KISS and the Battle of GOOD vs EVIL
Part 36-F


Raven ran through the dimly lit gap between walls, 
very thankful for ghostlight.  She did not want to 
think about doing this in total darkness.  At least 
this way she would see the monsters when they came 
at her.

It had been close.  Too close.  If not for the mice 
and ghosts, she would be in the clutches of the dark 
stranger right now.  But she could not run forever.  
She could not let E.V.I.L. take her though.  Even 
with Shandi to help protect Peter and the matrix, it 
was too great a danger.  Whatever it took, she could 
not let herself be captured again.  Whatever it 
took.

*Teleport to another location,* the whisper advised.

"How?!"  Raven demanded, heart pounding.

*Concentrate,* the whisper told her.  *Think of 
where you wish to be, picture it, believe it, and 
repeat these words.*  The chant had an almost 
musical sound and was definitely not in English.

"What is..." she started to ask.

*CONCENTRATE!* the whisper snapped.

Raven concentrated, wanting to be with Peter, seeing 
their room, wishing with all her might.  "What was 
that phrase again?"  She repeated it as the whisper 
gave it to her and waited tensely.  But nothing 
happened.  "I can't do it."

*We are all confined within this building,* the 
whisper reminded.  *Were you trying to leave it?*

Raven flushed slightly, ashamed she had forgotten.  
She nodded.

*Think of some place in the building.  The cockroach 
will not hold him long.  Do not choose his work 
area.  That will be too dangerous now and Gena may 
yet be there.  Since we are weaker many are staying 
near you so our numbers may yet be able to help.  
The others will attempt to find an address so help 
may arrive.*

Raven thought of the various areas she had seen 
since waking here.  There was only the laboratory, 
the spaces between walls, and the work area.  She 
picked one of the wall spaces that had distinctive 
features.  She remembered to include the mice, and 
at the last second remembered to picture them with 
their new clothes and weapons.  She concentrated, 
requested the phrase again, and sang the chant.

They stood in the space she had pictured in her 
mind.  Raven looked around.  "How did I do that?"

*You are a conjurer,* the whisper told her.  *A 
medicine woman of the Aniyunwiya, who others call 
Cherokee.*

"So those words you gave me were Cherokee?"

*Yes.*

"I don't speak Cherokee," Raven said.

There was a soft sigh.  *We know that.  But your 
conjuring demands it be in the language of the Real 
People.  We will provide you with the few chants 
that we know.  You will supply the power.  In the 
future, you must find an Elder who is willing to 
teach you the chants.*

"If I ever get out of here."  Raven blinked on 
tears.  What good was finding out how to use her 
power if she could not escape E.V.I.L.'s domain?  
"But why did everyone think I was a probability 
manipulator?"

*Because that was what happened when you used you 
power without any defining structure,* the whisper 
explained.  *You unleashed a powerful spell but did 
not tell it what to do.  So it would randomly change 
things, and the amount of energy you put in the 
spell determined how much it changed them.*

"So are all probability manipulators only mages who 
don't realize what they are?"  Raven asked.

Silence.

"No time to talk," a mouse warned.  "We must find 
new hiding place."

Raven sighed.  "I doubt there's any place in the 
building he can't find us."  She looked at the mice.  
"We should separate.  No need for you to be 
captured."

The mice all shook their heads.  "We protect you," 
one told her firmly.  "Where you go, we go."

Raven followed them through the walls, a slight 
smile on her face.  If they ever did get out of 
this, it would be real interesting explaining the 
mice to Peter.

*	*	*	*	*

Gene pushed Lily down in a chair.  He leaned 
forward, face inches from hers.  "You're going to 
tell us where Gena and Raven are."

Lily shook her head.  "Yes."  A look of pure shock 
crossed her face.

Gene chuckled.  "Address?"

"13th and West," Lily answered.  She tried to rise 
and Gene held her down.  She frantically looked 
around at the people in the room.  "How are you 
doing that?"

"Describe the building," Paul demanded.

"Three story business building," Lily recited, face 
growing paler with each word.  "Herr Dokter's lab on 
first floor.  Petunia's mage workroom on the second.  
Buttercup's office on third.  Parking lot on two 
sides, street in front, White Castle next to it on 
the corner.  All means of exit sealed by electronic 
and magical means."

"Who's there who can oppose us?"  Paul demanded.

"Last I knew Herr Dokter, Petunia, and Gardenia," 
Lily answered.  "And about half a dozen henchmen."

