Miss Tara Maclay, Citizen of the Terran Empire

[xita]

Wow, you are really laying out the plot now. It seems such an overwhelming task for them to accomplish , though as you say they don't even know what the task is. And Willow jealousy, ooh you snuck a little bit in there. I love it.

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"The suspense is terrible. I hope it'll last."

-Willie Wonka

[TareBearRS]

Wow, some updates you just gave us...



They have so much against them right now.. i hope they will be able to help eachother get through this.



Renate

***I will make me a willow cabin at your gate and call upon my soul within the house... I rush into the secret house***

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-





Things to do today-laundry, the dishes, pick up, or write? All of them of course, with an emphasis on the writing. My round about way of saying there may be an update before the weekend.



xita- Oh yes, huge task on a dangerous field without knowing the boundries. What Kipling called "the Great Game" is underway, and the pawns are feeling their way. And one of those pawns is keeping green eyes on another



TarBearRS- Those three words-"help each other"- so simple and yet so hard.



And now, the dishes. Along with my thanks for your kind words.





Jixer

[CaptMurdock]

Ah, the Byzantine Plot unfolds! This is getting to be a real page-turner (so to speak)!



Excellent work!

_________________



"Honey, in case you didn't hear me the first six thousand times: no more teleportation spells."

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Amazingly enough there's an update after this. How's that for a shock?



CaptMurdock- I'm sorry about the Gordian knot plot but my computer seems to have been straying to Tom Clancy websites Of course if anyone ever deserved epic treatment its Willow and Tara.



And now without further delay, the update.



Jixer

[jixer]

The city of Oldenberg is as charming as the nation around it. It invites the artist, the pedestrian, and nearly everyone else. Oldenberg is the most easy-going of any of the German League of Nations and its capitol leads by example. Be prepared to find yourself relaxing the moment you arrive.



Fodor’s Guide To Europa, 85th Edition







PREVIOUSLY





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“She’s a medical discharge with a schedule full of hypno-therapists,” he said unhappily. “A grade one clerk’s assistant? She’s eighteen. And she’s being put up for that? What gives?”



“She was at Tanner’s Crossing,” Abigail said softly. “The hypnos are probably for survivor guilt. That would be like her.”



“Is this citation real?” Chin asked in an awed tone as he read the forms on his monitor.



“According to my Patrick, yes,” Abigail said with a hint of pride.



“Student at Oldenberg?” the intelligence officer asked after a moment. “Scholarship awarded with her decoration from a little heard of fund?”



“Plausible,” the old woman agreed. “I’ll give her a bit more background on the situation. She needs to be needed right now.”





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“Honey, what’s wrong?” Tara said softly. Dawn looked up at her through her tears.



“Tildy…Tara,” Dawn said raggedly. “I-I saw Harold. He-he watched over me and, and, oh God, he’s dead because of me...”





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“A pity,” Travers sighed. “Perhaps I should send you back to your father to be safe.”



“No!” Cordelia replied anxiously. “I can help. I’ve got to help.”



“We don’t even know where to look,” Travers said distantly.



“I’ve been thinking about that,” she said hurriedly. “There’s a couple of things that may help us find them before they get hurt.”





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Miss Tara Maclay, Citizen of the Terran Empire

Chapter 13









The sunlight on the roses in the garden had never been so lovely. Joyce looked up from her book at the sound of laughter. Dawn was running towards her with Beth just a step behind. Then the roses became a wall and she heard her girls cry out in fright. Suddenly there were soldiers around her and martial music was coming from the ballroom. Soldiers were marching in time to the music while officers squired her in an intricate waltz while her children called for her. The music turned shrill…



Joyce awoke with a start. Hannah looked down at her sadly with a cup of tea in her hand.



“I’m sorry, madam, you were sleeping through that racket,” the maid said as she pointed to the gilt porcelain alarm clock. “Perhaps you should stay in bed?”



“No,” Joyce said wearily. “The dance must go on.”





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“But I want her safe!” Buffy snapped. “The palace means palace guards, and soldiers and-and safe.”



“And public,” Giles said quietly. “If the King takes in Dawn he is bound by law, custom and treaty to do certain things. Things like demand your mother’s release-”



“Good!” Buffy interjected.



“Which would begin hostilities without a doubt,” William said gently.



“And mean that your mother was less useful as a hostage,” Giles added. “Once these people have what they want…the Countess is no longer an asset.”



Buffy closed her eyes. When she opened them there was a hint of tears. Giles took her into his arms as William looked away. Finally the small young woman stood straight and nodded.



“Let’s do this before I change my mind,” she said with a confidence that sounded false even to her.





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“Are you s-s-sure about this?” Tara asked as she smoothed out Dawn’s vest.



“We’re making this up as we go along,” Riley admitted. “You know, when I left to come here my aunt just gave me an extra sweater.”



“Mine was a bit more practical,” Tara mused. “But I have to admit I, um, th-thought it was a bit paranoid at the time.”



“Nothing says ‘I care’ like a spare spider-silk armor shirt,” the tall young man said with a lean smile.



“Don’t pull at it,” Tara said to Dawn. “Don’t call attention to it.”



“But it’ll stop any bullet on Europa,” Dawn replied. “I’m invincible.”



“Unless that bullet is aimed at your head,” the mercenary pointed out.



Dawn gave a short gulp and put her hands down to her sides. There was a knock in code at the door. Riley stepped back out of line with the door. Tara looked out and saw Willow. She opened the door.



“Hi,” both girls said at the same instant. Willow smiled at Tara for another handful of seconds, then she turned to Riley. “They’re ready.”



“Excuse me ladies,” he said with a bow. “Oh, Miss Maclay, I may need you to add some veracity to our scenario. Got to go, I’m on.”





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As the gangway was lowered to the dock a party of three men surrounding a bundled figure in a dress hurried down the sloping wood to the royal carriages waiting at dockside. They entered one of the carriages with two of the men lifting the small figure between them. Then both vehicles sped away towards the palace with the Oldenberg Dragoons in close escort. In seconds the docks were mostly empty as dozens of people casually loitering at the pier were overcome by a sudden burst of purpose. Most rushed to find a stashed bicycle nearby while others took up a swift pace after the carriages. Only the stevedores and longshoremen were left unloading the Star of Copenhagen.



No one but the dockworkers noticed the other first class passengers as they left.





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“I’m not sure whether to thank you or not, William,” the King of Oldenberg said guardedly. “Welcome to Oldenberg, Miss Summers.”



“Oh, I’m not Dawn,” Anya said as she pushed back the cloak and held out her hand.



“I see,” the King said as he took her hand mostly out of reflex.



“Good,” Anya said giving the older man a vigorous handshake. “Your biological son said you’d notice. I’m just a different human.”



“Anya, you can stop shaking his hand now,” William said gently.



“Are you sure?” Anya asked. “I wouldn’t want to be rude.”





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Willow watched Buffy as she strode down the gangway in front of their small group without a look back. Willow knew how tense she was even as the small blonde slipped easily into the role of reporter. Willow wanted to look back as well. She wondered how soon Tara would be registered at the University.



There’s one school I might stay on Europa for, Willow thought wistfully. Her other thoughts faded as Buffy whistled in a most unladylike manner.



“Yo!” Buffy yelled. “Cab!”





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Dawn looked out the porthole as her sister climbed into a cab on the dock. The driver cracked his whip and the carriage disappeared quickly into the morning traffic. As she turned she saw Tara put something under her jacket and then look at herself in the mirror. The off world girl nodded and picked up her rucksack. Dawn did the same. As she turned back to Tara the older girl straightened out her jacket collar and looked closely at her mouth.



“You’re not going to wash my face, are you?” Dawn asked in a timorous voice.



“You’re safe from that horror,” Tara said with a lopsided grin. “Get your hat.”



A few minutes later the last of the First Class passengers walked down the gangway. Tara shortened her grip on her staff to match the more careful steps walking in a city demanded. Beside her she could see Dawn staring about her. Tara could understand the girl’s fascination.



As they made their way off the docks Tara knew she would be spending hours here one day. Along the docks themselves tidy buildings of colorful brick sported awnings that fluttered gently in the breeze. Doors and windows were painted to catch the eye. Nearly every upstairs window sported a wrought iron frame that held a box of flowers. She could only imagine the dedication it took to get a box of white roses to bloom so prolifically. Then they headed into the city along a narrow street lined with small shops. Dawn was the first to catch the scent from one particular place.





A few minutes later Tara was vowing to walk everywhere in Oldenberg. The pastry that was rapidly disappearing seemed to be filled with ambrosia, not cheese. The coffee was delicately hinting of chocolate under the barely sweet cream. As they passed a tiny gem of a park a trio of hopeful pigeons followed the girls. The small fragment of succulent pastry disappeared quickly under an iridescent tangle.



“How can they fly?” Dawn asked as she looked at the rotund birds.



Just then a small and ancient dog of uncertain lineage whuffed at the pigeons and they took off in a clumsy burst of energy. Dawn grinned as they wheeled up the narrow street and whirled over the rooftops.



“I don’t think I brought enough paper,” Tara said wistfully as she followed the birds flight and saw yet another scene that called for a sketch as a little girl squealed in delight at the aerial display flying past her window box.



Tara started them off again. Dawn thought she was showing a lot of interest in the little shops until she watched how Tara used the reflections in the windows to look behind them. The teen felt tense when Tara walked right up to a policeman and asked for directions to the hotel Tara had circled in her guidebook. Tara seemed to ask a lot of questions of the patient official.



“Are we being followed?” Dawn asked as they started out again.



“Not as far as I can tell,” Tara replied. “None of the people have the same coloring or shape to their face.”



Dawn was about to ask another question when Tara stopped and stared at a handbill posted in a window. The off-worlder started to page through her guidebook.





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“What time is it?” Buffy asked looking out the window of the modest hotel.



“”Ten past, or two minutes later than the last time you asked,” Giles said as he looked over his glasses. “We need to wait until noon. You might want to read the paper.”



“They published the whole column in the local paper,” Willow said excitedly looking up from the periodical. “You’re the ‘Times correspondent at large’ with a byline and everything!”



“They syndicated the story?” Giles asked looking over Willow’s shoulder.



“And there’s an editorial too,” Willow added. “They say you bring up points that people in power need to ‘consider carefully’.”



“Are you famous?” Alex asked.



“No, but I think this makes it more realistic to get an interview with the King now,” Buffy replied as she looked at her words in print for the first time. “I hope Mom is seeing this, and Dawn,” Buffy whispered. “What time is it?”





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Tara could feel Dawn’s mix of curiosity and worry as they entered the hotel in the middle of Oldenberg’s theatre district. As they took the stairs to the second floor Tara opened her jacket. A dark haired girl leaned against the wall on the landing moved to block their passage.



“Nice lining,” the lean brown eyed girl said in a challenging tone. “Get it at OmniMart?”



“At a little place on J-Jocelyn,” Tara replied as a sudden image of a darting black and white dog came to mind. “Touch not the cat but a glove.”



“Now’s not a good time,” the girl said quickly.



“Faith,” an older woman said gently. “Make sure we’re not disturbed.”



The girl glared at Tara as she passed with Dawn. As they went down the hall Tara could see the doors to the rooms were open. Everywhere people were packing. Instruments were being wrestled into bags. A trio of dancers or acrobats hurried by with the fluid motion of frightened gazelles. Voices would be raised until Faith or the older woman said something. Finally the woman led them to a room with a rucksack on the bed and closed the door.



“Nunquam non paratas,” the woman said levelly to Tara.



Tara pulled out a small titanium and polymer derringer from under her coat. She could see Dawn stare at the weapon. The woman nodded.



“I’m Chloe,” she said easily. “Who sent you?”



“Aunt Abigail,” Tara said relaxing a bit as she put away the small weapon.



“How’s Hector’s purr these days?” Chloe asked evenly.



“Old terriers don’t purr,” Tara responded. “But he is a bit, umm, aromatic.”



“I don’t suppose this is a social call,” Chloe said with a shrug. “What level?”



“Flash, I think,” Tara said hesitantly. “It’s important to get this out as soon as possible without letting the other side know it even exists. It’s about the PR.”



“Get the message ready,” Chloe said suddenly attentive. “Have you used one of these?”



She handed Tara a notebook with what looked like lines of neatly lettered gibberish.



“Yes ma’am,” Tara said unsurely. “But that was in training.”



“At least you’ve used a one time pad,” the older woman smiled. “Get on it while I break some bad news to my best collie.”



“Who are these people and why is she talking to her dog?” Dawn asked after Chloe left.



“These people took me in when I left home,” Tara said as she worked on her message. “This is clan McHeath, at least part of them. They help performers all over the Empire. A collie is a family term for people who help by, umm, guiding or protecting the artists.”



“You performed?” Dawn asked trying to reconcile the quiet young woman in front of her with the artists outside. Suddenly the door opened and a thin young man in glasses looked at the girls quizzically. Tara pulled her hand back to write her message.



“Hello Wesley,” Tara said letting her breath out carefully.



“Oh, hello Tara,” the young man replied. “Have you seen my slippers? I can’t compose without them.”



“Compose?” Dawn asked.



“Claire, this is Wesley Windham-Pryce-” Tara started.



“But you’re so young!” Dawn exclaimed. “I mean, all that music-”



“No, no slippers,” Tara interjected.



“Wes, you’ve got to get packed,” Faith said from the hall.



“Oh, yes,” Wesley said as he turned to leave. “I have to hurry, Miss Claire. Faith, have you seen my slippers?”



“Maybe Francesca has them,” Faith said. Tara looked at the young woman carefully as a feeling of jealousy surged briefly.



“Oh God, not her,” Wesley said rolling his eyes. “Could you get them back from her?”



“No prob,” Faith said with a grin. Tara felt the jealousy vanish. She watched the young man look after the retreating form of the lean young woman. Then he shook his head and closed the door.



A few minutes later Chloe opened the door with Faith in tow. The younger woman had a pair of slippers in her hand. Dawn thought that once they might have had pink noses and ears, but much wear had left them shapeless and looking bedraggled.



“But you know how hard it is to keep Wes on track,” Faith was saying.



“This is more important to the clan,” Chloe said firmly.



Faith’s face was a study in torn loyalties. Then she straightened up and shrugged her shoulders.



“No prob,” she said offhandedly.



“Thank you,” Chloe said rubbing the bridge of her nose. “Are you ready, Tara?”



“This is as much as I’ve gotten,” Tara said holding out a slip of paper.



Faith took the paper and read the letters there in groups of five twice. “Got it,” she said with a cool smile. Chloe took the paper and looked at it carefully.



“Fifth group, third line,” she said looking at Faith.



“P-B-N-E-X,” Faith recited.



“All right,” Chloe sighed. “Be smug.”



“Got that down,” Faith grinned. “What’s the job?”



