Realm Sagas: Story 18: Deny Everything By: Chandra Rooney ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Legal stuff: Sonic & Knuckles, and all related characters are copy-right of Sega and Archie comics. The X-Files and all related characters are copy-right of Twentieth Century Fox. KTE, and Jack are copy-right of KTE. Vampire Sephiroth is copy-right of Vampire Sephiroth. The Green Gibbon! is copy-right of GG! Joya Nappo is copy-right of Joya Nappo. Moon Echidna, Gabriel Shadows, Ashrire, Tonia, Leslie, Sailor Evil, Lirsage and all other original realm sagas characters are copy-right of Chandra Rooney. All the characters and ideas presented are my own, unless otherwise noted. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deny Everything-- from "Ascension" "Ah, videogames," Mulder said. "Could be the heart of our conspiracy."-- from "Ground Zero" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter One: Local: Inside FBI Headquarters "It's right this way," the tall man in the suit and trench-coat gestured down the stairs. His brown hair was messy, but his green eyes sharp. "All the way down there?" the small girl asked. She looked around; light blue eyes taking in the crowded basement. She pushed at her short, reddish-brown hair. "What didja do to get stuck down here?" He chuckled. "Plenty. Or so I've been told." "Um...Agent Mulder?" she cleared her throat. He stopped walking. "Yes?" She pointed to a door. "I think you passed it." "Ah, so I did." He opened the door, and frowned. "This is interesting..." Moon poked her head inside the door frame. And auburn-haired woman, in a wine-colored pant suit, was holding a gun on three teenage boys. She looked over. "Mulder. Thank God. Where have you been?" "Problems, Scully?" Mulder asked, smiling slightly. "I've heard of beatin them off with a stick, but I see the woman of the 90's prefers to use a gun." She ignored his joke. "These 'gentlemen' claim you told them to go through your files." "Uh..." Mulder trailed off. "I guess if they said I told them that, well then I must've." Moon recognized two of the boys. "Ash! Jack!" Jack looked over at her, green eyes confused. Ash's telepathic touch reached over and his dark eyes lightened to a twilight blue color. "See, Agent Scully?" he asked, smiling, pushing back white-blond hair. "I told you Agent Mulder was helping us find my sister." "This is your sister?" Scully asked. "Here I am, safe-and-sound," Moon waved. "Just like Mulder no doubt promised you guys." There would be time to find out what the heck Ash was talking about later. Now the important thing was to get the gun off of them. "So, what's really up with the gun?" Mulder asked. "Oh, we just had a small miscommunication," the last boy, the blond one with the red streaks, replied. His own green eyes matched the color of Jack's. Moon blinked. His voice...it sounded like...Lirsage? "A miscommunication?" Mulder raised an eyebrow. "Well, why don't we all just sit down and sort it out?" The small girl with the brown eyes, and blacky-blue hair closed the door behind her. The tall, blond one, with the light green eyes muttered something. "Stop complaining, Leslie," Tonia said. "Well, jeez, Tonia, this take-out is heavy!" Leslie protested. "And since I'm carrying all of it, I think I have the right to whine a little." "We're back!" Tonia called out, ignoring her. "You here, Gabe?" "He said he wasn't going anywhere," Leslie muttered. The boy with the black hair, and green eyes walked into the entry way. "I'm here." "You look like-" Tonia started. "Ugh! The chow mien is slipping!" Leslie cut her off. Gabriel Shadows reached forward and took the top box. "Let me help." "Nonsense," Tonia grabbed it back. "Leslie's got it under control, and you look like you could use some rest." "I've been sleeping for the past two hours." Gabe replied. "Any news from the others?" "How would we get news from them? You're the one that was home," Tonia replied. "To the kitchen, Leslie, we should eat this before it gets cold. Or you drop it." "Yes, gov'ner," Leslie muttered. "Whatever you say." Gabe took a couple boxes. "She usually boss you around?" "Hey what are friends for?" Leslie asked. He shrugged. "I don't have an opinion on that." "You sure you feel okay? You're looking pretty...dead." He coughed. "I'm okay." "You don't sound okay..." "I'm fine." "Well, maybe you need to..." Leslie clamped her teeth down. "No I would know if I needed to do that." Gabe paused. He shivered. "Let's see what you brought." Chapter Two: Sailor Evil answered the phone on the second ring. "May I help you?" "I hope so. I've been a very bad boy miss, and I need someone to-" "That's very funny, Green," she replied curtly, cutting him off. "You're wasting my valuable time on this?" "What? You mean this isn't that one-nine-hundred-number I saw on tv?" "I suggest you report and hang up before you get yourself in trouble." She paused. "I see your 'escape' went well. And that you made it to FBI headquarters." "Yeah, I'm here. Now what?" "Have you found the Realm Protectors?" "Well...Jack and Ash are