A Test of Loyalty - Part II (1st Half)

A Test of Loyalty - Part II (1st Half)(Closed)(Everywhere Else)
(Combined threads from old site.)
FRANK COLE

Even though Cole had not gotten back until after midnight the night before, he had still gotten up at his usual time of 6 am, done his regular routine of calisthenics with the men, breakfast and some paperwork. It was now just after 10am and he was sitting at his desk. He felt like he wanted to hurt someone, make an example of them and just cause general havoc. Punta stood in the corner watching him closely. The elf had a report from Artkee about what had happened on his father-in-laws island. Cole picked up the paper on his desk, and was hoping it was the same report. Sometimes the elves thought he should even be out of their loop of information. They would never keep anything from him which would cause a problem, but he knew he was still working on their definition of what would cause a problem. .

He picked up the list the Enforcer had given him the night before. He knew he had to complete the list but it made his stomach churn when he read the names. Two of the Enforcers sons were being housed in separate room, which they had been informed, needed to be locked at all times for security reasons. They would not be allowed to interact with a lot of the people on the island, again for security reasons. Both of them were also under constant servalience from the security control room and by one of the elves.

Cole had told them it would be afternoon, before he could arrange for any on the list to come to the island. He had added they were welcome to use the dining room and the Library, but not to wander because not everyone knew they were on the island, and they might get taken for enemies. He wasn't going to tell them, only those Cole allowed on the island, ever set foot on it.

Cole sat back in his office chair, picked up the list and raked his hand through his hair. He had to figure out in what order to bring the people to the island and how to handle their visits. He picked up the glass of iced tea from his desk and sipped it.

List:
Brennan Dawson
Maxwell Sinclair
Tarik Sadiki
William Wright
Gab Lupin
Natalie Lupin
Neo Spellman
Marco Spellman
Franco Spellman
Leo Spellman
Angel Potter
Leo Potter
All and any of the Core especially Tia, Rosa, and Landon)

He didn't want to bring everyone separately so he would have to put them into some type of groups, preferably some who had been to the island with some who hadn't. Although he did not need a reason, because a few had been conditioned to just come or else, he wanted to try and come up with something. Looking at the list again, he decided to start with Brennan Dawson, Maxwell Sinclair. Brennan and Maxwell could be told he needed help with figuring out the two men. Both Brennan and Maxwell could guard their mental output. Cole would have to come up with something with them which would prove they were under his control, but usually something would present itself.

Cole's headache started to get worse. The more he thought about brings someone to the island to control, the more he wanted to cause pain to someone. His hands were clenching and unclenching. When his eyes met Punta's who was standing not far away he said, "What do you want elf?" Cole motioned for the elf to walk closer and angrily added in a tight voice, "Get over here and get on your knees to me. I feel like beating something and you are here." Cole stood up, spread his feet shoulder width apart and put one hand on his hip raising the other ready to strike as the elf walked closer.

Punta slowly walked toward Master Frank. He knew what was wrong and he knew how to fix it, at least for a while, but he had to be able to touch the young Master. When he was about two feet away he started to get down on his knees, reaching out as if needing support. His hand fell on Master Franks arm.

Cole went stiff and his eyes closed. When they opened he found himself in the position to strike his friend. He looked at his raised hand and slowly lowered it. He put his feet back together and sat down hard into his office chair. Staring at the elf, he said, "Punta, I am so sorry. The drugs still in my system are making me do things I would never do. I'm scared my friend. I need to bring people to the island and I am scared I will actually hurt them. What if the Core shows up? The children could actually be in danger while I am like this." Cole leaned back in his chair and tried to breathe deeply. He could feel the effects of the drug leaving but knew it would be days before it was totally out of his system.

Punta took a step closer, keeping his hand on Master Franks arm. "It will be all right Master Frank. The five of us have discussed what is happening. One of us will always be with you. The two human's you and Artkee have warned us all about think we are only regular houseelves, and they treat us as such. One of them tried to take a swing at Mecum, and the poor human seemed to trip for no reason, hitting his head hard on a nearby chair."

Cole listened and allowed a smile to curve his lips. "I am sorry you have to act like you are less than my trusted friends. When all this is over I will arrange special time for the five of you."

"That will not be necessary Master Frank, we are learning a lot from the two humans." Punta stepped back and removed his hand. "I suggest you get a couple more hours rest, Master Frank."

Cole smiled and had to admit he was very tired. In the back of his mind he figured Punta had made it so he was sleepy, but he could not get enough energy to fight the idea. Cole closed his eyes and dozed.

When he opened his eyes and looked at the Coo-coo clock on the far wall, it said 12:45 pm and Punta was putting his lunch on the kitchenette table. Cole got up, stretched and walked to the table. Lifting the lid, he found a fantastic Chef's salad, ice-tea, and No-name cookies. As he sat down to eat, he asked, "Has my message gone out to Master Brennan and Master Maxwell?" Cole had sent a message earlier that day through the elfin grapevine for Brennan Dawson and Maxwell Sinclair to join him on the island, supposedly to help him figure out some visitors. He did want the help, but he could also use the time to show Hondo and Runihura, the sons of the Enforcer that he could get the men there. Both men could block their minds enough to make it look like they were only here because Cole had summoned them.

Punta nodded and said, "They should be here in about half an hour. I have one of the interogation rooms set up and I will have the two human's brought there just before Master Brennan and Master Maxwell are brought there. I will be there, Mecum will be there and Tarka will be there. Artkee will not attend because I am not sure he would not be recognized. He has been staying out of the barracks since you returned. Luckily, the two humans don't seem to notice a difference in us." Punta shook his head and chuckled.

Cole finished his lunch and headed to the interrogation room that Punta had set up. He straddled his customary chair, which had his back to the wall. He was planning on having the brothers stand to his left with their backs to the entry wall. Brennan and Max would sit at the table, one across from him, with their back to the hospital bed and the other off to his right with his back to the small window.

There was a knock at the door and the two son's walked in. "Welcome gentlemen. I hope you slept well. Please stand over there, and I will tell our guests when they arrive that you are special guards. I would appreciate it if you would keep your mouths shut." Cole sat back down in his seat. Punta who was sitting on an air-chair in the corner, signaled that Brennan and Maxwell had arrived. He also let Cole know there was someone else with them. Cole was just going to have to wait. He did not want to turn on the view screen and let the brothers know what he could see.

William Wright had wanted to talk with Brennan about Luke. He was trying to figure the best way to help him make a good impression on Mr. MacStone, Starling MacStone's father. The girl was very special to his brother and her father had put some restriction on them being together. Luke was also acting distant from William, which was not normal. Usually they talked all the time. Luke had a secret worry and William had not been able to get him to talk to him about it. He was worried and had come to talk to Bren for some possible advice.

(OOC: Staff Offices, Professor Spellman's Office, Luke's Star, Part 7)

As he came into the office he put his hand on Brenna's shoulder as a greeting, the same time Brennan and Maxwell grabbed the messages from the elf which was holding them out. The next thing everyone realized they were on the arrival platform on Coles Isle of Perdition. William looked around and when Bern said with fear in his voice, "Max, Will needs to..." his attention was brought back to where they stood. He did not get a chance to hear anymore as he was grabbed by two men and bound then pushed to his knees. He fought but he was not strong enough to fight the two men holding him down. Looking at Bren and Maxwell, he asked what was happening with his eyes.

Bren tried to smile at Will as he turned to the men and pleaded, "Guys please just send William Wright back he was not meant to be here, I know he wasn't." A note had not arrived for Will, so Fixer had not wanted him there.

Max sadly shook his head as he said, "Bren, you know they won't go against Fixer. Let's see what the man wants this time." Max felt two men grab him and bind his hands as, he watched Bren's being bound behind his back.

There was a knock at the door and Tom entered, followed by Bren, Maxwell and William Wright. Cole got up and walked toward the door, glancing at the two brothers. By the expressions on their faces, they knew who the third person was. Cole sighed to himself as he signaled Jack to set the three men down at the small table. Slowly he made his way back to the table and straddled his chair. Folding his arms in front of him on the table he looked at the three men. Brennan was staring at him, and glancing at William. Maxwell had decided to just settle in and see what was going to happen next. Will was moving his eyes around the room and trying to figure out where he was, and what was going to happen.

It had taken William the walk to the office for him to realize where he and his friends had arrived. Last year he had heard from an old friend from his lecture days. Mr. Cole had asked for his help in profiling a video. He had come to this same island and was even able to get in some physical training while he had been there before. This time he had not come to a warm welcome. Instead, he was bound along with his friends. Will had started to wonder if his old friend had just used him. He glared at Frank as he said fighting his bindings, "What is going on Mr. Cole? I don't like it when somebody uses me to get close to people I care about, so this better be a case of mistaken identity and you better be ready to send us back Right Now!"

Cole smiled at the young man. "Will, it is great to see you again and no this is not a case of mistaken identity. In fact, you were never supposed to be here, yet. Since you are here though I think I will take advantage of your arrival, and after I have talked with Max and Brennan for a bit I will talk with you." Cole glanced at the men off to the side and added, "May I suggest you sit and keep your mouth shut for a few moments." Cole was getting a headache again. It wasn't bad, but he could feel it building.

Max was paying more attention to the two men that were unknown to him than to what William or Brennan were doing and saying. The men appeared to be your basic goon. Fixers men might kill you on the spot, but they were always sizing up the situation. These two men were watching Fixer's reactions. They had also taken a very keen interest in William. He also felt something wrong with Fixer. The man was trying to hide his reactions to the headache he was getting. Maxwell thought to Frank Cole, "I feel a change in you Frank, anything I can help with?"
Cole did not takes his eyes off of Brennan, as he listened to Maxwell's question in his mind. Slowly steepling his fingers in front of him and looking over the top, to give himself some time to answer Max, he thought, "My mind has been messed with by a member of the Dark Sect. I am fighting it. The elves are working on making sure I get help and the two men's minds are being blocked. They are here to observe me. This is not going to be easy Max, but I need to act like they expect. Sorry…" That was all Cole had time to think. Putting his hands back down on the table he said aloud, "Gentlemen time for some questions from me and some answers from you."

