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Act XXIV: The Were-Beast Sanctuary

I thought it might be a good idea if I dropped in on Sterling Hawk before actually heading out to the sanctuary. But when I looked in his office, he wasn't there. I did the only good thing I could do: I wrote out a note telling Sterling where I had went. I left the note in plain view on Sterling's desk.

When I arrived downstairs in the main barroom, I immediately noticed that Jo and her man were no longer there. This seemed strange to me, but where Jo was concerned, she'd only leave if something major had pissed her off. I walked over to the bartender and inquired about Jo.

The bartender grinned at me.

"That was quite a scene. Her boyfriend got drunk, pretty fast, and climbed up on stage and started removing his clothing. Right as his shirt came off, your sister noticed a tattoo on his back that had the words, Desideria Forever, written over a bright red heart. And boy, did your sister ever get _MAD_; I've never seen such rage before in all my lunar days and nights. She yanked his ass off that stage, feet first, causing his head to hit the wooden railing, and dragged his unconscious, slobbery body toward the door. I thought I heard her growl something about a hospital, or worse, as she was carting him away."

I smirked.

"That sounds like something my sister would do... I don't feel sorry for that guy in the least. I just hope she doesn't literally kill him; Jo seems to pick the worst slobs for boyfriends. But they ALL can't be boars, like that guy... um, no offense to any wereboars. I'm sure they're smarter than that."

The bartender laughed.

"Yes, most of the wereboars I know are _WAY_ smarter than that guy!"

I laughed as well and paid the bartender for the free entertainment, Tanner style.

"By the way, where did Sterling get off to? I noticed that he wasn't in his office."

The bartender got serious now.

"An emergency cropped up just east of Vegas. Seems that a driver accidently hit a wereskunk, and when the guy got out of his car to come check on the guy he hit, the wereskunk nipped and sprayed the guy during a fit of rage. Afterwards, the wereskunk felt really bad about infecting the guy, and called Sterling to come help out. These sort of things happen all the time. It's not a big enough emergency to call in Chess, if you catch my drift."

I got the message pretty clearly. Sterling was handling a common occurance that seemed to happen quite often. I decided to let it be, and continue on with my own plans. I thanked the bartender, then headed out of the Manhole. I got into my Chess-issue sportscar and started my drive south of Las Vegas towards the Lycanthropes Sanctuary.

After my last visit to Las Vegas, Danath Gaul commissioned a Chess bunker to be built in Sin City, specifically for my use, evidently. I was sort of glad that Danath had taken that precaution to place a bunker here, and that is where I had gotten my latest sportscar.

As I drove, I called my penthouse suite hotel room. I was pleased to hear Jo's voice answer the phone.

"Hello?"

I smiled.

"Jo? This is Jansen. I'm going to be late getting back to the suite. I heard what had happened, and I'm sorry that it turned out that way."

Jo sighed, then spoke with a half-growl.

"Well, it was better that I found out before he tried to have sex with me. But, I need to get back to Rocky Falls. I got word from Leia that Vulcan, that..."

Jo cursed some pretty interesting, flowery things, then continued.

"...is snooping around the farm, so I have to get home immediately."

I hummed, then turned my sportscar around to head back to the suite.

"Jo, there is some inside information that I need to tell you about that bastard Vulcan. I'm heading back to the suite right now. My other trip can wait. This is stuff that you need to know about..."

It didn't take me long to get back to the hotel. Jo had her bags packed and was waiting for me at the curb. She put her things into the back seat, and got in beside me.

"Nice car! Okay, you can tell me about Vulcan as you take me to the airport."

And boy, did I ever let Jo in on all of Vulcan's past activities! Especially, the Kenya ivory scam and the ruckus in England. Jo got that 'oh really?' look on her face and looked pretty scary. I suggested that Jo try to find out what mineral rights existed on the family farm and lay a claim to anything found there, ASAP. Jo took notes, of course, and was grinning like an evil maniac by the time we reached the airport. I put Jo aboard the private Chess jet and watched 'the tempest of Rocky Falls' depart back toward the east.

---

She ah HA!

"So THAT'S how Jo got all that juicy info on Vulcan! You TOLD her!"

