"Everywhere At the Same Time"

"Everywhere At the Same Time"

10/22/2002

I.

"I am the Unicorn!" Ashley hollered so echoes rebounded from the ceiling beams in the crowded bar. She had hopped up onto a chair in front of the table which had no room on its surface for any more overturned shot glasses. In the smoky haze of that room with its red neon lighting advertising COLD BEER and BIKERS WELCOME, she stood revealed as a gorgeous young woman with long platinum-white hair, perfectly cast features and a slim body displayed in white ribbed sweater and snug white jeans. "There has never been anyone like me!"

"You can say that again, sweetheart," one of the men grumbled. "If'n Reggie wasn't snoring, I'd worry he was dead. Gimme a hand with him, bros." Two other men helped lift the insensate Reggie from his chair and carried him toward a back room which held a broken-down couch. The crowd at the WEST SIDE INN was two-thirds male and one-third female, all ranging from their twenties to early thirties with a few grizzled barflies secluded in the corners. The jukebox had gone silent as everyone became enthralled by the way this tiny blonde gulped down whiskey shots without effect while her challengers inevitably staggered away in defeat. In the center of the table was a plastic bowl normally filled with pretzels but now overflowing with bet money.

Unicorn leaped nimbly down to stand next to her companion. "Hey Science Nerd, how much dough is in the kitty?"

In nearly exact contrast, Megan Salenger had black shaggy hair, olive skin and dark thoughtful eyes. She was wearing a black sweatshirt and dark jeans to complete the reversal. "I count six hundred and eighty-three dollars and eleven cents."

"Well then there now," Ashley laughed. She swung around to face the staring crowd. "Boys and girls, the drinking contest is officially over and as the winner... of course!.. I declare that my winnings will right this minute be donated to the grill. Free hamburgers and sausages and French fries for everyone!"

Megan carefully counted out Ashley's winnings to the two men at the bar. One of them tied on an apron that was less than immaculate and began slapping meat patties onto the steel grill between the shelves of bottles and the cash register. Patrons were jostling each other and calling out their preferences as Megan stepped back away from the cluster of bodies.

A college age redheaded woman, with four piercings in every ear and a baggy sweatshirt with NEVER SAY NOT ONCE handwritten across its front, tugged at Megan's sleeve. "That was awesome. Dude! How can a chick that size pack away so much booze? I caught a buzz just watching."

"Ashley has many talents," Megan answered, disengaging herself. "Excuse me, please."

Back at the show table with its thirty shot glasses and empty bottles, the Unicorn was wrestling into her down-filled ski jacket. "You know, Trom Girl, you could do that much drinking, too. You have the same healing factor I do."

"I don't see the purpose in such an activity," the Trom Girl answered mildly. Megan picked up her waist-length KDF field jacket, which had an internal power source and which would keep her comfortable under worse conditions than a chilly Manhattan night. "Your idea of fun escapes my understanding."

"Aw, I think you'll get it someday, Megs. On the tagra tea diet, our bodies process alcohol the same way we'd process cyanide or botulism. It all just passes harmlessly through our innards, which reminds me, that WAS still a good amount of liquid I gulped down tonight. Let's hit the little girl's room before we split."

Escorting her friend to the two doors marked COLTS and FILLIES, the Trom Girl said, "I will remain out here. Since I did not drink two gallons of whiskey, I do not need to urinate."

Unicorn punched Megan lightly on the bicep. "Aw, we need to go out next Friday night, too. I know this karaoke bar in Tribeca..."
When Ashley re-emerged, she pointed at the wall clock in mock horror. "MAYY-agan! You know we were supposed to leave at eleven, why didn't you say anythng?"

Zipping up her field jacket, the Trom Girl replied, "It was after eleven when we got here."

Seeing the two teammates putting on their coats, a half dozen men drew closer. "Please tell me you two aren't leaving! Break everyone's hearts, why don't you?"

"We are both on duty in four hours and nineteen minutes," Megan replied with a noticeable lack of sympathy.

"At least give us your names," said the tallest one there, a rather good-looking athletic type with a brown ponytail. "A phone number wouldn't be a bad idea, either."

Ashley reached up and touched his cheek. For an instant, her impudence faded and was replaced by a wistful tone. "Don't I wish, cutie. But the Science Nerd and I lead crazy lives and there's no telling when we'll be free again. It's the heavy burden of duty we carry, I guess."

"Goodnight to you all," Megan interrupted, yanking her friend by one arm. "Drive carefully."

Two blocks away, Unicorn stopped in mid-stride and glanced back over her shoulder. "Megan, let's choose two of those guys and bring them back with us. You know, just for coffee. And to talk."

The Trom Girl could not keep disapproval from her voice. "Bringing unauthorized persons into the headquarters building will of course alert our duty officer. That's Sable tonight."

"Drat darn heck. Yeah, that's true. This is worse than trying to sneak a boy upstairs when your dad's on the couch in the living room," Ashley sighed. "Too bad the KDF is such a prude organization."

"It is not an issue of morals. You are an adult and entitled to a personal life. But we have many enemies who want us dead or captured for torture. We have to think of the team's security first." Megan took the blonde's arm again. "I have not given much thought to dating, let alone entering a serious relationship, Ashley. It's difficult for Tel Shai knights like us. The Midnight War gives most people nightmares if they learn about it."

"You're right. I guess. I'll tell you something you mustn't forget, Megs. You're Human. You were raised by those cold, emotionless Trom super-scientists but you're not like them. You have feelings. I'd bet anything that when you tumble for some guy, you're going to be in L-O-V-E Love with little hearts flying around your head."

The Trom Girl did nor answer immediately but, after walking a few steps, she quietly said, "Only time will tell."

As soon as they saw Megan's cherry red Jeep Cherokee parked ahead, both women heard their Links buzz at their belts. "Oh, come ON!" groaned Ashley as she unclipped the flat device and held it up. "Hi, Sable? What's up?"

"Also responding," said Megan into her own Link.

"I have a report from one of our observers of an Eldanar warrior woman seen in the city," came the steady familiar voice of their captain. "Seems there's a brawl at the LOST SOULS bar within walking distance of where you two are. No casualties apparently, just some bruises and damaged furniture but I would like to know more. It's winding down right now."

"Got it, we're on our way," Unicorn said. "But seriously, I didn't know the Eldanarin HAD warriors, let alone fighting women. They're so, you know, snooty and dainty and New Age and stuff."

Sable's voice sharpened noticeably, "There's only one in modern times that I've ever learned about. One of Hagen's Seven Swords, an Elf named Perendir."

( the rest of the story )