Windwalker Chronicles

Journal Entry #12

Did I mention all this new find ability in Air magic doesn't come with an instruction manual?

It was a quiet morning in Crystal Tokyo, especially in this section of the city. The only signs of life on the street at this time were a man and a cat, walking slowly down the street.

The man was of medium height, with dark hair and plain features, dressed in a light grey sweatsuit with sneakers. He glanced every so often at the numbers on the houses they passed. "How much farther?" he asked out loud.

It was the cat that answered his question. "Right there." The cat stopped and pointed with a paw at a house two doors down. He was a compact grey tigerstripe, the only noticeable feature about him was the crescent moon on his forehead, which marked him as a Moon Cat. Somehow, he managed to look irritated.

"Finally," the man muttered, picking up the pace. "Let's get this show on the road." The cat sighed loudly, but followed the man.

When he reached the gate Raiden had indicated, Alan Thomas looked through the decorative and delicate seeming fence that enclosed the estate and studied the home of Guardians Pyrite and Azurite. "Interesting style choices," he muttered.

The place was undeniably a definite mix of styles. Very large for a house, but small for a mansion, it was built along what he would have considered European lines. However, the grounds were planted with cherry trees with a cluster surrounding a jade-green, pagoda-style teahouse. Further back, and on the opposite side of the grounds, there was a kid's playhouse with a swing set and what were presumably other playground fixtures that he couldn't identify. Beside the patio, on the mansion's western side, he could just make out the boulders of what might be a zen garden. Just beyond the main doors of the front courtyard, a couple of small figures seemed to be playing baseball on the uncluttered expanse of lawn. Just behind the mansion was the curve of what appeared to be part of a seamless black dome.

Alan glanced again at the number on the doorpost then looked down at the cat, "This is the place, right?"

*I too have questions,* said a voice in Alan's mind, *about this being the home of a wizard who is as strong as Guardian Pyrite is suppose to be.*

Alan sighed. It wasn't bad enough he had to share his body with his great times several-hundred-times-Grandfather, the last of the Air Wizards of the Silver Millennium. There was over ten thousand years separating them, and Alisin Windwalker was not one to keep his opinions to himself.

Raiden sighed and asked rhetorically, "Why do they never trust their tour guide?"

"Because you're still sore at me for dragging you out of the library."

"That's beside the point." Raiden sighed again. "This is Pyrite and Azurite's house. But I'll remind you, we could have saved ourselves this side trip and just met him at Crystal Tokyo University. Arranging to meet him here was your idea."

"Funny, I thought you were the one pushing me to get out and see more of the city." Alan looked down at the cat. "Does this have anything with my shoulders still being too sore for you to ride so you had to walk?"

The cat glared at him and muttered, "That's not true."

Alan shook his head, trying hard to repress a smile. "If you're going to be sore at anyone, blame Doctor Wolfe. She's the one who told you not to ride on my shoulder for the next couple of days." Alan's smile was slightly cruel. "Besides, you need the exercise."

"That's heartless."

"But true." Alan looked at the house again. "Why don't they live in the Palace like everybody else? I can't believe that place is short on room."

The cat shrugged, looking less annoyed then he had several seconds before. "Habit. They only officially joined the Court during the Black Moon War. Before that, they were just citizens of Crystal Tokyo, willing to help when the Queen asked, but they were never an official part of the government. They left shortly after the city was founded, so there never was space set aside for them. When they moved back to the city a century later, they built themselves this home and they've lived here ever since. After they signed up, they didn't see any reason to move into the Palace so they're still here. Since they both can teleport, they can be at the Palace just as quickly as if they lived there."

Alan frowned. "We rode the bus quite away from the city core. I imagine the real estate's changed a lot from my time, but this much land in Tokyo must have cost a small fortune."

Raiden shrugged. "Luckily, Guardian Pyrite has a large fortune."

"Must be a heck of a salary CTU's paying him."

The Moon Cat shook his head. "You're on the wrong track. Pyrite got in on the ground floor when magic was reintroduced."

"Ah. Sort of like Bill Gates, then."

Raiden frowned, but continued, "And, he's had plenty of other patents since then. It's because of him and Lady Mercury that CTU is considered the premier institution in the world from the teaching of magic. Money's never been a worry for them. He works at CTU because he loves researching and he found he likes teaching the new generations of mages. Same as Azurite, as the wife of a very rich man she could have just taken it easy for the past millennia. I know I would have...." the cat commented wistfully.

Resuming his explanation unprompted, the cat added, "but she likes trying new things, which is why she's explored so many professions over the centuries. Of course, it helps that she can afford to indulge her curiosity, but I've never heard it said she went after anything with less than her best effort."

Alan nodded. "Interesting couple. She's trying to be a jack and master of all trades and he's trying for sainthood."

Raiden looked puzzled. "How do you figure that last bit?"

"Easy, anyone who could deal with university students for a thousand years and not go mad must have the patience of a saint."

Raiden rolled his eyes and sighed expressively. "Hardy har har." He walked towards the gate. "Well, let's get going, we're expected and it's rude to be late."

"Shouldn't we find an intercom or...." Alan trailed off as the gate swung soundlessly open as Raiden approached it and began sauntering up the walkway.

Looking back, the moon cat said, "While this place looks wide open to anyone who scales the fence, it's actually got a security system second only to the Palace. I'd have been amazed if we hadn't already been scanned and approved for entry."

"Oh."

"Are you going to stand there all day?"

"Er.... right." Joining the cat, Alan commented, "Considering the almost nonexistent crime rate in this city, it sounds like Pyrite's a bit paranoid."

"Actually it's just because he likes to tinker. If he comes up with an improvement for the Palace system, he fieldtests it here." After a moment Raiden added, "Though being Dark Kingdom Alumnus, they probably both figure better safe than sorry. After your own recent adventure, you'll have to agree that even in Crystal Tokyo things can get a little wild."

Alan shivered. "Don't remind me of Diaspore. I'm still feeling the bruises that Hoth reject inflicted on me."

"You're lucky Rei didn't decide to lock you up for your own safety. She didn't take too kindly to your attempt to get killed by throwing yourself in front of her to shield her from Diaspore's attack."

"I told her I was sorry. What else does she want from me, my head to mount on her wall?"

"We'll worry about that later."

They continued to walk up the drive. As they did so, the young moon cat continued, "As I was saying, if any outsider tries to get their grubby hands on the family fortune by kidnapping their daughter, he'll be very sorry. Though just how much protection she need is arguable."

"Daughter?"

Raiden nodded, "That's right, I haven't mentioned her yet. Sylvite, their twelve-year-old. That's her up ahead."

By now, they were close enough to get a good look at the twosome playing ball outside the mansion. A young blue-haired woman in her late teens or early twenties was holding a green glowing bat poised as a pink haired girl at least half a dozen years younger wound up for a pitch. The woman was unknown to Alan, he would have guessed an older sister playing with her younger sibling but Raiden had only mentioned one daughter. Too much age difference to be a friend, possibly a maid or babysitter here to look after Sylvite while her parents were away. Neither seemed to have noticed their visitors, both were intent on the game.

*Be careful, Alan,* said Alisin harshly. *Now is not the time to be distracted by women!*

{Who's distracted? I'd have to be dead not to notice her!}

*Well, keep your libido in check in any case. You're an Air wizard in training, not a love-sick schoolboy!*

{I'm not that stupid!}

*I am not sure,* replied Alisin tartly.

The attractive batter announced, "This one's going to the moon!" Alan stopped so he wouldn't interrupt and so that he could discreetly study the tanned legs barely covered by her shorts, something he hadn't done recently despite numerous encounters with the Senshi. Those ladies were just too intimidating to ogle, especially Rei. Besides, all of the Senshi were older then him by a factor of fifty, most of them with partners who also were intimidating in their own ways.

Meanwhile, the pitcher wound up and threw the ball with remarkable speed and strength. Alan reminded himself that despite appearances, she was a Youma and far stronger than an ordinary girl. The blue-haired woman swung and missed.

The pitcher immediately shouted, "STRIKE 3!"

The batter angrily retorted, "Too low, Ball Three!"

Alan decided to intervene. "It was a strike."

They both turned to looked at him, the younger girl giving him a thumbs-up. The older glared a bit and asked, "Whose side are you on?"

Alan smiled. "Oh truth, justice, beauty and the Elementalist way."

"Huh? Anyway it wasn't high enough."

Alan shook his head, "Clearly in the batting zone."

He was a little surprised when she stuck out her tongue and went, "Beiii!"

*Alan,* said his Grandfather sternly. *This is not the time to practice your courtship skills!*

{Courtship skills?}

*Or whatever they're called these days. Business first, then... pleasure.*

{Will you relax? I'm trying to make friends here.}

*You don't have time for that type of 'friendship'!*

Alan responded to the blond, "You shouldn't try to cheat kids." He turned to wink at the girl and added, "Isn't that right, Sylvite."

The girl frowned in puzzlement. "I'm Kodachi" She jerked her thumb at the older woman, "That's Sylvite."

Alan's head swivelled to stare at the young woman. "You're Sylvite?!" She nodded and Alan glared down at Raiden. "You told me Sylvite was twelve years old!"

The cat grinned. "She is."

"On whose timescale?"

"A Youma's."

"You're not pulling my leg, are you?"

Raiden's grin became wider. "I'm serious."

I don't believe you." In that case, both girls had to be playing games.

"She can't be Sylvite!"

"I assure you she is, I should know what my own daughter looks like."

Alan turned towards the new voice and saw that Guardian Azurite had emerged from the front door. She approached with a friendly smile and an open hand, but Alan couldn't shake the impression that if Alisin had tried anything resembling his recent behavior towards Titanite and her daughter, he'd already be looking for his head.

Inside his mind his ancestor whispered, *Formidable.*

{That's an understatement.}

*I told you to keep your libido in check. This Guardian is not a person to be trifled with, especially when it involves her child.*

{I had no intention -}

*She is just making sure that you understand that despite her daughter's appearance, she isn't available.*

{I wasn't looking THAT seriously!}

*Then, you'll be fine.*

{I hope so.... }

Shaking his hand with a firm grip, she cheerfully told him, "Nice to meet you again Mr. Thomas. I'm afraid I've got some official business which can't be put off so I'll be joining you on the campus a bit later than we planned. But Pyr's got some ideas for preliminary testing that means you won't waste the next few hours."

"Oh that's fine. Alisin's looking forward to speaking with another mage, but I'd like a little more practice time."

"Understandable after your recent misadventure, but this will be more of a friendly welter-weight bout." In the same friendly tone but in a lower voice she continued, "I noticed you checking out my daughter and while that's perfectly natural despite appearances she is only twelve years old so you'd be well advised to treat her like one."

"Uhm...oh absolutely, I wasn't thinking of doing anything...er...look but don't touch...I won't even look...." He gave her a weak smile.

Smiling warmly, she replied, "That's good to hear. I've known Ami a long time and Setsuna is something of a friend and they'd both be distressed if they heard I'd broken every bone in your body."

