VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, [6], 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 19:35:28 05/09/09 Sat
Author: Odelle
Author Host/IP: CPE0013f7f24246-CM0013f7f24242.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com / 99.234.121.213
Subject: When A Time Comes (Chapter 31)
In reply to: Odelle 's message, "When A Time Comes" on 11:23:04 04/14/09 Tue


The quiet mechanical sound of a fourth gun being drawn in the room was strangely decisive. No one moved. They all had heard it, and inevitably knew that it was adding fuel to the immanent explosion about to take place. But no one reacted.

Except that Guillaume didn’t take the shot, yet.

And that in itself meant that he knew the new member of their little party would bring a volcanic end to this confrontation.

Jak had his gun drawn at his side as he stepped silently, panther-like into the room.

Michael saw him in the periphery of his gaze, which was focused intensely and solely on the slightest fraction of a move from his prey. Guillaume also made no move to look at Jak – he knew that to remove his concentration from Michael for a nano-second would result in failure.

Nikita watched Jak enter the room from the corner of her eye. She watched as he took in the scene; the inevitability of what was about to occur. She didn’t allow herself to wonder because she knew deep in her marrow what he would do. So simply she readied herself for the attack – like Jak, she would have to deal with the consequences of his unwillingness to process options, later.

“What’s going on here?” Jak asked tightly.

His gun was held tightly against his side, Nikita noted – the side she couldn’t see. “Guillaume has made a grave error in judgement,” she supplied, her voice low.

Guillaume shook his head in immediate denial, still staring at Michael, “No – Nikita is confused. Jak, you and I both know that Michael is the problem. We need to protect her from him. He is only going to hurt her, and he’ll systematically destroy everything she’s worked so hard to fix. Tell her we need to save her from him. Talk to her, please – she’ll listen to you.”

After a moment’s pause, Jak turned to face her. She felt him stare into her for some time; making his decision, she surmised.

“Nik – I think Guillaume is right.” And he began to walk slowly toward her, his face and voice placating. When he reached her side, he very slowly, very gently, put his arm on her shoulder, “You need to trust us – we know what’s best for you.”

Nikita didn’t need to look into his eyes to know what she’d see there. She didn’t want to see it – didn’t want to see his thoughts. The boy she had rescued; had fought and mentored into this man – was about to enter another defining moment in his life.

“Yes. All I’ve been doing – all I’ve ever been doing – is what’s best for you,” Guillaume added, his relief at Jak’s support giving his voice renewed confidence, “We’re just trying to take care of you.”

“Do I look like I need your help?” Nikita ground out tightly, her anger palpable. She flicked her eyes to Michael to feed off of his physical readiness. His powerful ability was bowed tight like a piano string – and she knew that when it snapped, this would all be over instantly.

“Sometimes you need to trust the ones you love, Nik,” Jak offered. He stepped back from her, and slowly but resolutely walked from her to stand at Guillaume’s side.

Guillaume was visibly more confident at this physical testament to Jak’s opinion – his posture more assertive and strong as Jak took his place beside him.

Jak stood and stared at Michael, knowing that although Michael was focused fully on the muscles in Guillaume’s forearm, he was undoubtedly also watching Jak with equal intensity. Slowly, deliberately, Jak cocked his head to one side and regarded Michael thoughtfully.

“Nikita needs to be taken care of by the people who love her – the people who are willing to give up everything for her. Not those who abandon her, but those who would die for her.” Jak looked from Michael, to Nikita, and then back. “Which are you?”

Guillaume scoffed in answer, “How long have I told you, Jak? Michael is only out for himself – he’s only ever taken care of himself.”

Jak nodded and replied quietly, “That’s what I’m afraid of.” His eyes bore into Michael’s steadily, searching. Then he nodded, as if to himself, and finally shifted back a step to look at Guillaume’s profile. “What do you want to do?” he asked the other man in deference.

“We should –” and Guillaume made the deadly mistake of looking away from Michael.

Three shots exploded in the room.

All three men went down.

************

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

  • When A Time Comes (Chapter 31) -- Odelle, 19:43:54 05/09/09 Sat
  • Re: When A Time Comes (Chapter 32) -- Odelle, 19:47:21 05/09/09 Sat
    Forum timezone: GMT-5
    VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
    Before posting please read our privacy policy.
    VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
    Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.