Nine Lives of Sevarius: Part 2

	Genetics and cloning only get interesting from here.  Please read 
'The Nine Lives of Sevarius: Part One" before reading this.  It'll make 
things a whole lot easier.  A few author's notes: This story mixes some 
elements from 'Jurassic Park' the novel, which is independent from the 
movie and 'Lost World' The characters of Alan Grant and Ian Malcom 
are the creative labors of Michael Crichton.  I write this without his permission 
and without the intent to make profit. Additionally the Gargoyles are the 
creative endeavors of Buena Vista Television and Walt Disney.  For 
clarification, at the end of Jurassic Park, several of the dinosaurs had escaped 
the island and trekked into the interior for the soybean fields. Compys and 
raptors escaped and surviving on the mainland. The survivors of the Isla 
Nublar incident were placed under house arrest in Costa Rica.  The government 
not wanting any word leaking out to the world. That is the premise 
I'm working from in this tale of genetic pitfalls and possibilities. 
And now the story continues . . .

Prologue
April 7: The Costa Rican Department of Health 

	Two gringos finished the presentation. Now, they waited for the 
decision.  Their lives uncertain. The tall gangly man 
with jet black hair and his partner, an older brown-haired man with a white 
Panama hat, sat opposite the wide oaken desk and the Costa Rican official 
behind it. He had swarthy brown skin, obsidian hair and shrewd calculating 
eyes.
	"You ask too much," he spoke in thickly accented broken English. 
Both Anglos knew Spanish, but he spoke English as a mockery not a courtesy.
	"I know, but you charged us with corralling these creatures," Ian 
Malcom, the tall gangly one, "We can't do that if they're in another country."
	"You ask for a chance to flee. I let you leave the country, you be in 
States by day's end."
	"Well since you effectively declared us dead, I don't see that as a 
problem." Alan Grant, the one with the white hat, sprang to his feet, "Look 
the problem doesn't go away just because it heads north. Honduras, El Salvador, 
even Guatemala will experience the same mysteries and they'll begin investigating. 
How long do you think it will take before they trace everything here?"
	"The creatures have avoided populated areas sticking to the forests 
and jungles," the bureaucrat argued, "They can remain a folk myth told by 
midwives and grandmothers."
	"Or they can attack a hiker and set your tourism back fifteen years," 
Grant pointedly referring to an incident he heard about three weeks ago.  That 
hit home. The whole region was trying to build its global image to attract 
tourists' dollars. The stakes were high, in the millions. He didn't speak for 
several long minutes. Grant nodded to Ian, to press the advantage.
	"The last incident of compys was over six months ago," Malcom 
reiterated their report, "That means the leading edge is five to seven hundred 
miles north. And if that attack in northern El Salvador is another a raptor 
attack that places them even further."
	The bureaucrat rubbed his temples in exhaustion.  These two were 
always tiresome. He'd like nothing better to boot them out of the country and 
close this whole business, but his boss was explicit, 'make sure this story 
never sees the light of day.' Babysitting these two scientists for five years 
wasn't what he had in mind when he was appointed to this post. They did 
have a point. If the other Central American countries found the dinosaurs 
and traced back here. The damage would be extensive and he'd be the first 
casualty in the cover-up.
	"Fine, go!" the bureaucrat waved them off, "I'll take care of the 
paperwork, and send a military escort."
	"For our benefit or the raptors," Malcom whispered. Grant elbowed 
him in the ribs. They nodded in gratitude, but the bureaucrat wasn't impressed. 
"Just find them and destroy them. Do this and you'll earn you freedom."
	It was a lie and everyone present knew it. Grant and Malcom knew 
far too much to be set free, though who would believe them. Ancient dinosaurs 
alive and on the mainland. People would sooner believe those tales of dragon 
men in New York.

Chapter 3
	Late afternoon on Avalon brought an end to another day in paradise. 
