Authors Note: Sorry for the delay in updates folks. I've been moving the last three weeks and its been a 'Series of Unfortunate Events' one after another. Anyhow, resuming normal programming.

Chapter Fourteen:
Palaver

In truth, Aisha Khan was nowhere the devout follower of Erran as her brother Dash believed her to be.

The Children of Erran was her family's obsession, passed on from generation to generation, along the bloodline of each male child, from the very first high priest in their ancient past to the present day, where her brother now ruled. Although she would never dare voice it out loud, Aisha didn't even believe they were descended from the first Sassanid king, Adashir the First, as claimed by their family. Aisha was convinced it was a bloodline appropriated for the purpose of solidifying the family's rule of the Erran by divine right.

Whether or not the Uncreation the Erran were determined to carry out was real, mattered little to Aisha. She stood at Dash's side because he was her brother and she loved him more than anything in the world. It was he who protected her from the mores of their Persian upbringing when they were children. As a female growing up in the centre of the Islamic world, her options were limited, her freedom restricted. It was a situation not aided by the fact that neither she nor Dash were believers of the faith and for some, there was no greater sin.

Fortunately, as head of the household, Dash ensured she was educated and sent abroad as soon as it was possible, so she would acquire the knowledge and skills that made her such a formidable weapon in her brother's arsenal. To him, she was equal because a daughter of Sassanid kings could be nothing less. Although she did not seek to rule the Erran with him, Dash did partake of her counsel when it was needed.

While Dash chose the course for the Erran, it was Aisha, along with Krestos, who ensured his plans were carried out and their goals achieved. With the tall Namibian warrior at her side, they were a formidable team and the path towards Uncreation was assured under their direction. Until recently, the purpose of the Erran had been to observe and acquire when opportunity presented itself, the Four Pillars, unearthed at Ur so many years ago.

Since her father's time, the Erran were aware of the four infidels who desecrated the ancient city and took the Pillars as their spoils. It was her father who gave the order to acquire the first Pillar from Donald Avery through murder, a decision Aisha now considered poorly thought out since it revealed their existence to the remaining bearers of the cryptices. Realising further action might lead to exposure to the authorities, her father pulled back, but it was too late.

The prey had caught their scent.

Dash took more caution, approaching the second bearer only because the man's mind had disintegrated in the aftermath of his daughter and grandchild's death. Hank Conley's mind was trapped in a prison of bitterness, anger and regret, needing only a nudge to reveal what he knew. A number of well-placed questions during their interrogation and Conley had given Dash everything needed to retrieve his Pillar.

Then Dash had sent Conley to his daughter. Her brother could be merciful.

Retrieving the Pillar from William Styles proved to be more complicated however. Styles understood the nature of the Pillars, it's connection to Enki and Tiamat. He understood the Pillars held the location to the Tablets of Destiny and once revealed, could be used to recreate the world. While he may have considered the belief in the Uncreation as superstitious nonsense, he had not underestimated the danger the Erran represented and that made coercing him difficult.

Still, there was no need to press the issue, not when the Heart was still lost to them. The Erran had focused their attention on its retrieval and Dash was patient. Time made men careless and her brother assumed such would be the case for the good doctor. If they waited long enough, Styles might even shed the mortal cloak as old men tended to do, leaving his Pillar to his daughter. A young woman alone was easy prey.

While he was not the expert that William Styles had been, Orin Travis, the final bearer, was aware of the Erran and better yet, was someone who dealt in artefacts and might have the expertise to locate the Heart. Thus, they kept their distance from Travis while continuing to watch him closely to see if the man's connections in the antiquities world could lead them to their prize. Then, Dash had stated, they would have Travis's Pillar and the Heart of Enki.

It was a gamble that paid off because the Heart did surface and the Erran's time had come.

Styles was the first to be reached but despite their best efforts, the doctor to his credit, went to his death without revealing the location of the Pillar in his possession. After reviewing his library, Aisha understood why. Styles had made himself an expert in the ritual of the Uncreation and knew what fate awaited his daughter should it be performed. The man had more than just some ancient artefact to protect, he was willing to die to save his child, and he did.

Turning their eyes to Orin Travis, the Erran descended on the professor with every intention of acquiring his Pillar as well as the Heart. Dash was convinced with all her father's friends gone and no understanding of the Pillar or the Erran, Alexandra Styles would be easy to coerce into giving them what they wanted. Then they would use her as their offering to Tiamat, as the ritual demanded. After all, who was to stop them?

As it turned out, it wasn't a 'who' but rather a 'them'.

