Amazon: Regenesis

by Itinerant

edited by Amelia R

 

Amazon - Part 10: Home Stretch (continued)

 

Biographer's Note: This is Nicole's story. It covers those events and people she finds notable in her life and chooses to share. If you have problems with it, take it up with her. I'm just a glorified stenographer.

Author's Note: The menu is, of course, courtesy of the incomparable Amelia R.

 

WGSS Offices

Wednesday, March 7, 2001

 

Nicole shivered and stamped her feet as she joined Angela in the lobby. Between the sub-freezing temperatures and the wind, she was feeling a desperate need for a hot cup of coffee to defrost her toes. The location might be Virginia, but it seemed a bit of the Wisconsin cold had followed her.

She had also nearly completed the data archiving over the past few days; the investment of a little time each day had paid handsome dividends as the scripts had automated an increasing amount of the drudgery, and despite the need to verify the results, she'd be finished by the end of the week.

Angela had grinned when Nicole requested time to clean up and document the scripts.

"You have to be kidding, Nicole! Those scripts will take a lot of the drudgery out of filling the database, and, since you're running off to boot camp, we'll need the scripts as easy to use as possible."

Nicole giggled as a gleam came into her eye. "Does your gratitude extend to buying the first cup of coffee today?"

Angela snickered and nodded. "Alright! Alright! I'm a good boss and buy my hard-working team members coffee as a reward sometimes." She paused. "Where did you say Vanessa was?"

The redhead, lips twitching, put her hand over her heart. "Good guys sure do get hassled."

 

 

Lunch had been gulped down, which caught the attention of the rest of the folk around the bridge table who gathered to chat. Nicole explained, briefly, that she needed to make a phone call to a wigmaker.

The reactions ranged from raised eyebrows to gasping coughs as the absurdity of the redhead with her magnificent mane needing a wig provoked a few unplanned inhalations. Amelia and Nicole sniggered as Tejas cleared his lungs from the juice he'd inhaled; they were even kind enough to pass along a few extra napkins to help him wipe up the minor mess.

When the scene had returned to a semblance of normalcy, the redhead told the story of the child she'd met at the concert who was being treated for cancer. The little one had lost her hair, and since boot camp required a much shorter length than Nicole's current mid-back tresses, it seemed a good opportunity to meld the need with the opportunity.

"If I have to cut my hair, at least I can put it to good use. All I need is someone who can make the thing for me, and I'm checking on a suggestion as soon as I can finish here."

A voice from the chess table, Greg Johnson from Ted's team, rose above the buzz of conversation. "Once you figure out what the cost is, let us know. I'd like to kick in a few bucks to help."

Despite the protestations of the queen, she found that the group was self-organizing to canvas the various departments. Amelia put a hand on her friend's arm.

"Give it up, Nicole. We do things like this all the time, and they're as stubborn as anyone can be when they see a need they can meet."

Resigned to the situation, Nicole finished her meal and made a call to Williamsburg's Wigmaker shop. She'd expected close questioning, and the price was intimidating, but the man was sympathetic to her cause and willing to meet on a Sunday afternoon to make the measurements required.

She hung up, and sat back as she wondered if she'd bitten off more than she could chew. She thought that, with the funds Michael and Artemis had provided to account for her parents' estate, she could manage to cover whatever the in-company collections left. It wasn't like she'd have any other major outflow of cash for a while.

 

1:15PM EST

Nicole and Amelia were bent over the hard copy of the final test results. There were no surprises, other than the fact that the potential impact of the configuration changes appeared more significant that initially expected.

There was a bit of discussion about the implementation, however, as Nicole pushed for a weekend test run with the changes in place.

"Just in case I've missed something, the Friday snapshot will give us a fallback position. No-one's scheduled to do any work this weekend, so there's little or no risk of messing up something important."

"What's the point? We know from the tests what reconfigurations we need."

Nicole grinned. "Sorry, Mela; we'll run the tests again, using the server configuration we want. That way, we'll have documentation that the changes really do what we want, and the final report will practically write itself."

The blonde sighed and rubbed her eyes. "You're the expert on this, and I'd be foolish to go against your judgment."

Nicole nodded. "It really is best, and safest, to do it that way." She paused and looked more closely at her companion's face. "You're awfully tired today. What happened?"

The blush that appeared hid the freckles on Amelia's face. "Ever since we became Amazons, Trish and I have noticed that we're each more aware of what the other is feeling. Last night we were making love and," she paused and shivered in remembrance, "it was beyond anything either of us had ever felt before. It was like we were one soul, not two, and everything one of us felt, the other one did, too. It was like a feedback loop out of control."

"You're both okay, though?" Amelia nodded in response. The situation was, in retrospect, understandable given the emotional bond that the four had discovered. "That explains the vague dream I had last night. I think we'll have to warn Amazon couples of the bond's side effects." The redhead grinned. "You and Trish will have to write a pamphlet on 'Sex and the Amazon Couple.' I can't say it's a bad thing to have happen, though."

Amelia's expression turned slightly dreamy. "Oh yeah...."

 

Thursday, March 8, 2001

 

The phone call last night to the Davidson family had been interesting, as Marilyn had sounded surprised to have someone actually call. When Nicole asked about their availability for a trip to Williamsburg on Sunday, the mother had audibly choked up.

"We only met for a moment, so you really don't have to do this, but it would mean so much to Tara." Mrs. Davidson's voice caught with the intensity of her emotions as she dealt with the unexpected kindness of a stranger, and her lingering fear for her sick child. The arrangements took little time, but Nicole found herself chatting for a while as she learned about the family and their life.

The residual emotional warmth of the call ebbed as the car came to a stop at the athletic facility. It wasn't so much the workout that made her nervous; she actually enjoyed the chance to stretch herself physically for a change. No, it was the utter joy the man took in finding subtle ways to reduce her to a quivering mass of exhausted muscles. Despite his ignorance about her full strength, he'd managed to force her to stretch herself in a way she hadn't since she'd been at Michael's cabin.

Even so, Tuesday she had felt more like she'd reached the limit of her energy than the limit of her muscles. Since then, she'd considered her normal diet, and had decided to go with a higher calorie menu. She'd be a little more stuffed, but if the colonel worked her as hard as last time, she'd burn it all off again.

~The strength is nice, but I have to keep the furnace stoked, or I'll start burning muscle mass. I'll be ready for him this time!~

She walked into the facility with a confident air, shivering just a little in the cool of the evening, certain that she'd be able to manage his workout this time. Even the confident look on David's face didn't shake her faith in her preparations.

 

Friday, March 9, 2001

Nicole's Apartment

5:00AM EST

 

~I wonder if he was Torquemada in a past life?~

Last night, as she'd gone to bed, she had ached in places she hardly knew there were muscles to stress. The evil demon known as Colonel Stirling had made further changes to his workout plan, and she'd felt pain that was matched only when the first day of sword practice had begun. The main difference was that her whole body ached, rather than just one hand. ~As demanding as Artemis was, she never managed to get me to the point of a full-body muscle cramp.~

It was better now, as her inhumanly rapid healing had done its work through the course of a restless night. All that remained was fatigue—and a determination to get the better of her torturer.

He hadn't said anything—any verbal note of approval would have been beyond the pale—but he nodded as he dismissed her. It had been a pleasant change from the harsh, driving, demanding attitude of the previous hours as he ramped up his effort to find her limits and push her beyond them.

~He wasn't kidding when he said he'd make boot camp seem like a picnic. I can't imagine any sort of basic training coming close to this. Learning how to precisely control myself is a bonus, too.~

She'd also noticed a smug, self-satisfied feeling beneath his curt nod as he'd noted her stiff departure; this morning the smugness was replaced by an air of amazement as she'd—quite deliberately -- flowed into the office. She'd felt normal, and had called all her lessons into play to ensure he'd known it.