here." She frowned. "What? The report said they were traveling in a group of six. Find out where the others are." "Okay." He paused. "Is that all I'm supposed to do?" "What do you think?" "I don't think. Not ever." She growled. "Green, darling, we are trying to get all the Master Tools, right? We have Moon's and Ash's. Jack still has his. So...the obvious move would be to...?" "Quit while we're ahead and go home?" "Get Jack's Master Tool." Sailor Evil sighed. "Honestly..." "How am I supposed to get it honestly? Ask him for it? He's not gonna just give it to me, even I know that." "No. Trick him into giving it to you and then you may feel free to kill, stab, shoot, etc. the lot of them." "Why is it so important to get it? I mean they only have one and we have 2." "We have 3. And we need *all* of them." She paused. "But soon we'll have five." "Uh...3 + 1 is only 4..." "You idiot. I've used Moon's wand to locate another one!" She twisted the phone cord. "You just get that sword." There was a pause. "How about next Saturday then?" "What?!" "Saturday it is. Eight o'clock. What's that? Naughty girl there are other people in the room. Okay, you too. Bye now." Mulder hung up the phone. "Sorry about that, just a little personal matter to attend to." Scully looked a little surprised. "Oh, an old friend's going to be in town next and I was just going to show her around," he smiled. "Now where were we?" "You were telling me where you've been for the past few days," Scully answered. "Oh, I went off to find Miss Rooney," Mulder replied. "Miss Rooney?" she paused, and then turned to Ash. "You told me your last name was 'Guardian'." "It's complicated," Moon replied. "I see." "We should be going," Ash said. "I'd like you to leave a contact number. I'll have to get in touch with you again if you wish to lay charges," Mulder told him. "We're staying with some friends," Ash replied. He wrote something on a piece of paper; folded it, and handed it to Mulder. "You kids stay out of trouble," Mulder warned, pocketing the paper. "We'll be in touch." As soon as they were gone, Scully turned to him. "Something doesn't add up." "Gee, Scully, isn't it *my* job to be paranoid?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why didn't you tell me about this case?" "It wasn't a bureau thing. It was a personal favor. And I didn't think you'd be interested." He sat down in the desk chair, reclining. "Just the same, you should have told me. I was worried." She pushed a paper bag over to him. "What's this? Unmarked bills amounting to a large sum?" "No." A frown. "Sunflower seeds. Your favorite." "Oh...thanks." He reached into the bag, and popped a handful into his mouth. "Now what doesn't add up?" "Those boys just sounded like they were lying, that's all." Mulder swallowed. "Yuck. Next time just send unmarked bills, Scully. Those tasted like straw. Not to mention those edges are sharp. I could've choked!" Scully gave him a funny look. "Since when do you eat the shells, Mulder?" "So?" Ash asked. "Do you think she bought it?" "It helped that her partner backed us up," Jack said. "But why did he back up our story? Did you do something to his mind, Moon?" "I didn't have to," Moon replied. "I did," Ash spoke calmly. "Tonia, and Leslie are waiting back at the safehouse." "Ah, so it's *that* type of friends." She paused. "There's a safehouse here?" "All human realms have observation agents in place," Lir paused. "Why should this be any different?" "What did you do to yourself, Lir?" Moon teased. "You the dead-set opposer to human contact." "This from you?" He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, shut-up." "If that's what m'lady wants..." "No, I want a hot bath, and to go to sleep for a few hours." She sighed, moving a little closer to him. "I'm so tired." "Funny, that sounds pretty much like what I-" he began. "Shadows would've come, but he's feeling a little under the weather," Jack interrupted him. "He stayed back with Tonia and Leslie." "Really? I hope it's nothing serious," Moon frowned. She caught up to Ash. "Are we close?" Lir looked down at his arm, which had been around Moon's waist, then he turned to Jack. "Thank you very much for bringing that up. Remind me to drown you later." Chapter Three: "Vampire Sephiroth," Julie-su Echidna whispered. "It's done." He turned away from Sailor Evil explaining to Kit and Ember, and looked down at her. "Excellent, Julie-su. You have no idea how pleased I am to hear this." "The wand will lead us to the Master Tool," Sailor Evil was saying. "So, by tomorrow, we'll be one Master Tool closer to victory." Kit and Ember nodded. "Go and get rested up, we've got a lot of work to do tonight." They left. Julie-su followed them. "An excellent speech, m'love," he told her. "Very motivational." In actuality he hadn't even been listening. But she didn't need to know that. Scully had stepped out. Mulder reached into his pocket, and pulled the folded sheet of paper. He reached to the phone; planning to dial the number, and report his findings, but his hand never got there. "What the hell?!" The was an