"Thanks for the golf club, come again soon," Mr. Lairdlot called out to his friends as they left. He turned to his son.  "I can't believe you and Jeff planned this whole thing.  I certainly only planned to have a nice quiet Father's Day, my birthday isn't until next Tuesday."

"Well, there were a lot of people who wanted to help you celebrate your 52nd and you have to have at least one surprise party before your ticker gives out for good," Jeff said jokingly.  "Anyway, it was about time we really shook this house with a party, and I knew neither of you could do so on your own."  He smiled happily.  "Well, lots of dishes to get started on.  I'll be in the kitchen."

Daniel went into the den and began to grab the wrapping up off the floor.  Soon his father came in with a black garbage bag.  For a few minutes they cleaned up in silence.

"What's on your mind, son?" Simon asked, concerned.

"When did you know you wanted to spend the rest of your life with mom?" he asked cautiously.  He thought the man would dodge the question to repress memories, but instead he smiled gladly.

"I can't say it was when I first saw her.  I had a feeling about her, that she was special, when we first met; but I knew I wouldn't be happy with anyone else when she looked into my eyes and smiled.  She had a way of making me feel like I could do anything, like I had finally gone beyond everyone's high standards.  We had only known each other for a few months the first time she looked at me like that."  He smiled to himself for a while.  "Does this have something to do with you and Sally?"

"I can't say how many times she's made me feel that way, dad."  He paused for a moment as he looked down at some torn wrapping he was shoving into the trash bag. 

"I feel like I'm lying to her, like I'm holding something back.  I want to fully commit myself to our relationship, and I won't feel like I've accomplished that until I've revealed everything.  And in the mean time we just keep drifting apart."  He paused again.  He looked over at his father.  "I want to tell her, Dad ... tell her everything."

Simon's eyes darted to Daniel's.

"Are you asking for my blessing on this?" he asked casually.  "There could be serious repercussions."

"How did you tell mom about your secrets?"

"She never asked."

"But she knew."

Simon nodded.  "She had to at the end.  I had to explain the reason... for..." Mr. Lairdlot bit his lip in sorrow as hard memories began to surface.

"Sorry to bring it up," Daniel said more harshly than he intended.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"Don't we have movement sensors on the perimeter fence?" Sally asked.

"Yeah," T replied as if there was no doubt.

"Then how does he keep getting onto our grounds?"  Sally shoved a piece of paper at the one-eyed man.  "This was attached to the pommel of the Sword in the Ground."

"One more try. 1800 Monday.  Same rendezvous," Techno read the message.

"Third rate romance... low rent rendezvous..." Jessica sang as she entered the room.  "What are you guys talking about?"

"The Face sent us another message," T explained.  "Meeting in one hour."  He stood and exited the room, taking the message with him.

"Think he wants us to remove that thing again?" Jed asked.

"That's what it sounded like."

- - - - - - - - -

The young man stood alone in the office. Although he was aware of what was going to happen when the door opened and its owner entered, he stood casually and glanced around at the plaques and pictures on the walls.  One picture caught his eye: an older photograph, from the late seventies.  Two men: a tall lanky young man and a gentleman with black hair and gray eyes, stood in front of an excavation site in what looked like an English landscape.  They seemed like friends, smiling with adventurous ambition and futuristic promise.  The onlooker seemed to find himself lost in the eyes of the older man's gray gaze.  His own blue eyes flashed as he tried to remember the man's laugh.  He smiled to himself and his fingers instinctively combed through his own black hair.

The Face turned as the door opened and the now older version of the lanky man entered.  Still as tall and thin as ever, Daft entered his office, but he wasn't alone.  Another man followed him. 

Only a couple years older than The Face, Miller was a good-looking man originally from Costa Rica, his whole head was shaved and his single line of black facial hair was only slightly darker than his hypnotizing stare.

