Paradigm City - Fan Fiction - Eve of the Hurricane

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Eve of the Hurricane

CHAPTER EIGHT

After Angel and Dastun had left, Dorothy sat her husband down in the kitchen. "Now, Roger, do you remember exactly what happened in that place?"

"Tanelorn," he said. "It's called Tanelorn. Don't ask me how I know that. And yes I do ... right up to the point where you fell and I went to you. After that ..." He gripped his head. "It was all a jumble. There were all these people. Complete strangers. Some of them weren't even really human. But I knew them ... I knew the pointy-eared albino with the huge black sword, and knew that he had killed his family for honor. I knew that the man in the gray armor had murdered the whole human race for love. I knew that the tall man with the dog head symbol on his chest sought God on behalf of the Devil." His eyes became haunted. "And they were all ... me."

Norman put a cup of hot broth down in front of Roger. "Your subconscious is a very busy place, Master Roger."

"And you seem to have serious issues concerning guilt," Dorothy added. "Which aren't really relevant to your life. You are no misguided killer."

"Ask someone whose home was wrecked when Big O popped up out of the street," Roger replied. "The scary one was the woman ... it was me, her name was Smith, she was a negotiator, she had Big O, but she was a ruthless, bitter woman bent on alienating everyone in her life. God, I'm glad I was never like that."

Dorothy slipped her arm in his and said nothing.

Roger sat up and took a sip of the broth. "But I know ... Tanelorn is a meeting place of universes. The Heart of Time is the exact spot where all universes meet. And I remember ... someone put those energy taps there to power the Bigs."

"Why?" Dorothy asked. "You called the small power source a 'Splinter' - why not power the Bigs the same way?"

"Because ..." Roger paused, trying to gather alien thoughts. "There's something else. Something that needs all the power, not just the trickle that powers the Bigs."

Norman was almost surprised. "I would hardly call the power of two Megadeuses a trickle."

"Four," Dorothy corrected. "There were four power taps. I assume the one labeled 'Omega' was for Big O, and the one marked 'Dual' was Big Duo's power."

"So that leaves two more Bigs," Roger commented, "Faust and Venus. I think the Fau that Beck mentioned may be 'Faust'. So when all four are active at once ... "

"The power from the Heart of Time will be fully accessed and used," Dorothy completed. "But by whom? And for what?"

Roger shrugged. "I don't know. And that scares me."

A small sound came from the kitchen door and the three adults turned to see Tami standing in the doorway, clad in a pair of bright pink pajamas with blue triangles, and holding a stuffed bunny. She rubbed her eyes.

"Is everything all right?" she asked.

"Better," Dorothy replied. "Why are you up?"

"I got scared." She came into the kitchen and crawled into Roger's lap.

"And what are you scared of?" he asked, hugging her.

Her arms rounded his neck. "Monsters." She looked up at him. "There were a lot of them and they were making a mess in the house and one of them took Mrs. Dorothy."

Roger's and Dorothy's eyes met. Norman began cleaning up the few remaining dishes.

"Just a nightmare, Tami," Roger said as he rubbed her back. She nestled her head on his shoulder, the stuffed bunny clutched in her arm. "We're going to fight the monsters off and make sure Mrs. Dorothy isn't taken."

Tami sighed and closed her eyes. "Good - " (yawn) " - 'cause the baby doesn't ... need ... " Her voice drifted off into a soft snore.

Roger's eyes flickered over to Dorothy. "You have that effect," his wife commented. "I like to fall asleep against you like that."

Roger stroked Tami's red hair. "Hopefully our child will do the same." He stood up, carefully holding Tami, and walked back to the guest room. Dorothy followed.

"Are you sure you can carry her?"

"She doesn't weigh much," he replied quietly, pushing the door open.

"I meant in consideration of your recent condition."

"I'm fine, old nag." His eyes adjusted to the dim light and he put Tami into bed, the bunny falling to the floor.

Dorothy picked up the stuffed bunny and tucked it into Tami's arms as Roger pulled the blanket over the child. He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead.

"Night, Tami."

Tami rolled over in her sleep, clutching the rabbit, and murmured, "Night, daddy ... Night, mama ... "

Roger stood up and stared at the sleeping child.

Dorothy's fingers twined with his. "You know we can't give her up now."

Roger shook his head, leaving the bedroom and going to the balcony. He shut the door when both were outside.

Dorothy trailed him to the rail, leaping up on the railing. "You are angry."

Roger leaned on the railing, looking at the brilliantly lit domes. "No, not angry. Scared. Our work, our lives ... it's not really suited for children to be around."

Dorothy stared as well. "Do you wish for me to terminate the pregnancy?"

"NO!" Roger looked up at her. "No, I didn't mean that! I was just realizing that ... some things will have to be changed is all. I'm willing to make those changes." He lay his forehead against the cold marble of the railing, soothing both his headache and soul. "It just seems like the wrong time is all. I'm still sorting out these new memories, Alex Rosewater is about to invade our home to kidnap you, and ... "

"And Tami," Dorothy finished.

"You didn't interview anyone to take her, did you?"

"I was looking after you today, my love." She stepped back and dropped to the floor of the balcony. Her arms rounded his waist and her head leaned against his shoulder. One of his arms rounded her shoulder. " Cassandra was with her. She says Tami accidentally referred to us as 'daddy' and 'mama' as she had done just now. She's already bonded to us, it would damage her to send her elsewhere."

He clenched his teeth for a few seconds, then added, "A cheap excuse to allow us to accept what's going to happen anyway and act like we have a choice."

Dorothy was quiet for a moment, then asked, "Do you resent Tami, my husband?"

Roger sighed. "No, love. I'm just a ... a cat by nature - set in my ways and disliking change."

"I remember something my father said once: 'Life is change. Get used to it or leave.'"

Roger chuckled. "Good advice." He hugged her close. "Living outside the domes is a good thing in this case - you know they actually require court orders for adoptions? Pathetic, to have private matters controlled so completely."

"Now we need to get her a wardrobe, tutoring, schoolbooks, vaccinations, weapons, access codes for the equipment -"

Roger decided to let her plan and merely enjoyed the feeling of holding her.

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