So, running a bit late with this. Also, expect double updates in November (which will increase to triple updates in December). Why am I doing this? Because I am so far ahead writing this that I am going crazy. (Let's put it this way. The part where I broke away from what was already written last time around? About three parts ago, currently. So I'm doing some major updating.

Also, due to the fact that Tea has once again been grounded from the computer, I will be self-beta'ing the next twenty or so chapters. Urk... Talk about double-duty. I'm doing this story for NaNoWriMo, and on top of everything else, I have to beta-read everything before I post it? Arg. Bad, Tea! Fanfiction is irritating... they dump all of the underlining for liger speak... And I don't always catch myself if I forget the telepathy brackets.

Okay, little spiel over with. Enjoy today's double! (You're getting another set tomorrow. :D)

"Lieutenant?! You're in the military?!" –Luke

Ah, now I remember why I don't like Goldberg. –Dark

"Sorylle and I were having a good laugh at Mohs' expense." –Dark

"I don't see how this is relevant to... anything, honestly." –Jade

Chapter 2.10 – Race, Double Agent!
Part 19

Dark's POV

"Welcome to Baticul," I muttered, not really aiming for anyone to hear. I spotted the duo of officers heading our way and resisted the urge to growl about annoyances, instead walking forward to meet them. The others followed behind me, and I know all of them with the possible exception of Guy were shocked to watch me click my heels together and salute.

"Brigadier General Cecile, General Goldberg," I greeted the two of them.

Cecille and Goldberg nodded to me. "First Lieutenant Daemione," Cecille replied curtly.

I swear, I'd have busted up laughing at the look on Luke's face if I hadn't been in the presence of two of my superior officers.

"Lieutenant?! You're in the military?!"

Apparently Jade found the whole thing amusing, because I could see his shoulders shaking, as if the shit-eating grin on his face wasn't bad enough. I sighed, clenching my fists and silently promising him a world of hurt later.

"It was a stipulation to becoming Princess Natalia's bodyguard," I ground out.

It didn't help that Guy was smirking too as Luke tried (and failed) to regain his mental footing. Goldberg chose then to clear his throat and catch everyone's attention.

"I am Goldberg, commander of the 1st Division, Kimlasca-Lanvaldear Royal Forces. Congratulations on your safe return," he said, addressing Luke. "A carrier pigeon arrived with a message from Count Almandine. He said you were traveling with an emissary of peace from the Malkuth Empire."

It took me a minute to remember that Luke and Van had gone to talk to Almandine after the Choral Castle mess.

Ion stepped forward then. "I'm Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei. I bear a letter from his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Peony the Ninth of the Malkuth Empire. May I ask an audience with His Majesty, King Ingobert the Sixth?" he said, very diplomatically. In fact, his tone of voice managed to lull me into 'false attentive mode'. AKA, I couldn't be bothered to pay attention to what was being said as introductions came around and Goldberg and Cecille got caught up in the shock of Jade being in Baticul as the Emperor's personal confidant.

"Hold on!"

Luke's exclamation brought my attention back to the present.

"Ion asked me to speak to Uncle on his behalf. I'm taking him to the castle."

I smiled ever so slightly, and Luke saw it, I know, because where his confidence had started to waver under Goldberg's stare, it became solid again.

"Thank you, Luke. I appreciate the support," Ion said as Goldberg took a deep breath.

"Understood. In that case, I shall send General Cecille to inform His Grace, Duke Fabre. If you would, General Cecille," he said, amending her original orders.

"Yes, sir."

"Lieutenant Daemione, I can assume this marks the end of your vacation?"

Ah, now I remember why I don't like Goldberg.

"Yes, sir," I ground out. Goldberg nodded and walked away, and I gave into the childish urge to shake my fist after him.

Anise giggled. "I take it you don't get along well with him?" she guessed. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't do well with structured command chains. Not after living my whole life with no one to answer to but Koran... if he even counts. So, yeah. I'm glad Natalia doesn't force me to deal with all the military shit on a regular basis... No offense to the three of you who are soldiers," I added quickly, remembering that both girls and Jade were in the military as well.

"Alright, then. If you'd show us the way, Luke?" Ion prompted.

"Oh, right. Let's go!"

The nine of us (if you count Sorylle and Mieu, which I do) managed to fit on one aircar, and once we'd gotten off, Luke stopped to look around.

"What's up with you? You're acting like you've never seen Baticul before," Tear said.

Luke shrugged. "Aside from burying Koran a couple months ago, I haven't been out of the manor since the kidnapping. And I wasn't exactly looking around the one time," he replied. I cringed.

