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From: J R D <jrdss@pobox.alaska.net>
Subject: {ASSM} My top ten (tg) #2 (10/14)
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 04:10:06 -0400
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DISCLAIMERS

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

This story contains scenes of an erotic and/or controversial nature, 
and is not intended for the perusal of minors.  Further if perusal of 
such material is considered illegal in your area or immoral by your 
religion or personal beliefs, you should likewise bypass this story.

This story remains the property of the author.  Permission is granted 
to download, photocopy, copy and repost so long as any such action 
contains these disclaimers, and no attempt is made to profit from 
this story.

All characters in this story are the creation of the author, and any 
resemblance to real persons, alive or dead, are purely coincidental.

This story may contain aspects of fantastic science or magic.  The 
parameters of what this science/magic can accomplish are completely 
at the discretion of me, the author, and, as such, I make no 
apologies for any rules of "real" physics, chemistry, biology, or 
magic that may be broken within the story.

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

Now onto the fun stuff

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

CHANGE OF POWER pt 10

A mystified Bronwyn walked into Laurie's house, to be greeted by a 
loving hug.  "Congrats, dearie.  You and Jack finally did the deed."

Bronwyn asked, "He told you?"

"No, but I'd have to be pretty dense not to notice that silly smile 
on his face after he spent the whole night out.  Was it any good?"

"It was wonderful, Laurie.  I've never had a more sensitive male 
lover.  He was even better than most women.  And, Laurie, when we 
came, I realized I wanted his baby."

"You're pregnant?  I didn't sense it."  Laurie linked to Bronwyn with 
her healer's senses.  "I don't sense it.  You're not pregnant."

"But... how?"

"I don't know.  The only thing I can think of is that he used some 
magical protection."

"But I didn't sense anything."

"Hun, you were in the middle of what you call some of the best sex 
you ever had,and we know he can be rather subtle in his magics.  I 
think short of him conjuring elephants into the bedroom, you could've 
missed almost anything."

Bronwyn smiled.  "Thanks, hun.  I needed that."

"Look, why don't you tell him you and Nita are the same person and ask him?"

"I...  I'm not ready for that."  Laurie tried to argue the point, but 
Bronwyn said, "No, hun, just let me handle this.  You promised."

"Alright."

At that point, Jack came in.  Bronwyn made a quick excuse and left, 
unwilling to face him and risk betraying something.  Laurie gave her 
a disapproving glare as she left.

Jack grabbed a box of cereal, a bowl, and the milk and sat down.  As 
he poured the cereal, Laurie asked, "Can I ask for another clue?  I 
think I'm getting close, but it keeps slipping away."

Jack got a concerned look on his face.  "I suppose I should've seen 
this, but really I thought you'd have this figured out by now.  So 
I've only got one more clue.  I can't do anything more without 
spelling it out for you, and I won't do that."

"Okay."

"Last clue.  One of the reasons why Jacqui was so powerful was 
because her father was one of us, one of a group called the Order of 
Hermes.  One of my level.  The fact of the matter is, he had some 
very powerful enemies.  If you had not disappeared out of his life, 
he'd've disappeared out of yours.  But he realized there was always 
the chance one of his enemies might've found out about you, and 
kidnapped Jack to use against him.  So before he left, he cast a 
spell to protect the then fetus.  A spell that would make tampering 
with his mind nearly impossible."

Laurie was mystified.  "But how does this apply to Jacqui?"

"That, dear lady, is for you to figure out."

"Okay, I've got another request for you."

"Shoot."

"Tell Bronwyn you know that she and Nita are one and the same."

"I can't do that.  Not yet.  I'm not ready for it."  When Laurie was 
about to protest, he said, "Look, I appreciate the concern, you've 
been more of a mother to me than mine ever was.  But I'm holding you 
to your promise not to interfere in any way."

Laurie sighed.  "Okay."  As Jack ate his cereal, Laurie went upstairs 
to her room.  "Stuck between two promises.  I hate this."

************

Jacqui and Marcus were walking together in the garden.  She was in 
her ninth month and due anytime.  At one point, she turned to Marcus 
and kissed him.  Right in the middle of her kiss, she felt her first 
contraction.  She had experienced false contractions before, so she 
used her Healer's senses to check.  She looked to Marcus and said, 
"It's time."