Gabriel gazed out over the ocean. As the sun kissed the horizon, Gabriel thought 
of Angela. It was only a fortnight by his reckoning, but he knew a year passed 
on in the larger world. He wondered, an activity he did a lot of during this day. 
He wondered why he never felt the sun so warm when he was stone. He 
wondered how he could describe the world sunlit like it is. Of course, Gabriel 
realized, he wouldn't need to.  Jade` and Turquesa lent out their magical 
pendants to whoever worked hardest maintaining the 'Green'. There was little 
doubt that everyone in the clan would have their day in the sun. Gabriel and 
Eurydice were the lucky ones. But his thoughts always returned to Angela. 
He wondered what Angela was doing right now.
	"I never knew the sun looked so spectacular," Eurydice appeared 
breaking into his reverie.
	"It is, though Turquesa says it's the prismatic effect of the sun with 
the sky," Gabriel recited the scientific explanation.
	"She can explain it all she wants, it doesn't take away from its beauty." 
Eurydice was a pale lavender gargoyle. Her cloud-white hair was braided with 
care. She wore a crimson red outfit much like Angela's. She sat next to him 
on the cliff. They shared a moment of silence. When Gabriel sighed the sigh 
of the lovelorn, Eurydice spoke up.
 "You still miss her?" It was more a statement than a question.
	Gabriel said nothing, only nodded. Eurydice sighed, "Why didn't 
you tell her?"
	"I thought I had time," he replied.
	"What fighting for your life against the Archmage, then Oberon 
wasn't enough let you know the future isn't guaranteed?" Eurydice shook 
her head. Gabriel remained silent. The female gargoyle continued.
	"It is your life, brother. I'd never tell you how to live it, but right 
now, you're melancholy's affecting the others."
	Gabriel snapped his head up, "What do you mean?"
	"Angela wasn't the only one who wanted to see the world. Many 
felt jealous that there was only room for one on the skiff and Angela had the 
where-with-all to take it."
	"I'm not holding anyone back.  If they want to go, they can."
	"Of course," Eurydice agreed, "That's what makes you a promising 
leader. You want the best for us, but the fact of the matter is, most stayed 
because of you.  Like it or not, you're the clan's leader, they go where you go."
	"I didn't presume dominion over anyone," Gabriel defended.
	"You didn't need to.  You're a capable fighter, a brave soul and a 
gentle spirit, just like Goliath. You didn't need to claim leadership, it was 
given to you freely," Eurydice stretched her shapely lavender legs out over 
the cliff, hoping to catch his eye. Gabriel didn't notice. Eurydice internally 
shrugged and continued, "So how do you think the clan feels seeing their 
leader mope around like Boudicca after she's lost a bone."
	Gabriel thought about this for a time. "I still miss her," Gabriel 
returned lamely.
	"You wouldn't be the romantic, if you didn't," Eurydice got up 
and stretched her white and lavender wings, "In the meantime, quit moping 
and smile more often."  She punched him affectionately in the arm. That 
brought a smile to the leader's face. Gabriel's smile fell as he scrutinized 
the waters.
	Backlit by the setting sun, two motes grew larger on the horizon. 
They were boats in the distance. Gabriel sprang to his feet. "Angela!" and 
he leapt off the cliff, off like a shot.
	"So much for laying groundwork," Eurydice said to herself and 
glided off after him.

	"Bet'cha didn't think you'd be doing this, when you got up this 
morning, eh, Dr. Reilly?" Maxine Brown smiled.
	"Not really, no," the red haired doctor answered from the other boat.
	"Something to tell the girls back in the dorm," Maxine put pole to water.
"Not that anyone would believe you, travelling to magical islands for 
mystical cures to clones of creatures who supposedly don't exist. Doesn't 
that sound a bit ridiculous?"
	"When you put it like that, yeah," Maxine scanned the island now 
in view, "Heads up!  We have some company."
