When Relatives Come to Visit...

"Just the place for a Snark!" the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.

Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Kabule aggressively.

"Just another poem by Lewis Carroll," replied Sigmund. "I think that if it's the place for a Snark then we should just follow any path. Sooner or later it will lead us to a Snark. You can't fight the logic. Although there are documented cases when a Snark got away or there wasn't a Snark at all, like all the fuss about El Dorado. And the Fountain of Eternal Youth. But those were expressions of people's desires who were sure that if they had a desire there had to be a place where it could be fulfilled. We are not like that at all!"

"You are as nuts as that cat!" concluded Kabule. 

"Then it doesn't go against the theory of psychoanalysis at all. Even a psychoanalyst needs another psychoanalyst as a therapist."

"At least you could have explained it in more simple manner," suggested Sarge peacefully.

"This was the simple explanation manner. For a detailed analysis you should make an appointment."

  In Belle Starr's mindscape, Sigmund said, "This was the simple explanation manner. For a detailed analysis you should make an appointment."

  Kabule remarked, "Why would anybody want to purposely make an appointment with a psycho-babbler of any kind, and more importantly, just who the fucking hell is this Lewis Carroll person that you are talking about?! In case you somehow missed it, I am not human so I have no clue what Earthling you are talking about...and even if I was a fucking human, I do NOT fucking read much! So your fucking references about long poems, or books, or other long and boring writings, mean nothing to me! So if this fucking Lewis Carroll person is that important to our situation, then perhaps you better tell me in a more clear manner. Or better yet just talk to Dina about it. Then she can tell me whatever I NEED to know about this fucking boring book-stuff!"

  Meanwhile Sarge was having a private conversation with Sandy via EGO before saying to his troops, "Let's go forward then."

  Kabule replied, "Yes let us continue toward the big scary noise and see this Bandersnatch that the flippant and Nonsensical Feline was warning us of. So that means that in a way, Blondie-doll on the other end of your EGO agrees with me on something? I knew she was smart, the first time she called Assicus on his shtako! Makes me glad I 'missed' her so long ago!"

---

  While Atika and Jalina were admiring dresses and accessories, Atika's EGO (Kellina) informed Atika that Micfi had disappeared. So Atika stopped and looked around before saying to Jalina, "Micfi disappeared! We need to find her before something hapens to her...but we have to do it without causing a fuss for now."

  Then as Jalina and Atika started looking around for Micfi, Atika notified Volo and Lady via EGO, saying very apologetically, "Commander Volo, Lady Christianna! I...I....think I screwed up! Micfi is missing and...a little while ago some mean looking Castithans were following us until they accidently picked a fight with some Ark Hunters! I know I should have reported that commotion but the Law Keepers handled it and Micfi seemed to be having a great time with us, so I thought I had everything under control! Jalina and I are looking all over the courtyard for her but we can't seem to find her ye...wait! I found her footprints and they seem to be leading to a tree behind the building! It looks like she climbed it for some reason! I am going to climb the tree and investigate now!"

  With that, Atika turned to Jalina and said, "Jalina you better go meet up with your father so I know that you are at least safe, while I climb up to the roof and see if I can figure out what happened to Micfi before it's too late to save her from whatever she is doing or being tricked into doing!"

  With that Atika quickly climbed the tree. Once she was on the roof she saw Micfi reluctantly following an older one-armed Castithan man. So Atika said loudly, "Micor Newlo, I presume? Micfi, whatever he is telling you is a lie and you do not have to go with him."

  Micor turned and snapped, "Shut-up Hagisi! You are nothing, so don't act like anybody cares about your opinion!"

  Atika stepped toward Micfi as she snapped back at the one-armed man, "NO! You shut up! This is where I am supposed to try to reason with you and discuss this diplomatically. However as you are an evil abusive child-raping murder with a huge bounty on his head, I know you will just ignore me and that you also most likely have some dastardly trick up your sleeve for in case somebody tried to protect Micfi from you!"

