From: FX Phantom
Date: 9/18/98
Time: 11:10:34 PM
 

A new Forum, a new Round Robin. This starts simply.

Rollie peered into a small PVC pipe "I don't care. You can't go." Rollie inserted his left index finger into the pipe, smearing grease along its edges. "We've go the movie to finish and-" Rollie lowered the pipe from his vision "-we've got that commercial to do." Rollie took a deep sigh "now" he rubbed his forehead, leaving a small grease spot above his left brow "lets finish that fade-out sequence."

Angie nearly stamped her foot. " I don't believe you! This is important to me. H-H-" Angie stared at Rollie hard, tears filling her eyes, threatening to spill "How DARE you!!" Angie turned and stiffly walked away.

Rollie stared after Angie, confused. He ran his hand across his forehead, smearing the spot of grease. "Ange?" He yelled for her then, broke into a trot after her.

Angie leaned against a brick wall, softly crying. She heard Rollie come towards her and quickly dried her eyes. She straightened up as Rollie appeared before her, a look of concern and anger in his face.

Alright.... Get at it my fellow FXrs!!
 

From: Peggy
Date: 10/23/98
Time: 5:52:35 AM
 

Rollie found himself staring into Angie's red rimmed eyes. He felt his anger melting away under the gaze of her blue eyes. The Aussie sighed, deeply unhappy and rubbed his aching head again. The blonde wanted this so much and it WAS important, to her and to her friend. I need her here, he argued silently with himself. She seldom asks for anything for herself, he found himself arguing back. She's earned her time off, she's worked so hard. Ignoring the voice that responded, So have you. Rollie sighed again, "All right, you can go." Angie's face lit up like a beacon. He smiled ever so slightly, "but I want you back in two days! Promise?"

"I promise, boss! Two days!" Angie smiled widely up at her taller partner.

The special effects expert nodded sharply and wished he hadn't. Damn, his head hurt. He watched Angie leave, then returned to the FX van, looking for some aspirin or Tylenol or something. He didn't know why he was getting so many headaches lately and wondered if they were making him unreasonable. Was his "no" such a monstrous response? His beautiful, blonde partner had seemed to think so. Swallowing two aspirin dry, he went back to work setting up the effect. He had a long two days ahead of him.

Two days later, Angie returned to the set, humming happily to the tune on the pickup's radio. She parked it and jumped out. The blonde special effects artist looked in bewilderment at the activity around her. It looked like an ant hill where someone had taken a stick and stirred it up. Spotting someone she knew, she quickly grabbed them. As she did, the sound of an approaching ambulance filled the air. "Eldon? What's going on? What happened? Where's Rollie?" She glanced around, trying to find the Aussie in the hive of activity.

Eldon stared at her with wide, shocked eyes. He swallowed and looked away. "A... A... Angie..."

The assistant director ran to her side, "Angie! Thank God, you're back! Rollie just collapsed!!!"

_______________

Next!

From: The Gerk
Date: 10/23/98
Time: 11:38:21 AM
 

Angie just shook her head. No, that couldn't be true. Her fears wrenching control, Angie reminded herself to breath. She could feel her hands shake and clenched them tightly.

"Take me to him," she spoke softly.

"He's over this way, c'mon we have to hurry. The ambulance is almost here," the AD dragged Angie through one crowd of people to the next, finally stopping in a wide circle. At the center of which lay Rollie.

He lay on his back arms spread and legs folded beneath him. To his right lay a complicated mass of small pipes and wires. In his left hand, still clenched tightly, was pair of pliers. His face was placid, though a bubbling stream of drool dripped from his mouth. Angie knelt by his side as the EMT finally worked their way through the crowd.

She wiped some stray hairs from his forehead and sniffed back the tears that flood her. She couldn't cry yet, Rollie needed her to be strong. Looking at his face, she noticed deep bags under his eyes. He probably hadn't been sleeping well, and he was surely being worked twice as hard. She shouldn't have left him alone. He needed her, he always needed her.

'That's part of why I had to go.' To have something that would be hers, separate from Rollie Tyler and Tyler F/X. Suddenly, anger gripped her. She hit on his chest, then again. Sobs coming easily she beat on him and cried out.

"Why? Why couldn't you handle it? I'll always be here, don't you know that?" She was screaming. One EMT pulled her away as the other begin a preliminary work over.

They rapidly loaded him into the ambulance on stretcher, inviting Angie to ride along. The AD shooed her and she climbed in gratefully. As the doors closed, Angie looked at the handsome Aussie's face and moaned. Things can never go too well, not for us. Putting her head in her hands, she realized they had been clenched so tightly, her nails had dug into her flesh. Tears rolled down her cheeks as blood dripped from her palms.

Order up! One Round Robin <to be continued>
 

From: Kat
Date: 10/23/98
Time: 4:11:51 PM
 

Rollie woke to a tickle. He opened his eyes slowly, still a little groggy, and looked down at the blonde hair resting against his arm. He tried to shift without disturbing the sleeping woman, but she stirred, rubbing her arm against her eyes as she sat up. Her eyes were red, it was obvious she had been crying before falling asleep by the side of the bed.

She looked at him worriedly. "Rol, I'm so sorry. I should never have gone. It was selfish."

He lifted his arm and placed it against her cheek where red marks had been left by the folds of the sheet. She pressed her face into his hand as she looked at him.

"Sweetie..." His voice was hoarse.

"Don't talk. The doctor will be back shortly. Do you remember what happened?"

The pale man shook his head.

"You passed out. Right before I got back." She was trying very hard to maintain her composure but she had been so worried the past few hours that it was difficult. To her relief, his doctor entered the room.

"Mr. Tyler, glad to see you're awake. He'll be fine, miss. Stress, Mr. Tyler, can kill you. You're
underweight and you were dehydrated when they brought you in." The doctor flipped a small light past Rollie's eyes, then filled in something on his chart. "You're free to go as soon as you have lunch. Should be brought around shortly. And take these." The doctor handed Angie two prescriptions. He was gone from the room before she looked up from the paper in her hands.

Rollie felt better after he ate, although he complained through every bite. Angie just smiled and watched.

"The job..."

"Eldon said he could handle the rest of today. He's not so sure about tomorrow."

"Look, Angie --"

"Im really mad at you for letting me go if you needed me..." Her eyes were growing red again.

"I just can't win with you. You were mad at me for saying no, now you're mad at me for saying yes."

The young blonde woman looked away.

He grabbed her chin, turning her face towards him. "Hey, hey hey," he whispered. "I was just kidding. You know I love you no matter what..."

So... What did our hero mean and how does our heroine respond? It's up to the next round robin writer. Can't wait to find out what happens next...

Cheers

Kat
 

From: FX PHANTOM
Date: 10/23/98
Time: 10:55:19 PM
 

Angie looked down into Rollie's face. She seemed almost confused then, a somber smile cracked her face "I-"

"Mr. Tyler? T-Y-L-E-R?" A small, black haired nurse quickly entered the room.

"yea?"

"I'm here from transport. Have you got someone to take you home?" The nurse smiled at Angie.

"Yes."

"Good. Now hop in here and we'll take you home."

Rollie was quickly hustled into the small wheelchair.

"Do you have all your belongings?"

Angie held up a small pile of clothing "All here"

An hour later, Rollie was back at the loft.

"Annnngie." Rollie whined.

"GO!" Angie pointed a firm finger towards the staircase.

"But look at the place!"

"GO! NOW! I'll call the doctor!" Angie gently pushed Rollie up the staircase.

"Fine, just wake me wh-"

"Rollie Tyler. You've just come back from the hospital. You are NOT to call anyone you are NOT to touch the computer you are NOT to complain. You ARE to get into that bed and GO TO SLEEP!!"

"Fine..... mom" Rollie gave an evil grin and slowly climbed the stairs.

A few minutes later, Angie made herself a strong cup of coffee and slumped heavily into the couch. The past hours of the day ran through her head. She took a long swig from the mug, shook her head, and began to weep.

Next!
 

From: Peggy
Date: 10/24/98
Time: 10:46:57 PM
 

Rollie peeked downstairs where Angie was weeping. He sighed, then dragged his tired body over to the bed. He hadn't meant to upset Angie like that. Why couldn't he ever get it right? He rubbed tired eyes and stretched out on the bed, positive he wouldn't sleep. A minute later, he was sound asleep, his exhausted mind and body demanding rest denied for too long.

Angie cried for several minutes, but finally shook herself out of it. This wasn't helping, but... She felt better. Sometimes, it was good to cry. She glanced upstairs toward Rollie's bedroom. Hopefully, he was sleeping. He really was wiped out and needed it. Besides, it wouldn't do for him to know she had been crying. Silently, she slipped upstairs, just to check. She found Rollie sprawled on his bed, uncovered and fully dressed. He still had his shoes on and he was frowning ever so slightly, tiny wrinkles puckering his brow. The deep circles under his eyes and the pallor of his skin added to the appearance of exhaustion. She frowned slightly and sighed. Shaking her head, she moved over and carefully removed his shoes. Not wanting to risk disturbing the sleeping Aussie, she went and pulled a light wool blanket from his chest and tucked it over his slumbering form. The blonde paused and stroked the hair gently from his face. She noticed for the first time, how very thin he had gotten. Her normally sturdy and energetic partner suddenly looked positively... fragile. Surely that hadn't happened in just two days time? Stress? The doctor's words returned to her. Underweight and dehydrated. How had he gotten underweight? True, Rollie had always been thin, but underweight? The dehydration was much easier to explain. It wasn't hard to get dehydrated. But even if he'd missed eating regularly for the couple of days she'd been gone, he shouldn't be... underweight!

Angie went downstairs, trying to remember Rollie's eating habits for the past week or so. She knew he occasionally missed eating, but he usually made up for it, eating like a horse later. It was astonishing how much Rollie could put away on occasion. But... The blonde went and checked Rollie's fridge, upstairs and downstairs. Both proved pathetically empty. A few odd covered containers that ... Well, it was impossible to tell what they had contained originally. No sign of Rollie's normal take-out either. Why wasn't Rollie eating? Angie shook herself again and determined, went out to completely re-stock the loft's food supply. She got the keys to the pickup and headed out.

Distracted by thoughts of Rollie's illness, Angie was totally shocked when she entered the grocers to find herself facing a hold-up in progress. With a gulp, she raised her hands as one of the two men with guns pushed his into her face. Now was not the time to get shot! Rollie would never forgive her. Besides, if she got shot, who would take care of him? With a quick glance toward the other victims of the hold-up, she felt like cheering as she spotted their friend, Francis Gatti, NYPD detective. He was looking her way, frowning, not very far from the other robber. Now, if they could just coordinate this right....

