Chapter 19

Role Playing

Heatherfield

Will and Matt glanced around the diner nervously, trying to attract as little attention as possible. They had already gotten a few odd glances, although most were directed at the woman sitting across from them. Orube was, as she was fond of mentioning, a Paliser from the world of Conestoga. Paliser's were the greatest warriors on Conestoga, and wore a tight, white and purple outfit that Will could only describe as a 'battle robe'. Orube did not seem interested in a civilian life, and so wore the outfit constantly. To say the least, she did not blend in with the rest of dinner's patrons.

"What is this beverage?" Orube asked, staring into the murky brown depths of her cup.

"Coffee." Will replied.

"I dislike it." Orube said, pushing cup away. "Far too bitter."

"Hey, you ordered it." Matt said.

"On your recommendation." Orube replied.

Matt gritted his teeth and glanced over at Will, who merely shrugged, sadistically enjoying Matt's struggles.

"Orube, why are you on Earth?" Will asked, hoping to make this encounter as short as possible. "Shouldn't you be on Kandrakar?"

"No." Orube replied.

Will paused, waiting for an explanation that never came.

"Because?" she ventured, taking matters into her own hands.

"Why should I be?" Orube said.

"Oh, good comeback. She's got you there, Will." Matt said.

Will glared at her boyfriend, who only smiled back.

"I have no business with Kandrakar any longer." Orube said. "I am pledged to protect and serve you, not them."

"But we don't need you protecting us, or serving us!" Will said. "We appreciate the thought, but you don't need to do anything for us. Your debt is paid. Just try and live a normal life."

"I am." Orube said coldly.

"I'm not sure what your definition of normal is…" Will began with a smile.

"And what's yours?" Orube challenged. "Wake up, find employment, increase your monetary value and gain physical possessions? Marry a nice male, buy lodgings, and raise an offspring? Is that normal for you? Because that's not what normal is for everyone. I was born a warrior. I grew up with a sword in my hand. All I've ever known is fighting, on the winning and the losing side, for good and for bad."

"But, on Conestoga, there must be something…"

"I was an only child. My parents were warriors, before they died in battle. Not an uncommon fate for a Paliser. They married and birthed me because they were two compatible mates, both within the Paliser order. Nothing more. There is nothing left for me on Conestoga. No family, no friends, no loyalties."

Orube got up abruptly, glaring at Will and Matt.

"And I'm beginning to think there's nothing for me here either."

Will bit her bottom lip in thought. She knew that if she said nothing, then Orube would be gone, and Will would no longer have to worry about her. Orube was a strong, capable woman, and she would do well on her own. Will could open a fold for her to Kandrakar, or Balsilide, or Meridian, and she would make a good life for herself.

And yet it didn't seem right. It had only been a couple months ago that Orube had even known about the Guardians, and yet since then she had almost died, been betrayed by Endarno, forced to serve those who had defeated her, and now abandoned by them too. It was clear just from the way she talked that Orube had never spent much time with people. Maybe all she needed was someone to help her. Will glanced over at Matt who, thinking the same thing, nodded. Will cursed her kind spirit, and then got out of the booth, catching up to Orube outside the diner.

"Orube wait!" Will said, running after Orube. "I'm sorry, it's just… there was a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?" Orube said, skeptical.

"Yeah, you see, I forgot that we come from very different places." Will said. "I've got to remember that not everyone is from Earth, and that things are done differently on other worlds. But it's true, I don't want you serving us." Will said.

"I know that. There was no misunderstanding." Orube replied.

"I know, but that doesn't mean I don't want you around." Will said. "But not as a servant. As a friend."

"I have no interest in friends." Orube said. "I've not had them in the past, and I don't need them now. If you do not want my service, then let me be."

Will thought quickly, trying to stop Orube from leaving right away. Try as she might, she couldn't think of anything that Orube would listen to. She was ready to cut her loses and let Orube go when Matt intervened.

"You know what makes the Guardians so powerful?" Matt asked, stopping Orube.

