Wednesday, June 1, 2005: 12:20 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, HIM quarters
"How is she?" Miranda asked Crystal from her chair stationed just outside Mattie's bedroom.
"Out like a busted light bulb. Arthur's still awake, he waved at me, but I think this proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Arthur makes a better teddy bear than I do."
"I still think he's a jerk. Disappears for two months, waltzes in with candy and flowers and 'poof', all is forgiven? He should be groveling. Hard."
"Miranda, you spend a lot of time near Mattie, that's your job. How much time do you spend with Mattie?"
"Not much," the young officer admitted. "I probably shouldn't."
"Professional detachment isn't all it's cracked up to be. But I think you're looking at Arthur leaving as being a problem between Arthur and Mattie. It wasn't. It's a problem between Arthur and Her Majesty."
"Who is Mattie."
"And there's were you're wrong. 'Her Majesty' is the parts of Mattie she needs to do the job of Empress of the Terran Empire. 'Her Majesty' is the one who drafts thousands and thousands of civilians every month into her armies. 'Her Majesty' signed a death sentence for her former teacher. 'Her Majesty' does a lot of very unpleasant things to keep this Empire running. Don't ever think Mattie likes doing those things. She doesn't, but sees the necessity so she has 'Her Majesty' to do them."
"Sounds a little schizo," Miranda said disapprovingly.
"I agree. But, so far anyway, it works."
"So who is 'Mattie' then?"
"That's a tough one. For a while I thought 'Mattie' was just the leftover bits 'Her Majesty' wasn't using. Then I realized that was... I was going to say wrong, but that would be wrong. 'Mattie' changes. Sometimes she is just the leftover bits. Sometimes 'Mattie' is all of herself, including the nasty parts. The biggest difference between 'Mattie' and 'Her Majesty' is that Her Majesty considers everyone associated with her: you, me, Arthur, as a subordinate."
"I literally am her subordinate. She's my Commander-in-Chief."
"As her bodyguard, so am I. But I'm also her friend and... I'll admit it, I'm her very unofficial big sister. Which means that in some cases, I'm not her subordinate. Which makes my job harder, but my life better. Arthur, on the other hand, is her partner. A junior partner, but still a partner. Mattie knows this. She's known it for years. As such, his responsibilities to her and himself are different than yours and mine."
"Asking 'How so?' seems a little too obvious. But adding Mattie's reaction to him coming back to what you've just told me and the rumors I have heard, I'd guess that's he doing something for Mattie that Her Majesty can't let Mattie do for herself."
Crystal tapped her nose. "That's what I think although I'm sure there's more to it. Please make an appointment with Security to discuss the source and substance of those rumors. Some information has been leaking and we need to plug that leak."
Crystal slept in her own bed for a change.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005: 01:30 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, Abo Embassy
"I think that Ma'iva was scandalized when I danced with Mr. Adams. Apparently dancing with your Arthur was acceptable, but not him," Des'laine said as thy waited for Br'sine to begin their debrief.
"He's not my Arthur. He's Martha the First's Arthur," Star countered. He was also of a much higher social rank. Although had Star said that to Arthur, he'd have laughed.
"You'd take him if you could get him."
"I can imagine worse breeding partners," Star admitted. "But I think we created a bigger scandal with the Terrans by dancing together than you did by dancing with a few males."
"I have been imagining worse. I have no idea what phenotype the Reproduction Board has me slated for. As Our Majesty's cousin, you have some input into your breeding assignments. With my luck, I'll get stuck with some labor caste lump without a brain cell in his head, but he'll have perfect teeth."
"At least you aren't slave caste. They're expected to have actual sex with their assigned partners. You will at least have the option of artificial insemination." She herself had the option of using a host mother, although her cousin, as Empress, did not. Which was ridiculous that given genetic testing the true parentage of such offspring could not be legitimately questioned. Just one more item in the eternal struggle between the Crown and the Noble Ladies.
Br'sine exited the interview room where she'd been taking Tranok Ma'iva's report and scanning through her recorded memories. "I understand the two of you did some drinking tonight. Do either of you require a sober pill?"
Both replied in the negative. While males normally drank straight alcohol or simple mixtures, females were 'permitted' more complex options. The 'Singapore Sling' was more fruit juice than alcohol while the 'Mai Tai' was more alcohol than fruit juice. Other than those, Star stuck to her preferred fizzy drinks.
Des'laine stayed with Pareek't juice all night. While that wasn't alcohol, it worked the same way, by starving the drinker's brain cells of oxygen. However, by taking a large dose of an oxygen metabolite in advance, which she had, the effects could be significantly blunted. Instead of falling down drunk, she was merely at the 'warm glow' stage. The Morton had proved correct. They hadn't bought themselves a single drink all night.
After seating themselves in the interview room, Br'sine began, "The Morton was there. It's the first time he's been seen in public since our meeting with Martha the First. Did you learn anything of interest?"
"The resignation from his ambassadorship seems sincere, but he is still Crown Consort. He is working on some personal project without the backing of the Terran Empire. He did not confide any details to me. I heard from the Co'aal ambassador that they are quite pleased with him for rescuing one of their scientists, but the timeline of events does not make sense to me. It may be unrelated to his project."
"Anything to add Des'laine?"
"That fact that he came at all indicates that the project, whatever it is, does not require his constant supervision. The only thing he let slip to me is that it would take considerable time. He did not indicate how long that might be."
"What of Martha I? She was wearing a dress purchased from us. I have to consider that a positive sign after the frostiness she presented when you delivered the protest note over losing Empress Clarissa's property."
Star answered, "It was a celebration of her majority. She specifically told me that she was going to make some changes in her personal life to suit herself. The dress was likely just the first visible change we will see. There have long been rumors that she is most displeased with how her mother had been handling certain aspects of her personal life, in particular the number and type of body modifications her mother subjected her to."
Br'sine nodded. "Now that Martha has reached her majority, she's pushing back. Understandable. We've all been that age. She's already refused to quash the accessory to assault charge her mother was arrested for and shows no sign of commuting her mother's sentence either. Even if she claims she's done so to respect the rule of law, that's about as clear a break as one could see."
"Truth," Star replied.
"Des'laine, Tranok Ma'iva saw that you spoke briefly with the Terran Empress, but could not get audio due to their musicians. What did she say?"
"She was glad my assignment went well and that she hoped I enjoyed myself. She also commented positively on the coordinated outfits Star and I wore. Nothing remotely official."
"Not unexpected. Star, I want your written report on my desk no later than mid-day. Des'laine, your ship leaves at 09:00 local time. You are to be on board no later then 08:15. You've already packed your personal mass allowance, so you should leave the Embassy by 07:30 at the latest. I'll need your report before then." Looking at the disappointment on Des'laine's face, Br'sine almost said 'Sorry.'
Wednesday, June 1, 2005: 06:20 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, HIM quarters
Mattie trotted on her treadmill. It would take time to get her strength and endurance back to normal. But at least she could start working on it. Maybe it was endorphins or maybe it was the feeling of freedom that ditching the spelled on clothes gave her that made her feel so good. The monthly draft drawing and press conference would likely put a dent in her mood, but she'd enjoy the feeling while it lasted.
Arthur entered from the bathroom, wearing a pair of khaki cargo shorts and pulling on a lightweight Columbus Holo Training T shirt his sister had given him. He plucked Mattie from the treadmill and kissed her softly. "People to go, places to see," he deliberately misstated as he set her down.
