When Relatives Come to Visit...

The roller was leaving a trail of black belching smoke as Atika Constantine drove back to her friends' location. As she quickly pulled up near the ones furthest from the huge Hulker, Atika said hastily, "Yvette take the Turret position! Everybody hurry and get in so we can get out of that Hulker's range and then out of this prison before this piece of crap gives up on us!"

Yvette had just bandaged the cut on Smedley's forehead from the previous car crash but merely shook her blonde head in affirmation before helping him into the roller then taking the turret position. As Jalina Uljanov also took her seat, Lady Christianna used her EGO blur to quickly grab Micfi Newlo who was still watching with amazement Volodja Ulanov dance to draw the Raiders attention to him rather than the others.

As Micfi was placed in the roller next to Jalina she exclaimed with a dumbfounded look on the Castithan child's chalk white face, "You're father is crazy!'

Jalina admitted with a slight grin and a gleam of amusement in her magenta eyes, "Maybe... just a little bit."

Lady blurred back to grab a struggling Lady Tupper-Ware who complained, "What about my parasol?" before Lady ran carrying her in a fireman's hold back to the roller and depositing her in a seat there. Lady then reached up to Yvette for her Crimefighter Shotgun whereupon receiving it shot several glowing green balls up into the air hoping Volodja would get the message that they were ready to leave and not think it was just dramatic lighting for his diversionary cavorting. 

After taking her seat and sure that Volodja could catch up if necessary, Lady counted backwards in her head from 100 only losing count once then commanded, "Go - NOW!"

As the Protectors' party raced from the San Quentin ruins towards Shondu's Consulate, they ran into an Apocalyptic traffic jam common to the Bay Area between Larkspur Landing and Watchtower Hill. There were several vehicles stopped and blocking the road in a haphazard way. They could see many humanoid figures shambling aimlessly around the vehicles whose drivers were nowhere to be seen having evidently been either killed by the mindless monsters or having successfully run away from them.

Micfi bemoaned the encounter remarking with exaggerated hand gestures to demonstrate her distress at this new development, "Zombies! Why did it have to be zombies? I hate zombies!"

"Afflicted," Corrected Lady with a pretty pout on her alabaster Castithan face as her pink eyes narrowed trying to figure out how they would get out of this one but not noticing that Lady Tupperware had left her car seat and was wandering freely and unharmed among the Afflicted asking for directions to Shondu's estate.

However Micfi had noticed Lady Tupper-Ware's unexpected departure from the roller and commented under her breath with big golden eyes, "The Zombies must think the Mummy is one of them."

Sitting cross-legged on her cot in the Batman Bunker morgue, Lena Marr did not flinch when Atticus Batman "accidentally" nicked her with his wrist blade, merely licking the trickle of blood from the wound afterwards and remarking with a wicked grin, "Hmmmmmm! Tasty!"

Acting as if he hadn't noticed that he had nicked Lena's arm, Atticus Batman continued on his path past her and walked over to an evidence locker in the morgue. Then he opened it. Next Atticus started to slowly and methodically take off his weapons and armor and place them carefully in the locker.

"Ooooooooh, I do love a strip tease!" Commented Lena sarcastically.

While doing so, and leaving himself clad from head-to-toe in only his blue Grid-cloth jumpsuit and mask, as well as his armored boots, Atticus said slightly irate, "What is everybody so daking worried about this time?! If I wanted Lena dead, then that would have happened long ago! Although I am sorely tempted to bend the bitch over my knee and spank her daking ass raw and very bloody!"

"Promises, promises - although I think the little woman wouldn't approve! Save that action for the family boudoir," Suggested Lena enthusiastically but then rolled her long lashed sky blue eyes skyward as she placed the tip of a chalk white forefinger to the corner of her lush lips before adding, "Hoooowever - it's true if Atty-baby wanted me dead or I wanted him dead one or both of us would be dead by now. Not sure why that hasn't happened yet for we both have had plenty of opportunities in the past. On my part, maybe I haven't been offered enough scrip to do the deed? Maybe because I'm his wifey's BFF and I'm the godmother to their children? Or maybe because I just LOVE our invigorating conversations and just LOVE waving that red flag at the bullheaded? I dunno... surely the good doctor slash headshrinker Wolfie von Eschenator can shed some light on that!"

