DISCLAIMER: The Tomorrow people do not belong to me. They are the property of Roger Price, Thames Television and Tetra/Nickelodeon T.V. I am making absolutely no money from this fan-fic. This is written in homage to the excellent work of the aforementioned Television Companies and Roger Price. It is also written in the hope that, by joining with the ever growing list of fan fiction, it may inspire these people to, yet again, resurrect the show.
The Characters of Danny, Joe, The Order of Alterran Healers, and some of the occasional "extras" ARE mine. They are purely fictitious characters and bear no resemblance to any other people, real or imagined.
Please feel free to archive this fiction. However I do ask that it is ALWAYS kept together with this disclaimer.
PERSONAL COMMENT. This is my first fan fiction. I hope that you like it. I wish to thank Shaun Hately for his patience and support in beta reading this document. Any errors or inaccuracies you may find in it are due to me and not to him.
I would welcome any comment you wish to make on this story. I can be reached at:-
David_M_Yates@email.msn.com. "Live long and prosper."
Manchester: August 1978.
"Arrgh!" Danny howled out in pain as the headache struck again, with even more intensity than before. He looked across the small living room of his family's council house to where his twin brother Joe was also gripped with pain.
"Joe . . . We've gotta tell someone! This is getting worse!"
"Tell who?" was Joe's pained reply. "Mum? . . . or Him?"
Him' was Harold, their Mum's new bloke' who she was out on the town with at that present moment. Harold was the latest of many men that their mother had taken up with since that fateful night five years before when a drunken driver had killed their father and changed their lives . . . .forever!
Danny had to admit that Joe had a point. It wasn't that there was anything really *wrong* with Harold; it was just that he was simply the latest of so many. The twins had given up trying to get to know all their many uncles'. There were so numerous
that it hardly seemed worth making the effort any more.
There had been a time, just after their father had died, that the twins and their mother had been very close. They could talk about everything. Then, one night, all that had changed when their mother had brought Uncle Keith' home to meet them.
They had made an effort to get to know Keith for their mother's sake. Even at the tender age of nine they had realised that their mother was lonely. That she needed friendship with someone of her own age. They weren't sure quite how they knew this, it seemed that they had always *known* at a deep, almost instinctive level what people felt and wanted. Keith had been all right, however, their mother was not good at keeping her men. The rows and the drinking quickly started, and Keith quickly left to be replaced by a string of other uncles', some of them lasting longer than others . . . It became a game between the brothers, trying to decide how long a new one would last.
Life would have gone on like this until the brothers grew up and left home, but recently fate, or nature, decided to play a part. Towards the end of July the headaches had begun.
At first they had been quite mild, easily dispelled by raiding their mothers supply of Paracetamol. As July had given way to August, things had got progressively worse until today when suddenly, without any warning, both boys had been struck with a violent attack. It felt like someone was trying to split their heads open with a meat cleaver! What was worse was that both Danny and Joe could somehow feel the pain of the other twin thus doubling the pain.
The pain was coming in waves, surging and receding; however each surge was stronger than the previous one, while each recession was getting shorter.
Danny tried to get up and reach for the Panadol.
"Don't"! Joe cried. "We've already taken too many of them, if we keep taking them, they'll kill us!"
Danny tried to stand. "If we don't take em the pain'll kill us too!"
As Danny stood up, another wave of pain, worse than either twin thought possible, crashed in to them. "Arrrgh!" both boys cried out. As a wave of darkness washed over them Danny found himself thinking [Somebody help us . . . .PLEASE!]
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_
London: . . . .The lab.(Same evening)
[Somebody help us . . . ..PLEASE!] The telepathic message came into the lab loud and clear, and with it a powerful wave of pain.
"Oww!" cried Elizabeth as she clamped her hands to her head. "Did anyone else get that?"
She looked over to John, Stephen and Mike who were with her at the lab that day. One look answered her question, all three young men were also nursing their heads.
"Someone's breaking out" John answered, " but I've never sensed such pain in a breakout before!"
Before anyone could answer, the glow of the jaunting pad announced the arrival of Tyso and Andrew. "Who was that?" Tyso asked.
"They're in pain!" Andrew added.
"They?" Mike asked.
"There's two of them . . . can't you sense that?" Andrew, the newest of the Tomorrow People was often more sensitive than the others.
"Let's link" John declared. The six Tomorrow People quickly gathered around TIM'S console merging their powers with those of the biotronic computer and reached out with their joined minds.
[Hello . . . Can you hear us? . . . We want to help you . . . Where are you?]
They waited, repeating the message five times . . . "Nothing" said John.
"They must be unconscious" Stephen answered. "If I was in that much pain I know I would be!"
"TIM, Keep repeating the message . . . let us know the minute you get any reply."
"Very well John."
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Back in Manchester Danny began to come round. He became aware of two very surprising things: firstly that the almost constant pain in his head had stopped and secondly that he was hearing strange voices.
[Hello . . . Can you hear us? . . . We want to help . . . Where are you?]
"Joe?" said Danny, "is that you?"
"Is what me?" asked a groggy Joe who had just woken up.
"Those people asking where we are."
[Hello . . . Can you hear us? . . . We want to help . . . Where are you?]
"That's not me" Joe replied, "is the radio on somewhere?"
"Its not the radio . . . " said Danny puzzled, "It sounds too close for that . . . almost in my head!"
"It IS in your head! . . . and mine too!" Joe shouted, panic beginning to form, "What is it?"
Just then the message changed to a single male voice. [Hello . . . Danny and Joe? my name is John. If you can hear this . . . please think a reply.]
[What's happening to us?] Danny sent back.
[Its nothing to be afraid of] replied John, his thoughts coloured with a tinge of excitement, [you're at the start of a great adventure! Can you hear me as well Joe?]
[Yes I can] Joe replied.
[Hold on . . . We've got a fix on you now . . . I'm going to come and visit you . . . please don't be alarmed . . . I'll be there in a few minutes.]
