Chapter X

"I'm gonna have to kill her, ya know. I can't believe she put that in the holodeck program."

Tiny scratched the back of his head, unwilling to meet Reed's eyes. He couldn't blame her for being furious; the man had been a total jackass. But he couldn't let Reed blame Randi for something that wasn't her fault.

"She didn't."

Reed's head snapped around hard and fast. Her eyes glowed silver and she glared at Tiny. "Are you telling me *you* did this? You programmed that asshole??"

"Well, sorta, but not exactly. I just left the parameters broad and random. I'll be more specific next time."

It was kind of funny in retrospect, but it had been frustrating while it had been happening. They had been in one of the theme park places Randi had meticulously researched for the holo-program she had put together for her relaxation, utilizing it for their vacation. Tiny had taken Randi at her word, and asked the computer to put people into the simulation with them. He just hadn't been specific enough in his request.

They had strolled through a half empty park, enjoying the ambiance and the different attractions that were available in the venue they had chosen. Then they had run into the most obnoxious man either of them had ever encountered... and as Sabres - that was saying a lot.

In preparing for this outing, Tiny had skimmed through Randi's research so he and Reed could dress appropriately to blend in. One of the things he found popular was something called pin collecting, and it was here he made his second critical error. He hadn't realized how zealous some people were about such a hobby or what lengths they would go to to obtain a rare pin they desired.

He and Reed had been waiting patiently in line when Reed noticed the man behind her staring. Then he proceeded to beg, plead, cajole, badger and finally threaten her for the pin he wanted. It was close; she wanted to go Sabre on his ass so badly, but before Reed or Tiny could respond, one of the workers calmly stepped into the line and removed the man. The rest of the day had gone much more smoothly.

"Next time I'll be more careful," Tiny said again, looking properly contrite.

Reed snorted. "Next time, I'll do the programming."



It was quiet in the capital city cottage - more so than Jill had expected it to be, especially since it wasn't home. Geoff had never been an overly loud person, but the house without him echoed the silence. She walked through each room slowly, realizing there was very little in this place she would have to pack. The Sabres had provided the furnishings, for the most part, and they would also be responsible for cleaning out the workshop she'd had built. Only the few personal items Gwen had brought down for their comfort would need to go back north with her and those only took a very brief time to pack. Then she re-boarded the waiting transport and sped off towards home.



Randi rubbed her eyes. Their day spent in the sun had been a wonderful reprieve, but it had worn her out and she was making up the time now. She was making progress on her work, but it wasn't doing a thing for her eyes. Gwen came up behind her, glasses perched on her nose. She put her hands on Randi's shoulders and leaned forward until their faces were almost even.

"How's it going?"

Randi scrubbed her hands over her face. "Not bad. It would probably be going better if my eyes didn't burn so bad." She turned to look at Gwen and met her gaze at very close range. Randi grinned; she really did like the look of Gwen in glasses. They just seemed to fit her somehow... especially when she was in bard mode, as she was now.

They had decided to postpone fondue and try to salvage a little of the work day. It had been pleasant, working together but separately in the same room. Gwen was actually pleased with her progress; everything she and Randi had been through seemed to have spurred her muse in the ass and she had been writing steadily since they'd come indoors. But after the third time she'd watched Randi rub her eyes, Gwen had put her journal away and come to stand behind her.

"Maybe you need glasses... or corrective surgery."

Randi reacted so swiftly Gwen was cradled in her lap before she realized she'd moved. "No," she said succinctly, easing the glasses from Gwen's face and planting a fingertip on her nose. "I need to stay out of the sun for hours on end; and I need to stop trying to focus on everything but how cute and sexy you look in glasses."

Gwen's nose crinkled adorably when she smiled. "You think I look sexy in glasses?"

"In glasses, in jeans, in silk, in nothing at all... I have yet to find anything you're *not* sexy in."

"I think you are sexiest when you smile," Gwen said, tracing the full lips that creased at her touch. She let her fingers wander across the planed cheekbones and over the arched eyebrows. "Especially when it twinkles out of the depths of your eyes."

Randi couldn't stop the faint blush or the light twinkle that sparkled when she smiled. She cleared her throat. "If I didn't know any better, my queen," her fingers tickling a path up Gwen's ribs, "I'd have to say it seems like you are trying to distract the Empress from her official duties."

Gwen grinned. "Depends... is it working?"

"I shouldn't let it, but ya know, fondue sounds really good right now."

"Yeah, it does," Gwen agreed. "Besides, the work will be here tomorrow. Maybe I can help. I'll bet together we can figure something out."

"The sooner, the better I'm thinking. I'm ready for the smell of sea air and the sound of waves and the view from our living room windows."

Gwen smiled wistfully. "That sounds wonderful. There is still so much I want to do in this lifetime, especially since it's our last. But for now," she said with her own twinkle, "how about some fondue? I'm starving."

Randi would have answered, but a rumble from both their bellies spoke louder than any comment she could make. Gwen chuckled and sat up in her lap, then stood and held out her hand.

"C'mon. It's all ready except for the heating part. The rest of the day is ours, love."

Gwen started the pot heating while Randi brought the raw food to the small table, thankful she'd had Yuri include a tiny kitchenette in their suite. Then they sat down next to one another and waited for the oil to get hot. "Ya know, I knew how precious each day we had together was - I really did, even before we were an us. It was sort of hard not to; even without knowing our actual history as soulmates, my life as a Sabre made me very conscious of how fragile life is... especially after...."

Gwen nodded when Randi stopped speaking and covered Randi's hand, stroking her knuckles with a thumb. She didn't speak; she couldn't. The thought of Randi's death still brought a lump to her throat but thankfully, she didn't tear up this time.

"But it's like I have a heightened awareness about it now. It's not like it is at the forefront of every moment, but the feeling is always there at the back of my mind."

"Maybe it's reminding you this is our final trip through the circle and that makes every minute more precious."

Randi looked down at the heating oil before she looked up to meet Gwen's eyes. "Does that bother you, Gwen? This being our last trip through they karmic cycle, I mean. That's twice you've mentioned it in the last few minutes."

"No," Gwen agreed without hesitation. "I just... I think it is affecting the way we are thinking... reacting... to things now. It puts everything in a different perspective and it makes us more aware of life going on around us." She paused, then tilted her head, nose crinkled in an adorable smile. "To be completely honest, I am looking forward to an eternity of peace with you. I think we've earned it." Another beat. "I just don't want to miss anything while were here either."

Randi smiled and speared a stuffed mushroom, dipping it and dropping it into the now hot oil. "Then we'll have to make sure we do everything we possibly can."

Gwen chuckled evilly and rubbed her hands together. "I see some holodeck time in our future. I still have to experience all those initials, ya know," reminding Randi of the extreme sports chip she had introduced Gwen to several months prior. Randi grinned.

"Whenever you're ready, sweetheart. And if you get bored in the holosuite, we can always do some traveling as well." She waggled her eyebrows.

"Anywhere, sweetheart - as long as I'm with you."

Randi caught her breath and glowered. "That's not fair."

Green eyes widened and Gwen gave Randi an anxious look. "What's not fair?" glancing around to find what was amiss.

"You can't make statements like that when I am not in a position to respond," motioning to the table and hot oil between them; then jumping when Gwen's foot rubbed up her bare calf. Randi glowered when she discovered pure mischief lurking in Gwen's sultry expression. "I'm gonna get you for that."

"Promise?"

Randi smiled indulgently, loving the playfulness. She took Gwen's hand in hers and rubbed her thumb over smooth knuckles. "Guaranteed, Little One." Gwen covered the hand holding hers and they waited in peaceful silence for their food to cook.



"Did you join the pool?" Ella asked as Tommy opened the door for her when they got home. Randall spotted Ditto and they rolled together on the floor in playful abandonment. The look Tommy wore was supposed to be one of beguiling innocence, but a cocked eyebrow from Ella made him grin sheepishly and Tommy nodded in obvious guilt.

"How much and when?

"Twenty and sixteen days."

Ella laughed. "Twenty and three weeks. I figure they will probably spend a week with the Amazons. Otherwise, I would have gone with two weeks."

Now Tommy laughed, a sound so surprising, Randall and Ditto stopped playing and looked at him before Randall squealed and joined in. Ditto made her contribution with a loud series of barks. Ella just covered her eyes and shook her head.

After a few moments, Tommy's laughter wound down to chuckles and he looked at Ella just shaking his own head. "Ya know, it's really not funny that we're betting on how long it takes them to give it all up and come home."

"No, but it is really funny that no one is giving them more than a month - even if you give them time to go to the Amazons like I did."

Tommy smiled. "I'll just be glad to have them home. I'm looking forward to a little normality."

Ignoring the obvious smartass remark she could make, Ella smiled and took Tommy's hand, tugging him to the glass doors that looked out over the water. "I think they are too," she finally said. "And God knows they deserve it."



Gwen lifted her head and peered into the darkness, trying to figure out what had brought her out of a deep sleep. Then Randi shifted and Gwen knew what had awakened her. She frowned then, wondering why she had awakened instead of joining Randi in the dreamscape. Then Gwen put her hands on either side of Randi's face and started kissing her lightly over every bit of skin she could reach. She felt Randi struggling and then Randi called out in her sleep.

"No... NO!" A pause and a deep breath. "Gwen, NO!!" Randi sat up so quickly Gwen nearly bit her lip trying to get her head out of the way, but she managed to maintain her hold on Randi's face. So when Randi's eyes popped open, her first sight was Gwen. Randi clutched at Gwen's arms, holding them tightly while catching her breath and letting her eyes roam Gwen's body to assure herself that everything was all right.

Gwen gently stroked Randi's face, brushing her hair back from her eyes and combing through it in a relaxing motion. Randi's breathing gradually slowed and she closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She released on of Gwen's arms and moved a shaking hand up to Gwen's face, tracing her features with a trembling touch.

"You all right, love?" letting her fingers linger on full lips as they creased into a tender smile. Gwen captured her hand.

"Isn't that supposed to be my line? You scared me. Everything okay?"

Randi swallowed and nodded. "It was... strange."

Gwen waited but when Randi didn't continue speaking, she shifted them until Randi's head was cradled against her chest. Gwen didn't say anything, but was content to hold her and felt the strong body gradually relax against her. Only when Randi was completely limp against her did Gwen whisper into Randi's ear.

"You wanna talk about it, love?"

Randi sighed. She had spent the minutes relaxing going over in her mind the residual odd images and feelings left from her dreams. Gwen kept up a soothing touch on Randi's back and arm and waited. Randi nuzzled into her neck and took a deep breath.

"It was strange," she repeated again. "Like memories... but not. This hasn't happened; I'm sure of it."

"What, sweetheart? What did you dream?"

"You... and the Amazons... and fighting. Someone challenged you and you accepted the challenge, I think. But it was... wrong somehow. Something was off." Her brow scrunched up thoughtfully.

Gwen leaned her cheek on Randi's head. "Off how?"

"I dunno." She thought a moment. "Maybe because I wasn't in the picture? I'd just like to know where the dream came from... and why. It was just... too real - like it was actually happening. Only I had no control of what was going on around me at all. It's kinda hard to explain. It's mostly just feelings... images."

"Do you think you can sleep now, sweetie?" brushing a kiss over the top of dark hair.

"Can we stay like this?" content to remain in Gwen's arms indefinitely.

"If we shift to a more prone position, absolutely. I'm gonna wake up with an awful crick in the neck otherwise," Gwen admitted with a small chuckle. Randi tilted her head back slightly to see the awkward position Gwen was sitting in and realized she wasn't kidding. She'd probably end up with a crick in her entire spine.

Randi nodded and pulled away just enough for Gwen to shimmy into a laying position before reclaiming her spot in Gwen's arms. She closed her eyes in contentment and her lips creased into a smile. Gwen hugged her more firmly and whispered into her hair.

"What are you smiling about?"

"The sound of the beat of your heart... it's like music to me. I can feel it in my body. It's amazing."

The soundless chuckles earned Gwen a poke in the ribs and a raised head complete with glare from Randi. The poke made her jump and the glare made her laugh out loud.

"Hmph!" Randi pouted, but she didn't relinquish her place and in fact snuggled that much closer to Gwen. Gwen stroked her hands through Randi's hair and felt Randi relax into her. She turned her lips into Randi head and whispered.

"I know - why do you think it's my favorite place in the whole world?"

Randi didn't answer; she just hugged Gwen tighter and soon the only noise in the room was the solitary sound of their breathing.



"Aphrodite?"

The goddess looked up from the screen she had been intently studying and removed her glasses. Though she knew it completely changed her look and added a dimension of seriousness to her character, the fact was she actually needed them more than she was willing to admit. She rubbed her eyes and smiled warmly at her visitor.

"Morph, dude!! Long time, no see, babe. Whassup?"

Morpheus blinked. He only very rarely ventured out of his domain and he tended to forget about the peculiar quirks of each member of his family in the interim. Coming face to face with them again was always disconcerting at first. Then he smiled at her welcome and took her outstretched hands in his, squeezing them in greeting before releasing them.

"Hello, Aphrodite." His expression became serious. "Do you have a moment? I think we might have a problem."

Dite rubbed her forehead with one hand and let the other wrap around his arm. "C'mon, Morph. That so sounds like I'm gonna need a drink." She poured two glasses of nectar and motioned to a chair. "Have seat and tell me what's up."

"Someone is interfering in Miranda Valiant's dreamscape."

Aphrodite gulped her nectar and got up to refill her glass, bringing the carafe back to sit on the table between them. "Of course." She ran her hand through her curly hair. "Is it Ares?"

"I think so; I am still doing some checking, but everything points to him."

Dite and Morpheus exchanged a long gaze before she spoke. "He's totally over the edge with her, isn't he? He has lost every last bit of his mind."

Morpheus nodded. "I'm afraid so." He sighed and swallowed half his nectar before he spoke again. "I will erect barriers to keep him out from now on, but I thought you would like to be aware. Perhaps you can warn Randi."

"Oh you bet your sweet ass I will... though she is so majorly pissed with him right now, this may - well, I'm radically glad I'm not gonna be in his shoes when she gets him."

"You really think she will? He is a god after all."

"It won't matter. She's gonna come collecting and he's gonna have to pay up."

"She has a plan?"

"She has a plan."

"Good," Morpheus said, finishing his nectar and standing. "He's gone too far this time." He leaned over and brushed a kiss across her cheek, blushing when she returned the affection. Then he strode out the door and headed back to his own realm.

Aphrodite waited til he was gone, then she screamed, stomped her feet and banged her fists on the table. After her brief tantrum, she dropped her head on her arms and closed her eyes. And then there were those days when being a goddess just sucked.

Athena and Artemis came running at the first sound of screaming. A light touch on her shoulder caused Dite to jump and she glared at Athena before grinning sheepishly. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"We heard you scream, Dite. Are you all right? Is something wrong?" Artemis asked, looking around for anything amiss.

"I'm cool, babe, but something is so.... Ares is a... he's... ARGH!!!!" she screamed again. "If Randi doesn't totally whip his ass, I just might have to."

Artemis and Athena exchanged startled glances, then turned back to Aphrodite with extreme concern. "Would you like to start at the beginning, Dite, or would you like us to start guessing?" Athena asked. She motioned to the half empty carafe of nectar on the table. "Is it that bad?"

"Pull up a glass, then you can tell me."



Randi lay quietly wrapped in Gwen's arms, gently running her touch from breast to knee. She had no desire to bring Gwen out of her peaceful sleep state just yet, so she kept her contact light and soothing. But Randi needed the connection, so she allowed herself the comfort being in Gwen's arms stroking her flesh brought her. She thought about the odd dream she'd had the night before. It bothered in a number of ways.

The reality of something she *knew* was only a dream was disturbing. It made Randi wonder if it was a premonition or.... It was the 'or' that bothered her the most, because in all likelihood that meant Ares was making another effort against her again and this time he was using the Amazons to do it. The question was could she do anything to stop him before Ares destroyed the Amazon Nation.

"What are you thinking about so hard, love?" Gwen's sleepy voice burred its way through Randi's hearing. She felt the subtle rumble and it made her smile despite her misgivings about everything else. Randi had never felt as secure in their love as she did at this moment and realized that the feeling was growing stronger with the passage of time.

A hand riffling through her hair brought her back to the present and she shifted just enough to look into green eyes filled with so much love it made her heart ache to see it reflected back at her. Randi pressed a kiss between the breasts she had been pillowed on. Then she shifted to capture those lips that were smiling at her just the least little bit and that went on until Gwen wrapped her arms fully around Randi's body and pulled her down to Gwen's.

"Good morning," Randi said softly. Gwen grinned fully.

"Yes, it certainly is. Now, what were you thinking about so hard?"

Randi grinned rakishly. "What makes you think I was thinking hard? I'm in bed with my beautiful, sexy, naked wife and lover. I'm not sure I see where thinking would be required." Gwen gripped her face and gazed seriously into blue eyes. Randi sighed and dropped her eyes momentarily before moving her eyes back up to meet Gwen's. "I was thinking about my dream."

Gwen nodded; she'd suspected as much. Truth be told, it had been occupying her thoughts as well. "And did you come to any conclusions?"

Randi slid to one side of Gwen's body, allowing her leg to keep Gwen pinned in place and resuming her light stroking touch along Gwen's torso. She smiled as she watched goosebumps follow in the wake of her fingertips, but her eyes were serious when they met Gwen's.

"Not really. I still don't know if it's a dream or a premonition or just a piece of undercooked chicken from last night. I think you should contact the Amazons... ensure we do not need to be there immediately. If we don't, I will push through today's agenda and try to finish up the plans for the new schedule of service we want to implement so we can go out there tomorrow. If we do need to go today, well, we'll go and play the rest by ear."

Gwen smoothed the worry lines that creased Randi's forehead. "You're really worried about this, aren't you?"

Randi nodded. "I think it is Ares. I think he's gonna use the Amazons against me if he can."

Now it was Gwen's turn to frown. "Why? Why the Amazons? They are protected by Artemis."

"No," Randi shook her head. "Artemis is their patron, but the goddesses do not protect - at least not like that. Besides, that would just be added incentive as far as Ares is concerned at this point. The fact is, with the dissimilation of the rebellion factions, the Amazons are about the only separate warrior society left for Ares to stir to war."

"But, Randi... the Amazons have been at peace for as long as the world has been. They were signers of the treaty; they have been players in keeping the peace. Not like the Sabres, of course, but they have served in the military, participated in...." Gwen glared when Randi's fingers covered her mouth.

"Sweetheart, I know all that. But the fact remains that - one... the Amazons are a naturally warrior society, and the only one that exercises those skills outside the regular military; two... Artemis is their patron and they have sects devoted to Aphrodite and Athena as well; three... you are their queen. He has lost every other way with me; he has nothing to lose by destroying them trying to insure his success against me."

"He has lost his mind!"

Randi nodded seriously. "I really believe he has. He honestly never expected me to reject him so completely. I think it pushed him over the edge."

"Why? Randi, since our first trip through the karmic circle together, no matter the lifetime, no matter the circumstances, you have never been his. Why would he think it would be different this time, especially since we were already together and the relationship consummated?? You came back from the dead for me in this lifetime, even before we admitted our love to one another!!!"

"Yes, but he cheated; he stacked the cards completely against me to guarantee his victory."

Gwen snorted. "Asshole," she muttered under her breath, then blushed slightly at Randi's silent chuckle and shrugged. "Well, he is. So what went wrong if everything was in his favor?"

Randi smirked, the sexy kind that gave Gwen tingles up and down her spine. "You did."

Blonde brows flew up into Gwen's hairline so fast, Randi waited for them to fly right off. "I did?!? What do you mean, *I did*???"

Randi leaned down and kissed Gwen with fiery passion, possessing her in a way no one else could. "Before the love, before the sex, before the vows we made to one another, there was always you - in my heart, in my soul, in my mind. He could never, ever defeat that. And he could never understand that... never grasp that there was nothing he could offer me that could measure up to what we had together - even when we were just friends."

"And before we met?" They didn't talk about this much and Gwen wasn't going to let the opportunity pass them by. She knew there had been other lovers in Randi's life before she had entered it; she suspected Tiny was one of them and Poppy was another, though she had never asked. In some ways, she was glad Randi had not been completely alone during the years she had been an active duty Sabre. On the other hand, she didn't have green eyes for no reason, and jealousy was an ugly emotion - not only to experience, but to be caught having.

"Before we met?" Randi frowned. "Before we met, I wasn't vulnerable."

Green eyes widened with hurt. "Are you saying I made you vulnerable?? I made it possible for Ares to lay claim to you??" Gwen would have pulled away had it not been for the leg holding her in place and the arm that tightened significantly around her waist.

"Shh... just listen, love," before Gwen could protest. "Yes, you made me vulnerable because you made me feel; and it was so... wonderful. Ares couldn't tap into my passion because it wasn't there. I had a few lovers before you came into my life," acknowledging Gwen's unspoken question. "But they were friends... people I trusted enough to find release with. My heart was not involved; my soul certainly wasn't. It wasn't until I met you that I started to feel." A beat. "I wouldn't trade that vulnerability for anything, love. It made me feel. And that made us invincible."

That got Randi the grin she had been searching for. "Really?" Gwen asked shyly.

"Oh yeah," Randi guaranteed. "Now c'mon," she added, rolling away from Gwen and off the bed. "The sooner we get started, the sooner we can be done." She extended a hand which Gwen took with alacrity, sliding from the bed and tugging them both towards the bathroom.

"I'm looking forward to that."

Randi chuckled. "I'm looking forward to kicking Ares' ass. The look on his face will be satisfying."

Gwen laughed. "Your boot print permanently embedded will be even better."



Ares remained blissfully unaware of their plans; he was too busy celebrating his latest conquest to be monitoring their activity at the moment. And with any luck, not only would Randi be his very shortly, but he would also spawn an army of immortal warriors created in his image. He looked down at the woman who shared his bed and laughed, the evil sound echoing throughout the mountain complex the Amazon Nation now called home.



Chapter XI

"Aphrodite?" Artemis said as she rushed into the room where Aphrodite sat behind her desk working. Dite pulled the glasses off her face and pinched the bridge of her nose before looking at Artemis with tired eyes. She motioned to a chair and folded her hands on the desk in a listening pose.

"What's wrong, Arty, and how can I help?"

Artemis spared a brief moment to be thankful for Dite's perceptiveness. This was going to be awkward enough without getting into the squicky details.

"It's Ares. He's completely over the edge. You said Randi was ready and capable of taking him down?" She waited for Aphrodite to nod. "I think she needs to do so now."

"But...."

"No, Dite - listen. Ares is manipulating the Amazons; I think he plans to use them to create a race of warriors in Randi's image."

Aphrodite's eye opened wide and she just look at Artemis for a long moment. "You mean he is... ew - grody to the max, babe. I so did not need that visual this morning."

"Yeah? Well, imagine how I felt when I figured it out."

"Wait," combing her fingers through her disheveled curls. "Can we start this gnarly conversation over? 'Cause I am getting a major headache from this. Whaddya mean - when you figured it out?"

"Can we get Athena in on this? I would prefer not to have to say it twice. I think she is...."

"ATHENA!!!!"

Artemis chuckled wryly at Dite's bellow. "Of course, that works too." Athena popped her head around the corner almost instantly.

"Gods, Dite! You scared a year's worth of eternity out of me! What is so important??"

"Come in and siddown. We gotta talk." Athena looked from Dite to Artemis and back again and sighed. Without a word, she popped in a bottle of wine and three glasses, then fell into a chair and waited for someone to give her the bad news.



"Randi?"

Randi looked up when Gwen's head came around the door to her office. She turned away from her computer screen and spun her chair around to face Gwen. She was gratified when Gwen came around the desk and sat down in her lap.

"So... what'd you find out?" smoothing out the frown lines that were crinkling Gwen's forehead. The expression made her guts churn, just a little.

"I'm not sure. It was very strange."

Now a frown crossed Randi's features. "How so? Did you speak to Lorac?"

Gwen nodded slowly. "Yeah, but she was... I dunno - off. Almost like a pod person or something." She blew out a frustrated breath. "She didn't act like there was a problem; she was even enthusiastic about our coming out there soon. Said they were planning a surprise fit for a queen. It was just weird, but I can't put my finger on what's wrong."

"Do you think it is critical? Do we need to go out there today?"

Gwen bit her lip pensively and considered the questions seriously. "No. I think we need to take care of the rest of the world first. We're too close to a resolution and if we truly want to go home and have peace, we need to finish. But I wouldn't object to stepping things up and getting out there sooner than we had originally planned either."

"All right," Randi said in agreement. "I think I have a rudimentary workable plan. We just need to get the details settled and put into place. You wanna take a look? With a little luck we'll have this ready to implement by the time Tiny and Reed get back next week."

Gwen shifted in Randi's lap to take a look at the desk screen. Randi angled the desk a little more to accommodate Gwen's added height, then sat back and let Gwen read in peace. Her hands delicately stroked the body within her reach which coincidentally contained a majority of Gwen's erogenous zones. Randi wasn't even conscious of her actions until Gwen grasped her hands lightly and turned pleading eyes to meet Randi's.

"Whoops! Sorry," Randi said sheepishly.

Gwen smiled and stole a quick kiss. "I wouldn't mind except it's very distracting. You make it very difficult to concentrate."

Randi stood, lifting Gwen to her feet at the same time. "Tell ya what... I'll go find some of the guys who are around and go do some sparring. Then you can read in peace; don't look at me like that. If I stay, I'm just gonna keep distracting you and we both know it's the truth."

Gwen smiled sheepishly and nodded. "Yeah, but it doesn't mean I won't miss you while you're gone."

