Another old friend

MD1, 7:30PM, in the car

>"Does that mean the device is missing?" Tom asked, >already knowing the answer.

>"Probably," Jordan replied. "This confirms our theory >that at least two groups are after the device. 'Carol' >seemed to think that we still had it. Surely she would >have known, if her group had their hands on the device."

>"This means we can still bargain with her," Martin added. >Perhaps they could use a bit of 'divide-and-conquer' here.

>"I must call Jim." Jordan picked up his cellphone and >dialed the number.

Everyone waited expectantly while Jordan was on the phone. The car had been running for a few minutes now, and the heater was finally starting to put out something other than cold air, but it did little to take the chill off. Zenya watched Martin with concern, aware that the ups and downs of the emotions he had experienced over a short period of time couldn't help but take a toll on him. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she could see the pained expression on Tom's face. The thought of losing the device pained him, but even as Zenya watched, she could see his expression go from upset to angry.

"No answer," Jordan finally announced, putting his phone away. Those two words hung in the air for a long moment. "All right, we need to rendezvous back at the hotel and get this thing figured out."

With a nod, Zenya shifted the car into drive just as she saw Leo and Vanessa approach from the direction of the Pizzeria. The other car was parked just a bit up from where they were waiting, and as they approached their car, a scream came from somewhere in the vicinity of the restaurant. Leo and Vanessa spun in that direction, ready for action. There seemed to be a fraction of a second when they were debating what to do, then they got into the car.

Zenya couldn't see what was going on in front of them, only that there was some kind of a commotion going on.

"Pull up a little, and let's see what's happening," Jordan said.

Zenya nodded and eased the car forward, noting that Leo apparently had the same idea, his car pulling out in front of her and getting a better view of whatever was going on. A gray Taurus was speeding toward them, but not for long. Seemingly for no reason, the car swerved then burst into flames in a violent explosion. Another car that was following it crashed into the burning wreckage, even as Leo accelerated his car away from the scene with Zenya close behind. In the rearview, Zenya saw someone crawl out of the wrecked second car and run away in the opposite direction. The scene behind them looked like a war zone, and although it was disturbing, she couldn't tear her eyes away.

"Zenya," Jordan yelled, "watch where your going!"

Bringing her eyes back to the front, she saw that Leo had stopped his car just in front of her. Swerving around it, she slammed on the breaks and came to a stop next to him. "I told you I'm a lousy driver," she muttered.

"I believe you."

Martin rolled down the window in response to a signal from the other car.

"What in the hell happened back there," Leo asked, an obviously rhetorical question.

Jordan shook his head. "Let's just get back to the hotel," he said. "Zenya, do you think you can get us there in one piece?"

*****

8:00PM, Knight's Rest Motel

Conversation was at a minimum in the room, as everyone thought over their situation and tried to make sense of it. Zenya had opted to sit on the floor, leaning against the wall, although there was a chair still available. It just seemed to fit her mood at the moment. Too many reminders of the past packed into the day, she decided, and she need a few minutes to contemplate everything. Fortunately, everyone else seemed to be in similar moods.

After a while, Jordan got up and started pacing, joining Leo who was already doing the same thing. "Blast it, where is Jim," Jordan demanded. The question was met by a knock at the door.

>"It's Jim. Open up."

>Leo opened the door but it was Jordan who said "Get >in here now!!"

>From his attire, everyone could confirm for themselves >who had been the sniper on the roof.

>"I don't know whether to thank you or have your badge!! >For God's sake Jim, what the hell were you thinking? Your >pal at Boston is *dead* and the device has been captured >and YOU! You have killed four men!"

>The news that Marty was dead hit him like a hammer. He >knew the risks and had led Marty into it. So, he had killed >five men that night.

>"The device was never in the field office. I have it with me."

>Jordan and Tom looked incredulous and Martin seemed >excessively relieved.

>"As for the shooting. If I hadn't done it someone else would. >Beta team would be dead. I didn't want trouble, but I knew >it was coming. Damn it, I'm supposed to watch your backs!!"

>He was angry now. Angry that the steps he had taken had >been so effective and yet so costly in terms of life. He knew he >had taken a big risk and raised the stakes. Jordan seemed to >calm down, though.