"Yes, the Heart of Kandrakar." Orube replied.

"Nah, not really." Matt said. "I mean, yeah it helps, but they've fought people with a lot more power then that."

"Then what?" Orube asked.

"The team." Matt said. "Any bad guy could take out Will alone. Or Cornelia, or Irma, or any of the others. But they're never alone. They've always got each other's backs, and they always protect each other. They're true strength lies in their teamwork."

"Where is this going?" Orube asked.

"Well, you're a warrior, right?" Matt asked.

"Yes."

"Wouldn't it be better if you could work with a team? Wouldn't that make you stronger? Able to do more?"

Orube thought about this for a moment.

"You speak with a wisdom far greater then your appearance would suggest." Orube said.

"Thanks." Matt said. "I think."

"Will, I would like to assist you and the Guardians any way I can." Orube said.

"But not because you have to?" Will asked.

"Correct."

Will thought about this for a moment, then smiled, handing Orube the Heart.

"Orube, how much do they trust you on Balsilide?" Will asked.

Irma had not truly known heat until tonight. The temperature had skyrocketed throughout the day, peaking in the midafternoon, the same time Irma began her shift. The combination of ovens and steaming dishwater combined to create an almost unbearable wall of heat and humidity. The light breeze wafting through the kitchen door did little to break up the sauna-like atmosphere inside.

"I'm fairly certain these dishes are being soaked in more sweat then water." Irma said, wiping her brow.

"The people out there are paying thirty dollars for a piece of meat the size of a hockey puck." Josh replied. "They'll probably think your sweat is just an exotic spice."

Irma smiled at the thought, and looked over at her companion. For every degree Irma was feeling, Josh must have felt it even more. He did not have the ability to create ice-cold water all over his body, like Irma did. Still, he kept his spirits up, and made work bearable for her. Now Irma was going to return the favor. With a fine touch, she created an invisible cloud of water particles in the kitchen door way. The next breeze to come through carried the water onto Josh, creating a cooling mist.

"Oh, where is that coming from?" Josh said, looking much more refreshed.

"Best not to question it." Irma replied with a smile. "Hey Josh, you've been working here for a while now, right?"

"Longer then I would like to admit." Josh said. "Why do you ask?"

"On days like this, when work just seems endless, how do you make it through the day?" Irma asked.

"Just think of the most important thing in the world." Josh replied. "Could be a thing, could be a person, but just imagine whatever is most important to you, and focus on it until your done."

Irma returned to her sink and tried Josh's advice. To both her surprise and annoyance, she found her mind drift towards Walli. She shook her head, dispelling the image. Walli was special, Irma had no doubt about that. He was brave, had a quiet dignity about him, and Irma might even consider him handsome. He seemed to understand the world differently the rest of the people Irma knew. Maybe he understood…

But he was not the first boy that Irma had thought of. She had always joked about crushes on Andrew Hornby, and a list of others. When she had finally given up her pursuit of them, realizing they were out of her league, she had laughed it off. But that hadn't stopped it from hurting.

And now she was doing it again. She could feel her stomach tighten just thinking about Walli. She tried desperately to repress the feelings, telling herself she wasn't worthy of a guy like him. Getting her hopes up only lead to heartbreak, and she had had enough of that in her life. Better to just forget all about him before she made a fool of herself again. With reluctance, she banished Walli from her mind, noticing that the clock had not moved any quicker.

Balsilide

Balken didn't like variables. Few people in his profession did. He was trying to protect people, and that was hard enough when all things were accounted for. But throw a wild card into the mix, something unknown and unpredictable, and things became much harder. Normally, he didn't have to worry about these things. The city and the people in it were known and controlled, but lately, there had become a lot of people who weren't. And now, Balken was staring at one of those people.

"A liaison?" He repeated. "For the Guardians?"

"Yes." Orube replied. "In light of recent events, the Guardians believe that it is in everyone's best interest to create lasting relationships, should the need for co-operation ever arise again. The first step to doing that is good communication."

"And you will be the one to provide that?" Balken said. "You, who the Guardians chose?"