Randi's turn to steal a kiss, only hers was by no means quick. "I love you," she finally said when they separated on an uneven breath. "I'll be back to pick you up for lunch. Then we can start working on the details."

Gwen nodded. "Be careful, Empress. Don't beat up on the troops too much, all right? I have plans for you tonight and they don't involve you being black and blue or too tired and sore to move properly." Randi arched an eyebrow, but her eyes twinkled mischievously. Then she jumped unexpectedly when Gwen smacked her firmly on the butt. "Go on and get outta here, love. I know you wanna go play with the boys and I'll get done faster if you do. Just don't run them too ragged."

"No promises," Randi quipped and with another swift kiss, she was out the door and Gwen sat down at the desk to continue her reading. She liked what she had been able to take in so far; the idea certainly had merit and she could easily see it working for everyone if they could just work out a way to implement it properly. She started making notes as ideas occurred to her and soon Gwen was completely immersed in her work.

Meanwhile, Randi had no lack of volunteers once word got around of her presence in the rec room. No one could resist the challenge, especially once Randi made it clear she was taking all comers. Soon the room was filled with the sounds of hand to hand combat and the thud of bodies as they hit the mats... one by one.

It was the growling of her stomach that pulled Gwen's attention off the computer screen and focused it on the clock. Her eyebrows shot into her hairline. Surely Randi wasn't still sparring; it had been hours. Gwen rolled her eyes, knowing the truth. She locked the computer and lowered the desk back down to a flat position. Then she got up and strode out of the room, intent on finding her wayward soulmate. First, she had to make a stop by their suite.



Sabres were scattered across the room in various states of disrepair discussing form and technique as Randi sparred with yet another of their number. But when Gwen opened the door and crossed the room towards Randi, silence followed in her wake. A number of Sabres grinned. They had heard from their Amazon mates about Gwen's prowess with the staff, and several of them had seen the bard in action here in the compound. At the very least, it would be entertaining.

The Sabre facing off against Randi was distracted by the silence and hesitated, giving Randi the chance to drop him to the mat. Then she looked up and understood the reason for the quiet that now draped the room and gave Gwen a chagrined smile. Randi had been having such a good time sparring, she hadn't realized how late it had gotten.

"Oh shit!" she muttered, but not low enough not to be heard by the troops, causing a ripple of grins to race around the room. "Guess playtime is over, boys and girls. I promised to take Gwen to lunch, so if you'll excuse us...."

"Not so fast there, Stud. Get your staff."

"Gwen?"

"C'mon, Empress. You made me wait for lunch; I think you owe me a round of sparring."

Randi cocked an eyebrow and her blue eyes twinkled in pure fun. "Oh you do, huh? You think I owe you?" She held out a hand and momentarily her staff was placed in it. Gwen nodded and backed up a pace, trying to clear space for their match. "Then by all means, my queen," twirling her staff into a ready position and giving Gwen an evil smile, "let's spar."

The sound of wood clashing solidly together was loud and echoed in the otherwise silent room. The Sabres watched in awe as the staves met and separated in motions so smooth and rhythmic they could almost be classified as a dance.

Gwen and Randi smiled ferally at one another. Though they were both quite serious about their skills, this was something they took great joy in sharing with one another and both of them had missed this time together. The hits increased in speed until they were merely a blur; the Sabres just blinked at the furious action they were privileged to witness.

For long moments the battle went back and forth between them, neither woman gaining or losing ground to the other. Finally, as if someone gave an invisible signal, they wound up with a flourish, staves crossed inched from their faces.

Their breathing was increased but not harsh and for a few stunned seconds, it was the only sound in the room. Then the Sabres started to cheer. When Randi leaned forward and captured Gwen's lips, they whooped. Gwen blushed. Randi just grinned like a Cheshire cat.

"Right, then..." Randi said as the sound died down. "*Now* if you'll excuse us...." A chuckle went around the room and they made a path so Randi and Gwen could leave the rec room together. A trail of Sabres followed them out, then went their own ways to get back to their duty stations.



"Did you have fun?" Gwen asked as they made their way to their rooms. Gwen wanted to put her staff away and Randi was dying for a quick shower. Gwen squealed, closed her eyes and held on tightly when without warning, Randi picked her up and spun them both around in a circle. When they stopped spinning, Gwen opened her eyes and stared down into sparkling, bright blue orbs. She couldn't help the smile that crossed her lips or crinkled her nose.

"*I* had a blast!! I've missed that... especially with you. How 'bout you... did you have fun?"

Gwen squeezed her arms tightly around Randi's neck and licked the drop of sweat that was dangling on the tip of Randi's nose before depositing a kiss in its place. "I," she said, resting her forehead on Randi's and forcing their eyes to cross. "I had a wonderful time today, *and* I think I may have figured out some of the kinks in the plan."

"Oh?" Randi said as she pulled back enough to actually see Gwen's face. She was suddenly serious and very interested in the conversation. "Do tell."

"Uh uh... not until we get something to eat. Otherwise I will starve to death before I get food."

"That bad?"

"No, but it's gonna take more than two minutes to explain, and I'm hungry. C'mon, love. Put me down so we can get done and get back to work." Randi squinted at Gwen, then turned and resumed her stroll to their quarters. Gwen instinctively held on tighter. She drew a deep breath to protest, but a single, pleading glance in her direction made Gwen simply tuck her head into Randi neck for the remainder of the short trip to their room. Randi smiled and pressed a kiss to Gwen's head.



A short time later, they were once more clean, fed and back in Randi's office. This time they were sitting side by side at the desk as Randi read through the proposal with Gwen's comments and modifications. They were good and Randi turned and smiled at Gwen who slipped her glasses off her face and refocused her eyes on Randi's.

"What?" self-consciously setting her glasses on the closest flat surface.

"These are good ideas, Gwen. I think they will streamline things for everyone... especially me. Now I just need to write a program to make it all work together. Making the mix random is good and I think three to six month tours per station are a great idea. It won't get everyone exposure to everyone and everything, but it should be enough that people start recognizing similarities."

"Are you gonna extend service times... go to five years instead of two?"

"Yeah, I think we need to. Maybe eventually mankind will be smart enough to survive without a military, but for now I think it is still necessary. I'll make sure there are back-ups and fail-safes in place, but the fact is mankind is either gonna have to grow up and be responsible for each other and this planet, or they are going to end up destroying everything."

"Does it bother you, love... walking away, I mean? We've been doing this for a long time, Randi - lifetimes. And it took us a few tries to get it right. Can we just walk away without regrets?" She paused and took a deep breath. "I know I keep asking; I just want you to be sure that giving up the chance to rule the world isn't something you'll be sorry for later."

Randi took Gwen's hand. "No, sweetheart; it really doesn't bother me. I've thought about this a lot." She blew out a deep breath and looked down at their clasped hands. "We've done all we can do, Gwen. We've arrived at a crux in human history - a pivotal point where the choices made will affect the way humanity will live... or die... together. We've given them every opportunity to choose wisely." Now she looked back up and met Gwen's eyes. "But unless we want this responsibility for eternity, we have to let mankind make the choice and live with the consequences. It should be easier for humanity once Ares is out of the way, even if we have been his main focus for a while. And speaking very selfishly - I'm tired. I don't wanna do this anymore. I think we've earned our rest." She smiled. "Besides, I have all I want in the palm of my hand," lifting their joined hands to her lips and kissing them.

Gwen couldn't stop the blush, but she returned the kiss with a possessive squeeze of the fingers entangled with hers. "I just don't want you to regret...."

"No regrets, Gwen - not about this anyway... especially if we can make this program work like I think we can. Let me get started on this program; the sooner I get it done the sooner we can get a team together to work the bugs out while we go visit the Amazons."

Gwen nodded. "I've got some writing to do."

"You wanna work in here with me?"

A brilliant smile was her answer. "Let me go get my journal."



"Are they coming?"

"Not yet. I told her we were planning a surprise for her, but I indicated it wasn't ready yet so there wasn't a need for them to rush out here yet."

"Good, that will give me a chance to try to make a few more immortal Amazon babies."

Lorac smiled slyly. "Well, I know of a few Amazons that are hoping the first try doesn't take. They'd like another go with the god of war."

Ares smirked. "Only a few?"

"Yeah - not all of us are into men, but not all of us are strictly into women either." She frowned. "Of course, I haven't heard anyone complaining." That struck her as very strange; there were a number of Amazons who had no desire to be with a man and yet they had been as anxious as the rest to sleep with Ares. Then there were those that didn't want children, and yet they too had been eager for Ares to give them a child. Something was wrong with this picture; then Ares trailed a hand up the inside of her thigh and the thoughts went to the wayside.

"What about you, Lorac?"

"As many times as you want, Ares," then her mind was lost in the passion and bloodlust she felt coursing through her veins. Nothing else mattered besides the touch of his hands and lips on her body. Ares smiled cruelly. The domination he felt over these women was almost enough to make him forget his need to own Miranda Valiant... almost.



Rosie had gone home, glad for the chance to check on her barbeque stand and found that her daughter was very happy running the small roadside restaurant. It was a little surprising; Rosie had never expected her to be so enthusiastic about it, but she was glad to see it. It meant she could take a little time off. After everything that had happened recently, Rosie felt the need for a bit of a break to rejuvenate body and spirit. The last few weeks had been completely draining - to the point that even her daughter mentioned it and shooed her out of the kitchen. Rosie had laughed and went into the private area of the restaurant, glad beyond words for a child like she had and a chance to rest.

She woke up with a bit of a start; her dreams had been... disturbing... and Rosie looked around trying to orient herself. Something had woken her up, but what? There was no one in the room with her and the rest of the house sounded just as quiet. She closed her eyes and searched her feelings, not able to find the cause for her sudden waking, only knowing that something was off. The question was - what? And how did it affect her?



"Oh my GOD! Who in the hell came up with that harebrained idea?" Tiny asked as he collapsed on the ground at the bottom of the hill after he literally fell out of the plastic bubble. "Damn, I think I'm gonna puke."

Reed snickered though truthfully, she wasn't feeling much better. "You're the one that wanted to try zorbing, honey."

"Never again," Tiny mumbled as he focused on breathing to keep the contents of his stomach where they belonged. "I hope they found an appropriate death for whoever decided that was a good idea. I can't believe Randi put something that sickening on a holochip that is supposed to be for fun."

"I dunno, baby - remember those... what were those things we rode? The roller coasters? Some of those were more than a little disorienting."

He cracked an eye open to look at her. "You think this is a plot by Randi to get us for something?"

Reed chuckled gingerly, not wanting to disturb her equilibrium too much. "No... I think she just has a twisted idea of what fun is. I think we need to research everything else on that chip, though. I don't think either one of us can handle anymore surprises like that one."

"I think we need to give the holodeck a rest and take a time out in the real world." Tiny waited for a response from Reed, and when he didn't get one, he turned his head slowly to face her. Her eyes were closed and her breathing slow and deep and he realized she was meditating. She reached for his hand almost unconsciously and he extended his own without thought.

They lay there in silence for a few minutes and Tiny felt his stomach settle. Without warning, Reed clenched his hand almost painfully and he wondered what had caused that reaction. He rolled over carefully, unwilling to risk upsetting his stomach again.

"Reed? Honey, you all right?"

It took a few more minutes of deep breathing before Reed answered and then it was so soft Tiny had to strain to hear it. "I dunno - I feel a little off kilter."

"From the zorbing or...?" Tiny zoomed in on the problem immediately; Reed would have already mentioned if her imbalance was related to their holodeck activities. He suspected this feeling was from something else entirely.

"I don't think so. It was a weird ripple." She shrugged. "It's getting better."

"Is it Randi and Gwen? Do we need to cut our vacation short?"

"I don't know; I don't think so," she said again with only the slightest hesitation. "Besides, you know and I know Randi will kick both our asses if we go back early for no explainable reason. Maybe we should call them later though - check in."

"Sweetheart, neither Randi nor Gwen would ever discount your feelings. You know that - they better than anyone else on Earth understand and respect your feelings... well, except maybe me," he added with a crooked smile. She returned the look gratefully. "I think we should head back for the capital," he continued, sitting up slowly. "We could always tell them we need a break from our vacation; personally, I think it's killing me."

Reed chuckled again and eased up into a sitting position. "Me too," she agreed. "And after today, I think I have the bruises to prove it. C'mon," she said, standing up and offering him a hand. Tiny took it and kissed it, then pushed himself upright.

"Computer, holodeck off," feeling better with the disappearance of the zorbing ball. "C'mon, honey. Let's go and see what kind of trouble we can find. Knowing Randi and Gwen, it shouldn't be hard and it should be interesting."

Reed smirked and followed Tiny out of the holosuite. "It always is."



Jill walked around the house slowly. She had expected to feel lonely and bereft here, but instead she felt Geoff's presence like a tangible thing - a warm blanket that wrapped her in his love. It made her smile.

There were so many memories here... so many pieces of their lives together were contained in the walls of this home. A knock on the door interrupted her musing and Carbon barked; Jill frowned. She wasn't expecting anyone and she had thought to have a bit of time to adjust to being alone here before friends and neighbors came to call.

When she got to the door, she leaned her forehead on it and took a deep breath, hushing the barking dog with a motion. Then she opened the door to the young Sabre who had made regular visits to Geoff's workshop, especially as Geoff's health had deteriorated and they had spent more and more time in the capital city.

"Hello, Matt."

"Hello, Mrs. Goldman. I apologize for my poor timing, but we need to sweep Geoff's workshop as soon as possible and I wanted to make arrangements that would suit you best."

Jill was a little put off, but she nodded. The sooner he was done, the sooner she would be left in peace. And he was a polite young man; she didn't blame him for wanting to do his duty as quickly as he could manage.

"What would be best for you, Matt?"

"No ma'am," he replied quietly. "I meant what I said. Geoff was an extraordinary man and a good friend. I volunteered for the assignment because I am the most qualified and could do it without infringing on your privacy too much. I didn't realize I was going to be sent here so quickly."

"It's all right, Matt. Come in, please."

He shook his head. "No, thank you, ma'am. If you could just tell me when the best time was for you, and if you would prefer for me to take care of things alone or if you want a full team in here." He paused at the confusion in her eyes. "If I bring in a full team, there will be about a half dozen of us and it will take less than a day... probably two to three hours at the most. If I do it alone, it will take me at least two or three days."

Jill thought about it a moment. "I think I'd rather you do it by yourself, Matt. Geoff was proprietary about his work and you were the one he chose to share that with. I respect that; you understand his work and know the value of what he was doing. You still have the code to the workshop, yes?" Matt nodded. "All right. You can get started whenever you want to in the morning. I'd appreciate it if you let me know when you are done."

"Yes ma'am. Again, I'm sorry to have had to bother you about this...."

Jill held up a hand. "It's all right, Matt. I may not get all the ins and outs of the Sabres, but I have learned enough to know there is a reason for their expediency. You do what you need to do, Matt."

"Thank you, Mrs. Goldman. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she replied, closing the door behind him. Then she looked around the house and she and Carbon headed for the study where their pictures and holo-memories were waiting for her to go through them. It was going to be a good night for remembering.



Randi stretched and grimaced as the bones in her spine realigned themselves in a cacophony of popping sounds. It made Gwen look up from her journal with concern.

"You all right there, love? That sounded ugly."

Randi shifted her shoulders to loosen them a little more and smiled in Gwen's direction. "Yeah... just a little sore from sitting in the same position without moving for so long. I know better - I just got caught up in what I was doing." She stood up slowly and crossed to the small sofa set against the nearest wall, climbing over the back and sliding in behind Gwen until she was wrapped around her bard. Randi was gratified when Gwen closed the journal and set it aside, then leaned back into her body with a sigh of relief. "How's the writing coming?"

Gwen angled her head and brushed a kiss on Randi's jaw line. "Well enough. I'm writing down what I remember from our time in the dreamscape together - from our spirit walk."

Randi's eyes widened though she knew Gwen couldn't see the reaction. "Wow! That's um... that's some pretty intense stuff."

Gwen nodded. "Pretty personal too. But since I'm the only one who will see it.... And I don't want to forget."

"You think you would... forget, I mean?"

"Not the big stuff, no, but I wanted to get the details down while they were still fresh. I want to remember how things felt and smiled and sounded; the look in your eyes when you saw your reflection in my mirror. Seeing you as both warrior and woman and our reunion of both body and soul. I don't want to forget any of it - even the parts that hurt."

Randi held on a little tighter and smiled when Gwen tangled their fingers together. "I'm glad you're writing it down, love. Even if it's just for us, I'm glad we'll have it to remember." They sat in silence for a little while before Randi spoke again. "You know, when we get back from the Amazons and before we go home, we need to go back to the village and talk to Sky."

"Okay... why?"

"So they can make us part of the tribe - if you want to, of course. They did invite us and we finished our spirit walk...."

"... even if it wasn't exactly the way that Sky expected it to be," Gwen said with a chuckle.

Randi echoed the sentiment silently, though Gwen felt the vibrations against her back. "Yeah, I'm sure we'll hear about our unorthodox method for taking a spirit walk for some time to come. But we still need to decide what, if anything, we want to share about that, because you know eventually someone is gonna ask."

Gwen sighed. "Personally, I don't see the need to share any of the details with anyone. It is very intense and very personal, and I would like to keep it that way. Am I being selfish?"

"Nope, not as far as I'm concerned. I feel the same way. There really isn't a reason for anyone to know the details of what we went through together. They know we survived; that will have to be sufficient. The rest is for us alone."

Another short silence which Gwen broke. "So how's your work coming?"

Randi nodded. "Pretty good. I'm satisfied we're on the right track."

"How do you think people are gonna react?"

Randi shrugged. "I dunno; right now I just wanna make it work. We can worry about the reactions when they happen. But we're not gonna stay here - I'm not gonna be Empress forever."

"I'm glad," Gwen said simply. "I like having Randi all to myself." She leaned back as Randi bent down and their lips met for a timeless moment before separating. "C'mon," Gwen said as she pulled back slightly. "We've been at this for a while. Let's take a break and go get something to eat."

"That sounds like a good idea. Steak and eggs?"

"Yeah... then maybe we could take a little trip in the holodeck?"

"Sure, where ya wanna go?" pushing Gwen off the couch and standing up behind her.

"I dunno. Let's go see what we have to choose from; I know there are still a lot of things on those chips we haven't tried yet."

"All right... anything but zorbing. Just reading about that makes me sick."

"That bad?" as they made their way out of the office and to the kitchen.

"Yeah... that bad. I'd rather shoot myself."

Gwen's eyes widened. "Oooookay - note to self... no zorbing." Then they walked into the kitchen and they started preparing their dinner.



Chapter XII

"Tiny? What are you doing back here already? Couldn't stay away?" Yuri joked as Tiny and Reed waited for him to open the gate. All codes had to be verified from inside before activation was allowed. Tiny just shook his head when he realized that Yuri was on duty that evening. It was just the way his karma had gone since he'd started this vacation.

"Vacation was killing me, Yuri. You gonna open the gate and let us in?"

"Yes, come on up. I'm in the office."

"Where are Randi and Gwen?"

The Empress and the queen have retired to their quarters for the evening."

Tiny laughed. "Randi hears you referring to her like that, she may just unretire to kick your ass, ya know."

Yuri giggled. "It would be worth it."

Tiny scowled. "Why? Is something wrong? We've only been gone for three days."

"Oh no! She and Gwen sparred together today - *after* the Empress took on better than half the unit in hand to hand combat. It was something of a spectacle... all the way around. The queen is quite impressive - can hold her own with the Empress with a staff."

"I missed this?!? Tell me someone got vid of this."

"Yeah," Reed chimed in. "I wanna see this."

Yuri chuckled again. "Well, come on up. I'll have it waiting for you by the time you get in here."

Reed and Tiny turned to look at one another when Yuri disappeared from the screen. "I can't believe we missed that," Tiny said with a whine in his voice. "I can't believe that did something like that while we were gone!! We shoulda been here for that!"

Reed couldn't help it; she laughed. Tiny glared at her, then gave her a sheepish grin.

"All right, all right," he conceded as he brought their transport to a halt. "I know I am being ridiculous. It just woulda been nice to have been here and experienced it after all the bad we have seen them suffer through."

"Don't worry, honey. I imagine if you ask nicely, Randi will be happy to kick your ass sparring. And if you ask *really* nice, she might let Gwen do it too."

Outraged brown eyes met amused gray. "You're yanking my chain," he growled.

"Yep, I sure am," Reed agreed with a giggle. "It's so much fun and you make it so easy." They grabbed their bags from the small trunk and headed inside. "Are we gonna go say hello before we turn in tonight or do you just want to wait until tomorrow?"

"I think we'll wait unless Yuri has already let them know we're back. If they have um... retired for the evening, I'm not sure I wanna interrupt. You know as well as I do the multitude of possibilities those words cover."

"Very true," Reed agreed. "I'm so glad their shielding is in place. Life is much more pleasant for me."

Tiny wrapped an arm around Reed's shoulders and kissed her temple. "Me too. I hated watching you in such misery. It's nice to be able to be friends with them and to be able to enjoy it. C'mon," pushing the door to the office open and lifting a hand to Yuri in greeting. "Let's go see what all the buzz is about with them sparring. I have a feeling this will be a lot of fun."

"Oh it was," Yuri agreed, "and if we're really lucky, they'll do it again." He extended a hand to each of them and then frowned. "Wow, your vacation really did beat you up, didn't it?" examining the odd bruises that covered each of them. "You want to share?"

"Let's see the vid feed first, then we'll tell you about the holodeck vacation from hell that nearly killed us." Yuri's eyebrows almost popped off his forehead and then he motioned them to a chair. Given their battered appearance, he couldn't wait to hear the details.



"That was... incredible," Gwen said as she slipped the helmet off her head. "I never thought I could fly like a bird. Being connected to you while I was doing it was a great bonus."

Randi dropped her helmet, and loosened the straps that held them together. She was a little surprised when Gwen immediately stepped away from her. Randi shimmied out of the straps and buckles only to find Gwen suddenly wrapped around her like an octopus.

"Well, hello there," Randi said with a rakish grin, tightening her hold and feel Gwen's spine pop back into place. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Ugh," Gwen groaned and let her head flop forward into Randi shoulder. "God, that feels good. HEY!" she squealed and straightened. "Whaddya do that for?" glaring at Randi who smirked, then snared her lips in a long, passionate kiss. Randi caressed the spot on Gwen's ass she had just pinched and felt Gwen melt into her touch and embrace. "Hmm... what was I saying?"

Randi grinned. "You were saying we needed to get out of here and go to bed."

Gwen giggled. "Did I say that? I don't remember saying that."

"Computer... door," Randi called out as she carried Gwen out of the holosuite and back into their rooms. "Do you really want to argue about it?" kissing the full lips on a level with her own again.

"What I want to do," Gwen growled when they separated for air, "is to tie you up and have my way with you for the rest of the night."

Randi's eyes widened and she swallowed hard at the pure desire in Gwen's voice and the lust that burned hotly in her green eyes. "All right," she agreed numbly, then found herself drowning in new sensations when Gwen began to make good on her desires. They never even heard the comm unit buzz for their attention, and Yuri wasn't about to find out why. He knew they were alone together - and that was reason enough to let them be.



"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Gwen asked, gently stroking all the bare skin she could reach on Randi's body. "I wasn't too rough?"

Randi stretched slowly, making sure she rubbed up against Gwen before she turned them and spooned up behind her. "I am wonderful, thank you. And you were incredible."

"You're sure?" Randi felt the heat of Gwen's blush and eased up on her elbow enough to look down into Gwen's face. She ran the backs of her fingers along Gwen's cheek until those green eyes turned in her direction. Then Randi smiled as Gwen captured her hand.

"I'm sure," she answered seriously. "I trust you, Gwen... completely. And to know that you share your trust with me - to feel comfortable enough to take charge and express your needs and desires.... I never thought I'd feel like this - never thought I'd be so willing to surrender."

Gwen didn't answer verbally. Instead she pulled the hand she held to her lips and kissed it, then placed their joined hands between her breasts with a smile. Randi brushed her lips over Gwen's cheeks and pulled the smaller body into her own more firmly. Then both closed their eyes and settled into a blissful sleep.



The dream returned with a vengeance and Randi was sitting up breathing hard before Gwen even blinked her eyes opened. But she held on to Randi tightly even in her sleep and slowly Randi's heartbeat slowed as she felt the surety of Gwen's love surrounding her.

When she caught her breath, she looked down into sleepy green eyes filled with concern. She cupped the blonde head and kissed the top of it. Gwen tightened her hold. "You all right, love?"

Randi nodded. "Yeah... just that dream again. I think... I dunno - it's never been the gods' style to hide behind dreams where I'm concerned, but it's almost like they are trying to send me a message."

"Unless it's not them."

"What?"

"Well," Gwen said, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. "What if it isn't the goddesses? You know and I know that if they had something to say, they'd do so face to face at this point." Randi slowly nodded her agreement. "So what if it is someone else trying to get your attention? Or what if it is accidental?"

"Accidental how?" Randi asked with a frown. Gwen bit her lip, not wanting to put her thoughts into words just yet. "You think it's Ares? He's up to something that is giving me these weird dreams?"

"I think it's possible."

"But why give me dreams? Why give me any warning as to what he's doing?'

"I doubt he's doing it on purpose." Gwen sighed. "I do think we need to go to the Amazons - today. Whatever is causing this - they are obviously involved. We're not going to make any more progress here if we're sitting here trying to figure out what is happening there."

"What about your surprise?"

Gwen's answer was interrupted by a shower of sparkles and rose petals as three goddesses coalesced into solid form around them. Randi frowned and pulled the sheets up to cover her and Gwen's nakedness. Then she noticed the seriousness of the goddesses' expressions and pulled the covers up over their heads as they fell back into the mattress.