  As Atika took another step forward, Micor grinned evilly and raised his hand which caused a Sniper's laser sight to appear on Atika's forehead as he replied, "Flattery child, will get you nowhere. However as you can see, you are very correct about me. So if you come any closer, that will get your worthless hide a bullet in the head!"

Atika said, "I will NOT back down or give into your threats! You will NOT harm her any more you bastard! She deserves to have a life with friends and family that care about her! Not a bunch of sycophants following a defunct and dillussional cult of genocidal murderers!"

  As Atika took another step, Micor dropped his hand. However Atika was expecting it. So as the hand went down she activated her EGO's blur and strafed to the side as she aimed her rifle and fired in the direction the laser sight had come from. Those on the ground could hear two guns fired almost simultaneously (a sniper's rifle, and Atika's old Frontier Repeater). However moments later, there was a thud as the once-cloaked sniper fell to the ground below dead from a spot-on head-shot. His target however was still standing and her blur deactivated just as she stepped between Micor and Micfi, her only injury a slight burn on her cheek from where the bullet grazed it (although her EGO would soon have that completely healed).

  Then Atika, keeping her eyes on Micor, said to him, "I said you will not hurt her any further! Now you have to get through me to get to her and one of your snipers is dead. How long do you think it will take for the Law Keepers, E-rep soldiers, or more likely the other Paradise Protectors nearby as I already sent my location to their EGOs, to discover your dead sniper and realize where the shots came from and get up here Criminal?!"

"Vine or wine?" asked Aunt Agatha. "Vine's tend to grow by themselves. Wine takes more time because first you have to grow grapes and then process them and let them ferment and I thought that we are having tea."

"I believe it's vine," replied Volodja. "And we have our tea when Ara returns. Starting without her would be rude."

"You are right. We can't start without her. She is important. Unlike some people who's non presence passes unnoticed. Like you. You were supposed to be the diplomat but you did absolutely nothing on our way here and after we arrived here. Except getting yourself filthy. If I would have been in Ara's place, you would have been thrown out from the back-door. Imagine - you let the young girl handle negotiations!"

"My pupil did fine, didn't she?" said Volodja. "It honours me as her teacher that she is as resourceful as she is."

"Pupil?" asked Aunt Agatha. "Are you telling me that you were a tutor as well?"

"My first task after joining Protectors," smiled Volodja. 

"Are you telling me that you earned your daily cake by WORKING? As a mercenary and a teacher." asked Aunt Agatha in disbelief because personally her relationship with the work was telling servants what she needed and they did it so she almost felt that Volodja was a class traitor.* "Next you are going to tell me that you actually enjoyed it!"

"Actually I did, aunt," was Volodja's devout reply. "Some people might actually enjoy their work."

"We are not just some people," begun Aunt Agatha...

_________


*According to the common definition a class traitor is a term used mostly in socialist discourse to refer to a member of the proletariat class who works directly or indirectly against their class interest, or what is against their economic benefit as opposed to that of the bourgeoisie. In this case things were exactly the same, except Aunt Agatha considered a working aristocrat to be abnormality, because there are things aristocrats just don't do. Yet she had her soft spots, and pot planting or animal breeding, for example, were grey areas and Agatha could turn a blind eye to those when her friends were involved if she really tried, but gardening in general was exclusively reserved for gardeners and so on. After all - they got paid for it.

Atika Constantine smiled and said to Lady Christianna, "See, she promises to be good and stay with Jalina and me for the rest of our trip. So can all three of us please return to our shopping trip?...Uummmm that is after I answer any questions the Law-Keepers and soldiers have for me about the sniper I shot out of the nearby tree as I did discharge a weapon on Consulate grounds and kill somebody, even if it was in defense of myself and, more importantly, Micfi.

Lady nodded her white tousled head in assent as she agreed commenting, "Shop till you drop."

