Winner Mansion, Mars Colony

"Princess, this is not a good idea."

"Shut up, Taeron, and give me a boost. If I stand on your shoulders I might be able to reach the window above us."

"We should have told Lord Duo or at least left him a message."

Shamara put her hands on her hips and glared at Taeron although it was hard to see in the dim light given off from the sad little moons above them. "Listen up, Taeron. You are my imperial guard, not my imperial conscience. Your duty is to follow and protect me, not to natter and nag me."

He laced his fingers to form a stirrup. "I doubt this is part of my duty."

She slipped her foot into his handhold and intended to climb up to his shoulders, but Taeron boosted her in the air, and Shamara lost her balance immediately, falling back down on top of him. They both tumbled to the ground.

"Did you hear something?" The voice came from around the corner. The guards had been alerted by the noise they made.

Taeron grabbed her arm and dragged her into the bushes just as two hefty men turned the corner and flashed a light. Shamara didn't dare so much as draw a breath.

"Just an animal," commented one of the men. "You thirsty? I filched a little whiskey from the boss' supply when he was gone today."

Shamara watched as they passed a flask between them, then as they laughed as they wiped their mouths with the backs of their hands. Taeron didn't move, so neither did she, but she was getting cramped in the position she was caught in.

"Do you have any sauce?"

"Just the whiskey. Boss keeps the sauce locked up tight. Since the boreworm population has taken a nose-dive, he's guarding it like precious metal."

"I have a little weed." The two put something in their mouths and Shamara saw a small flame before smoke began to puff out of their mouths.

"What are they doing?" she whispered to Taeron.

"I do not know. It is very strange."

"Nothing over here. There's a few women down by the barracks," remarked one.

"Then what are we wasting time over here for?"

They tossed down the things that were creating the smoke then shuffled away. Shamara and Taeron left their hiding place and returned to the spot under the window. Shamara picked up the two still smoking objects. They appeared to be rolled up dried leaves. She sniffed the smoke curling up from the lighted end. For a moment everything became blurry. Taeron picked one up and put it in his mouth as they had seen the men do and breathed in.

Shamara watched him to see what would happen. He winced, then coughed. "Most unpleasant," he announced.

"They seemed to enjoy it."

He breathed in from the object again, this time deeply. For a moment he stared straight ahead, his eyes wide, then he shook his head. "Come, princess, let's get this business out of the way."

She thought his voice sounded strange, but at least now he wasn't complaining about her plan to help Dagan escape. Extinguishing the end of the small, rolled up bundle of leaves, she stuffed it into her belt, then waited for Taeron to cup his hands again. He was still puffing on what the men had called "weed," but he bent over to help her mount, then boosted her high. She was prepared this time, so when she catapulted in the air, she grabbed the windowsill. She dangled precariously for a moment before she managed to find an adequate hold, then she began to work at the lock on the window with her dagger.

"By the gods, princess, you look most amusing!"

Shamara glared over her shoulder at Taeron who was laughing silently and pointing at her as he stared up at her, slightly swaying. "Quiet, fool! Do you want to alert the guards?"

He drew his sword and waved it around. "I'm ready to take them all!"

She worked desperately at the lock, and when it finally clicked open, she pushed open the window and scrambled inside the dark room. Fortunately it was a bedroom, so she grabbed a sheet and hung it out the window for Taeron. "Hurry!"

He started up the sheet, then slipped back down. Trying again, he made it halfway, then slid down so fast that he landed on his backside and she heard him curse, then giggle. Taeron was giggling?

"What is wrong with you?" she hissed. "What kind of imperial guard are you anyway? Get up here!"

Taeron was snorting with ill-suppressed laughter as he began climbing again. Shamara hung on tightly to the sheet as he ascended further, but suddenly he slipped again. This time he caught back onto the sheet and began to swing back and forth.

"Taeron!" she urged. "Get up here!" She was having difficulty holding the sheet as he swung, then she realized he was doing it on purpose.

"This is fun! You should try it, princess. Come on down!"

