Shadows of Man

by Maddog3060

A tale of an alternate timeline, where a Peripherybased Republic has stopped the Blakest Jihad. But not all of the Blakests have been killed... FINISHED! Additional Extra uploaded! WARNING: Bad Language and bloody violence.

32. Chapter 32

The rest of the night passed quickly and, to the relief of all in the city, uneventfully, save with the loud lightshow of the USS Silver Pagoda and another assault transport landing just outside the city's northern gates, burning the ground of an empty holding paddock for the local livestock.

The Vanquishers had moved quickly, carrying their dead and the dead of the destroyed transport to the new one so that they could be preserved on board the Rodger Young, while simultaneously grabbing the extra power and life support replenishment units that Vickers had requested. Thanks to them, the Vanquishers could stay operational for hours more.

Fat lot of good it does when you're tired as Hell, van Horn grumped mentally as he stood guard outside the Laughing Daukner. Well, Earl, if you can't hack it, then why're you here? He challenged himself. Then he shook his head a bit as the first rays of dawn started to illuminate the small courtyard that Reyka's tavern faced. C'mon, man, stay with it. Don't let it get to you. 'Sides, not like you didn't have hard times before you got back in the gorilla suit. He smirked as he used the MI Troopers' term for their battle armor.

Someone poked his head out of a door from the building across the courtyard, staring most obviously at the strange creature that van Horn was to the Tanzanos. The human turned his head slowly to face the lupar male, though his helmet kept the native from seeing his face.

That might be a good thing, van Horn mused, as the native looked him up and down. My face must e terrible to look at by now, with the strain of the night, a lack of sleep, and me probably needing a shave.

Then, finally, the lupar walked out, and van Horn could get a good look at him. He was fairly typical of his species, though he was obviously a bit younger than a full adult. Right at that age where you think you know everything, van Horn thought with a smile. The native in question took a few steps into the middle of the courtyard, walking slowly towards van Horn and the Laughing Daukner. When he reached the halfway point, he stopped and looked over the armored human once again.

"Can I help you?" Van Horn asked quietly of the native, who jumped back a bit, as he was startled. Though he looked like he wanted the run, the local managed to move forward a bit again before speaking. "Uhm.. Yes, I suppose," he said quietly, almost fearfully. "Might I ask, what are you?"

Van Horn chuckled, the sound carrying beyond his helmet via the external speaker. The noise, though not exactly like that of a lupar, still was close enough that it puzzled the native. "Did I say something funny?"

"No, you didn't," van Horn replied friendly. "It just seems a bit funny from my perspective. In any case, I'm a soldier here to fight the invaders, so you have nothing to fear from me."

The native blinked in surprise. "Then, why are you here? The invaders are in the Citadel in the middle of the city."

"They were," van Horn replied, emphasizing the second word. "We have them taken care of. Tanzano is now free. The only reason I'm here is because Mrs. Reyka has been nice enough to give some friends of ours a place to stay for the night."

The paragraph seemed to freeze the lupar in place, as he processed the information. Then another pair of heads popped from the same building entrance the youth had walked from, and they stared carefully at the tableau.

"You cannot mean that you defeated the invaders so handily?" The youth standing before van Horn asked quietly. "Not even our army would face them."

"Do I look like I'm anything like your army?" Van Horn asked quietly. When the youth shook his head, van Horn nodded his. "That's right. You can be assured that the invaders are gone. Now, might I ask what business you have here?" He shifted his shotgun a bit, mainly to keep his arms from cramping, but also to remind the native that his purpose there wasn't to idly chat.

The youth noticed the move keenly, though he managed to avoid cringing. "We- I mean I was wondering just what made some of our elders go through the building last night telling us not to go into the courtyard…"

Van Horn chuckled lightly, surprising the lupar. "Well, first off son, I can see your compatriots behind you," he paused to nod towards the door where the other two young lupar were looking out. They disappeared when it became clear whom van Horn was referring to, but the youth in front of him managed to catch a glimpse as he turned around.

Van Horn then went on. "Second off, you are told not to do something, and then you do it anyway?" He shook his head as the lupar turned back to him. "You son, are either very brave, or very stupid."

The lupar's ears went back in embarrassment, though his eyes showed some anger at being insulted. Good, van Horn thought. Means he ain't a spineless fool. "However, given that you're alive and not trying to deliberately taunt me, I'd have to say you're a hair on the side of bravery." He said aloud in an amused tone.

The lupar blushed. "Thank you, I suppose…" He said quietly.

"You're welcome. Now," van Horn nodded his head towards the building. "Why don't you run along with your day, son. I'm sure that we both have better things to do than to stand around chatting all day."

"Yes," the lupar replied with a nod. "Yes, of course." He backed away for a few steps, and then turned and walked quickly and nervously for the building he had came from. Then with another look behind him at van Horn, he disappeared inside the building.

Van Horn sighed quietly within his helmet. Gonna be a long day, I think.

---

The sounds of a day beginning permeated the air around the building, and thence into the rooms in the back. An especially sharp noise started Alexis awake, finishing the waking process that her mind had already begun.

She lifted her head from where it had lain on the cooling vest that she had worn last night and had used as a makeshift pillow. The strange environment made her pause for a moment, until she could remember the events that brought her to the spot where she now lay.

Alexis then looked down to her waist, where she felt a pressure, and saw Mikula's arm reaching across her form. She smiled at that, and at the warm feeling of his sleeping form spooned up behind her. With deft and soft movements, Alexis slipped out from underneath Mikula's arm and she stood off of the bed they had fallen asleep on.

The room, she knew, had been – and still was, in fact – the bedroom of Mrs. Reyka's two sons, who were still gone from the city. Reyka had been adamant on Alexis being able to use the room, since Mikula and Senmar had already paid for it, and so Alexis had retired to it sometime after Tanaka had left for the relocated Silver Pagoda. She had lain on the bed in her clothes for only an instant before falling asleep.

I must have been really tired if Mikula's arrival didn't wake me, Alexis thought as she looked over the room. Mikula lay on the bed – fully clothed as well – that Alexis had just stood up from. He was still asleep and with a faint smile on his muzzle that made Alexis grin even wider.

The room held another occupant, as well, as Senmar lay on another bed that was across from the bed that Mikula and Alexis had slept on. Like his brother, Senmar was still asleep from the night's exertions, though he was lying on his belly.

Alexis yawned as her body continued the task of waking up. She then began to walk towards the door out of the room, carefully watching the floor so as to not trip on any object that lay hidden in the murky gloom that the light coming from the tiny window to the outside couldn't dispel. She reached the door quickly, only briefly running her fingers through her hair to make sure that it wouldn't look too terribly bad, and then she pushed the door open quietly, slipping outside the room and into the narrow hallway on the second floor of the Laughing Daukner.

Alexis paused as her eyes adjusted to the light coming from a lamp at the stairwell that lay at the end of the hall. Noises from there indicated that someone was already at work in the rooms below, and Alexis puzzled over it. Who could already be at work after last night? I only woke up because I'm a light sleeper, anyway, and I didn't do much running around. Her curiosity perked, she walked down the hallway that also connected to the other family rooms and a small ladder that let people down into the storeroom if the main stairs weren't usable.

Alexis reached the stairs and she quickly descended them. In the main tavern room, she saw some people awake already, and yet more in the process of waking up. She then heard noises coming from the kitchen entrance to her right and she turned to the kitchen in time to see Reyka working on mixing something in a large bowl. Various ingredients and used utensils spread along the table in the center of the room and along the counters built into the walls, indicating that the middle-aged lupar had been quite busy.

Although deeply surprised, Alexis held her tongue until Reyka put down the bowl and the spoon she had been using. Then she coughed lightly, causing Reyka to start a bit, and the lupar turned around fairly quickly.

Reyka blinked a bit, seemingly at a loss for words, but then she smiled. "Alexis, you startled me there."

Alexis smiled a bit. "I am sorry about that. But I must say that you surprised me as well, being up earlier than me despite having done so much during the night. I hope you are feeling well?" The latter she asked with concern in her voice.

Reyka shook her head a bit. "I managed a nap, so don't be worrying about me." She said, still smiling. "And I'll take another one after breakfast, to be sure. But for now, there's work to be done if everyone is going to be fed."

"'Everyone?'" Alexis asked, confused. "Oh, you mean all of the rescued people that are, I presume, still in your tavern?"

Reyka nodded as she turned around to continue her work. "Of course. My family and I have always prided ourselves on treating those we host with the best of care. Besides," her voice took a downturn in its tone. "Those people have had it rough. I want to help them start to get over it."

Alexis nodded, which Reyka caught easily as she bustled about. "Do you want some help, then?" The gatón asked, and she blushed a bit. "I used to help make the meals for my village's shaman, so I know a few things."

Reyka smiled politely at her. "Dear child, you're a guest too. I wouldn't think of asking for your help."

Alexis grinned as she replied. "Ah, but you're not asking, I'm offering."

Reyka blinked at that and stood for a moment. Then she chuckled. "Smart lass, aren't you?" She asked rhetorically as she shook her head. "Well, if you put it that way, I'll be glad to have some help."

---

The morning evolved onward, and though the night before had been so totally unique and earth shaking, the natives of Tanzano nevertheless struggled mightily to carry on with their lives. Unfortunately, this also meant taking care of the victims of the Blakest attack, and so many had to start the day in mourning for departed loved ones.

At least, this is what Lieutenant-Commander Jorge Hernandez reasoned as he saw groups of natives leaving the city by the eastern gate, carrying bundles that couldn't be mistaken as anything but bodies. Hernandez stood in the command center of his ship, the Silver Pagoda, and it afforded him a wide view of the area. Thus, he had an unfortunately clear view of the locals as they marched their dead off to their graveyard.

He sighed, dismayed at the scene and what it represented. Bastards. The word that rolled in his head pertained not to the locals that he was observing, but rather the people who had visited the destruction upon the city.

It was a destruction that had become apparent with the dawn, and Hernandez couldn't help but look over from time to time to get a view of parts of the city that lay to his right. In some places, smoke still drifted up from the smoldering remains of buildings, and the blasted ruin of the natives' fortress was a clear example of the kind of devastation that could be seen.

And see he did, as fighters from the Republic fleet made Tanzano the focus of a second set of barrier combat air patrols. The pilots, usually a bantering sort, held their tongues quiet and civil, as they had the best seat to watch the city, and the pictures from their sensor suites could be accessed by anyone in the Republic battlenet.

Steps coming up from the Bridge's access ladder brought the young commander's head around in time to see Captain Tanaka ascending to his level. "Major, I hope you had a good rest," he said, adhering to naval tradition as he spoke.