Lady walked away to reenter the consulate through Ara Shondu's sliding door that led directly to her office but not before hearing Jalina Uljanov admit to Atika, "Oh don't worry about the weapon discharge Atika. I already cleared it with that handsome young Law Keeper Dash Morgan - although I had to promise to have dinner with him. That's okay, right?"

An enigmatic smile crossed Lady's pretty chalk white face wondering what Jalina's father would think of that development as she took her chair in Ara's office hearing Voloja Uljanov reply to his Aunt, "Actually I did, aunt.  Some people might actually enjoy their work."

"We are not just some people," begun Aunt Agatha.

"Some of us aren't even people," Interjected the Synth Sister Yvette with an easy grin and laughter in her purple eyes.

Ara Shondu stood in the comfortable sitting area to the side of her large desk gesturing for the others to join her just as her handmaiden arrived with the tea so Ara suggested with a smile, "Why don't we sit over here where it is more comfortable to enjoy our tea. However if you wish something else - perhaps stronger  - to drink, I think I can arrange that."

Yvette moved over sitting her muscular form down with a plop in a overstuffed armchair while asking, "Thought you never would ask! One beer please!"

*****

In Belle Starr's mindscape,  Kabule replied, "Yes let us continue toward the big scary noise and see this Bandersnatch that the flippant and Nonsensical Feline was warning us of. So that means that in a way, Blondie-doll on the other end of your EGO agrees with me on something? I knew she was smart, the first time she called Assicus on his shtako! Makes me glad I 'missed' her so long ago!"

Frowning, Sarge held up a restraining finger ordering, "Shhhh! Listen up a second... do you hear... singing? And the clinking of... teacups?!?!"

*****

On a beach far away but also just next door in Belle's mindscape the beautiful blonde in the red bikini smiled warmly wiggling her toes in the hot beach sand as she remarked, "That tune really does stick in your head!"

The attractive dark skinned Amazon in the green swimsuit answered widening her jade eyes and leaning towards her friend to emphasize her answer exclaiming with a lopsided grin, "Like a brain tumor!"

In Ara Shondu's office at the Shondu Consulate, the people gathered there made themselves comfortable in her sitting area as Ara's handmaiden poured the tea then went to fetch the Synth Sister Yvette's beer as Yvette hollered after the pretty Castithan, "And please don't forget to bring me a cold one," But adding under her breath as she stared with a lecherous grin at the departing handmaiden's shapely derriere, "Although some things I do like hot."

Hearing Yvette's low comment, Lady Christianna rolled her pink eyes as Ara coughed politely before asking, "Miss... Yvette? I believe you have a proposal for me from the Synth Empire?"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot... again. The All-Father would tear me a new one if I didn't give you this now while I have the opportunity," Admitted Yvette with an exaggerated grimace as she reached into her messenger bag and handed Ara a data-pad then apologizing, "Sorry I didn't get here sooner but I was having so much... fun... at Fortress K'shaa I plumb forgot all about it. My sister Ruby usually takes care of all this diplomatic crap."

Ara smiled politely then looked at the data-pad with intense interest for some minutes before asking with a concerned look on her beautiful Castithan face, "This seems less a proposal asking Paradise's permission and more a declaration of intent. The Synth Empire wishes to set up a scientific colony in Sacramento some distance northwest of here? To what end? Your Patriarch does know that Sacramento is a radioactive wasteland, doesn't he? Early during the Pale Wars, the Votans occupied California's capital city making it a major base of operations and the EMC detonated a nuclear device there thus destroying and irradiating everything in a three mile radius of the city's center. Now nothing dwells there but mutants and mutated animals with maybe a few ark hunters and scavengers."

Yvette leaned forward in her seat towards Ara as she explained with a now humorless grin on her pretty tan face, "The All-Father knows all or he wouldn't be a very good All-Father, would he? The Synth Empire plans to set up base sixteen miles west of the epicenter at the UC-Davis Medical Center and then send exploratory expeditions into the city from there. Synths tend to be fairly radiation proof although those who do explore in the city will go through precautionary decontamination procedures when they return and the abandoned facilities there will serve our research purposes nicely."

