NationStates Jolt Archive

Sevaris and MS Federation RP.

WARNING



This RP contains, language, violence, implied (Not explicit) sexual situations and adult situations and is not recommended for the meek, the young, those who can’t stomach violence or any of the other stated things. Read at your own peril….

This was painstakingly edited for content which was deemed inappropriate, the result being that everything remaining, is deemed appropriate at least by our standards.

We also had a few other RPers review it. But since no mods were willing to review it, we cannot be totally sure of it, since they often seem to have differing opinions on what is appropriate and what isn't. But if they do read this over with a fine tooth comb after the fact and find something they don't like, I'd hope that since I asked and they refused, to review it first, they don't go on a delete frenzy.

(But I tend to think that may be how some, not all, but some of them, operate, since if one of them, hypothetically, doesn't like me or Sevaris anyway, they'll read it all over to get a reason to get us. But anyway, this is a rather good and decent enough RP)

(Really, it’s a pretty good read, but don’t go complaining to Sevaris or DA if you read some curse words too many times and hurt your eyes)

The main point of this is Yuna and Alice just had to fight (The NS community probably was waiting for the gloves to come off between the two of them) and the later part of this RP explains how Yuna came to suffer a complete emotional breakdown. Also this touches on Roger’s drinking problem (Which he managed to bring into control a while after this RP takes place)


By the way, this occurred in middle-late February of 2005, a few weeks after Alice gave birth to Alexander, and a few weeks before she got pregnant again. (Obviously Roger would never let his pregnant wife fight Yuna)



IC-


Yuna was in Stahlecker City in Western Sahara, touring the city, seeing how things were going in what was considered the most wretched of Commonwealth territories, the people were looked down on by the world as apartheidistic racists, keeping their non-white populations in townships and abject poverty.

The city itself was full of spectacular wealth, but ten miles outside the city, in the townships, the non-whites lived in shacks of crappy wood and straw, or scrap metal.

She thought to herself, "How can they let people live like this? the Mississippian Federation, one of the richest empires on the face of the Earth- and people live in slums."

As Yuna was walking down the sidewalk, she saw a sign in front of a large bookstore, "SIGNING BOOKS! Today Only: Dr. Franz Von Schacht, "

She knew that name all too well...Franz Von Schacht, that lying pig- he kept going after her for no reason, saying she was "racially unacceptable." She was determined to teach him a lesson.

She noticed a man, about 6'1, with blonde hair and blue eyes, he was outside in the alley behind the bookstore, smoking a cigarette. It was Schacht.

She put on a pair of sunglasses, checked her Makarov, and walked down the alley.

She walked up behind him. "Franz, I presume?"

He turned around, "Yes, and you are... Ah. Yuna Alessandri?"

"That'd be correct." She pulled out her pistol, and jammed it into his stomach. "Not what you'd expect from a 'gypsy whore', eh?"

Franz looked down, and then looked back up, "Yuna, surely you wouldn't shoot me... But if you must..." he shrugged, "Go ahead..." As he was talking, two men walking by the alley stopped and trained their G-3 rifles on her. There always seemed to be citizens all around, and all the male citizens had rifles.

Yuna sighed, "God...Does EVERYONE here own a gun?" She dropped the pistol, it clanked to the ground.

She glared at Schacht, "I will kill you, Franz. Be sure of that."

One of the men chuckled to Yuna, "Sure thing.."

Franz grabbed hold of both of her arms and shoved her up against the wall, immediately catching a pair of handcuffs one of the men tossed him, he promptly cuffed her hands behind her back. He smiled, "You're going to jail, attempted murder of a noble..."

She spat, "Noble? You're a NOBLE? I doubt that- insulting people for no good reason doesn't constitute nobility."

Franz frowned, "Yuna, Yuna, would you care to go discuss this somewhere, in a civil manner?"

She scoffed, "If you can actually DISCUSS civilly, I'd be happy to."

The two men keeping their rifles trained on her nodded and left, Franz checked his own pistol, the pistol he'd not had time to get when Yuna got the drop on her before, but now he had her restrained, he bent over, picked up her makarov, tucked it away in his pocket, and pushed her forward.

They came to his car, he sighed, "Yuna, will you be able to handle riding up front with me, or do you need to go in the trunk?"

"I can...but lay a hand on me," she growled," and you die."

He frowned, "Touch you, and defile myself with Romanian gypsy flesh! I think not!"

She chuckled, "Really? You do know who I'm related to, right?"

He shrugged, "Who?"

"I was told you held a certain Marshal Ion Antonescu in high regard...perhaps I'm wrong, though."

Schacht nodded, "He was a great man..."

"I'm his great-great-granddaughter. Surprised?"

He nodded, "Yes, perhaps I was wrong about you, I'm not sure though..."

Schacht helped her get into the car, keeping her cuffed still, he started to drive. Heading south out of the city, towards his summer estate that he used when he was in Western Sahara...

She looked around, and saw the hundreds of shacks along the road. "How can you let people live like this?"

Schacht frowned, "They're just nig---rs, nobody of consequence..."

She frowned, "They're people, though. You do realize that, yes?"

He shook his head, "No, they're animals..."

She sighed, and muttered to herself, "More proof they're rednecks..."

He sighed and turned, "Okay... Rednecks eh? You need proof these people are no good, they're beasts..." He started to slow down and gradually almost came to a halt, people started to come out of their shacks, moving to the car, trying to surround it, but not near enough yet, he rolled her window down, and smiled, "Well Yuna, they'll pull you out and pass you around more than a cigarette in prison.

She growled, "You let them do that, Your ass is good as dead. You let them be like this- I'm proud to say that most if not all of the people in MY country are civilized."

Franz smiled, "Admit they're beasts, at least admit these particular ones in Western Sahara are beasts..."

Yuna shook her head, "If I don't? All I admit is that you let them be like beasts, instead of civilizing them.

Franz smiled as he unlocked her door, "I'll let you try to civilize them..." He smiled as they were almost to her door.

"If you let them do this, all of us end up dead."

Franz frowned, "About ten seconds... Just admit it..."

She sighed, "Fine. They're animals. Only because you let them be like it."

Franz locked the doors and rolled up the window, he pressed the gas down, as he left he rolled the sunroof down and tossed a wad of 50 dollar bills, at least 50 total, out through it. Yuna looked back and saw them beating each other with pipes and clubs, and stabbing each other, in a frenzy to grab for the money.

He smiled, "Animals..."

"Not really. That bunch has no hope. However, there's others that can be saved."

Franz shrugged, "You're hopeless..." He then pulled down the road that would take them to his estate, as he pulled on to his actual estate property, she noticed there were guards everywhere. He'd gone through a gate, with a wall running around the perimeter, and a few dozen ZSU-23-4s, and a few dozen SAM sites. There were also a few tanks and IFVs.

He smiled, "Well, Yuna, here we are..."

He helped her out of the car after he stopped, and then he removed the handcuffs for her.

She was a bit confused. "More like a military camp than an estate, from my view."

He frowned, "After the recent slave rebellion, the muslim insurgencies, and all the ni---r riots, we nobles have little choice but to employ armies of guards..."

He opened the door to his mansion and smiled, "After you, Yuna..."

She chuckled, "Your use of the word nobles interests me to say the least."

She entered. "Thanks."

He stepped in after she did, and then he shut the door. He led her to a nearby room, and sat down on a couch, offering her a seat on the nearby chair, "Yuna, sit, we can talk... Would you like something to drink, or a cigar perhaps?"

"Drink would be nice- I'm a vodka girl, myself."

She sat down as well.

He nodded and snapped his fingers at a nearby servant, who promptly left the room and then almost immediately returned with her drink.

She thanked the servant, then spoke to Franz. "I've got one question for you."

Franz nodded, "Yes..." He motioned for the servant to leave, he immediately complied.

She sighed, "Why?"

He shrugged, "Why what? The books, the policies, why what?"

Yuna looked straight at him, "Why do you waste so much effort in your little propaganda war against me?"

He frowned, "I consider you possibly the greatest threat to the proper gender roles we strive to teach our young girls in our schools."

She scoffed, "And what ARE correct gender roles, Schacht? I ask you, what?"

He smiled, "I'm glad you asked. Men are to be in charge, handling the military, economy, politics, and almost everything of consequence. Women are to keep the house, have babies, and then raise the children... They also need to keep their husband happy and support him with encouragement, but he must provide all the finances and cover the bills... Above all, women must NOT be in the armed forces."

Yuna shook her head, "How wrong you are, especially about women not being in the armed forces. You do realize that, yes, women made up a good portion of our forces during the '99 Revolution?"

He frowned, "Then the cause did not deserve to win, if it must rely on women to fight..."

She grew angry and slapped him. "How dare you dishonor the souls of all those who died in our revolution...We fought a good fight. If it wasn't for us, you'd be dealing with the People's Republic of Sevaris. We all fought for a worthy cause- male or female, white or black, Christian or Muslim, we all fought- and won."

He chuckled, "Ah see, you're a violent woman, a woman who hits men is a woman who doesn't know her place! Indeed though a man who hits a woman isn't even a man, for a man, if he must hit somebody, should be man enough to hit somebody who can fight back, that means another man..."

"You say I can't fight back, do you?"

He nodded, "As a woman, yes, you could not fight back, at least not adequately..."

Yuna spat, "With the exception of Salazar, I killed the last seven men who raped me. What do you think of that?"

He smiled, "Well, I would never attempt to rape you, and anyway, killing is a man's job, your husband should have killed those men... And I'm certain you call it rape only so you don't have to admit to having so many sexual partners... You enjoyed them all, didn't you..."

"That's irrelevant," she growled, "Why should Alec have to do my killing for me? I'm capable of doing it myself. You do know I run our State Security Directorate- what you would call the secret police."

Franz erupted with laughter, "And you want to have a penis too, next, right?"

She was seething with rage. "Hell, no...So I do my own killing. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?"

Franz shook his head, "Yuna, you clearly suffer from what is commonly called penis envy, you wish you were a man, but aren't a man, thus you have it out for men, you refuse to accept your proper place, and you are very aggressive... This might also explain your promiscuous behavior."

"I have no desire to be a man, Franz. I am perfectly happy with who I am- and I bear no grudge on men. Only certain men, like patriarchal assholes like you." She laughed, "You are so lucky I don't have my gun..."

Franz smiled, "Yuna, if you need a gun to beat me, what sort of a MAN are you..."

"Don't provoke me any further, Franz," she growled, "You may get hurt. This is your definition of a CIVIL conversation," she asked.

Franz smiled, "Yuna, the only thing that would be hurt is your man sized ego would be smashed back to proper female..."

Yuna frowned, "Who made you the arbiter of what is and is not right for a woman?"

Franz nodded, "The bible, God made man first, and woman was made second, and from a crooked rib..."

She sighed, "Does that mean ANYTHING?"

He nodded, "Yes, women are to serve men, and if they try to step out of their place, they need to be corrected..."

She smiled, "So correct me."

Franz smiled, "I don't hit women... Although you barely qualify as a woman, whorish as you are... But still, you're a woman, if just barely..."

Yuna snickered, "Are you scared? Well, out with it--are you too much of a coward?"

He frowned, "NO! I don't hit women! I don't even hit men unless they hit me first!"

She chuckled, "Just as I had anticipated. You've not the balls. If I am such a THREAT to your culture, then why don't you "correct" me?"

He moved back his hand as though he was going to slap her, but then dropped his hand, "No... I won't hit you, that'd be giving you what you want... You speak of civilized conversation, you're the uncivilized whore..."

"I AM civilized. I'm just trying to expose you for the bastard you are."

He frowned, "Yuna, just shut up with the insults...."

She perked up. "Really? I will, if you can give me a damn good reason why you sling insults at me."

He frowned, "Shut up woman, I owe you no explanations... You're a whore and a corrupting influence that must not be allowed to corrupt Mississippian youth."

"Hmm...too cryptic. I'm not a corrupting influence- If you have the intellectual capacity to, can you explain how I corrupt?"

He nodded, "Well, you dress very provocatively, I must say, it requires a great deal of my control and restraint to keep myself from being aroused by you... But not all the men in my nation are as restrained as I... A recent poll, a secret poll, the results kept quiet, amongst Mississippian cadets, aged sixteen through nineteen at the RG Academy in Philadelphia, revealed that four thousand out of five thousand cadets stated they'd sleep with you if they had the chance."

[b]She chuckled as she raised a brow, "You wasted money on that?"

Yuna then grinned, "So you I say I arouse you, eh?"[/b]

He shook his head, "No, I didn't say that..."

Yuna smiled, "You're slipping...I know these things. You'll crack soon
enough- mark my words."

He frowned, "What do you mean... No..."

She chuckled; she was about to ruin him. She began to unbutton her shirt.
"A tad hot in here, don't you think?"

He shook his head and looked away, "I've made it thirty-four years without
giving in to sick lusts... I can make it forever... Sex is disgusting and
wrong..."

"That's about to change," she smiled. She took off her shirt. She then
walked over to him, and put her arms around him- "Had enough?"

He gasped and slipped out from her arms, slowly sliding away from her, down
to the other side of the couch he was on, he was mumbling, "Yuna... Please..
Don't..."

She started to unclasp her bra. It unclasped, but she held it in place.
"Can you take it, Schacht? Or will you cave?"

He closed his eyes and turned his head, "Yuna, please... Don't... I'll have
you arrested! Yes! Arrested!"

She placed her finger on his mouth. "Diplomatic immunity, Franz,
diplomatic immunity.." She then let her hold on her bra go, and the bra fell
to the ground.

Yuna grinned, "Well?"

Franz kept his eyes closed, "No, I won't look... No... No... Keep away from
me..." He moved back a few more inches on the couch until he fell over and
was then lying down with his head on the arm. He shook his head, "Stay
away..."

She moved closer to him. "Come on, Franz...are you gay?" She started to
take off her pants.

Franz struggled to keep under control, "No! I'm not gay, sex is just wrong,
any sex!" he started to move as though he was going to leap up off the couch
any second.

She climbed on top of him; "You're cracking--I can sense it. Just give
in, Franz. It's not worth it."

He pushed up against her with his hands, she wouldn't budge, "Yuna, get off
me... Get off!"

"I think not.." She stayed on top of him, and tried to unzip his pants.
"Need a little encouragement there, I see."

He shook his head, "Yuna, no, get off me... I want you... I mean I want you
to stop... Get off me!"

Yuna grinned, "You're slipping...just say it, already."

She began kissing him.

He moved his head to the side and frowned, "No, Yuna, I don't want to have
sex with you, I don't want sex with anybody."

She moved in closer and began kissing him again. "Admit it...you want me.
Don't be afraid--I don't bite. Much, anyway."

He shook his head and managed to break the kiss, "No, Yuna, I don't want
you... Please, I want you to stop..." his tone was almost one of pleading;
she could tell he was losing it, his self-control was about to break.

She began kissing him, again. She whispered softly into his ear, "Don't
be afraid...you can trust me."

He turned his head and buried it against the side of the couch, mumbling
through the fabric his face was pushed up against, "Yuna, no... I said no!"

She whispered again, "Give in--having a little fun never killed anyone,
did it?"

He shook his head, "No, Yuna, no!"

She sighed, and thought to herself, "Alec, forgive me..."

She moved back down, and started to unzip his pants again.

He frowned and moved a hand to stop her, "Yuna, what are you doing?"

She batted his hand away, and continued. She chuckled, "You'll see soon
enough."

He frowned, moving his hand back, "Yuna, no, whatever you're doing, whatever
your idea is, get the idea of out of your head, no..."

Yuna ignored him and went to work with her plan.

She could tell he was really enjoying it, she'd won, he had caved in.

She kept going, and, and a few minutes, finally stopped.

"That's quite enough of that, don't you think?"

He was smiling at her, he nodded, "Yeah... What now?"

She smiled, "I've had my fun for the day." She began to put her clothes
back on again.

Yuna grinned, "It's been fun, Franz, but, to be honest, I've seen
better."

Franz shook his head, "Yuna, please... Let's do something else, anything you
want, name it it's yours... Just don't go..."

She grinned, "So you DO want the 'gypsy whore' after all..."

He nodded, "Yes... Yes... I want you Yuna, yes..."

Yuna smiled, "How badly, though?"

Franz quickly replied, "Whatever you want, name it..."

She seemed intrigued by his "whatever". "Really? Even for you to go out
there and admit you're a complete jackass, on national television?"

He shrugged, "You want me to admit my book was less than correct, is that
it?"

She grinned, "Bingo. I want you to admit that you're full of shit."

He nodded, "Okay, anything, just let me have you..."

She gave him an awkward, almost disbelieving glance, "You're THAT
desperate?"

Franz nodded again, "I want you Yuna, please..."

She sighed, "Thousands want me. Only one gets me."

Franz gave her a helpless and pleading look, "Yuna, please... I'll do
anything..."

She chuckled to herself, "I love it when they beg.." She then said,
"Franz, no. I have to get going now."

Franz was pleading now, "Yuna, please, stay, you were just, you were the one
who made the first move, I've changed my mind since then, I want to have sex
with you... Please..."

Yuna tried hard to resist. It was getting hard to not do it- she was
touched, in a strange way. She began to put on her shirt, "I can't. It was
fun I admit, but no further."

Franz frowned, "Please Yuna... Don't go... Stay... I've, never... Well you
know... But I want to now, and with you..."

Her jaw dropped. "You've NEVER done it?"

He shook his head, "No, I thought you knew that..."

"I knew you had said that," she nodded, "but I thought you were lying."
She then shook her head, "I can't do it, Franz. I'm sorry."

Franz closed his eyes and sighed, "Please, Yuna... Please, nobody will ever
have to know..."

She shook her head, "I don't want to. As much as I feel sorry for you, I
can't."

Franz sighed and nodded, "I understand, mother always told me that nobody
liked me and I guess it's just true... Okay then, I guess that just means we
say goodbye then, eh?"

Yuna smiled, "Franz, don't worry. There's someone out there for you- you
just have to be willing to look."

Franz shook his head, "Yuna, could we though, just once, please..." He fell
down on his knees and was pleading with his eyes, it was quite pathetic.

Yuna rolled her eyes, and thought to herself, "God, why? Ah well, I am a
compassionate woman after all.."

She chuckled, "Alright, Franz, you win."

Franz lit up like a Christmas tree, "Really? You mean that, we can...."

"Why not," she said. She then muttered to herself, "No one else will,
anyway.."

He nodded and took her hand, leading her up to his room, he sat down on the
bed, "Well, Yuna, do you want to start or... what?"

She had a puzzled look on her face. "You don't know how?"

He frowned, "Nah, I guess I know how, but..." He didn't want to say how he
know how, his best friend in high school, used to let him watch when he and
his girlfriend did it, because they liked to know they were being watched,
they were weird like that, and so Franz had a great knowledge of how it was
done...

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her as he kissed her, gently pushing
her down onto the bed.

About forty minutes later, he smiled at her as he rolled over onto his side
of the bed, he'd worn her out, "Well Yuna, did you like it?"

"For a first-timer, not bad," she panted. "Not at all."

He smiled and lightly kissed her, before he leaned back to his side, he kept
his arms lightly around her as she started to fall asleep.

About nine hours later, she woke up, he was hugging her still, resting his
head next to hers.

He woke up a few seconds after she did, he smiled, "Morning, Yuna, sleep
well?"

She looked at her cell phone, laying over on the nightstand. "Nine missed
calls," she thought to herself. She turned to Franz, "Ah, yes- quite
well."

Franz smiled, "Good, what say we go get some breakfast then, I'm sure you
have a busy schedule and need to get an early start, eh? If you would like
to join me for breakfast though, we can eat and then I'll have you on your
way to wherever it is you'd like to go..." She was staying in Stahlecker
City for the rest of the week, she wondered if there'd been any missed calls
at the hotel.

"That sounds nice, Franz.." She thought for a moment, then said, "I have
a small favor to ask of you.."

Franz smiled, "Yes, Yuna, anything..." he whispered softly in her ear.

She whispered to him, "I want you to cut the crap about myself, my
homeland, and Sevaris. It's just that, crap."

Franz nodded, "Of course, I only really did it because a friend of mine kept
asking me to... I'm sorry, I'll release some retractions and write a new
book about your nation's proud culture and rich history..."

She was elated. "That's great, Franz. I owe you one- doing damage control
was getting annoying."

Franz smiled, and gently kissed her neck, "Don't mention it Yuna, anyway,
it's I who owes you one... We can meet again sometime right..."

"Not sure about that..erm.." She was trying to come up with an
appropriate letdown, when her cell phone saved her.

Alec's number appeared on the Call ID.

"I'll be back, I had better take this.."

She picked up her phone, and entered the bathroom. She closed the door, for
privacy.

(Yuna) "Alec?"

(Alec) "Hey..I've been a bit worried- embassy called me last night, saying
you hadn't reported in--is something wrong?"

(Yuna) "Erm...no...why do you ask?"

Alec replied, a hint of anger in his voice, "Yuna, what did I tell you
about lying to me?"

Yuna quickly replied, "I can explain..."

Alec sighed, "What did you do NOW? You didn't get arrested, did you?"

