[ LIMBO : ENTRANCE ]
By Andrea


Disclaimer:: NBC owns the Pretender, I own the words




"What the hell do you want, Lyle?" Miss Parker questioned as her brother waltzed into her office uninvited.

"The Triumvirate isn't happy with your failure to catch Jarod."

That again? "What's new about that?" She asked, her words serious, tone joking.

"For four years, you have failed to catch Jarod," Lyle continued speaking in a flat monotone, "I have a little 'incentive' from the Triumvirate." With that, he pulled his gun from its shoulder holster, and clicked off the safety.

Parker, sensing something was up, moved out from behind her desk. "Lyle, don't you da-" She began, seeing his gun aimed at her. But her words came too late; Lyle's finger squeezed the trigger. "You goddamn bastard!" Parker screamed in pain. "If this is what you call incentive, then what is murder?"

"Call it what you will, I myself prefer 'persuasion.' Have fun, dear sister." He walked out of her office, humming happily. He'd finally gotten that bitch out of the way, and with the Triumvirate's go-ahead, too.

Parker, meanwhile, slipped into blissful unconsciousness.

-~-~-~-~-
MINUTES LATER
-~-~-~-~-

Broots, for once, was singing as he stepped into Miss Parker's office. He had finally pinpointed Jarod's location before the Pretender would be there.

His happy tune stopped abruptly as he took in the scene inside the office. Lotsa blood. Then he saw Miss Parker... "SYDNEY," The tech bellowed, "Come here! QUICKLY!"

Sydney, hearing Broots shout for perhaps the first time, rushed to his colleague's office, and stopped short. "Oh my god," he muttered, while reaching for the phone set on the desk.

-~-~-~-~-
ONE DAY LATER
-~-~-~-~-

For at least the third time in his life, poor Broots sat by Parker's bedside. He had lost count, during the four years spent working with the gorgeous brunette, that he had spent in a hospital, watching her fight again for life. "Please, Miss Parker, don't give up on me."

"Any change?" Sydney asked, coming into the hospital room.

"None. Oh, thanks," Broots said, taking the cup of coffee Sydney offered. "You know Syd, sometimes I wonder how she can survive through so much. The once a year visits to the hospital, usually in critical condition."

The psychiatrist nodded. "I know, Broots, it is amazing how Miss Parker can survive everything she's been through. But you have to remember that she's come through before, and will triumph again. And again, if necessary," Sydney said softly.

"I know...it's just..."

"It's just what, Broots?"

Sighing miserably, he said, "I don't really know. Did you talk to the doctor?" He asked, changing the subject effectively.

"Yes, I did. He said that there isn't much damage, it wasn't that bad of a wound. When they removed the bullet, they didn't find much torn tissue, etc. The only thing is, they don't know why she's in a coma." Sydney explained, a feeling of helplessness sweeping over him.

"Do they know what happened to her?" Broots persisted in his questions.

"At this point, they don't know too much. If you'll excuse me, Broots, I have a couple phone calls to make."

Broots looked up, surprised. "You're going to tell them?"

"I have too, you know that. They deserve to know."

Laughing bitterly, Broots replied, "Even if they don't care."

[ LIMBO : LIMBO ]
By Andrea



Disclaimer:: NBC owns the Pretender, I own the words





Where am I? The question hit her, even though she wasn't completely awake yet. She pushed it away, intent on more important things first.

Such as waking up.

Forcing herself to open her eyes, and come back to earth, she gazed around her new surroundings. She was in a large, open area, fringed by dark green pines at the outer edges. Parker could just glimpse the edge of a building, which was set into the farthest corner of the serene setting.

Now that she was awake, the question shot back to her, like a night of scotch. Where am I?

Slowly her memories of the last few hours, maybe days, came back. Lyle was the reason he was here; the Ken-Doll had danced into her office, saying he had something to deliver from the Triumvirate. What a delivery it had been; a gunshot. Guess the bastard thought it was time to 'turn the tables,' Parker thought, remembering the time she had been sent to 'take care' of him.

Realizing that either Sydney or Broots must have found her, she wondered why she wasn't in a hospital. And thank God I'm not Parker had always believed in the 'get-as-well-as-fast-as-possible-by-going-back-to-work' method.

