Rated: probably PG - R
Warnings: Blair angst galore, AU-land, this sure isn't Kansas (or
Washington) anymore.
Billy Simpson hawked and spat at the floor upon which Guide Sandburg lay, unclothed, unconscious and unaware of the sport in which he and Mike were going to delight.
"Look a' this, Mike!" and Billy pointed the toe of his boot and kicking, nudged Sandburg's flanks. Oh God above, this was great! Great, he giggled, anticipating Mike's response.
"Oh, shit!" roared Mike Lanier, and chuckled, making a funny face, play-acting by holding his hands over his nose and squeezing his nostrils together.
"Hee--hee--shit is right! You're right as shit, Billy!" and Mike placed the toe of his boot over Sandburg's cold naked hip and smeared the fecal matter with the sole of his boot down the bare legs.
Billy hunkered down, and turned Sandburg over on his back and they both burst out with guffaws as they saw excrement and urine mixed into the groin and pelvic area. Billy snickered, grasped a handful of dark pubic hair in his fingers, tugging until a few detached themselves from the tender skin. He took his index finger and pooled it into the mess and using it as a child would to finger paint, he drew a tit tac toe design across Blair's belly. He chorted, "You want O's, Mikey?"
"Hell no! Keep your hand off his cock. You're a filthy, disgusting turd!"
Billy jumped to his feet and smashed his dirty fingers into Mike's cheeks, the shit streaking across his nose. "God damn your hide, I'm a-gonna kill you, you son of a bitch--" And Mike took a swing at Billy.
The second before his fist connected, an authoritarian voice froze his arm in mid-air. "Explain yourselves, soldiers!"
Billy and Mike stopped their horseplay immediately, and snapped to attention as Garett Kincaid sauntered into the room. He turned away from the two idiots to make sure the Prize was still here. Oh, yeah. Ellison's whore-Guide.
"Sorry, sir, jus' couldn't resist, uh, havin' a little fun with the Guide...while his big, bad Sentinel ain't around to protec' him."
And Billy got braver listening to Mike standing tall to Kincaid. Sure, he'd understand. Their Leader hated Ellison beyond all men...yeah, he wouldn't mind. Not a bit. "Sir, we was just testin' him. As you can see for yourself, he ain't no Magical Shaman, as the SNGRF says. He ain't nothing but a normal human bein'. See! He shit and pissed all over hisself while he was sleepin'."
"You fuckin' fool!" cried Kincaid, delivering a stinging slap to Billy Simpson's ugly face. He unholstered his gun and stuck it on the tip of Billy's nose. "You fool! He ai--isn't asleep---Look!"
The two henchmen quickly turned to watch as the process of Guide Sandburg's body spiritual journey became manifested in the physical. Sandburg's body became a study in frenzy. His eyes, lips, mouth, jaws and fingers began twitching. The fingers and wrist shook as if he were a pianist getting kinks out before the recital commenced.
Kincaid took the few steps to Blair Sandburg, retrieved his lighter and bared his teeth as he flicked it on. Mike and Billy gave each other a wink as Kincaid played the kerosene flame under the twitching fingers. The Guide did not awaken with the burning sensation, even as Kincaid sadistically and methodically toasted each finger, turning the pale skin to blotches of reds and harsh pinks.
"You see, fools, he's in a trance. His head is somewhere else, not here. He doesn't feel a thing and all that time you were playing in his shit, he's out of this world."
Kincaid pocketed the lighter and arose to his feet. "I think it's about time I found you two stupid mother-fuckers another post."
His ice eyes stared into the depths of eyes glazed with idiocy. There was no intelligence there, only the joy of sadism. Well, such was the life of The Patriot, sometimes you had a few apes in your troops. You just threw them a bunch of bananas every now and then, they'd behave. And henchman these dumb, asking no questions, were very hard to find.
"Mike, Billy, there's something I need you to do for me."
They snapped to attention like tin soldiers. "Sir?" they saluted.
"Get Smiley in here."
**********
Blair whirled around in a circle in the blue jungle. Searching....looking...seeking...watching...
"My son?"
He collapsed on his knees before Incacha, the spiritual leader of shamanic guides.
"Oh, father Incacha. Thy son is here in the spirit world."
Incacha placed his painted hands upon the curls of the Serpent Guide, and frowned. "My Son, You are on the Journey of the Soul."
"Yes," Blair answered, and his fingers began making designs upon the soil. Circles upon circles with lightning bolts railing against their edges but unable to break the inch deep trench he'd dug with his index and third fingers.
"Which Path do you seek, My Son?"