Miller grinned mischievously from behind Daft at The Face.  It was no secret that the two were rivals.  The training of The Face as SECRET's top agent had always been the feather in Daft's cap, but now that The Face was suspected of conspiring against them, Miller was ready to take his place.  He could never stand being second best and it seemed he would do anything to please his superior.

Daft walked over to behind his desk and sat.  Miller himself motioned for The Face to sit in front of the desk, while he stood next to him. 

"You are a very talented man, Face," Daft began. "Your use of disguises and your cunning and quick thinking are a valuable asset to this agency. However," his eyes quickly glanced to Miller, "I am told that you have been using your training for personal gain. Using our tactics to execute operations for your own personal reasons is against SECRET policy and should stop at once.  We have had this discussion before." 

The Face watched him in silence, trying to act as casual and relaxed as if this were but a briefing.

"Also, I believe it is no surprise to you," Daft continued, "that there are rumors floating among the agents that you are trying to leave SECRET."  Daft's eyes fell on him in a judging sort of look.  "I do not have to tell you that there is no way for an agent to leave the services of this operation without risking serious breaches in security.  You yourself saw first hand what happened to the life of a very elite agent who decided to turn his back on his loyal comrades.  For leaving our team is equal to personally sabotaging our team."  Daft gestured to indicate that the three of them were in this together.

"Although I never understood the appeal of an ordinary life, I guess it has much appeal to those who aren't so ordinary."  He looked down his nose at The Face for a moment. "Is that what it is?"

The Face looked at him in silence for a moment.  "It's about family," he finally stated quietly yet strongly.

"WE ARE YOUR FAMILY!!!" Daft erupted from behind his desk. " Tell me that I was not like a father to you!  I taught you everything I knew; I taught you to be better than everyone else.  And this is how you repay me?! By going behind my back and undermining all the precautions that were set up for your safety?"  He pounded a fist on the desk then his eyes narrowed as he sneered across it at the black-haired young man in front of him.

"Perhaps you are too much like your father: using your... your talent to get only what you want and never thinking of the people you use to get it.  Freaks," he sneered again in a snake like hiss. "You'll always be freaks."

The sudden soft whistle didn't register in The Face's mind until he saw the look on Daft's face.  Mixed emotions flooded him as his advisor and adversary slumped over onto his desk.  He stood quickly to face Miller, who put the silenced revolver onto the desk.

"And he thought I was the one who would be his undoing?" he stated as he realized the irony.

"Well, you heard him," Miller sneered looking down his nose at the skinny form at the desk with disgust, taking off the black leather gloves he had been wearing.  "There's no room in his agency for people with our talents."

"Funny," The Face stated, "I never figured you as the talented type." 

Miller sneered.

"There is no solid evidence that you're plotting against us, that you are using everything he gave you to disobey him.  And he denied it to the very end.  He even believed that pirate escaped out your window when you were through fondling her. But I began to plant seeds upon the nagging thoughts in his mind.  Betrayal: he had felt that feeling before by someone close to him.  And, let's just say it is in your genes."

The Face matched his scowl.

"I but brought those feelings to the surface."  His dark eyes were trying to penetrate The Face's; but the latter knew now to keep his eyes averted.  Miller smiled to himself.  "But now it seems I've found proof of your treachery."  He surveyed the murder scene anew. 

"Oh, dear, I do believe this is your issued weapon, and I, as the only credible witness, what with rumors of your misbehavior, am bound in duty to tell exactly what I saw happen."

Miller grinned anew as he saw The Face's gaze flicker to the gun sitting on the table.

"Tempting, isn't it?  Either you take it up and we struggle, which will result in one of our deaths: either I the triumphant hero who conquered the villainous traitor, or you who runs for it, and makes it barely out the door before the guards shoot you down; or I grab it first and kill you in self defense."

The Face could feel Miller's gaze boring into him and he reacted as only he could.  Suddenly his shirt was growing tighter as his structure changed.  He could feel every molecule of his body as he willed it to morph.  In an instant he had struck out at Miller with an unmatched force and the Costa Rican flew against the wall and slid limply to the floor.