Tanaka gave him a queer look. "What's up with this, Jorge? I thought we were friends?"

Hernandez stood for a moment, puzzled, and then he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Cassandra. I'm just… Not in the best frame of mind right now," he said, turning to look at the groups that still walked out from the city.

Tanaka walked alongside the ship's commander, and she nodded sagely. "I see."

"I'm not sure you have," Hernandez remarked. Even as Tanaka gave him a sour look, he looked down at the terminal he stood at and quickly pressed a few controls on it. "This is a picture taken of the city about twenty minutes ago," he said and stood back so that Tanaka could get a good look at it.

She stared at it for a full minute before shaking her head. "Damn… I knew it was gonna be bad, but I still can't believe it."

"You'd better believe it, Cassy," Hernandez remarked. "Those Wobbie assholes just shelled randomly, as far as Intel can see." He frowned and looked out over the area beyond his ship again. "If Cap'n Ladavic hadn't been on the ball, half the city would be flattened, and the other half would've burned by now."

Tanaka sighed sadly. "Mother fuckers," she muttered, and then looked at Hernandez. "I hope we got 'em?"

"Oh yeah," Hernandez replied, managing a small ghost of a smile. He then stepped back to the console and brought up another picture, this one of a small ridge viewed from orbit. The image was rendered in black and white to emphasize contrasts, and several red circles had been drawn over four clusters of what appeared to be protrusions that sprang up from the ground. "This is an image taken by the satellites that we've had in orbit since the Glacier Bay and the Twilight Tornado got here weeks ago. Apparently, no one noticed the unusual nature of those lumps 'til after the attack." He sighed and shook his head a bit. "Someone's head is gonna roll for that."

Tanaka nodded. "I hope so. But why are you showin' me this?"

"Just givin' you a perspective of 'before,'" he replied. Then he punched another few buttons, and another picture came up. "This is 'after.'"

Tanaka gasped. "Holy Hell!" She exclaimed, as the new image showed the same ridge, though at a different angle. However, now it had six large craters, and large hunks of rock lay strewn about. The same red circles where there, but now they circled nothing but burnt, blasted terrain.

"Yeah, Ladavic smashed 'em up good," Hernandez said with a nod. "This was taken by aerofighter over flights. The flyboys confirmed that there's nothing left of the gun crews that were there to fill a thimble."

Tanaka whistled. "Damn good work," she said quietly. "Still, it shouldn't have been necessary."

"You're preachin' to the choir, Cassy," Hernandez replied. Then he cleared the screen. "Well, now that you're a bit up to speed, mind if I ask ya what you're doin' up on my bridge?"

Tanaka shrugged. "Wanted to see what was goin' on. 'Specially since I can't find Stein or Myers, and Carmike's out like a light." She then took a look around the bridge. "In fact, where's the second guy you navy pukes insist on havin' up here?"

Hernandez managed a smirk. "Well, first off, Myers and Stein are off on a patrol about twenty-five clicks north. Carmike was standing watch with the Vanquishers 'til the other two got a few hours of sleep. So he's gonna be out of it for a bit, as are half the MI troopers."

Tanaka grunted. "SOP, keepin' everyone from getting' too tired," she said blandly. "I take it that's from the Major?"

Hernandez smirked. "Yeah. He's runnin' overtime at the firebase, ridin' the Seabees to finish the airfield early and tryin' to get them to send some of them out here for when you ground pounders got a spot to set up in."

"Good. Any possibility, then, of them getting' a prime mover out here to drag my 'mech's metal ass here to the Pagoda?"

Hernandez shook his head. "'Fraid not. They need the Cheops out there for now, and all we got is some shuttles that can land maybe a couple of their fancy-ass jeeps."

Tanaka tilted her head to the side, and she looked over to the north gate of the city, which was only a few hundred meters away. "Hmmm…" She hummed as if in thought.

"What's goin' through that purdy little head of yours, Cassy?" Hernandez asked with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"Huh?" Tanaka half-started and she gave a sly grin at the other in the Bridge. "I was just thinkin' that maybe a couple of jeeps an' some help from the Seabees might be enough." She glanced out towards a forest that was a bit distant in the east. "Mebbie use some 'o them trees, too."

"Oh?" Hernandez replied, intrigued. "What in the worlds for?"

"Ever see one of them shows where they recreate how the Great Pyramids of Egypt were built?" Tanaka asked, and she smiled when Hernandez blinked a couple of times as he got the idea. "I see," he said, smiling back at her. "'When in Rome,' eh?"

Tanaka shrugged. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," she said. Then she paused for a moment, and then chuckled. "Listen to us, recitin' phrases like they were a dime a dozen."

"You mean, just like that one?" Hernandez replied and then chuckled as well. "I see your point, but you gotta remember, English is made up of crap like that."

"Yeah, you got a point," Tanaka replied, turning serious again. "Speaking of things in the city, anythin' from our friends at the bar?"

Hernandez raised an eyebrow. "Just now you ask 'bout them?" Tanaka blushed a bit. "Well, I'm tired. But at least I remembered when we started talkin' 'bout language," she said in her defense. "So, anythin' new?"

Hernandez shrugged. "Nothin' from the city. Vickers just finished a couple hours of sleep, so he's takin' in some rested scout troopers to relieve the guys guarding the place, maybe even think 'bout bringin' them in here."

"I might wanna go with them, then," Tanaka said almost absentmindedly. "Might as well see how my brute's taken the hit in good light, as well as some other things."

---

Alexis felt contented for the moment, as she helped Mrs. Reyka and her daughters to carry food and drink out to the rescued hostages in the main tavern room. Reyka was especially grateful, as Alexis translated for the gatón in the group far more effectively than the few who knew Lupari in their number could do. Soon, most were fed, and more than a few lupar started talking about when they might go home.

The Gatón, however, simply stayed quiet and talked amongst themselves about little things. They didn't have anywhere specific to go, and they thought that with the strange attack that the offer they had received would be rescinded.

Alexis, of course, engaged them in conversation, telling them that the offer still stood, and that she knew their new friends to be honest. Still, it makes me wonder what's going to happen now, Alexis mused as she walked back out from the kitchen and stood next to the stairs in the back corner of the main room. Earl mentioned something about staying. I hope that nothing's wrong.

Then a knock came on the main door, and Alexis began to walk for it, recognizing the pattern of the knock as something from human culture. 'Shave and a haircut,' Dan called it when he taught it to me. The natives in the room, unsure of the pattern themselves, tensed up a bit, though the casual way Alexis and Reyka's daughters still moved kept them from becoming too worried.

Then Alexis was at the door, and she pulled it open after unbarring it. On the other side, she saw van Horn and Lieutenant Vickers standing there, in their armor but with their helmets off. Also standing in front of them was Tanaka, who was dressed in a non-combat duty uniform. She smiled a bit when she saw who had answered the door. "Alexis, glad to see you're up."

Alexis returned the smile. "As I am glad to see all of you. However," her smile went away, "I am a bit worried about this appearance. Is something the matter?"

Tanaka shook her head, and Vickers spoke up next. "No, nothing's wrong Alexis. Just that things're gonna change a bit." Then he gestured with his suit's heavy weapons arm at the building. "For one thing, you can tell the lupar in there that they're free to go, as the city is as safe as it can be."

Alexis smiled broadly. "That's wonderful news! But, what about the gatón?" She asked the second part with a note of worry that took the smile from her face.

"They're gonna be escorted by me an' some troopers to the Silver Pagoda, where they'll wait for the next transport to come along and relocate them to Shulana." Vickers then nodded his head towards Alexis. "Also, you an' Mikula an' Senmar can come along back if'n ya want."

Alexis felt good that the people inside would soon be back to a reasonably normal life soon, though Vickers' last comment gave her pause. "Well, Lieutenant, I can't answer for Mikula or Senmar, but I will go wherever you all think I'd best serve," she said slowly but clearly. "I volunteered for this mission, and I don't plan to run just because it's gotten tough."

The three humans smiled at that, and Vickers nodded. "Good. In which case, Alexis, please go and tell everyone what's goin' to happen."

"I'll do that," Alexis replied, and she saluted, prompting replies from the three standing in front of her. "If there's nothing else, I'll get on that then."

"Actually, there is," Tanaka spoke up again as she held up an object that was wrapped in rice paper. "I'd like to come in and thank Mrs. Reyka on behalf of the Republic."

Alexis nodded with a smile. "Certainly."

"Good," Vickers said with a nod. "You two take care of things while we wait out here."

"Yes sir," Alexis replied with a nod of her own, and she stood aside to let Tanaka in even as Vickers and van Horn began to don their helmets.

Turning around, Alexis found the entire room again staring at her and Captain Tanaka as they walked towards the bar where Mrs. Reyka and her two daughters now stood, the human bending over again to fit into the room.

Reyka smiled politely as the two reached the bar. "Well, I see your friend liked my place well enough to come back," she said with a tone of mirth in her voice.

Alexis smiled and nodded. "Indeed. I believe I've already introduced Captain Tanaka?" She asked as the human got to the bar and kneeled down so that she could look Reyka in the eyes.

Reyka nodded. "Oh yes. I'd not have forgotten anyone so… Unique in such a short amount of time."

Alexis nodded, and she translated these words for Tanaka. The latter responded in English, and Alexis turned back to Reyka. "She thanks you for not only remembering her, but also for your hospitality from last night." Alexis then paused as Tanaka spoke again. "She also wishes to express the gratitude of her people and to repay you for the supplies that you used up by helping us."

Reyka blushed a bit. "It was nothing. I am happy to help those who took care of the invaders and to help these people to recover from their imprisonment." She waved a hand over the natives in the tavern, who were now watching the exchange keenly. "I need no repayment for doing the right thing."

Again, Alexis did the double translation. "Captain Tanaka says, and I quote, 'we don't wish to repay you for doing what you did. That would demean your wonderful act of kindness and compassion by indicating that it was done with the intention of getting money.'" Alexis paused as Tanaka spoke again and she placed the package she carried up on the bar in front of Reyka. "She says that the repayment is for your supplies only, as though her people honor your kindness, they also wish to not cause you any hardship, such as making it more difficult to make a living by using up that which you use to provide for your family. As such, she offers this payment in the hope that you and your family may become prosperous enough to be able to help others in the future."

Reyka blinked a few times in surprise. "That is… I'd have to say that is one of the best ways of saying 'thank you' that I've ever heard," she said incredulously.

Alexis smiled broadly. "Well, it gets a bit better," she said, and then she reached over and undid the string that held the rice paper bound around the blocky object. Between the thin outer material and the object was a small scarf that obscured the shiny metal beneath.

