[Mandiannie]

squishy soggy cup that reeked of Pepsi.
Horrified he immediately dropped and and to his dismay he felt something wet, sticky and slimy land on his shoe. He glanced down to find a blob of something really sticky on there and tried to kick it off. "What in the world is a cup of pepsi doing in the supply closet" he thought as he finally managed to kick the blob into the garbage.

Back at the hospital Pete watched as Ron was positioned under the CT machine and though back to Stan and the missing supply closet key. He hoped that he found it and was able to get what he wanted. Then he remember something "Oh dear. there was a very good reason why that key had a misspelled word on it! No one was suppose to go into the supply closet. Not that particular one anyway. The one in the basement would have been ok! but the one that Stan had wanted the key for contained that "evaporated Pepsi" experiment that he had put there to see what exactly the "Pepsi Food Pill" would need. What Am I going to Do!" he thought.

The beep from the CT machine snapped him out of his thoughts and he turned his mind back to Ron. There were other problems here that needed his attention at the moment. He glanced at Ron and saw that there was a dazed, far-away look in his eyes....

[mommy2twins2]

It was really amazing that Lawanda had never realized the resemblance between Pete and Ron. Even though they were only fraternal twins, they were still brothers. They did look very different from one another. If it hadn't been for the jealousy between them that had gone all the way back to childhood they probably would have been the best of friends. As he looked at the far-away look in Ron's eye he knew tht it was only a matter of time before Ron blurted something stupid out. He had to get Lawanda out of her before Ron blew it for both of them. She would never understand how two brothers could treat each other that way.

He would have to get Lawanda out of here, but first...

[goofyemt96]

He is going to have to figure out what to tell lawanda about him and Ron.. He just wanted a drink of his pepsi, he knew that would calm is nerves down, But where was he to get one. The elevators were taking forever, and he did not feel like taking the stairs. He knew it was only a moment of time before....

[Rose Ann]

...she would come looking for him. He needed the pause that refreshes, the drink of the next generation, the joy of cola! He was desperate! He couldn't even focus on his problems right now. Just one sip, a drop, a micron of Pepsi! Was that so much to ask?

As he was frantically searching for his fix, an old lady came down the hall toward him. She stopped and stood next to him at the elevator. It was as if the Universe itself was taunting him. She was carrying a 2 liter bottle of nirvana in her hands. He had to have it! He quickly devised a plan.

When they got on the elevator, he would.....

[K Scrappy]

simply explain his minor addiction to the sweet delicious liquid in her hands and confess that he had a small headache that only Pepsi could cure. Then he would offer her ten dollars for the whole 2 liter. Who wouldn't accept money in exchange for helping someone out?

When the elevator doors closed he turned to make his proposition when to his horror he saw the old lady tipping the 2 liter to her mouth and taking a giant swig. Of HIS Pepsi. In his disgust he didn't realize that they had stopped in the lobby and he missed his floor. The elevator continued to the basement where he exited. He needed just a minute to collect his thoughts and decide how to proceed without alarming Lawanda.

[Lauri]

"I can't believe I missed my floor" he thought. Looking down the long, dimly lit hallway he spied a vending machine. "A Pepsi!" he blurted as he ran to the end of the hall all the while trying to find some change.

"No, this can't be happening, I have no money, nothing" he muttered in disgust. The machine was teasing him with its bright, cheery lights and tantilizing photos of Pepsi products. Pete thought, "I think I can probably rig this someway to pop out a Pepsi." just as he was peering around the back of the machine a shadow fell on him.

[FrugalByDesign]

"You screwed up...you screwed up bigtime. The head of Save Us Pepsi People's Lives, International wants to speak to you and NOW!"

"How the he.. did you find me here?" whispered Pete.

"We know EVERYTHING you do - absolutely EVERYTHING. How could you let S.U.P.P.L.I.'s experient get destroyed? We gave you ONE thing to do - to keep that closet LOCKED and you FAILED. There will be reprecussions".

With that the mystery figure slinks away.

