Plain of Sorrows

Author: Milady Dragon

Disclaimer: only the Changed and unChanged are mine

Author's Notes: Sorry, another long break between chapters. Seems that the closer I get to the end, the slower this goes…


Chapter Twenty-Seven

"You're back now, aren't you?" True asked.

Danziger held his daughter out at arms' length, so she could see his nod. "Not planning on going anywhere else for a while."

She smiled broadly…yet there was something off about the expression, something closed about her eyes that Danziger couldn't help but notice. He hugged her again, just to avoid seeing it any more.

The idea that she'd been drawn into this made him so angry he wished that the Changed were actually still alive, so he could kill them personally. Danziger was never one to sit still, and it galled him to have to leave it to the unChanged to get them out of this mess.

"C'mon, kiddo," he released her again, "let's get things packed up and ready to go."

"Sure, Dad." She went back to what she was doing, although with a bit more gusto than when he'd entered the tent.

True hadn't asked him why he was wearing his sunglasses inside…

Danziger stepped outside. He could see Devon talking to Julia and Alonzo, just a bit off to the side. The rest of the camp had pretty much shut down, and he felt as if it were his duty to get them back on track.

He circled through the remains, urging the others to get back to work. It also gave him the opportunity to check on the rest of the party; while Danziger didn't think he would be able to see anything that would lead him to believe anyone else had been affected, it just felt good to be doing something.

Various cat-people were doing the same, in their own, invisible way. Danziger didn't see N'Merra herself, but he knew she was around; he could sense the overpowering sadness she exuded, although it was just on the edge of his mind. He assumed she would be with Morgan, assessing the situation on that front…

Even though Danziger didn't particularly care for Morgan Martin, the mechanic actually felt sorry for him. N'Merra had made it clear that the Changed used a person's own ideals against them, to get them to agree to their poisonous agenda. Danziger wondered what they'd done to convince Martin to follow them, especially if Bess hadn't been involved in the offer…

"Hey, 'Danz."

He turned at Alonzo's greeting. The pilot stood there, smiling slightly, holding a box that was destined to ride on the Trans Rover. "Let me help you with that, buddy."

"Thanks." John took one end, while Alonzo juggled the other. "Julia's gear is the heaviest in the camp…"

Together the men lugged the crate to the Trans Rover, where Baines and Walman were on top of the vehicle, placing the various bundles into their assigned positions. Once they'd heaved the box up, the two men wandered back toward Julia's tent.

"Devon told us what's been going on," Alonzo said, once they were out of earshot of the Trans Rover. "You know, if things went well we wouldn't know how to handle it."

Danziger chuckled. "You're not far wrong there."

"She says you suspect Morgan and True to be affected. I'm sorry, John."

"Thanks for that." Danziger's anger returned. He could sooo sympathize with D'Lorrak…

"Devon also said that we really don't have a plan in case your friends can't free them."

"Yeah." He sighed. "The problem is, N'Merra isn't sure how the Change will affect our people. If it'll be permanent or temporary…"

"Like what your cat-girl did to you?"

"Right. With me, it's really just an aid to communication. With the Changed, it's something completely different."

John Danziger.

He turned. N'Merra stood there, looking more upset than he could ever remember seeing her. "What is it?"

Alonzo started. "Are you talking to her now?"

I don't mean to interrupt you and your friend, but I have news.

"Yeah. She apologizes for interrupting, but she has something to tell me."

"No problem. Got more stuff to pack. Let me know if I can do anything."

"You bet." Danziger watched Alonzo head back into Julia's tent, then he led the way around the partially-disassembled tent. "What's up?" he asked her.

We have managed to ascertain that only two of your people have been touched. Your Morgan Martin…and your child. I am truly sorry, my friend. I have brought this on you.

Danziger looked at her closely. In a way, her choosing of him had brought True into this conflict…yet, he couldn't blame her. "We would have been drawn into this anyway, but we wouldn't have had any warning."

I…have a confession to make…I've been keeping something from you…

"What do you mean?" He felt a sudden dread.

N'Merra refused to look at him. There…was another reason why your child was taken.

Danziger wanted nothing more than to reach out to her…but whether it was to hug her or shake her he didn't know. "What haven't you told me, N'Merra?"

The…leader of the Changed has taken your Morgan Martin. I can sense him very clearly, and no doubt he can sense me. I am quite sure he knows who I am.

"You'd guessed that, though. I don't see what the big deal is." Danziger was confused. "It's not like you've been hiding, you or the other unChanged."

There's more, John Danziger. The leader…their commander… She looked at him then, tears flowing freely down her sad face. He chose your daughter…to get even with me for choosing you…but it goes beyond that…

"I don't understand. What other reason could there be?"

The commander…he's my father…