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"Jacinta?" Dr. Zack asked in surprise. "My goodness! You look so grown up!"
The girl smiled and blushed slightly, unused to being complimented by a teacher. She couldn't help but wonder what he thought of her, considering that she had suddenly vanished after the last week of high school, leaving her mother and her friends anxiously searching for her. Jacinta choked back the rising feeling of guilt and embarrassment, trying to keep a straight face.
"Thanks," she said. "You look nice, too. Sara was just showing me around," her blush deepened a bit at the memory of a currently disabled Myron, "I'm glad to see you here. I thought I'd be spending the whole night at the drink table."
Dr. Zack nodded, exchanging a glance with Sara. "Well, I'm glad she found you then. I don't think you'll have to worry about being bored with her around." He chuckled.
*Yeah, no shit.* Jacinta thought.
"Um, Dr.Zack, my aunt wouldn't be here by any chance, would she?" Jacinta asked.
_______________________
Sara chuckled to herself as she listened to Jacinta talking to Dr. Zack, occasionally sipping her champagne. She perked up an eyebrow when she realized that, from Dr. Zack's reaction, Jacinta had been a student at the school where she normally worked. Dr. Zack, unsurprised by Jacinta's question, nodded, and pointed back into the middle of the expansive dance floor that was just beginning to open up. "I bet that you'll see Cyb and Lucas cutting the rug in a few minutes, and, despite some earlier reservations, I have to say that they make a nice pair."
Sara snorted at that remark, causing Dr. Zack to roll his eyes as he leaned in towards Jacinta, whispering something that was meant only for her. "You will pardon Sara that 'remark' I hope. From what Cyb told me, her entire family is dead, and she is almost completely devoid of love for others as well as herself. I am concerned about her, and I think that you might be able to help her, as she only seems to open up when she's around someone she actually appreciates."
Jacinta nodded, noting that Sara's bright blue eyes had easily picked out something of interest. Looking in the same direction, Jacinta noticed her aunt and Lucas, lost in their own little world as they looked at each other. Almost imperceptibly, Jacinta noticed Sara sigh, and then take a long sip of her drink. Shaking her head, Sara once again seemed to smile to herself, though it was more to the audience of admiring men that had begun to congregate and slowly coalesce around Sara as she leaned against the balcony's railing.
A few minutes later, Sara calmly walked over to where Dr. Zack and Jacinta were, idly surprised that Jacinta actually seemed to be enjoying herself. "So, talk about anything interesting while I fended off the advance of horny? Let's go and distract Cyb before she falls off of the edge with Lucas."
Jacinta, surprised at the off-key statement, giggled, and then glanced at Sara, who seemed to be genuinely smiling for the first time that night. "Yeah, I think we should. Any suggestions?"
Sara grinned, leaning in towards Jacinta and Dr. Zack as she started whispering hurriedly, laying out her plan. Halfway through, both Dr. Zack and Jacinta broke out laughing, and Sara also started chuckling. "Well, shall we get to it?"
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Miguel, thoroughly smashed on expensive alcohol, and Myron, also thoroughly smashed as well as numb from the waist down, were soon joined by an older man, cradling an ice pack for one of his fingers.
Myron, noticing the man, smiled and gestured for him to sit down. "Lemme guesh. Tha' knockout in the blue dress broke yer finger?"
The man winced and nodded. "Gimme some champagne. All I did was slap her butt."
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There was a momentary silence as the band began to play Argentina's national anthem. A few patriotic souls sang softly, but most just waited for the good music to start. When the slow, dull honor to "Land of Fire" ended, couples began to drift onto the dance floor.
The band then switched gears, striking up a lively tango. Dr. Zack, Sara, and Jacinta saw Cybersix lead a nervous Lucas out onto the floor, all of them grinning broadly. Obviously, Lucas wasn't that much of a dancer, but CyberSix looked quite ready to teach him. Jacinta couldn't help but notice how beautiful her aunt was in her red dress; how she radiated a relaxed, confident aura that she'd only seen briefly before, when Cybersix was kicking Fixed Idea ass. It was a treat to see her so happy.
Jacinta's eyes flicked down to her left hand, and the delicate silver ring that encircled one finger. Nothing special upon first glance, but the symbolism behind it was clear enough. *I hope I'm that happy when...* she didn't finish her thought, as Sara, true to character, conveniently interrupted her reverie.
"Come on," she whispered conspiritorially. "Time to get things going."