_______________________

Next!

From: Emma
Date: 10/26/98
Time: 5:36:27 PM
 

Hi. I hope no one minds me adding to this.

_______________________________

Rollie let out a deep yawn and rubbed his eyes. He felt wonderful. His stomach growled. For the first time since he started the movie, he felt famished! Rollie stood up, and started towards the kitchen. The loft was silent. Angie was gone a small note was stuck to the refrigerator: ROL- Gone out to get you some real food. Be back soon. A- Rollie smiled and opened the fridge. It was practically empty he reached back and grabbed a small container of orange juice. Slumping into the couch, he flicked on the T.V and began to drink from the container. Almost immediately, a news flash appeared

"This is Geffory Hindman reporting from Feldmans Grocery.."

Rollie sat up

..."A hold up has been in progress for the past three hours..."

Rollie turned and looked at the clock. He noticed that he had been sleeping for three hours. Angie had been gone for three hours. Rollie's stomach tightened.

"...There has been limited contact with the two assailants. We know for a fact however, that two people have been injured. Both are female. The assailants refuse to let these two free unless all demands have been met. Among these demands are a helicopter and 30 milion dollars cash. The police have been unable to-"

Suddenly gunfire, followed by screams filled the air. The camera panned the store, a large window shattered and the body of a faceless blond woman was thrown out.....

Ok... batter up!
 

From: Peggy
Date: 11/1/98
Time: 4:29:37 PM
 

Picking up where Emma left off on October 26th, as promised.

_______________________

Rollie felt sick as he stared at the television screen. No! His mind screamed, this can't be happening. He felt faint for a moment, but somehow found the strength to hold on as adrenline surged through his tired body. "Angie," he whispered and stumbled over to the phone and dialed a familiar number.

Everyone in Feldmans jumped as the sound of a phone ringing shattered the silence. The larger of the two robbers pointed his gun at Francis as his cell phone continued to ring. "What's that?" he growled threateningly.

Francis tried to look absolutely harmless as he answered, "My cell phone. My boss is probably wondering where I'm at. I'll be lucky to still have a job after this!"

The big man grunted, "Answer it. And make it good."

"Uh, yes sir." Frank bobbed his head and pulled the phone out, careful to keep his police special hidden. Damn, damn, damn. He hoped it wasn't Sarah. He sighed as he heard Rollie speak. His friend sounded absolutely frantic and looking over to where Angie was trying to help the other injured woman, he could understand why. Silently, he berated himself for not defusing the situation and saving these poor people. "Um, hi boss. I know I'm late. I'm really sorry, sir, I got tied up. It was completely unavoidable."

Boss? Late? Tied up? What was Francis on about? Rollie stared at the phone as if it was an alien object he'd never seen before. "Frank?"

"Yes sir, I checked on your executive assistant earlier, Mister Tyler. She'll be fine."

Angie's ears perked up at that. Mister Tyler? Rollie! She closed her eyes as she remembered the big man tossing the blonde woman out the window. Her note had told him where she was going and he must be worried sick. She fretted over him as she remembered his condition. Please don't let him do anything stupid, she prayed.

Executive assistant? Angie! Suddenly, everything clicked. Frank was in Feldmans with Angie and those other hostages. He swayed as the relief washed over him. Angie was all right. Frank was there, he would protect her if it was humanly possible. The television attracted his attention. He watched as emergency personnel collected the dead woman. His grip tightened on the phone, his knuckles turning white. Now he knew he had two friends in danger. "Mister VanDuran is extremely upset that he didn't get that report." He had to be careful how he said this, he didn't know if the crooks were listening in or not. They must not have been when he first spoke, but they might be now. "I'm only giving you one more chance, Gatti! You better be ready for the big dinner meeting at six tomorrow. Remember! It's at six!"

"Um, yes sir. I'll remember sir! Tomorrow at six, sir!" Six tomorrow? What about six? Frank glanced at his watch as he put the phone away. Of course, something was going to happen at six. Rollie was going to get in touch with the Captain. He was going to have something happen at six. They had just over a hour before it did! He was warning him of that and he'd have to be ready. He caught Angie's eyes and saw understanding, before her gaze drifted. He sighed silently and started praying.

Rollie grabbed his cell phone and headed for the FX van. Angie and Frank were in trouble. He had to reach VanDuran. And he had to get to Feldmans. Before six, he didn't have much time to get everything set up.

__________________

Next writer! Please!!!!
 

From: FX Phantom
Date: 11/1/98
Time: 7:33:56 PM
 

Angie spoke softly to the terrified young woman in her arms. The wound was supperficial, but the girl was close to shock. Angie had listend intently to francis's conversation with his "Boss." IF she had heard right, Rollie, always the knight in shining armor, was going to do something drastic. She was almost angry, this was the last thing rollie needed to be doing!

"HEY!! YOU!" The rather large robber grabbed angie by her arms and hoisted her up "What do you think your doing?"

Angie stared at the man squarely in the face "She's hurt."

"SO???" The man slammed Angie against the wall. "I'm gonna hurt you if you don't stop."

Angie's mind raced....she did NOT want to get herself injured, but the woman needed help and, from the crying that filled the market, she doubted that anyone else would be able to.

Angie raised her voice slightly "She's hurt."

The masked man began to laugh "....soooo, we've got ourselves a little heroine here?" the man turned, holding angie foreably against the wall "Hey! JJ!"

Another, smaller robber turned "Wha?"

"We've got ourselves a little supergirl here!"

"Really?"

Angie saw, from the corner of her eye as Francis slowly lowered his head, shaking it sadly.

Next!

From: CJ
Date: 11/2/98
Time: 3:51:58 PM
 

Hi. Ive been a lurker but, I thought I wold have some fun--CJ

VanDuran paced behind the police tape, barking orders into a small phone. Vanduran slammed the phone shut and spun around, nearly knocking into a frantic rollie.

Rollie breathed heavily "Tell me ever-"

"Get the hell out of here Tyler." Vandauren pulled a young officer aside, yelled something in his ear, and then faced Rollie once again. "I said get the HELL out of here."

Rollie was stunned "Wait a minu-"

"Don't you dare wait a minute me tyler. Get out of here before I have you dragged off." VanDuran spyed a small group of officers and motiend them to come forward. He faced rollie again "I heard about your little fainting episode tyler. We've got over thirty hostages in there. And thats not counting one of my own officers. The two assialents are dagerous. The've killed one woman already...The LAST thing I need is for you to go collapsing on me while you play the hero! You'll indager my men dammit." VanDuren grabbed the arm of a tall, burly officer and pulled him over "Endmen. I want you to escort this man off the premises."

Rollie's face turned beet red "I'm fine"

Vanduren stared at rollie "Edman?"

Officer Edman stepped forward and grasped Rollie

Rollie squirmed "I-I can get you a helicopter!"

VanDuren barely blinked "A REAL one Tyler?!"

Rollie paused for a mere second

"I thought so Tyler. Go home. NOW" Vanduren watched as Rollie was nearly dragged off, his face red, his voice yelling.

Next
 

From: The Gerk
Date: 11/2/98
Time: 4:32:19 PM
Ooo! This looks like fun. Here's my go at it.

Rollie was furious. Damn VanDuran! Damn the Police! Damn the crooks! To Hell with everyone! Pulling his arm free, he stalked back to the van. If they didn't want his help, fine. But Angie did! And seeing as she was the one in trouble...

Rollie ignored the ache in his muscles. He would get rest when Ang was safe. She could even take care of him. He wouldn't protest, much. Sighing, he sat at the computer. She could do this easily. Punching some keys, he brought up the browser and connected to the Bureau of Public Works. Finding the blueprints of the market would be tough. And he was running low on time.

Six! Boss, had said six. Angie gulped air through her bruised throat. The brute had laughed and called her a hero. Well she would show him! Kneeling by the injured woman, she traded glances with Gatti. They would have to be ready, if Rollie said something would happen. It would.

Rollie Tyler was desperate. He had set up some inocuous boxes across the street from the market. Angie was trapped in there with two crooks, two crooks who have already killed. As he worked, he overheard some uniforms talking.

"They're pretty desperate," a tall cop said.

"Yeah, well three people died in the robbery. When the chase ended, I was sure they'd be taken," another added.

"Only they slipped away," a third said, shaking his head. "Now... damn! I don't think anyone's gonna get out of there alive."

Rollie's anger flared. He would be ready. Checking the boxes, he hurried off to set up one last case. Carring the big black box to the roof of the apartment building was a pain. Particully since sharpshooters were inside and the building was closed off. Climbing the fire escape, Rollie was pounded by a wave of fatigue. His vision blurring, he shook it off and thought of Angie.

VanDuran was upset. Gatti was inside, and if he understood the presence of Tyler, so was Angie. He like both of them, for whatever reason. Barking orders, he had called for a helicopter but knew it couldn't be used. Negotiation wasn't an option. Hopefully, when it arrived, they SWAT team could eliminate the crooks. There just wasn't time for more.

Rollie Tyler checked his PDA. The Boise WaveSpeakers he had arranged as well as the tunnel fan on the roof were primed. Checking the time, he saw only five minutes remained. Taking a deep breath, to settle his nerves. He crept passed the police line and into an alley besides the grocery store.

Climbing onto a dumbster, he glanced down the alley as two cops contiued their patrol. They saw him entering the building just as he disapperaed into a small vent. Calling VanDuran, they asked for instructions. Rollie was inside the market, with Angie and Francis. And the two lethal gunmen.

Well, what has Rollie gone and done now? You tell us! <incidentally, Tony, you claim to like action. Maybe you could fill this next bit in?>

The Gerk
 

From: Lil ol' me
Date: 11/2/98
Time: 8:12:29 PM
 

I had such fun with the last one....

The two robbers were having a heated argument in the corner of the bread isle

"This is getting us fucking nowhere!!" Alex, the larger of the two yelled "We're sitting on are asses here! where the hell is our stuff huh?"

JJ, reached out to Alex "calm down Alex,"

Alex threw his hands in the air "CALM DOWN???! I have thirty...count em thiry people here and nothing is happening. The police don't seem to understand how serious we are."

"But we gave them the girl."

Alex shoved JJ against the shelves, knocking them down and showering JJ in dozens of loves of bread.

"The hell with you JJ!! If they think they can keep us sitting the've got another thing comming!!" He walked towards Francis "give me your phone. now" Fransis quickly handed it to the man

Alex fumbled for a moment and then yelled into the phone "You listen here. You think you can keep us waiting? You think you can get away with it?? I have thirty lives in my hands.....I'll show you what I can do!!" Alex spun around and glared at angie "Hey! Supergirl! COME HERE!"

