In honor of the 20th anniversary of an organization I've been involved with this weeks prompt is: Twentieth

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Eeeek, MsAnn, I think Jason is in a spot of bother there, I hope he has found an ally in Kia.

msann: Oops, Jason's got himself in a predicament ... I like the Star Wars nod. KT: Joe doesn't seem too disturbed by her condom puncturing. Or he's playing his cards close to his chest. She's still making excuses and trying to lay the blame on Nambu.

MsAnn, I recall that other piece where you introduced the character of Kia. But I want to know what's wrong with Jason! Is this related to his headaches and dizziness in canon, or something else altogether? KT, I'm surprised Julia is being so forthcoming, but I guess that's just a sign of how distraught she truly is. I agree that Nambu isn't giving up on her, regardless of how disappointed or angry he might be right now.

TJ: Yes and no. That's all I can say because I tend to write out of order and when I go back to revise, things might change when I'm trying to make sure I'm maintaining continuity over the entire story. This is just one scene from a longer story that's yet to be written. CW: Thanks. The Star Wars line just popped in my head so I went with it. KT: He may have.

"Well, then," Ms. Rechtsanwalt said as she dropped the file into her briefcase and closed it, "I know you're due for exercise time in the yard as soon as we've finished here. Look for Percy -- he knows where to go to get the most sun." As soon as he stepped out onto the playground, Jinpei spotted Asmodeus -- a.k.a. Percy -- skulking about on the far side of the ground. Without doing anything to draw attention to himself, he started moving toward his target. A hand from behind clamped down on his shoulder. "And what deviltry are you up to?" Jinpei recognized the voice of Cestino -- not "Mr. Cestino" or "Officer Cestino", just Cestino. This man sounded as if he regularly swallowed gravel from a riding trail immediately after the horses relieved themselves. Even though he was as pressed and starched as the other guards, Cestino had an aura of dirt about him -- he even had a couple of flies in permanent orbit around him. "Nothing, sir." Jinpei said as he turned to face the guard, "I'm just taking my lawyer's advice and getting some fresh air and sunshine." "You think I'm stupid?" "No, sir." What the hell's this guy's problem? "You're not the first punk I've dealt with." Cestino growled, "You're not even the twentieth." Cestino noticed another -- and higher-ranking -- guard heading his way. He took his hand off Jinpei's shoulder and walked away. "Nice talking to you, sir." Jinpei called after him, his voice thick with sarcasm. The other guard changed his course and returned to his previous location. Jinpei resumed his course toward Asmodeus. "It's obvious you just saw your lawyer." the older boy said. "That piece of shit's always picking on us after we see our lawyer. It's like he thinks we ain't go no rights or somethin'." " Rechtsanwalt told me to come to you." "I know." "So what's next?" "Wait." Asmodeus leaned against the nearest wall. Jinpei did the same, taking on Joe's brooding pose. Rechtsanwalt gave him an uncharacteristic wink as she rose from her chair. She went straight for the visitors' door but then paused. She pulled the rose from her lapel and took a long smell before stuffing it into the vase with the pink roses. Jinpei's eyes suddenly grew wide -- she'd left a Devil Star rose! The next thing he knew, he was on the ground. Everything hurt. A knot was forming where his head hit the wall behind him. All he could hear was a high-pitched whine. An arm wrapped around his midriff an instant before he was pulled skyward. Jinpei smiled in spite of his pain. Thank God, Aniki... But then he caught a glimpse of Asmodeus between two sets of misshapen black wings -- Galactor's cheap knock-off of BirdStyles. They banked to the left. But before it was out of his field of vision, Jinpei got a quick look at the building where he'd talked to Rechtsanwalt. The wall by the playground was severely bowed, and several concrete blocks were halfway across the yard. Jinpei held his breath for a second as he sent a wish out to the universe that nobody got hurt in the blast...even Cestino. They landed in an empty lot one block over. There were a couple of vans painted to look like they belonged to a package delivery company. He had just gotten his footing when he felt a prick on the back of his neck. A tingling numbness exploded through his body, and his legs buckled beneath him.

EW: Well, Jinpei's on to the next stage, whether he likes it or not!

Msann: poor Jason! I often get migraines, so I feel for him! Let's hope Kia and Dr. Solberg make it better, not worse! KT: That's an interesting combination -- Joe and a pregnant Julia! So maybe Nambu does have her best interest at heart, after all EW: Ooops! Jinpei is in for something...question is what!

Did Jinpei even bother to think that Cestino might be on the 'good guys' side? He may understand what the phony lawyer is up to! It looks like Jinpei's in for it now! But I know he's up to the mission task. Still, his relief at thinking it was Ken leads me to believe that he is scared of what is to come.