Kindred Spirits - Part 5, Mists of Time

        Like a dragon straining its wings against a killing storm, the 
blimp fought vainly to maintain its position over the Leaning Tower of 
Pisa, grappling ropes snapping wildly. A torrent of freezing rain 
misted everything in a perpetual grayness, making already slippery 
surfaces even more hazardous. Hannah Lulu swallowed and pressed herself 
closer to the tower's surface, her clipped nails trying to gouge some 
handholds in the impregnable stone's surface. She was drenched thoroughly 
and felt miserable, wishing that she could be elsewhere but when 
Carmen says jump...

        Blinking, she saw several henchmen descending skillfully down 
the tower by grappling ropes, undeterred that they were being tossed 
like a salad by a maniacal chef. The Hawaiian henchwoman quickly closed 
her eyes when the scenario spun dizzily, her hand slipping to clutch 
the rabbit foot key chain in her pants pocket. Suddenly, an instinctive 
sense of danger made her lunge desperately to the side even as her 
eyes crept open. She saw a grappling hook lash past where her head 
had been as a scream constricted her throat but didn't come out. 
Panting, she gulped down delicious live-giving, watery air, as she 
slowly inched her way round the tower. The lifeline attached to her 
rope, tugging at her slightly, reassuringly. 

        A henchman grappled down to her and pointed to the ground, bracing
herself she looked down. Another henchman was supervising the
placement of the hydropumps and grappling hooks. He looked up at her
and shouted something. Honolulu strained to hear but couldn't. He
touched the comlink attached to his ear, indicating she should use hers.
Hannah Lulu shook her head; she had lost her headset when she had avoided
the grappling hook that nearly took her head off. The headset was
probably smashed but better it then her. He frowned, up frustrated then
slowly mouthed his message. The henchwoman peered closely, lip
reading his message. Carmen tolerated heists that were fouled because of
the intervention of Acme. But she would not tolerate bungling because of
miscommunication, thus all top henchmen were taught lip reading. 

        After deciphering his message, she nodded indicating that she 
wanted the hydropumps to be turned on. She pressed a button on the 
lifeline and felt a mechanical whirl as she was hoisted up to the 
bucking blimp. She staggered into an approaching henchman, who handed 
her another comlink. She frowned at it, noting the Carmen Sandiego 
logo on it, pushing away the hazy desire that it should have a logo 
of herself on it. Carmen had given Hannah Lulu a direction in her life, 
which she didn't have before she had met the amazing thief. Hannah felt 
the blimp heaved upwards, trying to lift the titanic weight of the tower. 
The whole blimp thrummed with the strain and a ghostly groan whispered on 
the wind. After a few minutes, she gave the order for the blimp to stop 
lifting. She glanced at the sky, which was ablaze with lightning. Soon, 
the Acme Agency would come to stop them. They were running out of time.

        The henchwoman gazed down at the tower, pondering her situation. 
The blimp couldn't lift the tower by itself, so they needed to ask for 
another one from headquarters. Hannah squeezed her eyes shut as the 
memory of Carmen praising her and saying she had all the confidence to 
pull off the heist. Carmen had put her in charge, assuming that the 
Hawaiian would know what equipment she needed, who she wanted on her 
team. She could imagine her boss' disappointment and headquarters' 
ridicule if she ordered another blimp. She just underestimated what 
she needed but if she were competent, she would have researched her 
target. Swallowing, she contacted HQ.

        "This is Hannah Lulu, I need another blimp."

        "HQ here, Carmen has already sent another blimp to your 
destination. It should be arriving there shortly. I guess, she knew 
you might have overlooked the possibility that one blimp could not 
have lifted the Leaning Tower of Pisa." The neutral quality of his 
voice stung worse than any sarcasm could.

        Carmen's earlier pep talk repeated itself hollowly in her mind 
as she numbly signed off. Almost on cue, another blimp fought its way 
over the tower, whipping ropes descending down to the ground. Carmen 
did not trust her, still watched over her shoulder as if she was still 
a VILE trainee. For the blimp to have had arrived so quickly, Carmen 
must have sent it off right after Hannah left HQ. With a shudder that 
was echoed in her heart, the tower was airborne.

        A feeling of forbidding flooded her, making her look down. The
henchwoman saw a bluish glow and the most meddlesome detectives of
Acme jump out. Ivy leapt and caught a flapping rope while Zack stumbled
on the ground. Zack stood and another bluish glow appeared as the C-5
car materialized. He got into it and drove. 

        "Hannah Lulu? Hannah, this is Carmen. How's everything preceding?"

