Looking about for a moment, Fernando does not see Hondo outside, and figure that he might be inside his camper.
 
“Get up for a second.” Fernando tells his little girl. Giving her his hand, she takes it and gets up off the step bumper. He then knocks on the rear door of the camper. A few seconds later the door opens with Hondo looking outside to see who it was. They both look at each other before Fernando says, “Get in Macey.” He then takes Meeshie off his shoulder and puts her into the camper’s floor where she scurries in to find Kitty. He then grabs onto the outside handle and climbs into Hondo’s Camper. “Thanks. Tonya around?”
 
“We’re all here.” Hondo replies.
 
Once inside the camper, Fernando explains as he walks in, “I spoken to Macey, she will behave while we are away and understands the importance of what we are going to do.”
 
Hondo nods.
 
Another knock on the door is answered by Hondo again. It is Ruth with her cousin Joanna.
 
“Hello, Hondo?  We’re letting everyone know that dinner is almost done and will soon be served.” Ruth states to him.
 
“What are you making?” Hondo asks.
 
“Nothing fancy. Just some roast beast sandwiches on large roll bread, some gravy and a vegetable soup.” Ruth replies.
 
“I’ll take three then.” Hondo says. Fernando can be heard saying loudly, “And a small bowl or cup saucer of a few pieces of meat and gravy!” Hondo looks back for a moment before telling Ruth, “And a small bowl or cup saucer of a few pieces of meat with gravy.” Ruth looks at him for a second before he adds, “For the cats in the camper.”
 
“Oh.” Ruth replies, “Not a problem, kitties need to be fed too. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
 
“Thank you.” Hondo says to her before she leaves. He then turns around to those in the camper. “Tonya. Miss Ruth will be bringing in some lunch for you girls and for the cats. Accept it, tell her ‘thank you.’ And enjoy the meal. Fernando and I might be gone when she arrives, so expect her to come with food.”
 
“Alright pa... er, Hondo...” Tonya says.

“I don’t need anything, just my cane.” Fernando says.
 
“That’s it?” Hondo asks earnest, “I know you can do some things controlling time and all that, but we are fighting to get Val back!”
 
“Let me say this,” Fernando begins, “If you met your future selves when you first got here, that means we will win this fight and any other that comes to us and you two will be and remain unified. The matter is how hard and dirty are we going to fight. You and James need to fight hard and dirty to eliminate your dance partners, but I have to keep mine alive long enough to get answers he may or may not have and then kill him afterwards. Don’t do anything stupid to get yourself hurt or killed in the ring, just make it quick and dirty. Because when it is all said and done, you are going to love her and make love to her like nobody’s business. That means keeping yourself in one piece during this and all other future fights we will have. Question: Do you remember the movie ‘The Running Man?’” Fernando says and asks.
 
“What does the movie have ta do with anythin’?” Hondo asks in an annoyed tone.
 
“Two characters: Buzzsaw and Fireball. As I remember the movie, Hamburger Mel the Butcher would be Buzzsaw. James lost to him before but I think he can take him on with a bit of help. Al the Arsonist will be a problem but I think you can eliminate him with ease. Like Fireball in the move, he would be coming in with fuel tanks to try to fry us in the ring. I’ll give you a Bio Pill to take before the fight to protect you from severe burns. But all you need is this” Fernando explains before reaching into Hondo’s trailer and pulling out a Halligan tool he had in there.
 

 
“Lure him away from the Lich and penetrate his tank with that and Light him up good!” Fernando says as ha hands over a zippos lighter to Hondo
 
“And the explosion?” Hondo asks.
 
“It should take him out as well as the butcher and even James. But the Bio Pill will keep you from burns and concessive injuries. Just don’t do anything stupid that will have the butcher put a blade into your back.” Fernando explains, adding, “Even though Ichigo said that there would be no blades allowed, with the name like the ‘Butcher’ I would not be surprised if he had an axe or other bladed weapon. Ichgo said ‘no firearms or bladed weapons.’ Chances are they will take away you knife but not what he has.”
 
Hondo looks at him as if a thousand years of planning just became useless when it was needed on this one particular day.
 
Fernando continues, “The chains and leather bull whip maybe useful. Bring the nightstick and brass knuckles for James and let’s get him and get out of here.”