Ara leaned back thoughtfully sipping her tea before asking, "And how does this involve Paradise?"

The muscular blonde Synth woman leaned back in her chair before answering,  "Of course, our colony will need supplies and we would rather get them from a close ally than not. Although Synths don't really require food as a necessity, many of the newer models like myself prefer food as a source of energy. Your farmers can provide that and the Synth Empire will pay top dollar for that food. Furthermore, we can ship you pure water which we know your farmers need during your frequent droughts. The first task of the Synth colonists will be to set up Purifier Engines at both the Sacramento and American Rivers that flow through Sacramento removing dangerous contaminants and radiation. There is a highway from Sacramento to San Francisco which we will repair to facilitate water deliveries to your people."

Ara narrowed her golden eyes as she observed, "There has to be more you want from us than food which you deem a luxury. What else do you want from the good citizens of Paradise?"

"Frankly, gulanite," Confessed Yvette. "The machines that we will be using to cleanse Sacremento of its radiation run on gulanite which the mines in this area are full of. We have already sent feelers out to Varus Soleptor and he is amiable to such an agreement although for a ridiculous amount of scrip. More importantly to you and your people, we have begun negotiation with the overseers of the mines run by the Nintey Niners. The cyborgs are willing to trade gulanite for replacement limbs and organs with minor non-aggressive upgrades. For your benefit, we will be putting pacifying elements in those replacements that will make those Nintey Niners less hostile to others."

"That sounds... wonderful!" Replied Ara with a warm smile but still hesitating before placing her fingerprint on the electronic document that would signify her agreement. "It will be great if it makes the highways in Paradise less hazardous for our farmers and ranchers on the way to market - at least from Ninety Niners. Of course, there will still be the Raiders, Grid, Afflicted, Scrappers, Mutants, Dark Matter, Shrill, Hellbugs, and of course, the Volge to contend with."

"You know, the Synth Empire can help you with that too. I'm sure the All-Father would be agreeable to sending a Synth military contingent to keep the roads clear of your enemies here," Proposed Yvette with all sincerity .

"Thank you for your kind offer but we manage quite well on our own," Said Ara politely before turning to Lady and Volodja Uljanov with a warm smile, "Particularly with the help of our friends the Protectors."

"Yeppers," Remarked Lady answering with an enigmatic smile of her own.

Ara then faced Volodja asking, "Mr. Uljanov, you are known for your wisdom gained from travelling all over the world. What do you think of this agreement? Do the benefits outweigh any detriments?"

*****

At the vendors gathered immediately outside but on the grounds of Ara Shondu's Consulate, Atika Constantine guided her two friends back around to the vendors and before long they had cheered up Micfi Newlo and were once again chatting and giggling happily as they shopped.  As Micfi tried on some pink spangled sneakers to go with the red satin jacket and neon green clam diggers that had already been purchased for the eleven year old Castithan girl, Jalina Uljanov, who was clearly the least worldly of the three having been "born" literally months ago although she appeared to be sixteen and had the formal knowledge if not the experiences of both her parents, looked to her older Irathient friend with renewed puzzlement.

"Atika, I don't see how Father could possibly not be agreeable to my date with Mr. Morgan," Jalina told her friends. "Once Dash - Mr. Morgan - is finished with his Law Keeper shift here which is in about an hour, he's promised to take me for dinner to what sounds like a lovely cafe called 'The Crater'. After that, he promised to take me for dessert at his home in back of the Crater for some cream pie. I've never had that kind of pie before but it sounds delicious, don't you think? Then he promised to take me home to Fortress Kshaa when he was 'through with me' - although I did think that was an odd way to phrase the end of a date."

Jalina looked even more confused when Micfi immediately fell to the ground holding her sides as she rolled around laughing so hard she soon became out of breath. 

