Physically he was fine. Emotionally, he was a train-wreck. His dreams had been fitfull, filled with images of being with the forming Cabal and getting them killed with his inexperience. He also dreamed of Trent aiming a gun at him and naming him Technocratic Traitor to the Adept Tradition.

          He'd executed me.

          Splashing water on his face, Mac checked the scars. They were gone as Doc said they would be. There was nothing physical left to show what he'd had done to himself. No one would even know, unless he told them. It was his secret.

          He changed into a white tee-shirt and gray sweats. A pressure had built up in the past three days - ever since his beating at the hands of an eighteen year old. Mix that indignation with his abrupt abandonment by his own group and worse, Mentor, and Mac was ready to strike a wall.

          His conversation with Mannis returned. I could learn French...could I learn kick-boxing as well?

          With a slow smile, Mac stood in the center of the suite's livingroom and closed his eyes. Instantly he was in his Home Library. He strolled to the card catalogue and looked up sports, then kickboxing...and changed his mind. A card name caught his attention and his smile widened.

          Karate.

          He called up the file and the card dissolved into a book. Then the book dissolved and Mac lowered his arms both in the Virtual World and the real world.

          Disconnecting, Mac opened his eyes. He felt something coursing through his muscles he'd not experienced before - knowledge, fully born inside of him as if he'd always known. With it came confidence, and he knew then he possessed the potential to relieve some stress.

          A quick phone call to the concierge and he would have a trainer ready in Gym II, the same one where the kid kicked his ass. Anger built up behind his smile and Mac grabbed his key and left his room. There was still a couple of hours before he met up at the Bellagio. He needed that time to unwind.

          The workout had relieved most of his tension. There had been a few instances where it was evident to him if not to the trainer that he'd just undergone major surgery and loss of blood. No program was going to make him physically stronger - it would only give his muscles and mind the knowledge, not the agility. He would have to work at fighting and defending himself.

          I'm not going to let what happened to me before happen again.

          Showered and dressed, Mac skipped shaving, packed and took the limo provided to the Bellagio. He shared it with Johnny and Oz.

          Angry. I'm just damned angry. I'm pissed at my family, at Mannis, at Calen - and more importantly, I'm angry at Trent.

          He also knew he needed to curb that anger and focus is somewhere else, like into the mission. Focus, channel, dispel. Lessons downloaded in Tai Chi came back to him and he regretted not looking for a program in anger management.

          The others were there, seated once again in the Baccarat lounge. A breakfast buffet had been set up along the same wall as it had been that first afternoon. Mac's stomach growled and he realized he'd not eaten since Friday. No wonder I'm so cranky. He loaded up on eggs, toast, bacon and coffee. Johnny joined Mac at the front table where they had sat during the first meeting.

          After getting a plate, Oz joined the VE at the table behind him. Mac nodded to Calen. The VE had something silver attached to his right ear. He's also wearing a sleek new pair of shades. He nodded to Mac, but nothing more. He looked as if he were listening to something in the silver device... Mac's port opened and he felt his Magick-Eye search the database for the tool. A schematic of the object came up on the screen of his Eye.

          >Uplink: IX model 5588494AAA-45; Wireless Uplink/Control/Monitor device.

          Very nice.

          Arden and Mark sat at the table in the back. Arden held a coffee mug in her hand and when Mac looked back at her, she smiled. Mark gave him a nod and a smile. I really like him.

          Paul and Kyle were in deep conversation at the table to Mac's left. The ghostly messenger from yesterday came to mind and the Adept looked at Paul with an entirely different opinion. The man is a skilled Mage and could be a valuable asset. I hope he joins us.

          The doors opened and three constructs entered followed by Miss Laura Huang. She moved languidly to the front and turned, smiling. "I am glad to see you all. And as we discussed, I am eager to find out what each of your answers are. If you will be leaving or helping us. Understand that there are no penalties from walking away - not from us. Though if you do choose to walk, do it as carefully as possible. The other players involved, such as Invictus, are persistant. If they find a way past the road blocks we've set up. If they do I would advise you to lay low until the trouble passes.

          "First things first..."

           Mac looked over at Calen again, curious now as to the nature of the small laptop he carried. But before he could access a database on that piece of equipment, the VE removed his shades. The Adept caught the just fading bruises of a black eye. Calen looked directly at Mac.

