A/N: /:Comes skidding into the room and topples over hitting the ground before popping back up like a Jack In The Box completely unfazed and straightening purple Gandalf type hat:/ La li ho! LITTLE LADY IS BACK! =D

/:Falls down:/

And it only took two damn years! ^^;;;

/:Puffs up proudly:/

HA! But I have RETURNED! I have indeed NOT fallen out of The Big O universe! And as proof! I bring you my story! =D

/:Takes off hat and bows humbly:/

Please forgive little lady for taking FOREVER! This was ORIGINALLY supposed to come out LAST year, but a slew of unavoidable delays struck one after another.

Between literally seven moves to different homes, the grandmother (Who we were living with and still are.) who had a serious stroke this year and are now helping and taking care of, the delayed or flat out canceled and MUCH needed vacations never taken which cause little slumps in writing cause it was so freaking depressing, me taking a night course to earn my GED, scrambling around like a pan handler for money for Christmas and a VALIANT battle to go see "The Return Of The King"… twas a little hard. ^_^

The stroke was the main delay, (Has it been a year? /:Pulls on hair:/ It feels like FOREVEEEEEEEEEER!) but I FINALLY got a kick (In the form of a very disgruntled sibling. ^_^) and got it out! I hope this won't be disappointing to you!

Thank you all for putting up with me! I am very truly sorry for all the delays! ;_;

Important Notes:

This particular story is written a tad bit different from the way I normally do Big O stories due to the way I had to set up the plot and mystery. The beginning probably won't make a lot of sense till later on so bare with me. I also want to make it clear that there are absolutely NO spoilers in this story for Season Two. This story was thought up BEFORE little lady knew ANYTHING about Season Two. So you don't have anything to worry about.

For all those who don't know I write my Big O stories LIKE episodes, meaning quick scene changes, flashbacks in the middle of a conversation, and Roger's narration. And a just as a quick little side note… I spell the word Megadues as Mega Duce. I had begun to spell it like that before I knew the proper way to it was spelled and it's too much of a pain to correct it so its left as is. ^_^ Just a FYI that I do indeed know its not the correct way, but I'm choosing to ignore this little fact. ^^

/:Points to the italics below:/

THIS is important to remember, its CRUTIAL to the story plot so try and remember if ya can okay? ^_^

(((Roger's narration)))

|||Dorothy's narration (She only has a narration for this first part of the story. Nothing after that.)|||

/GENERAL flashbacks… don't get these confused with ROGER'S recollections and memories./

{{{ROGER'S memories, remember this one.}}}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Scene changes… remember though! Just cause these aren't there and a scene suddenly seems to switch its for all intensive purposes the same scene, just taking part at a different time or perception. THESE signal a COMPLETE change in SCENERY.

/:Claps hands:/

That's it! ^_^

Setting: Season one.

Spoilers: No

Disclaimer: Lady Hinoto does not own Big O. /:Nods sadly:/ It rightfully and luckily belongs to… whoever it is that LEGALLY owns it. ^^
Little lady is just an anime fan who writes for free and entertainment purposes and is in no way getting anything (Lets stress on ANYTHING at ALL! ^_^) from writing this.

I do on the other hand happen to own a certain Big O toy, DVD box set and two OST's! ^_^

That's the only relation or owning I have to the series.

/:Bows:/

So sorry for the long notes! But they're important for the story! ^_^

Please forgive any spelling and grammer mistakes!

/:Shoos away:/

Please enjoy! /:Crosses fingers and waits:/

Act 3: Memories Of A Negotiation Sound of a gun going off… echoing…Blackness…/Terrance… "Will you help me Mr. Smith?"

"Negotiating is a delicate job… to negotiate I try to reach a compromise between the two parties. Its more then simply talking someone into giving you what you want. Both parties have to be considered."/

/Clarence… "There are three ways to obtain power… you can be destined to have it… you can buy it… and you can take it./

/Clearance turned his arm raising as he did. He pointed a gun and smiled pleasantly and innocently, tilting his head a little.

"Or you can do all three Mr. Smith."/

BOOM!

/The gun fired once./

From the end white exploded burning bright… much brighter then normal. Brighter then the sun almost.

Bright…

Burning white…

/!/

A high-pitched shrieking sound rang out… how appropriate since it seemed to fit with the blinding light. The light though seemed to finally start dimming…}}}

In brightness at least.

It still remained white.

.

Another gun shot.

Wait… it echoed… that wasn't a gun.

And the white continued to dull… it faded into…

Gray.

Thunder.

Something cold was hitting Roger's face.

Repeatedly.

"Uh!" With a wince, Roger tensed up before his eyes slowly started to open as he regained consciousness.

There was another low yet loud rumbling sound… for a moment he assumed it was a gun though why he had no idea.

Just seemed natural assumption for some reason.

Roger's eyes blinked only open halfway before he winced and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and managed to then open them all the way.

Water continued to fall onto his face.

"What the-"

More then a little disoriented Roger furrowed his eyebrows before grunting in pain and raising his hand up to shield his face from the assault of icy rain that was falling from the light gray sky, wincing as he did so.

Thunder rumbled again threatening a much louder attack of noise like before.

Ow…

Roger blinked up still squinting; even the gray seemed way to bright for his eyes. He was laying on the ground… the very hard ground, his head directly under a huge gaping hole of the ceiling (Wherever he was.) and it lead directly outside.

Where it was raining.

Wincing in annoyance at the pain coming from his eyes and at the dull stinging and throbbing sensation in the back of his head, Roger slowly rolled over out of the way of the falling icy droplets coming from above.

His head apparently did not like that course of action and decided to protest.

Vehemently.

A huge and sharp pain stabbed through his skull.

"Uh!" Roger's shoulders tensed up and he placed his hand on the back of his head as it throbbed, wincing he pulled his black gloved hand away after a moment and looked at it. He blinked surprised and pulled away slightly.

Blood stained the glove.

Though he couldn't see it some stained the collar of his white shirt as well, his jacket gone.

What?

Roger's mind cleared a little and what replaced it was confusion.

And a lot of it.

Lowering his hand to set on the ground Roger looked off to the side puzzled.

He was in a tunnel of some kind. Darkness stretched on seemingly forever down one side, looking down the other Roger could see light. (Well… dull light, it was completely cloudy outside after all.) Obviously the outside and entrance to this place.

This place…

Wait a minute!
It suddenly occurred to Roger where he was.

The subway tunnels.

Fallen debris from a disaster long forgotten was strewn all through out the tunnel… fallen beams, pieces of metal and chunks of concrete from the walls were all around; brown puddles of water were as well.

Knowing he was missing something Roger reached up and rubbed his still aching head looking around, confusion clear on his expression.

"What happened?" He asked out loud his voice echoing slightly.

Of course he didn't get a reply

!

Another rumble of thunder drew the negotiators attention upward behind him, several drops of cold water slid down his back from his hair.

Rain continued to fall behind him through the hole in the ceiling onto the ground where his head had been. He had obviously been laying there quite a while his entire head was soaking wet and freezing, his black hair hung limply, plastered to his head.

Looking upward for a few moments Roger turned back around and furrowed his eyebrows.

What the…?

How did I get here?

Rain was falling steadily creating a light mist all around. The entrance to the subway stood out clearly though, the blackness of it fuzzy in the mist.

From the darkness, Roger Smith slowly materialized as he walked out; he stopped at the very entrance though, still rubbing his aching head. He looked rather haggard considering his usual neat and tidy composed appearance.

Looking around a little the negotiator came to the conclusion that he was pretty much alone. The subway, the entrances and their tracks were always pretty much avoided by all people to afraid of the ghosts that rumored to hang around here.

Right.

Somewhat disoriented still but a little more clear then he was when he first woke up Roger was even more puzzled.

He wasn't in a part of Paradigm he recognized; judging by the run down and somewhat destroyed buildings around it was a rather poor part of it…

"How the heck did I get here?" Roger wondered out loud completely confused.

The rain continued to fall, and thunder rumbled once more.

Bing!

The elevator to the Smith mansion suddenly began moving.

R. Dorothy WayneWright was mopping the floor passing by it when the sound of the elevator moving/rising made her stop. Straightening up and watching with a completely devoid expression she waited for whoever it was to come. When the elevator reached the floor and stopped the gate was pulled away by the passenger.

Dorothy straightened up a little.

"Roger."

Despite how blank the stated name sounded, surprise could still be detected if one listened close enough, she just stared at Roger.

"R. Dorothy." Roger grunted sounding annoyed (At the situation.) and pained leaning against the elevator frame rubbing his head.

He did not look happy.

Roger had had to walk in the rain back here, he had looked around for a while but hadn't found the Griffin anywhere near the subway, he was perhaps more annoyed with that lose then anything else.

He was now thoroughly soaked.

"Roger." Dorothy repeated, this time concern was in undertone. That made Roger look up all the way and raise an eyebrow, before he could ask why she was staring at him (He really didn't think he looked that awful.) Norman suddenly walked out of a doorway holding a glass that he was busy wiping off with a rag. He stopped though when he suddenly saw Roger, his eye went wide with surprise and he lowered the two objects.

"Master Roger!" He exclaimed sounding extremely surprise almost dropping the rag and glass.

Roger looked at him surprised and knowing he was missing something as Norman and Dorothy stared back.

"Norman." He greeted slowly unsure as to what both their problems were. He looked at Dorothy then back at the butler a few times before raising his eyebrows.

"What's wrong?"

"THREE DAYS!"

Rain continued to fall steadily and heavily outside the Smith mansion with no sign of it letting up anytime soon.

Inside Dorothy calmly walked towards the living room; a single steaming cup and a teapot was balanced on a tray she carried. She entered the room moving to where Roger sat of the green sofa having changed into his big black bath robe and slippers, Norman was standing by the arm of it, a small stack of fluffy black towels held in his hands and an ice pack set on top of that.

A towel was wrapped around Roger's neck.

"I'm afraid so sir. Miss. Waynewright and myself were terribly worried! We feared the worst when you did not even call." Norman said mournfully as Dorothy stopped at the table and leaned over setting the tray down. Picking up the mug she turned and held it out to Roger who was looking rather shocked and didn't notice at first.

"You mean to tell me I've been gone for three days! How can that be possible!" Roger asked incredulously looking up at Norman, he suddenly noticed the mug and blinked turning to it, he reached out and took it and Dorothy pulled away.

"You were the one that was missing, shouldn't you know?" Dorothy asked in a matter of fact tone that made his question seem incredibly stupid.

Roger looked at her slightly annoyed and opened his mouth about to retort when he stopped suddenly when something occurred to him.

Actually… he really didn't know.

Pulling back slightly Roger seemed suddenly lost in thought as he considered looking away.

"I… uh, don't know actually." Roger said disconcerted.

"Sir?" Norman inquired looking down at his employer concerned.

Looking forward Roger thought for a moment, hunching over letting his elbows rest on his legs.

"I don't… remember any of it." Roger said slowly disturbed at this.

He had no memory of ever going to the subway or that part of Paradigm… no memory of when, why or how.

"Sir, not a single thing?" Norman was surprised.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Dorothy asked curiously still standing.

That was a good question.

The only problem was Roger didn't have a clear answer.

"I'm not sure." Roger squinted for a moment not thinking to hard since it hurt his head to do so. After a moment he finally looked up at Dorothy rubbing the back of his neck tiredly.

"The last clear thing I remember is being mad at you cause you broke that hourglass and completely messed up the order of my collection cleaning up all the sand!" He fumed slightly, feelings of complete irritation at that recollection surfacing again.

She had completely removed every single hourglass that had been set up on the table to clean up the sand and polish said table, then proceeded to put everything back on with complete disregard to the size, shape and amount of sand that was used to determine the order in which they were placed and where.

Roger had liked the order and spent an hour resetting everything back up.

He was still rather miffed over that.

Dorothy was staring down at him with a completely unreadable look; she was silent for a moment as if waiting for the negotiator to continue past that point.

He didn't.

"That happened a week ago." She stated bluntly when it became apparent that was as far as his memory extended.

"WHAT!" The negotiator let out a loud exclamation of disbelief. He looked at the android with a "get outta here" expression leaning back.

"Miss. Dorothy is correct sir! That indeed happened precisely one week ago today." Norman offered helpfully.

Roger turned and opened his mouth to thank Norman for that little helpful statement (Note the sarcasm.) when Dorothy monotone began speaking distracting him.

"If that is the last thing you clearly remember, then I suppose you don't recall the negotiation you were working on." Dorothy said already knowing the answer.

"What negotiation? The one with Wells and his families corporation?" Roger asked confused not sure how that was relevant.

Wells had been the black sheep of his family, some rich playboy that mostly spent all his father's money and expecting none of the work.

When his father passed away it was discovered he had no will, and the family had split the business the elder had founded, dividing it up to certain members leaving Wells out of the deal.

He in turn, went to Roger so he could negotiate a deal for him.

With such unbecoming manners as Wells had, Roger's first inclination had been to turn down the case.

Till he learned that he would be dealing with Wells lovely sister, who had been the main champion campaigning to leave he brother out in the cold.

Roger had come to terms; Wells ended up with a small percent of the company, but had to work (And work a lot.) in order to get any money from it.

A rather satisfying ending if he did say so himself.

"No, the one with Terrence Bentley."

"Terrence Bentley?" Roger echoed before raising his eyebrows. "Doesn't ring a bell." He commented. "I was negotiating with this guy?" He asked confused after a moment.

"No. You were negotiating with his brother, Terrence was your client." Dorothy explained simply.

"As a matter of fact sir, you were heading to Mr. Clarence's place with Mr. Bentley to negotiate. Unfortunately you never returned, until now that is." Norman added.

"Who's Clarence!" Roger asked exasperated completely lost again and not sure who he should be addressing the question to.

"Terrence's brother." Dorothy answered.

Roger hung his head slumping slightly.

"I think I'm getting another headache." He groaned.

Okay, Terrence Bentley had been Roger's client… and it was his clients brother Clarence Bentley he had been negotiating with? This was just plain confusing to hear being explained back to him.

