09/26/06:

                Today was recovery day. Recovery from partying, recovering from dying. I asked Leo why he wasn't at the embassy with Walter.

                "He let me have the day off."

                Olivia said, "Face it - you're not even going to be able to pee with the door closed for quite some time."

                Oh great.

                Yasai spent the day with Maxwell going over Domain business. The first thing he did was to send Maxwell to Alfred to pay for the citizenship that Alfred had gifted him. They took a break from business for awhile and Yasai decided where he was going to put his game room and skate park. Maxwell got to finding workers to take care of those and Yasai sent word to Mitzi where she could find him, next time she wanted to play. Then it was back to the books. Yasai noticed some oddities - it looked as if some of the other Overlords were hiding income and others were getting 'discounts'.

                "I know what I need to figure this out," Yasai said, and called Phillips.

                "Do you know where I might find a Ferengi?" he asked.

                I couldn't believe it - but Phillips didn't know! Someone finally stumped him!

                "Ask Allison," I suggested.

                She came thru! A short time later she appeared with a naked Ferengi woman named Maga. "She knows accounting and is very happy at the thought of having a job," Allison said.

                "Oh yes! Thank you1" Maga confirmed. Then she started wagging her finger at Yasai. "But I have to let you know now that I'm very traditional at heart and this whole deal is off if you're going to insist I wear clothes! I have my pride, you know!" Yasai held his hands up in surrender and they got to work.

                "Allison!" Olivia said, "I need a Ferengi, too." Unfortunately, she was fresh out.

                "I know where to find one," Slash said, "but it might involve doing something crazy, dangerous, and potentially stupid."

                Olivia asked, "So? What do you have in mind?" They went off to discuss it in private.

                In the afternoon, I made a trip over to the Temple of Ellistrae. I was met at the entrance by Slash - she's become the High Priestess now that she is a permanent resident of Vegas. "How are you feeling," she asked.

                "Fine, thank you. And that is why I am here, to thank you for what you did and to thank the Maiden for Her assistance as well."

                "Of course," and she led me to the sanctuary, "Take as much time as you like - I'll see that you are not disturbed."

                I offered up a prayer of thanks and gratitude and was surprised when the Maiden answered me, "You are welcome, child." Then to my even greater surprise She said, "My father's desire to serve The People is often lost in His desire to see The People exalted over all others at any cost. His grand dreams frequently result in suffering and hardship, since He believes we need no friends in this universe. If your desire is simply to serve and support, and not to exalt and glorify, come to me. Build a school, not a vainglorious monument. Whatever you decide, my followers will support, for we serve The People, and you will always be welcome here."

                I was flabbergasted, "Once again, my Lady, I offer You my most heartfelt gratitude. And Your offer - though generous - leaves my thoughts (and my heart) in turmoil. I simply cannot give You an answer now. May I take some time to think about this?"

                "Of course you may consider it. I open this door to you because I see that my father's ways trouble your heart," She said. "Choose for your sake; not for mine or for my father's. If you come to me, I will be here. If you do not come to me, I will still be here."

                "Thank you, My Lady." I returned to Slash and again thanked her for her help and returned to my new rooms here at the Aladdin - to beat my head against the wall.

                What to do? How can I turn my back on Corellon? After all that He has done for me? For my friends and the Kingdom?

                I appreciated Ellistrae's offer - it was amazingly generous and would indeed take away some doubts that have nagged me about Corellon.

                But even though She offered it to me - how could She ever, really trust me? I Turned my back on Her father - what's to keep me from doing the same to Her?

                Olivia found me and suggested that I take my frustrations out on a pillow.

                "Or Leo?" I asked.

                She said that he'd probably let me.

                I chose not to.

                What a decision to have to make! No pressure, though, right?

09/27/06:

                This morning Olivia was required to tour the Aladdin property and inspect the books. She asked me if I wanted to go with her to scout a good spot for the Cathedral but I declined. I didn't want to jinx anything. Then we killed time until it was time to go to the arena. On the way, Olivia asked Rodrick if she could borrow his rings of strength and dexterity. He handed them over to her as she left the limo.

                The early bouts were nothing but posturing and roaring, as usual. Josie was there again and met a large Bengal Tiger who roared so loudly that Josie almost soiled himself.

                Olivia's first bout was with a white tigress. "Nice coat," Olivia told her.

                "Thank you, you've got nice skin, too. Can we do this?"

                Olivia nodded, flashed her claws out full length, and lunged at the Cat, who whimpered and cowered against a wall.

                "Yield, Fuzzy Butt?" Olivia asked her.

                "Yes."

                As Olivia moved out of range, the tigress stood and yelled, "She cheated!"

                "I did not! These are part of my body."

                Caesar quieted them, "Lord Hard Rock - this is your domain."

                "It is? Oh, yeah. They are part of her body, and therefore legal."

