*All characters copyrighted to Poseidon Simons

Chapter 17

Good News

Bad News

Free...he'd been free for four days. Babe had visited Sarah as much as possible. Of course, when he found out how much the TV crews were trying to get out of her, he stopped. She was still in critical condition. With him popping in and out like this, she was getting crowded every moment she was awake. Babe couldn't even call her without being sure those same crews were listening in on her specific phone line. He'd cleared up everything with Michelle and Anna...it had helped when Bill came back with him. Things seemed to be getting better..."Where are you?.." Kain hadn't shown up at all since that last time. He was wondering if Kain was biding his time or if Bill's "adjustments" had finished off the razor. Maik, bless him, was STILL trying to fix up Babe's old home...even going so far as PAYING for the renovations it would take to finish the place. When Babe's mother had found out about this, she had tried to complain, but she knew she didn't have the financial income to pay for even half of what it would take to rebuild.

"Hey, Maik?"

"Maik here. What is it Babe?"

Babe smiled and spoke through his communicator, "Thanks..."

"Babe, that is the third time you've called to say that. Stop it!" He chuckled, "It's the least I can do...especially since the band has been living here." His voice suddenly changed, like he was holding the phone close to his mouth and whispering, "Hey...don't tell anyone okay? I did a few changes to the place...A surprise for your mother..."

"She'll have a fit, you realize."

"So? She's gonna be pleased. That I promise you."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Oh, you'll see." Maik hung up.

Babe laughed and scanned the city again. Since Kain hadn't been showing up, Babe had focused on searching for someone. Ace's friend's son was missing. He'd promised Ace that he would look.

Troy watched as Lance and Griffy continued playing. Griffy seemed to be enjoying himself. It was the breaks between games that depressed the boy. He'd been trying to take Griffy back, but the way those two got along...they almost seemed like brothers...Troy felt loathe to seperate them, "Hey you two! It's lunch time!!!"

Lance called back, "But DAAAD!!!!"

"What now?!"

"Griffy and I were heading over to the ice cream shop! Can't we have lunch after?!!"

"No, you can have the ice cream after! Get back here!!!" He laughed to himself and waved at them to come home. Kid logic. Dessert before meal...if Troy weren't feeling half like he was Griffy's father, he might have let them go!

Mary, with the help of Ace, had gotten her old apartment back...although she had been very reluctant to leave Ace. Since then she'd been wandering around the city, searching for Griffy. She'd called the police and asked them to help, done everything she possibly could except find him, "What happened to him while I was gone?..did he...no! I won't think that..." But it was hard not to. Griffy hadn't stayed at the apartment long. He'd stayed until the food had run out, then left. Who knew where he was now? She was worried sick...had to find him. Even if it was just a body--no. She wouldn't THINK that! She had to stop going down that route. It was too dangerous...but still..."Ace?"

"Find him yet Mary?"

"No..."

"Me neither...Don't worry. We'll find him."

She hung up. Ace seemed so sure...

Ace called someone else, "Any luck yet?"

Don answered, "No. I've called everyone else. Nobody can find him."

Ace ran his hand through his hair, "Keep looking?"

"Of course." Don hung up.

Ace wandered around, calling Griffy's name as he went. Where was he?!

"Griffy!..Hey! Griiiiffffyyy!!"

Griffy perked up. Someone was shouting his name!

"Griiiiifffyyyyyy!!!" That sounded like Ace!

Lance heard it too. His eyes widened a little. He nodded to Griffy, and ran to his dad. Griffy looked around where he stood. He didn't SEE Ace, only heard him.

"Griffy! Where are you?!!"

"ACE!!!! Ace, I'm over here!!!!!!!"

What the--GRIFFY! Ace had heard his voice somewhere to the left...he shouted that he was coming. On his way over, he called Mary, "Mary! I've found him!" With that, he started running, "Keep shouting Griffy!"

Keep shouting? Okay, "I'm over here! Ace, this way!!!!" He shouted, tears starting to rim his eyes. Soon, he could SEE Ace running to him. With a squeal, he ran to Ace. He couldn't think of a time he'd been happier. The two hugged when they hit each other.

Troy watched Griffy the whole time..."I guess that solves that...I'm gonna miss having him around so much...maybe Lance and he can get together again sometime." Strange though...that man that was holding Griffy...he looked a lot like that lead singer for Sargasso...Troy laughed. That was impossible. Why would this rock star be looking for Griffy? It couldn't be THE Ace Jackson...could it? ...it WAS! He quickly grabbed his home camera and recorded the moment. If THIS didn't make up for him not letting them see who the Protector was, NOTHING would. Was GRIFFY Ace's son? Troy smiled. Was a nice bit of news this would make! And best of all, Ace was used to attention. Something like this wouldn't be NEARLY as upsetting as the Protector's identity! As he recorded the moment, Lance came in. With a motion from Troy, Lance stopped what he was about to say. The ground suddenly shook a little, causing Troy to lose focus. He steadied himself and kept recording. The shaking started again. Angry, he stopped recording until he'd gotten the tripod for the camera set up. The shaking stopped, and started again. It was almost like giant footfalls...what the...was that JAMES ELIAS?!! He was HUGE!!!!!! Troy took the camera outside and got as much as he could of the giant. This would EASILY make the news! It seemed James was also holding some people in his hands. A woman jumped off and ran to Griffy, hugging him fiercely...Griffy's mother. He turned the camera back to James. It seemed that every member of Sargasso AND the Appendages were there...except Pik. Oh, that's right. He'd been shot. There was only one other person there...he didn't LOOK important...or at least, not as important as the others there. Troy's attention was forced back to James as he shrank back to the size the island was used to seeing him.