Yet…

Yet he couldn't for the life of him remember the man or the negotiation let alone anything pertaining to it.

Why?

What happened?

The mug was forgotten having been set on the coffee table, holding his head in his hands Roger was suddenly struck with the most disturbing and disconnected feeling he had ever had in his entire life.

A week… but how can that…

As hard as he tried Roger couldn't remember anything past that hourglass incident. He could fuzzily remember finishing organizing everything back properly… but that was it.

Literally.

A whole week had gone by and he had no idea what had happened during it or what he had done.

The prospect was almost frightening.

Almost.

Roger had enough composure not to say he felt necessarily scared at the huge memory gap, but it was rather… well, disturbing.

Norman picked up the ice bag by the handle and set it down on the back of Roger's head, balancing it do it would stay. "Perhaps Master Roger we should call a doctor, you may have a concussion." Norman said concerned straightening up.

"No thanks Norman," Roger sighed sliding his hand back through his already messy hair to hold the ice pack in place, he rolled his head up a little to look at Dorothy unhappily. "What I'd really like is an explanation as to what the heck happened!"

"I only know a little about your negotiation, you never told me anything specific." Dorothy said blankly with her usual dower expression.

"Well right at this moment you know about ten times more then I do." Roger said slightly irritated, though not at the android herself. "Mind giving me a heads up?"

"If you will pardon me sir, I shall see to your wardrobe." Norman said politely with a small bow seeing as which this was a discussion he didn't particularly have to be a part of. Turning and soundlessly walking away with the stack of towels, Roger only spared the butler a glance before looking back at Dorothy after a moment.

He raised an eyebrow sitting up.

"Well?"

"What do you wish to know?" Dorothy asked.

"Lets start with this client of mine I apparently had." Roger said wincing as he pushed the ice pack a tad bit harder against his head to try and stop it from pounding so much. He gestured slightly to a big easy chair on the side of the coffee table as he spoke.

Dorothy turned and headed to the chair; stopping in front of it she then turned back around and sat down with no expression.

Roger waited patiently while she was sat down; thunder suddenly rumbled again making Roger look at the windows where water was running down the glass so much it blurred the view.

"Never did like the rain." He sighed watching it. "Its depressingly appropriate. Been pouring much since I've been gone?"

Roger didn't know why he was asking but none the less felt like inquiring.

"Yes." Dorothy answered simply not seeing any need to elaborate, with another sigh Roger finally reverted his attention back to the original subject after another moment.

Gotta get started sometime.

"So this guy Terrence… when did I take on his case?" Roger asked rubbing the ice pack around a little.

"Five days ago."

Five Days Ago.

/Ding dong!

Releasing the doorbell Terrence stepped back pushing his oversized glasses up higher on his nose as he looked around nervously, he held a brief case in one hand, and a file was tucked under the same arm. A full minute passed and he was about to ring the bell again when the huge looming door suddenly opened up a little.

Norman looked out and Terrence straightened up instantly.

"Hello, um… is this Roger Smith's home?" He asked tentatively and uneasily.

"Yes it is." Norman said opening the door a little more. "May I ask who is calling?"

"Um…" Terrence shifted guiltily and looked over his shoulder quickly. His nervous and jittery manner made Norman give him a curious and odd look raising his eyebrows ever so slightly in surprise.

How odd.

"My name is Terrence Bentley." The man said looking back at him. "I'm… I'm afraid I don't have an appointment but… if Mr. Smith could… perhaps see me. I… I wish to hire him. Please."

Terrence looked over his shoulder again then back at Norman, which just heightened the butler's curiosity, he was to professional to say anything though.

"I'm sorry Mr. Bentley." Norman said sincerely sounding apologetic. "But I'm afraid Master Roger specifically requested that he not be disturbed today-"

"PLEASE!"

Norman's explanation was cut off by Terrence's wild cry. He blinked caught off guard by the urgency in the other man's voice.

Terrence was looking visibly panicked, his eyes were wide and looking around wildly, he was even sweating in what was very cool and pleasant outside temperature.

He took a quick step forward even leaning towards the door.

"Please! I have to see Mr. Smith!" Terrence cried desperately. "I really need a negotiator! I'll pay anything! I'll pay double! Triple!"

Norman eyed Terrence Bentley for a moment silently trying to decide what it could possibly be that was agitating this man so and if Master Roger should be bothered with it. Normally he wouldn't even be considering but Terrence looked so frightened and panicked it made him rethink twice.

Frowning slightly Norman turned to look over his shoulder inside the mansion.

Master Roger would undoubtedly be irritated at Norman if he brought the irate man in, Roger didn't like to take walk in clients. He only reconsidered if it was the elderly, or if the walk in was a female.

This Terrence Bentley certainly didn't fit in either of those categories.

Still…

The man looked so desperate, even frightened about something.

Looking back at him Norma sighed deeply before nodding once.

"Ah very well sir, please come in." He said stepping back.

Terrence instantly perked up.

"Terrence Bentley…" Roger said the name slowly sounding amused slightly, he raised the teacup up towards his mouth but paused longer enough to speak. "I've heard quite a bit about you recently. Seems you've been bugging the Military Police a lot, Major Dastun's mentioned you a few times on some of my visits." Roger took a small drink before lowering the cup back onto the small plate and looked at Terrence with a slight smirk. "I'm afraid none of its been particularly flattering though."

Terrence and Roger both sat in the living room opposite from one another. Terrence wasn't looking up, (Matter of fact he hadn't looked up at all even when introduced.) his brief case setting flat on his lap and his own teacup setting on that. He was nervously turning the cup on its plate continuously with his long fingers.

"Yes well," He said, his voice noticeably wavering all the time as he spoke. "I'm afraid that the Military Police haven't been taking me seriously, and it's quite an important matter you see. Major Dastun referred me to you."

I'm going to have to thank Dastun for that one, Roger thought wirily watching the strange man continue to rotate the teacup but never drink it. Terrence was sweating nervously and everything in his manner spoke of someone who was paranoid, he kept darting glances all around as if expecting someone to jump out at him.

Weather or not that paranoia was warranted was another thing though.

Roger's initial irritation at Norman for letting the man in was still somewhat present, but the butler's insistence to see the man and now watching Terrence's strange behavior stirred some curiosity.

"Y-you see, I really need your help. I heard you were the top negotiator in Paradigm."

"Yes, that's true."

Outside the living room, just to the side of the entryway out of sight, Dorothy was busy cleaning a hanging mirror as Terrence continued to speak, despite how soft it was she could still hear their voices.

"As such Mr. Smith, I wish to hire your services. If you're as good as everyone says you are then maybe I just might have a chance."

Roger looked at Terrence carefully for another moment, he finally closed his eyes setting the teacup on the plate leaning forward and setting it down.

"I'm afraid regardless of what you've heard Mr. Bentley, I don't usually take walk in clients. I prefer things to be done professionally you see-" Roger started and was cut off rather rudely much like Norman had.

"YOU HAVE TO!"

Raising an eyebrow slightly Roger leaned back, Terrence had instantly jerked upright to look at the negotiator for the first time. He did so abruptly the teacup was jarred rather violently sending tan liquid splashing onto the leather of the briefcase.

Terrence didn't notice.

"Mr. Smith! You have to help me out! I don't have any other choice! NO ONE will help me! If it's a question of money or time I can pay well!"
Surprised by the urgency and frantic manner Terrence was displaying Roger leaned back again.

"You don't understand! I need to get it back! Its rightfully mine!" He cried desperately.

"What is?" Roger asked confused.

"THE MEGA DUCE!"

"What!" Roger gasped staring at him truly shocked.

A mega duce!

Terrence was looking even more nervous and wild, his eyes darted around quickly and he pushed his glasses up so far so fast they almost went into his head.

"This is a secret alright! You won't speak of it to anyone right!" Terrence demanded.

"Of course. What's said here remains here, everything is strictly confidential." Roger conceded. Even if he didn't take a case he never spoke to anyone what a person wanted to hire him for.

"You swear!"

"Yes."

That seemed to pacify Terrence for a moment; he tugged at his collar gulping as if it were too tight. Roger leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees, lacing his fingers together and resting his chin against them.

"Now what was this about a mega duce Mr. Bentley?" He prodded curiosity aroused and slightly suspicious. "You want me to negotiate to get you one?"

"No! That's not it!" Terrence said quickly. He hesitated and cleared his throat tugging at his collar again, Roger waited patiently as the other man looked at him again. "You see… this wasn't exactly… legal. At least… I'm not sure it was."

"Go on."

Terrence looked down shoulder's hunching chewing on his lower lip.

"I… I have a brother Mr. Smith. A twin brother. His name is Clarence, we… I…" Agitated and having trouble beginning Terrence leaned forward setting his briefcase on the coffee table, teacup still on it. He quickly stood and walked away from the area towards the large windows Roger watching him as he went, folding his arms across his chest Terrence was silent for a moment.

"My brother and I… we… we are researchers of sorts. We try and research the past. Humans must learn from history or it is doomed to repeat itself, but if we can't remember our history, how can we learn not to make the same mistakes? Perhaps even the one that cause the event… whatever it may be… that happened forty years ago?"

"True." Roger agreed with a nod watching Terrence carefully.

A researcher of the past hmm?

"Well…" Terrence turned to look at him still nervous and shaking slightly from that. "We… Clarence and I… we don't exactly get along but we still worked with one another. We sometimes went into the underground subway system… to try and find clues and perhaps map out the routes to see where they lead to and what they where. Well… three years ago, on one of these trips… we found something."
"What was it?" Roger asked furrowing his eyebrows.

Terrence suddenly clenched his fits so tight in front of his chest they began to tremble from the force; he had a slightly detached expression on his face.

"A mega duce." He said dreamily in an eerie tone.

"Clarence and I stumbled onto the most powerful thing human's have ever created. A huge piece of the past, completely preserved for forty years… almost in perfect condition."

"You found it?" Roger asked in sheer disbelief eyes wide.

"Yes, it was a valuable and unimaginable discovery! To think… to come across something of unrelenting power… and by accident to! Luck doesn't begin to describe what a bout of fortune that was." Terrence was silent for a moment turning away, Roger's attention was complexly on his story now.

"Did you tell anyone about it?" Roger asked.

"NO!" Terrence said a little to vehemently, he calmed though. "I mean… it was just to important, Paradigm would just try and bury it again or take it away! Can you imagine what secrets to the past it held! Secrets that we deserve to know!"

Terrence sighed. "Clarence and I… we began studying it secretly. We wanted to know how it worked, how to operate it."

Roger was silent but at that he narrowed his eyes slightly squinting.

He and his brother had been trying to operate an unknown mega duce? That didn't sound like a very smart idea… these two had stumbled upon an ancient and what could potentially be a very dangerous relic. With no idea what they were doing or the type of weapons it possessed they tried to study it?

Roger could understand trying to find out what happened and understand the past but…

That was an extremely dangerous way of going about it.

"And did you?" Roger asked suspiciously.

Terrence was silent before nodding; the strange glint was back in his eyes. "Yes. It took three years to get it unburied fully and restore the systems that had been damaged, and along the way, memories began to unlock themselves."

"Memories?" Roger asked concerned.

"Yes!" Terrence breathed out. "Memories! Its strange, I don't know how its possible…" Terrence looked at Roger. "But… It was like deja'vu, once we got started we couldn't stop! I was drawn to complete it! Everything started to fall and piece itself together. I knew how to repair the systems, how to fix the problems, and once we started… began to recall how you work it."
Roger slowly straightened up as Terrence began agitated again, pacing back and forth heading back to the coffee table.

"It was incredible! The sheer power this thing had! You can't begin to imagine just how so!" He cried.

"May I ask what you mean?"

Terrence stopped opposite of a sitting Roger and looked down at him almost irritated.

"This mega duce… its nothing like what Paradigm has seen before! It has systems… features and weapons that may be more powerful then even the black mega duce!" Terrence said, referring to Big O.

Roger raised an eyebrow.

Terrence bit his lip looking furious looking off to the side again wringing his hands.

"While… I may posses the skill and knowledge of how to pilot and operate the mega duce we found, I never trusted Clarence and never told him about it. But it seems Clarence himself… had some secrets of his own." Terrence said darkly sounding very furious.

"What do you mean?" Roger said leery at the sudden personality changes that shifted wildly through Terrence, to him he seemed really on edge.

Terrence looked at him furious and let out a little laugh.

"Twins… they tend to think and act alike." He said, bitter of the irony of that.

Roger understood.

"Ah, Clarence… he had the same memories?" Roger asked tilting his head.

"I don't know exactly what he knows or recalls… but it was enough to know how to take it!" He growled in a deadly tone.

"Take it!"

"YES!" Terrence barked looking at him enraged… though it was really directed towards his brother. "He STOLE it! My very own brother took MY mega duce! Mine! Do you understand! It was destined to be MINE! Not his! I was the one chosen to have it! It was I who found it first!" Terrance ran his hands through his hair frazzled. "He took it, the mega duce it always left where I found it, it was in a huge underground tavern. In order to reach it you have to go through a very complicated route. A month ago, I went down there… and it was gone."
Calming somewhat by taking a deep breath Terrence continued to wring his hands.

"Clarence and I…" He began with forced restraint. "We never had the best relationship, despite what people tell you not all twins have some great and wonderful bond." He said the word mockingly. "While we may loathe one another we still work together cause we shared common interest. Until now…"

"And you think he took it?"

"I KNOW he took it!" Terrence cried vehemently. "He is the only one who would know how to operate it in order to remove it!"
"No offense Mr. Bentley," Roger said falling back against the couches back looking up at him calm, resting his elbow on the back of the seat allowing his arm to hang over. "But where exactly would… Clarence? Remove this mega duce to? Something like that would be rather noticeable, even to Paradigm officials."