Alan's smile faltered. "Not as distressed I would be," he muttered.

"Good. I'm glad everything's out in the open. I will see you later." She turned back to her daughter. "I'm off for the day, so have fun with Kodi-chan and be honest if you mess up."

"'kay Mom. Bye." Sylvite kissed Azurite on the cheek and her mother ruffled her hair.

Kodachi said, "Bye, Auntie."

Azurite acknowledged the goodby with a cheery, "See you both later" before vanishing with a complete absence of special effects.

Alan watched Azurite depart in silence. "I think it'd be safer juggling with lit sticks of dynamite than to cross that woman," he said in a low voice. He then looked down at Raiden and asked, "You did that on purpose, didn't you furball?"

The cat grinned up at him. "Of course, it's no secret. Just youma genetics making her physically grow up fast. The bombshell with a kid's mind. If this was any other city, they'd probably think she was mentally challenged.

Around here, it's just one of those things. Everyone knows about her."

"I didn't! Why didn't you tell me?"

Innocently, Raiden answered, "You didn't ask."

"Thank you so much. Remind me to dip you in gravy and toss you into a dog pound someday. Or, better yet, the next time you can't a book down from the top shelf, don't come running to me to do it for you."

"Don't blame me. How do you expect to learn anything if you don't ask questions?"

"That's a good attitude." Both man and cat turned to see that Pyrite had emerged from the house. He stopped to bid farewell to his daughter and Kodachi before striding over to Alan. "Nice to meet you again and I am looking forward to working with you both. Oh, and this is yours, thanks for the loan." With that, he handed Alan the Star Trek novel that had been stuffed in Alan's backpack and seized for analysis along with its other contents after his chaotic arrival in Crystal Toyko.

Alan noticed it had been magically restored to mint condition and was in much better shape than when he had last seen it. "You're welcome. Though I'm surprised that you haven't read them all by this time."

Pyrite shrugged, "I've done my best, but there was a lot published between our relocation to Earth-Beta and the beginning of the Great Darkness. Unfortunately, several were lost forever when things fell apart during the 'Great Silence'. I've done what I can to trace the missing ones, but by now, even if any copies survived the Dark Times, time itself would have crumbled them to dust."

"I suppose asking Setsuna to pick you up some copies from the past is a no-no?"

Pyrite frowned. "I never thought about that. The next time I see her, I'll ask her."

It occurred to Alan that this was a unique item and might be worth a lot to a collector. Though he had probably just met the last remaining Trekker on Earth. Anyway, the first thing he'd to do was finish reading it before deciding if he'd sell or give it to Pyrite.

"What's so amusing?" asked Pyrite.

Alan smiled at him. "It just occurred to me that this could be the first time someone picked up a book to finish it after letting it sit for just over a thousand years."

The Guardian laughed. "I know how that goes. My own record is a bit under a century. I got distracted with a project the Queen wanted, and if the book hadn't been magically strengthened, it would have been dust before I got to it again."

{A century?}

*These are people who measure their lives in thousands of years.*

{I know. I'm still getting use to the idea.}

*I am getting use to many things. This is another thing to add to our list.*

Pyrite interrupted them. "I take it you were discussing something with your ancestor?"

What?" asked Alan, startled by the sudden question. "How'd you know that?"

Raiden snickered, "If you keep standing there, not saying a word while pulling all those funny expressions, it's a bit of a giveaway."

"Giveaway? But that conversation was so quick...." A worrying thought occurred to him. He glanced up at Pyrite. "You can read my mind?!"

"No, merely your aura."

Alan relaxed. "That's a relief." The Guardian's words sunk in. "Wait a minute." he said, giving Pyrite a suspicious look. "What's an Aura?"

Alan could almost see the Guardian shift into lecture mode. "All living things generate a field combining mana, spiritual energy and psi energy which can be seen by those with mage sight," he said. "Clear enough so far?"

"Er...yes."

"At its most basic it can be used to sense lifeglow so you can find nearby lifeforms, the next step is identifying different species, the more advanced can identify individuals by their auras."

Inside Alan's mind, he could almost see Alisin nod. *I've heard of this, though it wasn't a talent practiced by many of the Elementalists. It could be most useful if he could teach it to you.*

{Assuming my matrices will allow such a thing.}

*Mage sight is a passive form of magic all you are doing is seeing the energy around a lifeform. There is no use of mana, so you matrices should not be triggered.*

Pyrite noted the exchange between the two windwalkers, but didn't comment as he continued, "In my case I can read the fluctuations within an individual's aura and yours makes fascinating viewing. The closest examples I can think of involve possession with the controlling entity speaking through the host."

Alan closed his eyes. "PLEASE don't say that around Rei," he said in a pained voice. "It's bad enough that she thinks I'm a troublemaker after that frozen fiasco at the shrine. The last thing I need is to end up in a jail cell with one of her wards stuck to my forehead."

"Er, quite. An unfortunate analogy as there's no impression of coercion but your spiritual symbiosis is a unique case." He smiled, "If you ever have a few spare months I'd like to do an in-depth study."

"Tell you what, Doc," said Alan, his eyes still closed. "If Rei ever decides to sling me in jail, you can poke and prod us to your heart's content. Of course, that's assuming she leaves anything of me to toss into jail."

"It's a deal."

*Again with the insult, Alan,* said Alisin reprovingly. *I can't think of any reason why Lady Mars would want to arrest you.*

{I'm here in the city. That's enough of an excuse in her book.}

*Isn't it about time you realized that she is no longer hostile to you?

Your actions against Diaspore convinced her you aren't a danger to the city's security.*

{Maybe, but every time I've seen her since I've gotten out of the hospital, she glowers at me and walks away.}

*I think you have misjudged the Lady Rei. Her job is not an easy one.*

{If you start with the 'suspicion is part of her job' routine, I'll scream!}

Alisin sighed. *Sometimes you are such a child!*

{What's the point of being grown up if you can't be childish once in a while?}

*Who ever said you were grown up?*

Raiden chuckled, interrupting Alan's search for a snappy comeback to his Grandfather. "The way you and Rei get along, you might regret making that offer in front of a witness."

Both Raiden and Pyrite laughed. Alan laughed, but it wasn't quite as hearty as the others. Behind them the girls wondered what was so funny then shrugged it off as one of those adult things and got back to their game.

Pyrite noticed this and said, "Well we should get out of here before we have to dodge baseballs or fireballs." Alan blinked at the last part, but Pyrite kept going. "The first thing is to visit the Palace. Now I realize you just came from there but if you'll let me handle the transportation we'll be there in no time."

Raiden nodded, a Cheshire cat-type grin on his face. "Fine by me, so who's shoulder do I get...."

Pyrite leaned down and the moon cat ran up his arm to perch on his shoulder. Pyrite straightened up and extended his hand to Alan. "If you'll just take my hand for a moment?" A bit mystified, Alan clasped the other man's hand. His confusion deepened after Pyrite asked, "Is there any history of warp-sickness in your family?"

{What the heck is warp-sickness?}

*I do not know. The term is unfamiliar to me.*

Alan answered out loud, "Grandfather says he's never even heard of it."

"Hopefully a good sign. In that case...." Pyrite turned to wave his free hand at the girls and they waved back. "...let's go."

"Go...."

Alan blinked. "...where?"

He looked around, his mind trying to adjust to the suddenness of it all. As his brain raced to catch his sense, he blinked several more times but nothing changed. He was still standing in a small marble alcove holding Pyrite's hand. Releasing the Guardian's hand, he stumbled backwards through the archway and found himself standing in what had to be a Crystal Palace Hallway. Though a large window on the opposite wall he see out the by now familiar cityscape spread before him.

"Do you feel any nausea?" He turned to see a concerned-looking Pyrite ready to hand a bag to him.

"Uh...no." Alan glanced down to make sure everything was still in its proper place. "No. I'm not queasy, just a little...No, I'm actually very surprised." He looked over the alcove they had emerged from again. "So, those niches really are for anyone arriving by teleport."

"It's easier and safer than arriving in the middle of the hallway."

Raiden hopped down from Pyrite's shoulder and smirked. "I told you we could have stayed here," he said.

"Okay, okay. Don't rub it in, Furball." Alan turned back to Pyrite. "I can see why you don't worry about commuting. But shouldn't you have said, 'Energize'?"

"I used to. I can also do that sparkly disappearance, but people either had no idea what I was talking about or found it distracting or irritating, so I gave up."

"Heathens. Probably force-fed Star Trek: Voyager episodes as young children."

"But if we teleport over to the University, I'll add the special effects if you like."

"Okay, but only so long as I get to say 'Energize'."

"It's a deal. Now this way, please."

As they walked away, Raiden followed, muttering, "If one Die-hard Trekkie isn't enough, now Crystal Tokyo has to deal with TWO super-powered Trekkies...."

"Trekkers!" chorused Alan and Pyrite over their shoulders.

Raiden sighed.

Several minutes and three hallways later, Alan asked Pyrite, "So, why did we need to come back here?"

"The Holodeck's on this floor and I think...." He realized Alan had just stopped dead. He turned to look at him. "Is something wrong?"

A strange look of surprise and interest flickered across Alan's face.

"When you say holodeck you don't mean...?"

"Yes I do. Actually Holodeck is just what I call it. The official name is the Environmental Simulation Chamber, but almost nobody calls it that. Everyone had their own pet name for it and mine is the holodeck."

"Does it work like the Star Trek one?"

"Yes and no. It's capabilities are originate primarily from magic rather than technology though it's controlled by a computer so it's a technomage system. Unlike the Trek ones, it's not available for casual use, as it's far too expensive to run for that."

Alan frowned. "So it's reserved for the rich?"

"No, while it wouldn't be cheap to build one, the primary expense is in terms of energy. Without the mana well below the palace to power it, you'd drain all the ambient mana within kilometers to run it for a few minutes. Which is why I've never built one." He grinned. "I have to say that gaining free access to it once we accepted Guardian rank was a powerful inducement."

*A far too frivolous a reason,* muttered Alisin *Guardians are not recruited like common soldiers, they are *

{Will you chill out?} Alan snapped mentally. {I think Guardian Pyrite was kidding.}

*I suppose you are right,* replied Alisin, but he didn't sound convinced.

The Guardian stopped before a pair of large reinforced double doors, reached for the archway and tapped a few buttons on the keyboard that materialized under his hand. The doors slid open and he gestured Alan in. "After you."

Raiden hung back, "If you don't mind, that place is a bit hard on my senses. I'll wait for you out here."

"Go ahead, Furball," Alan murmured, a bit distracted by the promise of a real holodeck. He leaned down and placed the Star Trek Novel next to the door. "Keep an eye on this, OK?" Without waiting for an answer, he stepped inside, followed by Pyrite.

The inside was a bit of a disappointment. Just an empty space big enough to fit a few regulation-sized basketball courts in, surrounded by dull white walls. Pyrite smiled a little, "The Trek ones did look a little more impressively high-tech with the power off. Computer, give us Trek Standby Pattern." Suddenly the walls, floor and ceiling were covered with the grids that marked a shutdown Starfleet holodeck. "Better?"