The three of them go into town together, taking a long slow walk to the ring. Though it is early afternoon, their fight would be at 11PM, they have to report in by 4PM. Fernando picks up a few meat sandwiches with some locally brewed beers in bottles to take with them. Chances are Hondo and Fernando would not eat it, not before the fight. Approaching the arena, they find the line outside wrapping around the block, and posters of 2 smaller fights before theirs starting at 8o’clock. As they walk past the line Fernando hears an all familiar voice calling to him.
 
“Fernando! Fernando!” Somebody calls to him.
 
Fernando stops, making the others stop as he looks around. He finds both Jeanette in their bunny suits towards the rear of the line. He signals to them to get out of the line and go with them.
 
“Why are they coming with us?” Hondo holds back his temper.
 
“They are part of my plan. So let’s remain quiet until we are in the locker room.” Fernando explains.
 
As they turn the corner, they can see fancy cars pulling up and various VIP audience members being guided into the arena in a separate exit. They continue to walk past them and towards a rear entrance for the fighters. Fernando spots the paparazzi there taking photographs of those entering the fighter’s entrance. He takes his cane and freezes time just long enough for them to get in and be halfway to their locker room as marked by a sign on the door.
 
Fernando closes their locker room door. He places the food on a table in the room.
 
“What are they doing here?” Hondo asks.
 
“For us they are here in case anyone of us gets hurt, they can give us a bio pill to get better on. For everyone else and the show, they are here as our little cheering squad.” Fernando explains.
 
“What about the others?” Hondo asks.
 
Fernando reaches into one of the Jeanettes and pulls out a tiny Yeasu VX2 radio from her bunny suit’s neck line. Ruth, you out there?
 
“We’re here, Fernando...” Ruth replies.
 
“Good. It’s early, make things look as normal as possible and after dinner is served and everyone’s eaten and cleaned up, I say at about 7:30, I’ll teleport you to your seats.” Fernando explains.  
 
“No problem!” Ruth replies.
 
“And keep an eye on the girls, especially Macey and Penny.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Will do!” Ruth replies.
 
Fernando gives back the radio to the Jeanette he took it from.
 
“The fight is not until 11PM. What is there to do?” The other Jeanette asks.
 
“Sit down and make peace with your god; if you believe in god.” James lets out.
 
“Let me tell you something, Wolfie. It is whether or not you believe in god, it is whether or not God believes in you. The Holy Trinity put us here for a reason and that is to live a life that is of good for us to enter his kingdom. Even if you give up on God, he has not given up on you. All those who pursue selfish or evil gains, and have given up on God for those gains, will not receive his reward to enter his kingdom, but rather to suffer for all of eternity in Hell. In this fight you will think things are not going your way but they will. You will not see it but at the very end when you walk back to camp – whether with us or on your own.” Fernando tells him.
 
“And how do you know this will end?” James asks.
 
“It does not matter if I am the Time Walker or not. But I know that I do not give up on myself and on my friends, and for that, for when I try, I will win. That is how I know how it will end.” Fernando tells him.
 
The door opens up and a short young looking female walks in, naturally it is Ichigo. She says to them, “How fitting, a motivational speech to get the team going. But many here do not believe in god, any god.”
 
“That’s their loss.” Hondo almost growls to her. Then he throws in, “Why are you here?”
 
“I need to get you guys examined and weighed in, make sure you are fit enough to be in such a fight.” Ichigo explains. She looks at James first, “Since you have been through this before, you are first. Come.”
 
James gets up and leaves with Ichigo. She closes the door behind her.
 
Fernando looks at the two Jeanettes, “Only one of you have been through this before, for the other this is her first time. Now, which one is which.”
 
Jeanette with the Yeasu mini radio clipped into her bunny suit pushes the other one towards him.
 
“You mind?” Jeanette complains to her other self.
 
“It has to be done.” The other Jeanette says to her.
 
“So you’re the younger Jeanette?” Fernando asks.
 
“I am.” She finally says to him.
 
Fernando reaches behind his head and neck, uncoupling the chain’s linkage he is wearing. He takes off his Gold Jesus Head Pendant and reaches out to her, putting it around her neck and tucking the Jesus Head into the neckline of her bunny suit.
 

 
He then takes his watch off and puts it on her wrist.
 

 
“They do not come off you until I see you again. Then I expect you to return them.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Why are you giving them to me?” The younger Jeanette asks.
 
