The dance had gone pretty well. Case hadn't got to dance with Tamia much- Jodie kept ambushing her whenever she so much as looked in her direction, thinking she had something to say. When they finally did get to dance... they had fun.

"OK, the first question I'm s'posed to ask you is what food you like," yelled Tamia over the music.

Case considered this. "Basically anything that isn't drenched in cheese sauce, though thank God it's hard to come by in post-Pulse conditions."

"Ew, I hate that stuff!"

"I know. Stuff on sticks are my weakness."

"Like lollipops?"

"Exactly."

Tamia laughed, shielding her face as a chaperone wandered by to hide her fake nose stud. "You're too old for lollipops!"

"Like I said, they're a weakness. I'm reliving my childhood through every lollipop binge."

"While we're on weaknesses, what do you look for in a woman?" she asked, motioned for her friend Campbell (the DJ) to change the song.

"You're supposed to ask me that?"

"Yeah, she gave me a list. She made me memorise it."

"She's insane!"

"I know. That's why we're like THAT," she said, crossing her fingers and holding them up for Case to see.

"I don't know," he said, feeling stupid. "I guess... someone cool with a sense of humour who-"

"Doesn't think you're weird for having a lollipop craving?"

"I guess."

"I don't," she said. "I like lollipops. I'm sure you'll find some woman, SOMEWHERE who thinks lollipop fetishes are adorable."

"I wouldn't call it a fetish. I don't know why Jodie keeps stalking me like this."

"I wouldn't call it stalking. She's just hopelessly devoted to you."

"'Hopelessly Devoted To You'?" asked Case. "What's that from again?"

Tamia looked as though this was a personal insult. "It's from 'Grease', moron. I played Sandy in my drama club's production of the musical."

"Who's Sandy?"

"A blonde, angelic Australian cheerleader who falls for this greaser named Danny. I think the ending sucks, but there's no finer moment in motion picture history than when Sandy lights up a cigarette and says, 'Tell me about it, stud.' It's the entire reason I went for the role."

"I'm not gonna ask about that. You don't look the part."

"I know. I had to wear a wig."

"Well, I guess she'd be OK as a friend, but I'm not looking for women right now."

"Why?" laughed Tamia. "You're not gay, are you?"

It was at this moment that the DJ chose to change the track. A group of people nearby gave Case and Tamia very odd looks.

"Oh, wait. Jodie calls." Tamia ran over to Jodie, who was beckoning furiously.

She came back a few moments later looking incredulous. "I can't believe her."

"What?"

"She wants me to kiss you."

Case goggled at Tamia. "She's twisted."

"Indeed. She says that if girls think you like me, then they won't go after you."

"She seems to be the only one who's interested," observed Case.

"Oh, I wouldn't say that..." muttered Tamia.

"What?" asked Case.

"Nothing," she said brightly. "Her mind works in strange ways, I tell ya."

"If she's so much in love with me then why doesn't SHE try and abuse me?"

"That hurts Tamia when you say that, honestly. Jodie thinks you're mad at her, so she feels that through thinking I harbour a grand passion for you, somehow you'll fall in love with her."

"I AM mad at her!" protested Case.

"Steady on, Case. Let's get this over with."

"I-" began Case.

"Shh, let Tamia work," said Tamia. "Oh, Case, you are the MAN!" she yelled. When a sufficient number of people had looked over, Tamia threw her arm around Case in what appeared to be an 'involved' way and kissed him on the cheek.

When everyone had stop staring and gone to spread the news, she said mischievously, "You're blushing."

"You are more insane that ten Jodies put together."

"Relax. You need never speak to me again after tonight."

"Is that an order?"

"No, a prediction. You hate me."

"I don't even know you," corrected Case. He paused. "But I'd like to. You're OK, Tamia."

She laughed. "Ooh, lock up your daughters! Case-anova is here!"

"That was lame, Tamia."

"I know."

All in all, it hadn't been bad. He'd had fun 'acting in love', as Tamia had put it.