Brennan Dawson had heard his cousin William voice the anger they both were feeling and shook his head. He remembered the video last year that Fixer had showed him of Will's trip to the island. The Hit Wizard looked at Will and realized that Fixer had conned him. Bren thought nervous and scared, "Will is sounding as if this is the first time he has went through one of these sessions with Fixer. Could the video I saw last year of Fixer torturing Will have been staged? Another thing the two guys in robes are not what they appear to be." Bren had felt where the two robed men's eyes watched. The men were watching Fixer and had not even looked at him once. He decided to see if his profiling skills could help him and Max figure the men out. Bren used writing and pictures of other people to get into the person's head. He was pretty good at it but these guys had written nothing.

Cole turned toward William and said, "William, I collect information as you know. I have been asked to collect some information from Brennan and Maxwell. Since you are here, I will include you in the questions. Answers are given immediately and completely. Refusing to answer gets punishment metered out to someone, not necessarily the person who whom was asked the question" Cole closed his eyes for a moment and fought the pains in his temples. He felt Punta walk up behind him and touch his shoulder. The pain decreased. Opening his eyes he said, "Brennan has volunteered in the past to be the one to receive the punishment for several people. He knows my methods. So…" Cole pointed to Brennan and swirled his finger in the air. Within a few heartbeats, Brennan was spread eagle, by chains, on the wall behind Cole's seat. Without looking around he said, "Remove his shirt." At this point Cole stood up, and pulled his chair back then re-straddled the chair.

Cole looked at Tom and signaled him to get into position. The man was a master with a single-tale whip. Tom had been informed to not do any major damage if he was required to use it. Small stikes, with stinging level only were required. It was more for show for the two goons. Turning to Maxwell he stated, "Max this is not your first visit with me. The last time you were here we talked about you being available to me when I needed you. You were not good with the idea. Have you had a change of heart since then?"

Max smiled as he shook his head. It was time for him to show these fools that they could not fool Lance Maxwell Sinclair. It had been quite awhile since he had shown any one why the Dark One wanted him so badly. He thought to Frank Cole, "I think these future werewolves need a lesson about lying. The elves need time as are you, so..." with that he invoked an image in the robed men's minds that the room was filled with Vampires. The men did as expected and showed their fear. Next, he implanted a thought of tiredness into both Will and Brennan. Both men were asleep within minutes.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you are enjoying the thread

LANCE (MAXWELL) SINCLAIR
The robed men shakily asked Fixer if they could be excused until the vampires had finished talking to him.

Cole nodded at the men, but did not watch them leave. He looked where Brennan was still hanging on the wall and realized either Punta, Mecum, or Tarka, who had entered the room and stood in the corner, pretending to be regular house elves, were holding Brennan up as he slept. William had laid his head down on the table, pillowed by one of his arms. When the goons had left, Cole let out a sigh and sagged in his chair. He glanced at Punta and said, "Thank you my friend."

"Tom if I have to use you, remember only small marks, just enough to sting and get a reaction out of the boy." Tom nodded, "Yes, Captain." Then he recoiled his whip, hooking it back on his belt. Then he stood and waited for more instructions.

Finally Cole returned his gaze to Maxwell, "Thanks Max." Rubbing his eyes and raking his hands through his hair he tried to explain. "I was taken to a Dark Sect meeting and they tried to brainwash me. I'm afraid my body still remembers when it is supposed to register pain. The elves are helping, but the pull toward doling out pain is strong." Cole tried to relax his arms back on the table. "I can't tell Brennan what is going on, although with his profiling abilities he is going to pick up on it soon and he does not have the ability to hide his emotions. Maxwell they can make me hurt him far beyond what I would normally do to nudge him to my way of thinking." Cole motioned for Tarka to bring everyone a sparkling water from the small refrigerator in the corner.

Max nodded as he said, "Frank, this Dark Sect meeting tell me about it. Don't worry those werewolf wanna-bees will be gone for as long as I want them to be. You now hopefully understand why I cannot let the Dark One or anybody else control me? Think about what being The Dark One's High Priest and being ordered to do what I just did but to Tia and using her deepest fear. Now you both know my secret ability and my curse."

"Not much to tell," Cole said as he relaxed forward on his arms. "Through pain and false images they tried to make me believe I had no choice but to follow the Cloaked Man's orders. I get the impression he is from a family clan, called MacIntosh. He acted like he was working strictly for the Dark Sect, but there are some inconsistencies. One he wants me to turn a list of people and bring them to him . They had me hooked to a machine, and I was barely able to control some of what it accepted as happening. Tarka," Cole turned and gave the elf a smile of thanks, "was there pretending to be a houseelf. The only reason I got out with as much sense as I did, was because of my Blood/Elfin magic abilities and Tarka's help." Cole stopped for a moment and then added, "the man has taken at least one captive to use against me, Max."

Max shook his head as he said, "Frank, think for a moment. What group did even Daniel Marsden never ask to join the Seven? With the info you have gathered about the Dark Sect, does it seem right that a MacIntosh would ever be trusted by the Dark Sect?"

Cole thought for a moment. "So you are saying the man is working totally on his own and using the Dark Sect as an excuse for what he is doing. If this is true then I have to figure out a way to stop him without getting his captive, any of the people on the list or myself killed." Cole again raked his hands through his hair. "The first thing I need to do is get those two goons out of here. Then I have to get Brennan off the wall and see if I can do a little damage control. I still have to talk with the people on the list, because since they are now targeted I have to get others to believe I have some control over them, at least for now. Any ideas Maxwell?"

While the two men were talking, Tom inched closer. The MacIntosh Clan was the same group who had ambushed his brother's unit, where Marco Spellman was the only one allowed to live, so he could learn a lesson of the power of the group. "Captain, my I speak sir?"

Cole looked toward Tom and said, "Yes."

"Sir, I would be willing as several others in this army to go after those men. They are the one's who killed our brothers." Tom tried to keep his temper in check, but all he could see was the MacIntosh tartan being ground into the earth.

Cole shook his head no. There were at least eight people in his force, all specialists who had brothers killed in the massacre Tom was talking about. Marco had been badly beaten and taken captive, but the men in his squad had been killed just to prove the group could. "They are too strong Tom. Your time and the others time will come, I promise you." Cole received a nod from the tight lipped man. Tom took two steps back and waited again, not so relaxed this time.

Maxwell nodded as he explained, "Tom, what would happen if those two men died on this island? Especially if they were to die at the hands of the PACT?"

Tom just shook his head as he looked at Maxwell and stood a little strighter, "Understood, Sir, but it still bites."

Max turned to Fixer and asked, "Frank, who is their captive and If it is who I believe, then it is time for you to come clean about why you believe that Matthew MacIntosh would think holding Khalid would keep you in his control, don't you? Then you better tell me everything you remember about that meeting especially what you or our little friend overheard in regards to Khalid."

Cole got up out of his seat and started to pace. He could feel the negative energy building up in him again. His body was telling him to hurt someone … to hurt Max and shut him up. His brain warred with the thoughts running through his head, and he was not sure which side was winning. Cole knew Max could block his brain's output. Cole stopped at the table, not far from where Max sat, clenching and unclenching his hands. "Max I'm not sure how to explain but…" Cole took another breath and just started, "it turns out my dear Maggie's father is Khalid. He is fighting his own demons because of the past. The elves on his island are helping to control the worst of it, but he also must hid his true feelings from the Dark Sect. During one of his more lucid times, we talked and this island and most of the beginning forces of men were a gift from him. Khalid is the one being held by MacIntosh. I know he is being questioned. I also know at least two of his main elves have been able to follow him in the disguise of house elves and personal helpers. MacIntosh has never taken the time to discover the intelligence of the elfin clans, to him they are less than animals. Punta, Kimtu, Tarka, Mecum and Artkee, are all Tocoferty of the five different clans on the Isle of Skye." Cole smiled at Tarka and Punta adding," And I trust them with my life." When Punta came up to him and put his hand on Cole's arm, Cole looked down, nodded and again took his seat. "Max as long as an elf is near I can control the need to hand out pain. They are working with me to get rid of my body's memories on what I am supposed to be doing, but it is going to be a long slow process."

Maxwell smiled as he said calmly, "Don't worry Tom, I agree those two have got to die but not by PACT hands. I think we can deal with two problems by letting them deal with each other."

He sadly shook his head deep in thought, and then said, "Frank, Richard told me about Maggie connection to Khalid. I gather his siblings Air and Tarik are not to know. Frank, I don't think they are holding him to control you. I think Matthew MacIntosh is not as wise as his father is and grandfather was. I think he just be trying to use you to break Khalid. Frank, I think Matthew thinks his clan can take control for him and possibly do what Daniel Marsden tried and failed. You might have been right in thinking those werewolves a bigger threat then the Dark Sect? Tell me what you remember about what they want from these people on their list?"

Cole reached in his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper with the names on them. Studying it he started, "If we use your theory, that the MacIntosh Clan wants to out class the dark one then it changes the meaning on why he the Cloaked Man, wants me to get the people under control and hand them over to him." Cole again looked at the list. "Most of the people on the list are needed by the Macintosh's so he controls the people the Dark Sect will eventually have to control when they decide they have enough power to release the Dark One from his perpetual prison. You, Brennan, Tia and Landon are part of the supposed new Ruling Class because of your strengths. Tarik is not hard, because they need the translations of the ancient Runes to find out what the predictions are of what is supposed to happen. Franco Spellman controls the Dailey Prophet newspaper. Having control over him would give the clan control over what news goes out and what comes in as well as giving them a heads up on what information has been dug up. Franco along with the other quints still living, Marco, Leo and Neo would give him some fighting force and an in with the Caretakers and controlling the children. Gab and Nat Lupin would add to this ability. Gab is already a strong werewolf and Nat, his wife is a Vampire who has the ability to come out during the daytime hours.

"I would be willing to guess Angel Potter is needed, because of her control over the Quibbler, and Leo would be a guarantee that she would obey. Next on the list is little Rosa. If all of my research is true the girl will eventually be able to take the form of the Phoenix, which is the most powerful creature anyone can change into. She is such a sweet child, it would not take much to control that facet of her life. The man wants William there," Cole motioned toward the still sleeping William Wright, "to back-off on finding his sister, which I have come to believe is being held by the Dark One. This could be because of two reasons. One, MacIntosh wants the Dark One to think they are not checking on him as much and two MacIntosh thinks if Will keeps trying to dig up information on his sister, red flags are going to go up and the Dark Sect is going to get wind of what he is doing…. Probably a little of both."

