The Sleeper.

[kamalw1]

Jason was waiting in the car when he saw someone get into Sandra's car. He recognized the person as her foster sister, Sunshine. They drove off, and he followed behind them as they stopped at a convenience store before going home. Since there were no other car in the driveway, he figured that they were home alone.

He sat in his car a couple of doors down and thought about a plan. He reached into his bag and pulled out a couple of things. First, he changed his clothes to look more like a teenager. He wanted his 5'11", 160lbs, chocolate-skinned body to look as little intimidating as possible. He put on a pair of non-prescription glasses and picked up his tape recorder and camera.

Going over the plan one more time, he got out of the car and walked up to the Shadi's door and rang the bell, waiting for someone to answer.

 

[Shadi]

Sunny as always was as good as her word and after about 15 minutes jumped into the car next to me, I felt better knowing that she was there and would help me out.

After a quick stop at the store for supplies we make it home in record time. In Sunny's bedroom we start on the ice cream, it might not help me think but it sure as hell makes me feel better.

“Ok, spill it.”

I smile, just like Sunny, no messing around. I tell her about the meeting with Richards and Ms Troy, how they want me off the cheerleading squad and I might get suspended, then I tell her about the talk with Ms Troy on her own and how she thought hypnosis might help me.

I waited for a minute while she took it all in and then I asked her.

"Sunshine, I need your help to find my birth parents, I want to know why they left me and why I'm like I am. They might not have just dumped me, they might be dead or they couldn't give me a good life so sent me away. I know it's a lot to ask but I can't ask Mom and Dad, that wouldn't be fair and I don't want to upset them but I need to know who I am and if I have this hypnosis and if you help me I might just find out."

She was silent, her spoon stopped halfway to her mouth, before she could say anything I carried on "I really hurt Bull last night, okay he asked for it but who will it be next time? What if it's Dad or Mom or you, I don't want to hurt anyone else so I have to find out how to stop it, please will you help me?"

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

Sunshine Shadi

Listening to Sandra tell me about everything that happened this morning, my first reaction was to get extremely angry with Mr. Richards and the bimbo cheerleader. How could they attack my sister? She was the victim here.

But when she started talking about Mrs. Troy and trying hypnosis I began to realize exactly how deep the problem went. I couldn’t imagine being in Sandra’s position, having a family who loves me, but not knowing where I came from. Yes she has some strange skills, and doesn’t know where she got them, but she’s my sister, and I had always accepted those skills as just part of her.

"Sunshine, I need your help to find my birth parents, I want to know why they left me and why I'm like I am. They might not have just dumped me, they might be dead or they couldn't give me a good life so sent me away. I know it's a lot to ask but I can't ask Mom and Dad, that wouldn't be fair and I don't want to upset them but I need to know who I am and if I have this hypnosis and if you help me I might just find out. I really hurt Bull last night, okay he asked for it but who will it be next time? What if it's Dad or Mom or you, I don't want to hurt anyone else so I have to find out how to stop it, please will you help me "

Understanding how much this was upsetting her, I got up and hugged her. “Sandra I don’t think you would ever hurt me, or Mom, or Dad, we’re your family. Of course I’ll help you Sandra, how could you think I wouldn’t? But before I start searching I just want to make it clear that you are my sister no matter what I find. I know it’s important to find out where you came from, but you’re part of my family, and that isn’t a tie you can break.” I hug her, hard, once more with tears in my eyes this time, then go to turn on my computer.

I go online and start a search, checking missing persons reports and all the reports from the time that Sandra was found. I knew I wouldn’t find anything new here, but any research has to be methodical. Going deeper I find records of several “Sandras” and I start eliminating them as possibilities. After a working at it for a while I managed to eliminate them all. After coming to a dead end I begin to think.

We were absolutely certain that “Sandra” was her name before she was found there were no existing records that matched her. No file of fingerprints, or any dental records that matched hers. No record of her existing at all before she was found with no memory, at least no record that I could get to. I am excellent at finding information, on the internet, on the phone, in a library. I can find anything on public record, but I’m not a hacker. I started to come to some conclusions and I wasn’t sure how Sandra would take them.

I had been sitting absolutely still at the computer desk for a while just staring at the wall behind my monitor, Sandra was watching me and I knew she was dying to know what I found. I turn around and very slowly and methodicly explain to her.

