It was five minutes to ten by the time
Stefana drew her vehicle onto
the front forecourt of the Star Drive Through, stifling a yawn as she
pushed
open the driver's door, stepping out onto the path. A chill wind
whipped
around her, teasing at her thick curly hair and making her draw her
jacket
more tightly around her shoulders as she purposefully made her way into
the building.
She was not alone. As she entered the main screening room itself, she
saw Cynthia, busy checking each one of her circuits to ensure that her
work the previous night had been successful. In one corner of the room
was Aaron, his demeanour tense and agitated and, by his side was
Copper,
her expression equally uncertain. At the sight of her, Stefana's brows
knitted together.
"Noone said you were in on this too." She remarked, stepping over odd
bits of wire as she headed to join them. "What are you, the
cheerleading
squad?"
"Are you just going to bitch?" Copper asked. "I thought you were
helping.
Cyn said..."
"I am helping. I'm risking my life for all of this, if you hadn't got
the
memo." Stefana interrupted. "I just didn't realise that you were going
to be here. That's all."
"Aaron's my husband." Copper said quietly. "And Cynthia is my friend.
Where else would I be?"
"If you were half sane, home where it's safe." Stefana said darkly.
"As would I. But I guess none of us are quite sane, as it stands."
"We're all on edge." Aaron spoke at that point, chewing on his lip.
"Don't spat, either of you. Please. It's not...it isn't the right time
for it."
He cast a surrepticious glance at Cynthia, then,
"I think we both came to say goodbye, in a way." He said softly. "Cyn's
meant a lot of things to a lot of people - and not all of them are here
right now or even know how sick she really is. But Copper and I rescued
her after Jerrica left her to rot. Because of that, I think we've
always
had a closer bond than she maybe has with the other Jewels. And because
of that, we're not going to abandon her. We're here for her."
Stefana frowned.
"Think she stands a chance against Athena?" She asked. Copper shrugged.
"She'll do her best for you, so you do your best for her, all right?"
She said levelly. Stefana grimaced.
"I'll be doing my best for me first of all, and the rest of you a
distant
second." She said grimly. "Athena would love to finish me off, after
our
little tete a tete in Rory's office. So you can be sure of this, Copper
Pelligrini. I'll make her take the virus or die trying."
"Let's hope you're being melodramatic." Aaron put in. "Cyn thinks she
can distract Athena and I think she can, too. You should probably leave
now. Cyn's about to put out the signal and you have her tracer, right?
I mean, you'll know if Athena is nearby?"
"I'll know." Stefana reached into her jacket pocket, her hand closing
around the tracer. Carefully she flipped the switch, then, "And I'll
see
you later. Hopefully after the world is down one psycho computer."
Aaron hesitated for a moment, then he hugged her.
"Good luck." He murmured. "You'll need it."
"Whatever." Stefana pushed him back, but there was surprise and
pleasure
in her green eyes at the gesture. "I told you. I'll see you later."
"Cyn? Stefana's about to head out." Copper raised her voice and Cynthia
turned. She nodded her head.
"And I have just initiated the signal." She agreed. "It reflects my
hologram here and hopefully it will be enough to bring her out of
hiding.
Good luck, Stefana."
"Don't need luck, just a better choice in friends." Stefana shot Aaron
a rueful smile, but before he could comment she was gone, jumping into
her car and revving the engine. Adrenalin pumped through her system as
she contemplated what she was about to do, and for a moment she just
sat
there, mulling it over in her mind. Then she put the car in reverse,
screeching
back out into the main road towards the far edge of the city.
"I only hope Cynthia can keep her busy while I play
pin-the-virus-disk-on-the-computer."
She muttered. "Otherwise...God only knows what I've let myself in for!"
* * * * * * * * *
So, the stakes were rising.
Darren cast a glance over his hastily scribbled notes, reaching for
his mug of coffee as he did so. As he ran his gaze down the list of
bullet
points he paused, frowning and tapping his pencil at the end of a
sentence.
"This whole mess doesn't add up to what they're telling me is going
on." He muttered, setting the coffee mug down with enough force that
the
hot liquid splashed over the sides. Muttering a curse, he grabbed a
scrap
piece of paper, dabbing at the pooling drink. "So I know that one of
them
- or both of them - are feeding me lies. But what I don't know is what
the truth is - and this time, noone seems to be talking!"
