Chapter XIV

"I feel like a wet noodle," Gwen said as she flopped down on the big bed.  Randi laughed at her and pulled their bag from the closet, carefully packing up their few belongings.

"So this was a good idea then?"

"This was a great idea.  I didn't know I was carrying so much stress until it was gone.  Here, let me help," she added, rolling from the bed and heading to the bathroom to grab their toiletries.

"You don't...." Randi started before realizing it was a lost cause. 

"I know I don't," Gwen said when she emerged.  "But this marriage is a partnership.  We share everything – good and bad."  Randi sat down on the bed; those words hit her in an unexpectedly deep place.  Gwen looked up in startlement at the still, unmoving figure.  She put the toiletries down and moved to take a seat beside Randi, clasping her hand and pulling it into her lap.  "Love?  You all right?"

The dark head nodded slowly as blue eyes turned to capture green.  “I just... I was just thinking about what you said – about what that means for you."

Blonde brows furrowed.  "What do you think it means for me, Sweetheart?"

"I think it means you got a lot more darkness than you bargained for," said succinctly.

"I think it means I got my soul's other half."  She lifted up the linked hands and kissed Randi's long fingers one at a time.  "Now unless you want me to start something we really don't have time to finish right now, we need to get moving.  I'd like to be home when Tiny and Reed arrive."

Randi leaned over and stole a quick kiss, chuckling when Gwen followed her back.  "I thought you said we needed to get a move on," the warrior said against Gwen's lips.  She felt the bard smile.

"Yes, but that's not something we do halfway, either."

"An all or nothing kind of thing?"

"Yep, and I prefer the all method myself."  They kissed once more – quickly but thoroughly.

"Me too," Randi agreed as she pulled away.  "C'mon... before we get into any more trouble."

"Before WE get into trouble??  Excuse me, warrior mine – as I recall I am not the trouble maker in this family."

Randi stood to her full height and glowered down at Gwen though she couldn't quite hide the twinkle sparkling in her eyes.  "As you insinuating that I am a troublemaker?"

"I'm not insinuating anything.  That was a flat out statement of fact."

"Why you little...." reaching for Gwen and deliberately missing so she would run and Randi could give chase.  She was flummoxed when Gwen stopped suddenly, hands on her hips and eyes narrowed to slits.  Randi froze, then reflexively took a stride back.

"Did you just make a short joke?" taking a menacing step towards Randi.

Randi shook her head rapidly.  "No... I'm not allowed to make jokes.  It goes against the warrior code."

Gwen didn't answer verbally; her eyebrow rose in response as her mind reviewed the times Randi had played practical jokes or deadpanned unexpected funny puns.  Randi could see the machinations going on behind the bright green eyes and figured she'd better get while the getting was good.  She snatched up their travel bag and started out the door with Gwen hot on her heels.  "I’m gonna get you for that, Stud."

Randi smirked.  "Oh, I'm counting on that, Little One," taking off down the halls, but not before Gwen got in a good pinch to her backside.  "HEY!"

They were a little more than halfway home, and Randi was pleasantly distracted by Gwen's hands.  Periodically they would lovingly rub over the spot she had pinched, and Randi was forced to focus more of her senses on maintaining the bike and driving than she normally would have been.  It was the only explanation she could find for being caught so off guard by what happened next.

The road was well shaded with old oaks, and it made a perfect cover for a covert Fringe Amazon operation.  She felt them more than saw them, but it wasn’t quick enough to avoid their attack and she had no weapons to combat them while on the bike – not with Gwen to protect anyway.  From the trees and without warning, arrows began raining down on them.  Randi did her best to avoid them.  One stuck in her thigh and she grimaced.  That was going to be a real bitch to pull out later.  Gwen tightened her grip suddenly and released a muffled cry just before Randi felt the arrow pierce her right shoulder.  Then Gwen’s grip started to slacken and Randi realized she must have been hit.

The arrow shower stopped as quickly as it began, and Randi’s Sabre instincts came screaming to the fore.  Now the Amazons were coming after them.  She needed to find a place she could defend and protect Gwen at the same time.  Randi knew she couldn’t let her assailants dictate the terms of their fight so she turned the bike off the road and into the field.  There were trees there, but they were sparse and spread out.  Randi would choose one to defend and make them come to her.

The Amazons, seeing that they had injured both women, were celebrating despite the fact that Randi had unexpectedly turned away from them instead of fighting.  They quickly made haste to follow her, each determined to be know as the one who had destroyed Miranda Valiant.  Ultimately it would be that mindset that saved the warrior’s life.

Randi slipped into Sabre mode and stopped the bike by the large, lone tree in the middle of the pasture.  She hissed in pain as she separated herself from Gwen, pulling the arrow out of her shoulder and turning to catch Gwen as she slumped forward with a whimper.

“I’m sorry, Love,” Randi whispered.  “I know it hurts, but we’ve gotta get under cover before I can do anything about it.”

Green eyes glazed over with pain blinked up into darkened blue.  “S’all right, Stud,” she slurred.  I un’erstan’.” 

“Can you stay awake for me for just another minute?”  Randi waited for Gwen to nod.  “Good girl.  Hang on.  I’ll be right back.”

The warrior gritted her teeth and slid off the bike, then started digging through the saddlebags.  Some Sabre habits were so ingrained in her psyche that she didn’t even think about them anymore.  One of those habits was that she always carried a first aid kit with her.  Another was that she never traveled without accessible weapons.  It was those two habits that she was now giving thanks for even as she searched her bags for the items she needed.  When Randi found the items she was looking for she took a minute to arm herself.  The short staff was hooked on a belt loop; the flash grenades stuffed in the oversized pockets of her pants.  The throwing stars she left in their pouch and tied it off to another belt loop. 

“Ran’i?”  Gwen’s soft call got her attention immediately.  “I f’l funny.”

“Hang on, Sweetheart.”

Randi took her jacket off and reached down to her thigh, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before breaking off the arrow that jutted out from deep in her leg.  She groaned and bit her lip, willing the world to steady.  Then she fashioned a tourniquet and tied it around her leg, praying it would be enough til she could take care of it properly.  There was nothing she could do about the wound in her shoulder, and she could feel the blood trickling down her back.

Shaking her head, she turned to Gwen who slumped in her arms.  “Ran’i, i’s all dark ‘n’ fuzzy.”

“I know, Love.  I’m sorry.  And what I’ve gotta do now is gonna hurt a lot.”

“Wha...?”

“I’ve gotta break the arrow off so I can push it through and bandage it up.”  Randi felt Gwen shudder in anticipation of the pain she knew was coming.  “I’m sorry, Sweetheart.  I’ll be as quick as I can.  Here,” handing the bard the arm of her jacket.  “Bite on this.”

Gwen did and Randi broke off the head, catching Gwen when she passed out.  Then she pushed the arrow through, knowing the Amazons were approaching by the sounds audible in her peripheral hearing.  Randi slapped on two pressure bandages and put Gwen over her shoulder, groaning at the added pressure it put on her wounds.  Then she struggled to get them both into the tree, knowing Gwen would be out of harm’s way there.  Randi found a place that had several branches tangled together, and she gently deposited Gwen into the center.  She slid her belt off and looped it around her, securing Gwen to the tree.  Then Randi’s eyes shuttered and she became the feral hunter.

The Amazons had arrived within a visible perimeter and were now at a loss of how to proceed.  Though most conventional weapons were available to them through every sort of illegal means, they were in very short supply.  Therefore they and all the rebel groups tended to rely on the more traditional weapons their forefathers and mothers had used.  In the case of the Amazons, their most customary weapon was the crossbow though there were some chobos, a few swords and a spear among the gathered group.  Finally it dawned on them that there were fifteen of them and only one Miranda Valiant, and they began to advance as a group through the tall grasses.  Unfortunately it never occurred to them that those kinds of odds weren’t going to work in their favor.

The Sabre in Randi knew that she didn’t have time to enjoy the combat so she worked swiftly to eliminate the threat now facing her and keeping her from getting the help she needed for Gwen.  The first four Amazons fell before anyone was aware Randi was not where they expected her to be.  She had slid down the tree and through the grass like a snake, creeping up behind them and breaking their necks with rapid precision.  Then she was gone again before they saw her.  A cry went up when the bodies were discovered, which happened accidentally when one woman turned to give a whispered instruction to the woman behind her.

This caused the Amazons to cluster together, and Randi just shook her head before tossing a flash grenade into the middle of the group.  There wasn’t even time to notice before it exploded, killing another five and injuring three.  That left only three standing, and for that, Randi unleashed her staff.  A simple twist turned the staff into a flange, and Randi approached the remaining Amazons with a fierce roar.

The first barely raised her bow before her head went flying, bouncing across the grass several times before her body actually crumpled.  The next held a sword and came running towards the warrior from behind, only to find the other blade buried in her belly.  Randi didn’t even turn; she merely yanked it out and threw the weapon like a javelin at the final Amazon, who had turned to run.  It buried itself in her back, and the Amazon turned to look at Randi as she sank to her knees.  Blood spilled out of her mouth and she realized that the woman regarding her with dead eyes was the spectre of death herself.

Randi walked the few steps to the Amazon, removing her flange and dragging the body back to the crater where the flash grenade had exploded.  The three injured Amazons were making various degrees of effort to escape, and the Sabre calmly walked to each one and ended their torment with the single thrust of a blade. Then one by one she dumped the bodies into the hole and carefully set the remaining grenades for a delayed incineration blast, which was actually their intended purpose. 

Randi wiped the blood off her flange, then with a twist returned it to its short staff form before heading back to the tree to retrieve Gwen.  She didn’t even flinch at the silent explosion that sent a wave of heat blasting over her.  Randi knew that in short order, the only evidence of anything amiss in this field would be the large hole in the ground.  She wasn’t worried about the transports.  No one was going to come looking for them, and if they were found, well... she still wasn’t worried.  She hadn’t touched them.

She put her weapons away, carefully storing them as she always had, and with that action went her memories of what had just happened.  She turned her attention to her thigh.  It was still bleeding sluggishly so she braced herself and grabbed the end of the shaft and yanked.  The warrior screamed and the world went black for a very long moment.  She loosened the tourniquet and blood flowed more rapidly now, and she cursed herself for being caught without water.  Instead she took a length of bandage and wrapped it tightly, then moved to climb the tree.  It took longer than she expected; the wound on her shoulder was starting to ache intensely.  Gwen was still passed out, and Randi decided to revive her, knowing she needed the bard to hold on to get them both home safely.  She grabbed an ammonia capsule and let the scent waft under Gwen’s nose.

Gwen’s reaction was almost immediate, and she sat up with a hiss.  Her eyes watered from the smell and her good hand reached for her injured shoulder.  Already the fire had burned down to cinders with the wind carrying most of the scent away from them.  Gwen put down the odd smell in the air to the burning in her nose and the scent of blood and sweat coming from both her and Randi.  Gwen stretched a shaking hand towards Randi’s bandaged leg.  Randi caught it and held it tightly for a moment before turning her head.  “We need to go, Love, and you’re gonna have work with me to get down from here and home.”

Gwen looked around, disoriented.  “What are we doing up here?  And what’s with the smoke?”

Randi glanced in the direction Gwen was gazing and shrugged her shoulders though her brow furrowed.  “Dunno.  I brought us up here because it was the safest I could manage on short notice.  I must have passed out once I got the bandages on.”

Gwen nodded her acceptance of the explanation.  She could only imagine the pain Randi had been in to get them up here alone.  “You think it’s safe now?”

“I hope so, but I do know we can’t stay here.  If I have to fight, I will, but we’ve got to get home before this gets worse.”

“This is gonna hurt, isn’t it?”

“Yep,” Randi answered succinctly, “but the quicker we get down, the quicker we get home.  And I’ve got some stuff there that should help with the pain.”

Gwen didn’t ask; she hurt too badly to worry about the whys and wherefores at the moment.  Their first order of business was to get down, and the second was to get home.  After that, well, the future would just have to take care of itself.

It was slow going as they eased down from on branch to the next.  When they reached the bottom branch, Randi jumped unthinkingly, and her leg buckled when she hit the ground hard.  Gwen scrambled after her, falling to her knees when she landed and crawling to kneel by the fallen warrior’s side.

“Randi?  Sweetheart... are you... all right?” breathing hard with the pain and shaking her head over the irony of that statement.  “I mean is... there anything... I can help you... with?”

Randi looked up at her, breathing rhythmically to try and stabilize the dizziness she felt.  “No, Love,” she whispered and took a deep breath.  “Just give me a minute to get a grip on this.”  Another breath.  “Then we’ll go.”  Gwen nodded and leaned back against the tree, watching as Randi consciously pushed the pain out of her awareness and stood to her feet.  She extended her uninjured hand down to Gwen who accepted it and gradually made her way upright.  They leaned against one another for a long moment, then Randi looked into Gwen’s eyes.  “Can you make it home holding on, or would you feel more comfortable sitting in front?”

Green eyes widened.  “You need me to drive?”  Her arm was practically useless and she was afraid there was no way for her to control the bike on the ride home.  Her relief was palpable as the dark head began shaking.

“No, no.  I just need to know if you can hold on or if I need to hold on to you.”

Gwen took in the exhausted face in front of her and shook her head.  “I think... I can hold on, but you’re gonna have to help me... with my helmet.”

Randi smiled at her.  “I can do that.  And if at any time you feel like you’re falling or you can’t hold on, you tell me immediately, all right?”

Gwen nodded, hoping beyond hope she could at least make it home before she passed out again.  She didn’t understand Randi’s fortitude, knowing she had been in a position of being hurt and having to press forward anyway on more than one occasion.  She wondered if it was something Randi ever got used to, but couldn’t seem to get her mind or her mouth to ask the question.  It was just too much effort.

Randi grimaced as she lifted the helmet to Gwen’s head and pulled it on. Aside from the strength it was costing her, she understood quite clearly that their helmets had gone a long towards protecting them.  She felt vaguely uneasy as she donned her own headgear.  It wasn’t the sense of foreboding she normally got when being chased; rather it was the odd displacement she felt trying to figure out where her enemies were and why they hadn’t pressed their advantage.

That the Fringe Amazons were the ones that attacked them wasn’t in question.  They were the only rebel group that used arrows.  And Randi highly doubted the rebels were organized enough to be cooperating together.  So where were they?  And why wasn’t her Sabre sense tingling?  She didn’t have time to consider more.  Gwen had already straddled the bike so she eased herself in front and started the engine, thankful for its quiet mode.  Her head was beginning to throb on top of everything else, and the light purr of the motorcycle was soothing.

Her hackles were standing straight up now and Randi pressed the bike forward, not sensing any immediate danger but unwilling to let her guard down even a fraction of an inch.  Her nerve endings ached from overextension and her focus was now on getting herself and Gwen home as quickly and safely as possible.  Gwen clutched at her shirt with one hand and leaned into Randi.  The Sabre smiled grimly, accepting the weight and letting the need she felt flowing from Gwen motivate her.

Strangely, to Randi’s mind at least, they made it home with no further incident and not even a blip on her Sabre radar to indicate they were being followed or were in any more danger.  She would have considered it longer, but she felt Gwen slump against her just as the crossed the bridge and her focus was on maintaining their balance.  She pulled under the portico and slid off the bike.  She turned to catch Gwen as she started to tumble over, wincing when the blonde head hit the bad shoulder.

Randi steeled herself for what came next and with a groan rose on unsteady feet, glad the door was only two paces from where she stood.  She leaned against the doorframe as she keyed in the code, then stumbled in the door when it unlocked.  Randi was sweating profusely from exertion by the time she made it to their bathroom, and she had to call out the water temperature twice before it activated.  She got them onto the shower seat and stripped them both, strewing clothes haphazardly around the room. She was happy that Gwen was still out for the count when she removed the pressure bandage, leaving red marks in her wake.  Then they sat and let the water wash over them.  Gwen came to almost as soon as the water started spraying, and she reached for the hands that were wrapped around her middle.

Randi leaned down and nuzzled the wet head leaning against her good shoulder.  “Hi,” she whispered, not wanting to speak louder for fear of what would happen to her head.  Gwen turned and looked at her with miserable eyes.

“Hi,” she returned.  “Guess we need to wash off huh?” indicating the dried blood that was slowly falling away from their skin.

“Yeah.  I’ll wash your back if you wash mine,” Randi said weakly.

“Deal, Sweetheart,” leaning forward at Randi’s urging.  Randi’s touch was tender, but Gwen’s skin was so sensitive, it still hurt.  They managed to get the blood cleaned off, and Randi was happy to note the gashes in their shoulders and backs had stopped bleeding.  Her thigh was another matter.  It was still bleeding sluggishly, and she wondered if something had been put on that arrow.  Randi slapped another bandage on it.  She would check it again after she got a little rest.  She couldn’t see anything and there wasn’t anything she could do for it until she was sure something was there.

The shower had been reviving enough to give them the strength to towel dry before they fell into bed, literally.  For the first time since the return of Gwen’s memories, they didn’t curl up together, their injuries making it a painful prospect at best.  Instead they held hands and drifted off into welcome oblivion.

************

Tommy looked up as the signal chirped, then grinned at Tiny and Reed.  “That’ll be them,” he said, not mentioning the relief he felt.  He hadn’t minded entertaining the couple and in fact had welcomed the time to get to know them a little better.  But he had expected Randi and Gwen home much earlier and was beginning to grow concerned to the point of alarm at their tardiness. 

“C’mon.  I’ll take you over and say hey.  Let me just go tell Ella; be right back.”

Tiny nodded as he started to rise, then turned when he felt Reed tremble beside him.  “Honey?”

She closed her eyes and gripped his arm.  “Something’s out of kilter again.”

Tiny turned to face her with concerned eyes.  “Out of kilter how?  Bad? Can you manage or do we need to leave?”

Reed shook her head, gray eyes gone silver in focused thought.  “I’m fine.  It’s just... odd.  It’s not like it is supposed to be, but it’s not like it was either.  Sort of hard to explain.”

Tiny shrugged and gave Reed a sheepish little grin.  “That’s okay; it’s kinda hard to understand sometimes too.”  He stood and offered her a hand up which she graciously accepted.  “Let’s get over there and see what’s up.  With a little luck, it’ll just be because they had a phenomenal weekend together.  I know,” he continued at her disbelieving look, “but I can hope.”

“Do ya’ll mind walking?” Tommy asked as he re-emerged in the living room.  “It’s not far and since you left your bags in the shuttle....”

“Walking will be fine,” Reed answered.  “It looks like such a beautiful day.  We still have snow at home.”

Tommy laughed.  “That’s never been much of a concern here though we do get an occasional cold day here and there.  But it is gorgeous out.  C’mon.”

It was gorgeous out, and the trio took their time walking through the trees between the two houses.  The sound of the surf made a pleasant accompaniment and they breathed in deeply of the fresh air.  “I could grow accustomed to this,” Tiny said.  “No wonder Randi protects her privacy here so fiercely.”

Tommy shook his head.  “No.  She’s always been that way.  I’ve been allowed glimpses, but she’s always been a very private person.  This place just allows her to guard it a little more intensely.”

