Chapters 1-4
1
I was walking home from work. Not an unusual event, it happens a
couple of times a week, but the streetlights weren't working. Fuses must
have blown. But it was eerie. Listening to the sound of your footsteps,
working out where you are from memory. Sure there was light coming
from houses, front windows and porch lights but there were no cars, no
strong lights to dispel the shadows that crept over everything.
"Do you know who you are?" Asked a silky yet masculine
voice at my ear. I jumped. I hadn't heard him catch up to me. Come to
think of it I hadn't heard him at all, and we were walking on gravel.
"Do you?" His tone had changed. I could feel the power
emanating from it now. The fact that he was used to having questions
answered and orders obeyed. Yet something drew me to it, compelling
me to answer. He deserved that much, I thought, but I didn't know why.
"I. I don't think that I know you." I stammered. I quickened
my pace, trying to get home that little bit faster. My house was only
another 10 minutes walk away, and I wanted to get there soon.
"Don't be so sure." He said, amusedly.
"What do you want? I've got nothing that you could want, I
swear." A tremor entered my voice. I usually wasn't afraid to defend
myself. But this wasn't a voice that you wanted to hear on a dark street
late at night.
"You're very wrong, you know. You have *everything* that I
want." He continued, thinking out loud. "The signs are all in place. The
stars have aligned." He stopped talking, and I got the feeling that he was
staring at me. "But you're not more then a boy. It can't be right. Things
are moving too fast." He was unsure of himself. I don't think that's
happened in the last thousand years or so. *Where* had that come from?
I wondered. It had just appeared. A thought that didn't belong, hmmm.
He was silent for the next couple of minutes, not making a noise, not a
rustle of a coat nor the swish of a pair of trousers. I had almost
convinced myself that he had gone, but a little voice was telling me that
he was still there.
"You have the sight, don't you?" It was a statement, not a
question. The confidence in his voice had returned.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Please, leave me
alone." I pleaded. I was almost at home and I didn't want to bring some
sort of psycho into my home. Not with my mother and my sister there.
"Oh, I think that we'll be seeing a lot more of each other
alright." He laughed. It wasn't a pleasant sound.
"Just leave me alone." I said again.
"*Don't* you *dare* give *me* orders." Grabbing my arm he
twisted me so that I was facing him. Suddenly, his eyes glowed yellow. I
was frozen in place by his gaze and, try as I might; I couldn't get out of
it. The light was growing brighter until it lit up the street for hundreds of
feet. "Just because you're being protected, don't think that I can't get
you. I've lived for thousands of years, and it wasn't to take cheek from
you." He growled. "I promise you that you'll regret the words you've
spoken here tonight." With that, the fierce, burning light piercing into
me dimmed again and he was gone. I blinked and rubbed my eyes to my
to rid myself of the after effect of the light and, by the time I could see
again the streetlights were back on and I all I could remember of the
walk home was that I had stepped in some chewing gum.
"Mum! I'm home!" I shouted when I closed the door.
"Get your dinner and come in here, there's a good film on."
She shouted back from the sitting room. I went into the kitchen to get it.
Saw what it was and was instantly suspicious. It was my favourite meal,
and was only made when Mum wanted something. After a spell in the
microwave it was finished and I put it on a tray sat down beside my
mother on the sofa. After ten minutes of eating I put the tray down on
the ground and thanked her.
"Tom." She said.
"What?" I said guardedly. It was definite; she was up to
something.
"Well." I cut her off.
"I know that you want something. Just ask it."
"Alright, alright! That concert of your sisters is coming up, and
you know that she has to have someone go with her, so I was hoping that
you'd do it."
"That's all you had to say Mum, you should know that I would
want to go to it. After all, Nsync is every gay guys dream, right?" I
joked.
"But you never listen to them, you all into rock, at least, that's
all I ever hear from your bedroom."
"That's because I wait until you've gone out to really crank up
the volume!"
"Whatever." She said dismissively. "The important thing is that
you're going."
"What are the tickets like?" I asked.
"You don't expect me to know do you? Anyway, I bought them
so long ago that I didn't even remember that the concert was on until
Amy reminded me."
"Amy? *She's* coming? You could have said!"
"I know, I know. But I promised your sister that she could
bring one friend along, and she choose Amy. Nothing that I can do about
it."
As it turned out, the tickets were quite reasonable. And now,
looking around, I could see that they were a lot better then where some
people were sitting. Can they even see the stage? I asked myself, let
alone the performers? Amy, little Miss Sugar Bomb herself, interrupted
my thoughts.
"Ohmygod ohmygod! We are *actually* at a Nsync concert! I
can't believe it, oh wow! Am I asleep? Ow! (She pinched herself) Nope,
I'm not." I groaned. Another hour of this? And that was until they came
on stage, and then. it was too painful to think about.
"Ok people, we are going to take a five-minute break, but, to
keep you from getting bored. here are the Nuclear puppies!" Screamed
Lance from the stage. He had to do so to be heard over his thousands of
adoring fans.
Backstage -
"Ok, what's this about?" Asked JC.
"Don't you feel it? I can feel *something* out there, in the
crowd."
"Something? You don't want to be anymore specific do you?"
Said Justin, laughing.
"Stop laughing! This isn't funny! It's human power, ok? I just
can't get closer then that."
"*You* can't get closer? It must be powerful then." Said Chris.
Lance's power allowed him to see most that was hidden to others,
including thoughts, auras (although the rest of the group were getting
better at that.) and power centres.
"He's right." Murmured Joey. "I feel it too. It's weak, I didn't
want to say anything." Lance smiled at his lover, glad that someone was
ready to support him. It was well known that by sharing a bed and
intimacy you also placed some of your power in your partner.
*Especially* if you did it as much as they did.
"Okay then, say there is black out there. What are we going to
do about it?" Asked Justin.
"I didn't say it was black. You're jumping to conclusions
again." Replied Lance.
"If it was white then we'd *all* be able to feel them this close.
And even if we couldn't, why would they want to hide from us?"
"I didn't say they were that either. I think." Lance paused for
breath. "I think they're an undecided." His statement raised a clamour
from the others in the room.
"An undecided?! These days? Come on Lance! Think about
what you're saying!" Exclaimed Justin. "There hasn't been a *real*
undecided in what, 400 years?"
"452 years, actually." Said JC, who had been reading up on the
Lore lately.
