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Chapter -24- End of the Beginning

December 31, 2049 - 2am Lost City ...

Karla tensed up and buried her foot in the adaptable chest plating of a techno-suited soldier. She launched him across the street towards Rufus.

The werewolf was in full glorious form. Black fur from head to toe, he lifted his paws to catch the incoming metal body. Rufus' claws sank into the torso of the soldier.

Rue opened his arms the way one might perform the breaststroke under water. He ripped the enemy's torso apart, eviscerating his foe.

The body fell to the ground in a gory lump barely recognizable if not for the limbs and head. The dying soldier's fingers curled, and his legs twitched briefly, followed by silence.

Rue roared in victory.

Karla approached. "There's relishing your work, and then there's ... whatever you're doing."

"I gut'em with gusto, Blondie!"

Karla grimaced. "Rue, this is becoming personal for you. What's the deal, babe?"

"These are the tin-skinned douchebags that killed Ulfey. Hell yeah, it's personal! You gals have shopping therapy. Me? I got therianthropy therapy."

Sinopa, donning her gi, and some light patches of armor, looked up at the other two. She had her katana buried within an enemy on the ground. She shifted the blade forward to help wedge it free of her foe. "Remember, there is no need to let them suffer. They are warriors doing their job honorably. A quick, painless, and efficient death is preferable." She drew the sword up.

The fire that crackled, emanating from Sinopa's sword, cauterized the wound of her foe, leaving no trace of blood. She looked around the area. The street was littered with metal-covered bodies. "The three of us make a formidable team."

Karla grinned. "The Centenarian Centurions. That's what we should call ourselves." The succubus looked around the area. "I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight. I haven't had this much of a workout in ages."

Rufus licked blood from the top and sides of his claws, careful not to cut his tongue. "I needed this, y'all. This is a release. 'Centenarian' ... that there's a name fer people over a hundred, right?"

"Mm-hmm." Karla stretched her back, followed by performing several squats. "What's our count? I got five, and had two assists."

Rue said, "Six, counting that last one you threw me."

A slow smile crossed Sinopa's face. "Seven, counting one thrown to me by you, Karla-san."

"Damn, you's beatin' me?" Rufus said with a laugh. "That's eighteen so far."

"Hai, it appears so," Sinopa replied. "I am quick and clean. I do not seek to mire myself in battle. I prefer to be swift and efficient when sending my foe to the arms of their preferred god."

Karla arched her brows. "Damn, Red. That was pretty good smack-talk considering the fact you don't brag."

Sinopa replied with a hint of a smile. "Taking pride in one's accomplishments has its time and place."

Karla laughed. "I know, I know - you don't enjoy the killing; you enjoy the winning."

"Hai!"

Rue sniffed at the air. "Not to brag, but I killed three of those tin-twats before meeting up with you ladies." He bit his lower lip. "Sorry."

"For?" Karla tilted her head.

Sinopa nodded her head to Rufus. "I accept your apology, Rufus-san."

Karla scrunched her brows in confusion.

Rue turned to Karla and said, "Sayin' the 'T' word in frunna a lady."

Karla laughed again. "I'm a lady around my kids, and in cultured public places."

A grin tugged at the corner of the werewolf's muzzle. "I meant Sinopa."

Karla gaped at him. "Oh, you douche-berry bastard." She grinned to show she was kidding.

"Ayup." Rue sniffed the air again. "They're falling back. C'mon, gals. This way." Rufus made his way up the street, in the direction of the canals and temple in the distance. "Even their snipers abandoned their nests. I don't get it - why are they falling back so much?"

"To protect Falcon," Karla surmised. She held her hand up. "Wait. I need to get my purse if we're going downtown." She walked to one of the buildings in passing and stepped inside.

Karla picked up her handbag and paused. She cocked her head and walked over to something on the floor nearby. She bent at the knees.

The succubus picked up a periodical with dogged pages. The paper was faded in spots. Karla shouldered her handbag and carried the publication out into the street. "Hey, you guys, look how old this is."

Rufus reached for the aging paper but abruptly drew his hands back. "Claws, hon."

Sinopa took it from Karla and looked over the fading print-work and the aged coloration of the paper. "It's quite old."

"It says '1862.' The paper is foxing - no pun intended, Red. It's legitimately old. But there's no way anyone had the technology to come down here in the 1800s."

Sinopa frowned. "Steven, perhaps?"

Karla shrugged. "Or Steven could have sent people to look for this place. I forgot to tell you guys, but I saw other books down here, that were dated around the time of the Civil War."

"How'n the hell is that possible?" Rufus rubbed his chin. "Maybe Falcon brought down his collection of old shit?"

Karla shook her head. "Falcon's collections are in that tall tower in New Atlantis. The stuff that's down here wasn't cared for, but it was preserved because this area wasn't an oxygen rich environment."

Sinopa sheathed her sword. "I saw a steam engine machine not far from here last night. It was not functional, but it was quite heavy and served a purpose unknown to me."