"Belay that both of you! We have a hard enough mission without squabbling among ourselves" Commanded Sandy Bell-Uljanov wincing at the fact that she was ordering a superior officer but feeling vindicated for she felt that Atticus was lowering herself to Lena's petty level.

Once Atticus was done securing his armor and weapons and the others began to store theirs, he said somewhat calmly, "Wolfram, Sandy is right. Sobriety is needed here. So you must wait til the mission is over for that drink. However I know that when I was in that daking wheelchair, my sister probably told you what little she truly knows of my past, from what I had revealed to her. So I am sure you know exactly why I am so against the daking bindings! However as I said, if you feel it is necessary to bind me, and Doctor Orion watches to make sure nobody does anything to me that I wouldn't approve of, then I will allow it despite how much I HATE the daking idea...and for great daking reason, even if I prefer to keep most of it to my daking self!"

"If it at all helps, being a Synthetic I'm abnormally strong - much stronger than the average human or Votan - and could restrain Supreme Commander Batman if the need to came about," Suggested Whitney with an innocent smile on her porcelain doll-like face as she tried to be helpful but was clearly being overly optimistic.

A pretty pout crossed Lena's face as she warned, "Whitney, I really would not like for my new Administrative Assistant's pretty head to be twisted from her shoulders. Good help is sooooo hard to find these days!"

Lena turned her unblinking eyes to Wolfram flashing her wicked smile at him before asking "For the refrigerator, the car, and the cruise to Tahiti - all with fully stocked bars - what is your final answer? To bind or not to bind, that still is the question!"

*****

"I see that I have to take the burden of negotiating to my shoulders!" announced Aunt Agatha once she was back on her seat. "Do you really think that I will let this mud covered, half naked...man who just danced like some peacock during the mating season and then moaned like a seal with a stomach ache because he probably went ape, do something as important as negotiating."

"Ummmm, no. Just no. Volodja Protectors' negotiator," Answered Lady Christianna in her minimalist approach to conversation as Atika Constantine drove the roller swiftly around the Afflicted masses.

The rest of the trip to the Shondu Consulate was uneventful albeit one made in silence. They raced through a Ninety-niners roadblock sailing through it before the cyborg miners knew they were there. They passed a battle between a wandering Hulker and a Hellbug Monarch near the road not pausing to see who won. Finally they drove past the walls of the estate and pulled in front of the modernistic consulate itself.

"Hela! Volodja. Agatha. Me. Visit Ara," Ordered Lady with a enigmatic smile totally ignoring for a moment the fact that Volodja Uljanov outranked her in the Protectors then realizing it and turning to him with wide pink eyes and her trademark Mona Lisa smile pointing to him with one small alabaster forefinger and saying, "Sorry. Wanted me to be more assertive."

The Synth Sister Yvette flashed her easy grin commenting, "I have to go too. I have diplomatic credentials from the Synth Empire for me and my sisters to deliver to Consul Shondu that I probably should have brought to her months ago."

"That means the rest of us can shop until we drop as the human saying goes!" Exclaimed Jalina Uljanov enthusiastically.

'"YAY!" Shouted Micfi with a big smile on her eleven-year-old chalk white face.

"Atika. Watch Micfi. Responsible for her," Interjected Lady authoritatively then to Micfi ordered, "Micfi, obey Atika. Completely."

"BOO!" Shouted Micfi with a big frown on her eleven-year-old chalk white face.

  "Ummmm, no. Just no. Volodja Protectors' negotiator," Answered Lady Christianna in her minimalist approach to conversation as Atika Constantine drove the roller swiftly around the Afflicted masses.

