--== Time Jump ==--

Thin wisps of crimson smoke slipped into the room as the others were talking.  The wisps swirled about the baby in the carrier, playfully prodding at the child.  The smoke slipped about Diantha, lifting the baby out of the carrier.  More smoke flowed in, moving along unfelt air currents to join the first wisps.  The smoke thickened, obscuring Diantha, until it all coalesced into the shapely figure of Mirage wearing her normal tight and slinky long dress and veiled hat.

Mirage cradled Diantha in her hands and was making little cooing noises as she glided across the room to take a seat upon the edge of Katy's desk.  She seemed more interested in the baby than the others in the room, though she did address them.

"Hello Hunter, Lucas.  It's nice to see you again, Katy.  Dare we ask what you've been up to?" A thin wisp of smoke appeared above Diantha, moving with the playful rhythm of Mirages gloved finger.  "And hello to you, Diantha.  Have you been good?  Did Daddy show you how to punish the bad guys yet?"

  Diantha giggled, and answered {{Punches!}}  She obviously adored Mirage.  And those lively brown eyes followed the crimson smoke with absolute attention.  Chubby little uncoordinated hands grabbing at the smoke, but Mirage could see she was growing fast, and getting coordinated a LOT faster than most babies.

Lucas smiled as Mirage made her one of her "fabulous entrances." She had always been good at that....and she had also been good at things that most of the others might not have suspected...such as being extremely supportive in spite of uphill circumstances.

"M....it's good to see you again..."

He smiled at Diantha as well, but she looked like she was having fun with Mirage.

Katy sipped her coffee as Don told the tale. As he finished Katy nodded as if she expected it. "I thought it would turn out like that. In fact, I was hoping it would be along those lines. But an army of Paras...." She stopped a moment, contemplating  what could happen.

Almost at that moment, Dragon Fist entered. "Hey Lucas," she said, the snap on her shoulder rig clamping down on the gun as she spoke. "I've been working undercover." She checked her cell phone, looking at the clock on it.

"As for what specifically it is..." It was about then that Mirage appeared, cradling Diantha.

The T.V. in the corner Switched on, showing a news reporter. The background was fairly dark, but a SWAT team was clearly visible.

"Alleged Mafia Boss Vincent 'The Beaut' Rissotti was apprehended late tonight. Here with me is Lieutenant Theodore Fitzgerald of the Organized Crime unit. Lieutenant, is there anything you have to say?"

The man who answered was garbed in full SWAT gear, with the only thing missing being his SWAT helmet. "The arrest couldn't have been made without Lieutenant Katherine Hanson and her Psychic task force of the SCU. She went to great lengths to capture this man."

It was about that time that several SWAT team members were muscling several gang members and Rissotti into the back of the Armored Van. Just visible is a woman behind them, recognizable as Katy, dressed in what seems to be a tight leather suit, shouldering into a police jacket. It was then the T.V. Shut off.

"I just hope Friday doesn't see this. By the way, where is she?" Katy asked.

When Lady Psyche asked about Friday, Lucas looked down, his expression somber.

"Um...Friday's....she's gone..."

"What?!" Katy said, a large amount of psychic energy flaring up, then quickly dieing down. Her expression was no longer friendly, and she set the cup down, as it began to shake with her arm. Tears almost instantly welled up. Friday was Katy's friend. She was the one who brought her into the Legacy.

Anger and outrage now covered her face. "Please tell me you caught the person responsible."

Lucas couldn't hold back the tears anymore. He sat down as he buried his hands in his face.

"Friday....Friday went down to Texas....someone stole Paul Randall's body and was using it...cultists...Friday and one other went there to confront them...they were trying to bring a demon into our world..give him a host....there was a huge fight....an explosion with all of them...nothing was left...."

He then turned away, but the tears were flowing freely. "I only have one name....the demon known....as AHRIMAN...and rest assured, I will get him..."