"The one bogie I have on the list is someone by the name of William Rikard. I know the man disappeared two years ago, and I have heard he is back at Hogwarts but I can't make a connection with him and even the Dark Sect yet."

Maxwell smiled as he asked, "Frank are you forgetting who controlled Neo from the time he was 15 and still is trying to get him back? Are you forgetting just what that Clan has done to not only Neo twice but also Franco when the Quint's dad foolishly thought that Franco and Kat were better off with Matthew's father? Frank, there is only one reason that Matthew would want the Spellman's and you know that we would never get the Cooler or any of them back if he gets a hold of Frankie. As for the others, well we have to buy time. Cole, we need to get Khalid freed without it linking back to you or the Caretakers and we need to take out those two werewolf wanna-bees. All without Matthew being the wiser. Also they are more interested in William Wright then just to keep him from Ash and that worries me as does their interest in William Rikard and Rosa. Matthew MacIntosh has given us a way to profile him as I gather your orders will come by owl"

Cole nodded confirming the messages came by owl. One of the few allowed to even realize the island existed. "I sure am hoping you have some ideas Maxwell. At the moment I cannot trust anything I try and plan. I don't know if it is me planning it or some thought which has been placed in my head. So…. Where do we go from here?"

Maxwell gave a sly smile as he asked, "What would Zia Zebo do should a certain informer of her's at Hogwarts find out about two robed men pretending to be Dark Sect? And what would be Matthew Macintosh's only course of action to insure what she found out never got back to the Dark One?"

Cole put the paper he had unconsciously wadded up in his hand back in his pocket. As he thought about what Max had said, a slow smile started to raise the corners of his mouth. "That evil woman would grab them, and they would probably never see the light of day again. The Dark One would be informed that someone else was trying to take control of thoes he considered his , which would drive a large wedge inbetween the two evil fractions. The MacIntosh Clan would have to go on the defensive in a big way." Cole paused and thought about the next question, "I could get a message to the Cloaked Man that I thought it would go along way to helping fight the Dark One, if Khalid was released and convinced nicely he should not push the fact he was there when all the planning was taking place. The Clan would always have that one little worry nagging at them, that no matter how many people they tried to silence they would miss someone. To keep everyone quiet they would not silance anyone." Cole shook his head and his smile broadened. "Now all we have to do is get the information to Zia, get the two goons off the island and then send a distress not to the Cloaked Man asking why his men left."

Max gave another sly grin as he said, "Hey Tom want to do some play acting after they give their first report to their controller?"

Tom straightened as if he was almost at attention and said, "Yes Sir. I would be pleased to help you as long as it will cause that family anguish. You just tell me what you want said and when."

He smiled at Fixer as he said, "Cole, we can't do anything yet until after this Cloak Man is lead to believe his brainwashing of you worked. So not this group and maybe not the next set but when you believe that you have proven your loyalty to the man, then the plan will be put into action. Though Zia will know about those two very soon, though for you to play innocent, I will leave the how Zia finds out in my head alone. How much of your security measures are they aware of?"

Cole sat up straight and grabbed the back of his chair with his hands. "They know the barracks is guarded and that no one travels the island unless I give my permission. They know noone comes or goes without my permission and they know, no magic works on the island except for the elves. The only thing they have seen is the inside of the barracks such as the kitchen, dining room, maybe the library and common room. They have been put up in a special guest room and been told an elf is always with them encase they need something. They have not seen any of the screens turned on and only a limited amount of the men and woman under my control. I'm not even sure they know I have five elves which seem to be a little better treated than the normal elf they would have encountered."

Max gave another sly grin as he asked, "So they would not know if somebody let it slip that your security measures would not hold vampires, they would not be sure if that person was bluffing or not?" He eyed Tom and prayed the man was quick to understand his part.

Tom just smiled and nodded when Maxwell's eyes met his for a split second. He could do that easily.

His eyes returned to Fixer as he continued, as he sat forward in his chair, with his arms folded on the table, "My plan is for them to excuse themselves from the island when it is time for our favorite odd couple to come to the island. I fear Matthew plans on holding Nathalie as a hostage to insure that Gabriel finally obeys instead of hunting the werewolf that cursed him. I know Gab as do you his family is his main weakness. Should anybody threaten their safety, Gab would do whatever it took even accepting never freeing himself from his werewolf link to that pack of werewolves and their Alpha, Matthew."

Cole nodded, making a concerted effort to relax with his arms folded on the table in front of him. "You are definitely right there. It is amazing that the werewolf and the vampire got together in the first place. Gab has many friends who have stuck by him since he was turned and that has given him an even stronger sense of protectiveness towards family and several of his friends. I am not looking forward to having the two of them here, at least not where my head is at the moment."

Maxwell continued, "As for Khalid, do you have any MacIntosh members that are trying to break free from the Clan? If so and they are mentally strong enough to block Matthew's link to them, then I think it could be a way that we can free Khalid and keep tabs on that Clan. Especially if a whole line, possibly the one that Bren feels was actually trying to protect Kat in that video. Bren explained to me that the shadow holding Kat back in that video he profiled last year might also be the reason Kat remembers nothing about her mother's murder. That MacIntosh actually seemed to be looking away from the others as if killing was not in his nature much like Gabriel who is a Hufflepuff by nature. Cole, his line would follow Matthew but only out of fear not out of loyalty. I think that if they were given another path to follow, a better one, well you know how to turn people to the right way of thinking."

Cole thought for a moment then looked at Punta. The elf nodded. When the children had been there recently a young man had been caught breaking into Cole's private filing room. The only file the young man had in his hands was on Travis MacIntosh. He had made the statement to Danny who had separately been breaking into the same file room, that some people did not want to be connected to others. Looking back to Max he said, "I might have the person you need. I have not had a chance to talk with the young man. He has been a guest in one of my dungeon cells for a few days. You can talk with him and see if he might be willing to help you. Just be careful Max because I have not had a chance to find out where his real sympathies lie."

Maxwell nodded as he said quietly, "We don't want them getting curious about what is happening in here. What is the usual punishment for what I did?"

"Normally with Brennan on the wall he would take five or so hits with Tom's whip." Cole looked at Tom, whose face had become unreadable. The man did definitely not like where this conversation was going. Cole raked his hands through his hair. "I guess I could have you bound in the chair and have say three lashes given to you. Max. I will have to have Punta release his control over my darker half in order to be believable."

"Wait until I get those goons to come back in, then I guess I get to see your darker side. I won't wake Bren and William up until forced, so time to get on with what is expected, don't you think?" Inside he just prayed that he could help pull Fixer back from the dark pit the man would be forced to fall into. Max relaxed and sent the vision of the vampires leaving the island.

Cole stood up and leaned his hip on the table. "Tom, three hits. One at least must cut the skin." Cole glanced at Maxwell, then said to Mecum, "Bind Master Maxwell. Keep him in his chair, legs bound to the legs of the chair, face down on the table, arms streatched out in front of him, wrists bound together." When Max was positioned Cole took a deep breath and waited until the goons re-entered the room.

The robed men shook their heads as they re-entered the room. One of them marched up to where Max was stretched out on the table and grabbed his hair as he said, "I don't know what you did Priest but if it is Head Games you want then..." Max felt, as if his head was going to explode as it was pulled backward. His heart was pounding out of his chest.

"Stop," Cole yelled in a stern voice which left no room for disobedience. "This man is mine to control." Cole knew these two did not have the inward power to pull off what they were doing, so they were drawing power from somewhere else. It was a trigger, he would have to let Punta or one of the other elves find and control. All he could do was try and keep the goons from killing Max. "You will back up and take your positions about five feet away, near that wall," Cole motioned to the wall holding the entry door, adding, "unless you want to get hit by the whip."

He watched as Maxwell's head was let loose, allowing it to drop between his outstretched arms. Both goons looked at Cole. Cole saw in their eyes their thoughts on what would happen if they disobeyed. He just stood firm and waited. Eventually they backed into position and looked over at Tom, who had taken his whip off his belt and was snaking it across the floor.

Tarka had moved to the other side of the table. They were going to have to let Master Maxwell experience the pain of the whip, or the strange robed men would not believe what was happening. Tarka could however remove most of the after pain when the punishment was completed. Punta would be helping Master Frank as much as he could, which would not be a lot. They had let Master Frank fall back into the dark spot they were guarding. Mecum was holding Master Brennan's body suspended, while he was asleep and monitoring Master Brennan and Master Williams thoughts. He slowly shook his head. This was pulling even their powers thin. Kimtu and Artkee were watching the barracks. It had been decided between the five elves to not let the robed men know how many of them there were. Tarka inwardly laughed because he was sure the robed men could not tell them apart anyway. To these men they were less than slaves.

Max acted shocked as he said, "What did I do?" Inwardly he groaned as he felt their mental attack. When Fixer stopped them, Max inwardly cringed and prayed that Fixer would not let them near him again. He thought of Protector and wondered if these two were like that man as the two men seemed unaware of their gift only the desire to cause pain.

Cole stood by his chair. He was not worrying about getting hit by Tom's single-tail whip. The man was an expert and had proved it more than once, with some of the demo's he gave during the training classes, he ran on the use of various whips. He could pick a glass off a railling, from between two other glasses and never even cause a quiver in the two other glasses. "Maxwell, you have refused to answer my questions." Turning to Tom he said, "Three stripes on his back if you please."

Tom took his stance and took a couple of breaths. He kept the whip moving on the floor, to draw the attention of the goons. He was going to have to pull his strikes, but not enough so anyone other than an expert would know. He looked at Cole and at Tarka to make sure they were ready. He would make this fast so Tarka could intervene quickly. Receiving a nod from Cole and a blink from Tarka, Tom let the whip fly three times in quick succession. Maxwell's back now held three cuts, only one of which was showing any signs of bleeding. Tom stepped back, coiled his whip and stood with it in his hands. He did not dare move or he would probably have hit at least one of the goons with it.

