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<blockquote data-quote="The Shadow" data-source="post: 5269690" data-attributes="member: 16760">12 - Good Luck CharmHeading back to the base, Photon found Beta and Sirocco ready for the joint patrol they'd worked out the previous day.&nbsp; &quot;OK, let's go.&quot;&nbsp; The patrol was mostly quiet;&nbsp; Jon kept things light, telling funny stories of times with Shadow-Force.&nbsp; Sirocco quickly warmed to him, and proved to be a witty raconteur himself - soon they were laughing together like comrades.&nbsp; (He also got the hang of directing Beta easily enough.)&nbsp; Near the end, there was a bit of excitement - a robbery in progress.&nbsp; Sirocco said easily, &quot;Cover me!&quot; and swooped down to surround the four robbers in a sandstorm, quickly mopping them up.&nbsp; Too impulsive, Jon thought, but at least he's starting to think a little like a team member.Flying up to the base, Photon said, &quot;Beta, you head back home and recharge.&nbsp; Sirocco, how about you and I go up top?&quot;&nbsp; He pointed at the omnipresent overcast, and Sirocco shrugged. &quot;Sure.&quot;&nbsp; They pierced the clouds together, emerging into lovely autumn sunshine.&nbsp; &quot;Nice!&quot; the young man said.&nbsp; &quot;I've been missing the sun.&quot;&nbsp; Face to face, Jon could make out a chain about his neck, and sighed to himself.Jon met his eyes. &quot;I was only a full member of Shadow-Force for about a year, but I developed a bond with them really fast.&nbsp; They became as close to me as my own brothers and sisters - closer, in some ways.&nbsp; That's what happens when you put your life on the line with someone on a regular basis. ... I figure that's where you and I and Demeter are headed before long.&quot;&nbsp; He paused, then said deliberately, &quot;And so I'm willing to extend you a lot of emotional credit, on the basis of a relationship that isn't really established yet.&quot;Sirocco nodded, a little warily - plainly he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.&nbsp; Photon continued, &quot;Some matters have come up that I can't kick down the road until I know you better.&nbsp; They have to be resolved now.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Okay...&nbsp; What are they?&quot;&quot;I need to know what happened between you and Charm.&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco sighed.&nbsp; &quot;Well... the details aren't really your business.&nbsp; But I'll give you the broad sweep of things.&nbsp; Basically, I felt I was ready for a solo mission.&nbsp; Charm didn't agree;&nbsp; he said I didn't have enough ability, experience, whatever.&nbsp; That's what the blowup you've apparently heard of was about.&nbsp; Anyway, to make a long story short, I went and smashed the drug ring on my own - they were running Might [1] - and called Charm several times to let him know.&nbsp; He never picked up, and I never saw him again.&quot;Jon folded his arms. &quot;Uh huh.&nbsp; And what about Charm's amulet?&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco recoiled in shock. &quot;What?!&nbsp; How did you-?!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Answer the question, please.&quot;&nbsp; The young hero wrestled to come to terms with the new situation, then finally said, &quot;...All right, tell me straight.&nbsp; Did you know, or were you guessing?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I had a really good indication, but I didn't know for certain.&quot;With a sigh, &quot;Fine.&nbsp; I didn't exactly lie to you just now, but obviously there's more to the story.&nbsp; I really didn't see Charm again, as Charm.&nbsp; But I did see him as Colin...&quot;&nbsp; Reading Photon's face, he said, &quot;Oh, crap.&nbsp; You didn't know his name, did you?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;It's hardly relevant now.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;No, it is, believe me.&nbsp; Please don't look any further into his life, okay?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Continue your story, please.&quot;Sirocco said quietly, &quot;My understanding was that the Amulet of Fortune had been promised to me.&nbsp; I went to Charm's house and spoke with him about it - he was out of costume.&nbsp; We both got angry.&nbsp; Finally he flung it at me while pronouncing a curse, and told me to get out.&nbsp; So I did.&quot;&quot;What were the terms of the curse?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...Personal.&nbsp; But the gist was that I wouldn't hold on to the Amulet for long.&quot;&nbsp; Photon pondered that, then said quietly, &quot;Charm is dead, Sirocco.&quot;&nbsp; Then, studying the young man's posture, &quot;...This doesn't surprise you, does it?&quot;Sirocco sighed. &quot;I didn't know for sure.&nbsp; But something he said once made me wonder.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;He died about eighteen hours after speaking with you.&nbsp; Of a run of extraordinarily bad luck.&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco winced.&nbsp; &quot;...Yeah.&quot;Jon told him firmly, &quot;I want to see this amulet.&quot;&nbsp; The young hero closed his eyes, took a breath, let it out.&nbsp; &quot;Okay, if you insist.&nbsp; Not here, though.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;You don't have to take it off.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;No, I mean indoors.&nbsp; Please.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;All right.&quot;They flew down to the base, and found Demeter in the Situation Room chatting merrily with Alpha.&nbsp; (The two of them seemed to have really hit it off.)&nbsp; Sirocco said quietly to Photon, &quot;Not here.&nbsp; Someplace more private.