	The two gargoyles flew towards them. Maxine and Quintina looked 
at each other with a questioning look. Gargoyles awake during the day?  The 
gargoyles approached, keeping to the air.  "Declare yourselves, friend or foe?" 
Gabriel using his best impression to the Guardian.
	"We're friend," Maxine answered, "Goliath's clan sent us."
	"Goliath? Is he alright?" Gabriel dipped lower to get a good look at 
the statues. He spotted the one his heart sought. "What's wrong with Angela?"
	"Nothing," Dr. Reilly assured him, "She came along to vouch for 
us. Look we have sick with us. Can you have some stretchers and some help 
meet us when we arrive?"
	"Stretchers?" Gabriel banked on an off shore current, twirling around 
the two craft, "We can have litters ready, if that will do?"
	"Nicely," Maxine replied.

	A large turn out greeted the ten newcomers, among the gathered; 
Princess Catherine, Tom and two gargoyles dressed in Mayan garb.  Males 
from the Avalon clan helped beach the rowboats, borrowed from Central Park. 
Cheers and jubilation were muted by the sight of the ailing clones.  Brooklyn 
leapt out of the boat and took charge.  He made sure the clones were carried 
carefully to the palace, before turning around to see Princess Catherine.
	"Your highness," he smiled. Catherine held up her finger.
	"It's Catherine or don't call me anything." She corrected, then gave 
the red gargoyle a big hug. Then she turned her embraces on Broadway and 
Angela, "It's so good to see all of you. I take it the circumstances aren't as glad."
	Brooklyn smiled weakly, but nodded. "These gargoyles are very sick. 
We brought them here to buy them some time until a cure can be found."
	The Avalon gargoyles jumped back, whispering 'changelings', when 
they saw Malibu and Hollywood. They glanced disbelieving from the clones 
to the Manhattan clan standing before them. Tom shared his charges uncertainty, 
but was the first to move beyond them.
	"Here now, they are gargoyles and they need our help," Guardian 
chided the others.  Then he took Malibu's litter himself.  Gabriel followed 
suit, picking up the other end. Angela and Ophelia took Delilah's litter and 
so on, the procession moving up to the palace.
	"You've have certainly grown into manhood," Catherine noting 
Brooklyn's strong bearing.
	"Yes, well, ah, thanks," Brooklyn blushed a bit. It felt good, but 
weird to be praised like this, not treated like a kid or a second-in-command, 
but as the one in charge.  Of course, that meant all the headaches were his own.

	The Avalon clan gathered in the ballroom to hear the tales of the 
world outside their isle.  Much of the technical jargon went over their heads, 
but they got the gist. Apparently, magic in this world can copy someone like 
cuttings from a plant. This was done to Goliath, then his doppelganger, created 
copies of the Manhattan gargoyles.  Now these 'clones', as they called them, 
were very sick, needing the aid of the magician who created them, Anton Sevarius.
	These Newcomers brought some impressive magic of their own. 
Maxine and Dr. Reilly broke out their medical equipment, IV's, microscopes, 
culture dishes.  "Here's the sat phone, Brooklyn," Maxine tossed the device 
to Brooklyn.
	"A sat phone?" Tom asked.
	"It's a device that should allow us to talk to Goliath and the others in 
New York," Brooklyn explained.  He still couldn't believe how much Tom grew. 
It was hard reconciling the bright-eyed curious boy with the battle worn old man 
before him.
	Shaking his head, Brooklyn dialed the number and waited anxiously 
as the phone spouted static for a few moments.  All attention focused on the 
phone. There was a click and finally Lex's voice came over the speakers. 
"Brooklyn, can you hear me all right?"
	The Avalon clan took a step back at such a wonder. Brooklyn lifted 
the phone to his ear. "Loud and clear," he answered, "This was a great idea, Lex."
	"You've arrived safely?" Goliath deep bass rumbled through the 
speakers.  The younger gargoyles exchanged awestruck smiles, hearing the 
voice of legend.