Yuna replied, "Almost did--I ended up in bed with Von Schacht. Franz, that
is."

Alec went ballistic. "YOU DID WHAT, WOMAN?!??!"

Yuna sighed, "Calm down, dammit...I have a good reason..."

Alec scoffed, "It had better be, for your sake..."

Yuna then proceeded to explain all that had happened, that she had
originally intended to ruin Franz, but he became really depressed, so she
took pity on him, and he got laid for the first time in his life. She also
mentioned she got him to shut up about the supposed "Sevarisian
inferiority."

At the end, Alec had calmed down, and could somewhat understand. "Yuna, you
did a stupid thing, but you got good results. Come home and we'll talk more.
I love you."

Love you too, Alec." Yuna then hung up, and got back in bed with Franz,
"Sorry about that--business back home."

Franz smiled at her, kissing her, as he asked, "Who was it?"

"Someone back at the office, no one important, really. I was just
checking to see if they could get a helicopter out to get me."

Franz frowned, "So you're cutting your trip here short?"

"I'm afraid so," she sighed. "There's been a cockup in Delaware- I'm
being called back home."

Franz frowned, "Can I see you again sometime?"

"All depends..I get assigned various places. Wherever I'm needed,
really."

Franz sighed, and then kissed her again, whispering, "Yuna, can you stay
with me just a while longer, I can get you a helicopter later today, okay?"

She frowned, "I can't. My Harrier's going to arrive in 20 minutes- at
least, that's what I was told."

Franz grinned, "Twenty minutes eh? Well that might give us enough time to go
again, eh?"

She shook her head, "No..I don't feel like it."

Franz nodded, "Okay, well, just... Can I see you again sometime, please..."

"I'll try. Again, all depends where I'm sent."

He smiled, as he kissed her, after about twenty seconds he leaned back,
"Well try to get sent somewhere where I can see you..."

She blushed, slightly embarrassed, "I'll see what I can do..."

Franz smiled and nodded, and kissed her again, after which he said, "Well
you're a smart woman, I'm sure you'll accomplish whatever you put your mind
to... And Yuna, I'm really sorry about all that anti-Sevarin shit and all
those insults against you... You're a fine woman..."

"I'm glad to hear that- saves us a lot of trouble." She leaned over and
kissed him. "Tell me, why do you work for Mississippi? Why do you work for
someone who makes you tell lies? It just troubles me to see a decent man
being manipulated like this."

He shrugged, "Roger had no hand in it... I was working for a friend... I
work for Mississippi because it's my homeland and it's right to work for
them... I guess sometimes they just ask me to do the wrong thing and I need
to have the courage to refuse."

"It's one of those things we all have to learn to do. You can't do what
you know is wrong- even if you're ordered to. Alec and I know that all too
well."

Franz nodded, "Okay." He then glanced over at the clock, "Yuna, seventeen
minutes until you have to leave, you sure you don't want to?"

"I'm sure, Franz, I'm sure. I just don't want to. You understand,
yes?"

He grinned, "Yes, but maybe you could do for me what you did earlier on the
couch the other day, yes"

"Erm...no. Sorry, but no."

Franz frowned, "Oh Yuna, you were so eager to the other day, I could barely
keep you off of me, now you seem so calm and less aggressive... I liked that
the other day, when you were aggressive..."

"It's the pills," she chuckled. "Keeps me sane."

"You see," she said, "I'm a different girl sometimes. Most of the time
you get the agressive Yuna- however, when I have to inspect embassies, I
have to be relatively calm. Thus, the pills."

Franz smiled at Yuna, looking at her, he whispered in her ear, "Yuna,
perhaps I could think of some way to repay you for your kindness on the
couch the other day, yes?" He ran his tongue around his mouth.... grinning,
"Well, Yuna, may I?"

Yuna appeared rather embarrassed- her plan was beginning to backfire.
"Erm..you've already repaid me in more ways than one," she blurted.

He shook his head, "No, not at all... Please, let me..."

She was frazzled- she couldn't give a coherent response.
"Erm..uh..ah..."

He kissed her gently on the lips as he started to rub her, whispering,
"Yuna, you'll like it, okay?"

She whispered, "Franz...get off of me, please..."

Franz frowned and immediately got off of her, "Yuna, what is wrong?" he
asked her.

"I'll come clean with you. I can't lie like this much longer. I didn't
come here to have sex with you."

His jaw dropped, "Then why did you come here, Yuna?"

"I came here to get you to stop trashing me, my homeland, and my
country."

Franz nodded, he seemed less surprised, "Yes, but it makes sense I
suppose... Anyway, it doesn't matter why you originally came here, what
matters is that we had sex, right?"

"If you like, yes. However, I do not think of it in the same way you
do."

Franz frowned, "So, Yuna, are you saying you don't ever want to do it again?
I mean, surely we can meet later in the future at some point, right? I... I
really like you, Yuna..."

Yuna grinned, "I use sex as a weapon. Not with Alec, of course, but as a
weapon nonetheless. Coldest one of all."

Franz frowned, "So is that what you're saying, that is what it was all
about?"

She changed her tone, "With regards to meeting you- It'll probably happen
again, but I don't know when. I'm the Foreign Minister, yes, but most of
that is doing shit around Madrid."

She gulped, "I'll be perfectly honest with you, yes."

He closed his eyes and frowned, then he started to cry, "I let you... I let
you... I've compromised myself and my virtue... God forgive me..."

Yuna shook her head, "Franz..don't be upset. Even though I did a stupid
thing, it did good for you. Didn't it feel good?"

He frowned and kept crying, he nodded a little, pushing the tears out of his
eyes, "Yes, but I thought... Never mind, you were using me Yuna, yes? And I
fell for it..." He stood up wrapping a nearby silk robe around himself as he
walked to a dresser drawer across the room.

"The way I look at life, the object is to go out having the most fun as
possible. Isn't that what you want, too?"

Franz shook his head, still crying so bad he could hardly be understood,
"No... I wanted to live a life of virtue and piety..." he reached into the
dresser drawer and started digging around.

"Franz, be reasonable- You're a good chap. Sure, you did something
insanely stupid, but an overall good chap. Your life's not over--it's just
beginning. Now you can enter the world and meet other people- which is what
we all want, really."

He frowned, still crying, as he mumbled to himself, "Where'd you go..." he
finally pulled a Walther PPK out of the drawer and walked towards his
private office which adjoined the bedroom, where he kept his old MSAAS
captain's uniform, he wanted to change into it first.

Yuna shook head head, "Franz, don't kill yourself..you've too much to
live for."

She walked over to him, embraced him, and whispered in his ear: "If it makes
you feel better- I can't stand watching men suffer, if you catch my
drift.."

Franz shook his head, "I'm not sure I catch your drift..."

Yuna kissed him. "See what I mean?"

She thought to herself, "Just like Alec was, all those years ago..."

Franz nodded, "I think I get your point, so you want me to put my gun down,
is that it?"

Yuna smiled, "Essentially. You've too much to live for- why end it
now?"

Franz sighed, "Yuna, I don't know... It's just... I really like you, but I
thought you said it didn't mean anything to you... It meant something to
me... I mean I was a chaste until I met you..."

"It's not worth killing yourself over, Franz. We all lose our virginity
sooner or later- it's a fact."

Franz nodded and set the pistol down on a nearby table, "I guess you're
right..."

Yuna nodded her head slightly and smiled, "See? Life goes on."

He sighed as he looked over at the clock, "Your plane should be here in a
few minutes... Aren't you going to want to get ready to go?"

Yuna sighed, "Probably won't be here for another ten minutes- Gibraltar
is always late with sending planes."

He nodded, "Yeah, maybe... So what now?"

"Look, Franz, my point is, so you lost your virginity. It's time to move
on- not worth killing yourself over."

Franz nodded, "I suppose you have a point... But just promise me we can meet
again later... I really want to see you again, as soon as possible, okay,
Yuna?"

Yuna shrugged, "I'll see what I can do. All depends where Alec needs me
to go."

Franz smiled, "Okay Yuna... So, you're sure you have to leave now, I'd so
much like to spend the whole day with you, or perhaps even the weekend, we
could to to South Africa, we just annexed, I mean liberated it... It'd be
great, I promise."

She chuckled, "Why in God's name would you annex South Africa?"

Franz smiled, "Paul Stahlecker spent sixteen years of his life there, the
Czar wanted it done, and his father agreed... We also grabbed Namibia,
Angola, and Botswana... We have designs on the Belgian Congo, French Congo,
Gabon, Zambia, and Central African Republic."

Yuna smiled, "Fascinating, to say the least...My family used to own
Namibia at one time, but that's irrelevant."

He smiled, "Would you like to go to Namibia, we could go, just you and I,
away from the hustle and bustle of Western Sahara, Namibia is sparsely
populated compared to Western Sahara... What do you say?"

Yuna frowned, "I can't. I'm tied up with all sorts of functions, and,
when I'm not on the job, Alec and I are always going on vacation.."

Franz nodded his head as he said, "Okay then, Yuna, should we get you ready
to go back to Spain then?"

Yuna smiled, "Yes- My Harrier should be arriving soon."

Franz grinned, "First, can I do something real quick... Wait here..." He
came back with a camera, "Yuna, could I take a few pictures of you, you're
so beautiful..."

Yuna appeared rather embarrassed: "Franz..don't you think that's a bit,
erm...inappropriate?"

Franz smiled, "Yuna, we've done it... How could me taking some pictures of
you be inappropriate..."

"Porn, though?"

He shook his head, "Nudity isn't porn."

"I know that, but still...I just don't like the idea."

He nodded, "Please Yuna, real quick..."

Yuna shook her head, "Sorry, Franz. I just can't do that. I don't do
shoots."

Franz frowned, "Yuna, please, real quick..."

She muttered to herself, "Damn humanitarian complex..." She spoke,
"Alright, but, if you EVER tell anyone, I'll cut your balls off."

He smiled, "Okay... Thank you, Yuna... Don't worry, I won't tell anybody..."

He led her into his bedroom and posed her for numerous shots, taking at
least a few dozen pictures of her.

When he finished he smiled, "Thanks Yuna, this will give me something to
remember you by..." He grinned, "Until we meet again..."

"Yes...until we meet again," she said rather sheepishly.

She started to get dressed.

Franz smiled at her, "Yuna, how would you like a tank?"

She shrugged, "I own three..why?"

He smiled, "Yes, but you don't own a T-98 MBT, do you?"

Yuna shook her head, "Can't say that I do. Why?"

He smiled, "I remember hearding on the radio once that you like tanks, collecting them... So I thought you'd want to add to your collection..."

She was elated. The chaps down at Intel would be very happy. "I'd really like that, Franz."

He smiled, "Okay, well I've have it sent over in a while..."

Yuna smiled,"Wonderful--Int--I'm very happy."

He smiled, then looked outside, "I hear a plane, that's probably for you, you should go then eh?" He quickly kissed her, "Take care, Yuna."

She kissed him as well. "You too."

She grabbed her briefcase, and headed for the door.

A few hours later, she arrived back in Sevaris.

When she got off the plane, Alec was waiting for. He didn't appear all that happy.

Yuna rushed over to him, "I'm so glad to see.." Alec interrupted. "Shut up- What happened back there?"

"I told you- I ended up in bed with Franz Von Schacht."

"Yes, but WHY," Alec yelled.

"I..."

Alec slapped her. "Don't do that."

She kneed him in the groin- "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?"

"I was GOING to say that I managed to break him to my will- I now have a pawn in the Mississippian government. I also got him to shut up about us. Poor bastard never had sex- no wonder he's so unhappy."

Yuna sighed, "Unfortunately, I do think he's a pervert- he had me do a..."

Alec shrugged, "Photo shoot?"

Yuna was puzzled. "How'd you know?"

Alec chuckled, "I remember your old tricks from the war. Old habits do die hard, eh? Anyway, let's go home- I've been up for the past 18 hours, and you...well, whatever."

Yuna whispered into his ear, "Perhaps after you get some rest, we could have some fun, eh?"

Alec whispered back, "That's my girl." They kissed, and entered a waiting car.

When they got home, there was large delivery truck waiting outside their mansion. The man looked at Yuna, "You Yuna?"

"Yes, that's me." She signed the form.

Alec was puzzled. "What is it?"

Yuna was puzzled as well. "Damned if I know.."

She opened it up, it was a large elephant with a red bow, it said, "Hope you made it home okay, hope to see you soon... Franzie."

Yuna and Alec said, in unison, "What the crap?"

Yuna was baffled. "An elephant?"

She suddenly realized it was the national animal of Western Sahara.

"Oh.....wait- this is Western Sahara's national animal--but why did he think I wanted?"

The deliveryman handed her a smaller box, "Here, there are a few more ma'am..."

She opened the smallest of the boxes, it was her pistol that he'd taken from her.

"At least he was nice enough to send that back, I suppose."

Alec chuckled, "What'd you do, try to shoot him?"

Yuna smiled, "Yes, actually..."

Alec smiled. "You're so predictable, you know that?"

She looked in a larger box, it was an M-14K rifle, (K=Kommando: Folding stock, 30 round magazine, grenade launcher under the barrel, a current model advanced night vision scope and laser sights)

It was a rifle that had never been exported outside of Mississippi. It fired a custom Mississippian round. 7.62mm NATO LONG, rather than just 7.62mm NATO, it had much more power and range, with accuracy, and no noticeable increase in recoil.

There was a card it read, "I heard you enjoy target shooting."

Yuna was elated. "Intel's gonna love this.."

She turned to Alec, "You say I'm predictable, eh?" She wrapped her arms around him, and began kissing him. "Predict that, Nostradamus.."

"There's the Yuna I married.."

She and Alec continued kissing.

There was something else in the bottom of the box, it was an MSAAS desert camo uniform, the card read, "You might enjoy this, it was an old uniform of mine from the 2002-2004 Bir Gandus campaign... The pattern is still current, but they were just recently talking about altering it somewhat."

Alec looked freaked out. "Yuna, I'm sure he's a nice chap..but he's a bit of a nutcase, don't you think?"

The card continued, "The material is something I can't really explain, but it weighs less than four pounds and it can stop a .45 caliber pistol round..."

Yuna was just as freaked. "Yeah, he's a nutcase alright. At least he thought to send us this stuff. We can rip it off for our own army."

There was another card on the box, "I hope to see you in South Africa, what do you say to a week in Cape Town, we can pick you out a tank while we're there... It'll be fun, you'll love it, trust me..."

Yuna acted indifferent to the card. She really had no desire to go to SA. She whispered to Alec, "There's much more...he's sending me a copy of the T-98 MBT- the Mississippi version."

Alec kissed her again. "God, I love you...you've done so much for all of us--what can I do to repay you?"

Yuna grinned, "You know, Alec, you know..."

He whispered, "See ya upstairs.."

A week later, Yuna was listening to the Mississippi White Peoples Radio, when suddenly the regular programming was interrupted, "The Czar has announced that following the indictment of Franz Von Schacht on charges of treason, there will be a general purge of the Revolutionary Command Council... Franz Von Schacht has been charged with attempting to export a non-exportable weapons system, specifically the T-98 MBT Mississippian Tank. For domestic use only."

Alec came downstairs. "Morning, babe." He listened to the radio- it sounded like something was up.

Mladic continued to speak, "In addition to that, he has already pleaded guilty to exporting an M-14K rifle and a Class IIIA BDU Body armor system that incorporates the armor into the cloth in a classified manner. Although it is impossible to reproduce the body armor without our engineers, even sending one system is one too many... As for the rifle, we are demanding Sevaris return it, yes, we have determined it was sent to Yuna of Sevaris, the woman Franz so often denounced... It appears he was in league with her to attempt to institute a masonic-jewish cabal like New World Order... We found photographs in Franz's Western Saharan residence that leave little doubt what was going on..."

Yuna buried her hands in her face. "Do you know how hard I worked to do that?"

Alec came over- "Yunie, it's no problem- I'll fix it..."

Alec's jaw dropped when he heard Mladic badmouthing Yuna. "That bastard..."

Mladic continued to speak, "This just reminds us of the need to keep constant vigilance, Schacht denounced the whore for the trash she was and still is, but he fell under her witchcraft spells and demonic intrigues... We must not associate with whores or even allow them into our nation. As the current leader of the Anti-Yuna League, I suggest that the Czar authorize the MSAAS to assassinate Yuna."

Alec made a brief cellphone call to his security detail- he ordered them to move the rifle to an undisclosed location.

Afterwards, he immediately called the station: he wanted to give Mladic a piece of his mind.

Mladic's secretary said, "He's on the air, call back in twenty minutes." And then she hung up and blocked the number, as it was standard for nobody to be allowed to call during broadcasting.

Alec muttered to himself, "I will kill that bastard, I will kill that bastard..."

Yuna was puzzled. "Alec...don't shoot the messenger."

Mladic continued, "Yuna, is indeed a whore, she seduced, the most virtuous of men amongst us, who then is safe from her feminine wiles? We must be ever vigilant, Sevarin women are temptresses, seducing men without enough control into acts of perversion."

"No, I'm going to...he's been in a pain in my ass long enough."

Meanwhile, Yuna used her cell to call Roger.

Roger picked up the phone, "Czar Fabus speaking..."

Yuna sighed, "Roger--Yuna here. Listen, I know Mladic is now spouting some serious crap about me on the radio.. Please don't listen to him- there is no need to shoot me."

Roger shrugged, "Yeah, well you seduced one of my best cabinet members and he passed you some sensitive stuff... I wouldn't mind too much, but you led him on, an innocent and good man, and you took advantage of him... Return the items he sent you, now, that is the armor and the rifle, or else I'll sign the authorization for the MSAAS to have a free hand."

Yuna frowned, "I don't have either of them. I gave them to Army Intelligence- I don't know what they did with them.

Roger frowned, "No, Alec just made a call to have them moved... He knows, I want them back..."

"No, Army Intel has them. I no longer own them."

Roger frowned, "I know Alec just made a phone call... Not five minutes ago..."

"I'd know if he did- he didn't. I was there."

Roger frowned and then played the call Alec made, over the phone for Yuna to hear, "There, you lying bitch..."

"You fabricated that."

Meanwhile, she signaled Alec to call again- this time- order the items to be destroyed.

"There, you happy? I've given the order for them to be destroyed."

Roger frowned and said, "Alec is calling again, right now... I know it, I know when you people take a dump, you gave him a hand signal... Good, destroy them..."

"At least that's been resolved."

Roger nodded, "Yeah, sorry for calling you a bitch, but what you did to Franz was wrong... And it's sad too... Now he has to suffer the consequences of his naiveté."

There's no need to fire him...And I didn't do anything to him that he didn't want done."

“Roger shrugged, "We're not going to fire him... We're going to publicly draw and quarter him..."

Yuna shook her head, "Now, now, Roger, there's no need."

Roger frowned, "There was no need, until you ruined him... Maybe God will spare his soul."

"I didn't ruin him at all. He'll be fine soon, trust me. I've seen this before."

Roger nodded, "Yes, he'll be with God soon... Turn your TV to Jackson City News."

Yuna sighed, "Roger...There's no reason to. He didn't do anything wrong."

Alec turned on the TV.

There were thousands of bodies hanging in the massive courtyard of the Peoples Ministry of Justice building. There were crowds lining the walls to get a good view. People standing on roofs... Franz was brought out, being pushed forward.

Yuna couldn't stand this. She couldn't let an innocent man die.

"Alright, Roger, if you see and hear all, then listen to this-" She drew and cocked her pistol, and held it to her temple.

Franz was visibly bruised, he had acid burns on his body, he stood up, shaking, reading a confession written for him to read by the DISFB. "I accuse myself of crimes against the state, crimes against the party, I accuse myself of thoughtcrimes... I am a thought criminal, I deliberately had sexual relations with a foreign woman in the hopes of contracting diseases to spread amongst the female population of Misisssippi. I deliberately passed secrets to foreign enemies...

"Don't make me, Roger..don't make me.. Roger, You can hear me. I know
this. I will shoot myself- let him go."

Roger shrugged, "So you die, no big loss..." Franz frowned as he set the
paper down, "Of all these charges, I plead guilty... I wish only that the
great God in heaven will spare my soul the fires of hell."

[b]"Roger--You don't want me to die, do you? Alec, insane as he is, will
hold you responsible."

Roger shrugged, "Personally Yuna, I hate you, since you hate me..."

Yuna chuckled, "Roger, what gives? I don't hate you."

Roger frowned, "Really? I thought you did..." He made a motion at an
advisor, who promptly called and had Franz pardoned... The TV went back to
regularly scheduled programming and Roger sighed, "Happy Yuna?"

"Yes. I'm glad I stopped an innocent man from dying." She put her pistol
down.

Roger frowned, "Yuna, stay out of our nations and territories, you're a
corrupting influence, you corrupt all around you, you corrupted Franz...
You'll corrupt more still, I fear."

Yuna sighed, "Roger, I'm a good person. You don't need to fear me. I
imagine our nations will be much closer in the future anyway.

Roger frowned, "Fine, but only because God said so..."

Roger then hung up.

A few hours later, Yuna's phone rang.

"Yuna here--who is this?"