Nxt!!
 
 

From: T
Date: 11/3/98
Time: 4:58:06 PM
 

Angie hesitated and Alex stormed over to her. Grabbing her by the arm he roughly pulled her to her feet and started dragging her across the room.

"What are you doing?" Francis said, starting to get up.

"Shut up!" Alex yelled and pulled off a shot three inches above Francis' head.

Francis ducked as pieces of a desk flittered down around him. Alex walked up next to the broken window and hurled Angie in front of it. He screamed from his hiding point behind the wall.

"You have three minutes to get me my demands!" he screamed, "or she dies right in front of you! Then a hostage every 30 seconds after that!"

Rollie came out slowly of the back storage room, listening to Alex screaming. He glanced at his PDA. There was exactly 3 minutes until the police went into action.

Rollie punched a few buttons on his PDA. He then pulled a pair of earplugs out of his pockets and stuck them in his ears. Rollie crawled down on his hands and knees slowly making his way up to the front of the room.

Alex was still screaming, waving his gun around and Angie stood stock still. Rollie had made his way to the side wall near the front of the market. Neither Alex nor JJ had noticed him. Francis, however, and several of the other hostages did. Rollie put his finger to his lips, then cupped his hands over his ears as a sign.

Several people slowly raised their hands as Rollie put his finger over the button. 30 seconds now remained. Suddenly JJ looked directly at him.

"Hey, hold it!" he yelled.

Rollie backpedaled as bullets struck the wall behind the point where he had been. In his haste the PDA slipped out of his hand and slid across the floor.

Alex turned his gun on where Rollie had slid. Rollie took off across the floor as Angie slammed into Alex. Alex's aim was thrown off and he missed, and then with one swing threw Angie against the wall.

Francis dove on JJ as he turned his gun. Bullets sprayed the ceiling sending ceiling tile raining down on them.

Outside Vanduran began yelling.

"I don't know what's going on in there!" he yelled, "But we're going in now!"

Rollie dove across the floor, grabbed the PDA, and pressed the button. Suddenly a high pitched, ear shattering ring rose from the Bose speakers. Everyone clapped their hands to their ears in pain.

Rollie sprinted up to Alex and punched him hard. The knock out gas, released from the box, should be being blown into the market at any moment, thus ending all chances of further fatalities. But something was wrong. Rollie couldn't hear the whirring of the fan. It must have gotten stuck.

The exertion suddenly caught up with Rollie as his adrenaline rose and fell and felt a wave of dizziness. He slid to one knee as the speakers turned off their preprogrammed sequence.

Francis had JJ down on the ground, and Angie was slowly stirring from hitting her head on the wall. Suddenly Rollie heard a growl from behind him. Through his blurred vision he saw Alex standing over him, gun aimed at his head. His lip formed a scowl.

"Nice try," he said, "but it's time to die."

* * *

Next!!!!!
 

From: The Gerk
Date: 11/6/98
Time: 9:29:15 AM
 
 

Well, since no one else wants to I guess I'll add more.

Alex's finger tightend around the trigger. As Francis and Angie watched in mute horror, gunfire errupted in the store. The large, gunweilding felon was tossed sidelong across the floor as the SWAT team's bullets ripped through him. Rollie, sprayed with the maniac's blood lay wearily as large men with big guns flooded the room.

"Oh my God, oh my god! Rollie are you all right?" Angie was at his side before the gunfire had completely died. The tired man lay, his eyes wide and breathing short.

"Oh Ang, thank god you're okay! I had thought... that maybe, when-" Rollie stammered.

"Everythings okay, Rol. We're both okay," she said softly. Her earnest smile and magnificent eyes warmed the aching Aussie.

As the police sorted out what had happend and VanDuran yelled like a mad man, Rollie and Angie just sat quietly by. They gave their statements, were checked out by the paramedics and it was decided they could go home at any time. So, several hours after Rollie rode in to the rescue, Angie and he stumbled into the loft. Once again, Angie hovered and Rollie complained. In truth, he wouldn't have it any other way.

The night passed, Angie sleeping on the coach despite the most ardent objections of Rollie Tyler. In the morning, he found breakfast in bed and a warning about overexersion. Smiling, Angie watched him eat. Why had she left? Did she really need anything more than him?

At Midtown South precinct, a weary Palmira Sanchez exploded from an interrogating room. JJ was of absolutely no use. As hard as she might try, she couldn't get him to open his mouth. Not that he wasn't terrified, he knew he would be going to prison. That wasn't what scared him. And she just couldn't understand what he and the other goon had been up to.

The police had been called in when a guard at a chemical company reported gunfire. The first unit to arrive had stumbled across two dead bodies, and a car tearing away from the installation. The guard at the gate, Danny Meekes, was run down _inside_ the booth that controlled the fence. That began a high speed chase, leading the police around the city in a dangerous dance.

When their desperate gambits finally payed off, they had disappeared from view in a parking garage. With helicopters circling, it was thought they couldn't get out before every exit was sealed. The police were wrong and now one more woman was dead and three others had been critically injured at that quiet little market. Thank God Angie hadn't been one of them.

And looking across the precinct, she thanked God Francis wasn't either. He was a good man, an honest cop and dedicated father. All of which was a rarity in her mind. After working IA and being married to Micheal, she had quiet a few words to say on the subject.

Shaking her head, she wondered what on earth those two thugs were doing at a chemical plant. What could possibly have been worth four lives? And what was scaring this guy? Someone who didn't seem to care about life itself.

Now, honestly. I'm not going to finish the story for you.

The Gerk
 

From: Peggy
Date: 11/26/98
Time: 5:29:05 PM
 

Well, I promised to pick this up if no one else did by the time I returned so... Here goes!

Mira sighed deeply as she grabbed her coat and partner. Together, they headed for 256 Brewery
Lane. Both wanted to be sure Rollie and Angie were okay and maybe, Mira thought hopefully,
just maybe, they'd have an idea how to get more out of that creep, JJ. Something big was going
down, she felt it and knew that events were just beginning. Maybe they could nip this plot,
whatever it was, in the bud, she swallowed as she drove the car, before any one else had to die.

Francis led the way to the wide doors to the old, converted brewery. He smiled at his partner as
he pushed the buzzer. Mira smiled back as the door opened and shared it with Angie as she
looked at the partners. "Hi Angie. How are you and Rollie doing?"

Angie glanced back upstairs, toward Rollie's bedroom. "Okay," she spoke quietly. "I sent Rollie
back to bed. He's sleeping."

"What happened, Angie? Is Rollie sick?" Frank asked anxiously.

"Not exactly. He's exhausted and... underweight." Angie frowned at the floor. "I don't understand
how it happened. I..." She looked bewildered at Mira and Francis.

Mira hugged her briefly, then stepped back. "Don't worry, Angie. Rollie will be fine. He's
tough."

"I just don't understand what happened. The doctor said it was stress. I know Rollie's been
working hard and... and... But..." The blonde clamped her mouth shut. She felt like she was going
to start blubbering or something. Something whispered in the back of her head. Accusing her of
abandoning him. Of letting this happen to Rollie. She shook it and tried to look interested at their
police friends. "So, what happened with the hold up? What did those idiots think they were
accomplishing?"

Mira shrugged in frustration. "We don't know. There are four people dead and we don't know
why!" She made a fist and slugged the back of the couch. Taking a deep breath, the hispanic
woman continued. "'Alex' and 'JJ', we don't even have any more than that for an id right now,
stole something from a chemical company. We don't know what yet and 'JJ' is scared to death of
somebody. Somebody that he and 'Alex' probably gave whatever they stole to... somehow."

"Mira, we don't know they delivered whatever it was. After all, patrol cars were pretty tight on
their tail as soon as that break in was reported." Frank sat down, thinking hard. "They might have
hidden it somewhere. Maybe in that parking garage. We'll find it and what's going down."

"I don't know, Frank. I just don't know." Mira paced back and forth in front of her partner and
Angie. "Something big is going down and WE," she thumped her chest, "don't have a clue. And
whoever this guy has 'JJ' scared to death. That type doesn't scare. He doesn't, Frank."

"Well, find out what they took from the chemical company. Once you know that, maybe you'll
find it and once you do, maybe JJ will talk." Angie pointed out reasonably.

"We're trying to, Angie. It's just these guys made a mess when they raided the inventory at the
plant. It'll take a while to sort it out." Frank answered.

"Can I help?" Angie blinked, surprised she'd said that, but... Why not? Why shouldn't she help her friends? Anyway, this felt... personal. After being held at gun point, slapped around and watching 'Alex' almost kill Rollie... Watching them kill that woman and hurt those others... She wanted to
stop whatever it was they'd started.

"I don't know what you can do, Angie." Mira started.

"Maybe I can find something in the chemical company's computer system. You never know,"
Angie pointed out, "but somebody needs to stay with Rollie." She looked from Francis to Mira,
waiting for the verdict.

"Okay, maybe you can," Mira frowned slightly.

"I can stay with Rollie, Angie. Don't worry, he'll be fine." Francis piped up.

"Uh, Frankie, the captain won't like that," Mira sighed.

The captain wouldn't like it, but to be honest, Frank didn't care. HE had been in that grocery
store, watching those goons wave their guns around and threaten people, hurt them and kill them.
Rollie'd come in for Angie AND for HIM. This was the least he could do for his friend. He
brightened as he thought of something, "I'll call Sarah. She'll come stay with him, then I'll head
back for the precinct."

Mira nodded agreement.

Angie left with her after giving Frank instructions on Rollie's medication. Time might be short,
they HAD to find out what was going on.

____________________

NEXT, please! <howling and prowling>
 

From: CJ
Date: 11/26/98
Time: 10:34:17 PM

Out of hiding again...

Francis flicked thorugh the pages of the magazine glancing every few minutes up the staircase.
Rollie was still asleep, almost two hours since angie had left. Francis had taken the time to clean and sort through the loft. Cleaning the loft placed a sliver of worry into francis's mind. Rollie had always been extremly neat and tidy. However, the loft had become completly disorgainized, as if Rollie no longer cared.

Rollie lay sprawled out on the bed, his left arm thrown across his eyes. Rollie had woken up half an hour before and, was laying deep in thought. Only a month before, rollie had stumbled upon
some disturbing information. It was information that he had no right knowing, information that
caused him great worry and fear, information that had made food and rest unreachable.

