Fernando ends up at the camp in front of his electric camper. Looking around he hears Hondo putting away the radio equipment in the trailer behind the Bronco for the time being. He goes there to check on Hondo.
 
“How is it going?” Fernando asks as he approaches Hondo.
 
“It’s a tight squeeze but I can git it all in there.” Hondo replies. He stops for a moment and turns to face Fernando, “You had anythin’ to do with that explosion out in the distance?”
 
“I will admit that I help caused it.” Fernando replies.
 
“Help caused it?” Hondo asks.
 
“It was all me, I’ll admit it. But remember those voices we heard?” Fernando says and asks.
 
“Yeah.” Hondo replies.
 
“It was those ‘Lawmen.’ They were emptying the house out of its weapons, fuel and what whatever that place had. I had to blow up the place with them in it as to them not get the weapons.” Fernando explains.
 
“I can agree with that. But there was somethin’ strange that followed.” Hondo begins to explain.
 
“What do you mean?” Fernando asks.
 
“Though the sound of the explosion was soft but audible, the fireball in the sky was everyone able to see. While the fireball was seen rising and the explosion heard the bazaar here began to cheer loudly.” Hondo explains.
 
“Hmmm... That is odd. Unless...” Fernando begins. He then says, “Look, I’ll be leaving before dawn to get everyone breakfast. Could you go in and ask around while I take care of the kids coming in at around 10o’clock?”
 
“I’ll see what I can do.” Hondo replies.
 
“Good. Now, I have to go get Maggie and see where she is sleeping. All her stuff is in my camper, though she is welcomed to sleep there if she likes. That is on her.” Fernando explains.
 
“Alright. I would prefer it if she sleeps in your camper. I need to deal with Val.” Hondo says.
 
“Well, because of the drugs, I put Val under House Arrest. You can commute her sentence when you and her resolve things. I’m just too tired to deal with everything and got a nasty headache on top of that.” Fernando explains.
 
“Though I appreciate the gesture, what problems I have with Val is my problem.” Hondo tells him.
 
“I thoroughly agree. But to save her, I had to step in and find out why Lisa’s dogs were going to rip her apart. That is when I found the drugs in her hand.” Fernando explains. He adds, “Anyways, I’m getting Maggie. Good night if I do not see you until morning.”
 
“Good nigh’ to you too.” Hondo tells him.
 
Fernando gives a nod before stepping away to the rear of Hondo’s camper. He gives the door a hard knock with the crystal of his cane. No one answers, so he knocks again. This time he can hear activity walking to the door before it opens. It was Val.
 
“What do you want?” She growls at him.
 
“Several things, but most of it will be dealt with tomorrow. But right now I need Maggie.” Fernando tells her.
 
“What for?” Val growls at him.
 
“Maggie is not punished and has a choice to either sleep here or at my camper. Either way her sleeping bag and things is in my camper and she should get them to bring here or sleep there.” Fernando explains.
 
Val takes some time for her to decide. Meantime Fernando steps back away from the camper doorway. Val closes the door and there was some discussion barely heard. Soon the door opens again and Maggie steps outside. The camper door closes behind her.
 
“You wanted to see me?” Maggie asks him.
 
“You have a choice to either sleep in Hondo’s camper or in my camper, but either way you need to get your things.” Fernando explains. He then signals her to follow him.
 
They walk around the front of Hondo’s camper and around to Fernando’s camper, over to the side door of his camper. He opens the door.
 
“What’s your choice – sleep in here or in Hondo’s camper with Val.” He tells her.
 
“Val said that I have to sleep in their camper but I do not trust her.” Maggie says.
 
“Then you if you cannot trust her, you can sleep here.” Fernando tells her. He then turns to the girls inside, “Ichigo, I need you to set up the two blankets on the floor for Maggie to sleep on set it up one on top of the other and help her set up her sleeping bag and blankets afterwards. I’m expecting it to be a cold night tonight so she has to be warm while she sleeps.” He then steps inside and pushes up on the pop-up tent to open to promote airflow but that will also drop the temperatures inside the camper. He then steps outside for Maggie to get in. he then goes to the rear of his camper and opens the rear hatch. “Macey, hand me my pillow and blanket. I’ll be sleeping in the front while Zoey sleeps with you and Ichigo.”
 
Macey acts without saying a word, giving him his pillow and blanket. Fernando takes them, telling Ichigo, “Get me the large sleeping bag from under the seat cabinet.”
 
Ichigo stands up on the floor and lifts up the bench seat back and then the seat itself to get into the storage compartment and get the large sleeping bag in there. It was given to Macey to send it through the rear hatch to Fernando. He closes and locks the rear hatch as soon as he pulls out the sleeping bag. He then walks to the front of the camper and opens the passenger door. Taking the back seat cushion off from the passenger seat, he puts it across the space between the passenger and driver seat cushions, bridging them together. He then sets up the sleeping bag and blanket across the two seats.
 
“I’m tired and have a headache, it is time to go to sleep, ladies.” Fernando tells them.
 
In a couple of minutes the beds were set up. Fernando takes one last look over the inside of the camper and checks the curtains positions to be closed. Lifting the sleeping bag’s top panel to block the view, Fernando sits on the seat and strips down to his pants and t-shirt. He then crawls into the sleeping bag. And covers himself with the blanket and sleeping bag, closing it up to prepare himself to go to sleep. At the same time Maggie got herself ready to sleep in her sleeping bag.
 
“Good night, daddy.” Macey says just loud enough to be heard.
 
“Yeah, good night uncle.” Zoey follows.
 
Good night Fernando...” Ichigo chimes in.
 
Maggie eventually says loud enough to be heard, “Good night Mister Fernando.”
 
“Good night ladies.” Fernando throws back at them.
 
There was some moving about but things settled down; everyone but Fernando going to sleep in a couple of minutes. Fernando lies there staring at the ceiling.
 
During the night the temperature outside begins to drop to near freezing levels. Those outside doing guard duty go inside, with several of them taking out their hats, coats and jackets to get warm and continue their work. Those in the hanger were not affected though they noticed the cold outside and decided to stay inside the hanger where it was warm. Minutes become hours.
 

---

4:30AM
 
A lone merchant truck makes a turn around the mountain bend as it makes it way to Flight Town. They stop in order not to run over a body in the middle of the road. Stepping out of the driver and shotgun passenger walk to the body to move it out of the way.
 
“You take the shoulders, and I take the legs and we will move it to the ditch in the road.” The driver says to his passenger while he searches body for valuables.
 
“I’m always taking the heavy end! How about you take the heavy end this time?” The passenger complains.
 
“How about listening to your boss...-*Eh?” The driver throws back to his passenger but suddenly the old man shows signs of life.
 
“Help me...” The old man says in a soft growly tone.
 
“Oh shit – Chep! He’s alive!” The passenger lets out.
 
“Looks like he is not going last that long though, not in this condition.” Chep throws back
 
“Help me...” The old man repeats himself.
 
“Maybe there is a reward for him?” The passenger asks.
 
“Shut up Ed and let me think!” Chep throws at him.
 
“Yes... reward... Help me...” The old man says.
 
“Good enough for me...” Ed says.
 
“There better be a reward or I’m rewarding myself with your paycheck!” Chep throws at him.
 
They pick up the old man and throw him in the back of the rear passenger area of their king-cab truck, where it was already crowded with sleeping passengers of family and workers and assorted tools and supplies. They then get into their truck and drive for another hour to Flight Town.

It did not take Hondo too long to get the radio setup and checked out. It was working fine, but the frequencies were silent. He clipped it to the ammo bandoleer he had outside his coat and got back to helping watch. He walked for quite a while, and though while he did watch for issues, his mind was on Valentine.  
 
