Designing Destiny... Yupyup, another part. This one's a little longer too...

From the darkest corner of the office a faint rustling can be heard, however, the sound is so soft, the General dismisses it as one of the building's myriad noises. In time, Sanderson turns on the computer sitting upon his desk. As the screen comes to life he ignores the multiple files pleading for attention, instead beginning a game of Freecell. He loses himself in the mundane task of matching red to black to red; king to queen to jack, once again making order where there was none.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The forest returns to its sursurant life; birds twittering;deer scampering; squirrels chittering; a real Bambi moment. Michael turns his attention from matthew to Kyra, watching her reasure Wolf. He knows something happened between she and Matthew, but he can't figure out what it was. With a slight shake of his head, Michael waves his brother over, casting a furtive glance to Kyra.

"Matt, what happneed between you two?"

Matthew looks from Michael to Kyra and back. A faint frown hints at his brow as he shrugs slightly. "Dunno, really." Again he shrugs, moving toward the lower platforms.

As the youger man moves away, Michael frowns more deeply. He casts another look at Kyra, releases a sigh, then moves off in persuit of Matthew.

Kyra looks up from Wolf's eyes, following Michael's exit with her won. Her voice is soft and hushed, meant for the dog alone. "They're talkin' 'bout me, Fur Face. You know they are." Soft laughter teases the now-raised canope as Wolf licks her chin. "What happened, pup? What was that little episode?" As the husky whines softly, Kyra adds her own whispered whine. "When will this end?"

With a soft chuff, Wolf leaps to his paws, trotting to the edge of the padded top platform. He looks back over his furred shoulder, chuffing again to beckon his mistress. Again soft laughter flutters from her mouth as Kyra rises, making her way to the dog's side.

"You're getting really bossy, Fur Face." Again she chuckles as Wolf barks happily, she then follows as he leaps to the second level.

Michael takes in a deep breath, opening his mouth to speak. Before uttering a word, Wolf trots up to him, chuffing softly. Kyra follows her furred friend, placing a light hand upon Michael's shoulder.

"Pardon me if I'm interrupting, but if you're going to talk about me, I'd rather be involved." A smile graces her lips, yet it only brings attention to the question of welcome shining in her eyes.

Matthew chrugs, then looks toward the woods spread out before him. "I'm not sure where to start. I don't know if I should say anything." Matthew looks at his brother. "I don't want to get you hurt."

Kyra looks from Matthew to Michael, the weight of the former's love for his brother obvious to her. She arches a brow, sensing matthew's fear as well. Kyra speaks again, allowing her intuition to speak for her.

"Matthew..." she pauses, staring intently into his eyes. "This has something to do with Dempsey... with whatever he was working on - "

Michael raises a brow this time, looking from Kyra to Matthew and back. Kyra suddenly blinks, feeling the rage rolling from Michael's body. Shaking her head just a little, Kyra presses on.