Angie's fingers flew gracefully over the keyboard. Frantic yet controlled. Reams of information
scrolled past, causing angie to grimace and laugh as what she sought seemed only a keystroke
away.Although she soaked in the reams of information, angie was elsware. her mind was frozen
in the image of rollie, pale, exausted and painfully thin knelt before the barrel of a gun placed on
his temple. She knew that in some way it was all her fault. She had been absorbed in her own
problems of new and had ingnored Rollie. She had only been concerned with going away... thinking it would whipe the months of her own worry away....yet the trip had nearly caused
Rollie his life.

Ok....next...preety please :o)

CJ
 

From: FX Phantom
Date: 12/2/98
Time: 9:46:43 PM
 

I am trying one last time to keep this thing alive. :(

Francis thrust the front door open and nearly dropped his armload of groceries.

"Hey Rol!?"

Rollie appeared before Francis, freshly showerd, rubbing a towel through his hair "Mmm-hmm."

"Here" Francis nearly tossed a bag at Rollie "Take that and help me un-pack."

Rollie smiled "Yes dear.."

Francis glared

"What did you do Frank? Empty the whole place?"

"You have half a chunk of cheeze, a carton of milk that's gone bad and some fuzzy thing in the back of that fridge!."

Francis and Rollie proceeded to empty over five bags. When they finished Francis declared;

"I'll make you a sandwhich...and you will eat it."

"FRANK!! I can make a sandwhich!"

"Fine." Francis smiled "I'll have grilled cheeze."

Angie sat frozen at the computer.

"M-m.." voice cracked, and she took a deep breath

"my god..." she wisperd.

I hope that someone continues this. :)
 
 

From: The Gerk
Date: 12/2/98
Time: 11:34:29 PM
 

Here we go, time for another ride on Mister Gerk's wild ride.

"Embalming fluid!" Angie cried.

"Pardon me," replied Martin Freeks. He was a low level temp at the plant.

"Ancylepta-polyprofenine, a primary chemical in many brands of embalming fluids," Angie explained.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Martin asked. She had been sitting there for the past day, typing away at the redundant computer files. At the close of buiness each day, EPX chemicals backed up its entire financial and inventory computer system. Only problem was, it was ridiculously difficult to recover.

"Over thirty thousand gallons are unaccounted for as of yesterday. But how could they steal so much of it and still get away?" Angie stormed out of the room, pulling her coat and cell phone with her.

It wasn't until she was gone that Martin realized how attractive she was. 'Another one just slips through your fingers, Freeky,' he scolded himself. Shaking his head, he sat at the terminal and began leafing through the files the spunky blonde had left open. 'Hey, this was a comparison algorithom! Who was that?'

"When's Sarah coming by to take up babysitting duties?" Rollie asked, flipping a sandwich to New York's finest.

"So you're on to us, huh?" Frank replied. Digging in, and keeping a careful eye on what Rollie ate himself.

"You've been telling me when to sleep, when to eat. If we hadn't lost that movie I'd passed out on you guys 'id be telling me how to do my job!" Rollie ribbed him lightly. He was upset at the intrusion, but couldn't ignore his failing health.

His mind turned breifly to cause of his turmoil and he shut it away. Not before, however, it caused a twist in his gut and a loss of appetite. This didn't go unnoticed by Frank, who immediately got on his case. 'Fine, badger me. But nothing's gonna help except...' Not even able to finish the thought, Rollie went off to take a nap.

"Embalming fluid!" Mira shouted. That was the single stupidest load of...

"Mira, I think there's something more to it. There is so much missing, I don't see how they could have taken it," Angie explained.

"Maybe it was already gone."

Mira and Angie both spun, shocked at the new voice. Before them stood one very well dressed Michael Sanchez. In a navy suit, sharp white shirt and subdued tie, the groomed and shaved fed stood defiantely in the center of the room. As the bustleing precinct ground to a halt, Mira flung her greeting at his face with both barrels.

_____________________________

Originally I planned to write a doozie of a submission. One that would pave the way for some more submissions, but I just realized I haven't worked on my own since the weekend. So, if this Robin is still alive by Friday, I'll sweep back in and tie up a bunch of loose ends. Unless somebody beats me to the punch. *g* Which I hope they will. *g* Because I really want this sucker to go on. *g*

The Gerk

From: CJ
Date: 12/5/98
Time: 3:39:58 PM

Just a brief bit..

Francis stared after Rollie as he slowly climbed the stairs. "Rol?" Francis stood up.

Rollie slowly turned "what?"

Francis walked towards Rollie "Whats going on?"

"What?" Rollie froze

"I havn't seen you like this since Leo died. Whats going on?"

Rollie continued to stare

"You're not eating, you either don't sleep or you sleep for hours and hours..." Francis started towards the stairs "You barely smile, you're depressed and, if I didn't know...you almost look frightened!" Francis stood at the bottom of the stairs "You scared the shit outta me buddy...I have a right to know...what is going on!"
 

Ok, someone continue...pretty,pretty pretty please
 

From: T
Date: 12/9/98
Time: 11:25:33 AM
 

Hey all: Had a brief bit of time to check the site, not as much going on as usual (guess it's the time period)...anyway I liked this round robin so I thought I'd add a nice big part to, I hope, get it going again....

------------------------------------

"Francis if I told you, you wouldn't believe me," Rollie said, his eyes tired and haunted.

"Yeah I will," Francis said, "we've come across weird stuff before, that's for sure."

Rollie pondered for a moment, then looked his friend in the eyes.

"You have to swear not to tell another soul," Rollie said, "I've been sworn to secrecy, but I have to tell someone."

Francis sat down slowly, staring in wonder and concern at Rollie. Francis nodded. Rollie sat down across from him.

"I was coming home from a party," Rollie said, "cast-party, it was around two, three in the morning. This was two weeks ago. I was walking home, I'd had a few drinks. Suddenly this
short, stocky bald guy runs up to me from across the street. He smells awful, really reaked. I
backed away from him and he grabbed me. He was bleeding from his side, looked like a gunshot. His eyes were bloodshot, he was pale. Real pale."

Rollie took a deep breath.

"He handed me a piece of paper," Rollie continued, "a crumpled up piece of paper, he shoved it in my hand and said 'Here's the proof. Trust no one. I worked for him. I know.' Then he ran off, holding his side. I tried to follow him, but this car, with three guys in it zoomed past me. They turned the corner real fast where he had gone, and I heard gunshots. I waited till I heard the car
leave, then I went around the corner. They had shot the guy. Point-blank, I imagine. There was this big pool of blood on the ground. But, the weird thing was, they had taken him. Dragged him
into the car, I think. Anyway I looked in the paper, and inside there was a little key - to a safety deposit box, I think. And a few numbers scrawled on the paper. Looked like a combination to a lock: 12-36-23. Anyway, I called the police right away, and they took over. But, the Fed's got involved right away after I described the man, before I could contact you or Mira. They asked me a bunch of questions, I told them that I just happened to walking by- Anyway they grilled me for hours."

Rollie paused and shuddered.

"I wanted to know what was going on," Rollie said, "but they wouldn't tell me everything. They thought I was involved in it, I know. They decided to gauge my reaction by showing me some pictures-"

Rollie stopped, and rubbed his hands through his hair.

"They were pictues of dead people," Rollie said, "Horribly mutilated dead people, stacked up together, on top of one another, like crates in a warehouse. Like meat. Dozens of them. They said that was what they had found in the safety deposit box."

Rollie shook his head.

"Finally they believed I didn't know anything," Rollie said, "and let me go, but not before they made me promise not to tell anyone else. They said it would jeopardize an ongoing, and very important investigation."

Rollie stared at Francis.

"There's a lot more going on here Francis," Rollie said, "I know it. Something bad was happening, but they wouldn't let me in on it."

"And that's what's been bothering you?" Francis asked.

Rollie nodded slowly.

"I got this feeling, Francis," Rollie said, "feelings like Mangela used to tell me about. Feelings of a presence of...evil. Horrible, terrible evil."

Francis sat back. His friend looked deadly serious. And that worried him even more.

"Cool it, Mira," Michael said, "I'm here to talk to Angie."

"Oh really?" Mira asked, crossing her arms.

Michael walked up to Angie with a smile.

"I see you found out about the theft," he said.

Angie nodded.

"Just what is going on here, Michael?" Angie asked, "and how do you know about it?"

Mira glanced around for the Captain, but Michael looked back at her.

"Already spoke to the Captain," Michael said, "this is our case. Has been for a good long while."

"What's this all about?" Angie asked.

Michael sat down and gestured for Angie to do the same. Mira walked up next to Angie, but neither of them did. Both crossed their arms.

"Ok, ok," Michael said, "but first let's go somewhere private. I asked the Captain to use his office."

They walked into the Captain's office, where Vanduran was already waiting.

"We're bringing the NYPD in on this because we'll need men scowering the city," Michael said.

"Sit down, Agent Sanchez," Vanduran said, "and get to the point."

"Yeah," Angie said, "Why would someone steal all that embalming fluid?"

"Ever heard of Gregory Rayenshaft?" Michael asked.

"No," Mira said.

"Otherwise known as Robert Eck," Michael said, "he changed his name."

Vanduran whistled.

"Robert Eck?" he said, "The crime boss? I thought he was put away."

"He was," Michael said, "but he got out early for good behavior. Changed his name to Gregory Rayenshaft, and moved to New York. Or just outside of it."

"Ok," Mira said, "So?"

"So he stole the fluid," Michael said, "only we can't prove it. Alex and JJ were covering his tracks."

"Why would he do that?" Angie asked.

"Revenge," Michael said, "old style revenge. Rayenshaft is out to get everyone that helped put him away, and then some."

"That doesn't explain it," Mira said.

"Tell me," Michael said, "what do most crime bosses do with people they kill?"

"Dump them in the river," Mira said with a shrug, "or bury them somewhere."

Michael shook his head.

"Rayenshaft keeps them," he said.

"He keeps them?" Angie said with a grimace.

"Embalms them," he said, "and keeps them in some kind of storage facility as tokens, trophies. An agent of ours saw part of it. Took him on a tour, he likes to take his next victims on tours of the place, if he can. Only he killed our agent before we found out where it was."

"That's horrible," Angie said.

"How many people has he killed?" Mira asked.

"He kills anyone that gets in his way," Michael said, "or anyone that has gotten in his way. When he does a crime, he kills everyone involved."

"That's why JJ's so scared," Mira said with a nod.

"If it goes wrong anyway," Michael said, "he has a few men he keeps. Mostly though, he sends people out on suicide missions. He'll kill them afterward, sometimes mutilate their bodies, only
they don't know it's going to happen. Rumour says he likes to go into his little trophy room and cut up on bodies for fun. He'll take an axe to them when he's feeling upset."

"That's sick," Angie said with a shudder, "how come you haven't caught him?"

"Can't prove a thing," Michael said, "but we have to catch him now."

