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Author's Note:
* denotes telepathic speech to one individual.
*"blah, blah,"* denotes telepathic speech to anyone within hearing distance
 

"Just how important could one person possibly be?"
                                                                          -- Anonymous

2025
49-year-old A.J. McLean sighed as the Mercedes touched down into the garage, waited for the roof to close before stepping out. The scent of rain hung heavy in the garage air, the night was dark and stormy. The garage lights dimmed and turned off as he stepped into the house.

"Hi honey, I'm home." He whispered to the empty mansion. Taken to being a recluse of sorts, he'd let go of the security staff years ago, preferring to being alone.

A.J. left the lights off, he'd long since memorized the layout. Stepping into the living room, he past by the fireplace. A blue orb came to life at his presence and his throat caught when he saw the silver framed class picture of Piper. The soft blue light from the orb hovering directly above it turned the picture into shades of blue. It was a standard school picture, when she was a high school freshman. Eyes so very identical to his gazed at him with an innocent intensity. He had sheltered her, knowing the rigors of life, and what his life had been like as a high school freshman.

Could life for any of them been different if he hadn't been so stubbern, so self-righteous that night?

Backstreet had sunk to an all time low two years ago and A.J. refused to believe it was because he dropped from the limelight. Except for Nick, the other guys were very supportive of his decision to leave. Though the die-hard fans were there for them, it wasn't enough. The group would formally announce their resignation from the music scene in a week.

All of the Backstreet offspring were doing well for themselves despite their parents' difficulties. All that is, with the exception of Alex Richardson, Kevin's son. He had married Faye Royaltonne against Kevin's wishes.

Lightning flashed close by, startling A.J.

Alex had been in the hospital for reasons even the doctors weren't sure of. They simply couldn't diagnose what was wrong with him. Now he was at home because Faye wanted him there, just in case the inevitable happened. He couldn't put a finger on it, but Faye looked familiar to A.J., like he knew her from somewhere before.

Smiling tenderly at her image, A.J. kissed his fingertips and placed them gently to Pipers forehead.

"I love you, baby."

As he walked to the stairs, the blue light that still hovered over Pipers picture winked out and the living room sank into the deep gloom of darkness.

A.J. McLean stepped up to his room.

************************************************

I watched A.J. leave with cold, narrowed eyes. I'd been sitting in the living room watching him. With night vision many times better than any owl or cat, I watched him stare, reflect at the photo. I waited till I heard a door upstairs close, then got up and padded over to the picture. No blue orb sprung to life for me, it's programming couldn't recognize just what I was. Smart program.

Though I'm sure he saw her as an innocent, Daddy's Little Angel, I could pick up on a defiant lift of her chin, an arrogant set to her eyes.

"So, this is the girl you would have me rescue, Jade." I murmered.

Suddenly, I felt a presence and faded from physical sight, throwing up a mental cloak. The presence was a novice compared to me, it didn't even try to detect me. Invisible to human eyes, I saw a pale white shape follow A.J.'s path. It had jagged edges and a vague human form and I watched it float up the stairs.

Showtime, I thought gleefully as I stealthily followed it.

************************************************

At one point, A.J. had drifted off into a fitfull sleep. It was the same dream he'd had months after Piper's death. He was reaching out over and over again, shouting out, "PIPER! NOOOOO!" Missing her over and over, watching her fall, seeing her tumble, her eyes on his, wide in her terror. He heard the sickening thud as her body struck the ground, her vacant brown eyes staring up directly into his. A.J. reached out for her, but Gudio pulled him back.

He turned around only to find himself no longer in Piper's room, but rather a pitch black area, one spotlight shining down on him. He tried looking up, shielding his eyes, tying to see a ceiling, the night sky, or a venue catwalk, anything, but there was nothing but darkness.

Suddenly, a second spotlight illuminated a person. Female with long jet black hair, the girl--for she could be no older than seventeen--strode up to him, stopping only an arms length away.

"Hello A.J.," she paused, expecting something. "Don't you...remember me?"

Cautious, he shook his head. "Faye?"

The girl laughed, a chiming sound, ripples of night cascaded through her luxurious hair. "No, silly!" she stepped closer, "It's me, Alanna Cypress."

Alanna Cypress! Shit! A.J. thought as he stumbled back, his spotlight following him. Instinctively, he found himself starting to call out for Gudio, his personal body guard since the Backstreet Boys began.

"Ah, ah, ah. There's no help for you on the psychic plane. No one to rescue you. You're mine, finally and forever."