"It is some Koontzian mess. In some way, Matthew, you're involved in my brother's death."

~~~~~~~~~~

Cattherine sits at attention, listening to the angry, screaming voice in the office behind her. A vision of her Naval carreer flits through ehr mind. As the muffled shouting grows louder, Catherine turns her thoughts to possible futures, wondering briefly if she's too old to join the circus. Catherine jerks her head upward, once again sitting statute still as the Admiral's words come through loud and clear.

"...CEASE AND DESIST YESTERDAY OR SHE'LL BE BAIT!"

As the office door explodes open, Catherine jerks to her feet, holding her instant salute as if she were made of steel. Admiral Bennet brushes his angry eyes over her spotless form, growling his words. "You're lucky there's Protocol, Lieutenant Stevens. I'd have had you keel hauled." Without another word, Bennet executes a flawless pivot then strides angrily down the hall and out of sight.

"Lieutenant." The single title sends shivers of fear spreading out from Catherine's spine as she quick-steps her way into the office. She snaps a salute then stands at sharp attention.

Calm, soft tones fill the office; a non-threatening voice pronouncing sentance. "I'm sure you heard the Admiral's last words." He pauses just long enough to draw a breath. "You are up for a change of duty. I suggest you prepare. You will be shipping out soonest. That is all!"

Without a word, Catherine turns, quick-stepping from the office. She moves rappidly from the building crossing the parade grounds to her private quarters. Once inside and alone, Catherine releases the breath she'd been holding. then runs to the head, purging her stomach of its contents.

When her stores are depleated, the Lieutenant rises, cleans herself, then moves stoicly through the motions of packing. Within half an hour her quarters are bare, clothing packed and personal effects sealed in two padlocked footlockers. Catherine inspects her surroundings, her mind still frozen.

The phone blares to life, jarring Catherine into action. Pressing the receiver to her ear, she states her name. "Stevens."

"The transport will be there to pick you up in ten minutes. Be ready, Lieutenant."

"Aye Aye, Sir." Her voice is still a monotone as she answers on auto pilot.

Her Commander pauses for her reply. "Using your credentials to step on Army toes is not a wise move."

Catherine sighs softly, nodding though the gesture can't be seen. "Aye Sir. I thank you for this reprieve...." Her words are cut off by the Commander's tone.

"Don't fuck up, Catherine. Bide your time and keep your ass clean. I'll bring you back ASAP." He pauses once more, a faint warmth entering his rich voice. "Forget it, Catherine. Everything you heard or saw... Forget it all. In a year or two, Bennet will move on."

Again Catherine nods, so many questions battering at the barrier within her mind. Denying feeling just a little longer, she responds in the flat monotone. "Aye, Sir. Copy. I won't let you down again."

For half a moment the Commander hesitates, as if he wanted to say something more, yet he simply hangs up the phone leaving Catherine alone once again. Slowly she replaces the handset into its cradle, sitting rigidly as she awaits the transport. One thought finally squeaks through the iron barrier within her mind.

But where am I going?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyra draws her pack toward her, sitting down with her back against the trunk of the tree. She looks from Matthew to Michael and then allows her eyes to rest a moment upon Wolf. Kyra opens the pack, pulling out a small, vacuum sealed bag and a plastic bowl. As she opens the bag, pouring its contents into the bowl for the dog, Kyra turns her eyes once again to Matthew.

"Though I'm sure there are many questions you want answers to, as much as I do, I think our first order of business is to figure out what we're going to do." She pauses a moment, looking to Michael. "I wanted to come up to the mountains to get away from whomever was hunting me. If Matthew is being persued, this is not a safe place for him... obviously."

A faint chuckle brushes from her throat, the sound echoed more quietly by Michael as he nods. "Yes, I agree with that. I don't think staying here is a good idea. And I know that we can't battle whatever is going on by ourselves." He pauses, watching Matthew for a few moments before his voice can be heard again. "But, I believe that we are safe enough here for the whole story."

As both Kyra and Michael watch him, Matthew stares at the grains of the two by fours which make up the platform. After a few long moments, he finally raises his eyes, first glancing at Kyra, then fixing Michael with an intense gaze.

"No. We are no more safe here than anywhere else. If the General can't find me with the electronic equipment, he'll have my counterpart do his hunting." Matthew pauses to listen to the sounds of the forest. When he returns his gaze to Michael, the look in the younger man's eyes is one of desperation.

"Michael... I want to tell you everything. I really do..." Matthew shakes his head slowly. "But I took an oath."

Michael snorts angrily, practically glaring at Matthew. "How the hell can you fall back on some petty excuse? Do you think that whoever is hunting you won't kill us just because we're with you?"

"NO!" Matthew jumps to his feet, the panic and confusion rippling through his body.

Kyra watches the young man as he shakes with his own emotional conflict. With a gentle, tender smile, she instinctively exudes calm toward him, as if she could actually ease Matthew's panic and nervousness with her thoughts.

