Once Upon A Marina

Three am. Marina threw on her cloak and ran outside in to the night clutching the picture in her hand. "Ted, Ted, Ted" the words roared through her head like like the train they had met on just a few short months ago, .. it seemed like a life time... Outside it was raining, but Marina didn't care. She just had to get to Becky so she could borrow money to take a train to Ted. The road was slippery and muddy, so she did a lot of slipping and sliding before reaching Becky's front door step. She banged on the door, and didn't hear when someone came to the door and opened it. Marina fell into the hall. "Becky, Becky, you've got to help me..." Arms reached out to catch Marina as she fell. "What's wrong Marina?" Becky asked, shocked. Becky sat Marina down on the sofa and slammed shut the door against the raging night. Marina sat dripping on the couch, not knowing where to begin. Would Becky understand? But Marina was willing to take a chance. "Marina, what's the matter?" Becky was getting more frantic. She pulled a blanket out of an old wooden chest and wrapped it snugly around Marina's shoulders, and gave her a hug. "It's Ted." Marina said finally, still shivering. "I've got to...got to...." But she just couldn't say it. Becky drew back and looked at Marina, raising her eyebrows.

"Marina, honey, you know how I feel about you & Ted..."

Marina gulped back tears, feeling them trembling on the edges of her voice, & tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Becky had to understand. She had to see Ted.

"Becky, please..." she beseeched, spreading her hands & allowing her need to show in her face for a second.

Becky felt a little shocked at the storm of emotion that bubbled to Marina's face, and then seemed to disappear. Had it been there at all? she wondered, then sighed silently and shook herself. She spread her hands, mirroring Marina's motion, and asked softly, "What do you want me to do?"

Marina looked through the rivers of rain running through her hair and down her face, and at Becky. She didn't know who else to go to, but she realized what a risk this was...

Marina drew in a breath before starting. "Becky, you've got to understand...I need your help...you're the only one I can go to..."

"Marina, what do you want?" Becky was becoming impatient.

"I need to get on the next train out of here. I need money. I need to settle this with him once and for all...He didn't say anything of much help in his last letter..." Marina said...

Becky took a deep breath. "Marina honey... there's something Ted never told you." She took another deep breath. "Well, actually several things. First, I'm pregnant with his child."

"What?!?!" screamed Marina.

"Yes, I got an ultrasound yesterday. It's a perfectly adorable pair of hermaphrodite twins with cow hooves. They look just like him. The second thing is... Wait, you'd better sit down..."

But Becky's warning came a little too late. Marina had already passed out on the floor, cutting her eyebrow slightly on the corner of the wooden chest and denting the chest in the process. Becky brought her around with a couple well placed slaps. "Marina honey... you have to listen to this. It's almost too late."

Marina contained her murderous rage.

"Ted is working for Ryland."

"WHAT????" screamed Marina. "That murderous dope fiend who's taking over the world with his band of rampaging nuns on motorcycles??? How could it be?"

"It's true Marina. I've tried to protect you as long as I could, but I just had to tell you the truth."

Marina took a deep breath. "Oh. Well, now that you mention it, that makes a lot of things clear... Ted always had that burning lust for Ryland, you know..."

Becky nodded.

"So," Marina said, "Let's get cracking. How can we lead Ted into that little booby trap of Franny's..."

"Candy." said Becky, narrowing her eyes and nodding knowingly. "And a crowd of adoring fans. Well..." Becky added, thinking a moment, "they don't have to be adoring you know...that might be a little hard, just eager and attentive."

"Well, you know Ted. There have to be at least a couple of screaming attractive people passing out from hyperventilation at his feet, or he won't do it."

Becky propped her chin on her fist, and said, "Yeah, I guess you're right. He doesn't really go for the subtle ones." She watched Marina, who seemed to be taking everything rather well, considering that she'd been in love with Ted for the past ten years. But the calm on her face could just be a cover-up. Becky had long ago learned not to completely trust anyone...not even Marina. Not after that whole fiasco with Chris.

