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Subject: {ASSM} Solstice Magic 06: Country Magic and City Magic - Gilbert, Helga, and Heidi 1-5/5 (M +2Ffamiliars, F + Mfamiliar, magic/fantasy, fairly mainstream)
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Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2013 04:10:02 -0400
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Solstice Magic 06: Country Magic & City Magic - Gilbert, Helga, and
Heidi 1-5/5
----

Gilbert [B]: Trusted (English Name)
Heidi [G]: Noble, kind (German Name)
Helga [G]: Pious (German Name)
Helmut [B]: Brave (German Name)
Helen [G]: Most beautiful woman in the world (Latin Name)
====

Gilbert, Helga & Heidi 001
---

The three of them watched the last car leave, then Helga sneezed
before she lifted her head so she could study Gilbert.  "What, now?"

"I take you home to meet my family, and try to con my wife into
letting you live with us.  The kids shouldn't be a problem, since
they've been begging me to become a canine unit, for years."

"We don't have to stay bitches all the time."

He winced.  "You'd better talk to my wife about that.  I'm ok with it,
but she might lay down some rules."

"Got it, and no problem.  If it doesn't work, we can always move into
the barn with Jezzi."

Gilbert looked down, saw the grins, and sighed.  "I don't want to know
what happens after that.  All I'm worried about, is your on the job
performance."

Helga laughed.  "Relax.  We don't mind staying bitch, if it means
sleeping on beds and getting spoiled when we're off duty."

"Somehow, I'm not surprised."

He turned slightly.  "Well, Duncan?  Satisfied?"

Duncan laughed easily.  "Very.  We don't expect all of them to stay
sensible, but most will.  Got plenty of idiots left to keep us from
getting bored, too.  You ever think it might be easier if we chase
them onto the freeway for you folks to deal with?"

"Rather not have to chase them at all."

"Good point, and we won't send you any problems that start down here.
Fair enough?"

"Plenty, and thanks.  Now that you have time to kill, got any plans?"

"Go home, take a shower, then cook us a good meal before I call it a
day.  Something on your mind?"

"Plenty on my mind, but this might interest you and Owen."

"Go."

"We have behind us, a large warehouse, that's empty and for sale.  We
also have a bunch of kids with heavy feet, that we'd like to keep an
eye on.  Boyce has agreed to figure out how to put in a couple tracks
for them to run on."

"Go on."

Gilbert shrugged.  "I was thinking all of us could pool our resources,
buy this place, then set up some sort of garage that has lots of bays,
and everything we need, to track certify anyone who wants it.  After
talking to all those kids, finding mechanics isn't going to be a
problem."

Duncan glanced at Owen, then both of them faced the old warehouse.
Owen spoke thoughtfully.  "Might as well.  Any of us could afford to
do it on our own, if we wanted to."

Duncan studied him, then sighed.  "You got something in mind, don't
you?"

"Sure do.  Somebody needs to come up with a name for this project."

Duncan nodded.  "A logo would be nice, too."

Owen snorted.  " 'How does 'D.O.G. Racing' sound?  Image of me at full
gallop over the main door, and statues of Helga and Heidi flanking the
main door.  If you and Gil are feeling neglected, we could do relief
portraits and find a place to put them"

Duncan turned his head.  "Gil?"

"Theme it.  You on Owen, with me in my pursuit special, chasing the
two of you.  I bet we can find plenty of artists willing to design it,
and put it where it belongs.   We'll let Boyce and Jezzi worry about
the track."

Duncan grinned.  "Tag artists?"

"As long as they keep it tasteful for the public stuff, yes.  In
house..."  He grinned.  "Nothing we'll have to arrest them for."

Duncan held out his hand after Owen bobbed his head.  "Deal!  You go
reintroduce yourself to your family, and Owen and I will go home and
make some phone calls after we clean up."

They shook hands, then Gil and his new partners got in his cruiser and
drove off.

* * *

When he pulled into the yard, Gil shut everything down, then sighed
after he studied the huge rottweiler that was stretched out and
getting some serious attention from his wife and their three kids.
"Ok, girls.  Would you happen to know anything about that picture of
'American Rockwell', that I'm looking at?"

