Woke up this morning to find both Olivia and myself sprawled in Alfred's bed. Someone had undressed us both and tucked us in. Looking around; there was poor Alfred, Overlord of the sofa, snoring away. He must have heard us, 'cuz something woke him. He picked up the phone and said, "Yeah, they're awake."

                Charlie came in looking very clean, in a hotel bathrobe. He went to the bed and 'touched' both of us and instantly we felt better, but boy! did we have to pee! Fortunately Overlords rate two bathrooms so we didn't have to fight over who went first.

                When we returned from the bathroom, Charlie was gone. I asked, "What time is it?" Alfred answered, "7:30." Wow, four whole hours of sleep! The phone rang - Alfred grumbled and answered it, "OK, send it up." Olivia sat down next to him, "Breakfast, oh Great One?"

                "No, some of Caesar's go-juice. I think we're all going to need it."

                Armani came thru the door and I said, "Armani! Are you okay? Caesar told us what happened, we were worried." He seemed a little taken aback and Olivia said, "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" Well, that just tickled us! When we'd finished laughing he said, "I have a name, you know."

                "I'm sorry, you never offered it. But we should've asked. What is your name?" He shook his head and said, "Phillips."

                "Well then, Phillips, are you feeling okay? Is there anything we can do for you?" I gestured for him to be seated.

                He took the chair and said, "Yes, I'm fine, thank you. It was touch and go for awhile. I took an AK-47 burst to the chest. Fortunately only two rounds hit anything vital. But I reached a member of the Clergy in time." I asked him, "Have you gotten any sleep? We have a pitcher of that potion, would you like some?"

                "No, thank you, I've had plenty, but that does remind me," he handed Olivia the recipe for the potion. Then he told us some of what had been going on all night.

                There had been fires burning all night, some still going. The Police and the Overlord's guards had all gone running off to 'do their own things' and a group of refugees from a camp north of town had taken the opportunity to overrun Fremont Street looking for food and attacking the traders. On their way in and out they'd done quite a bit of looting and vandalism. "If it hadn't been for the Lucky Duck crew, who knows what they might have done."

                He told us that Lucky Duck managed to stop most of the riot and in so doing had used almost all their ammunition. "They went through all of their recoilless ammo, almost all of their .50 cal ammo, and most of their grenades. The area around their set-up is covered with spent shells, thousands of bodies and a river of blood."

                Olivia turned on the news. Alfred said, "I was watching that all night long, I've seen enough, I'm going to shower." The reporter was at Fremont and showed what Armani (Phillips) had described plus some buildings that looked to be in danger of collapsing, fires still burning and a front-loader scooping bodies into a trash truck.

                Olivia suggested that I call Thomas from the Temple and see about creating some food for the people still in that camp. I said, "Good idea. I'll call him, you call the two Priests of Crom and I'm sure Morag will help." Just then the news cut to the refugee camp. There were two Overlords and some armed guards. The guards would bring individuals to the Overlords who would give them a 'choice' to tell the truth about who had done what last night and then submit to the Overlords or to refuse and be sent into the desert. A family was brought forward and the mother said, "We have no choice, my children need food. I submit."

                Malcolm had come into the room in a robe toweling his hair; he snapped the TV off and shook his head, "Christ. That looks like a Nazi Concentration Camp. 'You live, you die. You work, you we use for experiments.'"

                He pointed at me and said, "We're already doing this at Home. I didn't know about the thousands of refugees camped outside of Cortez." We told him that we didn't either, we had been just a surprised.

                He shook his head and sounded so-o-o tired, "We have got to come to some kind of conclusion today."

                Olivia told him how we'd seen Jesse praying for guidance last night. Malcolm said, "I prayed too, but got no answer. It's going to fall to the four of us today. Ventura has the military power that we need. Kansas has the food that we need." I told him that I was confident that they would do the right thing today.

                Olivia changed the subject, "In the mean time, we all have a lot to do today, so we'd better get some breakfast." We all agreed and as we were eating I told the group about the plan to gather as many clerics as possible and go to the refugee camp to see about getting them some food. Morag agreed to accompany us (I knew he would.) Then I spoiled my big 'surprise' and told them that in a few more hours there would be some more food available.

                As she was eating, Olivia suddenly jumped, as if someone had goosed her and said, "Alfred, those people being sorted out in that camp. Isn't that your Domain?" That stopped everyone in mid-chew!

                Alfred bellowed for a phone and called Lucifer. He asked him if he had sent those two Overlords up to the camp. He certainly did not! So Alfred asked him to meet us there in 15 minutes.

                Olivia got a phone and called the combined war Temples. None of the clergy was there; they were all down at Fremont. The Priest of the Reformed Temple answered, but had to decline his assistance. He had nothing left after healing the injured all night. But he did suggest that the 'Human Overlords' make themselves as visible as possible today.

                I got a phone and called Thomas. He told me that the Temple had been attacked last night. I assumed it was by Orcs, but he said it had been humans - humans with an "understandable fear of all things non-human". He said that he and some Temple members had been able to defend the Temple but he had no power left to assist us. I thanked him and told him I would be there as soon as I could to help.

                Then I called Dallas and passed on the suggestion from the Priest of Crom. He said that he couldn't do much since it's not his Domain, but he would see what he could do.

                On the way to the Temples Olivia and I discussed the three wands of healing we have and decided to leave the two with the most energy left in them with our respective Temples. Our driver interrupted us, saying, "Excuse me ladies, but you should turn on your TV back there. Lord Bellagio is making an address."

                We saw Dallas in a suit and wearing his armored duster, looking pretty drained saying, "…a special announcement. I am sending a crew to meet the Overlords of the Excalibur and the Venetian as they visit a troubled area of our city. Please stay tuned for this important broadcast. And I ask you all, even though it is not my place to do so, I urge you all to maintain the peace. As a fellow citizen of Las Vegas, I beg you all to just chill for a few hours. Thank you."

                Our first stop was the Temple of Corellon. Thomas had the wounded spread out on the lawn, and he and his acolytes were working frantically to help them using mundane medicines. I asked him if any were seriously injured and he assured me that the serious injuries had all been taken care of. I noticed that among the wounded were Elves, Humans and a few Orcs. Thomas rushed to assure me that they were 'okay' - they even attended services! I told him, "That's fine. We have some back at the House, also. Not members of the Temple, but if they mean me no harm, I mean them no harm."

                Then I gave him the healing wand and explained how it worked. He accepted it with thanks and then said, "I have underestimated the place you hold in His heart. Can you forgive me." I was confused and said, "Olivia made the wand, I'm just giving it to you." He said, "That's not what I meant. I misunderstood you and your work. I ask your forgiveness." I took him by the hand and told him there were many more important things to worry about. He nodded and said, "If the bride and groom are amenable, I think the wedding should go on as planned." We all agreed and said we'd be back. I hated to leave him there, but we were still needed at the refugee camp.

                Lucifer was waiting for us when we arrived, as was Dallas' news crew. Alfred pulled himself up to his full height and barked at the two Overlords, "What the Hell do you think you're doing?" They started to pitch attitude, but that changed real fast when they saw the camera crews.

                Lucifer came to stand beside Alfred and said, "Are you vying for our Domains?" The two tigers were silent, but they looked down and their tails assumed a submissive posture. Lucifer pulled his lips back and flashed his teeth. "Return to the city at once," Lucifer said, "You will be bought to Caesar's attention." The tigers beat a hasty retreat for their cars, but refused to get in them and leave.

                Alfred walked over to the armed guards and ordered them to put their weapons down. He turned and addressed the crowd; "I am Alfred, Overlord of the Excalibur. Citizenship is my Domain. If you wish to settle in Vegas, you talk to me. Now, who here is interested?"

                Everyone raised their hands.

                "Very well, who here has a job?"

                A few raised their hands.

                "I see, you may all come up here. Now, who was a place to live, other than here?"

                A few more raised hands.

                "Good, you may come up here, also. As for the rest of you. If you can find a place to live and a place to work, you may stay in Vegas. In the meantime, you may stay here in this camp. When you have met the requirements you may come see me. But I expect you to find those two things first." Then he chastised the guards in front of everyone and told them that they were going to be watched very carefully.

                Olivia asked Alfred to inquire about injuries. Alfred had the injured brought forward and she, Morag and I set about triaging them and seeing to the most serious.

                Lucifer went further and challenged the guards; "I don't recall giving orders to suppress a rebellion. You are not Police or Military; you are the personal retainers of those two wretched Overlords. You will kneel and swear fealty to me or face the consequences." Some knelt immediately and Lucifer gave them orders to see to the well being of the people in the camp.

                The ones who refused were pulled aside and Lucifer whammied them and ordered them to shoot each other. Then he turned to the two tigers, "We charge you with sedition. You will answer to Caesar."

                Lucifer turned directly to the camera and asked Las Vegas Hilton to send some retainers to arrest and hold them for trial.

                Alfred spotted something towards the center of the camp that looked like some common buildings and we headed for them. We were cleaning one of them when some trucks drove up. It was the Kansas Coalition; Dean, Eric and their General. They saw us and Eric made the introductions. The General bowed to Olivia and said, "Madame Vizier, the Kansas Coalition joins you in your humanitarian efforts."