Just then, the doorbell rang. Without knowing how he knew it Danny was convinced that it was John at the door. He rushed up to answer it, forgetting everything his Mother had told them both about opening the door to strangers when she was out. Danny and Joe both *knew* that John could be trusted.
The door opened to reveal a young man in his early twenties, He had mid-length brown hair and brown eyes, he smiled as the door opened.
"Hello Danny" he said.
"Your voice sounds different now than it did before" said Danny suddenly anxious.
[You mean different from this?] John pathed.
"You never opened your mouth to speak" said Joe "How'd you do that?"
"May I come in?" John asked.
Wordlessly Danny allowed John into their front room. With a motion from Joe, John sat down on the offered chair. He noticed the open bottle of pain killers. "How are the headaches?" he asked.
"Better . . . Thank you" Danny answered automatically. Then he realised what he had been asked. "How did you know about the headaches?"
"We all get them at first." was John's cryptic reply.
"All? . . . Who are all?" Danny asked.
And so, over the next hour John explained to them who and what the Tomorrow People were. That they were the next stage of human evolution, that they could teleport or Jaunt' over vast distances. "Although you have to learn to do that safely!" He had added. He explained about telepathy, showed them the basics of telekinesis and warned them about the Prime Barrier forbidding Tomorrow People from killing. Finally, and for the twins most wonderfully, he confirmed their suspicion that THEY were indeed Tomorrow People too!
"That's just . . . ..mind-blowing!" said Danny at last. "And there are lots of us?"
"There's a few." Said John. "You'll get to meet them ."
"When?" chorused both boys.
"Are your parents around?" John asked. Immediately he felt the tension in the air.
"Our Dad's dead!" Said Joe.
"And Mum's out with Harold." Finished Danny.
John Understood immediately; "All right," He said. "I'll be back tomorrow, take care . . . ..and DON'T use your powers until we've shown you how to do it safely!!!"
With that John teleported.
The next day, Danny and Joe were up early. They realised that today was going to be *different* somehow. It had been hard not to want to experiment with their new powers, but they were sensible lads and realised that John hadn't been joking when he explained the dangers of teleporting without knowing what they were doing. They had contented themselves with practising telepathy and TK until tiredness had sent them both to sleep.
That was yesterday, *today* was going to be different. The thought of leaping off into the unknown both excited and terrified them, but they knew that they had to try. The trick was to get their mother on her own with Harold out of the way; neither of the twins liked or trusted Harold. They both hoped that John would wait until Harold had left for work . . . . . . "I wish we'd told him to come after 8.30!" said Joe.
"So do I!" Danny agreed . . . "Wait a minute! . . . we *can* tell him!"
[John?] . . . no response . . . . . .
"Maybe he's asleep??" Joe offered.
"Let's try together."
[[JOHN!]]
[Yes? What's the matter? . . . ..Are you all right?] Came John's worried reply
[[We're fine . . . .its just that . . . ..]]
[Turn the volume down! . . . . . . there's no need to shout!]
[Were we shouting?] Danny asked
[Yes. When you link the volume is way off the scale! . . . ..We'll have to teach you how to *shout* more quietly . . . if you see what I mean. Anyway, what's the problem?]
[Don't come until after 8.30 please . . . .we want to make sure Harold is out.]
[You can be sure I won't] came the rueful reply . . . ..[I'm still in bed! Don't you two sleep???]
[See you later! ] Danny pathed with a grin.
[Harrumph!] John cut the link.
The routine in the O'Callaghan household followed its usual course that morning. Harold got up, had breakfast and left for work, at that point, 8.25am the routine was disrupted, possibly forever.
"Mum?" said Danny plucking up his courage.
"Mmm?" replied Mrs. O'Callaghan.
"You know the other day when you were asking where all your Paracetamol had gone?"
"You haven't been taking them? . . . . . . Danny those things are dangerous!"
"Its not like that Mum" Said Joe. "We've both been taking them; We've HAD to!"
"Had to???" replied their mother in a voice that spoke volumes.
"We've both been getting terrible headaches!" Said Danny. "We didn't want to worry you, until we knew what was wrong with us . . . . . . ..now we do know and we want to tell you."
"Tell me what?" said Mrs. O'Callaghan a bit nervously; if the truth was told she wasn't sure she really wanted to know. Recently she had felt increasingly that she no longer understood her boys. She wasn't a bad woman or a stupid one; she knew that the home-life she was providing was far from ideal. The thought that her boys might have gotten into drugs terrified her, she wished, not for the first time, that Pete, her dead husband ,was there.
"Just show her Danny," said Joe, sensing his mother's mood.
"Watch!" Said Danny, concentrating on his cereal bowl. The bowl wobbled a bit as Danny controlled the feeling of butterflies' in his stomach, and then soared confidently up into the air. It flew around the room, dive-bombing the dog and coming into land in front of Mrs. O'Callaghan who has screamed at the sudden flight of a previously earth-bound and well behaved piece of crockery.
"Its all right Mum," Said Joe alarmed at the fear he could sense in his mother.
[John!] he pathed.
[Joe?]
[We've told Mum and she's frightened!]
[I bet she is,! . . . . . . . . . hold on Joe, I'm jaunting over now.]
A few moments later the doorbell rang. Danny opened it to see John and an attractive black woman who he knew instantly was called Elizabeth.
"Hi Danny" She said in a musical voice which had Danny captivated on hearing it.
"Hi!" He replied, grinning foolishly.
John, sizing up Danny's reaction instantly, shook his head in resignation.
"Another victim Elizabeth??? . . . .where's your mother Danny?"
"In here . . . . . . " Said Danny, remembering why John and Elizabeth were here. He led them both into the living room, where Joe was sat with his arm around their mother comforting her.
"Mum, this is John and Elizabeth, they'll explain everything." Said Danny.
"I hope someone can!" Mrs. O'Callaghan replied.
