06 Demons' End

      Wakefulness came slowly, grudgingly. Discussing the nature of reality and the cause and effect of my powers was a good idea, he thought as he climbed out of the hammock, and started towards the door, Doing it until 0200, was not. Although I think that the quantum mechanical idea of reality not deciding what it is until observed has merit. It explains why I can learn such seemingly flawed spells so easily, while more powerful ones remain beyond my grasp.

      "I also think they were directing my realization to that end, so they'd have their Holy Hydrogen Bomb of Heidelberg when they needed it," he said as he climbed up the ladder to the main deck, "Where is everybody?" He looked around at the ship, devoid of little Megami running around, or any work crews. Then his sleepy brain pointed out that there was no sound of water against the hull, and the guns were pointed port, all of them.

      "Oh, shit!" she shouted as he ran down the starboard side to the bridge. "Captain! Captain! I think -!"

      The roar of thunder heralded the deck dropping out from under him and the superstructure swinging down to crash into him. He gasped as he heard the bones break on impact and the wind was knocked out of him. Then the ship seemed to move away.

---

      Jen screamed in horror as she watched her Master sail through the air, as the Megami crew slowed the ship's rotation due to the recoil. She raced out of the bridge and towards the figure sailing up into the air. "MASTER!" she screamed as she caught his slowly rising body. "Master!" she called over the echoes of the big guns. "Master," she called as she cradled his body, the blood from his mouth and nose streaming off his face.

      "Hrrs," he hissed in pain.

      "Don't worry Master, you'll be fine, you'll be fine," she assured him as she accelerated gingerly and made a beeline for the sickbay. "Doctor! Warden! Kay!" she screamed as she glided through the corridors, conscious she could be killing the very person she was trying to save.

---

      Miguelito walked out of the surgery, the scrubs were bloody and he was tired, but he wanted to tell them, all his friend's girls, as they waited.

      "We had to fill his lungs with Argon to stifle the breathing reflex, and we have equipment and spells oxygenating and purifying the blood. Except we're losing volume on both, blood and Argon, so his lung or lungs have been punctured."

      "So heal him!" Jen thundered.

      Miguelito's own worry and tiredness armored him against her rage. "He was, but if there is a bone shard or shards in there, it will keep punching holes in the flesh. So Doctor Marilyn will have to go in surgically to remove them. Healing only fixes the damage, it doesn't remove the foreign material."

      "I'm - sorry, I didn't know," Jen admitted.

      "No fault my dear, we are all concerned," Miguelito said, "Seadamar and Angie are using their more detailed scanners to locate the damage that didn't show up on the X-rays. They'll find it."

      "At the risk of being a called impudent," Aurora said, "You should get some rest, Doctor. We can monitor the equipment, but only you can competently assist Kay and Doctor Marilyn in surgery. Better if you had some sleep and something to eat, ah, reverse that order, before the surgery."

      The small man nodded, and turned to Voltaire, who nodded to Aurora and carried her Master away.

      Aurora's wan smile faded as she glared at the Captain, who'd arrived in the wake of Miguelito's departure. "What the Hell were you people thinking?!"

      "We discussed the test with everyone, as I said," the Megami said defensively.

      "Except him!" Jen shouted, only to be restrained by Roxanne.

      "What, you think all those meeting he had were to just tell you what he was doing with your ship? You thought you had to sneak a test past him? You're the Captain, he met with you to get your permission to make those repairs and modifications!" Aurora said, her rage under control, but it matched or exceeded Jen's in all other departments, "You couldn't spare one crew member to guard his door?"

      "None old enough for that responsibility could be spared," the XO said defensively.

      "You had three non-combatants, and Doctor Kincaid's assistant," Acer said, only the frantic lashing of her vine showed her turmoil, "You could have asked any of them. You could have posted a note on the inside of the door and tack-welded it shut! He wasn't trying to be your Master, he was trying to be your partner," she offered in a more controlled tone.

      "He can't be a partner!" the Captain wailed as she fell to her knees, "Don't you see, can't you feel it! You're part of his Harem, you are completely under his spell. He orders you to speak up, and you can. If he ordered you to be silent, you'd watch him die without even a whimper!" She hugged herself as if chilled. "I . . . I couldn't risk him saying 'no', because I couldn't stand against him."

      The others stared in stunned silence as the Captain broke down.

      "You talk about standing against him, have any of you? Do any of you want to?" the Captain wept, "I can feel what he is, and feel what he's doing where ever he is on this ship! He doesn't even know he's doing it. He broke the pride of a HyperDoll by showing her one real act of kindness, when it would break her completely. He defeated the Infernal Underworld by running roughshod over her, but not hurting her. I could no more stand up to him than a wall of sugar could stop a steam hose! Nor could any of you, unless he told you to!"

      "You could have asked us, to ask him," Angie said as she exited the surgery. She angrily wiped the blood from her muzzle and glared at them. "I kissed him, I'm no vampire!"

      The soft chuckles from the others broke the tension.

      "We found the shards, and the wounds. I think he will survive for a few hours without surgery, and without moving. Isaik paralyzed him, so he's out of immediate danger of making it worse. But the surgical staff will have to be rested to perform the work, and Alba?"

      "Yes," the little Pokègirl looked away from the window where she watched her `mother` and her mother's Master.

      "They are going to need your help, your hands and arms are smaller. They should be able to get at places the tools have trouble reaching," Angie said.

      "Is Seadamar going to be there?" the little HandMaid asked.

      "Yes," Angie said, "The rest of you, we need to let him know he's still with us, and that we want him back. Since none of us are telepaths, and that would be incredibly dangerous . . . Cheryl, you'll have to take a team and go into his 'soulscape', find him and brief him on what we're doing."

      "That may be no safer than the telepathy route," Cheryl said, "And I don't know if I can bring others with me."

      "Find out," Angie said, "All right. Jen, Acer, Rainbow, you have the first watch, now to two hours. Only Seadamar, Doctors Carmen or Marilyn, Voltaire and Kay go in or out. Anyone else is to be stopped, challenged or killed, your discretion. Roxanne, Sabrina and Blossom take the second, two to four hours. Hatta, Warden and Maus will take the last. The surgery will probably start during your shift. When the surgery ends, put your healing compounds directly into the blood mixer, I already talked it over with both Miguelito and Doctor Marilyn, it's a risk, but it's a minimal one." She smiled. "He's going to survive, even if we have to drag him back out of Hell to do it. After all, think of the boasting. 'Well my Master survived getting hit by a heavy cruiser, not the guns, the cruiser itself."

      There were chuckles again. But Jen stood up. "I don't think we should encourage him to think like that," she admonished.

      Angie shrugged. "But he'll know anyway."

---

      Naomi hadn't been assigned guard duty, and until Cheryl was ready, she had no official tasks to perform. Gwendoline was a welcome addition as they blocked the thruway.

      "Captain, if you think you can just walk away from this," the police Tigress confronted the Megami, "You are out of your little, pink mind."

      "I have nothing to say to you. Everyone knew to stay below deck where the effects were minimized," the Captain said.

      "Except the one person who is the entire purpose of this mission," Gwendoline said, "And it seems no thought was given to his safety."

      "Any Tamer would have gone to look for his Harem," the Captain said, "Not stayed on deck.

      "As you yourself pointed out, he's no ordinary Tamer," Naomi said calmly, instead of shaking the arrogant Megami until her teeth fell out, "And I do not wish to hear excuses. Not from one who so clearly failed her basic duty not only to her passengers and crew, but to the sea itself. You don't put people in that kind of jeopardy, even if you are afraid of them."

      "It isn't that simple," the Captain said, and glanced behind the pair, to where a dozen other Megami waited.

      "Fine, play it that way. We are the carrot, but you want the stick," Naomi said, "I'm sure you'll enjoy dealing with him, instead of us. Let's go." The pair walked past the terrified Captain and down the hall.

      "Frightened people do stupid things," Gwendoline pointed out.

      "I know, and that's why an extra guard or two might not be a bad idea," the Tigress said, "And we happen to have a few extras Angie isn't using. Who just happen to need to regain their good standing."

---

      "That was useless," Warden said as she and Maus separated, " 'I have the utmost faith in both of you', not what I wanted to hear from an Infernal Legendary."

      Maus nodded. "Aaa eye anzzz," she growled.

