 T h e   F a y   a n d   H e r   K n i g h t 
 
 P a r t   F i v e 
 
 B y   A e r o s o l   K i d   : :   a e r o s o l K i d 0 0 @ g m a i l . c o m 
 V i s i t   m e   a t   h t t p : / / w w w . a s s t r . o r g / ~ A K _ H o m e 
 
 * T h e   p e o p l e   a n d   e v e n t s   i n   t h i s   s t o r y   c o m e   f r o m   m y   b r a i n ,   n o t   t h e   r e a l   w o r l d . 
 R e g a r d l e s s   o f   w h a t   t h a t   t e l l s   y o u   a b o u t   m y   b r a i n ,   I ' m   k e e n l y   a w a r e   o f   t h e 
 d i s t i n c t i o n   b e t w e e n   f a n t a s y   a n d   r e a l i t y .     L i k e   F r a n k   Z a p p a   s a i d ,   " A n d   s o   s h o u l d 
 y o u   b e ,   t o o . " * 
 
 * I f   y o u ' r e   u n d e r a g e   o r   t h i s   i s   i l l e g a l   w h e r e   y o u   l i v e ,   s t o p   r e a d i n g   n o w .     I f 
 y o u ' r e   o f f e n d e d   b y   s e x u a l l y   e x p l i c i t ,   f e t i s h i s t i c   c o n t e n t ,   n o w ' s   t h e   t i m e   t o 
 b a i l .     I f   y o u   i g n o r e   t h i s   s u g g e s t i o n ,   r e a d   a n y w a y   a n d   a r e   s h o c k e d   -   S H O C K E D   -   b y 
 w h a t   y o u   f o u n d   o n   t h e   i n t e r w e b ,   I   d o n ' t   n e e d   t o   h e a r   a b o u t   i t . * 
 
 * N o t e :   I   k n o w   t h i s   h a s   b e e n   a   l o n g   t i m e   c o m i n g .     T h a n k s   f o r   p r o d d i n g   m e   a l o n g 
 a n d   I   r e a l l y   h o p e   y o u   e n j o y   i t . * 
 
 * ( c )   2 0 0 6   b y   A e r o s o l   K i d   ( a e r o s o l K i d 0 0 @ g m a i l . c o m ) .     P r o t e c t e d   u n d e r   t h e   B e r n e 
 C o n v e n t i o n .     R e d i s t r i b u t e   o n l y   w i t h   m y   n a m e   a n d   t h i s   n o t i c e   a t t a c h e d . * 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I n a n a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 I t   w a s   a l m o s t   t o o   h o t   t o   b r e a t h e .     S w e a t   d r i p p e d   d o w n   h e r   n e c k ,   o f f   h e r   a c h i n g 
 t i t s ,   s p l a s h i n g   o n t o   h e r   m a s t e r ' s   b i g   b e l l y .     I n a n a   w a s   t o o   b u s y   r i d i n g   h i m   t o 
 f a n   h e r s e l f .     H i s   h u g e ,   h o t   h a n d s   e n c i r c l e d   h e r   w a i s t   a s   s h e   l a b o r e d   t o   p l e a s e 
 h i m .     M o s t   m e n   w o u l d ' v e   b e e n   l o n g   s p e n t   b y   n o w ,   b u t   M a s t e r   G u n d   h a d   a   h a r e m   o f 
 b r o k e n   g i r l - t o y s   a n d   h e   k e p t   t h e m   b u s y .     W h i l e   I n a n a   f i t   r i g h t   i n ,   s h e   c o u l d n ' t 
 j u s t   c o a s t   o n   h e r   c h a r m . 
 
 S h e   d i d n ' t   m i n d .     F o r   o n e   t h i n g ,   N i k k i   h a d   f u c k e d   w i t h   h e r   h e a d   f o r   s o   l o n g   t h a t 
 s h e   c o u l d n ' t   m i n d   m u c h   o f   a n y t h i n g .     F o r   a n o t h e r ,   h e r   m a s t e r   o f   m a s t e r s   m a t c h e d 
 h e r   b o t t o m l e s s   s e x u a l   a p p e t i t e   m o v e   f o r   m o v e .     I t   f i l l e d   h e r   w i t h   a   t w i s t e d 
 h u n g e r . 
 
 S h e   f a l t e r e d   o n   t h e   u p s t r o k e ,   o v e r c o m e   b y   a   f i e r c e   c o n v u l s i o n .     A   g u s t   o f   w i n d 
 i n v a d e d   t h e   r o o m ,   s i g n a l i n g   t h e   a p p r o a c h   o f   t h e   n i g h t l y   t h u n d e r s t o r m .     S h e 
 w a n t e d   t o   r e s t   a   b i t ,   b u t   t h o s e   s t r o n g   f i n g e r s   a t   h e r   b a c k   r e m i n d e d   h e r   t h a t   s h e 
 w a s n ' t   d o n e . 
 
 I n a n a   a l m o s t   l o o k e d   d o w n   a t   h i m ,   b u t   r e m e m b e r e d   h e   d i d n ' t   c a r e   m u c h   f o r   t h a t .   
 I n s t e a d   s h e   t o o k   h i m   t o   t h e   h i l t ,   i g n o r i n g   t h e   d u l l   a c h e .     H e   g r o a n e d ,   a n d   s h e 
 s m i l e d   a t   t h e   w a l l .     H e   t r i e d   t o   p u l l   h e r   c l o s e r ,   b u t   I n a n a   w a s   t h e   o n e   o n   t o p , 
 s o   s h e   d o u b l e - t i m e d   h e r   h i p s   a n d   s t a r e d   d o w n   a t   h i m .     I t   w a s   t h e   p e r f e c t   d a s h   o f 
 s a s s :   h e   s q u e e z e d   h e r   a s s   a n d   y e l l e d   i n   c l i m a x . 
 
 H e r   b a c k   c l e n c h e d   a   b e a t   a h e a d   o f   a   s y m p a t h e t i c   o r g a s m .     I n a n a ' s   m o u t h   f e l l 
 o p e n ,   t h e n   f i n a l l y   s h e   c o u l d   e x h a l e   a g a i n .     T h e   t r i g g e r   t r a n c e   c r e p t   u p   o n   h e r , 
 a s   u s u a l ,   a n d   s h e   w e n t   w o b b l y   o n   c u e .     H e   h e f t e d   h e r   u p   a n d   d r o p p e d   h e r   i n t o   b e d 
 n e x t   t o   h i m .     S h e   w a s   s o a k e d ,   s t i l l   p a n t i n g ,   e y e s   w i d e   w i t h   n o t h i n g ;   j u s t   t h e 
 w a y   h e r   d e s i g n e r s   i n t e n d e d . 
 
 " I t ' s   l o v e l y   t o   b e   b a c k ,   i n n i t ? "   h e   a s k e d . 
 
 " O f   c o u r s e ,   m a s t e r , "   s h e   p u r r e d   b r e a t h l e s s l y . 
 
 " G o o d .     A l l   t h a t   t r o u b l e s o m e   b u s i n e s s   i s   b e h i n d   u s   n o w .     Y e s ? "     H e   w a s   a s k i n g 
 h e r   i f   s h e   u n d e r s t o o d   t h a t   h e   w a s n ' t   a n g r y   w i t h   h e r   f o r   e s c a p i n g .     T h a t   i n   f a c t 
 s h e ' d   h a v e   t h e   l u c k y   p r i v i l e g e   o f   j o i n i n g   h i s   h a r e m ,   u n t i l   h e   w o r k e d   o u t   a   n e w 
 b u y e r .     A n d   t h a t   a s   m u c h   a s   h e   l i k e d   h e r ,   h e   s t i l l   p l a n n e d   t o   s e l l   h e r ,   b e c a u s e 
 s h e   w a s   f a r   t o o   v a l u a b l e   t o   h o l d   o n t o .     T h e r e   w a s   a n   a w f u l   l o t   o f   s u b t e x t   i n 
 c o n v e r s a t i o n s   w i t h   h e r   m a s t e r   o f   m a s t e r s . 
 
 " O h ,   y e s   s i r . " 
 
 " T h e r e ' s   a   g i r l .     N o w ,   j u s t   t o   b e   s u r e ,   w e ' l l   m a k e   s o m e   a d j u s t m e n t s   t o   t h a t 
 l o v e l y   l i t t l e   h e a d   o f   y o u r s . " 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D e a n _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 " T h i s   w i l l   b e   a   s u p e r   b i t c h , "   D e a n   m u s e d   a s   h e   e y e d   t h e   f o r t i f i e d   c o m p o u n d 
 t h r o u g h   h i s   b i n o c u l a r s ,   f r o m   t h e   r e l a t i v e   s a f e t y   o f   t h e   j u n g l e ' s   e d g e .     T h e   h e a t 
 l i g h t n i n g   m e s s e d   w i t h   t h e   r e s o l u t i o n ,   b u t   t h i s   w a s   a   r i c h   g a n g s t e r ' s   h o m e ,   a l l 
 r i g h t :   a   l o w l i f e ' s   d r e a m   o f   h i g h   c l a s s .     T h e r e   w e r e   p o o r l y   m i x e d   a r c h i t e c t u r a l 
 i n f l u e n c e s ,   b a d   c o l o r   c h o i c e s   a n d   o s t e n t a t i o u s   d i s p l a y s .     B u t   t h e r e   w e r e   a l s o 
 s e n t r i e s ,   w a t c h t o w e r s   a n d   l o t s   o f   h i g h   w a l l s . 
 
