11 Tamers II - 03

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      Jen walked into the cabin. She carried a gallon of Warden's milk, still warm from her body, and a small bowl. I need a name for her, Jen thought as she spotted the shadow cringing in the corner, Calling her 'the Penance' doesn't seem right. She set the bowl down and moved to the small package of combs the machine shop had made. She hid her smile as the girl clutched on to her chest, and whimpered worriedly at Jen's approach.

      "It's all right," Jen told her.

      I wonder if she even understands me, Jen considered, Or does she speak one of the Edo dialects? But she reacts to anything I say, English, Spanish, or Chinese.

      "Wakarimasu ka?" she said, and got the exact same jerky response.

      I guess not, she thought as she approached. She set the bowl on the table near the deepest shadows, and poured it half-full, then moved away. And she waited.

      After a time, the faint scratch of the ceramic over the table and a faint lapping. Jen smiled and listened. When the lapping stopped, she stood, refilled the bowl, and repeated. She listened, and watched the shadows, and faint glimpses of the girl appeared. Filled with Warden's milk, and affected by the calming draught the Bust Angel had placed in it, the girl didn't react to Jen's approach. She accepted with only a little shivering, Jen's ritual of pulling her into her lap, and the gentle combing of her razor-sharp hair began.

      We'll need to get you Tamed, and soon, Jen thought, But how to get you comfortable with my Master? That's the question. He even scares me.

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      The look on the men's faces showed nothing, as they watched the police take away their sons and nephews. Only the glances to their precious yachts seemed to show any of the turmoil they felt.

      "Where will the sale of those boats be held?" one of the families' lawyers asked.

      "We don't know," the Captain replied, "They were taken while we were under contract. The contractor has the salvage rights."

      "May we speak with him then?" the man persisted.

      The Captain smiled. "She, has no desire to set foot on Edo soil, or speak with any of her citizens. I'm afraid that she can be ever so stubborn about such things. She may decide to let us use them for target practice."

      The man paled, bowed and returned to a hurried conference with his master. The Captain watched as the man returned.

      "Honored Captain, we offer the sum of 50 million credits, to allow the previous owners, to board, and remove certain family memorabilia."

      "Each?" the Captain asked incredulously, "That'svery generous, but impossible." She let the man sweat a moment, "But as their legal representative. I think I could see my way clear to allowing a brief, supervised visit."

      The man looked like he'd rather chew glass, but bowed and returned to his masters. Now there was an uproar among the old men. As they came over, the Captain felt two familiar presences move up to support her.

      "That my boat," one gray hair demanded.

      "Not when used for piracy, sir," Miguelito replied in stilted Edo, but quite understandable.

      "The clown speaks for his Mistress?" one of the men commented.

      Miguelito kept a stoic expression. Janus delivered the coup de grace.

      "When dealing with barbarians, one mustn't forget they are barbarians," Janus told them, also in Edo, "Good day to you all." As one, the trio bowed and returned to the Daisy Mae.

      "Clown," Miguelito growled, "I'll show them a clown."

      "What? I was standing right there!" Janus replied, getting a smirk out of the Miguelito.

      "Can they see our other guests?" Miguelito asked.

      "Oh yes," Janus replied, as the men's horror grew. The Amazon party was clearly from the Jozetsuzoku preserve, and while not guarding Cologne herself, was guarding a high-ranking member of the tribe.

      "Greetings Lo Shen of the Jozetsuzoku," the Captain greeted her. The two older women hugged heartily, as their guards looked on for trouble.

      "You have five fine sailing vessels," Lo Shen told her, "And the price is amenable." Only her eyes tracked to the horrified men milling near the guards at the gangplank. "And the benefit of rubbing their noses in it, a special benefit."

      "Afraid of getting collected by an Amazon?" one of the guards asked Janus, as he'd given ground when approached.

      "No, I knifed one who worked for Sanctuary," Janus said dismissively, "Then set her on fire. I was just giving you room."

      "Warning outworlder, when she sets her eyes on a goal, she gets it," one of the other guards warned. They all laughed as his lack of reaction.

      "If you wish to speak privately, I'll leave," Janus said and bowed.

      "I will have you, man!" the Amazon told him coldly.

      Neither Janus, nor Miguelito commented.

      "That was badly handled," the Captain told Lo Shen, "They are aboard my vessel, thus under my protection. And he wasn't boasting. He's personally killed five Pokègirls I know about, two in hand-to-hand combat. If his Harem catches you skulking aboard ship, your life will end very quickly."

      The Amazon smirked at that. Lo Shen merely rolled her eyes.

      "Besides," the Captain added in Spanish, which only she and Lo Shen shared, "She's not pretty enough to catch his eye."

      "Or smart enough," Lo Shen added, and noted the number of non-Megami casually taking an interest in the Amazon party.

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      Cheryl watched the Amazons transfer to their newly-bought ships, and consider the Amazon who'd challenged her Master.

      "Put it out of your mind," the gunnery officer told her, "Their code says they'll kill you if you beat one of theirs in a challenge, and if he beats her, he has to marry her, or some of the other tribeswomen may take it into their heads to collect him themselves."

      She looked at the stunned Megami. "Yeah, they get funny about 'superior breeding stock'. In some ways, they're worse than the most conservative Leagues."

      "Just in the opposite direction. What happens if two Amazons want the same . . . Pet?"

      The Megami grimaced at the Sanctuary title. "If they can't come to an accommodation, they fight. Usually not to the death, but to disfigure the other."

      "That sounds like an idiotic way of running things."

      "That's why most men with any brains stay miles from the preserve. And the Amazons like it that way."

      "I guess breeding for brains isn't high on their priority list," Cheryl said.

      "The smart ones, don't come on like an oversexed teenager, and they come home pregnant," Guns told her, "The sperm donor, none the wiser."

      Cheryl nodded. "I think we're going to have trouble with that one."

      "Nope, she insulted a passenger aboard this ship, with the Captain and Lo Shen looking on. She's going to be far too busy for the next oh, year or two, to come after your Master."

      Cheryl stared at the girl, then turned away.

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      "Any word?" Angie asked her Master as she looked at his desk in his cabin.

      "None, and I'm not expecting any for a while," he replied, "Both Kerrik and Micah have their own problems abounding, and I doubt either of them is too eager to stick their head in a meatgrinder so quickly." He smirked and looked over his shoulder at her. "Me, I'm stupid that way, but I also trust my instincts. The delay is working for us, not against us. The Council leadership is undergoing interrogation, and their cells are being purged by the Leagues. The SLIS even slipped some intel on the Alliance and their little game, to Sanctuary, through the Capitol League. I think the Alliance is running scared, if not running for its life. Frankly, I'm more worried about the Sisterhood. While their goals are different, they are still on a war footing. So if we get in their way. It's us who'll get the chop. I'm not a fan of super-secret organizations. Too much gets swept under the rug, like inconvenient people."

      "What about the SLIS and all those other organizations?" Angie asked.

      "They're public. Everyone knows about them. That's different."

      Angie just stared at him and frowned.

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      Gwendoline waited with the equipment at the Des Moines' berth in Caesar's Prank. She smirked as the Megami-Sama arrived, five hours ahead of time, with a small security detail.

      "Welcome," she announced herself, and enjoyed the odd stares at her new clothing, and the western-style saddle, "I'm afraid I only have room for one, and I'll have to ferry the rest of you over one at a time."

      "What's happened?" Eve asked curiously.

      "My boss is a brilliant loon, that's what happened," she explained as she handed over the parka, ski pants and face shield, "You'll need to change into those, and you'll need to hang on tight. Hence the saddle, have you ridden before?"

      Eve looked at her. "Not with a saddle, no."

      "Sorry, dumb question, but I had to ask. Do you want someone else to go first, then have me come back and pick you up? Or do you want to go?"

      "I'll go. I only need to deliver a message and return. I won't be staying."

      "Ah, I understand."

      She stepped back out of earshot as the three guards quietly argued with their Alpha. About as much use as arguing with Angie. The only one who can is the boss, she glanced around, And the boss isn't here.

      Finally, Eve separated herself from the others, and began bundling up. "You've changed your clothes."

      "I joined the ship's company, so I wear the uniform, or a reasonable facsimile. The boss, well he's the boss, and where he's going, I don't want to follow. A Clydesdame never had a wandering streak, and I'm already a living embodiment of the Des Moines Experiment. I like the idea of a place I can go and call home, even if it does move."

      "I'm happy for you," Eve told her, "I take it Kelvin didn't object?"

      "Follow your destiny, and all that. I think he's a little hurt, but he knows it's not personal." Gwendoline sighed, then smiled, "And what about you? Dealing with the struggles of dealing with an Author? Sometimes I think they're both crazy, maybe all of them. I still wish there were ten thousand more just like them." Gwendoline laughed. "That would be a frightening thought." She noted the Megami-Sama's silence and decided to quit teasing her. "Get your mask on," she told Eve as she fitted her own, then sat the smaller girl in the saddle. "Hang on tight. Some of the others got hurt trying this, but Clydesdames don't stumble."

      "Why is that important?"

      The sudden hurricane force winds assailed them. Gwendoline activated a shield around her, shunting most of the force aside, and trotting to the hatchway into the ship. She got the hatch open by main force and let Eve slide off her back and get inside, before she backed in and let it gently close.

      "Another reason they chose me. Only a few of them could keep the door - hatch - from slamming."

      "There were no storm clouds. Where did those winds come from?" Eve asked as she removed the heavy weather gear.

      "Let me show you," she said and led Eve to a porthole. Outside the massive wings pushed the ship forward at a steady 150 knots.

      "Those, plus a 20-knot headwind to begin with, no one goes out on deck for more than a few minutes, without heavy foul-weather gear. Most had a securing line as well."

      "The ship sprouted wings?" Eve muttered as she peered out the porthole.

      "That's a secret, although Granny was down here doing some aerobatics with her. So the Sunshine League knows, and I was asked to tell you, so you can tell her," Gwendoline said, "Are you allowed to tell me the name of the new ship?"

      Eve's eyebrows went up, "New ship?"

      "Cosmic Awareness, remember. Plus, I'm part of the senior officers. Load Master is a Lieutenant Commander's billet. So I'm breveted to that pay grade. It becomes permanent when I learn enough to actually understand any of what I just said. Let me take you to the Captain. And I hope you can take that stuff off the ship. Something about it gives every Megami the creeps just being around it."

      "Congratulation on the promotion."

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      The Captain looked up from the letter. She went to the safe and opened it. Handing Eve the jar, and the sheaf of notes. She noted the woman's expression go from curious, to disgusted, to more than slightly ill. "Now you understand. Whatever that is. I'd rather get it away from my crew. Even other sensitives can't feel it, except as we reradiate what we feel about it."

      "It's . . . horrible."

      " 'It is the emptiness that all people truly feel, distilled and concentrated'," the Captain told her, "I think that Jokette felt it too. Of course she went on about when the world isn't funny anymore."

      "I can live without hearing that," Eve told her.

      "The name of the ship that we're to build for the Sisterhood?" the Captain asked, then explained, "You came alone, and without a satchel of papers. That's either a 'yes' or a 'never darken my door again.' Maybes require lawyers and extensive paperwork."

      "It's the Iain Grey," Eve admitted ruefully, "It started out as a joke, but since took on a life of its own."

      The Captain considered. "Yes, it has the right meter, it should work. I understand the Sunshine League vessel is being called Mountain Home, which also works. I just hope Lucifer's party has some twins who can sing."

      "I can request it. Why do you need them?"

      The Captain smiled. "Ask your Master. Preferably when he isn't drinking something." She pointed down at the faint coffee stain on the carpet Eve was standing on. "And to think, I lived to see Granny surprised about something."