"Holy Freakin' Moly..." I BEGGED for this assignment. They wanted to give it to Ron and I BEGGED for this. They think he's the strong one and I'm the weak one.. It seems like, when they did the "experiment" on us, he got the "power" genes. But it just SEEMS that way.. Really it's...

[Mandiannie]

only because of the fact the Ron is a little older and can grow more of a beard than I can that they thought he was the smarter one. "I'll have to redo the whole pepsi experiment" he thought "but without change for this infernal Pepsi vending machine how am I going to survive the next few minutes" Then to add to the feeling of dismay that was starting to settle over him he looked up to see the granny from the elevator walking towards him. She stopped infront of the vending machine and promptly put in the amount needed and as Pete watched, drooling out came that Pepsi that he sooo badly wanted.

The granny turned, and seeing that Pete was staring with intensity she turned around again, deposited a few more coins into the vending machine, pressed the Pepsi button. Pete was staring so intently at what she was doing and at the blessed Pepsi that was in the catch tray at the bottom that when He looked up the granny had disappeared down the hallway. Pete couldn't believe it! there was a pepsi, apparently for him, and he had no idea who the most kindhearted stranger had been.

He took the Pepsi from the machine and turned to go back to the elevator sipping as he went. At the elevator he turned to look back down the hall to see if the granny was back so he could thank her. To his surprise she was marching up the hallway towards him and she didn't look too impressed. "Oh oh" thought Pete she must have had a granny moment and what I thought was a kindhearted act of generosity was really a lapse of memory. Blessedly the elevator was here. He quickly got in, but before the doors could close the granny appeared in the doorway. With a sour expression she said ......

[FrugalByDesign]

Have they changed the formula of Pepsi recently? This can tastes funny! Try yours...what do you think?

Pete popped the top and took a long hard sip... Thank the Lord... He could feel the "power" coursing through his veins...

"Well, Sonny? What do you think?"

" Oh, it's fine. It's just fine. It's WONDERFUL, in fact. And thanks for this.." as he raised his can in a salute to the granny.

The elevator door opens and the granny walks briskly away...Pete takes another sip, when suddenly he is grabbed from behind - his mouth amd nose are covered with a chemically treated cloth and consciouness slowly slips away...

In the waiting room, LaWanda waits..and waits... AND waits...until...

[Mandiannie]

out of the corner of her eye she her reflection in the tv. "What a mess I am" she thinks. "if Pete isn't here in 5 minutes I'm going home to clean up my appearance. I'll come back this evening to check on Ron.
After 5 minutes she glanced at her watch, let out a sigh and walked downstairs to catch a cab home. Pete had disappointed her yet again.
The ride home was a short and uneventful one. She got to her apartment, opened the door to hear the shrill ringing of the phone. Hurriedly she tossed her keys into the dish in the entrance and went to answer it. The voice on the other end didn't sound familiar. "Do you know guy named Pete? the voice asked. "Yes" Lawanda answered
"He's the guy you like, right"
"Yes"
"Well, there's a note in your mailbox go read it"
Before she could answer the whoever it was had hung up.
She walked to the entrance and glanced into the mailbox. There was a note. Curiously she opened it and read it.
The note said:
We have Pete. He was our prime Pepsi addict. We had everything figured out and were on the brink of making a discovery and creating a pill that would sustain addicts like him, but how can we do that now that he had cut down on his intake. Therefore we have taken him to our facility and will be keeping him there for the next week so we can complete the study. Here's what you have to do fist of all you have to convince Ron that Pete went to Canada on a convention. Make him believe it. As for you, we need you to go to the office and find the key labeled suppli bring it the the airport and put it into locker #345 the key to the locker in enclosed. These two things have to be done by midnight tomorrow.
Don't disappointed us.

LaWanda stood there in shock. Who would do this she wondered.

Meanwhile Pete had regained consciousness. He looked around trying to figure out where he was. He looked up and saw....

[FrugalByDesign]

that he was alone in a bare, dark room. It had a cement floor, dark walls and no windows. There didn't appear to be any door into the room - but how was THAT possible? He had gotten into the room somehow. And that smell! What was that smell?