Rufus shrugged. "So ... were their people that lived underground, in the city of the First Age people or what?"

Karla snapped her fingers. "Watson."

"Excuse me?" Sinopa retrieved a flask of water from her satchel of supplies. She drank from the flask and returned it to the small pouch.

Karla took the publication back and put it into her handbag. "Gregory Watson. He was once in this underground city beneath Virginia. He said the initial excavation team found human remains. But upon closer examination, it turned out they weren't the remains of people from when the city was built."

"Huh?"

She cut her eyes to Rue. "What I mean is, Watson's girlfriend found human remains three miles beneath Virginia. But the ruins of the city where they were found were far, far older than the bones."

"What're you tryin' to say, Blondie?"

Karla shrugged. "That the Vril-ya Society was real." She grinned. "Kidding, of course ... but who knows. Now I'm starting to actually wonder."

Sinopa arched her brows. "Who was the Vril-ya?"

Karla shook her head and waved her hands in a dismissing fashion "Long story short, it was a fictional race of people who lived underground. I've always been into science fiction and fantasy stuff. I read it back in the late 1800s. Don't mind me, I make jokes to humor myself. Don't worry about it."

Rufus and Sinopa exchanged glances but neither spoke.

Karla laughed in spite of herself. "God, never mind. It was a silly old book that some people took way too seriously." She faked a cough in her fist, pretending to cough the word, "Blavatsky."

Rufus shook his head. "The crazy Russian dame with the big imagination?"

"Yeah." Karla drew a deep breath, smirked, and said, "Don't forget she started a fringe philosophy-and-science society that believed in Atlantis and a microcosm of bullshit, which later inspired the imagination of nut-jobs across Europe like the Thule Society, and attracted all the most fanatical of loons to make the Nazi party into the conspiracy-theory-backed joke that it became."

Rufus shrugged. "There should be a way to measure imagination the way people measure IQ. Then people'd know who to watch out for."

Karla nodded. "The people with moderately high intelligence and extreme levels of imagination are the biggest bullshitters. Add a little charisma, and you've got the makings for a great novelist or a false prophet."

Sinopa shook her head. "Let us continue to make progress. Please, feel free to ponder to your heart's content after this city has been flooded by the Atlantic."

Karla nodded. "Sounds good to be. Let's not tell anyone this place existed. It took a hundred years for people to get over the Atlantis hype that started in the 1800s. It took another seventy-five years for people to get over an Atlantis obsession the second time, after Edgar Cayce kicked the bucket. I am tired of hearing of this place."

Rue looked around the majestic, dimly lit lost city. "Kind of lives up to the hype, though."

"I guess." Karla panned her gaze about the area and grimaced. "It's a shit-ton cooler than the science fiction writers made it sound. But it's the most cliché trope ever, now. I don't even think of this place as 'Atlantis.' I think of it as something bigger, cooler ... Plato based his stories off the rumors he heard about this place. He should have stuck to postulating about soul mates."

Rufus pointed down the road. "Let's go, Blondie."

Karla grinned. "Sorry. I'm a mouthy opinionated bitch, aren't I?"

Sinopa stepped between them and put her hands on their shoulders. The kitsune guided them into walking. "You spoke the words, not us, Karla-san. Come."

Karla laughed and fell into step. "Okay, okay. Let's light up the rest of these tin-turkeys and get some rest. Falcon is next."

"Hai, Karla-san. Shh. I wish to hear myself think. Please, with all due respect. Allow me to at least meditate for a while before having to listen to more nonsensical..." Sinopa sighed and shook her head. "Pardon my outburst."

Karla's smile dissolved into a slight grin. "That's just about the nicest way I've ever been told to 'shut up' before." The succubus drew quiet.

The trio walked down the street. They made it to the outer-most, and by far the largest of the circular canals at the heart of the city.

The silence between the trio lasted a solid twenty minutes before Karla could no longer resist the urge to socialize. "Sinopa, you think we're going to live through this? Falcon hasn't died and ... I lived my life like I would be dying at any minute ... and now that death might actually be around the next corner, I don't want to die."

Sinopa frowned. "I do not have an answer. If we do not stop Loki and his wife, I fear everyone may die."

"Well nobody wants that." Karla frowned. "We still need to have the Whore of Babylon, the Antichrist, the reborn Christ, the Maitreya Buddha..."

"Blondie..." Rue patted her head with the soft padding of his palm. "What if they already all exist? Loki's the Antichrist. Kalen's shapin' up to be ... God knows what. Peter could easily be the new world teacher..."

Karla grimaced. "So the Whore is either me or Cybil."

Rue shrugged. "Maybe it's almost over. We kill these suckers down here, we go and we enjoy a thousand years of peace 'n shit."

Karla stared down into the depth of the empty canal. "The Whore of Babylon dies. Cybil is tucked away and protected by Natalia's people. So unless he chokes on a pretzel tomorrow ... look, I don't want to die." Karla licked her lips with a sigh. "But I'll die if I have to save my kids from this shit. And, so help me Christ, if I do die ... I'm going out with a fucking bang."

