Family Ties

Part Three

by Rebeckah

 

 

Three days later Theresa crept towards the center, clothed in black with soot covering her face and a black knit cap hiding her hair.  She’d arrived in Delaware early the previous morning and spent that day and all of the next learning about the Centre.  It hadn’t been easy. The installation didn’t seem to exist officially.  There were no blueprints of the place in any city office that should have had the information.  She finally tracked down a rough schematic on her computer, but her afternoon scouting trip revealed several inconsistencies between the actual structure and the schematics.

 

Still, she’d managed to determine a route in, involving the sewer system that was unlikely to be watched.  She’d also located all of the guard posts and the route the on-foot sentries took.  She felt confident that she could sneak into the building and find her brother with no one inside the Centre knowing.  In spite of her confident words to Jarod she was afraid of the power the Centre seemed to hold and hoped to get in and out with her brother without an encounter.  The image of Raines’ face still floated into her mind from time to time, prompting an almost instinctive fear.

 

Her plan worked perfectly, until she actually began to loosen the metal grate over the sewer tunnels.

 

"Don’t move!"  The voice was flat and emotionless, a professional who was perfectly willing to break the law in the defense of his employer.  Theresa froze, cursing inwardly and praying that she could somehow talk her way out of this.  She straightened, hand held away from her body, and saw a man in a dark uniform approach her from the side, his gun held menacingly at head level.  Even as he place his gun to her temple Theresa’s outstretched hand was grabbed and twisted painfully behind her back.

 

"I’ve got her, Sam, thanks."

 

"We’ll take her in together."  Sam responded calmly, dropping the hand that held the gun, but not replacing the gun in his shoulder holster.

 

"If you insist."  The other guard agreed calmly, propelling Theresa towards the Centre entrance.

 

<They knew I was coming!>  Theresa thought numbly.  <Jarod must have told them!>

 

The building was brightly lit inside, even though it was close to midnight.  The spacious lobby was sparsely populated, but a group of four people waited near the wide staircase dominating the rear of the room.  Theresa’s dazed and despairing eyes took in the tall, slender woman, her dark hair immaculate even at this hour and her clothing elegant and obviously expensive.  Next to her was an older man, his graying hair starting to thin and his face creased with lines of concern and care.  On the other side of the woman was a short, balding man, his face gentle and barely marked with age.  It was the final person, however, who caught Theresa’s gaze and riveted her feet to the floor, much to her escorts irritation.

 

The man was tall but his pale blue eyes were childlike and innocent. His face was lined far beyond his years and seemed set in a permanent expression of puzzled sorrow.  His dark blond hair, so similar to Theresa’s, was cut in a short crew-cut.  His eyes were locked on hers, and unfamiliar expression of surprise and barely visible hope rising on his face while a radiant joy and deep love covered Theresa’s face.

 

She whirled suddenly, turning towards the man who held her arm behind her back in a surprise move.  Her captive arm unfolded as she turned and her free hand smacked into the man’s chest in an openhanded shove that threw him back a few steps.  Even as Sam reached for his gun she began to run.  Sam’s movement towards his weapon halted in amazement, however, when she ran, not for the entrance and freedom, but for the man standing passively by the stairs.  She launched herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck in a desperate hug as tears streamed over her cheeks.

 

"Tee."  She sobbed, the brilliant smile on her face belying the tears. "I was so afraid I’d never see you again!"

 

Slowly Angelo’s arms came around the weeping woman, and then with more confidence he began to pat her soothingly on the back.

 

"Tess?"  He asked doubtfully.

 

"Yes, it’s me."  She confirmed, pulling back from her stranglehold on his neck and cupping her face with a hand on either cheek.  "I’m here now, Tee, and I’m not going to leave you again."

 

"Tess."  Angelo sighed, pulling her into another hug, a rare smile of contentment covering his face as he rested his cheek happily against the top of her head.  Theresa’s face, pressed just as happily against his chest, bore a similar smile of contentment, even though tears continued to slip through her closed eyes.

 

"Now isn’t this just the most touching thing you’ve ever seen?"  Lyle’s unctuous voice broke the two apart as he made his way regally down the stairs.  "So good to meet you, Theresa."

 

"Who are you?" She demanded, moving protectively in front of her brother.

