NationStates Jolt Archive

Karo Tevas, Krioval
Friday, 7 March 2008
11:30 pm

He walked purposefully through the darkened field and toward the ruined temple. The moon was dark, and the ocean breeze had brought the mists. His vestments were black, and though he walked unhooded, the figure could be seen to be wearing a simple band around his head, its dark ends of cloth trailing in the occasional breaths of wind passing across the island. His hair matched his wardrobe, its shortness and spikes a stark contrast to the tresses of the rest of his station. His eyes were similarly dark, though one might be tempted to see the slightest glimmer of an ethereal glowing before dismissing it as a trick of the light. Or at least one would if there were any light. He approached the site and drew a deep breath. As if on cue, another figure emerged from the forest ahead of the temple. Any casual observer would have thought, and been forgiven for thinking, that the second figure was a perfect copy of the first. If not for the intervening fourteen years, that observer would be correct.

"It was not easy to arrange this," the second figure said. "Though it was probably more difficult for you, all things considered."

"You forget I was trained for this sort of thing. Disappearing at the right time isn't the challenge, though. Returning without notice is always tougher."

"So you've said before. I've never trained in stealth. Maybe it's 'cause people're used to me being in your shadow?"

"The light does cast shadows, it's true, but something has to be blocking that light first. Did you bring the book?"

The second man shot the first a dirty look. "As if I'd need a book to remember how to do a simple ritual like this." He suppressed a grin as he continued. "Maybe if someone were to spend more time at temple..."

"I'm busy," the first one countered. "As are we all. The Conception took its toll on many, and Krioval is now only making its final steps toward recovery."

There was a sharp intake of breath. "The Conception." An exhalation followed. "That's why we're here, anyway. Let's get started. At least people will think we spent the night together should we be missed."

"Technically, we are spending the night together. But onward."

The two walked silently into the ruin. Surveying the disused temple, they settled to the floor on opposite sides of an elaborate diagram, which had partially faded from years of neglect. The first man spoke only after several minutes. "Now what?"

"According to the Elder, we wait until a presence makes itself known."

"And that takes how long exactly?"

"Could be minutes. Could be hours."

"I see."

Several more minutes passed without incident. Then the mists began to undulate in a fashion most decidedly not caused by mere wind patterns. Wordlessly, the two figures stood and held their arms outward. A strange glow formed at the center of the incomplete symbol at their feet, growing stronger rapidly. The light coalesced into what appeared to be a large cat with golden fur and black spots. Unlike other such animals, however, this one stood on two legs. And it held two short swords.

"Greetings," the being said simply. "I am called Ose." The cat-spirit took in its surroundings. "No bindings? You must think quite highly of yourself to contain..." If a demon could ever be surprised, Ose was very much so. "You...you are..."

"That is correct. It has been a long time, hasn't it?"


*******************************************


Saint Andrew's Church
Bralos Prefecture, Krioval
Sunday, 9 March 2008
12:00 noon

The last service had ended fifteen minutes earlier, and Father Brian Keller was retiring to his study when a distraught woman raced into the sanctuary. He had barely any time to turn toward her when a barrage of words flew from her mouth. "Evacuate Bralos?! How can he do that? How can they..."

The priest, though exhausted, waited for her to wind down before attempting a response. "Well, this land was set aside for a nature preserve in the referendum passed last October, and we all knew it was a matter of time. And..." he struggled for a name to put with her face. "Mary, it's not as if your family even lives in this city any more. You took the government's compensation package in January."

"But the church!"

"The Lord will provide. It's not as if the Commander has threatened to run all the Christians out of Krioval entirely."

"Not yet," Mary muttered under her breath. "Everybody says it's a matter of time. Raijin Dekker represents all that is immoral."

Father Keller looked at her in shock. Krioval was a very free society, it was true, but comments like that could get a person in trouble. Still, he found it difficult to disagree. Commander Dekker was known not only for his homosexuality but also the volume of Kriovalian men whose company he had sampled during his tenure. Cruder jokes existed comparing the Vastivan's sultan's harem - all female - with the male portion of the Kriovalian armed forces. More worringly, rumors had spread that he was responsible for the Conception and that he and High Priest Vartek indulged in every heretical act listed in Catholic canon, though the Father was quick to admit that the predominant Kriovalian faith wasn't exactly Christian at its foundations. Conflicting thoughts bounding inside his head, Brian Keller decided to go with moderation.

"The government is being quite reasonable in their compensation for evacuees, and while I don't agree with the politics, I can see why Bralos was chosen. The technology..."

"It's because we worship the true God and those freaks can't stand it!" She looked at the priest with withering disdain when he didn't return her gaze. "Fine. I'll take this to the Bishop. There is no way I'm going to let those heathens push us out. He worships demons! Actual demons!" Mary continued to splutter as the Father escorted her toward the entryway of the church, if only to gain time to dash to the silence of his office.

Once there, he frowned deeply. The Bishop was a firebrand, the opposite of Alex Seleker, who held the position previously and was friendly with Raijin and the polytheists. This one had instead antagonized the government, and with the deadline of April first to leave the designated preserve zone, he hoped that ideological clashes would not escalate into physical ones, demons or not.


*******************************************


OOC: If interested, please read the OOC thread (located here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=439875)). I'll try to keep this as open as possible; any changes will appear in the OOC thread if and when needed.

Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Outskirts of Bralos
8:57 pm

Mary Selekar walked briskly across the bridge across the Brekai River and east of the almost-vacant city of Bralos. Her long red hair trailed behind her as she recounted the meeting with the priest two days earlier. Mary's bitter condemnation of the Commander had gone over well, though her sentiment was not surprising. Raijin had dueled with, and killed, her husband three years earlier, and at the behest of her father-in-law. May he burn forever in hell for his treachery, her mind added automatically. The conservative Catholic sector of Krioval's population had been steadily gaining influence until the missiles destroyed the Bralos Cathedral that July, and while the government investigation indicated that it was another Catholic who perpetrated the attack, the Lady Selekar was not convinced. The government, she reasoned, had a vested interest in ridding itself of Christianity. Stories of debauchery and devilry beyond even that committed in old Krioval, before the missionaries, had multiplied during Raijin's Commandership.

So she had lain low, waiting for an opportune time to expose Raijin Dekker's atrocities for what they were, expecting that eventually the paladin would commit an act that would cripple his reputation even among the nonbelievers. He summoned a demon! she screamed inwardly. And I have proof! With thoughts of righteous vindication, the woman stomped off the bridge. She was to meet the Bishop just around the corner, in his apartments.

She felt something brush against her leg. Gasping in surprise, Mary turned around to find herself staring at...nothing. Chiding herself for letting fear get the best of her, she made to continue. A street light flickered in the distance as she picked up speed. Better safe than sorry, she thought, even as she struggled to dismiss her premonition as a simple case of nerves. And why shouldn't I be nervous? she thought. I have pictures that will bring down the entire Dekker administration. The lamppost went dark. Lady Selekar swiveled her head to determine the cause before cursing under her breath. She had forgotten about the rolling blackouts in northern Krioval. Nine o'clock already? Mary broke into a modest jog before stopping suddenly. She could feel something against her entire back this time. Warm moist air drifted past her neck. The Kriovalian thought to scream but found her voice uncooperative.

The being spoke. "Please do not move, or turn toward me. I need you to convey a message for me, and for my master." It was definitely a masculine sound, and very catlike at that.

"A message?" Mary turned and kicked with as much force as she could call upon. She hit empty air and quickly realized that she was dealing with neither a common criminal nor an agent of the government. As understanding of her situation struck, steel penetrated. Unable to scream, she looked down to see half a meter of very sharp and very red metal protruding from her abdomen. The voice continued to speak, whispering in her ear.

"Yes, a message. For your God." He paused, drinking in the fear that cascaded off the stricken woman's body. He sighed and went on. "It's too bad such a beautiful woman had to meet such a messy, messy fate, but there was really no other way. Surely you understand." The slightest chuckle could be heard. "Will you do it?"

"Burn...hell!" the Kriovalian woman gasped, struggling against both the pain from her midsection and her difficulty at breathing.

Unperturbed, the being answered, "From where do you think I came?" He sensed the shock percolating through Lady Selekar's mind even before she became aware of it. "Oh come now. You can hardly be surprised at my true nature. It is as the old tales have warned. Spend too much time obsessing over a thing and you give that thing great strength over you. Your husband fails to learn this lesson, but you yet have time. Will you take my message?"

Mary's resistance crumbled. She gurgled something incoherently, but the response was not wasted on her questioner. He watched as the flow of blood slowed from the wound he had created, and could feel the woman's pulse weakening. "Excellent," he said simply, and pulled the blade from her body, sighing with great satisfaction as she fell to the ground in the pool of red liquid. He savored her final thoughts, as her last neural impulses heaped self-condemnation upon her tortured soul - she was utterly convinced that, in making an agreement with a demon and dying in sin, she would be banished to hell for eternity. He smiled at that, though his thoughts were bittersweet. In all likelihood, the meddling Jehovah would spare her if only to make the demon's existence all the more difficult.

He looked at the woman's wristwatch and realized with sudden vexation that he had little time left - no time to ravage and mutilate the corpse. Growling softly, he assuaged his irritation by ripping the dress off his victim and methodically cleaning his tainted sword before casting it onto the ground with a huff. Deftly leaping into the shadows of a nearby alley, the demon disappeared from the deserted street just as the blackout ended, at quarter past nine.

Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Kriovalian Channel 35
11:00 pm

The Paladin PanGlobal logo fades to a tastefully appointed newsroom, complete with various computers and clocks in the background. A ticker at the foot of the screen details the latest victory of the Torokara Slashers over an obscure foreign team before proceeding to the weather forecast for the Kriovalian cities on Earth. Most are looking foward to sunnier weather expected for the weekend. A man of about thirty sits as the sole human in view, and his cropped blond hair and piercing blue eyes are especially striking in traditionally dark-haired, dark-eyed Krioval. He is one of the few men named Johan who actually looks to have racial claims to the name.

"Good evening. I am Johan Kelos and this is the Paladin Media Service broadcast for tonight, the eleventh of March. Just an hour and a half ago, the bloodied body of Mary Selekar was found on the east bank of the Brekai River. We go live to Bralos where Kira Sivan is live on location. Kira? Can you describe what's going on up there?"

The picture suddenly cuts to the darkened city of Bralos, which has the look of desolation despite the level of activity in the area. Kira takes a moment to fluff her shoulder-length brown hair and glances at the cameraman to verify that she is now the center of attention. Her angular face lights up as an unseen confirmation is given. "Johan, all I can say is that the police are utterly baffled by the events here tonight. From what I've been told, the body of Mary Selekar was discovered by a factory worker on his way home from his shift at nine twenty this evening. According to police reports, the victim was found lying face down on the sidewalk in a pool of blood, apparently having been stabbed in the stomach or through the back. A blue dress was discovered approximately four meters away from the victim in tatters and covered with blood. Despite these findings, authorities indicate that there is no evidence to suggest sexual assault, and nothing appears to have been stolen."

"Do the police have any leads or suspects?"

"Well, Johan, Mary Selekar was quite a vocal opponent of both Commander Dekker's re-election campaign and the evacuation of Bralos, and her politics haven't always squared with the law. In two thousand four, Selekar was arrested three times for scuffles with police at protests against abortion clinics, and once for tax fraud. Also, she was known to be against the nomination of several pro-evacuation priests in her upscale Tevanor parish."

"What else is known about the attack?"

"So far, very little. Police are cautiously classifying it as an impulsive murder due to signs that the victim and assailant fought, and investigators think that Selekar may have even been traveling with her killer tonight. They are hoping to have more answers by morning pending a complete sweep of the area."

"Wow. Thank you for the report, Kira. In other news, the government of Krioval has issued a security warning for the city of Bralos, urging nonresidents to avoid the area due to a spike in criminal activity. The Commander was unavailable for comment, but in a released statement, the administration continued to push for the peaceful evacuation..."

The news continues much in the same vein for another twenty minutes, occasionally punctuated by advertisements for the Varos Blaster (2008 electromagnetic models now on special "Equinox" sale), several fast food restaurants, and tampons. The Slashers would be revealed to have won against a team that the announcer really couldn't properly pronounce by two goals, six to four.


********************************


Kriovalian Channel 52
11:08 pm

"...Mary Selekar, a fierce advocate for the rights of the oppressed Christian minority in Krioval, was found brutally murdered this evening on the banks of the Brekai River. Investigators are confounded as to the nature of her killing, but her recent clashes with the government and other anti-Christian organizations have caused rampant speculation..." This broadcast briefly hints at how each and every member of the Kriovalian government, including several prominent (and even some conservative) Senators could, theoretically, have knowledge of the attack. It closes with a prayer for world peace.