          "What the hell happened to you?" Mac whispered.

          Nicholas gave the Adept a scathing glare and gave a quick, short shake of his head, dismissing the question.

          "Before we get started," Paul said loudly and stood. He moved from his chair beside Arden and walked up to Huang. "I have a few things that I found out that might help, if I may share."

          "By all means." Huang nodded to him and stepped aside.

          "I've already spoken with a few of you. I checked out the Avalon group. Their origins are what they claim them to be. They are as old as King Arthur himself..."

          As the Dream Speaker continued, Mac recognized Paul's speech as the same one he'd received the evening before. He called up the file and began scanning it anew, adding and recording in any new information Ortega might give. He noticed peripherally Johnny watching him with a slow smile on his face.

          "Does that mean you're going?" Arden asked.

          Mac set the file on his roll-top in VR and refocused his view on the RL room.

          "I didn't say that. I believe this mission is vital, and crucial. I will remain involved. I cannot go and be safe. If my survival is integral, then I must remain behind. I do have a friend who is aware of the Avalon Group, aware of the Technocracy and the Traditions, and he has offered to be my Champion."

          Mac glanced at the others. Paul had just bowed out and offered up a replacement. What did that mean?

          "If that is acceptable to you, and to the Avalon Group," he turned to Huang.

          "I don't have any objections." Huang looked at the others. "Nicholas? Will you be joining us?"

          "I have no choice." The VE's voice was flat, unemotional.

          Again Mac's attention was drawn to the bruised eye. What happened? Did his trainer do that?

          She looked at Kyle.

          The Hollow One stood and looked around. "I have a problem. First Paul says we're all vital - and then he says he's sending someone in his place. Won't that interfere with all of us being vital?"

          He's got a point...

          "I mean...you just said we all needed to go. And now you're bowing out. It doesn't make any sense."

          Paul stiffened. "I would expect you to say that.. As I would expect her to say that," he nodded to Arden. Then he nodded at Mark. "Or him to say that. And him," he pointed to Nicholas. "You were all taken by the Technocracy. You were all possibly conditioned. I would expect any and all of you to interfere with the continuation of this mission. I'm not sure I would trust any or all of you. The only reason was that I wasn't captured was because I was in a safe haven. As was Mac."

          Syd. Mac made a mental note to contact the young Adept soon. He needed to fill him in on what was happening. But not the getting beat up part...

          "But I wasn't captured," Mark spoke up. "I wasn't conditioned because I escaped before they had a chance too. So for me, you say you can't trust me simply because you don't like me."

          "I don't like you. I think you're arrogant, I think you're superficial and I think you're a holy roller that's not completely Christian but quotes from the bible every time I turn around."

          "But that doesn't make me conditioned." Mark said.

          "No, but the fact that you were in custody of the NWO puts you in the realm of suspicion. I'm surprised they haven't had us all checked out. "

          "Oh, they've checked us thoroughly," Mac said, and glanced at Nicholas. The VE remained alert, eyes forward. "Does anyone else share the same concerns that Kyle does?" Mac asked.

          "Frighteningly enough," Nicholas began. "I find that I agree with Mr. Ortega. This is a matter of trust. Forgive me for saying so, but my training is with the Marines. You must trust those members of the team with whom you work with. If you cannot do that, then you should not go."

          Mac watched Nicholas, listened to what he said. "As much as it frightens me, I agree with Mr. Calen."

          Nicholas' mouth twitched, but his gaze remained focused forward.

          Paul nodded. "There is one that says he is not going. The Forecasters have given us a choice. I have made one."

          Huang nodded. "You are correct. There are many possible outcomes to this endeavor. The more favorable ones include all members of this cabal. But as Miss Jones has already decided that she is not to accompany us, and Mr. Ortega has bowed out, it still falls within favorable parameters to continue."

          There was a moment of silence, then Paul spoke. "I wish to petition to join the Avalon group. I believe my abilities can still be used within this faction. And I believe several of my brethren are already a part of it."

          "That is unexpected but a pleasant surprise We will speak afterwards."

