From a distance, the Di-Gata Mountains looked calm and mystical, their peaks hidden in the clouds, and forests dotting their foothills. Distance cast a pearly haze across the bare rock, causing them to appear a light shade of gray. It was, in all, a picturesque little scene. As one got closer, however, the haze faded, revealing the natural dark hue of the rocks, and the cold snow that glittered on the ledges. The clouds shifted to reveal jagged, windblown peaks, and small settlements preceded the forests, occupied by hard-eyed farm families, grim-faced as they tried to wrest a living from the tough clay beneath their feet, and watching blandly as the Defenders' transport slowly wound it's way up the mountain road to Yangorod, taking the curves with caution.

"We should reach the city limit in another hour or so," Mel said, studying the holographic map before her, a finger tracing their route to a black circle marked 'Yangorod.' Where she touched it, the map turned red, marking their path from Ultamis.

Erik leaned forward in the driver's seat. "Hopefully, we get there before the snow starts. I don't like the look of the clouds."

Seth and Adam sat together in the back, going over a map of the city, planning out different routes to and from the Consulate building. "If we took this street here, we'd have a clear shot at the eastern gate. Could be a way out if things go wrong."

"Not good," Seth replied, shaking his head. "It's marked as a high traffic area, and that'd just slow us down."

"Crowds are easy to disappear in," the thief countered. "If Peacekeepers cordon off the streets, we've got a better chance slipping through there than on a low-traffic route."

"Hm. Good point."

There was a small pause before Adam muttered, "Man, this'd be way easier if you guys still had that chopper."

Mel's prediction proved correct - within the hour, they got their first glimpse of the walls surrounding Yangorod. A patrol of guards stood over the gates, watching for potential enemies while a lone Peacekeeper worked ground duty. The area just inside the two huge gates was walled in, with sliding glass doors the only way inside the city. To the side of each one was a rectangular black box - entering citizens swiped their identification cards through a slot, registering their name and caste with the Observer's Consulate. If a person's name appeared on the governments wanted lists, they would be denied access, and detained.

For just such a reason, the Defenders carried false identicards. With the transport hidden by a tall upcropping of rocks just off the main road, the four passed through the doors, incognito and on foot, into the main square.

"Lucky us," Adam muttered, looking around carefully. "We arrived right on market day." Stalls choked the wide space, limiting movement to narrow walkways. Chatter and noise filled the air, the people oblivious to the threatening clouds overhead. Snow was nothing new here.

"Well, you did say it was easier to blend with a crowd," Seth answered, as they started off into the bustling mass. "We'll find a place to stay first - the Consulate can wait until later."

The press of people cut off further discussion. Citizens bumped and jostled their way past, vendors attempted to push their wares onto unway browsers. Coloured streamers overhead lent the whole affair a festival atmosphere.

At last, they emerged on the other side, only to come face-to-face with a grim-faced Peacekeeper. The officer held up a hand, saying, "Pardon me, sirs; miss. Have you seen this man?" He lifted an imaging device, displaying the head and shoulders of a young man with a nervous, almost furtive, appearance. "He's wanted by the Questioners for interrogation. Any information you have would be useful."

"Sorry, but we only just arrived in the city," Erik said, his voice as innocent as he could make it. "We haven't seen your guy."

The Peacekeeper lowered the imager, regarding the four of them studiously. "And your business?"

MInd whirling as he tried to come up with a plausible answer, Seth glanced at the others. In a flash, he had it. Reaching out, he caught Mel by one hand, pulling her closer as he turned to face the Peacekeeper again. "My girlfriend's grandfather is celebrating his ninetieth birthday," he said, slipping an arm around her shoulders. "I'm just along for the ride."

"And those two?" the Peacekeeper asked, eyes shifting to Erik and Adam.

"They're my cousins," Mel lied quickly. "Our parents run a sailing charter business out of Ultamis, and couldn't make it, but they sent us."

The fibbing session was interrupted by the shrill of a whistle, followed by several blasts from Di-Gata attacks. The Peacekeeper looked over his shoulder, said a hurried 'Very well' to the Defenders, and dashed off around the next corner, following the noise.

Erik exhaled noisily in relief. "That was too close."

Ducking out from under Seth's arm, Mel moved cautiously to the corner, the boys following cautiously. Di-Gata blasts still sounded every few seconds, shouts now adding to the mix. A glance around the edge of the building revealed the situation all too well. A young man lay face-down on the cobblestoned street, unconscious or otherwise, with Peacekeepers closing in from every angle.

"Get him to the Consulate," an officer told his underlings. "The Questioners can have their fun with him once he wakes up."

"Is that the guy we got asked about?" Erik asked as two Peacekeepers took the new prisoner by both arms, half-carrying, half-dragging him off along the street.

"Looks like it," Adam said grimly. As the Peacekeepers vacated the scene, one bent and picked up the prisoner's identicard before following his fellows and their charge.

"New plan," Seth muttered as the four of them ducked back out of sight. "Erik, you and Adam find us a place for tonight; Mel and I'll follow the Peacekeepers to the Questioners' Consulate and give you a call when we're on our way back."

Adam held up a hand. "Whoa, hang on a second. You're not thinking of trying to spring that guy? You don't even know what he's in for - he could be an actual criminal."

"He's not in for picking flowers," the dark-haired leader retorted. "You remember when there were raids on suspected Prime? That's what this was, I'm sure of it. It was exactly the same."

