[Sticks]

Episode VI – True Colours

Today we live in a high pressure high speed world. The world of 24 – 7 365 days of the year, except leap years when it is 366.

In the olden times we could stop and think and smell the flowers. That was how it was many years ago. But then came the industrial revolution and people had to fit in with machines. Ever since we have been struggling to keep pace with what is euphemistically called progress. We have no time. We must get to work; we must get the shopping done. We must get down to the gym and on it goes.

Life has become one big treadmill, for which we have long since given up control of the speed switch.

Is this all such a bad thing?

Sometimes if we are given too much time, we never do anything, but then we can act in haste when we should have taken time.

One thing is clear, in the high pressure world we live in, time has become a limited and precious commodity and we are forced to act in a split second. Sometime that is a matter of life and death, as Celeste is now to find out as a depressed Sue-Lim Wang, while in federal custody has used the scarf Celeste has passed onto her by Sir Sidney Gerald to hang herself. This is made all the more worse, because some force is preventing Celeste from getting near Sue-Lim in order to save her as she asphyxiates at the end of the makeshift noose…

+ + + +

An interrogation room
The FBI J Edgar Hoover Building
Washington DC

Celeste seemed to be watching helpless as Sue-Lim choked to death at the end of the scarf as she kicked her legs in mid air, unable to get back to the table and instinctively with her hands tried in vein to pull the noose open.

Celeste tried again to get to her, even if she fully materialised it would do no good, only a mortal human could reach her and intervene this time.

Why were there no other humans guarding their prisoner? – This was very odd

Celeste had no other option; she focused an energy blast at the door to the interview room and blew it away. She ran out into the hall and for a brief moment materialised fully to scream help.

A lone agent suddenly came running round the corner of the corridor, shouting about how he had heard an explosion, so instinctively Celeste went back to being invisible to mortal beings.

He looked at the door, smashed to smithereens, “What the hell was that?” he said as he squatted down to examine the wreckage of the door oblivious to the unfolding drama in the interrogation room.

“Forget the door, you moron” Celeste screamed, and caused a wind to blow at the agent as if coming from the open doorway

As he looked up a female agent came from the other direction attracted by the sound of the blast, looked into the interrogation room and screamed the male agents name and then ran into the room and began trying to take Sue-Lim’s weight to try and ease the pressure on her neck from the noose.

The male agent was seconds behind her, and took over holding Sue-Lim up as much as he could and pushing her legs back towards the table so she could be standing on it, while the female agent jumped onto the chair and then onto the table to try and pull open the make shift noose around Sue-Lim’s neck.

Both agents were shouting at the top of their voices for others to assist.

Another male agent arrived in the room, saw the struggle to pull open the noose, and jumped onto the table, which began to creak ominously, put his fingers of one hand just inside the noose, opposite from the knot and the other hand on the knot, and dragged it open and pulled the noose from Sue-Lim’s head.

Sue-Lim was just on the point of loosing consciousness as the noose came off and she was barely breathing and so had to be held up by the two agents on the table.

Suddenly as the noose was removed Celeste felt the force field blocking her dissipate, so avoiding the agents and sometime phasing through them, she reached across and placed her hand on Sue-Lim’s leg “Come back to us please” Celeste pleaded as her eyes glowed green as she healed what ever damage she could from Sue-Lim’s experience.

They had just been in the nick of time. Sue-Lim began coughing and due to the healing powers of Celeste regained more consciousness

The female agent stepped onto the chair and then onto the floor, while the male agent held Sue-Lim firmly in his arms

Amid her coughing and weeping as Sue-Lim just kept repeating “I’m sorry”

The female agent and the male agent who had been standing on the floor both took Sue-Lim’s hands and guided her down, via the chair and then onto the floor, while the remaining agent standing on the table removed the scarf from the light fitting

Sue-Lim was still fairly dazed, so they made sure she was sitting on the chair with the female agent on her left side and a male agent on her right side

“Do we still have that agent who is a medical doctor” the female agent asked
“I think she is on some investigation with her weird partner” said the FBI agent, who had been standing on the floor all the time,
“I think we need to take her to a hospital to get her checked out then” the female agent suggested
“Nah replied the male FBI agent, “She looks alright to me, just take her to another holding room and alert them that she is a suicide risk”

A number of other FBI agents poked their head around the door enquiring what had happened as they had heard all the commotion so the female FBI agent explained how they had had to stop a suspect from committing suicide.

All the while Celeste stayed in the room, hidden by her powers from the humans, and shaking her head, “I must have screwed up” she kept saying to her self, “He just told me to give her the scarf, he never told me to kill her”

Then Celeste walked in front of Sue-Lim as she sat crying on the chair between the two FBI agents. Celeste knelt down and went to brush away a tear from Sue-Lim’s cheek, “I’m so sorry” Celeste said to her, although she knew Sue-Lim could not see or hear her, “I know the boss has some issue with your organisation, but please, I don’t want you to die” Celeste then realised she was crying herself.

Celeste was supposed to be the daughter of the Spirit of Death, and yet as with the young child in the hospital in England earlier that day, she was finding it difficult to cut the astral chords of some of her supposed victims.

What was wrong with her – part of her wanted to heal and to save lives, yet she had so wanted to prove to her father she was not a waste of space by doing his job better than he could. Even worse the two lives she had taken so far kept haunting her, even though she did it to protect her boss

Just then a senior man came into the room, “What happened?” he demanded to know

“Sorry director Maddox” the male FBI agent who had removed the scarf from the light fitting replied, “This suspect tried to hang herself with this” he added showing the director the scarf.

