| Chapter 67 Tamara stepped out of the car into the cool Florida morning. There was a stiff breeze, and it played havoc with her hair. She glanced at the building as Tom rounded the car and they made their way inside. Together they walked up to the secretary and flashed their badges. "Agents Dawson and Neely. We'd like to speak with the person in charge," Tom said. "Y-yes sir, just one second," the young brunette said, grabbing the phone. After a moment she hung up, looking back at them, "If you'll take the elevator to the top floor, Mr. Lawrence will see you." Both agents nodded as they walked to the elevator. Tamara glanced back at the secretary before stepping onto the elevator, she was already on the phone. "Probably already spreading the news," she surmised. Tom smiled, "Probably." "So we playing this the way we talked?" she asked. He sighed, "I guess. I see no reason to deviate from the plan." "What if we're wrong?" Tamara asked. He shrugged, "We blame old files and get the hell out," he said as the doors opened and they stepped off. They walked to the office at the end of the hall. They once again flashed their badges and waited while the secretary there called into her boss's office. "Mr. Lawrence will see you now," the woman said. Tom opened the door, letting Tamara walk in first. "Hello, to what do I owe this unexpected visit," the tall man behind the desk asked as he stood up offering his hand to the agents. Tom shook it, "We've been looking into some old files. Our supervisor wanted us to check on the manufacturing, see what's going on these days." "I see," Mr. Lawrence said as he sat back down, gesturing for the two to do the same, "It's been a long time since anyone from the �agency' has paid us a visit." "Well, we're here to remedy that," Tamara smiled, "Forgive us, we're working with old information here, but you're still manufacturing Krystal, is that right?" "Yes," Mr. Lawrence answered. "And how often do you send a shipment?" she asked. "Twice a month," he offered. "I see," she said, writing in her notebook. "Now this Krystal, is it strictly for recreation, or are there still properties of mind control in it?" she went on. The man laughed, "You do have old information don't you?" The agents glanced at one another. "Yes, I'm afraid we do," Tom admitted, "I assume the mind control aspect didn't work out?" Mr. Lawrence shook his head, "No. Never could perfect it. What we send now is just a drug, like any other. It keeps them happy, and gives us some security." Tamara smiled, "They won't attack us cause we're the only suppliers." "Exactly," he affirmed. "Mr. Lawrence, is there an anti-Krystal available?" Tom asked. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Say someone is addicted to Krystal. Do we have a drug that will pull them off it quicker than them just de-toxing?" he clarified. "We developed one, but we don't manufacture it," he answered. "Why not?" Tamara asked. "No use for it," he said. Tom bit his lip, "I think we have a use for it now." "Ohh?" Lawrence asked, raising his eyebrow. Tom nodded, "It seems that Krystal doesn't just work on Angels. We've recently found out that it's hit the markets here, and it's becoming an epidemic." "That's impossible," Mr. Lawrence said, "We ship everything out. Nothing is kept here." "We believe some of it is being shipped back in," Tamara added, "We need to get the antidote distributed before it really becomes a problem." "Well those double-crossing aliens," Lawrence muttered, "Trying to hurt us with the very stuff we invented." Tom smiled, "It seems so. How soon can you get a batch of the antidote ready?" The man sighed, "I'm not sure. I'll have to consult the techs, and then we'll have to add some lines." "Is there a way to make the antidote look like the real thing? We need these people to take it, but not realize that they are," Tamara asked. Lawrence nodded, "I think there is, yeah." "Alright, get with your people and I'll be in contact with you," Tom said, as the two stood up. "How many people are we talking about here?" Lawrence asked. Tom and Tamara glanced at one another. "A lot. We don't know how it got this bad without us catching it, but we'll need you to make just as much antidote, as Krystal," Tom replied. "Damn," the man muttered. "Indeed," Tamara said, "We'll contact you tomorrow." Lawrence nodded, seeing them to the door. "And Mr. Lawrence, you cannot let anyone know about this. We aren't sure how the stuff is getting back in, but this has to be strictly between the three of us," Tom said. "Oh of course," Lawrence said, "I should have what you're looking for when you call." "Thank you," Tamara said as the two left the office. They waited until they were in the privacy of their car before speaking to one another. "Did that seem a little to easy to you?" Tamara asked. Tom sighed, "Yeah." "That's what I thought too," she said, pulling her cell phone out and dialing a number. "Agent Dawson here, the seed is planted. Keep your ears open," she said, then hung up. "If he tries to contact anyone, we'll know," she said as they pulled out of the parking lot. "I hope this works," Tom muttered. She smiled at him, "You doubt our acting skills?" He chuckled, "I knew that school play was preparing me for things to come." She shook her head and smiled, "I hope it works too, otherwise we're screwed." He nodded, "And so is Nick." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick stumbled and dropped his sword. "You alright?" Rowland asked. Nick wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked to the side of the room, grabbing a bottle of water and taking a long drink before he answered. "I'm OK. I'm just tired, I guess," he said. Rowland stared at him, "You aren't sleeping?" Nick shook his head, lifting his hand. His sword rose from the ground and floated across the room, landing perfectly in his outstretched hand. "Is something wrong?" Rowland asked, going over and getting his own drink. Nick sighed, sliding down the wall and sitting in the floor, "I keep having nightmares. They're really freaking me out." Rowland arched his eyebrow, "Are you sure that's all they are? Nightmares?" Nick shrugged, biting his lower lip, "I dunno." The older man sat down next to him, "What are they?" Nick shook his head, "I can't talk about them." Rowland could see the fear in his eyes, and the tremble that suddenly appeared in the young man's hands. "They disturb you that much?" he asked. Nick sighed, looking down at his hands, "Yeah. They scare me to death." "Have you talked with the queen about them?" the guard asked. "No, I don't want to worry her," Nick admitted. "Your highness, if I may. The queen has a great deal of knowledge about a lot of things. She could help you determine if this is real or just a dream," Rowland said. Nick smiled, looking up at the man, "You've known her for a long time?" Rowland nodded, "Years. She can help you with this." "Alright, I'll speak with her," Nick said, standing back up, "You want to finish?" The guard smiled, standing, "Only if you want to get beaten again." Nick laughed, "Hey now! I'm doing as good as you." Rowland smiled at the younger man, lifting his sword to the ready, "So you are, my king." