Collision Course

Mallory sat in her car, outside the house in London where Jan Oramu lived with
his
adoptive parents. She watched through a small pair of bioculars, waiting for
the right
moment to strike. Then she saw him.

Instantly she knew it was him, before he even walked up to the door of the
house. A smile
spread across her lips as she watched the handsome man walk up the street, a
backpack
slung on his shoulder. He wore a pair of jeans and a University sweatshirt, and
walked
with the confidence one would expect from a man who was so important. Even
though he
had no idea what the prophecies said, or how involved he was. He had no idea
what his
true lineage was. This confident stride just came naturally to him.

Mallory watched as he walked up the steps to the humble house, slipped his key
in the
lock, and went inside. She smiled again as she put the binoculars on the seat
of the car
next to her and stepped out onto the sidewalk, approaching the house calmly, so
as not to
arrouse suspicion.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Jan cried as he slammed the door shut behind him. His
mother
poked her head out from the kitchen. "Hello, dear, I'm in the kitchen," she
said, "How was
your day?"

Jan approached her and hugged her tightly. "Fine, Mom," he said with a smile,
noticing his
mother was drying a dish. "Give me that, I'll finish up."

"Nonsense, sit down. I made you some spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, you
must be
starving," she said, finishing the dish and putting it in the cabinet. "Sit
down, I'll make you
a plate."

"Thanks Mom," said Jan, sitting at the table and pouring himself a glass of
water. "Where's
Dad?"

"Upstairs, taking a nap. He has another late shift tonight," said his mother,
her irritation
not hidden from her tone.

"Again? He's got to take it easy," said Jan, his concern for his father's well
being evident.

Mallory picked the lock to the door and listened to the entire conversation.
She heard the
woman say that Jan's father was sleeping upstairs, so she silently crept
upstairs to take
care of that problem first. Wouldn't want Daddy to hear a commotion and come
running,
she thought.

She slipped into the back bedroom, and saw the sleeping form of Jan's father.
She
surpressed a laugh, thinking Jan must know he's adopted. There's no way such a
puny and
unimpressive man could have ever produced such a confidant and attractive child.
She
quietly slipped up to the side of the bed, as the man slept, and shot him once
in the head,
her silencer stiffling any noise so the two downstairs had no idea he was even
dead.

Just as quietly as she slipped up the stairs, Mallory slipped back down and
resumed
listening to the conversation.

"... so I figured I'd skip hockey practice, since I have to ace that exam
tomorrow," Jan was
telling his mother.

"That's a good idea, you know we'll give you your space, as always," she said
with a
chuckle.

"I know Mom, you always tell me how important my studies are," Jan replied with
a smile.

Mallory thought she might be sick. She couldn't stand much more of this perfect
family
chit chat. She inched her way toward the kitchen, setting her sights on Jan's
mother,
waiting for her to move toward the sink. As she did, Mallory made one shot,
taking Jan's
mother down. She was dead before she hit the floor.

Jan's face contorted in pain as he saw the split second event happen in slow
motion before
him. His mother's face as she fell, her lifeless body on the kitchen floor,
blood escaping
from the wound in the back of her head. "Mom!" he cried, getting up to rush to
her.

In a flash Mallory was behind him, grabbing him in a headlock as he struggled to
get to
her mother.

"She's already gone, little boy, boo hoo," she said unsympathetically. Tears
ran down Jan's
cheeks as Mallory pulled him away from the gruesome scene, shoving him up
against the
wall by the front door.

"Who are you? What did you just- why?" he stammered, not understanding what was
going
on and fighting to get away. Fear was coursing through his veins, thinking he
might be
next.

As if reading his mind, Mallory said, "Don't worry, I am under strick orders not
to kill you."

"That's good to know," said Jan, trying to turn and look back towards the
kitchen, but
Mallory kept his head firmly in place, looking directly at her.

"Doesn't mean I don't get to have my fun, though," she said, bringing the butt
of her gun
down on his head, rendering him unconscious. "So easy...." she said, shaking
her head
and pulling Jan's unconscious body quickly out to her car, trying not to attract
attention.

--------------------------------

Sydney and Vaughn arrived at the house a mere few hours later, before the
murders of
Jan's parents had been discovered or reported. Sydney knocked on the front
door, waiting
for an answer. When none was received, she looked at Vaughn. He nodded, and
she
carefully and quietly picked the lock on the front door. Each of them withdrew
their
weapons as they entered, noting the eerie silence in the house. they made their
way
throught he house, into the kitchen, and saw the lifeless body of Jan's adoptive
mother on
the fool, a pool of blood around her head. "We're too late," Sydney said to
Vaughn,
looking up at him.

Vaughn thought that he couldn't see any more sadness in Sydney's eyes then that
which
was there at the discovery of the child she had desperately not wanted. But
now, the
thought that that very child might be in danger, a new and different sadness in
her eyes- a
sadness that could only come from a mother, wanting to protect her child.

"Apparently we both were, late that is," said a voice from behind them. Sydney
whirlled
around, her eyes widening in shock. "The father is also dead, upstairs in the
bedroom.
But perhaps, if we work together, we can find your little boy Sydney.

Vaughn didn't need to turn around. He could never mistake that voice. Still he
turned,
and followed Sydney's line of sight. She was staring into the icey cold eyes of
Julian Sark.

**************END OF PART 7***********************