“Get to the starport as quickly as possible,” Chloe said tiredly. “You know the planetary situation. Here’s some money. It’s okay to eat and to pay for the food as well, remember?”



“Takes all the fun out of it,” Faith teased.



“Get going, and Faith,” Chloe said looking worried. “Take care of yourself.”



Faith gave the older woman an urchin grin and darted for the window. With a cat’s grace she reached through the open window and grabbed the fire escape. She slid down the structure to the alley below and leapt the last two meters. Her landing blended seamlessly into a run.



“Be careful,” Chloe whispered.



“Umm,” Tara started uncertainly. “There’s something about Faith and, ah…”



“Her charge,” the older woman sighed. “I suspected. Did Deidre work with you?”



“A bit, ma’am.” Tara said quietly. “I think it’s, umm, mutual.”



“Oh dear lord, my own version of Moria and Mai Lin,” the older woman sighed. “How long do we have to get the delicate ones off?”



“Get them moving as soon as possible,” Tara replied.





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Riley Finn looked through the neat rows of books in his room. He pulled one volume that revealed a hand-lettered index. He found the article he was looking for and pulled out a copy of Tactical Review and paged quickly to the article he had remembered reading.



“Thought so,” he said softly to himself.



He put the magazine in a black leather folio and set off for the Prince’s chambers. As he walked through the halls he was reminded again of the odd mix of styles that defined the private part of the palace. The rococo structure mixed with favorite pieces from a dozen generations of House Lilienthal and the toys of the youngest generation now staying at the palace. Even the discrete guards that stopped him seemed a part of the tapestry of the place. Riley stopped at the King’s private library.



“I’d rig for stormy weather, Mr. Finn,” a footman said as he left the room.



“Thanks,” Riley said as he knocked on the carved doors.



“Now what?” the King’s voice called out.



“You wanted my report as soon as I had all the data, sire,” Riley said politely as he entered the book-lined room.



“Very well, Mr. Finn,” the King said as he sat down in an old overstuffed chair. “What do you have? Anything on this stranger my son entrusted with the key to this disaster and this theory?”



Riley looked at the King more closely. Randolph the Second, King of Oldenberg was looking every second of his nearly fifty years. There were dark circles under his eyes. Then Riley looked to the chancellor and the off-worlder noticed that for the first time since he’d been here Riley was seeing the stiff older man in his shirtsleeves with his collar undone. Maps and papers were on every available surface. William had looked up briefly but was back to looking through a pile of telegrams and dispatches.



“This should help explain Miss Maclay,” Riley said opening the folio slowly. “As for the theory, I’m afraid it may be too real.”



The King pulled his glasses from his forehead and started to read the article. He looked up after a minute.



“All right, she’s brave, but what makes you think she’s trustworthy?” he asked.



“Instinct, observation, and verifiable past actions,” Riley said evenly.



The King ran his fingers through his graying hair and looked at his son. William was making a list as he poured over the telegrams and dispatches from every nation on the Peninsula and many beyond.



“William, I’m sorry,” Randolph sighed. “You were right.”



“And you’re exhausted,” the Prince replied worriedly. “When was the last time you or Von Soden had a night’s sleep?”



“We’re old,” the chancellor said wearily. “We don’t need that much sleep.”



“That long?” William replied.



“There’s too much happening right now,” the King said. “I’ve got every one of the missions demanding to know if I actually have Lady Summers. That Mercian Travers, the one King John listens to so closely, is talking about postponing the signing of the trade agreement.”



“But that’s mostly to cover the talks between Wessex and Mercia,” William frowned. “Both kings will be here sub rosa tomorrow. Then there’s Rhiannon and Ryan who are expressing ‘grave concern’ about Sussex.”



“And a dozen warships in the harbor, and another stack of cables, and two thousand helpful German boys looking for a glorious war camped on the southern border,” Randolph said tiredly. “I’ve mobilized every reservist we can afford just to keep the peace. I wonder if who’s ever behind this is just basking in their success.”





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“What do you mean, you can’t tell?” Travers hissed.



“I woke up this morning with a screaming headache,” Tyrrell snapped. “One like I had in Brest. I’d say she’s here, somewhere.”



“I agree, sir,” Julia said evenly.



“Why?” Travers asked tightly. “Because that vain Irish fool stayed away from your bed?”



“Exactly,” Julia said levelly. “He was herded away on the trip here.”



“So Miss Summers could be here, but neither of you know where,” Travers growled. “I’ve gotten better information from a gossiping maid this morning. The woman William arrived with is definitely not Dawn Summers. She’s evidently some sort of high tech harlot.”



“There was an incident on board ship,” Julia said suddenly as she reached for a small notebook. “A gambler was using a construct to cheat at cards. He’s in jail now. The person who uncovered it was a…Tara Maclay, Imperial citizen. She came aboard at Brest with a servant.”



“An Imperial citizen?” Travers said darkly. “I’ll run this name past our financier. In the mean time, look for this citizen. Check the best hotels and the smart shops.”



“She’ll be headed there, all right,” Julia said in a catty tone. “She was practically traveling in rags.”



“Very well,” Travers nodded. “But do it yourself, no hirelings or agents who might talk later. I have no desire to be the subject of an Imperial inquiry. I would suggest using Miss Chase as a stalking horse. She moves in those circles and is a most oblivious young woman. Now come with me, Mr. Tyrrell.”



“Why?” the hard eyed man asked.



“You’re going to wait for a blinding headache,” Travers said with a mirthless smile.





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Tara opened the door to their hotel room. It was small since the hotel near the train station usually catered to those local travelers on a budget. She opened her rucksack and took out a few things.



“Claire,” she said softly as she pulled out her white blouse. “Could you get this ready?”



“But it’s too hard,” Dawn said with a dramatic slump of her shoulders.



“Get to work,” Tara warned in a gruff voice.



Dawn shook the garment three times as hard as she could. The wrinkled blouse hung in her hands without a wrinkle. Tara looked at the blouse and scowled.



“It usually just takes one shake,” she said. “Now Europa’s interfering with my wardrobe.”



“And making your servant work her fingers to the bone,” Dawn said lifting her hand to her forehead.



“Try to recover,” Tara teased as she pulled on the blouse.



As Tara looked in the mirror she sighed. There was no way anyone could take her seriously. She was too young, and Tara knew her stutter would come out at the worst possible time. She looked at the rucksack. She opened it again and took out the small box. Tara opened the high tech case and stared at the decoration there for a long moment. Then she took the rosette in the same colors and pinned it carefully on the center of the left lapel. She looked in the mirror and saw a much older pair of eyes looking back at her. Dawn stirred and Tara braced herself for the question she was sure was coming.



“Tara, do you like Willow?” Dawn asked quietly.



“She’s a v-v-very n-nice person,” Tara replied quickly.



“Yeah, she’s neat,” Dawn agreed. “I mean, ah, do you like her like…a girlfriend as in, you know, dating?”



“Umm,” Tara replied as she tried to find words.



“You were holding hands,” Dawn said quickly.



“It’s complicated,” Tara replied.



“I saw her smiling at you, even when you weren’t looking at each other,” Dawn said almost wistfully.



“Really?” Tara asked-and then blushed.



“I guess you do like her,” Dawn said with a happy smugness.



“I do,” Tara admitted. “Are you freaked out?”



“No,” the young teen said thoughtfully. “It’s cute, really.”



“I feel my aloof, hard-edged reputation fading fast,” Tara said shaking her head. “Dawn, You’ve got to be, umm, you know, careful around Buffy and the o-others.”



“Buffy would never guess,” Dawn said surely. “But your secret is safe with me.”



“Good,” Tara said reaching for her staff. “We need to get moving.”



The girls went downstairs and Dawn watched Tara become just another student tourist. The off-worlder asked the desk clerk for directions using her copy of Fodor’s Guide to Europa. The clerk assured her that the palace was the first place to see, and recommended she take a day for the palace and it’s grounds alone. Tara thanked him and started in the direction of the palace. Dawn noticed that Tara’s eyes never seemed to stop moving. Finally they came to the great square park in front of Oldenberg Castle. Tara knew a day would never be enough.



The castle itself was a romantic poem of brick, marble and granite with graceful wrought iron accents. The weathered copper roof gave an old green friendliness to the building that made the fountains and tree-lined boulevard seem even more inviting. The gatehouse was the palace in miniature with guards in formal Oldenberg uniforms on guard. The only jarring note were the more somber field uniforms of officers and soldiers that stood guard at the doors of the Palace itself.





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Willow looked self-consciously at her reflection in the mirrors of the official wing of the palace. After waiting a few minutes and having their bags checked the group was shown into the King’s office. A moment later King Randolph entered the office flanked by a pair of large men.



“Welcome to Oldenberg, Miss Summers,” Randolph said easily. “I trust you found accommodations.”



“Yes, your highness,” Buffy replied. “We’re double bunking at the Hotel Athena.”



“You are mistaken, my dear,” the King replied. “Clear eyed journalists are to be valued, especially in times like these. You’ll stay here at the palace while you’re in Oldenberg.”



There was a strangled noise from their escort. The King looked up at the man.



“Yes, Franz?” he said in a warning tone.



“It’s just that, with all the other guests already here fitting such an eminent journalist-”



“And her staff,” Buffy interjected.



“And her staff,” Franz added venomously. “Well, it would mean putting them near the royal apartments.”



“Excellent idea,” the King said nodding. “Good thinking, Franz. See to it while we get on with this interview. We need to get our views to the public.”



“Yes, your highness,” Franz said in a resigned tone as he bowed and closed the doors behind him.



“Now, Miss summers if you and your people will come with me,” Randolph said firmly. “There are some people you need to meet.”





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“Explain yourself,” King James the Fourth of Mercia, traveling under his title of Duke of Norwich, snapped at his nephew.



“Travers is wrong,” Jonathon said as calmly as he could. “There’s a bigger game going here. It’s not just Etienne’s Reformers or Louis trying to make his brother look bad.”



“Listen to me, child-” James began.



“Excuse me, your grace,” Von Pritwitz said sternly. “Your nephew has conducted himself honorably and intelligently in this affair. He crossed swords with a brigand at the border and dispatched that ruffian. He has pointed things out even an old soldier and hunter like myself missed. He is not a child.”



“And you are?” James asked curtly.



“Heinrich Wilhelm Albrecht Von Pritwitz,” the gray haired man said evenly. “Knight of Saxony and retired Colonel of His Majesty the King of Saxony’s Hussars.”



The King did not miss the omitted bow. The man might have gray hair but he still had a swordsman’s wrists and the ease of a man who had proven himself on many occasions. He held a cane in his hands that James would have bet his most prized horse contained an efficient sword blade.



“I’m glad my nephew has had a steady hand behind him,” James said diplomatically.



“I cannot take the whole credit,” Von Pritwitz said easily. “Lady Douglas of Dunbar also considers Jonathon to be correct in this manner.”



“A formidable woman,” the royal Duke replied. “And one not to be trifled with. She’s a cousin on my mother’s side so I know her sharp mind and sharper tongue. What does she say about my nephew’s thoughts?”



“Her words would be, shall we say, blunt but the gist would be to tread carefully, your grace,” Von Pritwitz said in a hard tone.



James frowned at the German knight’s words.





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Tara was glad to see that civilians still wandered through the gatehouse into the Palace grounds proper. There were many other people drawing or taking pictures. Tara asked Dawn for her pad. The girl pulled the pad from her pack and handed it to Tara who started to rough in a sketch. She was quite taken with her study when she heard a familiar voice.



“Miss Maclay?” Riley asked.



“Hello Mr. Finn,” Tara said easily. “You can call me Tara. Shipmates and fellow travelers after all. How is Anya?”



“She’s fine,” Riley said with a smile. “She’s been a most unique guest.”



“May I see her?” Tara asked. “I do feel responsible for her.”



“Come with me,” Riley said offering her his arm.



Tara handed Dawn her sketchpad, then took Riley’s arm. Dawn rolled her eyes and followed, the very model of adolescent reluctance.





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“An Imperial citizen?” Meers asked. “Are you sure?”



“My informant saw her service emblem,” Travers said evenly.



“It might be a coincidence,” Andrew said hopefully.



“Such coincidences are always suspect,” the older man said in a lecturing tone.



“Right,” Meers said. “Besides, I’m supposed to believe some Imperial just helped our target out of some candy floss kindness? Imperials are all connivers. They don’t do anything unless it’s to further their own power. What was this bitch’s name again?”



“Tara Maclay,” Travers said blandly.



“I’ll send her name out and see what comes back,” Warren said darkly.





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Edited by: jixer at: 8/15/03 12:19 pm

[jixer]

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Normally the peaceful tranquility of so many books around her would have eased Willow’s fears. Today this private library did nothing to calm her nerves. William might just be William on board ship but here he was the Crown Prince. Then there was the King of Oldenberg, a chancellor, and a woman Giles had almost called ‘your highness’. She had never had a reallyroyal audience for a presentation before and she desperately wished she had practiced.



“Any, ahhh, questions?” she tried not to squeak.



Just then the door to the library opened and Willow’s eyes were drawn to Tara. She knew Riley and Dawn were there, but Tara being here made the pterodactyls in her tummy back into butterflies. Buffy hurried to Dawn and hugged her. The small blonde looked at Tara with grateful eyes.



“Thank you,” Buffy said softly.



“Yes, Miss Maclay,” Randolph said evenly. “We’ve just heard Miss Rosenberg’s facts and theory. Do you have anything to add?”



Tara looked at Willow for a second. It was enough for Willow to know Tara was uncomfortable. Willow smiled at her and Tara smiled back briefly. Then the girl seemed to disappear as Tara assumed a parade rest. As she did so Willow noticed a rosette of vermillion edged in gold on Tara’s left lapel that she had never seen before.



“I do, sir,” Tara said in clipped, official sounding voice. “I would say my aunt was right.”



“Oh?” the old woman with a regal bearing asked. “How so, Miss Maclay?”



“Let me say first that I am here to enroll as a student in Oldenberg University’s Art History department,” Tara said in a tone that made Willow uneasy. “I received the scholarship with the understanding that I would keep my eyes open and report to the woman I consider my aunt.”



“Was that after you received the Imperial Gold Sunburst?” the chancellor asked bluntly.



“Yes sir,” Tara answered quickly.



“Who arranged this scholarship?” the King asked levelly.



“My aunt, Abigail McHeath, retired Admiral and the former Commander for Intelligence, Fourth Naval District,” Tara replied so steadily Willow could barely make out the nerves under that calm exterior. “She and Captain Chin arranged it.”



“What is Captain Chin’s title?” William asked warily.



“I think it would best be described as ‘classified’,” Tara replied dryly.



Of course, Willow thought in the silent moment that followed. A beautiful woman who has the highest award the Empire can give came here on a spying scholarship and I thought I had a chance to be with her.