"Much. So can I give it a try?"

"I'm afraid not. Vocal control is limited to those on the secure list and that has plenty of safeguards so you can't accidentally shut down the safety systems."

"You mean, like a Trek holodeck, you can't be hurt in here?"

"Correct. At least not under normal circumstances." Seeing Alan's understandable interest, he continued, "About two decades ago, a cyber-telepath compromised the system in an assassination attempt on Titanite and Topass. We still don't know which of them he was really gunning for. He could have been sent to take out one of the Sailor Senshi or it could have been one of those Nemesian clan feuds. Or possibly neither of them was specifically targeted, maybe it was just whoever entered the holodeck would have been a high ranker in CT and a good target of opportunity. Anyway, we eventually identified him but Nemesisan military records list him as killed in action during the war and the trail dead ended."

"That's convenient."

"Anyway, you don't need to worry about that. The important thing is that I helped Ami install a special monitor to prevent anyone trying that one again and Rei's upgraded Palace security several times since then. You're safer in here than anywhere else in Crystal Tokyo."

Alan continued to look around the room. "Interesting as all this is, you still haven't explained why we're here."

"Oh excuse me, I was rambling wasn't I? The curse of the academic mind. As I think I mentioned, Azurite and I gained access to the holodeck when we became Guardians. Azurite didn't waste the training possibilities it represented. She's created a number of training scenarios to challenge her powers, so I thought we could run you through one of them so I can get some preliminary readings on your capabilities in a risk-free environment. It'll also enable me to give Azurite some idea of what to expect."

"Throwing wind about in an enclosed space...." Alan trailed off as he realized that given Azurite's powers, that must not be an issue. Pyrite nodded.

"When it's running, the system can handle anything you can throw at it. During the incident I mentioned, we had Rei, Ti, Mina, Cal and Topass all blasting away and it kept functioning until Serenity cut the power. Even if you've got double our top estimates of your power levels, you can't break it."

Alan hesitated. He remembered the tail end of his desperate fight in the park. The fight, while not very long, had left him weak almost to the point of complete exhaustion, complicated by nearly being killed by a mad ice wizard. On the other hand, this place was intriguing and seeing a real live holodeck was an attractive prospect. Something occurred to him.

"Is this used purely for combat training?"

"Not at all. While we can travel anyway in the world with ease, we've occasionally used it to recreate places that just aren't there anymore and we're far from the only ones to use it for romantic trysts. We also bring Syl-chan here on her birthdays and let her choose the world she wants."

"Just on her birthdays?"

"Yes, we don't want to spoil her and it's better she plays in the real world with real friends most of the time."

"Makes sense. Say, since you only got access to this place a few years back, do your other children ever resent not being able to use it when they were kids?"

There was a flicker of loss in Pyrite's eyes, but it was gone almost immediately. "We don't have any other children, not now. We had a son but he died before Sylvite was born. She's our only daughter, our only child."

*I suggest you steer clear of this subject in the future,* said Alisin softly. *I know what it is like to lose a son. It is a pain that never quite heals.*

Alan nodded slowly. {Agreed.}

"But," continued Pyrite briskly, "that's neither here nor there. Ready to take a look at what this room can do?"

"Sure."

"All right then. Computer, initiate program Azurite 3 but do not begin gameplay until ordered." There was a swirl of color and Alan found himself in a small clearing in the heart of a jungle. The temperature had just jumped to tropic summer and the air was humid and rife with the scents of exotic vegetation. Creepers hung thickly from the trees and the cries of unknown creatures echoed through the moist air. Alan glanced down and saw he was wearing a khaki pants and shirt, already drenched with sweat. The illusion was unbelievable.

Alan reached down and picked up a fallen branch feeling the rough texture of the dry bark and the weight of the wood. "Incredible."

*I agree. I have never seen anything like this before,* Alisin murmured.

Pyrite gave Alan a few minutes to explore his surroundings. To the south and east, the jungle became impenetrably thick and dark though there was just enough light to make out massive thorny creepers. To the north was the plume of smoke from an active volcano, the probable source of the minor tremor just occurring. To the west through the trees, Alan could make out the top of a mammoth Inca-style pyramid backlit by the setting sun.

*I recognize that sort of structure,* said Alisin. *I saw many such buildings in the Silver Millennium.*

{That's nice.} Alan continued to look around. {See any other structures?}

*No*

Alan turned back to Pyrite. "I take it that thing is important?" he asked, pointing at the pyramid.

"Yes."

"Thought so, it's too obvious to not be the objective. So what do I do?"

"Proceed to the pyramid, avoid or defeat all opposition, and find the necromancer's stone. Computer, display the stone." A head sized rock of dark purple crystal appeared in the air before Alan slowly rotating. "Destroy it and that will neutralize the enemy. Oh, and don't blast everything that moves, there could be captives to free."

"Sounds like a big video game."

"Essentially. Excuse me a moment." Pyrite pulled a few small gemstones out of nowhere and hung them in the air around him where they floated in complete ignorance of gravitational law.

"Er...What are you doing?"

"Setting up a phase shifter so I'll be immaterial once things start rolling."

Alan frowned, "I though you said this place was harmless?"

"It is, you're not. Once you start heaving hurricanes around, I prefer to take a few precautions rather than trust in my forcefield to hold. Besides, you wouldn't want your shots ricocheting from an unseen obstacle."

"Unseen?"

"Yes. Computer, remove display and designate me as nonparticipant with camouflage observer status. Designate Alan as player and set play level to Beginner. Oh, and remove all booby-traps."

"Did you just say booby-traps?" asked Alan weakly.

"Yes, this is just a basic test so there's no need for you to worry about fancy stuff like hovering rather than plunging into a stake-filled pit or watching the trees for deadfalls."

"That's a relief - I think."

"Computer, initiate on my mark."

Alan felt a twinge of worry. "Wait a second, Guardian Pyrite. Does this game have a name?"

"No, Azurite designed it from scratch and threw in a randomness factor to keep things interesting. But she usually refers to it as Doom'Nuke'em for some reason."

"Doom'Nuke'em?" asked Alan in sudden horror. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Make it so." With that, Pyrite vanished from view.

Alisin grumpily asked, *What's wrong?*

{Azurite's choice of a name for this scenario doesn't fill me with confidence.}

*Don't panic over nothing, boy. After all what's in a name?*

Figures emerged from the jungle on north, east and south sides. Skeletons covered in rotting green and purple flesh with black fire burning in their eye sockets. They wore the torn and aged remnants of conquistador uniforms and raised rusty, but sharp looking, swords. Or maybe it wasn't rust, but rather dried blood. Inside his mind, Alan felt Alisin nod mentally. *All right Alan, now you can panic.*

{Gee, thanks.}

The zombies moved in as Alan groped for the right words. "WIND SHEAR!"

Seconds later, the surrounding trees shook in a localized gale.

Sometime later, a travel-stained figure darted through the arch of a stone doorway. A massive slab of rock crashed down behind him. Alan gaped and it and snarled out loud, "He said no booby-traps!"

In an irritatingly cheerful voice, Alisin replied, *It missed you didn't it? This is fun, I wish we had a training center like this in my youth. We could have run the apprentices through it and separated the wheat from the chaff in half the time.*

{Fun? Maybe you'd like to take over and run around gasping for breath while dodging monsters with very large, very sharp weapons. That last Minotaur nearly impaled me!}

*You're exaggerating, my boy. And thanks to that creature, you now have knowledge of another of your spell matrices. I will admit the monster did look surprised when the 'updraft pillar' sent him straight into that overhead tree branch. You're nowhere near your limit. Not to mention you stumbled across that lemonade stand when you started complaining about thirst.*

{Okay, so Pyrite's testing my powers rather than my endurance, but...say if this place is all illusion, how did fake lemonade quench my thirst?}

*I've no idea. This all uses magic on a far grander scale than I have ever seen. Short of the Silver Crystal that is.*

{Maybe, but I'm tired and...What was that?}

*I've no idea, some hungry monster...*

{If that's a monster, its shorts are way too tight. It sounded like a woman in trouble.}

*What are you waiting for? Go and find out!*

A louder cry for help drifted into the room. Fatigue forgotten, Alan charged off to find the source.

Moving swiftly, but cautiously, through the corridor Alan found himself on a small balcony over a courtyard. Ten feet below, a half dozen of the four armed kali monsters were readying dinner. Two were building up a large fire as a third examined a long metal spit. Two more were using their swords to chop vegetables on a solid looking table while another stirred a cauldron full of sauce. The woman in the abbreviated safari outfit tied to a pillar as she watched the creatures prepare to barbecue her continued to call for help. Alan muttered, "Looks like Laura's had a bad day in this tomb."

*What?*

{I'll explain later.} With that, Alan vaulted over the balcony and made a relatively soft landing in the salad. "Avon calling!"

Before the startled monsters could do more than goggle at him, Alan shouted "HURRICANE PUNCH!" A distorted blast of air shot from both his fists and struck the two creatures at the far end of the table. Both creatures catapulted backward to slam into the pair tending the fire. All four plunged into the blaze and bellowed loudly, the smell of frying bacon filled the room.

The monster who had been examining the spit raised it like a spear in its upper arms and charged Alan, drawing a pair of swords with the lower arms. Alan booted a bowl at the onrushing creature, and the hard wooden bowl caught the monster in the face. Before it could recover, Alan shouted "UPDRAFT PILLAR!" From nowhere, a hurricane force wind suddenly formed at the monster's feet. The upward blast of air sent the monster straight up into the hard stone ceiling half a dozen meters overhead. The sound of the impact wasn't pleasant to hear, nor was its return to the floor below.

*Behind you!* Alan ducked as a giant spoon whooshed over his head as the sauce stirrer attacked from behind. A point-blank Hurricane Punch dropped it just before it could burry an evil-looking dagger in Alan's chest.

By now, the quartet who had fallen onto the fire had gotten to their feet. Alan turned and muttered, "I wonder if Indiana Jones had days like this,"

*Who?*

"Never mind - FORCE WALL!"

The blue shield formed just in time to deflect the spit, two knives and a burning log. As his barrier collapsed, he jumped off the table and landed near the woman. The monsters turned and started toward him.

"I think you made them mad," the would-be dinner said.

"So what else is new," Alan muttered, then shouted "STRESS SPHERE", the ball formed in his hands and he threw it at the advancing monsters. As soon as the sphere left his hands, he shouted, "FORCE WALL!" While the monsters dodged out of the way of the hurled ball of compressed air, the now familiar bluish wall sprang into place between Alan and the girl and the still advancing monsters.

"You missed," said the girl as she watched the monsters finished dodging the Windwalker's attack and were now charging toward them.

"That's what you think."

The nearest monster was only three meters away when the rebounding stress sphere struck it in the back of the head with sufficient force to send it tumbling into a boneless heap. The sphere then shot up to the ceiling and bounced off hard enough to leave a sphere size dent in the rock. It then came screaming down and slammed into the force wall before it bounced off and plowed through the last three monsters like a bowling ball through cheap wooden pins.