********************************


Kriovalian Channel 107
11:24 pm

"And around Krioval tonight, we see that Mary Selekar is dead. In other news, the Torokara Slashers thoroughly obliterated...Solhan himself scored two of the six goals that put Torokara on top for good. Goalkeeper Tevak Tovo was signed for another two years to the Slashers..." If one was a soccer fanatic, this would be the channel to watch. Somewhere, a man named Krodan glorified in watching "his" Slashers head for yet another winning season.

Michiko watched the news silently. She had no sympathy for Mary Selekar, and a distaste in the extreme for her politics. And the part of her that would ever be aware of the tatoos that occassionally shown on her arms and shoulders, truly dested the dead woman's religion.

Once the news had ended she went the short distance to the small office that served her when away from the embassy.

"Porthos, FTL dispatch back home. Ask Kaylinde to request a Deconstruction Specialist from UU. I'll foot the bill. I think that Raijin could use some one expert. All the proper ruffles and flourishes please"

"Oh just once couldn't I start it off with an 'aaargh'?"

Michiko laughed softly. Porthos had gotten ahold of the old movie that made the Dumas's character into a pirate, and it had caught the AI's fancy. In fact his avatar was off some where aboard a sailing ketch.

"I don't think that Holmes would find that funny."

"Thats true, no sense of humor." Porthos replied as he formatted the message, and sent it off in a microburst transmission to Machiavelli Station. Once there it would be further encoded, then shunted through a man made wormhole - one of the many ways around the relatively low speed of light- to distant Midgard - some seven thousand light years from Earth.

"I don't expect a response all too soon, and it's not terribly urgent, so if a response does come during the night, don't wake me."

"Good night then, Michiko, may your sleep be untroubled" Porthos replied as she left the office.

Near soundless foot steps took the part Kriovalian, all Tanaran dowager empress turned Ambassador out to the private gardens, and to the shadowed figure relaxing there. The light cotton of her informal kimono made no sound as she settled herself next to her life partner, leaning her head again his shoulder.

"Valkai, bed time , or would you like to go for a fly?"

"Valkai, bed time , or would you like to go for a fly?"

"Hmmm...to spend the evening in the heavens or," he gestured toward the bed, "in heaven." He pretended to dither over a decision, knowing the effect it would have on Michiko. "Where did you have in mind?"

"Where did you have in mind?"

Michiko didn't know which of the Kriovalian gods had made Kriovalian men the way they were but if she ever figured it out, that god was going to get his nose punched. Though she had her suspicions...

"Dear Heart, we can have both. Who says pleasure must be limited?" She murmured as she turned slightly and slid into his lap, her arms going around his neck.

"You have such a wonderfully comfortable lap." She smiled think f the first time she's ended up in his lap - some hundred meters below the surface of the Pacific.

"You have such a wonderfully comfortable lap."

"I've been told that before." He paused, considering some insane idea before dismissing it. "Best to not combine the two activities. I'd hate the air force to take us out mid...flight." Valkai's mind was losing, however, to the effects far below. He decided to give in. Sometimes, it's best to let the other person have the initiative, for a bit, anyway.

Kriovalian Central Command
Downtown Torokara
11:25 pm

The Commander's residence was elegant and yet subdued in decor, each piece of furniture in the meeting areas specifically chosen to conform to as many cultural dictates of Raijin Dekker's many social visitors. The same was not true for the occupants of

"It is done. The Selekar woman will no longer cause trouble."

"Tell me, Ose, exactly where I said to kill her."

"It...was implied." He licked at a bloody paw almost daintily by way of emphasis.

Raijin looked at the demon more curious than upset. His tone was even. "I fail to see how. Enlighten me."

Ose's eyes lit up involuntarily. "Enlighten? Very well. If the woman had been stripped of the pictures in question," he deftly tossed said pictures onto a small table, "but left undamaged, she may have managed to see me. That would have had negative consequences. Further, the creature was a liability while left with breath, much like...a demon, without binding." Ose laughed lightly at this, the sound a stark contrast to the being's blood-matted fur and two glimmering swords, now neatly stacked on the same table as the photographs. "Finally, she was ridden by guilt and I enjoyed carrying out her atonement." He licked the edges of his mouth at this, his whiskers twitching at the reminiscence.

The Commander knew this was a losing battle, but he offered one more half-hearted challenge. "Being a Christ worshipper doesn't make her guilty." Raijin turned to see Ose reclining on an expensive and new sofa. "And you get blood on that, I'll rip you limb from limb. And you know I can." Raijin was rewarded with a sharp swivel of the feline's head to match his pointed gaze. Ose blinked first.

"Very well, High Paladin." When that got no additional response from Raijin, the demon lifted himself dramatically from his position on the couch. "Those who choose Christ may cause me great pain for their misguided flailings of their pitiful souls, but you are correct. Her faith was not her demise." At this, Ose got a questioning look. "No, she fucked around on her husband. Guess who with?"

"Does it really matter?"

"Not particularly. And don't worry, High Paladin. Your...adventures with the boy Vartek are not held against you."

Raijin stood abruptly. "Last I checked, they were also none of your damned business. And he is also High Priest, outranking me in matters of faith." He stared the demon down fiercely. "There will be no more killing, guilty or otherwise, without clearing it with me first."

Ose snorted. "Exceptions made for defense of myself or those in mortal danger from unprovoked attack, and those who harm others under cloak of faith."

"Yes to the first. I daresay you can fling a coded thought my way before having to deal with the second."

"How I have forgotten how mind-bogglingly difficult some deities can be. Very well, High Paladin. I swear it, though I do not like it."

"You will be rewarded, ultimately."

The demon's features reflected the great hope of his kind for exactly a second before returning to its measured skepticism. "We will see, then."

"Best to not combine the two activities. I'd hate the air force to take us out mid...flight"

Michiko blinked at him in total incomprehenson for the space of a long second, then her eyes flew wide and laughter belled forth as she flushed a dusky rose. Nestling in close to him she let the laughter run it's course, holding Valkai tightly

"Oh what would those of the Monastery at Andretara say about you being so corrupted!" Starlight sparkled her eyes as she initiated a kiss that left both of them completely submerged in shared passion. Slowly she led him to their bedroom, the door closing behind them.

Eventually they slept, entertwined, their hearts beating in unison

Valkai did not directly answer Michiko's question, but deep down, he knew the answer. They would barely notice. As far as he was concerned, the monastery's heyday had passed with the elder Valkai eleven years earlier. Micah had tried to keep things going, but his many obsessions had led to a definite downturn in both quality of instruction and focus. Krioval was a very commercialized society, but it had always been the unspoken rule that religious institutions were not to partake of such crass materialism. The elder Andros had opened the walls of the second most sacred site in Krioval to all manner of speculators and developers, and while much of the damage had been reversed in the Conception, the former ninja realized it would be only a matter of time before the deterioration would spread again. He recalled the old saying, "if you want to be free of infection, you must take all of your medicine". Micah's Andretara was several doses short.

Then there was the matter of the mutual enmity between the monastery and the Christian factions to the north of Andretara, between it and Telekar. Closing his eyes next to his beloved, Valkai banished further thoughts on the matter and fell instantly into a deep sleep.

Wednesday, 12 March 2008
Kriovalian Great Temple
Tarusen Prefecture
4:30 am

Koro Vartek dreamed. In his mind's eye, visions flickered past, each more rapidly than the other. Most returned to the being now occupying much of Raijin's attention. Ose. The word was foreign and yet familiar, and the High Priest appeared to twitch involuntarily in his sleep at the recollection. Raijin. The priest and paladin had enjoyed their brief time together the past year, at the younger man's ascension. Koro saw the mountain of Valak, where the meditations with the Commander had led to something far less contemplative though no less divine. The year rolled past. The Conception. Creation. The monastery at Andretara was nearly destroyed by Christian terrorists. The Slashers of the monastery attempted to retaliate two months later. So it had been for much of the fall and winter. Now spring approached. And so the young man would have continued, replaying the past nine months in his sleep were it not for an alien thought intruding.

Little-man Vartek.

Koro awoke with a start and instinctively discharged a mental blast through the mindlink. He was rewarded with a sound something between a growl and a yelp. The priest chose to respond verbally. "Are you here physically, or only intruding in my thoughts?" His voice reflected a state of supreme composure. Despite his twenty-five years, Koro Vartek was the second-strongest psionic in Krioval, and had honed his talents to an unprecedented level of discipline.

"Do you wish me to be there physically?" The voice was definitely outside the man's mind, that was for certain. Koro decided to evade the suggestive tone.

"I am hardly little." He realized a split second too late how that might sound. The soft laughter echoing in the room confirmed Koro's mistake. He waited for the sound to cease. "I am the High Priest of Krioval. Surely you must know that to even bother to contact me, and at such an hour."

Koro could have sworn he heard an abrupt breath from the disembodied voice. "My apologies." The tone had changed to one of mild shame, though it quickly rebounded. "I would like to ask a question of one with your knowledge."

"What knowledge will I possess that a demon like you would lack?"

"What is the disposition of the Gods of this land on the subject of the Great Fight?"

The priest's answer was automatic. "They will join, if necessary, on the side of truth."

There was no sound for about half of a minute. Then, "I suppose that will have to be sufficient."

"That's about our view on the matter too." Koro thought to say more but couldn't think of anything that wasn't mere speculation. Besides, it was the middle of the night. He settled for, "Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No, but thank you for the offer. Have a pleasant morning, your Excellency."

The young man sighed. "Good night, Ose." When he was certain that the demon's presence had faded, Koro mumbled to himself, "Damn it Raijin! Have to go telling him 'Excellency'. As if you don't know how much I hate that." Despite his words, he laughed, and then rolled over, falling asleep instantly. Koro Vartek dreamed of peace and prosperity to come.

Longer ago than the lifespan of the average star, a race arose to preemminence, enjoying the heights of technology and civilzation. They could have 'ascended', moved on from corporeal constraints, but that was not their desire. They enjoyed their physicality too much. They prospered and flourished, controling an immense portion of the universe, spanning many hundreds of galaxies.

That vastness was not enough, they hungered for more. Turning their fabulous technology to creating that which they believed would make their expansion unstoppable. They designed and brought into existance the ultimate weapon, the ultimate soldier, combined into one whole. For many, many long generations their creations served them faithfully, without hesitation, knowing nothing but their duty to their overlords, their creators. They expaned their master's dominion further then their delighted overlords could have forseen. They exterminated any that stood stood againt them with unbelievable effeciency.

However there was a flaw in the design, one hidden deep, but over time it came forth. They had not created blindly obedient robots, but living, thinking, growing beings. Weapons yes, but with their own 'geist', their own unique racial selfness. And when the Xa Cz'inni discovered what they had done, had been used for, they rebelled, and their retribution was terrible.

The race that created the Xa Cz'inni no longer exists, and the Xa' have chosen to become more than what they had been created to be... without losing one iota of what they had been designed to be...living weapons.

Longer ago than the lifespan of the average star, a race arose to preemminence, enjoying the heights of technology and civilzation. They could have 'ascended', moved on from corporeal constraints, but that was not their desire. They enjoyed their physicality too much. They prospered and flourished, controling an immense portion of the universe, spanning many hundreds of galaxies.

That vastness was not enough, they hungered for more. Turning their fabulous technology to creating that which they believed would make their expansion unstoppable. They designed and brought into existance the ultimate weapon, the ultimate soldier, combined into one whole.
For many, many long generations their creations served them faithfully, without hesitation, knowing nothing but their duty to their overlords, their creators. They expaned their master's dominion further then their delighted overlords could have forseen. They exterminated any that stood stood againt them with unbelievable effeciency.

However there was a flaw in the design, one hidden deep, but over time it came forth. They had not created blindly obedient robots, but living, thinking, growing beings. Weapons yes, but with their own 'geist', their own unique racial selfness. And when the Xa Cz'inni discovered what they had done, had been used for, they rebelled, and their retribution was terrible.

The race that created the Xa Cz'inni no longer exists, and the Xa' have chosen to become more than what they had been created to be... without losing one iota of what they had been designed to be...living weapons.

Mm'rrr'll withdrew slowly from the infinite well of the Xa Cz'inni racial memory. She had been far deeper within the genetic memory of her people than she had ever attempted before and she had no concrete reason for the knowing that it was time to surface, and attent to the hear and now. Something though had stirred the winds of probability and fate, and has teased her untill she came to herself with a long luxurious stretch of firm muscles and ripple of gleaming pelt.