      Eve smiled. "What do I reply?"

      "Tell her yes. I'll have to get the final word from my officers. Then I have to figure out a way to disguise the new recruits, those three men are alike, they can see a secret hidden behind a bulkhead. Kelvin nearly killed Cheryl when he met her. If he hadn't needed prisoners, he might have. I suspect if you tried the typical 'Megami has always been here' route on Kerrik, he would have shot you." The Captain sobered. "Eve, I have a bad feeling about this. Something is going to happen. Not with Lucifer, or her group, but with the Blue League. I've read the site-rip, all of Kerrik's stories and notes. I've taken the counsel of my own fears." She shook her head. "Maybe it's the old sailor, maybe it's the Cosmic Awareness, or maybe it's both. But somewhere out there is a spread of torpedoes with my ship's name on them, and they smell of the Blue League."

      "Iain has had considerable trouble with the Blue League, and their unwillingness to live up to their obligations," Eve said.

      "Politely spoken. Let me be blunt. Can I trust them? Silver River follows whichever way the wind blows. Sunshine, with two powerful factions, each plays it straight just so the other can't get an advantage. Blue's the one I know least about and have the most unease over."

      "No, you can't."

      "Thank you. I'm afraid I can't give you anything but a conditional 'yes', but in a couple days, you'll be off courier duty. And tell that man of yours, if it gets too much and he wants to hide out a few days, and play shuffleboard, poke around the Daisy Mae's guts, or just spin sea stories for the kits or old farts, you and his are welcome. The VIPs quarters are nice and spacious."

      "Thank you."

      The Captain clasped her wrist, Blue League-style. "Maybe those two maniacs I've got on board will complete the project they were whispering about in the mess. Turn this bucket into a space cruiser."

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      "Even in the temperate zones, that's freezing," Gwendoline said as she returned from her tour of the outside, to verify nothing was fouling the more sensitive equipment.

      "Master," she asked the man at the radar plot, "Are you all right, with me joining the crew?"

      "It's your choice. I'll miss you, but if this is what you want to do, then I say do it."

      She hugged him tightly, and was pleased when he relaxed in her grip. "Maybe I should hold off a day or two, get a few Tamings in."

      "Maybe," he smiled, "But I think the CIC is the wrong place. It would distract the watch crew."

      She smiled and considered. "Maybe that whirlpool tub, after all, that's what it was used for exclusively before we arrived." She took his arm and escorted him from the room. Ignoring the wistful sighs of the others at their stations.

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      To: Officer Commanding, Privateer Des Moines

      From: Lucifer, Sisterhood of the Thorn

      Captain, I was pleased upon receiving your prompt reply to my offer. I am sorry that my offer was not acceptable to you, but your reasoning is logical and, sadly, valid. You counteroffers are more than I'd expected when I initiated communication with you and very generous indeed.

      I don't think that much negotiation would be necessary in a normal situation and, considering the time constraints your message hints at, this is anything but a normal situation. To that end, I will be blunt. I accept all of your offers and will begin preparing my side of the arrangements immediately.

      I will have the observation team ready for transit within three days and they will await your call. As inferred, they will all be Megami and Sama. For the time being, until the observation team arrives on your vessel, please continue to use Eve as a conduit for any communications. Once they are on board, they will provide a link to the Sisterhood. I would request, and they will be so informed before leaving here, that if they can be put to work on your vessel instead of merely observing; then by all means put them to work. After all, it has been my experience that the best observations come from actually doing the work and not just from watching. Unless you require a separate group, members of this team will be instructed to assist your personnel with the Megami and Sama you will be receiving from the long term storage of the mentioned leagues. I will also make sure they know you have the first pick from among the new arrivals and, other than providing medical care if necessary, my people will stand aside until you are done processing the poor Rip Van Winkles.

      I accept your offer of the items removed from the Alliance personnel and the research notes about them. It is possible to cut off access to the Celestial Awareness, but I suspect that in this case the effect was psychosomatic. My researchers will be eager to see what was done. I have never met this The March Hare, and while it is regrettable that she hates all of us for something that we did not do, she's not the first and is unlikely to be the last. Her power does recommend caution around her, and I shall make sure everyone coming to your vessel knows to exercise that caution in order to avoid offense.

      I accept your offer of a ship and will provide a crew for training at your convenience. Some of them will have previous naval experience and some will not so as to assure that all the knowledge your crew chooses to impart will be absorbed. The soonest the crew will be available for you will also be in three days. After that, they're yours whenever you want.

      I was not aware that the Alliance had strayed so far from their stated goals and, if you wish, I will gladly provide elements for the combined arms assault you informed me of. At this time I am considering a reinforced company with an attached precision artillery platoon, but that may change once I have a better idea of your needs and possibly the composition and numbers you are expecting from the opposing force.

      The prisoners need to be rescued and the people responsible need to pay for the crimes they have committed. We both know that the prisoners would not have gone voluntarily and therefore it is very likely that they are now alone in the universe. The deaths of their harems and tamers cry out for justice.

      Our VIP has received his letter from your VIP and he is not pleased with what he has learned. I do not doubt but that you will have his help.

      I do not feel an urge to swaddle our VIP. To the contrary, his anger calls to the anger that was born inside me when I realized what Sukebe had done to humanity and what he still expected us to do to them in his name, the anger which made me refuse him and to rise against him. That anger is seductive and perhaps it means I have already fallen under his spell, but if it means we can save more of those who need saving by destroying what would destroy them, then so be it.

      I look forward to corresponding with you and I do hope that someday we may meet face to face. Until then, I wish you the greatest success in your endeavors.

      The Captain glanced around. "They will be arriving tomorrow. We will be placing one in the CIC, one in engineering, and one in gunnery, any others will be divided similarly. Officially, they are training officers, there to help us bring up the new crew when they become available." She glanced at Gwendoline. "Load Master, the contents of that letter is ship-business. No need to involve our passengers with it."

      "Understood, Captain."

      "All right. Comments, questions, the floor is open."

      "The best way to keep the newcomers from being noticed, is don't try to hide them," Gwendoline said, "While our passengers have been all over the ship, they have not met everyone. Hiding these in plain sight will be our best course."

      "I wonder if she knows more about the long term storage, and how many will be political, rather than abandoned," the XO brought up, "More important, will be hiding that new crew among the 'Van Winkles'. Ten out of one-fifty is one thing. Having one-fifty trained experts among the 'Van Winkles' may be a harder sell. They'll instantly be apparent."

      "Since everyone is discussing 'what next' I assume the arrangement goes through as written?" the Captain asked. Most at the table nodded.

      "How will be keep Janus and Miguelito from revealing the existence of the last ship?" Guns asked, "I won't have them altered, or disappeared. Besides it being too dangerous, it's too much like the Alliance." She frowned at that, as did the others. "Do any of you know where Kelvin worked in his home? Or Kerrik?" She nodded. "So they can keep a secret. Even the S-Goths never got that from them. Odd that."

      "All right, I'll bring that up with them. I don't think that the Leagues will be willing to have us wait to train up the entire force, before we begin construction. Do we use who we can, and then train the troops, or try a crash course, and make it stick later?"

      "I'd say a crash course," Guns said, "Our first real training, will have to be at sea. Construction, we'll have to take what we can get. Remember, we can live with serviceable, and our two experts can help us correct any flaws."

      "I think they're going to want the ships right the first time."

      "That's what test and shakedown cruises are for," Gwendoline said, "Putting a newly fledged ship in harm's way - I think I missed a meeting somewhere," she said of the blank faces around her.

      "We were hoping to take the ships quickly into battle," the Captain said.

      "If you wanted firepower. The Third Guards would provide you with that, in spades. While a Tyrannodame is no match for a heavy cruiser, there's little short of a Widow she isn't a match for. And over a hundred make an interesting gunline."

      "Thank you, we'll discuss it later." The Captain looked at the others. "Then we'll give Lucifer an official 'yes', and worry about crew assignments."

      "Distracting those two men will be a problem," the XO said.

      "I think Jen has something that should throw everything into chaos," Gwendoline said, "In a very few days. Once that's in place, they won't notice an all-Megami brass band, unless it steals their food."

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      Kay grimaced at the deep cuts Jen had in her body when she arrived in the ship's sickbay. "What happened?"

      "I Tamed her." The HyperDoll winced as her Harem-sister healed the cuts on her arms and back.

      "And she fought back?" Kay asked carefully, "Some of these are pretty deep."

      "No," Jen said dreamily, "She didn't fight back. She's just . . . enthusiastic. She enjoyed it. But when you're basically all sharp objects, things happen."

      "Have you considered restraints?"

      "That would really send a good message," Jen replied sourly, "Hey, I trust you so much, I'm going to tie you up and have sex with you." The HyperDoll shook her head.

      "Then some armored mittens and booties, and maybe a hairnet," Kay told her.

      "Look doc, it was her first time. It'll take time to soften her up - "

      "Soften her up enough to introduce her to your Master?" Kay asked, "Those wounds would have killed him."

      "Which is why I'm doing it. Me, not squishy him. When she can't slice through the bulkheads without half trying, then I'll think about it."

      "You're also running a risk not introducing her to the rest of the Harem. It may be quite a shock when she sees all the other people running around."

      "She's seen over a dozen of them, since we got her."

      "Since you got her. I haven't seen her, and I should have already given her a medical exam. She might be carrying something dangerous."

      "Her fingers and toes for one," Jen said and winced as Kay worked, "Fine, you want to see her, you can see her. But no medical exam. Not yet anyway. And no sneaking in there 'for the good of the crew'. She's had a bad enough time as it is."

      Jen paused and changed the subject. "What about that Hild?"

      "He Tamed her, and had to use restraints, and Isaik as a spell blocker. It seems they were trying to change her into a Penance too. Growing all the things back that they tore out and healed over has been a full time job. And none of the Megami of the crew want to help, and I can't say I blame them. I'd rather just stick a needle in her and be done, or give her a Level 5 and start from scratch."

      "Why doesn't he?"

      Kay snorted angrily. "You know him. He thinks he can save her. Or that she deserves a chance. He gave some Legendary a chance, and we lost him for a while. He gives her a chance, and Kerrik may have to do his trick again."

      "I think the universe learns from its mistakes. We won't get him back so easily next time." Jen told her, "Why not just have an . . . accident?"

      "Ask Maus and Warden about that. If you think I want to face that again, you're crazy."

      "Fine, but if she hurts him, I'll kill her."

      "That may be something you can get away with," Kay admitted.

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      Dr. Marilyn looked up from a copy of the site rip, and closed the cover on the report she was preparing on the authors. "I never expected you to come see me," Dr. Marilyn said to Officer Jenny.

      "Yeah, well," she said as she closed the door behind her, "I get the distinct idea that the only thing keeping some people from turning me into chum, is one person. And since that one person is the one with the biggest grudge against me . . . I thought I'd better deal with the problem."

      "What everyone thinks of you, has nothing to do with it?" the Alaka-Wham asked.

      "I was a competent officer, until I met him."

      "You blame him?" she asked.

      "Yes! No!" She threw her hands in the air. "I don't know . . . yes I do."

      She raised an eyebrow and put the report away. "That just about covers all angles," the psychiatrist said, "So what do you think?"

      Erika paced back and forth in the small cabin. "I don't like being played for a fool."

      Dr. Marilyn kept her mouth shut.

      "I dislike being manipulated even more." She faced the Alaka-Wham. "But that's what they do isn't it?"

      "Who, specifically?"

      "Them, the authors." She gestured at the world around them.

      Dr. Marilyn looked at her curiously.

      Eko saw an explanation was needed. "You trust him?"