 

"I am Lyle.  Mr. Lyle to you, and I happen to be in charge around here.  We’ve been looking for you for many years," was his silky answer as he looked her up and down like an animal up for auction.  "I see you had no trouble recognizing your brother----unlike *some* people."  He added spitefully, with a pointed look at Miss Parker.  Parker only glared at him before biting back.

 

"If *Angelo* had been my brother I would have been happy to recognize him.  But you know how it is, you choose your friends, your family you get stuck with."

 

Lyle’s face reddened slightly before he gave a slight nod in his sister’s direction.

 

"Touché."  He acknowledged.  "Now, back to you, Theresa."  A black gloved hand reached out, fingers lifting her chin before Angelo knocked his hand away protectively.  Theresa frowned slightly, wondering what it was about that hand that seemed wrong.

 

"Don’t touch!"  Angelo ordered, his gentle face set in a ferocious frown.

 

"So, it has protective instincts."  Lyle drawled lazily, a slight frown that managed to be more intimidating in its brevity than Angelo’s more obvious anger.  "I can hardly wait to begin the experiments."

 

"What on earth are you talking about?"  Theresa demanded spiritedly. "I just came here for my brother.  Now that I’ve found him I can take him off of your hands and you can get back to whatever it is you do."

 

She didn’t really expect it to be that easy, though, and Lyle’s short laugh confirmed her fears.

 

"Oh very good!"  He applauded.  "Quite amusing, in fact.  If you thought it was that simple you wouldn’t have tried to sneak in here like a cat-burglar."  His black gloved hand indicated her dark clothing and soot covered face.  Theresa suddenly realized that his hand was missing the thumb, that’s what had bothered her.

 

"Look, I know that you guys seem to have a bad reputation, but you can’t possibly want my brother the way he is, so why don’t you just let us go?"  Theresa tried again.

 

"No, I don’t think so."  Lyle answered cheerfully.  "Angelo comes in handy from time to time, and *you*, my dear, should come in quite handy.  Tomorrow we’ll begin the tests to determine just how best to make use of you."

 

"I don’t understand you people."   Theresa countered desperately.  "You act like people are property.  How do you live with yourselves?"  She included Sydney, Broots and Miss Parker in her frankly questioning look.  Sydney looked away quickly, his face set and still, Broots flushed and looked down, and Parker just looked back inquiringly.  Theresa saw a hint of guilt on her face, though.  Lyle, when Theresa looked at him, merely smiled charmingly.

 

"The strong have always used the weak, my dear."  He told her pleasantly.  "Besides, you owe the Centre your very life, it’s only right that you serve our interests."

 

Theresa failed to look impressed, but she did reach up to grasp the hand that Angelo rested on her shoulder, as if for comfort.

 

"Sydney, put your little monkey away."  Lyle ordered abruptly.  "Sam, escort our new toy to a holding cell."

 

"NO!"  Theresa objected instantly.  "Let me at least stay with my brother!"

 

"If you’re a good girl, and cooperate, we might let you visit with Angelo later."  Lyle told her, a happy smirk on his lips.  He loved it when a subject literally handed him their greatest weakness on a silver platter.  Theresa would be no problem to control, of that he was now confident.

 

Theresa whirled, her eyes pleading with the other three as Sam advanced on her.

 

"NO!"  Angelo roared, rushing Sam.  "No hurt Tess!"

 

"Damn it, Sydney, control your idiot."  Lyle snapped impatiently as Sam fell back under a flurry of flailing and largely useless blows from the enraged man.  He didn’t know if it was okay to defend himself or not, and threw a beseeching look at Lyle.

 

"Now, Sydney!  Or I’ll let Sam shoot him."

 

"Tee, no."  Heedless of Angelo’s flailing arms Theresa hurried after her brother and grabbed an arm, restraining him.  "It’s okay, I’ll go with him and he won’t hurt me!"  She promised breathlessly, hanging onto his arm desperately.  She was terrified that the strange Mr. Lyle, would actually have her brother shot.

 

"Listen to your sister, Angelo."  Sydney soothed him, coming up on the other side of Angelo.  "We’ll all get some rest now and I’ll bring you to see your sister in the morning----*won’t* I, Mr. Lyle."  Sydney fixed a demanding glare on Lyle.

 

"Oh, very well, if it will ensure a little peace and quiet now."  Lyle sighed, very much the long-suffering princeling.

 

"Okay, Tee?"  Theresa asked urgently, as Sam laid a demanding hand on her shoulder and began to draw her away from Angelo, who he watched with narrow eyed attention.

