Chương 87: Chapter 86 – Headlines and Heartstrings

Elena walked into the control room smiling at the scene, in the adjoining room. The double doors had been left open giving her an unobstructed view. Thai was curled up on Ray's lap listening to a story he was creating out of thin air. Her eyes fighting to stay open. Rowan and Sheera were sitting on the sofa, Sheera's head on his shoulder. Illianna was snoring softly, her head on her hand. Roxie and Regina were diligently pouring through the latest bulletins.

Alex had his head buried in a book, hyper focused on its content. If this wasn't a family, she didn't know what one was. Regina started laughing hysterically, causing drowsy heads to perk up and all eyes to shift to her.

"What is so funny?" Roxie asked, leaning over reading Regina's screen.

"Are you kidding me?" She said, trying to stifle a laugh.

"What is it?" Elena asked, curiosity driving every step. She gasped when she read the headline, and began shaking her head.

"Well, Ray, I'm not sure if congratulations are in order or condolences, but you are all over the news." Elena said, looking at him bewildered.

"I expected that." He said, trying to shift Thai off his lap. Her slumber was unmistakable now. Her eyes were gently closed and her chest rose and fell with her rhythmic breathing. He picked her up gently and put her back down on the sofa and covered her with a blanket. He smiled down at her, brushed stray hair from her face, then made his way over to the screen.

"Well, you've been busy." Regina snickered, getting up so he could sit down.

"Oh man, they found the puppies. I was hoping they wouldn't find those. My girlfriend too. I just wanted to snuggle. What's so wrong with that? She was cold, so I put a blanket on her." He shook his head, trying to contain his amusement.

"I told you she would only get you in trouble." Regina huffed.

"Age-appropriate, Ray! Age- appropriate," she said, trying to contain her amusement.

"I'm really hurt, Ray," Roxie began.

"You've been holding out on us, all that cash. The drugs… and the guns? You didn't even share the guns," Roxie said, slapping his arm.

"What kind of friend are you!" She said feigning outrage.

"You knew he was going to put a spin on it." Elena said, shaking her head.

"This isn't a spin, it's a downright tornado!" Ray said, his eyes wide.

"What did he do, just throw darts at the penal code and go with whatever stuck? I mean really, I knew I was good, but according to this. I'm even better than I thought!"

"I know the whole thing is pretty ridiculous but it does put a serious wrench in operations." Elena said, suddenly serious.

"I'm sorry." Ray said, shaking his head.

"I truly did not expect this kind of backlash."

"Well according to the headlines you have been deemed essentially public enemy number one, there is no way you can continue with operations, you are way too public now. You can't show your face anywhere." Elena said.

"I said I was sorry," he said, looking incredibly guilty, with his big brown eyes cast downward.

"It's not your fault, Celestia and Seraphina are in the same boat. Mordak has had a goon squad after them for years now. They have had to remain in the shadows between here and their home world. Their families have all been moved to safe houses, it's been a mess," Elena said.

"The fairies are on his most wanted list?" He snickered.

"What in the world could those two have done to bring down Mister Wonderful's wrath?" He said, surprised by this new knowledge.

"He thinks they killed the kid." Regina whispered, hoping sensitive ears didn't hear. He raised his eyebrows, "Really? Are they those fairies? The ones he's been squawking about executing?" he asked, glancing over at Thai.

"What they did was brilliant. They had no back up, no allies, but they pulled it off. Just flew by the seat of their wings, so to speak." Regina said, giving credit where credit was due.

"I will tell you about it sometime."

"Okay folks listen up." Elena said, clapping her hands to get everyone's attention, then cringed when she realized Thai was asleep and began whispering, then motioned for everyone to move to the next room. The group moved to a conference room off the side of the control room and began taking seats. Some yawning, some still snickering at the news. She looked around and did not see Seraphina or Celestia anywhere.

"Alex," she sighed, "can you go to the back and get those two, I forgot they were working on deciphering other parts of the prophecy." Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"Yeah, sure thing." Alex said, getting up and heading out of the room.

"Okay, while he's getting them, does anyone have any questions regarding our earlier discussion about what we discovered regarding the prophecy and the portal technology?" she asked, looking around the room at the group.

"I have one." Roxie said.

"Okay, ask away." Elena replied.

"If these humans reset, does that mean that the portals have the potential to reset another realm in the same way? I mean we are using the technology found at the site." She asked apprehensively.

"Alex is working on that and how to prevent it, so I really can't honestly answer that right now." Elena said.

"Will I be able to go back home?" Illianna asked, a concerned look on her face.

"I have animals that need to be taken care of. Pills I need to take. Shouldn't I be there reporting the fact that Sheera and her family are missing? We want whoever is behind this to think they just vanished, don't we?"