 
His quiet was only broken by the radio coming briefly to life, but all he heard was garbled, squealing noise. It hit him towards the end of the broadcast that the transmissions were encoded or possibly oscillated, but by the time he got to where he had the original equipment they took stashed the frequencies went dead again.  
 
He cussed himself out for a while for not thinking that an encoding might be used, and while he thought of that failure on his part his mind went back to Valentine and how he was failing her. He half wished he had an excuse to check on her, to make sure she was alright. That she had bought drugs to hide from whatever was bothering her, he took as a failing on his part. He figured she was asleep by now, or hoped so at least, but on the off chance she was not, he did not want her yelling at him to wake the camp. He pulled the flask from his pocket and took a sip. As he stood there he looked at the camper for a moment. He shook his head after a moment, sighed and headed for the door, hoping for the best but expecting the worst, worst as in her in a rage.
 
 
He paused at the door briefly before opening it, sighed again then opened it. As he stepped inside his eye's went directly to The sleeping Valentine. She lay on the couch, with her robe half fastened and a blanket on the floor. As he approached her, something else caught his attention. An empty bottle was half sticking out of the trash can that was hanging out from the open cupboard doors. He picked it up and smelled it as the color of the residue did not look right in it. He frowned as he could smell the cold & flue sleep medicine mixed with the whiskey. Something under the bottle caught his attention too. He reached in carefully and pulled out some rags that had dark red stains on them. He did not miss the clinking of broken glass that fell from one of the rags and back into the bag, either. His eye's jumped to Valentine and the bandages on her feet drew his attention. In one quick step he was at her side, kneeling beside her and checking her. as he did a voice spoke from the darkened door to the loft.
 
 
"She'll be fine." The voice said.
 
 
The voice was familiar but different at the same time, and the surprise caused him to pull his revolver and aim it at the figure in the door. The figure raised her hands slightly and carefully stepped out into the light.
 
 
"Hey, it's alright, Hondo. I'm not a threat, I promise." She said
 
 
He held the gun at her for a moment longer as his mind processed, "Val?"
 
 
She nodded, "Yes, but not yours, I mean, I've always been an' always will be yours, but I'm not the one you know."
 
 
He stared at her cautiously for a moment. She looked like Valentine, but her hair was shorter, she had a couple scars he had not seen on his wife before, and her eyes looked older, as if she had seen and been through more. She was wearing  half torn up grey jeans and a dirty brown t-shirt, and looked like she needed a drink, a shower, and some sleep.
 
 
"Who are you then?  I mean, from where? When, I mean." He said, trying to collect his thoughts and make sense of it all.
 
 
"I'm from here, this #$@!ed up timeline." she said
 
 
Hondo sighed, and nodded, as he was satisfied with that answer for now.
 
 
"Alright. I can't argue that its not possible, but you shouldn't be here if that's true." He said.
 
 
"Two of a person are not supposed to be in the same place because of time-loops an' such, I know. Fernando taught us both. I'm not her, though." She said pointing at the Valentine on the couch.
 
 
 
"Is she alright?" He asked
 
 
"I think so. Even though I'm not her directly, my timeline is extremely similar. I went through similar an' made it.... though I'd wish some things had gone differently." She said.
 
 
"Do you know what happened to her then? Tonight I mean." He asked
 
 
She frowned, "  She.... I had a temper tantrum of sorts. The loneliness got to me, I drank a few beers, looked at myself in the mirror, didn't like what I saw, broke the mirror with a beer bottle, walked over the broken glass, made myself a sleep aid an' whiskey cocktail, an' passed out on the couch."
 
 
Hondo shook his head, "Damn... I wish I knew how to help her... you.... you know what I mean."
 
 
She chuckled, "I thought it was you who bandaged my feet that night, until tonight. Maybe you did in my timeline, I don't know. Don't tell her different, though."
 
 
Hondo nodded, "Understand.... I know you can't tell me much, but.... can you tell me what's going on in her head?"
 
 
She sighed, "I'm not sure tellin' you would help, honestly. Just know she doesn't hate you. She doesn't like herself an' you're just an outlet, Like Tonya, Zoey, an' .... an' Kc are."
 
 
Hondo raised an eyebrow, "She's not yelled at Zoey an' I don't know a KC."
 
 
She frowned, "She wasn't with Tonya and Zoey when you rescued them from the slave facility outside center town?"
 
 
"No, I rescued them in the forest when the slavers were trying to execute them 'cause I acted without knowin' what was goin' on an' accidentally started the damn purge in that area." He said with a frown.
 
 
She frowned and turned a bit white, setting down at his Valentine's feet, "Oh.... I'm sorry. ..... I have a couple different memories in my head due to the timelines being changed. Fernando, he gave us one of these so we could him sort out who was messing with time."
 
 
She showed him a ring on her one hand with a green stone that seemed to glow faintly, "It makes for some headaches at times, and some confusion at times, though."
 
 
Hondo shook his head, "I have a few different timeline memories too, but because I was with him. He never gave us anything like that."
 
 
The older Valentine closed her eye's for a moment as if in deep thought, "No KC... no ring... camper-truck.... yeah, I think I can sort that timeline out in my head."
 
 
"How many you remember?" He asked.
 
 
She shrugged, "Only about 3 main ones, just there are some blurring on them all in spots, slight differences that make those three to be as if there were hundreds. There are certain things that remain fairly constant, an' all three merge several times. Even with the differences you are you an' I am me. Of any of us I have the most changes. Fernando... he's the steadiest. You are the next, an' your changes are usually because of me."
 
 
"Who is KC? an' what happened to her if I did not find her with Tonya an' Zoey?" He asked with some concern.
 
 
The older Valentine frowned, "I...I can't say. That burden shouldn't be placed on you if as ...."
 
 
She paused and looked at the floor.
 
 
"As what?" He asked firmly.
 
 
She looked up at him with a hint of steel in her gaze, something he had not seen before in his wife, even when lately. It sent a ray of cold straight through him, and made him wonder what else she had gone through to get that cold of a gaze.
 
 
"The percentages are not good that you will find her now, an' if you do it will not be good." She said
 
 
He frowned, "Damn, So I #$@!ed up someone else's life too?!"
 
 
She sighed, stood up, and gave hi a firm look.
 
 
 "You are Hondo Sackett. You have saved many lives. You cannot save them all nor know all that you could save. Every one you save is one less who suffered. Those you did not, you cannot worry about as worrying about them will only hinder you helping those who need you in the future." she said in an icy tone.
 
 
He nodded then looked back into her icy green eyes, "I don't like it, but I can understand it. But what I want to know is, what happened to you, Val?"
 
 
She blinked and looked away slightly, "I don't know what you mean."
 
 
He sighed, "Good to see ya never got good at lyin' to me."
 
 
She sat back down, the tiredness in her body was starting to show heavily on her face.  
 
 
"I... I can't say. I'm too close to my own situation to know exactly, and what I do know... lets say you shouldn't until the time is right. I've probably said too much already." She said.
 
 
"How can I help her? I need to know." Hondo said, pointing to his wife, who laid asleep and oblivious to their conversation.
 
 
She sighed and pulled a small white box from her pocket. It had two metal prongs on it. She stared at it fr a moment before flipping open a small cover on it and messing with some switches.
 
 
"This... this is somethin' else I thought someone different gave to you." She said.
 
 
"Is that a mind -wiper?" He asked hesitantly.
 
 
"Sort of. I helped make a newer version of it about 10 years ago. It has more adjustments to it now." She said.
 
 
"What are you settin' it to do?" He said slowly, not liking where he thought this might be going.
 
 
"I'm setting it for partial amnesia for a certain time period. I have it set targets memories that are making her scared and angry..... all you have to do is press it to her head, hold the buttons for 30 seconds and she will forget most of what has happened since she was kidnapped." She said
 
 
"But... won't she ask questions?" He asked
 
 
"She will remember being kidnapped, and remember Maggie helping her, but will not remember most of what happened... for now." She said hesitantly.
 