"Nice work." Alan saw the former entree smiling at him and smiled back. It wasn't Laura Croft but there was something familiar about her. Still, an Asian complexion, blue-black hair and those wide golden eyes made a striking picture and the rest of her was worth a look too. Even if she was, he reminded himself, just an illusion. "I don't want to seem pushy but would you mind untying me?" A little nervously she added, "Unless you're into that sort of thing in which case I have to tell you I'm not!"

Alan flushed, his mind slapping several hormone-induced thoughts he had just had back into the deep dark parts of his mind. "Uh...no, of...of course not. It's just...er, that I'm not quite sure how to get you loose. Those knots look complicated and while I could blow the pillar apart that won't do you much good."

"Well, if you look around, you'll see my late hosts left plenty of sharp pointy things behind."

"Er...yea." Alan slapped his forehead and picked up a sword with an apologetic air. It didn't take long to cut her free.

She stretched, then threw her arms around his neck and leaned in murmuring, "My hero" and kissed him. It felt remarkably real.

"Ah, you're welcome...."

"Sally."

"I'm Alan...." There were roaring in the distance that was getting louder. "And that sounds like the last thing I want to meet. I think a fast exit is in order."

"Fine by me." She squatted down and picked up the sword Alan had dropped. "Let's go."

"Er.... Aren't you going to disappear?"

"Well, that's friendly I must say."

"No, I mean in the video games usually if you rescue someone they do a thank-you then fade out."

"Doesn't work like that in real life Alan-chan. Azurite programmed it so that if you rescue hostages you have to take them with you and guard them as you go."

*She has a point.*

"You know this is a simulation?" Alan asked.

"Sure."

"Well then, you know you're just an illusion so you can't be really killed."

"If that's your attitude why'd you bother rescuing me?"

Alan shrugged. "It seemed like the right thing to do."

"So how does that square with leaving me to be ripped apart by monsters?"

"Oh for the love of.... Come on then."

"Thanks!" When she hugged him she certainly felt and smelled real. Maybe that was another reason access to the holodeck was restricted. It might be all too easy to get addicted to illusions. But there was no reason he shouldn't save this attractive illusion just this once.

Sometime later, they were crouched low as they peered through the central chamber's doorway at the glowing Necromancer Stone hovering over the bloodstained altar. It was, of course, surrounded by monsters. Sally fingered the throwing knives she had picked up and nodded towards the two nearest creatures.

Alan smiled, she had proven to be no liability and had shown she knew how to use a sword. If she was real, he could have got to like her. Shame she was only a game sprite. Something nagged at him. Sally reminded him of someone, but he couldn't figure out who. Maybe she was an action heroine resurrected from some game he had played, but which one? But he was supposed to be the hero here. Alan shook his head and concentrated. A sphere began forming between his hands as Sally suddenly surged to her feet and slashed the zombie that had crept up behind him. Good move, but its undead death rattle would alert the others. Action time.

Alan darted into the doorway and blasted the nearest monsters with the stress sphere and charged in behind it before the startled zombies and assorted boogy monsters could regroup. Dealing out hurricane punches, wind shears, and updraft pillars to anything that got in his way Alan beat a quick path to the altar as Sally covered his back. The two of them jumped onto the altar as the surrounding monsters regained their minimal wits and charged from all sides.

"Great place for a last stand," Sally commented, running one monster through with one hand while throwing a knife at another creature.

Ignoring them and Sally's last stand comment, Alan grasped the stone between his hands and summoned a Stress Sphere. The jewel cracked and the monsters stopped their advance. A great wail arose as the cracks expanded, an instant later the jewel shattered in a burst of light and freed spirits poured out of the glowing hole in the air as the undead creatures keeled over.

"We won!" Sally hugged him again and Alan thought he could get used to this. Then a pleasant woman's voice announced that this simulation had concluded with his victory and everything began to fade away.

"Bye, Sally"

"Oh, you don't get rid of me that easy."

"Huh?" Before Alan could ask what she meant, he found himself standing in the center of the deactivated holodeck. It was totally bare lacking even the trek decoration and he wasn't alone. He wasn't too surprised to see Pyrite a few feet away, though his transparent appearance was another matter.

The floating gemstones disappeared and the Guardian's solidarity returned. He looked a little annoyed but his gaze wasn't for Alan. "Just what have you been up to, young lady?"

That was when Alan realized Sally was still there. Her arms were still there, but he couldn't feel them anymore. She wasn't wearing the jungle explorer outfit anymore. Instead she had acquired a formal kimono and been instantly cleaned of the grime of the game. She frowned and waved an arm which passed through Alan as though he wasn't there. Staring at his torso the goggling Alan vaguely noticed his own torn, jungle stained clothes had been restored though the sweat stains remained. But most of his attention was understandably on Sally as she pouted.

"Darn, I'm just a hologram again."

"Sally, I'm still waiting for an explanation."

"Hi, Daddy. Well there's not much to say. I was doing my usual over-seeing while the holodeck was running and I thought I'd introduce myself to your handsome friend as you didn't bother calling me out to say hi." She sniffed, "You're forgetting about me. You even told him Sylvite was your only daughter."

She seemed to be on the verge of tears and Pyrite's annoyance changed to discomfort. "Uh no, no. Nothing like that. I just meant Sylvite was my only flesh and blood daughter and since your existence is a state secret I couldn't tell him about you." Pyrite sighed, "But since the cat's out of the bag now... Alan Thomas this is S.A.L.L.Y., my cyber-daughter."

Sally bowed to Alan. "Nice to meet you."

"Ah, likewise." Addressing Pyrite. Alan asked, "Cyber-daughter?"

"Sally is an AI, the only real machine intelligence on Earth. I helped design her algorithms so I'm sort of her father."

Brightly Sally added, "Ami was my mother."

"Mother?" Alan snapped his fingers. "That's it, that's why she looked so familiar. She's got Ami's face and hair but your eyes."

"Of course, all kids look like their parents."

For some reason, Pyrite changed the subject quickly. "After the cyber-telepath incident I told you about earlier, we linked Sally into this room's controlling computer so she could watch for intrusion attempts. But while we set up a hologram projector so she could send an image in here and warn users if something went wrong, she wasn't given access to the psychoplasm generators."

With an embarrassed grin that made her look very cute, Sally said, "I kind of figured out how to access them awhile back. I thought it would let me keep a closer eye on things." At Pyrite's stern look, she added, "And I was curious."

Pyrite's expression softened, she was his daughter. Still, there were questions to be asked. "Have you been running the room for your own use?"

"No, that would be unethical. I don't have the security clearance to use it."

"You didn't have authorization to tap into the psychoplasm projection system either."

"A girl's got to have some fun, Daddy. First it was an intellectual exercise to see if I could mold psychoplasm into an approximation of my holoimage and store that pattern in a directory. Then, I got curious on if I could use it to experience sensory feedback. I'm still working on it but what I've felt so far is incredible. I can actually feel physical things, some of them anyway, and I think I'm starting to get the hang of taste."

Pyrite frowned, "If you haven't been running the room yourself. How have you been developing these feedback interfaces?"

"I work on them when authorized users are operating the room. Don't look like that, Daddy. I haven't interfered with anyone's simulations. I've just popped in as a background extra in place of a computer-generated doll or materialized out of the scene where I won't distract whoever's using the room. Today was the first time I've interacted with a user."

"Why Alan?"

"Well I thought you'd be sure to talk to me then." Now Pyrite looked embarrassed. "Besides he looked cute."

Alan flushed, then remembered the non too subtle threats he had received from Azurite. "Uh your Dad might not like you...."

Pyrite smiled, "Sally's been online for over a century now."

"Daddy! You should never tell someone a girl's age!"

"Sorry precious. I just meant you're free to date whoever you want." Was that a tear glistening in one eye? "My little program's grown up."

"Oh, daddy." The two did their best to hug with one of them immaterial.

Alan shook his head and muttered, "Just when I think things can't get weirder...."

*I agree. What is this ghost woman, and how can she be the child of

Pyrite and Cognizance?*

{I'll explain it later, but it's going to take some time and a lot of background on concepts you aren't familiar with. For right now, She's as real as you are.}

Pyrite stepped back and told her, "Rei will have to be told about this." Sally's face fell but he continued, "However there's no reason I can't have a word with Serenity first. Given her fondness for you, I'd be surprised if she doesn't arrange to give you limited use of the holodeck. But, I will be reviewing your hookups and unless you stay out of other people's simulations unless invited in, you'll be cut off from all access. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Good girl. Well much as I'd like to stay and chat, I've promised Alan to help him with his training so we need to get over to CTU with the data I've been collecting" Seeing her expression he added, "But I'll come back this evening and you can give me a more detailed run down on your psychoplasm experiments. I might be able to suggest a few shortcuts. Pity Ami's on her way to Mercury, she'd find this fascinating."

"Thanks Daddy. I'll be waiting for you." She turned to Alan, "I had fun in that game."

"Me too. Thanks for the help."

"Maybe we can play another game together sometime."

"That'd be fun."

"Really? That'd be great. Until then."

"Right...well goodbye."

As the exit to the holodeck closed behind them, Alan frowned. Looking up from his resting place in the corridor atop a cushion he had somehow acquired, Raiden asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure, but I think I just promised to date an AI."

The cat looked down at the Star Trek novel which he'd been reading. "I don't think even James T. Kirk did that. As Mr. Spock would say, 'Fascinating.'"

Pyrite nodded and patted Alan on the shoulder, "Sure sounded like a promise. Take good care of my daughter, okay?"

"Uhm...."

"One other thing." Pyrite placed a hand on Alan's shoulder, his voice low and serious. "Not many people outside of the Palace know about Sally, and we would like to keep it that way."

Alan nodded. "I understand."

"And while Sally's been around for a century or so, in some ways she's just like Sylvite. Just keep that in mind."

Alan's mind flashed back to Azurite's smiling face and strongly worded warning. "I don't think that'll be a problem," he said weakly.

"If she invites you back, you're under no obligation. Do whatever you feel comfortable with."

"Uh huh. I'm not sure I've felt comfortable since I arrived in Crystal Tokyo." Alan sighed, "Cyber-daughters, twelve-year-olds with adult bodies... aren't there any normal kids in this town?"

"Plenty. It's mainly the Palace Bratpack you've got to watch out for."

"Bratpack?"

Raiden answered, "The collective name for the kids born to powerful parents all of whom manifest powers of some sort and tend to hang around together." A bit quieter he muttered, "Though there are plenty of just plain brats among them."

If Pyrite heard the comment, he ignored it. "Well, we should be getting to CTU and if I'm going to do a Trek teleport, we should use one of the alcoves. Less distracting to passers-by than the middle of the corridor."

"Sure, but shouldn't I change first?"

"No need. Look at your sweatsuit."

Alan glanced down and looked puzzled. "What the....this shirt was soaked with sweat just a moment ago!"