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"I dun git it," Myron slurred, the nearly illegal amount of alcohol running in his veins limiting his vocabulary as well as his syntax. "I mean, hell, I's the richest sonufa bitch in thiz city. Chicks shoulda be throwin' theselves at me." He reached now for a glass of brandy. "Ahhh...dat's sum good shit right there man..."
The man with the broken finger nodded sympathetically, also feeling the effects of his drink. "Yah, I know. She broke mah finger! And I didn't do nuthin' to 'er. I always thought women went for that."
Myron sniffed. "Yeh. Yer the only one gets me. I love you, man."
‘Miguel’, loaded down with champagne, and more than slightly freaked out by the alcohol induced male bonding, promptly passed out.
_______________________
Sara, having laid out her plan to separate Six and Lucas for the rest of the evening, soon found another willing accomplice in the form of Dr. Pearce, who was still chatting gleefully with two older women, both of which were turning a neat shade of green as Dr. Pearce recounted her ER exploits. Just as Reba was about to get to the climax of a story where she literally had to squeeze someone’s heart shut, Sara decided to interject before the two women could faint. "Reba, that's enough of your grossing out the ladies. Now, I need some help, and you're just the person to fit the bill."
Reba smiled, not turning away from her captive audience. "Oh really? Too bad. I was just getting to the juicy part. Maybe in ten minutes."
Sara smiled, pulling out one of her trump cards. "You help me in this, and I'll crack down on the pathology department. Probably make them twice as good as they are now."
Reba grinned, turning away from the two other women, both of whom shot glances of appreciation at Sara. "Deal. So, what do you want me to do?"
Sara smiled and laid out part of her plan to the tiny doctor. "Well, we need someone to distract Lucas, and you're the best candidate. He doesn't trust me, Dr. Zack would have no part in such a scheme, and I'm needed to distract everyone else before Six can recover. Care to ask him for a dance?"
Reba laughed, knowing just how much it would twist Six's tail if she hijacked Lucas. "Sure. I'll do it. Just make sure to keep Six off of my back."
Sara smiled mysteriously, showing off as she chuckled. "Oh, she'll be distracted well enough. I don't think she'll try to retaliate here anyhow."
Sara then returned to where Dr. Zack and Jacinta stood, giving a thumbs-up to both of them as she passed by, heading towards the kitchen. Jacinta looked at Sara's retreating form, and looked at Dr. Zack. "I wonder what she's up to?"
Dr. Zack's response was slightly amused, though more tolerant than most would be. "All in good time, my dear. I think she'll be explaining herself soon enough, though most likely after she manages to get your claws in Six and make her at least say hello."
In actuality, Sara was not heading towards the kitchen, though her path took her just beyond the double doors. She was actually going to get something arranged with the music, and Sara grinned as she spoke quickly to the maestro who was going to take over the music for the next set. Coming to an agreement, Sara turned and walked back to Dr. Zack, who was busy regaling Jacinta with a rather entertaining tale. Jacinta looked at Sara and asked the obvious question. "So, how'd it go?"
Sara nodded. "Perfectly. Dr. Pearce will distract Lucas, and you two can swipe Six during the next set. By the way, I think they'll like the choice of music, as the vocalist is quite good."
Jacinta glanced at Dr. Zack, who shrugged, almost as confused as the youngest of the group. However, just as they were about to barrage Sara with some more questions, the first musical set ended, and Sara promptly disappeared. The maestro of the second set walked out onto the stage, where a microphone had been set up. "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you have heard of the musician known only as the Angel of Redemption."
He was forced to pause as many of the crowd began to murmur excitedly, as most of them had heard of the mysterious singer who had taken Meridiana's airwaves by storm. "Anyhow, for the first time, she will be participating in a live concert, accompanied by the Meridiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to introduce the Angel of Redemption!"
As he finished speaking, most of the lights in the building dimmed down, leaving only a single spotlight over the microphone. As the crowd hushed, Sara walked into the light, stopping in front of the microphone. "Everyone, this song is dedicated to two of my very close friends. May their lives be filled with happiness as well as peace."
With that, Sara began to sing, a low, beautiful melody that resonated through the large room.
_______________________
*Bounty hunting AND a pop singer? Is there anything she DOESN'T do?* Jacinta thought wonderingly as she watched Sara sing. She noticed a small woman, who looked to be no more than a girl, really, sidle up to Lucas. She stood on her tiptoes and whispered something in his ear. The big man nodded and grinned, and started to waltz off with her. CyberSix watched, aghast, as her date for the evening suddenly left her side.
