Time to match up to the cannon storyline 3

Chapter Twenty-One: Locked out in reflection

As the moons rose, bloody red in the atmosphere of worry and distrust, everyone had been safely tucked into bed in the palace. Hardin patrolled restlessly, her pale eyes searching the corridors for any sign of movement. It had been too easy getting the prince back here; too easy by far. Worse still, questions about Lord Prozen's whereabouts were starting to be asked, and it killed her not to know.

Prozen…Gunther, she allowed herself to think…was like a brother more than anything else to her. The thought he was going to be a father disturbed her, but only because she hadn't expected the mother to be…well, who he was. Raven had been a source of amusement back then, but the three days it took to come home, Prozen had changed completely to take care of the little boy. It had been wonderful seeing him like that, and for a while she had actually had a crush on him.

But the fact of the matter was that they were closer than that. He had a habit of being so relaxed around her…and Hanna…it was wonderful to be able to just switch off and not worry.

Where was he?

"…East Wing is quiet." Hanna slipped up beside her. "I don't like this Pat'. This is all wrong."

"I know."

"Has Shubaltz come through yet?"

"No. No contact." Hardin bit her lip. She'd been hoping to keep that a secret from her 'older brother' but the fact of the matter was that she had been seeing Karl these last few weeks. Having him bound to the city finally opened his eyes to what it was like being a personal aide in this situation, and he'd become very understanding. Of course, Kirche wasn't happy and voiced her opinion quite often about how Hardin was damaged goods and what have you. She could handle bitch fights, but Prozen was more worrying. He didn't like Karl at all.

Hanna gave her friend a strong smile. "They're okay. They might hate each other but they're professionals."

"…I still think they'll kill each other." Hardin breathed. "Karl…is a very proud man."

"That's a Shubaltz for you." Hanna smirked. "You really know how to pick 'em."

"Hnh." Hardin cocked her head to the side; curious. There was the faintest of sounds, like…someone getting up. Carefully padding over to one of the doors, the dark haired boy called Van, if Hardin remembered correctly, was sneaking out. Clearing her throat as quietly as possible, the boy turned around and blushed.

"Uh..hi!"

"What are you doing out, cutie?" Hanna asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"Uh, I was just, um…"

Hardin sighed, about to reprimand him for being a pain in the arse, but he was too much like Raven for her to do anything. The entire way back to the palace he had stuck by the Prince's side, been argumentative and a casual show off in his Liger - it was easy to see why they had so many arguments. In fact, if her information was correct, he might prove useful. "…You're Van, right?"

"Yeah?"

"The Prime Minister warned me about you and what you'd be up to." This was a half truth. Hommelef hadn't warned her, he'd yelled at her until his balding head shone in the lamplight with sweat. No one was supposed to leave their rooms until the next day when the coronation ceremony would happen. Hommelef had started planning it the moment he caught wind of the bad situation; as long as one of them was crowned it would keep the public happy. Van was not allowed to leave because he was trouble.

Oh well.

Van ducked his head. "…Um, sorry."

Hardin looked around, then walking up to him, took him aside. "Just you, right?"

"Yeah…of course…hey, lady…"

Hardin knelt down, becoming shorter than him. "Van Flyheight, I've heard good things about you. You want to visit the ruins up the river, don't you?" He nodded. "I want to say no; but I'm smart enough to know you'll go out the window, so I'll let you know some inside information…"

"I know it's a research lab." The boy growled.

"Not just that. I have a friend there; I want you to check on him."

"Huh?"

"…His name is Karl." She looked away. "He went out there earlier today with another friend of mine…Gunther. If you see either of 'em, tell them to come home."

Van pouted. "I don't even know what they look like."

"Gunther knows you." Hardin said softly.

"Huh? I don't know anyone called Gunther…"

"No, you don't…but he knew your father."

"…My father?"

Hardin nodded. The boy was visibly shaken, but nodded. "I can't leave here and do it myself, because I have to protect the Prince."

"Okay, I'll try!" He drew himself up, and went to run off, but paused again. "Waaaaait, why are you telling me this stuff?"