Heidi spoke up.  "That's our brother, Helmut.  He's easy, and doesn't
mind being called 'Mutt'.  It looks like your wife said yes, too.
Anything else you need to know, before we go distract your children so
you and your wife can get some privacy?"

He thought about it, then sighed.  "No.  Get them to show you the back
forty.  Should keep all of you busy for far longer than we'll need.
Just to be sure, there are three of you, and three of them.  You
willing to let things happen so you all bond with each other?"

"One on one stuff, then find our own hiding places?"

"Yeah.  Helen and I will honor your privacy, as long as you folks
honor ours, when we 'go hide' for awhile."

"Got it, and thanks."

"Welcome.  Need my help with the doors?"

"No."

Helga opened her door and bailed out, then nosed it closed.  Heidi, on
the other hand, simply walked through the door and started walking
towards the porch.

Gil sighed, got out, closed his door, did a walk around to make sure
the car was locked, then gazed at his wife and raised his eyebrows.

She grinned fleetingly, then spoke calmly.  "Be nice, and *ask* before
you try pulling tails and doing all that stuff to find out their
limits.  Mutt has been ok with it, but his sisters might not."

She got a chorus of resigned 'yes, moms'  so she smiled and waved her
hand at the yard.  "Go!  I don't want to know you're out there, until
I call you for dinner!"

"Thanks!"

The kids quickly vanished, and each one of them had a dog pacing them.

Helen had a wry smile, then she moved to the porch swing and patted
it.  "I said 'til death do us part'.  Looks like I can quit worrying
about you not being around, because of your job."

Gilbert settled next to her.   "Honey, that had the feel of a set
piece.  Days, to get it right in your head?"

"Years.  I was waiting for you to say 'yes', before I did."

"Ah.  After the fact, I can see Jezzi's hooves in it."

"Yes.  By dinner time, they should have figured out who sleeps on
which bed.  It will be nice, to have babysitters we can trust."

Something in her voice made him study her.  "What happened?"

"I had some company while the kids were in school, a few days ago.  I
let them say what they wanted to say, then Jezzi was kind enough to
kick their car into the ditch so they'd be out of the way while we
waited for some of your friends on the force to show up and haul them
off.

She giggled.  "They were very cooperative.  I'm pretty sure they
wanted to get away from us as quickly as possible."

"What did you do to them?"

"Am I that obvious?"

"Yes."

"Good.  It's nice to know you still love me enough to pay attention to
me."

"The story?"

"I let Jezzi hold our movie camera, while I walked over and let them
show me what they were talking about, when they said there would be
consequences.  After they ran out of ammunition, I thanked them, then
offered to repair the damage they'd done to their car, during their
enthusiastic show of force.  They declined my offer.  Pity, really.
They were driving a mint condition 60s Charger, when they started
shooting."

She brightened.  "Maybe I can buy it out of impound and restore it."

He hugged her tightly.  "Still the crazy, speed mad woman I fell in
love with.  Thanks for being you, Helen."

They kissed each other, then she pulled back and laughed at him.  "I
suppose after two weeks of no sleep, all you want is dinner and a
chance at the bed?"

"How about a very lingering shower, before dinner?  If I wash your
back, will you wash mine?"

"Deal!"

Dinner was very, very late, and was an outdoor BBQ, but nobody minded
the change in plans.
====

Gilbert, Helga & Heidi 002
Snark Bit!
---

Heidi had taken over the passenger side of the front seat, and when
they cruised past the bright orange Ferrari, she nodded her head
slightly at the driver before she spoke to her partners.  "Pretty nice
car, even if it is a little on the garish side."

Gil smiled.  "So, you can see colors?"

"Yes."

When the Ferrari's driver accelerated and paced them, Gil sighed and
reached for his microphone.  "This is Gilbert.  Get me a helicopter,
asap.  I have a feeling the Ferrari next to me wants to score some
points."

"On our way.  Give us five."

The Ferrari took off and Helga sneezed her disgust.  "Any bets that
guy has a pretty fancy scanner in there?"

Heidi matched her sneeze.  "If he understood that, it's illegal."

Then she turned her head slightly.  "You want us to bail out and go
fetch the car attached to the funny looking bumper?"

"Let's give him a chance to play by the rules."