Reyka and several others in the tavern gasped at the chunk of gold that was now revealed. It was cut expertly, and was about the size of two moderately large human fists. On top was a pair of marks stating that it was guaranteed gold, as certified by the Federal Reserve of the Republic and by ComStar. Alexis could read that it wasn't pure gold, but rather a mix of gold and silver to add the metal some rigidity that the pure form lacked. Still, 95 pure, and silver is valuable as well.

Mrs. Reyka finally found her voice after a few moments. "I… I can't accept such wealth! The supplies weren't worth but a few gold coins, not a treasure like this."

Alexis didn't even bother to translate for Tanaka this time. "Please, Mrs. Reyka, I and my friends are incredibly grateful, and this is but a small token of how grateful we are. It would make all of us happy to see that you and your family are well taken care of"

Reyka shook her head. "But this! How can you just give a large amount of wealth to a lowly worker like myself? And for just taking some people in!"

Alexis shook her head slowly. "It's not 'just' taking some people in, Mrs. Reyka. You took in a large amount of people that you didn't know, who could've done some terrible things to your building, and made you a target for our enemies." At the last, Alexis paused for a moment to let Reyka gather that in. "We had to place you in jeopardy, Mrs. Reyka, and we're not happy about it." The gatón then cast her eyes down at the bar, ignoring the glint of the gold. "I and Captain Tanaka spoke of this last night while we enjoyed your hospitality. We knew that, if things had gotten worse, you might have had to pay the price for it." She shook her head. "None of us wanted that to happen, but we had to risk it anyway because events forced it upon us.

"So now, we want to make it up to you. We know that money isn't everything, but anything we can do to help you, to repay you even in some small, insignificant way – as money is insignificant to your compassionate actions – will let us feel less like we've taken advantage of you."

The tavern fell silent for a bit, and Alexis could hear some people fidgeting. Tanaka, however, remained in her kneeling position, looking at Reyka, but not staring in challenge. Alexis blushed deeply in embarrassment and she continued to look down at the countertop.

Finally, Reyka cleared her throat. "I hope you don't think, Alexis, that I didn't realize what I was doing last night when I let those people in," she said quietly as Alexis brought her head back up to face the middle-aged lupar. "I was married for many years until my husband died in battle. He often told me of the fighting he had to do, and how people who sheltered an enemy could be punished quite severely.

"But he also spoke of how people continued to help those who had been hurt by war, no matter whose side they were on. Some of these people took care of my dear Feker when Tanzano's army was on the loosing side of a battle. If not for their help, I'd have lost nearly fifteen years of his company." Reyka sighed then before going on. "So please don't feel that you've taken advantage of me child. You don't deserve that kind of guilt. I didn't do it for wealth or because I was worried what people might do. I did it because it's the right thing to do." She then nudged the gold towards Tanaka. "That's why I don't think I can take this."

Alexis shook her head. "How many times have you wondered about those people who helped your husband? How many times have you worried that they might have come to harm because they helped him, either from enemies wanting to punish them, or simply because they gave their supplies up freely, and were worse off for a winter because of it?" Alexis let her voice fill with emotion. "How many times have you wanted to thank them, or to help them out if they needed it, but you couldn't?" She waited and looked at Reyka's face as the lupar realized these things in her mind. "I… I think I see your point," Reyka said quietly.

Alexis pressed on. "Then please, take this small token. Because though you did the right thing to help us, it's also the right thing for us to repay your kindness so that you may continue to be kind to all."

Reyka frowned. "But, it's so much! I can't possibly be so greedy as to bankrupt your friends like this."

Alexis then chuckled, which prompted looks of confusion from Reyka and her daughters. "What's this? What's so funny?" The elder lupar asked.

"Mrs. Reyka, I'm sorry," Alexis said as she gained control of herself. "But… You don't yet realize, do you?" The gatón shook her head. "My friends, here, have vaults of this stuff sitting in their ships. You would not be bankrupting them, I can assure you."

Reyka still looked dubious. "I don't know… Money in this amount tends to borrow trouble."

Alexis frowned, but nodded. "It can, yes. But I can assure you that if anyone wants to threaten you, or attempt to do nasty thing to you, well," she turned to look at the door behind where she stood. "My friends can easily come back and make sure that those kinds of people will never bother you again," Alexis said as she turned to face Reyka again. "And I'll be with them."

Reyka smiled at that, and she nodded a bit. "All right, then. You've twisted my arm enough," she said, and then sighed. "Please tell your friend that I am honored and deeply humbled that she and her people grant me such generosity."

Alexis nodded, and she translated this for Tanaka, who replied soon after. "She says that it is we who are honored for knowing someone such as you, and she also adds that if you ever need help, you can always count on her and her people." Alexis smiled a bit at that.

Reyka nodded. "Thank you both, then," she said, and then reached up to rub the corner of her eye. "Excuse me, it's not often that I meet such extraordinary people." She said. "And you can tell her that if any of her people need help again, they need but ask me as well."

Alexis translated this, and Tanaka replied and then bowed her head and upper chest. "She says thank you again, and now she must beg leave, as she has duties to attend to." Alexis spoke for Tanaka again.

"Of course, of course," Reyka replied, waving her hand towards the door. "By all means, do not let me keep her here a moment longer."

Alexis nodded and relayed this, to which Tanaka smiled back and nodded her head. "Thank you, Alexis," she said quietly. "And you make sure that no one is gonna bother her about that gold, ya hear?"

"Definitely," Alexis replied. "I hope you don't mind, but I also said that you all would come and kick some ass if that happened."

Tanaka chuckled. "Damn straight we would. Well, be seein' ya," she said, and then got up to walk out of the tavern in a crouch.

"Be seeing you," Alexis replied. Then Tanaka disappeared outside the door, and Alexis turned back to Mrs. Reyka, who was sitting on a stool that she had pulled up behind the bar. "Excuse me, please?" The gatón asked.

"Hmm?" Reyka said and looked up at Alexis. "Oh, of course dear. Pelana, Ayora, you two get off your tails and make sure that everyone's comfortable," she said to her daughters as she noticed them just staring at the gold. They quickly started and moved off, and Reyka grinned as she looked back at Alexis. "Look what you did; now they'll feel like they're too good to look for a husband."

Alexis smiled politely at that. So this is what Earl felt like whenever we spoke of our more backwards customs. Aloud, though, she stayed friendly. "Well, I'm sure that once they get around a bit, they'll easily find someone that they just can't live without."

Reyka chuckled. "Indeed. Well, at least with this," she gestured to the gold, "they can truly look around for love, instead of feeling like they have to marry into some rich family."

Alexis blinked a bit. Perhaps I was too hasty a moment ago, she mused and nodded. "That would be excellent. Now, I need to speak with the people here, and let them know that they can go home. Well," she let her smile fade. "The lupar, anyway. The gatón will be leaving soon so that we can take them someplace where they can start their lives over again."

Reyka smiled and nodded. "Alright. Besides, I needed to get cleaning dishes and to take care of this thing," she tapped the gold at the last. "And then I think I will take a nap. The morning has been almost as tiring as the night."

Alexis smiled at that. "Indeed. Well, I guess we should get moving."

---

Van Horn fought to stifle a yawn inside his helmet. Good thing that I took some sleep substitute, he mused, thinking of the supplement that replenished certain chemicals that the body only produces when asleep. It certainly keeps the need to sleep down to something manageable, if only for a short time.

They were waiting outside the Laughing Daukner for Alexis to bring the gatón out so that they could escort them to the Silver Pagoda, where they would wait for the next assault transport to carry them to the west. Standing beside the good doctor were Tanaka, Vickers, and two troopers in Marauder suits from Delta squad. Another two troopers in scout armor from Sierra squad were at the back of the tavern in a 'just in case' deployment.

Van Horn yawned again, and this time he couldn't keep from letting it escape his helmet. At the noise, Tanaka and Vickers turned to him, the former with a smirk on her face. "The job's getting' to ya, doc?"

Van Horn shrugged. "Not so much the job, as the endless waiting. 'Sides, I haven't had much sleep since yesterday afternoon."

"Which is why you're getting' some rest as soon as we get to the dropship," Vickers interjected. "I'm gonna need you in top shape for when that guy you met manages to get the city's leaders to hear us out."

Van Horn nodded. "Yes sir. It should be tonight or tomorrow as I reported earlier."

"I remember," Vickers replied. "Just hope it's sooner rather than later."

Before anyone could say anything else, the door to the tavern opened and Alexis stuck her head out. "We're ready," she said in English.

"Good," Vickers said with a nod. "Tell 'em to come out and line up so that we can make sure that everyone's counted, and then we'll get a move on."

Alexis nodded, and she turned back to the darkened room behind her and she repeated the instructions in Gatonese. When that was done, she pulled the door wide open and she took a step outside, stopping beside the doorway and turning so that she could face the first gatón as they walked out.

Van Horn couldn't help but feel sympathy for the natives, as they trepidly began to walk out. He got a clearer look at them than the night had afforded, and he was faintly appalled that their clothes appeared to be old and ratted from constant use over an unknown time. Damn Wobbies didn't let them have their own clothes, he grumbled mentally.

A random idea entered his head then. "Alexis," he quietly addressed his friend in English. "Have you found out where these people are from?"

Alexis turned to van Horn and she nodded. "Yes, they're from Gortal, another village that was attacked by the Wobbies, apparently just like Kuamket," she spoke sadly, and van Horn and the others could see the sadness in her face.

"Well, I hope you've told them that we're not gonna let that happen to 'em again?" Vickers asked, and Alexis replied with a nod. "Yes sir," she said with a faint smile. "I made sure that they knew that they are going to be safe."

"Good," Vickers said with a nod of his helmeted head. "Any lupar commin' along?"

Alexis shook her head at that. "No. They're all from here in Tanzano, and they'd rather go home."

"Can't blame 'em a bit," Vickers replied easily. Then he turned to van Horn. "Doc, I'm takin' Rodriguez to check the main street out. You take charge of Jackson and the natives, call when you move out."

Van Horn nodded a salute. "Aye sir."

"What am I?" Tanaka interjected. "Chopped Blood Limpet?"

Vickers waved his left hand casually to his left to indicate Tanaka. "Oh, and if you have the time, make sure the good captain doesn't trip over her hangover."

"I'll give you a hangover, boy," Tanaka said somewhat menacingly, though the smile that she fought a loosing battle to keep off of her face robbed her words of offense. "Just take off that helmet for a minute."

Vickers turned gracefully to look at Tanaka, despite his armored bulk. "Why captain, I do hope you're not threatening assault against a fellow officer?" He asked with a jocular tone.

