TREMORS: BAYOU RHYTHMS

December 17th 1990:

"Are you sure?" Graham queried in a vain and desperate hope of some error. His face dropped and his heart sank at the confirmation. "Damn!" He cursed, before pausing for a while. "Yes... yeah, all right. I�ll tell him; But he isn�t going to be happy." Mouthing a this time silent curse he put down the telephone receiver and made his way to the elevator. It was Monday, barely 9 am; and all in all, a pretty lousy start to an even worse week, in a truly god awful month. The year just didn�t bear thinking about! Graham sighed to himself with resignation. He somehow suspected that it was going to get a lot worse!

It was barely 9 am, and already the heat was unusually stifling for the time of year in a little traveled area deep in the heart of the Swamp. Moisture from the sultry air clung to the Spanish moss hanging from the imposingly ancient Cypress trees. Crickets chirped their songs in an almost choreographed cacophony celebrating the simple joy of being alive. Another day began with Nature�s dance of harmonious symmetry. There was little evidence of Man�s intrusion into this ageless shrine to Gaia: Little, but just enough to stir the attention of The Swamp�s consciousness.

Slow to react, but relentlessly tenacious, it probed the events of the past days here. Yes, Man had been here all right. That much was certain. Not pleasure seekers... No... No love for It... No respect. The deep gouges; the wounds into the very earth showed that..... Danger?..... A threat?..... Perhaps?...... maybe? It probed further, extending Its images and sensations out to the farthest reaches of Its sentience. A disturbance?..... Just a minor annoyance that would heal?..... Probably ...... More likely. It probed deeper. Poisons?... Foreign bodies?..... No ...... Nothing ...... No obvious danger ... Then what?..... Something...... Definitely something. It probed deeper still, tenacity driving It to find out what was bothering It so much. As It did so, footsteps approached; slow and deliberate footsteps with all the relentless determination of The Swamp itself. "I heard your call. What is it you want? How can I help?" A deep rumbling voice echoed out, before stilling into meditative silence.

It focused its attention on the holes; on the men digging them; on the items they removed: A long dead creature in its tomb of rock ..... No harm done .... Then WHAT?..... Probe deeper, deeper still; down into the hearts and minds of the intruders who did this. As It did so, a large shadow, vaguely man-like, appeared over the holes. A huge mossy green hand reached out to touch the area, its senses extending out to commune with those of the Swamp. Who are they?.... Yes ...... What do they want? ...... Yes ...... Why? ...... They do not know ...... Who sent them...?

"Arcane!" Alec intoned gravely, "Now what are you up to?"

Graham was standing in the elevator as it made its way down to the laboratory. He was fidgeting nervously as he tried to think of a way of putting the grave news to He-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. He also wondered, briefly, if his health insurance was up to date. Aside from the usual dangers of flying glass, he felt that the new year would probably see some irritable bowel syndrome and a couple of new ulcers. The elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open. Taking a deep breath and steeling himself, Graham stepped out into the room.

"Ah, Graham!" Arcane beamed pleasantly, looking up from a microscope he�d been peering into, and putting down a glass of wine in his hand; "Do come in." Graham stepped forward tentatively.

"Doctor Arcane, er, there�s been some... urm... some bad news..." He stammered uneasily. The Doctor�s expression barely changed; merely a quizzical raising of his eyebrows indicating that Graham impart whatever doom laden information he�d come to deliver. Oh well! Thought Graham; better get it over with, "The shipment just arrived, Doctor."

"Shipment?" Arcane said absently as he adjusted the calibrations on his microscope and took another peek.

"The shipment of chemicals for your new synthetic fuel." Graham was looking downwards, not meeting Arcane�s gaze as the scientist turned to face him again. He stood and fidgeted, shifting his weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably, wringing his hands. Along with the stammering, it was a habit that annoyed him immensely; and he�d been doing his best to get out of. Funny how he only ever seemed to suffer it in Dr. Arcane�s presence.

"It did? Excellent!" Arcane paused, eyeing Graham suspiciously; "Although judging by that somewhat sullen look on your face; not to mention your previous statement; can I safely take it that you haven�t exactly told me everything?" He asked rhetorically. Graham merely nodded, grimly.

"The shipment was complete, Dr. Arcane... except... for... urm, the catalysing reagent. You know how volatile it can be... well, er, there was an... an accident, at the processing plant."

"I see," Arcane paused for a brief moment of contemplation, "and just how much of it did they manage to salvage and send?"

Graham cringed inwardly. There was no way he could soften the blow. "urm... none, Sir. The whole batch was destroyed, along with their lab. It�ll take them months to rebuild and synthesise more. Nine, ten months including synthesis. I could try looking for alternative facilities, Sir, and maybe, well, get the time down a bit?" Graham had to suggest it, although he knew that there wasn�t really anywhere else that would even touch the stuff. And he knew that Arcane knew as well. He closed his eyes. Here it comes! He thought; Happy to homicidal in 0.6 seconds! His mind was racing. He had to say something! "I just want to say, Doctor, that I know how important this project was to you... *is* to you," he quickly amended, "and, er... and, I just want you to know that I stand by you... urm... and I want you to know that... er... that if there�s anything I can do to... that is to say... anything I can say that will..."

"Oh do stop babbling, Graham!" Only a look of mild irritation crossed Arcane�s face: Irritation aimed seemingly more at his assistant that at the news he�d just received: Irritation that disappeared as swiftly as it had come. "Accidents happen. Too late to do anything about it now, hmm?"

"No, Sir. That is, yes. Nothing we could have done."

"Well then! Just forget about it, man. Now come here!"

Graham couldn�t believe it! The synthetic fuel project had been Anton Arcane�s chief priority for some time now. It was the complex�s first really major project, and half of all their resources were devoted to it at the moment. Graham hadn�t been privy to many of the behind the scenes details, but he�d figured out enough to know that Arcane had been under considerable pressure lately. His recent mood swings, even for Arcane, had been erratic at best; downright awful at worst. Graham knew those moods well enough to know that there must have already been a number of problems; not the least of which was keeping it all secret from General Sunderland. Arcane had been more obsessed than usual with security for this project. Keeping the General from getting wind of it had seemed to be the only thing that had gone right. In fact lately, the slightest little occurrences had been causing Arcane to lapse into tantrums of greater than usual magnitude. This sudden benevolence from his mentor, while a very welcome change, was unexpected; and Graham positively hated anything unexpected.

Graham scrutinised Arcane, assessing the words and body language for any tiny clue as to the Doctor�s true feelings and motives. It was a trait that Graham had learned very quickly in Arcane�s employ. Assistants who didn�t learn to do this seldom lasted long; and Arcane Industries wasn�t famed for its health benefits and employee retirement pensions! It was all well and good him thinking that he wasn�t just any assistant, and had more importance to Dr. Arcane; but he had enough common sense not to take anything for granted where the good Doctor was concerned.

It was always possible that the news of the shipment hadn�t been a surprise at all: That Arcane expected it, and was part of an agenda hidden from him, Graham surmised. It was unlikely though, he concluded. Arcane had seemed very distant when the shipment was first mentioned to him; as though he�d genuinely forgotten it. Most unlike Dr. Arcane... Unless, of course, something else had come along to distract him. Now that seemed much more like it! The Doctor was want to immerse himself in his projects to the point of blind obsession; but he could be fickle; and if a tempting enough new stimulus came along, well... He had been known before to become so distracted as to switch the obsession from the old to the new in the blink of an eye. Arcane definitely had an eager air about him; not to mention excited, energised... and above all, pleasant and friendly: All pointers to a new project or scheme in its joyous infancy: Full of youth and infinite promise. Make the most of it, Graham! Graham thought to himself cynically: It rarely lasts. Still, while The Doctor was distracted it was a good opportunity to try and coax some more information out of him on the fuel project. It still irked Graham that he�d been largely alienated from this project. Arcane had dealt with much of it personally, with most of the delegating being given to Stella, Arcane�s other personal assistant. Graham had done some of the more mundane legwork, but little more than work reserved for minor assistants and technicians. Nothing more than a glorified bloody gopher! Graham reasoned that it was because he was in regular contact with Sunderland, whereas Stella -- who usually had the less publicly noticed duties -- normally wasn�t. Arcane� decision was right, in retrospect, but, God, it still irked him! Graham knew his loyalty wasn�t in question, but he was hurt that the Doctor didn�t trust his common sense not to let anything slip with the General. It wasn�t fair! NONE of the others truly understood Arcane, or his genius and vision. Dammit! Wasn�t it HIS place to share that genius, and whatever failures and successes it conceived!? Graham stopped his train of thought abruptly, aware of where it was leading, before it distracted him from the critical situation at hand.

"But, Doctor Arcane. It�s a big setback... The delays," he ventured, hoping for some slip of information in Arcane�s reply.

"Just delays, Graham. Nothing more. Next year instead of this year, eh? Nothing to get worked up about... Probably work out for the best." The last sentence was muttered almost as a casual afterthought. Arcane got up from the bench he was working at and approached Graham, fondly putting his arm round the man. "Now come over here!" His eyes widened with gleeful anticipation; "I�ve got something to show you!"

Graham gave up on his idea of trying to pump Arcane for information. He doubted that his employer was likely to say more than a couple of words on the subject; and in any case, it was best not to break the man�s new found enthusiasm. Let sleeping Arcanes lie! He mused to himself. Not to mention that he was getting damned curious about just what was so important as to distract Arcane from the fuel.

Graham was led over to the bench where Arcane opened a small box by the side of the microscope. Reaching inside, he carefully removed a small lump of mottled, greenish-grey rock. Cradling it protectively as a loving parent would a new-born child, he offered it to Graham to hold. The assistant took charge of it, being obvious to be seen showing as much care in handling it as Arcane had. Looking at it, Graham wondered what the hell Arcane was wanting him to see. It was a lump of rock! Plain, everyday, common or garden rock! He moved it round in his hand to look at the underside of it. Still looked like rock to him! With a puzzled look on his face, he turned the far side of it over, towards him. Ah ha! Still rock, but this bit definitely had something embedded into it. Looking at it closely, it seemed to be the stone imprint of a small segmented worm-like creature, perhaps 4 or 5 cm long by about 1 cm wide.

Graham waited for a brief moment for Arcane to say something: A cue for whatever response the scientist wanted. None was forthcoming. Graham was clearly intended to offer the initial comments.

"It�s, er, very nice, Doctor." Graham knew how glib it sounded even before he�d said it, but he figured that whatever he did say would be wrong. It was hardly likely to irritate the Doctor when he was in such a good mood. Probably the reverse since it would give more than enough opportunity for Arcane to openly show the difference in academic prowess between the two of them. Always guaranteed to keep the Doctor happy in all but the direst of circumstances; and a happy Arcane was a benevolent Arcane; and definitely in Graham�s best interests. "A fossil?" Graham added with interest. A nice added touch, he thought to himself, knowing Arcane would enjoy a brief moment of berating him for his lack of vision. The Doctor stared at his assistant in absolute silence for a few seconds, before closing his eyes in dismay and giving the floor a downward glance; then looking straight back at Graham.

"Nice? A fossil?... Graham, you have about as much sense of grandeur as a barely average amoeba." Arcane exclaimed quietly, with a beautifully choreographed sense of faux outrage. "Do you have ANY idea of what it is that I�m allowing you to hold in those hands of yours?" Graham went through the motions of pretending to think for a moment.

"erm, no, Doctor."

"No... well of course you don�t, Graham. I really must enlighten you then, mustn�t I? What you are holding in those lucky little hands of yours, is one of the earliest recorded segmented worms in history. This little darling has been buried in that piece of marine sandstone since the Vendian era of the Proterozoic Precambrian: 605 million years to be more precise, preceding the previous record by some 10 million years. Haven�t even named it yet!"

Graham looked at it again, this time with somewhat more awe. "Where... where did you get it from, Sir?"

"Well, when this little chap was alive it would have been the supercontinent of Laurentia, but for our purposes... New Orleans. I hired a local palaeontologist from the Institute there to retrieve it for me, along with some other things."

"That�s.. that�s wonderful, Sir..." Graham stopped himself in mid sentence when he saw a look developing on Arcane�s face; an eager look positively telegraphing that he�d only told Graham the merest fragment of his true find; eagerness that was crying out to be divulged any second now. It made sense, Graham thought. Sure, this was a pretty important find from a historical point of view, but hardly the type of thing to get a man like Anton Arcane so fired up to the point of obsession. "er, there�s more, isn�t there, Sir?" he gingerly ventured forward.