  The rest of the trip to the Shondu Consulate was uneventful albeit one made in silence. They raced through a Ninety-niners roadblock sailing through it before the cyborg miners knew they were there. They passed a battle between a wandering Hulker and a Hellbug Monarch near the road not pausing to see who won. Finally they drove past the walls of the estate and pulled in front of the modernistic consulate itself.

  Atika smiled and said, "Dang, I am getting good at that! I must thank Security Chief Lebeau for those lessons through the waste's rocky and treacherous terrain when we get back to the Fortress! Although I am glad you taught me that jump, Lady! It worked great with the stinking Niners!"

  "Hela! Volodja. Agatha. Me. Visit Ara," Ordered Lady with a enigmatic smile totally ignoring for a moment the fact that Volodja Uljanov outranked her in the Protectors then realizing it and turning to him with wide pink eyes and her trademark Mona Lisa smile pointing to him with one small alabaster forefinger and saying, "Sorry. Wanted me to be more assertive."

  The Synth Sister Yvette flashed her easy grin commenting, "I have to go too. I have diplomatic credentials from the Synth Empire for me and my sisters to deliver to Consul Shondu that I probably should have brought to her months ago."

  "That means the rest of us can shop until we drop as the human saying goes!" Exclaimed Jalina Uljanov enthusiastically.

  '"YAY!" Shouted Micfi with a big smile on her eleven-year-old chalk white face.

  "Atika. Watch Micfi. Responsible for her," Interjected Lady authoritatively then to Micfi ordered, "Micfi, obey Atika. Completely."

  "BOO!" Shouted Micfi with a big frown on her eleven-year-old chalk white face.

  Atika smiled and said, "It will be a pleasure Lady. Don't worry. I will keep your niece safe, and if Mister Smedley wants to, he can tag along with us instead of guarding this piece-of-junk-that-Raiders-pass-off-for-a-roller!"

  After all the others went to arrange a meeting with Ara Shondu, Atika turned to her little group saying, "Yes! The Diplomatic party is off to a boring meeting, and I am not forced to be a part of it at the moment!! Now we can have an enjoyable shopping trip without a strict timeline! Too bad Lady is stuck with them but perhaps we can get her something to thank her for taking on that burden to free the us from that diplomatic entanglement! It looks like we still have a little time before dusk. So how about we do some shoppong now, and take a beak at dusk so that we can watch the sunset from the Gazebo that Lady has told me all about. Then once we have witnessed that magnificent sight and had a light supper, we can return to shopping until the others return to get us. Micfi, don't worry. I know you don't have any money. So if you behave then I will happily buy you a couple outfits and any necessities that you may need."

  As Micfi bit her lip (like Lady has occasionally been known to do while in deep thought on a decision), Jalina said, "This real life shopping sounds like a lot of fun and I really want to see that Sunset that I was told about by Mother and Father!"

Atika smiled and said, "So do I. Come on! Miss Macguyver told me the best Vendors to check first a few days ago when I asked her about shopping here at the Consulate!"

---

  "The linguistic dispute about neologisms sounds interesting and very Carroll like, but we can do it later, said Wolfram von Eschen and asked: "Have you played cowboys?!"

  "Well..." begun Lena. "We have played cowgirl couple of times. You know where you ride on a guy and such."

  "Not THAT kind of cowboys. And not the Brokeback mountain kind either. Just cowboys with their lassos. Lasso is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. Before you ask what's it has to do with us, I'll explain. We are going to use the same kind of loops as binds. They are loose but if our patients begin to struggle, those loose binds tighten around their limbs and body and voilà - patients bind themselves as a result. The knowledge about existence of those binds around them will be imprinted into their subconsciousness while they still are conscious and that should make them to restrict themselves from struggling and if they do struggle, they end up being bound up by themselves. Jawohl."

  Stretching out before he has to lay relatively still for who-kows-how-long, Atticus sighs and replies with, "Cowboys and lassos? After Lena called me bullheaded? REALLY?! Is that supposed to be some kind of daking joke? If so then leave the jokes to Lena because that was NOT funny! However I suppose your idea has merit. So fine all of you win. You can loop your daking lassos around me, but they really better stay loose unless I try to get up or hurt somebody early, like all of you seem to be afraid of!"