          Mac said, "Paul's method of message transport is unique, and to those of us who have experienced it, a bit unnerving. I would like to be the contact, or one of them, that can relay whatever information he discovers to the group. He has the most," Mac smiled,. "secured way of contact I can think of." He looked at Paul.

          For the first time Mac could recall, the Dream Speaker gave a small smile.

          "Yes, Mr. Ortega is very skilled in dimensional communication. Our group is lacking in this, and it is an honor. For the time being I believe that it is important that everyone feels at ease with the change in lineup." She looked at the Verbena. "Miss Vervain, have you made your decision?"

          "Yes," Arden stood. "Due to the fact that life can be completely obliterated, and life is the thrill of adventure and the fact that the Verbena name is being used by Mr. Sterling, whether it be true or not, I have to go along. I've been told I will be tested. This could be my test."

          She looked at Mac. "Mr. Mcgyver, I believe we already have your answer. Thank you."

          Mac gave her a nod. "Thank you."

          Nicholas snorted.

          "Mark? Have you come to a decision?"

          The Chorister stood slowly. "The decision was...difficult. But I think I made it. I will go but for spiritual enlightenment. I believe I am to discover how to interact with the song, the one, and maybe I can understand why I was thrown out of my home when I was young. I feel it is time for me to go."

          "Very well." She turned back to the Hollow One. "Kyle, do you still have reservations?"

          The dark young man stood. "I will go...because I can't very well not go. But I still have reservations about the change and I would like to know if Oz is going."

          The burly man moved his chair back, but didn't stand. "Yeah, I'm going."

          "Why Mr. Cody...you don't sound too enthused." Huang smiled.

          He shrugged. "I'm excited - it's just that my orders are explicit. I'm to make sure he doesn't get killed." He pointed at Johnny. "If he does, Zydeco'll have my ass."

          "So when are we leaving and when are we meeting your friend?" Arden asked.

          Huang answered. "We should be prepared to leave in a few hours time. We will be traveling to California to LAX."

          Paul said, "As for my friend, I will be sending him a message to let him know your whereabouts."

          "I can give you an itinerary." Huang says. "Each of you will be receiving one. Mac, please access VE DB/krakken/trash/agf.... You'll find the information there."

          Nicholas typed quickly into his laptop..

          Mac followed her instructions to the letter, aware that he was entering a Void Engineer computer, assuming it was Huang's. His Navigator pulled him forward to a folder. In his mind he pulled the folder out and scanned a document naming airlines, passenger lists, security codes, arrivals and departues.

          "Got it," Nicholas said.

          Mac smiled. He was only a second behind me. He's good with that thing.

          "Mr. Ortega," Nicholas turned to Paul. All eyes turned to him. "Can I inquire as to who your friend is?"

          "Yes," Paul nodded. "He has worked with the VE before. You may have worked with him before. His name is Derrick Dryden. He competes as at semi-pro surfing in his downtime."

          Oz laughed out loud.

          All eyes turned to the big man.

          Mac smiled. "You trust him?"

          "Oh yeah... "

          Uh-oh...sounds like Oz knows this guy. And from the mischievous glint in the Hermetic's eye, I'd say we're all in for a real treat.

          As everyone filed out of the Baccarat Lounge, Mac corral Oz near the food table. He asked the burly man about the bruise on Calen's eye.

          "He had an argument with my fist."

          "Did he start this argument?"

          "No."

          "Oh shit." Mac winced. Oh no...

          Oz lifted a piece of bacon from the tray and munched on it. "Teaching him not to beat you up."

          "Great...how is this suppose to help our relationship during this mission?"

          "Oh, you guys'll get along fine."

          "No, Oz, I don't think so. Have you read his dossier? The one I got from the VE database? All this is going to do is paint an even larger target on my back for him."

          "Oh no." Oz seemed confident. "I think he learned his lesson."

          "Oz...you don't get it do you? He beat me because I touched a nerve. I made him mad. Now, he's just going to be me up because he's mad-er."

          But Oz wasn't in the least worried. "Mac, my point is, he can't keep doing that. What if one of the others pushes the same buttons you did? He gonna beat them to a pulp too? I honestly don't see him doing that with the Verbena - she seems crazy enough to risk Paradox and turn him into a frog. But my point to him was he has to keep his anger in check. We all have to get along." Oz shrugged. "You had me worried that day, and I guess after the whole nose thing, I just thought it better I stop his arrogant little ass real quick."