"Mr. Smith!" Terrence snapped indeed offended, though Roger couldn't begin to imagine why.(It had been a logical question.) "I've spent years documenting and mapping the underground subway station, so has Clarence! He can easily find a place deep underground to hide such a thing even of that size!" Terrence dropped his hands, shoulders slumping and head hanging down depressed. "And that's just what he did."

"He hid it." Roger stated carefully.

"Yes. He took it without my knowledge and has stored it somewhere. The only problem is, the subway is such a large and vast place. I've spent weeks going through it all and have been unable to locate it."

"Why would Clarence take it to begin with?" Roger asked rationally watching as Terrence turned and miserably began pacing again slowly, arms head and shoulders still limp. "Its not like he can show it off to anyone, the Military Police certainly wouldn't sit by and let him or the two of you own it either…"

"DON'T YOU GET IT!" Terrence suddenly snarled furious again, Roger was slightly irked by that remark and all the interruptions. After all… Terrence may have been stressed but it was no reason not to still use common manners.

He was… after all… trying to understand everything. He could be a little more polite.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HE COULD DO WITH THE MEGA DUCE! A mega duce is power Mr. Smith!" Terrence suddenly looked far off. "And power holds the key to everything in this world, and can get you anything."

He was abruptly back again and looked at Roger.

"Clarence refuses to tell me where it is. And I cannot locate it… not with a vast a place such as the subway. Clarence has his own way of getting around there, and his own places that I don't know about." Terrence became agitated again. "Threatening him is useless, and following him is futile. I can't go to Paradigm for help! They would just take the mega duce away if they found it!"

"You want me to negotiate with Clarence to give you the mega duce back?" Roger asked sounding disbelieving.

"I want you to negotiate to get me half!" Terrence growled.

"Half?" Roger repeated in disbelief. What good was half of a mega duce!

"Yes! You see…" Terrence quickly scrambled to explain. "We are very terribly suspicious of one another, when we found the mega duce we worked out a system to ensure neither of us would pull something. You need an access code in order to properly operate the mega duce or it just won't work, so we split the access code. You need two codes in this case to even get the power started and the systems active, one from each of us. And we never told the other what our code was. That way we both would have to be present to test the mega duce." Terrence let out a bitter laugh looking down and straightening his glasses. "Obviously that method didn't work. I can't begin to imagine how he figured out what my code was but…" He trailed off and never finished sighing.

"You think if you can get access to half the mega duce… you'll be able to fully take all of it." Roger said insightfully having already guessed Terrence's ulterior motive.

Terrence shifted his weight and looked guilty at Roger who stared back at him unwavering.

That was it.

Terrence knew it would be impossible for Roger to negotiate for the entire mega duce, you couldn't possibly expect to ask anyone or work a deal for something of that importance. Terrence may have wanted half the access he had had before, but once he had it he was gonna find a way to take the entire thing from his brother. Whatever hair thin odd and fragile suspicious trust they had for one another was obviously gone with Clarence's betrayal. (Though from what he had heard about the two it seemed to him something like this was bound to happen.) There was no way the two would be able to work with one another ever again.

There was silence for a moment as Terrence shifted his weight again nervously.

"Mr. Smith, Clarence simply can't be allowed to posses the mega duce." He finally said sounding wary from everything.

"This is not just about petty feelings of having something so precious to you stolen by the person you hate the most and being unable to get it back… the fact of the matter is… Clarence will use the mega duce." Terrence looked at Roger. "Power is meant to be used." He stressed.

Power…

Roger didn't respond, he looked down slightly… the saying striking a cord within him that he didn't like.

That was true.

Dorothy finished polishing the mirror crystal clear before leaned down slightly dropping the cloth into a plain metal bucket set on the floor.

"Will you help me Mr. Smith?"

"Negotiating is a delicate job… to negotiate I try to reach a compromise between the two parties. Its more then simply talking someone into giving you what you want. Both parties have to be considered."

Picking up the bucket Dorothy turned and walked away down the hall as Terrence's voice raised again in a hysterical agitated reply.

Since she was already moving away and the two were in a different room the heated response was muffled and inaudible.

(((That's it? That's all you heard?)))

|||Yes. I don't eavesdrop on your meetings, but you did continue to speak with Terrence for another hour or so before he finally left…|||

A light fog had started to gather outside, as Terrence headed out of the mansion he walked down the steps and stood right on the sidewalk for a moment. Looking around shrewdly (And eerily calm compared to how he had arrive.) he pushed the glasses up on his face before tucking the file he had been carrying under his arm some before, turning and walking away… slowly fading and disappearing into the fog.

Inside Roger stood in front of a hallway mirror straightening his tie. Off to the side the elevator could be heard rising up to the top floor.

Dorothy came up holding a mop. She stood watching silently for a moment as Roger continued to try and perfectly straighten the tie out.

"Did you take the job?" She asked sounding like she probably could care less either way, but she really was curious.

"Yep." Roger said easily with a nod not bothering to look over. "Matter of fact, I'm heading off to see someone who might be able to help right now."

Dorothy continued to watch him for a moment as he finished.

"Why did you take it? He wasn't a very polite man." She stated finding this unusual since it seemed it went against Roger's policy.

"Normally I wouldn't, considering his attitude and some of the more colorful things I've heard Dastun say of him, but I'm making an exception in this case." Satisfied Roger straightened up pulling his hands away from his tie and tugged on his coat front before turning and looking at Dorothy who didn't look affected at all by his neatness.

"Why?"

"Because. As much as I don't appreciate Terrence's manners, its what he wants me to negotiate for that holds my interest." Turning around Roger stuck his hands in his pockets heading towards the elevator, Dorothy stayed where she was watching him carefully. Stopping in front of the gate Roger pulled out a hand and pressed the button again so it would hopefully move faster before turning slightly to look over at Dorothy.

"These two have come across something that shouldn't be viewed so lightly or so greedily as they seem to be taking it. Sounds like Clarence and Terrence are the equivalent of two five year olds fighting over a toy, the only problem is this so called toy could literally blow up in their faces if they aren't extremely careful. And neither of them sounds like they are remotely responsible enough to handle a mega duce."

"So… what are you going to do?"

"What I'm paid to do. Get Terrence access to half of it again."

The elevator binged signaling its arrival and Roger turned to it pushing the gate aside, he then stepped inside and turned around looking at Dorothy.
"I have a feeling I'm conveniently not being told a lot of important facts in regards to this case. There seem to be a lot of holes in Terrence Bentley's story, and he doesn't want to share much information regarding this mega duce he wants so desperately to get his hands on." Sliding the gate shut Roger still managed to see Dorothy through the spaces and vise versa. The negotiator had folded his arms across his chest as he stood there.

"I'm not quite sure how I'm going to negotiate a compromise between the two, or for that matter what to do about the actual mega duce itself. But if these two are anything alike, they are the last people who should have found and kept a mega duce."

With that said the elevator autoably switched gears and then began to descend taking Roger with it. Dorothy watched as he disappeared under the floor before turning and walking off.

(((Who was I going to see?)))

|||You didn't say. Nor did you say what you were told. But, over the next two days you did grow frustrated with your client.|||

The melody slowly died off beautifully, Dorothy was about to go into another song when-

"NORMAN!"

Stopping, Dorothy straightened up and turned, the slight hum of internal gears moving could be barely heard.

She stared at the door from her seat at the piano.

"NOOOOOOOORMAN!"

Roger's bellow was louder as he went stomping through the hallways muttering loudly obviously furious. He yanked violently at his tie loosening it growling.

Dorothy appeared in a doorway watching him as he past to irate to notice her. She didn't bother saying anything watching as Norman came up to Roger at the end of the hallway.

"Yes sir?" The butler asked curious but calm.

"Will you PLEASE get me something to drink? These two are driving me INSANE!" Roger said positively livid throwing his tie at Norman who caught it easily.

"Negotiations not going well sir?" The elder asked as Roger unbuttoned his cuffs.

"That's an understatement!" Roger muttered loudly sounding disgusted.

"Things must be bad sir if you are this upset." Norman observed.

Roger yanked an arm out of his jacket with a sour expression.

"When I originally took this case I thought that at least ONE of these two could show a little bit of maturity and professionalism!"
"I take it then sir, that they showed neither?" Norman asked raising an eyebrow.

"Between Terrence's erratic behavior and Clarence's cold and condescending attitude I don't know which is worse. Every time Clarence refuses to reach any kind of term, Terrence always becomes hysterical and acts crazed shouting threats! You'd literally think he was insane, he's becoming so unstable I don't think I can permit him to come along on negotiations." Roger pulled his other arm out of his coat and handed it over to Norman who took it calmly, folding it over his arm.

"Meanwhile Clarence refuses any kind of offer… what little we can offer." Roger sighed. "I'm afraid Terrence is right about one thing, since Clarence now has the mega duce and with no way of tracing where it is, we have nothing to offer that will be enough to equal that. And he refuses any sort of reasonable deal."

"Well Master Roger, perhaps tomorrow will be a better day." Norman offered as Roger walked past him, the butler trailing behind.

"Doubtful." Roger muttered as the two disappeared around a corner.

Dorothy stood there for a moment staring at where they left before turning around and walking away.

|||You didn't say anything else about the negotiation. But I do know that you visited the Military Police at least once, you learned something about Paradigm and the two brothers and were suspicious. The day you disappeared, you were going to Clarence's home…|||

Roger walked up off the last steps that ascended into the second dinning room in the mansion. As he did Dorothy came from up ahead carrying a few plates with a couple wine glasses balanced on them, heading towards the bare table. She seemingly ignored Roger and was almost at the table when the negotiator spoke up, sticking his hand into a black glove.

"Don't bother setting a place for me Dorothy," He said smoothly with a small smirk. "I'm not going to be around long enough to eat."

Dorothy had started to lean over slightly to set the plates down but when Roger spoke she straightened up looking at him.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

"I'm heading over to Clarence's home in a last attempt to get him to negotiate some kind of terms."

"Last attempt? You mean you won't be continuing if you don't reach any kind of terms tonight?" Dorothy asked still holding the plates; inwardly she was slightly surprised though she didn't show it.

"Most likely. There's only so much even I can do, when you negotiate your supposed to put all your cards on the table. Unfortunately I don't have a good hand to show and Clarence has all the trump cards that he absolutely refuses to put down."

"What about the mega duce?" Dorothy reminded him.

Roger sighed slightly putting a hand on his hip and the other on the end of the stairway banister leaning against it.

"To tell you the truth I'm not to sure what I'm going to do about that. At this point I'm starting to wonder if the thing even exists at all." He snorted. "These two are so unbelievable, but considering some of the disturbing things I've heard about both a chance is the last thing that should be taken."

"Disturbing?"

Dorothy picked up on that word but Roger didn't seem to be listening. He suddenly looked down lifting his hand looking at the watch on his wrist lifting his eyebrows.

"Well, gotta go." He said noting the time. Straightening up and turning around he began heading back down the stairs.

He raised his arm up and waved though over his shoulder.

"See you later Dorothy. Wish me luck." He called out before disappearing below the floor./

Lightening suddenly flashed making the room flare white for a split second.

Roger was distracted by it.

Dorothy had paused for a moment in her recollections but stopped completely seeing Roger wasn't listening, she stared at him seeing he was looking over at the large windows before slowly turning her head to look at the glass.

She didn't really see what was so fascinating.

Roger continued to stare at the window suddenly engrossed in a feeling of overwhelming familiarity that was rapidity growing…

Lightening flashed again and thunder rumbled…

Light…

Fireflies…

{{{The mega duce reared back spreading its arms threatening… as it did a bright light exploded from its middle… so burningly bright it could blind a person permanently… a high pitched shriek blasted out from the light…

!}}}

Lightening flared again suddenly ripping Roger away from the memory making him jump slightly and wince away from the light, he raised his free hand up to block out the flashing white turning away sourly.

He really did not like storms.

He suddenly noticed and remembered Dorothy.

"Huh? Oh, sorry R. Dorothy." He said.

"That's alright." Dorothy said blankly as he finally focused back on the original subject.

Roger pinched the bridge of his nose pulling the ice pack away since the coolness seemed to just make his head hurt worse, he sighed.

"What happened after that?" He asked having a difficult time focusing on Dorothy's story and trying to figure out what he just either saw or remembered.

It was all so confusing.

"Nothing. You didn't come back until today." Dorothy stated simply, completely wrapping up the story in seven words.

Roger stared at her, hand still held over the side of his face slightly.

That was it?
"That's it?" He asked incredulously.

"Yes."
"You don't know anything more?"

"No. You were the one gone-"
"And since I was I should know what I did. I know." Roger sighed lowering his hand.

Valid point… yet he seemed to be suffering from the one actually excusable thing to keep from saying what he did.

Amnesia.

"But why?" Roger murmured out loud staring downward at the coffee table, watching the steam from the mug he had set down rise into the air hypnotically.

There was silence for a moment; Dorothy was giving him a moment to think before telling him the other news.

"Terrence has also disappeared." Dorothy said out of the blue making Roger's head shot up instantly.

"HUH!"

"He hasn't been seen for three days either. The only difference is… no one has reported him missing."

"Why not!" Roger asked shocked.

"Because, Terrence didn't know anyone. He doesn't have any friends, associates or family aside from his brother, and according to the Military Police, Clarence hasn't filed a missing persons report. So… according to them, he isn't missing. He just hasn't been seen since." Despite Dorothy's matter of fact tone there was a certain sense of sarcastic irony present in the wording.

There was Paradigm thinking for you, the Military Police wouldn't (Or couldn't.) do anything unless a report was filed on someone who was gone. With no report there would be no action taken for a search or investigation.

"Well what about Clarence?" Roger demanded energy renewed leaning forward even more.

"He denies any knowledge of his dealings with you or his brother. He claims he doesn't even know you and that you never even negotiated with him." Dorothy informed him.

WHAT!

Instant realization suddenly struck Roger and his eyes widened leaning back.

"And… there's no proof… I even did." He realized out loud.

"What do you mean?" Dorothy asked puzzled looking at Roger closely.