 
"For now?" He asked
 
 
"Because we are nigh immortal, her mind will repair itself and reconnect the memories. Someday she will remember it all again an' have to deal with it at that time." She said as she held the device out to him.
 
 
He looked at it for a moment as if deep in thought then shook his head, "No... no, I don't like it at all. I... I can't do that to her."
 
 
She sighed and put it into his hand, "You... you have to. It's... it's the only way you are sure to keep me."
 
 
He looked at it, "What are my chances of keepin' you without it?"
 
 
"Not good." she said sadly.  
 
 
"What happens if I lose you? I think I'd rather lose you then to do this to you." He said
 
 
"No, no those possibilities are almost 100% chance of me dead and you givin' up on life. This whole world goes to shit then, much worse shit than this." she said firmly.
 
 
"Are your sure this is the only way?" He asked
 
 
She started to nod, then sighed, "I... I wish I knew a different way."
 
 
"You don't sound like you are happy 'bout what you're askin' me to do." he said questioningly.
 
 
"I.... I'm not." she said  
 
 
 
"Tell me what happens.. If you can't tell me why I have to, tell me what you don't like 'bout it." He asked firmly.
 
 
"I... I should say nothin' but..." She paused
 
 
"But what?! Val, It's me. Maybe I've grown harder, but have I grown that hard that you can't talk to me?" He asked
 
 
"If it were so simple..... I can't tell you much, but....  I remember everythin' later an'... I don't take it well. I understand why but.... I... I know you met our kids. They probably told you I turned into a hard person because of what happens to Zoey, but it was because of this. I got my memories back about the same time, so we never told them different." She said
 
 
Hondo shook his head, "We all talked a bit, the two of our sons I met, but they never told me that you were hard or that somethin' happened to Zoey. What happened?" He asked.
 
 
"Wait... they didn't tell you? .... I blamed you for years for knowin' but actin' anyway... just like I blamed Fernando for givin' you that white box." She said hesitantly, as if lost in thought.
 
 
He grabbed her arm, "Val, what happened?!"
 
 
She looked at him with that steely glance, but he saw something deeper this time, hurt ant confusion.
 
 
"I can't tell you but.... but." She stammered as she lost her resolve.
 
 
"Val, what?" He asked.
 
 
"I think I've made some more wrong assumption an' made you pay for them over the years. Just 'cause I knew several timelines and outcomes I thought I had things more figured out. I'm so sorry." She said
 
 
"Maybe I should talk to you, "he pointed at the sleeping Valentine, " I mean her about more of this an' maybe seein' if she wants this memory deal."  
 
 
"No! of that I'm certian... I think." She said  
 
 
She rubbed her eyes, "I'm sorry. I've not had much sleep lately."
 
 
"Is somethin' wrong? Here I mean, in this time." He asked
 
 
"You mean outside of almost everythin'?... Yeah. You have to stay out of it, please, but ... You an' Fernando of this time seemed to have disappeared. I... I tried to find or contact you for almost two weeks. Then someone started to come after me." She said.
 
 
She pulled up her shirt and showed him a bandage on her side, "They almost got me three nights ago. Been on the run for I'm not sure how long now."
 
 
"You must be tired. Wash up, eat, an' get some sleep. I'm not sleepin' tonight, I reckon. If I do it will be in the Bronco with Tonya." he said
 
 
She nodded, "I need some food and some sleep.... Thank you. You were always good to me."
 
 
He shrugged, "It's easy to be good to one ya love."
 
 
She smiled, "Just the same, I'm not sure why you keep lovin' me some days. I put you through a lot.... I'll be gone before daylight. SHe... I can't know I'm here."
 
 
"She is on house arrest. We got a hanger an' you bought a dirigible an' put it there." He said
 
 
She nodded, "I remember. That is a fairly close constant."
 
 
He sighed, "I'd like to talk to you a bit more, after you rest some. Would you meet me there tomorrow. Might be noon or so before I can get away."
 
 
"I can't tell you any more." She said.
 
 
He shook his head, "I'm not askin' for more. Just for you to think 'bout if you're mistaken on this mind-wipe deal."
 
 
She sighed, "I'll meet you there, but... the decision is yours, to use it or not. I can only suggest. You have to live with your actions on this an' the consequences of them as I have to live with mine, no matter how stupid or blind they may be."
 
 
He nodded, "I understand.... I need to get back to guard duty. Get some rest."
 
 
She smiled at him, "Thank you... It was good to see you, Hondo... my love."
 
 
"Hopefully I don't mess up an' things get better for us soon, as I sure miss ya, darlin'." He replied softly.
 
 
He gave her a smile then left before she could say anything. He went back to walking his rounds, his mind more busy any troubled than before.
 
-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-
 
The older Valentine sighed and looked at the door for several minutes after he left. She finally pulled herself out of her thoughts, grabbed a beer and some cheese to eat as she went to the shower. After she ate and washed she borrowed some of her past selves clothes and laid down in the recliner to try to get some rest. As she rested her mind did not. She thought about ways she could be wrong and he could do differently and still save her from herself while saving their marriage. The thought plagued her mind, but for the first time in a long time she honestly wondered if there was a better way.
 
 
Right before daybreak she slipped out of the camper and back into the shadows. Once she was sure she was not seen she made her way to the hanger and the dirigible. She thought working on it again might help organize her thoughts, or at least she hoped it would. As she thought back she realized that getting certain systems running in the old flying-machine had never came back to her. Was that because she did them now, as her old self and never did as her younger self? It was something to think on but not a thought for the moment.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Minerva looks around the inside of the camper, and sees that Fernando is on one side of the bed against the wall. She sits down slides at the far end opposite of him, leaning against the wall. She turns to face him, lifting one leg onto the bed and folding it back under her.
 
“I need a medical person who can help and take care of these children when they get hurt or sick. This is the most important thing I need first and above all.” Minerva states, pausing for a bit, “Many groups, airships, convoys come and they have their own medical personnel but no one wants to help. And when Hector’s group came some years ago, they took over the southern part of this large town and splintered the rest of the city into little towns around the airport. He put an end to the races; Maddie did not want to say it was him because they will kill her if she said anything, but me? I’m worthless to them, like the children I take care of – cast out of Wessen town, because they are different or won’t listen to orders or do what is expected of them. Long ago, Hector wanted to kill them, but many decided kill them and that was not going to happen.”
 
“How do you fit into this?” Fernando asks.
 
“He first met me as a child, and thought he could take me and raise me as his Seniorita Bonita, but then he found out I was a half human hybrid and that shattered his ‘pure breed’ dreams. He went after my parents, thinking I would not know. I would find out and his plans to kill me and those like me. So when he went to sleep that night long ago, I left Wessen Town and found out many like me in situation hiding in the sewers. Leadership of the sewers exchanged hands throughout the years until I ended up with it, and we expanded. But there are a lot of mouths to feed, tummies to fill, cuts and bruises to bandage and illness to cure. At least I took those with skills to teach others and we have some basic communications and self-powered transportations (bicycles). Now it is just me and the kids.” Minerva explains.
 
“How many kids are we talking about?” Fernando asks.
 
“Last count 35.” Minerva answers.
 
“Last count?” Fernando asks.
 
“We used have over 50, but a few were killed by the Rope Dogs and others were kidnapped. I know Hector has something to do with the kidnappings as he does not like any of us and often said that he wishes we were gone. So now we are more organized and have radios on us.” Minerva says. She takes a breath and not say a thing for a moment. But then she says, “We’re kids, we do not go to school, we do not work because we are not allowed too. Many of us beg to get food and what we can get we share. It is often not enough. Many of us are suffering from malnutrition. We often get sick. But this is Spring time and we could get berries from the bushes, but Rope Dogs have bitten some of us, and until you saved Little Mary yesterday, those who were bitten died. Somebody with that sort of knowledge and resources is somebody we need.”
 
