Tyran had taken Jaya home. As she entered the door, she shifted from her dress into a sleek but comfortable outfit, her hair back to its normal auburn cascaded around her shoulders.
"Oh my god . . ." she said as she paced with the note still in her hand. "I just never thought . . . He actually came here . . ."
"Jaya please, calm down. Nothing will happen to us. We're safe now." He said and took her in his arms.
"No, you don't understand! If he found me here, he can find out anything about me! Including where I live . . . But he doesn't want to kill me. He looks as this as some twisted game! That I'm some kind of playful opponent! I just don't get it! I should have killed him . . . Right there . . . I could have. Why didn't it?!" she said as she backed out of his embrace. "Everything could have been over!"
"Please calm down, you're over-reacting, and if you keep going like this, I'll have to call Dom."
She looked at him with questioning eyes. "But you don't understand!" she said. "If I'd killed him, even in the middle of that party, it would over! Everything! All of it! It would be over!"
"Enough!" Tyran tapped the personal comm he carried with him and contacted Dom. "Dominic, Tyran here, I need you at Jaya's now."
"And what is he going to do?" Jaya looked at him, questioningly. "This is just so big and I missed my one opportunity! I just can't believe it! I could have finally made him pay!" She crumbled the note in her hand and threw it. It hit the far wall with a forceful smack, but no damage had been done. Had it been something other than heavy paper, there would have been a mark at the very least.
"He'll make sure you calm down for starters. I have to meet Alec soon, and you can bet I'm not gonna leave you here alone, agitated and all." He impatiently called Dom again.
However, the sensor for the door sounded. Jaya bristled at the noise for a moment, her whole body hypersensitive to everything.
"Dom?" Tyran opened the door.
"It's me," he replied. "What's going on? It sounded urgent."
Jaya was finally silent, but she was pacing the floor . . . her mind turning the events of the evening over and over in her mind. What she could have done differently, and if there was a next time, possibilities of what she could do then. It was obvious she was still agitated.
"You have to stay with Jaya. You'll see why. I have an urgent meeting at the Starlight Inn." He ran out before Dominic could ask more.
"I'm fine, honestly," she replied, but she continued pacing.
"And you're trying to wear out the rug, because . . .?" he asked.
She stopped and looked at him. "You can't understand . . ."
"Try me. I'd like to think I'm on the intelligent side."
"Well, maybe that wasn't the best way of saying it," she said. "You can't understand because you can't know!" she said as she began pacing again.
"What are you? Some kind of spy?" he laughed.
She met his gaze and he grew quiet.
"I think you need to rest," he replied.
"I can't . . . I can't stop thinking about tonight . . . the party. There was something I should have done and I didn't . . ."
He could clearly see she was getting agitated again.
"Well, I'm the doctor here and it's time for me to make a judgment call."
With that, just as she was turning to look at him, he placed the hypospray against her neck. Within nanoseconds, the hiss of the medication entering her was heard.
She looked at Dominic, surprise in her eyes. "Why . . .?" Was all she managed to utter, before she collapsed into his arms.
It wasn't easy getting her to the bed, but he managed. He then looked at her resting form and sighed. He knew that this time when Tyran returned, he was going to have to finally level with him about Jaya . . . More was going on with this woman that either had been willing to tell him. Dominic only had suspicions and conjecture. It was finally time to learn what was truly going on.
Tyran saw Alec waiting in front of his bar; it was closed so that was no surprise. "The Dark shadow was at the party," he said.
Alec's eyes widened. "What?! How do you know?"
"Jaya said it and I also saw him. She's extremely agitated. I left Dominic with her." Tyran still looked like a vampire.
"Is she sure it was him?" Alec asked, knowing she'd never actually seen the Dark Shadow's face.
"Yeah, he was dressed as the Phantom of the Opera. He was about my height."
"And she's sure it wasn't some joker?" Alec asked, his eyes trying to assess the situation.
"Yes! Come and see how panicked she is. He left her a note as well."
"Well, I definitely want to see that note," Alec replied. "And I wouldn't mind seeing how Jaya's doing."
"Probably asleep with the most curious doctor in the universe," Tyran said calmly.
"Dominic?" he asked.
"Yeah, Dominic Sebastian; I've know him for a long time. He's not blind."
"No, he's not . . ." Alec agreed. "Well, we better go see how he's faired with her . . . I can't imagine how she must have reacted to all this."
