NationStates Jolt Archive

Twenty four hours can make a world of differnce, or it can be barely enough.
For the survivors of the opening salvos in the war with the Iconoclasts, it was both. Food, medical attenion, sleep and conversations had helped.

And now all of them found themselves in a confrence room, waiting to have their myriad questions answered.

“I’m glad to see every one up and around, if not perfectly hale and hearty. My name is Peter, and currently I am the elected ‘senior’ for our group. No, we never took an official name, but most of us call ourselves the Shadows. For many obvious reasons.” The very, very old man’s voice while not as carrying as it might once have been, still kept their attention. “We’ve been around for many centuries, and those who lived at that time were instrumental in creating the concept of the Masquerade. Mostly what we have done in the past has been limited, again obviously, by the limits of technology. It’s hard to use one's powers, when one is trying to hide in plain sight. So we limited ourselves to watching, helping as we could with out endangering more than we heldped, educating the mundanes as we could by use of myths, orally passed along bardic tales, literature, film and even,.” His slight smile became an open grin. “Nay Mostly” and he paused for effect “ Comic books”

“But now we have technology to use instead, or to ‘explain away’ our powers. We can act more openly now that in all of our past combined. And as the Iconoclasts struck, so too did we. They have hurt us more than we hurt them, that’s the way it’s always been, but that too shall change”

"The reason you are here is we are asking you to join us and be the core, the foundation, of our new efforts. As most of you have probably noted, most of our group here are those that can not hide in plain sight, can not pass for human even in the not so dark at night now-a days.” And he was correct, for every one of the survivors from the attack on Cains had noted that those around them were those who looked distinctly different from the human norm or were of races that could not, or had not the ability to pass as humanish.

”You will be those who go out and face the sharp end of the spear, and we will be your back up, your information, training, supply, logistics and all other support services. We have bases scattered around the world, all much smaller than this one, but still quite useable. And we have those in the Night Life scattered around the world willing to help as they can as well.”

“Does this match the infrastructure, and support that the Iconoclasts have? No, it doesn’t. For they have most of unwitting humanity as their support base. For every official organization we have a sympathetic Night Life working within, they have three or more humans who believe that we should be eradicated from the face of the universe.”

He took a sip of water and looked over the small group whom were each reacting in their own way. “ I know how dangerous what I am asking you is. We have a cemetery filled with friends and loved ones. And many whose bodies we were never able to recover.”

“I wouldn’t blame any of you if you said “Not only no, but hell no” and left as quickly as you could. But if you stay, what we have, what we can do, is yours to command. So please each of you think on this and let me know.”

He nodded to where a substancial buffet, laden with traditional breakfast and other foods had been set up, the staff then quietly departing.. “I’ll let you all think on this in private. Please take as much time as you need.”

Leaning heavily upon his cane he slowly left the podium, then the room, closing the side door behind him.

Sian yawned and stretched, then stood from where she had set next to Jackie. “I don’t know about you all but I’m hungry again. And I’m staying. I decided that when they came for us. I’m not letting the Iconoclast’s destroy every thing I’ve worked for, or destroy the Night Life.

Casey spoke next. "I'm in. I've wandered the world long enough to see the destruction and hatred that can be spread by a few malicious indiviuals. I've been the target of such hatred in very explicit forms, and while I don't know if they are connected, I have another group after me for my simple existence, one that reaches as far back as I do, and is probably on intimate terms with the Iconocalsts. I've inadvertently exposed you to them if they don't already know who you are, and I'll be damned a second time if I don't try to fix that."

"I'd like to get to know who everybody here is, and what you all can do. Because of my own nature, I'd prefer not to go first, but if necessary, I will. I owe you that much from what you'll have to face thanks to me."

Red chuckled as Godolkin got up and piled a plate with cinnamon toast and grabbed a large mug of hot chocolate, carefully counting the marshmallows as the old woman had done and then returned to the table.

"What are you laughing about?" he asked as he sat down with his 'breakfast'.

"Them, they have to be out of thier minds."

"They're against the wall", Godolkin replied, "they need all the help they can get."

"Yeah? Well they can sneckin well count me out."

Godolkin stopping in mid chew and then swallowed, "What do you mean? You can't leave."

"Watch me", she replied.

"Mistress, these people need our help. You know the Iconoclast tactics even better than I do."

"Godolkin, it's a fools errand, and last I checked, I wasn't no fool. I'm outta here, and if your smart then you will be too."

"I cannot leave them Mistress."

"Then stay, ain't like I give a shit."

A janitor had entered to check the tables and floor and then eyed the T.V. He walked over, checked the connection and then turned it on and walked out, giving a bright smile to the group.

"Mistress, I ...."

"Wait", Red told him, looking at the T.V.

On the T.V. was a charismatic man, apparently talking to a reporter. The backdrop was the Vatican. His voice had a low timber with a seductive quility to it.

"I feel at least somewhat partially responsible for the occurance in Houston. The woman in charge of the terrorists, Durham Red, was part of our security here and she had recruited one of our own to assist her in stealing some of our treasure. Treasures which are impossible to replace. She is very dangerous, very good at her job, it was why we hired her."

He sighed saddely, "I don't know what led her off the path, but certainly wish her to return. If for no other reason than to at least return the objects that she had taken from us. She is extremely dangerous. Her and her terrorist band must be stopped to save the lives of innocent people like those in Houston. But almost as paramount as those lives to be saved are the irreplacable relics."

Suddenly the T.V. smashed to pieces as the table Red had picked up and thrown collided with it.

"TAMERLANE YOU ROTTEN, NO GOOD, DOG FUCKING, BITCH LICKING, SON OF A WHORE!!"

She turned to Sian, glaring furiously. "I'm in. That snecker is answering for this!"

Godolkin simply sat, not quite aware of what was going on around him. Now he no longer had the comfortable web he had once been cocooned in, but they had, at least figuratively, given him a public death sentance.

There was no denying Loki felt a lot better after several hours sleep and a good meal. With the exhaustion from yesterday gone, Loki's only real worry was his leg, which was healing up rather nicely thanks to the gel stuff. And so the Aussie had been content to move around on his crutches, apparently without a care in the world. Or so he appeared.

Seated at a table amongst the others, Loki listened intently to the old man as he explained the situation and what their purpose was. It was all very strange really and yet not so surprising. Whilst his parents had been religious people, Loki had never embraced faith and embraced men of faith even less. Life had taught him that people in general were not to be trusted unless they could prove otherwise. Just because one wears white robes or a collar does not make them any different.

Once the offer was made, Sian and Casca almost immediately voiced their intentions, staying with the group in order to fight the 'holy men' and their super soldiers. It obviously wasn't a decision to be taken lightly and so Loki remained silent, pondering his options.

Despite the threat to his general well being, when Loki considered his options he realised he didn't really have any others. For the last few years he'd been aimlessly wandering around the world. Sure he had a bit of money but that would run out eventually, then he'd have some serious issues. At least with these people that wouldn't really be an issue. And if he did run into the soldiers again, he'd rather be surrounded by those currently in the room.

"I'm in."

With that said, Loki rose to his feet and moved towards the food, his mastery of the crutches evident.

Sian had watched the TV with a cold expression on her face, then gave a small cats grin as Red trashed it in her anger.

She nodded at Loki and Casey's declarations.

"Casca, you don't know me, but I know a fair amount about you. I am..was..Doctor Sian Rhys, and I am a psionic of some small ability."

She looked at Jackie as he served himself a stack of thick waffles and he nodded.

"Where she goes I go" He stated firmly. "but I'd be in any way. I don't really know how you'd classify my powers, but at night they are fairly ...unlimited. And I have underworld connections that we can make use of. They might be criminals and assholes but they'd love to hurt these sort of people."

"Then apparently I'm already well-known here."

Casca leaned back. Time to tell them just how deep this went. "My name, is Casca Rufio Longinus. If that sounds familiar to any of you, here's why: I am the only man alive to have killed God. During the reign of Claudius, I was stationed in Palestine with the Tenth Roman Legion. This was during Pax Romana. I was assigned a routine execution duty. A mad Nazareen prophet. You all know him as Jesus Christ. I gave him a final act of mercy to a dying man in pain. For this, his dying breath was used to curse me unto eternal life. I'm an immortal mercenary. I've died and risen a thousand times, and I'll do so a thousand times more.

"When the Jew on the Cross cursed me, one other witnessed it. A fanatic by the name of Izram. He called himself the Thirteenth Apostle, and paid off the commandent to switch out my spear so that he could get it. He founded a secret society, the Brotherhood of the Lamb, dedicated to following me and making the world ready for the Second Coming. The Brotherhood was behind the Inquisition, Hitler, the KKK, and anybody else that they felt was inferior. I've heard of Tamerlane. He's the Elder of the Brotherhood. The sucessor of Izram. The Iconoclasts are the new era of the Brotherhood. Or the other way around. There is no difference between them. Anybody that doesn't meet their definition of worth is to be killed. You've seen firsthand what they will do. I saw the Holocaust, for that was them. They're monsters, all.

"What you don't know about me Dr. Rhys, is that I have been bringing this war to their doorstep since I killed their God. They have retaliated likewise. I make no distinction between Brotherhood and Iconoclast. You all shouldn't either. You know what they are capable of. You've all seen their butchery. I only ask that if it comes down to this, you allow me to destroy them, or keep me away from them. Godolkin, you're one step away from being me. Imagine what would happen if they had an army that could not die. For long, I have avoided contact with people like you all, but now the game has changed. In two thousand years of life, I have never seen something like what is about to happen."

Godolkin just stared at the man. Of course he was famliar with the story of the soldier who stabbed christ. This man was his enemy once and now it seemed they fought on the same side.

As for Red, she rolled her eyes at Casca. "Yeah, right. You killed christ, which I don't believe he was the snecking son of any god, Godolkin is a holy warrior of god and I'm Saint Scarlett of Durham like Judas says. Cut me a fucking break."

Godolkin is a holy warrior of god and I'm Saint Scarlett of Durham like Judas says. Cut me a fucking break."

Sian gave Red a hard look. "You may not have been witness to it but I was. He has gbeen touched by an angel. Believe it."

"And this Brotherhood and the Iconoclasts being one and the same I can believe. Or at least a branch of the Iconoclasts, or co-opted by them."

"Believe what you want", Red replied, "I don't believe in god and I don't believe that jesus was anything more than a mad prophet. I believe in me and my guns and that's it. I don't expect any divine intervention in the severe ass beating I'm about to impart on this snecking prick and if there is any then I'll bloody well waste god too, since he and I have some issues to work out about he snecking well runs things."

He'd been listening to the conversations and lectures with a tinge of boredom, and had come close to putting his head in his arms and resting. He personally agreed in the lack of gods, thought in a different sense from Red.

"I'm willing to stick around until Charli's better, then we'll see. Also do you mind not destroy the next TV that calls you a thief, it was interesting and made this less tedious. Beside, most of it was true wasn't it?" He asked of Red.

Red looked at Ryan, "Less than you", she replied, "I may have chosen the wrong side to fight for but at least I didn't take any offer to come down the snecking pike. And I ain't a thief, I didn't steal shit from that bloody bastard."

"Never said you were. You are however, very dangerous and good at your job. We must be stopped to prevent innocent lives being lost, that is also true thought our existance will while cost some, preserve more, even if they are nightlife ones. Also it could be argued that you could be considered irreplacable for whatever reason." He replied as he returned her gaze with one of his own. "I would aprpeciate if someone who knew you better translated as you have a rather strong accent when you get rilled."

"Red, calm down. Ryan is not here for money, or so he says. They are making things up to make us look bad, and we can't call them on it. We're just going to have to wear the badge, at least for now...Though I have a few ideas on that." And her grin was purely evil.

Jackie smothered a laugh and just shook his head at Sian's comments.

"Look lets not fight among ourselves. There's no need to, and it's not helpful either.

Out of all the survivors of the Cains' debacle, there were two who were not in the conference room that morning, discussing the choice they would have to make, that would change their lives forever no matter which option they took. Interestingly enough, these happened to be the youngest of the lot, and they being teenagers, it may perhaps come off as not that surprising that the Halliwells slept in, preferring to sleep further rather than join the rest of the Cains' gang in the meeting.

The entire night, Scott had insisted on staying by his unconscious sister's side, not willing to leave Kristy alone even when he knew they were both safer than at any time during the past three months they had been running vagabond through the streets of Houston. He had steadfastly refused to return to the bed the techs had prepared for him, and instead continued to keep vigil by Kristy's bedside, holding her hand while she slept on. However, the toll of the previous day's battle was telling, even for a youngster such as Scott was, and he could not stay up the night indefinitely even if he wanted to.

He had fallen asleep during the middle of the night, his head resting besides Kristy's body, his hand still clutching her's as tightly as when he was still awake. Throughout the night, the young girl had been recovering from the 'overload' she had suffered the past night; she no longer looked as pale as she was just the night before, and there was actually a fairly healthy color in her cheeks. She was breathing more comfortably too, taking deep slow breaths, rather than the shallow gasping she was suffering from not so long before. All in all, she seemed like a perfectly healthy girl-child, as if the toils of the night never happened.

"Mmmmf......."

Finally, for what seemed like eternity since she was last awake, Kristy moved slightly; the movement was enough to wake Scott up from his uncomfortable napping position, although he was still a little groggy to understand what was happening. He sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Urf, must've dropped of......"

"Mmmmf......."

Eyes widening noticably, Scott turned to look at Kristy; she was shifting in her bed, frowning as she gradually awakened. Then, her eyes fluttered open, brown eyes questing and alert, darting about and taking in her surroundings, not at all clouded by any signs of illness. Finally, she turned towards her brother.

"Bro......where am I?"

But Scott was already helping her sit up, not hearing her question for the many that he was peppering her with as he tended to her as best as he could, putting his hand on her forehead and neck to check for fever while she looked on, rather nonplussed.

"Kristy, are you alright? Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything....."

He was stopped short by Kristy's hand, reaching up to touch his lips. She remained silent, but she was smiling serenely, telling her brother with her eyes that she was perfectly fine, that there was nothing to worry about. With her fingers on his lips, Scott went quiet for a moment, then gave a great sigh. Without warning, he leaned forward and hugged his sister, causing her to gasp softly.

He buried his face in Kristy's long hair, in order to hide the tears that were threatening to spill out from his eyes. "You bad, bad girl. I was so worried about you. How dare you.......how dare you......."

A loud growl broke through the air, silencing Scott's muttering almost immediately, and leaving behind an awkward silence thereafter. Holding her head to his shoulder as they were, Scott could feel Kristy's face grow warm against his neck. Certainly, she must be blushing red right now.

"I'm hungry.......", the young girl ventured, a little hesistant.

Pandora felt better than she had in several weeks, being well rested, well fed and wearing clean clothes. She was sitting alone, as far away from everyone else as she could get, a slightly uneasy expression on her face, as though she still wasn’t sure if she wanted to be there or not. But she had listened carefully to the speech, taking in every detail, and thinking very carefully about what she should do.

The talk with Godolkin last night had helped her accept what these people were, though she still didn’t feel quite comfortable around them. He had explained some of what they had just been told, and she had been debating the decision since then. As she continued to think, she watched the reactions of those around her. Dr Rhys and a man who called himself Casca were the first, both voicing their commitment. Then the redhead, and some others whose names she didn’t know yet, but recognised from her brief encounter the night before, also cast positive decisions.

She fidgeted idly with the hem of her jacket as she attempted to come to a decision. These people have nothing to do with me, and I don’t really feel comfortable here. But their cause is just; no-one should be oppressed because they’re different. And if I stay, I get to fight. More to the point, I get to fight those other super-soldiers, and I like a challenge. And from what the old man just said, they need all the help they can get. If I change my mind I can always walk away. There was a minor change in her expression, a kind of clarity had appeared, now that she had made her choice.

“I’m not one of you,” she spoke up softly, “I guess I’m what you’d call a mundane,” she admitted, having had the term explained to her by Godolkin. “But your cause is righteous; you have the right to exist, just like everyone else. And if I stay, I get to fight those super-soldiers, so I suppose I’ll stay.” She knew that those present would question how useful she would actually be, given her appearance, but they didn’t know, so she didn’t care.

"Godolkin, I have a need to speak woth you alone. And Dr. Sian, I also have a need to speak with you in private in the very near future. I have one other Psionic ability, in addition to my shielding. I have the capacity to relate my story, and spread hypnosis through my words. If posible, I would like to set aside some time to give you an account of my travels, since even the least experiences that I have had could assist in some way. Now Godolkin, could you please step outside with me for just a second. I promise this won't take long." Casca moved towards the door, spearcase in hand.

Godolkin stood and followed Casca to door. At Pandora's announcement he stopped beside, resting a hand gently on her shoulder as he smiled down at her. He knew it was a hard decision for her to make and was warmed by her courage. "My word still stands. If you choose to leave, I'll be there to guide you out." Then he followed Casca through the doorway into the hall.

Red moved to the table she had thrown and righted it as best she could before sitting down again.

Godolkin had explained one other thing to Pandora, something he hadn't told others. He explained why he put up with her, even now. He explained about how she was literally thrown away at birth. How mundanes hated or feared her for being a mutant. How mutants feared her because of the circumstances of her birth. Circumstances in which she had no choice. How she, even know, simply strove to survive in a world that hated or feared her. But wouldn't accept pity, she was to proud for that. Unfortunetly she was afraid to accept help because she saw it as a sign of weakness and a chance for someone to betray her. The last was spoken pointedly, as though it was something that he felt Pandora should consider.

"Godolkin, you're a man that I trust. You have the same qualities that remind me of some comrades I've had over the years, and I find those traits to be aluable traits in a soldier. I wish to give something to you." Casca took out the Spear, and removed the cap. He flourished it, then held it out to Godolkin.

"Fortier had the Spearhead on him when he died. It was that which I took from him. The haft I've had in my possession since I signed up for a tour of duty in the Mideast a couple years back before the U.S. pulled out. I found it in one of the lairs of the Brotherhood, and I had to kill a number of men to get the haft. THe Nazis had seperated the head from the haft at the end of the Second World War. How Fortier got it, I don't know, but I've repaired my ancient weapon, as sturdy and as powerful as the day I used it to kill your god.

"The same curse that holds me also holds the Spear. It can't break, and is pretty much invulnerable. I want you to keep this. Tell nobody. Not even Red. I don't believe you're the kind of person to use this lightly, and that is something of value within you. But if ever the time comes for this weapon to be used, then I would be of sounder mind knowing that it is in the hands of somebody I trust. I give it to you now freely. Be wise with it." And Casca let the Spear drop into Godolkin's hand. He then handed over the bag and head-cover. "To carry and conceal it."

Godolkin's hand curled around the haft immedietly but he held it at arms length for a moment just looking at Casca.

I used it to kill your god

The words rang in his ears. The weapon that slew christ, in his hands. Tamerlane would take him back with this in his possesion. He could return to the life he knew, with only the need to follow orders, no need to think for himself, to do what he was best at rather than try to figure out what to do at each step.