"Very good, Graham!" Arcane�s eyes lit up in genuine approval as he grasped the man�s face with both hands; careful, of course, not to cause him to drop the vital piece of Earth�s history in his grasp. Graham gave an involuntary beaming smile. Receiving praise from his employer was a rare and momentous occasion, and when it happened, it positively made his entire week.

As quickly as he�d moved towards Graham, Arcane backed off, walking at a brisk pace to a work surface at the other end of the lab, where he picked up a similar box to the type he�d just opened, and returned to the assistant. With one hand outstretched, to indicate Graham return the sandstone fossil to him, with the other he proffered the box. The swap was made, and as Arcane placed the original back on the bench by the microscope, Graham began opening the second.

"Careful now!" Arcane seemed even more reticent than the first time. After a moment of contemplation, Graham took the second box to the bench and put it down, and then continued opening the metal catch and lifting the lid. He glanced up at Arcane briefly as he did so, catching the intense look of anticipation on the scientist�s face. If that thing had just been the teaser, what the hell was in here!? he wondered briefly.

Peering into the box, he was immediately a little confused, although this time he knew that showing it would be detrimental. It was another piece of rock; different to the last though. This one was a flecked white and grey one. He moved his hands to retrieve it, glancing first at Arcane to indicate that this was acceptable. The scientist merely gave the smallest of nods, still gazing at Graham with an air of anticipation bordering on the predatory.

Upon examination, its significance became far more apparent.

"Another one, Sir?"

Arcane nodded pleasantly; "Well? Take a closer look, Graham. Tell me what you think." Graham did as he was bid, examining this new fossil worm.

"It�s kind of like the other one, Doctor," he said, peering at it closely. It certainly was. Similar size; perhaps maybe a little larger, but nothing noticeably different. The colouring was again marginally different, but not so much as to be detected by all but the closest examination. Similar segmentations. It had some tiny vestigial pinprick-like projections on its underbelly, exactly like the first specimen. To be honest, he could barely tell the difference. He finally gave a shrug, unhappy that he hadn�t been able to spot any notable difference between the specimens. "I�m sorry, Doctor, I..I can�t tell any difference. Are they the same species?"

"Splendid, Graham! Excellent, in fact. They are indeed the same. Some minor adaptations to environment, but to all intents and purposes, the very same species. Juvenile specimens I would suspect, as well, judging by the as yet poor development of the ventral spines... presumably for movement through the precambrian alluvials."

"That�s great, Sir," Graham smiled, "i.. it�s an incredible find... and, like, to have two of them..." again, he stopped himself. No. There was more to it than that. Arcane was not just a small minded paleontologist, only interested in digging up things of no practical use to him. The man�s genius and vision would have seen implications to the future... but what!? "There is a difference, isn�t there, Sir?" he looked up at Arcane, who reciprocated by smiling back broadly.

"Oh, yes! Indeed there is, Graham! All the difference in the world... which�ll make all the difference to *me*!" He paused briefly, to prepare his speech for maximum effect; "That particular rock you�re holding now is stromatolitic limestone from the Archean era of the Precambrian, which means it�s nearly 3 *billion* years old; predating our other little friend there --" he inclined his head to indicate the worm fossil in the sandstone "-- by... well, suffice to say, a *very* long time!" he beamed broadly.

"3 *billion* years!" Graham gasped, remembering Arcane�s pleasure at having found a specimen a mere ten million years prior to the previously oldest similar life-form. No wonder Arcane was happy, although he was still at a loss as to what the practical applications Arcane would desire were. Maybe it was just the historical aspect after all? It was major enough.

"Now, Graham! Consider the differences between conditions on Earth 605 million years ago... and 3 billion!" Arcane raised a finger in a somewhat lecturing pose; "Consider the Proterozoic: A variety of multi-cellular life-forms begin evolving from the cyanobacteria and eukaryotic organisms; notably some metazoans; these and other burrowing organisms -- this is the first example of this particular species to be found, by the way--" he exclaimed proudly; "... and all evolving in an oxygen rich environment: ALL aerobic life-forms! --" he began pacing the laboratory as he got into his stride, "-- and now consider the older, Archean period --" he went over to Graham and removed the limestone fossil, holding it up to his eager, appraising eye as he continued his pacing, "-- simple organisms: Prokaryotes, cyanobacteria, the various blue-green algae... all cheerfully existing in an oxygen free environment; all anaerobic, Graham... or so it was thought. But now we have our little friend and saviour here to prove differently, don�t we, Graham!? Graham, I am about to rewrite all theories on the formation of life on this planet!

"Doctor Arcane? If this is, well, the oldest complex life-form, er what did it survive on?"

"The simple organisms around at the time, obviously. Algae mostly, I would imagine; and it would most likely have processed the soil and silt deposits it lived in for the various microbes contained therein."

Graham nodded, but still seemed a little confused over something. "I.. I don�t understand, Doctor. How can they be the same species if, well, one needs Oxygen and the other doesn�t?"

"Well now, Graham, that�s the beauty of it. It�s an interesting conundrum, isn�t it? And really, there are only two theories: One, that there was an Oxygen environment 3 billion years ago --" Somehow, Graham didn�t think this was the theory Arcane was going for, notably since he�d mentioned it first, " -- and two: that this species survived, virtually unchanged, between the eras, by adapting to an Oxygen rich environment, in which case we have a very unique little creature here; existing billions of years before it should have, and far more complex than any other life-form of its era. Either theory is going to overturn existing beliefs and cause quite a stir, so it hardly matters to us, eh?"

Graham gave a little frown. This didn�t make sense at all. Arcane was making such a big thing of the historical aspect of these theories on the evolution of life, and his find, and yet he didn�t seem to showing much genuine concern for the truth behind it.

"You�re going public with this, Sir?" Graham ventured. Arcane�s own words had indicated letting the scientific community in on this find, so Graham didn�t feel he had anything to lose by asking.

"Well of course I�m going public with it, you twit! How else am I going to get the acclaim and recognition I deserve for the find of this or any other century!?" Arcane paused to let his little outburst subside, before continuing, now back to being calm again; "I�ve a little more research to do, Graham... a few things to sort out, but the world will know about my discovery soon enough!" Arcane returned to the bench, where he replaced the limestone within its box, and shut the lid again, before turning back to Graham with the broadest grin on his face. "Until then, Graham, our *real* work begins!"

"Real work, Sir?"

Arcane continued to grin like a Cheshire Cat and went over to Graham, putting his arm round the man�s shoulder.

"Yes, Graham, the *real* work. We�ve a lot of tests to run on these creatures. A lot of information to collate and use. We need to know the precise methods by which they adapted to such radically different environments without becoming a totally new species. "But, Doctor Arcane, how are we going to do that? They, they�re just fossilised rock?" Arcane gave a little chuckle, beckoning Graham to the microscope he was looking into when Graham first entered the lab.

"Take a look, Graham. Tell me what you see." As Graham approached the microscope, Arcane wandered off somewhere behind him and seemed to be fetching something. Graham stooped over the microscope and adjusted the focus, gazing down into the eyepiece. What he saw was a simple tissue sample of nucleated cells. Without any further information he had no idea of what exactly he was looking at.

"Well?" Arcane asked calmly, walking up to Graham with his hands behind his back. "a..a tissue sample, Sir."

"Well of course it�s a tissue sample. Graham,! But what do you think it�s a sample from?"

"I..I don�t know, Sir," he admitted. There was no way he could know unless Arcane told him.

"Suppose I old you that it was a tissue sample from our little Precambrian find, Graham?"

Graham nearly knocked over the microscope as he did a double take at this.

"B..but... how? I mean, well, there�s nothing to take any tissue from. They�re rock imprints."

"Yes, Graham, *they* are... but *this* isn�t!" He removed his hands from behind his back to hold up a large piece of pale, rough amber. Graham stared at it in amazement. Inside was yet another of those worms, this one perfectly preserved within its tomb of fossilised tree sap. "Those were the appetisers, Graham. This �" he paused for effect, "� This is the piece de resistance!"

"I... I didn�t think amber was as old as the precambrian, Sir." Graham looked puzzled, but Arcane was already ahead of him, smiling in anticipation of Graham�s confusion.

"Very good, Graham. Been studying your geology? Most commendable!" Arcane smiled in approval, ruffling his hair. Graham said nothing. He hadn�t the faintest knowledge of precambrian geology, and it was just a guess, simply figuring that amber was formed at the same time as all those bugs sometimes found in it... bugs that�s weren�t around in the precambrian. "No Graham, it isn�t. Not by a long way. The earliest known amber is from the carboniferous, which would be about 360 million years old. Actually, this specimen here is from somewhere between the end of the Cretaceous and beginning of the tertiary periods... oh, say about 65 million years old. Really rather recent compared to the others, wouldn�t you say?"

Graham took another look, closer this time, at the creature in the amber; "But... but it�s exactly the same, Doctor... isn�t it?" Arcane merely nodded in extreme satisfaction, "It certainly is, isn�t it!? Look at it Graham! The oldest was most likely a freshwater specimen, the sandstone was deep marine. This little goldmine; this must have been both freshwater *and* land-based. Just think! A species surviving not just 2 eras, but several complete periods... continually adapting itself to its new conditions, possibly even within the same individual organism, yet remaining essentially the same. Marvellous, isn�t it, Graham!?"

Graham nodded eagerly.

"Marvellous, Sir!" He paused briefly, "er, Doctor Arcane?"

"Yes, Graham?"

"Erm, if they�ve survived so recently, why... well, why haven�t they been found before?"

"Yet another interesting question, and one where an answer continues to elude me for the moment. I suspect that they�re incredibly rare, and not found in any of the usual places for palaeontologists to go searching. Well, at least not unless they knew what they were looking for!" Arcane gave a smug, cryptic little grin.

"But you did, Sir?"

"Of course I did, Graham. My sources contacted me to let me know of the existence of this species... and more importantly, where to find them."

"Sources, Sir? Erm, how did they know where to look??"

"My more, er... esoteric sources, Graham. I get these useful titbits of information every now and again... where they owe me. I don�t think you need to know any more about them for now though." Graham nodded emphatically. He knew Arcane dealt with people whose fields were outside any recognised science. He�d never questioned his mentor on how he once obtained a rare black rose that even a powerful Houn�gan priest, Duchamp, hadn�t managed to find; or where he found (*or made*) the DNA for some of his more outlandish creations. He hadn�t asked. He didn�t know. He didn�t want to know. Quite frankly, these people scared the shit out of him! Ignorance was safe, comfortable and blissful!

"We really were rather fortunate, Graham. Want to know the irony of where this most important one �" he indicated the creature in the amber, "� came from?"

"Where, Sir?"

"Right here in Houma," Arcane grinned. "our neighbourly little mosquito farm, the swamp, to be precise. Quite amusing to think that my old adversary has provided me with the key element to what could be my greatest creations and assets. Doesn�t the irony just fire your blood, Graham!?"

Yeah, I�m ecstatic! "Absolutely, Sir!" Graham tried not to show his discomfort. Arcane�s science was always a wonder to be a part of, but Graham was still desperately trying to forget about those other, less mundane aspects to all this, not that it could e ver be said that Arcane�s science was mundane. Anything but.

Graham took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. He may not have trusted Arcane�s sources, but he did trust the Doctor�s judgement. Arcane knew what he was doing, and that was good enough for him. End of story.

"Right then. We�ve got work to do, Graham. I�ve already examined the DNA structure and it�s exactly what I surmised. Quite remarkable really. Elastic, adaptable, and above all, malleable. Capable of short term evolution, and I�m not talking about from one generation to the next. No. I�m talking about the same cells, the same individual creature being able to adapt itself within its own lifetime. Imagine finding one of these grubs in the sea and plopping it into fresh water. Instead of dying, it would simply alter its cells and become capable of existing in its new environment... at least the more hardy members of the species could. Take it out of water, and it could become capable of air breathing. And that�s only the beginning. There�s no end to the possibilities of this evolution given the right stimulus to enhance any existing histogenesis. Think of it!... A constantly evolving cytogenesis: Cells adapting to withstand heat, cold, pressure. The list goes on."