"I am an ideal candidate." Orube said. "I have worked with both sides, and have experience in this area."

"But in whose camp do you rest?" Balken asked. "Are you a friend of the Guardians, or a friend of ours?"

"I did not know the two were mutually exclusive." Orube replied calmly.

Balken grunted his disapproval, and glanced down at the girl beside him. Selna and Balken had become near inseparable over the past few weeks. With the lack of true parent, Selna had latched on to Balken as a father figure, and the captain of the R.E.G was seemed happy to oblige. The look on Selna's face was one of hate and mistrust. This hardly surprised Balken, who knew better then most how deep Selna's dislike of the Guardians ran. Still, Balken thought, Orube's arrival was an opportunity, and one he would not let pass by.

"Perhaps this can work." Balken said. "But you will have to prove your worth."

"Name your task." Orube said.

"Bring the Guardians here." Balken said. "We would request and audience with them."

Orube opened her mouth, but stopped herself.

"As you wish." She said, using the borrowed Heart to open a fold to Heatherfield.

Balken sighed nervously as he watched Orube go. His keen warrior instinct rarely let him down, and now it was giving him cause for concern. He glanced down at Selna, still standing by his side.

"Are you sure about this, little one?" he asked.

Selna stared at the open fold with grim determination.

"More then anything in my entire life."

Balken looked back as his team. If the other six members of the R.E.G shared his concern, they did not show it. Loyal to the end, they would follow Balken to death if need be. Balken just hoped that wouldn't be necessary.

It took only a few minutes for the Guardians to arrive. Balken noticed that once again the group of young girls was squabbling amongst themselves as they exited the fold. The water Guardian, Irma, appeared to be unhappy about the timing of the visit. Something about her employment, Balken thought he heard. The girl never did have her priorities straight.

"Well you're rather efficient, aren't you?" Taranee said to Orube once they were all in Balsilide and the fold had been closed. "Liaison for five minutes and already we've been summoned."

"Hardly something in my control." Orube said.

"What seems to be the matter?" Will asked Balken.

"It is not I you should be directing your question at." Balken replied, nodding at Selna.

"I… We want the Shadow Walker back on Balsilide." Selna said. "So that he can pay for what he has done to the people of this city and this world."

Will hesitated. Technically, they had no right to keep the Shadow Walker in Kandrakar. Yet the Balsilidians would likely give him the death penalty, and the Guardians would be responsible for genocide. Will had enough on her conscience without that. A look at her friends confirmed they felt the same way.

"I'm sorry Selna." Will began. "I can't do that."

"Can't? Or won't?" Selna said. "He is a criminal of Balsilide. I will you make him pay for what he has done!"

"You'll make him pay?" Cornelia said. "I thought it was Balsilide who wanted him, not just you."

"We do." Selna said, stammering. "We all do. Do not stop us from having our chance at justice!"

"Justice, or vengeance?" Taranee asked.

"Don't play your games with me!" Selna shouted, the Heart of Balsilide beginning to glow in her hand. "He took everything from me! All of you did! I never wanted any of this, but then he showed up, and you showed up, and my family died!"

Will retreated slightly, holding the Heart firmly in her hand. She had underestimated Selna's passion, and she could feel the girl loosing control of her emotions. That wasn't desirable under any circumstances, but especially not when Selna had a Heart. Will could feel the situation spiraling out of control.

"Selna, please, calm down…" Will began.

"Don't treat me like a child!" Selna said, her voice getting louder. "You think you're better then us? That you have the right to go and do as you please? It was that arrogance that started all of this! It was that arrogance that killed my family! You and the Shadow Walker are equally responsible! And if I can't have him…"

Faster then Will could react, Selna raised her hand and fired a wave of pure energy at the Guardians, sending them flying across the room. None of them could remember the last time they had been hit so hard. They watched as Selna rose up in front of them, glowing with power. Behind her, the R.E.G unsheathed their weapons.

"If I can't have him," Selna continued. "I'll have you instead."