Memories flooded back to A.J. Alanna the crazy stalker he had from 1998-2000, before she'd been caught by the cops. Her last attack had been to crash Nick's 20th birthday party, just to get to him. Since she'd been a minor, the authorities simply sent her to a juvinile facility. She claimed she was a psychic and that it was their destiny to be together.

Now, it seemed she finally had him.

"After my little stay in juvie hall," she giggled madly. "I studied very hard to be the best geneticist in the world. But alas, modern science didn't like my methods! They kept it all hush-hush, but eventually I came up with a plan. Well, my first plane anyway. That simply...backfired! Literally!"

A.J. felt lightheaded, "Wait! What do you mean by that?"

"Money can buy me happiness, and buy you pain. I paid someone to bomb that 747 out of the sky and BOOM! No more Marissa!"

Angered, A.J. rushed at Alanna, but found he couldn't move. Alanna glared at him. "I was trying to make us happy. With that skank Marissa out of the way, there was only Piper to deal with."

A.J. stopped struggling. "Piper? What does she have to do with this?"

"Do? I'm afraid you mean, did." Alanna looked to her right. "Do show yourself, dear."

The air shimmered beside Alanna and Faye Royaltonne-Richardson stood next to Alanna, bathed in a third spotlight.

A.J. blanced, "You, you two are..."

"That's right!" Alanna beamed.

"I'm Alanna's clone," Faye glared at him. "And I finished what Mom here couldn't."

"And now we'll finish it..." Alanna glanced at her clone with maniacle love.

"Together!" They said in unison.

*"So this would be my cue?"* a voice said from all around the three. A.J. found himself suddenly able to move again as Faye and Alanna hissed like vampires facing a Slayer. A person walked towards them, as unconcerned as if she were taking a walk in the park. She needed no spotlight, illuminated by an aura of power that flickered between blue and white. Dressed in what looked to A.J. like a black, skintight sleevless body suit. Black gloves with the fingers cut off graced her slender hands. A bright yellow sash served as a belt and knee high leather boots encased her feet. Her waist length yellow hair had red streaking from each of her temples, fading into the thickness of hair that flared out behind her, making it look as if she had fire for hair. Her eyes would've been normal, had they not been bright yellow in color, the pupils slitted and reflective like a cats. Physically, she looked no older than 24, but her eyes bespoke of a timeless quality. Immortal was the only word A.J. could think of to describe her.

*Oh please, A.J., your description of me makes me sound like a super-hero or something.*

A.J. blushed at her words.

*"But you two, are truely evil."* her eyes flashed with anger.

Alanna glared at the creature, enraged by her telepathic words, and she snarled at it, "Why don't you open your mouth to talk, you freak. Or aren't you human?"

The newcomer smiled, "Fine then." Her voice had a throaty and unused, but very pissed off, tone to it. "As my name is unpronouncable in the English language, you may call me Ember, for shits and giggles, you know."

Faye smirked, "That's a dumb-ass name."

"Really?" Ember asked, "Why how considerate of you to enlighten me thusly. And so I challenge you two to take me on. I win and I take A.J. away and neither of you will see him again. If I loose, I die and you get to keep A.J. forever. The rules are simple. Telekinetic and physical attacks only. Either of you cheat and you forefit, I cheat and I forefit. Deal?"

Faye and Alanna high-fived each other. "We can't loose, Mother! With the two of us together, we're unstoppable!"

A.J. jerked Embers arm to him, her skin was so cold that he almost let go as soon as he touched her. "I hope you know what you're doing! This is my life we're talking about so casually!"

Ember looked at him with a cold, piercing glare. *No, it's not. It's your soul we're talking about so casually.* A.J. let go and shook his head, "No, I don't believe that. That's not possible."

*Don't loose your faith in me, little one. I'm far more powerful that either you or they expect.*

A.J. gasped as the four were suddenly in a football stadium-like arena. Where there should've been seats, there was nothing but concrete emptiness. Where there should've been goal posts, there was a concrete pyramid with a concrete sphere on top of it. The statues were at least thirty feet high, maybe higher. Ember faced the duo and tossed her firey hair back and A.J. found himself being telekinetically lifted up and placed on top of the statue behind Ember.

That much power in one toss of her head? Amazing..

"We begin now."

A.J. watched as Alanna launched a series of telekinetic attacks, bright red beams of energy streaked across the arena with the scream of fireworks. Ember stood, calmly watching them.

Do something! A.J. shouted in his head, hoping Ember might hear him.

