30 Worlds: Megaforce, Episode XVI: "True Love's First Kiss"

BOOK TWO*CHAPTER TWO

Ship's Log, Mission Date 1,170, Princess Consort Mal recording.

The Ambassador has been in the Unaligned World of NCIS for three days now with no indication of the A.I.C.'s intentions. With the exception of The Doctor's reversion to his War Doctor form, no significant events have occurred to enter into this log.

William and Sofia walked into a bar in New Orleans' French Quarter and smiled at the atmosphere they saw. "This looks like a fun place to spend the night," Sofia said. "I'd say so," William said before walking up to the bar, where the manager was serving. "What'll it be?" he said.

"Two Long Island Iced Teas, please," William said. "Comin' right up," the manager said. A few moments later, the manager pushed two tall glasses up to William. "That'll be $10.99," the manager said.

William pulled a $20 bill out of his wallet and handed it to the manager. "Keep the change," William said. "Thank you," the manager said before he moved off to attend to the other customers at the bar. William and Sofia picked up their glasses, clinked them together, then took a drink.

"Not bad at all," William said. A voice from behind them responded, "This is the best bar in New Orleans. Couldn't you muster up a better review than 'Not bad at all?'"

William and Sofia turned around to see S.S.A. Raymer. "Bill!" William said. "I got your gift. We're wearing them right now."

At that, William and Sofia revealed that they were indeed wearing the bulletproof vests that Bill had sent them. "I was hoping that you were," S.S.A. Raymer said as another man William recognized approached them.

"These are the two newlyweds you were tellin' me about, Bill?" he said. "Yeah, King," Bill said. "William and Sofia Warner, this is Dwayne Pride, the owner of this fine establishment."

William, then Sofia, shook Pride's hand. "It's an honor to meet the NCIS agent who saved that bridge recently," William said. "We saw the story on ZNN," Sofia said.

"Yeah, but there was a price to pay," Pride said. "My entire team and I got placed on administrative leave pending the DHS investigation." "I'm sure that you'll be cleared," Sofia said. "We need a lot more people like you defending this fine country."

"Why, thank you, Miss Sofia," Pride said. A voice from the bandstand caught Pride's attention. "Hey, King! Our piano player and singer need to take a break!" the drummer called out.

Pride shook his head, but William and Sofia smiled. "We can take over," William said. Pride looked at William and Sofia, then smiled. "If you think you can do it, then let me introduce you," he said before leading William and Sofia to the bandstand.

As William and Sofia got settled at their positions, Bill turned to Pride. "Gotta head back to the office," Bill said. "Just keep my seat warm," Pride said before hugging Bill. As Bill walked up to the exit of the bar, he saluted William and Sofia. William and Sofia nodded before Bill left.

Back at the NCIS field office, Bill saw a note on his computer: "Director Vance wanted you to know: Something big is coming down. Remember Rule 45. Watch your six, Probie.-Gibbs."

"Oh, my god," Bill said. He reached into the drawer of his desk and withdrew a Scarlett Army communicator. "S.S.A. William Raymer to Ambassador. S.S.A. William Raymer to Ambassador. Come in please," he said.

On the Bridge of the Ambassador, Ferb Fletcher was at OPS when he saw the notation on his panel. "Lady Mal, we have an incoming signal on the Scarlett Army emergency channel," he said. "Put it through, Ferb," Mal said.

"S.S.A. William Raymer to Ambassador. S.S.A. William Raymer to Ambassador. Come in please." "This is Princess Consort Mal in forward command of the Ambassador," Mal said. "We read you, S.S.A. Raymer."

"Princess Consort, I have urgent information regarding the possible motivation for the A.I.C. to attack this world!" Bill said. "Prepare for transport to the Ambassador, S.S.A. Raymer!" Mal said. "Bridge to Transported Room 3. Ms. Russo, lock on to S.S.A. Raymer's communicator and beam him aboard immediately!"

"Will do, Mal," Alex Russo said from the transporter room.

Half an hour later, William and Sofia had just turned things back over to the bar's resident singer and piano player when a fanfare sounded from their Mobilates. William and Sofia ducked into a nearby service closet. "Prince William. Go ahead," William said.

"This is Mal. We have S.S.A. Raymer aboard. He needs to speak to you at once!" Mal said. "Have Alex beam us up," William said. "Acknowledged. Stand by," Mal said. Moments later, William and Sofia dissolved in the Ambassador's transporter beam.

In the Ambassador's Observation Lounge, Bill watched as William and Sofia walked into the room. "What's wrong?" William said as he invited Bill to sit down.

"I got a message from Agent Gibbs. It said, 'Remember Rule 45,'" Bill said. "'Clean up the mess that you make,'" William said. "What mess could Agent Gibbs be referring to?"

"I can only think of one," Bill said. "The Cicada case." Sofia was confused, so William explained: "When Bill was a probationary agent, he and Agent Gibbs' team were involved in an undercover operation aboard a prototype Navy destroyed named the Leviathan."

William walked over to the viewports as he continued: "The Leviathan was the testbed for a classified EMP weapon code-named 'Mjöllnir.' The Mjöllnir was targeted by a terrorist organization known only as 'Cicada.'"

"Cicada was revealed to be led by a rogue CIA agent named Eden Mills, but Bill was able to remove Mills' threat," William finished. "You think the remnants of the Cicada organization want to take revenge on you for killing their leader?"

"Worse that that," Bill said. "I suspect that the Leviathan incident was merely the prologue to an all-out A.I.C. attack on this world."

"Prince William to Bridge. Take the ship to Tactical Alert," William said. "Acknowledged, Your Highness. Tactical Alert," Mal said. William then turned back to Bill. "I believe you, Bill," William said. "What do you suggest we do?"

"We need to get everyone together," Bill said. "Agent Gibbs, Agent Callen, Agent Pride...even Commander McGarrett, if we can get a hold of him."

William nodded. "Agreed," he said. "We do need all the help we can get."

::TBC::