At a sudden pain in his backside, he turned to see a long dark brown tail had erupted from his pants.  He rolled his eyes at the side effect of his ability.  Forgot Tygeress had a tail, he thought then looked down at his tight chest.  "Uhg," he said in disgust.  I hate having cleavage.

- - - - - - - - - -

"Yes?" a sneering voice came over the line into Simon Lairdlot's ear.

"Dad?"

Simon quickly turned to see Daniel standing in the doorway of his private study.  "Whatever happens, it will be for the best... for all of us."

"Dad..."

"I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago." He smiled his warm confident smile.  "Now, give me a moment's peace so I can get some things together."

- - - - - - - - - -

It wasn't as hard to find Daft in the square as Mr. Lairdlot had thought: the lanky balding man was sitting in plain sight, casually drawing on a cigarette.

Simon Lairdlot walked straight over to him and sat next to him on the cement lip of the fountain.  He plopped a file folder into the disgusted man's lap.

"What? Not even a hey there ol' pal?" Daft flung at his ex-superior.

"There was a time when that would have been appropriate; however, you have crossed a line which pals of mine do not cross," Simon explained sternly.

"And what's this?" he looked casually down his pointy nose at the folder.  "Your will?"

"No," The man with the peppered hair smirked. "It's yours."

Daft looked directly into the man's eyes, a stern look in his own.  "You should come with me.  I wouldn't want to open this in such a public place.  I know the perfect spot."  Daft stood and stomped out his cigarette.

Simon hesitated.

"Come now, old man, after all we've been through together, surely you can trust me to walk with you for a few yards."

The elder man rose to his feet and followed.

"So, how is your son doing?  Getting good grades?  I hear he is a brilliant botany student."

"This is not about him."

"Ah," Daft turned his sly face toward the older man. "That is where you're wrong.  He is the whole reason for our breakup, if you recall."

Daft had led him to a small Mexican restaurant at the edge of the plaza.  He opened the door and gestured.  "After you, sir."

"I do believe it was your attitude that sent me packing.  You had different views, and I was not going to be part of them."

"He would have made an excellent additon to our team."

"How dare you imply that I would willingly give up another son to your..." Simon tried hard to surpress his temper.

They sat in silence for a moment before Simon leaned over the table toward Daft. 

"Why don't you just save us some time and tell me who you really are?"

Daft smiled, amused. The expression made his face contort in a strange way; Daft certainly would never have smiled like that.

"I knew I would never be able to fool you," came a different voice from Daft's mouth as he leaned back casually in his chair.  "You certainly are the man I thought you'd be, and much more."  He shook his head, disbelievingly.

Simon squinted at the man in front of him.

"It's me, Dad."

Simon gasped and grabbed his chest.

- - - - - - - - - - -

When Daniel didn't stop by on Sunday evening, Sally stopped by his apartment.  Peter hadn't seen him and as far as he knew he was still in Kansas City.  She thanked him for the information and called his father's house.  No one answered.  Maybe he's on his way back.  Maybe he's just avoiding me so we don't have to accomplish the inevitable.   

Although it had been a year since Sally had decided that he would need to know, and although simulations ran through her mind occasionally, she had never really decided how to tell Daniel tactfully.   She was in the locker room dressing for her new roll in tonights operation as phrasings swam around in her mind.

"I'm Abra Pirata.... You know Abra Pirata? I'm her....  Yo soy Abra Pirata.... I can lift things with my mind,  I have telekinesis....  I'm telekinetic.  Watch this....  You know all those times you thought Abra Pirata saved you; it was actually me. Haha."  Sally sighed.  "I'm not good with words."

"What are you mumbling about in there?"  Sebastian's voice came through the door.  "Hurry up, it's almost time."

"Just a sec."  Sally pulled on her boots and grabbed her mask and sword.  Rushing out the door she headed toward the briefing table as she attached her sword to her belt.

