Chapter Seven: Interludes Part II

IVARIA: THREE DAYS AGO

"Once upon a time, there lived a princess and her knight..."

"Is this a mushy story again?" A voice interrupted, ringing with the innocent – if impatient - crystal tones of youth.

"Shhh!" responded another voice.

"Nothing wrong with mushy stories..." opined a third child.

"Shhh! Shhh!"

After a brief scuffle, the very first voice, that of a young woman, continued her narrative.

"Once upon a time there lived a princess and her knight. The Princess was beautiful indeed, bright of mind but shy of eye, one who lived by the rules of a bygone age. The knight was brave and strong, and if he was a bit dense sometimes - a bit too engrossed in tourneys and jousting - well, it was but a small flaw..."

The young woman spoke on, in a gentle voice which subtly coaxed others into wonder. She told them how one day, without warning, masked goblins invaded the kingdom on the day the Knight and the Princess were to be wed, and kidnapped the father of the Knight, and the Princess herself. Eyes widened at how long and hard the Knight's search was, beset by enemies and disasters of all shapes and sizes: hideous monsters that lurked in ice-filled caverns, dragons whose breath turned mountains to water, bandits with hearts as empty as space. Still, the Knight persevered, gaining trusted companions on his long, hard journey: The Bruiser, the Red Sword, and others, brave and true. Together they waged a great war on the goblins, and fought their way into a Tower with stairways that stretched into forever, and at the top of the heights of infinity, they did battle with the leader of the goblin horde, a mage from another world – and they cast him down. But not without cost – many were the fallen, including the Knight's lord father. As the Knight freed his beloved, her hidden powers awoke, and she revealed to him that as a reward for his valor, the Knight would be granted one wish, which the Princess would make instantly real.

"And the Knight, with tears in his eyes- "

"Children," came a stern voice, crackling with age and much-used authority. "Children it's time for lunch. You can continue the story tomorrow…"

A resounding chorus of protests erupted almost instantly, but the elderly matron who had shouted the warning was unfazed. Her lined face had been scowling at recalcitrant children for so long that her brows seemed almost permanently pressed together.

"Come on now, or no dinner for the lot of you!"

Before the children could decide whether to comply or to launch a full-scale revolt, the storyteller raised her voice. "I'm sorry Sister Mentis – it is completely my fault. I'll just be a little while longer, I promise."

For a moment, the Sister turned her severe glare at the young woman who had spoken, but then, impossibly, even Mentis' rock hard glare softened. "Alright, Sophia – for you, I'll bend the rules a tiny bit." The glare returned as she swept her eyes over the assembled children. "But don't any of you be getting the idea that this leniency is going to become a habit."

The children however, had already turned their attention back to the pretty young woman who sat cross-legged at the center of their group, her shoulder length brown hair lifting and falling gently in the breeze. Sophia Esteed sent a grateful smile the sister's way, then continued her story.

"So the Knight, his strong shoulders stooped with sorrow, looked deeply into the eyes of his beloved. In her eyes he saw all the fame and glory he had received during their journey, saw all his triumphs and victories. But at the same time, he also saw all the death and destruction their battle had wrought on the world. He saw the faces of all those who had lost their lives – friends, comrades, his beloved Father.

"And as his gaze was locked with that of the Princess, as the ghosts of the past danced between their eyes, he took a long, deep breath, closed his eyes and breathed to the Princess his most ardent wish:

" 'I wish', he said, 'that none of this had ever happened.'

"And when the Knight opened his eyes, he saw that everything was back the way it was, before the war had started. He saw his Father and Mother holding hands as they walked towards him. He saw his friends, alive and well, celebrating his wedding… And finally he heard the words of the priest, and turned to see the Princess, his wife, with her face turned upwards for a kiss.

"The Knight smiled, and met her lips with his… and they all lived happily ever after."

"The end," Sister Mentis' said with finality, as she clapped her hands together loudly. "Now you little monsters get in there, or so help me I'll serve your scrawny little hides for dinner!"

The children laughed, recognizing the threat for the sweet endearment it actually was, and bowed gratefully to Sophia before speeding towards the doorway to the orphanage, their high and joyful voices calling out their thanks and simultaneously cajoling, begging and demanding that Sophia return the next day to tell another story. As usual however, a few of the more discerning children hovered around the young Esteed as she rose to her feet.

"What was the Princess' name?" asked Regina, a little girl with pig-tails and a slight overbite.