"I wish you'd stay," Mattie said before stretching up to kiss him.
"I wish I could. Mind if I charge up before I go?" he asked waving his ring finger.
Mattie summoned her lantern and told him, "Knock yourself out."
Like Mattie, Arthur didn't recite any version of the Green Lantern's Oath when he charged his ring. After about 10 seconds he bent down to kiss her again and whispered 'I love you'. She let him go.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005: 12:06
Luna, Port Oldridge, Imperial Media Center.
"All rise!"
The assembled newsies rose to their feet until Mattie bade them to be seated, As normal, the draft date was first up. January, 25th 1967. Next was that a convoy of ships was returning from Aaeloh and the Taasbah systems bringing wounded who it was felt could be better treated on Earth than in the field and asked the Empire as a whole to welcome them home.
As expected, as she'd seen the potential questions in advance, there were far too many questions about her personal life as opposed to the Empire. Her attire that afternoon was best described as 'power businesswoman', not 'old time elegance'. It didn't mean she'd start showing up at official events in sweats and a Gotham Knights hoodie. It did mean that the corset she'd worn was returned to the dustbin of history, although she worded it far more politely than that.
Questions about Arthur were brushed off. He'd never stopped being her fiancé. He was perfectly welcome to work on his own outside projects, even if that meant being gone for extended periods of time. Whatever it was had gone well enough that he could visit. Hopefully he would be able to visit again soon. Their wedding was still scheduled for the New Year and the official invitations would start going out at the end of the month.
In regards to her mother and Imperial Heir Constance Koslowski, Mattie reiterated that she had no intention of interfering with the legal process on their behalf. Their formal impeachment from the Regency and the Heirs list was in the Assembly's hands, not her own.
While questions about herself were easier to answer in their own way, Mattie hoped that next month there would be some substantive questions. Feeding the gossip mill was a waste of time, no matter how popular it might be.
Wednesday, June 1, 2005: 10:03 UTC
Epsilon Eridani III, Hierro Island, Arthur's compound.
Arthur took considerable pains to make sure he hadn't been tailed from Earth. He'd even spent a couple hours close to a red sun to discourage Superman or Supergirl from following him. Any Green Lantern within about 4 light years would have been noticed. A starship should have been detectable within a much longer range. Once he was satisfied, he headed to EEIII, arriving a bit before local dawn.
He'd been gone roughly 24 hours. If he hadn't charged up from Mattie's Lantern, he'd have still made it back in time, but not been able to so thoroughly watch for non-existent tails.
Remotely opening the cargo hatch, Arthur flew into the hold and spent an hour sorting through and putting away his purchases. He then checked the progress on the three women currently having their collars removed. Erma, the youngest of the rescues, about Hank's age, and Nasreen, about whom he knew little other than she was middle eastern, were both proceeding satisfactorily. Chantal Araby, who Arthur thought enjoyed being the stereotype of an angry black woman, had two yellow lights on her status display. Somewhat reluctantly he woke up Louie to explain it to him.
Louie shook out her long arms and stretched her legs to fully wake herself. Compared to being a slave, being asked to get up a little early was not a problem. Arthur had even apologized for the inconvenience, something no slave ever got.
She was going to say she'd planed to tell him the next time she saw him, but she was seeing him then. Instead, she flexed her fingers to make sure her circulation was functioning at optimal levels. "Miss Araby responds slowly to neuro-genesis compounds and regenerative therapies."
"Is that going to be a problem?" Arthur asked. About 3% of those tested couldn't use a medtank's regrowth abilities. With thirteen people, odds were about 1 in 3 that at least one of the women he'd rescued wouldn't be able to be treated. That would make things difficult.
"That would depend on what you consider a problem. The tank can treat her. It will simply take longer."
"How much longer?"
"Roughly twenty standard days plus or minus three. A galactic standard month in total is possible. As you remember, mine took eight days."
Parked in his parent's basement the whole time. "Will the delay cause her any problems?
"It shouldn't."
"Nice to know."
.oOo.
His ten non-tanked guests and Mike Bulstrode were gathered in the cafeteria.
"I visited Earth and did a little shopping. No, I did not tell anyone you were here. You may still be considered stolen property. Some of you had requested underwear. I took a list of your sizes and turned it over to my mother and one of my older sisters. They're in that crate over by the hatch along with a real volleyball, a few decks of cards and some other stuff because cards and games were on a couple lists. I hope somebody here plays chess. I also brought some munchies."
Mike smiled.
"Mike asked for some chocolate and ice cream." Arthur tossed a gold gift box at Mike, who didn't drop it. He then plopped a large bag of top end chocolate truffles on the table. "I set aside some for the women who are tanked right now, but otherwise I expect these will go quick."
Stephanie McDermott out grabbed Jana Sorge for the first piece. Both of them had recognized the logo on the bag. The rest were pleasantly surprised by the quality.
Once everyone had a couple of pieces in them, Arthur continued. "I got the pierogies on Jana's list and most of the spices on Isabel's list along with a twelve quart pot, a spaghetti strainer, some pasta and sauce. Sorry, no fresh tomatoes or the macadamia nuts on Noelani's list; bringing them would have broken at least two laws. Picked up some french fries just for the hell of it and some hash browns.
"Last and certainly not least, there's over five gallons of ice cream in the freezer. And I bought a good ice cream scoop. Sorry Mike, no rum and raisin. Did get the strawberry and the salted caramel."
"Chocolate?" Lucie asked hopefully with her French accent..
"Yeah. And vanilla, some mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, fudge ripple, and a carton of chocolate chip cookie dough."
The list of options didn't cover everyone's favorite flavors, but the reaction was definitely positive.
"And now for the bad news... First: I don't know if I'll be able to go for a second round of this. Pace yourselves. Don't eat it all at once. Second: Do not take the food off the ship. If you do, it becomes an import and you'd be responsible for paying the import fees, not me. If you can't pay them you could be re-enslaved and they do use enhancement on government owned slaves here. I can't fix that."
It was a subdued group of women who went to the rest of their day.
Warning: Death
Saturday, June 4, 05:42 (ACST)
(Friday, June 3, 2005: 20:12 UTC)
Australia, Northern Territories, Camp Katherine, landing field 7A
Revelry would have been in another 18 minutes.
As it was, First Sergeant Elena Marie Morton stood with her training company, along with ninety nine other training companies, on the tarmac waiting for the recently landed HMS Bastion to open the main hatchway and start disgorging those troops on board who were capable of ambulating out on their own. The less mobile would be bundled out later. As this was a photo op as much as anything else, there were cameras rolling and enough portable lights to drown out the darkness. Sunrise wouldn't be for an hour and a half.
The camp commander, an undistinguished American brigadier general of no particular brilliance, finished his speech. "… to our fellow troops... Welcome home."
The hatchway opened and all hundred training companies snapped to attention from parade rest. They then faced left or right towards the cleared strip through the landing field to the terminal proper. In small groups of three and four, soldiers walked, not marched, down that strip. As they reached any given company, the front row of soldiers facing them saluted and held it until there was a break in stream of arrivals only to salute again when the next batch arrived.
A small female red-headed soldier walked alone. She looked around a lot, like many of the returning soldiers did. She had a single chevron on her sleeve meaning she was likely between six and eighteen months past basic. 'Not one of mine then,' Elena thought. All her training companies had been officer candidates or petty officer candidates like her current batch.