"We need to talk," Aphrodite said in all seriousness. Randi and Gwen groaned, knowing they weren't going to want to hear what was coming.

"Can ya'll give us a few minutes to get a shower and get some clothes on?"

Athena was herding them out of the bedroom before Aphrodite could formulate a response. Gwen chuckled soundlessly and Randi waited until she heard the door snick closed, then threw the covers off of them and rolled off the bed.

"C'mon, love. I have a feeling it's fixing to be a long, LONG day."



Breakfast was on the table when Randi and Gwen stepped into the main room. They exchanged glances and took their seats, not surprised when the three goddesses took seats beside them. Randi looked at each of them and picked up her fork, digging into the food they had provided.

"All right," she said once she had swallowed. "Spill it."

Now that the time had come, the goddesses looked at one another, each hoping the other would speak up first. Randi glowered and growled. Gwen laid a calming hand on the tense forearm and pinned them with a stare.

"Let me tell you what we have figured out and then ya'll can fill in the blanks, all right?" The three nodded simultaneously and Gwen took a swallow of juice before she spoke again. "Ares is making what is probably at this point a last ditch effort at reclaiming lost glory or some such similar bullshit, thinking he will be able to persuade, cajole or otherwise bribe Randi into joining him in his quest for world domination. And in some twisted sense of warped justice, he is somehow planning to use the Amazon Nation to do carry out his plan. Are we close?"

They nodded, relieved Randi and Gwen had already figure out the crux of the problem, even if they didn't have all the disgusting details yet. Artemis closed her eyes and licked her lips nervously before opening them and beginning to speak.

"Ares has given the Amazons the serum he gave to you, Randi, only he was more successful with them than he was with you. He has turned them into his warriors." She clenched her hands together tightly and covered her lips, frowning intensely. Athena, knowing how hard this was for Artemis particularly, picked up the thread.

"It gets worse, of course. Not only has he managed to secure the loyalty of the Amazon Nation by the use of drugs, Ares is also intent on creating a race of immortal warriors in his own image. And he is using the women of the Nation to do it... willingly, I might add, because of the drugs."

"Are you telling me Ares is impregnating the Amazon Nation??"

"He is trying to. Fortunately, he doesn't seem to know and they either don't remember or don't really want him to know despite everything that they cannot get pregnant on a whim like that anymore."

Randi nodded. When laws had been put into place limiting children to one per family unit, scientists had worked night and day to insure a way to stop the cycles of female ovulation and male sperm production, and they were wildly successful - to the point it had been almost impossible to reverse at first and mankind had nearly succeeded in becoming extinct. Eventually, though, they worked all the kinks out and it became easier to restart the reproductive process of those who wanted to have children.

In the case of the Amazons, however, things were a little different. Many, though not all, of the women of the Nation were not inclined to seek a male partner for mating or reproductive purposes. Instead, the decision was made to give that jurisdiction to Artemis. That way she could bless a union and insure that mothers were given strong, healthy daughters to insure the continuance of the Nation.

What Ares didn't know, and what no one had shared with him, was the fact that because of that decision by the Amazon Council many years before and the rituals they had performed, only Artemis could unlock the womb to allow the one who had been chosen to bear the child to receive the gift of life and blessing from the child's other mother... or in some cases, the child's father.

"So you can even block...?"

"Yes. Usually when a couple decides to have a child together, they come to the temple to seek my blessing. In the course of the ritual ceremony, I open the womb and they make love in the hopes of creating a child. It doesn't always work the first time, and sometimes they forget that the ritual has to be observed each and every time they want to try for a child."

"Sounds like an awful lot of work and effort for a child - especially when the science is in place to allow two women or two men to create a child between them without such a struggle."

"Yes, I know, and it is, but when the covenant was made between me and the Nation, it was the best of all possible options. Now it may be the only thing keeping Ares from impregnating my warriors and creating an immortal race of his own."

"How did you discover it... about Ares, I mean?"

"We set up a system to notify me when a couple was preparing to have a child, and it was also programmed to alert me if they had tried and failed and were copulating again. Sometimes in the midst of lovemaking a partner would remember and call out for a blessing. It helped if I was prepared for that eventuality, as it happened more often than not. So when I started getting hits on the board from absolutely everyone, including those who had adamantly insisted they had no interest in childbirth or anything that went along with pregnancy, I was immediately alarmed, and rightly so. I went searching for answers, and they led me here."

"And what is it you would like for us to do?" Randi asked, pushing her empty plate back and taking a large sip of coffee.

"We'd like you to force Ares' hand, once and for all," Athena answered firmly. "Dite told us you have a plan to defeat him."

"We do," Randi affirmed. "But there are a couple things we'll need to make this work."

"Anything we can do, warrior babe. I think we are all ready for a radical break from all his crap. He has gone way off the deep end this time. He wasn't this bad when you went through the karmic cycle the first time; I totally think each subsequent lifetime has pushed him just a little closer to the edge until he finally fell over into madness."

Athena nodded. "I am inclined to agree. I've never seen him so obsessed with you... with owning your soul, and that is saying so much, all things considered. He's always been quite - passionate - where you are concerned."

"Randi, what are your conditions? What do you need from us?"

"I need for the gods to be willing to strip Ares of his powers and immortality when I challenge him and to stand behind his punishment when I defeat him."

"And you're sure you will be able to... defeat Ares, I mean?" Athena asked. "Even without his powers, Ares will still have the knowledge and strength of his godhood behind him. He knows your weaknesses and he will try to take advantage of that."

Randi smiled, a feral expression that didn't actually reach her eyes. "I'm counting on it."

Aphrodite nodded. "There are a radical number of gods from around the globe that are totally in your corner already." She snickered. "Some of them would absolutely surprise you, given the gnarly history your soul has with most of the gods throughout your lifetimes." Then she sobered. "Ares has finally crossed a line none of us are willing to accept. This could have totally destroyed... everything."

"All right, but I want to be sure. We're not gonna get a second chance at this. I won't need one as long as the gods can agree to stand together on this."

"Gwen," Artemis cut in abruptly. "Did you study all the historical texts Lenore gave you?"

"Yes," Gwen answered with a nod and a frown. "I'm pretty sure I did."

"Did you read one on shamanism and what later became known as Wiccans within the Nation?"

The nod was emphatic this time. "Yes, I remember that one clearly because we spent more than one night discussing it... fascinating stuff. That is where the priestesses come from, isn't it?"

"Yes; I would like you to talk to Rosie before you go. I think there are things from that sect of the Nation that you especially, Gwen, will be able to use."

"No moon howling, right?" Gwen asked skeptically. "I read about that in the archives, ya know."

Artemis couldn't stop the chuckle that bubbled up at Gwen's obvious scorn. "Um," she said, clearing her throat and straightening her expression. "No... no moon howling. But there are some things you can do that will help the Amazons accept the antidote they will need to free them from Ares influence. And there should be a way to mask your approach from a god."

"All right... I'll call her before we leave."

"Yeah... I've got to get in touch with Tiny and bring him up to speed on things. I hate to drag him off vacation, but.... What??" she asked when Dite started shaking her head.

"They're so not on vacation anymore, babe. They came back here to chill last night... something about zorbing?" watching Randi's face take on a distinct tinge of green. "Yeah, that was about the way Tiny looked when he started telling that other gnarly dude about the wicked bruises he had."

"I wonder why Yuri didn't let me know."

Dite cleared her throat and had the grace to blush. "He tried; you were, um... tied up at the time."

Randi and Gwen exchanged knowing glances. Sheer determination kept the blush from suffusing Randi's face, but Gwen wasn't quick enough to get hers completely under control and Randi smiled at the delicate color that spread over Gwen's neck and face. Personally, she thought it look quite charming on Gwen, but she didn't mention it. She had no desire to further embarrass Gwen than she already was by drawing attention to it. Instead, she turned her focus to Dite.

"So what will ya'll be doing in the meantime?"

"Whatever we can, which unfortunately isn't very much," Athena replied. "We will have the antidote ready for you to give them and we will be lining up the gods who will stand behind you when you challenge him - do you know when that might be, by the way?"

Randi shook her head. "Sooner rather than later I expect. I will set something up with Tiny that will allow a worldwide broadcast from the Amazon Nation. If I were to guess, though, I'd say within the next seventy-two hours, depending on the situation we find at the mountain."

"All right," Athena nodded. "We will get things taken care of on our end. I know Zeus will strip Ares' powers without hesitation when Ares agrees to your challenge; he has more to lose than the rest of us do." At their questioning looks, Athena sighed and continued. "If Ares had been able to gain control of the world, the rest of us would have faded greatly, but we would not have died. We would just sort of... be. But Zeus - he would have died. Ares would have destroyed him to ensure he and not Zeus remained the reigning king of the gods."

"Wow."

"Yeah," Dite chimed in. "That about covered it for us too. So we'll get jamming and you babes let us know what's shaking as soon as you're set. We'll be keeping an eye and ear out for your signal. Toodles." The three shimmered out before Randi or Gwen could answer. The two of them blinked at one another for a moment before moving towards the kitchenette.

"I'm gonna go call Rosie."

"Right," Randi nodded. "I'll be with Tiny if you wanna come join us when you get done."

"All right. I'll be right behind you; hopefully this won't take very long."

Randi grinned. "Talking to Rosie or visiting the Amazons?"

Gwen returned the smile wryly. "Both, honestly. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy talking to Rosie, but I hate to interrupt her vacation. God knows she and Reed definitely earned some time away from us."

"And the Amazons?"

Gwen blew out a breath. "I don't like it, but it has to be done. Randi, they're good people and I hate that Ares is using them for his own purposes." She was glaring. "They deserve better and so do we."

"They'll get it, sweetheart, and so will we. We have way too many things left to enjoy together in this lifetime to let anyone or anything ruin it. Now, c'mon. The sooner we get started...."

"... the sooner we get started." Randi's brow wrinkled in a frown.

"I thought it was supposed to be finished."

"For everyone else in the world maybe," Gwen replied impishly. "For us, the sooner we get started on the work, the sooner we'll get started on the living."

"Good point," Randi agreed with a quick peck on Gwen's lips. "So let's go... hustle!" Gwen popped Randi on the ass then scampered back to the bedroom laughing. Randi let her go and shook her head. "Paybacks, Gwen... there are always paybacks."

Gwen stuck her head out the door. "I know - I'm counting on it."

Randi left and headed to her office, knowing when a strategic retreat was in order. There would be plenty of time for teasing later. First, she needed to talk to Tiny. There were things that needed to be taken care of while they were gone.



"So why didn't you use the regen unit, Tiny?" Lacey asked as she looked him over carefully. "It wouldn't have taken but a few minutes to fix these bruises."

Reed chuckled while Tiny put his shirt back on. "We wanted Randi to see we really were getting beaten up on vacation first. That way she knows we weren't making up a reason to come home. Why are you still here anyway? Weren't you supposed to get some vacation time as well?"

Before Lacey could respond to Reed's question, a knock sounded on the door and Tiny crossed the room to find Randi leaning against the doorjamb. An eyebrow arched gracefully when she took in his battered appearance. "Is this the reason you came back early?" motioning to his bruised body.

Tiny smiled wryly and motioned her in. "Pretty much. Vacation was killing us; Sabre duty was easier on my body that some of those fun things you had on that chip."

Randi scratched the side of her face and gave him a sheepish look. "Yeah, I probably should have told you to research some of it before you tried it. Even I don't do zorbing."

Tiny glared. "Uh huh. Now you tell me," punching her shoulder, then shaking out his hand. "Damn, Randi... what the hell have you been doing lately. That hurt!" He dropped into a chair.

She smirked at him. "You try keeping up with Gwen."

"Yeah, don't think that isn't the very first thing we heard about when we got back last night. I can't believe I missed that!"

"He's been moaning about it all morning," Reed chimed in, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. Randi snorted and took the arm of the couch as her perch.

"Don't worry, Tiny. I imagine it'll happen on a regular basis from now on. Being Empress means everyone wants to spar with me... especially the queen."

"Nah... she was sparring with you long before you were the Empress. Your being Empress just means the rest of us get a chance to watch you spar with someone who might actually be able to kick your butt. At the very least, she holds her own... God, that was incredible!"

This time Randi laughed. She wasn't about to share with him *how* incredible. Instead she said, "Yeah, she has a natural flair for it. She always has had. She was my very best student."

"Was?"

"She's my equal, Tiny. With the staff, she can hold her own against me or anyone else."

"Even Ares' warriors?" this from Lacey.

"Especially Ares' warriors," Randi corrected. "The motivation is different, and she has something they cannot defeat now. How goes the research?"

"We're done; it hasn't been tested in battle yet, but we think we have developed a serum that will protect a person against vulnerability to Ares' loyalty drug. We cultivated it from the antidote and have tested it every other way we know how."

"When does widespread manufacturing begin and how long before it will be ready for distribution? And do we know how long it takes to become effective and how long it lasts?"

"As soon as you give the order; twenty-four hours after that; that we're not sure of, but our best reasonable guess is within four hours - it is made to speed through the bloodstream; and that is entirely unknown to us, though preliminary reports have put it as permanent."

"Really? That is exceptional. Excellent work, my friend."

"Thank you, Empre... Randi," Lacey corrected herself seeing the glowering look she was getting. "My team has been working on this round the clock since we started looking for an antidote for you. We figure it is only a matter of time until Ares tried to use it on a more widespread scale once he realizes you are completely beyond his reach. The only question is why he hasn't before."

"Well, I can't answer your question - yet - BUT... he has tried to introduce this on a more widespread scale." Randi blew out a breath and the rest assumed listening positions, understanding this was a mission brief. "Gwen and I are heading out shortly to the Amazon Nation. We suspected, and the goddesses have confirmed, that Ares has moved in and is currently controlling the population with some sort of drug. We are assuming at this point it is the same loyalty drug he has been using on warriors for a while. We don't know how far gone they are at this point; I know it was a much subtler, more gradual process for me than it appears to be for them."

"How serious is it?"

"Serious. Though we haven't seen symptoms like mine, they have allowed Ares to become a part of the tribe. He's trying to create a race of immortal warriors in his own image by impregnating as many Amazons as he can. Fortunately, he seems to be unaware of the safeguards that were put in place for population control, and as of yet, no one has seen fit to enlighten him. The consensus, however, is that he has slipped over the edge into madness."

"Randi, you and Gwen can't go out there alone. Amazon Nation or not, world domination not withstanding, the fact is Ares is fascinated with *you*. You're the one he wants. You can't just waltz in there and give that to him."

"Tiny, I'm the one thing he can't have. What Gwen and I have between us assures us of that. He couldn't have me before - he certainly can't have me now. Besides, I'll be taking a team to sit in reserve and wait for my orders once we have a better grasp on the situation. But...." hesitating, knowing he wasn't going to like what was coming. "I need you to stay here."

"WHAT???" jumping up from his seat. "You can't be SERIOUS!!! Why the HELL would you leave me out of something this important, Randi?? Haven't I earned the right to be at your side??" The explosion was hot and fast and Randi let it run until it burned out. Reed and Lacey remained silent, knowing this was between Randi and Tiny and hoping it could be resolved quickly. He fell back into his chair with a conspicuous lack of grace.

Randi looked him squarely in the eyes, willing him to see the honest sincerity in hers. "Tiny, other than Gwen, there is no one - NO ONE, not even Tommy - who I trust to watch my back like I trust you. But I have to have Gwen with me on this and I need someone I trust with my life to assume the responsibilities I am leaving here. Tiny, given what it has cost to get us to this point, I can't chance leaving to take care of Ares if you're not here taking care of the rest of the world."

He glared at her for a long moment, then sighed. "You don't fight fair," he grumbled.

"No," Randi admitted. "But I do fight with honor and I fight to win. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important, Tiny."

Tiny sighed again. "I know. And it bites - I just want you to know that. Only for you," he added.

"I know, my friend, and I appreciate it more that you can know. Trust me, Tiny. I understand your frustration better than anyone else in the world. But on the plus side, we have managed to get the framework for the new government figured out. Even most of the details have been taken care of; it's pretty much a matter of putting the programs into place. Let me tap the members of the Sabre team so they can start their mission prep, then I will show you what we've gotten done and what is left to do. With a little luck, we will all be able to go home. I want to live like a normal person for a change."

Tiny snorted and stood, unable to resist the perfect set-up and wanting a quick getaway. "Don't you need to *be* a normal person first?" he joked, snatching the door open....

... only to run right into Gwen's raised fist poised to knock. He fell back flat on his ass. When he looked up, Randi stood over him, hands on hips and a sardonic expression on her face, complete with raised eyebrow. He cut his eyes over at Gwen whose posture mirrored Randi's, except her expression was questioning. Tiny covered his face.

"Someone shoot me now, please." This got laughter from all quarters and a hand up from Randi.

"You'll get yours," she promised with a purr.

"Yeah," he snarked, "but at least I'll still be normal."

Now all four women howled, even Gwen who had missed the beginning of the exchange. "Never in a million years, baby," Reed assured him. "Never in a million years." His pout only made things worse.



Chapter XIII

"This is incredible, Randi. You've managed to pull all the ideas together and make it work."

"In theory, anyway," she replied dryly to Tiny's enthusiasm. "We haven't tried to put it into practice yet."

"Yes, but I think people will work to make it work... especially now that there is a better perception of what peace really requires. Learning about one another can... working together with those that you think are different from you... can only help foster understanding, right?"

"I hope so, Tiny. I just want peace."

"Well, the immunizations should help that." A beat. "Randi?" Tiny queried, still focused on the plans in front of him. "Why now? I mean," going on quickly at the look of confusion on her face. "Ares developed this serum a long time ago to ensure the loyalty of the warriors who swore an oath to him. Why did Ares finally decide to go looking for warriors now? And why go to the Amazons - he knows they are protected by Artemis. Why didn't he take advantage of any of the rebel forces before they were defeated?"

Gwen cleared her throat softly, drawing their attention to her. She removed her glasses, chewing absently on the earpiece for a moment before speaking. "I think I might know; I've been doing some research on that since we learned about the Amazons and I talked to Rosie this morning."

"You mean there's a reason besides Ares has finally lost his mind?" Randi asked sardonically.

"I'm not so sure he has," Gwen replied seriously. The certainty on her face made Randi move from where she stood behind Tiny at her desk to sit on the arm of the couch where Gwen had ensconced herself with her journal and small computer. Tiny remained still and silent.

"What makes you say that, love? Even the goddesses think he's nuts."

Gwen nodded. "Yes, but what if that is what he wants everyone to believe? Give me a minute.... I want you to think about this," she added, running her hands through her hair and closing her eyes. Randi slid down off the arm to sit beside Gwen, scooting her over by wiggling her hips until Gwen sighed in exasperation and shifted over. "Comfortable?" she asked with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"Yep," Randi confirmed with a cheeky grin, putting her head in Gwen's lap and flinging her long legs over the end of the couch. "Continue, please."

Gwen gave Randi another look before closing her eyes again and letting her fingers idly riffle through the soft, dark hair spread over her lap. Then she took a deep breath and started to speak in a low voice.

"The story goes that when Ares first lost your soul to me... when we chose each other over redemption and you laid down your sword... he decided to ensure the loyalties of those warriors who had dedicated their lives to him and those he had made his Chosen. His priests worked for years - lifetimes, even - searching for the perfect formula, because even though he found one to bind his warriors, your soul still eluded him. And you were the prize he wanted."

"Through every lifetime we passed through, he tested and tried to capture your soul... make it his for the claiming. Sometimes he missed us completely and those were lifetimes we had a measure of peace. The times he separated us by torture and death were painful, but we never lost our claim on one another. And he had no chance to assert his right to your soul. It was already mine."

"But this lifetime - I think he recognized your vulnerability this lifetime and took advantage of it. Ares kept me from acknowledging my feelings for you and you died without admitting your love for me - we hadn't claimed one another and he had the perfect chance to finally make you his."

"But none of this explains...."

"Shh," Gwen reprimanded Randi, covering her lips with her fingertips. Randi kissed them, twitching her lips a little to tickle. Gwen chuckled soundlessly and pinched Randi's lips lightly. Tiny watched, fascinated. They seemed to have forgotten he was in the room. "I'm getting there."

"Unfortunately for Ares, Aphrodite had been watching us very closely - waiting... hoping that we would figure things out for ourselves before it was too late. When she saw you say goodbye, she realized you knew the truth of your heart and that's the reason she caught your soul at the last possible second. I think she knew the consequences of leaving you vulnerable then; I think she knew how devastating it would be - not just for us, but for everyone. That's why we got our second chance."

"The trouble was, Ares had seen his opportunity and decided to take it. I think he knew he would never get a better chance - so he had Ben come after me when our love was still new and uncertain... before everything was publicly acknowledged between us. I don't think he knew what we had shared privately; I think Dite kept as much from him as she could and in all fairness he was so busy stirring up the different rebel factions, keeping them busy and always on the verge of war, he missed things."

"However, when he took my memories and made us just friends again, Ares preyed upon every one of your secret fears. Ares had finally perfected the serum... or so he thought... so he had Ben implant it. Except Ben's delivery method was less than direct and it allowed your body to resist it almost from the beginning - but Ares didn't know that. He had created the poison to be very slow moving. He wanted the transformation to happen so gradually, no one would notice until it was too late."

Gwen opened her eyes to meet the blue ones she knew were gazing at her in such devotion. "It might have worked," she continued in a whisper, "except we had exchanged private promises long before spoke them aloud in front of anyone else. We had already cemented our commitment to one another. As it was, you were struggling with the heightened lust for blood and fighting Ares' serum had produced in your system."

Randi's eyes dropped, effectively closing her glance from Gwen's... until Gwen tapped her chin. "Sweetheart, I know you have a... if not love, a distinct joy in fighting. You're a warrior, love. You always have been and you have always enjoyed a good fight. I don't think less of you for it - it's what makes you the one I love... in every lifetime."

She held those deep blue pools for another long moment before she was satisfied Randi believed her words. The kiss on her fingers made her clear her throat prior to speaking again. "Um... there were enough 'dark episodes' - things you had no conscious recollection of - to convince Ares he was on the right track... that you would soon be his for the claiming. I believe this success is what convinced him not to try that stuff on the rebel forces... one of them, anyway."

"I'm not sure I follow your thinking, Gwen," Tiny spoke for the first time in her narrative. She started just slightly; she had literally forgotten her audience in focusing on telling her story to Randi. Gwen blinked and turned her gaze to Tiny.

"Well, to begin with, the rebels have always been fighters... not soldiers and certainly not warriors. Their sole purpose was to allow him to stir things up so he could watch true warriors - the Black Sabres and especially Randi - to fight and kill and destroy. When Randi... died," she said with a shuddering breath, the memory still painful even now. Gwen glanced down when Randi's long fingers clasped her and just held them. She took another breath and turned back to Tiny, though she refused to release the hold she had on Randi's hand.

"When Randi died," she said again with almost no hesitation, "Ares was devastated; his obsession with her soul has been complete for centuries and he figured he had lost his opportunity to claim her in this lifetime. Remember that for the year she was gone, everything in the rebellion seemed in disarray - there was no leadership to speak of, including direction from Ares. Only when Randi came back to life did he take notice of the rebellion, but only as a means to an end. He knew if he could get Randi under his control, *she* would make warriors of the rebels and the Sabres would be as likely to follow her as not, given what she had already done for mankind. And they would all accept the serum and swear loyalty to him with no real effort on his part. All he had to do was let her lead the Sabres and defeat the rebels, and then together Ares and Randi would create a real army of warriors and rule the world. But first there was the little problem of me that needed to be disposed of."

"Randi could never bring herself to do me any physical harm, and she was still fighting with herself over being a warrior with this enhanced love of fighting and killing. So she sent me away to where I would be safe from her. All it accomplished was to make us both miserable, but Ares saw it as proof of his success. With me gone, even though I wasn't dead like he would certainly have preferred, he would be able to move in and finally claim that which he thought was his - Randi's soul. Imagine his surprise when she told him no."

"I don't need to imagine," Tiny responded quietly. "I saw it happen. He was furious."

"Exactly - he was furious. Not distraught or out of his mind or lost and confused - he was furious... angry beyond belief. And he saw this as my fault - for coming between him and his prize once again... never mind that Randi's soul had rejected him on her own all those millennia ago. No, this was my fault. And what better way to seek revenge on me than to enslave the people who for no other reason than heritage and ancient tradition had made me their queen?"

"I think, however, this is where he screwed up, and if I am right in my thinking, his mistake will work in our favor."

Randi butted Gwen gently in the belly with her head. "Tell me what you're thinking."

"You already have a good idea, don't you?"

"Uh huh... but I wanna see if we are thinking alike."

"Will one or the other of you mind sharing this thinking aloud so that those of us who are not in the loop yet can catch up, please?" Tiny said with severe exasperation.

Randi and Gwen exchanged glances; then Randi nodded her head slightly and Gwen resumed speaking. "The serum that Ares had developed for his warriors was supposed to be administered after the swearing of allegiance to him. The Amazons, if I understood correctly, did not swear this oath; they were in fact given the potion to secure their loyalty." She felt Randi nod her agreement against her stomach and caught the contented smile on her face when she looked down.

"And this is significant?"

"I think so, Tiny. It means we can administer the antidote without permission."

"Why didn't we do that for Randi?"

"Hers was different. Her change was so slow and so insidious, that sort of shock to her system would have killed her. The Amazons literally changed overnight. Besides being done against their wishes and desires, it hasn't really had a chance to take root yet. That's why we need to get out there immediately. We want to keep it from doing so."

"All right... no wonder you picked an all female team," he muttered. "No reason to give them any more reason to fight."