************

Laurie was sitting in the kitchen discussing the Brotherhood with 
Bronwyn.  Since Jack had saved Dana the attacks had dropped off to 
almost nothing, but both women knew it was only the calm before the 
storm.

Bronwyn was talking about some information that she had gotten from 
the Sisters in Asia, when she suddenly stopped in mid-sentence. 
Laurie looked up, and saw that Bronwyn was frozen in place.  She was 
about to say something when Jack appeared beside her.

By way of explanation, he said, "Time bubble.  Don't talk.  Takes a 
lot of energy to maintain.  Your daughter just went into labor.  She 
petitioned for and got permission for you to be there, with three 
conditions.  These conditions are non-negotiable and immutable.  You 
accept and go, or refuse and stay.  Any attempt to bargain or modify 
these conditions will be taken as an automatic refusal.

"Condition one, you don't get to discuss this with anybody before you 
leave.  We leave right from here, and nobody but me knows where you 
are.

"Condition two, with the exception of your daughter, her well being, 
and her birth, you discuss what you see with no one.  Period.

"Condition three, you let me blind your senses, both physical and 
magical.  You won't know where you're going or where you've been till 
you get there.

"Do you accept the conditions as stated?"

It took her less than a second to decide.  She knew the conditions 
would be a strain on Bronwyn, but there was no way she couldn't be 
with her daughter during this time.  Not if she had any options. 
"Yes."

Jack took her in his arms, then waved his hand over her eyes. 
Suddenly Laurie was blind.  And in more than just a physical way. 
All her senses, including magical, and healer, were blocked off. 
Even her connection with the other Sisters was suppressed (how 
powerful was this man?).  Then, almost as suddenly as it started, the 
blindness lifted.  She was in a nicely furnished room with her 
daughter on a bed, Marcus on one side, and the Verbena Mistress on 
the other.  Her senses told her that Jacqui was in the middle of 
birth pains.

She ran to Jacqui's side, and embraced her.  "Mother, I was so afraid 
you wouldn't make it."

"Never."

The two hugged, but Jacqui broke it as she went through another labor 
pain.  Laurie said, "Don't worry, dear.  Mother's here.  Let's bring 
your baby into the world."

************

Bronwyn was speaking to, and looking right at Laurie, when she 
suddenly disappeared.  She looked around and quested with her senses, 
but they were telling her that Laurie was at an impossibly huge 
distance away.  Suddenly she was besieged by Sisters who were close 
to Laurie saying that Laurie had just disappeared and asking Bronwyn 
if she knew what was going on.  Their multiple voices became so 
insistent, that Bronwyn had to mentally yell, "Quiet!"

After everyone had settled down, she said, both physically and 
mentally, "I don't know where Laurie is."

She then heard Jack say, "She's safe."

Bronwyn asked, "But where is she?"

"I can't tell you.  But take my word for it.  She AND her daughter are safe."

"But-"

"You're not listening, Bronwyn.  She AND her daughter are safe."

Bronwyn finally got it.  "Are you saying-"

"I'm not SAYING anything other than she AND her daughter are safe."

Bronwyn realized that although he wasn't saying as much, the way he 
was explaining it implied that Laurie and Jacqui were together.  As 
he left the room, Bronwyn sent the message, "I have it on good 
authority that she's safe."

She spent the next few minutes explaining things to the others and 
sending her best wishes to Laurie and Jacqui.

************

The birth went exceptionally easily, and when Jacqui held the baby in 
her arms, and was nursing her, Laurie said, "Now you must cast the 
Birth Rites."

"I can't, mother."

"What do you mean?  Can't you utilize the Goddess's power that well anymore?"

"That's part of it.  I no longer wield the Goddess's power.  I wield 
a power all my own."

"Well, if you can't, then allow me."

Laurie reached for the baby, but Jacqui said, "No!"  Laurie felt a 
mystic wall go up around her, preventing her from using any power.

"Jacqui, what are you doing?"

"I can't let you use the Birth Rites on my child, mother."

"But-"

"But nothing.  Mother, you must promise me not to even try to cast 
the Birth Rites.  There is so much here I want to show you.  If you 
promise not to try to cast the Birth Rites on my child, then we can 
spend a week together as mother and daughter.  But without that 
promise I can't trust you around my baby.  I have the power to 
prevent you from using your power, but I cannot watch you all the 
time.  If you don't promise me, you will have to leave right from 
here and go home."

