{"id":355,"date":"2014-12-30T06:45:46","date_gmt":"2014-12-30T06:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=355"},"modified":"2021-12-13T18:53:53","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T00:53:53","slug":"part3","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode9\/part3\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 9: \u00a0Wreckage in a Winter Wonderland<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 3<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a line that was! Phew!\u201d Lancy sighed, eyeing his ticket as he made his way through the crowd. \u201cThere we are! Perfect seats, aren\u2019t they?\u201d he said to Diamond, who was following him closely.<\/p>\n

Diamond threw herself into the seat next to Lancy with a soft puff. \u201cAnd how much did you pay to get these seats, Lancy?\u201d She looked around her. \u201cFront row, middle, right behind the judges\u2026 must have cost you a fortune!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than a Gucci suit, less than a Louis Vuitton luggage set.\u201d He wiggled his eyebrows playfully. \u201cWorth every single penny, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially when you already have those other two things.\u201d Diamond laughed, then checked their surroundings again. \u201cIt\u2019s been two days. We\u2019ve interrogated every single skater, and still, there\u2019s nothing. I\u2019m starting to think Yuna is buried deep in the snow up in the mountains.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lancy threw a hurtful look at Diamond. \u201cDon\u2019t say things like that!\u201d he gasped. \u201cThat was just mean, Di.\u201d Pouting, he eyed the cardboard signs he had prepared for his favorite ice skaters before continuing bitterly, \u201cToo bad she can\u2019t be here tonight to perform! She really deserved gold the most!\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeling bad for him, Diamond threw her arm around Lancy\u2019s shoulders and offered him a tissue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d Lancy took the tissue, sniffing. \u201cBut we\u2019ll find her soon enough, and then she\u2019ll be safe again and compete in the next Olympics, right?\u201d His face lit up. \u201cAnd when we save her, then she\u2019ll know me and how I\u2019m her biggest fan, and we\u2019ll be best friends forever, and I\u2019ll get free tickets to every competition of hers!\u201d He clapped his pink mitten-covered hands joyfully. \u201cCan\u2019t wait to save her!\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond gave him a supportive smile. \u201cMuch better attitude, Lancy. Of course, we\u2019ll save her. Then you can bring your other best bestie to the shows with you. And you\u2019re right, I\u2019m sure she\u2019s still safe and sound somewhere around–\u201d<\/p>\n

Right at that moment, the whole arena went pitch black, causing the audience to moan and protest loudly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?!\u201d Lancy spoke fearfully. \u201cDi?! Where are you?! You know I\u2019m no big fan of darkness! No one can see you! And you can\u2019t see them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m right beside you, Lancy.\u201d Diamond placed her hand on his knee, trying to soothe him. \u201cI bet it\u2019s just a technical difficulty. The lights will come back in a minute,\u201d she assured him, trying to convince herself at the same time. It could very well be just a technical difficulty, as she\u2019d said, but her agent instincts knew better than that. She smelled something fishy, though she couldn\u2019t put a finger on what it could be.<\/p>\n

Before she could act on her instincts, the arena lightened as an image appeared on the huge LED screens hanging above the skating rink. The spectators frowned in confusion when they found themselves looking at a random shot of the exposed wooden rafters of a rustic ceiling. They could see a dark-haired man\u2019s olive-skinned forehead at the very bottom of the screen but no more of his face below that.<\/p>\n

The man cleared his throat. \u201cOlympic spectators of the world–\u201d He paused as his forehead creased. \u201cCLINT!\u201d<\/p>\n