He'd already turned on the lights and siren, then floored it, and was
far enough off the back bumper, they wouldn't get mixed up in trouble,
if the guy lost control.  Things stabilized, and Gil smiled.  "Are you
thinking we're going to see what the limits on this thing are?"

"We'll keep an eye on the innocent bystanders, so nobody gets hurt."

"Thanks."

Their speed slowly ramped up, until suddenly the guy floored the
Ferrari.

Gil sighed.  "Helga, get me some numbers.  I already know we'll never
catch him with this."

"He's at 250 and increasing."

"Got it.   Where's our airborne escort?  Shit!"

He'd crossed 130 mph and suddenly there were people and cars in front
of them.

Heidi shouted at him.  "Holograms!  I have it!  Let go and I'll handle
this!

He backed off slightly, and when they hit 125 mph, suddenly all the
images vanished, and the Ferrari was a speck in the distance.  Helga
looked in back of them and sighed.  "We got lots of problems behind
us.  I'll go take care of them."

She vanished.

Gil spoke into his mic.  "We got anyone behind us, to help those
folks?"

"Two units coming up fast, so go get that clown.  We've got him locked
up, so wherever he goes, we'll know it.  If you folks have some
tricks, now would be a good time to use them.  Tell us about all those
pedestrians and cars that vanished, later."

Gil glanced at Heidi, and she nodded.  "Say when.  I'm hungry, and
I've always wondered what a Ferrari bumper tastes like."

"Holograms, Kate.  Best I can tell you, is that I was crossing 130
when they showed up, and vanished at 125.  Close that section of
freeway so we can pull my video and see what's at each of those image
locations.  Helga's gone back to help, Heidi's still with me, and
we're going to push this thing as far it will go, before she bails out
to go get a taste of Ferrari bumper."

"Gil, if you weren't who you are, and those dogs weren't who *they*
are, we'd tell you to stay safe and let us set up a strip."

"Forget it, Kate.  The new ones run on no flat racing tires.  That guy
still got his foot to the floor?

"Looks like he's topped at 278...  No, that thing has been modified
somehow.  He just topped 300 and settled at 303."

"Screw it.  Heidi, I'm going to stay at 125.  Go get your bumper, and
if the guy argues, use your own discretion about getting a good blood
bite.  I'll get there when I get there."

"Relax.  He'll cooperate.  I'm gone."

She vanished, and a few seconds later he heard a jubilant shout.
"Yeah!  Go, Girl!  What a show!  Stand down, folks.  The guy is
stopped, and what a show that was!  We're overhead, and Heidi's
talking to the driver now."

Gil got there, got out, then ambled over to back up Heidi.  "Any
problems with this gentleman?"

"He's heard his rights, so if you'll keep an eye out for any possible
friends, since I think this was an ambush of some sort, I'll ask him
to get out so you can cuff him and stick him in the back seat."

She turned slightly, stood, then spoke calmly.  "No games.  Get out,
and if your hands twitch, you're mine, fair and square.  If you're
packing, or carrying anything else, let us find it during the  pat
down.  Am I understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Good.  Out of the car, then bend over and grab your ankles.  Leave
the gun where it is, on your ankle.  I'll give you a free clue.  Your
eyes told me you expected that move on our part.  Even if you could
beat my reaction time, nothing would have happened, except a click for
each time you pulled the trigger."

He got out, bent over, and his right hand moved suddenly as his hands
went to his ankles.

Heidi let him expose his gun, then she froze him.  "Well, Gil?  This
guy must be someone special.  Not many folks carry a .44 Automag on
their ankle."

"Your man, Heidi.  I'm just your backup."

"Generous."

"Pragmatic."

She sat and studied her target, then nodded slightly.  "You're braced.
I want to see your left hand go to your back, now!"

He didn't move and she shrugged with her ears.  "I think he's waiting
for something to happen.  My best guess is that he's waiting for some
snipers to show up.  Gil, pass the word."

He did, then she walked over and placed her jaws over the man's left
hand and pulled it away from his lower leg.  Then she levered it
around so she could put her front feet on his back  She swung her head
up and placed his hand on his back before she let go of it

"Stay!"

She got down, looked over his right hand, then she lowered her head
and stage whispered in his ear.  "I strongly suggest you let go of the
Automag and leave it where it is.  If I pull, and you hang on,
something is going to break, and it won't be the gun, or my jaws."