Finally Blair looked up, his blue eyes dripping tears, lips trembling. "Oh, Father Incacha, my...my Sentinel...he's...he is in danger...from one he calls ally...I must protect my Sentinel...my sworn oath..."
"You swore the Guides' Oath upon the point of his Sentinel's Sword, did you not, Blair?"
"Yes, Father. As my blood fell into his hands, I swore to honor, cherish, and obey, and to give my life as chattel in his service. I...I love him...and he needs me beside him...only I...only I can prevent the betrayal...he will believe only in me, Father. He is in peril of death at the hands of this Traitor. But, my corporeal body remains restrained by The Patriot."
Does Thee seeks understanding, Blair? Your mother is a great Shaman of the Serpent Path. Do you walk to her Southern door...the Serpent Shaman will help you forgive and forget the demons of the past so that you may live tomorrow."
"No, Incacha, my mother's gate I do not seek. I do not seek forgetfulness nor amends."
"Thee seeks the Dragon Path, Blair? The spirit traveler asks wisdom of the Wise and the Sage."
"No, Incacha, I do not go this northerly direction. I know the truth of which I face."
"Thee seeks the Path of the Eagle? To go East, to learn of your future and that of your Bonded?"
"No, Incacha, I do not...wish...to know...the way of..our finality...only that I will lie down at Jim's side when his heart stops beating...and take my final breath at the same moment...whether it be 50 years ahead or 5..."
"Then, thee must seek the Path of the Jaguar? OF POWER! Of power over fear of death. Of Strength to overcome pain of the body and of the soul."
"Yes, Father Shaman. This is the Path I wish to journey. I cannot...go to my Sentinel's side...he is in grave danger...and without his Guide, he is lost, unable to function, unable to discern the truth of the lies told by friends."
Blair whispered, I need the Power of the Jaguar. Guide ME, Incacha!"
A jaguar roared in the hidden recesses of the blue jungle, and Blair felt himself rise. His body felt as light as a snowflake, as a droplet of dew upon a blade of grass. He found himself at the height of the tallest tree branches, and the heady mist became thicker.
The wings of the wind bore him up, and he let his body relax into the gentle zephyr until it placed him into a nest of tangled limbs and vines above the jungle floor. Where...
He looked down, down, into the mist and saw...himself. Yes, no, not himself, another...another Blair...a Guide, but not a shaman...
He passed a hand through the misty clouds of his ecstatic vision, and beheld.
Two men. One tall and muscular. Handsome. A hero. One who was rejected by many and One who denied his nature. One who estranged himself from family and friends. A sentinel.
The other. Shorter and stocky. A softer face. His own face. Russet curls and earrings and a shy laugh. One who was rejected by Father and One who searched for his Future among the people of the past. A guide.
Two men, they entwined upon a bed covered in starry blue. One passionately entering the body of the other. Both crying out in exquisite completion of their joining. One shedding tears of joy and the other licking them from his cheeks with his tongue.
You, Guide of this Sentinel, are not me. But we are the same...he is not my Sentinel, yet they are One.
Come. Come, Blair.
Come, Blair of this world.
Come to My world.
You swore a silent bonding to your own sentinel, now you must save mine.
"My Mother is going to have your head on a--" screamed Alicia.
"I'm here, Brat."
"Mother!" she screamed, still twisting in Naomi's vise grip. "This fuckin' whore--this bitch won't let me go--"
Oh my goodness. Oh my God. Blair stood in his darkened corner and watched as Alex...Alex Barnes strode in.
She was icily beautiful, her voluptuous curves encased in a quasi-military uniform, a gun in a holster tied down on her leg like a desperado in an old Western shootout movie. Her hair was in a no-nonsense French braid and she was wearing low-heeled boots.
Alex zoomed in on him in his lonely dark corner. She didn't stalk or walk over, she just gave him a nod, then turned her attention back to her daughter.
"Naomi, will you set loose my daughter?"
"Gratefully." And Naomi stepped back.
WHAP! WHAP!
Alex gave her daughter the back of her hand, on both cheeks. "Where is your Guide? How dare you be so disrespectful to your Pack-Mother! I'm disgusted and ashamed. Naomi, please, it is your right to name her punishment for her disobedience."
Naomi narrowed her eyes at the young sentinel, who was physically cowered, but still her eyes shot sparks of defiance.
