The Dangers Of Daring Officer Dolly

 

Chapter 45. “Lunar Danger”

by Skytower

 

 

            Serenity Highfield came awake slowly but without fear.  She was laying on soft sheets in a warm comfortable bed.  The bed wasn’t hers.  That didn’t really bother her.  For once she had taken the sleeping drug voluntarily.  Opening her eyes Serenity looked around.  She was a round room.  The walls were hung with tapestries that showed scenes from a different world.  They showed fields and forests and castles, but the flowers and trees were the wrong shape, color and height.  The castles were the type Serenity knew; round and square styles that could have been anyplace on Earth.  The work on some of the tapestries was crude.  Serenity was in a round bed in the center of the room.  Across from her was a mirror and a dresser. 

            I’m in Dollopolis, Serenity realized.  And I’m shrunk.

            She turned over and looked at the other side of the room.  A window gazed out over the duchy.  A young woman was slumped over the desk asleep.  Serenity looked at her closely.  The last time she had been in Dollopolis Serenity had been an emotional wreck desperately seeking help.  This time it was different.  Things were desperate yes, but her daughters were safe.

            Serenity got out of the bed.  They had put her in a Whispery Georgette pleated babydoll nightgown, once that barely went past her thighs.  But it was pink and it was comfortable.  Serenity wondered if they shopped from Victoria's Secret or just copied the designs.   As she stood up Serenity realized that they had made her twice the size of the girl at the desk.  She had been shrunk, but not to twelve inches but to twenty four inches.  Why?  The place was as much of a puzzle now as it was when she had first heard about it.  Serenity remembered that first briefing.  Lucy Rothschild had seemed un-usually on edge and Serenity had been puzzled.  What could bother her so much about a woman with the power to shrink and a fragment of a world?

            Well I learned, Serenity thought.  Dear Lord did I learn.

            She crossed over to the window and looked out.  The place hadn’t changed.  A giant horseshoe with mountains on the outside rim and a river on the inside rim.  The sun was just a little above the mountain ranges.  In between the inner and outer rims were rivers, glades, forests and houses.  Houses of nearly every architectural style imaginable.  But the houses were empty.  Dollopolis was empty.  Serenity wondered if Simone ever gazed out from this window and if her spirit suffered at all for those who were missing.  She probably did. 

            Suddenly Serenity realized something.  She looked more closely at the girl sleeping on the desk.  She was slim, with a nose slightly too large for her face.  Her black hair hung a little past her shoulders and she wore a black skirt with a tight red vest.  She could be either Lizzie or Jesssie. 

            Or Corrella or Roxana.  Serenity thought back to that night, the two small women she’d had to beg for help.  The last time she had been in Dollopolis Simone had said that the two were in the Temple of Healing.  By now they should be out.  But in her mind’s eye Serenity remembered them.  And she realized that the two sets of twins looked almost identical.

            As if aware of her thoughts the girl stirred and opened her eyes.  They were clear hazel.

            “Good morning my lady.”

            “Good morning.” Serenity replied.  “I’m sorry are you Jessie or Lizzie?”

            “I’m Lizzie milady.” She said said.  “The Duchess said that you should sleep at least until we got some of the ships ready.”

            “How long have I been out?” Serenity demanded.

            “About two days.” She said and then added quickly “My lady.”

            “Two days?” Serenity exclaimed looking out at the duchy.  “Dear Lord why did I sleep that long?”

            “The Duchess said you needed it and there was nothing you could do anyway.”

            “I’m not going to be shunted off to the sidelines when there is work to be done young lady.” Serenity said turning back to her.

            “Well there wasn’t anything you could do my lady.” Lizzie said shrinking back from her anger.  “You don’t know our tech and the Duchess said you needed some rest after the rape.”

            “Rape?  I wasn’t raped.”

            “Oh.  I thought all supervillains raped superheroines when they caught them.”

            “Not all.” Serenity said.  “And I’m more fortunate that most in that respect.”

            Serenity took a breath and calmed down.  This was not the best way to start a day.  Also she was scaring Lizzie and even with Simone’s and Merry’s newfound friendship it wasn’t a good idea to start bullying anyone. 

            “Well...” Serenity took another breath.  “I can see her point I suppose.  Where is she?”

            “In Drydock 2 milady.” Lizzie said.  She stood up.  “I’ll draw a bath for you and after breakfast I’ll take you there.”

            “Very well.” Serenity said.

            Lizzie slipped off of the chair and scurried to the door at the other side of the room. 

            “Not a good start old girl.” Serenity said to herself.  But there were a lot of questions she wanted answered.  Not the least of which was her current size.  Why twice as tall as Lizzie?  Why did Lizzie and Jessie look like Corrella and Roxanna?  And Serenity suspected that Simone knew that she hadn’t been raped, but why keep her unconscious for two days? 

            They must not trust me completely, Serenity realized.  They are modifying the ships for orbit and lunar trips, that would reveal a lot of their technology if I were standing next to them while they were doing it.

            Serenity looked around the room.  It was clean.  The dresser held a mirror, a comb and some make up,  but there were no personal affects.  No pictures or wrappers or notes.  The desk only held Lizzie’s sketch pad.  They had cleaned the place, rid it of anything that could give anything away.  Serenity looked at the sketch pad.  Most of the drawings were of outfits, Lizzie’s tastes did go toward the Gothic side of things.  There were one or two of her and Jessie with wings.

            So I’m a guest, and a not wholly trusted one at that, Serenity thought.  But why the size?

            “The bath is ready my lady.” Lizzie said appearing at the doorway.

            “Thank you.” Serenity said pleasantly.

            She saw Lizzie stiffen and Serenity remembered what Lucy had told her while she was helping with Serenity’s daughters legal problems.  The girls were street bred, used to distrusting authority and they were still smarting from being tricked by Lucy.

            She walked across the room and into the bathroom.  It was a very nice place with two sizes of sinks, toilets and one very large round bathtub. 

            “Why am I this size?” Serenity asked walking over to the tub.  “Why not your size?”

            “Your a guest of noble rank milady.” Lizzie said.  “The Duchess said you were an invited guest and would be treated accordingly.”

            “Very well.” Serenity said.  She tested the water.  It was hot but not steaming.  If she couldn’t be friends with this girl there were other ways to get information.  Serenity  had been around servants all her life.  Servants, she knew, often had more knowledge than their masters realized and that knowledge could be gotten out of them if you knew how.

            “Come and assist me” Serenity said in a mild yet commanding tone “and tell me all that has occurred while I slept.”

            “Yes milady.” Lizzie said. 

 

 

           

“My lady how did you know that Serenity would ask questions like that?” Jessie asked as they listened to Serenity talk with Lizzie. 

Jessie worked on the Galactica, welding support struts as a full sized Simone held the Enterprise-D in place.  Simome was sure that the fangirl purest in Merry would cringe at the sight of the two ships merged. 

            “It was a guess on my part.” Simone said.

            {Backed up by our knowledge of such women as Serenity.}

            {She is a noble lady and while that doesn’t mean as much as it once it did it can still count for somethings.}

            “Serenity was brought up just like I was dear.” Simone said.  "Believe it or not there are people who still live as if it were the 19^th century."

            "I don't understand my lady." Jessie said.

            "When Lucy talked to you and Lizzie she was friendly." Simone said.

            "She acted that way anyway." Jessie said with a little bitterness in her voice.

            Simone smiled to herself.  Once Jessie and Lizzie would have taken the abuse of someone in power as a matter of course, now it angered them.  They  were coming along.

            "And that tone in your voice is why Serenity is wheedling things out of Lizzie by regal tones rather than friendly ones." Simone said.  "She knows that you wouldn't be fooled the same way twice."

            "I get it." Jessie said.  "So you let her get stuff out of us because she'll believe it more if she has to trick it out of us?"

            "Yes." Simone said.  "Serenity is very curious, her mind is overflowing with questions.  Very much like Lucy, we have to give her some answers if we are going to continue in all of this."

            {But not too many answers.}

            {We must allow her to find the answers that she has already determined exist.}

            {And limit her if she strays from them.}

            {She is quite like Lucy Rothschild.}

            "But how can you stop her from asking questions that you don't really know what she's going to ask mistress?" Jessie asked.

            "Listen and learn dear." Simone said.  "She's approaching a tripwire now."

 

 

 

            Serenity was trying not to enjoy herself, there was too much to think about, but she was anyway.  She sat in the bath while Lizzie ran the water and a soapy sponge over her skin.  It was a definite luxury and it was made even more so by the fact that Lizzie was only half of her size.  Serenity sat in the center of the tub while Lizzie had to stand and walk around her.  It was an old way of bathing, Serenity had only done it once before and that had been on Moon Girl’s planet.  She wondered if Simone had taught the girls to do this.  She could imagine them doing this to Simone but not Merry.  She was nude but Jessie still wore a wet shift that was plastered to her body.

            "You're doing very well." Serenity said. 

            "Thank you milady." Lizzie said as she ran the sponge along Serenity's stomach and up between her breasts.  She kept her face down.

            "How soon do you think the ships will be ready?" Serenity asked.  "Are the modifications extensive?"

            "At the end of the day hopefully." Lizzie said.  She moved the sponge over Serenity's shoulder and walked around to her back.  She lifted Serenity's brown hair carefully and started to wash her back.  "The modifications are pretty heavy, I hope we can finish on time.  We have Monica helping too."

            "Six people should be enough." Serenity said.

            "Three people milady." Lizzie said.  She took Serenity's left arm and started to wash it.

            "Three?" Serenity asked.

            "Yes milady." Lizzie said.  "Monica, the Duchess and my sister.  Merry is in the Temple of Healing having her mind altered."

            "What about Corella and Roxanna?" Serenity asked.  A vague worry was beginning to form in her mind.  "Aren't they capable of the work?"

            Lizzie didn't reply.  Instead she lifted Serenity's left arm and started to wash it.

            "Answer me." Serenity demanded in a tone that wasn't used to being denied.

            "We… We don't talk about them." Lizzie said.  "You should ask the Duchess."

            "I'm talking to you." Serenity said.  She turned and stood using the height to her advantage.  "Tell me what happened to Corrella and Roxanna."

            "My lady I don't think…" Lizzie stuttered backing away.  "I don't think I should talk about it."

            "Tell me." Serenity commanded putting her arm on the small girl’s shoulders.  "Are they dead?"

            "Not really." Lizzie said.  "Please my lady you should really talk to the Duchess about this."

            "Tell me." Serenity commanded again.

            "Well they didn't die, not really." Lizzie said.  "The Duchess re-birthed them, turned them into babies again.  It was the only way to save them, but it pretty much wiped their minds."

            A sword of shame cut through Serenity.  She stepped back from Lizzie and sat down.  The bath seemed immoral now.  What right had she to enjoy the hospitality of this place?  A thought occurred to her.

            "Is…  Are my daughters safe from Merry?" Serenity asked.  It was another layer of shame to endure, but it was a question she needed desperately to ask.  Merry lived for vengeance and Serenity wasn't really sure that she could stop the First Knight from killing her daughters.

            "Yea, it wasn't your daughters that killed them.  Well not really." Lizzie said.

            "It wasn't?" Serenity demanded.  Anger burned away the shame and she grabbed Lizzie's shoulders and shook her.  "What are you telling me!"

            Lizzie screamed and tried to squirm out of her grip but Serenity wouldn't let go. 

            "Tell me!" She demanded shaking Lizzie.

            "They ate rat poison!" Lizzie shouted.  "Before your daughter caught them!  It was too far in them, and after Simone was hurt helping you get them back she didn’t have enough power to save them!  Please!  Please talk to her about it!"

            She pulled back and Serenity took hold of her shift.  It tore and Lizzie jumped out of the tub and scrambled across the floor.  She was out the door before Serenity could think of telling her to stop.

            "Oh Dear Lord, Verity…" Serenity sat and stared into space.  She dropped the wet shift onto the floor.  Verity hadn't been directly responsible but she'd been part of what had happened.  And so had Serenity by dragging Simone and Merry into her problems.  The anger faded and the shame returned.

 

 

           

            "She's pretty bummed my lady." Jessie said.

            "Yes she is." Simone said.  "And I'm sorry about that, but I'm not going to tell her the truth.  And her daughters did treat you very badly.  You and your sister."

            "What do you think she'll do now?" Jessie asked.

            "Pull herself together and try to apologize to me." Simone said.  "And I'll be gracious about it, which will probably make the poor girl feel worse.  I have no idea how her daughter will react."

            "Isn't it a little harsh milady?" Jessie asked.

            "Yes." Simone said.  "But the idea is to keep her from pressing too much about Dollopolis.  To keep us all safe this is what we need to do.  Lizzie now has the perfect reason not to talk to her."

 

 

 

            By the time she had dried herself off Serenity had managed to push the guilt and shame to one side.  It wasn't going to help in her current situation.  It would be hard for Verity to handle but at least they wouldn't have to worry about Merry.  But she still had to face Simone.  She put on the white robe that was left by the door and went back into the bedroom. 

            Lizzie was waiting by the desk.  Her pad was gone and a tray of food was set out.  She was wearing a black robe and looked ready to bolt for the door.

            "I'm sorry." Serenity said.

            "You can't be." Lizzie said.  "The Law of Hospitality says a guest of noble rank can't be sorry."

            "Well I am anyway." Serenity said walking over to her.  Now the height was a curse, the girl was scared of her and there was no way Serenity was going to get any more information from Lizzie.  Serenity sat down and looked at the food.  There was a stack of toast with butter and jam in small glasses.  There was also what looked a little like eggs, bacon, sausage and beans.  A tall glass next to the plate held a thick pink liquid.  It was nearly a full English breakfast.

            "I thought that you were all vegetarians here." Serenity said as she sat down.

            "The Law of Hospitality my lady." Lizzie said stiffly.  She wasn't coming any nearer than she had to.  "Guest of noble rank are to be served their native meals.  The Duchess added the strawberry milkshake herself.  Something about a joke."

            "A very old very private one." Serenity said.  The joke of the Highfield name and what an ancestor of hers had once done.  It made sense that Simone knew about it.  Lizzie didn't ask and Serenity realized that talking to her anymore would be useless.  She started to eat.  The food tasted good, but it had the bitter taste of guilt to it.  Not only because of what her daughter had done but because of the way Lizzie kept looking at the door.  She was either hoping someone would come in or planning on making a run for it if Serenity moved toward her. 

            Serenity hoped that Simone would be more understanding.

 

 

 

            After she was finished Lizzie led Serenity out of the castle and up toward the mountains.  She’d kept silent during the meal and now was still quiet except to give directions.  Serenity concentrated on looking around.  The houses loomed around her, each one seeming to accuse her as she passed them.  The guilt was there, even if it was under control.  Which house had Corella and Roxanna lived in?  How could she tell Verity and her friends, the former Anti-happiness society?  The girls had made so much progress since then, all of them embracing good causes.  This would hurt them all.

            They came to a mountain path that led up and turned onto it.  At the top was a half round chamber with four  seats.  As they got closer Serenity realized it was an elevator.  There were two seats that were her size and four that were Lizzie’s size.

            “This’ll take us to Drydock 2 my lady.” Lizzie said.  “It’s kinda a hard trip though.”

            “Hard?” Serenity said as she sat down in one of the seats.  Lizzie started to strap her in.

            “It’s like a roller coaster.” Lizzie said.  She strapped Serenity’s legs and stomach in and then pulled down a shoulder harness.  Then she went to one of the smaller seats and strapped herself in.

            “Ready?” Lizzie asked.

            “I suppose.” Serenity said.