It was Franz, "Hello Yuna, how are you? I nearly got the axe today, all
because I gave you a few gifts, it wasn't anything too serious, don't you
agree?"

"Yeah...Look, all that back there- it was really my fault. I shouldn't
have done anything.."

Franz frowned, "No, no, don't worry... Yuna, can we meet again? Slip away to
South Africa for a few days, please..."

Yuna sighed, "I can't- I'm in meetings all week- Plus, Alec would never
let me go to SA alone- He believes, and rightly so, that it's far too
dangerous."

Franz frowned, "Yuna, you know perfectly well, ever since Mississippi took
South Africa, it's perfectly safe, it's as safe today as it was in 1960."

"Question is, how safe WAS it in 1960," she asked.

Franz shook his head, "Yuna, it's perfectly safe, trust me, please..."

Yuna frowned, "I just can't, Franz. I simply don't have the time-
Saturday, Alec and I are going to Delaware- overseeing elections."

Franz sighed, "Yuna, when can I see you again? Oh about your elections,
there is no need to go there, the DISFB has already determined who is going
to win..."

Yuna was shocked, "You can't manipulate our elections...especially
Delaware, they're just setting up polling places."

Franz sighed again, "Yuna, trust me, the DISFB is going to make sure that
the Delaware National Front Party wins.... So, just save yourself the time
and come to South Africa with me... Please..."

Yuna was puzzled. "National Front? What national front?"

Franz smiled, "The National Front Party of Delaware, it's basically a
Delaware version of the Mississippian National Front Party. Anyway, shall I
see you in South Africa?" His tone was nearly pleading, "Please, Yuna..."

Yuna didn't want to talk anymore- she was annoyed about Delaware. "Sorry-
pressing business- gotta go." She hung up the phone.

She then called Roger.

Roger answered, "Roger Fabus here..."

"Roger- Yuna again. Get out of Delaware. I don't want your cronies taking
our new prize."

Roger smiled, "Ah sorry there, did I hear you say something? I'm not in
Delaware, I'm in Mississippi... Your new prize eh? You're happy to eat our
table scraps, while we've nearly taken the whole of southern Africa, you
take a pissant state in New England..."

"Delaware's not in New England, you idiot--anyway, I want you to pull out
this "National Front". I want these elections run fairly, you jackass," she
growled.

Roger frowned, "The National Front will run on the ballot if they wish... I
may consider pulling out the rigging plan though and letting them run
fairly, okay, is that acceptable to you?"

"Fine, fine--I just don't want you stealing the election."

Roger nodded, "Don't worry... So tell me, Yuna, do you like using people?
You're a whore, you know that, using sex to get what you want and then
discarding those when you don't need them... I hope you burn in hell."

Yuna sighed, "That...asshole Franz was telling lies about myself, my
homeland, and my nation. I HAD to shut him up. How the fuck was I supposed
to know he would fall for me?'

Roger shrugged, "Well you had sex with him, you seduced him, he was a pure
man until then, well you need to deal with this then... He really likes you
and he thinks you like him, do you?"

"Look, I had no idea this would happen. This was my attempt at getting
revenge. However, it turned into a cock-up."

Alec walked in the room, and Yuna turned on the speakerphone.

Alec said, "Roger, what are you bitching about now?"

Roger sighed, "Listen Yuna, the bottom-line is that you're a whore..." He
heard Alec's voice, "Hey, I don't want to talk to you, you worthless piece
of shit!"

Alec picked up and dialed again.

Roger answered, moaning in a pathetic fashion, "WHAT! Do you want?"

"What the fuck did I do? And my wife IS NOT a whore..."

Roger frowned, "She's had sex with more men than I can list in an hour...
She's a whore...."

Alec sighed, "Roger, don't you have anything better do than harass my
wife and try to manipulate elections?"

Roger smiled, "Yeah.... I've got to go..." He hung up and went to find
Alice.

Alec chuckled in derision, "Why am I not surprised?"

Yuna looked at Alec, "Alec, why don't you go upstairs? I'll be with you
in a few--unfinished business."

Alec went upstairs, and Yuna called Franz.

Franz answered, "Hello? Schacht here, Minister of Culture..."

"Franz...hi. Look, I'm sorry I almost got you killed- I never meant to do
that."

Franz frowned, "That's okay... I guess I deserved it in a way, eh? I mean, I
don't know what's going on... I guess... I mean my mother was right; she
said I'd never really get anywhere or do anything meaningful... But I always
had to live in my brother's shadow... He invented VX-III gas at age 19; he
was a doctor, a chemist, a biologist, and an engineer by 22... I could never
compete with that, I was good, but he was great."

"You don't need to beat your brother to be a valuable person- although
you've made mistakes, as we all do," she continued, "you've done a good job
as the Culture Minister."

Franz nodded, "Maybe you're right... But Yuna, do you think you could get
away for just a few days perhaps?"

"It's possible, I don't know...Alec and I just had a spat with Roger- we
may end up going to MS or one of her territories soon."

Franz smiled, "Really? You're going to Mississippi, is this about the
elections? I could help you talk to the Czar if you need... I'd like to see
you again, could we meet in Tennessee or Mississippi? Perhaps Fabus Island,
the Czar might be there on vacation for a few days, you could talk to him
then, and we could go out on my yacht for a while..."

"It's alright Franz--It's not about the elections. Roger has some
'issues' with me. Issues that badly need to be resolved."

Franz nodded, "Okay, well I'll be in Mississippi for the next few weeks, so
if you're in the area, give me a call..."

"I'll do that. I don't know if it'll be in MS, for security, Alec may
arrange to meet him somewhere in Africa, I don't know."

Franz nodded again, "Okay, well wherever it is, tell me, and I'll meet you
there..."

Yuna suddenly swore she heard Alec calling her from upstairs.

She whispered, "Gotta go--Something very important-bye."

Franz nodded, "Okay... Take care."

Yuna hung up, and ran upstairs.

Alec was watching the TV, Mississippian news; Franz Von Schacht had resigned
as head of the "Anti-Yuna League" and "Anti-Sevaris League" and retracted
all his negative statements. He also issued a personal apology to Yuna and
admitted, "My science in those regards, was politicized crap."

Alec thought to himself, "She must've done a damn good job--or he's
desperate." He got up, and walked to his workshop.

Yuna walked in, and sat on the couch. She saw Schacht's statement.
"Touching, to say the least..."

Suddenly she got a text message on her cell phone, "South Africa then?" it
was from Franz.

She knew she should go- Sevaris's embassy was about to open there.

She walked down to Alec's workshop, where she found him working on an Orenda
turbine.

"Alec- We're going to South Africa," she said.

Alec continued working, "Hmm...what for?"

Yuna frowned, "Embassy's about to open- plus, I'm going to try and make
von Schacht go away- I want you there with me incase something goes up."

Alec walked over to her, and whispered into her ear, "He lays a hand on
you--he's a dead man. Roger may have been merciful- but I won't."

She chuckled, "Alec, at least TRY to restrain yourself...remember the
Derscon confrence?"

Alec chuckled, "You're right...musn't shoot our hosts."

The two of them walked out of the room. Yuna text messaged Franz-
"Confirmed- will be there soon-Yuna."

Franz smiled and then booked his flight to South Africa, he was currently in
Stahlecker City, Western Sahara, he was now going to Cape Town South Africa.
Czar Fabus would also be in South Africa, in Cape Town as well... He was
leaving the Czarina in charge of Mississippi in his absence; he'd be gone
for about four days.

Later the next day, in Cape Town...

A Sevarisian Air Force 777 was landing at the Cape Town airport. Alec,
Yuna, and a protection detail were on board.

Roger refused to meet with Yuna and Alec, because he was tired from his
flight and refused to "be given a headache by either of them."

Yuna got a call, it was from Franz.

Yuna answered, "Franz? Yuna here."

Franz sounded upset, "Yuna, the Czar won't meet with either you or Alec
today, he says you'd just upset him after his long flight..." He grinned, "I
was wondering, perhaps you'd like to stay at my estate here, I have a nice
place on the coast, it's lovely, you'd like it there, I'm sure of it..."

"I'd be happy to, Franz," she said, "but I can't. I've got to help the
staff make sure the embassy's up and running- It seems they can't do a thing
unless I'm around, so, duty calls, I'm afraid.

Franz frowned, "Please Yuna, come on, you need to sleep somewhere... Might
as well be in a nice place, yes?"

Yuna frowned, "Our embassy is nice too...We spent at least $ 2.3 million
on it."

He smiled, "Two hundred million on my beach property..."

Alec rolled his eyes, "Talk about extravagant," he muttered. Yuna
replied, "I'm sorry Franz, but I must respectfully decline. I'll probably be
at work until the small hours of the morning, so, sorry."

Franz frowned, "Yuna, perhaps we can meet in the city then, yes? I have a
nice penthouse in the city..."

"Erm..uh..alright. I suppose I can get away for a few hours.."

Alec immediately whispered into Yuna's ear, "Do not turn him on...I know
that's hard for you, but don't do it. I don't want you getting into a mess
like last time."

Franz smiled, "Very good, excellent... And after we're done, I'll contact
the Czar and I can call in a favor with him and get him to see you and Alec
perhaps, we shall see..."

She whispered back, "I'll try, Alec. don't worry." She said, "That'd be
great...what's a good time for you?"

Franz smiled, "I'll drop by the airport to pick you up in twenty minutes,
okay?"

Yuna shook her head, "No, no, that's alright- I'll get a car."

Franz frowned, "No, no, I insist, what sort of gentleman would let a lady
have to search for a car when he can have her driven around... That is why I
have a driver, okay? Don't worry..."

"Alright. See you soon."

She turned off her phone.

Alec hugged her, and said, "Yunie--if anything goes wrong- call me, and I'll
be right down there- k? I'm there for you, as always."

"As always, Alec." They kissed, and she left the plane.

About twenty minutes later outside the airport, Yuna saw a large black
limousine waiting outside, she had a good idea it was Franz.

Alec had left earlier for the Embassy- he had some work to handle. Yuna
walked up to the car.

"Impressive," she thought. "Mercedes--nice model."

The driver opened the back door for her, "Ma'am..."

Franz was sitting in the backseat, smoking a cigar. He smiled at Yuna as the
driver shut the door, walked around back to the front, got in, and started
to drive away. He exhaled some smoke, "Ah Yuna, how are you?"

"Ah, good, good," she smiled. "And you?"

Franz nodded his head, smiling, "Good, good... My smoking isn't bothering
you, is it?"

"Not at all- I smoke on the occasion, I'm used to it."

Franz smiled as he took out a small cigarette holder; it was silver, with
MSAAS engravings on it, inside were Fabus Premium Cigarettes, twenty-five
dollars each. He offered her one, "Want one?"

She nodded, "Thanks. A good smoke does wonders, sometimes."

Franz gently placed it in-between her lips and lit it for her.

She took a puff, and exhaled. "Damn good stuff."

He smiled as the limousine headed towards his penthouse in the city, both
continued to smoke, "So, Yuna, how are you today?" He then took out a
bouquet of roses he had tucked nearby, he handed them to her, "For you,
Yuna..." They were rare Western Saharan roses, a special family of flowers
specifically engineered for their beauty and smell.

She blushed, a tad embarrassed. "Wow...they're beautiful. Thank you,
Franz."

Franz smiled, "You're welcome, Yuna..."

They finally arrived at his penthouse, the driver opened the door, Franz
gently took Yuna's hand and lead her up to his penthouse.

She looked at it as she stood just inside the doorway, it was quite large,
and very well decorated, a multitude of items of interest from numerous wars
of the last four centuries, paintings, and statues.

Franz shut the door and helped her remove her jacket.

She was amazed. "Nice place you got here---where'd you get all the art,
out of curiosity? Quite a collection, to say the least."

Franz smiled, "A friend bought it all for me over the years, a few pieces
here and there, for loyal service to the regime and my military exploits."

"Nice." She looked out a window, and looked on the skyline. "Hard to
think South Africa's now yours."

Franz smiled, "Yes, wonderful, isn't it?" He slowly walked up behind her,
gently putting a hand on each of her shoulders as he started to softly
massage them.

She felt wonderful- "How'd you get so good at that? What happened to the
timid little man I met back in the Sahara?"

Franz smiled, "I guess you had a bigger impact on me than you realized..."
he kept massaging her shoulders as he started to gently kiss her neck,
lightly brushing her hair out of the way.

She was a bit scared. "This is not going well," she thought. "I want him
to stop--but how do I let him down easily?"

He smiled as he asked her, "Are you hungry Yuna, I've got dinner going,
you'll love it, I'm a great cook, well so I've been told, whenever I hosted
small party meetings, informal things that is, the guys always loved my
cooking..." He kept gently rubbing her shoulders while waiting for a reply.

"That'd be great, Franz- first decent meal I've had all day." She paused
for a moment, then said, "God, you're good...just like Alec."

He grinned, "Thank you..." He then went and made the final preparations for
the food, making sure it had cooked properly, he then set it down on the
table and guided her over to it, keeping a hand over her eyes, he set her
down right in front of it, "Can you smell it, Yuna, do you know what it is?"
She could indeed smell it, Mississippian Egyptian pheasant, something only
the Mississippian nobles, such as Schacht, ate.

Yuna smiled, "Pheasant, I believe. Quite the delicacy, is it not?"

He nodded his head, "Yes, but the bird should feel honored it is dinner for
such a lovely woman as yourself."

"If only it could think," she chuckled.

Franz nodded and slowly started to feed her, getting the food on the fork
and waiting for her to open her mouth to take it, he smiled, "How is it,
Yuna?"

"Delicious- excellent job," she replied.

He smiled, "Thank you... Thank you..."

In her mind, she was thinking, "This is too weird....."

While she was eating, she spoke, "So, Franz, what exactly do you do as
the Minister of Culture?"

Franz suddenly frowned, "Well I'm not sure my position in the cabinet is
secure anymore... I have a number of enemies, and some of them are using my
resignation from the Anti-Yuna League and the Anti-Sevaris League as reasons
I need to resign from the cabinet... I don't know if I'll be minister of
culture in a few months, I'm just not sure... But as for right now, I make
sure the culture is pure from foreign influences, and I keep culture
awareness and literacy in Mississippian cultural matters, up."

"Fascinating...anyway, you had mentioned about your job being
insecure--perhaps I could help you with that?"

Franz shrugged, "Nah, I may have to move in a while though, if my job falls
apart, then my enemies might make moves to have me arrested or worst... I'm
just glad the Czar pardoned me recently, can you believe how upset they got
over me trying to give you a few harmless presents, awful, isn't it?"

"Yes...Roger's just like his father- paranoid. He really should get help
for that."

Yuna finished eating as she was talking, and then Franz smiled, gently
lifting her up out of her seat and leading her into another room, there was
a jacuzzi in this room, he walked over to it and put her hand in the water,
it was a decently hot temperature, "Want to go in?" he asked her.

"Erm...no," she stammered. "I forgot my bathing suit."

He smiled, "That's okay, you don't need one... I won't tell anybody..."

"Sorry, no..I just don't feel comfortable, you know?"

Franz smiled and said, "I could loan you a T-shirt to use... One of my MSAAS
BDU undershirts, they're nice, what do you say?"

"Erm...uh...no, sorry. It just doesn't seem right to me."

Franz sighed and frowned, "Oh come on Yuna, you, the woman who fought in the
revolution, afraid of a BDU undershirt?"

She was thinking to herself, "Come on...I can do better than that...must
keep my cool."

She shook her head, "No, not that--it's just the jacuzzi thing."

Franz raised a brow, "What about it?"

"I just...don't feel comfortable with it."

He shrugged, "Why not, is something wrong? Are you okay?"

She tugged at her shirt collar, "Uh..yes, I'm fine- a bit hot, that's
all."

He smiled, "Ah, want to go for a swim then?"

She spoke, "You know, I don't think a swim would be all that bad of an
idea- I don't know what I was thinking back there, probably just a little
bit of nervousness."

Franz suddenly lifted Yuna up into his arms and took her out onto the
now-covered balcony, where he had a large swimming pool, about seventy feet
long by forty feet wide... He smiled at her, "Well, Yuna, here we are, the
pool..."

She smiled, "Wow..Certainly big, to say the least."

He nodded as he gently set her down and started to strip, "Shall we then?
The water is probably just right..."

She started to strip as well. "Again, sorry about earlier- just a little
panic.

Franz nodded, and then jumped into the pool, beckoning for her to follow
him.

She closed her eyes for a second, and saw a flashback from the war: the
charge across the Mazanares. She shuddered in fear.

Franz hugged her, patting her on the back, "Yuna, are you okay, it's
alright, you're here in South Africa, safe... What happened, war flashback?"

"Yeah...the charge across the Manazanares river. I remember that all too
well..."

He nodded his head, "Mao Island, heard of it?"

"Yeah- That was just as bloody as Madrid, if I remember correctly."

Franz nodded, "I was fourteen years old at the battle of Hill 98.... I was
in the white militia."

"I remember Madrid all too well-- April 12, 1999- I'm leading a regiment of
about 800 men across the river, charging a Communist position- we took 75%
casualties. I took a bullet in the shoulder."

"Wow..what happened there?"

Franz smiled, "An understrength battalion of whites, about sixty marines at
most, and three hundred militia, held off a division of twelve thousand
government and cuban soldiers for over three days, on day three they
launched an entire armored brigade against us on the hill, we only had two
MILANS, but we beat them all back and knocked out all their T-55s, we killed
almost eight thousand of their soldiers, we lost a few hundred killed and
wounded during the battle."

"Sounded like real hell out there."

He smiled, "On the third day at the decisive moment, one thousand white
paratroopers jumped in and cut off the enemies rear communications lines and
they we butchered them."

Franz nodded slightly, "Yes, there were actually rivers of blooding running
down the hill and into the ditch at the bottom of the hill..."

"Brilliant- we had a moment like that, too- So, we're attacking this
Commie position, right, when out of nowhere comes a squadron of A-4s, and
that fort goes up right in smoke- we charge what's left of it, and kill at
least 1700 guys."

Franz smiled, "Did you know in our civil war, we never had more than
one-hundred thousand white paratroopers and militia in the field at any one
time, and they were spread out in Mississippi and Fabus Island. We had to
fend off over six hundred thousand government soldiers, which grew to four
million in the middle of 1984, and then almost two hundred thousand Eastern
Blocs, Cubans, and Mexicans."

"Amazing--how could you do it? I remember they used to talk about that
all the time back home- We had at least 20,000 guys in, I know."

Franz smiled, "Our parachute forces had at least four to eight combat
experience, the government soldiers had no experience outside of raping
women and shooting unarmed men and children... The white militias were
vastly superior in training and leadership to the government armies... My
unit, we trained for two years straight before the uprising..."

"Hard to think you managed to get away with it. Back in Romania, you
couldn't take a shit without the Securitate bastards knowing."

He smiled, "We trained in South Africa and Argentina, where friendly
governments were more than willing to help us out... Do you know I'm not a
native Mississippian?"

"So I heard- you're from here aren't you?"

He nodded, "Yes. My brother, he was born in Mississippi and stayed there
with aunt and uncle, to grow up in America, then in the sixties, nobody saw
the breakup coming, it was the land of opportunity.... When I was born, in
1970, it was obvious times were different, so mother and father kept me here
in South Africa, until late in 1983, when I went to what was then called Mao
Island, as part of the Fabus plan to take Mississippi in a revolution."

"Interesting--Alec was from America, too- he was born in '76, and his
parents moved to Spain- everyone saw that as the new land of opportunity, as
did I, until the commies took it."

Franz nodded, "Yes, communists are a plague, I think the only real system is
Fascism or Fabusism."

She was puzzled. "Fabusism? You have your own system now?"

He nodded, "Well that's why they call the system of government, it's an
unofficial term... Officially we are Mississippian Nationalism..."

Franz smiled, "Well it's lap time." And then he started to swim laps.

She watched as he swam back and forth, doing several complete laps without
coming up to breathe. But he did breathe every so often. Finally he started
doing regular laps, he swam the length of the pool about two hundred times,
he was in excellent shape and a fine swimmer, he had been an MSAAS combat
diver for a year, and then a WSSAAS combat diver for two years.

She swam up next to him. "You're pretty good--Combat diver?"

He nodded, "Yes... MSAAS and WSSAAS. You know of them, yes?"

"Yeah--your special forces units. Each member of the Mississippian
Commonwealth has one."

He nodded and kept swimming until about an hour went by.

He swam a total of forty thousand feet in about an hour, over seven and
one-half miles in just one hour, he was indeed a fine swimmer.

Yuna smiled, "Impressive, to say the least."

He smiled as he swam up next to her, "Thanks..." he said, as he put his arms
around her and gently pressed his lips up to hers.

She quietly slipped out, and swam away.

Franz frowned, "Yuna, what is wrong?"

She chuckled, "I was hoping you'd like a game of cat and mouse, eh?"

He smiled, "Ah..." He dove under the water and same around, she couldn't see
him, and suddenly he popped up right next to her, and took her in his arms,
and started to kiss her again.

She slipped out, and swam to the other end of the pool. "Not
quite..."

He swam down under the water again, and came up right next to her again,
taking her firmly in his arms, he smiled, "No more games, okay, what say we
go inside?"

