Bridge – Q-Team Fanfiction

Disclaimer: The Power Rangers are the property of Saban Entertainment and I lay no claim to them. Nash Bridges and all related characters are the property of Carlton Cuse Productions. Laocorn Gaudeamus and Panni belong to Masami Obari. If anyone has any comments contact me at foi72@yahoo. com

Note from Shadow: The events in this story have no relation to any version of Conquest of Evil

Bridging Relationships
By the Q-team

September 13, 1995

The roar of a yellow 1971 Plymouth Hemicuda convertible was heard across the San Francisco streets. Driving the car was Inspector Nash Bridges of the San Francisco Police department's Special Investigations Unit. Along side him was fellow S. I. U. Inspector Harvey Leek. Both were finishing a money laundering case and were heading back to their headquarters at the City Building.

"Nash is it true that they'll be moving us out of the City building soon?" Harvey asked. "I mean it's very close to becoming earthquake condemned as it is. "

"I don't know Harvey. " Nash answered. "From my experience bureaucrats are slow when it comes to doing what's best for the department and the city, and quick to go the other way and think for themselves. "

"Awww man, you are way to cynical. " Harvey said. "No wonder you don't want to take the Captain's test. "

Nash shot Harvey a look and asked "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ohhh some of the guys were just talking. They said 'Nash is never going to accept a promotion. He's too afraid that he'll turn into some stodgy bureaucrat like the ones you see at City Hall. ' Mumbo Jumbo stuff like that. "

Nash listened to Harvey's comments and gave some comments of his own. "Well, if the 'guys' start talking again, tell them I like working with the guys and if I was their boss I wouldn't be able to pal with them now would I? Also let them know I still enough authority as an Inspector to have them assigned to traffic if I want them to. "

"With permission from A. J. " Harvey said making reference to Lt. A. J. Shimamura. Nash couldn't help but laugh at Harvey's remark just as his cell phone rang. Nash quickly picked it up and answered it.

"Nash. " he said. The caller on the other end was his wife Kelly.

"Nash. " she said in her British accent. "You aren't going to be late are you? This charity ball is very important, and I would really like you to be here. "

Nash sighed. He didn't like these social events Kelly had all that well and was most times grateful when a case would come up and he'd be called away, but this time Lt. Shimamura practically ordered Nash to go saying that the mayor's office would like to establish a good working relationship with the Gaudeamus corporation who are looking to support a big city project that could take place in two years. And having a decorated San Francisco cop seemed like a better idea than sending a political player from the city offices.

"Yeah I'll be there. " Nash said. "A. J. practically made the party an assignment. Grease some elbows and get support for the city. "

"Well, I'll have to thank him. " Kelly answered. "Oh by the way, I've called Lisa. She'll be handling the catering arrangements. "

Nash then became slightly uneasy. His wife an ex-wife in the same room together at a social event. While Kelly and Lisa Bridges seemed cordial to each other, there did seem to be a tension between the two whenever he saw them together. ""You are going to keep the sharp objects away aren't you?"

"Don't worry, she's a pro you know that. " Kelly said trying to reassure her husband.

"You've never seen her at a party with me. " Nash answered back.

"Well Cassidy's going to be there. I'll count on her to be the responsible adult. " Nash really was surprised there. He didn't know his daughter was going to show up.

"What's Cassidy doing there?" Nash asked.

"Social etiquette lesson. " Kelly said. "If she ever makes it big as an actress she'll need to know how to rub shoulders with 'big time' people This could be good for her Nash. Lisa has agreed to it. " Sighing Nash reluctantly agreed.

"I'll try to take it as training for the emmys. " Nash answered. "I'll be there at eight. "

"Great see you then. " Kelly then hung up and Nash put the phone away himself. Harvey Leek looked on amused.

"Is that a call about your 'assignment' tonight?" he asked amused.

"Harv, don't say a word. " and Nash continued to drive the Cuda down the street to the city building.

Elsewhere in San Francisco,

The illustrious Gaudeamus Corporation headquarters was a modern marvel of architecture of you stared long enough to enjoy it and take a look.

Inside the conference room, the Corporations division heads were all seated giving their reports to the head of the company, Laocorn Gaudeamus. He is probably the youngest billionaire in existence. He was only 22 years old, however anyone thought his age made him inexperienced they would be dead wrong. His appearance is what draws the most looks. His hair was short but the color light blue and his eyes didn't share the same color. One what blue and the other was hazel. He was wearing a white Armani for this meeting.

"We've just about gone over all of your review reports for this month for our divisions of the company now then Arthur would you give me your report from the technology wing. " Laocorn asked.

"As expected all of our projects running on schedule. The power system that the Defense Department commissioned us for should be ready with in three days. " Arthur Kins reported. "However they called in already and said they would be here tonight for transport. "

"As long as they honor the agreement we made when they asked my company to come up with a better power system to power the defense satellites I'm alright with this. Make sure there are our own security staff down there when they come and make sure they check for all proper authorization. " Laocorn stated. "I here by conclude this meeting, we will reconvene for a full formal review in another month and as usual you keep me posted on the day to day progress of your divisions as we have done for standard protocol. Good day. "

After they left Laocorn went back into his office and then took of his jacket and flung it onto a statue in his office. He then sat at his chair and breathed a sigh of relaxing.

It was then he stared up at the large painting he had commissioned to be done and put on his office wall where he could see it always. It was a woman in white robe with dark blue hair and hazel eyes.

The woman in the painting was of Sulia Gaudeamus.

Laocorn's late twin sister.

~ Sulia. . . are you still watching me from heaven. . . am I really saving my soul. . . are you proud of me my sweet sister. . . ~ Laocorn thought. It was a routine for Laocorn but also a reminder of what he had happened to him and to Sulia. A reminder so he would never become the person had come a year before her death.

Laocorn came out of his revere at the sound of the door opening. He saw Panni coming in. The young woman was only a year older than himself but neither one really cared much about age. Like Laocorn, her hair wasn't what you could call normal since her natural hair color was pink. She had it cropped short.

However to Laocorn's surprise she was wearing a designer red dress.

"You going out somewhere Panni?" Laocorn asked.

"My Lord, have you forgotten what time it is and what is tonight?" Panni asked.

Laocorn sighed wishing that maybe one day she'd drop calling him my Lord. She knew she used it affectionately for him and that made him happy however he didn't feel like a lord and didn’t want to be become a lord or master over anyone. He then looked outside his office and saw the sun going down. It was getting dark outside. He then saw his watch.

Panni sighed. "You saw Lady Sulia's painting and once again blacked out. "

Laocorn nodded. "It stays. It is a reminder Panni. You know how much it means to me. " She nodded as Laocorn then just looked at Panni again. ". . . the charity ball is tonight. "

"As you recall they are needing help with another project for the city. " Panni said.

"I know. . . I just hope there won't be TOO many politicians. " Laocorn said getting his jacket back on. "Some of the ones in San Francisco are slime or just plain don't care about any one but themselves. "

"I do believe the mayor's office is sending some decorated officers there as well. " Panni said. "By the way Lyla won't be coming. "

"Training as usual. She's like her brother. Doesn't like social functions what so ever. " Laocorn said walking to Panni. He then bent down and gave her a kiss on the lips. Panni blushed. "I wonder at times where I would be with you Panni. "

"And?" She asked.

"I would be nowhere. " Laocorn said putting his arm around her and they walked to the elevator. Once they reached the garage wing Laocorn and Panni got into his limo and then they drove off to the ball.

After dropping off Harvey at the S. I. U. Nash made his way to the apartment he shared with Kelly where his sister Stacy was waiting for him. His 'good' suit hung over his couch ready for Nash to put on. His sister Stacy stood ready to move her brother along.

"Come on Nash. Kelly's already there get the lead out. " Stacy said practically throwing the suit in Nash's face and moving him into his bedroom to change.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let me catch my breath. " Nash said taking the suit and checking it out. "Boy, I guess the city really wants me to put a good foot forward don't they?"

Stacy rolled her eyes at Nash's flippancy, but in a sense he was right. There were a lot of people in city hall, and the District Attorney's office where Stacy worked, who wanted the Gaudeamus Corporation as their best friend. And they figured that Nash could do the job due to his impressive police record and the respect he has garnered among several police officials as well as a few within City Hall. There were plenty of politicians who wanted to be the first to offer their hand of friendship to Laocorn Gaudeamus, but their motives were not all that sincere. With Nash there then a face of the people could be placed at the gathering.

"Nash please do everyone a favor. " Stacy said. "Try not to embarrass everybody okay?"

Nash smiled then turned to his sister. "Well I'll try not to Stace. But I've got my wife, my-ex-wife, my daughter, and a lot of politicians and businessmen there. So anything can happen. "

"Especially with Lisa there I take it?" Stacy's lips curved into a half smile, and she knew how unpredictable Lisa could be. It was one of the traits Nash loved about her, and according to the divorce papers was one of the traits that led to their break up. The unpredictability of Lisa was filed under 'irreconcilable differences' among other things from both sides.

"Come on Stace she's not that bad. Just a little. . . spirited. "

"Well please make sure she keeps her spirit in check okay?" Stacy asked her brother. "The last thing the city needs is a public embarrassment from the party's caterer just in case things get uncomfortable for her. "

"Don't worry Stace. Lisa's a pro. If things get too upsetting for her she'll just duck out and take a breather. " Nash said reassuringly. "Unless she decides to start an argument in the middle of the ballroom. "

Stacy remembered how Nash and Lisa's arguments could be, having sat in on one once. And all the others during their divorce. "I hope Cassidy will be the responsible adult here. "

"Don't worry. She has been in the past when she's not trying to be a normal teenager. " Nash smirked and hugged his sister goodbye. "Nothing's going to happen trust me. "

"Okay. " Stacy said. "I guess all that can be said is. . . have a good time. "

Nash smiled as he went to the door to leave. Stacy watched him go, but still felt a sense of dread that something was going to go wrong.

The limo containing Laocorn Gaudeamus and Panni fought it's way through the downtown traffic and was stuck at a light on Market St. Laocorn wasn't bothered too much with the wait. It meant he'd have more time to prepare for the onrush of politicians looking to butter up to the big boss of the big company.

"This traffic shall hinder our travel time my lord. " Panni said.

"Do not worry Panni. Sometimes it helps to be 'fashionably late' as it's sometimes called. " Laocorn said as he looked out at the traffic around him. His eyes came across the car next to him and was surprised.

"Hmmmm. " Laocorn said looking at the car that just passed him. "A 71 Hemicuda. "

"What my lord?" Panni asked.

"A classic car Panni. " Laocorn said. "There were only fourteen of those made. I didn't think there were any on the road anymore. "

Panni turned in Laocorn's direction and focused instead on the 'Cuda's driver. He looked handsome and rugged, and the sunglasses seemed to reflect a sense of mystery about the driver.

"Hmmm, I don't know about the car. But I sure don't mind the driver. " Panni said with a smirk.

"Panni. " Laocorn said giving her a look. Panni looked at Laocorn and gave a playful smirk. Just then the light turned green and both the limo and the 'Cuda moved forward. The 'Cuda with a lot more power.

"It seems the driver is going in our direction. " Laocorn said. "Could he be one of the party guests?"

"We'll know soon sir. We're almost there. " Panni said as the limo followed the Cuda. Both going to the same place.

Unknown to all however there was someone watching Laocorn's limo. The man then pulled out a cell phone.

"He's out and going to the ball. We'll begin halfway through the event. Get ready. " were the only words he said before hanging up.