                His men started unloaded the trucks; they had bags of corn, rice and even flour! Warm loaves of bread and a few buckets of butter! We thanked them and started passing out the food. While we did that, the General turned to address the refugees. He offered them a place in Kansas in return for their labors. Someone in the crowd yelled out, "What about the President?"

                The General said, "Oh, he's welcome to come farm with us, too." The people actually laughed! I heard Dallas whispering to one of his people, "And there is our sound-bite of the day! I want it running on all the news promo spots between now and the 5:00. Move!" The kid took off on a motorcycle, racing for town .Olivia asked me if we had seen any of Jesse's people yet today. I thought about it, but I hadn't either.

                Once the building was clean Olivia, Morag and I called upon our Gods to grant us Power and we Created table after table full of food.

                When we could do no more, Alfred reminded us that it was time for us to get going. Olivia found a group of people who looked fairly competent and asked if they were the ones in charge. A woman shook her head and said, "The ones who'd been 'in charge' got a mob all riled up last night and they went storming into town. I imagine they're all dead now." Olivia gave her the other Healing wand and explained how to use it.

                The woman accepted it with tears in her eyes; "This is the first time in over a year that someone has cared what happens to any of us." We assured them that we'd be back before we left town. I told them that they really should consider the offer from Kansas. Olivia nodded and said, "They're good people."

                Alfred escorted us back to the car and the driver took us to the Temple. Thomas showed us to a room where we could clean up and change. He told us that he'd been watching the news, and the populace was really very impressed with how we'd handled the situation at the camp.

                He unlocked a cabinet to get us some soap and shampoo. He asked us if we would replace it and lock the cabinet when we were done. Olivia asked him if he had a couple of empty jars or jugs. He looked puzzled and said he could find some. When he came back with them Olivia did that spell of hers and duplicated the items, one jug full of soap and another of shampoo. Thomas was so happy! Then he asked if she could do that again and came back with an almost empty bottle of something and another empty jug.

                "What is it?" Olivia asked. "Phisohex." And when we looked stupid he said, "Surgical soap."

                "Oh!" so she conjured up a jug full of that for him, too.

                Just then Vesta showed up, so we showered and dressed. Then Olivia and I took care of getting Vesta ready. Somebody (Armani?) had a bottle of chilled champagne sent in for us. We took care of that, too.

                Cordy came in with a camera and took a bunch of pictures. She told us the place was chock full of VIP's so we peeked out. Caesar, Binion and Lucifer were all there, sans attitude! Dallas was there looking quite dapper in a very nice suit and his green gal was actually wearing something that covered most of her. The SDN Elders were there, looking patient and inscrutable. General Hoyle was there in full uniform with a fresh buzz-cut - Dean and Eric were with him. Jesse was there with his family (all Klingon!) and Malcolm was sitting with the rest of our group. Leo was in full dress uniform sitting next to Debbie - and neither looked to damn happy about it! Connors was next to Debbie; I didn't envy her trying to keep the peace there.

                Then Thomas signaled that it was time to begin. We processed to some sprightly harp music, until finally we were at the alter tree. Thomas kept things brief but did make a reference to the unrest, "They have taught us that one should weigh ALL the consequences before taking an action. (I wish I could have seen how Jesse took that!) Vesta and Michael have been wise in their considerations and we pray to all of our Gods that all couples should have such insight."

                He gestured to me, "And now my fellow Cleric, Jacinta, Priestess of Corellon has a Blessing for the couple."

                I tried to ignore the TV cameras so they wouldn't make me nervous, stood before my friends and said, "My Blessing for this couple is simple. May Corellon be always kind and generous to them and those around them. And as a sample of His generosity He gives His gift of life. May those of greatest need partake of this gift and in their hearts remember these two people, Vesta and Michael. For in their name this gift is given by Corellon." And as I had arranged with Dallas, the TV's cut to the five lots I had planted yesterday. There were already people there lined up for the food, just waiting for it to finish growing. And each lot had some of Lucifer's men there to make sure it was distributed fairly.

                Thomas pronounced his final Blessing and finished with the traditional presentation of the couple. But just as Vesta and Michael turned to face the assembled there were loud 'thumps' outside and the windows shattered. Then the blasts of concussion grenades rocked the inside of the temple.

                Some of the people towards the back of the temple were stunned or knocked out by the flash-bangs. But everyone towards the front turned to see what was happening just as the doors were kicked in. And thru them came Queen Melissa followed by at least seven Scro and they were all armed with shotguns. Into the stunned silence Melissa said, "I'm here to give you all your pink slips! Downsize 'em, boys!"

                I believe the only rational thought I had was that none of us were wearing any armor or had our weapons. Then there was no rational thought.

                I was outraged that those Gods-forsaken monsters dared to intrude into the House of Corellon. I stepped forward and pulled on all my power to create a beam of searing light that I directed straight at Melissa. I heard her screaming and when the Power faded I saw that she was burned black. She started to fall to the floor but managed to bring her shotgun to bear on me. She screeched, "You bitch!" and opened fire.

                The next thing I remembered was opening my eyes to see Morag and Alfred standing over me. Alfred tried to get me to stay down but I had to see what was going on.

                I turned over and saw that someone (Olivia) had created a wall of ice with the Scro behind it; actually one was frozen into it.

                Jesse and Leo were closing on the wall with their hand weapons drawn. They were joined by a group of security people who'd also been inside when the attack started. Jesse emptied his clip into one spot in the wall and blew a hole thru it. Connors had wrestled the shotgun from the frozen one and shoved the barrel into the opening and opened fire at the Scro behind the ice. She dropped a couple more of them.

                But by then, the Scro were firing at the wall and it was about to give way when one of the Scro made the mistake of making eye contact with Caesar. Caesar put the whammy on him and told him to kill the rest. He did and turned back to report, "They're all dead, sir."

                "And so are you," said Leo, and he put his .45 in the opening and fired. Olivia 'dismissed' the wall and the Scro fell to the floor. Dallas ordered the assembled security to get the bodies out of the Temple.

                Caesar ordered his men to search Melissa and handcuff her. "Then take her to Las Vegas Hilton, where she will be given a swift trial followed by a first class crucifixion."

                They searched her, cuffed her, and were dragging her out when she started yelling, "I am replaceable, we all are. The Corporation will continue! We are unstoppable!"

                I yelled at her to shut up but she just started to repeat it all over again. I couldn't stand it - I got up, shook of whoever it was who tried to stop me and when I got to her, I kicked her. As hard as I could, I kicked her. Because of the way they were carrying her, the only spot I could connect with was her chest. I think I heard something snap and then my shoe got stuck in something gooey, and I felt ribs against my ankle. I yanked my foot back out, trying not to look at the stuff that was plopping onto the Temple floor. She gasped once or twice and died.

                "Oh darn," Caesar said, "There goes the trial." The guards hauled her out before she made the mess worse.

                I took a few breaths, kicked off my shoes, and turned back to see who else might have been hurt. I saw Olivia checking on her family. She was helping Debbie and Cordy up off the floor. Debbie appeared to be bleeding from the nose. She told Olivia that it had happened right after the doors were kicked in. Leo had shoved both her and Cordelia down out of the line of fire. Cordy said, "That's right and my head hit her nose, we're both fine." Jennifer was sitting on the floor looking dazed. She had some blood on her but none of it looked like hers. Cordy joined Olias who was helping Thomas with the wounded. Olivia joined Morag and I with healing the more serious injuries. That's when I noticed that she, too, was bleeding. She caught some of the same blast I did. She said that when we were done with the rest she would heal herself. She reminded me to do the same, but I couldn't. These people had been injured due to my rash action. I spent all the power I had healing them.

                Most of the dead and injured were security people who had stepped in front of their primaries to defend them. But some of the dead were Temple members,, who had come to witness the wedding. Thomas told me that he would see to them and Olias said he would help. I was stricken when I saw Dean from the Kansas Coalition was dead. I told Eric and General Hoyle how awful I felt about it. The General said that he died honorably, in the line of duty, the way he would have wanted. He would be returned home, to a hero's funeral.

                When we had a moment to think, we noticed that poor Vesta looked like she was about to faint. Olivia and I took her aside and sent Alfred to retrieve what was left on the champagne - she looked like she needed it. Even though she's always been a tomboy and the wedding was mostly a PR piece for the Temple, she had been looking at it as her chance to have a frilly, fairy-tale princess ceremony. Her dream wedding, shot to Hell by an Orc bitch in Donna Karen.

                "Some wedding, huh?" she tried to joke. "Instead of rice, we should throw bullets." We did our best to console her. Michael sat down next to her and they shared the remaining champagne. We gave them their privacy - although I'm sure I heard her saying that she felt like it was her fault that these people were dead. I made a note to check on her after we got the situation under control.

                Leo came back and reported that the security outside the Temple had been taken by surprise. Melissa and her boys had killed the driver bringing the wedding cake over from the Palace and commandeered his truck. The guards never considered that it might not be one of Caesar's people driving. There were more dead guards out front, most shot in the back, but they did take some of the Scro down with them.