"We will find him." Mirage corrected Lucas.  She had glanced over at Lucas and Katy, her look hard and serious.  Lucas could shed tears for Friday, but Mirage wouldn't, not in front of anyone else.  She wanted to destroy the men responsible for what happened.

Her intent given, Mirage turned her attention back to the baby in her arms.  "That's right, sweetie.  Bad guys get punches."

Don lowers his head at the mention of Friday standing a little behind Lucas not tougching him but offering support through his presence. "We all will."

  Those chocolate eye met Mirage's own, and Diantha smiled.  {{Teach me, please?}}

"You won't be the only one," Katy said, her eyes fiery as she held back what one could assume as anger. A moment later, Katy's face changed slightly, a more sympathetic expression on her face (Or what could be called a mix of anger and sympathy).

"Lucas," Katy said, getting up, almost all traces of fatigue now gone, "I swear to you that if I have to go to the depths of Hell and back, I WILL help you in this endeavor. You will not be alone avenging Friday's death." Even though the two were rivals, it had been a friendly one. Their friendship stretched past the Legacy.

Katy walked over to where Lucas was sitting, bent down and gave him a hug, holding him tight for a moment. "I want you to do something in remembrance of Friday, though. Never think you are alone in this. It's not what she would want," she whispered into his ear, not caring if anyone else heard her. She gave him a squeeze, then got up and sat back down in her chair.

"How long ago did this happen?" She asked.

Lucas was genuinely touched by Katy's gesture.

"Thanks Katy....everyone....knowing that I have your support is a big help. As far as how long ago it happened, from what I remember, it was about a week or so ago..."

  They all thought they heard it.  Sibilant, hard to catch whispering.  It seemed to come from everywhere, and yet nowhere.  Ceeepy, dark whispers from nowhere!!

Lucas looked around, visibly startled.

There were whispers all around them. Could the rest of them hear it as well?

"What is that? What the hell is going on?"

"Friday was one of us Lucas who-" DOn stopped midsentence as the whispering started looking around for the source.

Mirage smiled down at the baby in her arms.  "You'll have to check with your daddy first, little Diantha.  And then maybe learn how to walk first..."

She looked up from Diantha, her tender, maternal expression vanishing as she looked around for the source of the whispers.  It was clear that she wasn't the only one to have heard them.

  Diantha let out a squall of aggravation.  Even as she demanded from Don {{Auntie 'Lena teach me!!}}

Mirage was still looking about the room but she spoke softly to Diantha.

"Hush now, sweetheart.  A lady doesn't throw hissy fits." There was a hint of admonishment in her voice as she addressed Diantha.

"I don't suppose that anyone knows where the creepy voices are coming from?"

"No I don't," Lucas replied. "I wish I did. Everybody, be on your guard.."

Lucas then looked around to see if he could find anything that might be causing the strange whispering they were all hearing.

  {{Hurts.}}  She couldn't explain it, precisely.  The sibilant, hissing whispers HAD hurt, but not her ears.  Somewhere else, that made her want to do things she couldn't, yet.  Her body wasn't ready to do them.  Which was why the squall.  {{Too little.}}

Mirage looked back at the baby girl in her arms.

"Maybe you'd better take Diantha out of here, Don.  I don't think that the whispering voices are good for her."

Don nods stepping forward to take Diantha from Mirage. He then quickly steps to the door and reaches for the handele only finding it won't budge.

Mirage motioned Hunter to step back and gave the door a good swift kick.  She was half expecting the door to resist her attempt to force it open, but that was fine.  At least she got to hit something.

Lucas continued to be on the alert, even as the whispers continued.

Katy frowned. Whispers were one thing, Katy was used to them in her mind, but a locked door? Curious, Katy thought. Why someone would want to do that, in her own office, confused Katy a little.

Katy nodded to Lucas' question, closed her eyes, and tried to focus in on the mental signature of whatever was causing this.