He kissed her again.

She was freaking out on the inside. However, she maintained her
composure, and said, "Alright. Sounds good."

He took her up in his arms and walked up the small marble stair ramp to get
out of the pool... He took her inside and walked into his bedroom, and set
her down on his bed, he turned and sat down next to her, and started to kiss
her again, whispering, "Oh, Yuna, I'm so glad you came today... Do you want
to spend the night as well or will you need to go back when we're done?"

"I'll have to go back- There's paperwork and other things I need to fill
out."

He nodded, "Okay, well we can worry about the paperwork in a while..." he
turned off the nearby light and pulled the sheets over the both of them and
then rolled over right next to her, about to get on top of her.

Yuna's mind panicked, and she, almost out of instinct, fell out of
bed.

Franz frowned and immediately jumped out of bed to see if she was okay, he
picked her up, holding her in his arms, "Yuna, are you alright, you fell..."

"Yes," she stammered. "War memories again..I don't know why, but it
happened.."

He grinned, "Well, you seem all tense, I'll help relax you..." He laid her
back down on his bed and then started.

Yuna moaned in pleasure, "Oh, Franz..."

Franz kept going, finishing about thirty minutes later, he then plopped down
next to her, "Yuna, did you like that?"

"I was afire with pleasure- Only one other man's been able to do that to
me, and that was...Alec."

Franz smiled, and then kissed her, "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it..."

She started to tear up, and she got up from the bed. "You'll have to
excuse me." She picked up her cell, and ran into the bathroom.

She slammed the door shut, and buried her face in her hands. "What have I
done? I promised Alec never again...and I completely fucked it up..."

Franz walked over to the door and knocked on it, in a very concerned tone he
asked, "Yuna, are you alright? You're crying, is something wrong... Can I
help you with something?"

"No..I'm sorry, Franz. This is all my fault." She began to send a text
message to Alec, "Forgive me--did something very stupid- come pick me up,
please.."

Franz opened the door and came into the bathroom, he squatted down next to
her, gently putting his arms around her, letting her rest in his warm
embrace. "Yuna, are you alright?"

"No, I'm not..I made a promise to Alec I wouldn't do this again..and I
blew it."

Franz shook his head, "Yuna, Yuna, don't worry, nobody ever has to know... I
won't tell a soul..."

"It's not that, Franz," she shook her head. "My mind just feels awful- I
feel like crap.."

Franz shook his head again, "No, Yuna, don't... You're not crap, you're a
beautiful and wonderful woman..."

"Thanks, but still- I feel awful. I broke my word--something I really
don't do."

He smiled, "It's okay, I won't tell anybody... Come on, you go lay down for
a while and I'll get you a nice drink and a snack, okay?"

"Thanks, Franz." She left the room, and laid down on the bed. Before she
fell asleep, she thought to herself, "Alec, forgive me..."

Meanwhile, five miles away...

Alec was driving along in his BMW when he recieved Yuna's message. He
immediately did a U-turn, and headed back into the city. As he was driving,
he thought to himself- "Dammit, Yuna- why'd you get into bed with him again?
These things happen, I suppose.."

Franz went to lay down next to Yuna, noticing she was asleep he set her
drink and snack on a plate next to the night stand on her side of the bed...
After that, he slowly and quietly climbed into bed next to her so as not
disturb her. He then cuddled up next to her, gently wrapping his arms around
her.

]She woke up. "Franz? At least, I hope it's you.."

Franz smiled, "Yes Yuna, I'm here..."

"Good." She took a sip of her drink. "Ah, Vodka--nothing like a little
alcohol to calm the nerves."

Franz softly ran a hand through her long hair, "Are you feeling better now,
Yuna? Are you okay? Don't beat yourself up over something that is no cause
to do so, okay?"

Yuna shook her head, "Wait...you stole my quote again, didn't you?"

Franz smiled, "What did I say?"

She smiled, "I love it when people do that..."

Franz gently kissed her, as he brushed her hair out of the way of the front
of her face...

Franz grinned, "Well, I can say that I'm not un-well, today..."

"You did it again, Franz.." She kissed him.

Franz smiled, and then suddenly the phone rang, it was the guards, he was
still kissing Yuna though, locked in a deep kiss, their arms wrapped around
each other... he leaned back slightly, "Should I answer it?"

"Go ahead, it's probably just a functionary or something--You don't know
how many of those Alec and I get when we're 'busy'."

Franz picked up the phone, "Yes, what?" He set it down, not hanging it up,
whispering, "Yuna, Alec is out front... What do we do?"

"Tell them to let him in- I'll be down to handle it."

He nodded, picking up the phone, saying, "Let him in... Keep an eye on him
though..." He quickly added, "And take any weapons he has on him first
before you let him in..."

He hung the phone up, "Yuna, hurry, we have to get dressed... If he asks
what was going on, just say I made a few advances at you and you slapped
me... Here, quick, slap me..." He moved his face forward for her to slap
him.

Yuna took a whack at him. "I've wanted to that," she muttered under her
breath.

Yuna began getting dressed.

Franz smiled, "So, you've wanted to do that eh... Well, if I'd have known
you liked that sort of thing, I'd had let you spank me..."

Yuna appeared a tad confused. "I didn't say anything.."

Franz smiled, "Enhanced hearing..."

"Ah..well...not may be for the reasons you'd expect, Franz."

She finished getting dressed, and ran toward the elevator.

Franz finished getting dressed and joined her, waiting for the elevator,
"Yuna, shall I come as well?"

She got an evil grin on her face. "Why not? Alec would love to meet
you..."

Franz nodded, "Okay, let's go..." When the door opened, he waited for her to
get on, and then he got on... It took them down to the lobby, where a now
disarmed Alec was waiting for them.

Franz and Yuna stepped out of the elevator; Alec immediately saw them.

Alec ran over to Yuna, and hugged her. He whispered into her ear, "Are
you alright? Did he hurt you?"

Franz's face was starting to redden where he was slapped.

Yuna whispered back, "Yes- I'll explain the full story when I get back- I
did have sex, but it was rather tame."

Alec whispered again, "Good show on slapping him..bastard deserved it.."

Yuna whispered back, "Ah, yes, that..."

Alec turned to Franz. "I don't believe we've met before, have we?"

Franz shook his head, "No, we have not... Dr. Franz Von Schacht, and you are
Alec Alessandri, yes?"

"Mannerheim, actually. Yuna's told me volumes about you."

Franz nodded his head, "Yes... Why are your last names different though?"

"She uses it at work- She just wanted to stay herself as Foreign
Minister- didn't want to have my name associated with her on the job, I
guess."

Franz nodded, "Yes, makes sense..."

"Yes..anyway, could I speak to you in private for a moment," Alec
asked.

Franz nodded, "Yes of course, follow me..." He stepped into the elevator and
once Alec got in and the doors closed, Franz locked them shut and started to
talk, "What do you want to talk about?"

"Let me make myself very clear, you bastard. Do not lay a hand on Yuna
again- or you will have ME to answer to."

Franz smiled, "Oh, I hear you... I'm scared, please don't hurt me... Sir."
His sarcastic tone couldn't have been any more obvious.

"There's no cause for laughter. I know I can't take you down physically,
but I have other means."

Franz nodded his head, and then grabbed a hold of Alec, ramming him into the
side of the elevator, pressing his arm across his neck as he pinned both of
his hands together, holding them behind his back, "Well Alec, what can you
do to me? Huh? Thought so! Nothing!" He them smashed his fist into the side
of Alec's head, hitting him in the temple.

Alec chuckled. "You may be able to do that, but I can arrange for this
entire complex to be sent up in flames. And, plus, You can't kill me. You
and the rest of Mississippi would die with me."

Franz then grabbed hold of both of Alec's testicles, through his pants, and
smashed down on them before he jammed his thumbs into his eyes, pressing
hard. Suddenly he stopped, let Alec fall to the ground, on all fours, and
then proceeded to kick him in the chest and stomach, in rapid succession,
until Alec went prone on the floor.

Alec tried to speak, "Your..choice--me--or the country.."

Franz leaned down, "I'm not going to kill you, just have some fun..." He
then kicked him right in the chest again, quickly leaning down to punch him
in the side of the head, hitting his temple and rendering him unconscious.

Franz unlocked the elevator doors and stepped out, he looked over to Yuna,
"Alec and I are finished with our talk..."

Yuna shook her head, "You're lying..Alec's not stupid enough to do that.
Now, I want the truth. What did he actually say? Alec may be eccentric, but
he's not stupid."

Franz frowned, "He said he'd get me, honestly... He said I'd have to deal
with him unless I did exactly as he said, he was trying to coerce me..."

"Into doing what? I want specifics. Otherwise, I can't make a
judgement."

Franz sighed, "He said I couldn't lay a hand on you, again... Ever... That's
not his decision to make, it's between you and I, yes?"

Yuna didn't say anything. She ran over to Alec, to see how badly he was
hurt.

Alec was badly beat up- he had a pulse, and was slipping in and out of
consciousness. Yuna turned to Franz, "I will kill you, if it is the last
thing I EVER do.."

Franz's jaw dropped, "Yuna... He's fine, I hardly hit him at all, why would
you kill me?"

Yuna scoffed, "You tried to kill him. Don't lie to me, I know. You have
the skills- and the reason. You wanted to eliminate him so you could have
me. Don't lie."

Franz shook his head, "No, Yuna... I realize you love him, I want you to be
happy... I'm content just to get to be with you occasionally, even if not
very often... I just want you to be happy." His tone was one of sincerity
and it seemed he was telling the truth.

Yuna was at a loss for words. She helped Alec get up, and she said, "We
had better be going."

Franz looked at Alec, "I hope you're not too badly hurt..." he said.

Alec replied, "Nothing too bad. Been through worse."

Franz patted Alec gently on the back, "No hard feelings then, eh?"

"Yes..you think that." Alec then muttered, "Bastard.."

Suddenly Yuna's cellular phone rang, it was Roger, he said, "Hello Yuna, are
you and Alec well? I'll meet with you two if you'd like..."

She whispered to Alec, "You ok to talk to him?"

Alec whispered back, "Yah- just sore, that's all."

Yuna said into the phone, "We're alright--We'd be glad to see you."

Roger nodded his head, "Okay, well then come over whenever..."

Yuna seemed puzzled, "Where? We're somewhere in downtown Cape Town-
you?"

Roger nodded his head, "Cape Town... As well, the Governor-General's Cape
Town mansion... He has one in Bloemfontein and one in Johannesburg, as well
as Pretoria... He basically has one in each of the main cities.."

"We'll be there. Yuna out." She hung up.

She helped Alec into the car.

"Alec, let me drive- you're hurt."

Alec drove away. He saw Franz watching. Alec then reached out of the
window, and gave him the finger.

Yuna was shocked. "Alec..what was that for?"

Yuna was still shocked, she demanded and answer. "Alec, why in God's name
did you do that?"

"Because he needed it," Alec growled. "Don't ask me why, he just did."

"Whatever," She sighed. Yuna knew it was best not to press the matter any
further.

They arrived where Roger was staying at, he was with his brother William and his sister in law Sylvia Katrina, who was currently in town shopping. Leaving William and Roger at the mansion to greet Alec and Yuna.

Roger smiled, "Yuna, hello, where is..." He turned and saw Alec, "What the fuck happened to you?"

"Biking accident. Nothing terribly serious- got ran off the road by a car."

Roger smiled, "Oh well, who cares really... You'll live... So how are you two doing? You've never met my brother William before, have you?"

William stepped forward and outstretched his hand.

"No, I haven't had the pleasure," Yuna said. She shook his hand. "Yuna Mannerheim."

William smiled, "King William Fabus of The Burnsian Desert, currently in exile... Current Governor-General of South Africa."

"Pleasure." Alec stepped forward to greet him. "So, tell me, what happened out there? Intel mentioned it, but we never heard much more than that."

William frowned, "Hogsweatian forces overran my wife's palace guard, not Mississippians, but Burnsians, they fell apart faster than Yugoslavia... But don't tell her I said that... Anyway, there was one company of SRG present, they managed to destroy over two hundred enemy tanks and neutralized over two thousand enemy paratroopers before running out of ammunition and martyring themselves in bayonet charges. Then reinforcements arrived but I had already been abducted by Hogsweatian helicopters by then."

Alec was interested. "Sounded to be a real challenge. How'd you get out?"

Roger smiled, "I demanded they release him..."

William frowned, "Brother, you gave them their demands and pulled out forces back to our base... I mean embassy, in TBD..."

Alec smiled. "The old nuclear annihilation card, I see."

Roger shook his head, "No, nothing of the sort, we just agreed if I let TBD fall into the leftist camp, they'd release William... William is more important to me than Burnsian whites, most of them can't fight worth a damn, and aren't worth my time..."

William frowned, "Brother, my wife is a Burnsian, don't insult them all..."

Roger nodded his head, "Yes, there are some good Burnsian whites, your wife being one such example."

Yuna and Alec both nodded.

Yuna spoke up, "Fascinating story, to say the least. It's not like you to let allies fall to Marxists, Roger."

Roger nodded, "Yeah, well William is my favorite brother, and is more important to me than a land where most people disliked the Fabus monarchy anyway... It's not like in Mississippi where we Fabuses are beloved by all..."

William sighed, "Probably they see me as an outsider and they suspect that the last queen's death had something to do with me... But anyway, having her killed was the best thing George did, it opened the way for Sylvia and I to take power..."

Alec couldn't help but snicker, muttering under his breath, "Fabuses are beloved by all...what a joke." Yuna elbowed him in the stomach, then said, "The Chariman Mao theory, eh?"

Roger glared at Alec, "In Mississippi yes, we are beloved by all!"

Alec was confused. "I didn't say anything, Roger."

Roger shook his head, "I can hear everything you mutter softly, asshole..."

"Again, I didn't say anything." Yuna walked over to Roger, and whispered in his ear- "You'll have to forgive Alec. He's a bit off today."

Roger nodded his head, "Yes, I'm sorry, Yuna, my... My words were uncalled for. Okay..."

"It's alright- not your fault. Alec can be an ass sometimes. Then again, most of us are."

Roger nodded, William nodded, then William suggested, "Let's go inside, shall we?"

"Good idea," Alec said. "It is getting a bit hot out here."

Roger frowned, "Getting hot eh, let's just hope Yuna doesn't take her top off and try to seduce either myself or my brother..." He turned to Yuna, "Yes, I know what you did with Franz in Western Sahara..."

Alec and Yuna followed Roger inside.

Roger smiled, "Well Yuna, Alec, take your shoes off, get comfortable..." William smiled, "How do you like the place, eh?"

Alec was thoroughly impressed. "Nice, to say the least- what was this before you guys came in?"

William shook his head, "No, no, no, this is new construction, built for me..."

“Wow..in only four months. Amazing," Yuna commented.

Roger smiled, "Four months eh, impressed?"

Yuna nodded, "Yes--most impressive." Alec asked, "On another subject, Roger, I was curious- are you going to be moving into Rhodesia, now that you've got South Africa under your control."

Roger walked her into a nearby room of William's, it was his officer. They had a map that showed current Mississippian possessions in Africa, (Western Sahara, Mississippian Egypt, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, and Lesotho) and then one with the "To be added soon" countries in blue, (Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Swaziland, Malawi, and Ivory Coast)

Yuna looked at the map. She was a tad disturbed. "This isn't looking good- we've got try to contain them, she thought." Alec spoke up, "That's good- at least you're not going after Mauritania."

Roger smiled at Yuna, seeing her disturbed look, "No Yuna, don't even think of trying to stop us, we get southern Africa, you can have some of Western Africa..."

"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I was just hoping you didn't have dreams on the Belgian Congo."

Roger smiled, and lied, "No, of course not..." He quickly turned around a picture that William had setting out of Leopold II of Belgium with the caption, "Our Cousin Leopold" at the bottom

"Roger, I know there's nothing we can do against you in southern Africa. I'm actually glad you're going into Rhodesia, though."

Alec couldn't help but chuckle. "Is there any European monarch they're NOT related to," he muttered to himself.

Roger smiled, "Well I'll be honest then, we want Belgian Congo, I have personal reasons..."

"Why's that? Want to prevent the "Sevarisian infidels from getting it?"

Yuna elbowed Alec again. "Shut it--that's not his idea," she hissed.

Roger shook his head, "No, it belongs in the family..."

Yuna was curious. "Because you're related to Leopold of Belgium, who gave his claim to the Belgians in the early 1900s?"

Roger smiled and nodded, "Yes, Cousin Leopold is the rightful owner of that land..."

Yuna shook her head, "No, he isn't. Not by our books. It's currently property of the Zaire government--not for long, though."

Roger smiled, "Exactly, it'll be ours..."

"You think that, Roger," she chuckled, "You think that."

Roger frowned, "Will you really be stupid enough to stop our peaceful betterment of Belgian Congo?"

Alec shook his head. "You've got it wrong, Roger. That's our job."

Roger nearly exploded, "It's our land! Leopold's lands belong to us! You won't take it! It's not your right to take it!"

Yuna kept calm. "We wouldn't do anything you wouldn't do- I assure you, we will do it sanely."

Roger shook his head, "No! No! No! You will do it nothing, it is our land, if you want it, you'll need to take it and keep it, because we'll attack to dislodge you from it if you beat us to taking it..."

Yuna laid her hand on Roger's shoulder. "Roger, please--Would you really fight a war over the Belgian Congo? Does it make that much of a difference?"

Roger nodded, "Tell me, is it part of Africa?"

Yuna sighed, "Of course it is, Roger. Don't go off on a tangent about the damned Fabus Doctrine."

Roger smiled, "Ah, I was about to..."

Alec nodded. He had shredded the copy he got, but didn't want to say anything.

Yuna shook her head, "Look, you tried to use that against us in Delaware, but you backed down. Thus, the document has no strength."

Roger looked at Alec, "Yes, I know you shredded the copy we sent you... We never backed down over Delaware, I intended to help you there, but you didn't need it... I was going to help you, idiot..."

Alec was puzzled as hell. "Roger, did I say ANYTHING?"

Roger smiled, "No, but I know from that nod, and my intelligence services keep my updated on everything you do.."

Roger looked over at Yuna, "So Yuna, what are your plans for the day, are you and Alec sticking around in South Africa?"

Yuna quickly replied, "Yes- we're going to head to the Embassy afterwards, inspection tour."

Roger nodded, "Why don't you stick around here for a while, eh? Plenty of room..."

"I'm afraid we can't stay long," Alec spoke, "But we do want to talk to you about some 'issues' that prevent better Sevaris-Mississippi relations."

Roger nodded, "Okay, I'm listening..."

Yuna took a deep breath, then started. "Roger, I know you don't like me. I know you think I'm the spawn of satan. I know you think I'm a whore. However, why should that impact your attitude towards Sevaris?"

Roger nodded, "Yuna, would you like to speak in private? I need to tell you a few things I don't want William or Alec to hear... About Schacht and a few other matters..."

Alec appeared concerned. Yuna nodded, "Alright. I'll do it. No crap, but I'll talk."

William nodded and turned and left the room..."

Alec left as well.

Roger shut the door and then sat down, "Yuna, you know you've ruined Franz..."

"I know." She cleared her throat, "But his messages were damaging to my
country. I had to silence him."

Outside, Alec leaned against the door- he wanted to make sure Roger wasn't
trying anything funny.

Outside the door, William grabbed Alec and dragged him away from the door.
Two SRG guards kept their MP-5s ready, not pointing them at Alec, but the
threat of their use still implied.

Roger sighed, "Yuna, you ruined a good friend of mine..."

"He was trying to ruin me. I don't tolerate people who do that, you
know."

Roger frowned, "He was only doing what his mentor, Curtis, asked him to
do..."

"Curtis doesn't know what he's doing with regards to us. Nevertheless,"
she sighed, "I had to stop him."

Outside, Alec was puzzled. "William? What'd I do? I'm just trying to make
sure Roger doesn't try anything with Yuna."

William shook his head, "They're talking in private for a reason, it needs
to remain private, whatever they are saying..."

Alec shook his head, "I don't bloody care- Yuna's safety comes before
that."

William didn't reply... Meanwhile, in the room, Roger was frowning, "Yuna, I
think you need to be punished for what you did to Franz..."

Yuna took a defensive tone. "Are you THREATENING me?"

Roger shook his head and calmly, without emotion, said, "No... Just stating
what has to be..."
Roger glared at Yuna, "You ruined Franz, why?"

Yuna looked over at a nearby desk, and saw a half empty brandy bottle, it
wasn't hard to tell where the missing half had gone.

Yuna shook her head, "Roger are you drunk?"

Roger spat out the words, "No! Now answer me!"

"I'll take that as a yes, but anyway..I 'ruined' him because he was
trying to ruin me."

He clapped his hands and three SRG men walked into the room from a secret
passage... They took up positions around Yuna. Suddenly two of them pounced
on her, grabbing her hands and holding her arms behind her back.

"Now, now, Roger- you do know Alec tends to be illogical, yes? He'd tear
you to pieces if he finds out about this."

Roger walked over to her, ever so slowly, smiling, "Sound proof room" he
said, before slamming a fist into her stomach.