&quot;&nbsp; Jon nodded and said, &quot;Excuse us for a second, we'll join you in a moment.&quot;&nbsp; Demeter waved, hardly even looking in his direction.Jon led the way into the hall off the Situation Room and then into the lounge on the left.&nbsp; He closed the seldom-used door and turned to Sirocco.&nbsp; &quot;Okay.&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco nodded uneasily, and slowly unbuttoned the top couple buttons of his shirt.&nbsp; Then he pulled the Amulet forth.&nbsp; Several things then happened all at once.The Amulet flared with green light, momentarily blinding Jon.&nbsp; (Clearly the blinding effect had nothing to do with actual photons!)&nbsp; While stupefied by the light, Jon heard the door behind him suddenly unlatch, and Demeter cried out.When his vision came back, Jon saw Sirocco struggling frantically to get the Amulet back under his shirt, but it had somehow snagged on one of his buttons.&nbsp; The thing was still pulsing and flaring with green light, and Jon instinctively shrouded the area with darkness absolute... or nearly absolute.&nbsp; He could still dimly make out the green light, then it seemed to dim further, as if covered with a veil.&nbsp; Sirocco said shakily, &quot;Okay, it's back in.&quot;&nbsp; Jon let his darkness lapse, his demeanor poised and grim - he'd seen what the Amulet was made of.Turning quickly to Demeter, he saw her eyes glowing green, then slowly fading back to their normal color.&nbsp; He asked sharply, &quot;Demeter, are you OK?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...Yeah,&quot; she responded, &quot;that was really weird, though.&quot;&nbsp; Then, whirling back to Sirocco, &quot;You want to tell me what the HECK just happened?!&quot;Sirocco replied bleakly, &quot;You've sealed my death.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;What?!&quot;&nbsp; The young man was trembling now.&nbsp; &quot;You've sealed.&nbsp; My death.&quot;&nbsp; Jon snarled, &quot;You care to be a little more EXPLICIT about that statement, Sirocco?&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco swallowed hard, then said, &quot;The Amulet has chosen a new bearer.&quot;&nbsp; He pointed to Demeter. &quot;Her.&nbsp; At some point it will go to her.&nbsp; And I will die, just like Charm did.&quot;&nbsp; Jon asked sharply, &quot;How long?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;There's no telling.&nbsp; I mean, if I gave it to her right now, it'd be done.&nbsp; If I choose not to... I just don't know.&nbsp; I didn't exactly get an instruction manual for the thing!&quot;Jon strode back to the Situation Room, Sirocco in tow.&nbsp; &quot;Okay.&nbsp; Demeter, what's your story?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;The door opened, and I just happened to be looking in that direction...&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco rolled his eyes. &quot;Of course.&nbsp; It always 'just happens'.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...And I saw a flare of green light.&nbsp; A weird feeling came over me, like... Like something was sizing me up.&nbsp; Then you dropped darkness, and the feeling muted a bit... and when you lifted the darkness, it was gone.&quot;Jon nodded, his mind racing. &quot;Okay... Oh, and by the way, Demeter, you'll be interested to know this thing's made of JADE.&quot;&nbsp; Demeter's eyes widened, then her face became an impassive mask.&nbsp; Alpha asked impatiently, &quot;What 'thing' are we talking about?&quot;&nbsp; Jon said, &quot;The amulet Sirocco is wearing, Alpha.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;The what now?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Haven't you been listening to this conversation?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;What conversation?&quot;&nbsp; Jon turned to look fully at Alpha's main interface.&nbsp; &quot;Huh?&quot;Sirocco explained, &quot;The Amulet doesn't show up in mirrors, on cameras... or apparently for AI's.&quot;&nbsp; Alpha demanded, &quot;WHAT doesn't show up for AI's?&quot;&nbsp; Jon said soothingly, &quot;I'll explain later, Alpha.&nbsp; Just please call the Texas Legends for me.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Well... okay, but it better be a really good explanation.&quot;Jon waited.&nbsp; &quot;Alpha?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Aren't you calling the Texas Legends?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Why would I do that?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...Because I asked you to?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;No you didn't...&nbsp; Wait, the security video of the last few minutes is all blurry and staticky.&nbsp; What's going on?&quot;&nbsp; Jon said patiently, &quot;It's magic, Alpha.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...I hate magic.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah, me too.&quot;Jon went and started pulling up the Texas Legends manually.&nbsp; Alpha asked, &quot;Uh, Photon?&nbsp; Why are you calling the Texas Legends?&nbsp; I can do that for you, you know.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I know, Alpha.&nbsp; Just trust me, OK?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Okay...&quot;Soon he had Pecos Bill on the line.&nbsp; &quot;Why, Photon!&nbsp; Always good to hear from y'all!&nbsp; What can we be doin' you for?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Hi, Bill.&nbsp; We really need to talk to Tex.&nbsp; It's kind of urgent.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Well, Ah don't think he's left yet... One sec.&quot;&nbsp; In a minute Tex appeared on the screen. &quot;Photon!&nbsp; Have y'got word of Mirror Mask for me?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;No, Tex.&nbsp; We've got a different deadly magical artifact this time.