Watching From The Wings

by Seven


Disclaimer:  Earth: Final Conflict and its characters are copyrighted by Tribune Entertainment Company.  All rights reserved.



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She saw him, at the side of the Taelon Synod leader. He looked a little older, a little harder than she remembered. She brushed wisps of her blond hair from her face, watching him as he stood by the podium, like a soldier.

The Taelon walked up onto the platform by the portal and began to speak, outlined by the huge sunlit windows. Dee Dee winced a little as she pulled her jacket tighter. She watched as a tall young man and Captain Marquette approached Ronald, spoke to him briefly. His face took on the intense, focused look that she recognized so well. Dee Dee ducked behind the overweight man near her as Ronald stepped off the platform and melted into the crowd, ignoring the speech the Taelon was making.

Dee Dee pulled the sunglasses from her pocket and pulled them over her eyes, hoping that subtle makeup changes, a new, heavier wardrobe, and hair dyed light brown would be enough to keep him from recognizing her.

It was stupid, so stupid of her to be here. She was risking her life, the life she had been given back. Landing in Paris, she had started a new life over, working as a nurse in a large hospital. The staff was courteous, the working conditions pleasant... but Ronald's face had haunted her like a phantasm. Both the smiling, caring man she had known, and the thing that his CVI had transformed him into...

ZERP! A scientist on the podium dropped to the floor, a hole burned through his chest. Dee Dee gasped...

"Stop him!"

Captain Marquette's voice. Something hit Dee Dee, almost throwing her off her feet. She steadied herself, then whirled as she saw Ronald chasing a man through the crowd, which seemed to disperse as people ran for the exits. The man, wearing a factory worker's uniform, spun and aimed his laser weapon at Ronald.

Dee Dee felt her pulse begin to race as she watched the fight. Don't get involved, or you could die, she chided herself.

The skrill blast hit the man first, striking him in the chest and throwing him back.

You can't get involved.

Ronald lowered his arm... and the assassin kicked him across the ankles, throwing him to the floor. With a wide grin, the man stood and raised his fists above his head. Ronald was trying to get to his knees, but the blow had clearly stunned him.

She couldn't bear it any more. Ignoring all self-preservation, Dee Dee Sandoval slugged him across the jaw with all the strength she could muster from her small frame. As he faltered, she chopped him cleanly in the stomach, then kicked him once more. He fell against the wall, unconscious.

Ronald was on his feet now, staring at her with.... recognition?

Oh God help me, he recognizes me! Dee Dee sucked in her breath and spun, running as fast as she could out the door.

"Miss?" Ronald shouted, his footsteps beginning to ring out. "Miss?"

Her knees felt like jelly, barely supporting her as she ran out of the portal terminal and onto the street, where a sun-yellow taxi was waiting. "The Sammath Hotel," she breathed, sinking into the seat. Tears streamed from behind the tinted sunglasses, as the small blond woman cried for her lost Ronald. The taxi began to move forward.

She hated herself for coming back to the US, back to Ronald. She was afraid of him, and she wanted him back more than anything.

****

Sandoval stared out after the retreating taxi, his breathing still uneven from the exertions of the last few minutes. For a long time, he just watched it go, then he slowly turned and walked back into the terminal...