"Whatever. The point is the same. I don't think that you're
receiving properly Lance, that all."
"We've supported you when you said crazy things in the past,
Justin, like the vampires who were walking in sunlight. Remember?"
Said Chris.
Justin winced at the memory. "But I was wrong. They were just
Goths."
"I know what I feel, and it *is* real power. It's getting stronger
every minute that we stand here and argue!"
"I say we go with Lance. We've got nothing to lose. The
question is - what do we do about it?" Said Joey, backing Lance up
again.
"Ok, say they are an undecided. Don't you think that we should
try to help to make a choice?" Asked JC.
"But how do we do that? If Lance can't even find the person
then what hope do we have of talking to them?"
Lance concentrated and then said - "Him."
"What?"
"Him. Not they."
"You can read his mind? I thought that you said that you
couldn't."
Lance's voice drifted up from the trance that he was in "I've
been working on something new. I can 'project' myself into someone
else, in this case, someone near to him and look through their eyes."
"So you know where he is then?" Asked Joey, who was
convinced that Lance was right. Lance said that the person, well - man,
was getting more powerful and he was becoming more obvious to Joey.
Lance grunted.
"Hang on, he's talking to a little girl. I think she's there with
him." A couple of moments went by in silence as Lance's mind drifted
off way from his body." He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Block A, Row 24, Seat number 17. I read her mind."
Since the boys had slowed down time for the duration of the
conversation they still had a minute and a half until they had to go back
on stage.
"Ok, so we know where he is. What do we do now?"
"Offer them backstage passes! If I know the girls that are with
him, and I do, then he won't be able to leave here without coming
backstage." Said Lance, who, while 'riding' the mind of Amy, had taken
the liberty of checking up on a few facts about her. He knew what she
was like all right!
"Yeah, we'll make it a rigged competition!"
With that agreed the boys raced back to their adoring fans,
revelling in the adoration that radiated from their faces. At an agreed
time in the performance they asked for silence.
"Quiet everybody! Now, I hope you all kept your tickets,
because you're going to need them. We're gonna give backstage passes
to some lucky fans!" JC waited for the screams to die down. "Lance here
is going to think of a seat number, and, anyone who is with the person
whose seat that is can come backstage with us after the show!" The
concert hall exploded with noise as fans realised what he was saying.
Management was going crazy in the wings because this had not been
discussed with them. "Drum roll please! Lance!"
"Block A!" Screams erupted in Block A.
"Row 24!" Now a single line of people screamed loader then
the rest of the audience, and Amy in particular.
"Seat. Number." Lance was really playing this.
"17!" I heard. Amy looked up at me in shining adoration, as if I
was her saviour, her saint.
"That's you!" She squealed. "Ohmygodi'mgonnameetnsync!"
She was more hyper then I had ever seen her in her life, and I had seen
her hyperactive *a lot*.
"At the end of the concert go to the backstage entrance over
there." Lance pointed. "And make sure to bring your ticket to show your
seat number!" Lance was going to make sure that he was going to get in
anyway, but he had to say it to make it look genuine.
Amy stayed on her toes for the rest of the concert, and my sister
was hardly any better. The two of them got worse and worse until
finally, Nsync made their final departure from the stage. I have to admit
there were a fair few butterflies in my stomach as well.
We made our way to the backstage entrance, struggling through
the crowd that was flowing the other way and the people who realised
that we had won the little competition and were begging to be taken
backstage with us. I showed my ticket to the guard at the door and he
asked who was with me. I pointed to Amy and my sister, and, after
nodding gruffly handed us the backstage passes that were waiting for us
and gave us directions to the dressing rooms. Predictably the two girls
were going insane when they realised that they were doing more then the
normal meet and greet. We were told by the guard at the dressing room
to go in and wait for Nsync.
"We're *actually* their dressing room! Look! I bet this is
Justin's corner!" They both tried to get over to the piles of clothing that
were in one of the corners.
I grabbed them by the T-shirts that they were wearing. "Oh no
you don't! I don't want them to come back and see you going through
their stuff. How would you feel if you went home and someone was
going through you bedroom?" I asked rhetorically. "We'll just sit on the
sofa and wait for them." To make sure that they would comply I gave
them no choice and just dragged them over to the sofa.
After a couple of minutes more of waiting the door opened to
reveal a hand coming around it, and then JC followed. He gave the girls
one glance and they both fainted. They hadn't even seemed to notice his
entrance, which puzzled me. I mean, I thought that they might faint, I
had heard of it happening before and Amy was so keyed up. I shook
my head in disapproval and then moved them to make sure that they
wouldn't fall off the sofa if they moved around. By the time I was
finished all the members of Nsync were in the room. I got up to greet
them.
"Hi. I'm Tom. And the two who have swooned are Amy and
Ashley." JC extended his hand to me and I took it. He had a firm grip
but it was odd. it was like there was an electric current running through
his hand to me.
"Hi. I'm JC, and these are Lance, Justin, Chris and Joey." As he
spoke I moved around the room, greeting the others.
"So, you won our little 'competition' then. Guess those two
must have been excited!" Said Justin.
"Yeah, but you'd think that they'd stay conscious to see you
then, wouldn't you?" I joked.
"Well, actually, they're like that for a reason." Said Lance.
"What do you think now Guys?" The others might not have had the skill
that Lance had for seeing things far away, but the handshakes were
enough to tell them everything that they needed to know.
"I reckon you were right James. Sorry for doubting you." Said
Justin, and the others agreed. Lance just looked smug.
"What are you talking about? And what you do you mean,
they're like that for a reason?" I asked. They were confusing me with
what they were saying.
"Well you see Tom," started JC, since he was the authority on
the lore and the 'alternative' history of the world. "The world is not how
you think. There are people in it with incredible powers and abilities, to
do things that science dictates as impossible."
"What the fuck are you guys on? Are you playing with me or
what?" I got up. I wanted to wake up the girls and leave. These guys
were messed up.
"Look Tom, look at me." Said Justin. I looked over at him and
a second skin of fiery red burst out all over him. Startled, I sat back
down with a thump and my jaw hanging.
"What the fuck is going on here? Are you ok Justin?" I asked.
It looked like he was on fire so needless to say, I was a little concerned
for him. Justin grinned and the 'fire' around him disappeared with an
audible 'whoosh'.
"I'm fine. But that's was JC is talking about, so I think that you
should listen to him."