 

"Tess not hurt?"  He asked, his gentle eyes pleading for reassurance.

 

"No, dear.  I’ll be fine, I promise."  She smiled at him with only a hint of sorrow.  Now that it was too late she’d finally realized what an idiot she’d been to come to this place.  On the other hand, she didn’t see that there was any other alternative if she wanted to be with her brother, and she did want to be with her brother. 

 

Looking firmly at the polished marble floors of the Centre, Theresa allowed Sam to guide her to a small, barren room somewhere in the depths of the huge building.  The room couldn’t have been larger the 5’ x 10’, with a narrow cot build into the wall and a mirror on the wall next to the door that Theresa immediately suspected was a one way window.

 

"Sweet dreams."  Sam told her indifferently, closing the door behind him with grim finality.

 

Theresa went to the corner of the room that was across from the bed and out of the line of sight for the mirror.  When she looked around, though, she realized that her attempt at privacy was useless as a security camera tracked her every move from the ceiling of the corner on the other side of the cell.  Still, she stayed where she was, pulling her knees up and resting her forearms on them.  Chin resting on her forearms, Theresa closed her eyes, closing out this awful place, and began to examine her situation.

 

<Fact:  I totally screwed up by not listening to Jarod.>  She told herself grimly.  <Fact:  This place is WAY out of my league.  Fact: That Lyle guy is majorly scary.   Fact:  I’ve got to get out of here and I’ve got to get Tim out with me.  Fact:  I haven’t got the foggiest notion of how to accomplish that.>  Running out of facts, Theresa began to speculate and plot.

 

<Those people  with Tim, the two men and the woman, who were they?  The older guy, he’s Sydney, the man who talked to me on the phone in Washington.  He seems kind enough, and he’s certainly level headed.  If I can convince him to help me, that would be good.  The woman, she looked like she was mad at me.  Why?  Is she jealous that Tim is my brother?  *I* wouldn’t want that Mr. Lyle as my brother----he’s very handsome, but he’s so very, very evil.>  Theresa shuddered slightly.

 

Theresa didn’t even consider Broots in the equation at all.  The smaller, timid, balding man was so quiet and self-effacing that she had barely registered his presence.  She acknowledged that he must have some qualifications, some value, to have been in the presence of the others at all, but she was confident that the little man would never have the courage to help her in any way.  Theresa sighed, turning her cheek to rest on her arm, her face towards the wall away from the security camera.

 

"Is that all she’s done?"  Lyle leaned over the security guard’s shoulder to more closely examine the screen with Theresa on it.  She sat perfectly still in the corner of her cell, huddled in a ball of knees and elbows, her face turned away from the camera.

 

"Yes, Mr. Lyle."  The guards voice was calm, but his face betrayed his unease at being so close to the temporary head of the Centre.  "She just walked in, walked over to that corner, sat down, and hasn’t moved since."

 

"Make sure she’s watched at all times."  Lyle ordered, straightening up.  "I don’t want her escaping or being rescued and I don’t trust this cooperative behavior."

 

"Yes, Sir."  The guard agreed, hoping that was all Lyle wanted and that he would leave now.  Lyle, much to his relief, did exactly that.

 

Sometime as the night waned, Theresa slipped into an uneasy sleep.  It seemed to her that she simply slipped from the cramped cell into a large black space.  She stood in the center of the space, lit by a bright spotlight.

 

"Hello?"  She asked uncertainly, pivoting in a circle on one heel.

 

"Theresa?"  Angelo stepped out of the shadows, his face set in its customary expression of sorrow and worry.

 

"Tim?"  She started towards her brother eagerly.

 

"Timmy doesn’t exist anymore."  Angelo told her clearly, stopping her in her tracks.  She looked stunned, then angry.

 

"Yes you do!"  She told him firmly.  "Or you wouldn’t be here right now with me."

 

"I came to warn you.  You have to leave, as soon as you can make your escape."  Almost against his will Angelo moved closer to Theresa.

 

"Tim, I won’t leave here without you."  Theresa told him adamantly. "I’m here now, I’ve seen you and touched you for the first time in almost twenty years.  You’re all I have left."  Her voice began strong, but ended in a pleading, begging tone.

 

"Theresa, Lyle will use you up and throw you away."  Angelo answered, his voice starting to sound pleading itself.  They’d moved together and their hands were now clasped tightly together.