Hardin grinned, straightening up. "…I have a…nephew…who's very much like you. He's…He's Gunther's son. And he's inherited enough of his father to not be tied down to anything. If he wants out, he'll get out."

Van grinned. "Cool. Hope I get to meet him when this is over! See ya!" Waving, he sped off down the corridor.

Hardin sighed. "You already have, kiddo…"

"You're going soft, Lieutenant." Hanna growled.

"You may as well tie kids like that down to make them sleep, Lieutenant."

oOo

His entire body tingled.

Prozen sat quietly in the warm glow, not really knowing why. He felt warm, heavy, and thoroughly relaxed. He'd woken up in the infirmary with people standing around him asking him if he was all right. He had told them, yes, he was fine, and what time was it?

Late. No worries.

There was no anger inside him, simply confidence. Everything was going to plan; and that was okay. Even if that stupid little scientist Shaums had yelled at him and thrown things and called him a traitor, a monster, a betrayer. Overworked, he said softly, bidding the guards to take him into a safe place to deal with come morning.

….Of course, the coronation ceremony was tomorrow as well, he thought with a secret smile. He could take the throne and that would be it; at long last a reason to turn on those pathetic rebels…so what if he forgot about dearAlex for awhile…there were probably rats down there he could eat. Or maybe eat him.

That got a chuckle.

Speaking of eating, Prozen had the distinct impression he was hungry; but couldn't find anything to sate his appetite. Nothing interested him except the light…

"Lord Prozen?"

The hand at his shoulder disturbed his meditations, and he glanced, up, glaring slightly at the person who so rudely interrupted his musings. Ah, yes, young Shubaltz.

"Yes?"

"I brought you something from the car. Food's pretty terrible here."

Shubaltz had been awake before him. He'd fallen or something, he didn't remember. But he was nice and calm because Shaums, the enemy to the plan, was now out of the picture. Prozen knew he had collapsed himself because he had been worrying too much recently over things that were…trivial…

…Like Zoidians…

-Hiltz-

How had he been found though? Maybe Karl had raised the alarm. Good boy, Karl. Something inside Prozen stirred; but he ignored it and examined the offering of food. It was a chocolate bar. Raising an eyebrow at Karl, he made a quizzical sound.

-Mmm. Karl's a mind reader, this is just want I needed. Why am I so sugar deficient? Now-

"What is this?" Prozen asked quietly.

Now it was Karl's turn to look mystified. "It's a chocolate bar. It's the chocolate you can't do without, if I recall. I remember one particularly disastrous trip when someone ate half of your supply and you sent an entire brigade going through enemy territory to find some more because you couldn't handle your cravings." He chuckled, and Prozen thought that was very disrespectful. "And it turned up ending in an enemy camp, where you stole it yourself!"

-Heh, yeah. Wow, that feels so long ago…now I'm really hungry-

"That was very foolish of me." Being polite; he tucked the chocolate bar away into a pocket, ignoring the sudden flare of disappointment that filled him.

-What the hell?-

"…I thought you were hungry sir."

"I desire something more substantial."

At that moment, Prozen realised he'd said something wrong. Karl sat down beside him, gazing into the pool in front of them, as if searching for answers. Prozen felt it rise within him, an anger that was deliciously cold; anger towards a man who was gazing down on his Lady…so innocent and pure…

-Karl, can't you hear me?-

The blond man gave him a curious look, as if hearing something far away, studying him carefully. "I've…never known you to turn down that stuff unless you were really, really ill. Are you sure you're okay, Lord Prozen?"

"Regent." Prozen replied, smoothly.

"…I thought you hated that title."

-I do, I didn't say that, Karl, can't you hear me?-

Prozen shook his head. "I'm warming to it." He smiled then, raising his hand, showing the pretty ring that had vacated it's chain and was now adorning a long finger. "It suits me, don't you think?"

Karl said nothing. He just watched him for awhile, and then got up. "…I'm going to go back and report, sir." The words were slow and careful, his stance was prey material.

The waiting predator in Prozen rose and he too got up, smiling faintly. "Going to report?"