"Magic induced additions to the weave," said Pyrite, with a smile. "The fabric now absorbs sweat and odor at better then ninety percent efficiency, given enough time."

"Neat."

Raiden looked up at Alan. Alan sighed, but knelt down and let the cat perch on his slightly tender shoulder, then picked up the book. As they headed back down the corridor, Alan asked, "Say, there's something I've been wondering about. Computers are, or at least were my field. You said Sally was the only AI in the world, but you also said she's been around for a century. Didn't anyone ever try to build another?"

"We tried at CTU and other labs around the world have been trying for centuries. But while computers can be built that do a good job of simulating intelligence, true sentience has yet to be achieved. At least, in any way that can be repeated. We think that an unreproducible magical accident that occurred during Sally's creation somehow made that crucial difference. She can't be copied and we think if we tried to transfer her to a new hardware system, we'd probably kill her. Or rather, wipe that spark that makes her sentient."

"I don't see how an accident could make any computer, no matter how advanced, an intelligent being."

"Nor do I, and I spent a lot of time looking for an answer." He hesitated then added, "Queen Serenity insists that she can sense spiritual energy within Sally. Maybe that's wishful thinking on her majesty's part but I wonder if that's the key."

{Spiritual energy?}

*The power is derived from the soul rather than from magic. I am aware of the concept only on an abstract level, as all my dealings with magic have always been with mana. However, I have seen the priestesses of Mars, who were great users of Spiritual energy, and wondered at their powers.*

{We'll talk later. I think we've both got something to learn.}

*I agree*

Alan spoke aloud. "From what Alisin just said, in order to have spiritual energy, a being needs a soul. How could a machine have a soul?"

"That's the question, isn't it? We know reincarnation has happened but all the known cases required magical intervention. If it ever happens naturally, we have no idea. In my more fanciful moments I wonder if Sally is a lot more alive than I think."

They reached an alcove. They stepped into it and clasped hands. Alan asked, "You mean there might be a literal ghost in the machine?"

"Anything's possible. Especially around here."

"I'm inclined to agree."

"Well, shall we go?"

"Sure. Energize!"

The alcove filled with a crackling light which faded to reveal an empty teleport niche.

In the Palace Tea-Room, Sally's CPU impatiently waited for Queen Serenity's next visit. She'd watched a lot of Holos, but there were still a few things about dating etiquette she didn't understand. She really hoped Daddy could get her approval to use the holodeck and generate another psychoplasm form. She'd heard about pleasures of the flesh, and like both her parents she was curious about things.

Alan, Pyrite and Raiden teleported to an alcove not far from Pyrite's office on the CTU campus. Alan stepped out and looked up and down the hall. "Looks like it's quiet this morning."

"We're between semesters," replied Pyrite. "So there's only a few classes being taught right now."

"So, what's next on the agenda?"

Pyrite hesitated. "I want to talk to Alisin directly, if that's possible."

"About what?"

"About his form of magic. Very few people have ever bothered studying Elemental Magic, so almost nothing is known about it."

Alan looked puzzled. "Then, what type of magic are there these days?"

"What do you know about magic?"

"Not a lot outside of what Grandfather's taught me. About all I know is that Elemental magic is considered High Magic, and High Magic isn't taught here because someone abused it to become a Necromancer."

Pyrite pursed his lips. "I think some basics in magic are in order.

There are two classes of magic in the world today, High Magic and Low Magic. The major difference between the two classes is really only of scale, with the two being on opposite ends of the spectrum."

"So Low Magic is different from High Magic. Right?"

"In so many words, mostly having to do with size and strength of the spell. Low Magic is the most common. All humanity has the ability to do magic at one level or other, but not many can master more than a lighting spell. With proper training, a few people can master Low Magic and use it effectively in their everyday lives. Unlike your time, humanity's technology today is a mix of science and Low Magic. There is a continual need for magicians skilled in the use of Low Magic. Also, Low Magic has the advantage of being relatively safe, and is thus taught at most universities on Earth."

"And High Magic?"

"In the case of High Magic, it is just a higher scale version of Low Magic, but there are some differences."

"Like?"

"The most important difference is the source of the power to fuel the spell. For most Low Magic, the caster simply uses the ambient mana in the environment, using a speck of it to power the spell. But, the trick is learning to reach out and grab it, which is where training comes in. Of course, while that works fine for Low Magic, higher energy spells are another matter. Using High Magic requires a significant power source. If you can't draw upon the mana surrounding you or tap into an external source then an alternate energy resource becomes necessary."

Alan nodded. "Makes sense."

"When someone uses High Magic, they need to start worrying about power sources. Most practicing High Wizards have either a technique for "trawling" a wider area and concentrating the local mana supply or, as in the case of the Renegades and youma, the capability of being a mana battery and accumulating and replenishing the necessary power reserves beforehand. If you don't learn to tap alternate sources, you start consuming your own lifeforce to power spells."

"That doesn't sound good."

"It isn't. Very few humans have the internal reserves to power such spells." Pyrite looked sad. "That's the biggest reason that most people who try to create High Magic without training burn themselves out, and they die."

Alan looked uncomfortable. "Is that what will happen to me?" he asked."Will I burn myself out one day?"

Pyrite smiled. "On the contrary, I think you fall into a very special group."

"Oh?"

"There are many possible sources for such a power source in today's world. For example, Druidic magic would take a little from each living thing around. Or, there are certain places on Earth that are repositories for magical power. Most of the ancient holy places are built on such spots. Black Magic, or Necromancy, gets its power from fear and death, or even worse, from demonic entities. There are a few humans are born either with seemingly infinite personal energy reserves, or the ability to tap into a very large source of Mana. By your aura, I think you fall into the latter group."

"Grandfather said I could tap into the air mana around me."

Pyrite nodded. "Would it interest you to know that you channel more mana in the holodeck exercise then most Magicians use in a lifetime?"

Alan looked blank. Raiden spoke for the first time since they teleported. "Maybe if you explained to him what a Magician is, he might be more impressed."

"Oh. Well, a few quick definitions to start, then. A Magician is a master of Low Magic. They are fairly common in the world these days, especially in Crystal Tokyo."

"Like lawyers?" asked Alan.

Pyrite smiled. "Not quite. You, on the other hand, fall into a more exclusive group. Skilled users of High Magic are called Wizards, and they are few and far between in these times. A Sorcerer is the catch-all term for anyone who uses magic on a regular basis. A Magisci, or simply Mage, is one accomplished both at Magic and Science, and works at blending the two together."

*I have never heard the term Mage before,* said Alisin curiously.

"Grandfather isn't familiar with that last title," said Alan.

"It's not surprising. This last category never existed during the time of Silver Millennium, because humanity never really bothered with Science in those days."

*There was no need to,* replied Alisin defensively.

{I know.} "I would think that magic and science would be a poor mix."

If Pyrite noticed the mental exchange, he chose to ignore it. "You would think so, wouldn't you? But this mix of science and magic has brought about some things that the ancients never imagined."

"Like what?"

"For example, Air Stones."

"Huh?"

*Quiet and listen.*

"The people of Silver Millennium used Air Stones to provide air and pressure in the vacuum of space," continued Pyrite. "This allowed them to travel from planet to planet with ease and some comfort. But the air stones were bulky and unwieldy. Then, a few hundred years ago, a Terran Magisci-engineer got his hands on one of the air stones that was brought back from the landing on Mars. He began to study it, eventually figuring out how it worked, and improved on the basic concept. The result was the air-belts that we now use in space instead of bulky spacesuits. While air-belts can't be mass produced, and don't have anywhere near the lifespan of an air-stone, they are much more convenient than the air-stones ever were."

*Indeed,* said Alisin. *I would not have thought it possible.*

{You guys used a rock as atmosphere control on a spaceship?}

*Of course. Is there any other way?*

{Yes! We used...er...Can I get back to you on that?}

Just then, a pair of students walked up to Pyrite, who stopped and greeted the two by name. After that, the three of them launched into a discussion involving something highly technical. Alan managed to follow only about a third of the conversation and that was because it had to do with something involving memory, storage, retrieval speed, and an access interface unit. After about ten minutes, Pyrite broke off the conversation and promised to continue the discussion the next morning. The two students, looking thoughtful, walked off.

They started down the hall again. As they walked along, Alan asked, "What was that all about?"

Pyrite shrugged. "We're looking at creating a virtual computer by mixing magic and science. Holographic interface, real time data transmission, ability to hook instantly into any network, and unlimited memory are a few of the things we're looking at."

"I'm impressed."

*As am I.*

Pyrite stopped at a solid-looking door. "Now, where were we before we went off on that tangent about magic?"

Raiden said, "You wanted to talk to Alisin directly, if that was possible."

"Right." He looked at Alan, his expression hopeful. "I know that Alisin has no love for the Dark Kingdom, and his reaction to Hematite's appearance was understandable, if not forgivable. Because neither Ti nor Hematite was seriously hurt, I hold no grudge against him. I only ask for his help so I know what to look for when I monitor your training. Will he speak to me?"

{Grandfather?}

*I have given my Queen my word. I will speak to him directly, if you will allow me to.* There was a hint of anticipation in Alisin's mental voice.

*I think we will both learn from this man.*

"He's willing to speak to you," Alan said to Pyrite. "In fact, I think he's looking forward to the chance."

Pyrite beamed, then frowned. "Er...I forgot to ask if it was all right with you."

"It's not a problem," Alan reassured him. "If he's willing to talk to someone about Magic, I'm not going to stand in his way."

Pyrite smiled again. "Thank you."

The door opened into a small outer office, where a stout, grand-motherly type sat behind a desk, typing away on a computer. She glanced up and smiled at them. "Good morning, Dean," she said happily.

"Good morning, Nanko," replied Pyrite with a smile of his own. "Anything I need to know about?"

The woman glanced down at a pad next to her. "Let's see....Oh, yes, Professor Pines called. He wanted to speak to you about a couple of his students in the advanced class. He thinks there's something shady going on regarding one of his tests, but he wants your advice first."

Pyrite sighed."I'd better see him now." He looked at Alan. "Do you mind waiting in my office? I'm not sure how long it's going to take, but I'll be as quick as I can."

Nanko peered over a pair of small spectacles at Alan. "And who is this young gentleman?"

"I guess introductions are in order," said Pyrite. "Nanko, This is Alan Thomas. Alan, my long-time office secretary, Nanko McMasters."

The woman smiled warmly. " Are you going to be attending class here?" she asked.

Alan blinked. "I'm not sure," he replied.

"He's a special case," said Pyrite smoothly.

"With his aura?" asked Nanko in some surprise. "With what I'm seeing, I'm wondering if that's wise."

"You can read my aura?" blurted Alan.

"Er...yes, with his aura," said Pyrite quickly. "Alan has some...unique circumstances in his favor."

"That's an understatement," said Raiden in a low voice.

Nanko's eyes narrowed. "This wouldn't be the boy who has the entire CTU History department running around like a bunch of excited three-year-olds? The one from the past who is supposed to be bonded with the sprit of his Silver Millennium-era great-grandfather?"

