Bwahaha! The moment you've all been waiting for...or is it? ENJOY!

Ch. 19

Lionel Taylor stood alone in his otherwise empty suite. He struggled to understand how he had gotten to this point. Hadn't Sterling Jack warned him to not get so carried away? Loathe as Lionel was to admit it, Jack did have a clearer head when it came to long-term projects. Lionel simply didn't have the patience yet.

Or was it only when it came to his darling princess that he managed to trip up? It was a rather odd feeling, needing to hide the truth from her and yet having a strange desire to help her figure it out, too.

What to do? His cover might be completely blown. He briefly thought about going after the pugnacious Sergeant-Major, but knew she had too many people who were looking out for her safety.

Dr. Steinenburg returned with a 'sweeper' team, who quickly went to work, making any trace of Jean or the incident vanish.

How I should like to eliminate my enemies like so, he thought. They don't even belong on the same playing field…playing…wait…

"Doctor," he said, his voice so casual the doctor started, confused by the sudden mood swing. "Where is 901-E now?"

"901-E?" Dr. Steinenburg echoed. "Why, he's wrestling tonight at the arena, of course."

Lionel's smile was triumphant. "Good. And his trainer is with him, correct?" At the doctor's assent, he asked, "Any tickets left?"

"Why the sudden interest?" Steinenburg asked, perplexed.

"I haven't lost yet…that's all. The game is everything, Doctor. I'm willing to sacrifice a few pawns if it means checkmate."

Lionel rushed out. Dr. Steinenburg muttered a few final orders to the sweepers before returning to his lab, intent on relaying the latest developments to his lovely muse…or rather, Dr. Muze Caplan, that is.

The irony is staggering, he thought. A man who walked the border between being a soldier and a mass murderer uses his identity as a ghost hunter…and now is heralded as the greatest entertainer in the kingdom!

He shook his head, marveling at the sheer absurdity of it all.

If the people only knew his true nature…wait a moment…

He suddenly sat up.

Sacrificing a few pawns? Oh no…Master Taylor…he couldn't mean…!

He rang for his personal assistants and ordered a coach immediately.

Thanks to Kavi's connections, Martis got back just in time to intercept Princess Septieme and the others. He was glad to see Stecchin up and about, though she was still dizzy and needed someone to steady her. Alan was happy to take that job, but at the same time he worried about being able to protect the princess when she confronted Prince Quintus in the presence of His Majesty, King Octavius. Because Lucia was still in basic training, he doubted she was up to the task.

Therefore, seeing Martis return was a relief to everyone, especially to the princess, who gathered her resolve after he brought everyone up-to-date.

"Mr. Martis," she declared, "I vow upon my name that we will get to the bottom of this most peculiar predicament!"

Martis smiled. "Princess," he asked, "can you petition His Majesty for assistance? Once he learns the 906 are involved with terrorist activities, I'm sure he will want to fight against them as much as we do!"

"My father may be agreeable to it," Septieme replied, deep in thought, "but we must broach the subject carefully. After all," she gasped in realization and suddenly looked horrified. "The region of Cavelia is my responsibility, and the 906 were hiding in that group all along." Fresh tears slid down her cheeks. "So…Jacques…the train…my people…all of this is my fault!"

Martis got down on his knees. He grabbed Septieme's shoulders and shook her a bit. Alan gaped at the familiarity of the gesture, but held back.

"No, Septieme, listen to me!" Martis said, his tone urgent and never more serious in his life. "This is not your fault. You didn't know, and moreover, you're not the one giving the 906 orders to hurt people. Someone else is controlling them! I never thought for one second that you're to blame! Okay?"

Septieme could only stare at him for a moment, blushing. While Martis wasn't the tallest or the strongest of soldiers, he had a way of thinking that was straightforward, leaving any fears or doubts in the dust.

Martis reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, holding it out to her. As she took it, she fought the temptation to just dissolve into his arms again, but she knew she had to be strong. Besides, if the Old Man had been standing next to her, he would have frowned upon her crying at all. Despite the circumstances of his death, she resolved to honor his memory instead. She dabbed her eyes and sniffed, suddenly standing straighter.

"Very well, Mr. Martis," she said, "then my task shall be to quell this threat to my friends, my people and my kingdom. We'll need Carlotta and her team as back-up. With my family attending the event at the arena, we'll need all the help we can get!"

She turned to the young maid. "Lucia, summon them quickly, lest we be late for meeting my father and brother. Go now, but try not to be seen. No telling who else Dr. Steinenburg or Quintus has influenced! The king himself might be in danger at this rate!"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Lucia said, bobbing a curtsy and hurrying away.

Martis nodded and stood up, turning to Stecchin. "Are you going to be all right, Sergeant-Major? Shouldn't you be resting?"

Stecchin smiled weakly. "Don't worry about me, Sub-Lieutenant! I'm a soldier, after all!"

Martis couldn't help but laugh a little. "I never doubted that for a second!"

Stecchin grinned, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm afraid we have some news, too. If you hang onto me, I'll fill you in. Let's go!"

"Are you certain you want to come with us, my lady?" Alan asked quietly. "We could find a safe place for you to rest."

"No way, buster!" Stecchin declared, shocking Alan enough to make him take a step back. "I'm Sergeant-Major Lily Stecchin, and I'm a member of Army Intelligence, State Section Three, Pumpkin Scissors! This is my mission, and I will see it through, come high or hell water!"

"That's 'hell or high water'," Martis muttered, trying his hardest not to laugh.

"WHATEVER! Let's move out already!"