Tell nobody. Not even Red.

Red wouldn't even believe it, she didn't believe in God or Jesus. But to not tell his Mistress ....

Yet she wasn't his Mistress, not like she had been. Yet she still held some power over him, didn't she? Somehow he still felt the need to be at her side. Again this single item could bring them both back into the fold, back to the people who knew and understood them. Back home.

Then he saw Red fighting, wounded, still fighting. He saw the Doctor expending her power for those around her. The old woman came to mind, ancient as she was she still pushed herself, helping others. And people caught up things that they didn't even know, yet striving to work together for the benefit of all.

Finally he bowed to Casca. "You honor me with this trust, and it is one I shall not break. You have my word of honor."

Casca returned Godolkin's bow. "Know that I have nothing but hatred for the curse that is upon me. Death is not something to be feared, and I can tell you know that. Whatever I have that amounts to a blessing, know that I give it unto you. I will pray to whatever gods exist that one day this Spear benefits you as it has done me ill." Casca took the head-cover and slid it on, then pressed the carrying case lightly into Godolkin's other hand. "Thank you," was all that the Eternal Mercenary said, and all that he could say. He turned and walked back into the room where the others were waiting.

Godolkin carefully, and with reverence, placed the spear into the carrying case. He closed it up and then re-entered the room. Now that the table was back in place he helped himself to more of the cinnamon toast and hot chocolate and sat down opposite Red. She glanced at the case but didn't say anything, stewing over Tamerlane's newest betrayal. Finally she stood up and began heading out.

"Where are you going?" Godolkin asked her.

"To get breakfast", she replied.

He looked at the buffet and back at her and she bared her fangs at him, "They don't exactly have what I need on the menu here." Then she turned again and headed toward medical.

Another screen snapped silently to life. Charli had been listening in from medical- they were releasing her shortly.

"Save me some bacon and some of those Iconoclasts. I'm in as soon as I get Robert's body back to Imitora." She spoke frimly as she eased herself out of the hospital bed "Even if the docs want me confined to this high tech wheel chair for a few days." She growled as she slid into the latest maglev flaot chair.

“But your cause is righteous; you have the right to exist, just like everyone else. And if I stay, I get to fight those super-soldiers, so I suppose I’ll stay.”

Sian looked at Pandora for a long moment considering every thing she knew about the girl and knew that she didn't know enough, however...

She walked over to Pandora after Godolkin had moved on.

"I apologise for what I did, but, please try and understand that I would have done it to any one I didn't know. Some times the need to know out weighs privacy, and I didn't do it lightly. You can accept my apology or not, that is your perogative. I hope you do, but it won't hurt if you don't."

And no you are not a mundane - no one is 'normal' that is a out and out myth- we, all of us -gifted, cursed, blessed, untouched, or how ever you want to label having unusual abilities or not - are mutants. It's just in most the mutancy is just an eyecolor, or too many freckles, or extra wrinkles on our knuckles, or an innie versus an outie..."

"You are welcome here as far as I am concerned."

"So," Casca began again, "Could somebody take the time to fill me in on the exactness of the opposing side? I know of Tamerlane, and his support from one faction, but the Iconoclasts have got to have more than one player calling the shots, right? So who are they, and what is on each person's agenda?"

"Tamerlane leads", Godolkin replied, "and it's undisputed. Braknokov is one of the inner triad members. No one knows the third. Braknokov was formerly in the KGB.

Then, of course you have your ranking officers. The military structure is very much the same as any military, it's simply that the officers hold a church title along with thier military title."

Ryan stood as he saw a screen turn on with Charli's face. He headed toward the medical wing as the only reason he'd been at the conference was that she'd been asleep.

Arriving outside her room, he knocked and asked through the door, "May I enter?"

"May I enter?"

Charli had been playing with the controls as she waited for the nurse to tell her she could go, and she looked up eagerly as the nock came on the door.

"Sure Ryan" She called, recogtnizing his voice, though the smile slipped a little. She still hadn't figured out what to make of Ryan. His dispassionate existance was so at odds with her own more passionate nature.

He entered a gave her a faint bow in his inclined head. "Shall we go get you something to eat?" He asked as she had mentioned saving some bacon for her.

Looking at her, he got the sense that she had questions for him and added, "Did you have something you wanted to ask me?"

Red watched as Ryan entered, sipping on a bag of fresh blood. She had sought some solitude here and wondered what he was up to until he knocked on Torchy's door. She ignored him and continued drinking from the bag.

"Did you have something you wanted to ask me?"

"Yeah...I guess so...So, are you going to be leaving now?" She asked bluntly then added "...And yeah I'm starved..but isn't this neat, it's a maglev wheel chair, it floats. I'd read an article about them." Charli couldn't say why she changed the subject so suddenly. She didn't want to hear that he was leaving, but knew he didn't seen to really care about the Iconoclasts and the danger they posed.

'Lets go get some bacon." She pushed the controls stick foreward and floated out of the room but looked back to see if Ryan was following her.

"Leaving to get you fed, yes. Leaving this little organisation, that's still up in the air." He replied as she got the high-tech wheel chair moving.

Walking beside her, he wondered if she knew that the only reason he was still here was because of her and if she didn't whether or not to tell her. He was also running the pros and cons to help come to a verdict on whether or not to stay and decided to shelve it for now as it was simply mental busy work as long as Charli was still in the wheel chair.

"Hey Scott...Why hello Kristy! good to see you're awake!" Kade gave the youngsters a broad smile as he swept into the hospital room room the siblings shared. The broad shouldered silver man cam over to stand next to Scott.

"He was really worried about you" He informed Kristy. "How are you feeling?"

When Kade entered, Kristy's reaction could possibly have been a bit better; immediately, she squealed and attempted to hide behind her brother's back, leaving Scott somewhat nonplussed and even a bit embarassed. It might have been perfectly understandable, though; after all, how would anyone feel if she suddenly woke up in a strange place, and the first person she saw after her own brother was a living, breathing, moving silver statue? In any case, the next thing Kade knew, all he could see of Kristy was cascading black hair, and doe brown eyes peeking at him from over Scott's shoulder.

"Kristy, it's alright. He's cool", the boy tried to reassure his little sister, even in the awkward position he was in. She didn't seem too convinced, though, for she continued to stare at Kade, the tension evident in her shoulders. Still Scott attempted to calm Kristy down, until finally, Kade could see the tension slowly leave the little girl's shoulders, although she was still staring at him fixedly.

There was something different in Kristy's gaze; now she seemed more curious than anything. Thinking that it was safe to get closer, Kade approached the siblings. Kristy's gaze never left him for a moment, but as he approached, slowly she began to come out of hiding from behind her brother. Her face looked utterly guileless, as she observed the great silver giant approaching her with a benign smile on his face. She didn't look too afraid anymore either, and then, she slowly leaned forward, the curious look still on her face. With her finger outstretched.

Poke

Poke

Hi seamless silver skin gave easily beneath Kristies finger, just as normal skin would, and Kade laughed.

"Now try it" and when she did again it was immovable, as hard as adamantine. "I couldn't control it at first. Up until I ws fourteen I looked like any other kid, but once my powers cam into action I well...you can see what happened. Hey the nurse tells me that you can check out now if you'd like, but they'd like both of you to continue to wear the monitors" He indicated the small flat patches that both had on their left shoulders under the hospital garb. "So medical telemetry can keep track of how you are doing."

He stepped back out of the room briefly and came back with a arm load of clothes. Neatly folded, clean but not new jeans and tees. "I think these will fit. They're from Tony and Beth, some of the youngsters living here. We'll get you enrolled in classes tomorrow, but today is just rest, rebuild and have a look around. I'll step out and let you all get dressed, then take you two to breakfast."

Casca massaged his forhead. Last thing he needed was a crazy, ex-Soviet intelligence zealot after his ass. "Somebody in ther has to have an agenda. Not necessarily the usurption of power, but a different opinion on how things are to be done. An officer than always re-interprets orders. Selective intelligence. Even a different idea on how best to kill those that they hunt. You don't build an ultr-powerful organization with effective leadership without getting somebody that disagrees with a certain part of the book." He sat back and took a very deep breath.

"An old adage states that the more pressure you put on a wall in order to keep it in place, the more effective the termites become at destroying it. I need to do some digging. Doctor, I know that buried somewhere in my memory is knowledge that will help us. It won't be big, but it doesn't have to. As soon as you get the time, message me. Otherwise, I'll be in my room researching." Casca stood, and as he left, grabbed a donut to finish off his breakfast from earlier, and headed to his room. The Eternal Mercenary first needed to find out just who is enemy claimed to be, and that required the Internet.

Godolkin shrugged at Casca's words. Though he had risen through the ranks through skill alone he had never been high enough to even hear from the inner circle. Information and commands passed down from the inner circle to the ranking church officials/military commanders and then down the ranks to him. Seeing Casca leave he stood up and made his way over to the buffet table, helping himself to a plateful more of cinnamon toast and hot chocolate, careful to count the marshmallows again.

****

Red finished her breakfast and moved over to one of the med techs. "Hey, you guys have a workout room around here?"

A faint smile crossed Pandora’s face after Godolkin had spoken to her. She found that it meant something to her, being accepted by one similar to her. His words could be interpreted in more than one way, but she knew he was just making sure that she knew she could still walk away if she so wanted. The smile vanished when she saw Dr. Rhys approach, and her face became expressionless.

She met the gaze of the other woman, but said nothing and her face didn’t change. She could almost understand why it had been done, but it didn’t change anything. No apology would change it, and the circumstances were irrelevant. And as far as Pandora was concerned, she was a ‘mundane’. There was nothing she could do that was beyond the realms of possibility for a normal person, though she could do more things that well thanks to the genetic manipulation. She wasn’t what most would call normal either, but she certainly wasn’t one of these people. Pandora was in a category entirely her own.

But something Dr. Rhys had said struck a chord. Pandora did have a myth. It was only a few months since she had entered the real world, but already she had made a mark. Her skills and effect on a battle, even though she had only been in a few, had already led the Free Eaglian Revenants to give a name to her: the Angel of Death. She thought it terribly clichéd, but she had to admit, she liked having a title.

Once Dr. Rhys had moved away, she shook off the thought and stood. She pulled the Tag from her belt, looked at it suspiciously once more, then pressed the button Godolkin had shown her and said, “Armoury.” If she was going to stay, she needed a proper weapon for fighting, and she couldn’t do what she normally did, which was take a weapon from someone she killed. She knew exactly what weapon she was looking for, but doubted she would find it. Whenever she thought about choosing a weapon, one in particular came up stronger than any other. She knew it in exquisite detail, everything there was to know about it’s use, construction and maintenance, but she couldn’t put a name to it. Many times she had searched the internet for any trace of it, but always came up with nothing. Until she found it, she would choose the best that was available.

Leaving to get you fed, yes. Leaving this little organisation, that's still up in the air."

Charli gave Ryan a semi disgusted look. "Women are the ones who are supposed to be difficult, not you guys. You are more evasive than a ferret."

She shook her head s she came to the first dross corridor out of medical. "Well you are going to have to give me directions on where the conference room is. I have no idea of the layout of this place."

He gave her a quick smile before pulling out the Tag. "Here you can have this, it's suppose to be able to guide you around this place." He commented as she showed her how to punch in directional commands, by bringing up the one for the conference room.

"Depending on the question, I can be very forthright. Closed-mouthedness is a survial trait in many lines of work, including the ones I'm in. I'll try to be more forthright, for you." He added with a slight smirk.

I'll try to be more forthright, for you."

Charli sighed inwardly. She'd spent her whole life in hiding, hiding who she was what she could do, her parentage. She knew about hiding. But she was tired of hiding, of being alone.

"Fine after breakfast, I'll tell you my story if you tell me yours. But bgreakfast first. I'm starved."

She took the Tag and studied it carefully. "How bout we share this one till we find one for me?"

"That sounds like it would be suitable." He replied as they continued to head in the general direction of breakfast. "Probably the results of the trauma you suffered, and you can keep it. You saved it from a horrible fate afterall."

He'd been intending to take the Tag apart to see if it could be slaved to his suit's comm system, with the appropriate filters and firewalls of course. "I can get another one as well." He added to forestall any protest she may have thought of raising, and unvoiced "And you need it more in case you relapse."

You saved it from a horrible fate afterall."


Charli raised an eyebrow at that. "What sort of horrible fate? Are you one of those magnetic personalities that fry anything digital simply by being around it?" She found herself teasing Ryan. "And why are you in armor? I scarely think we're likely to be attacked here, unless it is by an rasher of bacon, knowing that I am coming to demolish it.'

"No, just the fate reserved to technology in the hands of a tinker better at taking apart unfamiliar items to see how they work and if they can be adapted for use than putting them back together." He replied with a faint smile. "As to why the armour, it's useful, confortable and has a number of interesting functions, including being able to show me how to get to anywhere I've already been in this place while wearing it."

"The breakfast foods are a tricky lot." He replied in an almost deadpan voice that did more to make it humorous than otherwise. "I also need to find out if this place has a decent pool table."

Pandora found that allowing herself to be guided by a holographic green bouncing ball was a little disconcerting, but it served the purpose well enough. Upon a cursory inspection, she was impressed at how extensive a collection of weapons was available, and how varied it was; she could see everything from high-tech rifles to swords. Her interest aroused, she wandered for a few minutes, just taking in all that was there, since it might come in useful.

Before long though, she put her mind to the reason she was there: finding a suitable weapon. Walking among racks of rifles in many sizes, she dismissed most of them with little more than a passing glance. She ignored the presence of M-8s and M-29s, even overlooking the AK-103 which had served her particularly well in one week-long campaign. The first thing that caught her eye was an MSG-90, it was the kind of weapon she wanted, but she knew it was heavy and a little too long for her purposes.

It took ten minutes for her to find something she liked, eventually choosing a SCAR-H in the Sniper Variant. Given the choice, Pandora always chose a tactical sharpshooter rifle over an assault rifle, and the SCAR was one of the best. Another few minutes of searching produced a 10x magnification scope, a night-vision scope as an alternative and a sound suppressor for the barrel. Now all she needed were some magazines and ammunition, neither of which were obviously available.

Unsure whether she could just take the weapon, or if it had to be officially issued to her, she left it and the unattached accessories on a table and allowed her curiosity to get the better of her, wandering into the section where the swords were kept. She would never choose a sword over a rifle, but they did interest her. Picking up a light rapier, she began swinging it through some gentle practise exercises, ignorant of anything going on around her.

"I couldn't control it at first. Up until I ws fourteen I looked like any other kid, but once my powers came into action I well...you can see what happened."

For the first time in a long while, Scott saw Kristy giggle. She giggled just like any schoolgirl would, carefree and light of heart, which was all the more amazing to the boy, considering what he had put his sister through in their quest for survival. A pang shot through his heart, but soon it was replaced with a beam on his face, as he watched Kristy giggling. Never thought I would see Kristy giggle again.......God, if you're out there, thank you. So very much. For letting my sister smile again. After so long.

"Hey the nurse tells me that you can check out now if you'd like, but they'd like both of you to continue to wear the monitors. So medical telemetry can keep track of how you are doing."

"Huh, these?", the boy said, as he observed the patches the Silver Surfer had pointed out to him. "Yeah, I suppose that's no problem, I think I can......Kristy!", Scott suddenly exclaimed at the younger sister, who was starting to have too much fun poking Kade's skin. Chastened, the young girl drew back abashed, looking at the silver giant with a bashful smile. And no more hint of fear in her eyes either, no more the haunted look she had worn for the past three months; another thing Scott marveled at. If this is the place where Kristy could be happy.......then,,,,,,,

At first, deep in his thoughts, Scott didn't hear Kade as he handed them some clothes, telling them that, "They're from Tony and Beth, some of the youngsters living here. We'll get you enrolled in classes tomorrow, but today is just rest, rebuild and have a look around. I'll step out and let you all get dressed, then take you two to breakfast."

But suddenly, his head snapped up, as he realised something in what the giant had said. And there was a look of pure astonishment on his face, as if he had just discovered a great novelty. Which must have indeed been the case, from the tone in his voice as he suddenly blurted out,

"Wait......youngsters? You mean.....there's kids OUR AGE? Right HERE?"

Casca entered his room as je swallowed the last bites of his donut. He launched a Web Browser and went first to a search site to see what would be transparent. After that he would go deeper.

The first half hour turned up nothing more than what had already been said. He found a short official bio on Braknokov, an obvious cover, but did get him to a Wikipedia article that provided a slightly less stellar impression of the ex-KGB agent. Tamerlane's biography had no other alternates posted by those more than skeptical of his history. This was going to be annoying to the extreme. He had no knowledge of his enemy, no sense of who they were, and nothing that belied their true interests. There was always a psychotic underling in an organization of that caliber. The trouble wasn't finding him, for he probably had a face and recognition, but rather sifting out the lies and the truths. The Iconoclasts would plant lies to throw off their enemies. At this point, Casca had little more than a pile of equestrian fecal matter.

The Eternal Mercenary left his room, and keyed in the directions for the practice range. He needed to shoot something.

Charli still shook her head over his explaination about the armor, clearly not seeing the "why" of Ryans preference for it.

"I also need to find out if this place has a decent pool table."

"Food first then a pool table. I'm not that good but I'll play ya. " Charli smiled up at him as the conference room door swept open before the pair. "Gangway bacon feind entering" she called out to Sian and the others.

Shortly she was digging into a plate heaped with bacon and thick Belgain waffles as if she ws starved. And in fact she was, her breakfast from yesterday no more than a memory.

"Would you care for a sparring match?" A soft voice came from behind Pandora as she toyed with the rapier. "Though I have to warn you I fight double florentine." The tall slender man in his early thirties stepped up beside her.

"I'm Jan" He pronounced it "yawn" and the most immediately noticable thing about his was that he had four arms. "I'm the Roost's armory chief. I saw the weapons you'd laid out. We keep the ammo and magazines seperate, just in case one of the kids wanders in, though officially it's off limits to them."

"Food first, the pool." He replied in agreement, though he needed to run through a solo game as well. For some reason the easiest way to calibrate a large number of the systems was with a game of pool. He figured that one of the lead designers had done it that way, but it worked and that was it.

He got himself some toast and jam and took a seat nearby where Charli was eating as he looked around to see who was still there.

"Wait......youngsters? You mean.....there's kids OUR AGE? Right HERE?"

Kade stopped as he started out the door and looked back around with a broad smile.

"Yes we have about a hundred children between the ages of one and sixteen living here. One of the teachers also fills in here a medic, you might have met him last night. But get changed, and lets get you all some food."

He laughed at the look of amazement on Scotts face and contimued out the door.

Casca walked into the armory to see Pandora busy with the caretaker. "What have you got by way of high-caliber snipers? I'm a little pissed off right now."

Godolkin finished his meal in silence and then stood, activating the guide. He followed it out the door and to the outside. There, he stood, looking out at the horizon.

