The Rescuing

  I snapped, "This better NOT be ANOTHER daking Lady Synth or I will consider it an act of war on my family and I WILL personally go destroy their daking All-father and everyone of them that tries to interfere!"

  Sandy chimed in with, "Prime Commander, need I remind you that you need to calm down and we need to at least hear them out BEFORE you go off half-cocked? If it is a Synth we will deal with it then. However if it is your wife, then you need to have a peaceful conversation with Ruby to hear her out. So we do have a chance at getting Lady back unharmed and without a battle."

  I glared back at Sandy before replying gruffly with, "Half-cocked? We both know I am already close to going out there primed and ready to explode. However, you are daking right of course, but it still doesn't change that I will NOT tolerate them trying to replace my wife with another daking synth!.. Commander Bell-Uljanov, contact Volodja and fill him in on everything up to this point and tell him we need him to be present for this 'peaceful' meeting since you are right that we can not currently handle it my way, in the daking mood that I am in!....and perhaps you should have Volodja bring Doctor Von Eschen and Doctor Orion with him as well."

  Then I took a deep breathe and said to Officer Gish, "Gish give them clearance to land in the clearing right outside of the compound. Also tell Ruby that: 'Until we get this all sorted out we will take rollers and meet them outside the gate. As a sign of good faith, since I really do like her and her sisters, I will leave all my guns and throwing knives in the War Room Witch will leave armed with my Amakune as I woon't give it up or go completely unarmed, and the Commanders Uljanov will only carry their sidearms, but our parameter Security will stay at their posts, continue to follow protocol and stay fully armed and at the ready in case something goes sideways.'

  However...if this Lady proves to be yet another impostor then even with only my blade, I WILL make them regret that deception! Not that I Will even need that."

  I also bellowed, "Chief Lebeau make sure all security measures are prepared. Notify Tash Yar to keep the Vigilance prepped in case it needs launched. Also notify Captain Oenfer and the Dauntless Adventure's crew to re-board the ship just in case we need it airborne as well."

  Then glancing back at Sandy I took another deep breath as I rubbed my suddenly painful head, over my helmet. Then I said, "Dak...Gish hold that message. Alright Commander Bell-Uljanov I recognize that look and do know this is where I should be discussing things with my Commander of Tactics-and-logistics and whatever-the-hell-else-titles Erika had and you now have. So out with the advice already. IF you think we better alter my message, then make it quick. I have already shown a lot more patience for their 'games' than I am known for and with it being Lady that we are talking about, I can NOT guarantee I will stay 'patient and calm' for much longer."

 "Is this man bothering you?" asked Aunt Agatha who joined them uninvited because her private picnic was over but who still felt hungry and discovered an opportunity to satisfy her appetite as a neurovore who feeds on Volodja's nerves as a dessert. "I know how annoying Volodja can be and suspect that he does it on purpose."

  As he checked the food and admired Atika as she, Micfi and Kellina played with the beach ball, Attila responded with, "Honestly it doesn't bother me. I may be what the staff around here call a S.T.E.M. Kid (science, technology, engineering, math). However my Tiky is definitely a history and linguistics type of girl. So I am used to it. Besides Volo's history lessons do give me something to tell her that she will be interested in.

  However I do know our Prime Commander would probably agree with you. He is always saying stuff like; 'Volodja's daking history lessons are Daking useless and boring, unless the goal is to cause your opponent to die of extreme boredom.'

. However in the time Atika and I have been here, I have also witnessed Atticus come up with plans based on one of those 'boring and useless' lectures. So there is some good and useful information in everything Volo says. You just need to decipher it. I am sure Volo, Doctor Von Eschen or even my sister may have some sort of quote about the best lessons must be sought out and can't just be given.  I however don't know them. I just know that what does not kill you makes you stronger. Our adoptive father also liked to say, 'Do or do not. There is no try."

  Sandy held both hands out palms forward saying, "No, no, I agree entirely with you. We go in peace but if the bastards want war, we give it to 'em. Lets go check out the Synth ship and see what's what. I remember Ruby as a straight shooter - let's hope she still is."

  I replied to Sandy with, "Exactly. Glad we are on the same page for once. We will try to honor the peace for now, but if they start it, then we aren't at fault for fighting back. Officer Gish send the message. Chief Lebeau have the garage prep two Security rollers for us. Sandy you will go with me in the first roller. So notify Volodja that there is a security roller reserved for him and that he, Wolfram and Orion are to meet us near the Synth ship A.S.A.P. Also I won't object if he chooses to bring one or both of the Constantines with him since he will have two noncoms with him to protect. That is his call just remind him that I agreed that he would only have a sidearm. However the Coonstantines would be with him as security. So Lebeau if they do tag along with Volodja's team, then they are to be given Security caps and told to wear them while accompanying Commander Uljanov's roller, which means they can be fully armed as per my message that my Security would still be fully armed as is protocol."

  As Officer Gish sent the message, Chief Lebeau said, "Aye Commandant an whatabout the weapons dat be kept in de Security Rollers?"

  I responded with, "Leave them in the rollers, I said MY guns and throwing knives would be left in the War Room. I said nothing of the weapons we keep secured in the Security rollers. So it is not a lie and I did say our security was still going to follow protocol, which means we keep them in the rollers as protocol dictates. It is just a bonus that it means I will still have a gun nearby if needed. Although I do hope that Sandy continues to be right, as she usually is,  and that Ruby is shooting straight with us, so they won't be needed."