      "I do."

      "Why? Because he likes Miguelito? Because you can't read his mind?"

      "Because he hasn't lied to me. Because he's careful the way he treats people." She considered, then added, "When he isn't obsessed with saving the world."

      "That's not it," Eko shook her head and told her, "You do it - because you have no choice."

      "What are you talking about?" the Alaka-Wham said, "If he was doing something, I'd know. His ESPer rating is good, but he has no psychic abilities, and a yearling from any magic academy could defeat him in mystical combat."

      "Despite the fact that he's killed with those trivial powers," the Officer Jenny retorted.

      "They would still have no effect on me," she replied, "And especially not without my knowing it."

      "If they were normal psychic or magic powers," Eko insisted, "You'd be correct. They aren't. The authors warp the reality around them. Kelvin makes you trust him. Sanctuary's people trusted him off the bat!"

      "After he was talked out of reducing their home to a radioactive dustbowl. I think you're making more of this that it deserves."

      "He makes you trust him!" she insisted, "Is it so hard to believe!?"

      "So you act like an . . . paranoid, as compensation?"

      "What if I do?" Eko asked angrily.

      "You act like he has conscious control over his powers. And deliberately used them maliciously against you in particular," Dr. Marilyn reminded her, "Would that kind of person willingly give themselves Red Plague? Be tortured, or go through the troubles he has? If he had that kind of control, nothing could stop him. Same with Kerrik, and the others. They'd be like the Olympians, with us reduced to playing - "

      "Their love slaves?!" she told her, "But that's what we are! The Captain admitted it. She could no more resist him than 'a wall of sugar could resist a steam hose.' You think they aren't taking advantage of that? Even if they can't control it, do you think it's necessarily a bad thing for them that it affects every Pokègirl who comes into range?"

      "So you expect that he's attacking you, and you fight against his influence?" the psychiatrist said.

      "Of course! Wouldn't you?"

      "No."

      The Officer Jenny looked confused. "No, why not?"

      "Because I know he's not using that ability, if it is an ability and not just a characteristic. He's not using the ability to hurt me, or anyone I care about," the psychiatrist explained, "His secret power is to insure baseless trust. Yet has he ever betrayed a trust that was given to him? He's protected you, from people that would chop you into bits and feed you to the fish. He has had more than a few opportunities to get rid of you and your sister. Administratively, or otherwise. But he hasn't taken them. He was scrupulous about protecting me from another of the author's characteristics, their mental defenses. He intentionally let himself be 'talked out' of the genocidal strike against Sanctuary. If that is the heartless manipulator you fear, whose secret power would make him the finest conman in history, why does he fail to use it in ways that would benefit him the most. I'd trust him in a heartbeat, and none of us can understand why you don't."

      "You think I'm overreacting?"

      "I think you are so prejudiced against anyone trying to manipulate you, in any manner, that you fail to distinguish between someone who is naturally persuasive, and someone who is exploiting you." She stared at the Officer. "Now you're going to storm about, convinced I'm hopelessly under his spell and incapable of understanding the obvious wisdom of your position. I'm not. And you are acting like a love sick schoolgirl who's just realized that the object of her infatuation isn't interested, maybe doesn't even know you're alive. You want him. You want him like your sister has had him. But you want him to be like every other Tamer you've run into. Someone you don't have to get emotionally attached to, and any attachment can be blamed on biology. But he's avoided giving that excuse to you, and you resent that you, of your own free will, want to crawl into his bed and accept whatever he does to you. He isn't your Tamer, he isn't your Master, except on paper, yet you want him to be."

      Eko gawked at her.

      "No, I think if anyone needs to feel threatened, it's the people around you. You don't like being manipulated, and you hate being ignored, so you act like a childish fool in front of everyone, ignoring what laws apply where and starting treating jaywalking with the same fervor you should show capital murder. It's no wonder he doesn't want to sleep with you. He's legitimately afraid you'll accuse him of rape after the fact. Even if as his Pokègirl, you'd have little legal basis to stand on, he'd still be wounded by the accusation."

      The Officer Jenny turned livid at the indictment.

      "Oh don't play high and mighty with me! You're a small-minded, thin-skinned prude who's been jealous of your sister's free and easy way with him, and you've been doing everything in your power to undermine their relationship, because you didn't want to be left out. I'm a telepath, and you project all of it so much I can hardly resist it. Now, if you're through wasting my time, go complain to someone who cares. Maybe one of the Boobfin will listen to your wild, hysterical complaints, if you Tame them while you're at it."

      She watched the Officer Jenny tearfully storm out. Well, now that she's not in denial any more, she can deal with the problems, she thought, Of course I felt it, so does every other living thing around him. But then he attempts to justify it, and that frightens him even more. So you objecting to the legitimate trust he engenders, by being an asshole, doesn't cut any ice with any of us.

------------------------------

      Kay sat down with her Master in the sickbay, and discussed her current patient. "The damage is severe. Severe enough that a healing cycle won't magically restore her. The wounds were inflicted, then healed over. So her eyes, finger and toe nails, and the mis-set bones will have to be rebroken and reset, manually. That's one of the problems with healing cycles, it just fixes the obvious symptoms, not the underlying subtle problems."

      "Someone broke her limbs and reset them wrong?"

      "Or reset them ineptly. Or got them 'mostly right' and applied healing magic. Nurse Joys are the premier healers, not because we're the strongest, but because we're the most skilled."

      "I notice you've said not one word about her attitude," her Master commented.

      "You've put up with, and broken, worse. A HyperDoll willing to fight to protect you is not that common, one willing to fight as you command is even rarer. This Hild . . . is she Hild?" the Nurse Joy looked around, "The one who . . . "

      "No, that would be a poetic irony beyond even my taste for karmic retribution. Damaged, her powers seriously reduced, and dropped back in my lap." He considered before continuing, "That would be almost too cruel. With her personality, she'd be sitting in her Pokèball, wondering when I'd get retribution."

      "And would you?"

      "The Bible is full of good advice, on many subjects. One of them is getting revenge."

      "I thought 'Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord' was the quote."

      "Romans 12, verse 19 'Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.' Everybody leaves out verse 20 and 21, 'Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.'"

      "And all the while, you smiling, and being nice, she'll be turning herself inside out, looking for the hidden knife, that will never come." The Nurse Joy laughed.

      "Yep. You don't destroy yourself, you let them destroy themselves. Nastily clever fella that Adonai," he chuckled.

      She joined him for a moment. "Speaking of 'nasty' have you considered just Level 5'ing her." She saw his expression and changed to a professional tone, "It would help her recovery, psychologically, and she'd be less of a danger to you and - us. If she was a clean slate." He started to protest, and she rushed ahead, "I'm not speaking just because she would be a threat to me, to my Harem-sisters, and to my wonderful Master, but for her health as well. She'll be going through exactly what you went through. All the pain and nightmares, all the self-doubt and anguish, everything you are still going through. Yes, I know it will erase a lot of her ingrained 'skills', but do you want those skills as part of the package?"

      He stood up, paced as much as the small space allowed. Looking like he'd crash through one of the walls to keep walking. Finally he sat down again. "Frankly, if I was going to that extreme. I'd talk to the Captain about a Blessing, then purchase an Angel Stone. Making her a magically powerful Angel, straight out of a Level 5, would be the surest way."

      Kay nodded. "It would be the surest way. But my Master likes to take the difficult way." She smiled, and was alarmed when he didn't return it.

      "I'll talk with the Captain and Dr. Marilyn about her mental state and the advisability of that procedure. Please catalog what you'd need for your treatments. Would an evolution like that, correct all the damage?"

      "It would, but I'm not supporting that, just to get me out of work fixing her. I'm doing it so I won't have to fix you." She got up and sat next to him, leaned against him. "I'm - sorry, about the trouble we've caused." She wrapped her arms around his waist. "We - reacted badly, and I don't know all the whys and wherefores. But I didn't mean to hurt you, I just . . . I just felt - giddy, and couldn't control myself. It was like when I was a teenager, and - everything seemed a good idea."

      "Yes, I'm not so old that I can't remember some of the stupid things I did in my youth."

      She looked up at him. "Could we, start again? Or at least try to start on the right foot."

      "Should I get you a Napoleon hat and bend you over a table?"

      "If you got me a Napoleon hat, I'd be bending you over the table," she laughed.

------------------------------

      "Come on Master, it'll be fun," Jen said as she carried him through the passageways, expertly ducking and dipping through the hatches.

      "If it's so safe, why can't I walk on my own?" he asked archly. Today's two guards, Maus and Warden, led and trailed, proving they knew where he was going.

      "Because I like having my Master rubbing against me, and I want to prove I can be trusted not to -" Jen teared up a bit, but kept smiling. "I will never put you in danger, Master. I know what you went through. I watched the recording of - I will never put you in physical danger." Then she added softly, "I love you. I wish you loved yourself as much as we love you."

      He rested his head on her shoulder as they continued their journey. Jen hugged him tighter.

      "This is where you've been spending time with the Penance." He realized, then asked, "Have you got a name for her?"

      "Sophie," Jen answered, and shrugged, "Everything else that came to mind was something to do with hard or sharp, or was sickeningly cute. Which seemed inappropriate."

      "Okay, Sophie. So are we going to be introduced. I've heard you've been working miracles with her, but it usually takes a lot longer than this."

      "First, she can't easily hurt me, as she can the rest of you. So I can hold her, and let her struggle, until she exhausts herself. Then I feed and groom and wash her, then just let her sleep in my embrace. She likes cuddling even more than you Master. But you are my Tamer, and I don't know if she's Feral or not. And a human is the only cure for that."

      "You've been Taming her? Your preferred foreplay would be a - "

      "No, I haven't done that, although a few cuts and bruises she gave me at the start did hike my libido a bit. But tonight, I want you to Tame me, and just let her watch. Then we'll sleep together, and let her watch."

      Neither Maus, nor Warden seemed pleased about the last, but held their tongues.

      "Won't she resent being kicked out of her bed?" he asked.

      "She hates the mattress." Jen smiled. "Her first willful act was shoving it off the bed, and sleeping on the planks beneath, so I got her a table, and she sleeps on that. We sleep on the bed, and she can sleep on her table. I sometime move the table around, and she knows it's okay to move it back where she wants it."

      He looked at Maus, who looked worried, but the girl shrugged.

      "My choice, eh? Okay. Yes, Jen I trust you." Her answering hug and happy squeal nearly squeezed the life out of him. "And I think I can trust the girl," ha said as he tried to get air back in his lungs, "But I want a clear path for her to retreat to her hideyhole/safe-spot, and a clear path for me to get to the door."

      "Already done." Jen set him down and opened the door.

      The red lights kept everything vaguely dark, but the two glowing, blue eyes from the clothes closet told him that he was not alone. The table stood in front of the nook that was really just an open closet, and other paths led to the bathroom and the entryway into the room.

      "Hello. I'm Kelvin's Choice," he told her as he stepped inside, "But some people call me Janus." Something about the way she stared seemed - off.

      The girl retreated deeper into the closet, and only peeked out when it was clear he wasn't approaching.

      His worry about the girl didn't fade as he turned back to Jen. "The introductions have been made, what do we do?" he asked.

      Jen smiled and tousled his hair. "We get you relaxed, and then, you give me a bunch of orgasms, and we sleep together."

      "I see your plan involves great hardship on your part," he teased, heard the faint scuffle as Sophie retreated. He stared at the closet. "She understands us."

      "Yes, I think she speaks English at least, maybe a few other languages," Jen said, "So, I'd hold her, and comb out her hair and - "

      "Why don't we try the shower first?" he suggested, "That was where I was headed when you intercepted me."