"Salute!" she ordered as the red-head arrived. The eight soldiers in the front row saluted sharply. The red head began laughing as she walked, much to Elena's disgust. She saw the hostile look on her opposite number across the path and wondered if the redhead was known to Sergeant Major Wilson.
With a whistle and a loud pop, Sergeant Major Wilson's face was with replaced with blood, brain and bone fragments.
Split seconds after that, every combat enhancement carrying soldier within 500 meters started suffering malfunctions. Most of them were simple. Targeting enhancers switched on covering their user's entire field of sight with red, effectively blinding them. Many others had their implanted comm gear switched on with blaring noise at maximum volume. Contrary to her brother Arthur's belief, there was an off switch for both features. It just didn't work. A few unfortunates had their pharmacopoeias turn on and randomly inject various drugs into their systems. Certain drugs or combinations of drugs were harmless. Many were incapacitating. Others were fatal.
Because she was TDY from the Solar Guard, Elena Morton did not have any implants even though the soldiers she trained did. She could have gotten the pharmacopeia implant, the sealed panties, the vision overlays, the internal comms, the spinal reinforcement, the whole nine yards. But those weren't required for Solar Guard personnel, which she technically still was. They had never been formally subsumed into the Imperial military, still acting as the Coast Guard type force they had originally been intended to be. It was to avoid the sealed panties that Elena never had the work done. She was a healthy 21 year old who liked sex and had a civilian 'friend with benefits' that worked at one of the base PXs.
The net result was that Elena was one of the few fully functional people in that 500 yard radius. "GET DOWN!" she ordered her troops. The ones who could hear her, even in other companies, obeyed. Those who could see, but not hear, started to do the same. She could see the small red head laughing like a SmileX victim. Elena drew her side arm and looked for a target. There was another whistle and Elena hit the deck. Lethal ordinance passed through the space where she'd been standing, killing a deafened soldier behind her.
A large green and purple warsuit landed next to the redhead with barely a thump. She recognized the color scheme. The false (as far she knew) Lex Luthor had used a suit like it in a battle against Superman when the clone abandoned the Oval Office. It had been a fight too. There was nothing she could do against a suit like that and she knew it.
The suit opened like a clam shell and the laughing young women stepped into to it. Before the suit could close, Elena put two rounds into her back and one into her ass. The suit sealed and took off, heading vaguely northwest. Once the override signal was out of range, the implants reset. The merely blinded were fine. Many of the deafened suffered permanent hearing damage, or what would have been permanent hearing damage if med tanks weren't available. The same pharmacopeia implants that killed some soldiers saved others. The death toll was just under 500.
Friday, June 3, 2005: 21:37 UTC
Luna, Port Oldridge, HIM offices
"Damn it! Arthur is so gonna say 'I told you so' over this. He's always considered the implants too risky," Mattie complained to her Uncle Clark in his role as Superman.
"I know you're already working on alternatives to the implants. You could switch over in a few months. If you were starting from scratch, it'd take six months to a year to get the new gear online."
"We also have to update the training procedures and retrain our trainers. We might not be saving as much time as you think. Damn Luthor for screwing us like this."
"Regardless of what body he wore, he was still Lex Luthor. If he hadn't found a way to hack the implants, he'd have found some other way to escape. We thought his being trapped in the body of a 14 year old girl would stop him. That separating him from his resources would stop him. I was a fool to think it might," Clark declared sadly.
"I signed off on it too," Mattie admitted, sharing the guilt.
"Such a waste," Superman said quietly before continuing. "Between Kyle, Kara and Wally, the Northern Territories have been searched. No sign of Luthor, but Wally did capture an animal trafficking ring."
While Mattie thought that was nice, it didn't help with the current dilemma. "Do you think it's possible Elena Morton killed him? She says she hit him three times and there was a lot of blood found where the camera crews caught Alexis Olsen walking into the warsuit."
"If a normal human killed him, after all he's done, after all he's survived, 'ironic' wouldn't begin to describe it."
Friday, June 3, 2005: 21:37 UTC
Location unknown
No response to option Omega Tav...
Neural download: FAILED (47.6% complete at time of failure)
Current Status
Pulse: 0
Respiration: 20 (forced)
Brain Activity: 0
Conclusion: Subject Deceased
Cause of Death: Exsanguination/Internal Injuries
Engage Lazarus Protocols
Option 1...
Evaluating…
Evaluating…
Executing.
Option 2...
Evaluating...
Evaluating...
Pending...
Option 3...
Evaluating...
Evaluating...
Initializing...
The purple and green warsuit adjusted course and flew on under maximum stealth. Due to the speed restriction this required, northern Africa was hours away.
June 6, 2005:
Epsilon Eridani III, Hierro Island, Tallah
'Four down, nine to go,' Arthur thought as he escorted London native Caroline Crawford to the med tank room. Jackie Johnson had gone in the day before. Nasreen Abu Khadra had come out just a few hours earlier. Since Miss Abu Khadra was the first user of one of the new tanks, Louie had run additional diagnostics during maintenance just to make certain of the tank's performance.
"Hopefully, I'll see you in a week or two Miss Crawford," he said as they arrived at the treatment room. Louie waited patiently, finishing off a yellow joojy fruit. Arthur preferred he green or blue ones.
"You don't mind that I want a breast augmentation and rhinoplasty while my collar is being removed, do you?"
"I don't think you need either of them, particularly the nose job, but if it makes you happy, I've got no problem with it." Besides, she was only seeking a one cup increase, she wasn't trying to duplicate Diana or Power Girl.
"Thank you so very much Mr. Morton. Not just for this, but for rescuing and freeing us all. The embassy staff kept telling us that they had 'plans' but also that their hands were tied. I don't know if they ever would have done what you have."
"Just remember, we're not 'done' until we can go home and nobody tries to stick a collar on anyone. Louie will take it from here."
"Take off your clothes and get in the tank," the mauve skinned alien ordered.
"Louie, you're supposed to wait until I leave before you say that."
"Sorry, Ship Owner Morton. I forgot," the medical technician said.
Caroline giggled and Arthur went to check on Stephanie McDermott. She still slept in the Tallah. While the other women hadn't engaged in any overt violence against her, the hostility was obvious.
As Caroline removed her robe and underwear, Louie asked, "Are all human males that..." her translator implant chose "… modest with females of their own species?" If they were, how did they reproduce at all?
"Oh no, definitely not. However, the part of Earth Mr. Morton comes from is fairly conservative about such things. He is also betrothed to a rather lovely young woman and thus expected to be sexually monogamous. On top of that, as he holds authority over us, custom decrees he not be sexually forward with us or appear to be."
Louie's expression changed in some alien way, Caroline had no idea what it might mean. "Thank you. That clarifies a few things. You see, it is different for slaves, at least in my experience. My former master would rape me, nor because he thought me attractive, but just to show me, and the other free crewmen, that he could. For recreational sex, he'd have preferred someone like Kas'dra."
'So would I,' Caroline thought as she climbed into the tank.
June 8, 2005: 13:00 GMT
Earth, Hogwarts, Potions classroom.
The OFSTED mandated installation of ventilated hoods and mandatory eye protection had not truly changed the character of Severus Snape's domain, even if Potions was held in a completely different classroom these days. It was still a room where he taught dunderheads and the occasional deserving student the fine art of potion brewing. Having one of them date the other was annoying. Occasionally the deserving student lifted up the dunderhead to respectability but it was normally the dunderhead who dragged the deserving student down to their level.