---

I then returned to the suite, changed clothes into something casual, then grabbed a change of clothing for Jo's now ex-boyfriend and went to the hospital to pick him up. Fortunately, he wasn't all that drunk when I found him. He had decided to show off for Jo and simply had forgotten about that ages old tattoo from a high school girlfriend who dumped him a week after he got and showed her the tattoo. It was a painful reminder of a decision gone wrong.

The ex-boyfriend, whose name was Delphin 'Capricorn' Egidio (he preferred to be called Capricorn, if anything), got dressed in the clothing I brought for him. He was thankful that there was at least one Tanner who hadn't totally abandoned him. I grinned and invited Capricorn to stay with me for the rest of my vacation. Capricorn agreed to accompany me, being somewhat curious to see what a Chess agent did for a living.

Once again, we were in my sportscar, heading south. Capricorn then turned to me.

"Where are we going?"

I smiled.

"You wanted to see some of the things I do for a living, right? We're going to see a lycanthropes sanctuary. It's a place for true blooded and infected werebeasts to rest, recuperate, and have a safe haven from the evils of mankind's society. If you'd rather not go, I can drop you off anywhere you'd like."

Capricorn remarked,

"Huh. Lycanthropes... so they're real. And you deal with them specifically?"

I chuckled and explained to him what all Chess 'handled'. Capricorn looked impressed and replied calmly.

"I never knew something like that was in operation. Does it pay well?"

I grinned and showed Capricorn last month's paycheck stub. It was a high amount.

"Of course, I am a Black King. That's many ranks into the Chess organization. It is only natural that I get paid a lot. Also, I am currently Chess' best agent. I rarely ever carry or even use a gun. I am that good. I am a Tanner."

Capricorn smiled at the definitive answer.

"And now, you're letting me go with you on a mission? Aren't you afraid that I'll tell everyone what I've seen?"

I merely shook my head before replying.

"That would not be wise on your part. Keep in mind what all Chess deals with. As Shane Wayne always says, I have connections. Chess can literally ruin your life, if it wants to. And most people don't want that. That's why I know that you won't reveal what you've seen. At least, not on purpose."

Capricorn hummed, thinking about that pay check, yet saying nothing more during our drive. I smiled, knowing that Capricorn was definitely interested in what I did. And the wages was nothing to sneeze at. I soon turned the sportscar on to Hawk Drive and after a mile or two, pulled the sportscar into the parking lot. Capricorn and I got out and looked at the 50 foot tall concrete wall built squarely into the side of the cliffs. There is a single sign on the only security door visible: Private Property! Entering Without Permission May Cause You Undue Injuries! Hawk Associates, Inc.

Capricorn looked at the sign on the door.

"Do we have permission to be out here?"

I smiled.

"Actually, I do have permission to be here. Now, before we go in, a little bit of information. There are lycanthropes living here, peacefully. Some are true bloods; the others are infectees. When we greet them, do not poke them like they are horrible monsters. No name calling. No statements of distate. A good Chess agent treats all those he encounters, of the non-human variety, as equals. No one is more handsome or beautiful than the next one."

Capricorn nodded his head.

"I understand, Jansen. I'll try to be on my best behavior."

I nodded my head back to Capricorn.

"That's all I ask. Now, follow me. If you get separated from me, try to remember where the entrance is and head there. If you run into other lycanthropes, be polite and show an interest in knowing how they got that way. And show compassion in the form of apology for their situation, in the case of infectees. And if you get yourself infected and don't want to stay that way, then remeet me at the entrance and I'll take you to the only person I know that can undo the infection. Let's go."

Capricorn and I entered the security door into the ten foot entry foyer. Just ahead, there was another security door. As we stepped through that one, the magnitude of the sanctuary became clear. Just past the second door, it was like an environmental domes complex, interconnected by seemingly glass and steel access tubes, like the one we were currently walking along. We could see into all thirteen domes easily from here, including the central visitation dome we were heading toward. From our vantage point, we could see some infectees lying around feeling miserable, some were training with instructors, while others were trying to keep their schooling education up, while dealing with being werebeasts.