“What help can you offer, Miss Maclay?” Randolph asked finally.



“None, sir,” Tara said in what Willow thought of as her own voice. “W-we didn’t know it had gone this far. I’m just supposed to report.”



“Thank you for stepping beyond your duty again, Miss Maclay,” the older woman said standing up. “Randy, I think we need to talk.”





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





James Tyrrell hurried down the palace hall. This section was full of small apartments for minor visiting officials. Now he was glad Quentin Travers had accepted a room in the busier wing. No one looked twice at him as he nearly ran from the building. It wasn’t until he’d gotten to the city’s center that he could feel his talent stabilize. He looked for a pharmacy, and after he had purchased something for his throbbing head he looked for the shadier part that all cities had hidden somewhere. He was tired of being blinded and turned into a lower creature. It was time to see if the rumors about certain alkaloids were right





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“Are we leaving soon?” Anya asked as she hugged Tara.



“I’m going to work on getting you to my aunt as soon as this is done,” Tara replied.



“Does she need orgasms? From a human I mean,” Anya asked.



“Umm, n-n-no, she was, you know, married to man,” Tara explained in a flustered voice.



“That doesn’t preclude a lesbian relationship or a desire for female-induced orgasms in some re-humans,” Anya explained brightly. “Maybe I can teach her. I’ve been told I’m very educational.”



“You are,” Tara admitted quickly.



“Thank you,” Anya replied with a wide smile.



“I, umm, Anya-I mean-” Tara started.



“Do you need my help?” Anya asked eagerly. “For Dawn and not orgasms?”



“Yes,” Tara said with a relieved sigh.



“Okay!” Anya said as she smiled broadly.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“Shouldn’t I have an invitation?” Cordelia asked as entered. “And this dress isn’t really up to a royal dinner.”



“You’re fine, Miss Chase,” Travers assured her. “This is more a series of calls and a working dinner. Not very glamorous I’m afraid.”



“It’ll help Beth and Willow?” the young woman asked earnestly.



“If we can find them,” Travers said sadly. “Remember what I said about the danger they were in?”



“Yes,” Cordelia said tightly.



“It may be deeper than I feared,” Travers said softly. “We must tell no one of our true mission. Do you understand?”



“Yes,” she answered trying to sound resolute.



“I envy your father his daughter,” Travers said nodding.



Even in her worry Cordelia smiled.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Willow was in the main library of the palace. Tonight it was a busy place with nearly every seat taken at the long tables. In front of her a stack of incorporation records and international directories were telling a story that was a year and a half old. Through the newest publications she traced a series of once moribund newspapers to a single company with its headquarters in Zenda. Hoffman Publishing had the bare minimum information listed in the bulging Zenda listing of companies.



“Privately held,” Willow muttered. She blushed at her breach of library discipline.



She stood up and took back the large stack of thick books. As she paused at the desk to have her materials reshelved she saw a copy of the most recent Imperial Register laying on the desk. She looked around but the librarians were busy. She picked it up and looked at the index. She quickly ran her trembling finger down the M listing until she came to ‘Maclay, Tara’. Willow picked up the book and hurried back to her seat. She opened the book to the page listed and saw the heading ‘For Valor in Service of the Empire’. There were sixteen entries in the section dealing with the Gold Sunburst. Most of the listings had an asterisk in front. Willow looked at the footnote and blanched when she read ‘posthumous award’.



Willow read through the first part of the citation. She already knew Tara had been born on Milton and enlisted on Jocelyn. It was jarring to see the name of the planet for it meant ‘place of peace’. She’d heard of Tanner’s Crossing. Willow felt her mouth get dry as she read the body of the citation:



Clerk’s Assistant 1st Class (then CA 3rd Class) Maclay, after voluntarily giving up her place on the extraction aircraft was attached to the headquarters squad of the 1st Company, 2nd Battalion, 417th Imperial Marine Regiment. As casualties mounted CA 1st Maclay took over running supplies of power cells, water and ammunition to the Marines on the perimeter. Coming to a wounded Marine she pulled her to the shelter of the Administration Building. As fire intensified she continued to bring badly needed supplies to the perimeter even though her route was exposed to mortar fire. She recovered two more wounded Marines. On her last trip the perimeter forces primary VRF weapon’s crew was incapacitated by enemy fire. Though exposed she was able to pull the sole survivor of the crew to cover while providing covering fire with her sidearm. When a wounded and unarmored Marine arrived at the VRF post to man the weapon CA 1st Maclay gave him her helmet and carapace chest armor. She then began to pull the stricken Marine to the Administration Building for treatment. She was wounded severely in the lower legs by a mortar round that mortally wounded the Marine she was escorting. A rescue attempt was thwarted by deadly mortar fire. CA 1st Maclay gave first aid to the dying Marine until she passed out from her wounds…



Willow looked around her, suddenly glad for the nearby normalcy of the library.



Who did you give up your place for? Willow wondered. You saved three, gave away your armor and I’ll bet there was a smile and kind words for each Marine you gave something to, but you’ll always remember the one you couldn’t save. I’ll bet you cried when you found out they were giving you a medal.



“Willow?” a familiar voice whispered hoarsely.



“Cordelia?” Willow said in a surprised voice.



“Shh!” Cordelia hissed. “Over here.”



The taller girl led Willow to a small whisper alcove. Willow could feel the tension in her friend.



“Are you all right?” Cordelia asked in what she no doubt considered a whisper. “What’s going on? Where’s Beth? Is she all right? Have you heard anything about Dawn?”



“It’s okay,” Willow whispered.



“Okay?” Cordelia asked with raised eyebrows. “You two run off and Dawn’s missing and soldiers are everywhere and it’s okay? Are you in trouble? I can call my father-”



“Everything’s fine,” Willow whispered as she tried to reassure her friend. “Beth’s fine, I’m fine, and don’t worry about Dawn.”



“Don’t worry?” Cordelia asked incredulously. Willow looked at her friend and then looked at main room of the library. There seemed to be no one paying attention to them. Willow took a breath and made her decision.



“Dawn’s fine,” Willow said in a soft voice. “I can’t say any more. Don’t tell anyone, please.”



“You’re coming with me,” Cordelia said earnestly.



“No, I’ve got to stay here with Beth,” Willow insisted. “I’ve got to get back now. Trust me, Cordy.”



“I’m at the King George Hotel,” Cordelia said. “If any of you need anything call on me there.”



“I promise,” Willow assured her. “I’ve got to go.”





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“I saw Willow,” Cordelia sighed to Travers in his rooms. “I couldn’t get her to come with me. I think these people are holding Dawn. Willow trusts them.”



“Is that a recommendation?” Travers asked carefully.



“She has the political instincts of a turnip,” the young woman said tiredly. “If they have Dawn why not say so and stop all this murder talk? Then things will get back to normal.”



“If they want things to get back to normal,” Travers said darkly.



“What are we going to do?” Cordelia asked.



“The first step is to have transport ready to get your friends away from here,” the older man said.



“I could ask for a Special!” Cordelia said quickly. “Daddy-my father lets me all the time.”



“Very good idea,” Travers agreed. “You do that. Tell them stand by for, say, forty eight hours.”



“We can save them, can’t we?” Cordelia asked worriedly.



“We’ll get them out of Oldenberg’s clutches,” Travers promised.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Quentin Travers walked through the night towards a small park near the palace. Around the park there were half a dozen embassies including Mercia’s. No one would ask why a diplomat was going down that street even at night. He stopped and entered a building just a half block away from the park. The small brass plaque read ‘The Elmwood’ and was the only mark for one of the most expensive and discrete hotels on the Peninsula. More than one diplomat had a mistress or lover here. Travers entered took the small birdcage elevator to the floor above the one he wanted. He walked down the stairs after making sure he had not been followed and knocked on the door of room 314.



“The swallow swims at noon,” Andrew said softly.



“Open the bloody door,” Travers growled.



“But-ow!” came the young man’s voice.



The door opened and Travers saw the smaller man rubbing his head as Meers glared at Andrew. Meers looked into the hall and shut the door.



“Damn I miss surveillance equipment,” Meers muttered. “What’s the story?”



“Summers is most likely at the palace,” Travers said without preamble.



“Great,” growled Meers. “How do we get to her there?”



“We don’t,” Travers said grimly. “I need something to flush our quarry to the stand, and I think you’ll have just what I need.”



“So we’re back on track?” Meers asked.



“I believe we are,” Travers said in a satisfied tone.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Tara closed her eyes and tried to sleep. Her parting with Willow slipped into her imagination.



”You have to go, I know that,” Willow had said softly. “I think its called ‘tradecraft’. But, you know, later…”



“Later?” Tara had asked with her chest pounding.



Then Willow had leaned in quickly and kissed her. The redhead pulled back and smiled, half innocent and half coy. Tara felt her lips tingle where Willow had kissed her.



“Later,” Willow had said, her single word a promise.



Tara opened her eyes and opened the window without turning on the light. The scent of the sea carried by the evening breeze mixed with the flowers outside her window. She smiled at Europa’s nearly full moon.



“There’s going to be a later,” Tara sighed happily.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





In the darker part of Oldenberg a man of evil reputation leaned back on a stool and fondled the young blonde girl roughly. He had wanted Clarice for a week, but she’d turned him down.



“No,” she said firmly.



“Take this on account,” he said with a grin as he handed her a gold coin. Clarice gasped as she recognized the Zendan florin. Then she frowned.



“So you’ve stolen a florin,” she said with a toss of her head. “Big deal.”



“I’ll steal all the treasure of Morlaix for a week between those thighs,” he growled.



Then the man was flying backward and the hardest man she had ever seen turned to Clarice and struck her hard enough to knock the girl to the floor. He grabbed her and lifted her roughly to her fight and placed a knife under her throat.



“Please,” she sobbed. “I don’t like fish!”



“What did you say, whore?” her assailant asked softly.



“He said he’d get me Morris’ treasure, and I swear I won’t say you’re after the fishmonger’s payroll,” she promised.



The man smiled and dropped Clarice to the floor. Then he pried the coin out of her hand.



“Good girl,” he said politely. “Don’t make me come back here.”



The girl cringed as he kicked the groaning man on the floor before dragging him out the door. The attacker picked up a red bandanna with an intricate pattern on it. The girl’s eyes narrowed as she recognized the piece of cloth. The crowd muttered as they turned back to their drinks. Clarice put her hand to her face.



“I’ll get more than a florin for that,” she vowed with quiet anger.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Willow woke to the wonderful smell of coffee and sweet rolls. She looked up and saw Dawn smiling at her. It took a moment for Willow to realize where she was. She wasn’t used to waking up in different places each day.



“You’re smiling because…?” Willow asked almost afraid of the answer.



“Because one of the royal cousins is really cute and because there’s a way to stop this,” Dawn replied happily. “That’s why they let you sleep in. Well that and Buffy threatened to kick the first person who woke you before ten.”



“Ten?!?” Willow squeaked as she tossed back the covers. “We’ve got to get to work!”



“It’s being done,” Dawn assured her. “But my sister probably needs you to make sure she spells ‘the’ correctly.”



“Are you decent?” Anya asked from the doorway.



“You’re supposed to ask before you look in,” Dawn said gently. “But you did ask.”



“Thank you,” Anya said with a smile. “I didn’t expect such a strong reaction for a nudity taboo. Did you know Alexander can blush to his-”



“He’s under a lot of stress,” Willow said quickly.



“I don’t see why he was so flustered,” Anya said. “I was just going to continue the conversation we were having last night.”



“Maybe it was a bit early,” Willow said hoping the conversation would veer in some other direction.



“Where are you going next?” Anya asked Dawn.



“You don’t have to stay with me,” Dawn said gently.



“But remember, Tara asked me to watch over you,” Anya explained. “Besides, I’m learning from your interaction patterns with other humans.”



“Oh,” Willow said with a touch of worry.



“Don’t be alarmed,” Anya said confidently. “With the security restrictions Mr. Giles explained to me there are a limited number of interactions that can take place. Our plan and Dawn will be safe.”



“Good,” Willow said as she picked up her toiletries bag from the suitcase brought from their hotel.



“She’ll be as safe as an insect in a floor covering,” Anya promised.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“So, has anyone actually had the high tech bimbo yet?” Liam asked as he toweled his face in the gym.



“She’s not a thing, she’s a person,” Alex said with some heat.



William was about to step in when Giles put his hand on the Prince’s shoulder. William had been surprised that the older man had been able to hold his own against Riley in close in work with knives and even take the young mercenary down with a very nasty trick in unarmed practice. William looked at Riley who nodded and smiled.



“She’s made for fucking,” Liam said brightly. “Any way, any time.”



“Have you talked to her?” the thin young man asked hotly. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be helpless and just get used?”



“She likes it, boy” Liam said with a smirk. “Maybe I’ll go over right now and…”



“Maybe you’ll leave her alone,” Alex warned.



“Don’t take that tone with your betters,” Liam growled.



“I’m not,” Alexander replied.



“You are,” Liam said and pushed Alex hard. The boy landed in a heap. “That’s a better position for you, boy.”



Alexander didn’t say a word. He just levered himself up as the bigger man looked away and buried his fist into the Irishman’s solar plexus. Liam let out a grunt and staggered back. Then Liam swung hard and bounced a punch off the side of Alex’s head. The smaller young man drove three quick punches into Liam’s ribs and followed up with an upward headbutt that staggered the bigger man.



“I think that’s quite enough,” Giles said quietly.



“I’d prefer if my guests conducted themselves like gentlemen in the future,” William said evenly. “Is that understood?”





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





In the hallway near the gym dawn noticed Anya suddenly looked distracted. The construct tilted her head just so and stepped closely to one wall. She stayed like that for a moment as Dawn tried to see what had drawn her attention. All the teen could see was a glimpse of the gym. Anya looked back at Dawn and gave a thoughtful frown.



“What do you think of Alexander Harris?” she asked.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Quentin Travers had had a busy morning. He had for the most part wandered deep in thought and simply listened. It was just coming up to noon when he had the last bit of information he needed for his next step. He felt the small spheres in his pocket and hoped the off-world solution that inactivated fingerprints and DNA traces worked. He waited in the hallway nearest the royal wing he could get into. Suddenly two additional guards blocked the door beyond. He waited until they were gone. He smiled as he saw a maid enter a nearby room.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Dawn was torn between feeling grateful for the extra security and chafing at the restrictions. She was eating lunch in a small dining room near the middle of the palace next to a dashing young officer when there was a loud snap and screams. Suddenly the room seemed to close in around her and she could swear for a moment she saw Tildy. Then there was another bang and the screams increased. Anya grabbed her and pulled her to the wall just as another explosion crashed nearby. Then silence fell for a moment. The officer stood up and yelled for everyone to leave in an orderly manner. As Anya hustled her out the door an older man with blood streaming from his forehead staggered into the stream of people. Dawn was sure she couldn’t breathe.