      "Do I get to soap your back?" Jen teased, smiling wickedly in expectation.

      "Let's see what develops. Why don't you just take me through the regime you've used on her?"

------------------------------

      "I'd rather have had a firmer assurance that this was acceptable, than a simple three-way conference," the XO said as she and three other Megami-Sama walked through the passageways to the sickbay.

      "He agreed, or didn't disagree," Kay said, "That's about as comfortable with it as he's going to get. Give him more time, and he'll think of an alternative that puts him at risk. Medically, -"

      "And psychologically," Dr. Marilyn added.

      "This is the best way," Kay finished as they entered the sickbay.

      "You're just lucky we knew where to get an Angel Stone in a hurry," Dr. Marilyn said, "And that we could get it here."

      "I think Miguelito, once he heard the plan, would have moved heaven and earth to get this arrangement into action. I think he's developing a fondness for the authors," the XO said, "He and Kelvin hit it off, he and Kerrik hit it off, and I suspect he'd be more than willing to help either one." The XO smiled. "While it's only a rumor, not due to any eavesdropping, understand. Kelvin got quite a dressing down when Miguelito actually had met Kerrik and heard Kerrik's opinion of why he'd been left out."

      "We'd fought off two company-level attacks, successfully, and Kerrik had two girls," Kay replied primly, "There's an obvious logic to his decision."

      She ignored the knowing looks the others exchanged.

      The Hild was still in her Pokèball.

      "Do I need to let her out, so you can do what you have to do?" Kay asked.

      "You need to let her out to apply the Angel Stone," the psychiatrist said, "And then recall her immediately. The Level 5 should already have been applied at that point."

      Kay winced. "Right. Sorry." Kay fed the ball into the machine and hit the buttons. "It doesn't feel like murder, and she never did anything to harm us."

      "It is better," the gunnery officer said, "He's got enough schemers to deal with, he doesn't need another one in his own Harem."

      Kay laughed nervously about that. "A few minutes. I hope she retains a little of her traits, a magic using schemer on my Master's side, who's also an Angel, might be very useful."

      "Well, I can't wait," Dr. Marilyn said, "I have another pair of patients to monitor." She sighed. "I don't think I'll be getting any sleep tonight . . . or is it already tomorrow."

      "I don't know," Kay admitted, "I haven't gotten used to the 'bells' time keeping."

------------------------------

      Jen spotted Sophie out of the corner of her eyes, as she lay in the afterglow of her latest orgasm. "Come on," Jen urged.

      The girl retreated into her cubbyhole, but peered out again.

      "You should just let her get used to it," her Master teased, as his fingers sought to stoke her fires again. "You probably scared her."

      "Me, your little trick with that icy breath of yours," she argued, and toppled him over and pinned him down.

      "Keep going, but gentle," he whispered, "Let her see that touching and arguing isn't pain."

      "Okay, let's go for the ending then," Jen smiled, "Then I'll let you sleep."

      "You're always so demanding," he complained.

------------------------------

      The extremely tall Angel stretched her wings, and looked around. Her expression one that said everything was new and wondrous. Her gaze fell on the Megami, and Nurse Joy before her. "What has happened?"

      "You evolved," the XO said.

      "Before then."

      "You were tortured by several bad men, and rescued by us. One of your fellow victims became a Penance."

      A slight mou of displeasure. "Unfortunate, and cruel." She returned to looking around.

      "We are trying to rehabilitate her now," the Nurse Joy assured her.

      She hadn't found what she'd been looking for. "What is my purpose being here?" the Angel asked, "Not existentially, but in a medical facility, wherever I am."

      "You're on board the Des Moines, a privateer," the XO told her, "The men who abused you were pirates. They've been surrendered to the authorities of their homeland."

      "No, why am I here. I see no Master, and I do not remember agreeing to serve a ship."

      "Your Master is seeing to the Penance at the moment," the Nurse Joy explained, "He'll be up to see you later. He was, rather too squeamish about all the repairs we had to do."

      "Breaking and resetting limbs?" the Angel asked, "He should be more durable, it was necessary."

      "Maybe you'd better learn a little something about him, before you come to conclusions based on what you know about other Tamers."

      The Angel shook her head. "I know no other Tamers."

      "Good," the XO said, "Then you've less to unlearn."

------------------------------

      Jen slipped out of the bed. Her Master made an interrogative noise, but she rubbed his cheek with hers, and pushed him down in the bed. She headed for the door, but spotted Sophie half-in/half-out of her cubby, and half on her table. Sophie spared a glance at her. Jen made a comforting gesture, before leaving.

      Outside and around the corner, down the hall: Warden, Maus, Isaik and Dr. Marilyn waited. The small mage wore an elaborate headset that projected her scrying spell onto a screen and into a recorder.

      "Okay, she's been introduced, now she's becoming acclimated," Jen said, "Even if she just stares at him from her cubby, it's a good first step."

      The others grudgingly agreed.

      "I don't like leaving him alone in there," Isaik said as her viewpoint scanned the area, "One of us should be in there."

      "We're all out here, for a very good reason," Jen replied, "We can get in there before she could hurt him. As if she would. He's not between her and her hideyhole, he's got a clear path to the door, or the bathroom, she'd been fed before I collected him, and I've never heard of a Penance aggressively attacking someone. It isn't their nature. They cry and run away from a confrontation. She's got plenty of running room, and he knows the breed well enough not to corner her."

      "I'd still feel better with one or more of us in there," Isaik replied.

      "Doc!" Jen protested, "This was partly your idea."

      "I suggested getting her to know the Harem," Dr. Marilyn said, as she studied the image Isaik was projecting, "I didn't think you'd start with him." Her gaze sharpened. "What's she doing?"

------------------------------

      He heard the Penance step lightly onto the floor. The faint scrape of the toes, and the sound of leather on leather as the belts rubbed one on the other. Calm, calm, he told himself, She's just curious, which is good. Jen must be doing a good job if she's willing to come investigate with only a handful of days' therapy.

      He could almost hear her sniffing the air. Scenting the shampoo and soap he used, rather than the scented versions Jen used. She's probably also smelling sex, even if we showered after and changed the bedding, even I can still smell it. If she's Feral, it's probably triggering memories. But a Penance will run if you say 'boo', and I can bolt out of here fast. So I can wait. he assured himself of his safety, and lay still, letting the girl come closer at her own pace.

------------------------------

      "She is cute," Warden sighed and admitted, "So shy and skittish. As if our Master would hurt her."

      "He has hurt you," Dr. Marilyn reminded them, "By leaving you out. I think he's learned, but he has hurt you."

      "I don't think he'll hurt her," Jen replied as she stared at the image, "Not any way she'd think of being hurt."

      "Hld?" Maus growled, clearly wanting to come to grips with the Infernal.

      Doctor Marilyn sighed. "He decided, with some advise from Kay, Miguelito and the Captain, to Bless her, Level 5 her, then expose her to an Angel Stone. Thereby producing a tabula rasa Angel. A blank slate."

      None of the others were happy about that.

      "He got rid of the other girl he Level 5'd," Warden told Jen.

      "But she'd traveled with him for a while," Isaik countered, "He only met the Hild for a few short snatches. Maybe he'll keep her."

      "I can't see him selling off an Angel," Jen said.

      "Oh! Look at that," Isaik said.

      "A shiny," Dr. Marilyn muttered as the girl approached Janus, tentatively reaching out. "Oh, this cannot end well."

      "What's your problem, doc?" Jen asked, but kept staring at the projection. "Your plan's working like a dream. It typically takes weeks, if not months to get this far."

      "My plan isn't that good," the Alaka-Wham said, "Your progress was according to plan, but it should have taken weeks to reach this point."

      "Is he in danger?" Warden asked, beating Maus to the punch.

      The doctor looked at them. "No, but all of you may be."

------------------------------

      It was the feeling of a set of table knives being dragged across his bare neck that made him nervous.

      At least with what Jen's been doing, they aren't steak knives, he thought as he suppressed a shiver, What's she doing? Seeing if I'll react? I guess playing dead is the best course of action. He distinctly heard her sniffing at his hair and skin now. Gingerly running her fingers over his shoulders. The faint clink of the belts and their buckles off each other. He lay still as she touched him.

      I can practically hear her curiosity, he thought, I didn't think they were curious.

      As the fingers paused and lifted, he took a chance. "I am awake."

      The skittering on the deck and the thump as she practically hurled herself into the cubby was hilarious. "You're like my stepmom's cat. Invincible, as long as she thought she was invisible." He turned over to stare at the glowing blue eyes staring out of the cubby. "As soon as she realized you could see her, ZOOM back under cover."

      The eyes blinked, and kept staring at him. He settled in, closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

------------------------------

      "Crap, he had to spoil it," Jen complained, "Now she'll be in there another week."

      "Sfff," Maus growled.

      "I agree, he didn't chase her, he talked to her," Isaik said, "I don't think it's over." Isaik glanced around. "Where's the doc?"

      "She slipped out, and asked that we keep recording, 'even the aftermath of the Taming.'" Warden smirked. "I think I need to get something ready for after."

      "No lactation milk," Jen warned, "Those straps would make it hurt."

      Warden frowned at her. "I know about confining clothes and breasts full of milk, believe me," Warden replied, "Just fresh and warm. She's been drinking my milk, and so has Master. Just something they can share."

      "After the Taming, he's not gonna . . . that's gotta be the fastest Penance recovery on record," Jen said.

      "Nnn dn," Maus growled, and pointed at the projection, where the girl had crawled out of her cubby, and was staring at their Master perched on her table.

------------------------------

      Doctor Miguelito Carmen did not enjoy being roused from a blissful slumber, especially after a glorious night with his two girls.

      To have my dreams invaded -! his thought failed as he looked at the deep distress that was the heart and soul of Doctor Marilyn's expression.

      "What's happened, my dear?" he asked, trying to escape the combined grasp of Morpheus and his two girls.

      "Miguelito, things have taken a turn, maybe for the worse."

      The small man was instantly awake. "What makes you say that?" He glanced around. "Never mind, give me a moment to dress and fully awaken, and then I can understand."

      A few moments later, she explained. "I was working with Jen on recovering the Penance. The program seemed to be working perfectly, and I suggested she introduce her to some of the others in her Harem. I specifically wanted her to have the girls meet her."

      He rolled his eyes. "And Jen immediately brought in Janus." The doctor began pacing, he waved both Voltaire and Antoinette back to bed. Voltaire shook her head and moved to get dressed.

      "Jen thinks Janus could do anything, she was also proud to show off her progress," the psychiatrist admitted.

      Miguelito agreed, "Janus' approval of her is terribly important to our HyperDoll, although she'd never admit it."

      "That's fine, and it shouldn't have affected the progress too much. She did it very wisely."

      "For a totally irrational act," he added.

      The doctor nodded. "The Penance, came out of her safe cubby, and touched Janus."

      "And didn't instantly bolt back into her safe place?" Miguelito asked, fascinated by the problem. He grinned. "This is Janus we're talking about," he said happily, "He can inspire that kind of reaction." Miguelito frowned. "That isn't what you're worried about, is it?"

      "No. It isn't that he's an author," Doctor Marilyn explained, "There's much more - and I never thought I'd use the word 'mundane' to describe the phenomenon, but a more mundane explanation."

------------------------------

      Jen felt a desperate need to use a head, but the images were too compelling to leave.

      "Either quit squeaking or go find a head." Isaik said as she noted yet another Megami 'stopping by to watch', "That's it! Warden, take your milk in there yourself, Jen go empty yourself before you explode and drown us all. I'm moving to a wardroom. We don't have to leap to his defense, so lets just get comfortable and watch."

