When Relatives Come to Visit...

  "I believe that my presence here won't be necessary!" declared Aunt Agatha. "Those few hours, I have spent here, are...memorable enough, so I believe that I should take a leave."

  If someone dared to hope that her declaration meant her immediate leave from the territory of Fortress K'Shaa, then that hope was premature because she added: "I will be in my apartment and trying to have well deserved rest which means no disturbance! I expect to be understood because I expressed myself loud, clear, with decent diction and without double entendre!"

  She swam out as a...well, not exactly like a swan but close enough if you replace swan with a goose, leaving others to do something whatever they found suitable, like getting removed by the walking and talking monument to tastelessness which in other words means that Broderick Smythe told them to get out because he wanted to work.

  After Agatha left, "Kabule remarked nonchalantly, "Glad she said rest and not beuty sleep because that option was obviously locked away from her long ago."

  Then Broderick Smythe told them to leave in his own way,. So Kabule replied with, "I don't care if the NERD wants us to leave, I am NOT going anywhere! This is the first visit Lena has allowed me and Hope to have together and I am NOT ready to end it just because 'Glasses' tells us to!"

  "We should do as he suggested," warned Wolfram von Eschen. "Bill Gates once said: "Always be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one." I believe that Protectors have an experience with working while Broderick was in charge and I don't want to see the history to repeat itself. I'd suggest to have a chariot ride through Wienerwald (Vienna woods). That place is quite inspirational. At least it inspired Johann Strauss II to write his "Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald" which means "Tales from the Vienna Woods." And at least three talented film directors - Julien Duvivier, Victor Fleming and Josef von Sternberg - who made a film about Johann Strauss, called "The Great Waltz". After all events in Prater the cultured forest is a place we all could use to regain our emotional balance and if Chiph packed us a picnic basket then we have a good use for it there too. I can ride one of the chariots and Count can ride another."

  Kabule glared at Wolfram and Broderick. However right before he could answer, Atika said, "Look Mr. Kabule! If Brody needs us to leave so he can do his job, then we leave. Besides Doctor Von Eschen is right that it doesn't mean we have to end our afternoon of holo-fun. We just have to change holo-suites and holo-locations! So we don't have to go very far as I still have holo-suite #7 reserved for another hour or so, not to mention that last I looked at the reservation sheet, nobody has holo-suite #7 reserved at all tonight. So we can easily extend my reservation to last as long as we want this afternoon and evening. So all you EGOs and Psyches just have to do is transfer yourselves to holo-suite #7 and we will walk over and meet you there. Then Doctor Von Eschen will load his new program once we are there."

  Kabule remarked, "Fine, whatever, just as long as I do not have to go back to my locked fucking room yet! Unlike all of you, I do NOT get conjugals or leisure time much any-fucking-more! So I want to make use of it and spend it with Hope for as long as I am allowed BEFORE My fucking Brother and Hope's fucking sister both decide to banish me back to my room, sealed away from all fucking contact, for another fucking month or longer!...Besides a chariot ride sounds interesting. That is where somebody rides in a small wagon pulled my those horse-things isn't it? Whatever. What we do doesn't fucking matter as long as Hope likes it and I am allowed to keep spending time with her for a fucking while longer!...Oh and I suppose I better go in the Hall of Mirrors and let the two fuck-buddies know that we are being forced to switch holo-suites , as well as holo-locations!"

  With that Kabule walked to the Hall of mirrors and entered. He lecherously watched the fornicating couple for a minute or two before he said loudly, "He Wormy! You and your tattooed lady better finish up and get your fucking clothes back on now! We have to move to a different holo-suite because this one is having fucking issues. So is this program for that matter! So when we move to holo-suite #7, the old man is going to pick a different one of his fucking programs!"

  Then Kabule quietly admired Lust's naked form for a few seconds as they started to quickly gather their clothes, ignoring Kabule's presence. Then before they finished, Kabule turned and quietly left the Hall of Mirrors and re-grouped with the others. As Kabule walked up and wrapped his arms possessively around Hope from behind, he said, "They will be here, once they find all their fucking clothes! Then we can go like fucking 'Glasses' wants us to!"