-To tell everyone what's happened? Good. That way we can shut this place down nice and quick-

"Yes. The project is finished now, isn't it? We're shutting everything down…and returning the ring to Prince Rudolph." His eyes were showing all the classic signs of fear. "…Sir?"

-That's what I said, Karl, why are you looking at me like that?-

Shaking his head, Prozen smiled again, a wide vacant smile. "Karl, Karl, Kaaaarl…The prince is dead. Don't you remember? I'm the emperor of Guylos now." That smile turned hard. "You're just like the rest of them; jealous of my abilities. It upsets you to know that not only could I rule all of Guylos, I could take over the rest of the planet too with this beautiful machine. And from there, who knows? The universe?"

-Who's saying those stupid things!-

Karl's entire body was rigid.

"I don't think you should make that report, Colonel." Prozen put his hands in his pockets and leered. "I think you should join dearAlex down below. In the dirt." His face contorted into something hateful. "Where you filthy degenerates belong. GUARDS."

Vacant eyed drones entered the room, tackling the struggling Karl and holding him down as he looked up, his face a picture of horror. "How could you! Were you lying the entire time! PROZEN!"

-What the hell are you talking about! I'm not lying, gods, put him down you idiots, can't you hear me?-

"Emperor." Prozen corrected.

-What the hell! Karl, what's going on!-Clawing, fighting-What the HELL? WHAT'S GOING ON, WHO ARE YOU? GE…GET OUT OF MY MIND!-

Prozen staggered under the strange static that now filled his brain, and then knelt, pressing his forehead against the cool metal beneath him. He was moving too fast obviously, his collapse was a bother…oh well…that's what you got for overworking yourself. He'd have to be gentle, the last thing he wanted to do was to faint at the coronation tomorrow.

As the blond man was lead away to be placed in some dark pit somewhere that he obviously deserved, Prozen returned to bathing in the light of the DeathSaurer, smiling faintly and wondering why he had such an urge to eat the…ugh, candy. Filthy. Disgusting.

He was vaguely aware of people hurrying around him, but he didn't care much because it wasn't important. In fact, time wasn't important. Sitting there, Prozen felt like nothing mattered, warm and cosy again and only wanting to sleep in this wonderful, pale light. He was exhausted actually, how in the world had he carried on? Clutching his head sleepily, Prozen keeled over and lay still against the cool metal of the walkway, soothed by the distant rumbles and whispers that were around him.

And time still wasn't important when someone grabbed his shoulder and yelled at him over the alarms that had suddenly flicked on. He ignored it all, drawn only by the throbbing of his temples that alerted him-

The DeathSaurer growled.

Swiftly, Prozen got up and stalked out of the room. Someone was disturbing his peace, and they were going to pay. Ignoring the helping hands, he drifting amongst the vacant people who milled around anxiously, their faces sneering, a mirror of his own. The viewing window-

-how do I know where I'm going?-

-Was right there, and beyond it the world bathed in light. It was already night, sweet night, cool night, fresh on his skin, and something lurked in the dirt below, something blue and vaguely feline. A BladeLiger, Prozen realised and he raised an eyebrow. The Van boy. Of course.

With a nod to the woman at the com-screen, the link to the outside intercom was switched on, and Prozen smiled. It was an ancient smile, one filled with hate, anger and most of all, something inhuman. "Welcome…Van. Well, well, I wasn't expecting you to come here so soon."

Through the canopy, the youth peered out at him with the characteristic frown of a wronged child on his face. "…What the?"

Prozen ignored the strange spinning sensation inside his head. He was tired. That was all…"Allow me to introduce myself…I am Gunther Prozen; soon to be emperor of the Guylos Empire."

"…Gunther? What! You mean…you're Prozen!"

"Mmm." A slow nod. "I'd like to say I've been watching your progress with great interest…but the fact is, I haven't. I've been…busy." His voice faltered, blinking hard. Busy with what again? The empire, right? He'd been…slack. So many battles needing to be fought, so little time…

"We know! You've been trying to kill Rudolph! You're nothing but scum, Prozen!"