"Thanks J. Now then, as I was saying, there are people,
including us, who have the power to do things like what J just did and
more."
"But what's this got to do with me? Why are you telling me all
this?"
"Because Tom, you have this power as well, but you don't
know it yet because you haven't been taught how to release it or how to
harness it." He paused. "But there are different types of power. White
and Black, Good and Evil. Most people are born into one or the other
and are taught to use that power accordingly. But even inside of those
two groups there are different levels of power and different abilities.
But, every so often there are people who don't care about their powers
or don't know about them, so that a person with white magic could have
a child with a person who has black magic. The child is then called an
'undecided' because they can choose which type of power they want to
wield, but they generally make for weak mages. But every so often one
is born, a child with power whose family has no history of magic at all
and they are the *true* undecided. You are one of these. You have the
choice between white magic and black magic." This talk about magic
and deciding really seemed familiar to me. "There is a difference in the
power, with black magic you become powerful very quickly and with
white magic everyday is a struggle, every extra bit of power is fought for
and is earned. Over time, this means that white magic is more powerful
then black. But there have always been more people with black magic.
When everyone with power was an undecided more people choose the
black arts because it was easier. That's human nature for you." JC
finished his speech and looked expectantly at me.
"So." I said slowly, trying to digest everything that he was
saying to me. "You're saying that I'm one of these 'undecided' people
are you?"
"That's right. My power allowed me to see that in you when
you were in the audience. But you've heard some of this before, haven't
you?" Asked Lance.
"I. I think so, but I can't remember where."
"Do you mind if we take a look? Just see what's going on in
your mind. We'll only look at relevant stuff!" Asked JC.
"Sure."
"Right, Lance, help me here will you?" Lance came closer to
JC and held his hand. JC then put his free hand onto my head. I felt the
same tingle that I did earlier, but it was stronger now.
"Wait a sec Josh! Look at that!" Exclaimed Lance.
"I see it James. It looks like someone hid the memories."
"And replaced them as well!" Said Lance, the awe in his voice
evident. I shuddered, and then remembered what had happened a couple
of nights ago.
"Drayn." Said JC. "He got to you? He knows that you exist?
Damn."
"You met Drayn? And survived?" Justin was incredulous.
"How?"
"What did he mean? That I was being protected?"
"The original white mages, when their deaths were near they
cast a powerful spell and scattered themselves into the air. When we
really need them we can call upon them and they will lend us some of
their power." Replied JC. "But still, if they're getting involved then this
is serious. You really must have some power. And I guess it's up to us to
show you how to use it."
2
"Hey Ashley." I whispered into my sister's ear. She muttered
and turned over in her sleep, the sleep that had been induced by Lance.
"Ashley!" I shouted. Scaring her awake.
"Tom." She groaned. "It's a Saturday, why can't I go back to
sleep?" Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and took in her surroundings.
"Where are we?"
"Well. you fainted when Nsync came into the room, right?"
"I missed seeing Nsync? Amy's gonna kill me!"
"She fainted as well so I think you're ok. Anyway, since you
didn't see the guys backstage they said we could come back to the hotel
with them and stay the night." I waited for the onslaught.
"*We* are in Nsync's hotel! Ohmygod! Amy's gonna kill me!
She's gonna go insane! Where are they? Is this Justin's room?" I
grabbed her and held her down until she calmed down.
"No! This room is on the same floor as their rooms. That's all!
Amy's not going to kill you, but I think you just woke her up. Justin and
the others are downstairs having their breakfast, so if you want to join
them then you had better get yourself and Amy ready in 10 minutes and
meet me in the hall. Ok?" She nodded shakily. I didn't want to be in the
room when Amy found out where they had stayed the night. Just across
the hall from JC! Wow. Too late though. The shriek could be heard from
3 doors down.
After our conversation in the dressing rooms last night I had
agreed to become the 'protegé' of the guys. I would quickly learn how to
control the power that they said that I had, I was assured, but they also
said that the learning itself would never end. I was taking a year out
from college anyway. And if I hadn't learnt all that I could learn from
them by then, we would have to see.
6 minutes later the girls were standing impatiently outside their
door. I lead them to the elevator that would take us down to where the
five were having their breakfast. I knew that they were waiting for us to
come down before they started. Neither of them said a single word the
entire way down, they were so nervous. Maybe it was because they
thought that they might 'faint' again and ruin their second chance to see
Nsync.
Breakfast went well. I suspected that Lance might have had
something to do with that. I was sure that I had seen a faint green glow
radiate from his eyes just after the girls sat down. All I know is that they
were suddenly a lot less jittery and were more controlled.
Mum came to pick them up at two, but before then they had
managed to secure both a collection of autographs and souvenirs and
also a place in each one of the boy's hearts.
"Right." Said Justin, who was taking charge. "Now that they're
out of the way we can get down to some *real* business!" He paused for
dramatic effect and then continued. "The first thing that I think you need
to know is how to see your magic, you know. That thing that I did last
night." I had seen plenty of displays of their various powers since Justin
had seemed to burst into flames last night. But I still recalled it quiet
clearly because of the shock value that it had had.
"Yeah." Said JC. "Not only is it the first step but it'll give us a
clearer idea of how strong a mage you are."
"Sounds good." I said, because I felt that I should say
something. "What do I do?"
"Well, it's been a while, but I think the important thing is focus.
Hang on a sec." JC closed his eyes and held out a hand. There was a
rush of air and a book was lying in his hand. Well, lying above it. He
opened the book, and, reading faster then I thought humanly possible,
found what he was looking for. He put the book down on a table. "Yes.
Focus. Do you practise meditation at all? No? Damn. Any ideas guys?"
"I'll show him." Said Lance, stepping into the conversation.
"Take my hands Tom, and concentrate on my eyes." I took the offered
hands and looked into his eyes, concentrating on the green irises that
intoxicated millions of people across the globe. Another breath and I
was seeing through his eyes, staring at myself. I jumped back and lost
the connection.
"Relax. Let's try it again." We did so and this time I didn't
break the connection. "Ok." Said Lance, his voice seeming to come from
all around me and inside me at the same time. "Close your eyes. Follow
where I lead." I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and was amazed by
what I saw. It was like a star, burning brightly, but I could look at it. It
looked a bit odd. After I got over the initial shock I turned and saw
Lance grinning at me.