Danny and Joe watched as, over the next hour, John and Elizabeth explained to their mother what had happened to them and answering all her questions. The explanation covered the basics of what John had told them; but in less detail. The boys realised that John and Elizabeth had done this before . . . probably many times. The conversation drew to a close.
"And so you see Mrs. O'Callaghan why absolute secrecy is essential. " John was saying. "We have many enemies. If the true facts about us were ever to get out . . .
Well, lets just say that things could get very nasty for us."
"I can see that . . . You have my word I'll not tell a soul."
"Even Harold?" Chorused the twins.
"...Even Harold." Their mother promised.
"Well now, " said Elizabeth, "that settles that. May we borrow your sons for the rest of the day? We need to train them in using their powers...safely. We don't want them to do any unauthorised experimentation."
"This . . . . . . ..'jaunting' . . . . . . Does it hurt?" their mother asked.
Danny and Joe looked to the older TP's for an answer.
"No it doesn't" said John, "it tickles a bit, but that is all."
Mrs. O'Callaghan looked at her son's eager faces, "how could I stop them?" she said wryly. "Go ahead . . . but be careful!"
John delved into his pockets and produced two unusual wristbands. "Here, put these on" he said.
"What are these?" asked Joe.
"We call them jaunting bands" said Elizabeth. "We don't need them to jaunt, that comes from us; but we DO need them to jaunt accurately over long distances."
"Why?" asked Danny.
"The targeting of an arrival point is tricky, unless you know your destination VERY well! If you make a mistake, you could end up materialising in the middle of a brick wall, or worse!" was Elizabeth's answer.
Subdued, the twins put on the bracelets. "What now?" asked the irrepressible Danny.
"Now you open your minds to the bracelet," said John, "feel where it wants you to go, and . . . JAUNT!"
The world around the twins dissolved as they experienced a feeling of floating' for a second. Then, with a strange tingling feeling the world resolved again and the boys realised that they were . . . somewhere else.
"Welcome to the Lab," said John.
London: The Lab: Two weeks later.
John, Elizabeth, Mike, Hsui Tai, and Andrew were having a conference. Tyso and Stephen, although not now officially a part of the Earth based team, were coming to the end of a holiday and were also present. The training of Danny and Joe had produced something unexpected. John was the first to speak.
"We've never HAD Tomorrow People twins before, so we couldn't have guessed that it would make any difference."
"Sure," said Stephen, "but there IS a difference. We've all encountered it in them. The question is, what do we do about it?"
"What CAN we do about it?" Elizabeth asked, "it's there, and we have to deal with it."
"TIM, What do you think?" John asked.
"The problem which seems to have you all so worried is nothing really remarkable," TIM replied soothingly "even in Saps, twins may exhibit a unique bond. There have been many well documented cases of twins who, though separated at birth, have exhibited remarkable similarities in taste, clothes and hobbies. Many Sap twins seem to know' what is wrong with the other one...It is quite logical to posit from this that in the case of Danny and Joe this bond would be necessarily closer."
"That's fair enough TIM," said Elizabeth, "but I think it is even stronger than that. Danny and Joe almost seem to share the same mind They have absolutely no privacy from each other. This has only happened since break-out; and I, for one, don't feel that they are handling it well at all!"
"They're certainly both upset." Remarked Hsui Tai.
"They're MORE than upset," said Stephen, they're close to going over the edge, everyone, even Tomorrow People need some privacy!"
"Amen." Agreed Tyso.
John decided that it was time to move the conversation along. "All right," he said, "we know the nature of the problem; now how are we going to solve it?"
He was met with a sea of worried faces, but no ideas . . . .."TIM?"
"None of you have the training or experience to help the twins, if they are to receive any help; it will have to come from The Federation."
"I was afraid you would say that," said John, "I've been expecting that this is where we would end up. In fact, I've already been in touch with Carol, she's looking into getting us some help."
"If you knew that this was going down, why have we wasted the afternoon talking about it?" Mike demanded belligerently.
John sighed; nothing he said or did seemed to go well with Mike. Holding on to his temper, he attempted to explain.
"I wanted us to talk it through in order to see if I had missed a simpler solution Mike. Sending Danny and Joe away to the Trig for an unlimited period is not going to be easy. First of all we have to get their mother to agree, then we have to find a way of covering up their absence so that the Saps won't get suspicious."
"Oh!" said Mike in a subdued voice, "I didn't think."
John, to his credit, resisted the obvious answer. "So," he said decisively, "if no-one has any better suggestions?"
No-one had; John looked around the table trying, unsuccessfully, to gauge the thoughts of the others. As usual with the Tomorrow People, there was a degree of natural shielding among the group. This was very necessary, especially in a telepathic grouping. There was such a thing as too much openness. Being a Tomorrow person meant loosing a great deal of the mental isolation that the Saps mistook for privacy'. However, the idea of having ones mind, heart and thoughts totally open to another person . . . John's very private nature rebelled at the thought. The twins needed help . . . and soon.
The meeting broke up. Stephen and Tyso were due to return to the Trig. Their all too brief holiday was over and they had their training with Tikno to continue. John wondered what they were learning, and whether they would make the grade as unofficial trouble-shooters for the Federation. It still felt strange for John to realise that some of his children' were growing up and learning skills that he hadn't dreamt of. He realised that he had this in common with most parents in the world. He was smiling wryly to himself as Tyso and Stephen jaunted out.
Elizabeth noticed the smile and came over to him. "A penny for them?" She asked.
"They're not worth a penny." John replied. I was just feeling . . . . . . . . . .'old' I guess!"
Elizabeth understood. "Kids growing up and leaving the nest?" she asked.
"Something like that."
"Don't worry John, you've got plenty more to care for." She looked over to where Mike and Andrew had just begun to throw cushions at each other.
"Do you two mind?" John asked acidly.
Elizabeth smiled; things were getting back to normal.
Hyde Park: A few days later.
