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Act XII: Body Double Times Two

I decided to veer the party back towards the camp. It was late, and I was looking forward to a warm bed. When we arrived back in the village, I noticed that the campfires were burning a lot brighter than usual. Also, securely tied up near one campfire were obvious German soldiers. By the other campfire, Stellea and Garla were roasting marshmallows. The others were not in sight. I simply stared, but could guess what probably happened from the way the village and scene appeared. There was apparently another fight, and this time, Dominic's team were the winners. As I was looking at the camp, I noticed Shane leading the werewolf to speak with me. How did Shane get from behind me into that building? The werewolf explained, in German, his side of the story to me. How he had been captured by these soldiers and forced to come here and do as commanded.

"I regret attacking fellow weres, Jansen Tanner. Now that I am free of that control collar, you may take these soldiers in to the authorities. As for me, Dominic has promised to help me return home to my pack."

I was not exactly happy on the return trip to Athens. Dominic's team accompanied me on the jet, this time. Dominic seemed to totally seclude himself this time. Stellea and Shane were arm wrestling and Shane was losing. When our jet reached the airport at Murmansk, Kola Peninsula, Russia, Dominic together with Gotaki, Damon, Jago, Jonie and the werewolf left our jet to catch a plane bound for Besel, Switzerland, then, make a short trip across the German border into the Black Forest within Baden-Wurttemberg. The rest of the team stayed with me. I was pretty upset that Dominic placed that 'Stellea Rae' woman in charge of making sure I arrived back in Athens.

We finally arrived in Athens without incident. We departed the plane and were just exiting the terminal building, when Dominic and the others approached us. I irked upon seeing Dominic.

"How did...? No, I don't want to know how... I have to report in and see about my next mission, but I assume you already know what it is. Right?"

Dominic remained calm.

"If you're going to assume, why should I verify? And you're right... you need to report in; my team will regroup with you tonight at the marina."

I had started off, but stopped in my tracks.

"What makes you so sure I'll be there?"

Dominic seemed to start to reach for his sunglasses, then he lowered his hand.

"You'll be there. If nothing else, but to see what we're up to. Even if you don't talk to us."

I growled and marched off to Chess headquarters. This farce was beginning to drive me crazy. All the other crap I could deal with. But not this! I wanted answers and I wanted them days ago. I reported to Danath, explaining what had happened. In precise detail. Danath helped calm me down, then I asked him if I had another mission. He was not surprised that I already knew. Danath explained that Infinity Vale had cropped back up... in Egypt. That got me to grinning again, then I slapped myself hard. I couldn't give in to vengeance. The last time, it allowed Hogan Slade to escape. Plus, I still had to deal with Dominic and his friends. I returned to my room, took a hot bath, got dressed, then joined Mykaelic for some dinner.

That night, I arrived at the marina wearing a dark trench coat and an old fishing hat. Of course, Dominic and his team were there. And it appeared that they hadn't been there long. I stopped when I noticed that Dominic was -not- looking at me for once.

"Well, you were right again. My mission has brought me down to the marina. Go ahead and gloat so we can get going."

Dominic murmured.

"Where we going, Jansen?"

I was caught off guard by that comment.

"Surely you already know.........don't you?"

Dominic spoke without facing me.

"I am beginning to wonder if keeping you alive is worth it. I didn't ask to be assigned to this mission. I was chosen because..."

Dominic turned to face me. He wasn't wearing his sunglasses this time. He looked identical to me, except that he was a little older.

"...I know the victim intimately."

I gasped silently and took a backward step.

"Who... who are you?"

Dominic sighed, removing his gloved hands from his coat pockets.

"Jansen... I am you... from the future... three years from now..."

Dominic darted a glance at Diana.

"Not a word. This is my call."

Diana straightened up now.

"Chronos was right... you'd tell Jansen eventually. Looks like I lose a bet with Chronos. When you slapped me, that took guts. You're lucky I didn't personally kill you with a single mental shot that second. And you and Damon were right about something else... I don't know how you operate. But I had always wanted to accompany you on just one mission. Just once."

Diana's visage shimmered away and Artemis was standing before them.

"Just once I wanted to travel with you as a mortal. What a sting that was! You slap pretty damned hard, Dominic Bastian Vanlyone. I ought to save Hogan Slade the time and just kill you both."

I blinked my eyes again.

"The goddess Artemis? THE Artemis? All right... I want answers! WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE??"

Dominic glanced to his friends.

"Okay, you can drop your illusions. We shouldn't need them any more."

The illusions fell away and Stellea piped up immediately!

"About DAMNED time! Jansen Dominic Tanner, you're damned lucky I don't contact my past self and tell her where the fuck you are! They've been worried sick, and I know my past self would storm over here in a second to give you a beating that even Hogan Slade could only dream of giving you!"

I yelped!

"Jocelyn?!"

I clamped a hand over my mouth, but it was too late. Jo growled demonically.

"NEVER EVER EVER CALL ME THAT!! I AM JO!!"