She felt a bit safer, knowing that her day tomorrow was claimed by the trip to the processing station; he had no immediate shot at retribution.

Thankfully, there were no surprises during the course of the day, and by close of business, she'd set up the test sequence to initiate at midnight. By Monday, she'd be in position to demonstrate the effectiveness of her changes in the results and start preparing the report for Amelia.

It had been a joy to work with the young woman, even setting aside the new relationship as sister Amazons, given the sheer brilliance of the CTO's brain. It was an opportunity to work with someone who loved the same challenges, and had the talent to take full advantage of the chance to learn everything she could about her vocation. Quite apart from the fact that she was so amazingly quick at latching onto the new information, Amelia also made connections to new applications for the underlying concepts.

~This must be the same joy that teachers feel when they have one of those special students who love the subject as much as the teacher does.~

It made the prospect of leaving more painful, as she had only begun to know the splendid women whom God had called to join her. Even the little she knew made the prospect of leaving hard—even apart from the emotional bond she had with them.

 

 

Despite how well the day had gone, the two hour long drive from Fairfax to Richmond had leached much of the pleasure from it. Perhaps there was a better way to get there, but Amtrak couldn't provide the links from Fairfax to the recruiting station over the weekend. There were trains, but the cost for the round trip was eighty dollars, and then there would be taxi costs on top of it all. Even with the absurdly high cost of gas these days -- ~the next thing you know it'll be over two dollars a gallon!~ -- it was far less expensive to drive the little Corolla. Twenty dollars going door-to-door, plus cutting the travel time in half, made the decision easy. Even with the traffic on a Friday evening clogging the outbound Beltway, it was far better than the parking lot that existed earlier in the day and would add little to the overall trip time.

The information packet, which arrived in the mail on Wednesday, had been comprehensive, and included all the orders, maps, letters, hotel information, and general guides she could possibly need. A pleasant inclusion was notification that her MOS preference was approved pending her successful completion of training, and she had been included in the class starting later in the year. She was grateful that the ASVAB was behind her; she'd have had to arrive before four o'clock to take the test otherwise. This way she had a quiet evening to relax after the long week.

She'd have to push the language lesson to make sure she had finished it before she had to leave. Time was running out on that, too.

It didn't matter at the moment; she'd take care of getting accepted for boot camp first. Until that was done, it was pointless to consider what would, or might, happen later. For now it was time to get to the hotel, relax, and get some sleep; tomorrow would be dull in the extreme, but would begin painfully early.

Connie came in looking somewhat less ruffled than Nicole had felt when she arrived, but the undertone of—what? -- nervousness, perhaps, was the closest name to put on it. That and anticipation seemed to be dominant emotions coming from her young companion.

~I don't get her. Something's off about her, something out of tune, but,~ the redhead sighed mentally, ~she seems like a good kid. I wish I knew what she's hiding or worried about.~

Despite the questions, Nicole smiled warmly. "Hi, Connie!"

Connie was in a rip-tide of conflicting emotions. According to all the briefings, she was in the serpent's den for the night. Yet there was that damned feeling of comfort that she had felt last time. ~I'm not supposed to consort with the enemy, but she doesn't act or feel like an enemy.~

The tall redhead was stretched out on one of the double beds, book in hand, and dressed in warm, comfortable looking pajamas. She had an air of utter relaxation and calm about her, and then there was that gentle, welcoming smile of hers that just warmed Connie from her bones out.

She returned the smile as best she could and wondered if her superiors knew what they were talking about.

It was going to be hard to keep her guard up against this woman when every instinct was to open up.

 

Saturday, March 10, 2001

Richmond, VA

4:00AM EST

 

The shrill beep of the alarm jolted the two women from the restless sleep they'd managed. Nicole was wrapped around a pillow, and jumped as the increasingly familiar sensations of her female body reminded her that the snuggling up to Beth had only been a dream.

Connie bolted upright, controlling the shriek down to a quiet 'eep!' as the reality of a new morning overrode the nightmare of drowning. The sheets were soaked with sweat, and the young woman looked forward to a quick shower.

Nicole dived in and out of the bathroom to take care of urgent requirements; she'd taken a shower the night before to avoid a madhouse morning, and the sweat-soaked appearance of her companion reaffirmed the decision.

"Connie, I'm done in there. The shower's yours."

Makeup would only get in the way during the physical tests, and was ignored by both women. Nicole blessed Kate in-absentia as she quickly corralled her hair into a braid. Connie's hair, only shoulder length, was pulled back into a ponytail as the two packed up their respective cars and headed for the restaurant for some breakfast.

By the time they had left for the station, Nicole was even more confused. She'd chatted with Connie over breakfast, and the two had exchanged stories of their respective backgrounds and current employment. The young woman seemed relaxed, much more so than their first encounter, yet—and Nicole struggled to form even a vague concept around what her senses were telling her—it was almost like another set of emotions were around. ~Maybe Artemis or Michael can help me figure it out?~

The cover letter had included a set of directions for the trip from the motel to the station, and 'recommended' a departure time of no later than 0500 to ensure enough time to travel, park, and check in. Nicole had cajoled Connie away from another cup of coffee and shooed her out the door at 5:00, as the youngster commented quietly on insanely alert redheads.

 

Military Entrance Processing Station

5:25AM EST

 

Connie was still grumbling when they joined the crowd of about 30 applicants waiting at the doorway of the MEPS. Nicole checked her watch and, at precisely 5:30 a.m., the doors opened.

The entrance was rather like an airport security station, and a Marine sergeant watched as the applicants lined up and passed through the metal detectors and security inspection. Their small gym bags were opened and examined, revealing only the reading material that each had brought for the inevitable waiting periods between tests.

Connie felt as if she was caught in the tall redhead's slipstream, as Nicole led the way to the room where the MEPS liaison waited with their nametags. The applicants checked in with the soldier at the operations control desk—at least that's what the sign said it was—and they were pointed toward an array of green cubbies where they could stow their bags. A sign pointed the way toward their first stop of the day, the medical department.

They found themselves in a classroom, with adult-sized desks, and seated themselves in side-by-side seats as they waited for the rest of the group to arrive. Once the applicants had finally all arrived and found seats, the group was briefed on how to fill out their medical history forms. There were a few questions, but shortly a line developed at the first station where the series of drug tests were administered. Nicole's mind skittered around an array of jokes, some of which were more than a little risqué, and provoked other thoughts that squelched her good humor. Providing a sample for the urine test was far more awkward as a woman, Nicole found. Connie exited the rest room with a face that reflected a similar attitude of 'ick.'

 

The redhead's face paled slightly as she approached the next station, where each person provided a blood sample for an HIV test. ~I hate needles. I hate needles....~ She repeated her mantra as she looked at a wall while the sample was taken.

The next couple of hours were a round of more tests and measurements of vision, hearing, height, weight, blood pressure, and pulse checks. Nicole and Connie's paths crossed several times as they shuffled from room to room, waiting in line for the next examination. Nicole was unsurprised to find that her vision and hearing were markedly better than the norm.

 

The hearing tests took a while, as the operator ran her through several combinations of tests at the lowest settings. He'd never had anyone hear anything at some of the sound settings used, but she was absolutely accurate at flagging each time a tone sounded. She managed to keep her snickers under control as she left for the next set of tests, but the bewilderment on the face of the young man forced her to bite her lip.

The snickers stopped completely when she was called in for the next examination.