Sinopa closed her eyes. "Karla-san ... it is time we rest. We have pushed our foes back to the temple, beyond the three rings of the canal. We all need rest, especially you. You are emotionally worked up because you have endured such an exhausting day."

Karla feigned a smile. "Are you saying I'm being an argumentative child because I didn't have my nap today?"

Sinopa smiled. "I've always believed in naps - for children and for adults."

Rue grinned. "You foxes love layin' inna sun."

"Hai."

Karla turned away from the canals. "When we were children, we hated naps and spankings. But now, as adults ... they're not so bad."

Sinopa rolled her eyes.

Rufus smirked. "So long as I'm the one givin' the spankin', I suppose you's right."

"Mm-hmm. You would say that." Karla peered down at the old periodical in her purse. She withdrew it and handed it to Sinopa. "Keep it safe. It'll get messed up in my purse."

"We have no use for it, Karla-san."

The succubus grimaced and put it back into her handbag. "Fine. I'm keeping it, then. Ready to get some rest?"

"Very much so."

"Ayup. A lil' snooze sounds perdy good right about now."

Karla nodded. "Let's get back to our corner of this place, then, huh?" She put her hands on Rue's elbow and Sinopa's shoulder.

The trio disappeared.

They teleported back across the residential sector of the town, to where their friends had been staying since arriving in the lower city.

Karla found her way to Eric.

Sinopa shared a building with Rufus in adjacent rooms.

Nicky Parker and Reno found a place together.

Johann and Charlie stayed in a building, shared with Evan.

Heimdallr, Raul, Vincent, and Conner found a safe building with multiple rooms.

Nearby, in Reno's temporary apartment, he was first to the bedroom. He sat down and saw the tablet with the USB drive connected.

He turned on the screen and glanced at the words written about himself, but only the first few lines. Reno stared at the words for a moment. He cocked his brows a bit, not sure if he was reading the words properly.

After all this time, he hadn't read the file. He wondered if Nicky was the one who started reading it. Reno stared at the screen for a moment longer.

He didn't want to read the whole file. He'd already been warned by Lance Patterson that it was an incredibly dangerous idea.

His eyes became stuck on a paragraph, which read, "Reno Nevada ceases to exist on New Year's Day, 2050-AD. All good things come to an end. I still haven't figured out how to change that outcome just yet. It may never happen. Who am I to try and be a god in the face of fate?

Maybe Reno Nevada's death is what ensures the others will live. What a shame - he loved Nicky so much. He finally rescues her after all that bullshit, and he never lives to marry her. But I can see no other way to make things right: Reno Nevada has to sacrifice his future for the others to live."

He withdrew the USB drive and slid it into his pocket, followed by the small tablet. Nevada drew his pants off, folded them somewhat, and set them aside. He felt exhausted, as if overcome by depression.

Nicky came into the bedroom and stretched. "You ready to get some shut eye?"

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, I sure am." Reno sat down on the stone block meant for bed mattresses. He leaned back and opened his arm to her.

Nicky settled besides him. She snuggled into the side of his torso and rested her face against his chest, content to listen to his heartbeat. "We're going to get through this."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I have to believe it. You came back for me. It's like there's some sort of rhyme and reason for this epic, complicated mess."

Reno placed his chin atop of her head, keeping her face tucked against his chest. He closed his eyes and sighed softly through his nose. "You know I love you, right?"

Nicky smiled in silence. "I know, babe. I love you, too."

Silence befell the city for the remainder of the night.

The quiet stretched into the mid-afternoon of New Year's Eve...

X

X

Friday, December 31, 2049 - 5pm Local Time Lower City ...

Heimdallr attached the last of his armor. He stretched and glanced about the dwelling where he'd slept. He lifted a shield and gazed into the reflective surface. With his free hand, he rubbed his finger against his golden teeth, then shouldered his shield and stepped out of his room.

Raul slept sitting up in a corner of one room, Vincent was curled up in another.

The next room was empty. Heimdallr stepped into it and looked around. There was no sign of Conner or his cane.

Heimdallr stepped into Vincent's room and woke him. The Norse god knelt adjacent to the sleeping man. "Conner is no longer here."

Vincent sat up and stretched. He looked at a watch on his wrist. "He's an early riser; always has been. It's the middle of the afternoon. Conner burns the candle at both ends." Vincent saw the look of confusion on Heimdallr's face and added, "Conner keeps the Canonical Hours, you know?"

"I'm afraid that means nothing to me."

Vincent got to his feet and stretched. "He typically sleeps from nine at night to two-thirty in the morning."

"I ... see."

Vincent shrugged a bit. "We got in late last night, so the latest he'd have slept till would be ten in the morning. It's after five in the afternoon now."

"This city maintains consistent illumination at all hours." Heimdallr stepped out of Vincent's room and nudged Raul with his foot. "Have you rested enough, Spaniard?"

Raul looked up. A tired smile spread across his face. "Happy New Year's Eve to you, too, los dientes de oro."

