Fantasy Island and all associated characters (except mine and MagicSwede1965's) are owned by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, Columbia Pictures Television, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. All persons described herein are fictional and any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental. Copyright infringement is not intended.

Chapter 6: United Front

Andrea marched Kekipi into the main house's study and brusquely indicated that she should sit in one of the armchairs that faced the host's desk. She wasn't in the mood for niceties right now. Then she picked up the desk phone and left messages on both Leslie and Delphine's voicemails to meet here at their earliest convenience.

Out of habit she glanced at the desk clock to note the time. She really wanted to take herself home and sleep off the bone-aching weariness that she felt. Over the past two hours, or as near as she could estimate, she had been drugged, tortured, and had her elemental spirit mercilessly abused. It was fortunate that she'd had the energy to teleport back here with Kekipi. Perhaps once the woman had been appropriately handled, she might be able to sneak in a nap somewhere before returning to Roarke.

Kekipi was slumped in the chair with a slack expression, likely still in a state of shock after what she'd just witnessed. She'd been subjected to so many supernatural phenomena in such a short time that her rigid mindset couldn't process it. Finally, Andrea took pity on her. "Mrs. Lee, look at me." The woman slowly raised her head. "You spent so many years being bitter that you couldn't appreciate what you already had. You're an intelligent woman, you had a husband and children who must have loved you. There's so much more to life than pining for the impossible." She knew that from experience.

"I never did have a chance with him, did I?" Kekipi asked faintly.

Andrea smiled sympathetically. "No, not even if I had never been in the picture. He has opened his heart to only a very few, and it takes a special kind of person to understand him."

"You never said exactly what you both are." She waved a hand at Andrea's black, white, and silver outfit.

"We are people, Mrs. Lee. Take away everything extraneous like the wealth, the costumes, and the superpowers, and we are just people who care for others and struggle to live in a world that's growing increasingly complicated."

Kekipi sighed and closed her eyes. "I guess I have a lot of thinking to do."

The door to the study opened, and both Delphine and Leslie rushed in, along with Christian. "You're back!" Leslie exclaimed happily. "Is everyone all right?"

"We're none the worse for wear, thank you," Andrea said. "You'll have a full explanation later, I promise. Right now, we should decide how to proceed with Mrs. Lee."

Delphine cleared her throat. "We already have grounds for deportation, given how she broke several regulations and was so hostile toward you and Mr. Roarke. What else would there be?"

With a heavy sigh she replied, "She conspired with two people from the Realms to have me abducted." The others reacted with consternation; Christian's expression became particularly thunderous. She held up a hand before they could voice their complaints. "Mr. Roarke is handling the situation there right now."

Kekipi shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "I never saw a second person, only Ross."

"There was another, I'm certain," said Andrea as she absent-mindedly rubbed the back of her head. "But even I don't know who it was other than a powerful Mind-Bender. It doesn't matter, because alien abduction won't stand up in a regular court. Nobody would believe it."

Leslie turned to Delphine. "Could we agree on assault upon a staff member, then?"

With a nod, the host said, "That'll have to do."

Within the hour, Mrs. Lee was arrested, formally charged, and put on the next plane out. She would be met by the police in Honolulu upon her arrival. It was an unsatisfying resolution given what she'd really done, but they had to work within legal limitations.

"I know that you all want to hear what happened," Andrea said when the trio turned to her with expectant looks, "but I must return to Roarke. The Realms folk are likely giving him a hard time, as if he didn't already have enough to deal with." She felt almost normal again; by this time, her innate regenerative ability had healed the lingering effects of what she'd been through. "Despite the risk, he and I decided that it's time for us to stand together."

"Are you referring to something like a diarchy?" Christian asked.

"Essentially," she said, "or perhaps even a triumvirate, if we were to include Blue. Since the original Tribunal was disbanded, Roarke has shouldered almost all the responsibility on his own, and we've seen the detrimental effect that it's had on him. He needs a trustworthy team to back him up."

"That does make sense," said Leslie, "but I get the feeling that they won't like the idea."

Andrea crossed her arms over her chest. "Like it or not, they need some form of leadership, or at this rate they might very well descend into anarchy, which won't be good for anyone."

Rosanlodar's unconscious form was removed from the burial chamber and placed in an appropriate holding area for the time being. His Mind-Bender accomplice, however, had fled during the confrontation and was yet to be found. Since there were so few Mind-Benders residing in the Realms, locating her should only be a matter of time.