"You buffoon! If I come down who will hold it? Get up here now! By the gods, I will tell my father what a worthless guard you are and…"

He shimmied up the sheet rope so fast that he flew through the window and landed on the floor with a thump. "Ouch! My head! This room is very strange! It is upside down!"

Shamara dropped the sheet, grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled him up from the floor. "Is that better?"

He blew out smoke in her face, then coughed. "You should try this, princess."

She moved past him to the door, and opening it, she peeked out to see guards in the hall. She closed the door, then slid down to sitting against it. "If we wait, they may become sleepy."

"I'm becoming sleepy." Taeron crawled to her and laid his head on her lap.

Shamara took the thing from his mouth. "You are going to burn me." Staring at it for moment, she decided to try what Taeron had done. When the smoke filled her lungs, she began coughing, but only a moment passed before she felt a sense of calm. "This is nice."

She breathed in more of the smoke, then noticed it was becoming too small to hold. She pulled out the one from her belt and lit it on the burning stub. For several moments she smoked, sharing with Taeron who was singing incoherently, but at least softly. Shamara was feeling light-headed, but she was comfortable and feeling quite euphoric.

There was suddenly muffled laughter in the hall, and Shamara pushed Taeron away and opened the door. Although she was finding it difficult to focus – the room was tilting oddly – she did see the guards tugging a woman between them. She was giggling, so Shamara didn't see any reason to save her. They were grabbing and touching her in places that made Shamara's face heat up, so she quickly closed the door.

"You look!" she ordered Taeron. "Tell me if they have gone." She grabbed the weed from his mouth and took a smoke. That seemed to clear her head.

Taeron peeked out the cracked open door. "My, my, my! You shouldn't be watching something like that, princess."

"I know that!" she snapped, then tried to move him out of the way. Shamara was suddenly very curious.

Taeron pushed her back without taking his eyes off the scene. "Princess, you are in the way!"

She smacked his back. "Let me see!" There were very strange sounds coming from the hall. She managed to wriggle in close and caught a glimpse of what was going on. She gasped and shoved the door shut. "You should not watch that, Taeron!"

He glared at her but did not argue, and after a few moments, he opened the door again and announced, "They are gone."

"Good! Such things should be done in private." She stumbled into the hall, Taeron behind her.

"Where are we going, princess?"

She turned to look at him. "You've been here before! You lead the way!"

"I will lead the way back to the healer's clinic!" He started back into the room, but she grabbed his ponytail and jerked him to her.

"Let's try this way." Her legs wobbled strangely as she walked, and she could hear Taeron stumbling behind her.

The hallways were dark and quiet, and once they had to avoid the guards again, but Quatre Winner's men didn't seem to take their duties seriously. There were no guarded rooms, so they moved down a floor, and this time there was a guard standing at a door at the end of the hall.

"That must be it," she whispered to Taeron.

"Let me handle this."

"Don't be an idiot! He will recognize you!" Shamara thought her voice sounded a bit slurred. "I have an idea. Wait here. You will know what to do, and when to do it."

"Guerani magic?"

"No, brains, if you have any!" Shamara was starting to feel quite warm and just a little giddy. It was a very pleasant feeling, almost like she felt when she was in Dagan's arms. She sighed and smiled. Dagan. She was going to save Dagan and he was going to be very grateful. She wasn't exactly sure what she would make him do to show his gratitude, but she would think of something. Taeron might have some ideas.

"Might I act now?" asked Taeron impatiently.

She looked at him and was mildly surprised to see two of her imperial guard. "Taerons! Settle down. I haven't done anything yet. You and you stay here." Shamara thought about the woman she had seen enticing the men in the hall, then reached down to loosen her garment. She pushed the edges over her shoulder and was arranging it to show as much as she could when she heard Taeron making strange noises. She caught him looking at her chest and turned quickly away from him. "You are both very naughty!"

"Princess, you are going to get into trouble!" He tried to push her garment back together, but she shoved him away and stumbled into the hall. Taeron was forced to hide around the corner or be discovered.