He no longer hated Red, that he knew. He suspected that he had deeper feelings for her, feelings that had rooted themselves in his mind and had remained untouched due to his psychological and drug enduced training. Now they ran rampant through his mind and he had to find a way to suppress them before they interfered with what needed to be done. But her image refused to leave his mind, even in his deepest meditation.

****

Since the Med Tech seemed to be too busy to answer her question Red turned toward SS as he left the area where the children were.

"Hey, SS. Can you point me to a training area?"

****
Tamerlane was furious, though the battered maid took no notice of the blood, bruises and cuts that he had inflicted upon her.

"I'm sorry, Lisa", he told her, "but someone must take the brunt of this catastrophe. I didn't think you would complain."

And she didn't. Once he waved his hand she went about cleaning the room, the duty ingrained in her psyche.

****
After the T.V. interview he entered the room where Braknokov and the other waited. He glared at the former KGB agent for a long moment.

"You almost cost us EVERYTHING!", he pronounced. "How DARE you send them without my permission."

"I was only trying to stop the Blasphemy", Braknokov replied.

"ALSO against my direct orders", Tamerlane threw at him.

"I don't understand your interest", he replied, "she's a danger to us and needs to be gotten rid of."

"My interest is my own", Tamerlane told him, "and these monstrosities that you created are far too obvious."

"The shocktroopers are obvious", Braknokov retorted.

"THUS the reason I approved the AGENT program!" Tamerlane stopped as the the third moved over to place a hand on his shoulder. He took a moment to gather himself before continuing. "I have sent Admiral Hulda to look into your pet research project at Samurai. Once she has given me her report I'll decide what it is I need to do."

Braknokov stood up and opened his mouth a moment but quickly shut it as intense pain flaired in his head, driving him to his knees.

"Your DISMISSED", Tamerlane told him, and the stricken man did his best to get out of the room and away.

"Hey, SS. Can you point me to a training area?"

Kade turned and looked at the one he'd heard was named Red. " Good Morning. A training area? What sort of training? We have a school here but it's not a very formal one."

Red shrugged. "You know", she said, "hand to hand, knife, that sort of thing." She then cocked her hips in a seductive pose, "I'm a physical kind of gal."

"I'm a physical kind of gal."

"Oh the salle and the armory. Your Tag can take you right there. " He replied, seemingly indifferent to her pose and insinuation. "Just tell it where you want to go."

"I'm a physical kind of gal."

"Oh the salle and the armory. Your Tag can take you right there. " He replied, seemingly indifferent to her pose and insinuation. "Just tell it where you want to go."

"Yeah, well, about that. I seem to have misplaced it, that's why I asked", Red lied, knowing full well that she had left it in Godolkin's quarters, but not knowing that he had given it to Pandora.

"That happend to me all the time." Kade replied understandingly. "My wife is always hunting me down with where ever I left it last. My wrists are too big to wear it comfortablly and so I just set it aside and forget about it. We haven't explored all of the caven systems here yet as it is. Would you like me to ask Mycroft where it is?" He refered to the central computer by the nickname they'd given it long ago.

"Yeah sure", Red replied, glancing about as though expecting to see someone by the name of Mycroft around.

When the voice spoke suddenly behind her, Pandora gave a small gasp of surprise, spinning on her feet and automatically bringing the rapier she held up into guard, bringing the tip perilously close to the approaching man’s face. Her eyes widened when she saw the extra arms, but she made no other reaction, showing how much she had already adapted to this place.

The comment that had initially confused her now made sense too. Florentine involved using two swords, so the four implied by the phrase ‘double florentine’ had made little sense until she saw the speaker. “That’s a little unfair, isn’t it? And I’m not very good,” she replied. Of course, when she said she wasn’t very good with a blade, she was giving her opinion in comparison to her skills with ranged weapons. She wasn’t an expert with a blade, but she would give even the best a good fight.

“People call me Pandora,” she returned the introduction. “Can I take the SCAR and the other equipment then?” she asked. “I think I’m going to need it. I’ll need plenty of ammunition too.” Kids? she thought, So they keep mutant children here to protect them. Makes sense, I guess. She looked up as Casca approached, asking about heavy sniper rifles. I can see you carrying something that size, she agreed mentally. She wasn’t a fan of anti-materiel rifles; they were too powerful for her small frame, though she knew that, like most modern weapons, they had their uses.

Yeah sure",

"Mycroft is the Roost's computer." Kade explained as he keyed his tag and inquired "Mycroft where is the Tag that was given to Red?"

*In the Armory" The computer replied almost instantly.

Kade nodded "Thank you." He replied and closed the connection. "The salle and range are just off of the armory. You must have left it there."

*********************
In the Armory


“I think I’m going to need it. I’ll need plenty of ammunition too.”

"Certainly you may Pandora. We just ask that the guns not be loaded while in private quaters, for safetys sake." Jan replied. "The range is though that door there, and I can meet you there with magazines and ammo."

What have you got by way of high-caliber snipers? I'm a little pissed off right now."

"We have one or two of most every thing available. I just finished 'tuning' a Macmillen Tac 50 a few days ago. Would that suite you?" Jan aksed of Casey after thinking though their selection for a moment.

Pandora nodded her agreement with the request to keep the weapon unloaded, then thought guiltily of the loaded pistol in her jacket pocket. Still, it wasn’t as though anyone would get their hands on it, and as far as she was concerned, there wasn’t much point carrying a weapon if it wasn’t loaded. She wouldn’t be carrying the SCAR all the time, it would be left in her room until she needed it, therefore she could comfortably adhere to the request.

“I would like to get a feel for it,” she agreed, “Do you have steel- or tungsten-cored ammunition in that calibre here? But that can wait, since I don’t think I’m going to need it imminently.” She swished the rapier lightly, the blade hissing through the air. “I believe you offered me a challenge.” While she didn’t think of herself as being that good with a blade, and against four blades she would certainly be ‘outgunned’, she rarely backed down from a fight, even a practice one.

"In the armory?" Red asked. "Godolkin must have it then, I've only been to medical, my room and dining area. Alright then, point me the way to Godolkin and I'll get it from him", she said, smiling.

"Yes we have about a hundred children between the ages of one and sixteen living here. One of the teachers also fills in here a medic, you might have met him last night. But get changed, and lets get you all some food."

The silver-skinned giant disappeared out the door, but Scott was too astonished and lost in thought to follow. Blankly he stared after Kade, not really seeing him for the thoughts that were floating through his mind, while Kristy, on the other hand, seemed quite excited about the prospect.

"Oh, wow! I hope I get to meet them soon......", the girl chattered excitedly, but her brother wasn't listening, as thought after thought flowed through his mind.

There are children here........about a hundred of them.

With teachers for them.

This means.......there's more of them than I even thought about.

An entire population of them. Children included.

"Bro?"

And all of them.......what are they, freaks?

No, I shouldn't think that way. Jean Grey said something.......'Night Life', if I remember correctly. I must start thinking of them as that.

No, that's not right, either. They're still human after all, right?

Yeah. They're all human, after all. Even the Silver Surfer guy from just now.

And besides........then, what am I? What about Kristy, what is she? What are we both, then?

Aren't we both.......just like them?

"Bro?"

Yeah. Me and Kristy, we're not alone in this world, after all.

There's people out there, like us. Our age, as well.

I think........this is what I have been looking for, all along.

A new home.

Yeah.

A new home, for my sister, who's lost everything she used to know. Well, I've lost as much as she had, but I've never really thought about myself. These days, all I thought about was Kristy's well-being.

But, isn't this even better? We're where we aren't different.

We're where we can fit in. Where we won't be prosecuted for what we are.

Kristy can make new friends again. As for me.......I dunno. I guess I'm forced to grow up way too fast. But.......

I like this place. Yeah. Here's where Kristy can grow up.

"BRO!"

"Ow!"

It took a while, but Scott was finally brought out of his stupor by a good kick to his heel, courtesy of Kristy. And he was left rubbing his heel, while looking somewhat sorely at his sister for the blow she had inflicted on him.

"Jeez, what was that for?"

But Kristy didn't reply immediately. Instead, she was dithering on whatever she was about to say, and impatient, Scott stared closer at her. Only to realize that, for some reason, she was actually blushing. Blushing pink in her cheeks, making her look quite radiant to the eye, even in her somewhat malnourished state.

"Hey......what are you blushing for?"

"Well, I.......I wanna change."

And she indicated the clothes that Kade had brought them. Now, it was Scott's turn to blush.

"Oh, right, right! Hold on......."

Grabbing his own share of the pile of clothes, the boy quickly drew the curtains around Kristy's bed, leaving her in privacy. And he turned around, brushing his hand across his forehead, and wondering why he had blushed so easily.

Oh, man. What was that about? Anyway, I better go change too.

____________________________________________________________________________________

"Kristy, are you done yet?"

"Yeah, just a moment!"

And the young girl drew the curtains back, revealing her dressed in her shirt and jeans. Clean shirt, and jeans. And so was Scott, and he thought about how it had been some time since they had clean clothes to wear. Leastways, clean clothes that weren't freshly stolen out of somewhere or other.

"Okay, Kristy. You wanna go get some chow?"

"Yeah.......I'm hungry."

"K, let's go then."

He turned, but suddenly felt a warm, soft weight pressing down upon his shoulders; Kristy had climbed onto his back, putting her arms around his neck, and snuggled close to him. Close enough, such that he caught a faint whiff of her scent.

"Bro......can you carry me there?"

"You okay, Sis?"

"Yeah, just......."

"Okay, I understand."

And he bent down to let her climb up better, supporting her by the thighs. With a content sigh, Kristy rested her head on Scott's shoulders, her long black hair cascading down his shoulders in many ebony streams. He felt her warm breath on his neck, and her ribs on his back, evidence of the hardship they had suffered the past three months laying low.

She's so light. She shouldn't be so light. I can barely even feel her weight on me; she's not fed enough. But thank goodness, all of that is going to change now. We need not run anymore.

He paused for a moment just outside the door, his thoughts catching up with him again, feeling acutely Kristy's grasp on him, and her warm, shallow breathing..

Kristy's so affectionate nowadays. I guess I can't blame her. I've all she's got left, just as she's all I got left. Kinda ironic that I didn't treat her all that well before all of this happened........but now I can't imagine my life without her. I've been taking care of her all this while, and I think I'll be watching over her still. She needs me. I can't just give up on her, not even now.

But, I wonder whether she knows. Just how much I actually need her, too......

"We're off."

"Mmmmm......."

With Kristy's soft purr as his answer, Scott stepped out of the room, following after Kade. He caught up sooner than he expected, seeing the great silver giant conversing with Carrot Top, of all people. Upon seeing the scarlet-haired woman, Scott became wary again, looking silently at her with an intense gaze, while Kristy looked on as well, although with more of a wondering look.

"The Tac 50 sounds great," said Casca. "I'll be in the firing range, so just bring the gun and ammo in," he said as he walked through the door. He noted that the range had a partition set up specifically for high-range rifles. Impressive, was the Eternal Mercenary's thought. He got himself a pair of ear-muffs, and protective eyewear. He could heal any damage that he took listening to the guns, or having his eyes hit by something, but it was a rather painful and undesirable process. This done, he grabbed a pair of gloves designed for grip and elimination of sweat, waiting fora few seconds until Jan came in with the arms.

“I believe you offered me a challenge.”

"Give me a few minutes to get Casey situated on the range and I'll gladly spar with you." Jan replied as he turned to go to the ammo bunker. " I remember if we have tungsten cored already but I know we have steel penetrators. I'll get you several magazines and boxes of rounds so you can load as you like."

Jan was gone but a few minutes, taking the Tac 50 and a box of a hundred rounds to him in the firing range, then coming back with a quilted doublet worn and another in his hands. He gave it to Pandora.

"Wear it for torso protection, they are some what size adjustable so that should fit with a little modification. There are masks in the salle."

Casca appreciated the range. They used a considerably smaller, albeit more resilient target to account for the fact that even the extended range was no where near real-life conditions, and he set himself down in the classic prone pose, feet stretched out behind him. Loading the first magazine, He began firing, as rapidly as possible, taking out as much rage as he possibly on the target. The poor thing didn't stand a chance, and after a few magazines to calm himself, Casca was sending round after round into the various targetting circles on the now perforated object. His tours in 'Nam fourty years ago had been educational, to say the least.

After considering the future over breakfast, Loki couldn't help but wonder what was next. They knew who the enemy was and had a reasonably good idea of what they were capable of. Unforunately they also had the advantage of being able to exist in the public eye and even gain their support concerning certain issues.

Jumping onto his crutches, Loki limped his way over to Sian as she was finishing her own meal. She came across as a woman with a good head on her shoulders, something Loki had always appreciated.

"Now that we're all holed up this place, what's next? I don't imagine this war will simply end after a few more battles with those super soldiers..."

Whilst Loki had indeed committed himself to the cause of fighting Tamerlane and his church, there was still very little he knew about the whole organisation and what it could draw up against them.

Pandora nodded and, while waiting for Jan to return, swept the rapier through a more purposeful series of moves, warming up for the match. Without thinking, she had come up onto the balls of her feet, giving her more control over her movement and greater agility, though she knew that speed would be required if she was to avoid being overwhelmed.

When he came back and handed her the doublet, she put it on and found that the garment was fairly large on her. She pulled the adjustment straps as tight as possible in an attempt to prevent the doublet from hindering her movement. Having done the best she could, she looked down at herself and frowned, then gave a snort of laughter at her appearance.

“Well, I suppose it’ll have to do,” she announced, smiling crookedly at the armoury chief. She gestured with her free hand for him to lead the way, deftly reversing the rapier in the grip of her other hand and holding it before her, the blade perpendicular to the ground, so that she was less likely to injure someone if she tripped.

“Well, I suppose it’ll have to do,”

"For the moment yes, but lets set up an appointment with one of our seamstreses, so you can have one properly fitting in the future." Jan replied as he turned on the lights in the Salle. The floor was sanded smooth but not polished ash, the whole room roughly fifty by fifty with a ceiling height of roughly thirty. "I laid the floor myself. " Jan mentioned as he moved towards the center where the pale wood floor had been stianed in three concentric circles one with in the other, the outer most being the widest the innermost one bing the smallest, barely five foor in diameter. "A modification of the Salamanca school. We won't use the inner till we have progressed through the outer. They used a variant of this in the Zorro remake in the mid ninties."

He walked over to a wall mounted rack were numerous fencing masks (http://www.blademasters.org/images/MaskLoColor.gif) sat, all with odd added on leawther hoods (http://webpages.charter.net/telemark/Thatclose.JPG) waited. "Since we will be fighting in the round, not Olympic style which is fought on a line, I have added back of the head protection in the form of soft but thick leather hoods."

"You will also notice that the blade you are holding is not tipped, just blunted and is not a regulation Olympic blade. It is a ladies version of the original rapiers of medieval times. Fencing is a sport. Swashbuckleing, so named becasue of the small buckle style shields the practicioners used, is what developed in the back alleys of Renniasance cities. First used by thieves, muggers and bravos, it was soon taken up by the aristrocracy, and eventually became the sport of fencing." He was clearly in lecture mode about something he was leanred on. But while he spoke he selected a mask for Pandora as well as gloves and brought them to her.

He showed her how to settle the mask on and and tighten the buckles on the hood. "You will notice that the mask does not imping upon vision. The eye forgets the mesh in front of it almost instantly." He commented as he pulled on his mask and gloves. There were weapons racks in the salle and he moved over and took down what were obviously his personal weapons.

"This form of hilt is called a swept hilt (http://www.museumreplicas.com/webstore/ShowLargeImage.aspx?Prod=Pappenheimer%20Rapier&LgImage=0500248_L_000.jpg)rapier, the purpose of the hilt is to not only protect the sword hand, but to also allow a skilled user to trap and possibly break the opponents weapn."

He shoed her the many curved bars that cupped and protected the hilt. Hers was slighly less ornate, and the weapon was lighter over all. "Yours is a faster weapon intrinsically than mine." He noted.

"How much sword play have you been taught?" He asked after she had spent all the time she wanted comparing the two weapons.

"Now that we're all holed up this place, what's next? I don't imagine this war will simply end after a few more battles with those super soldiers..."

" I think we need to rest for a ffew dasys, learn every thing wwe can about the Iconoclasts, train together so we can operate effectively as a team, and then used what intel we can get to decide how best to hurt them as badly as possible. This is more than just a physcial war, this is a mental war." Sian thought aloud.

"We have to make it impossible to field more of those super soldiers against the Night Life. I think they have stopped caring if the rest of the world knows about them. That was a damned public attack, and they didn't expalin ti worth a PR persons two martini lunch." Jackie worried aloud.

Charli had been finisheing off her mound of bacon and talking quietly with Ryan and she spoke up now. "Loki you play with all the elements, right. I can only do fire. I think we need to figure out how best to work together, and training as a team, the lot of us sounds like the best starting point to me."

The Janitor, who had gone unnoticed, had stopped as they talked and then walked over to clean a spot on the table near them.

"Yew know mon", he said low in a thick jaimacan accent, "yew let me know when yew ready, I set yew up with da lady."

And with that he walked away without another word.

“They used a variant of this in the Zorro remake in the mid-nineties.”

“The what?” Pandora interjected. She had understood about the concentric circles on the floor, but that sentence had confused her. She supposed it was some popular culture reference that she was supposed to get, but she was used to missing the point of various statements by now. She knew what the Olympics were though, and listened with some interest as he explained the blade in her hand, though she didn’t know much about history.

There was one other thing he said that concerned her. The phrase ‘fencing is a sport’. By extension, she guessed that he was planning on engaging her in this sport, rather than a straight practice fight, which might be a problem for her. She knew how to kill someone with a blade, not how to participate in a fair sporting exchange. There would be rules she was supposed to adhere to, boundaries she wasn’t supposed to cross and such.

She fitted the mask and hood, not overly fond of having her head encased, even though she could see well enough. She found that Jan was right though, the mesh was almost invisible unless she really concentrated on it. She recognised the hilt on the weapon as he described it, but made no comment and compared the two anyway. She could see that hers was lighter and simpler, and hearing him confirm that it was faster gave her some pride, as she realised that she had chosen it because of those qualities.

Then came the question. She looked down at her feet uncomfortably, unwilling to go into detail. She shuffled her feet awkwardly for a few moments. “I haven’t really been taught anything,” she answered eventually, “I just know it. But I don’t know much about fencing.”

Ryan looked at Charli, as she'd seemed likely she wanted to talk. He shrugged slightly as if she wished to work on her abilities he didn't mind. "Will you be fine with him Charli?" He asked her before turning to address Loki, "Then I remand her into your custody."

Standing he took his dishes to the proper place, he began wandering around looking for a pool-table as he didn't have the Tag to tell him where one was.

But I don’t know much about fencing.”

"Don't worry we are not going to engage in the sport of fencing. As I siasd that is carried out with a lot of rules and on a strip." Jan replied with a smile. "You're holding the blade properly, though you want to remember that the finest crontrol comes from the wrist, not the hand. Hold it tightest with the tumb and second finger so it can't be taken away from you with a disarming move." He gently reached over and settled her thumb more securely. "You want the blade to be a part of you and extension of your reach."