“He’s right,” Reed agreed.  “That’s one reason she’s so hard to read,” forgetting for a moment that the man accompanying them was unaware of her abilities.  Tommy, however, accepted the statement on face value.

“Yeah, but she’s worth the extra effort too,” walking towards the front door and looking askance at the motorcycle still parked under the portico.  “Hmm.”

“Problem?” Tiny rumbled, stepping up beside him.

Tommy shrugged.  “Dunno.  Randi doesn’t generally leave the bike out like this.”  He turned his attention to the door, then looked back at Reed and Tiny.  “Um, can you guys give me a minute?  Something’s not right here,” gesturing towards the door.  “The alarm’s not on.”

Two sets Sabre eyes met then turned back to Tommy.  “We’ll go in with you,” Tiny said firmly.  Tommy saw the seriousness of Tiny’s expression and nodded his agreement.  He felt better about having them watch his back as it were; he just wanted to ensure Randi and Gwen’s privacy as well.  Tiny eased the door open, taking the point position as a matter of course.  He let his eyes track around the room before motioning the other two in with a jerk of his head.  They walked slowly through the foyer and into the living room, silently agreeing to let Reed check the bedroom alone just in case.  She held onto Tiny’s arm for a long moment, gathering strength from him, then stepped across the threshold... only to immediately step back out.

“Tommy, do you know if Randi has a regen unit?” knowing he wouldn’t know where her Sabre gear was hidden but hoping she had one for general purposes.

“Are they... what happened?” wanting to push by her but held tight by Reed’s hidden strength. Tiny turned on his heel and raced out the door towards the shuttle.  They had emergency medical equipment there including a regen unit.  Tommy watched him fly out the door before he turned his attention back to Reed.  He stepped away from her, drawing a deep breath to settle himself and scratching the back of his neck in thought when he realized she was waiting for an answer to her question.  “Um, in the bathroom, maybe?  The only time I’ve seen one here was when the medic brought it – when she fell while building the dock,” he added, seeing the befuddled look on Reed’s face.  “You, um... you want me to go look?”

Reed nodded.  “Yeah, I think so.  You probably have a better idea where to look.”  She grabbed his arm as he started into the room.  “They are hurt.  I don’t know how much, but we’ll get them taken care of.  Tiny went to get the med kit from the shuttle.”

Tommy swallowed and nodded.  He stepped into the room, noting their distance and wondering how Reed could tell at a glance that they were injured.  Then he crossed into the bathroom and his eyes widened at the mess he found there.  “Um, Reed?”

She came in swiftly at his call, and she bit her lip in surprise at the condition of the bathroom, having only ever seen neatness and order from Randi.  “Put the clothing in a pile to one side, then start looking through the drawers and cabinets.”  A bumping noise alerted her to Tiny’s return.  “Get started.  I need to help Tiny,” she directed and went back out to the living area.

“How are they?” Tiny asked as he brought the equipment in the door.

“I haven’t had a chance to check thoroughly.  No wonder their aura was off kilter though.  Are you gonna help me?”

Tiny took a deep breath.  “Yeah.  You can’t do it alone, and I don’t think Tommy would be comfortable seeing them naked.  C’mon.  Let’s get them healed so we can find out what the hell happened.”

Tommy came out of the bathroom just as Reed and Tiny walked into the bedroom.  He handed Reed a small device.  “That was all I found aside from some first aid stuff,” looking at their gear.  “But I think you’ve got that covered.  I’m gonna go call Ella.  She might be able to help.”

Tiny nodded.  “Thanks, Tommy.  I’d feel better if Ella could help Reed.  This is a little different than what we usually deal with.”  Tommy nodded his head, not really understanding but respecting Tiny’s words.  He knew how invasive he felt seeing them naked together, and he was family.  It had to be even more awkward for Tiny who had been Randi’s comrade-in-arms.

While Tommy made his phone call, Tiny readied everything Reed would need to care for Randi and Gwen.  He ran a clinical eye over them, noting only the hole in Gwen’s shoulder and the hole in Randi’s thigh.  That one looked like it might be infected, and he made sure to lay out extra pads and a scalpel in case Reed had to go poking around inside the wound.  He wondered what other injuries there were to make them both sleep so soundly their chests hardly stirred with their breathing.  Never before had he seen Randi in repose like this as the slightest sound or stirring of air was sure to awaken her.

Reed came out of the bathroom where she’d washed up, then turned her attention to Gwen.  She knew she was going to need help with Randi’s leg so she figured to take care of Gwen first.  Reed looked closely and pulled Gwen into a sitting position, wincing when her suspicions were confirmed.

“They were attacked by Amazons.  This is an arrow hole, and it went all the way through.”  Ella walked into the room, and immediately moved to take the cleansing pads from Reed and disinfecting the whole area around the injury. She applied antibiotic cream and a sterile pad, then waited for Reed to lay Gwen down so they could do the same to the front.  They checked the rest of her over carefully and aside from a couple of minor scrapes caused from her tree climbing, found nothing else wrong.  So they set the regen unit to go to work on Gwen’s shoulder and moved over to Randi.

Randi was more scratched and sported a couple bruises that Reed rubbed a cream into to stimulate their healing.  They found the hole in Randi’s shoulder and looked between her and Gwen for a very long moment before cleaning it and covering it to lay her back down gently.  Then they turned their attention to the leg.

Without a word, Tiny prepped the syringes.  The first was a deadening agent and the second contained a heavy-duty antibiotic.  Ella leaned her weight across Randi’s midsection while Tiny placed his hands on either side of the large hole.  Then Reed quickly injected the vials one after the other.  Randi didn’t flinch and the Sabres look at each other with concerned eyes.  Finally Tiny moved his hands though he placed them on Reed’s back to help stabilize her defenses. Ella sat up to help, and very shortly the two women were cleaning out pockets of pus from the leg.  Still Randi didn’t stir.

“What happened?” Ella asked softly as though her voice would disturb the two patients lying so still on the big bed.  “I mean, who did this?  And why?”

Tiny shrugged.  “We’re not sure.  But they were obviously ambushed.  We’re hoping they can tell us when they wake up.”

“I think I got it all,” Reed interrupted quietly.  “It’s washing clear and I can’t find any more pockets.”

“All right, let’s set up the regen unit and let them rest.  The quicker they heal, the sooner we get the real story of what happened.”

Tiny arranged the regen unit for Randi while Reed gathered their tools and supplies and began putting them away.  Ella tucked the couple in, placing a light kiss on each forehead and covering them in sheets and blankets to their chins.  Then she helped the two Sabres gather their gear and followed them out to the living room. 

Through it all, Randi and Gwen never stirred from their slumber, and they never let go of one another’s hands.


Chapter XV

Randi scrubbed her hands through her hair in frustration as she got up from the table.  “I don’t know, Tiny,” she said, frustration evident in her voice.  She walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water, gulping half of it down before she returned to the table the rest were still seated at.  Gwen held out a hand and Randi reached for it like it was a lifeline.

“He’s only trying to help.”

“I know, Love, and I’m sorry, Tiny,” looking in the big man’s direction.  “I’m still tired and sore and....”

“Let’s move into the living room,” Reed suggested.  “I’d like to try something if you’re game.”

Randi nodded and pulled Gwen up by their linked hands.  “Anything.  This is gonna make me nuts otherwise.”  Tiny cast Reed a worried glance and she nodded subtly at him.  Then they followed the couple over to the couches.

Gwen had slept for a full twenty-four hours and Randi for another twenty passed that.  Their wounds were completely healed, not even leaving a scar behind.  And their memories were almost identical – Randi’s lasting a bit longer than Gwen’s. Neither of them knew what had happened between the time Randi got them up into the tree and the time they got home.  The ride home was mostly a blur of sensations and images.

Therein lay the source of Randi’s frustration.  Something didn’t add up.  Why attack her and Gwen if there was no plan to finish the job?  She had a vague recollection of being surprised it was Amazons given the note she had received from the Wizards, but Tiny and Reed confirmed that much of her memory was intact.  They had indeed been ambushed by Amazons.  But why?  Why attack and not kill them?  That had to have been the intent.  There was no quarter given for mercy and Randi knew in her heart she was a killing target.  Besides the bragging rights it would give to the person and organization that accomplished it, as long as she was alive she was a stumbling blocks to the rebellion ever regaining any sort of power base even without being a Sabre.

Randi smiled darkly.  Now though – now they had crossed a line with her.  Now it was personal, and people were going to die.  First however, they had to figure out why the Amazons had run instead of terminating her, especially when it appeared that was clearly their objective.  Randi’s smile dropped from her face.  There shouldn’t be holes or questions and that bothered her more than she let on.

When they reached the couches, Reed stopped them with an upraised palm before they could assume their normal cuddling position.  “Gwen, if you could sit in the corner and let Randi lean back into you... however is most comfortable for the two of you, but you’re going to act as her grounding, her shield.”  Gwen nodded and took her position, stretching one leg against the back cushions and planting the other squarely on the floor.  This was something of a feat in and of itself since the couches had been purchased with Randi’s longer frame in mind.  However, it worked perfectly for their needs and now Randi was able to sit cocooned in Gwen’s embrace.

Randi sat between Gwen’s legs, leaning back against her chest.  The bard pulled her leg off the floor and purposely tangled them together with Randi’s on the couch.  Randi sighed in contentment at the warmth that enveloped her soul when Gwen wrapped her arms around her middle.  They didn’t do this often – just because the logistics made the alternative a much easier prospect.  But Randi always enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by Gwen’s love and strength.  She leaned her head back until their cheeks brushed, and Gwen took advantage of her position to nuzzle a bit.  Neither of them paid the slightest attention to Tiny and Reed who had moved to the far side of the room to retrieve Randi’s desk chair, which was by far the most comfortable one she owned.

“Are you sure about this, honey?” Tiny asked in a hushed voice.  Not that he expected Randi to overhear him given how engrossed she and Gwen were in one another at the moment, but it never hurt to be extra vigilant either.  Reed smiled up at him sweetly and put a hand on his arm.

“I’m sure, Tiny.  The shielding is holding well, and with you here to provide grounding for me I’ll be all right.  A little tired, but we all are at this point, I think.  Besides, we’ve got to know; if the shielding doesn’t work now, it certainly won’t work later.  And we need to know what Randi’s subconscious remembers.  You know how we all have memories we can’t consciously access.”

Tiny nodded solemnly.  He knew that all too well as did every Sabre member.  Those memories only came out at night and were the stuff their nightmares were made of.  He looked in Randi and Gwen’s direction and shook his head.  “Do they ever stop?” he asked with a smile in his voice and on his face.

They weren’t actually doing anything.  They sat tangled together so tightly even air couldn’t pass between them, talking quietly.  He turned his attention back to Reed at her light touch.  Her expression was sad and almost resigned.  “I hope not,” she said quietly.  “The darkness that would follow that breaking would be unbearable.”

Tiny sobered, remembering the echoes of darkness he had felt in the periphery of his mind when Sky had shown Reed his vision.  It wasn’t something he wanted to feel again.  That experience had left him with a greater appreciation of Reed’s strength, and an overwhelming desire to protect her as much as possible from what she knew and he suspected was coming.  “Sorry.”

Reed smiled again.  “Don’t be.  In any other situation, I’d ask the same question and use it as an opportunity to tease Randi unmercifully.  And when we get out of this,” spoken confidently, “I still might.”

Tiny smiled and pulled the reclining, leather chair out from the desk and began moving it towards the couch.  He sat down and waited for Reed to situate herself comfortably between his legs.  Then he waited.  Reed cleared her throat, startling Randi and Gwen from their conversation.  They had been so engrossed in one another they never even heard the two Sabres approach - a testament to how truly safe and comfortable Randi felt around them.

“Sorry,” Randi said, managing to keep the blush from staining her face though she felt the heat of Gwen’s against her cheek.

“Don’t be,” Reed said.  “It does my heart good to know you hold us in high enough regard to let your guard down around us.  Besides,” she added with an impish twinkle in her gray eyes, “it is always nice to see newlyweds so totally involved with one another.  Lots of potential teasing there.”  Randi did the only adult thing she could think of – she stuck her tongue out at Reed.  That action made Reed laugh heartily and for the first time since Sky had shared his vision the seer felt a wave of peace pass through her about the outcome of this drama.  Finally she cleared her throat and became serious.  “Tiny.”  Just the one word, but he knew what she needed.  Without any visible effort he moved them forward until Reed’s knees touched the edge of the couch.  Then he extended his hands, palms up and held them steady, waiting for Reed to place hers palms up within his.

Reed turned her gaze to Gwen.  “I don’t think you can mimic this posture, but hold on to her for all you’re worth and don’t let go.”  Green eyes widened and Gwen felt the words to have more than an immediate meaning.  She nodded her head and wrapped herself even more securely around Randi’s body.  Randi gasped and patted the hands around her middle.

“Let me breathe, Love.”

Gwen loosened her hold slightly and Randi smiled at the still firm grip she maintained.  In truth, she loved the possessiveness Gwen showed towards her.  She’d just found breathing to be a necessary component of living.  “Better?” whispered in her ear.

“Yep,” Randi replied.  “I like being here.”  She felt Gwen brush a light kiss near her hairline. 

“Good – I like having you here too.”

They both looked back at Reed who was waiting patiently for them to arrange themselves comfortably.  She nodded in satisfaction.  “Good.  Are you ready?”  Randi concurred and Reed continued to speak.  “Randi, place your hands palms down in mine.”

“Reed?”  Randi hesitated, knowing the pain Reed had suffered before because of Randi’s bond with Gwen.  She had no desire to inflict more agony on the woman she called friend even for answers to this frustrating riddle that her memory had become.  “I don’t....”

Reed smiled, appreciating the consideration no matter how misplaced.  She extended her hands again and Tiny accompanied her.  “It’s all right, Randi.  I have spent a significant amount of time reinforcing my shielding, and Tiny will provide extra grounding for me just as Gwen will help you maintain your equilibrium and sense of self.”

“Will I see what you see?”

Reed returned the look Randi gave her measure for measure.  “I’m not sure,” she answered honestly.  “I think it will depend on what you want to see.”

Randi cocked her head and blue fire burned from her eyes.  “You think I am hiding something?”

Reed accepted the accusatory stare.  “We all do, Randi.  Every Sabre has a safe place in their subconscious mind where they hide memories too painful to bear in the light of day.  It’s a survival mechanism.”

“And you’re gonna go find this safe place?”

“I hope so.  It depends on what you allow.  I’m not going to go pushing into places in your head.”

“And you’re sure this won’t hurt you?”

Reed smiled.  “I’m sure.  Trust me.”

Randi nodded.  “Fair enough.”  Then she extended her hands and laid them in Reed’s; both women closed their eyes. 

There was no sound to be heard except for four sets of breathing.  Even Tiny and Gwen’s eyes shut to help maintain the atmosphere.  For long minutes this went on as Reed carefully walked thru Randi’s memories.  Randi did not accompany her visually throughout, but she hadn’t actually expected her to.  She anticipated Randi’s appearance in her safe place if she emerged at all.  Reed was vigilant and prudent as she moved.  This was such a delicate procedure.  On the one hand, she didn’t want to be invasive; yet on the other, she needed to know what happened.  Randi had an organized mind though, and it was child’s play for Reed to find the memories of the Amazon attack that happened to Randi and Gwen two days prior.

She watched as dispassionately as she could manage, knowing she was an observer only in the drama that played out before her.  Her brows suddenly furrowed together in a frown.  Randi’s memories were jumpy as though scenes had been cut and lifted.  Now Reed knew she was going to have to find Randi’s safe spot.  There were things missing and she felt sure they held the key to what had happened.  Reed watched as Randi deposited Gwen in the tree.  The very next thing she saw was them waking up beside one another some time later.  Question was - what had happened in the interim?

Slowly she proceeded, finding each and every space compartmentalized and neatly labeled but never finding Randi’s memory core... the place where the worst memories were hidden.  Reed would have stamped her feet in frustration if she’d thought it would have made things any better.  Eventually she could feel the fatigue that preserving her sense of self in this place was becoming.  So she closed the eyes of her spirit self and willed her being back into her physical body.  When she opened her physical eyes, she was back in Tiny’s arms in Randi’s house with both blue and green eyes facing her with questions in them.  She shook her head and everyone’s arms dropped, breaking the link between them.

“I can see parts but not the whole story.  I am seeing exactly what Randi already told us happened.”

“What happened to visiting the place where the memories are hidden?”

Reed clenched her hands into fists and banged them on her legs.  “I can’t find that place in your mind, but I know there has to be one.  The memories I saw are edited.”  She turned to Gwen.  “Would you mind....  Can I check your memories?  It’s possible I might see something you wouldn’t notice.”  Reed saw the apprehension rise in Gwen’s eyes.  “I promise not to go anywhere but to your memories of what happened a couple days ago.  I know it’s invasive, but I would respect your privacy.  I don’t just wander about indiscriminately.”  Reed tried to remain detached during her explanation.

“I’m sorry, Reed.  I didn’t mean for you to think I was accusing you of anything.  It’s just a very scary thought to have someone else roaming around in my mind.”

“I understand, Gwen.  Really, I’m just... I’ve always been very sensitive about things like this for that very reason.  Even with someone you know and trust, it’s a very scary prospect.  To be honest with you, I don’t like to do it, and I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was necessary.”

Gwen looked intently into gray eyes she had come to trust.  Reed returned the gaze openly and honestly, allowing the bard a glimpse into her soul.  Finally satisfied with what she found there, Gwen nodded.

“You sure, Love?” from Randi.  Gwen looked back into blue eyes full of love and understanding.  Randi didn’t like the procedure, but as a Sabre she understood the necessity of it though this was the first time it had ever been done to her.  Her record had been too spotless during her service to warrant invading her privacy.

“Will you hold me?”

“Always and forever,” came the immediate response.  Tiny moved the chair back from the couch, holding carefully to Reed who was trembling slightly from exertion.  Randi stood and Gwen followed so they could trade places on the couch.  When they resettled themselves, Tiny moved the chair forward again, and Reed opened her eyes.

“Reed, are you sure?” Gwen asked with concern.  “You look so drained.”

Reed smiled tiredly.  “I am, to both.  But when we finish, we can all go sleep until tomorrow morning.  Tommy was very understanding about waiting to get together until tomorrow.”

“This isn’t exactly the way I saw your visit with us playing out, ya know,” Randi quipped.

“Me either,” Reed conceded, “but I’m glad we were here.”

“Double for us, my friend,” Gwen agreed, and with those words Reed felt Gwen relax.  It was natural to feel trepidation about this.  Outside the military, and only in the most compelling of circumstances even then, this procedure was rarely used.  Otherwise it was a relatively unknown phenomenon to the world – one only speculated about in myth and legend.