"Where's Buttercup?"  Gene growled.

"I don't know," Lily answered.

"We know Herr Dokter," Paul said.  "Who is Petunia 
and Gardenia?"

"Petunia is a Drow dark mage," Lily answered.  
"Gardenia is the girltalk member Gena."

Gene hauled Lily out of the chair, his hands 
tightening around her throat.  "You lying little..."

Peter chopped across Gene's wrists, making him drop 
the woman.  "Gena's been programmed by E.V.I.L.," he 
said, daring to face Gene's anger.  "Raven made 
brief contact with me just a little bit ago and 
warned us.  If we get her away from them, we can 
break the control.  But we may have to watch Gena 
even if we get her deprogrammed.  The Drow's done 
something to her.  We'll need to have Tiger check 
her out carefully.  We may even have to call Val and 
see if she can send any of her friends from 
Underhill over to help."

Gene's eyes bored into Peter's.  "Gena has been..."

"Programmed by E.V.I.L.," Peter said, meeting Gene's 
gaze without flinching.  

"DAMN!"  Gene turned and walked across the room.  He 
stood looking out the window, head down and 
shoulders drawn up as if any moment a blow was going 
to strike him.

"How do we get in?"  Paul demanded of Lily.

"All ID includes retina and palm," Lily reported.  
"The system will not allow you in.  Not unless you 
are prisoners."

"So we fake being prisoners," Peter said.  "Some of 
us use some of the henchman's clothes..."

Paul shook his head.  "Need the retina and palm."

"So we take one real one with us," Peter snapped.  
"You control him."

Paul took a deep breath.  "I don't know if I can."

"We have to do something!"  Peter insisted.  "Raven 
can't dodge Petunia forever!"

*	*	*	*	*

It had taken a bit but the Drow finally cornered the 
cockroach in a stairwell and killed it.  The carcass 
was going to stink up the place if he did not get 
rid of it soon, but he had more important things to 
do than worry about a dead insect.

He cast his location spell and found his target.  He 
teleported to the hallway nearest her.

In the wall, the whisper said, *Picture him encased 
in glass and say this.*

Raven did as told.

The Drow felt the spell snap around him, enclosing 
him in a clear barrier.  What?!  Where did another 
mage come from?  And what kind of mage was this?  He 
did not recognize the energies.  Gathering his own 
dark power, he worked to shatter his prison.

*Teleport,* the whisper counseled Raven and she did.

*	*	*	*	*

Stephanie grabbed SiLK's arm as she entered the room 
and drew her back out in the hallway.  "We have an 
address."

SiLK smiled.  "Great."

Stephanie frowned.  "It's too easy.  This could be a 
trap.  They could have deliberately set this up so 
we'd capture these people, get the address, the guys 
go charging in, and Buttercup grabs them."

"So why don't I sent some of my little friends in to 
check it out?"  SiLK suggested.  "Give me the 
address and I'll send some bats and starlings over.  
Make sure it's as described, see if I can spot 
anything."

"I have a better idea," Stephanie said.  "WE go 
check it out."

"We?"  SiLK asked.

//You better plan on including me in this conspiracy 
somewhere,// Shandi warned.

Stephanie jumped.  "Damn it!  You weren't supposed 
to be listening in."

//And before you say anything, yes, I know I can't 
physically go with you,// Shandi said with regrets.  
//But I can monitor the situation and get help to 
you if things go wrong.  Jessi can teleport you 
directly there.  She's looking at a map of New York 
right now.  And I have a couple of others who will 
be going with you.//

"We can't endanger..."  Stephanie started.

//Put a cork in it!//  Shandi ordered.  //You can't 
get there fast without Jessi.  She isn't going but 
she can drop you there.  Ana and Tiger will give you 
some extra firepower.  And Richard is going with 
you.//

"Richard?"  Stephanie asked in surprise.

//Get over here to my room.  They're on their way 
here and Jessi will 'port you from here.  Now move 
it before the Guys notice you've ducked out.//

Stephanie and SiLK ran for Shandi's room.  They 
arrived panting, and on the heels of Ana.  Ana gave 
them a faint smile.  "I understand we have an 
address."

Stephanie nodded as they entered the room.  
"Shandi?"

Shandi sat propped on her bed, a small cooler full 
of soda and a bag of snacks within easy reach.  The 
caffeine and sugar were necessities.  Being a nexus 
put a heavy toll on her, and the strain was showing 
in her face.