-Hey, that's not fair. I didn't want to kill the kid, because if I did I'd be stuck being emperor. That's the last job I want, thank you very much. Do you have any idea how hard it is to run a country?-

"Unfortunately I haven't succeeded…yet. Van…Van Flyheight, isn't it? You're Major Daniel Flyheight's son, aren't you? Easily the best pilot on all of Zi…I can see him in your eyes."

The boy stopped almost immediately, his round face lit with wonder. "Wait, how do you know my name…?" His voice trailed off into a soft pause. "…You knew my father?"

"It was a long time ago."

-Only five years. My first and only mission…wasn't it? I…I can't remember…-

The sneer widened, thoughts clicking away that weren't quite his, and weren't quite…right. "I have a proposition for you. You're the first pilot I've met who has been able to stop Raven at his own game, and I think you should know I value that. I'd like you to join me."

"What? No way!"

"Oh, that isn't nice." Prozen folded his arms. "I only want war to cease, and in order to have that peace to allow Zi to prosper, I require strong pilots."

"Give it up, you just want to rule-"

"That makes me no different from the departed emperor or his grandson Rudolph."

"Rudolph's a good kid!"

Something unpleasant rose in Prozen's memory, and for some reason he jumped on it with a kind of rabid hunger only starving strays would have. "A 'kid', as you put it, with murderer's blood running in his veins. If you think the crown was taken by the Zeppelins in peace you're far from wrong. Whether it is I, Rudolph, your father or you; people were made to make others suffer, royalty especially. The crown was taken in blood; and remains in blood. That's a sacrifice I'm prepared to make."

"…People were made to suffer?" Van was visibly shaken; and Prozen took great pleasure in that.

"Of course. Why, even now that girl behind you is trembling in fear because you didn't want to go back."

"…that makes us…the same."

"No!" The top of the Zoid popped off, and the young blond girl seen in half of the identification photos jumped out, landed hard and stood in front of the massive blue Zoid. "No, stop this now!"

She was a pretty, slight thing, and when she grew into her body she'd be a fine strapping female. Prozen raised an eyebrow at her, wondering why she felt familiar. They'd never met before, but something, something inside reached out…

"Listen, what you're trying to do is wrong, and nothing can change that!" She cried, her voice strong.

Prozen smirked. "How sweet-"

Something cold dropped inside him, and he turned, listening to a sound no other could hear. The drones turned too, mirroring their master, and a heartbeat later, there was a massive crashing sound that echoed through the building and made the ground shake. His heart pounded; his body sang.

His Lady was awake.

"You're a Zoidian." He whispered, turning back and looking down at her hungrily.

"Yes. I am Fiona Alisi Lynette. I'm a survivor from the last battle that monster was in; and it almost destroyed this world. You're trying to revive the DeathSaurer; and it will consume you and all your companions; your empire, just as it did to mine. What is the point of having one if it's burnt to the ground?"

-Sometimes he'd cry in his sleep about that, and there was nothing I could do because he didn't want to talk about it in the morning-

"Stirring speech, yes, but I don't care." Prozen stiffened, his body prickling with energy. "Come to me, ancient Zoidian. We have…so much to talk about."

The drones were already swarming across the grounds in front of the compound, reaching out and grabbing her. Distracting shots were fired from the RevRaptors stationed on base, and the Liger fell back along with the little organoid that accompanied it. Smirking, Prozen withdrew, feeling something primordial coil at his back-

-Oh god.-

The Lady flung Her senses out far and wide, electricity crackling through the restraint systems and fail-safes; desperate to be released. He felt Her need but ignored it, too drawn to the Zoidian to care. She was dragged to him, thrust into his arms like a gift and he sighed, so happy, so-

-No-

-His hands froze. Confused, he struggled, trying to understand why-

-Let her go-

Steam billowed down the corridor, and the girl, Fiona, cried out and got behind him, desperate to escape it. He growled angrily and turned, swiftly, as one of the drones slid behind them and already flooded Prozen's mind with data-

-Humans can't process data. Let me go; you don't understand-

"Quiet, you." Prozen spoke out loud to the whisper in his head. He turned to the man who stood there, patiently. "Evacuation? There's no need to evacuate."

"The people on floors three and four think so. They are panicking, Lord Prozen."