Reed lifted her hands from Tiny’s and the man unwrapped himself from her waist and extended his arms again, palms up once more.  Reed placed her hands in his and waited for Gwen to add hers to the mix.  Randi slid her hands along the undersides of Gwen’s arms, supporting and encouraging her.  Gwen shivered slightly at the touch and allowed Randi to guide her hands into position over Reed’s. Randi went to move hers when the seer spoke.

“No.  Leave them there, please.  It will make Gwen more comfortable.”

Randi turned to Gwen and recognized the need she saw lurking in the back of her green eyes.  Without a word, she covered Gwen’s hands again.  She kissed Gwen’s temple and whispered, “Relax.  I’ll be right here.”  Then Gwen closed her eyes and opened her mind.

Reed was overwhelmed by the sights that greeted her when she entered Gwen’s mind.  Everything was vivid, alive, colorful – so different from what she was used to.  She wasn’t sure which response was stronger - the desire to immerse herself in something so amazing or the desire to run from something so totally foreign to her nature.  However, she had promised Gwen not to pry so she walked through the passages of Gwen’s memories to find the Amazon attack.  She stood watching, almost able to feel Gwen’s emotions her memories were so strong.  Reed actually flinched as she felt the impact of the arrow when it hit Gwen’s shoulder and pinned her to Randi.  Reed closed her eyes and focused on the sounds now as that was all Gwen could share with her at this point.  Gwen wasn’t completely unconscious, but she wasn’t cognizant either and the only real sense Reed could use was her hearing.

The rumble of an engine... the silence that followed.  Heavy breathing; a grunt and moan.  Mumblings – exchanged words garbled to Gwen’s memories.  A scuffling noise... and....  Reed wasn’t sure.  There were odd sounds but nothing clear, nothing she could pinpoint over the whirring vortex that was Gwen’s struggle to maintain some sort of awareness.  But it was enough to bother her – to reassure her that something more had definitely happened.  Then things went completely silent for a long moment before Gwen resumed consciousness.  Reed felt the agony and confusion wash through Gwen as she came to in the tree and she continued to watch until they made it home.  Then she stepped out of Gwen’s mind and opened her eyes, slowly withdrawing her hands.

“Thank you, Gwen.”

Green eyes gradually opened and met the steel gray of Reed’s facing her.  “Did you...?  I didn’t even feel you there, I mean... did you find what you were looking for?”

Reed smiled then shook her head.  “Good, you’re not supposed to.  And no, not really.  But enough to convince me that something definitely happened.”  She saw questions jump into two sets of eyes and felt Tiny’s reaction at her back.  “Can we have a moratorium on this til tomorrow morning?  I’d like to process what I heard, and I’m beat.  I promise to share first thing.”

Gwen yawned which caused a chain reaction, and that led to chuckles and giggles from the entire troupe.  By mutual consent, they rose from their places in the living room and moved to the kitchen.  Tiny rolled the chair back to its place at the desk.

“I know I haven’t been up that long, but I am so tired,” Randi said, patting Gwen’s belly with their still linked hands.  Reed exchanged startled glances with Tiny.  Never had they heard Randi make a statement like that even when it was apparent to all and sundry that she was exhausted and/or in pain.  It just wasn’t her way, and it went against the Sabre code.  Something fundamental had changed and it was up to them to discover if it was for the better or not.

“Me too,” Gwen responded.  “How ‘bout we raid the fridge for a snack and head to bed?  We don’t have to be in a rush to get up in the morning, but when we do, we can figure out a plan from there.”

Tiny nodded.  “Sounds good.  I’m starving.”

Reed laughed and pinched his muscular stomach.  “Now there’s a surprise.  C’mon.  I hear that really nice big bed upstairs calling my name.”  She turned to Gwen suddenly.  “You don’t mind that we did that, do you?  That we took your old room upstairs instead of the boathouse?”

Gwen released Randi’s hand and enveloped Reed’s hands in hers so quickly Reed had no time to brace, no time to worry.  But she easily felt the warmth Gwen was projecting, and her shielding acknowledged it as strength.  She didn’t understand why, but she accepted the unexpected blessing gratefully and met Gwen’s eyes with a steady gaze.  “You’re welcome in our home wherever you are comfortable.  We suggested the boathouse to give you the space you sometimes need from us, not because we didn’t want to have you here. Reed, you and Tiny are family to us, not guests.  That gives you the right to choose.”

“So you wouldn’t mind if we moved out to the boathouse tomorrow?”

“Not if that’s where you wanna be.  That’s where my folks stay.  Daddy says he’s likes the peace and quiet.”  Both Randi and Gwen blushed.  “I um... I decided not to pursue that line of questioning.”

Reed chuckled and squeezed Gwen’s hands before she let go and turned towards the refrigerator.  “I think that was probably a good idea.”  She lifted out the tray of sandwiches she and Tiny had prepared earlier.  “God knows where my mind goes with that comment, and talking about something like that with my dad would just be....”

“EW!” the three women chorused together.  Tiny just chuckled and helped himself to a sandwich.

The rest of the week was tame by comparison though a few things of note did occur – things that would make a difference later. 

Tiny accompanied Randi on her rounds of the Midas property, enjoying the vast expanse of land and trees and appreciating the chance to ride a beautiful horse.  He and Reed had talked casually about getting a couple but had yet to manage to actually do so.  He had grown up riding and missed having a horse of his own – something he had not realized until he got back in the saddle.

They didn’t talk much - there was no need.  They had reached a place in their relationship where they understood many things about one another without having to use words.  And right now, they both needed a chance to process what they knew and decide on the best course of action for all of them.

Reed went with Gwen, anxious to see the bard at work after experiencing her mind so personally.  Reed never considered herself to be overly curious, but she was excited about watching the creative process Gwen went through to achieve the stories she produced.

“Reed, it’s really not that interesting.  I do a lot of pacing – a lot of talking to myself.  I write a bit and then take a break to order things in my mind again.

“Gwen, I’m going to share something with you.”  The blonde head nodded and the green eyes focused intently.  Reed blinked, startled by the force of concentration behind the gaze.  ”Um, I don’t do mind walks often, but I have certainly done more than my share.  In all my life, I have never encountered a mind like yours, and I’d like the chance to see how it works from this side.”

“From this side?”

“Yeah.  I didn’t look around – I promised you I wouldn’t.  But I’d like to watch what results from the glimpse I got if it wouldn’t bother you.”

Gwen blinked, a little disconcerted by the request.  “Was it... was it really so different?”

Reed nodded.  “Yeah, it really was.  You see the world in such vibrant color.  It’s so different from what I am used to – both in my own mind and in those minds I have shared.”

Gwen smiled gently.  “If you want to subject yourself to my creative work habits, you are more than welcome to join me.  But I can’t promise to be entertaining.”

“I don’t need to be entertained; I’m trying to understand something new.”

Now Gwen laughed.  “Well, c’mon.  Maybe you’ll share with me the differences.  Who knows?  It might make an interesting story.”

“Fair enough.”

************

“We need to go see if we can find anything.”

Tiny nodded, having reached the same conclusion himself.  “Agreed.  Do you remember where you were?”  They were sitting in Randi’s office after their inspection of the property.  Midas was good-sized and Tiny had thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to ride around it.  Randi had considered going to the mess hall and waiting for Reed and Gwen to join them, but figured it wasn’t worth the talk it would start.  Randi had never considered herself that interesting and still didn’t get why she and Gwen seemed to be a regular topic of conversation among their fellow employees.  However, she has accepted the fact that they were and did her best to insure she did nothing to encourage it.

Randi shook her head, scowling in frustration. “No!”  She ran her hands through her hair.  “No, and it’s making me nuts not being able to remember.  But there should be some evidence of something somewhere.”

Tiny rose from his chair and stood beside Randi, looking out the window.  “If it’s there, we’ll find it,” he said confidently with a squeeze to her shoulder.  “Now let’s go fetch Reed and Gwen and find some lunch.  I’m starving.”

Randi laughed and clapped a hand on his back.  “Today is pot roast day.  We only have to get to the mess hall to find lunch.”  A knock interrupted her and she smiled when Gwen’s head peeked around the door.  She caught a glimpse of frustration and confusion in the back of blue eyes before it was replaced by happiness and joy at seeing her.  She extended her hand and Randi captured it, drawing Gwen into the office.  Reed followed immediately behind, an expression of amused contentment on her face.

“I take it you enjoyed watching Gwen work,” Tiny commented to Reed as she stepped inside.  Her face lit up with a big grin.

“You have no idea.  I mean... wow. Just wow!”  Reed couldn’t stop the enthusiasm that echoed across her features and Tiny got a massive hug out of it.

Randi chuckled silently, knowing exactly what Reed was feeling.  She turned when Gwen squeezed her hand lightly.  Green eyes searched hers intently. Randi released Gwen’s fingers and rested her hands on slim hips.  “Gwen?”

“Are you all right, Love?” Gwen asked as she cupped Randi’s face in concern.  “You seem a little... disjointed.”

Randi scrubbed a hand through her hair and rested it on the back of her neck, blowing out an irritated breath.  “I am.  I’m... there should be... hmm....”  Randi looked down and took a deep breath.  “Something is going on.  We’re being targeted by more than one group, and I can’t remember anything.  I feel like... I need to be out there doing something about this whole thing, but....”  Her shoulders slumped.  “I mean... I promised you... I....”

Gwen eased he fingers under Randi’s chin until she could look into her eyes.  “We can talk this out when we get home, okay?” waiting for the dark head to nod.  “Just remember I love you.  Always.”

“Forever,” Randi whispered, enclosing Gwen in a hug that completely enveloped her.  “I love you too.”

************

“This isn’t possible!”  Randi was ready to scream in frustration.  “It has to be here.  Something has to be here.”

“You’re sure this is the place?” Tiny asked, flinching when fierce blue eyes glared in his direction.  He held up his hands in supplication.  “Hey, I’m only asking.  You’re the one who said they didn’t remember anything.”

Randi drew herself up, but Reed inserted herself between them before Randi could speak.  “That’s enough, Tiny!  That was completely uncalled for, and you know it!  I’m the one who confirmed this as the right spot from Gwen’s memories.  I told you Randi’s memory wasn’t there.  You want to call me a liar as well?”

“No! No!  I’m just... this is so aggravating.  There is nothing here; like a god wiped it away or something.”  They looked at one another as his words sank in.  “You don’t suppose...?”

“Well, anything is possible.  God knows we’ve seen everything else.”

“But who?” 

“Better yet, why?  What does this accomplish aside from making me nuts?  I thought the gods were forbidden direct interference in mankind’s lives now.”

“They are,” Reed replied as she sank to the ground beneath what she recognized from Gwen’s memories as the healing tree.  “But that isn’t to say it would stop them if they became desperate.”  She turned her attention towards Randi.  “Can you think of a god who would do something like this – be willing to risk their godhood?”

Randi shook her head.  “Not really.  Even Ares wouldn’t be that stupid.”

“Why do you say that?”  Tiny felt a curious chill chase up his spine, and he didn’t like the feeling of foreboding that accompanied it.

“He came and talked to me one day... acted like we were old buddies or something.  It was weird because I don’t worship him.  I never have, and he’s not my patron.”

“What did he want?”

“Nothing really, that’s what made it so strange.  He asked for a favor – I told him no.  He disappeared and hasn’t been back.”

Tiny and Reed exchanged sudden understanding glances.  Their situation had just become more dire than they had believed possible even with the darkness that had been foreseen.  If Ares was involved to the point of personal contact, Randi could be beyond everyone’s reach – including Gwen’s.

“This is so not good,” Reed muttered to herself though it was loud enough for Randi to hear.  She gave Reed a wry look.

“No kidding.”  Randi stood up from her spot.  “C’mon.  I promised Gwen some barbeque before practice tonight.”

It was then that Reed met an ally who had the same strength of will that she herself possessed, and it provided a tiny light of hope in the darkness that now surrounded them.  It was the first time Reed had an inkling of how they, and the world itself could survive the darkness yet to come.


Chapter XVI

"That has to be one of the more interesting people I've met in a while," Reed said as she and Tiny snuggled down together in the boathouse a bit later that evening.  Rosie had been quite the surprise for the seer especially when she greeted Reed as a long lost friend.  There hadn't been an enormous amount of time to talk or exchange any sort of information, but Rosie had managed to slip Reed the contact information she needed to get in touch with Rosie again at a time in the not-too-distant future.

"What did you two talk about?  I know Randi was curious.  I saw her eyebrow go up into her hairline and stay there for a very long time."  He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.  "It was kind of funny actually.  I wondered if she was gonna come over and listen."

Reed smiled.  "Nothing, really.  Rosie just introduced herself and gave me her information so we could get together later."

Tiny's brow furrowed.  "Why?  We don't even know her."

"She is a high priestess of Athena and a gifted shamaness.  She is going to help me... help us... resolve the darkness that is coming."

Now Tiny turned his head and looked at Reed directly, his eyebrows up in his hairline.  "Excuse me?  C'mon, Reed.  You just met this woman, and I could tell by the look on your face she was an unexpected surprise."

"Yes, she was," Reed acknowledged.  "But she was also a welcome one.  She was able to briefly share one of her visions with me.  She has been waiting for my arrival."

"And you trust her enough to accept her word with a meeting so brief?"

It was Reed's turn to furrow her bow.  "Why the doubt in my abilities all of a sudden, Tiny?"

"Not your abilities, Sweetheart.  I have never, ever lost faith in you or your gifts.  But she is a self-admitted shamaness.  That means she has gifts as well – and I don't want her using those gifts against you.  Besides how important you are to helping Randi find her way home – a way she's just learning might be lost yet, I might add – you are important to me.  I love you, and we've already been through so much together, especially in the last couple years.  I don't want to lose you to the machinations of a dark god or his lackeys."

Reed took his hands in hers and lifted them to her lips, brushing a light kiss over the knuckles before cradling them against her face.  "Not to worry, Honey.  She opened herself to me.  She's the genuine article, and she has invited us both back to her place at our convenience to spend a little time getting to know each other."  Reed grinned impishly at Tiny.  "I think she sensed your distrust."

He sniffed delicately.  "I prefer to think of it as caution."

Reed giggled.  "That's funny.  That's exactly what she said.  Now c'mon.  I want to see this band Gwen told me Randi is a part of.  Somehow I can't reconcile the Sabre we know with some party animal drummer who sings and dances."

"Waitaminute.  Hold it, hold it HOOOOOLD IT!!"  Tiny looked hard at Reed.  "You mean that is for real?"

"Oh yes," Reed answered with a smile.  "According to Gwen it is quite the experience."

"Well, c'mon already.  What are we waiting for?" Tiny exclaimed, getting up off the couch and pulling Reed with him.  "I gotta see this."  Reed laughed and allowed herself to be herded out the door and over to Tommy's house.

************

"I've never seen Tiny so discombobulated," Gwen said to Randi later as they prepared for bed that night.  "That was funny; I mean, he looked like a fish out of water the way his eyes were popping out of his head.  He really had no clue, did he?"

Randi chuckled in memory.  "Nope, and it was worth every single tease I'm gonna get from this too."

"You really think he'll tease?"

Randi cocked an eyebrow.  "I think he'll try.  Don't think he'll succeed very well," she continued with a smirk, "but there you go."

Gwen laughed.  "You're so funny."

Randi looked affronted by the insinuation.  "Not on purpose I assure you."

They curled up together in the middle of the big bed, Gwen resting her head over Randi's heart.  They tangled their legs together naturally until Randi flinched involuntarily, causing Gwen to pull back and look into her face.  "Randi?"

Randi grimaced and returned Gwen's gaze.  "Dunno," she shrugged.  "My leg hurts."

"From?  Which leg?"

"Again, I don't know, but it's the leg that took the arrow."

Gwen slid her legs of Randi's and flipped the covers off them.  What she found caused her to gasp.

"Oh, Sweetheart.  This is bad.  I can't believe I didn't see this when you undressed."

Randi wiggled her eyebrows rakishly up and down at Gwen and smiled.  "Attention on other things perhaps?"

Gwen smiled wryly.  "Probably.  But this is serious.  What do you want to do about this?"

Randi sat up and took a good look at something that hadn't been there that morning.  It was ugly – red and inflamed with dark threads radiating out from it.  She blew out a breath.  "Dammit!!  All right, I'm gonna need the large medical kit and the regen unit from my Sabre closet."

"You want me to fetch Reed and Tiny to help with this?"

"Nah," Randi said.  "I think we can manage this ourselves if you're up to trying."

Gwen swallowed hard but nodded gamely, rising from the bed and moving to the small closet she'd never seen until Randi had taken her to it one day after Randi’s return from the dead.  She pushed on the wall and the panel slid back to reveal a long, rather narrow room.  Gwen disregarded the different weapons and accouterments placed carefully in their assigned spots and overlooked the armor that hung neatly in the back of the small room next to the cleaning closet.  Instead she made her way to the corner that held a large medical chest and opened it.

Inside were several small kits and one larger one and it was this one she removed.  Then she grabbed the full sized regen until from its position in the corner of the chest and moved back out to the bedroom, cautiously closing the wall panel behind her.  That had been drilled into her by Randi when she'd shared this secret and though Tiny and Reed were both Sabres and would probably be aware of the closet's existence and purpose, Gwen wasn't going to chance anyone finding it.  It wasn't worth the heartache that would follow.  She walked back to the bed, handing the kit to the now upright warrior and placing the regen unit on the floor until it was needed.  Gwen sat on the corner of the bed and waited for Randi to give her some sort of direction.

Randi laid out the tools she needed then looked directly at Gwen.  "You ready?"

"Tell me what you need me to do, Love."

Randi had to smile at Gwen's willingness.  It wasn't like this was something she was particularly accustomed to, and God knew it had been a steep learning curve when Randi herself had been forced to learn.  She forced away those memories and turned her attention to the here and now.  She took an alcohol wipe and rubbed the infected area down, wincing at the touch but doing it anyway.  "Grab a towel out of the bathroom.  This is gonna be messy."

Gwen did, rushing back and putting it under Randi's leg before she could protest.  She was so gentle it brought tears to the warrior's eyes.  "Did I hurt you Sweetheart?"

"Not at all, Love.  You have a very tender touch."

Gwen's brow wrinkled.  "That's a good thing, right?"

Randi laughed.  "That's a very good thing.  Now," she continued before Gwen could question further.  "Next comes the hard part.  I can do it myself, but it's at an awkward angle so it would be better for you to do it if you think you can manage."

"I'll do it," Gwen answered in a determined voice, slipping on the gloves Randi offered. 

Randi nodded and handed her a knife by the handle.  "Take this and hold it while I sterilize it.  Then you're gonna have to cut my leg open."

Gwen's eyes widened, but she nodded her head, waiting for Randi to give her the go-ahead.  Randi finished the sterilization and numbed the leg on either side of the redness.  Then she put her hands on either side of the inflammation and looked at Gwen.  "You need to cut between my hands."

Gwen swallowed.  "How deeply?" she asked in a whisper.