"Well, no one remembers anymore. It's been a very long time after all," Sophia said, then ruffled the girl's hair, "Maybe she was called Regina."

"How long ago?" piped in Agos, a felinefolk child with stripes like a tiger's.

"Well, let me put it this way – people believed there was only one planet back then."

"That's sooo stupid," huffed another boy, his hands on his hips. "You can see the others with a zoomscope."

"Sorry… They didn't have any of those back then." Sophia smiled.

"What?" Agos cried out, "How about holoviews? They had to have had holoviews then right?"

Once more Sophia shook her head. "Sorry guys… no holoviews either."

The assembled children lapsed into stunned silence, trying to imagine a world which didn't have access to 24 hour 3-Dimensional cartoon programming. Sophia had to suppress a giggle at the expressions on their faces. She wondered how they would feel if they discovered that some places in the galaxy were like that, even today… places where electricity was still being discovered.

The shellshocked young orphans soon turned their minds away from such impossible imaginings, and all but one hurried to join their companions before their share of lunch was devoured. The one who remained was a slim, quiet Expelian lad named Laen. His oversized ears wiggled in agitation as he stood before Sophia, and tried to work up the nerve to ask his question. The young girl knelt before him and took his hands in her own.

"Do you have something you want to ask me Laen?" she asked gently, "Go on, you can tell me… Don't be afraid…"

The boy's voice was almost inaudible. "I-I don't want you to get mad…"

"I won't. I promise."

"I-I mean, I really do like listening to you Ma'am Sophia…" he stuttered.

Sophia cocked her head to the side. "But…"

The boy's words came out in a rush. "But next time can you tell a real story please?"

The young woman blinked. "Huh? But I did tell a story…"

Laen shook his head vigorously. "No it wasn't. Nothing happened. It was just a dream. The Knight woke up and things were the same."

"Things did happen," Sophia tried to explain, "It's just that in the end, the Knight wished for things to go back to the way things were."

"That's what I mean – nothing happened!" Laen insisted, his voice growing stronger. "It's not a story if nothing changes! Maybe if- "

"Maybe if you ran to the dining hall right this instant I won't turn you into meat loaf hmmm?"

Laen whipped his head around and gave an 'Eep!' of surprise when he saw Sister Mentis looming behind him. With speed that would have done a starship proud, the Expelian zoomed into the orphanage.

"Hmph," Mentis said, crossing her arms. "Everyone's a critic I guess."

Sophia watched him go with a sigh, then rose back to her feet. "I so wish you wouldn't scare them off like that."

"Hmph," the sister grunted again, "The fear of a good spanking is the only way you can get any of these little terrors to listen." She allowed herself a small smile. "They're good kids really… But allow them just a little bit of wiggle room, and before you know it, it's a galactic wormhole."

Sophia giggled. "It can't be as bad as all that…" She looked at the chronometer on her left wrist and blinked. "Well… it seems I did get a bit carried away. I've got to go I'm afraid…"

"Won't you at least stay for the meal?" Mentis asked, taking both of the younger woman's hands in her own. "You know the children would love that."

"So would I!" Sophia exclaimed heartily, "But I really must get a move on. I'm meeting someone in an hour and while I doubt he'll be on time…"

"Oho! Someone special is it?" Mentis chortled. "Well, don't let me keep you from Master Leingod…"

Sophia blinked, then blushed furiously. "No, no, it's not Fayt… We'-we're not like that…"

"Whyever not?" the sister exclaimed, "From all the newsvids, you seem to make a perfectly good pair!"

"Sister!" Sophia protested, aware that she was growing flustered but unable to do anything about it. "Shouldn't you be – I don't know – warning me to guard my virtue or something?"

"Heavens yes, but for two of the saviors of the world, I can make an exception. This debased universe of ours needs a few more quality people 'getting together' if you know what I mean," she said, sending an exaggerated wink Sophia's way.

"Uhm… I really must go," Sophia said, before she turned and fled. The sister's words stayed with her however, even as her feet took her to the gates of the orphanage. If only she were meeting Fayt…

Oh Fayt… Where are you?