"Welcome to your power centre!" I heard him say, though I'm
not sure how, there didn't seem to be any air. I looked closer at what I
saw in front of me. On closer inspection I saw what was strange about it.
The ball of fire (as it was represented) was in fact black with streaks of
white running through it. But it was emanating light!
"Any magic that you use draws on the power contained here.
Usually it doesn't drain you, but some of the more powerful spells will
leave you feeling tired and it is possible to run out temporarily. But your
power will always replenish itself. You see those streaks of white?
That's your essence, your soul. What makes you you. It feeds from your
magic and vice-versa. All you have to do now is focus on bringing it to
the surface. Just imagine yourself doing it and you will. Concentrate!"
With that Lance disappeared, leaving me alone in my power centre.
After several minutes concentrating on the task that had been
set to me I began to feel a tingle, which turned to a ripple. I reopened my
eyes to see tendrils of fire shooting out from the ball that was my magic.
Then I *really* opened my eyes, looked down at my hand and saw the
same sort of effect that I had seen on Justin, only this time it was black
with sparks of white glittering through it. I blinked, and when I looked
again the fire was gone.
"Good! I thought that it would take you longer!" Said a
surprised JC. "It took me three days just to figure that out!"
"But you didn't have my help, remember?" Joked Lance.
"I don't think that you had as great a role as you think Lance,
you saw what that was!" Said Justin.
"True." Agreed Lance.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"The colour of your power is very important. It tells a lot about
how powerful you are. Guys?" Said Justin. The others nodded and
concentrating, they brought their own power out onto the surface.
Lance's was a deep green, JC's was yellow, Joey's was a light blue,
Chris flamed up in purple and Justin went the same red that I had seen
last night. Smiling, I took a deep breath and thinking about what I had
done just moments before, tried to repeat it. Within a couple of seconds
the black fire rolled along the surface of my body again, rippling and
flaring. I stopped concentrating and the power faded away slowly this
time instead of blinking out. The others also stopped showing off and we
all sat down again.
"That's really good Tom, doing it again so quickly. I don't
think that I know anyone who was able to do it again so quickly the
second time round." Said JC admiringly.
"Anyway, what were you saying about the colour showing a lot
about the power that you have?" I asked.
"Well, I said last night that were different levels and types of
power. Most people with magic can do basic things, like show their
power, or throw fireballs, but at the same time most people also have
specialities. Things that they are good at, but within that again they can
be weak or strong. We all have strong powers, that's why we're
together." Answered JC.
"Wait! You're saying that you're together as a group because
of your magical powers? Not because of your singing?" JC laughed.
"I suppose you could take it like that, but if you want to look at
it another way, if we couldn't sing, then we wouldn't have lasted as long
as we have. Would we?"
"I guess not." I said.
"Anyway. where was I?" He asked.
"You were telling him about the specialities." Supplied Justin.
"Ok. Now then, for example, I'm a telepath mainly but I
surprise people sometimes, my power also allows me telekinesis and
other things that branch off that. Lance is a seer. He can see things that
are hidden to most others, he's got X-ray eyes and is the one who
spotted your magic, also he's a healer, if you've ever got a bad hangover
then he's the man to talk to. Justin is an elemental mage. He can control
the elements completely, including water, fire and earth. As for Joey,
well I just think that he's here for the free food. seriously though, he's a
shapeshifter and also has some 'seeing' power." JC gave Lance a funny
look. And Chris, well, none of us really know what Chris does. I don't
think he knows himself sometimes. What are you Chris?" Chris grinned.
"I can talk to animals." He said
"And trees, and rocks, and puddles." Whispered Justin into my
ear. But that's 'cos he's mad."
"I heard that J!" Chris shouted. "But that's not all I do.
Sometimes I can 'steal' power for a while, but it depends on the
circumstances."
"As for you." Interrupted JC. "You could probably learn to do
any number of these. That's what the colour shows about your power."
The others gaped. JC just laughed. "You lot should be studying your lore
more. It clearly states exactly what I just said."
"Yes teacher." Said Justin, mimicking a school child.
"That's better! And make sure that you do your homework
tonight." Mocked JC, waggling a finger a Justin. "I don't want to have to
ring your father again!"
"Anyway. now that we've got the first part down, what'll we
teach Tom next?" Asked Lance.
"A fireball is always a good place to start!" Said Justin who I
guess was all for fire because of his ability to control it fully.
"Why not." Said Lance. "You can have the honours Justin,
since you're so eager for him to know how to throw one!"
"Fine!" Said Justin, sticking his tongue out at Lance. "You just
watch me. I'll be a great teacher! Come on Tom, we don't need these
people." I bemusedly followed him to a corner of the room where he
tried to show me what to do.
"All you have to do is think it into existence! It's just basic
magic!" Said an exasperated Justin.
"You forget. I don't know any magic at all."
"So? You did the other thing no problem! It's the same as
that!"
"Really? But that was easy."
"Exactly! Ok." Justin took a deep breath, trying to let out some
of the tension that he was feeling. "Close your eyes. Try to see your
power centre again. All you have to do is focus. That's all."
"Right right." I said, and then closed my eyes. After a couple of
minutes concentrating I saw it, my power centre. "I see it! Now what do
I do?"
Justin's voice returned as if from far away. "The same thing
that you did for the other thing. Just think about it. *Know* that it's
going to happen and it will!"
After another couple of minutes concentrating on my power
centre a ball of magic separated from it and it came speeding towards me
to land in my outstretched hand.
"Good! You have it. Now, open your eyes!" I did as Justin said
and, for an instant saw a ball of flame resting in my hand before it
disappeared. "Great! You had it! Now, try again." When I tried again I
got it much more easily. I had barely started thinking about it when
Justin shouted that I had done it. I opened my eyes and saw it resting
there.
"Throw it at me!" He said. I looked at him incredulously. "I'll
be ok." And to prove his point he threw up what looked like a force
field. I lobbed it gently at him at his shielding protected him, though I
did hear him grunt in effort as it made it's impact. I heard the others
cheer at us.
"Justin is *actually* more then a pretty face! Who would have
thought it?" Exclaimed Lance. Justin grinned.
"That's just *asking* for it Albino boy!" and Justin threw a
fireball of his own at Lance who threw up his own shielding. I backed
into a corner to wait this one out because I didn't think that I had
*nearly* enough power under control to take them on. I closed my eyes
and was almost instantly looking at my power centre. Shields, I thought.
