Time and again
06 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Mini-story, Tale of the Past, Team Theta Tags: Cyrus, Logan
Logan and Cyrus had met each other before – worked together, even. However, that was years ago and things change with Time.
–
Logan felt a bit nervous as he moved down the corridor. It was one thing to be assigned to one of the intelligence teams. He’d been expecting the call for years now. Ever since he’d contracted the curse, he’d known the day would come. He’d never expected to be assigned to the administrative team, though. What did that even mean?
He looked up as he reached the door. Frowning, he touched the Greek letter that was emblazoned on the crazed glass. A theta – the symbol for their team. He sighed and was about to push the door opened. It fell back, away from him, and he stepped back with a stifled gasp.
The first thing he saw were wide, hazel eyes. “Oh,” a soft voice said. Logan blinked and he looked at the person in front of him more keenly. He took in all the details: the untidy red-brown hair, the careless way he wore his uniform and, there on his shoulder, the symbol marking him as…
“You’re the team’s second?” Logan blurted. He shook his head. “You’re hardly more than – than a child!”
“I’m plenty old enough, Starke,” the other snapped. His brows furrowed and he bit his lip. Whirling away, he waved an arm at Logan. “Found Starke,” he said. Then, he crossed his arms over his chest and strode back to stand beside a female agent – the team leader.
Tiana Hartfield smiled. “Agent Starke,” she said, waving at the young man beside her. “I believe you’ve worked with Agent Grayson before?”
Logan blinked and looked at the younger agent again. Some things were the same, now that he knew the man’s name. The same eyes, of course. His hair was longer now – messier than when they’d worked together all those years ago. There were other differences, too. Grayson wasn’t a boy now, not really. He was a young man and a rather handsome one.
A faint smile touched Logan’s face. “My apologies,” he said, using his most charming tone. He bowed slightly. “I didn’t recognize you, Time. You’ve… matured. It’s very good to see you again.”
Grayson frowned at him, his expression guarded. Then, he sighed and rolled his eyes. “Whatever,” he said, shaking his head. He finger-combed his hair and smoothed out his uniform. “It’s not as if I don’t get told to smarten up my appearance often enough by Director Haruko.”
“Time you listened,” a low voice said.
Everyone in the room straightened at the sound of their director’s voice – except Grayson. He sighed and rolled his eyes again. “Yes, Uncle,” he said. Only then did he straighten as well. Logan hid a smile. Oh, yes. He remembered Grayson well. That attitude, like his eyes, was the same as always. He looked over at Grayson again, this time with a bit of respect. It would be a pleasure to work with Time again.
“Nice of you to finally join us, Chance,” Haruko said, his tone a bit annoyed.
Logan bowed slightly. “I apologize for my tardiness, sir,” he said. Straightening, he met the director’s eyes. “Full moon last night.” He nearly smiled as the director’s pupils seemed to twitch – the only hint of fear the arrogant man would give.
Houston, We Have a Problem
06 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Crossover, Mini-story, National Museum
The trip was going well, considering the storm that raged outside. Then, there was a bang and Peter looked over at Alaric and then back at Robin. “What was that?” he said.
Shaking her head, Robin stood and moved to the door of their cabin. She was just reaching for the handle, when the door opened. The young captain looked up at her and then looked over at Alaric.
“I regret, my lord,” he said, “to tell you that we have been struck by lightning. We need to evacuate the ship.”
Alaric stood and nodded. “Very well,” he said. He snatched his cloak off of a hook near the door and then, he – along with Peter and Robin – joined the other passengers as they moved towards the emergency exits.
The evacuation was going smoothly, until they reached the last pod that had been set aside for the passengers to use. The crewman looked at the earl and his companions and the young man that remained. He grimaced. More
Fright Night
04 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Crossover, Mini-story, National Museum Tags: Alaric, Robin-m
“Norris was exhausted when he fell asleep,” Robin said, his voice soft. He looked up from the report and then frowned. “When he woke, his hair was milky white, his eyes wide, his mouth frozen in a scream.”
Unexpected
16 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Camp Milgrain, Mini-story, The Underground Tags: Keenan, unknown
“Who’d you say you were again?” Keenan said, frowning slightly and tilting his head to one side. There was something familiar about the man, but he couldn’t put his finger on just what it was.
The newcomer smiled. “I’m Alan Jenkins,” he said, giving Keenan a polite bow. “Once they’d heard that Master Keiran had died so tragically, the directors decided you needed a replacement.”
Keenan hesitated for a moment. Then, he nodded. “So long as you can cook, I suppose,” he said. Turning away, he called, “Have supper ready by six o’clock, please.”
“Of course,” Alan said, as he watched Keenan leave. A slow smile spread across his features. He couldn’t have planned it any better. Now, he’d have plenty of opportunity to carry out his mission.
Regrets
15 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Camp Milgrain, Mini-story, Team Beta Tags: Bertram, Keenan
Keenan patted Emil on the shoulder and sent him to join his friends. At least the boy had calmed a bit after the shock of finding a dead body. The first was always the hardest. He stepped over to Bertram and sighed.