Rising from the hard packed ground, Parker started following a cobblestone path that looked odd in the wilderness background. As she walked, she tried to take an assessment of where she was, and what exactly had happened. A ring disturbed the peacefulness of the still woods, and Parker reached absentmindedly for her cellular. "What?" She snapped, as usual.

Broots' annoying voice greeted her. "Miss Parker! Nobody's seen you for hours - we've been trying to find you. You've got to come to the Centre right now!"

"Why?" She asked, stalling for time.

"Because, I found Jarod!" Not waiting for her to reply, the excited tech broke the connection.

Major weird time now...I'm in the woods, and who the hell knows how I got there, and Broots calls. Says he's spotted Jarod...The only question is...how did I get here? Damn...I hate this crap. How am I even supposed to find the Centre out here? In a flash, the corner of a building registered in her mind, and Parker came to the conclusion that the place must be the Centre. After all, the place was surrounded by woods.

Another lightbulb lit up, and Parker glanced down at herself. She was wearing a short silvery skirt, a silver blazer, as long as the skirt, and her usual knee-high boots. Not exactly wood-tromping gear.

Reaching the door of the large corporation - the building had indeed been the Centre - she walked in, and sweepers greeted her with their usual polite, 'Hello, Miss Parker.' As usual, they received no answer.

Parker headed for her office, on the Innerconcourse Level. Entering her office, where she had been shot only hours before; she let out an involuntary gasp. Lyle was standing there...waiting.

"Miss Parker. How nice to see you again." The evil grin on his perfect features suited him perfectly.

"I wish I could say the same."

Laughing, Lyle snapped the fingers on his right hand. "Let's not waste any more time on formalities, shall we?" He remarked.

Sweepers instantly surrounded the surprised woman. "You know where to take her."

[ LIMBO : TO HELL AND BACK ]
By Andrea





Disclaimer:: NBC owns the Pretender, I own the words





The sweepers escorted Miss Parker to Sub-Level 27, Willie leading the little group. Shoving her through the main entrance, they didn't lock her into any cell, just secured the main door. A few men stood guard outside, if by any chance she managed to get loose.

-~-~-~-~-

Four levels above, Lyle and Raines were having a heated discussion. Raines' religion, had of course, been just an act. One he'd pulled off so the Triumvirate wouldn't roast his ass. "What do you intend to do, Lyle?" Raines questioned in his gravely voice.

"What should have been done a long time ago," Lyle replied mysteriously, and motioned to Willie. "You know what you need to do?"

Willie nodded affirmatively. "Yes Sir."

Turning back to Raines, Lyle finished, "Getting rid of Parker my way."

-~-~-~-~-

Parker had tried to figure out what Lyle was up to, but with no avail. She could barely hear the words, 'Take her to SL-22, Room 33.' through the thick door, but she did.

Seconds after her brother left the level, sweepers once again entered SL-27. Dragging her to Room 33, Parker saw, to her horror, what Lyle was planning to do. This was one of the 'pre-cells,' a room that they oft used before T-board inquiries. There was only one good thing about this - if she was here, Broots and Sydney were sure to be next.

-~-~-~-~-

Broots and Sydney still hadn't been brought down, crashing her earlier hopes that they would be able to fill her in on what was going on. She knew, instinctively, that something fishy was going on - and Lyle was in the thick of it.

Willie came to #33, and spoke gleefully, "Time for you to make an appearance."

Her hate at the sight of him was like a flame, igniting itself. He was the son of a bitch who had shot her, and gotten away with it! "Appearance?" She asked, has coldly as she could.

But the bastard just ignored her. "Shall we do this the hard way or the easy way?" He said, pulling out his gun. "I, myself, prefer the easy way. Less of a mess."

-~-~-~-~-

Broots crept into Room #233. "Any change?" He spoke quietly.

Sydney shook his head. "None, I'm afraid." He paused, then continued. "Broots, would you mind if I stepped out for a bit?"

"Not at all. Oh, did you finish your calls?"

"Yes," Sydney replied quietly.

"Did they care? Did they even ask how Miss Parker's doing? What's wrong?" Broots shot angrily. "Don't even bother to answer, because I already know the answer."

Sydney just left the room; he knew some things were best left to themselves. Making his way to the crummy hospital cafeteria, Syd ordered a cup of coffee. With the lukewarm liquid sitting in front of him, the psychiatrist pulled out his cellphone. Pressing number three on speed dial, he waited as the call went through.