Carefully Jan showed Pandora the classic basic moves for true rapier combat. "We fight in the round so any part of the body is an acceptable target. Don't worry I'm wearing a cup."

Then he demonstrated the basic stance. "You keep your weight on the rear foot, and you can move, right left and into engage and back out without over extending."

Will you be fine with him Charli?"

Before he could even leave the room...

Charli called out to him sharply. "Ryan, don't leave. Or are you just trying to get out of talking with me."

She excused herself from the others and had the chair to his side at it's best speed. "Ryan, suggesting Loki and I training was not meant to be anything other than a suggestion for later. Right now I couldn't make a spark to save my life" She sat back, looking up at him, and letting him see that she was tireder than she was letting on 'publicly'. "I want to hear your story and I'm not letting you off the hook." Her voice was still low, carrying just to him, but it was very fierce.

He paused and turned back to her and replied, "Not at all."

As she came scooting over, he returned to shorten the distance she had to travel. "You shall have to forgive me then. My knowladge of your abilities and those who share ones like it are limited to the time I have known you and second and third hand information."

He looked at her more closely, "Perhaps you should retire to your room to rest while we talk." He added softly.

Red glanced over at Scott and his sister, looking at them for a moment. She didn't notice the wary look from Scott, nor the wondering one from Kristy. Her mind drifted back to when she was that age, in fact, her eyes getting far away look.

No one had carried her then, no one had loving cared for her. She had already killed more times than she cared to remember. Sometimes in defense, sometimes for money and sometimes in the blood thirst. She could remember about that age when four men had tried to forcefully teach her about sex. Two had died with thier throats torn out, one was gutted. The last found himself lasting a bit longer, but only long enough for Red to drain him dry. Yet the authorities had gone after her, not caring what the men had intended to do to her.

Finally she blinked and looked at the two again, then back to SS. "Never mind, I'll wander", and she turned and walked out.

“I know this already,” Pandora informed him politely, but listened and took in the instruction anyway. “It takes less than a pound of pressure to cut human skin. Did you know that?” she asked, as she demonstrated her ability to perform the basic moves Jan had just shown. She then swept the blade through a more advanced series of moves, though not specifically rapier moves, showing remarkable control with her wrist over the direction of the weapon.

When he showed her the stance, she mimicked it, but as soon as she stopped concentrating on her posture, she slipped into a different stance, more aggressive and conducive to fast movement. Her stance also made it easier for her to use her other limbs for attacks as well, which her training had taught her to do. Speed, not strength. Quick, subtle movements with the blade, misdirection is the key. And don’t kill him, this is a friendly practice, not the field of battle.

Casca finished with his practice, and called the target up. His skills were still up, and while he wasn't record-holding, he was still profficient and could hold his own on the battlefield, which he estimated would arrive in the near future. Replacing the goggles, gloves, and earmuffs, he took the weapon back, only to find Jan and the girl called Pandora in another room.

Casca went in to see Pandora go through a number of moves. It was a fencing arena, and reminded the immortal of the Collosseum during the days of Rome's glory. He leaned the gun against the wall, standing right next to it, and watched the practice session unfold.

Loki didn't even get a chance to reply before Charli was 'remanded into his custody'. He didn't exactly know what was going on between Ryan and Charli yet it seemed his words had enough sway to draw Charli out of the room almost immediately.

Mildly confused as to what had just happened, Loki shrugged it off and stood up.

"Any idea where I could get some fresh air around here?"

Considering they were underground, Loki wasn't sure if getting to the surface was an easy possibility, he didn't even know how far underground they were.

"Never mind, I'll wander",

Before he could reply Red had left. Kade looked at Scott and Kristy and shrugged half at a loss, half resigned.

"Well ready for some breakfast?" He grinned at their eager responses and led them to the dining hall. Once thay had filled thir plates and found a place to sit down,the hall was less than half fullcurrently, he excused himself for a moment. "Don't be afraid to go back for seconds or even thirds. I'll be right back, I'm just going to go get you two your Tags." He held up his so they could see them and briefly explained how they worked.

He was back before they finished eating with severat tags in different colours. "Pick which ever color you like best, and once you are finished eating, I'll show you were your rooms are."

"Perhaps you should retire to your room to rest while we talk."

"I have no idea where my room is actually." Charli looked lost for a second, then she squared her shoulders and shook it off. "Lets see..You just ask it to lead you to your room?"

She hated to look like a wimp, but she was still very tired.

"That sounds like an expediant idea." He replied as he took the Tag and enquired as to his lodgings. As the gadget began its bouncing ball routine, he looked at Charli and asked, "Shall we be off?"

"Any idea where I could get some fresh air around here?"

Jackie gave a nod and replied "Just tell the Tag that you want to go outside. as I understand it there's the crater where we entered as well as other places that exit to the outdoors. Though I haven't explored any."

He'd spent most of the time since their arrival under the care of a Healer, getting his injured eyes taken care of.

Sian nodded. "You can use the Tag to pull up a map of the complex as well, though it's not very detailed. The computer console in each major room can bring up a more detailed one I've been advised.

Loki nodded in acknowledgement.

"Right. See you guys a bit later..."

With that said Loki moved out into the hallway before speaking 'outside' to his newly aquired wrist computer. Within seconds the little beacon had appeared before Loki and began leading him down a path of lefts, rights and even a few stairs.

After almost fifteen minutes of following the automated guide, Loki was led to a door that took him out into the open crater. For a moment the young man couldn't help but wonder how the crater was formed and what exactly persuaded these people to set up their little base beneath it.

Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, Loki dived a hand into his pocket and fished out a battered looking packet of cigarettes. Retrieving one of the three remaining, Loki located his zippo lighter and promptly lit it, taking a deep drag.

The entire ordeal was somewhat overwhelming and whilst Loki appeared to be rather calm most of the time, his mind was still racing to catch up with everything that had happened in the last fourty-eight hours.

One thing was for certain. The future seemed uncertain.

"I think you are a natural at this" Jan noted her moves with approval. He slid his mask on and tightened the straps, then went and took down the other three rapiers he normally used.

Returning to the rings he faced Pandora and saluted, then fell into stance. Giving her a few seconds to respond, and once she had he began with the simpler maneuvers, always explaining why he made the moves he did. After a few exchanges he began working a little bit faster, pushing Pandora a bit to see how she would respond.

After a number of passes he stepped back, disengaging. "Your moves are very fluid, and while they don't fall with in the standard maneuvers and would considered unorthodox by many, they are still most effective - or would be against an opponent limited to only two arms. Care for a longer stretch, or are you tiring?"

"Well ready for some breakfast?"

"You bet!", Scott replied without hesitation, quickly increasing his pace to keep up with Kade, while Kristy, on the other hand, remained silent. However, her large eyes peered out from behind her brother's shoulder as she clung on to his back, looking out hopefully at the silver-skinned giant as well.

With Kristy firmly perched on his back, Scott followed Kade as the latter led them to the dining hall, and gently placed his sister down so that she could seat herself on a bench. She was yet still too weak-kneed to stand up though, so the boy also took it upon himself to take a share of the food for her, returning from the buffet spread with two plates literally spilling over with breakfast. For a girl who had had not had a bite ever since the day before, and especially for one who had survived on short commons for the past three months, the spread must have seemed quite a sight; Kristy stared at it, astonished, with a look on her face that led to Scott hiding a giggle in his throat.

"Don't be afraid to go back for seconds or even thirds. I'll be right back, I'm just going to go get you two your Tags."

"I'll take you up on that!", Scott called after Kade, but the silver giant was already disappearing into the corridor, leaving the two of them to themselves. Shrugging, the boy decided to return his attention to business......but as he turned, he saw that Kristy was still looking at her breakfast, her eyes looking hungrily, but her brows furrowed in seeming frustration as she grasped weakly at the fork still lying on the table.

"Kristy, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and tuck in!"

"Yes......."

Slowly, the famished girl picked up her fork, and tried to use it. Tried, for her hand started shaking violently the very second she picked it up, and no matter how hard she tried, she could not stop herself from dropping the utensil altogether. The silverware went falling from her fingers, hitting the table with a series of clinks as it rattled on the surface, before coming to rest. Pitifully, Kristy looked up at Scott, her stomach giving off another growl as her brother looked back down at her. With a sigh, Scott closed his eyes, forgetting his own meal for the moment.

She's gotten so weak. How did I ever let her get so weak?

He opened his eyes again, looking into the pleading eyes of his sister this time with a smile. "C'mon, Sis", he said, gently grasping her slender little hand, and helping her to pick up her fork, and to pick up a piece of bacon with it. "Careful now, it's hot."

Tentatively, she took a bite out of the bacon, and chewed slowly as she savoured the first bite of food she had had in the last two days. As she chewed, her face slowly lit up in wonder; she began to chew faster, enjoying the taste immensely, and for the first time in a long while, she beamed unreservedly; it warmed Scott's heart to see his sister smile so brightly again, the first time for a long while he had ever seen her smile like that.

"Do you like it?"

"Mmhmm!"

She wasted no time in taking another bite, and for a while, Scott forgot his own breakfast altogether, engrossed in feeding his little sister while watching the sunshine return to her face. After a while, the young girl regained enough strength to hold her fork steadily again, and once she did, she took it from there........

________________________________________________________________________________

"Pick which ever color you like best, and once you are finished eating, I'll show you were your rooms are."

When Kade had returned, only Scott was present; from the looks of it, he was calmly polishing off his second helping of breakfast. Kristy, however, was nowhere to be seen; at least not until a second later, when the giant saw her returning to the table with an additional helping for herself.

"Eep!"

The young girl squeaked as she caught sight of Kade, and almost instantly turned a brilliant shade of scarlet, averting her gaze from the silver giant in embarassment. Quickly she set down the helping, and tried to hide her face behind Scott's back again; her brother didn't even deign to notice her, as he remarked,

"That's her fourth, if you're wondering."

Only then did Scott decide to look up at Kade, with a grin of amusement at his sister's discomfiture.

"And don't ask, 'cause I don't know how she does it, either."

Of course, Kristy didn't seem very pleased by that; she slapped Scott lightly on his shoulder, but he didn't even seem to notice it.

"You're mean", she pouted at Scott.

Pandora found that she could easily fend off the incoming strikes from the four weapons, though she knew Jan wasn’t pushing that hard. She knew he was carefully testing her, gradually increasing the skill and intensity of his attacks to see how far her skill went. When he stopped and pulled back, she kept her guard up for a few seconds, wary of a trick, then took a step back herself.

She smiled behind her mask at the comments, which she decided counted as praise. Jan had barely begun to show her his true capabilities, she knew, but the same was true of her, though probably to a lesser extent. Like Jan had said, she was unorthodox, and had more than a few tricks that even the most experienced fighter might not see coming.

“Care for a longer stretch, or are you tiring?”

Her only answer was to spring forward with her weapon raised, a feint thrust followed by a lateral sweep. The next few moves showed that she had upped the level of skill considerably, though she wasn’t yet performing at her peak. She worked well to keep herself on the offensive, knowing how much trouble Jan could cause her if he could force her to defend.

Her free arm and her feet occasionally flashed out, almost always a feint since they were only sparring, but every so often a full-strength blow would be attempted. She showed the true extent of her unpredictability too, when a forced error took her off-balance, with the blade of her sword caught in the hilt of one of Jan’s. Instead of trying to free it and strike, she let the weapon slip from her grasp. Lightning-fast, her left hand flashed out to take the weapon, freeing it much more easily and altering her balance, allowing her to defend quickly. After a few more passes, during which she showed as much aptitude with her left hand as with her right, she withdrew, taking several steps back, her breathing only slightly hastened.

Casca clapped as Pandora made her final withdraw. The girl faught well. After clapping, he stepped forward, held his right arm out, fisted but with the thumb sticking out sideways, and slowly turned it upwards. "Te Moritu, Te Salutus." I who am about to die salute you.

Casca then turned to Jan. "I'm finished with the gun. Could you tell me who here is the drillmaster for unarmed combat?"

Antonia arrived at Samurai with a full squad of shocktroopers. She knew that if Braknokov's pet soldiers decided to resist she wouldn't have a chance, but the troopers were more for show than anything else. As a precaution, however, she had brought Gordia along, her personal bodyguard.

Gordia was as unorthidox as Antonia, herself, and as fiercely loyal to the Admiral as anyone could be. She had stood by Antonia's side when the Admiral came before the review board, having, not only lost and engagement against Saint Scarlett of Durham, but also having worked with the blasphemy in order to save her own life.

When she arrived she was met by the lead scientist, "Greetings, Het Admiral. This is an honor indeed, for the Fleet Admiral Tarchilia is coming as well. His ship is already in root."

Antonia was surprised by this news. The Fleet Admiral had said nothing about his coming here. Not that he had to.

"You may find our visit displeasing, Het Doctor. We are here to close down your program."

The doctor looked surprised, but nodded acknowledgement. "May I ask why?"

"No", was Antonia's reply and moved toward the elevator that would take them down.

"Shall we be off?"

"Sure." Charli gave the bouncing green glow a wary look but followed it without hesitation. She didn't say much as they moved through the complex to the area where the group had been assigned suites. When the guide stopped, then vanished before a door on the right side of the hall they were currently in she looked up at Ryan "Well, now we know where your bedroom is."

Jan was pleased with Pandora's skills, and had greatly enjoyed the sparring , though he had not gone all out against her. He stepped back when she did and saluted her. "Thank you Pandora that was exceptionally enjoyable. It's not often I find some one who is truely ambidexterous."


"I'm finished with the gun. Could you tell me who here is the drillmaster for unarmed combat?"

"That would be J'age, but she is in the flight simulator at this time. She will be available shortly however." Jan replied, then gestured towards the Tac 50"Did you find it acceptable?"

"It appears we do." He replied with a wry grin. "Now let's get you out of that chair and into a bed where you can rest."

He then proceeded to suit action to word by helping Charli into the bed so she could rest and if she wanted to, to talk.

Did you find it acceptable?

"Unbelievably so. Tell me Jan, have you ever fought in the style of the gladiators?" Casca said, motioning to the somewhat smaller swords that reminded him of his old gladius.

Pandora bowed her head in a return salute, then looked oddly at Casca, not understanding his words or his action. She rapidly removed the mask and hood, briefly pointing her face to the ceiling after doing so, as though giving thanks to be unconfined once more. She then shook her head to free her ponytail from its coiled position around the back of her neck.

“Thank you, Pandora, that was exceptionally enjoyable. It’s not often I find someone who is truly ambidextrous.”

“I am?” she asked, looking briefly confused. “Yes, I suppose I am,” she admitted after a moment’s thought. She struggled momentarily with the straps on the doublet, then shrugged the garment off, and again a flash of relief passed across her face at being free of the constricting garment. “I found it entertaining, maybe I’ll come back sometime soon. But now I’d like to get a feel for that rifle, if I may?”

Jar'age looked up at Gage as he walked in.

"We have an opportunity", Gage said without preamble.

"Do we? What is it?"

"Admiral Antonia and Fleet Admiral Tarchilia are heading to Samurai. Antonia is already there, Tarchilia should be arriving within a few days."

"Then we must hurry", Jar'age replied, "we'll gather those we can and make our way there with all haste. Send out the word, have them conferge here."

"I'll give the word, Jar'age."

"We will destroy them and then proceed from there. In the name of Saint Scarlett."

"By her word, by her will, may her great spirit guide us."

"So is the will of Saint Scarlett."

With that Gage left to assemble the forces.

"Unbelievably so. Tell me Jan, have you ever fought in the style of the gladiators?"

"Not really. I'm only minimally proffecient with swords like the Gladius. I do a bit more of broadsword and kite shield though." Jan shook his head.

“I found it entertaining, maybe I’ll come back sometime soon. But now I’d like to get a feel for that rifle, if I may?”

"Certainly Pandora, you're always welcome here. Let me get you some ammo." Jan excused himself and disappeared for a few minutes, returning with four boxes of rounds for the SCAR and extra magazines.

"Now let's get you out of that chair and into a bed where you can rest."

Charli had an odd grin on her face as Ryan helped her get comfortable, but said nothing at first. Once she had settled in however she couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"Ryan, this is the strangest way a man has ever gotten me into his bed. You did ask for directions to your suite...not mine" Her face said that it was absolutely fine by her, but she couldn't help but tease him.

He noticed the somewhat odd grin, but couldn't see a reason for it except perhaps that he was helping her and subsequently dismissed it from his mind. Once she'd gotten properly settled and began laughing, he raised an eyebrow as he wondered if she might have suffered some neurological trauma or something similar to explain it as he couldn't see something to cause it.

When she explained, he blinked in surprise as it was a comment so far off in left field to him it didn't even register. "I see." He commented with a faint smile thought his tone said quite plainly that he didn't. "As long as you're fine with the situation. Feel free to consider this your room then for as long as you wish."

"Putting that aside for the moment, is there anything I can get for you before we continue the converstation?"

"Putting that aside for the moment, is there anything I can get for you before we continue the converstation?"

His look of utter confusement made her start laughing again, this time so hard that id dissolved into painful coughs that doubled her up for a momment. When she could gasp for air, she managed to reply.

"No Ryan, thank you though. I'm fine save for one thing....I don't suppose I could talk you into getting rid of that armor and sitting here on the bed?" She patted the other side of the queen size bed. "It kinda feels funny to be laying here and looking up at you as you hover over me."

Ryan looked alarmed at the coughing and had begun looking around for a panic button or something similar before she began talking, relieving him somewhat.

"As you wish." He replied as he began removing the suit. Handling each peice with care he finished removing the armour, leaving himself in a partial black skinsuit. It had a number of connections that served as interface with the suits systems.

After making sure that the parts of the armour were stored, he took a seat on the side of the bed and asked, "Is this better?"

As Jan went to find her magazines and ammunition, Pandora laid the mask and doublet on the floor out of the way, not knowing where else to put them, returned the rapier to where she had found it and went to collect the SCAR from where she had left it. On her return, she took the magazines and ammunition from Jan, thanked him and made her way into the long rifle range. She found a pair of goggles to protect her eyes, but left the ear defenders, since there didn’t appear to be anyone else there, and they generally irritated her.

After sliding the scope into place on the top rail, she completed a full inspection of the weapon, then set up a concentric target on the range. Once done with that, she opened one of the boxes of ammunition and loaded the first twenty-round magazine. For the first set of firings, she would shoot prone, because she intended to calibrate the sight, and needed a stable platform to fire from.

Carefully, taking her time, she fired five times at the target, not troubling too much over the aim, mostly trying to get the feel of the trigger. Satisfied that she knew exactly how much force was required to fire the weapon, she set about the calibration process. Five precisely aimed shots, directly at the centre of the target. After noting where they hit the target, she made an adjustment to the scope, then fired three more carefully aimed shots. She repeated the process twice more, then, with the last round of the magazine, put a round directly through the centre of the target.