  At the vendors gathered immediately outside but on the grounds of Ara Shondu's Consulate, Atika Constantine guided her two friends back around to the vendors and before long they had cheered up Micfi Newlo and were once again chatting and giggling happily as they shopped. As Micfi tried on some pink spangled sneakers to go with the red satin jacket and neon green clam diggers that had already been purchased for the eleven year old Castithan girl, Jalina Uljanov, who was clearly the least worldly of the three having been "born" literally months ago although she appeared to be sixteen and had the formal knowledge if not the experiences of both her parents, looked to her older Irathient friend with renewed puzzlement.

  "Atika, I don't see how Father could possibly not be agreeable to my date with Mr. Morgan," Jalina told her friends. "Once Dash - Mr. Morgan - is finished with his Law Keeper shift here which is in about an hour, he's promised to take me for dinner to what sounds like a lovely cafe called 'The Crater'. After that, he promised to take me for dessert at his home in back of the Crater for some cream pie. I've never had that kind of pie before but it sounds delicious, don't you think? Then he promised to take me home to Fortress Kshaa when he was 'through with me' - although I did think that was an odd way to phrase the end of a date."

  Jalina looked even more confused when Micfi immediately fell to the ground holding her sides as she rolled around laughing so hard she soon became out of breath.

  Atika glanced at Micfi but kept herself from laughing as she guided Jalina over to where Micfi had rolled from her laughing fit to the side of the vendor and out of the way of the other shoppers. Then Atika said calmly but somewhat quietly, now that they were out of the way and could more easily have a quiet conversation, "Jalina that is exactly why your father would object and why I object. The Crater is known for all kinds of fights and dangerous behavior. Not to mention that when this Dash Morgan talks about having you for cream pie, he is not talking about an actual pie, although Ralph can easily make you an actual cream pie. No when it comes to Dash Morgan's reference, the 'Cream pie' he is referring to is an American slang term for..um how should I put this?...Well guys call their sperm 'cream', and a slang term for a vagina is 'pie'. So a 'cream pie' is after he has had sex with you and filled you full of his sperm.

  So when he says he will return you home when he is 'through' with you, he means he will not return you home until he is completely done with 'USING' you for his own sexual satisfaction and is no longer interested in your company as he has now gotten what he wanted from you. Geez you REALLY do need to talk to your parents. or somebody else that love and care about you and your safety and well-being. So you can get the sex talk BEFORE Dash Morgan or somebody else uses, abuses, and discards you like others have done to some of our friends. Besides I heard rumors at Fortress K'shaa that he had tried to convince Belle Starre to go on a similar date at one time but she saw through him and turned him down. So your parents may already know who he is and have a much more informed opinion on him than we do."

  Atika glanced at Micfi again and continued with, "NOBODY deserves that treatment. However in every part of this world there are plenty of people that have no problem using others to satisfy their own wicked purposes and then discarding them. Believe me they even exist in Mongolia. I am just glad I had Til to protect me from such individuals before it was too late or...or I may not have ever gotten to come to America to become your best friend. So Jalina PLEASE talk to your father BEFORE you consider actually going on that date, and if you aren't comfortable talking with him then talk to Lady or perhaps Aunt Agatha about it or tell him you can't have the date tonight because of a family obligation. Then talk to your mother after we go back to base and way before you schedule a different night for the 'date'. I also think that when you do actually get your parents permission to start dating, your first several dates with somebody you just met should be a double-date with the other couple being friends that you trust to help you stay safe...such as Til and myself.

  Please promise me that you will do so because I really care about you and do NOT want to see you hurt like that. I don't want to see anybody hurt like that, but especially not my friends and family and I consider you both. So I WILL always be here for you! The same goes for you Micfi. You are Lady's niece and I love her like an Aunt so I definitely consider you family as well, even though we just met earlier today. After all, I am loving your company and friendship."

  Still sitting, Micfi looked at her feet to hide her face as she wiped sudden tears from her golden eyes with the sleeve of her new satin jacket as she muttered, "I'm nobody's victim, you hear! I'm the mistress of my own fate!"