"The power of these factions is clearly growing," Roarke commented to Blue as they made their way back toward the meeting chamber, "and if their members are wont to act in such a reckless manner, more will be endangered, both here and on Earth. Decisive action must be taken, and soon."

"How will you curb such activities if they continue to protest all your decisions?" she asked.

"Perhaps by offering them a place at the table," he suggested. "As my lady recently said to me, I shouldn't bear this burden alone. Many human leaders surround themselves with people to whom they can delegate certain tasks and discuss methods, even if they don't wholly agree. Compromise is often preferable to no forward motion at all."

"The concept is sound," she said, "not unlike the erstwhile Tribunal. Who would you have on such a… council?"

"Yourself, for one." He smiled at her startled expression. "Your assistance has been invaluable to me. Andrea would be another, because she has insisted that as my partner, she should also have a say. Her responsibility for Earth's protection includes this place."

"You do know how much hostility there is toward her here?"

"Yes, and so does she. That won't prevent her from participating, as there is very little that intimidates her. We must also speak to those who might be willing to engage in such an effort."

When they arrived at the meeting chamber, they were both surprised to perceive that a number of the influential people in the Realms, at least twenty, were waiting for them. "I don't like this, Leader," Blue said quietly. "Shall I accompany you?"

Roarke had an odd sense of foreboding. It was rare that such a large gathering took place without his being informed of it, and he suspected that he was about to be given a harsh reprimand over the recent events. "That would be desirable, but it's not necessary. Also, if something untoward happens, you must remain safe." He walked into the chamber, leaving her standing in the entrance.

A strident voice, evidently a spokesperson for the rest, spoke with no preamble. "We have tolerated long enough the division of your loyalty between those on Earth and in the Realms. A division, I might add, that has never been far from rebellion."

Another male voice, slightly higher-pitched, said somewhere from the right, "In my opinion, rebellion seems to be a rather strong word to use in this case."

The spokesperson said, "Nevertheless, by protecting the one known as Andrea Trenton and those on your former island, you have consistently placed the Realms in potentially severe jeopardy."

Roarke tried to hold in his annoyance as he responded, "There is no question of my loyalty, you know that very well. What right have you to arbitrarily decide otherwise?"

"Our decision has been formulated," said the spokesperson, ignoring the question.

"Minus my vote, and others, for the record," the higher-pitched voice chimed in.

The spokesperson said, "In light of today's events, Andrea Trenton has gone too far, and you, Leader, have not gone far enough."

"How have you determined that?" Roarke demanded, wondering how they could've heard of it so quickly. "It was she who was tortured by two of our number. Any actions on her part were purely in self-defense."

"In a situation that could have been avoided entirely had you not become overly involved with her in the first place," the spokesperson insisted. "Therefore, it is our decision to suspend you from your duties with us until further notice. Once you leave here, you will have no further access to this place until we contact you. Is that clear?"

The voice on the right said, "My apologies, Leader, for what they're worth."

Roarke fought to keep a straight face as an intense dismay rose within him, bordering on panic, something that he was quite unaccustomed to feeling. There had been stirrings of unrest over the past few months, but he hadn't anticipated this so soon. He had to admit there was some truth to the statement that his spending more time on Earth had complicated matters, but to be condemned for it seemed excessive. "Without me, there will be no leadership here. How will you govern yourselves?"

"The truth is–" the spokesperson began, only to be interrupted by the appearance of a shimmering portal in the middle of the chamber, out of which stepped a figure in a black, white, and silver outfit. The portal then closed behind her.

Roarke smiled in relief when he saw her. Andrea looked slightly different than usual: not only was she openly carrying her iridescent rapier on her left hip, across her chest she wore a black sash with silver embroidery along the edges, on which was displayed several medallions. He guessed that this was her equivalent of a dress uniform, and she was wearing it now to make an impression.

There was an awed silence for a few seconds.

Before anyone else in the chamber could speak, a female voice called out from the far side, "What is that doing here?"

Andrea walked over to stand at Roarke's side. "I was invited by the leader," she emphasized the word carefully, "to attend. I do apologize for my tardiness." She had recognized the female voice as that of the Mind-Bender who had forced her to give up her elemental; apparently, the person was now trying to foment more trouble. The assembled beings were giving off vibes that varied from apprehension to outright hostility. Roarke himself was struggling with his own emotions, if his tense posture was any indication.