"Yeah," Randi agreed, sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the couch. "I think our going in there will precipitate enough excuse for that." Gwen's brows furrowed and Randi reached out a casual hand to smooth them away. "It's the nature of the beast, love. They're warriors; they're gonna be spoiling for a fight."

"I don't like it."

"I wouldn't expect you to. Doesn't change anything though. But who knows... maybe we'll get lucky."

Gwen snorted. "And maybe those pigs will really start flying, but I'm not gonna hold my breath."

Randi chuckled silently and turned back to Tiny. "Do you have enough to get started?"

He nodded. "I will be plenty busy while you're gone. Doc Litzer is gonna set up the immunizations for everyone in the compound; then we'll start on the rest of the military and move on to the civilian population. As for the rest, I will start putting things in place. It should be ready for implementation by the time you get back from the Amazons."

"You think you'll be done that quickly?"

"No," Tiny replied honestly. "I think you will be there that long."

"I will call for reinforcements before that much times passes. But I don't think it will. Even while they were infected with the serum, I wouldn't have to fight all of them - only a few. Once the strongest warriors and Ares were defeated, the rest would fall in line. But once the antidote is administered, I should only need to defeat Ares and the few who will hold a grudge for what happened to them and want to take a shot at me for it."

"Why would you assume that?"

"Which part?"

"Any of it; seems to me you're making a lot of assumptions."

Randi frowned. "Not really. A lot of it is based on experience and the rest on the knowledge human nature. You know this stuff, Tiny; we do it all the time as Sabres. What's wrong with you that you've got doubts about it all of a sudden?"

Finally Tiny smiled. "Just checking, Randi. You've been a little of out it lately, ya know; I wanted to be sure you had that core of confidence still before you go out there without me to watch your back."

Don't worry, Tiny," Gwen said in a soft voice. "I've got her back this time, and I won't let you down."

"I know you won't Gwen; I saw that sparring workout ya'll had yesterday. I wouldn't go up against you with a staff."

"Really?" she asked shyly with a blush.

"And get my ass kicked twice?? Um... yeah - really. You're the best I've seen, bar none." He smiled when her eyes widened and cut in Randi's direction. "Yeah, even her. In a staff battle, I'd bet on you. You've got an advantage... you learned from the best and then got better. You're built for it, and you seem to have a knack for it."

"Thanks, Tiny," she muttered, scratching the back of her neck with a bit of embarrassment. It really wasn't something she or Randi talked about much. They just enjoyed it as a chance to share another aspect of their lives together. She smiled when Randi wrapped her arms around her middle and moved her hands to cover them.

"He's right, ya know," Randi whispered in Gwen's ear. "You really are the best. I'm glad you'll be watching my back out there."

"I'm glad you'll be watching mine."

Tiny cleared his throat self-consciously, trying to remind them he was in the room. Randi looked at his embarrassed expression and laughed aloud; Gwen chuckled a little more quietly. Tiny shrugged sheepishly then grinned. "All right, you two. Get outta here and go meet the rest of the team so I can get some real work done."

"We'll be in touch, Tiny," Randi said as she and Gwen moved towards the door. "This isn't a black op. So you'll be in the loop."

"Thanks, boss. I appreciate it. Is Reed taking care of your ride out?"

"Yep. She's flying Gwen and me in. Shibata is flying the second shuttle with the team. I wasn't sure about having Reed fly us, all things considered, but she insisted. Said she had come this far, she wanted to see things through to the end."

Tiny nodded as though he had expected as much, which of course he had. "All right with you if I check them out... maybe stoke them up a little bit?"

Randi grinned. She would have been disappointed if he hadn't made the offer and told him as much. "The team should be done getting their immunizations. Come join us for lunch and the mission brief when you're done with your check. We're gonna pull out of here right after that." Then she and Gwen were out the door and headed back to their quarters to prepare.



"Matt? This is Tiny. Look. I'm sorry to bother you since I know you didn't get settled til early this morning, but I'm a little short for time at the moment. How was Mrs. Goldman?"

"She seemed all right, Chief. We didn't interact much, but when we did, she was peaceful... quiet."

Tiny nodded at the screen. He could see the exhaustion in Matt's eyes and pushed forward to the reason he had called. "Good. Now, did you clean out the workshop? Did you find the stuff Geoff told me about - the new weapons and protection devices?"

"Yes, Chief. But they are all prototypes - there is only one of everything he was working on and some of them aren't complete."

Tiny sighed. He had expected the answer, but hoped for better. "All right... meet me at the landing area in ten minutes. We need to prep the Sabre shuttle with as many tactical advantages as we can give her... just in case."

"And the Empress's?"

"No. She is going in as a ruler and an invited guest of the queen. Anything on that shuttle will be by her doing, although I am going to make some strong recommendations. None of the new stuff though. Since they will be flying in to the mountain, I don't wanna give the Amazons any kind of an excuse for a fight. And obvious weaponry like that would be so easy for them to pick on."

"Gotcha, Chief. Let me throw on some clothes and grab the stuff and I'll meet you there." Then they broke the connection and Tiny snatched up his pack. He had work to do and not much time to do it in.



"Hi, Mama. How are you?"

"I'm a little tired, baby girl. How are you?" Jill asked. In truth, Jill could easily see that despite the lingering sadness Gwen felt over the loss of her father, she was whole again. And that gave Gwen a measure of peace that brought comfort to Jill's heart. Gwen kept the smile off her face, but she couldn't hide the contentment in her eyes.

"We're good, Mama, but we have to go to the Amazon Nation for a few days. I wanted to let you know in case you tried calling here while we were gone."

Jill's brows furrowed. "Problems?"

"Yeah," she said honestly. "It's time to take care of Ares, once and for all."

Jill bit her tongue. She'd known it was coming, but she hadn't expected it to be so soon. Instead she nodded affirmatively. "All right. You two take care of yourselves. Don't let anything happen to one another. I want to visit with you both when you get back."

Gwen nodded. "Love you, Mama."

"Love you too, Gwen. Pass the same on to Randi."

"I will. See you in a few days," cutting the connection.

Jill looked down at Carbon once the screen went dark. "Well, boy... guess we're on our own for a few more days. What say we go shopping?" Carbon tilted his head, tongue lolling comically in question before he answered her with a sharp bark of approval. He led the way to the door and waited for Jill to gather her things, then together they headed out into the warm summer day.



Packing hadn't been the chore either of them had expected. The most exciting part had been when each of them had pulled out their respective ceremonial leathers and exchanged wordless glances, then broken into gales of laughter at the similar expressions they wore. Otherwise it had been a quick process - Randi's dress uniform was always ready and Gwen had a number of formals to choose from. By mutual consent, though, they left those. This trip wasn't about formal occasions or celebrating; this trip was about wrapping up the last of their loose ends.

When they were finished, they hefted their bags and made their way to the kitchen to meet the rest of the team. Halfway there, the scent wafting from that direction caught their attention and they knew that Rosie had arrived. Randi looked at Gwen.

"Did you know she was coming back?"

"She didn't say, but I'm not surprised. I think the only reason she left was because everyone expected her to. She probably feels like Tiny and Reed and Lacey do - this is something they started that they want to see through to the end."

"We're gonna have to think of something really nice to do for everyone when the dust finally settles."

Gwen smiled. "We will... even if it is just to give them a break from us," pushing the door to the kitchen open and laughing when they were greeted as though they were attending a hen party with a group of girlfriends and not headed out to confront the god of war.

Lunch was a rowdy, boisterous affair; all the women chose for this particular mission were well-acquainted and teased one another mercilessly like the friends they were. Outwardly, they were confident... in themselves and in Randi, and it showed in their comfort level now. When Tiny came in, he was greeted with enthusiasm, and Gwen took the opportunity to corner Rosie.

"That was great, Rosie. But you didn't need to come back to cook for us, you know. You were supposed to take a break... go home... I dunno, relax, maybe?"

Rosie chuckled and took Gwen's plate from her hands, trading her for a huge slice of chocolate cake. Gwen's eyes grew wide and round and she couldn't stop the smile that crossed her face. "Well, seeing that look would have been worth the trip back," Rosie teased. "But the truth was I only went home to check on my place and see how my daughter was getting along. I had no intention of staying there... not until this business is finished. Besides, I felt the ripple; I was on my way back anyway."

"Ripple?"

"It's kind of hard to explain; let's just say I knew something was wrong somewhere. It was very odd because I have never really felt anything like that before. Maybe it comes from all the bonding and linking we've had between us recently - I don't know. But I did know I needed to be here - so here I am. I hope Randi will let me travel out there with you."

"Hey, how come she rates chocolate cake?" Randi asked. "You'd think being Empress would get me a few perks like this!" with a mock glare and hands on her hips. Gwen smacked her in the belly and tried to move around her.

"Knock it off, drama queen! We've got work to do... ACK!" The last a squeal added when Randi relieved her of her piece of cake. The commotion caught everyone's attention and they laughed when Gwen started chasing Randi around the table; then Randi stopped running and held the cake above her head so Gwen couldn't reach.

"I'm gonna have to hurt you, ya know," wrapping herself around Randi's body and proceeding to try to climb up her body to reach her cake. But the rest felt their hidden tensions melt and relax. Tiny, knowing what Randi was doing, just smiled and enjoyed the rare glimpse into their private lives. Meanwhile, Gwen had managed to scale up Randi's body far enough that she was forced to sit down in self-preservation.

Once Gwen had reclaimed her cake, Randi patted her side and Gwen stood up long enough for Randi to rise before resuming her seat. Then Randi cleared her throat to speak and the atmosphere in the room settled down into something serious and subdued.

"All right, ladies. Let's settle down and get to work. I'm ready to take my bride and go home. Tiny?"

"Matt brought the things he found in Geoff's workshop and we added them to the second shuttle's gear pack. Unfortunately, most of them are prototypes - single use items. However, there are a number of new little gadgets for ya'll to use if you need them. I've downloaded the specs into your personal units; you'll find most of them are self-explanatory."

"We are hoping not to need most of the gear. You will be posing as my honor guard. The plan is for this group to help dispense the antidote to the Amazons and to be available to keep the peace if it comes to that, but I am hoping it doesn't. I'm hoping that it will be an in and out mission; that between the antidote and Ares' defeat, we'll be able to walk in, take care of business and leave. If not...."

"If not," Brenda cut in, "we'll take care of business, just like we always have."

Randi nodded. "Make sure you take care of distributing the antidote first. Then anything that happens after that will be legitimate."

"You expect there to be trouble?" from Jess.

Randi grinned wryly. "Let's just say I know better than to not expect trouble, especially where the Amazons are concerned. And unless Ares' little potion makes it possible for them to forget everything that has happened to them under the influence of that drug, they are going to be furious and looking for someone to blame. I'll be the natural target for that rage."

"Or I will," Gwen broke in quietly. "I am their queen, Randi."

"Sweetheart, they challenge you, they challenge me."

"You think I can't handle any challenge they offer me, Randi? You said I was the best," Gwen's hurt was clear, but her eyes were steady and unflinching on Randi's. The rest of the room remained silent watching the tableaux play out in front of them.

"It's a fight to the death, love," came Randi's soft rejoinder. "If it was simply a fight, Gwen, I'd let you handle it in a heartbeat. But I would never, ever expect you to fight - not to the death; I wouldn't want you to." She swallowed hard. "I couldn't stand to watch." They were so focused on one another neither of them noticed when the room cleared.

"You don't think I'd lose, do you?"

"No, I don't, and that would change something fundamental about the person you are." She paused and Gwen waited, feeling Randi had more she wanted to say. "Do you remember how you felt when I died? How your soul was so empty your muse deserted you?"

Gwen swallowed and nodded. "Yes," she whispered.

"Killing - taking another person's life… even in combat... even if they deserve to die for whatever heinous crime they have committed - it kills something inside of you. And nothing - no amount of confession or contrition or retribution or redemption - nothing can change that. That part of your soul is gone... forever. I can't watch you lose that, Gwen... not when there is something I can do to prevent it. I've done it before, love. It's not going to take anything else away from me."

Gwen smiled sadly and cupped Randi's cheek with her hand. "That's not true, Randi, and we both know it. I know how every death affects you; I've seen it. But I would never ask you watch that happen to me; somehow, I think that would be worse than letting you fight for me... and as hard as it is for me to do that, I couldn't bear to watch your soul die like that. Because it would, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah. You couldn't watch when I was dispensing justice to the rebels, and seeing what that did to you nearly killed me. I...."

"Shh," Gwen finally said, covering Randi's lips with her fingertips and feeling them tremble beneath her touch. "I understand, love. If a challenge like that comes, you will champion in my stead."

"Thank you, Gwen."

Gwen removed her fingers and replaced them with her lips for a timeless moment. "It is my right and my privilege to take care of you, Randi, even when that care is sometimes beyond my scope. Now c'mon, Empress. We've got Amazon business to take care of and god of war justice to dispense to."

"Then can we go home?"

"Then we can go home."

For the first time, Randi looked up and noticed they were alone. "Hey, where did everybody go?"

Gwen chuckled. "I think we chased them off with the mush factor."

Now Randi chuckled. "Too bad we don't have time to take advantage of it. Of course you know we're gonna be in for some serious teasing."

"Who in their right mind would tease the Empress of the World and her Queen Consort?"

"Sweetheart, no Sabre has ever, EVER claimed to be in their right mind. We're just lucky most of them will be on that second shuttle."

"I don't suppose they will forget."

"Not even if they were infected with Ares' serum."

Gwen blushed, but gave her an impish grin. "Well, maybe we'll just have to give them something else to talk about," she said, slipping out of Randi's arms and picking up her bag as she headed out the door. Randi froze, looking gobsmacked by the ideas Gwen's words put into her mind for a moment before she shook her head to clear it, snatched up her own bag and followed Gwen out the door.

"Hey... wait for me! What did you mean by that?? GWEN!!!!!" lengthening her stride to catch up. It was obviously going to be quite an interesting experience having Gwen as part of her Sabre life. Randi couldn't stop the grin that formed when she dropped an arm around Gwen's shoulders and felt the reciprocal warmth around her waist. Time to go to work.



Chapter XIV

Gwen blinked when they reached the waiting shuttles. Someone had been busy - both shuttles had been emblazoned with... well, in honesty, Gwen wasn't sure what they were, having never actually seen the design before. She looked at Randi whose face remained stoic, but Gwen could see the twinkle lurking in the clear depths of those blue eyes. She raised an eyebrow in question.

On both shuttles was the most intricate design Gwen had ever seen and she realized with sudden insight that there was something strangely familiar about what she was looking at. She tilted her head as the answer tickled her mind just out of reach.

The tribal black bird was obvious in its connotations - that definitely represented Randi and her affiliation with the People as Raven Hawk. But there was more to it and Gwen wasn't able to quite put her finger on it. She squinted and it allowed her to focus on the markings that made up the bird. Her eyes widened when she realized there were distinct symbols that made up the markings - symbols she recognized as personal to her and Randi.

The Sabre emblem was the first thing she recognized; it made up a large part of the bird and its wingspan. But it was the other images intertwined that Gwen knew were not part of the Sabre badge that drew her attention - her name had been woven into the Sabre emblem. She found a labrys and the character for the female intertwined amongst the markings. There was also the sigil for the Amazon Queen and the crest of the Empress as well as insignia for warrior and bard, strength, wisdom and courage. There were a couple others she didn't readily recognize, but Gwen had a sneaking suspicion Randi wouldn't mind sharing.

"Did you design this?"

"Um hmm. I, um... I had plenty of time while you were gone." Her voice was quiet and she shrugged negligibly. "I wasn't sleeping much; this helped me pass the time and gave me a way for us to still be a part of one another."

Gwen walked closer to it, running her fingers lightly over the painted design. "It's incredible. Will you explain all the symbolism to me?"

"Absolutely," Randi answered with a big grin. "I brought the roughs and notes; I knew once you saw the design you'd want to know the story behind it." Randi motioned Gwen ahead of her into the shuttle. Rosie was seated up front in the cockpit beside Reed who was doing her final preflight checks. She took a seat on the couch, pleased when Gwen plopped down in her lap. "Hello there. Something I can help you with?"

"Nope, just trying to get comfortable."

"Uh huh. I think you're just trying to cause a scandal."

"Pfft!" Gwen scoffed. "In front of Rosie and Reed?" Her laughter was contagious and Reed and Rosie worked hard to keep from laughing out loud. "Sweetheart, I'm not willing to do in public what it would take to scandalize these two." She kissed Randi chastely and slid from her lap. "Now show me." Randi passed over the paper drawing she'd made; Gwen could see the erasure marks. Then she passed over her small handheld computer that held all her notes. Reed's eyes widened when she realized what Gwen actually had in her hand.

"Reed," Rosie whispered, putting a concerned hand on her arm. "Are you all right?"

Reed cleared her throat and nodded her head, turning her attention back to her prep work. "Yeah, I am, Rosie. It's just nice to see those two so together again." She wasn't going to explain to Rosie the significance of what Gwen was holding. Reed figured Rosie knew what she meant without sharing classified details.

Rosie chuckled quietly, not wanting to disturb Gwen and Randi whose heads were now bent together over the small device talking in low tones. Then she sobered. "Reed, did you feel the ripple yesterday... like something odd in the forces of nature were shifting around you?"

Reed blinked and nodded. "Yeah," she drawled. "That's a good way to describe it. You think it has something to do with this?" meaning the Amazon situation.

"I hope so. I sure don't want any more crises if we can avoid them."

"Amen to that, sister! Let's get the party started." She contacted Shibata and soon they were lifting off, heading to wrap up one of their last few loose ends. Randi and Gwen didn't even notice.



"You know something," Gwen commented unexpectedly into the silence. Randi set aside her mission brief and gave Gwen her full attention, cocking an eyebrow in question. "This design would make a great tattoo," motioning to the hand drawn design.

Randi couldn't help it - her jaw dropped. "Ex... excuse me?" she stuttered.

Gwen looked up from the paper she held to Randi's flabbergasted expression and frowned. "What?" she asked seriously. "This design is incredible and it's all about us. I think it would make a fabulous tattoo."

"It would," Randi concurred immediately. "But I never expected to hear something like that from you, Gwen. You cringed when you found out about the nipple piercings, and that was a one-shot, single needle operation - took about ten minutes from start to finish. A genuine tat like that involves a number of needles and depending on where it's placed and how big it is, a minimum of five hours... probably more." Societal advancements aside, some things were still done the old-fashioned way - tattoos being one of those. It was looked on as a coming of age and those who were serious about them disdained any other form of application citing the finished product made the pain bearable and in some cases, even welcome. Gwen swallowed hard as the implications of what Randi was saying sunk in. Then she nodded her head determinedly.

"I'd like to get this one done. I like what it represents; I like what it says... about us."

Randi smiled - a smile that reached the depths of her eyes. "All right. When we get finished here with the Amazons, I'll give Ahmed a call. He does the most incredible body art; he's the one who did the one on my shoulder blade - the one I did for my mom and dad."

Gwen's eyes lit up. "Really? That's amazing; he did such fine detail on that." They had talked about the reason for and meaning behind the art, but not about the artist; she hadn't realized he was so close. "Could we go see him work?"

"Sure, love. Whatever makes you feel comfortable." And then a shuddering in the air around them brought them back to the present and Randi looked towards the cockpit with a frown on her face. "What the hell is going on? Are they firing on us?"

"Um... I think they are supposed to be guiding us in. We are obviously unexpected... and mostly unwelcome, it appears."

Gwen was out off the couch and in the cockpit almost before Randi could react. "Give me a visual, Reed and put me on audio. NOW, please."

Reed didn't blink at the authority that rang through Gwen's tone, but Rosie watched in fascination as Gwen transformed before her eyes into the Amazon Queen. It was subtle, but the changes were there and they were apparent.

"Do not veer from your instructed flight path," the voice was droning when Gwen cut in decisively.

"Amazons, this is Queen Gwen. I know you have been made aware by the honor guard who is traveling with me that we are approaching the Nation in a royal shuttle with the Empress. You will cease and desist all aggression towards us immediately and move that greeting party back ahead of us to the mountain. Is that understood??" The Amazon facing the screen hesitated and Gwen got right into the screen. "I said, do you understand?"

"Yes, my queen," turning and giving the order. The fighters instantly shot ahead of the two shuttles.

"I expect the senior staff waiting at the landing pad when I arrive."

"Yes, my queen," came the voice again, but Gwen had already moved away from the screen. Randi just watched Gwen walk back towards her, enjoying the visual. Green eyes sparked fire and nostrils flared while she clenched her fists regularly.

"Wow!" Randi breathed and gave Gwen a sexy grin. "That was amazing."

Almost automatically in response, Gwen relaxed and cocked her head at Randi. "What was?"

"Watching you become the Amazon Queen."

Gwen dropped down beside Randi and leaned her head on her shoulder, gratified when Randi's arm wrapped around her. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean," her tone honestly puzzled.

Randi pulled back just slightly and looked at Gwen incredulously; then she realized that Gwen's confusion was genuine. "Gwen, until last night, though you've never been particularly shy about your wants and needs when we're together, you've never been aggressive either. And you've certainly never barked orders like a Sabre commander," the last added with a teasing grin.

Gwen smiled briefly then chewed her bottom lip in thought. "I don't feel any different, but I've never been in this sort of authoritative position before either. Maybe it's just because I'm really good at playing a part. It is what I do as a bard after all."

"Not always, love. You tell your best stories when you're just being Gwen. Maybe it has something to do with our merging?" Randi continued without giving Gwen a chance to catch her breath over her casual words. Then they were landing and that thought was pushed to the wayside for the foreseeable future. It was time to focus on the Amazons.



"My lord, are you sure about this? We are not prepared for their arrival yet."

Ares shrugged. "It doesn't matter, Lorac. Let them come... settle in for a few days. We can afford for them to be here. There's no way they can stop us and when all is said and done... well, I will rule the world and you will be my chosen warriors. So invite them in and show them Amazon hospitality. I think your Queen and the Empress deserve that much respect, don't you?"

Lorac nodded hesitantly. Ares grinned. "Good girl," he said condescendingly. "Now run along and go meet your queen," said with a sneer. "I believe she demanded your presence in the landing pad when she arrived, so chop, chop. Don't want to keep her waiting, do you?"

Lorac nodded again and walked haltingly out of the room to make her way down to the landing area. Ares watched the closed door for long moments before turning back to the monitors. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, missing his scrying bowl but thankful for the ability to watch his immediate surroundings, especially with Randi's imminent arrival. He smiled again - this time coldly and maliciously.

"What are you playing at, Randi? Why are you here?"



"You ready?" Randi asked Gwen as Reed completed her post flight shutdown. The Sabres on the second shuttle had their instructions and had scattered to attend to their various duties as soon as the shuttle was settled on the pad. Half of them would assume positions around Randi and Gwen when they disembarked from their shuttle, forming the first honor guard. The rest gathered the gear and luggage, a majority of which was the bags carrying the antidote. Lacey was going to lead that group and would start distributing the medicine immediately... as soon as they were escorted to their rooms.

Lacey led her squad off first, moving over to the side and waiting for the other team to descend and form an honor guard for Randi and Gwen. Jess stepped up and rapped lightly on the shuttle door, then moved back and waited for it to open. Then the entire room froze and stood staring.

The Sabres were all decked out in black fatigues - standard issue uniforms for this sort of mission. Even Rosie had been outfitted to look like part of the unit. Randi and Gwen had been similarly clothed when they had entered the shuttle. So it was quite a surprise to the Sabres, but not one of them twitched. The Amazons, however, were gobsmacked.

Gwen stood on the cusp of the shuttle - her bearing regal, her expression stern - looking every bit the Amazon Queen of legend. The leathers were a rich, red-brown color, soft like suede and decorated with gold filigree. The halter top enhanced the fullness of her breasts and showed off the muscularity of her toned abs. The short skirt flared softly around full hips and highlighted the evident strength of her legs. Even the boots did nothing to hide their sculpted physique.

A long cape hung off one shoulder, the pelt dark and thick. To everyone looking, it gave her the appearance of being surrounded by Randi - a fact given credence to by the formidable presence standing behind Gwen and to her right.

Randi's leathers were a little more conservative but did not take away from the impressive figure she cut. The trousers were dark - sleek and smooth and form-fitting, outlining each individual muscle precisely. Her top tied off neatly under her rib cage, allowing for a good look at the six pack stomach and the chiseled arms and back.

Without ceremony, Reed stepped up behind Randi and draped a long, red-blonde cloak over on shoulder and it became readily apparent to everyone exactly what statement was being made by the two women. When Reed stepped back, Randi extended her arm and Gwen took it as they walked off the shuttle together.

The honor guard remained standing, but the rest of the women, Sabre and Amazon alike, knelt as they emerged from the shuttle. Almost immediately, Randi released the Sabres from obeisance. Gwen, however, allowed the Amazons to remain in their kneeling position for another full minute before she commanded them to stand.

"Welcome, my queen," Lorac said softly. "You are unexpected, but most welcome."

"Really? Then why were we being fired upon?" She held up her hand when Lorac drew breath to speak. "Don't bother to lie to me, Lorac. You knew who we were and there will be punishment meted out for such blatant treason. You will escort us to our quarters, then we will adjourn to the conference room to discuss this. Am I understood?"

"Yes, my queen." Lorac lowered hr eyes so Gwen could not see the rage she felt. She couldn't wait until this interloper got what was coming to her. Then the Amazons would finally be able to take their rightful place as the warrior guardians of the world order.

"Good... let's go."

"By your command," motioning Gwen and Randi towards the elevator. Gwen shuddered when the door closed behind them, her mind going back to her forced separation from Randi at Ben's hand. Randi responded to her silent terror by wrapping a strong arm around Gwen's shoulders and brushing a kiss on her hair. Gwen looked up in reaction, feeling the horror fade in the light of Randi's love shining back at her from those very blue eyes.