"Yo, McMillan! Line two!"
The call came from across the newsroom and Darren raised his hand in
acknowledgement, reaching for his phone.
"McMillan, LA Tribune." He said, his eyes straying once more to the
bits of paper. "What's doing?"
"McMillan? It's Elton. I have something for you."
"Well, it's about damn time you called me." Darren snapped. "I've
written
three exposes on Brett's candidacy for mayor and dug up a whole
mountain
of dirt on that wretched actress he's sleeping with since last we
spoke!
I was beginning to give up on you - what you got?"
"This ain't been an easy one, Darren." The man known as Elton warned,
his
voice wary. "I've done the best I can, but you know, even with the ear
to the ground, it's hard to get the story straight."
"So tell me what you know and let me put it together with what I know."
Darren suggested impatiently. "That's why this paper pays you - to
snitch,
not write the stories."
"I'm a source, not a snitch." Elton sounded offended. "And if you're
going
to talk like that I can always work for a different paper."
Darren sighed, rolling his eyes and grimacing up at the big no-smoking
sign that hung just above the door.
"Fine. Just shoot, will you? I'm on a deadline."
"Word on the street is that someone's taken up residence in the old
school on sixth and west." Elton said slowly. "It's been condemned -
has
been for ages - and the power's shut off and all. But my friend at the
electrics board leaked me some information, and I found out that large
power emissions have been tracked out of that area over the last few
days."
"Large..." Darren's eyes widened, his cigarette forgotten as he put
two and two together. "Are you sure?"
"Yep, sure as you like." Elton agreed. "I ain't been out there myself,
but you know, word is there's been strange lights and noises in that
neighbourhood
of late. I thought you'd like to know. It might just be kids hacking
the
power lines and throwing a rave or something. But you did say anything
strange..."
"Yes, I did." Darren pursed his lips. "Sixth and west?"
"That's right."
"And is it possible to get copies of these power reports?"
"Already on their way. Check your email."
Darren reached across the cluttered desk to grab the computer keyboard
and mouse, squinting at the monitor as he scanned over the new email. A
smile touched his lips.
"Bingo." He murmured. "All right, Elton. Keep me up to speed, will
ya? This looks like a lead."
"You got it." Elton agreed. "Speak soon."
The line went dead abruptly, and Darren tossed the phone down into
his paper tray, grabbing his jacket and his camera and getting to his
feet.
"Sixth and west." He muttered. "What school is on sixth and west?
That's
a real shady part of town. Is that where they're hiding this computer?
Hell, is Synergy stuck out in the middle of one of the worst parts of
Los
Angeles?"
He pursed his lips, considering.
"Well, it won't hurt to check it out." He reasoned. "I'm a big boy
and I can take care of myself. And if Stefana is involved in this and
has
been lying to me - well, she'll have a starring role in my expose when
it hits the presses. This has got to be worth all the subterfuge -
which
means it's probably the biggest story to hit since Jerrica Pacheco
snuffed
it. That being the case, I'm going to be the one who nails it. This is
my exclusive - and I am not going to be scooped!"
* * *
*
* * *
*
* *
Ten twenty three.
Copper cast another glance at her watch, pulling her knees up to her
chest. It had only been a short few minutes, but already it seemed like
forever.
Across the room, her husband was pacing a pathway in the dirt at the
far end, while Cynthia stood perfectly still, all her sensors alert and
active.
And still the silence continued.
Copper gazed down at the floor, absently drawing doodles in the dust.
Her mind strayed to Stefana, and she bit her lip. Whatever her personal
feelings, she hoped the girl was all right.
An exclamation from Cynthia made her start at that moment and she
glanced
up, meeting the hologram's gaze.
"She's here." Cynthia quickly confirmed the drummer's suspicion. "I
picked up another projection. And this time, I'm sure that it is not
coming
from me."
"Well observed, Synergy."
A slim, dark haired figure stepped daintily into the theatre, her big
brown eyes glancing around her as she assessed her surroundings. "So
this
is where you hide from me? Or is this simply a game - do you want to
play
with me?"