"Your presence here is unwelcome and unnecessary," announced the spokesperson. "It has been judged by the members of this hearing that Leader is no longer required to maintain his position."

She could see Roarke clench his fists indignantly, although his face remained a mask of calm. They both had expected that something like this might happen, but it must still be a great blow for him to be betrayed by the very people whom he'd worked to so hard to guide for the past few years. His body quivered, and at once Andrea realized that he was about to lose control. While she'd had the brief time on Earth to heal and regain some equilibrium, he apparently hadn't been given that luxury.

Clasping his shoulder, she opened herself to him. Her warmth flowed across the link and gradually dispelled the encroaching black fury. 'I'm here,' she sent to him softly. 'Let me help you.'

He relaxed somewhat and responded, 'You can't change a foregone conclusion.'

'But I can hit them where it hurts, metaphorically speaking,' she told him, and then took a deep breath before addressing the chamber. "What hearing, may I ask? I see none of the clan leaders from Earth here, therefore you have already predetermined his guilt without due process. This isn't a hearing; this is a show trial! What kind of people censures their own leader in such a manner?" Mutterings began to flow through the assemblage but she kept going. "He is one of the wisest and most powerful among you. He was forced to leave his home, has endured many hardships on your behalf, and yet he has done all he is capable of to help you become more than what you have been. In return for that, you judge him to be irrelevant. That is unacceptable."

Something approached and hovered a short distance in front of her. She couldn't see it, but her senses picked it up readily enough; this was likely the spokesperson. "He is no longer suitable because of his association with you," he said. "You have influenced him far more than is allowable."

Her voice hardened. "If you have a problem with me, then take it up with me! Don't be such hypocrites to punish him for having the insight and, dare I say it, the humanity that you lack."

The room erupted.

Roarke was stunned at her declaration. She was effectively standing up to the entire Realms, even though she knew that most of them would never accept her. Through their link he felt the same love and determination that she'd shown when she'd faced Red and her accomplices for his life, when she'd defied Mephistopheles for his soul. Her spirit was unbreakable.

Her hand on his shoulder squeezed slightly.

One of the elders bellowed, "Silence!" and the room gradually quieted.

"We have watched over this world for ages," the voice in front of them continued. "We have seen the unconscionable ways that humans have treated us, each other, and the planet. Who are you to compare us to them?" Many of the onlookers grumbled in agreement.

"I have also watched over this world for ages," she responded crisply. "I have helped to protect it from all manner of threats that humans were not able to deal with on their own, while you sat by and did nothing – that is, assuming you were even aware of those threats. You complain about the humans' treatment of their planet, yet you stay up here in your safe space and judge the whole based on the deeds of a few. Despite many humans having welcomed your people, you still believe them to be inferior because they lack your powers and haven't evolved enough to meet your exalted expectations. Instead of meeting them halfway and guiding them, as some have been attempting to do, you decide that they no longer have a place on their own world. That is not only arrogance, but pettiness, traits that are unseemly for beings such as yourselves."

Another wave of protests went up, and the spokesperson said, "You dare, human?" pronouncing the word in an insulting manner. "You would dare say such to us? You invaded our sanctum, took away one of our own, and ensorcelled our leader! What are we supposed to think of a being who would interfere with us in such a manner?"

"Oh, now you call him your leader," she scoffed, "only when it suits you. To answer in order: I am not entirely human, but it's enough for me to be able to appreciate this planet and everything that it has given to me. I would dare say such things precisely because I have that perspective. What I did was justifiable punishment for the one who had harmed your leader. I have nothing against any of your people and have no intention to interfere, unless, like Rosanlodar today, they deliberately interfere with me. And I have not controlled your leader in any way whatsoever." She released Roarke's shoulder now that she was confident that he had control of himself. "He stands with me willingly, as I stand with him, because we are partners and equals. You are all simply jealous that you're unable to comprehend the bond that he and I share!"

This time the cacophony from the assemblage continued for some minutes. Roarke had to resort to touching Andrea's mind so she could hear his warning. 'You are placing yourself in more danger by provoking them.'

'I put myself in danger just by coming here,' she responded, 'but you need me, and they need to hear the truth.'

'Unfortunately, they're not willing to accept the truth from you,' he told her. Then he stood at his full height, took a breath, and thundered, "Silence! I command you!"

Andrea felt the pressure of his compulsion in her head, but managed to deflect it. She had never known him to use the ability unless it was an emergency, and it was more powerful than most others that she'd experienced in the past.