"Ki-" Words faltered.

Fiona stared at him for a moment, her eyes wide. When he tried to speak again, his throat constricted, as if someone was holding him tightly. Horrified she tried to back away, and he let go without meaning to…what was happening to him!

"…RUN, GIRL-"

His words? What?

"DON'T TRY TO RUN FROM ME, ANCIENT ZOIDIAN!" He snarled, swinging around, but she was already away. Before he could stop her, she was into the hangers, and no matter how hard he tried, he just…couldn't…move…The air was suddenly full of smoke and dust as the Zoid managed to blast it's way inside. The girl gave him one last look, her face contorted with fear as the strange thoughts filled his brain again.

-Quickly! That thing is waking up! I don't know if I can stop it, but get out!-

He felt stretched. Like there was something beside him, something tearing at him, clawing at his body-

The Zoid swung away, tearing out and into the night. The RevRaptors were already giving chase, and just beyond that…just beyond that came the howling hissing roar of joy that meant She was awake. Falling to his knees, Prozen moaned, pleasure flowing through his body. Crashing, breaking, She scrambled out of Her nest, frantic to catch the girl-

The power was terrifying; beautiful, delicate and wholesome. It filled him up, made him shake from head to toe; and distantly he could hear screaming. A handful of talons crashed through the floor above him, and there She was in all her glory, stunning, breath taking. Smiling up at Her, he felt Her struggle to control a power She had forgotten how to use, letting loose a charged particle beam on anyone in Her way.

By the time the orgasm started; Prozen was aware of nothing else.

Nothing except a mirror at which his reflection raged.

And won.

Blood spurted against the ground as fragile vessels burst under the pressure, but Prozen was aware he was talking to the darkly clad woman beside him, talking sensibly as blood flowed from his ears, his eyes and nose, dripping prettily over the ground. Asking Her softly to stop. Why? Why was he asking Her to stop, it was Her God-given right to fire on them!

And She stared at him, with eyes that were as red as his own. Eyes that had been shunned from day he'd been born by everyone except his family. He felt his heart would break, but She walked over to him and touched his face with a long, elegant finger, tracing down his cheek. It felt strangely like something cold and hard, like a claw, but he couldn't tell, because he couldn't see. Everything was being obscured by blood and he was falling-

oOo

Restless in the dark, Hiltz listened to the faint scuffling of people in the room he'd called home for the last two weeks and felt a lot calmer than he had done in quite awhile. Hiltz had always been patient, and now even more so; getting loose had taken too long.

His jaws ached, but he was okay. Tatiana had been taking care of Raven's injuries, and couldn't understand why the boy was still unable to wake up properly. It hadn't taken long for Hiltz to realise and then tell her that Raven's body was compelled to sleep to fix the damage Rhyss had done. Having checked on the youth again, she crawled across the floor and curled up beside his bed.

"I don't think Shadow's abandoned us, but this is getting rather…annoying…How you holding up?"

It was surprising how much of a comfort she had become these last few hours. He didn't know what to expect from her in this situation, but Tatiana was nothing like the courtesans he knew at the palace. She was so calm, so careful, so peaceful. It was wonderful. Cautiously, she stroked his forehead and he closed his eyes, soothed by it, wondering, wondering…what it would have been like to have a mother…hell, even a parent…who was around him all the time when he was little…and hell, stuck by him when the shit hit the fan. Sighing mournfully he answered. "I've been better."

"I need to go the bathroom." Tatiana pouted in the half-light, and Hiltz couldn't help but smile.

"You and me both." He shifted his weight. "The little bastards are sitting on my bladder. Again."

"Children do that…" She paused, registering what he had just said, and Hiltz blinked. In all the chaos and then the tenseness afterwards, it had completely skipped his mind. "…You're expecting more than one? Good lord…"

"Rhyss doesn't know how many, and I assure you; I've seen males as far along as I am before and they were never as big as me." There was a scrap of pride in his voice, and he wondered where it came from. "I'm dreading to think of it actually."

She took his hand and squeezed it gently, giggling. "I'm so excited!"