        Hannah touched the rabbit foot again, hoping that Lady Luck or some
other benefactor might smile on her. Ivy leapt over the railing and landed
easily, the rearing blimp not hindering her as she walked towards
Hannah.

        "Carmen, Ivy is on board and Zack is pursuing us in the C-5 car. 
We can't outrun them while carrying the Tower. What shall we do, Carmen?"

        There was a dreadful silence. The henchwoman could envision her 
boss weighing losing an artifact to the losing a VILE member. Thunder 
crashed loudly nearly obscuring Carmen's answer.

        With a voice full of confidence, "You must do as you think best. 
I will hold nothing against you, Hannah." She signed off abruptly.

        The henchwoman closed her eyes tightly, feeling the chilling 
wind pierce deep inside her soul. The air suddenly grew very cold.

        Ivy advanced steadily, trying not to make any moves that would 
cause the henchwoman to flee. She was chilled to the bone and wanted to 
return to a warm bed. Suddenly, the henchwoman surrendered after tossing 
what looked like a key chain overboard.

                                     *

        Zack waited in the C-5 car, his feet propped on the steering wheel. 
Ivy was out in the torrential rain giving her statement to the police. 
He could make out the shadow that was her leaving the group of police 
officers and heading for the car. A beep sounded and the Chief appeared 
on the sole of his propped shoe. Who looked worried until he noticed 
where he appeared. He screamed in horror, before reappearing on the 
dashboard. He resumed his somber expression. 

        "Boy Wonder, I have some serious news - Say where's Ivy?" 
the Chief asked wonderingly.

        Zack felt worry tighten his gut but he managed to answer shortly,
"Coming." 

        Suddenly the door opened and Ivy hurriedly got inside. She 
slicked her wet hair back as she greeted the Chief. She was shivering 
from the cold so Zack wordlessly handed her a blanket from the backseat, 
Ivy's eyes shone with gratitude but she kept her gaze locked on the 
Chief's.

        "Chief?" she asked softly.

        The Chief had a shadowed look to his gaze and he gave a start 
at the sight of Ivy. 

        "I have some very bad news, detectives. Carmen is in danger."

        Zack gasped, "From who?"

        The Chief was silent for a moment and whispered finally,
"From Derek Avalon."

        Ivy frowned as fear chewed its way to her heart, 
"That's impossible."

        The Chief shook his head sadly.

        Zack held up both hands and muttered to himself, "That 
would mean that Detective Derek is her brother." 

        The Chief deplored, ''Didn't you find it strange that she and 
Derek were almost a match?"

        Ivy spoke out loud, "Why would Derek hurt his own sister?"

        A sigh was followed by, "Lee spotted Derek and Carmen together 
in the park on Sunday. He followed them and then tailed Derek to Avalon's 
mansion. Derek spent a few hours there but he and Avalon fought. I think 
it was about Carmen and Avalon denying that she is his daughter. Anyway, 
Derek left and Lee heard him say, 'It will end Carmen. One way or 
another it will all end.'"

        Zack's confusion was plain but Ivy nodded slightly 
understanding the danger, she explained to him, "Zack, Derek might 
feel that Avalon would never accept her and he might do anything to 
win his father's love back." 

        Her brother frowned and then brightened. 

        "Player, C-5 us to Derek's coordinates."

        There was a hum but no bluish halo appeared instead the hum 
turned into a shrieking whine that pierced the thunder. Zack and Ivy 
clutched their ears painfully, while the Chief referred to his 
information.

        "I'm sorry, gumshoes, but the C-5 seems to be on the fritz. 
You two drive to the airport and I'll authorize you to fly a commercial 
plane."

        Zack didn't bother to reply, hitting the C5 into gear and 
flooring the accelerator. He hoped that they would get there in time. 
He did not like to admit it but Carmen had become a central figure in 
his life and he did like her flamboyant yet sophisticated ways. Fear 
took huge bites out of his heart when he thought of Derek harming her. 
<<Carmen, we're coming.>>

        His sister looked at the lightning crackling ominously in the sky 
and tried to convince herself that she was not superstitious while 
grappling with her emotions. Carmen was a thief, true but she had never 
hurt anyone. Sometimes, Carmen had more goodness in her than some of the 
so-called good guys that Ivy had worked with. Ivy knew this from 
experience...

        <<CAN'T BE LATE! MUST NOT BE LATE! Sneakers churned the wet 
grass with urgency as a red hair youth dashed across the wide lawn just 
as the sun broke from the horizon. Her lean form was garbed in a rogue 
tank top and light blue hip-hanging, loose jeans tucked into ankle high 
sneakers and a red jacket was tied around her waist. Her shoulder length 
hair bounced as she mounted the steps. She stopped suddenly, overcome 
with emotion. In a word, she felt exulted.