"Dunno.  We'll figure it out once we get started, I guess.  For now, you've at least got to open up the skin."  She looked into Gwen's eyes.  "It's not gonna hurt, Gwen.  The whole area is completely dead of feeling.  I promise."  Gwen nodded and moved the knife intently towards the mark, determined to remove the poison from Randi's body before it could do any more damage to her.  She cut in a neat, straight line, watching in morbid fascination as blood and pus and blackness oozed from the wound.  Gwen looked up at Randi, noting the look of confusion before the blue eyes came up to meet hers.  "All right, now I need you to push down and then push together and see what else will come out of there.  Then you're gonna have to go hunting."

"Hunting?" Gwen repeated even as she handed Randi the blade to hold so she could expel as much ugliness as possible from the cut.

"Yep.  We've gotta find all the hidden pockets of poison or we'll end up doing this again."

"Hunting," Gwen muttered as she continued to push, her hands becoming coated in all sorts of interesting fluids she would have been quite happy to never been introduced to.  There were some things you just couldn't really prepare for. This was one of them.  Especially the warmth that accompanied the gushing – it was unnerving.

For her part, Randi could feel the pockets bursting under Gwen's ministrations and shivered slightly at the peculiar sensation.  Infections, though not unheard of, were uncommon in a Sabre unit.  Injuries were tended to quickly by a trained medical doctor who worked hard to ensure that healing was swift and complete with no complications.  Complications could be deadly out in the field.

Eventually the bleeding slowed as did the other and Gwen reached for the knife.  She held it a moment and looked deeply into Randi's eyes, knowing there was no way for Randi to hide anything from her this close.  "You all right?"

"Yeah; it's just a little weird.  You?"

"Yep.  I'm going hunting now."

"All right.  You're gonna have to poke around real carefully.  See if there is anything else in there besides muscle and bone.  You're gonna have to go by feel."

Gwen nodded and bit her lip in concentration.  She didn't want to cause any more damage than had already been done.  Slowly she moved the blade around the perimeter of the cut and worked her way in.  She managed to find a couple of deeply hidden pockets and gently pushed until no pus or poison came out and the blood ran clearly red.  "'Kay... now what?"

"Here," handing Gwen a packet of white powder she had liberated from the med kit.  "Use this and douse it well.  It's gonna bubble a lot when you do and that's okay.  That means it’s working, cleaning out the poison."

"All right.  Here goes."

The reaction was immediate.  As soon as the powder hit the open wound it began to crackle and sizzle, bubbling up and running down both sides of Randi's leg in narrow, pink streams.  Gwen got up from the bed and retrieved a warm, wet washcloth, gently wiping away the tracks left behind by the cleansing medicine.  Gradually the bubbling stopped and Randi handed Gwen a package of butterflies to seal the cut.  Gwen chanced a look at Randi, disturbed by the distinct lack of color in her face.  Moving swiftly, she set up the regen unit, then rushed to the kitchen for some juice.  "Drink," she commanded forcefully, glaring at Randi until the glass was drained.  "Better?"

Randi smiled wanly.  "Yeah, thanks.  I forgot about the losing blood issue."

<Ahem>  “Well let's try not to have to do this again and then it won't matter whether you remember it or not.  Now lay back....  Are you comfortable?"

Randi squiggled into a better position and nodded.  "Yep," opening her arms wide.  "Except for missing you."

Gwen bit her lip.  "Are you sure?  I mean... I don't want to hurt you or get in the way of your healing."

Randi extended her arms again more forcefully this time, much like an impatient child demanding attention.  "Here.  Now," she stated defiantly, then added, "Please," when Gwen gave her the bard's version of The Look.  Not nearly as potent as the warrior's own but effective nonetheless.

Gwen couldn't stop the grin that blossomed across her face.  Then she crawled into bed and snuggled into Randi’s arms, giving a little sigh to match the one breathed above her as they settled together.  "There is no better feeling than this," Gwen said softly, kissing the skin beneath her lips.

"There never will be, and I never want to be without it again."

"No chance, Love.  This is a forever kind of thing for us... always has been."

Randi's smile went unseen, but her hug was felt and returned in full.  "It's an amazing feeling to belong to you, Gwen."

A shiver made its way through Gwen’s body at Randi's quiet admission.  She squeezed Randi once more.  "Almost as breathtaking as it is to be yours, warrior mine."  She yawned and flexed her hands.  "I love you, Randi.  Goodnight."

Randi brushed a kiss over the blonde head tucked under her chin.  "I love you, my bard.  Goodnight."

************

Nothing could have prepared Randi for Ares' claim, especially given the memories she had been reliving.  "I beg your pardon?"  Tiny hadn't believed the temperature in the room could drop any farther, but he swore he saw frost form on Ares' facial hair at Randi's disbelieving, whispered words.  "I don't know what fucking planet you just dropped in from, but nothing and NO ONE here belongs to you."  The coldness in her voice was countered by the fire in her eyes.

Ares smirked - probably not the best choices of expressions he could have chosen given the circumstances, but this was his final gamble, and he had to project an air of confidence he no longer felt.  If he lost now there would be hell to pay from any number of directions... not that he expected to lose.  Even though things had not turned out like he'd hoped... planned... he still had to believe he had every possible factor working in his favor.  "Oh, you don't have to beg, my dear.  You need only ask."  The war god smiled and took a sip of the merlot he had filled the glass with and immediately spit it out.  "How do you drink this shit?" he asked with disdain as he wiped his mouth.  "No, never mind," he continued, waving his hand.  "It doesn't matter.  After tonight you won't have to suffer with it any longer."  Ares crossed his arms over his chest and gave Randi his most confident smile.  "I said I have come to claim what is mine."

"GET. OUT."

Ares looked amused, going so far as to chuckle lightly.  “Excuse me?”

Randi clenched her jaw so tightly the muscles in her face stood out in sharp relief and she stepped right into his personal space.  “Are you deaf as well as stupid?  Get the fuck out.”

Tiny’s eyes rounded comically as he watched the fearless interplay between Randi and the god of war.  He had never thought to see such a display in person, and he remained silent and still now as the drama unfolded before him, not wanting to disturb or influence the scene as it played out – until or unless it became necessary for Randi’s safety.

Ares lost his amused expression; his eyes hardened and flamed, then widened when the warrior neither flinched nor retreated.  He walked around her slowly - or tried to - but Randi turned with him, watching his every step, every breath.  “You’ve got some big brass ones on you, don’t you there?  I never thought I see you grow them like this again, and any other time they’d be welcome.”  Ares shook his head.  “But not now.  I think you need to learn a little respect.”

He reached for her, but Randi caught his hand.  “Respect is something you earn, and I don’t want you in my personal space.”  She shoved him back slightly.

He let her, knowing she had to come to him willingly.  “I’ll go for now.  You’ll call for me soon enough.  But let me leave you with a parting gift.”  Faster than she could stop him, Ares touched her temple.  There was no immediate reaction on her part and he stood there perplexed, only coming out of his reverie when she knocked his arm away.

“I am telling you one last time,” she hissed. “LEAVE, or we’ll find out if there are more ways to kill a god than the legends tell us about.”

He continued to look at her another long moment.  “I’ll be here when you need me, but until then....” He touched her cheek and laughed wickedly.  Then he vanished without a trace in a shower of blue fire.

“He’s made his attempt,” Athena informed her sisters as well as her priestess.  “Is everything in place?”

Rosie nodded.  “Everything on this end is.  Reed is simply waiting for a signal to start.”

“And what of Sky?” Artemis asked.  “With the shielding that has been set up, it is nearly impossible for us to follow anything.  Perfect since it means it’s working and Ares will remain unaware of what is happening.  Horrid since it keeps us out of the loop as well.”

Rosie smiled weakly and looked at her watch.  “He should be landing in the next few minutes.  He is to contact Reed directly as soon as he makes it into the palace.  Tiny is waiting for him even if Randi is not.  From there, well... we play it by ear.”

Both goddesses nodded and glanced over at their sister.  Dite had assumed a pose of complete meditation and was focusing all her love and energy at the moment on the bond that still ran strong between warrior and bard.  Her job was to keep that link strong and connected.  It was up to Athena and Artemis to protect her.  They moved to stand on either side of her, each resting a hand on her shoulders in a show of support and strength.  This was the hardest part, and even after millennia of practicing, patience never got any easier.

************

“Tiny, do you remember what happened to Russ... with the Sabres?  I think that may have been when things started to come apart for me – with Gwen, I mean.”

He met her eyes carefully, not wanting to show his surprise.  Up to this point, she had had no cognitive memories of anything she had done in regards to taking control of the unit or destroying the rebels.  Even now, knowing that the rebels were gone and that she was the one responsible because of her status as Empress, there was no trace of the memories of what she had done or how she had accomplished it.  According to Reed, they didn’t exist... at least not in a place that could be accessed in a mind walk.  Randi had to be willing to walk into her darkest place – one so carefully hidden that no one else save Gwen could find it.

“What do you remember, Empress?”

She shook her head, though he wasn’t sure if it was at her title or some other reason.  “Nothing.”  She slammed her fist against the table. “Nothing!  Except a few rumors that reached my ears.”  She looked at him with tears in her eyes – a mixture of fear, sadness and hopelessness etched onto her expressive features.  Then she looked back into the fire again as if searching for answers.

Tiny chanced a glance at his watch.  If he could manage to hold on for just a few more minutes, Sky should be here to help him.

“Why can’t I remember, Tiny?  Why?”

“Randi, do you trust me?”

Her dark head popped up at his use of her name.  He had not used her name since they’d come to this place, and it caught her attention now.  Tiny extended a hand towards her and waited.  She had to meet him on this’ it wasn’t something he could force.  Randi gazed at the large hand, palm up and let those memories she had of this man wash over her.  Times he had watched her back or eased her pain or wiped her tears or caressed her body.  So much water under the bridge between them and yet they had always, always had trust and respect between them.  She placed her hand in his without further hesitation, knowing this one thing in her life was still right.  “Yes,” came the solid, unequivocal answer.

“Then be patient just a few more minutes and then we can figure everything out together.”

“Promise?”

“Absolutely.  I promise.  And I will stay right here beside you every step of the way.”

Randi nodded her head and let it drop disconsolately.  “I don’t think I don’t deserve a friend like you anymore, Tiny.”

Tiny patted her hand and held on, but he didn’t say a word.  Instead he let his mind go back to the time when he had seen the change in Randi for himself – up close and personal.

************

Reed left Saturday morning, ostensibly to go home and take care of a couple dogs that were coming into heat.  In reality, though she would be breeding the bitches, her true purpose for leaving was to start bringing more support into the circle.  Lacey was expected to meet her first.  From there, they would figure out what other talents they needed to include to tip the scales in their favor when time for the final showdown came.  It hadn't been their first plan – in fact it hadn't been a plan at all until they were sharing coffee with Randi and Gwen and the bard casually mentioned the emergency medical attention she'd given Randi the previous evening.  Reed looked horrified and Randi was quick to reassure her.

"Reed, it's all right.  There was no way of knowing the arrow was poisoned."

"You don't understand, Randi... we checked for that.  We cleaned it out thoroughly.  Nothing should have been left to fester.  May I?" gesturing to the newly healed leg.

Randi frowned.  "Hmm?  Sure, but you're right... that is weird.  We'll keep an eye on it and see if it does it again.  Something else may be going on we need to know about."

"God, I hope not.  That was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Gwen muttered.

Randi covered Gwen's hand.  "You did a great job, my bard.  I couldn't have asked for better care."

"She's right, Gwen.  You did a good job here – no flaws in this technique either," Reed said with a smile, recalling her conversation with Gwen about the bard's modus operandi when preparing a new story.  She resumed her seat with studied casualness, laying a hand on Tiny's leg and subtly signing to him under the table.

'Well, I don't know about that," Gwen said, "but I really don't want to be perfecting this particular skill any time soon.  I'm glad I was around to help though."

"So I am," Tiny commented, "'cause I know she wouldn't have come to get us to help her," glaring in Randi's direction and receiving a burning stare in return.  "Don't bother," Tiny growled.  "You know it's true and so do we," smirking when Reed nodded her head emphatically in agreement.  "See?"

Gwen looked between the three friends in concern and then caught the sheepish expression in Randi's eyes.  "Randi?"

Randi shrugged.  "It's true.  I don't always play well with others, especially if it means letting others see me vulnerable.  You're different," she continued before the question was asked.  "You're a part of me.  I can't hide things from you; I wouldn't want to."

Gwen stood and wrapped her arms around Randi's neck.  "Good thing you added that last bit there Stud."

"Oh yeah?" drawled slowly as she urged the bard onto her lap.

"Yep.  I would've had to have gotten nasty with you otherwise."

"Really?" smirking.  "Do you promise?"

<Ahem>  “Guys?  I um... I hate to interrupt," Tiny said, clearing his throat and scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.  Two sets of eyes met his in chagrined understanding.

"Sorry, Reed," they muttered simultaneously.

"No problem," she breathed, her voice a little higher than normal.  "It's all positive energy at this point.  My shielding is just getting a good workout this week.  I almost hate to have to cut it short."

Now their eyes grew concerned and they looked at one another a long moment before Gwen slid from Randi's lap to stand beside her, unwilling to completely lose tactile contact with her.  "Something wrong?"

"Here?  Nothing you don't already know about.  No, I need to get home.  I got a comm message early this morning from the farm.  I've got two dogs coming into heat and I need to be there to keep an eye on things.  It's a control thing."

Gwen snorted.  "Like no one here understands that little issue, huh?"  Then giggling at the identical expression on all three Sabre faces.

"Watch it, Bard," Randi growled.  It didn't stop the giggles and instead the sound made Randi crack a smile, just slightly.

"I was wondering though," spoke Tiny.  "Would you mind if I stayed here a few more days?  Tommy has asked me for some plans for a playhouse for Randall and I have to go up to the capital city on Thursday.  It would save me a little if I could just go from here."

"Sure, Tiny.  You know you're welcome here anytime.  What's up in the capital?"

Tiny shook his head.  "Nothing yet.  That was the first appointment I could get to talk to the new commandant.  I'm trying to get some activity information.  Maybe we can figure out what or who will come after you next."

Gwen shivered at his words and Randi glared at him.  Then his words registered and she frowned.  "Waitaminute... what do you mean, the first appointment you could get?  Is Russ getting stupid or has the position gone to his head?"

"I'm not sure honestly," Tiny answered.  "That's another reason I am going to speak to him.  Something is going on, and we don't like it.  We're not being sent out like we should, not given the amount of activity obviously going on if they are targeting you.  You have a lot of friends in the Sabres, Randi, and we don't like seeing one of our own being treated the way you are."

"I can handle myself, Tiny."

"Yes, you can.  But this is our fight too."

Randi stiffened and started to speak again, but was stopped by the pressure on her shoulder.  She blew out a deep breath and relaxed. "All right, Tiny.  You do what you need to do.  You're welcome to stay here as long as you'd like.  Now I'm going for a run.  You think you can keep up?"

"No, but damned if I'm gonna let that stop me from trying again."  Tiny turned to Reed.  "Wait for me to get back before you leave?"

"Count on it...."  She paused.  "But run fast.  It won't take me that long to pack."  He nodded and would have stolen a kiss had not Randi run by right at the moment and pinched his ass hard.  He grabbed the bruised spot and yell, then took off running after her.  Reed shook her head.  "Some things never change," she muttered to Gwen.  Gwen just laughed.


Chapter XVII

“C’mon, Gwen.  You can do this.”  The bard repeated the mantra to herself over and over as she paced back and forth across the empty stage area.  Tommy wanted her to tell stories to the kids like they’d talked about, and today they were going to do a run through.  Something wasn’t settling right, and Gwen was having difficulty getting into the groove she needed to be in.  Fortunately she had a little time to compose herself as Tommy was in a meeting with some of the new artists.

Gwen looked around, unhappy with the setting and confident it wasn’t going to work for what Tommy had in mind.  It was too formal, too barren.  Always when she’d shared her stories with the kids at band practice, things had been relaxed and completely informal.  It had been casual, but right now all she had was stark and bare.

She continued to pace, willing her mind to focus on the stage and the setting and the story she wanted to tell, trying not to allow her thoughts to wander to what was truly bothering her.  Finally unable to stave off the disturbing memory, Gwen dropped to the edge of the stage and took a seat.  She scrubbed her hands through her hair and covered her face as though to dispel the look in Randi’s eyes before she left with Tiny.

That had been something of a shock.  Gwen had honestly expected Randi to be with her for this first session with the children just like she had always been at band practice.  In fact, Randi had given every indication of her intention to be there until the night before.  Randi had gotten a message that she had not shared with either Gwen or Tiny, but her demeanor had completely changed.  Even Tiny had noticed it and his eyes had widened perceptibly at the return of a personage he had never expected to see again.  This wasn’t the logical, precise warrior whose mind had figured out the most complex puzzles and villains.  No, this was the Sabre whose greatest skill was slaughter; whose decimation of the rebel hierarchy was legendary among their kind.  Briskly she had informed him that she would be accompanying him to the capital, and Tiny had time to wonder what the message had contained before Gwen broke in with a pained question.

“You’re leaving... tomorrow?  But....”

“Yes.  Something has come up that I need to take care of immediately.  Why?”

Gwen swallowed. Noting the coldness in Randi’s eyes and wondering what had happened in the hours since lunch to have changed Randi so much.  It reminded her greatly of the woman that had kept secrets from her in what seemed like another lifetime ago.  Gwen decided that wasn’t going to happen again.  She had claimed Randi for her own and she wasn’t giving her warrior up... with or without a fight.  “I don’t think so,” she replied boldly.  “Not until you explain to me what is going on.”

A dark brow rose over one blue eye.  “Excuse me?” Randi quirked her lips into a half-smile in an attempt to add a little humor to the question, but it never quite reached her eyes.  Neither woman noticed Tiny’s withdrawal so intently focused on one another were they.  “Since when...?” breaking off at the pure fury directed at her from green eyes.

Gwen grabbed her left hand and lifted their rings to eye level.  “Don’t finish that question.  You already know the answer to it.”

Blue eyes blinked and the coldness evaporated, leaving only marked confusion in its wake.  “Gwen?”  Randi shook her head as though to clear it.  “Sorry.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  I know better than that.  You deserve better than that.”

“Yes, I do,” Gwen said bluntly.  “Randi, what happened?  There wasn’t a problem at lunch.  We even talked about you being at the new session with the kids.”  Her voice dropped.  “I need you there.”

Randi took her free hand and ran it vigorously over her face as though trying to get the blood pumping.  Then she led them over to the couch to sit, tugging the bard into the niche between her legs and cocooning her gently.  “I’m sorry, Gwen.  It completely slipped my mind after....”  Randi blew out an exasperated breath.  Gwen simply waited.  Finally she spoke so lowly Gwen would have needed to strain to hear her had her lips not been pressed to Gwen’s ear.  She forced herself to listen to the words and ignore the sensations that coursed through her as the warm air flowed into her ear.  It wasn’t as difficult as it normally would have been – not with the tension filled body now sitting ramrod stiff behind her.

Gwen turned slightly – just enough to allow her to look into Randi’s eyes.  And what she saw there...  she drew a deep breath.  “That bad?”