She looked ready to duke it out with the competition, but the small woman waved lightly and motioned with a tiny hand in Jacinta's general direction. CyberSix's expression changed to one of recognition and followed the other woman's wave. Black eyes met gold, and Jacinta found herself quickly swept up in a rib-creaking embrace. "Aunt Si-er, Cyb!" she exclaimed, using CyberSix's public alias. "I missed you!"
"I've missed you too!" her aunt replied, tears entering her voice. "I haven't seen you in so long!" She stood back at arm's length to get a better look. "You look beautiful."
Jacinta smiled at the compliment. "Nothing like you, though. I almost didn't recognize you."
"That's because you've never seen me in a dress," CyberSix teased lightly. "I've had this for months but I never had a chance to wear it."
*Now you do* the girl thought. "I could never pull that off," she mused.
CyberSix blushed, a fetching combination of embarrassment and pleasure. She nodded at Dr. Zack. "I see you two have run into each other."
"Yes, we've had a lot of catching up to do," the doctor replied. "But I think I'll leave that to you two now." He gave them both affectionate pats on the shoulder. "Jacinta, I wish you well," he said. "Also, I hope we'll meet again soon. You can always drop by school or the townhouse."
"I think I will," she said. "Thank you."
Dr. Zack inclined his head slightly, then moved closer to the stage to better hear Sara. Jacinta felt a hand brush her shoulder, and, still paranoid from her previous run-in with such an act, she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Relax, it's just me," Magdalena said.
Jacinta took a deep breath, holding a hand up to her pounding heart. "Don't DO that!"
Her mother smirked and turned her attention to CyberSix. "I just wanted to say hello to my sister, is all. I haven't seen you around in a while. How are you?"
"I'm okay," Cybersix said as the two exchanged a hug. "Some days are better than others, concerning, well...you know. But I'd rather not talk about all that. And while we're here, call me Cyb. It makes things less complicated."
Magdalena nodded. "Yeah, I know. Let's just enjoy ourselves for now."
_______________________
Sara finished singing the first song in the set, and promptly blushed at the adulation that was heaped upon her. Looking out at the crowd of well dressed people, Sara decided to bend the rules a bit, though she had privately called herself a rule-bender for many occasions. "Well, as this is my first live show, in any way, shape or form, I think I'll give you all a treat. For the next three songs, I'll take requests from the audience. Deal?"
The response was one of universal acclaim, and Sara was quite happy to point out Reba, who was almost jumping up and down so she could be picked. "How about... Angel's Descension?"
Sara nodded, and, half-turning, she raised an eyebrow at the orchestra's conductor. He nodded, signifying that the orchestra knew the song, and started the music. Sara once again began to sing, knowing that she would enjoy herself for at least a little while. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Dr. Zack standing just off of the stage, nodding his head to the beat of the song. Further away, Sara noticed Jacinta, Six, and Magdalena talking to each other, and smiled as she continued the song.
Down on the dance floor, Reba and Lucas were dancing away, creating an incongruous sight that privately amused some people, but was more endearing than ridiculous. Finally, she finished the song, and decided to take a sip from the glass of water that was thoughtfully passed to her by the conductor. "Thanks. I don't understand it. The songs I do are designed for the teenage demographic, but I have everyone here virtually eating out of my hands. It's just too weird."
The conductor smiled and shook his head. "All of these people are responding to your music for the same reason they respond to mine. Your music hooks the person and makes them feel something about themselves. That's why you're so popular. By the way, I hope you have a pen stashed somewhere, as everyone will want your autograph for their children or for themselves. To be honest, my own children are nuts about you too, so I’ll probably be the first in line."
Sara groaned, rolling her eyes in tolerant amusement, and then took the second request, which was of one of the few romance songs she knew. Meanwhile, Dr. Zack turned back to the group he had so recently left, a smile tugging his moustache upwards. Rejoining Six, he gently offered her a glass of non-spiked punch, and decided to join in the conversation when an opening presented itself. Soon one did, as Reba and Lucas joined into the small cluster. "Well, how was the dance?"
"My lower back wants to kill me, but it was fun." Lucas grinned sheepishly as Reba kicked him in the shin, smiling herself.
"Actually, it was a lot of fun. And I never knew that Sara could sing like that. Either she's a natural talent, or she must've taken several years of practice to hold those notes."