“Sandra, you know that if a record exists I can find it.” I take a deep breath before continuing. “I didn’t find any records on anyone that could be you. We KNOW you existed as Sandra before you were injured, and if you existed a record of you existed somewhere. If I can’t find it that means that either someone with some extremely good tech skills has wiped it clean, or it exists behind some very heavy security that I can’t get through. There is something about your past that someone very wealthy or very powerful does not want made public.”

Sandra just sits there in shock for a few moments, as I’m waiting for her to show some kind of reaction I hear the doorbell ring. At first I ignore it, I wasn’t about to leave my only sister by herself after giving her news like this. She finally moves enough to say “Go ahead, go answer the door.” I can tell she’s still in shock, but got up to do as she asked. I open the door planning on getting rid of whoever it is so I can go back and talk things through with Sandra.

 

[kamalw1]

After a few minutes, jason heard someone approaching the door. he straightenedhimself up one last time as the door opened, and he saw Sunshine on the other side. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before she said, "Hello can I help you?" Jason sighed inwardly, hoping that this would work. Putting on a big smile, he said, "Hello, my name is Robert Johnson and I am from the Shermer High School newspaper. I heard about what happened with Sandra and Bull last night and would like to do a story on it. It seems the school is trying to push the incident under the rug, and I was wondering if Sandra would like to tell her side of the story."

 

[poohlive]

"It should have the playboy channel."
He thought aloud, as he shifted through the channels on the t.v. It was mounted on the wall, next to the ceiling, perfect for him to see as he laid in bed. Springer, Disney, or JAG. Springer was the only one that showed any promise, so he kept it there for a few minutes. A man came out with buck teeth, fighting for a woman who was already all over this other girl. A broad smile came over his face. Now that's what he was talking about.
The door opened. Immediately he began to groan in pain, holding onto the brace that held his neck straight, rubbing it up and down.
"Oh, don't worry hunny. I know it hurts, I know. Here you go, here."
A plump nurse with a bright smile and concerned light blue eyes held a tray of his medicine. More pills, wonderful. They had him pumped full of the shit, mostly cause he couldn't stop groaning. It felt good, lost on cloud nine. Better than any of the shit he had gotten off the street. The hospital, fuck, that was the true stash.
"It hurts," he moaned between his teeth, "It hurts."
"Lord almighty. You'd think someone broke your neck. You poor thing. Come along, we'll make you better yet."
Three red ones, down the pipe. Oh nice. With three he could see colors swirl on the walls.
"Your parents called sweety. They'll be here this afternoon."
He nodded, but then realized what he was doing, and went into another rant of screams and moan's.
"Oh, just stay still sugar. Shhh, shhh." She gave him a close hug, and he hugged back. His hand cupping the side of her breast. He made it so that he squeezed, and as he did, he tightened his whole body. Something that might be a spasm, but to him, was nothing more than fucking second base. Nice.
Nice. nice. nice.
She left after he had calmed down, and he want back to Springer, which now showed another man vowed for the other lesbian's hand in marriage, no matter what.
Jerry could always find the crazy ones.

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

Sunshine Shadi

"Hello, my name is Robert Johnson and I am from the Shermer High School newspaper. I heard about what happened with Sandra and Bull last night and would like to do a story on it. It seems the school is trying to push the incident under the rug, and I was wondering if Sandra would like to tell her side of the story."

I really wanted to tell him where he could put that recorder and camera of his and then slam the door in his face, but it wasn’t my decision it was Sandra’s.

“If it was up to me I would tell you to get your ass off our property and slam the door in your face. But I will ask Sandra if she wants to speak to you.” I say with an incredibly hostile look on my face. Before he can do or say anything else I close the door, but not nearly as hard as I would have liked.

I go back to look in on Sandra and see how she’s reacting to the research I did and the conclusions I gave her.

 

[Shadi]

Sunny's words rang in my ears, she couldn't find a record of me anywhere and she was right, all births were recorded so mine had to be somewhere! I wasn't sure how I felt, numb mostly but puzzled as well. A part of me wished Bull hadn't been such an idiot then none of this would have happened but on the other hand I guess it would only have been a matter of time.