Randi nodded.  “Yes.  Another threat.  It’s time for the Sabres to take this seriously.  I’m gonna go with Tiny and make sure Russ understands that.  Otherwise it could be weeks or even never before he deigns to speak to me.”

Gwen frowned.  “What’s up with that?  I thought he’d be anxious to....”

“Yeah, me too.  But apparently he’s got some sort of grudge going.”

“Against you?  But why?”

Randi shook her head.  “I dunno... unless it’s because I left the unit.”  She shrugged.  “Maybe it’s a power trip for him or something.”

Green eyes blazed.  “Why that little punk!  I oughta....”

Randi chuckled, relaxing for the first time since she’d received the newest missive from the Wizards as well as one from the Brotherhood.  There were too many questions, and it was time she demanded some answers.  “Don’t worry, Love.  I’m gonna.  One way or another, this is going to be settled.  We aren’t going to continue living like this – in fear of reprisals.”  Her eyes darkened and so did her voice.  “Either he will take care of this... or I will.”

Now Gwen turned all the way around in Randi’s lap, not liking the words or the tone behind them.  And what she saw in Randi’s eyes scared her in a way she hadn’t been in a long time.  “Randi?”

Randi blinked and her eyes returned to their normal blue.  She looked down and smiled, wondering what had caused the uneasy expression now reflected back at her.  “C’mon, Sweetheart.  Tiny’s leaving early in the morning, and I don’t want him to have to wait.”  She used her fingertips to urge Gwen’s chin up, so their eyes met.  “But I promise you I will be back as soon as I can.  With a little luck, I will be home in the early afternoon.”

Gwen nodded, knowing that the likelihood of that happening was slim.  She knew what their luck was like whenever the Sabres were involved with something.  “I’d like that.  Tomorrow is only rehearsal, but I’d still like you to be there if possible.”

“It means that much to you?”  The blonde head nodded without breaking eye contact.  “Well, then.  I’ll be there.  Ask Tommy to schedule you for late afternoon.  That should fit for the kids’ school schedules as well.”

“It does.  We’re scheduled to start at four.”

It was Randi’s turn to nod her agreement.  “I may be a little late, but I’ll be there.  Look for me.”

“I will,” wrapping her arms around Randi and hugging her as hard as she could.  “Thank you, Sweetheart.  That means so much to me.”

Randi smiled and kissed the top of Gwen’s head absently, caressing her back as she lulled Gwen into sleep.  But Randi’s gaze turned distant and it was a long time before closed her eyes in slumber.

Gwen chuckled softly as her mind returned to her surroundings.  Waking up on the couch in the early hours of the morning had been a rather painful experience for them both, though moreso for Randi than herself.  They had hobbled to the bedroom and proceeded to collapse into comfort with twin moans.  “Remind me not to do that again,” Randi mumbled into her pillow.

“Don’t do that again,” Gwen muttered back, willing herself to move long enough to undress.  She felt the bed shift as Randi did just exactly that.

“Smartass,” Randi growled in her direction, and Gwen couldn’t stop the smile that formed.

“Better than a dumbass, I always say,” she retorted before stripping her clothes off and sliding back into bed.  She was asleep before she could say goodnight.

Randi smiled faintly as she crawled into bed beside Gwen.  “Well, that’s one way to get the last word in, I guess.”  Then her smile turned into a full-fledged grin when Gwen claimed her spot on Randi in her sleep.  “Goodnight, Love.”

But something fundamental had changed in the night.  Randi had been cold, distant, almost formal with Gwen when she’d gotten back from her run and Gwen cringed inwardly at the memory, shying away from the pain it had inflicted on her very soul. It felt like a deliberate rejection and Gwen was at a loss to explain what had happened or why.  So now she sat alone on a darkened stage, trying to pull herself together to give a performance she wasn’t sure she could manage to pull off.  She whispered a prayer to Aphrodite, then rose and made her way to Tommy’s office.

************

Tiny sat quietly in the small, private shuttle he’d managed to arrange for them.  He was a little disconcerted at Randi’s abrupt change in personality.  He hadn’t seen her like this – completely remote and aloof – since Gwen’s appearance in her life.  Before that, this had been a much more common façade in her attempt to separate herself from the brutal reality of her Sabre existence.  He wondered what in particular had brought it to the fore and if Randi was even aware of the difference.

Randi sat rubbing her leg absently, her gaze focused somewhere that Tiny couldn’t see.  She had moved into the darkness of her subconscious mind, looking through the memories she had stored there.  Something – several somethings, in fact – were bothering her about the notes she continued to receive, and she was slowly working through every possibility she had ever encountered during her time as a Sabre looking for the answers she knew were there.

The biggest question to her mind was WHY.  Why were the rebel groups bothering to threaten and warn?  Why not simply attack and destroy as they had in the small Native village mere weeks ago.  She scrubbed her face at that realization.  Had it only been a few weeks since their honeymoon?  Randi examined her thoughts.  It had, but so much had happened to almost make that time of seclusion with Gwen seem like nothing more than a dream.  She felt... different.  Not that she could put her finger on a specific event or time frame because even her slaughter of the rebels in that village and Gwen’s recounting of actions she had no conscious memory of had not left her with the disquiet she now felt gnawing at the edges of her soul.

She had Tiny’s wrist caught in a crushing grip before she recognized his touch on her leg.  Immediately she released him, blinking her eyes in surprised reaction.  He sat back and swallowed the blood in his mouth where he’d bitten his lip, cradling his now throbbing appendage.  He’d forgotten about those lightning swift reflexes.

“Oh God, Tiny.”  She gazed at him with horror-filled eyes, the cold remoteness disappearing from them in her concern for him.  “I’m sorry.  I....”  His fingers covered her lips.

“My fault.  I knew better than to grab when your mind was obviously so far away.  I forgot,” he added sheepishly before his look turned serious again.  “Where were you?  I haven’t seen you look like that since... well, not for a while.”  He cautiously moved his wrist around grateful it wasn’t broken.

“Here, let me,” Randi said softly as she took his arm in a firm but gentle clasp.  She examined him carefully, then patted his forearm before returning it to him.  “Just a little bruised, I think.”

Tiny nodded.  “I think so too.”  He chuckled lightly.  “You must be slowing down in your old age.”  He was a bit surprised when her serious air never changed.  “Randi?  Hey, what’s going on with you?  I’m all right, and it really was my fault for startling you so badly.  I know better.  I just didn’t think.”  He thought for a moment she was going to blow him off.  Her expression and her posture remained rigid.  Then she leaned back in the seat and she turned to stare out the shuttle windows once more.  Tiny waited patiently, finally able to feel the conflict of her thoughts by her body language.  He knew she’d speak when she had it sorted enough to make sense of it.  Randi took a deep breath and sighed, looking at him with frustration.  Tiny tilted his head.  “Those letters still bothering you?”

“Not for the reason you’re thinking.  I mean hateful rhetoric is hateful rhetoric, right?”

“Right.  So...?”

“Why, Tiny?  Why are they suddenly taking the time to write to me?  To warn me of what they are planning?  Vague warnings, I’ll admit, but they are warnings just the same.  Why not just attack like they have in the past?  What’s changed? The whole things sets off my Sabre meter in a way that makes my nerve endings stand on edge.”

Tiny rubbed his chin thoughtfully, trying to discretely flex the soreness out of his bruised wrist.  “Well, we know they are struggling within to find new leadership to bring them together like Ghost Rider did.  Maybe this is their way of duking it out, so to speak.”

Randi shook her head.  “I could accept that if there was any sense to it, but Tiny, these letters make no sense.  If they need leadership, it seems like actions would speak louder than words in this case.”  She sighed again.  “I’ve seriously considered the fact that I am being deliberately baited, but by whom and to what end?  So that I react?  So that I get the Sabres involved?”  Randi covered her face with her hands and blew out an exasperated breath before she dropped her hands and looked at him again.

“What does your gut tell you?”

Randi leaned back and closed her eyes as she carefully considered Tiny’s words.  “It feels like manipulation.  I can’t think of any other logical reason for the notes.  My problem is I can’t get a good grip on how I am being manipulated or by whom or why.  It’s making me nuts.”

“Have you considered....”  Tiny waited for her to open her eyes and focus on him before he continued.  “Have you considered that if you are being manipulated your course of action could be irrelevant?”  She twitched an eyebrow at him and motioned for him to continue.  Tiny cleared his throat and blew out a breath before continuing.  “I agree with you – what you’ve said smacks of manipulation.  That being said - if it’s true, then wouldn’t whoever is behind this plan for every contingency... or at least try to?”

“Go on,” Randi said succinctly.

Tiny shook his head.  “I’m just thinking out loud, but you know how we are... how you were as a Sabre.  You studied your enemy and made educated guesses about what and when and where and how, but always, always there were contingency plans in place to assure nothing was missed.  It wasn’t until there was a leak from within that those strategies stopped working.”

Randi nodded slowly and her eyes resumed their veiled coldness once again.  “So I need to think outside the box; go beyond what I would normally do and try something totally unexpected.”  She rubbed her leg again.  Tiny followed the movement with his eyes.

“That bothering you again?  You need me to take a look at it?”

Tiny saw a flash of mischievous twinkle in the depths of her eyes before Randi cast a glower in his direction.  “You wanna explain to Gwen why you were groping me in the shuttle?”  He goggled at her, his eyes bulging and his mouth opening and closing silently like a fish breathing.  “It’s fine, Tiny.  We double-checked it this morning.  It just aches like a tooth gone nervy now.  All the stress, I think.”

He blinked, realizing she’d yanked his chain so seriously he’d never seen it coming.  He shook his head.  The lightning changes in her demeanor were going to drive him to drink if he wasn’t real careful keeping up with her.  “So what are you planning to do exactly?” Tiny asked trying to refocus the conversation.  He already knew what was causing the stress.  It was the same thing that was causing him enough stress to make the ends of his very short hair ache.  However he also knew there was nothing for it but to let it play out to its conclusion now.  They had come too far and risked too much, and Ares had stepped up the price of the outcome until there was no other choice.

Randi shrugged and Tiny watched as her Sabre mask settled on her face once more.  “Whatever it takes,” she answered with detachment before turning her face to the window and her attention inward.  Tiny leaned back, knowing he wasn’t going to get any more answers from her until she had something she felt like sharing.

For her part, Randi already had the beginnings of an idea.  Gwen wasn’t going to like it, but if it meant they would be rid of the rebels forever and that she and Gwen would be safe to live out their lives in peace, Randi was willing to risk her wrath.  She figured she could make Gwen see the positive side of the possibilities before them.  The shuttle whispered to a stop and the two Sabres stood to exit.  What happened in the course of the next few hours would change everything.

“Well, Randi,” Russ greeted cordially but not enthusiastically.  “This is a... an unexpected... surprise.”  Unexpected and definitely unwelcome.  Russ was a by-the-book officer, and Sabres like Randi – especially Randi – had always been a wildcard he had difficulty dealing with.  Truth be told, Russ should never had been a Sabre.  He’d never had the gumption for it... not the fighting and killing part of it anyway.  Despite his relative youth he was a throwback to the old days when the Sabres had merely been peacekeepers, not enforcers. But he was a hell of an efficient organizer and Jerry had depended on him to keep everything – personnel, schedules, supplies and operations – on track.  And to his credit, Russ had been a whiz at that particular aspect of his duty.

But with Jerry’s death, he had become the defacto leader of the Sabre unit and he was doing his best to run it by the book.  Unfortunately for him, the Sabres had no book... only a code of honor they had all sworn to live and die by.  He was in over his head and he knew it.  What he didn’t know was how to remedy the situation he found himself in and now this.  Randi was an anomaly to him – something to be tolerated at best and ignored whenever possible.  The fact that she was no longer truly a Sabre was his only leverage against her, and he intended to use that little fact to his best advantage.  He had no way of knowing he’d already been out maneuvered and Randi was merely present to call checkmate.

When Tiny had finally left her to her solitude, Randi had let her mind drift into what she called her Sabre haze.  It was the place where she didn’t consciously think – she simply allowed her thoughts to wander randomly of their own recourse.  It was how she solved the most difficult of puzzles, by allowing the facts to arrange themselves until she could see the pattern in them and understand the truth behind them.  What she had discovered was something that made her angry beyond words.  Once again, she was being betrayed by someone at the highest levels of the Sabres.  Only this time it was deliberate.  This time it was personal in a way it hadn’t been before.

Randi read his unease easily behind the cordiality of his greeting.  He struggled to meet her gaze, unable to hold the intensity directed at him.  Russ extended his hand, somehow not surprised when it wasn’t accepted.  He knew well the disdain she held for the officer ranks now after cleaning up behind them and well aware of what that action had cost her.

“I’m sure it is,” Randi answered coldly, transferring her meaning to a number of levels that could be felt in the noticeable drop in temperature in the room.  Tiny watched the by-play with interest.  It was obvious even to the untrained eye that there was no love loss between these two, but the question foremost in his mind was why.  They had rarely interacted when Randi was still an active member of the Sabres and now that she was officially separated from duty, they had no cause whatsoever to relate to one another on any level.  Yet the tension was thick enough to cut with a blade.

“Well,” Russ said, clearing his throat.  “I’m uh... glad you stopped by, but I do have a schedule to keep, so if you’ll excuse us....” gesturing her towards the door.

“I don’t think so,” she replied in the same calm, cold voice.  “Have a seat, Russ.  Tiny, the door.”  She looked at Tiny and he gaped at her momentarily. There was no longer any trace of his friend Randi.  The woman who stood before him now was his Sabre compatriot Miranda Valiant and despite any misgivings he had about her transformation, his mind chose to remember only the trust they had shared between them.

He rose and Russ looked at him in horror.  “Sit down, Chief.  We have business to attend to.  Ms Valiant has no authority here.”

Tiny looked back and forth between them before shaking his head at Russ.  “I’m sorry, sir.  If I have to choose a loyalty here and now, you’ll lose badly.”

“THIS IS MUTINY!!” the Commandant roared.

“Perhaps,” Tiny muttered, noting Randi’s expression hadn’t wavered.  “But I have put my life in her hands more times than I can count, and she has never let me down; never betrayed my trust.”  He locked eyes with Randi for a long moment before turning his attention back to Russ.  “I can’t say the same for the officer corps of this unit.”  Tiny turned again and locked eyes with Randi.

“I’ll have your head for this, Chief,” Russ growled.

“Somehow, sir... I don’t think so,” Tiny replied without breaking eye contact with Randi.  “Would you like me to wait outside?” hoping the answer would be no.  He very much feared for Randi at this moment having seen Sky’s vision.  But he knew it had to be her choice.  He was merely to be her watchdog to ensure she got to the point of choosing.  And somehow, he had the feeling that time had not arrived yet.  Both Sky and Reed had assured him he would know, but all he understood right now was that Randi’s demeanor was both comfortingly familiar and disturbingly disconcerting.

“You can stay,” Randi said.  “I’m not going to do anything to him but talk.”  She turned her attention back to Russ.  “Have. A. Seat.”  Repeated slowly and distinctly with a glare that could have melted glass.  Russ got the hint and sank into the chair behind him, hoping to hide his unease with bravado.  She dropped down to sit on his desk.

“I’m not sure what you hope to accom....”

“Shut up,” Randi said flatly.  “You don’t speak unless I give you specific instruction to do so.  Do you understand?”

“Who the hell...?”  The slap knocked his head back in the chair and resounded across the room. 

“Randi?”  Tiny’s concerned utterance got him a raised hand, but Randi’s eyes never left Russ.

“We apparently need to set a few ground rules as Russ here doesn’t seem to understand English.”  She grabbed the Commandant’s chin and squeezed, forcing him to sit upright and focus on her.  “Now... do I have your undivided attention?”  He jerked his head in a nod.  “Good.  I’ll only have to explain this once then.  I ask a question – you give me an answer.  A very brief answer.  No expletives, no questions, no commentary.  Otherwise you sit and listen.  Do we understand each other?”

Russ nodded.  “Yes,” he ground out succinctly.

“Good.  I am going explain a couple things to you that I have figured out, then we’re gonna have to make a decision on how to proceed.  You see, I’ve been getting notes from the different rebel factions... little missives meant to unnerve me and keep me off balance.”  Russ nodded again.  She had already shared this with him before.  She rose and began to pace around the desk much in the manner of a college professor addressing her students.  “The thing that bothered me was WHY?  Why not just attack?  Obviously they were aware of how to reach me... to some extent, at least.  So why play games?  What were they hoping to accomplish?  Then it occurred to me.  They were playing games because that was what they had been instructed to do. And they were able to find me because they had access to someone here.  Someone high enough up for me to be considered a threat to.”

“And you think it was me?” he scoffed.  “Why would I consort with the enemy?  No matter what I think of your decision to quit, I am still a Sabre.  I follow the code!”

“I don’t think so.  You knew Jerry wanted me to be groomed for this position, and when I turned it down you were angry.  You didn’t think I should have a choice even though I had already DIED once.  But that didn’t matter, did it?  You figured if the Sabres couldn’t have me, then no one should.  Only you knew my Sabre compatriots would never turn against me.  So you went to someone who would – people who would take great pleasure in seeing me destroyed... knowing... hoping one of them would eventually succeed.”  Randi spoke almost conversationally, but the look she gave Russ when she met his eyes was one of hatred and disdain.  He saw his death in the glance and he felt the blood drain from his head.  She turned her back to him deliberately as she continued her narrative.  “The sad part of this is if we had been left alone to live in peace – if you had just left us alone!!!”  She blew out a deep breath.  Though her tone had never risen, Randi’s rage was palpable.  She scratched her forehead absently.  “The question now is what to do with you.”  She paused as though in thought, then began speaking in a low tone as though to herself.  “You have no honor.  You don’t deserve a Sabre’s death.  So you choose.  Either you kill yourself tonight or I will disgrace you in the morning.”

Russ laughed nervously.  “You have got to be kidding me.  You have no proof; this is all pure speculation.”  He shifted in his chair, uncomfortably aware of her piercing regard.

“No, it isn’t.  Even though I choose not to do this any longer, I am still the best there is.  I know where to find what I need to prove my statement.  Besides, I am confident that the unit would believe me if I declared you a traitor to them.  I have earned their trust and you....”  She felt him twitch and turned to catch the blade inches from her heart.  Tiny moved swiftly from his position to catch Russ’ hand before he could drop it and pulled it up behind his back.  He turned to glance at Randi and flinched.  Eyes which had been silvery in her anger now faded to a clear white.  “Bad choice, Russell.  Now you die slowly and painfully like the traitor you are... like the rebel you have become.  And lucky you... you even got to choose the method.”  She looked at Tiny and saw the confusion clearly written in his eyes.  She hesitated then shook her head.  “You don’t have to stay, Tiny,” knowing his hatred for torture.  “It’s not going to be pretty.”

He swallowed hard and shook his head.  “I think I need to stay... for your sake,” mumbling the last words under his breath though Randi heard them clearly.  Now it was her turn to look confused momentarily, then she felt her Sabre focus slip back into place.