            The doors slid shut and after a moment the elevator began to move.  Mildly at first and then it was like someone was picking them up and shaking them.  Serenity felt the elevator shudder and they tumbled end over end as if they were being juggled.  After that was a moments pause and then they began to move and Serenity was pushed into her seat and then she felt as if she were being pushed through her seat.  It reminded her of the training that she had gone through to qualify for the International Space Force.  The many times that she had spent in the high gravity simulator.  The direction changed and suddenly all of Serenity’s weight was pulled downward, then upward.  Serenity clenched her jaw  shut to keep from throwing up. 

            The ride went on like that for a while, maybe ten or twenty minutes.  It stopped with a bone jarring jolt that made Serenity’s head swim.  After a minute or so the door opened.  A full size Simone stood there with a look of welcome on her face.

            “Good morning Serenity.” Simone said.  “I trusts you enjoyed your bath and breakfast?”

            “It... it was fine.” Serenity said.  “But I nearly lost it on the journey.”

            “Ah yes, we normally don’t use the tube except  for emergency evacuations.” Simone said.  “But time is a priority.” 

            Simone reached into the tube and picked Lizzie up and then put her down onto a table. 

            “Lizzie go help your sister, she’s on table 4.”

            “Yes milady.” Lizzie said.  She turned and hurried off.

            Serenity un-strapped herself and looked around.  She was in a vast chamber filled with tables and work benches.  On each one was a half or nearly finished ship.  Most of them she could recognize, but some were unrecognizable.  Each table was connected by a set of stairs that led to a catwalks above them.  But all of the stairs and catwalks were built for shrunken women.  Serenity counted fifteen tables in all.  At the far end of the chamber was a round door.  On the walls were display screens that cycled through view after view of ships. 

            “This is Drydock 2.” Simone said with a little pride in her voice.  She was wearing gray mechanics coveralls.  “Most of the final assembly work is done here.”

            “Where is Drydock 1?” Serenity asked stepping out of the tube.

            “Here I’ll show you.” Simone said.  She picked Serenity up and carried her over to a long bench that held a computer work station and various other tools.  Above the computer was a large glass window.  Simone put Serenity onto the table.  After a moment to get her balance again Serenity looked through the glass.  She couldn’t see much.  The other room was filled with a swirling yellow and gray mist.  Small shapes moved around large stationary shapes.

            “Robots?” Serenity asked.

            “Yes.” Simone said.  “We were lucky enough to find several veins of the types of ore we needed and they save us the trouble of mining and refining it ourselves as we first did.  Some mine and some more of them fashion the frames and hulls of the ships.  Merry calls them: ‘Doozers’.”

            “What is that mist?” Serenity asked.

            “Their power source.” Simone said.  “They ‘breathe’ it and a chemical reaction does the rest.  Far more efficient than individual power supplies.  We’ve improved them since Merry retrieved the Steampunk technology from Faerun.” 

            “Where is Merry now?” Serenity asked feeling another stab of guilt.  Her natural curiosity had buried it momentarily but now it was back.

            “In the Argo.” Simone said.  “Almost ready for launch.”

            She tapped a command onto the computer keyboard and the screen above it lit up showing another chamber.  The ship it showed was a hybrid.  It was as if someone had taken a battle ship and a submarine, turned the sub upside down and stuck them together.  Then they had stuck three rockets onto that.  A small black woman was working around the ship.

            “Merry will sleep until she reaches the moon.” Simone said.  “I’ve already altered her memories.”

Without warning Simone picked her up and carried her across the room.  Serenity had an urge to struggle for a moment but suppressed it.  But it was hard to fight that urge.  Simone’s fingers were large and powerful.  They walked past many half finished ships until they reached a strange combination.  Serenity recognized the Battlestar Galactica and on top of it was the Enterprise D from Star Trek the Next Generation.  Support struts married the two ships together.  Lizzie and Jessie were working on the Galactica’s engines. 

“These are the ships we will be using.” Simone said.  “We’ve taken just about everything out of the Galactica and turned her into a giant engine.  The Enterprise D will take us the rest of the way and her computer will hold your program.”

Simone carried her back to the computer console.

“How much time will you need to write your program?” She asked setting Serenity down on the floor.

“A few hours.” Serenity said.  “But I need my armor.”

“It’s right here.” Simone said holding up a box.  She reached into her pocket and took out a small glass vial.  “This will grow you back to full size.  You had better take the robe off first.  They hurt if you grow out of them.”

Serenity shrugged off the robe as she took the vial from Simone.  She moved with haste and had to force her hands not to shake.  She wanted to be normal again.  The stuff tasted vaguely of honey as she drank it.  There was a moment of disorientation and Simone steadied her or Serenity might have fallen.

“The first few times are the hardest.” Simone said.

“I hope not to do it many more times.” Serenity said.  She looked around, getting used to the room again now that she was full size.  Then she looked at the console.  Spotting the firewire connection was easy.  The main console held a standard keyboard but next to that was an oddly shaped one filled with strange symbols.  Serenity reached into the box and put on her bracelets and necklace. 

“Armor on.” She said and was rewarded with a warm rush of energy as her armor mystically appeared around her body.  The familiar display screen appeared in front of her face and all the readings were a steady, reassuring green.  Almost all.  Communications were red, as was the global positioning system.  There was still no way to tell where she was.

“I’ll leave you to this then while I see to Merry’s launch.” Simone said.

“Simone wait.” Serenity said.  Guilt had at last forced itself back into the forefront of her mind and Serenity realized that she had to deal with it before it got worse.  “Lizzie told me about what happened to Corella and Roxanna.”

“She did?” Simone asked.  Her face grew dark.  “I did not give her that permission.”

“Please don’t be angry with her, I forced it out of her.” Serenity said.  She had a sudden vision of Lizzie being punished and more guilt was the last thing she needed.  “I’m sorry.  And when I tell her Verity will be sorry.”

“You pick and interesting time to bring this up.” Simone said tapping her finger on Serenity’s suit.  “Safe within this metal skin.”

“Armor off.” Serenity said.  The armor vanished and she was nude again.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give them impression that I was hiding.  But I truly am sorry.”

“I’m sure you are.” Simone said.  “And perhaps your daughter and her friends are as well.  Your regret means very little to Corella and Roxanna.”

“I know, but…” Serenity trailed off as her mind reached for arguments that weren’t there.

"It is settled according the to law." Simone said turning away again.

"But… is that really good enough?" Serenity asked. 

"What do you mean?" Simone asked turning back to her. 

"Through her actions my daughter and her friends helped kill those women." Serenity said.  He hands were shaking and she gripped them together. 

"Yes they did." Simone said.  "They forced a starving woman to beg for food.  They played with her, taunted her; ignored her pleas for mercy.  But as I said the matter is settled according to the law."

"That's not enough." Serenity said.  "It won't be for them."

Simone startled her by laughing.  There was a slight bitterness to the laugh.

"Serenity what are you saying?  That your daughter and her friends have acquired a conscience since then?  You can’t imagine that the idea that they feel guilty makes any difference to me.  It was very hard when we found Lizzie and Jessie because they looked exactly like Corella and Roxana.  I was overjoyed when we actually did find them.  But the fates stole them away again and your daughters helped in causing that pain.  Do you think the fact that they suddenly might feel guilty would in anyway assuage my anger?"

"No." Serenity stuttered.  "I… I'm not sure.  I would hope it would mean something.  You said yourself after Faerun that they had suffered."

"And that was before I realized what their actions had done to Roxanna and Corella." Simone said.  "It was only after I got back to Dollopolis that I realized the true damage to their bodies and why I could not save them.  They lived long enough to tell us how they had eaten the poison.  Merry and I argued for a time, but we both realized that the judgement I had made could not be overturned.  Your daughter and her friends are safe from us Serenity.  In your terms they ‘lucked out’.  They don't have to regret what they did and I doubt very much that they do."

Simone had been speaking in a cold hard voice and it didn’t re-assure Serenity at all.

"But they do." Serenity said.  "And they will."

"Let them." Simone said.  "There is nothing that they can do.  I saved the bloodline, that is what is important."

Her tone of voice had the finality of a door closing and Serenity realized that she'd have to accept that someday.  But in the current moment the mother in her demanded she press on.

"So if you or Merry ever meet them again…"

"That will not happen." Simone said.  "They do not exist for us."

"It might happen." Serenity said.  "If Merry joins Earth Force, I work with Lucy often, she comes to my home with Earth Force.  If Merry…"

Simone sighed with enough force to interrupt her.  Then she gathered Serenity into a soft hug.

"You're scared that Merry will tear them apart when she next meets them?" Simone asked.  "She won't.  The matter is closed Serenity.  Merry lives according to the law and the law says that the matter is closed.  Just warn your daughter and her friends never to mention it to us."

She let go of Serenity and backed away. 

"I don’t hold you responsible for your daughters actions and neither does Merry.  She respects you as much as I do.  Let it go, nothing can change the past.  Now we really must concentrate on the matter at hand.  I will go launch Merry, you can start your work."

She was gone, walking swiftly between the tables and toward the far end of the room, before Serenity could think of anything else to say.

"Armor on." Serenity said and it was comforting to feel it around her again.

Dear Lord I wish it were truly over Simone, Serenity thought.  But it won't be, not once Verity learns of this.  My daughter's new found conscience will drive her to do something, somehow.  At the very least to apologize.  Dear Lord what will happen if she tries? 

Serenity pushed the thought from her mind and opened a small panel in her armor.  She brought to her mind the beginnings of the program she needed to write and set to work.  If her daughters were going to be in peril in the future she wanted them to face Simone, not Timidious.  And certainly not Merry.

 

 

 

Mary had seen the Earth from space many times.  This was the first time the beauty didn’t move her.  She and the rest of Earth Force sat in restraining chairs.  The chairs were built of extra strong metal and used woven metal straps at the ankles, legs, stomach, chest, arms, neck and head to keep a person immobile.  Built into the chair were neural and psychic scramblers and motors.  They were designed to make a person absolutely helpless and they succeeded.  Painting them black just added to the effect.  Extra wide wheels gave them stability so that the person trapped in them couldn’t tip them over.  After a long trip to Florida and a long wait on the launch pad the shuttle trip had been brief.  When it landed on the moon they had been wheeled off of the shuttle and just abandoned.  Or so it seemed.  Mary wondered if they weren’t being watched or if the wait was just a subtle way of emphasizing their helplessness.

The German lunar base was like many of the lunar bases.  A small crater had been chosen and then a thick transparent dome had been erected over it.  The dome was five feet thick of multi-layered composites, strong enough to handle a small sized meteor impact.  The materials could also be polarized to block out the worst of the sun.  The stuff actually performed most of the functions of an atmosphere in keeping out harmful rays. 

Once the dome was complete and sealed air was pumped in and the temperature regulated.  Then a moss was introduced to stimulate more oxygen.  Artificial smells were added to make the air less stale.  With the dome and the oxygen there the people building the actual base could work without suits.  Mary saw some workers far away from them.  They worked stiffly, not with the fluid dancing grace that most lunar workers picked up after time in the low gravity.  She was sure that Timidious was controlling them.  They had been building a standard block-house lunar colony, but now they were building a palace.  A royal palace.  The lunar dust had been found to be the basis of a strong type of concrete.  Trouble was it was gray or yellow/gray and any attempts at coloring it resulted in a hideous pastel.  Looking at it now Mary had the impression of a layer cake made by a drunken student chef.

For the past twelve hours they had all been left alone.  Positioned just out of sight of each other, barely able to make a move or a sound.  Mary was grateful that the chairs had bathroom attachments.  She wasn’t happy that her pants had been left off for them to work.  Aside from the Earth and the lunar scenery a large TV had been put in front of them.  On it newscasters told them what was happening on the planet.  Governments were hunting down the heroes who refused to surrender and pleading for the people not to panic.  In any city where the heroes weren’t surrendering there was panic.  An angry mob had overrun the Chicago Battlers base and the Battlers were missing.  Mary knew that the Battlers were a fiercely loyal group and their junior member-Electro Gal-was a shy girl who could whip up anything electronic.  A lot of commentators were taking sides and some of them angered her.  A few wanted to capitulate and said that the world could hardly do worse than the current governments.

Every hour Timidious appeared on the set and gave a speech.  It was the standard world domination speech, Mary had heard it before.  He had proclaimed himself emperor of Earth and in his speech had warned against any resistance.  In a few days the alien race called the Triume would be arriving to become the world law enforcers of his rule.  Mary guessed that the ship that rested outside the dome belonged to that race.  Moon Girl might have been able to tell her about them if she could have talked or Mary were able to use her powers.  Timidious promised benevolence and a new golden age so long as all of his wishes were followed to the letter.

The sight of him drove Mary to new heights of fear and rage.  And despair.  He was winning.  There was no greater foe than a friend gone bad and that was what Timidious was now.  Worse than Sandy Sommerset, but with many of the same resources.   Mary thought of all the paranoia that had been directed at Dollopolis.  All of it wasted since the real traitors were out front and no one even suspected them.  It infuriated her.  Her helplessness infuriated her.  She could do nothing but sit in the filtered sunlight and breath the artificially scented air.  The fake smell of roses. 

Mary’s chair started to move and as it did she saw that the others had started to move as well.  They were moved in single file down a ramp and across the crater to a tower in the center.  It was the first chance that Mary had gotten to see her team mates and her eyes went to Esmerelda first. 

Magic was a product of the natural energy of a planet.  The further you traveled off of the surface the less effect magic had.  For Yoran, Lucy and the Power Sisters that simply meant that they became less powerful.  But Esmerelda was a werewolf.  Magic was literally in her blood.  It had never been that bad when she lived in the floating pyramid that used to be Force Group J and Teen Force’s base.  But they were a lot further than that now.  Worse they were on the moon.  The magic inherent in Esmerelda’s curse demanded that she turn into a wolf because of the lunar light, but the lack of magical energy made that impossible.  Esmerelda was trapped between the two forces.  She was pale and sweating and kept twitching in her chair.  Mary hoped that the young girl could make it.

  The rolling motion of the chairs was made worse by the low lunar gravity.  They traveled slowly toward the main tower.  It was a square tower and Mary realized that block houses had been stacked one on top of another to form it.  The tower reached nearly to the top of the dome.  It sill looked like a child’s Playdough creation but it was larger than any other building and a giant black ‘T’ was etched into the side.  The chairs took them into the tower and across a small room and then into an elevator.  After a short ride the door opened and the chairs wheeled them into a throne room.  Seated on a raised platform in royal purple robes was Timidious.  Behind him on the far wall was a large console and Mary guessed that the room was probably intended as the colony’s C&C center.  The console screen showed the rests of the complex.  On either side of him was most of Muscle Inc.  Mary noticed Mr. Business immediately.  He was clearly uncomfortable, pale and his hands were twitching.  He was also sweating.  He was having the same problem as Esmerelda.  Mr. Business was a sorcerer, his magic faded the further he got from Earth.  Beside him Deadly Beautiful was having the same problem.  They were both pale and her tail trembled.  But there was a look of satisfaction on her face.  On the other side of them were Al and Bal.  It was interesting how those with magical based powers had separated themselves from those without magical based powers.  Mary wondered how they all managed to get along.  But any hope that they would switch sides was dashed as she saw their faces.  Timidious held them in a mental grip, she was sure of it.  The walls of the room were black and gray.  A huge window showed the lunar landscape with the Earth in the sky.

“Welcome Earth Force.” Deadly Beautiful said.  She was wearing a gold chain mail tunic that covered her from neck to knees.  She was also wearing a silver crown studded with jewels.  “My lord, master and lover The Emperor of Earth welcomes his future slaves and the additions to our future harem.”

Seldom had Mary been so frustrated by a gag.  There was a multitude of jokes that she wanted to make.  Timidious knew that of course.  He sat on the throne and smiled at her.