"From what you've told me," Roger said slowly while thinking. "This guy Clarence has an air tight claim. If no side in the negotiation was ever reached before I… we disappeared, and with my so called client still missing there's no one to say other wise is there?"

"Don't you keep a record of your negotiations?" Dorothy asked reasonably.

"That's just it, no matter what paperwork I present without a client there to verify anything its useless unless it can be directly linked to who I was negotiating with."

And with Terrence officially not missing by Paradigm standards, Roger didn't have reason to complain… but with Terrence conveniently not around to confirm or deny he was the negotiator's client, the evidence was all on Clarence's side.

Clarence…

Roger mused for a moment rubbing his chin thoughtfully before looking up.

"Hey, Dorothy." He grunted. "Do you know where this Clarence Bentley lives?"

"Yes. What are you going to do?"

Roger leaned back and lifted an arm reaching behind his head, he pressed his fingers against his hair and winced again slightly pulling them back. There was a faint smear of blood on two of his fingers showing it was only bleeding if pressed hard. Upon examination Roger had found there was a long cut there, it wasn't a gash or anything of that sort but a clean slice. It had luckily stopped bleeding by the time he had gotten back home.

Roger rubbed his fingers together slowly and looked back at Dorothy.

"I think I'll just pay Mr. Bentley a little visit. We'll see if it'll jog his memory." Roger said making it sound like a promise that Clarence would tell the truth when he got there. And as far as Roger was concerned he would… normally the negotiator liked to think he had a great deal of patience and courtesy, but given the events (Or rather lack there of considering he couldn't remember the events.) he wanted to know what happened.

Clarence may have been able to deny any involvement, but Roger was more inclined to believe Dorothy over him.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Dorothy asked as Roger scooted forward getting ready to stand up.

She was referring to the visit.

Unfortunately before he could respond-

"Master Roger."

Stopping immediately Roger looked over his shoulder half turning on the edge of the sofa, not expecting to hear the accented and cultured voice call out. Dorothy looked past him as well to Norman, who stood in the doorway with a somber and serious expression on his face.

"Norman?" Roger asked concerned furrowing his eyebrows wondering what was wrong.

"I'm afraid sir… that you and Mr. Terrence… were' not the only ones who disappeared."

"Approximately three days ago at eight thirty four p.m. Big O was summoned to the east side of Paradigm. The prairie dog had been deployed per request thirty minutes earlier. Four hours later, the prairie dog returned on its own… but there was nothing in it."

As Norman spoke, he walked slowly down the catwalk, his shoes echoed slightly in the empty facility.

Behind him Roger followed slowly followed by Dorothy.

The negotiator wasn't even listening though.

He was to shocked to hear or notice anything except to stare off to the side upwards…

At empty space.

Empty space where Big O should have been and on stand down.

Instead, the huge warehouse like facility that was a hidden part of the mansion was completely and utterly empty. The locks that kept Big O secure and connections/plugs that fed the mega duce extra power were bare.

The cat walk the three were currently walking on was the normal one Norman's used to get into Big O's piloting area where Roger normally sat, it was level right where the rose colored glass platting of the mega duce would have been, allowing the butler easy access.

Had it been there.

Never in his life had Roger even been shocked or horrified into stunned silence, now though… he could hardly even acknowledge Norman's presence let alone what he was saying. He stared upward with wide uncomprehending eyes mouth parted slightly in disbelief in a most undignified and unusual manner for him.

Big O…

Norman stopped halfway down the catwalk and turned around slowly to face Roger who stopped but still stared off to the side.

"Big O's auxiliary systems are still functioning sir, as a matter of fact all systems according to the computers seem to still be working wherever it is. It is odd to note however, the systems seem to be on a power and locked down mode. I am unable to access anything or locate it but where ever it may be it is still intact and seems to be in good condition… internally that is."

Norman was looking at Roger sympathetically with a touch of sadness in his eyes to soften the blow; he fell silent watching the negotiators reactions carefully gauging his emotions. Dorothy also seemed to be watching him but mainly out of curiosity to his reactions rather then concern… not that Norman knew she didn't care. She just didn't understand how important Big O had become and was to Master Roger.

Almost fifteen seconds of tense silence passed, Dorothy tilted her head slightly looking at Roger with a dower expression noting he didn't look like he was gonna say anything.

"Roger?" She asked wondering if he was alright… he looked strange.

"What… happened?" Roger growled out through clenched teeth, never taking his dark eyes away.

Fists clenched so hard they were trembling slightly Roger's breathing had increased slightly, anger (A feeling Roger very rarely felt on the level he was now.) beginning to slowly grow like a balloon inside him.

Norman was careful but truthful eyeing Roger.

"The day you vanished sir, there was a reported disturbance on the east side. As you know, that particular area of Paradigm is merely run down or destroyed buildings of the old city, only a few smaller domes are present in that area. Citizens from there' reported two mega duce's battling. One was Big O… the other though… was of unknown origin."

Roger's breathing slowly increased a little more as anger continued to build the more Norman explained.

He couldn't remember a thing… and now Big O was gone…

"And?… What HAPPENED?" Roger ground out furious.

"We don't know." Dorothy suddenly stated, most likely thinking Roger's furious growl had meant he was angry with Norman and was trying to stress this point so he wouldn't be.

"You don't KNOW?" Roger repeated slowly tensing up even more, barely managing to contain his anger.

How could he NOT know? It was Norman's job TO have knowledge of these things, he was supposed to make sure Big O reached the destination Roger wanted it to and to keep track of it…

Roger knew it really wasn't fair to expect and slightly blame his old friend, but at the moment there were way to many questions that were unanswered and now…

Big O was gone.

IT WAS GONE!

"I'm very sorry sir, but I'm afraid I do not." Norman said mournfully fully understanding. He was silent for a moment to take a look where the mega duce would have been before looking back at its pilot who continued to stare at the bare platform.

"I do know though, that at ten o four p.m Big O received a very large and very powerful electrical shock, which shorted its computer systems. The systems continued to overload for seven minutes… during which time I tried summoning you on communications but you never responded nor could I ever get a clear view or signal. But I did manage to barely make out that you were indeed still inside Big O."

"I was?" Roger asked in a slightly more controlled voice.

Electrical shock?

"Yes."
"That happened immediately after that bright light suddenly showed." Dorothy abruptly said/offered out of the blue making Roger finally tear his eyes away to look at her.

"Bright light?" He demanded instantly.

"Yes… I was in the kitchen cleaning up when it happened." Dorothy stated.

/Dorothy pulled a plate out of the sink full of bubbly soapy water, she held it over the water letting the liquid drip off before shaking it slightly, turning and setting it down onto the counter where a towel was laid flat on it. That done she picked up another slightly wet and smaller towel beginning to dry it off.

An explosion of light made her stop.

Pure white and bright light suddenly flooded the kitchen from the window behind Dorothy.

It wasn't like the kitchen lights being turned on… this was beyond bright; lighting up everything so clearly there were literally no shadows anywhere.

And that was just from the window alone.

Turning around Dorothy turned to look at the glass, nothing but glaring white was all that could be seen.

She stared at it for a moment with no expression.

That was… well…

Unusual.

A few minutes later Dorothy slowly walked outside onto the roof of the Smith mansion, she stared upwards at where the night sky should have been.

But the sky was white… not black.

Dorothy hadn't been able to locate Norman so she had decided to see exactly what was causing such brightness. Looking around she finally turned a little to glimpse off to the right.

There.

Very very far off in the distance, seemed to be the point of origin. Since Dorothy wasn't human looking directly at the light didn't burn her eyes but she could see where it was shinning the brightest. There was a seemingly dull roaring sound, as if something had exploded and the full whooshing sound of it was going through the city. The only difference was though; it was a constant and steady ongoing sound.

Dorothy continued to stare wondering what it was.

|||It only lasted for three minutes.|||

SHEEEEEEOW!

The light abruptly seemed to flare… if possible… even brighter for a brief moment before abruptly turning off.

The sudden reverse of brightness and sound was slightly unbalancing even to Dorothy, blinking once and slowly looking away from the side she had been watching she blinked again to get her eyes to readjust.

The deathly silence that hovered in the aftermath for a moment was slowly… slowly broken when Dorothy became aware of the sounds of car horns honking wildly, obviously the light had completely thrown everyone and there may have even been a few (If not a lot more.) accidents. But even those sounds were slightly muted compared to the roaring windy sound that had just been present.

Dorothy's eyes slowly adjusted to the sudden darkness and everything came back into view, when it did she turned again slightly to look once more where the light had been coming from.

But… there was… nothing.

Through the spaces between large crumbling buildings where the light had been brightest Dorothy couldn't see anything. At least… nothing that could have caused… whatever that had been.

Dorothy continued to watch with absolutely no expression though she continued to try and think of what it could possibly have been.

Nothing seemed to have been affected by it.

A slight gust of warm wind suddenly began to gently blow, making Dorothy's hair and dark dress sway off towards the side slowly, she continued to watch the direction where the light had burned.

Behind her above, one by one the stars in the sky began to return.

(((That's it?))) /

Roger was staring at Dorothy incredulously.

She merely returned the gaze evenly.

"Yes." She said bluntly.

"The Military Police are currently investigating the cause for the occurrence," Norman explained drawing Roger's attention as he turned to look at him. "No one knows what possible reason the light could have been for, it didn't affect anything… well, save for creating a few hundred car accident's."

Roger was silent as he looked back to where Big O's face should have been, gritting his teeth slightly Roger walked to the end of the catwalk and put his hands on the rail leaning over slightly looking down thinking still fuming. There was silence for a moment as Normal allowed Roger to digest the newest bits of information before speaking.

"Miss. Dorothy is right though sir. It is entirely too much of a coincidence that that light showed on that exact same night you were battling that mega duce and Big O experienced that short out during it. No computer systems through the city though were affected the way Big O's were."
"What about that other mega duce?" Roger growled out not looking at the butler as the older man blinked not understanding at first. "Do you know what happened to it?"

"Unfortunately… no sir. Witnesses to the battle say that after the light faded away it was gone, as if it vanished into thin air. The Military Police though, are currently searching the surrounding bays and ocean, they suspect that the mega duce might have slipped into the water in order to get away."

Yes… but what about Big O?

Roger gripped the rail tighter thinking furiously.

Big O couldn't have possibly been moved without a pilot, and since Roger was the only one who could pilot it…

Wait…

Maybe…

An idea occurred to Roger, perhaps he himself had moved Big O. Whatever had happened… perhaps it had been damaged or malfunctioned and he had been unable to get to the Prairie Dog. There was the chance he had hidden Big O somewhere until he had had a chance to regroup, repair, or restradigize.

But if that where the case…

Why had he left Big O? Roger knew for a fact he wouldn't have willingly left his mega duce at the climax of a battle no matter how damaged it had been.

And no matter what the reason may be… that still left one problem.

He still didn't have the faintest clue where it might be.

Roger released the rail and leaned back inhaling deeply.

"Norman," He said carefully in a very tight and controlled tone without looking over. "You can't track Big O correct? You can't tell where it is right now, all you can tell is that it's still operational?"

"Yes sir." Norman confirmed bowing slightly in a nod.

Roger turned away from the rail completely so he was facing Dorothy, back to Norman. He still stared hard off to the side.

"But you do remember the last place where it was, before the computer had an outage."

"Yes sir," Norman said puzzled. He furrowed his eyebrows at the silence that followed. "Sir? Why do you wish to know?"

Roger didn't answer right away, he was to distracted by the empty space again.

Dorothy watched him before blinking once and tilting her head.

Despite the angle of Roger's face she could clearly see his expression.

She had never seen such a dark look in Roger's eyes ever before, a look of absolute pure rage.

It was rather disconcerting.

And almost… scary.

"Roger," Dorothy started actually worried but never got a chance to finish.

Suddenly turning so hard his robe swooshed behind him Roger furiously stormed past Dorothy fist clenched trying to remain dignified.

"Norman, I'm going out!" He barked over his shoulder.

"But… but sir!" Norman protested surprised and slightly panicked.

Last time he left he didn't come back for three days!

Dorothy watched Roger's retreating back, behind her Norman sagged a little.

"Oh dear." He sighed put out.

Why didn't anyone ever listen to him?

Click… click… click… click…

Roger's newly polished black shoes clicked against the concrete floor of the garage as he slowly headed towards the Griffin that was parked under a large spot light. It sat as if waiting for Roger who was more then amicable at this point to oblige it wishes to be taken out.

Click… click… click… click…

"Well it's nice to see at least some of my things aren't completely lost." Roger said in a bland tone that had a certain sense of sarcasm in its undertone, not speaking to anyone in particular as he eyed the sleek black machine from behind his sunglasses.

/"The Griffin?"

Roger easily pulled up on his coat, lifting it onto his broad shoulders and tugging sharply to straighten it out, that done he started buttoning it looking at Norman in the mirror he was standing in front of in his room. The elderly butler stood at the doorway holding a tray with a glass of water and pitcher on it.

"Yes sir! The next day after your disappearance I went searching for you in the last area Big O had been in. It took all afternoon and while I didn't locate you, I did manage to stumble across the Griffin. A good thing for spare keys sir, or else I would have been forced to rewire the vehicle in order to get it home." Norman said smiling amused, his one good eye scrunching closed.

"Yeah." Roger agreed finding it hard to find any amusement at this point and situation. He picked up his tie and roped it around his neck, yanking on the knot. "A very good thing."/

Roger knocked on the driver's side of the window of the Griffin twice before pulling open the door.

"Glade your at least in one piece." He said a tiny smirk on his face as he stepped back before climbing in.

Like he was the only guy who talked to his car.

Roger slammed the door closed before leaning over putting the key in the ignition and switching it on.

The engine rumbled and jumped to a start and Roger leaned back putting a gloved hand onto the top of the steering wheel when Norman suddenly appeared on the driver's side window. Roger saw him out of the corner of his eye and he looked over and rolled the windows down.

Norman leaned down holding a piece of paper in one hand.

"Sir… do you really think it wise to be going out so soon? You need time to recover from your ordeal, perhaps it best to wait until…"

Roger raised one hand simply cutting off the butler.