“What the hell was she doing with it” he swore, “and where was the agent who was supposed to be guarding her? I want him on report”

The director waved the scarf at the three FBI agents, “Secure your prisoner so they can’t do this, that’s basic training from the academy. Someone in processing screwed up big time”

“With all due respect sir” the female agent spoke up, “None of us were assigned on this case; we just heard the explosion and came to investigate when we saw the prisoner hanging from the ceiling. We were lucky to get to her in time sir”

“No thanks to me” Celeste muttered as tears continued to roll down her face

“What explosion” the director suddenly questioned
The FBI agents then pointed to the remains of the door

The director looked at it and then at Sue-Lim, “Ok Miss Wang where did you get the scarf and how did you do that?”

Tearfully Sue-Lim replied that she had just found the scarf on the table when it seemed to appear out of thin air and that she did not know what had happened to the door as after she found the scarf she could not remember anything until she found herself hanging by her neck, but if it was her she was sorry. Then amid further sobbing she kept trying to tell them that she was not a terrorist and that she had never leaked any plans to the wormhole generators to anyone.

“Of course you didn’t love” Celeste found herself saying, “The boss had them in his computer”

“What’s a wormhole generator?” questioned one of the male FBI agents
“That’s highly classified Special Agent” he told him, “I would appreciate it if you forgot you ever heard that”
“Sorry sir” the agent apologised
“You weren’t to know son” The Director replied then he spoke to Sue-Lim, “It’s your lucky day, not only do you have, as far as the agents here are concerned a guardian angel to save your life, you have a powerful friend in the NSA”

“What?” Sue-Lim asked weakly, “I don’t understand sir; it was them who were bugging my home, it was them who put me under surveillance”
“Your director is coming to take custody of you up as we speak” the director told her with what seemed as an air of distain, then he added, “Cuff her, she’s still a suspect in my book” and left the room. As a parting shot the director then shouted, “And get this door fixed”

“Yes sir” said the female agent replied in a defiant tone and found a pair of handcuffs in her jacket pocket and handcuffed Sue-Lim’s hand behind her back.
“Why didn’t you let me die” Sue-Lim asked the male agent who had lifted her onto the table, “You all think I’m a terrorist because my mother came from Vietnam”

“We couldn’t do that mam” the male FBI agent she spoke to replied.

“Too right” Celeste remarked then walked up to Sue-Lim, “You’re not well Sue-Lim” she said, weeping openly, “No one in their right mind would want to kill them selves, and I almost helped you, I’m so sorry, I guess the boss did not know how sick you were” Then in a more stern tone, “I won’t let anything happen to you Sue-Lim, I’ll stay with you until your boss comes and gets you some help because that’s not something I can heal. I know you may not like me Sue-Lim but I would like to be your friend and friends look out for each other, do you hear”

“We better get you to another interview room until your director shows up” The female FBI agent told Sue-Lim, “Although I never knew the NSA interrogated suspects”

With that she gently ushered Sue-Lim out of the room, followed by Celeste still invisible to all mortal beings

The parchment then called for Celeste to attend another death. Celeste took it out and threw it on the floor in a rage, “SCREW YOU” she shouted at it breaking into tears, “I don’t want to take any more lives. Daddy was right I just can’t do this any more”

The parchment then faded into nothing, although in her heart of hearts, Celeste knew it would come back whether she wanted it to or not.

+ + + +

Arrivals at Heathrow
London

Colonel Samuel, Clotho and Rosie O’Brian finally cleared security and entered baggage retrieval, now the most stressful part of flying!!

Rosie had made herself look to others like a woman with dwarfism and trailed behind.

As they waited for the conveyor belt to be loaded, Samuel looked out at the grey leaden skies and thought of those he had lost when they had gone up against the Magnus Timor. The sound of the conveyor belt shattered his thoughts so he waited with Clotho and Rosie O’Brian for their bags to appear.

It took fifteen minutes for their bags to arrive, not that they were carrying that much. Samuel had wished he could have taken a side arm in the luggage but with the heightened security that was out of the question. He would have to try and arrange with the local law enforcement officials to be issued with one, but given his previous run in with New Scotland Yard, this was hardly likely.

They went through the arrivals tour into Terminal One and walked passed a coffee stand. In normal times Samuel might stop for coffee, but there was no time. Two minor spirits of virtue had been abducted and one of them might have knowledge to locate an artefact in the Mystical Realms that could track down Clotho’s sister Atropos and Clotho. They had already take Lachesis, for reasons yet unclear.

Samuel had asked G2 to try and contact the Clan Chief of the Manjura through diplomatic channels to alert them of a possible intrusion, but he had heard nothing yet.

As soon as they got on the Underground into Central London, he could ring and find out, so long as the carriage was fairly empty.

Samuel Clicked his fingers and led the way with Clotho and Rosie following behind as he made his way to the underground station.

Also following behind them, keeping his distance, was a man in black trousers and a black leather coat. As they approached the underground, the man pulled out a mobile phone and rang someone.

Samuel paid for the tube fairs and the three went through the gate instead of the ticket barrier and then down to the platform amongst the other passengers.

On the platform he handed Clotho and Rosie the tickets

“An all zones?” Rosie queried, “Do we need that for where we are going”
Samuel leaned over and whispered into Rosie’s ear, “We’re being followed; I did not want to tip them off to where we were going”
“Oh no!” Clotho whispered
“Nothing I can’t handle” Samuel replied reaching for where his side arm should be, “Well it would be easier if I had a weapon” he growled in a whisper like voice”
“I could call for back up” Rosie suggested
“Amongst all these witnesses?” Samuel whispered
“We can’t lead them to my remaining sister” Clotho whispered
“I’m working on it” Samuel replied

After a few more minutes the train arrived.

Samuel, Clotho and Rosie got on at the doors nearest to the middle of the carriage. The train was fairly crowded and Samuel insisted they stand, since it would be easier to move if they had to.