        A blade of sunshine flashed across the windowpanes of the sterile 
white building. The morning air was crisp and coated with the smells of 
fresh paint and dewy grass. Acme Detective Agency's Headquarters had been
renovated when the Agency received an increase in its budget. Ivy stood
in front of the dual glass doors, hesitating for a moment to go in. She felt
an icy thrill sweep through her, deliciously freezing heart. She was here!
She did it after these last few years of working hard, she had made it.
She...

        The youth heard nothing but there was a prickling in the air, she 
spun swiftly to see an older teenager dressed in loose jeans and a white 
shirt, taking the steps three at the time while half-heartedly doing up 
the buttons. His short, blond hair was dancing on a gentle breeze and 
his gray eyes caught rays and imprisoned them in their depths. He 
smiled slightly when he saw her. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight 
of her Acme martial arts and flight instructor. He had asked to be 
assigned her partner. The teenager seemed so confident like a 
detective should be while she felt nervous. She tried to squash the 
doubt worming its way through her but couldn't and that made her 
feel small. 

        "Hi, Roy."

        "Hiya, ready for a case, kid?" He greeted as he held the door 
open for her, dipping his head slightly for her to precede him.

        "Don't call me kid."

        Ivy tossed her head and glared at him. Her partner gave a 
charming smile before reaching to ruffle her head. She scowled 
slightly but shrugged it off as she went through. Wait and see, Roy, 
I'll prove myself and you wont be able to call me kid again, she 
vowed silently as she strode towards the center. She missed Roy's 
thoughtful frown as he stared after her, letting the door swing shut. 
He watched the 14 year old storm through the nearly empty corridor 
before glancing upwards at the heavens, asking what did he do to 
deserve a rookie? Finding no answer, he shrugged and loped after 
her. When he caught up, they stalked in silence. Inside the control 
room, they met the Chief. He was humming a tune to himself as he
bobbed in time to the music. It sounded like one of Phil Collins songs,
'Another Day in Paradise.' 

        "Hiya, Chief," Roy called out, startling the Chief who 
gasped at him with a generous amount of sheepishness and 
embarrassment.

        The Chief circled them; Ivy was standing at attention and Roy 
had his hand on his hips, blinking tiredly. The Chief expression was 
serious as he examined her, circling her twice before floating to the 
main computer terminal. His considering frown turned to Roy and 
then to her before he broke into a wide smile.

        "Congratulations Ivy for making detective," The Chief floated 
back towards her, a shimmering blue window appeared next to him 
and a badge dropped into her hand. 

        Ivy turned the badge over, throat congealed with emotion. 
Her mind was aflame with a desire to prove herself worthy of this 
honor. Some part of her was screaming incoherently that she didn't 
deserve the badge and that she'll let the Agency down who had become 
these last 3 years as a family to her. She had not seen her younger 
brother Zack or her parents except on weekends because the Agency 
required full devotion to its classes and because she had pushed 
herself beyond what they required. In her free hours, she had 
trained rigorously to become the top of her class. This had earned her 
Roy's respect, while some of her classmates and instructors whispered 
that she had become obsessed with the idea of being the best
but that was not true; she just wanted to be a good detective 
and do her job well. Roy understood her.

        She did not hear what the Chief and Roy was discussing, a 
thrumming in her ears blocked their conversation. Roy touched her 
on the shoulder, calling her attention to the present. The new 
detective shook her head slightly, clearing it.

        Roy gave a roguish grin at her and drawled, "Aw, come now. 
Don't tell me you turned all bashful, kid."

        Ivy bathed him in her fury of her glare before deciding to 
ignore him. She turned to the Chief who was watching the by-play 
with interest. The Chief gave a thorough shake of his head as if 
shaking away a sour thought before addressing them,

        "All right, you gumshoes before I assign you to the case 
let's get one thing straight here. Roy, you're the senior partner - 
Not one word Ivy! This means that your word is final on all 
decisions. Now-''

        A CrimeNet Alert beeped him off and the Chief scanned the 
information being given to him onscreen. His cheerful expression 
transformed to worry as he announced,

        "Carmen Sandiego has just been spotted at a historic castle 
in England. The C-5 has been programmed with the coordinates."

        "Carmen," Roy uttered her name like a curse as an annoying hum
intensified and a radiant gateway opened. He cursed silently his luck while
eyeing his young partner. Ivy was too inexperienced and if Carmen
escaped it might damage her psychologically. In short, she wasn't ready
for such a momentous task. Looking at the Chief, he saw his thoughts
reflected there. Why was the Chief sending them after Carmen? There
were more experienced partners out there who could be sent to catch her.
Studying the Chief for a moment, he realized the answer. This caper was
a testing ground for Ivy to see if she should have really been made a
detective. 