Max held in the pain which he knew could be a lot worse. He tried to look at Brennan and William, who were still asleep and inwardly smiled. Then he said slyly, "That Fixer is because you did not ask any that were worth my time in answering. If you were to ask questions that dealt with psychology of the wizardry world or why Shadow has such a over-sized ego, well those I could answer. As I could also answer why you are interested in only information that your Master wants and yet are just his lackey like those two puppets in robes.." He never finished as his body felt as if it was being crushed.

One of the robed men quickly stepped forward and placed his hands about a foot above Max's back, smiled and pretended to push hard on the air. Tarka's eyes had shot to the man, but quickly returned to watch Maxwell. Cole stepped around the table and grabbed the man's arms. "I said to stay away from him. Now either return to your spot or I will have you removed from the room. This is my job."

The robed man slowly removed his hands and dropped them to his side, his hands forming two very large tight fists. Cole caught his eyes and held them, daring him to try something else. "Maybe you would like a small demonstration of what I can do on my home island." Cole stared and concentrated, thinking of the man in front of him, in pain and agony. It took a couple of heartbeats, but soon the robed man, started to drop to his knees and cringing away from him. Cole saw movement out of the corner of his eye and slightly turned to look at the other robed man. "You want some of the same." He shot out a small bit of what he was giving the first man, and watched with satisfaction as the second man backed up. Turning fully back to the first, he said, "Have I made myself clear or do we continue with the demonstration."

Cole released the pain barrage when he received several frantic nods as the man slowly stood up. He watched as the first robe man walked over to stand beside his companion. Then he turned back to Maxwell. Some how he felt what was happening was wrong, but the man in the chair was showing an attitude which could not be allowed. Cole leaned down so he was closer to Maxwell's head and said, "You think smarting off to me is funny, Maxwell, well let me see if I can wipe that smile off your face." Cole looked at Tom, raised his hand and put up five fingers. Then he stepped back two steps.

Tom hesitated long enough to get a glare from the Captain. He knew what was happening in the Captain's head and he also knew he had to follow orders or be on the receiving end of the pain. Slowly he uncoiled his whip, snaked it a few times and laid five more stripes across Maxwell's back. Three of the eight strikes were now bleeding. Tom watched as the Captain, stepped closer to Max and looked at the cuts. "Not bad work, Tom," he was told.

Cole again leaned down and said in a normal voice, "Let's ask a question you can give an easy answer to, shall we. Who is your master?" Cole could feel one of the elves trying to invade his mind so in his head he thought, "Stay out of my head elf, or all of you will leave this room." . The feeling left and Cole turned back to Maxwell, "I am waiting for an answer, who do you answer to now, Maxwell Sinclair?"

Max felt the pain of the lashs and could not help the growns which excaped his mouth. The elf quickly turned the searing burning into a mild ache. Max dropped his head between his arms and allowed a slight upturn of the corners of his mouth He had thought of a way to get Fixer to concentrate on him and not what the elf was doing. Raising his head he said with a sly grin, "That is what I mean you ask stupid questions about masters, I have none though the group I work with would love to get their hands on yours!" He thought to Tom, "We need to get Frank focus off the elf or this is going to destroy the real Fixer. That is something none of us want."

Tom heard Maxwell loud and clear in his mind, but couldn't figure out how to help the man. There was one way, but Tom would be walking on thin ice himself. "Captain, the man will not be able to take much more. His back is already bleeding?" Tom tried to stand his ground and not cringe, when the Captain stalked toward him. He went to full attention.

Stopping about a foot away Tom, Cole just stared into the man's eyes. He had never questioned his orders before. "You think I am being too mean to the man, Tom. Maybe you would like me to take that whip and show you firsthand what it would be like to receive the strikes." Cole chuckled when he did not get an answer from the man standing in front of him. "I thought not. Now what you are going to do it give Maxwell there another five lashes if he does not answer my next question correctly." Cole stepped a little closer and as his head started to ache with sharp pains at the temples, he added in a bare whisper, "And Tom pull anymore of your strikes and I will demonstrate on someone else how it has to be done. Maybe I could bring Sara in for the demo either to watch or possibly participate."

Tom visibly cringed. Sara Saunders was another one of the Specialist. She was also his girlfriend or special companion as she would put it. Tom never looked into the Captain's eyes but said, "Yes Captain I understand and I will obey." His stomach turned and he sent a message to Max. "I don't know if I can keep this up. The Captain is sinking lower into the dark bit."

Slowly Cole returned to the table and leaned down, "I am going to ask one more time Maxwell, who is the Master you serve? This easy to answer and can save you a lot of discipline."

Max inwardly cringed as he said nothing. He thought, "At least this darker Fixer seems focused on me and not thinking about why William Wright and Brennan are sleeping. I will just have to endure the pain until Punta can get Fixer somewhat thinking clearly. The problem is he can't come out of that dark pit fully without those goons getting suspicious." Maxwell just stared at the table and prayed that Frank Cole would forgive himself when he saw the tapes of what he had become. He would help Cole get though what the brainwashing had done just as Cole had helped him with Brennan's de-programming.

Cole pounded his fist on the table and raised five fingers in the air. "You know it does not have to be like this Maxwell. Take the lashes and then I will ask one more time. Did I ever tell you about the new drugs I have been able to obtain? I don't want to control you that way because the drugs are not a onetime shot, and are very addictive. I have discovered I can use the drugs to control you or hold back on the drugs and you can be controlled." Cole chuckled and stepped back two paces and looked at Tom. "Now Tom."

Max inwardly smiled as Fixer had added a piece to the puzzle. He went inward as he thought of how to cleanse Fixer of his addiction. The man had threatened to use them to control Max. Sinclair shuddered but inwardly shook his head, "I have to remember that is not Frank Cole. Cole hates using drugs to control. But it does tell me one thing, Fixer is back hooked and that means trouble. I talked him into this, he would never have allowed himself this dark if I had not told him that he needed that first and possibly the second one to show that Enforcer's brainwashing worked. Now I have to think of a way to remain so I can help bring him out of that darkness. It will have to include a cleansing of his system." Maxwell just prayed Air, the leader of the Caretakers, never found out because he was breaking about every one of her rules concerning what to do when you are a prisoner. He cringed again as he thought of going through one of her lectures followed by extra lessons on what he did wrong compared to the correct way. She could make most men feel as if they were five years old.

Tom again took his stance. He shot daggers at the Captain with his eyes, but he knew he had to do what he was ordered. Hopefully he could keep his lunch down, because it was rolling in his stomach. He lashed out quickly five times with the end of the whip. Even with Tarka taking most of the pain away later, Maxwell had to be in a lot of pain. As he stepped back and coiled his whip he glanced at the two robed men. They were both smiling and nodding there heads. Tom's fists curled tightly around his whip. He fought for control. He fought to not wipe thows smug looks off the men with his fists. Instead, he straightened, held his coiled whip in one hand and stared at the back wall.

Cole had uncharacteristically put both hands on his hips. One part of his brain was yelling at him to use one of the two drugs he had at his disposal. Both were highly addictive. One would cause pain when the man even moved a mussel and the other would give him instant compliance to any of his orders, with the recipient inwardly fighting the order. The last two people he had seen it tried on, had gone insane within a week. Walking over to the two robed men and rubbing his chin, he asked, "what would you two do at this point?"

The men did not say anything. Max groaned as he felt something strapped tightly around his neck. One of the goons walked into his vision at the end of the table roughly pushing Tarka out of the way. He took a hold of Max's hair and pulled his head up, taking great pleasure in showing Max the control mechanism he had in his hand, making a show of how he was going to push one of the buttons. Max screamed as the pain hit his body. His thoughts voiced in his mind the realization that, "Somehow these goons have access to an experimental device only known as The Collar of Pain. How do they even know of its existence?" He tried to focus but the pain was too great He just prayed that Fixer realized that he was the only one that could wake William and Brennan. He inwardly shook his head as he wished he had woke them up before this collar was placed on him/

The one whose name meant Destroyer said cruelly, "Well if he wants to be continue to be stubborn Fixer, why not show him how We deal with Stubbornness." With that, the one whose name meant War reached into his pocket and pulled out a needle and stabbed Max in the neck with it. Within seconds, Max felt his pain increase ten times the level he had felt before the prick to his neck. Max knew that the pain had only just begun and he had a bad feeling whatever was about to happen was going to insure that he learned firsthand what they had done to Frank.

Cole took a step back as one of the goons reached into his robe and brought out a collar and a remote control. He watched as it was placed around Maxwell's neck and then turned on. Cole smiled at first thinking they really were helping. The Enforcer would be proud. When Max started to scream, Cole got an uneasy feeling in his stomach and wondered why. Looking around the thought came to him that the man now withering at the table, was the only one who knew how to wake Brennan and William. He walked over to the one goon at the end of the table and took the remote, dialing it down to zero. "I need him alive. Good idea though. Return to you position." Keeping the remote in his hands, Cole walked to the side of the table and leaned down to where Max would be able to easily hear him and even see him, if he lifted his head above his arms. "I believe the question we are about to have you answer is: Who is your Master, who do you obey?"

Cole looked off to the right and say Tom inching toward him. "Hold your position Matthews, or I will have one of the collars added to your neck." Tom stopped and froze. The Captain had called him by his last name, which meant he was slipping deeper into the darkness.

Max's head dropped hard on the table as the pain stopped hitting him. He hurt all over but only said weakly, "You know I will never call any one Master but I will admit that you call the shots for now Fixer." He hoped that Fixer would just accept that the word Master would never come from Maxwell's lips. He would try to comply with what Fixer wanted but it was only to prevent the goons from getting another crack at him or Fixer going further down the darkness Cole was falling fast into.

Cole chuckled and looked at the remote. Then he returned to two smiles on the goons faces. Their trick had worked. Maybe he would use it on Brennan and William but first, "I will accept the title Sir from you Maxwell. Your answers will be Yes Sir to my request along with immediate compliance. Do you agree?" Cole put his fingers on the dial of the remote and waited.

Max nodded as he said showing that he understood the deal he struck, "Yes Sir, I agree to your terms as long as if I can comply without breaking an oath already given."

"Unless it is a Magic Oath or a Blood Oath I care nothing about you keeping the oath, anything else I will expect an answer." Cole had always known you could learn more at times by questions not answered as by when they were answered. You learned what was important enough to require more research.