"…I read some of those books you gave me. Tatiana, I am not looking forward to taking care of a brood of little versions of me and your son. They are going to drive me up the wall."

"That's the best part." Something clinked.

Hiltz craned his neck. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get you out."

"You tried that already."

"Not properly. I was worried about Raven, but he's sleeping now." She grunted softly, then got up, swaying slightly. "Honey, I know you hate people being around you; but I have to lean over you to get at the other side, okay?"

Hiltz nodded; but remembered it was dark and human's eyes were weak. "Sure. You I don't mind. I don't see you as human."

"Is that a good thing?" The bed creaked, and his stomach contracted, reminding him heavily of Rhyss' attack. Instead however, he smelt that smell; familiar and sweet, yet totally alien. Regardless of his position, his condition and species, he was deeply attracted in a chaste way to the smell of a mother. Something ancient buried inside his genes made him crave a female's touch to soothe his ruffled temper and his fears. Hiltz closed his eyes and relaxed completely as she leaned over him, the edges of her shirt brushing his face and tickling; reminding him briefly of Prozen when he was up to mischief in bed.

"…Of course it's a good thing." He breathed. "Long ago, I wanted to get rid of every human in sight when I got my memory back. As far as I was concerned…you were all wasteful, hateful creatures…and –ow, watch it-"

"Sorry!"

"-and I was jealous. It's okay. What are you doing?"

Tatiana sat back again, wiping a few strands of white hair from her face. "This is a play bed, Hiltz."

"Huh?"

"Bondage." She said simply. Her face tightened a little, but remained strong. "People were tied down and made powerless against another person. Gosh, it sounds strange to be discussing this with you."

Hiltz blinked. "Bondage is a human ritual?"

"No. It's just a method of sex." Patting her clothing she found what she was looking for; a safety pin. "I always carry these around. They're most useful." Hiltz opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, but Tatiana continued. "It's a power thing. Men tied down and made to feel helpless against a female, and vice versa."

"Rhyss' style, that's for sure."

"Some people like it." Tatiana grunted softly, twisting her body around slightly so she could use the wall to hold herself up and try to unlock the manacles. "I must admit, sometimes it was fun, when it was playful. My husband and I did a lot of things, we weren't shy of each other. It's when it becomes vindictive and nasty that…things go wrong. Can you try to hold this thing still?"

Hiltz obliged. "You've been in this position before, haven't you." He said flatly.

Tatiana paused, and Hiltz closed his eyes, angry at his forwardness. Instead, Tatiana sighed. "…Yes. Once. Long ago. I was punished because I wore a wedding ring and refused to play in court."

There was a clank. Hiltz felt something surge inside him as he realised his hand had come free, and with a gasp of pleasure laid it against his side, happy his shoulders didn't hurt so much. Freeing that one caused the other to be free as well, and still trapped in the manacle, Hiltz could now sit up freely, almost bumping into Tatiana as she sat back. "…I'm sorry I asked you." He said softly, rubbing his wrists.

Her crimson eyes found his. "I know you know. Gunther told me; you two fought after a long talk because you were under the impression Gunther was all for this project and liked the idea. Slavery isn't something most of the Imperials adhere to, you know."

"I was over-emotional." Hiltz said softly.

Tatiana took his hand and started on the second lock, her knuckles white. "That's no excuse for it, Hiltz. Gunther…Gunther feels very strongly for you."

"So he's told me."

"He'd do anything for you, Hiltz." She looked up from her work.

"…I know he's the real heir."

"Only by age and blood. Law doesn't recognise him, but royalists would be upset if they found out the real reason he was taken in as a fosterling."

"Was it because you couldn't care for him, or what?"

Tatiana looked away. "After Samuel died, something in me died too. And all the while, I kept hearing him say that Gunther was his son. We couldn't have children. We tried for seven years."

Hiltz bit his lip. "Really?"

Tatiana nodded. There was a gentle click, and the second manacle came loose. Hiltz hissed with relief, rubbing his fingers lightly over the chafed flesh, and to his surprise, Tatiana gently took both hands and kissed his wrists.