The door closing sound was made and the doors closed.
“Don’t look” Samuel whispered, “but our tail got on at the rear of the carriage. He looks like a real pro and he’s carrying which means he’s worked for an agency once”
“Which one?” Rosie whispered
“Most likely ours under the old management”

+ + + +

A dark plane in an unknown artificial universe

It seemed to take forever walking across the dark plane of the artificial universe. Commander Mark Johnston took the lead followed by Jenny Green. Timothy Zachary and the Spirit of Lust followed behind. Above them they could see the occasional pulse of light on some grid up in what passed for a black sky.

It was definite, this was an artificial universe of some kind created by intelligence, and the fact that the prototype wormhole generator could access it worried Mark. It seemed like two technologies had been welded together and yet the new artificial wormhole generators to get them to the Mystical Realms to take on the Magnus Timor had only just been built.

Or had they?

There was no way of telling how fast time on IDW02 had been compared to Earth and the Mystical Realms. Even with the Mystical Realms it was not until regular traffic between the two universes occurred did they finally get into a kind of lockstep.

By now the structures were beginning to look like cages, or to be more accurate forms of glass boxes, come prison cells. The one with the teenage former spirit of virtue, appeared to have a small door to a hidden room in it, probably a lavatory of some kind. She was human, where as the others were entities, albeit one of them had been living as if she were human.

It took a further hour to get up to the three structures. All three figures were sitting on beds, looking dejected, especially the teenager.

The teenager looked up and saw them approaching and ran to the glass wall of her own dungeon and banged on it. “HELP” She screamed

Jenny recognised her and ran to the glass box, “Caer?” she asked
“Miss Green?” Caer asked with incredulity in her voice, “I thought you worked in a coffee shop”
“I did Caer” Jenny replied, “But I became a member of the Inter Dimensional Entity Control agency, it’s a long story”

Caer frowned at Jenny, “That’s the organisation that abused my sister” she said accusingly

“That was under different management” Mark cut in, “So what are you doing here?”

Before she could answer the Spirit of Lust came to the glass dungeon, “So you’re the Spirit of Fancying” she said with a sneer, “You look as pathetic as your sister The Spirit of Fidelity”

“And who are you?” Caer demanded
“I am your aunt” The Spirit of Lust replied, “Your true aunt” she added

Caer backed away from the glass, “You” she said with horror in her voice and shaking her head, “You killed my biological mother” she added, “Have you come to kill me as well?”

The Spirit of Lust gave a small evil laugh, “Why should I, you have arranged that for yourself already by becoming fully human”

“That’s enough” Mark interrupted, “No we haven’t come to kill you Miss O’Docherty, but how did you end up here?”

“I was kidnapped outside Dublin Railway station” Caer answered, “But they wanted Fid for some information. This lady called Celeste, she teleported me to some office somewhere and this guy sent me here”

“Celeste?” The Spirit of Lust cut in, “Her?” she then asked
“Yes!” Caer insisted, “I thought she was nice because she saved me when one of the men who took me tried to hang me”

At this Caer suddenly broke down and wept. Through her tears she told them “He wanted to kill me because I was a minor spirit of virtue and he would not believe that I’m human now”

“No one does anything to my family except me” The Spirit of Lust growled
“Why?” Jenny then said to her, “Because you want to kill them yourself like you killed your sister and your brother”

“Calm down you guys” Timothy interrupted as he pushed his way between Jenny and the Spirit of Lust, “This is meant to be a rescue mission. Now Lusty, I mean Spirit of Lust, Who is Celeste?”

The Spirit of Lust walked away from Caer’s glass dungeon and walked over to a glass box with what appeared to be a hooded male figure sitting on the bed. “She’s your daughter isn’t she?” she said to the occupant

“Yes” the male hooded figure answered, “But she has been lead astray by a mortal human, and it is my fault”

The Spirit of Lust then turned to Timothy, “Let me introduce you to the Spirit of Death”

“How is it your fault?” Jenny asked him
“I did not make time for her” The Spirit of Death responded, “I told her she would never amount to much, but I was talking about the job I am burdened with”

“This Mortal” Mark asked, “Who is he?”
“He is Sir Sidney Gerald” The Spirit of Death answered, “He got my daughter to falsify the list of those souls I was due to release from their bodies, so I came for him before his time, which allowed him to capture me”

Timothy’s eyes went wide, “Sir Sidney?” he exclaimed, “Him?”
“You know him?” Mark asked
“Know of him Commander” Timothy explained, “Had I succeeded in my plans, he was due to be replaced by a doppelganger assassin as well”
“Why?” Jenny asked, “All I know is that he was in the top 500 Rich list a few years back”
“Yes Jenny” Timothy went on, “But he is also the head of several shell corporations and holding companies, all of which supplied equipment to the Facility. I know he tried to hide it, but I sussed out that every piece of our kit was provided by a company own by him”

“That’s not supposed to happen” Mark replied, “Different companies so no one company gets a complete picture of what we were doing”
“But he got around that with several shell and holding companies, making the occasional tactical acquisition should a company not under his control get an order. I tracked him, and I was going to replace him as well as the joint chiefs”

Then Timothy stopped, as both Mark and Jenny looked daggers at him, “I don’t think I should have revealed that”
“I’ll add it to the list” Mark replied.
“Celeste?” came the sound of another female voice.

Jenny walked over to the third cell, a middle aged woman was sitting in it. “You are?” she asked
“Lachesis” the lady replied, “I am one of the fates. Some men came to kidnap my younger sister Clotho, but I got in the way and they took me instead”

“I heard about you” Mark said as he came across, “You are the middle one of the fates, Clotho spins out the new threads of life for us humans, your elder sister cuts the threads of life at the end of their life and you”
“I am tasked with how much life they have and what destiny will befall them” Lachesis replied

“And she was charged with the offence of conspiracy to interfere in the affairs of mortals” The Spirit of Lust told the group, “And when my dear sister, the Spirit of True Love was found dead in her cell”
“We were released on a technicality but exiled by the Lord Low Troll to Earth” Lachesis finished.