Jacinta, remembering her fight with Sara, instantly thought that whatever training Sara went through, it must have involved drowning tests. The thought made her smile though, and Six looked at her oddly for a second. "So, care to tell me what's going on in your head?"
Jacinta shook her head, pleased at being able to keep something to herself in the slowly settling atmosphere of the party. Six and Magdalena, seemingly unperturbed about Jacinta's near-complete silence, continued to catch up on news between each other, while Reba and Lucas were joshed by Dr. Zack. Finally, after almost ten minutes of just relaxing and chatting between themselves, Sara rejoined the group, smiling broadly. "Well, that was extremely fun. So, did you all manage to reacquaint yourselves while I was singing?"
_______________________
"I didn't know you could sing like that!" CyberSix and Magdalena gushed simultaneously. "Where'd you learn how?"
Sara shrugged it off modestly. "Just goes with the training. And practice. Lots of it. There's quite a bit you don't know about me."
Dr. Zack grinned, ticking off points on his fingers. "So, according to the latest polls, you’re a singer, a teacher, a medical researcher, and a gunslinger. What’s next, a Broadway western?"
CyberSix, ignoring Sara’s spike-heeled boot planting itself firmly on Dr. Zack’s big toe, slid her arm around Lucas's. "So, hon, have fun ditching me?"
"Hey, come on," Lucas replied, knowing she was teasing. "You know I could never do that. Even though Reba is pretty cute!" Six slapped him on the arm playfully, but a bit too hard, for he winced and was once again reminded that his date possessed superhuman strength.
"Sorry," Six said, giving him an apologetic peck on the cheek.
"All right, all right, you two," Sara said. "If you want to get cozy, you can always check in downstairs."
The group laughed as CyberSix turned as red as her dress.
"Hey, that's not a bad---ow!" Lucas winced again as his foot felt the pressure of one of Six's pumps. Not enough to hurt him, just enough to silence him. "Okay. Take it easy. Geez. I'm gonna get some punch. And maybe some ice." He staggered off.
CyberSix sighed. "Dope. Don't ask me why I love him."
_______________________
Sara grinned as she stage-whispered to Jacinta "Because he's the first person who ever kissed her without screaming about cooties."
Jacinta nearly collapsed from laughing, and Six's face turned even redder. Magdalena, Reba, and Dr. Zack all turned to Sara, who smiled and shrugged innocently. "What? It's not like I publicly ridiculed her, like I did to Myron."
Almost as if on cue, the doors to the kitchen opened, and Myron, drunk as a skunk, staggered out into the middle of the party. "Uh oh. If I have to smack him around, do you think the alcohol's anaesthesia effect will prevent him from suffering too much?"
Sara glanced at Jacinta, and returned the smile that was beginning to tug at the corners of the younger woman's mouth. Myron, meanwhile, had seen the group of five women, and, sensing the highest concentration of 'babe factor' in the room, he staggered over to where Sara stood. Listing slightly, he firmly placed his right hand against Sara's backside, which was the second strike against him, the first being his continued existence. His left hand reached around and lightly slapped Jacinta's butt, and both women looked at each other before reaching down and grabbing two of Myron's fingers.
Sara, smiling like a cat that had found itself in the canary cage, gently pulled Myron's right index finger into a ninety degree angle away from his hand, which, once the nerves got their messages to his brain, tried to tell him to remove his hand before he suffered from a broken finger. Sara didn't give him the chance. Covering Myron's finger with both of her hands, just as Jacinta did the same on her side, Sara pulled Myron's finger back, popping the bone out of place and firmly removing Myron's hand from her posterior. Simultaneously, Jacinta broke one of Myron's fingers on his other hand. However, the alcohol in his system prevented him from feeling too much.
Sara gently and silently escorted Myron back to the kitchen door, gently patting his back as she kept an uncomfortable grip on an unbroken finger, thereby keeping him from making any stupid stunts on the way. She neatly escorted Myron to the small table set up for those she had verbally broken during the party, and, sitting Myron down in an unoccupied seat, she reached out and gave him a full bottle of Glenlivet malt whiskey. Happy once again, the mayor's son instantly started to chug away on the bottle, allowing Sara to escape unnoticed. Overall, the entire incident took less than two minutes.
Jacinta, noticing Sara's compassion towards the poor, drunk man, simply shook her head. In an undertone, she muttered. "I still would have punched him out."