"Norman," He said firmly. "Don't worry. I have absolutely every intention of coming back this time."

"Ah yes sir, of course." Norman said uneasily that clearly said he believed the exact opposite. Roger didn't blame him in the slightest. "You'll forgive me sir if I'm more then a little worried."

Roger smiled a little lowering his hand to the steering wheel.

"Nothing to forgive." He conceded smoothly. "Trust me Norman, fool me once… shame on you. Fool me twice, and shame on me, and I'm not going to be fooled twice. I'm rather curious as to how it even happened the first time."

Norman's shoulders sagged and he frowned. Roger felt rather bad for making Norman worry so much but he really didn't have a choice.

He held out a hand.

"The locations?" He asked in a softer tone.

Norman sighed and reluctantly handed over the simple piece of paper and stood up straight.

"Those are the coordinates you requested Master Roger, listed in order. The top one is where the Prairie Dog was dispatched to, the second is the exact place where Big O itself was dispatched, the third is its last known location just before I lost all means of tracking it. And the third is where I found The Griffin."

Roger's hidden eyes quickly scanned over the scrawled writing before nodding.

"Alright, thanks Norman." Roger set the paper down on the passenger seat. "I'll be back in a few hours."

"You'll forgive me again if I doubt that one to sir." Norman sighed depressed and slunk off still worried. Roger smirked watching him pass by the front of the hood.

Thanks for the vote of confidence on that one my old friend. He thought amused.

Ah well, Norman would get over it soon enough.

Confident about that Roger looked down grabbing the stick shift.

"Where are you going?"

He looked up and to the side surprised.

"Huh?"

R. Dorothy stood in front of the passenger side window that Roger had previously rolled down on accident.

She stared at the negotiator steadily and blankly.

Roger smirked.

"Why R. Dorothy, why do you ask? Could it be your worried about me?" Roger asked amused.

"Not at all. I merely wish to know in case you disappear again, so Norman and I could at least have some place to start looking." She said ever so tactfully.

Roger's smirk grew a little bit more and he chuckled once under his breath leaning back, pushing his sunglasses up farther into the bridge of his nose.

"Well since you put it so politely… you told me that right after I took Terrence's case I left to go visit someone right?"

"Yes."

"Despite the fact I can't even recall that day… I have a sneaking suspicion as to who it was I was calling on. I'm heading over there now to ask him some questions."

"And who was it?"

Roger put the car into drive and glanced over at Dorothy with a tiny smile, glasses sliding down a little to show his dark eyes. Dorothy watched as he tapped his ear and winked knowing she'd get it.

She did.

Roger smirked and turned forward.

"See ya later R. Dorothy. I'd ask if you would want to come along, but until I can at least get an idea as to what happened, its probably best if I go in alone." He said before hitting the gas.

Dorothy took a single step back as The Griffin shot forward with a roar; exhaust fumes exploded out in a dark translucent cloud. By the time it cleared Dorothy saw the Griffin rear up the drive and around the wall that would take it outside. Her hair a dress that had swayed in the wind from the car settled back down as she watched and listened to the car get farther away.

"Good luck."

The Griffin jumped off the freeway entrance and straight into traffic causing more then a few cars to swerve abruptly out of its way. The black vehicle climbed in speed towards a car in front of it and honked angrily, the car quickly swerved to the side a little, just enough to allow the Griffin to speed by.

Roger didn't even spare a glance and just accelerated even more.

The day looked rather dismal, (Yet again ironically appropriate considering Roger's situation.) dark gray clouds hung over the city and it was pouring. The water hitting everything gave off a light mist and fog, which made the domes all around seemingly softly glow ever so slightly.

The windshield wipers moved rythmatically back and forth over the glass front of the Griffin, swishing water out of the way.

Roger hardly noticed, glancing over at one of the more larger domes in the city off in the distance that softly glowed pale green.

(((Paradigm City… a city of amnesia… a city where forty years ago, everyone lost all memory of anything and everything prior.

A city where memories come and go…

But mostly go.)))

The Griffin sprayed water as it headed down the cracked and aged street, going deeper into the more run down poorer part of Paradigm. It slowed to a stop for a red light as a train somewhere close by sounded off a horn.

(((It's strange to think that in a city of amnesia, with all my experiences as a negotiator in handling such things, I'd be stricken with a case of it myself. I never once imagined I'd loose my own memories. It may only be a weeks worth as opposed to a lifetimes, but considering what happened in that short week… it seems to have turned my life upside down.)))

The light changed and Roger made the car surge forward, considering the condition of the outside there weren't that many people out. But in the alley's, some homeless people could be seen hiding in garbage or huddling against a crumbling brick building trying to keep warm.

(((Whatever may have happened though… I hardly cared. All I cared about right now, was finding Big O. That was my first priority as far as I was concerned.

But… if I was going to do that… I was going to have to retrace my steps from the very beginning.

That meant starting at this negotiation I have absolutely no recollection of.

Everything so far, seemed to tie into that some how.

I guess I would have to remain very patient until I had all the facts. Acting rash wasn't usually in my charter… but at this point, my patience level was dangerously thin.

I wanted to know what happened and what was going on.

And so help me I was going to get those answers.)))

The Griffin drove noisily through the run down practically abandoned street. The wet black asphalt ran between crumbing aged buildings and directly under the fallen clock tower. (The hour hand was missing, having been removed due to the threat of it falling.)

The car passed under it easily as the rain continued to fall.

(((And there was only one person I knew… who would hopefully; have the most of the answers.)))

The brakes of the car made a "reeching" sound as the black vehicle slid to a stop…

Right outside of 'The Speakeasy'.

CREEEEEEK!

The tiny bell on the door rang the announcement of a new customer as it was pushed open.

The bartender who was whipping off a glass with a rag looked over and instantly blinked staring.

Roger stood in the doorway for a moment silently looking over everything.

The hazy smoky atmosphere was the same as always, warmer the necessary with the juke box playing the same upbeat easy going jazz tune that all the patrons weren't paying attention to, to busy talking and laughing with one another.

Roger released the door and headed forward hands in pockets of his dripping jacket.

The door closed as the negotiator passed the bar tender who was to busy staring at him surprised as he passed to offer him a drink.

Roger seemingly ignored him, attention focused solely on one person alone at the back of the bar room.

Big Ear turned the page of his newspaper and didn't even look up when someone stood in front of him.

"Well well well, look who finally decided to show up. The famous disappearing negotiator. You've been quite the talk of the town recently." The elder man commented smoothly tilting the paper to read better not at all shocked or surprised.

Roger raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"Yep, its not every day Paradigm's top negotiator up and takes a sabbatical without telling anyone. I almost started to worry there for a moment. It would have been a huge financial lose for me if you never returned."
Roger didn't fail to notice that it was "almost" instead of "was".

"My heart bleeds." He said dryly moving to the side and using a foot, hooking it under the chair of the next table pulling it out and turning sitting down smoothly.

"I'm sure it does."

"You actually can't remember a thing? Nothing at all?"

Big Ear started chuckling, shoulders shaking slightly.

The fan above them spun around lazily, and the sharp crack of someone breaking the first move on one of the pool tables rang out above the other crowed sounds.

Roger pressed his lips together tightly for a moment having leaned back in his shoulder hunched over slightly as he watched everyone from behind his glasses.

"I fail to find the humor in any of this." He growled out annoyed.

"Yeah well, you would, but it is. Guess you never quite know what you have till you loose it hmm?"

"Spare me." Roger said sourly as B.E. continued to read. "All I came here for was the information you previously gave me."
"Would it interest you to know that some new information has since come up?"

"Depends… is it helpful?"

"I only relay the information… I don't really care about its usefulness to others."

"And I suppose your going to charge me extra for this right?"

"Tell you what, since I'm such a nice guy I'll only charge you extra for the old information. Think of it as… a repeaters fee."

"How generous of you." Roger said sarcastically. He waited somewhat impatiently as Big Ear took a drink from his glass and then lowered it. "You mind? I don't have a lot of time."

"How do you know? You can't even remember anything, maybe you have all the time in the world." Big Ear said infuriatingly calmly.

He had a point.

Roger didn't care though.

"Very funny."

"Knew you'd like that. Anyway… you want to know everything that I told you the last time you were here?"
"Yeah."

"Alright then. You wanted to know about both those two brothers, Clarence and Terrence Bentley."

"Aaaaaaaaaaand?"

"And those two are something else entirely. I can't decide which one is more crazy."

"Start with Terrence."

"Ah, good ol Terrence; always was a day late and a dollar short. For someone who was so paranoid and intelligent he sure was pretty stupid in some areas. Between the two brothers, Terrence was the more intelligent one. Hardly means Clarence was lacking though, both are frighteningly smart. But Clarence is… less then motivated to perform manual labor. He's more of the businessman type. Usually laid back duping his brother into most of the work they did. Both were researchers."

"Of the past right?"

"Yeah. Clarence used to sell a lot of their findings to Paradigm."

"What!"

Roger's head instantly snapped around to look at Big Ear surprised. B.E didn't even look over seemingly disinterested.

"Sell them!"

"Mm hmm, really riled Terrence, even split the two up for a while. Terrence didn't want to sell their findings, he honestly believed in finding out what happened forty years ago for the sake of knowing. Clarence as usual just ignored him and continued to go on with business as usual."

"Well from what I was told the two had been working together again."

"That's right, Clarence stopped selling things to Paradigm after they cheated him out of some kind of deal. Left the old boy extremely furious."
"What deal? What happened?"

"Dunno. Whatever it was; was really underground illegal activity. Clarence was smart, hid everything extremely well. Even I didn't pick up on it till it went bad. And even then… all the details are scant. All I was able to get was it involved some kind of memory he found, he was trying to sell it to a man named Wesley Vince. One of Paradigm's officials."

"Does Vince have the memory?"

"Don't know that one either. But whatever happened left Clarence wanting Paradigm's blood." B.E. said in his usual matter of fact and slightly blasé tone.

Roger snorted. "Get in line." He said dryly.

"This was different though," Big Ear stated. "Clarence just doesn't have a grudge, he wants full out revenge. And rumor has it he now has the means to get it." B.E. idly turned a page in his newspaper as Roger's head snapped up and he looked at him through the darks shades.

"The mega duce?" He asked grimly.

"Mm hmm."
Roger sighed looking away at the other customers who continued on not noticing the two.

"So… they really did find one."

"Oh yeah… and not your regular run of the mill type to."

"And that means?"

"This mega duce the two found… it's unlike anything you've ever seen before. Now mind you this is just talk, but its supposed to have some interesting… features. Features that allow it to do things other mega duces can't. Features that just might make it the most powerful mega duce that was ever built."

Roger growled slightly as that shoulder's hunching a little.

"Oh yeah? And just what exactly are these features that makes it so special?" Roger didn't mean to sound so sarcastic… he just thought Big O was pretty impressive in its own right.

Apparently this was now in question.

"Don't know, something to do with its attack."
"You're really not being very helpful." Roger said irritated.

"Hardly my fault, I didn't forget anything. You probably learned all you needed to know and all the answers… you just forgot them." B.E returned easily without hesitation, as if Roger chose to lose those memories.

The negotiator tensed up slightly at that annoyed but then relaxed.

He was annoyingly right, and losing his patience at his one reliable source wasn't going to help.

Except in maybe loosing that one reliable source.

"Alright," Roger said carefully. "Is there anything else you can answer?"

"Yeah… Terrence was hiding things from you. A LOT of things. Most of which undoubtedly landed you in the situation your now in, unfortunately though, as transparent and obvious as it was he was hiding secrets and lying, I couldn't get anything as to what it was. He's like his brother; he was good at keeping the information away. Not as good mind you, but just good enough."

Roger exhaled loudly disappointed… so far all he had was even more questions rather then any satisfying answers.

"I suppose that's it." He commented, just inwardly knowing this particular meeting was coming to an end.

"One more thing…" B.E said as Roger leaned forward about to get up.

"Oh?" The negotiator stopped but didn't look over. He had a feeling he wasn't going to like any more information.

He wasn't.

"Your problem's bigger then you think. Terrence has disappeared… and two days ago… a body washed up from the ocean."

"Uh!" Roger's eyes instantly went wide and he sat up straight shocked.

"Military Police found it while doing a sweep job looking for that mega duce."

"Is it Terrence!" Roger demanded stunned.

"Don't know." Big Ear folded the top of the newspaper with a simple flick of his fingers and looked at Roger.

"But don't rule it out." He warned deadly serious.

Great.

This day possibly couldn't get any more depressing, Roger though his head starting to hurt even worse now with all this new information. He sat there for a split second before easily rising; B.E was folding his newspaper eyes closed content.

Roger walked past him disturbed, dropping a wad of twenties on the table distracted.

Dead?

This wasn't boding at all well for him.

Big Ear opened his eyes holding the paper over the money as if to drop it to conceal it as usual… he paused though for a moment to eye the amount making sure it was more then usual before letting it fall.

"Negotiator."

Roger stopped instantly, but didn't turn around.

Even over the laughter, sounds of pool being played, music and all and all loudness, Roger could hear Big Ear clearly.

The elderly man had picked up his drink and was rolling the ice around in the clear tan liquid idly.

"I told you this last time, and I don't think you took it to heart enough. Clarence… Terrence… neither is to be trusted. Make no mistake… as pathetic as Terrence seemed at times, he wouldn't hesitate in the slightest in killing to get what he wanted. Neither is trust worthy."

Roger was silent… a moment passed before he turned slightly to look over his shoulder at his informant.

Big Ear raised the glass at him.

"Don't make the same mistake twice." He said cryptically with a hint of a smirk.

Roger knew he wasn't referring to the twins… rather… something else.

He narrowed his eyes and didn't bother responding before turning and walking away.

The stoplight flared red… the color looking slightly misted in the light fog.

There wasn't really anyone out. The only car that was on the street was the Griffin that… regardless of the emptiness… stopped for anyway.