"Pacing and abusing the carpet . . . not listening to anyone . . . well, me. And I bet she hasn't listened to Dom either," Tyran summed up while they walked to her place.
"That doesn't sound good . . ."
Finally they reached Jaya's home and walked in, seeing Dominic sitting on the couch reading.
"How is she, Dom?" Tyran asked with concern.
"Asleep," he replied, putting the PADD down on the table. "So are you two going to finally tell me what's going on?"
Tyran looked at Alec. "That depends."
"On what? I've already figured out that Jaya Bourne isn't who she claims to be . . . There are too many hints of things going on that exclude it from being the truth . . . There was that search of yours for Christianna Avante, which since you never asked me again I am assuming you discovered a photo or whatever proof you were looking for."
"He was the one with the medical journals, Alec. I would have found what she looked like even if you had gotten rid of each and every file in the Starfleet database."
Alec sighed and looked at Dominic. "If I say anything to you, it means I am giving you clearance to hear this. Nothing I tell you is to leave this room . . . Not just for Jaya's sake, but for your own as well. Do you understand?"
"Just who are you?" Dominic asked.
"I'll get to that . . ." he said. "But you understand the clearance and how sensitive this issue is?"
"Certainly, I was a CMO is Starfleet for many years. I understand that much."
"Okay, then . . . That woman in there is Jaya Bourne, but she wasn't always. She once was, as you suspected Christianna Avante . . . Renowned medical researcher. About 6 years ago, her house was destroyed in an explosion, killing her husband and daughter. The only thing that saved her was returning home late. But losing her family completely destroyed her."
"I can understand," Dominic replied.
"Well, it was bad . . . She didn't want to talk, wouldn't eat . . . completely withdrew. Had to be force-fed at one point . . . She didn't start getting back on her feet until I came to her with a plan . . . For her to become Jaya Bourne."
"Okay, yes, I understand that much. But what is it about Jaya Bourne that's so necessary?"
"The Dark Shadow is who killed her family . . . We needed a Black Tiger to coax him out into the light . . ."
Dominic's eyes widened. "Jaya's the Black Tiger?"
"Yes, Dom, she's the Black Tiger." Tyran said. "That was what we kept from you; I puzzled a good while to find out who she was myself."
"But she's an assassin?" he asked with surprise.
Alec didn't say a word. "She has to do what she has to do to draw out the Dark Shadow."
"No, that's not what I mean . . . I mean . . . Assassins are supposed to be rather cold-blooded I imagine. I haven't seen that in her."
"I suspect she's a special kind of assassin. I never did believe she killed anyone innocent," Tyran said calmly looking at Alec, to see if he was right, reading the expressions on the man's face.
"I can't really say much beyond this point . . . at least not right now. Just know that she does what she has to . . . No more, no less and she does it for a greater good."
"I understand that all too well. I just see the facts and draw my conclusions, Alec, like I was taught." Tyran replied. "Maybe I should take your offer and close the bar to come back to Starfleet Intelligence."
Alec half smiled. "Well, how about you stay here with Jaya for awhile . . . You know, if I could I'd let her go . . . If she wanted to really leave I would let her . . . But she won't be able to get that creep out of her mind . . . Not until she knows he's dead."
"As I said - if you want me back . . . I want to help, just to make sure our relationship has a future." Tyran's words were, however, half hearted. Starfleet Intelligence had changed, and so had he.
Alec patted his back. "The best thing you can do is offer her as much of a normal life as you can . . . It'll make up for the abnormal part maybe . . ."
"I'll do my best." He promised.
"So is she going to sleep through the night?" Alec asked.
"She should," Dominic replied, "But she was in a highly agitated state . . . Why was she so agitated?"
"She saw the Dark Shadow at our party tonight . . . and . . . so did I. He could have killed me," Tyran said.
"Or her . . ." Dominic replied.
"That reminds me, where's the note you mentioned?" Alec asked.
"Here." Tyran kneeled and picked the note up. Then he handed it to Alec.
Alec unfurled it and read the contents. "The bastard acts like it's a game . . . he wants to play with her . . ."
"I know. That's what she said too. I pray he doesn't see me as a toy," Tyran mumbled.
"Maybe we should close the operation . . . Move you two to a safer locale . . ."
"And then have us worry if he'll find me again?" came a weak voice from the bedroom doorway.
"You're still supposed to be asleep," Dominic replied with surprise.