  Micfi got to her feet, standing up straight posturing with her small hands on her hips while stifling a sniffle and forcing a grin, proclaimed loudly to Atika and Jalina, "HEY! Maybe I should put that on a business card - Micfi Newlo, Mistress of Fate!"

  Atika shook her head but with a slight smile as she said, "I don't know. We have had enough Mistresses lately. So how about you just be Mistress of your own Fate. Although I do like the fire I see in you, that shows that you will no longer willingly be anybody's victim.

  As for you being a victim, like it or not you were. Your uncle did none of that for your benefit and apparently the only one in the inquisition who cared enough about you to ignore the nastiness that your uncle was creating and spreading about you was Chiph. So I say you made out well, when the Commander discovered the two of you. You are both away from the nasty Inquisition, with people that will protect you and let you grow and have some childish and SHOPPING fun while doing so, and you are now in the care of your Aunt Lady who cares a lot about others and will see to it that you enjoy the rest of your childhood, as will her Husband. Just don't let Commander Batman get to you. Yes he always has a scary presence to him, and can be extremely scary when he wants to be. However he also has a soft side for children, the downtrodden and those he feels have been forgotten by humanity even if he refuses to show it. So please don't mention that I told you that. Now feel sorry for you? Perhaps a little, just as I feel sorry for myself and any other woman that has been taken advantage of, but that means I also feel a kinship with you.

  Heck I am even a little envious of you as it sounds like you may have at least a couple of pleasant memories and stories of your parents, while Attila's and my mother died during childbirth and our father roughly a week later of a broken heart. So we know nothing of our parents or ancestry other than that they were trying to find a better place for us and our father did everything to ensure that even after our mother's death, but at least we have always had each other. When I was upset or hurt over something Til was always there to comfort me. When events happened that forced a change in environment, Till took the brunt of our adoptive father's anger. Then the two of us left together. We have all faced some sort of hardship but it is how we cope with it that defines us. However it is alright for a person to cry when needed, and don't you let anybody tell you otherwise. Besides I meant it when I said I was enjoying our new friendship so far and would be here for you whenever you want or need to talk or just hang out with a friend, or sister, all three of us. Just as it sounds like Chiph will always be there for you as long as you keep nurturing that relationship.

  Now please don't make fun of Jalina too much as you didn't know it but in some ways she is a lot younger than she appears....Although a little making fun between friends is perfectly fine.However at the same time she does have two very cute fathers...and Mr. Volo just has such a way of telling a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time and always wanting to hear another one, No matter what Commander Batman says! By the way I think I saw some pretty handkerchiefs that would go great with your new jacket and work better for wiping away tears, both good and bad, than your lovely new jacket does. Then we can get a bite to eat before it is time for us to go enjoy the beautiful sunset that Jalina and I wanted to see. Wouldn't that be great?"

  As Micfi sniffled again and slowly nodded in agreement, Atika pulled her into a hug not caring that Micfi wiped away some tears on Atika's shirt as she snuggled into the Irathient girl's hug, as Atika turned and put an arm around Jalina and pulled her into the sisterly embrace as well. Then Atika said, "And don't worry too much about it Jalina. You are still very young and learning that even nice people may have some sort of trigger that turns them into a deceitful slobbering idiot. In the case of Dash and MOST men, it happens to be a sexy young woman. However if he forgets that he is a gentleman again, then all 3 of us sexy women will kick his ass and show him that he can not use any of us like that. After all sisters must stick together. So sisters, what do you say we enjoy this hug just a little longer. Then we go get some cute kerchiefs to go with Micfi's jacket and shoes, a pretty outfit for Jalina as well, a new nightie for me...Oooh then friendship bracelets for all 3 of us!