“You count yourself as one of the kids, how old are you?” Fernando asks.
 
“I’m... 25.” She answers with some hesitation.
 
“You do not look like you’re over 18.” Fernando points out.
 
“Not eating does that. It makes you look younger than you actually are.” Minerva explains.
 
Fernando nods. He then states, “You need a health care facility to take care of your needs.”
 
“Don’t you think I know that? But we are not allowed access to those services, not in the towns around the airport, and not in Wessen Town thanks to Hector.” Minerva explains.
 
“Then you have a problem. I am not staying long enough to be of any help to you and the children.” Fernando says. He adds, “And if I were stay, how am I going to get paid since you and others said that there is no money to pay me. Everything has a price.”
 
“All I got is myself to pay and I know even that is not enough for what is needed. I do not know what to do.” She tells him.
 
“How often have you asked for help, and how often you paid for a service that was never there?” Fernando asks.
 
“A girl has to do what a girl has to do. But I try to make sure that if I have to do what I got to do to get those things I need for the children that I get them first before I do anything to pay. In that as they failed to give what was needed, I walked away from the deal – all of them.” Minerva explains.
 
“How often were you forced to pay and got nothing in return?” Fernando asks.
 
“I was forced a few times but in those times I gave in to give them a false sense of security and when put into that position, I bit them hard and spat out their manhood. I then made my escape in the ensuing panic. If I am ever caught by the humans, there is a reward for what I did to save myself.” She explains.
 
“And you trust me in all this? What if I want to collect the reward? Or avenge those you had castrated with your mouth?” He tells her.
 
“I heard what you said to Maddie – about winning that fight with the Lich and getting a large prize for winning. So somebody with that much money, money would not be something a major issue and something they would not want as a reward. Like I heard you say to her, ‘how can they rob you if you gave it away?’ And I have been listening to the gossip of a convoy going through the towns and dealing with bad guys like Hector and setting things straight. I even heard about a treaty about ending slavery and giving Wessen equal rights. All these things point to you and your convoy. You are someone I can trust.” She explains.
 
“Does not matter who I am...” Fernando explains, “A reward is a reward, money is money. You as who and what you are versus me in who and what I am, it would be easy for me to take you and have my way with you and drag you into town for the reward.”  
 
Minerva looks down at the space between them.  She is just horrified at the facts there – if this guy was adamant in taking her and having his way with her before dragging her in for a reward, there was no way she could get out of it as he would easily over power her and probably knock her out unconscious before having his way with her. She lets out a sigh and begins to untie the front of her flannel shirt. For some reason she thinks that she had his sympathy and in that she hopes that she could trust him in what she wanted to show him. So she takes her shirt off, and looks up at him as she sat there in her bra and shorts. She slowly takes her bra off, covering her breasts with her forearm and turned to face away from him. But she did not turn away in disgust or fear in what one thinks she has to do, but the evidence was clear, to show off the scars on her back caused by whipping with a leather bull whip.
 
Before Fernando could say anything, there is a knock on bus’ side door. He gets up and opens it. It was Ruth, she was holding out a paper bag to him.
 
“Like you said – last to be served. An egg, ham and cheese sandwich, a cheese sandwich, a bowl of oatmeal; a fruit bowl; coffee for you and a fruit juice for your... friend.” Ruth tells him as she hands him the bag, noticing Minerva sitting there topless and hiding her breasts in her forearms.
 
“Oh. Thanks.” Fernando says to her.
 
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone for your private moment.” Ruth says.
 
“It’s not what you think.” Fernando says.
 
“Don’t worry about it.” Ruth says as she takes a side step away from the open door and slides the door closed.
 
Dumbfounded, Fernando takes the paper bag with their meal inside and places on the kitchen sink before he sits back down to where he sat before.
 
“Now that my reputation is ruined once again, why are you showing me the scars on your back?” Fernando asks.
 
“Not too long ago after I first bit somebody to escape from them, a reward was put on my head and for some reason Hector reaches out to hide me. It was a trap for him to catch me and collect the reward. He and his men hog tied me over a saddle rack and whipped me to get a confession. Then they stopped to take a break before they would come back to have their way with me. While they were gone, a couple of the kids I took care of got in and freed me, so I went into hiding. I have only been caught a couple more times and escaped with their help. I owe it to them to get them the help they need.” Minerva explains.
 
“I’ll deal with your scars later. Right now, we both got to eat to get your strength up and for me to get rid of this headache.” He says to her as he leans out of his seat to get the bag of food to them. He opens the bag and start pulling out the items, placing them on the bed between them.
 
Minerva turns around, not believing what she is hearing, but at the same time distracted. It’s been a couple or more days since she had a meal of any kind outside of a couple bites of a shared morsel somebody managed to beg.
 
She lets go of one arm on her breasts to reach for a sandwich but in leaning forward, let’s go of her other arm to support herself on the bed as she went for the food, exposing her firm breasts to him unintentionally. But then she realizes what has happened and sees him staring at her.
 
“Uhm...” She tries to think to say something, nervously letting out “With so many females I seen in this convoy, I’m sure you seen a female’s breasts before.”
 
“I see modesty is not an issue with you.” He says, taking the bar from the bed and looks it over quickly and looking at the size tag, wondering if he picked anything up in that size for her before giving it to her.
 
Minerva puts on her bra, taking her time to see his action and reactions. He hands her the shirt next, which she puts on slowly. He then hands her a cheese sandwich.
 
“It’s not much, but it is all that I have to share.” He tells her. “I know you should not eat meat but if you want the egg from my sandwich you can have it.”  
 
“It’s OK. The sandwich is more than enough for me.” She says in a defeated tone. She looks up to him and tries to smile but can barely put one on.
 
Silence hung around as they begin to eat. She would only eat half the sandwich, because she could not fit more in her belly from years of not eating much her stomach had shrunk over time. Fernando on the other hand ate his sandwich whole, taking bigger bites that he can and finishing his meal at the same she did her small amount.
 
She sits there, a bit uncomfortable and wondering what is next. She set herself up in this situation, and what happens to her next she thinks would be of her own fault. But she tries to convince herself that what she was doing, what she had to do, what she thought she was going to do was necessary for the children.
 
Fernando calls to Meeshie to come to him, as expected Kitty follows her. Meeshie jumps up to the bed from the floor. Fernando bends down and picks up Kitty and places her on his lap. He scritches the side of Kitty’s face and ears, making her purr. He then points Minerva.
 
“Meeshie – friend?” He says. Meeshie jumps over his lap and trots over to Minerva, and sniffs her, lifting a paw with extended claws as if to swipe at her. Fernando looks at them, “Reach out slowly and let her sniff your hand.”
 
Minerva looks at him a bit nervously, he nods at her. She then slowly reaches out to Meeshie; the cat sniffs her hand for a moment, putting down and disarming her paw and rubs the side of her face onto Minerva’s hand.
 
“Slowly move to the top of her head and scratch her lightly behind her ear.” Fernando tells her.
 
Minerva does as he told her, lightly scratching Meeshie behind her ear lightly. Meeshie purrs.
 
“If she can trust you, then so can I.” He tells her.
 
“What do you mean by that?” She asks.
 
“Simple, as a cat, as an animal, she has a higher trust value and sense than humans do, and thus I trust her judgment on who she trusts.” He tells her.
 
“Oh...” She replies.
 
“You as an animal, a Wessen and hybrid, should be able to trust your senses on who you can trust.” He tells her.
 
“Animal senses be damned, Hector claims that we Wessens have better senses than humans, but we still fail, often worst than humans.” Minerva tells him.
 