When Capricorn and I arrived in the central dome, we could see the gateway tubes leading to all of the other domes, all appropriately marked with full legible warnings. There were clipboards hanging beside each and every gateway tube. Capricorn and I looked at the full marked legible titles on each numbered gateway:

Dome #1: Where's The Sky Dome #2: Sand Under Luna Dome #3: Shore Is Deep Dome #4: Packed For The Wilds Dome #5: Stoned Stalactite Parapets Dome #6: Wet Wild Rivers Dome #7: Grazing My Plains Dome #8: Stalking The Night Dome #9: Your Stench Is My Perfume Dome #10: Make Mine Muddy Dome #11: Savanna Sunrise Dome #12: MacDonald's Farm Dome #13: Highly Infectuous Breeders

I grinned at Capricorn.

"Any preferences? I personally came to see two particular lycanthropes."

Capricorn hummed.

"I personally like dolphins and goats but I am kind of nervous about splitting up in a place like this. What do you think?"

I smiled.

"I think dolphins would be in #3 and goats would be in #12. Both don't sound very dangerous but as long as you're careful and using your head, you should be okay. Just remember what I told you. They are people like we are. I'll be in #1 and #4."

Capricorn and I parted company. I didn't see where he went, as I entered Dome #1. I wanted to talk to that younger werehawk that I had seen years ago. Driving the golf cart was not a new experience for me, but it did tell me how much in advance that Sterling Hawk must have planned in case of visitors.

I soon came to an intersection in the wereavians dome and turned the cart on to the path leading to the wooded nesting grounds. I soon saw a wereowl preening her feathers. I waved at her and she waved back. I then stopped the cart and asked a question.

"I am Jansen Tanner, Black King of Chess. On vacation. Where can I find a werehawk around here? The one I am seeking would be younger than Sterling Hawk but older than an adolescent."

The wereowl female looked up at me.

"You're looking for Falcone Robynson. Falcone lives further along this trail in one of the rare and only buildings in the dome. He does make some nice herbal tea, I must admit. And always willing to fetch me a non intelligent normal mouse. He's one of Sterling's favorites."

I smiled.

"Thank you for your help. The next time I visit the domes, I'll be sure to bring you a mouse myself. Thanks again."

The female wereowl smiled and resumed preening her feathers.

I continued my drive until I arrived at the small and quaint cottage where the fragrance of herbal tea wafted along on the air. I parked the golf cart, and walked up to the door, knocking on it. When the door opened, I saw the four foot eleven inch tall male werehawk holding a cup of tea and wearing only an apron. I introduced myself, and he, Falcone of course, invited me inside. The two of us walked back into his bedroom where he had been sharpening his claws.

"I hope I didn't drop by at a bad time, Falcone."

Falcone grinned at me.

"Oh, no no no!!! It is a pleasure to see you again. Although I am not sure why you wanted to see me in particular, I won't chase you away either. Please. Have a seat. Either on the bed or that chair, the floor, or where ever you like. Sit. Sit. Sit. Can I get you some tea?"

I sat on the bed and smiled.

"Some tea would be nice. That wereowl I met told me that you make the best herbal tea."

Falcone grinned again.

"Indeed. I make a dandy pot of tea, if I do say so myself. Please, wait here. I will fetch you some tea. Be right back."

Falcone left me in the bedroom, headed toward the kitchen. It was odd, to me, but Falcone sounded like he was high on caffeine. Of course, he also seemed to be in the middle of doing laundry. I decided to help out a bit and started picking up dirty clothing and sorting it into piles. I also found it strange that Falcone's clothing were wet and sticky, for the most part. I remembered from Sterling that werehawks didn't tend to wear clothing very often. As I was helping out, Falcone returned and petted my shoulder.

"You don't have to actually help out, Jansen, but the effort is welcomed. Here is your tea."

He handed me the cup, and I took a sip, as he continued talking as he worked.

"I feel extremely privileged that you came to see me. What a pleasant surprise! Usually, my most common visitor is Sterling, though he hasn't been by in a few days. He comes by to drink some tea and have a romp with me. But I was not expecting you, at all. I am so very glad!"

