by Anne
Disclaimer: The characters of Adam Newman, Megabyte Damon, Kevin Wilson, Ami Jackson, Jade Weston, General William Damon, Colonel Masters, Millie Damon and Caroline Damon belong to Roger Damon Price, Thames Television and Nickelodeon. So do any other names or events linked to the Tomorrow People TV series.
Max Evans, Liz Parker, Maria DeLuca, Michael Guerin, Isabel Evans, Alex Whitman, Kyle Valenti, Sheriff Jim Valenti and Milton belong to Melinda Metz, Jason Katims and WB. All other concepts and events linked to Roswell also belong to them.
The characters of Joe Dawson and James Horton (who appear in name only) belong to Panzer/David, Rysher/Gaumont Television. So do the concepts of immortality, the Watchers and the Hunters.
The characters of Geoff Anderson, Gil Hawkins, Jim Beckett and Simon Trent belong to me and should not be used without permission.
"Lucky for you, I can't kill," complained Megabyte under his breath as he watched the look of disgust Masters was giving his father.
"Megabyte…" hissed his father warningly.
Masters' ears seemed to visibly prick up. "You can't kill?" he said in a smooth voice that made Megabyte's skin crawl. "You really expect me to believe you can't kill?"
Adam stepped between Masters and his fellow Tomorrow Person, shooting his friend a warning glance as he did so. "Don't you think it's about time you did away with all the cloak and dagger?" he told Masters. "You've got the advantage here, I think we all know that. What do you want with us exactly? You know these headbands work. Now what?"
"Yeah right, Adam," said Megabyte. "That's telling him. I'm sure he's gonna come right out and tell us now, isn't he?"
"Megabyte, shut up," hissed Adam.
Masters looked at the two Tomorrow People and smiled, though Megabyte noticed his eyes seemed to become brighter as he spoke. Must be the whole loony tunes attitude coming out he decided. "If you have something to say Marmaduke, say it. I'm very interested to hear about this whole non-killing thing."
Crap. Something else to add to the list of things he shouldn't have said while being held captive by a bad guy. "Yeah right. And what difference is it going to make? I tell you all about it and you let us go? Like I'm gonna believe that one." Megabyte tried to ignore the looks his father was sending his way. His dad didn't really need telepathy, he'd decided a long time ago. The look in his eyes spoke volumes whenever he told his kids off or was concerned about them.
"So you're telling me that you didn't shoot me all those years ago because you aren't capable of killing? Is that it?" Masters laughed, and then reached inside his jacket pocket for a handkerchief and proceeded to wipe his eyes.
Does that creep ever wear anything but a suit? Megabyte felt his cheeks turning hot as he tried to ignore the anger rising up within him. "Why do you think I never killed you when I had the chance? Don't you think I would have if I could?" Cool it Damon. No point losing it now.
"You tell me." Masters still had that smug look on his face, that look which said he wasn't buying it. For some reason the man had the idea stuck in his brain that the Tomorrow People were a threat.
"He is trying to tell you Masters," Damon told his former associate. "But you're refusing to listen. The Tomorrow People aren't a threat. They're peaceful, they're just trying to survive, trying to survive people like you."
"General Damon's right." Adam was wasting his time even talking to Masters, of that Megabyte was becoming more and more sure. "We can't kill you, we're no threat to you. Why don't you believe that?"
"Because I know better," replied Masters. "I realised I was lucky all those years ago in the fact that your friend here was young and afraid, but time moves on. You are now older and with each passing day growing more and more dangerous. You and the rest of your kind are more of a threat to the safety of mankind than you ever were."
"Get real Masters," Damon had a tone of disgust in his voice. "They're still only kids. They're no threat, none at all. The only threat to the human race I can see in this room is you. You're so tied up in what you think is true you couldn't see the truth if it came up and hit you in the face. It's people like you who are dangerous, not the Tomorrow People."
You tell him Dad, thought Megabyte surprised at the surge of pride he felt for his father. He'd never heard his dad actually put his thoughts about the Tomorrow People into words before, and especially not to someone like Masters. He'd also never seen him coming this close to losing his temper in public either.
Megabyte reached out and laid a hand on his father's shoulder. Cool it Dad. Damon turned and looked at him and then back at Masters, ready to add more to his previous statement when Max moved forward, and looked Masters squarely in the eyes.
"If you want someone to pick on, " the young alien said. "Try me. I'm the one you caught trying to contact someone else, not them." The way he spoke, it reminded Megabyte of Adam when he went into 'protective mode.'
Damon shook his head and pulled Max away. "Don't give him any ideas," he advised. "Masters has enough on his own without you adding to them."