"Right... Well, enjoy the sights. I'm heading on up. I trust Tear and Guy to keep an eye on you, and I need to report to Natalia," I said, walking off and leaving the others behind.

I noted the interesting additions of Noir, York, and Urushi to the normal landscape, and wondered just when they'd gotten here. We'd taken the only ferry, right?

I rolled my eyes, figuring they'd just managed to slip around us on the ferry ride. We hadn't been the first ones off, after all.

"So, we're leaving them to catch up?" Sorylle asked. I nodded.

"Yeah." The two of us stepped onto the lift and it went hurtling up into the sky. "I need to go change, and then we have to find the girl I work for."

"What do you do?"

I sighed and leaned against the railing inside the lift as I explained the full parameters of my job to the young liger. "Mind you," I was saying as we stepped off the lift. "Most of the time I just end up following her around. Not a lot of people seem to be stupid enough to attack her. Especially since word's gotten out that I'm her guard."

"Sounds boring to me," Sorylle said bluntly. I chuckled, stepping into the castle with her on my heels.

"It's worst when she's in a meeting and I have to stand there like a statue for hours. Koran would usually either nap through them or run off to find Luke," I admitted.

Sorylle was quiet for the rest of the walk up to Natalia's chambers, and once there, I made short work of changing my clothes. I pointed her over to what had been Koran's nest, and she went about rearranging the sticks and leaves to her preference.

I stepped back out of my room wearing gray boots, loose black pants, an ice blue turtleneck, and a white, short-sleeved coat that fell to my knees. Sorylle sniffed around a few times before she followed me back down to the lobby.

"They're up there," she growled, looking up toward the audience hall. I'd been planning on heading there anyway, so I nodded and raced up the steps as Luke pushed the doors open and headed in. I frowned, getting a bit of a bad feeling about this.

"The Malkuth Empire is strengthening the defenses in their capital, Grand Chokmah," I heard Mohs saying. I was full-out running, so I ended up overtaking the group before any of them noticed me.

"Bullshit!" I yelled, having come to a stop.

Mohs turned, his eyes widening. "You!"

"Dark, stand down!" Ingobert ordered.

"How dare you?!" Alpine grumbled. "Who gave you permission to enter the hall?!"

My glare, which was at a level I usually reserve only for Mohs, was directed to him. "I don't need your permission, Alpine. And even if I did, Luke's the one who opened the door."

"Settle down!" Ingobert said as Luke and the others finally made it down to our end of the audience hall. "Ah, Luke. I heard what happened. I'm glad to see you back safely from Malkuth. Then, the people beside you must be..."

"Fon Master Ion, of the Order of Lorelei, and Jade, from the Malkuth Military," Luke said, not really looking at his uncle. I didn't blame him. I'd want to keep an eye on me too, if I were standing in his position, what with the way Mohs and I were trying to murder each other with our glares.

"It is an honor to see you again, Your Majesty. I am Ion," Ion spoke up from behind me, startling Mohs into breaking our staring contest.

"Fon Master... W-we've been looking for you..." he started.

"Mohs, we will speak later." I smirked as Ion cut him off before the green-haired teen turned to Ingobert again. "Your Majesty, this is Colonel Jade Curtiss. He represents His Imperial Majesty, Peony the Ninth." And, back to diplomat mode. Kudos to Ion for his patience. Maybe he could teach Sync a little of that, since Kairi's spilled the beans that he's alive...

"I am honored to be in your presence," Jade said as he knelt. I blinked.

'Well, it's obvious that he's more experienced in royal-butt-kissery than Kairi.'

That thought, in the middle of the tense situation I was currently in, would have been enough to send me into a fit of laughter were it not for Luke bringing my attention back to the fact that Mohs was in the vicinity.

"Uncle, I'm afraid I have to agree with Dark on this one. What Mohs was saying is nonsense. I was in Malkuth, and while we never made it as far as the capital, Engeve and St. Binah were completely peaceful," Luke reported.

"Wh-what did you say?!" Mohs spluttered. "I'm merely trying to convey to His Majesty the threat that Malkuth—"

I snorted, causing Mohs to pause and glare at me. "You heard him. And I know you heard me when I called you out on the bullshit the first time."

"You—!"

"Shut up!" This time it was Luke to stop him. "All I know about you is that you're holding a ridiculous grudge against Dark because of your own idiocy and you're trying to start a war. I've barely even met you and I'm sick of you already!"

"Luke, calm down. The letter from Malkuth has made it here, I won't ignore it," Ingobert said, breaking up what might have devolved into a fist fight between Mohs and Luke. That would have been amusing, at least. "You all must be tired from your long journey. Please, get some rest," he added, this time addressing the others. Then he looked at me. "Dark, Luke, Susanne has fallen ill."