She bent, grabbed, and started pulling.  He screamed, then let go and
she put his right hand next to the left one and let go.  "Gil, cuff
him."

He got the handcuffs on, then he straightened the man up and studied
him.  "You are very, very fortunate, that nobody got hurt during your
exhibition.  But, in light of what is still on your ankle, and what
you tried to do, to us, you're going to have to sit in my car and wait
for a ride, because we have more important things to do."

"I don't care what you think you're going to do, Gilbert, because you
and those bitches are going to be dead soon."

Gilbert held out his right hand and opened it.  "Are you referring to
these military sniper bullets?"

The man stared, then looked at Gil, and finally, there was fear in his
eyes.  "Kill me!  Please!"

"Can't do that.  I will ask that you and your friends be kept isolated
from each other.  Oh, one of those was aimed at you.  Think about
that, while you wait for your ride.  Now, you walk and cooperate, or
we put you in the back seat, *our* way."

He slumped and meekly followed orders while he got patted down, then
loaded.

Gil studied the pile on the hood of his cruiser, then snorted and
picked up a sphere that was about half the size of a marble, and
studied it.  "Snarks!  These damn things are...  everywhere...  Heidi?
Do you have your laser pointer with you?"

"Yes.  You need it?"

"I do.  I want you to focus on this thing while we try to classify it.
I have a hunch..."

She got the pointer out, gave it to him, and he held his hand where
she had a good view of the Snark.  He waved the laser at it a few
times, and she finally spoke softly.  "Wave it faster."

He did, and suddenly there was the image of a pedestrian that stood
above his hand for a few seconds, before it vanished.

He stopped waving the pointer, clenched his hand into a fist, then
turned to glare at the man who had suddenly started screaming. "Heidi,
go fetch your sister."

She vanished, and a few seconds later both of them appeared in front
of his car.

He looked down, and his voice was frozen helium when he spoke softly.
"Girls, I think we just found out why kids in fast cars have been
missing curves for the last few years."

Both of them jumped on the hood, focused, and growled until the car
shook, before they turned around and sat.  Helga looked at the
Ferrari, and there was an amused glint in her eyes.  "If it can come
apart, you want to see the pieces?"

"Don't block the car cam, and do it safely.  Maybe somebody will be
interested in buying a Ferrari kit.  I'll grab an assortment of
evidence bags from the trunk.  Go!"
====

Gilbert, Helga & Heidi 003
---

Gil looked up when he heard another pursuit special slow as it
approached.  It went past them, parked in front of the pile of Ferrari
parts, then Gil froze when the driver got out and a huge rottweiler
jumped out and joined her.

He finished writing on the evidence bag he held, then he added it to
the growing stack of them, before he held out his hand.  "Hello,
Officer Helen.  What brings you off long term maternity leave?"

She shook his hand, then watched Mutt join his sisters.  They talked
it over, then all three of them went back to disassembling what was
left of the Ferrari.

She was smiling when she spoke without turning away from the action.
"They were short handed and didn't have anyone to put in your backup
car.  It was also pointed out that if I managed to put in three more
years, I would qualify for full retirement pay."

He finally shrugged.  "Anything else?  Don't try to convince me you
were bored.  What about the kids?"

"The kids are fine.  Boyce has been holding out on us.  He 'took a
shine' to me after you brought me home, and I think most of the feral
cats, a sizable portion of the field mice, *and* many of the snakes
and other critters on our land, are friends of Jezzi's, who stick
around because they don't have to worry about being bored, while they
wait for the call."

Before he could say anything, Mutt lifted his head away and faced
them.  "We need a medium evidence bag over here.  I just found a cache
of Snarks."

Gilbert managed to choke off his laugh before it escaped.  "He's your
partner."

"Snarks?!"

"Bags are on the hood.  Get your evidence gloves on.  I'll explain
while we work."

She sighed, opened her trunk and dug out what she needed, then joined
Mutt and the girls.

She gathered the Snarks, labeled the bag and wrote all the stuff she
needed to add, then she held it up.  "What have I missed?"