 

"Maybe he won’t.  Maybe if I cooperate with him---"

 

"Lyle doesn’t know the meaning of mercy.  Raines trained him well."  He told her somberly.  "He’ll just demand more and more from you until there is nothing left."

 

"Then come with me."

 

"I can’t.  I have a job to do here, and it isn’t finished yet."

 

"Then I will stay."  Theresa looked at her brother sadly, but with determination.  "You aren’t alone anymore, Tim.  I won’t leave you. I’ll survive, whatever it is this place demands, I’ll survive it.  I’m stronger than you think."

 

"Theresa, no one is strong enough to take on the Centre.  If anyone could have it would have been Jarod, but he escaped and you have to leave too."

 

"Well, brother," she smiled in gentle mockery.  "It’s a moot point right now, isn’t it?  I’m locked in a cell and I don’t see an exit.  I certainly can’t "Pretend" it open."

 

Angelo sighed and nodded, admitting that there was nothing to be done at the moment.

 

"Lyle will not keep his word.  He won’t let you see me again until he’s gotten whatever he wants from you tomorrow.  Then he’ll give us a short two or three minutes, and then he’ll separate us again."  Angelo explained gently.  "Tomorrow will not be a good day for you, Sis."

 

"Even if I only see you for a few minutes, it will be worth whatever happens."  Theresa assured him earnestly.  The brother and sister indulged in a fierce hug.  Dream or not, it was the closest they’d been to each other since they were four years old and they each reveled in the joy of the moment.

 

"I love you, Tim."  Theresa told him seriously as they parted, each moving away from each other without actually moving---in the way that only a dream can accomplish.

 

"I love you too, Theresa."  Angelo smiled sadly.  "Don’t forget."  He began to disappear into the shadows.

 

"Never."  Theresa promised him, before she too vanished into the shadows.

 

The next morning Lyle intercepted Sydney and Angelo on their way down the corridor leading to Theresa’s cell.

 

"Change of plan, gentlemen."  He said smoothly, moving to impede their progress.

 

"Lyle, you agreed to this."  Sydney warned in a low voice, anger sparking in his eyes.

 

"We need her to be calm for the tests, not weeping because her moronic brother has just left."  Lyle flicked the fingers of his gloved hand dismissively in Angelo’s direction.  Angelo hunched a defensive shoulder, once again the peaceful, gentle idiot-savant.  "And we certainly don’t need another outburst from *this* one."

 

Sydney looked thoughtful, then calculating.  "Okay."  He conceded grudgingly.  "I’ll arrange to keep Angelo occupied elsewhere, *however*-----"  He looked narrowly at Lyle.  "*I* will be present for the testing.  *I* will guide her through any test Pretends, and she and Angelo will be allowed to have their evening meal together.  Agreed?"

 

"Understand this, Sydney-----" Lyle glared at the taller, older man, "*I* am in charge.  I don’t have to justify myself to your or to make any bargains with you.  However,"  He paused, a long forefinger tapping his pursed lips. "I *did* want you to walk her through a Pretend and to oversee the testing of her intellectual abilities."

 

"Then we are agreed?"  Sydney pressed.

 

"Yes."  Lyle agreed decisively.

 

"This time, I will not allow you to renege on the agreement."  Sydney warned him.

 

"Sydney!  I *never* renege, unless, of course, it’s for a very good reason."  Lyle assured him, the picture of hurt innocence.  Sydney’s response was a disbelieving look, but he turned to Angelo.

 

"Angelo, I want you to find Broots."  He told the childlike man.  "Tell Broots to have you search for Jarod today, can you do that for me?"

 

"Tess."  Angelo answered, a stubborn pout on his lips.

 

"You will see Tess at dinner time."  Sydney assured him.  "I promise." Angelo looked doubtfully at Sydney, then darted an assessing look at Lyle, who was staring at him sardonically, then looked back at Sydney.

 

"Okay, Angelo go.  Sydney watch Tess.  Not hurt.  Not sad."  He said in the longest string of voluntary information either of the men had ever heard from him.

 

"I’ll do my best."  Sydney promised sincerely.  "Go to Broots now."

 

Angelo’s lips bore a sly smile as he shuffled back down the hallway away from the two men.  He’d known Lyle would never keep his word, but he’d wanted Sydney to oversee what was to happen to his sister and protect her as much as possible.  He didn’t communicate eloquently with anyone, but his thought processes often rivaled Jarod’s.  A sizable part of his apparent idiocy was intentional, to spare him the same tortures that had befallen Jarod.