"How are you going to use this, Sir? I mean it�s great that you can create all this, Doctor Arcane, but.. well, er, what are you kind of going to use adaptable worms for?"

Arcane rolled his eyes in exasperation, resisting the sudden urge to put his head in his hands. "Graham, you idiot! The worms themselves are irrelevant... apart from their historical value that is! It�s the DNA that�s important! Their DNA, and those lucrative elastic properties contained therein. Think, Graham! Think what I can do if I can extract that DNA and isolate the elastic components within, combined with a suitable mutagenic agent; and then incorporate it into existing lift-forms!" He began pacing again, his heart rate quickening at the delicious prospects formulating within his brain, "Think of an army of soldiers capable of forming reversible chitinous exoskeletons to withstand pressure, weapons, head or cold; or capable of existing in any terrain with minimal resources, with the ability to mutate from air to water breathing, and back again. To resist poison gas... or the ability to adapt to gaining night vision without any external apparatus. Enhanced senses when necessary. Not fixed mutations like my other creations, but a continually evolving organism. Anything�s possible, Graham!" His eyes lit up. "Sunderland and his bio-weapons division are going to pay a fortune for this �" a dark smile crossed his face, "� and his competitors�ll pay even more." He put the amber down on the bench by the microscope and grabbed Graham by the arms, hugging him; "I�ll be a bloody billionaire, Graham!" he let go of the startled assistant and picked up the amber again, appraising it thoughtfully; "and all thanks to an extinct little grub..." he gave a little chuckle, "... but not for long."

"Doctor?"

"Well, Graham, extracting and enhancing DNA�s one thing, but we also need to know more about its origins before adding it to other creatures. We�re going to need some test subjects to try the new combination out on, and who better to start on than its original owners, eh?"

Graham stared in amazement as Arcane sauntered over to the far end of the lab, where he opened a metal casket and carefully lifted out a small perspex tank of liquid, which he gently set down besides him. Graham followed him over there, and peered into it. Inside were four tiny, threadlike creatures, suspended in the liquid. He peered closer. It took a moment to recognise them... they were so small as to be barely visible; almost embryonic in appearance, but the resemblance to the fossil creatures was uncanny.

Suddenly, he gave a involuntary shudder of surprise and stepped back a pace.

"i..it moved!!"

Arcane smiled broadly. "It did, didn�t it, Graham!?" the question was proudly rhetorical. "Vermimorphus Arcanus! Has a nice ring to it, don�t you think!? Yes, Graham! Thanks to me, a species dead for nearly 65 million years is going to live again..." he gazed lovingly at his creations in the tank, the expression on his face becoming almost orgasmic,

"... and make me very, very rich... aren�t you, my little darlings!?"

"Knock knock! Anybody home?" Will Kipp gave an obligatory rap on the front door to the Langford house, before trying the handle anyway with his free hand; a heavy carrier bag occupying his other. Finding it unlocked, he simply entered. "Tressa?" he called out, walking through the hallway and glancing to his left, into the lounge. A small frown crossed his face. She was standing over by the fireplace, her back to him, holding a silver framed photograph and gazing at it silently. If she heard Will, she showed no signs of it. With a slight sigh, he put the bag down on the sofa and walked up to her, gently putting his arm round her. She gave a slight start, as though mildly jolted out of a meditative trance, and turned to him.

"Will. I�m sorry. I..I didn�t hear you come in," she seemed to collect herself, her demeanour strengthening, as a small, if slightly forced smile came to her lips.

"I brought you the groceries you wanted." Will tried to muster a degree of cheerfulness. "Want me to take them to the kitchen for you?" Her smile widened just a fraction. She nodded.

"Thanks, I appreciate it," she said softly, replacing the photograph on the mantelpiece. As he retrieved the carrier and made his way back through the hallway, she followed him. "Sorry I�m not the best company at the moment, Will." she fought hard to keep a tear from forming in her eye. She succeeded. Depositing the bag on the kitchen table, Will turned back to her; "Tressa, it�s only been three and a half weeks. It�s gonna take time." He walked over to her, gently taking her in his arms. She seemed to instinctively stiffen and back off, and he eased up a little. It was all still very strange. He and Tressa had never been close. Hell! They�d always fought like cat and dog when together, but in these weeks since he�d arrived in Houma, they�d become closer than they�d ever been in their entire lives, relatively speaking of course; meaning that they could tolerate each other�s company for more than ten minutes without any verbal fireworks.

He�d never intended to stay when he first arrived, although returning to Philly wasn�t exactly an option under the circumstances, but with evens that seemed to happen so fast, he felt little choice but to make this place his home for now. Okay, so he and Tressa hadn�t been close, but other than a personality clash, she�d done nothing to him, and she needed someone. Jim had been his half brother, and although they hadn�t seen each other in ages, he felt the loss pretty badly. He could only imagine the pain Tressa must be feeling as his mother. He remembered the pain when his own mother had died. And Tressa was alone now. He felt an obligation to stay and help her... comfort her wherever possible. Of course, Tressa being Tressa, she resisted at every opportunity.

She�s had it rough. Dumped by his father, Brydon; ;left alone to bring up Jim, which was never easy for her; then moving here and losing her mother and child in so short a space of time. Will regarded her again, seeing a quality of strength to her that he�d never noticed before he came here... a quality he was beginning to gain a deep respect for. He admired her resilience. Of course he�d die before he admitted that to her face!

"Want some coffee?" she said at last. That cheerful facade again. "Kettle�s just boiled anyway, about 5 minutes before you arrived." Will just gave a little shrug.

"Sure!" he wasn�t bothered about the coffee, but she probably wanted the company and this was the only way she was going to ask for it. "Here. I�ll make �em," he offered, moving towards it. She beat him to it though.

"Why don�t you put the groceries away, and *I�ll* make the coffee," she suggested. "I�ll be able to drink it that way!" her voice was light, the comment made in familiar jest rather than insult. He just gave another little shrug.

"Sure. No problem." He began unpacking the stuff.

"You want regular or decaf?" she said, taking down a couple of jars from a cupboard. Still that forced semblance of normality.

"Decaf!?" Will exclaimed with a shudder as he pit some cartons of milk into the fridge; "Do I look like a guy who wants decaf!? I need my morning fix, and *I* want to be able to drink it too!: he quipped, countered her earlier comment as he hold the fridge door open with his foot and reached for the eggs.

As two packets of Cheerios and one of pasta got pushed into the nearest cupboard, he heard the sound of a spoon stirring round in a mug. He stood up and she proffered it to him. Breathing in its aroma, he sat himself down at the table, and she followed suit.

"I got a job," he said eagerly, and her face seemed to register positively to this.

"That�s great, Will. Where?"

"At Skillet�s. Helping out. Washing a few dishes... doing some cooking, you know."

"I�m pleased for you, Will. That�s really good news."

"Well, they said the job�s mine for good, so long as I don�t poison too many customers!" he grinned.

"Maybe you should void the cooking then?" she retorted cynically.

"I�ve got a room there as well, above the restaurant," he added, and she nodded with an inscrutable smile. He knew he�s probably be able to stay here at the Langford house, and he almost certainly would later, but for now he felt it best to give Tressa her space. He could be company for her most of the day, if she needed it, and help out. Somehow, he figured it was still too soon and the emotions too raw for her to want him there all the time. Besides, he wasn�t entirely certain he could take being with her for any length of time. So far, things were working out, and he didn�t want to rock the boat by giving help where it wasn�t wanted. Too much of a good thing was always possible with the irrepressible Tressa Kipp! He took a sip of the coffee. Considering he hadn�t wanted it, it tasted surprisingly good.

"WILL!" A voice, deep and gravelly, and intangible as the wind seemed to echo through his mind. He looked up at Tressa. She didn�t seem to react, and certainly hadn�t heard it.

"WILL! I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU," The voice cane again, more urgent.

This was another thing about life in Houma he was having to get used to, and doubted he ever would. If, a month ago, someone had told him that he was about to meet his best friend, who just happened to be a seven foot tall talking plant, he�d have wondered what stuff they were on... and more to the point, where he could get some! Yeah, yeah. I�m coming! He looked up at Tressa;

"Look, Tressa. Sorry I�ve got to cut and run, but I remembered some things I forgot to do back in town. I�ll be back soon, Okay?" He finished gulping down his coffee, in his haste, almost burning his throat as he did so, before rushing out through the kitchen door.

"Bye, Will," Tressa muttered to his rapidly disappearing back, "nice to see you. Wanna try and make it six minutes next time!?" With a resigned shrug, she sat back and took another sip of coffee.

"Swampy?" Will gave a whispered call, skulking through the undergrowth around the house, "Swampy, is that you?" No reply. "Swampy!?" he whispered again, delving further.

"WILL!" A voice intoned from behind him, making him turn and nearly jump out of his skin in the same movement. It was one of Alec Holland�s habit�s that really annoyed Will: The ability to suddenly appear from nowhere in a place he�d just looked in, in a manner completely unnerving. How the hell did something so big and heavy move so damned quietly!?

"Swampy! Do you have to do that!?" Will muttered angrily, "I�m too young to need a pacemaker just yet!"

"And I have a name," Alec muttered evenly, a flash of vindictive humour crossing his face rather than genuine anger.

"Sorry, Alec," Will looked sheepish, "Everything here�s takin� time to get used to... *you�re* gonna take time to get used to... no offence!"

"None taken," was the simple reply.

"So? What�s up?" Will said, approaching Alec so they could talk more quietly.

"I�m not sure. Perhaps nothing. Maybe..."

"Well that�s fine, Alec. I�d hate to think you had me burning my throat and rushing out here just for something that was actually important!"

"Still trying to be a wiseguy?" Alec said, good naturedly.

"Yep, still trying," Will grinned.

"*Very* trying," Alec added sardonically, "... no offence."

"None taken! Nice to see that old sense of humour�s improvin�, Alec."

"It seems I�ve got little choice in the matter if I�m going to have to put up with you being around."

"Yeah, guess you�re stuck with me. So come on, what�s the idea?"

"Something is wrong. But it�s something I can�t figure out. Nothing is out of place, or disturbed, but The Swamp is uneasy..." he noticed a puzzled look crossing Will�s face. It was no good. He was really going to have to take the time to fully explain to this new friend just exactly what he was and what it meant. To Will, The Swamp was still nothing more than an area of land. End of story. In the meantime, he�s have to explain it in more mundane terms.

"Arcane is involved, but in what capacity, I don�t know."

"Just what�s with this Arcane guy, Alec? Okay, so he�s some big shot in town, but every time his name is mentioned you look like you�re going to bust a, well, whatever you have for blood vessels. Did he have something to do with Jim�s death? That factory we went to... that was his, wasn�t it?"

"You came from Tressa�s. How is she?" Alec swiftly changed the subject. He wanted to begin broaching the subject of his enemy with Will, but it was swiftly getting into tan area he�d rather no cover for now.

"More pleasant with me than usual... a bit far away... helpful..."

Still that bad. "She�s coping then?" was Alec�s non-committal reply.

"Just about... and you�re changing the subject, Alec! *Arcane!* Alec... did he kill Jim!" Will was starting to get agitated and belligerent. Exactly the sort of reaction Alec was hoping to avoid in him. "Well, DID HE!?"

"It�s a hypothetical question, Will, but what would you do if I said yes?"

"What do you think I�d do!?" Will snarled, clenching and unclenching his fists spasmodically.

"I think you�d try and kill him... or at least go with the intention of trying."

"Damn right, Alec!"

"You�re better than that, Will!"

"LIKE HELL! DID HE, ALEC? TELL ME!!?.... I..I�ve got a right to know!!!"

"If you went after Arcane, what would you achieve? If you succeeded you�d have thrown away your life. If you failed, all you�d manage to do is get yourself killed. It�s a course of action you can�t win, believe me! �" Not entirely surprised, Alec could see this had little to no effect on Will�s mounting rage, "� but to answer your question. No. Arcane did not kill Jim. My knowledge of Arcane goes back years before I even knew Jim."

"You know, Alec. I think I�m beginning to figure you out �" Will began circling Alec, pointing in an accusatory fashion, "� You wouldn�t lie to me just to protect me, would you? But you might just bend the truth a bit. Okay, so you say Arcane didn�t kill Jim. Was he responsible for his death then... even indirectly? Go on, answer that one, Alec!"