The rain was starting to let up slightly… but the sky was so dark it obviously was only going to be a temporary break.

Water continued to hit the Griffin steadily… sounding like hundreds and hundreds of fingers tapping against it without fail.

…

The sound was soothing.

Behind the tinted windshield Roger's dark eyes where fixed on the misty red light, an almost dangerous expression on his face as his thoughts and the new information on his case rolled around.

The negotiator was leaning forward, right elbow on the top part of the steering wheel, his hand turned to the right and pressed against his mouth hiding a part of his face.

As intently as he seemed to be staring at the light waiting for it to change, he actually wasn't paying attention to it at all.

He actually wasn't paying attention to anything at all.

The continuous sound of thumping water hitting the car lulled him deeper into thought almost like hypnosis.

Terrence Bentley…

Roger's eyes seemed to glitter coldly as he thought of the man.

A man that could be dead.

If Terrence was indeed dead… Roger wasn't at all sure what his next plan of action would be.

As it was he was barely getting by with the sparse information that he was getting from others… and at this rate it wasn't taking him very far very fast.

And nowhere near the location of Big O.

…

Big… O…

And…

Rain…

…

Roger had been listening, allowing the sounds of the water hitting the car to lull him deeper into his thoughts, and when his thoughts crossed the mega duce, the combination of those two things triggered something.

A violent recognition… it was as if finally being able to remember someone who you were certain you had seen before but couldn't for the life of you remember.

A splinter of a memory.

The sounds of the rain suddenly changed as a memory broke though… for a fraction of a second…

{{{…

Roger was freezing… it never registered the reason for that was because he was soaking wet. But he did register the water continuously hitting his face… it felt like it was raining tiny bits of ice.

Roger's head felt like it had literally been split open… the pain was absolutely mind numbing… almost blocking out any sort of other concern he might normally have.

What happened?

The sound of the rain was overwhelming…

…

And that sound… it was seemingly so loud and constant it actually broke through Roger's haze of pain, briefly from it.

His eyes that were halfway open already (Yet hadn't been focusing or taking in anything) blurrily saw something above… something monstrously huge, he never even noticed he was laying on a rock hard surface.

The looming object surrounded by the dark gray clouds from the sky slowly came into more focus for a split second.

Big… O…

Roger who was almost to disoriented was barely able to register the mega duce's face staring down at him, seemingly watching him carefully, to make sure he…

What… are you doing?

Big O moved… its face which had been staring down closely now getting farther away.

How… there's no pilot in you… where are you going…

It was leaving… and it was leaving the negotiator there…

Roger though, could almost swear he felt it didn't want to though… yet didn't think it had a choice.

Huh… what an odd thing to think that… Big O doesn't feel.}}}

Booooooooooom!

Roger bolted upright and with a pained/grunt yelp grabbed the back of his head and covered his eyes with his other hand.

"Uh!" He grunted as pain seared from the cut on the back of his head through his brain as if punishing it for the memory.

OW!

"Ug!" Roger's eyes were squeezed closed as he held his head as the pain slowly went away. He let out a hissed breath through his teeth hard and growled slightly.

Cut me a break will you! Roger thought literally to himself trying to WILL his mind to obey.

Least the pain did, though there was the faint throbbing of a head ach because of it.

Great.

Still wincing somewhat Roger lowered the hand that had been holding the back of his head and put it on the steering wheel, he inhaled deeply still shielding his eyes.

"Man… what did I get myself into?" He asked out loud vowing to seriously reevaluate his rules and then STRICLY re-en-force them.
And to never take on a case with twins ever again.

Male OR female!

Wincing again he lowered his other hand back to the wheel and looked forward at the windshield, the water slowly cascading down it.

He stared and suddenly recalled what he remembered straightening up a little eyes going wide with realization.

Wait a minute! That was a memory!

That… was a rather unhelpful memory…

Roger's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

What exactly had that meant? Was it even real? The possibility once thought up wasn't entirely implausible as one would think and instantly through Roger into doubt.

He wasn't really ready to fully count on memories (Let alone his own since apparently he was missing a great big deal of them!), if that had even been one.

First off… his location as opposed to Big O's was something he couldn't understand… why would the mega duce be above him looking down? Plus Roger could only recall seeing its face.

Then again Roger had been Big O's face up close hundreds of time, his muddled memory might have been overlapping a few others blending the two together into one that did NOT make sense.

Probable.

A feeling of complete and total frustration suddenly overcame Roger and had he had any less composure then a true gentlemen had, even alone would have started furiously hitting something.

But he refrained from doing so.

Barley.

All this had happened in the span of a single minute so the light was still red, despite the fact there wasn't a single car out still. There was one behind the Griffin but still…

Since he wasn't at all hurried Roger frowned and glanced over at the empty passenger side seat.

Maybe I should have brought along Dorothy… least I would have someone to talk to then. He thought wirily and his eyes landed on the piece of paper.

He stared for a moment before relenting and reaching over picking it up and eyeing the list of locations on it.

Since he was technically closer to these he suppose he could go to them first, but now he was reconsidering majorly after hearing about the body that had washed up.

Dastun first.

Roger pressed his lips together tightly deciding that. That flash or… memory or whatever it had been about Big O just infuriated him even more that he couldn't remember where it was. He was going to find that FIRST.

And if Terrence was dead he had to know NOW.

The resolve only lasted a second as Roger lifted the paper for a moment and in the red light something bled through. He blinked surprised when he noticed faint ink traces in certain spots where nothing was written.

He turned the paper over.

Clarence Bentley

North/East Side

Street 66: Underlake Road 12248

Good ol Norman!

Roger had completely forgotten, his goal so focused solely on Terrence and Big O, Norman had written down Clarence's address knowing the negotiator would want to speak with him.

Roger's eyes narrowed.

Alright… him I'll speak to first. He decided instantly, since he was the one denying all knowledge of any sort of negotiation.

And if it was one thing that irked Roger, it was blatant liars.

BEEP BEEP!

The car behind the Griffin suddenly honked its horn; Roger looked up surprised and saw instantly what the problem was, the light had changed to green.

Setting the piece of paper to the side he tapped the gas, the sleek car moving onward splashing water as it did.

(((Though I may not have the slightest recollection of Terrence or Clarence… if Terrence truly was dead it didn't take many guesses as to who the prime suspect was. After what Big Ear had told me, it didn't just seem likely Terrence was the only one willing to kill in order to get what he wanted.

Even if it was his own brother.

Blood wasn't necessarily thicker then water.

Especially when it came to something like power.)))

(((For someone as rich as Clarence seemed to be, surprisingly he didn't live in any of the domes.)))

The seemingly completely abandoned road that looked like… at first glance… it lead no where actually lead deep into the more ruined and long since left alone parts of Paradigms. Buildings from an era long forgotten lay left in crumbling rubble, cut off halfway from their true height and all together demolished.

The road though had been meticulously cleared of everything, a black strip with displays of wreckage on each side.

The Griffin drove on it…

Towards a mansion up ahead.

(((The area Clarence lived in was pretty desolate even by Paradigm standards. Nothing lived out here anymore, and there didn't appear to be anything of value out here.

Appearances though… were deceiving. And I had a good idea as to the reason why these two lived out here.

Employed in the trade they were? Researching the past, whatever better place to be then right in the middle of their research field.

This place was a treasure trove of secrets from forty years ago… who knew what sort of memories… or anything else…

Lay just underneath these ruins.)))

The road lead right up to a huge mansion. It looked like it had been from forty years ago, matching the gray stone colors of the rubble all around it. It looked like the event had left it standing in time completely untouched.

(((For the two worst possible people to ever discover them.)))

The mansion had no gate. It was to far out for hoodlums and vandals to care about and probably had a good security system anyway.

The rain had begun to slowly let up. Water still fell from the flawless gray sky but wasn't the downpour it was downtown.

It was sprinkling enough though to still hold the light mist all around.

Roger had pulled up to the front entrance of the mansion, the door directly off to the left of the driver's side door.

He had removed his sunglasses when he pulled up, the griffin was silent seeing as which Roger had shut it off. He was leaning forward, one arm propped up on the steering wheel as he took in the house with a stone cold expression.

After a few moments the negotiator shifted and opened the car door smoothly getting out resolute even more in his decision.

"If you will wait here sir."

The pretty secretary said pleasantly bowing slightly. She then turned and walked away, footsteps silent on the thick expensive rug.

"Thank you." Roger said politely and watched her leave, one hand in his pocket.

The secretary looked very tiny as she walked down the monstrously huge hall of the mansion. This place was huge, even bigger the Roger's home… with the possible exception that this place was built to be large in width, not height. It had no more then probably four stories. But the sheer size of the hallways themselves indicated this place most likely hadn't been a home forty years ago, but rather a place of extremely successful business. (Though what that could afford something like this was beyond the negotiator.)

Roger watched the secretary's retreating back for another moment before he allowed his eyes to look upward at a large crystal chandelier. The ridiculously large hallway was lined with them.

Except every single one of them where dull and lifeless, even if sunlight streamed on the crystal it probably wouldn't have any real impressive sparkle unless thoroughly and properly cleaned.

How… unkept.

Something like that would always gnaw at Roger… if his house had a problem like that.

And Norman wasn't around to take care of it.

Looking away and turning around observing his surroundings idly Roger couldn't help but think this house gave off a rather eerie feeling.

Perhaps… Roger wasn't uncomfortable at all at considering the possibility… that maybe subconsciously he recognized the place.

And on some level… he did.

Though he obviously couldn't recall, he was feeling the exact same thing he had back then.

This place should have been abandoned.

It was so large… and so vastly empty. Save for Roger, the only people here were Clarence and the secretary (He was assuming that's who she was.) and no one else. Upon entering Roger hadn't seen, heard, or even got the hint of any other people in the house and just knew there wasn't. Just like he knew there were hundreds of rooms in this place, practically all shut away either frozen in time and in the darkness with dust as the only occupants.

The place gave off the impression that when the event that happened forty years ago occurred, everyone had simply stopped what they where doing and left while chaos and destruction didn't directly affect the house.

This place had been abandoned, and should have stayed that way. It was a relic that by some miracle had been left still standing and intact, but left alone. Undoubtedly though, that's why the brothers had taken it. While most other people in Paradigm would have just left it because of the sheer empty feeling alone, these two had taken up residence because it… was the past.

Roger turned and his gaze fell onto a painting.

The left side of the hallway had huge looming square windows all the way from the entrance, to the very far away end. In between the windows spacing them out where walls. Framed artwork hung from each wall.

But Roger's was riveted on this particular piece. He blinked once and shifted his weight to fully face it observing.

The artworks and their golden frames where the only things that had obviously been meticulously taken care of, they looked brand new. Lights in the wall above them ensured that when evening rolled around they would be beautifully enhanced.

The picture though…

Painted in a night time setting, hues of black and dark navy blues where… swirled, mixing subtly with what Roger thought was glitter but in actuality was diamonds… crushed into a dust. The setting was some kind of… forest? Lake? Stone garden? It looked like a mix of all three… three broken and old pillars where places in water in a half circle formation, it was a gazebo of some kind, the dome part above broken, half missing, the skeleton part the only thing barely holding together the domed shape. Stars of silver where in the background blackened sky.

But what was most impressive…

Where the points of light.

Soft almost glowing dots where hovering all around the picture, mainly concentrated under the stone structure, some obviously very far away in foliage, the glow was reflecting in the water making it look like ripples of light where going off underneath.

"Do you like it?"
"Uh!" Roger instantly turned startled and caught off guard.

Clarence Bentley smiled wolfishly and sickeningly innocent.

Standing a few feet away from the negotiator, the older twin was slightly shorter then Roger and incredibly thin. He wore what was supposed to be a white suit but looked more like it was fading to a gray. His actual gray shirt under it just seemed to highlight that fact.

Clarence just smiled a little bit more. A coldly polite and practiced smile.

He moved forward a little, hands behind his back.

"It's a personal favorite of mine." He continued conversationally as Roger stared at him, the other man ignored the look not at all bother and pretended not to notice in the slightest. His own eyes behind his glasses looking at the painting. "It's called… "The Waltz Of The Fireflies"."

Roger looked at the painting as well. (Guess that's what those little golden dots all where.)

"It's a very beautiful piece." He commented, while true, merely saying it out of curtacey.

"Indeed," Clarence replied. Both stood now looking at it, "Its part of a series I found, but I must say, this is one of the best works." He said offhandedly almost sounding board yet ever the host.

"If I may ask, who is the artist?" Roger asked casually, despite everything that had happened, in the face of the one man who most likely was directly (Or indirectly.) involved and responsible for his memory loss…

He would remain a professional until he had all the facts.

And that meant being hospitable and carrying on polite conversation no matter how inane.

Clarence's emotionless smile never wavered.

"Ah, that's a very interesting story, actually, I do not know who the artist is."

Clarence shifted his weight stepping forward a little and extending an arm, his finger trailed down the golden frame towards the bottom.

"You see, I found this painting, I found all of them. They're from forty years ago, possibly even older. They were just so incredible I had each one specially restored." Clarence's finger reached the bottom before he pulled his hand back and glanced at Roger with a slight condescending look out of the corner of his eye, he continued to smirk. "Not an easy task let me assure you, considering what they've survived and the condition I found them in. But a worth while endeavor considering the end result."

Clarence's smirk grew as he closed his eyes in thought putting both hands behind his back again.

"Unfortunately though, due to their original condition, the artist name was destroyed. They all were originally signed but… alas, the not even the restorer could save the name."

Clarence suddenly shifted completely so he was looking at Roger who also turned.

Roger's expression didn't give away anything, but Clarence was still smiling.

"Seems a pity to go through all that hard work creating something so meaningful only to have all your accomplishments be completely forgotten." He gave Roger an even more brighter and slightly malicious smile.

Roger eyed him sensing a malicious undertone in that statement which obviously had a double meaning.

Hmm…

"And taken." He said bluntly but simply in a very direct tone.

Clarence just looked amused.