"Why's that?" Angie asked.

"Think about it," Michael said, "he just stole a whole heeping lot of embalming fluid. Why would he do that?"

Everyone glanced at eachother, understanding in their eyes.

"Because," Mira said slowly, in horror, "he's going to kill a whole heeping lot of people."

Next!!!!
 

From: The Gerk
Date: 12/9/98
Time: 3:19:02 PM
 

You're a sick, sick man. I love it!

The Gerk

**************************

"Hang on, Rollie," Frank said. "I've got a phone call."

Rollie nodded and sat on the stairs. The pair had been discussing Rollie's strange experience with the FBI when Frank's cell phone rang. Rollie was upset over keeping the secret, but when Frank suggested sharing what he knew with Angie, he replied sharply.

"She isn't getting involved in this. Those bodies... they were worse than anything I've done for a film, and they were real. I couldn't do that to Ang, I just couldn't," Rollie had said.

Frank was speaking animatedly on the phone but was across the loft so Rollie couldn't hear about what. When he suddenly declared he had to go into the precinct Rollie was concerned, but didn't say anything. Frank also mentioned that Angie was coming back to the loft, something Rollie didn't understand. 'How would Frank know that?' he thought, 'she's still at the plant.'

Mira and Micheal were sitting silently in VanDuran's office as they waited for Gatti to show up. Micheal repeatedly looked over but she would not make eye contact. Finally, he stood and sat on the edge of the Captain's desk.

"Get off the desk before the Cap sees you," Mira warned, "He'll fold you in half."

"So she speaks," Micheal retorted. Standing, he continued, "Mira... we really have to talk."

"About what? Your career, or your case?" she replied pointedly.

"Things have changed, Mira... I have some stuff too tell you."

The Captain entered, followed by Frank so the conversation died. But Mira stole several glances at Micheal during the briefing. Gatti was slowly shocked as he heared what had been uncovered in the past hour. When he heard Micheal's description of the slaughterhouses, his face blanched and he gasped.

"Rollie!" Frank cried.

"He was asked not to talk, but yes. That's why I came here personally. Technically, I should still be in protective custody." Micheal confirmed.

"Rollie? Rollie, what?" Mira asked, confused.

"Why does it always come back to him?" VanDuran cursed.

"Rollie was a witness to a murder, he was draged in by the feds before we heard about it and they swore him to silence," Frank explained. When he finished, Mira cursed Micheal and stormed out. Before she was out the door, Micheal was following her.

"Sanchez!" he cried. For a moment, he was befuddled by the pair of replies.

"Captain, if Rollie's in danger than so is Angie. And right now, their at the loft alone so-"

"She's right, we'll head there now," Micheal interupted. "But I think someone should be posted there until this is straightened out."

"Go! I'll have Wheeler and Knash there for the night. Then, I want answers and results."

Mira thanked the Captain and glared at Micheal as they left the precinct. As they rode over, she ignored his feeble attempts at conversation. Micheal quickly became upset.

"Dammit, Mira! Why won't you listen? I have some very important things to discuss with you."

"You have a lot of nerve! Just barging back into my life and telling me we have to talk," Mira returned. "If there weren't lives at stake, I would kick your ass and send you packing." She paused to collect herself, then said, "but there are, so I won't. And we'll talk later."

"Mira, please. There's a lot you don't know, a lot I need to tell you. I know I've hurt you... badly. But I want to make it right again," he said sincerely.

Mira looked at him briefly, then pulled into Brewery Lane. Micheal watched her carefully, then got out of the car. She soon followed and walked with him to the front door. As Mira reached out to open the door, Micheal whipped out his gun and pushed her aside.

**************************

I have to admit, of all the possible applications for the stolen chemicals I never once considered it *actually* *being* *used* to embalm people. We'll just have to see where this goes then, won't we?
 
 

From: Peggy
Date: 12/10/98
Time: 6:05:08 AM
 

Sick? I don't think that's the word for this... Warning to all with strong imaginations and weak stomachs...

The round robin continues with....

Michael pushed the unlocked door open and entered with his gun trained forward. They looked with horror at the trashed workshop and loft. It looked as if a hurricane had literally torn through there. There was even water dripping. Mira gasped and ran forward when she spotted Angie struggling to sit up, her right arm bent at an unnatural angle and a big bruise on her face.

"Angie? Are you all right? What happened?"

"Some men..." Angie gasped, her eyes wide with fear and worry. "They took Rollie! Mira! They TOOK ROLLIE!!!" She wanted to find him, NOW. Oh my God! What did those people want with Rollie? She shivered as she remembered him franticly struggling in two big men's grip, trying to reach her, to protect her. Then one of them had hit him on the chin and he'd gone limp. He was so sick and worn and thin. She HAD to find him! The blonde tried to sit up again, then hissed as she jarred her broken arm.

"You be still. We'll find Rollie." Mira promised, even as she was screaming inside her head. Remembering Michael's words. She looked up at her ex as he searched the loft, making sure no one remained. Their eyes met and held in a look of sick fear. Rollie....

Rollie woke to an awful stench. The stench in his nightmares, waking and sleeping. The horrible odor that had clung to that man, the man who'd started his nightmares. Slowly, he opened his eyes, already knowing with a deep dread that THIS was no nightmare. It was REAL, horribly, terribly, brutally REAL!

The man in front of him sneered. "Welcome back, Mister Tyler." His evil smile widened with the horror in Rollie's eyes. "Welcome to MY world." He laughed as he dragged the struggling, panic stricken Australian deeper into the charnal house of his worst nightmares.

Rollie tried to fight, to escape, but his panicked mind couldn't work the cuffs holding his hands behind his back off. NO!!! His mind screamed and gibbered. Nonononononono.... The big man paused in front of a stack of... His battered body rebelling again, Rollie threw up, losing the little food he'd consumed lately. Great shudders racked his too thin body as the man, the MONSTER, threw back his head and laughed, a great rolling laugh that filled the slaughterhouse. Carnage was everywhere. There was no escaping it, no fleeing, no release. His nightmare was all too real, filling his eyes, his nose. The cold brushing against his skin, his shirt no protection from a chill that touched more than bone. A chill that ran through his very soul. Rollie felt a strange detachment as the horror filled him, it couldn't get any worse. It couldn't...

It got worse. The horror grew exponentially as Rollie Tyler felt strong hands reach out. Strong arms picked him up and raised him. His mind gibbered and fled, unable to accept more as he was placed on top of one of the stacks of... Consciousness fled with it, merciful darkness filled the terrified man.

Rollie Tyler, Australian special effects expert, woke to a bone chilling cold. Vaguely, he wondered what had happened to the loft's heating system and where his blankets were. Then memory returned as the stench filled his nostril and horror and madness threaded into his mind. He tried desperately to move, to get away, to fall off of his grisly bed. For one moment, Rollie was mindless with horror, but then survival instincts kicked in. OUT! He had to get OUT! With that, cold fingers shifted and started working the familiar ways of escaping cuffs. OUT! OUT! OUT! A stray thought, a blessing, briefly threaded the back of his mind for Leo's constant teasing with his handcuffs. That experience, that practice, was the only thing that allowed him to achieve the suddenly difficult task. With a soft click, Rollie pulled his arms and hands stiffly in front of him. Trying to desperately NOT LOOK, NOT THINK about what was there, he reached for his legs. They were tied to... under him... by plastic packing strap. With a soft growl, he searched his pockets and pulled out a small knife. A present from Angie, the first one he'd ever received. He struggled to open it, the task almost beyond him as he shook and shook and shook. Rollie closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to ignore the... Finally, it opened. He quickly sawed through the strap, ignoring the cut he gave himself on his right thumb as he scrabbled off of... A tiny portion of his mind noted the strapping holding the cuffs to the....

Forcing himself to act, not think, Rollie looked around desperately. His mind gibbering once more as he sought escape. Flee! FLEE! Fleefleefleefleefleeflee... He ran for the door and scrabbled at it, unable to remember how to open it. With another deep breath, he forced himself to an artificial calm. With a sigh, he opened the unlocked door and stared with deep suspicion at the empty hall. A whispered warning in the back of his mind caused him to turn away, back to the huge storeroom of his nightmares. He searched franticly for another escape route. Spotting a vent, he crept through the stacks and looked longingly at it. Forcing himself to NOT THINK, NOT FEEL, he carefully climbed the stack nearest his exit. With shaking hands, he fumbled the grill off and slid into the shaft backwards. Pulling the grill up and into place, Rollie inched back slowly. Coming to a cross way, he backed up until he could turn the direction that seemed to be away from... Slowly, he made his way through the cold shaft, ignoring the scrapes, cuts and scratches he was acquiring. He could swear it was getting colder and his hair kept blowing into his eyes. Shaking with a chill that filled his very soul, he came to an open area. A roar filled his ears and the whipping blades of a huge fan filled his eyes. Out? NonononononoNO!!! This didn't lead out. His body exhausted past endurance, his mind shutting down from the horror. Shaking with a bone deep chill, Rollie Tyler sank to lie down in the shaft, unable to continue. Darkness filled him once more.

Next....
 

From: Megan
Date: 12/10/98
Time: 3:33:08 PM
 

It isn't the best but I thought I'd give this go..........

-----------

"Do you two know what's going on?!" Angie asked axnoiusly, looking back and forth from Mira and Michael. Immdiatly after arriving at the loft and seeing what had happened Mira called it in and called for a albemnce for Angie. Angie had been taken to the hospital for her arm to be taken care of. After the doctor checked her over and had a sling put on her right arm the two ex's took Angie to Midtown South. They were now in the captains office waiting for him.

"Maybe we should wait till VanDuran gets here." Mira said.

"I want to know. If you two know what hapened to Rollie I want to know." Angie repeated, voice raising.

"He didn't tell you anything about what was going on?" Micheal asked the young woman.

"No. When I got back to the loft he said we needed to talk and started to tell me he was involved in something, when these men found their way in and started shooting and everything else." Angie told them, then asked them, "What was he involved in?"

"This embalming fluid deal." Mira answered. "He saw stuff he shouldn't of."

"What stuff?" Angie asked, but was interrupted when the captain stepped in. As VanDuran stepped aside, Angie let out a gasp as she saw someone she wasn't expecting standing behind him.......

--------

There you go, it was short I know, and i have no idea this this person is that surprised Angie is, let someone else figure it out...............
 

From: FX Phantom
Date: 12/10/98
Time: 4:12:35 PM
 

This is getting interesting!

___________________________

Angie stared in awe

"What happend love?"

Angie swallowed hard "I-I.."

"Who's this guy?" Michael stood up.