The ponderous upper half of a Sumi mascot also appeared on the screen, looking towards the camera and startling the second it noticed that the camera\u2019s position aimed higher than anticipated. \u201cSorry, boss,\u201d came a muffled voice from inside the costume as it galumphed back behind the camera to adjust it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy you are ruining my big appearance, I have no idea. Why I don\u2019t kill you right away is another question. Remind me later to do just that, will you?\u201d the man spoke unmercifully.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recognize that voice\u2026\u201d Narrowing her eyes, Diamond scrutinized the screen as the camera shook. The face sharpened slowly into focus, revealing dark, flashing eyes and large, white teeth set between lips that were drawn back in a sinister smile. \u201cDR. ROUGH!\u201d Diamond yelped, almost jumping out of her seat. \u201cLancy, tell me if it\u2019s really Dr. Rough or if the Olympics hosts parties with kegs and jungle juice before the events!!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOHMYGOD!\u201d Lancy squealed in terror. \u201cWasn\u2019t he dead?! Didn\u2019t he blow up in that helicopter in Canada?!?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Return of the Living Dead<\/em> revised, featuring Dr. Rough,\u201d Diamond hissed through clenched teeth as the initial shock of seeing HimTak\u2019s nemesis alive slowly wore off.<\/p>\n

\u201cOlympic spectators of the world!\u201d Dr. Rough pronounced again. He spread his arms wide, jostling the ferret draped over his shoulder. \u201cI\u2019m sure you are wondering why the figure skating competition has not yet commenced.\u201d He paused for a moment, his left eye twitching slightly. \u201cThe Twenty-first Winter Olympic Games, held in this beautiful city of Vancouver–\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond growled in frustration, her eyes fixed on the screen as Dr. Rough rambled about the history of the Winter Olympics. \u201cWhy does this ugly, twitchy jerkass have to be behind this?!\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at Lancy, who was too shocked to say anything besides repetitive \u201cOhmygods.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder why he feels obligated to get his huge nose and twitchy eye into every popular cultural event\u2026\u201d Diamond continued, fuming as she quickly texted. \u201cIf he\u2019s not dead, couldn\u2019t he just take a vacation or something? Anything? Seriously, I\u2019m getting so fed up with him!\u201d She flipped her phone open and dialed Pearl\u2019s number.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m on it,\u201d was how Pearl answered the phone.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew you\u2019d be keeping an eye on Nick\u2019s first solo mission.\u201d Diamond giggled.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Rough is seriously worse than a cat, man.\u201d Pearl\u2019s abrupt subject change did not go unnoticed. \u201cAt least they have only nine lives, and you know when it\u2019ll end. Not like this prick. I\u2019ve already been tracking down the Coliseum\u2019s broadcast, the phone lines, the internet, the JumboTron feed and whatnot, pretty much all of their systems, really, just to make sure we weren\u2019t missing anything. So it was our dear old friend Dr. Rough behind the kidnapping — what a surprise.\u201d She scoffed. \u201cI\u2019m seriously sick of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSame.\u201d Diamond sighed. \u201cKeep me posted!\u201d She hung up and turned her attention back to the screen just in time to catch the rest of Dr. Rough\u2019s speech.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs many of you must have heard already, the sweet South Korean darling, the beloved Queen of figure skating, dearest Kim Yuna, has been missing for the past couple of days. Kidnapped days before her big break at the Winter Olympics. Isn\u2019t that just heartbreaking?\u201d He pouted, feigning sadness.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wouldn\u2019t kill her, would he?\u201d Intermittent sobs covered Lancy\u2019s whisper. Diamond squeezed his hand in response.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough\u2019s lips curved into a devilish smile. \u201cBut I have good news to share! Your beloved shining star, the Queen of the ice, is among you right now! As a matter of fact, she\u2019s about to make her grand entrance.\u201d He clapped his hands joyfully. \u201cLight, please!\u201d<\/p>\n

A blinding spotlight shone towards the side of the ice rink, revealing the petite South Korean skater standing at the entrance to the ice. Some of the screens changed from Dr. Rough to show a close-up of Kim Yuna. The audience let out a loud gasp as she set her right skate on the ice and stumbled, regaining her balance just enough to stay upright. It became visible to everyone in the Coliseum how hard she was trembling when she raised her shaky hands to her face to dry her tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll hail the Queen!\u201d Lancy gushed, folding his hands on his chest. \u201cBut why is she trembling so hard? And why is she crying?\u201d<\/p>\n