&quot;&nbsp; Tex laughed.&nbsp; &quot;Haw!&nbsp; How'd'y'do it, son?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Beats me.&nbsp; Anyway, have you ever heard of the Amulet of Fortune?&quot;&quot;The what now?&nbsp; Your voice fuzzed out.&quot;&nbsp; Jon sighed.&nbsp; &quot;It interferes with machines somehow.&nbsp; OK, the A-m-u-l-e-t.&nbsp; Got that?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Amu-let, shore.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;O-f.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Of.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;F-o-r-t-u-n-e.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Raht, the-&quot; fuzz fuzz fuzz.&nbsp; &quot;I think you've got it.&nbsp; So have you?&quot;&nbsp; Tex pondered, scratching his head.&nbsp; &quot;Ah know of any number of charms an' amu-lets that're s'posed to help in that area, but none that rates a capital 'The', if'n y'catch mah drift.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Well...&nbsp; I hate to ask, but could you take a look at this thing?&nbsp; It kills people.&quot;&nbsp; Tex replied good-naturedly, &quot;Y'all are just bound an' determined to deprahve me of mah days off, ain't ye, son?&nbsp; Why, shore, I'd be glad-&quot;Pecos Bill broke in.&nbsp; &quot;Hold on now, Tex.&nbsp; We can't spare you right now.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Aw, c'mon Bill, he's only a shaman...&quot;&nbsp; &quot;You're the only one of us with any magical ability, Tex!&nbsp; You're stayin', and that's final.&quot;&nbsp; Photon asked desperately, &quot;Can you refer us to anyone, then?&nbsp; Are the Guardians back yet?&quot;&nbsp; Tex sighed. &quot;No, they ain't.&nbsp; As for a referral...&nbsp; Most of the ones comin' to mind are kinda specialized.&nbsp; Or else extra-special cryptic, if'n y'know what Ah mean.&nbsp; Ah guess yore local Sixties reject ain't available?&quot;&nbsp; Jon rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;No, she's off on a vision quest.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Figures.&quot;Jon came to an abrupt decision.&nbsp; &quot;We're coming to you.&nbsp; Is that okay?&quot;&nbsp; Tex looked to Bill, who nodded.&nbsp; &quot;We'll be waitin'.&quot;&nbsp; Jon signed off, saying to Sirocco, &quot;I assume you're not willing to take that thing off.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;You got that right!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Okay, you can fly.&nbsp; How long would it take you to get to Dallas?&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco shrugged helplessly.&nbsp; &quot;Several days?&quot;&nbsp; With a sigh, &quot;Okay, I guess it's up to me.&quot;&nbsp; Alpha asked crankily, &quot;Will somebody PLEASE tell me what is going on?!&quot;&nbsp; Jon said, &quot;Demeter, you're elected.&nbsp; Alpha, help me get my bearings once we're outside.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...Okay.&quot;Photon and Sirocco went outside and flew into the air.&nbsp; Jon opened his senses, using his field-sense to align with the earth's magnetic field along the bearing Alpha fed him via radio.&nbsp; Straining his radio sense, he picked up the faint signal of a Dallas radio station, which helped him refine things a bit.&nbsp; Then putting an arm about Sirocco's shoulders he explained, &quot;Okay, I can't take you into light-form with me, but I can do... THIS!&quot;&nbsp; He extended his local gravitational disturbance to include Sirocco as well - and in a single tremendous sonic boom, they were there in a few seconds.He released Sirocco and panted for breath in the hot sun as the young man gaped. &quot;WOW!&nbsp; That was... FAST!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah, I don't normally do that in a populated airspace.&nbsp; This was a special occasion.&quot;&nbsp; Jon spent a couple minutes calming down the local air traffic controllers, then tracked down the Legends base.&nbsp; (That took considerably more time than getting to Dallas had.)Soon he was tersely explaining the situation to the Texas Hex, who listened gravely;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sirocco added details here and there.&nbsp; Finally Tex said to Sirocco, &quot;Okee, then, let's you an' me take a look at this-here thing private-like.&quot;&nbsp; He led Sirocco off to another room, while Pecos Bill chatted with Photon to pass the time.After an hour or so, they returned.&nbsp; Tex looked grim, and Sirocco was pale.&nbsp; &quot;Ah don't know how y'do it, Photon.&nbsp; Trippin' across powerful artifacts like that... t'ain't natural.&quot;&nbsp; Bill rolled his eyes. &quot;He's found what, two?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;In all of two weeks!&quot;&nbsp; Photon cut in:&nbsp; &quot;What's the prognosis?&quot;Tex sighed.&nbsp; &quot;We're gonna have to convince this thing that Demeter's already wearin' it - an' always has.&nbsp; Otherwise, it'll take all Sirocco's abilities with it, and give 'em to her.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;What sort of abilities?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;All of 'em.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...You're saying that Demeter would suddenly have sand powers, in addition to everything else?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yup.&nbsp; Along with the him-dyin' part.&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco winced just a little at that description.&quot;So how do we convince it?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;That's the interestin' part of this-here problem.&nbsp; It's...&nbsp; Hmm, no, not 'it'.&nbsp; 'She'.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;She?