The orthopedic and neurological exams weren't terribly intrusive in comparison to the gynecological exam scheduled for Monday, but standing around in her underwear wasn't something she was used to. The doctor, a man, was completely professional, and graciously ignored the blush that covered Nicole's face and shoulders.

He guided her through the "duck-walk", squats, and arm rotations, as he observed and inspected her bone structure and coordination. Most of it wasn't too bad, but at one point she was required to walk around on her knees; it didn't quite hurt, but it wasn't comfortable at all.

It was a revelation to her that her feet were ticklish, and she couldn't help the twitching or the giggles that escaped. The doctor tried to control a smile as he checked her feet for skin problems and flatfeet, and managed to corral the wiggling toes enough to complete his task.

 

"I'm sorry, doctor; I've never had a full-blown exam before. I've never needed one. I found a doctor who's local to my new home, but my first appointment with her isn't until Monday."

It had been the most uncomfortable experience in her life—either life. While most of the poking and prodding had been standard, the palpation of her breasts had been both uncomfortable and embarrassing. And she swore the man had to have kept his instruments in a freezer, given how cold they felt as he'd poked and prodded during the gynecological part of the exam. The only redemption was that there wasn't a need for a prostrate exam, though the only real advantage there seemed to be the lack of lubricant to clean up afterward. His statement that it was only a cursory examination didn't encourage her; she was left wondering where else the doctor could poke freezing metal on Monday.

The man, Doctor Siman, sighed and sat back. The young woman before him was as perfectly healthy as he'd ever seen; she was a textbook example of how everything should look.

~Perfect bone structure, no heart or lung problems, and the first adult virgin I think I've seen since med school!~

There was nothing in the examination that could possibly disqualify her, though he was uncomfortable with the lack of previous medical history. There wasn't anything to downcheck, and despite his nagging misgivings he expected he'd sign off on the form.

"Well, Ms Harrison, I don't see any areas of concern. You're the most healthy individual I've ever seen. Congratulations, you're qualified. I'll have copies of my results for you after lunch, so you can give them to your own doctor."

"Thank you, doctor. I appreciate that very much."

 

Epps Home

3:20PM GMT (10:20AM EST)

 

The gray day had finally surrendered to the lash of winter showers, and the quiet thunder of the drops filled the greenhouse. The day had been surprisingly warm, reaching 16C in the mid-afternoon even as the sun remained behind the low, scudding clouds. The artificial lighting provided illumination for Judith as she tended to the flowers that filled the place with their scent. It was the Sabbath, and it was her day to rest, relax, and tend to that part of the greenhouse that was her own domain.

David had finally returned yesterday, a bit before sundown, after spending the last two weeks in London at meetings with suppliers. The long days had drained him, and he had spent much of the morning relaxing or playing with Miriam as she caught up on missed time with her Daddy. She'd been glued to his side until after lunch, when her full tummy and the waning excitement had finally led her to her room and a short nap.

He finally found his way to the greenhouse, and just watched as Judith puttered among her flowers. Some had peaked and were being trimmed; others were just opening their buds. She had worked her way down the line to an array of pots that were filled with bare dirt. He walked over as she bent over to examine them.

"How are the new plantings doing?" he asked, as he got close enough to speak over the rain.

She turned, and beamed a smile in his direction that had a mischievous edge to it. As he came up beside her, she reached out and grabbed him in a warm, dirty gloved hug. "They're doing fine!"

He sputtered comically for a moment, sighed, and returned the hug. "I missed you, too. You always have gotten playful when I've been gone for too long. Now, how did things go?"

She continued her puttering as she related the events of the household during her husband's absence. Once she'd covered the normal activities, she took a deeper breath and tackled the hard part of her tale.

"David, while you were gone, Miri had another dream."

He stiffened as he listened to the story of yet another strange disruption in the life of his family. When she was done, he shook his head.

"Judith, I believe Miri is telling the truth. I also believe we're being herded, and I don't like it. I feel as if we're sheep being chased, however gently, down a path by some unknown shepherd."

One of her gloves was off, and her hand cupped his cheek with all the gentleness shown in her eyes. "Are you sure the shepherd is unknown?" Her hand dropped from his face to take his hand. "Come with me a moment."

She led him to a pot, where a plant was just emerging from a seed. A pair of tiny, pale green leaves perched on a frail looking stem, and still carried bits of soil.

"David, this is what Nicole and the Amazons are. This is just the first growth spurt of the seedling as it pushes free from a long sleep, or perhaps the first shoot from an ancient stump with deep roots. I haven't had any dreams as Miriam has, but I've thought, and studied, and prayed over the last two weeks. It's as if there's a voice, just too quiet to hear clearly, but the tone is plain to me; this is a call I should accept. I won't do it, though, unless we do it together."

He patted her hand, released it, and walked around the greenhouse. She turned back to her pots; she'd seen him do this before. He needed time to think deeply and carefully over a question that would affect his family for the rest of their lives. She didn't notice how much time had passed when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"You're sure? Knowing as little as we do, you're sure?" he asked.

"It's a step of faith, love," she replied, quietly. "I know in my heart that it's the right step to take, though."

He nodded. "Very well. Call Miss Harrison and give her the news; we can take time for a short vacation."

Judith found herself leaving a voice mail message. That was sufficient for the moment, and they would likely have a chance to talk tomorrow. She felt a twinge of guilt at disrupting the woman's own Sabbath day, but given the precedent Nicole herself had set, it was only a small twinge.

 

Military Entrance Processing Station

12:15PM EST

 

Connie wandered up to the lunch line as Nicole was heading for a table.

"Save me a seat?" The shorter brunette inquired, and received a nod of agreement.

The two found themselves parked at a table, and exchanged stories of the morning's test of patience. Neither had any enthusiasm for the intimacy of the medical examinations.

"I was a bit surprised," Nicole said, "that I had a Latin American doctor."

Connie gave her a puzzled look. "Why's that?"

"Why? Because nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" The redhead's face was gleeful as she sprang her verbal trap.

The initial frozen reaction turned into a gape, then into giggles. "Tha. ... at's great!" she choked out. "You're a Monty Python fan, too!" Even as a woman, Carson's delight in the wicked British humor had carried over.

Another pair of young women, twenty-year-old Stephanie Johns, and seventeen-year-old Kandy Frey, joined the two Flying Circus fans as they swapped favorite skit memories. Nicole looked them over as they sat down, and wondered how such young children could be enlisting.

~What will it be like when I have to send my own sisters into the fire? What will it be like when it's my own daughter that goes?~ The smile on her face vanished for a moment, before returning as a shadow of its previous warmth.

 

 

Stephanie and Kandy had left for their interviews, and Nicole was parked in a chair reading as she waited for her own turn after having retrieved copies of the medical reports. Connie read until her curiosity overwhelmed her.

"What's wrong, Nicole? You were doing fine, and then you suddenly got quiet. You've been morose ever since lunch."

"I was just sitting there enjoying the conversation, and suddenly it hit me how young Kandy and Stephanie were. I know we're not sending them into a war or anything, but they're so terribly young. I was thinking about how I'd feel if one of them was my daughter, and ...." She shrugged and gave up trying to smile.

 

 

The Marine Captain was waiting for Nicole as she stepped into the room and closed the door. The file folder he'd received and reviewed left him wondering about the applicant it described. Her ASVAB scores, and physical exam results, gave him a mental picture of someone who was a geeky, intellectual type who was tall, skinny, and probably wore glasses with coke-bottle lenses. She'd break before the first two weeks at Parris Island were over.