      "Yes, I think she was more interested in what the Alliance was doing, than what we are doing. I'm afraid that the Alliance may just have decided to stop waiting on the sidelines and take advantage of this opportunity. The assassination attempt was a clue, but how the rest of their web holds together . . . I'm the wrong person to guess."

      "Rssst," Maus told her and mimicked sleeping.

      "Yeah, we've got guard and healing duty," she said, "I sometimes wish that life were simpler."

      Maus shook her head and grinned. "N' fuun," Maus replied.

---

      The storm was still there, but the sea was much quieter than she'd seen it before.

      "Figures you'd stick me in the water," Isaik said as she walked back onto the beach and poured the water out of her boots.

      "You could have landed head-first," Cheryl said, "I'm not exactly in control here." She looked around, counting noses. "Is everyone else okay?"

      Aurora, Rainbow, Angie, Acer, Jen, Naomi, and Gwendoline looked around.

      "Fine," Jen said, "I guess. Where is he?"

      "I didn't see him when I was here last time," Cheryl admitted.

      "But you didn't go looking in there," Aurora asked as she pointed at the storm, "Did you?"

      Cheryl shook her head.

      "How about going inland?" Isaik asked, "I don't think he sees himself as a storm. He'd look for somewhere , like that." She pointed to a high cliff some distance away. "Somewhere out of the storm surge and with a good view." The small Pokègirl took off at a jog, leaving the others the choice to remain or give chase. Aurora took to the air and followed. Rainbow changed to her battle-form and trotted after. Jen and Gwendoline pursued Aurora and Rainbow, respectively.

      Cheryl looked at the trio that remained. "I don't think it would be that obvious," she explained, "But we should stay together."

      They headed off in Isaik's wake, although Naomi kept glancing backward. "I could swear something's watching us."

      "If this is him," Cheryl explained as they ran, "All of it could be watching us."

      The cliff was more formidable up close than it had been from their arrival point. "That's a steep climb," Isaik noted the switchback path that led up the side.

      "It also is a perfect place for an ambush," Rainbow noted, "A lone warrior with a large supply of rocks could hold off an army.

      Cheryl however was looking around. "It wouldn't be so obvious. That's the trap, and that's what you were feeling. What high ground bears on this place, where would you site the artillery to let the army get halfway up, then shower them with artillery fire?"

      "Who'd set an ambush here?" Rainbow asked, then shrugged as both Isaik and Cheryl stared at her. "That hill over there. It's got a good view of the approaches, it's got other taller hills near it . . . no, we're thinking he'd be embattled here. Inside his own mind and soul. There wouldn't be traps, there'd be puzzles. This wouldn't be threatening, it would be a place of discovery. He's at home being alone, the walls are to keep others out. Once you were inside, everything should be convenient and easy to get to. The storm surge would be a problem, but only if he let it. He's not Miguelito, not mercurial. He is methodical and detail oriented."

      They looked around and wondered. Naomi kept glancing around. "We're being watched. I know it. I can feel it."

      Gwendoline smacked her head with her hand. "We're a pack of idiots!" she exclaimed, "We won't find him here, he is here. The land, the sea, the sky. A huge threatening storm, but the air is warm and the breeze soft. All these rocky crags, yet there are dozen fruit-laden trees to harvest. The storm surge and protected lagoons. I bet the water is warm. He's prickly and dangerous, but basically welcoming and helpful. And there's a simple way to show what we're here for." The Centauroid trotted into the surf up to her human waist.

      Isaik followed, getting tossed around by the surf more than the much larger girl, but swimming in it well enough.

      "They're crazy," Angie said.

      "And I'm hungry." Rainbow marched towards the nearest thicket of fruit trees.

      "When in Rome," Aurora said, "I'm going to look at that storm." The red and white streak announced her departure. Jen shook her head, shrugged, and followed the FarFuck'd into the air.

---

      "Suction," Doctor Marilyn ordered.

      Antoinette moved the tube as Miguelito pulled a bit harder on the retractor.

      "Got it," Alba said, using the long tweezers to work the needle-like bone shard out of the surrounding tissue. Maus held the tray under the HandMaid as the little Pokègirl hung from Seadamar's grip. The piece joined nine others in the tray. Some metal, some bone, one wood.

      Warden took Alba from Seadamar's hands, letting the other girl scan for any more of the offending bits. The GunValkyrie moved slowly, methodically.

      "Pulse remained slow but strong," Kay reported as she served as anaesthesiologist, "Whatever they're doing in there, he's hanging on with both hands."

      "No Argon bubbles, and no shards larger than a mil, and those could be echos," Seadamar said.

      "Let's close him up and then our eager friends can add their help," Doctor Marilyn said, "Then I intend to go on a bender. Otherwise I might do something violent."

      "Doctor's orders," Miguelito replied as he supervised the closing.

---

      Aurora let another lightning bolt hit her, already her hair stood on end and Saint Elmo's fire crawled over her body. She touched herself as if battering winds and the angry lightning strikes were titillating caresses aimed at her.

      Jen, more circumspect, tried not to fight the random currents that battered at her. She let the air either buoy her up, or hurl her down as she moved through the clouds. All she did was seek an updraft after finding a downdraft. The effect was rough play, but she was used to worse.

      Aurora dropped through the clouds like a stone. Jen raced after her.

      Did she finally take one -? She slowed as she realized what had caused the Farfuck'd's loss of control.

      "I've got to go back in there!" the blonde raced past Jen, back into the heart of the storm.

      "That's one way to have rough sex," Jen thought as descended towards the beach where Angie was lecturing about what was happening, and who knew what else.

---

      The entire group had reassembled. "He'll be fine," Miguelito told them, and waited out the cheers and happy squeals. He glanced at Voltaire, who stood ready to intervene if the joy should try to sweep him up.

      "But he'll need rest, complete rest for a few days. Alone, no sneaking in and cuddling," he called over the din, "Then he needs light exercise."

      "I can handle that," Cheryl said, "Teaching him the staff at slow speeds should give the workout you need."

      "As for Taming, give it a few weeks," he said, then weathered all the complaints, "I didn't say he couldn't Tame you, I said you can't Tame him. He had most of his ribs and parts of his skull broken. He also suffered damage to many of his internal organs. Even with healing magic, that takes time for full restoration. And we are going to need everyone hale and hearty, for what we face at the end of this journey." He hated reminding them.

      But the realities are, what the realities are, he thought and wondered about how this last brush with pain and near death would affect his friend, It can't be good.

---

      Miguelito checked in on the boy, before heading to the evening's discussion. With him in sickbay, there's a certain deficiency, need I say famine, about the arguments. All of us are too well-versed in the current philosophies and assumptions. Having someone with a truly outside perspective let us hone or discard our arguments. And having a creator gods among us tells us how things actually happened, the small man thought as he bustled along the corridor, The Captain and crew are going to be a problem, if they think they cannot act as sentient beings when not carrying out his orders, or when acting in what they assume is contravention of his wishes . . . those hypotheses are the more dangerous. Because they are unfounded, and presume he's as inflexible as the arrogant, native Tamers. If they did confront him, they would find an open and engaging mind. I'm glad I can't really feel he is anything other than another lost soul. I can deal with what he is by ignoring it, and offering advice.

      The debate group had assembled. Most of the Megami avoided the place when the debate group had assembled. They don't bother thinking about what they believe. They merely assume that it's the best available information/instruction. If someone could get on that wavelength and broadcast bad information, we'd all be in serious trouble.

      "How is he?" Doctor Kinkaid's assistant asked.

      I really must remeber her name, but Succubi disturb me so, I've never paid attention when she gave it, he realized.

      "He is recovering. I am glad he remained unconscious during the 'no cuddling' period. The girls are taking turns now, and not so incidently standing a heavy guard. If the S-Goths don't make another attempt, the Alliance certainly will."

      "I never considered that a group of Celestials would develop a reputation to rival the Legion of Terror," she said.

      "In that no one suspects them? That is their real danger. Few suspect them, and fewer still attribute their work to malice," Miguelito said, "Indifference and apathy are more destructive than love or hate, but if you read the slave narratives, it is the condescention of slavery, rather than the cruelty of it, that grates worst."

      "Believe me, Doctor, I am aware of stereotypes trapping their vicitims, as well as their purveyors. Many assume that I am some soul-sucking vampire obsessed with sex."

      "To my shame, I must admit that view has never been far from my thoughts," he admitted.

      "Because something is mostly true, does not mean it is universally true," she replied.