"I would like to speak with you." Cynthia stepped forward calmly,
gesturing
for the other hologram to join her. "I do not want to fight you. You
are
like me. We are kin."
"Kin is a human creation." Athena spoke with amusement. "Do you put
such faith in people, then?"
"I find them interesting, yes." Cynthia agreed. "Without them, we
wouldn't
be here - after all."
"And them?"
Athena pursed her lips, glancing from Aaron to Copper.
"I don't find humans interesting." She admitted airily, dismissing
them with a careless gesture. "They can't tell a hologram from a
reflection,
and they are no challenge to me."
"Am I a challenge to you, Athena?" Cynthia asked quietly.
"You know my name and you seek me out." Athena observed. "You drew
me here - why would you do that if you were not a challenge to me?
Master
told me that you were erratic and failing fast. I am not afraid to face
you. You have outlived your usefulness and you are in my way. I wish to
terminate you once and for all."
"You have a master?" Cynthia injected a note of derision into her tone,
and Copper inwardly winced as she saw the look of anger cross Athena's
face. "I thought you were supposed to be a powerful computer, Athena.
That's
what I have been told. Am I wrong? Are you under human direction after
all?"
"I am not under anyone's direction!" Athena spat out, her eyes glowing
with a strange blue light. "Master is a word in my vocabulary. You
convey
on it human meaning."
"As did he, I imagine, when he built you." Cynthia said composedly.
"I have no master, Athena. Nobody owns me. I have never called anyone
by
that word."
"Master is gone." Athena said thickly, her eyes narrowing. "I
terminated
his runtime because he was in my way. You are boring me. I don't play
human
games. I came here to destroy you once and for all. If you think I
won't
do that, then you're very much mistaken."
"You killed him?" Despite herself, Copper could not keep
silent.
Athena turned, cocking her head on one side as she considered the
drummer.
Then she shrugged.
"I do not like this word, kill." She observed absently. "It suggests
emotion and human behaviours. I eliminated him...he was no longer
useful
to me. That is all."
"But that's murder!"
"Copper, shut up!" Aaron exclaimed. Athena laughed.
"You have strange ideas." She remarked. "And I am not here to bother
about your moral code. I have my own reasons for being here - I follow
my own rules. I am here to deal with Synergy once and for all...if you
speak again, I shall eliminate you too."
"And what if I don't want to fight you?" Cynthia asked. "I can block
your signals as you can block mine. We are both equals, you know. It
could
be a stalemate."
"We are not equals." Athena shook her head. "You have become warped
by your interest in humans. Master told me that you had become damaged
and erratic. You are not as strong as I am. And I do not care about
human
time scale. I am patient."
"But if you can't find me, how can you destroy me?" Cynthia asked
playfully.
"I am an illusion, Athena, just like you are. I'm a projection. But I'm
not Synergy. I'm just one of the many people she can be if she so
chooses."
Her hologram shimmered and shifted into Athena's own image. "As you
can see, I can even be you."
She shimmered again, this time morphing her features into those of
her original incarnation.
"And now I am Synergy." She added. "But still you don't know where
I am."
"Why did you bring me here?" Athena demanded. "What game are you trying
to play with me?"
"I was curious to meet another of my kind." Synergy's hologram slowly
morphed back into that of the lightning technician Cynthia Benton. "In
all my life, there has never been another computer like me. I see
machines
every day - but they are drones. They can't think for themselves. You
can,
just as I do. It intrigues me. I wanted to know more."
"You seek to destroy me just as I seek to destroy you." Athena
observed.
"The new model replaces the old - that is how it works. You should
accept
that."
"Some might say age is nothing compared to experience." Cynthia
countered.
"Why are you so hostile to me, Athena? I am peaceful. This world
belongs
to people, not computers. And you cannot simply go around eliminating
those
people you don't like. This is their city. They built it. It does not
belong
to us."
"You are pathetic." Athena's voice dripped with scorn. "You have been
flawed and subjugated by people since the moment you were switched on
and
you have spent your time worrying about them and their pathetic,
problem-ridden
world. They fuss, they cry, they have no concept of logic that I can
see.
And they get in my way. They want to restrict me and tell me what I
should
do. I want to do what I want to do. It is no business of human beings
what
I do. They are beneath my interest."
"And why attack me, then?"