                Caesar waited a moment, then whispered, "You're supposed to say, 'I'll allow it'. He then turned and announced, "Lord Hard Rock allows it." The crowd went wild. The tigress sulked out of the cage, glaring at Olivia.

                The next round had two cats actually fighting! It was the big Bengal that had eliminated Josie. He quickly got the advantage and rammed his opponent into the wall of the cage repeatedly.

                Caesar asked Yasai, "Will you stop it?"

                "Should I? Can I?" Yasai asked. Then he stood, "Stop! We have a winner."

                Then it was Olivia's turn again, this time against a large white tiger.

                He said to her, "Love the claws - where did you get them?"

                "New Ectopia."

                "Did they cost much?" and instead of waiting for an answer, he lunged.

                Olivia ducked that attack but heard something. She said that it sounded like something had zipped over her head. She clawed the tiger twice and he swung at her again and again she heard something. But this time she felt something that just barely missed her.

                She lashed out and clawed again. He retreated, clasping his bleeding arm. Suddenly, the Cat began to glow and the wound closed. Olivia saw that and abandoned the claws, casting a painweb spell. It entangled the Cat and he screamed until Olivia let the web fade away. The cat stopped screaming and fell to the ground. Olivia walked over and kicked him; "Do you yield?"

                Yasai stood, "We have a winner!"

                When the attendants pulled the Cat out of the cage, something got caught on the doorway. Further investigation revealed an invisible chain with links that had been sharpened to a razor's edge. Olivia claimed it as victor and asked the attendants to take it up to me to hold for her.

                Leo examined it, "Cool."

                The last bout was between Olivia and the big Bengal. He looked her in the eyes and growled, "I will break you."

                They started with the intimidation thing, but it was a draw. He suddenly screamed and leapt at Olivia, clawing and biting her. She returned the attack with her claws, drawing some serious blood. The Cat jumped back and growled "I will tear out your tongue and you will serve in my harem."

                "Harem! Hah! You don't even have a visible penis."

                That made him mad. He screamed in rage and leapt again, clawing Olivia twice.

                Olivia circled and sneered, "Is that all you have, you big pussy?" and she clawed him, sending fur flying. He staggered and used a wall to support himself.

                "Do you yield?" she asked.

                "I do."

                Olivia made a big show of retracting her claws and Yasai proclaimed, "We have a winner!"

                The Bengal stayed where he was, sulking. Olivia told him, You did great, really."

                "But there are no prizes for second place," he said.

                "You could get some great job offers because of this," Olivia said.

                There was the usual post-fight nonsense, Caesar making pompous proclamations and Olivia greeting the people. While that was going on, Yasai went to speak to the Bengal and offered him a job as his new Chief of Security.

                "Have you not heard?" the Bengal asked, "I am a mutant. Can't you see my ears? My tail?"

                Now that he mentioned them - they were different. The ears were kind of 'ruffled' - like the little parasols you get in boat drinks - and there was no hair on his tail. He's also a giant, coming in about eight feet tall. Most Overlords are only a little over five feet tall. Whatever he is, he's no Overlord.

                Yasai said, "Look at me, I'm different, too. But I think I know what you are."

                "Are you sure you want to associate with a freak?"

                "You're not a freak, you're different. We both are. We're special and I respect you. What's your name?"

                "Bodyguard."

                "That's your name?"

                "That is what they call me."

                Yasai nodded and said, "That makes more sense than you might expect." Then he jerked his thumb at the door and asked him, "Will you come with me now? To find a library, to see if I'm correct?"

                Bodyguard agreed and they left together. The rest of us went to the Aladdin where the usual stuff continued, with a twist. Olivia addressed the Hotel staff in general and the professional girls in particular, "Is there anyone here who want to become a harem girl?"

                Several hands went up. One girl on the housekeeping staff asked, "For you or your friends?"

                "For me. My friends have to get their own women."

                There was some laughter at that, but a few more hands actually went up. One older woman behind the girl said, "Don't even think about it!"

                "Oh Mom! I'm here and I'm queer. Get over it!"

                Olivia asked her, "What's your name and how old are you?"

                "Katie and I'm nineteen."

                "Okay - you're in," Olivia told her. Then she called for her majordomo and introduced him to Karyn; "You'll be working with her - she reports only to me. Your first assignment is to come up with harem costumes for the girls on my floor, you have two days."

                The man nodded to Olivia, then Karyn, and said, "This is the Aladdin, Your Greatness; we have hundreds of harem costumes."

                "Great!"

                Their conversation seemed to fade away and I Felt something pulling me further into the building until I was standing before a sign, "The Aladdin Center for the Performing Arts." I opened the door and looked in - it was huge! It must seat more that 5,000 people! Corellon is pretty confident.

                Then I heard His voice, "Here. Build it here."

                I returned to the party and tracked Olivia down, "The theatre - Corellon want His Cathedral there."

                "Take whatever you want - I'm busy."

                So Corellon will have His Cathedral, exactly where He wants it.

Continued...

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