“By now you’ve all had time to see what I’ve done.” Timidious said.  “I won’t waste time asking if anyone wants to switch sides.” 

He stepped off of the throne and walked over to them.  Mary glared but shrank back in fear at the same time as he stopped in front of her.  He smiled and reached into her shirt to fondle her breasts.

“I’m not the same type your used to fighting.” Timidious said.  “I’ve spent my life battling supervillains and I’ve seen how they loose.  That’s not going to happen to me.”

He moved onto Lucy and tore open her shirt.  While she struggled in outrage he lifted up her bra and started to pinch her nipples.

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time Lucy.” Timidious said.  “All those times I had Mary and others, but some heroines like you and Miss Shadow were too dangerous.  There was too much of a chance that you’d break free of the mental blocks and remember.  Even when we were out in space and you were weak I couldn’t touch you.”  He paused and smiled.  “Unless you were out cold.”

He reached into his robe and took out a black circlet.  It was about an inch thick and covered in alien writing.  Lucy struggled even more but the chair held her in place.

“Of course you’re so stubborn controlling you would’ve been too hard anyway.  But your old foe Count Intellect came up with this little gadget once.  I’m sure you remember it.  It sends a periodic charge into your brain, just like a pacemaker.”  Timidious started to lower the circlet onto Lucy’s head.  “Scrambles your mind so your stubbornness won’t be a problem.  Not that I’m worried about you becoming Goddess of Justice, that’s one of the reasons I’m up here.  All the magic in the world can’t reach me here.”  He placed the circlet on her head and then knelt down in front of her.  Their eyes locked and slowly Lucy’s struggles ceased. 

“Athena can’t help you now Lucy.” Timidious said.

They both fell silent and Mary knew what was happening.  Timidious was forcing his own will into Lucy’s.  He would use his power to re-organize part of her brain, creating a small part of himself there.  That part-not weighed down by the need to keep the body running-would control the body and the conscious mind.  It wasn’t hypnosis as much as it was compulsion.  You knew what you were doing was wrong, that you should be free, but there was no way to actually free yourself.  It was hell, not being awake but being aware.

The battle took about an hour but when Timidious finally stood up Lucy was still.  He reached over and unlocked her from the chair.  The depressing part was that he didn’t even look tired.  He walked back to his throne and sat down.

“Arise Lucy and show your new station in life.”

Lucy stood up and stumbled a bit out of the chair.  Then she got on her hands and knees and crawled over to him.  She bent down and put her hands behind her neck, crossing the wrists.

Oh great he’s read the Gor novels, Mary thought.

“It’s a good start.” Timidious said.  “But it was a fight.  He looked at Mary and laughed.  “But some of you won’t be that much trouble.”

Mary couldn’t stop the dread that filled her at his words.

“I had years and years with Force Group J.” Timidious said.  “Before that tiny bitch showed up and ruined it.”  He  stood again and walked over to Mary.  “Years to dive deep into the minds of the heroines I wanted to play with.”  Mary cringed and then blinked in surprise as he walked past her and over to Moon Girl. 

“Command 09001003.” Timidious said.  “Execute.”

Moon Girl’s face and body went slack and he un-locked her from the chair and walked back to his throne.

“Moon Girl, join Lucy.”

Mary watched as Moon Girl crawled over to him on her hands and knees and knelt before him in the same stance as Lucy.

“Every oath I witnessed I left something behind that would grow.” Timidious said.  “And I wasn’t the only one.  The EIA did the same thing.  That’s why right now telepaths on Earth are being hunted down and killed by associates of Mr. Business.  It’s expensive, but then in a few weeks money won’t matter anyway.  At least not Earth money.”

So how the hell was he keeping Muscle Inc. happy, Mary wondered.  They were a mercenary group, they lived for money.  Could he be mentally controlling them all?

“In answer to your question Mary I’m not mentally controlling Muscle Inc.” Timidious said.  He held up a small black rod.  “This contains Triume brain pirates.  They go into the brain and set up an entirely new behavior pattern.  Deadly Beautiful was kind enough to put a few of these into her body and then have sex with the rest of Muscle Inc.”

Mary looked more closely at the villains.  They didn’t seem any different.

“They don’t change the behavior completely, just enough to inspire total loyalty.” Timidious said.  “And the rests of my telepathic troops have it too.  I’ve covered all the bases, left nothing to chance.  The heroes are being hunted by the governments, all the magic in the world can’t reach me up here, the smartest people in the world are being killed as we speak and those telepaths not in league with me are being hunted down.  In two weeks time the Triume will be here and my reign as Emperor will truly begin.  I might even change my name to  ‘Tiberious’”.

“Hello Sister.” Mr. Tech said walking into the room. 

“Report.” Timidious barked.

“It’s all ready.” Mr. Tech said.  “I’ve ringed the dome with sensors so sensitive that they could spot a dust mite.”

He didn’t believe that Merry was dead, Mary realized.

“Of course I don’t believe she’s dead.” Timidious said.  “Like I said Mary I’m not the type you’ve battled before.  I don’t leave things to chance.  There’s no way Mystery Woman dies that easily.  I don’t know how she got out but I’m sure that she did.”  He reached under the throne and pulled out the box that Muscle Inc. had stolen.  “And if what I saw in Lucy’s mind is true she’ll switch sides to get this back.  I’ll offer her this and a world of resources to help her city.”

Why? Mary demanded silently.

“Because the Triume’s enemies have offered me a better deal if I take them out.” Timidious said.  “And I’ve never seen anyone better at infiltration.  With her aid I just won’t be ruling a planet, I’ll be on my way to a multi-solar system empire!”

The sound of muffled screaming interrupted them and Mary looked over and saw that Mr. Tech was holding a red hot probe near Gadget Gal’s face.

“Stop that!” Timidious barked at him.

Mr. Tech ignored him and Timidious pulled a gun out of his robes and fired.  A beam of red light hit a force field that Mr. Tech had set up around himself and bounced off.

“She’s my payment.” Mr. Tech said with a voice full of hate.  “My good sister, the one everyone cared about...  The only one here who could take back control of the satellites.”

“So don’t kill her, enslave her.” Timidious said.  He walked over and held up the rod. 

“Her tech might beat them.” Mr. Tech said.

“So kill her after that.” Timidious said.  He stepped through the force field and slammed the rod into Gadget Gal’s neck.  Then he un-locked the gag and her screams filled the room. 

“My boy you’ve got to learn that vengeance is all about pain.”  He turned to Mary again.  “That’s another reason I think that Mystery Woman will join me, I’m having Miss Shadow brought up in the next shuttle.  I’ll serve her up on a platter and that might cinch the deal.  Mystery Woman is like me, she’s completely amoral and goal oriented.”

Mary was trying to believe that Simone and Merry would turn down the deal but a doubt was gnawing at her.  If they had sealed the deal and Merry had joined Earth Force it wouldn’t even be a question, but they hadn’t.  Merry and Simone had no reason to be loyal to any Earth Government.  The friendship that Lucy hoped would someday grow between them wasn’t there yet.  Only Esmerelda and Prudence would give Merry pause and that might not affect Simone.

“It’ll be fun to see that black bitch taken down a few pegs.” Timidious said.  “Without her magic she’s a coward.”
            He and walked over to Alpha and Beta.  Behind him Gadget Gal’s screams had turned into choking  gasps of agony and her body was twisting in wretched spasms against her chair.  Her brother was smiling at her pain.  Mary realized that Mr. Tech and Gadget Gal were closer to what Merry’s old world was like.  More despair started to build in her.  

“Speaking of magic.” Timidious said.  He took the rings off of the Power Sister’s fingers.  You two never joined anything but Earth Force and I didn’t have time to put a telepath I could control in there.  So I’ve never really had either of you.”

They looked at him with anger and fear.  He examined the rings. 

“But without these you’re just normal women.  Walking boobs from what I’ve heard.  I also heard about your trick to avoid Count Intellect’s torture.  You put most of your minds and spirits into the rings, but you left a link to your bodies.  You survived but according to the records I read from the Mount Sinta Mental Hospital you really didn’t get out free and clear.”

They stiffened in their restraints and Mary sympathized.  Many heroes and heroines went to mental hospitals, especially the ones who were tortured.  But it wasn’t something anyone wanted to talk about.  They worked very hard at keeping the records secret.

“Well don’t worry girls, I’m not going to rape you.” Timidious said. 

He started to un-strap Alpha from her chair.  As soon as her arms were free Alpha raised a fist to hit him.  Her wrist was caught by Bal and the ape laughed.  It was an obscene sound, a mixture of a hyena’s bark and an ape’s growl.  He held her securely as Timidious released the rest of her limbs.  As each one was released the eight armed ape creature took hold of it.

“You bastard!” Alpha snarled as Timidious took off her gag.  Timidious laughed and started to free her sister.  Bal grabbed Alpha as she was freed.  The apes started to fondle the helpless heroines taking very little notice of their struggles.   Alpha screamed as the ape holding her pulled the top of her costume off and began to molest her.  An icy shot of fear went through Mary as she realized what was going to happen to the Power Sisters.

Al and Bal were aliens, they had been brought to Earth as part of an invasion and liked the planet enough to stay after the invasion failed.  Their culture was a caste one and being on the lowest caste level they would never have a chance to look at a female, let alone touch one.  But on Earth they could.  On Earth they could have as many women as they could grab.  And they hated  women.  Al and Bal were seven feet tall with four arms and a pair of legs that ended in a hand/feet combination.  They were covered in a soft gray fur.  Their faces were more ape than human, but their teeth were flat.  They weren’t meat eaters.  Their top arms were the longest, the next set a half a foot shorter and the lowest set a half a foot lower than those.  The co-ordination of the arms was incredible.  Bal proved that now as his top arms held Alpha’s hands in an unbreakable grip.  The hands on his middle arms roamed over her large breasts while his final set caressed her ass.  His penis started to emerge from the fur.  It was longer and larger than a humans would have been.

“Yea.” Timidious said to Mary.  “Al and Bal have a score to settle with those two.  The Power Sister’s were the ones who destroyed their ship and stranded them on Earth after the invasion and sent them to prison a few times.  But you don’t have to worry Mary.  I like you, you’re mine and no one else’s.”

Mary growled through her gag.

“I do.” Timidious said.  “Really.  You’re sort of like my favorite pet.  I’d have tried to let you in on my life years ago if you weren’t so wedded to Lucy’s pussy.”  He reached over and reached into her shirt again.  “All those years pining away for someone who’d never touch you.  What a waste.”

Mary growled again and strained at her bonds.  Timidious ignored her anger and walked back to his throne.

“You’re a powerful telepath Mary but you’re a terribly weak person.  I was able to make you dance anyway I wanted to.  I can still do it you now.  One command and you’ll be right next to Lucy and Moon Girl.  But my control wouldn’t be that effective, you’ve gone through some pretty good mind scrubbing in the past year and you hate me.  That’s why I’ve decided to let Dr. Smith do some brain surgery.  I want your powers gone, but I still like your body.  But not yet.  He’s on Earth and Teleport-her and Incinerator are looking for him.  Mystery Woman shot him a few times.  I may give her the chance to kill him all the way.  Another incentive for her, and I’m getting Ms. Huan for her as well and maybe Iron Mistress’s daughters.”

Marry swallowed.  That much vengeance would be hard for Merry to resist. 

“But that’s for later.  For now a little entertainment.  Lucy, Moon Girl, go back to your chairs and sit down.”

They got up and walked back to their chairs.  Then at some silent mental command four men walked into the room carrying a large plastic bag.  They put it on the floor between the throne and the captives.  Then one of the men attached a hose to the bag.  A gray sludge rushed into it and as it filled Mary realized what it was.  A bed.  The lunar dust was mixed with dead moss to create a sponge-like material.  The effect was very much like a waterbed. 

As soon as the bed was filled the men left.

“Ok.” Timidious called.  “Al and Bal, you have center stage.  Let’s see what you can do.”

Alpha and Beta screamed and fought back and Mary shut her eyes as they were both dragged onto the bed.

“Open your eyes Mary.” Timidious laughed and Mary’s eyes opened.  She tried to look away and failed, tried to close them and failed.  She could blink, but that was it.  But while Timidious could make her look he couldn’t keep her from crying as the ape-like aliens started to rape her friends.

 

 

 

Serenity sat back and ran her mind through the program as she read it off of the computer screen.  Once she had downloaded what she had needed from her armor Serenity had shut it off and put on a robe that Simone had given her.  The armor always made it hard to type.  The program was simple and as usual with computer programs the simpler it seemed to be in concept the harder it was to actually write.  Part of the problem was speed.  She needed this program to be absolutely as fast as possible.  The meant not going with C++, that meant going with machine code and it had been years since she’d done that.  Serenity’s program had to do what needed to be done in those few precious seconds.  Luckily the satellites had been designed seven years earlier and their computers had been rendered nearly obsolete by the progress made since then.  The chips that Merry had stolen were gigahertz faster.

It still bothered Serenity that Merry had managed to steal the processors and other chips from her most secure factory.  She’d gone over the theft a hundred times and hadn’t figured out how. 

“How are you proceeding?” Simone asked walking over to her.  She was wearing a pair of gray mechanics overalls and so were Lizzie and Jessie.  She carried a tray with tea and Lizzie and Jessie on it and placed the tray on the console.

“Done.” Serenity said.  She watched as Simone poured the tea.  Lizzie and Jessie sat at their own little tea table with a complete tea set.  Lizzie was still wary of her.

“Lizzie I do apologize for what happened earlier.” Serenity said.  “I was very worried for my daughters.”

Lizzie shrugged but didn’t say anything.

“I’m afraid I have some bad news.” Simone said.  “Timidious does believe you are dead, but he’s afraid of what your daughter might do and he’s ordered her arrest.”

“He’s ordered?” Serenity repeated aghast at the idea.  “He’s achieved that sort of control already?”

“Yes, it seems so.” Simone said.  “Truly was freed from the asylum by an armed force and is using his authority to take over the country.”

“Damn him to hell.” Serenity swore as she sipped her tea.  “Where is Verity now?”

“According to the press reports she and Bitch-35 simply vanished.”

“That means that they’re hiding.” Serenity said.  “They’ve actually gotten to be good friends over the past year.  And Bitch-35 calls herself Beatrice now.”

“Then I think we can consider them safe.” Simone said.  “Is the program ready?”

“I’ve debugged it and it’s compiling it now.” Serenity nodded.  She pushed the worry of her daughters from her mind.  She and Verity had patched things up to the point where they were truly friends as well as mother and daughter, and Beatrice was a part of that.  But Truly-raised to hate and evil-was not.  Serenity had managed to put her into an asylum rather than prison but nothing she did had bridged the gap between them.

“Good.” Simone said.  “When it is done we’ll transfer it into the Enterprise-D.  Her computer is  the same as the one you’ve been working on and the software development system you down loaded into this one has already been transferred.  For now we can have a bath and then suit up.”

“A bath?” Serenity asked.  “Do we really have time?”

“For this one we do.” Simone asked.  “You see Serenity we don’t wear spacesuits.  You’ve no doubt heard the description of the gray suit Merry wears from time to time?”  Serenity nodded.  “It is an artificial skin bonded to the body.  The bond must be complete so any dirt or hair must be removed.”

“Hair?” Serenity asked her hand going to her light red hair.  She suddenly noticed that Simone’s red hair and Lizzie and Jessie’s black hair had all be cut short.

“Yes.” Simone said.  “The solution that I will bath you and the girls in will dissolve all the hair on your body except your head.  That will have to be cut short I’m afraid.  The helmet covers your  head though so you don’t have to be shaved bald.”

Serenity absorbed the news.  Then accepted it.

“Well it will grow back I suppose.”

