From cd397@FREENET.TORONTO.ON.CATue Apr 23 11:02:06 1996 Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 00:32:50 -0500 From: Susan Bennett To: Multiple recipients of list FKFIC-L Subject: A Step Towards Freedom Is it getting hard for anyone else to read stories without singing them to the tune of Gilligan's Island? -------------------------------------- A STEP TOWARDS FREEDOM by Susan (A Very Late "Forever Not" Short Story) based on characters from "Forever Knight" one reference to an event in the "Fever" episode ** bit of violence, bit of mush ** Nick was just getting ready to leave for work when his cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and snapped it open with one hand while using the other to slide open the door, "Knight". "Nick," it was Vachon's voice. "You better get down to the Raven right away. I mean now." "What's up?", questioned Nick. "Tracy's here, Nick ... and so is Nat." "Nat?" Nick spoke quickly, "What's Nat doing there?" "Nick," Vachon paused for a second, "Enforcers are here, three of them. Just get here. Now." The phone nearly fell from Nick's hand. Tracy, Nat, Enforcers. This was not good. Nick flew from his loft, but even with his speed Tracy and Nat could both be dead before he got there. A few moments later Nick was at the Raven. It was two hours before opening time, quiet, dim, and almost deserted. He saw figures standing near LaCroix's booth and walked towards them. LaCroix stood in front of his booth, Nat and Tracy on either side of him. Vachon was sitting at the bar. The enforcers, like raptors, stood around LaCroix, one on either side and one facing him. Tracy and Nat were alive, but Nick had no idea how he was going to keep them that way. He knew the enforcers were reluctant to even let those who could be made to forget live. Tracy and Nat were both resistors. Tracy looked at Nick, at Vachon, and back at Nick. She started to speak but before she could finish her first word the enforcer closest to her swooped upon her and drained her. She dropped to the floor with a thud. Vachon just stared with that vacant look on his face. What could he do? What could any of them do? They had no chance against the enforcers. To cross an enforcer was a death sentence, and Vachon liked to live. He slid quietly from his seat, backed away, and left. Nick looked at Nat. She tried to look strong, but he could "feel" her trembling, her face was pale, and tears were forming in her eyes. He started to walk, very slowly, towards her. The enforcer closest to him, the one facing LaCroix, thrust out his arm in a warning for Nick to stop. "Well, Nicholas," crooned LaCroix with his twisted little evil smile. "It looks like your pathetic little world is about to crumble, yet again. I've been waiting for this special day." He grabbed Nat's shoulder and said in his sarcastic tone, "I've been wanting to get rid of this bother for a long time." Nick's eyes were glowing. He was struggling to maintain control, knowing he had little hope as it was, and no hope at all in a vampiric rage against enforcers. "No!" yelled Nick, "That one is mine!" LaCroix showed his fangs and hissed at Nick. The enforcer beside Nick stepped forward towards LaCroix. He spoke loudly and slowly, "Stop. Both of you." He began walking towards Nat. Nat looked at Nick. She believed her life was going to be over in a matter of seconds. Her life over, her dreams of ever being with Nick crushed. She knew Nick had no chance in this, she drew strength from somewhere inside to whisper a forlorn, "I love you". Nick was ready to pounce if the enforcer took another step. It would not matter to him that his life would be over. Nat's life would be over, and what would his life be without her? Suddenly the enforcer stopped. He was three feet away from Nat. He looked at her and spoke in a slow, monotonous voice, "You cured the sickness?" Nat looked at the enforcer. It took her a moment to realize what he was talking about - the retro-virus. It killed Screed, almost killed Nick, and could have killed all of the vampires. She gently nodded her head. Nick's eyes returned to normal. He knew, as soon as the enforcer spoke these words, that they weren't going to kill Nat. The enforcer spoke again in that long low voice, "You are protected". LaCroix was livid. What a turn of events this had been for him. Here he was already relishing Nick's latest misery and it had been ripped from him with the utterance of those three words. Surely this would have been the event to finally compel Nick back into submission. No, this chance would not be taken from him. He turned on Nat and bared her neck ready to strike. But the enforcers were fast, and so was Nick. The enforcers converged on LaCroix. Nick ripped Nat from him before his teeth met flesh. Nick held Nat, she clung to him, her face buried in his chest. An enforcer spoke, "Our decrees are absolute. They cannot be ignored. The penalty for disobeying is death." As he spoke another enforcer pulled a sharp wooden stake from beneath his jacket and plunged it into LaCroix's cold heart. The three would wait there now, wait until his death. Nick, still holding Nat, turned and started towards the door. He could hear LaCroix calling for him, but this time that call could not be answered, that call would not be answered. --- The End --- My condolences to Cousins and Perkulators. Susan Nick&Natpacker cd397@torfree.net