 " H e   k e e p s   t h e   w i n d o w s   o p e n   i n   h i s   s u i t e ,   b u t   e v e r y w h e r e   e l s e ,   i t ' s 
 a i r - c o n d i t i o n e d , "   D a r i c e   m u r m u r e d .     T h e   d e s e r t   g i r l   w a s   w i l t i n g   i n   t h e   h u m i d 
 a i r ,   w h i c h   m a d e   h i m   f e e l   l e s s   l i k e   a   w u s s . 
 
 T h e   m o o n   o f   H e d r a s   w a s n ' t   r e a l l y   f i t   f o r   h u m a n   s e t t l e m e n t .     S u m m e r   s w e l t e r e d 
 f o r e v e r   o n   t h e   s i d e   t h a t   f a c e d   B o l o m i n e .     B u t   t h e r e   w o u l d   a l w a y s   b e   p e o p l e   w h o 
 c a m e   t o   p l a c e s   l i k e   t h i s   e i t h e r   f o r   t h e   c h a l l e n g e ,   o r   b e c a u s e   t h e y   d i d n ' t   h a v e 
 a n y w h e r e   e l s e   t o   g o .     I t   m a d e   t h e m   t o u g h .     G u n d   h a d   b e e n   b o r n   a n d   r a i s e d   h e r e . 
 
 D e a n   w i p e d   t h e   s w e a t   f r o m   h i s   f o r e h e a d .     " I   k n o w   I   a l r e a d y   t o l d   y o u ,   b u t   i f 
 y o u ' r e   n o t   u p   f o r   t h i s ,   s a y   t h e   w o r d . " 
 
 S h e   s h o o k   h e r   h e a d   a s   s h e   e y e d   t h e   h a c i e n d a .     " N o t   w h i l e   s h e ' s   i n   t h e r e .     Y o u ' l l 
 l o o k   a f t e r   m e ,   w o n ' t   y o u ? " 
 
 O n   P a s h a r u ,   I n a n a   h a d   w a n d e r e d   t h e   s l a v e   b a z a a r   t r a n s f i x e d ,   h e r   b o d y   a d v e r t i s i n g 
 a s   h e r   m i n d   s l e p t ,   s e r e n e .     T h a t ' s   h o w   s h e ' d   b e e n   d e s i g n e d ,   a n y w a y .     B u t   s h e ' d 
 a l s o   a w a k e n e d   e n o u g h   t o   b e g   f o r   h i s   h e l p   v i a   t e l e p a t h y .     T h e n   t h e r e   w a s   D a r i c e .   
 H e   h a d   r u d e l y   i n t e r r o g a t e d   h e r   i n   o r d e r   t o   t r a c k   d o w n   I n a n a ,   t h e n   s h e ' d   f o l l o w e d 
 h i m   a r o u n d   f o r   a   c o u p l e   o f   d a y s ,   b e g g i n g   t o   s e r v e   h i m .     H i s   f a i l u r e   t o   r e p l a c e 
 h e r   f o r m e r   m i s t r e s s   a s   t h e   s h i n i n g   n e w   l i g h t   o f   h e r   s l a v e g i r l ' s   l i f e   h a d   p r o d d e d 
 h e r   a w a k e   a s   w e l l .     A n d   t h a t ' s   w h e n   s h e   h a d   r e a l i z e d   t h e   m a g n i t u d e   o f   h e r   s i n 
 a g a i n s t   I n a n a . 
 
 D e a n   p u t   t h e   b i n o c u l a r s   d o w n .     " O f   c o u r s e   I ' l l   l o o k   a f t e r   y o u .     A r e   y o u   s t i l l 
 o k a y   w i t h   t h e   p l a n ? " 
 
 S h e   w o r e   a   b l a c k ,   s k i n - t i g h t   s p a c e s u i t   l i n e r ,   t o   s u p p r e s s   h e r   i n v o l u n t a r y 
 p h e r o m o n a l   a s s a u l t s .     E v e n   s o ,   D e a n   k e p t   g l a n c i n g   a t   h e r   h e a r t - s h a p e d   a s s .     S h e 
 r e a c h e d   i n t o   h e r   b a g   a n d   p r o d u c e d   a   c o a r s e   b l a c k   d r e s s   a n d   v e i l   -   t h e 
 u n f l a t t e r i n g   g a r b   o f   t h e   h i r e d   h e l p   a r o u n d   h e r e .     " I ' l l   g o   i n   t h r o u g h   t h e 
 s e r v i c e   e n t r a n c e , "   s h e   r e c i t e d .     " Y o u   g e t   i n . . .     H o w e v e r   y o u   g e t   i n .     F i r s t   o n e 
 w h o   f i n d s   h e r   c a l l s   t h e   o t h e r . " 
 
 T h e   w i n d   w a s   p i c k i n g   u p .     D e a n   c h e c k e d   h i s   p i s t o l s   a g a i n ,   o u t   o f   h a b i t .     " A n d 
 w h e n   e l s e   d o   w e   c h a t   o n - a i r ? " 
 
 " N o t   u n l e s s   t h i n g s   g o   s i d e w a y s .     T h e y   c a n ' t   h e a r   w h a t   w e ' r e   s a y i n g ,   b u t   t h e y   m a y 
 d e t e c t   u s   s a y i n g   i t . " 
 
 H e   g a v e   h e r   a   s a t i s f i e d   n o d .     " A l l   r i g h t .     L e t ' s   g o   g e t   h e r . " 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I n a n a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 S h e   l a y   o n   a   r o u g h   g r a n i t e   t a b l e ,   k n e e s   i n   t h e   a i r ,   f e e t   c h a i n e d   w i d e   a p a r t .   
 T h e   d a n k ,   r e e k i n g   c h a m b e r   l o o k e d   c e n t u r i e s   o l d ,   b u t   h a d   i n   f a c t   b e e n   b u i l t   o n l y 
 f i v e   y e a r s   e a r l i e r   -   a   d e t a i l   s h e ' d   p i c k e d   o u t   o f   M a s t e r ' s   t h o u g h t s   d u r i n g   a 
 p r e v i o u s   s e s s i o n .     S h e   k n e w   b e t t e r   t h a n   t o   t e a s e   h i m   a b o u t   i t . 
 
 F a k e   o r   n o t ,   t h i s   w a s n ' t   a   n i c e   p l a c e   t o   b e .     S h e ' d   b r o k e n   f i n g e r s   t r y i n g   t o   g e t 
 o u t   o f   h e r e .     B u t   n o w   s h e   s t a r e d   a t   t h e   c e i l i n g ,   l i s t e n i n g   t o   h e r   d e e p ,   r e l a x e d 
 b r e a t h s .     M a s t e r   w o u l d   l e t   h e r   k n o w   i f   s h e   n e e d e d   t o   d o   s o m e t h i n g . 
 
 T h e   r o o m ' s   f e a t u r e d   r e s i d e n t   n o w   r o s e   u p   t h r o u g h   a   h o l e   i n   t h e   t a b l e ,   r i g h t 
 b e t w e e n   h e r   o p e n   t h i g h s .     I n a n a   c o u l d n ' t   h e l p   i t :   s h e   l i f t e d   h e r   h e a d   t o   s e e .   
 I t s   v i o l e t   p o d   a n d   l u m i n o u s   t e n d r i l s   p e r f e c t l y   c o m p l i m e n t e d   t h e   s i c k e n i n g   g r e e n 
 w a l l s . 
 
 T h e   d r e a m   p l a n t   s t r e t c h e d   i t s   v i n e s   a s   i f   w a k i n g   f r o m   a   n a p ,   t h e n   e n s n a r e d 
 I n a n a ' s   a n k l e s .     I t   w a s t e d   n o   t i m e   w i t h   i t s   f a v o r i t e s .     T h e   p u r p l e   h e a d   p r e s s e d 
 a g a i n s t   h e r   s e x ,   a n d   s h e   l o w e r e d   h e r   h e a d .     E v e n   i n   h e r   h y p n o t i c   h a z e ,   s h e 
 d i d n ' t   w a n t   t o   s e e   d o w n   t h e r e   a n y m o r e . 
 
 S o m e t h i n g   h o t   u n c o i l e d   i n s i d e   h e r .     T h o u s a n d s   o f   t i n y   b a r b s   s t u c k   t o   h e r   m o s t 
 s e n s i t i v e   p l a c e ,   t e a r i n g   a l o n g   h e r   s k i n   a s   t h e   d r e a m   p l a n t   f i l l e d   h e r   w i t h   w h a t 
 f e l t   l i k e   a   y a r d   o f   v i n e .     S h e   h e a r d   h e r s e l f   s c r e a m ,   b u t   t h i n g s   w e n t   d a r k   i n   h e r 
 h e a d ,   a n d   s h e   g r e w   s l i c k   f o r   t h e   b u r n i n g   t h i n g   t h a t   r u i n e d   h e r .     H e r   k n e e s 
 b a n g e d   t o g e t h e r   a s   s h e   c a m e .     T h e   b u r n i n g   i n t e n s i f i e d ,   a n d   s h e   c a m e   a g a i n .     S h e 
 c o u l d n ' t   d e c i d e   i f   h e r   s c r e a m s   w e r e   o f   r a p t u r e   o r   t o r t u r e .     E i t h e r   w a y ,   h e r 
 t h r o a t   h u r t . 
 
 S h e   u n d u l a t e d   o n   t h e   t a b l e   a s   i t   b e g a n   t o   f u c k   h e r .     E n d o r p h i n s   f l o o d e d   h e r 
 b o d y ,   k e p t   h e r   f r o m   f a i n t i n g .     F a t   f i n g e r s   b r u s h e d   h e r   s o a k e d   h a i r   f r o m   h e r 
 f o r e h e a d ,   a n d   s t r a n g e   t h o u g h t s   p u s h e d   a t   h e r   m i n d   t h e   w a y   t h e   d r e a m   p l a n t   h a d 
 j u s t   n u d g e d   a t   h e r   p u s s y . 
 