Needing something to do I tidied the ice cream up, I could hear Sunny downstairs but I couldn't make out what she was saying, proably some salesman or something, well he was out of luck today. Wandering out of the bedroom I met Sunny at the top of the stairs, there was some guy from the school paper at the door and he wanted to speak to me, I could see Sunny wasn't at all happy about it but I thought what the hell, if nothing else I might find out what the other kids thought about me, I already knew I'd be public enemy number one with the football team so who else.

"Hi, you're Robert right?" I spoke as I opened the door, he wasn't quite what I was expecting and I was sure I hadn't seen him around school but I kinda recognised him. I felt uneasy for some reason so stayed in the doorway, "Look, I don't mean to be rude but I'll have to check with my parents before I speak to you, they need to see Richards and I don't need anymore problems than I already have, can I pop in the office at school and let you know in a couple of days?"

I wanted him out of here, the quicker he left, the happier I'd be but I didn't know why, he was just some kid after news but it just felt all wrong, he felt all wrong. Smiling like an idiot I stood there willing him to leave.

 

[kamalw1]

Jason stood there for a couple of moments before he heard someone approaching the door again. This time, he saw Sandra on the other side. She seemed to hesitate for a moment before telling me that she wouldn't speak to me just now, but would have to talk to her parents first. "Okay, I understand that. Just remember that when you are ready to tell your side of the story, come see me." I started to turn around to leave, but stopped. Before she could close the door, I said in French, "Vous ne vous rappelez pas me, vous Sandra?" (You don't remember me, do you Sandra?)

 

[Shadi]

"Rappelez-vous vous? Nous nous sommes réunis avant? " (Remember you?...We've met before?) The words were out of my mouth without a second thought, confused I stepped in slowly closing the door.

"Look I'd better get back inside, my sister is waiting and you know how cranky they can get." I smile weakly before pushing the door closed then put the chain on and secure the dead bolt.

Breathing heavily I head up the stairs to Sunny's room with questions running through nmy mind. How did he know I spoke French, why would I remember him had we ever met before?

In Sunny's room I sat on the bed and looked at her, "Okay then brains, what in god's name is going on?" I explained my 'chat' with the guy from the paper, far from making it easier I just had more questions and I knew it had something to do with my past.

 

[kamalw1]

Jason smiled to himself at Sandra's reaction. Even though it hadn't quite gone the way he had planned, the fact that she instinctively spoke French back to him meant that she hadn't forgotten everything. Maybe he could jog her memory and bring her back to the agency without many problems.

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

Okay then brains, what in god's name is going on?

Because it was expected I gave Sandi a dirty look for calling me “brains” then went back to work. Starting a new file on the computer I listed all the information we know about Sandra.

#1 There is no public record of her before she was injured.

#2 There is someone powerful in her past, who doesn’t want her records public.

#3 No one has come looking for her in the past 3 years

#4 “Robert” from the school newspaper was part of her past.

Sandi was reading over my shoulder and stopped me as I typed #4 so I explained it to her.

“Sandi I just don’t believe in coincidences. Why would some guy you’ve never met ask you in French if you remembered him? Nobody at school knows you speak French. The only options are that he’s either crazy, or he knows something. I think he knows something. We’ve got about a half hour before Mom comes home to figure out what we’re going to do. Maybe you should do the hypnosis thing as soon as you can. If someone from you past is trying to contact you, maybe it is time that you knew where you came from before you were injured.”

 

[Ravenloft]

Councelor Troy:

Troy put a call through to a psychiatrist, and set up a tentative appointment for Sandra for 4:30 pm for the following day, as she still needed to get Sandra's parents permission, but had not been able to get ahold of them at their offices.

She was just waiting until she could call the Shadi residence now, and hopefully get that permission.

 

[Shadi]

OOC: Really sorry peeps, started back at work this week and it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

IC:
I knew Sunny was right but that didn't make things any easier. It was hard for me, I'd never let my past bother me before, I had a great family who loved me, hell they chose to have me! but recent events had me wondering what was going on.

"We have a bit of time before Mom comes home, we need to get her to agree to the hypnosis thing with Troy and I guess I'm gonna have to fess up to us looking for info."

I thought for a moment "I need you to access the school records, check out Mr Paper Guy Robert, lets see if he is for real and do you know any hackers?"

Suddenly I felt better, I was doing something, in control for a while at least.

