He strolled the darkened streets with a few of his men. Command always came so easy it seemed, even if adapting didn't. He was one of the first to make the transition through time. Part of the first team to try to piece history back together after it had been meddled with. Yet somehow he never really got the knack of 'fitting in' to a new time. But soldiers are soldiers in any time. They don't ask questions of superiors. They just do what they're told. How often did he wish his own team could be that way?
The men that walked with him now didn't ask why he walked these streets or what he was obviously looking for. He didn't speak to them, just walked steadily forward looking down every alley. He'd seen her dancing in the street and he knew it had to be her. No one dances like that. No one moves like that. No one laughs like that. It was careless of her to draw so much attention so soon. But that was always her way. She drew all the attention, leaving others free to move unseen. Somehow it always worked. Adapting came so naturally to her. She probably already had the feel for this city after just a day.
His thoughts were suddenly disrupted by the sound of scuffling and grunting. Sounds of a fight. It could be anyone. Fights happen all the time in this city. But this one made too much noise. Drew too much attention. That's what he was looking for. Calling over his shoulder "This way, men. Something's wrong," he ran to the noise. It was easy to find the source. They rounded a corner to find a loud, flashing tangle of limbs and cloth. Somewhere in the tiny tempest of flesh, they could hear the grunts of a woman, the groans of a large man and what sounded for all the world like a muffled laugh. Discerning one form from another, however, was beyond their skill.
"You there! Halt!" he called. When in doubt, shout an order. The flashing mass quickly turned itself into two bodies. The young gypsy woman he saw dancing and the hunchback from the cathedral now stood facing the captain. Both a bit the worse for wear and one fighting back a smile. "What's the meaning of this?" he bellowed. The gypsy stepped forward.
"Sir, these men attacked me. I was only looking for lodgings for the night."
Looking at the hunchback, the captain asked. "What have you to say for yourself?" Only a pitiful moaning answered him. Then, looking around, the captain asked of the gypsy, "You said men. I only see one here. Where are the others?"
She looked around now, surprised. "There was one other. A small, frail man. He must have snuck away when you shouted."
"Arrest this man." The captain called to his men who obeyed without question, seizing the moaning hunchback and dragging him away.
The dark haired woman looked at him intently as the others drew away, leaving just the two of them alone in the street. No one else would look at him that way. It had to be her. But he couldn't be sure. "I have to go." He said, pausing to consider how best to say what he knew he should. She turned to leave, moving toward the shadows of the alley. He could be wrong, but after so many missions, he doubted it. "My, uh. . . grandma's making stew." The slender form stopped suddenly and turned grinning to him. He'd been right. "Fuck yeah!" She excitedly responded bounding toward him with outstretched arms. A second later remembering to contain herself, she stopped in front of him, hands clasped behind her, still grinning wildly. It was always so hard for her to be calm around him.
She waited a moment to be sure his men were out of ear shot. She stepped forward into the light of the moon and whispered, her voice having changed in tone "Hi, Captain." Smiling patiently, he replied "Hi, May. Why do I always find you in the middle of a fight?"
"At least I didn't start this one. They really did attack me."
"And there really were two of them?"
"Really."
"Hmm." He muttered dubiously. With hands on hips, she replied quickly. "I can count, Captain."
Ignoring her indignation, he asked. "When did you arrive?"
"Today. Have you seen Devil yet?"
"No. he's probably under a pile of women or in a pile of trouble."
Giggling she replied. "So he'll turn up in time, then. Any sign of the target?"
"It's someone in the cathedral, but I can't get close enough to zero in."
Remembering with a smile. "I might have a way in."
Something in her grin gave him an uneasy feeling. "Please tell me not another Tower of London"
"What. It was a perfectly good plan then and it's a good plan now"
"It's never a good plan, May. They still use torture now."
"Oh come on Captain. Can't a girl have a little fun." He shook his head in dismay. Why can't his team just follow orders like proper soldiers?
She smiled at him a moment, knowing she won. "So did you transmit a captain or earn that after?"
"I did actually earn this. He'll thank me later."
"And just who will thank you? Under what cover are you acting?" She asked, a little more flirty than appropriate for a subordinate.
"Madam, I am Captain Phoebus" he answered with a dignity befitting his rank. "At your service."
She too recovered a more appropriate reserve. "I am grateful to you for your assistance, Captain. I am called Esmeralda." She fell back into shadow and he walked away without looking back to see her slip away. As was always their custom to do when first meeting in a new place and time. He would find her again. Hopefully before she found her way into trouble.