	"Goliath, is that you?" Catherine stepped toward the speakers.  
Brooklyn handed her the phone, which she held tentatively to her head.
	"It's so good to hear your voice," Catherine continued.
	"Princess, how are things on Avalon?" Goliath asked.
	"Peaceful. We've taken your friends to the palace. The healers are 
tending to them." Catherine informed the leader.
	"Good. Are you on speaking terms with Queen Titania?"
	"Yes, though we don't speak often."
	"Could you ask her to help the clones? Tell her that they need 
Anastasia's help. She will know what I mean."
	"I'll do so right away," Princess Catherine returned the phone to 
Brooklyn. She and Tom left to find Avalon's queen.
	"It's me again, Goliath," Brooklyn picked up the conversation.
	"I'm sorry, Brooklyn, but we'll have to end this soon, dawn fast 
approaches. Just remember what we discussed before you left: stay alert and 
don't give up."
	"I won't," Brooklyn sounded a bit irritated, "You'll call us in four 
days time? That'll be midnight here."
	"Aye. We must go now, Brooklyn. Good luck."
	The phone clicked off, followed by hissing static. The thirty plus gargoyles 
looked at each other, then at their new guests, Angela among them.  Brooklyn 
cleared his throat about to take charge, when Gabriel stepped in.
	"It must've been a long journey for you. We will help you get your 
charges settled in. I'm sure by then Queen Titania will be ready to receive you."
	"I'm ready right now," the elf queen's voice echoed through the 
chamber.  A shimmering light took on the hourglass form of Queen Titania. 
She approached the convalescing gargoyles with curiosity, but a professional 
demeanor.
	The Avalon gargoyles quickly bowed to the Queen.  Brooklyn, 
Broadway and Angela followed suit. Maxine nudged Quintina in the ribs, 
then made a curtsey. Titania waved them up. "I don't need such adoration.  
Let's see what we have here."
	She examined the sick closely. Her eyes widening at the sight of 
Malibu and Hollywood.  She looked to Broadway and Brooklyn. "Clones?" 
She asked.  Brooklyn nodded.
	"What seems to be the nature of their illness?" Titania sounding 
more like her alter ego, Anastasia Reynard.
	"Cascade systemic failure brought about by enhance growth protocols," 
Dr. Reilly answered.  She used the scientific lingo, testing what Titania knew.
	"Which protocols where observed?" Titania knew her technobabble.
	"E. coli protein trace, hyperactive pituitary grafting," Reilly ticked 
off, "Everything but the kitchen sink."
	"It's amazing they've lasted this long," Titania looked toward their 
supplies, "Have some cortisone? A shot might stop the internal bleeding in 
these three." She pointed to Burbank, Hollywood and Delilah. Dr. Reilly looked 
dubious, but allowed Maxine to administer the shots.
	Brooklyn, Angela and Broadway approached Titania. Brooklyn spoke 
first, "Your majesty, we've brought these gargoyles here in hopes of finding a 
cure.  Could your magic heal them?"
	"I'm afraid not. What ails them isn't a sickness like the cold or a flu, 
it's a flaw in their body. That I can not be easily fixed." Titania explained gravely.
	"Then can you help us find Sevarius, the man who created these 
creatures?" Angela asked politely.
	"Sevarius," Titania shook her head, "He can be a menace. If half the 
things that madman did ever went public, it'd ruin Halcyon and put science 
back a hundred years." The fairy queen raised her hand and her mirror appeared.
	"Find Sevarius," she asked of the looking glass.  Suddenly, the pane 
of glass flowed with images, showing men and woman in a variety of places.  
Halfway through, they saw main hall of Oberon's palace through the mirror.
	"Hold it," Brooklyn barked. Titania waved a halt.  The mirrors viewed 
the group assembled, Quintina center focus.  The gargoyles stared at the doctor.  
Maxine looked bewildered, but Quintina looked severely guilty.