Vincent made his way into the hall where the rooms forked. He grinned and told Heimdallr, "Raul called you 'Mr. Golden Teeth.' I'm going to see who else is awake. I'll find Conner. I appreciate you being worried about my nephew."

Heimdallr looked back at Vincent and nodded.

Vincent made his way downstairs, outside the building, and wandered into the building across the way. Nevada took the steps up to the two bedrooms occupied by Sinopa and Rufus.

The first room was empty. The second room had a large basin for a bed. In the center of it, Rufus laid on his left, facing the wall. Sinopa had her back to Rufus, lying on her right side, with her arm used to prop her head.

Despite Rufus' lack of clothing, he was still covered in fur.

Sinopa was fully dressed. She slept in her gi, with a folded kimono near her head.

Vincent knelt besides the bed and placed a gentle hand on Sinopa. He whispered to her. "Konichiwa, mom."

She opened her eyes and looked up at Vincent. "Good morning, Vincent." She saw his eyes shift to Rufus, behind her. The kitsune added, "No. I was cold. No inappropriate behavior occurred between us."

Vincent feigned a smile. "I wouldn't judge anyhow. Look, Conner isn't in his room. I know he's an early riser, but I just wanted to make you aware. I'm going to look around and try to find him."

Sinopa sat up and pushed her lengthy red hair back. "What time is it, Vincent?"

"Five."

"In the morning?"

"No. Five in the afternoon," Vincent told her. "I slept hard, considering I was on a floor. Looks like you did, too."

Sinopa nodded and eased her legs over the side of the bed basin. "I know these base-blocks were designed to hold a mattress, but I admit I slept well without one."

"You had a werewolf. I imagine those are pretty soft."

"Mm. We slept back to back. Evan bestowed him with temporary claws superior to his own. Thankfully, he does not toss or turn in this form." She reached back and placed a hand on Rufus' hip. "How did you sleep?"

Rue rolled onto his back and stretched. "Like a baby. Thanks fer las' night."

Sinopa gently patted his hip. "Arigato - you kept me warm." She reached back for Rue's muzzle and guided his head to swivel, so that he saw Vincent.

"Oh. Hey there, Vincent. Didn't realized we had company. Musta been really out of it. Nuffin' happened; she's been sweet on Donovan Loupe, anyhow."

"It's fine, you're both single consenting adults anyhow." Vincent grinned. "I'll catch up with you guys in a bit." He stood up, bowed to Sinopa with a smile, and walked out of the room.

Vincent took the stairs and made his way back down to the street.

It was amazing how modern these ancient buildings seemed. They had bathrooms with sinks and places to bathe. They had Roman-style toilets, designed for sitting. They had rooms with beds, and rooms designed for preparing meals.

He looked around the area and made his way to another building. He stepped inside and found the bedrooms within. Nicky Parker and his brother were sharing a rather ... physical intimate moment.

Vincent froze in the hallway. He swallowed. It wasn't that he was shocked to see his brother making love to his fiancée ... it was the glimpse of Nichole without clothes.

Vincent left the building and made his way back out to the street. He sighed softly, thinking back to Nichole - his Nichole. The clone of Nicky, a woman that Vincent had worked alongside for a number of years ... a woman with whom Vincent recently started a relationship.

He went across the street. The next building was empty. He moved to the adjacent one and found Karla and Eric. They were awake and having a conversation about ... something.

Vincent didn't listen long enough to find out. He stepped into the room and nodded to both Karla and Eric.

"Hey, sweetpea." Karla afforded Vincent a smile.

"Have either of you seen Conner?"

Karla and Eric exchanged glances. Karla replied. "We've been together all morning - Eric and I. Neither of us has seen Conner at all. Not since yesterday."

Vincent frowned. "Oh. Do you know which building Evan, Charlie and his brother are using?"

Karla stood up from a table and chairs in the room she was using to relax with her husband. She gestured for Vincent to meet her by a window. She pointed diagonally across the street. "That one, right there, with the funky carving of the moon over the door."

"Thank you. I just want to check on him, you know?"

"Try the roof."

Vincent blinked. "I ... yeah, you're right. I'll check after I talk to the African guy and the two brothers."

Karla chuckled. "Their names are Evan, that's the 'African guy,' then there is Charlie, and the young-looking one is Johann."

"Yeah, thanks. Sorry, I wish I was in all the same social circles but ... yeah."

"Vincent, I thought you worked with Patience while living here?"

"I did, but we were always doing work. I mean, I knew Evan's name. I just ... I just woke up and I'm not firing on all cylinders yet. I think of him as 'Patty's husband'. I didn't know him personally all that well."

Karla chuckled. "Here, let me help you out and save you some time." She waved her hand. It was the last thing Vincent saw...

...Nevada appeared standing in the doorway of the building used by Evan, Johann and Charlie. He reached out and took hold of the doorframe to keep his balance. The brief disorientation passed. "I'll never get used to teleportation."