Satisfied that the scope was calibrated correctly, she loaded a second magazine and slotted it into the rifle. She retrieved the used target card, and sent a fresh one down the range, this one a body silhouette. Now standing, she put all twenty rounds into the target, spending as much time aiming as she usually did on the battlefield. The rounds were all closely grouped within a two-inch circle centred exactly where the target’s ‘heart’ was.

After checking that she was okay to douse the lights, she repeated the calibration process for the night scope, then, with the lights back on, fired another set into a silhouette target at the maximum distance the range would allow. Happy that she had chosen a good weapon, and with her task complete, she cleaned the rifle and cleared up after her session, disposing of all the empty casings, then gathered up the magazines and remaining ammunition to take with her. The entire process had taken her nearly forty-five minutes, and she sought out Jan to find out what, if anything, she had to do about the rifle, magazines and ammunition.

Red finally admitted it to herself as she looked around the cavern openings.

"Nice, dipshit, your lost."

Normally her phenominal memory would allow her to recall reverse routes, but she hadn't been paying attention to where she was going. She had been avoiding everyone, making turns toward lesser traffic or no occupied corridors. She had wanted to be alone, to get her thoughts together.

"Well, that worked", she muttered, "you're sure are snecking alone now aren't you?"

Not being one for patience she picked an opening and began walking again.

The tunnel that Red found herself in was obviously natural but worked by man, and ran quite some distance without cross tunnels. Eventually it opened out into a largeish cavern with several cockpit simulators (http://www.buyagift.co.uk/images/product/large/5245_20-Min-Flight-simulato.jpg) housed with- in and a large glass fronted control room hanging off the cavern wall off to her left. One was obviously in use as its hydraulics whines softly and the 'cabin' shifted in response to pilot input.

The control room was lit but apparently only one station was in use as far as could be seen.

"Hahahaha.......look at you, you're blushing!"

"Aaah! You're horrible!", Kristy squealed in embarassment, trying her best to hide from Kade's sight while at the same time pummeling at her older brother ineffectually for his teasing remarks. It seemed just like a typical brother-sister friendly squabble, made remarkable by the fact that the experiences both had undergone over the day before was anything but typical. It was passing strange, for the Halliwell kids looked completely at ease in their frivolous exchange, as if nothing had ever happened, and as if they've known their unfamiliar surroundings for a long, long time.

"Well you asked for it, four servings, seriously......"

"But I'm hungry! And it's sooooo good......"

"That it is. I guess it's goodbye to the diet, huh?"

"......Diet?"

"Yes, diet, does this mean you don't care about getting fat anymore?"

"AAAAAHHH, don't poke me!"

"Heehee, Kristy's getting fat......"

"I'm not, I'm not, aaaah, it's all your fault!"

"Hehehehe........Oh pipe down, you're still my pretty little sister, no?"

"Hmmph!"

Still smiling, Scott turned to Kade, and without giving much thought as to what Kade had just said to him, he picked out a pink Tag offhandedly, and handed it to Kristy. "Here, this suits you best!"

"Ewww, no way! It's so bimbotic, I don't want it!"

"Oh, then what do you want, then?"

"......"

"See, you can't even decide for yourself!"

"That's because you're always giving me pink things! I don't even know what to choose because you're always giving me pink stuff!"

"It's because you're made for pink, little sis! It suits you, y'know? Anyway, I'll take this black one here......."

"No, you chose this one for me, now I choose this purple one for you!"

"Oh, gross, no way, that's so gay!"

"Nyah, I don't care, I want you to wear this!"

"Oh yeah, make me!"



But in the midst of all the laughter and roughhousing, Scott still had time to think of something.

She's recovered so fast. It's like nothing happened as far as she's concerned. How does she do it? Is she......still hurting inside at all? And if so, how would I know?

Red leaned against another simulator. Whoever was in it had to come out sometime and then she'd find out how to get back to medical or the dining room. Once there she could find her way to her room well enough. She eyed the simulator, and thought about a test flight. Godolkin wouldn't let her fly, not after the first time he'd flown with her. Where he was well trained and had reflexes that were superhuman, Red flew on instinct, faster responses and utter insanity. Now he would only let her man the weapons while he flew, if flying was called for.

Kane sat back and watched their squabbling with a quiet smile. His own kids would be their age soon. But then something Scott said caught his attention.

"Turn about is fair play, since you chose one for her. Purple suits your colouring. Royal purple got it's name due to the expense of creating such a hue originally - the crowned heads reserved it for their private use."

"Turn about is fair play, since you chose one for her. Purple suits your colouring. Royal purple got it's name due to the expense of creating such a hue originally - the crowned heads reserved it for their private use."

"But......"

But Scott had been outmanuvered by Kade, and he knew it; he had nothing left to say, while Kristy was giggling at her small victory over her brother, amused by her unexpected ally. "Nyah!", she stuck her tongue out at Scott, holding out the purple Tag to him. "Wear it! You promised!"

"I didn't promise anything......", the cornered boy began to protest, but Kade was still looking at him with amusement, and he trailed off. Gradually, Scott began to see the funny side of it as well, and he smiled quietly to himself. "Very well."

He took the purple Tag from Kristy's hand, and put it around his wrist like a watch, smiling all the while. "Then I'll be glad to wear this. After all, my beloved little sister picked this one just for me. Awww, look Mr. Kade, it does look good on my wrist, doesn't it? I'm sure my little sis can't be wrong when it comes to matters like these......"

He trailed off, noting something different about Kristy's demeanour; she had stopped with her boisterous behaviour, and was instead looking at him with what could only be described as a bashful expression. In fact, there was even the slight hint of a blush around her cheeks; it was all very strange.

"Hey.....what'cha lookin' at me like that for, Sis?"

"Ah?!"

If there was just a hint of colour in her cheeks before, now she was blushing bright as a tomato; quickly she turned away from Scott, trying to look as if she's paying all her attention solely to her fourth serving of breakfast, and not looking at him like she was before.

"I wasn't.......", she mumbled, mechanically spooning a bite into her mouth, and studiously avoiding any eye contact with Scott.

"Huh......alright."

Nonplussed by Kristy's strange behaviour, Scott turned his attention onto the purple Tag on his wrist, tinkering with it with furrowed brows. Evidently, if Kade had explained to him before what it was for, the boy apparently hadn't been listening.

"Say........what's this for, again?"

"Say........what's this for, again?"

"Well as to why she's blushing I'd guess as she's just realized she's got a hunk for a little brother" A strange female voice chuckled from behind the breakfasting group. "You must be Scott and Kristy. And its communications, and computer access all stretched thin to masquarade as a cell phone."

"Hey Da, fourth class cancelled, the kilns down again. One of Deb's peices blew up...again" A tall, willowy girl of maybe sixteen leaned over and gave her towering adoptive father a kiss on the cheek then slid into the empty seat next to him.

"Hi I'm Roweena." She brushed a long lock of blazing gold hair out of her face and smiled welcomingly at the two newcomers.

"Is this better?"

"Much better. Now, fair exchange, I'll tell you about me, then you get to tell me about you." She grinned at him "Though I warn you it's a long story and not all that interesting."

"Not all that long ago there was a little girl every one called Charlie..."

She told Ryan of the experiments her grandparetn had unwittingly been a part of in college, how it changed them, and as they later found out left them all but the only survivors, how they had married had her mother always being hunted by the Shop, Then found her mother murdered, she and her father running but eventually captured. Her father dying to give her the oppertunity to escape, and how she did. Years later taking the story to the Rolling Stone, but hiding always moving to keep the hunters off her trail. "Like l;inda Hamilton in those terminatior movies she kept finding people who could teach her survival skills of all sorts. Meeting a son of the other survivors, but him unknowing of his abilities. Their love, his death in an automobile accident, her Charli's birth in the wilds of Alaska.

"Mom had won a state homesteading lottery, fifty acres in the Park" speaking of the vast national park that took up a sizeable proportion of the interior of the US's northern most state. "The Raven Corp, one of the indigenous people corporations allowed the state government to do it so their primary village, set in the Park would qualify for some sort of matching fedral education funds - they needed a larger poplulation" Charli grinned, think about the best people on earth as far as she was concerned. She went on to tell him what it was like growing up in the Alaskan bush.

"I learned how to not ground loop a plane, how to 'skin' a cat, how not to go out during break up without a rifle, and how to smoke jump, how to drive a dog sled. Mom made sure I had culture, taught me piano, and the violin, and reading, I'll happily read just about anything printed. Mom wouldn't let me just coast in the Park though. When I was twenty one she made me start taking out of state jobs, told me to get out and see the world."

Her face went sad and her voice soft. "Mom died four years years ago, I was line crewing out on the western overjump of the Passeo Ridge Fire, down in California. She had a heart attack, died in her sleep."

Since then she hadn't spent much time in Alaska, she added, she'd found she loved racing just as much as she did fighting wild fires, and she'd been here and there around the globe. "I was working semi regularly as a bouncer at Cains when the other night went downnnn." She threw up a hand to hide a prodigious yawn "Oh sorry for that. My eyes are just about to heavy to keep open."

Ryan listened to Charli's story, nodding where appropriate as he took in her story. As she finished and yawned, he smiled faintly.

"Since it seems you are tired, would you like to rest first? I promise I will not run away." He was pretty sure he already knew the answer to the question but he had to ask anyways.

Since it seems you are tired, would you like to rest first? I promise I will not run away."

"I know you won't" She smothered another yawn and blushed faintly. Her eyes were drooping closed as she snuggled deeper under the covers. Sleep claimed her before she heard if Ryan made any reply.

Ryan just smiled slightly again as he got off the edge of the bed and took a seat on a nearby chair to wait for Charli to wake. Partially closing his eyes, he entered a state partially akin to a trance where his brain was resting while his senses remained alert for when Charli awoke or if someone arrived.

He also let his mind drift over her story and his own, that he could share of course as a portion was a mystery to him and other parts were confidential as it was against his ethics, such that they were, to violate client confidentiality.

Godolkin slid up from his meditative trance. One very similar to the one that Ryan had just slipped into. He had been clearing his mind and preparing for the practices to come. He had noted people coming and going and part of his senses screamed at him about a danger that he knew didn't exist. He picked up the spear and turned, heading back toward the dining hall.

Once he arrived he looked around and groaned slightly, noting that Red wasn't around.

'God save us from her boredom', he muttered, knowing how trouble just seemed to lurk in her shadow when she became bored. Had he known she was in the simulator room he would have made haste to it before she got the idea to try practicing. As he didn't he turned to Kade.

"Forgive my intrustion", he rumbled in a voice that was deep and commanding without trying to be. "I'm seeking Red. Pandora has her device. I had given it to her since she didn't have one and Red had dropped hers when she gave me mine. Is there any way to find her without having one of these?"

Is there any way to find her without having one of these?"

"Yes. It takes a little longer but she can be found. Afraid she may have gotten lost?" Kade replied. "The tunnels can be very confuseing, especially if one isn't used to how to read out labeling." He wasn't worried, the dangerous areas - some of the unworked, unimproved tunnels were dangerous, but those were barriered off and clearly marked.

"She shouldn't get lost. Her recall is phenominal. She just gets .... bored."

The way he said it was a clear indication that her being bored wasn't a good idea.

"How may I go about locating her. It's best to find something to occupy her. And soon."

Charli's sleep was deep and healing. The Healer had done in a few hours what nature and medical attention would had to slowly work through days, but the body still needed to process it, and that was done in sleep...

The day and the night had been all but perfect. The sun and later the moon had show bright, a few high clouds providing moving patches of shade now and again. The weather cool and the intermittent gentle breeze just perfect for racing. She hadn't won all her races, but enough and even those she had lost were all to the good. The Phoenix hummed, roared, and rolled giving her just what she aske for when she asked for it, it's complex systems working as perfectly as the day had been. The racing had continued to nearly dawn and now a new days rosy hues were a promise on the horizon.

IHOP, the International House of Pancakes lived up to it's name, having even made a foot hold here in Imitora, and the waitress had just set a steaming stack of buttermilk pancakes and a rasher of perfectly crisp bacon down before her. The smell was as heavenly as the smell of hot engines, hot rubber and race fuel had been earlier.

With a smiles she began to drizle real maple syrup over the stack. 'Trust Imitora to make sure that the syrup was the real thing, even the chains had to go gourmet' she thought with a small smile

Imitorans loved IHOP. The twenty four seven availability of pancakes, quick service, and generally freindly attitude of even the thrid watch staff had made it a successful venture in the High Republic. However, at this early Sunday morning, with the hour hand just clicking past two am, Charli's choice sat empty. It was only slightly odd, the Imitoran street racers that loved IHOP almost as much as they did their cars normally didn't start pouring in till three to three thirty in the morning, stuffing themselves with breakfast before crashing for a full day's sleep. However, this didn't bother any of the few patrons in the resteraunt, Charli being only one of five tables being served.

With her back to the door, she wouldn't have seen the white 2005 Ford GT pull into the parking lot, comming to a stop in an empty space. Beyond the noise it generated, the Stage6 Tunning stage 2 twin turbo kit churning out 1300 rear wheel horsepower and equal noise, it also seemed to generate a soft glow. The almost one way black tint contrasted sharply with the pearl white paint, obvisouly a custom paint job. In Imitora, it was one of a kind, most of the other GT owners having stuck with the supercharged motor. However, the owner wasn't just any other Imitoran. The door slid out, and from the depths emerged the driver, wearing a pair of dark, well worn blue jeans, and black loose fitting black tshirt worn under a white, short sleaved button down linnen shirt.

His feet, covered with a pair of well worn New Ballance tennis shoes, moved quietly along the black top, bringing the driver to the door of the IHOP. He entered, waving off a seater, and moved towards the back of the resteraunt with purpose. Like his car, he seemed to glow, not light nor energy, but just a soft presence around him, like an aura. He simply moved back to Charli's booth, and crossed to the opposite bench, sliding down into the seat across from her. Robert Fortier looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and smiled. "How's it goin' kiddo," he asked, with his signature grin.

Charli's auburn hair tangled on her pillow as her head jerked abruptly but she didn't awaken nor leave the dream.

Charli dropped the knife and fork, their clatter harshly abrup agains the quiet of the restraunt...her fingers nerveless as she went several shades of pale and her head jerked up, the prior near bliss shredded.

"Fortier!?!" Her voice a near shreak that she smothered before his name was fully on her lips. She looked at his for a long second her face as shattered as she felt. "Oh Shit man...Rob..." Her voice cracked "Rob, you're dead man, I haven't even managed to get your body home." Her voice now a whisper laden with guilt and pain. Tears flooded her eyes and she didn't bother to wipe them away as they pearled down her cheeks. "Oh Rob" She whimpered brokenly "Rob I'm so sorry, it's all my fault."

Rob took both her hands into his, his voice soft and quiet. He pulled her hand's down to the table, holding them softly and gently in his. He let his deep blue eyes look deep into her's, his own full of peace. There was no look of pain, no look of emptiness, only the look of calm.

"Shh," he hushed her softly, there was no harshness in his voice at all. "Shh. Don't worry about it. Don't worry about anything anymore, its all good. I'm fine, I really am. I don't need to worry about anything anymore, none of the fighting or killing or shooting or any of that. I'm really fine. And don't you blame yourself at all. Its not your fault one bit, I knew what I was doing. You couldn't control anything back at that club, and you did damn good. You and Sian got those kids out, and everyone else to safety. You did amazing."

He let one hand trail up and hold her chin up, making sure her eyes would meet his own. His smile was never ending, his eyes glowing with the energy they always had. He was, for the first time, visably calm.

She started to protest, trying to hug the guilt to her. It hurt less than the loss that rent her heart and soul. Then he got through to her, the peace that emanated so powerfullly letting her see her selfish avoidance of yet more loss in her life.

The faint tremors in her hands, warm in his own, eased, and she looked deep into his eyes, his serene glowing eyes that held even more of the certitude that filled him, surrounded him, enfolded him in loving acceptance of all that he had been, was and ever would be, the quiet warrior, the protector and defender.

She took a breath that filled her lungs with that quiet and it flowed through her and held her as well.

"Okay Rob. But I miss you, and I always will. If I ever have kids I'm naming the first one after you. I know you don't believe that life comes round, but I do and I'll always hope to see you again, even if it is as an arrogant car loving Imitoran" She found the wherewithal to make the crack in the strength and healing that he was giving her - he may not have known of the gifting but he was the source - that Charli knew without knowing how

"Hi I'm Roweena."

"I'm not going to ask how you know our names", Scott replied to the willowy blonde who had joined them, moving to take the seat just behind her and returning her sunny smile with one of his own as if it was the most natural thing for him to do. And in fact, it was; back then, before the incident that had forced the siblings onto the streets of Houston three months ago, Scott Michael Halliwell was known in the neighbourhood for being quite the rascal, with what he so succinctly termed as having 'good relations' with the fairer sex. It surprised him though, that here in this place where he no longer needed to worry about where the next meal was coming from, he could so easily slip back into the role he thought he had left behind so long ago.

I guess it isn't just Kristy. Already I'm going back to my old self. Heh, never thought I could look at myself this way.

He held up his left wrist, showing Roweena the purple Tag that had just became his newest possession. "So I guess you'll be the one teaching me how to use this thing, right? Whatever it is. And speaking of which......"

Ignoring 'Sergeant Brutus', who had just intruded into their midst to talk to the silver-skinned Kade, Scott then leaned forward, closer to Roweena. Perhaps a little too close for 'Da's' comfort, but the boy had always been a brash one; everyone had always said so, back in his hometown. "Just what did you see in me that says 'little brother', hmmm?", he questioned the willowy blonde in mock indignation, although the raised eyebrow and the twinkle in his eyes were all too clear that he wasn't as interested in the answer to the question he had posed as his tone suggested. Even so, Scott did have a point; compared to her strapping elder brother, Kristy looked positively childlike, every bit the younger of the two. Either Roweena had the wrong data, or she was simply throwing a jibe at Scott.

Throughout the whole exchange, Kristy was peering from behind Scott's back, with a slightly astonished expression. Then, she pouted petulantly, and went back to her food, as if she was not happy about something.

Just what did you see in me that says 'little brother', hmmm?

"Sorry" Roweena laughed and explained. "I shoulda said big brother, but I had a huge take down with my little brother this morning and I guess I'm still fumeing over it." Then the smile became a pixie grin "But we girls always end up taking care of you guys"

"And my Da' told us about you two this morning before he went to get you two from Medical." She gave him a 'look', then shook her head and leant around him so she could speak directly to his sister

"Hey Kristy, lean over this way an let me show you, and Scott. how these work. I know I'll only have to show you once"

She winked at Kristy, two girls conspiring against the far out numbered male.

"Sorry" Roweena laughed and explained. "I shoulda said big brother, but I had a huge take down with my little brother this morning and I guess I'm still fumeing over it. But we girls always end up taking care of you guys"

"Oh yeah, haha, right", Scott snorted, leaning back and making himself as comfortable as he could on leaning on the table. Behind him, Kristy concentrated on her plate still, not comfortable with seeing her brother being so friendly towards a girl they had only just met. Especially one that was as pretty as Roweena......