The seven men who meddled in their recovery of the Heart at the Museum were no ordinary bystanders. By the way they fought, they were men accustomed to danger and the number of dead left in their wake infuriated Aisha. In their hubris, the Erran had gone to the museum, not expecting to face such formidable resistance from a room full of privileged elitists, sipping champagne while they lorded over the plunder of another land. The seven had not only prevented the Erran from reclaiming the Heart, they also interfered with Dash's attempts to interrogate Styles's daughter about her father's Pillar.

If not for the decision to converge upon Travis at his home, the Heart would have remained out of reach. While they had retreated after acquiring the vital piece of the Uncreation, Aisha knew nothing could be achieved without the remaining two Pillars.

Suspecting Travis would flee, one of the Erran were ordered to remain behind and observe in secret, Travis's movements. It was a precaution that yielded success and they were able to follow him back to his new hiding place. It seemed Travis and his daughter, the blond witch who assaulted her and whom Aisha would personally repay the insult at a later time, had taken refuge on a ranch some distance from town.

Instead of a frontal assault, Dash ordered them to hold back and continue their surveillance. When the leader of the seven men whom she'd faced the night before departed with two of his number and the daughters of Travis and Styles, Dash gave the order to proceed. This time, there would be no need to coerce either Travis or Alexandra to hand over the Pillars, they would do it willingly or pay the price.


"I feel like I got run over by a milk truck," Josiah Sanchez complained as he sat at the table in the kitchen of Chris Larabee's ranch, feeling as if someone was playing kettle drums in his head. His body ached as if he had run a marathon and despite the fact he had slept through the night, Josiah still felt exhausted.

"Here, have some of this," Buck handed him a cup of coffee in sympathy. "It's fresh and hot, and it will wake you up."

Judging from the looks of Josiah, Nathan and even JD who headed off with Chris this morning, the poison the Erran dosed them with was still taking its toll. His friends looked as if they were suffering a hangover through no fault of their own. The dark circles under Nathan's eyes and the way Josiah was shifting uncomfortably in his chair, trying to get his muscles to settle was a clear indication of the drug's after effects.

"Thank you, brother," Josiah said gratefully, taking in the aroma of the coffee with relish, to say nothing about the way his stomach rumbled with interest at the scent of bacon and eggs.

"Anytime," Buck smiled and turned back to the stove and the pans spitting with heated fat.

With a little smile, Josiah decided some things about Buck Wilmington would never change, no matter how much time had passed. Just like when they were in the trenches in France, the man's prescription for chasing all ills away, aside from the most obvious, (women and lots of women), was food. Buck loved to cook. Between Buck's ability to turn rations into a good meal and Ezra's penchant for acquiring contraband food supplies, their team had eaten well and staved off the malnutrition threatening many of the soldiers on the line.

It was mid-morning and they were all gathered around the pine table in the Larabee kitchen, waiting in anticipation for the late breakfast Buck was preparing for them. The air was thick with the enticing scent of sizzling bacon and aromatic coffee as Buck held court over the stove after having driven out early this morning to get some supplies. He anticipated they'd all need a good breakfast after the difficulties the night before.

"So, who fixed us up again?" Nathan asked, taking a sip of the piping hot coffee in his mug and had to admit strong, black coffee was the only thing they needed more than vengeance on the Erran who had done this to them.

"Will's daughter Alex," Orin answered. "She's a fourth-year medical student. She was able to help all three of you last night. Apparently, you were poisoned with Henbane but not at levels high enough to be dangerous. Fortunately, she had Will's doctors bag with her, so she was able to give you all antilirium."

Nathan made a face, perfectly aware of what Henbane was capable of doing to them and supposed he was grateful they were only dosed with enough of the stuff to give them hallucinations. Miss Styles was correct, a higher dosage could have been fatal. Furthermore, the treatment of antilirium was one he would have administered himself which made Nathan doubly grateful Miss Styles was here and apparently knew what she was doing.

"She fixed my shoulder too," Buck added as he picked up the top plate from a short stack within reach of the stove and began peeling strips of bacon from the pan for serving.

"What is she like?" Josiah inquired, lifting his chin just enough to see if there was toast to go with the meal. He pleased to see there was. Buck liked cooking breakfast with all the trimmings, he thought appreciatively.

"Extraordinarily beautiful," Ezra commented, looking up from the paper Buck had gotten him at the local store. The gambler had admired the lady the night before and would have taken an interest himself if it were not painfully obvious she only had eyes for Vin Tanner and the sharpshooter was equally enamoured. Considering how Vin raced out of the Professor's office when learning the girl might be in danger, Ezra had an idea of how deeply he felt for her.