Gil finally laughed.  "Short form.  Snarks are hologram projectors,
and what we ran into when we topped 130 mph.  They quit projecting at
125 mph.  Assume they're programmable, and also assume for now, that
Snarks are the major reason a lot of kids who are good drivers, have
been missing curves for the last few years.  Someone has been using
their own skills and trained reflexes, against them."

"Maybe not.  You said these are triggered somehow.  What if they are a
way to test a person's control?  Follow directions, they never know
they are there, and nobody gets hurt."

Gilbert sighed.  "I wish that didn't make sense.  'The Hangmen'."

"And women.  I guess they've gone equal opportunity, finally."

Gilbert suddenly leaned forward slightly and pointed at a section of
carpet.  "Something doesn't look right about that carpet."

Helga studied it cautiously, then spoke without turning her head.
"Fun's over, folks.  I've sealed the area so none of it escapes.  Gil,
call it in, and ask for some Feds who know how to wear hazmat suits.
Heidi, go check out your guest.  Mutt, you back track the chase route
and see if you can find any of this stuff.  If you do, safe the area
and mark it for pickup before you keep going.  The prevailing wind
hasn't changed, so that should help."

Mutt studied things, then sighed.  "We might have a chance.  That
stuff hasn't been activated."

He raised his head and looked down the freeway.  "That's a long run.
Don't hold dinner for me."

He took off at a run and quickly became a moving dot, before he
vanished from their sight.

Heidi sneezed her disgust.  "Ok.  Since...  Oh!  No flares.  We'll use
the safety triangles only, to cordon this area."

Helen stood and watched Heidi.  "Heat activated?"

"Yes.  This is now a no smoking zone.  Mutt didn't slow down on his
way out, so I doubt if we have any of that loose nearby.  Helga and I
will quarter the area while we wait, just to be sure."

Gil stood, stretched, then reached for his mic.  "We need a Federal
hazmat squad.  Found stuff that's out of our league."

"Since you folks don't need sleep, stay put.  There's a team already
dealing with what Duncan found.  When they get done with him, they'll
get some sleep, then come see you.  Best we can do...  Hold on...
What?!  Christ!"

The audio went dead.  A few minutes later, the dispatcher was back.
"Gil, I just got some strange orders, that came from that Federal
team."

"Go."

"If you find any Snarks, bag them, then get them out of the sunlight.
That team will collect them when they collect the other stuff you
found."

Gil looked at his wife, who nodded slightly, so he keyed up.  "Already
bagged what we've found, so far.  We'll find a place to store them.
Good enough?"

"Keep yours in your pockets."

"Got it.  We're on our way, to deal with them."

They started gathering the bags they needed, and after they had them
collected, Gil smiled.  "Did you pack our dinners?"

"Of course I did.  First thing I thought of.  Let me put these down at
the back of your car, then I'll go get the ice chest."

Heidi studied him after she set her bags down.  "That was an
interesting conversation."

"Memories.  We'd deliver food to each other when we changed shifts.  A
few years after it became a habit, we got married."

"I have the feeling you left a lot out.  Never mind.  We have a
passenger we need to get rid of.  Someone had to be first, and I'll be
glad to get rid of him.  Be back in a few minutes."

She walked to the side of their car, then casually jumped though the
door and onto the back seat.  She touched her nose to the man's neck,
and both of them vanished.

Helen had seen the action, so she laughed.  "I think she does it that
way to get rid of the bugs that get in her fur."

Helga sneezed delicately, then watched them put the bags in the chest
and close the trunk.  "I'm afraid not, Helen.  She'll use any excuse
she can, to get a good back scratch."

"You, and your habit of opening doors?"

"Helps me maintain my coordination and timing.  I'm also a lot lazier
than she is.  Is that some of your lasagna that I smell?"

"It is. Four trays of it, since I already know your appetites."

"You spoil us, Helen."

"I see it as insurance premiums, to keep us all alive, and..."

Helga tilted her head.  "And, Helen?"

"Watching you three inhale a tray of lasagna each, *isn't* boring!"

"Good shot!  So...  Since we can't play with the Snarks, what are we
going to do, to keep from getting bored after we do that area search?"

"Gil has his harmonica, I have my guitar, and you three have your
voices.  I wasn't expecting the paid night under the stars, but I'll
take it.  We can practice the show we're going to do, to win the
talent competition, this year."