 

He frowned now, wondering how he could warn his sister not to do too well on the tests.  She could face a life of hell if she appeared to be capable of taking up Jarod’s work.  She had to be convinced to leave the Centre.  Somehow he would convince her to go, and leave him behind.

 

Elsewhere in the Centre, Broots and Miss Parker were staring intently at the image on Broots’ monitor screen.  The computer technician had just successfully hacked into the security camera’s feed line and Parker leaned slightly over Broots’ shoulder to stare intently at the woman sleeping in a curled ball in the corner of the room.  Her black cap had fallen off and dark blond hair, with lighter sun-streaks, tumbled wildly around her head.  Her face was still coated with the soot she’d used to try and hide from discovery, although some of it had rubbed off during her sleep.  Her lips bore a small, happy smile, though, as if she was dreaming about something wonderful.

 

"She stayed in that corner all night?"  Parker demanded scornfully.

 

"I imagine she feels safer there."  Broots told Parker, looking at the sleeping woman sympathetically.  Parker snorted inelegantly.

 

"She’ll discover *that* illusion soon enough."  She explained absently to the startled man.  "So what does my brother have planned for her?"

 

"I don’t know."  Broots answered, his gentle face set in its customary lines of worry.  "He’s ordered the medical wing to be prepared to do an intensive physical, and he’s appropriated Sim lab two, but what he intends to do with it is anyone’s guess."

 

On the screen the cell door opened and Lyle entered with Sydney following closely behind.  Lyle approached the sleeping woman and nudged her ribs with his foot.

 

"Oh good!"  Broots literally breathed a sigh of relief.  "Sydney’s with him.  He won’t be too awful with Sydney around----will he?"  He looked up at Parker, his worry resurfacing.

 

"Don’t look at me.  I don’t know how my brother’s mind works."  Parker responded acidly.  "I don’t *want* to know how that psychopath’s mind works."  She added grimly, under her breath.

 

The woman started, and pulled herself up to a sitting position, her eyes slightly wild as she realized that Lyle himself had awakened her.  She rubbed her eyes quickly, waking up a little more, and gave Lyle her full attention, managing to shrink back only a little when the man crouched down in front of him.

 

"Hello, Theresa.  Ready?"  He asked, his voice warm and his smile inviting.  Theresa stared at him blankly, wondering if he really thought she would believe his genial facade. 

 

"I must say, I’m a little surprised to see you on the floor."  Lyle added pleasantly.  "I can always arrange to have the cot removed if you prefer it, though."

 

"I was just thinking and I fell asleep."  Theresa mumbled, looking down from his flatly unemotional brown eyes.  Her bravery of the night before had vanished and she was thoroughly intimidated.

 

"Well get up!"  Lyle stood up commandingly as he spoke.  "We have a long day planned and, quite frankly my dear, you look almost as bad as you smell."

 

Theresa looked offended, but she rose obediently enough.  She saw Sydney standing behind Lyle and a look of relief flickered across her face.  She flinched slightly when Lyle took her elbow and moved as far away as the cramped conditions of the cell allowed.  Sydney smiled at her warmly, and moved back with old world courtesy to allow her to precede him from the cell.  Lyle sounded remarkably like his sister when he snorted derisively at Sydney’s courtliness.

 

Broots was hard pressed to keep the trio in view as they progressed to the medical wing, but he managed, switching from camera to camera as they traversed the halls.  So intent were he and Parker on the little group that they never noticed Angelo’s nearly silent arrival.  Parker looked up for the barest instant as Angelo took his place beside her, staring intently at the monitor and his sister as she was guided into the main medical labs.

 

"There’s a shower in there."  Lyle was saying, pointing to a door on the far wall.  "Clean up and put on the clothes you find in there."

 

Theresa looked distressed, but she moved obediently enough to the indicated door.  Angelo, watching her, also looked distressed.  Suddenly he leaned over Broots’ shoulder, startling the timid computer whiz, and tapped the keys of the computer with blinding speed.  In moments the security camera in the small bathroom fizzled out and Angelo straightened with a satisfied smile.

 

"Angelo, what did you do?"  Broots gasped, his eyes darting around the room nervously as if Lyle’s personal sweepers were about to leap from the walls and grab them.

 

"Camera break.  No picture---ten, twenty minutes."   Angelo answered innocently.