Finally outside Anya pulled her close as people asked panicked questions. Dawn started to breathe normally when she saw a woman who could not have been more than twenty with a pregnant belly scream and grab her stomach.



“No!” she cried. “It’s too early!”



Dawn looked away to see the older man kneeling on the ground with several other bleeding people.



“Who did this?” a footman asked in a bewildered tone.



“I don’t know,” said the wounded man. “My God, I was in the room where the first infernal device went off just minutes before it killed that woman.”



“How many were killed?” the footman asked in a panic.



“I don’t know,” the old man said tiredly. “What could be worth killing so many innocent people for? How many more are going to die because of this? Women…old men…my god, babies in their mother’s womb-what sort of monster could cause all this. Is it worth the death and destruction?”



“Please, Travers, calm yourself,” a member of the Mercian delegation said gently as he knelt by the stunned looking diplomat.



“What could possibly be worth all this death?” the old man asked in a confused, angry tone.



Dawn started to cry silently.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“Are you two alright?” Alexander asked breathlessly as he ran up to them.



“She’s crying but she’s not hurt,” Anya said worriedly. “I can’t get her to stop. Somebody’s going to notice and that will violate the security guidelines.”



“Let’s get her into the stables,” Alex said picking the girl up. “Nobody bombs horseshit.”



Anya followed him. She saw a familiar redhead and waved. Willow ran to them with wide eyes. Willow drew Buffy’s attention as she ran and when she saw her sister in Alex’s arms she very nearly called out Dawn’s name. She started after them. She caught up with Willow as she came to the stable doors. The stable was empty, the stalls standing open as an alarm rang in the distance.



“What happened?” Buffy asked urgently. “Are you hurt?”



“It’s because of me!” Dawn wailed. “Those people are dead because of me! Why? Am I a monster?”



“No,” Buffy cried as she pulled her sister into her arms. Buffy started to almost sing as she rocked Dawn, “It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay.”



Willow watched her friend try to comfort the girl who was sobbing brokenly. Anya looked frightened and worried. Alex was stricken but trying to be brave. Willow was surprised as her shock gave way to a cold rage at the people who had hurt innocents and her friends.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





The police station was a madhouse. Clarice had spoken to three different officers. Finally one hen pecked looking older man had listened to her and asked her to stay. He even bought her a lunch.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Tara hurried through the crowded streets toward the palace. She had no idea what she was going to do once she got there but she knew she had to get there. She tried not to listen to the wild rumors around her about the number of dead.



Nothing happened to Willow, nothing happened to Dawn, rolled over and over in her mind like a mantra.



Finally she was at the palace gates. Soldiers barred the way and the crowd waited silently. A man hurried out of the palace with a piece of paper clenched in his hands. He pulled the back of a panel on the gate opened and fastened the paper inside, then swung the panel back to be read. He stepped up to the gate and took a deep breath.



“The King and all his family lives!” the herald called out. “Long live the King!”



“Long live the King!” the crowd called out in relief.



“Please!” Tara called out to the herald. “I need to get in!”



“I’m sorry, Miss,” a soldier nearby said politely.



“Give this to Riley Finn,” she said to the soldier as she dug into her jacket pocket.



The man looked down at the rosette in his hand. A moment passed before he realized what it was. He looked at her closely, then called for the corporal of the guard.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“This means we’re close to their plan,” the chancellor said angrily. “We must ready the diplomatic airship at once. Prove the control of the papers, prove the conspiracy.”



“Perhaps,” Randolph said tiredly. “But we have no one to spare for the mission. I need everyone here just to make sure months of work don’t evaporate and give these bastards more fuel for their fire. It took a company of troops to stop those boys from marching south.”



“I could go,” Willow said timidly.



“I don’t remember asking for your presence, Miss Rosenberg,” the King said gently.



“Oh, I was just here to explain things and carry Mr. Giles’ bag, your highness,” Willow explained in a rush.



“Mr. Giles?” the King asked thoughtfully. “A learned librarian who is used to dealing with delicate situations. Yes, that would be a very good idea. Sir, do you think you could carry out this mission?”



“If Miss Summers is safe here, yes,” Giles said reluctantly. “I will need papers and I’m sure cables must be sent.”



“By the time the airship is ready the papers will be ready as well,” the Chancellor promised. “Though I would feel better with another person going with you.”



There was a discrete knock at the door. It opened to admit a footman. He bowed to the King.



“Sire, Miss Maclay is here with Mr. Finn,” a footman said politely.



“Excellent,” Randolph said. “We may pull this off.”





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Dawn was doing her best to read her book. She couldn’t close her eyes without seeing the bleeding people on the lawn again. She read the page she’d started twice before, determined that this time she’d make it through.



”That’s it!” Claire said excitedly.



“That a hundred men are guarding the castle?” Lisa asked confused by her friend’s outburst.



“Those hundred men are trying to keep people from getting in,” Claire explained. “Not to stop people, especially servants, from going out.”



Dawn read the page again and looked at the door of her room and then the peasant’s clothes she’d been traveling in.



“Nobody else gets hurt,” she whispered.





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“There’s an Inspector Stephan Vorman to see you, sir,” a footman announced to William.



“Why does he want to see me?” William asked tiredly.



“He wanted to see the King or Von Soden, but he’s settling for you,” the servant explained. “He’s quite serious.”



“Perhaps it’s something new on the bombing,” William mused. “Show him in.”



“Thank you, you highness,” the policeman said before the servant could turn around. “I’m afraid this is important, especially with tensions as they are.”



“Oh?” William wondered if anything could make the day worse.



“I think someone has paid the scum of Europa to attack Morlaix in the colors of Prince Etienne of Aquitaine,” the Inspector said in a matter of fact tone.



“Oh, bugger.”





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





“Dawn, is the privacy time up yet?” Anya asked as she looked in Dawn’s small room. “Dawn?”



Anya looked at the neat pile of clothing and the book the girl had been reading on the bed. On the book was a note. ‘For Willow’ was all it said. Anya whirled out of the room and tore down the hall. Buffy stepped out of her room just as Anya found out waxed floors had a lower friction coefficient than she thought.



“What are you running for?” Buffy snapped as she disentangled herself from Anya.



“Dawn,” Anya said quickly.



“What’s wrong?” Buffy demanded.



“She’s gone,” Anya said urgently. “I’ve got to get Mr. Giles.”



“You want Giles?” Willow asked as she looked out her door at the commotion. “He’s with the King.”



“No!” Buffy said quickly. “I know where she’s gone.”



“Who?” Willow asked in a worried tone even though she knew the answer.



“Dawn,” Anya explained. “She wanted a private time so I waited for thirty five minutes and then checked up on her but she was gone.”



“Shouldn’t we tell the King and get some soldiers?” Willow asked urgently.



“No, Will, if they bring her back everyone will know,” Buffy implored. “Please, Willow, I know what I’m doing.”



“All right,” Willow said reluctantly. “But I’m coming with you.”





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



To Be Continued

[Arwen276]

Wow!

So much action, as we near the climax of events!

I just hope Giles' gonna be ready on time!

Dawn, is very foolish but I can understand why she blames herself!

And Anya? well a bit of candid humor relieves some of the tension.

It's also interesting to see what will happen on the airtrip between Willow and Tara.



Eagerly expecting the next update!



~Arwen

Hear That Baby? You're My Always... Willow

[justin]

That was great, as always



Things seem to be getting rather tense at the moment with everyone putting their plans into action and it not being obvious who's working for whom.



Oh but what is Dawn thinking? It seems to me that most of the problems in this sort of story aren't caused by the villains but by people acting alone to try and protect everyone else. When they find her they need to give her a good talking to.

Socialism is all very well in practice, but does it work in theory? - Stephen Fry

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Not an update Just getting to the feedback before the work weekend. I'm not sure when the next update will be hammered into place.



Arwen276- I'm glad Anya's in the mix. She's an outsider trying to understand things like why 'snug as a bug in a rug' is supposed to be reassuring. Then there's Dawn showing why the words 'thirteen years old' make parents gray haired. Now about that trip...



justin- Thank you, you are too kind. 'Secret', 'you're too young to understand', 'I/we know what's best', 'I/we know what we have to do'-words that should be handled like they were nitro-glycerine. And then there's the plan meeting reality. 'Rubber meets the road' becomes 'rubber meets the road and the loose gravel and where did these armadillos come from'



You can take that as foreshadowing if you want .



Thanks to everyone who stopped by,



Jixer

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Still not an update, but one is in the works now that the recertification is done and the car is more or less (usually less) working. I'm still on it and hope to have a short update before the weekend.



Jixer

[jixer]

Scrimp and save and make the time to enjoy one of Europa’s most colorful methods of travel. Imperial scientists have been unable to explain why there should be such large deposits of nonflammable helium on a planet with no petroleum or other fossil fuels. Whatever the reason Europa has the largest number of commercial and private airships in the Empire. Everything from hobbyist dirigibles with a single gasbag to the giants designed off planet and made on Europa can be found in her skies. Take the time and slip between the clouds on one of these stately leviathans. You’ll be glad you did.



Fodor’s Guide To Europa, 85th Edition









PREVIOUSLY





If there is ever a time when you must leave home, you must go to Oldenberg, a worried voice told her urgently. Things may become unsettled. Go to Fourteen Parkstrasse. Tell them you’re my daughter. They’ll know what to do.





===========================================================





“Okay?” Cordelia asked with raised eyebrows. “You two run off and Dawn’s missing and soldiers are everywhere and it’s okay? Are you in trouble? I can call my father-”



“Everything’s fine,” Willow whispered as she tried to reassure her friend. “Beth’s fine, I’m fine, and don’t worry about Dawn.”





===========================================================





“The first step is to have transport ready to get your friends away from here,” the older man said.



“I could ask for a Special!” Cordelia said quickly. “Daddy-my father lets me all the time.”



“Very good idea,” Travers agreed. “You do that. Tell them stand by for, say, forty eight hours.”



“We can save them, can’t we?” Cordelia asked worriedly.



“We’ll get them out of Oldenberg’s clutches,” Travers promised.





===========================================================





“I don’t know,” the old man said tiredly. “What could be worth killing so many innocent people for? How many more are going to die because of this? Women…old men…my god, babies in their mother’s womb-what sort of monster could cause all this. Is it worth the death and destruction?”



“Please, Travers, calm yourself,” a member of the Mercian delegation said gently as he knelt by the stunned looking diplomat.



Dawn started to cry silently.





===========================================================





“I think someone has paid the scum of Europa to attack Morlaix in the colors of Prince Etienne of Aquitaine,” the Inspector said in a matter of fact tone.





===========================================================





Tyrrell eased back in the seat of the cab as he smiled at the small doorway in the wall at Fourteen Parkestrasse. He could feel the presence of a fairly powerful but untrained mind nearby in the Convent of the Sisters of Charity in Oldenberg. He nodded to Travers.





===========================================================





Dawn was doing her best to read her book. She couldn’t close her eyes without seeing the bleeding people on the lawn again. She read the page she’d started twice before, determined that this time she’d make it through.



”That’s it!” Claire said excitedly.



“That a hundred men are guarding the castle?” Lisa asked confused by her friend’s outburst.



“Those hundred men are trying to keep people from getting in,” Claire explained. “Not to stop people, especially servants, from going out.”



Dawn read the page again and looked at the door of her room and then the peasant’s clothes she’d been traveling in.



“Nobody else gets hurt,” she whispered.





===========================================================





“Dawn,” Anya explained. “She wanted a private time so I waited for thirty five minutes and then checked up on her but she was gone.”



“Shouldn’t we tell the King and get some soldiers?” Willow asked urgently.



“No, Will, if they bring her back everyone will know,” Buffy implored. “Please, Willow, I know what I’m doing.”



“All right,” Willow said reluctantly. “But I’m coming with you.”





===========================================================





Miss Tara Maclay, Citizen of the Terran Empire

Chapter 14







Dawn Summers slipped down the darkening street. In her mind the gathering shadows seemed ominous as they swallowed the light. The people she passed on the street only saw a farm girl. They passed unaware of the danger she knew she carried with her for everyone. Finally she arrived at 14 Parkstrasse just as true night fell. She knocked on the door and waited. A moment later the grill opened up and an old face looked out the door through the wrought iron grill. Dawn recognized the habit of a Sister of Charity from her mother’s work with the order.



“Good evening,” the woman said.



“I’m Joyce Summers’ daughter,” Dawn said softly.



The woman looked at her with a brief flash of surprise and then opened the heavy door.



Dawn hurried inside as the nun locked and then barred the door. As she lead the girl into the convent she saw the new novice, Drusilla.



“Please watch the door, but do not unlatch it for anyone until I return,” the older nun said earnestly.



“Yes, Sister,” Drusilla answered.



The novice went to the now barred door and opened the grill so the light from inside could be seen in the street. She tried to reach up and close it but couldn’t.



“You’re a very bad girl,” she whispered harshly to herself as she looked helplessly at her unmoving hand.



A man’s face was framed in the grill. He looked down at for a moment and then spoke as if reading something.



“You’re a very nasty, very dirty girl,” he said. “Be a good girl and open the door.”



“No,” Drusilla whimpered. “Sister said…”



“Does she know how bad you are?” the man read.



Images of horrible things flashed through the young woman’s mind along with the distinct impression that she liked what she was doing. She trembled and clenched her hands.



“Open the door and be a good girl,” the figure at the door repeated.





===========================================================





“They’re going in,” Travers said flatly. “You can stop.”



“But it is so much fun,” Tyrrell drawled.



Travers looked across the coach at his companion. The odd man’s eyes were distant and bright at the same time. The smile he wore was a nightmare version of satisfaction.



“Do you have to use that…alkaloid?” Travers asked tersely.



“Only to function,” came the reply. Then the younger man flinched. “Coming…somebody…”



“The border,” Travers ordered the coachman. “And hurry.”





===========================================================





“You’ve got to go back, Miss Summers,” Alexander said with a whispered urgency. “This is a job for the police or the army.”



“That does sound like something Mr. Giles would say,” Anya agreed. “He’s very smart, and kind of sexy in a way.”



“No!” Buffy hissed back.



“Well, if you like older men-” Anya insisted.



“I meant no police,” Buffy said quickly. “This way no one has to be official. I know what I’m doing.”



“But-” Alexander started.



“Look, Alex,” Willow said in calming tone. “You watch our backs and if we need help you get help, okay?”



“If you say so, Miss Rosenberg,” the young man said doubtfully.



“Start here,” Buffy said brusquely. “Wait by this tree.”



Alexander watched the three women walk down the street to the door with the grill.





