When Evil Prevails

Section 7

Writer - Gabriel Shaytan

FX is a Rysher production in conjunction with Fireworks Entertainment Inc. and Winterset Productions Inc as well as Hallmark Entertainment.

Don’t own ‘em, aren’t bein’ paid.
   

        Angela woke early and after a quick bite, Mira was still asleep, began to work on the program once again.  The sooner it was done, the sooner they could try it in the P.D.A’s that were being altered for it and the sooner she could be back with Rollie, the real one.  Deciding to work up in the clean room instead of at the downstairs workstation where she might wake Mira, Angie trod up the stairs carefully, sat down at the alpha and got to work, feeling secure in her usual environment.

        Streets away Rollie was awake as well, the couch was comfortable but he felt a nervous energy that wouldn’t allow him to just sit down and relax.  He’d already begun planning the gags he was in charge of and now brought out the sheets to do some additional refinements on them, it felt good to be able to concentrate on something other than the shambles that his life had become.
        Picking up the phone he called the university, usually once Senjari started working on something interesting then he just kept going until he cracked it or until he was so tired he had no choice but to sleep.

        ‘ Senjari, engineering physics department’ Senjari answered, grabbing the phone.
        ‘ Tyler here, any luck?’
        ‘ The first one’s almost ready, I’ll have to test it of course and it’ll probably need some refinements but so far so good’
        ‘ That’s great news.  Mind if I drop by?  I’m sort of stuck for something to do’
        ‘ By all means, oh, how is Angela doing with the program?’
        ‘ I haven’t heard from her yet, I’m not sure when I will’
        ‘ I understand, well, I’ll be expecting you sometime then’
        ‘ Right, bye’

         Standing up Rollie headed for the kitchen, there was cereal and he loaded a bowl full and returned to the living room, switching the TV on quietly he watched what was going on in the world.  A car had been bombed not far from his place, the person inside incinerated and Rollie’s eyes narrowed at the mention of a “ French Kiss”.  He’d almost died himself at the hands of someone using a device like that, though the person who’d set it had been engulfed by his quick actions.
         The media were blowing Spielberg coming to town to direct out of all proportion as usual and Rollie hoped he wouldn’t have to fight his way onto set everyday trying to get through them and the fans that would line up to see the icon.
         He also wished that Angie would be by his side, working with him like they had for so long before.  Casually sitting back he wondered if she’d seen his goodbye message, not that he’d left any note or anything to suggest there was one.
 

         Mira stirred on the couch and looked around, she’d slept late and quickly got up, looking around, no sign of Angie.  Walking up the stairs she could see the blonde hard at work on the computer already, and walked over to her.
        ‘ Hey Angie.  How’d you sleep?’
        ‘ Oh, hi Mira.  Not bad, better than I thought I would’
        ‘ Mind if I use the shower?’
        ‘ Go for it, I’ve got stuff to do here so I’ll grab one later’
        ‘ Don’t be answering the door while I’m in there either, Rollie would kill me if anything happened to you’
        ‘ At least it shows he cares’ Angie answered with a laugh.
        ‘ That he does.  You know, sometimes I envy what you have’
        ‘ I wouldn’t, not everything is sweet smelling roses you know’
        ‘ I know, be back soon’
        ‘ Right’

         Remembering the previous night, Angie pulled up the security tapes of the loft, scanning through and watching to see if Rollie had accidentally left something or done anything she should know about.  She watched as she fast forwarded through the tape, seeing him turn to the camera and start talking, it went by at a blur and she rewound the tape, playing it at normal speed.
         She sat listening to his message, only a few words but he put so much feeling into them that she could almost feel him standing there saying them to her in the flesh.  Knowing that he meant what he’d said and that leaving before she arrived wasn’t easy for him to do made her feel his absence even more, the need to hear his voice and feel his arms around her, protectively, was almost overwhelming.
        ‘ But would he really want to hear from me?  After everything that happened, after I ran away from him again?’ she asked herself, finishing with ‘ I’ll call when the program’s done’
         Angie got back to work re-writing the program, lines and lines of code would need to be edited, manipulated moved and redesigned for the program to fit into the alpha and the much smaller P.D.A’s memory.
 

         Once Frank was awake, Rollie told him of the plan to visit Senjari and the detective told him that Vanduran had asked Frank to keep him informed of what was happening.
        ‘ So you coming with?’ Rollie asked.
        ‘ Let me grab a coffee and we’re on our way’ Frank replied.

         It wasn’t long before they were motoring across the bridge to the university where Senjari worked, pulling into the carpark and heading inside the large building.
 