                Caesar walked over and asked about the bride. Then he asked me, "Since you did us the favor of doing Melissa in, where would you like her head displayed?"

                "Outside the Temple she dared to attack." I said. I heard Olivia, Leo and Dallas murmur in agreement. "Very well," Caesar said, "It will be mounted on a post right outside for all to see."

                Olivia whispered to me, "Thomas said he wanted some publicity for Corellon."

                Malcolm and Caesar suggested we head to the Palace and let the security people clean up the Temple. Olivia and I insisted on changing into our street clothes. We wouldn't, couldn't stay in those bloody clothes a moment longer!

                At the Palace, Olivia and I were shown to a room and found some clerks from the shops waiting for us with some dresses to choose from; Caesar had called ahead. I had taken a shower and was doing my hair while Olivia showered when there was a knock at the door - it was Aristarkus! I made a face but Olivia told him to come in. He was embarrassed to find her in the shower and sat down looking anywhere but at the soaped-up naked Drow behind the glass.

                Olivia said, "So, what can we do for you? Did you come to see our scars?" "Of course not," he said, blushing. "I came to see how you're doing."

                Olivia shut off the water and stepped out. I tossed her a towel. "I've been better." She said as she dried herself.

                He seemed to be fighting for words and Olivia and I exchanged a look. Finally he found them, "I observed something and I wanted to ask you two about it." He stopped again. "And……?" I prompted.

                "There were other incidents with Ka, all at roughly the same time as the attack on the Temple."

                He told us that they had tried to take out a couple of hospitals with suicide bombers wielding propane bombs. Other than the would-be bombers, there'd been no fatalities - the hospitals are used to people trying to break in on supply raids and the entrances are well-designed kill zones. One group had tried to seize the TV station (or blow it up, they weren't sure which) and had killed 6 people before they'd been stopped. The most successful group was the one that broke into Jesse's quarters at the Palace. Three-quarters of his staff had been killed, along with four Secret Service agents.

                "They almost got me, too." He said. "Ah-hah!" I thought to myself. But he continued. "There was a housekeeper, a little Hispanic girl, making up the beds when the Ka burst into the room. She turned into an ET, a heavily armed one. And it had a body harness with recording devices on it, including a video camera."

                "An ET?" Olivia asked. That distracted him, "Yeah I guess, a little gray thing with big black eyes. Looked like it'd walked off the cover of a Whitley Streiber book."

                "Oh! A Gray." Olivia and I said.

                "If you insist. How did I not see it? I owe it my life. The Ka charged in and shot all the Secret Service men. I'd been on the sofa reading and I hit the floor. The 'Gray' had two of those neuro-guns and was standing over me shooting. Once they were all down, it tossed the guns at me and told me that this was my chance to be a hero. Then it ran off. When the cavalry showed up there I was, with recently fired weapons and a bunch of dead Ka terrorists."

                He started pacing. "I'm being hailed as a hero, but I was on the ground, cowering. Praying that when they found my body my underwear wouldn't be soiled. If I confess, then I will have to admit that this 'spy' had been in and out of the President's quarters since he arrived." He locked eyes with each of us and said, "He has a low tolerance threshold for failure these days."

                He finally looked at Olivia and said, "Your God values bravery - how does he feel about the admission of cowardice?" Olivia shook her head. "You saved yourself. Could you have done anything to help those agents? Were you even armed?"

                He stared at the floor again; "Way back when, Before, I had a button I liked to wear on my jacket. I never though much about it until now. It said, 'I am so terrified as to be beyond the capacity for rational thought'." He looked at me; "I was watching the wedding on TV. I was envious. The first thing you did was to stand up to them and attack."

                I snorted, "Yeah! And look what I did. I got people injured and killed." Olivia protested, "No. You did good, Jazz!"

                Aristarkus said, "And if you hadn't acted, those people would have been killed anyway. But you did something. I did nothing!"

                I asked him if he'd ever seen any combat. He said he hadn't. Olivia said, "There you go - we've had over a year of practice."

                I nodded and told him that if he hadn't any experience with combat Magic, self-preservation is the natural response. He asked us, "So, as Priestesses, what do you suggest?" Olivia smiled and said, "Some advice from Crom; Next time, do better."

                "But what about the Gray? How did I not See?" We told him that he was not at fault and that we can't see thru their disguises either. I said, "It's not magic. It's part of their genetic makeup. There was nothing there for you to detect. It was smart. It assumed the likeness of someone you didn't know, someone you would never look twice at, a servant. If you feel you must confess to Jesse go ahead, but tell him that there was no way you could have detected this thing."

                Olivia agreed and said, "And if he gives you shit about it, tell him to talk to us." That got a little smile, but he didn't look like he thought that would go over too well. He gave us a brief bow, said, "Thank you for your help," and left.

                Alfred came in to check on us. He asked, "What did Mr. Wizard want?" I said, "He's got a guilty conscience." Alfred accepted that at face value and went back out to the living room. He waited 'til we were ready and escorted us to the reception.

                The party had already started and was pretty subdued - at least 'til the liquor started to flow. Somebody wanted the band to play the 'Chicken Dance' song and got booed roundly. Dallas asked. "What about the Macarena?" I told him that if he did, I'd kill him. "Better people than you have tried," he said with a grin. "Yeah, but they didn't have that as a motivator." I said. He conceded the point in my favor.

                When things were going pretty well, Armani started to give the signal. Person by person, we snuck away. Caesar's house Mages were there to start up the illusion. We all met in a service hallway and slipped out the back way into some unmarked vans that took us to the Stratosphere.

                Once there, we went to one of the banquet rooms that wasn't exposed to the outside. There was a large table set up with markers for Malcolm, Jesse, General Hoyle, Caesar, the SDN Elders and even one for Olias as the 'representative' of New Ectopia. Behind them there were places for the 'support' people. It was pretty crowded with Connors, Dallas, Leo, Lucifer, Morag, Eric, Alfred, Olivia and I ranged out behind our respective 'leaders'. Aristarkus joined Jesse's other advisors and gave Olivia and I a nod.

                Caesar stood and said, "I don't propose that we stand on formalities. This is a business meeting and it will be conducted as such." Then he turned to Jesse and calmly said, "President Ventura, if you ever try this shit again in my city I will personally see you arrested and executed for fomenting insurrection. You came into this city as my guest and you reward my hospitality by endangering my children and getting my people killed. You de-stabilized a city that we have worked to build for over a year. And all so you could showboat? You need all of us more that we need you."

                There was a lot of nodding from the people at the table. General Hoyle stood and with a nod to Caesar said; "I concur. Mr. President, I don't trust you and I will not put Kansas under your jurisdiction. I have to agree with Thomas Jefferson who once said that a little revolution now and then is a good thing." He went on to say that amongst his concerns was that if things went back to the way they'd been Before, "…then, according to 14th amendment, those slimy green-skinned abominations will have the same rights as I do!"

                "Now I have no problems with you pointy-ears," he said, gesturing to Olivia, Alfred and myself, "But we've had nothing but trouble with those greenskins back home. They're nothing but scum and I'll not have anything to do with an alliance that includes them."

                Well that just warmed my heart! Someone who hates Orcs is A-OK in my book. I got up and went around the table to give that man a hug! "Miss," he said, "I'm married." "Oh that doesn't matter, when you delivered that food to the refugee camp this morning, I knew you were my kind of people, but you just cinched it!"

                Olivia said, "Just ignore her, sir. She's had a lot to drink and she was mostly dead earlier." "I was?" Alfred nodded and said, "Just mostly. But not entirely." Well. That gave me something to think about!

                Malcolm addressed Jesse. "Frankly Mr. President, I can't give up the Land, and I've been told that it's been explained to you why that's the way things are. And frankly, you're not worthy." He placed the Kingsword on the table, "But if you think you are, draw this sword. Survive its judgment, and the Kingdom is yours."

                Jesse looked around the table and said, "Look, I'm not entirely happy with the position I've been put in. I ran for President on a platform of government reform. I was going to cut spending and pursue a Libertarian Social agenda. This was not in the job description. But I swore an oath and I will carry it out to the best of my ability. I'd just as soon resign and set up a little farm back in what's left of Minnesota with my family. But I can't. I swore an oath. I gave my word. And I have never in my life backed away from my duty. I can't start now. "

                I spoke up, "We need to put all that aside. We are where we are. We have to focus on where we're going to go from here." Hoyle said, "No one here has the resources to fight a civil war."

                Olivia said, "And the people don't want that anyway."

                "What the people want is to go back to the ruled picking their rulers," Jesse said.

                Hoyle disagreed, "Kansas won't go for that," he looked at Caesar, "And I'm willing to bet that Vegas won't either."

                "I don't want to speak for them, but I'm pretty sure you can count out the SDN and New Ectopia," I said, and then looked to Olias and the Elders for confirmation.

                "Certainly not," Olias said. One of the Elders said, "Indeed, Mr. President, the more you try to force the issue, the more we will fight it. We have had enough of the Great White Father. We will trade with you, but we are and have always been sovereign nations. That will not change."