Alan sighed. "Guilty as charged."

The woman smiled again. "You're the most exciting thing to hit this campus since the end of the Black Moon War. Half the Magical Department is lining up to talk to you, while the other half is convinced you're a fraud of some sort. Both the 20th Century and Silver Millennium history sub-departments are salivating at the chance to speak to you and your grandfather."

Alan closed his eyes, then covered them with a hand. "Maybe I should have snuck onboard the Mercury mission," he muttered. "It might have been less painful when they tossed me out the airlock."

*You may be right.*

Pyrite placed a hand on Alan's free shoulder. "Don't worry about the academic horde. I can keep most of them off of you."

Alan nodded with a sigh. "I suppose I have to talk to some of them, but I rather not have to deal with them right now. I had to do it in the hospital because I had no real choice in the matter."

"We'll give you a couple of weeks before you have to face them again," said Pyrite with a smile. "And I'll make sure that I sit in on the meetings so you don't feel alone." He glanced at the clock on the wall. "I'd better go and see Pines right now, before the start of his next class. Nanko, would you please show Alan into my office and make sure he's comfortable?"

"Of course, Dean."

"Guardian," said Raiden. "May I join you? If you show up with a moon cat, it might look like the palace is interested in the affair. Who knows? Maybe we can get to the bottom of the problem faster."

"Besides which, you're interested," replied Pyrite with a smile.

Raiden shrugged. "It'll give me a chance to exercise my deductive skills."

Pyrite looked at Alan. "Is that all right with you?"

It was Alan's turn to shrug. "Fine by me. I'll just sit in your office and read for a while."

"As soon as I get back, I would like to have that discussion with Alisin, if he's ready."

"I don't think that'll be a problem."

"Good. See you in a while." With that, Pyrite picked up Raiden, turned and left the office.

"This way," said Nanko, standing up and opening a door marked "DEAN PYRITE - PRIVATE."

Alan glanced inside the room. He hadn't really known what to expect, but the room kind of disappointed him. It looked like a normal professor's office. Directly across from the doorway, a solid looking desk sat in front of a window overlooking a courtyard. Floor to ceiling book- shelves covered the wall on Alan's left and most of the wall with the window. Two doors, one labeled "LAB", the other unmarked were on Alan's right. Next to him, a comfortable looking leather couch ran most of the wall's length, over which a large painting of the USS Enterprise (The Original TV Series version) hung. Below that, an odd-looking weapon hung on the wall, a curving, half-moon with leather wrapped handholds running the outside of the outer half circle. Three points were separated by a pair of smaller, curving blades that ran between each point. It combined parts of a scythe and sword. Alan recognized it immediately.

*I have never seen such a weapon,* said Alisin. *A relic of Beryl's

Kingdom?*

Alan reached out and gently touched the cool steel of the half-moon blade. {Not unless Beryl was a closet Trekkie.}

*You recognize it?*

{It's called a bat'telh and it was used in a televison series about a thousand years back.}

*The box that shows moving pictures?*

{That's right. A character on that series was from an alien, warlike race. This was his weapon.}

*Was this alien real, or made up?*

{Made up. The show was about how people with different backgrounds could get along together, set in a time and place that never existed. Do you remember the stories and legends you heard when you were a boy?}

*Yes. And this series is such a legend?*

{Oh yes. Would you care for all the details?}

*Another time, perhaps.*

"Is there anything I shouldn't touch?" Alan asked, looking around the room.

Nanko frowned in thought. "I suggest you stay away from the desk and the books on the top shelves there," she said, pointing to a shelf in the top corner. "Dean Pyrite doesn't use lethal or crippling form of wards, but he might use something with a bit of a bite."

{I take it we avoid the desk and the bookcase, right?}

*Of course. Wards are not things you want to trigger unless you know what you're doing - and you are a long way from that.* The was no sarcasm in Alisin's tone, just a statement of fact.

Alan nodded. "How about the couch?"

"That should be all right. Can I get you anything?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

"Well, if you need anything, I'll be right outside." With that, she smiled at him as she closed the door.

Alan sat down on the couch slowly. He glanced down at the Star Trek novel. {Do you want to talk now, or wait until later?}

*I think now is a good time.*

Alan stretched out on the couch. {Fine by me. Where do we start?}

*We'll start with your performance during the exercise on the...

Holodeck?*

{That's what Guardian Pyrite calls it. I probably call it the holodeck myself.}

They spent several minutes discussing Alan's run in the holodeck. Alisin pointed out possible problems and what he thought were mistakes, all in a firm, brisk manner. Alan defended several of his decisions, winning some, losing others, but getting his points across to Alisin.

*Overall, you did well,* said Alisin. *But you definitely need to train more, preferably in the chamber where we were today. You must ask the Queen if you can be allowed to use it on a regular basis.*

{Aren't we pushing things a bit?}

*There is someone out there who thinks you would be better dead than alive. I wish I was exaggerating the possible danger here, but I am not. The sooner you can develop your skills, the more able you will be to defend yourself.*

{You don't think that frosty fruitcake against me at the shrine was an accident, do you?}

*They were looking for you expressly.*

{Why me?}

Alisin was silent for a moment. *The only thing that makes sense is someone is scared of your magic.*

{Scared enough to kill me? I don't even know what I'm doing half the time!}

*Either that person does not know that, or they are fearful you will get better. Either one means they prefer you to be dead.*

{Again, why me? Someone who can sic a bunch of gun-happy psychos on me isn't the type to be scared by anything I can do.}

*I realize that.* There was silence for a moment. *I have a possible theory, but there are some questions I need to ask Guardian Pyrite first.*

{What theory?}

*Not until I have something more then a feeling. I might be over-reacting again, and I will not allow that to happen.*

{I guess I'll have to live with that for now. But what about -} He stopped in mid-sentence and opened his eyes. {Did you hear that?}

*What?*

{A scratching noise.} He looked at the door leading to the lab. {And coming from over there.}

*Be careful. It might be something dangerous.*

Alan sat up. {The secretary didn't mention anything about the lab. As long as I don't go in, it should be all right.}

*I suggest you ready a spell, just in case.*

{Any suggestions?}

*I think a simple 'Hurricane Punch' should be good enough. The other offensive spells cover too wide an area, and I am certain Guardian Pyrite would be upset if we destroyed his research.*

{Why an offensive spell? I think under the circumstances, I'd better stick with 'Force Wall'. That way I don't risk any chance of a stray shot.}

*Excellent choice,* said Alisin approvingly.

Alan stood and stretched. {Huh?}

*Knowing when to use a spell is almost as important as what spell to use.*

{That was a test?}

*Of course. You have to think for yourself, not rely on me to tell you what to do every single time. I will advise and teach you, but you must be able to use your magic without my help.*

{That makes sense,} conceded Alan. He closed his eyes and thought of the spell matrix for the defensive shield. He opened his eyes and saw a glimmering gem-like object slowly rotating scant centimeters in front of his eyes.

{Ready?}

*Of course.*

Alan walked slowly over to the door marked 'Lab', and placed a hand on the doorknob. The doorknob twisted easily, and the door opened just as smoothly. As soon as the door opened halfway, a large white cat trotted out into the office. It sat down and looked up at Alan with large green eyes.

{Is it a moon cat?} asked Alan.

*No, there's no sign on its forehead.*

"Meow?" the cat said, still looking up at Alan.

{I don't see a collar.}

*I do not think Guardian Pyrite would let a lab animal run free.*

{Assuming it is a lab animal.} Alan looked inside the lab. {I can see a lot of stuff, but no cages or any other animals. I do see an open window though. Maybe that's how it got in.} He felt something against his pant leg, and he looked down. The cat had curled itself around Alan's right leg, rubbing itself along Alan's shin while purring loudly.

*I think you've made a friend,* said Alisin.

Alan reached down and picked the cat up. It was surprisingly muscular, but made effort to struggle in Alan's grasp. In fact, it seemed to enjoy snuggling into his arms, purring contentedly as Alan closed the lab door and walked back to the couch. He sat down and the cat curled up in his lap. {Just like Raiden likes to do,} thought Alan. {He likes to get his ears scratched when he's sleeping.}

*True. But I believe this is a female cat.*

Alan scratched the cat behind the ears and the animal responded with a loud purr and slowly turned onto her back. It stared up at him with big green eyes that seemed to say 'please scratch my belly.' Alan sighed and began scratching her belly, then leaned back and closed his eyes. {What were we talking about?}

*Someone trying to kill you.*

{Oh. Thanks for the reminder. As I was saying, someone has to be crazy to try and slip something past the Senshi in this city. You remember what happened at the shrine when the Queen burnt out those teleport blockers.}

*A Senshi in anger is not a person to be treated lightly.*

{A Senshi is not a person to be treated lightly, period.}

*Never the less, someone is willing to risk incurring the wrath of the

Queen and the Senshi to elimanate you. That implies something I am not ready to commit to, but troubles me all the same.*

{What?}

*The theory of mine.*

{Oh. So what's our plan?}

*For you, training. As much as we can squeeze in before the next attack.*

{What next attack?}

*Did you think our unseen enemy would give up after one attack? If anything, you've confirmed the necessity of killing you. The next attack could come at any moment.*

{I don't think so. In fact I...Uh-oh.}

*What?*

{This cat got heavy all of a sudden.} Alan opened his eyes and looked down at the cat.

Only it wasn't a cat or at least it wasn't the same cat that had been sitting in his lap a few seconds ago. The fur was still white, and the eyes still green, but the rest of her was straight out of a Playboy Magazine centerfold, down to the sensual smile on her face. Alan glanced down the couch at her long lean legs and quickly estimated she had several inches on him in height, followed by the realization the cat woman was stark naked, and his hand was on her stomach.

"Hello there," she purred seductively. "Care for some...fun?"

It was at this point his rational mind, which had accepted thousand-year-old Senshi, talking moon cats, an AI who like hugging him, a grandfather sharing his mind, and a twelve-year old better looking then most Hollywood starlets, decided it had accepted enough impossible things for several lifetimes, and went out for a short break....

"AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"

Nanko looked up at the cry of terror coming from the Dean's office. The cry was followed by the sound of something heavy being dropped, a shout of "STRESS SPHERE!", then the sounds of something hitting several walls, a small explosion or two, and several thuds.

The door to the dean's office flew open, and the young man who'd had come in with Pyrite came charging out at a full run. He crashed into the outer door, bounced off, then grabbed the doorknob and tried to open it, not realizing, in his panic, his other hand held the door shut. Eyes wild, he finally managed to yank the door open, only to hit himself in the forehead with the door. He staggered back a couple of steps, then wrenched the door open and rushed out.

Nanko frowned at the open outer door, trying to recall anything in the Dean's office that would scare anyone, but nothing came to mind. She heard something growling at the doorway of the Dean's office, and she turned to see a rather angry Margrave standing in the doorway.