 * S u d d e n l y ,   s h e   s a w   D e a n ,   h i s   f a c e   c l o s e   t o   h e r s   a s   h e   r e s t e d   b e s i d e   h e r ,   t h a t 
 f i r s t   n i g h t   o n   P a s h a r u . * 
 
 * F o r g o t t e n . . . * 
 
 * N e x t ,   s h e   s a w   D e a n ' s   b a c k ,   u p s i d e   d o w n .     H e   w a s   c a r r y i n g   h e r   t o   h i s   s h i p   a f t e r 
 s h e ' d   b e e n   s h o t . * 
 
 * L o s t . . . * 
 
 * N o w   s h e   w a s   p a d d i n g   a r o u n d   t h e   S t a r l e s s   i n   n o t h i n g   b u t   a   f a d e d   y e l l o w   t e e .   
 D e a n   w a s   b u s y ,   a n d   s h e   w a s   l o o k i n g   f o r   s o m e t h i n g   t o   e a t . * 
 
 * E r a s e d . . . * 
 
 * T h e n   s h e   w a s   s i t t i n g   o n   t h e   b e a c h   o n   I v e s   I I I ,   r e a d i n g   a   b o o k ,   v a c a t i o n i n g   l i k e 
 a   n o r m a l   p e r s o n . * 
 
 * D e l e t e d . . . * 
 
 * T h e y   w e r e   i n   b e d ,   l i s t e n i n g   t o   t h e   r a i n   a f t e r   h a v i n g   s e x   f o r   t h e   s i x t h   t i m e 
 t h a t   d a y .     S h e   w o n d e r e d   w h a t   w o u l d   h a p p e n   i f   s h e   a d m i t t e d   s h e   w a s   f a l l i n g   f o r 
 h i m . * 
 
 * E d i t e d . . . * 
 
 I n a n a   c o n v u l s e d   o n   t h e   d a m p   s t o n e   t a b l e   a s   a n o t h e r   h o t   o r g a s m   b l a s t e d   t h r o u g h 
 h e r .     A   l a n g u o r o u s   w a v e   s p r e a d   t h r o u g h   h e r   l i m b s .     S h e   d i d n ' t   m i n d   t h a t   t h a t   t h e 
 p l a n t   w a s   s t i l l   j i g g l i n g   h e r   a r o u n d   a s   i t   d r a i n e d   h e r   m e m o r i e s . 
 
 S h e   d i d n ' t   e v e n   c a r e   t h a t   s h e   w a s   b l e e d i n g . 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D e a n _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 S e c u r i t y   w a s   c o n c e n t r a t e d   o u t s i d e   t h e   a p a r t m e n t   h o u s e ,   t o   k e e p   o u t   i n t r u d e r s .   
 T h e   g i r l s   p a d d e d   l i g h t l y   t h r o u g h   t h e   h a l l s ,   g i v i n g   h i m   f a i n t   s m i l e s   a n d   p o l i t e 
 l i t t l e   b o w s   a s   h e   w e n t   b y .     T h e   p o o r   t h i n g s   n o   l o n g e r   k n e w   w h a t   e s c a p e   w a s . 
 
 H e   s t a l k e d   t h e   s l a v e   q u a r t e r s   u n d i s g u i s e d ,   c r e e p i n g   u p   b e h i n d   g u a r d s   a n d   l a y i n g 
 t h e m   o u t .     E a c h   t i m e ,   h e   c o n s i d e r e d   e x c h a n g i n g   c l o t h e s .     O n e   s u c h   g u a r d   l a y   a t 
 h i s   f e e t   r i g h t   n o w ,   a n d   h e r e   h e   w a s ,   t h i n k i n g ,   " I ' l l   j u s t   c h e c k   t h e   n e x t   f l o o r . " 
   S o o n   t h e y ' d   s t a r t   w a k i n g   u p ,   a n d   t h i n g s   w o u l d   g e t   i n t e r e s t i n g . 
 
 A   t a l l   r e d h e a d   i n   a   p l a i n   w h i t e   s l i p   s t u c k   h e r   h e a d   o u t   i n t o   t h e   h a l l w a y ,   n o t i n g 
 D e a n   a n d   t h e   b i g ,   u n c o n s c i o u s   g u y   o n   t h e   f l o o r . 
 
 " H e a r d   t h a t ,   d i d   y o u ? "   D e a n   a s k e d . 
 
 S h e   a v e r t e d   h e r   e y e s ,   s h o o k   h e r   h e a d   n e r v o u s l y   a n d   d i s a p p e a r e d   i n t o   h e r   r o o m . 
 
 " H e y ,   u h . . . "     H e   f o l l o w e d   h e r   i n s i d e ,   w h i c h   c a u s e d   h e r   t o   d r o p   t o   h e r   k n e e s   a n d 
 s t a r e   a t   t h e   f l o o r .     " I s   t h e r e   a   X h i a n   g i r l   a r o u n d   h e r e ? " 
 
 S h e   w a s   n e a r l y   t o o   s c a r e d   o f   h i m   t o   a n s w e r .     " A - A r e   y o u   l o o k i n g   f o r   a   c o m p a n i o n 
 t o n i g h t ,   u n c l e ? " 
 
 " N o ,   I ' m . . . "     H e   w a g g l e d   h i s   f i n g e r s   a t   h e r   a s   h e   f i s h e d   f o r   t h e   w o r d s .     * A n 
 u n i n v i t e d   g u e s t ?     W h o   n e e d s   t o   b e   d e a l t   w i t h   s e v e r e l y   f o r   d e f i l i n g   y o u r   M a s t e r ' s 
 h a r e m ? *     " T h e   b o s s   t o l d   m e   t o   f e t c h   t h e   X h i a n .     N a m e ' s   I n a n a . " 
 
 S h e   l o o k e d   u p   a t   h i m ,   g a v e   a n   e e r i e   s m i l e .     " Y o u   m e a n   t h e   p e t i t e   g i r l   w i t h   t h e 
 b l u e   e y e s   w h o   m a k e s   y o u   d i z z y   w h e n   s h e   w a l k s   b y ? " 
 
 " T h a t   w o u l d   b e   h e r ,   y e a h . " 
 
 " I   t h i n k   t h e r e ' s   b e e n   a   m i x - u p ,   u n c l e .     S h e ' s   a l r e a d y   w i t h   t h e   M a s t e r . " 
 
 D e a n   l o o k e d   t o   t h e   c e i l i n g   a n d   b i t   b a c k   a   t o r r e n t   o f   c u r s e   w o r d s .     " H o w   l o n g   h a s 
 s h e   b e e n   g o n e ? " 
 
 S h e   g i g g l e d   s o f t l y .     " S i n c e   l a s t   n i g h t .     N o n e   o f   u s   h a v e   h a d   a n y t h i n g   t o   d o   a l l 
 d a y ! " 
 
 H e   t o o k   d e e p   b r e a t h s   a s   h e   s t o m p e d   o f f   t o   f i n d   a n   o u t - o f - t h e - w a y   p l a c e .   
 T o u c h i n g   h i s   e a r ,   h e   h i s s e d ,   " D a r i c e ?     Y o u   t h e r e ?     C h a n g e   o f   p l a n s . " 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I n a n a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 S h e   f e l t   c l e a n .     A s   s h e   s t i r r e d   i n   t h e   c o o l   s h e e t s ,   a   y u m m y   h i g h   m a d e   h e r   g r i n 
 e v e n   b e f o r e   s h e   o p e n e d   h e r   e y e s . 
 
 * M m m m . . .     D r u g s . * 
 
 A   b a t h   a n d   t h e   d o c t o r ' s   c o t   m e a n t   s h e ' d   b e e n   g o o d .     S h e   c o u l d   s l e e p   h e r e   a 
 w h i l e ,   u n d i s t u r b e d .     M a s t e r   w o u l d   p r o b a b l y   a s k   f o r   h e r   a g a i n   l a t e r . 
 
 S h e   r o l l e d   o n t o   h e r   s t o m a c h   a n d   p r o p p e d   h e r s e l f   u p   o n   h e r   e l b o w s ,   l o v i n g   h o w   t h e 
 c o l d   a i r   t e a s e d   h e r   b a r e   a s s .     T h e   m o v e m e n t   m a d e   h e r   d i z z y ,   a n d   s h e   r u b b e d   h e r 
 e y e s   j u s t   t o   s e e   t h e   s t a r s .     H e r   s t o m a c h   g r o w l e d ,   b u t   s h e ' d   b e e n   h u n g r y   f o r   s o 
 l o n g   t h a t   s h e   c o u l d   i g n o r e   i t   n o w . 
 
 B e h i n d   h e r ,   t h e   d o o r   o p e n e d   a n d   u n w e l c o m e   l i g h t   f l o o d e d   i n .     I n a n a   f r o w n e d .   
 " I ' l l   j u s t   s l e e p   i f   y o u   d o n ' t   m i n d   p l e a s e ,   D o c t o r . " 
 
 " I s   i t   y o u ? "   a   s t r a n g e   f e m a l e   v o i c e   a s k e d . 
 