“Yes it will.” Simone said.  “I must warn you the process involved in applying the skin can be painful.”

“Really painful.” Jessie said.

“Yea, really.” Lizzie echoed.

“Well I can handle pain.” Serenity said responding to the challenge in their voices.

“Then we shall begin.” Simone said.  Taking a pair of scissors out of her pocket she walked around behind Serenity.  

Serenity was startled but kept still as Simone quickly and efficiently cut her hair.

“We are a little pressed for time.” Simone said.  “Otherwise I would do this according to tradition.

“What is the tradition?” Serenity asked.

“We get to do it.” Lizzie said.

“While your tied up.” Jessie added.

“There is a long story behind that tradition that we really don’t have time for.” Simone said.  She put down the scissors and Serenity ran her hand through her now short hair.  It wasn’t too short, but it was shorter.  Simone took a small bottle out of her pocket and handed it to Serenity. 

“Once you are small I shall carry  you and the girls to the bathing room.  That at least we shall do according to tradition and in a way that befits your rank and status as an invited guest.”

Serenity took the bottle and drank it quickly.  What ever was going to happen it was best to get it over with quickly. 

 

 

 

Simone watched as Serenity shrank and then picked her up and put her onto the tray with Lizzie and Jessie.  As they had planned Lizzie glared at  her.  Simone picked the tray up and carried it into the next room.  The Group had moved quickly once they had decided what to do.  What had been a store room had been redone as sort of a temple.  The ceiling was painted as a skyscape with glowing purple clouds and multicolored stars.  The walls were murals of strange alien landscapes.  In the center of the room was the skin machine, a long tube attached to a box with lights.  The box was a fake of course, the real machinery was hidden in  the table and the process would be controlled by The Group who were in another room.  On the far wall were a table and a fountain/bath.  A dragon’s head hovered over a basin.  The head was long and held red glowing eyes and gold outlines on black scales.  Lit cinnamon incense rose from burners on either side of the fountain.  A silver chain hung from one of it’s ears.  Next to that was another fountain with a smaller dragon head above it.  Simone put the tray down and was a bit satisfied that Serenity regarded the dragon head with a bit of fear.  Over hidden speakers a strange music started to play.  Simone hid a smile.  Monica’s music.

“That is...” Serenity trailed off looking at the dragon.

“The solution that cleans the body comes from the dragon’s blood.” Simone said.  “Traditionally on my world dragons guarded the entrances to kingdoms.  The creature is a recognized symbol of travel.”

Serenity nodded and Simone touched one of the dragon’s ears.  A clear liquid with a red tinge to it started to flow from the dragon’s mouth and fill the tub. 

Another layer is added to our lies, Simone thought.  There was a little guilt in her but not much.  They were after all trying to save the world.  And there was a part of her that loved this sort of role playing.  She turned away to pick up a towel and just as planned she heard Serenity’s shout as Lizzie pushed her.

In a flash Simone had turned and grabbed Serenity just as she was about to fall headfirst into the solution.  She put the tiny heroine back on the counter.

“Thanks.” Serenity said.

“What happened.” Simone demanded.

“It was an accident milady.” Lizzie said.

“Yea my lady.” Jessie agreed.

“I bumped into her my lady.” Lizzie said.

“An accident?” Simone asked Serenity.

“It must have been.” Serenity agreed.

Simone looked coldly at the girls. 

“What is the fourth law of conduct for Knightlings?” Simone demanded looking at the girls.  They looked away but finally Lizzie spoke up.

“Only truth can be spoken to the Duchesss.” Lizzie said.

“Now what happened?” Simone demanded.

“I… I sort’a pushed her.” Lizzie said.  She shrugged and her hands played with each other a bit.  “Just a little payback...  It’s ok under the Law of Vengeance... isn’t it my lady?”

“What is the requirement for the Law of Vengeance for visiting nobility?” Simone demanded.  She was bursting with pride for the girls performance even as she was trying to figure out why they were doing it.  The Group had set this up specifically but were silent as to the reasons.

“That... that the case be laid before you my lady.” Lizzie said.

“And was it?”

“No my lady.” Lizzie looked away.

“Then you have broken the Laws of Hospitality.” Simone said.  “I’m sure you would have gotten much enjoyment out of a bald Serenity but your actions were against the laws.”

“Simone really...” Serenity started to defend Lizzie but Simone stopped her.

“The Laws are quite clear Lady Highfield.” Simone said.  “And we in Dollopolis live by those laws.” 

She picked Lizzie up, holding her securely and pinning her arms to her sides.  Then she turned Lizzie around and started to spank her.  Lizzie made the appropriate yelping sounds, kicking her legs and squirming in her hand.  Simone kept the spanking playful and tried not to get aroused.  She hoped the girls would too.  Early on in their relationship Simone had introduced them to the fun side of spanking.  After a few minutes she put a crying Lizzie back onto the counter.

“Now do what is required.” Simone commanded.

Lizzie wiped her tears away and walked over to Serenity.  Simone hoped that the girl would remember the oath exactly.  Serenity watched clearly uncomfortable as Lizzie knelt in front of her, hung her head and took hold of Serenity’s ankles.

“By the Laws of Dollopolis and the Laws of Hospitality I, Lizzie, Knightling have wronged you and I kneel here before you humbled and shamed.  I swear by my honor and under the Law of Responsibility that you may now ask of me any task and I will complete that task or die in the attempt.  Such task to be agreed upon after a time of penance that I will suffer from now until the next moon rises.”

“I… I really can’t accept.” Serenity said.  “The offense…”

“Would have left you bald and possibly temporarily blind.” Simone said.  “We do not have time for personal vengeance and my knightling should have known that.  If you do not accept this Lady Highfield you doom Lizzie to the mandatory punishment and that places her in Merry’s charge.”

I don’t like using the woman I love as a bogy man, Simone thought.  At the same time she couldn’t deny that it was satisfying to see Serenity’s face pale.  If they couldn’t love and admire Merry the way she could then they would damn well respect and fear her.

“I accept then.” Serenity said.

Simone reached over and stopped the flow.  Then she stood back and took off her overalls.  At the same time Lizzie and Jessie took off theirs.  Serenity looked on and for a moment Simone was reminded of her school days.  The new girls were always surprised by the locker room lessons that the older girls gave and their faces always reflected that.  Serenity’s face held that same surprised and vaguely embarrassed look.

And now to really put the pressure on her, Simone thought.  She told herself that it wasn’t really wasting time.  The ships had to be fueled up and other matters attended too.  Besides ritual and laws were the façade that Dollopolis was built on.  They’d worked to hard to let it fall apart now.

Simone stepped into the ice-cold liquid and suppressed a shudder.  She’d never been much into shaving, but this at least had the benefit of being like an all over herbal wrap.  Simone stepped into the center of the tub, placed the chain around her neck and then her arms above her head and slowly sank up to her neck.

“As I am the Duchess of Dollopolis I demonstrate that this bath is cleansing, refreshing and harmless.” Simone said.  She steadied herself and then cupped her hands and held them next to the counter. 

“As I am a knightling of Dollopolis I demonstrate that this bath is cleansing, refreshing and safe.” Lizzie said stepping onto Simone’s palms.

Simone stood up and brought Lizzie close to her chest.  Lizzie gripped the chain and Simone let her go and stood for a moment letting herself enjoy Lizzie’s small body hanging between her breasts.  Then she sank into the solution again.  She stopped as the solution reached Lizzie’s neck.  Then Simone’s hands roamed over the tiny girls body, stroking it.  Lizzie sighed in pleasure; there was no reason to hide it now, as Simone’s fingers brushed her body and made sure that there was no hair anywhere on her.  Lizzie let go of the chain with one hand to make sure her arm was submerged and then repeated the movement with her other arm.  After a few minutes Simone stood up and reached over to the other dragon.  She pressed against it’s ears and clear water cascaded down into the basin bellow it.  Cupping Lizzie in her hands Simone passed her in and out of the stream of water that came from the blue dragon’s mouth.  When the basin was full enough she dropped Lizzie into it.

Jessie was next and while she bathed her second knightling Simone saw that Serenity was transfixed, but not really aroused.  She was clearly fascinated by the spectacle, but if her hand kept drifting between her legs Simone wasn’t sure if it was to stroke herself or just an instinctive motion of protection.  The woman had a nicely trimmed bush.

Now girl, Simone thought as she dropped Jessie into the bath, be an English woman.

“I ask now that you accept this bath with me Lady Highfield.” Simone said cupping her hands in front of the counter. 

“I accept in friendship and trust.” Serenity said and stepped onto Simone’s palms.

Good girl, Simone thought.

She brought Serenity close to her breast and the shrunken woman took hold of the chain.  She yelped slightly as Simone sank and Serenity’s feet hit the ice-cold solution, but that was all she did.  Once she was submerged Simone let her fingers roam over Serenity’s body.  It was a good little body, solid with fantastic muscle tone.  Her breasts were firm and the nipples responsive.  Heterosexual or not Simone knew that she could manipulate Serenity’s tiny body to a climax if she had wanted too.  It took a good deal of self control not too. 

Careful dear girl, Simone thought as she stroked Serenity’s submerged bottom, or Lizzie and Jessie might get jealous.  But it was a very good bottom.

 

 

 

Merry came awake instantly.  Her mind was clear on what she had to do.  But as soon as she opened her eyes Merry froze.  There are some sights that demand attention, that stop even the most dedicated in their tracks.  The Argo rested on the surface of the moon.  Outside the window Merry looked upon the stark, sterile beauty of the ages.  The white lunar dust coated craters that had been formed long before Merry had been born.  The jagged edges of those craters reached to the airless sky in mute testimony to the impact that had formed them.  Merry had been many places but she had never left a planet before.  Traveling world to world through dimensional doorways was different.

And her size was an issue.  Merry was used to being small, but never had she felt so tiny.  There was no life here that was her size, no insects or small animals.  She was the smallest living thing on the moon.

Merry blinked as she recognized the dome.  Slowly her mind started to work again.  Simone and Serenity needed time to work.  She had to find a way too give them that time.  Knocking out the power in the dome would probably do it.  There was another reason she’d insisted on coming.  She could feel it, a siren call from a half remembered song.  Her scythe was here.  Merry had very few concrete memories of the time that she had wielded that weapon.  But she remembered that while she had it Simone and Dollopolis were safe.  They needed that sort of safety again.

Tearing her eyes away from the lunar landscape Merry started to study the scans.  She needed to have an idea of what she was getting into.  She ignored the fuel reading that hovered just above zero.  If this worked she’d be picked up, if not there’d be no sense going home anyway.

Merry studied the base.  The crater was round and the dome was to thick to burn through without setting off alarms.  She ran the scanners along the base where the transparent dome was set into metal foundations.  After a few minutes Merry spotted a way in.  The dome was lined with solar panels welded into the base.  There were access plates next to the panels with wires inside that led into the base.  The foundation at those points was just thin enough to cut through.

Now do they know I’m here, Merry thought.  And if they do is that the spot they’d guess I’d come in?

There was no real way to answer that question and Merry knew it.  She opened the hatch and looked  around.  The lunar landscape caused her to shudder.  Merry had been in nearly every dangerous environment there could be but this was by far the most dangerous.  And it wasn’t only the lack of air.  Merry found that out as she stepped off of the ship and tumbled head over heals into the lunar  dust.  She bounced a few times until hitting a small rock.  Merry lay there for a moment and then carefully sat up.  She got to her feet and bounced up and down.  The lack of gravity was exhilarating.  Merry realized that walking normally was out of the question.  She took a few bunny hops, then a few more.  It got her where she wanted to go and her breasts didn’t even bounce up and down that much.  For a moment Merry stood and pondered. Then she jumped as high as she could.  By her best guess it was ten feet and she slowly returned to the ground.  Inside her helmet Merry smiled.  On her legs were knives and she could imagine what they could do.  Letting those thoughts gather in the back of her mind Merry started to move again.  Once Merry was sure that she could get around without falling she started to unpack the ship.  The Argo was in many respects a giant gun.  At one end was the engine and at the other a short barrel through which could be fired an energy beam if the ship had enough power.  Inside there was room enough for three shrunken women.  Merry had stripped out nearly every bit of the ship that she could and had packed it tight with fuel, but she saved enough room for what she needed.  She started to drag out parts and after a few minutes a rough glass-walled van started to take shape.  Any sci-fi buff would have recognized it as the Chariot from the TV show Lost in Space.  It was big enough for two shrunken women and small enough not to be spotted. 

Merry hoped.

 

 

 

Beta aimed a vicious kick at Al’s eye and missed.  He caught her ankle in one of his hands and twisted it, flipping her onto her stomach. Once there he lay flat across her back, holding her arms and legs apart and his erect penis slammed into her defenseless ass.  Beta screamed out her frustration and extorted passion.  She had Alpha had fought back against the rapes.  They may have had only human strength but they were still great fighters.  The low gravity helped them as they used their quickness to dance away from the alien apes.  But Mr. Tech had set up a force field around the bed, trapping them.  Slowly fatigue had eaten away at their speed until they were forced to wrestle with Al and Bal.  And in any sort of wrestling match they had no hope.  Alpha had been caught first.  Caught in a neck hold by Bal she had been choked out and could offer no resistance as he had mounted her.  Beta had tried to help her sister and been caught by Al.  After that the apes had simply toyed with them.

But now it was over.  The sisters lay beside each other and weakly reached over to clasp hands.  Their bodies were covered with semen, it coated their faces, breasts and stomachs.  Numerous scratches and teeth marks also covered their bodies.  Al and Bal sat back and laughed as they talked in their own language.

Mary had been forced to watch it all but at least her vision had been blurred by tears.  Timidious had laughed and cheered at the rape and that made her anger worse, but she’d been helpless and that fed her growing despair.  What would be next?  Would she be next? Lucy?  Prudence?  That question wouldn’t stop appearing in her mind.  There was no hope of rescue.

“Put them back in their chairs.” Timidious ordered.

The sisters put up a little fight as the apes roughly manhandled back into the rolling prisons.  It was useless and only showed that however battered their bodies were their spirits were still strong.  That wasn’t always a great idea.  There were times Mary knew when just bowing down was the only way to go, at least so long as you didn’t plan to make it permanent.

Once they were secure Timidious looked over at Gadget Gal.  Her body still writhed in the chair.  The girl was pale and barely breathing.  Mary couldn’t tell if she was winning or not.

A chime sounded and a display appeared in the air above the throne.  Mary recognized Truly Highfield. 

“My lord Emperor.” Truly said.  “I’ve found my sister and her gang, but they’ve hold up in an old castle with Miss Shadow and I can’t get through their force field.”

“I’m sure that the British government has a small nuke they aren’t using.” Timidious said.  “Detonate it far enough away from the castle to overwhelm the force field, but try not to kill them all.  Tell the government that if they don’t give you the nuke I’ll target London.”

“Yes my lord.” Truly smiled.

“Well I don’t want them causing mischief.” Timidious said as the screen vanished.  “Now back to the fun.”  He looked at Mary.  “I know you’ve had your fantasies Mary, but you’ve never really seen Lucy in action with another woman.  I was there when the Magma Lord’s daughter raped her.  Twelve hours of pure lesbian entertainment and Lucy  picked up a lot that night.  You should see what she learned.”

Oh no, Mary thought.  Please no, not that way!

Timidious laughed. 

“No, not you Mary.  But I think a demonstration of Lucy’s lesbian skills is in order.  Moon Girl will do for a partner for now.”