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;That's how it comes across... Like a woman who's PMSin'.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jon rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;You were saying?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Raht.&nbsp; She's pretty smart...&nbsp; I'm gonna have to be up there in Se-attle, with Demeter and Sirocco.&nbsp; We'll perform ourselves a li'l ritual to make the Amu-let all comfy-like.&nbsp; It'll need to be in a place Demeter's familiar with, that 'belongs' to her somehow.&nbsp; She don't have a room in thet fancy base of your'n, does she?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;She's only been part of the team for a week...&nbsp; And we're moving out anyway.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Oh.&nbsp; Wail... she's got plant powers, raht?&nbsp; She can make plants grow?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Wail, that should help.&quot;&quot;How so?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;We'll jest have her grow herself a li'l garden, raht? She'll be 'at home' there.&nbsp; Then we'll have her grow a vine around the Amu-let, twine Sirocco up 'til he cain't move a muscle...&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco:&nbsp; &quot;...What good will that do?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;None atall, it's jest more funny thet way!&quot;Bill rolled his eyes. &quot;You and your sense of humor, Tex, Ah declare.&quot;&nbsp; Jon laughed.&nbsp; &quot;When he was in Seattle, he propositioned both me and my girlfriend!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Ah'm not surprised.&quot;&nbsp; Tex said indignantly, &quot;Ah don't recall prop-ositionin' yer girlfriend!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;You asked if she was open to 'new thangs'.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Oh! Raht, Ah remember.&nbsp; So, is she?&quot;&nbsp; Jon laughed again, shaking his head, while Sirocco looked between the two of them, a tiny grin starting to form.Jon finally asked, &quot;So I guess this ritual will have to wait until your current caper dies down?&quot;&nbsp; Bill nodded. &quot;Yessir.&nbsp; I'm thinkin' a day or two, most like.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Oh, that's not so bad.&nbsp; What should we do in the meantime?&quot;&nbsp; Tex jerked a thumb at Sirocco.&nbsp; &quot;Keep him alive.&quot;&nbsp; Jon rolled his eyes.&nbsp; &quot;I was planning on doing that anyway, as it happens.&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco added, &quot;So was I!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Wail, there y'are!&quot;Photon asked, &quot;As long as I'm here, Tex, I've got another question for you.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Shoot.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;We're going to be moving out of our base soon.&nbsp; What should I do with that compass?&quot;&nbsp; Tex shrugged.&nbsp; &quot;Jest move it.&nbsp; Take care to keep it level - if it tilts too much, it'll confuse the sensor - but other than that, nothin' special needed.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;And put it on the spot on the map where the new base is once it's moved, I'm guessing?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;That's raht.&quot;&quot;Okay.&nbsp; I really appreciate your help, and we'll look forward to seeing you in a few days.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Back at'cha, Photon!&nbsp; The weather makes a nice change, as does th'good company!&quot;&nbsp; Bill laughed and punched him in the arm.&nbsp; Photon and Sirocco took their leave, and one sonic boom later were back in Seattle.&nbsp; Sirocco shook his head. &quot;Damn, you've got a fun set of powers.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I like to think so.&quot;Soon they were back in the Situation Room.&nbsp; Jon told Demeter, &quot;Good news, you're not 'Nephrite'.&quot;&nbsp; She said quietly, &quot;Yeah, but it sounds like I'm going to be wearing Nephrite.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Hopefully not,&quot; Jon told her, and outlined Tex's plan.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Sirocco asked, &quot;Nephrite?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Right, you haven't heard about that yet.&quot;&nbsp; Jon fetched the letter and showed it to him, explaining about Forestrike.Sirocco read through it carefully.&nbsp; &quot;So what's 'Nephrite' mean, anyway?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;It's a kind of jade.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...Oh.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah.&nbsp; You're going to be well shut of that thing.&nbsp; Why did you want it, anyway?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Well, I didn't know about all THIS!&nbsp; Charm didn't tell me much about it.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah.&quot;&nbsp; Alpha asked plaintively, &quot;About what?&quot;&nbsp; Jon tried spelling out the name of the amulet again...&nbsp; &quot;OK, Amulet, got it.&nbsp; Of.&nbsp; I can spell, you know.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;F-o-r-t-u-n-e.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;So, that's it.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;...What's it?&quot;&nbsp; Demeter chuckled exasperatedly and explained, &quot;You can give him all the pieces, but as soon as he tries to put them together he loses everything.&quot;&quot;Loses WHAT?&nbsp; ... I HATE magic! Wait... I've said that already tonight, haven't I?&quot;&nbsp; Demeter replied, &quot;Yes, several times.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;So that's what deja vu feels like!