                Olivia said, "Yes General, Jefferson was right about those little revolutions. And after seeing Manzanar, I thinks it's time to have one of them."

                Hoyle was confused (as were most of the others) so we explained about Manzanar - the whole depressing truth, sans Charlie and Zaphod. When we finished Caesar said, "So you do remember more than 'it was hot and there was nothing to do'." Then he thought for a moment. "Are you telling me that…?"

                "That all the people that you and the other Overlords have gotten from Manzanar have been dead for a year?" I finished for him, "That's correct."

                Jesse was angry, "You said yourself that this started years and years ago, so how is it my fault?" Olivia said, "Not your fault, the government's fault."

                I said, "The very same government that you are trying to reestablish. And with all that has happened the people are not going to be willing to trust that government. No matter the rhetoric and promises. As for the assignment of blame, aren't you the one who ordered the attack on Charlie?"

                Things got a little more heated at that point. We finally had to have one of his people produce a copy of the report Leo's CO had turned in. After reviewing it again, Jesse told us that by the time Leo's report had made it to his desk it had been sifted down to reporting on one crazy loner in possession of a dangerous device. And on top of it, that crazy old loner was involved in the slave trade. Based on that report, Jesse decided a surgical strike was the best was to neutralize the threat Charlie presented. Unfortunately, they started at the wrong end of the base.

                Accusations started flying, tempers got hot, and Jesse got defensive. "A device that powerful is too dangerous to leave in the hands of one insane loner", he shouted at one point.

                Olivia and I spoke at the same time, "Gee, that sounds a lot like Mjolner."

                "Like what?" Asked Hoyle. I can see he's going to have a talk with his intelligence people when he gets home!

                So we told that story as well. The more detailed we got about orbital killer satellites, the more the Kansas group was nodding and saying, "Told you so" and "What have I been saying all along?", and "God, I wish Art Bell could hear this!". Unfortunately for Jesse, it played perfectly into the whole militia paranoia about government mind control.

                Jesse just sat there getting madder and madder. I was about expecting him to pull a betleH and start sending his advisors to apologize to their ancestors, but he kept it together until we finished. At that point he turned to his advisors and roared, "You told me that it had been destroyed with nuclear weapons!" They shit all over themselves trying to reassure him that they had given him their best information.

                I couldn't resist! I pointed to Olivia, "She made it go bye-bye."

                Jesse turned away from his advisors (some of whom looked ready to bolt at the earliest opportunity). "An infantile statement," he growled at me.

                "Using a magic amplifier, she used her innate abilities and reduced the item in question to its basest molecular components. Is that more to your liking?" I growled back. We snarled at each other without blinking for a long moment, then he said, "I think I want a second opinion." He turned to Aristarkus and asked if it was possible. I held my breath, but all Aristarkus said was "I am unaware of what Magic she used to do it. I am incapable of such a thing."

                Jesse turned to Olivia, "You got access to the machine and you used it." Olivia just smiled serenely and said, "We decided that that Mjolner needed to be taken out of the picture, yes."

                Jesse was steamed! It was Yosemite Sam time again. "You decided this. Are you aware that when you did that you also took out weather satellites as well as communication satellites? You completely disrupted what little communications are left in this country. " He turned to Aristarkus again, "And you have no idea what 'spell' could do this?"

                Aristarkus said very quietly, "None that I'm aware of." I'll give him this, he didn't back down or blink, and he kept his word. Maybe he's not such a dingleberry after all.

                Jesse turned on Olivia and I, "And I suppose that you two can be trusted now that you have the power?"

                Before we could answer, General Hoyle 'coughed' and asked, "May I inquire, what the Hell are you people talking about?!?"

                This was some major exposition. Jesse sat down and listened intently. I guess a lot of this was news to him - that whole "plausible deniability" thing. Olivia, Connors and I told the whole story going all the way back to the Nazis and ending up with Charlie and Zaphod and Jesse's attempt to destroy them and the last chance for the Dead of Manzanar. When we finished there was stunned silence in the room. Caesar finally broke it.

                He looked at Jesse and said, "Then I think we can conclude this meeting. I don't think any of us will go along with your plan for reunification. But I believe we are all reasonable and can agree on treaties and trade agreements. And I think we are of one mind regarding the need to find homes for those who have none."

                He paused to take in nods of agreement from the rest, "Once that is done, then we can have this discussion. But I do not believe that even then, will anyone agree to the rebuilding of the United States." He paused again, "As for this 'Zaphod'. It should be kept a very closely guarded secret."

                Malcolm said, "We have no need to use it. I see it as a self-fulfilling prophecy, a monkey's paw; no good will come from playing with it."

                Jesse asked (not willing to give up yet), "What about this 'Desert Rat'?"

                Olivia shook her head, "He's no danger to anyone." Jesse rounded on her, "You're so sure of that?"

                Olivia, Alfred and I all answered as one, "Yes!"

                Malcolm held up a hand, "If he has that much power at his disposal, he could have destroyed us all long before now."

                General Hoyle stood, "So, shall we start with a treaty of nonaggression?" and so it was decided that there will be open trade between the five 'territories' (maybe six, depending on what New Ectopia says), and that citizens will be able to travel as needed for work or trade.

                Jesse was doing a lot of teeth gnashing and finally said, "I don't believe that I have any choice here. It appears that this has become a battle for the hearts and minds of the people."

                Hoyle said, "America has always been a battle of free ideas. That hasn't changed in the least."

                Olivia said that the 6 'territories' would have to be willing to acknowledge each other's laws, provide for means of official contact, and try to get agreements on identifying and controlling raiders and scavenger mobs before they could become a danger to the average citizen. When all the details had been worked out, Malcolm nodded and said, "For now, we will agree to an agreement in principal. And when we return to our homes, we will send ambassadors to each other to hammer out those details."

                Caesar stood again and said, "So shall we get this all on paper so we can return to the party? I still haven't had a dance with the bride."

                It didn't take as long as I'd thought it would and when we got back to the Palace, things were really rockin'!

                And let me tell you………those kitty-cats can dance!

                At some point during the reception, I was talking to Lucifer and noticed Olivia making a beeline towards Jesse. I wasn't sure if she was as drunk as I thought she was, but it promised to be interesting anyway, so I excused myself and went to join her.

                I got there just in time to hear her telling Jesse that she had a favor to ask of him. He seemed equally torn between curiosity and outrage (curiosity won) and told her to go ahead and ask, but that she shouldn't be disappointed if he said "No". She wasn't fazed, and asked him to put Leo on an extended leave of duty so he could accompany us when we head northwest. Jesse didn't lose it immediately, but he looked like he was about to. He controlled himself and said that he'd consider it, but I didn't get a real positive feeling from him. Olivia thanked him and the two of us headed over to the table where Leo was talking and drinking with Cordelia.

                "That was quite a wedding, wasn't it?" Olivia asked him.

                "What do you want?" he asked her, really bluntly. She seemed hurt that he would talk to her like that and told him so. He shook his head, and caught her arm before she took off.

                "What do you want?" he asked again. This time he was a lot nicer. She told him that she'd just asked Jesse to assign him to our expedition. He was appalled; "Are you nuts! That's the President of the United States! You don't just ask the Commander in Chief something like that!"

                "Why not?" I asked, "We've asked worse things of him." Leo glared at me and told Olivia that, even though the whole idea sounded great and it was a nice, 'romantic' notion for the family to go on an adventure together, he had other duties and would not be able to come with her. The he started in about how dangerous and unpredictable "those tree-hugging, magic-crazed-human-sacrificing eco-freaks" were, and how foolish it was for us to want to go there.

                Leo is probably the only person in the world who could say things like that to Olivia and live - but he had hurt her feelings very badly. Before Olivia could respond, Cordelia jumped in and said, "Leo, if the President is amenable to the idea, I would really rather see you go on this diplomatic mission than have you back in San Diego in the middle of combat." Olivia nodded and said, "Really, Leo, believe it or not we were worried about you. But don't worry about the New Ectopians - we'll protect you", and she gave him a little "there-there" pat on the back. Leo said something about not wanting to deal with Olivia when she was 'like this' and stalked off. This time Olivia and Cordie let him go.

                There was something I had wanted to say to him and I figured I'd better to it before he left, so I followed after him and called his name. He kept going. I caught up to him, tapped his back and said, "Leo." He stopped but didn't turn. So I tapped him again, "Master Chief."

                I could see him set his shoulders and he turned around with the glare that the whole Mitchell family had been blessed with. "What?" he asked me thru clenched teeth.
I took him by the arm and moved him to a slightly more private place and thanked him for protecting Cordelia and Debbie back at the Temple. "If anything had happened to either of them, Olivia would have been devastated."

                He interrupted me; "She's just a kid." I agreed and said, "I know that you and Debbie haven't exactly hit it off. And she means the world to Olivia."

                He seemed uncomfortable; "I was just doing my job, my duty." He started looking for an excuse to run away and I decided to let him go. I patted him on the shoulder and said, "Yes, you were, and I thank you for doing it." He didn't say anything; he just nodded and left.