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

When Daniel arrived at MacMickle Mansion Monday evening, he found it deserted except for Bowie.  He scratched the dog behind the ears for a while, wondering where everyone was before he shoved his hands into his pockets and headed into the woods.  Maybe it was better this way. It would give him time to think of a plan.

He wandered for a while and as the grass around his feet became greener, he knew he was entering the garden.  Suddenly he tripped and fell, his head missing the edge of a stone bench by fractions of an inch. 

"Damn it," he looked at the rip in his khakis. Then he saw what he had tripped over.  There was a magnificent sword sticking out of the ground at his feet.  The Botanist knew the Mansion had a small museum of swords, and he knew none of its inhabitants were careless enough to leave such an elegant piece outside.  The light coming through the green leaves above cast a beautiful brightness upon it and the glimmer from its blade seemed to shine with a glow of it's own.  He got to his knees and slowly reached out his fingers toward the hilt.  As he slid them around the handle, his heart seemed to stop beating.  Daniel stood and slid it easily from its resting place in the ground. He held it upright and noticed how light it seemed.  Sally had let him feel the heaviness of some of the metal pieces in the gallery, they were all so heavy, but this one seemed as light as air.

He stopped and listened: something was calling him.  This had happened before, although not many times.  And each time he had answered it proved to be a good thing; but something was different this time.  However, he couldn't ignore it.  With only slight hesitation, he headed toward the sound.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Abra Pirata crawled cautiously to the edge of the roof.  Tygeress and Azure entered from the street as they had at the previous meeting.  Ty was sniffing the air, and the scent of pirate confirmed that Abra was in position.

Azure stopped dead in his tracks.  "He isn't here."

"Maybe he chickened out at the last minute," Ty suggested.

They all heard Shashani gasp in their minds at the same time.  It's a trap, everyone abandon your posts.

But it was too late.  Suddenly gas canisters began to explode in the alleyway.  A bright light signaled that Azure had put up a Ki Shield around him and Ty to keep away the fumes.  Unless they had an unlimited supply of gas, they were no match for that duo.

Abra abandoned her post and headed toward fresh air.  As she ran she impressed the transceiver.  "Azure and Ty are surrounded by gas, but protected by his ki.  I'm headed toward the park.  What's everyone's situation?"

Lucy Diamond's voice came into her ear.  "These guys are just starting to enjoy the essence of Mary Jane.  10-4."

Then came Slick Pimp Patti.  "These SECRET agents can really dance! Shake it, shake it baby..!"

"It's nice that you all are having the time of your lives out there, but Azure can't keep this up, something's wrong."  Ty's voice came over the transmitter.

"I'm on my way," Abra responded.  She turned around and was soon across the street from the alleyway.  Looking out from behind the corner of a building, she contemplated the situation and the best approach.  "What's the situation look like from where you guys are?"

"Attack the main truck," whispered a voice from right beside her.

The shock of the sight of the person beside her made her almost forget the situation across the street.  "Rick?"

He smiled, comprehending who it was behind the mask, and then his expression became serious.  "There's no time to explain except that this is the only disguise they've never seen me in.  Now, the main truck harbors the entire stock of the gas.  Get the rest of The Others up here and we'll put my plan into action."

- - - - - - - -

The glowing in the alleyway began to fade as the vapor drifted around it.

SPP strode up to the truck and climbed into the driver's seat.  As the engine began to roar, two SECRET agents came around from the back of the truck and grabbed onto it.  One, unable to get a footing, was dragged a couple of blocks then finally fell off and promptly arrested by Sebastian Lewis.

The second had run fast enough to get a hold of the handle of the truck door and tried to pry open the door, but Patti had already locked it.  He pounded on the window trying to break it.  Patti swerved the truck, and the agent almost lost his footing.  Once again he struck the driver's window and his elbow went through, shattering glass into the cab.