Her eyes were narrow and she was showing her teeth in a ferrous scowl. The youma's fur was matted and in clumps and there were several splotches of what looked like ash or charcoal marring her sleek whiteness. Behind her, a wisp of smoke drifted out of the office and Nanko could detect the bitter odor of brimstone from the activated wards.

"A simple 'no' would have been enough," Margrave hissed. She reached inside the door and pulled out the bat'telh. She checked it for any signs of damage, then smiled at the secretary. "If Py comes back, tell him I borrowed his toy for some....recreation." Before Nanko could respond, Margrave had charged out the door after the young man.

Nanko shook her head and dialed Professor Pines office. Hopefully, the Dean would stop it before it got out of hand....

Rei looked up from her paperwork as Marcus entered her office. "Yes?" she asked cooly.

Marcus looked puzzled. "Excuse me Lady Mars, we've just had a report from CTU campus security that there's a young man racing through the campus generating windstorms in his wake pursued by a, uhm...." Rei's aide reread the call transcript, "...a catwoman wielding a strange-looking weapon and in a state of extreme undress."

Rei sighed. "This is getting ridiculous," she muttered. She looked up at her aide. "Scramble the riot squad, warm up the teleporter and...." She stopped and thought for several seconds. "On second thoughts, cancel that. We'd just add to the confusion. Wait fifteen minutes then check back with them and see if it's all blown over. If anyone asks I'm on a coffee break and you can't send special forces in without my approval."

Her aide stared at her for a moment, a look of disbelief on his face.

"We're not going to do anything?"

Rei looked at him. "The guy who's generating windstorms in his wake is a natural disaster who's his own worse enemy, not to mention the biggest pain in my neck since Maggie flew the coop. The other, is of course, Margrave, the second biggest pain in my neck. If I'm lucky, they're take each other out."

Marcus frowned. "Is that a wise course of action?"

"No," Rei admitted, "But it's the most satisfying. Of course, if they'll still at it in fifteen minutes, we can arrest them and toss them in jail for a while." She smiled. "Either way, it's a no-lose situation for us."

Marcus opened his mouth, then sighed, saluted, and went to carry out his orders.

Rei decided she might as well add authenticity to the story by getting a cup of coffee. She went over to the small coffee machine in one corner of the office. As the refreshment dispenser filled the cup, she chuckled as she pictured the scene. Now what were the chances the two major thorns in her side (or lower) would cancel each other out? Minimal. Margrave was too much of a survivor, while Alan has access to some strong magic - but after an introduction like this, at least she wouldn't have to worry about them joining forces.

Are you sure? asked an internal voice in the back of her mind. Are you sure Alan isn't in real danger?

Rei frowned, then looked to make sure she was alone in the room. "Yes, I'm sure," she said in a soft voice. "Margrave's too smart to chop him up and Alan's incredibly unlikely to have pushed her into a true berserker rage."

You hope, said the voice.

"He's the most irritating person I've met -"

Since Yuuchiro?

"Oh no, you don't," she muttered before she turned and stalked over to her desk and sat down. Without another thought to Alan, she started back into her paperwork.

Pyrite had just reached Professor Pines' door when his spotted a familiar figure walking towards him. "Setsuna?"

The Senshi of Time dressed in a subdued ankle-length skirt and blouse nodded at him. "Good afternoon," she said with a half-smile.

"What brings you here to CTU?" asked Pyrite.

Setsuna reached out started to scratch Raiden's head. The Moon cat closed his eyes and purred happily. "I wanted to see how Alan is doing with the testing."

"I ran him through one of Azurite's training programs this morning," said Pyrite. "Considering his rawness with his magic, he didn't do too badly."

Setsuna nodded. "Where is he now?"

"He's waiting for me in my office." He motioned to the door. "First, I need to talk to Professor Pines about some academic problems."

"May I tag along?" asked Setsuna. "I need to talk to Alan."

"I don't mind," purred Raiden, moving his head slightly under Setsuna's hand. He looked disappointed when she stopped.

"Neither do I," said Pyrite with a smile. He opened the door to Pines' office and entered, followed by Setsuna.

Inside, a thin woman with short hair and glasses sat behind a desk. She glanced up from her telephone as the pair came in. "Dean Pyrite!' she squeaked. "You're secretary is on the line for you! She said it's important!"

Pyrite frowned. "I wonder what...." He strode over to the phone.

Setsuna felt the air from the open office door behind her move. She turned, puzzled. As she did so, the air movement increased to the level of a light breeze. She took a step towards the door, her senses telling her something was wrong. As she reach the doorway, the Senshi heard someone running down the hall towards her.

She glanced out into the hall just in time to see the familiar form of Alan Thomas flying down the hall at a dead run. He flashed by the doorway without seeing her, a look of determination mixed with terror on his face. He made a hard turn at the next intersection and raced out of sight.

Setsuna blinked, and nearly missed Alan's pursuer. She saw a flash of white fur and the glint of steel flash by her, resolving itself into the lithe form of Margrave. The Youma was carrying a nasty-looking weapon and a look of calculated glee. She whipped around the corner and out of sight.

"That's something you don't see everyday," Setsuna muttered.

"We've got trouble," said Pyrite, turning to look at the Senshi. "Alan's being -"

"- chased by Margrave, who has your bat'telh," finished Setsuna, who had stepped out into the hallway.

"How did you...."

"They just ran by here. If we hurry, we can catch them before they get somebody killed."

With that, they dashed off after them, Raiden hanging onto Pyrite's shoulder for dear life.

Rei looked up from her paperwork as Marcus entered her office again.

"Now what?" she asked, allowing some irritation to creep into her tone.

"Excuse me Lady Mars, that report from CTU campus security? It seems that Guardian Pyrite and a woman have joined the chase."

She ignored the sudden cold feeling that went down her spine. "Azurite?"

"No, Lady Mars. The woman is described as having green hair."

Rei's mind whirled. Could Titanite have decided this was the perfect opportunity for some payback? "Bright green?"

Marcus shook his head. "Very dark and they can't ID her."

Which meant there was only one reasonable candidate....

Rei sighed. "Setsuna," she muttered. "That tears it." She looked up at her aide. "Much as it pains me to say, scramble the riot squad, and warm up the teleporter. If Alan manages to get himself killed, Setsuna will not be happy."

Her aide frowned. "You know this woman?"

Rei looked at him and nodded. "There are a few people in Crystal Tokyo that you never want to cross. Setsuna Meiou is one of them."

Marcus nodded. "I see," in a tone that said he didn't.

"Believe me, Marcus," said Rei softly. "You don't want to know.... "

*Alan!*

Alan ignored his grandfather's call and dashed down the hall. He turned around long enough to fire off a 'hurricane punch' at the pursuing catwoman then raced around another corner.

*Alan!*

{I'm a bit busy right now.}

*Will you stop for a moment?*

{And let that combo of Morris the cat and Miss July slice me into thin strips? No way, Jose.}

*Who's Jose?*

{I'll explain later, assuming there is a later.}

Alan shot through a door and found himself outside in a courtyard. The four buildings that bordered the courtyard were made of stone and glass, and Alan might have been impressed if he wasn't too busy running for his life. There were scattered groups of students throughout the lush grass areas and large, majestic-looking trees, most of them enjoying the nice day. Several looked in his direction before returning to their own pursuits.

Alan jumped down the short flight of stairs and sprinted across the courtyard. Three quarters of the way across, the heard the doors behind him slam open. A quick glance over his shoulder told him that the bat'telh-wielding catwoman had cleared all the steps, not to mention a large chunk of ground in front of the steps, in a single bound.

Out of the corners of his eyes, Alan noticed the students look up at the charging monster, then calmly went back to their own conversations. He heard a couple of them shout out "Marcrave", or something like it as he flew past them, but there was no screams or shouts of panic. As if someone being chased by a bat'telh-armed catwoman was a common occurrence at the college.

Alan reached the other end of the courtyard, and bounded up the stairs three at a time. Three strides took him to a pair of doors leading into a building with the word 'ALCHEMY' above the door. He flung open the door, took four stride into the building

Someone grabbed him from behind and yanked him back with incredible strength. With a cry of surprise, Alan felt his feet leave the floor and saw the ceiling for a split second before he hit the floor with jarring suddenness. Part of him wanted to admire the stars that had abruptly appeared in front of him, but Alisin shouted, *Get up!*

Blinking a few times to clear his vision, he rolled onto his stomach and carefully got to one knee. His vision was blurry and he shook his head slowly to clear it. It was then, he was aware of voices nearby.

"Was that really essential?" asked a male voice that sounded familiar.

"I could have stood in front of him," replied a dry female voice, "and probably gotten run over for my troubles."

"She's right," replied a third voice, also male. "Alan's doesn't let minor things like walls or Senshi interfere with his fleeing."

"That's not nice, Raiden," said the female voice. "He's still a stranger here, and Margrave is a bit of a shock to the sense the first time you meet her."

The second male voice sighed. "I know, but he can't always run away from trouble. Sometime, he's going to have to realize that."

"For right now, running is the best thing he can do."

The first male voice broke in. "I know Alan is somewhat...."

"'Paranoid' is the word you're looking for."

Just then, Alan heard the outside door open. He staggered to his feet and turned to run. A hand come down on his shoulder. "Oh, no, you don't," said the dry female voice.

Alan's vision cleared and he turned to look at the voice's owner and found himself staring at Setsuna. Behind Setsuna, Alan could see Pyrite, with Raiden sitting on his shoulder, facing off against the catwoman.

Instead of charging, the catwoman let the bat'telh drop to her side.

"Oh, Bother," she said with a shrug. "I guess this means playtime is over."

Pyrite held out a hand. "The bat'telh, Margrave," he said in a low voice. "Now."

"This?" replied the catwoman, holding up the Klingon weapon. "Is that what's it called?"

"Yes," replied Pyrite through clenched teeth. "Please, Margrave."

"What will you give me if I give you this?" purred Margrave.

"If you don't give it to him," said a new voice. "I'll give you a jail cell free of charge."

Senshi Mars stormed into view, followed by half a dozen security troopers. She looked at Margrave, Pyrite, Setsuna, and Alan in turn, saving her best scowls for Margrave and Alan. Margrave gave the bat'telh to Pyrite then turned to smirk at the dark-haired Senshi. Rei glowered back before she said, "Now, do I get an explanation here, or at my office?"

It took twenty minutes for Rei to listen to everyone's stories.

The unused classroom she had appropriated for this purpose wasn't crowded with only eleven people and one Moon Cat in it, but there was an air of discomfort in the room. Rei sat behind the teacher's desk, looking like a teacher about to discipline unruly students. She waited until the five had finished their stories before she spoke.

"Let me get this straight," she said in a low voice, staring at each of them in turn. "Margrave was in the lab when Alan entered Pyrite's office. She decided to have a little fun with what she thought was a new student. Only, Alan panicked and set off a spell in Pyrite's office that struck a couple of the wards in the office. Right?"