                I wandered back and heard Cordelia tell Olivia that she really shouldn't tease Leo that way. Olivia insisted that she was just having a little fun. No harm, no foul. Cordelia rolled her eyes and said, "I think it's time that I put you to bed, big sister."

                Olivia liked that idea, "Okay, let's go get Jennifer and Alfred and you can put all three of us to bed." She pulled Alfred out of a conversation with Dallas and found Jennifer sitting by herself looking rather forlorn. Olivia asked her if she was okay, she said she was, but even I could see that something was bothering her.

                Olivia asked me if I was going to head back to the Excalibur with them. I told her that I was gonna close the place. She told me not to do anything she wouldn't (and that sent a shiver down my spine!) and headed out.

                A bit later, when things were beginning to wind down, Malcolm asked if I was ready to leave. Looking around at what was left of the party I told him I was. He escorted me down to his limo and on the way to the Excalibur we reviewed the day's events.
He showed me upstairs and as we got to my rooms he asked if I would go to his suite with him so we could talk some more.

                I did, but there was very little talking.

05/03/06:

                I woke up in Malcolm's suite this morning, tired but not too hung over. He was still sleeping, so I rolled over to get a look at the clock to see if I could let him sleep some more. But what I saw was the Kingsword, lying on the chair where Malcolm had set it last night. Big deal, right?

                It was glowing. It was giving off a distinct light, and it was throbbing. My first reaction was that it was trying to warn Malcolm of an imminent danger, so I shook him to wake him.

                For an ex-cop he sleeps like an ox! After a great deal of shaking and calling his name, he finally woke up and smiled, "Good morning."

                "Yeah, whatever. At the risk of sounding like a bad come-on; your sword is pulsating and glowing." He looked at me oddly, then over at the sword. It wasn't doing anything!

                "It was doing what?" he asked me. I explained what I saw and asked him if it had ever done that before. He told me that it hadn't, and suggested that I needed a shower to wake up. I looked at the sword, just sitting there, boring as could be and thought to myself maybe I'd imagined it. But then I was sure that I hadn't. Regardless, a shower couldn't hurt. "Okay, maybe I can think of something while I shower," I said, "Maybe you can come help me think of something."

                So we showered and believe it or not, I did have a little time to think of something to try. We dried and dressed and I sat down in the chair opposite the sword while Malcolm sat on the bed to watch. I drew upon some Magic and asked the sword if it was trying to tell me something.

                Suddenly I 'saw' a wall of blue flames erupt in front of me, between me and the sword. The flames grew higher and moved closer and I 'felt' myself engulfed by them. They died down and I saw a battlefield. It was filled with legion upon legion of warriors. An army made entirely of Elves, all the different races of Elves, wearing and carrying all varieties of armor and weaponry. There were Drow assassins and saboteurs, Moon Elf mages and Sylvan Elf guerillas - all gathered under the banner of Corellon.

                At the head of the center legion was the leader, wearing silver armor, armed with a magical lance, and mounted on a huge silver dragon. The leader turned her head to address the ranks and I got a good look at her - and saw my own face. She - I - raised the lance (which left a trail of magical energies) and pointed forward with it. The legions answered with a battle cry of "Purify!" and they began to advance.

                Ahead in the field facing the army was a lone figure: Malcolm. He was armed with the Kingsword and behind him I could see the familiar outline of the House. He drew the Kingsword, raised it in salute to me and advanced, all alone, to meet the army.

                The flames rose up again and obscured the vision. They died down and I saw myself again. This time I was in the Great Hall of the House and I was seated upon Malcolm's throne. In front of me I saw two petitioners.

                One was a Moon Elf. He was dressed immaculately and behind him was his entourage of retainers - all the very image of Elven propriety. He held up an offering to me: a chalice filed with worms, spiders and rotten fruit!

                The other petitioner was an Orc, dressed in an Armani suit, with Ka logo lapel pin. His offering was a silver tray with bowls of ripe fruit, goblets of wine, and a small bowl filled with salt at the center of the tray.

                Above this scene was the Kingsword. It was hovering in the air over the petitioners and the Scales of Justice were hanging from it.

                Once again, the flames rose up to obscure the vision. When they faded this time I was back in Malcolm's suite. Malcolm was shaking me gently and calling my name.

                "You're back!" he said, "Are you okay?" It took a second for it to register that he was talking to me. "Did you see that?" I asked him. "See what? All I saw was you going into a trance. I had to check to make sure you were breathing. Are you okay?"

                "No, I'm not okay!" I said and I jumped up and ran from his rooms. I didn't even think about where I was going - I think I was going to the Temple to ask for help. Then, as I raced past Alfred's suite, I stopped and started to pound on the door.

                Allison answered it, still in her robe, "May I help you?" "Yes. Get Olivia, now! I don't care what she's doing." I pushed past her into the room. Allison didn't waste my time asking what was happening, she just went straight to the bedroom and began to 'announce' me. I followed and yelled over her, "Olivia! I need to talk to you right now!" Olivia snarled, but got up and grabbed her robe. As she came over to me she asked Allison for some aspirin and some alcohol - any kind would do.

                Allison asked, "How about some of Caesar's go-juice, instead?" Alfred said "Good idea," as he grabbed his robe and joined us in the sitting room. "What's up?" he asked, as Allison handed glasses out. She said she would arrange for breakfast and left to get dressed.

                I said, "Alfred dear, no offense, but I need to speak to Olivia alone. Please." He nodded serenely and said, "No offense. I'll just go hit the shower." I waited until he was out of the room, and then I told Olivia all that had happened since I woke up this morning in Malcolm's bed. "Okay," she said, "We'll figure this out. I think a trip to your Temple and a conversation with Corellon might be in order." I nodded.

                "I was on my way there, when I stopped here."

                Olivia nodded and got up. She said, "I'm going to go get dressed. You need to call Malcolm and invite him down here. You probably scared the crap out of him." She left the room and I called Malcolm and apologized for rushing out. Then I asked him if he would grab some clothes for me and join us for breakfast in Alfred's rooms. He said he would and we hung up. I couldn't sit still - I started pacing along the windows that look out on the Strip, wishing Malcolm would hurry.

                He showed up looking very worried. Olivia insisted that I tell him what I saw. That was the last thing I wanted to do. She insisted, again. Finally I gave in and reluctantly told him and Alfred about the visions.

                Malcolm was silent for a while, then said, "I've never seen anything like that."

                "Like 'that'?" I asked him, "You've seen other things?" He nodded slowly, and said, "On occasion, the sword will show me things - warnings, mostly."

                "And do they come true?" I asked him.

                He thought for a moment, "Not always, but maybe that's because they haven't happened yet. But I've never seen anything that specific. I usually get something more like a feeling. I try to keep them in mind, but not think about them too much." Then he told us about a guy he worked with on the force, years ago. He had dreams - dreams about dying on the job. He went to a shrink who asked him if the dreams were something he was AFRAID would happen or WANTED to happen. Either way, obsessing on them could make them come to fruition - a self fulfilling prophecy.

                Trying to digest that on top of the visions made me ill, but Malcolm and Olivia forced me to eat something before Alfred would order his limo to take us to the Temple. Olivia said that she and Alfred were going with me. Malcolm said he would stay at the Excalibur, but if we needed him to let him know.

                The trip to the Temple seemed to take forever. When we got out of the limo I saw Melissa's head on a pike on the temple's front lawn. The sight stopped me in my tracks and I couldn't stop looking at it. Then things got crazy again.

                The clouds above me started to whip by in fast forward. When they stopped, I looked down the street we'd just driven and saw the Strip stretched out before me, but the road was now paved with nice, even cobblestones and ceramic tiles, and there were flowers planted along both sides of the road. The buildings had changed, too. They looked older, more Elvish. They were all beautiful and elegant, and the Excalibur was a real palace - one of Elven design and construction.

                Then I noticed the people. They were all Elves. As I was marveling at them, I suddenly saw something horrible - amongst the flowers on the sides of the road, there were evenly spaced pikes. On each one was a head! Human heads, Dwarven heads, Orcs, Overlords, even Dragons! All the races were 'represented' - all except the Elven races, that is.

                Then there was the 'feeling' of the scene. I had an overwhelming feeling of peace. Peace and purpose, as if this was the way the world should be.

                Suddenly it was all gone and I was staring at Melissa's head again. Alfred was on one side of me and Olivia was on the other. She was shaking me and asking if I was all right.

                But there was no sound. I could see her lips moving but couldn't hear anything. There was no sound of traffic, either. Then I heard a voice. A delicate, yet slight husky voice. "What do you call 500 Ka chained together at the bottom of the ocean?" The voice didn't wait for a response; together, we said, "A good start." Then I asked, "Morning Mist?" But there was no answer.

                Suddenly I could hear as Olivia asked me again if I was alright. I nodded and said, Yeah, I'm OK." She didn't look convinced. "Maybe you need to go in and sit down." All the sudden I wasn't so sure I wanted to enter the Temple and I told her so.