His mental gears stripped when a tall, slender model walked into the interview room. He thought he'd done a good job of slamming his poker face into place, but the small smile on the woman's face made him sure she'd caught his disorientation.

Nicole had sensed the initial boredom within the room as she'd opened the door and had just managed to stop the giggle that tried to erupt as the shocked reaction hit. Even without her empathy, the Marine's wide eyes were a sufficient indicator of his surprise.

His recovery was swift, and Nicole found him to be knowledgeable about her background and intended specialization. He was young, at least in comparison to Nicole's real years, yet he managed to conduct an efficient interview to gain insight into the motivations of the young woman across the desk.

"I can understand your MOS selection; it seems a perfect match for your education. I can't say that I quite understand your enlistment in the Marines, as the Navy or Air Force have broader selections of positions and advancement tracks for women. Even the positions that women are allowed to fill in the Marines have significant risk of direct combat; are you really sure you're ready to accept that kind or responsibility?"

"Captain, I was aware of the alternatives and knew precisely what I was signing up for when I first applied."

The remainder of the interview had gone about as expected, and since Nicole had already received her slot for boot camp, there was little left after the talking was done. The redhead was reminded of the grooming standards; hair was not permitted to extend below the eyebrows, nor below the bottom edge of the collar. She was encouraged to ensure her hair conformed prior to reporting, as the quality of haircuts in boot camp was uneven.

All that was left was the swearing in.

 

Connie had walked up a little later, after her own interview was completed. Neither woman was overly chatty anymore; the day had been long and boring in spite of the testing they'd been subjected to.

Perhaps half of the group that had begun the day outside the doors was clustered in the chairs near the operations desk. They were the ones who'd be taking the oath today. Nicole was startled a bit as her reading was interrupted. It was five-thirty, and time to go into the ceremonial room.

The ceremonial room was formal with heavy drapery and flags; the American flag stood in a row with the flags of each of the services. The remaining applicants were jockeyed into a more organized array, and a Navy Captain stood at the front to administer the oath of allegiance. It rolled out like a slow avalanche:

 

"I, Nicole Joy Harrison, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

~That's it. I'm committed, and my life is even less my own than before.~

 

She sighed and joined the stream of exiting bodies. Connie waved as she headed for her own car, and Nicole forced a smile as she returned the wave.

~Maybe food will help.~

The sun was setting as she wound her way out of the city toward her home, and the miles rolled by unnoticed as she considered the prospect of that time in the future when she had to send her own out to risk their lives.

Her mood improved considerably when she stopped for a quick meal. She finally extracted her cell phone from her luggage, and the voice message left by Judith overrode all the weariness and worries of the day.

She spent extra time that evening giving thanks in her prayers.

 

Sunday, March 11, 2001

Nicole's Apartment

The wind whistled outside, and the cold morning was clear as the sun rose. None of it made much of an impression as Nicole sipped her coffee. Her thoughts turned joyfully to the phone call she'd made, and the latest addition to her new family.

She'd had one cup of coffee with her light breakfast, but just how it had tasted she couldn't say. Her mind had been focused on the call she'd make. Judith had been expecting the contact, and the business of the morning had lasted only minutes.

The Epps family, all three of them, would arrive Thursday and were booked at the Ritz-Carlton in DC until Sunday, the twenty-fifth. They'd take time for sightseeing, but any time during the visit was Nicole's. The discussion was free-ranging, and Nicole looked forward to having time to sit and talk with the Epps adults again, when a thought struck.

"Judith, what are your plans for your Sabbath day? It runs from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, if I recall correctly; are you and your family strict in your observance?"

"We have at rare times broken the Sabbath; it isn't something we do unless the need is urgent."

"I understand, and I don't plan on forcing that choice on you at the moment. It will take time to make arrangements, but we'll schedule whatever we do around that. I won't promise that I'll always be able to work around a Sabbath or holiday, but I do promise to do it only when there's an urgent need."

Judith smiled as she nodded to herself. ~She's more considerate than most.~ She thought back to an incident, shortly before Miriam's birth, when they'd had an American company representative insist on a Saturday follow up telephone conference for their convenience. David suggested, in a deceptively bland voice, that if there was real urgency they could have the conference on Sunday, too. The phone on the other end was muted briefly, and the schedule was set for Monday.

"Nicole, I appreciate your taking our faith into account."

"I'm just trying to treat you as I'd want to be treated; it's even more important to me now that you're going to be family."

There was little more that could be settled until Nicole had time to speak with Amelia and Trish. Whatever schedule they had for the next week or so would determine where and when Judith would be inducted. Kate, too, needed to be at least alerted and brought to meet the new family.

~She'll love Miriam; Amelia and Trish will, too, I suspect.~

She smiled gently at the thought of the precocious little girl, and wondered briefly about the meaning of the dream the child had had. It was an unanswerable question at the moment, but the little one had been somehow chosen for a role in this great game being played out.

~Time for that later. For now she needed to get everyone together in a safe place for the ceremony, and where they could spend time without calling attention to themselves. And what should she do with David and Miriam?~

It was well into the afternoon before her next call was made, as she considered the situation and her options. She had a little time to think; she intended to use it.

 

Sunday, March 11, 2001

Williamsburg, VA

1:50PM EST

 

~I can't believe I almost forgot!~

Nicole had been muttering imprecations at herself during her drive from Fairfax to Richmond. It hadn't been that many days since she'd spoken with Marilyn, but with the busyness of the week, the trip to the enlistment station, and the phone call from Judith, she'd hardly gotten home from church when it occurred to her that she had to get to Williamsburg by two o'clock.

She had finally made the turn into the visitor's center at just fifteen minutes before two o'clock, and felt the tension in her shoulders and arms ease. There wasn't a lot of spare time, but she was fast on her feet and could easily make her rendezvous.

The redhead scanned the area, looking for the family she expected to meet, when a wave from the other side of the gate showed that they'd already gotten in. With a grin, she slid up to the ticket booth and soon joined them. As she walked up, she took a good look at the Davidson family.

The youngest of the three, Tara, was a small, almost skinny child with her head covered by a green watch cap. She was young—only eight years-old—with leaf-green eyes that sparkled when she grinned, as she was doing now. There was, nevertheless, an air of weariness around the little girl, as the long series of treatments for leukemia had sapped her youthful energy.

Tara's spirits were lifted as she saw the redhead walk up. The woman's air of calm was comforting; the feeling was similar, but not quite the same as that of her parents. She was like an aunt, or something, with her air of maturity and concern.

Tara's father stood behind her, and loomed over his family. He was about Nicole's height, but was far more massive. The broad shoulders were matched by the rest of his physique; he looked very much like a fullback—a bowling-ball on legs. He might have looked like a big, slow-witted block, but his eyes were examining Nicole and gleamed with intelligence. He was as formidable looking in the daylight as he had been at the concert. Nicole sensed that his emotions were colored by frustration, as he could do so little to help his sick daughter.

He watched as the tall, elegant figure hurried up. He'd only seen her sitting at the concert, and now was impressed by the feminine, yet utterly confident woman who walked up. His lips twitched as the thought ran through his mind that she could be a relative if you went by hair color. Her eyes, on the other hand, were quite different—a soft gray, as opposed to the green of his Irish-descended family. The woman's smile was warm, and he could see the concern she felt as she looked at his daughter.

~I wonder what her background is?~

Marilyn stepped out to greet the new arrival.

"Hello, Ms Harrison! I can't tell you how grateful my husband, Robert, and I are for what you're doing."

"Call me Nicole, please." She smiled and continued, "I really can't see any reason not to take advantage of a haircut I'm required to have. Tara's natural hair color is like mine, and we redheads have to stick together!"