  All of the party whose EGOs were on the away team into Belle's comatose if not dead brain were bond loosely to their cots. Dr. Orion administered muscle relaxants and as each of those on the cots went into a dream state, Whitney turned on the machine that would link with the Dream Machine on Belle's brow and to act as a bridge into Belle's dormant mind. One by one those who were asleep had their EGOs or alter-egos drift into a greater darkness.

  Hope asked from the dark, "Ummmm... can any of you guys see anything? I hear a howling wind and my feet are crunching on something as I move but I still can't see anything!"

  Kabule placed his hand on Hope's shoulder and said, "Can't see a thing my Lil Bird. However I do recognize the sound of crunching bones when I hear it."

  "Rodger that," Answered Sarge as he took a flare from his backpack and struck it illuminating everybody in an eerie flickering red light.

  Far as the eye could see in the flare's light, they could see the ground covered in endless bones and skulls and beyond that an impregnable blackness.

  Kabule grinned wickedly as he bent down and said, "Well it appears the blonde-sleeping-Volgey-beauty threw us into a fucking bone cavern. Plenty of bones and some look well-crunched by huge teeth such as say those of a Volge Warmaster. The warm stagnant wind down here smells of extremely bad breath and death as well. So Army-man do we wait to see what wonderful creature lives in such a place or do we find a way out before the welcoming party arrives to greet us in the same way as those we are walking on?"

  Then Kabule stood and pulled out one of his Cigarillos and lit it to take a puff as he directed the next part at Siggy," ....Of course I am also wonderin just what our Good Doctor would say of such a dream world. So Herr Doctor ya got some stupid headshrinky thing to try to explain this, while you wonder if you are going to get eaten on your first actual mission, before we explore further?"

  Dinara said quietly to Sarge of Kabule, "At least my brother is being somewhat respectful for once, and did ask for orders in his own way. Not-to-mention that he did give his weapons to Hope to hold as ordered. Although given what we are seeing, I for one would feel much better if Kabule were allowed to carry at least one of them. I know he isn't completely trustworthy, but he is a well-trained-former-Ekaru Kome-and-Dark Matter-Assassin so I think it would be smart to make use of that training. So Sarge as our commanding officer, what are our first orders?"

"It's getting...interesting," stated Sigmund after awhile. "I wonder what will happen if I do THIS?" And he reached out his cane and knocked on of the pillars which held the ceiling of the room they entered next. He could swear that the pillar said "Ouch!" which made him to knock again and then he leaned end of his cane against the pillar and pushed it.

"I recommend you to stop that!" said pillar. "One should be very careful when poking someone's mind and you obviously aren't at moment."

"Mind me asking but did you really spoke or I am just hallucinating?" wondered Sigmund. 

"Of course I spoke. I am one of the support beams which held this mind from collapsing and you are trying to push me over! Instead you should have a drink!"

And the pillar reached out one of it's tentacles ("If it already spoke then it could have limbs as well. Nothing illogical here!" stated Sigmund's mind) and passed little bottle to Sigmund. Elegantly shaped and carved bottle glimmered in light and the label, attached to it's neck had a suggestion, written in very elegant manner, saying simply: "DRINK ME"

"Should I try it or not?" wondered Sigmund. "It might be a simple case of reversed psychology. If the label says "DRINK ME" then I shouldn't drink from the bottle. From the other aspect...I better skip that long part of assumptions and drink right away." And he lifted the bottle to his lips and had a sip.

“Curiouser and curiouser!”
he muttered. "It din't do a thing. I was expecting changes in my height and weight or at least in my digestive system but it is just a drink with no effects whatsoever. I wonder what they think of next. Maybe a cake without any side effects?"

“Curiouser and curiouser!” Sigmund muttered. "It din't do a thing. I was expecting changes in my height and weight or at least in my digestive system but it is just a drink with no effects whatsoever. I wonder what they think of next. Maybe a cake without any side effects?"