Taking a deep breath, Shamara walked to the guard, swinging her hips as she had seen that woman do. He turned his head to watch her, relaxing his stance when he thought she posed no threat.

"Well, well, isn't this my lucky night," he said as she came to stand before him. "What can I do for you?"

Shamara didn't care for the look in his eyes or the way he was licking his lips as he stared. "I was wondering…" She wasn't sure what she should say.

"Need a little sauce, sweet thing?" He grabbed a handful of her backside and pulled her against him. From inside his filthy jacket he pulled a small tube that emitted such a stench that Shamara gagged. He held the vile 'sauce' to her lips, but she shook her head while holding her breath. "Have it your way!" He swallowed the contents, then tossed the tube over his shoulder.

Having an idea, she blurted, "Do you have any weed?"

"Plenty. But it will cost you." The look on his face as he scanned her body told her how it was going to cost her. "Why don't we smoke a little together? The room's empty for now."

"Empty! But I thought…"

"Wanted to see the wizard, eh? He ain't here. Boss has him locked up in the basement until those aliens leave. Convenient for the boss because he can do as he pleases with the wizard's woman." He pulled out one of those rolled up sticks of dried leaves, then produced a flame from some object. He puffed on it for a moment, then handed it to her.

Feeling rather pleased with her expertise, she took it and put it to her lips. As she was breathing in the smoke, the guard suddenly shoved her against the wall and he seemed to have grown dozens of hands and a huge, sloppy mouth. Shamara was certain a monster had sprung from his body, and looking at his face, she saw four eyes and two mouths.

Suddenly the two Taerons were dashing down the hall, raising two enormous fists to beat off the monster. It fell to the floor quivering until the Taerons kicked it still.

"Are you all right, princess?" When she nodded, they grabbed the leaf stick from her mouth and popped it in their mouths. "Is he inside?"

"In the basement," she said.

"You did well," he commented as he knelt to examine the items the guard was carrying. He picked out a vial of the 'sauce' and winced. "What is this?"

"I do not know. I think it transformed him into a monster." Shamara's eyes were watery from the smoke Taeron was creating. "Do you mind?" She held out her hand, then smoked some of the weed herself.

Taeron shoved the vial into a pouch he had hidden in his clothing. "The healer may be interested in this."

"She is only interested in Lord Duo." Shamara giggled.

Taeron chuckled as he continued searching. "Aha!" He produced several more weed sticks. Shamara grabbed a couple and put them in her belt as he squirreled away his own. The one they were sharing was almost gone. Shamara noticed that the lights were fuzzy and the floors were tilted more than they were when they had entered the hall.

"This is a trap!" she warned Taeron. "We had better get out of here!"

They both stumbled down the hall to a wide staircase. Taeron almost fell, but Shamara caught him. "By the gods! I almost fell off that cliff!"

Shamara tilted her head to look at the spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever before it disappeared into nothingness. "Does it lead to the basement?"

"I'm not sure!" Taeron scratched his head. "I…I don't remember this. It is an illusion! Yes, an illusion!" Before Shamara could react, Taeron pushed off her steadying hand and leaped into the void.

She heard the muffled sounds of tumbling and Taeron swearing, but instead of leaping, she hurried down the steps until she lost her footing and tumbled downward. The endless staircase actually had an end. She landed on top of Taeron at the feet of several guards.

"What have we here?" asked one in a mocking tone of voice as he nudged Taeron with his booted foot. "That alien murderer? Boss is going to reward me mighty generously when I hand him over."

He reached down to grab Taeron who seemed to be groggy from his fall, but Shamara leaped at him and sank her teeth into his hand. The other men laughed as tried to pull her off despite her determination that he wouldn't hurt her imperial guard. But her hair was grabbed from the back and another man jerked her away.

"I'm bleeding! The bitch made me bleed. You'll pay for that!" He raised his bleeding hand to slap her, but suddenly it was flying through the air behind him and his bloody stump waved in front of her face. Shamara wasn't exactly sure what was happening then because she saw several Taerons swinging swords and blood splattering everywhere. When they were done, they grabbed Shamara's arm and dragged her through the carnage. They ran down a dark corridor at the end of which was a locked door. The Taerons grabbed a dagger and worked the lock a moment before it sprang and they were able to duck through the door and shut it before the alarm was being shouted.