"True, but better to be in the hands of someone who will put them to great use." Clarence turned as if to leave but continued to speak to Roger pleasantly, he held out a hand casually to the wall. "Each if now worth a fortune thanks to me." He bragged/stated with a proud chuckle. "But enough about art!" He declared before giving Roger a chance to respond, raising his other hand pressing them together as if praying. "Surly that isn't why Paradigm's top negotiator has honored me with his presence no?" He beamed like a proud child before someone he had always wanted to meet.

The sudden switches in Clarence's personality where surprising and dizzying. Though on the outside he appeared to act like plastic and faintly cold but polite host, Roger could see underlining malice, mocking, icy amusement at his expense, and maybe even irritation just by the changes in his body language and the hardly noticeable ways he smiled and in his eyes.

Roger eyed Clarence as the man closed his eyes he smiled to widely holding out his hands indicating down the hall.

"Please, let us talk somewhere more pleasant then a simple hallway! My office is right this way."

Roger merely nodded his head once. "Thank you." He said and followed the twin.

"I am quite surprised to see you Mr. Smith, I can't possibly understand why a man of your reputation would want with a simple business man such as myself. I have no needs for a negotiator I can assure you." Clarence said with a dazzling and obviously meaningless smile as he sat down in a large chair behind his desk.

Roger stood in front of it looking down at him with no particular expression, though he eyed Clarence with a scrutinizing eye.

"From what I hear, your brother did though." Roger replied easily watching his reaction.

Clarence looked up losing his smile for a moment as he raised his eyebrows in a brief expression of "oh-you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me" irritation before chuckling and leaning back in his chair turning to the side as he reached up pinching the bridge of his nose exasperated.

"Ah this again," He said sounding smugly amused with a sigh. "I've heard more then a few inquires about this over the past few days. How many times must I say my brother didn't hire you Mr. Smith? Surly you don't believe such preposterous rumor's."

"Non the less Mr. Bentley, I have very reliable sources that would dispute that fact." Roger said

"Well then I'm afraid your "reliable" sources have been… misinformed." Clarence said oily with a condescending chuckle as he looked up in amusement. "Please Mr. Smith! Sit down!" Clarence gestured simply when he noticed Roger's position.

"I prefer to stand thank you."

"As you wish." Clarence dismissed not dwelling, (And not caring in the slightest.) he turned in his chair again, elbows on the armrests clasping his hands together, holding them close to his mouth. "I don't know what I can tell you that you've undoubtedly haven't heard. I can assure you that my brother hasn't nor has he ever hired you for anything. Surly you know this."

"Let's just say… the facts of this case bare some importance to another one I'm working on." Roger lied without hesitation.

"What case? Mr. Smith, I've told you, my brother never hired you ere go, no importance." Clarence smiled never wavering.

"My sources… also happen to say that your brother has disappeared." Roger trailed in carefully with choices bits of what little information he had and could spare to show.

"Really? And whatever gave them that impression?" Clarence grinned widely.

"The fact he hasn't been seen for three days." Roger said slightly irritated himself, not appreciating having his common sense and intelligence insulted.

Clarence just snorted. "He hasn't been seen for three days due to the fact he is on a reach expedition."

"Research expedition!"

If ever there were a more blatant lie…

"Yes. You see our work requires us to take a great amount of time exploring around the old remnants of forty years ago. And with such a vast amount at our disposal…" Clarence chuckled, "Well, as you can see… it would certainly take quite a while to… poke around so to speak."
"What does that have to do with Terrence's disappearance?"

"My brother Mr. Smith is out there right now. Part of our jobs requires us to know areas, map them out extensively for future expeditions and usage. We have to find bits of things that may be useful and document and mark where they are. It's very long and time consuming, but a very fulfilling and worthwhile career." Clarence looked up directly at Roger and smirked condescendingly again. "I'd wager my brother and I know more about the past then anyone in this city." He hinted slyly with a bragging undertone.

Roger eyed him suspiciously.

"Have you spoken to Terrence recently?"
"Oh course," An oily dangerous smile crossed the twins face. "I spoke to him just yesterday."

What!

"Uh!" That made Roger leaned back eyebrows raising in surprise. It was only for a moment before he suddenly and instantly knew something… without a shadow of a doubt…

He was lying.

Roger straightened up narrowing his eyes slightly at the smirking man who was just as closely watching the negotiator's reaction.

Roger had quickly recovered. (Though not before he had given away that that had thrown him.)

"I see…" He said evenly. "You spoke to him in person?"

"Yes. It was in the afternoon. He had just discovered something that made him terribly excited, he came back to retrieve some supplies and headed back out again. Nothing more." Clarence assured him.

He continued to hold his small smirk, carefully scrutinizing Roger's reactions to these so-called "explanations" amused.

Roger stared back coldly for a moment in a stand off.

"And how was he?" He asked at last, to buy him some time to try and rethink his line of questioning.

Clarence's smile was perfectly dazzling.

"Perfectly fine." He stated simply.

Sure.

Roger didn't believe him for a second.

"It's touching that you're so concerned for my brother Mr. Smith, if you so wish I can arrange for you to meet him when he returns." Clarence offered oh so kindly.

"You can." Roger echoed not even bothering to try and hide his doubting tone of "yeah right".

Clarence's offer was just another tact to throw Roger off course and distract him. A way of making him doubt any suspicions he had. The only problem was…

Roger instantly knew that.

The offer was another thin and sugar coated lie. Clarence had no intention of ever producing his brother, sure he was making the offer now… but Roger knew the twin would just continue this run around until the negotiator went away. He undoubtedly had the patience to continue this charade indefinitely.

And Roger couldn't demand to see Terrence… he had no basis to. Sheer circumstances gave Clarence all the advantage; it had created an interested and annoying paradox for Roger.

The only way he could prove he dealt with the twins was if his client verified it, his client was missing yet there was no proof of that either since the twin he had been negotiating with refused (Most likely willingly too.) to file or acknowledge that his brother was gone. And if Clarence continued to claim his brother was still around, even if Roger used his connection with Dastun to get the Military Police involved, Paradigm would undoubtedly make them stop investigating or not make it a top priority. (Thanks to that little tiff… whatever it may have been… with Clarence.)

Clarence's face was emotionless, save for a look of extremely calculating and careful study of the negotiator.

His eyes steadily bore into Roger waiting for his next move.

There was a noticeably long silence; the only sound was the ticking of a grandfather clock off against the sidewall.

Suddenly clearing his throat and closing his eyes for a moment, Roger straightened his tie now looking not at all fazed.

"Actually Mr. Bentley, that won't be necessary." He said calmly shifting his game plan as he went along. "I have a rather important appointment to get to soon, would you mind though if I returned later and looked for Terrence myself?"

Clarence raised his eyebrows. "Yourself?" He asked in amused disbelief.

"Yes." The reply was simple and not elaborated.

Clarence eyed Roger for a moment before breaking into a sly smile.

"Of course Mr. Smith. Anytime you wish you may look for him. Though I warn you, my property is quite… vast."

Roger gave him a tight smile and nodded his head once. "Thank you."

Clarence was under the impression Roger was going to later come back and look around on foot for his brother… and really… what did he have to worry about? Looking for Terrence in that fashion in THIS place? He would be here till he dropped dead and Clarence wouldn't have a thing to worry about. Anything incriminating pertaining to the mega duces (Or any other side projects.) would have been well hidden in such a big debris field.

That was hardly Roger's plan though. He was already quite aware of those facts.

Reaching into his breast pocket Roger pulled out a card and turned obviously to leave, he leaned over slightly and set it down on the polished desk and slid it forward.

"If there's anything else you can think of, or if Terrence returns before I have a chance to find him myself, please call me." He requested.

"Of course."

Clarence turned in his chair and smoothly stood, he held out his hand.

"It was a pleasure Mr. Smith." He smiled corguly.

"Same."

Yeah right.

Clasping hands they shook once.

Clarence's sleeve had pulled back when he extended his hand; it pulled back past his wrist.

Revealing a watch.

Not just any watch either.

Roger's eyes locked onto Clarence's wrist and narrowed.

I know that-

{{{Terrence stood in front of one of the largest windows in the green room looking out. He nervously reached up and straightened his glasses.

His sleeve pulled back.

A watch similar to Roger's was on his wrist.}}}

It was like deaja'vu. An off balancing feeling as a flash or rather a tiny fragment of memory broke though and passed through Roger's head.

Two watches.

Each brother had had one.

He remembered! Sudden recognition… the two had the same watches. It was similar to Rogers, except theirs were more grayish and metal like. The shape was of a rectangle instead of a circle… but it was the same in the simplistic modern way it was built. It wasn't built for the sole purpose of telling time.

It was a starting device.

Clarence hadn't noticed Roger had seen his watch. The negotiator released his hand without hesitation nor did he falter knowing Clarence would notice immediately and see his slip up.

"Thank you again for seeing me on such short notice. I'll see myself out." Roger said politely forcing his eyes away and up to Clarence's coldly smiling face.

"It was no trouble what so ever." The twin assured him.

Roger nodded once and turned walking away.

Gray eyes watched Roger head to the side of the Griffin and open the driver's side door.

One hand in his pocket, the other arm hanging loosely at his side Clarence watched coldly stone faced as Roger got in.

In his free hand he held the negotiator's card.

Well this was an interesting little mess.

He pressed his lips together tighter in annoyance still watching as the car started and began to pull away.

How did he manage to live? He was supposed to be dead! Clarence had THOUGHT he was dead for the past three days! And he NOW shows up suddenly out of the blue?

Leave it to Terrence to be gone and STILL manage to stick a thorn in his brother's side.

Oh well.

Clarence had worked far to hard to get where he was, he had over come FAR too many obstacles and set backs and his own BROTHER for it all to get screwed up now. Roger's presence certainly wasn't going to alter anything.

It was unexpected.

But he would handle it.

It doesn't… change… a thing.

Clarence lifted the black card and looked at the elegant writing for a moment through narrowed eyes.

They suddenly dropped to his wrist and locked onto the watch. He turned his wrist and noted the time.

Hmm…

Let's give Mr. Smith a little distraction.

He crushed the card in his fist.

The east side of Paradigm… a graveyard of broken and run down buildings.

It looked like time though had been a far harsher enemy then what had happened forty years ago. This area must have been pretty run down before The Event. Whatever destruction that had passed through it had sent most of the buildings toppling down like a children's block or had simply crumbled as if made of sand. Smaller domes were bubbled around, but the domes here weren't as expensive to live in compared to their other towering companions due to the rule area and the difficultly that construction had gone through just to get them up. (It had been discovered the area was so damaged and not exactly up to code if they were going to build there the land could hold only small, to small medium sized domes.) The only real effort Paradigm had made to clean up area was simply to pave the roadway and clear it up.

The Griffin was currently on that road…

Heading towards the warehouse district.

Roger's eyes were focused ahead, glittering hard with anger and inner concentration. The conversation with Clarence continued to replay in his mind as he mused on what he had learned… or rather… what he lacked to learn from the man.

Laying disregarded and crumpled somewhat, a piece of paper with scratchy hard to read writing was on it.

East Side

District 11

Road 9 left at Compass Ave, right at Wendon Street, sixth alley left

Warehouse 5

The Griffin slowly rolled out from between an alley/road made up of two warehouses that looked like they were ready to crumple the metal they were made of was so old. That, and all the warehouses here were made of metal and bits of wood, since it was located next to the ocean the salt had eaten away at both. Hopelessly caroading them in rust and making large holes appear. The concrete the car was driving on was cracked and small chunks were lying around making plenty of noise once they got run over.

(((This part of Paradigm was a forgotten and ignored relic of times before. It was a sad site and constant reminder that the past was being more then willingly ignored or forsaken. Paradigm didn't have any use for it, and weren't willing to spend the money to have it cleared away… so like the past it remains.

Here.

But forgotten.

And deemed not worth any effort.)))

The Griffin rolled to a stop a few yards away from a sudden edge that lead out to the ocean. (The piers had been destroyed or just plain collapsed.) The car shut off, after a moment the door open and Roger smoothly got out and stood there looking around with interest through his sunglasses.

It had stopped raining but the clouds as usual still hovered, obviously only regrouping for another waterfall later on.

Looking around Roger stepped away from the vehicle and easily shut the door.

(((But just because Paradigm didn't see anything worthwhile here, didn't mean any other… unsavory people didn't.)))

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAHH!

The door LOUDLY protested being open, the rust making the metal shriek.

Roger had easily pushed the entrance to a warehouse open and stood there for a moment peering in, dark eyes scanning the interior. It was dark and the air was thick with the smell of molding wood. The light from the door Roger had pushed open sliced through the brown darkness.

This one was empty, save for a few broken obviously empty crates.

(((I knew this place well. Not from my own case at this moment, but from previous dealings with it on others.

Criminals and low-level dealers used these old warehouses to hide and store their supplies and shipments away. It was the perfect set up, the Military Police didn't bother to search or patrol around here. And everyone assumed these places were just abandoned or not used.)))

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAHH!

Another door opened and Roger looked into another warehouse once more.

It to was empty.

Roger's lips went to the side a little in mild irritation before he stepped back outside and walking away, letting the door screech again as it shut on its own.

(((About a year ago though, the original occupants of these places had begun to clear out. I remember Big Ear once saying in passing about how all the shipments and merchandise that had been stored here had been taken out by their owners and begun to move them elsewhere. Seemed like they were in a hurry to leave also. At the time I had attributed it to nothing more then people desperate not to get caught by the Military Police and leave any evidence behind anywhere… or perhaps a simple cause of paranoia of rivals finding everything. But looking at just HOW abandoned everything was now…)))

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAHH!

Another door opened and Roger straightened up when he saw the interior.

(((It makes one wonder if perhaps they hadn't been scared away.)))

The warehouse was FULL.

Crate after crate after crate was stacked all around… new ones to. Not the old cracking or molding ones the previous occupants had been using.

But fresh ones made from a light colored wood…

That wasn't the only off setting thing.

The crates… were HUGE.