 I t   w a s   h a r d   t o   r o l l   b a c k   o v e r .     S h e   s q u i n t e d   a t   t h e   v e i l e d   w o m a n   i n   t h e   d o o r w a y . 
   " I   d u n n o , "   s h e   s l u r r e d .     " W h o   d o   y o u   w a n t   m e   t o   b e ? " 
 
 T h e   w o m a n   c r o s s e d   t h e   r o o m   i n   t h r e e   s t e p s ,   k n e e l e d   t o   t a k e   I n a n a   t i g h t l y   i n   h e r 
 a r m s .     " O h   G o d ,   * l i   n o u r a ! " * 
 
 I n a n a   s t r u g g l e d   t o   b r e a t h e .     " H e y ,   I ' m   n o t   y o u r   s i s t e r ,   l a d y ! " 
 
 T h e   s t r a n g e r   n u z z l e d   h e r   t h r o u g h   h e r   v e i l .     " I   k n o w , "   s h e   s o o t h e d .     " I   d o n ' t 
 d e s e r v e   t o   b e ,   b u t   I ' v e   c o m e   t o   g e t   y o u . " 
 
 I n a n a   f e l t   w o o z y .     " Y o u   c o u l d   g e t   i n   t r o u b l e   j u s t   f o r   b e i n g   i n   h e r e .     C l o s e   t h e 
 d o o r   w h e n   y o u   l e a v e ,   o k a y ? "     D a r i c e   t i g h t e n e d   h e r   g r i p ,   a n d   I n a n a   f e l t   h e r   s t a r t 
 t o   s o b .     " O k a y ! "   s h e   w a r b l e d .     " Y o u   c a n   h u g !     J u s t   p l e a s e   d o n ' t   k i l l   m e . " 
 
 D a r i c e   k n e l t   o n   t h e   f l o o r   t o   c o m p o s e   h e r s e l f .     S h e   p u t   h e r   h a n d   t o   h e r   c h e e k .   
 " D e a n ?     I   f o u n d   h e r .     Y e s !     W h a t ?     N o t   s o   g o o d .     I   d o n ' t   k n o w   w h a t   t o   d o .   
 P l e a s e   h u r r y . " 
 
 I n a n a   w a t c h e d   t h i s   i m p a s s i v e l y .     " I f   y o u ' r e   t a l k i n g   t o   y o u r s e l f ,   m a y b e   y o u 
 s h o u l d   w a i t   f o r   t h e   d o c t o r . " 
 
 " D e a n   i s   c o m i n g , "   D a r i c e   s a i d .     " D i d   t h e y   m a k e   y o u   f o r g e t   h i m ,   t o o ? " 
 
 B e f o r e   I n a n a   c o u l d   a s k   w h o   D e a n   w a s ,   t h e y   h e a r d   v o i c e s   o u t s i d e .     D a r i c e   p u t   a 
 f i n g e r   t o   h e r   l i p s ,   t h e n   v a n i s h e d .     P r e s e n t l y ,   N i k k i   a n d   t h e   d o c t o r   a p p e a r e d , 
 a l o n g   w i t h   a n   u n c l e   c a r r y i n g   a   s i z e a b l e   k n i f e . 
 
 " W h o   t h e   f u c k   w e r e   y o u   j u s t   t a l k i n g   t o ? "   N i k k i   a s k e d .     " W a s   h e   h e r e ? " 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D e a n _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 H e ' d   g o n e   b a c k   f o r   t h e   h a t   a n d   j a c k e t   a f t e r   a l l ,   w h i c h   w a s   g o o d ,   n o w   t h a t 
 e v e r y o n e   w a s   l o o k i n g   f o r   h i m .     M a y b e   t h e y ' d   d e t e c t e d   h i s   c o m   c h a t t e r ,   o r   f o u n d 
 D a r i c e .     H e   d i d n ' t   d a r e   c a l l   h e r   n o w ,   b u t   a t   l e a s t   s h e ' d   j u s t   t o l d   h i m   w h e r e 
 I n a n a   w a s . 
 
 S m u d g i n g   h i s   f a c e   w i t h   a   l i t t l e   m u d   -   a n d   t h e r e   c e r t a i n l y   w a s   n o   s h o r t a g e   o f 
 t h a t   o n   t h i s   s h i t b a l l   o f   a   m o o n   -   h e   t a g g e d   a l o n g   w i t h   s e a r c h   p a r t i e s   u n t i l   h e 
 w a s   b e h i n d   t h e   d o c t o r ' s   b u n g a l o w .     A   m a s s i v e   g r a y   t h u n d e r h e a d   w a s   m o v i n g   i n   o v e r 
 t h e   j u n g l e .     H i d d e n   i n   t h e   c l o u d s ,   h i s   o r b i t a l   c o u p e   s t o o d   b y .     " M o l l y ,   y o u 
 t h e r e ? " 
 
 " Q u i c k l y , "   t h e   A I   t o l d   h i m .     " T h e y ' r e   t r i a n g u l a t i n g . " 
 
 " I ' v e   a l m o s t   g o t   h e r .     I t ' s   a i r   s u p p o r t   t i m e . " 
 
 " A f f i r m ' .     S e e   t h a t   y o u   f i n d   t h e m   b o t h   b y   t h e   t i m e   I   s t a r t   b l o w i n g   h o l e s   i n 
 t h i n g s . " 
 
 T h a t   w o u l d   b e   t h e   t r i c k ,   a l l   r i g h t .   D a r i c e   w a s   h o p e f u l l y   s t a y i n g   o u t   o f   t r o u b l e , 
 a n d   I n a n a   w a s   n o   d o u b t   b e i n g   m o v e d .     T h e n ,   a   b i t   o f   l u c k :   h e   s p o t t e d   N i k k i   a n d 
 s o m e   m e n   g o i n g   u p   t h e   b a c k   s t a i r s   t o   t h e   h a c i e n d a .     O n e   o f   t h e   m e n   c a r r i e d 
 I n a n a ,   w h o   w o r e   t h e   o f f - d u t y   w h i t e   s l i p   o f   t h e   h a r e m   g i r l s .     T h e   o t h e r   w a s 
 a s k i n g   N i k k i   a   l o t   o f   q u e s t i o n s . 
 
 " O h ,   i t ' s   M i s t e r   P o o l e , "   s h e   a s s u r e d   h i m .     " B u t   I ' l l   k n o w   h i m   w h e n   I   s e e   h i m .   
 A l l   I   n e e d   i s   h i s   h e a d ,   i f   y o u   f o l l o w . " 
 
 D e a n   s m i l e d   a n d   b e g a n   t o   f o l l o w   a t   a   d i s c r e e t   d i s t a n c e . 
 
 " H e ' s   o u t   o f   h i s   f u c k i n g   m i n d ,   c o m i n g   h e r e , "   N i k k i   c o n t i n u e d   a s   t h e y   h u r r i e d 
 i n s i d e .     " U n d e r   t h e   s p e l l   o f   t h i s   m a g i c   p u s s y . . . "     T h i s   m a d e   t h e   g u a r d   -   a 
 s i n e w y   b a l d   g u y   -   c h u c k l e   n e r v o u s l y .     I n a n a ' s   r e l e n t l e s s   p h e r o m o n e s   w e r e   n o 
 d o u b t   a f f e c t i n g   h i m .     " H e   c o u l d ' v e   b o u g h t   t h r e e   p e r f e c t l y   g o o d   g i r l s   t h a t   n i g h t , 
 b u t   t h i s   l i t t l e   X h i a n   w i t c h . . .     W e l l .     T h e   s l a v e   b u s i n e s s   w o u l d   b e   b e t t e r   o f f 
 w i t h o u t   t h e i r   k i n d .     W e ' l l   s e e   h o w   l o n g   s h e   l a s t s   b e f o r e   G u n d   t i r e s   o f   h e r . " 
 
 D e a n   c h o s e   t h a t   m o m e n t   t o   d i s e n g a g e   t h e   s a f e t y   o n   b o t h   h i s   p i s t o l s .     H i s   t a r g e t s 
 h a d   t h e   g o o d   s e n s e   t o   f r e e z e .     " J e a l o u s y .     S o   u n b e c o m i n g , "   h e   c h i d e d   .     T h u n d e r 
 s h o o k   t h e   w a l l s   a s   t h e   f i r s t   d r o p s   o f   r a i n   h i t   t h e   r o o f . 
 
 N i k k i   t u r n e d   s l o w l y ,   p a l m s   u p .     " P u t   y o u r   g u n   i n   y o u r   m o u t h   a n d   p u l l   t h e 
 t r i g g e r ,   m y   l o v e .     A n d   l e t   u s   p u t   t h e   n e x t   t e n   m i n u t e s   o f   o u r   l i v e s   t o   b e t t e r 
 u s e . " 
 
 O u t s i d e ,   M o l l y   b e g a n   h e r   f i r s t   s t r a f i n g   r u n .     T h e r e   w a s   a   l o t   o f   s h o u t i n g ,   j u s t 
 a s   t h e   e v e n i n g   t o r r e n t i a l   d o w n p o u r   b e g a n . 
 
 " I ' v e   g o t   a   b e t t e r   i d e a , "   D e a n   s a i d ,   l o w e r i n g   o n e   p i s t o l   t o   h e r   k n e e .     " W h y 
 d o n ' t   y o u   p i s s   o f f ,   s o . . .     W h a t ' s   y o u r   n a m e ,   f e l l a ? " 
 
 " J o o l s , "   t h e   g u a r d   o f f e r e d ,   h i s   b a c k   s t i l l   t o   D e a n . 
 
 " Y e a h ,   s o   J o o l s   a n d   I   c a n   w o r k   s o m e t h i n g   o u t   h e r e . " 
 
 N i k k i   c o n s i d e r e d   t h i s .     " W h y   d o n ' t   * y o u - " * 
 
 " S o r r y ,   g o n n a   c u t   y o u   o f f   t h e r e .     I   w a s n ' t   a s k i n g ,   r e a l l y .     N i k k i ,   w h a t   I   m e a n   - 
 a n d   I ' m   t r y i n g   t o   m a k e   t h i s   r e a l   s i m p l e   f o r   y o u   -   i s   t h a t   I ' m   g o i n g   t o   b l o w   y o u r 
 f u c k i n g   l e g   o f f   i f   y o u ' r e   s t i l l   i n   m y   s i g h t   i n   f i v e ,   f o u r ,   t h r e e . . . " 
 
 N i k k i   p r o m p t l y   e x c u s e d   h e r s e l f . 
 