Blair wished he could take notes, as Mrs. Sandburg began speaking. "Guides demand respect from every Sentinel. As it was in the ancient days, so it remains now. Even Cassie...Cassie, who shed her own blood on your Sentinel's sword at your Bonding, and swore an oath delivering her body to you as your chattel. You swore to defend her with your life...When someone chooses Living Slavery of the Heart, even to someone like you...her or his Sacrifice must be respected."
Blair tried to memorize all this for when..."Now, Alicia, go find your Guide, bring her to me. You'll be spending the weekend at the SNGRF, in...class."
Alicia fled to her father's bedside, hiding her face in his naked chest. Jim...Capt. Ellison's dull lifeless eyes were fixed, emptily staring at the white ceiling. Alex hauled her back with a hand jerking her hair. She marched her physically over to Naomi, pushing her head down for her to show deference.
Now, Alicia did bend her head. "Yes ma'am."
Alex slapped her on the backside and Alicia scooted out of the room as if she were on fire. Blair felt the walls vibrate as two bodies were tossed upon it in Alicia's wake...Rafe and Henri?
"Naomi, I'm sorry. I've been lax...I...you and I had hoped that Cassie would've been a good influence on her, but it seems...and Jim is not a good disciplinarian, or else let's her run loose..."
"'Lex, no need to apologize. I'll soon have her straightened out. Now..."
Blair noticed that Alex and Naomi touched wrists together...a ritualistic greeting he assumed. They kissed each other upon the cheek. Rites of a closed female society within a closed society. My God...
Naomi held out her arms and Maya and the little girl flew into them. Naomi lifted the child off her feet, and then Blair noticed the bracelets that both wore.
When Maya's sleeve rode up her arm as she stretched it toward Alex, he saw golden...a...not, no...not another snake...it had lightning bolts springing out with...skulls imbedded on each of the points...it looked lethal...
And the little girl...she wore lots of bangles all shimmery metal, with charms...skulls and crossbones...My God...
"Bonita," Alex said as she kissed the child.
Oh, God, this is Blair-2's daughter...I remember that name in Jim...Captain Ellison's office...he was going to pick her up from...Maya.
He saw the three women and girl all touch wrists their wrists again in some kind of...female ritualistic greeting...? He hadn't seen any of the men here do that...
"Lex," began Naomi, as Alex was patting little Bonita's curls. "The stranger in our midst."
They all turned to look at Blair who shrank back. "I've read him...and can get nothing treasonous from him...nor a sign of betrayal. What do you see?"
Alex didn't move, she sniffed the air surrounding him, and eyed him head to foot. "He is not Jim's Guide. I knew that right away, of course. But...nothing...you know sentinels can't read bonded guides...but his heart-rate is faster...his smell is not the same...more of an antiseptic scent than from our...Blair..."
Maya turned and flew to Alex's arms. She lay her dark head upon Alex's breast. "Oh, Alex, if that were you...I hope I could Guide you back to me..."
Alex kissed Maya upon the lips and smiled. "Not going to zone anytime soon, pet. But...your touch always brings me...around."
Oh, my God. Maya is Alex's Guide. She couldn't..are they lovers...didn't Joel say something...or was that Alicia about sentinels and guides always having a sexual relationship. No, this isn't Maya, and for sure this isn't Alex, she's "good" on this world, a law enforcement officer, I think?
Naomi came to him and patted his cheek. "I know you're not Jim's Guide. But...will you try to bring him back to us...Without Jim...My Son is lost to us...to his loved ones...to his Pack."
She willingly led him to Jim...Captain Ellison's bedside. He reached out his hand and she intoned ritualistc words. and again he was thinking that Sentinels and Guides were real, known and respected on this world. Not just a chapter in an obscure book by a jaded Victorian traveller. I'm living this...
What were their rituals and ceremonies...what would it be like at a bonding...They had a specialized vocabulary, and were the jewels...symbols denoting status in the "pack" or did guides just wear them...did Blair of this world, or did only female guides, were they bonding gifts from sentinels...
"As it was in the days of the Ancients, as it will be in the days to come, and so is it written...Sentinels give their lives to ensure the survival of their tribes. Guides give their bodies and their lives in the protection of their Sentinels. Bound to one another heart and soul, the Guide must seek out his Sentinel on his walk with the spirits, and guide his wandering soul back to the physical vessel that binds his spirit to this earth."
Maya and Bonita chimed in, "Guide, find your Sentinel...Guide, find your Sentinel..."
Naomi let his hand fall upon Capt. Ellison's cheek.
Darkness.
Blue Darkness.
Cold Darkness.
Blair no longer heard the chanting. He felt a hundred-pound sledge hammer hit him between the eyes, and he was falling....falling...into Blue Darkness.