"You made a mess," she commented.

"Maybe you would rather I let them do what they were planning."

"Shut up and lead the way."

They tried to descend the steep staircase carefully, but Shamara lost her footing and they tumbled again. This time Taeron fell on top of her and she was about to shove him off when she realized there were guns pointing at them.

"Welcome back, alien. I see you've brought some entertainment for us." One of the men dragged her off Taeron and shoved her to another who spun her around and shoved her to another. Shamara was getting dizzy, and she heard her clothing ripping.

Other men were beating every Taeron, and she tried to break away to go to them, but her captors held her back tightly. They were laughing as they tore at her clothes and shoved her back and forth, grabbing her and slapping her.

A cold wind suddenly ran through the room, and a door slammed open. The man, who had been holding her, dropped Shamara and stumbled back. Shamara raised her head so see a man approaching, his cape whipping around him as flames burned behind him. She thought for a moment that it was the man in the cave, but as he came closer, she realized it was Dagan.

"The wizard! He has escaped!" The men tried to scramble up the stairs, but suddenly the steps were coated with ice. They slid backwards where the Taerons stood waiting with their swords.

By the time Dagan arrived in the room, there was a bloody mess. He folded his arms over his chest and sighed as Taeron dropped to the floor with his back to Shamara, and pulled out what appeared to be a small stick.

"A little magic, princess, if you please," he said as he put the stick before her.

She snapped her fingers and a spark lit the thing, which he put in his mouth and created smoke. Dagan was annoyed to see Shamara do the same thing with one of her own. They were completely oblivious to his presence.

"What are you doing here?" he finally demanded when it was obvious they were too intent on their strange activity.

"Oh! Hello, Dagan!" Shamara smiled at him, her eyes crossing.

"We are here," started Taeron before puffing on his stick. "To rescue you, Prince Dagan."

"How many men did you kill on your way down here?" asked Dagan with annoyance.

"I believe eight."

"Sixteen," corrected Shamara. "Both Taerons did an admirable job." She patted his back. "Well done, Taerons."

"Thank you, princess. You were very clever yourself."

Dagan stared at them silently. Of course he had seen Winner's men smoking their weeds, and he had even tried it himself and found that it did not affect him. Seeing their silly behavior, Dagan concluded their human blood was responsible for their susceptibility to its effects.

"Did you do that little trick with the ice?" asked Taeron. "It provided me with an excellent distraction."

"I'm glad I could be of help. How were you planning to escape?"

"What's wrong with the way we came in?" asked Shamara defensively.

"I'm sure the floors might be a bit slippery," commented Dagan thinking of the carnage her imperial guard had wrought. How was he going to get these two out of Winner's mansion? He wondered if they could even walk.

Shamara swayed and almost stumbled as she stood. "Taeron and I have a plan!"

"We do?" Taeron pulled himself up using Shamara's belt and almost dragging her back to the floor.

"Of course!" Dagan watched with no comment as she pranced around in a circle looking very much like the filthy women who inhabited Winner's home.

"I don't think I want my future wife cavorting with these men."

"Ha! I have already cavorted!"

Taeron snorted with laughter.

Dagan looked around the room, ignoring the Calabrian fools as he considered their options. In order to escape, he would have to use his powers, and he doubted very much that Shamara would be able to use hers in the state she was in.

"You two get behind me."

Taeron picked up his sword, but instead of ducking behind him as Dagan wished, he dashed up the slippery staircase shouting Shamara's name, then crashed through the door at the top before disappearing. He listened to gunshots, glancing at Shamara to see that she was smiling stupidly. Did she realize the danger her imperial guard was in? Annoyed, he grabbed her around the waist and hefted her over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" She pounded on his back. "I can walk on my own!"

He smacked her backside. "Your father has much to answer for in the way you were raised, princess!"