John was worried. The stress that Danny and Joe were under was beginning to affect their behaviour. The previously close twins had taken to arguing and fighting over everything. Mrs. O'Callaghan had sent for John and Elizabeth the previous day to help her mediate a dispute between the brothers over possession of a favourite record. Previously they had been content to share everything. Now it seemed that their natural rejection of their enforced bond was fragmenting every facet of their relationship. It had taken both John and Elizabeth most of the previous night to quieten the sulky twins. Mrs. O'Callaghan had grounded' them and was keeping them in Manchester. John privately thought that she was blaming the Tomorrow People for the problem; he did not know how to cope with the situation. He was not used to not knowing and therefore he didn't like it . . . one little bit.
Seeing how anxious John had become as Carol responded to his requests with the reply that she was working on it.' Elizabeth had almost ordered him out of the Lab and was walking him around Hyde Park on a sunny October Saturday morning in the hope that the fresh air and peaceful scenery might help him to regain his perspective.
"I just don't know what to do Liz! " he cried as they neared the ornamental lake. "Its not like, for example, Mike who can be a natural pain; Danny and Joe are good kids, this disruption of their minds could kill them."
"I know John," Elizabeth replied, "I'm as worried about it as you are, but please remember that we agreed that we mustn't let Danny and Joe know how concerned we are. If they even suspect that there could be anything wrong with them, they'll panic, and God alone knows what will happen."
"I know Liz its just that . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
Whatever John was about to say was lost as TIM'S urgent telepathic voice impacted on both of them.
[John, Elizabeth, please return to the lab immediately.]
As they appeared on the jaunting pad John might have been forgiven for wondering if his jaunting band was malfunctioning. The normally well ordered environment of the lab had been replaced by a scene of pure chaos. Everything possible had been thrown around the lab; chairs, cushions, books, ornaments, pictures. It was as if a small hurricane had visited the lab.
Looking across the lab in horror John realised that, in a way, one indeed had! There, suspended in TIM'S blue stasis field were Danny and Joe, paralysed in mid fight.
"TIM . . . what happened?" Elizabeth finally asked.
"Joe jaunted in saying that he was looking for somewhere to hide. Danny materialised a few moments later and before I could stop them their combined psychokinetic energy had wrought chaos in the lab. I placed them in stasis and called for you."
"Its a good job the others are out shopping," Said Elizabeth. "Hsui Tai would have gone over the edge! You know how she hates violence."
"Tomorrow People shouldn't be this violent!" said John still horrified at the destruction all around. "Right, that settles it. TIM, get me through to Carol right NOW!...In fact, even better, ask Carol to come down here . . . tell her it's a matter of life and death."
"John?" said Elizabeth.
"It is a matter of life and death Liz. I dread to think what damage has already occurred to cause two Tomorrow People to attack each other this violently...I want Carol to see this herself. Perhaps then she'll realise that I'm not exaggerating."
"I wonder what happened in Manchester?"
" I hadn't thought of that." Admitted John, "perhaps you should jaunt over there and see how Mrs. O'Callaghan is?"
"I think I'd better." Said Elizabeth and Jaunted out.
A few moments later Mike, Hsui Tai and Andrew returned from their shopping trip. John quickly explained the situation to them. "This is terrible!" said an agitated Hsui Tai, "those poor boys, What will become of them.?"
Elizabeth returned a few minutes later reporting that Mrs. O'Callaghan was badly shaken. "The house is a mess!" She reported, "Fortunately Harold wasn't there to see anything. She feels that the twins are perhaps better off here with us. I think she's afraid of them."
All of the Tomorrow People were stunned by that. The idea that a Sap might become afraid of them as a result of their own actions went against the whole fabric of their non-violent creed. John's anxiety for the welfare of the twins increased.
"TIM, while we're waiting for Carol to put in an appearance please rig up two stasis chambers. I don't want Danny or Joe awake until they get some professional help."
TIM complied and the twins were transferred into the chambers. At that moment Carol Jaunted in from the Trig accompanied by a being in unusual blue robes edged with a gold band.
"Well, its about time . . ." John began, but Carol cut him off.
"John, this is Master Healer Shon D'r from the Alterran order of healers."
That got John's attention. The Alterran Healers were a VERY highly placed and powerful Order within the Federation. Master Healers were only called upon to act in cases of the utmost urgency. Carol had taken him seriously after all.
[Greetings Children of Tomorrow] Shon D'r Pathed, [Carol has outlined your worries to me. The boys Daniel and Joseph are in extreme danger. The twinning bond, even among well established telepathic races, carries great risk. The more experienced races prepare for the onset of power years in advance. There are techniques which avoid the psychic distress that your children are experiencing. I must take them with me.]
[We didn't know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ] John answered, his thoughts coloured with shame at this inadequacy.
[Be at peace John of Earth] replied Shon D'r, his thoughts gentle. [Yours is a young race, and these are your first twins. How could you have known?]
[We must ask their mother] John pathed hesitantly.
"I'll go and get her," Elizabeth said, and before anyone could object, she jaunted.
[While we're waiting] pathed Mike, [would anyone like a drink?]
[And can we tidy up?] added Andrew. John could have hugged them.
The rest of the day saw a great deal of activity. The transfer of Danny and Andrew to the monastery on Alterra Prime went smoothly. Elizabeth had secured Mrs. O'Callaghan's permission and promised to take her there to visit them once visiting was allowed. "I was a bit vague about where this special hospital' was" she reported later, "I don't think she was quite up to knowing that Alterra is on the other side of the galaxy!"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," John replied, "How are Mike and Andrew getting on?"
"They've repaired all the damage to the O'Callaghan house and are coming home after they've had a take-away." Carol replied with a grin.
"I don't know how they can eat that rubbish." Hsui Tai replied primly.
John surprised everyone by bursting out laughing. "Just for once, I hope they think to bring some of it back!"
Later . . . much later, John and Elizabeth were once again walking. This time they were on Westminster Bridge watching the night lights of London twinkling reflected in the Thames.
