Suddenly you're face to face, the tension going from zero to one hundred in the blink of an eye. Which one of you is going to break the silence and the tension first? |
By:
M. J. Cogburn and C. E. Krawiec
Mara
waited for the man to look her in the eye before she spoke.
"Go into the Bathing Room for a deep medicated bath - twenty
minutes, no less - then you can dress and go on about your business, Mr.
Fitzpatrick." "Yes,
ma'am," Inmon responded softly, wincing as the nerve endings in his
abused flesh shrieked with even the small twitch.
Nodding to the TM once more, Inmon stepped around her and, carrying
his clothing, taking care not to let any of it touch his bleeding body, he
glanced around and, seeing a sign that said, "Bathing Room - All
correctees must have a medicated bath before leaving the area",
affixed to a corner. Following
the sign, he made his way to the Bathing Room and within a couple of
minutes, was in a tub, submerged to his neck in warm medicated water.
As he cursed and endured it, Inmon determined to make his first
order of business once out of the correctional area, to go and find
Johanna Royden to apologize and beg her forgiveness.
That is, if she would talk to him at all after this. PART
ONE After
Inmon maneuvered back to his quarters from being in the medicated baths,
he carefully and gingerly sat down on his couch, still naked.
Putting his head in his hands, he silently wondered how he was
going to face Johanna after what he had done to her.
He hoped, prayed that she'd forgive him for his carelessness and
yet even be understanding as he explained why it had happened in the first
place. Even
as he rubbed his face hard with both hands, Johanna's vision appeared in
his mind's eye and he couldn't help but smile.
His body hurt all over because of this woman and yet, the thought
of her brightened his countenance. Inmon
shook his head softly in wonder when Lothos' voice filled the room
startling him. "Mr.
Fitzpatrick," Lothos stated plainly.
"Dress and report to the Inmon
knew from the moment that he heard Lothos’ voice that he'd regret having
to get his clothes back on. Nevertheless,
he nodded, even as he answered softly, "Yes, Lothos." It
took Inmon a few moments to get up from the couch then move into his
bedroom. Looking into his
closet, he grabbed out a clean uniform, dressing as quickly as he could.
He gasped and panted, having to stop on several times to get used
to the material on his already tender skin.
By the time that he was finally dressed
and was walking rather stiffly out of his quarters, he was sure
that Lothos was going to have his head on a stick.
"Forgive me Lothos for my tardiness," he said simply as
he walked down the hall. “Not
to worry, Mr. Fitzpatrick,” Lothos replied through his implants. “I
note that you were doing your best.” Inmon
bowed his head in acknowledgement of Lothos’ words as he approached the
elevator. As the doors opened,
Inmon wondered about Lothos' change of mood from before.
Letting the question fade, another came in its stead.
Why did Lothos want him down in Central Control?
What on earth was so important down there that he had to come and
help out with? Pressing
the button to begin the elevator's descent, Inmon took a quick breath and
let it out slowly to help alleviate his pain.
Inmon Fitzpatrick, then and there vowed that from this moment on,
whatever it was that Lothos wanted, he would do.
Never again did he ever want to find himself staring at anyone who
held the other end of a whip. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Letting
any woman get to you like Ms. Royden obviously has done with you, is not
conducive to a long career as a leaper."
Seeing the leaper's dark eyes begin to smolder at the deliberate
egging, Gillis pushed the envelope. "She's
your partner but if you're smart, Vaughn, that's all you'll allow her to
be to you. That and an
occasionally bed partner. Otherwise, the next time Lothos calls me out of
retirement maybe to step into your boots because you couldn't keep your
mind on your job." "Another
word out of your mouth, Gillis," Vaughn gritted the words through
almost clenched teeth, "and you'll never know one way or the
other." Gillis
was about to retort again but held his tongue when an unheard voice in his
head overruled him. Without
giving away what he'd just been told he abruptly said, "Speaking of
doing your job, Mr. Rickar, why don't you take two more steps and get into
the conference room. I don't
know about you, but keeping Lothos waiting doesn't look good on anybody's
record. And, since mine is
impeccable, I'd like to keep it that way." Vaughn
glared heatedly at Gillis as various scenarios ran through his mind about
how to kill the man before him. Clenching
his teeth, Vaughn gave the older man a full sweeping glance, turned and
within three steps entered the conference room door. Gillis
Woods couldn't help but grin slightly at the man stalking away.