“Because I can trust you with them. In the ring, the chain or watch could be broken, so it is better that you have it in safe keeping. Do not give me any excuses. You have a job to do and I expect you to do them. I trust you in getting them done.” He tells her.
 
“Anything else?” She asks.
 
“How about being a leader to this convoy group we lead and not some second fiddle to me. And take care of Macey while I am healing.
 
“We’ll make sure to take care of the girls for you both.” The Elder Jeanette steps in.
 
“I will not have Zoe and Tonya being taken cared of by a couple of elementary school drop outs.” Hondo says loudly.
 
“It is just for a day or so, nothing more. Besides, Ruth and Joanna will be there to help as well. But somebody got to take care of this group.” Fernando explains. He then turns to the Elder Jeanette, “You got it?”  
 
“Yeah.” She replies.
 
“Then give it to him.” Fernando tells her.
 
Elder Jeanette walks over to Hondo, pulling out a pair of Crystal Clear safety Lab Glasses with an elastic band to put on. It is grounded to his prescription.
 
“What is this?” Hondo asks.
 
“It is a set Quartz Crystal Safety Glasses grounded to your prescription. Put those on and give her your regular pair for safe keeping. At least these will survive the explosion and protect your eyes from the blast when you go after the Arsonist’s fuel tanks.” Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo looks at them for a moment, looking through the lenses of the glasses given to him. They are as stated, grounded to his prescription.
 
“Give her yours for safe keeping.” Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo is hesitant on handing over his glasses over to anyone, especially someone he does not trust wholly. Eventually he does.
 
“I want them back when this fight is over.” Hondo tells her.
 
Elder Jeanette clips the glasses to her bunny ears where they will remain safe for the time being, “You will get them back just like you will get Val back.”
 
“Jeanette...” Fernando calls to her.
 
“He should be given some hope. Right now I can see he has none.” Elder Jeanette says.
 
“Never mind that. But tell me what intel you do know.” Fernando throws at her.
 
“The Grey Lady has her, she will be seated in the first few rows of VIP Section, and has betted against you, thinking the Lich will win. The Lich knows the Grey Lady but whether or not he remembers if she has Val or not, the guy has a memory of a gold fish.” Elder Jeanette tells him.
 
“So I’ll go after the Grey Lady after I take care of the Arsonist.” Hondo says.
 
“Anything happened to the Grey Lady, Val gets killed. But she will meet up with the winners of the fight, which is why it is important for you to win.” Elder Jeanette tells him.
 
Hondo scowls at her trying to see between them who would blink first.
 
Elder Jeanette turns away, telling him “I am not the enemy.”
 
“You’re not somebody I trust either.” Hondo flatly tells her.
 
“Jeanette I can trust, it’s the Spirits she associates herself with I cannot.” Fernando tells them.
 
They both look at him, one in awe the other in diluted anger.
 
Fernando continues and asks them, “Either way, are things set and ready to go?”
 
“You know something I don’t?” Hondo asks.
 
“I don’t.” Fernando replies but he points to Elder Jeanette, “But she does. In her timeline – she was here some 30 years ago as the Younger Jeanette. She is here now as the Older Jeanette. To her this is living the events of her life as she lived them then and as she does now. So I’m asking, everything is set and ready to go?”
 
“They are. The rest is on you two and on us two.” The Elder Jeanette answers.
 
“On them two?” Hondo asks.
 
“I say it before, in case any one of us gets hurt or killed, they will be there to give us a bio pill when they take our body out of the ring.” Fernando explains.
 
“How are they going to do that?” Hondo asks.
 
“Why do you think they are in bunny suits? They are part of our cheering squad. They will have limited access to us in the ring and total access outside the ring. Anything happens to us, they will be there to help us.” Fernando explains.
 
The door opens with Ichigo entering first before James, adding, “And if they enter the ring, they become another target for the Lich and his men to kill.” She then looks at Hondo before looking at Fernando, selecting Hondo, “Come. You’re next.”
 
“Where are we going?” Hondo asks.
 
“For your physical and weigh-in.” Ichigo explains, “Come or you forfeit the match.”
 
Fernando nods at Hondo, “Go. You will be back soon enough.”
 
Not liking the decision, Hondo leaves the room in silence.  James sits down on the bench.
 
“Anymore motivational speeches?” James almost mocks him.
 
“Do as I say or die.” Fernando tells him. He then asks, “How did it go?”
 
“What do you expect? They check you out and then they weigh besides your opponent.” James tells him.
 