"But, Jacqui, why?  The Birth Rites just dedicate her to a life to 
the light.  Prevent her from being taken by the Dark One."

"It also...  No, never mind.  Just promise me, mom."

"But-"

"Mother, please.  There's more here at stake than you know."

Laurie wrestled with the idea.  Not cast the Birth Rites?  Such a 
thing had not been done in the entire history of the Sisterhood.  But 
this was clearly very important to her daughter.  It took her a few 
minutes of wrestling with the idea, before she begrudgingly said, 
"Alright, Jacqui, I promise.  I will not cast the Birth Rites on your 
daughter."

Jacqui took Laurie's hand.  "Thank you, mother.  You did the right thing."

If it was the right thing, why did her stomach suddenly churn so badly?

************
------------

Jeremy Lancaster sat in the office that was his as the head of the 
Brotherhood.  The doctor was there, trying to counsel him.  "Are you 
sure this is a wise course of action?  A direct confrontation with 
the High Priestess of the Sisterhood could result in very bad 
consequences."

"Perhaps.  But I think it somehow appropriate that we defeat them by 
forcing their surrender, by forcing them to admit we are their 
betters, their masters."

"But it could result in your destruction."

"That's the beauty of the plan."  Jeremy picked up a disk which held 
a copy of the digital plague that his brother had invented. 
Balancing it on opposing corners, and spinning it in his hands, he 
said, "If they do anything to me, that will only mean their downfall."

Jeremy laughed, and the doctor dismissed himself.  Outside the doctor 
thought to himself, "This isn't working out like I planned, but it 
still may work out for me."

------------
************

Bronwyn tentatively waited outside Laurie's house in her car.  When 
Jack and she (as Nita) had been on a date about a half hour ago, Jack 
had excused himself, saying he had to go pick his mom up from an out 
of town trip she had been on.  Since Bronwyn knew the only trip 
Laurie was on was where she had disappeared a week ago, she knew this 
meant Laurie's return was imminent.

She felt the twisting of time and space that was the signature of 
Jack's teleportation inside.  She got out and rushed into the house. 
Laurie and Jack were in the kitchen, and Bronwyn took Laurie into her 
arms and hugged her.  After exchanging some pleasantries, Bronwyn 
said, "Jack didn't say so exactly, but he implied strongly that you 
were with Jacqui.  Was it true?"

"Yes, she, Marcus, and her baby, Cheryl, are all doing well."

"Great.  You have to tell me all about it."

Laurie kissed Bronwyn on the cheek.  "Later, love.  Right now, I'm 
just too wiped out.  I don't know why."

Jack said, "It's called transition lag, the metaphysical equivalent 
to jet lag.  Passing through dimensions takes its toll on the body. 
Until and unless you get used to it, you either need some sleep or an 
adrenaline boosting situation, like your daughter giving birth, to 
counter it.  You'll be fine after a few hours sleep."

Laurie nodded, kissed Bronwyn, and headed upstairs.  She collapsed on 
the bed, and thought she'd be asleep in no time.  But, as scenes of 
the last week marched through her head, she found it harder and 
harder to rest.  The scenes of her discussions with Jacqui about the 
Birth Rites were what disturbed her the most.  At first, she had 
spent much of her time just trying to convince Jacqui to allow her to 
cast the Birth Rites, but Jacqui was adamant.  Under no circumstances 
was she going to allow the Birth Rites to be cast on Cheryl.  She 
wouldn't explain why, but neither would she compromise.

But it was what came next that disturbed her the most.  Once she had 
accepted that there was no way to convince Jacqui through discussion, 
she found herself plotting to cast the Birth Rites on her 
granddaughter.  Every time she was left alone with Cheryl, she had to 
fight off the... compulsion to cast the Birth Rites.  At one point, 
she had even found herself making the hand motions for the Birth 
Rites.  Only by reminding herself over and over again of her promise 
was she able to control herself.

Then it started to congeal.  She remembered Jack's clues.  He had 
pointed out that eighty percent of the Sisterhood had had the exact 
same reaction, that is to say no reaction, to their Transformation. 
The only thing that could be doing that was some sort of mental 
suggestion.  It wouldn't be outright control, for that would destroy 
their ability to do magic.  But a suggestion, properly placed, could 
do it.

This also tied into the last clue she had gotten.  Jacqui, as a 
fetus, had been protected by her father from mental tampering, making 
any suggestion weaker, and doomed to fall apart.