"It's only assault if they can find the body," Tanaka shot back with a devilish grin. "Now, anybody have an endo-steel can opener?"

Vickers chuckled. "Perhaps another time, captain." He said and bowed slightly to Tanaka. Then turned to lead one of the other armored infantrymen down the alley, leaving van Horn to chuckle a moment later.

Tanaka turned to the offending noise. "I suppose you think that's funny?"

"Well, not so much the Lieutenant," van Horn temporized. "You were rather more amusing with that can opener joke."

Tanaka shook her head a bit, but she chuckled anyway. "Nothin' like the old jokes, I guess," she said and then turned to look over the gatón who had now lined up with instructions from Alexis, who was trying not to laugh at the exchange between the humans.

Van Horn followed Tanaka's gaze. "Alexis, are we ready to go?" He asked in Gatonese for the benefit of the people they would be escorting.

Alexis nodded and she replied in the same language. "We are, Earl."

Van Horn nodded back. "Okay. Everyone, follow behind me and these lovely ladies here," he spoke to the gatón, indicating Tanaka and Alexis. "My friend in the large armor shall follow behind to make sure that no one gets lost. If you need to stop, please raise your voice and let us know. This is not a forced march."

The gatón, apparently impressed with the treatment that was in stark contrast to what the Blakests had given them – and probably not a little intimidated by the armor, van Horn mused – nodded mutely. Van Horn wanted to smile at them, but his helmet blocked that, so he made himself contented with another nod. "Good," he said and then turned to the other MI trooper in the area. "Jackson, we're movin' out. Take caboose and holler if any of the locals look like they need a breather or anythin' like that."

Jackson nodded, and her rich voice rolled from her helmet speaker. "Got ya, doc."

"Then let's get going."

---

Mikula stirred awake with the noise of people moving about in the front room. The first thought he had was that his side hurt, and as the memory of how he had been hurt rolled into his mind, he became wide awake.

His next thought was that something was missing. Then he realized that Alexis wasn't in his arms anymore. What the? Doesn't she ever rest? He wondered and he shook his head as a small grin crossed his muzzle. Well, if she's up, then I certainly should be.

With that, he sat up in the bed, and he looked around the room. Senmar still slept on the other bed, and like Mikula and Alexis, he hadn't even bothered to pull up the sheets, and instead had slept on top of the covers. His and Senmar's packs were still on the floor, which was still dimly lit, though it was a bit better than when Alexis had awoken.

More noises came in through the door and through the floor, and Mikula realized that more people than Alexis must be awake if that much noise was being made. He shook his head a bit to clear some of the tiredness from his mind, and then he checked his aching side to make sure that the MediJel bandage was still there.

Good, he thought as he saw that it still held. It won't last forever, but just so long as it lasts until I can get to the Pagoda, I'll be all right. He didn't know what was going to happen exactly, given the recent changes to the Republic's plans, but he did know that he should get to his friends as soon as he could.

With that thought, he turned and slowly got off of the bed, moving slowly to keep from hurting his side any more. He stood erect slowly as well, carefully stretching just enough to get his muscles limber while avoiding tearing at the bandage on his side. Damn thing still hurts, even with the pain relievers in the MediJel, he thought with irritation at the pain. Still, not as bad as when I was hit on the plains that night.

Mikula then walked over to the side of his brother's bed. Laying a hand on Senmar's shoulder, he then shook his brother a bit. "Senmar, wake up."

"Mmmph," his brother moaned a bit. "Just a little longer mother…" He mumbled, still half-asleep.

Mikula smirked and he shook a bit harder. "Come on, you zugert. Wake up or I'll dump some water on you."

Senmar propped himself up on his elbows at that, and he looked towards the speaker and blinked his eyes. "Mikula…?" He said, and then he woke up more fully. "Oh, sorry," he said as he twisted himself into a sitting position. "I'm up."

"Now you are," Mikula replied with an amused tone in his voice as he turned and went for his pack. "Come on and start to pack what we've got out."

"Huh? Why?" Senmar asked, clearly confused. "I thought your friends were staying?"

"They may or they might," Mikula replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "But we won't know until we talk to them, and if we need to head out to speak to them, then we should be ready to leave if they do."

Senmar made a grumpish noise. "All right, then," he grumbled and then stood up. The two brothers got to work quickly and soon they were packed and heading for the stairs at the end of the hall.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, they both paused at the fact that no gatón were in the room anymore. Before Mikula could think of asking anyone, Reyka walked in from the back and her face broke into a smile as she saw the two brothers. "Mikula, Senmar, so glad to see you awake," she said as she carried a tray of water mugs. "You two wait at the bar while I get some people their drinks."

"Alright," Mikula managed to utter as Reyka swung past them. He and Senmar glanced at each other in surprise. Mikula then shrugged and he walked over to the nearest stool and sat upon it, followed by his brother.

"So, it seems like your friends were already here," Senmar commented. "I can smell the oil from their armor well enough."

Mikula grunted. "Indeed. That, and the gatón have left. I don't think they'd just up and leave in the middle of a lupar city without good reason, do you?" He asked with a sidelong glance at his brother.

Senmar blushed a bit. "Ahh, there is that, isn't there?" He asked rhetorically.

They then sat for a few moments in silence until Pelana came up from behind the bar. "Good morning you two," she said politely and with a smile. "You missed quite the show earlier."

"Oh?" Senmar asked with an ear tilted in interest. "I hope nothing's wrong?"

Pelana shook her head. "No, not at all. In fact, things are going to be all right," she said with her smile broadening. Then she paused in speaking and glanced at her mother, who was busy. Apparently relieved, Pelana turned back to the two brothers and she leaned in towards them, lowering her voice. "Momma didn't want anyone to know, but the Daukner has been in trouble for the last few months, ever since the invaders came."

Mikula blinked in surprise. "Really? But the Daukner has always been such a popular place."

Pelana nodded. "It was, but when the invaders came, people stopped wanting to spend their money, I guess," she said with a shrug. "That, and well… I don't want to point out anyone, but your mother leading half the clan away took some of our best customers."

Mikula felt his ears go down in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he said quietly.

Pelana shook her head a bit. "No, don't be. Momma didn't blame her, and neither do I. Although, you might not want to talk about it around Ayora."

"Amongst other things," Mikula muttered. When he noticed Pelana giving him a knowing look, he blushed. "Anyway, so times were tough?"

She nodded. "Aye. Nothing too bad, mind you, but enough that momma stayed up late worrying over the gold and how we were going to buy supplies for the next week."

"That sounds bad enough," Senmar interjected. "But you sound as if everything had changed."

Pelana smiled and nodded. "Oh, yes! Your friends, Mikula, the ones who are like the invaders, but not. They were so nice, coming in to repay momma for the stuff she fed people and for all the help she gave." Mikula could practically hear her tail swing back and forth behind the bar. "But they paid so much! They left a gold bar almost as long as my tail!"

Senmar leaned back, his face a study in surprise. "Wow," he said quietly. "How can anyone just drop off a large hunk of gold like that?"

Mikula's chuckled brought both of the others' attention around to him. "What's so funny?" Senmar asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Oh, just that you still don't quite understand our common friends," Mikula replied with a shake of his head. "I've told you of their city, of their ships. Don't you see that such wonder represents more wealth than any one of us can conceive?"

Senmar looked about ready to reply harshly, but Pelana spoke before he could say anything. "You've been to one of their cities?" She asked in awe. "What was it like?"

Mikula smiled at her. "It was amazing. A huge city, sprawling over an area nearly the size of the Tanzano plains," he said, closing his eyes to help remember. "And buildings… They were the size of mountains, and made from materials that none of our people know about." He sighed. "And the people… So many different kinds, and so many different ways they dress and act. So many different things to do, to see… You could spend a lifetime there and never know even half of what's there."

"Sounds like quite the place." The voice that intruded on Mikula's reminiscing was significantly different from Pelana's, and he opened his eyes to see Reyka standing behind the counter next to her daughter, smiling as Mikula blushed. "I must admit, I was quite surprised when they came in and wanted to thank me like that."

Mikula smiled. "Give them half a chance, and they'll surprise you, alright. And speaking of surprises," he gestured to the rest of the room. "I notice that you've done a bit of redecorating."

Reyka chuckled. "In a way. Your friends came by and escorted the gatón off, along with your friend Alexis." She leaned back from the bar and began to clean a glass then. "She said something about taking them somewhere else on one of their fancy machines."

Mikula felt his pulse quicken a bit. "Did she say when they were leaving?" He asked, the tone of his voice betraying his motive for asking.

"Sometime soon," Reyka temporized. "She didn't say when, but she got the gatón to follow her outside after she told the other folks in here that they're free to go."

Mikula stood up then. "Then we should probably be going," he said as he reached down for his pack. He quickly picked it up and was about to sling it over an arm when Reyka's spoke again. "Mikula, you can't seriously be wanting to leave before having breakfast, can you?"

"Yes, we should probably have some food to help make up for the long night last night," Senmar added coyly. "Besides, you're hurt. Shouldn't you get something in you to help you heal?"

Mikula gave his brother a dirty look, but Senmar put on a mask of innocence, though he could see his brother's eyes twitch to the right, once, to where Pelana stood watching the scene. Mikula then just shook his head. "Fine. Give me your pack."

Senmar, who had relaxed a bit at the first word, now looked confused. "Pardon me?"

"You want to stay, fine. But I want to go to the ship, and the advanced devices in your pack need to be returned. Since you don't want to go now, and sine I can't very well leave those items here, even with you 'guarding' them." Mikula raised an eyebrow at the last. "I'm responsible for them, and so let me have your pack."

Senmar's ears went a back a bit at the implication. "But you're hurt! You can't possibly carry both packs without being in pain."

Mikula crossed his arms as he looked at his brother. "You are not leaving me much of a choice, now are you?""

Senmar blushed deeply, and he gave Mikula a dirty look of his own. They stood there for a moment before Senmar broke eye contact. "Fine, let's go then," he said angrily as he stood from his seat. He stooped just long enough to grab his pack off of the floor, and then he slung it around his shoulders as Mikula had done while the younger lupar was standing up.

"Mikula, are you sure that you don't want to at least have some ruyo?" Reyka asked, naming a popular lupar breakfast dish.

"No, thank you though, Mrs. Reyka," Mikula said with gratitude. "But we really should leave so that we might catch up to our friends." He then turned to Senmar. "Let's go."

---

Alexis felt completely conspicuous as she followed Vickers, Tanaka and van Horn through the city, the other gatón trailing behind them. Their path had to follow some of the larger streets through the city, as the sheer size of the armored humans surrounding the group of natives precluded the use of the smaller, less traveled streets. Thus the citizens of Tanzano had an easy enough view of the odd group, and like any curious being, they stared.