The little girl giggled in concert with the chuckles from her fire-haired parents.

"So, do you three know where we need to be, and how to get there?" Nicole inquired.

A few moments of consultation settled the route, and the four set off at a moderate pace for the wigmaker's shop. The quaint restorations kept the adults entertained as Tara doggedly endured the interminable walk through the streets.

"Yipe!"

Nicole had heard the rapid-fire footsteps as someone came running by, and just managed to dodge as she yelped in surprise. She just avoided a collision with a young boy, perhaps Tara's age, whose mother hollered after him. His hair was blonde, but showed the first signs of darkening toward the roots; it was not yet clear what the final color would be.

"Gary! Gary Yadkin! You slow down and watch where you're going! You'll hurt yourself, or someone else, if you don't pay attention to people around you."

"But Mom! The Courthouse is over this way, and I want to see it all before we leave."

Gary's mother apologized as she and her husband hurried to catch up with their wayward child.

 

 

The small, gambrel-roofed shop was just across from the Raleigh Tavern; a flag hung from a staff mounted on the façade and snapped in the gusty breeze. Nicole led the way into the shop, holding the door while the family made their entrance. A small bell tinkled as the door opened and the group entered.

A tall black man, of average build, stood with a pair of women near work tables toward the rear of the room. He turned to greet them as they closed the door.

"Good day, gentlefolk. I am Reginald Blizzard, and the proprietor of this shop; how may I help you?"

Nicole grinned as she curtsied to the man, who was dressed in period clothing, and played along with the game. "Good sir, my name is Nicole Harrison. We spoke earlier in the week about having a wig made."

The man's eyes widened, and he looked at the child. "Yes, I recall your name, now. This is the young lady you mentioned?" He looked the adults over more carefully. "You two must be her parents."

The introductions were made, and Reginald gave a tour of his shop to the group. He led them toward the tables, where there were wigs in various states of completion. He pointed out each step, ensuring that it was thoroughly understood that it was a significant effort and expense to make a high-quality wig.

He took time to examine Nicole's hair, and assessed the length of the raw material she proposed to provide.

"It's unusual for someone with this length of hair, and who takes such obvious care of it, to cut it as short as you say you intend. I must admit that your hair, even as soft and fine as it appears to be, is also remarkably strong. I don't expect any problems in making the wig you want. It will take time, though, and it won't be inexpensive. It will be particularly difficult to make it useful for as long as the young lady will require. On the other hand, when I am done, it will be around and useful for many, many years if it is properly cared for."

Nicole shrugged. "I had intended to pay the expenses myself, but my co-workers overheard me talking to a friend. They're insisting that I accept their donations."

The wigmaker allowed that how she covered the cost was her business; he had Tara sit down, remove her cap, and took his initial measurements. He narrated as he worked, describing each measurement and why it was necessary. He also mentioned that he intended to make a wig head precisely the size of Tara's head to ensure a proper fit.

"Overall, it will take two and a half or three months to make the wig, which would be mid-June at the latest."

It was generally agreed that the length of time was to be expected, and Nicole made a down payment that covered the materials and half the hours required for the task. Her bank balance was heavily depleted, but there weren't any major expenses expected for the next two weeks.

She didn't fully understand the urge, but it seemed important to help this child; she knew better than to ignore the hint.

The sun was well to the west when the quartet finally returned to the street, but there was plenty of time to indulge Tara in a slow-paced tour of the immediate area. They stopped outside the front door, and the girl took a chance to talk to Nicole.

"Ms. Harrison? Would you mind if my dad took our picture together?"

Nicole gladly agreed to the idea, and Robert grinned watching the two hamming it up—egged on by Marilyn—as he took his pictures. He saved some film for the rest of the tour, and snapped a few more photos as they walked. The poor child wore out quickly, and she wound up cradled in her father's arms as the group walked toward the exit. The adults grinned at each other as the girl snuggled into the security of his embrace and dozed off.

"You really don't need to pay for this all yourself, Nicole. We can help some." Marilyn spoke firmly, but quietly, so as not to wake the sleeping girl.

"I agree," Bob chimed in. "We may be pressed because of the treatment costs, but we can still chip in."

They might have been arguing with the wind. "This is my gift to her, and to you. Let me indulge while I may. Please?"

Finally, and reluctantly, the elder Davidsons relented and began their trip home with their sleeping daughter.

The sun was well down by the time Nicole arrived at home, but she was well pleased with the accomplishments of the day.

 

Monday, March 12, 2001

WGSS Offices

1:10PM EST

 

The door closer hissed, and the familiar sound of sandals thumped on the raised floor.

"Okay, Nicole, where were you? Trish and I thought you'd come over so we could start planning for Judith's visit, but you just vanished."

It took a little while to recount the events of the previous afternoon, given that there was work to be done. Amelia listened attentively until her friend was done.

"How could you forget? I thought you had an eidetic memory."

The redhead's right eyebrow arched. "I can remember everything, but only if I think about it. I have a memory, not an alarm clock. Now that you remind me, we do need to talk about how we're going to handle this induction."

Amelia suggested that they gather after supper at her apartment, and teased Nicole about needing a string on her finger to help her remember. The two women turned their attention back to the task at hand, pored over the test results from the weekend, and began to outline the detailed report that was due Friday. The report format was left entirely to Amelia; Nicole waved her script-wizard's wand as she parsed data from the test results and reformatted everything into the proper table format for inclusion.

She pointedly ignored the quiet mutters about someone needing a keeper.

 

 

~What time ... Oh!~

Nicole suddenly sat back after checking her watch. "Mela, I have an appointment at the doctor's. I have to leave, or I'll be late."

The gleam in the strawberry-blonde's eyes should have been a warning, but Nicole missed it in her scramble to get back to her desk and out the door; even her empathic link gave no warning as the queen hurried away.

Amelia chuckled as the door closed again, and she turned back to her work.

~I wonder how she'll like the refrigerators in the examination rooms?~

 

Doctor JoEllen Clarke's Office

The redhead sighed as she returned the clipboard to the receptionist. After Saturday, the prospect of filling out still more paperwork was even less appealing.

~I wonder who came up with the idea of all the record-keeping? And I wonder if I can ever get my revenge?~

The examination records from Saturday might save some time and effort for the doctor; at least she hoped it would limit the poking and prodding. Nicole wasn't overly optimistic, as doctors liked to check things out personally in her experience.

Precisely at the scheduled appointment time, a young woman opened the door to the reception area; there was the usual round of measurements—weight, height, blood pressure, blood test sample, and the like—before the nurse left and Nicole found herself sitting in an examining room, wearing a fashionable paper gown. The room was unremarkable, and looked like any of the dozens of similar rooms she'd seen as Tom, except for an appliance that looked oddly like a dorm-sized refrigerator.

~I wonder what that's for?~

A muted clatter outside heralded the extraction of the folder with her paperwork; the sound of flipping pages went on for a moment before the door opened to reveal the doctor.

She was average in height—meaning she was about half a head shorter than Nicole—and slim. The woman's energy almost crackled around her despite her apparent age, which seemed to be about forty or so. She had short, brown hair that framed intense hazel eyes.

~Oh, Lord! They look like Beth's eyes!~

The curse of perfect memory made itself known, as so many memories of looking into well-loved eyes flowed to the forefront of her mind. Her face hardened for a moment as she fought down the emotions; she forced herself to return her attention to Doctor JoEllen Clarke, who had looked down again to read.

"So, Nicole, this is your first visit to this office. I like to take time on a first visit to learn a little about a new patient, so why don't you tell me a little about yourself: who are you, where are you from, boyfriends—all the good blackmail material I'll need later."