Is so much of it acting? asked the annoying little voice in his mind that always seemed to point out things he didn't want to hear. Case sighed. He was home now. It didn't matter.

Well? insisted the voice. Is it?

Shut up, thought Case in irritation.

Case picked up his book and lay on his bed. The radio didn't have much on at this hour, and he flicked disinterestedly through the pages. He closed his eyes.

Case found himself standing in the middle of a deserted town square- it felt like Princess Tinga's neighbourhood in Portlandshire. For some reason, he started to walk quickly towards a run-down house. Case knocked on the peeling door.

There was a pause. Suddenly-

"Who sent you?" hissed a dangerous voice from behind him. Someone had Case in a headlock. He choked. "WHO?" demanded the voice.

"Let- me go," he spluttered.

He could hear a knife being taken out of its sheath. The person, he realised, was shaking a little in fear.

"Are you afraid?" asked Case in confusion.

"I don't think I'm in any position to be afraid."

He recognised that voice. Barely. He stiffened. "Princess Tinga?"

"You're from Lydecker, aren't you? AREN'T YOU?"

"Princess, it's me, Zachary!"

Another pause. Tinga released him. "Zachary?" she asked.

"You tried to kill me," he said, sounding oddly like a sulky child.

"I apologise. I am nervous. Will you forgive me?" A hood of a robe she was wearing over her clothes covered her face.

"Yes," said Case, unable to stop staring at the huge knife in her hand.

"Come on, Zachary, inside. We have much to talk about."

She ushered him inside the small home. The house looked fairly ordinary, shabbier than the other homes. Then she pulled away a dusty Oriental rug from the floor, revealing a trapdoor. The princess opened it.

Case climbed down a ladder into a room lit by burning torches in holders on the walls. There was a broken bed with some dishevelled blankets, and the remains of a dinner on the edge of a table. There were a couple of large wooden boxes, at least the size of the weapons chest back in the home tower at Manticore Castle, filled with weapons. Case picked up a jewelled dagger, marvelling at it.

"Be careful with that!" cried Princess Tinga, grabbing the blade and pulling it away from him. "The blade holds a deathly poison."

"But you-" began Case. Tinga laughed.

"Yet another of my parents' gifts to me, Zachary. I am immune to many poisons. Useful gift, eh?"

She carefully put the dagger back and looked around.

Case said in bewilderment, "Why are you here, Princess? Didn't you go to Canadinia with your brother?"

Tinga gave him a questioning look. "I'm not going to ask you how you knew that, Zachary. But... I had to come back. For Charles and Case. I am the only one who can protect them from King Lydecker. As a princess once under his control, I know the way his mind works."

Case frowned. "There's one thing I don't get, Princess. If your mother is dead, and probably your father too, then why do you still call yourself a princess? Shouldn't thou be... I don't know... Queen Tinga?"

"Aye," said Tinga in disinterest. "'Twas decreed that when our parents died we would reign in their places. Zack, and whatever wife he chose to take- from our stock or otherwise- would reign over all of us. He is oldest. Then the oldest out of the children our generation produced would reign over the rest of the children when it came time for them to reign. But yes, I am a queen. One of many."

Confused, Case asked, "Then why doest thou allow me to address you as Princess Tinga? I wouldst gladly call ye by your proper title."

She nodded. "Yes- if things had gone to plan and my parents had lived and died as nature planned, then you would call me Queen Tinga. But one loses their enthusiasm for the idea of reigning over Wyominia when being one of my family includes a tyrant king ending your childhood before it had even begun. I have never been a child, not completely. Not to mention the memory of brothers and sisters lost, constantly looking over your shoulder and lying to the people you love... I know it sounds frivolous, but by remaining a princess, I get to hold onto the part of my childhood that I had to give up."

"I guess it's hard being you, Princess Tinga."

"'Tis."

Tinga suddenly looked up as though she'd heard something. "Wait here. Do not come to my aid should I scream."

She grabbed a sword. The princess scaled the ladder and opened the trapdoor, disappearing through. The trapdoor closed and for a few agonising minutes there was silence.