"He came looking for Rollie. Said he know's Angie..." VanDuren looked expectently at Angie.

Angie shook her head "Dingo..." she breathed.

"What happened? Looks like a sand-storm picked you up and threw you down at the same time." Dingo fingerd his hat nervously.

"Dingo. Rollie--" Angie dried her eyes as tears welled up "They took him! They c-came in and they took him!!" Deep sobs shook her body as she rememberd.

Dingo stared at Angie. Then Mira. Then VanDuren "What the bloody hell happened?" he growled.

_______________________

I turn it over to.....
 

From: Peggy
Date: 12/13/98
Time: 11:44:36 AM
 

Okay, let's see here. Just a bit more to prompt this thing to go!

Rayenshaft stared at the empty spot, his latest acquisition was gone! He glared furiously at the two hulking men in front of him. They cowered in fear that *they* would join the grisly souvenirs around them. "Find him! Find him NOW!" He foamed and raged. In terror, the two huge men scattered searching the storeroom and out beyond, seeking Rollie Tyler in the rest of the building. There was no way he could have actually gotten out of the building itself. It was sealed and all exits were carefully watched. The guards would never allow Tyler out, they would be too afraid of their boss. The problem was they kept coming up empty handed. None of the big men ever thought of looking up... of checking the ventilation shafts. They never considered that their victim would fit into the tight spots.

Dingo came over and wrapped his arms around his son's friend. He hugged the blonde in comfort, even as he glared at the cops surrounding them. "Where's my son? Where's Rollie?"

Michael sighed deeply as he looked at his ex and her co-workers. They would not keep quiet, he knew it, not where Tyler was concerned. For a moment he and VanDuran exchanged telling looks, then reluctantly, he started to explain just what had lead up to Rollie Tyler's kidnapping.

Dingo gaped in surprise, then gulped in horror. These were nasty bastards that had his son. The thought that his son, his baby boy, his only flesh and blood, was in the hands of this monster... He stifled it, unable to believe *his* son could die before him, that *his* son could die such a horrible death. "So what are you doing to find him?"

"Do? What can we do? We have absolutely NO idea where he might be. We don't even know where Rayenshaft is!" Michael protested, his hands waving in the air.

Dingo's brow furrowed and he stroked Angie's hair. She looked up at him, her tears stilled. Her brilliant blue eyes shimmered with the tears that had not fallen. Tears shed for his son. This little slip of a sheila loved his son and he felt his own eyes moisten at the thought of the danger. They had to do something. Determination filled the slender man's body and he saw the same determination echoed in Angie's eyes. With a firm nod from her, he decided it was time to use all of the knowledge and contacts he had made in his years of wheeling and dealing. It was time to do what the coppers couldn't. He would find Rayenshaft and then they would find his son... alive. "I need your phone."

Angie watched wide eyed and stubbornly as Dingo placed several phone calls. She knew Dingo loved his son in spite of their divergent life styles and beliefs. Her heart swelled at this evidence of that love. They would find Rollie. They would find him in time. Dingo knew about things even the police didn't. They would be in time.

Dingo hung up from his last call. "I need to meet someone, ah, private like. Then I'll tell you where Mister Rayenshaft is." His eyes flashed with a stern look not normally found in their blue gray depths. "And then you're getting my boy back!"

__________

Next batter!
 

From: T
Date: 12/15/98
Time: 5:29:22 PM
 

Well, just finished my last final. I'll be heading on vacation for a week on Saturday..so expect to see the finale of "Rivals" soon and, possibly, the start of another fic.

Thought I might try and pull this Round Robin together again (or add to the confusion).. (wow, a lot going on already)

* * *

Gregory Rayenshaft sat silently in the small office outside of the large freezer where he kept his enemies. It was an old, abandoning meat packing facility that he had taken over, now it held those who dared try to stop him.

This Tyler was an interesting person. He had done a little background checking - the man definitely attracted trouble. It also had a knack for getting out of it. Case in point. Rayenshaft had never had anyone escape him before, and he wasn't about to let it happen now.

Rayenshaft sat thinking of what he was going to do next. There were always two voices in his head. One which protected him, one which the public saw. The protecting voice had come up with this place. It knew that to ensure his safety, measures such as these had to be taken, and it savored victory. It feeded on it.

The other voice was his public one. The one he used when conversing with clients, and business associates. The police and other law enforcing agencies were after him, keeping an eye on him, he knew. But they could prove nothing: the voice of protection within him made sure of that. His trail was always covered.

Gregory walked over to the mirror in his office. He was an averaged size man, with a slight gut, thick black and brown hair with shards of gray, and deep dark eyes. He had sharp features, and he seemed to exude intelligence and power. When he spoke, people listened. When he roared, people feared.

Gregory pulled a comb out of his pocket and smoothed back his hair with it. He stared at his reflection, almost seeing the two voices, the two personalities within him. He smiled slightly, his gleaming white teeth reflecting the light of the room.

He was reading himself for an event. A huge event. One which would ensure his safety forever. He had stolen enough preserves to keep all of his enemies. The voice of protection within him assured him that it was a necessary risk.

He had many enemies attempting to enter his territory, take his belongings, profit from his hard work. Underworld figures, federal agencies.

Rayenshaft walked from his office down a long hall. He arrived at a large metal door, where he punched in the pass code to open it. The door's lock clicked and he pushed it open.

He walked into a huge open area where two vats stood, one as tall as a houses. One contained the embalming fluid which he had stolen, pumped into a truck and taken without anyone knowing, the other his means of protection.

Rayenshaft walked to the small metal tank, it's perfectly polished silvery side shining. Carefully pressurized and sealed, it held the answer to all. He had obtained it at great cost, of both money and life, but it was worth it. Several men in lab coats walked around him as he looked at his prize. Under normal circumstances they would have had this entire room under high level containment, but Rayenshaft had wanted to be able to gaze at his savior at any moment he wished.

Biological weapons were so perfect. So easy to build. So easy to distribute. So easy to kill. They left a city desolate, yet all of it's rich technology would remain standing. And bodies. Countless trophies strewn across the landscape. Although his public speaking voice thought it was a bad idea, the voice of protection had won out. It would load the items into a plane, and fly across the city, letting a fine mist of death out for all to inhale. For all to take in. Then he would return to the city in time. Return for his trophies.

Rollie lay unmoving in the ventilation duct. He was too afraid to move. There was no where for him to go. His mind and body were exhausted. He didn't know where he was. He could only lay and wait...

Dingo Tyler walked up to the dilapidated restaurant, the archaic sign reading "Morton's Pub." John Morton was perhaps one of the best sources of information in New York City. Dingo knew that well. He had once saved Morton's life, though, warning him when some nasty characters were out to kill him. He was calling in a favor now.

Dingo walked into the place and several men turned from their tables, staring at him. John Morton himself walked out from behind the bar.

"It's all right boys," he said, holding up his hand, "Dingo here's an old friend. Isn't that right?"

"Yeah, mate," Dingo said, "Yeah. I need your help now, though, John."

"Follow me," the large, beer bellied man said, and motioned for Dingo to walk into his back office.

Dingo followed him into the grungy roach infested office and sat down in a sticky chair.

"Whatdy'a need old friend?" John said, lighting a thick cigar and puffing on it slowly.

"I'll get to the point," Dingo said, "My son's been kidnapped by a bad fellow, name of Gregory Rayenshaft. I need to know where I can find him."

John paled and his cigar nearly fell from his mouth.

"Rayenshaft," he mumbled, then looked at Dingo, "oh I'm sorry my friend, that man is bad, bad news. I fear your son-"

"Just tell me where to find him," Dingo said, leaning forward, "I'll worry about my son."

John shook his head.

"I can't tell you," he said, "I don't know. The man's as paranoid as he is sick. No one knows where he keeps the goods he steals..among other things-"

"I've heard," Dingo said holding up his hand, "is there anything I can do?"

John thought for a moment. Then grabbed a piece of paper, scribbled on it for a moment, and slid it across the desk to Dingo.

"Talk to this man," John said, "Tell him I sent you. He's in hiding from Rayenshaft, at that address. You can't let anyone else know, and can't bring anyone with you though. And it might be dangerous, he shoots first and asks questions later."

"I can handle myself," Dingo said, getting up and stuffing the paper in his pocket, "Thanks John."

"I wish you well, Dingo," John said, "and for your son."

Dingo nodded and left the room.

* * *

Next!
 

From: FX Phantom
Date: 12/15/98
Time: 10:06:38 PM
 

Wishing everyone a very,very happy holiday :)

Angie paced about her apartment, a look of fierce determination graced her face. "Its all my
fault" Angie whisperd to the mirror "if I hadn't been caught up in my own problems...." Angie
drifted into uneasy thought "why, WHY didn't I see something sooner??" she swiped her hand in
the air smashing a small vase. Caught in the moment, Angie strode over to the mirror and stared,
screaming untill her voice broke into a faint whisper.

A dust ball. A tiny, insignificant dust ball. To Rollie however, it wasn't so insignificant, so tiny.
It danced and pranced in front of his nose...and he could not reach it. It danced and jumped from
his slight breath...it itched and it made him want to sneeze. Yet, he darent sneeze. Rollie had
never felt so desperate in his life. He had never felt so torn. All at once he was scared, angry,
sad, happy, hungry, tired and thirsty. It took two full hours, two hours in which Rollie both
planned his escape and worried about his partner...last he had seen of her she was screaming in
excruciating pain....the image and the sounds that went with it made Rollie faint. Now, with dust
ball upon nose, with willpower to hold a wanted sneeze and to keep himself moving, Rollie
inched towards a faint light, towards a slight breeze of fresh, glorious air......

Next :)
 

From: Peggy
Date: 12/20/98
Time: 8:10:09 PM
 

Rollie almost froze as he realized he was nearing *that* place again, but the thought of fresh air,
of freedom and Angie lured him on. He paused at the sound of a mad voice and peeked out a
grill. Rayenshaft! The Aussie cringed in terror, hoping the man couldn't hear him, couldn't see
him! The mad words slipped into the FX man's mind. A biological weapon to destroy his
enemies once and for all? He did NOT llike the sound of this! If this mad man had such a
weapon, he could... He could kill the whole city! That would include Angie! NO!!! Rollie
couldn't allow this to happen. He couldn't! Somehow, some way, he had to stop this. But how?
Where would he find this new danger? How could he stop it? First, though, he had to *find* it!