"They'll be all right you know," ventured Elizabeth, "The Alterran Healers are the best in the Federation."
"I know, Its not that; its just that there is so much about us that we still have to learn. Danny and Joe nearly died because I didn't know something that other worlds consider as basic knowledge."
"Don't be too hard on yourself! you're doing a good job here. Things are only basic knowledge' when someone discovers them for the first time, even TIM didn't know what to do."
"Maybe you're right."
They said nothing more; content to share the peace of the night and the knowledge that they had survived another crisis for another day.
The Lab: May 1980.
"...Happy Birthday dear Danny and Joe,
Happy Birthday to you!"
All the Tomorrow people present cheered as Danny and Joe blew out the candles on their joint birthday cake. It was in the shape of a giant number 16. The one was in red as Danny supported Manchester United football team; while the six was in blue as Joe, to be different, supported Manchester City.
"Many happy returns Danny and Joe!" shouted Mike, his face full of cake, "and, with a cake like this, many more of them." Everyone laughed, Mike's appetite was legendary among the Tomorrow People.
"Leave some for the rest of us." said Andrew, who, also sixteen, had suddenly grown very tall and had developed a deep baritone voice which still surprised people who had known him before. He swooped down and rescued the cake from Mike's clutches depositing it on top of TIM who promptly arranged for it to be cut' up into eight equal slices.
"That's better," Chimed in Hsui Tai, "now we can ALL have some." She spared Mike a withering look; which mellowed into a smile as she looked once again at the love of her life. Mike grinned back at her roguishly, "Finders keepers." He declared and levitated a piece of cake from TIM'S examination table.
All in all it turned out to be a good evening; Mike ate most of the cake, Andrew felt ill, Hsui Tai fell asleep, Danny and Joe were thrilled with their presents (Which, for the first time in their lives, were NOT matching!).
John and Elizabeth watched the proceedings with a benevolent eye. It was good to have these moments of quiet and harmony. Recently their lives had been far too hectic. The Thargons had re-surfaced, having formed an alliance with a mysterious other race' about which nothing yet was known. The Federation was in turmoil deciding what to do. John wished that they would do' something soon. The encroachment was gradually moving their way.
Problems on Earth were not much better. The new governments in The USA and in England were not as conducive to allowing the Tomorrow People the autonomy that their predecessors had granted. As the political climate between East and West deteriorated and the threat of Nuclear war escalated; both governments had started to look into the advantage of a tame' Tomorrow Person as some sort of secret agent. Despite John's protestations to the contrary both governments were justifying their decision with the entirely specious argument that if they didn't do it, the Soviets would.' Which the Tomorrow People had no evidence of.
John sighed, If only the Saps would leave them alone! Not for the first time he regretted that their security had ever become so compromised. Things had been so much simpler in the early days.
"Hey! Lose the long face, it's a party remember?" Elizabeth gently chided.
"Sorry Liz , you're quite right . . . more crisps anyone?"
********************************************
Manchester: The following Sunday: 3.00am.
Danny woke up in a sweat; something was wrong with Joe! Ever since their near fatal break-out the twins had learned to shield their intimate thoughts from each other, to respect their very human need for privacy. However, the bond between them was so strong that, even with shielding, they could get a sense of the presence and well being of the other. Danny *knew* that something was wrong.
[Joe?] he pathed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . no reply.
[JOE!!!!!] STILL no reply.
Danny began to panic. His sense of Joe's Presence was beginning to fade! He felt light headed. Where WAS Joe?
[John!]
[Danny?]
[Something's wrong with Joe and I Can't contact him.]
John sensed Danny's panic. [OK Danny, calm down, Jaunt over to the lab and we'll find him from here!]
**************************************
The Lab an Hour later.
The atmosphere in the Lab was tense. There had been no contact with Joe. Even all six Tomorrow People linking in with TIM had produced nothing.
"Maybe he's asleep?" said Andrew hopefully.
"I'd still be able to sense him . . . and I can't," Danny replied tears beginning to run down his eyes. Elizabeth moved over to where he was sitting and put her arm around him. She felt waves of distress flooding out of him. She began to worry; they had never really understood the exact nature of Danny and Joe's bond. She shuddered to think what would happen to Danny if anything happened to Joe.
"What if he's dead?" said Danny hopelessly.
"You'd KNOW if he was dead," Elizabeth replied . . . "we all would."
"Liz is right," John said assertively, "we know he's not dead; its more than simply asleep, therefore he's got to be drugged in some way.
"Joe doesn't DO drugs!" Danny replied hotly.
Mike moved over and placed a comforting hand on Danny's shoulder. "John doesn't mean that he does," he said, "Joe mightn't have had a choice."
"You mean that someone's captured him?" Danny asked aghast.
"I'm afraid so," said John.
They didn't have to wonder who. All the Tomorrow People were aware of the threat from the security services. However, knowing who their enemy was didn't help in finding Joe. In fact it made matters worse. John knew better than the younger Tomorrow People that Joe could literally be anywhere.
"What we need," he said, "is information. Danny, when did you last see Joe?"
"Last night . . . He was going out with some friends. I didn't want to go with them as I wanted to watch Blake's Seven on the telly . . . Joe called me a lazy *** and went out." I went to bed early coz I was tired, the next thing I knew, I was awake *knowing* that summat was wrong."
John noticed, not for the first time, that Danny's Lancashire accent came out in moments of stress.
"Who were these friends?" John asked.
"Mike, Michelle, Terry and Sarah," Danny answered, "they're at school with us. I've known them for years!"
"Are you up to going and asking them a few questions?" John asked.
"I guess so . . . . . . ."Danny answered a bit hesitantly.
John looked at Danny, assessing his condition. "Perhaps Mike and Andrew ought to go with you...but first Danny I think you and I ought to go and see your Mother. She'll want to know what's happening."