Mary watched as Lucy and Moon Girl responded to a silent command.  They stood and walked on to the bed.  She couldn’t stop the jealous agony from tearing through her as they shared a tender kiss.  If she hadn’t been gagged Mary knew her scream would have shattered ear drums.  She just knew it.  It did no good at all to know that Lucy and Moon Girl weren’t enjoying themselves either.  That deep within their minds the two women were screaming in frustrated fury.  The only thing Mary could see was in front of her.  She watched helplessly as Moon Girl pulled off Lucy’s shirt and reached under her bra.  Mary squirmed as the bra came off and Moon Girl’s mouth closed over Lucy’s nipple.

An alarm sounded and both women stopped as Timidious waved his arm in the air.  A display screen appeared above him showing the outside of the building.  At first they didn’t spot anything, then Mary spotted it.  A tiny figure moving along a pipe.

“Impossible!” Mr. Tech shouted.  “She can’t have gotten this far!”

“She did.” Timidious said.  “How?”

“I’ll find out!” Mr. Tech shouted.  “Computer, back track timeline on figure; show us where she came from!”

The screen changed and they saw Merry moving backward.  The display jumped back a few minutes at a time and then moved forward.  It was incredible.  They knew where she was but it was still hard to see her.  She moved from pipe to pipe, rock to rock and from person to person.  They saw her hitch rides on cranes, rovers and just about anything else that moved.  The computer back-tracked her to a spot near the base of the dome and then outside the dome.  They saw a small glass van come up to the base of the dome.  The van itself was hard to spot.  Merry had driven it into the shadow of a large rock.  She got out of the van and did something to the top of it.  Then she bounced over to the base of the dome and seemed to spread a sheet over herself forming a cover that pressed against the wall.  After a moment a stream of foam shot from the glass van onto her.  It bonded to the metal of the dome and dried almost instantly.  The view switched to the inside of the dome and they saw a rough oval outline be burned through the metal.  Then Merry stepped through, looked around and started to move.

“More than impressive.” Timidious said.  “We were ready for her, we were watching for her and she still got in.”

“She used every blindspot!” Mr. Tech whispered in astonishment.  “The air pressure drop was so low when she burned her way in it didn’t trigger the alarm.”  He started to adjust some control on a remote control.  ”I have to find her ship.”  

“Mr. Business, teleport out and get her.” Timidious ordered.

Mr. Business nodded and touched the band on his wrist.  There was a flash of light and he was gone.  On the screen he appeared behind Merry and grabbed her before she could react.  A second later they were back in the throne room.  Mr. Business held Merry in his hand.

“Wel…” Timidious started to speak but Merry wasn’t listening.  Her arm flashed in a blur and Mr. Business staggered back clutching a wrist that was spraying blood.  He dropped her and Merry landed and jumped before any one could react.  She launched herself from the floor and into Bal’s face.  He fell back screaming as she plunged her small knife into his eye.  Even as he staggered back Merry was on the move, leaping from him onto Bal’s neck.  Merry stuck her arm into his ear all the way and moved just before his hands reached for her.  He fell back into his brother, his balance destroyed and blood pouring from his ear.

There is no way in hell she’ll take’em all, Mary told herself as Merry landed on the floor and leapt toward Deadly Beautiful.  But she held out a wild hope anyway.  At the very least Merry was alive.  That meant Simone was alive.  But where was she?

Deadly Beautiful dodged at the last moment and Merry shot past her, landed and jumped again aiming for the far wall.  Before she could get there a red beam from Timidious gun hit her and she flew across the room and into the wall.  Merry hit hard and lay still.

 

 

 

Lizzie remembered when her and her sister had first been caught.  She remembered the terror of those first few months and the harsh punishments that could still give them nightmares.  They had been caught with a teenager named Mike and he had gone too far in his defiance.  They had never seen him again.  Both girls had realized after he was taken away that their lives were no longer in their hands.  The Giants held absolute power over them.  While they never expected to do much with their lives Lizzie and Jessie had always thought that they had a few choices.  The Giant’s crushed that idea.  They lived to serve period.  Their life had been hard with no rewards offered, only punishments.  Simone and Dollopolis had changed that. 

But now Lizzie realized she’d go through it all over again.  Twice.  It wasn’t bad luck that night they had attacked Merry.  It was the best luck they were ever going to have.  It wasn’t just the love they had found with Simone and Merry.  Lizzie had thought that love the best thing ever, she had never imagined being able to love and be loved by anyone but Jessie.  It wasn’t only that.  It was what that love had led to over the past few years.  The places they had gone and the people that they had met.  She held onto her sisters hand now and knew that Jessie felt the same way.  They were standing on the saucer section of the Enterprise-D.  In orbit.  Around them was nothing but space.  Bellow them was the planet Earth.  They had never even dreamed about going into space.  That sort of thing was so far above their lives that it just wasn’t even imaginable.  But here they were.  And being twelve inches tall just didn’t matter anymore.  Being twelve inches tall was a blessing now. 

We’re all small, Lizzie thought.  Even the Giants are small.  I guess it just matters who you  stand next too.  But we’re important now.  We’re Knightlings!  Someday we’ll be Knights again!  And maybe... Goddess...!

 “Easy girls.” Simone said walking carefully behind them.  She put her arms around their shoulders.  “Don’t get lost on me.”

“No my lady.” Jessie said.

“No my lady.” Lizzie said.  She suddenly wished that Simone was full size.  Lizzie wanted to float around her body and have Simone pull her in and play with her. 

Simone gathered them into a gentle hug and Lizzie realized that she never wanted it to end.  Not the moment, not Simone, not Dollopolis.  She never wanted to be full sized again.  And what ever she had to do to hold onto this life; she would.      

“Are we ready?” Serenity asked.

“Yes.” Simone said.  “I can see the satellite.”

Lizzie looked around and spotted it.  The defense satellite was big, about the size of a bus.  Giant solar panels extended out from it’s center  like a gigantic pair of black wings.  The thing looked scary.  It had multiple gun ports, some large and some small.

“As soon as I’m ready I’ll call for you.” Serenity said. 

“We’ll be ready.” Simone said.  “Come girls.”

They walked carefully back to the other end of the saucer.   Serenity sat in one of the oddest  contraptions that Lizzie had ever seen.  It was a hollow cube made of metal.  She sat strapped into a chair in the center and there were two control sticks and a pair of foot pedals.  Serenity moved the foot pedals and small puffs of smoke came from the edges of the cube.  It lifted off from the Enterprise-D and she moved the  control  sticks causing more puffs to come from other pipes. The strange craft moved silently toward the satellite.

{It works perfectly.}

{The entire system does.}

{This is something that we should explore.}

{Shrunken women seem very suited to space travel.}

“You mean we might come back mistress?” Jessie asked and Lizzie shared the excitement in her  voice.

“Let’s save the world first girls.” Simone said.  “And then think about vacation plans.”

 

 

 

Serenity moved through space effortlessly.  She’d thought her armor advanced, but it was almost nothing compared to the suit she was wearing now.  There was no restrictions at all on her movements.  The screen in front of her face showed what ever information she wished.  There were some drawbacks of course.  She was nude and the artificial skin showed every part of her body.  And the way it had been put on…  That had been painful.  But once it was on Serenity had marveled at how comfortable it was. 

Their technology is so advanced, Serenity thought.  Dear Lord I hope that someday they trust me enough to learn it.

She put the thought out of her mind and concentrated on docking with the satellite.  The last time Serenity had been this close was on the factory floor.  Then it had been large, but now it was more than large.  It was frighteningly large. 

But that’s the weakness, Serenity thought as her frame craft bumped into the hull of the satellite and stuck fast.  It’s too big and I’m too small.  As far as the on board defense thinks I’m just a bit of space junk.

Just keep thinking that way and we’ll be fine, Serenity told the satellite.

 

 

 

Merry woke up quickly and reached for her knives but they were gone.  She was in the center of the room in front of a throne.  Around her stood the apes, Mr. Business, Deadly Beautiful and Mr. Tech.  A quick look behind her showed that Earth Force was still trapped in their mobile prisons.  Except for Lucy and Moon Girl who were kneeling beside their chairs.  The two of them weren’t looking too active and Merry guessed that their minds were being controlled.  Gadget Gal was pale and trembling, in fact she was barely breathing.  Merry turned back to the throne.   Al and Bal were  on either side of her and they didn’t look happy.   

“I didn’t kill any of you?” She asked getting to her feet.  “I’m slipping.”

“You came close.” Mr. Business said.  His wrist was heavily bandaged.  Another bandage was on Bal’s face and another on Al’s head. 

“But it wasn’t really necessary.” Timidious said.  “I wanted to talk.”

“I carry on good conversations with dead people.” Merry said.  “They never disagree with me.”

Timidious laughed. 

“I want to make a deal.” He said.  “Earth Force is finished, they’ll all be licking my boots in a few weeks.  Before that the Triume will be here and with them I’ll rule this world.  If you and you city want to be safe you’ll be a part of that.”

“How do I know you can be trusted?” Merry asked.  “Your record isn’t great.”

“You don’t have a choice.” Timidious said.  “After the world is mine I’ll find Dollopolis.  You’re well hidden but could you keep your secrets  from a full world search?  Join me and I won’t even try.”

Merry turned and looked at Earth Force.  Behind the silver plate of her helmet her suit gave her readings on the chairs.  Each was individually powered.  The look on their faces was concern.  Mary especially was truly worried.

“I found her ship.” Mr. Tech said suddenly.  He held up a remote control and a display screen appeared above them.  Merry saw that the Argo wasn’t touched.

“Another toy.” Timidious said.

“What can you really offer us?” Merry asked.

“How the hell did that get to the moon?” Mr. Tech whispered.  He started to manipulate the controls on the remote. 

“Resources.” Timidious said.  “Safety.  And on a personal level in a few hours I’m going to have Miss Shadow here, along with Verity Highfield and her friends and Agent Huan.  And I have your scythe.  You can have it and them.  What did Lucy offer you?”

“Not a lot compared to that.” Merry said.  “But why?”

“Because I might need your help later.” Timidious said.  “Your record speaks for itself.”

Merry nodded.

“There’s no fuel.” Mr. Tech muttered.  “That ships empty.”

“A one way trip?” Timidious asked.  His tone was suddenly suspicious.  “That doesn’t sound like you.”

Merry shrugged. 

“No I mean it really doesn’t sound right.” Timidious said.  “And what about Simone and those  other two?  Scan the area for others.” He ordered.

“No one but me.” Merry said.

“Why?” Timidious demanded.  “You plan things out, you plan at least two ways out of every place you go to; but not here?”

Merry didn’t answer but she could feel him starting to ease into her mind. 

“Trying to read my mind won’t do it.” Merry said.  “And even if you get in you’ll never get out.”

“I’m not some low level psych.” Timidious growled.  “Let me in or I’ll melt your brain.”

“So much for trust.” Merry said. 

He pressed harder and Merry could feel her mental shield snap into action.  For Timidious to read her mind he would have to impress his own thought patterns into her brain, using that small part of himself to search through the rest of her mind. But her mental shield scrambled her thoughts, he couldn’t get a foothold.  For long minutes they stood there immobile as the mental battle raged on.  Merry fed her mental shields with any random image that came to her mind.

“You’re never getting in.” Merry said.  “No one ever has when I’ve been ready for them.”

“I’m not just anyone.” Timidious said calmly.  Then he shouted “I’m the best!”

The mental energy suddenly tripled and Merry staggered back.  She felt him start to push into her mind and this time he started to get through.  He would get through Merry realized. 

In the instant she realized it Merry moved.  She concentrated and grew.  Her artificial skin tore at her real skin as it was ripped away but she ignored the pain.  Merry put both her hands up as she grew forming them into points.  She grew to her full size and then kept going.  Her hands found the mark, each catching Al and Bal just under the chins.  With her fingers still held rigid Merry grew into the apes, using the momentum to turn her fingers into spears that drove into their throats.

Al and Bal staggered back from her each holding a suddenly bleeding throat.  Merry brought her hands down on Deadly Beautiful’s shoulders and felt them break.  She tore the mechanical wing off of the harpy and sent it flying.  Merry was about to shrink again when the beam from Timidious gun caught her in the chest.  On the right side just under the collar bone.  It burned a hole through her body and Merry fell to her knees in shock.

“LET ME IN!” Timidious shouted mentally and verbally. 

Her mental shield collapsed and Merry felt him claw his way through the last few days of her life.  It was over in an instant and she fell to the floor.  Pain was surging through the shock and her chest felt like it was on fire.  He’d missed her heart but it was hard to breath.

“Brilliant.” Timidious said.  “Absolutely brilliant.”

Merry tried to stand up and failed as the shock  hit her.

“Iron Mistress is alive and in Dollopolis and you just needed a little more time.” Timidious said.  He took a small Palm Pilot out of his robes.  “One thing we agree on Mystery Woman, the dead don’t argue.”  He started to hit controls and Merry fought through the pain enough to sit up.  He knew, he knew where Dollopolis was.  Where Simone was. 

Merry crawled toward him.  She could feel her body repairing itself, but her strength was too far from returning.  She managed a growl as he held up the Palm Pilot.

“A hazardous waste dump.” Timidious said.  “No wonder no one ever found it.”

He pressed a pen to the Palm Pilot and Merry cried out.

Then her mental conditioning fell apart and Merry felt her true self return.  She fell face down on the floor to hide her smile.

{Well done Dolly.}

{Serenity and Simone have accomplished their task.}

{The satellites are dead in space.}

{You need to shrink now, you’ll heal faster.}

Merry felt herself shrink and lay still.  The battle wasn’t over yet.

Well part of it is, she thought.  I just have to live through the next part.

 

 

 

Mary had seen some vicious moves in her life but Merry’s attack on the apes and Deadly Beautiful had been savage by any standards.  Al and Bal were dead, Mary was sure of that.  She guessed that Merry’s fingers had pierced an artery on both of them.  They lay in widening pools of their own blood.  Deadly Beautiful lay unconscious on the floor.  Her mechanical wing had knocked into Mary and toppled her chair over.  There was no way to tell whether or not Merry had planned that but it was just what Mary needed.  The restraints were loose and she started to work at them. 

Mary had been worried.  Terrified that the First Knight would take Timidious up on his offer.  She hadn’t turned it down angrily as many heroines would have.  But now Mary realized that Merry had been stalling for time.  And Serenity was alive.  What ever they’d done it had trashed Timidious plans.  But not without a price.  Merry lay on the ground, shrunk to twelve inches again.  There was an ugly hole in her back but not a lot of blood.  Heat beams were like that.  Mary knew that they were also very painful once the shock wore off.  Timidious sat on his throne with a stunned look on his face.

“The timeline.” He said almost to himself.  “I saw what I was supposed to see, but the ships were already in orbit.  Already at the satellite.”

Merry raised her head.

“All we needed was for you to send a signal.  You’re finished Timidious.  The network is down, you’re guns are gone.  How long do you think it will be before someone on Earth gets a force together?  You took out the launch facilities but they’ll rebuild damn fast.  Best bet you have is to take that ship out there and hope the Triume will take you in.”

“You bitch.” Timidious said.  He leveled his gun at her and Mary’s heart stopped.  Her wrist was almost free but if he killed Merry he’d notice her.  So far he hadn’t and she needed just a few more minutes.

“I die you die.” Merry said.  “My ship, the fuel is gone, the main gun still works.  You ever see Star Blazers?  The wave motion gun can cut through planets.  It’ll take the dome out and we’ll all die.”

“A bluff.” Timidious said.  He looked up.  “Mr. Tech can…”

Mary realized that Mr. Tech was gone.  So was Mr. Business.  Of course the brain pirates wouldn’t be as effective against Mr. Tech.  She didn’t know how Mr. Business had gotten free but Mary was glad that he was gone.  They were professional supervillains; they knew when the game was up.