“This is a very interesting reunion” The Spirit of Lust then observed

“So you know this Celeste as well?” Jenny asked Lachesis

The woman slowly nodded, “Yes I do” then she looked up with what Jenny thought was tears in her eyes, “She does not know it, but I am her mother. So we could protect her we had to make everyone including her think her mother was dead”
“What?” Jenny asked, “Why?”
“Because of the dictates of the Lord Low Troll” she said sadly,

Lachesis then continued “He had forbidden spirits of necessity virtues and vices from having children with one another, but we did not know of this rule until I had fallen pregnant. The punishment would have been the execution of the child. Only if the mother or the father had perished would he allow the child to live. We know not why he ruled such, but that was his law. Maybe he did not want our number to increase, who knows now. That is also why some of the spirits of virtue came to Earth so they could have children away from the laws of the Lord Low troll. Through out my pregnancy, I had to hide away until I had given birth; only The Spirit of Death and my elder sister Atropos knew”

“When she was born, because of her black hair it was thought it was best if she lived with me” The Spirit of Death said from his box, “We made up the story that her mother was the Spirit of Destiny, who had drowned as I had stood by as I could not swim”
“That way” Lachesis continued, “If the Lord Low Troll found out, then she would have been spared”

Jenny walked back to Caer’s dungeon and Mark followed
“Caer?” Jenny spoke up
“Yes Miss Green?”
“You said you thought this Celeste was nice, why?” Jenny asked
“Because she healed me, and” at this Caer looked embarrassed, “When I messed myself because I was made to stand on a block of ice with a noose around my neck, she cleaned me up”

“Celeste has the power to heal?” Jenny asked
“That is why” The Spirit of Death called out, “As a death spirit she will never amount to anything. She is another facet of facing death”

“What do you mean?” Mark asked
“How many times have you faced certain death?” The Spirit of Death asked
“Too many I would care to remember” Mark answered
“She is meant to be for those times when a mortal faces almost certain death and yet survives against the odds. She may think she is for death, but she is for life, and I fear she does not know it and is trying to do my job, and that will destroy her”

“Ok” Then Mark responded, “Our first task is to try and get you out of these boxes, and then find out how to get out of this artificial universe”
“And we must stop this mortal” The Spirit of Death called out

“That goes without saying” Mark replied
“And I agree” The Spirit of Lust chipped in, “We can not have a mortal treating major spirits with utter contempt”
“And murdering them isn’t treating them with contempt?” Jenny muttered
“By another spirit no” The Spirit of Lust retorted, “By a mortal, definitely”
“Oh yes” Jenny said sarcastically, “That makes it alright then!”
“But he is no longer mortal” The Spirit of Death piped up, “He took from me his thread, and while he has that, he has immortality. He can not die”

+ + + +

The entrance of The FBI J Edgar Hoover Building
Washington DC

Kathryn Cooper’s chauffeur driven car pulled up outside the FBI building, with her was Walter Quentin the director of the National Security Agency. Both got out and headed for the public entrance to the building, showing their ID.

Jack Maddox was there to meet them, whilst two FBI agents held Sue-Lim securely. Sue-Lim just looked down at the ground, she felt deeply ashamed and utterly humiliated as a number of passers by stared at her from the main sidewalk.

Celeste continued to stand as near to her as she could, still hidden from all mortals. Why she liked Sue-Lim, she could not tell, she just did and felt deeply cut up and devastated that she had almost caused Sue-Lim’s death before her time.

Kathryn saw that Sue-Lim was handcuffed, with her hands behind her back like a common criminal

“Take those things off of her” Kathryn ordered angrily.

One of the FBI agents looked at Jack, “Sir?”
“I’ll send you the key when you get back to your agency” Jack sneered
“Come on Jack” Walter chided, “Don’t be such a sore looser”
Jacks eyes narrowed at Walter, “OK” he growled, “Remove the bracelets”

One of the FBI officials undid the handcuffs and removed them from Sue-Lim’s wrists, but both held onto Sue-Lim tightly

“Now let her go” Kathryn ordered
Again the FBI agents looked at Jack, and reluctantly he nodded and motioned for them to go back inside. As he did so the FBI agents let go of Sue-Lim, who continued to stand still, utterly shell shocked, and they went back into the J Edgar Hoover building.

“May I have a brief word” Jack asked Kathryn
“OK” Kathryn replied and then said to Walter, “Mr Quentin, could you please escort Sue-Lim to my car”

Walter gestured for Sue-Lim to go down to the car, which she duly did, again Celeste was in tow. She wanted to make sure Sue-Lim got back safely. Walter opened the car door and Sue-Lim obediently and silently got in. Celeste teleported in, so she could sit with Sue-Lim, even though Sue-Lim would not be aware of her presence.

“I’ll catch a cab from here” Walter called out, and then he went off to hail a taxi.
“Thanks for all you’ve done” Kathryn called out, then she turned back to Jack, “Ok what is it”
“I know you deal with all sorts of entities Chairman Cooper” Jack began, “So I would appreciate it if you could get word to them, not to fight their little wars in my building”
“What are you talking about?” Kathryn asked with a note of alarm
Jack produced the scarf that Sue-Lim had tried to hang herself with, “This was placed in the interrogation room with your Miss Wang by some entity and somehow persuaded her to try and hang her self. She would have succeeded were it not for some other entity who blasted our door away which alerted some of my agents who managed to get to her just in time.”

“I’ve never seen Sue-Lim with that scarf before or any scarf” Kathryn replied, deeply shocked that Sue-Lim’s arrest had driven her to the point of suicide, and that someone had provided her the means, “Let me take that and I will get someone on it to see where it came from”
“Be my guest” Jack answered back, thrust the scarf into Kathryn’s hands, turned around and left without saying another word.

Kathryn stood there for a moment and then turned around and went back to her car.