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Easy," Kevin said, following Brian down the hall. Brian looked up at his cousin, "Kev, how am I suppose to do this with you hovering over me?" "Sorry, I just don't want you to fall," he said. Brian rolled his eyes, "Kev, I'm a big boy. A fall is not gonna hurt me." "Depends on where you fall," Kevin protested, always having to have the last word. Brian smiled, as he pushed his IV down the hall in front of him. Cameron had just started letting him out of the bed to take short walks, and though he was glad to get out of the room, Kevin was driving him nuts! He understood the older man was just concerned, and his heart was in the right place, but still. Enough was enough. "Hey cuz, isn't there something else you could be doing besides babysitting me?" he asked, a smile on his face. "You don't want me here?" Kevin asked, a hurt expression on his face. "Uh, it's not that man. It's just that, um, you're turning into my dad," Brian said as he rounded the corner to his room. "It's not that I don't appreciate it, cause I do. It's just that it gets to be a little overbearing sometimes," he went on, sitting down on the edge of his bed. Kevin took the IV cart and put it back where it belonged, "Sorry Bri, can't help it. I feel responsible for ya, being the only family you got here. Besides, you know if Jackie and Harold were here they'd do the same thing." Brian laughed, settling himself in the bed, "Yeah they would. Just um, try not to be so fatherly on me, K? Save that for when you have a kid of your own." Kevin laughed, sitting down, "I'll try cuz, but I'm not promising anything." Brian smiled, "Wouldn't expect ya to." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Isn't this nice?" A.J. asked. Marie smiled, "Yes Alex, it is." The two walked through the garden, admiring the many plants. "I don't see how you stayed all cooped up in the palace," A.J. went on, "I'm glad you came out with me." "Well it was either this, or listen to you whine for hours on end," she laughed, "this was easier." He smiled, "I guess so. So Bri seems to be doing a lot better." "Yeah, pretty soon they'll move him," she said. A.J. stopped and faced her, "Move him where?" "Detox," she answered. "Ohh," he said, continuing on, looking down at his shoes. Marie watched him for a moment, "Alex? Is something wrong?" He looked up, "Uh, not really. I was just thinking." "Bout what?" she asked, pulling him over to a bench and sitting down. He sighed, looking up at the cloudless sky, "What I went through." Marie looked at him confused, "What you went through?" He nodded, "See, back home I kinda went though an addiction. The fame and all the pressure kinda built up and I just couldn't handle it. I started drinking and partying, anything to fill that void I had inside. It got way outta hand, and I ended up in re-hab for a while." "Oh Alex, I didn't know," she confessed. He smiled at her, "It's OK. Probably the best thing I've ever done. Got my life back. But, going through it was hell. I hate that Bri's gonna have to face that." Marie nodded, "I'm not looking forward to it. It's gonna be hard on all of us." "Yeah, I remember begging and pleading with anyone who would listen to just give me a drink. Just a little bit to get me through," he said, "It's gonna be hard to see him like that." "Yes it is," she admitted. He reached over and took her hand, "He'll get through it though. And I'll be here when it gets to hard for you, K?" "Thanks Alex," she smiled, "Bri's gonna need you too." "I know," he said, "And I'll do whatever I can for him." She squeezed his hand, "Bri's so lucky to have you all as friends." A.J. beamed, "Yup he is, ain't he?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You think it'll work?" Nick asked. "We hope so," Tom said. Nick sighed, "It'd be great if it did. Yeah, keep me posted on what happens." "We will Nick," Tom said, "Talk to you soon." Nick nodded as the hologram of Tom disappeared from his console. He leaned back in his chair letting the agents idea sink in. If it worked, it'd be the answer to his problems. Well, most of them anyway. He checked his watch, seeing he was late for dinner. Quickly he got up and headed out of his room. "Hey Nick, wait up," Howie called. Nick held the doors for the elevator as Howie sprinted towards him. "What's up D?" Nick asked, once the doors closed. "Not much, been working with the cooks a little," he answered. Nick laughed, "Ohh, so I have you to blame if the foods bad huh?" "Nope, you have me to thank if it's good, "Howie smiled. Nick sighed, leaning against the wall. "You tired?" Howie asked. "Yup," he replied, "Being king kinda sucks in the sleep department. I keep thinking bout what I need to do the next day, and all the things I'm responsible for." "Yeah I bet," Howie said, "Nick, I don't think I've said this, but what you're doing here ...... I'm amazed." Nick smiled as the doors opened and the two headed down the hall, "Yeah right D." "No man, I'm serious. I could never do this, and I guess I never wanted to think of you as anything other than my little brother, but man, you're so much more than that. You've grown up, and you're wise beyond your years here. The things you've done, the decisions you've made, it's like you were born to do this," Howie said. Nick blushed, "Thanks D, but ruler of a planet was definitely not on my list of career opportunities." "Well, you're damn good at it," the older man replied. Nick put his hand on Howie's shoulder as they entered the dinning room, "Well, let's just hope I stay that way." Chapter 68 |