However, Alexis felt safe enough, with six MI troopers and Tanaka's not insignificant presence arrayed around her and the other gatón, and so she managed to keep her feelings under control. Besides, I can't look panicked for the people we're escorting, she thought with a glance back at the group trailing behind her. They all look scared enough already. I won't frighten them further by letting my emotions get the best of me.

Still, she felt a bit nervous, mainly due to her clothing; she still wore the same abbreviated garments from her time in Tanaka's 'mech, though she managed to just carry the cooling vest over her left arm and carry the helmet in her left hand. Certainly not anything normal by most standards, Alexis mused. I'm showing more fur than anyone else on the street. The folks behind me must think I'm a streetwalker. Though somewhat mortifying, the thought also made Alexis smirk. Dad would be collapsing in outrage if he could see me now.

The thought of her family, however, soon took the smirk off of her face. I really shouldn't think that way, so matter how much father has hurt me. I still love him as my father, and I don't really wish him harm. Alexis let out a small sigh as she thought about the situation. I know I wasn't this… Generous, before. But I suppose I've 'cooled down' as Earl says. I wonder if when I get back, we might reconcile?

Alexis then had to break her train of thought as the group took a detour from their path in the road. Looking ahead, she could see why; Tanaka's Guillotine IIC still lay across half the street, its metal bulk causing a backup of traffic along the main avenue. Fortunately for the group, however, native Tanzanos quickly peeled themselves out of the way for them. Soon, they were beside the metal behemoth, and Alexis could see the two other MI troopers who were standing guard on top of the fallen war machine.

At this point, Vickers held up a hand for the group to halt, and Alexis turned around to look at the gatón behind her. "We're stopping," she said gently. "But only for a moment." I hope, she added mentally as she turned to see one of the guarding MI troopers from the Elemental armored Alfa squad approach Vickers. The two stood facing each other for a few moments, moving a bit as they spoke over their radios.

How surreal, Alexis thought. So strange to see them moving like they're talking, and to know they're talking, and yet hear nothing. She gave herself a shrug then. Well, at least now I know what's going on, unlike when I first met Earl. She managed a small smile at the memory.

She glanced over at Tanaka then, wondering how the human was dealing with her 'mech lying helpless in the street before her. Cassandra has spoken of how her kind of soldier feels almost dead when they don't have a 'mech to pilot. I hope she's taking it well. Unfortunately for the gatón, Tanaka's face was an unreadable, neutral mask. Still, Alexis could make out a slight tightening of Tanaka's eyes at the corners, and so she knew that the MechWarrior was affected.

After a few more moments, the trooper on top of the fallen 'mech saluted with his laser-arm, and Vickers quickly parroted him. Then Vickers turned and started off with a wave to the others behind him, and the group quickly began walking again. They walked along through the main square of the city, passing groups of locals who were out just to stare at the devastation wrought by the Blakest attack. Alexis herself couldn't help but gawk at the half-collapsed fortress to their left, and also at the burnt wreckage of the transport to the right. She felt a pang of sadness, knowing that four people had lost their lives in that one spot alone, not to mention the many who've died all over the city.

The group continued on in silence, making a turn around the edge of the fortress' moat to follow the last stretch of street to the north gate. Alexis looked down the street, and outside the opened gates, feeling a sense of relief and comfort at the glimpse of an oblong shape rising above the ground outside of the city.

"So, lieutenant," Tanaka began to speak as they walked along. "Might I ask what you had to say back there?"

Vickers moved along for a moment, seemingly ignoring Tanaka's words. Then he spoke up without changing his posture or pace. "Nothin' major, captain. Just askin' how they were doin' and mentionin' that I'll be able to have them relieved soon." Then he managed to turn his helmeted had about and towards the captain. "Don't worry, we'll take care of your metal beastie."

Tanaka managed a sheepish grin. "I'm sure you will. I just can't help but be worried, after all."

Vickers nodded his head and he turned it back to face the front. "Understandable. Though I wonder what you think you can do if something is wrong," he half-muttered. "No offense, but at least an armored trooper can carry out a comrade. Your ride needs a semi to haul it away."

Tanaka nodded, but Alexis caught a strange look in the human's eyes. "Perhaps, lieutenant…"

Vickers turned his head back to the captain. "I know that tone, captain; I had a little sister growing up. What do you have planned?"

Tanaka chuckled, and Alexis couldn't help but smile a bit at the noise. "Oh, you'll see, Lieutenant, you'll see."

Vickers grunted. "And that's another phrase I've learned to dread when it comes from a female," he said with mock severity. Then his body hitched a bit in its stride. "No offense, Miss Hurano," he added in a lower voice.

"None taken, lieutenant," Alexis replied with a small smile. "I have a younger sister as well, and a younger brother in addition. I know exactly what you mean."

Vickers and Tanaka chuckled at that. "Ah, so that's why you're always so patient," Tanaka observed. "Comes from practice."

"Indeed," Alexis replied, though her smile faded a bit as she thought of her family again. Gods, I miss them.

A silence came over the group then, which van Horn interrupted by clearing his throat. "Lieutenant, permission to speak freely?" He asked politely.

"Go ahead doc," Vickers replied. Van Horn then nodded and continued. "Well sir, I don't suppose you'd know when the next transport would be arriving?" He glanced his head to look over the gatón following the leading humans and Alexis. "These folks look about scared as a group of 'mech martens facin' a pack of magma wolves. Frankly, sir, the sooner they're gone the better."

Vickers grunted. "I agree with ya, doc. However, unless things go south – that is, if they do so again – then the brass don't want to waste fuel with brute-force orbits, so we wait 'til the Young circles around again in about, oh, an hour."

Van Horn nodded. "Yes sir, thank you sir."

"No problem, doc. Just drop the kaydet routine," Vickers replied with a bit of abrasion in his voice. "Hell, you're older than me and you got more learnin.'"

Van Horn chuckled. "Maybe, but you be the bossman here, and since I don't want to walk back to the Firebase, I'll try not to piss you off."

Vickers laughed at that, which let Tanaka and the other MI troopers in the group to chuckle as well. "Excellently put, van Horn," Vickers added. "You might want to clean the brown off of your nose then."

Van Horn chuckled. "Aye aye, sir."

---

Mikula pushed through the morning crowds as he moved at a fast walk, leading Senmar along the street that would lead them to Karno's Way. Most people gave him a rude look, but he ignored them, his goal simply to get to where he was heading quickly.

The two brothers reached the main avenue that ran through Tanzano, and there Mikula paused to give Senmar a chance to catch his breath. Well, and I as well, he admitted to himself. Looking around, Mikula could easily see that, despite the horrors of the night before, the city went on. People of all ages were walking along the road, some heading to their work, others clearly at work, hauling goods along to deliver them, and merchants of smaller, cheaper pieces of merchandise were pushing their carts up and down the avenue, and those who sold food even began to make turns into the residential sections of the Worker's Quarter.

Beside him, Mikula could hear Senmar's stomach growling. "Mikula, can't we at least get some kuvos along the way?" He asked, naming a local fruit that was a popular snack. "I feel like I'm going to faint."

Mikula grunted as he looked at his brother. "I see you've taken lessons from Pavlo," he teased with a smirk. "But at least he tries to back up his excuses with a more believable act."

Senmar glared at him. "Funny," the younger lupar grunted. "I still don't see why we couldn't have had breakfast at the Laughing Daukner. Mrs. Reyka obviously wanted to help."

Mikula shook his head with a sigh. "She's helped enough. More than enough, in fact," he said and then looked Senmar in the eyes. "Didn't you notice how tired she was?"

Senmar blinked at this question. "What? She seemed fine enough to me."

Mikula shook his head again. "Senmar, when you get to be more experienced, you'll be able to tell when someone's pushed himself or herself to the edge of exhaustion," he said, and then sighed. "Mrs. Reyka was willing to be nice, of course. But she's been working half the night, with very little – if any – sleep, and now she's been making people a meal for the last hour or so. She's clearly very tired."

Senmar frowned. "I don't understand. She seemed fine to me, even a bit more energetic than usual."

"It only seems that way," Mikula replied. "In fact, some people when they get really tired, can start to become a bit more energetic. But I saw it in her eyes, Senmar; she's quite exhausted."

Senmar continued to frown, but he nodded. "I shall take your word for it, Mikula," he said. "Still, you cannot deny that you have another reason for leaving so soon."

Mikula grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I know. I'm hopeless," he said. "Still, it's generally a good idea to get someplace that will be safe for both us and the Reyka family."

"Hmm?" Senmar tilted his head in puzzlement. "I don't understand."

Mikula turned and then started off down the street before replying as Senmar caught up. "Senmar, given what's happened, people are going to know that some rather, 'interesting' people spent some time at the Laughing Daukner," Mikula said quietly to avoid people from overhearing too much. "Now, that's going to bring enough of the nobles' attention to her place as it is. How would you think the nobles will act if they knew that they could catch two people who are good friends of this new group of people?"

Senmar thought for a split second, and then he shuddered. "Kidnapping, at least," he replied with disgust. He then nodded. "I see your point, then." He then shook his head and sighed. "I'm such a fool, sometimes…"

Mikula stopped at that, forcing Senmar to do the same, and then he placed a hand on the shoulder of his younger brother. "Senmar, you may be young and inexperienced, but you are no fool." He grinned a bit. "Mother didn't raise us to be fools, and as she had time to perfect her technique on Kanu and I before you came along."

Senmar blinked a bit. "Th- thank you, Mikula," he said with surprise in his voice. "I… I didn't know you felt that way."

Mikula smirked a bit a he let go of Senmar. "I guess I never could get past my typical big brother arrogance before," he said as he started off again, leading Senmar along. "But I've come close to death a few times now. It really gives you a better perspective on things that is clear of pride and arrogance."

They continued on in silence for several minutes, and then Senmar spoke up again. "Mikula…?"

"Yes?"

"How close did you come to loosing your life?" Senmar asked quietly. "I mean, you make it sound like you had more than just a wound in your leg, or your side."

They continued on in silence a bit more, Mikula using the time to gather his thoughts and words. "Senmar, I'll have to tell you the whole story sometime. But for now… Let's just say that it wasn't just me being close to death."

Senmar frowned a bit, clearly puzzled. Then he blinked and he opened his eyes wide at the implication. "I see…" He said quietly. "I didn't know."

"Well, it's not something I like to talk about," Mikula added. "But when you see someone you care about so deeply hurt very badly…" He let his voice trail off at that, and they went on in silence again.