&quot;&nbsp; Photon:&nbsp; &quot;Alpha, I'm afraid you're just going to have to resign yourself to being confused about this one.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;... I REALLY hate magic!&nbsp; It doesn't make SENSE!&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Yeah, I know.&quot;&nbsp; Silence reigned for a time.Finally Jon broke it, saying quietly, &quot;Well, team, I'd say it's been the equivalent of a formal introduction.&nbsp; How high-trust are we willing to go at this point?&quot;&nbsp; Demeter pondered her answer while Sirocco held up a hand.&nbsp; &quot;Let's hold off on that until after the ritual.&nbsp; I don't know if Tex would recommend it, given all the 'familiarity' stuff he was talking about.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Okay, good point.&quot;&nbsp; Demeter also nodded agreement.More silence.&nbsp; Then, Jon said to Sirocco, &quot;I wish - well, if wishes were fishes.&nbsp; But I wish you'd trusted us a little more.&nbsp; Maybe this could've been prevented.&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco sighed. &quot;I wish you hadn't pushed me so hard for answers.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;Well, you have to admit, it looked pretty bad - what with you being the last person to see Charm alive and all.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;I was?&nbsp; Damn.&quot;&nbsp; The young man sighed.&nbsp; &quot;I wish you'd told me that straight up - the conversation might have gone differently.&nbsp; Well, hindsight is 20/20 - I understand where you were coming from.&quot;Jon sighed deeply.&nbsp; &quot;I'm just sorry that I didn't get an opening to use the movie quote I had all prepared for our talk.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;Huh?!&quot;&nbsp; Jon darkened the air in the room a bit, then abruptly thundered, &quot;Do not take me for some conjuror of cheap tricks!&nbsp; I'm not trying to rob you!&nbsp; I'm trying to help you.&quot;Sirocco gaped at him open-mouthed, then face-palmed.&nbsp; &quot;Aw, MAN!&quot;&nbsp; Then Demeter clasped her hands together and said in very uncharacteristic syrupy-sweet tones, &quot;Gee, Uncle Bilbo!&nbsp; Are you really gonna leave me Bag End and everything in it?&quot;&nbsp; Meanwhile Alpha brought up the looming, lidless Eye of Sauron on a viewscreen - with a question mark at its center.&nbsp; He boomed in a malevolent voice, &quot;...What am I looking for, again?&quot;Sirocco stared at the three of them, then cracked up and laughed helplessly as if he would never stop.&nbsp; It proved infectious;&nbsp; soon Demeter and Photon were laughing like loons with him, pounding on the table.&nbsp; Even Alpha joined in.&nbsp; When they were finally winding down a bit, Jon gathered the breath to thunder, &quot;BILBO BAGGINS!&quot; and that set them off all over again.&nbsp; Eventually they trailed off to exhausted giggles, the tension of the day completely spent.Serious once more, Jon gripped Sirocco's shoulder. &quot;I want you to hear something.&quot; &quot;...Yeah?&quot;&nbsp; &quot;No matter what's gone before... We've got your back, Sirocco.&nbsp; We're NOT going to let you die.&quot;&nbsp; Sirocco nodded slowly.&nbsp; &quot;Right. ... Thanks.&quot; He did seem a little relieved.The team parted shortly after.&nbsp; We do feel like a team now, Jon realized.It was a good feeling.[1] Might is the street name of a super-drug originally developed by the Soviets from dissecting the corpse of a Polish hero they'd liquidated - Wojownik (roughly, 'Warrior').&nbsp; It confers temporary super-strength, while also increasing aggression and draining the subject's sense of empathy.&nbsp; (In essence, it's super-PCP.) The Soviets also isolated several other useful super-drugs from Wojownik's body, but Might is the most common.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="The Shadow, post: 5269690, member: 16760"] [b]12 - Good Luck Charm[/b] Heading back to the base, Photon found Beta and Sirocco ready for the joint patrol they'd worked out the previous day. "OK, let's go." The patrol was mostly quiet; Jon kept things light, telling funny stories of times with Shadow-Force. Sirocco quickly warmed to him, and proved to be a witty raconteur himself - soon they were laughing together like comrades. (He also got the hang of directing Beta easily enough.) Near the end, there was a bit of excitement - a robbery in progress. Sirocco said easily, "Cover me!" and swooped down to surround the four robbers in a sandstorm, quickly mopping them up. Too impulsive, Jon thought, but at least he's starting to think a little like a team member. Flying up to the base, Photon said, "Beta, you head back home and recharge. Sirocco, how about you and I go up top?" He pointed at the omnipresent overcast, and Sirocco shrugged. "Sure." They pierced the clouds together, emerging into lovely autumn sunshine. "Nice!" the young man said. "I've been missing the sun." Face to face, Jon could make out a chain about his neck, and sighed to himself. Jon met his eyes. "I was only a full member of Shadow-Force for about a year, but I developed a bond with them really fast. They became as close to me as my own brothers and sisters - closer, in some ways. That's what happens when you put your life on the line with someone on a regular basis. ... I figure that's where you and I and Demeter are headed before long." He paused, then said deliberately, "And so I'm willing to extend you a lot of emotional credit, on the basis of a relationship that isn't really established yet." Sirocco nodded, a little warily - plainly he was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Photon continued, "Some matters have come up that I can't kick down the road until I know you better. They have to be resolved now." "Okay... What are they?" "I need to know what