I am soooooo sorry! I was recently promoted to a managerial position, and it has completely overtaken my life! *cries* I will try harder to finish this arc before the end of the month!

Ch. 36

Lady Kavi paced back and forth, her once-colorful costume dulled by sweat and dried blood. She had gathered some of her best technicians and sent then searching inside of the local cathedral. The results of the triangulation were that the signal came from the bell tower. Other than the castle, it was the tallest building in the area.

"The castle might be another tower," Martis thought aloud, still studying the device. A table, chair and a lamp had been brought for him. He had managed to open the remote control and look at the various components inside. "I hope Carlotta found some clues!" he added.

Kavi nodded in agreement, then frowned. "Speaking of which," she muttered to him, "they should have reported back by now."

Martis looked up at her quickly. "Do you think something happened? Should we send another team after them?"

Kavi pursed her lips, scanning the grounds. "Not yet. We have to see if we can disarm this thing. This is priority one-the immediate danger. Then we'll gather our comrades together, and go after the princess.

Martis gulped. "Right, get everyone out of immediate danger first." He scooted his chair in and sat up straighter. He had seen the inside of a telephone once. This was much the same, with colorful wires snaking this way and that. But how to tell which wire served what purpose?

Nearby, Oreldo stepped outside of another tent and waited. Kavi eyed him and he gave a small nod. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Why is it always the youngest and brightest that have to suffer for our sins?" she mused. Seeing Martis look up again in alarm, she gave a wan smile. "Sorry, but then I am a poet."

Martis managed a half-grin and resumed his studies, taking a magnifying glass and mapping where the wires went.

Inside the tent, Stecchin circled Hannah, studying the suit. It was skin tight and shiny black, like snakeskin.

"This material is quite amazing!" she said. "I've never seen fabric like this! It's so strong, but it doesn't constrict you in any way! It's so stretchy! How does it keep its shape?"

Hannah was surprised. "You like fashion design?"

Stecchin grinned. "Well, I don't know about fashion, but I do like to sew. Before I joined the academy, I used to make all of my clothes. I still do when I am on leave. Now where are the seams?"

"Well, what about whatever this cold, metal thing is that's going down my back?"

Stecchin looked, and to her puzzlement she observed what appeared to be a thin strip of what looked like very tiny, interlocking metal teeth that were sewn right into the fabric.

"I saw some of the original members of the 906 fiddle with them," Hannah said. "They called them 'zippers' because of the sound they make."

"Wow," Stecchin said. "So that's why there are no buttons! What will they think of next?"

There was a small tab at the nape of Hannah's neck.

"Looks like this is the only way," she said. She slipped on her gloves just in case, though she knew that with acid, it was futile.

"Ready?" she asked. Hannah gulped then nodded. Stecchin slowly tugged the tab downward.

Elsewhere…

Septieme was led into a room. Still blindfolded, her nose told her of dank water and damp earth and old, old concrete. Perhaps it was a dungeon or an old basement. Wherever she was, it had to be underground.

"Sit here, Princess," she heard the gruff general say. He guided her until she sat.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice. "You may look now."

She tore off her blindfold and gasped.

"Duo?"

"Hello, my little sister."

Her brother sat before her, smiling. It wasn't his presence that shocked her so, but his attire. He wore the clothes any regular commoner would wear.

Septieme stood and took a defensive stance, though she knew he could easily overpower her.

Duo didn't move. Instead, he laughed.

"Despite what you may think," he said, "I don't intend to harm you."

"You expect me to believe that?" Septieme cried.

"No, but it is the truth."

Septieme almost snorted but knew it wasn't ladylike. "You had me kidnapped and brought into this...this crawlspace! If you're not going to assassinate me, then why am I here?"

"I want to protect you."

"Yeah, right! From who?"

"Our dear father, His Majesty."

Septieme was taken aback. She shook her head in fury. "How can you possibly think I'd accept that?"

"Because, my dear, if I had wanted you dead, you would be," Duo said, his tone calm. That sobered the princess a little.

"What do you mean about our father? You're saying he wants us dead?"

"Not exactly. I'm saying he is part of the problem…in that he expects us to destroy each other as we vie for his place as leader."

"But..but of course," Septieme said, still shaking her head in confusion. "And what of it? That's…that's what we do. It's just a part of our heritage."

"Exactly!" Duo said, finally standing in frustration. "Why must it be so? I…I don't want to kill anyone! I didn't want to kill Quintus, though I didn't have a choice! We shouldn't have to! I don't even want the throne!"

"You're stepping aside?" Septieme said, surprised. "But…but that's nothing new, either. Our father is king because Aunt Trinity decided to step down so she could work with the church!"

"I don't…I don't know what I want," Duo admitted. He paused and tried to gather his thoughts. "I want us to stop fighting, and yet, I can't just stand aside and watch my sisters destroy each other, either."

"Why not?"

"It's not fair!" Duo cried. He rubbed his eyes and sighed. "And I know what you will say. It's what Father has always said. 'Life isn't fair,' right? Yes, life isn't…but I don't have to like it, nor will I choose to accept it. Shouldn't we, in our people's best interest, promote the best example possible of how to be?"

"Our people will not approve," Septieme replied. "They live for battle and honor."

"Honor doesn't have to mean bloodshed," Duo insisted. "We need to make a new path, new traditions, ones that don't cause so much pain and loss. I know it won't be easy. We are such a proud nation, but pride is what causes most of these meaningless, petty differences that erupt into war. Even Jacques was tired of it. He was going to take you to me the night he died."

Septieme's jaw fell open. "We," she faltered, "we weren't sure whose side he was on."

Duo nodded grimly. "Understandable. But he was so certain you'd freak out and call him a traitor, that he was ready to knock you senseless."

Septieme wanted to protest, but knew it was true.

"I miss him," she said.

"Me too."

Meanwhile, at the hospital...

"Well, Doctor?" asked Alice.

Dr. Caplan sighed, exhausted but satisfied. "I've done all I could. I can't explain how, but he pulled through. It will be, how you say, touch and go for a while. We will monitor him for the next few days. If all goes well, he should wake up. Only then will we know if his state of mind has returned to a semblance of normalcy."

Captain Hunks sighed and nodded. "Thank you, Doctor, both for your work and your discretion." He turned to Alice. "Both of you should get some rest. I'll go see if there's anything I can do to help the rest of the team."

Alice saluted. "Yes, sir."

When she left the waiting area, Hunks eyed Caplan, who merely smiled. "I'm a man of my word," he said. "You kept your end of the bargain, so I will keep mine."

"I trust you will," Caplan said. "But I am in no hurry tonight, at least. But when your team reassembles in the Empire, you will investigate the matter in question, yes?"

"Find out if the Father of the Tank faked his death? That shouldn't be too hard, but-"

"That is all, and it can wait until this little story is finished, dear man."

"Very well, Doc. Now if you will excuse me, I have a team to check up on."

"Of course, Captain."