After a bit, they approached the crowds still standing around Tanaka's Guillotine IIC, and they had to push their way through. However, Mikula made sure to avoid the core of the group, and they passed through relatively quickly. Around them, the crowd seemed to reverberate, with all the people talking back and forth about the strange things sitting in the middle of their city. Mikula felt some anger as he heard some people blaming the Republic – "the other invaders," they call them – for the strange attack. How wrong they are, he grumped to himself.

Then they were past the crowd, and moving through the more open main square. More crowds still stood about, and now merchants were setting up some small stands where they hoped to take advantage of the gatherings to sell various small food items or other cheap wares. Guards from the ruling council began to show up as well, herding people away from the broken body of the Assault Transport, which made Mikula wonder if his brother-in-law had anything to do with that. It would be a good show of faith, he thought. Nevertheless, he and Senmar avoided the guards and crowds, instead following the same path taken by the earlier group of soldiers escorting the gatón.

Up ahead and through the gates, Mikula could see the rounded, navy gray-painted bulk of the Silver Pagoda. It lay some distance beyond the city, but it was close enough that many natives heading into the fields for their work passed relatively close to it, though they gave the ship and the sentries around it a wide berth.

"Wow," Senmar commented from beside his brother as they walked along the street. "I don't think I realized it when it was sitting on the plains outside Hercor, but that's a huge piece of metal to be moving around by itself."

Mikula chuckled. "Indeed. But if you compare it to some of the other ships our friends have, it's positively tiny."

Senmar spared Mikula a sidelong glance. "Really? They have bigger?"

"Much bigger," Mikula added. "For instance, that ship that made the attacks last night that lit up the sky, it's over ten times as large."

"You're kidding?" Senmar asked. Mikula shook his head in reply, and his brother looked incredulous. "That's huge!"

"Yes, but even then, it's not their largest ship," Mikula added, enjoying his brother's amazement. "They have ships far, far larger. Ones that would make Tanzano look small in comparison."

Senmar shook his head in disbelief. "Sometimes, brother, I think you're just trying to pull my tail."

"Sometimes, yes," Mikula admitted with a sly grin. "But now I'm telling you the truth. I've seen some of these ships, ridden in the one in orbit. They are quite real."

Senmar gave Mikula another look. "'Orbit?' What's that?"

Mikula grimaced slightly. I keep letting these words leak into my Lupari. "It's an English word, from our friends. It's a word that means that the ship is circling around our world in an endless loop."

Senmar frowned as he looked at his brother. "How is such a thing possible?"

"By going very, very fast," Mikula replied with another grin. "And our world is round, so that helps, too."

"Round?" Senmar asked with a confused look on his face. "It doesn't look that way."

Mikula shrugged as they approached the gate. "Well, it's so large that the curve of the world seems like it's flat to us standing on it. But I've seen our world from very high up, and I can tell you that it is, indeed, a round sphere."

Senmar shook his head. "I don't see it… But, given everything that's happened, I'll take your word for it."

Mikula grunted a bit. "Well, in any case, let's not speak of such things for now," he said, gesturing to the crowds ahead of them. "It would not be best if people overheard us." He added sotto voce. Senmar nodded his understanding, and the two brothers pushed into the rear of the crowd that stood at the gate.

They had, apparently, come to stare at the new arrivals. Many comments Mikula overheard as his pushed forward usually centered on the Republic ship and troops. Most seemed surprised, some seemed angry, blaming the new arrivals for the attacks. But good amounts were about how the Republic troopers hadn't acted nearly as bad towards them as the first invaders had, especially given their obviously better strength.

Mikula couldn't help but smile a bit at these comments. Good. Already people see the difference. He hoped that they would continue to experience the good nature of his friends.

Then he and Senmar reached the front of the crowd, which was being held back by a phalanx of guards. Some lupar were getting through, though it was apparent that they were farmers who needed to get to their fields and tend them, aliens or no.

One guard caught Mikula's eye, arguing as he was with a merchant who had pushed his cart of kuvo fruit up to the gate. Smiling, Mikula pointed out the two arguing lupar to his brother. Senmar looked and then reflected his brother's smile, and they walked over to the pair.

"Look, we can't just let anyone out," the guard was saying. "Official orders by the ruling council."

"Bah!" The merchant replied as Mikula and Senmar drew close. "Those old fools couldn't and wouldn't do a thing against the first invaders. Now they want to reestablish their officious attitudes?" He shook his head in disgust. "Outrage! Who are they to tell me who I can trade with or not."

"Yekar," Mikula spoke from the side, attracting the attention his friend, the guard. Yekar looked over with an annoyed look on his face, but he managed s small smile when he saw Mikula and Senmar walk up next to the arguing pair. "Mikula, glad to see you, but I'm kind of busy."

"So I see," Mikula replied with a nod. "What's going on?"

Yekar turned and gestured to the merchant. "This man wants to go out, despite the fact that the ruling council has placed orders that people should be kept from these new invaders."

The merchant made a growl, but before he could say anything, Mikula spoke again. "So? Why do you want to go out there anyway?" He asked of the man. "Not like you'll find many people who want to buy the fruit there."

"That's what you think," the merchant replied huffily. "Many farmers love to have a snack in the fields. And besides," he gestured to the alien ship sitting several hundred meters away. "They might even want some."

Yekar shook his head. "You're a fool. They will probably just take your food, like the first invaders did with other merchants," he said with a growl.

"I doubt that," the merchant replied with more conviction than Mikula thought such a man would have in the face of such strangeness. "I saw these new arrivals help put out the fires from last night, even save a few people. The old invaders would have just let things burn." He puffed out his chest a bit. "I'm willing to risk it."

"Then you're a double fool," Yekar growled.

Then Mikula laid a hand on Yekar's shoulder, and the guard turned to face him. "Look, Yekar, what's the harm?" Mikula asked quietly. "If you're worried about the man's safety, Senmar and I were leaving anyway, so we can keep an eye on him until he's done dealing with these new people."

Yekar frowned at his friend. "I have orders, Mikula. I can't even let you two go."

"Well," Mikula said, and then he leaned in to whisper into his friend's ear. "Look, with everything happening and the ruling council coming back into power, how long do you think they'll wait until they look for deserters?" He asked, and then gestured to Senmar.

Yekar looked over at him, and then back to Mikula, frowning. "You always did go for the throat in practice," he muttered. Then he shook his head. "Fine, but if anyone asks, you said that you were still in the army when you went out."

Mikula smiled a bit. "No problem," he said, and then turned to the merchant. "Sir, care to have a couple of companions for a bit?"

The merchant looked like he smelled something funny, given Yekar's abrupt turnaround, but he nodded. "Alright, then."

"Fine," Yekar grumbled again, and he stood aside, signaling the other guards that he was letting a couple of people through. The merchant quickly pushed his small cart forward, passing past the guards with Mikula and Senmar in tow.

Once a few dozen meters past the gates, the merchant looked over his two unexpected companions. "So, if it's not too prying, why are you two just as determined to come out here?" He asked as he pushed his cart. "You don't look like farmers."

Mikula spared a glance back towards the gate to make sure that no one would overhear. Then he turned back to the merchant with a smile. "We have a common point of interest," he said, and gestured to the ship sitting on the ground.

The merchant grunted. "Well, the guard was right about me; I'm a fool at times. But you two young lads, I hope you're not making a mistake coming along."

"I doubt it," Mikula replied. Then his smile grew a bit. "In fact, we might be able to help you."

The man gave him a look. "Well, if we're going to go off to our dooms, we should introduce each other. I'm Deger Makao," he said, nodding his head at the last.

"Mikula Farkas, and this is my brother Senmar," Mikula responded, gesturing to Senmar as he spoke.

"Farkas?" Makao asked with a knowing tone. "The city has heard tales about a good group of people being led away by a Farkas. A woman, even."

Mikula blushed. "She's our mother."

Makao blinked in surprise. "I didn't think those tales were true," he said. But then they began to grow close to the Silver Pagoda, and his attention shifted. "Well, perhaps now isn't the time."

Mikula shrugged, at ease. "Well, don't worry," he said, and then waved to the ship. Makao gave him an odd look, and he stopped pushing his cart, forcing the two brothers to halt with him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Calling over a friend," Mikula replied nonchalantly. "Ahh, here comes one now," he said, gesturing to a shape that appeared from the open side hatch of the ship. The armored trooper walked over the last forty meters between the ship and the small group of lupar, his imposing bulk emphasized by his Gnome armor.

"Mikula," the man said with a friendly voice. "Glad to see you."

"As I am glad to see you too, John," Mikula responded to Osis in English. "We thought we'd report in. Not to mention," he turned and gestured to the shocked Makao. "This merchant wants to know if anyone wants to buy some fresh fruit."

Osis laughed. "Actually, that sounds pretty good," he said boisterously. "The Pagoda's on MREs for now, since they gotta feed us grunts as well as the crew and mechjocks." He turned and looked over the kuvos. "What kind of fruit is that?"

"It's called a 'kuvo,'" Mikula replied. "I know that it might look strange to you, being purple, but it's surprisingly good."

"Heh. You've obviously never had kancha," Osis replied easily. "Still, tell the guy to come back in about an hour or so. That way, we can see if we have a way of paying him."

Mikula nodded, and he turned to Makao. "My friends are interested, but they are not sure if they can pay you. So he says to come back in about an hour, and by then they'll know if they can buy some or not."

Makao just stared open-mouthed at Mikula. "You… You know them?"

Mikula nodded, a sheepish smile coming over his muzzle. "Yes. I met one of them some time ago, and I and many others have come to know them."

"But… How?" Makao asked, looking suspicious and curious at the same time. "How could you even approach them?"

"One of them approached me," Mikula replied with a smile. Then he shook his head. "Anyway, it's a long story. Just let it suffice that they are good people, who won't treat you like the Wobbies."

Makao tilted an ear down in puzzlement. "The who?"

"Oh, that's the actual name of the invaders," Mikula replied. "They're called 'Wobbies' as a derogatory name, so feel free to call them that," he said with a wink.

The merchant smiled a bit. "Indeed. So, I should come back later?" He asked, looking up at Osis again.

Mikula nodded. "Aye. They don't rely on gold for money, so they don't always have a lot of it around." And that's only a half-lie, Mikula thought. But it's easier than trying to explain a monetary system that even I have little understanding of.

Makao looked suspicious, but he nodded. "Very well. I hope you'll be around when I come back?"

Mikula nodded again. "Either me, or one of my friends who can translate," he said with a wave towards the ship. "A gatón and a human, so don't worry if you don't see me."

