When Evil Prevails

Section 16

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.
 

        Viktor Loubar glanced down at the message he'd received, anger clearly displayed on his face.
' Incompetents' he muttered, looking up and around the small room he occupied.
 
         He'd been watching the set, seeing what effect his parcel had made.  The first and second parcels had worked amazingly well, better than he'd ever imagined that they would.  Now however, by all appearances, it seemed that this time it wasn't working, that Angela was willing to trust Tyler enough to let him help deal with the packages.  He would have to advance the timing of his plans, that was all, but now… things would have to wait, even vengeance took second place to a few things.

         She hadn't been afraid of Tyler, somehow they'd managed to quieten Angela's fears that Tyler was really himself in disguise.  This message couldn't have come at a worse time.

         Standing he began packing what he needed, things that he'd need to rectify the situation, once again cursing the stupidity of his pawns.  Grabbing several bags he strode from the building, locking it and arming the security system behind him.

         Before long his plane was ready and he was headed away from where he really wanted to be and what he wanted to be doing, knowing that it could be a month or more before he was able to return.  Making money was no longer a desire he harboured, for too many years that was his only goal and now all that was left was his "business" and removing people who had stood in the way of that over the years.  Tyler had lost him more money in the three meetings they'd had than anyone else and that was why Tyler would die.
 
 

         Work was going well, the scene he'd begun working on before the others arrived went off without a hitch and the other effect's crews were really beginning to work well together.  It was an easy smile that Rollie threw to several of the stuntmen as he and Frank headed past, moving to the next set to start getting the next shot ready.
         The smile wasn't just because of work though, even though his mind was on what he was doing, Angela was never far from his thoughts and never was that truer than at that particular moment.  His blue eyed, blonde haired partner had agreed to go out with him, not as a friend or because of business but on a date.  He knew that if he didn't manage to get himself under control he'd lose it.  His last date had been with Danni, it wasn't great, not even good, both of them deciding that it just wasn't working out and deciding to go their separate ways.

         It had been the right decision, he'd found himself tiring of Danni's bossy, superior attitude with which she treated everyone, even Angela he'd finally realised.  She dismissed Angie as though she wasn't competition… that Angie was below her and he'd jumped straight into it.  That had all changed though, Danni was out of his life and Angela had shown just how much she cared for him and he couldn't ignore that, or the stirring of his own heart for her.

         Now though, with Angela as his date, he suddenly wondered if he could make it all work.  ' I just don't want her to be disappointed' he muttered, walking onto the set and over to the work sheet, showing what was left to set up and what equipment it needed.
 

         Frank walked alongside his friend, eyes roaming over the crowds of people working on the set, wondering if one of them was Loubar in disguise and trying to figure out how he could protect Rollie if one of them was.

         His mind flashed back over the anger Rollie had shown, both before and when this latest package had arrived.  It was an invasion of their friendship, Rollie and Angie's, but then that was why Loubar was doing it.  After they had stopped Loubar's attempt to kill the Chinese trade minister, stopping him from framing Rollie for the attempt, perhaps Loubar had realised that as a team Rollie and Angela were too good to beat, neither would ever give up on the other, non while breath stirred their bodies.

         ' That's a worry.  Rollie was right in that sense, until either Loubar was dead or he and Angela were, their lives would be at risk.  Loubar's shown he wants something more from them' Frank thought as he followed a step behind his friend, hoping that Rollie wouldn't do anything stupid if Loubar did show up.  He knew his friend was carrying a major hated for what had happened, not to Rollie himself, but to Angela.
 
 

         Mira held the mask in her hands, looking at the slightly opaque substance from which it had been formed, amazed at its polymorphic properties.  Angela had insisted that they not throw it away, it was a clue, Loubar had made a mistake sending it to her if only she could get it working.  Once she knew how it worked she hoped she'd be able to find a way to stop it from functioning.

         The dark haired detective looked over at her younger friend, working away on the computer, putting together another scene for the movie, meshing and adding parts done by other artists as well as using her own programs to build up the right effect.  Mira was amazed at what Angie could accomplish, knowing quite well how efficient Angie was with the computer and how much that skill had been useful to the department over the last few years they'd been involved with Tyler FX.

        ' Is there anything I can do?' Mira asked finally, if she had to stay here with Angie she might as well pitch in.
        ' Huh?' Angie asked, looking up from where she'd been peering intently at something on the screen.
        ' Can I do anything?  You know… to help?' Mira answered, smiling slightly at how intent Angie had been on the work.
        ' Sorry Mira, there's not a lot to do at the moment' Angie replied looking around for inspiration before shrugging ' It won't be long until Rollie's back, maybe he'll be able to think of something'
        ' Yeah… got the morning paper?' Mira asked, catching it a moment later as Angie pulled it out from a tray of draws.

         Mira started browsing through the paper while Angela went back to work on the graphics she'd begun.

        It was starting to look really good, hopefully good enough.  She knew that this was a very big deal for her and Rollie, working on a Spielberg film could really boost their standing, especially when it looked like Rollie might be in the race for overall effects coordinator, something that was still undecided.  She worked as hard as she could, using as much new technology as she could, anything she could think of to make the effects that much better, not wanting her work to reflect badly on Tyler FX.

        It was difficult to concentrate properly, wondering about what had happened earlier in the van after Rollie had ordered Mira and Frank outside.  About the sudden acceptance and the suddenness of what would be their first date that night.  That was the problem, it didn't seem sudden, it seemed like she'd waited an eternity for it to happen, despite the time she'd spent trying to deny what she really felt.  A small half-smile appeared on her face, immediately noticed by Mira who had turned to look at her when all movement had stopped at the computer.

        ' What are you smiling at?' Mira asked, it wasn't something she'd seen much of from her friend since Loubar had started sending the packages.
 
        Angela threw Mira a quick look before turning back to the computer, not answering.  She knew that Mira wouldn't approve of what she'd agreed to with Rollie, but she knew she couldn't let what Loubar had done dictate her life.  If she did she might as well stay at her apartment or the loft and never leave, or go and never see Rollie again.

        Saving the work she'd done, Angela looked up, noting that it was now very close to lunchtime, and that Frank and Rollie would be back soon.  Standing up she stretched upwards and then leant over, touching her toes, stretching the protesting muscles in her back, muscles tightened by constantly sitting at the console without a break.

         Rollie walked in at that moment, smiled and wisely withheld comment.  Frank had gone to get the lunch and Rollie stepped inside, being checked by Mira even as she watched how Angela would react to Rollie's entrance.

         Angie straightened up, saw Rollie looking at her with a brash sort of grin and couldn't help but smile back, it was a silly sort of thing but she knew that smile and it sent an important message.
        ' How'd it go?' she asked, sitting down on a box motioning for him to take a seat next to her.
        ' Fine Ange.  Everyone's starting to get it together, we got an extra scene done this morning' Rollie explained then asked ' How about you, got something harder to work on yet?'
        ' Yeah, really challenging actually.  I'll show you after lunch… where is lunch?' she asked.
        ' Frank's gone to get it, should be back in a minute' Rollie explained.
 

         Lunch passed too quickly for Rollie and yet not fast enough.  Angela showed him what she'd been doing and he whispered to her that he'd been responsible for them giving her something harder, telling them they were wasting talent giving her what they had been.  Rollie looked around the van for a moment after Mira asked if she could do anything to help and then handed her a thick pile of paper and asked her to go through it, making sure there weren't any mistakes.

         It was barely six when they left the set, Mira and Angie heading back to Angie's apartment and Frank travelling to the loft, following Rollie in the van.