A shriek. Tinga's shriek. Whether it was of pain or terror Case couldn't decipher. Case jumped to his feet in alarm to hear a familiar voice say urgently, "Tinga, it's me!"

Tinga, followed by Princess Max, climbed back down the ladder into the secret room. "I don't believe you have met my young friend Zachary, Maxie. He knows about us- don't ask me how. I've scarcely told him a thing."

"Zachary, hmm?" asked Princess Max. She put her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side in interest. "Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise," replied Case.

Princess Max turned to her sister. "Speaking of Zacks and Zacharys, where be'th our brother?"

Tinga gave a snort of contempt. "I left his useless hide in snowy Canadinia."

Max nodded. "He told thou you were a fool for returning, didn't he?"

Both women sighed loudly. "Zachary, I hope we can count on your aid," said Princess Max. It was more an order than a question.

Case spoke quietly. "I will help. I would die for Princess Tinga."

"Noble words," said Max, sounding considerably unimpressed. "Tinga, we only have but one chance to liberate your son and husband."

Princess Tinga considered this, leaning against the ladder with one hand. "He walks Case to his church school every morning. We could do it there."

Max gave Tinga a look of encouragement. "It's going to be fine, sister."

"I wanted to go back for them, Max... you know, but how could I? What if I led Lydecker to them?"

"I know," said Princess Max.

"I thought they would be safer this way," said Tinga unhappily.

"You're going to be together again. I promise."

The next thing he knew, Case stood with the two women behind a tree. It was daytime and they were in the heart of the village. Across the street, boys of all ages swarmed into a stone building beside a church, some were walked inside by their parents.

Max shook her head. "... and those are just the ones we can see. Not a lot of cover. Looks like our best shot's the house."

Princess Tinga gave a little gasp. A look of complete happiness came over her. "There they are."

Charles was walking along the street to the church school, accompanied by Little Case. "He's beautiful," said Princess Max.

"Indeed," said Case. "He reminds me of you, Princess Tinga. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"Look how much he's grown," sighed Tinga rapturously.

A rather unwelcome sighting interrupted the proceedings. "King Lydecker?" breathed Case in shock.

It was indeed King Lydecker, dressed as a common schoolteacher. There was no grimace on his face as he quietly ushered Little Case into the school. He almost looked the part of a gentle and benign scholar.

Max had to hold Tinga back as she fought to try and get to Little Case. "What in the name of the Blue Faerie is he doing here? What is he doing with my son?"

"Take it easy," said Max. "Lydecker can't exactly abduct your child in the middle of class."

Tinga was noticeably having a great deal of trouble keeping calm. "My baby..." she moaned fretfully.

She seemed to steel herself and turned to the two of them. "It has to be tonight," she said.

Night again. The three of them were inside the secret room. Tinga was helping Max put on various pieces of armour. She was already dressed for battle.

"Help me," she said shortly, gesturing to her hair. Max helped her coil it up tightly so that Tinga could put on a helmet over it.

Princess Tinga turned to Case, opening her visor. "Are you sure you want to come, Zachary? Shalt be dangerous for a mere youth."

"He'll be fine," said Max dismissively. "All he's got to do is use this." She held up a bottle full of clear green liquid.

"Run what I'm meant to do by me again, Princess Max?" asked Case in confusion.

"Crack it on something hard and hide it, remember? But don't shatter it. Just crack it. We TOLD you, Zachary," said Princess Tinga edgily.

"Take these," said Max, handing Case the bottle and a sword.

The two women nodded at each other. Princess Tinga beckoned Case. The three of them climbed the ladder and were on their way.

* * *

DISCLAIMER: 'Dark Angel' belongs to Fox and James Cameron. Not me. So don't sue.

NOTE: Never fear, dear ones. I decided I couldn't possibly cram all the events of 'Hit A Sista Back' into a single chapter, so I've decided to extend this fic a bit. So what do you think? I'm having fun writing this!