>"Well, the main thing is that you have the device. Can anyone >trace this back to you?"

>"No Chief. Unofficial channels for the equipment - no serial >number, no ballistics record. The gun is in the lake. It's history."

>Tom asked Jim for the device, which he gladly gave over to him. >Jordan filled him in on the situation with Martin's girlfriend and >the possibility of a trade.

>"She doesn't seem very altruistic to me," Vanessa began, "and >she obviously has terrorist connections."

>"But she's got Emily!!" Martin stated.

>"I know Jim might have seemed excessive to some of you," >Leo said, "but we're going to get bloody on this one. We're not >the ones in charge here. We're not the law. We're the hunted >and we better start acting like it. These people aren't going to >hand anyone over just like that and they're not going to leave >us around either."

>All eyes were on Jordan. The game had gone to a new level. >Leo was right - they were used to being the ones with the >power, the ability to pressure and command respect. Now, >they were nothing. First, they had to find a secure base - not >here. But then what?

"All right," Jordan said after a pause. "We have to get organized. First problem, we're a little too public here. We're registered under our real names, and it wouldn't take much for someone to find us."

Zenya sighed. She hated to do this, but it was time to set personal feelings aside. "I can take care of that," she said. Everyone looked at her for further explanation, but she shook her head. "I think its better if I don't explain right now. I'll need to get in touch with an old friend of mine." She eyed the phone. "But I'd rather not do it from here, just in case."

Jordan nodded. "Take Leo with you."

Zenya got to her feet, grabbed her purse and headed for the door. "We'll be in touch as soon as everything's arranged," she said.

"Good luck," Vanessa called as they headed out the door.

"I take it the first thing is to find a phone booth," Leo asked once they were in the car.

"Yes," Zenya said. "This friend, she's a real estate agent. She used to date my brother, a long time ago."

"You think she'll help us?"

"I know she will." Zenya paused for a long moment, wondering just how much she really wanted to reveal. All of this got a little too close to revealing things she really didn't want to talk about, but at least some of it was necessary information. "Her father used to work with my father," she said. "Let's just say she'll understand our situation and the need for discretion."

Leo pulled into the parking lot of a gas station and parked the car in front of the phone booth. "I don't think we were followed this time," he said, "but I'll be standing guard just the same."

Zenya nodded, got out of the car and went into the phone booth. She quickly found the number in her address book and placed the call. It was answered on the third ring by a familiar female voice.

"Lydia, this is Zenya Gorky," she said, opting to speak to her friend in Russian in case anyone was listening. At least it might slow them down a bit.

[Zenya? It's been ages, how are�]

"Just listen, I don't have much time. We need your help."

[What's wrong?]

"I can't explain right now. Just meet us at your office in twenty minutes and please come alone. We're driving a blue Ford Taurus. If you see any suspicious cars in the area, just keep driving. Do you understand?"

There was a very long pause on the line and then, [I understand.]

Zenya hung up the phone and got back into the car and gave Leo the address. Twenty minutes later, they were parked in front of a real estate office in Cambridge. Leo and Zenya both scanned the street carefully. There didn't appear to be anyone suspicious in the area, but Zenya was beyond taking appearances for granted. A couple minutes later, a black Lincoln cruised to a stop behind their car. Leo tensed until a petite blonde got out of the big car.

"That's her," Zenya said, reaching for the door handle. Once out of the car, Zenya went over to Lydia and gave her a hug. "Sorry for all the mystery," she said, "but this is important. Leo, this is Lydia Antonin."

"Nice to meet you," he said. "Now, if you ladies don't mind, I think we should get off the street."

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NRPG:

Peter: The first part of this doesn't quite fit with what you said of the order of events, but it was already written when I got your message and I didn't feel like changing it. ;) I think it works anyway.

All: Just a request, if you all don't mind. Lydia is not cannon fodder. I'd like to keep her alive for a little while. :)

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Sydnie Kathryn MacElroy
e-mail
alternate

SA1 Kate Calloway, X-Files, DELTA
SA3 Zenya Gorky, X-Files, ZULU
Fianna Nikal, Kal-Dixas Spaceport
(visit the DELTA archive )

Linguae quae genera distincta non habent inuriam faciunt feminis.

"It may not be apparent, but I am often amused with human behavior."