Sophia waited impatiently at the table she had reserved at Auvergang's, a large, crowded, multi-ethnic restaurant in downtown Baerlon, the main city in Ivaria. Ivaria was not a major player in the socioeconomic life of the Kappa Sector, where it was located, but like many other planets with land and basic resources to spare, it had acquired a new prominence as a planet of shelter for a small number of the trillions of refugees and planetless persons left in the wake of the attacks of the Executioners, like the orphans she regularly visited. Perhaps this was the reason why even here in this little backwater, people like Sister Mentis knew her name, and Fayt's name, and even those of most of their companions as well. The Executioners and those who had brought them low were subjects of universal concern and, as a result, the constant subject of media attention and speculation. There were millions of data sites and forums devoted exclusively to each of them… There was even a cult that had sprung up which devoted itself to worshiping them as gods. Gods! Sophia couldn't even get the tangles out of her hair every morning, and some people were out praying to her for miracles!

This unwanted celebrity was why she was wearing a subtle facial mask that disguised her features from both physical and electronic means of observation, and why she had booked this particular restaurant for the meeting. Her friend had assured her that the restaurant took great pains to ensure the privacy of its patrons from any prying ears or eyes.

Of course, all the secrecy in the world were useless without someone to speak secretly to!

"Y'know," a smooth, deep male voice intoned, "If you drum your fingers on the table any harder, one of them is gonna break – and I'm betting on the table."

Sophia's irritation vanished in a second. "Cliff!" She exclaimed, rising to accept the bearhug from the blonde Klausian. Like her his own face was disguised – but in a much less subtle manner, the extent of the alteration consisting of a large, obviously fake moustache.

"Haha! You're looking well," said the once-and-again leader of Quark, the Federation resistance force. "Nice disguise too – I might not have known it was you if you hadn't told me what you'd be wearing!"

"And you're looking… uhm… like yourself," Sophia replied, rather lamely, unable to tell him that his disguise wasn't much of one at all.

The two friends sat back down, and Cliff quickly ordered three servings of the largest meal available, as well as a steady flow of alcoholic – or poisonous, Sophia wasn't quite sure – beverages.

"So how have ya been?" the Klausian asked, "The papers and equipment we fixed you up with keeping you outta trouble?"

"Yes, thanks…" Sophia nodded. When she and Fayt had wanted to assure their privacy – and that of their parents – Cliff and Quark had been more than willing to come to their aid. As an underground organization that had been operating at cross-purposes with one of the largest intergalactic organizations in existence, Quark had by necessity become very, very good at evading detection. Too good at times… and that was the source of her current dilemma.

"So your parents – ah, over here babe thanks," the blonde digressed as a large steaming platter of medium rare meat was placed before him, "And Fayt's mom – the safe house still working out for everyone?"

"Well… Yes… my parents… Aunt Ryoko are fine…"

Cliff chomped down on what seemed to be an entire leg of… something, then emptied his mug of alcohol before continuing. "Aw, that's sweet – you mean, you called me over for a meet coz you missed me?" The big blonde grinned, "What would Fayt say about that eh?"

Sophia turned her eyes downwards. "Well, the truth is…"

"Oho, don't tell me - " he leaned in closer, "You want some advice from the looove master! Well, I have to admit it's not often I get asked for advice from a lady, but hey! A certain level of assertiveness makes for a fine piece of- "

"Wha – no!" Sophia said, her face coloring a deep red for the second time that day, "Why does everybody assume that Fayt and I – oh that's not even the point!" The girl stared intently into Cliff's eyes. "He's… he's missing Cliff…"

Instantly all levity was gone from the Klausian's expression. "Fayt's missing? How? When?"

"I… It happened two weeks ago," she began, but Cliff interrupted her.

"Two weeks?" he asked, incredulously, "Sophia why didn't you get in touch with me sooner?"

"He said he just needed to clear his head!" the girl replied helplessly, her hands going to her head, "I… He said he needed some space, some time to think. I – I thought it might be best for him. He'd been having dreams – nightmares – all the time, not sleeping, not eating… I didn't know what else to do!"

"Whoa, whoa," Cliff said calmly, reaching out and taking the girl's shaking hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound… I wasn't blaming you Sophia. I'm just worried – there's something fishy going on here… For now, just calm down, and tell me what happened."

Sophia took a deep breath. "I'm – fine." Another breath. "I can deal with this. I'm just – I'm worried as well. What do you mean something fishy is going on? What's happening Cliff?"

The blonde shook his head. "Later. How'd Fayt get off Finti?" the Klausian asked, naming the remote, independent planet which contained the safehouse where Sophia's parents, as well as Ryoko Leingod, had been relocated, protected from the machinations of the various powerful factions who knew of the import of their research.