"Vin's awful sweet on her," Buck revealed as he approached the table and slid a plate of bacon and scrambled eggs at Josiah's direction, complete with buttered toast. "And I think the feeling's mutual."

"I thought he just met her," Nathan declared, having never met any woman who could affect him so strongly after a brief first meeting.
"Sometimes it just works out that way," Josiah commented after swallowing the bite of toast in his mouth. "When the right girl comes along, you best pay attention." A bittersweet smile stole across his face at the thought.

Last night's ordeal had made him remember Emma and a fresh stab of pain, not felt since that terrible night so many years ago, made itself felt most acutely. In any case, Josiah was glad Vin had found someone he cared for. Thanks to his dysfunctional upbringing, the younger man always seemed a little shy around women. He was by no means socially inept, just lacking confidence when it came to dealing with them.

"Thanks Buck," Nathan said gratefully when Buck handed him his plate of food. He took a deep breath of the heavenly scent and his appetite jumped a few notches from insistent to urgent. Besides, after last night, Nathan felt hollowed out. "Well it's about time the boy found a girl he liked, he's spent too much time alone."

"For that matter, so has Alex," Orin agreed, having seen how the couple regarded each other since their return to the ranch the night before. "Will was her only family. She's alone in the world now, except for Mary and me of course."

"Where is Miss Travis?" Josiah asked, realising he hadn't seen the lovely blond woman all morning.

"She went with Chris," Buck remarked, a smarmy smile peeking through his thick moustache, as he served Ezra who nodded in thanks.

"Oh, that would have went down well," Josiah chuckled having heard the two bickering at the museum the night before and during their discussions about the Erran in the Professor's office.

"That's one way to put it," Orin couldn't help grin, perfectly aware of how headstrong his daughter could be. Faced with an equally stubborn personality like Chris Larabee, the Professor was somewhat grateful he was in this peaceful surroundings than in a car with the duo. "Mary doesn't like to take no for an answer."

"Yeah and that's Chris's first answer to everything." Nathan laughed, catching the smirk the Professor was wearing and perfectly aware of what was in the man's mind.

"I dare say Mr Larabee may have met his match," Ezra commented before taking a bite of his scrambled eggs and having to admit Buck hadn't lost his touch when it came to his culinary expertise. "Mr Wilmington, you exceed yourself again. This is excellent."

"The special ingredient is love," Buck winked at the gambler as he returned to the table, with a plate of food for himself and the Professor.

"Now you done gone and made it weird," Nathan complained.

Josiah took a taste of the eggs and then threw in. "I think the special ingredient might include whiskey..."

Anything Buck was going to say next was loudly interrupted by a gunshot coinciding with the ear shattering noise of a window breaking.

The sound drove all five men to the floor in an instant, with Buck taking refuge behind the stove while Ezra grabbed Orin with his good arm and dragged the scholar beneath the table. The shot was followed by another, this one breaking a pitcher of juice on the table, splashing the surface with liquid that dribbled off the edge and onto the floor. Josiah and Nathan remained crouched, trying to remember where they'd left their guns. Only Ezra and Buck were armed.

Another shot impacted against the wall, putting a ragged hole in the pretty floral wallpaper that Chris must have thought Sarah would have liked. Buck saw the damage and winced because Chris was going to be madder than hell when he found out his special place for Sarah had been violated. The next to go was the vase and Buck started moving towards the window, determined to see how many of them there were. He didn't even bother wondering who they were, it was a foregone conclusion the Erran had found them even here.

Just as suddenly as it began, the gunfire ceased.

Buck took advantage of the situation, looking across the floor at Ezra who was crawling towards him. They both took up flanking positions on either side of the broken window, with Josiah and Nathan taking charge of the Professor, intending to get him out of the room and reach their guns so they could better protect him.

Buck exchanged a quick glance with Ezra, indicating his unspoken intentions to see who was out there as he peered past the edge of the window sill. In the front drive of the house, he felt his heart clench at the formidable force gathered outside against them. There were at least a dozen Erran and leading them was the beautiful woman who stole the Heart the night before.

"Professor Travis!" She called out. "Show yourself."

Ezra and Buck looked instinctively at Orin who froze in his steps when his name was mentioned. He was still on his hands and knees, crawling towards the door to avoid being hit if the shooting resumed.

"Like hell he will!" Buck shouted back, not about to trust these fanatics under any circumstances.

"If you and your friends ever wish to see young Mr Dunne alive, the Professor better make himself available to us."

Buck's reaction was instant, as it always was when it came to JD.