I imagined them surrounding me a saw with a previously unknown
clarity what I had to do. I smiled and did what was necessary. The outer
shell of the power centre burst outwards, expanding as it did. I opened
my eyes and gently threw a fireball at JC to get his attention. He must
have thought that I was one of the others because next thing I knew, he
had spun around and used his telekinetic ability to push me into the wall.
The surprise shattered the concentration that was holding my shielding
in place and I hit the wall with a thud. Justin rushed over to me.
"Oh shit!" wailed Justin. "I don't think he's breathing." JC
gently pushed Justin aside and placed his hands on my chest. He went
into a deep trance, all the time muttering a spell underneath his breath.
After a couple of moments of this I took a deep breath and opened my
eyes to see 5 very worried faces in my field of vision.
"Guys." I said, as if greeting them for the first time.
"Are you ok?" Asked JC.
"I've got a *really* bad headache. But aside from that. I'll be
fine." Unbeknownst to me JC quickly eradicated the ache that was
starting to thud within my skull, and then everything was all right.
"Sorry for doing that Tom. But I thought. hell, I don't know
what I was thinking. I was just responding y'know?" JC said.
"I'm ok JC. Don't worry about a thing." I reassured him.
"Was it my imagination or were you using shields a minute ago
Tom?" Asked Justin.
"Yeah, I was. Didn't do me much good though, did they?"
"That's not the point! You figured out how to create them
yourself? That's really some power you've got there." Said Lance
admirably. "It's only taken you a day to learn all that. It took me at least
a week of hard work."
"Guys. Just a thought here, but if Tom's gonna be coming on
tour with us what's he going to do?" Asked Justin.
"Well Justin, we were thinking of teaching him how to use his
power, remember?" Teased JC.
"You know what I mean! He's got to have to have some kind of
job. Otherwise people are gonna talk." Replied Justin.
"The boy's got a point." Said Chris. "What *are* we going to
do with Tom?"
"We could have him join the security team." Suggested Joey.
Chris disagreed. "Nah. No offence, but those guys are huge.
Nobody would believe that. How about a PA?"
"Yeah! That way he could be on the tour bus with us and
everything!" Said Justin.
"What's a PA?" I asked.
"Personal Assistant. You'd basically be around to help us when
we need it." Answered Justin. "What do ya think?"
"Sounds ok, I guess. When do I start?" I asked. Big mistake.
"Well, I could do with a drink. Would you go down to the
lobby for me?" Requested JC.
Chris joined in. "That receptionist is pretty hot. Get me her
number would you?"
"I don't like my hair like this. Could you get my gel and do it
again?" Asked Lance.
"Well, I'm about to have a shower. Could you hand me a towel
when I get out?" Said Justin, and then realised his mistake. Screams of
laughter tore from the guys as they delighted in what he said. He went
bright red and fled from the room.
3
"Towel Boy." I muttered shaking my head. Justin hadn't shown himself
since he slipped up more then an hour ago. The others assured me that
he was around somewhere, probably invisible so that we couldn't mock
him. It was a shame, because I definitely wanted to see him again.
----------------------
"Joey." Whispered Lance. "Are you still awake?"
"You know I am."
"True. But manners dictate that I ask you anyway." Joey rolled
over to face Lance.
"What is it?"
"I'm worried about Justin."
"James." Sighed Joey. "You've always been worried about
Justin.
"Well, I haven't seen him since he said that thing about the
towel earlier."
"So? You know what he's like. He'll say something like that
and then he'll disappear for a while."
"But it's been 4 hours." Insisted Lance
"What do you expect? Him to come in here and announce that
he's back? He's knows better then to do that after he saw us the last
time." Lance could feel the smile on Joey's face.
"You enjoyed that, didn't you?" Asked Lance.
"Well, you have to admit that it was easier then telling them
that we were together!"
"But I'd know that he was back anyway, remember?" Said
Lance, tapping his head.
"Ok Ok, I get your point. It's odd. But he can look after
himself."
"I'm not so sure. He's confused, Joey. He doesn't know what to
think or what to do." Snapping his fingers, Joey turned on the lights. He
sat up in bed and looked steadily into Lance's eyes.
"Stop talking in circles. Tell me what's getting at you know!"
"I think that Justin's. well. I think Justin's gay."
"Is that all? Why wouldn't he know what to do? He should
know that we'd be there for him." Joey was confused now. Justin was all
right with his relationship Lance and he knew that none of them would
care that Justin was gay.
"It's not that that I think he's confused about. I think he's got
feelings for Tom and he doesn't know what to do about them." Said
Lance, finally getting out what he wanted to say.
"Oh." Answered Joey.
"Exactly."
"Can you tell how Tom feels?"
"Hell yeah! Before we showed him his power he was as easy to
read as a book. He's gay alright, but since we showed him his power his
mental defences have been getting more powerful and, although I
probably could get through them I don't want to probe the mind of
someone who I consider to be a friend. It's not right and I'm not going
to do it."
Joey was surprised by the strength of the conviction in Lance's
voice and said so.
"I know, I just feel really protective of him. Like I really want
to make sure that nothing happens to him." Said Lance.
"I feel the same way. I'm going to ask Josh in the morning if it
could be part of the protection spell that's on Tom. Until then, try to get
some sleep James!"
-------------------------
Justin was wandering the streets, thinking about what had
passed through his mind earlier, and the slip that he had made. The guys
wouldn't mind, of that he was sure. Look at their reaction to the news
that Lance and Joey were together! But he didn't know Tom, didn't
know what he was like and didn't want to lose him as a friend. Better to
never say anything at all and keep him as a friend then to lose him by
saying something stupid, he decided. But what if said something like
before? And what if it was more obvious this time? He desperately
wanted to talk to someone about it, but his only really good friends, the
ones that he could trust, were too close to him. Lance probably already
knew, thought Justin, but that wouldn't make it any easier to talk to him.
Tears pricked his eyes and he sat down and put his face in his hands.
After a couple of minutes of sobbing quietly to himself he resolved what
he was going to do. He was going to talk to Lance about it, ask him what
he thought he should do, and then maybe try to get closer to Tom.
"Aww. the pretty boy's been crying." Jeered a tall black man
who was standing nearby. For the first time Justin looked around to see
where he was, and even though he didn't know the city, he knew a slum
when he saw one.