      "However, finding a single or handful of exceptions does not dilute the 'mostly true' status of an axiom or judgement. Or invalidate it as a rough and ready measure of a situation. Many claim to start people at 100%, I find that to be hopelessly optimistic, and leaves out the most important aspect."

      "Which is?" the Succubus asked.

      "One hundred percent of what?" he asked.

      She and the others laughed at that point.

---

      Gwendoline trotted along the deck in the dark. She could smell the meals being cooked in the galleys, the faint smell of sex from the Boobfins' bunk rooms, all overlaid with the smell of the sea. She heard the swish of the sea against the hull as the ship drove itself through the water. In all the sounds and smells and sights around her, she found no peace. I should have fled to the Hun lands, found a warrior willing to accept a flawed Megami, and lived out my life as a tribal shaman. What am I doing here? These others walk through their world as if the Cosmic Awareness would guide them through fire and darkness to the flowers and rainbows at the end. I could never believe that as two separate people. As one composite person, it's even more dubious. We march to our deaths, against a foe who must be fought, where is the harm in accepting that, as he has? We might win, some of us might even survive. Where is the crime in accepting that? she wondered as she made another circuit of the deck, as much to burn off nervous energy as to patrol.

      She spotted Voltaire, the patchwork Pokègirl of Doctor Carmen. The girl looked at her sternly. "Sleeping," Voltaire croaked.

      "Couldn't," Gwendoline admitted, "Too many ideas galloping in my mind."

      "Good Taming," Voltaire said and grinned, prescribing the sleeping pill she and Antionette probably used on their too thoughtful Master.

      "It might help me sleep, but it won't give me answers. I sleep and answers pop into my head, but unless I think about them, how am I to know they are the best answers, or just the best answers from the Cosmic Consciousness's point of view?"

      "Ask others," Voltaire suggested, "Good friends here."

      "Would they know better? I don't know why I think these thing, it's just the answers being handed out like candies."

      "Bad ole lady. Poison candies. No one catch, until Miguelito."

      "Your Master is very clever," Gwendoline agreed.

      But Voltaire wasn't finished and the look of abject hatred on her face frightened the centauroid Megami. "Testing, VNHs, many, many sick girls. Some dying." The huge girl's fists clenched and unclenched, her rage unabated from that day.

      Did she help him fight the woman's guards? Gwendoline wanted to ask.

      "Those dying worst. Miguelito put down," Voltaire growled, her eyes glowing and her body shaking with rage,"Those dying slow, painful, horrible. Miguelito put down. So much pain in Miguelito. Worse than the poisons. Peace, painfree. Open eyes and see joyous Master. Miguelito save all he can. All are me, but Voltaire is one, not many. Voices go away, but Voltaire is voices too. All voices, now one voice."

      "I think I understand. I need to listen to the advice, but seek answers from those around me," Gwendoline said.

      Voltaire nodded. "Much power, in separate voices. False serenity in only one." She bowed and returned inside.

      Gwendoline leaned against a lifeboat and considered.

---

      "Neither a Captain's Mast, nor a Courts Martial are justified," Commander Genek informed her small audience, "This ship is not under Navy juristiction, other than her Letters of Marque to operate agianst the Limbecs and other pirates. Transport of persons or cargo are not part of her agreement with the Navy. You can place a black mark against them in the International Registry and with Lloyds of London, but other than that, there's nothing that I can do officially. I've already dressed her and her XO in private and informed her that the incident will be detailed to my superiors. That's a bigger blow than you might think. They pay for their munitions by transporting VIPs that needed to go without everyone knowing that the Navy had a hand in their transport. You've seen the VIP quarters? They get a fair amount of use. Now that's threatened, but it's up to my superiors."

      "So nearly killing our Master is a slap on the wrist?" Angie said, her whiskers twitching as she said it.

      "Like I told you, this ship is more important to the day-to-day functioning of the League than your Master is. The higher-ups are convinced that this is a suicide mission. If someone gets killed early . . . " The Oni shrugged.

      "Thank you, Blossom, Rainbow, come with me," Angie said as the trio left.

      Genek sighed and shook her head. "As much as I might want to," she told herself, "I am loyal to the Navy."

---

      The chamber was more a theoretical construct than an actual place. The people who adjusted their fancy robes, inspected that their seats had been dusted and polished, and ever-so politely ignored more than half of the others doing the same, were no more real than the place. Many could not have identified each other on the street, had they desired to meet face to face. Most prayed nightly that this did not happen. While ever the mutual admiration society, most of the members found most of the membership, outside their individual cliques, extremely taxing and vexing to be around.

      "We must report yet another failure," one of the most splendidly dressed announced sadly.

      Another, who considered the ornamentation of the first ran well past good taste and into the realm of a magpie's hoard, spoke, "It keeps them all distracted from our true goals. It is actually fortunate that the Hunter was expended. She knew too much, and suffered too long. In a more just world, the Nurse Joy would be commended for seeing the girl's pain, and taking steps to end her misery."

      "She murdered her," a third countered, whose militantly Spartan dress was taken as a show of extreme arrogance. "We should mourn the loss of one who served so selflessly."

      "Had she not enjoyed her service so," the first countered, "We might feel more comfortable mourning her. A loose cannon damages the ship it is aboard as much as the enemy fired upon. It was approaching the time when we could no longer mitigate the damage she represented."

      "The plan goes ahead? The weaknesses will soon be large enough to send teams through?" another figure asked, old as time and deeply lined with regrets, "It is - unfortunate that we must undo what has been done. It seems the slow and gentle path that was hoped for has not yet materialized."

      "It has hardly been a long enough time to judge that," the second replied, "For the record, and as last remaining of those who undertook that path, I request more time for the original plan to work."

      "No. The world shifts and shimmers. Even the great mages do not feel it, but we do. The path has been all but abandoned. Darkness reigns. We must embrace the new sea change and ride the new waves to our destination," the fourth said, her ancient voice cracking with the strain of her emotions, "The plan was not fully accepted by all, some regarded it as little better than a stab in the dark. Now we know it was wishful thinking."

      "Yes, ma'am," the second said with more respect than she felt.

      "We must instead ride out the darkness, and find the succor of our charges at the other end," the first said.

      "So mote it be," the entire assembly intoned.

      The attendees began vanishing, in small groups, or one-by-one, taking the light with them as they left, until only the second remained seated in the near darkness. "We dangled the bait before the Goths of You-Know-Where, and they swilled and grew drunk on the poisoned wine, as the greed children they are. Now that poison shall either kill them, or destroy what weakens them. Now we fall to the same trap out of altruism, and assume the same poison will not shatter us in our turn. If they do not already know, they will soon learn who are the real puppet-masters. And the authors will show us no more mercy than our puppets showed them. Who are the more foolish children I wonder? Them, the authors, or us"

---

      The exercise room resounded with the sound of staff on staff and sword on sword combat, as many of those without natural weapons sought mastery of an artificial one. Migueioto kept three Megami at bay, as they circled, looking for an opening in the small man's guard.

      Cheryl shook her head. I hope Miguelito will be more gentle with them, than he was with the last batch, she thought, then watched as the man knocked down all three with the swiftness a -Wu would have, So much for hopes.

      The two Farfuck'd are doing better, staff fencing with the two Tyrannodames, she noted as she walked, They at least are willing to take and give bruises.

      Shana was directing Daria and Fred, primarily, through the use of a sword that seemed a cross of a Noir League war sword with the Claymore of the Blue League. Several Megami, Kay and Eko's harem were watching that instruction. They're occupied, Cheryl thought and ducked/hopped through the hatch to the next practice room, were the rifle and bayonet were being instructed, by Antionette.

      Of all people, her and Angie, who knew? she thought as the pair explained the proper employment of the bayonet. One of the younger Megami, who was already quite green, ran from the room. If she doesn;t get to the head first, the XO will make her mop up that mess, Cheryl thought as the drifted over to Gwendoline and Voltaire, both of the massive girls each held a long-hafted axe with a back like the beak of a war hammer.

      The two girls went through the motions of the swings, to train their muscles on what to expect. The chipped log indicated how their blows were improving. "I have to wonder what effect out ranged attacks will have on these creatures," Cheryl admitted, "Cold iron, silver and a few other items are effective against them. In legends. I still don't know if any of our powers will have any effect. The S-Goth's powers aren't exactly combat orriented. A human proofed against their auras would have a field day against one. Against demons . . . magic is supposed to be effective, but none of us are trained at Nuevo Ten or Vale. So while we might be effective against Infernals, would we have any effect on real demons?"