“Who they chose for you?” Fernando asks.
 
“Hamburger Mel the Butcher, because I fought him before and lost. They are making it as a rematch to the death between he and I.” James explains.
 
“Then you better fight and not get yourself killed.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Don’t you think I know that?” James throws at him.
 
“There is a difference between knowing and doing.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Don’t get educational on me! Words cannot do what fists need to do!” James barks at him.
 
“You better listen to what I have to tell you if you want to come out alive from this shit, James!”  Fernando tells him just as loud, “Despite the rules, The Butcher is going to have some blades on him. Attack him from the side and from the rear if you can get there. Also attack his hands to make him drop whatever he may be carrying. Keep attacking his hands so he won’t be able to pick anything up and use it against you. It will also shorten his reach once you bang up his hands good. Then bang his knees with the nightstick so he can’t run.”
 
“I know how to fight – human!” James barks at him.
 
“You need to fight to win!” Fernando barks back at him, “That means changing the rules as you go to your favor! That means to cheat without looking like you are cheating! That means going for their balls when they are going for your head! There is only one way to win this shit, and you better find your way!”
 
“Fernando, James, save it for the in the ring!” Elder Jeanette says to them.
 
Fernando nods before saying, “You and Hondo are going to go a couple seconds behind me.  No doubt The Lich is going to send in the boys first so he remains behind. I will cut through the middle between them and hit them hard before going for the Lich. That will throw them off enough for you and Hondo to make your moves. Make those moves fast and if you eliminate your opponent – then help Hondo. If Hondo eliminates his opponent, he will help you. Do not help me, I have to keep the Lich pinned down and alive to get answers from him so we can rescue Val – which is why we are doing this in the first place! Do as I say and we three go home then Hondo and I go out to get Val.”
 
“Yeah right.” James says to himself.
 
“We will go over this when I return from my weigh in. Then we are going to rest until the fight. If you want to eat or drink, go ahead. I won’t and Hondo won’t either as we are not going into the ring with a full belly and an urge to go to the bathroom.” Fernando tells him.
 
The door opens up with Ichigo entering the room. Hondo enters behind her.
 
“You’re next.” Ichigo says as she points to Fernando.
 
Hondo leans over to Fernando, “Be careful, they want to start the fight at the weigh-in.”
 
“I will.” Fernando tells him as he hands over his cane to the younger Jeanette before he leaves with Ichigo.
 
As they walk down the hall, Ichigo begins to press for information and innuendos, “Got some last rite pussy from those two bunny girls?”
 
“Don’t be disgusting. They are there as our cheering squad, nothing more.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Well, if they ain’t putting out, I could... if... let’s see how your weigh-in goes.” Ichigo tells him.
 
“Offering that ass before I win it from you? I thought you were better than that.” Fernando tells her.
 
Ichigo leads him into the room where a couple of medical professionals were waiting.
 
“Take your outer layers off and sit on the examination table.” One of the men in lab coats says to Fernando.
 
Fernando complies. The other puts a blood pressure cuff on his arm, and a thermometer in his mouth. The first check on his reflexes and writes down notes on his build and tone. He is checked out for swollen glands and throat inflections, none were found. After ten minutes of examining him, he is told to put on his clothes he took off.
 
“Come with me for your public weigh in.” Ichigo tells her.
 
Fernando follows her down a maze of halls before they walk into a crowded staging area. This was definitely set up for show. The weigh-in was just nothing more than an excuse to see how they would act in seeing each other. That is how they were positioned – facing each other with just under a foot between them.
 
“We meet again... You’re dead meat Time Walker.” The Lich hisses at him.
 
“You want to fight? We fight right here right now!” Fernando yells at him.
 
As expected, the Lich takes a wild swing at Fernando, which he dodges and avoids. Fernando takes the Lich’s swinging arm by the wrist and pins it against his back. The Lich opens his hand to see if he can scratch Fernando’s arm. Unfortunately for the Lich, Fernando takes his thumb, twists is and pins it against his forearm. The pain alone makes the Lich howl. Fernando escorts the Lich to various areas about the weigh in, making him crash hard into walls and tables until he finds edge of the stage and push him hard into the empty orchestra pit. Fernando then picks up the hospital scale put there for the weigh-in and takes it the edge of the stage. The Lich was crawling around trying to get up, before Fernando throws the heavy scale onto his head. The cameras caught all this mayhem.
 