“It’s because you are human like all Wessens and hybrids are. And as a human, you are prone to mistakes and failures like any other.” He tells her. He then switches the subject back, “So how are you going to pay for my services?”
 
“You going to stay and help us?” She asks.
 
“No. But I’ll do what I can.” He says to her before asking, “Do you trust me?”
 
“Trust... you? I... I have to think about it.” She answers.
 
“You do not trust me but you are willing to pay any price.” He tells her. He then throws in, “Then you have a choice: take your things including your food and leave, or do as I say and stand in the middle of the camper, take your shirt, shorts and shoes off and stand there in just your panties and bra.”
 
“Is that my choice?” She asks.
 
“One or the other.” He tells her.
 
“If I take off my clothes and stand there in my underwear, what are your intentions with me?” She asks.
 
“You will have to wait and see what my intentions are. But in the end, it is a matter of trust.” He tells her. He then says, “You said that you would do anything to pay for what has to be done for the children. So what are you going to do?”
 
Minerva sits there for a moment before she takes her shirt off again. She kicks off her cloth shoes as she folds up her shirt and places on the bed next to her. She then gets up and shimmies out of her shorts, being careful not to pull down her panties, folds them and places them on bed with her shirt. She then takes a step out to the center of the camper. She stands there facing him, her right hand holding her left by the wrist in front of her crotch.
 
“Turn around and raise your arms out to the side. Let’s see your back again.” He tells her.
 
She turns around and extends her arms out. He looks her over from behind, though she thinks he is scoping out her body from behind, he is examining her scars on her back.
 
“I should have asked before, how long ago did this happen?” He asks.
 
“You mean when I was whipped by Hector and his men?” She asks.
 
“Yes. How long ago did it happen?” He asks.
 
“I was 18 when it happened, shortly after Hector turned on me and threw me out, and when he ‘wanted me back”; I was taken by his generosity only for him to turn on me and try to turn me in for the reward.” She explains.
 
Fernando gets up, noticing a circular star like injury on the left shoulder that can only be caused by a gunshot wound.
 
“What happened here?” He asks as he gently taps her shoulder.
 
“What happened where?” She tries to deny the question.
 
“Here, on your shoulder. Looks like you were shot at one point. When happened and when did it happen?” He says and asks.
 
“I can’t say.” She replies, throwing in, “I do not remember.”
 
“You can’t say because you do not remember or you won’t say because you do not want to remember?” He asks.
 
“I can’t say because I can’t remember.” She answers.
 
“Hmph...” Fernando responds. He then asks as he sits back on the bed, “Turn around and put your arms down. Any other injuries, illnesses or violations done to your body?”
 
“None that I know off.” She replies.
 
He takes his cane, twists the crystal on the handle and then points it at her. A bolt of energy from the crystal onto her and he moves the beam on her from head to toe.
 
“I see.” He says as he looks over the results of the scan and the additional injuries it shows. He thinks for a moment before going into his pocket to take out a small metal box. He opens the box and pulls out a shimmering silver glowing pill. He puts it on his open palm and reaches out to her with it. “Take it, put it in your mouth and swallow.”
 
“What is this?” She asks.
 
“It’s a pill with medicine that will heal what injuries you had suffered in life, like the pill I gave Little Mary for the Rope Dog bite that saved her. If you were violated, things down there will be restored to a virgin like state though you will still have the memories of the violation happening to you. I will have to tell you to ignore those memories and forget them since now you would be restored to a virgin like state.” He explains to her.
 
“I... I can not take this.” She tells him
 
“Why not?” He asks.
 
“This can used to help others. So to help others, I’m refusing it.” She explains.
 
“I would if it were possible. But this pill is for healing scars both external and internal to the body. The one I used on Little Mary was for cancelling out poisons. And there are other pills to heal other things like illnesses. So this one, since it is to heal scarring, is for you and the scars you have.” He explains to her.
 
She looks at it and then at him.
 
“You cannot help them if you cannot help yourself. Take the pill. It will help you help others.” He tells her.
 
“It looks like something Hector gave me a long time ago...” She says to herself.
 
She hesitates but she takes the pill, putting into her mouth before swallowing it. She sighs after taking the pill. She passes out seconds later.
 
Fernando looks at her crumpled body on the floor, “That is rather odd. She must be very weak for the pill to overwhelm her.” He says to himself. He gets up taking a step to her picks he up and takes her to the bed. He tries to makes her comfortable with his pillow and covers her with his blanket. He then moves her things to the side of the bed by the wall.
 
 
- To Be Continued. -

Fernando waits outside by the rear of his camper. Everyone enjoying the food that was being given out, Hondo made sure that the kids got their sweet water juices while others got something else. But the eating and drinking was only part of the celebration. The giving out of the back packs should have been done with the snack but it was not done. The teens and wessens doing guard duty came by and closed up the patrol area to where the kids were hanging out at. In a few minutes Minerva steps out of the electric camper, fully dressed in what she came with.
 
Lily and a couple rabbit wessens pulsing Little Mary come up to Minerva.
 
“Bruce Lee! Look!!!” Lily waves her repaired and healed arm at her.
 
Minerva manages to catch Lily’s arm and examine it, making sure it is not some sort of prosthesis or robotic implant. She then turns Fernando, “You did this?”
 
“I said I would do a rescue. Saving Lily from a life of disability and pain was a rescue.” Fernando tells her.
 
“How did you do it?” Minerva asks.
 
“Don’t ask how it was done. Nor do not ask about what has happen to you either.” Fernando tells her. He then tells Lily, “It is time for everyone to get their prizes. Line them up as before.”
 
“OK, I will!” Lily says. She then says as she leaves, “Mary, you’re first on line!”
 
Fernando nods as he looks at Lily, Little Mary and the two rabbit Wessen boys head to get on line. He then walks to the Dub Box where the table was at. Minerva follows him.
 
He tells Ichigo, “It’s time to give out the bags. You think you can handle it from here?”
 
“The teens can help me, so yes I can.” Ichigo says.
 
“Good. So let’s get this started.” He tells her, he then signals for little Mary to be brought to the front as he tells Ichigo “Get me a back pack for a small girl.”
 
Ichigo goes into the Dub Box and returns with a small backpack filled with various clothing and things a girl would need. It is given to Mary and another serving of Sweetwater juice was also given to her. Lily was next, given a slightly larger pack back with the similar items of clothing and hygiene needs. Then one by one the boys and girls get a back pack filled with clothing and other personal needs. The only ones left who did not get a thing were the Cat Girl and Minerva herself.
 
Fernando goes inside and there were a couple of back packs there but meant for children and not older teens/adults. There were also several paper bags of clothing and personal items for older children/younger teens. He takes his cane and activates is above two back packs that he had pulled out, switching the contents inside for something more appropriate for an older teen and young adult of the Cat Girl and Minerva’s size. When done with the switching, he picks up the back packs and step out of the Dub Box trailer.
 
He walks up the two ladies, handing one back pack to the Cat Girl, and then the other to Minerva as they look over the activity Wessen children in the area.
 
“What is this for?” Minerva asks.
 
“Basic clothing and a storage bag for personal items for them to go with. I gave everybody one.” He tells her.
 
“Why?” Minerva asks.
 
“Do not take my generosity as a weakness.” Fernando scowls at her. He begins to throws in “Most of your girls are running around without panties, I bet the boys do not have underwear on as well, and both boys and girls look like they wore the same clothing for several months now without a single washing to them. This is something that needs to be taken cared off.”
 
“MASTER FERNADO! MASTER HONDO!” Sounds like Marvin letting out his voice to alert everyone. Fernando begins to run to where he heard Marvin’s voice. Hondo follows suit with Minerva and the Cat Girl behind them. They get to him in a matter of seconds where there were several ‘Law Men’ standing about with Marvin on the floor and handcuffed. Karl and the teens arrive a few seconds later with their rifles in arm.
 