As she got in opposite Sue-Lim, Celeste felt the parchment return. It was insistent that it be answered, so Celeste looked at it. It gave the details of an elderly woman about to die on the other side of the world. Celeste sighed; at least this woman had had a life. “Sorry Sue-Lim” Celeste said to her, even though she knew Sue-Lim could not hear her, “I have to take care of some other business but I will be back as soon as I can. I like you and like I said I want to be your friend, and I want you to get better, I just hope my boss won’t mind about all this” and then Celeste was gone.

As the car started up, Sue-Lim just looked down with tears rolling down her face, she felt deeply ashamed and in disgrace.

“How are you feeling Sue-Lim” Kathryn asked
Once again Sue-Lim burst into tears, which was distressing to Kathryn. When she had first heard of her, Sue-Lim had been a very confident woman and quite a good technician to boot. Equal to Pete Smith her fiancé and to Charlene her close friend and confident. Now Sue-Lim seemed like a broken woman thanks to two rapists, incited by a third man as part of a hate crime and then by someone apparently in the NSA giving a malicious tip-off to the FBI.
“I’m sorry Miss Cooper” Sue-Lim sobbed, “I never gave any terrorist anything” she went on, “But I understand if you want my resignation”

“No I don’t, Sue-Lim” Kathryn cut in, and then leaned over and held both Sue-Lim’s hands in a gentle manner, “There is no need for that, but I am putting you on immediate administrative leave”
“But I never did anything Miss Cooper” Sue-Lim said tearfully, trying to regain some composure, “I’m sorry if I brought shame on the IDEC, I didn’t mean to” she said as she broke down again.

Kathryn asked the driver to stop, so she could change her seat so she was sitting next to Sue-Lim, so she could put an arm around her to try and comfort her.
“You never did Sue Lim” she whispered, “But you did lie to me”
“Miss Cooper?” Sue-Lim questioned with more distress in her voice
“That black eye and that bruising on your face you had when I collected you from the detention centre in Florida” Kathryn said gently, “It wasn’t from the space walk was it”

Sue-Lim shook her head as tears continued to run down her face, “Charlene told you then?” she asked
“Yes Sue-Lim, she told me, but please don’t be angry with her Sue-Lim. She only told me because she cares about you, like I do and she was very worried that you might harm yourself”
“I know Miss Cooper, she’s a good friend and her heart is always in the right place” Sue-Lim replied trying again to regain composure, “But she was right, I suddenly felt it was all hopeless” Sue-Lim added again dissolving into tears
“And you tried to kill yourself” Kathryn interjected
Sue-Lim nodded and was just about able to utter, “I’m sorry Miss Cooper”
“You don’t have to be sorry about anything” Kathryn reassured her, “But out of interest, why did you lie to me about you injuries”

“Because I was so ashamed Miss Cooper” Sue-Lim went on, “They ambushed me just outside the shower, there were three of them and I couldn’t fight back”
“Against three determined men Sue-Lim, no woman could” Kathryn empathised
“I was saving myself for Pete Miss Cooper, I begged them, but they still…”
“Raped you?” Kathryn completed her sentence

Sue-Lim nodded her head, momentarily unable to speak, then she whispered, “I suppose Pete will not want to know me now I’m soiled goods”
“Not true Sue-Lim” Kathryn insisted, “Charlene and I spoke to him personally, he’s angry at the men who did this to you understandably, but he still loves you and insists he will stand by you and that he still wants to marry you if you still want him”

“I do Miss Cooper” Sue Lim pleaded, “I wanted him so much when I was in there, even after they raped me I wanted him, and when I came out I couldn’t understand why I was suddenly frightened of him touching me”
“That’s a natural reaction Sue-Lim, it’s nothing to be ashamed of” Kathryn continued to reassure her, “And I know the effort you have made in getting things back to normal between you and Pete” she added. “But there’s one thing I was still wondering Sue-Lim, why did you not tell me when I collected you?” Kathryn coaxed her gently

Sue-Lim slowly sat up and turned to face Kathryn, “I didn’t have any proof Miss Cooper, they took me just outside the shower cubicle before I could even get a towel so there would be no forensic evidence on it and then they forced me into the shower to wash away any evidence of the rape and the older man threatened me. Miss Cooper, besides what’s the word of a foreign half cast Vietnamese girl against three white American immigration officers”

“Sue-Lim I have a few friends down in Florida” Kathryn went on, “Maybe they can find something those sorry excuses for guards missed”

“I’m sorry I lied Miss Cooper” Sue-Lim whimpered
“I understand Sue-Lim” Kathryn responded
“And I understand because I lied you have to put me on administrative leave for disciplinary reasons”

Kathryn gave Sue-Lim a hug, “I’m not punishing you Sue-Lim, I’m putting you on it so you can get treatment, and maybe we should call it paid medical leave. Sue Lim, you were attacked and violated and you tried to kill yourself. Regarding the rape Sue-Lim we need to make sure they never infected you with anything, to make sure they did not get you pregnant and so you can receive rape crisis counselling, which now I think about it may address the depression you have been suffering since you got out. Sue-Lim, we all care about you and we all want you to get well. We all want to see you get through this”

“Thank you Miss Cooper” Sue-Lim replied, “I kept thinking I had let everyone down” she added breaking down again
“No you didn’t Sue-Lim” Kathryn responded, giving Sue-Lim a hug and kissing the top of her head, “You helped save the world remember, it was our country that let you down”

With Kathryn holding a shell shocked and distraught Sue-Lim, the car headed back to the IDEC. How Kathryn held back her anger at the men who had done this to a fellow woman, she had no idea.

+ + + +

Acton Town
London Underground Station

Samuel noticed the train was coming into Acton Town station, “Are you able to teleport” he whispered to Rosie
“I think so but won’t that attract attention?” Rosie whispered back
“This is one of those stops where lots of people get off as they also change trains to different parts of the Piccadilly line and onto the District line, their attention will therefore be elsewhere”
“But our tail over there will notice” Rosie whispered back
“Like he hasn’t clocked you already?”