 " U n b e l i e v a b l e   b i t c h ! "   D e a n   s a i d ,   f r i e n d l y - l i k e .     " J o o l s ,   h o w   d o   y o u   p u t   u p   w i t h 
 t h a t ? " 
 
 " T e l l   m e   a b o u t   i t . "     J o o l s   t u r n e d   s l o w l y ,   s o   D e a n   c o u l d   s e e   I n a n a . 
 
 S h e   l o o k e d   w o r s e   t h a n   h e ' d   i m a g i n e d .     T h e y   c l e a r l y   w e r e n ' t   f e e d i n g   h e r   w e l l .   
 S h e   w a s   s c a r y - p a l e ,   w i t h   l o t s   o f   b a n d a g e s   i n   o d d   p l a c e s .     I t   t o o k   e n t i r e l y   t o o 
 l o n g   f o r   h e r   t o   n o t i c e   h i m . 
 
 H e   c o u l d n ' t   h e l p   c a l l i n g   o u t   t o   h e r .     " H e y   t h e r e ,   s q u i r t ! " 
 
 S h e   s m i l e d   b a c k   a t   h i m .     " H i .     W h o   a r e   y o u ? " 
 
 T h i s   w a s   f o l l o w e d   -   a s   i f   i t   w e r e   r e a l l y   n e c e s s a r y   -   b y   a   v e r y   s h a r p   k n i f e 
 p l u n g i n g   i n t o   h i s   b a c k .     H e   d i d n ' t   k n o w   h o w   m a n y   m e n   h a d   c r e p t   u p   o n   h i m ,   b u t   h e 
 w a s   d i s a r m e d   j u s t   i n   t i m e   f o r   l o t s   o f   b l o w s   t o   h i s   p e r s o n   i n   a   v a r i e t y   o f 
 p l a c e s . 
 
 " O o h ! "   w i n c e d   J o o l s ,   a s   h e   s h i f t e d   I n a n a   i n   h i s   a r m s .     " S o r r y   ' b o u t   t h a t ,   m a t e . " 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I n a n a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 A l l   t h a t   n o i s e . . .     A s   i f   h e r   h e a d   w a s n ' t   a l r e a d y   p o u n d i n g .     T h e   m e d s   w e r e 
 w e a r i n g   o f f   a n d   e v e r y o n e   w a s   r u n n i n g   a r o u n d   a n d   y e l l i n g .     F i r e w o r k s   w e r e   g o i n g 
 o f f   l i k e   t h e r e   w a s   a   b i g ,   d r u n k e n   f e s t i v a l   i n   p r o g r e s s .     T o   m a k e   m a t t e r s   w o r s e , 
 t h e   u n c l e   c a r r y i n g   h e r   s m e l l e d   l i k e   t h r e e   s t i n k y   f a t   g u y s ,   a n d   s h e   h a d   N i k k i   t o 
 p u t   u p   w i t h . 
 
 " I   h o p e   y o u ' r e   h a p p y , "   t h e   M a d a m   t o l d   h e r   a s   t h e y   m a d e   t h e i r   w a y   d o w n   t o   t h e 
 c e l l a r .     " Y o u r   M a s t e r ' s   p r o b a b l y   g o i n g   t o   h a v e   t o   s e l l   y o u   t o   p a y   f o r   a l l   t h e 
 d a m a g e   y o u ' v e   c a u s e d ,   l i t t l e   s h i t . " 
 
 " I ' m   n o t   t h e   o n e   s e t t i n g   o f f   t h e   f i r e w o r k s , "   I n a n a   p o i n t e d   o u t .     " O h ,   a n d   g o   t o 
 h e l l ,   m a ' a m . "     B e i n g   M a s t e r ' s   f a v o r i t e   h a d   i t s   p e r k s . 
 
 " Y o u   e n j o y   y o u r s e l f , "   N i k k i   c o n c e d e d .     " J u s t   r e m e m b e r ,   t h e r e   a r e   t h i n g s   I   c a n   d o 
 t h a t   d o n ' t   l e a v e   a   m a r k . " 
 
 H e r   u n c l e   g r u n t e d .     A t   f i r s t   I n a n a   t h o u g h t   h e   w a s   a m u s e d   b y   t h e   l i t t l e   c a t f i g h t 
 g o i n g   o n ,   b u t   h e   s t a r t e d   t o   s w a y ,   t h e n   s h e   s p i l l e d   o u t   o f   h i s   a r m s   a n d   l a n d e d 
 h a r d   o n   t h e   s t e p s .     " O w ! "   s h e   c r i e d ,   a s   t h e   m a n   t u m b l e d   o v e r   h e r   a n d   c o n t i n u e d 
 d o w n   t h e   s t a i r s   f o r   a   g o o d   b i t .     T h e r e   w a s   b r i g h t   r e d   b l o o d   o n   h e r   w h i t e   s l i p .   
 A t   l e a s t   h e ' d   h a d   t h e   d e c e n c y   t o   d r o p   h e r   b e f o r e   r o l l i n g   t o   h i s   d e a t h .     S h e 
 r u b b e d   h e r   e l b o w   a n d   l o o k e d   u p   a t   N i k k i ,   w h o   w a s   u n u s u a l l y   q u i e t . 
 
 T h e n   s h e   n o t i c e d   t h e   c r a z y   g i r l   i n   t h e   v e i l   f r o m   b e f o r e ,   a   f e w   s t e p s   u p .     S h e 
 h e l d   a   s m o k i n g ,   m u z z l e d   p i s t o l .     " H e l l o ,   N i k k i .     D o   y o u   r e m e m b e r   m e ? " 
 
 N i k k i   r e g a r d e d   t h e   v i o l e t - e y e d   g i r l   i n   t h e   d a r k   w o r k e r ' s   c l o t h e s .     " S h o u l d n ' t 
 y o u   b e   c l e a n i n g   t o i l e t s   o r   s o m e t h i n g ? " 
 
 " M y   n a m e ' s   D a r i c e .     Y o u   t o o k   m e   f r o m   a   p a s s e n g e r   l i n e r   t h r e e   y e a r s   a g o .     I ' d 
 a l w a y s   h o p e d   w e ' d   m e e t   a g a i n . " 
 
 " H o w   n i c e   f o r   y o u . " 
 
 I n a n a   c o u l d   t e l l   D a r i c e   w a s   s m i l i n g .     " Y o u   h a v e   n o   i d e a .     W h a t   w a s   i t   I n a n a   s a i d 
 b e f o r e ? " 
 
 " H o w   s h o u l d   I   k n o w ? "   N i k k i   c o m p l a i n e d .     " S h e   b a b b l e s   o n   s o . " 
 
 T h e r e   w a s   a   p o p ,   a n d   N i k k i ' s   h a n d s   w e n t   t o   h e r   c h e s t .     I n a n a   h i d   h e r   f a c e   i n   h e r 
 h a n d s .     " I   t h i n k   s h e   t o l d   y o u . . . "     * P o p !     P o p !     P o p !     P o p !     P o p ! *     " . . . t o   g o   t o 
 h e l l .     M a ' a m . " 
 
 I n a n a   i n h a l e d   d e e p l y ,   s h u d d e r i n g ,   b e c a u s e   t h e r e   w a s   e v e n   m o r e   b l o o d   o n   h e r   a n d 
 s h e   w a s   a b o u t   t o   s c r e a m .     D a r i c e   k n e l t   s w i f t l y   a n d   c o v e r e d   h e r   m o u t h .     " S h h h !     I 
 w o n ' t   h u r t   y o u .     L i k e   I   s a i d ,   I   w a n t   t o   g e t   y o u   o u t   o f   t h i s   p l a c e . "   I n a n a 
 s e t t l e d   f o r   w a i l i n g   i n t o   D a r i c e ' s   p a l m ,   b u t   s o m e t h i n g   h a p p e n e d   i n   h e r   h e a d .   
 " T r y   t o   r e l a x . . . " 
 
 * S h e   c o u l d n ' t   s e e m   t o   f o c u s .     D a r i c e   s t r u g g l e d   t o   r e m i n d   h e r   o f   t h i n g s   t h a t   w e r e 
 j u s t . . .     G o n e .     T h e r e   w e r e   p l a c e s   s h e ' d   n e v e r   b e e n ,   p e o p l e   s h e ' d   n e v e r   m e t .     A l l 
 t h e s e   i m a g e s   a n d   t h o u g h t - s t o r i e s   h a d   a   f a m i l i a r   s h i n e ,   b u t   t h e r e   w a s   n o t h i n g 
 i n s i d e   h e r   t o   c o n n e c t   t h e m   t o .     S h e   j u s t   r e l a x e d   a n d   l e t   D a r i c e   d o   w h a t   s h e   w a s 
 d o i n g ,   u n t i l   t h e y   b o t h   k n e w   i t   w a s n ' t   g o i n g   t o   w o r k . * 
 
 * S o   D a r i c e   t r i e d   s o m e t h i n g   e l s e .     I t   w a s   l i k e   a   l o n g   a r m   r e a c h i n g   d e e p   i n t o 
 I n a n a ' s   g u t s ,   a n d   i t   f e l t   a b o u t   a s   p l e a s a n t . * 
 
 * W h a t ' s   R u l e   N u m b e r   O n e   f o r   X h i a n   g i r l s ? *   D a r i c e   a s k e d . 
 
