Ch. 11

"HUNKS!"

Captain Hunks held the paper up to his face just long enough to roll his eyes. He sighed, lowered the paper, and smiled, expecting to see Major Connery charge toward him like a Spanish bull. Indeed, it was the Major charging toward him, but the expression didn't match. Gone was the irritated fury, the impatience, the soldier who didn't know how not to be a soldier in peacetime. Instead, the Major was rushing toward him with a sense of uneasiness, the only kind that could be attributed to…fear.

Mercury barked and almost charged in response, but Hunks grabbed his collar just in time. He smacked his pipe once on the desk. Mercury whined but calmed down quickly. In the Sergeant-Major's absence, Hunks had managed to train the wild canine fairly well. Still, some habits were stubborn.

"Major?" Hunks said, quirking an eyebrow. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Connery placed his hands on the desk to brace himself. He was almost panting, as if he ran all the way from his office. He motioned behind him.

"Marko, shut the door," he said. Only then did Hunks notice the young man had entered the room, who complied.

Connery turned back to Hunks. "First of all, anything you say to me, you can say to him," he said, gesturing to his aide. "Now, is this room...safe?" He glanced around, reacting to the mess.

Hunks nodded. "I sent my team out a few days ago, you see, and decided to do a little 'spring cleaning' myself," he said. He pulled open a drawer and pulled out two small black spheres. Well, they used to be spheres, but he had taken a hammer to them.

"Had you found one of these?" Hunks asked. "Is that what's got you all worked up?"

Connery stared at the objects. "Damn," he growled, and quickly moved to the couch where he and Hunks had met many times before. He removed his glasses, rubbed his eyes and sighed. Hunks wondered how many days it had been since he slept.

"I hate to admit it," Connery began, "but you were right on the money with the waterworks, and hell, everything."

"Would you like some tea?" Hunks asked. Connery nodded.

"I'll make it, sir," Marko said. Hunks nodded his thanks and went to sit across from the major.

"Are you certain your man checks out all right?" Hunks muttered, gesturing with his thumb.

"I did the leg work myself, Captain." Connery replied. "When did you figure out your office was bugged?"

Hunks stared at him for a long moment. The Major seemed sincere, if only for the reason that he seemed genuinely shaken.

"All right," he said, "Before I tell you anything, I need to know what your intention is with this meeting."

Marko returned with a tray and placed it on the table between the two men. He then stood behind the major.

Connery sighed once more and folded his hands, leaning forward. "It's a blow to my pride," he said, "but in the name of the Emperor and national security, I'm willing to admit I'm wrong." He looked up at Hunks. "I need your help. In short, I want to make an alliance with you…at least until we get to the bottom of this. Agreed?"

A short time later, Lily was resting in her room, attended by Septieme's own personal physician, Dr. Jason Steinenburg, as well as Jean and Lucia. After changing back into uniform, Alice stood by and watched while the rest of the team waited outside, along with Jacques, Alan, and the princess.

As Alice and the doctor closed the door behind them, Oreldo rushed to them.

"Is she going to be all right?" he asked.

"Was it poison?" Martis asked.

"Should we send her home?" Lionel asked.

Alice whispered something to the doctor, who nodded and went to speak with the Rodelians. She then gathered everyone else close, even Lionel, who seemed pleased to be included.

"Lily will be all right," she began. A collective sigh went through the group. "However," she continued, "she will need a lot of rest and a lot of fluids. Her body needs that in order to recover and create antibodies."

"It's the flu?" Martis asked.

"Her body is treating it like it is, but the truth is, she was poisoned."

Oreldo cursed like a longshoreman.

"Hold your tongue, Sub-Lieutenant!" Alice barked. "You're on duty now, so behave accordingly!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Oreldo replied, trying to calm down, but he was seething.

"It wasn't the food, was it?" Martis asked.

"How can you be sure?" Lionel asked.

"Easy, Lord Taylor," Martis replied, gesturing around him, "no one else is sick."