===========================================================





“Please, Miss,” the young woman on the other side of the grill almost whined. “You don’t understand. You should go away.”



“I have to see the mother superior,” Buffy insisted.



“But…”



“Now, please!” Buffy said urgently.



The bolt clinked back in the door and Buffy applied her shoulder to make sure the door opened. The young woman fell backward.



“Buffy!” Willow hissed. “Don’t abuse nuns! It’s bad…uhh, it’s just bad!”



Buffy looked past Willow with wide eyes. The redhead turned and saw a man where men weren’t supposed to be, especially men with guns. She saw the pistol buck and felt a distant sting followed by a wave of cold that pulled her down into darkness.





===========================================================





A lean man felt the pulse of the unconscious redhead. The sliver of compressed anesthetic had worked well. The compressed gas mechanism had proven itself reliable after all, as had the area spray. So far there had been no fatalities, which is what the team had been briefed to do.



“What about the other subjects?” the team scout asked. “Eliminate or take?”



“Take all of them,” the team leader said as he straightened up. “They may be useful. Get that animal powered transport pod ready.”





===========================================================





Alexander watched as a delivery van pulled into place. The horses relaxed in their harness as the deliveryman leapt out of the wagon. The young man froze as the wind caught his coat and the dull black of a large off planet personal weapon showed for an instant. Then he opened the door with the grill and went in.



“That’s not the way it’s done,” Alexander whispered to himself.



With his heart pounding Alex snuck closer to the door. He finally got there and saw a tiny box on the frame of the door. He leaned forward and through the grill caught the briefest sight of Willow being placed in a box. He crouched and got ready to spring. Then he remembered Willow’s words.



“You watch our backs and if we need help you get help, okay?”



“Connelly, watch the door,” someone inside said. “We’ve got a maglev to catch.”



“I put a camera up…oh shit,” another voice said. “Stupid planet.”



Alexander pulled back from the door and hurried down the street as quietly as he could. When he turned the corner he paused for a second. The men were off-worlders, with advanced weapons. This needed more than the police. He ran for the Palace as fast as he could. He never saw the very large nuns take four boxes to the delivery van.





===========================================================





Cordelia Chase paced in the custom car of the Special at her disposal. She had been told her friends would be arriving soon by the rather unpleasant if perfectly groomed Aquitaine officer who sat primly on an overstuffed chair. She knew he was a soldier because only a soldier would wear a civilian suit like a uniform. A moment later the door opened and she caught a glimpse of the enormous man guarding the door. Then another soldier trying to pass marched into the room.



“They are here,” the man with an Oldenberg accent said without preamble.



“Where?” Cordelia asked as she darted to the window.



She saw a box being opened and then a limp form was pulled roughly out. She saw Willow tossed across a man’s shoulder like a side of meat. The slim redhead wasn’t moving. She turned back to the men in horror.



“What happened to them?” she asked in a frightened voice.



“This,” the Aquitaine soldier sneered pointing a strange pistol at her.



The weapon gave a chuffing sound and something stung her in the stomach. She clutched herself and whimpered as the floor rushed up to meet her. Capitaine Bernelle pointed the weapon at the unmoving girl.



“No!” snapped Leutnant Klems. “Our orders say alive. Another dart might kill her.”



“How do you know that?” Bernelle asked curtly.



“I read the operator’s manual,” Klems replied.



“What if they wake up in transit?” the French officer asked. “These things only last for less than an hour.”



“We’ll have to use the old fashioned method to keep them in line,” Klems said with a grim smile.





===========================================================





Tara looked up with alarm as the doors burst open in the King’s private library. Alexander followed by a footman and a guard staggered into the room out of breath.



“He was saying something about Dawn and Buffy being captured,” the guard explained quickly to the King.



“Captured?” Randolph roared.



“I have men investigating now, sir,” the guard said ashen as he saluted.



“Maglev,” panted the young man. “They’re…taking them…boxes…maglev.”



“And you ran away without trying to help?” Liam asked angrily. His next words were stopped by Giles’ hand on his arm. Alexander looked away, ashamed.



“What?” the chancellor asked. “What kind of boat is that?”



“It’s a train,” Tara said quickly. “An electric train.”



“We have no such thing,” the old man replied.



“But if you’re used to calling trains maglevs then all trains are maglevs,” Riley explained.



“Call the rail station,” the King ordered as more people arrived. “Stop all trains.”



“Sir, we can’t find-the guests,” another footman reported breathlessly. “We did find this.”



The King snatched a perfectly folded square of paper from the servant and read it. “Damn fool girl,” he muttered as he handed the paper to William. Tara leaned to read the message and William let her as he read aloud for the rest of them.



“Hello,” he read. “I’m not sure how to address this. To whom it may concern seems to cold and naming someone would be presuming so I’m sorry it’s not a proper salutation. Dawn has run off and Buffy says we can’t let this become a public incident. Anya is coming with us. Take care. (signed) Miss Willow Rosenberg. P.S. To the correct person who knows who they are I promise I’ll be careful.”



You’d better be! Tara thought worriedly.



“Sir!” a soldier in a messenger’s uniform said urgently. “We can’t get through to Morlaix! The telegraph wires are down!”



“Sir, the police report a Special pulled out of the depot two minutes ago!” came from another guard. “We can’t raise the switching stations. The telegraphs seem to be down.”



“We’ve lost,” Randolph said distantly as he slumped into a chair.



“Can’t we go after them?” Tara asked desperately. “Something else has got to be faster. What about an airplane?”



“We can’t fly at night,” William explained. “Not accurately at least.”



“There’s one thing that might,” Riley said suddenly.



“What?” Liam asked.



“All airships carry rescue equipment, correct?” Riley asked Giles.



“Yes, it’s part of the Airship Treaty of-” the librarian started.



"Are you Evac qualified?" Riley asked Tara urgently.



"Y-Yes," Tara replied.



"When did you last do a tether drop lead qualification?" he asked looking at the map.



"Five months ago," Tara said wondering what this was leading to.



"More recent than me," Riley muttered. "All right, I'm going to get some stuff from my room. Write a message warning the Bishopric, then seal it up in a protective tube and get-”



“Alex,” Giles interjected.



“Yeah,” Riley agreed. “He made the right decision by getting help. Get him a messenger pouch. Have the car brought around."



"We can't catch them in the car!" William exclaimed.



"It's to get us to the diplomatic airship," Riley said quickly. "Let's move, people!"





===========================================================





Capitaine Bernelle smoothed out his uniform and pulled the sword belt into the perfect position. Leutnant Klems tested the draw of his sword and nodded. The four off-worlders looked on with raised eyebrows. Anya moaned softly.



“Shall we secure them, sir?” the scout asked.



“No,” sneered Bernelle.



“They are just women,” Klems snorted.



“I know,” the team leader shuddered. Then he shook his head. “Our local officers say no.”



I must remember to kick whoever came up with this plan very hard, he added to himself.





===========================================================





Tara looked at the enormous shape above her as the car stopped at the airfield. A gray, stately shape was held down by impossibly thin ropes. The slightly flattened oval of the width of the semi-rigid vessel made it look even bigger from the ground. She could almost swear the steady thrum of the bio-diesel driven engines sounded like anti-grav generators. She followed Riley and the Prince up the narrow gangway to the first gondola of the craft with the other men behind her. The pistol at her side seemed too familiar. For a second she was running across a bright, barren piece of earth helping a wounded Marine. Then the smell of the horses pulling at a winch brought her back to the now.



Ahead of her she saw the Captain, she supposed, of the airship salute the Prince. The Captain looked at the orders and frowned. He stepped into the fragile looking gondola and the rest followed him. Tara marveled briefly at the elegant touches of metal and woodwork around her. Her attention turned back to the Captain as he stopped by the controls of the airship.



"This is impossible!" the Captain rumbled. "This is not a nimble little rescue blimp! This is a S class semi-rigid, built for speed."



"So we can catch the train and beat the raiders to Morlaix," William replied. "Captain, if we don't it could mean Europa at war."



"Very well," the Captain said unhappily. "Chief, get these people back to the Rescue Station and make ready. Helm, stand to. I'm taking her on this suicide mission."



"Aye, sir!" the twenty year-old airman snapped as he stood up from his station.



"All right, Your Highness, go with the Chief while I catch this train of yours," the officer said as he sat in the vacant seat. "Emergency speed, engineer! Prepare for hard lift, say again, hard lift!"



Three harsh chimes sounded and the crew secured themselves as the sound of the engines increased to a roar. The Captain pushed the controls ahead. Tara held onto the rope handrail in the passage to the gondola's rear door as the floor beneath her tilted with the takeoff. Two beefy looking air crewmen started to prepare a large winch as Riley talked to the Chief about what was planned. Tara told herself the older man's shaking head wasn't a bad sign. She kept her mind focused on the ropes and webbing in front of her. She wove her own rig and then readied the Prince. Riley was doing the same for Liam. Tara tried not to think of the last time she'd tether dropped ahead of her clerk.



It had seemed so easy the first two times. She'd used a spider silk canister with an automatic dispenser attached to a Vacc Suit. Tara had used the reticule on a heads up display to judge the distance and called her instructions to her follower. It was almost fun. Then the trainers had taken away the Vacc Suit and she'd tied an uncomfortable seat of webbing around her and her follower. No auto tensioners, no soft brake, just rope and carabiners and a hand held line with an auto piton to secure the anchor point. She'd passed, but only by one point. If Kami hadn't been wearing an anti-gravity harness for a training safety rule she would have smacked into Tara. Tara looked at the gear quickly. The standard anchor was an auto piton, but those devices used an electric charge to weld into any surface.



"What's our anchor?" she asked anxiously.



"Glue post," Riley answered.



"Better and better," mumbled Tara unhappily.





===========================================================





As Riley Finn had described it tether dropping was almost like flying. William knew it was a standard of escaping stalled or drifting anti-grav vehicles or failing structures. People even used it in space. To him the concept seemed like a carry over from the days when parachuting soldiers had been an elite. Even that old technology was part of Evacuation training in the Empire. Tonight he would be behind Tara on one of the lines she was preparing since he was closest to her weight of the three of them.



William looked at the deep concentration on the face of the young woman he was entrusting his life to and felt a little better as she carefully set up her equipment. William imagined Tara being lowered through the night as she flew her body into position on the train where she would secure the glue post, fire the mixing charge to bring the two components of the incredibly strong glue together and stick it to a surface on the train's roof.



And I know she'll look graceful doing it, he thought. He shook away the thought. She’d be a student here for years. There’d be plenty of time.





===========================================================





“You won’t get away with this,” Cordelia growled as Buffy helped her into a chair.



“I rather think we shall,” Capitaine Bernelle replied lazily.



“My father-” she snapped.



“Is well in hand,” Klems laughed.



“What are you going to do with us?” Dawn asked miserably.



“Shoot your sister if you try anything,” the Oldenberg officer said evenly.



“Why are you doing this?” Buffy asked. “You’re from Oldenberg.”



“Because the Prince is a fool who doubted my honor!” Klems snapped. “Instead of standing by his officer he took the side of that French trollop. It took me six years to make captain and he took that away!”



“Was she right?” Willow asked.



“It doesn’t matter!” Klems answered angrily.



“She was,” Willow said quietly.



Klems answer was a backhanded blow the girl didn’t see coming. The other girls leapt to their feet as the Oldenberg officer stepped back with a smirk on his face. Willow straightened up in her chair and glared at him until Dawn blocked her view before Klems turned around



“Now sit back unless you wish to be tied for the reminder of your trip home,” Bernelle said with an evil grin. Then he looked back at Klems.



“The redhead first,” Klems muttered.



“D’accord.”





===========================================================





Tara was looking at the coils of rope one more time when she felt a stab of fear and anger that somehow felt like Willow. She stood up and looked down at a winking light below them.



"There they are!" she called out as she pointed at the train below them.



"She's right!" Liam added.



"Target sighted!" the Chief called into the speaking tube.



A moment later everyone felt the dirigible lower its nose. The lights below them grew slowly larger. Tara could feel Willow's fear and anger more strongly. She pulled on her goggles and helmet as she hurried to the hatchway.



"Hold on," Tara whispered into the night. "I'm coming."





===================================





I'm coming Tara said earnestly.



Willow had heard it, she was sure. But no one else seemed to notice.





===========================================================





“Lead ready?” Riley called out over the roar of the engines and the howl of the greedy wind.



“Lead ready!” Tara answered. Her fears were gone. Willow, and the others, needed her. She braced in the door. She felt Riley give one last quick check.



“Play out the line in four, three, two, one-” she heard him call out to the aircrew at the winch. “Now!”



Tara leapt into the night.





To Be Continued

[justin]

Yay, that was a great part There was a lot of excitement involved



At first I was a bit annoyed at Dawn at letting herself get captured then getting Buffy and Willow in trouble but now I've realised that if that if they hadn't been captured Tara wouldn't have this chance to act all heroic and come to the rescue. I bet she's going to look very worthy while doing it.



Though poor William seems to be setting himself up for a disapointment



I'm looking forward to reading more.

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



My goal is to win the lottery and take up writing fanfic without this silly work stuff. Until then Kitten feedback keeps me going.





justin-Close fitting jumpsuit, drifting through the night, yes, very likely worthy. As for William, at least he has good taste.



Now reality is being mean so I'm back to work. Take care,





Jixer

[xita]

Ooh, what a cliff hanger, evil jixer



Can I say how hot is Tara just letting all her worry go because those she cares about are in danger. And she seemed pretty worried and unsure. I was worried about her but I am not now cause she's so confident. And how neat they are talking in each other's head now sorta,



And... lookie there, does william have a crushie? Back off, bucko!



Thanks so much for the update jixer, I'd missed this fic.

- - - - - - - - - - -
"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."

-Me & Bobby
McGee

[WintersDreamer]

Talk about leaving one hanging .........



(evil cliffhanger person..)



please update soon!

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Nothing like a cup of coffee and six hours sleep to make the day bearable, but there's nothing like Kitten feedback to make it a happy rainy day. Two ratings of evil just put the chocolate covered espresso bean on the day



xita-Very worried and concerned, and I'm trying to fit in just why in the next update. If there's anything that seems right its Willow and Tara bringing out unknown depths in each other.



Can't you empathize with William just a little? I think most Kittens could concede Tara's very crushable



WintersDreamer- It's going to be a long drop too. Which I will describe just as soon as I can.



Thank you Kittens. This is even more fun to write with your feedback.





Jixer

[xita]

jixer, ok you have a point, we'd all be drooling! Lucky for Willow, Tara only ever has eyes for her! hee lucky for us too, we know what willow can do lol.

- - - - - - - - - - -
"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."