"Oh, you bastard!" SPP cursed at him.  "Now I'm going to have to hurt you."

At the same time as she stepped on the brake, she released the door lock.  The man, holding on for his life, opened the door, and was catapulted onto the street.  SPP stepped down from the cab and stalked up to the crumbled man on the asphalt. 

"And don't you ever try that again, you perverted, limp-dicked, sorry excuse for a spy."  She spit at him and walked off into an alleyway as cop cars came blaring down the street toward the abandoned truck.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Lucy Diamond began to call to the birds in the surrounding area. 

"Their wings should be able to blow away the gas," Rick said. "If Azure or Tygeress breathe in a couple breaths of that gas, they'll lose their powers for twenty-four hours.  But with as much as they've sprayed into that alley, it's condensed.  And if they breathe it in now, they might not make it at all."

"Why would they even want them?" Lucy asked.

"They know The Others can stop them, so they'll take as many down as they can.  While a couple of you may not seem like a big deal, SECRET has been monitoring you; they've planned this.  They know that Tygeress and Azure are the brawn and taking them down will leave you weak and emotionally stressed."

"You rang?"

The hippie jumped in surprise.  "Don't do that, Shani!!"

"Sorry," she tried her best to look sorrowful.  She gestured to Rick with a puzzled look, "Hey, aren't you...?"

"How are you at transporting gasses?" Abra asked, cutting her off.

Shashani's blue eyes got big, as she bit her lip.

"It's working!" Lucy called out.  The birds had flown over the alleyway, creating gusts of winds, directed up into the atmosphere.  The gas swirled upward into the wind and became diluted with the air, no longer harmful to anyone.

Abra drew her sword as they crossed the street, striking down SECRET agents who stood in their path. As soon as they reached Ty and Azure, they could instantly tell they were on the verge of collapse. 

Tygeress drew one clean breath of fresh air, and then fell to the ground, her tail limply draping over her. 

"Ty..." Azure called weekly as he too collapsed. 

Shashani grabbed them and teleported them and Lucy back to the cave for medical treatment.

Suddenly there was a gunshot fired, and Rick's body jerked sideways.

Abra grabbed his arm and shoved him against the building, hoping it would shield them from the gunman. She looked over at Rick and the blood staining the shoulder of his black t-shirt.

He glanced down at his own wound.  "Shit," he cussed. "It must be Miller."

"Miller?"

"If it were anyone else, we'd both be dead already.  Miller's a bit twisted and likes to make people suffer, plus he never was a good shot." Rick winced.  "Let's go."

They walked close along the building until they came to a door.  Rick tried the handle and it was locked.

Abra unsheathed her sword and cut out the lock, smirking slightly as she did so.

The building was well lit by the daylight streaming in through the high windows.  The two walked in carefully, meandering among crates and machinery. 

Suddenly Abra jumped back as a bullet struck the wooden crate two inches from her face.  Rick grabbed her belt and pulled her down.  Another shot was fired, striking the crate they were using as a shield.

"He's on a catwalk, about fifty yards from here," Rick stated.

The pirate cautiously peered around the bottom of the crate, eyeing the shadow high above the well-lit floor.

Concentrating, she centered her focus on his shoe.  She lifted it into the air, causing its wearer to topple over the rail of the catwalk.  A cracking crunch was heard as the body hit.  Rick stood slowly and looked.

"Shit," he commented.  "He landed in some crates."

They ran over to the crates and began to look for the fallen man.  Suddenly the pile of crates began to smoke as another can of gas was exposed to the air.

Miller jumped out of the crates, and produced the gun.  He sneered at Rick and Abra, who instantly recognized his shaved head and single dark line of hair on his Latino chin.

"Come on, Face, there's no need to hide who you are, now.  We all know you could never show true loyalty to the organization that created you; nor the man."

Slowly Rick's hands reached up to his head and pulled off Rick's face and hair, revealing himself as The Face once more.

