Chapter 17

"He what!"

Jack's voice rose in crescendo as Ebony finally explained the scene he had observed as he arrived in the Mall. They had spent the best part of the day just talking over what had happened in the past four months: Ebony's reaction to his sudden departure; the hidden valley of the Amazons; Ebony's vision of Bray and return to the mall; Jetta's illness; Ebony's discovery of her pregnancy; Hope's growing attachment to her father's hair; KC and Salene's arrivals; Jetta's death and funeral; Ebony's treatment by Ellie and the other Mallrats; Jack, Alice and Morgaine's journey to the city with Hope; Lex's proposal. There had been a lot to talk about, there still was, but this last revelation was the one that had thrown Jack off balance.

"He just wanted the chance to be a dad," Ebony explained rising to her feet and stepping towards Jack. "You know how Lex is about kids."

"Not as much as you do, obviously!" Jack took a step back.

"What does that mean?" Ebony heard her own voice rise indignantly.

"Just that you two seem to have got pretty close while I was gone. Much closer than you were when I left!"

"But you did just that, didn't you, Jack?" The old warrior queen started to show through as Ebony's tone became icy. "You left! You disappeared one night four months ago then showed up today expecting what exactly? That I had sat here waiting for you, not letting anyone else anywhere near me, not talking to anyone? There is nothing between Lex and myself other than friendship. He was there when I needed him, as was Paul and, lately, Salene. You weren't!"

"Yeah and he certainly made use of the fact!"

"How dare you!" Ebony yelled, slapping Jack hard across the face so that he reeled back, blinking. "You abandoned me! You left in the night! Then a month or so later I figure out I'm carrying your child. Not only this, but I'm stuck here in this mall with goldilocks and the three bores, a mad tree-hugger and a variety of other oddballs who can't stand the sight of me. I have three people here who can actually stand to be around me and you want to deny me them? How dare you? What right do you think you have? I thought you were dead! I thought you were gone for good and I would have to bring up your child on my own in a mall full of enemies in a city where I can't be sure it's even safe to go outside! Then you come back here, surrounded by women I might add, like nothing has happened, and you get angry at me for having friends! One of whom is so noble he offered to try and put right what you messed up!"

"There is nothing noble about Lex!"

"Get out," Ebony's voice dropped to a low, venomous hiss. "I can't talk to you right now. I can't even look at you!"

"What?" Jack started forwards, confused, grabbing Ebony's arm as she turned away.

"Get OUT!" Ebony yelled, pushing him away from her and turning her back on him as he fell to the floor.

Jack scrambled to his feet and left the room, rage still colouring his face. Maybe he'd been a little harsh, but he knew Lex as the guy who'd pushed him around as a kid, made fun of him, broken his inventions and stolen anything he thought he could sell. Now he was after Ebony and Ebony didn't seem to mind. The scene he'd witnessed as he'd walked into the mall played though his mind over and over again. What if he hadn't spoken up then? Would she have accepted his offer? If Jetta had lived just a little longer, or if he had gone to Liberty first, would he have come back to find them happily married and planning to raise his child together. From what he had seen so far, it looked like they were already planning that at least. Even if she had turned him down first time, how long would it have taken her to give in and marry him? Was that even the first time? He hadn't heard Lex propose as such, but Ebony had caught his drift fairly quickly. Had they been talking about this before? Had he gradually been wearing her down? Persuading her that he, Jack, was dead and would never return? Was that why she had sounded so sure there was something to 'replace'? He stormed into the cafe still in a rage and headed straight for Lex as he stood introducing Morgaine to Amber and Jay.

Morgaine was the first of the small group to see Jack heading for them. Seeing the look on his face, she nudged Lex. The ex-sherrif half-turned just in time to see Jack's fist heading for him. Lex ducked and Morgaine stepped back, but Jay wasn't quick enough and Jack's blow caught the taller man on the chin, flooring him. Amber, standing on Jay's other side, let out a small scream and passed her son to Trudy before crouching to check on an unconscious Jay. Morgaine, quicker than most, captured Jack in an arm lock that forced him to his knees. As the storm cleared, Jack's face regained its usual colour and he bit his lip as he saw Amber leaning over Jay.

"S-sorry," he said quietly.

"Sorry doesn't quite cover it Jack!" Amber snapped. "You can't just walk in from nowhere and start punching people!"

"I wasn't aiming for him!" Jack's voice lowered to a growl and he winced as he felt Morgaine twist his arm a little more. "Okay, okay, I'll behave! Let me up!"

Morgaine let go, but made sure she positioned herself between Jack and Lex. Alice flung a cup of water on Jay's face and the blonde man spluttered and woke up.

"Jack!" Jay cried, noticing the red-haired young man for the first time. "You're back!"

****

"The queen bids you halt your attack, sire," the hooded messenger cried hurriedly as he entered the darkened building.

"The queen dares to give me an order?"

Firelight sparkled off the enthroned figure's rectangular glasses. He crossed his legs, lazily propping one ankle on the other knee and leaning back in his chair. The messenger could see the movement of his hands as he gestured servants away before steepling his fingers and continuing in the calm, drawling tones he had always used.

"And what," he said, emphasising the latter word carefully, "could be so important that she risked sending you out before dark? I hope you have been careful: I wouldn't want to have to sacrifice you to retain our cover here."

"I was careful sire," the messenger affirmed, "The queen sent me to say that circumstances at the mall have changed drastically. He has returned, bringing with him one our queen knows to be a strong fighter and one who is unknown to her, but was introduced to her as a skilled warrior of a tribe known as the Amazons."

"Have you heard of this tribe before?"

"Yes, sire. They are strong, even those not counted as warriors. If this woman is who she claims to be, she poses a great threat. Our queen suggests a distraction, something to take the mallrats away from the mall - split their forces."

"Divide and conquer. Your queen was taught well. What does she suggest?"

"Loyalty amongst the Mallrats is both their greatest strength and greatest weakness, as our queen well knows. She suggests we distract them by removing one of their own. The constant raids around the city will ensure that it is the stronger fighters who are included in the search party while the weaker ones are left within the defences of the mall."

"A kidnapping. Good. Does our queen have a preferred target?"

"There is a child who has recently arrived at the mall - his child - and is as yet unused to the other Mallrats. In addition, they are also unfamiliar with the child. Her father will be distracted with the renegade for the next few days. Our queen suggests that we kidnap the child while she is being watched by someone other than her father. She would prefer to be there herself at the time, but cannot be sure of this being the case. She suggests the sewer entrance as the weakest point. Apparently the Mallrats have been taking it in turns to patrol it as there is a problem with the alarm on it, however they are becoming lax about this as the raids move further from the mall."

"Good. Our queen has done well. Watch the child's movements closely tomorrow and return with the details. We will discuss this more tomorrow. The kidnapping will take place the day after."

"Will there be anything else, sire?"

"No," the glasses glinted as the young man unfolded his limbs and rose to his feet. "That will be all, Luke."