          Mac ran his fingers through the mess of his bangs. "Oz, my relationship with Calen is on far shakier ground - because I'm an Adept and he's an Engineer. I don't understand all the symantics here, but I will. I have too. He's been trained and taught that I'm a traitor to the Union. Doesn't matter than I never belonged. Great that he's going - though on a threat. But his loyalty is in question - by me. I don't trust him. Yeah, I'm sure he's going to help us in what we're against - we all believe Sterling is dangerous. But in the end - after the dust settles - he's still dangerous."

          Oz just smiled and put a meaty hand on Mac's shoulder. "Just relax, Computer Man. It's all under control." With a wink, he ambled away to the door.

          Mac stood beside the table, the food he'd eaten turning to lead in his stomach. His usual procedure would be to inform his group and let Trent know. Trent was always there to calm him down. Trent always had the best advice.

          But Trent wasn't there. No one was.

          "I'm in deep shit."

          Before leaving the Luxor, Mac had packed everything into a large, black shoulder bag, though kept the gun tucked safely inside the holster Oz had given him. He handed his single bag to the construct who placed it inside the trunk of the Hummer limo. Mac then moved out of the way of Mark and Arden's argument.

          "Arden you've got enough room back there for your stuff?" Mark called out from the front of the Hummer.

          "I've only got three bags."

          "Trunks you mean?"

          Mac suppressed a smile as he moved around the Hummer's right side. Huang and Nicholas stood at the limo's grill. Huang handed him a small package and moved away. More goodies?

          Huang sat in the limo's front with the construct. Mac sat directly behind the Huang. Nicholas crowded in beside him. Arden, Mark, Kyle, and Oz took up the rounded back and Johnny sat to Mac's right. Once the Hummer was on the highway, Mac thought it would be nice to hear some music.

          Abruptly the speakers crackled and the voice of Mary J. Blige serinaded through. It was a dance mix of one of her latest songs. Mac thought it was too loud and the the volume decreased. He looked to his left at Huang who smiled and nodded. "I see you've been practicing, Mr. Mcgyver."

          The station changed abruptly to classical.

          Mac looked at Nicholas. He'd placed his uplink in his ear and now gave Mac a thin smile. Though he had no objection to classical, it was the rudeness of the VE that incesned him. Mac changed the channel back.

          It switched to Classical.

          Mac switched it to techno.

          It switched to country.

          Mac switched it to top forty.

          "Okay...you two are going to have to stop it right now," Mark said over the music. "You - Technoboy - put away your techno toy and you," he narrowed his eyes at Mac. "I don't know what you're using but stop it."

          Nicholas said, "Let us compromise and simply leave it off."

          It was fair. Mac reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out his ipod. He spun the dial to the last set of songs he'd downloaded from Itunes. But before the first one began, the list changed and Cameo's "Word Up" began. With a grunt, the Adept looked up through furrowed brows at Calen. He had his hand to his uplink, a sly, mischevious smile on his face. The VE shrugged and removed the the device.

          As the first piano bars to Linkin Park's "My December" began, Mac looked about at the Cabal. Oz had pulled a drawing pad from somewhere and had began an odd practice of sketching two things simultaneously. One appeared to be a cityscape, the other - a gun.

          Johnny had his accoustic guitar out and was softly picking out melodies that Mac could just hear over his ipod's earbuds.

          Mark had a hardbound notebook in his hand. He appeared to be composing music.

          The nauseous wiff of fingernail polish told him what the Verbena was doing.

          He turned and looked at Huang. She was on an uplink similar to the one Calen now had and spoke softly to someone. Mac removed the earbud from his left ear and listened. He knew it was an invasion of privacy - technically. But their lives were in this woman's hands, and he intended on watching out for this group every step of the way. Mannis' words still rang thick in his head. "This isn't about you."

          And it wasn't.

          He recognized the language as Korean. Could I...? Instantly the port irised and his Magick-Eye took him to a book in his library. He pulled it down and the book vanished. Abruptly he could hear every word in English.

          But what he heard alarmed him. Mac shut off his ipod and tucked it back inside his jacket. He looked at Nicholas whose own gaze had traveled from Huang to the Adept. "I think we're in for some trouble."