Russ struggled, but as he and Tiny shared the same training and Tiny was in much better condition, it was no effort at all for Tiny to maintain the upper hand between them.  “You can’t do this,” Russ gasped out.  “It’s murder.”

Randi snorted, hitting several spots on his back and causing him to collapse in Tiny’s arms.  “There is no such thing as murder of an enemy in the Sabre code.  We are all authorized... trained to kill.  And the time has come for you to die.”

“No!  NO!!  You can’t do this!!”

“Um, Randi....”  Tiny started to speak, then hesitated when she turned back to him.  He gathered his courage and spoke.  “He deserves the right to a Sabre trial.”

“Tiny, if this bothers you, leave.  He’s a traitor and he lost any rights he might have had when he tried to kill me.”  The cold flatness in her voice unnerved him, but he shook his head.  She spoke the truth.  It was her right, and Russ, if he was the traitor Randi claimed him to be, deserved to die by whatever method she deemed appropriate.

“Nope, I’m staying.”  Hoping his presence would deter her violent tendencies.

She picked Russ up and dropped him in his chair.  “Ya know what?” she said conversationally to him.  “I really have to wonder how you became a Sabre.  You’re nothing like the rest of us, and quite frankly you’re not even worth the effort to torture.”  He spit at her.  Randi stood casually and wiped the spittle from her cheekbone, then onto his shirt.  “However, it doesn’t mean I can’t make you suffer first.”  She reached out, pushing pressure points on his arms and legs before releasing the ones on his back, and he instantly keened in agony from the pain that flowed through his veins.  He had never imagined such misery.  “Oh,” she added as an afterthought, popping two spots on either side of his neck.  “I’m tired of having to listen to you whine.”

Tiny watched her work.  It wasn’t something they’d had to do often, but Randi had always done so without conversation or emotion.  He wondered where all this was coming from, and then she unknowingly answered his question.

“This is for what you did to Gwen, you fucking son of a bitch,” she hissed at him before jamming the blade he’d thrown at her into his stomach.  “Now you’ll feel every single last wretched minute of your pathetic life.”

She stood up and backed away from him. “You can be glad for one thing though.  Your death will have a much more lasting effect than your life ever did.  Tiny, I want you to notify the unit.  Call a mandatory meeting for every Sabre on Sunday morning.  That should give everyone time to get here.  It’s time we took back what was ours and did what we’ve been trained to do.”

“Randi?” hoping he’d misunderstood, knowing what the action meant.

“Do it, Tiny.  Everybody... active, retired, whatever.  Just get them here.  I’ve gotta go see Geoff and Jill, then I’ve gotta get home.  I made a promise to Gwen.”

“She’s not gonna to like this.”

“I know, but there’s no help for it either.  I’ll make it right with her... somehow.”

Tiny watched her leave, then closed his eyes and prayed.  Her eyes had still been almost clear when she’d left and he shivered at the memory.  He hoped he’d done the right thing, but only time would tell that for sure.


Chapter XVIII

Randi walked into the therapy room, grinning at the memories the grunts and groans issuing from Geoff’s mouth evoked in her.  Though there had been nothing pleasant about the time she’d spent recovering from her death, the ultimate reward had been worth it.  It was those thoughts that put the smile on her face and drew a roar from Geoff.  That noise drew a sympathetic whine from the half-grown dog on the floor.

“You better have a damn good reason for coming in here with a smile on your face.  Do you know how damn much this hurts??”

Randi just kept grinning like a Cheshire cat as she advanced into the room.  She reached Geoff and reached her hands towards him, intent on kneading out the tension she could see rippling in the broad shoulders.  Carbon stepped between Randi and Geoff and bristled, growling at her briefly before relenting with a sniff of her person and another whine.  Then he moved to one side but kept his attention focused attentively on Randi.  “That was weird,” Randi mumbled to herself, then let her hands go to work.  Geoff flinched at the first contact, then relaxed as her skilled hands worked weeks of knots out of his muscles.  Even though he had massage therapy after every physical therapy session, Randi hit places with knowing hands that had plagued him repeatedly.  He groaned loudly when she hit a particularly tender spot.  She bent low and whispered into his ear.  “Yeah, I do... up close and personal like.  I also know what the reward is like at the end of the road.”

Geoff let his head drop until his chin touched his chest.  “God, that feels so good.  Those young pups just don’t get that they have to dig hard to get the worst of the knots out.”

“Yeah, well,” Randi replied, standing up and patting his back before walking around to take a seat in front of him.  “That’s one of those things you learn by hard-earned experience.”  And this time he could see the pain in her blue eyes behind the grin she gave him.  “Where’s Jill?” she asked before he had a chance to probe further.

“At home.  She had some things that had to be taken care of and they needed a more personal touch that a vid conference could give her.  We didn’t know you were coming.  Where’s Gwen?”  All said without a pause for breath.

“At home.  She’s got a dress rehearsal this afternoon.  Tommy’s gonna try the first of his change of settings ideas, and they’re starting with the kids.  In fact I’m supposed to be back there to watch.”

He frowned at her.  “So why are you here?”

“I had to let Russ know about some problems the Sabres needed to be aware of.”  She blew out a breath and met his eyes.  “I’m being set up as a target by the various rebel groups and that means....”

“That means Gwen is a target as well, and she’s much more visual than you are.”

“Exactly.”

“So what did he say?  What’s he going to do?”

“He didn’t say.  He barely gave me the time of day... made it clear I was wasting my time as I wasn’t a Sabre anymore.”  Her words stopped as they both felt a slight vibration at their wrists.  They looked down simultaneously and two sets of eyebrows rose into hairlines.

“Well, maybe that’s what this meeting is about then,” Geoff said.  “Better be or else I’m going to have to get out of this chair to kick Russ’ ass for being stupid,” he muttered to himself.  Geoff looked at Randi with an interesting expression.  “You still wear it?” gesturing to her Sabre alert band.

“Yeah.  I like to know what is going on.”  She shrugged.  “Habit as much as anything, I guess.”

“So you gonna come back up for this meeting?”

Randi nodded.  “I think so.  I think I need to know what’s going on... especially if he is going to do something about these notes I’ve been getting.  Don’t worry,” she said with a smile, tapping him on the leg.  “I’ll bring Gwen with me for sure on Sunday.”  She glanced up and saw Tiny waiting in the doorway for her and motioned him in.

Geoff smiled.  “See that you do.  I’ll make sure Jill is here.  We can have a little family reunion.”

Randi nodded as she rose.  “Sounds good.  Maybe Carbon will be friendlier with Gwen here.”

Geoff nodded, an odd look on his face.  “Maybe... I hope so.  He’s never acted that way towards anyone who has been part of my therapy.  Strange that he’d do that to you of all people.”

“Who did what?” Tiny questioned as he extended a hand to the weapons smith.  “Hey, Geoff!  How’s it going?

Geoff grunted and shrugged.  “Better now that I’ve had a real massage to get the knots out,” with a smirking glance in Randi’s direction.

“Yep, she could have been a pro.”

“Hey!  I’m sitting right here, ya know.”

“And your point?” Tiny teased.  “C’mon.  I hate to pop in and run, but you’ve got a shuttle to catch and so do I.  Sure wish I could be there when you explain to Gwen about why you called this meeting though.”

Geoff’s head snapped towards Randi, catching the honest uncertainty in her eyes before she looked at Tiny.  She rubbed a hand across her forehead.  “Huh?  Tiny, what are you talking about?  If that’s your idea of a joke, your punch line needs work because that isn’t funny.” She rubbed her forehead again, wincing slightly at the pain that suddenly radiated through her skull.  Carbon whined pitifully before howling.

“Randi?  Don’t you remember...?”  Tiny took Randi by the arms and looked into her eyes.  The first thing he noticed was they were their beautiful blue color once more.  What he realized almost immediately after that was she had no recollection of what had happened... just like with the Amazons.  The only thing he saw in her eyes now was bewilderment and pain.

She clenched her hands around his arms until he grimaced at the bruising he could feel.  “Tiny?” her voice dropped to a whisper as though anything louder was too much effort.  “Tiny?  Take me home to Gwen.”  Then Randi did something she’d never done before in her life – she swooned.

Tiny caught her before she hit the deck and scooped her up in his arms.  He looked at Geoff whose expression was a mixture of surprise, confusion and concern.  “Tiny, do you know what is going on?”  Tiny nodded.  “Do you think you could explain it to me?

Tiny nodded.  “I will.  I’ll come back and tell you everything I know.”

“Come back?  Don’t you think she needs a doctor now?”

Tiny shook his head.  “No... she needs Gwen.”  He held up a hand – quite a feat considering he still had Randi unconscious in his arms.  “I need you to trust me for just a little while, Geoff.  I promise I will come directly back here and make things make as much sense to you as they do to the rest of us right now, but I have to get her home first.  Trust that Gwen’s love is what Randi needs right now,” remembering Reed’s cautionary words to him before she’d left.  He hoped she’d been able to fill Lacey in on everything.  Things were likely to move very quickly from this point.

Gwen was waiting at the private pad when the shuttle touched down.  Tiny had contacted her as soon as they’d gotten into the air.  He knew they would need clearance to approach the island, and Gwen needed time to get there and prepare herself.  He lifted Randi into his arms once more and stepped down the ramp.  She hadn’t stirred since her collapse and he was growing more concerned by the minute.  Tiny nodded to the pilot who closed the door as soon as he was clear and lifted off when they were a safe distance away.  Gwen waited for him to approach her, mindful of Randi’s guidelines for pad safety and not wanting to jeopardize anyone.  But as soon as Tiny was clear of the transport area and into the safety zone, she ran to him, immediately smoothing Randi’s hair from her face and noting the pale features.

“My God, Tiny!! What happened??”

Tiny shifted uncomfortably in his uniform and looked at her beseechingly.  “Can we get her inside first?  Then I’ll tell you about our day, I promise.”

Gwen nodded and walked beside him, wanting to keep tactile contact with Randi.  She hadn’t liked the look in Tiny’s eyes when he’d asked for a reprieve, and she knew that whatever was coming down the pipeline was nothing but bad news.  Her stomach knotted up.  She’d known things were going to go bad.  Aphrodite had warned her of as much.  But she’d expected... hoped it would be longer.  Already they had been through so much just to be together – they were still newlyweds by all standards for God’s sake – and now this.  She’d hoped for a little more time, but she got the definite impression that hope was in vain and fading fast.

They reached the beach house and she released her hold on Randi with a tangible sense of loss to open the door for Tiny to step through.  He carried her straight into their bedroom and placed her gently on the bed Gwen had pulled down.  Then he stepped out of the room to allow Gwen the privacy she deserved to make Randi comfortable.  He twitched his uniform into place and sat down in front of the blazing fireplace to wait.

For her part, Gwen simply gazed at her mate for many long moments, wondering what had happened.  Finally she moved, easing Randi’s shoes off her feet and sliding her pants down long legs.  Then she removed Randi’s jacket and shirt before pulling the covers up around her shoulders.  Gwen took another long minute to just look at Randi.  Gently she combed the hair off Randi’s face and she leaned down kissed the smooth cheek.  She inhaled Randi’s scent greedily, knowing with a certainty that no matter what else, this was the woman she had married and pledged her life, her heart, and her very soul to.  She let that knowledge settle the cramping in her guts and she rose to go hear what Tiny had to say.

At least that was the plan... until Gwen realized that Randi had a clenched fist firmly grasping her shirttail.  She tried to loosen her hold, and Randi immediately became restless, retreating into the anxious state Gwen had encountered on occasions when Randi had been on Sabre business and done things she was ashamed for Gwen to know about.  A cold fear raced through Gwen, remembering well what those things had been and what they had done to Randi’s psyche.  She looked down, seeing the frown crease Randi’s forehead and made a quick decision.

“Tiny?” Gwen called softly, though she was fairly sure her voice would do little to disturb Randi current state.  She cleared her throat and beckoned a little louder, only to having him standing awkwardly in the doorway.  She flushed slightly at the sight of his obvious uncomfortable embarrassment.  “Sorry,” Gwen apologized softly.  “Um, look... I need to....  Hmm....”  She mumbled quietly to herself though her words were quite clear to Tiny. “I don’t know why I’m embarrassed about this.  I mean, you’ve seen us in bed together and everything.  It’s just....”

He decided to come to her rescue.  “I need to call Reed real quick and I can see Randi needs you with her,” gesturing to the tight grip the warrior maintained on Gwen’s shirt.  “Why don’t you um... do whatever you need to do to make you both comfortable and call me when you’re ready?”

Gwen closed her eyes and nodded.  “Thanks, Tiny.”  He turned and made his way back to the living room, moving to the far side to ensure the privacy he needed to make his call.  Gwen sat down and riffled her fingers through Randi’s hair.  Gradually she felt the tension melt from Randi’s frame and she leaned down to whisper in her ear.  “Sweetheart, I know you can hear me.  I know you’re in a dark place right now, but I want you to know I am right here.  I’m right beside you, Love, and I’m waiting for you to come home to me.” 

Gwen drew a deep shuddering breath trying to will away the knots she felt tying up her guts.  She patted the hand still clutching her shirt, loosening the fingers and lifting them to her lips for a kiss.  Then she held on to them as she awkwardly maneuvered herself into the bed beside Randi.  She immediately released the hold she had on Gwen’s hand and rolled into her, allowing Gwen to envelope her almost completely.  Gwen clung to Randi for several long minutes, mumbling words of reassurance meant for them both.  Promises she hoped they survived together to keep.  Finally she felt ready to face the truth of what Tiny had to share with her, and she summoned him.

Tiny, in the meantime, had been quite busy on his Sabre comm – a fact that in and of itself spoke of the gravity of the situation.  The link was rarely used... only in emergencies and never before for something quite so personal.  But this affected them all deeply, and Reed especially needed to be aware of the developments.  Things were suddenly moving faster than they had anticipated and their timetable was going to have to be stepped up.  He had just finished his conversation with her, in fact, when Gwen called him.  Tiny squared his shoulders and crossed into the bedroom.  He didn't even blink at their positioning; he simply gestured to the chair by the bedside, and at Gwen's nod took a seat.  Tiny fidgeted for a few minutes, straightening his uniform and clearing his throat.  Gwen clamped down on the rising dread she felt growing in her belly at Tiny's obvious discomfort.  It had been clear even without all the restlessness that the news was going to be bad at the very least.  His reticence to speak only made it worse.

"Tiny, please," Gwen pleaded when the silence became unbearable.  "I need to know."

Tiny nodded and sighed.  "You do.  I just wish...."

"So do I, but we knew it was coming.  How bad is it?"

"Bad," he said succinctly.  "I think... I am fairly certain she is going to assume leadership of the Sabres.  And then she is going to destroy the rebels once and for all."

"Excuse me?  How can she assume leadership of the Sabres?  She isn't one anymore."

Tiny sighed again.  He hated this – hated what Randi had done, but more... he hated what Ares had done to the woman he considered to be his friend.  If only.... he thought but shook his head.  They had to cope the cards they had been dealt and this woman deserved a fighting chance to hold onto the love and happiness she had found in the one Ares had chosen.  They both did.

"Technically, you're right.  She isn't.  She died and that gave her an impossible gift – the opportunity to live a normal life.  But honestly, Gwen, it's such a part of who she is... who we all are.  It... it's hard to explain."  He let his hands drop between his knees and sat silently trying to formulate his thoughts a little more clearly.  Gwen's words brought him up short in his contemplation.

"I think I understand, Tiny.  It's not... it's not something you would consciously choose, but it is ingrained in your psyche.  And all that training brings that personality and the responsibility of it to the fore."

"Right... exactly," Tiny exclaimed with relief in his voice.  "You do understand."

Gwen smiled sadly.  "More than I'd like to," she replied.  "But, Tiny, my understanding of the Sabre mentality doesn't explain why you think Randi is going to become the Sabre Commandant.  Tiny, she's done everything she could to avoid stepping back into those Sabre boots."

Tiny nodded his agreement.  "Consciously, you're right, Gwen.  But she has a lot of missing spots in her memory.  You know that.  And I was witness to one of them today."

"Come again, please?"  Gwen said.  So he told her – everything that had happened from the moment they entered Russ' office until Randi's collapse in Geoff's therapy room.  He briefly considered giving Gwen an abbreviated accounting of what had happened... what Randi did... then decided she deserved nothing less than the truth.  “Why?” spoken so softly Tiny barely made out the word.  Gwen’s arms tightened convulsively around Randi, and he watched in amazement as she responded to Gwen’s distress.  Randi snuggled deeper into her embrace and for a long moment, Gwen’s attention was focused solely on the woman in her arms.  Then she turned outraged green eyes to Tiny and demanded again, “Why?”

“It was her right, Gwen, and it was her responsibility as the Sabre who was wronged.  It all goes back to the Sabre code.”

“The code?!?” she hissed incredulously though she never raised her voice above a whisper.  “You let her betray everything for some goddamn code???”

"No, Gwen, no!!"  Tiny rubbed his hands over his face as he searched for a way to clarify his thoughts to her.  He moved from the recliner to the bed, taking Gwen's hands in his much larger ones.  "I'm not explaining this very well.  Randi became the Sabre she was before she knew you.  She didn't betray anything."  He held on to the hands that would have pulled away at his words.  "Gwen, she had no memory of it... at all.  I watched her become someone I hadn't seen since... since before her death.  And the next time I saw her, she was the person I've known since her return."

"But Tiny... why?  Why didn't you stop her?  Why did you let her kill him?"

"Gwen, Randi was the best at what she did, and one reason for that is because of her single-minded focus.  When she got into that mode, nothing could put her off, and I wasn't going to add to her guilt."

"I'm not sure I understand what you mean?"

"If I had interfered with her right to retribution, a right that she was entitled to by the Sabre code, she would have hurt me... or worse.  As it was, she was fairly merciful to the rat bastard; much more than I would have been in her place."

"Really?"

"Absolutely.  I would have cut out his tongue out for starters and then gotten creative for what he did to her."

Gwen blinked, startled by the vehemence of Tiny's tone.  "Oh... wow... um...."  She loosened one hand and rubbed the tip of her nose.  "No, actually, I meant – do you really think Randi would have... hurt... you if you had interfered with what she was doing?"

Tiny looked down at Randi who was still completely oblivious to everything except her unconscious attachment to Gwen.  "As herself, no," he answered quietly, shaking her head.  "But as the Sabre that she once was... that I saw today – yes, definitely." He looked up and met Gwen's eyes squarely.  "Until she met you, she never let herself be swayed or deterred from her purpose... no matter how distasteful she found it to be personally."

"That's why she was the best?"

Tiny nodded.  "That's why she was the best – still is to some degree."

"Is that why you think Randi will become the next commandant?"

"No.  I got that impression from what she said today when she called the meeting of all Sabres.  Gwen, she could have been the commandant and she turned it down.  But after Russ... died... she assumed command as naturally as breathing.  She's a leader, Gwen, and the Sabres will follow her."

"Can we... can I stop her?"