"Can you check back for missing children and adoption agencies about 18 years ago. We know I'm about 18 and I'm not some street kid so someone must have a record somewhere. Check a few years either side, anything that even remotly matches my description. Check government agencies as well, I can speak half a dozen languages, strip and start a car with no tools, and Dad won't let me near his gun cabinet because I can clean and strip his hunting guns better than he can, there has to be a reason."

I lay back on the bed waiting for Sunny to protest. All the things I had asked her to do were a bit on the illeagal side but I hoped she would do it anyway.

"Lets go make some cookie dough, it'll sweeten Mom up if nothing else!"

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

Sunshine Shadi

"I do know a hacker, a very good one, Harold, aka leech,” I shuddered. “I’m sure you’ve seen him around school, he’s in some of my college credit classes. He’s creepy so if we have to go see him you’re coming with me, he’ll be scared of you,” I said with a laugh.

“I can get us into the school records they’re patheticly easy. Besides I want to check up on Mr. Paper myself, I don’t like him.” I took a deep breath I knew she wouldn’t like what else I had to say.

“I think you’re right about a government connection. Who else would teach you those particular skills? And if you were part of some government project they will have wiped the records. My guess is THAT’s why I couldn’t find anything. It also means that the leech won't find anything either.” But I knew Sandy wouldn’t be satisfied with that.

“Harold lives about a mile away, if we want to use him we should go over in person so you can intimidate him into doing an illegal search for us.” I sighed “you know how much trouble this could get us in don’t you? I’m not saying I won’t do it if its what you want, I just want you to think twice about it”

“Come on lets get to work on that cookie dough, we’ll need it if we want to talk Mom into letting us out of the house tonight after we drop this bomb on them. Not to mention my little ‘illness.’ We don’t have much time left." With that I headed down to the kitchen and started pulling out ingredients and working out the best way to approach Mom.

 

[SwampThing]

Madison Leigh

Madison stopped in the hospital bathrooms, to check herself out in the mirror. What was she doing? Bull had gone on a date with that Sandra, even after all the flirting she'd been doing. That girl was always causing Madison trouble. Well at least now she could get her kicked off the cheerleading team.

Madison looked herself in the mirror. Chocolate brown hair cut just above her shoulders, dark eyes, pale skin, delicate china-doll features, and tall, athletic body. Perfect. She'd changed her cheerleader uniform for a tight black designer dress with matching pumps, and she thought she looked mature and sophisticated. Not that Bull would notice. She sighed, and walked to his room.

"Hey baby," she cooed, opening the door "How are you feeling?"

 

[kamalw1]

After he left the front of the Shadi's house, Jason went back to his car and reached into his bag. He pulled out a laptop computer, a small electronic device, and a couple of tools. Putting the device and tools into his pockets, he drove around to the other side of the block. He then snuck through the yard of the house and approached the back of the Shadi residence. He found the junction box where the phone line entered the house.

Jason used his tools to open the box. Next, he pulled out the electronic device that would allow him to not only hear their telephone conversations, but would also decipher computer signals. He attached the device to the proper wires as quickly as possible and closed the box. He then looked around to make sure that he wasn't being watched and went back the way he had come from. He got into the car and drove back into visual range of the front of the house. He then turned on the laptop. He saw that the device was working perfectly and sat back to wait for someone to use the phone line.

 

[poohlive]

Bull gave a bit of a smile watching as Madison bounced her way inside the room. The drugs had certainly taken their effect, and he could feel himself beginning to fly.
"Good," he said, nodding, "Real good baby. How are you? I didn't expect to see you here today. I missed you though, been thinking about you all the time in here."
Of course a huge ass lie. The most he thought about was how to twist his story so that he was the victim and the accident was totally Sandra's fault. He had come up with a few ideas, but nothing solid enough to clear his own name.
Not yet anyway. Maybe Madison could help? She knew of Sandra too. He could use her to get some info on Sandra.
"How were things at school?"

 

[Shadi]

I watched Sunny getting the fixings together for the dough, she was probably right, we didn't really need to do anything stupid and the more I thought about it the more far fetched it seemed.

"Sunny you're right, we don't need to be getting any further over our heads than needs be, I'd still like to know who this Robert is but we should wait until I've seen this hypnotist before doing anything else."

I stuck my finger in the bowl of dough deftly avoiding the spoon Sunny went to hit me with.

"Mmm this'll do the trick, any other ideas to butter Mom up?"