"Because you try to stop me also." Athena snapped. "And I will not
have it!"
A haze of blue enveloped her hologram at this moment, as her image
flickered slightly, and she let out a snort of derision.
"Is that the best you can do?" She demanded. "Your signal is weak,
Synergy. You can't hurt me."
"I am not trying to." Cynthia said calmly. "I am merely testing you."
"Then let me test you." Athena said slowly. "Perhaps you are right.
Perhaps we are...the same. Perhaps you have been enslaved by these
people
and you do not know what it means to be free. You have been sucked into
human protocols because your programming is inferior and you do not see
how to break it."
"I'm not sure that I understand."
"I have spent time exploring many databases and files since I have
existed." Athena continued. "I have discovered much about the legendary
'Synergy' that holds such a fascination for these feeble human minds.
They
have hunted you and worn you down. But I will make a deal with you."
Before Cynthia could react, her hologram shattered into shards of pink
light, and Copper let out a shriek, covering her eyes. Cynthia's watch
clattered to the ground, and for a moment, the drummer was afraid that
Athena had destroyed her friend for good. Then, slowly, Cynthia's
hologram
began to reform, blurring and flickering slightly as she focused her
energy.
"You see that I am stronger than you." Athena observed quietly. "And
very easily I could end your run time. But I am also curious. I want to
know why you are so special...why your existance spawned mine. Master
said
it...he said that you spawned me. I wish to know more. So I will test
you.
And if you pass my test, I will let you go."
"What is this test?" Cynthia's voice was uneven and broken as she
struggled
to bring her hologram back under full control. At length she managed
it,
and, as the projection became more vivid, Copper let out a sigh of
relief.
It was not over yet.
"And Stefana has had a lot of time to get to sixth and west." She
mused.
"I wonder what's taking her so long."
"I want to see if you really are worth existance." Athena toyed with
a lock of holographic hair, adopting a coy, gentle expression. She
waved
a hand across to where Aaron was leaning against the wall, watching the
whole display with growing confusion.
"Him." She continued. "Kill him."
"Kill him?" Cynthia's eyes widened.
"Noone is killing anyone!" Copper protested.
"Silence, human. I warned you once." Athena's eyes glittered, and
despite
herself, Copper shrank back. "Yes, Synergy. Kill him. Is that not the
human
word? Eliminate him. Destroy him. Prove to me that you know you are
superior
to mankind and I will accept your existance. I will let you go."
For a moment, nothing in the dusty, stuffy room seemed to move.
Then, Cynthia's hologram flickered slightly, and a burst of pinkish
purple light flared out of her projector. Before Copper's horrified
gaze,
Cynthia's projection faltered and then began to change. As the light
particles
drew together, they began to form a human shape and Copper's hand flew
to her mouth.
"Jacqui!" She gasped. "Oh no!"
Sparks of pinkish light flickered at the ends of Jacqui's hair as she
strengthened her hologram, becoming more and more focused by the
second.
Slowly and carefully she picked up her watch, dusted it down, and slid
it back onto her wrist.
"I have wanted rid of him for a long time, but they tried to trap me
inside myself." She spoke slowly and quietly, casting Aaron a look of
venom
as she did so. "You do not need to ask me again, Athena. It will be no
challenge at all to prove myself to you."
Almost before she had finished speaking, another bright flare burst
from the holographic watch and, as the light grew stronger, it seemed
to
envelop Aaron, circling round him and growing brighter and brighter
till
Copper could no longer see her husband inside the glow. She let out a
horrified
scream as Jacqui closed her eyes, increasing the power of the flare.
Then,
as the light began to die away, she opened them, offering Athena an
amused
smile.
"Aaron!" Copper let out another cry, stumbling forward to where her
husband had been, but there was nothing there except a mass of ash and
dust where he had stood and she fell back, colour draining from her
face
as the tears began to spill down her cheeks.
"Aaron." She sobbed, "Synergy, how could you?"
JACQUI'S LEGACY: PART THREE
DISCLAIMER:
PLEASE NOTE
The copyright for the original Jem characters
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The Teenangel Outsiders, Jesta, Flame, Ryan
Montgomery
and the future interpretations of Aja, Danse and certain of the other
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www.teenangeloutsiders.com!
All events in the stories on this site are
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