The gunfire ceased and Dagan began to summon his powers. He regretted that her imperial guard was killed in an episode of stupid bravery. The young man should have waited until…

The door at the top of the steps opened and Taeron's head appeared. "Hurry! I am sure they are sending for reinforcements."

Shamara pounded Dagan's back. "Hurry, you fool! And put me down!"

Dagan put her down and she hurried up the steps. He followed, marveling at her agility. Calabrians were well trained, it seemed. By now he should have been prepared for what he might see, but the number of dead and dying men amazed him. "Are you sure you are not a god?" he asked Taeron.

Taeron shrugged and breathed in more smoke from his burning weed.

"This way!" Shamara was already disappearing down a corridor. Dagan thought the odds of them being captured and killed were very good despite Taeron's remarkable skills and his own powers. He was not familiar with this wing of Winner's mansion. What guards must have been there were most likely lying dead already. From the sumptuous appearance of the walls and carpet, Dagan assumed this was the private living area of the boss himself. The corridor was long, the wall on both sides decorated with all manner of weaponry. Dagan already knew that Winner considered himself a martial artist, skilled in many physical forms of fighting, but if he could use the weapons on display, Dagan would be truly impressed.

Shamara and Taeron disappeared into a room, and Dagan was about to follow when he heard voices coming from another room. He thought he recognized a female voice, and the one that responded belonged to Oxana. Dagan started toward it, but his arm was grabbed and Taeron pulled him into the vacant room. Shamara was already waiting outside, ducked beneath the window, so Dagan hopped out followed by Taeron. He had a difficult time keeping up with them as they fled into the night. When they finally came to a stop deep in the dark forest between the mansion and the healer's clinic, Dagan thought his burning lungs were going to explode. While he panted heavily to catch his breath, they laughed and lit up more weed.

He dropped to the ground beside them, batting away the smoke from their ridiculous activity. Dagan was finding it difficult to breathe. They were talking and laughing about their adventure as if it were over. Dagan wanted to knock their heads together. He didn't particularly care for what he was hearing about their escapade. Noticing that her clothing was gaping open, he reached over to pull the edges together and tighten her belt.

She slapped at his hands. "What do you think you are doing?"

The bloodied tip of a sword was suddenly in front of his face. "My lord prince, I will have to ask you to get your hands off my princess. You are not yet wed."

Dagan looked at Taeron, who appeared to be serious, and then Taeron glanced at Shamara and the two burst into laughter. Taeron's sword seemed to vanish. Where did he put it?

"We had best get moving again." Dagan stood.

"Just a moment." Taeron looked at Shamara. "Watch!" He drew in a very long breath that made the weed stick burn down to the end. After a moment, he blew out the smoke and proceeded to fall flat on his back. "I see Calabria in the sky!"

Shamara finished her own weed stick in a similar fashion, but she fell forward on Dagan. "I'm getting a little tired of rescuing you, my lord prince." Her arms were around his neck and her fingers were running through his hair.

"I can see my home on the first moon!" exclaimed Taeron.

Dagan shook his head sadly. He was going to have to get these two back to the clinic. "May I carry you now, princess?"

She wriggled onto his lap. "I would like nothing better!"

He smiled as he lifted her in his arms and stood. He nudged Taeron with his foot. "Come along, imperial guard. We might just make it before sunrise." This time Dagan set the pace, and it was, of necessity, slow because Taeron chose to crawl on all fours. From time to time he offered Shamara something to eat. Dagan didn't even want to see what he was finding on the ground.

As he predicted, they arrived at the clinic when the sun was rising. Lord Duo was waiting on the steps to the healer's home, and he approached them with brows raised. "Is anyone hurt?"

Dr. Nelson came out of the house and went to Taeron who was covered with dried blood. Shamara was also bloody, but neither had extensive wounds.

"Lord Duo, I have rescued the prince," proclaimed Taeron.

"I did some rescuing too," complained Shamara, giving him a shove.

Duo watched them shove each other for a moment, then looked at the healer. "Any prognosis?"

She fished a weed stick from Shamara's belt. "High as kites, I'd say."