“Run while you can.” Merry said.  She slowly sat up.  Her body was pale and she was breathing hard.  “You played for power and lost.  Take it like a man.”

“You…” Timidious trailed off and even without her powers Mary could hear the hate in his voice.  “Ever since you showed up...  I had the best.  The BEST!  I had every heroine who joined Force Group J!  I had more money than god!  You!  You ruined it!  WHO ARE YOU?”

“What does that matter?” Merry asked.  “Do you ask the blade where it was forged?” 

“It matters.” Timidious snarled.  “Because if I know I’ll have something to bargain with.”

Merry stiffened and growled back at him. 

“You won’t get through this time.” She said.

“I’ll break through or I’ll melt your brain!” Timidious bit the words out as his face contorted with concentration.

“You’re a fool not to run.” Merry said.

Timidious didn’t answer and even without her powers Mary could feel the mental energy in the chamber.

Just a few more minutes, Mary begged the fates as she pulled at her wrist.

 

 

 

Merry could feel him again, at the edges of her mind; seeking a way in.  This time he was at the door to her true mind and she dare not let him in.  But he was a powerful telepath and Merry could feel his thoughts.  Anger and hate were driving him. 

Merry cursed.  By now she had hoped that at least someone from Earth Force could have freed themselves.  But Mary was the only one who was even close.  Why the hell didn’t he run?  That was what Merry had expected.  No matter what he had to bargain with Timidious was through.  He’d never have any sort of life on Earth outside of prison.  His only chance was off planet. 

“I didn’t realize how much hate you had in you.” Merry said pushing the words out as she gathered her feet under her. 

“You ruined my life!” Timidious snarled.  “My whole life I’ve played the hero and gotten what I wanted when no one was looking!  Women!  Treasure!  No one suspected me and you trashed it!”

He was breaking through.  Merry could feel the pressure.  It was as if someone were holding a radio to her ear and slowly increasing the volume.

“Maybe I should let you in.” Merry said.  “You think you can look into my hell and survive?”

“I’ve been in the minds of demons!” Timidious sneered.

{We were afraid of this.}

{He won’t give up.}

{Prepare yourself Dolly.}

{This will not be pleasant.}

Merry nodded to herself.  This was why she had made sure that Simone wasn’t around when they talked strategy.  Simone would never have gone along with Merry’s last resort.  She might have even talked her out of it.  Merry’s first option had been to count on Timidious being a coward and running.  That hadn’t worked.  Her next was Earth Force could help her.  That hadn’t worked.  Now he was pushing into her mind, seeking answers that would destroy everything Merry held dear.  More than that if he learned the truth he would tell them all.  Merry could not and would not live through that. 

Timidious had to die.  But he had to do more than die.  Merry had to kill him before he could transmit what he learned to other minds, before he could move his mind into another body.  Merry McCormick couldn’t kill him fast enough.  Bloody Merry could.  She needed to be that person, if only for a few minutes.  And maybe if she killed him the right way Lucy wouldn’t want Mystery Woman in Earth Force.

“Then come on in.” Merry said.  She felt the shield collapse, felt thoughts that were not her own appear in the back of her mind.  She felt him going through her memories.  It took him only an instant to learn the truth.

On the throne Timidious gaped at her in absolute shock.  He knew who she was.  He knew about the Group.  What ever he had expected it wasn’t anything close to what he found.  In that instant of shock Merry moved.  Another part of her took over.  When Timidious put a small copy of his mind into her brain he left open a line of communication, he had to.  While he read her mind the way into his mind was open.  He would know that too of course and he’d have defenses ready.

Or so he thought.  Timidious would be ready for the same type of telepathic attack that he was launching.  He expected Merry to try and put a small part of her mind into him.  That was the way all telepathic assaults worked.  But Merry wasn’t going to try to take over his mind.  She needed him paralyzed for a few moments, she needed him to be trapped like a man holding a live wire.

So the Group had placed a trigger into her mind.  That trigger released a switch that poured pure fury into Merry’s mind.  The kind of anger that the First Knight of Dollopolis was supposed to have.  The kind of unreasoning rage that could drive her insane.

Timidious knew it was coming.  At the end of the instant that it took to learn the truth he realized the trap that had been set for him.  But the shock of the truth of what Merry truly was held him.  It held him long enough for the anger to flood his mind and that anger made using his mental powers impossible.  He needed a few seconds, maybe a minute to clear his mind.  He staggered and his gun started to rise.  But it was too late.  Merry had already leapt.  He had no time for thought or action as Merry grew to full size, took hold of his head and twisted it a full three hundred and sixty degrees.  He died in the instant that he realized the truth.  But that wasn’t enough.  Not for the rage that tore through Merry’s mind.  With a silent ferocity she began to beat his body into a pulp.  The only thing she was aware of was her anger.

{He’s dead Merry.}

{Stop now.}

{To late, we’ve lost her.}

{Try to shock her out of it.}

Merry heard them but she was beyond caring.  Timidious was dead, some part of her knew that, but it didn’t matter.  She shrank to twelve inches tall and the corpse loomed over her but Merry didn’t stop.  She couldn’t stop.  Her tiny fist hit him again and again.  She wasn’t thinking, Merry was feeling.  The danger was that she might never think again.

   

 

 

“Then come on in.”

Mary pulled her wrist out of the restraint just as Merry offered the invitation.  She shut off the power dampener and barely had time to get her mental barriers up when the first emotions hit.  The first was shock and fear from Timidious.  But it wasn’t just shock, it was so far beyond shock Marry didn’t think there was a word for it.  But on top of that came the anger from Merry.  Anger that was so intense Mary nearly threw up.  And a split second of raw terror as Timidious died.  Mary felt a snapping in her mind as the mental commands still there faded.  She saw Lucy and Moon Girl blink and start to come out of their stupor.  Lucy reached up and took off her circlet and started to pull her clothes back together.  But Mary knew that it was hard for her to shrug off the effects.  She wanted to help her friend but anger was pouring out of Merry like lava from a volcano.  Mary resisted the urge to turn her power dampener on again.  Instead she freed herself from the remaining restraints and concentrated on shielding herself from the mental shouting.  When she looked up a tiny Merry was still pounding what was left of Timidious.

“Mary.” Lucy said.  Her mind was still crowded but clearing. 

“It’s ok Lucy.” Mary said.  She reached out mentally and steadied her friend.  Lucy’s eyes cleared.  “I got you.”

“Prudence?” Lucy asked looking around.  She saw Prudence still in her chair and climbed to her feet.  Behind her Moon Girl slowly stood up.

Mary staggered over and started to free Savage.  It only took a few minutes for everyone to be freed from their chairs.  Their minds were still shaky.  Timidious had been linked when he died and shared death trauma was never fun.  Mary went over to Gadget Gal.  The girl’s skin was as pale as parchment but her eyes were clear.

“Are you ok?” Mary asked.

“Beat them.” Gadget Gal whispered.  Then she passed out.

“Merry.” Lucy called.  “He’s dead.  You must stop.”

Mary looked over and saw that Merry had regained her full size and was continuing to pound the lifeless lump of flesh that had been Timidious.  The body was almost unrecognizable but Merry wasn’t stopping.  She was quiet but there her face was a mask of the worst kind of hate there was.  Mary staggered over and stopped Lucy as she went toward the raging woman.

“Lucy no.” Mary said.  “It’s just like before, the fuse’s blown.  “Everyone stay back!”  She called out.  “She’ll kill you.”

“We must stop her.” Lucy said.

“Where’s the scythe?” Prudence asked.   

“Behind the throne.” Esmerelda called running for it. 

Merry ignored her and Esmerelda grabbed the box from behind the throne and held it up.  Merry stopped pounding Timidious and looked up.

“GIVE THAT TO ME!” Merry roared and charged at her.  Mary telekinetically pushed Esmerelda back and kept the box where it was.  The box opened as Merry reached it and the small scythe inside grew to full size as Merry grabbed it.  Her body glowed and then flared like a star and a shockwave knocked them all down.

When it faded Mary picked herself up off of the floor.  Merry lay on the floor by the throne, sparks of energy still coming off of her trembling body.  Her body kept growing and shrinking.  Beside Mary Lucy climbed to her feet.  Her body shimmered and Mary realized that she was trying to turn into Goddess of Justice.  But the crystal in the Temple of Athena was too far away.

“Merry?” Esmerelda asked.  She crawled over to the First Knight.  “Merry please...”

Merry grew to her full size.  For a moment she lay still and then she opened her eyes and sat up.  Then she stood up and looked around.  Her face was calm and composed and the anger at last seemed to be under control.  Her wound was healed but her body was still covered in blood.  In her hand the scythe still glowed slightly.  It’s blade was silver and the shaft was gray.  After a few moments the glow faded.

“I’m fine.” Merry said reaching down to help Esmerelda up.

With a shout that turned into a sob of relief Esmerelda hugged her and a few seconds later Prudence joined them.  Merry returned the hug and Mary felt a calm joy in her. 

“Are you fine Merry?” Lucy asked.  “Are you really fine?”

Merry smiled as Prudence and Esmerelda let go of her.  Then she held up the scythe. 

“I’m fine Lucy.” She said.  “It is mine again.  But don’t worry, this is the fixed one.”  She looked down at Timidious and spat at the corpse.  “Idiot.  I warned him.”

“What did he see?” Mary demanded.  “God I felt it when he looked into you!  He wasn’t lying Timidious has scanned demons.  What the hell did he see?”

“Me.” Merry said.  She prodded the corpse with her bare foot.  Then she turned and walked over to the console.  “He saw me and what I was and what I still am.”

“Beware when you look into the abyss for it will look into you?” Yoran asked.

“Something like that.” Merry said.  She turned on the console and started to type commands into the computer.  “I keep telling you people that there are parts of me that you don’t want to know about.   Things about that’d make a demon’s skin crawl.  Maybe now you’ll believe me.”

Mary could feel the curiosity in the room but she also felt a bit of fear.  And there was more than some bitterness in Merry’s voice.  Lucy was looking at Al and Bal and Timidious and Deadly Beautiful.  She had seen the attack.  Mary walked over and put her hand on Lucy’s shoulder.

“Still want her?” She whispered.

“Yes.” Lucy said.  “More than ever she needs us.”

“She needs us?”  Mary wondered aloud.  “Who just got rescued here?”

“Merry to Enterprise.” Merry said into the console.  The screen lit up and they saw four women sitting on the bridge set of the USS Enterprise-D.

Mary had to laugh.  She couldn’t help it.

“Can’t you ever use real ships?!” She burst out.

“This ship was real enough to get us into orbit Ms. Dream.” Simone said.  Or at least Mary was sure that it was Simone.  She was sitting in the captains chair.  Mary guessed that Serenity was behind her and that Lizzie and Jessie were at helm and navigation.  They were all wearing the same type of gray suit that Merry sometimes wore. 

“Serenity is that you?” Lucy asked moving to the console.  “I was afraid that you were dead.”

“A last minute rescue.” Serenity’s voice came from one of the gray skinned figures.  “And a brilliant strategy from Merry.  With the help of some stolen parts and Dollopoian technology we succeeded.  The satellites are down, the system crashed.  Is everyone there safe?”

“Everyone but the bad guys.” Merry said.  “You’ll need a hearse for Al, Bal, Timidious and maybe Deadly Beautiful.  Mr. Business and Mr. Tech ran.”

“Wise of them.” Simone said.  “And you have your scythe.”

“I got it.” Merry said holding it up.  “And it’s fixed.  What’s your situation?”

“We are still attached to the satellite.” Simone said.  “Serenity is attempting to re-start the system in case the Triume arrive early.  Your idea worked.  A tanker will be here in a few hours.  Did the Argo survive the trip?”

“Yea, but she’s out of fuel too.”

“It will take at least a day for a tanker to reach you.” Simone said.

“I can wait.” Merry said.  “I guess someone should tell the Earth that they aren’t in trouble anymore.”

“I’ve been in touch with the WDG.” Serenity said.  “But things will not settle down quickly.  Timidious had factions set up in many of the government agencies.  There have been armed insurrections in Germany and Spain as well as Egypt.  Riots have broken out in New York and the other major cities in the US and London.”

“He had a good plan.” Merry mused.  “I think he just jumped the gun too early.”

A beep started to sound from the console and Merry looked at it.

“Black out Simone, looks like some leader is calling.”

The screen went blank and Merry stood up and moved to one side.

“You better talk to someone Lucy.” Merry said.  “They’re probably still scared down there.”

Lucy sat down and Mary moved to stand behind her.  Merry dropped back even further.  A split screen appeared with Dave on one side and President Kerry on the other.

Mrs. Rothschild.” The President said with a look of relief on his lantern jawed face.  “Lady Highfield has the satellites, do you have Timidious in custody?”

“Timidious is dead Mr. President.” Lucy said.

“And then some.” Mary said looking at the bloody mess on the floor.

“Good.” President Kerry said.  “Is your team all right?”

“A little worse for our abuses but we’ll be fine.” Lucy replied.  “How are things on Earth?”

“Rough.” Dave said.  “We could use you back here Lucy.  The Battlers have gone rogue and taken out a few blocks of Chicago’s business section.  It’s a virtual war down there.  Anyone even goes near the territory that they’ve marked off they’re attacked.  We’ve got rebel troops in a lot of the cities that haven’t got the word or don’t believe he’s dead and a lot of the superheroes have just plain vanished.”

“What about the ones in your prisons shadow man?” Merry growled.  “The ones you captured for Timidious.  He is dead, you can let them go if you’re done torturing them.”

A surprised look filled Dave’s face and it was mirrored in President Kerry’s.

“What about them Dave?” Lucy asked.

“A lot of them walked out of their cells and vanished.” Dave admitted.  “Some broke out and I don’t think we’ll see them again.  At least not for a while.”

“Serves your world right.” Merry said angrily.  “You are led by the weak Lucy.”  She spat the next word.  “Betrayers!”

“Who is that?” President Kerry demanded. 

Merry took a few more steps back.  Mary had the feeling that Merry knew exactly where the camera was and that the view could be expanded.  It was also obvious that the scythe could cool her down a little, not all the way.

“I’m Mystery Woman of Dollopolis.” Merry said coldly. “The person that your shadow men have been trying to catch and torture for the past year.”

“Stand where I can see you.” President Kerry demanded.

“Go to hell.” Merry snapped.  “I just pulled this worthless world of yours out of the fire.  You don’t wanna say ‘thank you’ fine, but don’t think you can give me orders.”

“Well you live up to your reputation.” The President said grimly.  “And we are grateful.  But you are speaking to the President of the United States.”

“And you are speaking to the First Knight of Dollopolis.” Simone’s angry voice cut into the conversation.  “The woman who just saved you all.  She and I have dealt with the rulers of entire worlds you petty tribal chieftain!  We are not impressed by your title!”

A small panel on the console started to slide open and Merry’s blade flashed down and destroyed the emerging camera.

“Merry calm down.” Lucy said.  “Everyone please calm down, we have too much trouble right now to waste time.”

Merry said nothing but the anger was back.  She stood with the scythe balanced and Mary realized that she was ready to fight all of them.  A low growl escaped her. 

“Now just calm down Merry.” Lucy ordered again.  “Dave you are not helping.”

“I’d like to see the person who’s insulting me.” President Kerry said.

“I’m big blonde and naked.” Merry said.  “Try tuning into the Playboy channel, there’s a dozen of me there.”

“Nor was that an insult Mr. President.” Simone said.  “That was defiance.  A defiance I might add that she has a perfect right too.  She is not one of your subjects.”

“Ok we’re getting away from the main issue here.” Mary said realizing that someone had to step in quickly before the verbal brawl started again.  “How do we get back to Earth quick?”

“We can use the Triume ship.” Moon Girl said.  “And be back on Earth in a few hours.”