Makao blinked in surprise. "A gatón? They can speak Lupari?"

"This one can," Mikula replied, fighting to keep his voice neutral. "And if I were you, I'd avoid making racial distinctions. These people frown on that sort of thing."

Makao looked surprised a bit, but he nodded his understanding. "Very well. I hope to see you young men soon then," he said, waving a goodbye before reaching down to grab the handles of his cart.

"And I as well," Mikula replied. The three watched Makao walk towards the fields for a bit before Mikula and Senmar turned to face Osis. "So, John," Mikula began. "I hope that everyone made it here okay?"

"Yup," Osis replied. "Vickers brought 'em in only 'bout a half hour ago. I think Earl went to get some sleep, though Alexis is with the gatón we rescued last night. They're up in the crew's mess if you want to say hi."

Mikula smiled a bit. "That sounds like a good idea."

---

Alexis felt tired as she sat down for the first time in a while. I was up half the night, and now running about to make sure that these people are taken care of, she recounted mentally. Still, I don't regret one bit of it.

She sat at an empty table in the crew's mess of the Silver Pagoda. The other gatón were all sitting at two other tables in the mess across a narrow aisle from where she sat, and Alexis watched them as they talked quietly of the things they had seen.

Certainly, the 'mech bays are an interesting sight, Alexis mused. Especially with all the armor suits of half the Vanquishers strung up on service lift platforms. And not to mention, the checking over Dan and the ship's medic gave them. Alexis had been happy to report to the rescued people that they were all as healthy as could be expected, and they had taken the news with good humor.

Well, except for one, Alexis remembered. Thinking of the one gatón, she looked over at the child who had only identified himself as Jaylee. And that was only because Dan wanted to know his name and age so that they wouldn't have to refer to him as just a number. The child sat at the last chair on the table that only held two other gatón, his arms crossed on the table, head resting atop of them, facing away from everyone else to stare at the metal bulkhead. Alexis knew from van Horn that the thirteen-year-old had lost his mother abruptly in the attack, and through a rather horrific way. She felt sympathy for the child, but as of yet, he hadn't had any more interaction with anyone else than was absolutely necessary.

I wish I could talk to him, she thought. But I still haven't changed… Hell, my kit's still in Tanaka's 'mech. She suddenly realized that she had no clothing to wear. But then the child's predicament overrode her brief worry. In any case, I bet I look strange enough in any human-made clothes, and dressed like this? I'm sure he's never seen any female showing off this much.

Then another voice spoke inside her head. Well, Alexis, how much are you really showing? The question lodged itself in her thoughts, and she looked over her body. Actually, it's not like I'm showing anything really private… Well, maybe by the standards of my culture… But then, I've pretty much discarded much of the more useless conventions, haven't I? Alexis nervously scratched her arm as she thought about it. That unnerves me, frankly… Have I turned my back completely on my culture? The idea was somewhat frightening, but even as she thought about it, Alexis dismissed it. No, not turned my back completely… I just think some changes have to be made. She then felt a decision being made inside her, and she looked over at Jaylee. And how can changes be made if I can't make them myself? With that, she stood and walked over to where the child sat.

The other gatón gave her the strange looks they had been giving her for some time now, though they remained courteous as they recognized that things had changed. Alexis, however, ignored them as she quietly walked up behind the child.

Gently, she laid a hand on his shoulder. "Jaylee, wasn't it?" she asked politely, and then paused for any reply, but the child remained silent. Alexis then removed her hand and walked around to kneel in front of the child's face.

Jaylee's yellow eyes barely flicked to meet hers, but they then grew a bit wider when he saw the startling blue of Alexis' own. Alexis, however, calmly returned the eye contact. "How are you feeling?" She asked gently.

His eyes seemed to lose some of the energy they had gained while looking at her. Then he turned his head slightly so that he could look at the wall without canting his eyes constantly. "I'm fine," he replied quietly.

"Physically, yes," Alexis said, and she again reached out her hand, placing it on one of the youth's arms. "But it doesn't take a shaman to see that you're wounded on the inside." She saw his eyes tighten at that, and she rubbed her hand along his arm. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Jaylee remained silent, which made Alexis sigh. "Would you mind if I talked then?" She asked. The youth remained silent still, and Alexis stood up, walking over to sit at the chair opposite of the child. Some of the gatón at the table took their cue to get up and move to the table Alexis had been sitting at, realizing that some privacy might be warranted.

Alexis sat and looked at the youth for a moment. "I know, from a friend, what happened…" She waited to see if he reacted, but Jaylee stayed still. "I know that you must feel terrible, and indeed, you must feel far worse than you've ever felt in your life." She paused a gain, this time to take a breath before going on. "I can't say I've had the same experience. My family is safe… But there have been times where I've thought I lost them, and more."

Jaylee stirred a bit, shifting his head around on his arms. When he said nothing, though, Alexis went on. "I've come close. My own village was attacked, much as I understand yours was, and at that time, I saw many people die." She let her voice drop a bit. "Good friends, cousins… People I knew and had grown up with." Pain infused her voice at that, but she controlled it, kept it from getting so bad that she couldn't speak. "And then… Then once, the man I loved…" She took in a deep breath at that before going on. "I saw him attacked, and I thought he was dead."

The youth stirred again, shifting his head around so that he could look at Alexis over the edge of his arms. He still didn't speak, but Alexis was heartened a bit, despite the reliving of her own pain. "I felt probably much as you do right now… Like something has been torn out of you, like your very life has drained away, leaving nothing but an empty body behind." She saw his ears twitch, and Alexis knew that she was close to the mark. "I was lucky, then, in that I had some good people to help me along," she said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "I was even more lucky to find out later that my love was, in fact, alive.

"But for a good time, I knew only the kind of soul consuming pain that comes from losing someone that you care for deeply." Alexis paused and again reached out a hand to lay it on Jaylee's forearm. "But through it all, I remembered one thing that made me go on. And that is that if I could have talked to the one I'd lost, he would have told me that the last thing he would have wanted was me spending all of my time suffering." She paused; rubbing the child's arm again in what she hoped was a reassuring manner. "Of course, I would still have mourned for him for many days, had he really died. Grieving over the one you've lost is natural, and no one blames you for wanting to sit and mourn your mother.

"But all the same, I've found that it's helpful to talk to others about it." Alexis removed her hand then. "Perhaps you don't want to speak now, and that's fine. I just wanted to be here if you did want to talk, and to let you know that though some of the pain will always be with you, that it will fade to the point where you will be able to remember the good things of life again. Especially, the good memories of the one you've lost." She stood then, and she walked next to the younger gatón. "If you ever do want to talk, you can always speak to me, or any of my friends." With that, she turned and walked away slowly, just in case Jaylee did speak up.

He didn't however, and Alexis heard him shift again. She spared a glance back to see that he had resumed his earlier position of staring at the wall. She suppressed a sigh, and instead turned to walk over to an empty seat at the table that she had been sitting at before. I can't blame him, after all, she thought, thinking of the events that had brought her to the place as she rested her arms on the table.

"You did good," a voice came from her right, and Alexis turned to see that one of the gatón from the rescued group had moved over to the seat next to her. She looked him over, noting his typical brown hair and yellow eyes, as well as the faint smile on his muzzle. "Jaylee just needs some time."

Alexis returned the faint smile with one of her own, and she nodded. "I know. I just hope that I managed to say the right things that will help him heal faster," she said, and then sighed. "I may not have lost a mother to death, but I have lost one…" She let her voice trail away.

The other gatón wisely let her comment go. "I don't think any of us have been introduced properly," he said. "My name is Wargo Legano."

Alexis nodded to him. "Alexis Hurano," she said, and then held out her hand automatically.

Legano gave it a queer look, and Alexis grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, a habit picked up from my friends here," she said as she brought her arm back. "It's a form of greeting."

Legano smiled a bi then, and he held his own right hand awkwardly. "Well, I don't want to be offensive."

Alexis chuckled a bit as she reached her hand back out and she shook his. "You're not offensive. It's not like you'd be able to learn such a mannerism. Especially," her voice lowered into a growl as she let go, "with those bastards who were holding you."

Legano blinked. "My word, you've got a mouth on you," he said bemusedly.

Alexis blushed a bit. "I suppose I've learned a few bad habits, as well," she said sheepishly.

"Indeed," Legano replied. "I hope your husband doesn't mind."

At that, Alexis felt her smile evaporate. "I'm not married," she said flatly.

"Oh?" Legano asked in surprise. "But, you introduced yourself with two names."

She nodded. "Hurano is my family name. And before you go off about how it's bad luck and all, let me tell you that I don't give a damn." She spoke quietly, but fiercely. "Frankly, if you have any complaint about it, you can go to Hell."

Legano leaned back from her, holding his hands up in front of himself. "Okay, okay," he said quickly. "Honestly, I was just curious. You just seem far too nice a person to be still single."

Alexis snorted. "Sure, and if a danier had wings, then it would fly," she said disdainfully. "Flattery is a good trick sometimes, but it won't work on me."

"No, seriously," Legano said, slowly lowering his arms to his lap. "Not many people I know would go to a person they don't know and try to comfort them like you did."

"Then you obviously don't know any good people," Alexis retorted.

"No, no," Legano said, his ears going back a bit in twinge of anger. "I meant, not many people would willingly bring up their own pain and suffering and use it like you did, to show that he's not alone." He sighed and then shook his head. "It's just… Real nice."

Alexis let some of her anger drain away. "Thank you, I suppose," she said more neutrally. "My apologies for loosing my temper. You just hit a sore spot."

"So I see," Legano replied with a nod. "I meant no offense, really. I was just surprised at the way you act. You're so much different fro any other gatón I've known."

Alexis smirked. "I've had some… Interesting, experiences," she said bemusedly. "As a friend would say, 'there's been some changes made.'"

Legano nodded. "I can understand. Our village was attacked, too, and after something like that, you will never be the same."

"Indeed," Alexis replied. "I've had some other, even more unusual things happen," she said, leaning back on the bench. Legano blushed a bit as she ran a hand over her exposed belly. "As these scars will attest to," she said, tapping one of the ridges.

Still blushing, Legano managed to look them over. "Scars? How did a nice person like you get hurt bad enough to get scars?"

Alexis chuckled as she leaned forward again. "From fighting not-so-nice people," she replied, then her countenance turned serious. "I was hit pretty bad, had to be out of it for nearly a month."

Legano gave her a suspicious look. "You're joking, right?" Then he saw her ears begin to go back and again he held up his arms. "Wait, I'm just saying, you seem quite well for someone who's been hurt that bad."

Alexis smirked again. "Sure, that's what you meant," she said sarcastically. "But in any case, my friends here have quite well learned doctors."