Samuel then whispered to Clotho, “Take my hand and follow my lead, Rosie when those doors open teleport to the meet up point”

The train came to a stop and the doors opened.

Lots of people got on and then off, but Rosie remained
“Why are you still here?” Samuel asked
“I Can’t Colonel, something’s blocking it” Rosie whispered
“He’s definitely rouge IDEC” Samuel concluded, “ok, stay on the train and keep with as many people as possible, if you have to change trains.

“STAND CLEAR OF THE DOORS” the public address intoned

Suddenly the Colonel grabbed Clotho and pulled her towards the doors as they began to close.

He was about to pull her through the door when he reversed himself and stepped back in. As he expected, his tail had thought he was going to jump off at the last moment and had left the train and was now stranded on the platform as the train pulled out of the station and looking very angry.

“Double bluff huh!” Rosie commented
“It’s not over yet” Samuel replied, “I don’t expect that one was working alone. For all we know there could still be another rouge agent on this train” Then he asked, “Rosie can you teleport”
“No Colonel” Rosie replied
“That confirms that” Samuel whispered and he looked around the carriage at the other passengers, “there’s another rouge agent on this train hiding in plain site”

“What do we do sir?” Clotho asked
“Start by not calling me sir” Samuel retorted
“Sorry Colonel” Clotho apologised.
Samuel shook his head briefly then whispered, “At this time of day we won’t be stopping at Turnham Green, so the first stop we can get off is at Hammersmith”
“Won’t they follow us” Clotho asked
“I suspect so” Samuel replied, “If they have back up most likely they will be trying to intercept us there”
“Would it be out stop anyway?” Rosie asked
Clotho shook her head
“How far have we go to go” Rosie then asked
“Don’t answer that” Samuel cut in, “We don’t know who else is listening
“Sorry” Rosie apologised

The train continued to head towards Hammersmith. Colonel Samuel Peters had a difficult problem, leave and be followed or continue in a carriage where he was definitely being followed, and why was the leprechaun’s ability to teleport being blocked. If only the IDEC UK were still around, then they could have arranged something to deal with the rouge agents that were on their tail.

+ + + +

A small house in Glasgow

Celeste appeared in the house.

It was freezing as Celeste crept through into the lounge, and there was the old woman breathing shallower and shallower. Even though this was inside, it seemed to Celeste that this woman was to die from hypothermia. There was a fireplace with coal on, but it was not lit. It seemed that the old woman had had trouble lighting it and had given up and was sitting in her favourite chair with a threadbare blanket. Celeste looked carefully at the fire; it was definitely not gas, besides there were lumps of coal in a small coal scuttle

Celeste got out her knife to cut the elderly lady’s astral chord. Then Celeste put it away, “I can’t do this” she whispered as she felt pity on the old woman and then fired an energy blast at the prepared fireplace to set it alight.

The lady started to wake up startled by the fire starting up. Celeste materialised in front of her
“Are you an angel?” the elderly woman asked
“I suppose you could say that” Celeste said with her voice still betraying her emotions.
“You’re not a really happy angel” the old woman replied.

Celeste shook her head, still visibly upset
“Tell me all about it then?” the old woman asked

Celeste sat down in the other chair opposite, “I’m supposed to be a releaser of souls from the body when a person dies”
“Like the Angel of Death my dear?” the elderly lady asked
Celeste nodded, “That’s the Spirit of Death, my father”
“And you have come to release mine?” the elderly lady asked
Celeste nodded, and then added, “But I can’t do this any more, I thought at the beginning I could take over my father’s work, but sometimes”
“You want to save them?” The elderly lady asked
Again Celeste nodded, “This is stupid, and I’m supposed to be a releaser of souls but I just want them to live”

“Well if it helps you” The elderly lady told her, “I’ve had a good life, and if this is to be, let’s get on with it shall we?”

“But this doesn’t have to be” Celeste protested, “if you have a problem with health, I can heal you, you can have years more”
“And do what?” The elderly woman asked
“Anything you want?” Celeste pleaded, “I don’t want you to die, please”
“But I’ve had a good life and the fact you are here means it is my time my dear, I’ve done what I want to do” the elderly lady pressed, “My friends have all passed away, I have not any family here”
“You have grandchildren” Celeste objected pointing at some pictures on a side board
“Great grandchildren actually” the lady corrected, “And they are on the other side of the world in Australia. They have probably forgotten me anyway, they won’t miss me”
“But I can take you to see them” Celeste offered, “I can teleport you to them right now”

“They have their own lives to lead now, they won’t want me around, and I’ll just get in the way”
Celeste wept, “But you don’t have to die, it’s such a waste”
“You’re a strange angel of death my dear, you’re more upset about me dying than I am” The elderly lady said gently
“I would have to do it” Celeste admitted, “And I don’t want to take any more lives”
“And how would you do that?” The lady asked, ignoring Celeste’s protestations

Celeste once again brought out the celestial knife, “I sever your astral chord with this and that ejects your soul from your body” she said
“If you have problems with that pass it over to me and I can do it for you love” the elderly lady offered, holding out her hand, “Just show me where to cut and I will be on my way”

Celeste shook her head, “It doesn’t work like that, it can not be held by a mortal”

“Do you have a name?” the elderly lady asked
“Celeste” Celeste replied, then she went on, “You were dying of the cold, I fixed that. Your lonely, I can visit you. I can take you anywhere you want”
“But you can not bring yourself to take my life even though it’s my time”
“But it doesn’t have to be”

“Come, come my dear” The elderly lady pressed, “I have had a good life, but I’m old and all good things come to an end so let me go and I promise I won’t hold this against you”
“But we could be friends” Celeste insisted
“I know we could, and I believe we are” The elderly lady insisted, “and as a friend, please let me go”

It seemed useless arguing with this elderly woman, unlike Sue-Lim, she was not someone racked by despair; she seemed well in her right mind and eager to shuffle off her mortal coil. Celeste took out the knife and brought it up to the elderly woman’s astral chord.
“I’m so sorry” Celeste told her, and then said with tears streaming down her face “It’s not too late to change your mind, please”

“Maybe it can wait for a moment” the elderly lady conceded
Celeste took away the knife
“Tell me my dear, am I your first?” the elderly lady asked
Celeste shook her head
“So what made you not want to do what you have to do?”