"That's so sad." Said another man, just as tall, who seemed to
have resolved himself from the shadows to stand beside the first.
"What do ya reckon boys, - another two men joined the two
standing there already - do we give him something to really cry about?
Such a pretty boy can't have any serious problems to worry about. Yet."
Asked the original, fondling himself whilst speaking.
"Just leave me alone guys." Said Justin tiredly, looking up at
them. "I really can't deal with this right now." He knew that he could
beat them in his sleep, but he had other things on his mind at the time.
"Sure thing pretty boy." Sneered one of them. "Anything you
say."
"Do I recognise that face? I'm sure I do. Oh, I'm gonna
enjoy this." Justin was instantly alerted. He always used a spell to
disguise his appearance when he went out (except when he wanted to be
recognised.) and no one without magical abilities should be able to
recognise him. He looked at the men with the aid of his power and saw
that two of them had something. It was black (obviously) but not very
strong. He could still take them, but it was going to be harder.
"Listen. I don't want to hurt anyone so just fuck off, ok?"
Asked Justin, who really didn't want to have to get into anything.
"Your concern is touching. But I don't think that you could do
any damage to me somehow." The person who spoke this time had a
polished voice, and didn't sound as if he belonged on the street. He was
also one of the two mages. Justin saw the lightening quick flick of a
wrist and a spell flying towards him. He slowed down time to think
things through. He decided to absorb the power, that way he could find
out what it was, and because he doubted that it would effect him, it
should be alright. Also, he didn't want to have any sort of a fight out on
the street where it would attract attention. He brought time back to
normal and when he realised that the objective was for him to become
unconscious, he slumped forward and let the men carry him off. There
was some power behind that spell, and he wanted to find out whose it
was. Justin was sure that the mage that threw it at him had not been
powerful enough to use something like that.
During the trip he kept his eyes closed but roamed around with
his magical senses. Finally he saw them approaching a door and,
scraping a key into the lock, opening it. He couldn't see past it with his
power. His eyes shot open with alarm. They were taking him into a room
with magic nullifiers! His power would be useless. He frantically tried to
break free from them, but it was too late. They had him in the room and
were busy tying him down.
---------------------
At the same time, back at the hotel, all the other members of
Nsync were asleep, most not having worried about Justin before going to
bed. But JC had. And now he was sitting up in bed, wide-awake and in a
cold sweat. He knew that something was wrong. But the second that
Justin had had to transmit any sort of message had not been enough and
all JC knew was that Justin was in trouble, somewhere. He rushed out
into the hall, only to bump into me.
We both started talking at the same time. "Justin's in trouble!"
Then - "I know that." Josh followed that with - "But how do you
know?"
I paused for a moment, to gather my thoughts but before I could
speak again JC had run up the hallway to tell the others that something
was up with Justin. They all came out into the hall, rubbing their eyes,
but other then that they seemed to be waking up quickly. They all asked
what was wrong, in their own ways.
"There's something wrong with Justin, he's in danger,
somewhere. But I can't tell where!" JC was pacing the hallway, almost
sick with worry.
"He's in a nullifying room." I said, then frowned. "What's a
nullifying room?" Where had *that* come from? I wondered. JC seized
me by the shoulders.
"How do you know that? Do you know where he is? Tell me!"
Lance pulled him away, into his arms and calmed him down.
"I don't know how I know. All I know is that I know." I felt a
bit blurry for a minute after saying that sentence, and the others took a
minute to work it though their heads. Lance was the first to speak.
"Do you know where he is?" He asked.
"Kinda." I replied. "It's like. I could take you there, but I
don't know an address. Do you know what I mean?"
"Sure. It happens all the time when one of the guys tells me
where he is from somewhere." JC interrupted Lance.
"You're saying that he's got Justin's thoughts up there?"
"No. I don't know. JC, do feel up to taking a look? Do you
mind Tom?" I hesitated before replying but said yes. JC put a trembling
hand to my face and closed his eyes. This time I could feel him probing
around in my mind. When he found what he was looking for he gasped.
"You've got all of Justin's thoughts and emotions for that
second that he was trying to tell someone what was happening, they're
all in your mind." JC straightened up with a new strength and pulled
himself away from Lance, who still had a comforting hand on his
shoulder. "We can talk about this later. I know where Justin is. Let's
go." He extended his arms, for someone to take his hands for a
teleportation spell but instead Lance grasped his shoulder.
"If we're going to rescue him from a magic nullifying room
we're going to need more then our underwear." I looked around the hall,
no one was wearing more then boxer shorts, neither was I. I blushed and
ducked back into my room to get dressed. Two minutes later we all met
back in the hall, JC armed with a mean looking sword and the others
with an assortment of knives and martial equipment. We quickly
teleported to the corridor just outside the room which contained Justin
and his captors.
"There are four of them. Two have magical powers, but they'll
be in the dampening room too, so that won't make a difference, they're
all over six foot and they're strong. I'll go in first and give them a
chance to leave. Be careful everyone. With that, JC strode over to the
door and flung it open. From my vantage point I could see what was
happening inside. Justin was naked, with his arms and legs tied to the
four corners. Two of the men were naked and wanking over Justin, one
had his dick out and looked as if he was about to penetrate Justin in a
minute or two, and the fourth was sitting on the bed, and had been
talking to Justin until JC flung the door open.
I heard JC say - "To hell with giving them a chance." And then
he attacked the man who was about to fuck Justin. I don't think I've ever
seen such a rage before in my life. The others quickly followed and beat
the other two out of the room. But the one who had been sitting on the
bed stood up slowly, unperturbed.
"I was hoping that you'd come." He looked down at the man
who lay on the floor, dying. "Pity about that, he had been so looking
forward to Mr. Timberlake. but then, it got your attention, which was
the main reason for this whole charade." He flicked a small fireball at
the dying man, putting him out of his misery. "Don't look so surprised
Mr. Chasez. You didn't think that this room cancelled all magic do you?
Just your distasteful variety." With a glance he slammed the door shut.
"Unfortunately I wouldn't prove powerful enough to get you all if you
had your powers, but - he shrugged his shoulders - without them you're
nothing more then human, are you?"
I decided that this was not going in a direction that I wished to
pursue. Well, actually, I was very scared. I was stuck in a room with a
maniac who seemed intent on killing some of the greatest people that I
had ever met. I shivered, which brought the attention of the maniac to
me.
