Heath Cliffe: Number Eight

I'm here. I wait for your questions. Don't disappoint me.

Below: my favorite picture of a certain swimmer.

From When He First Returned

"Agent Diamond, can you tell me a bit about..."

I have nothing to tell you about the past two years, Dr. Kirkland.

"Aren't you curious about the changes here then?"

Of course. And you want to know about mine for your files. Not gonna happen.

"I can see the changes, Agent Diamond. What I want to know is...how are you, Alex? It's been two years."

Not quite. Twenty months, two weeks....

(abrupt silence)

"Since Emma's--"

We're not talking about the last two years. Change the subject, Kirkland.

"T. said..."

T. (He stood up abruptly, the legs of his chair scraping the tile floor.) I want to talk to Tasha, or whatever her name is. She had no right to do what she did.

"She was following orders, Alex. You know that."

No, I don't know that. But I know one thing. The witch's going to regret picking up this contract.

"GEM is now merged with COS Command, Alex. You can't--"

Part of GEM is, not all of it, from my research, Kirkland. And of course I can. And I will. She got me back. I'm now returning to work with the new and improved VIRUS team, and she thinks she can just resume her duties when I'm back? No. She's going to discover what it feels like to have me coming down on her hard everyday.

(I watched Alex Diamond stalked off. An angry, angry man. I wasn't worried about T. She did what she said she'd do--bring Number One back. I'd like to interview her, though. I wonder what she'd think about Agent Diamond's threats. Interesting turn of phrase, that last line.)

What did you like about Nikki, Jed?

(long pause)

(I opened my mouth to rephrase the question.)

Why do you ask now, Doc.?

(Jed is always evasive. I've gotten better prepared with this habit of his to manipulate a conversation.)

"To see what makes you attractive to women, especially someone like Nikki Harden. She's not really your usual."

And what is my usual?

(This is prime example of his manipulation of a conversation. Must use something directly harsh here.)

"She was damaged mentally and physically when she came to us. There was nothing seductive or dangerous to whet your interest, was there? So what was the initial thing about her that attracted you?"

(pause)

(There was a quiet distance in his demeanor.)

I mostly kill, Doc. Or seduce, which sometimes can be a bit like an assasination. To save someone, bring her back from the brink of total darkness, give her what she needs, that's something maybe someone like me might appreciate a little more than a scientist and a doctor. On the other hand, perhaps I found her the ultimate seduction challenge. Or perhaps, even I can't resist the temptation of being put on a pedestal and be viewed a savior.

"Self-mockery, Jed?"

(a ghost of a smile)

You're getting to know me too well.

"Surely, spending two years with Nikki meant more to you than just her needing you to save her."

Who said it wasn't the other way round?

(My turn to pause. Jed does like to give me twists and turns to think about.)

Hell called you Big Naked Swimming Guy, Shahrukh.

Big Naked Swimming Guy.

[smiles]

I wondered what she thought about me. Actually, I'd thought she would rise to the challenge and jump into the pool naked one day, just to see what I'd do. But she never did. Most women would, you know.

She's a good swimmer. She kept pace with me, even after some strenuous workouts. I like the way she bides her time when it comes to questions. It tells me a lot. That kind of mental strategy takes a lot of inner strength.

And, she does have a mean right hook. I still laugh when I think about that incident. Made my day.

--Shahrukh, BNSG

Is Hell mad at you, Flyboy?

She probably is. I don't know.

She's figured us out for sure. The other day she accused me of playing "nice guy" among the bad boys. That. Is an insult. I can be just as bad, I told her. Badder, even.

(pause)

I don't want her to be mad at me. Really, I like her and we chum around like old pals. Besides, she makes me laugh. Very few women can flirt with me and make me laugh, if you know what I mean, Dr. K. Hell's flat out funny and sexy as...yeah, I know...she's tempting. I figure once she knows what Jed is like, she'll kick that habit and come looking for me.

I'm patient. I can wait.

-- Michael Hunter (Flyboy)

So why did you pick La Vita Nuova, Jed?

(pause)

Some things just have no words, doc. Sometimes you think what you see is an echo, when in reality, it's the past events that were the echos and reflections, and the real thing finally appears.

"Io mi senti’ svegliar dentro a lo core
Un spirito amoroso che dormia:
E poi vidi venir da lungi Amore
Allegro sì, che appena il conoscia....

Dicendo: “Or pensa pur di farmi onore”;
E ’n ciascuna parola sua ridia.
E poco stando meco il mio segnore,
Guardando in quella parte onde venia,

Io vidi monna Vanna e monna Bice
Venire inver lo loco là ‘v’io era,
L’una appresso de l’altra maraviglia;

E sì come la mente mi ridice,
Amor mi disse: “Quell’è Primavera,
E quell’ha nome Amor, sì mi somiglia."

That's in Chapter 24, in case you're interested.

(small smile).

Dr. Kirkland: So who is your Vanna and who is your Beatrice?

(silence. Smile widens)

Question: What is it about Hell, Jed?

Intermundia, the space between the worlds. I like it, doc. You've been playing with my dictionary, haven't you?

Since we're dealing with frustrated women here, I'll play along. For now.

And yes, let me get straight to the point. I like her. Very much. The thing about Elena--she's fearless about her nakedness. It's as if she has nothing to hide. We both know that's a universal improbability when it comes to operatives like us; we all have something to hide.

I like her naked. Very much. But I want more than what I see. How far would she let me strip her, layer by layer, until I....

Do you think a woman can hide that deep from a man? The way Elena moves her hips. The way she rubs the side of her nose when she's thinking. The things she do when she is herself. Intriguing, isn't it? Take an operative out of the field for two years, and certain habits reappear. So what is inside her that makes me feel so good when I'm inside her?

Blushing, doc? I didn't mean it that way, although physical intimacy with her takes the edge off like no one else can.

(pause)

And what if I do find that essence that is Elena Rostova...what then? That's a question for which I need an answer. I think I've talked enough for now to fill up that little space between your world and mine.

Incipit Vita Nuova, doc, as Dante would say, in his long-winded style. One of my favorite books, actually. (smiles knowingly)

--JED