Dinara giggled and responded with, "Well that would be nice. However you will NOT catch me trying it first! With a toxicology-expert such as Kabule as a brother, I know just how dangerous that stuff can be! So I will leave the potential poisons and toxins for him to deal with, and suggest that next time you do the same! Thank you very much!"

Sarge gritted his teeth in irritation and said through them, "Nobody eat or drink anything you didn't bring with you! Jesus people, I shouldn't have to be telling you folks this! If you are hungry or thirsty, I have MCIs in my pack and a canteen filled with water on my belt."

Hope hesitantly raised her hand as if to be recognized in a classroom before asking, "Sarge, we're all virtual people sooooo... none of us should need food or water, right?" So why do you even have those things?"

Sarge sighed then grinned before saying, "Absolutely right Hope, but old habits die hard and this old soldier has a lot of old habits. Anyhow, let's get after the Easter Bunny, shall we?"

Sarge followed where he heard crunching noises as the Volge-bunny hopped through the grounds covered in old bones. Shining the flash light attached to his assault rifle in the direction of the receding noise, Sarge caught up just in time to see the albino Volge with the rabbit ears and tail carrying a chicken leap into the air and disappear into a small hole in the ground. Pointing the light down the hole gave no clue what was contained there or even how deep it was.

"Damn it!" exclaimed Sarge then his tan face turned red when Hope's expression showed she has heard his expletive so he explained, "Sorry for my French ladies but I'm not sure if we should follow or not with out more intel. I have a rope in my pack, so we could lower a scout but I'd hate to have anyone go anywhere here without company."

Sarge then looked meaningfully at Hope, "However if we do send a scout, it probably should be the smallest and lightest of us so we can haul her up in a hurry if things go south. So do we have any volunteers... uh... Hope?"

Hope's pink eyes grew big and her Castithan complexion turned even more pale if that was possible before she shook her white tousled head and said, "No, no, no! Have you noticed what that hole looks like?"

Sarge frowned as bent down flashing the light closer at the hole noticing the ridges around it for the first time before admitting in a low tone, "Damn it Hope, you're right! Those ridges make the hole look just like a giant puckered a-hole! I wonder if it serves the same purpose. The hole could be a trap to expel us out of Belle's dreamscape. Clever girl!"

Sarge stood up facing his companions as he asked, "So do continue exploring up here or send a scout down the hole?"

A loud roar which definitely was not a stomach rumbling echoed around them punctuating his question for them all.


*****

Back at Ara Shondu's consulate in the consul's office, Ara herself asked the assembled Protectors again, "So... Mrs Batman....Mr Uljanov... I repeat: DO we have business or is this a pleasure visit?"

Lady bit her lower lip before saying, "Hela?" Then looked with wide pink eyes to Volodja hoping he had a better answer.

In the vendors' area outside the consulate itself, Atika Constantine, Jalina Uljanov, and the eleven year old Castithan, Micfi Newlo, were enjoying their shopping spree. Micfi had just found a red satin jacket with gold epaulets she liked and was trying it on for size as the others watched her obvious glee. A one handed Castithan leaning hidden against the wall in the shadows of a Vendor motioned at the child to two other Castithans. The two Inquisitor assassins readied charge-knives hidden in the sleeves of their large coats strange for the hot summer weather as they moved through the crowd of shoppers closer to Micfi with malice in their yellow colored eyes.

  In the vendors' area outside the consulate itself, Atika Constantine, Jalina Uljanov, and the eleven year old Castithan, Micfi Newlo, were enjoying their shopping spree. Micfi had just found a red satin jacket with gold epaulets she liked and was trying it on for size as the others watched her obvious glee. A one handed Castithan leaning hidden against the wall in the shadows of a Vendor motioned at the child to two other Castithans. The two Inquisitor assassins readied charge-knives hidden in the sleeves of their large coats strange for the hot summer weather as they moved through the crowd of shoppers closer to Micfi with malice in their yellow colored eyes.