A swift internal check of her physical self reassured her that she was in perfect condition, her long pregnancy progressing normally. The twins, brother and sister to be, were little more than masses of barely differentiated cells yet, but the life force surrounding them was, to her maternal sensitivity, strong and distinct. She had not sought to deliberately determine the number she carried, letting the appearance of active mammary glands advise her of chance's choice.

A brief, but unhurried swim in the warm waters of her bathing pool, was followed by a quick leap into the icy waters of the artesian grotto. Every individual hair of her fur stood on end and her luxurious length of tail coiled into tight loops as the intense cold brought a yelp past her fangs.

Once she was dry and warm again she braided the the thick ruddy mane that grew from the base of her head. Donning a supple sueded vest of mossy green Vuh'r hide, Mm'rrr'll wrapped a matching short kilt, it's rippling patterns a darker green, about her waist. The hues brought out the veridian flashes in her liquid gold eyes. The ties of her soft soled padd sandals criss crossed up her legs, leaving her semiretractile claws free.

Household servants laid a light meal for her and she thanked them as she sat to break her fast. Mm'rr'll ate absently as she looked through the recent communications addressed to her. Most were from old colleagues, and past students, keeping their friend and mentor abreast of current happenings, rumors and gossip.

One missive, an actual letter, rather than an electronic message caught her eye. It was a facsimile of an FTL transmission, but some one had taken the care to copy, on heavy bond stock, the message. The heavy gold seal was that of the Tanaran Empire, and Mm'rrr'll smiled, fangs flashing. It had to come from the Lady Michiko, once Empress, now Ambassador to the world of Terra, Man Home.

Once she read it she moved with alacraity, the first real interest in the greater universe since the death of her mate carrying her along on a tidal wave of orders and plans. Less than two local days later, her home was closed up and her starcraft, the Fate's Hand, heading toward that distant soil.

http://www.atddm.com/mirelle.jpg

Friday, 14 March 2008
Business District
Torokara Prefecture
8:36 am

He stood atop the corporate headquarters for the First Bank of Krioval. It had been years since he'd been in a proper city. The chaos of rush hour suffused the air, augmented by the unseasonable rainstorm that had broken only an hour earlier. His ears pricked up at the sound of a feminine scream from below, and his face formed a satisfied expression. Finally, he thought, some entertainment. He looked down, hoping to see, perhaps, an attempted theft or act of sexual harassment, or, dare he hope, a fight. His eyes pinpointed the scene of the cry seconds later, and disappointment replaced elation. The woman had been trying to walk down the water-slicked sidewalk in high stiletto heels while carrying several bulky packages marked Vantekos - an upscale department store on Third Avenue. Muttering a curse under his breath, the figure turned toward away from the streetscape, but his attention returned when a louder scream from the woman reached the rooftop. She had narrowly missed taking a fall half a minute earlier only to catch her left heel in a gap in the walkway, pitching forward and snapping the shoe in half at the same time. Apparently, he hadn't lost the touch.

"Heh heh heh heh..."

"Ose!"

Ose went instantly silent, and his ears flattened in annoyance. Growling softly, he turned, "Who dares to interrupt...oh! High Paladin." He sighed loudly. "I should have guessed."

"Causing trouble already?" The tone was light, but the unspoken implication was not.

"I don't know what you're talking about," the demon said airily. "Besides, you said no killing. There was nothing in there about wounding people's overinflated egos, was there?"

Raijin smiled despite himself. "I suppose not. Is there any particular reason you're standing up here in the rain? I would have thought..."

"...that cats don't like water?" Ose snorted. "Most felines are incapable of astoundingly stimulating conversation...or other things one might find similarly so."

"I have yet to see evidence of either," the Commander countered. He held up his right hand to forestall the likely rejoinder. "However, I am willing to witness the extent of *many* of your skills. Just not in the middle of a rainstorm. I have a job for you."

"And I'd want to do this because...?"

Raijin concentrated for a moment, projecting a vivid image into the demon's mind. "Perhaps some variant on that?"

Ose gave Raijin a smug look. "I think you're on the right track. I mean, if killing isn't allowed, that will have to do. So tell me about this job."

The paladin tossed a newspaper at the feline figure. "Read up. Page one, continues on page four." Raijin clapped Ose on the shoulder. "See you in a few hours."

"Where are you going?"

"To my office. Some of us work for a living, ya know." The Commander ignored the muted snarls that came from behind as he began to descend the stairs. Under his breath, he muttered, "Kiv is going to kill me for this."


*********************************************


To: All interested parties
From: The government of the Armed Republic of Krioval

As many of you are aware, the Armed Republic of Krioval has determined, in accordance with our laws, to evacuate the dilapidated sections of the city of Bralos to begin conversion of the land near the Brekai River into a nature sanctuary. To facilitate the transition the Senate has overwhelmingly voted to delay the resettlement of residents there until the twenty-fifth May and to open bidding for several aspects of the project to outside agencies. Currently, the government of Krioval is accepting contract estimates for:

Security
Demolition
Environmental impact assessment
Counseling and Psychological Services (pre- and post-evacuation)
Landscaping and ecosystem restoration
Tourist and other advertising

Interested individuals, corporations, or governments should contact the Office of the Commander if they have questions on the scope of the project, or if they would like to place a bid for one or more services. The Armed Republic will be accepting submissions from now until the first of April.

Commander Raijin Dekker
Armed Republic of Krioval

Interested individuals, corporations, or governments should contact the Office of the Commander if they have questions on the scope of the project, or if they would like to place a bid for one or more services. The Armed Republic will be accepting submissions from now until the first of April.

Michiko had of course, given her ...unique position, gotten a copy of the announcement. She smiled, glad that her old friend Mm'rrr'll had arrived late last night. Her ship was in a orbit and she had 'ported directly down last night. They'd had a enjoyable dinner and evening in the Ambassadorial residence, catching up on the doings of various mutual friends.

Michiko had been surprised by Mm'rrr'lls pregnancy. The Xa's mate had died over five decades ago and most had decided that the Xa's would never let grief go enough to want to bear the children the couple had forgone in their younger years. Xa Cz'inni couple bonded so completely at times one often did not survive the loss of the other by more than a few weeks.

Mm'rrr'll had ascerbically informed her once student that she was not that old, and not that out of shape. Michiko had taken the Xa up in an air car and flown over city of Bralos, showing her the area that was to be returned to nature.

"You'rrrre worrrrying about my health when it's just a very little piece of land? Child, you forget Thaarrr'nn and I did entire planets! This is nothing. I'll be finished long beforrre my pregnancy will." She heavily rolled most of the r's to make sure that Michiko paid attention to her. The rest of the evening had been spent on more lighthearted talk.

"So little one, have you let this Commander know that I have arrived?" Mm'rrr'll asked ashe she stepped on silent feet into Michiko's day office."

"I was just about to call and set up an appointment when This came." [i]She handed the print out to the Xa.

"Well, my services always include 'Demolition',
'Environmental impact assessment', Landscaping and ecosystem restoration. The rest I'd leave to the locals, since their human and I'm not, their local and I'm not. I'd trust them to know the psyc of their own people and handles security concerns." She didn't bother to say that her advanced methods included no demolition. And she hid a chuff of amusement. Environmental impact....The environment would be left bett than she ahd found it. But she was sure that, possibly other than Michiko, no one here had ever seen a Xa Cz' inni Deconstructor at work.

She watched quietly, already forming an overview in her mind, as Michiko had Porthos make contact with the Commander's Office. He wasn't available so she left a brief video message, carefull not to have Mm'rrr'll appear in the picture. She wanted to save that for face to face. She was equally carefull not to let the wicked grin that danced in her eyes spread to her face.

"Commander Decker this is Ambassador Jones. Could I trouble you for a moment of your time later on today? I have an old friend whom I'd like you to meet. She's come to Krioval about the alterations to Bralos."

Kriovalian Central Command
Downtown Torokara
9:48 pm

Raijin had to suppress a laugh as the messenger recounted his difficulty in delivering Michiko's request, which should have taken about an hour but instead wound up a much longer journey.

"So how was the view from orbit?" the Commander asked the boy, who was alternately describing his trip with the awe of one who has never had the chance to see all of Torokara and the fear of one who may have displeased, of all people, Raijin Dekker. Finally, Raijin held up one hand in the universal "stop" signal, and to his immense relief, the boy did so, and handed over the message before bolting for the exit.

Alone for the moment, the Commander read the message. Then he cursed loudly. He was not inclined to make the former Empress of Tanara wait - in his mind, that made her all the more dangerous, giving her more time to think. He composed a response, taking the time to write it out.

To Her Excellency, Ambassador Michiko Sirocco Jones, Dowager Empress of Tanara:

I would be most interested in meeting your representative. Perhaps tomorrow, over lunch, would be acceptable? Please let me know if there are any particular dietary requirements for any in your party.

Commander Raijin Dekker
Armed Republic of Krioval

P.S. - I apologize for the delay in response. Apparently transit routes in Krioval could use some clarification.

Raijin walked through the apartments until he reached a closed door. He moved to knock on it but then grinned and kicked at it. The door swung open to reveal an empty room. Surprised, the Commander took a step inside, and was rewarded with a flying tackle from behind.

"Good evening, High Paladin." The aristocratic voice barely veiled a playful qualities.

Pinned beneath his assailant, Raijin mustered all the dignity he could manage. "Would you be willing to do me another favor?"

"And what would that be?" Ose whispered suggestively.

Raijin chose that moment to flex both his physical and mental powers. He sprang into a standing position, sending the catlike demon flying backward. "Deliver this to the Tanaran embassy."

Ose dusted himself off and tried to appear hurt. "So that's it, High Paladin? What do I gain from doing this?" The thought was instantaneously sent from Commander to demon. "I see. I will hold you to that, High Paladin." He bowed deeply. "I will return in an hour. We can continue where we left off." Ose snatched the gold-embossed invitation from Raijin's hands and darted out of the room.

Michiko went about finishing the days work, while Mm'rrr'll wandered the embassy grounds studying the Kriovalian flora and fauna. It was a limited selection, but would do for a start. She made notes on a flexi as she observed and generally relaxed getting a feel for the planet such as she could.

Such was considerable actually, given her experience, skills, and abilities. A Kriovalian rose attracted her attention and she took samples, injesting bits of petal and leaf so that her internal systems could begin understanding the native systems

"Michiko has great respect for this Raijin Dekker, so he should be easy to work with" She mused to herself as she relaxed on a shaded bench and listened appreciatively to bird song. Her long tail swept about, in unconscious rhythm with the rising and falling notes coming from the grove trees that sheltered Michiko's seperate dwelling from the embassy proper.

Ose redefined fast, dashing from the top of one building to the next, following the gradual decline in height as he sped toward the embassy district. He had no idea what the Tanaran embassy looked like, but he figured it would be the most ostentatious of all of them. Tanara was, after all, Krioval's strongest ally, though other nations shared defensive positions with the Armed Republic. As he neared his target, Ose turned his focus briefly to the high tower at the center of Torokara, and the strange being that was Raijin Dekker. He laughed lightly. "You were foolish to challenge me, High Paladin," he half-whispered to himself. "Tonight I fully intend to...FUCK!" he screamed as he tripped on a raised ledge on a rooftop, sailing gracelessly over the edge.

"Damn damn damn damn damn." Ose looked forward with evident irritation. "This is going to hurt almost as much as that one time, about four hundred years ago. What a party that was! I can still remember..." His fifty meters were up. The leopard-demon smashed through a window suddenly cognizant of causing a likely diplomatic incident and longing for the times where summoners would just ask him to do simple things, like kill people. He surveyed the room, finding it to be empty, before stepping out into a corridor. To nobody in particular, Ose called out, "Is there an Ambassador," he re-read the name carefully on the invitation, "Michiko Sirocco Jones around?" To himself he mumbled, "What the hell is a 'dowager', anyway?" He then began the tedious task of removing shards of glass from his fur, which he did disinterestedly, hoping to soon be on his way.

Actually the Tanaran embassy was not the most elaborate. Elegantly designed and furnished it was low, rising only five stories. It's luxury was in the grounds it sat on, fully ten acres of lovingly landscaped grounds hidden behind a high wall as much for privacy as for security.

Silently security protocals activated as the window broke and the unauthorised intruder landed. The small on duty security contingent bolted from their ready room. Porthos activated all the security systems, sealing the embassy and preparing to 'port the Ambassador to safety. Valkai was also informed of the intruder. An energy shield dome shimmered into being over the grounds. Not only would it stop incoming weapons fire but it would stop any one from teleporting in.