                She thought for awhile and finally said, "Melissa cursed those jewels she gave us, right? A curse that the wearer would never know true love? Maybe she set another curse - one for the person who killed her. A curse to drive a wedge between friends." That struck a nerve all right. So I cast a spell and asked if I was cursed.

                The flames appeared before me again, and I saw the sword, right in front of me. This time I got a direct answer. "Yes, you are cursed. Cursed to see the truth." When the flames left, I came around to find Alfred and Olivia supporting me and Thomas approaching from the door of the Temple. He looked concerned and asked what was going on. Olivia gave him the highlights while I tried to stand up without assistance.

                He offered to attempt to see if he could detect a curse upon me. I was reluctant to enter the Temple but Olivia assured me that if anything started to happen, Alfred could get me out of there, so I went in. Thomas did his thing and announced that there was no curse on me. He offered me the solitude of the Grove to meditate and pray. I took him up on the offer and settled by the reflection pond beneath the central tree of the Grove.

                It took some time to regain my composure, but when I finally did I asked Corellon if He would honor His troubled Priestess by answering some questions. He consented and I took some more time to formulate what to ask Him.

                I started with; "Did You send me the visions I had this morning?" "No."

                "Was it a true vision?" "No."

                "Could it be a true vision?" "Yes."

                "Will my service to You put me into conflict with King Malcolm?" "Yes."

                "Will I have to choose soon?" "Inevitably"

                "Will it be in the next…three years?" "Potentially."

                "Will it be the result of my trip to Yosemite?" "Destiny."

                "Will it be the result of Malcolm's connection to the Land?" "Inevitable."

                "The vision I just had outside the Temple, did that come from you?" "No."

                "Was it a true vision?" "Destiny."

                "Can that destiny be changed?" "Sacrilege!"

                "If I avoid that destiny, will it cost me my place in Your service?" "Accept"

                I 'felt' Him withdraw and I dispersed the magic. I looked around me and saw some other worshippers in prayer. Olivia was rearranging the sand in the Zen Garden and Thomas and Alfred were waiting for me to 'come back'. I started to speak to them when the flames rose again separating me from them.

                This time when they receded I found myself on the balcony of my rooms at the Excalibur. I climbed to the railing and after pausing to look around I threw myself down. It seemed like I was falling in slow motion - I could practically count the windows as I fell past them. Then, just as I was about to hit the ground, I swooped upwards and started to fly.

                I was headed west, then veered northwest, out over the desert. There were landmarks, rock formations and such that seemed to jump right out at me and lodge into my memory. After a short time the lights of the city were barely visible over the horizon behind me. Soon after I saw a fire and turned towards it. As I flew closer I could see it was a large bonfire and there were people dancing around it - 10 to 15 naked Drow women!

                I landed and one of the women stepped away from the dance and approached me. She looked like a normal Drow but she had to be 13 feet tall! She didn't speak; she just pointed towards the moon. She did it again, more emphatically this time. First the large, bright full moon, than she pointed to me and then she pointed down to the ground where we stood. I nodded and she took me by the hand and drew me into the dance. We danced closer and closer to the flames until that was all I could see - flames.

                Then the flames were gone and I was back in the Grove. Olivia came over and asked, "Any answers?" At the same time Alfred asked, "Another vision?" I put my hands to my head and said, ""Yes, no and yes. When's the next full moon?"

                They all looked a little confused at that, but Thomas consulted his Lunar Phases calendar and told me it will be on the 12th. Olivia looked at me as if to ask, "What the Hell, now?" I nodded wearily at her and said, "First things first. Before the shit hit the fan this morning I was planning to come see you today, Thomas."

                "What can I do for you, Sister?" he asked. I took him by the hand and said, "You can forgive me. Yesterday you asked me to forgive you for 'underestimating' me. Well, today I ask you to forgive me for trying to show you up. When we first met I sensed disdain and I used Corellon's power yesterday to grow those fields of produce. I didn't do it as a wedding gift, I didn't do it as gesture to the hungry of the city, I did it to rub your nose in it. I am ashamed."

                He reassured me that all was forgiven, that first impressions often lead to misunderstandings. His first impression of me was that I was 'wet behind the ears' and didn't know what I was doing. "You simply reacted to the way in which you were treated," he smiled at me.

                So with that done I took him aside and taught him the Magic that I had used to speed grow the food. I told him that Olivia and I would be in the Market at least once before we left town and I would see about getting him a goodly amount of seeds. He thanked me and we said our good-byes.

                As we left the Temple, I made sure not to glance towards the head on the pike. Alfred asked, "So, what now?" I said that I felt the need to go back to my rooms to think for awhile. And to see if Malcolm would allow me to 'talk' to the sword again.

                On the way back I was watching the people out on the street. It was like I never noticed them before. Most were on foot, some on one of the few remaining buses, more on horse-drawn wagons that were stopping and picking people up at the regularly marked bus stops. I really had never paid attention to the general populace of the city, but now I couldn't take my eyes off of them. These were the janitors and housekeepers, laborers, and wait staff for the casinos. Some were in Overlord livery, but most were not.

                As we pulled into the drive at the Excalibur, I noticed an older Hispanic woman sitting on the corner selling tamales from an old ice chest. I don't know why, but I couldn't seem to stop looking at her. I got out of the limo and Olivia said that she was going to have the driver take her to the Temple of Crom. Alfred asked me if I needed someone to walk me upstairs. I told him, "No, I'll be fine, thank you. I'm going to go get a tamale." They both looked at me like I'd lost my last marbles.

                I approached the woman and said, "Good morning. Those smell wonderful! I'll take two, please." She asked for 6 chips for them and I gave her 8. She handed back 2 of them and said. "Your change." I got no 'feeling' from her, just that for some reason I had made her day. Then I noticed the little cardboard sign she had said that the tamales were 1 chip each. I'd been had but I didn't care - not if they tasted half as good as they smelled! I found a spot on the grass outside the casino and ate. God they were good! Finally, I went inside and headed upstairs.

                I found Malcolm in his suite and asked him if I could have a moment with the sword. He gave me an odd look but agreed, laying it a table opposite an overstuffed chair. He pointed towards the balcony and said, "I'll be right out there if you need anything."

                As soon as Malcolm had closed the door, the sword began to glow again. I heard a distant voice in the back of my head, "Draw me." I shook my head, "No."

                The voice insisted, "Draw me. You will not be harmed." I slowly and reluctantly drew the sword from its scabbard. Once it was free, the flames rose up again and rushed up my arm to engulf all of me. The voice was clearer now, "That's better. Now, what did you want to ask me?"

                I was taken aback and paused for a minute or two. "What does it all mean," I finally asked. "It means that you cannot serve two masters well."

                "Yeah I got that. And that I cannot judge the value of a gift by those that give it. I also get that sometime in the future, for the good of the Kingdom, Malcolm may have to make an arrangement with the Orcs, and that Corellon will not allow that." "Very good."

                "So you're telling me that I have to choose." "Yes. If you care for the good of your people you cannot hold position in the Kingdom."

                "Wait a minute, you say 'my people' I consider the Kingdom my people." "That is not the impression other people have."

                "Well fuck 'other people'!" The sword seemed to think that was funny for some reason. "But consider whose symbol you wear."

                I sat and thought for another moment. "Okay, I get the whole serving two masters thing. And if Corellon decides to go all xenophobic, I'm out of there, but for now…" I sensed the sword 'nodding'. "But for now, be aware that the good of your people - the Kingdom - may require you to offend the One you serve."

                "But He gave me my powers - powers that I've used to help build and defend the Kingdom." Again the sword 'nodded'. "Yes. And I cannot help being what you made me to be - the defender of the Kingdom. And right now you are a threat to the Kingdom."

                "I am a threat? Me personally?" "Yes."

                "It's me that is the threat? Not Corellon?" "Yes and no. In that order."

                "So if I choose not to act as Corellon's weapon of mass destruction, as it were, will the threat come from elsewhere?" 'Nod'. "Perhaps, but that attack will not be at the Heart of the Kingdom.'

                "Malcolm." "Correct." Damn it! I was so hoping to be wrong on that one!

                "I should have gone home with Olias last night," I groused. The sword took it in stride. "But then you would not have Seen. Let me show you something - something that will require no interpretation."

                The flames started to rise again, "But wait!" They dimmed. "Before you do that I must know - if I had not come here with Malcolm last night, would you have shown these things to him?" The sword felt like it was shaking its head. "He is not ready. You are."

                The flames rose and fell again, and again I saw the Great Hall at the House. The throne was empty, but the crown and the sword were on it. Michael stepped to the dais and announced, "During the duration of this emergency, I am regent, and I declare martial law to be the law of the land until further notice."

                The vision ended, "When will this happen?" I asked. "It is only symbolic of Corellon's solution."

                "I have another question. The vision I had inside the temple, was that you?" "No, there is another power at work here. The Dark Maiden."

                Then the sword paused, "Know this: the danger is not imminent. You have been deflected from the path. But the path will always be there."

                I could feel the presence begin to withdraw. Before it did, it said, "It will no longer be safe for you to draw me."