address written on the paper, but it was following a message. It read: "I'm on to you. Let's settle it. Come to the address below at 11 tonight." Joya Nappo waved good-bye to the customer and turned the sign to read "closed". She sighed, pushing long blond hair away from her brown eyes. It had been a long day. She went into the back. It was time to make a report. The communicator was warming up when the bell dinged, signaling someone had come into the store. She muttered something under her breath and went back out front. "We're closed. You'll have to come back tomorrow." The tall guy with the green eyes, and silver hair looked at her. "Is she one, m'love?" The silver-haired girl narrowed her dark blue eyes, and shook her head. "No, she's not what's set if off, Sephy. I think it's on one of those selves over there." The guy smiled. "Yes, of course." Joya frowned. "I said we're closed." The guy pulled a masamune out from his trench coat. After placing it in clear view of her, he asked: "which self, m'love?" The girl pointed. "That one." He walked over to the self. "Those are ancient Druid ceremonial wands," Joya managed. "If you're interested in purchasing one, you can come back tomorrow; when we're open." He regarded the wands, and then picked one up. "Ah, yes. The Princess' Scepter." The girl smiled. "Good. Let's wrap this up. Kit! Ember! Secure the girl!" The green fox and purple hedgehog stepped forward. Duh. I shoulda known, Joya thought. "Okay who do you work for? Robotnik? Snively? Enerjak?" "I believe we've found an observer," the guy sneered. Joya laughed. "Who me? Oh, no...I work for Great Lord Nack." "Tie her up in the back." The girl paused. "Try not to hurt her...a lot." "Such a pretty thing..." he smiled, showing fangs. "Oh, man, vampires..." Joya swallowed. She'd heard that people had been reporting attacks, but hadn't thought anything about it. "What are you going to do to me?" He smiled broader. "Oh you'll see..." Gabe was groggily trying to get up when Moon came in. "Thank the Goddess for safe-houses." She pushed a silver dread away from her face. "Jack said you were feeling sick." He smiled faintly. "Have you ever had a day when suddenly everything was made clear to you?" "No. But where can I sign up for one?" He clasped her hand. "There's so much I have to tell you. I know-" He stopped as a coughing fit overcame him. "Gabe! Are you okay?" "Fine," he assured her, after he caught his breath. "Did you eat? Tonia and Leslie brought Chinese food." "Yes. What about you? Did you eat?" He smiled again, oddly. "Oh, you don't need to worry about me, Moon." She sighed, and patted his hand. "But you know I do." Chapter Four: Leslie stared across the table at the 5 yr. old, red echidna. "I can outstare you anyday, kid. There's no way you're gonna get me to smile." k.t.e. started to make kawaii eyes. "Hey now that's cheatin! No makin that face!" He looked at her, and said in a cute voice: "Hellwo missus Leslie. Kin I have a hug?" Leslie smiled, despite herself. "Awww, you *are* soooo cute." She stopped. "Damn! I lost again!" k.t.e. laughed. "I gets anudder cookie now!" "I thought you said this whole little kid business had worn off," Leslie glared at Lir. "It did. Or it had...but as soon as Jack let go of his sword, we had l'il k.t.e. ." "How come he doesn't seem to know who we are?" Tonia asked, teasing k.t.e. with a cookie. "We met Jack before." "Yes, so you have." Lir nodded, smiling as k.t.e. tried to grab the cookie. "But when he's like this he doesn't remember anything past being 5. Or at least that's my understanding of it." "I remember lots of stuff!" k.t.e. protested between mouthfuls of cookie. "We wuz inna Geen Hill Zone and the Nasty Bad Floatin Mista Geen kicked me an k.a., and so we said we wuz no gonna play with it no more, cuz it's a bad meanie anna Caramel and Wanilla kitty-cats came with some swords, and then they rans off and we chased em and we caught em and..." he stopped, taking in a big gulp of air. "Where is Caramel kitty-cat? I wanna play!" "Caramel's not here, k.t.e.," Lir told him. "You left her in the Geen Hill Zone?! No! The nasty bad meanie floater thingie is there!" "Shhh," Lir hushed him. "No, we didn't leave her in the Green Hill Zone. We left her with Lady Belladonna. You remember her, right?" "I like missus Bella, she's nice," k.t.e. nodded, munching the cookie. "This is a good cookie missus Leslie." "Don't rub it in, brat," Leslie stuck out her tongue. "And I have witnesses to this event. I can blackmail you later when you don't find being so adorable to be a good thing." "Why are we still here?" Tonia asked. "We got Moon back." "Yes, but the Realm Destroyers still have two Master Tools. Not to mention the Green Gibbon!'s still working with them for some reason." Lir rubbed his eyes. "And we can't leave till things are wrapped up here. Protocol for dealing with human realms is a very strict." "Pro-toe-call?" k.t.e. made a face. "Wuzzat?" "It's rules that we're supposed to follow." "Is there lots?" "Yes, it sure seems like it." "Do you know them all?" "Yes; well, most of