She kneed him in the groin. "It's a fuck or be fucked world, Roger.
Realize that."

Roger, holding his crotch, aching, spat in her face and then punched her
right in the head, "You like that Yuna?" He made sure to jump back before
she should knee him again.

Her speech became very slurred. "Is that...all..you've got?"

Roger told the two guards, "Lay her down on that desk, that one there."

"Roger...you're not stupid enough to do this. What will Alice think?"

Roger shook his head, "What?" he was too drunk to analyze and comprehend
what Yuna was saying.

Yuna repeated herself, slowly, and as clear as she could make it. "What
will Alice think? I know you want to have your way with me. But what will
your wife say?"

Roger shook his head, "What? Why would I want to do you? Are you feeling
alright?" Roger wasn't making any sense.

Yuna was just as confused. "Roger- just now you ordered the guards to put
me onto that desk. Now you ask me if I'm alright?"

Roger shook his head as the guards finally followed his orders pushed her
down on the desk, Roger sighed, "What?"

"You want to have your way with me, huh, Roger. Why else would you put me
here? Again, what will your wife say?"

Roger shook his head, "No... That's not it at all.. I can't remember why I
had them put you there..."

"Then would you mind putting me down," Yuna asked.

Roger frowned, suddenly remembering what he wanted to do, "No, not after
what you said about Alice, you'll get what you deserve..."

"Is that it? Roger, I've long sinced apologized."

Roger sneered, "What you've done to Franz, Alice, my nation, my people, and
my government, and attempted to do, getting sensitive and classified
documents... You'll get yours..."

He slowly walked over towards her, grinning as he said, "Well Yuna..."

"If she's anything like I am, I can imagine she'd be pissed as hell."

Roger shook his head, "She'd understand I'm vengings her honor." His speech
was starting to get slurred as more of the alcohol took affect in his
system.

"Roger, calm down. It's the alcohol talking."

"You'll regret this, Roger. Do you want nuclear war?"

Roger shook his head, "Nuclear war you say. We'd beat you damn ruskies.. You
think you're so great because you have the Berlin Wall, well it's nothing
compared to the Curtis Line!" He then collapsed over.

The two guards were still holding her, but neither had touched her in any
manner. One of them shrugged at the other, "What do we do now?"

"Please let me go. I don't want any more trouble," Yuna replied.

The third guard came over and looked at her, "Let you go eh?"

"I'd appreciate it. I have a job to get back to."

The guard nodded and then kicked her in the kneecap, trying to force her to
want to fall down, while the others held her up. The then threw half a dozen
punches into her stomach in rapid succession... After which, he jumped up on
the desk and kicked her right in the stomach. The other two guards then let
her hold on her up and she collapsed to the floor.

Yuna was bruised, battered, and rather sore, but she stumbled to her
feet. "I'm not sure if I should thank you or what," she said.

The guard smiled and patted her on the shoulder, "Don't worry... I think you learnt your lesson..."

"Whatever.." Yuna walked toward the door.

The door was still locked, suddenly Roger threw up in his unconscious, one of the guards quickly turned him over to his side... After he finished vomitting, he stood up and looked at Yuna, he was rapidly regaining his senses, his speech much improved, he was shaking his head, "Yuna... Are you okay? I didn't... Did I?"

"No, you didn't. Your guards roughed me up a bit, but I'm alright. A tad sore, but otherwise alright."

Roger nodded his head, "Yes, terribly sorry about all this... But really, stay the hell away from my cabinet officials, okay?

"Just keep them a safe distance from me, and they'll be fine."

Roger unlocked the door as he sighed, "Yuna, when you actively seek them out, it's hard for them to keep away from you... Just stay away from them, or at least try not to seduce them, okay?

She nodded, "I will- just cut the propaganda crap, ok?" We'll have a better time negotiating if you can stop that."

Roger nodded, "Okay, well anyway, go on and get out of here, I need to go shower, I'm covered in vomit... I think I drank too much..."

Yuna nodded, "Yes..overdid it on the alcohol, definetly."
She walked out to find Alec.

After she found Alec, the two of them walked back to the car.

Alec asked, "Well, what happened? Did you get him to stop?"

Yuna shook her head, "No..He was too drunk to be of much help."

William ran up to them as they were heading for the car, "Alec! You and Yuna may stay here tonight if you wish, and Roger will speak with you both tomorrow when he is better, he is... Ill tonight..." William just didn't want to admit Roger was sick from drinking so much... Besides that half-empty bottle of brandy, there was a fully empty bottle that Yuna hadn't seen.

Alec shook his head, "Sorry, William, but we've got to be heading back to the Embassy- paperwork and such to sort out. We can pop round tommorrow morning- how does that sound?"

William nodded his head, "Yes, that sounds good..." He turned to Yuna, "Roger wishes to reiterate his apologies..." William then turned and ran back inside.

Alec and Yuna got in the car. Alec turned to her, "I'll bet you a five that he's still drunk tommorrow."

Yuna shook his head, "I think not- Roger's not stupid enough to do it again, especially when he has something important to handle."
Alec started the car, and drove away.[/b]

Later that evening, where Yuna had been hit, finally began to bruise quite nicely, it would probably be patently obvious what had happened to her, somebody had roughed her up.

Alec was seriously concerned. "Jesus..what happened to you?"

Yuna sighed, "Roger's guards, while letting me go, roughed me up."

"Assholes," Alec muttered. "Anyway, tommorrow, make sure you have a knife or something- let's not have this happen again."

After a long day indeed, Alec and Yuna crawled into bed, and fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, Roger was back in Mississippi, refusing to meet with Yuna or Alec. He wanted nothing to do with them, well he was drunk again, and William thought it was best that he just go back to Mississippi so he had some SRG carry him onto his private plane and then he was flown home (He was unconscious and so he had to be carried)

When Alec and Yuna arrived at William's mansion, he was waiting for them outside, "Alec, Yuna, how are you two doing?"

Alec nodded, "Good, good. Yourself?"

William smiled, "Okay..." He quickly frowned, "Better than Roger, he was ill, so the doctors had him return to Mississippi..."

Yuna sighed, and muttered to herself, "Damn alcoholic.." Alec tried to cough to cover the "Damn alcoholic" remark. He then said, "I do hope he's alright- is it serious?"

William shook his head, "No, he'll be fine in a while... He just needs his rest..."

Alec nodded. "Ah..We had better be going, then."

William smiled, "Well, I'll see Roger contacts you when he is awake..."

"Thanks. Take care, William." Alec and Yuna then walked back to the car.

William watched as they walked away, "Losers" he muttered under his breath.

Alec heard him, but chose not to act. "It's better to not go down to his level," he thought.

William yawned and walked back inside. He was mad that Yuna had called Roger an alcoholic, and even more upset that there was some truth to it... Roger did drink a lot, but it rarely interfered with his duties as Czar.

Alec and Yuna got into the car, and drove away. While they were driving, Yuna turned to Alec and said, "I think I need to try and talk things out with Alice."

Alec was glad. "That's good...I have a feeling she wants to fight you, though."

Yuna was startled. "What makes you think that?"

"Inferiority complex," he explained. "Alice feels inferior, and thus a need to go after you. However, knowing her husband as I do, she probably had self-defense training up the wazoo-- so it'd be stupid for you to fight her."

Yuna nodded, "Perhaps you're right. Anyway, let's hope she's more reasonable than her husband."

After they got back in Spain, Yuna ended up calling Alice twice, and getting into major flame wars over the phone. Alice hung up each time... Yuna then spent twelve hours straight calling up every official at the Department of Commonwealth Affairs and the Peoples Ministry Of Justice... Finally Roger called Alec up...

Alec was very tired. He had been alternating drinking with trying to get Yuna to calm down.

He picked up. "Yeah, Roger?"

Roger sighed, "Alec, Yuna needs to stop calling Mississippian officials, myself and Alice included okay... Over Eleven hundred calls from Yuna in the last twelve hours..."

"That many, eh?" Alec took another swig of brandy. "Look, I've been trying to get her to stop. However, Alice just has her ticked as hell."

Roger frowned, "The first time Yuna called Alice, she got her pissed in a matter of seconds, by insulting Alice and myself... Anyway, some of my generals are begging me to let the MSAAS use hacking to crash your telecommunications grid... Don't make it come to that... A few are even suggesting more drastic measures... Just give Yuna a good slap or two, she needs it, okay?"

"Look, Roger, I am either extremely drunk, extremely tired..or both. I have been trying to stop her. Yuna just tried to get Alice to help you, and then this starts. Now fuck off." Alec hung up the phone, and laid back in his chair.

Roger then called Alec right back up.

Alec picked up the reciever. "Jesus, can't a man sleep," he asked.

Roger sighed, "Alice and Yuna can settle this, once and for all... Okay?"

Alec seemed puzzled, "How?"

Roger smiled, "They can fight it out, Alice is very thrilled with the idea to get to avenge her and my honor against the sevarin queen of tramps..."

"Sod off." Alec then knocked the phone off the table, and laid back in his chair again.

The phone rang again almost immediately.

"Asshole," Alec muttered to himself. He fumbled around for his USP. He took aim at the phone, and fired three or four rounds into it.

Yuna was in her study when she heard gunshots. She ran into Alec's office, "What happened?"

Suddenly Yuna's cellular phone rang.

Alec's speech was rather slurred. "Roger...tried calling..mee...shoot...phone." Alec slumped over in his chair.

Yuna answered. "Look, I don't care who you are, but piss off."

She then helped Alec onto his sofa, where he fell asleep again.

The phone rang again.

Yuna answered again. "Didn't I tell you to piss off?"

Roger quickly shouted, "You won't fight Alice because you're afraid!"

"Fuck off, Roger." She hung up.

Roger called her right back

She answered. "Look, Alice can get her sick pleasure elsewhere- kindly leave me out of it."

He chuckled, "Fight Alice or the MSAAS can just take you out to silence you permanently... Come on, getting your ass kicked by Alice won't be that bad..."

"Can you spell nuclear annihilation, Roger?" She hung up.

Roger called her right back again. "Hey Yuna, can you spell, coward... That is what you are... Fight Alice or else we'll never stop calling you... You did it to us for 12 hours, we can have a branch of the DISFB devote a thousand employees to taking turns calling you and Alec on every phone you have..."

Yuna threatened, "I'll jam all your connections. And, if Alice supposedly has the balls to fight me, then why isn't she talking to me?"

Roger smiled, "Here she is right now..." He handed the phone to Alice, who shouted, "Yuna, you bitch, I am going to kick your ass!"

"Kiss my ass, girl." Yuna turned off her phone.

Alice called Yuna back on the phone she just turned off, having the DISFB hack in and turn it back on... Then it rang, "Yuna, see we can keep calling you, you know our DISFB, RGIS, and SRGIO can jam your connections whilst keeping ours open... Watch..." Suddenly the entire Sevarin telecommunications grid went down, except for Yuna's phone, which was a private satellite phone.

Yuna sighed, "Your point?"

Alice smiled, "We have Sevaris by the balls... We could fry your entire power grid if we wanted to... Military, hospitals, financial institutions... Just agree to fight me, okay? I really want to kick your ass..."

"How about this--I agree not to kill you, if you agree to leave me the fuck alone."

Alice chuckled, "You not kill me? How thoughtful, so, are we going to fight?"

"I'm not inclined to. I know you've been waiting for this movement- why else would you have combat training like God knows what? I don't want to give you the pleasure," she sighed.

Alice smiled, "What combat training? I've done nothing except self-defense training..."

Yuna sarcastically asked, "The MSAAS counts as self-defense?"

Yuna remembered seeing propaganda posters for the Peoples Guard Womens’ Reserves with Alice firing an SA-17, Stinger, MILAN, and several others of her, carrying a banner, flipping a foreign-looking man over her body and smashing him on the ground, driving a tank, etc.

Alice quickly replied, "The MSAAS are the best at teaching hand-to-hand self-defense..."

Yuna rolled her eyes. She had a feeling Alice did that just to beat the shit out of her. "Look, girl, I've been in more combat than you- I'm probably a better soldier, but that's irrelevant. Look, I don't want to fight you."

Alice smiled, "Yes, I know you don't want to fight, you're a coward..."

Yuna scoffed, "I'm no coward. You're just being barbaric- Your problems with me do not need to be fought out, do they?"

Alice quickly nodded her head, "Yes, they do, unless you're a coward..."

Yuna shook her head. "Alice, I can sense you're jealous of me. Why else would you seek to destroy me?"

Alice spat, "Me? Jealous of you? Never, you are jealous of me, and Mississippi, all that I have here... You are a corrupting whore, a plague, an evil influence on the youth of our nation, and you are a seducer of our government officials... You also attempt to harm my Roger, for that, you must pay."

Yuna chuckled, "Alice, you've got it all wrong. Beneath all those lies is the truth: You're jealous of me because I'm more woman than you'll ever be."

Alice shook her head, "Not at all, what a liar, you act like a man, you've probably got a bigger penis than Alec and Roger combined... What sort of woman acts like you do? I am a real woman... Women are meant to be feminine, not feminist, and certainly not feminazi, as you are."

"I don't act like a man. I have no penis. However, I am bigger than you. In certain areas which men find attractive, if you catch my drift."

Yuna immediately thought to herself, "Welcome to a new low, Yuna. You could've come up with something better than that."

Alice smiled, "Yes, well you're bigger in your ego, is that what you meant? Because I know I'm just perfect for Roger, I don't need to make myself attractive for all men, just Roger, I unlike you, only sleep with my husband, not every man that wants to stick it in me... You are a whore, I am a virtuous woman."

Yuna scoffed, "You, Virtuous? Alice Carrion, supposed defender of femininity. You're a hypocrite, you know that?"

Alice was puzzled and taken aback, "What, how? Me, a hypocrite?"

Yuna smiled, "You slept with other men, Alice. It's a fact- don't deny it."

Alice shook her head, "No... Only Roger and my first husband..."

"Come now, Alice, admit it. Or do you not count sleeping with Roger in 2001 whilst your husband was alive?"

Alice seemed hesitant, "So, I only married that man because my father beat me until I agreed to marry him, and then he beat me also... I didn't count it as a real marriage, Roger treats me right..."

"Alice, tell me something," Yuna asked. "Why?"

Alice sighed, "Why what?"

"Why do you have this insane desire to fight me?"

Alice smiled, "Because, you need to be beat back into your place... You need to be taught a lesson..."

"For what? I'm my own woman, Alice. I don't take orders from you."

Alice grinned, "Translation, you're a coward who can't or won't fight, what else is new..."

Yuna sighed, "Girl, listen to me. You're being illogical. Why fight me?"

Alice sighed as well, "Look, just fight me and get your ass kicked, get it over with..."

"There's no reason to. Alice, you're displaying the maturity of a 12 year old."

Yuna then muttered, "And you look like one too..."

Alice shouted, "What? How dare you bitch! You... You... I'll kill you!"

Yuna grinned. "So you admit it, eh?"

Alice snapped, "I am not a twelve year old... I'm just so much better looking than you, it makes you sick..."

Yuna retorted, "Really? Please, you look like a little girl."

Alice frowned, "Yuna, you know that isn't true... You're just a whore, get over it."

Yuna tried to remain calm, "I know damn well that's true, Alice. Let's ASSUME that I was a whore, even if I was, I stil look ten times better than you do."

Alice smiled, "Yes, you look so much better, which is why Alec lets you sleep around.. You're so awful he can't stand fucking you, he probably has real women to sleep with... I know I'm hot, damn hot, I just don't have to brag about it because I'm secure in my attractiveness, those who brag about something, often are really hiding their insecurities..."

"Since when were you a shrink," Yuna said in derision. "The point is, I'm actually doing things when I 'sleep around'. And I am a real woman; I dare you to disprove it. Plus, if you're so secure, then why do you need to beat me?"

Alice smiled, "How many degrees do you hold? I've a doctorate in almost half a dozen fields, one being sociology, and I'm working on psychology right now... So I'm qualified to make such judgements, you suffer from an inferiority complex and hide it with a mask of superiority."

"Don't throw your credentials at me, bitch. I don't suffer from an inferiority complex. You, however, have a need to feel good about yourself, so you go and pick a fight with me. Yuna smiled, In short, you're a vicious low-life bitch."

Alice chuckled, "Well you should love a chance to get a few punches in at me, eh?"

"More like a few rounds, actually. Tell me something- while you may be overeducated, have you actually been in combat."

Alice seemed reluctant to reply, "I... I... I have made important command decisions about strategic level operations and choices."

"Yes, but have you ever been on the front lines? "Have you ever had to watch your men die--and you still have to press on, even against overwhelming odds," she asked.

Alice spat, "No, I haven't, fine, no, no, no, I haven't... Happy?"

"While you can learn a lot in schools," Yuna explained, "there's a few things they can't teach you."

Alice smiled, "Yes, like obviously they failed to teach you appropriate behavior for a female..."

"They failed to teach you to have a spine," Yuna retorted.

Alice grinned, "Who is the one refusing to fight? Not I..."

"I wasn't talking about now. I was talking about how you bend over for Roger, and quite literally, might I add."

Alice spoke in an ignorant voice, "What makes you think that?"

Yuna couldn't help but laugh. "Don't play dumb with me. I know Roger well enough to know he really didn't like it anal, not at least until you agreed to let him do you like that. Why else would he have wanted to do that to me?"

Alice went on the defensive for her husband, "Roger would never want you, whore."

Yuna was confused. "Do you think I ACTUALLY CARE? I don't want Roger, period." She then sighed, "I don't see what you see in the man, to be honest.."

Alice spat, "What? I love Roger, I've always loved Roger, and he's always loved me... It doesn't matter if you want him or not, he doesn't want you, he wants nothing to do with you..."

"So we're clear on that. Do you want to blither any more, or should I hang up now?"

Alice sighed, "Just agree to fight me, okay?"

Yuna finally gave in. She had no desire to argue anymore. "Fine, if you insist," she sighed. "Just shut up, would ya?"

Alice smiled, "Okay, deal, you meet me in Mississippi, okay, I promise you, my word as Czarina, you won't be harmed, except I will kick your ass... But you'll not be held here against your will, after I beat your ass, you may go."

"See you in hell, bitch." Yuna hung up.

Alec was still passed out on the couch. She wrote a brief note for him, explaining that she had "Unfinished business" to take care of.

Yuna headed to the airport, and boarder her private jet.

Within hours she had arrived at Stalingrad.

Alice was in her recently constructed private gym, readying for the fight, practicing against a punching bag with Yuna's picture on it.

Roger waved to Yuna, "Alice is in there, you gals duke it out nicely and then just come out when you're done..." He pointed down the hall, "A servant will show you the exact door..."

Yuna nodded. She walked down the hall, and was shown to the door. She entered.

Alice kicked the bag so hard it fell off the mounts it was on, she then turned around, "Ah Yuna, how are you?"

"Good, Good." Yuna saw the bag laying on the floor, and her picture on it. "How charming..."

Alice, at the insistence of Roger, was wearing MSAAS special shorts and t-shirt, the sort layered with a special material that would greatly decrease blunt force impact...

Yuna unbuttoned her top, and revealed a plain white tank top underneath. She was wearing a pair of jeans.

"Alice, it's not going to be all that easy for you, you know. I'm no push over."

Alice smiled and moved towards the center of the gym, the floor was padded with mats, "Shall we Yuna?" She asked as she assumed a fighting stance.

Yuna smiled as the doors were locked, she’d already been disarmed of her weapons earlier, and could tell Alice was unarmed, “Just you and me.”

Yuna chuckled, "Ready when you are. Don't expect a cakewalk, though."

Alice grinned, "Oh Yuna, you're going down..." She then rushed in, flying through the air in a jump kick that had been taught to her by an unorthodox MSAAS trainer who didn't follow what her other trainers did, he taught her different style moves.

The kicked landed hard against Yuna's chest.

Yuna fell against the wall, and to the ground. She smiled, then got up, and tackled Alice, placing her in a chokehold.

Alice flipped Yuna over her body, using sheer strength.

Alice then immediately pinned Yuna down, with her knees, punching her repeatedly in the face.

Yuna managed to return a few blows, and broke free.

She then jumped on Alice, pinning her to the ground, and punching her in the head.

Alice brought her legs around and kicked Yuna in the side of the neck, rolling out from under her as he fell back.

Alice jumped to her feet and then rushed to stomp on Yuna before she could get up.

Yuna rolled over, causing Alice to trip and fall.

Yuna then began kicking her repeatedly in the stomach.

Alice locked Yuna's leg in with both her legs and swept, causing her to fall hard to the ground.

Alice then kicked at her before jumping up, quickly bringing her foot down and twisting her left arm, breaking it.

Yuna writhed in pain, and stumbled to her feet.

Alice round-housed Yuna to the head.

Yuna again recovered from the blow, and ran straight into Alice, pinning her against the wall.

She used her right arm to choke Alice, while kicking her.

Alice drove her fingers into Yuna's eyes. And then managed to swing one leg up in a chopping kick to hit Yuna in her broken left arm.

Yuna, although blinded, released her hold on Alice, and hit her in the head hard.

Yuna crashed into Alice again, causing both of them to fall to the ground.