                "Wait! Just one more thing!" It stayed (and I could feel its impatience) I asked, "You will take care of Malcolm, won't you?" It softened and said, "That is what you made me to do." Then it was gone. I sheathed it again and set it down. I sat for a moment and then got up to go in search of a drink.

                I found Malcolm on the balcony, pacing. He turned and I said, "I need a drink." I must have looked pale, because he grabbed a chair and sat me in it. "What do you want?"

                "Tequila," I said, "lots of tequila." He looked nauseated. Too late, I remembered he's still AA. "Jazz, how can you drink that stuff?" but he called and ordered it and some tea for himself. Then he sat down and took my hand. "Tell me what happened."

                So, starting with what happened at the Temple, I told him all. When I'd finished he said, "I've got to make a mental note. When I get back to the Kingdom, I have to create a set of policies and actions for use in case something should happen to me."

                Just then Olivia and Alfred arrived. I told them everything that the sword had said and Olivia told me what she'd learned at the Temple of Crom.

                When she got there, the Priest was finishing the healing of a broken leg. After he'd shown the patient out with an admonishment - "Next time, do better." - he asked what he could do for Olivia.

                She told him that things had "gotten kind of weird." He looked nonplussed. "Weirder than Presidents putting on rock concerts and assassins interrupting weddings?"

                "As a matter of fact, yes" she said. "My friend Jazz, the Gold Elf, is having visions." She quickly explained what I'd seen. He seemed more curious than anything. "Does it pertain to you?" he asked her.

                "Yes," she told him, "Because if it comes to pass, I'll be on the opposite side."

                I didn't think it was possible to feel any worse, but that did it.

                Then Olivia told him, "Anyway, it seemed like a good time to come pray." He left her alone and she began to meditate. Crom told her, "Ahh, don't worry about Corellon. He hasn't gotten laid since he turned his wife into a spider demon and banished her to the Abyss." Olivia was cheered a little by that, but stayed focused on her question. Eventually, Crom relented and gave her a little advice. "Corellon is what he is. But, you know, the old rules don't have to apply here." And then He was gone.

                Olivia was telling the Priest about it when she was struck with a memory from her gaming days - back before we started living the adventure! The priest opened up a hidden wall safe and started to pull out RPG books. "These are like gold around here. Any copies you can find, grab on and don't ever let go." Olivia assured him that the Kingdom has a few of the books and thanked him for the advice anyway. He gave half of the books to Olivia and said, "Lets look."

                Olivia had remembered a story about the mythology of Elven Creation. Corellon and Lloth were married once, before Lloth became the Spider Queen. She attempted to kill Corellon. Corellon triumphed and cast Lloth down. But Lloth had an unwitting accomplice in her scheme - their daughter, Eilistraee. She was innocent of deliberate wrongdoing but guilty of being easily duped. She chose to go into exile with Lloth, not out of any particular love for her mother, but because she knew she had done wrong and wished to atone. And that was when the Drow broke away from the rest of the Elven races.

                "So, if the rules don't have to apply, then it doesn't have to be race against race here? Right?" she asked him. He agreed. "What happened - the Change, Essex, all of this - it's all about free will. Ours." He paused. "Of course, I could be wrong."

                Olivia thanked him, helped him lock the books away and headed back for the Excalibur.

                "Okay," I said, "So why does Eilistraee want me to go into the desert?" Olivia shrugged, "Maybe she has a plan. In the mythology, she was one of the few Drow deities who was good. She was into art, music, and leading the Drow back to the surface."

                "So I should go meet with her and see what she wants of me." Olivia agreed and asked Malcolm if he could stay until after the 12th.

                "We were scheduled to leave tomorrow," he said pensively. Olivia said, "Malcolm, you're looking rattled."

                I snorted, "Well let's not forget he's just been told that I am going to overthrow his Kingdom."

                He said, "Yes, I'm rattled, but not about that. I should get back and see what's up." Olivia said, "That part of the vision about Michael, right?"

                He nodded, "Yes and no. It is time that I do something about arranging for certain contingencies." Olivia told him that he should ask the sword about an heir.

                His face went kind of blank, and then pale. He refused to tell us what the sword had said. We nagged him some more but Malcolm was silent. Suddenly he grabbed the bottle of tequila and went to drink from it. I snatched it from his hand and said, "No! You're not going to do that. What did it say to get you upset enough to reach for a bottle?"

                "Choose wisely."

                "That couldn't be all, what else?"

                "It showed me a woman wearing a bridal gown. Behind her there were two 'ghostly' children. I guess they hadn't been born yet. Then I heard a voice say, 'Does anyone know of any reason why these two should not be joined in matrimony?' Then the sword said, 'I have a reason', and the woman and her children burst into flames."

                "The sword had told me before that anyone I was to marry would have to survive its test. And it just reminded me that someone I loved dearly could be killed while I could do nothing but watch. I don't want to think about that." he reached for the bottle again.

                "You don't want to think about that either," I said and emptied the bottle into the sink at the bar. While I was doing that I also drew on some Magic and sent it towards him to help sooth his distress and to help kill his craving for the alcohol. It worked; he started looking a little calmer and got up to make some tea.

                Olivia suggested that he make it public knowledge. He refused, citing the fact that it might actually encourage women who would just end up dead. Then he told us how he has dreamed of finding someone who would be able to clone him, or of approaching Charlie and asking him to use Zaphod to make him eternally young. Then there would be no danger.

                Olivia asked, "So why not use Zaphod to show us who would be accepted by the sword?" He dismissed that idea and his stress level began to rise again. I again tried to calm him and we suggested that he take some time before going home to begin making his contingency plans. He agreed and Olivia, Alfred and I retired to Alfred's rooms.

                Olivia said, "We need to talk to Charlie."

                I said, "We need to talk to Morag." Malcolm agreed, and Olivia and I went to look for him. We found him in the gym working out. I asked him if he would go to Malcolm.

                "Does he request my presence?" Morag asked. I explained what had happened and how Malcolm was thinking about drinking. "He could use your help anyway, he's drawing up some plans for the Kingdom."

                "Then I will go to him," he said, "But is it not your place to be by his side as well?"

                Oh yeah! The guilt just kept on growing!

                Olivia told him that there was something else we had to do to help the King. "What are you up to?" he asked. Olivia tried to play the innocent, but failed miserably, Morag knows us too well. She assured him that it really was something for the good of the King and Morag left it at that.

                Olivia called Lucifer and asked for the use of his helicopter. "Again? What do you need it for this time?" We told him that we needed to go see Charlie. Lucifer sounded relieved. "No problem. He's still in town, over at the Bellagio."

                We thanked him and Alfred ordered a car to take us to the Bellagio. Once there, we asked to see Dallas to pay our respects. We got right into his office and asked if he knew where we could find Charlie. He told us that Charlie was down in the porn studio. Big surprise! Apparently he's been 'working' on all the girls. "I have never seen finer boobs than what that man can make," he told us. He gave us all-access passes and sent us on our way.

                We found Charlie at the head of a line of showgirls, all waiting their turn. Olivia shoved her way to the front of the line and told Charlie that we really needed to talk to him. He shooed the girls away and told them to come back tomorrow.

                Olivia complimented him on his work and asked if he could make her taller. "Piece of cake," he said.

                Olivia explained what we wanted and asked if Zaphod could assist in a scrying spell.

                "It's doable. But are you sure you want to do it?" he asked. "Why not?" I asked.

                "Well, Zaphod tends to be a bit simplistic at times. It'll look for the most expedient solution, which is not necessarily the best solution. For example, take your little girl toy." "Jennifer?" Olivia asked.

                "Jennifer. It could be that Zaphod 'sees' that she will pass the test. It shows you Jennifer, you push her on your King, and they marry. Do they love each other? No. Do they learn to get along? Probably. Is she the best Queen for the King and the Kingdom? No. But she was the most expedient answer to the question.

                We chewed on that for a while, then Olivia asked Charlie if he and Zaphod could help with the Corellon - Drow conflict - if there was anything they could do to help us prevent those events.

                He scratched his head; "I'm the wrong person. You need Millie Hartwig."

                "Great! Where do we find her?"

                "Well that's a problem," he said. "She's dead. She was a clairvoyant and a precognitive. And when she was still a child, she had a vision that she would be raped and murdered. She lived with that fear her whole life. She fed it and it grew and grew and grew until finally she killed herself with it. She was so sure that it would come to pass she created a 'psychic rapist', and he did exactly what she had foreseen."

                We asked Charlie if he could raise her. He admitted that he could, he just didn't want to. Apparently, her death hit him hard. He finally agreed that he would help us, because he could help Millie at the same time.

                We called Lucifer again and he told us his helicopter would be waiting at the airport for us.

                As we were flying over the new and improved Area 51 we noticed that it had grown since we left. Charlie is still very pleased with himself. We landed near Charlie's hangar and as we entered we saw the Grays tricking-out an Azrael. They said they had found pieces of three wrecked ones and were making some improvements. "So many design flaws. Very inefficient." That made me wonder. What the Hell are they putting in there, a warp drive?