Jessi looked up.  "Shandi says 13th and West."

"That's the address they're giving us," Stephanie 
agreed.  "But it may be a trap."

"I agree," Richard said as he entered the room, 
Tiger walking behind him.  "Which is why I'm going 
with you."

Stephanie raised an eyebrow.  "I take it you have a 
useful power that will help if it is a trap."

Richard nodded.  "I'm your power pool.  I helped 
boost Val Kyrie's spell and Cyn's healing.  I can't 
do anything with it myself.  At least I haven't been 
able to figure out how yet.  But I do know I can 
intensify any of your powers."

"We can definitely use any help we can get," Tiger 
said.

"This could be a trap," Stephanie reminded everyone.  
"We could all end up captured by E.V.I.L."

Ana showed her teeth.  "They may grab me but holding 
me is another thing altogether.  They may decide to 
let me go, real fast."

Tiger nodded.

SiLK closed her eyes briefly and then reopened them.  
"I told Amadeus the address.  He knows the streets.  
He's already flying that way."

Shandi looked at Jessi.  "How many can you send at a 
time?"

Richard chuckled.  "With me boosting her, that's no 
longer an issue."

"Then let's go," Stephanie said grimly.  "Raven 
needs our help.  And it's time to show E.V.I.L. you 
don't mess with girltalk or KISS."

*	*	*	*	*

"We'll have SiLK send some of her animals in to 
scout things out," Paul said.  //Shandi, can you 
relay the address to SiLK and have her send some 
scouts?//

//No problem,// Shandi said quickly.  //And she'll 
send the pegasus too.//

Paul frowned.  //The pegasus might attract 
attention.//

//He's been flying around doing searches already,// 
Shandi reminded.  //As long as he doesn't head 
straight to the address they won't notice.  And 
maybe they'll try to capture him and we can cut down 
their force even more.//

Paul nodded, still frowning.  For some reason he had 
a feeling Shandi was not telling him everything.

*	*	*	*	*

The Drow went flying the length of the hallway, 
cussing.  He hit the end wall with bruising force 
and slid down it to sit on the floor gasping.  The 
mage was obviously inexperienced but also powerful.  
And female.  He could sense that from her magical 
signature.

He wanted her.  He would bind her to him as he had 
bound Gena.  With two mages to back him, he was sure 
to succeed in overthrowing Buttercup and claiming 
the title of ultimate E.V.I.L. for himself.  Two 
female mages as his apprentices, to use as he 
pleased...  The thought was intoxicating.

Running footsteps approached as he painfully rose to 
his feet.  He saw Gena approaching, her eyes glowing 
red in the darkness.  Better to use a nightvision 
spell than give one's position away with light.

Gena knelt beside him.  "Are you okay?"

"What other mage is there in girltalk besides 
yourself?" the Drow demanded.

"Tiger," she answered immediately.  "Val Kyrie, but 
she is in Underhill recovering."

The Drow smiled with dark pleasure.  "So I did hurt 
her.  Good.  She interfered with my plans.  But this 
magic is not of Underhill.  What type of mage is 
Tiger?"

"I'm not sure," Gena answered.

"It could be her," the Drow mused.  "She could have 
found a way in and is protecting Raven."

"I have the means of capturing Raven," Gena said 
proudly.

The Drow grabbed her arm.  "How?"

Gena smiled and held out her hand.  She dropped 
something small and dark in his palm.

He looked down and smiled.

*	*	*	*	*

"Nothing suspicious," SiLK observed.

Tiger shivered.  "You can't feel it?  That building 
is COLD."  She rubbed her arms.

Richard looked around the area.  He had a strange 
feeling, almost a sense of familiarity.  Something 
was here or had been here recently that made his 
power pool hum and sent an odd tingle through his 
body.  He felt like he was standing before a dark 
mirror and any second the light would come on and he 
would see something very important revealed.

"How do we get in?"  Ana asked.  "Knock?"

*	*	*	*	*

The Drow closed the circle around the clipped lock 
of hair.  He cast his spell, calling the previous 
owner of that lock to the circle and the bindings 
thereof, adding the necessary adjustment to return 
her to full size.

Raven felt something grab her and suddenly she was 
standing in a dark hallway, lit only by the glow of 
the circle holding her.  But it was enough to see 
Gena and the man she had been with earlier.  Raven's 
hands flew up and touched an invisible wall.  
//Peter!  He has me!// she screamed as she looked in 
the man's dark eyes and saw a fearful hunger that 
threatened her very soul.