Cole patted Max on the back and motioned for Punta to release the man. "Remain in you seat Maxwell. " Cole walked over to the goons, said something and was handed two more sets of the collar and remotes. Smiling he returned to straddle his chair. He put the sets on the table in front of him and said, "Now it is time to wake our sleepers. Maxwell if you please…"

Max inwardly cringed as he said shaking his head, "Your deal is with me. I am not going to be responsible for you causing them to comply with your twisted plan so No Sir, I won't wake them." The longer his friends slept the less they had to deal with.

Cole reached out and picked up the remote belonging to Max's colar. He showed the man and then preceded to slowly but steadily turn up the dial. "You answers to me are yes sir and you are to comply immediately with my request." Cole kept inching the dial up.

Max felt the pain as it increased but knew that he had to try to keep the collars off his friends, especially Brennan. The young profiler had still not gotten over what he had been through first by Shadow and then as a sleeper for the Dark One. He said through gritted teeth, "Sir, I will wake them but only if they are not given the Collars. I am requesting to be a stand in for them. Please, Brennan has already been a sleeper for the Dark One, I rather not set that trigger off again." He prayed that the goons also would understand the importance of keeping Bren from being a sleeper for the Dark One.

Cole looked at Maxwell as he dialed back the pain until it was all the way off. "I will agree to this Maxwell although I don't think the other two are going to enjoy what you are doing for them. Please get up and take Brennan's place on the wall." Punta undid Brennan's bonds and slowly lowered him into one of the chairs. Cole watched with interest as Max stood against the wall and allowed the elf to fasten him spread eagle. "Now wake them up."

Max said calmly, "Yes Sir." As he cleared their minds, he inwardly smiled at the thought that at least Fixer was still enough of the old self that Fixer still made deals. He knew he was in for a world of pain but at least Brennan would not relive what the boy was put through at the hands of Shadow.

(OOC: Tocoferty = Son of Father Who Gives Life = Prince; This has been a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you are enjoying the threads.)

WILLIAM WRIGHT
Will opened his eyes and found his head resting on his arms on the table. He sat up quickly and felt dizzy. Looking around he saw the two goons still standing at the wall. Cole was opposite him straddling a chair. Brennan was in the chair to his left and…. No wait a moment Brennan was supposed to be spread eagled on the wall. When he looked there he found Maxwell shackled with some kind of collar around his neck. He tested his legs and they were still bound to the legs of the chair. Looking toward Brennan, he saw his friend's eyes opening.

Brennan came a wake with a start. The last thing he remembered he was fastened to the wall. He found himself putting his hands out to prevent a fall, and discovered he was sitting at the table. Fixer was on his left and William was on his right. Looking up at the wall he saw Maxwell trying to smile, but looking like he had been in a lot of pain recently. Somehow he had lost some time.

Bren looked at Max and asked with his eyes if he had been triggered. He prayed that the pain his friend had suffered was not his doing. The Profiler glared at Fixer as he said, "What is Max doing on the wall Fixer? Get him down now or you will find just how good at dealing out pain I am!"

Cole sat forward against the back of his chair and crossed his arms on the table. "Brennan, you know you should never threaten me." Cole pointed toward the two goons. "They have come up with a nice way to get me some answers. You know how you are always acting as the preverbal whipping boy when I have you on my island, well Max has kindly agreed to take your place. So we are going to continue like I usually do during your visit. I am going to ask questions and from promises from you and William and you are going to agree with everything I say or ask. This will keep Maxwell from getting very uncomfortable."

Looking at William, Cole added, "I hope you understand the principle here William. It is not hard. As I told Brennan, I ask questions or tell you to do something and you immediately give me the answer I require or complete the task I specify. If you don't then I am afraid Maxwell will suffer."

Cole looked at Max and smiled, "Am I not correct Maxwell?" Cole was wondering what Brennan and William would think when they heard the first [i[Yes Sir from Maxwell.

Max glared at Fixer, but quickly changed his expression. He said quietly, "Yes Sir! Just remember your part of our bargain."

Cole nodded and smiled. He turned back to Brennan as the young profiler was about to surely fight him on what was about to happen.

Bren heard Max's answer and knew there was something wrong. Max would not answer Fixer as if he was working for the man. He shook his head as he said, "You tricked me last time Fixer, I won't profile again for you. As for helping you it will never happen."

"There will be no tricks this time Brennan. We are just going to talk and see what information we can come up with."

William just glared at Fixer as he asked, "What is Brennan talking about Captain?"

"William you have never been part of one of my question and answer sessions. I think you might find this whole process very informative. You have noticed Max has taken a place on the wall. He has agreed to be the one to take any of the punishment you might earn by not answering my questions or refusing to comply with my wishes. Now let's begin with you. It has come to my attention that you have been working hard on finding your sister Ash. I have been told by some very informed people that she is fine. But they also told me if you keep looking she might have an accident, trying to stay away from you. So my first request of you is that you stop looking for your sister. I am afraid I will need an honor bound promise on this."

William shook his head as he said furious, "Not happening as those that took my sister are also responsible for my parents' death and trying to use Ash to control Luke. The sooner I find her, the sooner my brother stops hiding whatever secret is closing him up."

Cole first looked over his shoulder at Max. Looking back toward William he shook his head and said, "Normally I don't ask something of someone twice, but you are new to how I work, so I will give you one more chance. I need your word of honor; you will stop looking for Ash until I say it is alright to do so again." Cole signaled Tom to take his place in front of Max. The swish of Tom's whip on the floor was auditable in the silent room.

Bren shook his head as he said, "Frank, Will was your friend. You know how he cares for Ash and Luke? Frank please, just leave it be. You know what he is, do you really what MI-6 to join forces with MoM?"

Will shook his head as he said, "They using Ashley, Frank, she is just a kid. Please as long as I have known you, kids have never been part of the equation."

Max grinned and then asked, "Let me talk to them alone Fixer, you know how easily I can get them to see reason."

Cole looked at Brennan, then at William then pushed himself out of his chair. Walking closer to Max, he looked at into the man's eyes for a moment, nodded and said, "You have ten minutes."

Max nodded and said quietly, "Don't worry Fixer. Can you just understand what you are asking William to do? Fixer, he is right Luke is hiding something even from the Core. If I could just get a promise that those holding Ash would stop using her against Luke, then Will would leave the hunt to those better qualified."

Cole turned and leaned against the wall, rubbing his chin. There was no way he could promise Ash would not be used by the Dark One, against getting Luke to do what he wanted, especially since Luke was not married to Tia. He could agree to possibly let Will send a note to Ash. Cole had enough back door ways that he could get the note to the Dark One, who ruled the Dark Sect. He might even be able to get a note back to Will, although that feat of magic was very low on the possibility list. "Will talk with Max. I might be able to get a note from you to Ash or at least the people who are holding her. And no, I do not know where or by whom she is being held, but there are ways of getting information sent to anyone if you know where to start the request. The possibility also exists that I can get you an answer back." Cole held up his hand when it looked like Will was about to speak. "Talk with Max first."

Will nodded but inwardly he was worried. He wondered what Maxwell was thinking. The ex-mercenary thought it bad enough that his friend Frank Cole had used him but now Max had told the robed goons about his main weakness, his siblings.

Standing back up straight and turning to Tom he said, "We will leave and wait outside." Looking back at the others he said, as he followed Tom to the door, "Ten minutes Max. I hope you can make sense to them, I really do." Cole waved the two goons out of the room, giving them a hard stare when they were slow to move. "Gentlemen, we leave NOW!" Finally, he got them to follow Tom out of the room.

After William Wright had heard, the door shut, as he asked not hiding his concern over Max’s lack of restraint, "Max, what were you thinking?"

Max grinned as he said realizing Will was still an easy man to read, "Will, if my plan works, those robed goons will be dead before they ever get that information off to their master. I need that note to get into somebody’s hands for that to happen. So please Will at least think about Fixer's offer? We have people looking for her but Will, if you keep searching, what do you think the Dark One will do?”

Bren caught what Max was trying to get Will to see. He also realized that Maxwell had a plan, which was something it seemed neither William, or he did. Sherlock looked at Max as he said, “The Dark One will move her. He might even order Luke to be grabbed as well. Is that what has you worried Max?”

Maxwell nodded as he said, “Yes Sherlock. Right now, the person guarding her is somebody that I have at least some connection with. However, Will, if the Dark One even thinks that we know more than he thinks we know, he might just hand her to somebody like Zia. That is something you don’t want to happen, do you?”

William shook his head as he said, "You know I don't. I am just scared that He is using Ash to force Luke to betray Tia. Max what if they have already taken Ash out and what they are making Luke do is for nothing. I need to know Max, Luke won't talk to me and he seems so angry and distant, please Max help me to get through to Luke."

Max nodded and said, "We will figure out what Luke is hiding Will that I promise. But for now can you and Bren please play things Fixer's way? There are things happening in Fixer’s head, I cannot explain to you guys here. I am asking for you to trust me."

Both Bren and Will nodded as they said, "Where Ash is concerned, we will.”

Will and Sherlock shrugged as they continued, “The rest it depends, agreed?" They were both still very worried about this change in Frank Cole. Bren was even more worried about just what Fixer would ask of him. He had barely been able to think without wondering if the Dark One was going to use those thoughts against his friends or even worse against Tia and Luke. Sherlock was still scared that the Dark One had yet another trigger unknown just waiting to be triggered.

Max nodded as he said, "Agreed." He felt both men’s fears especially Brennan. Sherlock was still scared that they had been played by the Dark One. Max looked at the door as he said, “I think our time is almost up. Will, can you put this in the note somehow, "Robed who claim to be under orders from the Dark One?”

Will just had time to nod as the door opened.

Cole had sent the two goons on an errand to get something to drink, since they were going to have a couple of minutes. When they were out of earshot, he turned on the small view screen just outside the door, watched, and listened to the exchange in the room. Max was playing his part to perfection. The note had been a good idea. Maybe if it went right, the Dark One, would see he was being tricked by the Cloaked Man, who Cole was positive was a member of the MacIntosh Clan. The results of that piece of play would be interesting to keep tabs on. Cole wondered, with an internal snicker, how long the goons or even the Cloaked Man would live. The goons were certainly dead.