Tiny shook his head.  "I honestly don't know.  I think it depends on whether or not the Sabre wakes up.  Given the blackout episodes she's been having, it's obvious she's been struggling with this... fighting to keep from becoming a Sabre again."

"You think her returning to the Sabres is part of the darkness Sky warned us about?"

"Don't you?" Tiny countered sadly.

Gwen gazed at him honestly.  "I know it is," she whispered.  "The Sabre part of her is so dark... so violent.  But I love her despite that, Tiny.  I love that part of her because it is a vital part of who she is.  It's where her strength lies.  It's where she gets her sense of honor and responsibility."

"Yes, it is," Tiny agreed.  He squeezed her hand and stood up from the bed.  "I've got to go.  I promised your father I'd return and explain things to him... as much as I can anyway.  Will you be all right here alone?  Or should I call Tommy?"

Gwen returned his squeeze before she released her hold.  "I'll... we'll be fine, Tiny.  Tommy knows we're here and I can call him if I have to.  We'll get through this...together... just like we always have."  She smiled at him and Tiny found himself responding in kind automatically.  "I wouldn't be adverse to you keeping in touch, though."

"You can count on that, Gwen.  You have a vast support system and when the time comes... well, we'll be where we're needed."  I hope, he added silently.

"Thank you, Tiny," Gwen said, suppressing a yawn and snuggling closer to her still unconscious soulmate.  "Will you... um... will you come back and let me know what Daddy's reaction was?" she mumbled, sinking into a light doze.

"You betcha," he agreed with a smile as he pulled the covers up over her.  Then he walked out of the bedroom and headed over to Tommy's.  He and Ella needed to know what was going on as well.  It was time to pull the troops together for the coming firestorm.

"You're sure about this Tiny?" Geoff asked the man who now filled his view screen.  When Tiny had arrived at Tommy's, he'd asked for a vid conference and both Tommy and Geoff had been agreeable.  Tiny was glad; he wanted to be nearby when Randi woke up... for both their sakes.

"Yes, Geoff.  I am.  I saw what happened in Russ' office and you were witness to what took place in your room."

"But why now?  Why...?  She's been so determined to stay out of Sabre business and away from Sabre life."

Tiny shrugged.  "I don't know what originally started it, but I believe, given what we now know, that whatever it was happened at least several months ago, if not longer.  Reed didn’t do a thorough walk-thru in Randi’s memories, but according to both Gwen and Randi, Randi has had several instances of lost time in the recent past.”

“And there’s nothing we can do about this, Tiny?”  This from Tommy.

“We’re doing everything we can, which unfortunately isn’t much.”

“Tiny,” Geoff asked, in a deceptively calm tone that made Tiny’s skin crawl.  “If you’ve known about this, why are we just hearing about it now?”

Tiny bit his inner lip, but outwardly displayed no hint of the turmoil roiling in his gut.  It was the one question he’d been hoping to avoid, though he knew in his heart of hearts this accounting would come.

"There wasn't anything to share."  He held up his hand when Geoff would have interrupted.  "Give me a minute, Geoff.  Randi has no conscious memory of these episodes, and up to now no one except maybe Gwen had observed any of them.  We didn't even suspect this as the problem until Reed did a mind walk this last weekend and found... blanks... in Randi memory.  Nothing concrete – just... time gaps... that couldn't be explained.  Things hidden so deeply even Reed couldn't find them."

"So there was nothing to share?" Tommy inserted.

"Not really, no," Tiny answered with a relieved breath.  "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes today, there still wouldn't be."

"But you said...." Geoff accused.

"Geoff!  We know that darkness is coming, and we are doing everything we can to make sure it doesn't win.  But until today, I, at least, did not know what form the darkness probably would take.  So cut me some slack, would you?"

"But Gwen knew?" Geoff asked, his tone cool.

Tiny bit his lip.  "Yes."  He watched as Geoff’s shoulders dropped.  "Geoff, she's going to need you to support her."

"I know," he sighed.  "And I will.  I just don't understand why she didn't come to me... to us.  We could have done... I don't know... something."

"No, we couldn't, Geoff," Tommy said.  "The only real thing we can do is support them both.  From what Tiny has and hasn't said, I think everything else that could be done is being done by people more qualified than we are."

"But she should have come to me... should have...."

"Geoff, you'll always be her father, but you're not responsible for Gwen anymore.  And you can't expect her to share everything that does happen or might happen in her life.  You just be there for her when she finally does come to you."

Geoff scrubbed his hands through his hair and smiled sheepishly at both men.  "I know.  Doesn't stop me from wanting to help or be involved though."

Tommy chuckled.  "I think that's a 'Dad' thing.  We do tend to get involved in our children's lives, don't we?"

Ella snorted, speaking up for the first time since Tiny had made his unexpected appearance at their front door.  "And of course mothers don't," she commented, rolling her eyes at her husband causing laughter to ripple through the group.  She turned her attention to Tiny.  "Do you know anything else?  Anything that will help us with whatever is coming?"

Tiny shook his head.  "No, now you know everything that I know.  Reed and Sky might know more, but I've shared with you all they shared with me."

"So now we wait?"

"Now we wait.  Despite the fact that it's not something any of us would ever have chosen, some thing or some one started this.  We have to let it play out... to whatever conclusion Randi chooses.  And it has to be her choice."

"And she has to make this choice without knowing she's making a choice, why, exactly?" from Geoff.

"Gwen has it on good authority...."  He held up his hand.  "I didn't ask which one, but I'm putting money on a couple different goddesses. Anyway, Gwen has it on good authority that any outside or undue influence will kill Randi.  And according to Reed, as Randi goes so goes Gwen, and as they go together so goes the world."

"What a fucking mess," Geoff muttered, then looked at Ella.  "Beg pardon," he muttered with a flush.

"S'all right," she said with an ironic chuckle.  "You merely voiced what I was thinking."  She turned and looked at Tiny.  “If the gods are involved on one side, are they also involved on the other?  Do you know who is behind this?"

"Know?"  Tiny shook his head.  "Not for certain.  But we suspect Ares."  Tiny held up his hands to stop their mumblings and muttered oaths.  "I know, believe me – our reaction was very similar.  He's made contact with Randi, and he has the most to gain from her as a warrior."

"Why her?" Tommy asked.

"Because she's the best," Tiny and Geoff replied simultaneously.

Tommy shook his head.  "I don't get it.  Randi has never worshipped him... never acknowledged him."

Tiny shrugged.  "I don't understand it either... none of us do.  But she is without a doubt the best warrior alive.  She's one of the best history has ever known.  It's not surprising that he covets her."

"I understand that part," Geoff said tiredly.  "What I don't get is what he's done to make this a fight to begin with."  Silence was his answer and he rubbed his eyes tiredly.  "Right," he commented.  "Well, keep me posted, please, Tiny.  I have to figure out a way to explain it to Jill.  We'll do whatever we can."

"I will, Geoff.  Get some rest.  I'll see you on Sunday."

They closed the connection and watched the lengthening shadows as they contemplated the darkness that was swiftly approaching.


Chapter XIX

Gwen lay wrapped around Randi thinking, her mind not quite allowing her to doze off for a very long time.  The things she saw in her mind’s eye terrified her, and yet she couldn’t seem to dismiss them from her thoughts.  Knowing it’s coming, but uncertain as to when or what form it’s going take is almost worse than having it happen, she thought.  The waiting was making her nuts, and even though she dreaded the coming fight, at least when it finally did come she would have something concrete to fight against.  It was impossible to mount a defense against an unseen enemy.  Gwen never realized when she finally passed from waking to sleeping until she looked around and saw... nothing.

She found herself in thick, inky darkness, the visions she’d been assailed with before lost in the blackness and she knew immediately that somehow, someway, she’d found her way into Randi’s dreamscape again.  Now all she had to do was find the warrior and lead her safely home again.  Gwen closed her eyes to center herself though it certainly wasn’t necessary given the darkness surrounding her.  But somehow it helped and she started walking forward with more confidence than she’d shown the last time she’d visited this place.  Like before, she wished for a light, but this time one didn’t appear for her.  So she walked slowly, feeling her way through solid shadows.

How long she walked, Gwen couldn’t have said, but eventually she heard the soft rasp of breathing.  Still the darkness remained thick and cloying and Gwen had to let her sense of hearing be her guide to Randi.  Suddenly, all she heard was silence.  Without warning, Gwen hit the sharp corner of something solid and she panted in very real pain.  Then she found herself wrapped in an extremely tight grasp, the grip on her wrists causing ripples of agony to shoot up her arms and into her shoulders. 

“Who are you and what are you doing here?”  The sibilant whisper cut through the blackness like a hot knife through butter, sending a chill rushing up Gwen’s spine and causing an involuntary shiver to pass through her body.  Randi’s hold tightened at the movement, and Gwen forced herself to relax.

“Randi, Love, it’s me, Sweetheart.  It’s Gwen.”  The hold, which had loosened at the first sound of her voice tightened again, and a slight whimper escaped from Gwen’s lips.

“No,” Randi avowed.  “No.  No one comes here but me.  Gwen would never come to a place like this.  It’s dark and ugly.  You’re lying,” squeezing even harder.

Gwen gritted her teeth, desperate to keep the scream that wanted to erupt from her throat from escaping.  “No, Lo... ve, I... m not.  Randi, pl... please, you’re hur... ting me.”  Gwen felt the confusion wash through Randi and drew a grateful breath when the hold around her relaxed once more though Randi still held her tightly enough to prevent her from escaping.

For long moments they stood that way, Gwen remaining perfectly still so as not to disturb the warrior’s thoughts.  Randi stood considering the words she had heard and the body pressed against hers that she knew better than her own.  Eventually she let her grip slacken enough to turn Gwen in her arms and Randi let her hands roam over the bard’s face and body, and Gwen allowed the examination, aware that Randi needed the reassurance she was seeking with her hands.  Finally, satisfied that her senses were not playing tricks on her, Randi freed Gwen from her grasp and stepped back, intending to move away from her and disappear into the darkness.  Gwen had other ideas.  She reached out, catching Randi’s wrist in her grasp and trusting to the fact that Randi would not hurt her now that she believed it was Gwen who held her.  She felt the strong shoulders slump in defeat, then Randi turned to face her in the darkness.

“Gwen, why are you here?” she asked softly.  “You don’t belong here.”

“Neither do you,” came the firm reply.  Gwen felt Randi stiffen under her touch, but she was unprepared for the violent reaction her words caused.  Randi ripped her hand from Gwen’s clasp and stepped back out of reach.  Gwen bit her lip in frustration – being completely unable to see was driving her nuts and making it impossible for her to function like she was accustomed to.  She stomped her foot, but the sound was completely absorbed by the darkness.  “Randi!!”

“Go back, Gwen,” Randi said from some distance away.  “This place isn’t for someone like you.” 

“Randi!!”

Her only answer was silence.

Gwen blinked her eyes open and curled herself tighter around Randi’s body, holding them together for all she was worth.  It wasn’t supposed to be this way, was it?  Aphrodite had been very specific – when the time came, it was going to be Gwen’s responsibility to walk away and let Randi make her choice.  So why did it feel like Randi was the one walking away? 

“Because she is... sorta,” came the unexpected answer.  “Hey, Bardic Babe!”  Gwen felt the touch before the goddess came into view.  “How ya doing?” Dite asked softly while stroking the blonde hair gently off Gwen’s forehead.

Gwen just looked at her for a long moment.  She wanted to give the matter a little thought because she knew that Aphrodite deserved an honest answer.  “I’m confused,” she finally said.

Dite nodded.  “Me too,” muttered under her breath.  She shook her curly head.  “What happened?  Why do you think Randi is walking away from you?”

Gwen frowned.  “She just did... in her dreamscape.”  She turned confused green eyes to meet Aphrodite’s blue ones.  “Aphrodite, why are you here?  And what did you mean?”  Dite’s eyes shifted to either side of Gwen’s face before finally coming to rest on the covers in front of her.  Long, graceful fingers picked absently at the material before her hands were covered by one of Gwen’s.  “Aphrodite?”

Dite’s eyes came up to meet Gwen’s once more.  “We’ve been keeping an eye on things... ya know... trying to like, piece things together.”

“Uh huh... and?”  A pause.  “C’mon, Dite. I deserve to know as much as possible.”

Aphrodite nodded her agreement.  “You’re right... you do.”  The goddess sighed.  “I totally hate my job sometimes.”  She looked at the ceiling. “How did I get stuck with this radically bogus assignment?”  Despite the seriousness of the situation, Gwen couldn’t help but smile.  Then she looked down at her still-unconscious partner and the smile left her face.  She turned her attention back to Aphrodite and met her gaze.  “Well, you so know most of it, Babe.  But given her recent majorly bizarre behavior and with the totally rad research that Artemis and Athena have been doing, we think that Randi is like, ya know, fighting with herself right now.  That the part of her that is totally yours has somehow separated itself from the part of her that was... is still... the Sabre that was so deadly and efficient.  The part that she draws her warrior strength from – the part that belongs to Ares.”

“But how?  And why?”

Dite shrugged.  “The how is strictly due to Ares.  The why?  Well, we really don’t like, know for sure, but the bet is on some radical sense of self-preservation.”

“You think it was deliberate then... something she consciously chose to do?”

“As if.”  Dite shook her head.  “No, no... we think it is completely a subconscious reaction to her absolute desire to remain yours alone and not become part of Ares’ minions.”

“He has such control then?”

“Over the warrior part of her, yes.  He... drugged her or rather, he had her drugged.  That is what has caused her blackout episodes, we think.  At least everything points to that.  The fighting with herself, I mean.”

”And I still can’t tell her about it?”

“No, Babe.  Bad as it pains me to say it, we can’t risk it... unless you’re totally willing to risk her life.”

“But if I don’t tell her, don’t I risk her soul?”

Dite’s eyes met hers with all seriousness and she dropped any hint of inflection in her speech.  “No,” she stated firmly.  “I believe with all my heart that you own her soul just as she owns yours.  When the time comes for her to choose, she will choose you.”

“But in the meantime....”

“In the meantime, you have to fight for her and with her and when the time comes, walk away from her.”

Gwen closed her eyes.  “That will be so hard, Aphrodite.  I tried once and it nearly killed me... nearly killed both of us.  I promised her forever.”

“I know.  Because you were angry and unsure.  When you walk away this time, it will be the last time you will have to. Forever will come after that.”

“You sound so sure,” Gwen said hesitantly.

Dite nodded. “I am.  One way or another there will be a forever in your future,” closing her mind’s eye to the horrendous possibilities if forever went the wrong way for them.  “I have faith in both of you, and faith in the love and bond you have shared for eternity.  What Ares wants is superficial in comparison.”

“You think?”

“Nuh uh,” Dite said as confidently as she could manage.  “I know.  Don’t you?”

Gwen bit her lip in though.  “Yeah,” she answered slowly.  “I guess I do.”  A beat.  “I know I do.”

Randi started to stir in agitation, clutching at Gwen and whimpering softly.  Dite gazed at her compassionately before turning her focus back to Gwen.  “Go to her, Babe.  She needs you....” holding up her hands.  “I know she walked away from you, but she needs the reassurance that you will follow her... that you will find her regardless, especially since she sees her walking away from you as trying to protect you.”  Gwen blinked at Dite for a long moment, and it caused the goddess to emit a weary chuckle.  “I know, I know.  It’s a warrior thing, and as strong as your warrior is, she is also very fragile and very vulnerable.”

Gwen nodded and tightened her hold on Randi, smiling when she returned Gwen’s embrace fervently and relaxed into her quieting touch.  Gwen closed her eyes and felt Dite’s touch on her forehead again.  She struggled to open an eyeball, the grinned sleepily at the love goddess.  “We’re gonna win, Aphrodite.  With the power of love behind us, how can we lose?”

Aphrodite waited for the breathing to slow and deepen before she answered, allowing all her doubts to come to the fore.  “How indeed?”  Then she popped out, leaving no rose petals behind to show her passage.  Things were hairy enough without given Ares any extra ammunition.

The darkness was just as thick, still as cloying, but this time Gwen strode forward with confident purpose.  She closed her eyes out of habit to allow her other senses to guide her to where Randi was hidden within the inky blackness.

For the longest time there was no sound, save that of her own breathing.  Gwen deliberately concentrated on slowing her heartbeat, allowing the resonance of her breathing to become a part of the darkness that she was aware of but did not interfere with her focus on finding Randi.  Gradually she became aware of other sounds and realized that Randi’s heart was beating in tandem with her own.  Her breathing was soft, muffled, as though Randi was trying to remain undetected.   Gwen extended her arms in front of her and moved even more slowly, her soul knowing that she was close to her other half.

She was much better prepared for the impact this time when she ran into smooth, cool stone.  With her arms braced, Gwen felt her way inward until she found the warmth of flesh beneath her touch.  She felt Randi flinch involuntarily and she sighed, knowing her presence a second time was completely unexpected.  Slowly Gwen crawled up onto the slab, counting on her innate sense of balance to keep her from toppling over the edge.  Instead she found herself cradled in warm, soft warrior as Randi instinctively curled around her protectively.  Gwen mentally shook her head; these sudden shifts in personality and attitude were disconcerting to say the least.  But she had learned the Sabre slogan from the very best, and ‘Adapt & Overcome’ became her motto now as a new set of challenges presented themselves to her.

So she settled into the embrace, returning the hug fervently and feeling Randi relax into it soundlessly.  For timeless moments, they stayed locked together in wordless comfort.  Then Randi pulled back slightly as though to look Gwen in the eye despite the darkness.  Without warning, a small light suddenly appeared beside her head that enabled her to do just that.  Gwen gasped and blinked furiously at the unexpected intrusion and she reached out blindly to hold onto Randi until she could regain her equilibrium.

When she opened her eyes, the sadness she saw looking back at her from those wounded blue eyes nearly broke her heart, and Gwen gently clasped Randi’s face firmly between her hands, smiling when the warrior did the same in return.  Green eyes closed as Randi’s hands tenderly caressed her face as though committing her features to memory.  Finally Randi learned forward and brushed Gwen’s lips with inherent gentleness before pulling away and meeting Gwen’s eyes when they fluttered open.  With a sad smile Randi asked, “Gwen, why are you here?  I thought I told you....”

Those words brought a real, if tremulous smile to Gwen’s face, and now she let her fingers wander over familiar territory as she answered.  “You did,” she readily agreed as she allowed her touch to relax them both.  “And I listened.  I went back out into the light and deliberated all the possibilities and weighed all the options.  And right now, at this very moment in this time and place, my place is here beside you.  That may change someday, but if and when it does, it will only be temporary because nothing, NOTHING will be able to stand between us.  Do you understand that, Randi?  Do you believe?”  Randi considered the words then nodded silently, wondering where Gwen’s vehemence stemmed from.  “I want you to know and understand one more thing, all right?”  Gwen waited for the dark head to nod again before she continued speaking.  “Good... all right.  I want you to know... to believe... that no matter what happens out there, you will always be able to find me here when you need me. This won’t be a place for you to hide anymore.  Instead it will become a place we can claim together – a place we can be alone with our secrets and our fears and no one can touch us.”