Though to be fair, young Mr. Morton was more klutz than dunderhead. When it came to theory, his study group, particularly Miss Bones, had him on the verge of adequacy. His understanding of muggle chemistry was acceptable. With a cauldron or a test tube he was a danger to himself and others. At least after this final exam, his laboratory would be safe from him for three months.
Will didn't feel good or bad about the written part of his potions final. The question about polyjuice potion and what it was used for never changed, but over time the answer did. Will added 'to experience a temporary sex change' to the stock answers using his brother's employee Mike Bulstrode as an example. He wondered what Snape would think of it.
When it came time for the practical, Will drew the Girding Potion, a third year potion.. Snape would do that, use potions from prior years. Fortunately, he knew that one. He'd been accused of using it when he'd beat older students from a nearby high school in a cross country race. It couldn't possibly be that he ran five or more mies five days a week through the hilly Scottish countryside. Five kilometers on a mostly flat course in 17:12 was elite, but not in any way record threatening.
'What was the mnemonic for that?' he asked himself. 'For what does everyone tiredly dig through Freddy's shiny house? Fairy wings, doxy eggs, toasted dragonfly thoraxes, flying seahorse. Now if he just remembered the proportions...
Will did wonder why this sort of test wan't open book. In real life, recipes were available. The base was just beginning to simmer when he added the fairy wings. Resisting the temptation to turn up the heat, he waited. Eventually the potion turned a brilliant turquoise blue.
'Now for the small batch of doxy eggs...'
Nearly an hour later, some students had already finished when Will's potion tuned a brilliant green from a dark blue. It smelled awful, which was a good sign, so he turned off the heat and stirred occasionally while it cooled. Using a small tube he transferred his potion from cauldron to vial and placed it on the rack along with the slip he'd drawn.
Snape looked up from a paper he was grading and asked, "Girding potion?"
"Yes, sir," Will replied.
"It looks right,' Snape said suspiciously. Setting down the paper, he unstoppered the vial and wafted it by his infamous nose. "It smells right." If anything, he sounded more suspicious. None of the anti-cheating charms had triggered. "Very well Mister Morton. Clean up and be off."
He waited outside the room for Ami. Their transfiguration final was tomorrow morning and Will wanted to practice. He hoped he didn't have to cast hedgehog to pincushion or vera verto. He didn't like transforming animals into inanimate objects. He didn't mind beetles to buttons near as much.
June 9, 2005 09:15 GMT
Earth, Hogwarts, DADA classroom.
Professor Potter stood and quietly called "Quills down. Please bring your parchments to my desk." The fifth years rose quickly. They had a good idea what was next.
They weren't disappointed when Harry waved his wand and their desks and chairs scattered to walls which themselves seemed to recede leaving a surprisingly large empty space. "Now is your practical exam. The idea is to be the last person standing. The longer you last, the better your grade. You are to disable your opponents with minimal force. Not cripple them, disfigure them or kill them. Unforgivables are very much unforgivable. If there are permanent injuries, there will be severe consequences. You're not firsties anymore, most of you can do significant damage. No casting before I give the word. If there's a particular spot you wish to be in, you have five... four..." Some students began scrambling for position. "… three... two.. one... GO!"
Tomas got protegro up just ahead of a volley of hexes. After Julie broke up with him, he spread rumors about what he'd done with her sexually. When Julie publicly demanded he repeat those allegations under a Wizard's Oath, he refused. A large number of female students and a few male students were making their displeasure clear.
Julie noted that Professor Harry had not barred physical attacks this year. Apparently he realized that sometimes the best defense against a spell was not a counter-spell, but a good right cross. She grabbed a handful of smoke bombs from inside her robe with her left hand and flung one to the floor just as Kent Dorney was drawing a bead on her. She leapt forward and to the right, completed a beautiful shoulder roll, returning to her feet just to his left. She hit him with stupefy before he could adjust. As he fell, she grabbed him to use as a human shield to intercept an expelliarmus and a jelly legs jinx.
Tomas, having survived the initial onslaught, began to make an offensive. A quick arcus served to momentarily blind his attackers. It was followed up with a Slippery jinx cast on the floor they stood upon felling all but one of them. Before the 'lucky' girl could gain focus enough to cast a spell, Tomas summoned a book from a shelf behind her and it struck the back of her head on its way to the young wizard. Down she went.
Harry watched the battle, occasionally levitating a fallen student out of harm's way. Unlike some of these battles, this appeared to be every man for himself. Enemies attacked enemies. Friends attacked friends. Girlfriends attacked boyfriends, but not so much the other way around. Housemates and roommates attacked each other. But it remained friendly. Nothing particularly dark. No unforgivables.
Over half the field was out when Julia threw her entire fistful of smoke bombs to the floor. Many people cast bubble head charms while a few began coughing. As dark smoke engulfed the students, Tomas smiled and entered the obscured area while Julie did the same on the other side.
When the smoke cleared it was down to the two of them.
Expelliarmus and accio: wand went off simultaneously. Tomas' wand went flying and Julie's wand flew to Tomas, who grabbed it on arrival.
Boom! A burst of yellow smoke erupted from her wand with a loud report.
"Stole that one from your brother did you?" Harry observed after the booby trapped wand delivered its surprise knockout blast.
Much to Julie's surprise, Tomas didn't fall. Had she not rigged the wand properly? Had she mis-brewed the potion for the knockout effect? Had Tomas prepared for it in advance?
"You're both disarmed. Shall we call it a draw?" Harry offered.
"If you think you can take me down little girl, you are welcome to try," Tomas responded.
"He's still standing," Julie replied firmly, moving forward.
It wasn't 'no holds barred'. They weren't trying to kill, disfigure or permanently injure each other. But it was clear to Harry after the first exchange they were more than willing to hurt one another. Against his better judgment he let fight continue. Tomas had strength and reach advantages, even a skill advantage if Harry was judging it correctly. Julie wanted it more. She'd win or go down, but she wouldn't give up.
She'd come in and make solid strikes, but take as much or more than she gave. Tomas blocked one attack and Julie dislocated two fingers escaping a wrist lock before he could throw her head first into a wall.
"Give up now little girl. Save yourself the pain," Tomas taunted.
Julie grabbed her damaged right hand with her left, bent the dislocated fingers back into place with a scream and briefly glowed white. She flexed the fingers of her right hand. "What pain?"
For the first time, a flash of doubt crossed Tomas' face. Julie feinted a chop and Tomas bought it. Instead of a strike, she slipped behind him and slapped on a rear naked choke. Getting carotids crushed between her bicep and radius bone, Tomas violently twisted to try relieve the pressure. Then threw himself backwards to the floor with Julie under him. That got him the tiniest bit of relief. But Julie didn't let go and even wrapped her legs around Tomas in a body lock. Then pulled for all she was worth.
Tomas faded quickly. In under 10 seconds, he was out. She quickly released the hold and staggered to her feet.
Panting, she forced out, "So I'm not... good enough... to join... your little club?.. Go to hell."
Harry caught her as she fell.
June 9, 2005 18:30 GMT
Terra, Hogwarts, Infirmary
Dear Mom & Dad,
You both know that I broke up with Tomas last month. After yesterday, I can assure you the break is permanent. As such, Will and I need to make arrangements to get home either by International floo or a flight, unless Arthur magically appears with the Rocky and can give us a lift. I don't know how or if it'll affect Will's plans to do another summer of Imperial Page duty with Ami. That trip should be on Mattie, but Tomas is her brother. I expect she'll give him the benefit of a doubt.
What happened? I broke up with Tomas two weeks before my birthday when I realized that I wasn't looking forward to spending the summer with him. I certainly couldn't stay in Gotham with him while Mrs. Wayne is in jail on the Moon! Afterwards, I heard him bragging to his friends that I had done oral sex on him. I had not, nor had he ever asked me to. Among other things we had not actually done or even discussed. I asked him at dinner in the Great Hall to repeat those statements under a Wizard's Oath. He refused. (If a wizard violates a Wizard's Oath, he loses his magic.) So I did. Please note: I still have my magic.
As part of out DADA final, the entire class had a last person standing battle royal, like the one Arthur won his third year. Until this year, physical attacks were barred, you had to use magic. This year they weren't. I don't know if it was intentional on his part or a mistake, but Professor Potter didn't stop us. Anyway, the fight got down to me and Tomas and we disarmed each other at the same time. Professor Potter offered a draw and Tomas basically dared me to take him down. I did. Rear Naked Choke.
It took a lot out of me and Professor Potter took me to the infirmary afterwards. Good thing I didn't have any exams today. Poor Will had three of them. Since I'm staying for OWLs next week (they're given at the school, not by the school), it's not a problem if Will stays the extra week too. But after I'm done, we're going to need a way home.
Help!
Love, Julie
PS. If you see Arthur before I do, thank him for the chocolate. It was delicious.
June 9, 2005: 15:42 EDT
Earth, Grandview Heights, Morton home
Dear Julia,
I must say your father and I are shocked by Tomas' actions. Yes, boys are prone to exaggerate what they do with their girlfriends, but that was unworthy of him. Good for you standing up for yourself.
As for getting home: It looks like your best option would be to use the International floo from Heathrow to JFK where your father will meet you. Your tickets will be at Will Call at Heathrow, so don't forget your passports. I'm not sure if you're four or five hours ahead of us there because of daylight savings time. I think it's five. Make sure to call first and verify your father is ready. I don't want you loitering in JFK any longer than necessary, even if you are a witch and wizard.
We haven't heard from Arthur, but Elena will be here on leave starting sometime next week and should still be here when the two of you arrive. At some point I promise to make lasagna and a dam jou cake and invite Teela, Hank and Misty over. It's been too long since I've had a majority of my children at home.
Love, Your Mother
Saturday, June 11, 2005: 12:00 (CEST)
Algeria, Tassili N-Ajjer plateau
According to the Lazarus protocols, this is where the suit was supposed to be to execute Option 1. It had been there for a week without contact. It had done what it could to preserve the body inside it. It could not be seen or heard as it was still running in maximum stealth mode. Only the wind whipped sand gave any clue to its presence.
The onboard AI, while very artificial, was not particularly intelligent. While Lex Luthor had used AI for various purposes over the years, he intentionally kept his warsuit's capacity limited. T.O. Morrow had built AIs that had turned on him at least twice. Luthor would not risk that. It had waited long enough. The exhaustive contingency plans programmed into the warsuit activated. Stealth mode off, it began searching while also allowing itself to be noticed.
It did not take long. Among the sand and rocks of the plateau, beyond a scattered stand of cypress, a figure clad in tan that matched the sandstone of the region revealed itself to the searching machine. In the distance the warsuit detected other similarly clad figures. All were armed, but none with anything even remotely capable of damaging it.
In Berber accented Arabic, the masked figure asked, "What do you seek?"
"This unit seeks R'as al Ghul."
Wednesday, June 15, 2005: 00:19 UTC
Epsilon Eridani III, Hierro Island, Tallah
After sucking out the oxygenating fluid and a comparatively minor coughing fit, Caroline Crawford looked down at her new breasts. They looked bigger from her angle, but she wanted to see a front view.
"How do you feel Miss Crawford?" Louie asked.
"Good. I feel good. Do you have a mirror?"
Louie handed over a sheet of reflective mylar stretched over a wire frame that Arthur had convinced the Tallah's LSU to produce. "Ship Owner Morton thought you might want one."
"Clever boy," Caroline said as she examined her new nose and chest. They looked exactly as she had requested but somehow not as she expected, a contradiction that bothered her. Maybe once everyone had their collars off, Arthur would allow her to revise things if it turned out she didn't like her new look.
"Anything important happen while I was under?" she asked the med-tech.
"I don't believe so. Miss Johnson finished treatment yesterday. Mss Pine is being treated now."
"Ronnie? Oh that's lovely. We've known each other for years. Went to uni together even though I'm from London and she's from Plymouth."
"I have no idea where those places are."
Caroline blinked twice. "Of course you don't. My apologies. The shower is down the hall is it not?"
"I will escort you."
"It's not that far, I'm sure I can find it."
"Orders are that you are to be escorted. Normally Flora would do this but she and Kas'dra are performing preventative maintenance and other crew are not available."
"Oh. Lead the way then." A not subtle reminder that Mr. Morton was in charge and things would be done his way, no matter what little luxuries he might provide.
Thursday, June 16, 2005: 13:15 CET
Earth, Swiss Alps
The League of Assassins had several bases in the Swiss Alps. Ra's had arranged for a meeting with the warsuit in one of them. He wasn't there in person, not being a fool. The League of Assassins lacked the ability to 'kill' a machine capable of battling Superman hand to hand. Not directly. Indirect methods were in development. But the device was 'asking' that the corpse it carried inside it be raised from the dead. The corpse of Lex Luthor.
If there was anyone R'as would prefer stay dead, Lex Luthor would be second only to the Joker. He knew what Lex Luthor was capable of and the damage Lex Luthor's technology could do to the Earth. Yes, he proposed a moratorium on fossil fuels on his first day in office as President Of The United States. That moratorium never made it through Congress let alone was implemented.
He had not moved against the newly formed Terran Empire founded by The Detective's daughter because they were actually working to improve things. Industrial power beamed from space, already an improvement, looked to be getting phased out in favor of even cleaner, more efficient methods. Non-polluting transportation was being introduced and adopted in forms from battery powered cars and trains to antigravity based air and space travel. People were emigrating from Earth to reduce its burden. Resources from space were reducing the need to rape the Earth. Space based manufacturing reduced pollution on Earth as well. His fellow 'eco-terrorist' Pamela Isley worked with the Empire on various bio-remediation projects to safely break down plastics and forever chemicals. While not as swift as some of the methods he'd tried to implement in the past, they seemed to be actually working with far less loss of life.
He did have some concerns about potential long term waste heat problems, but preliminary calculations were that they would be more than offset by reductions in greenhouse gasses.
All of which left him with a dilemma. He was not in a position where he could flatly tell the machine 'no' even though that was the only answer he had. Bane had destroyed most of his pits. The Detective's successors, primarily Batwoman, had destroyed the others under his control. That left Kobra's flawed pits and the Well of Sins. No. Luthor as Kobra's thrall should be avoided. Nor would he defile the Well of Sins with Luthor's essence. The final option was the pit controlled by his daughter Nyssa.
Well, it wasn't like he didn't need to take it from her anyway.
"Do you understand the risks of the Lazarus Pit, machine? The danger? The insanity? It can grant death as well as life."
"No. That understanding is not required of this unit. Luthor knew."
"Did he know that one does not simply dump in a corpse and they walk out restored? There is a process."
"Verifying... Yes."
R'as raised an eyebrow. While not surprised Luthor was so aware, he was surprised that the machine knew that Luthor knew.
"Does he know what that process is?"
"Verifying... Unknown. That information is not available to this unit."
"Well then machine, be aware that you will require assistance in raising your master. He's been dead for some time. The best option is to use the Lazarus Pit currently possessed by my daughter, Nyssa Raatko. As she will not voluntarily allow its use, we shall have to take it by force."
"Agreed."
Monday, June 20, 2005: 03:15 EDT
(Monday, June 20, 2005: 07:15 UTC)
Earth, Metropolis, Galaxy Communications Studio 12
While Luna was definitely growing as the capital of the Terran Empire, it was still far cheaper to create programming on Earth and beam it up. So while the show was Luna-centric, the 'morning drive' hosts were safe in their earthbound studio.
"It's amazing, Dave! Besides the eight executions for various high crimes..." 'Jimmy' began.
"Regicide is definitely not a misdemeanor..." his partner 'Dave' put in.
"… a total of eleven members of the Imperial Assembly have died under suspicious circumstances or committed suicide this year. If you want a real short life span, that's the job to take!"
"Yeah, that's pretty amazing all right, Jimmy. Almost as amazing as the fact that every last one of them was tied to disgraced and deceased former Education Minister Albus Dumbledore in some manner. It's almost as if the criminal conspiracy against the Crown led by Dumbledore was much more vast than we've been led to believe."
"Gee, Dave! If those folks had committed capital crimes against the Crown, you'd think we'd have had even more trials, followed by executions for those found guilty."
"There's been nothing like that."
"C'mon Dave! Are we not a nation of laws?" Jimmy asked rhetorically.
"I do wonder sometimes Jimmy," Dave told his co-host sarcastically. "After all, it took months for then acting Empress Connie Kozlowski..."
"Crown Consort Arthur Morton's adopted sister..." his cohost put in.
"To face charges for her video recorded magical assault of lunar schoolteacher Diana Prince. Some of the regicide trials went from arrest to execution faster than that. There's nothing in legal code that grants the ruler of the Terran Empire sovereign immunity."
"Sounds like an old problem. You figure with starships and stuff, we'd get new problems."
"It's so old there's a Latin phrase for it."
"Noblesse oblige?"
"Nope! Try again!"
"Ignorantia juris non excusat?"
"That's a little closer, but strike two."
"Quando omni flunkus moritati?"
"This is not Possum Lodge, so strike three, Jimmy. The correct answer is 'rex non potest peccare'."
"King not possess pecker?"
As a laugh track with squeaky horn sound effects played, Dave thought to himself, 'Well, I guess we get to see if we've really got a free press or not.'
Tuesday, June 21, 2005: 19:00 EDT
Earth, Grandview Heights, Morton home.
Not only was it the longest day of the year, the first day of summer, Maggie had five of her children home for the first time in far, far too long.
William and Julia had returned from Hogwarts, with Julia absolutely sure she'd passed her O levels and her DADA, Charms and Herbology OWLs and felt good about her Care of Magical Creatures OWL. She wasn't so sure about her Transfiguration and Potions OWLs and those were normally a requirement to proceed on an Auror's track in sixth year. Will said he'd passed all his academic classes and aced his potion practical. Like Julia, he'd won the 'last person standing' challenge although he'd split the victory with his girlfriend Ami. (With help from some counter-spell charms they'd prepped in advance. No rule against coming prepared for a fight.)
Hank and Misty had picked up Teela from Arthur's condo in Worthington. Henry had finished his required coursework for his master's degree in mathematics and needed only to finish his thesis. His eventual doctorate was considered inevitable. The mechanical engineering degree was proving a bit trickier. His prototype hovercycle flew, but not well. Braking was the problem. By itself it was fine, in traffic, not so much. Misty had a job waiting for her once she finished her Masters in Biochemistry. Her thesis, on improvements to protein folding models, had been accepted, but she needed one more semester of classwork in her field while adding a few undergrad level computer programming courses. While working for Teela was fun, it wasn't really her field. Teela had reluctantly dropped out from Columbus College of Art and Design, but had scraped up enough credits to get her Associate's degree. She was too busy with her company, Columbus Holo Training, to keep up with schoolwork and instead hired CCAD undergrads and others to make training videos.
But Elena was home for the first time in far too long. The downside was she'd come with extra security. A three man security team had arrived with her. They rotated in and out with other teams every eight hours. She'd done something at the arrival ceremony for the Bastion but, under orders, could not talk about it. Whatever it was, she was being closely guarded because of it.
'How bad could it be?' Maggie thought. 'If her safety was at issue, couldn't they take her to Luna, or put her on a ship going even farther out? What can three men do that light years can't?' She'd used the big pan making lasagna. There was enough for the eight of them at the table, plus Elena's and Teela's security who reluctantly declined, although they hadn't in previous heightened security situations. More leftovers for people to take home.
"Any word from the rest of the horde?" Hank asked after finishing off his second slice.
"Rebeca and Caron are fine. She's been putting in time earning social duty credits. She may be trying for Lunar citizenship, not just filling her residency requirements to have her lunar land claims vest like I did."
"I really need to get my residence time in," Hank observed. "I may not get the chance though."
"Why not?" his father asked.
Instead of answering, he turned to his wife. She didn't look happy, but she answered for him, "He can't. I'm pregnant."
The table erupted into questions: "When did this happen?" "When are you due?" "Do you want a boy or a girl?" "Have you told your parents yet?" And statements: "Way to go bro!" from Will and a quietly muttered "Better thee than me" from Elena.
Discussing the answers (We're not sure, January or February, Boy and Yes) took time but to a few people, Misty didn't seem particularly thrilled to be pregnant.
"The plan was to wait until I had my Masters and was working full time," she explained. "Stud muffin here has some feelers for jobs out and is getting some nibbles. His improvements to the Olentangy's gravity drive got attention, but we know that the Empire, Greywolf. LexCorp and WayneTech are doing work on galtech level gravity control. They may license out stuff, but they've got the theory and the rest of the world doesn't. If they release what they have, it'll make anything Hank comes up with pointless."
"I've got my own theory, but the power requirements are ludicrous. It'd be easier to light the entire eastern seaboard than power an inertia shedding field strong enough to safely move the Olentangy at 100 gravities. What pisses me off is Arthur knows the answer, but he won't tell me."
"'One rule for me, another for thee' is an unfortunate part of Mattie and the Empire's playbook," Bill Morton said loud enough that the security people in the living room could hear him.
After dessert, the men went downstairs to watch Game 6 of the NBA finals and the women stayed upstairs, with Teela and Julie doing dishes while Maggie spoke to Misty about pregnancy with Elena an interested bystander. She'd been careful, but contraception wasn't perfect yet.
At halftime, with the Pistons up by one over the Spurs, the head of Elena's security team received a phone call. "Verification code: Baldur, Horatio, Upshaw, Stockton. Countersign... Ok, you're you. Go ahead... They got him?.. Sonofabitch. Alive?... What do you mean 'yes and no'? You're either one or the other... Really? Fine, I can find out later... Got it. Out."
He quickly went to the kitchen table where Elena, her mother and her sister-in-law were sitting. "Sergeant Morton, Lex Luthor has been captured by the Justice League. The extra security detail is being lifted and will be out of your hair soon."
"I recognized the suit, that's why I shot."
"That's who you shot."
"I shot a red headed woman. She didn't look old enough to even be in the Army."