He took a step toward Johanna Royden and met her gaze.
Hesitating slightly, Gillis let his grin widen a bit more as he
winked at her then entered the conference room, letting the door slide
down behind him. While
his focus on the three-way briefing discussion was going on amongst
himself, Lothos and Vaughn Rickar, Gillis Woods' thoughts kept turning
back to the moment when he'd made eye contact with Johanna Royden.
It was sheer dumb luck that his temporary partner hadn't turned
around to find her standing a few feet from the door into Central Control.
While young Rickar, in spite of, or perhaps because of, his
bull-headed stubborn determination, would, he suspected, go on to be one
of Lothos' finest Chief Leapers, the younger man had his weak point.
Namely, Johanna Royden and the very personal feelings for that he had
allowed to creep into his mindset. 'Who
knows,' Gillis observed silently to himself as he and Vaughn listened
to Lothos reiterating a particular aspect that he had determined was one
of the key elements for success in the extended leap that the leaper was
about to undertake. 'Perhaps in spite of your want of her, you can get
past it and succeed....and survive longer than your predecessor, Mr.
Rickar. Love is nice, but as a
leaper, you better learn that more times than not, it will get you killed
faster than anything else.' Gillis
refocused his attention back on the topic at hand as Lothos ended his
update on what the leap would entail. "Do
you understand why this leap is so utterly important?" Lothos asked
carefully. "Yes,
sir, I fully understand and I will do my utmost to accomplish what you
require of me, Lothos,” Vaughn said simply as he respectfully bowed his
head. Lothos
remained quiet for a moment as he looked at his chief leaper, wondering
how he was going to adjust for the additional pressure that was going to
come down on him. "Very
well," he stated. “Gillis?”
"Yes
sir?" Gillis said as he straightened minutely in his chair. "Do
you understand the importance that you will have with Vaughn during this
leap? With all the pawns that
we have in place over at Project Quantum Leap, he will need your guidance.
Are you prepared for the responsibility about to be handed to
you?" Gillis
smiled confidently. "I
am." Casting a glance
over to the leaper who was eyeing him Gillis' lips twitched.
"As always, Lothos." Lothos
observed the two men without comment even as he reviewed every word that
had been said in the hour-long meeting.
While eager to get the plan into motion, there was another matter
to bring to a pressure point. He
noted, as Gillis responded, "As always, Lothos," that the two
other aspects required were either in position or quickly approaching.
He allowed another half-minute to pass before he set it in motion. "Very
well, gentlemen," he told them. "You are dismissed. Mr.
Rickar," he said as the leaper and observer rose from the conference
table. "Yes,
Lothos?" Vaughn responded, pausing as he closed the folder before him
on the table. "Be
prepared for anything. Be ever
watchful and vigilant." Vaughn
picked up the folder and started toward the door throwing a very satisfied
look at Gillis Woods as he did so. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In
the moment he observed his Chief Observer, Lothos considered what he had
just said to her. He also
re-examined the tone he had used and determined that it presented weakly
even if in the subtlest of ways. Lothos
rectified that when he resumed speaking. "Ms.
Royden," Lothos' tone was again all business, no sign whatsoever of
the gentleness that had crept in a few moments past. "Caring for your
working partner on the personal level which you have just confessed is not
always a detriment to that partnership.
While a business attitude on all levels is best, there will be
times when a more intimate relationship between two people can serve and,
on occasion, enhance the performance of the duties required."
Lothos observed Johanna Royden's face with utmost closeness, seeing
the fleeting bright flicker of relief in her eyes that just as quickly
vanished. "Keep
your relationship on the highest level of professionalism.
However, if a situation should ever present itself that would be
furthered to success by some aspect of your personal relationship with Mr.
Rickar, let that aspect guide you and not your emotions." Johanna
carefully processed the information Lothos had just said to her. Her
declaration of love to Vaughn Rickar seemed to her more detrimental than
helpful, but as Lothos had just stated, there could be a time when it was
more than justified. Keeping
a relationship - their working relationship at a professional level was
going to be difficult, Johanna knew that.