"You're lying!" Buck snapped, refusing to believe JD could have let himself get caught but almost immediately considered the possibility it could be true. JD had learned a great deal from the six of them since circumstances forced him to become one of their number but he had started out a scholar, who had never even held a gun before. Sure, he was good in a fight and he was becoming a decent shot but Buck remembered the ferocity of the Erran. If they got the drop on JD, the kid may not have been able to stop them from taking him.

"Shall we send him to you in pieces for confirmation?" The woman asked coldly.

Ezra met Buck's eyes across the space beneath the window and knew without a doubt, the woman wasn't lying. As impossible as it might be for Buck to accept, they had to start taking her seriously if they wished to see young Mr Dunne alive again. Buck's face was etched in worry, still trapped between disbelief and fear for the young man. None of the former members of K-Troop were blind to how much Buck had taken to JD since he entered their lives. In fact, it wasn't just Buck who cared greatly for JD, but all of them.

When JD had joined the team only a year ago, each one of them had felt something. It was undefinable and if put to task, none of them would be able to verbalise it even if the feeling was one they all shared. It was a sense of completion, as if the missing component of their fellowship had finally returned to the fold. It was Josiah who said it over a couple of drinks after their first adventure with JD had concluded, that finally they were seven.

It had felt so right. Seven. They were seven, as if that was what they were always meant to be.

"Mr Wilmington, I think we must consider the possibility they might be telling the truth." Ezra whispered.

"It's impossible!" Buck snapped, refusing to believe it. "He was with Chris and Vin!"

"Gentlemen," Orin spoke up. "It doesn't matter how it may have happened, if there is a chance of it being true I must speak to them."

"Professor, that ain't a good idea," Nathan warned as he saw the Professor moving towards the window where Ezra and Buck were guarding.

"Good idea or not, they're still out there and after what we saw at the museum, I absolutely believe they will hurt JD if I do not cooperate."

Considering it was his idea for JD to join Chris Larabee and his team in the first place, Orin felt it his responsibility to ensure the young man's safety. The Erran and the danger they posed were the result of his youthful foolishness, one he was certain Will would understand if the man were alive to stand with him. But Will was gone, just like Donnie and Hank.

Orin thought of how they'd been in their youth, how fearless and reckless they'd been. They'd sailed across the world to find adventure and returned with a curse. Ultimately, it would destroy each and every one of them, himself included. Sure, he was alive, but there was no victory in being the last man standing on a battlefield when all your friends were dead.

"They're not storming the place," Josiah commented. "They want something so we best answer them if we're going to get JD back."

"Agreed," Ezra replied getting to his feet and inching towards the window.

"Ezra what are you doing?" Buck hissed, prepared to drag the gambler back to cover if necessary.

Ezra ignored the big man and stepped in front of the window, poised to move if he saw anyone preparing to violate their temporary ceasefire. The woman was out there, in her exotic clothes, her cultists flanking her, brandishing their cruel scimitars as well as guns. The behemoth who had been a staple of their attacks was nowhere in sight and that made Ezra anxious, because if the man was not here, was he with JD?

"I believe discussions can be conducted from here." He answered her

By now, Buck was on his feet, taking up position next to Orin Travis who was stepping up to the window to join Ezra. Buck's expression showed his unhappiness at the situation but at least Nathan and Josiah were now armed. The two men were fanning out to the other windows in the kitchen to cover them in case the Erran decided to pull a double cross.

"Alright," Orin spoke finally, facing the Erran female. "I'm here. What do you want?"

The woman's smile of triumph made Ezra bristle in annoyance and despite his chivalrous manner where the ladies were concerned, he badly wanted to wipe that smirk off her face.

"You know what we want," she replied. "We want the Pillars. Both of them. Deliver them to us or we'll send the boy to you in pieces."

"You're bluffing!" Buck snapped.

"Are we?" She didn't reply and nodded at one of her minions, who promptly handed her something that made Buck's heart freeze in his chest.

It was JD's satchel. The kid carried it everywhere with him when they were out on jobs. Normally, filled with notebooks, pencils and any bit of relevant information they needed, it was seldom out of JD's reach because it was a gift from the boy's dead mother. Every one of them had heard over the past year how the lady bought it for him to carry his books at college. JD never went anywhere without it.

"Recognise this?"

"We do," Orin replied, able to tell just by the look on Ezra and Buck's faces, the satchel did indeed belong to JD Dunne.

"Good," she said confidently. "Rest assured, we do have Mr Dunne but whether or not he survives the day, is entirely up to you. We want the Pillars. You will bring both of them to us tonight or you'll never see your friend alive again."

Yet even as she spoke those words, Ezra knew without question, JD's fate would be sealed even if they did.