-Me & Bobby
McGee

[Artemis]

Hi. I just wanted to say I'm enjoying this story immensely. All the characters are so, well, themselves, they're a joy to read - particularly Willow and Tara, of course (go Tara!). And the scope of the adventure is truly epic - intrigue, suspense, thrills, the whole deal. And on top of that, you've created a wonderful mix of science fiction and historic fantasy. Thanks for taking what must be a great investment of time and effort to write a story this grand, and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more.

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



In case I haven't mentioned it lately-Kitten feedback is the best!





xita-Drool? Kittens? Never! Well, maybe just a little.



Artemis-Thank you for your kind words. I think the most important thing for me is that the characters stay true to themselves. As for the effort I have to admit this has been fun to write, though sometimes I'll sit up and wonder where a couple of hours went. The excuse to research and read dozens of books for some of the background has been a bonus! Thank you for coming along for the ride.





I'm off to get some sleep before work. I have no idea when I'll get the final work up (silly lottery balls still not following my orders) but it is getting there.





Thanks to everyone,



Jixer

[jixer]

But most of all for the romantic in everyone a nighttime flight should not be missed. The gentle clouds, the soft glow of Europa’s moon, and the soft lights below, so unlike the hard lights that offend the night on most worlds, make such a flight an act of magic. It is an experience not to be missed.



Fodor’s Guide To Europa, 85th Edition







PREVIOUSLY





===========================================================





“I think someone has paid the scum of Europa to attack Morlaix in the colors of Prince Etienne of Aquitaine,” the Inspector said in a matter of fact tone.





===========================================================





Buffy looked past Willow with wide eyes. The redhead turned and saw a man where men weren’t supposed to be, especially men with guns. She saw the pistol buck and felt a distant sting followed by a wave of cold that pulled her down into darkness.





===========================================================





"This is impossible!" the Captain rumbled. "This is not a nimble little rescue blimp! This is a S class semi-rigid, built for speed."





===========================================================





I'm coming Tara said earnestly.



Willow had heard it, she was sure. But no one else seemed to notice.





===========================================================





“Shall we secure them, sir?” the scout asked.



“No,” sneered Bernelle.



“They are just women,” Klems snorted.





===========================================================



“Lead ready?” Riley called out over the roar of the engines and the howl of the greedy wind.



“Lead ready!” Tara answered. Her fears were gone. Willow, and the others, needed her. She braced in the door. She felt Riley give one last quick check.



“Play out the line in four, three, two, one-” she heard him call out to the aircrew at the winch. “Now!”



Tara leapt into the night.





===========================================================









Miss Tara Maclay, Citizen of the Terran Empire

Chapter 15









Tara felt the cold, greedy wind pull at her until she leveled out with her arms and legs just so. Then she felt the tug that meant William was on line above her. She fought for balance as she tried to concentrate on the light of the engine on the speeding train below. She could feel her body start to tumble.



“It’s impossible,” she said into the uncaring night.





===========================================================





She was falling again, the brake line on the tether point wasn’t secure. Kami was falling too fast. She’d screwed up. Then the ground hit her and stole all her air. When she looked up Sergeant Wanatabe was looking at her like something he should scrape off his boot.



“What the FUCK was that, Maclay?” he bellowed. “Did you want to get your clerk killed?”



“No s-sir!” she’d gasped.



“Well by God that’s what it looked like to this Marine!” Wanatabe had roared. “You never reassessed your fall rate or your target point! You just kept shoving a bad set in front of you until it bit you on the ass! Is that what I taught you, Maclay?”



“No s-s-sir!”



“And then to top off your fuck-ups you tied a shitty line!”



“S-Sor-” Tara couldn’t choke out the words. She’d have killed Kami if the safety protocols hadn’t called for the twice-wounded woman to be in an anti-grav harness.



“Save sorry for nuns and numbnuts, Clerk’s Assistant Maclay!” he’d growled. “By the time you leave here today the very least you’re going to do tie this rig right in your sleep! On your feet, shit bird!”





===========================================================





Reassess, Tara thought to herself. I know the lines are right this time.



As if to confirm her thoughts she felt the last two weights come onto her line. Now everything felt not just balanced but solid. She closed her eyes to clear the last image while flying her position straight. Suddenly she knew where Willow was. Tara concentrated and she knew she was right for nothing else had ever felt like this. She opened her eyes and saw she’d already adjusted and was on line for that almost-spark that was Willow, dozens of meters behind the light of the locomotive.





===========================================================





Cordelia Chase felt the car buck slightly. That shouldn’t have happened with such force unless…



“We’re going too fast!” she said looking at the armed men. “What have you done to the crew?”



“Everything is in hand, Miss Chase,” Bernelle said in a bored tone. “You can’t expect destiny to keep a timetable.”



“You can expect it to derail!” she snapped as she looked out the window at a building that flashed by. “That was Switch Station Three and this is the Oldenberg-Morlaix Interchange. There’s dozens of points in long sets. We come off one of those wrong at this speed and destiny is going to be squashed flat.”



The Aquitaine officer looked at his Oldenberg counterpart. They spoke for a moment and Klems went forward.



One gone, for all the good it does, Cordelia thought bitterly. Then she noticed the too buxom dye-job blonde next to Beth look distracted for a moment and actually cock her head like a listening dog. Then the trollop took a breath in that brought out her only assets. Two of the nearby men edged a bit closer.



I could do that if I wanted, Cordelia thought with a sniff.





===========================================================





In the locomotive’s cab Arthur Bend laughed as he leaned on the whistle as the train bore down on the single post across the entry to Morlaix. This was the most direct way and the switches had been thrown to make it faster in the spoiled daughter’s name.



“Fire me, will you?” He shouted as he rent the stillness of the night with the shrieks of steam. “You bastards!”



He wished they had sent one of the older processed wood fueled 4-6-2 models. Those were engines with style.



===========================================================





Tara was nearby. Willow knew it. She looked down the length of the train and tried to think of what the Imperial citizen would do.



Something heroic, Willow thought.



The redhead looked at the nearest armed man and touched Buffy’s knee just casually. Then she looked at him quickly and then back to her friend. Buffy’s looked at Willow and nodded so carefully only Willow caught it.



She’d better not do anything too heroic or I’m going to…





===========================================================



Tara flared and brought down the glue post with a hard thrust. There was a bang and the lines became taught. She slapped the safety webbing through the carabineer and gave the heavy woven straps a hard tug just as William landed behind her. Then Riley slapped onto the roof of the railcar and rolled toward the other end. Tara darted for the other end of the car as they had planned.



“I did it right, you bastard,” she muttered with a satisfied smile as she reached for the railing next to the small ladder each car had.



Then the train gave a lurch and Tara was sailing out into the night with only her webbing safety strap between her, the rushing track, and the multi-ton killing knives of the wheels below.





===========================================================





In the railcar Anya took another deep sigh. When she heard the noise on the roof she balled her fists just like she’d seen Alex do in the gym. But when she brought them up to the noses of the men beside her she did it inhumanly fast. The two men staggered back stunned with flattened noses and cracks in the sinuses underneath.





===========================================================





Tara was arcing back in over the rail of the small platform at the end of the car. She gasped as her boots slammed into the door at the end of the car. The door sprang open followed immediately by a thud. Tara landed hard, half in and half out of the car proper.





===========================================================





Liam was unsteady on the roof. Riley had slipped out of the rope and darted for the engine side of the railcar. Then the roof Liam was on seemed to leap up. He had the impression of the off-planet girl flying and then he was grabbing for the small ridge on the side with all his might. He felt himself falling and pulled hard on his safety line and hoped the material was as strong as he had heard. He saw the window coming at him and just had time to get his feet up.





===========================================================







Riley landed perfectly on the small platform on the engine end of the railcar. As he stood up he realized the cigarette butt on the floor was still smoldering. Then a ham-sized fist hit him in the solar plexus. The armor took most of the blow but it drove him back. He grabbed his safety line and pulled it. The big man who had been smoking on the platform huddled out of the wind threw another punch. This time the mercenary wrapped the wrist of his opponent and pulled him forward into a head butt. The other man was not wearing a helmet. As the big man reeled backward he reached out and hooked his hand into Riley’s harness. The weight pulled the mercenary off his feet and he grabbed the platform railing as the stunned man leaned backward into the rushing night.





===========================================================





When the train hit the points William was ready for his descent. The rumble started him off balance. He grabbed his safety line and pulled as he slipped off the car’s roof. He was just a meter and half from where he wanted to be, but the platform was just out of reach. He looked at the ground below and tried to swing himself to Riley’s aid. He couldn’t get enough purchase on the side of the car. He looked at the rails below and tried to remember which line he was supposed to use to lower himself slowly. He pulled down his goggles to see better.





===========================================================





In the car Willow saw Bernelle grab Dawn just as one of the off-worlders grabbed Willow. The leader of the off-world team reached for his concealed pistol and Buffy at the same time. Willow lowered her shoulder and swept at her attacker’s legs. He moved gracefully out of the way. Then the rear door swept open and clouted him in the head. As he stumbled the window on the far side from her exploded inward as the sash gave way under the weight of a jumpsuit-clad figure. The leader took the brunt of the new intruder’s force and left the unknown man half in and half out of the window. The leader was off balance and flailing. Buffy made a move that Willow had never mastered and helped him along. On the way the leader hit the man who had grabbed for Willow as he staggered upright. Both men were barely on their feet when Tara, Willow knew the smaller figure had to be her, lurched upright and out of the door at the rear end of the car. With Buffy’s leverage both men went past Tara, out the door and over the railing to the tracks below.





===========================================================





Dawn grabbed at the small revolver the Aquitaine officer pulled from his coat. She was going to twist and punch him when desperation and the motion of the train suddenly seemed much too familiar and memories, fragmented and confusing, rushed through her.



Don’t mess about girl! Harold growled in her memory. It ain’t like those books of yours. You ever go against a man with a gun, forget all the rest of what’s going on and control that gun! Use both hands and bend it against his fingers. A gun is life and death, Dawn.



Dawn grabbed the small barrel and started to twist. She heard the man curse and felt the buffet on the side of her head but she held on. The hammer drew back and then fell forward on the web of her hand. She bit back her yelp and kept pushing.





===========================================================





Cordelia saw the last of the off-worlders still aboard and upright pull a knife and advance on the tangled figure in the window. She stepped up behind the advancing man and, with twelve years of dance training, four years of Buffy’s tutelage, and all of her righteous indignation kicked him right in the knee. As he fell she grabbed the wonderfully carved crystal vase and slammed it into the back of his head. There was a sickening thud as sixteen pounds of leaded crystal smashed him to the floor; it was intact when she put it back. Then she grabbed the flailing man in the jumpsuit. He grabbed her with desperation and it was all she could do not to be pulled out the window as he scrambled inside.





===========================================================





Buffy turned to see Bernelle clout her sister on the side of the head again. Dawn stumbled and fell but she held on. Buffy let her wave of rage become a punch that slammed into the man’s throat. There was a crunching feeling under her fist that she would remember for the rest of her life. Then Willow was beside her and ramming a pen into his wrist above the handgun and using it as a lever. A gasping wheeze was all the sound Bernelle could make as he let go of the weapon and staggered back.





===========================================================





Anya looked at all of the people in jumpsuits. She looked up suddenly at as a figure flailed helplessly outside the farthest window.



“Alex!” she said in a frightened shout.





===========================================================





Klems was almost at the cab of the engine. The dolt at the controls finally let off the whistle and he heard an odd noise above him. He looked up in time to see the outline of an airship lifting away. He looked back at the car and could just make out movement in the gloom. Then the train seemed to ripple under him and his feet lost their grip on the very narrow walkway on the outside of the tender. He pulled himself back with his hands aching from the effort. His sword in its scabbard slapped into him but he did not let go to steady it. Then he saw one figure dangling on the same side of the train. When the man pulled off his goggles and swung briefly near the light Klems saw the profile of William of Oldenberg. Klems smiled, or at least bared his teeth.





===========================================================





“Alex!” Anya said again as she rushed to the front of the car.



“Are you all right?” Tara shouted as she looked at the blood on Willow’s sleeve.



“I’m fine,” Willow assured her. Their eyes met and both girls smiled shyly.



“Dawn’s hurt!” Buffy said urgently.



“There’s another one up front!” Willow said as reality finally grabbed her attention.



“Where’s Riley and William?” Liam asked Tara as he pulled off his helmet.





===========================================================





Riley pried the large man’s fingers off his webbing and saw his opponent lose his precarious balance. As the man fell away Riley started to get to his feet. There was an unexpected kick in the small of his back and he felt himself falling forward after his opponent. He grabbed and caught the last bit of railing. He managed to hold on as his body pivoted and kept the toe of one boot on the platform. He looked forward and saw a slim barrier across the tracks with the base on his side. He pulled with all his might. His other boot now had a toehold. He looked back at the platform and could see a man in a suit with a sword looking off the other side of the platform.





===========================================================





“Good evening, Your Highness,” Klems shouted over the noise.



“Klems!” William snapped as he saw the gloating face of the demoted officer.



“Let me help you, Prince William,” Klems said as he drew his sword.



William tried again to reach his holstered pistol. Klems made a clucking sound that barely carried over the wind.



“A pistol against a sword?” the bitter junior officer asked disapprovingly. “Hardly honorable for a man who has made so much of honor.”



“Meet me on the ground, then,” William shouted. “Sword to sword!”



“I’m afraid I don’t have the ti-” Klems started. Then he sailed past William with a look of astonished fright.



Klems brushed by William and spun him on his line. The Prince just had time to see Klems tumbling along the side of the track before he felt someone pulling him aboard.



“Alex!” he heard Anya say as he was spun around.



“Thank you!” he said breathlessly as the ache of hanging in the slipstream of the train became a series of small stabbing pains. Those pains became secondary as he smashed into the floor of the platform and Anya sat on his chest. The construct grabbed his jumpsuit and lifted him as much as he could bend in this position.



“You’re not Alex!” she hissed. “Why aren’t you Alex? What have you done with him?”



“Please, Miss Anya!” William gasped. “I’m sure he’s all right!”





===========================================================





Alex clutched the messenger's bag as he stepped up to the door. The wind seemed to pull at him with evil intent. He looked at Giles and nodded weakly as the sound from the engines changed and the wind lost a bit of its power.



"”There’s no night landing spot in Morlaix so keep a good grip until you're on the ground," Giles said loudly. "There's a bit of wind that might make the ship lurch."



"Hold on tight," Alex said worriedly. "I can do that."



"When you get down let go immediately," Giles reminded him.



"The ground is my friend," the young man replied with what he hoped was confidence.



"To the ladder, Mr. Harris," called out the crew chief.



Alex swallowed and stepped onto the ladder. He tried to think of something to say but hanging in the dark night had taken away his ability to speak. He wanted to tell the two burly crewmen winding out the ladder to slow down, but he was already gone, hanging far too high above the ground. The ladder swayed as a breeze caught the airship. He started to swing away from the open path straight to the river. A slight upward lift left him on a level with the arch of the bridge. For an instant he was over the bridge and low enough, he thought. Alex let go of the ladder.