The sound of a helicopter made them look up.  The PA went off.

"I need to go pick up some passengers and deliver them to where they
need to go.  After that, if it's safe for me to land, I'll pick up my
replacement, then drop myself off to keep you folks company for the
night.  Anything you need?"

Gil keyed up and spoke casually.  "It's safe, now.  We need a portable
grill, some sauce, and a couple racks of ribs.  Grab whatever you want
for yourself."

"I like it!"

The helicopter flew off, and everyone laughed before Helga tilted her
head back so she could look at the sky.  "If we're lucky, the media
will believe nothing serious is going on here, and they'll leave us
alone."

Helen waved her hand at the field.  "Have you warned your friends,
yet?"

Helga stood and stretched.  "Sounds like a chance for me to pretend
I'm a real bitch.  Be back when I get back."

They watched her trot about half a mile back the way they'd come from,
then Gil laughed when she started criss crossing the freeway and
shoulder.  "Let's get this area cordoned, since they found excuses to
leave us on our own."
====

Gilbert, Helga & Heidi 004
---

It was early evening when the helicopter returned.  Mutt jumped out
ahead of Kate, then she unloaded some supplies before she waved it
back into the air.

Gil went over, and spoke mildly.  "Did you forget something?"

Kate sighed.  "No.  When the Feds heard about what you found, they
were pretty firm about no heat sources being allowed near that pile of
car parts.  Instead, I stopped at one of those places that cooks ribs
and bought a couple of pre-cooked racks for us.  Mutt said he and his
sisters will get rid of the bones for us, so we didn't have to get
anything special for them."

"Uh huh.  Right.  He probably knew he had his own tray of vegetarian
lasagna waiting for him."

He helped move everything, then they all settled and ate dinner,
before they settled in some chairs to relax.

Gil set his plate on the ground for whoever wanted it, then he
stretched and leaned back so he could watch the stars.  "Ok, Heidi.
Kate said something about a show.  I was busy, so...  What happened?"

"I place slid and got in front of him, braced myself, then let him try
to run over me.  He hit me dead center on his bumper, we both slid a
ways, before we quit moving, then I killed his engine and told him to
stay in his car.  After that, I grabbed his rear bumper, picked the
car up, and put it where you found it, safely out of traffic."

"What's it taste like?"

"Painted plastic.  Might be barely edible, with some terriyaki sauce."

"I'll see if I can find one at a wrecking yard, so you can figure out
what goes best with it.  Any preferences for the drink?"

"Ouzo."

He laughed.  "I'll try to find some that isn't watered down in the
bottle."

"Thanks."

Kate had kept watching back along the freeway, and when the silence
lasted awhile, she sighed.  "Folks?  I know I missed something.  When
a Ferrari hits a dog at over 300 mph, that dog *should* become a long
smear on the pavement, or at the least, look like a small explosion.
What should *not* happen, is for that dog to slide a few hundred
yards, leaving toenail marks in said pavement, before she ambles to
the back of the car and picks it up by the bumper, carries it to the
shoulder, then slams it down hard enough it bounces about a foot in
the air, before it lands again and settles."

Mutt looked up from cleaning his lasagna pan.  "We have conscious
control of our density, which is a natural part of shape shifting.
Killing the engine is part of that, but in a different way.  We're
really manifested energy, no matter what we look like.  All she did
was extend herself and absorb the energy that usually goes to the
engine, to keep it running.    Same for the chemical energy.  Instead
of a compression triggered explosion, she 'ate' all of the energy
created, before it could heat the byproducts created from the pressure
wave."

Kate thought about it, then looked at him.  "So, essentially, not only
did he lose power to the engine, it went into a free running state?"

"Yes.  There are other ways to do it, but that way is less messy about
it."

"For example?"

"She could have closed off all the exhaust ports, but left the intakes
open.  The final result can be spectacular."

"I can imagine.  Thanks.  We've eaten, and now we can let the food
settle while we wait.  I had the impression the Feds were planning on
getting things sorted out enough they can walk way and reopen the
area, before they come out here.  Assume morning or later, before they
show up.  I didn't bring anything to keep me from getting bored, so...
What do we do, now?"

Gil chuckled and raised his hand.  Kate flinched when a harmonica
floated past her head.