      She ignored the grumbling and moved. The clump came with her, and picked up a few more Megami, and Harem-sisters as she walked through the passageways.

      When she'd set up again, the Penance was still perched on her table, leaning over as far as she could, to get closer to Master.

      "She seems frustrated she can't reach him," Naomi commented to Cheryl.

      "She doesn't want to leave her table," the Megami explained, "She's safe there."

      "Simple enough solution," Naomi said.

      "What with him watching? That's perverted!" the Megami replied, to the general mirth of the onlookers.

------------------------------

      Dr. Marilyn watched Miguelito pace in front of the room's desk, and occasionally smash his fist into the desk he paced in front of. "Damn!" he finally exploded, and glared at the Alaka-Wham, "You have the entire thing neatly categorized and -" he returned to the small screen where she'd assembled the critical clips. "It seems so innocent."

      "Innocent or not, the implications are what worries me," the psychiatrist said, "I think we need to get the Captain involved in this. Maybe I'm just overly tired, but I can't see a way this ends well. Especially after all they've been through."

      Miguelito nodded sadly. "It's that we all hoped, once he got back - "

      "Doctor," Voltaire said, and issued the Captain inside.

      "About half the crew is suddenly on edge, and Voltaire seemed to think you'd know why," the Megami-Sama said.

      Miguelito shook his head. "Lay it out again," he said, "Maybe she can find a way out we've missed." He returned to pacing.

------------------------------

      The Angel swept through the passageways, sometimes turning left, sometimes right, as if searching for something in particular. She paused, looked at the white robes she wore, and considered for a moment. Consideration done, she changed to a half-skirt and continued her quest.

------------------------------

      He heard the girl set the table down beside the bed. He opened his eyes to look at her and she froze. Exactly like a cat, caught doing something it shouldn't. Now, does she distract, or continue doing what she was doing?

      The Penance climbed back up on the table and peered at him, leaning over but staying on her table. She was just looking at him. Looking him over. He looked back, moving only his eyes. She was careful not to touch him, but moved easily on her table, to find the places she could reach.

      She isn't sniffing anymore, he wondered, So she's got my scent, or something else?

      She picked up the blanket, and touched where it had been. He stifled the urge to tickle her.

      She's nicely built, despite looking like a bizarre fetish model, he thought, I wish I knew what she was so curious about. Blossom and Rainbow said I smelled 'interesting', but they never acted like this.

      She froze again

      "What did you find?" he asked.

      Again the scramble into her cubby. A few moments of full hiding, then peeking out to check for pursuit. Then playing peekaboo for a few moments when she realized he was just watching.

      Let's move this along a bit, shall we? he thought, and moved the table closer.

      She hid again, as the table scraped across the floor. Then popped out to see him put the pillow, and his head on the table. She hid.

      Warden entered, set down the container of milk. She waved before she left, closing the door behind her.

      Again the peek-a-boo began.

------------------------------

      "What's he doing?" one of the crew Megami asked.

      "Oh, like you haven't wanted to run your fingers through his hair. Or Kerrik's," Jen teased.

      The Megami squeaked and retreated.

      "Nice trap." Naomi stared at the image. "And he's in her territory."

      "I just hope she doesn't suddenly decide to slit his throat for claiming her place," Warden warned.

------------------------------

      The Captain stood, glanced down at Miguelito, who stood aside to let her pacing wear a hole in the carpet. She looked terribly worried. She spoke as she walked, "I never thought I'd suggest this, and it goes against everything I normally believe in, but I can put a stop to this. I can put a stop to this, right now." As she paced, she gestured to the mirror of the projection the others watched. The Penance had found one of Janus's combs, and was duplicating the grooming she'd gotten over and over from Jen. Combing out Janus' hair.

      "Captain," Dr. Marilyn explained, "That's the symptom, not the problem. The fact it's even possible is the problem."

      "Besides," Antoinette added, "You'd have a mutiny on your hands, once they realized what you'd done," she explained as she and Voltaire served tea.

      "And why," Voltaire added.

      "This is a disaster," the Captain said, "I say this, batten down the hatches, and brace for a hurricane. Then let it happen."

      "Not very comforting," Miguelito complained, "Those are our friends down there."

      "Some of them are mine as well, Doctor," the Captain reminded him.

      "My apologies," he offered, "There has to be another way?"

      "Not one that will leave things intact."

      "Being an author?" Voltaire asked hopefully.

      Miguelito smiled at her, then the smile turned wan. "I'm afraid, that is also the root of the problem. Damn! Damn! Damn!" he shouted as he stomped his feet on the deck.

------------------------------

      The Angel walked out of the machine shop. "Thank you," she told the Megami machinist who's had the bushings ready before she'd even arrived.

      "Do you know what they are for?" the Pokèwoman asked, "I didn't."

      She smiled and looked at the round circles in her hand, made of the same tough alloy as the hull. "There will be an ending, and a new beginning, and all will be as it was." She walked along the corridors, no longer seeking a point in space, but seeking a moment in time.

------------------------------

      Every Pokègirl watching held their breath as the Penance lifted Janus up and took the near full bowl of milk and pressed it to his lips.

      "She is mirroring your actions?" Seadamar asked.

      Jen, unwilling to miss a moment, merely nodded.

      "Interesting. I believe showering and sleep generally followed," Seadamar said, "Unless you believe he'll take your part initiating a Taming." The GunValkyrie looked at the stunned faces staring at her. "It is the logical progression, if she is mirroring Jen's behavior. A pattern is set, and a pattern is followed. Which of the two patterns is followed, will be interesting."

      "Anyone want to bet?" Fred commented disparagingly, yet watched as intently as any of the others.

      Others hushed her as Janus drank from the bowl, while the Penance sat behind and held it to his lips. Once the bowl was empty, the girl was in a quandary.

      "She'd never wanted more than a bowl before, and I usually drank the last," Jen explained.

      "She's a fool if - wait!" Warden said and watched as the girl shifted him back into the bed. She moved the table out of the way and put the bowl beside the jug of milk.

      The entire audience held their breath as they watched which way she'd go, to the man staring at her from the bed, back to her cubby, or to the table. Several of the younger Megami squealed at the intensity, as the girl stopped and seemed to be debating the question herself.

      "If he says something, or some enemy breaks in," Jen growled and shook her fist.

      "There will be mayhem," Blossom agreed more sedately.

      "Perverts," Fred complained.

      Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when she slipped into bed. And stopped breathing again, when she started unbuttoning his shirt.

------------------------------

      He watched as she didn't work with the buttons as if her fingers were normal. She pinched the button and pushes it through. Clever really, he thought as the knifelike fingers worked carefully at the handful of buttons. He forced himself not to speak. No encouragements, no soothing words, just letting her work.

      When the last was off, she paused and leaned close. He felt the roughness of her tongue on the stubble as she gave little licks on this throat. While her hands stroked his chest. Her hands moved lower, finding the bulge in his shorts. Her hands closed around it, squeezing slightly and feeling it react.

      She released it in abject terror and scrambled back to her cubby.

      This is weird, I can almost hear her whimpering, feel her terror, he thought as he composed himself.

      "I know you're all watching," he said gently, "And I can imagine what you are saying. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Just because she lost her nerve at the last moment. She was doing very well. Now it's time to bring this to a climax." He ignored the groans and head banging outside the room.

      It was like I felt her nerve break, he thought, More than just feeling how the story goes. He climbed out of bed and walked so he could look into the cubby, but not block her path to escape.

      He waited where she could see him for a few moments. She was holding her legs to her chest and rocking back and forth. He walked slowly up to her and lifted her from the cubby. As he set her supine on the floor, she exploded into motion. Her fingers clawed at the deck and her heels kicked at it. He lay down atop her and wrapped his arms around her.

      It's the only safe place around her, he thought as she noiselessly wailed and struck out at the deck beneath her. He waited and held her, letting her convulse and silently scream. As her fit faded, his fingers found the critical buckles. She wrapped her legs around his thighs, gripping tightly, almost painfully.

      "I don't have armor piercing ability," he told her, "I have to get at you the old-fashioned way." While she shook her head 'no', she freed the straps. She caught his hands, pulling them away from her crotch and out as far as she could reach. Once she was at full stretch, she released his wrists and immediately wrapped her arms around him.

      "It's okay, I can wait until you're ready. But sooner is better than later," he whispered as she pressed him against her as tightly as she could.

      She kept shaking her head and holding him.

      "It's okay. I won't hurt you."

      Her response was to release him, jump up and try to bolt. He caught her around the waist and set her back on the ground. She immediately rolled over, pulled her legs under her and covered her neck with her hands.

      "You do realize that if you're afraid of me raping you, that's the wrong pose, and the wrong direction?" he asked the prostrate girl, and could almost hear the whimper.

      I can't figure out if that's eager, or fearful, so I'll go with both, he thought as he put one hand on the small of her back, and one below her hands, and slowly pushed himself inside her.

      As he pulled back out, he felt a resistance across his back, slowing but not stopping him. Okay, I get it now, he thought, Just slow, and don't hurt you. He felt the same subtle resistance as he thrust into her, keeping his pace at a slower rate than he'd like. After a number of slow, steady strokes, she was rubbing her cheek on the deck and gasping breath through her mouth. Okay, she's enjoying it, he thought.

------------------------------

      The Angel waited, out of view of the entrance. The projected view of my goal will attract any errant watchers, she thought, So I needn't worry there. She clutched the carefully made parts to her breast and waited. Her stomach tightened as she realized, I'm acting completely on instinct. I have no rational thought behind this. I just knew it had to be done. I don't even really know what I'm doing. She steadied herself. Smiled at a passing rating, and waited.

------------------------------

      Miguelito pushed his way to the front of the pack watching the goings on. Many of the Megami noticed the Captain accompanied him and tried to slip away.

      "Stand fast," she ordered the terrified crew members.

      Jen noted the worried expressions on the newcomers, before her eyes were drawn back to the scene. "It's great," she began happily, then saw Miguelito's dark expression, "It is, isn't it?"

      "For them, yes," Miguelito said darkly, "For the rest of us, not so much."

      "You're acting as weird as the shrink," Jen said angrily, "He's helping that girl and you all are acting like it's the end of the world."

      "Think about the personality necessary to Recognize a Penance," Miguelito growled back, "Then think about what Recognition usually means to the rest of a Harem. And maybe you can grasp what we are so obviously over-concerned about," he shouted at her, and uncharacteristically, didn't apologize.

      "Recognition," Warden breathed, "That's - but why doesn't he know?"

      "Because it hasn't fully taken yet, and any attempt to stop it . . . will be worse," Miguelito admitted dolefully.

      "But if he Recognizes her . . . what about the rest of us?" Sabrina asked.

      "Usually?" Voltaire asked, and her sad expression gave the answer.

      "But . . . we just got him back," Isaik whispered mournfully, then came alert, "What's she doing there?!"

------------------------------

      Then Penance rose and arched her back, despite his weight on her, and seemed to howl at the ceiling. Despite her silence, he heard her joyous howl clearly.

      The howl stopped the instant she laid eyes on the nearly seven-foot-tall Angel. She hunched down, and planted her hands on the deck.

      "None of that!" he shouted, "We're still attached!" He looked at the Angel. The air around him felt greasy and tasted of ozone, like an impending lightning strike. He too stared at the Angel. She knelt in front of the Penance, as he pulled himself out of her, then had her try to back over him to get away from the Angel. He caught her and held her struggling form. While the Angel knelt statue-still and watched. "She's not going to hurt you either," he said unable to shake the absolute terror he realized was not his own.

      The Angel extended her hands together, palms up. "I only want to complete what has begun."