	"Damn," she whispered under her breath.
	"What does it mean, Dr. Reilly?" Broadway asked with growing 
suspicion.
	"It means I am a Sevarius. *sigh* My true name is Dr. Quintina V. 
Sevarius. I changed my name to Reilly to avoid any connection with the man."
	"So you're Sevarius' sister, daughter, niece?" questioned Angela.
	"No. I *am* Sevarius. I am a clone."

Chapter 4
	"You're a clone?" Angela spoke disbelieving.
	". . . of Anton Sevarius, yes," Quintina finished.
	"What?. . . How?" Broadway was at a lost.
	Reilly snorted, "It's a long convoluted tale. The short version, Sevarius 
made several clones of himself. I am the fifth one, hence my name meaning 
'fifth born'. When the mirror searched for Sevarius, it found the clones of him."
	"How can you be a clone of Sevarius and be a woman?" Broadway 
asked.
	"Difference between genders is just a matter of timing," Quintina 
answered, "Some enzymes before others and boom, you've got a male. Deny 
those enzymes all together and bam, you got a female."
	"Then you can cure these clones," Brooklyn concluded quickly.
	"No, I can't." Quintina shook her head.
	"You're a clone and have Sevarius' mind, of course you can.," 
Brooklyn argued.
	"I can fashion a cure, but I need to know what was done. Just like 
a wizard can't cast a counterspell without knowing what was cast first.
	"You said, we needed Sevarius. You are a Sevarius. Cure them!" 
His eyes glowed with rage.
	"I need to know what Sevarius used and he's dead." Quintina 
remained firm on this.
	"Brooklyn!" Maxine interceded, "If she says she can't help, then 
she can't."
	"She's lied to us already. She's probably lying right now." Brooklyn 
snapped at the black doctor.
	Maxine jerked her head, bring to his attention the other gargoyles 
watching this drama. Such an outburst wasn't acceptable in a leader. Brooklyn, 
understanding this, took a deep breath. His eyes dimmed back to pupils. He 
returned to the conversation with a calm demeanor.
	"Alright, give us the long version." He said as he sat down.  
Broadway and Angela did the same. Quintina hesitated looking to the 
large audience present.  Gabriel understood, sending them about their duties. 
The rookery brothers and sisters groaned and complained, but followed orders. 
Gabriel, Eurydice, and Ophelia remained, the last two helping the clones 
through their aches, giving them shots.
	Quintina began, "Xanatos started up Gen-U-Tech, placing Sevarius 
as chief scientific officer.  The company's primary goal was to clone a human 
genome, specifically Xanatos. It was to pursue some notion of immortality. 
It met with limited success. The main problem was individuality.  No matter 
how well trained or conditioned, a clone wouldn't be exactly like the original. 
It'd be a complete person unto itself. It wasn't what Xanatos wanted, so he 
abandoned the project to pursue a more arcane alternative to immortality, 
sorcery.  But Sevarius saw possibilities.  His figuring was to clone himself 
and with so many stunning intellects, achieve wonders undreamed of.
	"Sevarius set up three batches of three clones each to perfect his 
technique. The first three, he gave his own name. Anton Jr., the II and III. 
I was grown in the next batch," Her tone was flat and lifeless as she spoke 
about her creation, "Xanatos got along better with these Sevari than the 
original, especially with what happened next. During the staged escape of 
the Mutates, the original Sevarius was set up to die in the mishap. One of 
the three, probably Junior, made sure the eels killed him. A bit of role acting 
turned frightfully real."
"So the other Sevarius we encountered was a clone?" Brooklyn 
asked.
"Clones," Quintina corrected, "For a time, Anton Jr. took 'Father's 
identity. Then he died in Scotland over some mess at Loch Ness."
"Yes, I remember," Angela recalled Nessie and Big Daddy and 
her hatred for Sevarius.