"Will. I can promise you that Arcane was not, in any way, responsible for Jim�s death," Alec said evenly.

At this, Will seemed to calm down again. "Sorry, Alec. I guess it�s just never easy when it happens, and not knowing why," he gave a shrug, sitting down glumly on a grassy hillock. Alec sighed to himself and looked down at him. Will was certainly right about his bending the truth. No arguments there. His words were only true because Jim wasn�t actually dead.

He hadn�t said a word of a lie to his new friend, but it still didn�t sit easy with him. He so badly wanted to tell him the truth, but knew that he couldn�t. Arcane had made that perfectly clear in the days following the incident at this complex; when he�d come to The Swamp to taunt him, safe in the knowledge that nothing was going to happen to him under the circumstances. Jim was on another continent now, and no longer under protection here. Part of the price of Jim�s continued safety was that he told nobody that the boy was alive. If he did that, or if he tried to hard Arcane over it, Jim would be killed by the camp guards. It was probably a bluff on Arcane�s part, he realised. That if he did revel the truth and Jim was killed, Arcane had to know that there�d be nothing left to protect him from retribution for the act; and morals aside, he *would* kill the man if that happened! Still, all this was assuming he was dealing with a rational man; and Arcane could be anything but on occasions. It horrified him to think of what Jim must be going through, but he still couldn�t take that chance with the boy�s life. He had to bide his time and see if a situation developed that would allow him to do something. Until then, waiting was all he could do.

He was mostly angry with himself though. It was all his damned fault. He�d allowed his respect for life and his morality to stop him doing what he should have done years ago. Had he disposed of Arcane before all this happened, how many lives would have been saved? How many people would no longer be ruined freaks? And Jim would still be here. Had he known, would he have done any differently?

He couldn�t say he hadn�t had enough opportunities to rid the world of his enemy. Could he have gone against his nature just that once to do what had to be done. But it was too late now. What was done was done, and Jim was gone and far away. Far too late to start torturing himself with hypothetical what-might-have-beens.

He longer to at least be able to tell Will, but the young man was far too impetuous. The first thing he�d do would be to confront Arcane, no matter how much he was advised against it. Will had a lot, lot more to learn about everything around here before he could trust him like that. He trusted the man�s heart, but not his common sense. In time he�d learn, but for now, that knowledge had to be limited. But he did have to learn about some things if he was going to grasp the situation around him.

"He mat not have killed Jim, but where Arcane�s concerned, be careful, Will!" Alec�s warning was solemn.

"I get the hint, Alec. Look, just what is it with this guy? You told me you had a battle that had been going on years, didn�t you? It�s with Arcane, isn�t it? If you�re going� to warn me, you could at least tell me why!"

Alec nodded. That much was true. And learn he must. It was time to tell him the truth... or at least most of it.

"It was 8 years ago, and I was working on a project here in Houma, with my wife, Linda..."

"It�s incredible, Sir! To think that you�re, you�re bringing them back to life after all this time!"

"Well, incredible is my middle name, Graham!"

"How big do you think an adult specimen would be, Sir?"

"Without knowing how far along those examples were in their development, impossible to say. I wouldn�t imagine more than a few inches though, considering the type of food supply that had. Any larger would be detrimental to survival, unless of course that�s why they�re so rare... that only those in areas exceptionally rich in microbes and algae could support them. Interesting theory."

"Guess we�ll find out soon enough, Sir."

"Not really, Graham. We won�t get an exact duplication of the originals due to the mutagen catalyst. There�ll be minor differences. I suspect they�ll develop further than the originals; larger... maybe even a foot or two in length! Of course, when we�ve isolated the DNA properties and got the lucrative uses of them sorted out, it might be an amusing diversion to recreate the originals without the catalyst... for historical accuracy if you like? Hardly a priority though."

Returning the tank to its darkened metal chamber, Arcane sauntered back to the middle of the lab where he sat himself down at the bench and picked up the wine glass he discarded earlier. Nonchalantly leaning back in his chair, he took a long sip and seemed to consider his options for a moment. "We�re going to have to work quickly, Graham. They should have matured enough to remove from the tank soon. In the meantime, you can run some DNA and RNA tests, and monitor their progress � I�ve got other things to prepare � If the growth rate is too slow, we�ll add extra mutagen to catalyse the reaction. Either way, I want them out of that tank and matured in four days."

"Why four days, Sir?"

"Because, Graham, I won�t be here in four days, and I want them ready!"

"Wha..what do you mean you won�t be here, Doctor? Ready for what?"

"The World Science Conference, Graham! Where else do you think I�m going to announce my find to the world!? I�m basing my entire lecture on it," he gave a quiet little chuckle. "I can�t fail to win the prize for this, and get the recognition I deserve. That�ll teach that bunch of mental pygmies that they can�t compete with Anton Arcane!"

"No, Sir," Graham concurred, "erm, Doctor Arcane?"

"Yes?"

"I kind of thought you said you weren�t going to the conference... that winning any prize there wasn�t worth putting up with the company of the other guests for even one minute?"

"So I did, Graham," Arcane said casually, taking another sip of wine.

"But you *hate* those conferences, Sir. You said you�d rather dive headfirst, naked, into..."

"Yes, Graham. I am aware of what I said, thank you so much for reminding me," Arcane muttered caustically.

"Surely you�d still get the acclaim for this without going to the conference?"

"Oh, undoubtedly."

Graham still looked perplexed.

"So, er, so why do you want to go now?"

"Graham? Is there any particular reason you *don�t* want me to go!?" Arcane snapped, "Perhaps you�d like to take over the complex and tell me what I should and shouldn�t be doing!"

Graham just fidgeted awkwardly and shook his head.

"I..I just wondered, Sir."

Arcane gave a deep sigh and put the wine glass down, before getting up and approaching the assistant.

"It is true that I didn�t want to go to this usually dismal and pedestrian gathering, but that was before I knew who else was going to be there. I decided yesterday, out of vague interest, to take a look at just who was going, and I have to admit that it is an unusually impressive guest list this year. Nothing compared to my standards, of course, but there�s still going to be an awful lot of research notes just ripe for the taking, if I play my cards right."

"You�re going to steal the research of all the other guests?"

"Exactly. I decided to go as soon as Ii saw that list, but it really is rather fortuitous that this find should come along at this particular moment to add the final insult to those morons, by stealing first prize from them as well! A delightful added touch, don�t you think?"

"Er, yes, Doctor," Graham tried to sound enthusiastic. "Sir?" he ventured in a tiny little voice, wringing his hands a little. Arcane just glared at him expectantly, raising his eyebrows in a questioning manner, "Doctor Arcane, I.. I know you�ll be going for their data, but.. Well, don�t you think.. well, like... what if they copy your ideas? Won�t it be giving away more to them if you show them the worms you�ve created?"

"No, Graham, it won�t!" Arcane scowled at his assistant in frustration; "it won�t because I have absolutely no intention of letting those morons have the faintest idea of what I�ve created. Graham, my lecture is merely going to involve those two precambrian fossils. It�s important enough to grab the world�s attention and win that prize hands down, without giving anything actually profitable away. They don�t have to know about the third specimen or its consequences."

"But why are the worms needed to be grown by then, Sir?"

"So I can take them with me, of course!"

"b..but if you�re not going to use them...?"

"I�m going to be gone from the complex for several days, Graham. I don�t want the little buggers just lying around so anybody can get their hands on them! I want those worms where I can keep an eye on them... where they�ll be safe. Understood!?"

Graham beamed. That was more like it. "Right, Doctor. But what about the guy you hired to get them? Can we trust him, sir? What if he comes forward and tries to take the credit... or mentions the other one?"

"No need to worry your little head about that, Graham. I really don�t think that�s going to be a problem. Palaeontology can be a very dangerous vocation. So many tragic accidents that can happen..." He gave another cryptic smile, saying nothing else. Graham joined in with a broad smile of his won and a little chuckle of approval. "Well then. Best get started, eh? You can begin by getting Stella to make the arrangements with the airports, transport and hotel for the weekend. You can contact Sunderland and inform him that I�ll require the jet for the weekend. I�ll want a limousine waiting for ma at the airport, and I�ll require a suite with two rooms, oh, and both the adjoining rooms too. Let�s keep �em empty... can�t be too careful. No, Graham, on second thoughts, get Stella to deal with Sunderland. Lecherous old buzzard�ll be far more likely to be amenable to her than to you!"

Graham�s face dropped at the mention of Stella�s name, his demeanour becoming slightly more defensive.

"Where�s the conference being held this year, Sir?" he asked mildly.

"Las Vegas Hilton," Arcane replied absently, sitting back down and finishing off the last of the wine, savouring it. Graham began shuffling his feet awkwardly, a sullen look developing on his face.

He�s going to Vegas... and he�s taking *her* with him!! "erm, is there anything else I can do for you, Doctor?"

"You can go acquaint yourself with the research data. It�s on the laptop in my private quarters. Then you can mix up a new batch of mutagen in case we need to use it. Oh, and you can start taking measurements of Vermimorphus, at precise intervals of 4 hours."

"Yes, Sir," he mumbled miserably, turning to leave. He paused and turned back, "er, anything else?" a hopeful little voice asked. More had wringing.

"Nothing springs to mind, Graham... unless you feel like making some tea?" Arcane quipped sardonically. Graham just nodded dejectedly, again turning towards the elevator. He stopped a few paces from it, and turned back yet again to face Arcane, who was now busily peering back into the microscope, his assistant nothing but a dim memory.

"Er, Doctor Arcane?" A plaintive little voice intruded to remind him. Arcane looked up irritably.

"Graham, why are you still here?"

"I..I guess you�ll be...well.. er, are there any special, kind of, sort of arrangements you want, kind of, when you�re gone, since you�ll be.. well..."

"Graham! For the love of God, speak English!!" Arcane snapped.

"I..I guess you�ll be wanting to take Stella with you, Sir, so I wondered if you wanted any special arrangements making for while you�re gone...er, if you wanted me to take over her work, Sir?"

"No, Graham, that won�t be necessary," Arcane replied, jotting down some notes as he checked the microscope again; "Stella won�t be going with me to the conference. I�ll need her here to take care of business in our absence. She�s perfectly capable, don�t you worry."

*Our* absence! Graham didn�t give a damn how capable Stella was or not. "Our absence, Sir?" he ventured, his voice rising a little in hope.

"Well, naturally, Graham. I�m going to need you with me to help acquire all that data, am I not?"

Graham tried *very* hard not to let his joy show too much. He failed miserably, but Arcane has already returned to his research and was unaware of his inanely grinning assistant who looked to be floating towards the elevator on a wave of euphoria.

The doors slid open, and Graham entered, leaving the lab and Arcane behind.

Back inside the lab, as Arcane scribbled down another not, he paused, a perplexed look on his face. He turned and concentrated intently for a moment, trying to catch something intangible, before shaking his head absently and giving up. Funny, but he could have sworn he'd heard the tiniest noise from somewhere above him. Probably just his imagination...

... Woo Hoo!?

"No," he muttered to himself, and without a second thought, returned to his work.

Will sat in stunned silence for a moment, "I.. I had no idea, Alec. I'm so, so sorry. Jeez, I don't know what I can say..."

"There's nothing you can say, Will." Alec replied succinctly.

"It's not fair, Alec. I know you can't exactly turn him in, but why've you let this jerk continue to roam free after everything he's done to you?"

"And what would be the alternative, Will? To kill him? To become just like him? Is that what you'd have done?"

"DAMN RIGHT!!" there was a pause, "... Maybe... I..I don't know..."

"No you wouldn't, Will... any more than I would."

"I guess."

"What happened is in the past and done, and cannot be changed by killing him. It's my choice. But it's not the past that concerns me, it's the present... and the future,"

"You really think he's up to something?"

"The Swamp is uneasy. That means *I* am uneasy. She wouldn't have warned me if nothing was there."

"But all he's done is dug up some old fossil. What harm can that do? You said it yourself that the swamp couldn't figure anything out either."

"That is true..."

"So maybe it's just your mistrust of him based on the past? Look, I know I haven't exactly experienced firsthand anything like you've gone through with him, but that's gotta make you , wary. Maybe you're not being objective, Alec? He's a scientist. Perhaps the guy just collects rocks?"