These weren't just standard normal crates designed to hold something about the size of the Griffin, these crates looked big enough to hold a tank from the Military Police!

Even BIGGER then that! Towards the back of the warehouse Roger could see the looming shadow of the largest crate there, it was so tall there was only a five-foot space between its top and the warehouses roof.

How on earth did they get these in here? Roger asked looking around eyes widening as everything began to fully register, the sheer sizes of everything were astounding.

What could possibly be in them? He wondered for a moment eyebrows furrowing in suspicion.

If he recalled correctly he hadn't ever seen these types of crates here before.

Frowning and releasing the door Roger stepped back and was outside again.

A quick look around lead to the discovery that the one warehouse was not the only owner of those large crates. Roger found at least four other warehouses and reached the conclusion there was probably even more that were full like that.

Taking his time walking back up to the Griffin, Roger surveyed the surroundings as he approached the black vehicle.

Unlike Clarence's (Was it Terrence's as well? He never did get that fact.) home this place wasn't striking a feeling… even a vague one… of familiarity with him.

It was however… making him very suspicious.

(((According to Norman, this was the place he had managed to find the Griffin.)))

Opening up the driver's side door Roger leaned into the car and reached over the consol to the front seat, picking up the piece of paper. He pulled out and left the door open standing in front of it as he opened up the paper looking at the writing.

(((Someone had discarded my car in one of the alleyways the warehouses formed. It had been left there partially concealed, from what Norman had described it was a miracle he could locate it.

This place didn't seem to fit in at all in the story I had gotten from Norman and Dorothy though. According to them the night I had disappeared I had gone to Clarence's home at around seven thirty. The time it takes to get there I would have arrived at eight, around the same time Big O was dispatched. That had to mean when I arrived or even a few minutes before arriving I had it deployed. Obviously my trust in the twins had been non-existent at that point, or I had had a sneaking suspicion Clarence… or even both of them… was going to pull something.

It didn't explain though, why the Griffin was found HERE instead of at Clarence's home.

But it had to be MORE then a coincidence… that this place was only seven minutes away from his home.

And that THIS place was around the area Big O had been summoned to, and disappeared at.)))

Roger pressed his lips together tighter in displeasure after finishing reading and lowered it. Pressing on hand against the roof's edge of the car and leaning over so the upper half of his body went into the vehicle Roger reached for the intercom that was built into it. He needed to confirm a few things from Norman and ask him to run some checks.

His gloved hand wasn't a few inches from the speaker when a violent explosion sounded out and rocked everything.

!

"Uh!" The sudden and small earthquake made Roger almost fall over completely into the car, had it not been for his hand against the edge of the roof he most assuredly would have.

Jolting upright and out of the car Roger looked around wildly for a moment wondering what the heck had happened.

He almost mistook it for thunder the way it carried slowly fading, but the sound had been WAY to loud and WAY to powerful… the sound of…

Destruction.

Roger whirled around.

!

Another loud explosion… this time with sounds Roger recognized. The sounds of buildings being hit and destroyed… the sounds of…

Glass shattering?

Roger came running out from the street he had taken in order to get to the warehouses and the docks, the one that detoured from the main road of the city. Another monstrous explosion sounded out sending the ground into another round of unstable shakes. Roger stumbled and almost fell down the vibrations from the ground sent a shaking motion up his legs rattling them. He slid and crashed into a light pole but hardly noticed as he shoved away continuing to run to see what was going on.

He suddenly got his answer.

Looking up Roger jerked back with a horrified gasp and stumbled to a stop.

"WHAT!" He cried shocked wide eyed.

Ahead there was a clear view of one of the domes. The roadway passed it on its way to the city so there was a clear view between the old buildings, which let up into the newer ones ahead.

The soft colored purple dome wasn't what shocked Roger into immobility.

Something was attacking it.

Car horns and screams could be heard and another rumble built in the air.

The mega duce that was currently attacking the dome reared back ready to unleash another punch on its glass surface.

That wasn't just any mega duce though.

"Big… O!" Roger gasped not believing it… UNABLE to believe it.

The black mega duce… the very one Roger was looking for. It stood there in front of the dome rearing back, its crown shinning and polished clean as if Norman himself had been taking care of it, the gears humming out loudly.

Its massive arm was drawn back completely.

NO!

"NO STOP! WAIT!" Roger shouted horrified starting forward barely having time to register its sudden and odd appearance before panic at what it was doing over rode all.

What was it… DOING!

The piston on its elbow was thrown back with a loud explosion.

NO! HOW CAN IT BE MOVING! ROGER WASN'T INSIDE! IT DIDN'T HAVE A PILOT! NO ONE ELSE BUT HIMSELF COULD PILOT IT!
"STOP IT!" Roger practically screamed out as if it could hear him as he ran towards it.

Big O never even faltered, it threw its fist with all the powerful force it was capable of and connected with the dome with a close to ear shattering explosion.

"NOOOOOOO! BIG O!"

The piston slammed home.

!

Glass shattered completely… instantly… and utterly. One part of the frame of the dome was blown completely apart from the resulting force. The suddenly force of the blow to the frame caused another beam of it to bend, normally it would have held up but the mega duce must have hit the frame perfectly with the right amount of force. The sudden blow out of one beam, the collapse of another and the residual force from the piston attack sent another beam bending with a long moan. The whole dome let out a moan as a matter of fact as it slowly… and with glass all around the areas of the collapsing frames cracking and splintering off… teetered and slumped into a lean on one side. All the while the sounds crackling out all around.

The ground… rocked.

No… it didn't just rock… it was shaken… VIOLENTLY.

Roger flew to one side and smacked into a brick wall with a pained grunt.

"Ugh!"

He yet again almost fell down but managed to keep all his weight on his feet forcing himself to press harder against the wall as a brace waiting the quake to end, almost failing since the shaking rattled Roger's legs so hard they almost went numb. He had to raise his arms up and shield his face somewhat due to the brick buildings that were starting to crumble from all the ground shakes, sending dust from bricks and even bits OF brick falling down.

After a moment it passed.

The rattling of the ground and the noises slowly died off leaving an almost echoing and completely devastating silence in its wake.

Roger kept his arms up for a few moments longer to shield his head and face till he was somewhat sure nothing was falling anymore as the dust let up.

Slowly and hesitantly he lowered his arms somewhat, enough to see over them. Nothing had collapsed where Roger was, but through the clearing dust the negotiator could see the mega duce coming into view and straightened up eyes widening when what Big O had just done began to fully register, and the sheer damage that had been done was coming into view.

Roger gasped in horror jaw remaining open.

Sparkling pieces of glass that was taking its time falling glittered around Big O like flakes of shinning snow, giving the scene an eerie and odd sense of sheer beautiful destruction.

The mega duce had pulled back, taking a few steps away allowing the dome to partially collapse, it simply stood there as if watching it, allowing clouds of dust and glass to swirl around it slowly in the wind the after math had caused.

Big O… why… what are you… how… Roger was fairly sure he was going into complete shock had hardly noticed or cared at this point as he watched in disbelief, pushing away from the wall keeping a hand pressed against it.

Big O stood there for another moment as if frozen in time before it suddenly, almost slowly… moved.

The sounds of its gears humming broke the silence as it moved forward smoothly taking a step. The sound rumbling out as its foot hit the ground.

It took another, its movements the usual slow trek due to its massive size but obvious malice in its intent as its arms came up as if going to shove something.

Roger's eyes widened to their limit when he realized it wasn't finished.

Big O!

Shoving away from the wall and all out running Roger took off at full speed towards the mega duce.

Even from this distance Roger's trained eye saw Big O's colored crown suddenly shine, as if a light had passed over it.

Or inside it.

The chromebusters! It was going on stand by!

Roger ran harder.

Big O's attack on the city was just getting started.

Warning! Lengthy Author's Notes! (It was pointed out in a previous reviewer of mine that my notes sometimes tend to be a little to long and take away from the Big O atmosphere. From now on I'm going to try and keep em minimal but for this occasion they must be long due to explanations and clarifications, they won't be this long from now on after this.)

/:Peeks out from under hat:/

Ah! So sorry! I'm afraid that's all there is for now! ^_^

Clocking in at eighty-eight pages this sucker is the longest Big O chapter I have ever posted! ^_^

Anyway… that last part about Big O's attack was rushed and most like not up to par. But I just frankly couldn't stand it after three days of so close to the end and unable to reach it.

I hope I didn't disappoint anyone with this! This story was ORIGINALLY intended to be released sooner, but then the SECOND season came out and I decided to hold off till it finished its entire run and it gave me extra time to fix and add to the story here.

Then Christmas rolled around and a whole war of gift giving got involved and well… kinda need a little thing called MONEY in order to RECEIVE things in which to give others. ^^;;;

Back on track!

The scenes in this story and conversations are most likely longer then normal or what you would expect. The reason being I have SO many damn clues to shove in here and questions and answers and things that need explaining I need more leeway then to just keep jumping around from scene to scene, with hardly any explanation or not ENOUGH explanation for things to come.

Anyway! Here are some important things you must remember for future chapters and little hints!

/:Takes off hat and pulls out list:/

The Griffin's location! Just to state for the record The Griffin was NOT hotwired when Norman found it, and if you ALSO will remember Norman stated he used SPARE keys. NOTHING so far has been said whatever happened to Roger's ORIGINAL keys. ^_^

Roger's condition upon first awakening! For clarity Roger wasn't shot in the head, but perhaps you can figure out a little bit of what happened from what bits of his condition I have given you in the story. ^^

Lastly the mysterious mega duce Roger had a memory flash of when he was watching the lightening!
This is NOT Big Fau! I just wanted to state that flat out in case that was the conclusion someone may think! ^^

I hope Roger wasn't OOC or anything. The way I see it though is he's a man of action (To an extent. ^^) I don't see him just being freaked out at his memory lose or brooding about it. I see him as a man who wouldn't let it stop him (May cause one or two brooding moments on his own time. ^^) and try to get to the bottom of things. His reactions to the revalation of his missing mega duce I hope were rather in tune to his normal charcter, I don't see him getting absolutely full blow throwing a fit pissed, but as a gentlemen and a rational person BE pissed off and furious but having the restraint not to go ballistic. (Hell I would if I lost the mega duce, that's the best damn one outta the whole show! ^_^)

And I hope the end part wasn't OOC either… I rushed it and lets chalk it up to ol Rog just being flat out shocked and horrified at what's happening since there is no reason or explanation WHAT so ever.

I'm afraid those fan's of R/D will be disappointed with this story. ^^;;;

Dorothy isn't gonna be in it quite as much as she is in my others, for the sole reason of the plot itself doesn't work as well that way, and as it was pointed out in an interview on the DVD's she is there, but she isn't partnered with Roger in EVERY single episode. This unfortunally isn't one of them but she'll be coming around again so don't worry. ^^

For my LAST note here (I swear! ^_^) I hope Clarence and Terrence didn't come off sounding stupid in terms of name. It just… I dunno, sounded appropriate to me. ^^ And parent's of twins tend to do things like that to their names… make em rhythm and such to be cute and fitting.

Little lady though happens to be an identical twin herself! Which is probably why the twin issue seems to be an underlining theme in a lot of my other stories (Original's and my PSOH's ones. ^^) my name though dosen't rhythm with my twins. ^_^

Coming up next! Big O's rampage causes some serious destruction and Roger can't figure out why its doing such things, a visit to Dastun reveals some INTERESTING not to mention unsettling things that have been happening while Roger has been missing. More questions rather then answers keep popping up and Roger isn't sure if he's getting close to any of those answers or further away from them.

And is the dead vagrant that washed ashore Terrence? Least Roger will get one answer to that question but still leaves the key one.

What HAPPENED to Terrence?

Please read and review! Little lady wants to know if yer disappointed, interested, confused and just general thoughts! I only require ONE review to continue so I know SOMEONE read this! ^_-

Arigato!

/:Bows:/

Ja ne!

Peace, love and forever feeling the force,

Lady Hinoto.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!

To all those who want to know when my other Big O stories will be updated I apologize PROFUSELY for the delay.

I have absolutely NO intention WHAT so ever of just leaving em hanging like that! I swear to god they will be updated!
Though another delay has arisen.

BUT! (I said BUT folks! Stick with me! ^_^)

The reason is…

Little lady has joined forces with the great Zaybach1 and is currently undergoing and writing an ALTERNATE second season!

See… while I LIKED the Second Season… it was just… as Zaybach says… it was like a movie sequel. It wasn't AS good as the first and for a lot of reasons (TO ME! MY opinion! That's all! ^^) Some of which the direction it took wasn't one I THOUGHT or ever DREAMED it was gonna take, and where the story went and what styles it seemed to forfit from the first season. Nitpicky little stuff probably to most but when present with the idea of writing an alternate season it REALLY appealed to me. Just cause as a fan with absolutely NO time frame or ep limit the story can be taken in other really interesting directions that the show didn't but presented and so on and so on. Characters that didn't get explanation I want to expand and explore some more. (Like Alan Gabriel who was one of the seasons biggest disappointments. In the terms that he happened to be one of little ladies most favorite characters yet got SO little screen time and SUCH little explanation and was fleshed out so little if damn near not at all.)

I also wanted to see if I could clear up the ending a bit in terms of UNDERSTANDING. ^^
I had heard the second season be compared to The Matrix… which was kinda appropriate in my opinion cause I walked out of the theater of The Matrix Revolutions going "I liked what I saw… what DID I see? I feel REALLY stupid now I didn't understand a damn thing." ^^;;;

The last ep of the second season was shown and at the end I was like "Whoa!… /:Grins mindlessly pleased:/ What happened and what does that mean? =D"

So while my other Big O stories may be delayed again they ARE going to be finished I swear to GOD! But I want to get this project rolling out for you all to see what you think. With a co-writer and fellow maniac these should be cranked out fairly quickly in compared to my normal stories. ^_^

So! Please keep an eye out for this!
And fear not! My other stories SHALL be updated! Little lady promises! ^_^