Her emotions barely controlled, Marina fought to keep her features schooled in a calm easy-going manner. Her hands curled in fists almost of their own will, and she imagined that they were around Becky's throat, instead of just clutching air. All this time...How could she be sure Becky was even telling her the truth? She could be lying about the whole thing, from the pregnancy to Ryland, to...well, to everything. "So what now?" she asked, amazed at how little showed in her voice.

"Do you still need the money?" Becky wondered.

Marina's hatred showed in her eyes for half a second, and Becky drew back, feeling absolutely terrified. "You...." Marina muttered. But before she could say another word, Marina and Becky heard an odd pounding sound coming towards them. They both turned their heads and watched as Roya came running up to them. She grabbed Becky and gasped for breath. Becky grabbed onto Roya's shoulders. "What is it?" She commanded. Marina looked surprised at the un-Becky like tone. "Tell me Roya. NOW." Roya nodded, gulping. "It's the twins!" She yelped. "He's going to kill the twins!" Becky gasped. "Who is?!" Roya took a seat next to the raging Marina.

"I got word from Kathleen. She's been spying on Ryland's gaggle of nuns a lot lately...She said that she overheard Adam say he was going to kill the twins!" Roya fainted. "Oh boy..." said Becky. "I knew from the minute Adam saw me and Ted together he'd never get over it. And now he wants to kill my twins. How could he do this?!" she said.

Marina jumped as the front door slammed shut.

"Who is it!" called Becky nervously. A figure moved in the shadows, not revealing themself...but it was quite obvious of who it was. Only one person made their entrances this way. "Victor! You scared us!" exclaimed Becky. Victor surveyed the scene. An enraged Marina, a fainted Roya, and a hysterical Becky. Not good.

"My good ladies, I bring news of Ryland. He has struck again!" Victor said. Becky and Marina gasped. "He has kidnapped Emma!"

Becky screamed. Marina felt her jaw drop. "But... but... wait a minute, who's Emma?" Becky shrugged and shook her head. Roya drooled a bit.

"I have more news!" shouted Victor. "Spit it out!" Marina screamed impatiently. "We've been told that Dan F. has shot, yes shot Ryland. He's in the hospital. Fiona is trying to help him, but Ali keeps sobbing about her suicidal friend named Hogmier."

"What happened to Dan?!" Becky asked, her eyes wide and frightened.

"Dan? I think he had lunch at the Sizzler. They have really good shrimp."

Becky sighed and put her face in her hands. what would happen now? Things are just getting too damn comlicated. thought Becky. I mean, who'd ever have thought that getting drunk in a convent one night could have lead to this mess?

But Becky didn't have time for much serious mental bemoaning. Marina was demanding her attention. "Becky!" She said loudly. "I am demanding your attention!" Becky turned to look at Marina who was rubbing her forehead and looking pained.

"It's happening again." Marina said, her eyebrows furrowing. "Those stupid flashes that bode no good." Roya sat up suddenly, looking interested. Marina turned to Roya suddenly. Roya started shaking, for no explicable reason other than Marina's eyes were looking, well, damn scary. "Roya! When was the last time you saw Emma?" Roya's eyes clouded, as she tried to remember....

"Eh.. somewhere over California, I think."

Victor leaned in, his interest growing. Becky tried to feign disinterest. Marina's eyes narrowed, her naturally suspicious nature once again coming in handy.

"Well," Roya continued, "we'd just been picked up by a bunch of aliens that turned out to be Ryland, Ted and..." her eyes moved slowly up to Becky. "...Becky." She finished, her eyes wide, her voice low.

Becky tried to keep from growling. Marina looked thoroughly shocked. "Lies! All Lies, I tell you!" Becky stood up, outraged. "How can you speak such lies?!"