The room went still immediately. Roarke nudged the link apologetically before addressing those present with a newfound confidence. "My lady was speaking the truth. Most of you have spent so long in an incorporeal state that you don't know what it's like to experience reality. You cannot comprehend how it feels to live, and what it means to love others. You cannot accept that a member of another race possesses similar abilities to yours. Rather than make the attempt to understand, you distance yourselves out of hubris, and shun all manner of guidance. As your leader, I must say that I am extremely disappointed!"

Murmurs swept around the chamber, some of which sounded to be in accordance.

He continued, "You asked me to lead you, at great cost to myself. I obliged, only to be beset by an ever-increasing amount of resistance and chaos. Therefore, I must ask: was my appointment no more than a stopgap measure? Why was I brought here at all, if these rifts were to be the inevitable outcome? I cannot lead a people who do not wish to be led!"

"We do not wish to be led by someone who would have us be subservient to that!" said the same voice that had heckled Andrea earlier.

She responded before Roarke could. "You were never asked to be subservient to me. What we do ask is respect: to be able to offer ideas and guidance without being totally disregarded. On the island, for example, I am neither worshipped nor feared. I'm respected, not solely because my name is associated with Roarke's, but because I care for the people, help them with their difficulties," she glared in the voice's direction, "and I don't force my powers on them."

The heckler laughed. "Do you speak for Leader? Are you not controlling him even now? He had accepted our earlier arguments and was on the verge of capitulation, but when you spoke, his position reversed. You mentioned a bond, and I have indeed sensed a bond between you, one that I believe is the method that you use!"

The statement made it clear that the heckler intended to attack her. She blocked the link to Roarke completely and clamped her defenses up hard. "Use your power against me again at your own peril, whoever you are," she said. "I'm now prepared for it, unlike the last time. I will tell you once more: I do not control him and would never presume to do so!"

In the next second her mind came under assault, for the second time that day. Despite her shielding, she could hear the voice insinuating itself into her thoughts, commanding that she submit to its will, free the leader, release her hold on him. "Get out of my head!" she muttered. "He is free. I have no hold on him other than love, and I will not renounce that." She hazarded a glance at Roarke beside her. His eyes were closed and his features locked in an expression of total concentration as he also tried to stave off the Mind-Bender's influence. It was impossible to discern if he was winning.

The initial strategy having apparently failed, the invader dove deeper. But Andrea wasn't having any of that. "Oh, no you don't! You won't mess with my emotions. Get out of my head!" Squeezing her eyes closed, she focused her mind on one concept, one sound, in a technique that she'd perfected many years ago to combat just such an attack. Then she called on the entirety of her love and power.

The opening organ chords of the overture to The Phantom of the Opera blasted through her mind at full volume. Her silver aura burst into view, and she barely heard the cry of pain as the Mind-Bender's influence left her. Then she dialed back the intensity a bit and dropped the block. Her emotion raced across the link to Roarke along with the music, bringing him into harmony with her. If they were attacked again in that manner, it would prove to be futile.

He opened his eyes and smiled as her power embraced him like a warm cloak; his own cobalt blue aura flared and entwined with hers. "Do you not remember my teaching you not to show off?" he murmured, his voice filled with relief and humour as he took her hand.

"I thought that it was time to make a decisive impression," she replied.

They turned back to the assembled beings, dampening their auras as they did so.

"Now that we have your complete attention," Roarke said quietly, his voice seeming to echo off the walls of the chamber. "Attacking in such a manner is a serious crime, by any standard, but consider yourselves fortunate that we are currently in an equitable mood and have no desire to escalate the situation further. By your actions, you have made your position perfectly clear. I, on the other hand, will not be swayed from my position because I have support that is more powerful than any grievance."

Andrea continued, "You have just witnessed a fraction of what we are capable of. It was not meant to intimidate, but to make a statement of fact. We belong to no one but each other. You, however, are ours. We choose to protect you, same as I choose to protect all humans on Earth. Do not question our judgment. Do not pursue us, our families, or our allies. We will always be watching."

"I call a recess until tomorrow," said Roarke, "at which time I, Blue, and Andrea will return to speak to many of you. If I alone cannot meet our people's needs, then perhaps a council might: one that represents the opinions of all of our people. Nobody should be ignored or unheard. If you would excuse us." He nodded at them all, and turned to exit the chamber with Andrea beside him.