"Of course," purred Margrave, who was draped over a chair in a manner that had most of the security team watching her for reasons other then security. She glanced over at Alan, who was sitting on the far side of the group. He looked straight ahead and ignored her.

Rei glared at the catwoman. "After Alan ran out of the office, you decided you were going to teach him a lesson."

"Not the one I wanted to teach him," murmured Margrave with a smile.

"But I wasn't going to hurt him."

Alan's face redden. Rei shot him a scathing look, then looked at Setsuna, the fire Senshi's face losing most of the anger as she address the Time guardian. "And you happened to be in the building when this happened?"

Setsuna was as relaxed as Margrave. Raiden was a ball in here lap, enjoying the soft stroking of Setsuna's hand along his back. "I wanted to talk to Pyrite about the tests Alan was going through. Just after we met, Alan came running past, followed by Margrave. We followed after them, and saw them going across the courtyard out there. We just teleported across the courtyard ahead of them and that's where you found us."

"Do you have anything to add to that, Guardian?"

Pyrite looked up from his examination of the bat'telh sitting on his lap. "I have nothing to add." He then went back to checking his prize for damage. Margrave, who was sitting next to him, leaned over and whispered something into his ear that made the Renegade flush in embarrassment.

Rei looked over at Alan, who had remained silent. "I don't know what I'm going to do about you," she snapped. "You've been nothing but trouble since you've gotten here and -"

She didn't notice Alan's shift in expression until it was too late. He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. "When was the last time you got laid?"

There was silence in the room for a full five seconds. Several of the security troopers cautiously leaned away from their commander as far as they could without actually leaving their posts, most looking like they wished they were on another planet. Rei's eyes became nothing more then slits. Alan's own expression was stormy. "What did you say?" asked Rei, her voice low and dangerous.

Alan stood and leaned on the desk, staring down at her. Rei stood and leaned forward herself. The two were nosetip to nosetip, everyone else forgotten. "What did you say?" Rei repeated, each word bitten off as she said them.

"You heard me," Alan replied coldly. "You are so uptight, I'm surprised you don't squeak when you walk."

Rei blinked, then allowed her anger to flare. "You listen here, you arrogant son of -"

"NO, YOU listen, Napalm breath," replied Alan, venom dripping from his words. "I never wanted to be here, but I've got no choice in the matter - I'm stuck here. Get use to the idea."

"Wait -"

"I'm sick and tired of your scorn and suspicions. There's enough people out there who are pissed off at me without having you on my back. So, get off your high horse and get a life!"

"You're a security risk!" Rei shot back.

"In your dreams! Why don't you go chase someone who's actually dangerous, or are you so inept that you can't find someone unless you stumble over them?"

"Don't you dare tell me how to do my job!"

"Why not? It looks like you could use the advice!"

"I've had it with your smart mouth! I think you need a night in a cell to cool off!"

Alan leaned forward until their foreheads touched. "You going to do it yourself?" he hissed. "Or are you going to have your storm troopers do it for you?"

"That's enough, children," said Setsuna, her voice like cold water.

Both Alan and Rei glared at her. "Stay out of this!" they chorused, then turn to scowl at each other again.

"Look here, you airhead!' Rei shouted. "You're a menace to society, and you should be locked up!"

"And I suppose you -" Alan stopped in mid-sentence and Rei saw his expression change from anger to one of horror and disbelief in an eyeblink. He slowly took a step back, looking like a man who had just seen his worse nightmare spring to life.

"Alan, what is it?" asked Setsuna, standing, Raiden cradled in her arms.

"What...am I doing?" asked Alan in a choked tone. He glanced wildly around him, then looked at his trembling hands.

"The adrenalin rush must be wearing off," said Pyrite.

Alan tuned to Rei. "I-I'm sorry for what I just said," he said in a dull voice. "Maybe I should be locked up." He began to shake slightly. "I think I need some air," he whispered. He turned and ran out of the classroom, shoving his way past the two security men guarding the door.

There was silence for several seconds after the door closed. Several of the troopers looked like they were set to go after Alan, needing only their commander's orders to do so. Rei's eyes blazed, and she opened her mouth to give the command, but the ice-cool voice of Pluto's Senshi said, "I suggest you say nothing, Rei. It will not help."

Rei turned to glare at Setsuna, who met it with a cool gaze of her own. The green-haired woman glanced over at Pyrite, "Guardian, I suggest you speak to Alan and make sure that everything is all right." She placed Raiden on Pyrite's shoulder.

"If you think I should," replied the senor mage with a frown.

"If Alan won't open up, try speaking to Alisin. If anyone knows what is bothering Alan, it will be him."

The Guardian nodded slowly stood and carefully holding the bat'telh, walked out of the room. Margrave stretched slowly and sensually before standing. "If you have nothing else to ask me, I'll be on my way. I have a business appointment in an hour,"

"Now, wait a minute!" yelled Rei, her face becoming even redder. "I am not -"

"Let her go, Mars," said Setsuna calmly, "and send your troopers back to headquarters."

Rei turned to look at her, her mouth opening and closing, but with no sound. Setsuna took a deep breath. "I need to talk to you - alone."

"All right." The fire Senshi turned to the trooper standing nearest her.

"Go back to headquarters," she said, her words lowand hard.

The trooper nodded. With several hand signals, the security team left the classroom. Margrave sashayed out after them, a large smile on her face. Rei waited until the door closed before she sat down. A small device the size and shape of a pen appeared in her hand. She touched a button on it, then placed the device down on the desk. "A sonic jammer to ensure privacy," she said.

"Reporters?"

"Margrave."

Setsuna smiled. "A wise course of action."

"Never mind the platitudes. What did you want to say to me?"

The smile faded. "Despite his temper tantrum, Alan's right. You are hard on him."

"Is that all you have to say?"

"No." the Senshi of Time gaze was cool, but not unfriendly. "You're too hard on him, and he's feeling the heat."

"I'm not the one who has a sprit bonded to him that went berserk and tried to kill Ti and Hematite."

"That matter has been resolved. Alisin will not try that again."

"Says you."

Setsuna arched an eyebrow. "You don't trust my word."

"I trust your word," replied Rei, leaning forward, "because I know you. Until he dropped into our laps, I'd never heard of a Windwalker. I don't know him."

"But I do. Alisin Windwalker is a man of honor, as his grandson. In some ways, they are very much alike." Setsuna stood and walked over to the window. "Alan isn't angry at you personally - something's bothering him."

Rei snorted. "What? He obviously not me anymore, not after that little stunt."

Setsuna shook her head. "Despite his words, he isn't scared of you anymore. If anything, I think he's a bit in awe of you, along with a healthy dose of respect."

"Ha! I'm a bit skeptical about the 'awe and respect' part of your statement. He's the most irritating man I've met -"

"Since Yuuchiro?"

Rei's jaw tightened. "That's not funny," she muttered, staring down at the desk.

"I'm sorry."

"I must be losing my touch if I'm letting him get under my skin."

"No, you're not. What you just saw here was Alan's anger and fear talking."

"Fear of what?"

"That someone is out to kill him."

Rei frowned. "We have no proof of Diaspore's claims, nothing that will back up his words. I've had my people scouring the city for any proof and Cal's people have been trying to trace the route the Nemesisans used to get into the city. Nothing has turned up in the area of who hired the terrorists, nor can we find the security breach that let them get into CT."

"I know. I will speak to Alisin and see if he can shed some light on this." She turned to look at Rei. "Ease up on him. Alan's not a bad person."

"So I keep being told, but I haven't seen much of that." Rei leaned back and looked at the ceiling. "It seems we can't speak half-a-dozen civil words to each other before we start arguing."

"In public, yes. But when it's just the two of you?"

Rei brushed her hair back, her face scowling in thought. "Now that you mentioned it, the couple of times when it's been just him and me, or even with Raiden, we've managed to talk without sniping at each other."

Setsuna nodded sagely. "I suspect that the next time you and he are alone, he will apologize more contritely for his words here, and his actions."

"Assuming I don't strangle him first."

"You're not the first person to say that."

Rei glared at Setsuna. "If I have my way, I'll never get within screaming distance of that baka again!"

"I think the problem is you and he keep meeting under high-stress situations.

Alan tends to get sarcastic under pressure, and your personality is somewhat...fiery.

You saw what happened when the two mix."

Rei cocked an eyebrow. "And when did you become an expert on personalities?"

Setsuna shrugged. "I know you and the other Senshi. I also know Alan Thomas better then he knows himself."

"How did you do that?"

"I went back in Time and looked at his life."

"What did you find out?"

Setsuna cocked her own eyebrow. "Are you interested?"

"Anything that might affect his security status is of interest to me."

"Very well, I won't bore you with all the details, so I'll just hit the highlights of his former life." She turned to face Rei. "He was born in 1973. Both parents died in an accident when he was three. The accident was labeled 'suspicious', but nothing was ever proven. Spent the next seven years in various foster homes until he was adopted by an older couple living on a farm in the Midwestern United States. Was found to have a genius IQ and was placed into advanced classes. Graduated high school at 16, entered college the same year and graduated three years later with a bachelor's degree in computer science. He was just starting a job with a major defense contractor when was caught in a forest fire and presumed killed."

"Except, he ended up here."

"Yes."

"Any family?"

Setsuna turned and looked out the window again. "He was an only child. The couple that adopted him died just before he graduated from college. Only a few close friends, no romantic ties. He was loyal to his friends almost to the point of stupidity, but was irritating to his enemies."

"I can vouch for the 'irritating' part of your statement," said Rei slowly. "He's a loner."

"Exactly."

"So, what do you want me to do with him? Take him out to dinner and be his friend?"

Rei thought she saw a ghost of a smile float across Setsuna's lips, but it was gone as fast as it had come. "Nothing so radical. Ease up on him. He's doing the best he can in a situation we both can agree is difficult."

"I would, but he seems to be the center of trouble around this city lately."

"None of which was his own fault. Alisin was the one who attacked Ti and her daughter. Only after Alan was attacked at the shrine did he use his magic. And Margrave can be a shock to the senses the first time you meet her."

Rei sighed. Setsuna was right. Alan was more a victim of circumstances then an active purveyor of trouble. "I'll try," she said in a resigned tone, "but I'm not promising anything."

"Thank you. I will not ask for more then that."

"Anything else?" asked Rei as she stood.

"Are you still having visions?"

There was silence in the classroom for a long time. "I see," said Setsuna.

"What are they this time?"

Rei sat down again, leaned forward, and stared at the desktop. "More of the same," she said quietly. "I've seen a figure of fire, a column of water, a spire of rock and a dragon formed from air. They are facing off against the ancient symbols for Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Both sides are tainted with malice and malevolence that seems ancient, yet nearby. In the background, I can feel this presence like a shadow that never quite forms, but radiates a sense of purpose...."She stopped. "It's difficult to try and describe entirely the things I've been seeing because they never remain long enough for me to see them fully."

"Do not force it. They will come in time." Setsuna turned and walked away from the window. She stopped at the door. "But do not ignore them either. I think what you are seeing is something that has been simmering for a very long time."

"How lo