He stared at her in surprise, and she left his side silently to work on his ankles. Hiltz stared down at his hands, wondering why she'd done that, and felt the horrible lump rise in his throat again. Something warm was running down his cheeks and he didn't know why.

So he said it.

"You were on a bed like this, weren't you." He croaked.

Tatiana nodded, outlined by the moonlight. He was only vaguely aware that his wrists were chafed enough to bleed.

"He tied you down, because you said no. He took what he wanted."

"Gerhardt always got what he wanted, because that's the Zeppelin way." Tatiana said softly. "I felt so dirty, Hiltz. So wrong. I hated myself, I thought I had brought it on myself because…because I wasn't like the other girls. And Samuel came in; he saw…God, I thought he was going to kill me. I had to break myself out; Gerhardt had a bad memory when it came to girls. That and the fact I didn't want to remain here. Who knew how long he was going to keep me?" She worked faster now, having got back into it. "I was lucky. There were others who met worse ends."

"…Gunther…"

"Knows. He thinks I hate him. I'm just angry at myself for being so weak."

"Even if it got you a son?"

"Isn't that how you feel?"

Hiltz smiled, but it was faint. He wrapped his arms around his body and chuckled, weakly. "Guilty as charged…"

"I was scared, Hiltz. So scared. But Samuel took me back, he loved me so completely. Tracked me down in the gardens after dropping everything and took me home. For months he was with me, ignoring all commands to call him back. He couldn't forgive himself; he'd accepted an assignment and trusted the palace staff to look after me…"

"Tatiana, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You didn't give him that assignment. You didn't tie me down. Hiltz, you have done nothing to hurt me." She looked up at him, grinning. "Even now. Relax, will you? I'm almost done."

He nodded, shifting his weight slightly and letting himself relax back and rest his weight on his hands instead of just sitting.

"Hiltz; my husband did everything in his power to protect me. He actually realised I was carrying Gunther before I did, and that's saying something. He was overjoyed, and told me he didn't care if the emperor or one of his close friends was the father, what mattered was that I was healthy, I was whole, and I was with child. He was beside himself. And then, when Gunther was born…" She chuckled, giggling softly, and a third clank told Hiltz his right leg was free. "It was like we were courting again. He'd get me gifts. He'd take us out, or just me if he found someone truly reliable to take care of my son. He was grateful I was alive, and that Gunther was alive, and he had us. And I was too."

The Zoidian tucked his leg beneath his body, his knee screaming with joy at being able to do something other than sit straight. "What really happened to him?"

"…Samuel Prozen died five years later in what the military called an accident, and what the wives of the Court of Guylos call damage control. He was a good and honest man, but he'd done bad things, Hiltz. We all do bad things in the war. We were just coming out of one, and on a routine trip Samuel was killed. They said it was bandits. Rebels. Certainly not friendly fire. Gerhardt organised it so he was murdered; because Samuel was gaining power quickly."

Hiltz bit his lip. "…What?"

"Samuel was considering moving to Linulk permanently. We had the house there, the people liked us, and Samuel was minister of defence. He took a lot of things on, and wanted to break free from the politics of Guylos…set up a new state. Other people were doing it."

"…Gunther…?"

"Was a big drawcard. Oh, Hiltz, that old bastard did so much wrong. They all do. But Gunther was such a pretty boy, and Gerhardt likes to keep his friends close and his enemies even closer…That was the first reason. He was something cute to drag around and attention because his own legitimate children weren't as unusual. But when he found out about the mayor of Linulk asking advice of Samuel…he blew up. Wouldn't hear of it, even though the laws said it was possible. Bribed him. Begged him. Wouldn't set Samuel free, not one bit. Two years, Hiltz. We had two years together there, and it was wonderful. Then he was killed."

The last lock came free, and as Hiltz pulled away, Tatiana curled up. He coaxed his body forward, his muscles sleepy and wanting to resist his commands. Reaching out, cautiously, he touched her shoulder, and realised she wasn't crying…she was just exhausted.

"…I'm so sorry."

"I'm sorry I've been going on like this." She said softly. Looking up at him over her shoulder, she bit her knuckle. "Can I hug you?"

"…Uh…okay…?"