them." "How'd you learn em all?" "I had to study," Lir paused. "Besides, Princess, we can't leave until Ash gets back." "Yeah," Tonia nodded. "Where did Ashrire go?" "He said he had a meeting." "A meeting?! It's 11 o'clock at night! Who could he possibly be meeting?" Ashrire stepped under the streetlight. Night in this realm was a black velvet sky; a thousand flecks of light. The stars seemed dimmer here, rivaled, and washed out by the city's light show. He didn't see "Agent Mulder". He didn't see anyone. But that didn't mean anything. The human retina couldn't utilize all the light of the stars as an echidna's could. "Looking for me?" the human boy stepped into the island of light. He was good-looking by most standards, but nothing too terribly out of the ordinary. But he had *that* look about him. The look all of them did. "The Green Gibbon!, I presume?" Ash asked. He nodded, expression-less. "What gave me away?" Ash ignored the question. "What are you up too? What can Sailor Evil possibly want from this realm?" "It's nothing *you* would understand," GG! snapped. He withdrew a revolver. "You plan on shooting me?" "It'll make her very happy to have one less Realm Protector to worry about." "You won't shoot me." Ash replied, confident. "Skip it. I've seen the movies. I know what comes next. You try to convince me that I'm not evil and we can be pals. Sorry, bud, it's not gonna work with this gibbon." "That is not what I was going to say," Ash lowered his voice. He locked stares with him. "Put the gun down, Green Gibbon!. You do not have it in you to shoot me." GG! smiled. "Sure I do." He pulled the trigger. Kit opened the door. He mumbled something about how he hated prisoner detail. The human double-fisted him on the head, and he tumbled down. "*Another* green fox?" Mulder asked. "And me without my camera." He checked the corridor. All clear. Time to get out of here. The other creature had taken his coat, badge, gun, wallet, cell phone, and car keys. But he managed to find a quarter. There was a pay phone on the corner. Carefully he made his way out of the building. It was late, most of the people were asleep. He reached the pay phone at last. He picked up the receiver, and was over-joyed to hear a dial tone. He punched in the number. After a few rings, it was answered. "Hello?" "Scully? It's Mulder. I need your help." "What are you doing here?" Sailor Evil demanded. "What? No kiss hello? No 'I missed you'?" GG! asked. "I'm crushed. Here I brought you a present and everything." "I doubt anything you could possibly have would make me happy." "When do I get my cookie?" k.a. asked. He poked his head out from behind GG!, and saw her. "Ahhhhh! You took me to the bad lady!" "Then again..." she smiled. "Why, hello, young Ashrire. Why don't you come here and give me a hug?" "NO! I DON'T WANNA TOUCH YOU!!" k.a. wailed. "You're only saying that because you don't know me." She paused, and smiled a little. "You like Moon? Well, we're a lot alike." "NO! YOU'RE A BAD LADY!!" "Healthy set of lungs on the little brat," GG! muttered. "I shoulda gagged him." "Now, now, k.a.," she smiled. "Green brought you here, and *he's* a nice guy. So *I* must be nice, too. Whaddya say?" "You're a tricky bad lady, but you're not gonna trick me! Maybe you tricked mista Geen, but you're not gonna get me!" k.a. seemed to have lost some of his volume. He looked tired. "Maybe you'll feel differently after a little rest," she scooped him up. "Leave us, Green. I need to attend to little k.a." "Uh...are you being nice?" GG! blinked. "Cause that doesn't make much sense..." "Are you thinking again? What did I tell you about that?" She demanded. "Now get outta here, and if you see Sephy, tell him to come in." Lir poked his head into the room. Moon was sitting next to Gabe, listening to him. He shifted the sleeping k.t.e. to his other shoulder, and sighed. "You don't realize how lucky you have it," Lir muttered. "You've got a place. Somewhere to be. Something to be doing." He sighed again, and took k.t.e. to a room. "Sleep tight, little guy. This is eventually gonna wear off, and the world's waiting to break you down." Chapter Five: She pulled the car up. "Do you realize what time it is, Mulder?" "Thanks for coming, Scully." He smiled. "I have got an unbelievable story to tell you." The girl ran up to him. "Are you two cops?" "FBI," Mulder admitted. Looking at her tye-dyed shirt, black shirt, and light blue platform sneakers. "Great. My store was just robbed." "Call the police," Scully suggested. "Robberies of local stores isn't in our jurisdiction." "You don't understand! The guy was a *vampire*!" "A vampire?" Mulder turned to face the girl. "Mulder," Scully sighed. "It's late." "Yeah. He was really tall, and he had silver hair!" Mulder rubbed his chin. "Green eyes?" "Yes! How did you know?" "Get in the car, miss." Mulder opened the back door. "Does this mean you believe me?" "Just get in the car," he repeated. "We can talk about this when you're in a safe place." to be continued........... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------