Fernando then walks to the other scale, the one meant for him to stand on, and moved the weighs himself. He moves it to 220 pounds before stepping off. He begins to walk away. The Arsonist and the Butcher blocked his way from going anywhere. The Arsonist was the first to get hit, with a hard stomp to his foot and then an uppercut to his groin. He doubles over in pain.  Before the butcher can realize what has happened, he gets a right cross to the face and is shoved to the edge of the stage. He manages to barely stay on until Fernando literally throws the Arsonist into his direction. They both fell into the orchestra pit on top of the Lich. He then exits the weigh in area.
 
Ichigo runs out of the staging area and catches up with Fernando, running in front of him to stop him from going further. Her guards close the door and makes sure no one else leaves the room.
 
“Wait, wait, wait!” She tells him as she puts her arms on his abdomen and walks backwards.
 
Fernando stops and crosses his arms as he looks down at her.
 
“What do you want?” He asks her.
 
“Wow... I swear... You took on all three just like that!” She started to say.
 
“And? All that excitement made you wet your panties and your pussy hunger for some dick?” He tells her.
 
“And if you did? I would only allow you to take me and use me like a man of your ability could.” She tells him as she slowly takes her hands off him.
 
“Seriously. What do you want?” Fernando asks.
 
“Seriously? I want you to win.” Ichigo tells him.
 
“Winning means you become my slave.” He reminds her.
 
“I know and I would want that to happen though I have to continue to run this business. But every penny I make from it becomes yours.” She tells him. She continues, “But, you need to win. And you took the first steps in doing so right now.”
 
“Start explaining yourself.” He tells her.
 
“Every match the Lich fought, he would slap his opponent during weigh in. Then his opponents would show up to the ring and tire quickly and he would kill them.” She explains.
 
“You’re saying that he tried to inject me with some sort of slow acting poison? I ought go back there and kick his ass some more!” He tells her.
 
“Yes. But save it for the fight.” Ichigo says to him. But she also throws at him, “If you were at with me during these past couple days, I would have warned you before then.”
 
“And to what end? What would I have to do to get that information?” He asks.
 
“Nothing, really. I mean, I would not want you to do something that you would not want to do but you make me happy and I would make you happy.” She tells him.
 
“Happy in #$@!ing your brains out...” He says.
 
“You know, a girl gotta have it. And I have not had it in a long while.” She tells him.
 
“You might get it and get it often after you become my slave after this fight.” He tells her.
 
“Then you better win.” She tells him.
 
“Enough of this talk. Where’s the locker room?” He says and asks.
 
“I’ll show you, but first... I still have my people looking for your friend’s wife. We have not found anything yet.” She says.
 
“You should be telling my friend Hondo that.” He tells her.
 
“I’m telling you first so if I say anything to him, I do not want to be victim to his short temper.” She tells him.
 
“I see.” Fernando replies. He then adds, “You lying about what you said? Tell me the truth.”
 
“I am.” Ichigo replies.
 
“Then let’s go. Where is the locker room?” He says.
 
“Follow me.” She tells him.
 
He follows her, as she takes him through the maze of hallways back to their private locker room. She opens the door and walks in. Fernando walks in after her. Ichigo remains silent for the meantime.
 
“Tell Hondo what you told me.” Fernando says to Ichigo.
 
“Uhm...” Ichigo begins.
 
“Tell him.” Fernando nudges her.
 
“Tell me what?” Hondo asks.
 
Ichigo steps back and bumps against Fernando. She looks up at him, he nods at her. She then looks down and then at Hondo, telling him “I have had my men look for your wife. We have not found anything on her yet.”
 
“What about this Grey Lady we keep hearing about?” Hondo holds back from growling.
 
“If the Grey Lady has her, it is not inside Fight Town.” Ichigo answers.
 
“Val is nearby.” Elder Jeanette points out.
 
“And how do you know?” Hondo throws at her.
 
“I know because you will be reunited with her soon enough.  Since you will be reunited with her soon, she has to be nearby, not days of traveling looking for her.” Elder Jeanette tells him.
 
“You and your False Spirit friends better not have a hand in her disappearance or in her finding.” Hondo tells her.
 
“They don’t and they won’t. I won’t allow it.” Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo releases a deep seated sigh.
 
“Look, I’ll be in and out to check on your needs before the fight.” Ichigo tells them before she leaves.
 