"Hey Kristy, lean over this way an let me show you, and Scott. how these work. I know I'll only have to show you once"

"Ah?"

Surprised at being accosted, Kristy looked over at the welcoming Roweena, confused at her own thoughts and emotions. The willowy blonde seemed like a nice enough girl, and yet......shaking her head in confusion, she reluctantly leaned over as the other girl suggested, frowning at herself.

"What's with you......?", her brother murmured besides her, noting the strange look in his sister's face, and not understanding any of it.

Casca nodded in response to Jan's reference to the old longswords used during the Medival era. He was almost positive that he had been in Asia most of that time. "Got any old suits of plate-mail lying around? I was once a knight in armor, though trust me when I say that even the best of us didn't shine without hours of polish and a bright sun."

With the weapon safely locked in her room, Pandora headed for the canteen. Food had been sparse during her past week on the streets, which had left her with a lasting hunger that quickly returned even after a meal. After allowing her initial barriers to slip, she had discovered that the food here was pretty good, and since she knew she had to eat well to keep healthy and in good fighting condition, she had no qualms about eating frequently.

The wide variety of foods available fascinated Pandora, and she was determined to investigate things she didn’t recognise. Since gaining her freedom, she had become inherently curious about life, and food in particular, and she was always after new experiences. A lifetime of controlled diet meals, appropriately nourishing but lacking in taste and variety, can do that to a person.

With a large portion of a chow mein dish in her hands, she found an unoccupied table away from the majority of the other people there, as was her wont. As she picked up the chopsticks, which her deft fingers had worked out how to use properly within five minutes of first being given them, she glanced across the canteen. She spotted the two teenagers that she vaguely recognised from the previous night, sitting with a third teenager and a silver-skinned adult, neither of whom was even remotely familiar.

Roweena pretended not to hear Scotts murmur to his little sister and proceeded to show them how the Tag worked. "You can't make calls while in class, or to people when they are in class, and they won't let Mycroft do our home work for us" She laughed ruefully "But other wise he knows everything...and doesn't mind telling you in total detail." She sighed at the base's computer's proclivity for long windedness.

"Any questions?" She asked.

Sian and Jackie came into the dining hall, and Sian Headed toward Pandora while Jackie continued over to where Kade and Godolkin were talking.

"Pandora, I was going to call a meeting together tonight to discuss what steps we should take next. Dinner will be in about five hours" It was currently 2 pm local time, and dinner was the one meal most of those at Robbers Roost took as a group. "And I thought around eight PM would be good."

Jackie said smiled at Scott and Kristy but didn't interupt their conversation with Roweena at the moment. He asked Godolkin how he was doing.." Did you get some rest and healing? Sian thinks we need to brainstorm what steps we're gonna do next to muck up these assholes."

though trust me when I say that even the best of us didn't shine without hours of polish and a bright sun."

"We have modern replicas and we also have 'gear' armor for us when practising with rattan weapons." Jan nodded, he'd seen plenty of the real thing and knew how hard it was to upkeep the mild steel armor.

He lead Casca into the section where both the replica and the 'gear' armor was stored. "We use blunted steel with the replica and rattan cored training weapons with the "gear" armor"

Robert smiled at Charli, easing more of her concerns. "Thats what I want to hear," he said, chuckling.

"Now rest up kid, you got some tough times ahead of you. They wont be easy, but no fight for something important ever is. You might not win all the battles, hell, you may loose bad, but don't worry, it will all work out in the end. I have faith in you, in Casca, in Sian and Jackie, in everyone. Just keep fighting, don't give up. And don't worry to much about yourself, I'll be watching out for ya from up there."

Robert stood, pushing himself away from the table, looking down at Charli. "Take care of yourself, and everything will be fine. Like I said, I'll be watching out for all of ya."

He moved slowly towards the door, walking away from Charli for what would possibly be the last time. He pushed it open, turned, and looked at her, still smiling. "Oh, and do me a favor," he added. "Watch out for my kid if ya ever meet him. If he isn't careful, he's gonna get himself hurt."

Fortier winked, turned, and disapeared out the door.

"Hasta, see ya around " Charli smiled up at Rob with a heart breakingly sad smile and watched him leave. "I will, Rob, and I'll know him when I see him. Any kid of yours has to be special." She said softly, so softly that no one but she heard it...and he. "Love you my friend, love you..."

Healing tears ran down her cheeks to wet the pillow, but her lips curved in a smile and her heart, though sore, was at peace.

Dreams they say take but seconds, but what one dreams can last a life time...

"I'll be back for the gear," said Casca. "Now though, I'm going to try and see if I can't get myself a sparring partner for unarmed combat."

.." Did you get some rest and healing? Sian thinks we need to brainstorm what steps we're gonna do next to muck up these assholes."

Godolkin turned to face Jackie, having gotten no response from Kade. Fine then, they could deal with his recalcitrant Mistress.

"These .. assholes .. as you call them are mostly like I once was, with no idea what they do beyond the wishes of those who created them. Never forget that."

His tone was a low dangerous rumbling and once he spoke he turned and left the room. Apparently the mutants here wouldn't accept him any more than any other he had met in life. Even the Mistress, with him he had always had a mutual hate relationship, at least responded when he spoke to her.

He returned to his room and slipped back into his meditative state. The breakfast would hold him for some time yet.

****

Red grew bored waiting for the simulator to stop. She thought about checking out the control room, but figured it was running the simulator, so messing with that would be noticed right away. She decided to see if there was a way back to where she had come from and began searching for more clearly marked corridors.

Very shortly there was a tap at Godolkins door.

Kane had gotten distracted with listening to the interaction between Roweena and the Halliwell kids and hadn't heard Godolkind's question. It was very rude of his and he hoped to apologise, especially as he now had the information on Durham Red's location.

"Scuse me are you lost? Or a new recruit?" The voice was a feminine alto, cool and clear, and belonged to the person who was just emerging from the simulator. J'age didn't recognise the person beginning to leave the immense cavern from behind, and had already ascertained that they weren't wearing a Tag - there had been no return ping from the auto querry. That automatically made her suspicious.

On silent soft soled boots she trotted lightly down the gantry stairs from the cockpit simulator. She was in a good mood, her check flight had gone well, she'd scored one hundred percent, as well she should. Her hand drifted to the holster at her thigh, ready to draw the massive pistol she wore, as part of her normal attire, if this was an unauthorized intruder to Robers Roost.

After almost thirty minutes of simply standing outside, puffing away on his cig, Loki decided he could do with some lunch. The food was certainly good around here although Loki couldn't help but miss a good Aussie beer. Everything so far that he'd encountered in the U.S could be likened to animal urine in his opinion, he couldn't understand how the American's drank it.

Specifying his intended location to the tag, Loki followed the guiding hologram back into the underground complex and through the many tunnels until he eventually reached the dining hall. Whilst he was starting to learn his way around, Loki prefered to minimise moving around unnecessarily whilst his foot healed.

Noting Jackie standing by some of the kids, Loki approached and greeted the man with a slight nod.

"So what's going on today?"

Punching into his Tag, Casca had followed the directions to arrive at the flight simulators, just in time to see one woman leveling a gun at Red. He didn't hear the exchange of words, but 2,000 years of deeply personal experience told him it was probably a request for identification, or that one of them was about to show some attitude. Pinging his Tag, he realized that the lady holding the gun was staff, and remembering Jan's remarks, this was probably J'age.

"Uh, you're J'age, aren't you? Jan said you'd be here," said Casca, stepping out between the two ladies while obviously staying out of the path of fire. If these two went into a catfight Casca would be the first to run for cover.

Ryan rested rather peacefully as he kept 'watch' over Charli. His thoughts drifted to the day he'd left the Program, for good. The scenes of blood, flame and death replayed in his mind and he felt as he had done then, no regrets. It was quite true, the only thing he'd felt when he'd pulled the trigger on the scientists, disciplinarians and fellow subjects was recoil. They'd succeed a bit too well in him and paided for it.

Red turned as the woman came down the stairs, hearing her tread as few others could have. She eyed the woman's hand as it slipped down to the grip of the gun and grinned, looking fearsome with the fanged smile. The fact that she was unarmed didn't concern her, she knew she could clear the distance before most could react.

Before she could answer she saw Casca walk in.

"Hey JaCK", she addressed him, turning Jesus Christ Killer into a name on a whim, "hows the spear fishing these days?"

She looked at J'age, "C. None of the above", she responded in her thick british accent, "I ain't a recruit and I ain't lost. Just wanderin round the place", she responded, pride not allowing her to admit that she had, in fact, gotten lost.

****

Godolkin's eyes slid open and he rose smoothely to his feet. Red had done something already was his first thought. She just couldn't seem to stay out of trouble. He opened the door, locking his eyes on those of the silver skinned man.

"Godolkin, I'm sorry that I ignored you. I didn't mean too...It's just that I am perhaps over protective of Roweena. She's my oldest and has only known life here among the Shadows." He said apologetically. "Mycroft says that she is she is in the cavern that we house our flight simulators. That she is not in any trouble, it's not a safety restricted area."

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

I ain't a recruit and I ain't lost. Just wanderin round the place",

J'age nodded once "They should have gotten you a Tag however." Her cool voice was faintly disapproving but she shrugged. "Every one seems to think that this is an easy place to get lost in" She continued down the metal mesh steps to the cavern floor, she cast no shadow as she moved. J'age had seen many so called fearsome sights in her time and was apparently unphased by Red's fangs.

"Uh, you're J'age, aren't you? Jan said you'd be here,"

J'age had a faint accent of her own but it was not one that could not be placed. She gave the other new arrival a lightning once over, then a slower longer one and one elegant eyebrow rose.

"I know you, or should I say my father does. And is most interested in you...Jack". J'age smiled coldly and spoke in proper, upper class Latin of his era "Though I should be more polite and call you by your proper name, Casca Rufio Longinus. and yes I am J'age."

As Roweena explained the workings of the Tag to them, Kristy gradually stopped acting so coldly to the older girl, and joined her brother in figuring out how to operate the little wristband-like minature computers that the blonde explained will eventually be an integral part of their lives here, in Robber's Roost. As alien as the thing seemed to them at first glance, the Halliwells soon learned a lot as to how to operate their Tags, even though Kristy seemed astonished every time she found out an additional usage of her pink-coloured wrist computer, while Scott, on the other hand, kept a constant expression of deep concentration throughout. Only once did he glance up, to note that 'Spawn' - or, more appropriately addressed as 'Mister Jackie' in the future, he supposed - had joined them, but as the man did not say anything, so too did the boy not acknowledge him, preferring instead to listen to his newest friend in this strange place as she spoke.

Then Godolkin's voice rumbled, cutting into their conversation and distracting them; Scott glanced away after a cursory glance, none too interested in what had gotten the muscled brute of a man so irritated, but his sister watched the former Iconoclast for a while longer, unnoticed by the latter. She continued to watch as Godolkin stalked away even as her brother and Roweena continued their conversation, looking somewhat concerned, even though she didn't know what was going on. But he disappeared into the corridor; not knowing what else she could have done, Kristy turned back to the conversation, although she remained mostly silent as she pondered what had happened.

"Any questions?"

"So I can wear this on my wrist, on my belt, or really anywhere I wish, huh......?", Scott murmured in reply, as he fiddled with the Tag's malleable material. "And this thing's a cell, as well......"

Then his eyes twinkled as a mischievious thought crept into his head, and he looked at Roweena again. "Just one I can think of, and it's.......what's your number", he half-joked, pointing at the blonde girl with a cheeky grin that complemented the twinkle in his eyes. Direct, and to the point.

Still grinning, Scott turned back to Kristy, "What about you, Kris? Any ques.......Kristy?!"

For his little sister was actually pulling her hair into a ponytail, and actually attempting to use her pink Tag as a band to hold it in place, without much success in doing so, what was more. Caught in the act, Kristy's face went beetroot-red again as she dropped her pink Tag, embarassed at the incredulous look her brother was giving her.

"Kristy, the hell were you doing?!"

"Ah.....ah......Roweena said I could wear this anywhere I want, so I thought-"

"So you thought you could take that literally! Kristy, you can't......."

But then Scott tapered off, and thought about it for a while, before turning to Roweena.

"Wait.......is that possible?"

Godolkin groaned slightly at the mention of the flight simulator. 'She's a maniac in the air', he muttered as he picked up a shirt and put it on. "I'll go get her", he said out loud and stepped outside his room.

"Flight simulator", he said, activating the wrist comp. He began following the ball before stopping and looking at Kade again, "She's your oldest", he said to him, "your oldest what?"

****

Red nodded, "Well I lost mine. You seem to be enjoying your conversation, so I'll just say farewell." With that she headed toward the nearest exit.

"I know you, or should I say my father does. And is most interested in you...Jack". J'age smiled coldly and spoke in proper, upper class Latin of his era "Though I should be more polite and call you by your proper name, Casca Rufio Longinus. and yes I am J'age."

Casca set his fist in the old Roman salute, then countered with his own question. "And who might your father be? I know few enough that know me for who I truly am. Those that do tend to me members of fanatical religious organizations that hate me for the fact that I killed their god. Ironic, considering the fact that he predicted his own death, hence, the words of a divine being destined himself to death."

(Just to let everyone know, who might not, Tanara may be gone a few days. She was having some difficulties and had to go to the hospital, she wasn't sure what they might do or what they may require of her. Thank you for your patience.)

Pandora tensed imperceptibly when she saw Dr. Rhys approaching, and her right hand twitched slightly, towards her jacket. She had the chopsticks in her left hand, poised to eat another mouthful, though they remained frozen in the air while she watched the other woman approach. She forced herself to relax, and carried on eating, looking at the other woman questioningly.

After Dr. Rhys had spoken her piece, Pandora glanced down at the Tag folded over her belt. She knew it had a clock on it, so she would use it to tell her when the meeting was. She knew roughly what time it was, since she had been around for breakfast, and this was definitely lunch, but a meeting would require a little more precision. Just gone fourteen hundred, she saw, Six hours away.

“Where?” she asked Dr. Rhys disinterestedly, before taking another mouthful of noodles. The idea made tactical sense, and the fact that Pandora hadn’t outright ignored or dismissed the statement meant that she agreed; her terse response was just because she didn’t like the other woman. She knew the value of getting intel prior to acting, and based on what she knew, they needed intel before they could act at all.

He began following the ball before stopping and looking at Kade again, "She's your oldest", he said to him, "your oldest what?"


Kade caught up with him in a few long strides, falling in beside him companionably. "My oldest child." He chuckled half ruefully."And' as my wife says, repayment for being clueless as a teenaged male. Though most of the time she is a miracle to me. Watching her grow up, being there in her life...she has me wrapped around her little finger."

"Wait.......is that possible?"

Roweena laughed and shook her head. "Sadly I don't think so, Hair is generally to slick to hold it well but..." She considered for a moment, then moved over and brakded Kristy's locks into a thick braid, then wrapped it around the top of the braind tucking the ends of the tag into the weavings of the braid. "It might work like this." She said judiciously as she looked at the how it was held in the braid. "But it might not be so easy to get too."

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

So what's going on today?"

Jackie turned from watching Scott and Kristy discuss the Tags with Kade's daughtere. He hadn't wanted to interupt them. He hoped they'd be happy here. He knew what getting your life major disputed at that age could be like. He had his own bad memories.

"Not much other than Sian thinks that a meeting tonight, after dinner would be a good idea. Hashing out what we are going to do to those slime balls next. I know she'll want every one to speak up. Neither she or I have ever done a war before...Well I've 'gone to the matreesses' a few times, but thats war between Families, and has some rules and such, but this sort of thing, I don't know much about." He shrugged. Being a Mafia Don wasn't much like being a military soldier.

“Where?”

"I asked Peter" Sian spoke of the 'elder' who had greeted them earlier. "if we could use the confrence room where we were at first. He agreed, and said that he'd make all the intel they have on the Iconoclasts available." Sian replied. "I don't know if this is going to be like militray intelligence, or just a data dump or what exactly however. They say they have been opposing the Iconoclasts for centuries, and I've always heard runors of a super covert group doing just that, so I guess these are them." Sian shook her head, she had had just enough sleep function and was still tired. She gave Pandora an aoplogetic look. "Sorry that must have sounded silly after the introduction by Peter. We'll see you then, I think I'm going to go back to sleep."

She excused her self and went to join Jackie. She had also noted Pandora's tensing, though it had been all but unnoticeable, and guessed that Pandora would be uncomfortable in her presence for a long time to come.

Ironic, considering the fact that he predicted his own death, hence, the words of a divine being destined himself to death

"I am Death's daughter." J'age replied in a language Casca knew he'd never heard and didn't know, but some how understood.

I am Death's daughter.

"Ah. That explains much. Understand that if I could choose, I would galdly submit to the overlordship of your angelic parent, but alas, he has yet to take me." Casca realized that he would understand the language without knowing it, but something about it felt odd. Probably that God-given curse.

"I have a small measure of time, at least relative to current obligations, so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sparring with me for a while. Though I wonder, as Death's daughter, will you even be able to maintain a grip on me?"

"Neither she or I have ever done a war before..."

Loki nodded in understanding. He wasn't a soldier either and hadn't even seen combat besides the occassional brawl here and there. Nothing remotely related to war or fighting a large, organised enemy.

"I know what you mean, this whole thing is new to me too. All I've got is my little bag of tricks. I guess I've been a little ignorant of what goes on behind the scenes regarding our kind. I didn't even know about these guys until last night."

To be honest Loki was wondering whether he'd made the right decision. He didn't know what to expect save that whoever they were fighting had some nasty super soldiers handy and they weren't afraid to go on a rampage with them.

"I guess we play in the shadows from now on... it would be nice to avoid what happened last night."

Godolkin nodded. "Yes, I forget. The products of union. Shocktroopers are sterile by virtue of the modifications." He had continued following the green ball now as he walked. "Though being wrapped around someone's finger does not sound the least inviting." He continued walking now, in silence, considering his situation. He was no longer tied to the huntress, yet he still seemed to follow her and even sought to protect her. Emotions were just too confusing.

****

Red headed out of the bay, into a normal corridor and this time began following more populous routes, hoping it would lead her back toward an area that seemed familiar to her.

Though I wonder, as Death's daughter, will you even be able to maintain a grip on me?"

That actually brought a smal flicker of a smile to J'age's lips. "Perhaps not, but I may be able to hit you, for I do not yet fill my sire's position, though I will one day." Her artic ice blue eye's darkened momentarily shifting to a more human hue. "Then you will be off limits to me, though I might have something to say about that when the time comes. I might not submit to being bound by my predecessors restrictions."

Her stides were those of a tigers; powerful, lethally gracefull and silent as she walked besides him through the base as they headed to the dojo that adjoined the armory, salle, and gun ranges. Her irridescent blue black hair was pulled losely back into a thick lightly waved pony tail that fell nearly to her hips, and made her pale complection seem even more so, though the paleness seemed natural not due to lack of sunlight.