      He saw the rings in her hand, three of them, and understood. But the Penance still mentally beat on the walls of her mute prison, denying all and terrified of what the Angel was telling her. When he reached for the rings, the Penance twisted in his arms and knocked him down. Rather than running, she pinned his arms to his sides and shook her head.

      "It's all right, I understand," he told her, "You will too."

      She shook her head and again, then buried her face in his chest. He felt the raw terror like a choking cloud around him and the wracking sobs shaking her body even as he held her, yet silence reigned.

      As her struggles lessened, and abject despair settled over the Penance, he kissed the top of her head. Even her hair isn't sharp anymore, he realized. He looked at the Angel, pulled the Penance up his body so they were face to face. He hooked her legs apart with his and told her, "She's come for me. You won't be hurt. You know you can trust me."

      She laid her head on his shoulder and made no movement, other than shivering in terror.

      The Angel set the rings beside him, and took him into her mouth.

------------------------------

      "What the Hell's goin' on?!" Jen demanded as Blossom and Rainbow dragged her back into the room where the others still monitored, "You say the Penance Recognized him, and that Angel we've never seen before, says somethin' about 'completing' and she's giving him a hummer no questions asked?!"

      Miguelito and Dr. Marilyn had their heads together and whispered furiously. The Megami were being dismissed back to their departments, and the rest were dreading what would be their future if, as implied, their Master Recognized not one but two girls.

      "We know who she is," the Captain told Jen, "The Hild whom we captured. Now an Angel, and I think another piece to the puzzle."

      "He might recognize us all," Fred squealed, then soured, "Yeah right."

      "There's a chance!" Alba retorted, and was held high enough by Seadamar, to be out of Fred's reach.

      "Grow up," the Tomboy replied, "He's got his soul-mate, what does he need fun-toys for." Fred's grin turned nasty. "Except as meat shields for them. Yeah he'll probably keep you all around for your ability to absorb bullets."

      The Handmaid burst into tears, and there looked to be a few others ready to join her.

      "Master wouldn't do that," Warden whispered, "He cares about us. As pe - pe - people."

      "People don't have to fuck each other, they can 'just be friends'. He'll make sure you can Tame each other, and that he won't be too loud when the three of them are having an orgy."

      "Fred," Angie commanded sharply, "Enough." She glared at the others. "We don't know what's going to happen. I've never heard of someone Recognizing two Pokègirls. We can trust -"

      "Trust!" Fred shouted, "You are blind and deaf if you don't know what's going to happen. Recognized Pets are regularly - dealt with, in Sanctuary, because their Owners sympathize with them too much, to the exclusion of their other - responsibilities."

------------------------------

      He found the rings fit perfectly, almost as perfectly as the two bodies pressed against him in the shower. "One of us needs to step outside, cover themselves in soap and come back. I don't think three is going to work."

      "You and she would fall," the Angel said, "And we are clean enough, for what we now must do."

      "Yeah, you feel it?"

      "Through you. Clarice, you and I need to reassure them," the Angel said.

      "I hope you didn't mind Jen calling you Sophie, she had to give you a name," he told the Penance.

      I am Clarice, and hold no grudge against the one who would not abandon me, the Penance snuggled against him, Nor she who guarded and brought me to the one - She sighed and closed her eyes as she rested against him.

      He smiled contentedly, and looked up at the Angel who seemed enraptured by the display. "You also need a name," he told her.

      "Hannibal," the Angel said, and grinned.

------------------------------

      "The previous mark of nervousness was 'a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs'," Shana said, "I think that standard needs revision."

      "You do not feel as we do?" Seadamar asked.

      "He's decent," Shana grimaced, and explained, "That means something. You aren't getting less, you're getting more and more complete." She smirked. "Unlike you, I have faith."

      "Pokègirls who're him," Voltaire said.

      "Voltaire makes a good point. You'll have two Pokègirls who'll better understand him, and can explain him in Pokègirl-terms," Antoinette added.

      "Considering you have less of a stake in the game," Kay said, "Forgive us if we're a little more worried."

      Shana noted that both sisters seemed equally worried.

      The trio staggered out of the room, their Master in the center. The other two pressed against him, throwing him off balance as the pressure from one side to the other varied.

      Their Master stopped about 10 feet from the collected, expectant girls and looked around nervously. "What's wrong?"

      "You Recognized those two girls you dope!" Eko shouted. Kay looked like she planned to be an only child very shortly.

      "Oh, that." He shrugged. The Angel and the Penance maintained equally stoic expressions. "This is Clarice, she was an Alaka-Wham. And this is Hannibal is -"

      Miguelito's coughing fit interrupted, as Voltaire and Antoinette stared at Janus in amazement.

      "An Angel, named - Hannibal? She picked that name? Herself?" Miguelito gasped as Janus nodded, "Clarice and Hannibal." The man managed to get the coughing under control and stared at Janus. "You are an evil man, sir. They're yours no doubt or question about that!"

      "I understand that you were all worried about something, so I decided to demonstrate," he told them, "Since Clarice wanted Jen to know how much we appreciated her help, and patience." He paused to let the normally indomitable HyperDoll squirm under the combined glare of most of the Harem. "We're going to strap her down and beat her up."

      Most of the girls who hadn't heard about Jen's quirk looked horrified, until they looked at Jen who looked liked she'd died and gone to Heaven.

      "I'll take Sabrina," Hannibal said, "I need to learn a few things quickly."

      "Eep!" the DildoQueen exclaimed gleefully.

      The trio swept down on their targets and swept away with them. Leaving the rest of the Harem, Miguelito's, the Captain and a machinist mate looking around.

      "Did we win?" Alba asked.

------------------------------

      Kay looked at Jen, hanging between the pair, her Master and Clarice. The odd knife hanging from his belt told the story, as if the manic grin on the HyperDoll's face didn't.

      "I think she needs a healing cycle," Janus told Kay.

      She retrieved the girl, and fed the ball into the machine, setting the Healing for Level 4, then noted the lack of damage on the read out. "She was covered in bruises and small cuts," Kay said, "I thought -"

      The experience of pain at the hands of a lover is what she desired, Kay heard the calm and collected voice in her head, The anticipation and shock is what excited her, not the injury. So we were very careful.

      "Clarice is a telepath?" Kay said, "She retains that ability?"

      "Like Hannibal, she retains a shadow of her previous abilities. Once she bonded, she was strong, and secure enough, to use those abilities again."

      "I think we have a similar need," the aforementioned Angel entered, carrying a near-comatose DildoQueen.

      Kay reduced her to red light, and added her to the machine. "Just exhaustion," Kay said from the readout, "What exactly . . . " She paused at the Angel's blush.

      "It seems she had some - odd fantasies - involving our Master. I permitted her to play them out, and applied some of my - our - own." She glanced around. "Although, she is developing ideas about all three of us, at once, in various - " She looked straight at the Joy. "Private encounters."

      "All for one and one in all," Kay said, "I get it. No need to discuss it." She looked at the pleasant camaraderie. "How are all of you feeling."

      Well.

      "Tired."

      "Loved," Hannibal said. She smiled at the expressions of the others. "They are not well bonded, and yet, something holds them as tightly as a web of Delta Bonds."

      He nodded. "I've been stubborn about this," he sighed and admitted, "Is it really better to let them sleep in their Pokèballs?"

      Clarice nodded. The Angel seemed to ponder.

      "Usually," Kay said, "Not always. Think of it as a deep and cleansing meditation. Every night is probably wrong, but occasionally, it's all right."

      We can show you, in the morning, Kay overheard between Janus and Clarice, You aren't eavesdropping, I need to speak, and this is the best alternative. I can send shielded thoughts.

      Please say 'blue', Kay heard.

      "Blue" "Green" "Red"

      Clarice smiled, and bowed. A moment later. Kay had retrieved the two girls and placed them in the machine.

      "I'm giving them a Level 2, so they can tell you what that's like. You, sir, need regular sleep. And I know there's an army camped on your doorstep."

      "So you're going to keep me here under observation?"

      "Medical observation," she said as she drew near, and began unbuttoning her blouse, "Close observation. I have to be sure no one slips in and tries to Tame you in your sleep."

      "Your diligence is commendable."

      Her blouse dropped to the floor, and she pushed him back with her breasts. "You can commend me later," she told him as her skirt joined the rest of her uniform on the floor, "I'd give you something to knock you out for eight-hours, but that isn't as restful as normal sleep." She reached for her hat, smiled, and left it where it was.

------------------------------

      He was vaguely surprised to wake up on the floor of a wardroom. Every Pokègirl in the Harem snuggled against each other, and the mass of Blossom's and Rainbow's battle-forms ringing the circle. Isaik as tight against his chest, with others laid out in concentric rings by their position in the hierarchy.

      A glance at his watch showed that 14 hours had passed. Several Megami in the styling of the ship's guard stood at the entrances to the large room. Several Tyrannodames of the Third Guards also stood with them. He sat up and had at least eight arms pull him back down. He frowned at that, and tried to ignore the answering chuckles, both outside and one inside his head.

      He sat up again, dislodging Isaik and looking over the expanse. One of the Tyrannodames stood and tiptoe and peered. He realized he was naked. "Not nice teasing the nice security ladies," he said as he cast about for something to wear, and realized that there was not a scrap of clothing in sight, except on the guards. "If you think this is going to keep me from walking to my cabin, you're very much mistaken."

      "Told you," Blossom rumbled, and handed over a set of clothes. Rainbow was giving an evil eye to the pecker-peeker.

      He picked his way across the field of girls, as Blossom and Rainbow woke the others by tossing clothing packages at or on them. "How are you two doing?" he asked the two massive dinogirls.

      "Hoping you'll deal with Eko in a thorough way," Blossom told him flatly, "Publicly would be good too."

      He blew out a breath and nodded. "That's a hornets' nest I've let fester too long." He smiled. "Any suggestions?"

      "Candles, chains, feathers, numerous very sharp pins, salted lemon juice, a drill press, whipped cream, ice cubes, fish hooks, fresh cucumbers, broiled snails, a pool of breathable water and a very sharp duck," Rainbow growled.

      Quack, appeared in his mind.

      "Oookayy," he said, "I see you've thought carefully about this."

      "Practice, for the one who killed you," the Tyrannodame growled. Blossom nodded, and the pair retook their human like forms.

      "If it wasn't a Legendary, I'd feel worried for her," he said, "On the other hand, considering I'd help, I do feel worried for her."

      Both Blossom and Rainbow nuzzled him, before turning to get the group in some kind of order.

      "Cheryl, some practice with Clarice, she needs to learn how to use her powers quickly. Hannibal, you need to go through the site-rip with Roxane and Aurora, I want you all up on the personalities and writings of the major authors. Shana, get with Kamara, we need to talk. The rest of you, the Captain has drills scheduled and work that has to be done to get this ship ready for VIPs. Guess who volunteered?" He ignored the complaints from the girls, and headed for the mess hall for something to eat.

------------------------------

      The Captain and several of her senior officers watched the ten Megami appear in one of the unused VIP cabins. Both groups saluted, as the crew did.

      "We await our assignments, Captain," their leader said.

      "One of you will be assigned to our CIC, another in engineering, gunnery, navigation, quartermaster, teaching the little ones, and I'm afraid the rest are going to be on general maintenance and cleaning up duties. You'll rotate through those position of course. If any of our passengers asks, you're part of our training cadre and brushing up on your cross-training. They've seen the least of those, and that also means no one will think it strange you're always looking over someone's shoulder and asking questions."

      "Understood."

      "One of the other things you'll hear is Megami and Megami-Sama being called 'Megs' and 'Sammies'. While typically this is an insult, we've accepted it, grown inured to it, and made it our own. So don't be surprised if you hear it."