  As I got out of the Roller I quietly said to Sandy and Security Chief Lebeau (who insisted on accompanying us as our security escort), although it was quite possible that I was mainly saying it to remind myself, "Remember to keep it peaceful for now as we did welcome Ruby as one of us and Lady is one of us....provided Ruby is being truthful and this is Lady which for Ruby's sake she better be. So a peaceful conversation between friends unless proven otherwise. I just hope Volodja's team isn't far behind. He and the old goat are the negotiators, not me. Not to mention Orion's medical expetise expertise may also be needed."

  As the rollers parked and those inside dismounted, Lady waved shyly from the hip to her husband and her friends. All present were unsure how to proceed. Numerous questions came to the minds of those present. Was it a reunion or a negotiation? Were those there actually who they appeared to be? Should one's demeanor be passive or aggressive? Were those present hostile or friendly? It soon became clear that everyone would have to play it by ear. However, the immediate concern was now who would act first.

  Lady appeared to take the initiative and shouted "Hela," to her friends and husband.

  As I stoically approached the two women, with just my sword still sheathed by my side as promised, I nodded at Ruby. Then I said lovingly to Lady, hopeful she is the real Lady and can catch onto my subtle hints that I need her to confirm it in a way that she could, but hopefully a synthetic copy could not, "Hela back at you my Christianna."

  Then I said to Ruby, "If this were under better circumstances it would be great to see you but the last day or so has been trying what with Volge incursions, personel issues, rescuing your crashed sisters and a rather unpleasant encounter with the synth copies of Lady and myself that were with them. So I do hope for our continued friendship, since we do all consider you snd your sisters family, that you are not trying any other deceptions concerning Lady and myself at the moment. Now is my wife free to come stand by me, or is there something else that we need to discuss before I am allowed to hold my wife and make sure she is alright?"

  As I held an arm out so Lady could come to me and my embrace, if Ruby doesn't stop her, I said to Lady, "So my angel, Christianna, are you ready to come back home to me and our THREE children?"

As I wrapped my arm around Lady, I said to Ruby, "Or perhaps your intel is outdated. Besides as the Prime Commander I have come to realize we are all a family. So in a sense I have a lot of kids to take care of....or in the case of my personel issues earlier, plenty of grown adults who act like spoiled little children.

Anyway there will be tests and if I find out that your hurt even one hair on Lady's pretty little head, then I will..."

Lady squeezed me lovingly and mumbled, "S'okay."

I squeezed back and continued with, "You probably don't want to know anyway."

Chief Lebeau replied, "Relax Commandant. I say we get this straightened out, make sure Lady be fine, then..."

I cut him off with, "If you say let the good times roll then it will be your head rolling."

Remy said, "Okay den I won' say'id. I am wonderin sumthin though."

I said, "what is that?"

He said, "we been hearin reports of UFOs. Dis closk ship could fit. Only one missin person be linked to de reports so..."

Just then Volo's team arrived so I cut off Remmy, and seeing Atilla wss with Volo and the doctors (Atika staying with Micfi per my original orders), I said, "Atilla and Doctor Orion you are with me and Lady so get in roller. Lebeau you are with the Uljanovs and Von Eschen. So you and they can ask Ruby all the questions you want while Lady and I are in the infirmary. After Lady Atilla Orion and I got in the Roller we headed back to the base so Orion could give Lady a check up before she sees the twins and Micfi.

As I started our roller, Remy said to Ruby, "Shall we all go to a comfortable conference room den? Anyway what I be wonderin is are you also responsible for Miss Starr's reported abduction?"

Marcel Lestrange's steely eyes inspected arriving people as he was a drill sergeant looking for signs of any kind of misconduct and as usual in situations like this he found what he was looking for. Sigmund was trapped into his dispute with his host Wolfram von Eschen so he forgot to place himself into Wolfram's head and walked by his side wearing a striped bath suit and a straw hat which were fashionable by 1920-s standards for sure but now they were literally screaming: "We are outdated and damn proud of it!" No wonder he caught Marcel's eye. 



"What is with the suit?" Marcel politely asked, thus ending the seemingly never ending argument between two psychiatrists.

"Oh that..." replied Sigmund. "We had a small beach party."

"Nice to hear that while we were absent and were fighting for our lives someone had a beach party. Probably it was organised to celebrate our absence," said Marcel to Lena. "And as soon as we return covered with blood, sweat and dust, they call the whole thing off. No rest and play for us as usual. It is a hard knock life for us indeed."

He was loud enough so others could hear him and probably did it on purpose. Meanwhile the other conversation evolved on the other side. Aunt Agatha and unfortunate Volodja Uljanov were engaged in discussion of their own: 

"For the seventeenth time, I explain you that you can't come with us, aunt," said Volodja. "I know that I am your probation officer, but you must understand that you are also in the home detention which means that you are staying here while I am on an assignment. I do have other duties as well."

"What could be more important than looking out for your aunt?" asked Aunt Agatha sincerely. "I remember quite well that the sheriff put you on this duty!"

Volodja sighed. Some people really believe that the whole planetary system revolves around them and his aunt seemed to be one of those people while he seemed to be the prophet who wasn't truly accepted by his home town. Or at least by his relatives. Or at least by one elderly aunt of his...