John and Danny Jaunted back to Danny and Joe's bedroom. Danny's bed was a disaster. The sheets and blankets in total disarray giving their own testimony to Danny's poor night's sleep. Joe's bed was neatly made . . . ..and obviously unused.
"Go and get your mother Danny." said John sadly.
Danny returned about fifteen minutes later with his mother. Mrs. O'Callaghan looked pale and worried. John remembered that she had been alone since Harold had left a year previously. He hoped that he would be able to bring her good news one day; she'd had too much bad news since her sons had broken out. Quickly John explained the situation.
"And so you see Mrs. O'Callaghan, until we are able to make contact with Joe, we're reduced to following more pedestrian methods."
" I should call the police," she said, "but I know you won't want me to do that."
"I'd rather you didn't . . . ..just yet. TIM and Elizabeth are checking all the Manchester hospital records just in case Joe is there and we are over-reacting. But I have to tell you that I don't think we are...I'm sorry."
"I'll have to report it sometime. If Joe doesn't turn up soon the fact that I haven't reported it will look suspicious."
"I know that, but we have a few hours yet, if you were to report it now, they'd dismiss you as an over anxious mother."
"I AM an over-anxious mother."
"I promise you we'll do everything that we can to find him." John assured her.
John and Danny returned to the Lab. "Where's Elizabeth?" John asked TIM.
"She has gone to the Manchester Royal Infirmary." TIM replied. "There was an unnamed youth brought in after a road traffic accident. She is looking . . . just in case."
"TIM, Jaunt me there!" ordered Danny hope rising.
"Cancel that TIM," countermanded John. "Danny don't go leaping into a situation half cocked! If it is Joe, then Elizabeth will tell us and we can ALL jaunt over there. If not, then we're better placed here to await any news."
[TIM?] came Elizabeth's call.
[IS IT HIM?????] Danny pathed at top volume.
[We're all here] pathed John glaring at Danny. [Give us your report.]
[Danny, I'm afraid its not Joe. Its pretty awful John, three joy-riders killed as their Capri went off the motor-way at 100mph. I'm coming back now.]
[[Thanks Liz.]]Pathed Danny and John in unison.
************************************************
Manchester: 9.00am.
Danny, Andrew and Mike jaunted into a deserted shopping arcade situated in the middle of Danny and Joe's estate. "Michelle and Sarah live over here," said Danny, "you'd better let me do the talking."
Andrew and Mike stayed at the gate as Danny rang the bell. A tall and very pretty brunette answered. They saw Danny talking with her. The shake of her head gave them the clue about the answer.
"No joy," said Andrew.
"Wait a bit, she's telling him some more." Mike observed.
Danny rejoined them. "They left Joe at the canal embankment around 11.00pm," Danny told them, "they were going into town, to a night-club, Joe was going to walk home . . . You don't think he fell in????"
"Do you?" Mike answered, "you're the one linked to him."
"No . . . " replied Danny, "there was no sense of water. I felt panic, anger, a struggle and then a sense of numbing sleepiness."
"Lets get back to the Lab," said Andrew. The three Tomorrow People jaunted home.
****************************************
Manchester: Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. O'Callaghan was worried. She just knew that something awful had happened to Joe. She wanted to respect the Tomorrow People's need for privacy, but this was her son that was missing. Telling herself that she was doing the right thing' she picked up the phone and dialled the police
****************************************
The Lab: Sunday evening.
Elizabeth was getting very concerned. Danny had begun to suffer from his lack of contact with Joe. His earlier energy and frantic enthusiasm had faded, now he was characterised by an increasing listlessness and depression. Everything was too much effort for him. Drinking the cup of coffee that she had given him had brought him out in a cold sweat; now he was lying down on the settee complaining of a headache.
"Danny?" she said.
"Mmm?"
"Why don't we jaunt over and see how your Mum is?"
"Sure," said Danny without enthusiasm. Painfully, he tried to get up off the settee and collapsed back again exhausted.
"What's wrong with me?" he asked weakly.
"It is a side effect of your separation from Joe's mind." TIM informed them both.
Nettled by his earlier lack of knowledge of twinning TIM had accessed the Federation database and was now an expert on everything to do with TP twins.
"I'm afraid to say that you will continue to deteriorate if contact with Joe is not restored soon," was the unhopeful addition.
John had witnessed the whole exchange from his chair. "Liz, why don't you go and see how Mrs. O'Callaghan is?" he said. "I think I'll put Danny to bed here . . . Mike?"
The two of them manhandled Danny through to the boys corridor while Elizabeth jaunted to Manchester. A few moments later John heard Elizabeth on their private channel'
[John, something's wrong, Mrs. O'Callaghan isn't here. The house has been turned over and the door is wide open. All the neighbours are upset.]
[Try and find out what happened Liz . . . Do you want me to come over?]
[Please John, I have a very bad feeling about this.]
Later: At the Lab.
John and Elizabeth returned to the Lab. Their investigations into Mrs. O'Callaghan's disappearance had yielded little. The neighbours had seen her go off in a dark car with some men in suits. Then another dark car had drawn up to the house and the men in it had turned the house over looking for . . . who knows? John and Elizabeth thought they had a good idea what the men had been looking for. Some sort of documented evidence giving away the location of their base. That search would have done them no good. Danny and Joe were too experienced to leave an address lying around.
Wearily, they sank onto the comfortable couches. It had been a long day. "How's Danny TIM?" John asked.
"Danny is still asleep. There has been no noticeable change."
"Good, let me know when he wakes up."
"I will."
With that, John put his head back on the cushion and tried to relax. There was so much to do! His head was a whirl of details that wouldn't quite come into focus. He looked across the lounge and saw that Elizabeth had already fallen asleep. It seemed such a good idea that he felt his eyelids close . . .
[JOE!]
The telepathic shout woke John with a jolt. "Danny?" he said.
"John!" Came TIM'S urgent voice. "Danny has jaunted."
"Where? . . . ..Can you get a fix on him?"