  Not long after Sazri Kakusi and Lust came out and walked over to the others. So Kabule said, "See here they are now! So all you corporial people can get the hell moving and go load a program up in Holo-suite #7. Then we will transfer ourselves to that fucking location so that we can continue this fucking evening of entertainment!"

---

  Meanwhile Marcel Lestrange lit another cigarette and exhaling small smoke cloud, asked: "How many times I have told you to get yourself a decent satellite surveillance system for cases like this one?"

  "None!" was the reply.

  "Then this one will be one of those many many times when I suggest you establish yourself one," said Marcel peacefully. "It is a bout the time you learn strategic approach to things. And it may give you something to do in future. I actually discussed that matter with Volodja Uljanov and he seemed to be...supportive and informed me that he gave a thought to the idea some time, but since you are always busy with saving world and such, he had no time to deal with that matter. I might sell you...At least information about available satellites. You can also to choose not to pay attention to little me, of course. And my ideas." Then he released another dark little cloud and begun to hum...

  As d Attila continued to watch the Volge from the new location his group had moved to with Brooke lounging on a new boulder of her liking nearby, and with the three of them still outside the fence as ordered, Attila said to Marcel, "You are probably right. However I have no say in that! That is for the Command team to decide. However I agree with you. I mean I know Atticus hacks into the Zenna array whenever he needs to, and it does give us satellite footage of the whole San Fran area, but from what I understand he doesn't have a permanent and stable link to it, but instead just a backdoor hack into it. I also know Taffer had a backdoor hack into several other satellite systems. However he never shared that information with anybody else as far as I know. So those satellite connections were probably lost to the Protectors when Taffer left to try to find Vo. However that means you will have to once again discuss it with Volo or one of the other Commanders. However at the moment it sounds like the only one of the three that isn't extremely busy is Sandy, and I don't think she likes you much more than Brooke does."

---

  "I guess we are have troubles of at least two kind," said Volodja Uljanov to Atticus Batman. "Indoor problems which include unexpected relatives, arranged midget attacks and different sort of shouting at people. And outdoor problems about which, you are about to inform me, if I am not mistaken. Let's make a fair trade - you inform me about outdoor problems and I will give you a report about indoor ones. Then we can decide how to handle them both."

  Atticus replied with, "Lady considers those outside problems an issue with unexpected relatives visiting as well. You see while we have Chicken Bob sitting in here gesturing at a dream-tiara on Belle's had, although I don't have any clue why he is doing so, his BIG brothers that make up Belle's Volge community are all standing just outside our fucking perimeter! They haven't made any move on us and according to scouting reports some of the Volge even helped deal with a hellbug attack. However Fucking Pooper and Shondu gave us 24 hours to get rid of the Volge, or Pooper will do it himself! You know just as well as I do that means Pooper will start a battle that forces us to deal with the Volge on his terms just so he can look like a fucking hero! So I need you to try to figure out how to get Chicken Bob to send his big brothers away, while you also figure out why he is gesturing at the dream-tiara. However the latter is actually why Whitney and Lena are here. If we need to examine it, then we will need their expertise to do so. However finding a way to convince Chicken Bob to peacefully send away the other Volge, is our first priority. Since we have less than 24 hours to do so, before Pooper starts a Volge-Lawman War right outside our daking backyard!"

"Too late for me to find out what Bob wants," replied Volodja Uljanov after reasonable amount of time had passed during which he got acquainted with ideas and information, kindly provided by Lena Marr and Whitney. "He wants someone who is able to get inside the Dream Machine, find Belle's soul and do other tasks, usually given to some mythological hḗrōs. I volunteered but got unanimously downvoted. The EGO group goes instead of me since I support Whitney's suggestion sending more than one EGO psyches inside."

Volodja sighed audibly and admitted:

"Now I have to figure out where else I could hide to avoid another meeting with Aunt Agatha, the Matriarch of the family. That Dream Machine mission sounded so tempting and safe, considering the general context. I need something equally useful to do as long as it happens in safe distance from my aunt, like making a short travel to Shondu's and speak with Cooper on my way to buy us some more time. At least they are negotiable people. Other major players like Lena and Marcel and Colonel Jameson who is in charge of EMC (Earth Militia Corps) are under our very roof at moment, so they won't interfere and we can limit the amount of participants of this particular Paradise Standoff - there will be Shondu-Cooper team, the Volge and us staring at each other with lesser chances of outside influence which could break the fragile balance and trigger the mayhem, which means ordinary day at the office, except we are supposed to be on a vacation."