Lorac watched unabashedly - something wasn't right. This was not what she expected from these two - not what Ares had told her would happen. They were supposed to be cold and distant with one another. Gwen was standing between Randi and greatness... between the Amazons and their destiny. But her eyes told Lorac that Gwen was right where Randi wanted her to be... by her side. So what was really going on? Why would Ares lie? He was committed to them, and they to him... right?

The elevator stopped and Lorac stepped off first, holding the door open and waiting for both Randi and Gwen to exit before gesturing down the hallway towards the executive suite. They'd had to scramble to get it ready, though fortunately, they had been working on it before Gwen's surprise arrival. The honor guard formed around them and the remainder of the unit walked off a second elevator immediately behind them. Then they followed Lorac into the suite.

Large as the room was, it was crowded with sixteen people and their gear and luggage. Still, this was where they would maintain a headquarters of sorts. Without a word, the honor guard took places around the room and the rest spread out, negligently removing surveillance equipment with ease. Randi's expression didn't change, but Gwen's grew darker and Lorac became increasingly uncomfortable and embarrassed. When Shibata nodded the all clear, they put the gathered equipment into a pile and started to demolish it piece by piece.

Meanwhile, Lacey clapped Lorac around the neck and led her to a seat at the small conference table. Lorac slapped at her hand and scowled. "What the hell did you just poke me with?"

Lacey smiled. "Give it a few minutes. I imagine you'll be able to figure it out for yourself." As a precaution, Lacey dragged an empty basin over beside Lorac, then sat down and waited. Randi wandered around the room, checking things out and giving whispered instructions to the Sabres. All but three left in the room - one destroying the spy paraphernalia, one that stayed guard at the door and Lacey. The rest moved out into the hall to claim and clear the rooms on either side and across the hall. Then they moved to the conference room to clear it of bugs as well. The waiting Amazons were not happy with their actions, but they did nothing to stop it either.

Gwen walked over to the screen that served as a window and focused on something beyond the picture. Randi walked to stand behind her - not touching, but close enough to let Gwen feel the strength of her presence. Gwen didn't speak, but stepped back into Randi's body, smiling when Randi turned it into an embrace. Then the sound of retching made her flinch just slightly and she curled into Randi's arms. Randi leaned forward and started singing softly into Gwen's ear. Very quickly, it became the only sound either of them was aware of.

Lacey watched them even as she offered comfort to Lorac. It was as though, now that they had finally come together again, nothing could touch them. And she realized what a great thing that was as so much depended on that very reality, Lacey wiped Lorac's face carefully and offered her a bottle of water to rinse her mouth. She realized that Lorac's focus was on Randi and Gwen as well and looked back in their direction for a moment before turning back to Lorac.

"You all right?" handing her some mint and dropping a ginger tablet into her water.

Lorac blinked and brought Lacey's face back into focus, cradling her head and eating the mint. "Ow... what happened? What did you give me?" Lorac groaned and covered her face. "Oh Artemis... tell me that what I am remembering is a bad dream."

"What do you remember?" Gwen's voice was cool but not hateful. Lorac looked up and saw the reserve in a face that had been much more open to her only days previously. Her eyes closed and she dropped to one knee in deference.

"My queen," she whispered, her voice once again filled with respect. "My apologies, your majesty. I'm not sure...."

"Lorac, what do you remember?"

"Ares," she replied softly. "He came... he made promises... said he would restore the Nation to greatness." She swallowed hard, not wanting to throw up again. "He has... he has been impregnating us. We are to be the mothers of his immortal army." She couldn't stop the retching this time. Gwen picked up the cloth Lacey had been using to wipe Lorac's face and knelt down, wiping the back of her neck. Lorac looked up with bloodshot eyes.

"Why?"

"Why what, my friend?"

Lorac sipped her ginger water, gratefully feeling it settle her stomach. "Why us? Why this? HOW this?? And why are you...?"

Gwen took a seat on the floor and motioned Lorac to do the same. She was peripherally aware of Randi and Lacey moving to take seats nearby, but she kept her attention on Lorac. "We believe Ares chose the Amazons for a number of reasons. Frankly, the Amazons are the most viable choice for readily trained warriors and the fact that he can use it as a 'screw you' to me and Artemis and the Nation just makes it sweeter for him."

"The good news is no one has gotten pregnant and we have the antidote for the loyalty drug he administered to the Nation to ensure Amazon cooperation. The bad news... the bad news is you have to physically dispel what amounts to poison in your system." Her voice dropped. "And you will remember everything."

Lorac covered her eyes with her hands. "Oh God!"

"I'm sorry, Lorac. I would have prevented this if I had known."

"How did he do this?? How did he dispense a drug to commit us to him without our knowledge? I thought a warrior had to swear allegiance first."

"They're supposed to," Randi broke in. "That is the reason we can distribute the antidote without your knowledge. You didn't choose loyalty to Ares - you can't be forced to remain that way. The antidote gives you the right to choose; if you swear allegiance to Ares now, it will be by your choice. If you make that choice then, the antidote will only work if you allow it to. Otherwise, it will kill you."

"Is there enough antidote for everyone?"

"For the entire Nation with some left over," Gwen said with a tender smile. "The bad thing is we have to administer it directly. The good thing is, it doesn't take too long once we get it into your system. And as we cleanse Amazons, we can recruit them to help us spread it to the rest. First though," Gwen said and slapped her hands on her thighs and accepting Randi's help to stand, "I think we need to go take care of the rest of the senior staff. Once we have them, the rest should be much easier."

"My queen," Lorac asked as she stood shakily to her feet. "What are we going to do about Ares? He's here... now... and probably more than a little frustrated about the fact that you have eliminated the only means he had for observing you here."

Randi grinned, her smile so cold everyone in the room felt the temperature drop. "You leave Ares to me," she said ferally. "I intend to take care of him once and for all."

Lorac looked between Randi and Gwen. "You knew when you came?"

"Yes. It's why we came early. This will be done on our terms," Gwen said as she gestured Lorac to lead the way out of the suite. Randi touched her wrist and four Sabres met them as they crossed into the hallway. Then Lorac slowly led the way to the opposite end of the corridor where the executive conference room was now full of Amazon elders and council members.

They stood in a semi-circle around it while Lacey made sure she, Lorac, Randi and Gwen were well-supplied with antidote for the Amazons that were waiting inside the conference room. They didn't want to be caught short as these were the most critical members of the society. Once they were treated, they would be able to distribute the drug more quickly and effectively. Lorac was still a little shaky, but assured Lacey she was good to go as she accepted the pouch and nodded her understanding of the delivery method.

Before she keyed open the solid wood door, Lorac turned to look squarely at Gwen. "My queen, how can you be so sure no one is pregnant by Ares? Surely as a god he is not impotent, and we are very aware of when we can conceive. His timing was perfect."

"His timing may have been, but your petitioning wasn't," Gwen replied gently. "No one asked for dispensation from Artemis. The safeguards that were put into place for population control were not removed, and even Ares doesn't have the power to break a covenant between Artemis and her chosen people. He may not have been shooting blanks, but he was shooting into a void."

Lorac chuckled wryly. "The Nation gets a shot at him, he will be lucky to ever shoot again." Then she turned and opened the door before Randi or Gwen could respond verbally, though neither of them could prevent the snickering that escaped their lips.

The Amazons in the room rose as a single body, though more out of habit than any sort of perceived courtesy. The resentment was entirely too clear in everyone's expression. Lorac stepped into the room first, followed by Gwen and Randi together, and they felt the temperature drop further at the unspoken statement that equality made to the Amazons. Here, Randi was only seen as a consort, and it was presumption on her part to be seen as equal to the queen in any regard.

Nevertheless, there was little they could do about it until Gwen was made to see the error of her ways as Ares had promised them she would, so they bore it stoically. The Sabres brought up the rear and the four who were functioning as guards took up a watchful post in each of the room's four corners. Lacey kept close beside Randi and Gwen, waiting and watching.

"Be seated, please."

The Amazons hesitated, then resumed their seats, folding their hands on the table and waiting for Gwen to speak. Instead, she put her hand on the back of Nebula's neck, holding it there and meeting her eyes. The anger in Nebula's eyes melted before Gwen's direct gaze and became a look of confusion. Gwen nodded in understanding and removed her hand, grabbing another vial from her pouch before moving to the next Amazon.

It was easier than they had reasonably expected it to be - mostly because their actions were completely unexpected. And by the time the Amazons had figured out something was going on, the first of them were already scurrying for the executive restroom - retching and puking the poison out of their systems in great, gasping waves.

It was quiet in the room otherwise, the only sound being that of more than a dozen women hurling their guts out. Lorac, still queasy from her own experience, took the seat that had been left vacant for her and laid her head carefully on the table. Lacey, Randi and Gwen did their best to make the women comfortable, though there really wasn't much they could do aside from a cold cloth and adding ginger to the water sitting at each place at the table.

Slowly the sounds of people being sick lessened and one by one the Amazons made their way carefully to the long table, not willing to do anything that would disturb the precious balance they had managed to achieve. Each of them sipped at the ginger water Lacey had prepared for them, feeling its settling effects almost immediately and groaning in both relief and mortification.

"My queen," Nebula said softly, wincing at the raw soreness of her throat. "What just happened here?"

So once more, Gwen explained to the Amazons what had happened to them at Ares' hand and what steps had been taken to correct his machinations. There was a long moment when they were torn between fury and the desire to be sick again. Then cold, hard reason took hold and a grim determination settled over the gathered women and turned their focus towards recovering the Amazon Nation.

"What are we going to do about Ares? He is entrenched here, and it is going to take us several days minimum to get this antidote out to the people without arousing his suspicions... especially given how drained it leaves a body. God, this sucks." Lorac paused and blew out a short breath. "We don't want to arouse his suspicions, do we?"

"What instructions did he give you regarding us?"

Randi's tone left no doubt in anyone's mind who was in command at the moment, but Lorac's eyes shifted from Randi to Gwen, waiting for the queen's indulgence before turning back to answer Randi. She reached out and twined their fingers together, wanting everyone to understand the truth between them. Randi's facial expression didn't change at all, but Gwen could feel the joy running through her body. She motioned to Lacey.

Lorac nodded slowly, not wanting her head to fall off from any sudden movement. She jumped when Lacey came up beside her, but tilted her head when she realized her intention. "Thank you," she murmured gratefully.

"I'm sorry you had to wait, but we wanted to be sure the poison was purged before...."

Lorac nodded a little more firmly now that the anti-nausea medicine was speeding through her system. "Oh, I agree. I would prefer not to have to suffer through this a second time because the first didn't take completely. I feel like someone parked a transport on my head." She rubbed the back of her neck, easing the knots from it, then turned her attention back to Randi and Gwen who sat waiting patiently for her to answer Randi's query.

"Oh... um, sorry. Ares instructed us to fire at you, but not hit you. It was like it was a game to him. He was laughing until Queen Gwen appeared on the screen. Then he muttered something and instructed us to comply. He told me we could spare a few days to lull you into a sense of security before we made our move."

"What is your move?"

Lorac shook her head. "He never shared the details. He told me that Gwen was standing between Randi and greatness and through us, he was going to help you reclaim your destiny. Then we would recapture our standing as the preeminent warriors in the world. Other than that, I do not know what he had planned for either of you... or for us."

The room fell silent as Randi and Gwen contemplated Lorac's words. There were just too many possibilities and Randi didn't like leaving that kind of thing to chance. She turned to Gwen and the two of them held a wordless conversation between them for a very long moment. Then Randi nodded her head and looked back to the gathered women waiting patiently for her to say something.

"All right... it's going to drive him nuts that he cannot spy on us here and if he wants to lull us into a sense of security, he's either gonna remain in the dark about our activities except for what ya'll report to him or he will go back to his scrying bowl on Olympus. Either way, we can use the circumstance to our advantage."

"How?"

"Well, it depends on what he does. If ya'll can convince him things are still status quo, I think he will stay hidden out here - that would be my preference. He is cut off here, except for what comes in from the outside. He can't go get information unless he physically leaves, and I think he will have a hard time doing that with me here."

"So how does that work in our favor?" Gradually, the Amazons were returning to normal as Lacey medicated them, and despite the exhaustion plainly marking their faces, they were obviously finding a sense of purpose.

Gwen smiled. "It means we'll get to yank his chain a little before we kick his ass," and each of the Amazons in the room knew exactly which 'we' was going to be doing the ass kicking. They exchanged smiles. That was something they would take particular joy in watching. First, though, they were going to have a bit of fun tweaking Ares. They sat back to wait for Randi and Gwen to fill them in on what they had planned.



Chapter XV

"Where have you been?? What took so long?? How could you let them removed the surveillance equipment??" Ares took a long look at Lorac's pale features. "What's wrong with you?" He threw himself into the couch as she eased her body into the matching chair and propped her head on her hands, covering her eyes.

"Ares, please. My head hurts."

"Oh, baby... why didn't you just day so?" He stood and walked behind her, dropping his hands on her shoulders. Lorac tensed to keep from flinching and Ares assumed it was from the stress of having Gwen and Randi around days before they were ready for them. He kneaded gently and Lorac found herself relaxing despite herself. Ares smiled. Penchant for war or not, there was something ultimately satisfying in taking victory this way as well.

After a few minutes, however, his impatient curiosity reared its head again and he began questioning Lorac again, though he was a little gentler in his queries this time. "So did you spend all this time with your queen and her consort?"

"Yes... damn bossy bitch!" she grumbled. "She just doesn't know when to shut up; kept going on and on and on." Lorac smirked. "She was more than a little angry about being shot at."

Ares snorted. "She'll get over it soon enough. Then she'll be just another little concubine in my little harem here." He chuckled. "However, tomorrow will be soon enough to start her conversion. What else happened? Surely she did not rant and rave for four hours about being shot at - even a bard has to shut up and breathe at some point."

"Not her," Lorac said with a grunt. "But the first hour or so was spent removing all the observation gear. They went right to it... like they expected it to be there. And they found it all - even stuff I didn't know was there."

Ares nodded his head sagely. "I should have expected as much; Randi is without a doubt one of the best warriors I have ever seen. I should have anticipated her lack of trust here in an environment not of her own creation." He blew out a frustrated breath. "You and the rest will need to be extra vigilant. I want to know what is going on with them at all times... or as much as you can manage. Randi especially will not tolerate the scrutiny."

Lorac reached up and patted his hands and Ares resumed his place on the couch. "All right - so what are their plans? They had to have shown up early for a reason."

Lorac shrugged. "They didn't really share. Basically all we got for our trouble was a real good ass chewing. I know they plan to go out tomorrow and walk around the city."

Ares chortled. "Oh, they're just itching to feel the love, aren't they?" He rubbed his beard. "Well, just keep an eye on them and let me know if you find anything out. We'll move our timetable up as much as possible to accommodate their early arrival. What's going on tonight? Are you hosting a dinner party welcoming the queen?"

"No," Lorac said, shaking her head. "She and her consort both made it clear our presence would not be welcomed by them for the remainder of the evening. It was suggested the tomorrow night might be a better choice... after they had a chance to get out among the Nation."

"All right," he agreed again. "That should be fine. It's not like the Amazons will tell them about me, will they?"

"What will you do in the meantime?" Lorac asked. "It's not like you want them to know you are here yet. Will you stay here in hiding or are you going to go back to Olympus until the time is right?"

Ares considered her words. "I'll stay here," he said after due deliberation. "Randi really can't sense me and they are going to be much too busy fighting the resentment around here to notice me at any rate. I can't do anything else until this is taken care of. Besides, I want to watch things fall apart for them once and for all and this will give me a front row seat."

Lorac nodded and stood. "Okay. Now, if you'll excuse me...." She forced herself not to jerk away when Ares caught her wrist in his grasp. "Ares, please... I really don't feel well." Truth, as far as it went. "I don't know if it is the stress of dealing with Randi and Gwen while they were being completely nasty and unreasonable or if they brought some sort of virus with them from wherever or what. But all I want to do right now is go to bed and sleep for the next sixteen hours." Again, the truth.

Ares looked at Lorac more closely and noted that not only was she pale, but her eyes were bloodshot and had deep, dark circles under them. He let go of her wrist and nodded his approval. "I think that is a good idea. It won't do to have you out of commission when the time comes. Go get some rest. I have some things to check on myself."

Lorac put on a concerned face. "You won't get caught?"

"No," he said with a chuckle. "No one has even ventured close to the area that I am using yet. I'll be safe enough for the next few days. Now go. You have work to do tomorrow and you need to be rested up for it."

He watched her walk into her bedroom and close the door before he shimmered and disappeared without flash, leaving no trace of his passage.



The water was warm and fragrant and Gwen leaned back in perfect contentment against Randi's chest. The candles were their only source of light, but it seemed to fit in the old-fashioned bathroom. Besides, it was romantic and comfortable in a way they hadn't shared in a while and both were entirely happy to remain where they were.

"So what do you think?" Gwen asked as she stirred the bubbles floating lazily in front of her, then trembled when Randi's teasing touch caused goosebumps to trail up her skin. She leaned down enough to put her mouth even with Gwen's ear, nipping the lobe before breathing her whisper.

"About?"

Gwen closed her eyes. "You're making it nearly impossible to think." The vibration rumbling through Randi's chest made Gwen open her eyes a slit - just enough so that Randi could see the green glare. She dropped a kiss at the juncture of Gwen's neck and shoulder, delighting in the reciprocal shiver she received in response.

"I have been told that thinking is way overrated."

"So is talking sometimes, but it still has to be done once in a while," letting her fingers trail up and down Randi's smooth, soft thighs. Randi's legs had always intrigued her; they were so feminine to the touch and yet the whipcord muscle just beneath the surface was all power and strength. Gwen jumped when Randi's teeth closed over her jugular and she let her tongue lave the spot before sucking lightly.

"Ya know," Randi commented conversationally, though her voice was low and husky. She examined the well-placed hickey she had just created, kissing it and setting her hands free to wander over Gwen's torso. "If you want to talk, you shouldn't tease me."

"Who's teasing who?" the last word coming out as a whimper when Randi's touch became a little more insistent.

"Still wanna talk?"

Gwen didn't answer verbally; her body spoke for her... loud and clear.



The water was considerably cooler when they finally got out, wrapping one another carefully in long robes and towel drying their hair before moving back into the bedroom. Then they donned comfortable clothing, knowing the Sabres who were not sleeping now for a later guard shift would be joining them soon for dinner. Gwen's eyes twinkled as she buttoned up the silk top, knowing Randi's eyes were firmly fastened on her.

"Is it safe to try and talk now?" keeping the bed between them. She laughed softly at the blush that colored Randi's face a light pink. Randi's head snapped up, gauging Gwen's loving expression before shrugging sheepishly.

"I can't help it," she said softly. "I know technically we're still newlyweds, but after everything that's happened, I feel like we're starting new again. And given how long I have loved you...." She shrugged again and focused her gaze on the floor. "It just reinforces things so much... makes everything between us so intense for me. You can tell me to shut up any time here."

Gwen had moved so silently that Randi's first clue she was close was the touch of Gwen's fingertips on her face. "Why would I do that, sweetheart? I love it when you talk to me, Randi - you have a very beautiful soul."

Randi gave Gwen a crooked grin. "Is that why you married me? For my beautiful soul?"

"Your beautiful soul," placing a kiss on one side of Randi's mouth. "Your beautiful mind," kissing the other side. "Your beautiful body," capturing the full lips passionately for a long moment. "I like the whole beautiful package."

Randi let her hands drop to Gwen's waist, stepping closer and let them slide down around Gwen's butt. "Ya do, huh?" leaning down....

... only to snap her head back up when a pounding sounded on the solid door that stood closed between the bedroom and the living area. She glared and as if in response to the look, Reed's muffled voice came through the thick wood.

"You two can fool around later. Let's go... I'm starving!!!"

Randi and Gwen swapped glances, then Randi engulfed Gwen in a hard, tight hug, letting the embrace last for so long that Reed felt the need to bang on the door again. Randi growled and picked Gwen up before striding towards the door. Gwen had enough presence of mind to wrap her arms and legs securely around Randi's body just before Randi let go of her with one arm and jerked the door open.

Everything in the living room ground to a dead halt and the silence was palpable as every single eye turned in Randi and Gwen's direction. Randi glared in Reed's direction. "Is there a reason you need us here to begin the meal?"

Reed glared back at her, returning stare for stare - comfortable that she could get away with it... especially since not only could she feel the giddy happiness emanating from both of them, but also from the twinkle she could see lurking in the back of bright blue eyes.

"Yeah... it's your turn to say grace," came the drolly delivered comment. "We can't eat til you say 'amen'."

"AMEN," Randi snarled, causing a ripple of laughter to skitter around the room before it broke out into waves. The Sabres began moving again, taking their seats around the table. Randi looked down at the tapping on her chest and got lost in the green gaze reflecting so much devotion. Then Gwen blinked and smiled shyly, crinkling up her nose in reflex. Randi returned the look without thought of effort, then scowled. "You want something?" she mock growled.

"Um... you wanna let me down?"

"Not really, no," Randi answered with painful honesty. "But I suppose I should so my team doesn't hurt themselves trying to ignore us, huh?" looking around the table at the women who were studiously focused on their food while making quiet conversation. Gwen followed her gaze and chuckled soundlessly, sliding down Randi's body when Randi released her.

"C'mon, Empress. I'm starving and something smells really good."

Reed laughed, hearing Gwen's comment. "Yeah, between Rosie and Shibata, eating on this mission will a treat."

Gwen turned from filling her plate and looked at Randi. "Meals are usually bad?" She didn't miss the shudders or grimaces that went around the table.

"Trail rations," Randi mumbled. There was a muted groan from several of the women, but Reed and Jess chuckled softly behind wide grins. Gwen's head swiveled around and pinned them with a questioning look.

"Of course, some of us carried more than just trail rations, didn't we, Randi?" Randi just glowered at both of them before turning her attention back to her meal. This time Jess laughed aloud, choking when Randi put her fingers in her ears. Reed just howled; Gwen gave a smiling sigh and took one of Randi's hands in her own and held on with loving exasperation.

"What?? Are they going to tell me you carried edible underwear or something equally scandalous?"

Now the entire table hooted and clapped. Randi's eyes grew round and horrified. "No! You know I don't like that stuff!" watching the red suffuse Gwen's face. Gwen cleared her throat awkwardly, but kept her attention on Randi, whose expression was now one of chagrin for what she had revealed. The rest of the group continued to chortle, enjoying the byplay they were witnessing.

"Right," Gwen agreed. "I know all kinds of fun and fascinating things about you. What do you think anyone here is going to tell me that is going to come as a great surprise?"

"I don't think that's the problem, Gwen," Reed offered with a smile. "You see," garnering everyone's attention and watching Randi's expression become sheepish. "Randi had a weakness for chocolate, as I'm sure you're very well aware of. She is especially enamored of those little, miniature chocolate bars. And when we went out on missions, she always, ALWAYS carried a supply with her." Reed paused and shared a knowing smile with Randi, who shrugged and motioned for her to continue.

"Those of us who were already Sabres at the time," smirking in Randi's direction, "and were assigned to the training unit as instructors remember when Randi was still a babe in arms... so to speak..." She looked directly at Gwen. "First you have to understand that while a Sabre is in training, every training mission is carefully monitored by the non-com in charge. Her very first training mission, the sarge went to check through her bags. She had everything she was supposed to... and a single bag of miniature chocolates."

"Well, the sergeant decided to make an example of her and took them out of her gear, intent on making a point."

Gwen turned her attention back to Randi, a devilish gleam sparkling in her green eyes. "You didn't."

"You bet I did," arms crossed and chin jutting out defiantly. "Took him down and wrapped him up like he was a novice. Not once... not twice... but three times."

"Gwen... she kicked his ass. And she made her point. It really did take her knocking him down three times before Nyugen understood that Randi wasn't gonna let him kick her around regardless of his rank. The few of us that witnessed it were under strict orders not to reveal anything, including anything about her secret chocolate stash. As long as it remained unofficial, Randi could carry her chocolate; no one would be the wiser."

"The only problem was Randi shared with some of us," Jess cut in. "Oh... not about Nyugen; none of us had heard that story before," glancing around the table at the others who shook their heads negatively. "But she did share her chocolate sparingly... and some of us figured out to bring our own."

"Did Nyugen continue to give you problems after that?"

"Nope," Randi said, going back to her dinner. "He learned and actually took the time to make me better. We became friends."

Gwen's eyebrows went into her hairline. "Really?"

"Yep." Gwen was sure no one else noticed, but Randi's tone indicated there was more than friendship between them. Gwen swallowed hard, trying to rid herself of the wash of jealously she felt. Instead, she focused her attention on her meal once more.

"I still miss him sometimes," Reed offered. "He was the best kind of Sabre."

"He was," Randi agreed softly. Gwen forcibly put her jealousy aside and covered Randi's hand.

"What happened to him?"

"He saved my life," Randi said after a long moment of silence. "Said it was payment for an old debt."

"Empress..." swallowing when Randi's head snapped in her direction; "Commandant...." Ariel stopped speaking when Randi cleared her throat.

"All right, ladies... my name is Randi. This is just like it would be if we were on a mission together. You will need to use the titles until we get the Amazons turned around, but honestly, I don't want to hear them otherwise. Please."

The Sabres nodded and Rosie chose that moment to speak up. "So, Randi... do you think Ares will buy Lorac's story?" She set a large chocolate cake in the center of the table and Gwen got up to retrieve the milk and some glasses. When Jess saw what Gwen was bringing, she moved to grab enough glasses for everyone while the rest moved swiftly to clear the table. The interlude gave Randi a chance to formulate her answer. When everyone was seated again, Randi spoke.