"Anticipating this I have placed his jaunting band onto a homing signal. His co-ordinates are coming through now; its a warehouse on the Lower East side of Manhattan."
By this time all of the Tomorrow people were dressed and ready. "We'll take Stun Guns" said John, "Mike, you're with Liz and me. Andrew, you and Hsui Tai come in from the other side. Keep out of sight and be prepared to give us back-up."
"Right John."
"And . . . . . . .be careful!"
With that, the Tomorrow People all jaunted.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Manhattan.
John Liz and Mike materialised into darkness. "Torches!" snapped John. Immediately they grabbed the torches from off their utility belts; before they could light them they were flooded in the beam of a bright spotlight.
"Well well well," said a familiar voice. "What HAVE we got here?"
"Turner!" said John. "I ought to have known you'd be involved in this. What have you done with Joe and his mother?"
" That's Major Turner to you, you want Joe and his Mom? . . . Have them!"
With that Turner snapped her fingers and another two beams of light flooded down. In one of them was Danny, semi-conscious and being held by two thugs. In the other was Mrs. O'Callaghan sat in a chair and tied up. She had been roughly handled and was unconscious. Standing next to her, untied ,was Joe. He too had been beaten up. He was covered in bruises, but worse, much worse was the look on his face. It was totally blank, devoid of any thought.
"Joe!" cried John aghast, "what have they done to you?" without thinking they made as if to go to them.
"Make one more move; and Danny dies!"
John looked again at Danny, this time one of the thugs was holding a gun to his head. "If you try to teleport, he'll also get it" warned Turner.
"What do you want?" asked John, defeated.
"I want what I've always wanted, a way to use your talents. THIS time however, its not for any government. THIS time its for ME! Joe is under my control. I won't bore you with the details, suffice it to say that it works. He will do anything I tell him to do. I want you to watch a demonstration."
With that, a final column of light shone down revealing Turner and a small elderly man. "Allow me to introduce you to Dr. Henderson. He is, shall we say, a therapist. He controls Joe, and I control him. To prove that I'm not bluffing I have devised a fitting demonstration to show the totality of my power."
A noise could be heard in the distance, struggling and the discharge of a stun gun. "Ahhh more visitors; bring them in."
A struggling Andrew and a semi conscious Hsui Tai were dragged in. Hsui Tai's face was coloured where a thug had obviously hit her. Mike nearly threw all caution to the wind when he saw that. It was only John's will that held him in place.
[Not yet Mike, we'll make a move when we can.]
[But . . . . . . . . . ..look at her!]
[I know Mike, but we have to think of everyone else . . . please wait.]
[OK . . . ]
[I'm all right Mike . . . .really] pathed Hsui Tai.
"Cut that out, " snarled Turner, "I might not be able to hear it clearly, but I have enough telepathy to know when you're using it. Let the demonstration begin!"
Dr. Henderson produced a microphone from his pocket. "Joe, I want you to kill your mother, strangle her!"
The Tomorrow People were stunned. "Joe you can't" John cried. [LINK!]
The Tomorrow People, except for Danny who was too weak, joined the power of their combined minds.
[[JOE! . . . . . . . . . RESIST!]]
[Fight it Joe . . . . . . I know you can] Danny managed to add weakly.
Joe began to move his hands towards his mother's neck. As he did so his head moved and the horrified Tomorrow People saw the apparatus that had been grafted onto the back of his head and into his brain.
[[JOE! . . . . . . ..RESIST!]]
This time Danny joined fully into the link. The six Tomorrow People bowed their heads in seeming defeat. In fact they dug deeply into the considerable power their link provided and reached out to Joe's tortured mind, giving him strength.
Joe's hands began to tremble. "Mummy?" he whispered wonderingly, seeing her for the first time. Slowly his hands began to lower.
"NO!" Cried Turner grabbing the control device from Henderson and turning the dial up to full. "Kill her NOW!" she cried.
The apparatus on Joe's head began to glow and smoke. Joe and Danny both screamed in shared agony. "Now!" cried John, and the Tomorrow People began to move as one wielding their stun guns on the thugs who held Danny.
But before they could effect a rescue Joe, maddened by intense pain, jaunted, taking his mother with him. All the Tomorrow People felt the severely weakened boy die almost instantly, unable to resist the hostile environment of Hyperspace. "JOE!" Shrieked Danny and gathered in his will to jaunt to his brother, and to certain death himself.
"Danny no!" cried Elizabeth and stunned him before he could jaunt. She rushed over to him crying "John I've got to get him to the Lab!" With that they jaunted.
"What about their mother?" asked Mike appalled and Jaunted into Hyperspace to look for her; leaving John, Andrew and Hsui Tai to clear up the mess in the warehouse.
John was stunned. A Tomorrow Person, one of HIS Tomorrow People had . . . . . . ..died!!! His mind refused to take in the enormity of what had happened. He looked around the now deserted warehouse. Turner had escaped in the confusion, Henderson and some of the thugs were unconscious. John looked at Andrew and Hsui Tai: they were both weeping. Wordlessly he gathered them into an embrace. "Lets clear up and go home."
*************************************
The Lab: At the same time.
Elizabeth and the unconscious Danny materialised on the jaunting pad. "TIM!" said Elizabeth, "I need you!"
"I am here Elizabeth."
The jaunting pad was filled with a pale pink glow as TIM extended his sensors towards the stricken Danny. After a few moments of careful scanning TIM made the following report. "His vital signs are failing; if you are to save him, you must go into his mind and lead him back."
"How?"
TIM linked his thoughts to Elizabeth's and filled her mind with the knowledge of what she had to do. Awed at the prospect of the coming ordeal, Elizabeth took a deep centring breath and placed her hands onto Danny's temples. Gathering in her will (and her courage) Elizabeth reached out and joined her power to TIM'S: then, focusing her mind she sent her thoughts flying down into Danny's world.