Nash parked the Cuda himself forgoing the valet parking. Grabbing the first spot he could find Nash pulled in and made his way to the lobby then the elevator which took Nash up to the penthouse lounge where the party was taking place. Nash's wife Kelly was there to greet him.

"Well I see you've got here just in time. " Kelly said. "Nice suit. "

"Thanks. Stacy had it all picked out and ready for me. " Nash said.

"Well then remind me to thank her then. " Kelly said. Nash's daughter Cassidy came up in a silk evening dress. "Hey Daddy. " she said giving her father a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey sweetheart. " Nash said as he hugged his daughter. He then took in how his daughter looked in her dress. Her hair was tied back and the dress really showed off her radiance. "How do I look?" Cassidy asked doing a model's turn.

"Wow. " Nash said. "You look great. "

"I helped pick out the dress myself. " Kelly said. "With Lisa's help of course. "

"You and Lisa both agreed on the dress for Cassidy?" Nash asked surprised.

"In case it's escaped you. " a voice said from behind. "There are some things your new wife and I can agree on. " Nash turned around and saw the face of Lisa Bridges giving a hard look at her ex-husband.

"Ahhh Lise. So good to see you. " Nash said

Lisa Bridges just smirked as she looked at her ex-husband. "I didn't expect you to show up here tonight Nash. Did someone tell you that there was some 'classy' entertainment here and you had to rush right on over or something?"

"No, actually A. J. ordered me to come. So I could help the city put its best foot forward. " Nash said.

"Well I must thank A. J. then. " Lisa said not letting up on the attitude. "But does he really know what the city's 'best foot' is? Or does he want that 'best foot' to be put in the city's mouth?" Cassidy quickly got in her mother's face and gave her a look that clearly said 'Mom don't embarrass me!'.

Lisa picked up on it and turned to Nash. "I'm sorry. " Lisa said. "I know these parties aren't your idea of a good time, and I also know how important this little thing is. "

"Don't worry about it Lise. " Nash said. The subject of Nash's divorce and remarriage was still a sore spot with her as well as Nash. In a way the two still loved each other. If they didn't they would never have had Cassidy.

"I'll just stay out of your way, and try to think about catering the party. " Lisa said getting her wits together.

"Thanks Lise. " Nash said giving her a peck on the cheek as well. "You're the best. "

"Don't thank me yet. You still have to put up with those people out there. " Lisa motioned out to the ballroom where the politicians and officials were all hobnobbing and gathering. As Lisa moved back into the kitchen Nash sighed as he worked up his will to mingle with the bureaucrats.

"Well, I guess I'd better go rub some elbows. " Nash said as he walked into the assemblage of humanity. Kelly and Cassidy all stood watching Nash enter the reception area. "Quite a catch isn't he?" Kelly asked her step-daughter.

"Oh yeah. A real trooper. " Cassidy nodded.

Nash looked around the room and saw several officials from the mayor's office who minded their own business. There were also a few of his fellow officers there, but while he got praise from most there were a few glares from some.

MCD, Nash thought. He and the Management Control Division(which was the politically correct name for Internal Affairs) didn't always see eye to eye on some levels. And many MCD cops didn't always like Nash's maverick tactics to doing the job of a police inspector. MCD preferred their cops to be 'by-the-book' and follow orders of the superiors.

Nash didn't always do that, unless those superiors earned his respect. MCD officers didn't care much for Nash's attitude and they hoped that if anything came across their desks that could put Nash out of the police force that it could be put to use right away.

Nash also saw another 'opponent' of his in the background. Lieutenant Max Petit. A by the book official who ran his department with an iron fist. He tolerated no disobedience from any of his subordinates, and demanded complete loyalty from all who served under him. Nash did not respect Petit at all outside of his accomplishments to the city and people of San Francisco. The reason for his disrespect of Petit was because he used his rank as a source of intimidation to make his officers fall in line. Respect wasn't something you forced out of someone Nash believed, it was earned.

Petit even got a few glares from MCD cops too. Even if they didn't like Nash, they did grudgingly earn his respect. Petit seemed to demand respect whether he earned it or not.

Scanning the crowd Nash finally saw two familiar faces among the crowd. Joe Dominguez and Nash's first partner Captain Frank Gerrard.

"Hey Nash. " Frank said shaking Nash's hand.

"Nashman!" his old buddy Joe said. Nash was glad to see two friendly faces in a room full of cutthroats.

"Well as awkward a question as this might sound. What are you two guys doing here?" Nash asked.

"Well, I'm now insurance investigator for a company looking to do business with the Gaudeamus Corporation. " Joe said. "They squeezed me on to the party list and they want me to hopefully pick up some vibes on the big cheese here. "

"You sure it's just that Joe?" Nash asked. "I tend to remember that you had quite the flair for get rich quick schemes that backfire. You sure you're not just here to pick the big boss's brain for business tips.

"No. " Joe said. "But if one happens to come up. . . "

Nash laughed at his friend and turned to Frank. "And what about you Frank? What brings you out from Seacliffe?"

"Chief wants a good face to present to Gaudeamus. " Frank Gerrard answered. "He got the feeling the guy might not be high on brownnosers twenty four/seven. "

"I know the feeling. " Nash said as he scanned around the room. Who he saw next made him freeze in his tracks and run away and hide at the same time.

"What's Rick Bettina doing here?" Nash asked.

Frank sighed knowing Nash's discomfort. "He used some political muscle from his family to squeeze himself onto the invite list. "

"In other words his mommy saw to it that Bettina was invited. " Joe said. Nash was aware of the pull and clout that the Bettina family had on the city. Rick's mother Loretta Bettina had a lot of influence on the city council as well as within the police force. That very same influence got Rick Bettina into many high profile departments, even if he got the lowest score on the department exam.

Bottom line Rick Bettina was a moron, and everyone in the SFPD knew it. Nash buried his head in his face and shook his head hoping Bettina wouldn't see him. He hoped in vain.

"NASH!!!" Bettina called out making his way to where he, Frank and Joe stood.

"Gotta go bye. " Frank said. Joe followed suit. Nash waved his arm telling his friends to come back but it was to no avail. Bettina saw Nash alone and soon he was putting his arm around his shoulder.

"Nash old buddy of mine. How's it going?" Bettina asked making sure everyone saw what he was doing. Nash was seen by many of the officers as one of the boys, as compared to the bureaucratic lieutenants and captains and MCD officials who found themselves amused by Nash's discomfort. Even Petit cracked a little smile at Nash's discomfort.

The thing was that Rick Bettina did have some aspirations of shooting up the ranks in the police department. So what better way to butter up to the people of the police department than by buttering up to the man of the people. was the logic that ran through Rick Bettina's mind.

"Rick. kindly take your arm off me. " Nash said bluntly. "If you don't I'll be forced to kill you. "

"Oh Nash you are such a kidder. Isn't he a kidder everybody?" Bettina said as he showed off Nash to not only his, but Kelly's embarrassment as she was burying her face in her right hand.

Lisa looked on from the kitchen door as her waiter was bringing out another order of orderves, and smirked at Nash's predicament. Wow Nash doesn't have to embarrass anybody. That moron's doing it for him. Cassidy looked on asking herself who that idiot buttering up to her father was.

Nash rolled his eyes as he continued to endure Rick Bettina's dramatic praise. Someone give me strength. he thought.

As Laocorn's limo arrived and the door opened the media was over him and Panni trying to get answers to questions or just a rumor to use to increase their own ratings.

Laocorn and Panni just ignored them at the moment and kept walking. "Journalists can be a pain especially when you really don't want to talk to them when all they ask is about your personal life. A subject you Panni above all others know I really don't like to talk about it. "

"Yes my lord. " Panni replied. "The Mayor is coming. "

Laocorn sighed as he remembered the previous Mayor of San Francisco had been no more than a greedy piece of slime believing he could use Laocorn like a money tree for his projects which he skimmed money of the top to his own accounts. Panni had found that out soon enough and got enough information anonymously leaked to the press that it ruined his entire reelection campaign. Laocorn had no patience with cheaters and schemers. He simply removed them from his life in the most convenient and efficient way possible. He had looked at the current Mayor, who had been in office for nearly two years now. Laocorn hadn't found anything distressing or dishonest about him. . . yet. He hoped he wouldn't.

"Mr Gaudeamus, Ms Citrine, welcome. I'm so glad you could take time to attend this charity ball. " he said.

"Not a problem at all Mr Mayor. The city of San Francisco is very important to me as are its people. I like to help out in every way that I can. " Laocorn said.

"Yes well right this way please. There are a lot of people who have been wanting to get a chance to talk with you. " the mayor said.

~ Translation: a lot of big shot politicians trying to buddy up with me in hopes of me backing them. . . idiots. The world is too full of people who just jump up and down and lick a big man boots just for a pat on the head. . . ~ Laocorn sighed.

Panni saw her lord's distress and looked left and in the parking lot she saw the 71 Hemicuda. "Excuse me Mr Mayor. But would you happen who's car that is?" she then pointed to where she saw it. Laocorn saw it easily but the Mayor rubbed his eyes.

"You have incredible sight my dear I could hardly see it. That' belongs to one of our decorated police officers, Nash Bridges. "

"He has taste in the classics. " Laocorn mused.

"Mr Gaudeamus has a interest in classic automobiles. " Panni told the mayor.

"I see. . . well shall we get going to meet those people I. . . " the mayor said but was interrupted by Laocorn.

"I'd like to Mr Bridges first if you don't mind. " Laocorn said.

"Bridges. . . but I thought you might. . . " the mayor started. He had been hoping to get a good chat with Laocorn and have him talk to one or two of his other colleges first.

"I want to see Nash Bridges. If you can't help me on that then I will find him myself. Panni, you do remember what the driver of the Cuda looked like correct?" Laocorn asked.

"As you know sir I have a photographic memory. " Panni smiled.

"Very well then. . . " Laocorn smiled holding his arm out which Panni took and hooked her arm around his. "Let's go inside. " he said as he and Panni went in leaving the Mayor behind.

"God Nash you are such a kidder at times. " Bettina smirked.

~ If he keeps this up I might just kill him. ~ Nash thought as he was starting to become very agitated by Rick.

As if a god send a new voice interrupted the brownnosers talking.

"Inspector Bridges. "

"Hey I'm talking with my friend right now wait in line pal. " Bettina said.

"Funny. All it seems you are doing is making a complete ass of yourself and only embarrassing the good Inspector. . . but then again I assume you make an ass of yourself where ever you are to begin with 24/7. " Laocorn Gaudeamus came into the light.

Not to many people at first sight recognize Laocorn as the Laocorn Gaudeamus, head of Gaudeamus Corporation, simply because of his age in which case some people assume he's just a young adult.

To Rick Bettina he just sounded like a smart ass that just pissed him off.

"Just who the hell do you think you are you punk!" Bettina decided to rush Laocorn but Laocorn just moved to the side and Rick fell face first on the ground.

"Someone who isn't making himself look like an utter and complete fool at this event. " Laocorn shook his head already disliking Bettina.

"Why you!" Rick got up but then Panni then came from behind and restrained him by holding his arms back. To Rick's surprise he couldn't overpower the young woman. "Hey let go!"

Panni didn't reply as the Mayor came over to them after getting news of some sort of commotion. He looked at Bettina. "What the hell do you think you are doing you idiot! Don't you know who this is!" He then looked at Laocorn. "Mr Gaudeamus I am terribly sorry for this. . . "

"It's alright Mr Mayor. Quite frankly I'm glad this man and myself met. . . " Laocorn smiled lightly. "Now I know what kind of human being is. Panni, please release him. "

Panni nodded and let Bettina fall to the ground. Rick felt eyes going right on his back as he tried to leave the scene as dignified as possible. The Mayor then excused himself going to look at another situation. Panni then smiled closing her eyes. "Well that was fun. . . I had a feeling there was going to be some one mistaking you for a kid. . . again. "

"You do like showing arrogant fools the error of thinking down on women don't you Panni?" Laocorn smiled.