Vincent took a deep breath and pushed the thoughts of Nichole Parker's nude body out of his head to the best of his ability. He was so upset by the image that he couldn't even remember the name of his friend's husband.

"Get it together," Vincent whispered to himself. "You know Patty's husband, you dummy. Don't embarrass yourself." He rubbed his face and sighed. "Okay."

Vincent made his way to the stairs against the far right wall. He went up to the floor with the bedrooms. "Anyone awake?"

Charlie emerged from a room and bowed to Vincent. "Konichiwa, Vincent-san."

Vincent frowned. He looked into Charlie's eyes and saw the vertical pupils of his eyes. Vincent pursed his lips together and frowned. "Was I the only person that didn't know?"

"Iie, my friend. Your brother has not yet been made aware. Also, Conner and Karla, nor her husband, know that Charles Foster has allowed me to borrow his body. It is for the best that Conner and Karla remain unaware. I have made a fool of myself, and they must stay focused on the tasks ahead of us."

"That's ... weird. How does that benefit Charlie?"

Charlie replied with a foxish grin. "His likeliness of survival has increased. He will return to the surface, where he has begun a budding romantic relationship with a woman named Laura Báthory. I believe you are familiar with Laura."

"Yeah. She's a nice girl. She deserves some happiness in her life. If she's got feelings for Charlie, then promise me you'll keep him safe until Falcon is _really_dead for good. Loki and his wife, too."

"Mm, you are protective of Laura." Charlie tilted his head a bit. "But you have never had a relationship with her. Ah, I see ... the nuclear disaster in San Francisco. Telepathy is a most-useful ability to possess. My apologies, it is rude of me to perceive your memories. It is akin to staring too closely. I am learning social etiquette with this sixth sense."

"Yeah ... have you seen Conner? He stayed in my building last night. No one has seen him this morning."

Charlie lowered his head and tilted it slightly as if listening to something that Vincent could not hear.

Vincent fidgeted but stayed quiet.

Charlie shook his head. "Conner is not within range of my host's ability. With so few people in this place, the LowerCity, Charles' range is impressive. But Conner's mind is either completely silent, or he is far from this area."

Vincent ground his molars together. "Where could he be?"

Charlie mirrored the expression of concern. "You are aware that I am in love with Conner Parker, yes?"

Vincent nodded. "Yeah. I get that. Where do you think he could be? Would he be at the temple trying to do reconnaissance?" Vincent's voice lowered. "That's something his mother would do without telling anyone."

Charles cupped Vincent's face. "We will find him together. I will wake Johann and Evan. Bring the others together."

Vincent reached up and took Charlie's hands. He stepped back and released Charlie's hands. "Tamamo, I'm married."

"I ... did not mean to make an inappropriate gesture or touch you in a way that would make you uncomfortable."

"No one seems to know your intentions at any given time. Also," Vincent licked his lips, "with all due respect, you didn't answer my question."

"Do I think he could be gathering intelligence alone? No." Charlie shook his head. "I do not think he would do such. I have learned that he was no match against the soldiers in the technologically advanced suits of armor. He would not put himself into danger in such a fashion - he has Tamae and a future child to consider, now. Performing such a task without telling anyone, or without someone to watch his back would be foolish. He likes to have something called a 'logistics coordinator' with whom he can speak on a radio or phone."

Vincent nodded. "Okay. I'll gather everyone and meet you in front of this building shortly. I want to make sure my nephew is safe."

Charlie tilted his head. "You are upset...? My apologies, I did not mean to pry. I see your emotional state as easily as a perceptive person would read the expression on your face."

"Reno and Nichole."

Charlie nodded in understanding. "It is best you call her 'Nicky.' She prefers it, to differentiate herself from her clone. I will awaken Evan and Johann, then I will fetch Reno and his betrothed. You gather the others."

"Thanks."

"Hai, it is no trouble, I assure you. Besides, it is time I speak to Reno and his fiancée about my identity."

"We're keeping this from Karla and Conner, though?"

"Hai, and by proxy, Eric. Please keep my secret."

"Okay. See you shortly." Vincent turned around and walked back down the steps. He was glad he didn't have to face Nichole again. He imagined they would be lying together in a post-coital embrace by now.

Vincent didn't want to see her undressed again. It was difficult enough to talk to her while she was dressed. Vincent sighed and made his way back across the street to gather the others.

X

X

Several hours later...

Karla whirled around, facing her husband."What did you just say to me?"

Eric looked around the temple room to make sure they were alone, first. He turned to Karla and said, "You're only worried about Conner because the two of you shared bodily fluids."

"You are a son of a bitch, you know that?" Karla glared at Eric. "How about a little empathy for two rape victims, huh? Jesus Christ, Eric. Are you really going to start a fight with me right now, when we're so close to this shit being over and done with?"

Eric sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm letting my jealousy get the better of me." He paused, then added, "Did you know Rufus and Sinopa shared a bed last night?"

Karla scrunched her brows. "What?" She rubbed her forehead. "Are you serious?"