Pandora nodded her acknowledgement of the location, but did not speak another word. She was naturally taciturn anyway, and took it even further when dealing with people she didn’t like. She felt a minor sense of accomplishment at having used only a single word in the exchange. Most of the conversation that Pandora had was with herself, in her head.

I remember where that was, she thought, so that’s not a problem. And it doesn’t matter how it turns out, just as long as I can learn some things about our enemy. She hoped that they would come up with a course of action as well, so that they could start taking the fight to the enemy immediately, or as nearly so as was practical. She had some other ideas too, based on what had been said in the announcement that morning.

She sat there thinking about things that she thought needed to be covered, which she would bring up if no-one else did. She was eating on auto-pilot now, the task taken over by her subconscious while her active mind concentrated on more important things. She still took the time to savour the taste, though, and her eyes roamed aimlessly, taking in everything that was happening in the canteen.

Hours passed as people sparred, meditated, slept and life went on. Dinner was 'nice casual' and the new comers discovered that Robbers Roost sported an extremely well supplied commissary that had a nice selection of clothes, home furnishings, electronics, a well stocked grocery and much more. The bases had a large library of music, movies, and books. They tried to provide as complete a life as possible.

8 PM local rolled around and the group regrouped in the same confrence room they had been in earlier. A tray of assorted deserts, and assorted beverages awaited them as did bases computer Mycroft. The large wall mounted monitor glowed softly and gentle background music emanated from the speakers

Charli had slept soundly for hours after the dream had ended and woke before dinner feeling very refreshed. She rather blinked in astonishment to see Ryan sitting in one of the chairs, but he looked as if he had dozed off. She sat up on the edge of the bed, suddenly aware of how unattractive she looked with her hair a total mess and the baggy cotton scrubs all wrinkled. Shrugging she knew there was nothing she could do about it instantly.

"Ryan" She said very softly, trying not to startle him. Why he had stayed, and in a chair at that was beyond her. "Ryan, wake up...Gods are you going to be stiff and sore."

As soon as Charli spoke his name, Ryan's eyes opened. "Good morning, or is it evening?"

"Are you feeling better?" He asked as she commented that he was going to be stiff and sore. "Don't worry about me, I won't be stiff or sore. I've had to remain in much more uncomfortable positions than a chair for longer periods. Would you like me to tell you my tale or are you hungry or something else?"

"Are you feeling better?"

"I'm not sure which it is" Charli replied with a smile. "but I do feel a lot better."
She stood and stretched. "Look Why don't you tell me your story after I shower I am too dirty to stand it much longer....and thank you for watching over me."

It was baffeling, him so remote, so...contained, yet so concerned for her. Spotting the computer console each suite was equipped with, she was quickly able to discover how to order fresh clothes. "Ryan you need some too I think. What sizes do you wear?" It was easy to see that she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

She placed the order and gave Ryan a look. "They should be here by the time I get out." Charli headed into the spacious well equipped bathroom, noting the seperate over sized shower with a happy sigh. She made sure she was clean and especially her matted hair.

Then she was out and drying herself off. Wrapping a large towel about herself she went back into the bedroom and took the other chair. As she began carefully working the tangles out of her hair.

Charli looked up at Ryan "Your turn." She said lightly, her lips quirking in a little cats grin.

"As you wish, and you're welcome." He replied as she moved to the computer console and figured out how to work it. While he felt somewhat uncomfortable in regular clothes it would take a great deal more effort than it would be conceivably worth to argue so he provided her the sizes he was most comfortable with. He had a slight suspicion she'd order something outragous like bright pink or Hawaiian style but would wear it anyways.

As she showered, he wondered if she was one of the people who enjoyed showers or just viewed it as a method to get clean. As she came out and took a seat on a chair, he figured she wanted his story till she broadsided him. Blinking in a slight amount of surprise, as he'd had one the other day and the suit kept him generally clean when wearing it, and asked, "I need a shower as well?"

"I need a shower as well?"

Charli looked at him blankly for a moment, the threw back her head and laughed. "No Ryan, though if you'd like one, go ahead. I noticed that the shower has a sauna setting, and I know I adore a nice sit in a steaming sauna."

"I meant it's your turn to spill your life history to me."

"Alright, thought some of it will be censored do to client confedentiality or lack of memory." Ryan replied as he stretched slightly as he prepared to continue. "Alright to begin with Ryan isn't the name I was born with, or I don't think it was nor can I tell you much about my early life. In point of fact I don't even know my own age."

He then began telling her about his life, starting with the earliest memories of the hells that were the institute and training, which would have been mostly tedious except he kept it short and simple. He then moved on to the destruction and death of the institute and who he'd thought where those responsible before meeting Godolkin. The fact that what had created him had gone up in smoke, was with him or had been used to create the Iconoclast Shock Troopers.

Pausing for a few seconds as he wasn't use to talking this long, he continued with what he'd done since destroying the institute providing some detail but leaving out client names and ending with why he'd been in the city.

The sparring session with Death's daughter was, interesting. Casca noticed it after the first few minutes. Both he and J'age had been right, and it was an interesting progression. She started with a flurry of punches and hand strikes, the first landing quite solidly, but after a half dozen, they weakened considerably, before Casca found it unbothersome and easy to land a blow of his own.

It had progressed with each of the fighting styles they practiced. At first, when they wrestled, J'age easily pinned Casca, but after a few seconds of struggling, he gradually won the upper hand, subduing her with his left hand and right leg only. Then cam the Kung Fu, the Tai Chi, the Tae Kwon Do, and the Jujitsu. Each time, Casca started at a disadvantage, but each time, he gradually, but steadily, gained an upper hand, as though he drew from some hidden power that diminished J'age's abilities. He could tell that she did not weaken at all during their fight, but her ability to do damage to him was reduced as they fought.

"My lady, even when you do subvert your benevolent father, I fear that you could not take me. Nobody subverts the will of the gods, and even you are but their tool. A shame, you are one maiden that I would gladly submit to." He guzzled down a bottle of water, before eyeing her again. "I can tell from your talents that you would easily have a grasp of dancing. What form is your favorite?"

"Tango. A pity, as it seems that I won't get you for myself after all."

Casca smiled, accented by his scar. "Then can I have you for the dance floor?" he asked, standing. "And may be a little more?"

The day had passed rather uneventfully for Loki, nothing in particular taking his interest throughout the hours. Of course he still needed to heal up, but the gel stuff that the doctors had applied seemed to have severely hastened the healing process as Loki was feeling much better already.

Eight o'clock eventually came around, resulting in Loki finding his way to the conference room once again as per Sian's request. Looking around the room, Loki noted the beverages and was disappointed to see that out of the beers available, none of them were particularly worth drinking even if one was on their deathbed.

Shaking his head, Loki picked out a Corona and capped it off upon the edge of the table. It was by no means a good brew in his opinion, simply the lesser of many other evils.

With that done, Loki simply waited for others to arrive.

The conference room was deserted when Pandora entered it, well before the appointed time. She took up the seat she had occupied that morning, in one of the back corners, away from where everyone else would likely go. She drew her legs up to her chest and settled back into the seat, closing her eyes. She was still perfectly awake and alert, but she had found that she could rest somewhat like this. She did not react visibly to the arrival of the Australian shortly after, but she knew he was there, and what he was doing. She briefly wondered if he had noticed her presence, withdrawn in the corner as she was.

She had spent most of the afternoon wandering the corridors of the installation, memorising the layout; where certain things were, how to get between certain places and such. She knew that if they were to take on the super-soldiers, they could well end up fighting here. If your quarry goes to ground, leave no ground to go to. It was a standard procedure, and one the Iconoclasts would likely use if they found out about this place.

She had also spent some time browsing the shops, but didn’t buy anything. This was partly because she didn’t know what she might want. In terms of possessions, she was limited to what she could carry around with her, so that also had an effect. When it came to books, music and films, she had no idea what might interest her, since her experience with them was so small as to be almost non-existent. The one thing that wasn’t an issue for her was money, though her general appearance and recent lifestyle strongly suggested otherwise.

Charli listened quietly, with sadness and anger for what Ryan had had to endure. She knew from her family history what it was like to have the government- an entity that was supposed to protect you- use you as a guine pig, violate your rights - and worse your 'self'- without qualm or hesitation. She could only give the greatest of thanks that it had never happened personally to her, though it could have very easily.

She sat silent for a long time after he finished, and then blew out a deep breath. Compassion flooded her voice "Gods! Ryan, That you've survived at all was a miracle...what a damned horror. I'm sorry" She didn't know what else to say, what was there to say. He'd made those directly responisble pay as much as possible, hurt them as much as he could. "I'm glad you did what you did, that you survived."

She stood and stepped over to Ryan, and slid her arms about his waist. "I'm glad that you survived, glad that I got a chance to meet you. Thank you for watching over me."

Charli would have said more, but the door bell chimed, letting them know that their new clothes had arrived. With a light kiss on his cheek she stepped away and went to the living room of the suite and took the packages from the automated trolley. He was so contained she felt that the hug and the kiss might have upset him and she wanted to give him a moment to himself.

A note atop the packages informed her that dinner was being served immediately, and that a meeting was scheduled for eight PM, in roughly two hours.

"Ryan, dinners being served, and theres a meeting in about two hours" Charli said as she brought the packaged back into the bed room. "I won't be here for the meeting - I think I've got to see about getting Rob's body home, and besides I don't know anything about fighting a war. Now fighting a fire yeah, but I don't think it's the same."

"Why be sorry, you couldn't have done anything." He replied as he looked back at her, "And I guess I'm just a survivor." He'd never had a problem with his past, but part of the reason he didn't share it normally was because many people did find it disturbing as evidently Charli did.

When she stood up and forward, he blinked and thus was caught by surprise when she gave him a light hug. "You're welcome." He replied, slightly bemused at the hug as they weren't things he was entirely use to or comfortable with. The follow-up kiss was predicted and thus only rocked the boat slightly.

As she returned with the information about dinner and the meeting, he blinked and shook his head to help clear his head. "While I'm sure you have to return your friend's body to his home, it's likely that you'll find yourself within this war whether you will it or no. I don't think the opposition would leave any loose ends, I know I wouldn't if I was running this kind of thing."

"Then can I have you for the dance floor? And may be a little more?"

Eyes cool as an artic winters night gave Casca another thorough once over, elegant eyebrow lifting ever so faintly. J'age's voice while equally cool, held a thread of interest. "I think I'd enjoy that, but not tonight. I have an over night flight leaving shortly." She moved close with her graceful silent stride and her lips grazed his. "But I'll be back" Her whisper was dark honey. Then she was gone.

I don't think the opposition would leave any loose ends, I know I wouldn't if I was running this kind of thing

"Oh I want to be part of this thing, but they don't need me at this meeting, I don't think I'd provide any usefull suggestions" Charli's voice drifted from the bathroom where she had gone to change, and seconds later she stepped out to collapse gracefully on the edge of the bed and begin pulling on the tennis shoes she'd ordered.

While she waited for Ryan to change Charli made arrangements for her and Fortier's body to be flown to Imitora. She was pleased that they were able to give her an easy solution. They would use one of their own planes, and though one of their few contacts in the Imitoran government, get word to the proper people so as to expect their arrival.

Dinner was tasty but Charli was mostly silent, thinking about what all she needed to do over the next couple of hours Go though Fortier's stuff and pack it neatly and get another change of clothes for me, something nicer than jeans and a tee She decided.

"Ryan, let Sian and the others know, where I've gone and that I'll be back"

Once dinner was over she headed to the 'mall' intending to find suitable attire for taking Fortier home.

Sian and Jackie were next into the conference room. Sian noted Pandora immediately, as her spionic senses quested ahead of her. They had both had more sleep and dinner in their shared suite. Both were feeling much more mentally awake and reenergized.

She smiled at Loki sipping a Corona with a barely noticable lack of pleasure. "I thik that we need them to stock an Aussie beer or two for you Loki."

"I prefer Sam Adams myself" Jackie rumbled as he headed over to the beverages and was pleased to find they stocked it "Unless I can get some of the better microbrews." He quirked an eyebrow at Sian, but she declined with a shake of her head. She'd never been a beer drinker.

"But I'll take some tea while you're over there." Sian added as she found took a seat in one of the comfortable executive chairs that ringed the circular table.

"How are you feeling Loki? How is your leg doing?" She asked.

Godolkin went to Red's door and knocked.

"YEAH?"

"Mistress, dinner and then meeting are fast approaching."

The door opened and Red stepped back into the room, zipping up the skin tight leather suit. She sat on the bed to pull on her high heeled boots as she spoke:

"So what's this about?"

"Were you not told?"

Red looked up at him as she reached for her second boot. "I was told exactly TWO things concerning this matter, twinkletoes. Jack and shit."

"To discuss the strategy we shall use to strike at the Iconoclasts."

Red zipped up her second boot and stood, looking at Godolkin, "How about staying the sneck out of thier way. There's a good one."

"They have moved into the light, Mistress, there will not be any hiding now."

They headed into the dining hall and as they entered, both scanned the room like seasoned professionals. Godolkin gave an encouraging nod to Pandora and followed Red to another corner table. They sat down, waiting for the meeting to begin.

One of Pandora’s eyes cracked open as Dr. Rhys entered the room, followed by her companion. The eye followed the woman’s progress through the room, watching her every move with suspicion. She tuned out the conversation that passed between the three people, though, since it was not relevant to her interests. Inane chatter was one of the things that she had problems with in life, since she invariably knew nothing about the subject or failed to understand something.

When the redhead and Godolkin entered the room shortly after, Pandora’s roving eye snapped across to allow her mind to fully confirm who they were. She acknowledged the gesture from Godolkin with an almost imperceptible inclination of her head. She watched the pair sit down, then let her eye slide closed again, having already seen that Dr. Rhys was seated, and far enough away for Pandora’s liking. The meeting wasn’t starting yet, so she could spend a few more minutes in this tranquil state.

When Red and Godolkin arrived in the conference room, Sian smiled at the pair, "We're just waiting on Ryan and Casey. Charli has made arrangements to take Robert Fortier's body back to Imitora I've been given to understand, says it needs to be done, and she doesn't think she could contribute much to this meeting tonight."

"I don't hink any of us really has any idea to go about this, but I'm hoeping we can come up with some ideas." She added with a small sigh. She hadn't known Robert Fortier well, but his loss still hurt and she understood the younger woman's committment to get her friend home.

"You never know, you may see something the rest of us miss." Ryan commented as Charli changed and he headed to find out what clothes she'd picked for him and change into them.

"Alright, I will do so." He replied as they ate, "Thought it may be advisable to take someone with you. We don't know how great the enemy's information range is."

After dinner, he headed off to find Sian and informer her of Charli's decisions.

Charli had done a minimal amount of shopping, more to put off having to look through Fortier's effects than anything else, but when she had found what she considered the best choice to be had to wear to take his body back, she knew she could no longer put it off.

She querried as to were his remains and effects were and headed there with a disciplined effort. Once at the small morgue she had them leaver her alone with his bags that Ryan had retrieved while they placed the body in a transport casket. The spike that had killed him she placed aside. She would return it, some day soon she hoped to those who had sent it.

She refolded the clothes so that they fit neatinly in the luggage, close to tears at how wrinkled they were despit her efforts . Then she laid his wallet, and the 45 he'd carried atop them, and zipped the bag closed. The lack of a passport baffeled her at first, then she realized that he might not have been in the States fully legally.

She looked at the his cell and flipped it open, looking through his address book
There were four listings EMEVAC, COMEVAC, ICK, and SUPPORTFIRE. The last two felt wrong, and it was an emergency, of sorts. She checked with the communications department and found out that she wouldn't be able to call out on this phone from so deep under ground, that it would have to be routed through the base's commosystem to disquise it's point of origin.

"Calling from here probably wouldn't be a good idea anyways." Charli said half to herself as she closed the cell phone and tucked it into her pocket. Unsure how to proceed, she looked up with a slight start as the lady who would be flying her out came in.

"We've loaded the casket, you just need to tell me where to go."

Charli sighed and ran a hand through her hair, and set about trying to explain her problem.

J'age listened quitely untill Charli finished. "Okay, I know a couple of very empty, very remote places where I can set down and you can call from there, get directions as to how to proceed."

Charli nodded and picked up Fortiers small bag. Following J'age out to one of the electric golf carts, they were soon at the plane that had brought them here. It sat crouched like some dark omen and Charli shivered as she took a seat, strapped in and listened as the engines spooled up. Then they were lifting vertically untill they were above the craters high walls. The Hard Point arrowed into the night sky, climbing high above the clouds, screaming silently north northwest.

Soon the high, aird Nevada desert was below them and the land was empty save for row after row of long abandoned aircraft. The US Air Forces grave yard of planes didn't even have a guard, nothing living for miles about save for the native wildlife. Once the engines had fallen silent, and J'age lowered the ramp Charli walked down, shivering slightly in the cold air. She looked up at the stars blazing unhindered over head, J'age moving silinetly behind her. She pulled out the phone punching the button to make an EMEVAC call.

It rang, a carrier tone sounded, a beep *talk* and the another tone.

* This is Charlie and I'm calling for Robert Fortier. Robert's* Her voice caught in her throat just a little then she steadied. * dead and I need to get his body home to Imitora. How do I do this?* She nodded at the reply and looked over at J'age, mouthing the words 'they'll come get us, but where are we?"

"Nevada Bone yard" J'age replied in a low voice "They should know what we mean."

The phone clicked and died.

"well that was short and sweet" J'age said with a snort. "I'm not going to leave you here alone though."

She helped Charli get the rolling transport casket out of the cramped storage bay, and out into a large clear area. Once that was done, she set the Hard Point's security system by remote and smiled as the sleek areospace plane shimmered and vanished. "Don'tpect to see me, but I'll be watching over you." She commented as she lifted a long weapons case and vanished into the night. She had been an assassin long before the Shadows had revruited her.

Casca left with J'age's words and kiss. She truly was one of a kind. The opposite to himself, in a way. Time to put that thought to bed, at least for a while. He got the call about the meeting, showered, meditated, dressed, then went down.

Arriving at the conference room, he found everybody but Ryan there. "Sorry about the delay, I got held up." He grabbed a bottle of Adams, noted Jackie's choice, and raised his bottle in salute of fine taste. People in similar professions had strange, unaccountable similarities. Choice of alcohol, especially amongst professional killers, was such an instance. Too much time spent drinking between jobs, or at least that's what Gus had said.

"Well", Red replied, "you bloody well got me. They don't know where you are and you're better off that way as far as I'm concerned. Anyone here got a phone I can use?"

Godolkin just sat back and folded his massive arms. He didn't look at anyone and Red's glance indicated the she knew he was thinking of something. Tamerlane headed the Iconoclasts, Godolkin knew, and therein lay thier weakness.

Anyone here got a phone I can use?"

"Ms. Red, I can provide you whith what should be an untraceable communication" The bases computer offered in it's baritone voice.

"What are you planning Red?" Jackie asked, concern evident in his tone.