Just as he did the airship was caught in an updraft. Alex's step became a flip that took him over the railing and into the river below. He started to scream as he fell. The cold water of the river made him gasp and his lungs took in the liquid. He floundered to the surface, coughing and sputtering as the bag's strap pulled at him as if it were lead. He seemed to be headed under the bridge in the current. Alexander tried to swim to the side of the river. There was a sting on his face as a rope struck him. He grabbed it and held on for dear life. Then he felt stone under his feet and stood up, still coughing.



"What is this all about?" A man in the uniform of the Bishop's Guard demanded.



Alex held up the sodden bag with Oldenberg's seal on the flap as more people arrived and looked at the departing airship. Alex looked up as well, even as he tried to remember how to breathe. From here the airship was pretty, a silver leviathan swimming in a sea of stars. Finally he had enough air to speak.



"Message-King-Oldenberg," Alex said as he coughed again. "It's urgent. Raiders."



Then Alex coughed the last of the river from his lungs as the Guard called for his commander.





===========================================================





Cordelia caught the sound of wood splintering and heard a brief police whistle. She looked up and realized they were over the border. Some girl in a jumpsuit was tending to Dawn and Buffy was hovering nearby. In the corner the Aquitaine officer was gasping and turning blue. She looked over at the young man she’d pulled in. He was nowhere to be seen.



“Typical,” Cordelia muttered. “Willow, we need to stop the train.”



For some reason Willow looked at the girl in the jumpsuit. Cordelia heard the stranger say “go on”. Willow stood up.



What’s that all about? Cordelia wondered.



“How many are in the cab?” Willow asked.



“I don’t know,” Cordelia admitted. “This is a Matheson 4-4-2…”



“Johnson bar on the right, standard throttle and brake layout,” Willow said quickly. “So normal is an engineer and a fireman, but you could run it with just one”



“That was one summer trip,” Buffy said shaking her head. “Do you ever forget a machine?”



“Um, do we need not breathing guy as a witness?” Dawn asked pointing at Bernelle.



“We might,” the young man she’d rescued said from the door. Now Cordelia saw his brown eyes and the way he was helping another tall figure in a jumpsuit. When the Prince of Oldenberg staggered in behind them on Anya’s arm Cordelia barely noted his presence.





===========================================================





Willow watched as Riley knelt by the now still figure of Bernelle. She looked back at Cordelia who was staring at Liam. For his part the tall young man was being just about as useful. His mouth opened a couple of times but he didn’t speak. Dawn was trying to stand up and insisting she was fine while Buffy kept at her to stay down. Then the train swayed a bit.



“Guys!” Willow yelled. “Train? Speeding? Danger? Does any of this sound familiar?”



“Oh!” Cordelia said suddenly. “We’ve got to get to the cab.”



“Right!” Liam said heading for the door. “I’m on it!”



Cordelia smiled and turned to Willow. Then the heiress looked back at Liam as he stepped for the side of the fuel tank on the tender.



“No!” she called but he was already out of earshot in the wind. “Men! Why do they have to do everything the hard way?”



“There’s a not hard way?” Willow asked.



“Come with me!” Cordelia said urgently.



Cordelia rushed to the platform and reached for the back of the tender. Willow could see a small handle where she was reaching. Cordelia pulled the handle and a section of the rear of the tender swung open. The door bridged the gap between the tender and the Special’s single car easily. She looked back at Willow.



“It’s a converted wood carrier,” Cordelia said as she stepped onto the small gangway over the fuel and reserve water tanks. Both girls hurried forward. They arrived just as Liam swung into the cab. The rogue engineer swung a wrench at him. Liam ducked but took the blunt object on his shoulder and stumbled. Willow looked down and found the shovel most trains still carried “just in case”. She grabbed it as Cordelia shouted “No!”



The man looked up at the top of the tender just in time to catch the flat of the shovel from Willow’s enthusiastic if inexpert swing with his face. He dropped to the floor as Liam staggered up and looked at the controls. Both girls dropped into the cab.



“Grab the Johnson bar!” Cordelia ordered as Willow as she herself reached for the throttle and the brake. “He’s got it too far forward. Bring it back slowly and give the auto brake a quarter turn.”



Willow grasped the big reversing lever and closed the top grip, then she eased it back while she moved the smaller brake lever back. Liam watched open-mouthed as Cordelia and Willow grasped levers and dials. The engine started to chuff in new pattern and he held on as the train slowed and finally shuddered to a stop. They looked out and saw the southern border of Morlaix. Cordelia looked behind them and signaled Willow to pull back the lever and send the train back up the tracks a bit as the Bishop’s Guards from the station waved a red lantern. Finally she stopped it and purged off the built-up steam.



As they looked around the cab Willow saw the two Peninsula Railroad employees tied in the cubby at the back of the locomotive. Liam tied up the unconscious man as the girls freed the real engineer and fireman.



“Give him to the guards and then send them back,” Cordelia ordered. “Keep a head on her but don’t move her without my permission.” Then she looked at Liam. “Could you give me a hand getting up there?”



What’s that all about? Willow wondered. It’s an easy climb.





===========================================================





“How-how did you get here?” Dawn asked as Tara helped her into a chair with Buffy steadying her sister.



“We, umm, we flew,” Tara explained. “We used the diplomatic airship.”



Dawn stared at the off-world girl with wide eyes. She took in the goggles around Tara’s neck and the high tech jumpsuit she wore. The harness looked like it belonged a Marine, not the quiet girl in front of her. Dawn looked up as Willow and the others entered the railcar.



“Willow!” Dawn said excitedly. “Do you now how they got here?”



“They jumped out of an airship on a string and a prayer,” Willow said angrily. “What were you thinking?”



“Umm,” Tara said as she straightened up and floundered for words under the sudden powerful mix of emotions coming off the redhead.



“You could have been killed!” Willow wailed.



Then she grabbed Tara by the jumpsuit and pulled her close for a kiss that didn’t stop for a long moment.



Buffy gaped at the sight of her best friend and the off-world girl in a passionate kiss. Next to her William and Cordelia did the same. Riley just sighed. Dawn looked at Buffy with a sophisticated smile.



“Kind of obvious, didn’t you think?” Dawn said casually.



“Well, of course,” Anya agreed with a nod and a bright smile.





===========================================================





Near the border of Oldenberg a coach stopped near a meadow full of tents. The orderly camp was lit by lanterns and with a merry bonfire at the center. There were songs coming from the youngsters around the fire as Travers stepped out of the carriage. A young man approached him.



“May I help you, sir?” he asked with wary politeness.



“I wired Herr Schneider earlier,” Travers said calmly.



“And didn’t sign it,” the short man said as he stepped out of a nearby tent. “Most unusual.”



Travers looked at the young man and then at Schneider. “Go get the company commanders, Eric,” Schneider ordered. When the young man was gone Schneider looked sternly at Travers. “What is this urgent matter?”



“I cannot tell you how I know, nor why there will not be any response by Oldenberg in time to save Morlaix from the French,” Travers said tiredly.



“What?” the balding man almost shouted.



“Partisans of Prince Etienne’s radicals are going to attack the Bishopric of Morlaix tonight,” Travers said evenly. “I don’t know why.”



“They’re a bunch of Frogs!” snarled Schneider. “Who can tell what their filthy hands will do to that holy place. I know why you’ve come to me, and by God they won’t get away with it!”



“I knew I could count on you,” Travers said with a nod. “I must be away.”



“We will handle this from here!” Schneider said as a dozen young men ran up.



Travers nodded and walked away. He climbed into his coach as the night was filling with drums and trumpet calls. As the carriage headed down the road that would take them toward the border of Oldenberg and the Duchy of Mortagne they passed four older men in Oldenberg uniforms approaching the camp. As they watched young men from the camp leapt out of the bushes and took away their rifles. Tyrell chuckled lazily and stuck his head out into the night.



“Havoc!” he shouted.





To Be Continued

[justin]

That was a great part,



The rescue was very exciting and rather unnerving when Tara almost fell under the train



Though it seems that they're too late as Tarvers has succeeded in starting his war.



Looking forward to reading more.

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Is there anything on the web as wonderful as Kitten feedback? I suppose the case could be made for pictures of Aly and Amber



justin-Thank you for the 'exciting' and the 'unnerving'! As for the future, we'll see.



Be well,



Jixer

[xita]

Oooooh yay big kiss in front of everyone and now everyone knows! Just like Willow to do that. I have to say that the word made me think of the outfit Uma wears in Kill Bill.. and well Tara in that.. hmm yumm..



Anyway, thanks for the update!

- - - - - - - - - - -
"Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."

-Me & Bobby
McGee

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



AARRGGHH! I've mistreated Kittens! I'm very late in replying. Sorry xita! Tara and Uma's outfit, hmmm? Of course now I'm picturing...oh my! Nope. Not thinking of anything.



The only good news is that there will be an update tonight or tomorrow.





Jixer

[jixer]

It is only with the tempering of true civilization that human beings, and human beings alone, can become worthy of being entrusted with decisions of import. Those without the understanding given by exposure to the culture and discourse of the pinnacle of human achievement must be guided by their superiors.



The First Planets, Heirs of Greatness

Clive Meers





Some of the most unexpected sophants have taken the responsibility of becoming Imperial Citizens and all have done so by service to the Empire.



From Imperial Service-Is It Right For You?







PREVIOUSLY



===========================================================





"Message-King-Oldenberg," Alex said as he coughed again. "It's urgent. Raiders."





===========================================================





“How-how did you get here?” Dawn asked as Tara helped her into a chair with Buffy steadying her sister.



“We, umm, we flew,” Tara explained. “We used the diplomatic airship.”





===========================================================





“You could have been killed!” Willow wailed.



Then she grabbed Tara by the jumpsuit and pulled her close for a kiss that didn’t stop for a long moment.





===========================================================





Miss Tara Maclay, Citizen of the Terran Empire

Chapter 16











Captain Huntington looked carefully at his reflection in the mirror. He was partnering the Countess tonight. There was a knock at his door. He opened it to see a Middlesex infantryman with a telegraph.



“Message, sir,” the private said with a salute.



Huntington sketched an airy salute and looked at the message.





Fillies acquired. Current field looks good. Wager is on. 50?





“Any reply sir?” the soldier asked.



“No, I’ll deal with the wager later,” the officer said with a smile.



“Very good, sir,” the young man replied. “Never bet myself.”



“Yes, but if you don’t gamble, you can’t win,” Huntington observed.



“Can’t afford losing, sir,” the soldier pointed out. He turned on his heel and marched away.



Huntington turned back to his mirror with a grim smile. Both Summers girls were in the bag. That left their dam to be rounded up. A pity, for the Countess was still a handsome woman. He shrugged away the thought.



“I don’t intend to lose.”





===========================================================





Prince Etienne of Aquitaine looked at the cards in his hands and wondered whatever had possessed him to play against the Countess of Sussex and Captain Huntington. Many officers had complained that the Countess was taking out her frustration with the help of fifty two pasteboard accomplices. He was ready to believe their tales of woe. He was on the verge of passing when a messenger arrived at the table. He looked at the man’s uniform with a hint of concern. The Hussars were rumored to be partisans of his brother, Prince Louis.



“An urgent matter, your highness,” the soldier said.



Etienne opened the sealed envelope and read the message:



Rumors about health exaggerated by op. press-Markets

unstable-Return at once.



Etienne confirmed the King’s own cipher. He looked at his companions at the table and sighed.



“I fear I must bid everyone a fond goodnight,” he said standing.



“At least this way we do not lose,” his partner, a Pomeranian major of artillery quipped.



“I hope everything is all right,” Joyce said, the concern in her voice unfeigned.



“Rumors,” Etienne said shrugging. “An opponent with ten thousand mouths and no brain.”



“I understand,” Joyce said with a slim smile. “Though I wish you could stay.”



“Am I that easy a mark?” the prince asked with a broad smile.



The card party’s polite laughter drew their attention away from the messenger’s predatory smile.





===========================================================





Willow looked up the tracks the way they had come. She could just make out a figure weaving on the side of the right of way. William and Riley were running that way. Dawn was sitting huddled on the steps of the platform and Buffy was hovering nearby. Tara was walking her way. Anya stopped the off world girl.



“Are you going to kiss again?” Anya asked. “It was very nice. Good technique, but you really should use your tongue more.”



“I’ll, umm, remember that,” Tara said anxiously.



Anya beamed and walked over to where Cordelia was dealing with the policemen.



“What should we do?” Tara asked as she came up.



“Well, the tongue advice is good but, you know, not right now,” Willow said blushing in the dark.



“Okay,” Tara answered with a bashful smile.



In the distance suddenly there were gunshots. Willow looked toward the shots that peaked briefly and stopped. William and Riley were bringing back Klems. They began to hurry the stumbling figure. Willow took a deep breath and looked at Tara.



“I need to do something now,” Willow said tightly. “But…”



“Later,” Tara promised.



Willow nodded and turned toward Buffy. She reached her friend just ahead of several groups. Willow pulled on Buffy’s sleeve. The small blonde turned to her friend.



“Buffy, we need to get organized,” Willow said calmly. “The timing of all of this can’t be by accident.”



“No, it’s not,” Buffy said softly. She looked at the police approaching in one direction with Cordelia and then at William and Riley with the sagging, swearing Klems between them.



“Buffy?” Dawn asked softly. “Are you okay?”



“I’m all right,” Buffy said softly to her sister. Then she looked at the Morlaix border police. “I am Lady Elizabeth Summers. This man and others in his employ kidnapped both my sister and myself. I believe they are also behind the gunfire we heard. Please take him into custody.”



“Keep your hands off me if you know what’s good for you, church mice!” Klems snapped. “Give me this criminal and I’ll be on my way!”



“He kidnapped me as well!” Cordelia snapped.



“We will sort this out at the Sergeant At Arms’ office,” the senior constable said sternly.



“I must be on my way!” Klems roared.



“To start a war,” William said coldly.



“This way,” the constable said. “Herman, make sure our loud guest is escorted closely.”





===========================================================





Alexander Harris felt his hands shaking. It had seemed like a story. The Sergeant At Arms of Morlaix had asked for every available adult who could fight to defend the Bishopric. Alexander had raised his hand. The shotgun they gave him was familiar. His mother had often stretched their meals with rabbits and birds he’d brought back with his grandfather’s ancient 12 bore. But he had never hunted at night, and never shot anything that let out a cry of fear and rage as it fell.



Alex looked down into the dead man’s eyes. Just a moment ago his opponent had been swinging an empty rifle at a wounded Morlaix constable. Alexander had just an instant picture in front of the shotgun’s sight. He’d pulled the trigger. There had been the expected recoil, the noise, and the flash. When he looked again down the sights all of the men in the grimy uniforms with the red sashes were down. Including the one in front of him.