"Under extreme stress, my body metabolized the safe tranquilizers very quickly." But it was obvious she was weak. It was still in her system. She was merely fighting it.
"Move me; and what about my bar?!" Tyran gaped at the man.
"No . . ." Jaya said. "You can't move him . . . He won't go. And I'm not about to leave . . . I'm going to find this bastard and kill him." She was just trying to walk thought the living room to the door, but halfway there her legs began to buckle. Tyran grabbed her before she could fall.
"I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere except back to bed." Dominic said as he readied another injection of medication. "You need to sleep and not think about this tonight . . . There's always the morning."
"But he'll get away . . ." she said as Dominic gave her another dose. She drifted back to sleep.
"That's the last one I can give her. It's a bit stronger than the other . . . Hopefully it will keep her down longer."
"Let me help get her to bed," Alec said as he helped Tyran carry her.
"What did you mean, move me? I want to know what you planned on, since I sure as hell am not planning to close the bar."
"Set up new identities . . . Move you off this world to another . . . so you and her could start fresh without the Dark Shadow on your tails . . ."
"Keep dreaming. There is no way you'll ever get me to leave my bar."
Alec nodded. "Well, I had to offer. Doesn't look like she would have taken the deal either . . ." he said with a sigh as they settled her onto the bed.
"You're right. We'll manage . . . I don't think the Dark Shadow will ever dare to enter my bar again."
"I wouldn't count on that . . ." He said. "But who knows . . . As long as Jaya plays his game you'll probably be okay."
"His game?" Dominic replied. "Murdering people?"
"Look, it's not what you think," he replied.
"I don't know what to think," Dominic replied. "But I care for this woman as well in the time I've gotten to know her. I can't believe this . . . It doesn't add up with who she is."
"It doesn't have to add up as long as her cover isn't blown," Alec replied.
"Well, it won't be blown by me . . . Anyway, seeing as I'm not needed anymore I'll take my leave."
"Alright," Tyran sighed.
"Goodnight," Dominic said as he left.
Alec looked at Jaya. "I knew that this was a dangerous job when I gave it to her . . . She wanted it though . . . Begged me for it. As soon as her body healed from the explosion she was training . . . She trained hard for a year . . .
"What can you tell me, Alec? Can that creep place a bomb in my bar? I have to think of Sarah and Danayal, and the children that come by, and my clients . . ."
He thought about it and then shook his head. "No . . . if he goes after you, it would be to see your face . . . You know Jaya . . . It would be personal. When he killed David and Emily and had assumed he'd killed Christianna as well, it wasn't personal. It was business. There is a difference."
"Oh great," He sighed. "I just hope he'll leave me alone, and if he thinks I'll ever leave Jaya, he'll have to guess again."
Alec thought about the note once more. "I don't know what this man is thinking . . . We just assumed he'd eventually force a confrontation with Jaya and it was then she was supposed to take him down." He shook his head. "Now I just don't know what's going on."
"You better find out before she goes crazy and is ready for a stay in Woodward acres mental hospital." Tyran sighed. "Damn! Dom forgot to get these prosthetics off. I still look like a vampire."
"Well, if you want to go track him down, go ahead. I can stay with Jaya to make sure that she doesn't wake up alone."
"Alright," Tyran opened the door and left.
He didn't know he was being followed.
Alec stayed by Jaya's side. He was relieved to see her sleeping comfortably . . . He knew she wouldn't have been able to find the Dark Shadow now anyway. The man was probably long gone.
Tyran walked further. He was just in time to see his friend grab I ride. Since he missed Dominic he knew he'd have to walk. After all, he knew his friend was going home. He just took another route through some back alleys. It was faster.
Suddenly there was a man walking beside him, but in the shadows.
"Your lady friend is really something, isn't she?" the man asked. "Very stunning . . ."
"Who are you?" Tyran asked surprised.
The man smiled. "Someone who admires your friend . . ."
"The Dark shadow . . ." Tyran said softly as he froze.
The man laughed. "You're very smart . . . And the woman you're with . . . well, she's my kind. Not yours . . ."
Though he spoke with intent, there was nothing threatening in his manner. There was more amusement than anything else.
"And how do you know that? On what do you judge me, not being her type?"
He again laughed. "You're not an assassin. You're a bartender. She's out of your league . . ."
"Don't be so sure. Looks can be deceiving."
He laughed. "Do you have any idea who she is? She could snap you in half if she wanted and not think twice about it . . . I've watched her for the past five years . . . since she first made herself known . . . I think I might know her better than you."