Alice staggered back, fazed a little by the blow... And then Yuna tackled her, but she pulled her down as well.

They were both on the ground; Alice drove her leg right into Yuna's temple, as they both thrashed on the ground.

Yuna flipped over, and kicked Alice in the temple multiple times.

Alice deflected some of the blows, but still staggered, she finally managed to break free from Yuna, jump her feet, and manage to kick Yuna in the side of the head, the chest, and then four times in the stomach before she could react... She then started to falter as the blows to the head had really gotten to her, she'd shaken them off when they happened, but they were starting to really tire her out now.

Yuna tripped Alice again, and starting kicking her in the abdomen, although not as strongly as she was.

Alice brought Yuna down with both her legs, and then dove onto her, punching her repeatedly in the head... She finally started to lapse in and out of consciousness, Yuna as well, they were both faltering.

Yuna returned the blows, concentrating on Alice's chest instead. She managed to break out.

Yuna staggered to her feet. "Alice," she called.

Alice spat up some blood and rolled over, then she managed to bring Yuna down one more time, hitting her when she got to the floor, then she herself rolled back over and was unconscious.

Yuna had a bloody lip and nose, and several cuts on her stomach. She sat down next to Alice, trying to feel for a pulse.

"She's alive," she thought. "Then again, am I alive?"

Alice gently moaned in her state of unconsciousness, "Roger... Is that you?"

Yuna shook her head, "No, Alice. It's Yuna."

Alice didn't respond, she was totally out of it.

Yuna suddenly realized how bad she herself was hurt, a broken arm, several broken ribs, perhaps a fractured leg, and her eyes were bleeding... Alice had gotten her good.

Alice had suffered a mild concussion, but no broken bones, only a few minor scrapes and cuts.

"Damn good show for a twerp," Yuna murmured."

She started limping to the door.

Yuna then got an evil idea. She would destroy Alice once and for all. The time was right.

Normally, Yuna wouldn't do this, but, she was too out of it from the fight to think properly.

She walked over to Alice, whispering, "Alice?"

Alice didn't respond, she was still unconscious.

Yuna wanted to try again, but her conscience kicked in. "You idiot- you know lesbian sex is odd and uncalled for- why do it now?"

"I want to destroy her...but at that cost?"

Yuna collapsed down next to Alice, and closed her eyes.

She thought to herself for a few minutes, however, her mind and body were exhausted, and she fell asleep.

A few hours later, Yuna woke up, Alice was still asleep or unconscious Yuna couldn't tell, perhaps a little of both... Yuna spat up a little blood that had been lingering in her mouth, and realized two of teeth were missing, she found them on the floor a few feet away from where the fight had been most intense.

She muttered to herself, "Christ almighty--that was one helluva fight." She tried to wake up Alice again.

Alice stirred in her sleep and then woke up, "Roger, is that you?" she asked as she rubbed her eyes.

Yuna shook hear head, "No, no..it's Yuna."

Alice smiled, "Yuna, what a nice fight, eh?"

Yuna smiled, "I suppose it was. You went unconscious, you know."

Alice shook her head, "Yes, but I think one of your arms is broken, you've got at least two broken ribs, and if I'm not mistaken, you're missing at least two teeth, and your right leg is fractured, and your nose is broken, and you've probably got two black eyes..."

"That may be, but I've been through worse."

Alice smiled, "As have I..."

"Ever spend two years in a prison, either raped or abused daily?"

Alice shook her head, "No... But you could say that my first marriage was a prison, and being beaten daily, often into unconsciousness, was hell... Roger saved me from all that..."

Yuna nodded, and staggered to her feet. "I should be going now."

Alice nodded her head, "Okay, well if you want to stay, our doctors can patch you up some..."

"That'd be good..not sure if I can make it home like this."

Alice chuckled, "We can clone you some new teeth if you want...”

Yuna was puzzled. "You can clone teeth?"

Alice smiled, "We can clone anything..." At about that time, a drunk Roger came walking into the gym after he unlocked the doors, "Which of you two ladies won?"

Alice shrugged, "Eh, it was about even, Yuna came out worse physically, I was unconscious, pretty even overall, but she's probably got more permanent damage, we can help her though.”

Roger nodded, "Yeah... I hear that.."

Roger was obviously drunk, he grinned at both of them, "Why don't you two kiss and makeup? he suggested.

Alice immediately slapped him, "Go to sleep, you're drunk again..."

Yuna sighed, "They always say that when they're drunk, ya know?"

Roger shook his head, "Am not drunk." was all he said before he fell over onto one of the mats.

Alice frowned, "Yes, I know... Roger seems to have a bit of the problem with the bottle every now and then... He did keep his word though, while we were in South Africa on vacation, he didn't drink at all... Now I just have to get him to either quit or ease back permanently...":

Yuna couldn't help but chuckle. "Now you finally get my point. You wanted to do this to me only because I told you Roger was a drunkard. Ironic that you believe me now."

Roger picked himself up off the mat, "Well, I'm going to bed like Alice suggested..." He grinned at Yuna and Alice, "Would you two ladies like to join me?"

Alice slapped Roger again, "Just go to bed, and then tomorrow you get help for your problem..."

Roger shrugged and left the room, "I'll be waiting..." He said to both of them.

Yuna gave Roger the finger. "Drunk bastard," she muttered.

Alice shook her head, "I'm sorry for that... He's always so very nice, only when he drinks... His father had him drinking since age ten, so it's not nearly all his fault..."

Yuna's jaw dropped. "He's been drinking since he was TEN? Unthinkable."

Alice nodded, "Yeah, he used to have two or three bottles of brandy a week when he was ten..."

"Christ...He REALLY needs help."

Alice frowned, "Yeah, he usually drinks three or four bottles a day now, that is if it's a day he is drinking, which about four out of seven days are... Schacht has a pill that will totally cure him of his problems, but he has to accept that he needs to take it..."

Alice sighed, "Yuna, you want to stay here tonight, there are plenty of rooms, you can get an early start out tomorrow or just hang around, it's up to you..."

Yuna smiled, "Yeah, that'd be good--I'll explain to Alec where I was tomorrow- he's probably got a major hangover now anyway."

She was curious about one thing, "Alice, tell me something- why did you do all this," Yuna asked. Then adding, “I mean- did you really achieve anything?"

Alice shrugged, "I'm not sure, but I feel better now, we can finally be friends since we got our hatred of each other out of our systems, yes?"

"Yeah..that may have been part of it. I feel better as well- although I'm tired as hell, and I have god knows what’s broken and or missing.."

Alice smiled, "I feel a lot better after that nap on the mat... I'd be ready to go another half hour, but I've no desire to fight you, not any more that is."

"Same here, then again, I couldn't anyway. Beating the shit out of someone is hard to do when your arm is broken," she chuckled.

Alice helped Yuna walk along to a nearby bedroom as Yuna's legs were too badly injured to really walk. Alice helped her get situated on the bed and then walked back to the door, "I'll have a doctor come take a look at you in a bit, and we'll have some nice warm food brought up for you."

"Thanks, that'd be good. However, before you go, I need to talk to you about something- something important."

Alice stopped and turned around, saying, "Yes?"

Yuna was talking in a hushed whisper, “You need to get rid of Curtis. He's a threat to you and Roger. You said Curtis turned him into a drunk at age 12, yes?"

Alice shook her head, "No, Curtis and Roger are like best of friends.... Besides Curtis really doesn't do anything these days other than stay home... His wife Christine is always over here complaining about Curtis not having sex with her enough... I wonder if Curtis has other women on the side?"

"Knowing him, probably. Remember, this man has screwed over 2,000 women."

Alice shook his head, "No, there was a time when he was only with one woman, from about age 18 to age 30... His wife Julia, well that's what most people think, and I believe it as well... She must have been some woman to keep him all to herself..."

"That was true, but, when she died, he lost it." She continued, "Afterwards, he began screwing any woman he could find."

Alice nodded, "Yeah... Tell me one thing, you and Curtis, how was it? I mean I saw the tapes, everybody in the inner circle of the party saw the tapes, he was proud of it... But how was it from your perspective?"

She took a deep breath, and said, "I wanted to kill the bastard. I wanted to tear him to pieces- kill him slow and painfully."

"I still do, as a matter of fact. He didn't need to fuck me. He could've left me alone."

Alice nodded, "Hmmm... Well Curtis said out of all the women he'd been with, you were second, second only to Julia..."

She chuckled, "Only because he's a masochist. He liked it when I hurt him."

Alice nodded, "Yeah, I know, I saw the tapes, remember?"

Yuna nodded, "I know- just pointing out that he is the strangest bastard I've ever met."

Alice sighed, "Yeah, he did seem to enjoy it when he got you up the rear... It must run in the Fabus family..."

"Yes, unfortunately...Oh, and do me a favor, Alice. Cut the propaganda against me out. Especially Mladic."

Alice nodded, "Okay, I can try to talk to Mladic... I don't know what good it'll do, Roger likes Mladic so much he basically lets him broadcast whatever he wants. I do like Mladic as well, but he can be a loud mouth at times."

"Tell him that, if he doesn't, I will make sure he's knocked off the air. Yes, we can do that."

Alice frowned, "Don't go starting any trouble, okay, please... Our national relations can improve only if we try to do so... I'll talk to him." She then reluctantly started, "Can... Could... Could I ask you... Something?"

"Shoot," Yuna replied. "Is something amiss?"

Alice in a somewhat embarrassed and hesitant tone, "How often do you and Alec... You know..."

"Erm..once or twice a day. Why?" Yuna appeared a tad embarrassed.

Alice smiled, "Roger and I usually go two or three... A few times he's gone for five or six... I was just wondering what other people were like, Roger seems... Well he's a busy man in certain regards... I imagine we're going to end up with lots of children."

"How many?"

Alice smiled, "Roger wants at least seven or eight kids."

Ooc- They will have at least eight children by 2021... I'm thinking possibly more, not sure yet. But eight at least.

Yuna's jaw dropped. "That's quite a lot...and one seems more than enough for me."

Alice shook her head, "Hans and Francesca Stahlecker, Paul's mother and father, had a total of eighteen children..."

Yuna muttered to herself, "Christ almighty...how did they ever get anything done?" She then said, "Have you ever thought about using contraceptives?"

Alice chuckled, "Contraceptives have been banned and totally outlawed since December of 1984."

"Sounds just like back home," she said. "Back in Romania, Ceausescu illegalized contraceptives- he was obsessed with increasing the population."

Alice chuckled, "Yuna, surely you want more than just one child, yes?"

"Not really- I'm quite happy with one," Yuna said.

Alice shook her head, "Well, maybe one day our two nations might become united through marriage, your Elektra and my Alexander are both about the same age, they'll be of marrying age in about seventeen years... Let's see... 2021..."

"God..I'll be 43. Hard to think of 17 years from now- I wonder what will happen between now and then?"

Alice smiled, "All I know is Roger wants lots more children, and I'm going to do my best to see he gets them..."

"Why does Roger want a lot of kids?"

Alice wondered that herself, but knew it was a good choice, "To do his personal duty to carry on the white race, and the Fabus family, and he just really likes the idea of having a lot of children. Anyway, each of his brothers and sisters is going to have eight or nine kids, so Curtis will wind up with over sixty grandchildren in two decades... Probably that many, at least."

Yuna was puzzled. "He must care a lot about carrying on the family line."

Alice quickly nodded, "Oh yes indeed. And I am happy to help him." She grinned at that part.

"Heh. Another major difference between Roger and Alec- Alec doesn't care much about preserving his legacy. He feels that he's left his legacy in the state he and I built."

Alice chuckled, "Yes, but states can fall... Family lines endure."

"That's why Alec had Parliament create the monarchy- to ensure the state didn't fall."

Alice shook her head, "Anyway, all of our great nobles here have many children... The Banzers, the Pinochets, the Galtieris, they are all great people..."

Yuna raised an eyebrow, "Did you say Galtieri? Galtieri, as in the repressive dictator of Argentia, right?"

Alice smiled, "Yes, Francesca Stahlecker was originally Francesca Galtieri."

"I studied the Falklands War in college- Big mistake on Galtieri's part."

Alice chuckled, "Yeah, but the Volunteer Guard was what kept England from pushing out of the Malvinas and into Argentina herself."

"The British didn't want to go into Argentina, though. They wanted to get their islands back."

Alice shook her head, "No, Argentina's islands, they wanted to take land that belonged to Argentina..."

Yuna shook her head, "No, It was and has been legal property of the United Kingdom since 1833. The people there were all British subjects.”

She smiled, "Well did you know that Paul Stahlecker's parents lived in South Africa, Argentina, and Bolivia... They have been to many nations and know what the world is like... Hans Stahlecker spent over twenty years in South Africa, over ten in Argentina, and five or so in Bolivia... A number of our nobles are South Africans who moved to Argentina or Bolivia, and then later to Mississippi..."

"Pardon me for asking," Yuna asked, "but are there any repressive dictators you're NOT related to?"

Alice chuckled, "We're not related to Mao, Pol Pot, Castro... Take your pick."

"Ah..so you only hang around crazy Fascists. Interesting."

Alice smiled, "No, we only hang around right-wing white leaders... Although the WKM did back Batista against Castro in the 50s..."

"Bastita was right-wing, a right-wing puppet of the U.S. He was a puppet, yes, but at least he wasn't a commie. And, on something completely unrelated, I really don't think you're a whore, Alice."

Alice smiled, "Neither do I..."

"I only went off on wild rants because I was pissed. That happens a lot to me, unfortunately."

Alice then frowned, "But you, Yuna... I think you're a nice woman, but you have had way too many sexual partners that somebody should have... Just stick to Alec and Alec alone, okay?

"I try, but I had a legitimate reason for going after Franz."

Alice shook her head, "Just leave those alone who you don't like, don't provoke confrontations..." She suddenly stopped, realizing her fighting Yuna was exactly that, a confrontation.

"Alice...” Yuna muttered to herself, "I didn't take you for a hypocrite.."

Yuna sighed, "Look, Franz was provoking me. What would you have done were you me?"

Alice shook her head, "I stopped what I was saying when I realized..."

Yuna nodded her head, "I see. Anyway, if you had been in my position, what would you have done with Franz? I couldn't very well kill the man- what else was I to do?”

Alice then answered the other question, "I'd have had Roger duel any man who insults my honor..."

"Fair enough, but, wouldn't you want to handle it yourself when someone insults your honor?"

Alice smiled, "If they call me a whore, and I seduce them... What does that do? Does that prove I'm not a whore or that I am? Who uses sex as a weapon to strike at one who accuses them of using sex to get what they want, not very smart, eh?"

Yuna chuckled, "How little you know...Alice, if you can do it properly, it works. Blackmail is such a wonderful tool, after all."

Alice frowned, "Well yes, but the next time I'm mostly out of it and lying on the floor in the gym, don't look at me like you want to use sex against me... Yes, I was semi-conscious and saw the look in your eyes back there..."

Yuna sighed, "Oh, please, Alice..can you blame me? You did challenge me to a reckless fight, and were unconscious back there. I wanted to do it, but reason kicked it, and I didn't."

Alice smiled, "I know Yuna, every man in Mississippi wants me, but only one can have me... Many foreign men want me, but not will get me... It's just natural some women will want me also, I can't help that I am so damn attractive..." She then whispered, "Just between you and I, you're considered very attractive by many Mississippian noblemen, and many are dying to sleep with you..."

Yuna whispered back, "I know- certain people in my intelligence department have wanted me to go do it- but it' s not worth the risk."

She then stopped as she realized what Alice had said. "I don't want you, you idiot...."

Alice continued to whisper, "Well it doesn't matter, you're not getting me, either way... I'm Roger's and Roger's alone..."

"Bloody good for Roger, then. Look, I only thought about doing it to get revenge on you- but reason prevailed."

Alice smiled, "Well Yuna, I'm go upstairs now to take care of Roger, he needs my help... The doctor will be in shortly." With that, Alice turned and left, shutting the door gently behind her.

Yuna reached for her cellphone, and called Alec.

Alec was sleeping. He didn't hear the phone.

Yuna muttered to herself, "Damn...must get him away from the brandy."

A few minutes later, the doctor came in, he checked Yuna, he signed her up for clone treatment for the teeth, and then he patched up her black eyes, making them look good as new, he used some nano-technology to heal the broken nose and the broken ribs, as well as the arms and legs. After he left, she felt much better.

Yuna got up and left the room. She wondered if Alice was available, or if she was still 'busy'. She walked down to their room, and pressed her ear against the door.

Alice was yelling at Roger for drinking to much saying, "Roger, please stop drinking, you need to think of your health..." Roger shrugged, "Eh, so what, Schacht can clone me a new liver..."

Alice sighed, "Please, for me, just stop, starting tomorrow stop, stay off the stuff for six months, and then you can drink but not to excess, okay?"

Roger nodded, "Fine, but tomorrow right?"

She nodded, "Yes, why?"

He smiled, "Then I'd better go get my drinking in right now..." He then got up and headed for the door.

Yuna walked away. On the way, she lit up a cigarette and had a smoke.

Roger, who was largely still drunk as it was, walked up behind her, he gently swatted her on the butt, "Hey Yuna, smoking eh? You should really do that in a smoking lounge..."

She turned around, and blew a puff in his face. "Listen to me, you dick. Your wife is being driven insane by your drinking, and, needless to say, I can't blame her. If you love her, then you'd stop."

Roger frowned, "I'm trying to stop... Anyway, how does a little drink every now and then hurt anybody?

"It's not a little drink- two to three bottles a day… I'm surprised you're not dead yet," she remarked.

Roger smiled, "Yeah, well I've a greater tolerance to alcohol and my liver is much better than most men... Genetic engineering is a wonder, eh?"

She scoffed, "Genetic engineering is a miracle, yes, but it hasn't discovered a cure for the drunk asshole gene."

Roger who was now tipping back a flask filled with vodka asked, "So Yuna, do you and Alice want to kiss and makeup, that option is still open if you want..."

Yuna glared, "No..... Roger, be reasonable. Neither of us are lesbians."

Roger chuckled, "Well I've reviewed the tapes of your fight with her, after it ended, you were ready to do it...

"I was pissed. So sue me."

He shook his head, "No, I'd rather do something else to you... Want to come back to my room, stay with Alice and me?"

Yuna slapped him in the face. She grabbed his collar, and growled, "Get ahold of yourself, man- you're destroying your marriage, and, god forbid, the world. I've seen this before. You need help."

Roger frowned, "Hell, what is wrong with you?"

"You're just like Alec was, three years ago.."

Roger shrugged, "Alec, what was he like?"

"He was like you, a raving drunk. 2002, Sevaris had a major political crisis- his government was forced to resign. He became very depressed afterwards, and turned to the bottle. I almost divorced him. However, I sat down with him one night and got him to admit he needed help. So, he did, and he's back to normal."

She continued, "Thanks to that, his government was restored to power in a general election a few months later. Roger, I fear the same thing will happen to you."

Roger chuckled, "I don't need help though... I can stop whenever I want to, I just really don't want to."

Roger boasted, "My father, from 1990 to 1994 never left his house, yet we endured and prospered, we have capable advisors and cabinet officials who can pick up any slack we leave..." He nearly started to cry, "But I see your point, I want to be the ultimate power on everything, not having cabinet officials grow too powerful... Besides, I love Alice and want to make her happy..." He frowned and finally admitted it, "Yes... I need help... I'll see Schacht right now..."

Yuna laid her hand on Roger's shoulder. "You did a good thing."

Roger shrugged, "Yeah, I'm going to sleep... Oh, dad wants to see you tomorrow okay, he lives a few miles from here." Roger then walked off to his own room and went to sleep.

Yuna wondered what Curtis might want.

She walked to her own room and laid down as well. As she drifted off, she thought, "If he wants sex, I'll shoot the bastard..."

In the morning, Yuna went to visit Curtis, he was up and about, fully healed from his earlier illnesses, he frowned when he saw her, "Yuna, come in, come in..." He smiled as he sat down, and then he looked over at a military map of Spain from November of 1998, "Yuna, you remember why we pulled out, yes? Why my regime stopped backing your revolution, we had over forty thousand soldiers and five hundred aircraft helping you, we pulled out thought, you know why, yes?"

"Yes. It's because I got married."

Her expression turned cold as she turned her head, "I have half a mind to kill you."

"Thanks to you, the war lasted a year longer. Thousands more died. You could've prevented that," she hissed.

Curtis glared at Yuna, "Yuna, does the date February 12th 1995 mean anything to you... It's the day we first met, I remember well, do you?"

"Vaguely," she sighed. "It was nine years ago, Curtis. Things have changed."

Curtis then spat, "December 18th, 1996... You left... You went with..." He contemptuously sneered, "Him..."

Yuna slapped him. "Alec's a great man, unlike you, you bastard..."

Curtis didn't hit her back, the thought never entering his mind, "You have the nerve to say that after all I've done for you, eh?"

"Your forces did little. After you left, it was us against China, Vietnam, Cuba, and Sevaris's communist friends."

Curtis chuckled, "We fought the USSR and the entire Eastern Bloc in 1984... Remember that. We brought the USSR down, all by ourselves. And it was I who got China and Cuba off your back, threatening Cuba and calling in favors with China."

