as they entered the bathroom.

"Get in the tub," he whispered into her ear.

- - - - - - The Word of God - - - - - -

They stood in the bathtub with the drape closed, and The Face turned on the water and began to run his hands along her body.

"I hate arogant men!" Abra shouted into his ear, making him wince.

"Do you have some kind of tracking device or intercom?" he whispered.

"You could have just asked," she replied quietly, pushing his hands away from her, now that the chains were lining the bottom of the tub. "Here," she rubbed her hand against her ear and produced a putty substance and handed it to him.

His eyes lit up. "Wow, you do work with a genius."

"Don't tell him that."

The Face grinded the putty between his fingers until the small remains of miniature wires were the only things left. "Hold these," he whispered again, handing them back to her. He pushed his wet hair out of his face and wiped his hands on his pants, which were already wet. Gripping one of the tiles in the shower wall, he pried it off, revealing a small empty cubby. From the hole he pulled out a small keyboard covered in plastic.

He turned back toward Abra, putting his mouth next to her ear, "After I do this," he explained in a whisper, "We'll have thirty seconds to run back through my room and out the window. Run straight out the window, there's a dumpster right below my window to land in."

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

The Face shoved the equipment into Abra's hands and lifted his shirt up and over his head, just as they heard the door squeaking open. Face pulled back the curtain, forcefully, revealing his bare torso to the intruder. Abra tried to huddle behind him and the rest of the curtain, to block the man's view of her. As water flowed over her, she eyed the flaming globe on The Face's left shoulder in the likeness of the SECRET logo.

"Excuse me, Agent Face," said the frightened man. Abra recognized his voice as the nervous little man Daniel had spoken to in the alleyway. "Miller sent up some wine for you and your friend."

"Can't you see I'm busy," he snarled. He turned back toward Abra and barked, "Did I tell you to stop?" He whirled back to the man at the door. "Just leave it by the bed. I'm sure we'll end up there some time this morning."

"Yes, sir," the man replied, shutting the door behind him again.

He turned back to the soggy Abra. His eyes looked her up and down and he smiled comically.

"What?' she asked quietly.

"Looks like you had to walk the plank, young pirate," he smiled at his joke, and she shoved the keyboard into his dripping bare chest.

"Just hurry, my boots are getting water logged."

"Well, now we have to wait for Gene to leave my room." He took another plastic bag from the hole that was behind the tile and stuck it into his pants pocket. For a moment he looked over at her, standing in his bathtub, dripping wet, and slightly shivering. He reached over to her and indicated for her to give him the wires then smiled.

He traded places with her in the tub, as he tried to get away from the spray. She stood near his back, trying to help him shield the sensitive equipment. He turned his head to whisper to her, and almost ran his lips into her cheek.

"This isn't going to work," he mumbled softly. "We have to turn off the water, and dry my hands. Don't say anything while the water is off. Er... maybe moan or something, so it sounds like I did unspeakable things to you." Abra rolled her eyes at the comment, and turned off the spray as he reached for a towel.

After drying his hands, he opened the plastic sheath and Abra made a small incoherent moan simultaneously covering the anticipated ripping sound. He cracked open the small keyboard and pulled out the circuit board and connected the small wires where he needed them. All the while the sounds escaping the pirate's throat were perfectly timed with any unnatural noises The Face couldn't help but make.

He couldn't help but smile as he encased the keyboard back into the plastic and nodded to her to restart the water.

He turned to her as she approached, curious to see what he was about to do to get them out. Running his fingers back through his dark wet hair, he smirked. "This is it." He hit a few keys and then a small dialog box opened.

Enter Password:

The Face typed in the word God.

"Daft is a bit of an egomaniac," he said. "Now, don't turn back, run straight out the window." And he pushed enter.

- - - - - - Leap From The Lion's Head - - - - - -

Whipping back the curtain, they hurdled the side of the tub, and raced across the steamy bathroom. He grabbed the handle of the door, and his wet hands slipped. Abra set her glove upon it and it opened instantly as she turned. Then they bolted for the window. Face arrived first and opened it.

"You first," he called.

She looked at him, questioningly, hardly registering the irony of the lion's portrait behind him.

"Have faith in me, for God's sake," he pleaded.

Abra ran at him and began to climb out the window. As she did so she heard voices burst into the room. Turning quickily, she saw briefly two large men entering the room before The Face pushed her out. Looking below her as she soared through the window she found they had escaped from the tenth story. As she began to fall, she also realized there was no dumpster. Trying to concentrate, her mind ached to try and slow her decent, but it wouldn't work. She panicked and began to claw at the air, trying to right herself vertically. Finally she just closed her eyes, waiting to feel the impact of the ground. Suddenly she found herself in strong arms.

"You should leave flying to those of us who can," said a reassuring voice with a familiar accent. She opened her eyes and confirmed her assumption, as she looked up into the golden eyes.

"Thanks, Azure," she managed.

"Is he coming after you?" he looked back up toward the open window.

"I'm not sure," she answered. "I think they caught him. I heard voices as I fell out."

They waited for a few minutes, but nothing happened.

"Let's go home," said the alien, positioning his own cape around the freezing girl. "You're wet and tired."

After church on Sunday morning, Sally was quiet as the other girls emptied the car. She had been thinking of Daniel during the entire service and realized she missed him on Sundays the most. It was all the little things he did as they sat together in the pew. How he put his arm casually around her during the sermon. How he mumbled the gospel readings to himself. How he sang each hymn with the compassion of an angel in a heavenly choir.

She sighed, still thinking of him when Bowie padded up to the girls, leaving little footprints in the fallen snow and his black fur peppered with the snow that was still falling.

"You guys have to come see this," he said, wagging his tail steadily. The group followed the dog through the snow, across the lawn and into the garden. "I was chasing Squirrel," he explained. "And we found this."

Sally looked around. They had stopped at a clearing that held a single stone bench. It was the same place at which The Face had turned over the vial of the fern-rose nectar. Protruding from the ground near the bench was a glimmering sword. Tonya walked up to it and removed the piece of paper from the handle, reading it aloud.

"You chose wisely." She raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Jessica pulled her coat tightly around her, shivering against the chilly wind. Poopsie brushed some snowflakes from her braids and Sally gave a small smirk.

"Grab the sword and let's go inside," Jed complained. "It's starting to snow pretty heavily." She looked up at the sky.

Tonya grabbed the sword and pulled, but it remained fast in the ground. She growled at it, and used more muscle to try and loosen it. Blowing her bangs out of her face she glared at it and sighed, "I give up!" throwing her hands up in defeat. "I'd cut it out of the frozen ground, but I believe Dr. Book would like it back in one piece."

"What is this?" Dee asked, "A reenactment of The Sword in the Stone?" She looked around at the trees. "I don't see Archimedes anywhere."

"Actually," Sally explained. "A lot of scholars don't believe the sword in the stone and Excalibur were the same sword at all."

"Why don't you pull on it, Sally?" Poopsie suggested.

"Me?"

"You're the one with the sword know how," Jed added.

Sally rolled her eyes as she approached the sword and Tonya moved out of the way. She placed her hands firmly around the grip, noting that is was still warm from Tonyas turn. Slowly she began to lift, adding more and more force. Suddenly her hand slipped and she fell backward into the snow.

Each of the girls tried, but none of them managed to budge it an inch. When they finally gave up, the snow was mostly covering the three feet of sword that stood above the ground.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -