15

Seras pressed her back against the plastic seat of the train. They had finally lost the soldiers a few minutes before. Now all four of them were sitting and panting in the back of an Underground train car. Sir Integra was the first to open her mouth, of course.

"Now, could someone please tell me what is going on here?"

Seras took a deep breath and began with trepidation.

"After I left you last night, Walter told me that you were still in danger and that I should find a way to get you out of prison. I knew I would need help and I thought that outsiders would be better because it would throw off anybody chasing us. I happened to meet Robin and Amon on my way home and they agreed to help me. They went to the Tower earlier today for the tour to get the layout. And we infiltrated when it got dark enough."

There was a pause during which Sir Integra glanced around at everybody.

"That was very well thought out, Victoria," she said finally.

Seras sighed, as much from fatigue as from relief.

"But that does not excuse you from taking Walter's orders over mine."

Seras froze for a second and looked up at her employer's serious face.

"I'm sorry, Sir," she said, resigning herself.

"Don't apologize," Sir Integra returned, closing her eyes in thought. "Just don't do it again."

Seras couldn't hide her surprise. Not even a slap on the wrist? How could Sir Integra let her off so lightly? Unless she had realized that Walter was right. The trial was a lost cause. She was saving her pride by scolding a little.

"Yes, Sir," Seras said.

16

Amon studied Integra carefully for a moment. He knew she wasn't really angry about Seras disobeying her orders. He knew the feeling. In fact, he had felt that way the very night he and Robin had met. Having his hide saved by a craft-user wasn't his idea of a proud moment. He had needed to salvage the situation somehow. Sometimes he wondered if Robin ever thought about that. She obviously wasn't thinking about it now.

"May I ask where we're going?" Robin asked.

"Home," Integra answered simply.

"That's not a good idea," Amon said bluntly. "That's the first place they'll look for us."

"I'm aware of that," Integra said, glaring. "But I have something there that I must pick up before I move on."

"What could be that important?" he asked.

"That's no business of yours," Integra growled.

Amon let the subject drop but he had to admit he was curious. He would wait and find out.

Story notes:

Underground - The official name of the London subway system.