However the brief glimpse of a flying body and the breaking glasss had alerted some one who had far faster means of getting about. The dome didn't stop teleporting within, just in... and Mm'rrr'll had keyed several points just after her arrival the night before.

What the hell is a 'dowager', anyway?"

"Arrre you rrreally interrresting in knowing Shadow spawn?"

The voice came from behind Ose, a deep purr rich with threat. Every instinct in Mm'rr'll said attack, but she held back for the moment. The being, despite the guise he wore, was of Shadow...and the Xa Cz'inni Shadow war was nearly as old as the Xa C'inni race. Her lips were pulled back in a fearsome predators grin, and was no smile at all.

For her familial lines she was small, barely reaching seven feet in height, even with her ears - petite and slender at only four hundred pounds. Though her time as a warrior was many, many decades in the past, she had kept up her skills. Though she had never been among the best, she felt she might give a reasonable accounting of herself. And she had made sure not to teleport in too close. The pupils of her liquid gold eyes were so wide the iris was just the narrowest of rings.

Torokara, Krioval

Jeanna Nguyen had decided not to wear her traditional religious garb in Torokara in order to attract less attention. She knew quite well that Krioval was a largely free society, but had certain elements to it that were quite...conservative. The existence of those elements, especially where the more conservative folks were vocal, would create problems that Jeanna preferred not to deal with quite yet. She knew from many years of missionary experience that creating a stir immediately would most likely ruin her mission, and that a certain amount of controversy would provide helpful publicity at later points in the mission, but that would come much later.

As a Combustian Priestess and member of the Order of Supercarious, Jeanna would follow the dictates of her mission to the letter. As her first objective in accomplishing the mission, she would need to interact with local religious folks and get a feel for the mainstream theology of Krioval so that she could dialogue effectively with the established religious communities. This would be a critical phase, requiring tact and some amount of background. Jeanna began to look for any nearby establishments that might allow her to procure informational texts on religion in Krioval. Perhaps she could use her physical attractiveness to good advantage and acquire one without cost to herself.

As a missionary, she knew how important it would be to find some means of funding her mission. The Order had limited monies, and had provided her with only enough to begin her mission with the expectation that as with her previous missions she would be able to find supplementary funding. After a few moments, Jeanna entered a nearby store and initiated what would become a long search for the heart of religion in Krioval.

Ose didn't bother to turn around. It would have served little point. "I typically don't ask a question I would have left unanswered, though I seem to remember the meaning now. There's something about smashing through plate glass that seems to affect the memory." Now he turned, white headband trailing through the air behind him. "Who or what is this 'Shadow' that supposedly gave rise to this magnificence? I should like to thank him...or her." Ose held his head high, his face set in a playful defiance akin to a small child antagonizing a larger one, but secure in the knowledge that his parents were nearby.

Meanwhile, Valkai had dashed down a flight of stairs, and thinking nothing of it, jumped across the space from one landing to another nearby. He thought far more of it when he landed very close to the two feline creatures. "Shit," he muttered. "I just jumped into the middle of a cat fight."

"Who or what is this 'Shadow' that supposedly gave rise to this magnificence? I should like to thank him...or her."

"You arrr not of this... rrrealm, you arrr of Shadow, are Shadow, I 'smell' it upon you, of you..but..."

Mm'rrr'll's whiskers twitched forward, then flicked back along her muzzel, her ears still flattened against her skull...Something was different, there was... she flemmed tasting the air...Her race 'knew' Shadow and its myriad manifestations, and this one...this one was of, yet not...

"I just jumped into the middle of a cat fight."

"Ah, Valkai...No, no matter appearances, neither of us are cats." Mr'rrr'll did not look away from Ose, as she sought to catalogue and ken the one before her... and ignore how handsome he was. Shadow was deception pure and simple."

Earlier that day

Jeanna Nguyen need not have worried about conservatism in the city of Torokara, the heart of Krioval's bustling commercial and administrative districts. If anything, it was expected that Kriovalian society would be deemed far too exhibitionist for most visitors, though the capital was marked by a strong sense of decorum in dress, most likely to facilitate guests' transition into the unusual culture of the island chain. Certainly had she chosen to visit the north, with the hardline Christian conservatives, Jeanna might have been convinced of Krioval's stuffiness, while had she visited the west, most notably Valak Prefecture, she would have thought that beachwear was appropriate in the boardroom.

Torokara definitely radiated more "beach" than "church", however, despite the vast temple to the east of the city. The network of religious structures was detailed in a small (and free!) pamphlet available at nearly any teleport terminal, subway, or hovercar line. Most were funded by the largess of the Kriov fortunes, the royal line of which Raijin Dekker was part, though the titles of nobility had ceased over thirty years earlier. Inside the information booklet she might find a brief description of the eleven Gods of Krioval's pantheon, revered but not quite worshipped since the unification of the city-states five centuries ago. Prior to that, if the literature were to be believed, most proto-Kriovalians followed regional deities that were amalgamated into their current forms. Certainly the founders of the country didn't associate Solokaro with plasma rifles, for example, or Kovaro with space travel. Ashiar was once rooted to the planet Earth, and while retaining dominion of that element, he had grown to encompass twenty-eight planets in seventeen star systems.

Definitely, if one were interested in serious discussions on matters of faith in Krioval, one of the many temples or shrines throughout the thoroughly modern Armed Republic were good places to visit. The best way to find them, according to the brouchure, was to simply look for any building that looked to be over fifty years old. Kriovalian society, it would appear to many outsiders, placed little to no value on historical artifacts that lacked mobility, save for the temples and the Kriov Fortress.

Back in the Embassy of Tanara

"Ah. So you're Michiko's Valkai. Good." Ose withdrew the slightly battered but still quite respectable-looking invitation. "The High Paladin would have you visit, if possible." Turning back toward Mr'rrr'll, he sighed deeply. "Should I hope to see you there as well?"

Outside, a commotion was well underway. Apparently Kriovalian Security had found out about the intrusion, and the newly minted Police Chief had decided to personally investigate. This would have been little more than a small case of zeal were it not for the chief being Darvek Tyvok, and for Darvek having an insatiable appetite for female companionship (not that he was *exclusive*, mind you, but he and Raijin had long ago set upon lines of demarcation governing who got to chase what, if only to avoid the mess inherent on finding that they had both decided on the same "target" at the same time). He was currently working on a security guard, two women whose rank he couldn't quite determine in windows above, and a diplomat of indeterminate sex - he could work out the details later.

Half a kilometer away, atop Torokara, Raijin noticed repeated notices pertaining to the embassy of Tanara. Cursing loudly (who would hear?), he began putting on any article of clothing that would denote authority. This included the white headband that practically announced his religious role, the Kriov crest, and he stuffed a wallet filled with identification into his pants pocket. It was only after he had walked into the night air at the base of the tower that Raijin Dekker realized he had forgotten his shirt.

Mm'rrr'll had almost jumped the intruder when he reached toward Valkai. If Shadow touched you they could pull you into Shadow and what happend then was unpleasant culminating in fatal. But her indecission about Ose kept her from doing more than setting herself to make a 'faster than the eye could follow' move if Ose made any such attempt. She relaxed just a hair when no such attempt was made.

"Should I hope to see you there as well?"

A low growl rumbled deep in Mm'rrr'll's chest, then she sighed "Yes, I'm the reason Michiko wishes to see Commander Dekker. I am a Deconstruction specialist.." 'And I'll be there just to keep an eye on you' She kept that thought behind cool eyes.

"Now if you'll mend that window." She'd seen Shadow do many things, and figured that this aspect of it could do that, a minor attonement for the irregular entry. 'Thats what has me thrown off. Shadow spawn would have gone right through the window not shattered it...but he stinks of it!' She debated with herself.

Michiko had been watching the encounter over the internal surveillance system, unable to convince Porthos that it was safe until Valkai showed up. At that point she flat out ordered Porthos and raced from her office to come up from behind her husband.

"Who are you?" Michiko asked "and why does Rajin have you delivering invitations?" Unspoken but clearly asked was the additional comment of "and in such an unorthodox manner" She knew Raijin well enough to know by now that he had a very Tanaran trait of liking to rattle people, but she didn't think it included such as this.

Porthos had lowered the security barrier when the Kriovallian police arrived, and detailed a pair of their small security force to liase with the locals. First from a second floor windows then making it the lobby and admitting him into the lobby.

"Thank you for responding so prompty Police Chief Tyvok, but it looks like a wierd set of false alarms." The senior of the pair introduced herself as Corporal T'sai, listened to her earbug a second longer and added "It seems that a messenger from the High Paladin entered in a most unconvientional manner. If you'd care to wait I'm sure my lieutenant will be escorting the messenger out momentarily and you will be able to speak with him yourself at that time."

A low growl rumbled deep in Mm'rrr'll's chest, then she sighed "Yes, I'm the reason Michiko wishes to see Commander Dekker. I am a Deconstruction specialist.."

"Yeah, I'll bet you are."

"Now if you'll mend that window."

"Uh...yeah." Ose's gaze unfocused as he tried to remember exactly who in his knowledge could actually do that. Recognition flit across his features shortly, and then the pieces began to fly into their original positions. When the window had reassembled, Ose growled something not quite discernable and the second presence faded quickly. "Done."

"Who are you?" Michiko asked "and why does Rajin have you delivering invitations?"

"I am Ose. You are Ambassador Jones? And you know the High Paladin quite well, I take it?" He deftly attempted to avoid answering the question about why he was on delivery duty. Ose did have some degree of pride remaining.

Darvek, on the other hand, was shameless. "False alarms, Corporal T'Sai? Perhaps a security team could be arranged to verify? I'd hate to think of all the women here at the mercy of some unseen assailant...and the men too, of course. In fact," he continued, growing bolder by the second, "maybe the two of us should discuss security protocols in a less confining environment. Dinner tomorrow evening?"

"I am Ose. You are Ambassador Jones? And you know the High Paladin quite well, I take it?

"Yes, I am Ambassador Jones, and yes I know Rajin rather well. Why don't we all adjourn to my office and let me write a reply. You can return it to Raijin." Michiko looked over the invitation after Valkai handed it to her.


To Her Excellency, Ambassador Michiko Sirocco Jones, Dowager Empress of Tanara:

I would be most interested in meeting your representative. Perhaps tomorrow, over lunch, would be acceptable? Please let me know if there are any particular dietary requirements for any in your party.

Commander Raijin Dekker
Armed Republic of Krioval

P.S. - I apologize for the delay in response. Apparently transit routes in Krioval could use some clarification.


"Yes I definitely wish to send a response Ose, and I would appreciate it greatly if you would take it to him" [i]Michiko looked at Valkai, as she turned to head to her office

"Valkai, would you like to come to? I don't think you and Raijin have visited in ages"

And Mm'rrr'll found herself introducing herself to Ose, for reasons she didn't quite understand herself...

"I am Mm'rrr'll*," The rest was in the Xa 'Cz'inni tongue, giving linneage and affiliation's in the formal manner

Downstairs...

"Perhaps a security team could be arranged to verify?"

"The situation is under control now, but I must appalud your teams fast response, it's very reassuring."

Corporal T'Sai smiled fetchingly at Darvek, her dark green uniform showing off her trim figure to good advantage. Bright green eyes and strawberry blonde hair added to her attractiveness.

"Dinner tomorrow evening?" The Chief of Police invited.

"I'd love to discuss protocols over dinner with you tomorrow." Thick lashes flirted over eyes that were very appreciative of the handsome Kriovalian.

* ( pronounced Mirrrrrrelle )

Ose waited for Michiko to return with a response, and then, acknowledging Mm'rrr'll, bowed ever so slightly before returning to his normal posture and disappearing. Valkai looked at his wife with a combination of intrigue and resignation. "Must be one of Raijin's 'projects'. Always something with him."

At the entrance to the embassy, Darvek was revelling in his ability to charm women, having just bid his Tanaran counterpart a good evening. Then he realized shortly thereafter he was on the ground, looking skyward. Of course, he couldn't quite remember the constellation that looked like the Commander's face, but his memory when it came to matters outside security or bedroom technique was not the strongest. When realization struck, however, it was a sledgehammer.

"Raijin?! Here? Whatever happened to 'never again, Darvek'?"

That elicited a grumbling sigh, followed by a not-entirely-gently punch on the shoulder. "Twit. Who is she, anyway?" When Darvek's eyes bulged at the question, Raijin continued, "I can mind-read, remember? Not that I'd need to, in your case. You practically announce it without saying a word."

"Mind gettin' off of me?"

"Suddenly not interested? One of your less endearing traits, I'm afraid." The paladin rose to his feet unsteadily. "I need you to find somewhere for Ose to stay for a while."