"My lord!" exclaimed Taeron, digging out his own supply. "This is truly a wondrous herb!"

Duo snatched them from his hand, and grabbed Shamara's from her. "I think you have had quite enough," he scolded as he tucked them in his own pocket. "Trust me, you are going to regret your little experimentation in a few hours."

"You had better let them sleep it off before you leave for Calabria," suggested the healer.

Lord Duo seemed irritated. Dagan could understand his desire to leave this dread Mars Colony behind for good and the delay must annoy him.

"My lord," spoke up Dagan. "I am grateful for the assistance of the princess and her imperial guard, but I cannot leave yet."

"What is the problem now?" demanded Duo. He grabbed Dagan's arm and marched him away from the smaller group. When they could not be overheard, he said, "I hope your problem takes a few days, because my work here is not done."

"Did you not come here to take me back?" Dagan was somewhat confused.

"Hardly! I came to get that beautiful red-haired healer and take her home as my wife."

Dagan glanced back at the doctor who was wiping at one of Taeron's cuts. "A good choice, my lord. I have heard nothing but praise for her. She is the worthy wife of a Calabrian governor."

"Now what is so important that you cannot leave? And don't tell me you have to rescue your concubine." Duo was glaring at him, waiting for an answer.

Dagan hung his head in shame. "She…she isn't my concubine anymore. I misjudged her."

Duo grunted. "Then what is the hold up?"

Feeling even more ashamed, he explained to Duo his need to help the poor wretches who were being fed to the boreworms. "I managed to kill eight of them before Winner locked me away. According to what I have heard, there are about two left and they may be protecting another nest."

The other man stared at him in disbelief for a moment, then he signaled to the doctor to join them. She was already holding in her hands a vial of the boreworm residue. Duo wrinkled his nose in disgust when she held it up.

"I suspect this is the drug," she stated.

"When the boreworms feed, they excrete that substance," explained Dagan. "Once they have finished, Winner's men go into the tunnels to collect it."

She stared at him in disbelief. "You mean to tell me that he sends men and women into the mines to initiate the process?"

"Only the men. The women are needed for breeding purposes."

"I don't believe it! I can't believe it! This is far too wicked, even for Quatre Winner!" She stomped as she walked away.

Duo watched her disappear into her clinic, then looked at Dagan. "Will you be in danger if you return now?"

"I won't be returning. I know where Magnar is taking his latest harvest. I will follow him and if the gods grant me favor, I will be able to save the men and rid this colony of those vile creatures, both human and beast."

"Come with me before you leave. I need you to repeat this story to the governor of L12."

"I know many of Quatre Winner's secrets," said Dagan as they walked to the house. He noticed a young man vaguely resembling Lord Duo helping Taeron and an older man trying to lift Shamara. Dagan hurried to relieve him and he carried Shamara into the house.

"Like father, like daughter," chuckled the older man who followed them in. "Say, Maxwell, are you taking some of that weed back to Trey?"

The Calabrian lord laughed in response.

Shamara looked over Dagan's shoulder. "You mean my father already knows about this?"

Both Duo and the older man laughed again. "They are still finding some of his stashes around the academy."

Dagan carried Shamara to the room Duo pointed out and laid her gently on the bed. She didn't release her arms from around his neck, but she pulled him onto the bed with her. "Are you grateful that I rescued you?" she asked.

He brushed back her silky dark hair and caressed her cheek. The touch of her smooth skin in this world was even more pleasurable than in their trances. How would it feel to kiss her? "I am very grateful, princess." He was lowering his head to hers when he heard a throat being cleared.

Shamara sat up so fast that she smacked his face and Dagan could feel his lip already swelling. "Lord Duo! How rude! Do not interrupt your princess when her humble servant is about to show his enormous gratitude!"

"My princess is going to get a hand across her backside if she doesn't watch her tongue." He looked at Dagan. "I won't mention what might happen to her humble servant if he doesn't clear the room of his enormous gratitude this instant."

Dagan wasted no time leaving behind the princess. He paused in the hall to hear Lord Duo scolding her until she was whimpering and begging him not to tell her father about her bad behavior. When he left the room, Duo was smiling to himself.