Abra grasped her sword, but Miller was fast to recognize the move.  "Poor pirate, did you inhale some fumes?"  He began to laugh, as the cloud still hung in the air around them.

Abra looked down at the empty handle of her sword.  She had failed to produce a blade.

"You both would have made great partners in my plan.  But if you're not with me you're against me; and all those against me must die," Miller said.  He pulled the trigger, but the gun had been jammed in the fall.  "FUCK!"

"Abra!" She looked at the source of the shout and was stunned to see Daniel running toward them from the opposite side of the warehouse. "Catch!" he tossed her Excalibur. 

Miller jumped in front of her and snatched it out of the air and turned toward the new threat.

"Ah," his sneer rivaled Daft's.  "How nice of you to join us."  Miller, with the blade held firm in his grip in a threatening, yet resigned manor, walked around Daniel, who had stopped motionless when the weapon was caught by the wrong target.  Miller walked behind the MacMickle gardener, and eyed his ex-colleague from over Daniel's shoulder.  "A nice family reunion." 

Daniel's gray eyes grew wide as he noticed the other man; the dark hair, the brilliant blue eyes.  "Free?" he asked quietly a look of shock upon his face.

"Dan," The Face replied affirmatively.

"Yes..." hissed Miller.  "Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside."  His eyes blazed with maniacal hatred.

"Just let him go," Abra shouted.  "No innocent people have to get hurt here."

Miller laughed and glared at The Face.  "This is why you left SECRET?  To join forces with goody-two shoed masqueraders like this?"

Daniel looked at The Face, their eyes locked and an unheard question was answered as the later nodded.

"Well," Miller continued, his dark eyes keeping tabs on his two foes at the other end of the building, "Although you've already taken your official leave from SECRET, let me be the first to bestow upon you well wishes for the future."  He grinned slyly.  "Here's your retirement present."

Everyone gasped at once as Miller began to chuckle at his deed.  Daniel lunged forward as the blade pierced through his body.  In one swift move, the slaying had taken place.  Both the pirate and the spy sprang forward.  Miller let go of the sword as it began to crumble and shattered on the ground like glass. 

"What the fuck?!!" he yelled as his only defense lay crushed on the pavement. 

"The Excalibur doesn't stand for injustice," The Face explained through gritted teeth, as he took a swing at his foe. "Just as it broke when Arthur used it against Lancelot."

Ducking the blow, Miller turned and fled.  The Face turned to Abra.  "Stay with Dan." Then he called over his shoulder as he ran off.  "If anything happens to my brother, Miller will not be brought in alive."

Abra fell to her knees beside Daniel; his breathing was heavy as he gasped for air.  Oh, God, please help him, she prayed.   Shani!! She called out in her mind as she removed her gloves and took his hand in hers.  He blinked a couple of times, staring up at her.  If he can even see me.

"Daniel," she whispered.  "Daniel, I'm right here."

He tried to say something, a look of utter shock on his face.  He was starting to pale.

"Shhh... don't say anything.  It's all right.  Everything will be..." She could see the blood pooling on the cement behind him, and swallowed the lump in her throat. "It's gonna be all right."  Tears began to well up in her eyes and she could no longer see out her eyeholes.  Taking off her mask, her blonde hair fell over her shoulders and tears began to flow.

Daniel blinked again as he took a ragged breath and his hand firmly grasped hers.  "My... my angel."  His face contorted into a small calmed smile.  Then he gasped again as his eyelids slid closed over his gray eyes and his grasp loosened.

Suddenly Shani appeared beside her fallen friend and gasped at the sight.  "I can't do anything for him, not without Zarbon:  the injuries are too severe."  She looked at her distraught friend.  "We'll be at the hospital.  Go home."  Then she vanished with Daniel.

Sally gasped in air, trying to remember to breathe as the tears choked her.  Dear Lord, grant him your mercy, your strength to get through this.  Heal him as only you can.  Please Lord God: he's the other half of my soul.