From:         Jill Bradley  <ravenjil@GETNET.COM>
Subject:      DTD:  Accident

I watch too much TV!
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    The elevator door burst open like an overripe tomato.  Nick's head
swiveled left and right as he searched vainly for a means of escape.
Moaning, he backed away from the giant figure in black stalking toward him.
"INSECT!  YOU DARE TO FLEE FROM *ME*?"  The voice was dark and
 booming, witha resounding echo.  Even in his panic, Nick thought that if death 
werespeaking from the tomb, it would be with that voice.  It took a moment
before Nick noticed the white-clad entourage accompanying the giant.  At a
gesture from their master, they scurried towards Nick.  Instinctively, he
moved with his vampire speed to the top of the stairs where he stood like a
stag at bay.  The creatures in white stolidly began to march up the stairs
toward him.  Nick had only just decided on a course of flight, not fight,
when the giant pointed a finger at him.  "YOU CANNOT ESCAPE.  YOU HAVE 
NO POWER HERE."
   Nick laughed hysterically as he launched himself towards the skylight.
His laughter stopped abruptly as he hit the floor with an awesome crash.  As
he lost consciousness, he heard the giant voice fading, "BIND HIM AND BRing
him to ..."
   A drumbeat woke Nick from his slumber.  He frowned.  Who and what could
be pounding so loudly that his head was reverberating with the beat?  He
lifted his head and almost screamed with the *pain*.  It had been centuries
since his last encounter with physical discomfort, centuries since his body
had ached so, centuries since he had felt so frail.  He let his head fall
back as he felt the nausea rising in his gorge.  Never, not even as a
mortal, had he felt such unremitting agony.  Through the roaring in his
ears, he could hear conversation.
   "Don't kill him, you fool!"  Instantly, the pounding stopped.  Nick
realized with growing terror that the throbbing sound which had awakened him
had been the sound of a foot methodically kicking his head.  He groaned
involuntarily.
   "Listen to that--he's not dead," came another voice.  "Let's get out of
here.  You, and you, pick him up and carry him to the transpo--"  The voice
fell silent and Nick strained to understand what was happening.
   "What are you doing here--get out or die!  This is not your business."
The first voice was speaking again, to someone Nick couldn't see.  A new
voice answered.
   "It's all right," the voice said soothingly.  "You've got the wrong man.
This isn't the droid--er-the man you're looking for."  There was a moment of
silence as Nick tried to remember why that sounded so familiar.
   Then came the slow, hypnotic answer of the first voice.   "It's all
right.  This isn't the man we're looking for."  A moment passed, then, "all
right, let's go.  He can't have gone far."  A thunder of tramping feet made
Nick's head reel, then there was silence.
   A gentle hand helped Nick to a seated position.  He stared at the old man
blankly as the other gently removed his bonds.  "I'm so sorry, young man.
You never should have become involved in this.  Are you all right?"  The
man's quiet blue gaze calmed Nick and he took a gasping breath.
   "I-I think I'm all right.  Who--what--?"  His questions evaporated into
the air as the man gazed at him.  "My powers are gone--am I mortal again?"
He was confused, grasping at the only familiar straw he had left--his search
for mortality.  The man shook his head slowly.
   "Your powers have returned, just as before," he murmured.  "You will not
remember any of this when you awaken..."
   Nick reared back.  "Hold it right there, mister!  I do unto others, but
don't have it done to me!  What the hell is going on here?"  His anger was
apparent in the glow of his eyes.
   The old man sighed and slowly rose to his feet.  He reached a hand down
to assist Nick.  He smiled wryly.  "Don't worry," he began as a blue glow
began to surround him. "She accidentally hit Instant Record while your tape
was still in the VCR.  All that was truly lost was the introduction and the
opening credits."  He began to disappear in a crackle of static.  "May the
force be with you."  He was gone.
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