The steady ringing of his phone on the nightstand woke him. "Lo," Jarod mumbled, half awake.

"Jarod, this is Sydney. There's been an accident..."

"I'll be there as fast as I can," Jarod said, now fully alert.

-~-~-~-~-
2 HOURS LATER
-~-~-~-~-

"Broots, would you mind getting some coffee?" Sydney requested, when it was time for Jarod to arrive.

The tech rose, "Not at all, Syd. I'll be right back."

"Take your time, Broots."

A couple minutes after Broots left, the renegade Pretender slipped into Miss Parker's hospital room. "Oh my god, Sydney. Who did this to her?" Jarod half questioned, half demanded.

Sydney sighed. "I don't know, Jarod. The doctors don't know why she's in a coma, either."

"Uhm...Sydney...could I...?" Jarod trailed off uncertain as how to put what he wanted into words.

But Syd understood. "Don't worry, nobody from the Centre knows you're here. You're safe, for the time being. Go ahead, I'll go talk to Mr. Broots."

Jarod released his breath gratefully. "Thanks, Syd."

Pulling the light beige armchair from its position against the wall, Jarod placed it in front of Parker's bed. Sitting down, he reached his hand out.

The instant the Pretender touched Parker's hand, he was transported to another place...

-~-~-~-~-~-

Willie had pulled Miss Parker to the T-Board, or at least, he'd tried to. When she finally took a seat, Parker saw people she didn't know. The fabled 'Inner' Triumvirate. Everyone that was anyone was here, seated around the light-blue, faintly glowing table. Even the Director. What the hell was going on?

Apparently, other people were wondering the same thing. "Mr. Lyle, what is going on?" The Director questioned in a clipped voice.

Lyle stood from his chair at the head of the T. "I've called you all here for one reason," He began, but was interrupted.

"And that would be?"

Pissed at being halted, Lyle tried again. "Call it a trial, if you will. All of you, I'm sure, have heard of the Jarod pursuit, and how my sister has been assigned to the chase. How after four years she had failed to catch him, even after being trapped in the same room with him! Her personal interests conflict with the pursuit; once we narrowly missed Jarod only because she was off, 'running erran-'"

Moving in her memory back to the time her father had called her so urgently, to help him with retrieving the strong box from SL-22, and how he had told her to say nothing about where she'd been. Lyle had told her she would be held accountable for this...

" - The truth is, she doesn't want Jarod to be caught."

Outraged at her psychotic twin's words, Parker jumped up, before Willie could push her back down. "You lying son of a bitch! That isn't true! Look at all the humiliating scrapes Jarod's -"

"I want to correct this problem," Lyle said, gesturing to the screaming Miss Parker, who had been subdued by a couple sweepers.

"How do you intend to 'correct this problem?'"

"By giving the bitch to Raines," Lyle responded, with a baneful laugh.

The members of the Triumvirate stood. "We all agree that there needs to be an improvement to the Jarod chase. Therefore, Mr. Lyle, you may go ahead with your idea of giving the Chairman's daughter to Mr. Raines. However," The Director said, turning to Raines, "This is your last chance."

"Thank you, Madam Director," Raines said, his voice just as gleeful as Willie's had been. He waited until the group filed sedately out of the sub-level, before telling his men to take Parker back to SL-27.

[ LIMBO : SALVATION ]
By Andrea


Disclaimer:: NBC owns the Pretender, I own the words




Jarod woke slowly, his senses floating above him on a fluffy cloud. Wondering what was going on, and where he was, he tried to sit up. Just as another thought flew into his mind. Where was Parker?

If he was here, was she here too? Was that why Jarod was in this place? To somehow help Parker?

The overgrown bushes to his side moved, and Jarod turned immediately at the noise, only to see Angelo crawl out of the foliage. "Help Sister," was all Jarod needed to hear, and he was off in an instant, following the Empath on hands and knees.

-~-~-~-~-

Willie the cruel shoved Miss Parker into a chair situated in Raines' Lab. The doctor himself was grinning eagerly, happy to have another victim to experiment on. And who better than Miss Parker? The witch had scorned him for years, and here was his chance for revenge.

Carefully selecting a medium-size syringe from a table filled with vials and bottles, Raines cleared the air bubbles and injected the contents of the tube into Parker's left arm before she could blink. She looked at him; still weak from the beating Raines had allowed Willie to administer. "What was that?"