 

  "Such a voyage into the unknown would almost certainly be dangerous for real consciousnesses," Interjected Whitney with a pretty pout on her pale face, "However an EGO psyche should be able to travel safely and maintain contact with her host to take direction." Then Whitney laughed in a pleasant manner before saying, "A bit of a reverse situation with the EGO psyche as the actor and the host as the adviser."

  With a wicked grin Lena volunteered, "Hope will go. I'd love to see the inner workings of Belle Starr's mind even indirectly!"

  Whitney frowned before advising, "It would be better if more than one EGO psyche went - with a makeup of personalities like those selected for a Protectors' away-team - for who knows what one will find where no one has gone before."

  "Too late for me to find out what Bob wants," replied Volodja Uljanov after reasonable amount of time had passed during which he got acquainted with ideas and information, kindly provided by Lena Marr and Whitney. "He wants someone who is able to get inside the Dream Machine, find Belle's soul and do other tasks, usually given to some mythological hḗrōs. I volunteered but got unanimously downvoted. The EGO group goes instead of me since I support Whitney's suggestion sending more than one EGO psyches inside."

  Volodja sighed audibly and admitted:

  "Now I have to figure out where else I could hide to avoid another meeting with Aunt Agatha, the Matriarch of the family. That Dream Machine mission sounded so tempting and safe, considering the general context. I need something equally useful to do as long as it happens in safe distance from my aunt, like making a short travel to Shondu's and speak with Cooper on my way to buy us some more time. At least they are negotiable people. Other major players like Lena and Marcel and Colonel Jameson who is in charge of EMC (Earth Militia Corps) are under our very roof at moment, so they won't interfere and we can limit the amount of participants of this particular Paradise Standoff - there will be Shondu-Cooper team, the Volge and us staring at each other with lesser chances of outside influence which could break the fragile balance and trigger the mayhem, which means ordinary day at the office, except we are supposed to be on a vacation."

  I replied with, "That sounds like a smart idea but how many of the main team's EGOs do we send? I know Dinara says she is willing to go with Hope, so that is two so far. However I see a couple problems with the EGOs going. I think the only combat-trained EGOs from the main team are Sandy's, and the Constantines' although the Constantine's EGOs are only close-combat fighters from what Dinara tells me. There is also the fact that Dinara is certain that there is no way Kabule would stand for sending Hope...or the others into such a dangerous and unknown area without another fighter going with them.

  I must admit, I have to agree with Kabule on this one, even if Dinara said it as Kabule is off spending time with Hope and has no clue what we are talking about at the moment. So I think Kabule should go as well, and will live with whatever risk it will cause to me. However once we decide on that, the next question would be; Which EGO should lead the team? Kabule is the survivalist with the most training, however he is not a leader or a follower for that matter, but more of a lone wolf. Normally he would just put his own interests first and allies and missions second. However with this new development between him and Hope I am guessing that as long as Hope is around and wanting to befriend and teamup with the others, Kabule will at least tolerate being part of a team, as it seems he now puts Hope on the same pedestal that he puts his own arrogant ass on. Besides I feel it is always good to have at least one wildcard on the team, and Kabule definitely qualifies.


  So I am thinking that the team leader should either be Sophie or Sarge. However I think all of you have talked to all the other EGOs more than I have had a chance to, so I am open to suggestions. The same goes for any alternate personalities that may volunteer to go, if their owner allows it. As I said, I know Kabule will insist if Hope goes, and Sazri Kakusi is an explorer so he would be willing if I asked him. However if he goes, that may weaken some of my abilities and with the Volge right outside that isn't a good idea. So I think it is best if Kakusi stays here in my head.