The door closes behind her.
 
James jumps up out of his chair and trots over to Fernando, grabbing his face and looking at both sides. “What happened?!! Didn’t the Lich tried to slap-poison you?!!”
 
Fernando slaps James knocking him to the ground “What The #$@!, James?!! You Knew I Was Going To Be Poisoned?!!”
 
“That’s how the Lich operates!” James says trying to defend himself in words.
 
“He and his ring mates went diving into the orchestra pit in front of the stage.” Fernando scowls at him.
 
“What?!!!” James exclaims.
 
“The Lich tried to slap me, so I dodged it and then judo threw him off the stage. His ring mates tried to take revenge and jump me, so they went flying to join him too. So what is your #$@!ing problem!” Fernando growls at him.
 
“Oh shit! Oh Shit! Oh shit! Oh shit!” James repeats himself, “No one has ever done that before!”
 
“I Don’t #$@!ing Care! I Will Fight This Flight Alone If I Have Too! At Least I Can Trust Hondo To Be There For Me When Needed... Hell - I Can Trust The Bobsy Twins Here To Be There For Me When I Need Them! But You! You Have A Lot To Atone Too! I Don’t #$@!ing Care, James... And When You Get People Like Me To Not Care – There Is A Heavy price To Pay!” Fernando growls loudly at him.
 
James slid on his tail back to the benches from where he was sitting before but he did not get up to sit on the bench.
 
“We got six hours to relax and prepare for the fight. Take what food or drink I brought in that you want or need but do not overload yourself that you will need to go to the bathroom before the fight. Do Not Take Food Or Water Offered Here. It Might Be Drugged Or Poisoned.” Fernando tells the others, more to James than to everyone else.
 
-= To Be Continued. =-

Hondo stood up and tested his arm. He winced at the pain, though he tried to hide it. He limped a bit has he moved, though he didn't realize it at the time.  
 
 
"Don't trust that bitch or her goons to find their own assholes with their hands." Hondo said in a weary growl.
 
 
The days of anger, the fight, his wounds, the whiskey, and the lack of sleep had worn hard on his body and mind, and the anger he stoked within was the only thing that had kept him from falling over.  
 
 
"I need to go after the bitch who  shot me!" Hondo said in a guff tone after a moment.
 
 
"You need to rest." Fernando said.
 
 
"Why? Cause I'm so fragile?! You made it through an' I got cut to #$@!in' ribbons so I'm not good enough to go on?!" Hondo growled.
 
 
"No, I need rest too. You did well, as I knew you would. Running off half-cocked will not help, and you know it! As I promised, we will get her back tomorrow. You need to settle down." Fernando said firmly.
 
 
Hondo stood staring at him angrily, unblinking, for several seconds before he sighed.  His featured relaxed a bit but the anger remained on his face, only clearing enough to show one other emotion in his eyes, desperation.
 
 
"I... I thought the fight would help... help take some of the anger. ... It didn't. Killing.... killing them was too easy. Jefe..... I have to find her." He said in growl that was meant to hide the desperation in his voice.
 
 
"We will find her. After we rest and collect our winnings. After that we will turn this place upside down to find her. You have my word. I have been told that this had to happen to keep her safe or we'd have torn the place apart before now. Now we can without risking her life, and we will. Please, my friend, come back to camp and rest." Fernando said
 
 
Fernando asking him to come back, in such a way set him back a bit. It wasn't normal, but it showed he was trying to reach him. Hondo nodded and sighed wearily.
 
 
"Alright." he replied gruffly.
 
 
He followed Fernando back to camp, eyeing ever person they passed warily. The walk back seemed to take longer than it took for them to leave camp for the fight arena locker room. Ruth and Joanna met them with Marvin, as they entered the camp.  
 
 
"Was wondering how long until you two would get back!" Ruth said.
 
 
"You see James?" Fernando asked
 
 
Marvin nodded, "He and his woman went to bed a while ago. He seemed alright, but exhausted."
 
 
Fernando nodded, "He will be."
 
 
"I swore he was killed by the butcher. That was a dirty move!" Joanna said
 
 
"Looks can be deceiving. As for the Butcher, Hondo saw that he got his just reward." Fernando replied
 
 
"I was told about it. Sounds like he made quiet the impression." Ruth said
 
 
"It was unlike anything I've seen in the arenas before. Made my blood run cold!" Joanna replied, wide eyed.
 