Matthew spins, leveling an icy glare at Kyra. "How the hell are you doing that?"

With a soft gasp, Kyra stops thinking peace to Matthew, shaking her head. "Doing what, Matthew? I don't understand... all I did was...." She frowns, not knowing how to describe what happened. Her voice seems almost fragile. "I just wanted you to feel safe. I sort of thought calm at you. I don't know how else to say it."

Matthew shakes his head, as if trying to banish reality. He turns his eyes to Michael as the older man speaks.

"I think maybe you should tell us what you felt, Matt." Michael finally sits down, his back against the trunk of the tree beside Kyra. He watches Matthew for a moment, allowing the silence to build.

"I felt the calm from her, Mike. Just like I felt the anger from her before. She's like me... but not..." Matthew stares at Kyra still, though his gaze is now of curiosity rather than panic and fear.

"Back there..." Matthew waves toward the upper platform dismissively. "You sensed something from me... right?" He watches Kyra, waiting for her nod before he continues. "Did you smell it, or did you just... feel something wrong?"

Kyra blinks a few times, looking to Michael, suddenly glad that he is beside her. She moves a little closer to him, watching Matthew with suspicion in her eyes. As Michael wraps his arm around her, protectively, Kyra speaks softly, her voice almost childlike. "I just sensed something wasn't right. I felt like you were going to hit me or something...."

Michael listens intently, tightening his hold on Kyra. Something deep within him stirs a heat, like stoking a fire in the deepest winter night. His desire to protect Kyra, keeping her safe, doubles as Michael feels her faint tremble.

"I don't know how to explain it. I didn't smell anything. I just... felt threatened. So I sorta..." Kyra frowns, curling her legs up close to her body as if to make as small a target as possible. "I just wanted you to know that you wouldn't hurt me. That I wouldn't let you hurt me. That I would defend myself to the death if necessary." Kyra shrugs, her body seeming to colapse in upon itself as she finishes her short speach.

Matthew nods slightly, his actions becoming less panicked. His eyes take on a look of intense concentration as he finally sits down again, across from Michael and Kyra. As Matthew sits, Wolf circles him slowly, then lays down between them. Canine eyes continue to follow Matthew's every movement yet Wolf remains silent.

With a sigh of self control, the young man forces himself to calm down before speaking again. "Alright... some basic things you need to know before I get too technical." Again Matthew pauses, gathering his thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If you've seen animals, done any study of them, you know that they can sense things humans can't, or rather, won't. Sometimes it's just a simple knowledge that you're about to feed them... sometimes they can predict natural disasters and the like." Matthew turns his eyes to Wolf for a moment. "The reason he's laying between us is because he can feel your nervousness of me. He likes Mike and trust him, cause the dog knows Mike'll take care of you. The dog knows he loves ya."

Michael raises a brow, involuntarily pulling back from Kyra just a little. As he does so, Wolf raises his head, turning to look at Michael, a soft whine emitted from the furred throat. Michael blinks a few times, then simply decides to accept that pigs really can fly. After all... if a dog can tell what I don't know yet... maybe the sky isn't blue. Michael chuckles faintly at his own thought, then turns his eyes back to Matthew.

The only indication that she noticed anything amiss is the faint blush which colors Kyra's cheeks. Wolf turns his head back toward Matthew, resting his soft muzzle upon his forepaws as the Lieutenant continues.

"Anyway... Some humans have a slightly heightened sensing ability. Most folks refer to them as just being good with animals. But it's more than that." Matthew stops, tilting his head slightly as he listens to the sounds of the forest. Hearing nothing wrong, he begins again. "See... your body emits certain oders that signal certain emotions. The whole fight or flight thing fits in there. So... what happened back there, was an obviously automatic response to a subconscious awareness you have, Kyra."

Kyra shakes her head, slight confusion coloring her eyes. "But.... wait.... I don't know if I understand you... You mean, I smelled your threat? And that's why I let off some smell that told you I wasn't gonna let you walk all over me? I mean... like..." Kyra shakes her head, curling herself up a little smaller as Michael wraps his arm a little more tightly around her.

"I think I understand, guys." Michael's tone is quiet, his words slow in coming. "Kyra, you remember when Wolf wouldn't let you open the door before I got there this morning?"

Kyra nods slowly then Michael continues. "He knew that whoever was on the other side of that door, was not a nice person. We know that dogs, and other animals, have a better sense of smell. But I think it's more than just scent." Michael looks at Matthew. "Right? There's a kind of.... well... psychic thing going on too."

Matthew nods quickly, then pauses to listen to the forest yet again. "Yeah. That's right. But, I think we should be on the move."

Kyra nods slowly, smiling just a little. "Yes. I feel it too. Something just isn't right. And we shouldn't stay here any longer."