"One can never have too many ideas." Masters gestured to Beckett who was standing in front of the heavy wooden door leading out of the room. "Could you tell Dr Brooke-Smythe that his services are required, please? I've decided to try a little experiment to test this whole non- killing debate. Can you kill or can you not, that is the question." He paused momentarily. "Oh yes and Beckett? Inform the good doctor that young master Damon here has kindly volunteered to test the theory for us. The results should be quite…interesting."
Valenti ducked behind the large tree overhanging the entrance to the old factory. He glanced at his watch. Damon had been in there now for at least ten minutes. Now might be a good time to send for back up of some sort. But what exactly could he tell his deputy, he wondered? Some madman has kidnapped some kids to get back at an old enemy? Yes that might do it.
He unclipped his phone from his belt and started to punch in the number of the sheriff's office when he heard a noise behind him. Blast! He spun around, disengaging the safety on his revolver as he did so.
"Michael, what the hell are you doing here? Correction. What the hell are you, Maria and Liz doing here? I though I told you to stay put."
"Right," snapped Michael. "Like I was going to sit back and watch you get Max killed. Get real."
"I had the situation under control," Valenti started to say, wondering why he felt he had to explain himself to a bunch of kids anyway. He saw what looked like a couple of bright lights out of the corner of his eye and jumped as they solidified into Ami, Jade, Isabel and Alex.
"Bring the whole gang," he groaned. Wonder if Bill has this sort of thing going on all the time, he mused to himself briefly. No wonder the poor guy was jumpy if he had kids appearing out of thin air in front of him while he was trying to do his job.
"Megabyte, Adam and Max are in there," exclaimed Jade excitedly. "We've come to help rescue them."
"And how do we know they are in there Jade?" asked Valenti. "I thought you said you couldn't use your powers to contact them?"
"Isabel…" Jade started to say, then stopped. She looked at Isabel and then at Ami. Isabel looked upset, in fact Valenti wondered if she had been crying.
"Isabel had an idea where they might be," finished Ami hurriedly." So we decided to come and check it out. Looks as though she was right, if you're here too."
Valenti pushed his suspicions to the back of his mind. Now was definitely not the time to discuss the weird stuff that went on in his town concerning Max Evans. He knew there was something weird about that kid. Maybe these Tomorrow People had been able to contact him somehow using their powers, when they hadn't been able to contact their fellow telepaths? This whole thing is beginning to sound like something out of a science fiction novel.
"Now that you're here I suppose." Valenti eyed the group of kids in front of him. "Michael you come with me. I want Alex to stay here with the girls. Ami, have you got any idea where exactly Masters might be holding them?"
Ami shook her head. "If I could get into Masters' office though maybe we could find out what he's planning from there."
"He might have his plans on his hard drive," Alex suggested. "Could you take me with you and I'll have a look while we're hunting for the guys?"
Valenti put his foot down. "No. That sounds too dangerous to me. No offence, Ami, but I think from what you've told me that this Masters would love to get his hands on the rest of you. You'd be safer staying here with the others. That goes for you too, Alex."
"But…" Maria started to protest but stopped as Liz shot her a look. "Come back in one piece, then. Okay?"
Sensible girl, that Liz Parker, thought Valenti. It's a shame she and Kyle aren't still together. Kyle. Valenti tried to push that thought out of his mind too. One thing at a time. First he'd rescue Max and the others, then maybe they could help rescue Kyle and Kevin in London.
Michael looked around the perimeter again. "You coming?" he asked Valenti. "Cause I'm going now." He glanced towards the gate and before Valenti could stop him crept along the outside of the surrounding wall, taking care to hide in the shadows.
"Sheriff!" exclaimed Liz.
"What is it, Liz? What's wrong?"
"Sorry, thought I saw something. Must be my imagination. You'd better go, Michael's waiting. We'll be fine, promise."
Valenti followed the path Michael had taken and in under a minute was standing by the teenager next to the gate to the complex. To his amazement Michael touched the gate and it swung open.
"Must have forgotten to lock it." The teenager commented.
Valenti grasped his gun firmly with his right hand, and led the way into the complex. Hope like hell they don't see us coming he thought. Looks as though surprise is probably the only advantage we have here. What was he thinking going in by himself, with only a teenager for backup? Hopefully they could sneak in and out before Masters even realised that they'd been there.
He looked back at the group of kids standing where he had left them and thought he saw a flash of bright light. That better be my imagination, he thought grimly, hoping that instead of the rescue attempt they were planning, he hadn't just delivered more Tomorrow People to Masters on a platter.
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