“First time?” Lady Dunbar asked as she reloaded her own shotgun.



“Yes,” Alex replied unsteadily.



“You saved the constable,” the older woman said in a steadying tone. “Not to mention all of Morlaix.”



Alex nodded. Several of the raiders were still alive. Two of their horses screamed in their own agony, a shrill counterpoint to the groans of the wounded men of both sides.



“Is it always like this?” he asked looking at the moonlit road where the ambush had been sprung. What the pale light did not show the sounds and odors of sudden violent death filled in.



“Usually it’s worse,” Lady Dunbar replied knowingly.



Alex handed her the shotgun with the breech open, like he had been trained to do. Then he ran for the side of the road and lost what little he had in his stomach.





===========================================================





The bells of the Bishopric tolled twelve as the group moved down the path. Willow was bringing up the rear with the very polite border guards when the messenger from the Bishop intercepted them. He leapt off his horse and handed the senior constable a note.



“Lady Summers, you must hurry!” the young man in the livery of the Bishopric said hurriedly. “The Bishop must speak with you at once. Carriages are on their way for your friends.”



“What of our messenger, Alexander Harris?” Buffy asked urgently.



“He has acquitted himself well this night in our defense, Lady,” he said handing her the reins. “Take my horse and follow the road to the bridge. The guards are expecting you.”



Buffy leapt into the saddle with a sureness Willow tried not to envy. Then she whirled the beast about and was gone. The senior border constable looked at the men flanking Klems.



“Secure him,” he ordered.



“Fools!” Klems snarled. “You’ll rue this day before it is over!”





===========================================================





When Willow arrived with the others at the main square of the Bishopric she saw to her dismay horses in full tack standing on the square. Buffy was speaking quickly to a gently rotund figure in a cassock. As they came closer Willow could see the scarlet piping that was a mark of a Bishop on the cassock in the torchlight. He looked haggard in the flickering lights. Buffy stepped toward them.



“We don’t have a lot of time,” Buffy started in a clear voice. “Speaking with the Bishop and representatives of various governments we’ve come to the conclusion those who started all of this are making their move. If we can prove Dawn is alive and I am the one to bring her back we can mitigate some of the caustic damage this crisis has done. Dawn and I have to go home. This is something you don’t have to-”



“Buffy, shut up and get me a stool so I can get up on one of those things,” Willow said stepping out of the carriage.



“I can give you a hand up, Miss Willow,” Alexander said stepping away from a horse. “I’m ready.”



“Shouldn’t we have safety belts?” Anya asked.



“You may stay here, Miss Anya,” the Bishop said. “Miss Summers explained you are not familiar with horses.”



“Since you’re one of the good humans who know I am a real person, I will modify my language and gestures,” Anya said clearly. “I am very much going.”



“Well, we can’t very well let women rush off to danger alone,” William said.



“No, if they figure out they don’t need us for this we’re down to being needed for killing spiders and reaching tall things,” Riley agreed.



“Our mystique would be gone for good,” Liam added.



“Can I have a more spirited mount?” Cordelia asked. She looked at Liam as he was seized by a sudden fit of coughing. She smiled at Willow. “Must be the damp night air.”



Tara swung up into the saddle and let the stable hand shorten her stirrups. Then she eased her horse to Willow’s. The redhead looked at Tara’s easy seat and calm manner with the horse. She sighed.



“Is everyone in the galaxy better on a horse than I am?” Willow asked.



“Yes,” teased Dawn.



“Just let yourself think of your horse as a fellow creature, trying to keep up with the others,” Tara suggested.



Willow tried to visualize herself just going with the others. She had a brief glimpse of the horses, only their rank had nothing to do with their riders and the horse under seemed to ease.



“Let’s just get through this,” she whispered to the horse. It whickered softly.



“You realize you are all quite mad,” Buffy said smiling and blinking away threatened tears.



“Yes,” Willow said with a grin. “How are we getting to West Sussex?”



“The Brandy Route,” Alex replied. “I know the way.”



“In the dark?” Liam asked.



“That’s how I traveled it most of the time,” the young man replied.



There was a clatter on the paving stones and a magnificent gray gelding came into view. The older woman on the horse was tying on her hat.



“I think we had best be going, Lady Summers,” Lady Dunbar said.



“I wish you would reconsider, Lady Dunbar,” the Bishop said worriedly.



“Oh, Horace, don’t be such a stick in the mud,” she replied. “I’m just an observer. How much trouble could I get into surrounded by such fine young men?”





===========================================================





Joyce Summers hesitated on the stairs as a messenger came into her home. The young man saluted and reported the southern border was quiet. She caught her escort looking carefully at the soldier. Her escort this evening was again Captain Huntington of the Wessex Dragoons. The handsome officer leaned forward so just she could hear his words.



“We must speak,” he said.



“I really should check with my chambermaid before I retire,” she said easily to the two officers following her at the base of the stairs.



“Yes, Ma’am,” they said politely.



She turned at her door and knocked on a door next to hers. Her chambermaid appeared and stood back from the door. Joyce looked at the girl.



“Just nod like we’re going over a matter of the bedclothes,” Joyce said softly. The maid nodded.



“There will be good news this early morning,” Huntington said quietly. “But I don’t trust our Aquitaine friends. Be ready to leave when I come by, say about five o’clock. I’ll arrange coffee for your guards.”



“Are my girls all right?” Joyce asked in quiet desperation.



“You will be reunited by the first light of day,” Huntington promised.





===========================================================





“Are you sure we can make it before dawn without breaking our necks?” William asked as the group began their ride.



“I-I think s-so,” Alex replied.



“Think?” Cordelia snapped.



Alexander felt the night closing in on him as his stomach clenched. He was the son of a drunk, more suited to shoveling out stables than riding with the gentry. What business did he have leading anything? He looked at the people in front of him. Willow looked at him, met his eyes, and nodded with a smile.



“If you can keep up, milady,” he said sitting a bit taller in the saddle.





===========================================================





Willow was sure she should have fallen off half a dozen times by the first time they slowed to pass near a border post. The chill of the night and tension of the crossing worked against each other until they were past. Then the tiny rivulets of sweat became trickles of icy cold on her skin. Then they were riding again until Alex signaled a halt to rest the horses. She got off with her usual controlled collapse but for once was not the least graceful. Anya tumbled from her saddle, and before anyone could offer her a hand Alex was there.



“Isn’t there a riding animal with a more ergonomic interface?” Anya asked. “Multi-humped camels perhaps?”



“Camels spit,” Dawn said. “I read about it in Thief of the Sands.”



“Are you all right?” Tara asked Willow softly.



“It’s working,” Willow said with a shy smile. “The thinking about the horse as part of a group thing I mean.”



“I’m glad,” Tara replied.



Without thinking Willow reached for Tara’s hand and found it reaching for hers. Nearby Buffy, William and Riley spoke with Alex in low tones about the next stretch of the trail and the possibility of patrols while Cordelia complained to Lady Dunbar about riding in street shoes and Anya grilled Dawn for options concerning animal transportation. But in the tiny patch of moonlight Willow and Tara shared the touch became a long moment of silence between them as the other conversations fell away.



Then Willow reached out with her free hand and found Tara’s again without looking. Now Willow knew Tara was worried for the others but mostly for Willow. The redhead could feel Tara’s heartbeat in her hands as the world became two orbs of blue that shone impossibly bright in the moonlight.



“We have to go,” Buffy said gently.



Even with her quiet tone both girls gave a start.





===========================================================





Etienne looked through the dispatches waiting for him on the train. He felt put out that so much of the ‘urgent’ concerns were of the most mundane nature. Still, he had a duty so he busied himself and tried to work through the papers. He did not look up when the train stopped. Formalities had to be observed at borders, but he knew he would not be disturbed. The sudden blow to the back of his head was a painful surprise.





===========================================================





Tara was watching Dawn as they rode. The closer they got to West Sussex and her home the more chances she seemed to take. Several times Buffy had to almost drag her back physically. When they stopped again Willow drew close to the sisters before she dismounted. Tara did the same just as Buffy grabbed her sister by the arm.



“What the Hell was that all about?” Buffy demanded. “You stay in the middle of the group!”



“But we’re close and Momma needs us and we can stop everything and it’ll be all right and-” Dawn said in a rush. Then she shivered all over and couldn’t stop shaking. Buffy looked on helplessly. Tara could feel Buffy’s worry and anger turning to fear. Willow looked at Tara and nodded to Dawn. Tara gently pushed the trembling girl towards her sister.



“Hold her,” Willow said softly.



As Buffy took Dawn in her arms both girls started to cry. Willow and Tara eased their arms around the Summers girls.



“It’s okay,” Tara said gently.



Buffy framed Dawn’s face gently with her hands as she smiled and tried to look the part of the wise older sister.



“Everything will be okay,” Buffy promised.



“Everything?” Dawn asked in a small voice.



“Everything,” Buffy promised, hoping that her word would bind the future.



“S-sorry,” Dawn said hesitantly.



“You’re up late on a school night,” Buffy replied.



“Always a bad thing,” Willow agreed.



“I promise to go to bed on time tomorrow,” Dawn said trying to smile.





===========================================================





“What are the possibilities things will actually be okay?” Anya asked Alex.



“Slim and none,” he replied quietly.



“Then she’s lying to her sister?” Anya asked aghast.



“It’s complicated,” Alex said uncomfortably. “She’s trying to be strong for her and give her hope.”



“Hope?” Anya asked. “So this is a real human thing?”



“Yes,” Alex nodded.



“It’s very confusing,” Anya said. “It’s kind of frightening too.”



“Yeah,” Alex said.



Alex looked at Willow and Tara now holding hands in the moonlight next to the sisters. He reached for Anya’s hand. The construct looked surprised at the contact. Then she smiled and felt the first hint of a blush in the night. Alex smiled at her and let her hand go. As he mounted his horse Anya looked down at her hand.



“Fascinating.”





===========================================================





“This is most irregular,” grumbled the Zendan Minister of Finance.



“These are irregular times,” Giles said calmly, fighting the urge to yawn.



I’m getting too old for this, he thought.



“Why should the laws of the Republic of Zenda be imposed on this company?” the Minister grumbled.



“Beyond war and chaos?” the Premier asked in a testy tone. He had no urge to see the world in the wee hours of the morning.



“Those are the politics of others,” huffed the Minister. “Such things have come and gone before. We are neutral. It will not come to our borders.”



“But the results of the currency manipulation will most certainly impact your economy,” Giles said levelly. “Especially the off-planet resources that would no doubt be brought to bear. I understand there are off-world criminal gangs with engraving machines that can copy any paper or coin down to the molecular level. Even hard-gild gold over lead.”



“Counterfeiting?” the Minister of Finance asked in horror.



“I’m afraid so,” Giles said sadly.



“I will call on the Chief of Police myself!” the Minister rumbled. “Be ready to move within the hour!”



The Premier watched the de facto ruler of Zenda bellow to his servants. When they were alone he turned to the librarian who had arrived by diplomatic airship with such a chilling tale.



“Have you actually heard of such things?” the politician asked.



“Read about them,” Giles nodded.



I’ll just not mention it was in a Claire Durano novel, Giles decided.





===========================================================





Etienne could just make out the lid of the box, or what he desperately hoped was a box, above him. He could barely hear any sounds. He pounded on the lid. The sound was muffled. It did not interfere with a conversation being held several feet away.





===========================================================





“Aye, she’ll make the shelf before light,” the smuggler said with a nod. “Fastest thing on these docks.”



“Can you drop this off there?” the cloaked figure asked.



“My back ain’t that good anymore,” the smuggler sighed.



“Will a dozen Zendan florins ease your pain?” the shrouded man asked holding up a purse.



“You, sir, have the cure for lumbago,” the smuggler chuckled as half dozen men pushed the low rectangular box onto the swift vessel.





===========================================================





Willow caught sight of the distant bay when they crested the hill. She could see Buffy and Dawn both sitting straighter. Alex and the other men were looking downhill at the sleeping estate and the town beyond. Then something furtive just brushed her mind as several figures broke away from the stables and led their horses away.



“Something’s happening,” Tara said softly.



“About to,” Willow said surely.



“How do you know?” asked William.



“They’re sneaking,” Willow said.



“What’s over there?” Tara asked.



“They’re headed towards the railway,” Buffy said coldly.



“The one we’re supposed to be delivered on,” Cordelia said coldly. “What time is it?”



“Almost five,” Lady Dunbar replied.



“The milk run,” Cordelia said nodding. “Nobody would even notice with all those stops.”



“Then they’ll know we’re not on it shortly,” Dawn said tightly. “What about Mom?”



“We’ve got to get down there,” Buffy said grimly. “Before it’s too late.”





===========================================================





Captain Huntington opened the door to the Countess’s drawing room. The figures around the table were sprawled, their cards still in their hands. The candle on the table was low and guttering. Near one still hand a coffee cup was spilled. The officer smiled and nodded to the men following him. He stepped into the room.





To Be Continued

[justin]

That was a great update

Quote:

---

“No, if they figure out they don’t need us for this we’re down to being needed for killing spiders and reaching tall things,” Riley agreed.

---

Well it's generally my sister who handles the spider killing



So will Buffy and the others get back in time? I am on the proverbial edge of my equaly proverbial seat



Looking forward to reading more

Anya in a wimple...I'd pay full admission for that. Gods Served And Abandoned - by Antigone Unbound


You know the worst thing about people in a relationship? The fact that they're in a relationship. - Hilda Spellman

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Sorry about the delay but mutual days off with my day-shift working wife are to be treasured.



justin-I'm in a much safer posistion in my household since I am the designated arachnid assassin I am working on the next chapters and trying to make a decision about where to break the story into the next series. Oh, and working. Stupid economic forces. It's my parents' fault really. They got me addicted to living indoors, eating meals, and wearing clothes.



Thanks to everyone for giving your time to my story.





Jixer

[WintersDreamer]

You to ? I mean a assassin of all things 8 legged ?



I got drafted, tell someone that you think the fuzzy little "flycatchers" are kinda cute, sheesh.... and I won't even bother you with what she said (and did) when I told her that trantulas tickled when they walk up and down on you, Me= "and they're harmless so let's get one as a pet!" .... the fall out was not pretty. Found out she doesn't belive in "vague disclaimers" either

Is Travers playing both ends against the middle ..again?

Really enjoying the fic!

Please update soon!

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



WintersDreamer-Yes, I too think that spiders are a good thing, especially guarding the tomato plants. If possible I do a catch and release, but those are unfortunately rare.



Now some bad news. The next update will be late. I've evidently decided to give some virus a home for a few days. I had no idea I was so generous.





Jixer