Should he indulge her? Why not, the warped doctor decided. "Just something that will make it easier on everyone."

Parker cried, "Make what easier?"

They didn't answer this question, and only waited for the drug to take effect. When the malicious doctor thought enough time had passed, he began his ruthless tirade.

-~-~-~-~-

Jarod had been trailing Angelo's route for a day, and his crazy path didn't make any sense. Angelo would often backtrack, and go around tiny lakes the two could have splashed through.

He finally stopped the endless walking when darkness fell, and settled down in a minute clearing. "Angelo, what is going on?" Jarod asked, finally.

In response, the Empath pressed Jarod's hand to his, filling Jarod with the information he had, the memories, the pain.

When Jarod had all the data, he tried to assimilate it. Somehow, Parker was at the Centre, and Lyle had captured her. He'd held a 'trial,' and had given Miss Parker over to Raines. The Pretender knew he had to rescue Parker, somehow.

Wait a second...how is this possible? How is the Centre here? How am I here?

-~-~-~-~-

It didn't take Raines long to erase or alter every happy memory that Parker had, and replaced them with the memories he thought she should have instead. He was systematically going through her brain, effectively molding her into a perfect tool for the Centre.

She had the brains and genetic code of a Pretender, even though she had never been trained. Her mother's 'inner sense' didn't hurt either, undisciplined as it was.

She had experienced Simulations; knew how the exercises worked.

She'd worked for the Centre for years, knew the inside politics.

She had experience in both the real and the Centre universe.

She'd the attitude, the aptitude, and the body to be a wonderful assassin.

And above all Parker had killed for the Centre before.

-~-~-~-~-

Drifting out of the heavenly abyss of blackness, the woman regained consciousness slowly. Where am I? She knew the answer instantly; she was asleep, in Raines' Lab.

"What am I doing here?" She asked quickly.

Raines thought fast and replied, "You were walking in the hall and fainted. You need to eat more, or you'll have more of these spells."

"Well, can I go now? I have work to do," Parker asked impatiently.

Raines nodded his assent. "Yes, you may. Don't forget, though," Raines started, laying his plans in motion. "You have a job to do tonight."

-~-~-~-~-

Angelo appeared out of thin air, startling Jarod, who was gazing at the large corporation set into the grassy plains. He was surprised to see it here, wherever here was. "Angelo found a way."

Jarod whistled excitedly. "How?"

"Later," Angelo replied, and lay on the soft grass. Jarod didn't protest further, he too was tired after a long tromp through the thick woods.

-~-~-~-~-

Late in the black night a single operative left the Centre. She glided swiftly through the silent night; clad in a dark full-length body suit.

Quickly and easily, she slid into the Tower's security system, and disabled the programs, looping the cameras in certain areas. Making her way quietly up to the very top floor of the building, she entered the office of the Sub-Director.

A quick slash to the throat and wrists made the job look like an apparent suicide, prints on the silver-bladed knife further supported the crime.

-~-~-~-~-

On her short walk back to the Centre, she took the fastest way, cutting through the woods. A beam of moonlight filtered through the guardian pines, bouncing off the silver square ring on her first finger...

-~-~-~-~-~-

...A glint that shinned right into Jarod's half-open eyes. Up and running instantly, he spotted the tall, slim figure racing over the emerald-green ground.

"PAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRKKEEERR!" He screamed, trying to catch up to her with every long stride he took.

-~-~-~-~-

The word hit her, she knew that voice! Pausing for a second in her hurried frenzy, she stopped and turned towards the voice...running to her was a vision from the past...

-~-~-~-~-~-

When he saw her halt, Jarod once again shouted her name.

Ironic, isn't it...you chasing her, when it should be the other way around

Putting on an extra burst of speed, Jarod reached Parker before she could flee again.

He grabbed out for her hand...

[ LIMBO : THE EPILOGUE : ONLY WHEN I SLEEP ]
By Andrea


Disclaimer:: NBC owns the Pretender, I own the words





~~~~~~~~~

His fingers brushed hers, reaching desperately for her outstretched hand. Their palms met, he clutched her hand...

~~~~~~~~~

...and fell into an abyss of color, a deep pool of bright, vibrant emotion.