Still groggy, Pete tried to stand up, but found that his hands were tied behind his back and and his feet were bound with duct tape. He knew The Organization was behind his kidnapping. He knew why - they felt he had failed them. What he didn't know was what they ahd planned for him. And it would be some time before he found out.

***

Stan completed his copies and headed back to his office. He was the only one still working at this late hour - but isn't that what bosses do? He looked over the production schedule - mentally checking off the status of all the projects in the works...until he got to the Benson project. That was Ron's baby. Stan had given it to him in the hopes that the status, prestige, and sizable bonus that came with the project, would keep Ron off his back. He did, however, need an update. He reaches for his cell, and dials Ron's number.

***

Ron lay in his hospital bed trying to re-orient himself. He tried to remember things - just ANYTHING. Like, what he'd had for breakfast. Start with something simple. "Breakfast? Why am I thinking about food. I can't even fathom eating at this moment. I can't move my left side at all, and my HEAD!". The pain had set in. Where was that nurse with the drugs? THOSE he could eat.

***

LaWanda's mind was racing. She needed help. She wasn't strong enough to handle something like this on her own. This had far-reaching consequences - and none of them good for her. She was so sure when Ron was given the Benson project, that THAT secured EVERYTHING for her. Now, everything was in a shambles... And it appeared she was the only one who COULD do something - Ron was hurt, Pete was kidnapped, and Stan, well, Stan COULDN'T know! She thought for a minute and knew she had to...

[goofyemt96]

She knew that she had to figure out a way to help Pete, she had to find out where he was, what they were doing to him. She would not stop till he was free!!!!

Meanwhile Pete comes to to terms of what had happened, Wondering is this the end, what are they going to do to me, will anyone care that im missing? Will anyone find me......OMG OMG!! I need a Pepsi!! I cant think right, this is not right. What about Lawanda, What about my brother " ohh forget about him...Ohh but my love, she is going to think i just disappeared. and ran like im scared....


Lawanda sit in her apt and wonders how to get all this stuff to help save pete,,as she comes up wiht a idea the phone rings and its....

[FrugalByDesign]

Stan.

"Lawanda? Stan here. Sorry to bother you at home this late hour, but I've been trying to reach Ron for an update on the Benson project. He's not answering his phone and he's not returning my calls. I also tried Pete but got no better response. Do you know how I can find one of these guys, preferably Ron, to get that update? We can't drop the ball on this one - the company's whole future is riding on it".

Lawanda swallowed hard. She was no good at lying. She was PARTICULARLY no good at lying when she was afraid - and right now, she was beyond afraid. She was terrified. She knew every word she said right now mattered and she had to chose them all very carefully.

" Well, Stan, I'm sure the guys are just tied up somewhere - or perhaps they forgot to carry their phone with them - yeah, I know it's not likely that they BOTH did, but maybe one is tied up and one just forgot. Whatever. I did hear Ron tell Pete that the Benson project was on track and had the potential to finish up ahead of schedule. He didn't want the client told that, though - he wanted to surpise them with our outstanding work quality and timeliness. So, it sounds like all is well with Benson." LaWanda held her breath - would this be enough?

"Hmmm", said Stan. " Well, this all SOUNDS good... I'd rather hear it straight from Ron, so if you see or talk to him, tell him to return my *** call".

"Sure thing, Stan. I will". LaWanda hung up the phone as a wave of relief washed over her. Yes, Stan was gruff. And, yes, he seemed particulary edgy lately, but she had dodged THAT bullet...

BANG!!

A bullet tore through her bow window and slammed into the wall just above her head. She screamed and fell to the floor. She lay there motionless, waiting for the sound of what would surely be more shots, but nothing came. Total silence, except for the ticking of the clock - tick, tock, tick, tick.. She started to cry. What had she gotten herself into? And it was even HER idea to take a cab ride wth Ron! All she wanted right now was a hot bath and sleep... but now the police had been called. Neighbors had gathered in the street and someone was calling her name...LaWanda! LaWanda! Are you all right? She was too tired, too fearful, too shaken to even reply.