      The group looked at each other and chuckled as their leader smiled. "We're all veteran sailors, Captain, and we've been called and called others much worse. It won't be a problem."

      "I have a feeling I'll be calling for the full crew, very shortly. I trust my instincts and they're telling me a storm is coming," the Captain admitted, "The newcomers will present us a challenge I don't think we've ever faced. Something about it bothers me. If you see anything out of the ordinary, report it."

      "We'll be ready for it," the Sisterhood Megami assured her.

      "Then you've never run into an Author before," the Captain told them, "Let me give you a little taste of what you're likely to run into that passes for normal around here lately."

      "Captain," the leader said, "We do have a gift for you."

      "Thank you."

      "One of Kerrik's Harem understood that food was an issue. Our addition makes that more of an issue. So we brought 500 pounds of rice with us, each."

      "Very generous, and much appreciated," the Captain said, "But I think a little clarification about the more likely problem needs be made. XO. And an example of what I meant about normal."

      "Miss Blossom and Miss Rainbow, can you report to the guest quarters, thank you," the XO announced over the 1-MC.

      Before she could hang up, there was a knock on the door. The two tall, gray, feathered Pokègirls entered once the XO opened the door.

      "Thank you for teleporting here. These are some of our training officers," the Captain said, "Some have been on detached duty, but you'll be seeing a lot of them soon."

      "Understood, we will tell the others," Blossom said, "Just these, or are there more?"

      "We have some . . . retirees, I guess, we're bringing back," the Captain said, "We'll make sure you get a look at them."

      "A noseful would be better," Rainbow suggested.

      "If you don't mind," the Captain asked the Sisterhood Megami. None seemed to mind. Rainbow and Blossom bowed.

      Facing two 40+ foot-long, heavily-muscled carnivores brought the Sisterhood Megami to an alert watchfulness that raised them a few points in the Captain's estimation. They carefully stood still as Rainbow and Blossom scented each of the newcomers, and withdrew slightly.

      "They're - " one of the Sisters said.

      "Our Master's faithful guards. Some call us - Sturmgeschutz," Blossom rumbled, not accidently displaying her mouth full of six to nine inch-long, razor-sharp teeth, "A safe name that tells everything, and nothing."

      The members of the Sisterhood nodded.

      "They heard we were having supply problems," the XO said, "So they brought something to help."

      Both of the massive girls brightened, then their noses dilated, and their spirits fell. "We very much appreciate your generous gift. It is doubtless very good . . . rice," Blossom said as she returned to her humanoid form.

      "Do you need us for anything else?" Rainbow asked.

      "No, thank you very much."

      The pair vanished.

      "We were briefed you had Tyrannodames," one of the Sisters said quietly. "Impressive." There was a murmur of agreement.

      "Two of more than one hundred fifty we have on board. Like you, they are something else we haven't advertised," the XO told them, "They're good girls. Gentle, respectful, and incredibly tolerant of our vegetarian cuisine. We've only been rotating ten of the others out at any one time, and our two male passengers have been turning over their entire daily meat ration to them, but with twelve healthy appetites, it's more seasoning than substance."

      "Those teeth weren't just for show. One of those two ripped an immense Sharptits to pieces," the Load Master warned, "They're tolerant, but I think if we found a pirate ship, they'd jump it themselves, just to eat the crew."

      "Are they safe?"

      "As long as you're on their side, safe as the cuddliest mouse. If you're an enemy," the Load Master said, "You won't be for long. What they really need is a Leviathaness corpse to eat."

      "Or a Buzzbreast hive," Guns suggested, "Or a Vampire nest."

      The Sisterhood Megami stared at them for a second. "I don't think this tour is going to be boring," one of them muttered.

      "They're two of the more reasonable and normal of the passengers," the Captain said, "Let me warn you about some of the others."

------------------------------

      The evolution into the harbor of Ig Town was anticlimactic for the gleaming ship. Every spot of rust and peeling paint had been removed and replaced. She looked proud and fresh from the builder's yard.

      "The envy and near lust from the faces of the dignitaries watching her arrive is well worth it," he said to Miguelito, as the pair watched from the boat deck.

      "You do know they're going to completely screw us over, don't you," Miguelito replied.

      "Hope springs eternal," he replied.

      "Usually straight for the jugular vein." Miguelito raised his binoculars and looked at the group, separated from the dock workers and average citizens, by uniformed security from their nation.

      "Why didn't they let us go to the Cascade Islands, rather than down south? Bremerton is where the mothballed ships are sunk. Not the Magma Isles," he asked.

      "I don't even want to speculate on the shape of the table arguments that took place. The pitiful advantages and perceived slights that go through the heads of diplomats," Miguelito said, "Should we go and greet them?"

      "It couldn't hurt, just don't shake hands with any of them," he warned.

      "Poisoned needles?" Miguelito asked.

      He smiled at his friend. "Or worse," he replied.

------------------------------

      The group of diplomats and their parties had assembled on the fantail. Each nation cordially loathing each other. He recognized one person in particular. "Stay close," he told his guards, and his Recognized pair, "This might get dicey."

      He walked among the diplomats, looking as each guard came alert as he walked seven Pokègirls through their perimeter. The diplomats usually went from revulsion to oily smoothness as realization dawned, but he was past before they transitioned and was not inclined to turn back.

      He drew himself up, and saluted the old Witch. She returned it, and grinned. "Quite a trick, youngster." She glanced at the group surrounding him. "You afraid?"

      "If I'd planned on fighting you, ma'am, we'd be on the bow where six guns could bear."

      She smiled at that. "You'll have to write a paper. Damn few have ever come back."

      "It's a very personal experience."

      "I understand," she said and considered, "Ah, it's specific to the person."

      "Maybe because I'm - who I am - our other guest didn't see the world as I did."

      She nodded. "The girls and women are all here. So's the boat to take them north. The requisite number of spies in each, and probably some who didn't show up on our radar. You're going to need more humans, so I arranged it. Do you need anyone else?"

      He thought. "No. I suspect I'll need him later, if Carmen can spare him. But not now."

      "Should I deliver a crystal to your friend?" she laughed at his horror.

      "No, he'd use it. Or make more of them."

      She nodded, her tone was light, but her eyes were serious. "Youngster, anyone bringing light, is expecting darkness when they get there." She nodded again and let him drift away. He was trying to skirt around the crowd, but one man insistently cut through the others to intercept him. "Mr. Choice," the man announced loudly enough that the dock workers heard, if they were paying attention.

      Judas, must you betray me with a kiss? he thought of the man who'd singled him out for every spy in the place.

      The man bustled up to him, trailed by a woman who could have been a Very Near Human Pokègirl in pro forma disguise, or a human woman with odd sunglasses and a bad dye job to polish the mirror. Their suit and tie outfits were inappropriate for the tropics, she'd at least gotten rid of her jacket, but the sweat was making the white shirt clingy and transparent in places. Janus put his hands behind his back, put on a pleasant smile, and waited.

      The man stuck out his hand for a handshake, in a manner a Jokette might. In the ninety-seven-degree heat, both man and woman were wearing leather gloves.

      "I do so hope you are enjoying this little diversion. From your all-important mission, I mean." The man's hand hung there, like the puppeteer had forgotten to move it. "Can't keep the 'you know where people' far from your thoughts, can you?"

      The woman had started bleeding from her nose, tear ducts and ears.

      Clarice stuck out her hand for the man to shake.

      Probably sharp enough to separate one Planck second from the next, Janus thought, as the woman bolted for the railing, and dove off the ship. The man looked at the hand, and his departed comrade, and dropped his hand, finally.

      "I say."

      Obfuscating stupidity, or the real McCoy?

      Janus looked at Hannibal. "If she lived, fish her out, dry her off and check her out. Blue needs their spy and she's likely enough. Unless you want her back?"

      The man shook his head.

      "I shall wash her, strip her and have her sent to your tent," Hannibal said solemnly, manifested her wings and set off.

      "She always gets the sorting wrong."

      "I say," the man repeated, "Well, that was odd. Never saw that before." He sobered. "You mustn't think Blue is all Kerrik Wolf told you. We are a civilized people. He merely wanted things the government thought too important to lose track of."

      "I never suggested otherwise. But I have read all the stories set in the Blue League," he said and smiled, "And have found the Blue League closely follows the patterns of England in its dealings with others."

      The man smiled.

      "Like the Irish, Scots and Welsh," Janus said, "Good day to you, sir."

      Jen dropping out of the sky practically on top of him set more tongues wagging.

      "Are you stealing Roxanne's clothes?" he asked as she hugged him, then kissed him.

      "I missed you," she told him, setting off more murmurs among the diplomats. She took a pose in the white leotard, boots and gloves. "Too risque?" she asked.

      "You fill it out as well as she does," he said, "But differently."

      She curtseyed. She glanced at Clarice, then at him.

      There's a problem, he heard in his mind.

      I'll get Isaik and head out to the assembly area, he sent to Clarice.

      Jen nodded a moment later. "I'll get her. Good idea of Granny's." Jen flew off.

      "I take it you want me to be surprised," he told Clarice.

      Let's stir up the island a bit first, then disappear into problem solving mode, he heard, and got a kiss from Clarice. Which really had people behind him talking.

------------------------------

      The wardroom went from empty to full in an instant. "Thank you all for coming so quickly. As you know, we have a medical emergency," the XO told the assembled Megami and Megami-Sama, "You're going to be busier than you've been in a while. A lot of the people we need to carry out our plan are in danger. Our medical staff will be handing out assignments. Likewise, some of you will be getting some fast on the job training as most of the regular crew are called away."

      She paused to let them absorb that, then continued, "This will have one other effect. If one of our eagle-eyed passengers sees you later, they'll remember you were there for this emergency, and will be less inclined to ask questions. Okay. Let's get you separated and on your way to your assignments."

------------------------------

      They walked down the main drag, and enjoyed the reactions. It was almost enough to make him forget they were walking towards a disaster. Okay I think I've figured it out, he thought as he watched more and more of the same reactions, The Angel catches the eye, six-foot-ten and gorgeous would.

      Thank you, came the reply from their point guard.

      Of course, he thought, Then the laughing little girl, then they realize the laughing Pokègirl with the girl on her shoulders is a Penance, then they realize she's swinging from her Master, and a HyperDoll.

      At that point their brain divides by zero and they shut down, Clarice finished, You'd almost think we planned this.

      NAW! they all thought, and laughed.

      "I gotta get me one'a them delty blondes," Jen joked.

      "I still want to know what this disaster is," he replied.

      "Blue screwed us over, and probably told the other Leagues how to as well," Jen told him, "Not the best thing to tell you, after dealing with their infiltration, and their representative. Especially around witnesses."

      "Ah ha! I challenge you for your . . . "

      "Not again!" Janus said disgustedly, "Didn't we leave you with a PsiDyke out in the middle of nowhere?"

      "HyperDoll?" the Tamer seemed to deflate, "You turned my Harem into HyperDolls? And Penances?! How could you best me in evil and villainy?"

      "Can I kill him? Please?" Jen asked sweetly.

      "It is our holy mission, to convert evil Tamers to a more pleasing form. If you have pleasured a PsiDyke you have learned what many men never dare," Hannibal said beatifically.

      "Was that him screaming, or the sound barrier breaking?" Isaik asked of the retreating Tamer.

      "He might be a spy for the Celestial Alliance," Jen suggested, and shrugged, "You never know."

      "We do," Janus and Isaik said and continued walking.

      "You should have fought him," Hannibal said, "He may have provided you more - interesting Harem-members."

      "You wanna chase him down?" Jen asked.

      He stared at them. They tried desperately to look innocent.