"Still, the government forces fought hard as hell. Because you up and left, it took us another year to finish the job. Unlike Mississippi in 1984, these Communists actually had a great deal of support from the population."

Curtis frowned, "Well you just up and left me, without any thought about it..."

Yuna sighed again, "I had no interest in you, Curtis. Didn't you see that? It would never have worked between us anyway."

Curtis shook his head, "Yuna, you know that isn't true. You... You would have made a fine Mississippian... I know it."

"Curtis, I had a duty to my adopted home. Sevaris took me in after Romania. I had a duty, dammit."

"And why do you hate Alec so much? Because he's not a cynical bastard like you are?"

Curtis sighed, "What about your duty to me... I loved you, Sevaris didn't..."

"Alec loves me, though. I knew it all along."

Curtis growled, "I hate that man... But it doesn't matter anymore, I don't want you anymore Yuna, you had your chance to be with me, and you instead elected to go with Alec. That's fine, I'm over that now. I have the only woman I've ever really loved, with me now."

"You mean your sister," she scoffed. "I never really took you for the incestuous type, Curtis."

Curtis clapped his hands and Julia Fabus walked into the room from a nearby room, "Hello Yuna, I see you and Curtis are having a nice chat, yes?" She sat down on Curtis's lap, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him.

Curtis smiled, "Yuna, this is Julia..."

Yuna was baffled. "Aren't you...dead?"

Julia grinned, "Death got old, so I'm back."

Yuna was confused as hell. "Something's not right here," she murmured.

Julia chuckled, "Schacht, he works miracles, what can I say?"

"Alright...but something isn't right here." She turned to Curtis. "It's alright, Curtis, I'm over you too. You really didn't impress me anyway."

Curtis shrugged, "Well then, you sure didn't mind using my forces to win, eh?

"Your forces did little to help. The bulk of the effort was ours and ours alone."

"From what my files say," she continued, "your forces retreated at the first opposition they encountered- so our guys had to step in."

Curtis erupted with laughter, "You had no air forces! What do you mean we did little! The only time we retreated was after I officially pulled our forces out and only a few VG regiments remained, they weren't going to fight for a whore and a Jewish Prussian... So they left."

Julia snickered, "That's right Curtis, our good Mississippians won't die for some whore..."

Yuna shook her head, "We stole most of their planes. Most of the officers of their Air Force defected. And you pulled your forces out only because I found the person who understood me. Great fuckin' job, Curtis."

Julia glared at Yuna, "I'd like to kick your ass more than you can believe..."

Yuna glared back, "Do you know what your husband's been doing while you've been gone? The man married his sister, for Christ's sake.."

Julia shrugged, "So, he was in pain and hurting, now I'm here to help him..."

Curtis smiled, "That's right."

"You don't care about the fact that he ruined so many people's lives, fucked over 2000 women, nearly started nuclear war because I was getting an abortion.."

She muttered to herself, "They're perfect for each other- both of them are extreme assholes."

Curtis waved his hand, "Julia, go in the other room, don't listen to Yuna's lies..."

Julia nodded and immediately left the room.

Curtis then glared at Yuna, "You left me in 96, for Alec, without so much as telling me it was over... I kept waiting for you to come back, I first learned you and Alec were together in 98... Telling me might have been nice, eh?"

"I had a war to run, Curtis. I'm not some tramp who's her lover's faithful pet, you know."

Curtis frowned, "Yes, I know, but you could have said something... Anyway, you could have run the war from Mississippi, I would have helped you."

"Curtis, it's over. Deal with it- I had no interest in you anyway."

Curtis smiled, "Then why did we do it so many times? Were you just whoring around?"

Yuna chuckled, "You love the word 'whore', don't you. Anyway, I only did it with you because that's all you'd listen to. I found that most of your government does not respect female diplomats. Sex is the only thing assholes like you understand."

Curtis shrugged, "Well Yuna, I... I really did love you at the time... But now that I have Julia, I can't say I feel anything for you anymore."

"Good," she said. "I feel nothing for you anyway."

Curtis pulled out a chair, "Want to sit down for a while?"

"Thanks." She sat down. "D'you want to rant more, or actually have civil conversation?"

Curtis shrugged, "I don't want to yell at you, Yuna, I just... I just want to get on with my life, now that Julia is back, I can finally pick up where I left off in 1990, you know?"

She nodded, "Yes, but why tell me?"

Curtis was puzzled, "Why what?"

"I dunno- so you're going to start again from 1990- why let me know?"

Curtis shook his head, "She died in 1990, and I sort of died then as well, now she is back, alive physically alive, and I can be emotionally alive again, you know?"

She nodded, "Yes...What are you getting at?"

Curtis shook his head again, "I'm not sure I follow you..."

She sighed, "What I mean is, what do you mean by being emotionally alive again?"

Curtis frowned, "You never knew what happened from 1990 to 1994... Did you, I never told you, I nearly died many times, due to my neglecting to eat, bathe, and such... I stayed in bed for most of those four years, mourning, wallowing in misery... My advisors ran the nation, which is partly why we did so poorly in the Mississippian-Brazilian Wars during that time, I wasn't around to inspire my army."

"Ah..so you can now be back to normal, whatever that may be for you?"

Curtis nodded his head, "Yes, anyway, Yuna, while you were good, Julia was always better, you know that, yes?"

Julia grinned as she came walking back into the room, "That's right, Yuna, nobody can pleasure Curtis like I can..."

"Okay," she said," but why do I care?"

Julia glared at her, "Curtis never saw anything in you, Yuna, well if he did, I don't know what it was..."

Yuna glared back, "Same goes for you. What he saw in you, I can't tell for the life of me."

Curtis shook his head, "No Julia, I've never loved any woman like I love you... The only women in my life that mattered were all family, and you..."

Curtis then turned around shouted at Yuna, "You will not insult her!"

Julia whispered to Curtis, "Curtis, just say the word and I'll kick her ass, well it looks like somebody already beat me to it..."

Yuna shouted back, "Bugger off, you bastard!" She turned to Julia again. "Look, do you even know who I am?"

Julia nodded, "You are Yuna, the queen of tramps, the whore of whores... I know all about you and Alec, and what you've been doing..."

Yuna spat, "Then you must know that I can arrange for anyone on this world to be shot. Even you."

Julia smiled as two SRG men moved up behind Yuna and took hold of her, "Hmmm... Yuna, you must know that in Mississippi you have no power, none whatsoever... And Curtis and I can arrange to have many shot, as we have in the past..."

"You also should know that Alec is a nutcase. He won't react kindly if I'm killed."

Julia smiled as Curtis started to kiss her neck, "Hmmm... We should have her hanged, just like old times, we can watch her die, together... Remember how we used to do that?"

Curtis nodded, "Yeah..." And then kept kissing her.

Yuna laughed, "If you want nuclear war, suit yourself.. If you want your world to come crashing down, then feel free to kill me."

Julia smiled, "Curtis she's a whore, let the guards have their fun with her..."

Curtis shook his head, "No... We'll spare her that, she won't be harmed while she is here, my son and daughter-in-law gave their word..."

Yuna smiled, "Julia, you're married to a man who marries his sister, and threatens nuclear war if his sex partners abort his children. I suggest you get away from him."

She turned to Curtis, "Ah, good...then you DO have some honor."

Julia shook her head, "Curtis was just, he was driven crazy without me, now that I'm back, he's going to be just fine..." She slid her hand down his pants as she was talking, and he gasped from her touch.

"Jesus, get a room," she muttered..

Curtis chuckled nervously, "Well Yuna, Julia and I have things to do... You should probably leave.."

“Yes..go have fun with your new toy, Curtis." Yuna left the room.

Christine was walking into the room, Yuna heard Julia tell her, "We don't want to leave you out, do we Curtis?"

Curtis shook his head, "Nah..."

Julia then smiled, "When I'm done with Curtis, you can have your turn with him, or maybe feel free to jump in anytime you want..."

She did the old cough trick, and said "FREAKS".

Julia slowly got up, and then rushed Yuna, sending her crashing into the wall, she then pinned her up against the wall and started beating on her. Curtis made a cat call and pulled up a chair to watch.

Julia was shouting, "You've insulted my husband for the last time, bitch!" As she slammed her fist into Yuna's stomach, hitting her injured ribs from the fight with Alice.

Yuna broke free, and started to beat Julia, tripping her to the ground.

Julia jumped up, with precision moves, something an SRG trainee would do, she had no idea Curtis had let her receive SRG hand-to-hand training, she had always wanted to be in the SRG, but he had never let, but now he'd let her get trained up.

Julia side kicked Yuna in the chest, sending her back hard.

Yuna recovered, and tackled Julia, choking her.

Julia jammed her fingers into Yuna's eyes and then did a chop to the side of her neck. Sending her reeling for air.

Julia then overpowered Yuna, forcing her down on the ground, pinning her hands with her knees, and started hitting her repeatedly in the face, and head. After about a minute of this, having landed over forty blows, she stopped.

Yuna was bloodied and unconscious.

Julia, triumphant, stood up, panting and gasping for breath.

Curtis smiled, "Ah, my Julia, you've still got that spirit and determination..."

Curtis snapped his fingers and two guards carried Yuna to a guest room in his house, "She can recover there I guess... And leave when she comes to.."

The guards did as they were told and set her down on the bed and promptly left the room. About two hours went by...

Yuna coughed up some blood, as she came to. She then left the room shortly thereafter.

On the way out, she was thinking, "God, Julia is a bitch..."[/b]

Curtis was waiting outside the house, to talk to her, "Sheesh Yuna, the Yuna
I knew in 95 could fight much better, what happened?"

Yuna chuckled, "I've not done hand to hand combat training in a while-
though I am exceptional with swords and guns."

Curtis nodded, "Yeah, I guess so. Well take care Yuna, I have to be going.
Maybe we'll talk again sometime, alone, away from the interferences of
others. Don't read into that too much, I'd just like to talk about old times
with you."

"I understand, Curtis. I know that you're still hurt by what happened
eight years ago."

Curtis shook his head, immediately refuting that argument, well attempting
to "No, nothing like that..."

"Believe me, Curtis, I know. You're upset because of my supposed
'betrayal'."

Curtis shrugged, and then sighed, "Well you did sort of up and leave, and
not tell me what was going on, not explain, and you didn't come back...."

"I told you what happened. I was needed back home- the war. You knew very
well that I would stay in Sevaris afterwards- Alec needed me for the new
government."

Curtis frowned, "Yeah, but Alec wanted you there for other reasons..."

"So? At least he's not a murdering bastard. Plus, I was the only one he
trusted to run the Foreign Ministry, you know."

Curtis shook his head, "I'm not a murdering bastard, everybody I had killed,
most of them probably deserved it... They would have reinstituted communism
if given the chance, they had to be removed from society..."

"There were other ways, Curtis. You didn't need to do that. That's beside
the point, though. The point is, I moved on from you. Why couldn't you deal
with that?"

Curtis shrugged, "Well... I don't know..."

Yuna gave him a sideways glare, "Oh, wait, I know how you 'dealt' with
it. You tried to have Alec killed. As well as me."

Curtis shook his head, "No, you weren't the target, that... that... he
was..."

"I took bullets for him, you know? That's how much I love him." Yuna then
growled, "I'd never do that for you, Curtis. You mean nothing to me."

Curtis smiled, "Not any more that is, but back in 96 and 95 it was a
different story... No need to get touchy, just because I nearly killed
Alec... Hell I've been shot too, for something far greater, for my nation,
my people, our ideals..."

"So have I, Curtis, So have I. I've been shot at least six times since
the end of the war- would've been eight, had Alec not taken the bullets for
me."

"Curtis, are you suggesting that I'm not willing to die for my nation?"

Curtis chuckled a bit, "Six? I've been shot six times at once before, I have
a lot of enemies... Anyway, Yuna, what happened to you over the years?"

She was confused. "What d'you mean?"

Curtis sighed, "Yuna, you were a virgin when we met, since then, how many
different men have you slept with?"

She frowned, "I'm not sure- is that even relevant?"

Curtis nodded his head, "Yeah, it is... The point is before Alec corrupted
you and requested you start sleeping around to gain him political
advantages... Well I'd never have done that to you, you'd have remained pure
and good if you were with me, Alec basically pimped you out, you know it..."

"Corrupted," she scoffed." Please, Alec didn't make me do that. If
anything, he begged me not to. However, the sad truth is, there are men in
the world who only respond to sex. Unfortunately, half of them work in
international diplomacy."

Curtis nodded, "Yeah, I understand, there are some like that in my nation...
Personally I accepted any bribes from foreign diplomats, cash, cars,
property, it's all good, you know?"

"I'm cheap. Go figure. Anyway, It was out of necessity, Curtis. We all
have to make sacrifices. Having sex with diplomats to extract concessions
are some of them."

Curtis sighed and shook his head, "But Alec let you do those awful things,
that's still bad enough. Admit it, you're the sort of woman who needs to be
led, commanded, you liked it with me, and you still yearn for it, don't
you?"

Yuna sighed, "Curtis, do you honestly believe that?"

Curtis nodded, "Yes, of course, you so liked it back in the 90s with me, you
probably still want it today. You wish Alec would led you, properly, as I
had."

"Led me? I'm my own woman, you know. I learned that, in this world, the
only person who you can truly depend on is yourself. Even those you love
will fail you sometime. You have to be willing to go it alone."

Curtis nodded his head, "Yeah, I know that, all too well..."

Curtis smiled a bit, "Anyway, Yuna, you're a fine woman, just a bet to
feminist perhaps?"

Yuna had a confused look on her face. "I'm a feminist, Curtis? I'm
curious you'd say that- how am I a feminist?"

Curtis shrugged, "You Yuna, you never were one to settle down and remain in
one spot, always moving about, thinking you needed a career to be a
success... When you helped me with policy in the mid 90s, I thought you were
a success, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but, Curtis, I had a duty to my adopted home as well. I had a
successful career. Unfortunately, I fear my current career may be destroying
me."

Curtis nodded, "Yeah, I know the feeling... My job was taking a toll on my
health."

Curtis frowned a bit an uneasily said, "Yuna, I've got a bit of a confession
to make..."

"Go ahead...what's wrong," she asked. "Something I did?"

He shook his head and then whispered to her, "Yuna... I... I..." he started
to choke on his words, the first time she'd ever seen him not be able to get
an idea out.

He then go it out, "Yuna, I didn't stop loving you after you left, I just
grew bitter towards you and Alec... Maybe you realized that?"

"I...I wasn't sure. I thought that you just hated me because I got
married to Alec."

Curtis shook his head, "No, that's not true, I could never hate you,
although I have caused you pain and such, slandering your name, I am truly
sorry for that... I just, I don't know if I could ever stop hating Alec, I
feel he betrayed me..."

"How did he betray you, Curtis? He did the best he could for Sevaris- I
don't see how he betrayed you?"

Curtis frowned, "He knew I wanted to marry you..."

"Alright, but, how did he betray you in that sense? He loved me. Is that
a problem?"

Curtis nodded, nearly crying, "It was for me, he knew my wife was dead, I
was coming out of a tough spot, and he moved in on you... He knew it..."

Yuna shook her head, "No, he didn't. Curtis, he didn't know your wife was
dead until after we got married. He thought you were divorced, or just never
married."

Curtis frowned, "He thought I was never married? But yet had kids? Divorce
in Mississippi is as rare as the plague...."

"He didn't know. He thought they might've been bastards, and you had the
decency to take care of them."

Curtis frowned, "Well, there are statues of Julia all around the nation,
she's listed on our official government site, it's all around, basically the
whole world knows, how dim could he have been?"

Yuna sighed, "Alright, Curtis, I'll come clean. He knew your wife was
dead. However, he didn't think much of it- he was sorry that she had died,
but he still loved me, though you loved me as well."

Curtis nodded, "I know... I still love you though Yuna, I don't know if
that's a good thing. I love Julia and she is here and back now, so I have
her, but the time I spent with you, I just can't forget that, you know?"

Yuna nodded, "I understand. I can't forget what happened nine years ago
either."

Curtis gently took her into his arms and started to kiss her, "Yuna, I'm
sorry about what's happened over the last few years... I really am."

Yuna kissed him in return, "Curtis, don't blame yourself. It's not your
fault."

Curtis shook his head, "It was my fault, I should have changed for you,
scrapped the camps. If I could change time, I'd have done it differently,
done things as you said I should have... You were right Yuna, you were
right. Too many have died..."

He kissed her again, "You Yuna, you'd have made a fine counter-balance to my
overly-harsh policies."

"Curtis..what you did is what you did. The past is past, I'm afraid.
Forever locked in regret. However, could you do something for me?"

Curtis nodded, "Yes, what is it?"

"Stop trying to get revenge on Alec. It's unnecessary, Curtis."

Curtis reluctantly nodded, "Okay... I can agree to that... Could you do one
thing for me?"

Yuna nodded, "Yes?"

Curtis was a bit hesitant, "Stay here, with me, tonight, if you would...
I've missed you, Yuna... You don't have to if you don't want, I'd
understand, but nobody would ever have to know."

Yuna was taken aback. How could he, after all he said, still want to
sleep with her? "I can't, Curtis. It wouldn't be right."

Curtis frowned, "I, I've missed you over all these years Yuna... Who is to
say it wouldn't be right. If you don't want to that's fine, but stay a bit
longer and we'll talk about our civil wars, 84 and 98, eh?"

"Curtis, you know I get flashbacks when I talk about 98..and you know how
I angry I get about your betrayal."

Curtis nodded, "If I could ever make that up to you, I'd do whatever you
wanted me to make it better. You know I regret that, I was blinded with rage
and wasn't thinking clearly."

"You attribute the deaths of over 500 men to NOT THINKING CLEARLY? Christ
almighty...Anyway, There's nothing you can do to fix it- I'm especially
pissed that you tried to kill me the day I got married."

Curtis shook his head, "No, that wasn't it.... The Mirages were supposed to
just make a scene, they took it too far though... I'm sorry."

He hung his head in shame.

Yuna stood up. "I had better be going back home- business."

Curtis frowned a bit, "Yuna, I was wondering if you'd like to stay a while?"

She stopped walking. "I've nothing more to say to you, Curtis."

Curtis walked up right next to her and smiled, the same sort of smile he'd
given her when they first met, she recalled it immediately, "Yuna, do you
want to stay a while?"

Yuna tried to resist. She wanted to get out of here, yet, part of her
didn't.. "Sorry, Curtis. I have to go."

Curtis nodded, "You remember when we first met, yes? You were standing on
the street corner about four blocks from the main government district in
Jackson City... I was being driven by in my limousine, when I saw you I
immediately told my driver to stop... I was captivated by your beauty, Yuna,
you know that, yes?"

"I...I...Curtis, it was nine years ago."

He smiled, "Yes, but nine years hasn't changed you any, you're as radiant
with beauty and grace as I remember you..." He gently brushed some of her
out from in front of her eyes, still smiling at her, "Surely you won't argue
with that, will you Yuna? You're a very lovely woman..."

"Curtis, I..." She started to sputter.

Curtis shook his head and whispered, "Yuna, don't fight against yourself, be
true to your feelings..." He then gently pressed his lips against hers as he
took her into his arm.

Yuna tried to slip free. "Curtis..please...I'm married, you know."

Curtis kissed her neck and gently started to rub her shoulders, "Yes, I
know, don't remind me though... It shouldn't matter, should it, Yuna? You
want to, yes?"

"No, Curtis, no... I don't want to, Curtis. I don't love you anymore-
times have changed."

Curtis shook his head and frowned, it seemed he might cry, "I thought...
Well, Yuna... I... I've always still loved you, I thought it was mutual..."

"Curtis, I lost any feeling I had for you after you tried to kill me,"
she sighed. "Did you really expect I would still love you, even after what
you tried to do to me and Alec?"

Curtis was nearly in tears, "Yuna, I told you what happened... The pilots
were overly-aggressive and disobeyed orders, I had them all flogged after
that operation, I'd never want to harm you... I would have broken up the
wedding myself, I was going to parachute in, but Alec sent me a cable saying
his intelligence services knew about that and would have fired missiles
against us, thus starting a war... He stole you from me Yuna, he stole
you..."

Yuna slapped him. "How dare you! Alec's a good man- he never stole me. He
fell for me, and I fell for him. What's so hard to understand about
that?"

Curtis smiled, "Hmmm, Yuna, you know how I loved it when you'd slap me...
Hit me again..."

"I'll not give you the pleasure." She got up to leave. "Goodbye,
Curtis."

Curtis walked after her, "Yuna, come back, please, Yuna..." He stood right
in front of her, "Yuna, where are you going? I thought you'd at least
consider staying, I think you want to, I know I want you to..."

"Shut up, Curtis. I need to go home."

Curtis frowned, "Yuna, where is that sweet, lovely Romanian girl that
captured my heart so many years ago? Have you really become this bitter and
hate filled?"

She glared at him, "Curtis, incase you haven't realized, times have
changed. You betrayed me. You tried to kill Alec. Do you think I can really
love you now? I'm not always this angry, Curtis. However, when I'm around
people who try to destroy me and what I stand for, then I get angry."