Celeste sat back down in the chair and looked at the ceiling; “I was due to release the soul of this four year old boy” Celeste went on, “He was in one of your hospitals with all these horrible tubes in him”
“An intensive care ward?” the old lady suggested
Celeste nodded, “I think so” then continued, “I was ready to do what I had to do when I saw his mother and sister, and they were crying because they loved him and they were going to loose him”

Celeste broke down crying, “I just couldn’t do it” she wept, “Not to them, not to him
“So what did you do?” the elderly lady asked
“I healed him” Celeste replied through her tears, “I used my powers and I healed him so he could live and they could have him back”

The elderly lady got out of her chair, walked over as best as she could and put an arm around Celeste’s shoulders, “You’re hearts not really in this then is it”
Celeste shook her head, “But I’m supposed to be showing my father I’m not a waste of space. I should be able to take lives like he can, but I can’t”
“Maybe you’re meant to take another path my dear” the elderly lady answered back, Then she asked, “Would you like a cup of tea?”
“No thank you” Celeste replied

“Now I don’t like seeing people upset” The lady went on, “And I can see the prospect of you releasing my soul is a real problem. If you let me live, would you get into trouble”
“I don’t know” Celeste replied, “I never thought about that”
“If it won’t cause you a problem, I could hang on a bit more for you” the elderly lady conceded, “But if it is a problem, I don’t mind going and you could see if your father can do the job. Maybe you’re meant to be a guardian angel and not an angel of death”

Celeste took out the parchment and looked at it; it still had the elderly lady’s name on it in gold letters. “She said I did not have to do this” Celeste said to the parchment, “Take her off the list please”

“Oh dear” The elderly lady sighed, “It looks like I have to go anyway”
“No you don’t” Celeste insisted, “I want you to live”
Just then the writing faded to nothing and for the moment the parchment was blank
“Thank you” Celeste wept

“It’s ok” Celeste said, “Your going to live” Then she noticed the woman slumped on the floor and her astral chord detaching.

“No!” Screamed Celeste, “You b******s, she said she would live”, but it was too late, someone else had done the deed. Celeste was not the only one who released souls, but unlike Celeste the one who did this had done it from a distance

Carefully Celeste closed the woman’s eyes and then she went and opened the door so it would attract attention. This woman was not going to be one of those who would lie for a long time dead and undiscovered.

Then Celeste turned her thoughts to the boy she had healed, “Oh no!” she whimpered, “Please not him” and then she teleported to the hospital ward.
He was not there

Next the morgue – His body was not there. Celeste was getting frantic. “Please where is he” she pleaded “He did not deserve to die”

Then Celeste found herself transported to another part of the hospital. There was the boy, alive and well on a bed while a doctor was checking him over; in attendance were the boy’s mother and sister, wondering about his miraculous recovery.

“Please let him live, I beg you” Celeste pleaded, “I healed him, please let him live”. Nervously she took out the parchment; on it was another name, for now it seemed that the powers that be had allowed this appeal and the boy had been given a second chance at life.

“What about Sue-Lim” Celeste asked nervously, “I saved her, I healed her as well of any injuries”.

Celeste, then found herself outside the IDEC headquarters as she saw Sue-Lim being led from a car by a woman in her forties and being greeted by another woman, a platinum blonde, coming up and hugging her. Sue-Lim’s second chance at life had too been granted. Celeste put the parchment away and followed Sue-Lim. From what she could see this platinum blonde also considered Sue-Lim as her friend. Then Celeste noticed that the older woman was carrying the scarf her boss had sent her to give Sue-Lim. For some reason, something seemed odd about it, but as Celeste followed them into the building she could not work out why.

+ + +

Central City
The Mystical Realms

Gerry Malone, Johnny Adair and Fidelity slipped through the city gates as they were closing. The Talismans of distraction were working exactly as promised.
“Now Miss Fidelity” Johnny asked, “Which one of these building here belongs to the Judicial Court of the Mystical Realms”

Fidelity racked her brain trying to remember the layout of the city

“Come on we’re waiting” Gerry Malone insisted
“Give her some slack Gerry” Johnny told him, “She hasn’t been her for about two years, what’s got into you”

Fidelity then remembered and pointed in the direction. Then the three of them headed off for the building.

It took about fifteen minutes to reach it. On Johnny’s insistence they removed the talismans of distraction, since if they were wearing them when they entered the building, ironically they would bring unwanted attention from anti-magic devices.

As far as anyone was concerned they were two spirits of vice and one minor spirit of virtue. Hopefully the authorities would not be aware that Fidelity had given up her minor spirit status, anyway they would have though she was really her sister Caer, the former Spirit of Fancying.

As they entered the building of the Judicial Court of the Mystical Realms a troll guard blocked their way.
“What is your business here” the troll demanded
“We understand that Yagel Pen-swift owned this slave” Johnny replied
“He was no elf” The troll sneered, “He was a no good drow”
“Be that as it may” Johnny continued, “We bought this slave in good faith and now we are told we need a registration of servants document that was stored here”

Just then an elf came to the entrance on his way home. Fidelity recognised him as Umeric one of those who saw to the support needs of the Elven lawyers and one of the caretakers at the court.
“Spirit of Fancying” Umeric said with surprise, “It has been a long time and my how you have grown”

Fidelity did an instant courtesy; it had been what Yagel had instructed her to do. Usually if she did not do it exactly right, she would be beaten. Only now did she know why. Yagel must have been paranoid that if she did not follow protocol to the letter, then they may have seen through his deception.