A confused look crossed Randi’s face.  “Here?  But Gwen, this is a dark and ugly place. I don’t like to come here.  It always means bad things have happened when I do.  And this isn’t a place for someone like you.  You don’t know all the horrible memories that are stored here.  You’d leave me if you did,” the last muttered so low Gwen almost missed them.

“We’re gonna change that, Love.  One by one we’re going to take all those old memories and shred them.  And we’ll create new memories to go in their place – things that we’ll do together... dreams and hopes and ideas we have for and about one another.  I will never leave you for anything you share with my in this place.  I know the darkness is a part of you, Randi and it always will be, but it’s time to face the memories that haunt you because of the darkness they hold and once and for all sweep them out.  We will never have total peace together until the last of your ghosts are gone.”  Gwen looked down and swallowed hard before letting her eyes capture Randi’s once more.  “And I want total peace for us... once and for all forever.”

Randi smiled tentatively, both at the fervor in Gwen’s voice and the determination in her eyes.  “I like the sound of that,” she acknowledged.  “I like the sound of peace and us and forever.  But Gwen,” she added hesitantly.  “I need to... to work on... this... on my own... first.  It’s not that... it’s not that I don’t trust you – God, I do.  So much more than I trust myself.  But that’s the problem.”  Randi gave a big sigh, then looked down and shook her head.

Gwen waited patiently, finally using her fingertips to bring the blue eyes back to level with her own.  “What’s the problem, Randi?”

Randi sighed again, so big that it fluffed her bangs out.  “I don’t trust me.  So much... so many of the memories here,” motioning to the darkness that surrounded them outside the tiny circle of light they sat in, “I honestly don’t remember them anymore.  And I don’t know how I will react to them.  I don’t... I don’t want to hurt you.”

Gwen blinked.  “Do you think you will?” she asked with brutal honesty.

Randi shrugged, dropping her eyes again momentarily until gentle fingers lightly tapped her chin.  “I dunno,” she whispered finally.  “But I don’t wanna take the chance.  You’re too precious to me to risk like that.”

Gwen chewed her lip thoughtfully, understanding Randi’s dilemma but unwilling to let her suffer alone.  “IF I let you do this alone first, will you share with me what you can?  Not everything – God knows you’re entitles to some modicum of privacy.  I just....  Sweetheart, I don’t want you to do this all alone.  If you’re afraid of what you will do to me because of the memories here, then I am terrified of what you will do to you.”

“I can’t hurt myself here – not physically.  That much I am sure of.  But I’ve never had anyone else here so I can’t be certain about you.  Please, Gwen... don’t ask me to put you in that kind of danger.”

“You know you can’t hurt yourself physically here – have you tried?” Gwen asked softly, but her eyes demanded a direct answer.

Randi nodded and looked away.  “Once, yes... a long time ago.”

Gwen bit her lip again in thought.  “Can we talk about it?  Not now,” she assured, seeing the panicked look clearly in the blue eyes that faced her when the dark head had whipped around at her question.  “Not now,” she repeated. “But someday, when this is all done and we’ve gone through and swept out all the ugliness from this place....”

Randi took Gwen’s smaller hands in her own and held them, studying them together for a very, long moment before she raised her eyes once more to the bard’s.  “Someday,” she said, then cleared her throat.  “Someday I will share everything I can with you about this place and we will walk through it together and set free the ghosts I have locked away here.  But even when I face them alone you will still be here with me,” Randi added with a compassionate smile.  “Because you live here,” she said, patting her heart.  “And there is nothing in the world that will make me forget that.”

Gwen smiled brilliantly though her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.  “You are a sweet talker, Miranda Valiant.  Maybe I should ask Tommy to let you do the bard thing for a change.”  Blue eyes widened comically and Gwen shook her head to keep from laughing out loud in relief.  “On second thought, I’d prefer to keep that part of you to myself.  There are some things a woman just doesn’t like to share with the world, and the hidden romantic tendencies of her stoic warrior would rank right up at the top.”

Randi spluttered, trying desperately to form words of denial until soft lips covered her own.  Then she relaxed into the kiss, meant more to convey love and reassurance than to spark great passion.  They pulled apart slowly and rested their foreheads together, breathing in one another’s air and soaking in the feeling of belonging and well-being that pervaded the space around them.  Finally Randi pulled back and clasped Gwen’s hands firmly in her own.  Then she looked sincerely into green eyes that radiated back only honest trust and love for her.  Randi swallowed hard.  Never had stepping into combat been this difficult.  “Gwen, Love... something is going on.  Something I don’t have a good grasp on yet, but it has something to do with my being a Sabre.  It has to; it’s the only explanation I can figure out for my continued presence in this room.  The only times I’ve ever come here have been when being a Sabre became too much for me to bear. I can’t seem to find a way out and until I do... until I do, things could get a little rocky.  Just be patient with me, please?  And remember that I’m not all together there if things get rough.  I will return whole to you as soon as I can find the key to getting out of here.”

Gwen lifted their joined hands to her lips and brushed them gently.  “Nothing will separate us forever, Randi... not even you.  I love you.  I want you to always remember that.”

“I love you more and don’t you forget it.”

“Oh you do, do ya? And what makes you think so,” Gwen asked with a saucy little smirk.

Randi raised an eyebrow at her.  “I’m bigger than you.  Bigger body, bigger heart, more love.  Simple math.”

Gwen pulled her hands away from Randi’s and planted them squarely on her hips.  “Uh huh.  I can see we have been remiss in your education.  Time for some tutorials.”

“I already know the important stuff.  The rest can wait.”

“You think?”

The dark head shook emphatically.  “Nope.  I know.  I know how much I love you and how much you love me and how to make you scream.  The rest I can make up as I go along,” reaching out her long arms and wrapping Gwen up in them and proceeding to tickle her mercilessly until the bard screamed uncle.  Then they collapsed onto the slab together, pleasantly stimulated and tangled up.

“You’re right,” Gwen agreed with a yawn as they settled comfortably.  “You’ve got the important stuff covered.  We’ll get to everything else eventually.”

“Glad you agree,” Randi smirked.  “Knew you would see things my way.”  But Gwen never heard the last.  She had fallen into a pleasant dream state, and Randi caught look of happy contentment on her face and smiled in reflex.  “Goodnight, Love,” she whispered.  Then she allowed the light to go out as they moved deeper into their dreams.

Gwen blinked her eyes sleepily in the pre-dawn light.  Her forehead creased in confusion.  Why was she awake?  She blinked again and listened into the quiet darkness and found nothing out of the ordinary.  The soft whirr of the fan created the white noise that even now was luring her back to sleep, and beyond that... she focused her hearing.  Nothing.  Just the bare whispers of sound so common in their household.  Gwen shook her head, confused by the sheer normalcy of everything.  If nothing was wrong, why had she woken up?

She closed her eyes again listening to the sounds in the room and letting the soothing monotony of the fan push her closer towards sleep.  Then a chill skittered up her back and she shivered.  She opened her eyes again and rolled onto her back, frowning when she met nothing but bed.  She distinctly remembered wrapping herself around Randi before reentering the dreamscape a second time, and she was almost as positive that she and Randi had been tangled up together in that hidden room in Randi’s mind.

Ok, so why...?  She let the thought trail off as she turned her head towards the other side of the bed.  Then she pushed up onto her elbows until she could scoot across to where Randi lay with her back towards Gwen.  She wasn’t curled up protectively, but she was clinging to the edge of the bed.  Gwen grabbed Randi’s shoulder and tugged until the warrior rolled onto her back, all without waking her.  A little unnerved, Gwen slyly felt for a pulse, relieved when she found one.  She couldn’t remember her and Randi ever having shared a bed - since before they became lovers and certainly since they’d exchanged wedding vows - that they hadn’t slept cuddled closely together.  And she wondered if whatever was going on inside Randi’s mind was responsible for the change.

Gwen frowned.  Whatever was causing it she didn’t like it.  She’d sworn to Randi she wasn’t giving them up, and if she had to start fighting for them at this most basic of levels then so be it.  But gods help Ares if Gwen ever got a hold of him.  She was fairly certain even a god could be a eunuch and at this point she was anxious to test the theory.  Gwen continued to tug and pull Randi towards the center of the bed without ever disturbing the deep sleep she seemed to be lost in.  Finally convinced that they could comfortably curl up together again without fear of falling off the edge or of Randi slipping away again without her noticing.

She lay down, careful to put her ear directly over Randi’s heart.  That, more than any other sound in the world, could relax her and put her to sleep.  She smiled as the steady, rhythmic beating lulled her into a place of perfect contentment.  Gwen wrapped an arm possessively around Randi’s waist.  She couldn’t stop the smile from growing into a full grin when a strong arm came up round her shoulders, hugging her before brushing an absent kiss atop the blonde head.  Then Gwen tucked her head under Randi’s chin and let her eyes close in satisfaction, secure in the knowledge that they would win out in the end, unaware of the nature of the challenges that lay before them.

When she woke the second time, Gwen was surprised first by the lateness of the hour – not that it was particularly late except by their own very early standards.  But the sun was fully up and shining brightly in the windows.  The second surprise of note was that Randi still lay sleeping beneath her.  Gwen had fully expected to see indulgent blue eyes twinkling back at her when she’d looked up into Randi’s face.  She shifted slightly, leaning up on an elbow and sliding up until she could look down at Randi’s peaceful features.  She raised a hand and gently began to trace Randi’s face.  Slowly, slower than she expected, Randi’s face began to take on tension and gradually blue eyes fluttered open.

“Hey,” Randi croaked out hoarsely.  She cleared her throat and winced.  “Wow, it’s really late, huh?”  She pushed herself further upright until she was half-reclining in the bed.  Immediately Gwen curled into her spot and continued her delicate tracing.  Randi smiled and closed here eyes again to enjoy the sensations the attention caused in her body.

“Later than you know, Love,” Gwen answered with a smile in her voice.

Randi opened her eyes, turned her head towards Gwen and raised an eyebrow in her direction.  “Oh?  Why do I get the feeling I’ve missed something?”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

Randi’s forehead creased into a frown and she rubbed her eyes in contemplation.  “Um... I was... I was with Geoff.  And then Tiny showed up and then... then...?”  She dropped her hand from her eyes and returned her gaze to Gwen.  “What day is it?”

“Saturday.”

Randi sat up completely and rubbed her hands over her face.  “Saturday??”  She pushed the covers away from her body and climbed from the bed.  “Damn!”  She walked to the bathroom.

Gwen sat up and followed Randi into the bathroom.  “Sweetheart?  What’s wrong?”

“I have a meeting in the capital city tomorrow afternoon, and I was hoping we could go up early to give us a little visiting time with your folks.”  She set the water temperature and ran her hands through her hair.  “Now it’s gonna be a much shorter visit.”  The water came on and Randi stepped into the shower, then she turned back to Gwen and extended her hand.  “You wanna join me?”

Gwen took the proffered hand almost absently and trailed Randi closely into the warm stream of water.  She wore a look of intense concentration and confusion, and when she didn’t react to Randi’s sensual soaping of her body, Randi pulled back and focused her attention on Gwen’s face until Gwen became aware of the scrutiny.  Gwen shook her head slightly and looked up into intense blue eyes.  “What?”

Randi rested her arms on Gwen’s shoulders and shrugged, giving her a crooked little grin.  “That was my question actually.  Here I was being all seductive and everything, and your mind was so far away your body didn’t even notice.  Where were you exactly?”

Gwen blushed a bright pink.  “Sorry.  I was trying to remember when we made plans to go to the capital.  I can’t believe I forgot something like that.”  Not the total truth, but needing to know whether her Randi or the Sabre now stood in front of her.

Randi stepped away from Gwen, turning her back and moving to stand under the spray.  Then she squared her shoulders and twisted around to face Gwen directly.  “You didn’t.”  Randi paused then took a deep breath before continuing while meeting her eyes, and Gwen had to bite her lip to keep from reacting to the lost soul she saw reflected back at her in those blue eyes.  “The truth is I called a Sabre meeting.”

“A wha...?  You can’t do that!!”

Randi soaped up the sponge and began to methodically bathe herself.  “I can and I did,” she stated flatly.  “I have tried playing the game their way,” she said.  “Now they are going to learn to play it mine.”

“But Randi....”

“No, Gwen!” her voice low but furious.  “I played by their rules and they have done nothing... NOTHING!  It’s time to take the Sabres back to their roots and become the warriors we are meant to be.  We will wipe out this rebellion once and for all!”

“No, Randi!  This is wrong – wrong for you and wrong for us!”  Gwen sighed and slumped, knowing for sure that the Sabre had come back to her.  “You promised me,” she whispered.  “What happened to leaving them behind forever?”

Randi sat down on the shower seat, her posture one of defeat.  “I tried that, Gwen.  I really tried, and what did it get me? Threats and attacks and our lives in constant danger.  I have the ability to put a stop to it, Gwen, and I will.  It stops now.”

“How, Randi?  How can you stop them alone?”

“I won’t be alone.  I will take over leadership of the Sabres.  Then we will stop them together.”

“Can you do that?  Take over as Commandant I mean?”

The dark head nodded solemnly.  “I already have.  Tomorrow’s meeting makes it official.”

Gwen bit her lip until she tasted blood.  “I hate this!  This scares me, Randi.  This scares me so much.”

Randi stood and wrapped her body around Gwen’s, kissing the top of the wet head before gently rubbing the sponge randomly across Gwen’s body.  “I know it does, Gwen, but you’ve got to understand how important it is to eliminate these rebels once and for all.  We’ll never know peace until I do.”  She gave a deep sigh.  “Will you... can you accept that?  Can you stay beside me still?”

Gwen clasped the necklace of reminder that Artemis had given her and prayed for strength.  Then she pulled back slightly until she could look into the Randi’s eyes.  “Promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t shut me out.  I need to know what is going on, Randi.  And when this is all over, you come back to me.  This Sabre business is just temporary.”

“Absolutely.  This is just temporary.  We, on the other hand, are forever.”  Then Randi captured Gwen’s lips in a kiss that was fierce in both its passion and its possessiveness, and they lost themselves in the feelings that overwhelmed them.

************

Ares stood at his scrying bowl watching their lovemaking with an odd mixture of fascination, disgust and amusement.  “No, no,” he whispered to the two women.  “This is temporary.  You are temporary.  My victory is finally complete, and I will soon claim all that is mine – body, heart and soul.”

Then he laughed cruelly before disappearing into the mist, anxious to be part of the culmination of his dreams and planning as they finally come together in a glorious battle whose outcome would be Miranda Valiant ruling the world at his side.  He couldn’t wait to have her do battle in his name and for his glory. Nothing was sweeter than the fruit of revenge borne on the wings of victory, and he had waited millennia to retrieve this warrior’s soul as his own. 


Epilogue

The memory made Randi shudder in disgust, and she let it bring her back to the present on a wave of revulsion.   The feeling of self-loathing she felt made her incapable of bearing the thought of company any longer and she pulled away from him and began to pace.  “Tiny, leave me.”

“Empress?”  He hoped he had misunderstood.  They were so close to ending this... so close to winning.  He hated to chance leaving her alone to do something rash.  She turned burning blue eyes in his direction, and to flinch at the pain and anger that smoldered in their depths.

“What did you not understand?”

“Empress... Randi, please.  I thought you trusted me.”

“This has nothing to do with trust, Tiny, and everything to do with responsibility.”  Randi’s shoulders slumped in defeat.  “It’s time I took responsibility for what has happened because obviously I did something.  Gwen wouldn’t have left otherwise.  I have to believe that.”  She sighed.  “Please, Tiny.  You’ve done all you can and been a better friend than I have ever deserved, especially lately.  Now, leave me and let me finish this.  Go to Reed – get married, have a baby.  You can enjoy the peace now... at least one of us should.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?” her tone sharpening.

“No.  I will not leave you alone.  Not now.”

The noise she made would have been considered a sob had she not been a Sabre warrior and Empress of the World.  Then she slipped on the mask that had served her well for the better part of her life and she shrugged.  “Suit yourself,” she said.  “Funny,” she added sardonically though Tiny could hear the pain behind the words.  “Gwen couldn’t wait to leave.”

“That’s not true,” Tiny stated firmly.  “And you know it.”

She stiffened at his words and snarled.  “I know what I remember.”  She let her mind drift back to the moment an hour earlier when her world had shattered.

A rasp of air and the click of a lock in place were the only sounds the door made as it shut then stillness was all that was left in the room, save the occasionally popping from the fireplace.  A flick of a wrist and even that comforting sound disappeared, leaving the tense figure alone in the abrupt silence.  For long moments the woman stood ramrod straight, clenched hands at her side the only testament to the frustration running through her body.  Without warning she brought both fists down on the low table in front of her, watching dispassionately as it splintered.  Then her body sagged in defeat, and she slumped into a chair and stared unseeingly at the silent flames as the coldness in her soul became unbearable.

When the torment grew to be too much, she brought her clenched fist up into her lap and slowly opened her hand, revealing a ring she’d never expected to hold like this again in this lifetime.  The Soulmate’s Ring.  Her mind turned to the last words that had been spoken between them before Gwen walked out of her life.

“I never thought I would do this Randi,” she said, slipping the platinum band from her finger.  “What we had together.... It doesn’t seem to mean anything to you anymore.”  She held up her hand when Randi opened her lips to speak.  “Let me finish.  I know what this means to me... what it symbolizes for me, for us.  However, I don’t want to hold you to a promise you are no longer capable of keeping.”  She took Randi’s hand in her own and placed the ring in the center of her palm, closing it gently and watching as the fist clenched reflexively around it.  “You decide what it means to you, if anything, and you let me know.”  Gwen kissed the balled fist then slipped from the room without another word.

The sound of a shuttle preparing for take off interrupted her reverie, and Randi closed her hand protectively over the ring she still held.  Then she rose and turned off the fireplace completely, moving out the door without a backward glance.  The door closed with definite purpose and the room was left in cold, dark silence.  She made her way to the bedroom they had shared together for such a brief time here, finally understanding instinctively that there was no happiness in this house... not then and certainly not now.  Blue eyes stared out the window, tracking Gwen’s progress towards the shuttle.  The grief was almost overwhelming now, and the warrior couldn’t stop the lone tear that slowly, silently rolled down her planed cheek.  She leaned her head against the cold glass, wondering what had gone so wrong that they’d come to this place.

The shuttle rose, and she felt her heart break.  Randi couldn’t see the corresponding tears slip from green eyes as Gwen left her behind and headed for home... alone.  Randi watched the craft fade out of sight and still stood staring sightlessly into the void into which it had disappeared.

Randi became aware of Tiny’s scrutiny as the memory faded once more.  Then she squared her shoulders.  “Let’s end this now,” she said with purpose and before he could speak, she did, calling the one name Tiny never wanted to hear her utter.  “Ares....”

The world trembled in anticipation of things to come.

TO BE CONTINUED...
12/04 – 07/05

A Valiant Nightmare