With a soft sigh of regret, Rollie bid farewell to the little dust ball that was leading him to
freedom and turned back into the building. Carefully, slowly, he looked out of each vent he came
to, seeking answers. Ages later, numb with cold and exhaustion, Rollie blinked in disbelief as he
stared at the men in white lab coats scurrying around the large metal canister. His eyes were
drawn past the sealed tank to the much larger one beyond it. His nose wrinkled in disgust as he
recognized the odor of embalming fluid. Normally, the stench wouldn't bother him, but now he
associated with *that* and he couldn't stand it. As he looked dumbly out, an idea slowly formed.
It was stupid! He admonished himself. It could work, another part argued back. He lay panting as the two parts of his brain argued over it and he almost giggled at the ridiculousness of it all. It
can save Angie and the city, he sternly ordered his doubting part and looked for a way to get rid
of the lab coats.

His problem was solved for him as distant gunshots rang through the big building. The men halted their activity and looked at each other uneasily. They were being paid a lot of money, but... They
weren't being paid enough to get shot! Almost as one, the men fled the room. Rollie snorted
slightly and started to work on the grill separating him from the huge room. Only one way to find
out if his idea would work and that was to try it. He was shaking like a leaf as he got the grill
away from the vent. He slipped out and hung by his hands for a moment, then dropped. He rolled
as he hit the floor, then scrambled to his feet. Shivering, Rollie ran to the controls for the crane
attached to the small, sealed tank. He examined them with an expert's eye, then looked at the huge tank of embalming fluid. Taking a deep breath, he worked the controls that would open the larger
tank, then turned on the crane, lifting the small one from the floor. Forcing his hands steady, he
guided the small tank over the large one and slowly, gently began to lower it inside. The liquid
inside sloshed and spilled over the edge, making Rollie gag. His hands remained steady though
and he felt the small tank settle inside the large one. Punching a button, he released the crane and
brought it up, out of the way.

Rollie sighed softly as he sealed the large tank again, then looked up at the sound of the door
opening. He stared with soft regret as Rayenshaft ran into the room and froze, staring at the
Australian.

Rayenshaft almost literally started foaming at the mouth as he realized what Tyler had done. With a mad cry, he pointed his gun at his former prisoner. Rollie Tyler closed his eyes in regret and
waited for the inevitable. No where to go now, no where to hide from it.

Rollie's eyes opened and he stared at Gregory Rayenshaft calmly, waiting. Two shots rang out
together...

* * * * * *

Oh me, another cliff hanger! Sorry, but it almost guarantees a next. <wg> So post already!
 

From: FX Phantom
Date: 12/29/98
Time: 11:43:56 PM
 

Hi all, this is a very,very short piece...but I want it to continue...I hope SOMEONE picks it up!

A look of total surprize crossed quickly over Ravenshfts face.

"Rollie?"

Rollie stared in disbelief as Ravenshafts body fell hard, revealing the tired, yet relieved face of......
 

From: Peggy
Date: 1/1/99
Time: 8:06:52 PM
 

Marty Pruett stared at the Australian, surprised to see him there. He jumped forward quickly as Rollie's legs buckled and he slowly collapsed to the floor. He could feel the fine tremors running through his friend's too thin body. What in the world was Rollie Tyler doing here? That he'd been through hell was obvious. He looked up to see a couple of his men staring at them. "Find the biological agent and clean this mess up! We don't want our target to find out what happened here." He paused, "And get a medic in here NOW! Hop to it!"

The men scattered to obey his orders. They were very aware they were working with a time limit. All had to be secure and clean before the local authorities came to investigate reports of gunfire.

"Marty?" Rollie whispered in a shaky voice.

"I'm right here, Rollie. Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"The... the biological agent? ... It's in the embalming fluid."

Marty had thought he couldn't be anymore surprised today, but found that once more Rollie Tyler, special effect wizard extrodinaire, had done just that - surprised him. "Okay. That's good. We'll take it from here." He felt Rollie's body stiffen and then with the softest of sighs, slip into unconsciousness. Where the hell was that medic?!? Rollie's skin was ice cold. He was too thin. What had happened to him? FBI Agent Pruett watched in relief as the doctor with their unit finally arrived. He held Rollie carefully as he checked him out. Two men came in with a gurney and he watched as they loaded the unconscious man. "Does he need a hospital?"

The medic looked up from checking his patient's vitals. "Yes. He's hypothermic, dehydrated and malnourished and in shock. I need to start treatment right away."

Marty nodded, "Right. Does anyone else need your attention?"

The doctor shook his head.

"Then get him to the safe house." Marty Pruett watched as they moved the gurney toward the door, the doctor close behind. "And Jack..." He waited until Jack Singleton was looking at him. "Take good care of him. Rollie's a good man."

Jack nodded and smiled reassurance, before hurrying to catch up with his patient. Marty sighed deeply, then shook himself. He started barking orders and hustling his team along. He wanted to get them all out of here - Stat! Pruett watched in satisfaction as the decom team removed the biological by loading the sealed vat of embalming fluid, the agent still inside.

Swiftly the FBI strike team obliterated all evidence of their presence and the fire fight. By the time the police arrived, they didn't find any sign of Rayenshaft's gang, the embalming fluid or the biological agent. Only the grisly remains of Rayenshaft's sick 'hobby' and the mystery of just where was Rayenshaft and Rollie Tyler?
 

From: T
Date: 1/6/99
Time: 8:37:36 PM
 

This is a good round robin! It shall not perish!

* * *

"I've got to talk to Angie!" Rollie yelled, "I've got to let her know!"

"Sir, please," a nurse said leaning over him with a syringe.

"Get that thing away from me!" Rollie said batting her arm away.

"You need a sedative Rollie," Marty said, sitting in a chair across from Rollie's bed.

"What I need is to let my friends know I'm alive!" Rollie yelled.

"It's all right nurse," Marty said, motioning the stricken woman away.

"Where am I?" Rollie asked.

"Safehouse," Marty said simply, "we have to protect you. And we can't let anyone else know your whereabouts, or that you're alive for that matter, not yet."

"What are you talking about?" Rollie said.

"If your friends find out that you're alive," Marty said, leaning forward, "then they'll tell someone else, eventually. And eventually they'll find out and your friends will be in mortal danger."

"They?" Rollie said, "Who's they?"

Rollie fell back into the bed, exhausted from his ordeal.

"Just where do you think Rayenshaft got that biotoxin?" Marty said, taking a drink of water, "Not from a mail order catalog I assure you."

"Ok, so?" Rollie said weakly.

"So, Rayenshaft was just a pawn," Marty said, "A pawn in a much bigger game of chess. One we've been playing for a while now."

Marty leaned back in his chair.

"I can't tell you everything," he said, "because even I don't know everything. But I can tell you this: Gregory Rayenshaft was a homicidal psychopath, and these people used that for their own devices. They gave him the toxin, let him lose with it. He would have killed millions before he was done."

"You still haven't said who 'they' was yet," Rollie said with a frown.

"There are groups," Marty said slowly, "anti-governmental groups. Mostly crazies. Mostly small stuff. Small Nazi wings, terrorism. But some, some are smart, and have resources, and are very, very dangerous."

"I've had a few encounters," Rollie said grimacing.

Marty nodded.

"I know," he said, "but these people, they're very smart. Smarter than usual. With more resources than usual. Interpol's been on them, along with the FBI, CIA, etcetera. Couldn't catch them though, not the important members. Then there began to be rumours, rumours that they were going to take some more, drastic, measures."

"Who are they?" Rollie asked, annoyed.

"Think of them as the ultimate versions of overzealous environmentalists," Marty said.

"Environmentalists?" Rollie said skeptically.

Marty nodded.

"They believe the earth needs to be cleansed," Marty said, "to protect it. Cleansed of all hazards, namely, us."

"So they want to kill the entire human population," Rollie said, "is that it?"

"Save for their, uh, enlightened group," Marty said sarcastically, "who know how to treat the earth."

"That's pretty big time Marty," Rollie said.

"Tell me about it," Marty said, "Recently they acquired a large cache of biological weapons off the international black market, leftovers from the Gulf War. They've been dispersing them to their members, and to their unknowing lackeys."

"Like Rayenshaft," Rollie said.

"Exactly," Marty said, "Except that we caught wind of the shipment to him. How'd they get it in you ask? By tainting specific shipments of other, normally used items. Like embalming fluid. They put an amount of it into a shipment of embalming fluid. It was perfect for Rayenshaft, he'd get to kill and then keep. They played him like a fiddle."

"So where do I come in?" Rollie asked, his head beginning to throb.

"Wrong place at the wrong time, my friend," Marty said.

"My middle name," Rollie mumbled, then sighed, "so what do I do now?"

"Wait," Marty said, "and see what happens. They may or may not know of your existence. But you saw Rayenshaft, what he was doing. You're a danger. They'll want to eliminate you."

"I feel like I'm in a James Bond movie," Rollie said shaking his head, "this is definitely bigger than I'm used to."

"I know," Marty said, "For now, though, you just sit tight."

Rollie nodded, taking a large breath in, and letting it out slowly. Hopefully things would work out. Right now he needed to relax. Right then he needed to settle down, and keep himself from burning out. Too much stress at one time. In and out, slowly, his heart rate went down, his mind began to cloud over with a wonderful sense of sleep.

And that was when the trouble began.

* * *

Next!!!!!!!!!
 

From: Peggy
Date: 1/10/99
Time: 11:53:52 AM
 

Marty quickly pulled his gun, prepared to defend against whatever was out in the hallway. He
glanced over at Rollie and was puzzled. The Australian had the strangest look on his face,
almost... of recognition? His attention was returned to the door as it burst open and a whirlwind
came through. He pulled his gun up as he recognized Angie Ramirez. She ran over to Rollie and
hugged him tightly, awkward with one arm, whispering something to her boss and partner. The
beautiful blonde was followed almost immediately by a stranger who glanced at him with a smile
before walking over to the special effects experts.

"My sonny boy! I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner." The stranger called out right before enfolding
Rollie and Angie into a huge hug.

"Mangela." Rollie spoke softly, relaxing in the warmth of his spirutual father's arms. He pulled
Angie close and wiggled around slightly until he was leaning against the aborigine, absorbing
strength and the feeling of safety the older man produced in him.

Marty blinked in surprise as he watched. How?

Three agents appeared in the door. One spoke. "Sorry, sir. We couldn't stop them." They stepped
forward, prepared to remove the strangers.

Agent Pruett waved his hand at them in dismissal. "Don't bother. They're friends. Return to your
posts."

The agents departed with a chorus of "yes sir". They moved quickly before the senior agent in
charge decided to berate them for their failure to halt the intruders.

Mary returned his attention to his friends and the stranger. He cleared his throat loudly. "Excuse
me?"

"Hey Marty." Angie spoke from the middle of the group hug and pulled out, still resting her hand
on Rollie's shoulder.