Turning to Tom he said, "Max is good. Keep an eye on him though, because I'm not sure…" Cole put his hand to his temple, the headache was back. "I'm not sure if he will play the game to the end. Make any hits, short and don't cut up his skin much." He received a nod and a worried look from Tom, but he would think about that later. Shaking his head he looked down the hall and saw the two future dead men coming toward them, so he quickly turned off the screen.


When the two men were at the door, he looked at his watch and made a production of checking the time. "Ah, that's ten minutes. Let's see what the men have decided." Cole turned the handle and walked in the room, followed by the two goons. He waved them to their positions, in front of the room's large screen on the same side as the door.

Cole waved Tom over to stand by Max and then went and straddled his normal chair. Crossing his arms on the table he looked first at Brennan, nodded, then at Will and also nodded. "I see we have come to some sort of an agreement." Turning to Max he said, "Max I really want to let you down off the wall, so tell me if we have an agreement I can use."

Will said still not sure of how he was going to add what Max wanted added, "I will agree to back off of my hunt if you give your word that I can send Ash an unopened note. I want proof she is okay so I might be able to ease Luke's mind. As for any other agreements, we shall see. I will say this though the close bond we once shared Frank, I doubt I will ever fully trust you that much ever again." He was only agreeing so Max's plan could succeed, William doubted he would agree to anything else.

Max tried to shrug, a little difficult the way he was strung up, but Cole nodded as he turned back to William. He glanced at Brennan who was sitting looking straight ahead at the two goons. Mentally Cole told Tarka to keep an eye on Brennan, and then turned his full attention back to William. "I will get your note delivered. However, I can only give my word of honor that it will leave my hands unopened. At this point, I am not sure how many hands it will go through before it reaches your sister. I will also attempt to make sure it does reach her. For this privilege, you will agree to stop looking for her, until I give you the all clear that it is safe to do so. We shall discuss your trust issues on your future visits to my little island."

William shook his head as he said, "I have no desire to return to this island. I am will think on it though but any return trips will be my choice not yours Frank. As I said, I no longer trust you so why would I return to somebody I no longer trust?" Will noticed that Max was shaking his head and that had Will nervous. He asked trying to get his mind off what he might have caused, "I would like to write that note now and preferably in another room?"

Cole threw his head back and laughed. Getting back under control, he looked at Max who he had seen shaking his head no and said, "Too late Max." Turning back to William he said in a very calm voice, "William when I invite people to my island they don't leave until they understand they have a standing invite which I can request they use, at any time, on my time table. Maxwell understands this." Cole turned toward Max and asked, "Don't you Max?" Not waiting for an answer Cole turned to Brennan and said, "And Brennan also understands this fact." Cole smiled at the look on Brennan's face. The man had not even moved his eyes from the goons. Cole glanced at Tarka and received a nod so he continued. "You will be writing the note in a few moments."

Will shook his head but said nothing. He was wondering how he had been so wrong about the man. He watched as Maxwell nodded, seemingly reading his thoughts, even though Max's eyes were centered on Bren. Will looked at Brennan trying to focus and see what had Max worried. Bren seemed to be in pain but that made no sense since nobody had touched him. The thing that bothered William was Bren had not said anything since Frank Cole had re-entered the room.

Turning to Brennan he said, "You are being very quiet Brennan. Care to share with the group what you might be thinking."

Max shook his head as he worried about Brennan. Sherlock still seemed locked in his memories.

Max was concentrating on Brennan, which Cole had no problem with, because he wanted Max to keep trying to read the boy, if possible. William had apparently decided Cole was not his friend, which was also good. Cole felt like something was missing in this thought, but every time he tried to pinpoint it, his head heart worse, so he put it on the back burner for now. Tom was just staring at Cole wondering what he needed to do next. The elves stood causally around the table. Cole could feel Punta's eyes on the back of his neck. The goons were getting antsy. Cole knew all they wanted to do was go to Brennan and knock him around until he refocused on what was happening.

Cole looked down at the table and took in a deep breath. Raising his head back up, he looked at the goons and said, "Gentlemen, it seems Brennan has decided to travel in his mind to somewhere else. Do you think you could bring him back to the present?"

Both of the goons smiled and slowly made their way to where Brennan sat off to Cole's right. They shoved Tarka out of the way. One of them grabbed Brennan's arms from the back and wrenched him back in his chair. The other took a handful of Brennan's hair, turned the Profiler's head toward him and slapped him three times hard. He just stood there, with Brennan's head forced back and watched, to see if it had made any difference.

Max was shocked but William's reaction was pure fury as he yelled, "Leave my cousin Brennan alone!" Bren's body was in extreme pain as the goons unknowingly tapped into Bren's own mental pain and increased it ten-fold.

Bren heard but the pain was so extreme and yet Shadow had gagged him so release was not available. His memories of seeing Luke be tossed as if the boy was a rag doll against the walls of the Shrieking Shack was so real that all he wanted to do was promise Shadow anything just to stop the torture of Luke. He remembered Shadow's laughing as the man tortured both him and Luke. He knew Shadow had enjoyed his work and the effect it had on both Bren and Luke. Bren's eyes showed in its tears how he wished that he could save Luke from the madness that he saw forming inside Luke.

Cole looked at Brennan and shook his head. "You two get back to your station. Something to think about in the future, pain does not always work to solve problems." As the goons walked hesitantly back to their spots by the wall in front of the view screen, Cole raised his hand, pointed at William and slowly circled it in the air. William was now bound by his legs and his arms were bound at his side. Cole stood up and walked to where Brennan sat. Turning the man's chair toward him he put both his hands on Brennan's head and closed his eyes. In his mind he said, "Mecum and Tarka, watch the two over there. If they move toward the table prevent it, your choice on how. Then turning his mind toward Brennan's he concentrated on the sceen playing out in the young man's head. Brennan was lying on the floor, beat up pretty badly … Shadow was sitting on a chair by the back wall and Luke was plastered against a wall, bleeding from a cut on his lip and showing bruising on his face and arms. As he watched the young Luke was thrown at the ceiling and then slammed into the floor. Glancing at Brennan he saw the Profiler struggling to get loose and go to the young boy. Cole stepped over to where Brennan was lying on the floor, and knelt down on one knee. He grabbed Brennan's jaw with his hand and force the man's eyes to his. "This is in the past Profiler. It is not happening now." Without taking his eyes off of Brennan, Cole took his other hand and waved it around the room. Everything started to evaporate into a fine mist, until only a gray area was left.

Cole worked his mind back to the present and let go of Brennan's head. Looking at the Profiler he said, "You will now return to the present on your own, or I will use other means." Cole stood up straight and folded his arms across his chest. He watched and waited.

Max smiled as he saw the old Fixer seem to return at least with Brennan. As he continued to watch, Brennan finally blinked. Max nodded as he thought, "That's it Sherlock, just remember they are just memories. Learn from them but don't allow you to be lost in them."

William struggled with the bonds as he said still furious, "I said Leave Bren alone! I won't allow you to undo the progress Bren has made in his recovery."

Cole knew William could not struggle long. The magical bounds would get progressively tighter. They would only loosen when he stopped fighting them. Cole glanced at him and smiled. "William, I am afraid you have no say so in this. Now be quiet or Max might feel some of the displeasure I have in you trying to order me around." Cole motioned to Tom, who stepped up in front of Max and started his whip moving in a slow pattern on the floor, as he looked to Cole. Cole just smiled broader. Quickly looking at the goons he noticed they were watching Tom and not him. Interesting concept, because it showed they were easily distracted.

Bren was unsure how long into his memories he had been but he understood that Frank Cole had brought him out. He smiled as he asked, "I hope that memories were all they were?"

Smiling and nodding, Cole shoved Brennan's chair back to the table and said, "Please place your hands on the table, fingers spread." Not waiting to see if this was done, Cole returned to straddle his chair. After he sat he looked in Brennan's eyes, and the man slowly placed his palms flat on the table and spread his fingers. "Good, they are only memories Brennan. When we are done, before you return to the outside world, you will submit to a mind reading with one of the elves, to check on a few things. Until then though …" Cole motioned for a piece of paper and a writing stylus to be brought to him. When it was in front of him he wrote two words, "the goons on it and shoved it back to where Brennan was sitting. "I want these people profiled. You will write down your information." Cole shoved the stylus to where Brennan could reach it and then steepled his fingers in front of him, looking over the tips as he scanned the room.

Bren smiled as he nodded saying, "I guess I owe you that but you know what I need to do it right. Got anything? I will also agree to the mind read."

"There is nothing you need, beyond what you already have. Pick up the pen and write the thoughts as they come to you." Cole had studied Brennan's abilities. The young man thought he needed handwriting samples, actual words or even direct contact with the subject he was profiling. Cole knew different. "You may start immediately." Mecum walked up to within inches of Brennan's back and just stood there. The elf would monitor the Profiler and notify Cole if there were any problems.

William shook his head as he demanded, "What did you do to Brennan? I won't allow you to control him! Leave Bren alone!"

Max understood both sides but said nothing. He was just glad that some of the old Fixer was still there. William was just being protective of the cousin that stood up to the plate when Luke needed a guardian. Max understood that in William's mind Brennan was there for Luke when William had not been able to. Max just looked at Fixer and prayed that the man understood what William believed. To William his brother Luke's survival depended on Brennan.

When he was sure Brennan had at least started, he turned to William and refolded his arms on the table in front of him. "I thought I told you to shut up." Cole felt a sharp pain in his head. Turning to Tom he signaled for him to take one swipe at Williams back with his single-tailed whip. He watched as Tom hesitated for only a couple of heartbeats, repositioned his feet and swung the whip, catching William across his shoulders. Cole smiled and added, "Now I hope you have my meaning? If I ask you a direct question, you may answer. Every time you open your mouth to talk without having permission from this point on, Max will receive one lash of Tom's whip. Keep it up and I will change the number of lashes he gets with each of your transgressions. Do not test me, William, you will only loose."

Bren said unsure of himself, "I will try." Upon hearing Fixer's reaction to Will's words, Bren understood Will's fears. He smiled as he said, "Will, Fixer did not do anything except help me. I was reliving a past memory and got lost in it. Fixer helped so I owe him one favor. Luckily, he called it in right a way. As for Luke, he will be fine. I think his problem has more to do with that girl Meloy than what Dark One or Shadow put him through. We will talk with him once we get back to Hogwart's okay?"