At first, she thought that it was only the reason why Jacqui had 
objected so strenuously to her Transformation, but she remembered 
Julie's problems with her son, and Jack's first clue.  Jack, as well 
as others who had transformed back, were all much more powerful than 
their mothers.  A mental compulsion placed on someone much more 
powerful rarely held long.

So she had found out that the Sisterhood had been affected by some 
kind of widespread mental compulsion.  And she had to admit what it 
was.  The only thing that every member of the Sisterhood had in 
common was the Birth Rites.  Every Sister had had them cast upon her 
by her mother and in turn cast them upon their children.

But part of her rebelled at the idea.  The Birth Rites had been 
handed down as a blessing from the Goddess.  Or had they?  Laurie 
remembered the only clue that Jack had given her that didn't seem to 
fit.  He had pointed out the joy of raising girls and asked her why 
would the Goddess deny her that joy.  The only way that made sense 
with the other clues, is if... the Birth Rites had NOT come from the 
Goddess.  But then where had they come from?

She had to find out.  The first thing she had to do was break the 
Birth Rites down, find out what they were.  No one had ever done this 
before, and, in fact, the idea seemed somewhat sacrilegious.  But 
now, with Jacqui's absolute refusal to use them, she was sure that 
she had to do this.

She went over to her bookcase and grabbed a notebook.  Nowhere were 
the Birth Rites written down anywhere.  They were always memorized 
and passed on until the child could do them from memory.  As she 
started to write the Birth Rites down, something seemed to interfere, 
cloud her mind.  But she had to persevere.  She had to find out.

************

Bronwyn was sitting in the kitchen, across the table from Jack, who 
was doing his homework for the next semester of classes they were 
taking together.  For the last two hours since Laurie's return, she 
had been debating whether or not to try to tell Jack of her dual 
nature.  She had just thought she had worked up the nerve, when 
suddenly she felt Laurie's scream of frustration and rage.

She jumped up from the table and ran upstairs, where she found Laurie 
throwing her magical paraphernalia across the room.  Her crystals, 
books, anything that had anything to do with the Sisterhood was in 
total disarray, including Laurie's mental state.  Her rage was so 
great that her mind had lost any semblance of coherency.  Laurie 
grabbed an entire shelf full of books and threw them to the floor, 
screaming, "Lies!  All lies!"

Bronwyn raced to her friend and lover, and grabbed her by the arms. 
Shaking her, Bronwyn asked, "Laurie, what's wrong?"

Laurie could barely get herself together enough to say, "It's just... 
It's," before shrieking in rage.

Bronwyn was about to try something more desperate, when she heard 
Jack say, "It sounds to me like Laurie has just discovered the reason 
why Jack was so upset when he was first Transformed."  Both girls 
looked to the door and saw Jack standing there leaning against the 
door frame with the same cocky pose he had when first appearing to 
them.  He said, "Kind of sucks being manipulated, doesn't it?"

Laurie settled down, but her rage didn't actually go away, just went 
down to a controlled simmer.  Jack walked into the room, and said to 
her, "The question is, what are you going to do now?  You could throw 
what you know into the open air, and cause a lot of pain.  You could 
inflict on others what you feel now.  Or you can pick and choose the 
time of your revelation, and reverse the damage done.  In other 
words, you can hurt, or you can heal."  The last seemed to really get 
through to Laurie, and she calmed down immeasurably.  Jack turned and 
walked from the room, saying, "The choice is up to you."

After he was gone, Bronwyn asked, "Laurie, what's wrong?  What did 
you discover?"

Laurie collected herself, saying, "Bronwyn, I can't say.  Jack was 
right.  I've got to choose the right time to reveal this.  And until 
I get a chance to think about this, I have no idea how long that'll 
be."

Bronwyn tried to argue, but Laurie silenced her with a kiss. "Please, 
love, go home."

"You'll call me if you need me?"

"Of course."  Laurie pressed her forehead to Bronwyn's and 
transmitted feelings of absolute love to the High Priestess.  Bronwyn 
finally gave in, kissed Laurie and left, forgetting all about telling 
Jack about herself.
-- 
"This is reality, not T.V.  Can't you tell the difference?"
"Sure, I just like T.V. better."

jrdss@alaska.net
ICQ#37222294
J R D

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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