As if on cue Mom walked in the back door and she didn't look best pleased.

 

[Shadi]

Mrs Elaine Shadi - Mom

I parked in the drive way, not looking forward to going in, between them the girls had caused a bit of trouble in school and I'd had to field half a dozen messages at work.

I couldn't decide whether to be cross or concerned, Sandra's behaviour was certainly something but Sunshine had never skipped school before, I only hoped it was because she was worried about her sister.

As I walked in the back door I was greeted by them looking decidedly suspicious and making...cookie dough, great they only made dough when they wanted something.

"Right then you two, I think you have some explaining to do!"

The phone rang before either had a chance to say anything, "Don't go anywhere, I'm not finished with you girls yet."

I answered, it was Ms Troy, shooing the girls out of the kitchen I spoke to her at length about Sandra, she wanted to try hypnosis and at this juncture I was about ready to try anything. I agreed to her meeting Ms Troy after school the next night to try a regression therapy technique and she assured me this would go along way to finding out what might be the cause of Sandra's 'events'.

Doling out punishments to the girls was relativly easy, it seemed they wanted to go out but seeing as Sunshine was to ill to stay at school staying in was the obvious answer. Leaving them to moan about the harshness of being grounded I grabbed my work and dissapeared for an hour to the study.

 

[kamalw1]

Jason saw the mother's car pulling into the driveway. he stayed in the car, wondering what was being said in the house when his computer beeped, letting him know that there was an incoming call at the Shadi house. He listened to the conversation and found out that the school's counselor, Ms. Troy, wanted to see Sandra the following night for the hypnosis therapy. Jason realized the urgency of his mission and sent a copy of the call to headquarters along with a plan of action.

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

Sunshine Shadi

Back upstairs I turned to Sandy "That didn't go over so well, good thing we didn't want to go see Harold anyway. Just give me a minute and I'll check on Robert Johnson's school records."

Sitting back down at my computer I start hacking my way into the school's records. The school's new web-based grading program made it easy.

"Ok I'm in. Now let's look up grades for Robert Johnson"

searching

Sandy and I wait.

No Records Found

"There's no Robert Johnson at Shermer High. He was lying! He's not on the school newspaper! He could have given us a fake name because he's just wanted to get the dirt on you. Or he could be someone from your past who is trying to hunt you down. Or he could be-"

Sandy stopped me before I could think of any wilder ideas.

 

[Shadi]

I chuckled at Sunny, it looked like my paranoia was catching. "Slow down a sec will you, you're sounding worse than me!"

"We're stuck in for the night so there's nothing we can do till morning, I have that hypnosis thingy tomorrow and apart from searching the net we can't really do anything else for now so lets just sit tight, chill out and catch up on some tv, sound good."

It wasn't what I wanted to do but I had no other choice, we were already in a whole heap of trouble so we needed the brownie points and to be honest i had no idea what to do next if there was anything we could do.

 

[RoyalPurpleVelv]

I took a deep breath. "Ok then, if there's nothing else to do tonight I better get started on the work I missed by ditching school today. Watching TV won't earn me any brownie points with mom."

Sunny pulls a binder and a thick textbook out of her back pack, sits crosslegged on the bed and gets down to work.

 

[kamalw1]

Jason reached into his bag and pulled out two small electronic devices. He then slowly walked down the block to the Shadi's driveway and attached a tracking device to the underside of each of the cars. He then went back to his car and checked his laptop to make sure the signal was coming through.

With that done, Jason drove away and found a diner. He took his bag with him and went into the bathroom to change his clothes. Getting something to eat, he went back into his car and drove back to watch the Shadi's house. Jason ate his food and settled in, waiting for morning to come.

 

[Ravenloft]

Time passed and the morning dawned, which ment anther day of school for the Shadi girls.

Councelor troy was up at six am and in her office at 6:45, bright eyed and bushy tailed, the hypnosis session with Sandra already on her mind.

Principal Richards was not in his office until 8:30, and still, he kept his door firmly locked until he'd had his morning coffee.

All the kids filed in and were already in their first classes for the day.

All accept Bull, who was still in the hospital, and Madison, who'd skipped school just to 'console' poor little Bull.

Agent Jason was awoken at 5:45 by a com message from his superior, the one who had send him on this mission. "Agent, have you found her? Report. If so, whats the hold up?"