  Feeling uneasy Atika, still smiling at Micfi's exuberant jubilation, glanced around and spotted to mean and angry looking Castithan men in heavy coats heading their direction and moving roughly through the crowd of shoppers. So Atika glanced around, and knowing this would not be a good place for a fight if it can be helped, looked for a way to keep her young and combat-inexperienced friends out of trouble. Seeing a popular limited-time-vendor-station that Chloe had told her about gave her just that, for next to it were a couple E-rep soldiers having a pleasant conversation with a couple of local Law-keepers.

  So Atika quickly swiped her scrip-card and said, "That jacket looks perfect on you Micfi. Now how about you two go check the Vender by those soldiers and Law-keepers? Ms. Mcguyver told me it has a lot of limited edition clothing and accessories. So perhaps you can find something to go with your new jacket."

  As Micfi glanced at the Vendor in question and happily put on her new jacket, Jalina asked Atika, "And what about you?"

  Atika smiled warmly at her friend and replied calmly with, "I am going to go check the weapon Vendor real quick to see if I can find a new sling for my rifle. Then I will join the two of you at that limited-time-vendor-station."

  After the two girls accepted Atika's suggestion and explanation, they went over to the limited-time-vendor-station next to the two E-rep soldiers and two Law-keepers that Atika had recommended they look to find accessories for Micfi's new jacket. Then Atika headed towards the Weapons Vendor, but once her EGO had informed her that her friends were now distracted by the wares she sent them to check out, Atika turned back around and 'leisurely' walked towards the menacing Castithans that had turned to see where their target was now heading to.

  Meanwhile Volodja frowned because he recognized Micor Newlo and his companions and beginning of their determined movement which meant that there wasn't much rest for a weary and the washing had to wait a bit. First he had to jump out of the window and do something about it. Since it was a neutral area, an open conflict had to be excluded a priori. But nobody said anything about having minor struggle. Especially when Volodja wasn't the one who was intending an open attendance in it.

  Filth has some good characteristics, like giving it's owner an opportunity to roam around freely, because people prefer to avoid physical contact with him. And mental contact as well. because it usually ends up with...

  "A scrip, a scrip, my kingdom for a scrip!" moaned Volodja with mindless expression on his dirty and thus unrecognisable face when he bumped against Micor's henchmen. "Gimme scrip! Scrip! Scrip!"

  "Get lost, lowlife," said one of them contemptuously and looked Volodja with open disgust. Since he didn't retreat, he pushed Volodja who staggered masterfully into the group of boasting Ark hunters in their Sunday gear. Once there Volodja used his skills to initiate a brawl of a local meaning between Ark hunters and Micor's henchmen as culprits for breaking the mood, because beating up a toe stepping loony isn't as half as satisfactory than beating up bunch of arrogant Castithans who pushed the loony among the Ark hunters seemingly on purpose.

  Micor himself showed skills of great tactician and took a leave as soon as the brawl begun so he didn't saw how they were taken into custody for breaking the public order. Unlike escaped Micor Volodja saw it...from the safety of the bathroom where he returned as soon as the brawl begun and just like an experienced trickster he enjoyed fruits of his efforts from a viewing distance...

  Atika saw the 'bum' distract the two menacing men. However as she continued their direction, she saw the fight break out between the two Castithan and several Arkhunters. So Atika stepped back and glanced back towards her friends. She had made the right choice in sending them to that vendor for while the two local Law-keepers went to break up the brawl with a couple of others nearby coming to help, the two soldiers stayed near the vendor and made sure all the shoppers near them (including Jalina and Micfi) were safe while the Law-keepers broke up the fight.

  Once Atika was sure all was well, thanks to that 'bum' that not only looked like Volo but also had his EGO signature, she decided she better go to the weapon Vendor as she said she was going to. So Atika went to the weapons-vendor and looked through the gun-slings quickly until finding one that caught her eye after just looking at four or five. After checking to ensure it would indeed fit her gun perfectly, Atika bought it. Then she re-joined her friends who were still happily (and thankfully clueless to the fact that Atika was certain the two angry Castithan were actually after them and not just out to pick a fight with a beggar or some Ark-Hunters) shopping at the limited-time-vendor-station that she sent them to.