  After all that is done, then we can get a picnic meal and go enjoy it at the gazebo as we watch the upcoming beautiful sunset! Then if you feel more brave Jalina, the 3 of us can see Dash Morgan together so you can tell him that you will not be joining him for a date tonight as something more important came up!...You see if you subtly remind him that he is not the most important thing in the world, then he will rethink his tactics and either leave you alone or come back and be more gentlemanly and if he comes on more aggressively, then as I said we can all 3 put him in his place...or we could always just tell your mother what a sly fox he is being and then watch as she goes all Momma Spider-wolf on his fool-ass! That would teach him to be more smart about how he treats a young woman, that's for sure! Us sisters and women must stick together after all!"

---

  In Belle Starr's mindscape, as the men shared a smoke, Hope peered through the foliage to spy on the tea party spotting the three participants she expected to see since she too had read "Alice in Wonderland." She spotted the March Hare, the Mad Hatter, and the diminutive Door Mouse sitting around a gaily decorated long table drinking tea and singing off-key. No surprises there! What did surprise her were the faces of the three beings sitting around the table.

  "Uh...guys?" Asked Hope trying to get their attention, "I've got excellent eyesight but even I am having a hard time believing what I'm seeing! Correct me if I'm wrong, but should the Mad Hatter be female with Dr. Liza Faru's face? And should the March Hare have Victor Fontaine's face? Lena was around when both those two died so I have photographic evidence of how those two looked and they looked like these two - only not so crazily dressed and not so happy! Now the Door Mouse - I think he looks like descriptions I've heard of Ara Shondu's Dark Matter leader-brother, Nim Shondu! But I guess I could be wrong..."

  Dinara quietly walked over and put and snuggled next to Hope where she was peeking at the tea party, and said, "Wow Hope! You are right! Those are all three people you think they are!...However we are in Belle Starre's dreamworld. So perhaps she had some sort of reason to but those villians' faces on this weird trio? Atticus and Kabule are neither one familiar with the story that you and Siggy mentioned, so I wouldn't have any clue why. However Siggy is a psychoanalyst and, despite both my brothers' feelings on that specific field of expertese, from what I understand that would also make him our team's expert-dream-analyzer. So Doctor Siggy, what are..."

Kabule rolled his eyes and interrupted with, "Really?! We don't need a psycho-babbler to tell us it is because she sees similarities between those bastards and the fucking story characters that they currently represent. However does the exact reason really matter? What matters is that either they can help us on our journey or they can hinder it, most likely hinder it greatly. However as Sarge is our designated leader, it means it is up to him to decide which while I watch everyone's back while I regret not bringing a flask of alcohol with me."

  Dinara sighed and said, "Yes Kabully it just might matter. So puhlease just quietly enjoy your stinky cigarello while Sarge and Doctor Siggy do their thing, if you don't have anything useful to add at the moment."

  Kabule grinned, and said. "Something useful yo say? How about this. Faru was as extremely nuts as she was brilliant and blindly followed her brother like a lost puppy. Fontaine was such a sly bastard that, since we never saw a body, there is no proof he is actually dead. That leaves Nim. He was a power-mad fool with delusions of grandeur, that could have easily overthrown his sister, and ruled all of Paradise if he hadn't let his stupid vendetta get in the way. There is also the fact that they are all three crazy enough and dastardly enough that the tea they are drinking may contain poison that they are immune to. So it is good that our 'leader' already ordered everyone not to eat or drink anything that we did not bring with us. Is that more of what you meant by useful?"

  Dinara smiled and replied with, "Yes actually that is useful, especially since Doctor Siggy may not know much of any of those three, considering Doctor Von Eschen mostly knows what he may have read of them in the Fortress files on them. So it probably is helpful for Doctor Siggy to hear a vice-laden-survivalist-and-semi-retired-assassin's opinion on these three, big brother. So thank you for that."

Kabule grinned wickedly as he took another puff and replied with, "Well that is a great way to describe me isn't it?"

Dinara smiled back and said, "Since it's very true, yes it is. Besides I love ya anyway, and you do tend to step in when needed, so you also have that going for you. Doesn't he Hope?"