 

"What if they find out how it broke?"  Broots demanded.  "This is *my* terminal.  They’ll blame me."

 

"Not find.  Break accident."  Angelo asserted confidently.

 

"Well we can’t just sit around here all day watching Lyle have her poked and prodded."  Miss Parker asserted decisively, beginning to stride around the room to release some of her impatience.  "She may be an idiot, but no one deserves my brother’s undivided attention."  She went on, trying unsuccessfully to mask her compassion.

 

"I don’t see what we can do."  Broots offered cautiously.  "I mean, Sydney’s there, so there’s someone to tone down Mr. Lyle’s----ah, excesses, but that’s the best that can be done right now."  Parker’s cell phone rang as he finished speaking.

 

"What?"  Parker demanded, flicking open the phone before the first ring had even finished.  Her suspicion that Jarod was on the other line was confirmed as his rich, mellow voice inquired;

 

"Is Theresa there?"

 

"We’re not sharing a moment of female bonding, if that’s what you mean."  Parker responded bitingly, seeming pleased to have someone to vent her anger on.  "But the imbecile *is* enjoying Centre hospitality at the moment, yes."

 

"I doubt *enjoy* is the word anyone would use in connection with the Centre."  Jarod drawled dryly.  "What happened."

 

"The little moron tried to sneak into the Centre last night.  Angelo must have sensed her somehow, because he made sure me, Sydney and Broots were waiting in the lobby for her when security brought her in. She latched onto Angelo like a leech."  Parker explained, masking a pang of envy at the obvious love between the two siblings with her habitual sarcasm.  Jarod, however, homed in on the underlying emotion unerringly.

 

"Nothing at all like you and Lyle, is it?"

 

Almost against her will, Parker barked out a hard laugh.

 

"No, Jarod."  She agreed, relaxing slightly at last.  "Their reunion was nothing like me and Lyle."

 

"We have to get her out of there."

 

"Not that I don’t agree, but that’s going to be pretty difficult.  She currently enjoys my brother’s undivided attention.  I don’t know what he’s hoping to get from her, but you can see the greed in his eyes when he looks at her."

 

"He undoubtedly hopes she can resume the Sims."

 

"Can she?"  Parker had no doubt that Jarod would somehow know the answer.  Her jaw dropped slightly when he answered;

 

"I don’t know."  He paused, marshaling his thoughts.  "She *can* Pretend but I don’t know if she’ll ever master the ability to keep part of yourself removed from the Pretend.  Please tell me Lyle isn’t planning to run the tests---or Raines."  He added as an afterthought.

 

"Sydney’s with them at the moment."

 

"That’s good."  Relief was evident in Jarod’s voice.  "That buys us a little time."

 

"Theresa not go.  Want brother."  Angelo volunteered suddenly, shocking Miss Parker to the core.

 

"What do you mean she won’t go?"  She demanded of Angelo incredulously.

 

"Say no.  Want brother."  Angelo repeated with a calm firmness that totally masked the wild anxiety that raged in his innermost self.

 

"What’s Angelo saying?"  Jarod demanded.

 

"He says she won’t leave, that she wants him."  Parker passed along.  Jarod sighed heavily.

 

"Angelo *is* the reason she braved the Centre in the first place."

 

"Then we have to get them both out?"  Parker questioned doubtfully.

 

"Angelo stay."

 

"Angelo won’t leave, I’ve asked him before."  Jarod and Angelo spoke at the same moment.  "Keep an eye on her, okay?  I’ve got to do some thinking."  As always Jarod terminated the connection without warning.

 

"Look!"  Broots pointed to the screen, which had switched to the camera in the larger medical room.  Theresa was emerging from the bathroom, her hair curling more tightly since it was wet and wearing a set of shapeless, dark blue hospital clothes.  Loose, drawstring pants topped with a boxy, short sleeved shirt and small canvass pull on slippers.  Her face bore a small frown of discomfort and her shoulders sagged slightly.  The emotional toll of the Centre was already starting to show.

 

"Much better."  Lyle approved, looking at Theresa appraisingly. Theresa set her jaw and said nothing, even when Lyle circled around behind her.

 

Angelo, Broots and Miss Parker spent the entire morning watching Theresa grow more and more despondent as the morning wore on and she was subjected to a battery of intrusive medical tests, including a pelvic exam.  Blood was drawn and samples taken from various orifices. She was subjected to an EKG and put through a series of physical strength and agility tests.  Finally the team of Doctors indicated to Lyle that they had obtained every piece of information they could think of, and that they needed to run the labs and correlate the results. Lyle made it known that he expected the results by morning, much to the doctors’ dismay, and led a subdued Theresa from the room.

