Author's Note: Yeah, chloroform hasn't been invented yet. That's why Robespierre doesn't recognize it. Dawn probably got it from Seo's ship. We're not far off, though.

Tired, now.

zzzzzz...

The ex-king's fate was changing, daily. First came news of the Brunswick Manifesto — foreign armies threatening rash retaliation on France if it didn't restore the monarchy. Which suggested a conspiracy between the ex-king and his former allies, communication designed to undermine the new republic.

And this news was followed closely by the revelation of the contents of Citoyen Louis Capet's secret vault.

"Letters of conspiracy," Maximilien told Seo, "between Louis Capet and some of the most trusted leaders of this revolution!" He held her hands in his, rubbing her palms as if to bask in her purity. "I don't know whom I can trust, anymore. Men I thought beyond reproach… giving up their morals and ideals in this way."

Louis Capet was suspected of conspiracy and attacks upon public safety. And Maximilien de Robespierre had to retreat from his home, and serve as a leader to his people, once more. To give strength and courage, where it was needed.

"If I don't show them the way," Maximilien told Seo, "who will?"

He labored over his speech. Struggled to come to a decision as to what should be done. Seo trusted him to do the right thing. She'd seen his heart, his forgiving nature. She'd seen his faith in human goodness.

She stepped out, with him, to help him deliver his speech.

And that was when she was kidnapped.

Maximilien heard the shouts and protests from his beloved. Turned, in time to see Seo sag, unconscious, as if struck down by magic itself, a rag across her mouth. And then dragged off by two women and a man, all attired in the remnants of once-fine clothes.

His anger flashed through him, as he shouted for his people to help him.

And so the mob reformed. And raced after the kidnappers, reaching for them. Tearing at them.

The women got away, Mademoiselle Seo in their arms. But the man, staying behind to fight against the mob and attempt to murder even more innocent, as he must have done so often in his place of privilege — was caught.

Arrested.

"What treachery is this?" Maximilien de Robespierre demanded of the young man. "Do you expect a ransom? A vote of leniency from me towards your precious Citoyen Capet?"

The young man refused to answer. Just spat in Robespierre's face.

Maximilien left him to his imprisonment. His morals would not be compromised. He had a speech to make. A people to lead. An old world to topple, and a new one to erect in its place.

And so he went off and gave his speech.

To an enthusiastic crowd.

"For Louis, I have neither love, nor hate," Robespierre declared. "I hate only his crimes! Yes, I abhor the death penalty, and, yes, I believe use of the death penalty is, in general, a crime unjustifiable by the indestructible principles of nature — except in cases like this!" He swept his hands out, to make his point. "Cases in which such a death would protect the safety of individuals or of the society altogether." He looked out at the crowd gathered to listen to him. "And so, with regret, I pronounce this fatal truth: Louis must die so that the nation may live!"

Seo came to in a dark cave-like area. Jumping to her feet and getting ready to fight for her life.

"Woah, woah!" came a familiar voice. "Take it easy on the kung-fu-ninja stuff. You're rescued, now."

Dawn's voice.

Seo relaxed her fighting stance. Gave a long, annoyed sigh. "I didn't need to be 'rescued'."

She could see Dawn's face, in the darkness, as her eyes adjusted. Dawn standing with her arms crossed, looking pretty defensive and upset.

"Yeah?" said Dawn. "Because there's only one reason you'd be going smoochies with Robespierre. And that's if he'd brainwashed you."

"It's because I happen to like him!" Seo retorted. She advanced on Dawn, irritated. "And why can't I? He's brilliant, you know. A firm believer in liberty and equality, who abhors death and violence and who…"

"Will go on to be one of the most infamous murderers in human history," Dawn cut in.

Seo froze. Staring.

For a few moments, no sound echoed through the catacombs.

"You're… you're wrong," Seo insisted. Shook her head. "History got it wrong. Whatever event is going to happen that characterizes him as a murderer, it… it can't be his fault. I know it isn't. He'd never do that. He's trying to protect people! He—"

"He's going to shove people up onto a stage and cut their heads off," Dawn said, pointedly. "You can't get a whole lot more guilty than that."

"What?!" Seo cried.

Dawn sighed. "Why don't you know this?" she asked. "I mean, did you just skip to the making-out part, without the whole talking-to-him part? The man's a total psychopath! And—"

"But he's not," Seo insisted. "He's sweet. Wonderful. He's been the strongest advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. And he wants to free the slaves!"

The woman beside Dawn stared at Seo, surprised. "You mean the African slaves? In the colonies?"

Seo felt a chill run through her. "Yes, of course. What else… could he have…?"

"The revolution has not touched the issue of African slavery," said the woman. "A delegation came, appealing to them. But for the most part, people seemed entirely uninterested." She seemed upset by the issue. "And the Jacobins call themselves the purveyors of equality!"