Eric rolled his eyes. "You still have feelings for Rufus? After trying to pair him with our daughter, you still have feelings for him?"

"No, you dummy. I can't understand why you would gossip like that. It's not your style."

"I wanted to see your reaction. I need to know, Karla. It's how I'm handling my insecurities."

"Oh_geeze_, Eric. Why would you lie about Sinopa and Rue fucking?"

"I didn't say they had sex. I said they shared a bed. That was not a lie. I was not present in the room with them. I only know that Vincent found them together, sharing a bed."

Karla pushed her hair back behind her ears on either side of her face. "Okay, okay, calm your tits, hubs. He wouldn't sleep with Sinopa. Sinopa wouldn't sleep with Rufus. If they snuggled up for warmth, that's one thing. But even if they did have sex, I don't own Rufus. He's mourning Ulfey and doesn't know how to handle loss very well. In fact, Rue has _never_been good with loss."

"Rue is in the fur. He has no clothing. Women are typically not comfortable sleeping with a naked man unless they are..."

"God!" Karla erupted. "Is that what I sound like when I gossip? Jesus, Eric. Okay ... for now on, no more gossiping. I hereby vow never to gossip ever again. Hearing you doing it is ... weird. Like, _really_weird. I don't want to sound like that. Are we done fighting, now?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are we done fighting now?" she repeated.

Eric took a moment to reflect on the absurdity of arguing behind enemy lines. "I'm exhausted, Karla. I don't mean for it to be an excuse, but you're right - I'm gossiping and I'm arguing with you. I'll do my best to stop being so belligerent and..."

The temple shook. A crack made its way up the wall. It sprouted in two directions, heading to the ceiling, and over to a corner, near a doorframe.

One of the fluted white columns at the center of the room cracked.

Karla levitated herself and her husband. The room shook around them but the disorientation ceased once their feet left the tiled floor.

"What would cause the city to shake like this?" Eric said in a voice loud enough to be heard over the ambiance of the rumbling.

Karla shook her head. "I'm hoping it's someone delivering the coup de gras to Aris Falcon. That guy is the most arrogant dickhead I've ever met. He's going to wish he killed me while he had the chance."

"Don't talk like that," Eric said. "Besides, if Falcon wanted you dead, he had a handful of opportunities. Perhaps he is also in love with you."

"Jesus Christ, Eric! Are you stupid?"

"Sorry, Karla. I can't understand why I'm saying these things. I do not want to sabotage the relationship. I say them without thinking and immediately regret my lack of restraint."

"God, and here I thought I was the one who lacked a filter between my mind and my mouth."

"Charles, the telepath, suggested that Sire's programming might finally be breaking down."

"That's a load of shit," Karla snapped. "You and I have always been very passionate - with our sex and with our arguments. I admit, though, you're using a lot less restraint lately. I'll make you a deal."

"Yes?"

"If you get your head out of your ass, I will stay married to you. I don't want Donnie growing up thinking it's okay for a man to raise his voice to his wife, or to treat her with such disrespect. He's too young to realize that you're just a jerk - he'll think that's how men treat women, and I won't have that shit. Are we clear?"

The shaking ceased. Karla lowered them both back to the floor. "Well?"

Eric nodded. "Yes. I won't argue with you in front of him ever again. You have my word that I will..."

"No!" Karla exclaimed. "You'll stop arguing with me period. If I get belligerent, you tell me that we need a break. We stop talking for ten minutes. If you get belligerent, I'll tell you we need to take a..."

"I'm sorry."

"I hate arguing," Karla groused. "I'd rather just cold-cock you with a left cross, and be done with it. That's how men used to handle women two hundred years ago. Times have changed, and I could be the one in the relationship that hands out the bitch-slaps. Would'ja like that? No? Then stop starting fights."

"Alright, alright. The fight is over. Let's keep moving."

Karla afforded him with a weak smile. "Good." She crossed the room and reached for a door up ahead. The room began shaking again. "God! What are those dickless deities doing!?" She swung open the door.

In the next room, Reno and Nicky Parker were fighting a group of soldiers wearing damaged armor suits.

At second blush, Reno was fighting. Nichole was bracing herself against the wall. Nicky looked up at Eric and Karla. "Are you two finished? We could use your help!"

Karla grimaced. "You heard us, huh?"

"Clear as a bell, now help Reno!"

Karla and Eric turned to the nearest soldiers to where they stood in the door. They went in two directions, picking targets at random.

Nicky stumbled to the floor from the intense shaking. "What the hell is going on anyhow?!"

Karla levitated herself just above the floor tiles. "Don't know, Nick'ums." She drew her fist back and clocked a soldier across his visor.

The telekinetic strike launched the soldier into the wall. The marble slab cracked from the force of the metallic body striking the surface. He slumped to the floor, dazed.

Nichole rushed over to the man and ripped off his helmet. "There's a button," she announced. "It's hard to see but I saw it." She wrapped her arms around the dazed soldier's head, covering his face until he was completely unconscious.