        "Carmen," Ivy breathed with delight. If she caught Carmen, 
it would prove to her partner and the Chief that she was a capable 
detective in her own right. She waited for Roy to precede her 
through the C-5 as was proper for the senior partner to do so. 
She heard the Chief call to her before she stepped through.

        Concern coated his words, "Ivy, just do the best you can. 
Don't kill yourself trying to catch her, okay?"

        "Gotcha, Chief."

        She smiled as she stepped through the blinding light. 
You're mine, Carmen. 

                                     *

        A woman in a red trenchcoat glided across the floor, heading 
for a glass display case holding a jeweled crown. 

        "A queen always needs a crown," the woman laughed, a misty 
cloud forming from her laugh.

        The lady inspected the crown, before a pleased smile emerged 
and she drew forth a glasscutter. Carefully, she sliced the display 
case, which was frosted from the chilly air - making an opening big 
enough so she could slide the crown through. She was about to draw 
out her prize but, something felt not quite right. Carmen turned 
quickly and scanned her surroundings; there was no one in the 
room with her. Slowly, she pivoted; noting the details of the 
display room yet there was no sign of danger. The thief was about 
to ignore the strange sensation of danger when her ears caught a 
sound. It sounded like a blade slicing through canvas but had an 
electrical quality to it. The C-5! The archthief waited for
the Acme detectives to find her as she wrapped a scarf around 
her face, leaving only her cunning, ice eyes exposed. 

        Anticipation wound itself like a spring inside her. The seconds 
ticked by as an easy, amused smile threatened to break free. Carmen 
easily controlled her excitement and delight as she saw Roy come 
through the archway, followed by a girl in her early teens. Shivers 
coursed through her spine as Carmen looked into the girl's green eyes 
and saw determination mixed with- No! Carmen jerked her eyes away but she 
had recognized the emotion in the young detective's eyes. A sudden sense 
of kinship to the girl stunned Carmen for a moment. 

        "Carmen Sandiego, you're under arrest," Roy shouted, his words
solidifying the harshness of the chilly air.

        The thief tipped her hat at them, blue eyes sparkling with 
mischief as she murmured, projecting her words easily across the 
distance, "You didn't make an appointment to address this 
court, detective."

        The girl picked up her pace as she strode towards Carmen. 
The thief tried to look away but the emotions in the detective's 
eyes held her. It might have held her if the girl hadn't decided to 
respond to Carmen's jibe.

        "Court? And what court might this be, Carmen?"

        The thief's took a step back as she answered, "Why, my 
court, detective. After all, I am the queen of crime."

        The anticipation burst in a flood of adrenaline as Carmen 
scooted around the display and sprinted for the opposite archway. She 
heard them give chase but did not look back as she found the 
staircase to the battlements. 

                                     *

        Frosty air bit deeply as a blade into Ivy's lungs as she 
thundered out of the tower and suddenly she lost her balance as she 
skidded on the slick stones. The teenager went down with a yell 
when Roy emerged, hurdling over her. He landed easily and helped 
the bruised detective to her feet wordlessly, his eyes scanning the 
battlements. The sprint and the cold air took his breath as he 
considered a course of action. Ivy brushed herself off, drawing 
in deep breaths of dewy air, evidence it had rained earlier
hence the slippery parapets.

        "Ivy, you search the battlements while I'll search the castle 
grounds. If you see her, call me. Do not go after her," 
Roy commanded over his shoulder as he walked through the archway.

        Ivy frowned at the last bit of instructions but Roy was 
already gone before she could argue. The young detective was about 
to commence her search when she saw the thief's silhouette on a 
nearby tower. Ignoring the voice that told her to call for back 
up, instead Ivy headed for the tower. Once there, she saw that 
Carmen had her back turned to her. The thief was staring at the 
sky as if waiting for something. Ivy crouched, ready to 
tackle Carmen.

        "A hunter can never catch his prey by surprise, detective."

        Ivy jerked upright but managed to answer coolly, "What's 
that suppose to mean, Carmen?"

        The thief turned to regard the young detective silently. It 
was apparent that the girl had a strong will but Carmen was never 
interested in apparent demeanors but characteristics that ran 
deeper. When the rogue Acme Detective looked into Ivy's eyes, 
she saw a desire to belong and be accepted. Not a desire to be 
respected but to be accepted for who a person really is. The 
sort of desire that devoured a person. Carmen had left Acme 
because she could not conquer it and also her work became
meaningless, as it was not providing her the solution to this burning
desire. 