Alec merely sighed inwardly and gave that 'he doesn't understand' look, which didn't go unnoticed by Will;

"Okay!! So he doesn't collect rocks! Doesn't mean he's up to anything sinister this particular time. Look, Alec, I know it's not exactly what you want to hear, but maybe the guy really isn't planning anything just for once!?"

"Contrary to what you might think, Will, nothing would give me greater relief than if he *wasn't* planning anything, but I've learned never to take anything he does at face value. To a creature like Arcane, deceit and destruction are like air and water."

"Look, don't take this the wrong way. I'm really not trying to belittle what you've gone through, Alec, but the guy's occasionally got to have some sort of life besides screwing others over!?" Alec just raised his eyebrows cynically.

He's heard my words, but that's all they are for now... words. He hasn't grasped evil of this nature yet, "You'll learn, Will... in time." I just pray your lesson won't be a hard one.

"Wonderful, Alec! Just another of the many things in Houma I've got to look forward to? So, you've got no ideas what he could want with a lump of rock?"

"Amber, Will... not rock."

"And that makes a difference?"

"I don't know."

"Hell, it's not much to go on, is it? Look, tell you what, why don't I keep an eye out round town for anything that could be related; listen around for things... maybe snoop round his place a little? Okay?"

Alec nodded, "Yes, that would be appreciated, Will. Let me know if you find anything at all, no matter how insignificant it might seem to you... But I'm warning you, Will, *don't* go near Arcane's complex, or do *anything* that would bring you to his attention. There's nothing he isn�t capable of doing," Alec frowned and looked downwards as the recent painful memories flooded back. The last thing he wanted was a deja vu of Jim's fate, "it isn't ~ worth your life, Will."

"Sure, Alec. I'll be cool!"

Alec barely noticed Will's reply, still deep in intense contemplation. Will noticed and waved a hand in front of him; "Earth to Alec!" It caught his attention; "I promise I'll take care, Okay?"

"Good," Alec muttered, satisfied.

"So, I'm looking for some reason why Arcane's developed a sudden interest in rocks and fossils? Can't be that difficult. Sounds harmless and innocent enough."

"Will, I can think of many words to use in conjunction with Arcane, but 'harmless' and 'innocent' aren't on the list. Do not underestimate his capacity for evil and destruction."

"Yeah, okay, but Alec, realistically, just how much destruction can this guy do by digging up one tiny little fossil?"

December 21st 1990

"Right, Graham. We'll wait till we get to the hotel, then go over the plan again," Arcane said quietly to his assistant as they marched through the terminal building of McCarran Airport to the tinkling strains of 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer'.

"Uh huh, "

"Now, we've got our little worms all safely hidden in their home in the hand luggage. There's a chance they might be scanned at baggage check, but I've taken care of that.

They'll just show up as a box of toiletries. If they open the bags up, the secret compartment inside the box should handle any potential difficulties, no problem," he gave a sly little grin.

"Uh huh "

"But we'll need to get them to the hotel as soon as possible. In order to preserve the precise environmental conditions in their containment chamber, I'll need the nutrient gel hydrating regularly. We don't have much time, and I'm hardly taking them out here and doing it at the bloody airport!"

"Uh huh," Graham just mumbled the reply, nodding his head a little.

"Well try to show some enthusiasm, man! What the hell's the matter with you!?"

"I.. I'm not feeling too good, Sir..." Graham moaned weakly, "I..I think it might be an after effect of the flight. I'm not too good in planes, Doctor."

Arcane resisted the sudden urge to comment on the man not being too good on the ground either, but merely contented himself with sucking in his cheeks in irritation and scowling at his assistant.

"Well, when we get into the terminal foyer, go and buy yourself some bloody anti-emetics! Graham, try to show a bit of control. I can�t afford to have you draw attention to us now!" he whispered furiously, "So..." something caught Arcane's eye from behind and he turned sharply, "YOU THERE!! Be careful with that! !" he snapped at a porter, who was wheeling , their luggage just a little too haphazardly for Arcane's liking.

"I..I think it's easing off a little, Doctor. I think... I think I'll be okay.." Graham muttered groggily as Arcane turned back to him. The scientist looked dubiously at Graham's rapidly fading complexion, and had his doubts.

"Just baggage check to clear, and we'll soon be at the hotel, eh?" He put his arm round Graham and grudgingly put on his comforting voice, just as 'Rudolph' went into yet another looped chorus and a Santa and two elves walked past. Arcane grimaced. Any more of this wretched Christmas cheer and he'd be feeling as bad as Graham!

He gave an even bigger grimace as he looked ahead of him. To say the terminal building was heaving to capacity and beyond was an understatement. The baggage check queues themselves seemed to stretch for an eternity. Who's bright bloody idea was it to hold a conference at Christmas!? Judging by the size of the queue, it was going to take until Christmas to clear it! Glancing warily at his assistant, who was looking worse by the minute

-- Any greener and he'd give Holland a rrun for his money! -- Arcane considered his options. He turned back and approached the porter.

"As you can see, my associate isn't feeling too well, and I think it would be in all our best interests if we can expedite these proceedings," -- he reached into his jacket and produced his wallet, from which he removed a fifty dollar bill, which he surreptitiously stuffed into the porter's hand, "-- if you know what I mean, " he gave the man a warm, friendly little smile.

The porter glanced at Graham.

"I think you're right, Sir," he slipped the bill into his trouser pocket with an understanding grin, "I reckon he'd qualify as disabled under the circumstances... In fact, why don't I go and see what I can do right now?"

"Jolly good!" Arcane said with satisfaction, as the porter went to the front of the queue and began talking to an official. A few moments later, he was on his way back to Arcane and Graham, a smile on his face.

"It's fine, Sir. They'll take you through the disabled check," he pointed ahead to a wider area, blissfully devoid of any sort of a queue, and manned by a solitary female official.

"Splendid! Come along, Graham!" Arcane smiled as they made their way towards the check, the porter taking hold of the luggage trolley again and following them.

"That all seems to be in order, Dr. Arcane," the official smiled at him warmly. She was an attractive woman: Slim, tall, with long auburn hair plaited down her back; and vivid green eyes that held Arcane's gaze.

As it turned out, they'd sent the luggage through the scanners, but hadn't bothered to physically check it afterwards, and Arcane's more elaborate precautions had been unnecessary, but it still pleased the scientist that he'd done so, and it was always possible they'd be needed on the way back.

"Now I have to ask you; Do you have any organic material with you?" the official asked, albeit in a relaxed manner.

"I beg your pardon?" Arcane replied.

"It's forbidden by law to bring dairy or farm produce unlicensed by the F.D.A into the State of Nevada," she explained with another warm smile; "Do you have any fruit with you?"

"Not SO much as an apple, dear lady!" Arcane beamed. "Do you have any vegetables?"

"Not unless you count my assistant here."

"What about pets, livestock or other animals?"

"Note previous answer," he grinned, before assuming a more serious demeanour. Arcane paused to consider his actual reply, "My dear, I can safely say, hand on heart, and with absolute sincerity, that neither myself nor my associate have with us any species of animal known to man," he gave her his best trademark smile, taking her hand and kissing it gallantly. She seemed a little embarrassed for a moment, but recovered swiftly, and reciprocated with a warm little smile of her own, and made no attempt to remove her hand from his. Their eyes met, and the atmosphere was filled with a latent sexual tension as they moved closer to each other...

"I'm *really* not feeling very well, Sir..." a pathetically feeble voice moaned beside him. At that moment, 'Rudolph' decided to end its umpteenth loop, and was replaced by an off-key rendition of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing', killing stone dead what little mood remained.

With a resigned sigh, and a 'maybe on my way back... if I haven't murdered my assistant by then' type look, Arcane released her hand.

"Well, best be off then... if that's all?" he looked at her.

"Sure, Dr. Arcane. You have a nice stay here in Las Vegas, and Happy Holidays!. I hope your friend's better soon."

You and me both! "Oh, I'm sure he will be," that... or dead! "Thank you so much," he replied, leaving her behind as the trio made their way to the car waiting at the terminal exit.

"Swam... Alec! You here?" Will called out in a subdued voice, pushing a tree branch out of his way and moving further into the swamp. He kept glancing backwards and to his side.

"Alec?" as he got further from civilisation, he allowed his voice to rise a little. He glanced back, continuing to walk. Ha! Try taking me by surprise this time!

He turned forward again, and nearly collided with the huge chest of Alec Holland blocking his way.

"Aah!" he gave a little startled cry; "For pity's sake, Alec, will you stop doing that!?"

"Sorry, Will."

"No you're not."

Alec didn't bother to reply.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say scaring the crap out of me is yours and the swamp's alternative to HBO!"

"If you're to learn, Will, you need your senses honing and your wits about you in the swamp. If that means testing you occasionally..." "Don't tell me you don't enjoy it, Alec!"

"All right. I won't tell you," Alec stated, an imperceptibly wry smile crossing his lips momentarily, but disappearing before anyone could accuse him of it.

You wanna take on a Kipp, Alec? Well two can play this game! "Fine, Alec. I guess I'll just come back later to tell you what I found out about Arcane," Will said with feigned casualness, lazily turning around, hands in pockets, and slowly wandering back in the direction he came from. A huge grin crossed his face when his back was turned to Alec.

"Will... what about Arcane?" Alec's voice called after him,

"Sorry, Alec... couldn't quite hear that. Hearing's not to good. Lousy senses, you know!"

"Common fault with us city folks."

"Will," Alec sighed and played along with the charade.

"Still deaf, Alec. I thought I heard you promise not to do that scaring me senseless thing again, but I guess I'm just not sure."

"Will!" Alec reiterated, more forcefully, "What about Arcane?"

Will decided he'd milked this one for as much as he was going to get, and walked back up to Alec.

"I did some checking around town... careful, like you said..."

"...and what did you find?"

"Hey! Let me finish! I didn't find anything, other than the whole town seems to have a downer on him too. Nothing about rocks, or anything recent though. Anyway, Alec, I decided to hang around his complex and see what was happening..."

"Will! I warned you *not* to go near there!"

"I was careful. I was careful! I didn't go in or anything... just hung around the outside, near the fence, and listened in to some of the guards' conversations."

"It was dangerous. You should not..."

"Alec! Do you want to know what I found out or not?"

"I'll take that question as rhetorical."

"To cut a long story short, Alec, Arcane's not home."

"What do you mean, 'not home'."

"I mean, like, he's not at the complex. Heard the guards saying he left this morning and would be gone for several days. They've got one of his assistants -- some chick called Stella running the place. Know her?" Alec shook his head.

"No. I'm not familiar with that name. Why isn't Graham running the complex?"

"Graham?"

"Arcane's assistant."

"Beats me, Alec. I only heard them mention Arcane's name, and this Stella. Never said anything about a Graham."

"Why would Arcane leave the complex now? It seems too coincidental."

"I heard them saying something about some conference in Vegas he was going to. You think it's got anything to do with this?"

Alec seemed lost in thought for a moment;

"Of course! The World Science Conference is held around this time,"

"You know about it?"

"It's held every year. I remember attending, many years ago. We went three times..." he paused, saddened at the memories; "... Linda and I. The first time was in Helsinki, the second in Stuttgart, the third, Paris, And afterwards, we walked in moonlight down the Champs Elysees..." He lowered his head.

"Sorry, Alec," Will said in a hushed tone, "I didn't mean to rake up old memories."

Alec shook his head, "Good memories, Will. Sometimes, memories are all you have to hold onto," he gave an ironic little laugh; "It was in Paris, there, that I first met Arcane. He also attended then."

"So it's probably just a coincidence then? He'd have been going anyway?"

"No. Arcane despised the conference and mixing as an equal with those he regarded as inferiors. He hasn't been in years. Why would he go now!?"

"Doesn't sound too promising,"

"If he's going, he's up to something."

"Yeah, but it doesn't look like it's connected with you or the swamp though. He's probably got some scam. Maybe that fossil he dug up is part of that? Doesn't mean it's a danger?"

"That is a possibility," Alec conceded, "We can only hope it is," his face registered a wave of anger; "Whatever the motive, someone will suffer though. It sickens me that he will thrive and profit from his actions... and never suffer the consequences."

"THIS IS BLOODY OUTRAGEOUS!! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN I DON'T HAVE A ROOM HERE!?!?!" Arcane's voice rose to an irate crescendo, causing the entire lobby of the Las Vegas Hilton to hush its voice and turn his way, before eventually returning to its regular business again.