Karla turned to the next soldier nearest to her. "This shit was fun yesterday, but now I'm ready to go home and play Legos with my son. Let's get this over with already!"

One of the electric rifles discharged. The bolt reached out towards Karla.

The electric arc curved away and met Reno's palm. Nevada absorbed the current. His eyes glowed and he sneered. "I keep telling you guys ... those guns are useless."

"That's the way to do it, Top Cop! Amperage for nothing and volts for free!"

"Karla! Have you seen Raul?"

She shook her head. "No, Reno. We got separated from everyone at the gates."

Reno brought his palms up on either side of a soldier's face mask. He sent a current into the suit, overriding it. It shut down. Reno put his foot on the man's chest plate and kicked him up against the wall.

Karla cupped another soldier's visor and slammed him against a nearby wall, driving the back of his skull through the marble. "What's going on? Have you heard from the others?"

Reno's voice sounded fairly deflated. Even the adrenaline of battle wasn't enough to lift his spirits. "Raul said Conner was captured by Sigyn in the middle of the night. He's with Falcon and Loki, now."

"God_dammit_!" Karla pulled her enemy from the wall and hurled him towards her husband.

Eric created massive shadow arms. The shadow master caught the flailing enemy. He drove the soldier into the wall at the opposite side of the room. A crack formed in the hard surface, which stretched to the floor.

Reno looked around. All the soldiers in the room were motionless. The temple continued to shake but the quake wasn't as bad as the one from several minutes ago.

Nevada approached Karla. "Good work, kiddo."

Karla held her hands up, prompting a high five. "You too, babe. Have you come across anyone else?"

Reno stared at her hands for a moment. He reached up and patted his palms against hers with a shrug. "No. Nicky, here, said she could smell Sinopa. The kitsune must be close, or she may have come through this area recently." Reno approached Nicky and helped her to her feet. "You okay, hon?"

"I'm good," Nicky said.

Karla pushed her hair back from her face. "So uh ... what does Sinopa ... uh, what does she 'smell' like?"

"Foxes have scent glands," Nicky said. "It's different from human sweat. Also, I smelled charred flesh, so I assume she's doing her fire thing."

Karla nodded, impressed. "Well, alright then! Let's get teams going. We'll find the others and go into offense and defense teams."

"How so?" asked Nicky.

Karla motioned to Reno. "I'll take Slim Shady and Sparky to find Falcon. I want to jack up that guy's shit."

"And me?" Nicky tilted her head.

Karla approached her. She reached up and pushed a lock of hair out of Nicky's eyes. "Honey, no one can sneak up on you. You can practically track people like a bloodhound. You should take Sinopa to find Conner. Your nephew needs your help. If you can find Charlie, link up with him. He's telepathic. That's a good power to have on your team."

Nicky nodded. "Charlie will be easy to find."

"Oh?"

"He has a distinctive scent. I'll find him." Nicky turned to face a door on the west wall. It opened seconds later. "Boys, I was just talking about you."

Charlie and Johann stepped through first.

Evan followed them, holding a sword made from sapphire. He gave it a twirl at the hilt. "Hey, Reno! How do you like my level ten Vorpal Sword?"

Karla snickered. "You going to use it to kill the Jabberwocky, babe?"

Evan laughed. "Lewis Carol, right? Did he invent it?"

"Yup." Karla grinned. "I'm assuming it's a popular weapon in RPG's huh?"

"You know it."

Karla shook her head with a smile. "Never stop being you, Evan."

Evan beamed. "So what's the plan? Has anyone seen Conner yet?"

"No," Reno said. "Have you guys run into anyone else?"

Charlie nodded. "Heimdallr was pleased to cross paths with us, but felt confident in his ability to fight alone. He went in a different direction. He said he had a better chance of finding Conner that way."

Karla ruffled Nicky's hair. "Listen, boys, you're on search duty. Find Conner. Remember, he's the linchpin in Falcon's big bad plan." Karla changed her voice, emulating a faux Japanese dialect. "Save da Mas'a t'ief! Save da woold!"

Silence.

Karla looked around herself at the blank expressions. She turned to Evan and grimaced. "For shame - you didn't catch that Heroes reference."

"Oh. Maybe if Conner was a cheerleader..." Evan turned to Nicky and offered his hand. "Wanna join our coterie? We'll find your nephew together. I can even make you some pretty awesome weapons if you want." He lifted the sword in his other hand and grinned. "It cuts right through their armor. I re-sharpen it every few times I use it."

Nicky turned to Reno and they shared a hug and a rather passionate kiss. She kissed him in just such a way to make sure everyone knew that Reno belonged to her.

Reno kissed Nicky in a way that took her breath away. He kissed her as if it might be the last time he would ever see her. He wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes with a sigh.

Nicky was delighted by the kiss and his affectionate touch. Parker whispered into Reno's ear with a devious smile. She kissed his earlobe, said something else, and brushed her nose against the side of his face. "I love you. I'll see you soon."

"You, too, Nicky. I mean it."