"She was Lex Luthor transformed by nanotechnology."
"Seriously?" asked Misty and Elena.
Maggie had watched video of the Bastion's arrival. That her daughter could have been one of those killed, but instead had apparently driven off the attack single handedly filled her with conflicting emotions. She'd killed once by accident and it had devastated her. She'd now deliberately tried to end the life of another and seemed unaffected. Becoming a soldier had changed her. The question being if it was for the better.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005: 03:34 UTC
Luna, JLA Watchtower
Mattie had drawn power from her ring to be awake and alert for the meeting, something she usually avoided. Real sleep was best for mental tiredness, which being HIM created by the barrel.
League membership had gone some generational changes since Mattie had started Hogwarts. Wally was still the Flash, although Bart Allen as Impulse had filled in for him on occasion. Kyle Rayner and John Stewart traded places as the team's Green Lantern on a regular basis. Cassie Sandsmark was now Wonder Woman. Kon El had matured enough in outlook and powers to take the place and name of Superman, with Kal's blessing, although Kal still insisted on being 'on call'. Connor Hawke had replaced the retired Oliver Queen. J'onn J'onzz served as team's leader, although he'd nominated Miss Martian as a possible replacement for him. Other heroes served on an ad hoc basis, although Zatanna always showed up when dealing with mystical or magical threats. Lastly...
"Thank you for joining us, Your Majesty," Koriand'r, better known as Starfire, said.
"Thank all of you for capturing Lex," Mattie replied.
"You can see him if you've got a strong stomach. He's in bad shape," Kyle informed her.
"I'm sure I can scrounge up a med tank for him somewhere." Mattie admitted that while Lex was a pain, a very great pain, he was potentially too valuable to kill. Not that Her Majesty would hesitate to sign his death sentence if a fair opportunity came up.
"We have one. He's in it, drugged to the gills. Luthor's a 3. He doesn't regenerate," Wally told her.
"So what happened?"
Connor told the tale. "R'as al Ghul contacted us and gave us a time and location where Lex would be. He claimed that Lex was deceased, but that his warsuit had contacted him and demanded that he use a Lazarus Pit to raise him from the dead. R'as agreed, but double crossed the suit by contacting us. The warsuit double crossed him by contacting Nyssa Raatko, R'as' older daughter, who controlled the pool, and making a new deal. R'as informed us of this. He said as soon as he figured it out, but I doubt that. By the time we got past the assassins, a teenaged girl's body, which we later found out was actually Lex, was being lowered into the pit. The warsuit took up the battle from there and during the fight, J'onn damaged it and it fell into the pit. There was a big green flash and then an explosion.
Kyle took over. "I shielded everyone and when things died down, the pit was empty except for... Lex. He looked normal from the neck up. Below that... Swamp Thing looks more human. A mix of his body, her body, all laced with green and purple metal. Horror doesn't begin to describe it. Then he opened his eyes and screamed."
"I'll admit it, I lost my lunch," Connor interrupted. "I've seen people die horribly more times than I care to remember. But I've seen anyone live like that. Cassie used her lasso to restrain him."
Cassie added, "From records your dad left, we know that a Lazarus Pit makes you insane for about 10 days. Me? I don't think he's coming back from this. Ever."
J'onn spoke for the first time. "I attempted to touch his mind. I could not bear the contact. Had I continued the effort, I would have gone insane."
"So what are we going to do with him?" Mattie asked. "Kon, I think you, of anyone, has the right to make that decision."
Kon wouldn't meet her eyes. He sighed deeply as if to put off the inevitable. "Half my genetics are his genetics. There was a time I considered him my father. He's even tried to play that part in my life a few times. He'd always go back to being a selfish bastard. I eventually learned that being a genetic source wasn't the same as being a father. Caring... that's much more important.
"What to do with him? If he doesn't snap out of it, killing him would be a mercy. And I can't believe I just said that. Kal taught me 'where there's life there's hope' and I've lived enough and seen enough to agree. I know that in this world... universe... there's some science, some magic, some thing that could restore him. But is it worth the cost to the rest of the world if we do? If it's my decision to make... Forcing him to suffer is cruel. Restoring him endangers everyone else."
"That is not a certainty," J'onn commented sagely.
"No, it isn't. I'll admit it. What are the odds it doesn't? One in a hundred? A thousand? A billion? We know what he is. You know what he is, J'onn."
"No man is irredeemable. I have seen that even in the mind of the Joker."
"If it's my decision, I'm not taking the chance. Give him twenty days. That's twice the normal time. If he snaps out of it, we can ask for his input. If he doesn't, at least I have time to think about it. Either way, I don't want him in a position where he can ever hurt anyone ever again."
Thursday, June 23, 2005:
Epsilon Eridani III, 'Hierro Island', Arthur's compound.
"Arthur, you busy?" Mike Bulstrode asked.
"Not at the moment. It's been a rough couple of weeks, but I'm caught up for now. "What's up?"
"Back when I was Millicent, I wasn't a pretty girl. Vincent Crabbe asked me out once, but only because I was a girl Slytherin and thus 'acceptable'. Although to whom, I was never sure. I thought Goyle was much better looking, but.. never mind. As Mike, I'm much better looking."
Arthur hoped he hadn't created a problem by letting Caroline Crawford get cosmetic work done while she was getting her collar off. "And?"
"And I think Miss Ciametto is hitting on me."
Isabel Ciametto was an American woman of Italian descent from Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn
in her thirties. She was a good cook, using spices and increasing skill to take replicated food and make it somewhat enjoyable. "Are you not sure, or is it a problem?"
"Both maybe?" he said hesitantly.
"Mike, I've never asked you why you transitioned or anything about your sexual orientation. It's none of my business. But if you think I need to know in order to help here... Do what you gotta do."
Mike didn't hesitate. "I transitioned because my body never felt right when I was growing up. Like it didn't fit because it belonged to someone else. It got worse after puberty. My hair got darker and my body... I didn't like me very much. I knew that a Chrysalis Potion could permanently change my sex and I received an inheritance from my grandparent's estate. So I spent the whole thing down at Blaise's Apothecary to have it brewed. My parents disowned me afterwards, but I felt so much better that I didn't care.
"As for orientation... I know you're strictly heterosexual. Me? I don't know that I have one. Noelani is a beautiful woman and Erma is cute in her own way. Doesn't mean I want to have sex with them. I know a handsome man from a skinny geek like you. Didn't mean I wanted to have sex with either kind when I was a girl."
"So... asexual," Arthur observed.
"I guess. Maybe I just haven't found the right person yet."
"Just tell the truth. You're not looking for a relationship right now."
"That only works if she's actually looking for a relationship. If she isn't, all it does is make me look stupid."
"There is that."
"But why would she be looking for a relationship with me? Sure, you're too young and you're engaged to the Queen of Space. But I'd be short term at best. A month from now, they'll be back on Earth and who knows where I'll be? Not there."
"Unless you wanted to be. While I like the job you've done as my Owner's Rep, if you want to leave, I'm not stopping you."
"Pass. I like this job. Eventually, I wouldn't mind picking up my own ship and that's more likely to happen with you than Greywolf or the Empire."
"I hate to think she's that shallow, but you are the only unattached human male here. I think Captain M'taab is a little out there for most human females and he's the only other male on board.
"He's no Vogon, but point taken. I guess my best bet is to play dumb unless she makes herself clear."
.oOo.
