A/N: A shout out to my anonymous reviewer! Glad you liked it. More of a plan will be coming. Not to worry. ;)


Chapter 17

There had been a lot of arguing once the Councilman made that announcement. No one in the room wanted to send him in there alone – there was a good chance that if anyone suspected anything, he wouldn't come back. However, Arif made the argument that he had family in Center Munch and could say he was visiting them whilst on break from his Council duties. Elphaba was skeptical but it would be a good cover for them as well. Should anything happen to him, Glinda could tell the rest of Oz that the Councilman had gone missing and that they were sending troops to go look for him. Not wanting a national incident to occur might be enough for the Munchkins to not mess with Arif.

Chalumpo spoke up and offered to visit Munchkinland with Arif. Surely the Munchkins wouldn't even think of harming two Councilmen. This idea wasn't much better but that's when Boq spoke up. As a Munchkin, when he'd been in human form, and knowing people in Center Munch, he might be more helpful. Elphaba was not thrilled with the idea, but Boq's high profile would definitely be a deterrent. Still the coincidence of so many people of fame being in one place would seem suspicious to those trying to hide something.

Finally, it was decided that Arif would go with Boq. The Councilman quickly promised to pen a letter to both his family and President Jinjuria and get them out in the morning. Glinda agreed that it should not seem like an ambush but should also not be enough time for their possible enemies to hide anything. Deciding on the day after tomorrow, the meeting adjourned.

Councilman Fekri pulled Fiyero aside and promised to update his parents. If this was going to be believable, the Council had to actually go on vacation. Fiyero said he had a letter for them and would bring it to him before the man left for the Vinkus. Fekri then asked if he should ask Elphaba, if she had a letter. While Elphaba had grown closer to Fiyero's parents, the Captain wasn't sure if she was 'writing to them' close. Still, he promised to check with her himself and keep the Councilman posted.

"I need to check in with Private Schultz," Elphaba told him as everyone started going their separate ways.

"Go for it. We can meet up for dinner when you get back," Fiyero smiled at her. She gave him a look – he seemed fairly happy considering what they'd just discussed.

"Can't I smile at my pretty lady?" He asked.

"Oh brother. All right, I'll see you soon," Elphaba chuckled before heading out to find the Private.

"You two going to adopt the poor boy?" Boq asked as he came up to the Captain.

"He's literally alone at this point. His mother is dead and his father told him not to bother coming home. I think we're just a shoulder to cry on. He just needs to know there are people who care about him. I think we both know that Elphaba isn't about to let him forget," Fiyero told him. The Tin Man nodded.

"I wasted a lot of my time feeling nothing but rage," Boq admitted.

"Hey, I would be too. Your life has been changed in a way that no one can completely understand. Much like the poor Private. I don't know what would possess a parent but then again, I've never been able to understand what Frex did to Elphaba," the Vinkun Prince heaved a sigh.

"Let us all hope we're better than those before us and we stop whatever Jinjuria is planning. I don't like to think that we're right about what we discovered," Boq told him.

"You're right. I don't like it either and my guess is that the bulk of the Munchkin population has no idea what could be going on out there. Be safe, Boq," Fiyero said. The Tin Man nodded and the two parted ways. The next big trial was ahead and none of them knew what would happen next.

To Be Continued…