Damon grinned at Jo's impressive growl. He seemed impressed. It took an hour for the ranting and bitching to subside. During this time, Dominic apologized profusely to Artemis for striking her face earlier. Jago and Jonie remained a safe distance away with Brand and Garla. Finally, Dominic introduced everyone properly to me and explained exactly why they were truly here. I quietly took all this in. Then, I smiled.

"I must admit. You certainly pushed my buttons. Had me going all throughout the secrecy. And, it's not often that someone can meet themselves within their own lifetime. You and your team have certainly impressed me. And now that I know that you're the future me, that tells me that I live to return home. I've been kinda worried about that. The missions get more and more dangerous."

Dominic smiled.

"Now you also realize why we were trying so hard not to reveal things. The past is set in stone. I can prevent your death by an assassin from my time, but I cannot prevent you from being hurt by people in this time. So, what is our next mission?"

I became serious.

"An old enemy of mine called Infinity Vale has cropped up in Egypt. He's after a magical relic called the Gemini Deleon. If he gets his hands on it, he will have the power to be in two places at the same time. I've been assigned to stop him."

Suddenly, Jonie spoke up.

"Did you say Infinity Vale?"

I glanced over at Jonie.

"Yeah. Why do you ask?"

Jonie pulled out his laptop and started searching for something.

"Where is it? Where is it? Ah, I knew I'd seen that title before."

Jonie tapped a few more keys on his laptop. He looked up at everyone.

"Infinity Vale. Real name... Hogan Slade."

Everyone except me gaped. I already knew that bit of information.

Dominic hummed.

"Of course. No wonder we can't find Hogan Slade here in Athens. He's not here. He's waiting for Jansen to arrive in Egypt to kill him there. Something about that encounter caused the Gemini Deleon to vanish and it was never recovered. Infinity Vale blamed me and swore revenge. He escaped being transported to prison and I never saw him again."

I blinked my eyes.

"So, we do defeat him. That's comforting to know."

Dominic glanced at me.

"You don't understand. This time, the future Infinity Vale is going to be sniping for you. He wants you dead. If he succeeds, you and I both will cease to exist and my whole present will be eradicated. Every mission I've completed back in the United States will be as if I'd never done anything."

Dominic panned his gaze at everyone.

"I don't have to tell you the consequences behind that."

All of Dominic's friends seemed to get the message. Their expressions were heavy and dark. The marina rendezvous was quickly days behind us. The private Chess sea cruiser soon arrived in a small Chess-owned port near Sidi 'Abdarrahman. From the port, our team acquired several jeeps and headed south into the Qattara Depression and towards the Great Sand Sea. Once again, Dominic was acting as a guide because he had been here before. Egypt was it's usual hot temperature for the trip. Damon was enjoying the heat greatly. This time instead of exuding heat, Damon was absorbing heat. And he was loving it. He was also nearly undressed for the trip. Jo was driving a jeep with Damon and was getting quite a show. Jo was beginning to get ideas for her stallion, Lightning Crest. Shane rode in the jeep with Jago, Jonie, and Brand. Artemis drove the final jeep with the other women. Dominic found it odd that Artemis could drive. I finally turned to Dominic.

"How much further?"

Dominic kept his focus on the route.

"Another few hours until we reach the camel camp. The jeeps cannot go where we will need to go. And I am sure you will like the camel mistress. She is something else."

I turned to gaze directly at Dominic.

"-She-?"

Dominic smiled.

"That's right. But remember... I can't reveal her name prior to your meeting her, otherwise, the time stream might be damaged."

I nodded my head.

"I understand that more now than I did before. I can finally see why your mission is so vital. So much could change if you failed."

Dominic hummed.

"I think it's safe to say that in my time period, Chess is still a major part of my life, even though I don't live in Athens anymore. Yet, my missions take me all over the world, and beyond."

I blinked my eyes again.

"Beyond? But there isn't anything beyond... is there?"

Dominic grinned.

"That I cannot reveal, but you will discover these things for yourself as time progresses. And you won't be sorry that I didn't reveal anything. Not knowing is the greatest part of the adventure. Look at my assortment of companions, demons, furs, and gods... and ask yourself this: how could they exist if there wasn't anything beyond? And the longer you think about it, the more you will discover about this world we call our home... and more..."

I smiled.

"I only wish I had such loyal companions and friends like yours in this time period. But years from now, I will earn them, so you say, and I will enjoy the effort."

Dominic smiled again.

"I may add that most of the companions I have are due to your efforts now. Without your current adventures, I would be alone in my time period. So your efforts are extremely important to complete. And that is why your being kept alive is so important."

I hummed.

"I'm sorry you had to tell me now. But I have a question. Now that you've told me all this, do you recall revealing this information?"

Dominic blinked his eyes and slowed the jeep.

"Now that you mention it... I don't recall it."

I continued my line of thought.

"So, if you don't recall the explanation, then something must happen to cause me to forget parts of your visit and the explanations."