****************************************
Elizabeth was flying. She flew over a scene of total desolation. Below her she could see a barren, blackened landscape. Ruined buildings, shattered towers; rubble and debris everywhere. In the sky a mighty storm was raging; the wind was howling, rain lashing down: lightning arced from horizon to horizon.
[Where am I?]
[You are in Danny's mind. The images you see are not real. They serve merely to give you a frame of reference. Danny has retreated into the depths of his mind, you must find him there.]
[How?]
[Accept the conventions of the landscape; how would you look for him in reality?]
Elizabeth looked around her. How would she look for Danny in reality? Then, the answer presented itself; she would call for him.
[Danny!]...nothing.
[DANNY!] . . . This time Elizabeth was rewarded with an echo of Danny's thoughts. Her mind homed in on this echo and she flew across the shattered landscape with determination. Her instinct brought her to a deep hole in the ground. The chasm was ripped from the earth as if a giant earthquake had torn it open. Needless to say she *knew* that Danny was down there. Gathering her resolve Liz flew unerringly into the tunnel.
*****************************************
Darkness, the walls of the tunnel rushed by her as she plunged ever onwards towards...what? she didn't know. Eventually she perceived a dim glow in the distance. As she neared the glow it grew brighter and brighter until suddenly, without warning, she emerged from the tunnel into a vast underground cave. The whole of the cave was covered with an ocean of molten lava. Flames roared from the surface of the lava, the heat was overpowering.
[TIM, where am I?]
[You are at the seat of Danny's consciousness. The lava represents the damage done to his mind by the breaking of his bond with Joe. Somewhere in that sea lies whatever is left of him. Continue with your search.]
Elizabeth reached out with her senses looking for her echo again. She was drawn towards the centre of the cave. As she flew towards the centre she perceived an island floating on the surface of the lava. Gradually, this island was being consumed by the lava at an appalling rate.
Elizabeth swooped down to the island and saw, lying in a courtyard of a ruined castle, Danny curled up in a foetal position. He had suffered down here, his body was as beaten as poor Joe's real body had been. His clothes were in tatters: he was barely breathing. [Danny] She pathed quietly.
[Liz'beth?] Danny opened his eyes and Elizabeth realised that this was not entirely Danny. Parts of the mind looking at her belonged to Joe! With a sense of awe she realised that this was the level at which Joe and Danny had experienced their bond. She remembered her comment at the time of break-out about them sharing one mind'.
She only realised now, at this moment, how true that was. A part of Danny had died with Joe, and a part of Joe lived here with Danny.
[Come on Danny, let's go home.]
With that word "home" the world shifted. Elizabeth was aware of being buffeted through a maelstrom of clashing lights and colours. Finally, she came to her senses, back in her own body still kneeling on the jaunting pad next to the unconscious Danny.
She looked up; watching her, in the Lab, awed by her experience, were John, Andrew, and Hsui Tai. Sitting near them, but not watching her was a weeping Mike; Hsui Tai had her arm around him comforting him. The lack of anyone else answered her unspoken question; Mike hadn't found Mrs. O'Callaghan. Now they had two deaths to mourn.
TIM broke the silence. "You have done well Elizabeth. However, as you know from your soul-flight Danny is far from healed. He must be taken back to the Monastery at Alterra Prime. Only there will he find the help he needs."
"I'll take him." She said wearily.
"No Elizabeth," John interrupted, "We'll ALL take him."
*************************************
Epilogue: Alterra Prime: Six months later.
The youth stood at the balcony. His gaze travelled across the vast mountain range on which the Healers' Monastery was built. He looked down to woodland which stretched across the miles towards the distant sea. The rays of the setting Sun bathed the whole scene in a fiery red.
"Danny?"
He turned round. Behind him coming into the room were two people he knew from, it seemed, another lifetime: John and Elizabeth. They both looked older than he remembered them, more care-worn and haggard. Things, he knew, hadn't been easy for them.
"John, Liz" he said.
"The healers tell us you've made good progress." Elizabeth ventured.
Danny thought back over the last six months, the slow painful climb back from the edge of madness and death, as he had struggled to re-integrate his new/old personality.
"I have...yes." he said with a warm smile "let's sit down."
They moved away from the window to a set of chairs and sat down. "How is everyone?" Danny asked.
"You know what's been happening?" John replied.
"Some of it . . . .yes."
"We've had to evacuate from the Earth. The Federation felt that in the light of recent events AND the approaching invasion fleet that our presence on Earth was too great a risk.' The wisdom from the Trig is that the enemy will by-pass the Earth if they don't detect any telepathic life there. Also, our absence will give us all some breathing space as we decide how best to conduct our relationships with the Saps."
"But you don't approve?"
"No I don't. Running away from a problem has never been my preferred option; however this matter has been taken out of my hands. It is fait accompli."
"What about any new break-outs?"
"Steps have been taken to prevent that from occurring. Earth will remain closed, even to us, for ten years."
"What will you do in the meantime?"
"I have been given a seat on the Federation Council."
"Congratulations."
"Thanks."
"Liz, what will you do?"
"Andrew and I are going to work with the refugee commission. This war has generated a lot of refugees. Especially children, we want to help them."
"On a happier note," John continued, "Mike and Hsui Tai are finally getting married.
She is joining Timus as a diplomat, while he, if you'll believe it, is joining Stephen and Tyso as a trouble-shooter!!!! Talk about poacher turned game-keeper!'"
Danny smiled. He had always liked Mike and knew that he would do well. Also he knew that Mike had risked his own life be going into Hyperspace to look for his mother. One day he would get a chance to repay that debt.
"What about you Danny?" Elizabeth asked.
It was time to tell them about his decision. "I'm going to stay here. When I'm fully recovered I'm going to join the Order and become a healer."
Elizabeth smiled warmly, knowing that this was indeed the best destiny for Danny. The three of them rose, and by an unspoken agreement, returned to the window and watched the last rays of the Sun set over Alterra Prime. It was a new beginning for them all, and yet the faced their destiny . . . together.
The End