               Quintina looked at her for a second, scrutinizing the gargoyle, then 
continuing, "And now I heard, Anton III died in some Central American 
jungle. He's the one who created these clones. He knew a cure.  
"As for me, I shunned their way of doing science, trying to live a 
normal life. I studied medicine at John Hopkins understanding genetics, 
not abusing it."
"Yeah, a real humanitarian," Brooklyn quipped sarcastically, 
"What about these other clones?"
"The Antons' might have taught them something, I don't know.  
I left as soon as I reached a physical age of eighteen."
"Physical age?" Titania asked, "What do you mean? How old are 
you really?"
"Technically, I'm only nine years old. Physically, I have the body 
of a thirty-six year old."
"So you aging fast too," Maxine mind skipped ahead to the conclusion, 
"What's keeping you from getting systemic failure like these clones?"
"Nothing," Quintina replied sadly, "I'm just as susceptible as they 
are.  They growing at a faster rate so they fell ill first, but in time I'll be in 
their shoes. So you see, I have a very real stake in what happens to them."
Silence followed as they absorbed what Quintina told them.  Gabriel, 
Ophelia and Eurydice looked to each other, asking if any understood what was 
being said. Each shook their head silently. Titania walked over to her mirror, 
taking a look at the Sevarius clones.
"I make five Sevariuses including Dr. Reilly here," Broadway offered, 
turning to the mirror, "Maybe we can ask them what they know."
"Trust a Sevarius?" Angela shook her head, "I'd sooner trust Xanatos."
"And what would you suggest," Brooklyn snapped, "Sevarius is the 
only one with the answer. If not him, then maybe one of his clone. Broadway 
get me the sat phone, Goliath has to know about this."
"It's about eight in the morning outside, Brooklyn," the teal gargoyle 
handed him the bulky cellular, "If Xanatos knew . . ."
	"Looks like we'll put Xanatos' redemption to the test," Brooklyn 
began dialing.

	"What?" Xanatos sounded shocked, "I knew Sevarius experimented 
on himself. That's why I sent Quintina, but eight other clones?"
	"Can you find the others?" Brooklyn's words drawled out for several 
minutes. The time difference between Avalon and New York making it difficult 
to carry on a conversation.
	"Yes," Xanatos tapped on his computer accessing the right file, "Along 
with Quintina, there is a Dr. Furter and a Wadsworth Body. Dr. Furter is 
studying in Romania.  Wadsworth has a house outside of D.C.  I'll send 
someone to bring them here if you like?"
	Brooklyn's, "No," stretched for three minutes, "Find others." With 
that the sat phone clicked off.  Xanatos looked up to Owen, "This is an 
untoward but not entirely unexpected development."
	"Sir," Owen tone and manner never altered, "I thought you repented 
you previous ways.  By deceiving the gargoyles, aren't you playing the 
same game."
	"I'm not playing games with the gargoyles, but Sevarius is another 
matter," Xanatos stared out the window distractedly, "Owen pull every file 
on Sevarius; from the time he signed on with Cyberbiotics to his W-2's 
when Nightstone hired him.  And see what you can find about Nightstone 
Industries. I'm curious what Thailog had him design."

	"According to Xanatos, he knew about you and two others, but not 
all of the clones," Brooklyn informed the group, "Does Dr. Furter or 
Wadsworth Body ring a bell?"
	"Yes, they're my batch brothers. Frank was number four and 
Wadsworth, number six."
	"So Xanatos was telling us the truth," Angela spoke to herself.
	"Looks like you're gamble paid off," Broadway spoke to Brooklyn.
	Brooklyn sighed, "For now. By my reckoning we've got a half 
an hour before Goliath wakes up. There anything to eat around here?"
	"Took the words right out of my mouth," Broadway smiled.
	"These patients are resting comfortably," Maxine came over to 
them, "I'll stay and watch over them."