"Sir... Doctor Arcane, I must ask you to keep your voice down," the young man behind the reception desk whispered in an acutely embarrassed tone of voice.

"I BLOODY WELL WON'T KEEP MY VOICE DOWN! WHY HAVEN'T I GOT A ROOM!?"

"Sir? I..I'm really starting to feel bad again..." the voice of doom moaned beside him. "I think --" Graham paused momentarily, grimacing, as though stifling a reflux action, "-- I think..."

"OH SHUT UP, GRAHAM!!"

"Excuse me, is there a problem here?" An authoritative, yet helpful voice enquired, as a - small, very prim woman of medium build, who Arcane guessed to be in her mid to late forties approached.

"PROBLEM!? I'LL SAY THERE'S A PROBLEM! I DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE A BLOODY ROOM IS THE PROBLEM!!" Arcane vented his anger at her.

That and having the manners of a five year old delinquent! "If you'll just bear with me for a moment, Sir, I'm sure we'll have this all sorted out," The woman turned to the young man at the desk, who handed her a sheet of paper before she could ask anything. She perused it for a moment, before turning back to Arcane.

"Ah, Dr. Arcane, isn't it? Yes, we were expecting you, but not until tomorrow."

"TOMORROW!!? WHY, I..."

"Dr Arcane �" she politely raised her index finger to silence the promised stream of further verbal abuse, looking all the world like patient school mistress, "� I�m sure we could solve whatever problems have arisen far more efficiently... and speedily, if we can handle this in a calm and stress free manner." I wonder if I'd get away with just a caution if I attempted to insert that fax machine into him anally? "Now, calmly... what seems to be the matter, Sir?"

Arcane took a moment to collect himself and allow his rage to subside a little, although he was still seething; "What seems to be the matter is that I arrived here to book in, and this wretched incompetent --" he cast his thumb towards the now very weary looking young man behind the reception desk, "-- tells me that I don't have any rooms, when I know that my assistant arranged for some earlier this week!" The woman glanced at the notes on the sheet of paper.

"Let me see now. That would have been the booking made on Monday the 17th at 2.50 pm, by a Miss Stella Nelson, on behalf of Dr. Anton Arcane of Arcane Industries, Houma, Louisiana, yes?"

"Yes!!"

"Please forgive me for being a little confused then, Doctor Arcane, but I fail to see what the problem is."

Arcane's eyes flared with rage again and he clenched his fists involuntarily; "I'd have thought the problem was bloody obvious to even the most simple minded of morons, but I'm clearly dealing with a class of incompetency all its own here. I want to see the manager! Now! !"

"Sir, I *am* the manager, and I can assure you that we take our record of efficiency here at the Hilton very seriously," God; it would almost be worth getting fired for! She glanced back at the fax machine for a brief moment, tilting her head just a little to imagine it sideways on.

"Well if you knew I was coming, and you *did* make the booking, *why* haven't I got a room!?!?" Arcane said in an exasperated tone of voice.

"You do have a room, Dr. Arcane... tomorrow. To be perfectly honest, we shouldn't have been able to give you that, and we went to a lot of trouble and extra arrangements to fit you in. Miss Nelson knew this, and I'm at a loss as to why you seem unaware of the arrangements that were made, Sir."

"Arrangements?" Arcane said in a perplexed and slightly meeker voice, "Look, humour me �"

You mean I'm not already!?

"-- Let's just pretend I'm ignorant for the moment --"

I can't think where I'm going to find all the imagination needed for that!

"-- Be so good as to explain what exactly you arranged with my assistant, Stella."

"Very well, Sir. When Miss Nelson called, we were fully booked up, which we did inform her of, but she did mention how important it was to you and the conference, and we informed her that we'd let her be the first on the list should a last minute cancellation become available, which one did... but not until tomorrow. There was absolutely nothing we could do about a room for tonight. We'd hardly be enhancing our reputation for customer care by kicking existing guests out into the street --" With maybe the exception of you, you jumped up little creep!

"Well what the hell am I going to do!? --" Arcane began raising his voice again.

I suppose instantly emigrating to a different continent would be out of the question?

"My assistant and I require rooms for TONIGHT! !" He began raising his voice in fury again.

I don't care if you arrived here with your pregnant wife riding a fucking donkey. There ain't no rooms here tonight! Just what part of 'no' don't you understand?

"If you'll allow me to finish, Doctor Arcane, I'll explain the arrangements that were made with your assistant... arrangements you *should* have been aware of" Arcane became quiet again. "Well, there was nothing we could do about tonight, but rather than see you inconvenienced and without a place to stay, I can assure you that we went to considerable lengths to contact every other hotel here in Las Vegas to try and secure you a temporary accommodation for tonight. Believe me, it wasn't easy, Sir. You must realise, this *is* Las Vegas, on the last weekend before Christmas. There are over four hundred other conventions at this very moment... three in this very hotel; and that's not including all our other vacation guests. It's a *very* popular time of the year. You didn't make the arrangements until just four days ago. It would normally be impossible to get in at all under those circumstances. Now your accommodation here tomorrow will be given priority, and the current guest will be leaving a little earlier than usual. We can have the room ready for you by l0am. Please believe me when I say that I've put as much effort into this for you as I possibly can --" albeit not as much effort as it's taking just to be civil to you! "-- Now there really was nowhere else available, but without going into too much detail, we've managed to pull a few strings and have secured you a room at a nice little hotel along the strip. We can arrange a car to transport you there, and back here again tomorrow. We have very secure facilities if you wish to leave the bulk of your luggage here until tomorrow. I promise you, we're doing everything we can to make this as easy as possible for you, Doctor Arcane," Stop trying to appease the little worm. Knee him in the happy sacks! You know you want to!

"Sir? I..I..." Graham stifled another reflux, blinking hard and steadying himself on the reception desk.

"Graham! Do be quiet, man! Can't you see I've got enough problems of my own!?"

Haven't we all? "I really am at a loss as to why your assistant failed to tell you of all these arrangements, Doctor."

Probably because she knew how you'd react and wanted you to be 1500 miles and 5 states away from her before you found out; and knowing you'd be in a good mood again by the end of the weekend since you'd have your prize and your research by then; and had all weekend to dump all the crap for this on *me *!

"May. .maybe it kind of slipped her mind?" Graham mumbled dizzily.

"Graham! If you don't have anything useful to say, don't bother saying anything at all!" Arcane snapped at him; "I'll deal with *her* later!" He turned back to the manager; "Well why don't you move one of the other guests to this 'nice little hotel along the strip', and put me in their room? I'll pay them for their inconvenience, if you feel that's a problem. Surely that's not so much to ask, is it?" Arcane tried for what seemed to him, a more reasonable approach.

"This is The Hilton, Sir. That's not how we do business here."

"I could really make it worth your while..." Arcane said enticingly, going through the routine of reaching for his wallet and producing a hundred dollar bill.

"Are you trying to bribe me, Doctor Arcane?" the manager's demeanour became more defensive.

"Not at all. Consider it a gratuity from a customer who would be very appreciative under the circumstances," Arcane replied pleasantly, taking out a second note and doubling the original figure.

The cash isn't necessary. Hell, I'd do it for the simple pleasure of a promise from him that we could find him dead in that room tomorrow morning, of auto-erotic asphyxiation!

"Dr. Arcane," she pushed his hand and the money away, "that is *not* how *I* do business here!" She remained calm, steadfastly refusing to allow her voice to raise to an unacceptably hostile tone. With a frustrated frown, Arcane shoved the wallet back into his jacket. He was about to open his mouth to speak when something caught the comer of his eye. Turning, he gazed in stunned disbelief as a group of about twenty satin and glitter clad Elvises walked past, chatting merrily amongst themselves. Arcane blinked and gave a double take, before turning back to the manager.

"*That's* one of the other conventions?" his voice was unusually subdued.

Don't let him see you smirking. For god's sake, don't let him see you smirking! "That's correct, Dr. Arcane. They have a regular booking this time, every year." Go on... rub salt in the wound! "Nice people. They even like to do a little guest spot in the lounges. 'Heartbreak Hotel' always goes down very nicely with the other guests," Yesss!!! Highfive!! ...Ahem, okay, that's your treat of the day over, now try to control yourself You are a professional!

"I... I'm being superseded by a..a.. a bunch of BLOODY ELVIS IMPERSONATORS!!?"

If I'd known what you were like beforehand; you miserable little toe-rag, I'd have made sure you were superseded by the cockroaches we don't have in the kitchens! "You're not being superseded, Dr. Arcane. They had the booking since last year."

"Elvis Impersonators!" he just growled.

Beats me why you're complaining. With that hair I thought you were one of them at first!

"Now, Doctor, what arrangements would you like me to make with regards to transport and your luggage?"

"Can I safely take it that the other conference is of equal value to the future of Mankind...brush salesmen, perhaps?.. restroom attendants? Do you have *any* idea who I am!? I am ANTON ARCANE! I happen to be the greatest genius this world has seen since Newton, Einstein and Gallileo!! You're refusing *me* accommodation for a bunch of tourists, simpletons, and anal retentive deadbeats!?"

Looks like you're finally catching on, bub! "It's not a matter of greatness, Dr. Arcane. Our other guests simply booked first. Perhaps if --" Don't say it, don't say it, it's not professional! You've managed your entire career, 30 years, without ever raising your voice, losing your temper, or insulting a customer, " -- if that renowned intellect you claim to have, *Doctor*, had had the simple foresight to book several months earlier, you wouldn't be having this problem now, would you!?" Damn! 30 years! "And if your attitude was more tolerant, perhaps Miss Nelson might have had a little more incentive to actually tell you!" I just can't seem to stop myself!... Well, I started.. may as well get my money's worth! "And just for the record, *Dr. Arcane*, those 'simpletons and anal retentive deadbeats' happen to be perfectly nice, polite people, which is more than can be said for you... and if you *ever* raise your voice in profanity to me in this hotel again, I'll have you escorted off the premises!" God..I feel like lighting up a cigarette after that!

Graham took a step back and tried to blend into the background, his nausea momentarily forgotten. Oh shit!

"How dare you!" Arcane was taken aback. "Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that!?"

"Who am I, Dr. Arcane!? I am the person who has the final say on whether you have anywhere at all to stay tonight. I am the person that can hold that room for you tomorrow, as opposed to letting it go to the next 'simpleton' on the list!" Grabbed 'em, now give 'em a twist! "And I am the person who, with one phone call, can see that you are barred from ever setting foot in this, or any other Hilton, for the rest of your life! Now... have *I* made *myself* perfectly clear, Dr. Arcane!?"

The look on Arcane's face backtracked from outraged fury to insecure humility in an uncomfortable little series of expressions. "Perhaps... perhaps I have been a little hasty in my judgement," he gave a nervous little smile; "It's, er, it's been a very tiring journey here, and I'm certain you did your best... and I do, of course, appreciate the effort you've gone to on my behalf. I'm sure we can put this sorry little business behind us and begin anew, eh?" she just glowered at him, holding the dominance she'd seized. "So! What's this about a nice little hotel along the strip?" he forced joviality, clapping his hands together in a semblance of enthusiasm.

You've just made me break my hitherto unblemished record of 30 years. You're not getting off that lightly, you prissy little excuse for a human being! "Don't you think you owe this young man an apology?" she calmly indicated behind the reception desk. Arcane took a deep breath, trying vainly to hide the anger at his humiliation. Gritting his teeth and sucking in his cheeks a little, he turned to the youth;

"It seems that in my haste, I might have misjudged you, and perhaps made references casting doubts upon your abilities to perform your job; for which I apologise most sincerely," he turned back to the manager; "Satisfied!?" he hissed, in a most unapologetic manner.

Not by a long way... but it'll do. "Certainly, Dr. Arcane. Now I'll arrange transport to take you to the hotel. Would you like to leave your luggage here? It'll be quite safe," I promise, reluctantly, not to accidentally put it in the incinerator.

"My assistant and I will take the hand luggage... personal effects, you know; but the rest can remain here, thank you. And, er, if you could please arrange some transport --" he glanced back at Graham and he became aware of another moan, " -- preferably as soon as possible, that would be most appreciated."

"Very good, Doctor. If you'd like to make yourself comfortable, I'll see to the arrangements for you. There, you see what a difference using the magic word makes?" she smiled patronisingly, before turning away.