Isabel Ciametto sat in her room with her uncollared fellow agent Nasreen Abu Khadra and discussed their situation.
"Under the rubric of half your age plus seven years, only Noelani is young enough to engage in a relationship with Arthur Morton and she's not one of us," Nasreen said.
"If he were tempted by women other than Her Majesty, you mean," Isabel replied. "While he may look, S'ana tells me he and Bulstrode have never touched any of the women they've rescued or hired, even when those women have made it clear that they're willing. He may have stolen us, but he's depressingly faithful."
"Which is why I've had you concentrate your efforts on Bulstrode."
"Should I even bother? Seven of us have collars off, three are in treatment and of the three left, I'm due in last. Even if I get his attention, I'll be out of circulation for a week or two and then we should be going home once I'm done and that will take a day at the most. It's not enough time. Your collar is already off. You've got the better opportunity."
"I can't cook. You can. Morton and Bulstrode both appreciate your skill. Even without a relationship, you could be hired by Morton for those skills. My few shipboard skills can be too easily purchased at the guild hall. I am certain our bosses and her Majesty would appreciate having an agent on board this ship."
"We maintain an official presence on all Greywolf ships, so yes, I can see the benefits to getting this ship under observation."
"We can't have them getting into more trouble than they already have."
Isabel did not tell her superior that rescuing slaves should not be considered 'trouble'.
Monday, June 27, 2005: 11:20
Luna, Port Oldridge, Imperial Assembly.
The Imperial Assembly did not have, yet, a Speaker. Nor would it if Mattie had her way. A Speaker had too much control on which bills made it to the floor. Instead, the Assembly had a Legislative Manager, hired by the Crown, but fireable by the Assembly, whose job it was to keep the Assembly running.
"Members, please lock in your votes on the removal of Selina Wayne from the position of Imperial Regent," the elderly bureaucrat from Mumbai requested. 'At least Koslowski resigned her position without a fight,' he thought.
Less than a minute later, he announced, "The motion passes 247 to 195 with 32 abstentions."
Selina insisted, as was her right, for a roll call verification of her loss. It took time, but was confirmed. Mattie's 15% vote in the Assembly could have thrown it the other way, but her daughter had chosen not to participate and thus her tine as Regent was done.
As she was escorted back to prison on Farside, Selina thought about her next move. She'd already came up with three possible methods to escape custody. The problem was getting off Luna. Teleporting down from the Watchtower would give her some options, if she could do so without being caught at it. Stealing a ship was iffy. Piracy, if caught and convicted, was a death sentence. Stowing away could be worse. Her best bet was to have someone take her where she wanted to go.
Who could she trust with that task? Eddie had gone straight, more power to him. Harvey would toss his coin and she couldn't risk that. Did Ozzy have the right contacts to pull it off? He was too old to operate in the field anymore. Harley, or whatever she called herself these days... She might be able to talk her into it. Roxy Rocket? She'd be up for the adventure certainly. But the last time they'd clashed... That didn't matter. Roxy didn't know she'd been Batwoman at the time. And there was still Diana to deal with. Maybe use the bitch as a test for Roxy?
If she did escape, the real trick would be taking the Wayne fortune with her. Or would having too many assets in whatever identity she assumed lead any investigators straight to her? Was it even worth escaping if she had to leave her life behind? There was so much to think about.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005: 18:20
Luna, Port Oldridge, HIM quarters
Arthur had continued to send songs every so often. The last was 'Stir it up' by Patti LaBelle. There was another attached to an actual e-mail he'd sent. That he could arrange for that, but not show up in person was annoying. But knowing how much he hated writing letters in the first place, Mattie was still glad to get it.
Dearest Mattie,
I miss you. The last two weeks have been busy, but barring unforeseen circumstances, I'll be back sometime next month. There have been a few of those already and I won't be surprised if there are more. I visited Prince K'ta (I get to call him Prince K'ta now) on Bismet and formally declined the land and holdings the Co'aal offered me, saying that I was grateful for the honor, but it would be improper for a Green Lantern to accept such a thing. It took a while, but I eventually brought him around. Please let Madame Tsien know that's taken care of.
This was news to Mattie. They didn't have a sisal unit on Bismet for security reasons. While the Co'aal had been excellent partners in running the planet to date, trusting them with a key piece of Terran technology wasn't going to happen anytime soon, if ever. So messages to and from there took longer. The Prince's hand calligraphed wedding invitation was already on a ship to Bismet, just as C'ari and Clarissa's invitations were on their way to Windfall. Since C'ari's last known location was on the IMV Ngthsestr running magic positive series seventy girls from Beta Orionis to Earth Mattie hoped she could be tracked down. As Arthur had invited very few non-relatives to his wedding, Mattie felt it important to get as many of them as possible.
I also swung by Windfall. There are problems there. I learned that Eleanor Branstone was enlisted into the Imperial Army somehow, despite being enhanced and she's no longer on planet. From what little I learned, I'm not sure her enlistment was kosher. See if you can find out what happened to her. Marie Laval was apparently taken off planet a few months back along with her and Eleanor's alleged guardians George Brennan and Tom Rowle plus Petunia Evans. Also heard that Sir Walter Cuthbert was arrested on various slavery related charges. Likewise, that he might be the person we knew as 'Owner'. If so, don't just put his head on a pike, skewer him right up the ass. (Why yes, I am very much pissed.) Then have somebody go through the wizards we've put out there and find out if he's the only bad apple. I never thought that we'd be dealing with magic being used against us by 'our side'.
This, Mattie had heard about. Petunia Evans had avoided serious charges on a technicality. All that could be done was fire her and send her back to Earth. As emigration was considered a privilege and not a right, that could be done. George Brennan had also been summarily dismissed for failing to live up to the guardianship of Eleanor that he'd accepted. Former Canadian Mountie Thomas Rowle had been cleared of similar charges in regards to Marie Laval. Marie had been formally manumitted and had her enhancement chip reprogrammed like the billions of girls in the former Solodokve Republic and was under psychiatric care while she adjusted to controlling her own life again. What happened next with both of them was up to them, even if Mattie felt some vague misgivings about it. Sir Walter Cuthbert was awaiting trial on malfeasance in office charges among others. She felt that eventually she'd sign his death warrant. She wasn't happy about that, but by the laws the Terran Empire operated under, he'd earned one.
On a happier note: The song I sent you is 'The Book of Love'. Not the oldies version by The Monotones, but a different song that was sung by Peter Gabriel in the movie "Shall We Dance?" last year. I like it a lot and think it would be a good choice to play at our wedding. I'd even be willing to sing it myself, although I think we could make it a proper duet pretty easily. I've never heard you sing anything but 'Happy Birthday' so I don't know if you'd be up for it, but I am asking you to at least think about it.
Love, Arthur
Mattie listened to the song. Then she listened to it again. Then she got it. For an 18 year old groom and a 17 year old bride who, between being wizard and witch and galtech medicine, could be married for a couple of centuries easy, it fit. They were young. Perhaps too young in many eyes. But they knew their own minds and their own hearts. Anyone who didn't like it could lump it.
Author's note: 'The Book of Love' was written by Stephin Merritt and first appeared on the album 69 Love Songs by The Magnetic Fields in 1999. Peter Gabriel recorded a version for the 2004 film Shall we Dance? while a near identical version appeared on his 2010 album Scratch My Back. So... not an anachronism for a story set in 2005. It's also a very good song where I like the cover much better than the stripped down original.