	"The kitchen's this way," Gabriel fell into his role as host, leading 
the way for the rest. Turn the corner, leaving the hall, Brooklyn noticed 
Quintina wasn't with them.  She remained with Maxine. The doctor gave 
the pretense of checking the equipment, but it was plain, Quintina wanted 
to be alone. Brooklyn gave her that wide berth, joining the others to the 
kitchen.

	"It isn't hot chocolate but it will do," Angela took another sip of 
mulled cider. Avalon fare was simple, fruits and breads.
	"Ah, we've tried that once," Ophelia smiled, "You're friend Jade` 
harvested some pods from the plants they brought here.  They are an intriguing 
pair. They've told us all about the wonders of the outside world; airplanes 
and tractors, telephones and cable TV. Tell me can you see things happening 
from around the world?"
	"Definitely," Broadway jumped in, "You can watch basketball in 
Chicago or baseball in San Francisco."
 	"And I thought you only watch the Food Network," Brooklyn teased. 
 	". . .and the Mystery Channel," Broadway added.
 	"So tell me, sister," Gabriel asked of Angela, "Have you found your 
place in the world?"
 	Angela returned the smile, "Oh, I think I have." She patted Broadway's 
leg under the table, "Right Broadway?"
	"Sure thing," he gave her a kiss.
 	The gargoyle in question made some humorous statement, but Gabriel 
didn't hear it. He quickly forced a smile on his face, but beneath the mask his 
heart was broken.  Eurydice saw the change, but said nothing.  Brooklyn also 
recognized that look, he'd seen it in the mirror several times.  He felt sympathy 
for him, but now wasn't the time to bring it up.
 	The conversation had moved on, to the magical Sun pendants. Jade' 
and Turquesa lent them to hardest working gargoyles. When she learned Gabriel 
was awake throughout the day, Angela was brimming with questions.
 	"What's it like? How is the sun?" She asked.
Gabriel withdrew into himself answering in general terms, "Fine" 
and "It was nice".  Eurydice covered him by describing her day. Brooklyn 
helped by explaining they brought the Sun amulet with them. This prompted 
everyone to return to the Main Hall, the window with New York about to open.
	Gabriel led the way back, sending one of the clan to find the Mayan 
gargoyles. Brooklyn hung back to talk with Eurydice. "Thanks for your help," 
she spoke first, "I thought he'd shatter when Broadway kissed her."
	"I didn't know they were hot and heavy once," Brooklyn kept in 
stride with her.
	"They weren't, but by the time he gathered enough courage to say 
something, she was gone."
	"I can sympathize," Brooklyn nodded to himself, "Will he be alright?"
	"Yes, he just needs to get over the shock," Eurydice explained. She 
paused, then turned the subject, "Brooklyn what is all this business with these 
clones. You said they once tried to kill you and your clan. Now you want to 
save them."
	"They'd take away our hero license if we just let them die," the red 
gargoyle quipped, "Besides, these clones are us in a way. How could we not 
try to help them?"
	"Gargoyles protect," Eurydice summed it up.
	"Precisely," Brooklyn nodded.

	Jade' and Turquesa were overjoyed to have the amulet in their 
hands. "Thank you for saving this for us. Sapphiro and Obsidiana will glow 
brighter than the sun when they see this."
	"You're welcome, but it was really Broadway and Lex who you 
should thank," Brooklyn smiled, "They wrestled it from Hyena."
	Turquesa kissed Broadway on one side of the cheek. "And this is 
for your friend," she kissed the other cheek. Broadway visibly blushed, 
quite a sight for his light blue hide. Angela wore a jealous scowl towards 
her beau. Broadway tried to explain tripping over his tongue. One of the 
few times, Brooklyn was glad he was a bachelor.
	"Will you be leaving us?" Ophelia asked crestfallen.
	"Not for a while, yet," Jade' answered, "The new Green still needs 
tending and so many want to see the day. How can we refuse?"