"Of course sir. " Panni nodded.

Laocorn then looked to Nash but then saw Joe as well. "Mr Domingez. I didn't expect to see you here. A pleasure to see you again. "

"As you Mr Gaudeamus. " Joe said shaking Laocorn's hand.

"As I told you a year ago Mr Domingez, call me Laocorn. You found my late friend Jamin's sister Lyla for me and help restore a debt of honor I owed; That meant a lot to me. Thank you once again. "

Joe just nodded as Nash looked on wondering why Joe never told him about this.

"Now Inspector Bridges, before we were so rudely interrupted I about to talk to you. " Laocorn said.

"Well Mr Gaudeamus, what exactly did you have to say?" Nash asked.

"You have good taste. "

"Excuse me?" Nash blinked.

"Your 1971 Plymouth Hemicuda convertible. I saw you driving it as you passed my limo while I was coming here. Only fourteen of that type was ever produced. You have good taste in classic cars. " Laocorn said. "I was wonder perhaps we could talk a bit at your table if that is alright with you? Panni you wouldn't mind at all would you?"

"Of course not sir. " Panni replied.

"Well if you have the time then Inspector, perhaps we could talk at your table?" Laocorn asked.

Lisa, Kelly and Cassidy caught the exchange between Bettina, Nash, Laocorn and the mayor and watched as Nash, Joe and Laocorn made their way to the table reserved for Nash.

"So that's Laocorn Gaudeamus is it?" Cassidy asked. "Wow, he's such a babe. "

"Amazing isn't it?" Kelly asks. "All these people trying to butter up the young exec and Nash gets lucky because Gaudeamus likes his car. "

"Well it is an exceptional car isn't it?" Panni said coming up to the three women. "Thank you for your help in setting up this ball Kelly. "

"No problem. Panni is it?" Kelly asked Laocorn's assistant.

"That's correct. " Panni answered. "And I take it you are the caterer for tonight's festivities?" she asked turning to Lisa.

"Yes that's right I'm Lisa Bridges. " Lisa offered her hand and Panni stared wide-eyed. "Any relation to Nash Bridges?"

"Ex-wife. " Lisa answered. "This is my daughter Cassidy. "

Cassidy stepped forward and offered her hand, which Panni took. "You're Inspector Bridges daughter I take it?"

"Yeah. " Cassidy said. "Kelly thought it would be a good idea if I came and learned how to mingle a little bit. I'm hoping to be an actress, and Kelly thought it would be a good idea to learn the fine art of mingling. "

"An art we must all learn at one point or another. " Panni said smirking. "Well this is interesting. The wife of a police inspector, hiring the ex-wife of that same inspector to cater the party and to top it all off the daughter is here as well. If I didn't know better, I'd say this was family night for you all. "

The three Bridges women chuckled at Panni's assessment. "It sure doesn't feel that way Panni. " Kelly said.

"Well it seems that Mr. Gaudeamus and Inspector Bridges have adjourned to the table reserved for him. " Panni observed. "Perhaps we should take this conversation over there. "

"You. . . mean. . . you mean. . . We can sit with you?" Lisa asked.

"Why not?" Panni asked. "Mr. Gaudeamus doesn't have to be at the main table for a while. And I'm sure he would like some company from the women in his life. " Panni moved to where Nash and Laocorn were sitting and Kelly and Cassidy quickly followed.

Lisa found her assistant Henri and asked him to take over for a while. "The boss's secretary has asked me to sit with him at my ex-husband's table. "

Henri's eyes went wide as Lisa, Kelly and Cassidy followed Panni to where Nash, Joe and Laocorn were seated. Soon all four women adjourned to Nash's table. Henri however brought up a cell phone and pressed redial.

"Yeah. This is Henri. There's been a complication. "

Laocorn, Joe and Nash had all adjourned to the table that had been reserved for Nash and Kelly. "So Joe. Would you mind telling me this case of yours that you had done for Mr. Gaudeamus here?"

Joe looked at Laocorn as if asking him if it was all right to discuss what happened with Nash. Laocorn nodded yes and Joe began to explain.

"Mr. Gaudeamus. . . oh sorry Laocorn. " Joe said correcting himself. Laocorn nodded in understanding and Joe resumed his story. "As I was saying he hired me to find a friend's sister for him. " Joe explained. "He died, and we wound up going to Brazil to find her so she could come back and help give her brother a descent burial. "

"She appreciated my wishes and has stayed with the company ever since. " Laocorn said. "I owed her brother a great debt that I believe I shall never truly repay. "

Nash was about to ask what that debt was when Panni brought Kelly, Lisa and Cassidy to the table. "Mr. Gaudeamus. May I present to you Kelly, Lisa and Cassidy Bridges. "

"She means the wife, the ex-wife and the daughter. " Joe explained. Laocorn chuckled slightly and shook the hands of Kelly and Lisa, but when he came to Cassidy he paused.

He looked at her strangely; as if there was something extraordinary that would happen to her. Something that would change her life forever, much like his contact with the Armor of Mars only this time there would be more positive effects. Destiny had a role for Cassidy Bridges. Laocorn knew it.

Panni also saw the look too. He knew Laocorn saw something about Cassidy, but now was not the time to discuss it. "Mr. Gaudeamus?" she asked him.

"Huh? Oh! Sorry. " Laocorn said clearly embarrassed. "It's just I've never met anyone so exceptional. "

Cassidy blushed flattered by the compliment. "Well thank you. " she said as she took her seat along with Lisa and Kelly. Laocorn then turned to Nash and said, "You have an exceptional daughter Inspector. I know she'll have a glorious destiny before her. "

"How do you know? Do you read auras or something?" Lisa asked.

Laocorn smiled as he turned to Lisa. "Or something. "

"Does it have something to do with my acting?" Cassidy asked. "I am studying to be an actress. "

"That I don't know. " Laocorn answered. "But I do know it will be exceptional when it comes into your life. "

"And we'll all be waiting with eager anticipation when it gets here. " Nash said. Laocorn turned to Panni and she nodded. Cassidy Bridges was someone to watch in the future, but for now it was time to change the topic of conversation so Laocorn asked what originally brought the Inspector to his attention-his Cuda.

"I hope you don't mind my asking Inspector. But how is it that you came across that Cuda of yours?" Laocorn asked.

Nash paused for a minute before answering. To him the Cuda was more than just a car to him, it was a link to his family. "It was my brother's car. His name was Bobby. He left the car to me before he left for Vietnam. "

"He didn't return I take it?" Laocorn asked.

"No. " Nash said. "He went down in the jungle in 73. No body was found among the wreckage. "

"So he's M. I. A?" Panni asked.

"Yes" Lisa said. "And while there may be hope that Bobby will return. . . " Lisa suddenly broke off her sentence, everyone knowing what the rest of it would be.

Laocorn looked at Nash in a new light. Here was a man who knew the loss of a loved one, but unlike Sulia there was a chance Nash's brother could return. "Believe it or not Inspector, I can empathize. "

"Really Mr. Gaudeamus?" Nash asked. "How so?"

"I had a sister. A twin sister. Her name was Sulia. She had sacrificed her life for me when I had gotten into some trouble that was. . . way over my head. "

Now Cassidy was intrigued. "Over your head?"

Laocorn sighed. How am I going to present this? I doubt the good inspector would find the whole Armor of Mars scenario very believable. Choosing his words carefully Laocorn answered "I was involved in the acquiring of a rare artifact, or a collection of rare artifacts, that when brought together become. . . something remarkable. But matters had gotten out of control with it, and Sulia wound up. . . "

"Your sister died saving your life?" Lisa said showing her sympathies.

"Yes Mrs. Bridges. " Laocorn said confirming Lisa's suspicions. "And to this day I honor her memory by striving to use the resources of Gaudeamus Corporation to improve the world as well as this beloved city. It is the least I can do to repay her for saving me. "

"Kind of like me and Bobby. " Nash said realizing that Laocorn was much like him. They were both haunted by the memories, or ghosts, of departed loved ones. "I guess I honor him by trying to do the best I can to make San Francisco a safe place. And I know Bobby would have liked that. "

Laocorn smiled as he had come to the same resolution. "Well I suppose I'd better adjourn to the head of the table where all the bureaucrats are. Inspector. Would you and your wife care to join me?"

"Which one?" Joe asked making a joke. Lisa swatted him over the head while Cassidy and Panni giggled.

"Perhaps the current one will do. " Laocorn said as he and Nash quickly got out of their seats and Nash took Kelly's hands as she got out of hers and the three of them made their way to the head of the table where the mayor, the chief and several city officials were seated.

"Boy I'll bet Petit is steaming under the collar now. " Joe said.

"Not so much as Rick Bettina might be. " Panni said. "Mr. Gaudeamus has just offered your friend his spot. "

Joe, Lisa and Cassidy all watched as Nash sat in the chair reserved for Rick Bettina, and Bettina's name was removed from the table while Nash's name was put in it's place. "It was an extra from whether Inspector Bridges's name got lost. " Panni said. "Mr. Gaudeamus always liked his bases covered. "

"Ohhh Rick is sooo gonna love this. " Joe said smiling a wicked smile. Panni also smiled wicked herself. Lisa and Cassidy watched the festivities as they were happening.

Off to the side Lisa's catering assistant Henri was watching as Laocorn, Nash and Kelly took their seats. Off in the corner of his eye Henri also noticed Rick Bettina muttering curses of "How dare they treat me like that. I'm Rick Bettina. " but Bettina was beneath Henri's notice. Laocorn Gaudeamus was not.

Taking out his cell phone Henri pressed redial to speak with his partners. "The quarry is in place. " Henri said into his cell phone. "Be ready to move. "

Meanwhile in a penthouse at the center of town, the man that followed Laocorn before related his message to the man in the chair and then left. That man was in his late 40s, well over 6 feet tall and was very muscular but was wearing only army fatigues.

His name was Andrew Clarkson, a disgruntled ex Commander in the US Special Forces who soon left after the government refused to pay for the families of members of his team that had died. This of course didn't mean that Andrew was a saint, in fact the man was a ruthless cold-blooded man that didn't hesitate to kill anyone not matter their gender, age or race. He also was sadistic in his 'acquiring of information from POWs' (It would have been considered unacceptable torture had anyone seen him do it). It was that the only people he considered family or friends were the people he worked with on mission, his own men. Andrew had psychotic tendencies at times which is why he made sure he avoid the psych evaluations for the last two years before he was 'discharged' from the service. To Andrew, that was a court marshal. He had enough with the government screwing people like him and his men. He had spent the last three years getting this group together. The ones like Henri though were new to his unit and already very corrupt before he hired them. He had told them that they were to kidnap Laocorn Gaudeamus so that he would be ransomed for 50 million dollars.

However that wasn't the whole plan. He then picked up the phone and called Henri telling him and his people to proceed.

He then turned on the police scanner and waited for the next step.

At the main table, anyone who was anyone important was seated ready to have the audience's full attention. The mayor took the seat on the right of the podium ready to be the first to speak, and to introduce Laocorn to the assembled party guests.