"But Maximilien believes it should end!" Seo insisted. "I've spoken to him. He believes in freedom for all. Freedom of religion, freedom from racism, freedom for—"

"Freedom for me and my brother?" asked the woman. "Forced to retreat beneath the streets of Paris, to outrun a mob ready to kill us?"

Seo leveled a dark stare at the woman. "And who are you?"

"Christine saved my life," said Dawn. "She's been persecuted because she used to be totally upper-classy, and now she's considered a criminal. But she isn't one! She's been risking her own life to help me find you."

Seo noted the panic in Dawn's voice. A little surprised. "You've been worried about me."

"Uh, yeah!" said Dawn. "You're my niece! And I totally stuck you in the middle of the French Revolution!"

Seo wasn't sure what to say to this.

"Look, let's just… get out of here, okay?" said Dawn, grabbing Seo up by the wrist. "I don't care who made out with who or whatever happened. I just want to leave."

Seo yanked her hand away. "No."

"What do you mean, no?" Christine demanded. "You must flee! Haven't you heard what happens to émigrées?"

"These people are fighting for freedom!" Seo said. "Fighting for the right to feed their families. And I have to help. I want to help!"

"You want to chop off heads?" Dawn challenged.

"It's not about violence or chopping-off-heads!" Seo insisted. "It's about freeing the world from a brutal tyrant that enslaves the entire population into misery and starvation! I know what that leads to — I've seen it! For a whole year, I've seen it. And I can't let it happen, again. I was weak, last time — I gave in. But no more." Her eyes narrowed. "This time, I'm going to stop it."

"Last time?" asked Dawn, staring at her, utterly bewildered. "What do you mean, last time? Is this about the Civil War thing?"

"I know what's right, Dawn," Seo insisted. "Freedom and democracy for all! And I'm going to see it through to the end. I'm going to make sure those people are free."

She turned, and tried to head back. But Dawn sprinted forwards, and tackled her to the ground. Both thudding against the rock of the catacombs, bones shaking around them.

"You've got no idea what you're getting into!" Dawn hissed. "I'm serious, Seo. Heads are going to roll by the end of this. Robespierre's going to be in charge of it. And if we stick around, we're both going to get killed."

"Really?" Seo retorted. "And which HBO mini-series are you basing this particular nugget of information off of?"

"Common sense and a Broadway Musical!" said Dawn. "I've seen Les Mis! Everyone dies at the end!"

Seo's eyes narrowed. "Les Miserables? You mean the book by Victor Hugo about the June Rebellion of 1832? Forty years after now?"

Dawn paused. Grimaced. "Yeah… but…" She shook her head. "That doesn't matter! People are going to seriously die by the end of this revolution, too, Seo. Your mom took a class on the French Revolution, in college, and she and Willow were always going mega-debate about it around me. I picked stuff up."

"I don't believe you," Seo said, managing to free herself from Dawn. She dusted off her clothes. "I'm staying here. If you're worried, you can stay in the ship until I get back."

"And if you don't get back?" Dawn said. "If you die?"

"Then it's a good thing I've got thirteen lives."

"Yeah? And are those thirteen lives guillotine-proof?" Dawn retorted. "Or is cutting off your head enough to prevent regeneration?"

Seo had no idea.

But she wasn't telling Dawn that.

"I can take care of myself!" said Seo. Turning to stumble through the darkness, and find a way to safety. "Just stop rescuing me from things I don't need rescuing from! And…"

They all froze.

As the abrupt sounds of policemen and a search party echoed through the catacombs.

"They followed us," Christine breathed.

Dawn tried to grab up Seo and drag her after them, but Seo squirmed her way out of Dawn's grip.

"I'm not leaving you!" Dawn hissed.

"And I'm not leaving!" Seo hissed back. "You're not my mom. You can't tell me what to do!"

"I can too tell you what to do!" Dawn said. Clenching her fists. "Whose ass do you think's gonna get kicked if your mom finds out I've gotten you killed?"

"And that's all this is about?" Seo said, eyes blazing. "You being afraid to confront my mom? Well, how do you think I'd feel about confessing to Mom that I ran away when people needed me? That I had a chance to fix my mistakes and didn't take it?"

"Please, Mademoiselle Dawn," Christine begged. "We must go!"

Dawn grabbed up the rag of chloroform. "I'll chloroform you if I have to."

"Then I'll hold my breath!" shouted Seo. "I'll kick and scream and raise up a fuss! But I'm not letting you drag me out of here. Maximilien's right! I have a duty to stay and…"

"Assist a murderer?" Dawn said.

"Free everyone!" Seo hissed. "All the slaves. All the peasants! Equality for all, Dawn. It's so important! And I have to…!"

That was when they realized… they'd delayed too long. As they were surrounded by the police, armed with bayonets and torches.

All pointed at Dawn and Christine.

"You two," said the police, "are under arrest."