“What about the lunar colonies?” Prudence asked. 

“We’re getting reports now.” Dave said.  “Timidious had agents in them that took control.  They’ve taken the colony explorer ships and are heading toward the outer solar system.”

“Running away.” Lucy said.  “Or meeting the Triume.  Once they learn we are not going to be an easy target they should back off.”

“I should have the satellites back online in a few hours just in case.” Serenity said.

“Then get back here as quickly as possible Mrs. Rothschild.” President Kerry said.  “We need you.”

“As swiftly as possible Mr. President.” Lucy said.

“Merry do not travel with them.” Simone ordered.  “Wait for the tanker to come and then refuel the Argo and return to Dollopolis.  Once I return Serenity to England our business will be concluded.”

Oh hell no not again, Mary thought as she and Lucy realized what was going on.  Simone was going into isolation mode.

“Simone our bargain…” Lucy said.

“Was that you give me the scythe and I join you.” Merry said.  “I got the scythe Lucy.  Me.  I got here, I killed most of the bad guys and I got the scythe.  No deal.”

“Lucy you…” Dave started but Lucy cut him off.

“Not now Dave.” Lucy said.  “Mr. President Merry did indeed do everything she has just claimed, but she left out the portion of the story where Timidious offered her an alliance.  He offered her quite a bit, more than I could have and she turned him down.  Had she taken him up on his offer we would not be having this conversation.”

            “Why did you turn him down Mystery Woman?” President Kerry asked.

            “Kinda curious about that myself.” Mary said.

            “Are you really Ms. Dream?” Simone’s voice held a little sadness this time.  “Having learned more of Merry than anyone else are you really surprised that she would turn down an offer from such a man?”

            “He was someone you trusted for years and he was raping you all those years.” Merry said.  “For that alone I’d kill him Mary.  There’s nothing worse than betrayal.  But if you think that Dollopolis would make a bargain with him just for an easier life and Miss Shadow served up with an apple in her mouth then you really don’t know us.  Even if I wanted to my personal rights under the Law of Vengeance is superseded by the Prime Laws.”

            “For a true bargain to me made there must be mutual honor and respect” Simone said.  “Something we could never have with Timidious.”

            “Mr. President you heard that.” Lucy said.  “These people hold honor and their laws as an absolute.  I made a bargain with Merry to join Earth Force.  I’d like your permission to invite her to join again, but without the telepathic scan during the loyalty oath.”

            “What?” Merry and Simone asked at the same time.

            “Sir I don’t think that is a good idea.” Dave said.  “We’ve just seen an example of what can happen when we bypass security standards.”

            “Not so Dave.” Lucy said.  “Timidious operated for years and was fully vetted by the EIA and your own people.”

            “It didn’t do a lot of good.” Mary said.

            “I’m inclined to agree Dave.” President Kerry said.  “Lucy I’ll back you up on what ever you decide.”

 

 

 

            Merry was stunned.  She’d been free.  Both she and Simone had been close to getting away.  If she hadn’t been on the moon she would have bolted already, faded back into the woodwork.  She had the scythe.  This was her chance to break free.  She wanted to get away from the lies.  No, she needed to get away from the lies.  But now here was Lucy all set to drag her in again.

“Merry, Simone.” Lucy said.  “Hear me out.”

“No way.” Merry said.  “Just because you drop the telepath part?  You’ve got nothing to say I want to hear Lucy and you’ve got nothing to offer me.”

“Hold Merry.” Simone said. 

“Simone!” Merry protested.

{We are interested in this Merry.}

{And we think that you joining them is inevitable.}

{Forces beyond us all are at work here.}

{But let’s not make it too easy for them.}

“She is recognized as your mother under the law Merry.” Simone said.  “You have to give her a hearing under the Law of Family.”

Merry felt her spirit start to fall apart.  Anger rushed into her.  They didn’t realize the guilt that went with the role of First Knight.  The agony that she’d been put through playing the dual role.  She had to do something.

“Lucy look at my hand.” Merry said holding it up to her.  Fresh blood was still coating her fingers.  She pointed to Timidious.  “Now look at him.”  She moved to point at Al and Bal and the unconscious Deadly Beautiful.  “And them.  I did this Lucy.  I planned this, I spent and hour on the way here figuring out ways to kill them and anyone of you if I had to.  Right now the Argo is pointed right at the triume ships engines.  I’d have blown up all of us if I had too.”  Merry stalked over to the corpse and kicked it.  “I enjoyed doing that Lucy!  Look at me!  See the blood?  That’s me!  I’m a killer!  If I had a knife I’d take his hand as a trophy!  Now why the hell do you want me on your team?  I’m everything you fight against!”

“No you are not.” Lucy said calmly.  She walked over to Merry and took her hand and looked at it.  “Do you think I haven’t seen blood before?  Merry you are not what I fight against, you are one of the people I fight for.”

Merry jerked her hand away.

“No one fights for me but me!” She snarled.  “I’m a killer Lucy!  I’m Bloody Merry!  Goddess why can’t you accept that?”

“Because you are not her anymore.” Lucy said firmly.  “I’m sure that you haven’t been her for some time.”

Merry took a step back but Lucy took a step toward her and took her hand and held it.

“Merry you were Bloody Merry.  On your home world, in that insane dangerous society.  But not here.  Not since I’ve known you.  I’ve seen you kill, but I’ve never seen Bloody Merry despite some provocation.  Great Athena Merry I betrayed your trust and you saved my daughters life!  You had absolutely no reason to join your life force to Prudence.  When Sandy detonated her suicide bomb you shoved us back and put yourself between us and the blast!  You fought Hellspite for us!  You were willing to carry Daisy Obrien’s child.  You saved Beatrice on Fearun.”

“I had reasons!” Merry said jerking her hand away again.  “Don’t read nobility into me Lucy.  It doesn’t fit.”

“It does.” Lucy insisted.  “Merry from the first time we met I’ve seen you try to hide the nobility in your soul.  I saw it at Count Intellect’s party when you risked all to save that reporter.  I’ve seen it time and again since.  At every step you’ve pretended not to care, you’ve put on a front of brutal anger.  But there’s more to you than that anger.  I’d like to know that part of you.  We all would.”

How could she know this, Merry’s mind tried to find a way to understand how Lucy could see through her act.  More importantly how far through it had she seen?

“I understand why you act the way you do.” Lucy said.  “I know your history now and my heart aches for the life you’ve lived.”

“Don’t feel sorry for me.” Merry growled.  “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me!”

“I have to.” Lucy said.  “But at the same time I have to admire you.  Thrown into the worst hell imaginable you’ve come through it a far better woman than you think you are.  You could have blown up the Triume ship and killed us all anytime you wanted.”

“I needed Timidious to send a signal for Serenity to intercept.” Merry said.

“Another excuse.” Lucy said.  “Admit it Merry, you planned this assault with great risk to yourself because of us.  Our safety was part of your plan.  If you didn’t care about our lives you would have done it differently.” 

Lucy stepped back and put her hand on Mary’s shoulder. 

“You care about all of us Merry.” She said.  “You cared about Mary, I’ve seen that many times.  You spoke up for her in Dollopolis, were considerate enough to cover the mirrors there while we bathed.”  She put her hand on Gadget Gal’s shoulder.  “Your rage at her situation could only have come from someone who cares.  You care Merry.  You care so much and are so afraid to admit it that.  I think even you don’t realize how much you care.”

“So I care.” Merry said.  “So what?”

“Merry join us.  You are wrong, I can offer you something beyond the pain and bondage and danger.  I can offer you our friendship.  I know that seems like a small article, but I can tell you it is a very large gift.  And I think it is one you would value highly.”

Damn it don’t do this to me, Merry thought as she felt herself wavering.

“I have Simone and Dollopolis.” Merry said.

“And you can have much more.” Lucy insisted.  She looked at the blank screen and looked back.  “Simone you know the reasons this would be good.  Why pull back now when you are so close?

“So close to what Mrs. Rothschild?” Simone’s voice sounded hard.  “Even now your shadow man is attempting to trace my transmission.  Merry has played your games, what has it gotten her but pain and nearly death?  We have each other, that is all we have ever needed.”

“It is not what you need but it is something I believe you want.  The other night as we had dinner I saw how you enjoyed yourself.  How long Simone has it been since you had a night like that?”

“Hey we talk to her all the time!” Jessie said.

“Yea.” Lizzie agreed.

“They do.” Simone said.  “And I treasure every moment with them.”

“I’m sure you do.” Lucy said.  “I love spending time with Prudence but I have other friends as well.”

“You are free to move about in your world.” Simone said.

“You ever see her life?” Mary said before Lucy could answer.  “Supervillains, paparazzi, aliens…  Simone she ain’t that free.”

“This is not your world Simone.” Lucy said.  “You do not have to hide on the edge, fearful and friendless.  It may not be something you feel you need, but you can’t deny it is something that you would enjoy.  Lizzie and Jessie had a pleasant time in my house they could have that again.  You can all have more than Dollopolis.”

“What makes you think we want more?” Merry demanded.  Lucy’s words were hitting her like a hammer.  They were hitting all of them.  Merry knew that sometimes Lizzie and Jessie felt trapped.  They couldn’t grow and leave the duchy like she could. 

But while Lucy made it all sound so reasonable she didn’t know the whole truth.  But Merry felt First Knight seemed to be rising inside her.  The First Knight wanted this.

“I believe you want more Merry.  I think you’re starved for more. I believe there is a small part of you that would value our friendship.  And I think that part would grow if you gave it a chance.”

Goddess why can’t she just give up!  Merry shouted to herself.

“Lucy…” Merry started but Esmerelda stepped up to her.

“Merry there is no one here who wouldn’t be your friend.  You know that.  Why fight it?”

Because there’s no one here I might not have to betray someday,  Merry thought stepping away from her.  Goddess Ida help me I’m not what you think I am.  I’m not a heroine!  Goddess this is a joke!  Mary looked at Lucy.  One of the greatest heroes on Earth begging her; one of the least worthy people on the world.  Esmerelda and Prudence were looking on and Merry could feel the desire from them.  They wanted her to talk to; they wanted to be her friend.  All of them did.  They respected and admired her.  Merry allowed herself a moment of fantasy.  She could join them.  She could be a heroine.  But that fantasy came crashing down when Merry thought again of whom she really was.  What they would think of her if they ever knew the truth.  The guilt would crush her.  The truth would crush them too. 

Merry was about to say no when another voice appeared.  Not in her mind but in her soul.  An aged and ageless voice that spoke without words.  It spoke of time and space and battles to be fought.  Battles that were to come.  What ever the price in pain the world needed Mystery Woman.  For those yet unborn who deserved a better world, for girls like Lizzie and Jessie who grew up miserable and barely surviving, for brothers and sisters like Mr. Tech and Gadget Gal.  The voice asked what Merry’s fear and pain was beside all of that?   

Merry realized that the scythe was talking to her.  It wasn’t Ida but it was a divine presence.  A presence almost more than divine.  She turned back to the console and leaned on it.

What was her pain to that?  It was pain.  It was the agony of living a lie and having to keep living it.  Of making believe she was as worthy of Lucy’s friendship as Mary was.  Of always living with the fear of discovery.  That was more than pain, it was more than misery.  There weren’t words for what that was.

“Join you?” She whispered.

{This is your choice Dolly.}

{We have considered.}

{There are forces at work here beyond us.}

{At the very least they do seem to need you.}

“Simone?”

“It is your choice Merry.” Simone said.  “I trust you to decide for us all, you know them far better than I do.  You’ve spent years studying them.  But there is no turning back.  What ever happens.”

She knew.  Simone knew Merry’s greatest nightmares.  And more.  Joining Earth Force would mean more time as the First Knight.  More time away from her.

I am a leaf blown by the wind, Merry thought.  I always have been.  I was small before the Group and now I’m…  Goddess what am I?

The voice that was not a voice answered: You are the fulcrum.  Through you may come a light that you may never see.  But all who you love will.

And when they learn the truth they’ll spit on my soul, Merry thought.

“Merry?” Lucy asked.  “Will you join us?” 

Merry turned around.  For a moment she was still going to say no.  Then she saw Gadget Gal start to stand up.  Letitia had spent her life torn between two worlds.  She could help her realize that it wasn’t her fault.  And she saw the look on Esmerelda’s face.  A face that held no scars.  The calm lovely young woman she had become was because Merry had been willing to lie and tell her that it was too dangerous to bring her to Dollopolis.  That had hurt but Esmerelda felt better because of it.  Her lies had helped them all one way or another.    Merry turned back to Lucy and realized what she was.  She was someone who could help.  And with that insight came the realization that she couldn’t say no.  The pain that might come later couldn’t stop her from doing the good she could do now.

“If I join.” Merry stopped and took a breath.  Her heat was racing in her chest.  “Goddess!  If I join Lucy I do it on my terms.”

“Which are?” Lucy asked.

“No one reads my mind except Mary.” Merry said.  “No one takes my picture unless I have a mask on.  I’m Mystery Woman.  I don’t talk to press I don’t march in parades.  If a shadow man comes at me I’m taking him down.  I’m the First Knight, no responsibility is greater than my duty to Dollopolis.”

“Agreed.” Lucy said.  “But there will be no more killing Merry.” 

“When I kill I’m at my most effective.” Merry said. 

“No.” Lucy said.  “Killing is far too easy a solution to any problem.  There are other ways Merry.”  She looked at Al and Bal.  “You could have disabled them, knocked them out.  There are times Merry when killing is un-avoidable.  But those times are rare.  If you join us you must swear not to kill.  To kill only as an absolute last resort.”

“And…  And how… How do I know when that is?” Merry demanded.  “This is how I know how to fight Lucy.”

“We’ll teach you another way.” Lucy said.  “Savage learned.”

Merry looked at him and he nodded.  Then Merry took a deep breath then let it out.  She felt like she was on a diving board and blindfolded.

And I will teach you more, her scythe said.

“And one other thing Lucy.” Merry said.  She had one last request before she jumped off of the cliff.  “That part of me, that part that makes Bloody Merry look like a girl scout, that part of me that shocked Timidious; swear you’ll never ask me what that is.  You’ll never look for it.  Only Simone has ever seen my life, that part of…  That part of my life beyond Bloody Merry.”

Stop rambling, Merry told herself but it was hard.  She took a deep breath and went on.

“And swear that…  All of you, swear that if you ever find out, if you ever see that part of me that you won’t hate me.”

She looked at each one of them and they nodded.

“Merry we will never hate you.” Lucy said.

Merry almost laughed but didn’t.  Instead she nodded.

“Simone I will join them.” Merry said.

“Very well.” Simone said.  She didn’t sound happy or sad. 

“First bit of trust.” Merry said.  “Stop your recording Colonel Davis.  I said no pictures without a mask and I meant it.”

“Mr. President...” Dave started.

“No recording Dave.” President Kerry said.  “That’s an order.”

“Yes sir.” Dave said.

Merry waited a moment.  Then she walked over to  stand in front of the screen and even as emotionally strung out as she was the idea that she was parading naked in front of the President of the United States was not lost on her.

“This is me President Kerry.” Merry said turning around and showing him her body.  “Is this what you and your shadow man wanted to see?  A naked woman covered in blood?  This is how I’ve spent most of my life.  Simone let him see you.”

Another division split the screen and they saw the bridge of the Enterprise-D.  Dave’s and the president’s faces looked stunned.

“This is us trusting you.” Merry said.  “Goddess help you all if this trust is ever broken.”

“We don’t break deals.” President Kerry said.

Merry nodded. 

“Ok.  I know you have your own ceremony Lucy but this is mine.”  She turned to the screen.  “Simone I ask your permission to give my personal oath and I ask you to witness it.”