"Ladies and gentlemen. My fellow constituents. " the mayor said. "I am glad that all of you could come to this historic event. What happens here tonight will greatly benefit the city of San Francisco for many years to come. "

The audience applauded and the mayor seemed to take it all in, even if he modestly put his hand up as if saying 'please no more. ' Laocorn and Nash both seemed amused by the mayor's showmanship. Even Kelly cast a smirk at how amused she was by the mayor's speechmaking. "He's quite the performer isn't he?" Laocorn asked.

"Well the mayor likes putting on a show. Getting out to the people as much as he can. That way he can be more remembered. " Nash said.

"Do a lot of mayors fade into obscurity here?" Laocorn asked.

"Only those that don't get involved in scandals. " Kelly said with a smirk. "And even then it's only for a week on the local news. " Nash added. Laocorn smiled as he continued to watch the mayor rake in the applause. When it died down the mayor continued to speak.

"As many of you know. The city is looking to enter an agreement with the Gaudeamus Corporation. An agreement that will be of great benefit to San Francisco in providing aid to its citizens, job opportunities for unemployed, and relief to earthquake victims should another one occur. And these are only to name a few of the opportunities Gaudeamus is offering to our fair city. For the rest, I would like to introduce the CEO of the Gaudeamus Corporation, Laocorn Gaudeamus. "

The applause seemed deafening as people stood in their seats and clapped madly as Laocorn's name was mentioned. Nash noticed Cassidy and Lisa also applauding at his table. Nash also caught Lisa's assistant Henri applauding as well, but there seemed to be something wrong with the applause. It seemed like Henri was waiting for something.

Scanning the crowd for Joe and Frank, Nash made eye contact with Joe and directed his gaze to Henri. Joe nodded and he and Frank moved from their table to get a better look.

"Does Nash think something is going down?" Frank asked making their way to the sides.

"Maybe. But for right now we've got to keep our eyes open. " Joe said. At the main table Laocorn began to speak.

"Thank you Mr. Mayor. Thank you. " Laocorn said. He waited for the applause to die down before giving his speech. "People of San Francisco. City employees, and elected officials. I am a man of few words. I prefer to say what I mean and mean what I say.

"So when I say that I love the city of San Francisco, I mean that. And I want to do all I can for its citizens. This may sound. . . unusual to some of you but I feel like I owe a debt to the people not only in this fair city, but to the world. A debt of honor for me becoming the man I am today. "

"Don't expect me to be a selfish businessman looking to skim money off the top from the city or from my own businesses. Or any other sort of corruption that you may hear about on the news. I have found out the hard way that little corruption only leads to bigger corruption. And once the poison of corruption seeps into your soul it is very difficult to cure it from your system. "

The audience seemed taken in by Laocorn's speech and Cassidy whispered to Panni "Wow it seems like you've got a real gem of a guy there. "

Panni smiled and then noticed Joe Dominguez and Frank Gerrard moving around watching one of the caterers. "Excuse me but what are Mr. Dominguez and Captain Gerrard doing?" she asked moving her head to get a view at what Joe and Frank were looking at, or rather who. "Are they watching your assistant Lisa?"

Lisa seemed taken aback by what Kelly said. "Watching Henri? Why? He's only my assistant. I'll admit I've only had him for three months but he's the best catering assistant I've ever had. "

"Maybe daddy saw something wrong about him. " Cassidy said.

"Of course. " Lisa scoffed. "Nash would see something wrong with anybody. Nash can't go around anywhere without seeing something wrong with somebody. " Panni still couldn't help but notice Joe and Frank keeping their eyes on Henri.

"Is Inspector Bridges usually right about his assumptions?" Panni asked.

"Usually. " Lisa answered. "His instincts are very good about these things. Other times he's just paranoid. "

"And he's got a pornographic memory. " Cassidy added.

"CASSIDY!!!" Lisa said in a disciplinary tone. Cassidy just smirked at her mother's reaction.

"I think I want to check something out. If you'll excuse me. " Panni got up and made her way to the sides so she could keep her eyes on Laocorn.

"So please good people of San Francisco believe me when I say, that it is my intention to only do good for the people of this city. And I look for no monetary gain. It is only my intention to help. Thank you. " Everyone applauded as Laocorn took his seat. Even Nash was impressed by Laocorn's speech. He seemed to have a charisma about him that Nash couldn't ignore.

"Very good Mr. Gaudeamus. " Nash said. "I enjoyed your speech, and apparently so did everyone else. "

"Yes Laocorn. Very good. " Kelly said in agreement.

"I should hope so. " Laocorn said. "I meant every word of it. " The next thing anyone knew Rick Bettina was taking the podium. Nash immediately asked, "How did that moron get in here?"

"I don't know, but I'll have security escort him out. " Kelly said. Laocorn waived his hand as if telling Kelly not to bother.

"Let the man speak. " Laocorn said as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm sure he'll say something amusing. " Nash nodded knowing that Bettina would definitely say something amusing, but he also noticed a lot of waiters taking up a lot of positions that seemed 'strategic' in the ball room.

Before Bettina could say something that would embarrass him, it was then the glass roof was broken through and then a dozen men came down through ropes all of them holding automatic weapons. It was then also half a dozen of the caterers including Henri came out with weapons.

Nash immediately ducked down and kept Kelly under cover. He tried to see how Cassidy and Lisa were doing but he couldn't tell with all the gunmen popping out of nowhere.

"Alright! No one move!" Henri shouted. "We want Gaudeamus and if he doesn't come with us then everyone dies!"

Laocorn looked on in disgust. ~ Guns. . . how low and vulgar are these people. A gun is a stupid and ridiculous tool. It amazes me how they can come here and point a GUN in front me!~ he thought in anger. He hated guns, especially since his father's archeology partner used a gun not only to kill his father but also try to kill Laocorn himself. It was that action that made him put on the very first piece of the Armor of Mars and put him on that road of ruin so long ago.

"You all are going to be quiet you hear me?" Henri smirked pointing the gun at the people. He saw Bettina try to come after one of the men closest to him and then shot him in the leg. "Idiot. You are a stupid. There are no 'heroes' in this day. Why don't you be smart! And that goes for the rest of you cops!"

Laocorn looked at Rick Bettina crying his eyes out. ~ An idiot and a fool but one that just wanted to do something brave for once. . . you'll get your pay back for that wound. I'll see to that myself. ~ Laocorn looked at Panni who then nodded and then quietly walked out the building without anyone knowing. It was then Laocorn made his move. "Alright. Just don't hurt these people. "

Two men rushed him and then handcuffed Laocorn and then hooked themselves up to the ropes once more along with Henri and his other men. "Thank you for your hospitality. Good night!"

As they left they then threw down grenades, which then exploded causing damage.

It was a panic.

As soon as the dust settled the mayor came out of his hiding place and started shouting at any cops in the room. "What are you waiting for? Get your police forces here now! I can't lose the best humanitarian and investor this city could ever have! SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!!!"

Nash was already on top of it as he looked at Kelly making sure she was alright. After a nod Kelly made her way to Cassidy and Lisa's table while Nash picked up his cell phone and called the S. I. U. A. J. Shimamura was the voice on the other end that answered. "Shimamura. "

"A. J. , it's Nash. "

"Hey Nashman. How's it going down at the party?" A. J. asked jokingly. "People die of boredom yet?"

"No but there are people dying. " Nash told A. J. everything that had happened. "We have terrorists at the hotel. They have taken Laocorn Gaudeamus hostage. Order S. W. A. T. and units in full riot gear to roll out. Call ambulances as well because we've got wounded. Also see if Harvey and Bryn can swing by here. "

"On it. " A. J. said as he hung up to grant Nash's requests. Nash looked at the party scene and saw many of the guests injured by the explosions.

"Daddy!" Cassidy shouted. "Over here it's mom!"

Nash made his way back to the remains of his table where Cassidy and Kelly were taking care of Lisa. She had been injured in the head due to the blood that was streaming from her wound.

Cassidy was doing her best to remain calm, but Nash knew she was scared. Kelly was also more than a little shaken despite saying that she was okay before. Leaning down towards Lisa Nash checked her wound. Joe came and stood right by his old partner's side.

"How's it look kemosabe'?" Joe asked.

"It'll be better if I can get this bleeding under control. Cassidy pass me that water pitcher. " Cassidy did what her father asked and he grabbed a napkin from nearby. Damping the cloth he placed the wet end where Lisa's cut was hoping to clear out the wound and seeing exactly where the cut was. When enough of the blood was cleared away Nash was able to see where the cut was.

Fortunately nothing was logged in her skull. Something only hit her as it flew and left a gash. Grabbing another napkin Nash applied direct pressure on Lisa's wound hoping to stop the bleeding. "Joe take care of Lisa. "

"Whoa where you going man?" Joe asked.

"I'm going after the bastards that did this. " Nash said with determination.

"By yourself?" Kelly asked. "Nash you don't have to do everything alone. And besides we need you here. Look. "

Nash looked around the whole party room. He saw people hurt and tended to by whoever they could find. Some of the cops were offering sympathetic shoulders. Others were offering whatever first aid they knew before the paramedics arrived. Even Max Petit was trying to help out a councilman's wife who had taken some shrapnel in the arm. Nash also saw Rick Bettina who was crying after getting shot. Some of the MCD guys were trying to help him, but due to the whining about his high pain threshold the MCD cops were coming up short in bedside manner.

"Nash let Gaudeamus’s security handle it. " Frank said coming up to his old partner. "You need to be here with your family. " Sighing Nash realized Frank was right.

"All right Frank. But if I catch one of those bastards. God help me. . . "

Outside Panni had gotten darkened area and saw the park lake right next to her. She then stripped and put the dress she had away and in the tree. ~ I am not getting this dress wet. Laocorn gave this to me and I am not going to get it ruined. ~

She then raised her hand up.

Now there was a homeless man sitting on the bench. What he saw happen next was a pillar of water come from right out of the lake and then engulf Panni and then that same pillar of water vanished as did Panni.

He threw his whiskey bottle down. "I'm seeing things. I need to stop drinking too much and find a job. "

In his penthouse, Clarkson heard about large mobilization of police forces. He pitied Henri knowing he would find no one at the supposed rendezvous point he had given him. Henri and his group were his patsies for this real plan. He then picked up the phone.

"They are moving. Begin the operation now. " Clarkson said.

At the Gaudeamus R&D Wing on the outskirts of San Francisco, the US Army team assigned to pick up the new power core for the defense satellites finally arrived into the facility. They were currently loading it onto the truck.

"They showed the ID right?" one guard asked.

"Yeah they did. Looked a little strange with the small red stains on the jacket. " the watchman asked.

The guard then blinked as he became agitated. "You idiot! Did it ever occur to you they might not be who they are!"

"No. Don't be so paranoid. " he replied.

Unfortunately he had every right to be paranoid.

That was proven as then the army soldiers then fired on the security team cutting down half of them in an instant. The survivors got behind protection trying to stay alive.

The leader of the fake soldiers then got on the phone. "Sir! We are under attack and we fired back. Half of the guards are dead. "

"No witnesses and no evidence. I already gave the order to Henri’s team to blow up the damn hotel too. I never did like the politicians of this city Mason. "

Mason smirked. "To be quite honest sir neither have I. "

"Send in your three demolitionists to cover your escape and have them blow the building and the guards to hell. "

Mason nodded hanging up. He smirked.

No one could stop this army of soldiers of fortune. No one.

Laocorn was being lead up to the helicopter on the roof. Henri was smirking.

"I can't wait to get your money rich kid. " Henri smirked.

"I'll make a deal with you. . . you let me go and I'll let you and your friends live. " Laocorn smirked.