  Volo, as for your part, as far as I know Pooper is staying at Shondu's for the time being, and when our deadline is almost up then he will come to this side of the bridge. So I say we leave Brooke and Attila outside to monitor the Volge activity which seems to be unchanged. Lena and Whitney will monitor the dream-machine and our Dream-team's progress from here. So I think we can handle things on the home-front, if you want to go to Shondu's Consulate to talk to Shondu and Pooper. However I do see the merit Taffer had in making the rule that: 'Teams should always consist of at least two people to watch each other's back no matter the situation.' which is why that rule is still intact even after I took Command. So take somebody with you. Since Wolfram is busy with his new charges (Micfi and Chiph), I think you should take the Count or somebody else of your choosing with you so you at least have somebody in your corner and don't feel outnumbered. Besides if you go by yourself, Pooper will assume that I sent a sniper to watch your back. So he probably wouldn't let you see Shondu. However if you take somebody who he doesn't see as a threat with you, such as the Count, then you have a better chance of being allowed an audience with Shondu."

---

  A grin crossed Sandy's pretty tan face and her eyes widened as she exclaimed, "We have the space ship, we have the resources, and I bet we have the brain power, so we should deploy our own satellite! I'll run the idea up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes! I still prefer a hands on approach but it would be better if we could see from space our people on the scene so please thank Marcel for the idea for me Brooke. Sandy out!"

  Brooke's cat-like eyes turned to Marcel and with a toothy smile said, "Commander Bell-Uljanov thanks you for your seed of an idea, then she planted it and it bore fruit! Free fruit because I don't think she'll be paying anything for it mercenary. Oh and it did sounds like she likes you more than me for I wouldn't have thanked you."

  Attila remarked, "I don't think Atticus would thank him without prodding from somebody either. So I suppose she likes him more than Atticus does as well. Of course I think the only time I have ever heard Sandy thank Atticus was in a sarcastic tone. So, I guess that means she likes Marcel more than she likes Atticus for that matter. Although I guess I can't blame her given the violent and troubled history that she and Atticus have with each other from what I know or have heard."

"Whitney's idea is fresh, reasonable and even possible," said Volodja Uljanov. "Although I must warn you that Aunt Agatha's concept about making compromises and reaching agreements tends to be simple - she expects everyone else do as she wants. Aunt Agatha is as diplomatic as a heavy tank, but I could turn that feature into our gain, I think. The persisting problem will be taking Aunt Agatha with us, which significantly reduces my hope to spend some time without her. But since it is for lesser evil then I must accept the idea. Now the easy part - we must convince others to follow that plan as well."

The others left the holo room after having a picnic. "Imagine - a forest without a single highwayman. Or a troll. Or any other incident. There weren't even ants or lurking psychoanalysts, except Siggi," said Wolfram von Eschen right before Volodja appeared in front of them and delivered Whitney's idea to the merry company.

"You mean that I have to send my EGO unit in to do something useful?" asked Wolfram from Volodja to make sure that he heard it right.

"Jawohl," confirmed Volodja. "But if you don't like the idea then you can refuse."

"Quite opposite! I am delighted to send Siggi. He keeps talking about different forms of hidden consciousness so it does him good when he can ACTUALLY see how a decent unconscious actually looks like. And if he gets stuck there, then...then I just have to get myself a new EGO psyche. Protest ignored, Siggi. Maul halten und weiter dienen, as they said in Austro-Hungarian army where you didn't serve. But you serve Protectors now and if I am willing to risk then you will risk with me."
 

_________

"Of course I am familiar with shtako, Mademoiselle," replied Marcel calmly. "No plant grows without manure. I should know that because I am not a shtako pile as some people mistakenly think, but a the good gardener, taking care of his crops by fertilizing them, watering them and removing all weeds and dried leaves and twigs and weak and sick plants. Just like the Great French Revolution removed degenerated nobility by cutting them down by guillotine."

Marcel grinned devilishly and asked casually: "I thought that cats have more practical approach to gardening, like using flower pots as their outhouses, which, by the way arouses a question - who is responsible for changing kitty litter in the lovely little combo of the Le Compt de Frou Frou and you?"

Supreme Commander Atticus Batman said from the Batman Bunker's morgue, " ...So now is where you bite my head off as usual, before you finally tell me what you think of my choices. Then you either pick one that you agree with, or advise me of what options you see that I do not, which you have proven to be so good at which is why you are part of the Command Triad. Then we go from there."

