As Martin and Zenya were leaving, Jim and Leo followed them out with a couple of equipment bags.
"Just don't step on anything when you get back, OK?" Jim joked.
"Don't worry, we'll 'phone when we're on our way back," Zenya told him.
Jim and Leo did not need to discuss the security. It would be a mixture of old and new. There would be motion detectors on each corner of the cabin, though their sensitivity would have to be lowered due to the proximity of lots of wildlife, bugs to hear the noise of any approach and some old fashioned tripwires. They got to work, securing the devices around the cabin, setting up a safe perimeter of around 100 metres, at least for the tripwires. Both men knew, however, that the best security they had was that no one knew they were up here.
They went back inside, Jim informing Jordan that the best they could do was a 100 metre low security perimeter and a twenty five metre high security perimeter.
"Good work you two. You didn't booby trap it as well, did you?" he quipped.
Leo looked over at Jim, a serious look on his face.
"Damn! I knew we forgot something!!" Both men laughed, imagining the spiky surprises they could have left behind if time would allow.
"Right, let's get down to business and start to try this device."
A sort of hushed tension descended upon the room as Tom began to explain some of the device's working to Vanessa.
"You will see a HUD display and most of the controls simply involve thinking what you want to do. To start off with, just try to manipulate a few of the cabin's electrical devices. If you need to shut down the link, you can think about something which you feel is a final closure - I usually use a slamming door. If you feel anyone else is there, don't try to communicate and if anyone follows you, get out fast. OK?"
"Yes, I'm ready."
Tom attached the three probes to Vanessa's head.
"I can see the display," she informed them. "I'll try a few things."
She turned on the T.V. and the lights and a few other things.
"What is the range of the device?" Jim asked.
"I don't know," Tom said, "but I think the further you try the more of a signal it gives off."
"Can you feel a presence?" Jordan asked.
"Yes. As the Chief said, there seems to be a lot of activity, like I'm in touch with workers somewhere."
"I think we should try something a little bolder," said Jim.
"What did you have in mind, Agent Reaper," Tom queried.
"I think Vanessa should try to go further afield. How about the stereo in Martin and Zenya's car?"
"I don't know if the device car go that far," Tom said.
"There's only one way to find out," said Vanessa.
She was already on her way. She projected herself to the police station just in time to see the Taurus leaving. Following and catching up, she caught the car just as it turned into a McDonalds Drive-Thru. She could see Martin and Zenya laughing. As she turned on the stereo, both agents seemed to be unsettled. Unable to do much else, she turned the stereo off and on in Morse code, spelling out F.B.I.
Vanessa suddenly began to feel horrible, like a someone was hunting her down. She could feel sticky fingers groping towards her and knew someone was coming and they weren't far away.
"Aaah! I can't shut it off. They won't let me!!"
Quickly, Tom ripped the probes from her head sending her reeling backwards clutching her head.
"Happy now," Tom looked at Jim with little friendliness.
Jim was already over to the woman. "Vanessa, are you OK?" He cradled her in his arms as she was so unsteady.
"Don't worry Jim," she opened her eyes. "Nothing a couple of aspirin won't help." She gave him a shaky grin. "You can stop hugging me now."
With an embarrassed smile, he put her down. Staying seated, Vanessa was given a glass of water and two aspirin by Leo.
After swallowing the tablets, Vanessa began to speak:
"I was in the car. I turned the stereo on and off, spelling out F.B.I." She smiled again, a little more assured. "I think they were a bit shocked."
"Who was after you Vanessa?" Jordan asked.
"I don't know, but they were so close to me. I felt as if someone was trying to grope at me in the dark. It was horrible." She shuddered at the memory.
Jim and Leo both went to the kitchen after a nod from Jim.
"What's up Jim?"
"I think that we should find somewhere to put the device before Martin and Zenya get back."
"Are you saying Martin would hand over the device?"
"Would you if it could save the only person you love?"
"What are you two doing?" demanded Jordan.
"Chief, I think we should store the device somewhere before Martin and Zenya return."
"Really Jim? And the next time we want to test it, how do we get rid of him?"
"I don't know. I know we're in this together, but if I was him, I'd be very tempted to give up that device for Emily."
"I see what you're saying, but I can't distrust him. We're a team and we've got to stick together, OK?"
"Yes Chief. I've got nothing against Martin, I just don't want to take any chances."
"It's OK Jim. I know you're only trying to watch our backs. But if we don't show trust in each other, we've got nothing."
Jordan was right of course. Jim was ashamed that he had wanted to exclude the man from knowledge of the device's whereabouts. Still, wouldn't anyone hand the thing over faced with the loss of one so dear? Whatever the answer, they were just going to have to wait and find out.
At that moment, Jordan's cellphone rang. 'Zenya' he mouthed silently to the group. He listened intently then began to smile as Zenya must have been recounting the stereo incident.
"Yes, Zenya. That was some, over-ambitiousness, on our part."
"OK, we'll see you soon. Why don't you bring back something for all of us? We could probably use it."
Jordan recounted the information the two agents had gleaned at the Police Station.
"Carter's son?" Tom said. "Well, maybe the device did come from Carter after all, though posthumously."
"Better disarm the security for them, Jim."
Jim went to the window. When he heard a car approach on the bug, he looked out and saw the Taurus. Switching off the motion detectors, he went out to guide the two agents past the tripwires. He felt rather embarrassed as Martin stepped out of the car. As they were about to go in, Jim said:
"Martin, can I have a word?"
"Sure, what's up?"
He told him what he had said.
"I'm sorry Martin. It's not cause you're the 'new guy' or that I don't like you. I just know that you must want to do anything to get her back. I just wanted to take the dilemma out of your hands."
"That's OK Jim. I guess I'd think the same if I were you. Thanks for telling me though."
As the two men went inside they were treated to the end of Zenya's mock rebuke of Vanessa. She turned to Jim and said:
"And I believe it was *your* idea?"
Jim simply smiled and wondered what their next move was to be.
NRPG:
We need to find out more about who we're up against, I think. Maybe someone could pull a few strings - Jeff, who on black ops is watching? Does Leo know someone who could find out who else is monitoring black ops files?
Respectfully submitted,
FCO Lt.(jg) Olivier Patru, USS ORION NCC-1997, Starfleet.
Special Agent-2 Jim Reaper, X-Files Division, FBI.
Ar'Aman Bowright and Darar, Daere Warren, DragonLands.
Mc'Key and Vasleth, Geode Warren, DragonLands.
aka Peter Shillan.