Henri and his men laughed. "Oh yeah and exactly how are we going to die! HAHAHAHAHA. . . "

It was then a pillar of water then erupted from right under the helicopter and it rose 20 feet into the air before falling and crashing into a near by construction site and then exploded.

The pillar of water was where the helicopter had been on the rooftop and then it disappeared. Now standing on the ground where there wasn't a hole was Panni in a completely new wardrobe. She was wearing two silver balled earrings and a red choker around her neck. She wore a tight red leather body suit, which had a v-like cut over the front exposing a lot of her own cleavage but did cover the indecent part of her bust. Her mid rift was also bare skinned in a diamond shape and as for the legs the leggings of the suit were also tight red leather but the sides of her hips on were bare.

All it did was make all of the men just drop their guns in shock and their eyes were full of lust. All but Henri.

"You bitch! You ruined. . . " He shouted pointing his gun at Panni but then he was stopped. The reason for this was because Laocorn was right in front of him and had given him a punch in the gut. Henri looked out and saw Laocorn's cuffs were gone from his hand. They were lying on the ground 10 feet behind Henri. "But. . . how the. . . "

"You never. . . " Laocorn then hit Henri with a crescent kick that sent him into the fire escape door and made a five-inch dent in before he passed out. "EVER call Panni a bitch!!!"

The men were starting to get out of their stupor but then Panni raised her hand. "Sorry boys but play nice. " From the hole she had came through streams of water came and total obliterated the guns.

"What the. . . " One of them cried.

"Now lets see how well you do when you can't breath. " Panni smirked as she then created a large pillar of water and using water that was avail to her hammered all but one of the terrorists with it rendering them wet and unconscious.

"How . . . how the. . . gehahg!" the last one cried before Laocorn then gave him hard punch to his gut knocking him out.

"Foolish men. Always looking to use guns as your weapon when the human body is the worlds ultimate weapon. " Laocorn muttered.

Panni then looked at Laocorn. "You know they are going to be up here soon enough to know what happened up here. Not to mention why they are all wet. "

Laocorn looked up and saw a water container above them. It was to be used if the fire department couldn’t get any more water for their hoses or for putting out the fire from above. "Panni. "

"On it. " She said seeing her lords reasoning as she used her power to cause the water storage container to collapse and break as its contents fell down and washed over everything. Laocorn was somewhat drenched but only in the lower legs. Everything else was soaked.

"You did remember to tell Lyla to give me a hidden escort didn’t you Panni? I was so dead tired when you got me in my office I forgot to tell her we were leaving. " Laocorn asked.

"We do have them and they have been in the crowd but I know you don’t like bloodshed when you can avoid it so I made sure to not try and get you and just worry about helping the civilians. " Panni said. "They should be coming up soon mind you. "

"Good. You better get changed and back in before something else goes on. Better yet, just get to the limo and have it started so we can leave as soon as possible. " Laocorn said.

"Of course Lord Laocorn. " Panni replied. Before she left Laocorn said, "This was a fun evening was it not?"

Panni frowned. "Define fun Laocorn. " with that she was gone.

Laocorn then sighed. ~ . . . she wanted to dance with me tonight and now that isn't happening. . . crap. ~ He then kicked Henri's unconscious body three times cursing his good and bad luck and felt a little better.

Nash looked around and saw the room start to calm down. Injuries were being tended to and people were relaxing. Lisa was drifting in and out of consciousness, but her head wound had closed and as far as Nash could tell Lisa was out of danger.

Cassidy stayed by her father and mother's side trying to offer Lisa whatever comfort that she could. "Mom, you're going to be okay. " Cassidy said.

Lisa's eyes then opened up and her gaze fell on Cassidy. "Thank God you're okay. " she said as she struggled to get up and hug her daughter better. Nash smiled as he watched the mother daughter moment.

"Take it easy Lisa. " Nash said. "You may have a concussion. "

"Don't worry. " Lisa smirked. "If I get brain damage that's just one more thing to love about me. " Lisa smirked. Nash shook his head amazed by his ex-wife's sense of humor. He then saw Joe off to the side and the look on his face said that something was up.

"Cassidy look after your mother. I'll be right back. " Cassidy nodded as Nash went and talked to Joe.

"Tell me the news bubba. And I hope it's good. " Nash said to Joe.

"Well, there are at least four dead and about a few others who are in about the same position as your wife. Most of the cops here are trying to help out trying to keep the others calm until paramedics get here, but it's not easy. "

"Most of the cops?" Nash asked.

"There are a few guys that act like they're from Internal Affairs who are crouched in a corner like little frightened children. " Joe chuckled as he said the remark and even Nash found it funny to a point. Strangely Nash found himself asking "How's Bettina?"

"Sobbing his eyes out like a crying doll, but he'll make it. " Joe smirked.

"All right, tell all the available cops to secure the area. " Nash ordered. "Leave everything intact until the forensics guys show up. This place is a crime scene and nothing gets disturbed until the pros get at it. "

"On it kemosabe'. " Joe said as he passed the message to Frank and to any other cops that were able. As Nash made his way over to Kelly who was talking to one of the Gaudeamus security guards Nash's eye came across something unusual.

Leaning over Nash caught his eye on a blasting cap. Picking it up he noticed that it was the kind used in military demolitions due to the serial numbers and government markings on the cap. Why would terrorists who take a young billionaire hostage have a blasting cap on them? Nash thought. Then suddenly the answer came to him. Of course, if this was a terrorist attack you would probably want to make the biggest statement that you possibly could. What better way than to blow up a whole building filled with the most powerful people in San Francisco.

Nash went into a full scale sprint up to the guard who Kelly was talking to. "Nash what's wrong?" she asked.

Turning to the guard Nash held up the blasting cap to the guard. "Contact your head of security. " Nash ordered. "Tell them to send a team down to the key structural point in the building. I think the terrorists are going to blow it. " With that Nash left him.

The guard looked at Nash's finding with concern then called on his walkie talkie. "All units get moving now to the basement! We have a code green situation. "

"What’s going on here Wallace?"

Wallace turned around to see Laocorn behind him still kinda soaked. "Sir thank goodness you are okay. There’s a bomb in the building and we find it now. I suggest you get out of here now. "

". . . no. "

Wallace blinked.

"Something isn’t right here. A set up for money, how cliché is that?" Laocorn muttered. "Something else is going on and it is connected to this. . . but what?"

Back the Gaudeamus R&D Wing, Clarkson’s demolitions were putting the finishing touches to their bombs.

"Alright! Lets blow this place to hell!" one of the demolitionists said to his second partner. The third was helping the other members of the group leave.

"Hell is exactly where you are going. " a female voice spoke out.

The second demo was a sick man who thought he could have some fun after this. "Okay now this is great. Come on lady time to come with me to funville. "

"Wrong place. . . least for you anyway. " A slender hand in a silver glove came out of the shadows and then blaze of fire came out and incinerated the man. His screams could be heard as he was burnt do death.

The first demolitionist then came out with his gun. "YOU’RE DEAD!" he fired off his entire clip at where the hand was and then saw it disappear. "Ha you're dead you bitch!"

It was then that same hand came out and in between its three center fingers was a bullet.

The man only had time to say what before the mysterious woman then flung with those same three fingers the bullet at the mans head even greater force then a bullet being shot from a gun. The bullet went right through his head.

The woman smiled lightly. "And they wonder why I don't attend social events?"

"Where's Garth and Campbell!" Mason, the leader of the squad that came to take the power source spoke to the last demolitionist.

"I don't know they should be done by. . . " he started to say but then a blaze of fire came from the entrance to the research facility. "I guess they did it! Lets go!"

Mason however saw the Gaudeamus security team stop firing and get under cover. "No. . . no they didn't. Those bastards got some sort of weapon we didn't know about and it killed our men!"

Another explosion occurred and then out of the fire stepped out the woman that had killed the two demolitionist. She wore black leather pants with silver armor boots. She had black fighting gloves on. The only upper clothing she was a silver breastplate that covered the front of her chest and her shoulder blades. In the center was large green jewel. She wore a silver circlet with a triangle shape on it and her hair was long and fiery red.

This was Lyla, Jamin's sister.

"Run already! I'm taking these five me and fighting her off!" the demolitionist said taking some of the men with him as Mason not a fool put the petal to the metal and drove with his four remaining men and the power source.

"Now you die bitch!" the demolitionist cried.

~ I just need to leave one of them alive. I do believe in an eye for an eye even though Laocorn has been telling me to stop on that brand of justice, however for all the families that are now going to have widows and children without fathers, I think he will understand in this case. ~ "FIRE QUAKE!" She put interlocked her fists together and then struck the ground. It ruptured from beneath as a massive fire wave came at them.

Hell had just broken loose.

Mason looked outside his rear view mirror and saw the explosion even through he was 20 miles away.

Unless that bitch was fast as well as strong, she wouldn't catch up to him.

Lyla then picked up the only two survivors. The demolitionist had died long with three other army men. The two survivors were badly burned and needed some medical attention. The med teams arrived and then put the men on stretchers. "I want them kept alive for questioning. Clean this mess up now. The SFPD will come here soon enough and I don't think we need to have too many questions considering I had to get involved. Is that clear?"

"Yes Chief Topaz!" one of security detail said.

Head of Security Lyla Topaz, Topaz being a last name given to her so she would have one for the public, sighed as she made a pillar of flame appear all around her and when it dissipated she was in a pair of jeans, a black leather jacket and a red shirt. She didn't like to wear uniforms at all.

She watched the clean up crews do their part by removing all the dead bodies and clearing up the fire marks making it look like explosions from bombs. ~ We are efficient in controlling situations like this I will say that. . . I wonder what Laocorn's going to say when he finds out about this?~

"Chief! We just got word that Mr Gaudeamus was almost kidnapped tonight at that ball he attended!"

Lyla’s eyes shot up as she then looked at her second. "Broody, stand mop up procedure! I have to check on our boss. Take over for here now!"

"Yes Ma’am. " Broody said.

Lyla then concentrated and disappeared in a pilar of flames.

"YOU LOST HOW MANY!!!" Clarkson cried.

"I've only got five men including myself left alive. I don't understand sir! How could this happen! You knew when the Army Rangers were coming and we ambushed, killed them and took their place and we got in and then we got the battery. " Mason said. ". . . but then that fire casting bitch comes out of nowhere ruining everything! What the hell was that? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Apparently Laocorn's got some secrets of his own. . . and he's going to pay for what he did to my men. Get back here but first head over to Point Omega. It shouldn’t take you more than ten minutes to get there. Our people have already finished completing everything else. "

". . . Sir?"

"There's been a change in plans Mason. "

Mason paused over the phone. "You can't mean. . . "

"Oh yes. . . I do. There's a new test target. " Clarkson said.

Meanwhile back at the hotel, Lyla appeared in a darkened alley with her clothing still normal. She then went in through the basement and then saw a bomb attached to structural beam.

It read 1: 00.

"Isn’t just like me to come in the nick of time so to speak. " Lyla smirked as she put her hand close enough to the bomb and them using her power over fire melted the circuits to it.

She saw the security people she sent to watch Laocorn during the event come down the stairs after she was done.

"Chief! What are you doing here?" Wallace asked.

"Emergency back at HQ. We got problems. " Lyla said as she walked up the stairs.

Nash stayed right by Lisa's side along with Cassidy and Kelly. "Take care of yourself do you hear?"

"Sure thing. " Lisa said. "And while I'm at it I'll be screening my catering assistants more carefully from now on. "

Cassidy snickered a little at her mother's comment. "She's going to bee all right. " she said, but she still wouldn't leave Lisa's side.