He caught it, smiled, blew a few notes on it, then grinned.  "If you
know the words, feel free to join in.  Otherwise, you can relax and be
our test audience while the five of us practice our show for the
talent contest."

"Five?  Helen was before my time, but folks still talk about missing
her guitar playing.  What are Heidi, Helga, and Mutt going to do? Howl
harmony?"

Helen laughed, and reached for her guitar when it was next to her.
"No.  they'll sing the words."

She tuned her guitar, then launched into 'America The Beautiful'. Gill
added another part of the melody, then a tenor, a low alto, and a high
soprano sang the words.

After they finished, Mutt watched Kate when he spoke.  "Anything we
need to work on, in your opinion?"

Kate studied him, then smiled.  "Yes.  Presentation.  I think it would
work better if each of you was standing, and put your right paws on
your foreheads, as a salute while you sing.  If you want to bring the
house down, try using your tails like they are metronomes."

He sneezed at her.  "We'll try it later.  Right now, we're supposed to
be working, so we're limited in how creative we can be while we
practice."

"Got it."

The sound of a helicopter made the dogs look up, and Helga sneezed
disgustedly.  "Kate, are you still on the coordination frequency?"

"I am."

"Tell those folks they are in a no fly zone, and to back off about a
half mile.  Warn them that if we see anything other than running
lights, they'll be grounded, immediately."

Kate sorted out the problem, and after the helicopter was where it was
supposed to be, she laughed.  "Part of me was hoping they'd argue
about it.  How does an angry rottweiler ground a helicopter?"

Helga grinned.  "She changes into a *big* dragon, then she grabs the
helicopter in her talons before she hauls it off to her lair!"
====

Gilbert, Helga & Heidi 005
---

All of them were awake and watching the sunrise when a cluster of
vehicles came towards them.  There were a couple of helicopters for
overhead escort, and Gil laughed.  "Looks like we'll get to go home
soon."

Kate yawned and looked up.  "Sorry I fell asleep on you folks."

"Don't worry about it.  Thanks for being here, and putting up with our
practice."

"I should be thanking you.  Don't be surprised if you're asked to do
some good will tours.  You might even be asked to sign some sort of
recording contract."

Mutt sneezed.  "They can ask all they want.  We'll worry about doing
it, after we decide to retire.  This is where we belong, and we'll
stay here as long as we can."

Kate reached and rubbed between his ears.  "We can hope it will be a
long time, but the rules are going to force you to move on in a few
years, unless you want to drive desks."

"Yeah.  We'll worry about that when it happens."

She stood and stretched.  "Since it looks like my ride back is here,
I'll go clock out and go home."

Helen nodded.  "Sounds like our plans, once they decide they're done
with us.  See you when we see you."

Kate checked in with the Feds, and was casually waved off, so she
helped unload one of the helicopters, then she swung aboard.  After
she strapped in and closed the door, it took off.

By then, the agent in charge had looked the scene over, shook his head
slightly, and finally walked over to study the five who were casually
watching him.

"I understand Gilbert had a chance to see some Snarks in action.  Tell
me about it, while my people safe that pile of parts."

Gil shrugged.  "There's not much to tell.  We were pacing that guy, he
punched it and took off, and when we crossed 130mph, we were suddenly
in the middle of a bunch of pedestrians and cars.  Heidi realized they
were holograms, took the wheel away from me, and kept us on course.  I
backed off, and when we got below 125mph, all those images vanished.

"Helga and Heidi were already keeping everyone else safe, so once
Helga looked back and realized we had problems behind us, she took off
to go deal with them.  Since we knew we'd never catch the guy, Heidi
took off and stopped the guy safely, while I kept it at 125, until I
got there to back her up."

He waved at the hood of his cruiser.  "Got an evidence bag with some
sniper bullets in it, for whoever needs them.  The whole thing,
according to the driver, was an ambush aimed directly at us.  Most of
it's on the car cam."

The Agent gazed at him, then turned to look back along the freeway.
"Thanks.  Except for the details, that's what happened to Duncan.  We
think that because he chased them down on foot, the Snarks never
triggered.  Did you happen to notice if any of those bullets were
tracers?"

"Never thought to check."

"No problem.  About that nasty stuff you found.  Where is it, and
how'd you spot it?"