      "Isaik yes," Voltaire said, "Your Master."

      "A fog cloud, and his little time warp, but there isn't anything that would seriously injure a person out of preprepared situation one-on-one," Cheryl said, "I'm afraid we can't master enough magic to really do an effective job protecting him."

      "Late thought," Voltaire said.

      "I agree. We knew what we were getting into. If we aren't prepared, we have three weeks to get prepared," Gwendoline siad.

      "I never thought three weeks would be such a short period of time," Cheryl said, "Where's Ms. MixMaster?"

      "Up top getting trained on the guns," Gwendoline said, "Commander Genek doesn't have the doubts we do. I have a feeling that she brought some very special rounds for the main guns."

      "Magic nukes?" Cheryl asked. . . . Voltarie nodded.

      "Maybe," Gwendoline cautioned, "There may be other solutions to that particular equation. How many Pokèballs could you back into an 8" round? Elemental Demons are supposed to have a touch of real demon in them. You fire a couple dozen shells with say 20-30 of those in special release Pokèballs as the filling, and they will clear a path quite nicely."

      "I'd rather not think of that," Cheryl said.

      "Fire universal," Voltaire said.

      "That's also a possibility, bless some Willy Pete rounds," Gwendoline suggested, "You never know."

      "I'm not sure I want to know," Cheryl said.

---

      Cheryl stretched, yawned and walked up to the two guards. "Cheryl, my shift."

      They nodded and let her walk into his room. Roxanne remained snuggled up to Master, but Angie was frowning at her. "Sorry, my turn," she told her Alpha.

      "I don't have to like it," Angie said as she slipped out of the bunk and stretched, even her tail stood out straight, "He's been getting restless, so I hope that means he'll wake up soon. That's the other reason, maybe whoever he wakes up to gets a Taming."

      "Not necessarily," Cheryl said as she stripped naked and climbed into bed with him, "Oh! Forgot about his cold feet!"

      "Good luck!" The Titmouse dressed and left them alone.

---

      Master awoke. In ways we would learn to regret.

      "Hello," he said to Cheryl as he sat up and looked down at her, "Are you all right?"

      "Are we all right?" Cheryl asked as she pulled him down against her and hugged him gently, "We were so worried!"

      "Jen, collect the other girls, the Captain and XO, and the Boobfin," he told the HyperDoll, "I'll need them all."

      " 'Need'?" Jen asked sleepily, as she reluctantly slipped out of the bunk.

      "Yes, there's a spell to absorb sexual energy that is used to sustain sexual performance, and could be used for other purposes."

      " 'Sex . . . u - al' . . . ?" poor Jen stammered as she waited at the door.

      "I intend to use the energy to completely the healing process, and to accelerate a few other items which need to get under way," he explained as he sat up, breaking Cheryl's grip on him.

      "You're going to Tame - some of them?" Jen asked warily.

      "No, with a proper feedback cycle, I'll Tame a few of them, and they'll Tame each other, but as the spell continues, I'll be Taming all of them."

      Jen fainted.

      "It doesn't really work that way," Cheryl added.

      "But it can," he told her.

      He sounds more like a regular Tamer, Cheryl thought, But even a regular Tamer would be hard-pressed to Tame over 30 girls.

---

      The Miguelito and the Second Officer looked askance at him as he walked onto the bridge. The man-high staff he carried seemed to reflect no light, yet it iridesced all colors of the rainbow.

      "So you've officially become a wizard," Miguelito joked, "I'll have to be hit by a heavy cruiser someday."

      "Additional safety procedures for the test firing of the main guns, both while passengers, and only crew, are on board should be discussed and implemented," he told them, "I believe an adequate set of planning and thorough training of the ships crew and compliment, as well as training for future passengers alongside the firefighting training, should serve as sufficient Corrective and Preventative action. Once that is complete, I will consider the matter closed."

      "What did the Captain say?" the officer asked as she glanced at Miguelito.

      "Essentially, she had no complaint," he replied, "And the complaint lies with me, not her. I offer a compromise out of the current dilemma, and she didn't say 'no', although you can hear that from her."

      "I think I will," the Megami said.

      "You should rest," Miguelito said as he followed him out of the bridge.

      "Plenty of time to rest later. I used a spell that used their energy to restore myself. That and a few other things, I'm not happy about, but it's time I realized what's going on, and began fitting in better."

      "I liked you better when you didn't," Miguelito whispered as his friend walked down the ladder to the bowels of the ship, "And I think, so did you."

---

      She walked through the make-shift practice room. "Keep your arm up," Cheryl told him, the strained muscles around her pelvis and hips were giving her trouble as he followed through with the attacks she'd taught him. The staff moved slowly, but exactly as it needed to. "Much better."

      "Are you all right? I can give you a day or two to rest, if you need it," he told her as he stepped through the staff strike/parry patterns she'd laid out.

      "I'm fine. I just never expected you to use Tantric magic to enchant the weapons," she explained, "Or summon your staff."

      "My girls gave me the staff of their own affection," he replied flatly, "What could be better?"

      He acts like he expects all this, or that he's given up trying to fight what's coming, Cheryl thought worriedly, Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. I never expected him to follow that pattern, but I guess I was hoping for . . . a miracle that would let hm stay the same, and still win. She stepped up and began moving through her own counters, causing him to chose the parries and counter strokes. Both still moved slowly, training the muscles in the movements. There's a grimness there now, that is more typical of the Tamers here. The girls have become an extension of him. Disposable arms and legs for the battle. I wanted him to . . . to be more like a regular Tamer, but I didn't want it to include this part of it. If he could go back to being the angry, uncertain, almost prudish man, could he?

      She circled, trying to draw him into a trap, but he kept his wits and maintained the same pattern of strike and parry.

      "It seems you are the one who needs the time to rest and recover," he teased, a sliver of his old self appearing briefly.

      Now I want to run over and Tame him, despite how much it hurts, she thought, Now I can separate the stupid from the clever. The stupid prefer this new version, while the clever are worried about him. Better a bit of frustration, than fear.

      "You are holding back," he said, an uncomfortable mix of the old, gentle concern, and the new, arrogant certainty.

      "What came back? Is what I want to know. Who are you?" she asked as she signaled for a break, so neither would expect a sneak attack.

      "You want to get the girls together and perform an exorcism, or just have the three padres do it?" he asked, shrugging to show it didn't matter, "I just woke up to the possibilities. There aren't any good ways to say it: there is no way out of this, save one. So I gave up on other chances, and shall concentrate on winning instead. I'm not happy with the chance that guarantees victory. So I have to be in a position to use it and that requires a different mindset."

      "What's that?" she asked.

      "What's what? The chance, I shall keep to myself. The new way of acting, and the new training, you've already seen it. The girls need a bit of their independence ground off. They need to obey when I order, because in the near future, a lot of orders won't make a lot of sense, except in retrospect. There are spies aboard this ship, and a secret shared is a secret lost. We lose this secret, we may not get another to take its place."

      "I . . . I trust you, but you worry me."

      "I worry me, " he admitted and grinned. Back to the old, shier Master, "I am planning on doing things I promised myself I would never do. Because it's the only way. Dying for your scruples is supposed to be noble, sacrificing millions of innocents for your scruples is pure selfishness, and I've seen plenty of despicable people willing to do exactly that. I don't wish to be one of them."

      "So, we aren't going to know until it's too late?" Cheryl asked.

      "You'll probably know afterwards, if it works. If it doesn't, you'll definitely know," he replied. He stood. "I need to check on a few other things. Why don't you take some time in the bath and let GM work out the kinks in your muscles. Master's orders." He walked out before she could protest or thank him.

      "I didn't think it would be this way," she whispered, "Please come back to us."

---

      Commander Genek stood behind him as he stared into the locker where the 'special' munitions were held.

      "Thirty-two rounds," he said, "It's not Typhonna we're trying to kill."

      "I'm glad you think that they're overkill," she said as she closed the locker and replaced the massive padlock, "Most of us were worried that even something like those wouldn't be enough."

      "They'll be enough," he assured her, "They'll be more than enough. If my plan works, then they might not even be necessary."

      "I've heard you mention this 'plan', but no one seems to know the details," the commander said, "Care to share it?"

