This was our first attempt at fan fic and boy we had fun. We hope you enjoy it; we did.
Major Charles landed the plane at the small airstrip in Northern Arizona. As he taxied the airplane into the hangar, two women stepped from the shadows. The older seemed to be in her early sixties, and the younger was a woman with wavy, light brown hair, and dark brown eyes. Major Charles looked at them, gasped, and reached over to wake the sleeping boy beside him.
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Two Days Later
Matumbo's Office
Triumvirate Station
Siteki, Swaziland, Africa
"So the Blue Cove Office finally caught its Pretender," the young woman purred. She sat on the edge of Matumbo's desk in a short, sleeveless, skin-tight, black dress, twirling her wavy, brown hair around her finger and smiling slightly. She had an exotic, perhaps South African accent. "It's about time. It is truly a tribute to your remarkable patience that you didn't step in long ago."
Matumbo looked up at her and smiled, clearly very pleased with himself. "Do you think they can be trusted to keep him, Lee?"
Lee laughed harshly. "Those imbeciles? They couldn't keep a puppy. Seriously, Matumbo," she added as she leaned closer to him to whisper in his ear, "the situation calls for your intelligence. Perhaps we should make a little visit to Blue Cove and put Jarod under the proper authority. Yours."
A smile spread across Matumbo's face and he nodded slowly. "Call for a jet, Lee. I will inform Blue Cove of our visit." He turned and looked straight into her dark brown eyes. "The two of us will be able to provide much better care for our rebellious Pretender than those fools in Blue Cove."
Lee smiled sinisterly, stood up, and left the office.
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SL-19
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
"Jarod, you must eat something." Sydney stood across from his prodigy, concerned. "It has been nearly a week since they brought you in and you haven't touched anything."
"Why should I, Sydney? So I can live only to perform for the Centre? Did you really think I would cooperate?"
"I can understand why you are upset, but right now the most important thing is your health." Sydney walked over to Jarod and put a hand on his shoulder before whispering, "We'll get you out somehow."
Just then, Broots ran in, out of breath. "Sydney...we've got problems..." He paused and looked at Jarod nervously. "Um...maybe I should talk to you...alone?"
"If it concerns Jarod, he should be told as well, Broots. There is no need for secrecy, even if this is the Centre."
"Well...Mr. Parker...the Tower...I just heard...Matumbo and his, um, personal assistant...are coming...here! Th-they...well, they want...Jarod."
"What exactly do you mean?" Sydney asked.
"They're, um, going to take him...back to Africa."
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Triumvirate Jet
Somewhere Over Uganda
Matumbo and Lee were sitting together in the luxurious Triumvirate jet, enjoying an expensive dinner when Matumbo noticed that the plane was beginning to descend. "What is this? Lee, go and find out what's going on. This is completely unacceptable."
Lee stepped forward toward the cockpit. "By the way, Matumbo," she said as she walked, "I believe you known the new pilot." Suddenly she turned around, pointing Matumbo's own gun in his face. "He's my father, Major Charles."
"What?! Who are you?"
"I think you already know. I'm afraid we can't take you with us to Blue Cove, but we thought you might enjoy a vacation in your home town in Uganda. Some of your associates are very anxious to see you."
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24 Hours Later
Mr. Parker's Office
The Centre
Blue Cove, Delaware
Mr. Parker, Mr. Raines, Mr. Lyle and Brigitte sat waiting. A moment later, Lee walked in. "So this is the Blue Cove Office of the Centre. Very unprofessional. I hope I find everything in order for the transfer. Matumbo was unavoidly detained, and you are to turn the Pretender over to me."
Raines drew a wheezing breath from his oxygen tank. "This is unacceptable. Jarod belongs at the Centre."
"I couldn't agree more. That's why I am taking him to a Centre office that can keep track of him rather than sitting around sucking lollipops." She glared icily at Brigitte.
"But we know Jarod better than anyone," Mr. Parker chimed in pathetically. "He's not likely to cooperate for anyone but Sydney."
"Sydney lost him once and will not be permitted to make the same mistake again. Now, is the Pretender ready for the transfer, or will I have to do even that myself? Mr. Raines, are the files we requested ready for delivery?"