"Who are you? I don't recall there being 6 members to this
group. Oh well, I'm sure that one more death won't make a difference."
"He's only a fan who found us when we were teleporting here.
It's a mistake that he's here at all, please, don't kill him." Pleaded
Lance.
"Very touching, but I don't think that I could leave an eye-
witness hanging around. After all this planning? I don't think so." He
raised an arm in the classic wizard style and a fireball developed there.
"You can be the first to die, so that the others can see what awaits them."
I cringed and closed my eyes. I finally had time to pay attention
to that nagging thought in the back of my head - if we had all lost our
magic then why was I able to feel the others in my mind? What had he
said? Just your distasteful variety of magic. As in white magic? But JC
said that I didn't have white magic, that I had a choice. Could it mean.I
quickly retreated into my power centre and saw that everything was as
normal. Suddenly, the pinprick of thought that was JC in my mind
became stronger, brighter.
I opened my eyes and saw him staring straight at me while the
man who was going to try to kill me was preparing a spell. In an instant I
knew that I was right.
I closed my eyes again and created shields around myself. Then
I developed a fireball in my hand and opened my eyes again. He hadn't
noticed! He was too absorbed in the spell that he was weaving and was
cocky. He thought that nothing could hurt him. I threw the ball at him
with all my strength, he looked up in shock and, forgetting the spell in
his hand he brought up his own shields. He hadn't gotten up quickly
enough and some of the fire hit him in the chest. JC tried to take
advantage of the situation to free Justin but the maniac was having none
of it. He stared straight at Josh and hurled him into a wall using his
mind, and then he looked back at me not knowing what to think. He
raised his hand again and lashed out with lightening. It glanced off my
shields and earthed itself in a wall. He looked at me with fear as I threw
another fireball. This one was more powerful then the last, I was getting
better at this.
It took all his strength to block it. His mind was suddenly left
unguarded and I felt him. He was a sickening presence in the back of my
mind. I tried to push it away because it was disgusting and then saw the
effect that it had on him. He grunted in pain for a moment and then was
focused again. But he hadn't left my mind. I could still sense him. I
pushed harder and this time he fell to the floor, his shields cracking and
disintegrating underneath his weight. He had fainted! With him
unconscious the spells blocking magic died. As did the spells holding
the door closed. Fire seared across Justin's bonds and they burnt away,
leaving him free. JC knelt down beside they're would be murderer, he
placed his hand on him and with a shimmer he disappeared.
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Sent him in front of the Arch-Mage council. He'll find life
there. interesting." Replied JC.
"Can we leave now?" Said Justin, shuddering.
"Yeah, let's go get J some clothes!" Added Chris, trying to
relieve the mood.
"Are you ok Justin?" Asked a concerned Lance.
"I'll be fine. But a couple of minutes later and that guy would
have. would have." Said Justin, breaking into tears. JC drew him into
a hug, neither of them caring that Justin was naked. "I'm just glad that
you found me in time. I didn't think that I had enough time to tell you so
I just threw everything at you."
JC interrupted him. "Shh, you're ok now. That's all that
matters. Lets go back to the hotel so that you can get some sleep, hmm?"
"Yeah." Everybody gathered round the two of them as did I. JC
said the words and seconds later we were in Josh's room. He pushed
everyone out except Justin, who he then put to sleep in his room. We all
sat in silence in Lance and Joey's room, reflecting on what had just
happened.
I spoke the first words. "What did happen guys? I'm still
confused."
"Some guy tried to kill us and have Justin raped. I would have
thought that it was obvious!"
"Leave him alone Joey. That's not what he's talking about."
Admonished Lance. The door opened and a weary looking JC entered
the room.
"How's Justin?" I asked.
"He's asleep, shaken up. But he'll be fine. What were you
talking about before I came in?"
I shot a smile at Lance. "Thanks Lance. You're right, I meant -
Why did he try to kill you in the first place?"
JC answered. "Because of the prestige it affords a person,
because he was hired to, because of the rewards offered, revenge. Take
your pick." I didn't understand, and I said so. JC just flopped down onto
a chair and let Joey answer.
"We've told you that we're together as a group because of our
powers, but we didn't tell you what we do. There's more then simply
humans with magic. There are demons, vampires, and a host of things
that, given half a chance would kill of the entire human race. We've got
to try to stem the flow. That makes us unpopular with a lot of people and
things. Last time we heard, there was about five million on each of our
heads, just for the heads."
"And now you've gotten me into this? This should be
interesting."
Chris replied. "If you want to back out, just say so. We could
erase your memories."
JC said - "The memories would grow back. We've shown you
your power, you've got to live with it now."
"Don't worry guys! I wouldn't give this up for the world.
Besides, I think that you need me really. Look at the trouble you'd have
gotten into if I hadn't have been there tonight!"
4
"True." Said JC reflectively. "Thank you. You don't know how
grateful I am."
"We are." Corrected Lance. This was embarrassing, having
them say things like that.
"It was nothing. Besides it was JC who told me what to do, so I
think that you should be thanking him and, don't forget, if it wasn't for
you I wouldn't know how to use the power that I have."
JC sighed. "That's not quite true."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Ok, I guess it's time to tell you everything there is to know.
But I'll cut it down for you, ok?"
"Sure."
"I'm not going to start at the start, I'll tell you first something
relevant to you. Pass me a glass of water would you?" He took a sip
from the glass that Chris passed him. "Thanks. You know that you're
what we've called an undecided, right? Well, that means that you've got
the choice between Black and White magic. But, because the true
undecideds have such power, their loyalty is fought over. Great wars
have been waged because of such power. The last one was fought in
Atlantis. The war sunk the continent, places like the Bermuda triangle
have also hosted great displays of might, and many die even today as the
echoes of that magic reach across the centuries."
I whistled in appreciation. "Indeed." Continued JC. "What I'm
saying is that soon a time will come when you are asked to make the
choice, and the two sides will try to convince you to join them."
"But I don't know of any mysterious battles. And I thought that
it was hard to cover up one person's memory, so I don't see how you
could block the memories of the world." I said.
"That's the point Tom. JC isn't talking about recently. He's
talking about things that happened millennia ago. Before recorded
history, in most cases. And in others, like the Bermuda triangle, America
hadn't been discovered then."
"That's why this is so important. Because if war is fought, it
will affect countless millions, and expose people to unknown evils."
Added Josh.