  So when they noticed her arrival, Atika happily showed them her new gun-sling. Then she looked through the limited-edition wares while admiring how happy Micfi seemed to be at being allowed to not only picked out something of her own, but also at being allowed to accessorize however she wanted. So Atika soon got back into the shopping fun and happily helped her friends pick things out while they all joked with each other and had a good time. Although Atika kept her guard up for any other threats, while also having her EGO continuously scan the area for any other potential threats.

---

  Hope's pink eyes grew big and her Castithan complexion turned even more pale if that was possible before she shook her white tousled head and said, "No, no, no! Have you noticed what that hole looks like?"

  Sarge frowned as bent down flashing the light closer at the hole noticing the ridges around it for the first time before admitting in a low tone, "Damn it Hope, you're right! Those ridges make the hole look just like a giant puckered a-hole! I wonder if it serves the same purpose. The hole could be a trap to expel us out of Belle's dreamscape. Clever girl!"

  Sarge stood up facing his companions as he asked, "So do continue exploring up here or send a scout down the hole?"

  A loud roar which definitely was not a stomach rumbling echoed around them punctuating his question for them all.

  Kabule snapped, "Hope does not go down that hole by herself!"

  Thankfully Sigmund saw that was a great time to intervene with;

  "I wouldn't be overly worried about the possible poisoning," said Sigmund and took a seat on a huge mushroom, although he had to push some protesting caterpillar who claimed that the mushroom was his podium and called him an usurper, off with his cane to get himself Le Place D'errière as they might say in more mannered companies.

  If the world around us is based on Belle Starr's mind then all the sunny heights and hidden depths are based on her personality and if poisoning isn't part of her personality, then...You mentioned her so called Volge problem which she struggled with but there are no records about her suppressed urge to poison someone, so I guess that she isn't exactly a type who spreads poisoned apples left and right. She might challenge someone to open fight and tear their head off their shoulders but if her mind provides us with the poisoned treats then I am sure that they will be provided with a label, saying "Gift" so anyone can't proceed with consuming without being warned first."

  "What have gifts to do it with everything you said?" asked Hope.

  "It's a wordplay," chuckled Sigmund. "I always paid attention to the use of words and sometimes allow myself a well planned and thoroughly intentional one. "Gift" may mean "present" in English but "poison" in German."

  Dinara smiled and said, "That makes sense. Just like while Dinara is my name, and the name of an Irathiant flower, here on Earth it is also the name of a mountain located on the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.

  Another roar from darkness reminded them where they were, so Sigmund grabbed one of Sarge's MCI's for "an experiment" and threw it into the darkness only to hear munching noises afterwards which made him to say:

  "Whoever is in the darkness, they are strong enough to survive even an army ration. Deciding from noises, they even enjoy those, so if we are going to send someone to scout we better arm that scout with more of those things to avoid the scout being eaten."

  Kabule replied with, "There is your answer. Hope has no combat experience, so she should NOT go down alone and unarmed. So I volunteer. Although if the doctor is right about his assumptions, then perhaps we should be looking in the opposite direction than the obvious. The obvious of course being down. So I say we look up instead."

  Dinara stepped forward and said, "Sarge Kabule is right about Hope having no experience. However you are right that if somebody goes down it should be one of the lightest. As I am the second lightest, if you insist on sending a scout down, then I volunteer. Unlike Hope I have some fighting experience, I have learned Capoeira and, as an extension to that, I have also been training with the bo staff."

  Upon saying that Dinara reached behind herself and took the bo staff off her back. Then she smiled as she continued with, "However given who my 'brothers' are, I know that it's always good to have a little extra up your sleeve when needed. "

 With that Dinara pushed two hidden buttons on her ordinary looking bo staff, and a blade popped out on either end, making it a double-bladed sword. Seeing Dinara's transforming weapon, Kabule grinned and replied with, "Not bad little sister. Not bad at all for a fucking pacifist-diplomat-and-singer!"