"I will not give you any of my files on the clone. Gemini is mine."
"Gemini belongs to the Triumvirate, which is very unhappy with you at the moment." Lee stepped forward, putting her foot on Raines' oxygen line. "Do I make myself clear?" Raines, unable to speak, simply nodded. "Excellent. Instruct Willie to gather the files."
Lyle stepped forward, rubbing his stump. "It's so wonderful to have some real professionalism in this place. Discipline has always been a problem. You know, besides Sydney, I possibly have more experience with Jarod than anyone. Perhaps it would be useful to you to take along at least one person, one well-prepared person, if I do say so myself, from this dump."
Lee answered sarcastically, "Yes, I've read the Red Rock report. And I am sure Jarod would cooperate for you." Lyle stepped back, looking downward.
Willie walked in with the files in hand. Lee smiled. "Shall I collect my Pretender?" Receiving no answer, she walked towards the door, taking Willie's arm on her way. "You know, Willie, I really must congratulate you. You seem to be the only one in this place who truly knows how to follow orders."
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Ten Minutes Later
Jarod's Cell
SL-19
"My father will never allow them to take you, Jarod," Miss Parker insisted.
"But,um..this came from...the Triumvirate," Broots mumbled. "What can he do?"
"Even if he wanted to," Jarod added, giving Miss Parker a dark look.
"He'll think of something," she hissed. "Sydney, how much time do we have?"
"I heard that Matumbo's assistant has already arrived."
"Just let me out of this room. I can handle it from..."
The door opened. "It's a little late for that now. Willie, collect the Pretender."
Miss Parker stepped in front of them. "You can't do this. Jarod belongs here."
"I already have done it. Come along, Willie."
"Sydney! Do something," Jarod shouted.
Lee pulled out a gun and pointed it in Sydney's direction. "We will have no trouble! Will we, Syd?" Lee walked out the door with Willie and Jarod, and locked it behind her.
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Ten Minutes Later
The Car
Jarod glared at Lee. "Rumor had it Matumbo had a new plaything. Do you always do his dirty work?"
"You would be surprised at what I do and don't do."
"And that's supposed to mean?"
"There are bigger things at work than you known about."
"Yes, Mr. Parker told me all about that. Isn't it nice that people like you can justify your behavior in the name of a cause."
"People always justify their behavior with a cause. After all, what have you been doing for the past three years?"
"And what do you known about what I've been doing?"
"Let's just say I've done my homework."
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Twenty Minutes Later
Centre Airstrip
Lee watched Jarod closely as the car pulled up. She could tell that he was forming a plan. She pulled out a gun and put it to his head. "Don't try anything I'll regret, Jarod." Willie opened the door and dragged Jarod out. Lee kept her gun pointed at him until he was safely handcuffed within the plane. "Thank you, Willie. That will be all."
Willie hesitated. "Are you sure you can handle him alone?"
"If I wasn't then I wouldn't have told you to leave, now would I? Now, go!"
Willie obeyed. Lee got on the plane and it took off toards Africa. Inside, Jarod was furious. "You don't really think that I'll cooperate with you? I'll die first."
Lee just smiled. As soon as the plane reached altitude, she took off her high heels. "Damn, that was good!" She went to the closet and let Jarod's clone out. Jarod looked shocked.
The clone gave Lee a high five. "Emily, that was awesome!"
"Totally. You have no idea how cool that was. I even got to step on Raines' oxygen line just like you told me to."
"No way."
"Way."
A totally confused Jarod finally recovered enough to speak. "What's going on?"
"Relax, big brother. I've got a plane to fly and I've gotta get to the cockpit before the pilot explodes." She ran by and kissed Jarod on the forehead. As soon as she reached the cockpit, Charles and Margaret stepped out. "Jay, come and get the keys," Emily called. The clone ran up to the cockpit, came back out, and released Jarod.
A weeping Margaret collapsed in her son' arms. "Jarod, Jarod! I can't believe this is finally happening!"
"Mom! How did all this happen? Dad?"
"We don't need to talk about that now. The important thing is, we're all back together."