“What are you doing to MY WESSEN!” Fernando yells at the smartest one of the group, throwing in “LET HIM GO AND HAND HIM HIS WEAPON!”
 
“By Order Of The Law Council Of This Municipality, All Wessens Are To Be Arrested And Detained Until Further Notice!” The oldest and perhaps the commanding officer of the group says. The convoy camp goes silent.
 
Fernando twists the crystal with his thumb but does not press it. He tells him, “This is my Wessen, and you and your men are going to release him and I am going to forget that this happened, or else.”
 
“Is that a threat?” The Law Man steps up to Fernando, bumping his chest to him.
 
Fernando reaches into rear pants pocket and pulls out his wallet and opens it to the Law Man’s face, showing him the two badges inside, “Listen Asshole – I Outrank You Twice! I’m On A Mission And You’re Interfering With That Mission! And I Have The Permission To Eliminate - AS IN KILL – ANYONE WHO GETS IN MY WAY AND INTERFERES WITH MY MISSION!”
 
One of the younger Law Men leans to his commanding officer, “Hey boss – isn’t that Red Haired Wessen Wanted?”
 
“Git her.” The Law Man growls out his order.
 
As the Law Men stepped up to go past Fernando, he presses the crystal on his cane. The Law Men except for the commanding officer rise up 20 feet into the air with their gun belts falling onto the floor. Any holding a weapon, whether a hand gun, shotgun or rifle, becomes too hot to hold on to and are immediately dropped. They are heard screaming and yelling as they float in the air.
 
Fernando grabs a fist full of shirt and lifts the old lawman up off his feet, “You dare come to my convoy camp, try to arrest my workers and people because they are wessens, dare to interrupt me of doing my job of goodwill, rescue and healing to those in need. My job dictates that I have the right to kill anyone that gets in my way without arrest or penalty – and any Law Man who gets in my way, when my supervisors come to get me, will be taken, discommended and dishonored with removal from the law service. You do not know who you are #$@!ing with, so go away before I make you and your men disappear and never to be found.”
 
“You and what Army is going to stop me?!” The Law Man taunts.
 
Fernando puts away his wallet and pulls out his Yaesu VX-2 Radio. He turns it on and presses the ‘Talk’ Button. “General Jastrey, this is the Medic, you out there?” He waits a few second before repeating his message. “General Jastrey, this is the Medic, you out there?”
 
An answer comes on, faint but audible, “Hey Medic! This is Lieutenant Benson. General Jastrey is with the Mayor of Fight Town discussing terms of surrender! Is there is problem?”
 
“I will say there is. I have these Self Appointed Law Men Who Are Harassing And Trying To Arrest My Rescuers Because They Are Wessens.” Fernando Explains.
 
“You conducting a rescue now?” Lieutenant Benson asks.
 
“Yes.” Fernando says on the radio.
 
“Then you have the right to kill anyone who interferes with your mission.” Lieutenant Benson says.
 
“I’m going to need help here with these assholes. How long can you get here?” Fernando says.
 
“We can have tanks rolling in Flight Town in 48 hours or less. We can have armed infantry and rifle men in 12 hours. Which would you prefer?” Lieutenant Benson says and asks.
 
“If you do not hear from me in 3 hours, send in the Infantry men and have the tanks and artillery roll in when they can and flatten this place to Kingdom Come. Also, to the South of Flight Town is a Wessen Town. They are not to be trusted and in fact – destroy the place to smoking wreckage when you flatten Flight Town.” Fernando tells him.
 
“We will be there in high alert when we arrive. Shelling of the town will commence when targets are identified. Thank you for the intel.” Lieutenant Benson says.
 
“Thank you for the back up.” Fernando says before he puts away his radio. He then turns to the Law Man he has held up in the air by a fist full of short, “Me and THAT Army. You got one minute to get out of my face before I decide to start capping knee caps and foreheads. And if anything happens to me, my rescue workers of this convoy camp or anyone I am dealing with and conducting a rescue on - including the Red Haired Wessen behind me, if Lieutenant Benson and General Jastrey does not hear from me during the next 48 hours as I have to report to them every hour on the hour, the wrath that will follow will be as if The Chaos is happening upon this town again. Do Not #$@! With Me. Do Not #$@! With My Rescue Workers – Wessen, Human or otherwise. And Do Not #$@! With Anyone I Am Working With And Rescuing. The Life You Save By Leaving Me Alone Will Be Your Own.”
 
The Law Man has turned pale and is nervously shaking, trying to nod.
 
Fernando puts the Law Man on the floor. “You and your men are to walk out of here without your weapons or personal items that had fell from them, and then in a half hour you will have 2 men come in by truck to pick up your things and take it back to town. I’ll give you that respect to get your things back. Now go do your job without interfering in mine.”
 
He then let’s go of the Law Man and put his men on the floor before pointing to the exit of the parking lot. “Now leave.”  Fernando tells him
 
“Men, let’s go.” The commanding officer tells his men. Some are bending down to get their things, to which he yells at them, “Leave your things where they are and walk away.”
 
“But boss!” One of his men says.
 
“But Boss Nothing! Pick Nothing Up And Start Walking! NOW!” The commanding officer says to them.
 
They begin to walk away looking like a defeated army returning from a long battle they had lost. A couple of minutes passed before Fernando helps Marvin up and gets him uncuffed. He then hands him his rifle. He gives Marvin a hug before sending him to get a drink and rest for a bit. As soon as Marvin has a place to sit, the children cheers. Several of them go to Marvin and give him a hug.
 
Minerva steps up to Fernando from behind and gives him a hug. He flinches as he grabbed and held though her strength seems to be weaker than it should be. He says, “I’ll talk to you later, right now I need to talk to my right hand man.”
 
Minerva slowly lets him go and says disappointedly, “Alright, I’ll see you later then.”
 
“Hondo – come with me, please.” Fernando says as he begins to walk to the parking lot exit.
 
Hondo follows, “Alrigh’ Jefe...”
 
They stop a few yards from the exit that goes to the Blimp yard, administration building and bazaar. Fernando turns to face him.
 
“This is a little premature but it is called for. Hold out your left hand.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Alright Jefe...” Hondo says. Fernando taps his hand with the crystal of his cane, making the other dead cane materialize in his hand. Hondo grasps at it tightly before it can fall out of his hand.
 
“Hold it tightly by its shaft.” Fernando says as he puts his cane down, standing on its end. He then grabs the crystal of the dead cane and twists it hard while pressing down. The cane seems to creek and moan in pain and protest until there is a loud pop and it spins off the shaft. “Alright let me have it.”
 
Hondo lets go of the cane, Fernando takes it and separates the crystal from the shaft before pouring out glittering fine powder from both items. Hondo needs to ask, “What is that?”
 
“In stellar physics and nuclear reaction, that is iron, platinum, gold and other heavy metals – the end result of black hole that has evaporated.” Fernando explains. He then says, “Now, to get some Iron-15.”
 
“Iron-15?” Hondo asks.
 
Fernando gives a quick nod, “Iron-14 is natural and abundant on earth, it is what all our iron and steel products are. It is also Nuclear Inert – it will not react with radiation except for Gamma Rays. Iron-15 is an isotope of Iron-14 with an extra Neutron and is mostly found in dying stars, there is also 1.5% of it on Earth, but I do not touch that supply as it is rare. But with a little wave of my cane, I have a hidden supply from nearby dying stars for just in case. It is very nuclear active if put under the right conditions of crushing gravity, which creates a neutron star or black hole.” He pulls out an envelope from his pocket, opens it and pours a fine silver powder into the crystal. Holding the crystal in place, he places the shaft into the fixture and screws it in place. He gives it Hondo, “Hold the shaft tightly.”
 