        Carmen also saw that the girl was young and ready to prove herself.
Perhaps this was her first case. Carmen silently cursed the Chief for
thrusting an inexperience detective into this dangerous situation. 

        A whispering breeze twirled in the silence before Carmen 
began to answer, "The hunted are always on their guard." Softly she 
added in a harsh whisper, "Never finding peace."

        Ivy held out a pair of handcuffs, "Don't make life 
difficult, Carmen. The game is over."

        The whirling of chopper blades cut off the Carmen's reply, 
both turned to look up to see a red chopper bearing Carmen's insignia 
hovering over to them. A rope was lowered down. Ivy turned to see 
Carmen bracing a foot on the parapet, preparing to leap to the rope. 
Ivy lurched at her but Carmen had already leapt. Carmen caught the 
rope easily and turned to smile triumphantly at the young detective 
but horror caused her heart to freeze in mid thump. She saw the 
detective lose her balance on the icy stone, and fall off the tower, 
spiraling towards the stony castle grounds.

        "Nooo!" Carmen cried out, her heart wrenching in despair. 

        Fear stroked her spine as she activated the grappling device 
on her wrist, targeting Ivy's foot. Slowly she watch it snake forth. 
Please, let it not be too late. Blood freezing, she saw it wrap itself 
around the foot. With a jerk that almost ripped Carmen's arm out, the 
rope grew taut and stopped Ivy's descent. Breathing deeply, Carmen let 
out a relieved sigh as she ordered the pilot to lower them to the ground. 
When Carmen approached the detective, she was sitting on the brittle 
grass, hugging her knees. The thief knelt, wishing that she could offer 
some words of comfort to the teenager but she couldn't. Instead, 
Carmen unwrapped her scarf and gently wound it round Ivy's neck. 

        Carmen touched her face, feeling naked without the hint of 
mystery the scarf provided. But she didn't take the scarf back, 
somehow it no longer suited her. She didn't need to hide in a 
cloak of mystery anymore as she had seen herself in the young 
detective's eyes. The young detective she had nearly killed, guilt 
trampled her heart bringing tears to her eyes. 

        "Ivy!"

        The thief turned and saw Roy sprinting towards them, his face 
ashen as his eyes locked onto his partner. Carmen wanted to stay to 
make sure the young detective was alright but she couldn't risk capture. 

        She stood and tried to make her voice light but failed 
miserably, "See you next crime, Ivy."

        Depressed, Carmen fled to her helicopter that was airborne 
the minute Carmen set foot in it. In the cockpit, the thief saw Roy 
scoop a shaking Ivy in his arms and stepped through a blue light. It 
was suppose to be a game. No one should have gotten hurt. But someone 
nearly did. Eyes dark, Carmen thought about Ivy's near death experience 
and vowed to make sure that no one would ever get hurt in her capers. 
It will become just a game, I swear it, Ivy.

                                     *

        It took awhile but the shaking and numbing fear faded away. 
Ivy sat in the darkness, alone save for the Chief who hovered by her, 
unwilling to leave her alone. A parade of doctors had examined her 
and confessed that she only suffered shock. True, every time Ivy 
closed her eyes she could see the hard castle grounds rise up to 
meet her and her scream of terror echo endlessly. Tremors still 
coursed through her lean body but these were a different kind. 
Ivy's eyes closed involuntary as pain lanced her heart, the
Chief and Roy's words ringing in her mind. They had not meant 
her to hear but she did. Their voices came, drowning out all 
thought. Her heart clenched in fear.

        "I should never have left her alone," Roy's voice 
moaned softly.

        The Chief murmured something comforting, then- "I should 
never had assigned her to the case. She wasn't ready."

        There was a silence. Then Roy spoke softly.

        "I had thought she was."

        "But she wasn't."

        Roy's voice ached as he answered, "No, she wasn't."

        Ivy shook her head to banish the voices but she knew what 
they meant: 

        She had lost the Chief's confidence in her abilities. 

        She had not proven herself to be a capable detective.

        Her heart froze at the last thought, She had lost Roy's respect.

        Ivy eyes opened quickly as if trying to escape a nightmare 
but reality cruelly greeted her. She had failed. 

        "Carmen, I will catch you," Ivy swore out loud, her words 
swallowed by darkness...

        Ivy closed her eyes and whispered underneath her breath 
gratingly, "It is no longer a grudge, Carmen. It is a debt, which I 
will pay." >>

        The rain drummed against the car hood endlessly, uncaringly.

                        To be continued...