The police response was quick and precise. They.....

[Rose Ann]

….were on the scene in no time, taking statements, asking questions, interviewing the neighbors. How long would this take? “Ma’am do you have any enemies?” “Ma’am do you have any idea why someone would shoot at you?” “Just a few more questions, Ma’am.” ARRRGGHH! How much more of this could she take before she cracked?

It was 2 o’clock a.m. When the police left her apartment. It was a mess. There was a hole in the wall and fingerprint dust everywhere. When would this day end?

LaWanda was tempted to give up and sleep until she forgot the whole sordid affair, but she knew that if she was going to get the key to the “suppli” closet, there was no better time than now. She splashed her face, brushed her teeth, grabbed her purse and headed back to the office.


That smell was irritating to Pete. He felt like he should recognize it, but each time he thought he knew what it was, it just receded from his memory like a wave from the shoreline.

“Well,” he thought “I guess this is it for me, anyway. There’s no telling how long I’ve been in this room or what has happened to Lawanda and Ron. How can I help them when I can’t even help myself?”

As he lay there feeling sorry for himself, the smell became stronger and stronger until he could no longer ignore it. Then it hit him!! He knew that smell from long ago! It was…..

[Mandiannie]

the same smell that had dominated that "suppli" closet! Why was it so over-powerding here and what was going on.
Suddenly one of the walls that seemed to have no door, slid in and moved to one side. There, looming in the doorway was someone tall, dressed in a white lab coat with a cup in his hand. He walked over to Pete and handed him the cup and in a demanding voice ordered "Drink it!"
Whatever it was didn't look like pepsi though it smelled like it somewhat. It was the thickness of a shake and he wasn't sure that he could stomache it right now, but he slowly, aganizingly slowly, raised the cup to his lips. Timmidly he took his first sip.
The sensation of what he was drinking hit him like a truck. THIS WAS PEPSI! only it was twice as strong and it seemed that this sip had overpowered his mind! He quickly took another swallow. This one tasted even better and the sensation was even stronger. He was about to take another sip when the cup was yanked from his hand. The tall figure in the lab coat walked to the door and a few minutes later the room had once again become doorless.
Pete's head began to spin. He felt a strange sensation almost like he was floating on a cloud. The feeling only lasted for a second or two and then his eyes became foggy, he seemed to be sinking and was becoming incredible sleepy. A few minutes later he was sound asleep.

***
"Too strong" were the tall man in the lab coats words as he handed the cup to his colleague. "We have to get the formula right or the final product won't sustain a person it will simply put him to sleep"

***

LaWanda came to the office and found that the light in Steve's office was still on. "What was he still doing here anyway" she thought as she silently made her way to the cubical. She knew the key had to be in Ron's department if Steve had put it back. When she got to Ron's desk the hook where the keys usually hung was empty. She walked over to peak into the window of Steve's office and there, lying on the desk were the keys she was looking for. Steve had his back to her and was studying something on a chart. "Oh oh" Lawanda thought "how am I going to sneak into there and get those keys. I don't want him asking questions and I know that he'll do just that if he sees me here this late." Steve seemed to be intent on the chart he was studying so Lawanda slowly opened the door and walked on cat's feet over to the desk. She was about to pick up the keys when Steve turned around. She was sure that he saw her, but when she looked at him he had a wrinkle in his forehead so deep that the Mississippi river would have fit into it. A few seconds later he turned back to the chart and Lawanda snatched the keys. She made it all the way back to the door when she heard Steve's voice say "Where is it? How come it's missing?
She turned and was about to answer when she saw that Steve was still looking at the chart, rubbing his chin. He must be talking to himself Lawanda thought and breathed a sigh of relief.
Silently she made her way out of the office and back to her car. On the way back to her apartment she stopped at the 7-11 to get something to calm herself down. A nice cup of Java would do just the trick. She got the coffee and came back to the car. She was about to turn it back on when a voice said "Have you got it?"
the voice seemed to be coming from the back seat and she was about to turn around and look but a gloved hand on her neck stopped her. "All I want is the key" the voice whispered. Lawanda dug into her purse to get the key. With shaky hands she handed the key to the voice and a few minutes later she heard the car door slam and a figure, tall and dark, dressed in a lab coat walked but outside. It was too dark to see the face of whoever it was.
She started the car and drove back to her apartment. She read the note again on the way up in the elevator. It was then that she noticed the stationery that the note had been written on. Why it was none other than...