"I do think Ares will believe Lorac... for several reasons. The most important is he really has no reason not to. He is too busy right now either trying to figure out why I am here early or how he can get some sort of surveillance equipment in here to find out what is going on. I have already sent for another two teams to join us tomorrow." She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Secondly, he is convinced that he is gonna win. He really believes I am going to call him to join me. And lastly, he doesn't know that we are all already immune to that crap he's given the Amazons. By the time he figures it out, we will have restored the women here to their normal lives. However," she added in all seriousness, "I do not want anyone eating or drinking from the Amazon supply until Shibata and Jess have cleared it. And if you get cut or poked... anything you would consider an invasive injury, have Lacey check it immediately."

"Why?" Rosie asked reasonably. "If he doesn't know we're immune...."

"Because this... me... I have become an obsession for him. Despite his supreme confidence in himself, at this point I think he is paranoid enough to 'tweak' his formula... just to ensure that success one more time." She shrugged. "I know it sounds contradictory, but Ares has made less and less sense lately. I suspect this quest of his made have genuinely driven him mad and I am too much of an unknown variable for him to just assume anything will work like he expected it to at this point. I would just prefer to err on the side of caution." She paused and looked at Gwen, her voice growing quieter. "Enough people have died for us - we don't want to lose anyone else."

"As long as neither one of you do anything stupid," Shibata said firmly.

"No worries there," Gwen replied. "We made a deal about that. We plan to be celebrating anniversaries together for a very long time to come."

"Great," Reed said dryly, trying to lighten the mood. "Does this mean I can have chocolate cake now?"

Randi turned outraged blue eyes in her direction. "Do you like living dangerously or something?"

Reed blinked, truly perplexed by the question. "Excuse me?"

"Do you like living dangerously or something?" Randi repeated slowly. "Did we not just have a discussion about how seriously I take my chocolate, and then you sit there and think I am going to share this 'Death by Chocolate' cake??"

Suddenly Reed realized Randi was teasing, showing a playful side they had never seen from her as a Sabre. She glanced between Randi and Gwen, able to see the bond between them even with their shielding in place, and she couldn't stop the tears from forming. Randi raised an eyebrow, knowing instinctively that Reed's tears were real and had nothing to do with her teasing. Unexpectedly, Jess broke in with a grin.

"Well, boss," she drawled in a bantering tone. "We figured since you had Gwen now, you wouldn't need chocolate anymore... or at least there would be enough chocolate for everyone to have a share."

Randi's eyebrows shot up, but she bit her bottom lip to keep from smiling. Gwen couldn't stop the blush, but she didn't try to contain her laughter. She reached over and covered Randi's hand with her own, clearing her throat when Randi focused her powerful attention in Gwen's direction.

"I hate to admit it, but she's got a point," Randi admitted and hands reached for the small plates, then froze when Randi held up her free hand. "*However*," she continued gruffly. "How can I be sure that my good nature is not being taken advantage of?" She kept her eyes locked with Gwen's. "What's in it for me to be nice?"

Gwen smirked, a confident, sexy look that she knew Randi loved on her and one she wore well. "Don't you worry, Marine. You take good care of your team; I'll take good care of you. It'll be worth any sacrifice you have to make here."

Blue eyes widened comically. Randi could not believe Gwen had been so forward in front of people who were, to her anyway, mostly strangers. The cheers and catcalls just made it seem all the more unreal. Then she realized Gwen could see Reed's distress and was giving them a chance to get away without drawing attention to her. Randi stood and pushed the cake to the center of the table. She extended her hand to Gwen, who took it and rose smoothly to her feet.

"Save me a piece," she instructed, her eyes never leaving Gwen's. "Let's go negotiate terms for this sacrifice I'm making," and they left without a backwards glance behind them, closing the door firmly when they crossed into their bedroom.

"Wow!" Shibata muttered. "Where can I find something like what they have? I can hardly keep a man in my life long enough to find out his name, much less...." waving her hand in Randi and Gwen's general direction. "Surely everyone is entitled to that sort of connection at some point in their life."

Rosie chortled sadly and shook her head. "Shibata, in a perfect world, everyone would be entitled to find love with their soul's other half. But this world is far from perfect and there is no entitlement to love, much less anything else. Most of us do find love and companionship and we consider ourselves blessed... which we are. They are two of the most special feelings one human being can share with another." She paused and drew a deep breath, helping herself to a slice of cake.

"But to find and hold on to what Randi and Gwen have... it is very, very rare to find - much less keep. It cost them dearly to find one another initially and they have suffered greatly through their lifetimes to hang on to what they have."

"Do you know the whole story, Rosie?" Jess asked. Rosie shook her head slowly as she chewed.

"No... only bits and pieces. I've seen the Amazon scrolls, but they only give part of the original story. Gwen has told small parts of unrecorded stories from that first lifetime... but it was enough to show that their lives together were plagued with hardship and conflict. Like now, they were happiest together and they did have some wonderful experiences, but they also endured tremendously. Don't think their happiness does not come without great sacrifice and price."

Jess and Reed both nodded their agreement. Shibata shook her head and focused on her cake, chewing several mouthfuls slowly. The rest ate quietly, content to listen and learn from the ongoing conversation. Shibata picked up her milk and drained it. Only then did she turn her attention back to Rosie who was slowly finishing her own milk.

"So are you saying we shouldn't want what they have? That what they share isn't worth the price they pay to be together??"

"Oh no, child... not at all. What they have together is an amazing thing, and if everyone could find the same, the world would be a much nicer, much happier place. And I'm sure Randi and Gwen would pay any price asked of them short of separation to have and maintain the soul bond that they do - they HAVE paid every price asked of them, and they would both tell you it was worth it... because what they know together is beyond price." She sighed.

"What I am trying to make you see, Shibata, is two-fold. First, you should always love with an open heart and an open mind - you never know when love will cross your path, but if you are so busy searching for a soulmate, you will miss the love that is right in front of you. Don't discount love simply because it is not a soul bond or what you think a soul bond should be. Love with abandon... you will be much happier for it."

"And secondly?"

"Secondly, every happiness in life comes with a price - that is just the way of things. There is balance in all things, but balance does not make life fair. Don't expect a free ride, especially in matters of the heart; it won't happen and you will forever be disappointed."

"Were you ever disappointed, Rosie?" Reed asked, cocking her head in inquiry.

"As a kid? Yeah, several times. I was so sure I was in love, and it always broke my heart to find out I wasn't." She chuckled. "Of course, the broken heart only lasted until the next boy came along." She stopped and her eyes grew thoughtful. "That all changed the day I met Stephen."

"Love at first sight?"

"Oh no," she snorted through her laughter. "Mutual antagonism. We were ready to kill each other." Now the rest laughed along with her. Finally Ariel recovered enough to speak.

"Why?"

"Yeah," Jess cut in. "And what happened?"

"Well, we met at a protest of sorts... on opposite sides, naturally. He wanted more open land; I was in favor of planting more trees. Now I know that sounds rather tame... especially compared to what you have been through as Sabres and what we have all been through recently. But the environment and the best way to protect its resources was something we were both equally passionate about, and we butted heads over a number of environmental issues in the beginning."

"So what happened?" Shibata asked this time.

"We talked to each other. It took months, but we eventually realized that we were fighting for the same things - we just saw the big picture a little differently. Talking brought into focus the things we disagreed on, but it also highlighted the many things we saw eye to eye about. And that gave us a basis for friendship and from the friendship, love grew." Rosie drew a shuddering breath. "We had sixteen wonderful years together before he died." A beat. "I still miss him. But ya know something - the loneliness I feel now because he is gone is worth it to me because of what we had together while he was alive."

"Were you soulmates?"

"No," Rosie said honestly. "But we were good friends and we were very much in love with one another. We were a good match, as my mother used to say."

"You're lucky," Jess said wryly. "My mother has never been fond of Chase. Thinks he is too much of a playboy to ever settle down and be serious about our relationship."

"Um... my mother still isn't sure what to make of Tiny," Reed contributed. "She likes him well enough, but it offends her sensibilities that we are not married, even though we have been in a committed relationship for the better part of eight years."

Lacey laughed. "My mother loves Nicky so much, I think I have been replaced as the favorite daughter. Once in a while it works in my favor, but when they gang up on me...."

"At least you didn't have to explain to your mom why you would like to date the enemy," Brenda said, referring to the ex-rebel she had very recently become friendly with. "My mother still has not forgiven me for just wanting to become friends with Jamal... not after all the shit we went through to rid the world of, in her words - his kind."

"I don't think my mother would care if my significant other was a rebel, a hermaphrodite or an alien species. She just wants me to bring someone home," Shibata complained.

"So does mine," piped up half a dozen others, then they broke out in laughter. When they finally stopped, Rosie wiped her eyes and fanned her face, trying to compose herself enough to speak.

"I realize this is serious business and I know there is a lot of work to be done. But I have to honestly say that I am enjoying this. Getting to know you girls has been a real treat for me."

"For all of us, Rosie," Reed confirmed. "This mission is so different from many we have been on. Despite the gravity of the situation, it is nice to be able to just kick back and have a little time for girl talk. We don't get to do that nearly enough."

"Almost never," Brenda confirmed. "Since we've always had mixed teams, the guys never wanna listen to it, and usually, there is precious little time to sit around and just share like this."

"Maybe we should make an effort to try a little more often, once this is all over," from Lacey.

"I like that idea."
"Sounds good."
"Great idea."
"Good plan!"

Several answers and nods of approval went around the room and it brought smiles to everyone's faces to feel the enthusiasm they shared. Several of them had privately wondered how things would change for them with all the transformation taking place throughout the world. It was gratifying to know they were all interested in maintaining the friendships they had formed despite the alterations and adaptations that were changing the world and their place in it. Now all that remained was to see how life would change for them.

"Well, now that we have the future decided," Reed remarked with a grin that was echoes around her, "I think we need to break this party up." Groans followed her pronouncement but everyone shifted to begin preparing for the night. "I know," she pacified, "but this is a mission and we still have work to do. Brenda, Ariel and Shibata have first watch correct?"

They nodded. "All right. Wake the next watch in four hours. Lacey is off watch rotation until we get the Amazons taken care of. The rest of you know your assignments. Anyone have any questions?" Silence was her answer. "Good. Let's pack it in."

They moved swiftly and silently, separating and heading to their rooms. The three remaining hefted their weapons, and after a brief discussion, split up. Brenda stood watch near the bedroom door; Ariel took the darkened corner in the kitchen that allowed her a view of the entire suite without being seen; and Shibata took the outside corridor. Then they settled in to watch as quiet settled around an uneasy Amazon Nation.



Chapter XVI

The night passed quietly... though that was not unexpected. Lorac had assured them that the Amazons wouldn't cause any problems - at least not at first. Ares had given instructions that Randi and her entourage were to be left alone... given time to settle in before the Amazons made their move. So the watchers observed in silence; the only shift was the changing of the guard at the darkest part of the night. And even that was done in complete silence. It would have been unnerving, given the amount of animosity they could feel, had it not been for their knowledge of the truth. So they were happy to simply keep watch in the night. Action would come soon enough.



Gwen dropped Randi's hand and moved to the far side of the bed, smiling when the door was closed firmly and locked with a distinctive snick. She stretched out on the bed and crossed her ankles, tucking her hands behind her head. Randi turned and took in the picture she made with a predatory smile on her face.

"Now, about that negotiation...."

Gwen smirked. "Well, let me hear your terms and we can go from there."

"My terms?" Randi said as she strutted across the room, dropping onto the empty side of the bed and rolling onto her side. "My terms," she repeated, running a finger up her ribs and watching Gwen squirm and bite her lip to keep from giggling. "Well, I want it all."

Gwen caught Randi's fingers in one hand and rolled over to face Randi. "Well, at least you're right up front about it. What if we're not prepared to give you everything?"

Randi made a show of looking around the room. "We? Who exactly is we?" She paused and cocked an eyebrow at Gwen. "I thought the deal was I take care of them... you take care of me."

"Yeeeeesssssss," Gwen drawled. "But...."

"No 'buts'. Negotiations over," Randi declared firmly. "I. Want. It. All," tugging Gwen into her embrace. Gwen rolled over with a smile, wrapping her arms around Randi's neck and nudging her closer, until she could lean her forehead on Randi's.

"All that I have, all that I am is yours."

"That is so not fair. I thought I was going to get a fight out of this."

Gwen giggled and curled her body into Randi's, sighing when Randi surrounded her with warmth and love in an all encompassing embrace. "You just want hot make-up sex," Gwen teased and nuzzled into Randi's neck with abandon. Randi chuckled at the sensation and squeezed Gwen tighter.

"I would never turn down hot make-up sex... even if we weren't fighting. I love sharing that with you," she added firmly, turning them until she was spooned behind Gwen. Randi gently caressed the bare belly her hand was resting on, feeling the goosebumps trail her touch. "But I like this a lot too," she confided. "Just being close to you is wonderful for me... I didn't realize how much until you were gone. I'm not gonna miss an opportunity to do this whenever I can ever again. Life's too short for those kinds of regrets."

"Life's too short for any regrets, love."

"Um... except for the ones I'm gonna give to Ares."

"Well, as soon as we give the Amazons the antidote, the rest should be a piece of cake. He has no idea what he's started."

"No, but he will have when we get finished. Just imagine how the Amazons will feel. But we can worry about that later." Randi reached down and pulled the cover up over them. "Let's get some sleep. I have the feeling tomorrow is going to be a long, ugly day."

"You think someone will challenge?"

"I think there are a few who would like to see me lose... no matter what instruction they were given. And I wouldn't put it past some of them to try tomorrow, regardless."

"Just another day in paradise. I'm glad we've got each other's backs."

"Me too, sweetheart."



Dawn came, but there was no sunrise to be seen deep in the belly of the mountain. Instead, the Sabres functioned by their inner sense of timing and some really reliable, synchronized watches. They all met for breakfast as planned, though there was really nothing for them to report.

"I'd rather they had tried something," Brenda groused. "This waiting is making me nuts."

"Don't worry, Bren," Randi said with a smile as she and Gwen exited their bedroom together. "I have a feeling there may be some action today... regardless of the orders the Amazons have been given. There is a great deal of resentment against me from certain members of the Nation. I can't see them passing up an opportunity like that, especially with the power and fury of Ares' warrior tonic burning through their blood."

"They are gonna be in for quite the surprise then, aren't they?" Gwen smirked. "They have no real clue what they are dealing with."

"No, they really don't. I have a feeling after today they will have much better understanding of just exactly who and what their queen actually is." The Sabres whooped and cheered. They had seen Gwen in action against Randi; they were looking forward to Gwen kicking a little Amazon ass.

"Please tell me you will leave a little for us, my queen," Brenda whined.

Gwen laughed and so did Randi, causing a ripple effect of laughter to run around the room. Gwen took a seat and began filling her plate. Randi sat down beside her and did the same. They exchanged glances and Randi shrugged and nodded, motioning to Gwen and indicating her willingness to follow her lead. Gwen swallowed and looked back at Brenda.

"I promise, Brenda, if it turns into a free-for-all, there will be plenty of action for everyone."

"And if it doesn't? Wait... I'm not trying to start something with the Amazons, as much as I would love a good fight. But I want to know what the protocol here is." She looked at Gwen, then Randi. Randi didn't move; she merely kept eating, sending her message subtly. Brenda turned back to Gwen, understanding that Randi was sincere in her desire to follow Gwen's lead in Amazon matters.

"If it doesn't, I will handle it. I would prefer not to, but I have no qualms about showing the Amazons that I can lead by arms if necessary."

Brenda blinked. She clearly remembered how passive Gwen had been before, but she'd also seen her hold her own against Randi in sparring. The determination in the gaze that met hers was firm and clear and Brenda acquiesced with a nod. "By your command, my queen."

"Thank you, Brenda," knowing the scout would understand what she was saying without Gwen needing to spell it out. Gwen finished eating and her plate was removed from in front of her before she could move. She looked up at Randi, who held their empty plates with a twinkle in her eyes. Gwen grinned back at her. "Ya know," she said cheekily, "A woman could get used to this kind of service."

"For all the rest of your life, sweetheart." She leaned down to whisper softly in Gwen's ear. "We can negotiate terms for eternity later."

Gwen wiggled her eyebrows. "I like negotiations with you. I can't lose."

"All right, you two... break it up. I can't even hear you and I'm getting a sugar rush from the vibes you're giving off. I'm gonna get diabetes at this rate," Reed complained.

Randi growled, then glared at Reed who met her expression with a Cheshire grin of her own. "I'm gonna give you something in a minute."

"Randi... no offense, but try it with someone who doesn't know better, all right? I am enjoying this; I can't help it. And I plan on enjoying it for some time to come. However," she conceded to Randi privately as they walked slowly together into the kitchen, "I'll try to contain my enthusiasm. I don't want you to be uncomfortable around me or self-conscious about the fact that you're finally happy and complete. I want you to be as excited about this as I am."

"I am, Reed... honestly. But...."

"But you're a very private person and I am making you nuts... especially here and now, when you're expected to step up and be our leader - Empress and Commandant."

"Something like that, yeah. It's a little different in the privacy of the kitchen at the compound or at your place or at home."

Reed nodded her understanding. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Randi said casually as she shrugged.

"Thanks, Randi. I'll try to remember ...." Reed would have said more, but Gwen walked into the kitchen area then and looked at both of them questioningly.

"Everything all right?"

Reed crossed the space and put a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "Everything is great," exchanging a look with Randi. "Now let me go make up an escort and go see what the Amazon Nation is up to. Today is gonna be a good day, I think." She walked out and Gwen watched her go, waiting until the Sabres were involved in their discussion before she approached Randi.

"You all right, sweetheart?"

Randi nodded slowly. "Yeah... mostly. I just feel a little overexposed around Reed now - like she knows something she shouldn't."

Gwen walked around until she was standing in front of Randi and took chilled hands in her own warmer ones. She chafed them gently, and eventually blue eyes met hers. "Randi, Reed probably knows you better than anyone else in the world now... except me, of course. I don't think she holds that knowledge lightly. Remember, she was in pain because of us; I think her reaction now is due to the release from it."

"I know," Randi readily agreed. "And I really don't blame her for being excited or relieved or happy or whatever. I just don't like being the focus of it. It makes me uncomfortable... especially since she does know so much about us both now."

"You want me to talk to her?"

Randi smiled. "No, love. I already did. She promised to try and contain herself a little more around me, but thanks for looking out for me." She brushed a light kiss across Gwen's lips, pulling away before she could deepen it. "Now, c'mon, your majesty. Let's go impress your subjects." She tugged gently on the hands still holding hers and smiled back when Gwen grinned up at her. "What?"

"You're gonna be with me, right, Empress?"

The eyebrow cocked at the title, but she didn't lose her smile as she drawled, "Yeeeeeessssss."

Gwen loosened one hand from Randi's and double snapped her fingers. "No problem, then. You make a lasting impression all by yourself." Randi laughed and wrapped Gwen up in a hug. Then they headed out of the kitchen into the living area where the Sabres were geared up for escort duty.

Gwen blinked and gasped in surprise. She had expected them to be armed; she had not expected them to be dressed as Amazons. She looked up at Randi. "Wow," she breathed. Randi laughed and the Sabre Amazons stood a little straighter at her words. Then Gwen cleared her throat and they dropped to a knee in respect. She looked at Randi in alarm. Randi just motioned with her hands and stepped back a pace to stand behind the Amazon Queen instead of beside her.

"Rise, my friends," Gwen said softly. When they stood, Jess stood at the forefront and bowed her head again.

"We await your command, my queen."

"Are you all really...?" She motioned to their garb. They all smiled and nodded. Jess chuckled aloud.

"Yes, my queen. Thanks to your consort, all Sabre women spend some time in Amazon training... enough to earn their card. That makes us all real Amazons and you our queen, above and beyond your relationship with Randi as the queen of the world."

Gwen wrinkled her nose and leaned her head back into Randi's shoulder. "Okay, I don't like the way that sounds either. We are gonna have to work on that whole title thing sometime soon."

Randi rolled her eyes and planted a kiss on Gwen's nose. "Keep it up, bard. You'll wind up with some ridiculous designation like love slave. And I don't think either of us would live that down."

The Sabres did admirably - none of them even cracked a smile. Gwen blushed and giggled at the outlandish conversation. No wonder Reed feels the need to tease. We're being outrageously sappy. She cleared her throat again and tried to affect a more serious demeanor. "Good point. We can figure something out later. For now...." She motioned to the door. "Ladies, let's go see what sort of trouble we can find."



Rosie watched as the Sabre Amazons formed an escort around Gwen and Randi. It was fascinating. They created a cup that allowed Gwen and Randi to walk freely in the front of the entourage but still enabled them to cover them completely if the need arose. But seeing the determined glint in Gwen's eyes, Rosie didn't think they'd get the chance.

They left slowly in reverse order so the guard was in place when Gwen and Randi stepped into the hallway. Rosie's gaze followed them down the corridor until they turned out of sight. Then she turned back to Lacey who was in her doctor garb finishing the prep work she needed to do on the supplies in her medkit. Rosie crossed the room and hefted the backpack she'd volunteered to carry. Lacey looked up at her with a smile.

"Thanks, Rosie. You sure about this? I don't think it's gonna be nearly as exciting as what will probably happen where Gwen and Randi are."

"Good," Rosie said with a smile. "I could use a little peace... though we both know that no matter where they are, whatever happens will reach us sooner rather than later."

Lacey laughed. "That is so true. There hasn't been a dull moment since they got together - though come to think of it, things weren't particularly calm before Gwen became part of Randi's life."

"Really? You must have some interesting stories." They headed out the door in the opposite direction. They were going to check on the Amazons who had been given the antidote the previous day. With a little luck, they would be up and ready to help distribute the next batch to the younger Amazon leaders. If not, at least Lacey would be able to help speed their recovery.

"I do, but I've gotten the distinct impression Randi is really uncomfortable with people knowing things she hasn't shared with them. God knows she is probably the least forthcoming individual I have ever met when it comes to her personal life, but I can't help but respect her decision. Even if she wasn't my friend, she is still my boss."

"I wouldn't ask you to share anything personal about Randi, Lacey. I've seen her reactions lately as well...." She hesitated, then decided against airing her thoughts aloud. "No, I was thinking more about things that happened before - when you were out on missions. Surely it wasn't all work and killing and death."

Lacey smiled wryly. "No, it wasn't," her smile fell, "though it was never easy, even on the occasions when we got down time together."

"Tell me."

Her words were compelling as was the expression on her face and the tone of her voice. Lacey stared into her eyes for a long moment, measure the person she saw Rosie to be against the weight of what a Sabre carried as lifelong baggage. Satisfied with what she found, Lacey nodded and started speaking in a hushed voice, and the two slowly made their way down the corridor towards the Amazons' quarters using the map they had memorized once Lorac had provided them with it.



"Ella, it's Jill. Do you have a few minutes to talk?"

Ella blinked as Jill's visage popped up on the vid screen in her kitchen. Only a few people were cleared to come right into her kitchen phone and when she saw Jill's haggard expression, Ella was glad Jill was one of them. She wiped her hands on a towel and came around the counter to lean against it, giving the other woman a smile.

"Absolutely," she said as she took a seat on the barstool behind her. "Tommy is at work and Randall is at school for a while longer. What can I do to help?" Jill was silent for so long Ella rose from the stool and moved closer to the screen. "Jill? Talk to me, hon. How are you doing?"

Jill bit her lip, then took a deep breath. "Sorry," she said smiling through her tears. "I was just a little lonely and wanted to talk to a friend. I didn't realize just seeing a familiar face would make me lose it so easily."

"Is there something I can do to help?" Jill hesitated and Ella pressed forward. "What do you need, Jill?"

She blew out a breath and bit her lip again before she spoke. "I can't ask Gwen or Randi to come up here right now... I asked them for some space to sort things out by myself first. Besides, I know they are up to their eyeballs trying to sort out the rest of the world so they can just go home and live."

"Jill, would you like me to come up there for a few days? Maybe help you clean out a closet or two?"

Jill gave Ella a watery smile. "Would you mind? I promise I wouldn't keep you very long."

"I wouldn't have made the offer otherwise. I'll even go one better if you're willing; I'll bring my mother with me. I think you would like her and she could use another friend. After being off-world for so long, she's having to re-establish her circle of friends here. Besides," Ella confided, "she is great at cleaning out closets."

"That would be nice, Ella. Thanks. A lot of my friends here aren't sure how to act now and I don't know what to tell them. I want them to be normal, but I don't feel normal anymore. Anyway, it'll be good to have you and your mom here. You just can't have too many friends."

"That is so true. Let me go make a few arrangements and call my mother, then I'll call you back and let you know when we'll be there, all right?"

"Thanks, Ella. I appreciate it. Are you sure Tommy won't mind?"

"Yeah. I got a husband who's one in a billion. I'll call you back shortly."

"I'll be here," Jill said, but this time the smile on her face was genuine.



It was still early, but most of the Amazon Nation was already up and working. That made the silence that followed the queen and her entourage more than a little unnerving. Although half the women were already outside working, those who remained watched the group with sullen, brooding expressions. Still, Gwen was content to walk around in silence, knowing she and the women who were accompanying her were more than able to take care of themselves and handle any threat that was presented to them, though it didn't lessen the stress that was settling in her shoulders.

As word spread of their presence, more and more women came in from their assigned tasks outdoors to stand and stare as Gwen and Randi slowly made their way through the complex. No one hindered their subtle investigation, but the hostility throughout the compound was palpable.