The tea was indeed good! Though Falcone's hyperactivity was beginning to worry me. He seemed to continue on talking regardless if I answered a question or not. I certainly didn't remember Falcone being this talkative a few years ago. Of course, Falcone wasn't really in any position to talk, if I recalled correctly. Sterling was in charge, that night. During Falcone's next break for air, I took the opportunity to change the subject, at hand.

"Falcone? I've noticed that you're pretty hyperactive, currently... much moreso than I remembered you being. Are you on medication or something? Or are you like this all the time?"

Falcone smiled, finishing his tea and petting me on both cheeks with his wingtips.

"Hyperactive. Oh yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I am quite the active werehawk, very much so. Quite, quite often. It occurs when Sterling hasn't romped with me in a while. I'd ask you to help me with that, but you don't seem the type to aid an avian with that. Nope. Nope. Nope."

I blinked my eyes.

"You mean... when you say, romp... you mean... compassionate interactivity?"

Falcone nodded his head.

"Oh yes! Yes. Yes. Yes. The closer the better. And have it upon me I must! It only gets worse over time. Oh yeah! Hence why I keep busy. Heat flashes are the worst. Must have help with that. Sterling is my help. Though if he's busy, I either do without and get worse, or tackle another cutie to help me. And you're mighty cute!"

I suddenly realized that I was the focus of Falcone's attention! And he leaped at me, as I nimbly dodged, letting him slide across the floor into a pile of clothing! I wasn't sure what to do. Then, as if in a reply to an unasked question, Sterling Hawk arrived in the room.

"Jansen. Had I known you planned to come here, I could have warned you about Falcone. Did he hurt you?"

I smiled.

"No, though he did get the eye for me. He needs your help bad. How long has he been infected by the deep heat?"

Sterling grinned, as he walked across the room and pounced Falcone!

"Gotcha! Um, he's been like this since he hit puberty, Jansen. You best go wash your hands, then finish whatever business you have here in the domes."

I smiled again and departed the bedroom, heading to the bathroom. I washed my hands, though I wasn't sure why Sterling kept asking me to do that, then I exited the building and got back in the golf cart. I drove away, actually glad I got to meet Falcone. Maybe another day, I thought.

I departed dome #1, entering dome #4. The electric golf cart was nice for getting around this maze of domes. I'd hate to be lost in here at night, I was thinking. I soon located my quarry here in the pack dome: a werewolf. Only there were two werewolves present. A male and a female. I stopped the golf cart and waved at the two and they politely waved back, as they began to approach me. The male reached me first and sniffed me.

"What brings a human into the werepack dome?"

I smiled, pulling out my badge.

"Greetings. I am Jansen Tanner, Black King of Chess. On Vacation. I also convey greetings from Baron Gott'schlecht, as well as from Freke and Gere, Odin's companion wolves. I come here to ask a boon of your pack."

The female arrived and sniffed me over, having heard the final part of my statement.

"It seems to be true that you associate with the Baron, as well as with the Asgardian wolves. In what way can we aid you? What is thy boon you ask for?"

I put my badge away and explained to them of the wolf trick magic that I was given.

"I seek to be able to call your pack and its territory as an accepted ally for my teleportation locations. Of course, I am allied with Sterling Hawk and thus, if you or your pack, or even, friends of yours, need my aid in the future, you can ask it of me."

The male werewolf smiled.

"I am sure that my father, the alpha, will grant you this boon, but I will remind you: he may at some time ask a boon of you in return, in the future. Are we understood?"

I nodded my head and shook the male's paw. I shook the female's paw, as well. Then, after thanking them both, I drove the golf cart off toward the central visitation dome.

---

She grinned!

"Are you sure you didn't want to romp with Falcone, even for a little while? He was pretty damned cute, Jansen."

She got up and headed into the kitchen. There, she fixed herself a sandwich and a small salad, and got herself a glass of milk. Then, she returned to her computer and sat down looking at the section that she had just read.

"I wonder if Circe and Ren of the Northern Herd will make a surprise appearance at the wedding? Of course, I wouldn't mind seeing Vrakmaz, Palarnabal or Varan Gry'foso somewhere near the wedding, though I am not sure what Rocky Falls would think of seeing centaurs, dragons or gryphons within it's forested region."

She ate some of her food, and drank some milk, then she resumed reading Jansen's history.

---