      The camp for the released Megami seemed to be in order: tents in neat rows, good sanitation, laundry hanging in the breeze. Hardly a disaster by any stretch of the imagination. The Megami were chatting in small groups, and not staring at him too hungrily.

      "We're gonna need a bigger boat," Jen suggested.

      No, these will be fine, and will fit, Clarice said, These are the bulk of the trainees. Many ringers, but they should be separable into their nationalities.

      He looked around the camp. "If they'll fit," he said as they walked, "Then this isn't all of them."

      "And they aren't the disaster," Jen said.

      They crested a rise and looked down at the second camp.

      "Goddamn them to Hell," Janus whispered.

      "The ladies in the army, they think are mighty fine, most are over eighty and the rest are under nine," Jen said of the collection of old women and young girls, most who staggered around, or sat, shaking with palsy.

      "Get everyone, Granny said she sent for help," he said coldly, "Hannibal, locate them too. Have Miguelito send a message to Kerrik, maybe L's troops are here, maybe Kerrik can spare somebody." He looked with fury at the clean and neat camp he'd just passed through. "And get those prissy bitches off their asses and moving down here."

      "They may have had orders," Jen said. Laying a hand on his shoulder, and weathering the glare he gave her.

      "They certainly do now," he said quietly.

      "You're going to need a larger security force," Hannibal said, "Before you go down there. They're Feral, or near Feral. But they'll be able to sense you, and Isaik can't protect you from what will ensue."

      He nodded. "Get some people here then. Jen, you and Clarice get them moving. I'll - I'll stay up here and fulminate, until you get back."

      Roxanne, Aurora, Kay and Eko are on their way, Clarice reported, With the Captain turning over many watch-standing functions to the Third Guards, so she can lead a detail out here.

      "Thank you."

      Your pain is our pain, she said, nuzzled his hand, and left with Jen. Hannibal took wing and headed out.

      "It's not your fault," Isaik told him, "Better they get out and about now, rather than go further, or go the way of Pokèpower."

      "I don't have to approve of what was done, just because it could be so much worse," he said. He looked back, trying to spot the cruiser. "I knew they'd screw us over somehow, but not like this. Sad, when they can steal a march towards bastardy from a monster like me."

------------------------------

      The Nurse Joy walked into the tent, glanced around, then threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He held Kay as she cried her heart out. She hadn't been the first who'd reacted that way. Even the Captain had sought a moment's surcease in the arms of a human. He'd wanted to limit that to just the Des Moines' crew, but that plan had fallen apart as the sheer horror descended on all of them.

      When she seemed to have settled down, he asked, "What's the count?"

      "They're all viable," Kay said, sniffed, "But there's at least 600 who are full Feral, and another 200 that are deep in the Fading."

      "Which means they're the ones who are going to need kid gloves," he realized, "And lots of hand-holding."

      She nodded. She sat up, snuffled again. "I bet you think I'm being silly."

      "You'd lose. I'm not even angry anymore. Although if those diplomats hadn't all left so quickly. I'd be doing something very nasty to each of them."

      The knock on the door brought their attention away from each other. Kay smoothed out her uniform as Voltaire entered. Miguelito was back at the ship, by everyone's strict agreement.

      "More," Voltaire stepped aside, and showed the leader of the Francinesteins that had been made from the Celestial Alliance's dead leadership.

      "Much healing," the Pokèwoman said, with tears in her eyes, "Let us help."

      He looked at Voltaire who nodded.

      "Every hand is wanted," he replied.

      She nodded and Voltaire led her away.

      "Now it's time for me to go look," he said firmly, "Now it isn't eighteen-hundred to two anymore." She made a wordless complaint, but let him get up. The instant he stepped out of the tent, Seadamar and Sabrina fell in behind him. Kay led him to some of the worst cases.

------------------------------

      Megami-Sama aren't supposed to be little girls, he thought in horror as the apparent nine-year-old shook with a palsy that would have been disturbing in person ten-times her age.

      She looked up at him, eyes vacant of any emotion. She had given up on life and living. She looked down at the faded dress she wore and her shaking hands. Then she looked up, no hope there, just a vague interest in something not as careworn as her dress and hands.

      He knelt down, to look at her face-to-face. She tracked his face as he moved. She wasn't looking for anything, she was only looking at. When he took her in his arms it was like holding a wooden doll. Slowly, she seemed to waken, putting her arms around his neck to hold herself.

      Then she screamed, a sound so full of pain and terror everyone else in the tent pulled back. A sound he'd made often enough, in his first few weeks here. Hers was one word, Raoul.

      You can't keep the sound in, or it will destroy you, he thought of the girl in his arms, gasping for life as if she'd just screamed out all but the dregs. He held her, not knowing anything else to do.

------------------------------

      The cart rattled to a stop in the pool of brilliance the ship's lights made in the otherwise total darkness. Almost mechanically, he climbed out, accepted the sleeping Isaik from one of the young Megami, a twenty-something who'd needed a reassuring cuddle more than he had, and walked for the gangplank. The Boobfin had been pressed into service as guard. Several people walked the decks. But the ship was otherwise quiet.

      He stared at the gangplank as if seeing it for the first time. He felt drained and empty. Even anger had fled. He put one foot in front of the other, and proceeded up the slope to the ship, and by instinct headed for his cabin. Walking through the corridors, he heard the occasional scuffle, as Megami, and others, sought some solace in Taming, or another's arms.

      The Megami near his cabin, he didn't recognize. She didn't wear the ship's uniform. Like every other Pokègirl he'd seen to today, she'd also been crying.

      "I'm -"

      "Lucifer or her proxy, I presume," he replied.

      "We didn't know," she admitted.

      "Madam, I am so far beyond caring about blame, for anything, that if Adolf Hitler and Lindi Valiant showed up with 10,000 medics and all the supplies we need. I would kiss both of them however they wished." He nodded to her. "Good evening." He went into his cabin, and closed the door. The moment he'd sat down on the bed, he was asleep.

------------------------------

      He woke to find Acer and Roxanne nearly dozing in a pair of chairs in his cabin. Underworld was trying to play backpack, with her arms and legs wrapped around him. He released the shoulder strap and sat up. Both Acer and Roxanne came alert.

      "Rough?" he asked.

      The pair nodded.

      "When getting sent for KP is a relief," Acer said, "It's bad."

      He nodded and untangled Underground's legs. Before he headed to the small head to relieve himself.

      The nightmares weren't too bad, he thought groggily, I kept arriving too late to one problem after another, well too bad. Your bad planning doesn't constitute an emergency on my part. He looked at the unshaved face, and pseudo-Mohawk and realized he'd need a shave and a shower before going out again.

      "Great," he commented to his reflection who looked worse than he felt.

      And after we get them healed, he thought, What then? How do we weld them into an effective force? How do we keep too many secrets floating back to the other Leagues? And how do we keep the transition from becoming too onerous for all?

------------------------------

      At breakfast, he saw a sight he initially put down to fatigue-induced hallucinations. A Megami-Sama, in a purple and green dress, two rather subdued MaryAnn Drews, and an Angel in a purple and green swallow tail tuxedo, and between them eighteen Angels in similar garb, and four MaryAnn Drews. The Angels and MaryAnn Drews looked more shell-shocked than Brian's Harem members.

      "Hazel?" he asked as more eyes turned to stare at the group.

      The trailing Angel nodded. "When we found out we were coming here, we stocked up on Angel Stones. Last night, we made a sweep. There they were, exactly where I would have been."

      "They were - amusing themselves - " The March Hare stated, "At the tribulations of the camp. We should have induced Cheryl or Gwendoline to accompany us. Then we could have converted them all."

      "There were more than twenty-two?" he asked in alarm.

      "Nine of the Jokette breed, each with an average Harem of four and one-half," The March Hare told him, "But I could only Bless some of them, the rest . . . went the clown's route."

      "I hope that means some had four and others five. Wait, I can count to forty-nine and fifty without any problem. You've only got twenty-two. Are you going to need any help to get the rest?"

      "No," Hazel said flatly, "We had some help. Very good help, and plenty of it. And if in never hear 'does this taste funny to you' again, it will be entirely too soon."

      "I think, I don't want to know," he said, "You did well. Are they ready to help?"

      "Of course," The March Hare told him, then glared at them. Much nodding took place. "Our Master and some of the others Tamed them. The reward shall go to resettling those who cannot pass muster for the seaborne life. They shall be added to the 'deserving Tamer' pool."

      "You aren't going to take them with you?" he asked.

      Hazel and The March Hare stared at him in shock. "Do we look insane?" they asked, and took their work party out of the mess hall.

      "I think they walked in here, just to do that to me," Janus commented to no one in particular.

------------------------------

      The door had a small note on it, and the Tyrannodame guard had a very faint smirk.

      " 'Sorry about being late, H'," he read the card, the back side read 'Dumped'. "I suspect if I asked a direct question, I'd get a Buckingham Palace guard response," he told the girl, who looked directly ahead, not incidently over his head. "If it's dangerous, just blink twice."

      "It isn't dangerous, sir. Not to you." The smile threatened to break out again.

      "Why don't I just go in there, before you hurt yourself?" he said and opened the door.

      The naked woman spread eagled and chained to his bed didn't seem like a threat. That she was aimed at the door was more bad-taste than a hazard. The stub wings and streak of glossy white in her long hair pointed to her being a Pokègirl.

      "Whoever you are, you're in trouble, messing with a member of the BLSF carries - " She fell silent when she spotted him. "Get away! Don't hurt me again!" She tried her best to move away, her wing stubs blurring as they added to her attempted retreat.

      He aimed a Pokèdex at her and read the resulting Flydra entry, while she whimpered and struggled at the bonds. "Name, rank and identification number?" he asked when she finally fell silent.

      "I'm a member of the Blue League government. If you hold me against my will, you will be punished," she said very carefully, as if negotiating with a Widow.

      "Funny, your boss took off out of here without one word about taking you back. Seems that once your telepathy didn't work, and that I'd found out the condition of all those Megami, he was jettisoning all the ballast he could to get out of here. Now, I don't know where you're from, but around here, unauthorized telepathy is a serious crime. And I have one of the Sages of the Sunshine League present as a witness. So a Level 5 conditioning cycle is not out of the realm of probability."

      He waited for her to respond. When she didn't, he continued, "Now, I'm going to unchain you. Then you have two choices. You can stay with me, I'll get you some clothes, and you can continue spying for the Blue League. Or I can clothe you, and let you go."

      "Why shouldn't I just go?"

      "Because we're on an island. And I have the sneaking suspicion that as of a few hours ago, the Blue League never heard of you," he told her, "I've always known Kerrik had an anti-authority streak, so he wrote up the Blues as the biggest prats in all the Leagues. Your Masters would screw over Noah, even if they had guaranteed seating on the ark. That means no clearance, no funds, no friends and no hope. Now, I may be wrong. Mr. I-Wear-Gloves-To-Shake-Hands, may just be dancing on a string, and he may want you back. But I wouldn't bet my life on that." He unlocked the chains, put a shirt and shorts in her lap, and opened the door. "Your choice."

      "So I'm either your slave, or I go out there and run the risk of going Feral, or getting turned into Pokèpower?" she asked angrily as she clothed herself, "I don't believe you." She walked out.

      The Tyrannodame looked at him and shrugged.

      "You only have to offer," he told her as he collected the material he needed at the camp, "You can't force a person to accept salvation."

      "So what do you have planned for us?" the Tyrannodame asked.

      "If I can arrange it, you go back to serving S-Goths, who'll desperately need you."

      The girl looked at him suspiciously.

      "Need to know, remember? And it's not set yet." He closed and locked the door to his cabin, before heading for the camp.