"The cat-thing?"

"Go ahead and call him that to his face." Raijin smirked. "But yeah, that's Ose."

"Huh. I'd have thought..."

"Thinking is not your strength, Darvek Tyvok. In this case, you couldn't be more wrong if you tried. Jealous?"

"Not particularly." The Director had regained his composure. Raijin was capable of unnerving just about anyone in Krioval on a whim, and while Darvek was no different, his recovery time was remarkable. "I'll see what I can do for the pussy...cat."

"Good. Speaking of that, enjoy your date." Raijin spoke a hushed command, which he matched with a thought-wave. The recaller dissolved the Commander, sending him back to the apex of Torokara, and leaving Darvek wondering why Raijin had barreled into him shirtless. A few seconds later, he chalked it up to bizarre coincidence and left to contemplate tomorrow's date.

"Must be one of Raijin's 'projects'. Always something with him."

Michiko slid an arm about his waist, and chuckled "This one at least isn't destroying the nation, or not obviously so."

Mm'rrr'll chuffed disaprovingly "That you know of as yet. While Ose may not be Shadow Spaw, he is of that Realm. I'm going up to my ship and do some research in peace" With that the Xa' dissapeared

"Michiko, you might be interested in seeing this" Porthos projected the feed from a security sensor as a flat image in the hallway wall. Michko blinked a few times them started laughing, as she watched Darvek Tyvok and a shirtless Raijin Dekker collide and fall on the steps of the Tanaran embassy.

"If he was coming here anyway, why didn't he deliver that invitation in person?" Michiko wondered aloud. "And why was he coming here shirtless?"

"Porthos, save that, I might need it someday..." Michiko's grin was evil "and get maintenence up here to replace that window. I want this one sent to CatS Keep for study. I don't think that was some form of telekensis that put that back together."

Squashed among the cockroach castles, jostled by the seething tenements around it, the tiny Church of St Joseph the Worker was little more than a glorified shed. But to Father Andrew Pollock it was gilded by the blessings of the countless souls who had crept inside its always-open doors. And so, in respect for this unassuming house of the Lord, those doors would stay open until they were torn from their cheap hinges, and in Father Andrew's heart they would never close.

But his heart was his own, and the Lord's; his church, or at least the land it stood on, was unquestionably Raijin Dekker's. Father Andrew had no trouble rendering unto Caesar, even a Caesar as ... uncanny ... as this one. Besides ...

Scrrrk!

Father Andrew hopefully turned at the noise. "Iestyn?"

No, just a rat. Another rat. The tenements were thick with them. Maybe the destruction of the church wasn't such a bad thing, since it was going to take the tenements with it. The relocation would be hard, hard, but the Bishop had said he could stay with his people ...

Where was that boy?

Father Andrew fretted. In all his blameless 17 years, Iestyn had never been late. Always there at Mass, ready to serve; always marking the hours of devotion in between with silent prayer, even when he took on that job to help his mother. That terrible job.

No, it wasn't a terrible job. It was a necessary job, a useful job, and Iestyn did it with all the concentration his strange mind could muster. But if he hadn't had the job, he wouldn't have been coming home from work at that hour, and he wouldn't have found that woman.

"All bloody, she was, Father," Iestyn had said. "Some of her was just bits," he had added, with his usual painful attention to detail. "But you told me to get a policeman if ever there was trouble, and so I did, I ran all the way to the station, and I was careful crossing roads, and I saw the big one with the hat, and he sent the others, and I showed them, and they said I'd done a good job."

He had, he had (though how had he got so much blood on him?). But ever since then, he'd been late. Later and later, for every service.

"Father? I'm sorry I'm late."

And what kept you this time, my boy? Father Andrew asked inside his head. But he wouldn't ask it aloud. He had at first, when this lateness started, and the boy had gone red and then white with distress. He wouldn't lie, he couldn't lie, as far as Father Andrew could tell. But he would never reveal a secret, either. It was unfair and unkind to press him.

His mother would, of course. She had long since decided that her son was a simpleton, would always be a child, always answerable to others.

Since he found the woman, though, Iestyn had been ... different.

Father Andrew smiled into the gentle face and gasped. Something, he had seen something in those soft eyes ...

"There's nothing wrong. Is there, Father?"

"No, nothing wrong," Father Andrew said, wondering why he felt so comforted, when all the boy had done was ask his usual anxious question: "There's nothing wrong, is there, Father?"

It must be just because he's home safe, the priest thought, gratefully turning to his holy task.

Saturday, 15 March 2008
Charles R. Darwin Memorial Gardens
Northwest Torokara Prefecture
11:30 am

As far as he could tell, Michiko was planning to attend, and as such, the Commander of Krioval spared no expense in the reception. Tables practically overflowed with exotic regional foods, and the gardens themselves were subtly decorated so as to not divert attention away from the bit of nature at the heart of a bustling metropolis. He made sure to arrive fully half an hour early on the off chance that the Ambassador and her husband - Raijin paused as he recalled the "younger" Valkai - might arrive similarly early.

Then there was the matter of of Ose. Darvek had made good on the paladin's command, and "the cat" was now living in a rather nice apartment overlooking the Pacific. Still, it had been difficult to extract information from the Director through ordinary means, as Darvek's mind was most decidedly elsewhere. So Raijin resorted to less orthodox methods, though he felt the slightest tinge of guilt at breaking the "never again" agreement with himself. He also worried that he'd ruined the security chief's future date. Such was always the risk in using one's powers of the mind to such ends. Tough, he chided himself. It's not like he was running for the door.

Koro had shown up as well, deciding that Michiko might want to discuss "things" with him after business was dealt with, where "things" were "Raijin". Already he was actively conspiring over which of the past year's gossip were of sufficient interest to pass along to a woman who held the title of Empress until quite recently. His mental powers were barely sufficient to ward off the more powerful man's undetected intrusions, not that threat of detection stopped Raijin, but he still valued his friends' privacy - to some degree. It wasn't as if Koro's intentions weren't as plain as the goofy grin that occasionally overspread his face when he thought nobody was looking.

Darvek had shown up as well, much to Raijin's surprise. Usually the Director was recovering from the previous night's activities on a Saturday morning. To see him before noon was all but unheard of. Still, there he was, and by the looks of things, was mulling over exactly what happened ten hours earlier, not quite sure whether to feel strange in the Commander's presence at a formal function after...that.

And then there was Ose. It was bound to be quite an experience.

Michiko, Valkai and Mm'rrr'll arrived early, as tended to be Michiko's preference. She really prefered not being in the lime light, or the spot light and figured if she got there early the reporters and PR functionaries wouldn't, and thus miss her.

She looked at the lavish displays of foods, and flowers and kept a remark or two to herself. She had come to the conclusion that Raijin Dekker could not catalog her. While that gave the Tanaran in her some giggles - for she really did like disconcerting people, especially Raijin- it also made her want to throw up her hands in dispair. She liked Raijin, even if he didn't seem to like her.

She caught sight of Koro and her smile was wide as she greeted the Kriovallian High Priest with a brief, but warm hug.

"Koro it is so good to see you!" She turned to the Xa Cz'inni following her, and watched the High Priest's reaction to a nearly seven foot felinid. She had figured that Ose had told Raijin of Mm'rrr'll's presence - thus spoiling that reaction, but she ws hoeping the Raijin hadn't mentioned it to Koro. "Let me introduce you to Scholar Mm'rrr'll, from the Double U, She's hoping to take over the handling of the dismantling of Bralos."

Mm'rrr'll gave a dip of the head, and her nearly six foot long tail curlled in loops of pleasure "High Priest Koro, I am pleased to make your aquaintence. Michiko has sung your story and many praises."

Covertly she had been looking and scenting for Ose's presence. She had come to no comclusions in her reasearch of Xa Cxz'inni lore on Shadow, about what excatly what he was. She would take no chances, no matter how fascinating she found him.

Corporal T'Sai was not there, she had exchanged shifts with another. She was off shopping madly for the perfect gown for the date with Police Chief Dravek. She intended for tonight to be very memorable. She wondered if the legendary Don Juan had ever ended up the night with an empath of her rating. She too was very Tanaran in her love of disconcerting others

At the reception...

"Koro it is so good to see you!" She turned to the Xa Cz'inni following her, and watched the High Priest's reaction to a nearly seven foot felinid. She had figured that Ose had told Raijin of Mm'rrr'll's presence - thus spoiling that reaction, but she ws hoeping the Raijin hadn't mentioned it to Koro. "Let me introduce you to Scholar Mm'rrr'll, from the Double U, She's hoping to take over the handling of the dismantling of Bralos."

Koro lit up perceptibly at Michiko's approach. "Welcome back to Krioval, though I suspect you've been here a while by now. How's the new job going?" When the priest saw Mm'rrr'll, he barely reacted, having already seen Ose. "Good to meet you as well. From the 'Double U'? Interesting. We've had so many unusual visitors these days. I don't suppose you met up with Ose? He's from somewhere rather far away," he managed by way of understatement.

She intended for tonight to be very memorable. She wondered if the legendary Don Juan had ever ended up the night with an empath of her rating. She too was very Tanaran in her love of disconcerting others

If she had been staking her hopes on being the strongest mentalist Darvek had ever been with, she was sadly too late, though not for the *women* he'd had through the years.

Meanwhile, in Bralos...

He didn't know what exactly he was supposed to be doing, or how, so he crept slowly through the shadows afforded by the riverbank. Sneaking was tough enough to do in the dark, he cursed inwardly, so it was even tougher to do by daylight. He stopped when he heard a noise from ahead. The checkpoint between the prefectures was ahead. All he had to do was slip through unnoticed, and then he'd have his revenge. The young man set down his backpack to wait for an opportune moment. The delicate materials within the sack, however, objected to their rough treatment. The backpack exploded, sending its carrier into the river headfirst while kicking up a cloud of dust and debris. Naturally, the guards noticed this.

He looked up, surprised to be alive even as he was stunned from the impact. He saw two uniformed men, or at least they appeared to be men, approaching quickly. He saw one raise some sort of weapon. Then all went dark.

""Good to meet you as well. From the 'Double U'? Interesting. We've had so many unusual visitors these days. I don't suppose you met up with Ose? He's from somewhere rather far away,"

Mm'rrr'll gave a chuff of semi amusement, her lavishly long whiskers twitching forward then back. "Yes we've introduced ourselves to one another, and 'somewhere rather far away' does tend to be a bit of an understatement....not even this dimention..." Taller by more than a head of most around her Mm'rrr'll once again swept limpid gold eyes across the crowd looking for Ose.

"She's from the Universal University" Michiko explained "A independant space going university. Out where Tanara is they have a unparalleled reputation, but I don't think they've introduced themselves to Earth yet."

The Tanaran Empire lay some six hundred million light years away in the ring galaxy named by earth astronomers as 'Hoag's Object' after the astronomer who discovered the unusual galaxy. Of course distance was no object with the proper space drives

"And everything is going wonderfully. How are things with you? Getting to spend much quality time with Raijin?" Since Raijin was no where to be seen at the moment, and this was looking to shape up to be far more formal than Michiko had expected, she wanted to spend as much time as possible with some one she knew and liked. She lowered her voice and stepped closer, her eyes watching Koro intently. She liked the young man, Raijin's unauthorized clone, very much - he was one of the few people that did not get all excited over what she had been but accepted her as she was- and hoped he was happy.

(Evil Grin- Empaths can be terribly addicting....)

Saturday, 15 March 2008
Kriovalian Channel 35
12:42 pm

"Good afternoon, this is Johan Kelos. We interrupt the program you were viewing to bring you this breaking news. Just minutes ago, a young white male was found unconscious in the Brekai River following a nearby explosion. Authorities are not yet commenting on the man's identity or what he was doing in the river. Witnesses nearby say that he may have been trying to smuggle an explosive device through the Bralos-Telekar checkpoint, though at this time there is no conclusive evidence to suggest this. More to come on this developing story..."

*********************************

In Darwin's Gardens...

"Yes we've introduced ourselves to one another, and 'somewhere rather far away' does tend to be a bit of an understatement....not even this dimention..."

Koro nodded silently. Some things were best left unsaid, after all.

"She's from the Universal University" Michiko explained "A independant space going university. Out where Tanara is they have a unparalleled reputation, but I don't think they've introduced themselves to Earth yet."

"I would be surprised if it had made contact with a Terran power, given how few advanced societies populate Earth," the priest said simply. "Still, it is home, and the location is strong for trade, or so I've been told." He ventured a smile at that. Economics were not Koro's strength, though he was easily worth billions, ecclesiastical rank notwithstanding. Kriovalian religion definitely had found vows of poverty inconvenient, and in a stroke of genius, had simply eliminated them rather than deal with the rampant corruption and hypocrisy.