"In a matter of days, she is going to be in your hands," he said to Dagan. Dagan smiled to himself as he imagined her in his hands. "Until then," continued her protector, "keep your hands off."

He led him to another room where Dagan was surprised to find Master Nazzar waiting, sitting near the other older man. They had what appeared to be scrolls spread out between them and his master was staring at them as the other pointed out symbols.

"Dr. Stryfe is probably razing him," commented Duo as he punched a code into the communicating device imbedded in the wall. "He thinks your teacher doesn't know the Camridaeus myth."

A woman's face appeared on the viewing screen. She appeared to have been sleeping. "Maxwell! Have you any idea what time it is? This is the second time my sleep has been interrupted by you tonight! I just got back to sleep!"

"Relena, where is Heero?"

"At his office! Quatre is furious about the raid on his mansion. So, did you get what you were after?"

Duo sighed. "Relena, I wasn't involved. As you recall, I was trying to clean up another of my messes."

"One of your messes!? Is that what I am to you?"

Dagan turned to see the doctor standing in the doorway, her furious green eyes on the Calabrian lord. He was glad he wasn't in his shoes.

"You don't need to consider me one of your messes!" She walked out slamming the door.

"You dolt!" snapped Relena on the telecom.

Dr. Stryfe was chuckling as he pushed aside his papers. "I guess I'll go have a talk with that girl."

"My God, Duo! How could you say such a thing?"

Dagan wondered if they were going to get back to the original business. These humans were very strange. Although he had great respect for women, Dagan wouldn't let a female talk to him like that. On the other hand, Shamara's respect was for him was still in question.

"Put me through to Heero," he snapped at Relena.

"How do you intend to fix that? Huh? I'd like to know just what…"

"Relena, put me through or I will make a detour to L12 before I return to Calabria just to pop you in the nose."

"You couldn't do it!"

"Try me!"

There was a moment of silence, as she must have keyed in the information. "There, you dumb ass! Serves you right if she never speaks to you again." Her face faded and a man's took her place.

"Duo, what the hell is going on down there? Winner wants permission to arrest your son and princess Shamara. Did they raid his mansion?"

"Raid? Ha! Two stoned teen-agers against his army of thugs can't be considered a raid."

The man Dagan guessed was Heero scratched his head. Dagan had heard the name before, but in rather unflattering terms in the Winner Mansion. "Quatre claims to have fifteen dead bodies in his home."

"I'm sure Taeron was defending the princess." Duo waved his hand as if that bit of information was unimportant. Granted, Dagan thought Winner's men were all deserving of the butchering Taeron had dealt out, but they were men with lives. "You will still be sending forces after you hear what Prince Dagan has to tell you."

"Quatre told me Dagan is dead, that the man you have is a 'wizard' who uses gunpowder trickery to frighten people. He is a known criminal on the planet that Quatre had captured and was waiting to send to L12 to stand trial."

"Do you believe that crap?"

"Does that man ride with the brigands?"

Dagan stepped forward. "My lord, I have ridden with the brigands, but only as a means to an end. And you should know that the brigands are one of the many arms that Quatre Winner uses to keep a stranglehold on the people of this colony."

Heero stared at him silently for a moment, then he said. "What do you have to tell me?"

After several moments, Heero opened his communication to other important officials, and at the end of Dagan's detailed account of his stay on the Mars Colony, Heero promised there would be swift action against Winner. Swift action meant at least another day, which would give them time to gather the necessary forces and make the trip.

"Until that time, you are going to have to hold him off yourself," stated Heero. "Don't do anything foolish, Duo."

"Me? Foolish? Hey, I have my own problems."

"So now I am a problem?"

Duo looked from the telecom to the doorway where the doctor was standing. The tension between them was quite thick and Dagan wished he were somewhere else. "Babe, you have the worst timing!"

"I have damn good timing! Now I know exactly how you talk about me behind my back!"