Peter grabbed Paul's arm.  "He's got her," he 
whispered.  "He's got Raven."

//He captured Raven!// Shandi screamed on the link.

//Where is she?!// Stephanie demanded.

//RAVEN!// Shandi screamed, breaking through to the 
imprisoned woman through sheer force of will.  
//Where are you in the building?!//

//First floor hallway,// Raven answered tearfully as 
she watched the man caress the wall imprisoning her.

"You're mine now," the Drow gloated softly.  "To 
Claim and hold.  And through you, the world."

Gena gathered her spell energies, readying herself 
for what was to come.

//She's in the hallway, first floor,// Shandi 
relayed to Stephanie.

"Good."  Stephanie tapped into Richard's pool to 
gain an even greater strength, and then unleashed 
her Rage.

The top half of the building disappeared, pulverized 
to fine dust in a single second.

Gena never saw the flying piece of wall that hit her 
from behind and left her unconscious on the floor.  

The Drow felt the Rage storm just feet above his 
head.  The wards and protections vanished as the 
physical building started crumbling.  He had no time 
to break the containment on Raven and take his prize 
with him.  He had to escape NOW!  And did, 
teleporting to a safe spot blocks away.  He always 
kept several such means of escape.  One did not 
survive if one did not plan for failure as well as 
victory.

Stephanie gathered her Rage into a cone, drawing the 
debris up and turning it into a dust that was 
scattered over several blocks.

*/Find Raven!/* SiLK told Sappho.  The hellhound 
bounded into the disintegrating building, followed 
by a lithe jaguar because Ana was not going to be 
left outside.

Ghostly hands plucked at their clothing, pulling 
them towards one part of the building.  They quickly 
allowed themselves to be led.

Raven crouched, still sealed inside the circle that 
had turned out to be her protection.  She looked up 
as her rescuers picked their way through the rubble.  
Tiger cut the circle and freed Raven, claiming the 
first hug as repayment.

*/Evil!/* Sappho warned, standing guard over the 
unconscious Gena.

"We better do something with Gena," SiLK warned.

"I'll keep her out," Tiger suggested.  "We'll let 
Paul try to break whatever they did to her."

Ana switched back to human and hugged Raven.  
"You're safe now."

"The mice!"  Raven looked around at the shattered 
walls and tumbled masonry.  "Where are the mice?!"

"Mice?"  Stephanie started looking around her feet 
nervously.  If there were mice around, she wanted 
out of here.  She hated mice almost as much as she 
hated spiders.

*This way,* the whisper said.  *They need your 
help.*

Raven ran through the debris, following the voice.  

"What the..."  Stephanie sighed.  "Tiger, Ana; stay 
with Gena.  SiLK, watch for trouble.  Richard, let's 
go see what Raven is into NOW."

*Here,* the whisper said.

Raven dropped to her knees and dug at the plaster.  
She found the small cavity and gently opened it to 
reveal the tiny bodies within.  "Oh no," she 
mourned, tears falling.  "No."

*They yet live,* the whisper said.  *But not for 
long.*

"Tell me how to heal them!"  Raven demanded as 
Stephanie and Richard walked up.  The two people 
looked at Raven kneeling in the plaster dust, a pale 
glow illuminating the scene; and they shivered.  
They knew something strange was occurring, 
especially when Raven closed her eyes and began 
chanting.

Something stirred in the dust.

"Mice!"  Stephanie shrieked, ducking behind Richard.

Twelve tiny forms climbed from the hole and into 
Raven's lap, clinging to her, accepting her hug, 
holding onto her as she held onto them.

*We found something of theirs,* the whisper 
announced.

Stephanie jumped as a small silver globe floated 
through the air and settled in Raven's lap to the 
happy squeaks of the dozen mice.  "What is that?"

"Their disco ball," Raven said, wiping tears from 
her eyes.  "Now I'll have to figure out how to sew 
tiny little disco outfits for them."

The noise of someone approaching made all of them 
look up.

The others joined them.  Gena was draped over the 
back of the pegasus Amadeus.  Sappho gave a soft 
bark at the mice and then continued watching for 
danger and E.V.I.L.

"No injuries," Tiger reported.  "Gena was lucky."

//You're going to need that luck,// Shandi warned.  
//You have visitors.//

Everyone tensed.  "E.V.I.L.?"  Stephanie asked.

//Worse,// Shandi warned.  //The Guys just arrived 
there.//