It was nice. And it was warm too. Tucking his head beneath Tatiana's, breathing in the faint perfume of skin lotion and cotton, well aware of a pair of arms for a moment making a secure fortress around him. It wasn't like a hug from Prozen which was always intimate and so welcoming; Tatiana felt safe. She was relaxing in an entirely different way that Hiltz didn't know existed.

"Will you come back to the village, Hiltz?" Tatiana breathed. "It's been so long since I had children in that house. The Prozen family are spread quite far and wide over Guylos, and there's few of my family left…every summer, it was wonderful, all the little ones would be there, and I could see Gunther…I don't want your little boys growing up under the new emperor."

"…Neither do I." Hiltz was touched she'd told him they were his. That was probably the first time anyone apart from Rhyss had said that. Prozen didn't count. He hugged her tighter, and heard her giggle again, then pulled away, blushing as one of the pups made themselves known against his skin. His shirt was tangled around him, stretched tightly over his middle, and hid nothing as the little bump wiggled it's way down and made him grunt with distress.

"…They're lively, aren't they?"

"It's because I'm up." The bed creaked as he moved. "How's Raven doing?"

Tatiana put on her game face and left his side, checking on the youth. Still no word. Staggering over to Tatiana's side, he helped her lift the boy up and drag him over to the bed, laying him down. It was more comfortable than the floor, and the other two had different ideas of how the night would be spent.

Hiltz straightened, scowling a little and rubbing the small of his back. After straitening his clothing and glancing around the room, he helped Tatiana explore the door. There was no way they could get it to budge.

"Hiltz, please sit down."

"Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't help."

"If I recall, you haven't been well recently."

"I promise I won't push myself, but I have to help you or I'll go crazy." Hiltz stretched, feeling his shoulders pop a second time, and gave her a sad smile. "I think Rhyss will probably be asleep…properly I mean. You take the door. I'm going to take a look at the window."

"How come?"

"I had a babysitter before."

Tatiana raised an eyebrow, but knelt by the door and started to use the safety pin again, hoping to find some way of getting through. He could hear the soft clicking of the metal against the lock and turned his attention to the wood in front of him, testing the strength of the wood. One of them came away the moment he pressed against it – and Hiltz smiled. The noise was enough for Tatiana to come and investigate and together the two managed to pull the wood slats off the window.

"…She'd make a lousy handyman." Tatiana muttered.

"Not enough strength to really drive the nails in." Hiltz grunted, quietly laying another slat down. Carefully propping the window open, Tatiana slipped out and onto the thin ledge, grabbed Hiltz' hand and gave him a little smile.

"Give me five minutes. I'll get down then let myself in again."

"…Damn it, can't you call someone?"

"She took my mobile'."

Hiltz shook his head and pointed at Raven, then scurried back to him and searched the boy's pockets. Raven, even in sleep, did not take kindly to this and twice Hiltz had to make the boy let him go, the pale fingers locked around Hiltz' thinning wrists. The search was not in futile, down the depths of the uniform pocket were a couple of coins. Grinning, he passed them over to Tatiana.

"Payphone. Do you know the number you need?"

"I think so." Tatiana nodded. "Wish me luck."

"Don't kill yourself, woman." Hiltz muttered. "We're dependant on you here."

She rolled her eyes. "Just because I'm fifty four doesn't mean I'm going to break a hip you idiot." Tatiana edged down the side of the building. They were only a floor up but there was concrete below. A couple of metres to her left however was an access ladder going up the other floor and from there, she guessed, access to the inner stairwell from the rooftop recreation area.

"I'm just being concerned." Hiltz hissed after her. "…Think of Raven! Damn it; think of your grandkids-"

"Hiltz, shut up and take care of Raven."

The Zoidian glared at her, but it was filled with good humour. Shaking his head he sat back down next to Raven, leaning against the wall and hugging himself. He didn't dare hope this would work; but they had to do something.

Please let it work. He thought. EVE, I know I've done wrong, I know I'm defying the divine laws, but please…please help us.

/to be continued.

Tatiana was married around twenty years of age and gave birth to Gunther when she was twenty-eight. Yes, Gunther is twenty six years old oo