However, considering how Vaughn had recently been treating her, it
now occurred to her that perhaps it was his way of being more
professional. A
frown passed over her features as she thought of how Vaughn had been
treating her. It wasn't
professional. It had been down
right rude. Ignoring her, not
coming around to see her -- the whole thing made her feel dirty, used,
like a one night stand and nothing more. "Johanna?"
Lothos called to her knowing from the faraway look on her features that
she had drifted into a pensive mood. "Yes?"
she responded automatically to her name, however, her focus wasn't on him. "Ms.
Royden." Her
last name called a bit more forcefully made Johanna blink and tilt her
head upward toward the red orb. "Yes
Lothos?" "Other
than to report your status, is there anything else you need to discuss
with me?" Lothos questioned. Johanna
frowned, and then nodded. "Yes
sir. There is one.
I didn't see who had knocked me over in the hallway.
May I know of who it was?" Lothos
hid the humor that he found in her question as he responded, "Inmon
Fitzpatrick." Seeing her
mouth drop open, clearly surprised at his answer, he said, "If there
isn't anything further, you are dismissed, Ms. Royden.
A security guard is coming to escort you back to your
quarters." Johanna
nodded and gave a small bow to her master then started toward the door,
her mind a mass of questions. PART
TWO Inmon
Fitzpatrick slowly moved down the hallway toward Central Control and
turned the corner only to come to a sudden halt when Johanna Royden
stepped out of Central Control. He
noticed how she, too, had come to a stop, regarding him as he was her. He
licked his lips and started to call her name, to tell her he was sorry for
knocking her down earlier in the day.
He blinked, watching her standing so still, looking so beautiful.
He swallowed, blinked, licked his lips then took a breath and he
barely got out the first syllable of her name, “Jo...” when he
stopped. When
Johanna stepped out and looked down at the floor as her mind wrapped
around who had tossed her so recklessly to the floor, she wondered why.
Inmon Fitzpatrick? In?
The one who had held her so softly?
The one who had kissed her? Her
protector? She shook her head
not liking what it was coming up with as she took another step, lifting
her head as she heard
footsteps in the hall. Finding
her protector and assailant at the same time stopped her from taking
another step. She couldn't help but wonder why he was down here until
Lothos' words echoed in her mind. 'A
security guard is coming to escort you back to your quarters.'
Knowing
she couldn't change Lothos' commands, she stood her ground for a moment
regarding the man before her. She
saw him raise his hand, read the look on his face and instantly knew he
was apologetic. She just knew.
He didn't have to say anything.
Johanna took a hesitant step forward when she and Inmon both heard
the door to the conference room slide up. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ As
he observed from his omnipresent position of being able to see everywhere
in his complex at once, Lothos watched with heightened interest as the
encounter he had orchestrated with deliberate design moved with seeming
flawlessness to its crescendo. From
one angle in the hallway, he observed Inmon Fitzpatrick making steady if
somewhat stiff progress toward the only juncture in the hall, the turn
that led straight to Central Control.
Another angle -from that juncture looking toward Central Control -
revealed Johanna Royden's thoughtful expression as she mulled over the
brief interview she had requested with him.
Yet, in spite of his anticipation of observing each of their
reactions upon seeing one another, even more was the arrogant super-hybrid
parallel computer's keen readiness for the man who was the crux of the
grouping to enter into the mix. Through
Gillis Woods’ implants he instructed, "Allow Mr. Rickar to exit the
room first." He noted the
subtle nod the trusted man gave. Without
another consideration, Lothos readied his viewing from at least a half
dozen different angles in the hallway.
The scene about to unfold would, he knew, be one to be taken out in
the future for a moment's pleasure over the ease of handling his humans. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Obeying
his master's command, Gillis slowed his steps, even making a show of
stepping aside to allow the younger man to go before him.
"After you," he said with a smirk and a wave of his hand. Vaughn
paused a few steps from the conference room door to glance back, shooting
a withering scowl at his temporary partner.
"And you're telling me to get serious about my job?