 

Sydney observed the satisfied glint in Lyle’s eye, as he studied Theresa’s chastened expression, with more than a little trepidation. He wanted desperately to remind Lyle that a subject with a little initiative was going to accomplish better results than a broken slave, but he knew better than to speak up in front of Theresa.  He suspected that Lyle’s sadism would cause him to ignore the warning anyway.

 

Lyle directed Theresa down a level, to the Sim labs, where she was hooked up to an EEG and handed a sheaf of papers.

 

"After you take this test we’ll break for lunch."  Lyle promised her, an almost perfect expression of gentle concern on his face.  Only the lack of feeling in his deep brown eyes marred the picture he wanted to create.  Theresa looked at him expressionlessly, and then turned her attention back to the papers.

 

"Sydney, I’d like you to supervise the rest of the testing, it’s really your domain anyway."  Lyle offered abruptly, turning to face the astonished psychiatrist.  "After the intelligence test I’ll want a full psychiatric evaluation and then a test Sim.  Can you handle that?"

 

Sydney ignored the patronization in Lyle’s voice and studied him narrowly, wondering what the unpleasant man was up to. 

 

"That’s a tall order for one day."  He objected mildly.  "She’s already tired out from this morning."

 

"If you can’t handle it, Sydney-----" Lyle threatened vaguely.

 

"Very well."  Sydney agreed, unwilling to let someone else, possibly with fewer reservations and certainly with less empathy take over with the tired woman.  "I’ll complete it all for you, but I suggest you let her rest tomorrow."

 

"I’ll take your advice into consideration."  Lyle assured him airily, heading for the door to the lab.  He turned one more time, with his hand on the doorknob and added his final incentive.

 

"And Sydney?"  Sydney raised an inquiring eyebrow.  "Do a good job and we might let you remain in charge of her."  Sydney’s face set in an expressionless mask.  Lyle knew that what he was offering was definitely a two edged sword.  On one hand, if Sydney were in charge of her performance he could mitigate the worst of her treatment, but on the other, he would be siding firmly with the Centre and once again contributing to the slavery of another.  When he’d taken on Jarod he’d been deceived into believing he was doing the boy a favor.  His own conscience had been kept firmly in the dark until Jarod’s escape forced him to examine his actions honestly.  This time, however, he would know from the start that he was stepping over the line of research into inhumanity.  He gave Lyle a brief nod, acknowledging the prod, before turning his attention to Theresa, still staring blankly at the papers before her.

 

"Hello, Theresa."  He said gently.  "I’m Sydney.  I’ll be taking care of you for a while."

 

Theresa focused on his face and smiled wanly.  "Are we almost done?" She asked, unaware that she sounded like a plaintive little girl.  "I’m afraid I had a rather disrupted night."  She added, switching dizzyingly to mature adult.

 

Sydney smiled compassionately.  "I’m afraid we have a few more tests for you, but when we’re done you’ll be allowed to spend some time with Angelo."  He promised her, carefully keeping his reservations from his face.  "Now, I assume you know how to do this?"  He prompted, handing her a yellow pencil.

 

"Yeah, I mastered test taking."  She responded wryly, resigning herself to several more grueling hours.  And it was.

 

She completed the IQ test, manipulated blocks to match patterns, had her sensory acuity tested and her dexterity.  Her vocabulary was assessed, Sydney had her write an essay on her favorite memory, and he finished with a battery of psychological tests, word association questions, the famous "ink blot" test, and problem solving abilities.  By the time he was done both of them were hoarse and Theresa was literally dozing off between questions, her head pillowed on her arms.  Dark circles made her eyes look almost sunken and she dropped into an immediate sleep as soon as Sydney left the table.  At that moment she didn’t care about dinner, seeing her brother, or the danger that she was in; all she cared about was sleeping for longer than thirty seconds.

 

"Lyle, she doesn’t have the reserves left to do a Sim."  Sydney was telling Lyle urgently but quietly.  He looked back at Theresa’s sleeping form and then back at Lyle, standing halfway in the door. "Let her start again in the morning, okay?  She just needs a good night’s rest."