Duo bumped Dagan as he crossed the room to stand over the woman. "I have had enough of this!" He reached down and yanked her over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" She started beating on his back and Dagan knew how that felt. Long after they disappeared out the door, Dagan could hear the doctor shouting and swearing.

"Do you think I should help her?" he heard himself asking no one in particular.

Chuckling form the telecom reminded him that the governor was till connected. "Don't worry about them. If anyone will need help, it will be him. I'll give you the same warning, Prince Dagan. Don't do anything foolish." The screen went blank.

Dr. Stryfe walked in snickering. "I see the boy is taking my advice, but I would still poke her with a sedative if I were him."

Dagan walked to where Master Nazzar sat quietly with a slight smile on his lips. "Master, these people are very strange."

The old man nodded. "They are indeed." But his attention was on the scrolls.

"Master, please stay with these people while I do what must be done. They can keep you safe."

He nodded again. "I understand. The gods will protect you."

"You seem very sure," commented Dagan.

His master did not respond.

Sighing, Dagan returned to the room where Shamara was resting. The moment he passed through the door, he felt a blade at his throat. "It is me. Dagan. Put away your blade, Taeron."

The imperial guard did as he commanded and returned to a mat on the floor near the door. "I am sorry, my lord prince, but I must protect the princess."

"I won't harm her. In fact, I wish to commend…" He was interrupted by snoring and he realized with annoyance that Taeron had fallen asleep. Dagan wondered if Taeron came in the package with Shamara when they married. Although he was bound to be a mighty warrior, Dagan really didn't want him sleeping on a mat in their bedchamber.

"Dagan? Have you returned to offer your gratitude?" He could see in the dark that she had sat up on the bed.

He went to sit near her and drew her into his arms. "Lord Duo is preoccupied, so I think I can show you proper gratitude."

"I'm not preoccupied," snorted Taeron.

"Shut up!" snapped Shamara. "Remember, you are my imperial guard, not…"

"I know! Not your imperial conscience."

Dagan put his hand under her chin and raised her face to his. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are, princess?"

"How did I get stuck with this duty?" muttered Taeron. "Never has there been an imperial guard for a female, and I have been chosen to be the first!"

"Shut up!" snapped Shamara again. "You should be grateful!" She looked sweetly back at Dagan. "You may continue."

Dagan was quickly losing the mood that had brought him in here in the first place. "Ah, well, your eyes…"

"They are like the twilight after the setting of the second sun," commented Taeron. "She heard that one from the Prince Avar."

"Avar said that?" Dagan wondered what situation they had been in for Avar to be romantic.

Shamara made a sound of disgust. "If you don't shut up, Taeron, I am going to hit you."

"Don't forget to tell her about her rose-petal lips," said Taeron, ignoring her threat.

"Did Avar say that too?" Dagan was going to enjoy beating Avar in combat for her hand.

"No that gem was from the Prince of Varoonya."

"The prince of Varoonya was courting you?" Both Teralon and Varoonya were planets far wealthier than Bayman. Why would Emperor Trey want his precious daughter to marry him?

"Taeron, I warned you!" Shamara pushed past Dagan, and with her pillow, she pummeled her hapless imperial guard.

Dagan shrugged and walked to the door. He glanced back to see stuffing and feathers flying in the air. "Princess, I will show my gratitude another day."

"See what you've done!" he heard her shriek when he closed the door. "I'm going to make you pay!"

The only privacy they were going to get would be in a trance.

Smiling, he leaned against the door and closed his eyes.

Shamara appeared before him, feathers embedded in her hair. "Where am I?"

He picked a feather from her hair and tickled her nose. "On the other side of the door."

She smiled at him and slid her arms around his neck. "You are very clever. How did you initiate the trance?"

Dagan leaned down to kiss her. "I will tell you another time, princess." This wasn't quite what he wanted, but he couldn't imagine anything sweeter than the kiss they shared.

Suddenly the door slammed against him and Dagan stumbled to the floor.

Taeron peeked out. "Sorry, my lord prince. I didn't realize you were standing there."

"Taeron!"

Dagan rubbed his head as he walked out of the house. They were all very strange.