In the Command Center, Commander Sandy Bell-Uljanov sighed as her eyes narrowed as she thought about what he said, regretting that she was coming off as a termagant to him rather than a trusted adviser but given their past history maybe it was inevitable, so merely replied, "Off hand, I have to agree that those are our only options and choice number three is the best of the lot. Captain Oenfer and Chief Security Officer Lebeau are both very competent officers and have shown many times that they can run the command center both effectively and efficiently. Furthermore Colonel Jameson is a great choice for a military adviser just in case the Volge break the peace."

Sandy took a deep breath knowing Atticus would probably disagree with what she was about to say but feeling it was her duty to say it anyhow said, "But about the EGO psyche away-team I do have one reservation: Kabule. I have full confidence that Sarge will be an excellent team leader but I have doubts that even he can keep Kabule from going from 'wild card' to 'loose canon'. Plus I'm not sure we need a wild card on the team at all. They are going into Belle's mind and, for the sake of argument let's say she isn't dead, Kabule can do an awful lot of damage there if he acts unfettered. Just saying!"

"Of course sir, it's you decision," Remarked Sandy resigned to the fact that Atticus probably wouldn't listen to her advice. "I'll report to the Batman Bunker sir just as soon as I'm relieved of duty by Kaj and Remy."

Back in the bunker's morgue where' Belle's stasis pod was located, Lady Christianna put a small chalk white hand on his large forearm looking up a him with big pink eyes whispering, "Be nice. Means well."

Lady then volunteered with an enigmatic smile jabbing a small thumb at her chest, "Micfi my niece, my problem!" With a quick kiss for her husband she promptly left for the holo-suite where Micfi Newlo was enjoying the virtual picnic.

Shortly after notifying her lover and criminal partner Marcel Lestrange through their private EGO channel of what occurred and what was occurring in Fortress Kshaa, Lena Marr whistled as she worked in Atticus' armory taking pictures of his more unusual one-of-a-kind weapons with a miniature camera when she was on her infrequent breaks from cobbling up the device that would link them into Belle's dream machine.

Meanwhile in the rocky area north of the Batman Bunker and Fortress K'shaa, Marcel looked up at the feline Synth Sister lounging atop a boulder watching the immobile Volge horde as he grinned devilishly and asked casually, "I thought that cats have more practical approach to gardening, like using flower pots as their outhouses, which, by the way arouses a question - who is responsible for changing kitty litter in the lovely little combo of the Le Compt de Frou Frou and you?"

Brooke's yellow cat-like eyes flashed angrily before she then grinned back at him showing her many sharp teeth before answering, "Mercenary, you do know how to rub my fur the wrong way. However to do away with any misconception you may have, I am no more a cat than I am a human. I am truly unique as is the Count. You on the other hand like your Castithan bitch are a dime a dozen. However, cats and I do have one thing in common: we don't shit where we sleep. You on the other hand gladly take you shatko into bed with you every night!"

 Sandy took a deep breath knowing Atticus would probably disagree with what she was about to say but feeling it was her duty to say it anyhow said, "But about the EGO psyche away-team I do have one reservation: Kabule. I have full confidence that Sarge will be an excellent team leader but I have doubts that even he can keep Kabule from going from 'wild card' to 'loose canon'. Plus I'm not sure we need a wild card on the team at all. They are going into Belle's mind and, for the sake of argument let's say she isn't dead, Kabule can do an awful lot of damage there if he acts unfettered. Just saying!"

  "Of course sir, it's you decision," Remarked Sandy resigned to the fact that Atticus probably wouldn't listen to her advice. "I'll report to the Batman Bunker sir just as soon as I'm relieved of duty by Kaj and Remy."

  Back in the bunker's morgue where' Belle's stasis pod was located, Lady Christianna put a small chalk white hand on his large forearm looking up a him with big pink eyes whispering, "Be nice. Means well."

  Lady then volunteered with an enigmatic smile jabbing a small thumb at her chest, "Micfi my niece, my problem!" With a quick kiss for her husband she promptly left for the holo-suite where Micfi Newlo was enjoying the virtual picnic.