The spotlight followed Kim Yuna as she started skating slowly around the ice rink; something strapped around her willowy frame made her appear bulkier than she was. As Diamond squinted, trying to tell what she was wearing, Dr. Rough\u2019s face appeared on the LED screen once again.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you can all see, she\u2019s in a very good condition. No harm was done whatsoever. Yet\u2026\u201d He let out a loud, evil laugh and leaned in closer towards the camera, his eye still twitching. \u201cYou must be wondering what all this hassle was about, why THE GREAT DR. ROUGH kidnapped the dearest Queen Yuna in the first place, and why she\u2019s now on the stage SKATING with a BOMB strapped on her–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA bomb?!\u201d Lancy screamed, fanning his face with his hands as people around him jumped up from their seats in panic and rushed towards the nearest exit. \u201cA BOMB?! OHMYGOD, NOOO!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t faint, Lancy, please! I need you here!\u201d Diamond knew what the bulk was now: a belt of dynamite encircled the skater\u2019s narrow torso.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough\u2019s voice rose higher to stifle the deafening screams. \u201cPlease make way for the shining star, the Queen of the ice, skating for one night only in front of the lucky crowd at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games!\u201d he continued ecstatically as people\u2019s screams grew louder. \u201cDon\u2019t forget, if she falls, she\u2019ll burst into millions of pieces! Maybe you\u2019ll be lucky enough to have a part of her as a souvenir! What an honor!\u201d He let out another sinister chuckle, his eyes widening with manic delight. \u201cEnjoy the show, Vancouver! It\u2019s sure to have an explosive ending!\u201d His chuckle became a maniacal cackle.<\/p>\n

As the screens went black and people piled in front of the exits, desperate to leave the arena before the bomb went off, the familiar theme of cinema\u2019s most iconic secret agent began playing through the speakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou didn\u2019t tell me this was her music\u2026\u201d Diamond smirked as she took out her phone to dial Pearl\u2019s number again. \u201cNick would have a field day with this.\u201d She shook her head and pulled Lancy in the opposite direction of the exits as the phone continued ringing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a lead!\u201d Pearl answered the call. \u201cHang on, Nick\u2019s already on the other line; I\u2019m connecting him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat fucking twitchy prick!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHi to you too, Nick,\u201d Diamond replied as she climbed down the stairs, Lancy following closely behind her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna rip off that greasy-haired head of his and dribble it like a basketball!\u201d Nick growled.<\/p>\n

\u201cHard to do at the Winter Olympics, hun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy does he have to be behind everything? I mean, can\u2019t he just take a break and leave the stage to other evil super villains? Just for a change?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy point exactly.\u201d Diamond came to a halt as she reached the side of the ice rink.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, you two, enough with the chitchat already! Somebody\u2019s still trying to work here!\u201d Pearl interrupted.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll chitchat if I want! You\u2019re not the one who has to deal with a pack of explosives rigged to an ice skater and a hyperventilating Lancy on her tail! I still can\u2019t decide which one is more life-threatening!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYo Styx, wanna hear a catfight?\u201d Nick chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cCARTER!\u201d Pearl and Diamond hissed at the same time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt your service, ladies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, a perfect triple lutz, triple toe-loop combo!\u201d Lancy piped up behind Diamond. \u201cImpeccable form, even in a life and death situation! She\u2019s a legend!\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond turned her attention to the rink, watching a drained Kim Yuna still skating her routine. \u201cPearl, are you any closer to finding Dr. Rough\u2019s location? We\u2019re running out of time here — Oh MY GOD!\u201d she squealed when Yuna barely caught her balance after landing another triple jump.<\/p>\n

\u201cHa!\u201d Pearl laughed on the other line. \u201cThis fake doctor thinks he\u2019s rough and tough, but he\u2019s still a pathetic amateur — though, I have to admit, he\u2019s pretty good with technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich means?\u201d Nick asked impatiently.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich means he was smart enough to make it impossible to track him down through the broadcast but amateur enough to forget his coffee cup in the background,\u201d Pearl continued. \u201cDuh, like he could be THAT good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCoffee cup?\u201d Diamond questioned, still keeping an eye on Kim Yuna.<\/p>\n