 
         Viktor Loubar wondered what his ever-present dream meant.  He entered a room, it had two doors, both thick, solid steel with no locks on the inside.  There was someone in the room with him, that much he could tell and he could feel an almost palpable hatred approaching from the direction of the door he’d just entered through.
         He turned for the other door and made it through... the door shut behind him and he heard the sound of the other shutting as well.  Something happened and then suddenly he was flying above the ground, his shape that of a bird, going where the wind blew.
         Nothing was what it seemed, he had no idea what it meant, or signified or anything, it was a dream and yet for some reason it was the only one he’d ever had that he could remember waking up to.  Things were moving apace now and he’d removed several other “incidentals” from his business.
         The navy seal was working on his equipment and for once everything seemed to be panning out the way he wanted, with no Tyler or Ramirez stuffing things up.
 

         Rollie, followed by Frank, headed down the wide corridors of the university to where Senjari had his workshop.  The lab was cluttered with equipment, most of which Rollie understood but still, scattered around were items about which he had no idea.
        ' Senjari, you in here?'
        ' Over here Tyler' came a reply from the other side of a large screen.

         Frank started around, Rollie stopping to look at a few things before he too headed to where the doctor stood waiting, looking down at several P.D.A's with the FX logo stuck to them.  Rollie looked down, the size had been increased slightly and they were now heavier and thicker but generally they hadn't been changed too much.  He immediately noticed the change to the camera housing and the increased size of the battery compartment.
        ' Well, here it is, the first one finished.  I've still got to test it and since we've already got your pattern I though I might as well wait until you showed up'
        ' So it's ready to go?'
        ' We can take the shot and use the computer here to test it's reading'
        ' Now?' asked Frank.
        ' If you wish'

         Senjari picked up the P.D.A and directed Rollie to stand in front of the screen.
        ' Is this screen necessary?' Rollie asked.
        ' No, just easier without all the clutter' Senjari answered, aiming the P.D.A and depressing the camera button.

        Rollie waited until Senjari said he could move and then moved over looking as Senjari connected the P.D.A to the computer and downloaded the image, watching as the software started to translate the image into an overall bodily electrical chart.  The software then started comparing to the ones in it's memory, finally scanning against Rollie's and announcing a match.
        ' Well, it works.  It's slow at the moment but that's a software problem.  Our next problem is making sure it can sense your body signature at range' Senjari answered ' That's what this little one is for'
 
         Frank and Rollie leant over the small device, it looked like a small dome, connected to the computer.  Rollie recognized it as a multi-directional receiver unit, used for reading unusual electrical activity, in this case it would be reading for his bodies electrical pattern and output signals.  When they were identified it would announce his presence.
        ' This is amazing.  Will it work?' Rollie asked, not knowing if the software would be able to differentiate between a device and a bodily signal, weak as they were.
        ' I'm hoping so.  Again the software will be the main problem'
        ' Well we'll see how Angie goes with the other one, maybe they can both be changed.  Oh, can I take this P.D.A with me?' Rollie asked.
        ' It's ready, go ahead, I'll have another finished by the end of the day and I'll have the sensor working by tomorrow I hope'
        ' Thanks, come on Frank we've got work to do'
        ' Nice meeting you detective' Senjari said as he watched them leave.
        ' We'll be back tomorrow then.  I'll be seeing you' Frank answered with a knowing grin, following Rollie as he left, betting Rollie hoped he could go to the loft.
 

        ' Well Angie?' Mira asked.
        ' It's getting there.  By tomorrow I should have it rewritten and then I'll be able to test it out, and Rollie can come back where he belongs'
        ' He'll be here at the earliest moment Angie, he wants to be back together with you… probably as much as you do with him'
        ' I hope so.  I need him Mira, sometimes I don't think he knows that' Angela said sadly.
        ' He knows Ange, he needs you too' Mira answered with a grin ' Actually I'm surprised he hasn't…'

        The phone rang and Mira looked at it, and then at Angie.
        ' Want me to get it?' she asked.
        ' No, I'll get it' Angie answered, heading for the phone.

        ' Tyler FX, Ramirez speaking' Angie started.
        ' Angie?  It's good to hear your voice sweetie' Rollie said, it was the first time since the night with the CD that he'd talked to her.
        ' Rollie?  What is it?' she asked.
        ' I've got the first P.D.A that Senjari's fixed, will you need it to test the program?'
        ' That'd be good yeah.  How's it work?'
        ' Fine, we did a test and everything checked out'
        ' Well get your butt back over here then.  We'll scan you in and get things working again'
        ' You sure?  I can wait if you want' Rollie said slowly.
        ' Rol, if you aren't over here in half an hour I'm going to be very angry with you'
        ' You were the other night' Rollie said hesitantly.
        ' Not with you Rol, with him and what he did.  I want YOU back'
        ' I'll bring Frank too'
        ' Ok, I'll see you Rol'
 

         Rollie looked over at Frank who'd been monitoring the conversation and gave him a smile, the first Frank had seen for a while.
        ' She wants me to go over, to bring the P.D.A' Rollie explained.
        ' Lets go then, I'm sure Angie won't want to be kept waiting'

         They both grinned as Rollie grabbed the P.D.A and his coat, maybe this time they'd manage something to stop Loubar, and if they could get his signature they could find him even in disguise.