He shook his head and his eyes were watering a bit, "Yuna, I've told you, I
never ordered that hit against Alec... It wasn't my order... I'm telling you
the truth..."

"But still, you've vowed revenge against Alec. I can't tolerate
that."

Curtis shook his head, nearly crying even more now, she'd never seen him
like this, he'd always managed to keep a straight face and rarely betrayed
emotions, it was probably a good indicator he was telling the truth, "Yuna,
I told you, it was not my order!"

She couldn't stand to see him like this. She didn't want to do this to
him. She ran over and hugged Curtis, "I believe you, Curtis, it's just..you
still want to go after Alec. I can feel it. You hate him."

Curtis frowned a bit and nodded, struggling not to cry, "Yes, Yuna, I hate
him, I can't help it... I never really hated anybody, I had enemies, but I
never wished anybody personally serious harm, but... He... I... You... I
blame him for you not being with me, you know that..."

"I love him, Curtis. You have to understand that."

He nodded and sighed, "Yes, I guess I can understand that... But does that
also mean you don't feel anything for me, Yuna, does it?"

"Yes. You're a good man, Curtis, however, you have serious issues."

He nodded his head, "Yes, and one of them is I still love you, and don't
think I could stop doing so."

"Curtis, I'm not sure whether or not you've realized it, but things have
changed. I'm married now. You are too."

As he was talking, Curtis slowly took Yuna gently into his arms again, and
he started to rub her shoulders as he pressed his lips against hers. He then
whispered in her ear, "Yuna, I'll let you be on top, come on, you always
liked that..."

Yuna shook her head, "No, Curtis. I'm not in the mood. I'm tired. I ache
like hell."

Curtis smiled as he started to gently kiss his her neck, "I know what'll get
you in the mood, trust me Yuna, aches or no aches, I'll go gentle, and it'll
take your mind off your aching and relax you... You deserve to relax, Yuna,
don't you?"

"Sex with you is hardly relaxing," she retorted. "Now let me go, before I
cut your balls off."

He gently blew some air in her ear as he whispered, "Come on Yuna... You
know you want to..."

Yuna tried to resist as hard as she could. "Curtis, if you want sex, go
to your bitch of a wife- she likes hurting people, apparently."

Curtis smiled a bit, "Remember, the first time we met, February 12th, 1995,
I'll go gentle, just like then..."

Yuna shook her head as she tried to slip out of his grasp, "Again, NINE
YEARS AGO! Things have changed, Curtis, like it or not."

Curtis shook his head and gently kept holding her as he kept trying to
seduce her, rubbing her shoulders and kissing her neck, "Ah, come on
Yuna..."

Yuna slapped him, and tried to break free. "Doesn't the word NO exist in
your vocabulary?"

Curtis shook his head, "No? You can't be serious Yuna, come on..."

Yuna nodded, "I am serious. I'm not in the mood."

Curtis frowned, "Ah, come on Yuna, you know I can get you in the mood..."

"Must I slap the shit out of you, Curtis? I'm not in the mood." She
squirmed out of his grasp.

Curtis pulled her back up against him, "Come on Yuna, I'll let you be on
top..."

Yuna punched him in the stomach. "Let me go, you bastard.."

Curtis smiled, "Ah, Yuna, you remembered, eh? You know I like it rough...
Come on, hit me again..."

Curtis then decided to play a new angle, he let her out of his arms and
pushed her away, "Fine, I don't want you Yuna, who could want you..."

He was insulting her ego, playing hard to get, he knew it would work with
her, she liked a challenge.

Yuna was confused. "He was lusting for me--and now he won't touch me?
This makes no sense at all."

"Fine, be that way," she retorted. "It's not like you deserve me
anyway."

Curtis smiled, "Yes, I know, I deserve better... You've probably got all
sorts of VD and you probably don't even remember the right way to have
sex..."

Yuna chuckled, "You seemed to like it, if I remember correctly."

Curtis shook his head, "Yuna, Yuna, Yuna, you're just not good enough for
me, realize that..."

"It's the other way 'round," Yuna replied. "You're not good enough for
me."

Although, in her mind, she was thinking, "This isn't right- he should be all
over me right now- I know he wants me..."

Curtis smiled a bit, and then slapped her in the face, "You Yuna, you're a
dirty whore, and you know it... You're nothing but a whore, hardly fit to
clean my toilet..."

Yuna, enraged, pounced on him and started slapping him lightly in the
face. "You stupid bastard- you make love to me, then call me a whore?"

Curtis grabbed hold of her hands and held them together, "When have I made
love to you, well not recently... I finally realized you're a whore, why
would I want you?"

Yuna started kissing him. "Now do you want me," she asked.

Curtis shook his head, "No, not really..."

She smiled, "If you let go of my hands, I'll make it worth your
while.."

Curtis shook his head, "No... I don't think so... You're just no good..."

Yuna's mental resolve had collasped. She was now determined to get into
bed with him, if anything, just to spite him. "Come on, Curtis, please?
You'll not regret it."

Curtis sighed a bit and let go of her hands, "I'd better not regret it...
For starters, you'd better use that smart mouth of yours for something other
than sassing me."

"You'll see." Yuna started to strip. "What about now- excited yet?"

Curtis shrugged a bit, "Meh... Nothing special, but I guess I'll do you a
favor and let you fuck me, shall we go inside?"

Yuna nodded, "That's the idea, Curtis."

"Now you know what I meant- I knew you wanted me all along, anyway."

Curtis lifted her up into his arms and smiled, then carried her inside,
setting her down on his bed... "Shall we then?"

She nodded, "Oh, yes.."

Curtis laid down and smiled, "You can take top, Yuna..."

"How about you this time? I don't do top anymore.."

Curtis was stunned, "What, really? I thought a gal like you would demand
it..."

"You obviously don't know me, Curtis," she chuckled. "I changed, you
know."

Curtis nodded, "Okay... Well get ready..." He then shut off the lights and
started.

When he finally finished nearly an hour later, he collapsed down next to
her, totally exhausted, "Well Yuna..." he struggled to breath, "Enjoy it?"

She nodded. "I did--didn't you? You sound a bit tired there, Curtis. Age
catching up to you?"

Curtis smiled, "I enjoyed it... No, I'm just a bit tired today, I'm hardly
old, age has nothing to do with it..."

"Yeah, right," she chuckled. "You were alright, Curtis. Not that bad,
really."

Suddenly the phone rang, Curtis answered it, it was Alec, he put his hand
over the phone and whispered to Yuna, "It's Alec..."

Yuna replied, "Tell him I'm busy with someone.."

Curtis said to Alec, "Yeah... She's busy right now..."

Alec was a bit concerned. He didn't like it when she was by herself and
she said she was "busy with someone". "Could you ask her who," he asked.

Curtis looked over, covering up the phone, whispering to her, "He wants to
know with who, shall I tell him?"

Yuna scoffed, "Go ahead, he wouldn't care.."

Curtis took his hand off the phone and proudly said, "She's busy with the
Attorney General..."

Alec was incensed. "Lemme guess, blowing you, right?"

"Or is she busy making her new master happy, hmm?"

Curtis smiled a bit, "Hmmm, a little of each actually... Well actually, no,
she hasn't done the first one yet..." he covered up the phone and whispered
to Yuna, "I think it would make him quite angry if you went under the covers
for me, right about, now..."

Before she could respond, Alec screamed into the phone, "FABUS! PUT HER
ON THE PHONE! NOW!"

Curtis shook his head, "Nah, she really doesn't want to talk to you,
besides, I tired her out, she needs a nap, hell, I tired myself out, I need
a nap..."

"Aw, screw it- I'm coming to get her." Alec then hung up the phone, and
stormed out of his office.

Curtis sighed and hung up the phone, and then put an arm around Yuna, "So
Yuna, what now?"

"I'm not sure- Alec'll be here in a few hours, he'll be pissed, to say
the least."

Curtis chuckled, "No, he'll never be allowed in our airspace, let alone
inside the estate grounds, don't worry..."

"You don't know Alec. Even if he has to take down your whole air defense
grid, he'll come to get me."

She yawned, "I'm a bit tired myself- I think a nap is in order. You?"

Curtis shook his head, "Hmmm, not sure, perhaps you need a bit more fun
first eh? Help you sleep better..."

She was a bit puzzled, "Curtis, we just did it--are you sure you want to
go again?"

He shook his head, "No, not that... I was..." He grinned, "Going to do
something for you..."

"Oh, yes, Curtis..that'd be wonderful--go on, show me that you're as good
as you were in '95--show me."

Curtis smiled and slid down under the blanket, more than showing her... When
he was finished a while later, he came back up, "Well Yuna? Was that showing
adequate?"

At a loss for words, Yuna simply nodded yes.

Curtis kissed her on the forehead and then fell asleep.

Meanwhile, outside, an SUV pulled up to the estate gate. Alec stepped out.

One of the SRG lieutenants stepped out of the nearby pillbox and had the guards train their weapons on the vehicle, "Who is there!" He shouted.

Alec appeared none too pleased as he approached the checkpoint. "Hi- Alec Mannerheim here- My wife is currently in bed with your boss, can I come get her?"

Alec placed his hands in the air. "I know the drill, chaps. I have no guns or weapons."

The guards surrounded his vehicle, the lieutenant smiled, "Mannerheim? Of Sevaris, and you want to harm our boss? Oh sure, go right on in, we're stupid, we're dumb, we're worthless guards, we let maniacs inside to kill those we have been assigned to protect... Well hell, why don't we just arm you first..."

One of the soldiers then ripped the door open, "Out of the car! Right now!"

Alec stepped out. "Look, I don't want to kill your boss, I just want to get my wife back. I have no issue with Curtis, I just want to get my wife out."

"Gentlemen, I don't believe you're worthless guards- you're SRG, some of the best in the world. You can trust me, though. I'm not here to kill your boss."

The men suddenly rushed him, beating him down to the ground in a flurry of blows from the butts of rifles and clubs.

One man hit him with a stun gun.

After ten minutes of this, Alec stumbled to his feet. He let out a meek "What the crap?"

One of the men, sitting down now, stood up, rushed forward, and kicked him in the face as he was trying to get up.

Alec was down for the count. He then managed to say, "What was that all about?"

The man kicked him hard in the stomach, and then smacked him across the face with a club, putting him out cold.

One of the guards picked up the phone and called Curtis, he was asleep, but Yuna answered it, they said, "We beat the shit out of some Sevarin loser and he's probably dead now with the beating we gave him... Where do we bury him, sir?"

Yuna was a bit troubled. Although she wasn't supposed to answer, she said, "What was his name?"

The guard was a bit surprised, "You're not the boss? Oh well, the loser claimed to be an Alec Mannerheim..."

"That's my husband..." She hung up the phone.

She then tried to wake up Curtis.

Curtis smiled and woke up, "What is it Yuna? Not again, I'm too tired..."

"Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, man," she sighed. "Your guards beat the shit out of Alec."

Curtis shrugged, "So what, he treats you awful, he had it coming I'm sure... Just forget about him..."

"I can't, Curtis. He may be a bastard on the occasion, but he's still a good man. We need to help him."

Curtis sighed, "Fine... Let's go..."

He put on a robe and started to walk outside, the main gate was about 3 miles away, so he got into a car, Yuna got in the passenger side, and he drove to the gate. As they were pulling up, Yuna could see one of the soldiers had tied Alec to a tree and was beating him with a big stick... Another shouted, "Shooting contest!" and drew his 45-caliber pistol.

Yuna ran out of the car, and stood in front of Alec. "You're making a mistake, gents."

One of the men shrugged, "Hey, woman, get out of the way!"

Yuna shook her head, "This man is my husband. Stop at once."

Curtis sighed and stepped out, "Let the boy go..."

One of the soldiers sighed, and cut the ropes binding him to the tree, he then smacked him once more in the stomach with a club, Alec collapsed unconscious, falling straight forward.

Yuna was horrified. Although her behavior would say that she really had little use for Alec, she was beginning to question what she did- no, not just sex with Curtis, but what's she's done in the past few years. She thought about this while she was helping the medics get Alec to the sick bay.

One of the medics looked at him, marking an "E" on him... E meaning likely to die even with treatment, and to basically just ignore and leave him off to the side. They were doing the triage system because a major chemical spill had occurred and the hospitals were

Yuna fell to her knees, in tears. She didn't want this to happen to him. She didn't want him to die angry.

She then started speaking to Alec, even though he probably couldn't hear her. "Alec, I'm sorry..I never meant to do this- I failed you. I failed Elektra. I failed the nation."

She fell on him, crying, "Please, Alec..please..don't die."

One of the medics patted her on the shoulder, "Don't worry.. Don't worry, he's probably not in much pain... Well since he is probably in a coma now anyway."

Yuna shook her head, "I'll get him back- I can feel it."

One of the medics whispered to another, "There is only one man who can save Alec now, but he'd never agree..."

Yuna couldn't help but overhear. She turned to the medic, "Who is it? I don't care who it is- I just need someone, anyone..."

The medic smiled, "Dr. Baldur Von Schact... The only one who could help..."

Yuna nodded. "That's good- tell him I'll pay him whatever he wants, just get him to help, please."

The medic roared with laughter, "He has over a trillion dollars, your money means nothing to him..."

"Alright, whatever..Just get him to help, for the love of God- this man is dying. We need to save him."

After what Yuna did to Franz, she knew Baldur would likely never help her.

She decided to call Baldur anyway, and plead with him.

Yuna knew she would probably have to do something humiliating, knowing Baldur as she did. She didn't care, though. She would do ANYTHING to get Alec back.

She then called Baldur, hoping he would somehow understand.

Baldur answered, "Hello... Dr. Baldur Von Schacht speaking, Field Marshal, Medical Doctor, Scientist, Researcher, and CEO of Schacht Chemicals Inc and Schacht Advanced Pharmaceuticals Inc, I'm not taking calls from the media right now, so.. Well, who is this?"

"Yuna Mannerheim- I'll make this quick. My husband is dying- you're the only man who can help. I'll do anything, Baldur. Please, just help Alec, please.."

Baldur smiled, "Ah, so you need my help eh?"

Baldur knew that he had Yuna right where he wanted her. The question is, would he take advantage of her?

Yuna replied, "Yes, Baldur. I admit it. I need your help now more than ever."

Baldur sighed, "Oh fine, I suppose I can..." He then roared with laughter and chuckled, "Do nothing! This is for Franz!" He then hung up.

Yuna called back. "Not just yet- you'll have to appeal to him somehow. The question is, how far am I willing to go," she thought.

Baldur answered again, "Yes Yuna, what?"

"Baldur, please..I know I was a bitch when I did what I did to Franz. That spiraled out of control- I never meant to hurt him like that. I still need your help, though. If you could find it in your heart to take pity on Alec...I would be eternally grateful."

He shook his head, "No, pity is what causes the collapse of civilizations, the weak must die to make way for the strong."

Yuna shook her head, "Alec's a good man, Baldur. He's a loyal servant of the people--his work isn't finished yet."

Baldur chuckled, "Maybe his work isn't... But he sure is."

She gulped, then said. "Baldur, If you ever wanted to believe me, believe me now. I will do ANYTHING so that Alec may live. ANYTHING."

Baldur frowned, "See Yuna, I'm married, happily so, and you've so much VD, you'd put an entire brothel of French whores to shame... I just don't want anything from you..."

She gulped again, "I know you don't want me, Baldur. However, I do know you want to get revenge on me for what I did to Franz..."

Baldur smiled evilly, "Yes... And I have an idea, it will probably take a week for me to save Alec, depending on how much surgery and such he needs.... During that week, you will remain at an RG club in, say, Stahlecker City, in Western Sahara, or maybe you could decide on the club, but you'd be well, servicing any officers that want to be serviced."

Yuna sighed, "How many are we talking about?"

He grinned at this part, "Maybe four or five... Hundred."

"You do realise that I'd probably die, yes?"

Baldur shook his head, "No, no, I'll give you some medication to keep you from dying."

"And you're SURE this is the only thing I can do to get you to help Alec?"

Baldur smiled, "Yes, I'm sure."

Yuna sighed, and said to herself, "God, forgive me." She then said into the phone, "Alright, Baldur. You win."

She gulped, then said, "I'll go."

Baldur smiled, "Good, I want you to hear you arrived at one of our various RG brothels... There is the SRG gentleman's club at the Stalingrad estate, it would save you the trouble of having to travel."

"Alright. Now, Baldur, I'm trusting that you keep your word."

"If you don't, then I may be forced to have you eliminated.."

Baldur was almost insulted, "I always keep my word..."

Baldur then got into his helicopter, still talking over his cell phone to Yuna, "I'm on my way to the Stalingrad estate. It has been arranged Alec will be in the hospital, you on the other hand, I expect to see you outside the front of the club at the SRG divisional base near the hospital, we'll meet and talk, I'll see you actually go in... Then I'll help Alec."

"Alright. You had better help Alec. God help you if you don't." She then hung up.

Baldur was waiting for her outside the front of the building when she got there.

She glared at him. "You must be happy as fuck, aren't you?"

He smiled and patted her on the head like a dog, "Yes, indeed I am, this is for Franz..." He injected her with something, then gave her a shove, "Get in there..."

Yuna spent the next week at the officers “club” and wound up suffering a complete mental breakdown which caused her to resign from all government positions she held in Sevaris. She and Alec though, were both alive. Baldur had kept his word and saved Alec.

After the week had gone by, Curtis found out what had happened to Yuna. He immediately got her out of the "club" and took her back to his mansion. She was barely conscious, in a state of semi-unconscious, totally exhausted. She woke up about twelve hours later in a very comfortable bed in one of the guest rooms there.

Yuan was confused. "Where..where am I," she asked.

She thought to herself, "Is this death?"

A few minutes later, Curtis walked into the room, asking, "Yuna, are you awake?"

Yuna was puzzled, "Curtis?"

Curtis nodded his head, "Yes, it's me..." He then added in a very gentle and calm voice, "I'm here for you Yuna, what do you need?"

"Is Alec alive? I hope to God he is.."

Curtis nodded his head again, saying only, "Yes..." before adding; "He's alive and well, in the hospital."

Yuna sat up. "I guess I owe you one for getting me out of there...Thanks."

Curtis smiled as he sat down on the edge of the bed, "Yuna, you know really I care for you... Although you also know I think you ought to be with me, I mean Alec, whether you like him or not, I think he's messed you up. When you were with me, you were only with me, I kept you in line and I kept other men away from you, Alec's failed to do that. Yuna, no offense, but you require discipline and control, you realize that, yes?"

"I understand where you're coming from," she added," but Alec gave me something good. He let me be me. He loves me for who I am." She continued, "I know I've made reckless judgement in the past- but we all have. We're human, Curtis. Remember, I did what I did out of my own volition- Alec didn't pressure me to do it. Sure, he thought it was stupid- indeed it was, but he had faith in me."

Curtis shook his head, "No, no, no, Yuna, I'm saying that Alec ought to be more controlling for your own sake. He needs to be more strict and controlling, Yuna, you're a fiercely independent woman who needs to be reined in every now and then. Although to be honest, I really did like your independent streaks, but not too often, you know?"

"I understand. I know I'm a bit of a loose cannon. Alec likes that. I also know that I need to control my emotions- I can't let them get the best of me all the time. Alec can't always be there to help me, as much as he tries. I have to learn to control my emotions myself."

"Unfortunately," she sighed, "I seem to have failed in that department."

Curtis gently put his arms around her and patted her on the back, saying, "Don't worry, Yuna, you'll be okay... Okay?"

"Alright," she nodded. "Could you bring Alec here, though? I really need to talk to him."

"There's much we have to settle- I pray I'm not too late, though."

Curtis sighed a bit, "Don't worry, Alec is okay... But he'll be in the hospital for a few weeks to recover."

"Alright. How bad was he hurt?' She asked.

Curtis frowned before telling her the whole awful truth, "Major brain damage..." He said.

Yuna buried her hands in her face," He's a vegetable, isn't he?"

Curtis shook his head, immediately saying, "No, he's okay, they basically repaired him, as good as new... But he might not be as qualified to rule as he used to be, he might have trouble thinking on his feet as well as he used to. But there ought not to have been more than five or six points in IQ reduction."

Yuna smiled, "What's the difference? I'm sure he'll still be as good as he ever was. But, tell me something--why did the guards do it?"

Curtis shook his head again, shrugging a bit as he asked, "I don't know... I really don't know... They say he refused to be searched and refused to respond to their reasonable demands."

Yuna cocked an eyebrow. "That's odd- Alec always gets searched before he goes into major government buildings- he wouldn't object."

Curtis shrugged, "Well apparently he did this time... I don't know what happened, maybe they refused him entry and he got cocky?"

Yuna shook her head, "I really doubt it. Something's not right here..."

OOC: Good, I think I'm probobly the only one on NS that read all of it.

bump

OOC: Good, I think I'm probobly the only one on NS that read all of it.

No, I too have no life :)


By the way, very good RP

OOC: Good, I think I'm probobly the only one on NS that read all of it.

OOC: Now that's not true, I read it and I thought it was quite good, humorous in some parts even, and generally well thought out.