The good humor in the question provoked a chuckle from the redhead, and she began a synopsis of her new history.

JoEllen listened attentively and took occasional notes. She found this time useful, as the introduction served to gain more than just raw information. Each individual told their story in their own way, and areas avoided in the telling sometimes served to point out stress points in a person's life, which was useful in understanding how to better care for each unique individual.

~This patient is going to be interesting,~ she thought.

Nicole's story wasn't really unusual, but there was a sense of ... detachment about so much of it; there wasn't much emotion in it, other than a few events such as the passing of her parents. There seemed to be much more intensity in the descriptions of her last few months, which was interesting, and there was a clear, strong attachment to her new friends.

"Thank you, Nicole," JoEllen began, "that might be helpful in the long term. A family medical history is always important. I'm curious as to why you're taking time to come to me; you said you're enlisting, and you'll have the military's doctors to call on."

Nicole shrugged. "I won't be in the Marines forever, and I'd like someone I can trust when I'm at home." ~Such a home as it is, anyway.~ "I also have another ... ummm ... item that I need. I think." She squirmed uncomfortably as she tried to approach her topic.

~She's acting like some teenagers when they first ask for the pill!~ The doctor struggled to keep a professional air, but having a grown woman in her mid-twenties acting this way made it hard. She sat quietly while her patient sorted herself out.

Finally, Nicole took hold of her embarrassment, took a deep breath to calm herself, and formed a simple question. The amusement from the doctor wasn't helping.

"I need a prescription for a contraceptive, preferably the pill. I'm not sexually active, but I think I need to take the precaution."

JoEllen couldn't entirely suppress the chuckle, but covered it with a quick cough. "That's no problem, though you're older than most of my first-time prescriptions. I checked the records you brought, but I'll conduct my own examination before prescribing anything. So why don't we get started?" She stepped to the door and called in a nurse

The second time around wasn't quite so bad, Nicole decided. At least she knew more about what to expect, and how all of it felt. It still wasn't pleasant, though, especially when it came time for the intimate part of the examinations.

The doctor stepped back, and raised the stirrups at the end of the table. "Now lie back, and put your feet up. Wendy, would you get my instruments from the 'fridge, please?"

Nicole's eyes widened at the statement, its implications, and the look of amusement on the face of the doctor and nurse. She couldn't entirely quell a whimper as the door of the white appliance opened, and she tensed at the rattle of metal on metal. It had been a nasty surprise the first time around, even with the items at room temperature.

Her eyes snapped wide as the comfortably warm speculum made contact.

She raised her head and glared at the top of the doctor's head as it bobbed with barely-controlled mirth. "That was mean!" The redhead shared some of her wrath with the silently smirking nurse.

The nurse's smirk turned into a quiet giggle, joined shortly by snorts from the doctor at the end of the table. Nicole struggled to hold onto her annoyance, but the humor in the situation won out and she joined the others in laughter ... until the speculum probed a little deeper, and she gasped.

There was the usual poking, and a momentary discomfort as the doctor took samples for her tests. Finally, the metal intruder was withdrawn, and JoEllen sat back. The instruments were taken for sterilization or disposal, and Nicole was permitted to dress. The doctor waited patiently for her to finish.

"Everything looks fine, Nicole. Your health is a perfect as I've seen, and unless something really strange shows up in the blood work, or other tests, you can relax." She wrote quickly on a prescription pad, and handed it to her patient. "The only thing that really was out of the ordinary was that you seem to be a virgin; I don't think I've ever seen that in a woman your age. Normally, I'd schedule you for an appointment every year, but under the circumstances I'll let you call when you need to see me."

Nicole recovered quickly from the exam—it was still all new to her—and settled back. "Thank you for the report, doctor. As far as my sexual habits," her face tinged with a slight blush, "I won't casually jump into bed with just anyone, and I haven't found the right person yet."

JoEllen nodded in understanding, and guided the redhead out to the receptionist before heading off to the next appointment.

 

Amelia and Trish's Apartment

7:00PM EST

 

The two-legged occupants of the room looked up at the rap on the door; the royal couple twitched their tails and ignored the proceedings until something worthwhile happened.

Trish opened the door, and welcomed the tall Amazon queen into the room. Nicole gratefully relinquished her coat and navigated to a chair across from the sofa where her friend and coworker sat. Trish followed as far as the sofa, but hadn't sat down before the redhead spoke.

"You set me up!"

Nicole tried hard to keep her voice serious, but the memory of the events at the doctor's office, and the echo of humor through their shared bond, left her with lips twitching.

"I have no idea what you mean by that!" The blonde's eyebrows arched imperiously, and the action was echoed in small by the two felines behind her—admittedly more due to being disturbed than any real interest in what the humans were making noises about.

Trish looked bewildered at the antics, but turned her attention to her love. Knowing the humorous streak of her partner, Amelia, it was likely she'd pulled a prank on their new friend. Hands on hips, she stood by the sofa. She, too, felt the humor running through the two women and had to fight down her own smile.

"What did you do, Mela?"

"Me? Whatever makes either of you think I did anything?"

Tandem eyebrows rose in mute disbelief. Amelia sat unmoved by their skepticism.

Nicole smirked as she spoke. "To be completely honest, Trish, it wasn't what she did so much as what she didn't do. I had my first appointment with Doctor Clarke this afternoon."

The young, brown-haired woman's eyes widened. She, too, was a patient at that office. The surprise turned to a smile, then a grin. She ended on the sofa, laughing helplessly.

Amelia joined in the laughter, and watched as the redhead bit her lip in a desperate attempt to keep from laughing herself; the gray-eyed glare wavered, too. It failed miserably, and the infectious mirth kept them laughing, or giggling for quite a while.

"It was still mean!" Nicole fumed, but without heat. "She's a good doctor, though. I appreciate the referral. I didn't come here just to fuss ...."

"Whine!" Amelia retorted.

"Fuss!" Nicole returned, "at you. I want to figure out what we can do for, and with, the Epps family. If it was just Judith, I wouldn't be bothered, but we'll have David and Miriam, too." She paused, uncertain of the path to take. "They're a family, and I'd really like to have all of them involved somehow; I don't know that having eight people, counting Artemis, in your place will work.

"I'd also like to keep our supper kosher, if possible, and I know enough to realize that's more complicated than any normal meal. Any ideas?"

Trish looked thoughtful for a moment before looking at Amelia with surprise.

"Mela, I have that festival in Vienna this weekend, Friday evening, and all day Saturday and Sunday. I want to be there, but we'll have to do it at the festival then."

Amelia nodded. "That might not be such a bad idea anyway. If we keep meeting here, someone might notice. I've fixed meals for festivals before, so I can work something out. We'll have to be inside, though; the weather is supposed to be pretty windy and rainy. I'll ask a couple of friends of mine who are Jewish about what I need to do, and they might have ideas on how to deal with a kosher meal in the field."

"Can you two handle the arrangements for the food and festival? I'm assuming you know the people running the show," Nicole asked. "I'll see whether Kate can make it. I also want to take time while everyone's here to have a planning meeting. I'll be out of touch with you for long periods of time, and I want to make sure we have a plan of action in place before I go away."

"We can do that. The festival could work out well; there should be rooms for the artists to rest and practice, so we can probably set up in one of those. There will be a few things we can have for Miriam, if we bring them along."

The outline of the options was at least identified now, and all three women settled back to relax a little. Nicole stretched her limbs in relief; it had been busy since she'd gotten back from California, and she was beginning to feel the wear.