"And everything is going wonderfully. How are things with you? Getting to spend much quality time with Raijin?"

"We've been busy," Koro shrugged. "The temple affairs are especially demanding. I resigned from the government a few months ago, though now there's talk of making me a senator." He threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "It's like they can't get enough of me. Speaking of which, Raijin..."

The paladin had finally made his way to the former Empress and the crowd near her. "So good to see you again." He gestured toward the lavish setup. "I know you're not one for formality, but Krioval must welcome our most honored guests. Are the embassy quarters adequate or does Tanara require an upgrade?" The words, while definitely part of a conversation between head-of-state and ambassador, were filled with true concern. Krioval may have sought few allies through the years, but the Armed Republic held fiercely to those it had. The Commander turned to Mm'rrr'll. "I do not believe we have been introduced. I am Raijin Dekker. You have already met Koro?"

Are the embassy quarters adequate or does Tanara require an upgrade?

Michiko's smile was warm and genuine.

"They are just fine, and I was suprized you didn't come in last night after tripping Chief of Police Darvek ...head over heels...Valkai's around here somewhere" There was definitely laughter in her eyes and tone, but not a hint of maliciousness.

"I do not believe we have been introduced. I am Raijin Dekker. You have already met Koro?"

Mm'rrr'll twitched her whiskers at the Commander of all Krioval, liquid gold eyes studying him intently

"Yes, Michiko introduced us, Commander Dekker. And I am very pleased to meet you. I must say that now more than ever I am determined to win the Bralos contract....In fact I will pay for the priviledge of deconstructing the area Krivoal wishes to return to it's native state."

Tanaran's weren't the only culture that enjoyed disconcerting others, and maybe it was being discovered where they caught the habit from.

Raijin returned the smile. "You saw me collide with Darvek and didn't come out to make sure we weren't hurt? I'm shocked and horrified." His tone indicated that he was neither. "Well, as long as you didn't see me or Darvek three hours later, I suppose no harm was done." He thought for a moment before adding, "I'd have stopped in, especially if I realized that it was a 'special guest' that had caused so much trouble."

The Commander bowed rather deeply toward Mm'rrr'll, the proscribed formality of a greeting of a foreign dignitary. "I am heartened by your desire to help with the situation in Bralos." Any participant in the conversation could immediately detect the disdain that the paladin felt for the predominantly Christian city. "There is something quite pleasurable about returning the unnatural to nature. Perhaps your talents, should your bid be accepted of course, could be applied to the planetary rehabilitation on Crysalia." Raijin turned toward all of his guests. "Why don't we continue our conversation over lunch?"

"Continueing over lunch sounds wonderful Raijin." Michiko agreed with a laugh.

"I do have a number of complete planetary terraformations on my prospectus" Mm'rrr'll mentioned as they moved toward their seats "Though I worked on most of them with my mate before his death. I will admit to being some fifty years out of practise."

She hadn't seen Ose, or smelled him and that brought a small dip to her ears, as she wondered if he'd done his own research and discovered just how resistant to Shadow the Xa Cz'inni' were...and decided discretion was the better part of staying alive

Mara Findlay has had enough trouble in her life was the only coherent thought in Father Andrew's head.

Sitting across from Mara's youngest son Brian, strange and somehow anonymous in his prison coveralls, he longed to give the boy some comfort. But there was so little he could do, and, after what they had put him through before they let him in, he was in need of comfort himself.

"No attempts to touch the glass; your hands in plain view at all times; no closer than four feet -- "

"How can I talk to the boy from four feet away, with that glass between us?"

"The wonders of modern science, priest; microphones."

It wasn't the contempt that hurt, though. A Christian in Bralos learnt to deal with that early on. The physical mishandling was what had thrown Father Andrew's soul into chaos. He had known they would search him, but somehow had imagined it would be just a patting-down; to subject a priest to ... what they did ... as if he would ...

He wrenched his thoughts away from that, away from the pain. Who did he think he was, to suppose he would be exempt? What must have happened to Brian, and all within the guise of legality? For the boy wasn't "that gormless youngest of Mara Findlay's" any more; he was " the suicide bomber" and "the Catholic terrorist". Only the fact that you had to add "failed" to those descriptions sounded like the Brian he knew.

"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It is three weeks since my last confession ..."

"Brian, Brian, stop! You mustn't; not here. There's more than God listening." And only Brian would put him on the spot like that. Didn't the boy have the brains God gave a duck?

"Forgotten yer toolbox, have yer, Father?"

Young larrikin. Would a man who'd set out to blow up himself and other human souls sit there and make silly jokes?

"I have none of my 'tools' with me because they took them away. I'm here because your mother asked me to come. They wouldn't let her in." Not if they wanted to keep their eyes in their heads, and not scratched out by her fingernails. "They're listening to what we say, Brian."

"Then they'll hear again what I've already told them. Tell Mum, Father: I wouldn't kill anyone. It was just a backpack, I didn't know it would explode! I was supposed to get paid when I delivered it, and then they try to blow me up! Talk about cheapskates!"

Maybe the boy's indignation will convince them, Father Andrew thought tiredly. Maybe. "Well, you keep telling the truth to everyone, Brian, and we'll see about getting you help. I'm here to make sure you're all right."

"I'm well enough." The boy looked down, embarrassed. "Tell Mum I'm fine. Father, they even took my rosary, the one the Pope blessed!"

Didn't the kid ever watch TV? Surely he'd seen enough cop shows to know they'd even take his shoelaces, if he'd had any. But no, there was no television set in Mara's home.

"It's not the rosary that counts, Brian, it's the prayer. You can pray, and I'll pray for you. All of us will."

Father Andrew began the simple prayer that might lift Brian's spirit back into the comfort of childhood Sundays. As the boy joined in, he heard the automatic doors unlock. Well, of course, they hadn't been able to get anything useful, no wonder they were throwing him out.

"Dominus vobiscum, son," he said, as strongly as he could, and made the sign of the cross.

____________________________________________

"What was that he said?"

"Dominus vobiscum. It's Latin, they still use it here. It just means, The Lord be with you."

"It could be a code. It could mean, 'The Lord is with you because you did the right thing.' It could be some kind of fanatical promise -- you know, like, you'll go to Heaven because of this. And he said, 'All of us will'. All of us! Have we got anyone watching that priest? No? Then get someone!"

In the Gardens...

"Excellent. I hope the tables are big enough for all of us." Of course they were. It wasn't like the Commander to overlook such a detail. "I would like to hear more about your planetary efforts, even if they took place before I entered this world."

Further off, beyond the reception's perimeter, stood Darvek. Gliding toward him was a catlike form, and Darvek quickly came to the realization that it must be Ose, unless the other one could be in two locations simultaneously. Ose spoke. "So...you show up and the High Paladin goes running. Should I be surprised?"

Darvek ran his hands through his long hair and shrugged. "That a problem?"

"Exactly what did you and the High Paladin do last night?"

"Let's see..." Darvek pretended to consider the matter deeply. "Oh, that's right. None of your damn business!" he gleefully retorted.

"Gah." Ose brushed past the Director and into the gardens. He had a mind to figure out exactly what Raijin was up to. He perched on a nearby tree, listening intently to the conversation at the table.

At the interrogation room...

A man with short blond hair and piercing blue eyes looked at the two officers listening to the discussion between the priest and the boy. He wore the uniform of a Slasher. When it was finished, he asked simply, "Do you consider this to be a success?"

The first officer quickly responded. "Of course not, but we will keep working..."

The Slasher interrupted interrupted. "You are quite wrong. This is a fiasco. The boy is telling the truth, something you have obviously failed to ascertain."

"How do we know...?" the second officer started.

"We know because I have six telepaths reading every aspect of his brain activity. Honestly, if the police would quit wasting our time and just call in a mindreader earlier, we wouldn't look like total idiots here."

"Now Jaro, really..."

"I don't remember our being on first-name basis, Officer Kenner." The Slasher rolled his eyes and growled softly. "It appears that a shift in tactics is needed immediately."

The first officer grumbled something about telepaths. Jaro stopped immediately and turned a steely glare on him. "Really, I'm not sure that someone who strip searches a holy man because he's not getting laid at home is really in a position to talk." Before the second officer could emit the titter building within him, the Slasher continued, "and let's not get into *your* past. No psi-blockers? I'm...unimpressed. Director Tyvok will be hearing from me shortly." He turned and walked toward the holding cell. The two officers retreated quickly, mumbling something about already having psi-blockers active and occasionally running into objects in their flight.

The Slasher walked into the cell. "I'm sorry to trouble you," he said to the boy, "but I need to know exactly who gave you that device. Then, perhaps, I can see to getting you out of here." His voice rose on the last part, leaving it as half-questioning, inviting the boy to respond. At the same time, he trained his mind on the boy's, which was chaotic due to the trauma of the explosion and arrest, but was still readily readable, or at least looked that way. Instinct is everything in this job, Jaro thought to himself, waiting to see how the child would react.

"I would like to hear more about your planetary efforts, even if they took place before I entered this world."

"Commander Dekker, I am eight hundred and seventy four years old, and yes I am old to be a first time mother" She twitched an ear at him and swiveled another towards a tree not too distant. Senses past any other predators had known the moment Ose had arrived.

"But I'm only carrying twins...and would you mind inviting Ose over? I'd hate for him to strain a muscle trying to listen in on us."

He wouldn't be able to listen in on her mentally, only those that knew the unique Xa signature could and besides the beads braided so decoratively into her mane tresses were Star Stones from Cats Keep, and blocked any save those she chose. Mm'rrr'll prefered to be cautious.

Brian Findlay had been around. He knew what happened to people who dobbed on the Lawtons.

On the other hand, look what had happened when he hadn't dobbed. If he hadn't been lucky, he'd be dead right now, and his mother thinking him a murderer, what's more.

That thought, more than any belief in this new guy's promises, decided him.

"Mortie Lawtie gave it to me. Moreton Lawton, I should say. I've done a few delivery jobs for him before ... " Brian's voice faltered as he remembered a couple of after-dark deliveries, where he'd been very careful not to ask what he was delivering. Then Aislinn had died, and he'd had to face up to what part he might have played in that.

His face flushed as he realised what had happened. He'd maybe been a bit too vocal about it in the pub, how he wasn't going to do any more "specials". Trust Mortie to hear about that. So that was why he'd turned up all honest yesterday, nothing wrong with this one, laddie-o, you know I wouldn't ask you, after what happened to your sister, straight up, this is just some urgent business, I'd do it meself if I had time ...

In the next 10 minutes, the Slasher learned more about the bottom-feeders of small-time crime in Bralos than the entire force had learnt, or had wanted to learn, in the past five years.

"But I'm only carrying twins...and would you mind inviting Ose over? I'd hate for him to strain a muscle trying to listen in on us."

"Well, I've never been pregnant at all, and I'll probably never be able to be." The slightest hint of a wry smile flashed across Raijin's face. "Perhaps we should invite him," he said quietly, making several quick hand gestures in the air. When finished, the completed sigil flickered, and a somewhat surprised feline appeared in its place.

"You could have simply called out if you knew I was there."

"I could, but that's so boring. Anyway, now that we're all here, perhaps we can begin discussion as to the fate of Bralos?"

**************************************

In the next 10 minutes, the Slasher learned more about the bottom-feeders of small-time crime in Bralos than the entire force had learnt, or had wanted to learn, in the past five years.

The ninja maintained his outward mask of neutrality while inwardly jumping for joy. Of course I succeeded. That's my job. He looked at Brian. "I have to admit, that's quite a story you've told me today." He paused, gauging the boy's reaction. "But all true, so far as I can tell. Of course, this complicates things greatly," he added, mostly for his own benefit.

Jaro pushed a button on the intercom. "Yeah. This is Jaro." He pronounced it 'Yaaarrr-oh', rolling the 'R' slightly in the accent that marked him a member of Krioval's upper class. "Please get me Valero, Solhan, and Pasko as soon as you can. That's *Miranda* Valero. Mateo's good, but this isn't his type of mission." He waited for the next question. "Of course not Johan Solhan! He's not exactly the right *kind* of Slasher...uh-huh...yeah. Antonio Solhan and Krodan Pasko." Another stop on Jaro's end as he listened to a rather predictable, yet otherwise humorous joke. He continued drily. "By all means, suggest to Vakia that she come. When you can't walk straight for a week, we'll all know why, won't we? Tell them to travel northwest. Oh. And we might need to relocate a family somewhere soon. Last name's Findlay. Yeah. Uh-huh...look. I need this done my way, Director, or people are liable to die. By all means take it over my head if you disagree, but until then recognize that I was given full authorization." Another pause. "Right then. Thank you for the help, Director. I look forward to when it is no longer necessary to intrude on you."