Emerald green, cerulean blue. Hints of sunshine yellow danced within the airy colors, and the three hues were fused together with deep purple. The whirling palette drew Jarod deeper into the vision...

~~~~~~~~~

...she plummeted into a deep gulf of a spinning spectrum; metallic silver and blood red burgundy flashed before her, merging with the deep black fringing the edges. A deep gold light that shimmered at the farthest point beckoned to her, pulling her into the warmth, the security...

~~~~~~~~~

Hearing his name called faintly, he willed himself to wake, to leave the swirling tunnel.

"Jarod?"

The voice, much closer this time, startled the Pretender, and he jumped out of the small armchair. "Sydney?" He asked, confused.

The psychiatrist chuckled lightly. "It's about time, Jarod. I've been trying to break through to you for the last five minutes. You seemed to be in some sort of trance..." Sydney trailed off, seeing Jarod's puzzled look.

"I was?"

Nodding, Sydney said, "When I came back to the room -"

Jarod cut in. "What room?"

Deciding to start from the beginning, Syd explained. "Broots found Miss Parker in her office at the Centre, the victim of a shooting. We don't know who did it, or why. Once here at the hospital, doctors quickly deduced that the damage from the bullet hadn't caused her coma. In fact, they still don't know. I called you, about two and a half-hours ago. When you arrived, you wanted to be left alone with Miss Parker. I just came back, about five minutes ago. Only to find you in a reverie-like state; you didn't even know I was back."

Suddenly, the events of the time he'd spent in the other world came rushing back to Jarod.

Raising his glance, to the concerned Sydney sitting across from him, Jarod quietly told him everything that had happened to him, during the time Sydney had been gone. Which had passed more like days. Sydney simply sat, astonished, at Jarod's fantastical tale.

Jarod looked down at the pale hand he still clutched. The hand he'd grabbed for dear life, hoping for some kind of rescue. Hoping to be the rescuer. Slowly, he released his grip, unclenching his fingers one by one...

~~~~~~~~~

"Jarod?"

~~~~~~~~~

Her single word caused him to break out in a smile of relief, and Jarod turned to Miss Parker, who had finally woken from her nightmare.

"Parker," Jarod said softly, reaching again for her hand. "You're okay."

"Of course I'm okay," She snapped. With effort, Parker sat up. Only to fall back into the pillows, biting back a cry of pain.

Showing a look of concern, Jarod asked, "Do you remember what happened?"

Thinking over the incidents of the past few days, she nodded. The memories weren't clear, but fuzzy and distorted. But there was one word there, one strong emotion. A gut feeling so powerful she couldn't ignore it. "Lyle. He came into my office..." Sparking her memory, the words spilled out easily, recounting what had happened two days ago.

There was one gap in her recollections, the time she'd spent with Raines 'til the moment Jarod had seized her hand, saving her. He told her what he knew, which wasn't much.

Anger and shock filled her, at the audacity of her twin. Jarod saw her temper rising visibly, and he tried to soothe Parker. "It didn't happen for real."

Of course, she refused to be calmed. "But it could have."

Jarod shook his head. "But it didn't."

Bent on revenge, she continued to rage, "Next time I see that bastard, he's going to hell himself."

"If you do something, everyone's going to think you're crazy. And then you might be turned over to Raines for real. Parker, please." Jarod gazed into her eyes, the icy glacier pools they were. "Just forget this all happened..."

"Jarod, I can't," she whispered tearfully. Memories were flooding back, of her time in limbo.

"Shh." The Pretender did something he would never have dared; he leaned close to Parker, and kissed her.

Suddenly, the door cracked open, and Broots' bald head peeked in the room. He let out a startled grunt, and the handle slipped from his fingers; crashing the door in his face. A minute later, he squeezed his way through the entrance, Standing just inside the doorframe, his eyes swept the room, resting on the awake Miss Parker, and the worried Jarod. "Miss Parker...Jarod..." Abruptly, he fled the hospital room, to the amazement of the others.

Facing Parker again, Jarod said softly, "Parker, you have to forget. Disremember everything that happened in limbo, because you have to. For your own good. I know it won't be easy..."

She knew he was right. Daddy would never reprimand his precious son; hell, he hadn't even killed that other bastard when she'd been shot the year before. She would have to file this away, and act like she'd forgotten, to save herself. But she wouldn't give up on her thoughts of retaliation...no, she'd wait until everyone forgot, and then make them pay...when they weren't expecting it.

She murmured, "You're right."

"Jarod, thank you."