DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. The characters from the television program The Magnificent Seven are the property of Trilogy and The Mirisch Co. I am making no money from their use.
This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
RATINGS: PG - violence, mild language
WARNING: This Story contains an alternative Universe theme, if this type of story is not to your liking or will somehow offend you please delete this mail immediately and do not read any further. In addition it is a The Young Riders/The Magnificent Seven Crossover, so if crossovers are not your cup of tea, please go no further. Furthermore this story contain semi graphic images of a terrorism nature, if you feel this may disturb you please find a different story that you will enjoy.
NOTES: : This is the sequel to the recently completed The Change. The song that inspired the Title is by Garth Brooks on his NO fences album. Eternal thanks to Mog for letting me play in her ATF AU sandpit. Thanks heaps to Enid (known affectionately here as my font of all knowledge) for all the brainpicking I have done. Thanks to my net sisters Lyn and Dayna for all the collaboration and characterisation help, couldn’t have done it without you.
CHAPTER 2
Well, it took a little time
But I guess you finally learned
That promises get broken
And Bridges do get burned
You’ve been siftin’ through the ashes
Just tryin’ to find a flame
Holdin’ on to nothin’
You’re a victim of the game
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Buck exploded standing quickly, grabbing the table as he realised he had stood too quickly
The others watched his momentary weakness and tried to placate him as Teaspoon hit the pause button on the VCR.
“Buck” Chris spoke “He want’s this. He wants us too angry to think clearly” he stated
“He needs us too angry not to notice when he slips” Josiah explained “We have to keep control”
Buck sank slowly back into his chair, grateful for the contact when Lou slid a hand over to clasp his hand tightly in hers. He looked up, trying desperately to regain his emotional control and met the concerned gaze of Ezra and JD. Smiling tightly he nodded at his friends then looked back at the video, waiting for Teaspoon to start it again.
As they watched, it soon became apparent that this was different to their usual video tape. The camera slowly panned to a young girl laying on a bed, they waited to see what sort of heinous injuries this maniac had inflicted on yet another young woman. No one was prepared for what they saw. The young woman was completely different to the other women he had abducted, Chief and Josiah looked at each other startled- was he changing his profile? The concern in their eyes reflected their fears to the others more than their words could.
The camera slid back into sharp focus and caused a collective gasp from at least half of the room’s occupants. Lou had turned deathly pale her eyes filling with tears that wouldn’t be halted, her bottom lip trembling as she stopped herself from sobbing. Buck turned his hand over and clasped hers tightly as Ezra reached for her other hand, both offering her whatever support they could. Kid sat across the table watching closely. He longed to take her in his arms and take all her fear and pain away.
She never noticed the attention, however, her wide brown eyes were transfixed to the screen, watching the one person she thought she would never see again. The long blonde hair and the face of an angel, her eyes closed, she was the baby sister that Lou thought she had lost forever. It was at that moment that Lou realised that she could be losing her all over again. Their prey did not leave witnesses, she drew in a deep shuddering breath and prepared herself for what she was sure was coming.
The camera slowly panned down her body, revealing to the agents that as yet Theresa had not been harmed. Team 7 with the exception of Buck and Ezra were a little confused at Lou’s reaction to the sight of the young woman. During their recovery Lou had shown her two newest friends the picture she kept on her desk of her beloved brother and sister. Neither of them had nay trouble picking the young woman on the video as Lou’s baby sister. As they watched the camera turned slowly towards the bedside table, its contents sending a shiver down the spine of each and every one of them. Not one eye in the room missed the collection of scalpels, a syringe filled with god knows what horrific drug, and a harness similar to the ones that they usually saw on their victims, already filled with what looked like C4 to the rest of them.
The screen faded to black as the all too familiar writing began to fill the black void “I think an Eye for an Eye is fair. Don’t you?”. The screen exploded into static startling each of the people that were transfixed to the screen. Chris moved quickly to press the eject button.
“Obviously, this has just become personal” Kid spoke softly his eyes never leaving Lou’s teary face
“I believe to the contrary” Ezra stated softly “I am sure you will find it has always been personal, he has just decided to reveal to you his true intentions”
“Twelve women have died just so he can play with us?” Cody seemed incredulous “Apparently so” Ezra nodded
The rest of Team 7, were still confused by the video, Nathan spoke quietly “who is she?” he asked
“She is Theresa McCloud” Kid answered “Lou’s 17 year old sister”
“Didn’t you think she was one of the victims” JD frowned
“I would seem apparent Mr Dunne that she escaped his vile clutches thus far” Ezra replied without looking up. They all knew that the young lady in the video could already be dead, he rubbed the back of Lou’s cold fingers trying to instil a little reassurance in her.
“What are we gonna do?” Jimmy asked softly
“We’re going to find Theresa” Chris spoke, his voice soft filled with the deadly steel that they knew held his anger tightly in check “And then we’re gonna get this bastard.” He vowed
Back to Ridingtall
Back to Tall Tales
On to the next chapter