                We started talking to them and Olivia asked if any of them were interested in a trip west with us. One stepped forward and said it would go. Olivia asked its name, it 'smiled' and said, "Chicken." Well that just tickled us, but Olivia told it to pick another name since we'd forever be explaining 'Chicken' to people. It thought for a moment then said, "There are those who call me - Tim?" Olivia missed the reference. Then Olivia asked it if it could assume the likeness of Lucy Lawless as Xena. "Of course!" it said, and it immediately set off to do some research.

                We left the others playing with their multi-million dollar tinker-toy and entered the elevator for the long trip down. We reached the bottom and Charlie led us down a different hallway, leading to the personal quarters of the researchers who'd lived out here. He stopped outside a door and said, "I've seen it once. I'm not going in there again." He handed us a body bag and said that he'd meet us in the Zaphod room.

                What we saw in the room was horrible! If this was the vision that Millie had lived with her entire life, no wonder it had driven her mad. She'd been hacked into pieces and the pieces laid out in precise rows. I said a Blessing over her and we put the pieces into the bag. As we entered the control room, we saw Charlie taking a long swallow from a bottle of Cuervo. I think I saw tears in his eyes, but I wasn't about to ask.

                "Is there anything else we can help with?" Olivia asked. He sent us back to the quarters to find some clothes for Millie. We also looked for something that would fit the taller Olivia. We found some clothes that were merely dusty and Olivia 'cleaned' them up. As we neared the control room we could feel the Magic dispersing. We entered the room to find Millie standing there, naked and a little confused. Olivia handed her the clothes. Millie started to thank her, then took a good look and freaked out. We were trying to reassure her when Charlie appeared with a rolled up magazine in his hand. "Millie, this is Olivia and Jazz, they're okay, they'll explain what's going on. Meanwhile, I've got to go flog the bishop."

                Millie merely rolled her eyes at that and muttered, "Charlie!" Olivia and I explained, but Millie took offense of our use of the word 'Magic' - she prefers 'physics'.

                When she finished dressing she said, "I was dead, wasn't I?" "Yes you were," we said.

                She shook her head and looked at her reflection in the glass and said, "The person who wore this was dead, not me."

                I did what I could to 'calm' her, but she knew what I was doing. I told her that the past was past, it was time to move on now.

                "You want me to help you find something. No, you want me to find someone, don't you?" We started to explain, but she just dismissed the details and said she would do what she could. "But, first things first." And she sat down at the controls and logged into the system. She settled in and 'drifted away' just like Charlie, but there was so surge of energy. When she finished the place was spotless! All the dust was gone, everything was neat and tidy and there were plants everywhere. There was also a pile of clean clothes for her.

                "That's great!" Olivia said, "Charlie's going to make me taller. Could you make me something to wear when he's done?" Instantly there was a fabulous red dress hanging in front of her. I'd recognize that dress anywhere; it was the drop-dead red number that Lucy Liu wore to the Oscars a few years back. We were admiring it when a dress appeared in front of me. Once again I recognized it as the ugly pink thing that Gwyneth Paltrow wore when she won the Oscar. I just let it drop to the floor. I hated that dress!

                "Not to your liking, dear?" Millie asked. "What would you prefer?" I thought for a moment, (it all seemed so surreal!) "The emerald green velvet that Kate Winlset wore the year Titanic won?" And **flash** there it was. I thanked Millie and folded it neatly. Then, hanging in front of my face was a 30-karat blue diamond necklace. "Oh my God, Millie!"

                Then a set of extravagant rubies appeared before Olivia. She turned to us with a wink and said, "So, which one of you wants to be taller?" Olivia stepped forward and next thing I knew she was almost a foot taller! She put on her new dress and we thanked Millie for the gifts.

                "Think nothing of it. We used to do things like this before, but they would never last. It's nice to know these will."

                Olivia said, "While Charlie's, um, busy, lets go upstairs to the beach." "Beach?" Millie asked. We told her about the changes Charlie had made topside. She sat back down at the controls and summoned up some magic and made herself look like Kate Winslet!

                "Looking good, Millie," Charlie said from the doorway. Then he looked at the control panels, "Tell me you didn't change the settings?"

                "Tell me you didn't let these people use it," she countered. They got into an argument about protocols, but Olivia and I pretty much tuned it out.

                When they finished, we all took the elevator upstairs. Millie was very impressed, especially with the beach. She 'made' towels for us all and we all went for a swim. We had just gotten out to bake on the beach when 'Tim' came charging down the beach at us in full Xena regalia. The bad news was that it had only watched the first season, and Xena was a real bitch in those days. We sent her - it? - back to do some more research, personality wise.

                Millie turned to us and said, "Shall we do what you came here for?" We explained what (or who) we were looking for and why. A bag appeared in her hands and she pulled out a large piece of silk, which she spread out, then from the bag she cast some rune stones onto the cloth.

                She ruminated for a moment, and then pointed to one rune in particular and said to me, "You are not the one. But he does love you." She pointed to another stone; "It has been years since he's known the touch of a women without compensation." She indicated another rune, "But there is hypocrisy here. He was a police officer. You remind him of her. You are both very good friends to him. She was someone he trusted."

                I asked, "Would she be acceptable? Wait - back up, is she still alive?"

                Millie nodded, "She lives." Olivia asked, "Is she still human?"

                She cast a few more stones; "She now reflects her inner image. That cannot be a good thing. She is to the Northwest; she was with friends when the Change came. She was with a large number of people, but then their paths fell apart."

                "But is she the one?" Olivia asked.

                Millie pointed to the last stone, it was blank, "That is yet to be written." Olivia asked if Millie had seen her name.

                "I see something, but it is conflicted. I see a wolf carved of silver - no - perhaps she has changed her name. No, Silverwolf is not her name, nor is it an animal. She still uses her birth name, Ellen."

                Then we told her about my visions. She gathered the stones and cast them again. "What are your questions?" "What do I do? How do we change things to prevent what I saw?"

                She held up a stone with a spear carved into it, "You fight." She must have seen my despair, "But this symbolizes fighting for justice, a just solution or, if you prefer, fighting against injustice."

                She pointed to a few more stones, "Beware if you triumph, these indicate rulership. You will seek and find that which brings this discord into your life and when you find it, you will fight that person. And when you are victorious you will destroy that which holds power over you."

                She indicated another stone, "Both of these quests are related, but you must decide which one to pursue first. Resolving one will have a great impact on the other. If you have no future to bring this girl to… So, first find that which seeks to destroy you."

                I asked her about the Dark Maiden and she cast the stones again. "This is a choice. She wishes to tell you her story, to explain something to you."

                "Guardianship. She sees you and your warband as guardians of her people. She wants you to make a homeland for her people."

                I felt like my head would implode if I were to take in even one more piece of information. I thanked Millie for her help.

                Then Olivia asked her about Jennifer. Olivia's been worried about her. She asked Millie if she is a bad influence on Jennifer. Millie shook her head, "That is not for the stones to say. Tell me more about this girl." Olivia explained, going all the way back to when the Horde had attacked the rest of the gathering back in Estrella.

                Millie thought and said, "If you wish her mind to be made whole again, speak to Charlie, he can help you with that. But does she really want help? She's never tried to seek help before. If she wishes to leave you she will. You do not seem to be the tyrant type who would stop her from doing so if that was what she wished."

                Olivia asked, "Is it better for her to go back to the Kingdom or to travel on with us when we leave here?"

                Millie was emphatic; "She should go home. I 'see' distractions if she accompanies you. Appoint someone to watch over her in your absence."

                Then she shrugged and began to pick up her stones, "Now, shall we head for Vegas?"

                "You're coming with us?" I asked.

                "Sure. I haven't been to Vegas in ages!" She made a deck of cards appear in her hand, pulled one out and told us which it was.

                I warned her about the punishment if she's caught using Magic to cheat a casino. She assured us that it's not Magic. "Besides, they never caught me before."

                So we asked her to stay away from the casinos at the Excalibur and the Bellagio. "But do whatever you want at the Luxor!"

                Olivia was cleaning all the sand off of us when Tim (or Xena) appeared. We decided that we couldn't call it Tim, and Xena was a tad bit too pretentious. So we decided on 'Meg'. And it accompanied us back to the Excalibur, still in Xena mode.

                We introduced Millie to Allison who assured us that she would set Millie up with a great room, and we set off to find Olias.

                We found him playing Keno; thank goodness he wasn't sore at me for last night. We asked him if the name or phrase 'Silverwolf' meant anything to him.

                He told us that when he left New Ectopia there was a commune of werewolves who called themselves Silverwolf. He saw how we reacted to the word 'werewolves' and rushed to explain that they were not evil. In fact, they saw themselves as scouts and protectors of the area. "And we were never really sure if they were werewolves or not, we just called them that because it was easier. We could never quite figure out if they were wolves that could turn into Silver Elves or Silver Elves who could turn into wolves." We thanked him and I went in search of Malcolm - I was still worried about him.

                Turns out I shouldn't have. He and Morag were poolside, making notes. There were several empty teapots on the table they were working on. They both stood as Olivia and I approached. I walked up to Malcolm, gave him the strongest hug I could and said, "I love you too, you know." And I left - no doubt leaving him and Morag very confused.

continued...