Will just nodded. It seemed Bren was not as worried about Fixer as his cousin was about the robed men. He shook his head at Fixer as he said, "You might think that scares me Fixer but it don't! I know Max and you hurting him will only anger me. Now Let them go and I will write that note to Ash now!"

Tom did not wait for the signal from the Captain. He walked back to his original position, took his stance and sent the whip end through the air, connecting with Max's mid-section. Then he dropped the end of the whip to the floor and snaked it about. The young man sitting at the table with the Captain, did not learn quickly. Tom kept his eyes on the Captain. If Will kept it up the Captain would soon be giving him a larger count of the strokes he needed to meter out. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the too goons almost jumping up and down, like two kids opening a present. Tom inwardly cringed. He would like to be able to take his whip to them, but knew the thoughts were useless, although satisfying.

Holding William in his stare, Cole heard the crack of the whip and the groan that escaped Max's clinched teeth. Cole raised an eyebrow, silently asking William if he wanted to continue.

William was about to show his anger but Max said looking at Tom and Fixer, "This won't work with Will except to anger him. Fixer, he is seeing nothing but what he sees as you using him when Luke needed him. Please just let him write his message to Ash and think. Place him in another room until you two can talk, one of the elves can watch him. I will owe you one."

Will shook his head not understanding why Max was trying to make a deal with a man that would change without any warning. He thought he had known the true Fixer but the man had fooled him. Fixer had befriended when William had needed somebody that believed in him and his hunt for his parents' killer. Will had left Luke behind even though his brother needed him. Fixer's possible betrayal hurt William more than his parents' murder and what hurt most was William had no clue as to why.

Cole looked at Max for several long moments. What the man was saying was making sense. He rubbed his temples. Looking at William he knew the young man needed a break, but his brain was telling him to keep pounding on the boy. Cole shook his head and called Tarka to him. "You will take Master William to the room next door, where he will be allowed to write a letter of any length. He will be allowed to seal the letter, but it is to be brought to me before it is sent. Master William will remain in the room until I have a chance to talk with him," Cole looked at the too goons and added in almost a whisper, "…alone. No one else is allowed in the room. Master William is allowed to stay unbound as long as he does not cause a problem." Cole turned back to William and said, "William please follow the elf. I will be with you in about two hours or less."

William waited until he was unbound then headed straight for Fixer. He through a quick right as he said, "That is for trusting you when you were just using me for information." Then he turned and followed the elf.

Cole had seen the punch coming and allowed William to connect. The young man needed to vent at least some of his anger. He waved the goons to be still, as William passed them. Turning back to Brennan, he said, "Well that went better than I expected." Cole looked at the still blank piece of paper in front of Brennan, and motioned for the Profiler to get started. Looking at his watch he realized it was almost 6 o'clock in the evening. It was time to eat. "We are going to take a short break here." Cole motioned for Punta to take Max down from the wall and help him into the chair across the table, that William had just vacated. When Max was seated, he said to Punta, "Please have dinner brought to the three of us here, and have a plate sent into William." Turning to the two goons he said, "You two are excused for two hours. Tarka will show you back to your rooms where a meal will be sent to you. If there is anything special you would like to eat, please let the elf know and it will be brought to you. This also includes anything special you may want to drink. In two hours I will send for you again. Now go."

The two goons looked at each other and Cole could almost see them trying to figure out their ability to not follow his directions. Soon they decided it was not worth the fight and turned toward the door. Tarka followed them out. Cole turned to Mecum and said, "Keep in contact with Tarka. If he needs help go."

The elf nodded adding, "Yes, Master Frank," then headed to the kitchen to get their order. Cole relaxed back onto his folded arms on the table.

Maxwell waited until the two goons left then said, "Cole, Will thinks you just befriended him to get info. I know that your friendship with Will is true but you need to get him to know that. Cole, Will is used to people just being friends because they knew that his father was powerful. So knowing a true friendship is hard for him. Please go easy on him."

Bren just looked from Max to Fixer as he said, "I just wish William never saw this side of you Fixer but at least he knows..." Bren stopped as he was not sure that this was indeed Fixer's real self. Profiler was not sure why but something about the way Fixer had been behaving was off.

Cole stood up and leaned against the wall about four feet from the table. He looked toward the door, trying to think. The headache was less but it was still there. Every so often a picture flashed in his head of a cloaked man standing over him saying, "My will is yours." Then the picture would evaporate. Cole stood up and streatched. Maybe if he went for a run it would help. Looking at Max he said, "The boy needs to learn how to respect others. I am his friend, but…" Cole felt a stabbing pain in his temple which threatened to double him over. Suddenly Punta was standing in front of him. Cole raised his arm to hit the elf out of the way. Punta grabbed his arm and stared into his eyes. Cole looked back and slowly lowered his arm. In a bare whisper he said to the elf, "Help my friend, help me." He received a nod from the elf and stood up straight again squaring his shoulders. "I need to take care of something. You gentlemen enjoy your dinner and I will see you in about an hour. Brennan, keep writing. I will expect a report when I get back." Cole turned on his heels and left the room. He needed to go somewhere. At the moment he was not sure where, but it definitely was not in the barracks.

Bren nodded and then said almost to himself, "That's it. Fixer is programmed. Fixer would never raise his hand to an elf.

Max shook his head as he heard Bren. Without glancing at Mecum the elf, Max said with his mind, "Can you block Bren's mind from those goons? If those goons' master gets wind that, his programming is known, it could spell trouble for Frank Cole. Are you going to do to Fixer what you guys did for Bren? Is that wise if Fixer can't fake the programming?"

Mecum had taken a stand where Master Frank had previously stood. Punta had given him orders to stay with these two humans and he had also said he would send Kimtu in to help. Without taking his eyes off Master Brennan, because he was the most open mind at the moment, Mecum said mentally to Master Maxwell, "Yes Master Maxwell we are going to help Master Frank, but we must be careful as long as the sons of the Cloaked man are on the island. We need them to think the brainwashing was totally successful. Punta will not leave his side. Master Frank has gone for a run. The exercise will do him good. It will clear his mind and allow his body to adapt. We are sorry for the pain he is causing you, but it cannot be helped."

Then turning to Bren, Max said, "Sometimes I wonder if there is anything that you can't profile Sherlock!"

Sherlock shrugged. He wondered if Max was right to worry.

Max smiled and said, "How bad is his headaches?"

Mecum looked at Master Maxwell and then at Master Brennan. Returning his gaze to Master Maxwell he said, "Master Frank's headaches come from when his true self tries to fight the ideas placed in his head by the evil one. Tarka was there when Master Frank was being tested, but was unable to do anything or it would have gone much harder on Master Frank. Tarka had all he could do just to keep Master Frank alive and sane enough to get him back to us. Punta will not leave him. We are trying Master Maxwell, but the machine they put him in, tore at his soul."

At this point, Kimtu entered with a tray and layed out the dinner for the humans. "Please eat Master Brennan and Master Maxwell." Both Kimtu and Mecum walked to the corner and climbed on two air chairs they conjured up.

Next door William had finished sealing the note to Ash. He thanked the elf for the meal. Will just wished he had not seen this part of Fixer's work.

FRANK COLE
Cole had taken a long run until the pains of the day had dissolved in leaving only numbing fatigue in their places. Returning to his house he took a shower and had a glass of his best Bordeaux wine. As he sat in his easy chair staring at the fire, he thought about the visitors to the island. Max and Brennan would need to stay, to see if they could help the elves, break him free from what the Cloaked Man had done. He still fought the need to inflict pain to force others to do what he wanted them to do. Here in his house, Punta could block those feelings. Cole looked over in the corner of the room and smiled at the elf sitting on an air-chair. The elf smiled back and continued to watch him. Cole raised his glass in a salute to his friend and received a knowing nod back.

Looking at the Grandfather Clock in the corner, he saw it was 8:35 pm. He had told the others he would see them in two hours, but he was too tired to walk back to the barracks. Steepling his hands in front of him, using the arms of the wing backed chair for support of his elbows, he watched the fire for a couple more moments. "Punta, have William brought to the house please. I will see him here in this room."

The elf nodded, closed his eyes and when he opened them again, he repeated the nod. William had been sent for via the elfin channels of communication.


It only took about fifteen minutes, for William to be led into the large den, through the French doors. Two of his men had him in tow, his hands bound in front of him. Artkee, had taken over Tarka's job. Cole looked up from his glass and said, "Unbind him and then you two may leave." The two men untied William, stepped back, saluted and then left. Cole motioned to the other wing backed chair in front of the fire. "What would you like to drink William?"

William was still in shock. He had been brought bound to Fixer at the house. Then Fixer sounding like his old self told the men, which were two of the Specialists, to unbind him and then leave. William just looked at the man unbinding him. Once the two men left, Frank asked what he wanted to drink. Will thought and then said, "I guess I will have my usual. What are you up to now? If you think I will betray Bren or Max..." William stopped because he was unsure just what to make of what happened since he got there. The man before him was back to the way he usually greeted Will wherever they met in the world. The young Duke of Wright had been leery of Frank Cole when they had first met. Will sadly shook his head as he felt now what he felt at that first meeting.

He walked to the window as he asked, "Do you remember that day I was first introduced to you, Frank?"

Cole sat back in the chair and studied the young man. After motioning to Artkee to get the young man a Salam Cola, Cole crossed his legs at the knees and he took a sip of his wine. "Yes, Will I do remember that day. You had been dragged to one of my lectures on profiling by one of your professors. When I shook your hand though it was firm, even though I thought you were going to never say a word." Cole chuckled, "When I asked you what you thought of my lecture all you said was it was interesting. That one plain phrase did not match the questions in your eyes. It took me four days to finally get you back into another lecture and then to an appointment with me so we could discuss your definition of interesting. You have done well with your life Will.

Will smiled for a moment then frowned as he said, "It was only recently that I trusted my own judgment in people and that was mostly because of my learning to trust you. Frank, back then I had just graduated from Hogwarts and had talked my parents into letting me train others who would one day work at Scotland Yard. My profiling professor had brought me, though he never said why. I got the feeling he was investigating you. I also got the feeling you knew just what he was there for. Do you remember me saying I hope you were not just another Professor Moriarty?" Will inwardly cringed as he wondered if that silly nickname he had given Fixer back then had been right all along.