"Thank you so much for your help," Arcane called back after her, meekly. Smug bitch!!

"The nerve!! I'm going to have her fired, Graham. Bloody woman!" Arcane fumed as the taxi slowly inched its way through a gridlocked Las Vegas Boulevard. "No!... Not fired, I'm going to have her killed. Arrange to have her bumped off... or kidnapped and mutated, eh, Graham?" Graham just nodded. He didn't feel it prudent to open his mouth to say anything, considering how he was feeling.

"How much further is it!?" Arcane called to the driver, who failed to hear above the sound of his stereo, which was belting out a chorus of 'White Christmas'. Determined not to be undermined by Bing Crosby's festive cheer, Arcane repeated the question, louder this time, and accompanied by tapping the man on the back. The driver held up a single finger, and Arcane really had no idea if the man was insulting him, or simply meant one block to go... or one mile. Giving up with a sigh, Arcane reached into the hand luggage and searched around for something, before retrieving a small container. With a concerned expression, he lifted the lid, then removed a top section, and gazed inside. The concern on his face didn't ease.

" Are... are they all right, Sir?" Graham decided to risk talking, and asked Arcane.

"Just about! But they won't be if I can't get some water to the gel shortly. They'll be fine for another hour at the very most; "DAMMIT, HOW LONG!! !???" He suddenly yelled at the driver, making Graham jump backwards in his seat in surprise. The driver caught that and turned, again holding up a single finger. Handing the box to Graham, Arcane made a gesture of incomprehension, before mimicking the man�s gesture. The driver seemed to get the hint.

"One mile!" he called back to Arcane, who groaned and put his head in his hands.

"Bloody hell, Graham! It'll be quicker to walk at this rate! I can't lose them because of a sodding traffic jam! !" Panic was creeping into his voice, "Not now, damn the fates! !"

"I... I..." Graham started to say something, before suddenly becoming silent again, his face reaching hitherto unknown shades of pale green. Arcane looked on in horror, before snatching the container away from him.

"Graham, for God's sake, open the bloody window and have the foresight to point your head in a direction other than me or these creatures!" With the way his luck seemed to be running, images were already running riot through Arcane's mind concerning the near future and the possibilities it held... all of them messy, and none of them pleasant.

"Hey, man, that's just the cutest accent. You're Australian, aren't you?" the cab driver leaned back, smiling at Arcane, who tried not to glower too much.

Moron! "British, actually," he said, trying hard to keep his temper and blood pressure from rising any further.

"Oh yeah, 'course. Always getting you guys confused," he said amiably.

Keep your cool, Anton. We don't want him getting angry and taking any longer deliberately! "Well, it's such a jolly easy mistake to make, isn't it?" he forced pleasantry. It's only a completely different accent from a continent on the other side of the world!!

"Oh wow, gee, I just love it the way you guys talk like that," the driver gushed, "Say something else."

How about reciting your epitath!? "Why don't we just concentrate on getting to this hotel as fast as we possibly can, eh? If we can manage it within half an hour I'll make it well worth your while?" And if you don't, and these worms die, you'll be morning cactus in the Nevada desert by next week!

"Sure thing, buddy," the driver smiled reassuringly. Just then, ahead of them, the traffic lights changed and the line began moving again. Arcane just fidgeted nervously, biting his lip, and prayed to every transport deity he could think of.

By the time they arrived, twenty five minutes later, Arcane was nearly a nervous wreck; desperate to continually check the container, yet not daring to in case opening the lid caused that extra, fatal bit of dehydration. His hands were shaking and beads of sweat were pouring from his brow as the taxi finally pulled into a small forecourt. Beside him, Graham had miraculously managed to retain the entire contents of his digestive system. How he'd achieved this momentous feat was a mystery all its own. How much longer he could hold on was an even greater one. Arcane didn't even notice.

"Here we are, guys: The Algiers Hotel," the driver announced cheerfully. Arcane looked on in horror.

"*This* is where we're expected to stay?" he moaned, closing his eyes. "It's a bloody motel!"

"Sorry. Didn't catch that, buddy. There a problem?" the driver asked, still barely able to hear over his 'Thirty all time Christmas Classics' tape. Arcane just shook his head weakly, resigned to an ignominious fate for the night.

As the car stopped, Arcane's attention returned to the worms, and his horror at the hotel became a thing of the past for the moment as he stuffed a fifty dollar bill into the man's hand and leaped out the door, the worms' containment chamber clutched firmly in his hands.

"GRAHAM!! STOP BLOODY DAWDLING, MAN!!!" he screamed, dashing through an open glass door to his left into a small, single roomed foyer which appeared to be the reception area. Stifling a moan, Graham shifted himself gingerly out of the seat and made to follow.

"Er, can... can you see to the luggage?" he said quietly to the driver, who gave him a reassuring nod.

"Sure, buddy. You know which room you got, or you want it leaving here?"

"Erm --" he paused to collect himself, swallowing hard, "-- they said they'd arranged room no. 150. I... I don't know where that is."

"No problem. I do. Been here loads of times. Down at the other end there, past the pool, straight ahead. It's on the ground --" he pointed, "-- I'll take your bags over."

"Thanks."

Graham looked ahead. The two storey blocks of rooms were arranged in a large square, around a central swimming pool. The place did look more like a motel than the type of place they were used to, but it wasn't that bad... not really. Okay, so it lacked some of the refinements Doctor Arcane was used to... oh, and the T-Shirt, baseball cap and souvenir shops adjoining the place weren't exactly what the Doctor might call sightly; and now he came to think of it, they were right next door to a boarded up, derelict rendition of the old wild west... but it would do fine for a night. Of course, Doctor Arcane probably wouldn't be happy about the view straight ahead looking out from The Algiers. Several thousand cheerful children, an enormous pink clown, and the glaring, garish lights of Circus Circus were hard to ignore. He looked back inside again. There was nice little restaurant by reception that. .. Graham shut off that train of though rapidly. No food. Do *NOT* think of the f word!

"GRAHAM!!?" A familiar irate voice yelled from inside reception. Giving the taxi driver a little wave of appreciation as he headed over towards the room, Graham slunk into the reception area. "Graham! Where the hell. have you been!? See to this, will you. I don't have I time!" Arcane indicated a form and credit card slip so that Graham could deal with the booking in. Behind the desk, a middle aged man watched them calmly. Arcane turned to him.

"The key! I need the key, and I need it now! He'll deal with the details," Arcane indicated Graham as he held out his hand in readiness, fingers moving in anticipation, and the expression on his face pleading.

"Won't take long. Just got to fill the form in and check the details. Maybe if you're tired you'd like to take a seat?" the man offered helpfully.

"I don't want to rest. I need to get into my room. FOR PITY'S SAKE! I NEED A BATHROOM! It's a matter of life or death!!!

"I'm not allowed to give out keys until the details are checked. I'm sorry. Won't take long."

"PLEEEEASE!! !" Arcane whimpered, putting the box on the counter, grabbing the man by the lapels of his jacket with both hands and pulling him close. "I'M BEGGING YOU... I'M DESPERATE!!" Tears began welling up in his eyes.

"Rules are rules, but you're welcome to use the restrooms just through that door," he pointed to a door to the left, mere metres away.

"Thank you! Oh, *thank* you!! !" Arcane felt like kissing the man, but instead chose to release him, snatch the box back, turn and run full speed for the restroom door.

"Wow!" the clerk exclaimed, "when you gotta go, you gotta go, I guess!"

Graham looked up from the booking form and shook his head in defence of his employer, "No. See his got this mutated worm, and if he doesn't keep it wet, it dies," The clerk just looked at him in abject horror.

"That for real?" the man gasped.

"Uh huh."

"Gee, who'd've thought it!? Poor guy!!... Can they cure it?"

Graham hung his head and sighed, before his nausea decided it was best to give the subject up before things got far too complicated for his fragile constitution to handle.

It was ten minutes later when a considerably more relieved and happier Anton Arcane wandered out of the reception room and glanced round the place. The happiness began to fade immediately as he looked around. Never mind, Anton. It's only one night. Now to get settled in, make plans for tomorrow... deal with Stella! He looked ahead to where the clerk had told him the room was, and made his way towards it. He glanced at his Rolex: 18.15. Time to get settled in and relaxed, have a shower, a change of clothing, then find somewhere to get dinner and discuss the following day with Graham. He looked at the containment chamber lovingly. "Daddy won't leave it so long next time, my precious little babies," he cooed.

As he approached the room, he saw the door opening and Graham stepping out to meet him.

"Are.. are they all right, Doctor?" Graham looked very apprehensive.

"Fine... Everything's fine, Graham. Nick of time and all that!" Graham breathed a visible sigh, "That's...a.a.. relief, Sir,"

"Not feeling any better then?" Arcane queried, finally noticing, now that his own concerns were dealt with, how rough his assistant was looking. Graham shook his head miserably.

"Have you taken the anti-emetics yet?" Graham nodded. "Well can't you make yourself sick, man, and get it over with!?" Graham shook his head in distaste. "and Graham... would you care to explain why that clerk was giving me the strangest of looks when I came back out?"

"Dunno?" Graham shrugged, trying his best not to look guilty, and failing.

"I knew I should have brought Stella!" Arcane muttered; "... and speaking ofwhom...! !" A frown crossed his face and he made to enter the room, but Graham seemed to be blocking his way. "er, Graham? As nice as it is standing out here, I'd really like to go inside now, and getting into this hard won room is going to be so much easier if you'd get kindly step of my way," he said mildly.

"er, Doctor... Sir... er, there's... there's a little...er, problem with the room..." Graham said in a tiny voice.

"Problem?" Arcane reiterated, a look on his face developing that suggested that just one more thing going wrong tonight was going to have severe repercussions for the rest of some poor sod's life; "Graham, I don't need any more problems. Do I make myself clear?"

Graham nodded. "Now, why don't I just go inside while you proceed to make this problem go away... yes?" Graham shook his head nervously. Arcane began to develop his scowl again. "This problem, Graham?.. Would you describe it as, maybe just a minor inconvenience that wouldn't bother me too much?" he raised his eyebrows hopefully, willing Graham to nod his head. Graham said nothing, his head shaking ever so slightly. Arcane paused for a moment; "Fine. Perhaps it's something a little more major, but something we can still sort out without any trouble?" Again, that shake of the head. Arcane was beginning to get that weary look of deja vu again; "Graham. Are you trying to tell me that it's something I'm *really* not going to like, and that there's nothing you can do about it!?"

Finally, a nod. Arcane suppressed a scowl, again raising his eyebrows in hope; "Something *I* can do about it??" A shake of denial dashed those hopes. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS IT NOW THEN!?" Arcane fumed, pushing past Graham and storming into the room.

"Well frankly, Graham, I don't see the problem. I'll admit it's a dingy little hole, but then we did expect that. It's lacking in the refinements, but it's only for a single night. I suppose I can

live with this. You really are getting a little paranoid, man!" he looked around, taking the place in. Typical motel type room. King sized bed... table... an armchair with a stain that Arcane didn't want to contemplate too hard... television that looked like it had been made in the precambrian... crude furniture... an even cruder air conditioning system by the door. He frowned. No tea making facilities that he could see. Damn! Still, there was a restaurant on the premises, so it wasn't a total loss. There was a door at the far end of the room. That'll be the other room to the suite. No... not really a problem.

"You, er, you don't mind!?" Graham said in abject amazement, with a hopeful look to his face. Arcane could have sworn it was the first time he'd seen the man smile since his sickness had begun.

"No, Graham. I don't mind. Quite frankly, I think you're over-reacting to it all. It'll do," he put the containment chamber down on the table, "I take it that's the door to your room?" Arcane pointed ahead, and Graham's face immediately dropped. Arcane looked puzzled. "erm, no, Sir... er, that's the bathroom."

"So your room is accessible through the bathroom, then?"

"er, well, not exactly, Doctor..."

The penny dropped.

"This is it!? This is *our* room!?!?" Graham just nodded silently, "But, Graham..." Arcane said in a voice that was mild, but teeming with latent menace; "... there's only one bed!"

"I.. I know, Sir."

"Right! We'll bloody well see about that then! !" he snarled, turning to leave.