"It's at least worth a look around," Mel put in, looking around at the others. "A kind of small-scale reconnaisance trip."

Erik nodded. "All right. If you haven't called in two hours, we'll assume you got caught and get out. Try not to let that happen, though."

"Way to be optimistic," Adam muttered as the little group split up.

. . . . .

It had started to snow by the time the Peacekeepers, their prisoner, and the two Defenders tailing them reached the Questioners' Consulate, located on the eastern side of the city. From a deserted park across the street, Seth and Mel - relying on the Wizard's enhanced sight - watched the the prisoner enter the building's security system. Metal detectors, identity checks, and a fast, non-invasive body search made one thing abundantly clear.

"Looks like we won't be going in that way," Seth said, staring off to one side in thought. "Even with fake identicards, we'd be spotted in minutes."

"Getting through the gate was easy with the lax security," Mel agreed. "And the Peacekeeper earlier was pure luck. With this one, we'll have to sneak in."

"Then get both a general and private password to access the central computer -"

"And it has to be for the right person, or we don't learn anything."

"Taking a hostage like we did with Tarss isn't an option. Which leaves breaking into a high-level office and hacking the system."

"Erik could handle that, and Adam's experience can get us in -" Mel trailed off, looking oddly at her friend. "Okay . . . . Something's funny about that?"

Grinning, Seth shook his head. "Not about breaking the law a bunch of times, no. But it's a sure sign you've been around someone too long when you can finish their sentences like that."

Rolling her eyes, but smiling, Mel said, "You just wanted to break the chain of thought."

"Well, yeah. You're scary when you get too serious."

A footstep crunched on the snow behind them, causing the two Defenders to turn. Roughly ten metres away stood three lean, sketchy-looking younger men, none seeming as though all they wanted were directions.

"Aww, i'nt this cute?" the tallest said, folding his arms with a gap-toothed grin at Mel. "A girl an' her beau, talkin' sweet onna parkbench in the snowfall. Real, real sweet that is."

"C'mon then, little lady," a second male piped up, tossing a clumsy wink. "Ditch Darkielocks there, an' the three of us'll show y'just how sweet we c'n be."

"No thanks," the Wizard said casually. "I'm fine right here."

The third man snickered. "Poor kid don' know who she's dealin' with, does she, Boss?"

"That she don't, Rindle," Boss said, grinning to himself. Reaching inside his tattered jacket, he produced an identicard, which he flashed in the air. "You kids reco'nize the henge on there, right?"

"Yan-Ogama," Seth answered with a nod, before turning to look at Mel. "These Observers really are everywhere, aren't they."

"Bad things come in threes," she said solemnly, brushing a few snowflakes from her bangs. "Although I doubt these guys are bright enough to be actual Observers. They tend to at least have positive numbers for an IQ, unlike our friends here."

"Bein' an Observer don' take no fancy eddication," the second man snapped. "Bein' a member o' the Sigilscars, that takes brains."

Seth gave a quiet snort of derision. "The Consulate here is hiring street gangs as Observers? They might as well make a squirrel the Minister of Finance."

"The squirrel would probably do a better job than these guys too," Mel remarked.

Drawing stones from his pocket, red-faced with anger, Boss glowered at his two victims. "All right, enough stallin'. Get up, both of ya - we're bringin' both of youse in, and collectin' all the reward money y'got on your 'eads." As they stood, Seth surreptitiously tapped Mel twice on the arm; a signal to break left the minute an opportunity presented itself. "The thing is, Defenders, " Boss almost spat the word. "You were real stupid an' got yourselves inna bunch o' trouble, and that made the Council real mad. So they're payin' good, hard-workin' people like me and the boys t'bring you in, see?"

"Oh, we see all right," Mel answered, looking back over her shoulder at the Questioners' Consulate. A small group of officious-looking people had come out, and were marching hurriedly in their direction - backup for the Sigilscars.

"Don' be gettin' ideas about runnin', magic girl," the third gang member said, advancing a few steps. "The price for you by y'self is nice an' high, an' we aim to collect." His eyes hardened. "No matter what."

Seth grinned. "Oh, don't worry about her. She wasn't thinking about running. She's already past that."

Together, the two of them sprinted left, sticking to the winding footpath to avoid the deepening snow that would only slow them down. Shouts and stomping feet broke out behind them as their enemies gave chase. A louder yell rose above the others. "Sumshock!" Bright blue lightning pounced from behind, striking Mel's legs. With a cry of surprise, she fell, momentum causing her to roll for a short distance.

"Mel!" Skidding to a stop, Seth turned back to help his friend.

"Get going," she told him. "Better just one of us than both, right? Go get Erik and Adam, break into the Consulate, and fine the information we need." She shrugged. "If I'm lucky, I'll find Rion on my end."

"Quit being noble," he shot back. "Can you stand?"

She shook her head. "It was a paralysation attack. Those guys know their job."

"You know what Questioners do to people," he snapped, running a hand back through his hair in frustration. "You'll be lucky to survive long enough to make it to Amos-Yan, let alone find Rion." He looked up at the mob getting closer, plans of attack starting to form. "If -"

Mel glared at him. "Listen up, you dako-brainer, you are going to go find the others and complete the plan. Got it?" Seth opened his mouth to protest, but her hand pressed against his chest, an eruption of energy flinging him back several metres. Rolling to his feet, he looked up in time to see the first officers reach Mel, others heading for him.

Swearing under his breath, he bolted.