“I grant permission and I will witness this oath.” Simone said.  “And more I bind myself and my knightlings to your oath.”

“Take this.” Merry said, turning around and handing her scythe to Lucy.

Lucy took it and Merry turned back to the screen.

“I have given my weapon freely and I stand of my own free will naked and helpless before her.”

“So witnessed.” Simone said.

Merry turned around again and took hold of Lucy’s shirt.  She pulled it apart and pushed Lucy’s bra out of the way.  Again the idea that she was exposing a woman in front of a president wasn’t lost on her.  Then she shrank down to twelve inches tall.  “Mary lift me up please.”

Mary bent down and took hold of her legs.  She lifted Merry up until she was level with Lucy’s breasts and then cupped her palms so that Merry could stand.  Merry put her right palm face down on Lucy’s breast covering the nipple.  She gripped it tightly enough to make Lucy wince.

“I am Merry Roseskull, First Born and last of the Roseskulls of the High Rose Hills.” Merry said.  She choked but swallowed and went on.  “I ask all here to listen and remember my personal oath of loyalty.  I swear by the Law of Responsibility that I will be a loyal member of Earth Force, that I will follow the Laws of the United States of America, that I…” Merry faltered for a moment and then forced herself to keep going.  “That I will be a part of this team and obey the orders of Goddess of Justice, accepting her as my liege lady second only to Duchess Simone.  I swear to…  I swear that with my last breath and beyond that I will face danger with them and never… Never betray them!”  Merry’s body was shaking but she forced it to be still.  “I swear this of my own free will. I pledge this with my heart, my blood, my honor and I pledge it in the presence of she who is recognized my mother by the Law of Family and the Duchess of Dollopolis."  Merry gripped the nipple as hard as she could.  The oath had come naturally from her, from that part of her that was the First Knight.  Goddess help her it wasn’t all an act anymore.  The scythe almost seemed to be guiding her through it.  Guiding the First Knight, not Merry.

“Do you accept this oath Lucy Rothschild?” Merry asked.

“I do.” Lucy said.

Merry let her hand drop away from Lucy’s breast and sat down.  Now she really couldn’t stop her body from trembling.  She curled up into a ball and it took a few minutes to stop her body from shaking.  She was grateful that Mary held her for a few minutes and that no one said anything. 

“Sa… Satisfied?” Merry asked when she was able to trust her own voice.

“Yes.” Lucy said fixing her clothes.  “Thank you.”

 

 

 

Epilogue 1.

 

“Lizzie and Jessie asleep?” Merry asked as Simone walked to the bedroom.  For an hour Merry had been alone with her thoughts.  She had gotten back to the mansion first.

“At last.” Simone said.  “Poor dears all they can talk about is going back into space.  They’ve switched from soap operas to Star Trek.”

“Take away the mortal danger and it can be a fun place.” Merry said.  She lay back in the bed and stretched her nude body.  Against the wall by the small idol of Ida the Scythe was still.  They had both held it and Simone had felt the same thing that Merry had.  An ageless presence.  The Group didn’t even try to examine it though all of them held it.

“They’ve been babbling about it since we dropped Serenity off in England.” Simone said. 

“You didn’t see her daughters did you?” Merry asked.

“No, and I made sure of that.” Simone said.  She went to her mirror and called up a picture of the two sleeping girls.  “I treated the poor girl rather frostily at the very idea that we’d ever see them.”

“Rough.” Merry said.  “I’ll have to be even worse.”

“Can’t be helped.” Simone said shutting off the mirror and standing up.  “And I’ve been what they were, a little guilt won’t hurt them.”

Merry watched silently as Simone got undressed.  Even after all the times she had seen her lover nude Merry wasn’t tired of it.  Simone’s body would always captivate her.  Simone didn’t bother with a nightgown but took Merry’s hint and got into bed naked. 

“We’re into the deep end now.” Merry said as Simone pressed against her.  They put their arms around each other.

“Yes we are.” Simone said.  “Any regrets?”

“Just fears.” Merry said.

“You didn’t seem to have any in Chicago.” Simone said.

“That was bad business.” Merry said letting her mind drift back over the past few days.  She had at last gotten to sit down and talk to Earth Force and even holding herself in the First Knight roll she had enjoyed it.  After her oath they had boarded the triume ship and after a trip to pick up the Argo had gone to Chicago.  One of the Battler’s foes-The Sinister One-had taken advantage of the situation.  He had captured Water Woman and Electro Gal.  Water Woman was the wife of The Punch-leader of the Battlers-and Electro Gal was their adopted daughter.  With that threat hanging over them the rest of the supergroup had followed the Sinister One’s orders to the letter.  They had cleaned out a lot of vaults and brought the contents to him.  Even so he had raped both women.  Merry remembered the cold rage that had filled her as she had found them.  Elctro-Gal was no more than 20.  While Earth Force kept the Battler’s busy and pretended to loose Merry had crawled through a toilet pipe to get to the room where the two were being held.  Once she had freed them from their power nullifying restraints the battle had ended and The Sinister One had to be protected or The Punch would have torn him apart.  By that time though Merry was on an X-wing fighter heading home. 

“You saved them.” Simone said.  “The news media was quite impressed.”

“Yea, but the city they protected turned against them.” Merry said.  “That sort of thing hurts.  I was just glad to get away from it.”

“Yes, Lucy called once she realized that you had slipped away.” Simone said with a little amusement in her voice.  “Poor woman was almost in a panic.  I told her you would be at the mansion Sunday morning for their ceremony.”

Merry smiled and hugged Simone closer to her.  The heat from Simone’s body was more comforting than a fire.  Simone and Lizzie and Jessie had piloted the Enterprise-D back to Dollopolis while the Group had sent another eagle to Prudence. 

“Chicago was my first official mission with Earth Force.” Merry said.  “It felt good Simone.  It felt like I was a real heroine.”

“You are.” Simone said.  “You just have a more involved secret identity than most.”

“I guess.” Merry said.  “But it’s more than that Simone.  Mystery Woman was an accident.  It’s the name that Count Intellect gave me when I couldn’t remember my own.  Now it’s taken on a life of it’s own.  We’ve built her up with layer after layer of lies.  But now I’ve got to live it, I’ve got to be her.  What ever the price I might pay later I’ll do what good I can now.”

“Lucy said to pass along Water Woman’s profound thanks.  Why did you run?”

“I have to be the First Knight.” Merry said.  “And that means being more than camera shy, it means being shy period.  Lucy has me now, but I can’t go into her team gung ho.  I have to let her tug me in there.”

“Well I want you to know that I’m proud of you.” Simone said.  She moved up and kissed Merry on the lips.  “And I love you.”

“I love you too.” Merry said after the kiss was over. 

“And now you’re going to get a reward for saving the world again.” Simone said.  She sat up and took Merry’s wrist and lifted it above her head.  Merry smiled as Simone fitted it into the strap there and reached for the other one.

“You have an interesting idea of what a reward is milady.” Merry said giggling slightly.  She squirmed in pleasure as her wrists were secured.

“Now no giggling or I’ll blindfold you.” Simone threatened with a smile on her face.  She ran her fingers along Merry’s side and Merry giggled.  Then she laughed as Simone reached for a blindfold.

“And any more laughing and I’ll give you such a spanking.” Simone threatened.

Merry laughed out loud and squirmed a bit more as Simone turned her over.

This is what I’ll fight for, Merry thought.  I’ll fight for the woman I love and to hell with how bad I’ll feel about the lies later on.

Simone slapped her ass and Merry kept laughing.

“I warned you.” Simone said laughing along with her. 

 

 

 

Epilogue 2.

 

Mary sat back in her bed and arranged the pillows.  On the TV yet another news report was playing about Earth Force.  The reports had been released and how they had defeated Timidious was out in the open.  The commentators were going nuts about the fact that Mystery Woman had joined them.  Or that she was going to join them.  The official ceremony would be tomorrow.  The press still didn’t know a lot about her and they weren’t happy about it.  It got worse when Lucy had told them that Mystery Woman would not grant interviews and that only one reporter and camera man would be allowed to cover the ceremony.  A Pulitzer probably awaited the reporter who got an interview with her.

If he survived, Mary thought wryly.

That had really gotten the reporters mad.  But they weren’t the ones who had saved the planet and Water Woman and Electro-Gal.  Lucy and Serenity had a lot of pull now and they were using it.  Even MNN was backing off a bit.

Mary frowned.  She’d only had a short talk with Serenity, Verity and Beatrice but it was obvious that Verity’s guilt was high.  The idea that she’d basically helped kill two women was eating at her.  Simone’s view that the crime was settled wasn’t helping at all.  Already Verity had talked to Prudence about getting to Dollopolis somehow.  She’d even asked to come to the swearing in ceremony but Lucy had said no.  Their relationship with Dollopolis was too tenuous, Merry far too unpredictable.  Serenity reluctantly agreed.  But Verity wasn’t going to give up.  Mary suspected that her friends wouldn’t either.

The World Defense Group was getting a lot of bad press out of the affair.  Timidious take over plot had been their first real test and according to a lot of the media they had failed.  Careers would be ended over this.  Never mind that Timidious had been working toward this since the end of Force Group J.

Mary changed the channel and watched as the Presidential press conference was re-run.  Goddess of Justice was right by his side.  Mary nearly laughed out loud.  The President was a politician and a good talker, but there was no such thing as a reporter who could out talk Lucy Rothschild.  She did laugh out loud at Lucy’s reaction to a report that the ACLU had warned that Mystery Woman was on their watch list for heroines who used excessive force.  Lucy had pointed to Merry’s oath and then quickly went onto the next question.  The ACLU was threatening to take Mystery Woman to court over her treatment of the Invisible Reporter.  The idea of an ACLU lawyer going up against Merry was comical.  Mary wanted to be there if it ever happened.

So far the commentators and the talking heads had gone through hours of speculation.  To Mary they looked like they were enjoying themselves.  The commentators were all agreed that with the addition of Mystery Woman Earth Force was more formidable than it had been.  But they were all curious as hell and speculation about Merry, Simone and Dollopolis was filling up the networks and the blogs.

Mary agreed and sipped her coffee.  It would probably be good to have Merry around, but what had Timidious seen?  Mary hated him but he was no coward and he didn’t shock easily.  What ever he had seen in Merry’s mind had thrown him completely off balance.  It terrified Merry that they would ever find out.  They knew that Merry had once blown up a city, what sin could be greater than that?  What could it be?  And while she had held Merry during the oath…

Merry had been an emotional volcano since they had met but the mix of emotions that had come from her while she said the oath defied description or measurement.  But the sincerity was as solid as stone.  So was the fear.  Why was she so scared?  Was Merry so emotionally crippled that even the thought of friendship was so terrifying?  They knew a lot about her now, what more was there to find out?

Mary wasn’t sure she wanted to know.  The more they found out the more the pain of Merry’s life before Simone was revealed.  Maybe it was better to let some things remain a mystery.

There was a soft knock on the door and Mary looked up and sighed.

“Come in Lucy.”

“I didn’t think you’d be asleep.” Lucy said.  She was wearing a robe and pajamas.

“With everyone on edge?” Mary shook her head.  “No way.”

“I should have realized that the press would be like this.” Lucy said.  “But I was tired after Chicago.”

“Scared you didn’t she vanishing like that?”

“Oh yes.” Lucy said.  “It shouldn’t have, her oath binds her to us and she kept it.”

“Yea, she didn’t kill the Sinister One.” Mary said.  “She didn’t have to.  If you hadn’t stopped them the Battler’s would have.”

“Water Woman and Electo-Gal are coming to the ceremony tomorrow.” Lucy said.  “They wanted to thank her in person and I really couldn’t say no.”

“It’ll be ok.” Mary said.  “She’s not really good with gratitude though.”

“No she isn’t.” Lucy said.

They were both silent for a moment and then Lucy spoke again.

“Mary I’ve been meaning to talk to you about what happened.  What Timidious said…”

“Lucy no.” Mary said.  “Don’t go there.”

“We have to.” Lucy said.  “I’m not blind Mary, I’ve known for a long time that you care about me but…”

“Lucy I don’t care about you I love you.” Mary said.  She put her coffee down on the nightstand and leaned forward.  “I am absolutely in love with you.  When you smile my heart speeds up.  When your low I feel like I’ve failed.  If you laugh I have an orgasm.  I’ve loved you for years.”  Mary sat back.  “And it doesn’t do me a damn bit of good.”

“Mary I…”

“You’re not gay Lucy.” Mary said.  “If I were to kiss you right now like I wanted you wouldn’t feel a thing would you?”

“No.” Lucy said.  “I’m sorry no.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Mary said pushing her anger down.  “It’s not you, it’s me.  I’m wired that way, you aren’t.  It’s nothing to do with you.  It’s me.”

Lucy looked at the floor. 

“Mary I do love you.  You’re my best friend, you’re closer to me than a sister.  I wish I could help.”

“Lucy don’t you dare feel guilty!” Mary exclaimed.  “God don’t do that to us.  I’m gay, you’re not.  That’s it.  End of Story.”

“But…”

“No.  No buts.” Mary said.  “You think I’m the first woman to have this problem?  I’m not.  It’s one of the things a gay person has to live with.  If Timidious hadn’t turned my emotions against me I would have worked my way through this years ago.”

“How will you… I mean will you…  Will you leave?” Lucy asked.

Mary laughed and Lucy looked at her in surprise.

“You weren’t listening were you?” Mary demanded.  “Lucy grab some of that wisdom from Athena and listen.”  Mary leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead.  “I love you.  But that kiss is as close as I’m ever going to get.  That kiss just sent my body into over drive but that’s all you can give me.  But I’m not running away.  I’m going to be damn mature about it.  I hate being mature about it but I have too.  The work we do here, it’s important.  A lot more important than my sex life.  I’m here forever.  And with Merry coming on board you should really be grateful for that.”

“I am.” Lucy said.  She stood up.  “And I’m very humbled to have such a noble friend.”

“I’m not that noble.” Mary said.  “I used to listen in when you and Daniel made love.  I’d tap into his mind and let my body react.  You ever wonder why I walk into your room while your dressing?   Why I show up just as you get out of the shower?”

“I…” Lucy stuttered and Mary laughed and then turned serious.

“Timidious took all of that love Lucy and tied me up with it.  He took every bit of love I had for you and made me feel guilty about it.” Mary picked up her coffee again.  “I’m not feeling guilty anymore.  I love you, I can’t have your body.  Ok, at least I got half the deal you love me too.  I love you enough to live with that but don’t go painting me as a noble martyr.  Cause I’m still gonna look at you when you get out of the shower and I’m still gonna think of you when I use the vibrator.  Now the question is can you live with that?  Does it freak you out?”

“No.” Lucy said.  She leaned over and kissed Mary on the forehead.  “And I still think you’re noble.”

Lucy stood up and walked to the door.  When she reached it she turned back.

“Good night Mary.  And thank you.”

She left and Mary drank her coffee.  Her hand went to where Lucy had sat on the bed.  Mary sighed and drank the rest of her coffee. 

            “You could have at least been a little freaked out by it.” Mary said rubbing her forehead.  “Hell I am sometimes.”

Her body was really burning now and sleep was impossible.  She started to change channels and stopped when she reached a pro-wrestling show. 

            “Wonder if Merry’ll bring Lizzie and Jessie.” Mary mused softly.  She thought of their tiny bodies and the way that they had offered to help her.  She still couldn’t figure out how two shrunken women could ever make love to a full sized woman.  But damn her if she wasn’t really, really curious.  The thought of them upped her body’s sex drive even more and she telekinetically summoned her vibrator. 

            “Oh hell why not.” Mary said.

 

 

End.

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