 I n a n a ' s   h e a r t   b e g a n   t o   r a c e .     * P l e a s e   d o n ' t .     I ' m   s o   t i r e d ! * 
 
 * R u l e   N u m b e r   O n e   i s   t h a t   s o m e t i m e s ,   w e   s h o u l d n ' t   t r u s t   o u r s e l v e s ,   I n a n a . * 
 
 * W h a t ' s   t h a t   s u p p o s e d   t o   m e a n ? *   s h e   b e g g e d ,   e v e n   t h o u g h   s h e   w a s   s t a r t i n g   t o 
 u n d e r s t a n d . 
 
 * M o s t   p e o p l e   c a n   a l w a y s   f o l l o w   t h e i r   i n s t i n c t s .     Y o u   a n d   I   a r e n ' t   s o   l u c k y .   
 R i g h t ? * 
 
 I n a n a   s h o v e d   D a r i c e   a w a y   a n d   c l u t c h e d   h e r   h e a d .     S h e   w a s n ' t   s a f e   h e r e .     H e r 
 i n t u i t i o n   s h i f t e d   a r o u n d   t o   s i d e   w i t h   h e r   p a n i c ,   a n d   s h e   f e l t   n a u s e o u s . 
 
 S h e   c o u l d n ' t   t r u s t   h e r s e l f   b e c a u s e   s h e   w a s n ' t   h e r s e l f . 
 
 S h e   w a s n ' t   s a f e   h e r e .     I n a n a   v o m i t e d   o n   t h e   s t a i r s ,   b u t   l u c k i l y   s h e   h a d n ' t   b e e n 
 e a t i n g   m u c h .     T h i c k   s p i t t l e   h u n g   f r o m   h e r   l i p s   a s   s h e   s t a r e d   a t   t h e   c o n c r e t e , 
 g a s p i n g .     S h e   h a d   t o   t r u s t   t h a t   s h e   w a s n ' t   s a f e .     T h a t ,   a n d . . . 
 
 " D a r i c e ? "   s h e   w o n d e r e d . 
 
 F i n g e r s   w i p e d   h e r   l i p s ,   t h e n   g r i p p e d   h e r   a r m s ,   d r a w i n g   h e r   t o   h e r   u n s t e a d y   f e e t . 
   I n a n a   l o o k e d   h e s i t a n t l y   i n t o   f i e r c e ,   v i o l e t   e y e s .     " O n e   d a y   y o u   m a y   f o r g i v e   m e 
 f o r   p u t t i n g   y o u   h e r e .     I t   d o e s n ' t   m a t t e r .     I ' l l   d i e   b e f o r e   I   l e t   t h e m   k e e p   y o u . " 
 
 I n a n a   t o u c h e d   h e r   c h e e k .     * " A i - s h a l a   v e k h ,   l i   n o u r a . " * 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ D e a n _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 T h e   f i g h t   h a d   s p i l l e d   o v e r   i n t o   s o m e   k i n d   o f   t r o p h y   r o o m ,   f u l l   o f   v e r y   e x p e n s i v e 
 t h i n g s   -   t h e   k i n d   o f   c h e e s y ,   h i g h - d o l l a r   s h i t   t h a t   a n   o r g a n i z e d   c r i m e   b o s s   w o u l d 
 w a n t   t o   s h o w   o f f   i n   h i s   h o m e .     D e a n   h a d   h i s   b a c k   t o   a   s h e l f .     H i s   a s s a i l a n t s 
 w a i t e d   o n   t h e   o t h e r   s i d e   o f   a   b i g   d i s p l a y   c a s e .     H e   h o i s t e d   a   g l i t t e r i n g   v a s e 
 o v e r   h i s   h e a d .     A s   e x p e c t e d ,   t h e   e i g h t   g u y s   t r y i n g   t o   b e a t   h i s   a s s   -   a n d   h a v i n g 
 s o m e   s u c c e s s   w i t h   t h a t   -   t o o k   a   s t e p   b a c k .     H e   h u r l e d   i t   a t   t h e   s t o n e   f l o o r , 
 w h e r e   i t   s h a t t e r e d   i m p r e s s i v e l y .     E a c h   t i m e   h e   b r o k e   s o m e t h i n g ,   t h e   g u y s   a l l 
 s q u i r m e d   w h i l e   t h e y   t h o u g h t   a b o u t   t h e   h e l l   t h e y   w e r e   g o i n g   t o   c a t c h   l a t e r .     I t 
 b o u g h t   h i m   s o m e   t i m e .     S o   f a r   h e ' d   u n s t u c k   t h e   k n i f e   f r o m   h i s   b a c k   s o   h e   c o u l d 
 p u t   i t   t o   u s e . 
 
 H e ' d   a l s o   t a k e n   s t o c k   o f   t h i n g s .     Y e s ,   h e   w a s   g o i n g   t o   n e e d   s o m e   s t i t c h i n g   u p .   
 A n d   s o m e t h i n g   b a d   h a d   d e f i n i t e l y   h a p p e n e d   t o   I n a n a .     H e   d i d n ' t   k n o w   a b o u t 
 D a r i c e .     M o l l y   w a s   s t i l l   w r e a k i n g   h a v o c   o n   t h e   c o m p o u n d ,   a n d   l u c k i l y   s h e   h a d n ' t 
 b e g u n   w o r k i n g   o n   t h e   m a i n   h o u s e   y e t .     A s   f o r   h o w   h e   w a s   g o i n g   t o   g e t   e v e r y o n e 
 o u t   o f   h e r e   a l i v e . . .     W e l l .     H e   w a s   g o i n g   t o   n e e d   t o   b r e a k   s o m e   m o r e   s h i t   b e f o r e 
 h e   f i g u r e d   t h a t   o u t . 
 
 " D e a n ? "   D a r i c e   c a l l e d   t o   h i m   o v e r   t h e   c o m .     " I ' v e   g o t   h e r !     W e   h a v e n ' t   b e e n 
 c a p t u r e d .     W h a t   d o   I   d o ? " 
 
 H a l f   t h e   m e n   m a d e   a n o t h e r   a s s a u l t .     D e a n   w a s n ' t   p a r t i c u l a r l y   g o o d   a t 
 h a n d - t o - h a n d ,   b u t   h e   h a d   a   n i c e ,   s h a r p   s t i l e t t o .     H e   t o o k   a   c o u p l e   o f   b l o w s   t o 
 t h e   r i b s   a n d   o n e   t o   t h e   f a c e ,   w h i l e   s t i c k i n g   o n e   o f   t h e m   i n   t h e   n e c k .     N o t   b a d . 
 
 " L o o k , "   h e   s a i d   t o   D a r i c e .     " I ' m   i n   a   t i g h t   s p o t .     G e t   M o l l y   t o   p i c k   y o u   u p   a n d 
 w e ' l l   g o   f r o m   t h e r e . " 
 
 " W h a t   a b o u t   y o u ? "   D a r i c e   a s k e d .     " C a n   I   h e l p ? " 
 
 H e   w a s   a b o u t   t o   p i c k   u p   a n o t h e r   v a s e   w h e n   s o m e o n e   c l o b b e r e d   h i m   w i t h   a   m e t a l 
 p l a t e .     H e   w a s   b e i n g   r e a l l y   c a r e l e s s   a b o u t   h i s   b l i n d   s p o t   t o d a y .     H e   r e s o l v e d   t o 
 p a y   c l o s e r   a t t e n t i o n   t h e   i n s t a n t   h i s   e a r s   s t o p p e d   r i n g i n g . 
 
 " Y o u   c a n   s t o p   b r e a k i n g   m y   t h i n g s , "   a   f a m i l i a r   v o i c e   s a i d .     " Y o u ' v e   g o t   m e   t o 
 d e a l   w i t h   n o w ,   b o y . " 
 
 M i s t e r   G u n d   w a s   a   h e l l   o f   a   l o t   b i g g e r   t h a n   h e   r e m e m b e r e d .     H e   w a s   f a t ,   f o r 
 s u r e ,   b u t   n o t   t h e   j i g g l y ,   s i t t i n g   a r o u n d   a l l   d a y   k i n d   o f   f a t .   H e   w a s   m o r e   o f   a 
 b u i l t - l i k e - a - t r a i n ,   y o u - d o n ' t - w a n t - t o - g e t - i n - a - f i g h t - w i t h - t h i s - g u y   k i n d   o f   f a t .   
 T h e   o t h e r   g o o n s   b a c k e d   w a y   o f f   a n d   s o   d i d   D e a n . 
 
 " I ' v e   b e e n   a s k i n g   m y s e l f   w h y   y o u   c a m e   a l l   t h i s   w a y ,   P o o l e .     D o n ' t   g e t   m e   w r o n g : 
 y o u   s a v e d   m e   a   s u b s t a n t i a l   f e e ,   n o w   t h a t   I   d o n ' t   n e e d   t o   h a v e   y o u   k i l l e d .     B u t 
 y o u   c o u l d n ' t   h a v e   c o m e   f o r   t h e   g i r l .     U n l e s s   y o u   c a m e   w i t h   e n o u g h   m o n e y .     N o ? " 
 
 " D e a n ? "   M o l l y   p r o m p t e d   i n   h i s   e a r p i e c e .     " I ' m   s t a r t i n g   a   r u n   o n   t h e   b i g   h o u s e .   
 T h e r e   a r e   o t h e r   s h i p s   i n   t h e   a i r ,   b u t   t h e y ' r e   n o t   a   b o t h e r .     S a y   s o m e t h i n g   i f 
 y o u   w a n t   m e   t o   s t o p . "     D e a n   s m i l e d   f o r   M r .   G u n d .     " O k a y ,   t h e n . . . "     T h e   b u i l d i n g 
 s h o o k .     A   f e w   c e i l i n g   t i l e s   c r a s h e d   o n t o   t h e   d i s p l a y   c a s e . 
 