 
"I agree with Joanna! Was damn good fighting! Never seen the like before! And the way Fernando knocked them silly and had the Lich running in fear!! It was a beautiful thing you two did tonight." Marvin said with a grin.
 
 
Hondo just stood with a half angry frown on his face, but not at them. He was hearing little of what they said as he was running on fumes. His wounds were bad enough, but the biopill that was healing him was quickly zapping him of all his energy. Fernando looked at him, and knew he was trying to put on a strong facade, but he knew all too well how tired, hurt, and desperate he was feeling.  
 
 
"We can all talk after breakfast. Hondo and I need some rest after all that. IT was a long day." Fernando said, covering for Hondo.
 
 
Hondo nodded and replied flatly, "Yeah. I could use a quick nap, I reckon."  
 
 
Fernando nodded, "Then lets get some rest. You all should too."
 
 
"I've got to start breakfast in about an hour. but you all are free to sleep." Ruth said as she started off.
 
 
"I could do with a nap", Joanna said, stifling a yawn.  
 
 
Fernando hung back as the others walked off. Hondo, stood, as if on auto-pilot and waiting for orders. Fernando put a hand on his shoulder.
 
 
"We have a lot to do  tomorrow. We will find her. Get some sleep, you earned it."
 
 
Hondo nodded deftly as Fernando walked away. He paused a bit before heading off to his camper. As he got there, Hondo grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the truck he sat down against the side of the rear tire and took a long, deep pull from the bottle. He wondered what Valentine was going through and cursed himself for letting her be taken and remaining gone so long. It was not a conscious action but he quickly fell asleep where he sat. After a while Ruth happened by and found him asleep. She smiled and shook her head as she looked on at him. It was at least partially evident to her what he was going through and she only just realized the act he must have been putting on as he came back to camp. The night air was damp and chill so she found a moving blanket in his trailer and gently laid it over him to protect him, before leaving him to sleep.

Fight Night: (The Grey Lady)
 
 
 Lady Azubah Grey, known in the past as Gianna Hackworth, sat down in her normal VIP ring side seat. She bought a beer and a shot before sitting down and lit a cigar as she settled into her seat. For a VIP section, it was filled mostly with feared people of power, like crime bosses, top notch bounty hunters, ruthless clan leaders, and pirate captains like herself. The wealthy, influential had a special box and some even owned their own, though it differed from ring to ring. Though none of those in the VIP box were what you would call upstanding citizens, nor to be trusted, she trusted these people a lot more than the so called elite of the area. Most of them had never done a hard days work, been  injured and next to death, or seen friends and family cut down before them in a fight for life. To those kind this ballet of death was something beyond them, for their sheer pleasure alone. They had no understanding of its true nature. For those like the Grey Lady who sat in the VIP box, this was just a part of living life and the entertainment lie in seeing the strength of others and understanding the fear that those on the inside felt. It was primal, it was savage, it was real life, and it was something the elite would never understand.
 
 
She sat back, legs spread, and her one good leg on the back of the empty seat in front of her, as she waited for the first fight to start. She was called Lady in title only, as she had left behind being one long ago. Her title was formed more out of sarcasm than anything else, and the irony of it ever brought a smile to her weather scared face at times. Being a lady to her was for those snobs who looked to find a man to provide for her so she did not have to turn tricks, work her fingers to the bone, or turn to a life of crime. While her work was less than honest it was work and she took pride in it. She had done what was needed to survive and begged no man for anything, at least not since she had Begged Hondo to get Fernando to time jump and save the friends she called family who were murdered in the most brutal of fashions. Unfortunately, She had been warned, and after not heeding the warnings and failing, she tried to fix the even herself with stolen technology, only messing up the time line and sealing the fate of her comrades. This event and the feeling of betrayal by H. I. Sackett and the Time Walker were forever burned into her memory, Many were the nights she lay asleep thinking of ways she could cause them pain. The Time walker she hated but it was the Sacketts she despised most of all. They had hard times but they were a family, and one of the few trying and succeeding to make the world a better place for others. Their helping others and not helping her only made her hate stronger.
 