"Don't worry. " Kelly said. "Well be with her all the way. " Nash thanked both his wife and daughter as they were herded into the ambulance. Staying until it drove away Nash then turned back to the hotel reception area where cops and party guests were still being tended to.

Rick Bettina was loaded into one of the early ambulances, which was a good thing as far as Nash was concerned. Anything can happen if Rick Bettina is in the building Nash thought.

Frank Gerrard came up to Nash's side and said. "I spoke to the chief. This is an S. I. U. gig all the way. "

"Boy I'll bet Petit wasn't too happy about that. " Nash said.

"You're right about that. " Frank smiled. "He's tried to do everything to strong arm his way into this investigation. But so far the mayor and the chief have held him back. "

"Petit is looking for anyway possible to be chief. " Nash said. "This tragedy could give him that chance. "

"Naw. You were the one who kept everyone together up there. " Frank said. "I gotta go. Let me know if you need anything. " Nash smiled as he watched Frank Gerrard walk to his car. He knew Frank would help out if Nash needed it. For all I know I will. Nash thought. He was then met up with Lyla Topaz who wanted to offer her thanks for Nash finding the blasting cap and helping to stop the terrorists from destroying the hotel and everyone in it.

"I must thank you Inspector Bridges. " Lyla said to Nash. "If it wasn't for your observation we'd all have to be pulled out of rubble by now. "

"No problem sister. " Nash said as Harvey came up to him.

"Hey boss. " Harvey started to say.

"You better not let A. J. hear you say that. " Nash smirked. "He is after all head of the S. I. U. "

"But you are the pointman right?" Bryn Carson said coming up to the three cops. Nash looked at Bryn and asked what they had so far.

"Well here's where we get into Bizzaroville. " Bryn said. "Apparently all the terrorists that we could capture have no identifying marks on them. No fingerprints. No medical records. We've cross referenced every visual record that we could find, no evidence has turned up that any of these guys existed. "

"What else?" Nash asked knowing there was more coming.

"They are speaking like madmen. " Bryn then added. "They say that there was a woman decked out in a red leather body suit that showed off way too much cleavage, who could throw water at them like she was a magic witch or something. And everyone knows there's no such thing as magic. "

"Really?" Nash asked as he reached the top of the stairs along with Harvey. But Bryn couldn't go up with them having found she had been handcuffed to the stair rail.

Bryn suddenly remembered Nash's hobby being an amateur magician and regretted her last comment.

"Nash!" she called out.

"Here. " he said tossing the keys. "I'll be right back. " Harvey went to talk with the forensics guys while Nash went up to talk to Gaudeamus and his crew who had caught Bryn's comment and Nash's response to it.

"There's more magic in the world than you can realize Inspector Carson. " Laocorn said as he put away his cell phone. When Nash came up Laocorn turned and said "I didn't know magic was one of your fortays Inspector. "

"It was just a trick. " Nash said. "I used to dabble in high school. "

"But you still practice on occasion?" Panni asked.

"I do mess with a few tricks from time to time. I guess once magic gets into your blood it's there to stay. " At Nash's comment Laocorn remembered the loss of Sulia when he went after the armor of Mars, and the lingering effects his contact with it had.

"Did I say something wrong?" Nash asked.

"No Inspector. " Laocorn said. "It's just that I. . . dabbled in magic myself, and my experience with it. . . didn't end all that well. "

"I'm sorry. " Nash said.

"Don't be. " Laocorn said. "It's in the past. " The look in Laocorn's face was one that tried to regain his composure but still couldn't quite shake the memory of Sulia's death.

Nash then looked at Laocorn. "Mr. Gaudeamus. I hate to interrupt but I have to ask that you and Miss Citrine come down with me to the S. I. U. "

Laocorn looked up to Nash grateful for the distraction. "Of course Inspector. While I am there I'd also like to report a crime. "

Nash was interested now more than ever. "Other than the crime that was committed here?"

"Unfortunately yes. " Laocorn said. "Lyla recently told me she got a call from the R&D lab just outside of San Francisco stating there was an attack and was still going on. I've just gotten off the phone with my security forces and now the fighting has stopped. It seems our top secret satellite power core has been stolen. "

"When was this?" Nash asked.

"About the same time the terrorists here attacked. They murdered half of my security team there. "

Nash's brain was working overtime. "Attack from two sides. One to make a statement, and the other to go after the real quarry. "

"You think the attackers are from the same group?" Panni asked.

"I don’t doubt it for a second. An attack on myself for money and then an attack on my R&D lab both at the same time. . . its all part of someone’s sick game. One I intend to figure out. " Laocorn started. "We shall join you at the S. I. U. Inspector. . . But there's one other thing. "

"And that might be?" Nash asked.

Laocorn paused before answering. "It is customary for the Gaudeamus Corporation to assign it's own investigator, or team of investigators, to look into criminal activities when the security of the company is threatened. . . . " Nash immediately interrupted as he raised his hand.

"No offence Laocorn, but I don't want your teams tripping over the S. I. U. when it's trying to do its job. " Lyla did not take to Nash's comments too well and looked ready to clock Nash, or give him a hot seat.

"Why you. . . " Lyla said but Panni held her back.

"Now Lyla, Inspector Bridges is right about this. " Laocorn said. "We do not need to have our forces stumbling over the job that the taxpayers of the city pay the police to do. But Inspector, you do realize that I can not just sit back and do nothing. "

"I understand that Laocorn. " Nash said. "If our situations were reversed I would feel the same way. "

"Then I hope you'll accept my request to have Lyla here monitor your progress in not only this case but in recovery of the Power Core as well. " Laocorn said. "As well as one other. A Private Investigator who I would like you to work alongside with to increase your chances. "

Nash seemed apprehensive about having a 'special investigator' work with him and he let his feelings be known. "Laocorn I'm not too sure having a Corporate Private Investigator around the S. I. U. is a good thing. "

"But you haven't met him yet. " Laocorn said. "I do hope you'll reserve judgement until you've met him. "

Nash sighed and decided to humor Laocorn. "All right. Who's this investigator?" As if on cue a call of "Hey Nashman. " came to his right. Joe Dominguez came walking up with a smile on his face.

"Laocorn hired me to work with you. " Joe said. "It's going to be like the good old days again ain't it?" Nash turned to Laocorn too shocked to speak.

Laocorn smiled. "I heard a lot of stories about you from Mr. Dominguez while he did that case with me. Also your police record proves to me that you are the best man to spearhead this investigation, alongside Mr. Dominguez with whom your success is credited alongside his in many cases. I believe it would be most efficient if the two of you were to team up in this investigation. Lyla will be close by to observe and call in security forces if necessary. "

Nash smiled as he looked at Laocorn. "I'll have to clear it with A. J. . . . "

"Already done brah. " A. J. said coming up to Nash and presenting the official document. "Even the chief signed the order for good measure. "

Nash looked at Joe and smiled. "Well I guess we're going to be partners again. "

"All right!" Joe said as A. J. , Laocorn and Panni smiled. Lyla smiled a little bit but not as wide as the others did.

Two hours later. . .

"Are we hooked up yet?" Clarkson asked.

"The power core was installed in to the Hades an hour ago and launched soon after. We should be ready to fire with in thirty minutes. " Mason said. "That’s about the same time we should have a pirate feed ready. "

Clarkson smirked. "Excellent. . . and now all of our brothers in arms will get their just rewards. "

S. I. U Station. . .

"Thank you for being able to take time to fill out your statement Laocorn. " Nash said.

"It may be late in the evening but this take precedence. " Laocorn said. "However I for one would like to know who is responsible for all of this. "

"Nashman! Get out here! Something really screwy is going on!" Joe shouted to Nash.

Curious to the two men came out and looked at tv set in the prescient. Only it was black.

"What’s this about?" Laocorn asked.

"Its like that for all the stations everywhere, not just the station but the entire country. " Lyla whispered into Laocorn’s ear.

It was then that image of Andrew Clarkson appeared on the screen.

"People of San Francisco, California, and the United States of America. My name is Andrew Clarkson. For nearly 30 years I defended and served this country well. . . but the bullshiting politicians have done nothing but harm all of us hard working soldiers including myself. "

"What the hell is this?" Nash asked watching this.

"Its a pirate broadcast on every station. " AJ told him.

"As of last night I have taken possession of the power battery system that was to be used in the Defense Departments newest Star Wars program called Hades. Why is it called Hades?" Clarkson said as then a computer simulation appeared. "Its because the true purpose of this satellite is not to be used as a way of spying on our countries enemies here on earth and on the moon but to attack anyone at time that they chose. The Hades satellite is equipped with the newest weapon the government doesn’t want you to know about: the plasma energy cannon or to translate for you unintelligent people, a really powerful laser. "

The simulation then showed the Hades firing a blast down to earth on an area in Africa. First an area of just ten feet was destroyed. . . then a second blast was fired. Enough to blow up a large city.

Many were in disbelief. . . however Laocorn was seriously pissed off. ~ HOW DARE THEY! How dare those damn bureaucrats contract me for a project without telling me the whole story! I swore after losing Sulia I would never take part in any killing machine’s creation! Never! They are going to hear from me! This I promise!~

"My demands are simple. One the United States government agrees to pay for the families of all those that lost husbands or families in Vietnam. Two they will then pay me and my men who have lost everything thanks to those five star jarheads, by depositing one billion dollars into my off shore account. And three, they will release Lt. Mark Arnolds and Comm. Jeff Motors from incarceration in Washington. A helicoptor will come for them outside of the lock up. If the United States government does not comply within 2 hours by releasing these two men and then pay me my one billion dollars within 24 hours, the city of San Francisco will face the same fate as this. " Clarkson's image was then replaced by a large forest area. It read as place in Florida.

A bright light flashed and then all was white for about a minute. When it was over everything was ash.

"You have 2 hours to comply to my first demand. . . don't make me have to show my power again. " with that Clarkson ended the broadcast.

Everyone looked at the static on the T. V. screen, scared for what they saw. Nash turned to Laocorn and saw a mix of shock and anger across his face. "Is there something you want to tell me here?" Nash asked.

"The Power Core that was stolen was supposed to go to powering a new satellite network, or so I was told. " Laocorn said. "They assured me that it was supposed to be used for peaceful purposes. "

"Well I guess that depends on one's definition of peace I guess. " Harvey said. Lyla overheard the remark and gave a sweep kick to Harvey sending him down on the ground. "How dare you insult Mr. Gaudeamus that way. " she said glaring at Harvey. "I ought to. . . "

"LYLA!!! DESIST!!!" Laocorn ordered. "I'm sure Inspector Leek meant nothing by his remark. In fact, I find myself agreeing with it. "

Panni looked at Laocorn confused. "Sir?"

"Sometimes people believe peace is brought about by weapons. " Laocorn said. "American's thought that the A-bomb would lead to a post-war world when World War II ended with them as the leader. It wasn't until the secrets of the bomb were stolen by Russian spies that the Cold War came into being and the threat of global annihilation became frighteningly real. "

"Peace through weaponry. " Nash said. "It's really no peace at all. "

Everyone agreed, but Joe knew that they had to get to work in finding Clarkson. "All right Nashman, what do we do?"

Nash immediately snapped into his pointman role and began taking charge. "All right. Harvey, Bryn, check all records from government offices. FBI, CIA just to start with. Throw Laocorn's name around if you have to. It may cause some apples to shake loose from the government information tree. I want to know who this guy is. " Harvey nodded and went on his way.