Cole motioned for Artkee to put Williams drink down on the small side table next to the vacant chair. "You were right of course, your professor at the time was undercover for the Ministry of Magic and he had brought you along to see if you could get any new clues about me he might have missed in our previous meetings. He must have thought highly of your abilities. William, come and sit down. We need to talk."

William stayed standing but did move towards the table as he asked almost afraid of the answer, "So why Frank after finally gaining my trust years ago, why prove that nickname right now? Why now or were you always Moriarty and I was too blind to see that you were using me?" It felt foreign that he had been so wrong about this man who had taught him so much about being himself. Will was confused as he had thought about his analyses a lot since then and had come to see Frank Cole more as Sherlock or even better a secret agent then as an evil mastermind. Now the man he had looked up to had turned out to be Moriarty after all and Will had began to wonder what that said about his own self.

Putting his glass on the table beside him Cole watched Will for a few heartbeats then said, "Moriarty was out to kill Sherlock Holms, William, I am only trying to keep you alive. You will notice we do not have the two other men here. This is my private home and their kind will not be allowed. You needed to stop actively looking for your sister. Do not tell Luke this fact though, or I will have to bring him to the island also and convince him not to seek her, and William," Cole stopped and sat forward in his chair, placing his elbows on his knees and interlacing his fingers, "I do not want to bring the boy here at this time." Cole looked over to where the two elves were sitting on air-chairs in the corner and caught Punta's eyes, receiving a nod of acknowledgment. The children were to be kept away from the island until he could get rid of the two goons and make sure he would not hurt them. Cole waived toward the chair again and gave William a look that left no room for his disobedience. "I have decided to send you home now that I have your word of honor you will not actively look for your sister. If I have word I will send it too you."

Will wanted to believe his mentor but he had seen something in Fixer that scared him. He sat down finally and sipped his drink as he said still scared of what he had discovered about Frank Cole, "I just wished I had not seen this part of you. Luke doesn't talk to me much and I suspect he is worried I will figure out whatever he is up to. As for any of the Core coming anywhere near you or this island, I am sorry but after what I saw you do today..." Will stopped as he stood. He shook his head as he asked, "Frank, explain today? You almost made me ask you earlier, where was your robe. You seemed so like them that I still am unsure just which is the real you. I want to trust, to believe that what I witnessed today was just ..." He stopped as he was unsure of just how to express what he was feeling. He did know one thing, Will was not leaving without Bren. His baby brother Luke needed Brennan. Will was scared that if he left then Bren would not leave this island the same man that Brennan had arrived. He shook his head as he asked, "And Bren and Max? Are you releasing them as well? Frank, Luke needs Bren. I won't allow..." Will stopped still confused of just what he was scared of.

Sitting back in his chair, Cole picked up his glass and took a sip. "Luke is going to be fine William. He is having problems because of a young girl named Starling MacStone, who he is meant to be with. The darker side of Magic," Cole held up his hand as he saw the panic come across Will's face, "I don't necessarily mean the Dark Sect, has decided it would not be a bad idea if they had control of Wright Island. They are using another young girl named Grace Elizabeth Meloy, who is half Veela to try and draw Luke in their direction."

"As far as what happened earlier… it is the reason you must leave right away, tonight. The two men in the room are not my trusted men, Will. I cannot explain more but surface it to say they have the ability to bring a side of me out, I have worked hard to bury deep. I have made it clear to everyone, the children are not allowed back here until the men are gone and Punta has told me I am back to my old self. I was made to make a visit somewhere and now someone is being held hostage to make sure I do what is required. The only requirement of you was for you to stop looking for your sister and that I have acquired. Now you will go. Brennan and Max will be staying a bit longer. Luke will be fine until Brennan can return. I know I am asking the impossible, but you need to trust me in this, William."

Will smiled as he said, "Luke told me of his trouble with Grace Meloy, Frank. She is no big threat without her necklace. Especially since Luke has no more control over the Isle of Wright then I do. Frank that island is owned by Seth Wright, my father was what you would call a manager or caretaker of it when Seth was away. The Meloy Family would get further by targeting me then Luke. We might hold a seat on the House of Lords but I fill that seat not Luke. Frank, it is something worse that has Luke so silent. Have you seen his eyes? The warm caring boy I left is gone. All that seems left is anger and a..." William stopped as he remembered all the past times they had these kind of talks. That scared Will even though it had him grin at the realization that it was not Fixer that had him wanting Bren off the island.

"William, Luke is still young although if you tell him that, you know as well as I do he will do something beyond his abilities to prove he is not too young . You must keep him from trying to go after Shadow. Shadow is presently going against his father's, Khalid's wishes. And don't ask me how I know. Information is my business. Talk with him. Convince him he needs more training and time under his belt. If he gets too close to the wrong people, I may be made to call him to the island, and as I have stated, I do not want to do that at this time. "

William sipped on his drink for a few moments, considering what Frank said, Then he asked, "Frank, did you see how much those machines called goons focused on Bren? Especially when he had those memories?" The goons enjoyed Bren's pain.

"Brennan is going to be all right. He is being guarded and I will try and get him home as soon as possible. Don't fight me on this William. You will not win. Go home and look after your brother."

Will still seemed trouble but only said, "If I can get him to talk to me. I did not even think he might be looking for Shadow." His hand went through his hair as he asked sadly shaking his head, "Did he learn nothing from his and Bren's encounter with that maniac? Even I know better than tangle with The Shadow without major backup. That is why I came to you when I started my hunt. He will kill Luke next time or hold him, since your message said Shadow no longer had Ashley, to use against Bren and possibly Seth."

After calming himself, Will said, "Frank, why not just send all of us back together? Or just let me and your Specialists take those goons out? Frank, they are here under guises. Those two are not..." Will shook his head unsure of his instincts. His instincts were saying those goons were up to something and controlling Fixer was just a cover. He just had no clue as to what but whatever they were here for Will knew that if they got their way, what Fixer was doing would be gentle compared to those two.

Cole signaled Artkee to refill their glasses then rubbed his chin. Relaxing back into the chair he said, "I need Brennan's expertise at the moment and Maxwell is also going to assist me in determining the best way to prove I do not need the two goons here any longer. I cannot allow you to go back to the barracks William. My control is limited at the moment there. You are to be returned home to where ever you request. I need you safely away from here."

Will asked, "Why Frank? What are you worried about? Frank, all they know about me is that I think you used me. They think I no longer trust you so what are you afraid my being here will do? Frank, talk to me. I will go but I think I can do you more good here. So why send me home when they don't even know just how close I was to becoming a Specialist? Frank, I need you to trust me as much as I still want to trust you. I think I was more shocked at your behavior and my mistrust in my own instincts then I lost my trust in you Frank. Talk to me, what did those goons do to you?"

Cole leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees, then raked his hands through his hair. "You are not listening Will, I am not totally in control of myself when I am around the goons. It is hard enough now for the elves to protect me and the others from what I might do. I cannot, and I will not take the responsibility of possibly hurting you badly. Max knows what is going on because he can hide his thoughts. Normally Brennan would be able to also, but at the present he is too tied up in trying to get through what has already been done to him, to hide the knowledge he needs to. If you need me you know how to get in touch with me. Use the old ways because they will not be known." Cole stood up and stuck out his hand, "Now you must go."

Will nodded but said, "I still think me and your Specialists can take those goons, but I will go for now. Frank, It is Bren that I am worried about. Like you said Bren has not been the same since his encounter with Shadow. Something reminded him of that time, Frank. Those guys liked Bren suffering. That scares me. What if they..." He was worried just what those goons planned for Bren.

Cole shook William's hand then looked at Artkee and said, "Please take Master William to the send off point. See that he gets anywhere he would like to be." Turning to William he said, "Now go William. Contact me if you need to. I will let you know if anything comes of your letter." At that Cole turned and walked out of the room, closing the door to the hall behind him.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane; we hope are enjoying the thread)

BRENNAN DAWSON
Bren had not slept very much the night before. Fixer had said he would be back in about an hour and had not shown up at all. He had sent a note to him and Max explaining that it was too late to come, last night. Bren had worried about his cousin William. He looked at the blank page and wondered if Fixer had chosen to use the night to break his cousin. He looked at the window as he thought, "Fixer has had all night to torture William. What if my cousin has weakened or even been turned?" Bren was still worried as the door opened.

Max walked into the room. He had a sleepless night worrying about what might have been happening to Bren and Will. About 9:30 pm. he and Bren had received a note from Frank staying it was too late for him to come back. The elf Artkee had come into the room and told Max he needed to take him to his own room. Max had looked at Bren but had decided against fighting the move. Everyone was beyond tired. Sleep, if it could be found would be good. Now though as he walked into the room, seeing Bren's face he realized it was not going to be an easy morning.

Bren tried to smile as he looked at his still full plate. He wondered if Max had seen Will. He looked at Max as he asked, "Seen Will? Is he okay?"

Max just shook his head. He had already eaten his breakfast. Bren should have eaten to keep up his strength, but from the food on the table, it looked like Bren had not even taken a bite. "Bren you should have eaten something." All he received in answer to his comment was, a wave of his hand and Bren again looking at the piece of paper in front of him. Max walked over to the table and took the same seat he had the night before. The paper was blank. He shook his head but before he could comment Cole walked into the room along with Punta.

Cole had gotten up early and followed his normal routine. He ate two energy bars, went on a five mile run, morning calisthenics with the troops and then back to his home, a morning shower and a full breakfast. As he walked down the hall he looked at his watch. It was 9:00 am. Max and Bren were in the room where he had left them the night before. He wondered if Bren had worked on the information he had requested. Just as he got to the door, he saw the two goons coming down the hall from the main area direction. Cole had left orders to keep them well occupied. A couple of his female troop members had earned some extra specials because they had spent time talking with the two men, and seeing what they could find out.

Cole entered the room followed by Punta and waved the two goons to the wall near the entry. Walking over to the table he saw Artkee, clear an untouched breakfast off the table. Shaking his head he straddled his usual seat, folded his arms on the table in front of him and glanced over at the blank paper in front of Brennan. "Brennan I gave you an assignment last night and I see nothing has been done. Care to tell me why?"

Bren looked at the door as he asked worried, "Where is William? What did you do to him?"