"er, Sir... Doctor Arcane? That... that won't help. I..I..I've already been in touch with them, well, about it. They, er, needed to move the other bed to another room last week. There, well, there just aren't any more beds available. They were sorry, but this was all they had... er, they did say we could have a discount??" Arcane stood there, fuming silently. "... er, it's a very big bed... errn, we don't even have to be near each other??.. and, it.. it's only for, like, one night...and..." His voice trailed offinto silence as he saw Arcane regarding him with mounting irritation.

The Scientist seemed to ponder for a moment, then looked at the bed, inclining his head a little as though pondering some equation, before gaining sudden insight. His face seemed to lighten. "Like I said, Graham. No problem here," his voice regained a modicum of joviality and Graham grinned slightly.

"As..as long as you're not unhappy about it, Sir. I.. I mean it doesn't bother me..." hestiffened, realising with sudden horror how his words might be taken by Arcane; "... that's to say, that it's not like, I, well, I'm actually happy with it... but it doesn't bother me. That's what I meant to..."

"Graham! What *are* you babbling about!?"

"er, do you want the left or the right hand side, Sir?"

"Well frankly, Graham, I thought of it more as who gets the top and who gets the bottom," Arcane said pleasantly. Graham's eyes widened, his nausea a distant memory.

"Doctor??"

"Yes, Graham," he smiled.

"What exactly do you mean, 'top' and 'bottom'?"

"Certainly, Graham. 'Top' --" he patted his hand on the bed, "-- and 'bottom'" he pointed to the floor. The hugest look of disappointment crossed Graham's face.

"You, er, you want me to sleep on the floor, Sir?"

"That or the armchair. Hardly matters, does it?"

It does to ME. "But, Doctor Arcane?"

"Graham? Look at the logistics here. We have two people... and one bed. Now one of us is an unparalleled genius who needs a good night's sleep to recuperate from their traumas of the day, and be ready for tomorrow... and the other is his assistant. Now tell me, who do you think gets the bed?"

"You do, Sir," Graham sulked.

"Jolly good, Graham. Now that wasn't so hard to sort out, was it?" Arcane smirked. "Right then. The 'to do' list. First I think a phone call to Stella's in order, just to let her know she's got a weekend's start before the world's finest assassins find her... then I think I'll have a shower -- get me a change of clothing ready for afterwards -- and then we can discuss the plan of action for tomorrow while we get some dinner..."

Arcane didn't have time to get any more words out before Graham suddenly made a desperate bolt for the bathroom, a lurching sound coming from deep within his stomach. The horror of the thought of a night on the floor followed by the dreaded mention of edible substances was the final straw on Graham's delicate gut.

Arcane winced at the sounds emanating from within the bathroom. Suddenly, the thought of having to go in there afterwards to have his shower was becoming a less than pleasant prospect.

I hope to God he made it to the toilet! "What did I ever do to deserve all this!?" Arcane moaned to himself, sitting down on the bed and folding his arms in a huff. Those sounds were beginning to make him nauseous himself!

Oh my God... what if he made it to the bath!?!?

"It's enough to make you sick, isn't it, Alec?" Will muttered, casually tossing a stone into the underbrush. He was seated on the porch steps of the Langford house, looking contemplative. "What is, Will?" Alec replied, standing beside him.

"Thinking about what you said earlier... about Arcane... about how that jerk's living it up in Vegas, getting ahead on the backs of other people, while you're forced to live in a swamp because of him," he tossed another stone ahead of him.

"I try not to think of it too much," Alec said evenly, "What's happened has happened,"

"You got the patience of a saint, Alec. Can't say as I'd be so philosophical."

"Would agonising over it make it go away?"

"Guess not."

"And if I thought of it like that every day, how long would I remain sane?"

"Point taken."

"You make it sound like a prison sentence without a single redeeming feature. It opened my eyes to the beauty of a world I'd never have known existed... friends I'd never have met, and sensations I'd never have experienced."

"Makes you just want to line up and ask the guy to mutate you, doesn't it?" Will quipped.

"I never said that."

"You know, Alec. For a guy who's so content in your situation, you sounded pretty tense when you described all those things you've gained. I know what you said was true, but I'd..I'd have expected, like, just one tiny little smile... but you know, you sure didn't look that happy."

"You mentioned you'd got a job in town."

"Not to mention avoiding the subject when challenged about it... ?" Alec merely proceeded to go silent. "Okay, okay, I get the hint. Yeah, I'm working over at Skillet's."

"But not tonight?"

"I already got the room... job doesn't start till tomorrow night. Should give me enough money to get some wheels in a few months. Sounds cool."

"Good," Alec smiled. He seemed to tense again for a moment and looked around. "What time are you expecting Tressa back?"

"Not for another couple of hours. Off to a Christmas party at the Reigers, with Doc Hollister trying to rebuild her life for her," he grinned. "Haven't decided whether he'll get her married off first, or whether she'll maim him for tryin'. I just promised to look after the place for her while she's out."

"It's good she has friends around her to care for her," Alec nodded in approval.

"You know, Alec, she could have one more."

"I don't know what you mean, Will."

"Sure you do, Alec. Why don't you show yourself to her,"

"That wouldn't be possible." Alec suddenly seemed very uncomfortable.

"You didn't have any problem showing yourself to Jim... or me?" Alec remained silent;

"C'mon, Alec. What do you think she's gonna do? Scream? Run away? Don't you think she could use another friend. Don't you think *you* could?"

"To show myself to her would be to expose her to Arcane's madness and put her in danger." "That's a crock, and you know it! From what you've said, not knowing about you hasn't exactly stopped her being exposed before. Alec, what are you afraid on"

"Look at me, Will, and tell me what you see."

"What's that supposed to mean? I see my friend, Alec Holland... and so would Tressa!

"I... I can't... Not yet. Maybe in the future. I don't know."

"Look, Alec. I'm not suggesting we find Doc Hollister and try to get you fixed up with her. I gotta admit, as blind dates go, you don't have a lot going for you," he grinned at Alec, trying to break the tension that was becoming more than tangible; "but you know Tressa' s not so shallow she'd judge you by how you looked."

Alec nodded, "I never meant to imply she was... but I can't, not yet. Give me time, Will."

"Okay," Will finally decided to give up on his pep talk. He suddenly had visions passing through his head of him turning into Dr. Hollister.

"Wait a minute!! Hey, Alec!?" he suddenly looked up, an expression of bewilderment crossing his face, "what the hell did you mean 'to show yourself would be to expose her to Arcane's madness'??"

"Exactly what I said, Will."

"Well that's just great! Thanks a lot, *friend*!" Will snarled at him in anger, "I guess exposing *me* to that danger doesn't count!" Alec looked acutely embarrassed and a little shocked.

"I.. I didn't mean to..." his forthcoming apology stopped itself mid sentence when he saw a devilish grin crossing Will's face.

"Gotcha, Alec! You know, if you're going to survive with us city folks, that sense of humour of yours is going to need a *lot* of honing. 'Course, I'd be glad to teach you. My rates are pretty good," he grinned. Alec sighed inwardly. Somehow, he got the feeling that since Will had moved here, his own life in Houma was never going to be quite the same again.

"You, er, you can go in now, Doctor..." Graham's very drained voice muttered as he staggered out of the bathroom. Arcane looked at him distastefully.

"Would I want to?" he asked.

"It's all right, Sir. I've cleaned everything up."

"Lovely!" Arcane quipped sarcastically. "So, can I take it you're feeling better now then?"

"Yeah. It's easing off, Sir. I... I'll be fine... probably."

"How splendidly reassuring!" Arcane got up off the bed and wandered over to the bathroom, opening the door slightly and peering in cautiously. Well, at a casual glance it seemed harmless enough in there."

"Have you called Stella, Sir?" Graham enquired. Yes. Call her and get it out of your system so 1 get left alone this weekend You go take it *all* out on *her*... not *me*!

"Not yet, Graham. I thought I'd call her last thing before we go to bed instead."

You mean before *you* go to bed and *I* go to floor!?

"But won't that be pretty late in Houma? She'll be asleep."

"Oh dear! So she will. How could I possibly have let an oversight like that get past me? Won't that be an unfortunate inconvenience for her?" Arcane smiled pleasantly. Graham gave a small grin of approval, happy that Arcane seemed to be in a pleasant enough mood for now and any latent vindictiveness was not being taken out on him. Still, best to stay looking sicker than he really felt, just to be on the safe side. And he'd definitely have to do something about the arrangements for tonight. That floor was filthy... and hard... and the armchair just didn't bear thinking about!

"Right then. I'll grab a quick shower and then we can go get something to eat... You are up to eating, aren't you?"

"I... I don't know, Sir..."

"Fine. You can sit and drink water then! Just get me a change of clothing ready for when I get out," Arcane said with as little concern as was possible, as he entered the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

"Yes, Doctor," Graham mumbled wearily, reaching for the travel bag with the clothes as the sound of running water from the bathroom started up.

Ten minutes later, a more refreshed Arcane, wearing only a towel round his waist came sauntering out into the room, his old clothing over his arm, which he placed neatly in a pile on the table by the containment chamber. He looked at the box thoughtfully, before turning to Graham.

"Best take 'em with us, eh. Can't take any chances."

"Yes, Doctor," Graham agreed. Arcane then walked over to the bed, upon which was a white linen suit and a blue and grey mottled silk shirt. "I.. I thought that would be best, Sir. It's the lightest suit, and it is, well, pretty warm."

"Warm!? It's like a bloody furnace at the moment. Just my sodding luck to have a heatwave in the middle of winter!.. Oh, the suit's fine, Graham." Graham just nodded, happy that Arcane was actually pleased with something he'd done.

"Is there anything else you want me to do, Sir?" Graham offered.

"Well, for starters, don't you have anything to do in the far comer there?" Arcane said, with the merest tone of a hint to his voice.

"erm, no... I don't think so, Sir."

"Well, what about in the bathroom then?"

"No, Doctor. I, like, cleaned everything."

"Graham, I don't think I'm making myself perfectly clear here!" Arcane said with veiled irritation.

"Doctor??" Graham looked genuinely puzzled.

"Graham! You're staring at me!" Arcane said evenly, as he reached for the suit on the bed in an overstated manner with one hand, and gestured towards the towel he was wearing with the other. Graham flushed a deep shade of red.

"er, sorry, Sir... I'll, er, I'll just go and, er tidy the towels, shall I?" he turned and shuffled away.

"Yes, you do that, Graham!" Arcane said, rolling his eyes in exasperation as he removed the towel in safe privacy and began getting dressed.

"Graham! --" he called out, as he buttoned up his pants, "-- Have you checked what the restaurant's like here?"

"Yes, Sir. I, er, saw a menu in reception," Graham closed his eyes, remembering how close ~ that had come to making him lose his lunch back then.

"Jolly good. I'm really getting rather peckish. You know what I could just fancy?.. A delicious fillet of pork in a cream, brandy and wild mushroom sauce. Yes! That sounds rather yummy! What are the chances this dive has anything like that, eh, Graham?"

"erm, pretty bad, Sir. The menu said it, was, well, the only Kosher restaurant on the strip."

There was a moment's silence.

"Nice to see your sense of humour's improving, Graham!" Arcane called out.

"No, Sir. It.. it really is... er, do you think the towels are tidy enough now, Sir?"

"Hrnrnrn?..Oh!... oh yes, Graham, perfectly tidy," he replied, buttoning the shirt and tucking it into his pants. Graham cautiously peered round the comer before stepping out into the room again. "Graham, were you serious?" The assistant nodded with a resigned shrug.

"Well, looks like we're going to have to go further afield then, doesn't it?" Graham nodded in reply.

"What about the fossils and the notes, Doctor? Will they be safe here?"

"Certainly not!" Arcane picked up the smallest of the hand cases and removed the contents onto the table, before placing the containment chamber inside it. He then went over to a larger case, where he removed the boxes with the fossils, and a wad of notes, which he gently stuffed into the smaller case. "There you go, Graham. Keep 'em safe, there's a good chap." He handed to bag to his assistant, who stumbled momentarily under the weight before steadying it and pulling the strap over his shoulder. "Right then! Let's go get our bearings and find somewhere nice to eat, and go over tomorrow. He opened the door and allowed Graham to stagger out with the bag. "Wait a minute!" Arcane added warily, determined not to have any new problems force themselves on him; "Got the key!?" Graham nodded, inclining his head to indicate his jacket pocket. "Jolly good! Lets� go then!"

Continued in Part 2

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