Hondo does as he is told. Fernando grabs the crystal and twists it in the other direction until a loud “CLACK!” is heard.
 
“Good.” Fernando says. He then tells Hondo, “Hold the cane horizontal at your side with your arm facing down and you standing straight.”
 
Hondo does as he says.
 
Fernando then twists the crystal on his cane before reaching with it and presses it against Hondo’s forehead. Hondo is hit with a lightning bolt as Time Around them stop. “I and The Time Lords of the Harvard Collective Instill On To You the Rules, Rights, Knowledge And Abilities of a Time Lord, once active upon Your Chrono Stick is activated.”
 
(See: “Einstein’s Laws,” “If Time Allows It” and other entries on http://www.hondosackett.com/yabb/GsBWiki/ )
 
Things return to normal and Hondo looks at him as if he had Aztec Style Coffee – complete with Hell Pepper Extract, fermented coffee water and triple the caffeine. Fernando looks at him.
 
“How do you feel?” Fernando asks.
 
“The same as before but with this nagging headache that something it not right.” Hondo says.
 
“Nothing is right – this is an artificially constructed universe. Not even the Chrono Server in my Moon Base works, only the Chrono Sticks do. Without the Chrono Server, I’m doing this blind.” Fernando explains.
 
Hondo sighs, “Now I understand why you can’t do anythin’.”
 
“Now let’s get that puppy howling.” Fernando points to the Chrono Stick Hondo is holding. “Now, hold the cane out and vertically with the crystal on top with your hand just under the crystal. Place your other hand over the crystal, feel how it freely spins with clicks and how you have three levels of pressing it down. There is a fourth level, that activates the Iron-15 into becoming a Micro Black Hole, the source of its power. It is very hard to push it to that fourth level but to activate it, it must be done. After you push it to the fourth level, twist it to right until it clicks again and it will activate the Iron-15 into a Micro Singularity – a Micro Black Hole. The Micro Black Hole will have a 10,000 to 10,000,000 year life span depending on how often you use it. To it and to you, no matter where you both are in time, you have your own clock that goes forward. So going back in time does not add to the time the Chrono stick has. In case the Chrono stick dies, you can put in regular Iron-14 in it as 1.5 percent of it will be Iron-15 and that will be enough to give you power to get out of the situation and back ‘Home.’ But without a Chrono Server, the Chrono sticks think this is Home. So we need to see how it plays out to the end, which means getting this mission to Texas and rescue this Gabriella Girl done. Any questions?”
 
“Many questions but I will have to ask them when needed.” Hondo says as he looks at the stick.
 
“Then activate the Chrono Stick.” Fernando says.
 
Hondo follows his directions, needing to push the crystal hard with all his weight while standing it against the ground until it pops into the fourth level. The stick starts to whine like a jet engine. He then twists it while holding pressure until it clicks into place. A lightning bolt arcs from the cane and envelopes Hondo before it soars up skywards. To those who knows, a Time Lord has been born.
 
The lightning fades and things seem to return to normal again, normal for this time and place has to offer.
 
“Now, Hondo. Within the limits of the laws of Space/Time, the Chrono Stick is tied to your mind. You twist the crystal back and fourth to get its attention and give it a command mentally. Pressing on the crystal against the cane activates the command you have in your head. That is how it works on its simplest level. There are other options and issues to deal with but you will deal and solve them as you learn the limits of your cane. It also hides on your person as you are not using it 90 percent of the time. You think to get it to use it as needed. There are things you cannot change through time and you cannot change another person’s mind with it. But you can erase a person out of history – which must be used as a last resort as the one who replaces him through time could be worse than he you erased would ever be. Now let’s get back to this party.” Fernando tells him.
 
Hondo nods and they begin to walk back to the party that is going on.
 
- To Be Continued. -

Hondo and Fernando walk back to Fernando’s camper where the party activity was going on.
 
“What is going to happen with that Redhead Wessen and all those children?” Hondo asks.
 
“I do not know. She has not said anything but requested that I should stay to help them out. I have so far refused to but that I would do something to help out. That is why I spiked the punch with the bio pills.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Thinking on acceptin’ them into the convoy?” Hondo asks.
 
“I do not even think she knows how to drive, and the only one with a big enough vehicle is the Den Mother and she does not have enough space for all of them, maybe half of them.” Fernando says.
 
“What about Jason? He has that double haul trailer and all those beds that are now empty.” Hondo says.
 
“First, these are children. Second, we would have to pay him and once he sees that he could make more money doing something else, he will throw them out and we will be stuck at square one again.” Fernando explains.
 
“Let me talk to him, maybe I can make a deal of some sort.” Hondo puts out.
 
“You can try. I doubt you will get anywhere.” Fernando points out.
 
“We will have to see.” Hondo says. He adds, “Last night I picked up a signal on Hector’s radio but I forgot to turn on the encryption. So I missed what was said.”
 
“It’s hard to do but I can show you to back track time on the device to see what was done and adjust it to get the message.” Fernando says. He then lets out a sigh before adding, “Minerva, the Redhead Wessen Hybrid, told me that some truck driver found an old man in the mountain roads and then brought him over to Wessen Town.”
 
“So chances are it was Hector, and he made a call to somebody else.” Hondo speculates. He adds, “I wonder who he was talking too and what was said.”
 
“We will figure it out later. Right now I got a headache that is not going away.” Fernando says. “I’m going to go into my electric camper to rest. Call me at around noon.”
 
“All righ’. I’ll see you then.” Hondo says.
 
“If you can do me the favor and see this party end in about an hour and everyone is to leave. Unfortunately that means them going back to the sewers from what I seen.” Fernando says.
 
“I’ll see what I can do.” Hondo replies as they approach Fernando’s camper. Expecting the party to be going on, they find the place empty with Ichigo and the teens cleaning up.
 
“What happened?” Fernando asks.
 
“The Redhead Wessen started to go about and tell the kids a few at a time to leave the area. Then she left with the Cat Girl.” Ichigo tells him.
 
“Interesting.” Fernando says. He then adds, “After you guys clean, the teens need to go get their rest for tonight’s guard duty, and you can help Ruth with lunch. Give her this to buy some supplies but you are to stay here and wait for her to return, and then help out make lunch for all. Tell her that she can go to bazaar and keep going past the junk food, where she will find the restaurants and a food market to get things. Anything happens, I’m inside the camper resting.” He then hands over two sacks of gold and silver coins to her.
 
“I’ll do this for you. And I’ll be in after lunch.” Ichigo says to him.
 
“Good. I’ll see you later. I’ll see you later too, Hondo.” Fernando says. He then walks away to the sliding camper door and get in.
 
Once inside the camper, he steps to the middle and raises his hands up and pushes the pop-top to its open position. He then partially strips to his t-shirt, pants and briefs before he sits on the side of the bed.
 
“If you want to lie down, I would not mind.” A voice says.
 
Fernando flinches slightly but otherwise does not move. “What are you doing here?” He finally asks.
 
“We still need to talk about you helping out.” Minerva says to him.
 
“I already did.” Fernando tells her.
 
“You fixed Lily’s arm, and saved Little Mary from death from a Rope dog. That’s about it as I see.” She throws back at him.
 
“I gave you a pill and let you rest. If you did not notice, you feel better than before, your ankle, knee and shoulder has stopped hurting and if you did not noticed, the scars on your back are gone. You are also no longer tired or in other pains that slows you down. And that gunshot wound in your shoulder – healed as if it never happened. Traces of various poisons in your body are also gone – poisons from being in the sewers and in that plane by the drainage pit. And if you were violated and forced to have sex with somebody – your ‘girlie parts’ are healed and restored to a virgin state though you still remember the attacks and how it felt to be penetrated, you are physically a virgin once again.” He explains to her.
 