Fortunately, the Rodelian Arena, also known as the Champagne Spirits Arena, wasn't far. Alice couldn't help but marvel at the huge building, paved in pale, yellow bricks and lit so it could be seen for miles. She briefly wondered if her beloved Imperial Capital city would ever become such a vision again.

She shook her head. I have to keep believing it's possible, she thought. It may be years away, but I have to have faith! I must!

The roar of the crowd could be heard well before they entered. Thanks to Kavi leading the way, they were able to enter through the rear entrance, which led underground. After a series of long hallways, staircases and finally an elevator, they made it to the front row where the radio announcers, journalists, and photographers sat. Alice looked around and saw she was right next to the ramp where the wrestlers walked to the ring.

"Damn," Oreldo said grinning, "I've never been able to get seats this great!"

"Idiot!" Alice barked, "We're not here so you can place bets and have a beer!"

"I know, LT!" Oreldo, equally exasperated but trying to placate her, "I was just thinking we might as well enjoy ourselves since we have to wait for him to finish anyway!"

Alice huffed with impatience. How she wished she could stop all of it and just rush to him, but upon entering, Kavi checked the schedule and discovered they were too late to stop it.

"Besides," she'd said with a dangerous smile, "if we interfere with the main event, we'll have another riot to contend with, and this one won't be as easy to contain!"

Alice stared at the ramp and waited. Suddenly, the lights went out. She screamed along with the rest of the audience, but felt Kavi grab her arm.

"Don't worry," she yelled over the din, "it's all a part of the act!"

She heard a rumble of music, low and haunting, along with the echoes of cannon fire. A single spotlight shone on the runway, while bluish fog swirled in. She shivered and strained to see over the heads of people who had rushed to the edge.

The crowd gave a shout, and she could see a figure approach. Her heart leapt, but then she realized the figure was much too short. With a shock, she recognized the man walking down, antagonizing the audience and holding a ridiculously oversized silver lantern above his head. It was Jan, the man the Corporal terrorized at the ball!

"What the hell is he doing here?" she asked Kavi.

"Him?" Kavi said, confused by Alice's concern, "He's Randel's 'trainer,' so to speak. Don't worry; he's just part of the act, too! Why, what's wrong?"

Alice started to tell Kavi about the incident at the ball when the crowd roared again and everyone went completely crazy. She turned her head to look and was rooted to the spot.

The hooded figure at the top of the runway was in a cloak the color of smoke on glass. His approach was slow and deliberate. Alice's heart jumped in her throat. She knew that walk anywhere.

"Oh my god!" Oreldo yelled. "It's really him! Just listen to these people! They love him!"

The announcer spoke over the audience, but Alice barely heard him over the blood rushing in her ears.

"AND IN THIS CORNER, WEARING PURPLE TIGHTS, STANDING AT AN AWWWWESOME SEVEN AND A HALF FEET TALL AND WEIGHING THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY POUNDS! FROM THE BLOODY BATTLEFIELDS OF THE IMPERIAL STATE, HE MARCHES AMONG THE MIDNIGHT GLOW! HE IS! THE UNDEFEATED! GESPENSTER JAEGER!"

The figure walked to the end of the runway where Alice and the others stood. He raised his head slowly, then suddenly shot a single fist into the air. At that exact moment the lights came back on, and the crowd shouted in response. He slowly removed his hood and turned his head to look at her.

Alice gasped. His dark, scruffy hair had grown even shaggier, to where he wore it tied back. He wore a violet mask that covered half of his face, and the lower half had grown a beard, but it couldn't cover the scars that graced his chin and jawline, not to mention he was shirtless. After seeing him without his shirt in the hospital chamber of Cavern City, there was no mistaking that scarred, Samson-like body. Even with the mask, she could see his sad eyes burning like frozen sapphires.

He stepped closer. Alice's throat went dry, when she realized he wasn't actually looking at her, but at Kavi.

Kavi made a show of inclining her head in respect. He went down to one knee, bowing low in Rodelian tradition, and went to take her hand. Thinking quickly, Kavi yanked Alice in front of her. Alice stumbled, falling forward, nearly going over the barricade that separated them.

She suddenly felt her outstretched hand lose itself in his. She caught herself and looked down in time to see him raise his eyes to her, kissing her hand in the process. It was a soft, whiskery kiss, and Alice felt herself blush to her toes. He began to stand up but paused when he realized it wasn't Kavi. He stared at Alice, squinting intently and frowned a little, as though puzzled.

Oblivious to the tears streaming down her face, she screamed the only word that came to mind.

"CORPORAL! CORPORAL!"

He brightened and gave a devilish grin, squeezing her hand in response. He stood quickly, patting her head and ruffling her hair as though she were a mere child. He then turned and walked toward the ring as the crowd only yelled louder.

Alice's jaw dropped in utter disbelief. Behind her, she could hear Oreldo yelling, "HEY, BIG GUY!" before saying, "What the…?" She and Oreldo looked at each other to confirm what they each witnessed. Alice turned to Kavi, but couldn't speak.

Kavi watched as Corporal Oland walked away. After a moment she sighed in dismay and shook her head.

"Damn!" she said. "I was so hoping that would work!"

"L-Lady Kavi," Alice sputtered, "What...he didn't seem to even know me! Why? Wh-why did he…treat me as though I were j-just some kid?"

"Probably because he thought you were one," Kavi replied grimly.

"What?!" Oreldo shouted. "Please tell me that was part of the show, too?!"

"I wish it was, Sub-Lieutenant!" she replied. She looked at Alice with real fear. "But it's not! He's almost completely lost his memory!"