Chapter Seven: The Hunt Is On

RL suddenly walked in, shouting, “PEOPLE!”

“EEP!” squeaked Hooks, falling off the chair. “Owwies…”

“Sorry,” said RL, picking him up.

Luke blinked. “Hello?”

“Luke was about to tell us his plan to get AL here.”

“Bully for him. Look, I want to know what the whole secret meeting was about. The boys won’t breathe a word.”

Tommy came out of the Hall O’Rooms. “Good for them.”

RL glared. “I don’t think I’ve ever been upset with you lot before.”

Data, however, knew the truth. “You are not upset. You just do not like not knowing secrets.”

“That, too,” said RL. “So spill it.”

“No,” said Luke.

Her glare deepened, then she noticed someone was missing. “Where’s the Doctor?”

Tommy pointed to the Hall. “Phase One of the plan to get AL back in good spirits. Medicus made something to make him sick. You know how you both get when one of us is weak in some way.”

“You mean all ‘Oh-I-Must-Take-Care-Of-You-Now’?”

“Well, yes,” said Tommy. “That’s how I met AL, remember?”

RL shrugged. “As far as I know, anyway.” Tommy raised his eyebrow and she cleared her throat. “You’re not off the hook. What was the meeting about?”

“Nope,” said Tommy, “sorry.”

“V and I have ways of making you boys talk, mister.”

Adam was suddenly very afraid. “Should we tell her?”

“No!” Tommy and Luke said simultaneously while Adam grinned sheepishly.

RL frowned. “Fine. I’ll just go see what I can weasel out of Jamie.” She turned to leave, then stopped. “Hm. Before I go. Adam…”

The Australian looked around the room for a place to hide.

“Oh, relax. I just want…will you say it once?”

“Mm? Oh.” He cleared his throat. “It takes a lot of practice to overcome the pull of the beacon, and, until you do, you’re gonna keep landing in the sea.”

RL squealed and Tommy covered his ears. “Did you have to, Adam?”

“She’s…very persuasive.”

“And don’t you forget it. I’ll figure out what that meeting was about. Believe me.” She stalked out.

“Okay,” said Tommy. “I’m suddenly frightened.”

Hooks, Adam and Data all nodded and, though fear was the path to the Dark Side, Luke was uneasy, too.

End chapter seven.

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