“I am so sorry Spirit of Fancying that you were bonded to that deceiver” Umeric went on
“We have taken her over” Johnny cut in before Fidelity could respond.
“Are you after the registration of servants document then” Umeric asked
“Yes” Johnny replied, “We bought her in good faith and now we have been told to get this document so we can put her to work”

“Yes, Yes” Umeric answered, “I’m afraid the elven lawyers have departed until the morrow”
“The Spirit of Fancying will know his office” Gerry interrupted, “We thought we could look for it there”
“And who might you be?” Umeric asked

Gerry grabbed Fidelity’s hair and pulled her head back causing Fidelity pain and fear
“I’m the Spirit of Cruelty” he replied
“And I’m the Spirit of Anger” Johnny told Umeric, showing him his Kalashnikov, then to Gerry, “Let her go Cruelty”

Gerry released Fidelity

“Could you come back tomorrow?” Umeric asked
“We would if we could” Johnny answered, “But we must be on our way tomorrow to present the registration of servants’ document to the town elders where we bought this slave

“Oh very well” Umeric replied and waved at the guard to let them in and so they entered
“I will need to unlock his former office” Umeric told them as he followed them up a stone staircase
“Very thoughtful of you” Johnny answered
Fidelity kept silent, what was it they really wanted, an old document of her being owned by Yagel was of course, not it, although in theory the document really applied to her sister as that was who they thought she was. Only the fairies here knew the truth and a few trolls in the Manjura clan.

They finally found the office, and Umeric took out a large bunch of keys and opened the door.

Suddenly Gerry pulled out a knife and stabbed Umeric in the back.

Fidelity gasped as she saw the blade sink into a much loved elf and as she watched him die
“Why?”, Fidelity whimpered “He was helping us”
“Shut your face you” Gerry spat back, and then grabbed the bunch of keys from the body, then asked, “Why is he not bursting into flames”
“Because this is his universe” Johnny replied, “If you had asked me I could have told you before you made things worse. Now help me drag his body in here”

Fidelity watched as they dragged the body of the elf into Yagel’s office, and then they came out.
Gerry grabbed Fidelity by the hair and held his knife to her throat, “Don’t breathe a word of this to anyone” he threatened
“I won’t, I won’t” Fidelity whimpered back
“Let her go Gerry” Johnny told Gerry, “Your taking this Spirit of Cruelty a bit far you know” then he turned to Fidelity, “Now Fidelity” Johnny demanded, “We want the Room of Orbs”

“At the top” Fidelity nervously replied

Gerry grabbed Fidelity by her upper left arm, “How many floor” he growled at her
“Three” Fidelity replied
“We better get moving then” added Johnny, “Someone’s going to miss that elf you stuck”

“What do you want there” Fidelity asked, “There’s no gold or anything like that there”
“Shut it” Gerry spat back, “Johnny why don’t we ice her here now we know where it is”
“We may still need her” Johnny replied
“When we get what we want” Gerry came back with, “I vote we leave her here to face the music from those trolls over the elf I iced”
“I vote you shut up Gerry and do what our benefactor has told us” Johnny replied

“You’re going to kill me anyway” Fidelity whimpered
“Now that sounds like a plan” Gerry said as he shoved Fidelity up the stairs

“Easy there Gerry” Johnny replied, “I know your supposed to be the Spirit of Cruelty, but that was for them downstairs, what has got into you?”

“I just want to get this over and done with Johnny” Gerry answered back, “And she can identify us, she has to die”

Fidelity was really panicking; it was almost like she was back at the Facility in London when the hated Mr Blue who had beaten her in his rough interrogation had told her she was to be liquidated on grounds of national security

“Come on Gerry, once our benefactor gets what he wants, that won’t matter” Johnny countered, “and Stormont will just be an unpleasant memory”
“Aye” Gerry answered

Finally they reached the top floor and in front of an old oak door was an elderly gnome guard.

A burst from Gerry’s machine pistol and he was no longer an issue.
“He was no threat” Fidelity protested
“Shush you B***h” Gerry shouted and threw her to the floor and pointed his gun right at Fidelity, “I believe your usefulness is at an end”

There was the click of a safety catch

Johnny held a gun at Gerry’s head, “If she dies, you do as well”
“Come on Johnny we don’t need her now” Gerry complained
“Our benefactor wants her”
“I can’t see why”
“He just does”

Gerry lowered his weapon and walked to the door, trying to give Fidelity a swift kick as he did, Fidelity only just managed to avoid him.

Johnny came and pulled Fidelity to her feet, and they all went into the room of orbs.

It was full of dusty globes, some glowed and some did not. Fidelity had heard of this place, this was where some entities were kept in crystal prisons. From what she knew from her time in this building growing up under Yagel, she suspected the crystal prison storing the Spirit of Malice was here somewhere. That was the spirit that inhabited the body of Mr Blue.

“I found it Gerry” Johnny then said, holding up an orb that looked different from the others, “This will help our benefactor find that other fate, Atropos”

“And this one” Gerry said, “Is what I have been after”
“What are you talking about Gerry” Johnny asked, “Sir Sidney only wants this one”

Suddenly to Fidelity’s horror and Johnny’s surprise, Gerry morphed into a large dark armoured man with a cat’s head. “Gerry is dead” The entity revealed “And I killed him when that fool Mr Swales sent him on a wild goose chase and took his place. I am the real Spirit of Cruelty, and in this prison is my friend The Spirit of Malice”

Johnny tried to pull his gun, but the Spirit of Cruelty ripped it from his hands using some telekinetic ability. “We can come to a deal” Johnny shouted

“No deals” The Spirit of Cruelty screeched, “I have come to release my friend and then exact vengeance” Then turning to Fidelity he shouted, “Starting with you”

To be continued