[FrugalByDesign]

the BENSON COMPANY! What did THEY have to do with this? And was Stan involved, too?

"This is getting so complicated, so dangerous, so confusing. I've got to think. I've just GOT to think!".

The ransom note held the answer. She HAD to go to the airport and find Locker 345! She just HAD to. It didn't matter that she was exhausted, or that she looked like a wreck, or that she was SURE her neighbors would push to get her evicted now that she had attracted a gunman to the neighborhood. She HAD to get to the airport.

Before she left, she made one more trip to the 7-11. The coffee wasn't quite doing it for her. She wanted something cold. She wanted Pepsi.

***

Ron tried to sleep but it continued to elude him. He had this sensation of being "untouchable". Had he had this before or was this a "new" thing? Hmmm... and what had they told him about his CT? Oh, yeah, he'd have the results in the morning. That was also when he's find out what had to be done so he could move his left arm again. He tried wiggling his fingers, but nutthin'.

***

Stan sat at his desk - knowing he had heard a slim figure slip into his office and snatch up that key - just as he had planned. When he saw who it was (and he HAD seen who it was), he was stunned. To have all three of them - Ron, Pete and LaWanda involved in this was not the plan. LaWanda may have to be sacrificed - she just didn't know the big picture and could end up just getting in the way. But that was a decision for another day. right now, he had to...

[Kara]

make a phone call. It was the last thing he wanted to do at this moment, but he'd put it off long enough. His fingers trembled as he dialed the numbers. When the person on the other line picked up ...

[Rose Ann]

....and to told him to get to the hospital to see what was going on with Ron. Had he spilled the beans while he was drugged and groggy? Anyone could get to him in the hospital. If the information got into the wrong hands, it would be all over for the three of them. They had managed to hide their secrets for this long, Stan had to make sure that no one found out for just a little while longer. Just until his plan came together.
He cautiously made his way down the hallway and got on the elevator. He didn't want to run into Lawanda again. As the elevator doors opened on the garage level he scanned for his champagne colored Toyota Camry. He thought he had left it in Blue Row C, but it wasn't there. His heart began to pound. His adrenaline raced. He walked up and down each aisle pushing the button on his remote and finally located his car in Orange Row F.
Had his car been moved? If so by whom and why? No time to ponder the questions now, he needed to make up time and get to Ron ASAP.
He opened the car door and got in, but before he could start the car and buckle up.....

[FrugalByDesign]

it hit him. He wasn't supposed to know that Ron was in the hospital. No one from the office had told him and he was sure that that had been intentional. Why was Ron there? All Stan knew was that Ron had been injured in a cabbie accident - that he had something stuck in his left shoulder. And that LaWanda had been with him. What had Ron told LaWanda?

Ok, let's see. How to deal with this... First he needed to find out Ron's situation. If he had to, he'd neutralize it, but that would be very messy and leave a lot of things "undone". He'd rather not go that route.

Then he needed to find out what LaWanda knew.

Well, it's the middle of the night and LaWanda had just snuck into his office. He knew that. She snatched the key, so that meant she got the ransom note. He knew that. And he could safely BET that LaWanda was speeding her way to the airport. Now he had to chose - did he head to the hospital as instructed or high tail it to the airport? He decided to...

[mommy2twins2]

He decided to head to the hospital. No one knew he knew about Ron being there. The guy he had paid to have the accident with cabbie was only supposed to take out Lawanda's side of the car. No here she was snooping around all over town, and Ron was just about incapacitated! It was a lot of money, but he wouldn't have even touched the Benson company if they hadn't sent those thugs over to tell him they would rough him up if he got in their way.