          "Wait," Kyle said from the back. "I..." he closed his eyes. Everyone stopped what they were doing. "We-we're going to have some trouble at the airport."

          Nicholas arched his right eyebrow. "I see. What kind of trouble?"

          Mac looked at Huang as she removed her uplink and turned to the others. "My father is insisting on meeting me at the airport. I'm tring to divert him but I'm afraid it's not working."

          Mac pulled up a dossier on Huang's father. "Director of Reasearch and Development at Nullis Air force Base, Area 51."

          Nicholas instantly puts the uplink to his ear and and opened his laptop. "Has he left yet?"

          "No," Huang answered.

          "Then I'll set off alarms in areas 3, 1, 7, 11, 14." He looked up from his screen to Mac. "There are prisoners in those areas they would rather not see released." He smiled thinly.

          Mac blinked and slowly returned the smile. He's trying to delay Dr. Huang's departure. And...did we just sort of work together just then?

          Mark looked to Kyle. "Is it different now?"

          Kyle, his eyes closed, shook his head. "Still Technocratic interference."

          "Okay, I'm not playing around here." Arden pulled a small gun from her purse.

          Mac pulled the gun from its holster. From the corner of his eye he saw Nicholas reach into his pocket and pull out a...what was that? It could have been a gun...or an aluminum water pistol for a size challenged individual. He blinked and looked at Nicholas' face. The VE shrugged. "They called it a cricket."

          Mac's own eyes widened. "Then don't point that thing at me."

          The limo pulled around a back gate and up to the boarding stairs of a waiting plane.

          Mac looked at Kyle, who shook his head. Nicholas' diversion hadn't worked. He looked at Huang as the Hummer came to a stop. "Does your father know what gate?"

          "He knows LAX and that it's a chartered plane. He thinks we're taking a Syndicate plane, but we're taking a Gulfstream."

          Nicholas looked at Huang. "He's nearly here."

          Mac accesed the airport's terminal computer and changed the gate numbers. This will piss off a bunch of passengers, but I hope it works.

          Everyone piled out of the Hummer, their guns hidden. The constructs began loading the baggage hurriedly into the plane. Mac climbed out, the sunlight a bit more than he could handle. He pulled his Oakleys out and slid them on. Oddly enough, he could see both universes better in the darkened light. He also knew his diversion hadn't worked any better than Calen's. The schedules were quickly fixed.

          After pulling his own bag out and seeing it safely loaded, Mac went back to the limo where Huang and Calen were. "You should be all right the way you're dressed right now," she said to the VE.

          Mac frowned as he looked at Nicholas. His clothing meshed and shaped before Mac's eyes, until the VE stood dressed in a black suit and white shirt. Nicholas slid his shades on and instantly was transformed from soldier to MIB. Agent.

          Mac gave a half smile and shook his head. I have got to get a suit like that. No wonder his clothes always look unmarked. They're...what the hell are they? Immediately his Magick-Eye took him to his library, but he blinked several times and disconnected. Not now.

          Huang urged everyone up the ramp. Mac held his gun and positioned himself at the lower end of the ramp as Oz stationed himself at the top, urshering everyone in. Huang moved quickly to Mac, the breeze blowing her hair about her shoulders. "Beneath the isleway there is a red button. That will trigger the storage containers to open. Get inside if necessary and close them. If he decides to board. Myself or Nicholas will signal you."

          "C'mon Computer Man!" Oz motions for Mac to board. The Adept cast a glance back at Huang and Calen. Huang had now began a slow, methodic unpacking of her own luggage from the hummer. The VE looked the part of an MIB, guarding his charge.

          Mac bounded up the ramp, grateful for his early morning exercise. He paused beside Oz just inside the door and relayed Huang's message about the storage.

          "Can you hear what's happening?" Oz asked as he moved past Mark and worked his way past everyone to the back.

          Mac nodded and motioned for everyone to be quiet as he pressed himself into a vantage point near the cockpit so he could watch...and listen. What he didn't see immediately was Mark who had now situated himself behind Mac. Mark placed his hand on Mac's shoulder.

          Instantly Mac could see an icon of a an angel in his Library. The Chorister had somehow tapped into his VR.

          With a blink to disconnect his Magick-Eye, Mac looked down to the Hummer.