"Hardly," Tyran grumbled. "You only know what you want to see. I know the real Jaya, and I'm hoping you get shot soon." He suddenly had a small phaser of an old type trained on the man. "And I never leave the house unarmed."
"Well, I won't detain you further. Enjoy your evening . . . Just keep in mind that those who play with Tigers eventually get mauled . . ." He laughed to himself and walked away as if the phaser hadn't been shown to him at all.
Tyran watched him; he'd not fired the thing in at least 100 years. He sighed and went to Dom's place. He knocked on the door. The fact he was pale was not caused by his vampire looks.
Dominic opened the door and saw Tyran. "Oh yes, I forgot about your costume," he said. "Come in . . ."
But as Tyran walked in, Dominic noticed that he was shaking a bit. "What's wrong?" he asked with a bit of concern.
"He . . . he studied me . . . he . . . he said Jaya and I . . . we don't match." He licked his dry lips; the look of shock pretty evident.
"He? He who?" he asked. "Alec?"
"N.no. D... ark Sh... Shadow..." His teeth chattered.
"What?!" Dominic quickly closed the door and locked it. He then helped Tyran to a chair. "You saw him?"
"Y...es..." Tyran suddenly felt ice cold.
Dominic grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around his friend. "It's all right. It's just the shock . . . You'll be fine . . . What did he say to you?" Dominic asked.
"He... he. he..." Tyran couldn't get it out of his throat. "Alec... Alec alone... Jaya. doesn't know."
Dominic grabbed his personal comm and called for Jaya. Alec immediately pick up.
"There's a problem," Dominic said. "Your friend hasn't left town and has just confronted Tyran . . . He's pretty shook up. I can't get much out of him, but I suspect he wanted to warn you . . ."
"Damn! All hell's breaking loose tonight!" Conklin replied in frustration grabbing his own weapon. "Take care of him . . . Tell him I'll be here with Jaya."
"All right," Dominic replied. He closed the channel and looked at Tyran. "He's staying with her . . . He'll protect her."
"Have to go to them; can't leave them alone." He was still shivering and felt cold.
"You need to let the shock wear off first and I need to take this off you," he said motioning to his face. "Why don't you try to take a few deep breaths while I alter your appearance back to normal?"
He did what Dom suggested. The night was ruined. He was upset and scared like he had never been before.
It took twenty minutes to get Tyran back to normal. "How are you feeling?" Dominic asked.
"Scared, tired, worried . . . I have the feeling he'll come for me one day, Dom."
"One day may not be today . . . or tonight as it is," Dominic replied. "Did he seem as if he were going to harm you?" he asked.
"No, but I felt his presence as a threat."
"As would anyone," Dominic assured him. "Do you think he'd really go after Jaya? Tonight?"
"I'm not sure. I'm not sure of anything, Dom." Tyran sighed. "He claimed I was not Jaya's type of guy, because I'm only a bartender."
"Really?" he replied. "And why is that?"
"He claimed she was in his league - an assassin. That he's studied her for five years..." Tyran sighed and gratefully took the hot coffee Dom offered him.
"Odd . . ." Dominic replied. "The idea for this, from Alec, is that this Dark Shadow would eventually want a confrontation . . . I think he does, but of a different sort than the one being assumed."
"Like what?" Tyran mumbled sipping from the strong coffee. He was slowly warming up.
"Think about it, Tyran . . ." he said. "Think about his words to you . . . What is he implying?"
Tyran was quiet for a moment. "He's in love with her." It suddenly struck him.
Dominic nodded. "He's found the perfect woman in Jaya Bourne, hasn't he?"
"And I'm standing in his way; because she'll never love him."
"Well . . . This is all conjecture . . ." Dominic said. "I could be wrong . . ."
"You're not wrong, and I need to go to Alec, tell him." Tyran jumped up. "I liked the teeth; did that brown hair suit me?" He asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Dominic smiled for a moment. "I think you looked just like you wanted and it did suit you."
"Thanks, my friend." He sighed. "I'll take a skybus to Jaya. But I have to warn them..." He said and left.
Dominic sighed with concern as he watched his friend go.
As Tyran neared the house, he saw something on the front porch in front of the door . . . It was a single red rose.
Tyran saw it, he shivered, the Dark Shadow had been there. Jaya wasn't safe anymore. With a heavy heart he took the flower and entered the house.
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