  I nodded at Lady and replied with, "I do not like being nice unless it's to you and the children, but will try. Now if you don't want or need Atika's help with Micfi and the twins, go ahead and notify her that she is free to go with Jalina and Volodja if they haven't already left. I am sure she will get as much out of that trip as Jalina will."

  After Lady lifted my helm and gave me the kiss and left, I replied to Sandy via EGO saying, "Sandy normally I would agree with you about Kabule. However Sarge will have to very important things on his side to keep Kabule from going too far off the rails, that didn't exist long ago. That is of course this new-found affection that Kabule has developed for others. From what I understand, even though he is still a fucktard and always will be, he actually treats the main team's EGOs decently and does seem to genuinely be trying to make friends for the first time.Then more importantly are the close sibling relationship that he and Dinara have and, according to Kakusi, Kabule actually listens to what she has to say and usually agrees to it even if it is very reluctantly. Then there is the fact that he seems to have feelings for Hope and according to Dinara and Kakusi, Kabule is trying his best to keep her from hating him like most people do. So to keep Dinara and Hope from hating him or being extremely upset with him, I believe he will stay with the group....Besides since they will be with Sigmund as well, this will be a way for Sigmund and Wolfram to observe how Kabule interacts with others and especially Hope, without Kabule feeling like all eyes are on him.

  Besides if Belle is alive and sees Kabule, she may leave the dream-machine just so he can't haunt her dreams. Of course that means she may deck me as soon as she wakes up for sending Kabule as part of her wake-up party, but I can live with that if it means getting her back....There is also the fact that if I don't willingly send Kabule to watch Dinara's and Hope's backs, I am certain he will try to find a way to hack into the device and go to protect them without our approval or knowledge. So it is better to willingly send him. Besides Kakusi and I will be acting as his and Dinara's EGOs, so Kafool will have me yelling in his head for once. However I will also stipulate that Kabule is to hand his weapons over to Sarge. That way Sarge can decide when Kabule will be allowed to be armed, and I am guessing that, since Hope is Lena's EGO psyche, Hope will happily give Kabule a pat-down or strip search before the team heads out to make sure he is truly unarmed, if Sarge requests it. Besides we can stipulate to Kabule that this is the best way for him to have a chance at earning back some of the freedom that he has grown accustomed to over the last year, sort of a work-release program, if you will."

---

  Meanwhile in the Holo-suites, after Lady gave Atika the go-ahead to join Volodja's team, if they haven't left yet, Atika smiled and replied to Lady with, "Oooh a field-trip where I may not have to kick somebody's arse! Thank you Lady! If you want me to bring anything back for you, just tell me what and I will do so!"

  After Lady responded to the excited young Irathient, Atika sent Volodja an EGO message saying, "Commander Volo! I was just given permission to join your group if you haven't left yet!"

  Then while waiting for Volodja's response, Atika pulled out her hailer and contacted Jalina's. Since it went straight to voicemail, Atika left her a message saying, "Jalina! I just got permission to go with you if your father says it is O.K. and if you haven't left yet! Isn't that great?!....However as your best friend, I would NEVER want to interfere with your daddy-daughter time! So I will only go if you want me to. After all I never had a chance to know my father, and as your best friend I want you to have that privileged opportunity and would NEVER do anything to harm your relationship with your daddy! So if I am intruding then please just say so....although I would really love to go with you! Besides I heard some of the best vendors in Paradise setup at Shondu's Consulate regularly, so if time and your father permit it, then you and I can do some shopping together after Commander Volo is done with his important meeting of course!"

---

  Outside of the Fortress's fence, Attila was listening to the developing squabble between Marcel and Brooke. However instead of saying anything like he wanted to, Attila isteand smartly ignored it and focused on his surveillance task while he updated Sandy on the fact that the Volge were still doing their best statue impressions, choosing not to bother his commanding officers with the petty squabbling between Brooke and Marcel yet.

  As Sandy got Attila's report, Kaj came back into the War Room as she had requested. Shortly after Remy Lebeau and Colonel Jameson walked in to see why Commander Belle-Uljanov had requested they both report to her in the War Room right away.