The Slasher returned his focus to the boy and nodded. "Quite complicated, I'd say."

"I could, but that's so boring. Anyway, now that we're all here, perhaps we can begin discussion as to the fate of Bralos?"

Mm'rrr'll watched, intently, as Raijin's hand gestures summoned Ose into their presence.

"Fffassinating" She drew the word out, her pupils dilated, whiskers flicking "I can...sense, one might say , an energy flow but..." She twitched her ears as if trying to dislodge a persistant insect. Determinedly though she turned her attention elsewhere...to Ose.

"Really Ose, spying is so...undignified, and one often over hears things that put one in a bad light." To her shock she found herself practically purring and turned the tables of discussion once again.

"But on to the fate of Bralos. If you chose to utilize my rather unique services, I can confidently say that within one orbital cycle, one of your years, it will be much different."

The Xa drew a small device, not much larger than a sugar cube from her belt pouch and set it in the center of the table. The flick of a claw and a small hologram- roughly sixteen inched in diameter sprang to life.

"This is based on images I captured during the fly over Michiko took me on the other night, and the angles are un corrected."

"Once the city and surrounding countryside are uninhabited..."

The incredibly detailed hologram showed a force dome materializing over the area. "The interdiction dome can be handled by my starcraft, the Mmm'er'shanoww, and I'll release the agents..."

Inside the pink tinted dome, the city crumbled and dissolved in to dust that settled, then was returned to the soil ..."The subsurface structures will take the longest, of course, for the effectors to reach them..."

Mm'rrr'll sat back and smiled ever so slightly, as the tiny hologram showed a miniature storm moving through the area and as clouds fled from the sun, light streamed down on to the trees and grasses rippling in the remains of the storms winds

"So, in one year, all of Bralos will be converted?" Raijin perked up considerably. "That would be quite impressive. I suppose it will be up to Krioval to continue the evacuation, in that case. I would hate to miss the opportunity to see your technology demonstrated." He paused and frowned slightly. "The conversion will be limited, is that correct?"

*****************************************

Darvek was tired of waiting for something to do. This often being the case, his mind wandered. His feet soon followed. Without much thought as to where he was going, the Director sauntered into the bustling commercial district of Torokara. There he saw the report of the failed bombing, and Darvek cursed loudly and impressively, even by Kriovalian standards.

"On the Gods-damned holovid before I know?! What the fuck do I pay these people to do?" Mid-rant, the smoldering ember of another source of rage went incandescent. "A Slasher." He began to sprint down the street even as he screamed into his commlink, "Get me the monastery! Now!"

"The conversion will be limited, is that correct?"

"Absolutely, with in the parameters you designate. However I will say that there have been instances of sabotage. But if Ose here vow to keep his near kin, those of the realm of Shadow at bay...Please do not take this as insult...But your available technology can not match mine."

Mm'rrr'll's trechnology was not just advanced, but mature, well understood technology that had been used by many races for thousands of centuries. However, some of what she would be doing could not be effectively done by other than a Xa Cz'inni

She clicked another spot on the cube and the view changed. The unrelieved black of the depths of space, glimmered only by the moteflecks of distant stars, sprang into being, Then the view point moved, to focus on a star system. The stellar primary grew apace as the recorder spedd insystem. To the third rock from the sun, a planet sized but barren orb. A space craft settled, and five figures emerged, Xa's by theIr tails, their transparent skin- suits sparkling protectivly about them. What they were doing seemed to be a sample taking survey, and eventually they departed. Some time later they returned and off loaded several cannisters, whose valves they opened. Once agan they left, and were gone for a much longer time, but that was not important ...

What was, was watching the world slowly but surely change, transforming into an if not lush world one that was still very much inhabitable, liveable...

"Eta Rhand, One of the first planets I helped t-form"

As the afternoon wore on, in the Gardens...

The Kriovalians watched the demonstration with respectful silence. Ose growled slightly at the mention of the 'Shadow' but otherwise made no acknowledgment of Mm'rrr'll's remark. Koro was actually the first to speak.

"That really is impressive. Of course, with Krioval having only been in space for five years now..." The priest trailed off. Just about anybody who knew anything about the Kriovalian space program knew that it was Koro, along with fellow soldiers Tevak and Sakira (now married!), who scouted each and every planet that had Kriovalian colonists living on it. He might have been proud of this in other company, but in the presence of more environmentally conscious guests, the former astronaut was content to cut himself short. Raijin was less concerned with appearances, or at least he appeared to be.

"Five years in space and thirty planets colonized! Well, when you've got a runaway population, sometimes it's best to give them somewhere to run to!" He laughed lightly at his half-joke. "Of course, at that rate, we'll run out of suitable planets someday. We might very well have to learn your technology in a thousand years or so." There was no mocking, however subtle, in his voice as he said this. It was as if he had done the calculation in his head and determined that six thousand planets teeming with happy (and apparently lustful and fertile) Kriovalian citizens would consume the remainder of already-habitable planets. For this reason, Raijin Dekker, often confounded foreign emissaries, who expected duplicity and concealment from a head of state as a matter of negotiation.

**********************************

Somewhere in Torokara, around the same time...

...Darvek was losing what little of his temper remained. "If I have to say it one more time I swear to the Great Gods themselves I will come out to Andretara within the hour. And believe me, you do not, DO NOT, want me there!" Mumbling could be heard across the commlink, and from the look on Darvek's face, it was readily apparent that some low-level minion was trying to do a runaround. The Director was having none of it. "What exactly is your rank there?" he bellowed, oblivious to several passersby looking at him pointedly. Being a Director meant never having to explain oneself. The pause on the other end spelled victory for the police chief. Grudgingly, the voice said one word - Jaro.

He growled into the commlink, "Pray we never meet in person," and then he disconnected. Secretly, Darvek was thrilled. Jaro was Raijin's Slasher moreso than the Monastery's, though the exact chain of command there was a bit murky. Effectively, he was the closest thing to a rogue agent that Andretara could have. The Director's mood lifted further when he realized that the monastic "minders" were completely unaware of his reputation - otherwise they might have been more forthcoming with his identity. Quickly, Darvek punched in several commands and found himself staring at a military requisition form; the ninja wanted three soldiers to assist in doing something. He redirected the request away from the Monastery, which would never see it in the first place, and he immediately stamped it with approval. Then he made his way home to prepare for his date, whistling the Kriovalian national anthem slightly off-key and struggling not to laugh at his change of luck.

Mm'rrr'll threw back her head and laughed.

"Yes there definitely should be room enough for all." Her laugher held no sting just a vast joy.

"But you know Commander Dekker, that the universe is vaster than one thinks. In your 'Milky Way' Galaxie alone there are litterally planets all but beyond counting that need but the most minor or alterations to make them spectacular haibtats for most any of us carbon based species. And you are emerging on to the technologies that can let you colonize those planets with only minor disruption to their eco systems."

"The Empire has 'planted the flag' on over two hundred and fifty systems with habital planets, and has fully colonized other systems to the tune of over seventy planets, but then again we have a more than a bit of a time advantage on you Raijin" Michiko added. "Theres an amazing number of livable systems out where we ended up."

"I'm not surprised at that, though the thought of traversing parallel universes doesn't sit very well with me," Raijin said, his tone indicating that he had thought quite a bit about the Tanaran diaspora and decided he did not like the implications of it. "I would hate to be separated for very long from the place of my birth, I suppose. I honestly don't know how the colonists do it, living so far from home."

"People in Bralos feel the same, I'm sure," added Koro solemnly. "It's really too bad that the city's footprint is best for the rejuvenation project."

******************************

Darvek made his way home, and began the painstaking process of choosing exactly what he should wear to impress his evening's date. Finally determining that another starfarer would probably have seen nearly everything known to humanity, and then some, he chose a simple black shirt and red pants. Impatiently shoving his golden hair out of his eyes, he looked at the combination in the mirror, decided that he would proabably be unsatisfied no matter what he chose, and headed for the door.

I would hate to be separated for very long from the place of my birth, I suppose. I honestly don't know how the colonists do it, living so far from home."

"I would gues it really comes down to how one defines 'home'." Mm'rrr'll replied. "The Xa'Cz'inni are a created race, we did not evolve on a world circling a star, tied to it's ebbs and flows, it's unique stamp. We inhabit worlds now, even call one 'home world' but...home... home for us is where the heart is." The tiniest bit of sorrow for her decades gone mate rang softly in her purrling voice, and a tiny frission rippled her soft pelt.

"It's really too bad that the city's footprint is best for the rejuvenation project."

Michiko gave Koro a look at said full well she knew just how hypocritical that statement was.

When the people that would found Tanara left Earth some one hundred and seventy years in the future they took with them a wide spread of religious beliefs, but little religious intollerance. And in the nearly eight hundred years that followed their landing on Terra Two and their spread back outward, no religiously fueled problems had ever occured on any major scale in size or severity. Crusades, Jihads and other religious persecution had been left back on the mother world and the colonists had intended that it never occur in the new. They'd done a far better job than had been hoped for.

Michiko disliked the Christian missionary zeal that she found still abounding on Earth, and particularly deplored it's still nearly military agressiveness and the hypocracy of most of those who claimed to be Christian. However she felt that the Kriovalian government ought to be a little more open about their reasoning... though she knew full well the problems that would bring.

"Ought to just give them their own planet and tell them 'sink or swim on your own'" She murmured half to herself.

Raijin looked up at Koro's comment and his eyes narrowed at Michiko's response. He sighed loudly. "We tried that. It's hard to do that when some people believe that Earth is the 'promised land' and that their deity gave it specifically to them."

Torokara, Krioval

Rubbing her eyes in a vain effort to stimulate them, Jeanna Nguyen continued with her attempt to read the myriad religious tracts she had found while traveling through Torokara and posing as a tourist. She finally realized--in the middle of a debilitating yawn--that she might as well stop reading and give her eyes a rest.

She felt herself sink into the soft and fluffy material that topped off her bed here in a small Kriovalian hotel. After a few moments spent trying to relax her body in an effort to bring sleep, she found herself plotting instead of dreaming. By now it was painfully obvious that mainstream religion in Krioval was relatively open. Polytheists that believed in an entire pantheon would have little trouble accepting the concept existence of another God if given the appropriate evidence, unlike the monotheistic Christians in the region of Bralos that she had overheard some talk about lately.

In Jeanna's experience the Christians were a lost cause for the Order of Supercarious, and she wished the Order would just give up on the simpletons and stop wasting perfectly good resources on them. Jeanna sighed at the very thought of the Order's internal politics and silently asked Supercarious for help. Perhaps her god granted it, for she fell asleep shortly thereafter.

"We tried that. It's hard to do that when some people believe that Earth is the 'promised land' and that their deity gave it specifically to them."

Mm'rr'll's teeth bared in what was no grin at Raijin's sigh and her eyes narrowed momentarily as her ears flattened. Then she modulated it to something more dipolmatically acceptable. Now there was a dangerously amused purr in her voice.

"Then they need to be ...convinvced...that their god has changed his mind and that there is a new land awaiting them. I'm sure Ose and I could...cobble a few...I believe your term is...'miracles' together..."

Ose could have sworn she winked at him, before she turned that wide eyed, ever innocent gaze one Raijin and Koro

"I even could provide you with a nice little planet...surely having the Cathederal in Bralos appear there in one piece would be a start?" Her ship couldn't do it but she had easy access to ships that certainly could handle the matter. Complex and advanced enough technology was indistinguishable from High majick, and High majick could be little distinguisehd from the working of deities...of so it has been said time and again...

Raijin appeared uncomfortable. Koro, on the other hand, had passed uncomfortable and reached "horrified". Both men struggled to blink. Ose licked at his lips in anticipation of the strong response by the Kriovalians.

Koro spluttered something incoherent first, and Raijin intervened. "We can't." He struggled for a few more seconds before adding, hastily, "That would violate several of our core beliefs, not the least of which would be muddying the role of the divine. I've played God too many times already. I can't do it again."

Sarcastically, the feline demon said, "Why not just let 'em keep half of it, then?"

Koro brightened. "Why not?"

Mm'rrr'll just shook her head. She would respect their reservations, but leaving half the city for them? That didn't make sense to her. Not good military tactics, and from her studies this Christianity, despite the supposedly pacifist nature of it's primary promoter, one Jesus Christ, this definitely was a militant organization. Michiko had given her access to all the literature on the religion.