"He's right," Alice said. "It was a very mild paralytic agent someone placed in her handkerchief. "

"Then the maids here have to be questioned, don't they?" Oreldo asked.

"Of course," Alice replied, "but that's not the worst of it."

"It's not?" Oreldo asked. "What do you mean?"

"I think she means we're not even sure if Lily was the intended target," Martis said, then added, "although if the Princess was the target, it was a sloppy way to do it. That handkerchief could have gone anywhere, to anyone. "

"If that's the case, then I doubt Her Highness was the intended victim," Lionel said.

"I have a hard time believing Carlotta's group was in on it," Martis muttered. "After Cavern City, they helped the Shadowers establish a new city in a territory designated by the King of Rodelia himself. Princess Septieme was able to plead their case successfully. We were all with them when the caves collapsed. We're almost comrades."

"But then again, no one else would be able to get as close to us as that group," Alice said.

"There is one group who did," Lionel said. They all looked at him in apprehension.

"Our chaperones," he said. "Think about it. They've been with us the whole time. They didn't show up when the attack occurred on the train, and didn't Mr. Alan escort the Sergeant-Major to dinner just before?"

Oreldo glared at Alan as the doctor was still speaking to the Rodelians. Everything in him wished to agree, if not for his brief exchange immediately after Lily had fainted.

"I don't know," he said. Martis looked bewildered at his change of heart. "I can't say I rule them out completely, but this is too obvious. It doesn't fit their style."

"Style?" Lionel asked.

"Right," Alice said. "It's a blatant show of disrespect, even if Rodelian politics is full of trickery such as this. They would never treat esteemed guests so shabbily."

"Never?" Lionel asked, "Even if they were paid to?"

"A Rodelian's good name is more precious than anything," Alice said. "They would rather die than be disgraced."

"But then, that poses some serious questions," Martis said. "Who placed the poison, and what was the message? I mean, if they wanted someone to die, they would have been successful. The Sergeant-Major is only mildly ill, so if the intent wasn't death, what was it?"

"A threat, obviously," Oreldo said.

"A warning," Alice agreed, "a warning to us, but for what? We're supposed to be here only for the masquerade ball, so who else knows the true reason?"

"That's what we'll have to find out," Martis said. "We'll have to question the Princess as well."

"I'll leave that up to you," Oreldo teased. Martis glared at him. Oreldo laughed and added, "Don't worry, buddy. I'll back you up. We can take turns, because I'm going to need you when we question our babysitters!"

Martis snickered. "Yeah, okay," he said, then paused. "By the way, what changed your mind, anyway? I thought you were suspicious of Mr. Alan, at least."

"I haven't ruled him out," Oreldo admitted, "but…he isn't exactly subtle, in case you forgot. After all, he fights with a machete covered in swamp gunk!"

"True…"

"And I hate to say it," Oreldo added, "but I believe his feelings for Lily are sincere. I may not like it, but I really don't think he's our suspect. Once he checks out, we may need his help."

Lionel turned to Alice and grinned. "Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, my princess," he said, pulling her aside.

Alice faltered. "Lionel, I…" she began, "I'm so sorry you got mixed up in all this. I have a lot of work to do, and no time. The ball is only a day away. With everyone in masks, who knows what might happen? And I...I'm afraid you can't be part of it. The less you know, the safer you are."

Lionel gazed at her with a mix of resigned, sad admiration.

"I know," he said softly, "and I know you'll figure it out eventually. May I ask to do the humble job of watching over your comrade until she is well? That shouldn't be too dangerous, if you truly think she wasn't the intended victim."

"No, she wasn't," Alice said, smiling in gratitude, "Of course I'll allow you to do that. I'm very happy you finally understand how important this is."

Lionel's eyes were dancing. He gently grasped her head. Surprised by his sudden passion, she held still and let him. He leaned down and gave her the softest, sweetest kiss.

"Be careful, my love," he whispered. "The enemy is often where you least suspect."