Despite the obvious antagonism, the Amazons had been busy remaking and remodeling the mountain complex into a viable, living, workable community. Gwen was pleased with the improvements that had been made so far. Obviously, the Amazons were determined to make this new home as comfortable and contemporary as possible.

They had managed to nicely combine tradition and technology, and Gwen nodded and smiled in approval. Once they got this little problem solved, the Amazons would be able to settle in nicely. She felt Randi stiffen behind her seconds before she heard Corky's obnoxious voice.

"Well, well, well... if it isn't our illustrious queen and her Amazon wannabes." Corky folded her arms over chest and chuckled when the Sabre Amazons stood straighter and pinned her with glowering stares. "Oh, that was good; did you all practice that to be able to do it together?" She turned her attention to Randi and laughed out loud. Then she turned to the Amazons who were watching her display with fascination.

"This is priceless... the Empress of the World deferring to the Queen of the Amazons - or is that hiding behind her cute little skirt? Damn, Blondie, you must be hotter than I thought. May have to try it once...."

Whatever she had been about to say was lost in a groan of pain when Gwen's staff met her collarbone with a bone-crunching sound, forcing Corky to drop to her knees.

"You know," Gwen said conversationally as she leaned against her staff once more. "I don't consider myself to be an overly aggressive person, but if I hear you talk about the Empress or me or these warriors like that one more time, I will personally rip your tongue out of your mouth." She smiled sweetly at Corky's shocked expression. "I don't expect much from the Nation, Corky; I don't have much to offer in return. But I don't think asking for the same respect you'd afford to any of your other sisters is unreasonable. Do we understand one another?"

Corky gazed at her for a long moment. "Yes," she hissed. "But when I heal, I am going to challenge you for the throne. You don't deserve to be our queen."

"You go right on down to the medical facility and get that fixed. It should only take the regen unit a few hours to make you better than new. Then you come back and find me and you can have your little challenge. But I want you to be very clear on something - when I kick your ass, Randi will get to decide your punishment... because I won't kill you."

"All right, on one condition. When I win, I'm not gonna kill you either - you have to become my consort instead of hers."

It wasn't visible, even to the Sabres that surrounded them, but Gwen felt Randi flinch behind her and reached a hand back and pulled her forward until they were standing side by side once more. Randi's arm shifted to drape across Gwen's back to clutch her hip possessively. Gwen leaned into Randi's body and wrapped herself around it.

"No problem, Corky. With that kind of incentive, I won't lose."

Corky growled. "Bitch! We'll just see about that!" Then she struggled to her feet and headed for the elevator to take her down to the medical level. Gwen leaned her head back to look up into Randi's eyes.

"I could use some fresh air. Would you like to go outside with me?"

"Lead on, my queen. I am but your humble servant." Then she glared when Gwen poked her in the side. Only full control of her reflexes kept her from flinching and squealing. It didn't stop Gwen from laughing though. Then she took Randi's hand in hers and together they headed for the fields outside the mountain stronghold.

It was beautiful in the daylight and they took a long moment to appreciate the breeze and sunshine. They glanced at the neat, orderly rows of vegetation that had been planted. Then Randi tugged on Gwen's hand. "C'mon. I wanna see the wildflowers."



"Thank you, Lacey. I feel much better after a good night's sleep, but I appreciate you checking on me like this." Lorac's words said one thing, her tone of voice another and her eyes something else again. Lacey got the unspoken message and nodded, realizing Ares would definitely be listening in to everything that went on in this room. She stood to her feet.

"I'm glad I could help. I do think you should get outside for a bit if you can manage it. The fresh air could only help."

Now it was Lorac's turn to nod, conveying her understanding of what was not being said. "I will. I have duties outside anyway and now would be just as good a time to take care of them as any. It must have just been a twenty-four hour virus or maybe something I ate."

"Maybe," Lacey agreed casually. "Have you heard of any other outbreaks among the women here or was yours an isolated incident?"

Lorac stood and took Lacey's arm and the three women headed towards the door. "Actually, now that you mention it, it might be a good idea to check on the council - in case it's a virus. I met with them yesterday." She paused, making it seem as though she was reluctant to ask the next question. "Would you mind terribly checking on them? I am already late meeting the queen," said with a sneering twist. "I would count it as a personal favor." The last grated out like it was causing her pain to ask.

Lacey shrugged. "I can, though given the hostility level around here...."

"Yeah, well.... There's a lot going on here you don't understand, but if the council feels as bad as I felt yesterday, they'd make a deal with the devil himself to feel better."

"I'll try not to take that personally."

This time Lorac shrugged. "I need to get going," opening the door and ushering Rosie and Lacey through before closing it behind herself and locking it with the old-fashioned key it required. Lacey turned and passed her several vials.

"Are you sure about this, Lorac? It could be dangerous if Ares finds out," in a low tone.

"It would be if I thought he would come out of hiding for the next few days, but he made it clear he was going to stay secluded long enough to give the queen and the empress time to settle in comfortably before making his next move. By the time he does, I am counting on Randi kicking his ass. But to be honest with you, I'd do it even if he did find out. After what he has done to us...."

Lacey squeezed her shoulder. "Well, hopefully nothing unexpected will happen while Randi and Gwen are scouting out the Nation, but with those two...." She let the thought trail off and both Lorac and Rosie chuckled. "Yeah, well... we can always hope." Then they went their separate ways, Lacey and Rosie continuing on to check on the other council members while Lorac headed for the outdoors, taking the scenic route along the way in hopes of inoculating a few of her sisters unaware along the way.



"It really is nice here," Gwen said as she closed her eyes and breathed in the world around her. The sunshine was warm and the flowers fragrant and despite the tensions among the Amazons currently, she was glad she and Randi had come to this place. She opened her eyes to find Randi's eyes on her with an intensity that made her blood race. Fortunately, the Sabres had spread out to keep watch once they had arrived in the meadow and no one was left to witness the passion in Randi's eyes except Gwen.

When Gwen responded in kind, the look in Randi's eyes melted into something akin to utter devotion, though her words answered Gwen's. "Yeah, it is. I'm glad they kept this part natural."

"Yeah, we talked about it awhile, but we all wanted to leave as much of the land in its natural state as possible. The area here is just too nice to destroy; the plan is to cultivate only what is necessary for living and leave the rest."

"I think that's a good plan." Randi blew out a breath and stepped up behind Gwen, laying her hands on her shoulders. "Are you all right? I know it was really uncomfortable in there."

Gwen shrugged. "I'm fine. We knew they were going to be hostile; I was prepared for it. Besides, you are beside me and we have the finest of the Black Sabres backing us up."

"And Corky?"

"We figured someone was going to be aggressive enough to challenge. She was the most likely candidate. There has always been a grudge between you two and she's like a dog with a well-gnawed bone. She is using me to get to you." Gwen laughed and turned in Randi's arms so they were face to face. "Too bad she did nothing but give me the best reason to win."

Randi grinned, then she sobered. "Are you sure you want to handle the challenge, love?"

"You don't think I can?" asked with a hint of hurt in her tone and in her eyes.

"I *know* you can, Gwen," letting her hands drop to Gwen's waist. "You can hold your own against me." Randi paused. "I... I just... I've always been the warrior. It's hard to watch you become that."

"I'm not, sweetheart. I'm still the bard... still the peacemaker. This is not about being a warrior, because despite her words, she's not challenging me as Queen of the Amazons. It isn't a challenge to the death. This is about protecting what is mine because she is coming after me to hurt you. And I won't let her do that."

"Always looking out for me, hmm?"

Gwen reached up and gently traced the familiar features above her. "Always, Stud."

"All right. Just remember who your champion is if and when the time comes."

"No problem there," Gwen assured Randi with a leer. "She fills my dreams."

"Does she now?"

"Yep, but any more discussion about her is gonna have to wait. Lorac is headed this way," Gwen commented, seeing Jess' signal.

Randi huffed. "Always something. I can't wait to go home."

"Me either, sweetheart." Then Lorac was within hearing distance and they turned together to watch her approach, pleased to see a look of satisfaction on her face, though her body language was at odds with her expression. Maybe there was finally good news on this front.



Chapter XVII

She walked up to them, stopping short as though in anger or disdain. Until all the Amazons had been inoculated, it was safer to keep up appearances. No reason to give anything away before it was necessary, and that was always a possibility as long as some were under Ares' control. Thanks to the Sabres' vigilance, no one could get close enough to be able to see her expression, and any surveillance equipment was useless. Still, Lorac's body language said she was only talking to Gwen with great reluctance and more than a little anger.

Randi automatically assumed a position of defense in front of Gwen, watching as Lorac's fists flexed open and closed. A touch on her back caused her to step aside, but only so far as to allow Gwen to come up beside her. Her posture and attitude were still threatening and intimidating to anyway observing them from a distance. Close-up, however, was a different story.

Lorac kept the smile off her face, but the twinkle in her eyes wouldn't be denied. "My queen, it truly is good to have you here. How are you?"

What Gwen wanted to do was to lean back into Randi's body. What she did was raise a finger and point at Lorac forcefully, not quite poking but coming very close. Her brows were furrowed together and her mouth was pulled into a grim line, but her eyes sparkled with good humor.

"We are wonderful, Lorac. Thank you for asking. How are you? And how is the rest of the council doing this morning? We weren't sure what sort of punch that antidote was going to have since ya'll were already under the influence of the virus."

Lorac grimaced genuinely. "Well, it was bad enough for Ares to leave me alone to sleep off the 'illness' I had last night. Fortunately, a good night's sleep went a long way in clearing away the feelings of nausea. Lacey was checking on the others after we parted ways." Her face grew indisputably angry. "But when I think about what Ares did - to me and the rest of the Nation...." She clenched her fists hard and shook them at her sides.

Randi deliberately moved in front of Gwen. "Hold onto your anger, Lorac. It won't be much longer." A poke in her back caused Randi to turn enough to see Gwen glaring at her.

"Was that necessary?"

"Yes," Randi said starkly, "and completely instinctive." Gwen held her fierce expression another minute before moving back up to stand beside Randi again. Lorac couldn't help the smile and she hoped if anyone was watching them they would mistake it as gloating at the sudden tension between Randi and Gwen.

"How is distribution going?"

"Slowly, as expected. I got several of the warrior leaders on my way out and Lacey was going to instruct the rest of the council on who each of them needed to target. And we should be able to do another round after lunch and a third after the evening meal."

"Just be careful. We don't want to put anyone in excessive danger."

"Not a problem, my queen. Even if we have watchers...."

"We do," Randi confirmed. "We have had since we stepped outside. Hence the reason the rest of the group made a perimeter sweep and why they are still out there keeping everyone a safe distance from us. The Amazons can't counter the Sabres tech abilities."

"Was there anything to find? We haven't set up surveillance out here yet."

"Nothing we couldn't handle." She glanced discretely at the nearest tree for a brief moment. "They can still see, but no one can hear us... not even the Sabres. All they can see is body language."

"Good - then all they will be able to report back to Ares is that I am still angry at your unwelcome presence here." Without warning, Lorac lifted a hand to Gwen, only to find it caught in a bone-crushing grip as Randi forced her to the ground face down. She grunted when Randi knelt on her with one knee. "Um, Randi," wheezing from the pain and distinct lack of air she felt, "do you think you could lighten up just a little? You're really hurting me."

Randi looked up to see Jess coming at full speed and bent down to hiss in Lorac's ear. "What the fuck did you think you were doing?" asked as she pulled back slightly without seeming to.

"I wanted it to seem real," nearly falling over when Randi jerked her into a standing position. She staggered, trying to keep her feet under her. "Ares would have expected something like that; he knew how angry I was before you got here."

"Treat her like a prisoner for now," Randi instructed Jess as she arrived on the scene, "but don't hurt her. Take her to our quarters and wait for us there." Jess' eyebrows rose to her hairline, but she merely acknowledged the directive with a succinct nod of her head. Randi turned to Lorac. "Next time you feel the need to try something like that, you might want to warn us first. I could make it a little less painful for you."

Lorac nodded and winced when the cuffs were slipped on her wrists. "I'll keep that in mind, Consort, but I hope the need never arises again." Jess yanked on her arm and Lorac made a token effort to resist; the arrival of Shibata put a quick end to that and slowly the trio made their way back inside the mountain complex. Only then did Randi turn to an unmoving Gwen.

The green eyes were swirling with a myriad of emotions. Randi reached out slowly, waiting for Gwen's gaze to track to her. After a few moments, Gwen blinked and her focus sharpened; she let out a long-held breath.

"You all right?" Randi asked quietly, enveloping Gwen in her arms.

Gwen sighed again and nodded her head against Randi's chest, squeezing the firm body beneath her return the embrace fervently. "Yeah," she finally said after a moment's silence. "That was just unexpected... and scary."

"I know. I told her not to try it again without a little warning. She'd prefer there not be a next time."

"So would I," Gwen said honestly, "though I do understand her reasoning behind it."

"Hopefully, it will keep Ares off the scent for another day or two. That is all we need to convert a majority of the Nation; another round of antidote will be distributed this evening." Randi bent slightly and scooped a surprised Gwen into her arms. Gwen didn't protest but snuggled deeper into the embrace, brushing a kiss across the base of Randi's neck that left tingles behind in its wake. Randi caught her breath at the sensation and looked down at Gwen with her eyebrow arched in question. Gwen grinned back at her devilishly.

"I figured I should take advantage of the situation."

"Troublemaker," Randi muttered under her breath. Randi looked around at the Sabres who had moved the perimeter in at Jess' signal as soon as Lorac had taken a swing at Gwen. They faced outward, searching for indications of more trouble. When she felt Randi's glance, Reed turned and shook her head. Randi nodded. Reed gave the command and immediately the Sabres reformed the detail around the queen and Empress and they headed back towards the mountain. Gwen looked up at Randi.

"You wanna let me down now, Stud?"

"Nope."

Gwen waited but when nothing more was forthcoming her brow furrowed. "Um... okay. Why not?" thinking it was odd for Randi to be making such a public display of affection after what had happened earlier between her and Reed.

"Because, sweetheart, we are playing a part. We want the Amazons to underestimate you. Word will get back to Ares and he will underestimate you as well."

"And that's a good thing?"

"That is a great thing. One of the first rules of being a Sabre is to never let the enemy know your strengths."

"Guess what I did to Corky kinda put a crimp in that, huh?"

Randi smiled. "Maybe, but it was worth it to see the look on her face. Besides, I'll bet word's already spread about your need to be carried back in. Corky will be dancing in the infirmary, thinking what you did to her earlier was a fluke."

"So this is all just for show?"

"A little bit for show - mostly because I like having you here."

"Yeah, but I'm no lightweight, sweetheart and we still have quite a ways to go to get back to our quarters. How about you put me down and let me walk now? I know it's a strain, love." Her voice lowered significantly. "I can see it in your pulse and feel it in your breathing." Randi pouted. Gwen bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. "It's all right, Stud. I won't tell."

Randi slowed, acknowledging the truth in Gwen's words. The Sabres around them slowed as well and broadened their circle around Gwen and Randi to allow them a bit of privacy. Gwen slid out of Randi's arms and let Randi's hands on her waist steady her on her feet.

"All right?"

"Yep," taking Randi's hand. "C'mon. It'll be lunchtime soon and I want to talk to Lorac a little more before Corky shows up to challenge me again."

"Yeah, we should probably fortify you before you have to kick her ass," Randi smirked.

Gwen squeezed her hand. "You're suddenly enjoying this, aren't you? Why?"

Randi shrugged. "I decided I may as well. You won't let me fight this fight for you, so I am going to do the next best thing and watch you beat the snot out of her."

Gwen laughed and leaned into Randi's body, dropping her hand to wrap an arm firmly around her waist. Randi encircled Gwen's shoulders and they continued on toward the mountain.



"You're sure about this?"

"I saw it with my own eyes, my lord. Her consort took Lorac down to the ground, then picked the queen up and started carrying her back."

"And Lorac was taken...?"

"... to their quarters. Speculation is the Empress will decide her punishment - not the queen - given that the Empress is the one who stopped the attack. Not that I blame Lorac for finally taking a swing; the queen seemed to be pushing her pretty hard for a while."

"Seemed to be?"

"Yes, my lord. We couldn't hear anything, and we could only observe from a distance. Her honor guard somehow disabled our listening devices and insured we couldn't get close enough for anything else."

Ares pinched his lower lip between his finger and thumb and turned his back to the Amazon who waited patiently. What game are you playing at, Randi? He spun on his heel to pin the first Amazon in place with his eyes. "And you're sure she attacked Corky first... without provocation?"

"Oh, she provoked her all right. But the queen was the first to use physical aggression."

"Well, well, well - so the little queen isn't as peaceful as she'd like to pretend to be. I can use that." He nodded to himself. "If she has that much anger in her, perhaps I can twist it to my advantage." He held out his hand, palm up and open. "You know what to do with this. Make sure it happens before her bout with Corky."

"And if it doesn't?"

"If it doesn't," Ares said calmly, though the edge in his voice was clear, "then give it to Corky. I'm sure she can manage it," waving a hand in dismissal at them. When they didn't make a move to leave immediately, Ares barked at them, grinning broadly when they jumped before scurrying away. Then he chuckled and rubbed his hands together. Though not at all like he had expected, things were finally becoming interesting.



There was quite a gathering near their room when Gwen and Randi finally made their way into the compound and down to their quarters. Apparently word had spread rather rapidly over what had taken place out in the meadow, and many were anxious to learn the outcome of Lorac's fate. Gwen realized that many of the ones waiting for word were elders - those who had already been given the antidote. With a word from her, the Sabres separated the throng, hustling the council to one side and moving the rest to a safe distance from the room.

"The council will join us in my chambers for the sentencing of Regent Lorac for crimes against the throne. The rest of you disperse and return to your duties." When no one made a move to leave at her words, Gwen spoke again. "Now."

Randi stepped up beside her to reinforce the order. "Do it. Or as Empress, I will have you all summarily executed." She felt Gwen's breath catch in her chest, but Randi didn't turn around to acknowledge it. She kept her eyes focused on the Amazons who tried to return glare for glare. Instead, they found it necessary to drop their eyes from her fiery gaze and they wandered slowly back down the corridor muttering and mumbling among themselves.

"Show the council inside and make them comfortable, please," Gwen instructed the Sabre unit. "And call the rest of the team together unless they are currently sleeping. I want everyone to be a part of this briefing." Reed nodded and the rest of the Sabres followed her lead, opening the door and waiting for Gwen and Randi to enter the room once Jess confirmed their identities. Randi growled in frustration. The mountain fortress was nice enough, and very secure, but the technology definitely left a lot to be desired. Gwen took her arm and firmly guided the two of them into the privacy of their bedroom. Randi raised her eyebrows when Gwen closed the door behind them.

"Are you sure we have time for this, Gwen?"

"Nice thing about being the queen - I can take whatever time I need." She crossed her arms over her chest and glowered at Randi. "Would you like to tell me exactly what you thought you were doing out there a minute ago?"

"Excuse me?"

"'As Empress, I will have you all summarily executed'? Randi, what were you thinking?" Though her eyes were still angry, her voice conveyed more than a hint of sadness.

"I was thinking I would show them that the Empress stood behind the Amazon Queen!"

Gwen uncrossed her arms and cupped Randi's face in her hands. "Sweetheart, they know. *I* know. You don't have to threaten my Amazons with execution. C'mon, love... don't get spooked now. He is not going to win. I won't let him... and neither will you. The truth is - we've already won; he just won't admit it yet. You don't have to do anything more than stand by my side here. That's enough."

Randi bit her lips pensively and shook her head. "I know all this. Why am I reacting?"

"Nerves," Gwen answered succinctly. "Happens to the best of us," said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Oh it does?" Randi replied with a tiny grin.

"Oh yeah. And it's the worst when you're a rookie performer."

"Rookie performer?"

"Uh huh. But don't worry... you'll get used to it. Now c'mon," before Randi could open her mouth to retort. "Let's see how things are going. We should be able to give the council another round of antidote to distribute. At this rate, we'll be done ahead of schedule."

"Good - because I am ready to smell the ocean and we still have to go back to the capital before we can go home."

They opened the door silently and stood together watching the council and the Sabres talking quietly while they waited for Randi and Gwen to come back out of their bedroom. Reed noticed them first and her glance in their direction broke the tableau. Silence reigned in the room and everyone rose to their feet when Randi and Gwen moved out of the doorway and into the living area. Gwen motioned them to their seats before sitting, then waited expectantly.

Randi crossed behind Gwen and moved to stand out of the limelight in a corner where she could watch everything without being the focus of attention. Gwen looked back at her with a smile before turning to Lorac. She placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you all right, Lorac? You took us by surprise."

"I'm fine, my queen. I'm sorry I couldn't warn you, but I wanted it to seem real."

Gwen chuckled. "Did it seem real enough to you, Lorac?"

"Oooh, yes," drawing more chuckles from around the room. "Though I have to admit I'm glad your consort has such amazing self-control. I got the distinct feeling I would have been bleeding otherwise."

"Probably," Gwen agreed matter-of-factly. "She tends to be a little protective where I'm concerned."

"No, really?" one of the council members called out drolly. "We never would have guessed." That elicited another round of laughter throughout the room and the atmosphere relaxed even further. Gwen exchanged a loving, amused look with Randi, then clapped her hands together to bring everyone's attention back to her.

"All right then... where are we with the distribution? How are things going?"

Dalia exchanged a look with Lacey and stood to speak. "Things are progressing well, my queen. We have managed to distribute all the antidote Lacey provided us with this morning so a number of our warriors are now suffering from those lovely aftereffects. However, we are all recovered, thankfully," making her face grimace in distaste. "So the good news is that the aftereffects don't seem to last but about twenty-four hours... maybe a little less."

Gwen nodded. "Excellent, though I am sorry about the aftereffects. We didn't expect them to be so severe. It didn't affect any of us that strongly."

"Probably because it was a preventative measure for us, my queen, and not a cure," Lacey provided. "The Amazons here were already infected. So it's taking a little longer for them to recover, but it's also not unexpected. I factored in some recovery time when I was working on the figures for the distribution timetable."

"So are we on schedule?"

"No, but it was set up to be flexible, so we're not off schedule either."

Gwen blinked and shook her head. "Well... good. And we're sure that Ares doesn't suspect anything?"

"As sure as we can be, my queen," Nairobi replied. "He hasn't left his hideaway yet."

"Do you know where his hideaway is?" Randi spoke quietly from her corner, but the entire room heard the edge in her voice. Nairobi looked and Gwen who just sighed and nodded.

"Yes, Chosen... mostly."

"Mostly??"

Nairobi nodded. "We know he staked out some space in the lower levels, but none of us have ever been done there past his security."

"Whoa," Randi said, holding up a hand and pushing away from the wall with her shoulder. "He has his own security?? You've allowed him to simply move in and settle down like he owned the place??"

Gwen moved to stand beside her. She didn't say a word, but caught Randi's eyes wither own and everyone except Reed and Lacey watched with amazement when Randi visibly calmed with only a look and a touch from Gwen. Randi took a deep breath and smiled gently at Gwen. Then she looked back at the assembly, pinning Lorac with her gaze.

"So what happened? How did he get in and established here?"

"Not like you think, but easier than you can imagine."

"Tell me."

"He didn't come to us as Ares or as a god. He came to us a sick, delusional man. By the time we knew who he was, it was too late. We had been infected and just didn't care. We wanted him here as Ares... as the god of war. He promised we would be strong again - that we would assume our rightful place in history. And it sounded so good." Lorac shook her head. "I know it is just so much bullshit now, but that drug...."

Randi blew out breath. "So why did he set up security? Wasn't the whole point to um... be accessible to the Nation?"

"Oh no. We were accessible to him, not the other way around. He made it clear that he needed a place that was estrogen free."

"It's not completely estrogen free," Dania stated firmly. "I saw a couple of Amazons coming out if there earlier."

Nairobi's eyebrows went up to her forehead. "Really? Well, that explains a lot." At Gwen's questioning expression, she continued. "According to Lorac, he is unable to scry here - there is something about the construction of this place that distorts that particular power. The only way he can monitor things is to have a direct link... like a vid feed. And yet he has always been aware of everything that goes on here. It only makes sense that he has an informer or two."

"No wonder we found so much low-tech shit in here. What a moron," Randi muttered and turned away to walk back to her chosen corner. Gwen chuckled under her breath, her grin drawing the attention of everyone watching. When she shared, the rest smiled.

"My queen?" Gwen turned to Mason and her brows jumped.

"Mason? Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"

The Sabre chuckled. "I was awake... figured I would come and listen to the briefing."

"All right then... what can I do for you, Mason?"

"Did Corky really challenge you? Are you really going to fight her?"

"Yes, she did and yes, I am. Why? Don't you think I can take her?"

"Oh no, my queen. I know you can. I just want to make sure I am there to see you kick her ass."

Gwen's shook her head in amusement and turned to look at Randi who simply smirked back at her. "Has she annoyed *everyone* in the Nation?"

Nairobi sighed, and the seriousness of her tone caused Gwen to focus her attention on the elder. "Mostly, yes. When she lost the princess' favor, she became angry and bitter. She moved from tribe to tribe, hoping she would find the satisfaction she was looking for that would make her happy. But it always seemed just out of her reach and nothing any of us did was enough."

"She seemed to settle down after her last bout with Randi - the one a couple years ago at the festival. No, most of us were not there, but we certainly did hear about it, and a number of us saw the feed as well," in response to Gwen's unasked question. "Anyway, after that, Corky seemed to settle down, and if she wasn't happy, at least she wasn't making everyone around her miserable. It was getting progressively better; to the point that she stood up for both of you as queen and consort when the discussion was brought to the Nation."

"So the serum...?"

"Helped her return to being an asshole again," Dania said. "It didn't take very long."