      "Not really. For security as well as the surprise value," he replied, "Some people who don't realize that the demons are bringing a different realm, might be worried about me dealing with it the way I have planned."

      "Why do I get the feeling blowing up the sun would be less terrifying?" the commander said.

      "If it works, the Pokègirl world won't be damaged. A few storms, a few minor problems, but less than a hurricane," he assured her, "But no one would believe that if I explained it."

      "Your Harem is worried about you," Commander Genek said, "They would have to be stupid not to notice the change. As an outsider, I feel I can comment."

      "What are the requirements of a soldier going into battle?" he asked quietly, his stare level and cold.

      "Even the SEALs have Pokègirl partners. Like the dog-handlers of old, they are partners, sensory- and combat-enhancements," she said, trying to ignore the effect of those eyes staring at her, "But they usually have small Harems of highly-trained, powerful girls. Not companies of them to dance to their tune."

      "Maybe I should learn a spell to transform them into human males," he said without humor.

      "Then you'd really be God. Vale and Nuevo Tenochtitlàn had searched for centuries. They can manage a temporary shape-change, but they are still Pokègirls underneath."

      "Assuming power is the same, is irrational. Machines are for converting energy to other types, you can't turn steam pressure into electricity without a turbine or cylinder. My power might be very different from normal magic. I don't know what I can really do. I've been too busy trying to figure out how to kill people and break things, to think about anything else."

      "Maybe after you finish."

      He frowned at that and turned away. "I'll be finished all right," he said and headed down a different passageway.

---

      The Pokègirls assembled in the officers' mess listened intently. "He isn't possessed by something," Angie said, "I checked, and so did the ministers."

      "I don't understand why you're up in arms about this," the leader of the Boobfin said, "He's still better than most Tamers."

      "It isn't that simple," Roxanne said, and shuddered.

      "It's exactly that simple," the Boobfin replied, "He figured out you didn't appreciate him, and he changed to give you what he thinks, or you said, you want. Now you're bitching about that."

      "We didn't want this," Aurora pointed out.

      "Really?" the Boobfin teased, "Then how come none of you were cuddled up with him when he woke up? You had orders from your Alpha? Somebody should have taken advantage and been with him. Smart guy like that, wakes up all alone after you all have been practically throwing yourselves at him. It doesn't take a genius to suspect that the gunnery test, and none of you around, have a connection. A real smart guy who thinks fast, can't help arriving at the possibility that it was intentional. It may have been the captain's responsibility, but he's gotta think that somebody else could have done something to protect him. With 200 people aboard this ship, and on the most dangerous day of the voyage, he wakes up all alone?" She looked at the horrified faces around her. "Nope, figuring you did it - you all did it on purpose, isn't so hard a leap, now it is?"

      "We didn't," Jen whispered, "I rescued him."

      "So maybe not all of you were in on it. But who does he trust? Who does he turn to? You're lucky he just figured you were doing it because he wasn't Taming you enough. He fixed that, but any hope of Delta bonds or Recognition -" She laughed. "Poof! He's walled off more tightly than a Leviathaness's backside. He won't come out and accuse any of you, because he doesn't know who was in on it, and who wasn't. He doesn't even know if you intended to hurt him, or just give him a scare."

      "We didn't," Angie insisted. Her horror at the other girl's suggestions robbed her denial of all its strength.

      "Tell me the scenario doesn't hold together," the Boobfin replied coldly, "Tell me from the facts, for his point of view, that it all doesn't make a certain kind of sense. None of you have come out and denied it, which would really look suspicious, and he hasn't asked. So he's going into the fight of his life, with the nagging feeling that one or all of you set him up, and he got hurt." The Boobfin leader shook her head. "It has to make him wonder when you'll next turn against him. Ask Kay and Eko about that, and you'll see they laid the groundwork a while ago."

      "That's ridiculous," Aurora said, "If we wanted to hurt, or kill him, we all had plenty of opportunies."

      "Before or after all those other people tried to kill him?" the Boobfin retorted, "You all keep acting that just because something didn't happen, that it automatically appears that it didn't happen. I've heard him talking, and I've heard him stop in the ship and just listen. A person ready and happy for what life brings, doesn't spend so much of their time looking over their shoulder."

      "Why haven't the rest of us seen this?" Roxanne countered.

      "Because you're part of his Harem. You were the ones who were supposed to be looking out for him. I'm just another passenger," the Boobfin leader explained, "He has no need to play the innocent around me. He can be suspicious of me. I'm not his and so could be a threat. It's better to be an open threat, than a hidden traitor."

      "What do we do now?" Jen asked as she sat in the corner, trying to draw in on herself.

      "We do our jobs," Angie said, and scrubbed her eyes to hide her tears, "We earn his trust, again. He thinks we could be disloyal, even plot murder. We know we can't, but that doesn't help him be sure of it."

      "A plant could do whatever she - or he - wanted," Roxanne said, "Loyalty of a Harem be damned."

      "Is he still planning on giving Ms. MixMaster the treatment soon?" Angie asked.

      Roxanne and Aurora nodded. "I don't see how we could get out of it. After all, we pushed for it."

      "And with his new reaction to Taming, it's likely he'll do it," Angie said, and sighed, "It's no longer special. We're no longer special. We're just Pokègirls again, not partners."

      "At least he's still kind, and he asks," the Boobfin countered.

      "That almost makes it worse," Roxanne admitted, while Aurora held the weeping Jen.

---

      He glanced around the Admiral's Bridge. "All right," he asked of the Oni, and the senior officers of the ship, "How many practice rounds were included in the load out you provided? And I mean solid slugs and inert loads."

      "How do you know about those?" Commander Genek asked.

      "None of your business," he said more sharply than he would have just days before, "I expect an answer to a reasonable question, or if you're having trouble, I'll go down and count them myself."

      "Eighty-five 8" and one-eighty 5" slugs, sixty and one-twenty inert. The inert were to practice loading and unloading. The slugs were to sight in the guns," Genek said carefully.

      "Good plan, rotate my people through the loading training. You'll need a reserve to replace casualties," he said to the Captain, and waitd for her to nod, "The revolution of the ship is the real problem with using the guns. If you can translate the entire energy into a lateral movement, like it would be on the sea, you will be able to fire off another salvo far more quickly."

      "Why not neutralize the movement all together?" the Captain asked.

      "Too much power to dissipate, energy over unit time. Let the power translate into movement, and you not only get more time to neutralize it, you also can use the ship's inertia and air drag to help you. The hull is designed to cut through the water going forward, not going sideways."

      The Chief Engineer nodded.

      "Have you had any luck with moving the ship under power in the air?" he asked.

      "We have some ideas," the Chief Engineer said, "But it will take time to work them out."

      "Then with the internal, dampening field," he said, "Consider the possibility of firing the main guns while inverted."

      "Upside down? the XO exclaimed, "Why would we do that?"

      "To shoot down at other ships from the air," he replied, "During the Revenge War, most ships were destroyed when their hulls were pierced, and most fighters were destroyed when their thin skins were ripped open at high-speeds. This ship can get out of the reach of the hull-rippers, and is too heavy, and slow moving to be affected by the skin-shredders. But you've only got guns to cover one hemisphere. You need to be able to change that hemisphere as you need to." He smiled. "Imagine someone sailing wooden warship right underneath you, suddenly getting a barrage of 5" star-shells?"

      The Pokègirls grinned and shivered at the idea of such a fire at sea.

      "All right, that's something to work on. It also explains why you want the rotation controlled," the Captain said, "The real problem with this new capability is that the difference in the power of the 6 forward, versus the 3 aft guns puts another axis of rotation into effect, and we're having enough trouble controlling one axis, let alone two."

      "Hence my suggestion about dumping all that into one lateral motion," he replied, "The shells should clear the guns before the movement forces the guns off target, but we need to practice that."

      "Hence the question about practice rounds," Genek said, then glanced around, "The slugs, with full powder loads, should give the highest recoil. If you can control those, you can control the lesser settings."

      Genek nodded at the reason behind the works and thought, but like the Captain, shuddered at the intent behind them.

---

      The sun was setting when Warden found him, sitting alone in the gun tubs off the fantail. His back against the wall of the AA enclosure, with his legs pulled up under his chin, and his arms wrapped around his legs. The events of the past two weeks since his 'return' had clearly worn him down.

      "Are you all right, Master?" she asked.