happened between you and Charm." Sirocco sighed. "Well... the details aren't really your business. But I'll give you the broad sweep of things. Basically, I felt I was ready for a solo mission. Charm didn't agree; he said I didn't have enough ability, experience, whatever. That's what the blowup you've apparently heard of was about. Anyway, to make a long story short, I went and smashed the drug ring on my own - they were running Might [1] - and called Charm several times to let him know. He never picked up, and I never saw him again." Jon folded his arms. "Uh huh. And what about Charm's amulet?" Sirocco recoiled in shock. "What?! How did you-?!" "Answer the question, please." The young hero wrestled to come to terms with the new situation, then finally said, "...All right, tell me straight. Did you know, or were you guessing?" "I had a really good indication, but I didn't know for certain." With a sigh, "Fine. I didn't exactly lie to you just now, but obviously there's more to the story. I really didn't see Charm again, as Charm. But I did see him as Colin..." Reading Photon's face, he said, "Oh, crap. You didn't know his name, did you?" "It's hardly relevant now." "No, it is, believe me. Please don't look any further into his life, okay?" "Continue your story, please." Sirocco said quietly, "My understanding was that the Amulet of Fortune had been promised to me. I went to Charm's house and spoke with him about it - he was out of costume. We both got angry. Finally he flung it at me while pronouncing a curse, and told me to get out. So I did." "What were the terms of the curse?" "...Personal. But the gist was that I wouldn't hold on to the Amulet for long." Photon pondered that, then said quietly, "Charm is dead, Sirocco." Then, studying the young man's posture, "...This doesn't surprise you, does it?" Sirocco sighed. "I didn't know for sure. But something he said once made me wonder." "He died about eighteen hours after speaking with you. Of a run of extraordinarily bad luck." Sirocco winced. "...Yeah." Jon told him firmly, "I want to see this amulet." The young hero closed his eyes, took a breath, let it out. "Okay, if you insist. Not here, though." "You don't have to take it off." "No, I mean indoors. Please." "All right." They flew down to the base, and found Demeter in the Situation Room chatting merrily with Alpha. (The two of them seemed to have really hit it off.) Sirocco said quietly to Photon, "Not here. Someplace more private." Jon nodded and said, "Excuse us for a second, we'll join you in a moment." Demeter waved, hardly even looking in his direction. Jon led the way into the hall off the Situation Room and then into the lounge on the left. He closed the seldom-used door and turned to Sirocco. "Okay." Sirocco nodded uneasily, and slowly unbuttoned the top couple buttons of his shirt. Then he pulled the Amulet forth. Several things then happened all at once. The Amulet flared with green light, momentarily blinding Jon. (Clearly the blinding effect had nothing to do with actual photons!) While stupefied by the light, Jon heard the door behind him suddenly unlatch, and Demeter cried out. When his vision came back, Jon saw Sirocco struggling frantically to get the Amulet back under his shirt, but it had somehow snagged on one of his buttons. The thing was still pulsing and flaring with green light, and Jon instinctively shrouded the area with darkness absolute... or nearly absolute. He could still dimly make out the green light, then it seemed to dim further, as if covered with a veil. Sirocco said shakily, "Okay, it's back in." Jon let his darkness lapse, his demeanor poised and grim - he'd seen what the Amulet was made of. Turning quickly to Demeter, he saw her eyes glowing green, then slowly fading back to their normal color. He asked sharply, "Demeter, are you OK?" "...Yeah," she responded, "that was really weird, though." Then, whirling back to Sirocco, "You want to tell me what the HECK just happened?!" Sirocco replied bleakly, "You've sealed my death." "What?!" The young man was trembling now. "You've sealed. My death." Jon snarled, "You care to be a little more EXPLICIT about that statement, Sirocco?" Sirocco swallowed hard, then said, "The Amulet has chosen a new bearer." He pointed to Demeter. "Her. At some point it will go to her. And I will die, just like Charm did." Jon asked sharply, "How long?" "There's no telling. I mean, if I gave it to her right now, it'd be done. If I choose not to... I just don't know. I didn't exactly get an instruction manual for the thing!" Jon strode back to the Situation Room, Sirocco in tow. "Okay. Demeter, what's your story?" "The door opened, and I just happened to be looking in that direction..." Sirocco rolled his eyes. "Of course. It always 'just happens'." "...And I saw a flare of green light. A weird feeling came over me, like... Like something was sizing me up. Then you dropped darkness, and the feeling muted a bit... and when you lifted the darkness, it was gone." Jon nodded, his mind racing. "Okay... Oh, and by the way, Demeter, you'll be interested to know this thing's made of JADE." Demeter's eyes widened, then her face became an impassive mask. Alpha asked impatiently, "What 'thing' are we talking about?" Jon said, "The amulet Sirocco is wearing, Alpha." "The what now?" "Haven't you been listening to this conversation?" "What conversation?" Jon turned to look fully at Alpha's main interface. "Huh?" Sirocco explained, "The Amulet doesn't show up in mirrors, on cameras... or apparently for AI's." Alpha demanded, "WHAT doesn't show up for AI's?" Jon said soothingly, "I'll explain later, Alpha. Just please call the Texas Legends for me." "Well... okay, but it better be a really good explanation." Jon waited. "Alpha?" "Yeah?" "Aren't you calling the Texas