"It wouldn't," Randi said unexpectedly. "The poison that Ares uses to bind a warrior brings out their most aggressive tendencies."

"How did you beat it, Empress?" Nairobi asked. "Ares assured us you would be one of us in the new world order he was establishing here. And from the little we know of what took place in Reed's village, I can only assume that he infected you first and you are the reason we have a vaccine."

"It took the love and support of a lot of good people, Nairobi, and a spirit walk with my soulmate."

"And significant strength of will as well, Nairobi. Don't let her make you think it was easy."

"Oh no, my queen. After wishing I could die for the first twelve hours after I got the antidote, I would never think there was anything easy about recovering from this nasty stuff." She shuddered and it was repeated around the room. "However, I for one am grateful for whatever you went through. Even though most of us here were too old to be violated by him physically, it didn't take the craving away." Her forehead scrunched up in thought. "Do you suppose that was added specifically for the Amazons?"

"I dunno," Lacey commented. "The whole compound was very strange. It was very hard to work with."

"It doesn't matter," Lorac cut in. "He had it; he used it; it worked. You found an antidote and it worked. Can we move on to something else, please?" She stood and crossed to kneel in front of Gwen. "I am sorry, my queen. I am ready to accept whatever punishment you see fit to dispense for my act of aggression against you." She dropped her head and waited.

Gwen touched her on the top of the head. "Rise, my friend. We know why you did what you did and all is forgiven."

Lorac stood. "You know the Nation is going to expect some sort of retaliation."

"No worries. By the time your 'punishment' is an issue in the Nation, the Nation will be back to normal and no one will expect you to be punished."

"Thank you, my queen." Lorac took Gwen's hands in her colder ones. "Just be careful when you fight Corky today. One thing about that stuff Ares gave us - it infused us with a need to win... no matter what the cost. She won't fight fair."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"And I'll keep her in sight."

Randi's words made the whole room relax, and their attention turned to what to have for lunch.



"How are you doing, baby? Things there okay?"

Reed smiled at the vid screen. No wonder she loved Tiny so much. He was always looking out for her, even when his plate was full. She nodded. "Yeah. Gwen has a challenge later today, but the distribution is going well. With luck we are looking at less than a week. Then we will be returning to the capital. How are things there?"

"Busy. But the rebels... sorry, the students are making enormous progress - much better than expected. Most of them have discovered a real passion for learning. Everything else is on hold til Randi gets back here to implement the restructuring. But the groundwork she gave me is being laid and for the most part, it seems to be working."

"Seems to be?"

"Yeah, it's not like we can test it fully until Randi gets back. She's gonna want to take a look at it before we run it for real. It's gonna change everything."

"I'm glad," Reed sighed. "I just wanna go home and raise puppies for a while."

Tiny smiled. "I know how you feel, sweetheart."

Reed lifted her head and turned towards the door separating her room from the conference room where everyone else was gathered. Tiny raised an eyebrow when he saw her nostrils flare in anticipation. "Who's cooking?" knowing from her unconscious clues what was going on.

"Smells like Rosie did the honors again."

"Do you know how much I hate you right now?" he grumbled.

"I love you too, baby. We'll be home soon." Reed blew him a kiss and closed the connection before he could respond. Then she made her way back into the main room of Randi and Gwen's quarters. She knew she'd pay for teasing Tiny later, but for now she was going to enjoy Rosie's cooking.



Chapter XVIII

It was quiet in the room after lunch. The council had departed with more vials of the serum to spread among the sisters and the Sabres that were not on guard duty had scattered back to their rooms or out into the population. Reed and Jess had moved Lorac to their room, leaving Randi and Gwen alone in solitary splendor.

"You know what I would like to do?" Gwen asked as she sat down next to Randi. She leaned into her body and smiled when Randi's arm came down around her shoulders almost automatically. Gwen snuggled a little deeper into the embrace and patted Randi on the belly.

"Dance a gavotte and a jig?" Randi said, causing a ripple of laughter to explode from Gwen's lips.

"Um, no," Gwen finally said when her laughter died down. "Where did that come from anyway?"

Randi blinked and shook her head. "Dunno... it was something I saw a long time ago... sort of absurd like this whole situation has become. Besides, you're a very graceful dancer; you could probably do either with very little trouble."

"Maybe, but if I'm gonna dance, I'd rather dance with you."

Randi smiled - the rare full kind that Gwen knew meant she'd hit the mark. She leaned slightly and brushed a kiss over Gwen's temple. "That still doesn't tell me what you'd like to do."

"I'd like to go tell stories. The kids weren't infected the same way everyone else was. I'd like to see if I can undo some of the damage Ares did without making them suffer through the antidote. Besides, I miss being a bard, and we have been so busy lately, I haven't really had a chance to do much storytelling. I'd like to try."

Abruptly, Randi stood to her feet, taking Gwen's hand and pulling her up along with her. "All right. Let's go find the kids."

Gwen grinned and wrapped her fingers more tightly around Randi's. "There was a large group of them in the nursery area earlier. You think they're still there?"

Randi glanced at the time. "Probably. Let me grab a contingent...." She broke off when a grimace passed over Gwen's face. "I'll keep them in the background, love, but they still have to be a presence... at least for a little while longer."

"Even around the kids?"

"Especially around the kids. It would be seen as a weakness if we don't."

Gwen sighed, knowing it to be the truth. "All right. As long as they stay in the background."

"They will. They'll be glad to just for the excuse to go along and listen to your stories." Randi stroked her cheek gently, chasing the blush that followed her words.

"Yes, well...." clearing her throat gently. "C'mon then. Let's gather up the big children so I can go tell stories to the little ones."

Randi chuckled and led them out into the corridor, gathering up Sabres as she went.



The space was filled to a standing room only capacity - a surprising fact to Gwen given the amount of animosity that was still prevalent throughout the members of the Nation who had yet to be inoculated... especially since half the people gathered in the room were adults. But Gwen put all that aside and focused her considerable concentration on the children. They were genuinely happy to see her and it showed in their smiles and hugs as they welcomed her.

She took a seat at the front of the room on the floor and the kids rushed to gather around her. The Sabres scattered throughout, some sitting among the children; the rest threaded between the Amazons or leaning up against the wall. Randi stood behind Gwen against the wall, smiling tightly when Gwen leaned back into her legs. Then Gwen started talking, and the room fell silent to listen.

She told an old story - one about the original soulmates she and Randi had been once upon a time when she had first been the Queen of the Amazons. Not so different from this experience, and yet nothing like what their life was like now. It wasn't a story that was written in the scrolls and everyone paid close attention as Gwen's words flowed over them. It was a lighter tale, filled with humor and mishap that kept them all in stitches.

As she drew to a close, everyone clapped in appreciation of her skill and the children begged for a second tale. Only Corky's presence in the doorway put a halt to any effort and cast a pall over the entire company.

"Aw... now ain't this just too special? She can't lead warriors, so she hangs out with the babies. Figures," she snorted in derision. "Let's go, queenie. It's time for me to kick your ass."

So fast no one even saw her move, Randi caught Corky by the ear and twisted so hard it brought the big Amazon to her knees. Corky clawed at Randi, but the fire in the blue eyes burned hot and Randi pinched the hand holding hers between the thumb and forefinger, smiling with grim satisfaction when Corky stilled all movement.

"I believe the queen asked you just this morning for a little common courtesy and simple respect. Now either you can figure out how to give that to her, or I am going to take you down like the dog you are - challenge be hanged. You got me?"

Corky stared defiantly at Randi with hatred blazing from her eyes. Then Randi twisted a little more and pinched a little harder and Corky's eyes dropped to the ground. "Yeah," she finally ground out. "I gotcha." She swallowed hard and turned her attention back to Gwen. "I am hereby challenging you, Queen Gwen of the Amazon Nation for the right to rule. Challenge will commence in one hour in the center of the village meadow." She looked back at Randi. "All right?"

"Now get out," Randi growled. "I'll take care of your discipline when this is over," throwing Corky away from her and not blinking when she fell on her ass. Corky glared up Randi for a long moment, then stood and sneered.

"You won't get the chance, Empress. When I get done, she will be mine."

To her surprise, Randi just laughed. "Corky, you couldn't handle her. Now get out," she reiterated, "before I show these nice kids what happens to stupid Amazons who think they are better than they really are."

Corky snarled and glared again, but she couldn't break the amusement in Randi's face. Without another word, she turned and stomped out of the nursery as everyone's eyes followed her progress. Randi moved to stand beside Gwen who had risen as soon as Corky had made an appearance. Gwen rubbed a hand over Randi's back, her gentle touch settling the tension she could feel singing throughout Randi's body. Her attention was distracted by a jerk on her pants' leg. She looked down to find a young girl smiling up at her impishly.

"My queen?"

"Yes, little one? What is it?"

"Will you tell us a story about a queen and her champion?"

Gwen's grin grew exponentially, and the twinkle in her eyes lit up the room. "I think I could come up with something." Cheers rang throughout the room, even from the Amazons who had been hostile before.



As the hour for the challenge approached, Gwen wound her story down to renewed cheering and applause. The tale she had shared with them was true, though unknown to the Amazons, it came from the journals and not Randi and Gwen's current lives. Randi recognized it and worked hard to keep the blush off her face as all eyes turned in her direction when the champion prevailed and knelt before the queen to receive her due reward.

"That is a wonderful story, your majesty," one of the older Amazons commented. "Is it true?"

"As a matter of fact, it is," Gwen supplied. "But now it is time for me to go be the champion."

"Why? Isn't that *her* job?" sneering and pointing at Randi. She didn't react - just kept her arms folded across her chest and waited.

"It would be," Gwen answered honestly, "if this was about defending the throne. But Corky is not challenging me for the throne. She is challenging me because she doesn't like Randi... not as my choice of consort nor for any other reason. She has made this personal and I am personally going to answer her as I will anyone who threatens my home. Now if you'll excuse me...."

A word from Randi and the Sabres cleared a straight path to the door and Gwen walked through. She felt the pinprick at her neck and clapped her hand to it, swiveling her head to discover what had happened. Randi was at her side instantly.

"What's wrong?"

"I dunno; it felt like something bit me."

"Gwen, there are no bugs in this facility."

"I know."

"Let me see your neck, sweetheart."

The Amazon who had been derisive only moments before cackled. "There is nothing you can do, Consort... it's too late. She belongs to Ares now."

Randi didn't even move. Shibata had the woman down on the ground before she could say anything else. The children stood stock still, watching the unfolding drama. Randi scooped Gwen into her arms and walked swiftly out the door without a backwards glance. Jess herded the youngsters out of the nursery while the rest of the Sabres began inoculating the adults without hesitation or compassion. They didn't set out to deliberately injure, but they took no care to keep from bruising either. And soon there were a number of previously belligerent Amazons tossing their cookies as fast as they could get somewhere to do so.

Meanwhile, as quickly as they were done, most of the Sabres headed back towards the queen's quarters to await the outcome of her poisoning. This was a most unexpected turn of events.



Gwen could feel the burning flowing through her veins, waking every nerve ending she had and standing them straight up on end. She snuggled deeper into Randi's neck, knowing instinctively she was the only sane hold Gwen had left in the world.

Randi strode into their quarters, past a surprised Rosie and directly into their room, shutting the door firmly behind her. She sat on the bed and lay back, then rolled over until Gwen was tucked completely beneath her body. Randi waited for Gwen to open her eyes and see her, then she ducked her head and captured her lips in a passionate, possessive kiss.

Gwen resisted at first, but Randi persisted until she felt Gwen relax into the kiss and start responding. She let her arms wrap completely around Gwen and swallow Gwen in her embrace. Time stopped for both of them as the kiss went on, tongues dueling fiercely for dominance and hands gently tracing bodies. Slowly Randi pulled back from Gwen and smiled down into now unfocused, darkened green eyes.

"He doesn't get to win, Gwen. That burning... that feeling belongs to us. Use it to your advantage, but don't let it control you."

Gwen blinked. "This is how you felt? All that time - *this* is how you felt?"

Randi shook her head. "No... mine was different. Mine was based on hatred. This is based on lust."

"It's amazing," Gwen breathed. "No wonder they didn't care what he did once they were infected." She reached up to smooth the lines off Randi's forehead. "Funny thing though," she said looking up from between her lashes. "I have no desire to do anything with or for him unless it involves me kicking him in the nuts. But the things I want to do with you right now...." She let her words trail off and tenderly began to trace the features she had come to cherish more than anything else in the world.

Randi closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensations, knowing they didn't have much time, but just not caring. Nothing and no one was more important than this - right here, right now. Everything else could just go hang for all she cared.

Suddenly Gwen pulled back. "We have somewhere to be right now, so I am going to hold this thought for when we get back. After that, all bets are off for you for the rest of the night." She took Randi's hand and rose from the bed, then turned in her arms. "One kiss for the road," she demanded.

It was long and languorous and took her breath away. When they finally separated for air, Randi leered at Gwen who promptly licked her lips. Randi's nostrils flared in response and Gwen smirked. "More for that later, Stud. For now, it will be sufficient motivation to get this over with in a hurry."

"Well, if you need added incentive, there is plenty more for you where that came from."

She led Randi to the bedroom door and together they stepped out into a living area filled with waiting Sabres. "Let's go, ladies. I have lots of things to do, so let's get to it because most of them are far more important than dealing with PMSing Amazons today."

"Ooh... it is gonna suck to be Corky," Brenda commented to her nearest companions. Reed just held on to Rosie tightly and concentrated on her breathing, hoping to survive the latest influx of energy between them.



Corky was waiting in the center of the village meadow surrounded by every Amazon who was able to be there when Gwen and Randi arrived with a small contingent of Sabre guards. To her surprise, not all of them were standing behind her and there was not nearly the support for her challenge that she expected. She was committed at this point, however and strutted around cockily trying to convey an air of nonchalance.

The Amazons let Gwen through and formed a circle around the two combatants. Randi stepped up beside them to referee and Corky balked.

"I don't think so. I want a neutral observer to umpire this challenge."

"And I want to string you up by your thumbs and flay you alive. But I haven't done that yet, so you're just going to have to deal with me as the referee of this bout. Otherwise, you can concede defeat and I will move on to determining your punishment." Randi grinned evilly. "Your choice."

"No real choice there. Fine... whatever. It's not like I'm not going to win. Then you won't be an issue anymore."

"Move to your corner," Randi said calmly and she nodded to the Sabres who immediately stepped between Corky and Gwen. Randi turned her attention to Gwen whose eyes were blazing with aggression and anger. Randi cupped Gwen's face in her hands.

"Focus," Randi breathed. "Let it work for you."

Gwen wrapped her hands into Randi's dark hair and savagely pulled her down into a fierce, claiming kiss. There was nothing gentle about it; it was about domination and power. Randi let it go on for a long moment before she took control and transformed it into love and desire. She smiled when Gwen melted against her and kept it up until Gwen pulled back to breathe. Then Randi smiled.

"Now go kick her ass... we have business to finish."

Gwen stepped back from Randi and the Sabres took that as their cue to move from between the two opponents. The Amazons widened the circle to allow them to become a part of it, then all attention turned to Randi.

"Here ye all who are gathered here - this is a challenge for the Amazon throne, but it is not a challenge to the death. Special conditions have been set for the dispensation of judgment once the victor of this contest has been determined." She turned to Gwen. "As challenged, you have the right to choose your weapon, my queen."

"I choose the staff."

Randi turned to Corky. "The weapon of choice is the staff. Opponents, choose your weapons and retreat to your corners." She waited until they followed her instructions, then resumed speaking. "When I drop my arms, the contest will commence and will not end until a winner has been established. That will be decided by one woman's inability to continue fighting - either by surrender or debilitating injury as determined by myself as the referee." Randi paused and looked between Gwen and Corky. "Are these conditions understood and accepted by both parties?" Both heads nodded, though Corky was much slower to acknowledge her words.

Randi spent a long moment staring at Gwen before turning back to look at Corky and dropping her arms. "Begin," she said softly, and the fight was on.

They circled one another first, neither of them making a move to engage the other. Suddenly, Gwen stopped and planted one in of her staff on the ground. Corky halted, but didn't drop her staff from its defensive position.

"Ya know, we could do this all day. But I have far more interesting things I would rather be doing. So can we pick up the pace a little?"

"You that anxious to give me a tumble there, your majesty? We could just skip the foreplay this fight is and get right down to business. Tell your consort over there she's now an ex and we'll go get it on."

Corky didn't even see her shift, but without warning her staff was flying across the circle and out of the enclosure. Gwen stood back and waited for someone to pass the weapon back to Corky. Corky took it slowly and moved back into position. Then she went on the offensive, twirling and slashing at Gwen who simply wasn't where Corky expected her to be. A look in her green eyes and Corky realized Gwen was playing games with her and that made her mad.

She pulled back for an overhead move that she always used to overpower her smaller opponents. The comical look on Corky's face when Gwen blocked and held her staff in place made Gwen smile. "Please, Corky - do you really think you can defeat me? Randi taught me everything I know and she is the one I learned to defend against."

Corky growled and stepped back a pace to rethink her strategy. Gwen waited, then blinked rapidly when her eyes started to burn from the powder Corky had just released from an unseen compartment on her staff. Gwen heard the staff coming towards her and raised her own to stop it - only to hear it stopped by the clap of wood on bare skin.

"What the hell??" Corky snarled. "This between me and her - there were no rules about...." This time the sound Gwen heard was that of skin against skin as Randi slapped Corky so hard her hand made an instant imprint on Corky's cheek.

"Give me a reason," Randi ground out from between clenched teeth. "Just one."

"Step away from her, Randi. This is my fight and I intend to finish it."

Randi turned slightly to look at Gwen. Her eyes were red and there were obvious tracks where the tears had streamed down her face in an effort to relieve the burning. But otherwise there was no sign of distress... only determination. She nodded in answer to the unspoken question in Randi's expression. Randi twisted back around to face Corky.

"Please," she said softly enough only Corky could hear her. "Be stupid." Then she released Corky's staff and stepped from between the two.

Corky wasn't ready for Gwen to go on the offensive. Legend had it that this Amazon queen never had and never would. It came as a very unpleasant surprise to Corky to find out that this one not only did, but she knew what she was doing.

She felt the first blast to her ribs as a sharp pain accompanied by bright lights. Then she heard the bone in her arm snap a second before the pain made her knees crumple. The last thing Corky felt was the searing pain in her head before the bright lights faded and everything went black.

There was dead silence from everyone when Corky fell over in a fetal position unconscious. No one had expected the violence and savagery they had just seen come from their reputedly peaceful and bardically inclined queen. Without a hint of remorse, Gwen directed two of the Amazons she knew had already been vaccinated to gather Corky up and deliver her immediately to the infirmary. The Sabres she nodded to, knowing they would inoculate as many of the remaining Amazons gathered together as they could manage. Then she took Randi's hand in her own and walked calmly out of the circle, heading back towards the mountain.

No one made a move to follow them, which made the Sabres' job easier... until the women started reacting to the serum. Fortunately, there were enough that had already suffered through the aftereffects of the antidote who knew what to expect and the rest just put it down to reaction since Gwen's explosion had left many feeling more than a little queasy.

That delay, since even those who had not been inoculated stayed back to help their stricken sisters, gave Gwen and Randi plenty of time to reach their quarters unhindered. Only the Sabres who stood guard at the door saw them and Mason looked around for the remainder of the guard contingent. She didn't have a chance to ask either Gwen or Randi where the Sabre guard was as they walked into their room and shut the door behind them immediately. She and Iroque exchanged glances and shrugs and returned to watching the corridor.

Gwen went through the living area of their quarters, bypassing Reed and Rosie without a word of acknowledgment. Randi glanced in their direction but a motion from Reed sent her into the bedroom behind Gwen without hesitation. She would check on them later, but for now, Gwen was her priority.

Gwen was already in the bathroom by the time Randi entered and closed the door. Randi heard the retching and quickly crossed to her side. Gwen pulled away, or tried to, but Randi wouldn't let her and held on to Gwen tightly until she finished throwing up. Then Randi wrapped Gwen in her embrace and wiped her face.

"Feel better?" after a long silence.

Gwen nodded. "Sort of, but mostly I feel disoriented and drained." She stood slowly and grabbed her toothbrush. Randi stood behind her and held onto her waist while Gwen brushed and rinsed. When she was done, she leaned back into Randi's body. Randi reached down and scooped Gwen into her arms without objection and moved them back into the bedroom.

When Randi lowered Gwen onto the bed, Gwen held onto Randi and drew her down on top of her, savoring her weight. Knowing instinctively what Gwen needed and would never articulate in her current state, Randi captured Gwen's lips and rolled them over, letting Gwen take the lead.

Gwen immediately assumed control of the kiss, turning voracious in her need and desire. Randi remained submissive, responding to the need but not trying to control. As quickly as she had claimed dominance, Gwen released Randi's lips and buried her face into Randi's neck. Randi wrapped her up tighter until Gwen was completely surrounded.

"I feel like I am coming out of my skin. I want to devour you and I want to cry; I want you to protect me and I want to kill Corky - I could have very easily. The worst part is - I don't feel bad for what I did to her and part of me thinks I should. Hold me, Randi... hold me tight and don't let go. I don't want to lose myself in this feeling. I hate the way it feels."

"I gotcha, baby. I gotcha. You just hang on to me and I'll guide you all the way home."

There was silence for a few minutes while Gwen absorbed the warmth and the words Randi was offering her. Then she pulled back just slightly to look into bright blue eyes that stared back at her with loving concern.

"This is what you felt like, isn't it? All those months, this was burning through your veins."

"Yep," came the matter of fact answer. "That is why I haven't called Lacey for the antidote for you."

"You want me to suffer like you did?" The fury in her eyes was sexy as hell and Randi didn't resist the urge to address it with love. She knew the minute Gwen lost her anger because she felt the change in her kiss. Then the embrace became passionate again and Randi just lay back and let it happen. Slowly, Gwen pulled back and glared down at Randi.

"No," answering the question. "I didn't want you to die, and we don't know what the antidote will do to you and me. I know we can get through this together - we've already done it once. We *are* the antidote... as far as each other are concerned."

"So you don't feel like you're going crazy now?"

Randi gave her a teasing grin. "No more than I have ever felt when you're around," mock-pouting when Gwen swatted at her. Then her expression turned serious. "I still have my moments - you've seen that. But our spirit walk together got rid of the burning. So we can defeat this."

"With another spirit walk?" Gwen bit her lip. "Randi, I don't think I can do that again so soon."

"No, love. No more spirit walks. I don't think I could go through that again ever," unable to stop the small shudder that passed through her frame at the thought. "We can use the bond we formed there to bring your burning under control... to give you the power to direct your feelings into whatever outlet you feel most comfortable expressing them."

"You're sure?"

"As sure as I can be about anything. I would never knowingly expose you to danger."

Gwen nodded and patted Randi's chest before laying her head back over Randi's heart. "I know, sweetheart. I didn't mean to imply you would. I'm just scared. I hate feeling totally out of control like this." A beat. "Is this the way the Amazons felt?"

Randi shrugged. "I dunno, but I don't think so - given the way they've all described it so far. I think the bond we formed is making what should have been simple warrior aggressiveness look for other outlets besides war and fighting. For me it was different because I had already learned to channel most of that years ago, so the only war I was fighting was with myself."

Gwen nodded. "That is exactly how I feel - like I am fighting with myself, being pulled in directions I don't understand or have any control over."

"Close your eyes."

Gwen tilted her head up to find Randi's blue gaze focused intently on her. She studied them for a long moment, then, having found the answers she needed, closed her eyes and curled her body deeper into Randi, coveting the strength and warm she found there.

"Good girl," Randi encouraged. "Now I want you to focus that considerable will you possess when you are storytelling. Whatever calming and meditation techniques you use to put yourself into the zone, find it now and harness it. Once you have that, the control will be there and we can work through the lust that is running rampant in your system. Defeating that will be easy, and once that is done, Ares won't be able to touch you again - you will be immune."

Gwen nodded but didn't speak, centering herself as though she was going to do the bard thing. Slowly she felt her heartbeat settle and her rage calm and she gradually opened her eyes to find herself in the dell in her dreams.

"Randi?"

"I'm right here, love," stepping from behind the oak. "I figured you would come here. I did the same thing."

"So what do we do now?"

"We go to sleep. It will give the anger a chance to cool and when we wake up, only the lust and passion will be left. And I think we can figure things out from there."

Gwen smiled. "I think so too. Will you hold me here?"

"For as long as you need me to, sweetheart."

"Then Ares has no chance. Goodnight, Stud."

"Goodnight, my queen."



"Are you sure you infected her?"

"Yes, my lord. I saw it hit and I witnessed the burning in her eyes as well."

"Then why hasn't she called for me? No one can resist the binding once the burning starts."

"I only know what I saw, my lord. We gave her the potion just as you instructed. She defeated Corky with no difficulty, even when Corky tried to cheat to win. Once the bout was over, she and the Empress returned to the mountain. No one has seen or heard from them since."

"All right... get out."

"My lord... there is one more thing."

Ares sighed. "What is it?"

"There is a sickness going around. It seems most of the Nation has caught it. Is there something you can do to keep it from spreading? It is making the sisters violently ill. I think it was brought in by the queen and her entourage - they seem to be immune, but it didn't start until after they arrived."

Ares nodded, pinching his lip thoughtfully. "I'll look into it. Now is not a good time for the warriors to be getting sick. For now, make sure you and the rest who have not been infected by them stay very clear of them. We cannot afford any complications. See to it."

The woman nodded and bowed low before scampering out of his presence. Ares sat brooding for a long moment before coming to a decision, shimmering out if his hideaway to find Lorac. He needed some real answers.



Continued...