 

Lyle frowned ominously, although he’d known the schedule he had outlined for Theresa would be impossible for her to keep.  The fact that she hadn’t eaten all day was also a result of his carefully calculated plan to break the woman, and obtain Sydney’s help in doing so.

 

"Very well, Sydney."  He finally agreed.  "But you realize I can’t let her have her cozy little dinner with Angelo now, don’t you?"  Sydney frowned bitterly, finally recognizing Lyle’s scheme.

 

"Which I’m sure was your intent all along."  He voiced his belief caustically.  "However, as tired as she is, I don’t think she’ll even notice the loss."

 

"Then you will have to ensure she does, won’t you?"  Lyle suggested silkily.

 

"Lyle, not even *you* could command her attention long enough to make her understand what you’re saying."  Sydney countered.  "She hasn’t eaten in God only knows how long, she barely got any sleep last night, and she’s been worked like an ox all day.  I don’t know if I can rouse her now long enough to get her to her room."

 

"Fortunately for you,"  Lyle smirked.  "I’ve moved her to this level. I just have a good feeling about tomorrow’s Sim test."

 

Angelo materialized behind Lyle in the hallway.

 

"Angelo carry Tess."  He announced his presence, keeping his gaze carefully on the floor near Lyle’s feet.

 

"No, Monkey."  Lyle replied with exaggerated patience.  "She wasn’t a good girl so you have to wait until tomorrow."

 

"Tess sleep.  Tess tired.  Angelo carry."  He repeated stubbornly.

 

"Angelo’s right."  Sydney intercepted Lyle’s response before it reached his lips.  "She is unlikely to even wake up while he moves her, and he *is* strong enough to perform the service."

 

Lyle glared, unwilling to indulge Angelo, who he resented deeply, although he had no idea why.  Finally, though, common sense won out and he nodded his permission.

 

"You will be here bright and early tomorrow, won’t you Sydney?"  He ordered rather than suggested.  "I want to get started first thing in the morning."

 

"She’ll eat first, Lyle."  Sydney replied solidly.  "An empty stomach accomplishes nothing during a Sim."

 

"Oh, very well!"  Lyle sighed impatiently.  "I swear, Sydney, sometimes you act like you think I’m a monster or something."  His satisfied chuckle floated down the hallway as he strode off, quite pleased with the day.  Tomorrow he might even have good news for the Triumvirate. Sydney, watching him leave, struggled to suppress both the urge to mutter—"You *are* a monster." And the childish desire to stick out his tongue at the dangerous man.

 

"Come on, Angelo."  Sydney finally muttered, standing back so Angelo could enter the room.  He proceeded to Theresa’s side, looking tenderly down on her sleeping face.  Gently, seemingly unaware of Sydney’s presence, he smoothed back a pale blond curl before easily lifting his sister out of the chair.

 

Theresa murmured something unintelligible and settled comfortably against Angelo’s chest with a contented sigh.

 

"Tess tired."  Angelo informed Sydney accusingly.

 

"I did my best, Angelo."  Sydney defended himself automatically.

 

Angelo pivoted on one heel, heading out of the room without another word, but his rigid back spoke volumes of disapproval.  Sydney sighed, following Angelo’s sure progress out of the room.  Of course Angelo knew where Lyle had decided to keep Theresa, he thought with resignation, he knows just about everything that happens in this place.  He looked tiredly at the enigmatic man proceeding him, and sighed again, knowing he’d have to work to mend fences with the Empath before they could work together again.

 

<Damn you Lyle!>  He thought with a sudden burst of energy.  <If only you’d get the therapy you need, instead of playing these power games with people’s lives!>  It wasn’t going to happen, though, Sydney knew that much.  In total silence he and Angelo settled Theresa into her narrow, institutional bed, and left her for the night.  Theresa murmured again, unhappily this time, as Angelo withdrew from the room.  Sydney didn’t stop him from returning to her side and smoothing her hair gently before he finally left.

 

"Let’s get some rest, Angelo."  He murmured tiredly.  "Tomorrow is bound to be another long day."

 

"Sydney rest."  Angelo offered, looking sympathetically at the older man.  A small smile on his lips let Sydney know he was forgiven for his part in Theresa’s day.  Sydney smiled back warmly, feeling a welcome return of energy at Angelo’s understanding.

 

"You too."  He told him simply, and then clapped him on the shoulder.  Sydney and Angelo parted in the lobby to find their respective beds, but both men were once again in perfect charity with each other.

 

 

Part 4