I shuddered; I couldn't bear to think that I might be responsible
for death on such a scale. "It's simple then. I don't have any interest in
Black Magic so I've already made my choice. White Magic."
"I wish it was that simple. But there are certain rituals that must
be performed. Your loyalty will be tested before admission to either of
the Magic's and if there is any doubt..."
"War." Finished Lance.
"But you've been teaching my to use my power." I said
questioningly.
"Not really. I told you that everyone could do basic things, like
the fireballs. Those things don't require spells. But the more powerful
acts do."
"Ok. So what you're saying is that I've got to prove my loyalty.
How hard can it be?"
JC grimaced. "According to the texts, pretty hard. They crawl
through your every memory. Trying to find anything to indicate that you
might betray them in the future. They commit you to near-impossible
physical tasks to see if you'll do them. Keep in mind that this hasn't
been done in the past couple of thousand years, they'll be experimenting
with new techniques."
"Lovely."
"Not really. Anyway, let's get onto the other stuff. This time I
will start from the start. When the world first came into existence there
was a visible field of magic. Plants thrived on it, and later so did the
animals, that's how the dinosaurs evolved and grew to be so big. But,
when man came around the time of abundant magic was almost at an
end. The humans - those that could - channelled the power and used it in
a way that the world had never seen before. Since then the power itself
has evolved and now mainly exists inside of people like us." Josh gulped
down some water before continuing. "Since the early days the council
has been set up to deal with major problems and things like the
undecided. They also control the teaching and training of mages, as well
as co-ordinating everyone against the opposition." JC seemed to be
finished.
"That reminds me. We're going to have to report what
happened tonight to the council. I think they'll agree that this is more
then a once off thing. It seemed to have been too well planned." Said
Lance.
"I agree. We're really going to have to watch our backs from
now on. I don't want anyone going off by himself, including you Tom.
He said he didn't know who you were, but I don't like the timing of
this." Ordered JC.
"Especially since Drayn has threatened you." Said Lance,
reminding JC.
"That's right. I'm going to have to include that in the report.
This is not going to be fun. They're going to send some goons out to
question us. That'll be fun."
"This sounds like a bad episode of Buffy!" I joked, trying to
make the situation less tense. JC made a face.
"I'd love to meet the person that spilt *that* secret."
"You mean she's real?" I was stunned.
"Oh sure, they got a lot of the details wrong in the programme,
but still."
"This just gets weirder and weirder." I commented.
"You think *this* is weird? You're the one who can throw
fireballs and read minds!" Laughed Chris.
"You know what I mean." I said, laughing with him. But it
didn't stop me from throwing a cushion at him. An all out pillow fight
quickly followed. The door opened and Justin shuffled in, wearing only
a hotel dressing gown and a pair of slippers. Without looking at anyone
he went over to a chair near the television and started flicking through
the channels. The others exchanged glances and then JC spoke.
"How are you Justin?"
"I'm fine." Replied Justin. JC sprang up and went over to
Justin, crouching down in front of him.
"Justin, if you need to talk we're all here for you. You know
that. But you can't pretend that nothing happened, and you can't hide
away from us in the same room!"
Justin sighed. "You're right." He turned to face the group of us.
"I know that you're there for me. I just don't think that I can talk about it
right now. The feeling... being so helpless..." A solitary tear rolled down
his cheek and he wiped it off. "Thank you Tom. If you hadn't have been
there..."
"It's nothing Justin. I just hope that you'll be there when I need
you!" He smiled at that.
"You can count on it!" He said. Then JC sat up on the armrest
of the chair and started talking quietly to him.
"So, Tom. How did you know?" Asked Lance.
"Know what?"
"How did you know that you could still use your powers? You
haven't learnt how to 'feel' with your magic yet, I know that." He
explained.
"JC told me." JC looked up at the mention of his name.
"Told you what?"
"That I still had my powers, that I could still use them."
"No I didn't." He said, confused.
"Yes you did. I looked straight at you and you said it to me.
The other guy was busy with that spell and you just said it to me. Don't
you remember?" I asked, seeing the confused look on his face.
"None of us had our powers, so I couldn't have, remember? But
I was thinking about it though." After a pause he continued. "Are you
telling me that you read my mind?"
"I don't think I can. I can't feel you now." I replied.
"That's because we've all got mental protection spells in place,
to make sure that no one tries to tamper with our minds, and you've had
no training, so you shouldn't even be able to feel those spells... but then,
you shouldn't be able to read my mind at all."
"I haven't felt anyone else's mind at all... wait! If you've got
these spells to protect yourselves, and I've been around no one else for a
couple of days since you started showing me how to use my powers..."
"You wouldn't know if you were telepathic! Here! I'll let down
the spells that protect my mind." I instantly felt his presence in the back
of my mind, the way it had been when we were in the room that
cancelled magic and a single thought repeating in his mind. Can you
hear this? He was saying telepathically.
"Yes!" I replied. "I could hear you!"
"Well, it explains how you were able to knock *him* out
anyway!" JC must have reactivated the spells because I was no longer
able to feel him in my mind.
Chris whistled in admiration. "Telepathy. So soon? That's
fucking amazing. How long did it take us Josh?"
"Three or four weeks, just to be able to talk to each other." He
answered.
No one said anything for a couple of minutes.
"Anyway, we've got a long day tomorrow. We've got an
interview with the local radio station at 11, followed by a stint in the
studio's, and then we've got our last concert before we move on, so I
suggest that everyone gets to sleep now." Said Lance. I glanced at my
watch and saw that it was about 5 in the morning.
"Good idea. I'm bushed." I said, getting up to go to my room.
We said our good nights to each other and then went back to our own
rooms. I crawled under the covers and turned off the lights. Not five
minutes had passed when I heard a soft knock on the door. Groaning, I
got up to answer it. It was Justin.
"Can I sleep in here tonight?"
"Sure." I said, not asking for any reasons. I think that he'd gone
through as much as he'd gone through that night you deserve not to be
asked why you'd prefer company. I went back over to the double bed
that I'd been sleeping in. There were two. I got back under the covers
and closed my eyes. Through my eyelids I saw Justin close the door, the
light stopped pouring in, and a moment later felt him lift up the covers
and slide into my bed. I mentally shrugged my shoulders and, turning
over, fell asleep.
Lance smiled from in between his lover's arms and also fell
asleep.
Chapters 5-8
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