"Do I want to know how you found us? We've got a problem. What if *they* followed you here?
Rollie and this operation could be in deep shi..."

"Mangela found Rollie," Angie hastened to speak, "and no, no one followed us. No one even
knew I left the loft." She frowned slightly, remembering the four people in the workshop when
she'd seen Mangela in the shadows of the telephone booth. Following some silent instruction or
instinct for quiet, she'd drifted downstairs from Rollie's living quarters, where everyone had
thought she was sleeping or trying to sleep, to join the aborigine. Silently, she'd followed him out
into the night, trusting and knowing that Mangela would take her to Rollie. They'd walked for a
long time and then he'd lead her into the large estate, into the mansion where they'd found Rollie.
Just like she knew she would. She shook her head slightly. Francis, Mira, Michael and Dingo
were going to be extremely mad and upset when they discovered she was gone, but... She looked
at Rollie, cuddled close to Mangela, his eyes closed, face etched with lines of exhaustion. She
noted the IV and the bruises, scrapes and cuts. Nothing major, no big hurts, unless you took in to
account his exhaustion and too thin frame. Even as she watched, some of the lines seemed to
disappear, Rollie falling into a sound sleep. It was taking away the lines, he looked like a little
boy. If it helped Rollie, their fury would be worth it. She didn't care and reached out to stroke his
soft brown hair.

"*How* did Mangela find us?" Marty stumbled slightly over the strange name, "And how can you
be sure no one followed you?" If they were followed... No, he had to go under the assumption
that they *had* been followed. He needed to move operations quickly.

Angie shrugged slightly. "It's something... aboriginal magic? I don't know. I just know Rollie
always knows when Mangela is around and, given enough time, Mangela can always find
Rollie." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Marty, *no* one followed us. No one can
follow Mangela for long unless he *wants* them to... 'cept maybe Rollie. He just.... poof. He
disappears. The way everybody is going to think *I* just disappeared from the loft." A look of
wonder appeared on her face. "Marty, I walked past four people, four very awake and aware
people, three of them cops, law agents, whatever, and they never even noticed. They never *saw*
me!"

Marty blinked again. Oookay. This was getting past strange. "Positive, Angie? Positive enough to
*risk* Rollie's life?"

Angie flinched at the words and looked at Mangela. He looked back at her, still soothing Rollie.
What she saw there reassured her. "Positive, Marty." She nodded decisively. "Now who are
*they*? And how does this affect Rollie?" She spoke briskly, determined to stop whatever was
going on, whatever it was, she wanted it stopped. Certain that it was the only way to get Rollie
back to the way he was before this nightmare began, to get him healthy again and to... Well, she
was doing whatever it took.

Marty nodded deliberately, finding assurance in Angie's words. *She* would not risk Rollie
Tyler. With a deep sigh, he answered. "I have to make a couple of phone calls first. Look its," he
glanced at his watch, "04:00 AM. Get some sleep, Angie. We will *all* talk later. Okay?"

_____________

Neeeext writer!
 

From: FX Phantom
Date: 1/13/99
Time: 10:44:59 PM
 

****

Angie rubbed her hands anxiously as she watched Rollie. "Is he going to be alright?"

A sturdy nurse turned and looked at Angie "He is fine. He is tired, and somewhat malnourished."

Angie fidgeted "but is he going to be alright?"

THe nurse looked annoyed "Miss, he is fine. He needs to eat, take some vitamins and get some real rest."

Angie sighed "but..."

The nurse raised her hand "He looks much worse than he is. He has abviously gone through some emotional trauma however, as I said before...he needs some food and rest."

Angie began to nibble on the nail of her right index finger when Mangela walked up

"Little one? You know how I was able to find him?"

Angie nodded

"Well, In a way, I can tell if he's hurt. I could tell that he was angry more than scared and tired more than frightend. I can also tell you that the nurse is right. He is just fine."

Angie's mouth twisted "Its all my fault."

Mira let out a roaring scream "SHUT UP!!"

Dingo and Francis turned, mouths open and voices cut off midsentence

Mira fumed at both of them and pointed up the staircase "While you two idiots have been arguing, I went upstairs to check on Angie"

"And?" Francis gave Mira a cocky smile

"And.." Mira growled "..she's gone"

Please, someone else continue. :-)
 

From: Peggy
Date: 1/30/99
Time: 9:13:40 PM
 

I'm getting a bit ticked here. *Why* doesn't anyone else add to this? <deep breath>

All right - it's Robin time!

~*~

"What?!? What do you mean she's gone?" Francis looked at Mira in bewilderment. There were only two ways in or out of the loft. Both downstairs. She would have to go past them to get out and, damn it, they were not that oblivious.

"I don't know. But she's not up there." Mira stared back at her partner, then glared at her ex and Rollie's father. She wondered about him. How could he be Rollie's father? They were nothing alike and yet...

Michael shook his head in bewilderment. He went to the door and checked with the men he had watching. "My people didn't see anything." He reported upon his return.

Frank slid over to Mira. "She must of used the secret exit," he whispered. "But how?"

"I don't know." She raised her voice. "We better notify the Captain. With Rayenshaft out there holding Rollie," she swallowed and thought, please let him be alive still, "Angie is in danger."

"Deadly danger." Frank nodded. Jurisdictional disputes were shoved aside. Angie and Rollie were friends, proven, tried and true. They had to find them. The three law enforcement agents buckled down to the job they needed to do.

Dingo watched silently, pondering the mystery. How had Angie walked past all of them? She was small, but hardly silent. Rollie, now Rollie could be silent. Really silent when he wanted to. The elder Tyler remembered being stalked by his son at the age of ten and nearly having the living daylight scared out of him. Mangela had roared with laughter at the look on his face and the pleased preening of his gawky young son. Mangela... Mangela! Realization dawned and a pleased, secret smile crossed his face, to be quickly hidden. If Mangela was here, and it was the only explanation, then Rollie was safe. His boy was safe and so was Angie. Pity, he couldn't let the coppers know. He quickly pasted on a worried look. Easy to do, even if Rollie *was* safe with Mangela, he was in big trouble until this whole bit was dealt with.

"Sheila, you get that thought out of your head now!" Mangela shook his head. Whites were so... so stupid about things sometimes. Angie was smart, but right now she was being dumb. "What happened isn't your fault, girlie. You might as well blame Rollie for it all." He bobbed his head. "Yep, all Rollie's fault."

"NO!" Angie protested. It wasn't Rollie's fault. It wasn't... "Don't do that, Mangela. Don't you *ever* do that again!" She glared at him fiercely, furious and hurt.

"You be quiet or you'll wake Rollie up." The man grinned at her, white teeth flashing.

"Too late," Rollie whispered hoarsely. He blinked sleepily at his friends and flashed a brief smile to take the sting out of his words.

"Rollie." Angie darted to his side, touching his forehead to check for fever, helping him to sit up in the hospital bed, making sure his pillows were fluffed. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Rollie looked at her with bewilderment.

"For leaving you. For waking you up. For..." Angie stopped when Rollie put his hand over her mouth, effectively stemming the flow of words, the flood of apology.

"What does this have to do with you leaving?" Rollie queried, then shrugged. "Apology accepted for waking me, but I think he would have been doing that one anyway." He nodded to where Marty Pruett stood in the doorway.

Angie twisted around to look and blushed slightly. "Yeah," she answered, "he probably would."

"I much prefer you doing it, Angie." Rollie flashed her another smile and something inside her relaxed at it. Rollie was feeling better, doing better. Not 100%, but better. They'd have to work on that. Yep. They would, she looked at Mangela, with his help. She smiled a bit sheepishly at the older man who chuckled quietly and flashed a smile back.

"You have questions. I'll answer them as best I can." Marty decided to ignore whatever was going on here. He didn't want to know. He didn't want to know about magic or poof or ... He really didn't want to know.

Marty Pruett watched Angie settle on Rollie's bed, her free hand curled in one of the man's big hands. Mangela chuckled again and settled into the most comfortable chair in the room, waiting patiently. The FBI agent moved into the room, closing the door and locking it, before leaning against it. He took a deep breath and increased the number of people who knew his (and his superiors') nightmare. All three listened intently as he explained about the environmental extremists.

Mangela quickly acquired a disgusted look. "They know nothing about the mother. Nothing about how to care for her or her ways. If she wanted people gone, they would be gone." He looked at his sonny boy. "When was the last time you touched the earth, Rollie?"

Rollie flushed and mumbled something. Then like a scolded little boy, raised his head and answered. "It's been a while, Mangela. Too long a while, probably," he admitted.

Mangela nodded, he'd expected that answer. "You, Marty, you let Angie do her thing with the computers. Let her seek the answers they hide." He nodded firmly at the pretty sheila. "Rollie and me have some things to deal with." He stood and waited.

Rollie slipped from his bed, swaying slightly, then straightened. Good thing they took the IV out last night and better that he'd gotten some real clothes on. He followed the aborigine elder out the door leading to the patio. Bare foot, the two men padded deep within the wooded area behind the large manor, slipping silently through the trees.
 

From: Eileen
Date: 1/31/99
Time: 12:12:12 AM
 

Ok, ok....I think I will give it a shot. Just remember, if it really sucks--- I didn't do it!! :)

Rollie and Mangela were just walking to no particular spot. Ok, Rollie was following his adopted father; it was Mangela that had no particular place to go. Every once in a while Mangela would look at Rollie just to make sure that he was well enough to be outside.

"Sonny boy, you ok over there? You look pretty awful, you know." He added a brillant smile that not even the dark estate's grounds could hide.

"As a matter of fact, I feel awful. I have been thru a living hell and now I just want to go home. I don't think that is *too* big a deal, is it? I just want the whole damn world to go away tonight and let me sleep." He stopped walking and just stared at the older man. Looking up at the moon for some answers, but not getting them, he continued, "It's like everyone wants something from me, but *I* can never get anything back. It is just too much at times. I want to be...Rollie. Nothing more, nothing less. I just don't get them." He picked up the pace again and this time led the walk.

"Hate to tell you this, but 'them' has to include me as well." He stood still where he was. The older Australian's face revealed nothing about the words that he just said. The words that made his 'son' furious.

"WHAT?!" Rollie fairly bellowed. "You are part of what? Part of this?" he swept his arm towards the mansion and the whole property. "Now I know that the sun has baked your brain. You don't know these people. You are not, CAN NOT, be a part of this. I won't listen to anymore of this bull..."

But before Rollie could finish, Mangela interrupted, "Yes I am. I know all about these people. Ok, I don't work with the likes of your man that tried to kill you. But them others...I know them. I help them, Rollie."

Ok....see if that works!!

Eileen