One of the cats—Nicole couldn't reliably tell them apart, yet—stood, arched its back, and slithered its way to Nicole's lap. The quiet purr was mesmerizing, and the queen found the fatigue of the last couple of weeks catching up with her. Trish watched her for a few moments then frowned.

"Nicole? What have you done for fun and relaxation the last three months? You're looking awfully frazzled."

Blinking as she stirred back into full alertness, Nicole thought for a few moments as she reviewed the time since January. "Ummmm. Since I got back here, I sat and read one afternoon; I also went to that coffeehouse with you two. Before that I went out on a date one evening, and the evening dances were more fun than work."

Trish's frown was joined by a near-twin on Amelia's face. The blonde shook her head in exasperation.

"Are you determined to burn yourself out before you even hit boot camp?"

The redhead shrugged. "What am I supposed to do? I have to get ready for boot camp, which means the evening sessions with the Colonel have to happen. I was the only one who could have made the trip to Williamsburg to set up the wig making, and I have to coordinate at least part of the gathering for Judith." She returned the frowns. "I haven't been exactly burning the candle at both ends, even if I haven't been out much. The exercise I get with the Colonel helps, and other evenings I tend to just hang around home and recover."

Amelia was hardly reassured. "You should find something fun to do once in a while, so you get out of the apartment. You like to dance, and I think there's a contra-dance group in Reston that meets this evening, so you could go there and not have schedule conflicts." She paused for a moment. "I still think you could do a better job of delegating; in fact, from here on out, you'll have to."

"I noticed that it took you a bit to think of something that would work with what I have to get done during a week; even so, I suspect we'll be spending time with the Epps next week, and the next Monday I'm off to the Marines, so I won't have time for the dance group. In any case, I agree that delegation has to happen, and that's another thing to take care of while the Epps are here. We'll have to organize secure communications for all of us, and arrange for some kind of self-defense training for everyone. I also want Kate to get help from David to learn how to manage the financial side—such as it is. And thinking of Kate ...."

Nicole pulled out her cell phone, and called her friend to find out whether she could fly east for a while. Things got complicated as Amelia and Trish jumped into the conversation—they found rather quickly that they hardly needed a speakerphone with their enhanced hearing—and the four had roughed out the arrangements for the next two weeks, depending on how much time Kate would have available.

 

Wednesday, March 14, 2001

 

~Windy, rainy, and cool. Bleah!~

It was a short sprint from her apartment to the car, and only a slightly longer run from the car to the office, but Nicole was looking a little like a drowned rat by the time she made it into the lobby. Angela followed more slowly, due to the struggle to keep her umbrella under control, but was a bit drier when she made it into the lobby.

The work for Angela's team was done, for all practical purposes. All of the data had been logged, stored, and cross-referenced in record time with the new scripts. The next step was in the field team's hands, as they worked on the report; Nicole spent much of the time carefully documenting the new tools and generating help files; there was the occasional interruption as one of the team would ask for clarification, or delegate a data extraction task, but none took more than a few minutes.

She stretched and yawned as she sat back from the keyboard. Despite keeping an eye open for new opportunities, the work was mind-numbingly boring. ~I have to remember that they think I'm a newbie. It's probably too late to start bugging them for something more interesting to do anyway; there's less than two weeks left.~

She sighed, and leaned back toward her keyboard. Even the afternoon would be consumed putting the finishing touches on the draft report for Amelia. She grimaced.

~I hate writing documentation. So what do I do for most of my day ...?~

 

Nicole's Apartment

7:45PM EST

 

Stretching and yawning, Nicole blinked at her dark-haired roommate. "I think I'm going to sit and read for a little while, and then turn in early. David is wearing me down with his workouts."

Angela smiled in sympathy. "He gets that way; you'll be glad for it when you're in boot camp. Go ahead and get some rest. I'll see you in the morning. Good night."

The door to her bedroom was closed, and the redhead had moved to ensure the room was secure. She played back the debate she'd had with herself since Judith had called, and in particular since Trish had suggested the festival as a rendezvous. It didn't feel right to tell David to take a long walk with Miriam; the little one had been important in winning the family over.

Finally she called quietly: "Lady Artemis?" She truly was weary, but this issue had to be dealt with.

The slim, black-haired figure appeared with a puzzled look. "Yes, Nicole?"

"I need to talk with you, but prefer that we don't do it here. I'm concerned that Angela might hear something. Will you take us to Michael's cabin, so we can speak freely?"

With a nod, Artemis reached out, and the two were in the familiar great room. The goddess, head tilted in question, asked: "What's on your mind?"

"We need to talk about the Epps family."

"Why?"

"I told you about her calling to accept the call, but I've had time to think about it since then. Judith is the first woman called who's been married to a man. Between that, and the arrangements we can make for an induction, things are more complicated this time having to deal with the folk festival."

"So? I don't see what the problem might be."

"I'll get to my point, but I want you to understand why I think as I do. Why do you oppose having men involved with the Amazons?"

The goddess returned a look of exasperation. "As if you need reminding! Has your perfect memory failed?"

"Humor me, please. I have a point to this all."

The black-haired patroness threw up her hands as she dropped into a chair. "Twice—once before, and once after you accepted the call—I explained that the Hittites and other men had betrayed my daughters. They surrounded them, and slowly wore them down until they were destroyed."

"And why did that work? Why were the Amazons vulnerable to that strategy? They could have fed themselves and their horses, right?"

"Of course they could feed themselves! It was just they were cut off from ... Oh no! You're not going to talk me into that corner." The dark brown eyes sparked with anger.

"Why are you angry with me?" The redhead's eyes, mild at first, turned as hard and unyielding as a granite cliff. "You're acting as if I'm your enemy! Do you really think I love my sisters less than you do? They are all I have now; they're the only family I will have for I don't know how long. I will do whatever I must, and use whatever resources I can, to make sure they each live as long and happy a life as possible, and for that to happen we need to be able to grow without having recruits from the outside world." She huffed in frustration.

"I'm trying to use everything I can, every possible advantage I can think of, to build up the Amazons; I'm just as determined as I was the first day after I accepted the call. I told you that the very first time I sat in this room. We'll need men like David Epps if we're going to grow and thrive."

Artemis sensed Nicole's struggle to reign in her frustration before the queen spoke again.

"What was your first impression of Tom Edwards?"

The abrupt change of tack bewildered the goddess. "Pardon? What does that have to do with anything?"

"I need you to work with me for a few more minutes. What was the first thing that came to mind when you saw him?"

"I don't know ... Mister Average, if anything."

"Mister Average," Nicole snorted in amusement. "I suppose that's as fitting a term for him as any. He and Beth were married for over thirty years; in all that time, how many times do you think he strayed? How many times did he betray his vows to her?"

"This has to be a trick question, and I assume the answer is never."

With a nod Nicole continued. "Precisely. In thirty years, with more than ample opportunity given all the traveling he did, Mister Average never violated his vows. God has called Judith to be one of the first women to join the Amazons, and she, too, is someone who is married. Do you think that David will be any less reliable than Tom was?" The implacable gray eyes held Artemis' gaze, until the goddess shook her head and dropped her stare.

"No, I don't. What's your point?"

Nicole's eyes softened. "I know that we will, at some point, find women who will need to be rescued from men who have betrayed them. They'll be abused, neglected, and in need of our protection. Not all the men will be like that, though; there will be others, and I believe David is one of them, who are part of a marriage that shows the best of what that partnership was intended to be. David and Judith are a team, just as Amelia and Trish are a team; I don't want David inducted and empowered—that's not his role—but we'll need him, his talents, and his abilities. I want to have David there when Judith is inducted—and Miriam, too—so he knows what they're both becoming a part of. I don't ever want our Nation of Amazons to be splitting up loving couples." A bleak look came to her face. "One was more than enough."