"Mother's sick?!"

I sighed, most of the irritation at Mohs fading. "You've sent Natalia in your place?" I guessed. Ingobert nodded, and I sighed, stood at attention, saluted, and left without another word. Or I meant to, at least.

"Why did you not put that foolish Beta in his place?"

I bit my lip to avoid laughing in Mohs' presence.

"By the way, Dark."

I stopped and turned back to the others.

"When were you planning to tell me you'd picked up a new partner?" Ingobert continued. If I'd been closer, I probably would have spotted a twinkle in his eye, one he'd picked up as he realized how much of an overgrown housecat Koran was.

I smirked. "I'll introduce you this evening," I said before turning and continuing out of the hall. Not before I heard him chuckle, though.

Once we were tucked into a corner of the lobby (the one where Reighn had delivered the news, I realized belatedly), I gave in and laughed.

"Oh, Sorylle, you sweet little pup..."

"What? What did I say?" she asked, looking up at me with wide eyes. I shook my head.

"Mohs doesn't know he's only a Beta. He thinks he's an Alpha. Ion's never told him otherwise," I said. Sorylle growled low in her throat.

"Even so, he should be showing respect for you as a fellow Alpha."

I just kept laughing. "If only things were so simple, my dear. Mohs can't sense rank the way a liger can," I said. Sorylle seemed to finally understand what I was saying, which managed to piss her off.

"He thinks you're just a lowly Omega! Why that son of a half-cheagle, mandractus-eating—"

I put a hand on the young liger's head. "Now, now. There are some advantages to being underestimated," I said.

"Humph. Listen to you. Growling to that liger like you can actually understand it."

I sighed, semi-good mood fading in an instant. "I can, asshat."

"E-excuse me?!"

I glared at him, stood, and put my hands on my hips. "I can understand her," I said, emphasizing her gender. "It's a rare ability, but Arietta isn't unique. Now, to use a few liger terms... if you'll excuse this Alpha, I have a zena to report to. Another Alpha at that, so I'd best not keep her waiting."

Mohs stared after me in shock as I stalked past him... just in time to join up with Luke and the others. Thankfully, none of them mentioned anything until we were standing outside on the steps into the castle.

"For the amount of time you had for a head start, you certainly didn't make it far, Dark."

I shrugged. "Sorylle and I were having a good laugh at Mohs' expense," I admitted.

"Oh?" Ion asked. I smirked.

"Ligers have ranks of Alpha, Beta, Omega, etc. similar to wolf packs. There's no limit to the number of each rank per pack, but your rank is decided from birth," I explained. "Koran was an Alpha, and since he always treated me as an equal, we figured I was one too. Alpha and Beta ligers have a sense for figuring out ranks, and females have an easier time with this than males."

Luke smirked. "I take it Mohs isn't really as high and mighty as he's acting."

I shrugged. "At least he's a Beta. I don't think I'd have been able to restrain Sorylle if he'd been Delta or lower," I said.

"...By the way..."

I groaned. "Oh dear... Yes?"

"The green-furred is a Pi, the younger female is a Delta, the elder female is an Alpha, and the rest are Betas."

I sighed in exasperation, then paused. "Wait... Pi?"

"Yes... Whatever that is. That's the rank that keeps popping in my mind, at least," Sorylle said.

"Is something wrong?" Ion asked. I put my hands on my hips and shook my head slowly.

"No, Sorylle just rattled off all of your ranks, if you were ligers, and... well. One of them is so rare there's usually only one for an entire clan. And each of the three clans has anywhere from ten to thirty packs at a given time," I said. "Pi ligers act as... well, you know the old legends about nomadic tribes?"

Jade adjusted his glasses. "I don't see how this is relevant to... anything, honestly."

I rolled my eyes. "The tribes each had a shaman, who was an elder or medicine man or whatever, right? That's kind of what the Pi rank is for the ligers," I continued. I looked over at Ion. "Pi is the only rank that can overrule Alpha."

The rest of them took a few moments to digest that information. Now that I'd popped off with that, Jade seemed to be more curious than annoyed.

"So, what are the rest of us?" Anise asked. I pointed to her first.

"Delta." Tear came next. "Alpha." Then I pointed to Ion. "I've already mentioned he's a Pi." I sighed and crossed my arms then. "And the rest of you are Betas."

"What?! That means I'm the lowest rank!"

If nothing else, at least we all got a good laugh out of Anise's misfortune.

Fun Fact: I actually came back to this chapter just this morning (10/31/14) to look at ranks because it came up again in 6.6, which is the part I'm writing right now...

Colored Ripples: Blue – Lack of Tact