When Evil Prevails

Section 10

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.
   

         It was after lunchtime when Rollie stepped into the loft and looked around, a stack of bags sat by the door and Rollie wondered what was going on, a worried frown on his face as his overactive imagination started working on possible scenarios.  The program hadn't worked quite as well as Angie thought and she was leaving was the first and he didn't get any further.
         Frank pushed Rollie in through the doors and looked at the cases himself, wondering.  Looking around he heard voices drifting from upstairs and called out.
        ' Be right down Frank' Mira called looking over to where Angela sat, fiddling with a case.  Walking over she lent her weight and got the case closed.
        ' Thanks' Angie said making sure she'd got all of her stuff, Chiops was already in his carrier downstairs.

         They carried the last bags down the stairs and Angie saw that Rollie was standing there, off to one side, watching her walk down the metal staircase.  She almost tripped under his scrutiny and she wondered how long he'd been doing that without being so open about it.
        ' Going somewhere?  Is something wrong?' Rollie asked quietly.
        ' Nope, everything's fine' Angie reported shooting him with the P.D.A and showing him the results.
        ' Wow, that's fast.  Great job Ange, but why all the cases?'
        ' Now that we've got a method of detection I'm heading back to the apartment with Mira so you can get back in here'
        ' Don't you want to stay?'

         Angie looked at Rollie, who was being stared at by both of the detectives as well.
        ' What?'
        ' I just need a bit of time first Rol' Angie said aware of just how much he did want to see her.
        ' Well… okay.  It's not like we won't be seeing each other on set'
        ' and I'll still be coming around and annoying you sitting on the computer' Angie finished with a smile.

         Turning, his eyes meeting Frank's he looked down at the luggage and then at Mira before giving Frank a stare.
        ' Hey Mira why don't we start loading this stuff up?' Frank asked after a moment.
        ' Sure Frank'

         Angie looked over at Rollie and shook her head, it was obvious he wanted them out of the way and she headed over to the kitchen with him following closely.
        'It will be good to be back.  I almost came back to use the VR today, I was so bored' Rollie joked.
        ' I knew it, that you wouldn't be able to hack being away from all your toys.  That's why I convinced Mira to come back to my apartment' Angie answered beginning to make a cup of coffee when she heard Rollie step closer and felt his arms slide around her waist.

         She turned around looking at him, at his eyes.

        Rollie looked back at her with his brown eyes gazing into hers ' I know you still don't trust me Angie, even with the program and I understand why.  I just wanted to hold you again, for you to feel me and remember that you used to like it' Rollie explained, reluctantly letting go.

        ' I'm sorry Rol, it's just…'
        ' It's okay Ange, it's ok.  I understand why.  I just didn't want you to lose sight of what we used to have'
        ' I won't Rol, I'll never forget'

         Rollie picked up two cups and carried one to where Frank stood with Mira by the door, Angie following with one for Mira.  ' Here you go Frank' he said.
        ' Thanks Rol'
        ' Thanks Angie' Mira added taking her own.

         Standing around drinking the coffee and talking quietly Angie shot glances at Rollie, she didn't know how but she knew when he put his arms around her that it wasn't Loubar, there was something different, something deeper when Rollie touched her.
        ' Ready to go Angie?' Mira asked.
        ' Ah, actually I've got some other work to get done, I really should get started on it'
        ' You're going to stay here and work then?'
        ' Yep, got this new movie tomorrow and I've figured out a few things we might be able to use'
        ' Ok, well, I guess I'll take this stuff back to the apartment'
 
         Frank looked over at Rollie and then offered ' Want some help Mira?'
        ' Won't you have to get Rollie's stuff from your place?'
        ' I can grab it after and drop it off, maybe go and see if Senjari has finished the other bits yet as well'
        ' Well sure, don't mind the help'

         Thanking Angie for the drinks the two officers left, heading for Angie's apartment to unload.
 

         Rollie watched as Angie gave him a small half-smile, like she had so often and headed for the stairs.  He'd thought, hoped, that her decision to stay had actually been to talk with him but it seemed that she had meant what she'd said about having work to do.

        Rollie looked around for something to do and finally decided to hit the VR chamber like he'd intended to that morning.

        His mood was almost as bleak as the icy white wastes of the Antarctic ice pack that formed on the walls of the chamber, he'd had the program for a while but hadn't been interested in reminding himself how cold some places were, he liked it hot.
        The blinding whiteness of the icy expanse contrasted with the rocky outcrops and the camouflage of the animals that lived there was amazing, the land pristine.  He sat engrossed, moving the viewpoint he spotted some emperor penguins huddling together in their rookery, a large colony, the small yellow patches on their throats and sometimes breasts making them distinctive against the white background.  Turning further he found sea lions, slipping into the water in search of their next meal.
        Turning further he spotted the small antarctic research station, on a flat spot the buildings seemed like a small town, in fact that's what they were, self contained and functional they stuck out in wide expanse, their red brick walls standing out.
        He could feel the isolation, it felt like his life, not even his closest friends trusted him, needing proof to believe him, or putting him through tests, he felt like a guineapig, like a rat in a maze not knowing which way to go.

        After a time he wandered down the stairs, heading over to Bluey and looking at his little robotic dog.  A thought came to mind and he picked the little six legged creature up and carried him the bench.  After several minutes he looked down, realised what he was missing and picked up the phone.  A short time later he had a package and opened it, removing the equipment from the box.  He started to work.

        Sometime while he was working, Frank returned with his stuff and another P.D.A fixed, and holding out the sensor device.  Rollie placed it on the table and turned it on, it immediately picked up his signal and sent a message to the P.D.A " Tyler in vicinity" it read, accompanied by a beep that continued until the message was actively opened.
        ' Oh, he said he made a change and gave you a choice of distances, ten, twenty, fifty or a hundred metres'
        ' Good idea, don't know how large the set is though it'd be reasonable I'd imagine'
        ' So, working on Bluey?'
        ' Yeah, adding a camera to him, like the ones in the P.D.A then he can scan me as well'
        ' Told Angie?'
        ' Not yet, haven't seen her since you left'
        ' Why not?  Why aren't you up there talking to her?'
        ' It's her private place really, doesn't like anyone up there, even me.  She'll talk when she's ready Frank, she just needs some time.  I've got to get this finished ok?'
        ' Oh, right.  Well, I'll be seeing you on set, the captain still wants us around you for a while'
        ' Ok, take care Frank'
        ' You too Rol'
 

         Rollie sat back down and started on Bluey again, continuing until the upgrade was complete and the little robot dog could identify his master by electrical signal generation.
         He wondered what Angie was doing, he couldn’t think of anything that would take her this long to complete that they'd need for the next day.
        ' Maybe she is just avoiding me' Rollie said quietly to himself.