"Nicole ...."

The glitter of tears was plain in the redhead's eyes. "Please, Artemis, don't let us become a lever that comes between couples and breaks up loving families. They're everything a family should be, and they both love their daughter deeply. What will we be telling Miriam if we send them away? Check with Michael if you need to make sure, but don't hurt them like that; I beg you, please, don't make them suffer, too."

Artemis was struggling, too. The goddess's ancient hurt and hatred warred with the anguish she saw on her companion's face, and the truth she knew lay in the young woman's words.

"I'll think about it, and I will talk to Michael." She looked unhappy, but resigned. "If he says David is trustworthy, then I will agree."

 

Thursday, March 15, 2001

Epps Home

8:00AM GMT (3:00AM EST)

 

Willy hefted the last of the bags into the boot and turned to see the little girl who stood nearby. Her face was serious as she held up her stuffed rabbit for packing. She thanked him as he took it, then she turned to join her parents. He smiled as he stowed the toy carefully for the trip.

Miriam was barely containing her excitement as she looked forward to her first trip across the Atlantic. Judith had taken time to sit with a globe, and maps, to show where they were and where they were going. They took time to plan some sightseeing trips around the region; the child was disappointed to learn that Ms. Harrison would not be guiding the tour.

"I'm ready, Mummy! May I sit in the front with Willy, please?" She wasn't often taken on a long trip, but she delighted in sitting where she could easily see the countryside as they passed.

"As long as you sit nicely and don't bother Willy, you may."

Miriam walked around to the passenger side door, and sat proudly—and almost quietly—in the front seat. David and Judith smiled, and climbed in for the two hour ride to Heathrow.

 

Dulles - International Arrivals Building

3:35PM EST

 

David Epps had walked off to retrieve their luggage, leaving Judith to tend to their daughter as they waited to go through customs.

"Mummy, I'm tired. Can I go to sleep now?"

Miriam had been an absolute jewel for such a young child during the entire eight-hours of the trip, but the long day was wearing on her. She was tired and hungry and wanted to stop traveling.

"Not yet, Miri. We have to get to our hotel, and then you may take a nap before supper. It's only a short ride to the hotel, so it won't be too long once your daddy returns."

"Will Miss Harrison be there?"

"No, sweet; she will be at work for a while, but I'll call to let her know we're here. Perhaps she'll be able to join us for supper."

"Okay," came the little girl's weary reply.

 

 

The three weary travelers were happily settled in their suite, and Miriam was taking a nap while they waited for their hostess to arrive. The adults, too, were tired from the long day; forcing themselves to adjust to the new time zone.

The soft rapping on the door startled them from their light doze; David opened the door to reveal a windblown, slightly damp Nicole.

"Hello, Ms. Harrison. Thank you for coming so promptly."

Judith noticed the wince that flickered on the tall woman's face. "David, I don't think we need to be—or should be—quite so proper. You know that Americans aren't terribly formal, and under the circumstances ...." She refrained from completing the sentence as she rose and started toward the door; the whole point of the trip was to make their family a part of Nicole's, and even the British upper-classes weren't so formal with family.

The man looked slightly embarrassed. "Forgive me, Nicole. Thirty years of practice lead to heavily ingrained habits."

The tall redhead clasped his hands in her own. "It's alright, David. The situation is strange by any reasonable measure, and we'll all need time to adjust." He gave her a firm handshake, and then released her as his wife walked up with hands extended.

"It's good to see you again, Nicole," she said as she greeted the visitor. They clasped hands briefly, before the couple took seats in on ouch, while the redhead settled into a chair.

"Miriam's resting, I take it? It must have been a long day for her."

The Epps' related the tale of their day of travel, and they listened to the outlines of the locals' planning for the weekend. Nicole was insistent that they have their Sabbath, if they chose; with the morning blocked out for her training, there would be only a little time lost.

A sound from one of the bedrooms drew Nicole's attention, and she turned to watch the door as it opened to reveal a newly-awakened Miriam. She tottered sleepily to her mother, climbed into the warm security of the familiar arms, and sent a tentative smile toward their guest.

The smile was returned by the queen as the discussions free-wheeled until the child made it clear that she was awake and hungry, though more politely than many adults would have. Her suitably chastened parents gathered her up and, after a brief pause to return Miriam's clothing to a fit state, the four made their way to the restaurant.

 

Dulles International Airport

Friday, March 16, 2001

5:30PM EST

There was rain; there was wind; there were flight delays. The plane had finally arrived, and Kate gratefully queued up with the rest of the passengers to leave the aluminum cigar that they'd been cooped up in for the last five and a half hours.

She'd felt funny taking the week of vacation time, but, as she'd listened to the number of tasks that needed to take place before Nicole's departure for boot camp, it had seemed to be wise to allow the meetings to be spread out over a longer time.

And all that was beside the point that she'd become very fond of her friend and queen; it was a chance to see how she was doing in all the adjustments to her new role.

The shuttle deposited her and her fellow passengers at the main terminal, where she made her way to Baggage Claim. Luggage thunked against the side of the carousel, and the crowd of tired, impatient people jostled for position to retrieve their belongings and make their escape.

"It's about time you showed up. Were you delayed getting away from LA?"

Kate started at the unexpected voice, and whirled to see Nicole standing just behind her.

"Sis!" The happy surprise in the cry was punctuated by a warm hug. Kate's luggage, ignoring the distraction, slid quietly onto the carousel and began its unaccompanied tour of the baggage claim station.

Kate's expression, as she watched her bags wobble majestically around the circle, left her friend snorting with suppressed laughter. The errant luggage finally deigned to return, was collected, and the two women left the terminal for their short ride to Nicole and Angela's apartment.

 

 

Angela was curled in a chair, sipping tea, as the door opened. Nicole had mentioned that she'd have a visitor—a friend from Los Angeles—to pick up from Dulles, but that she'd take care of dinner once she returned.

The cheerful voices of the two women echoed in the entry as coats were hung and luggage dragged in. ~It sounds like a sisters' reunion,~ Angela thought.

"Kate, I'd like you to meet my roomie, Angela Ogle. Angela, this is my dear friend and surrogate sister, Kate Tanner."

Angela saw a young brunette who looked short in comparison to her towering friend. Travel fatigue was clear in her face, and she seemed to be running on nervous energy at the moment. Kate's face would lose her a bundle if she took up poker, Angie decided. She wore her affection for Nicole on her sleeve, but there was something a bit more than just sisterly affection. She couldn't quite put a finger on it, but there was a leavening of respect that was unusual.

Kate had been curious about her queen's roommate. The occasional phone calls and e-mails hadn't really shed light on the other resident, but Nicole had seemed to approve of the woman with whom she shared the apartment. Kate wasn't surprised, now that she'd met the woman. The soft, southern accent was muted but clear in Angela's welcome. Having an older person around -- ~Well, at least older than I am,~ Kate snickered internally—had to have made the settling in much easier, too. There was also no doubt about her welcome, and no hint of resentment at the intrusion.

The newcomer was directed to Nicole's room, while the redhead put on an apron and turned her hands to dinner. Once Kate returned, Angela indulged in some good-natured teasing about her roomie's lack of cooking skills.

"There's hope, though. We haven't had any ER visits for the whole week!"

Kate snickered as the poor victim turned her head and stuck out her tongue at Angie. The snicker turned into a choke as Nicole fired back: "My skill level is a direct result of my teacher's ability."

The meal, though fairly simple, was very good; Nicole flushed in pleasure at the praise from her friend and her teacher.

 

(continued)

  

  

  

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