"He used that special warp-craft you gave him," Sophia said, "The one which was equipped with the Universal Cloak. There was no way I could track him – even if I could get someone to do it discretely – without going through you and Quark."

"So he left on his own then?" Cliff mused.

"Yes – why wouldn't he?"

He didn't answer her at first, drumming his fingers on the table. Then he turned to her with serious eyes. "Maria's gone missing as well."

Sophia's eyes widened. "M-maria?"

Cliff nodded somberly. "She sent me a message saying something about looking into something – a cult that had achieved a certain amount of prominence amongst the Vendeeni. She told me she'd be back within the day – and it's been a week, with not a peep from her." He crossed his arms and frowned. "It's not like Maria to be late, especially not this late. So I headed to Moonbase to check out her place and - "

"Back up a second," Sophia interrupted, an urgent concern piercing through her worry, "Maria was staying at Moonbase? I thought she'd gone to Estoch. What was she doing on Moonbase?"

The Quark leader's eyes widened slightly, then he muttered a curse. "Damnit… guess I shouldn't have said that huh?"

"Oh Cliff…" Sophia whispered, her voice despairing, "I thought we'd agreed to bury that place, to destroy it and all of the Leingod team's research! Aunt Ryoko and my father were adamant! It's served it's purpose – now it's knowledge that's much too dangerous to have!"

"You don't understand Sophia… For Maria, that research facility… She thinks it's all she has…" The Klausian shook his head. "Anyway, we agreed it was dangerous – but we never said we'd destroy it. It would be more dangerous not to have it when we needed it."

"We're never needing it again! Ever!" Sophia shouted, then lowered her head as other patrons of the restaurant turned her way. "We won Cliff – we won! It's over!"

Cliff's face was impassive. "That's what I though – that's what I still think. Maria though… Maria's not so sure. Did we win?"

Sophia closed her eyes. Her grip on the arms of her chair was so tight she thought her knuckles would pop out of her skin. "That's what Fayt asked me as well. Right before he left…" The girl swallowed once, then looked into Cliff's eyes. "Cliff… What's going on?"

The big man looked serious for a moment more, then sighed hugely and threw up his hands. "Damned if I know – could be something, could be nothing. We could just be paranoid – if Maria's investigating a cult, going to ground wouldn't be uncommon, and Fayt could just be blowing off some steam in some new gaming planet." That last brought a smile to Sophia's face, even if she knew it was far from likely. After Gemity, Fayt had never quite looked at games in the same way…

"But you don't believe that, do you?" Sophia asked him softly.

Again Cliff sighed. "Nope. Call it a hunch if you will but… those two disappearing, at the same time? With this Vendeeni cult on the rise? No… No I don't think we're being paranoid at all."

"So what now?" she asked finally, "How do we find Maria? How do we find Fayt?"

"Well, if things are connected, one might lead to the other – but neither is going to be easy," he stood up, "There's a reason I gave that ship to Fayt – it's damned hard to track, even for us – and we made the damn thing! I'll have Mirage start up a trace… It'll take some time – a week, perhaps two – but if he's still on the Soykaz, then I'll find him. Maybe I'll have better luck finding him than finding Maria."

"Great," Sophia said, also rising to her feet, "When do we leave?"

"We?" Cliff blinked, surprised, "I thought you'd sworn off adventuring for life Princess."

"I did," the girl replied, "But I don't have much choice now do I?" Then her lips turned up in a small but determined smile. "Besides – sometimes, there's nothing wrong with the Princess going out and saving her Knight…"

OOC

Hm.

Well...

No excuses. Apologies to everyone who liked the story for the inteminable wait. Priorities tend to shift and change a lot when you're nearing the end of formal schooling.

For those who are still interested, I am dead set on trying to finish this fic within the year, or at least regularly update it. I still have a story to tell, and for those who are still willing to bear with me, I hope that it will be worthy of your loyalty.

Will be cleaning up the earlier chapters as well - did a little bit of retconning too. Hope Sophia and Cliff's dialogue explains why Maria didn't ask for help from the old Leingod team - much belated thanks to intrasonic for pointing out this possible loophole from Chapter 7.

This was supposed to be a longer chapter, but again I split it in two. More Fayt Nel goodness next chapter - I'm trying to get my "feel" for the characters back. Hopefully the rust didn't show too much with Sophia and Cliff...

Again - apologies to all, and for the few who remain - welcome back. Every single chapter from here on out is dedicated to all of you