Looks to me like you've slipped on your senility, Mr. Woods." Gillis'
only response was the widening of his grin as he shrugged as shoulders and
ambled toward the leaper. "You
going to just stand there and take up space so neither of us gets out of
here, Vaughn?" The impish
gleam in his blue eyes was meant solely and only to egg the leaper on. There
were at least a half dozen choice epithets that Vaughn Rickar wanted to
spit at Gillis Woods in response to snide comment; he bit his tongue
instead. Settling for a filthy
glare at the older man, he turned and went to the door.. Better to channel
his aggravation and annoyance at Gillis' needling into accomplishing his
mission with perfection and in short order.
The briefing just finished had given him a very clear picture and
orders of what he was to accomplish. Beyond
confident in his skills, and if Lady Luck would hang close to him on this
leap, Vaughn was already looking forward to rubbing his success in his
temporary Observer’s arrogant, aggravating face. Pressing
a button on the panel beside the door, Vaughn waited for the door to slide
open then strode out into the hall, making a quarter turn to face the open
conference room door. Lifting
his arm, Vaughn pointed his index finger at the observer still standing
just inside the doorway, a smartass smirk on his lips. "Remember
who's the Chief Leaper around here now, Mr. Woods," Vaughn snapped,
his dark eyes flashing. "You're just the Observer… the temporary
Observer. Whatever it is that
Lothos wants done, is my job; I am the leaper.
Do your job and we won't have any problems." Inside
the conference room, Gillis didn't need any prompting from Lothos at this
point. Shifting his stance to
lean against the doorframe, he folded his arms across his chest.
He didn't miss a beat as he met the leaper's hot gaze.
"And if I do the unthinkable and drop the ball.... Mister
Rickar?" Vaughn's
jaw line tightened as he ground his back teeth together a moment before
taking one step, closing a bit of the brief distance between them.
"Don't get in my way, Mr. Woods," he warned, staring into
the other man's eyes. "There is only room in this complex for one
Chief Leaper and that's me. Anybody...anybody
who gets between me and my goal or my job....when I get finished with
them, there won't be enough left to pick up with tweezers." Gillis
taunted the younger man with a maddening quirk of his eyebrows as he
parroted a single word. "Any one?" Vaughn
now stepped into the door and leaned slightly toward the observer until
their noses were a few centimeters apart. He wanted to be sure that if
Gillis Woods' hearing wasn't so hot, that with such close proximity that
he would be able to read lips. "Any-body,"
he snarled, "male or female that tries to get in my way and they'll
wish to God they'd never laid eyes on me. Did you understand that, Mr.
Woods? Did I say it clearly
enough?" Gillis
didn't blink as he murmured softly, "Clear as crystal." Vaughn's
temper was bubbling as he held the glare at his observer then stepped back
and swung around to leave. The
sooner he got away from Gillis Woods, the more likely it was that the
aggravating bastard wouldn't end up with the imprint of the leaper's fist
on one of his jaws. "Remember
what I said, Woods," he snapped, flinging one last glare back over
his shoulder at the man in the still open doorway then faced forward to
continue down the hall...and came to a halt in his steps.
At the end of the hall stood Inmon Fitzpatrick who, by the way he
was standing, had spent some time in a cell recently.
However, that wasn't what grabbed his attention; what did was the
startled expression on his friend's face. Inwardly,
Vaughn cursed; he hadn't expected there to be anyone else around this area
at this time of day. He didn't
know how much Inmon had heard, and frankly, he didn't much give a damn. "What
are you doing here, Inmon?" When
the security guard didn't respond quickly enough, Vaughn roared, "I
asked you a question, mister. I better get an answer and right now!"
The only answer, if it could be called that, was when Inmon broke
gazes with him, his glance shifting to look at something behind him.
Figuring that it was Gillis moving into the hall, Vaughn's already
hot temper blew the top off the thermometer.
Spinning around, expecting to find the aggravating observer at his
back, he roared, "Dammit, Woods, I told you...don't get in my
way..." Whatever else had
been about to spew out of his mouth vanished into thin air as Vaughn
Rickar froze in his steps, his eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of
Johanna Royden standing barely ten feet away from him, in front of the
door into Central Control. The
stunned expression on her face and the disbelief in her eyes stripped him
of the ability to think let alone speak. Silence,
massive and overpowering, flooded the hallway that led to Central Control.
Inside that protected inner sanctum, Lothos watched, waiting to see
which of the four people in the hall would break that silence.
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