Legends?" "Why would I do that?" "...Because I asked you to?" "No you didn't... Wait, the security video of the last few minutes is all blurry and staticky. What's going on?" Jon said patiently, "It's magic, Alpha." "...I hate magic." "Yeah, me too." Jon went and started pulling up the Texas Legends manually. Alpha asked, "Uh, Photon? Why are you calling the Texas Legends? I can do that for you, you know." "I know, Alpha. Just trust me, OK?" "Okay..." Soon he had Pecos Bill on the line. "Why, Photon! Always good to hear from y'all! What can we be doin' you for?" "Hi, Bill. We really need to talk to Tex. It's kind of urgent." "Well, Ah don't think he's left yet... One sec." In a minute Tex appeared on the screen. "Photon! Have y'got word of Mirror Mask for me?" "No, Tex. We've got a [I]different[/I] deadly magical artifact this time." Tex laughed. "Haw! How'd'y'do it, son?" "Beats me. Anyway, have you ever heard of the Amulet of Fortune?" "The what now? Your voice fuzzed out." Jon sighed. "It interferes with machines somehow. OK, the A-m-u-l-e-t. Got that?" "Amu-let, shore." "O-f." "Of." "F-o-r-t-u-n-e." "Raht, the-" fuzz fuzz fuzz. "I think you've got it. So have you?" Tex pondered, scratching his head. "Ah know of any number of charms an' amu-lets that're s'posed to help in that area, but none that rates a capital 'The', if'n y'catch mah drift." "Well... I hate to ask, but could you take a look at this thing? It [I]kills[/I] people." Tex replied good-naturedly, "Y'all are just bound an' determined to deprahve me of mah days off, ain't ye, son? Why, shore, I'd be glad-" Pecos Bill broke in. "Hold on now, Tex. We can't spare you right now." "Aw, c'mon Bill, he's only a shaman..." "You're the only one of us with [I]any[/I] magical ability, Tex! You're stayin', and that's final." Photon asked desperately, "Can you refer us to anyone, then? Are the Guardians back yet?" Tex sighed. "No, they ain't. As for a referral... Most of the ones comin' to mind are kinda specialized. Or else extra-special cryptic, if'n y'know what Ah mean. Ah guess yore local Sixties reject ain't available?" Jon rolled his eyes. "No, she's off on a vision quest." "Figures." Jon came to an abrupt decision. "We're coming to you. Is that okay?" Tex looked to Bill, who nodded. "We'll be waitin'." Jon signed off, saying to Sirocco, "I assume you're not willing to take that thing off." "You got that right!" "Okay, you can fly. How long would it take you to get to Dallas?" Sirocco shrugged helplessly. "Several days?" With a sigh, "Okay, I guess it's up to me." Alpha asked crankily, "Will somebody PLEASE tell me what is going on?!" Jon said, "Demeter, you're elected. Alpha, help me get my bearings once we're outside." "...Okay." Photon and Sirocco went outside and flew into the air. Jon opened his senses, using his field-sense to align with the earth's magnetic field along the bearing Alpha fed him via radio. Straining his radio sense, he picked up the faint signal of a Dallas radio station, which helped him refine things a bit. Then putting an arm about Sirocco's shoulders he explained, "Okay, I can't take you into light-form with me, but I can do... THIS!" He extended his local gravitational disturbance to include Sirocco as well - and in a single tremendous sonic boom, they were there in a few seconds. He released Sirocco and panted for breath in the hot sun as the young man gaped. "WOW! That was... FAST!" "Yeah, I don't normally do that in a populated airspace. This was a special occasion." Jon spent a couple minutes calming down the local air traffic controllers, then tracked down the Legends base. (That took considerably more time than getting to Dallas had.) Soon he was tersely explaining the situation to the Texas Hex, who listened gravely; Sirocco added details here and there. Finally Tex said to Sirocco, "Okee, then, let's you an' me take a look at this-here thing private-like." He led Sirocco off to another room, while Pecos Bill chatted with Photon to pass the time. After an hour or so, they returned. Tex looked grim, and Sirocco was pale. "Ah don't know how y'do it, Photon. Trippin' across powerful artifacts like that... t'ain't natural." Bill rolled his eyes. "He's found what, two?" "In all of two weeks!" Photon cut in: "What's the prognosis?" Tex sighed. "We're gonna have to convince this thing that Demeter's already wearin' it - an' always has. Otherwise, it'll take all Sirocco's abilities with it, and give 'em to her." "What sort of abilities?" "All of 'em." "...You're saying that Demeter would suddenly have sand powers, in addition to everything else?" "Yup. Along with the him-dyin' part." Sirocco winced just a little at that description. "So how do we convince it?" "That's the interestin' part of this-here problem. It's... Hmm, no, not 'it'. 'She'." "She?" "That's how it comes across... Like a woman who's PMSin'." Jon rolled his eyes. "You were saying?" "Raht. She's pretty smart... I'm gonna have to be up there in Se-attle, with Demeter and Sirocco. We'll perform ourselves a li'l ritual to make the Amu-let all comfy-like. It'll need to be in a place Demeter's familiar with, that 'belongs' to her somehow. She don't have a room in thet fancy base of your'n, does she?" "She's only been part of the team for a week... And we're moving out anyway." "Oh. Wail... she's got plant powers, raht? She can make plants grow?" "Yeah?" "Wail, that should help." "How so?" "We'll jest have her grow herself a li'l garden, raht? She'll be 'at home' there. Then we'll have her grow a vine around the Amu-let, twine Sirocco up 'til he cain't move a muscle..." Sirocco: "...What good will that do?" "None atall, it's jest more funny thet way!" Bill rolled his eyes. "You and your sense of humor, Tex, Ah declare." Jon laughed. "When he was in Seattle, he propositioned both