At the last second, Ember raised a hand and the beams sank into a light blue bubble-like forcefield that totally surrounded her. She didn't even look up at the two, merely saying, "Pathetic," as she flicked her thumb and forefinger at them. A surging ball of blue-white energy as big as an old VW Beetle seared towards them. Faye and Alanna dove out of the way at the last moment. A crash, like thunder, echoed in the arena's air as the energy exploded on contact, and dust and dirt littered the air. Chunks of ground fell around A.J. and Ember, but none of it touched them. A bubble the same color as Ember's surrounded him.

Then Faye and Alanna launched én masse and for several minutes energy and dirt flew everywhere, Ember deflecting every attack they sent out. Unexpectedly so, Faye threw an attack at A.J.

Ember shot both arms into the air and the energy beam exploded into harmless party confetti, none of it reaching Ember as it disintigrated in mid-air.

Frustrated, Faye screamed, "Enough!" She grabbed Alanna's hand and energy gathered so suddenly and intensly that their hair streamed behind them in a banner, as if they stood on a grate that covered a powerfull fan on high. He saw Ember's bubble grow a brighter blue-white.

Oh shit, no giggles here. he thought worriedly. A.J. couldn't see Ember's face, but he saw her shift her stance. He could see the intense amount of energy the two had, it flickered and crackled like lightning gone mad.

Without warning, they unleashed it. As it flew at Ember, his one chance at survival, some energy streaked faster and it pummled Ember's force field bubble. A huge dust cloud exploded when the main ball of energy reached her force field and suddenly, A.J. didn't have a protective bubble.

"EMBER!" he cried out, nearly loosing his balance and falling. He got a better grip as the falling dirt and chunks of ground reached him and he raised his arms to shield himself. He saw Ember with a surprised look on her face. Then she disappeared.

Looking drained of energy, Faye and Alanna were speechless as the dust settled, revealing a gigantic crater in the arena floor. Right where Ember had been.

"Yes!" Faye cheered and they high-fived once again. With mirroring smirks, they walked closer to A.J.'s statue. He looked down from his safe perch with dread.

"Oh Mother, however shall we get him down?"

A hum filled the air then, and a bright blue bubble surrounded A.J. as he was lifted up and down to the ground. Faye looked at Alanna, surprised. "Did...tell me you did that!"

*Oh Kiddies, kiddies, kiddies! That was fun! Can we do it again?*

"No!" wailed Alanna.

"We destroyed you!" Faye shrieked.

A blue-white glow surrounded Ember as she lifted herself to the surface. "You guys suck," Ember said flatly. "And you lost."

Faye growled at her, "Not yet you freaking bi.."

Calmly, Ember looked at Faye and Alanna and they were held up in the air in red bubbles. They kicked and screamed at Ember, but A.J. couldn't hear them.

"Why, yes you have..Lost that is. You cheated Faye, you tried using psychic influences on me and that wasn't on the weaponry list." Ember waved at the suspended duo and they disappeared. She motioned to A.J., still in his bubble. He was set down and the bubble vanished with a gentle popping noise. "Could you have done that to the two of them in the first place?"

Ember looked thoughtfull, "Yes, I could have. But I haven't been challenged in a long while." She looked around her. "Not that I could call this a challenge though."

"All that suspense for nothing?"

"No, it's never for nothing. You had faith in me and I could sense that. You never doubted me and it just goes to show that it's good to have faith in someone, even someone you don't know or trust."

"So, what's gonna happen to those two?"

"They'll be dealt with. The Big Guy is going to have a word with them."

A.J. winced. "The Big Guy?"

"That's right." Ember waved her hand and the arena disappeared, replaced by the backyard of his mansion. The ocean crashed gently below the sea-wall and the leaves of the oak tree rustled noisely in the breeze. A.J. could see through Ember and himself. "Am I dead?"

Ember shook her head, "No, you're just having an out-of-body experience. You'll be okay."

A.J. looked up at Pipers window, at the rope blowing in the breeze. "What I'd give to do it all over again."

Ember sat next to him on thin air, five feet above the ground. "I could help you with that. I have connections."

"I don't know."

*Jade!* Ember called out.

After a seconds pause, there was a flash of light and a woman with short green hair and green-tipped wings appeared. She had a green tinged aura around her. "I see you have succeeded, Ember." Jade said. "Rough battle?"

Ember rubbed at a smudge of dirt on one cheek. "Nah, nothing I can't handle." Ember looked at A.J. "Think you can help him?"

"He won't remember any of this." Jade turned to A.J. "Will that be okay?"

"Will Piper live?"

Unangelically, Jade shrugged. "In a way, yes. She won't remember any of this either. Good thing too, Ember was teaching her psychic things."

Ember pouted, "So?"