Pik watched the window, hoping to catch sight of Kia coming back. As soon as they'd gotten the news, everyone had rushed out. In the four days since Kia's mothers had shown up, Pik had been allowed to move around. He couldn't leave the hospital, but he wasn't confined to his bed anymore. His mother had gotten some bandages of her own removed...namely the ones where the burns hadn't been so bad. It allowed her to move some.

Pik's mother grunted as she tried to position herself better, "Pik?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you be a dear and ask a nurse to bring up some food?"

"Mother, I could get it myself..."

"But I don't want you to hurt yourself walking..."

"Mother, the doctors SAID I could walk around without worry now. I'm just not supposed to leave the hospital. Tell me what you want me to get." He said smiling.

A few minutes later, he was down in the cafeteria, grabbing trays of food for himself and his mother. He was surprised to see Kia's mother down there. He sat on the other side of the table from her, ""Mrs. Grey? What brings you back here?"

"Oh...I was about to come up to your room with some food. I suppose I don't need to, since you're doing it right now."

Pik smiled, "Thanks..." He tried getting on better terms with Kia's mother, "Uh...listen...I need to confess, when I saw you in our room the first time, I--wellI guess I just hadn't expected it. I'm sorry...you just don't seem like the type who would..." How was he supposed to put this?

She leaned forward a small smile clear on her face. Was it Pik's imagination? It felt like she was enjoying his discomfort.

She was. In few minutes, she could have this over with. She just wanted to have her own bit of fun first. Seeing this inferior race of dragon squirm under her gaze had been too good to pass up. After a few more minutes of him trying to say something, she cut him off, "Don't worry about it. Here, let me help you with that food." She placed a few of the dishes she'd brought on the trays. The poison she'd placed in them would be enough to kill off a wild tornado dragon with one teaspoon. It would surely be enough to kill off these amphibians.

Babe would've joined in on the celebrations, but he didn't want the island to know he knew these people. It had been bad enough that KAIN had known, it would be worse if it was shown to EVERYONE. So, instead, he flew above Pik's room. He still owed Pik's mother an apology for hitting her...Warning. High levels of Conium Maculatum detected. Of what?..he searched through the information in his processors, trying to figure out what that was...POISON! Then where--who--PIK! Babe would work on how that had gotten in a hospital later. He hovered above Pik's window, hoping that the poisons weren't heading there. They were. Pik entered the room with Kia's mother...and the poison came in with them. One of those two was holding the poisons...but who were the poisons for? Pik? That made the most sense, since he'd been shot. But then that meant that Kia's mother was trying to...

He was figuring this out as Pik and his mother began eating.

She watched eagerly as Pik took one of the bowls she had poisoned. Unfortunately, it was soup. The poison would be diluted in it. It would be enough to kill, but he had to eat most of his bowl. The only reason she'd put it IN the soup was because that had been one of the easiest places to hide it. No one would notice a few odd looking leaves in the soup...they might question the tiny flowers, but that could be explained as a seasoning. As he took some slow, hesitant sips, he passed other poisoned foods to his mother. She took a muffin that had the leaves and flowers on it like a garnish. Just as her mouth closed over a leaf, the window burst open in an impressive blast. None of the flying shards of glass hit anyone.

"Stop! Both of you, don't eat that food!!!!"

Pik and his mother glanced up, both looking at the very least, confused. Pik's mother looked like she might have a heart attack. The Protector came in, aiming his cannon at Mrs. Grey. She didn't need to fake looking frightened.

The Protector spoke as he came closer to her, "Your food's been poisoned! The leaves and flowers in the soup and the muffin are DEADLY!"

With a gasp, Pik's mother dropped the muffin. Pik's hand had gone limp. He was staring at the bowl. For a moment Mrs. Grey hoped Pik had made the mistake of swallowing some of the poison...then she knew she didn't have to hope. Pik started going into convulsions. He held his throat, started gasping. His mouth moved like he was trying to say something, but no words ever came out. Soon he was thrashing on the floor, a scream being the only thing he could say. It didn't take long for the doctors to rush in, followed by police who led her away, but she left willingly, smug. She'd done her research. This hospital didn't HAVE the resources to help Pik. Whatever she'd done to him now, if he lived through it, could stay with him for the rest of his life.

There was a loud roar as the Protector left the hospital room.

"Kia. Hospital. NOW!"

"What? But what happened?!"

Too late. Babe had hung up. She grew worried. Had the doctors missed something earlier? Was Pik having some sort of trouble breathing? She apologized for leaving so quickly and forced James to take her back. Holding tightly to Ralph, she did her best to keep her fears down about what had happened to Pik. It couldn't be THAT serious...could it?