 " S t i l l , "   G u n d   c o n t i n u e d ,   p o i n t i n g   a t   t h e   c e i l i n g ,   " O b v i o u s l y   I   c a n ' t   s i m p l y   k i l l 
 y o u   a n d   b e   d o n e   w i t h   i t .     S o   I ' l l   a s k .     W h a t   i s   i t   y o u   w a n t ? " 
 
 D e a n   w i p e d   b l o o d   f r o m   h i s   m o u t h .     R a n   h i s   f i n g e r s   t h r o u g h   h i s   d u s t y   h a i r .     " Y o u 
 k n o w ?     I   g u e s s   I ' m   g e t t i n g   a   l i t t l e   s o f t   t h e s e   d a y s ,   b e c a u s e   I   d i d   c o m e   f o r   t h e 
 g i r l .     W h y   d o n ' t   y o u   f e t c h   h e r ? " 
 
 G u n d   p r e t e n d e d   t o   b e   a m u s e d .     " O f   c o u r s e   y o u   d i d .     I   w a s   j u s t   t r y i n g   t o   k e e p 
 t h i n g s   i n t e r e s t i n g . "     H i s   s m i l e   f a d e d .     " H e r e ' s   t h e   t h i n g :   I   h a v e   a   r e a l   p r o b l e m 
 w i t h   f u c k s   l i k e   y o u   s h o w i n g   u p   a t   m y   p l a c e   m a k i n g   d e m a n d s .     I ' v e   g o t   y o u r   g i r l 
 s o m e w h e r e   n i c e   a n d   s e c u r e ,   w h e r e   a l l   I ' v e   g o t   t o   d o   i s   s a y   t h e   w o r d   a n d . . . "     H e 
 p u t   h i s   f i n g e r   t o   h i s   t e m p l e .     " P f f f t !     A n d   i f   a n y t h i n g   h a p p e n s   t o   m e ,   h e r   f a t e 
 i s   t h e   s a m e .     I t   s e e m s   w e   h a v e   a   b i t   o f   a   s t a n d o f f ,   y e s ? " 
 
 " D e a n ? "   D a r i c e   d e m a n d e d   i n   h i s   e a r .     " D o   y o u   n e e d   h e l p ? " 
 
 " S u r e   l o o k s   t h a t   w a y , "   D e a n   a d m i t t e d . 
 
 " T h e n   I   w o u l d   m a k e   a n   e f f o r t   n o t   t o   p r o v o k e   m e   f u r t h e r , "   G u n d   a d v i s e d ,   l o o k i n g 
 a t   h i s   d a m a g e d   c e i l i n g . 
 
 D e a n   s m i l e d   o n c e   m o r e .     " I ' m   s o r r y ,   b u t   I ' m   g o n n a   h a v e   t o   c a l l   b u l l s h i t .     M o l l y , 
 p i c k   u p   t h e   g i r l s   a n d   g e t   t h e m   o u t   o f   h e r e .     C o p y ? " 
 
 M i s t e r   G u n d   s e e t h e d   m o m e n t a r i l y .     T h e n   h e   p o i n t e d   a t   o n e   o f   h i s   m e n .     " F i n d 
 t h e m . "     H e   p o i n t e d   t o   a n o t h e r .     " Y o u .     G i v e   m e   t h a t   k n i f e .     E v e r y o n e   b u g g e r 
 o f f . . . " 
 
 " E v e r y o n e ? "   D e a n   a s k e d ,   p r e t e n d i n g   t o   l e a v e . 
 
 G u n d   d i d   a   c o u p l e   o f   p r a c t i c e   s w i p e s   t h r o u g h   t h e   a i r   w i t h   h i s   w e a p o n   a n d 
 g r i n n e d .     " N o .     I   p l a n   t o   m o u n t   y o u r   s k u l l   o n   m y   g a t e ,   t o   w a r n   o f f   a n y o n e   e l s e 
 w h o   w a n t s   t o   p a y   m e   a   v i s i t . " 
 
 T h e   b i g   g u y   c o u l d   m o v e .     H e   w a s   o n   t o p   o f   D e a n   i n   a n   i n s t a n t ,   a n d   h e   k n e w   h i s 
 w a y   a r o u n d   a   k n i f e .     D e a n   l a b o r e d   t o   k e e p   f r o m   g e t t i n g   s t u c k .     S i n c e   t h i s   w a s 
 c l e a r l y   g o i n g   t o   b e   a   d i r t y   f i g h t ,   h e   t r i e d   a   s w i f t   k i c k   t o   t h e   s a c k .     G u n d 
 w h e e z e d ,   b u t   d i d n ' t   g o   d o w n .     I t   w a s   e n o u g h   t i m e   f o r   D e a n   t o   l a y   o p e n   h i s   l e f t 
 c h e e k . 
 
 S u m m o n i n g   s o m e   e n e r g y ,   D e a n   b o u n c e d   o n   h i s   f e e t .     " Y o u   w a n t   t o   k i l l   m e   o r   w h a t ? " 
 
 T h a t   e a r n e d   h i m   a   g o o d ,   j a g g e d   c u t   a c r o s s   t h e   c h e s t .     O b v i o u s l y   v e x e d ,   t h e 
 g a n g s t e r   w e n t   f o r   h i s   g u t ,   b u t   i t   w a s   a   f e i n t .     I n s t e a d ,   G u n d   r i p p e d   o u t   D e a n ' s 
 e a r p i e c e   a n d   p u n c h e d   h i m   i n   t h e   s o l a r   p l e x u s   s o   h a r d   t h a t   D e a n   f e l l   t o   o n e   k n e e . 
 
 T h e r e   w a s   a n o t h e r   l o u d   e x p l o s i o n ,   a   l i t t l e   t o o   c l o s e   b y .     A   m a s s i v e   d u s t   c l o u d 
 b i l l o w e d   i n t o   t h e   r o o m . 
 
 D e a n   r a n   i n t o   t h e   d u s t   a n d   w a i t e d .     I t   d i d n ' t   t a k e   l o n g .     G u n d   s l a s h e d   h i s   l e f t 
 l e g   o p e n .     D e a n   f o u n d   a   h a n d   a n d   c u t   t h e   t e n d o n s .     G u n d   c u r s e d   a n d   d r o p p e d   h i s 
 k n i f e ,   b u t   s m a s h e d   D e a n   i n   t h e   n o s e   w i t h   h i s   o t h e r   h a n d ,   t h e n   d i s a r m e d   h i m   a s 
 w e l l .     D e a n   w a n t e d   t o   f u m b l e   a r o u n d   f o r   h i s   w e a p o n ,   b u t   t h e r e   w e r e   o n l y   s o   m a n y 
 b l o w s   t o   t h e   h e a d   h e   c o u l d   t a k e ,   s o   h e   m o v e d   t o w a r d   t h e   w i n d o w ,   w h e r e   h e   c o u l d 
 s e e   a   l i t t l e   b e t t e r . 
 
 " Y o u   d o n ' t   h a v e   a   l o t   o f   b l o o d   l e f t ,   M i s t e r   P o o l e , "   G u n d   w h e e z e d ,   a s   h e   e m e r g e d 
 f r o m   t h e   d u s t ,   c a r r y i n g   h i s   k n i f e   i n   h i s   g o o d   h a n d .     " L e t   m e   r e l i e v e   y o u   o f   t h e 
 r e s t   o f   i t . " 
 
 " Y o u ' r e   w e l c o m e   t o   t r y ,   m y   f r i e n d , "   D e a n   s a i d ,   b u t   h e   w a s   j u s t   a b o u t   d o n e .     H e 
 w a s n ' t   t o o   t h r i l l e d   a b o u t   d y i n g   h e r e ,   b u t   t h e r e   w e r e   w o r s e   w a y s   t o   g o   o u t .     H e ' d 
 g i v e n   i t   h i s   b e s t   s h o t . 
 
 T h e   r a i n   b e g a n   t o   p o u r   i n   t h r o u g h   s e v e r a l   h o l e s   i n   t h e   c e i l i n g .     G u n d   m o v e d   w i t h 
 c e r t a i n t y   a n d   p u r p o s e .     " D o n ' t   w o r r y ,   M i s t e r   P o o l e .     I ' l l   m a k e   s u r e   t h a t   y o u r 
 g i r l s   f i n d   a   n i c e   h o m e . " 
 
 O d d l y ,   a n   e x i t   w o u n d   o p e n e d   u p   r i g h t   b e t w e e n   G u n d ' s   e y e s   t h e n ,   a n d   a n   a l a r m i n g 
 a m o u n t   o f   s k u l l   a n d   b r a i n   m a t t e r   s p r a y e d   f o r t h .     I t   s u r e   t o o k   h i s   c o r p s e   a   l o n g 
 t i m e   t o   c r u m p l e   t o   t h e   f l o o r . 
 
 D a r i c e   s t e p p e d   i n t o   v i e w .     S h e ' d   l o s t   t h e   v e i l   a n d   h e r   h a i r   w a s   a   w i l d ,   w e t 
 m e s s .     D e a n   s t a r t e d   t o   t h a n k   h e r ,   b u t   n o t i c e d   s h e   w a s   u n a r m e d .     I n a n a   a p p e a r e d 
 n e x t ,   h o l d i n g   t h e   g u n   o u t   i n   f r o n t   o f   h e r   b y   t h e   g r i p ,   l i k e   s h e   w a s   d e f i n i t e l y 
 d o n e   s h o o t i n g   p e o p l e .     S h e   d r o p p e d   i t   n e x t   t o   G u n d ' s   c o r p s e ,   n o t i n g   t h e   w i d e 
 d i s p e r s a l   o f   b r a i n s   w i t h   a   c e r t a i n   s a t i s f a c t i o n .     " N o   m o r e   t e l - l i n g   m e   w h a t   t o 
 d o . . . "   s h e   s a n g   t o   h i m . 
 