      "If anyone, who's been through what I have, says they are all right, they need sedation and heavy restraints," he replied quietly, "No, I'm not all right. I'm walking straight into a meat grinder with my eyes wide-open, and the only concern I have is that I defeat the enemy. That's not even close to 'all right'."

      She sat beside him, facing him. She was careful to come close, but not actually touch him. "You are trying to save many people," she said sympathetically, "Doesn't that count for anything?"

      He untwisted and smiled at her. "Do you want a Taming?"

      She stifled the automatic smile and agreement. He's been technically proficient, and been giving out a lot more, but they . . . only fulfill the physical need. Something's feels missing. Like he's playing an instrument, when before in his fumbling way, he was trying to make love. She forced herself not to sigh. I'm turning down a Taming, I guess I am a Celestial first.

      She moved over so their legs touched. "Would a cuddle be acceptable instead?" she said, "I've missed that when you were awake."

      For an instant, he seemed suspicious, then smoothed it over and smiled. "Yeah, sure."

      I don't know if he just hid his anger and suspicion, or if it vanished when he remembered I am mostly Seraph, Warden thought as she wrapped her arms and wings around the man resting his head on her shoulder, He didn't rest his head on my breasts, like lots of other Tamers would, so maybe the change is temporary. Maybe we can get you back, she thought and felt hope for the first time in weeks, Odd that you no longer fear what might slaughter us all, yet the one we have to rescue you from, is yourself. She let the rocking of the boat and the weight pressed against her relax her slightly. She ran her cheek against his hair and her fingertips against the tense muscles of his back. Yet you won't see me or GM to work on that. Have you become what you feared you'd become, or something worse? Or are you just wearing the mask, because we need it, and not the diligent clown?

      She got no answers and felt no need to ask him. The skys grew dark, and the stars came out while she enjoyed the quiet moment alone with the Master she remembered, knowing he would have to return to the mask he wore soon enough.

---

      Ms. MixMaster squealed indecipherably as Roxanne and Aurora balanced the Megami's legs on their shoulders and held her upright. Master and Sabrina plunged into her cunt and ass at completely different rates and tempos, making her squirm like a slow-frying snake. The Megami pinched and rolled her own nipples while she twitched. Her moans, and then squeals showed she enjoyed the attentions, but was frustrated by the asymmetry, and the slow build to orgasm.

      Aurora frowned at her sister. Both of us wanted her taught a lesson, the 'girl from another world' thought, But before the change, it would have been exciting, erotic even. While stuck up is relishing getting the stuffing Tamed out of her, there's nothing fun to watch, it is almost boring. I was hoping to get turned on by this, then we'd go have fun with Master, but now . . . I'm not sure I care anymore.

      Ms. MixMaster's body shook with a powerful orgasm and she howled her delight until her voice cracked. Sabrina grinned as she shot her load into the arrogant Megami.

      Master looked merely satisfied at a job well done.

      He didn't enjoy it anymore than we did, Aurora realized, It was a duty, like washing dishes. Skillfully, even artfully done, but no depth or passion for him. She got what she needed, what we wanted give to her, and to Hell with whatever he wanted. Maybe that Boobfin was right, maybe he doesn't trust us, or worse, he resents us. The thought twisted her stomach. She liked him, and while she and her Harem-sister had felt the same about Taming, they wanted their first with a man, to be with their Master, and to be special. We wanted it to be making love, not getting serviced, she thought as the pair pulled out and helped lower the quivering Megami to the bunk. He tucked the Pokègirl in, and gave her a kiss on the forehead, but made no move to stay.

      'The tool is sharp, and my attention is needed else where.' It's good time management, but is it good people management?

      "Master?" the Megami asked.

      "He wanted to let you sleep," Roxanne lied.

      "Oh," the Megami said quietly, and the other three looked at each other worriedly.

---

      "Master, I need to speak with you," Angie said as she practically had to run through the passageways to keep up with him.

      "There's no time," he told her flatly as he climbed the ladder to the main deck.

      "Then make time . . . " her voice trailed off as she looked at the seething pulsing mass of evil just a few miles from the ship, "There's no time," she admitted.

      "Say goodbye to anyone in the crew you care to. The Commander and Miguelito will be remaining behind. I estimate we'll have about a two hour walk to reach where we need to go. Once that happens . . . it's win or die."

      "Master . . . about needing to speak to you," the Titmouse said nervously, "I want you to promise me you'll come back."

      "I am not going to promise anyone will come back from that," he told her, "Not me, not you, not this ship." He turned and headed towards the CIC.

      "That's what I was afraid of." She transformed into her WarMech state, and ran after him.

---

      The fliers landed the last of the troops on the land. The cruiser had already opened the range as soon as the last of his people had left. The barren mountainscape was colored in reds and browns uncomfortably close to the color of blood, save for the rivulets of yellow molten rock. The sky remained a leaden gray, despite the light from the distant volcanoes that could be seen. The frightened Pokègirls clustered tightly around the humans, who seemed more amazed that terrified.

      "Aren't they going to come with?" Underworld asked, shivering violently with the terrible cold she felt, while Roxanne's and Aurora's skin was reddening and both were sweating profusely.

      "No. They'll be attacked, but that will draw off the forces directed at us," he told them, "The cold and heat you feel, the wind and voices you hear, the whole uncomfortable environment isn't real," he told them. "While this is a place of punishment, it is by and large self-inflicted, because you know what chafes, what terrifies and what proves and penalizes your separation from the Grace of God, better than anyone else."

      "This isn't what's really here?" Roxanne asked.

      "It's an illusion? Or are we making it real?" Aurora asked.

      "The human mind, and by extension, the Pokègirl mind, has tremendous power, if you channel it correctly," he told them, grinning at some joke, "A mentalist with the right focus might even match you two."

      "That'll be the day!" Aurora insisted.

      "So we should treat it as a delving into our own psyche?" Doctor Kincaid asked, and patted her 100% Succubus cape gently.

      " 'Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes, to hour?' Gordon Lightfoot. This place is that answer." He sighed and shook his head. "I'm already damned, I might as well take over," he joked as they headed down the path.

      "We're being observed," Bishop Cameron told him.

      "Don't attack them," he warned sharply.

      "Why not?" his Alpha asked.

      "Because they can't really affect us, unless we let them. They can attack, and distort and twist what we see and believe, but they aren't permitted to attack us directly, not while we are headed deeper in."

      "What happens when we try to leave?" Bishop McClellan asked, "Ah, that's why we have our weaponry. We will have to fight our way out."

      "Unless you expect to have a flight of real Norse Valkyries swoop in to rescue us." He glanced over at the SLIS agent, who was comforting her girls.

      "Sorry, I don't think Nuevo Ten or anyone else arranged that," she admitted.

      "Careless, fortunately, I have my ways."

      "Why did you say you were damned?" Warden asked as she trotted up to walk beside him.

      "Because maybe some of the people don't belong here, and I am going to destroy them. And I don't have any qualms about doing it," he replied as they walked the narrow trail up into the hills, "If that isn't an evil act, I don't know what is. But I won't let billions be held hostage for thousands."

      Several of the girls raced forward to protect him, and block his advance.

      "They seem to be massing for a rush," Roxanne said, her face flushed and the sweat stains making her leotard semi-transparent in some rather interesting places.

      "Let them past," he reminded everyone, "They are trying to make you strike first. They may pluck at your hair or clothes, but don't give in." He resumed walking.

      "You seem very certain," Doctor Kincaid backed away as a swarm of bee-sized creatures flew at her face, only to pull away.

      "I know the creature who was their liaison, and I can feel the nature of this place. A righteous soul can just walk out of here, and a live soul shouldn't be here in the first place," he told them, "So they have to make us fall to our own inner demons, before they can kill us and drag us off."

      "I don't like these things!" the SLIS agent told them.

      "Let them pass," he ordered as he marched, "There's only one way to win this, and that requires we go to the heart, as free people, not dragged there as converts or captives. Patience, endurance, hope, that's what we have."

      He listened to the growls of the others.

      "Are we there yet!" Isaik squalled, letting the other smile at the tone.

      "No, not yet," he told her, "I'll let you navigate, so you'll know where we are."

      "That's too much like work!" she whined, eliciting more smiles from the others.

---

      "Captain?" Miguelito approached the Megami as she peered at the radar screen in the CIC.

      "Nothing, and it's been an hour," she said, the phosphor screen gave her an unearthly look, "They should be halfway there, and we'll need to turn soon, so they can return to the ship."