Sian nodded as he spoke and added. "You and Godolkin know them more intimately than any one else. Jackie, Loki and myself probably know the least about what strategy and tactisc would be best."

Ryan decided to check the meeting room to see if that's were Sian had gotten to. Having given the Tag he'd been given to Charli, he was limited in his ability to find out stuff from the computer systems.

"Ah, there she is." He thought as he saw a number of others as well. Walking over, he spoke, "Charli requested that I inform you that she is going to be returning Rob's body to his home and that she will be back."

That said, he turned and headed out of the room so he could find a room to excersise.

Sian looked around as Ryan entered

Charli requested that I inform you that she is going to be returning Rob's body to his home and that she will be back."

Then he turned to leave and Sian called out "Ryan, I'd appreciate it if you stayed. I'd like your insight into our options, and your thoughts on what we should do."

"Alright." He replied as he turned and took a seat. "May I enquire as to what has been proposed already?"

"Nothing yet. We're just all now getting here." Sian replied, not hiding her relief as Ryan rejoined them, then looked back at Red, waiting for her response to Jackie's question. "Red has some ideas."

Ryan nodded and turned to Red. He'd wait to see what she proposed, thought it seemed that she, and Godolkin, would know what the Iconoclasts general tactics were. He had a decent smattering of tactical and strategic knowladge including some small unit and guerilla stuff, but was more experianced with solo activities.

"I have some ideas?" Red asked. "I just said that you bloody well have me", she said as she dialed the number she wanted. "Snecking stay out of thier way, that's MY idea."

"Hello?"

"I keep telling you don't call me that."

"What do you have on Iconoclast base locations?"

"No. I'm not bloody well planning an attack."

"I just need it, do you have anything?"

"Jude .... Jude .... JUDE! If you don't start talking english I'm going back there to smack you in the head. I don't understand a WORD you just said."

"Yeah, he's here."

Red handed the phone to Godolkin who listened for a short time and then looked up at no one in particular, "Computer .. can you add secure data link to this call?"

"Computer .. can you add secure data link to this call?"

"Certainly" Mycroft replied as the data link was encrypted and the download began flowing at speeds only a cyber system could handle.

Casey listened halfheartedly to Red. He was busy with his own thoughts on what his course of action should be. Tamerlane would want him, would view him as a prize beyond measure. The fact that he had disappeared rather starkly was the main reason he wasn't being kept as a prisoner while they used his curse for their own vicious ends.

"The first thing," Casey said slowly, "is that we need to ask ourselves is just how far we are willing to go with this. We've had a day to think it over, but I don't believe that everybody here is having their thoughts being rewritten by Dr. Sian. If we take this fight to their doorstep, then we risk the existence of every member of the Night Life, not to mention our secret existence. Are we willing to live in a world that might not accept us?"

Are we willing to live in a world that might not accept us?"

"So we just keep on hiding, let them these damned pious judges wipe us out bit by bit as they find us?" Jackie growled "While we cower in hiding?" His tone was laden with disgust. He spun his chair away to stare blankly at a wall, scowling fiercely.

"Yes we are risking ever member of the Night Life, but are they not already at risk?" Sian's voice was tormented. "I can no longer live like I was. I can't hide any longer, not and see us erradicated one small, mostly defenseless group at a time."

"However I can't speak for anyone else but myself. If I have to, I'll carry on alone." Her voice was adamant.

Jackie spun his chair back around violently "No, I'm not letting you do this alone. And Charli said she'd be back."

"We have a secure link", Godolkin said on the phone. After a few minutes he nodded. "Alright, we'll look into it." He handed the phone back to Red.

"Yeah."

"Who is that?"

"The Lady. That doesn't tell me much."

"Well how do we find this Lady?"

"You don't know. Then what good is that?"

"Well if that's our best chance we're screwed."

The janitor had been setting up the last of the tables and chairs. He looked up and in a thick jamaican accent said, "Ahhh, no. I can put in contact with her."

"Hold on, Jude. You can?" she asked of the janitor.

"Yah, I surely can. I can arrange to get you to her."

Godolkin snorted but Red shot him a glance and then said, "Jude, keep up the work", and hung up. "Go on", she said to the janitor, "who is this Lady?"

"Ah, I don't know. But I can make the arrangements to get you an interview."

"Tamerlane needs to be taken down", Godolkin replied. "We need to kill him."

"Oh", Red replied, "just like that? Just waltz in and kill a man who is beloved by most humans? Then we would be fighting everyone."

Ryan shook his head slightly, these people were not approaching this with logic but emotion and that got people killed. He was possibly the most non-nightlifer present, at least the nightlife that made up this group. There were examples among his nightlife where two organisations clashed without revealing thier presence to the world at large, and if they didn't think people beside the Iconoclast knew about them, they were in serious need of a reality shot.

He mentally chuckled at Red's comments. It seemed she'd been out of the game too long, or never played it at the upper levels. The blade, bullet and bomb were the most common tools of the assassin but they were by far not the only arrows in the quiver.

With a faint sigh, he got up to get himself a drink and asked, "Anyone want anything?"

"I thik that we need them to stock an Aussie beer or two for you Loki."

Loki nodded with a chuckle as Sian noticed his distaste for the Corona.

"Damn straight. I pity the man the goes about his daily life drinking this piss..."

If his expression hadn't been enough, Loki's colourful language made sure everyone knew he thought very little of the brew within his grasp. Noting Jackie's choice of beer, Loki kept the name in mind as he would have to give it a go next time.

"How are you feeling Loki? How is your leg doing?"

Shifting a little, Loki put a little more weight on his leg and found it to be reasonably comfortable. He still walked around with his crutches but he figured it wouldn't be much longer before they wouldn't be necessary.

"Seems to be healing up pretty good, that gel stuff you guys have is pretty handy."

Eventually everyone else that was going to turn up did so and the discussion began. Since Loki didn't know anything about these guys or possess any tactical know-how he figured he'd simply remain quiet and try to pick up what he could.

Pandora had stayed quiet when the meeting started, remaining curled up in the seat, but now listening carefully to what was said. She wanted to see what these people had to say on the matter before contributing her own thoughts, since it was their fight and they knew more about this enemy than she did. However, within minutes she realised that they had very little idea of what they were undertaking, or how to go about it properly.

Her eyes opened and she slowly extended her legs until her feet rested on the floor. It was time for her to offer her knowledge and expertise; though she did not want to face the questions that would invariably follow, asking exactly how she knew the things she did; things that only a seasoned veteran of many campaigns should know. She began speaking, her voice at it’s natural volume, which was fairly quiet anyway. She was sure that one of these people would notice, but if not, she wasn’t going to be the one to shut them all up.

“You’re not going to accomplish anything like this,” she stated, “You’re obsessed with an ultimate objective, but you have no idea how to get there. We need to look at short term objectives that will ultimately bring about the long term goal. Striking at the head of the hydra will not kill it; just weaken it, probably only momentarily.” She paused and glanced around to see if anyone was listening, then carried on regardless.

“But before we do anything, we need to know what we’re dealing with, in great detail, and we need to know what we can do. That means intelligence gathering, and training. And if you expect us to work as a team, we need to train together, know what each other person can and can’t do, know that we can rely on each other. And perhaps most importantly, we need to know what we can’t do. Knowing your weaknesses means you can plan around them.” Her piece spoken, Pandora lapsed into silence once more, wondering if any had heard her.

Casey heard Pandora's remarks, and turned to the younger soldier. "Generals never planned a war around short term goals. Before we can begin to focaus on how we get our goals accomplished, we need to know what our goals are."

He turned to the others. "Believe me when I say that I know the pains of hiding because of one's existence. I've spent two thousand years doing so. My own logical reasoning states that I would rather see deaths for success now knowing that the future will hold safety, but that is the viewpoint of a battle-scarred soldier. True, we can't hide forever. But remember that with our actions, we hold in our hands the lives of those like us. I am willing to see some of those gone if it means more will be saved. I have seen, and partaken in, events to that end. Dr. Sian, Jackie, you are both more of the Night Life than I. I will follow the path of those here that have the most to lose. But it is important that we understand what we risk. I can accept that. I know that there are people alive that can't. All that I ask right now is that you make sure that you are willing to accept the full consequences of your action for both yourselves and the rest of the Night Life."

Casey emptied his bottle. "My dice are cast, and I know that I have crossed the Rubicon. I follow Dr. Sian in this."

It had been a scant three hours when the calm nigt silence was shattered with the heavy 'whuping' noise of two large props. Within moments, the large MH-22I Sea Falcon was as visable as it's black paint would let it be, and any observer would note it was moving fast. As it swooped in over an empty space of land between the hulks of two B52s, the rotors snapped up, and the large vertiplane came to a stop, lowering itself slowly to a hover just inches above ground.

The wheels never touched down, but the rear gate opened, unleashing fifteen operators from the ICIA's Special Operations Unit. The men were clad in the usual tactical black, assault vests and balclavas, and armed heavily. Most were former IMSPECWAR operators, some weren't, but they all moved as one, creating a safety ring around the hovering Sea Falcon, weapons out and searching for targets. The nose mounted chain gun also swepped around, looking for any opposition.

After a brief moment, a few hand signals were tossed around, and one of the operators stood, walking out to find Charli.

"just like that? Just waltz in and kill a man who is beloved by most humans? Then we would be fighting everyone."

Sian had listened silently to the exchange between Red, Godolkin, Jude and the janitor. She vaguely remembered hearing the Janitor say something similar earlier, when she had still been exhausted and not thinking as much as she should have been. She gave the Janitor a swift assessing look, then tried running through his mind. She stopped short and cocked an eyebrow giving a short nod. However there were other concerns, voiced by others in the room that needed her attention, so she delegated.

"I've met her, briefly, we can trust her, as far as anyone can trust a vampire. Red, Godolkin, set us up an interview with her. Ever bit of information can be valuable."

"Anyone want anything?"

"Not for me right now thank you Ryan" Sian replied and Jackie shook his head, he was still sipping on the Sam Adams.

When Pandora began speaking Sian listened intently.

Knowing your weaknesses means you can plan around them.”

She nodded her face serious when Pandora finished. "I completely agree with you. Killing Tamerlane will not destroy the Iconoclasts, but his loss will be a great blow. And yes we must map out objectives, and train together." She didn't say more but listened just as intently to what Casca said

All that I ask right now is that you make sure that you are willing to accept the full consequences of your action for both yourselves and the rest of the Night Life."

"Our objective is, as I see it, is to end the specific menace to the Night Life posed by the Iconoclasts. They are the specific group targeting the Night Life for extermination. We can worry about saving the world later. Lets get them stopped." Jackie said firmly.

"I don't mean to intrude, but I have in my data files every bit of information we have ever gathered about the Iconoclasts, and what I have just recieved has added to that. It is all at your disposal anytime you wish it" The base's computer spoke up.

The information provided by Judas Harrow were partial telemetry readings based on Iconoclast transmissions. None were complete, but locations of bases could at least be narrowed down to anywhere from 15 to 200 square miles, depending on the amount of communication traffic to and from each base. Iconoclast signals changed frequency and cipher every 60 seconds, making it extremely difficult to track signals. The fact that Judas had gotten as much as he had was impressive.

"I cannot agree with this", Godolkin stated. "We should remove Tamerlane."

"Let's talk to this Lady and see what she has to offer."

"Mistress, why waste time?"

"Because information never hurt anyone, that's why."

"We run short on time", Godolkin replied, "they've openly struck, that means they are prepared for war."

"Then information is that much more important."

Godokin sighed, "By your will, Mistress."

Red turned to the janitor, "Okay, arrange this meeting."

The janitor nodded and walked out of the room.

Casey thought for a minute, then turned to the pair that was, at one point, employed by the enemy. "Godolkin, you were with Tamerlane most recently, so I think that you would have the best idea of the type of security he would employ. I know that tactics change, but thought processes don't. We could use some idea of what he uses to guard himself."

Godolkin turned, "I've never actually met him. It's like saying that just because someone is a soldier they've met the president. Tamerlane doesn't make visits to various bases, so I've never even seen him in person.

“Generals never planned a war around short term goals. Before we can begin to focus on how we get our goals accomplished, we need to know what our goals are.”

“Perhaps that is why wars invariably turn out to be long, bloody and ultimately pointless,” observed Pandora offhandedly, drawing herself into a more upright position now that she was actively taking part in the discussion. “As for working out our goals, we could use a dream ladder. We know where we are; that’s the bottom rung.” She held out her left hand; quite low down, with her palm facing the floor. “We know where we want to get to; that’s the top rung.” Her right hand joined her left, much higher up. “Each rung below the top is a step that needs to be completed before we can advance to the next rung. It might not be perfect, but it will give us some idea.”

“I don’t mean to intrude, but I have in my data files every bit of information we have ever gathered about the Iconoclasts, and what I have just received has added to that. It is all at your disposal anytime you wish it.”

“I’d like to look at everything you have,” Pandora told the computer. “We need to know as much as we can about our enemy, and I think I have the furthest to go in that respect.” She looked around at the others before continuing. “And you never know; I might find use for something that you didn’t.” She began idly fiddling with a lock of hair that had escaped her ponytail and had fallen across her brow.

The Imitorans were good, wary and observant, but one can not observe what isn't there, and only part of J'age was there as she hovered in that peculair stasis between life and death, reality and nothingness. She tracked the soldier that moved out to find Charli.

He didn't have to go too far, she stood by the transport coffin on it's low wheel cart. She had deliberately set it, and herself beside it, out in a clearing among the old mothballed airplanes. Some one on the ground would have a hard time seeing her but she had not tried to hide.

The tailored dark charcoal pantsuit fit her well and the silk tee shirt in a rich but someber blue brought out the amber of her eyes in the silvery moonlight. The Veriplane had not tried to hide it's arrival and she waited patiently. She knew that while Fortier's people would not come in guns blazing, they would come in cautiously.

Ryan got himself a non-alchoholic beverage and returned to take his seat. When the computer announced it had all the collected information about the Iconoclast, looking over at it's grill he added, "I may have some new information for you, but I'd also like a chance to browse through your files."

“Each rung below the top is a step that needs to be completed before we can advance to the next rung. It might not be perfect, but it will give us some idea.”

Sian was nodding, "That I can understand Pzndora, like the planning needed for a delicate operation." Few outside the medical community ever really understood the advanced planning that went into any surgery. Only life and death trauma surgery went in without it. "I would guess that the first stage would be us laying out detalied reports on what each of our abilities and skills were, and training at least minimally to use those skills and gifts together, effectively, as a team."

“And you never know; I might find use for something that you didn’t"

"Agreed. And I'd like it too" Jackie added "I know almost as little about them as you do Pandora"

"We all should look it over" Sian added.

"I can start a feed here, or direct it to the terminals in each of your suites" Mycroft offered "Though there are few bases we did not know of there is some new information on their communications with the data I recieved."

The man who ventured out was dressed like the rest of the operators, and he moved hunched over towards Charli in a ready position. He never pointed his rifle at her, he didn't need to. When he was close enough, he shouted to be heard over the twin turning blade of the modified Osprey. "You Charli?" he shouted, and before she could answer, he waved over the other operators. Two came over, grabbing the transport coffin, wheeling it over to the Sea Falcon. With strong arms, and slight huffs and grunts, the two lifted the coffin up and onto the open rear door off the Sea Falcon. Two Imitoran Marines, both craft chiefs, pulled the coffin along the rolling floor into the bay of the vertiplane.

The operator that moved out to Charli watched, and waved a few more hand signals, the operators moving back into the bay of the aircraft. The man looked back at Charli through supprisingly hard brown eyes. His face was otherwised covered, the black mask reflecting no light. The man had no identifying marks on his outfit, no flags, no nametags, no Imitoran local equipment.

"SOU Extract," he said, not breaking eye contact with Charli. He was careful to not mention the ICIA or Imitora in general, even though the Sea Falcon was an Imitoran local aircraft. It too had no markings, but the two craft chiefs did. He new that he could identify himself as Imitoran to Charli, the pick up had obviously trusted her enough, but he wanted to follow procedure.

"I need you to come with us," he said, motioning with his head back to the Sea Falcon. "Debrief and such."

Charli had watched their brisk effecient movements with little expression on her face, though she had to blink hard a couple of times fighting back tears.

"Debrief and such."

Her face lit up with that. "I can come with you?" Then hard on it's heels "Is it okay to tell my ride?" She held up her wrist and let him see the TAG wrapped around her wrist. "I won't tell them where I'm going, or anything that might ..ah.. compromise your operational security? I can leave this here after I make the call." She hoped she was using the right terms to put him at ease, as she unfurled the slim cell phone. The pantsuit's blazer fell back, showing that she wore no visable weapondry, and she certainly wasn't carrying herself like most people did when armed.

The man looked down at a watch and nodded. "Make it quick," he said, making no indication that he was going to move from his post till she was on her way to the Sea Falcon. It may have been overkill, but there were to be no exceptions any time SAD or SOU were in action. The ICIA units often operated in extremely hostile territory or without permision of the nation they were operating in, and the operators currently on the ground in the Nevada base were at no exception.

The man stood, stoic, waiting for Charli to make the call.

Casey grabbed a paper, pencil, and began writing. That would take too long, he thought, so he tried another trick. "Central, do your archives include a list of short war novels written by a decorated Green Beret called Barry Sadler? Specifically, a list of novels in a continuing series titled Casca: The Eternal Mercenary? If so, could you please extract a detailed list of the central figure's historical experience, combat training, and abilities? Please print that list for my review."

Charli made the call in seconds. "I'm going with them. I'll call when I get back" She said when the line came open.

"Be careful, and yes phone home" Came the brief reply then the line died.

She looked up at the Imitoran as she picked up her purse from where it lay next to her feet and wrapped the TAG back about her wrist. Without another word she began moving briskly towards Sea Falcon. It looked a lot like an Osprey - she'd seen them before but had never flown in one. Part of her wondered what it'd be like to do a cast from one.

After a short time the Janitor returned, smiling. "She will meet with you. You must fly to Helsinki. From there arrangerments will be made to take you to her", he told the group. "I'm sure getting to Helsinki will not be an issue."

Pandora grimaced at Dr. Rhys’s statement. This was something she had definitely not been looking forward to. This place was probably the one place in the world where she could admit to what she was and none would be afraid or suspicious of her. But that didn’t change the fact that Pandora ultimately hated what she was, and found it difficult to reveal to others. However, by her own admission, she had little choice in the matter, and the sooner she got it over and done with, the sooner she could start feeling better about it. Of course, she didn’t know that Dr. Rhys had already mentioned her origins to the group while she had been unconscious, though most probably didn’t remember.

“I can use virtually any weapon you can give me, and most expertly,” she declared, a slight waver in her voice betraying her nervousness. “I’m also an expert in unarmed combat, and I can run faster and further than any professional athlete. I’m most skilled in infiltration and assassination techniques, and I’m most comfortable with precision weapons.” When she stopped speaking, she was determinedly staring at the floor between her feet, and her eyes prickled with tears.