	"Besides," Turquesa approached the sick clones, "We might be 
able to aid them. The forest plants have many curative properties. One 
might heal them."
	"Not likely," Quintina put in her two cents, "but I'll try anything 
once."
	Brooklyn was about to take Dr. Reilly down a peg when the 
telephone rang. Brooklyn flipped it to speaker, Goliath's voice filled the 
hall. "Brooklyn are you there? Is everything all right?"
	"Yeah, we're fine. Though we've learned some interesting things 
about our geneticist." Brooklyn eyed the doctor as she took the clones' 
temperature.
	"Xanatos told us. Quintina is a clone," Goliath agreed, "He 
mentioned other clones of Sevarius. Do you think they might cure the 
clones?"
	"That's the real question," Brooklyn spoke up, cutting through 
the static, "Dr. Reilly says that the previous Antons taught the clones, 
hopefully they'll know how to reverse their handy work as well."
	"We should seek out these Sevari," Goliath suggested a course 
of action.
	"Agreed. It's the only other chance they've got.  We can wait to 
see what Reilly and Maxine might come up with, but that's another long 
shot. Finding someone who knows how the clones were altered could be 
the answer."
	Goliath became brisk and businesslike, "Xanatos has provided us 
with the address of Wadsworth Body. We'll take the chopper and fly down 
to Washington and check We'll take the chopper and fly down 
to Washington and check him out. Is Titania there?"
	"Right here Goliath?" Avalon's queen appeared in her usual 
colorful fashion.
	"Your majesty can you provide transport for Brooklyn and his 
group. They can reach Romania with greater ease than us."
	"This is Brooklyn's quest," Titania replied, "Avalon will send him 
we he wants to be."
	"Isn't that the same as 'where I need to be'?" Brooklyn asked.
	"If you want it to be," Titania spoke cryptically, "You can control 
where you end up."
	"Great," Brooklyn clapped his hands, "Then let's get started.."
	"We'll be out of touch for a couple days," Goliath pointed out, 
"When you've met with this Sevarius leave a message with Elisa or Xanatos. 
We'll see where we can go from there."
	"Good luck, Father," Angela jumped in.
	"Safe journey to you, daughter. To all of you." The sat phone click 
and silence followed.
	Brooklyn turned to the others. "If we move now, we might make it 
there and back before dawn here. Reilly, we'll need you to accompany us. 
You're the only one who knows where to find Dr. Furter. Maxine stay with 
the clones. All right let's g. . ."
	"One moment," Gabriel interrupted, "Brooklyn, might I join you?"
	Before Brooklyn could speak, Gabriel went on, "I know I don't 
much about this magic of genetics. But I have a good pair of eyes, a good 
head on my shoulder. I . ."
	"Whoa," Brooklyn stopped him, "You're welcome to come along. 
You don't need to sell me. Anyone else want to join the quest?"
	The other gargoyles were slow to speak up except for one. Eurydice 
stepped forward. "I'll accompany. I must admit, Jade's stories of the outer 
world has me curious."
	"All right then," Brooklyn gathered his group, "We'll take the skiffs 
to Romania, find Dr. Furter and get a cure for the others. Any questions?"
	"What if he refuses?" Eurydice mentioned.
	"Then we become very persuasive," Brooklyn smiled.

	The night was wet on the shore of Loch Ness. The rain kept everyone 
in and the tour boats docked. No one saw the bubbling on the surface.  The 
streak of light, as a torpedo rocketed from the waters, was mistaken for 
lightening.  The torpedo casing floated on the Loch for a while, then the 
propellers kicked in. The missile beached itself on a small strand not far 
from the tourist village. The casing opened with a pop and hiss and a man 
emerged from the torpedo.  Lightening strikes were the only illumination, 
but the grinning superiority wore like a mask on Anton Sevarius' face.  
The lightening also should something else.  In his eyes glowed the 
smoldering glint of madness.

To be Continued in 'The Transsexual, Transvestite of Transylvania'