Nicky grinned. She released Reno, cleared her throat, and turned to Charlie, Evan and Johann. "Let's find my nephew, boys."

Karla grinned. The succubus elbowed Eric in his ribs and whispered, "Why don't _you_ever kiss me like that anymore?"

"Karla..."

"Aht!" She grinned at her husband. "No excuses."

Eric sighed. "Let's get started." He nodded to Reno. "Are you ready?"

Reno nodded back to Eric. "I'm ready if you are."

Karla tilted her head. "You okay, Reno?"

"I'll be fine."

"You sound like you didn't sleep. Look, babe, if you're worried about how this whole thing is going to end..."

Reno feigned a grin to Karla. "If I do my job, things will end the way they should - the bad guys don't go home. Can't ask for a better ending then that."

"You don't have to sound so depressed about it. How do you know for sure, anyhow?"

Reno shrugged. "Let's just say I've got my sources."

"We don't keep secrets," Karla said in a stern voice. "Remember?"

"I found some notes written by an oracle who saw the future." Reno shrugged a bit. "I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up. They say that predicting the future can change it, you know?"

"So why are you down in the dumps?"

"I'm tired. We've got a lot of hard work ahead of us."

Karla held a finger up, gesturing for Eric to wait. She moved closer to Reno and spoke softly to him, so their conversation would stay private. "Reno, what's wrong?"

"It's complicated."

"Do ... you miss ... do you miss us?"

Reno cracked a slight grin. "Yeah, Karla. Yeah, that's exactly it. But you're happy and all I've wanted is for you to stay happy. I've got Nicky back, and it's great, but I'm just afraid I'll never live ... up to ... making her as happy after all this stuff is over."

"Reno, cheer up. For me." She ruffled her fingers through his hair. "If things don't work out between the two of you, then it wasn't to be. Not every marriage ends happily ever after. I wish it did, but ... keep your chin up, babe. You're handsome when you smile. And, hey, if shit _does_crash and burn, don't internalize it. You come and talk to me, okay?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

Karla nodded. "Of course."

"I might be looking into things all wrong but ... at the end of the oracle's file, it doesn't mention what happens to me. It got me to thinking ... what if?"

Karla shook her head. "You can't die. At least not for a long time. Just trust me, I got a gut feeling, babe. You'll live for a long, long time. You'll die an old fart. Knowing you, you'll probably die with your boots on, too. I can't even picture what you'd look like that old, but you'll live for a long, long time. Trust me. I'm a woman. I know these things - I have a great intuition."

"I remind you a lot of Nathan, huh?"

"In some ways. To be honest, he was always way too serious for his own good. He lightened up around me, but he didn't know how to crack a smile." Karla shrugged a bit. "It's difficult to talk about him."

"Why?"

"Because I was injured in the 1960's. I lost a _lot_of memories, including some of the ones I held most dear of Nathan. I can't even remember what he looked like in his youth. A little like you, but he dressed better. All I remember is how he made me feel - how he saved me."

"Saved you?"

Karla nodded. "Yeah. He saved me from myself. He didn't accept 'no' for an answer, and showed me how to be a better person. I'm starting to get some of those memories back, little by little. Actually, Nathan touched a _lot_of lives. Methos, me - so many of us owe a lot to that man."

"I hope I live as long as that guy did. I doubt I'll live that long, but it would be nice."

"Did you know I wasn't even named 'Karla' when we met?"

"What? Really?"

"Nope. I was named after a concubine - the sixth wife of Abraham."

"Karla," Eric said. "We should get started. We can't stand around and chat all day. If Conner really is missing, we have to find him before Falcon uses him to do ... whatever."

Reno nodded. "Eric's right. Conner's important. We need to get the kid back."

"Keep that chin up, Reno. Remember the other night when we sat up and talked about the Titanic documentary for two hours? We're friends, Reno. Friends have each other's back through thick and thin."

Reno hugged Karla.

Eric grimaced but said nothing.

Karla hugged Reno back. "One last thing, Top Cop."

"Yeah?"

"I talked to someone who seems to know how things play out. See? You're not the only one who is too curious for their own good."

"Who?"

"Your friend, Trajen."

Reno tilted his head. "Do our loved ones survive?"

Karla grinned. "He said that no one should know their own future, so he refused to tell me what happens to me. But what he did tell me was that my children grow to have children of their own. He told me that Elvena finds love with a 'dark, mysterious gentleman with long black hair.' So I did a little matchmaking with Rufus. Trajen told me that my son lives a long happy life..."

"Did you ... ask him about me?"

Karla smiled. "I did. I was close to you when I asked."

"What did he say?"

"He said you live to a very, very old age. He said you die with your boots on, feeling very accomplished. So get that chin up, Top Cop."

"Karla, Reno..."

Reno stepped back from Karla. "Thanks. I needed the pep talk."

"Any time, Reno. Now, let's go do what we came to do, yeah?"

"Sounds like a plan. I'm tired of Falcon's bullshit. Let's go."