      "Then Captain, you may want to come up to the bridge," he told her, and headed that way at a trot.

      The Megami grumbled, but followed him up to the bridge where windows showed the world, not radar. What she saw approaching them made her heart stand still. Across the horizon and up into the clouds, a red wall dominated.

      "They appeared a few moments ago. The big-eye binoculars verify those are individual fliers, and they're closing, slowly," Miguelito told her.

      "Speed?" the captain demanded of the second officer as she stared out at the clear and present danger to her self, her crew, her ship, and her world.

      "Max cruise, Captain, but I think they are pacing us. If we speed up, so will they," the officer replied.

      "Commander Genek, the blue shells?" the captain asked.

      "Loaded in all 3", 5" and 8" batteries," the nervous Oni replied, "I also took the liberty of calling for reinforcements. But the nearest meaningful help is three days away."

      "So they've placed a wall between us and the landing party," the captain said, "Can we stop them with what we have on board?"

      "No chance," the Oni replied.

      "Then we will still make a fight of it. How soon will they intercept us?" the captain asked as she walked out to the binoculars.

      "About four hours," Miguelito said.

      "It we come about and reduce to cruise? How long," the captain asked.

      While the second officer did the calculation, the small man just thought.

      "About an hour and a half, if they maintain speed," the small man said, "If that wall is more than just one thick, they may just let us in so they can swarm in from all sides."

      "A distinct possibility." The captain displaced the rating at the big-eye pedistal-mounted binoculars, so she could see the creatures herself. "This is a ship born to fight. I don't believe she ever fired her guns against another warship." She paused as she considered. "If we fire on the continent?"

      "A full broadside?" the Oni considered, "It might have more effect, but I don't see what good that would do."

      "Maybe nothing, maybe give them something else to worry about," the Megami breathed as she stood up from the binoculars, "Or maybe we just punch a hole in that formation and let them think that's what we're going to do." She Walked over to the chart table and considered.

      "Turn us around. In one half-hour, close with the enemy at flank speed. At 10000 yards, fire all batteries, make as big a hole in them as possible, and plunge right through it. They may stop us, they may destroy us, but they won't - I won't have those troops threaten the landing party, or our world. Besides, we have a rescue to perform sometime after two hours. We've never failed in a rescue, now we see if we fail in combat."

      "Yes, Captain," the Oni and Megami Second Officer said and saluted.

      "I never thought I'd be plotting to take down an entire army," Miguelito said, "I think I know the best pattern and dispersion of weapons to make that hole. It'll take several rounds, and the gun crews will have to run from battery to battery to reload, but it will make one Hell of an impression." He grinned as they winced at his joke.

---

      "I've had grabby Masters!" Jen complained, "But this is ridiculous." She yanked her hair out of one of the imp's hands as they walked.

      "Well, I think you've put up with enough," he said as he shoved a somewhat larger demon away, "Reverends, please clear the path."

      The ministers began their chants and sprinkling holy water and other sacred articles. The demons who besieged them fled screaming in agony. The oppressive redness and barrenness of the landscape reappeared, and the dead color of the sky, disheartening everyone who had reveled in the respite.

      "That should give them something to think about," Doctor Kincaid assured the others.

      "Yes, that they'll need something heavier when they attack again," he said.

      "Then why did you let us do that?" Bishop Cameron asked.

      "Because they'll have to report back, and get new instruction. That gives us some breathing time. Demons aren't real big on personal initiative. They'll need orders. That buys us time. This isn't a frontal assault, it's about us managing the battle and turning events to our side. The Daisy Mae should be heading back, which puts us again in range of rescue."

      "Time for what?" Bishop McClellan said, "You've been very secretive about how you intend to win."

      "Oh, that's easy, I'm going to get as close as I can with you as close escort, then send you all back to the ship to let me get close enough to finish them off."

      The arguments among the cranky and put upon Pokègirls drown out any other noise in the area. He kept walking as the girls shouted at him and each other. He shrugged out of Angie's grip when his Alpha tried to hold him back.

      "You want answers, you keep walking," he told them.

      "What do you mean?! You're going to let us escort you, until it suits you to go to your death and we have to fight our way out?" Angie asked angrily.

      "Before I defeat them all, yes, exactly," he replied, "You have an exact grasp of what is going to happen."

      "You think we're just going to stand here and let you do that?" Angie shouted, as the other girls growled their support of the Alpha.

      "I think you're going to do exactly that," he replied, "If you want me or any of your Harem-sisters to survive. You're going to have to trust that my plan is a lot more complicated than me gloriously committing suicide. I remind you, that suicide is a very serious sin." He gestured at the terrain. "Considering where we are, I think that's something I intend to avoid doing."

      "You could be killed anyway," Jen said as she walked beside him, "We don't want you to die."

      "You'll be the ones in danger, remember?" he asked, "You'll be heading out, I'll be heading in."

      "I can't see how you can be so sure," Jen said, "Don't tell me your plan, I know enough about security to know not to ask that. But how can you be so certain your plan will work?"

      He sighed, paused, then kept walking. "An author has to be able to sense the flow of the story, and either go with it, or disrupt it at the right moment. Since I arrived, I've been able to sense the way the story is going. Even though, here, the story is real life, I've still been able to sense it. I knew you were no threat when you marched into the tavern after that failure, because I sensed the pathos. I woke up out of a sound sleep to face that assassin, because I sensed the danger. I know this is the best way . . . and I know I'll make it out. I'd rather have the rest of you safe when I confront them. Because at that point, I'll have to not care what they do to any hostages/examples whom they've captured."

      "We're supposed to protect you, you know?" Roxanne said, with half the Harem nodding their heads in agreement, "And if you have to go somewhere, why didn't we just teleport in."

      "We had to show them how helpless against them we really are," Bishop McClellan said, "Then they'll let one man, the weakest of us, just walk right in."

      "I think that would be you, sir," Angie the Titmouse said, "But he's right, we're just reinforcing their stereotypes." She paused. "Doesn't discussing it tell them what we're planning?"

      "And they are probably laughing themselves sick about it," he told them, "They know the forces and powers they have at their disposal, we don't! The bold band of heroes marching boldly to protect the world, and arriving at the center, to be disheartened and demoralized by the might and splendor of the enemy," he said, gesticulating wildly, "They'll laugh about it for days, before they turn to other ways to drive away their ennui."

---

      "Commence firing," the Captain ordered, and shook her head at the audacity of the plan, "If this works . . . "

      "If it works, they'll throw another wave at us, and another, and another," Genek said, "We'll run out of shells before they run out of cannon fodder."

      The Captain waited as the big guns fired. "Sick bastards," she said as the radar reported the huge gaps torn in the demonic force, and the newly-tuned radar showed their enemies closing in from all directions to partially fill those gaps. "Why would they let us turn back?" she asked, "Aside from playing a cruel game." She picked up the microphone. "Stand down battle-stations main, set condition for battle-stations secondary for anti-air attack. This is not a drill." She hung up the mike as the sound of feet hurrying from the 8" turrets to the 5" guns rang through the ship.

      "I think that's the exact reason," the Commander replied, "They are demons. Inflicting pain on another is one way to relieve their boredom. Sick bastards indeed. You also might want to consider a larger crew, to allow you to manage more of the weapons at once."

      "We wouldn't be able to feed more than we have, with what we can grow on board," the Captain replied, "Your ships are replenished from the breadbasket of the Sunshine League, we'd have to buy, beg or borrow our food. Even Megami luck would give out after a while."

      "Five inch rooms manned and ready," the XO reported, "Twenty-five seconds, not bad."

      "Our guest will think of a way to make it ten," the Captain said with some irritation as she looked at the radar plot, "They aren't closing in. We may have to return to using the mains."

      "Or they could let us steam back to shore, and keep us from getting out," Commander Genek pointed out.

      "True."

---

      The blade glowed a brilliant blue as it sliced easily through the pillar of fire standing in front of her. The fire guttered out as Jen grinned and turned to face a pillar of lightning. Elsewhere, the rest of the Harem were engaged with the swarm.

      "Is this what you meant by them loving hopeless heroism!?" Doctor Kincaid's Succubus shouted as she pinned one of the creature's down, but could draw no energy from it. She knifed it in frustration, and it vanished.

      "Something like that," he told her as he ran his staff through one of the creatures who'd gotten behind Bishop Cameron, it too vanished.