Dominic nodded his head.

"When there are gods involved, there is always a chance of being forced to forget times of adventure, no matter how good those times are."

I hummed at this and fell into a quiet pondering. Dominic continued driving onwards to the camel camp, leading his companions. Upon arriving, Dominic's friends resumed their disguises, and I approached the camel mistress, Sijhikara. After some negotiating, our team resumed our journey southwards on camels into the Qattara Depression itself. Brand decided to walk at this point. The jeep was tolerable. But riding an animal... No. Brand refused to do it. He was a scout first and foremost.

I exclaimed.

"Sijhikara told me that two other people rented camels recently. She said it was odd because they appeared to be related, yet were near identical in appearance."

Dominic sighed.

"That's a bad sign. Hogan has already teamed up with his younger self. And I can guess where they are headed."

Jo put in her two cents at this point.

"Is there some way we can take a short cut and get ahead of them?"

Dominic hummed.

"There -is- one way, but we'll have to blindfold and muffle Jansen's hearing if we choose to go that way. The person who lives there is someone Jansen is slated to meet many months later, so it would be ill-advised if Jansen met and heard him early."

I nodded my head and pulled out a blindfold and earplugs.

"Whenever you want to bind me, I am ready. We have to chance the short cut."

Dominic frowned at me, then nodded to Jo.

"Do it."

Jo proceeded to blindfold and plug my eyes and ears. That is the last thing I remember. I wasn't sure how much time had passed while I was out, but I became aware of Garla removing the blindfold and earplugs from me. I yawned and looked around.

"Wow. Are we here already?"

Dominic smiled.

"Yes, you evidently passed out after being blindfolded and had your ears plugged. We decided to let you sleep."

I stretched his arms and legs.

"I feel stiff. You should have woken me up sooner."

Dominic grinned.

"We'll know next time, won't we?"

I smirked.

"There won't ever be a next time, Dominic. After we succeed here, I'll likely never see you again."

Dominic nodded his head.

"True. Shall we go in?"

I nodded my head as well, and began the trip into the temple, with the team following. Inside the temple, we quickly saw the younger Hogan Slade reaching out for the Gemini Deleon, an onyx amulet with glowing gold trim. Dominic blinked his eyes as he rapidly pondered something. He reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out an onyx case with gold trim, and opened it. Dominic grabbed the amulet out of the case and hurled it as hard as he could at the Gemini Deleon, giving a shout.

"ONLY ONE CAN EXIST UNDER RA'S WATCHFUL EYE! BEGONE!"

The younger Hogan Slade turned and glared at our team as the hurled amulet struck the floating amulet. And when it did, there was an immediate blast of power that rocked the whole temple, causing the older Hogan Slade to fall down from where he had been positioned. The blast of power became brighter and brighter, until...

Suddenly, everyone who had been in the temple were now at another location. It appeared to be a temperate forested setting with a not so distant sea crashing in the distance. The older Hogan Slade recovered first.

"DAMMIT! You just had to show up and ruin everything! Well, I'll settle this once and for all."

He drew aim on me and started pulling the trigger. Dominic yelled and leaped in front of me.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

The gun fired and I blinked my eyes as Dominic fell to the ground, at my feet, in a pool of blood. Jo growled nastily and pulled her gun and started firing at Hogan Slade. Both of them! The two Hogans dived in separate directions, retaliating with gunfire. Shane joined Jo in the firefight, while Damon and Garla pulled me out of harm's way to where Jago and Jonie were hiding behind a large boulder. Gotaki and Artemis were oddly not present. Brand somehow had Artemis' vorpal arrows and her bow, and was using them, though not hitting any of the Hogans. Suddenly, a bright flash engulfed Dominic's body, and a giant white male lion was standing in the body's place. It leaped at the older Hogan, defying bullets as if they were nothing. A scream was heard. Then it was quiet. Jo whispered to Shane.

"What happened? Neither Hogan is firing anymore."

Shane hummed.

"They either ran out of bullets or..."

Shane gulped.

"...Dominic 'got' both of them."

Suddenly, Artemis, Gotaki and Circe emerged from the forest. And Circe's dress had a bullet hole in it. She looked, to say the least, upset. Circe growled.

"OKAY! WHO STARTED THIS MESS?"

Jo yelped.

"The older Hogan Slade started it. He tried to kill Jansen and Dominic jumped in the way and was... killed... HEY! Where IS Dominic?"

Circe looked towards the heavens.

"Dominic got killed -again-?"

Circe then walked over into the forest where Dominic the lion was lying on the ground. He looked up at Circe and mewed. The others and I emerged from where we were hidden. Gotaki grinned at me.

"What King Lion starts off to do, he finishes."

---

She huh'ed?

"Dominic and Jansen are the same person? But... that can't be right. If that's true, then who is Josh and Luke off searching for? They were supposedly looking for Jansen! Something way fishy is going on. I am glad I found this file now."

She hummed and read more of Jansen's agent history.

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