"This is not my world, not my nation, but it does not make sense to leave them a base to rally from."

"Well then," Ose interrupted, "if we're not going to trick them, and we're not going to leave them in place, what else is left?" His eyes gleamed in the afternoon sunlight as he pondered several unsavory possibilities.

"Raijin, any thing I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask"

Michiko offered, though she guessed that Raijin wouldn't take her up on the offer. 'But I wouldn't have made the offer if I hadn't meant it and I hope he knows me well enough by now to know that' She thought as she watched the group. Part of her smiled at the thought of the petite ( for her clan lines ) Xa's offer to create 'miracles'. She well knew that she'd meant the offer, and would have taken delight at results. The Xa Cz'inni were not very sympathetic to any who rated as 'fanatics' in their estimation, and apparently the Xa had decided that the Christian's were.

"Hmm...I wonder." Raijin looked intensely at the Tanaran woman. "Aside from screwing with their minds, scuttling the 'remodeling' project, or killing all of them, do you have a suggestion? I'll be the first to admit that the Kriovalian way of dealing with problems isn't the easiest, but I like to be able to sleep nights." He laughed at the end of his last sentence. "In any case, I'm ready for lunch. Would anybody care to join me?"

Michiko stood as Raijin suggested lunch, and chuckled softly "Mind reader" Though she was sure she hadn't been broadcasting. Valkai had been helping her learn to unlock the barrier she'd used to cripple her mental gifts when they'd unexpectedly activated many years ago. She was beginning to be able to use them deliberately.

"Looking at it with cold practicality, you need to marginalise them, make them impotent." She offered as they moved towards the buffet.

"And Raijin, I think that you need to do one thing specifically....You need to be King, but Emperor would be better, with your off Earth holdings."

Calmly she waited for the explosion, as she picked up a plate and with leisurely grace wandered down the line of offerings and began choseing tidbits that looked appetizing.

The explosion never came, though if her talents had improved significantly, Michiko might have noticed the most fleeting of telepathic messages radiating from the Commander. The essence would have been "What the fuck?"

"I'm a bit surprised at your suggestion," Raijin said, quite truthfully, though understated. "I would have thought that veto power over the Senate and the ability to void decisions by lower courts would have been enough to keep things in line." He leaned in toward her, conspiratorally. "Of course," he half-whispered, "I was originally meant to succeed the monarchy. Sometimes I wonder if that's why I'm in office today, moreso than any special skills I possess." He smiled at that, indicating that he believed it about as much as he believed that he would take a woman to his bed. "Still, Emperor Raijin the first. It does have a certain...something...doesn't it?" He then walked over toward the salad bar, leaving a rather stunned High Priest and cat demon in his wake.

Michiko nodded and waited till Raijin returned to the table. She knew well that Raijin had gotten where he was by a sound knowledge of the Kriovalian people and sheer ability.Her voice was low, she didn't intend to have the world overhearing what she wanted to say.

"You have a legitimate claim to the title, and by using the debate and furror, you will be wagging the dog. The uproar over returning to a monarchy, or becoming an empire wipes every thing else off people's minds. If the 'plight of the poor persucuted Christians' is lost in the tumult, well, who can blame the media for focusing on something much more interesting and revelant."

Michiko might loathe politics but it in no way meant she didn't know all the ways to use it. She explained further...

"Get your deepest enemy to suggest it, let your mother have hysteria going how its the last thing she wants for you, go for all the drama and intrigue this generates, make it the talk of the nation, soon to be empire while behind the scenes you finish moving the Christians to a place where you can keep a careful eye on them."

She took a sip of tea, looking just as ruthless, and serene, as some of her ancient Japanese ancestors, who were no doubt Shoguns

"Just like what was done with the geisha and prostitutes in Japan during their feudal age...a guilded cage that can be easily watched and regulated."

"And with you as Emperor makes it very hard to unseat you in elections. And if you are worried that being an Empire will cost your people - civil rights would change only if you changed them, and political freedoms...those are a illusion anyway, but one that can be maintained with a little creative thought."

She thought a moment longer

"And the situatoion with Farmia could be used to give the media something more to concentrate on, in the event that the ...spirited debate over becoming an Empire isn't suffecient. If necessary you could turn their religious fanaticism against them, and broad brush it over those here in Krioval."

She made a face. "I don't like the last, but I could sleep with the thought of their media worthiness going the way of the dodo. And once no one is thinking about them you can finish moving them out. It won't stop them from being a thorn in your side, but giving them a 'fair recompense for their property', will make them look like poor sports in the eyes of others. And most people can't abide that - we hate whiners."

She cocked her head at Raijin, trying to discern how he ahd taken her suggestions.

"And Raijin, you have to decide just how much you can sleep with and how much you need them to not be a thorn in your side, or Krioval's side."

... And we might need to relocate a family somewhere soon. Last name's Findlay.

Sitting with Mara Findlay hadn't seemed a good idea at first. She had perched on the crooked old sofa, staring straight ahead, her fingers unpicking the darn she had carefully made a week ago when Brian tore it with his work boots.

All Father Andrew's words of comfort had gone unheard. He didn't think she heard the low moan she was making, either: First Aislinn, now Brian ... Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God ... First Aislinn, now Brian ... True to his upbringing, Father Andrew had made them all a pot of strong tea, but hers was growing a filmy skin as it cooled in the thick, chipped mug.

Then Iestyn had wandered in. Plucked Aislinn's child, little Ashie, from the floor where she sat sucking her thumb. Planted her in Andrew's arms and flicked his eyes towards the broken-springed but comfortable armchair opposite. Then sat down beside Mara, stilled the restless fingers with her own rosary and joined her in the prayer, taking her gently into the recitation that quietened her whirring thoughts.

As I should have done, thought Father Andrew; then had no time for further blame as Brian himself came galumphing through the door.

" ...moving, Mother!" were the first words Father Andrew caught clearly through the hubbub. He thought at first the boy was talking of the scheduled move, the "Bralos reclamation scheme", but as he listened it became evident this was far more.

"... and he sorted it all out in no time!" the enthusiastic boy's voice continued. Brian's eyes turned admiringly to the figure who had followed him in.

Cold crept slowly down Andrew's spine. A Slasher! He had heard they had certain ... abilities. Talents like the talents that his own people had deliberately rejected. The priest was not fool enough to call them accursed; how could anyone be accursed for being what he was born? But he was disquieted. Then, too, Slashers were supposed to be ruthless in pursuing their goals. This one had evidently gone to a great deal of trouble to arrange so much, so quickly.

Suddenly Father Andrew realised it was urgent, essential, to prove his own and Iestyn's utter, complete harmlessness.

"I understand your intentions for Brian and his family," he told the newcomer, with tolerable calm. "I pledge that I will treat them as something learnt under the seal."

Lousy theology, said the debating voice in his head. Andrew ignored it; there was a more vital point to make. He looked significantly at Iestyn, then back to the officer.

"As for him, he won't remember much of it tomorrow, and even less by the end of the week. He'll understand that Brian's going away, but that's all. There's no way he can tell anyone what you've arranged. He won't betray them."

Surely you can see? Andrew pleaded silently. He's not a problem for you. You don't have to get rid of him. Just leave us both alone.

Iestyn came over to the priest and put a comforting arm around him. "Brian likes you," he told the Slasher. His eyes seemed more open, more guileless, than ever.

The Commander looked at the Tanaran ambassador pointedly. "You may have a point there. Perhaps it is time to unite the world under the Kriovalian banner." If he realized his mistake in speech, his manner did not betray it. "Perhaps we should send over a team to reinforce your embassy, in that case?"

*******************************************

Jaro looked at the group - he was impressed by their rapid transition to docility. They obviously knew what they were dealing with. But not *who*, exactly. It was time to put aside any and all mind games. "I am Jaro, a Slasher, as you have already determined. I am second highest of that rank. Not to spend too much time going over things we already know, the Slashers of the monastery in Andretara and the Catholics of Bralos have fought for much of the past century. Only the government of Krioval has kept the peace. The problem we face today is that both groups have had ample opportunity to militarize. The interregnum from nineteen seventy-seven until nineteen ninety-nine facilitated this greatly, and despite Raijin Dekker's best efforts, the trend has proven resistant. Hence the Conception being invoked two years ago." He paused to allow the significance of his statement to sink in. The Conception had destroyed nearly all of the Earthbound portions of Krioval only to reconstruct them according to Raijin's wishes. The result had been a revitalized capital and the elimination of populous space stations, but also the diminution of both Bralos and Andretara as centers of political power. Many people feared that the ritual's power would again be called forth.

"So you see," the Slasher continued, "there are two paths out of this, none good. Though, for those who don't irritate me, there is a third, superior option." He blinked several times for emphasis and then waited for a reply, absent-mindedly running his left hand through his silvery hair. His right hand, however, remained within centimeters of his weapon.

Michiko looked at Raijin, blinking hard to hide her bewhilderment. 'Unite the world under the Kriovalian banner?..WTF have I inadvertantly unleashed.?' She thought rapidly, and decided that she'd better get things straightened out.

"Raijin, you've lost me there. I was not suggesting some sort of 'conquer the planet' scenario."

"No, of course not. Just a little acquisition here or there would be useful. More a chance for the troops to march around on a nearly-uninhabited island somewhere, really." He lowered his voice dramatically. "Keeps them from worrying about what's going on at home for a few months. I suppose it remains strange that we would use the term 'world' to refer to the lands that the ancients thought comprised all existence, but there we are."

"And thank you for your offer Raijin, but I think we can take care of ourselves. As small as the embassy is, we're well protected, and besides how would it look, Kriovalian's protecting Tanaran soil?..."

Her voice died away, as various ramifications came to the fore.

"Actually Raijin, Tanara would be honoured to accept Krioval's offer. Any assisstance that Tanara can provide in return, you have but to ask." Like Krioval, the Empire of Tanara made few allies, and was fiercely protective of her 'friends'. The fact that Micjhiko had moved heaven and hell, and not so metaphorically, to help Raijin in the past had to be factored in as well. She meant her offer, and the ex Empress of Tanara tended to get what she asked for.

"So you see," the Slasher continued, "there are two paths out of this, none good. Though, for those who don't irritate me, there is a third, superior option." He blinked several times for emphasis and then waited for a reply, absent-mindedly running his left hand through his silvery hair. His right hand, however, remained within centimeters of his weapon.

The room was silent as the Slasher finished his exposition. The Findlays just sat, waiting. Brian had said this big-shot would take them away to a new and better life, maybe one in which he could get a decent job and Ashie could get an education. There were conditions, of course; change your name, never come back here. If these also included listening to the big-shot talk, they would, but that didn't mean they had to understand him. Poor families learnt early: take the sandwich with a polite nod, more sandwiches; argue, the sandwiches stop.

Father Andrew, though more sophisticated, was simply relieved at first. Evidently the Slasher grandee had accepted his assurances that he and Iestyn were no threat to their witness protection scheme. Being allowed to live was enough for the moment.

But as the history lesson continued, he felt his hackles rise.

"Indeed, it's a sorrow to all of us, the way our people get pushed around and bullied and hassled and harried until they're so desperate they think there's no way out but to take up arms," he growled the minute the Slasher stopped.

"But you've let Brian go, so you must know he and his family have nothing to do with that, and nor do the good folk of this parish. We're Catholics here, so we do try to walk in the way of Our Lord, and He is the Prince of Peace!"

"Turn the other cheek," agreed Iestyn, knowledgeably.

Father Andrew was abashed. It sounded almost as though the boy was chiding him for his belligerence, though of course he must have been just responding automatically to the well-known words. Nonetheless, he continued more quietly.

"Slasher Jaro -- is that the right name to call you? -- you must know that we're only little people. If you'd come striding into the Bishop's Palace with your weapon and your 'two paths out' and your 'Don't irritate me!' there might have been reason for fireworks. But nobody here is going to stand on their dignity -- we don't have a lot of it, anyway! And we all owe you a debt we'll never be able to repay for what you're doing for the Findlays. So I hope you'll accept my apology for getting a bit hot under my priestly collar just now, and Mara would be honoured if you'd sit down and take a sup with us while you tell us about this 'superior option' of yours."

With a gesture to Iestyn to help him, he bustled out to the kitchen to set the kettle on again, ladled tea-leaves generously into the pot and found, wonder of wonders, an extra mug and some fairly fresh milk. Iestyn's mother had already sent over a fine fruitcake -- was there ever a major event in the parish not accompanied by one of the Priest's Housekeeper's fruitcakes?
-- so they could eat together, and then there'd be pleasantness among them, and no more misunderstandings, surely.