Nash then went to A. J. "A. J. can you call the mayor and see what can be done for evacuations? People will be panicking, but I have a feeling that Clarkson will be watching from somewhere as people go crazy here. "

"And the people will be thinking that Clarkson will fire at any time. " A. J. said. "I'll see what I can do about making sure evacuations go quietly and orderly. "

"Lt. Shimamura. " Laocorn said. "Perhaps my security forces can be of use to you if you have need of them. "

"I appreciate your offer of assistance Mr. Gaudeamus. " A. J. said. "I might just take you up on that offer. "

"Lyla accompany him. " Laocorn ordered. Lyla nodded and followed A. J. out.

"Bryn. Get one of these mercenary bastards out of holding and bring them to interrogation. " Bryn nodded and then asked. "Any one in particular?"

Nash knew who he wanted. "How about my ex-wife's catering assistant?"

Henri sat in the interrogation room as Nash and Joe sat across from him staring him down.

"How long have you been working for my ex-wife Henri?" Nash asked. "Three months?"

Henri stayed silent but that didn't stop Nash from continuing to interrogate him. "And in all your time as a caterer. Why is it that you never put down 'super secret commando on your resume?"

"Well you know how resumes are Nash. You can't always remember everything you put down. " Joe said with humor.

Nash smirked at Joe's remark but he still kept his focus on Henri, only this time it was Henri who spoke. "Are you sure you're on the right side here Bridges?" Nash was confused by Henri's line but Henri spoke further.

"You should be joining us Bridges. " Henri said. "I mean your brother went down in 'Nam right?"

Nash kept his cool, but deep down inside he was ready to lose it. "Bubba, that's one direction you do not want to go. "

"Don't you want to avenge your brother Bridges?" Henri said. He then heard dripping in the room and suddenly Henri became very nervous. "What's that?"

Nash looked at Henri and saw the jumpiness in him. It was then he decided to capitalize. "That's water dripping bubba. " Nash said. "And if there's water dripping. You know who can't be far behind. "

Henri suddenly looked afraid for his life. "You wouldn't bring that bitch in here would ya? She'd kill me. "

"Better her than me bubba. " Nash said. "'Cause let me tell you. You almost killed a member of my family with your little raid. I'm half ready to throw down my badge and kill you right now. "

"Your ex-wife?" Henri said. "She's so annoying. I thought I'd be doing you a favor by taking her out. "

Nash almost lunged after Henri but Joe held him back as well as the sound of the drip drip drip coming from the pipes. Nash heard the sound and immediately stared down Henri. A wicked smile on his face.

"You know I read in the file that the woman that you had described fit Miss Citrine to a tee. Now I'm wondering, just what would happen if I stepped out and allowed her to come into this interrogation room?" Henri immediately started to sweat.

"I want my lawyer. I have nothing to say until he gets here. " Henri said.

"Oh sure, we can wait. " Nash said. "But you see Miss Citrine is a private citizen, and well I just can't go around telling private citizens what to do. . . "

"Unless they break the law. " Joe said smirking.

"Exactly. " Nash said. "And if Miss Citrine wants to come in and have a 'private' conversation with a fellow citizen, well that's well within her rights to do now isn't it?"

"You wouldn't. . . let her. . . come in here. . . would you?" Henri seemed to get really nervous at the mentioning of Panni coming in.

"Well that all depends. " Nash said. "On how well you can sing like a canary. If you don't, Miss Citrine comes in. "

Henri gulped and said everything that he knew of the mission he was supposed to be on.

A. J. was waiting outside the interrogation room as Nash and Joe exited. "How'd it go?"

"Well we've got an address on where Clarkson did some of his recruitment. " Nash said holding up a piece of paper with the address on it. "Joe and I are going to check it out. "

"I'll send a couple of units along with you. " A. J. said copying the address down. "I don't want you going in alone. "

Nash just smiled. "Come on A. J. what's the worst that can happen?" A. J. turned and gave a smile of his own as he answered Nash's question. "Plenty. "

Nash shook his head as he and Joe made their way to the 'Cuda "Do you really believe that stuff Henri said about a woman that could fire water?" Joe asked as he got into the passenger seat.

"I don't know bubba, but he seems to believe it. All I did was play on his fears and got what I needed. " Nash held up the address of the meeting place where Clarkson had his troops organized as he got behind the steering wheel. "Let's go check out that address. "

The 'Cuda pulled out of the City Building parking lot, and took to the San Francisco streets to hopefully pick up either a clue or a perpetrator at their destination.

Henri was still in the interrogation room waiting to be taken out when he heard the door open. "Thank god. "

"Don't thank god yet. "

Henri froze as he saw Laocorn Gaudeamus in the room. Except the young billionaire wasn't in his Armani suit anymore. Rather his hair had changed from blue to lavender. He was wearing a dark gold sleeveless duster, black pants with gold boots, a black shirt and silver gauntlets.

When Laocorn looked at Henri, Henri could swear God himself was looking down on him.

And God was pissed off.

"Your going to tell me everything you know. . . because if you don't. . . " Laocorn then grabbed Henri's head with one hand and covered his mouth with the other.

In that moment Henri was bombarded with images from his past. Killings he had done, people he had wrong, all things he had taken great joy in. . . only now he felt incredible anguish, misery and suffering from this.

Laocorn then let go and Henri's head fell on the table. It took him a while before he looked up at Laocorn. "What the hell was that. . . "

"The anguish of the screams of all those people that you have wronged. " Laocorn replied. "Inside my gloves are chips that allows people to relieve their memories. . . or go through someone’s memories and make them experience pleasure. . . or pain. "

Henri just looked very scared at the moment.

"Now tell me everything you know. " Henri did just that and Laocorn smiled. "Thank you. . . now then I have to erase your mind a bit so you don't remember this. . . but you will never forget the suffering you have caused. "

"WAIT! You said you wouldn't use those damn gloves again!" Henri shouted.

"I lied. " Laocorn said this time putting both gloves on Henri.

His screams could be heard all through out the S. I. U.

"What the hell is going on!" A. J shouted.

"It's coming from the interrogation room!" Harvey shouted.

They both went in and saw Henri going into a panic. "MAKE THEM STOP! Make the voices stop! All that blood! That murder!!!"

"Get people in here now to sedate him now!" AJ shouted.

"Got to get out! Water Witch and Angel of Death! They'll kill me and my men! Hah hahaHAHAHAHAHA!!" Henri laughed before cowering in a corner quivering like a child. Some officers came in with Harvey and then took Henri away.

~ I don't even feel sorry for the crazy bastard. ~ AJ said.

Meanwhile Laocorn was with Panni and Lyla on top of a rooftop looking over the Conover Building.

"Condemned when in fact very much still useable and just outside of the city. You could see San Francisco being blown to hell from here if you wanted. " Laocorn said.

"So what's the plan? We just go through the front door?" Lyla asked.

"Can't do that now. " Panni told them. "Our dear friend Inspector Bridges is arriving. "

"Shit. " Laocorn said. "Doesn't matter. Avoid the SIU at all costs. We can't allow them to see us using our techniques. "

"Understood my Lord. " Panni said.

"So how do we go in? For Panni and myself its easy but for you. . . " Lyla said.

"Don't worry. I can care of myself. Get somewhere in the middle of the building during your teleporting. I have no doubt Clarkson has more troops in his own home than he did in the assault on our development wing. " Laocorn said. "Now go. "

"Yes sir. " Lyla said before she and Panni vanished.

Laocorn looked out at the building. "Andrew Clarkson, you are going to learn a new definition of pain when I am through with you. "

Speaking of Clarkson. . .

"WHAT! The SIU is here!" Clarkson said.

"Its true sir!" Mason said.

"Shit. Henri must have failed. I was hopping the SIU would have been taking longer to get Gaudeamus back. " Clarkson growled. "Set up snipers and fire away at the SIU. Prepare for evac. I want everything ready to go from the helicopter in 30 mins and I want the demolitionists to set charges at the basement level. "

"Sir?" Mason asked.

"I loved this room a lot Mason. . . now I'll pay back this city for making me have to destroy it. . . by burying San Francisco’s finest in it!" Clarkson smirked.

The 'Cuda had met up with the S. W. A. T. team and some of Laocorn's personal security forces outside of the Conover building. "I take it Laocorn sent you guys here?" he told the security commander.

"Yes sir. " the security commander said. "Mr. Gaudeamus thought you might need help. "

Nash looked at the guard and decided that the help would probably be a good thing. "All right but remember you take orders from either me or the head of the S. W. A. T. team is that clear?"

The Security Commander was just as adept at taking orders as he was giving them and answered. "Yes sir. "

With that Nash brought the Security Commander and the S. W. A. T. lieutenant in for a conference. "All right cover all exits. Make sure nobody gets in or out. Shoot to kill only if you have to. I'd prefer them being taken alive, but if it can't be avoided. . . "

"Understood Inspector. We'll do what we have to do. " the S. W. A. T. lieutenant said.

"Okay Joe and I will take the main entrance along with the team that's covering that entrance. The rest of you know your assignments. Go!" The cops and security broke off and covered the routes they were assigned to. Nash and Joe had joined the team at the main entrance and were ready to break on in.

A tear gas grenade was rolled in to hopefully blind any gunmen stationed at the entrance. When none were there Nash and Joe put on their gas masks along with the rest of the team and barged in.

That was when Clarkson's men made their move. In the cover of smoke some of Clarkson's men opened fire sending some of the cops and security guards down.

Nash, Joe and the remaining cops and guards took cover and fired back. The main entranceway had become a battlefield, as a war broke out that was taking too much time and ammo out of both sides. For Nash and Joe, time was a major factor.

"Damn, we'll never make it at this rate. " Joe said. "Even I don't have enough bullets to take on an army. "

Nash agreed and needed to think of an idea quick. One of the things he wanted to do as a kid was study to be an architect, and the plans for the Conover building were one of the many diagrams he looked at in what later became a hobby instead of a career. Nash then had an idea.

"I remember something about this building. " Nash said. "There was an entrance to the fire escape off to the side. If we can get to that we can get up to Clarkson and shut him and his plans down. "

"I'm with you Kemosabe'" Joe said as Nash spoke to the leader of the S. W. A. T. team. "Mr. Dominguez and I are going to make our way to the fire escape. Cover us. "

"Yes Inspector. " the S. W. A. T. leader acknowledged. "All right team lay down some cover fire!"

The S. W. A. T. team as well as Laocorn's security forces fired their weapons allowing Nash and Joe to cross over to the entrance where the fire escape stood. When they made it to the door they bolted inside and ran up as fast as they could go.

"How much time do you think we got Nash?" Joe asked.

"Don't know bubba. That's why every second counts. "

"Team five and six are out but we are holding them back!"

"Keep them back as long as possible!" Mason shouted back. "Damn it. We may need to sacrifice them. "

One of the soldiers looked at Mason. "Sir?"

"Do I look like I wanna die!" Mason shouted. "Prepare to fire bomb them. "

"You wouldn’t know how to fire bomb anyone properly. "

Mason paled as he turned around and saw Lyla standing in the doorway. "Oh my god. . . its you!"

Lyla just smirked. "You murdered the innocent and have left children without fathers. " Her smirk became deadly cold and serious. "In my mind that makes you the worst kind of scum. Your punishment. . . IS DEATH!"

Mason screamed in shock and horror. "Fire! Fire! Fire!" He called out to his men.

Lyla just put her hands together and prepared to give them her brand of justice. "You don’t know what fire is. . . let me show you...HELLFIRE!"

A large concentrated pillar of fire erupted from Lyla’s hands and engulfed the whole room.