"So I see," Legano replied. "As for your other remark, I must say, I don't think I've ever met anyone who's been so… Sensitive."

Alexis sighed. "I've had some bad experiences with people not accepting me," she said, trying to avoid mentioning her disownment. "Frankly, I'm kind of tired of explaining myself to people who don't realize that things are changing."

"Changing?" Legano asked, his face a study of puzzlement. "Well, the invaders and your friends here are different, but they don't seem too different."

"But they are," Alexis replied earnestly. "In the short time I've known my friends here, I've seen some very, very different things." She shook her head gently and sighed. "Things are going to change… Our entire culture is going to change."

They sat for a few moments in silence. Then Legano spoke up. "You sound as if that idea doesn't exactly scare you."

Alexis turned and gave him yet another smirk. "From where I sit, it doesn't," she said assuredly. "If you hadn't noticed, I'm a woman, and we tend to not have much in the way of consideration in our culture."

Legano frowned at her. "That's how society works, it's just the way things are."

Alexis snorted. "'The way things are.' A few months ago, I would have agreed with you," she said as she stood up and moved a few feet to the end of the table. "But after all that's happened, after all I've seen and done and know," she paused and shook her head again briefly. "'The way things are' is not a reason. It is an excuse, and it is one that will no longer do. I will not accept it, and soon many others won't as well.

"So do forgive me if I am not terrified at being treated decently for a change," she finished sarcastically. Then before Legano could say anything else, Alexis turned and walked for the door out of the room, leaving a set of confused gatón behind her.

Not like you can keep a conversation secret in such a small room, she thought as she observed the astounded looks on the rescued gatón's faces. Especially not with our hearing. With that parting thought, Alexis walked out of the room and into the narrow hallway beyond.

She paused as the guard at watch tensed a bit, but then the man relaxed. "Miss Hurano, I hope there ain't a problem?" The unarmored MI trooper asked. "I heard some raised voices."

Alexis shook her head. "I'm sorry, it was just me losing my temper a bit," she said apologetically. "Things are fine, but I'll be happy when they are safe back at Shulana."

"You won't be the only one," the man replied with a nod. "Anything I can do for you in the meantime?"

"No, thank you," Alexis replied with a small smile. "Just call me if any of them have any problems before the transport arrives. I'll down in the 'mech bay with the other Vanquishers."

"No problem," the man added with a grin. "Go and rest then. I'll call if'n there's trouble."

"Thank you Mike," Alexis said, naming the guard. Then she turned and walked along the corridor, which was curved to accommodate itself to the hull. She walked clockwise around the ship, as viewed from above, reaching a corridor that ran perpendicular to the one she walked in. Alexis took this new hall to the ship's core, reaching the main elevator bank, and she quickly pressed the call button.

I wonder if I was too hard on that guy? Alexis thought as she waited, leaning against the bulkhead. I mean it's not like he was anything like father. Hell, Alexis, he was doing his best to be nice and avoid ticking you off.

Yeah, probably wanted to get in my pants, she thought with a snort. Sheyana on down knows that you're certainly showing enough fur to get any male excited. Especially one from… Well, from my old culture.

That thought made Alexis shiver, even as she stood up and entered a newly arrived car. Stepping in, she quickly pressed the button for the 'mech bay ground floor. Her stomach churned a bit as the car started down, but she knew it wasn't entirely from inertia. I'm still not settled over what's going on with myself. Just where do I stand, then, if I don't consider myself a part of the culture of my people?

Then another idea hit her, one that made her pause. With my father disowning me, and with all the changes recently… I don't really have a home, either in a culture or in a town. But then, if that's true, where do I go when this war is done? What do I have to look forward to?

The thought haunted her as the car slowed to a stop.

---

Mikula suffered through a quick medical check over by the Pagoda's part-time medic with relatively little embarrassment. At least I'm used to this by now, he mentally grumbled as the young woman gently prodded and poked at the wound in his left side. I certainly had enough of this when we got to New Honshu.

The woman finished looking at, and she tilted her head up from where she kneeled. "Well, buddy, it looks good. I'm just going to give the MediJel a boost and cover the whole shebang over with a conventional bandage." She stood as she spoke, stretching a bit. "The jel will let the wound will heal normally while the regular bandage will keep the jel from bein' eaten away." With that, she turned and walked a couple of steps over to a table set up in the 'mech bay.

Mikula grunted his understanding. "Well, that's good that it will heal nicely," he said good-naturedly. "The last time I was wounded, it took weeks to heal."

"Well, you won't have to worry too much 'bout it this time," the lady replied as she came back to Mikula carrying some tools and a package of gauze. "This'll heal in about a week, 'specially if you keep takin' the supplements I'm goin' to give you."

"Supplements?" Mikula echoed the word slowly. "I don't think I've heard of this word before."

The lady kneeled down again next to where Mikula stood. "It means that I'm going to give you some pills to swallow every morning," she said as she brought up a MediJel applicator and began to put some more of the unusual substance around the edges of Mikula's wound, where the original material had started to dissolve. "They have chemicals in them that will help you heal faster, so I want you to take them, okay?"

Mikula nodded emphatically. "I will definitely do that," he said as the medic began to apply the gauze over his wound. That's going to hurt taking it off, he thought to himself as the lady applied the medical tape that would keep the gauze in place. But it's better than leaving my wound open to the elements.

To distract himself, Mikula looked around the large 'mech bay. He stood in an alcove formed by several fold-up tables that had been set up in the empty cubicle where Tanaka's Guillotine IIC was normally berthed. Lieutenant Vickers had asked for a first aid station down where his platoon could easily be treated if they had to be carried into the ship in their armor, and so Captain Hernandez had had his combination medic/gunner set up a temporary station.

Mikula thus had to endure the ministrations of the brown-haired woman while his brother looked on with a smirk on his muzzle. Not to mention the troopers from the Vanquishers, Mikula thought as he glanced over to where some of the men and women sat or lay down. At least most of them are asleep or out on guard duty, he thought to console himself.

"All done," the young lady finally said as she stood up and walked back to the table where she had grabbed her tools. "Can't say it's the best treatment in the worlds, but it's gonna be a fair sight better than just lettin' it fester."

"Indeed," Mikula replied as he lowered his shirt down over the treated wound. "Thank you very much, chief," he said, using the woman's abbreviated rank.

"'Twas nuttin,'" she replied casually as she worked on something at the table. Then she turned and walked back to Mikula, and she handed him a small self-locking baggie that contained several small capsules. "Here's the supplements I told you about. Take one a day every morning until they're gone," she said as she held out the bag. But when Mikula reached for them, she jerked them away and made sure to look him in the eyes. "Follow those instructions exactly, okay?" She asked. When Mikula gravely nodded his head in reply, she smiled a bit and gave him the bag. "Sorry 'bout that. I just wanted to make sure you understood."

Mikula managed a small smile of his own as he placed the bag in a pants pocket. "I understand; there's no harm done."

The lady smiled a bit broader. "Good. Now, git." With that she waved her hands in a shooing motion, and Mikula and Senmar turned and walked off, heading for the central elevator bank. As they walked, they couldn't help but hear strains of country music and the sharp clangs of metal drifting over from the cubicle that contained Carmike's Wyvern IIC. Senmar spared a long look in the general direction, though the 'mech bay's support structures blocked much of his view. "Whatever is that noise?" He asked.

Mikula shrugged a bit, causing the pack he still carried to rub against his back. "The technicians are probably repairing some damage that the 'mech endured."

Senmar glanced over at his brother. "Although you used a couple of words I don't recognize, I would be correct to assume you mean the men working on that machine?" When Mikula nodded, Senmar shook his head a bit. "I know those sounds. The Wobbies had similar things going on during the march to Hercor.

"What I was referring to is that strange music." His ears twitched back a bit. "It sounds very strange."

Mikula chuckled. "It's called 'country' music. And before you ask why, let me tell you that it's called that because back when it was first created, it was mainly played by people living in the country, rather than in a city."

Senmar nodded to Mikula as they reached an elevator. "I see that. Though why anyone would listen to that is beyond me."

Mikula grinned. "I kind of like it, myself," he said with another shrug. "Of course, it might help that I know what's being sung."

"Indeed," Senmar replied. "So, what are we doing here?" He asked as he turned to look over the elevator shaft.

"This is a device that will take us higher in the ship without us needing to climb stairs," Mikula answered as he pressed the call button. Much to his surprise, the lights over the door lit up right away. "Well, we're in luck, we don't have to-" He didn't finish his sentence as the person riding in the elevator caught his attention. "Alexis!"

The gatón looked up at who had spoken, and she smiled. "Mikula, so nice to see you managed to wake up," she said in Lupari as she easily crossed the space between them. They gently embraced for a moment and then separated. Mikula noticed Senmar blushing a bit at the display, but he ignored it as he spoke. "Well, I couldn't help but not wake up when something goes missing," he said with a smile and a wink. "How come you didn't wake me, though?"

Alexis let her smile fade a bit. "I am sorry, but I wanted to let you sleep, and then I went to help Mrs. Reyka, and then Lieutenant Vickers came by to escort the rescued gatón to here." She shrugged a bit. "I just got caught up, and I figured that a pair of lupar like you two would be able to leave the tavern alone without any trouble that I might have."

Mikula nodded. "Well, no harm done. Where are you off to?"

Alexis gestured to where some of the MI troopers were sitting. "I was going to try and take a nap. Or at least talk with some people who won't think me some poor little girl." She said the last part somewhat bitterly.

Mikula blinked. "I'm… sorry?"

Alexis blushed. "No, don't be, Mikula. It's not your fault." She sighed. "I just… Had another run in with the way people view me," she said and tilted her head down a bit. "I'm sorry for taking it out on you."

"Now it's your turn to not be sorry," Mikula replied warmly, the tone bringing Alexis' head back up to face him. "I know you're going through something that's stressful. I don't blame you for a little release."

Alexis smiled at him. "Thank you," she said quietly. Then she took a breath and spoke again in a louder voice. "So, what are you two up to, then?"

"Well, we left before we got anything to eat," Mikula replied with a lopsided grin. "So we were going to get some breakfast. Chief Garcia said that the mess was on deck four and that we could get some MREs there..."

Alexis nodded. "I just came from there, since that's where the rescued people are waiting. However, you don't have to take the elevator up. The Vanquishers had some MREs sent down so that the guards on duty don't have to leave their armor."

Mikula smiled a bit. "Well then, it sounds like we should head to the same place." He then looked at Senmar. "Unless you want to go hungry?"

Senmar managed a smile. "Not on your life, brother. Lead on."