“He see anything?” Bertram whispered.
Nodding, Keenan said, “He caught a glimpse of a person, presumably the killer, leaving the scene. Ti called in while I was making his tea. It’s definitely a murder, but there’s something strange about the scene. She wants me to examine the body.”
Bertram nodded. “Keenan,” he said, as his friend started towards the door. “Who was it?”
“Keiry,” he said. From the look on Keenan’s face, Bertram knew they were both thinking the same thing. Maybe, they should have listened to her. If they had, she might still be alive. Shaking the thought away, Bertram turned to the campers. He couldn’t help Keiry now. He had to focus on what he could do.
Deflection
14 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Camp Milgrain, Mini-story, The Underground Tags: Keiran, unknown
Keiran looked up from her book and frowned. In spite of what Keenan might say, she knew that the person she’d seen the previous day was still around. She wanted to think that the rattling at her window was nothing more than the wind, but she couldn’t.
She stood and headed to the door that would lead out to the front room of the lodge. Bertram was out there, right? She could spend time with him, at least until his campers arrived for music.
However, she never reached the door. A hand clamped down over her mouth, stifling her single cry. Then, darkness flooded in around her. When she came back to consciousness, she was outside.
Stifling a moan, Keiran shifted and her abductor laid her in the grass. He caressed her cheek lightly. “Relax,” he said, looking into her eyes. Keiran couldn’t struggle. “I need them to think I was after you, my dear.”
Reasons
12 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Camp Milgrain, Mini-story, Team Nu Tags: Trenton
Trenton wondered how he let Keenan talk him into these things. He was an actor, a talented one. He was also an undercover agent – one of the best, he liked to think. So, what was he doing at a summer camp teaching a group of teens how to tie-dye?
He sighed as he remembered the answer to that question. He wanted to think it was nothing more than Keiry being her normal, nervous self. However, Keenan said that one of the campers had seen a person lurking around the camp and there were footprints in the woods. Maybe Keiry was right. Maybe there was something going on. He dearly hoped not. Now that he was there, he was hoping for an enjoyable and uneventful camp session.
Frustration
10 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Camp Milgrain, Mini-story, Team Beta Tags: Bertram
Bertram closed his eyes and reached out with his senses. He listened at each cabin. There were girls in the Beaver Cabin speaking in whispers and giggling softly. They’d quiet down soon enough. The occupants of both the Chipmunk and the Red Fox Cabins had already quieted. Their deep, even breaths told him that everyone – including Tiana – was asleep.
He focused on the closer cabins. The boys in the Timber Wolf Cabin and those in the Opossum Cabin were quiet as well, all sleeping. Then, he listened to the Raccoon Cabin. Simon was awake. From the way he was grinding his teeth, he was thinking about something.
A new sound reached Bertram’s ears. He sighed. No, he couldn’t have that – not without Beth there to distract him. He pulled on his bathrobe and headed out into the night. He was going to put a stop to this right away.
Recognized
09 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Camp Milgrain, Mini-story, Team Beta, Team Nu, Team Theta Tags: Bertram, Kaylee, Keenan, Tiana, Trenton
Trenton leaned over towards Keenan. “Why does that girl at the table with the Misguided Ghosts look familiar?” he asked.
“Haruko’s dear little girl,” Keenan said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. A part of him – the paranoid part – worried that Haruko had sent her to the camp to spy on him. Then, he reminded himself that Haruko didn’t know he was there. She was just a camper with an unfortunate relationship with someone he hated. After a moment, he added, “Her name’s Kaylee.”
“We’ll see just how much like her father she is,” Trenton said, nodding.
Bertram shook his head. “She looks a great deal like her mother,” he said. “I’ve never had any complaints about Clover. Maybe Kaylee takes after her mother in more than looks?”
“God, help the child if she doesn’t,” Tiana said. She chuckled softly and shook her head, mumbling something about uncharitable thoughts.
Lighting a Fire
06 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Camp Milgrain, Mini-story, Team Beta, Team Theta Tags: Bertram, Keenan, Tiana
“Well,” Keenan said, as he strode into the main lodge. He flopped down in an overstuffed chair and smiled. “I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to them.”
Tiana glanced over at him, a faint smile playing at her lips. “Orienteering?” she said. A soft chuckle escaped her. “Do you think they realize that the orienteering is meant to give them an opportunity to check out what we wanted them to investigate?”
“Most did,” Keenan said, nodding.
Bertram paused in poking the weak flames in the fireplace. Glancing at Tiana, he said, “Don’t think we want the ones that didn’t figure it out.” Turning back to his work, he asked, “Are there any that we’ll have to light a fire under?”
“I did all the fire lighting that needs doing,” Keenan said. He snapped his fingers and the flames that Bertram was trying to coax to life flared up. Keenan gave his friend an innocent smile. “I’m good with lighting fires.”
Glaring, Bertram adjusted his glasses and set the poker to one side. “You might have warned me,” he groused. In truth, though, he wouldn’t have liked Keenan’s way of warning him any more than he had the way Keenan lit the fire.