No one was spared.

On the tenth floor, Nash and Joe were still making their way to the top floor via the fire escape when they saw the eighth floor explode out with fire.

"Holy mother!" Joe muttered.

"Got that right bubba. " Nash said.

"What the heck caused that?" Joe asked.

"I don’t know but we don’t have time to find out. " Nash said. "We only got 20 minutes before Clarkson throws the switch to that weapon. We got to get to top and stop that madman. Let’s go Joe. "

"Right behind ya Nashman. " Joe replied but couldn’t shake the feeling that something else was going on in the building.

"WATER BLADE!" Panni cried out as she made a sword of water then appear in her hands. Though it was made of water, that didn’t mean it was just water. That much was proven as she sliced through her attackers guns like a knife through butter.

"Oh god what kind of demon are you!" One of Clarkson’s men said.

"Demon? I’m no demon. You on the other hand. You side with a maniac ready to destroy an entire city of innocents. " Panni replied coolly as she made her sword disappear. "If anyone is a demon here it is all of you. Now face your judgment. " She then raised her hand up in the air and then a large dragon of water appeared.

"What is that!" Someone cried.

"TSUNAMI DRAGON!!!" Panni shouted as her water dragon then attacked everyone on the floor. It spared no one was it hammered into each one of Clarkson’s soldiers.

Panni looked down at the carnage she had made but all of the men were still alive. She then smelt something. "Smells like charcoal. . . Lyla!" Raising her hand up immediately to get all the water available to her she then became a ball of water and crashed through the floor and into the fire engulfed hell that Lyla had created using her fire power.

Lyla took notice and then moved aside as Panni then drenched the entire floor with water and smothered the flames. Panni then came out of the ball of water she had created and then stepped on to the floor, which was blacked as well as wet.

"You incinerated them to the point where there wouldn’t even be anything left of them for the authorities to find to identify that they even existed. " Panni muttered. "You killed them. "

"And they killed my men as well as the real Army Rangers that were supposed to come for the power cell. " Lyla replied.

"It wasn’t your call. " Panni said.

"The hell it isn’t!" Lyla shot. "You are Laocorn’s secretary and personal aide. You handle his business affairs. I handle security and the people I employ for the company. " Lyla’s eyes narrowed. "And tomorrow morning I have to go call 14 out of the 17 employees familes that that got killed and tell the wives who will then tell their children that they will never see their father again. " Lyla turned away from Panni. "Those men deserved to burn. "

As Lyla was walking way Panni called out to her. "Are you sure that’s the reason? Or is it that you feel like you’re trying to make amends for the one mistake you made. " Lyla stopped as Panni continued. "Joshua and Mark wasn’t your fault. We all didn’t know who Joshua really was. He fooled us all. "

"Mark died saving me from a bullet in the back. Even for however strong I am or will become, or any of us for that matter, we are still human. " Lyla said softly.

"And that is what we are. Human. We make mistakes. We are not perfect. Take Lord Laocorn for instance. " Panni said and Lyla turned her head around knowing what she meant. "We all make mistakes but we need to learn from our mistakes. Not go about repeating them. We walk on a very fine line Lyla. We have to know when to cross it and when not to, depending on the situation. Because if we cross the line too often, we’re no better the murderers and butchers that fight. "

Lyla just turned away from Panni. ". . . I’ll watch the rest of this from our starting point. I need to think. "

Panni breathed. "I understand. Lyla. . . "

"No. . . you’re right Panni. I’ve been a bit more brutal then I should be. I need to calm myself a bit. This is all sounding like what Jamin told me he went through at a point in his life. " Lyla replied. She then looked at Panni with a sly smile on her face. "However don’t think because I will change my ways a little, that my fire is going to be any dimmer. Quite the opposite, it’ll be brighter. " With that Lyla vanished in a pillar of fire.

"I don’t doubt you for a moment Lyla. " Panni said as she then took off in a pillar of water.

Clarkson was now frantic in the penthouse. "Mason. . . Mason report! Mason!"

"Freeze!"

Clarkson turned around and saw Nash and Joe come through the doorway with their guns drawn. Unfortunately Clarkson, being as paranoid and psychotic as he was, had his automatic rifle already in hand and then just fired blindly causing Nash and Joe to seek cover. "Who are you! Identify yourselves!"

"Inspector Nash Bridges, S. I. U!"

Clarkson then gripped his gun hard and then fired. "Bridges! Again! Damn you and your family!"

Joe pushed Nash out of the way and he got shot in the leg. Clarkson then started running for the roof.

"I’m okay! Go! Get him!" Joe shouted.

Nash then rushed after Clarkson to the roof. He then went outside to the top and found the helicopter but no one was there.

"Where are you Clarkson!" Nash shouted.

It was then that Clarkson came from behind and nailed Nash in his legs with a steel pipe causing Nash to fall down. Clarkson then started to hit Nash repeatedly in the legs with the blunt object until he felt satisfied that Nash wouldn’t be able to get up. He then threw Nash’s gun off the roof and then locked the door to the roof.

"You Bridges are a pain in the ass. " Clarkson said. "You’re like your traitorous brother you know that?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Nash said.

"Your brother Bobby, if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have spent seven months as a POW in Nam. Do you know what those animals did to me when I was in their hands!" Clarkson shouted to Nash as he took of his shirt and Nash was greeted to the sight of so many scars and wounds like never before. "Those animals had their fun with me, and why, because your brother betrayed my unit to save his ass!"

"You’re lying. " Nash said.

"He left me to die at the enemy’s hands. Well I hope old Bobby is still around these days. Because once your name turns up in the obituary, he’ll come out of what ever rock he is hiding under because I know that traitor wouldn’t dare show his face in America. " Clarkson said as he then picked up a gun from his back. He then smiled. "What irony this is. . . you know whose gun this is? It’s the gun I was going to give to your brother on his birthday when I had considered him a friend. And now with his gun, he’s brother is going to die. " Clarkson then pulled out a remote control. "And then after that I’m going to blow up this city. "

"You’re insaine. " Nash said.

"That’s what the doctors tell me. " Clarkson then squeezed the trigger. "Good bye Bridges. Say hello to your brother in hell. "

"You first. "

Clarkson turned around to see Laocorn Gaudeamus who then raised his hand up.

"SHIROHA KEN!!!" Laocorn shouted as the White Wave Technique was shot off at Clarkson before Nash’s eyes. Clarkson just stood there dumbfounded. When the wave hit him, he was blasted off of the building and a small bit of the roof went off with Clarkson thanks to the attack. The wave also left mark on the roof.

As Laocorn went to pick up the device that Clarkson had dropped before the wave hit him, he could hear a thud.

"Ashes to Ashes. . . " Laocorn pressed a button on the remote.

In space, the Hades Satellite self destructed and went up in a glorious explosions.

". . . Dust to Dust. " Laocorn said as he crushed the remote in his hands.

Nash meanwhile was in shock as he looked on at Laocorn who faced him.

"Nothing in this world is what it seems Inspector. " Laocorn said. "And there are some things that world doesn’t need to know about. If you want to talk to me more, come by tomorrow. "

With that Laocorn then jumped off the building and when Nash looked for him he didn’t see anything.

What in the name of God just happened. . . Nash thought.

Nash was not completely sure what to say to A. J. when he got back to the S. I. U. He mentioned that the S. W. A. T. team and Laocorn's security forces were held back and that he and Joe had to go up to the office by themselves. Nash mentioned the fire that seemingly annihilated everyone on one floor and that Laocorn had acted in Nash's defense when Clarkson was ready to kill him.

Nash only neglected to add that Laocorn used something that reminded him of a Nuclear bomb. When A. J. looked over the report he mentioned that it was full of holes, hols Nash wasn't sure he could fill.

Well I'm going to fill them now~

Nash thought as he charged up to Laocorn's office. Panni had granted him full access and Laocorn sat at his desk waiting.

"Inspector. " Laocorn said. "I trust you are here for an explanation. "

Nash didn't take his eyes off Laocorn for a second. Looking the young millionaire dead in the eye he said his peace. "You got that right bubba. First of all is this, 'What was that thing you did to send Clarkson off the roof like that?'"

Laocorn sighed, and he knew Nash deserved an answer. But what answer could he give? Then it hit him. "Inspector. Do you know the cardinal rule of every magician?"

Nash nodded well aware of the rule. "Yeah, a magician never reveals the secrets of the magic tricks he uses. "

Laocorn smiled. This was a level that he could communicate with Nash on. "And have you ever revealed the secrets of your 'magic tricks to anyone?"

"No, never. Not even to Joe. "

Laocorn nodded then continued further. "Then please bear with me that what I had done was something of a magic trick in itself. Albeit a magic trick that was. . . different from the ones that you're used to. "

Nash looked at Laocorn skeptically. "Bubba, what you did to Clarkson was more than any magic trick that I know of. "

"Really?" Laocorn asked. "Have you ever seen David Copperfield?"

Nash nodded and his mind seemed to form a connection of sorts between Laocorn's wave attack and what Copperfield had done in his many shows. "Yeah. I saw some of his specials on CBS. I also took Cassidy to a show with him when he was in town. "

"And when you saw Copperfield perform. Weren't you amazed by how he performed?" Nash nodded.

"Then I ask you Inspector. From one 'magician' to another. Do not ask me to explain what I did to Clarkson. Or ask how my associates can do the tricks that they can do. " Nash was surprised when Laocorn said that Panni and Lyla may have 'tricks' of their own and made him wonder what all Laocorn Gaudeamas was about.

"Does this have to do with that. . . bad experience you had with magic?" Nash asked. Laocorn didn't answer.

"Inspector I've told you all I can. Please trust me when I say that there are some things that you are better left not knowing. " Laocorn and Nash held a gaze that neither was willing to break until Laocorn offered his hand to Nash as a symbol of faith and trust.

Nash took Laocorn's hand and shook it thanking him for his help and giving him the benefit of the doubt over what happened at the Conover building. "All right. I'll leave you to your secrets. I just hope I don't catch you doing anything illegal. "

"Trust me Inspector. I have no interest in doing anything in that regard. " Laocorn said. Mentally he added Anymore.

Nash nodded and turned to leave Laocorn's office. Laocorn watched the Inspector leave while Panni came in from behind the pillar with a file in her hand.

"Panni, is that the file I asked for?" Laocorn asked.

"Yes sir. " she said as she set the file on his desk. Panni then left the office leaving Laocorn to pick up the file and read through its contents. What he saw gave him a mix of emotions: happiness that the person was still alive, and disappointment about what the person in question was doing.

File # A-47-6A Top Secret

CEO and Senior Staff's eyes only

Subject: Robert James Bridges

Laocorn looked through the file and saw the citations listed for Nash's brother Bobby, as well as photographs of him, recommendations from superiors, and occurrences in his life. Some of the more recent ones gave Laocorn reason to worry.

It all sank in when Laocorn read the final assessment at the end of the file.

Subject is highly decorated officer in Vietnam War. Had gone down on mission in Vietnam in 1973. Declared Missing in Action shortly after.

Subject later located in remote section in Thailand assembling local villagers for personal heroin empire. Operating under the name 'Bobby Chase' he is regarded as one of the major players in the Southeast Asian Drug cartels.

It is this investigator's opinion that no business be done with Bobby Chase in any manner. For the Gaudeamus Corporation to be connected with this man in any way would be disastrous for the image the Gaudeamus Corporation is trying to project.

End of file

Laocorn Gaudeamus closed the file and put it in his desk. "Yes Inspector Bridges. There are some things you are better left not knowing. "

END