As he got to the hospital he heard a cough from the back seat. He was inside the parking structure already, and it was dimly lit. He froze and began to turn around, but...

[Rose Ann]

but it was already too late. He saw the thug in the lab coat at the same time as he felt the electricity course through his body.
He went rigid and then limp. The lab coated henchman got out of the car, pushed Stan into the passenger seat and started the car again. He pulled out of the hospital garage and headed back to headquarters.

****
Lawanda had reached the end of her rope. "This is CRAZY!" she said to herself, "I need to get some rest." She knew her apartment was no longer safe. She needed someplace the lab coat gang would not think to look for her. But where? She decided on a hotel near the airport. She was about to call a cab when she remembered the incident from earlier that afternoon. She would have take public transportation. She would just have to be on high alert in case someone decided to follow her.

Finally, she was clean and in a safe, warm bed. That was when it occured to her. How could she have been so blind?
First thing in the morning she would have to.....

[FrugalByDesign]

Look for that locker. Yes, she had coughed up the S.U.P.P.L.I key, but she still had the key that came with the ransom note. Tonight was not a good time. The airport would have been too deserted and, not expecting to have to HIDE from anyone, she had not chosen a very inconspicuious outfit - her lime green shirt, black exercise pants with a lime green piping down the side, and white runners, where highly fashionable, but not even close to good hiding out attire. A few hours of sleep and she'd be good to go. Man, a Pepsi sounds good about ri.g..h..t....n......o.......w.......zzzzzzzzz

***

Pete was thankfull that The Lab Coat Guys and removed the ties that bound his hands and feet. They were still sore from being tied too tight, but he'd live. Now, what he really needed to do, was use the bathroom. How could they leave him in here with no bathroom? And all this PEPSI in him?

"Hey! You guys have GOT to be watching me!! I need to go!! I REALLY need to GO!"

Would they respond? SOON? For Pete would not be Mr. Clean for much longer, if they didn't.

Pete heard a noise, and turned in the direction of it..to find....

[Dusty]

sorry guys this sin't an extension of the story..... not good enough to pull something out like this BUT I must say this is going along GREAT!!!!! can't wait to read the next bits!

[mommy2twins2]

go back to her place and see if the kidnappers had left her any more notes. She had no way of knowing whether the person who held her up in the car was with the same group that wanted her to drop the key at the airport! "Maybe I should just forget Pete" she mused. she really needed to put some distance between herself and the office, but she hated the idea of running off.

She decided she couldn't do that to Pete, and she wondered if Ron knew anything about this whole thing, since he had been working on the Benson project. What if their cab being hit wasn't an accident? Ron could be in terrible danger.

She dropped into a fitful sleep, but she kept dreaming about Pete, then Ron, until the faces seemed to fuse together. Suddenly she remembered Pete's hesitation when the nurse asked if he was related to Ron. Could they possibly be more connected than she realized? She sat up decided ...

[mommy2twins2]

oops, I guess we were typing at the same time. at least we had the same thought!

[FrugalByDesign]

LaWanda decided to keep this little thought to herself for now - she could do some sly investigating and see what she could find out. Ya never know.

In the mean time, Pete was surprised to see a tin can slide in the room. "What is THAT??? You DO NOT expect me to use that to....GO.... DO YOU? I KNOW what you think of me! I KNOW that you think I'm a wuss, that I'm a nerd, that I'm WEAK!"

I AM NONE OF THOSE!" Pete yelled to no one in particular and all eyes in general.

He was so mad, he KICKED the can as hard as he could and it when flying and hit the wall at a high rate of speed. It's lid flew off and inside....

[photocrazy]

...the tin can was Diet Coke!!!!

Pete didn't know what to think of this. Was Benson Co. taking over both soda companies?? How could they possibly even think of combining his Pepsi with Coke? How could they!? His head hurt too much to think. Besides, he had more important things to think about, like how to keep his bladder in control.

Meanwhile, Stan arrives at headquarters......