\u201cI managed to get a screenshot of him while he was talking, just in case. I noticed a coffee cup with some kind of a logo on it in the background, managed to zoom and clarify the image, and, voila, a huge lead on where you can find him. Nick, I\u2019m sending the picture to your phone. It\u2019s the logo of the lodge he\u2019s possibly staying at.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, hold on a second.\u201d Nick paused for a moment. \u201cCypress Mountain?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. It\u2019s in West Vancouver. I\u2019m forwarding you a map of the building, as well as the shortest way to reach it before it\u2019s too late. There\u2019s no parking at the venue, so you\u2019ll have to hike a ways. I\u2019d opt for the woods if I were you. Easier to stay out of sight — knowing Rough, he\u2019ll have the area under surveillance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, we\u2019re on our way,\u201d Nick said swiftly. \u201cOh, and Pearl? You\u2019re a genius.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me something I don\u2019t know, Carter,\u201d Pearl replied smugly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeanwhile, there\u2019s a bomb that will blow a beloved figure skater into bits and give a beloved secretary a heart attack.\u201d Diamond said impatiently. \u201cAny good news for here inside the Coliseum?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl let out a chuckle before getting serious again. \u201cActually, Di, I don\u2019t think I have good news for you. To say it the simplest, if Kim falls down, the bomb explodes. No brainer. You HAVE to make sure she doesn\u2019t make any sudden moves or shake the bomb too hard–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you realize that we\u2019re talking about a figure skater here?\u201d Diamond raised her voice. \u201cA figure skater who\u2019s jumping up and down like a bunny half the time she\u2019s on the ice!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy, just make sure she doesn\u2019t fall down AT ALL COSTS.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo simple,\u201d Diamond said sarcastically before snapping her phone shut. \u201cAt least Lancy says she\u2019s a legend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother salchow!\u201d Lancy\u2019s yelp distracted Diamond\u2019s attention from watching Kim Yuna carefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cLancy,\u201d Diamond murmured, touching Lancy\u2019s arm deliberately to make sure he was listening to her. When she made eye contact with him, she spoke slowly. \u201cIf she goes down, the bomb will explode. We have to get her off the rink before she even comes close to falling\u2026 Lancy?\u201d Diamond shook Lancy\u2019s arm harshly when she noticed his attention drifting back to Kim Yuna.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe won\u2019t be able to make the next jump,\u201d Lancy whispered. Diamond followed his gaze to the skater, who was accelerating backward. \u201cShe\u2019ll try the triple axel! It\u2019s the hardest jump!\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Diamond could open her mouth to protest, Lancy rescued his arm from her grip and threw himself onto the skating rink.<\/p>\n

\u201cLancy!\u201d<\/p>\n

The next few seconds went in slow motion for Diamond: Yuna jumped into the air as Lancy slid clumsily across the ice, trying to estimate the exact position in which to place himself to catch her on time.<\/p>\n

\u201cGotcha!\u201d Lancy shrieked happily as he caught Yuna by her waist in mid-air.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank\u2026 thank you!\u201d a breathless Yuna stuttered. \u201cI would not have landed properly if you had not caught me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, doll, no worries,\u201d Lancy replied sheepishly as he lowered the petite skater gently to the ice. \u201cYou\u2019d have gotten top marks for that jump if you were competing, believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yuna blushed and smiled shyly. \u201cYou saved my life, sir. Thank you. \u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cShh, don\u2019t even mention it. Let\u2019s get you somewhere safe and warm, darling, and take off that hideous belt. You definitely deserve some hot cocoa. Did I tell you gold looks fabulous on you? Totally brings out your eyes,\u201d Lancy babbled, leading her toward the kiss and cry area at one side of the rink. \u201cBy the way, I\u2019m Lancy, your biggest fan! Mind signing my t-shirt?\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 4<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 9: \u00a0Wreckage in a Winter Wonderland Part 3   \u201cWhat a line that was! Phew!\u201d Lancy sighed, eyeing his ticket as he made his way through the crowd. \u201cThere we are! Perfect seats, aren\u2019t they?\u201d he said to Diamond, who was following him closely. Diamond threw herself into the\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":143,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-355","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-5J","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=355"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":931,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/355\/revisions\/931"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}