Roya looked disbelievingly at Becky. She too stood up. "LIES? I don't lie! Well, except for that one time...and that other time...But I would never lie about this! That is why she is having Ted's hooved children! She is one of them!" Marina, no longer angry, looked disbelieving at Becky.

Suddenly Lotus burst through the door.

"Aiiyye! It's 4 am! Thank the lord you're still awake!" Lotus sat down, for she was out of breath. "I have news from the front! Otherwise known as undercover Sister Kim!" Marina gave Lotus a look, and she fell silent. "What is going on now?" she asked skeptically.

Becky, still standing, pointed at Roya. "SHE claims that I am an Alien!" Victor, standing in the corner, who at the time was practicing with his saber, said, "That would explain for your strange hermaphrodite children though." He went back to stabbing the chair in front of him. "FINE!" yelled Becky. "You want the truth! I'll give you the truth!"

But before she could, Kim W burst in! "Mitch is coming," she sobbed, and fell in a faint on the floor. Becky motioned Victor to go take care of her, then looked around. "We have no time now. If Mitch is coming, it could be the end. And this undercover Sister Kim has brought us invaluable news. We must act on it, and now."

Lotus said "But this isn't..." But before she could even finish, in burst Mitchell H-B. Becky, Marina, Roya and Lotus gasped. Marina whipped out her chopsticks and pointed the dangerous end at Mitchell. Roya sunk into her karate crouch. Lotus drew in a breath, preparing to let loose her famous disasterous glass-breaking siren song. Only Becky stood and looked at Mitchell. It had been a year since she had seen him... one very very long year... and somehow she could not stop looking at his eyes...

Mitchell was astonished. "What's wrong girls?" he gasped.

Lotus said grimly, "Why you doublecrossing..."

But before she could finish, the screen door slammed open, letting in a dash of rain and a dark figure. Becky gasped. No... it couldn't be... the thought was too horrible to even think about! He hadn't been seen in a year. Surely he had disappeared in that freak cucumber accident... But no! It was he!! Mitch the Knute!!!

Roya gasped and sank to her knees, trembling. Marina's chopsticks dropped from her shaking fingers. Lotus sat with a thump on the floor.

Becky groaned. There were apperantly far too many Mitch's involved in this story. She wished she had been able to clarify before Kim had so rudely fainted.

Mitch casually strolled over to Becky and touched her cheek. "Why my dear Becky... so glad to see you again." Becky shuddered at his hidious cold touch, but was frozen stiff with terror and couldn't pull away. "My agent has done her work." He nodded at where Kim W had fallen, and Becky looked over to discover to her horror that Kim had Victor pinned.

"But... Lotus..." Becky said helplessly.

"I'm sorry Becky" said Lotus. "I tried to tell you. Our undercover agent is... or maybe was... Kim B, not Kim W."

"I'm confused" said a voice from the corner suddenly. Becky, Marina, Roya, Victor, Lotus, Kim W and Mitch all turned to look... at Mitchell. He quailed for a second under the power of their combined glances, then frowned. "I am confused! I can't keep track... how many people are involved in this??"

Roya frowned at Victor. "Nineteen, I think... is that right?"

Victor nodded. "And that's just in this one story."

"Well it is my story after all" snapped Marina. "And I can do anything I please with it."

"Some job you're doing!" Becky shrieked. "I'm the one doing all the work here!"

"Girls..." pleaded Roya, but in vain.

Suddenly there was a flash of light. Everything exploded in one big boom. The last thing Marina heard was the sound of Ryland's familier snigger echoing off into the distance......

Marina woke up with a gasp, the sound of the blast still ringing in her ears. Then she looked around at her surroundings. She was lying on what seemed to be some kind of lab table. Becky, Roya, Lotus, Victor, Kim W., Mitch and Mitchell were straped to identical tables to her left. She looked down at the dried stains of green and purple liquid on her table. Was that... blood? She tried to wipe the idea out of her head. Then her gaze wandered to her right, and she fell off the table in surprise and horror. Crouching on the floor, she breathed rapidly and thought about the thing she had just seen on the other side. When her heart rate had calmed down a bit, she found the courage to peer over the edge of the table. It was still there.