me and my girlfriend!" "Ah'm not surprised." Tex said indignantly, "Ah don't recall prop-ositionin' yer girlfriend!" "You asked if she was open to 'new thangs'." "Oh! Raht, Ah remember. So, is she?" Jon laughed again, shaking his head, while Sirocco looked between the two of them, a tiny grin starting to form. Jon finally asked, "So I guess this ritual will have to wait until your current caper dies down?" Bill nodded. "Yessir. I'm thinkin' a day or two, most like." "Oh, that's not so bad. What should we do in the meantime?" Tex jerked a thumb at Sirocco. "Keep him alive." Jon rolled his eyes. "I was planning on doing that anyway, as it happens." Sirocco added, "So was I!" "Wail, there y'are!" Photon asked, "As long as I'm here, Tex, I've got another question for you." "Shoot." "We're going to be moving out of our base soon. What should I do with that compass?" Tex shrugged. "Jest move it. Take care to keep it level - if it tilts too much, it'll confuse the sensor - but other than that, nothin' special needed." "And put it on the spot on the map where the new base is once it's moved, I'm guessing?" "That's raht." "Okay. I really appreciate your help, and we'll look forward to seeing you in a few days." "Back at'cha, Photon! The weather makes a nice change, as does th'good company!" Bill laughed and punched him in the arm. Photon and Sirocco took their leave, and one sonic boom later were back in Seattle. Sirocco shook his head. "Damn, you've got a fun set of powers." "I like to think so." Soon they were back in the Situation Room. Jon told Demeter, "Good news, you're not 'Nephrite'." She said quietly, "Yeah, but it sounds like I'm going to be wearing Nephrite." "Hopefully not," Jon told her, and outlined Tex's plan. Meanwhile, Sirocco asked, "Nephrite?" "Right, you haven't heard about that yet." Jon fetched the letter and showed it to him, explaining about Forestrike. Sirocco read through it carefully. "So what's 'Nephrite' mean, anyway?" "It's a kind of jade." "...Oh." "Yeah. You're going to be well shut of that thing. Why did you want it, anyway?" "Well, I didn't know about all THIS! Charm didn't tell me much about it." "Yeah." Alpha asked plaintively, "About what?" Jon tried spelling out the name of the amulet again... "OK, Amulet, got it. Of. I [I]can[/I] spell, you know." "F-o-r-t-u-n-e." "Yeah?" "So, that's it." "...What's it?" Demeter chuckled exasperatedly and explained, "You can give him all the pieces, but as soon as he tries to put them together he loses everything." "Loses WHAT? ... I HATE magic! Wait... I've said that already tonight, haven't I?" Demeter replied, "Yes, several times." "So [I]that's[/I] what deja vu feels like!" Photon: "Alpha, I'm afraid you're just going to have to resign yourself to being confused about this one." "... I REALLY hate magic! It doesn't make SENSE!" "Yeah, I know." Silence reigned for a time. Finally Jon broke it, saying quietly, "Well, team, I'd say it's been the equivalent of a formal introduction. How high-trust are we willing to go at this point?" Demeter pondered her answer while Sirocco held up a hand. "Let's hold off on that until after the ritual. I don't know if Tex would recommend it, given all the 'familiarity' stuff he was talking about." "Okay, good point." Demeter also nodded agreement. More silence. Then, Jon said to Sirocco, "I wish - well, if wishes were fishes. But I wish you'd trusted us a little more. Maybe this could've been prevented." Sirocco sighed. "I wish you hadn't pushed me so hard for answers." "Well, you have to admit, it looked pretty bad - what with you being the last person to see Charm alive and all." "I was? Damn." The young man sighed. "I wish you'd told me that straight up - the conversation might have gone differently. Well, hindsight is 20/20 - I understand where you were coming from." Jon sighed deeply. "I'm just sorry that I didn't get an opening to use the movie quote I had all prepared for our talk." "Huh?!" Jon darkened the air in the room a bit, then abruptly thundered, "Do not take me for some conjuror of cheap tricks! I'm not trying to rob you! I'm trying to help you." Sirocco gaped at him open-mouthed, then face-palmed. "Aw, MAN!" Then Demeter clasped her hands together and said in very uncharacteristic syrupy-sweet tones, "Gee, Uncle Bilbo! Are you really gonna leave me Bag End and everything in it?" Meanwhile Alpha brought up the looming, lidless Eye of Sauron on a viewscreen - with a question mark at its center. He boomed in a malevolent voice, "...What am I looking for, again?" Sirocco stared at the three of them, then cracked up and laughed helplessly as if he would never stop. It proved infectious; soon Demeter and Photon were laughing like loons with him, pounding on the table. Even Alpha joined in. When they were finally winding down a bit, Jon gathered the breath to thunder, "BILBO BAGGINS!" and that set them off all over again. Eventually they trailed off to exhausted giggles, the tension of the day completely spent. Serious once more, Jon gripped Sirocco's shoulder. "I want you to hear something." "...Yeah?" "No matter what's gone before... We've got your back, Sirocco. We're NOT going to let you die." Sirocco nodded slowly. "Right. ... Thanks." He did seem a little relieved. The team parted shortly after. We do feel like a team now, Jon realized. It was a good feeling. [1] Might is the street name of a super-drug originally developed by the Soviets from dissecting the corpse of a Polish hero they'd liquidated - Wojownik (roughly, 'Warrior'). It confers temporary super-strength, while also increasing aggression and draining the subject's sense of empathy. (In essence, it's super-PCP.) The Soviets also isolated several other useful super-drugs from Wojownik's body, but Might is the most common. [/QUOTE]

Verification