          Father and daughter bowed stifly to one another. They spoke in Korean. He looked at Mark. "Can you understand them?"

          He nodded. "Through you."

          Dr. Huang spoke. "You are leaving so soon? This is not on your itenerary."

          "No, there has been a change in plan. I'm not enjoying the states as much as I thought I would. I've decided to take the rest of my vacation back home." Laura nodded to the construct that took her luggage.

          "This is very uncharacteristic of you. You usually do not take such a long vacation."

          Mac tightened his grip on his gun. She was trying to stall him - but it wasn't working. He's suspicious of something...but what?

          "We should speak privately, just for a moment." Dr. Huang said.

          She gestured to the Hummer, for the two of them to step inside. But her father shook his head and looked at the plane. "I would rather see this monstrocity that you are taking."

          Nicholas made a handsignal and he heard the VE's voice loud and clear in his ear. "Get them hidden.."

          Mac moved out of his hiding place and made a slicing motion across his neck to Oz.

          The burly man spoke softly. "Okay...everyone, get out of the isle."

          Mac pointed to a red button near Mark. The Chorister pressed it and several doors in the isle opened. Mac checked out the window as Oz hustled everyone down inside. Huang and her father were halfway up the stairs. Once everyone had climbed down inside, Mac hurried over and then climbed down into the storage. He and Mark closed the top just as he saw Laura and her father's feet enter the plane.

          The compartment was dark, but Mac found he could see clearly. He focused his left ear toward the couple as Mark touched him again. The Chorister then touched Arden, who touched Kyle. Kyle touched Johnny who touched Oz. Mac felt all of them, ghosts crowded within his VR world. He knew he was aware of them there, yet none of them saw his world.

          "I am curious as to why you have decided not to leave with the rest of Reasearch and Development," Dr. Huang said in English.

          "There are more pressing issues to deal with than R&R."

          He laughed. "More pressing issues?"

          "Dorien Sterling has popped up on our radar again. We believe he has stolen important equipment from the facility in France. That is why I am headed there to do some damage control. The director is new there and he needs help."

          "I never had any report of this."

          "Of course you didn't. They keep you in the dark there. Besides this was an internal problem and I wanted it handled descreetly."

          There was a pause. Mac turned and looked past everyone to Oz. The Hermetic had his gun ready, but held his hand up to Mac with the gesture of 'wait'.

          "You haven't been in for Psych evaluation in some time," Dr. Huang said.

          Mac shook his head. Shit.

          "I have but it has probably not made it up onto the logs yet."

          Dr. Huang was silent again, then... "Keep in touch. You should call me when you arrive in France." He heard shoes scrapping against the floor above them. "I wasn't aware you knew Paul Calen's son."

          Mac looked back to Oz. The Hermetic closed his eyes.

          "You left a message for his parents, on their son's journal."

          "No, I did not know him personally. I had heard he was a most promising recruit. It was an unfortunate incident that claimed his life. I felt I should wish them well."

          "Very well...please call me when you get to France."

          The foosteps moved away. Mac listened through several more tense minutes until Huang's voice said clearly, "It's clear."

          Mac reached up and popped the top. Mark helped him lift the top and everyone began piling out. As he and Oz closed the storage lid, Mac heard Huang urgently telling the pilot to take off. She appearead again and had everyone take their seats.

          The Adept turned and for the first time, noticed the plane's luxurious enterior. He'd expected the average plane with rows of cramped seats. Beige carpet laid a soft groundwork for leather chairs in rows of twos to his right. Along the left side were two long couches. A curtain behind the last couch opened and Oz came through, his drawing pad in his hand.

          "Mac, you need to take a seat. We're taking off." Huang stood behind him.

          He turned and nodded. Mannis' words came back to him. You can also screw up a navigational computer... "Miss Huang, will I interfere..." he pointed to the back of his neck.

          She gave a knowing smile. "No. This plane's been made secure against such things. But, to be safe, why don't you shut down your port?"

          He nodded and slid into the empty leather chair beside Nicholas. The VE had put his uplink and laptop away. He was also once again dressed in his fatigues. Mac fastened his seat belt and leaned into the cushioned chair. He closed his eyes and to his surprise, drifted off to sleep.

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