"What are you proposing?" Elena asked.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe I should go back home and file a report with the Sheriff. Then I could stay in the elven realm and be your eyes and ears there. Who is going to suspect a little old lady of being involved, especially when I cry my way through it because I am so worried about my family missing." She took in a long breath, "I could tell them about Mister Abernathy giving me that dreadful toy, and that I left shortly after dropping it off because I didn't feel well."

"Mom!" Sheera interrupted.

"It's too dangerous for you to be there, I couldn't live with myself if something happened to you."

"What's too dangerous?" Seraphina asked as she walked in the room.

"Mom wants to go home and play spy." Sheera said, sarcastically folding her arms across her chest.

"Sheera, I am not a child, I can make decisions for myself and I want to go home. I think I would be of more use there than hiding in some cave," she replied curtly.

"I want you guys to be safe. We don't know who or what the threat is. If I'm there I can find out."

"Or get yourself killed," Sheera said, care and concern filling her eyes.

"Strategically, Illianna, it's brilliant, but I'm inclined to agree with Sheera. It's risky." Regina said.

"What if one of us went with her?" Roxie asked, looking at Regina.

"One of us could be her cousin from East Who Cares, coming to stay with her in her time of need, because she is beside herself with worry over her family missing." She snickered.

"What good is it if you have two shapeshifters and can't use them." Sheera looked at Illianna, then Roxie, then to Elena.

"What do you think, Elena?" Elena sat down, "Having eyes and ears in the Elven Realm would be an asset, especially because we don't know who Armand's intended target was. Is he working for Mordak or did he just come across a relic from the epidemic? Was he trying to get Thai or Celestia? Once we know for certain what the motivation was, then we can devise a plan to protect one or the other… both if need be."

"So who's going to be playing cousin, me or you?" Roxie asked Regina.

"Wait!" Sheera called out.

"Nothing has been decided yet. Rowan, what do you think?" Rowan looked at Sheera uncomfortably. He shifted in his seat, looking from one woman to the next.

"Okay, here goes…" He took a deep breath.

"I understand your concerns Sheera, I really do…"

"But?" Sheera interjected.

"But I think this may be a golden opportunity to slip in and figure out what is going on." Rowan finished. Sheera gave Rowan a look that could cut glass.

"So why don't we just paint a big red target on her back? If they are after Thai, they could take her for…"

"That's why one of us will be there, Sheera. She's not going in alone." Roxie added. Seeing the look on her face Rowan immediately added, "See Sweetheart, Roxie or Regina will be there to protect her. If things get dangerous, they can beam them out or whatever you want to call it."

"Sheera, I am going to go with her," Roxie said.

"I always wanted to try my hand at acting so why not? I promise, I will not let so much as a mosquito bite her."

"Fine!" Sheera hissed.

"If anything happens to my mother, I will never speak to you again Roxie! You either," she said looking at her husband.

"Excuse me?" Illianna began loudly. All eyes turned to her.

"I am here in the room you know. I have sat here and listened to a debate about what I am or am not going to do. The truth of the matter is, I am a grown woman. I don't need your permission…" Illianna said, glaring at Sheera.

"To do this. If I say I am going home, I am going home. You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to like it." She sighed.

"Look, I am going with or without your blessing. I would prefer to have it, but if you won't give it, it is not stopping me from going."

"Okay, so Roxie and Illianna are heading back to Elven territory, you may now consider yourself an active agent Illianna," Elena said, trying to diffuse the already tense situation.

"And I will be your long-lost niece, fresh in from east of who cares and next to, yeah whatever," Roxie said.

"I figured considering our age differences niece would be more believable than cousin."

"Okay, so I think, Sheera, Rowan, Thai, Celestia, Seraphina and now Ray, need to go to the dwarven realm and lay low for a bit," Elena stated flatly.

"Anyone object to this?"

"So, I'm being exiled too?" Ray asked.

"Piss off a small man with grandiose ideas and this is what happens?" He sighed, "Is this like a time out or something?" he asked, looking straight at Elena.

"I said I was sorry," he feigned being upset.

"I promise I will be a good boy, just don't send me away."

"No, you goof, you are going to be their protection. We don't know what threats there may be in that realm, I am going to need you to play bodyguard cuz," Elena said smiling and shaking her head.

"Oh so, I'm not in trouble for not playing nice with the bully then?" he asked, giving her puppy dog eyes.

"No, you're not in trouble. Just please try to play nice with the natives once you are there," she said.

"Listen to Seraphina and Celestia, they are going to be your liaisons. They are familiar with the Dwarves, their customs and such, they will help you all navigate your way. They will also prevent you..." she said turning toward, Ray, "from pissing off an entire species."