"I did.  Something about the carpet looked wrong.  Heidi recognized it
and safed the area, then I called it in."

"Got it.  Oh, thanks for collecting those snipers.  Some of our people
will chat with them as soon as they get here."

"It wasn't us, who rounded them up and delivered them."

"Oh?"

Gilbert shrugged.  'Concerned citizens'.  I never saw them, so I don't
have any names and addresses you can use, if you want to contact
them."

"Would it be possible?"

"Tough call.  Heidi?  Any ideas?"

"Well, talking to the authorities would be different for some of them,
since usually they ignore them.  All anyone can do is ask.  If they
decide responding would be 'not-boring', they'll chat."

"If I raised my voice, would they hear me?"

"Some of them would, and they'll pass the word to the others who are
in the area."

He thought for awhile, then he sighed.  "Gil.  I want you to hold a
couple of your Snarks on the palm of your hand...  No.  Toss them so
they land in plain sight, on the shoulder."

Gil dug a couple out, tossed them, then smiled.  "You want one of us
to trigger them?"

"No."

He faced the side of the road and spoke a little louder than he had
been.  "I had a chance to have a long talk with Duncan and Owen, that
was off the record.  I'm  wondering if any of you are bored enough to
see how many ways you can trigger those Snarks.  Then, we'd like to
reopen the freeway as soon as possible.  Team One is working on
building a Snark finder, but they won't have it done until this
afternoon.  What I'd appreciate is if some of you folks figured out
how to trigger Snarks, then go to the other end of the blocked area,
and make a sweep from there, to here, while looking for anything you
think might be related to this case.  All you have to do is find it
for us.  We'll have a team behind you to collect what you find. Anyone
interested?"

Nothing happened, so he started to turn away, when a german shepherd
stepped into the open and sat on her haunches.  "Don't go away.  We're
still discussing it."

He flinched, then looked at her.  "Thanks."

She tilted her head, then her ears focused on something behind her
before she looked at him.  "Would it be quicker, if we searched both
sides and also worked our way to the middle from both ends?"

"It would, but you'd have to mark anything the team from this end
finds.  I don't have anyone I can spare, to follow and collect what is
found.  The rules of evidence say we have to do it, so what we find is
sure to be admissible evidence."

Her head tilted the other direction briefly, then she straightened it.
"Enough want to help you, that we are figuring out a way for all to
play this new game."

Suddenly, Gil's Snarks were triggered.  They went off, came on again,
and that kept happening until they turned on and stayed on.

The bitch looked at the agent.  "We have found a way to turn them on
so they stay on.  A way was also discovered that will let all
participate.  There will be two groups.  One will locate what you
seek.  The other will be behind them, and will settle next to what is
marked, so your people do not miss it.  Will that follow all of your
rules?"

"Yes.  Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She turned her head slightly.  "Go!"

For as far as they could see, mice scurried from the shoulder and
started across the freeway.  Hundreds of images appeared as the wave
moved forward.  Behind them, other assorted animals appeared, then
they each stopped near one of the images, or next to something they
felt should be examined.

Minutes later, the wave of mice vanished, and the bitch perked her
ears at the agent.  "Did we play the game well?"

"Ahh...  Yes.  Can some of your people tell the people at the other
end, what is going on, then escort them while they collect the
evidence?"

"Yes.  It is being done now."

She ambled over to the back of Helen's car and the trunk opened.  She
put her feet on the bumper, then she looked at the agent.  "You are a
very not-boring person to be around, so I will keep you company until
you bore me.  My name is Yvette."

She looked in the trunk, then her head dipped.  When it came up, she
held a mouthful of evidence bags.  She pushed off, and after her front
feet hit the ground, the trunk closed.

She walked over to the agent and looked up expectantly.

He looked at her, then at the freeway, and sighed.  "I was wondering
how I could look busy while my people did all the work.  My name is
Gary.  Let's go."

The five left watched, then Helen laughed.  "It looks like we're stuck
here for awhile longer, since we weren't told we can leave."

Gil laughed.  "Getting overtime for sitting here and looking official,
won't bother me a bit!"
====

End: Solstice Magic 06: Country Magic & City Magic - Gilbert, Helga,
and Heidi 1-5/5

-- 
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