"With a needle and thread, Angel-girl wanna be." Jade shot back.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

A.J. held up his hands, "Ladies! Or Angels or whatever you are! C'mon, I feel like I'm with Nick and Howie here. Can we get started?"

Jade turned to him, her emerald eyes intensely bright. "None of this tragedy will have ever happened. None of it, and that includes Marissa and Pipers deaths, Backstreets downfall and Alex's poisoning."

"What!"

"A.J., Faye and Alanna were poisoning Alex," Ember bluntly explained. "They were putting small amounts of cleaning supplies, floor cleaners, in his soup. Alanna saw it in a movie called The Sixth Sense when she was a teenager."

"A.J.?" Jade called from behind him.

"What?" he said, turning to face her. Glitter suddenly danced around him and he breathed some of it in. Jade dusted her fingers off in her robe and looked to Ember, a slightly sad expression on her face.

"I've gotta tell Kevin.." he murmered, feeling incredibly, suddenly tired. Jade had done it with the glitter, but he had to warn Kevin, he couldn't let Alex die. He had to tell Kevin before Jade had him foget what he knew. The yard started spinning, slowly, then a little faster.

A.J. sank to his knees on the emerald green lawn, fighting to stay awake. If he fell asleep, he'd never be able to tell Kevin. "Gotta...tell Kevin.."

A.J. could see the mansion disappear slowly, then the sea-wall, then the rope. It all vanished, leaving A.J. alone on the top of a jade green hill overlooking the ocean.

"Tell Kevin..." The last thing he heard was the rustle of the oaks' leaves.

The last thing he saw was Embers flaming hair and glowing eyes.

Then nothing at all.

************************************************

Sunlight streamed through a window, right onto the bed A.J. McLean was sleeping on.

"C'mon, A.J. ! Studio session in 45 minutes!"

A.J. frowned and threw an arm to cover his eyes...Only to hit the side of his forehead with something blunt and heavy. Eyes still closed and grimacing in pain, he sat up, wondering for a moment what Howie was doing in his house.

Uh, what house? he thought, confusion at where he was, even who he was overshadowing his thoughts.

"What was it you were muttering about in your sleep? What did you want to tell Kevin?" Howie's voice was close. Too close.

"Ugh, morning breath, D. Brush, please." A.J. groaned, shoving away his friend.

"Who's the girl? Someone you met last night?" Howie sounded eager. "Is she a fan?"

Now A.J. cracked open one eye and glared at Howie.

"Fine, whatever, I don't care. I left the paper by your room service breakfast. You better hurry though, Kevin's gonna kick your ass again if you're late. Just 'cause you had to be out all night partying..."

But A.J. wasn't listening. He was looking at a silver framed picture of a girl.

*Toldja I had connections.*

He looked up, both eyes wide open. "Ember!"

"That's right, kiddo," She looked over to a time-frozen Howie, her hair glimmering like the flame it was. "He'll be okay. You've been taken back to the year 2000. You won't remember anything of the future except Piper, until you hold the picture. I know that sounds corny, but it's true. Jade didn't even want you to have the picture, but she relented. You remembering the future is my hand in it."

"I can't thank you enough..."

Ember grinned. "Yes, you can and you have. When you grabbed my arm, I was flooded with your thoughts and emotions and memories. Before that, I'd never had emotions and never been touched by anyone ever for that matter. You've helped me know what it's like to love someone and for that I thank you."

A.J. stared at the infinatly powerful being in front of him. "Will I see you again?"

"I don't think so, not directly anyway. There's a thin line between you and I, A.J. McLean and I must stay beyond it. If you think you see me out of the corner of your eye or think you're alone but feel like you're not, I'm probably there. I know this probably isn't the do over you were expecting."

A.J. smiled at her. "No, it's okay." He frowned. "Will I remember all of it?"

Ember's turn to smile, "Only what you want to remember."

"Then I hope I remember you."

She touched his bare, left shoulder and it tingled. When she took her hand away, he saw a blue-white lightning bolt tatoo the size of a half-dollar. This time, her touch had been warm.

"You are protected by me."

In a rush of flame, Ember vanished and Howie started blabbering again.

"Howie, shut up."

Howie shook his head, "A.J. you are a freak. I'm going downstairs, call Gudio when you're ready. And clean up all that glitter. Sheesh, they say people wonder about me." With that, he left, closing the hotel door gently behind him.

A.J. looked at himself, glitter lightly covered both him and the bed. Slowly, it vanished with a blue-white glow.

*Better get moving, McLean. There's no time like the future.*

¤ THE END¤
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