It looked something like a seven-foot-tall eggplant. It even a stem and a few leaves growing out of the top of what passed for its head. It also had six, no eight, no twelve rows of gleaming yellow teeth, and many long, pink tentacles that flapped at her. Aside from the teeth, it wasn't all that scary-looking. In fact it was actually kind of cute.

Suddenly the thing began to talk. It spoke with an unusual, clicking, slithering kind of sound that Marina somehow understood. It sounded almost concerned.

"Our deepest apologies," it said. "Our suction ray has devastating psychological effects on those who are not used to it. We learned this from the first one; she was quite the mess for a few hours. We therefore attempted to make the necessary adjustments, but it would appear that we need to work on it little more."

Marina stood up slowly and looked at the full length of the thing. She decided it could be trusted for the moment. Trying to keep her voice from shaking, she asked, "Who was the first one?"

Just then, a door slid open and someone walked in. Marina's jaw dropped. The girl had undeniably changed since their last meeting, but yes, it was definitely Tessa.

Marina felt her confidance rising. Sure, Tessa was a master of the black arts, and already had 10 deaths on her hands (and five on her legs; she had a deathly kick), but Marina knew she could take her. She was the beautiful, talented, everyone-is-envious-of, Marina, and she could kick Tessa's soft supple rump.

"Good grief Marina," Tessa said calmly, as though 7 people weren't strapped to tables and a giant talking eggplant had taken over the room. "Your hair is such a mess. You wouldn't want to see Ted in this state, now would you?"

At the sound of that name, Becky's eyes flew open, and she struggled like a raging elephant to break her bonds. "Ted can't come in here! That's an EGO-plant!!!!!!!" Becky screamed. The ego-plant chuckled softly in the corner.

Tessa laughed maniacly. Marina looked about beweildered, hoping someone would explain. Even though she was smarter then all of them.

"That's the whole plan, Becky!" Tessa sniggered. "The ego-plant inflates the ego of anyone who is in the room with it. With Ted's already over-inflated ego, it should push him beyond the brink. He'll lose his mind, and probalby even his body. He'll turn into a giant, walking, phsycopathic ego. And then there'll be the insane rampage, the blood, mayhem, etc. It'll be great fun."

So that's why I keep thinking I can take on Tessa Marina thought. My ego has been inflated by that plant! But so has Tessa's then, so she's overconfidant. I can work that to my advantage. I am the great Marina after all, I can do....NO!! I have to stop that. I have to get a grip. Or maybe not. I can see where Ted comes from, this big ego thing is fun!

"But why, Tessa, why?" Becky screamed. "Who put you up to this? Was it Ryland? Fiona?" Marina thought it was more likely Ryland; Fiona and Tessa had never gotten along since Fiona had turned into a mad scientist and tried to use Tessa as a specimen.

Tessa just laughed. "Here's our Ted now!" she said delightedly, as Candra and Emily walked into the room backwards.

"Oh Ted! You're simply maaaaaaaaavalous!" Emily cooed, batting her eyes.

"Want some candy?" Candra whispered seductivly, holding out some skittles. Ted was right behind them, his chest swelled out, blind to anything except the adoring fans right in front of him.

"Enough!" Tessa cried.

Candra dropped her skittles, and she and Emily slammed the doors shut behind Ted with disgusted looks on their faces.

"Ugh," Candra said, wiping her circus midget hands on her shirt. "I haven't had to worship anyone like that since False-Pride took that mind spell off of me. Let's get out of here!" And she and Emily ran out of the room (and the story. There's too many people here already.)

"Wha-?" Ted said bewildered.

"Te-ed." came a voice. It was the ego-plant! "Come closer....." Ted began to walk towards it, hesitently.

"NOOOOOOOOOO!" screamed Becky and Marina. But Ted continued to walk on.....add more