      "Don't think that just because you're very good for a human," Cheryl shouted as she and the two battle-form Tyrannodames tore through the bulk of the attacking force, "Don't assume you're as good as we are."

      Roxanne and Aurora, held their goggles tight, and fired their eye beams through them. Whole swathes of the enemy fell back as most of them were annihilated. "I don't see how we can lose," one of the FarFuck'ds called.

      "These guys are pushovers!" shouted the other.

      "Speak for yourself!" Acer shouted as the creature she was wrestling, knocked Sabrina down, and manifested something Sabrina would have welcomed, if it had been her Master's.

      Maus tore the creature's head from it's shoulders, tossing both parts at their comrades. "L'trrr," she purred as she pulled the DildoQueen to her feet.

      "Our weapons are working, and they're pulling back," Warden said, "I think we should be able to escort you all the way in."

      The scream from their Master brought all the Pokègirls around, Cheryl grabbed him and poured water on his face to extinguish the last flames flickering there. When it didn't work, she took Bishop Cameron's holy water and used that to snuff the flames.

      As he sagged to the ground, the others formed a perimeter. "That seems to have hurt, quite a lot," he said as he sat there and shivered, Cheryl nearly coiled around him to keep his hands from his face. He looked up at the girls, the ruins of his eyes and face horrified them. "That's weird. I can't see any of you -"

      "That's because -" Cheryl began tearfully.

      "But I can see the terrain, at least the contours. It's like one of those psychedelic or neon posters. All bright lines of vivid colors."

      "He's hallucinating," Warden said sadly.

      "Really?" he asked as he struggled out of Cheryl's grip, "There's a mountain, and a valley between those two hills." He pointed to the terrain features, then turned. "And one spy hiding behind those rocks. Seadamar if you would?"

      The stunned GunValkyrie fired, and the unseen target fell in pieces out of it's hiding place. He took advantage of the distraction to pull himself free, and regain his staff.

      "I can see well enough," he told them, "See, that rock?" He pointed to a small outcropping a short distance away. He walked over, surefooted, and touched it. "Here's where you head back to the ship. The Daisy Mae is in greater danger than I am."

      "ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Angie the SLIS agent shouted.

      "I can't swim 10,000 miles, and they can't teleport all of us that distance," he replied, "That's what it means to be at the Pole of Inaccessablity. We're far away from any other land. Without a boat or survival gear."

      "No," Angie the Titmouse insisted, "We've come this far with you, we'll go the rest of the way with you."

      He raised his hand and a rock wall sprang up between them.

---

      "No, you won't," Janus said as he felt the change in the territory, "Good bye my friends, if we see each other again, it won't be you who betrayed. It will be me. And that's not quite enough to get me to the Ninth Circle of Hell, unless I let it." He turned and jogged down the trail, towards his enemy.

---

      "Teleport through!" the Alpha shouted.

      "STOP!" her fellow angel ordered, "Use your sensors, and Seadamar's. Cheryl, Isaik, use your bond with him. How far away is he?"

      "Long way," the stunned Megami said, "Miles and miles. How is that possible?"

      The GunValkyrie and angel in WarMech garb looked at each other. "That is not a wall," Seadamar said, "It is a mountain range. My sensors can only penetrate five miles, but more mountains are beyond that."

      "How did we not see a mountain range right in front of us?" Roxanne demanded.

      "Does it matter?" Doctor Kincaid said, "You have orders, and we have a ship to save. The only ones who could sense him are those least able to both get to him, and defend him when they got there. You either trust him, and his plan, or you don't."

      "Angie," the Titmouse told the SLIS agent, "Take command, get us back to the Daisy Mae. They're probably fighting for their lives about now."

      The agent nodded, and took point. Her Harem, worried about the contagious insanity of Masters lately, clustered around her.

      Cameron leaned over to his fellow ministers. "Because it wasn't there," he whispered.

---

      "What are they waiting for?" the Captain looked at the wall of bodies surrounding her ship just out of 5" range, "We're back where we need to be, and they're just sitting out there."

      "We're probably the entertainment," Miguelito said glumly, "They'll wait until they can make our friends watch us all fighting valiantly, and then be torn apart one by one. Selecting the scenes and camera angles, as well as methods which will break our friends most thoroughly."

      "Remind me never to get you mad at me," Commander Genek said as she watched the rippling of the host of demons standing, waiting.

      "Just a maudlin sense of the narrative. Our enemy must prove he is not just evil, but EVIL! to retain control," Miguelito said, "Better to be killed, than broken and survive. I shall take - killed - any time. If they are successful, there will be no hope of rescue."

      "I wish I knew what's going on, so we could help," the Captain said.

      "That's our torment," Genek offered, "The waiting."

---

      Blades flashed, fists pounded, mystically adjusted attacks carved great gaps in the seemingly limitless forces thrown at them.

      "At least we're still advancing," Acer told the two Angies, who were on point and daling carnage to make that possible.

      "Then why do I think we're losing?" Roxanne said, as she destroyed an entire company with one blast.

      "We're supposed to despair," Bishop McClellan told them, "That's the real purpose. It could be these creatures aren't really here, just the urge to fight, and despair."

      "It doesn't seemed to have stopped you from fighting!" Isaik replied, as another spell shattered one of the larger creatures.

      "It's just a hypothesis," the minister replied, "Not one I care to test."

      "How far are we from the ship?"

      Explosions among the blocking force sent the creatures scattering, if they didn't snuff them out completely.

      "Less than 20,000 yards," Bishop Cameron said, "But without a way to correct her aim, that may be the only gunfire support we get."

      "It's enough," Seadamar said as she fired her own weapons at the sea of targets that presented itself, "They've reduced the density and surety of our enemies."

      Explosions to either side marked the work of the Daisy Mae's guncrews and fire control radars.

      "That's white phosphorus," Gwendoline said, "Fire always was the sovereign remedy for monsters."

      "Fire works good on people too," Aurora told her as she fired into another mass of demons, "But I think they're going to run us out of firepower, before they close in. Whatever master is going to do, I hope it's fast."

---

      The rise was lined with creatures who aped human finery of various ages. The colors here are muted, as if their spirits are as well, he thought as he walked between the lines, I hope the girls got to the ship. The Megami couldn't fight off a boarding party without their help. Although nothing will really matter if this doesn't work.

      The rise looked out over vistas of molten rock, and icy planes, mixed hodgepodge with every other uncomfortable clime that mankind was subject to. The screams and cries of the damned only added to the horror.

      Except, I find it pathetic, he thought as the massive creature sat upon his throne. High as the rise was, it only put him at chest height to the creature. Ah, drama. I have to look up to see his expression. As if I need to, he thought, and hid his smile and confidence, Better to be humble, and let them think I am uncertain.

      "So," the voice shook the ridge and some of the functionaries behind him struggled to keep their feet, "You have a plan to defeat us." A deep chuckle like a landslide. "Would you care to share it?"

      "Your Highness, or forgive me, is it Your Imperial Highness? I thank you for taking the time to see me. I came to offer you a chance to depart, in peace and with no hard feelings on either side. You were lied to and cheated, I'll admit. But the one who made the agreement is dead, and may already be in your possession."

      "She is not," the creature told him, a faint stirring of anger which sent many of the functionaries scrambling.

      "Something else for me to clean up," Janus said, "But I do request you leave, with your armies, your realm, and your chattels."

      " 'Request', how polite," the demon king told him, "Even now, my forces attack your pretty ship. They will capture your pretty slaves, and you will watch as I fill each one with my seed, and spawn, and they shall be consumed alive providing me with a new brood. A perfect race to conquer this world with."

      "I guess you and Ninny Valiant have more in common than I thought," Janus replied, "I do wish you'd reconsider. The fight to get here, was understandable, and I'd be willing to call it even. You were entertained, and we got a good work out. But I still request you leave and take all of this with you."

      "No." The thunderous word, and the silence that followed told the story.

      "What? No threats?" the demon king laughed, and his court joined in. "No tales of the power of your little God over us. Or do you intent to use your trick on me? What can you possible do to us, little man? The S-Goth may have feared you, but we are beyond such things."

      "So I've noticed. Why is it everyone around here ignored the chance to negotiate and insists on the 'or else' part of the package?" he asked, "It's very frustrating."

      "Because you have no power. There is nothing you can do - !" Realizing he was wrong, didn't last.

The End.

---