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I n a n a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 
 
 S h e   h a d   t o   s i t   d o w n   f o r   a   w h i l e .     T h e n   t h e   c u t e ,   s k i n n y   g u y   s c o o p e d   h e r   u p   i n 
 h i s   a r m s   a n d   t o u c h e d   h i s   f o r e h e a d   t o   h e r s .     T h e y   w e r e   b o t h   c o v e r e d   i n   d u s t   a n d 
 b l o o d ,   w h i c h   w e r e   m i x i n g   t o g e t h e r   w i t h   t h e   r a i n   i n t o   s o m e t h i n g   e v e n   m o r e 
 u n p l e a s a n t . .     I f   s h e ' d   b e e n   a   l i t t l e   s t r o n g e r ,   s h e   m i g h t   h a v e   p u s h e d   h i m   a w a y .   
 H e   s e n s e d   t h i s   a n d   r a i s e d   h i s   h e a d .     " S o   w e ' v e   m e t   b e f o r e ? "   s h e   a s k e d . 
 
 " W e   d i d .     B u t . . . "     H e   l o o k e d   a t   G u n d ' s   c o r p s e . 
 
 S h e   n o d d e d .     " H e   f o u n d   m e   a g a i n . " 
 
 " Y e a h . . .     I ' d   s a y   y o u   s e t t l e d   u p   w i t h   h i m ,   b y   t h e   l o o k   o f   i t . " 
 
 S h e   c o u l d   t e l l   t h a t   h e   w a s   o n   h i s   l a s t   l e g s ,   a n d   s i n c e   s h e   d i d n ' t   w a n t   h i m 
 d r o p p i n g   h e r ,   s h e   c h a n g e d   t h e   s u b j e c t .     " S o   y o u   c a m e   h e r e   t o   g e t   m e ? " 
 
 H e   s e e m e d   e m b a r r a s s e d .     " T h a t   w a s   t h e   p l a n . " 
 
 I n a n a   p a g e d   t h r o u g h   h e r   m e m o r i e s ,   c h e c k i n g   t o   s e e   i f   a n y   o f   t h e   g u y s   s h e ' d   k n o w n 
 h a d   e v e r   s t o r m e d   a   c a s t l e   t r y i n g   t o   r e s c u e   h e r .     N o p e . 
 
 " O k a y ! "   s h e   b e a m e d .     " T h a n k s . " 
 
 T h e y   l a u g h e d ,   b u t   s h e   s t a r t e d   t o   c o u g h . 
 
 D a r i c e   c o u g h e d ,   t o o ,   b u t   i t   w a s   t o   r e m i n d   t h e m   s h e   w a s   s t i l l   t h e r e .     " C o u l d   w e 
 g o   s o m e w h e r e   l e s s   w e t ? " 
 
 " S u r e , "   D e a n   s a i d ,   h e a d i n g   f o r   t h e   h a l l w a y ,   b u t   D a r i c e   s t o p p e d   h i m . 
 
 " W e ' r e   g o i n g   t o   h a v e   t o   f i n d   a n o t h e r   w a y   o u t . " 
 
 " O k a y .     D a r i c e ? " 
 
 H e r   s i s t e r   s e e m e d   e a g e r   t o   h e a r   w h a t   D e a n   h a d   t o   s a y .     " W h a t ? " 
 
 H e   n o d d e d   a t   h e r .     " Y o u   d i d   * r e a l   g o o d . *   Y o u   k n o w   t h a t ,   r i g h t ? " 
 
 D a r i c e   r e g a r d e d   t h e   b l o o d y   k n i g h t   a n d   h i s   s o a k e d ,   s h i v e r i n g   f a y .     " Y o u   g u y s   l o o k 
 t e r r i b l e .     C ' m o n . " 
 
_____________Dean______________

It took some doing, but he managed to get a Central Government cleanup team
rushed to the compound, so they could deal with all the confused slavegirls
wandering around the rubble.  Molly made sure the Starless was gone by the time
they arrived.  Dean wasnt too keen on trying to explain why he was taking two
of the slavegirls with him.

Of the three of them, Darice came out unscathed.  She roamed the ship, bored and
restless, while Molly worked on the others.  Inana was fairly easy to stabilize.
 What she needed most was sleep and food.  Dean took the longest to patch up,
but hed seen worse.  Inana bided her time napping, eating bowl after bowl of
egg noodles, and working things out with Darice.

As he lay there, waiting for the strength to get up, he pondered his two
problems.  There was the Xhian girl he loved, whod forgotten him, and the one
whod taken her away, then helped him to get her back.  Neither of them really
had anyplace to go.

He cleared his throat.  Mol?

Yes?

What am I supposed to do with them?

He took the silence to mean she was mulling it over.  Thats a little vague,
she decided.

I think you know what I mean.

Hmm.  What to do with the two lovely Xhian women whove taken a shine to you 
Whatever to do? she teased.

Im trying to be serious, okay?

Youre no fun when you get the crap beaten out of you, she complained.  Look.
 This is out of my area.  You humans are going to have to work this out amongst
yourselves.

Work out what? Darice asked.  Shed fallen into the habit of checking up on
him after hitting the gym.  This was the second time today shed shown up
sweaty, out of breath and sexy.  Her brief white exercise garb, combined with
the way she fussed over him, suggested a very uninhibited nurse.

All he managed to do was redden while she fluffed up his pillow.

You want to say something to me, say it, Darice suggested.  I wont break.

I know.  Im just not sure its that important right now.

She turned a chair around and sat on it, resting her arms on the back.  You
mean how we all feel about each other?  And what happens next?  As the third
wheel, Im kind of wondering myself.

Dean tried to sit up, eventually got there.  Okay, forget all that for a sec. 
Maybe I dont officially work for the government anymore, but Im still
obligated to both of you, you know?

She raised an eyebrow.  Okay?

I mean that Im at your service.  Well, as soon as I can get up.  Just tell me
what you guys want to do.

Darice rested her hand on her chin and stared at him a good long while.  I tend
to be more into women, and youre a little thin for my taste, but Dean Poole 
She played at devouring him with her eyes.  So are you asking where we want you
to take us?

Maybe.

What about Inana?

Dont know.  She may not be interested this time.

She smiled.  Shes interested.  Shes just not in any shape to do anything
about it yet.

What about you, then?

Am I interested in you?  I thought we just covered that.

No, I mean-

Im teasing you, dear.  I wont hang around and be a nuisance.  The trick is to
find someplace where I wont have to worry about slavers.

Dean frowned.  Can I just ask you something?

She leaned forward until she had his eyes again.  I thought thats what we were
doing.  Getting it all out there.

Where *is* there thats safe for you?

She gave him a sad smile.  Not home.  Not anywhere Ive ever been, except
here.

He nodded.  Thats kind of what I meant.  Id feel better if both of you stayed
around.  I mean, until you find something better.

She looked at the floor.  Thats awfully kind of you  Then it was her turn to
blush.

Not at all, Dean said.  As far as Im concerned, youre not a third wheel. 
Youre family.  Well, *really hot* family, like  Darice just smiled, watching
him dig himself deeper.  You know, Ill shut up now.

_____________Inana_____________

So are you gonna make it? Inana asked from the navigators chair.  They were
lounging in the cockpit, watching the ships queue for the gate as the Starless
waited its turn.  Dean had finally limped out of the infirmary that morning. 
Darice had promptly made herself scarce.

No worries, he said, though he winced as he shifted around in the pilots seat
to look at her.  Are you?

What could she say to him?  She was lost, but she didnt want to show it.  Or
did she?  Its hard to talk about.

No doubt.

So! she said, changing the subject.  Youre not kicking us out?

He smiled.  Now why would I do that?

Yeah, I guess youve gotten used to having Darice around to change your
bandages and feed you, she teased.

Thats nice and all, he admitted, but Im partial to blondes.

She got a queasy feeling, and suddenly she couldnt meet his eye.

Hey.  I dont mean to push.  Sorry.

She shook her head.  Dean, I know that Im the one who came to you for help. 
And I pursued you.  I just dont know if I can live up to who I was.

Sweetie, you dont have to

She shrugged as she rubbed her eyes.  She was sleeping a lot, lately.  Maybe. 
Im kind of sick of you knowing all about me, she confessed.  Sick of you
being so mysterious.  Dean laughed, but she waved him off.  Its not fair! 
Weve slept together, and youre *in love with me.*  I dont even remember how
we met.  It makes my head hurt, all right?  She started to shake.

I know.  I know!  Hey.  Come over here.

Warily, she approached him and looked into his eyes.  Nothing happened.  All she
felt was disappointment and anxiousness.  But then

*To her surprise, it wasnt hard.  She poked around shyly.  Sure, he had his
secrets, but somehow he knew how to make himself accessible.  Well of course 
Hed done it before.  Soon indistinct shapes appeared.  She recognized them as
her own thought remnants, still bouncing around in his mind, just like with
Darice.  She didnt possess the originals anymore and that made her want to cry.
 But there was something else.  Maybe, Dean wished, if she saw enough of her old
memories, they might be able to start all over.*

*Hmm,* she decided.  *I think that would be nice.*

*The End*
 
 C o m m e n t s ?   E m a i l   m e   a t   < a e r o s o l K i d 0 0 @ g m a i l . c o m > 
 V i s i t   m e   a t   h t t p : / / w w w . a s s t r . o r g / ~ A K _ H o m e 
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