 
She sat back and watched the first two fights with a look of disdain. Usually she enjoyed these fights, and recruited much of her crew from winners who impressed her by their skills against skilled foes. Tonight was different, though. There was only one fight that interested her, and that was the last match of the evening, the three on three. The first two fights seemed to drag on longer than normal, but about a dozen large mugs of beer later the announcer finally introduced the main event. She chuckled as the names were called out. Calling Hondo 'The Righteous Cowboy' seemed ironic in multiple ways to her. He had done things that most wouldn't consider righteous. If he knew some of the things his future self had done to protect his family he would even look down on himself. Yet, all that aside he was hailed, both he and the Time Walker, as true rescuers, unlike these 'rescue for gold' fake heroes that came and went like the seasons.  
 
 
She sat forward, eager for this fight, hoping for heavy carnage. She knew they would live, though she was not sure about winning. She had made a few small side bets in their favor, getting good odds, but not drawing attention to herself. She was not into this for the money, she was into it to see Hondo and Fernando in pain. The fact that James was there too was like a dab of whip cream or a slice of sharp cheese with a piece of warm apple pie. It was above what she had anticipated but added so to the delight of the evening.  
 
 
As the bell sounded She saw the Arsonist and the Butcher step forward as she figured would happen. She frowned though as Fernando plowed through them, knocking them off balance in a blur of motion. She growled a bit as she watched it unfold. She always hated his showboating. She settled down though as Hondo took on the Arsonist. Seeing him fly across the ring in a ball of flames was most satisfying, though she had hoped the Arsonist would have hosed him down with more flames before being taken out. She frowned as Hondo stood up, but was quickly elated when she saw the knife plunge into James chest. She half wished she had been the one plunging the knife into that cheating mutt's chest, but it was done. The thrill of seeing James down was quickly lost when Hondo took out the Butcher. He had taken down two, and though burnt he was still moving. She hated to admit she enjoyed seeing the brutality in his killing of the butcher as she hated Hondo so, but it was something she could understand. She had learned to see an elegance in brutality and had came to enjoy it so, which is why she had not found a lover who would stay with her more than a couple nights in a long time.  
 
 
She was confuse, at first, why Hondo did not move in to help Fernando, but she figured it out fairly quick. With his last dying act, the Lich pointed her out and Hondo tried to come over the barrier at her. She saw the anger in his eyes, but the raw hate was not one of recognition. She wanted him to know who his tormenter was. Though he had not even been through the events that lead her to hate him yet, they had a history together that had lead to an unpleasant ending. She had hoped he would at least recognize her from that and make him wonder why she had done this.  
 
 
As he started to come over the barrier she calmly drew her pistol and shot him through the shoulder. She made sure it was his right shoulder, as that would slow his gun down for a while anyway. Though she had fought for a long time, and had augmented her body with machinery, which made her a tough customer, she had just witnessed Hondo and Fernando take down three of the toughest customers in fight town, and she had no will to bet on her winning against them, even with them not fired and injured. When Fernando yelled and pointed she emptied her gun at him. She did not mean to hit him so much as cause a panic, in which to hide her own retreat. She did not intend to kill Fernando but she would not have minded winging him. She did not though, as she did not want him as a personal enemy yet. So far she was just an enemy of his friend Hondo, or so she thought. Little did she know how personal he took the attack on Valentine. It was one thing she never learned about Fernando. Had she attacked him herself he'd have been more forgiving. Attacking his friends made it truly personal.
 
 
She escaped the chaos she had created and went the long way back to her ship. She smiled to herself as she walked. Though the fight could have been more painful for the three, her plan had worked beautifully. A few well placed lies, some information to distract them, and they had come to fight town thinking she had Maria Valentine Sackett. She had been well paid to deliver one of those who was taking down the slavers, as that was all the syndicate who hired her knew about them at the time. They had no intention of giving her back. It was to be an example to them, to discourage them from continuing their work. They Syndicate's silence to Hondo and Fernando had aided her in her plan. They had fought hard, and she knew tortured themselves over this all, taking down whoever stood in their way in getting Valentine, yet the path they were on was one of futility, as she had set it up for them. Now her contacts had information that the syndicate knew who they had and was moving out. If offered her the perfect opportunity to once again get her hands on the bait and string them out farther.  
 
 
As she walked she noticed she was being followed. She growled to herself as she recognized those on her trail. She cussed that little bitch, Ichigo, for getting involved. She would have to put that little 'forever young' bitch in her place, later, but for now she had to make plans. She couldn't shake her tail so she gave up around 4:30 am and headed right to her ship. They were an minor inconvenience, but not for long.
 
 
---to be continued --