[FrugalByDesign]

It was a ploy! A Test! It HAD to be! Pete just HAD to figure out what the correct answer to the test was...Hmmm...

Looking at the Coke can, he noticed that it had a tiny keypad hidden in the graphics on the label. He started pressing buttons...ANY buttons... After a certain number of presses, he'd hear an angry BEEP!!!!!!! After several attempts, and a reward of these horrible beeps, he started counting how many presses he could make before the beep. One...two...three...four...five....BEEP!!!!! Five...five.... Could this be like a PASSWORD? Five... Well, that's better than ten or twenty! Oh, the number of combinations!

Man, he had to GO! Durn Peps..... PEPSI! PEPSI! PEPSI! Could the password be PEPSI? He quickly pressed in P...E...P...S...I...and CLICK!!! A door in the wall swung open and there was a big beautiful gorgeous shiney clean...

[photocrazy]

... to find a Red Dodge Viper!!!!

His mouth dropped open and began to drool. Finally, he smacked himself hard upside the head and got inside the car. A pair of keys were inside the glove compartment. One he recognized as the key to the S.UP.P.L.I. lock. He inserted the other key in the ignition and began to drive away...

***

Meanwhile, the car holding Stan arrives at headquarters. Stan is slowly getting over his whack on the head. Dizzily, he got out of the car with the help of the man in the lab coat. Together, they entered the building, only to find........

[FrugalByDesign]

an entire building full of PEOPLE. Not just ordinary, average people. These people all LOOKED the same. They all TALKED the same. They all THOUGHT the same. And they all were addicted to Pepsi. Stan was not surprised. He was aware of these....mutants. They were each a mistake, which made each one of them EXTEMELY EXTREMELY important. Each one had taught The Company one more important key to their success - one more thing that DIDN'T work. The Company wasn't "there" yet, but they were SO CLOSE.

Stan knew where he was expected to be and headed in that direction. His mind was whirling - what would he say? Do? Stay calm. Nothing horrible had happened. Yet."

***

Lawanda sat in a chair at the airport - wearing non-descript clothes, hair pulled back into a pony tail, reading glasses on that hid her gaze. She had found the set of lockers where the one numbered 345 rested and she had it in her direct line of sight. The airport was crowded - that was good for her. The locker key was tucked safely inside her jeans, for the moment.

Her mind briefly wandered to both Pete and Ron. After all, they had gotten her where she is today. Thanks guys!

Ron had been very forward with his intentions, and she had spurned him every time, mostly because he was so aggressive. He remimded her of a warrior looking to "conquer". Pete had just recently hinted at an interest in her, she thought. It was really hard to tell because he never actually SAID what he had on his mind. He inferred and suggested, but come right out and SAY what he was thinking? No chance. Too bad there wasn't one guy with the qualities of both of them - he'd be quite a catch.

SLAM!!! One of those airport carts had hit the wall near her and brought her back to reality. It was time to get the strength HERSELF to see what was in that locker. It could be nothing - after all , the ransom note said to just leave the S.U.P.P.L.I. key in the locker. Time to find out.

***

Ron woke up in his hospital bed...feeling just fine. He still didn't remember much, except that he was in an accident and his left side and had been injured. He wiggled his fingers. They worked just fine. Flexed his wrist. Check. Bent his elbow. Great. Rotated his shoulder. Perfect. Hmmm.

He briefly reflected on one thought he did remember - he was untouchable. Well, it sure appeared that physical injuries, although inflicted, healed in record time. That's all he cared about at the moment. Time to split this popcicle stand. He slipped out of his room, onto the elevator and into the bright clear new day...

***

After finding a place with "facilities", Pete could not believe his great luck! Check out this ride! Super-Hero Status Stuff FOR SURE. He had a nagging thought about WHY he was given this beauty - just given it - with no words, no restrictions, no nothing. THAT didn't seem quite "right", but he was free and LaWanda needed him! He needed to find her...and he would start looking at the hospital. That way he could check on Ron as well. This day was starting out brilliantly...and would...