“And what about the others? Back packs and clothes I can get from the kindness of strangers to give out to the kids.” Minerva tells him in a hidden anger tone.
 
“There is a reason why I had this little party for the children. If you noticed no one from the convoy camp ate the pastries or drank the Sweetwater juices, as per my orders. I put that same medicine I gave you into the food and drinks. They will be having a lower dose of their medicine but since they are children, it should work out to be the same and it is currently working on them in dealing with their injuries and poisons in their bodies as it did to you. The problem is, it will only cure them of what they have now, not for future issues if they continue to be exposed to the violence and toxins this place reeks of. So what are we going to do about that? Can you drive a vehicle?” Fernando explains and then asks.
 
“Drive a vehicle? No, not really. Why do you ask?” She replies and asks.
 
“The problem is all those kids. You would need a large vehicle to house them all.” He says.
 
“And why would I need a large vehicle to house the kids?” She asks.
 
“If you and the kids were to leave with us, they would need to be in such a large vehicle to be housed in while we travel.” He explains.
 
She thinks for a moment before asking, “If I can drive and if we could leave and get a large vehicle, who would pay for it? I have no money to pay for that.”  
 
“I would pay for it.” He says out loud.
 
Minerva is stunned into silence at this point.
 
He continues, “Nearly every vehicle and camper trailer here I bought with my own money to help those in need for them to have. And if they leave with the vehicle, it is their vehicle to have as I gave it to them to have a better life with. All I ask with if I get you a vehicle and be with us on the convoy that you and I will dare say the older kids put in some work to support the convoy. Cooking, preparing food, guard duty, getting food, getting water, getting fuel, taking care of the younger ones, something, anything to support the camp, and you and those in your vehicle will share in the food, water, fuel, protection, take care of the younger kids, etc. for as long as you are with us. I will not ask you to be in a dangerous mission, I will not put you in harm’s way. I will not ask you to take on anything that would hurt you or the kids. All I ask is that you do something to support the camp and drive where we are going and stay with the convoy for your safety.”
 
Minerva remains silent for the moment. She then asks, “Where is the convoy going?”
 
“Various stops in Texas.” He answers.
 
“What about you? Where are you going?” She asks.
 
“Don’t know. Eventually I’ll find a place somewhere.” He replies.
 
“Well...” She thinks. “What about those females that were sleeping in here? And where do you sleep?” She then asks.
 
“The two older girls are my daughters. The Wessen is just a guest here for day or two, and the youngest girl is Hondo’s daughter, sleeping here for a day or two while things in his camper are being repaired.” He explains.
 
“And where do you sleep?” She asks again.
 
“Usually I sleep in my bed with the girls, but since there are guests here, I’m sleeping in the front seat until things are back to normal.” He explains.
 
“You sleep with your daughters?” She asks.
 
“We do what we can with what little we got. If it means that I sleep with them or they sleep with me, then it is done.” He says to her.
 
“Are you, err..., sexual with your girls?” She hesitantly asks.
 
“You think I’m some kind of sick bastard that would screw his own daughters? Hell no. I’m a loving but fair father to my girls, not some sick pedophile who screws the young female members of his family.” He tells her.
 
“There are many that do as it is accepted in practice. I hear that many daughters are married to their fathers before they become old enough to marry another man.” She says to him.
 
“I’m not one of those fathers.” He tells her.
 
“Then, what about me? Do you find me attractive?” She asks.
 
“I’m not going to say.” He says.
 
“It’s because I’m a hybrid – a half Hamster Wessen?” She asks.
 
“You are attractive in your own right. I am not going to acknowledge that because I am more focused on doing the job of finding the safest route to the next town, getting supplies and raising my two girls. I cannot have the leisure of having a girlfriend while doing all those things as she would be a distraction.” He tells her.
 
Minerva inches up to him while trying to keep the blanket over her firm breasts, sitting up at an awkward angle, she reaches over and wraps her arms around him; one over his shoulder and the other from under his waist and her hands holding each other. She then lets out a sigh.
 
“Are you wearing anything?” He asks.
 
“No...” She honestly answers.
 
“OK, I’m not going to ask why.” He says, but then throws in, “You know you placed yourself in danger if I would have turn on you and raped you and there is not much you can say because you went to my bed naked.”
 
“I know you are not that type of man that would take advantage of a girl in that way and do her wrong.” She says.
 
“Do not take my kindness as a weakness.” He tells her, adding, “I am a man, and have the same faults and a danger to any female in sexual assault action as any other.”
 
“I would rather take my chances on you than on anyone else.” She tells him.
 
He just sighs. Eventually he asks, “What do you want?”
 
“I don’t know what I want. I just want the kids and others like us to stop suffering, and the only way to get that done it to eliminate Hector. Then maybe when things are back to some sort of normal, I can have a life of being somebody’s wife and only worry about my children.” She explains. She lets out a sigh before she asks, “If it were possible, I would like you to marry me and be my husband as I would be your wife. So... in asking, would you marry me?”
 
“You in love with me or something?” He asks.
 
“I am in love with who you are and what you have done, and in seeing that I think you would make a great husband for a girl like me.” She answers.
 
“How do you know I’m not some crazed pervert that would take advantage of you?” He asks.
 
“Because if you were, you would have pinned me down on this bed and be taking advantage of me right now, and yet you have not. I’m beginning to think you are some sort of purist who will not would not have sex with a Wessen because in your mind that would be having sex with an animal.” She answers.
 
“Look. Most Wessens are humans who were forced to undergo a transformation process at a Lab Town – usually after they and their families have been purged from their lands and homes, and later sold into slavery. Wessens who originally underwent this can be reverted back to being humans again. Children of these Lab Created Wessens could be reverted back to humans but with difficulty, and the more generations that are away from that first lab created Wessen, the harder it is to revert that Wessen back to being human. Hybrids are even harder to revert to humans. So whether you like it or not, you are human. Not that crap Hector is promoting about Wessen Superiority. No Wessen born or created is superior to a human. They are equal. As for me having sex with you, it is not because you are a Wessen. It is because I do not think what we have as a relationship is not at that level.” Fernando tells her. He then adds after a slight pause, “Understand this much: there is Love without Sex, Sex without Love and Love with Sex. Where are we there as what we are? Are we even friends?”
 
“If I had to do something as payment to help out the children, it would be Sex without Love. But since I did not have to do that, I am able to trust you more than I would with most.” She begins to say before letting out a sigh. She continues, “And I am beginning feel something for you that I have not felt since Hector tried to steal my heart. But unlike him, you did nothing to win my heart other then helping others without wanting payment or reward. Nor are you doing anything to try to push it to the next level. That is a level of honesty I never seen anyone show before. In that I would like you as a friend, and perhaps more. A boyfriend maybe, a lover maybe, a husband possibly. But in the least I would like some alone time with you if you can give it, please.”
 
“I do not know what you want to do but I got a headache from pushing myself to hard lately and need my rest.” He tells her.
 
Minerva sighs but then says, “You can finish taking your clothes off and get inside the blanket with me. Nothing needs to happen between us, if you want to rest, you can close your eyes while I do the same as I hold you.”
 
Fernando thinks about it, knowing that he should keep wearing what he has on in case he needs to step out of the camper to deal with what emergencies that might come up. But he gets up, making Minerva to let him go, and takes off his t-shirt and pants. Minerva sits up, supporting herself on her forearms to look at him undress though there is a bit of apprehension in her mind that he might do something to her. Fernando sighs before he takes his briefs off and places them with the rest of his clothes. He turns to face his bed to get on, seeing Minerva with a wide eyed jaw dropped expression.
 
“Something wrong?” He asks.
 
“No, but I will say I can see where you as a human is very much more superior to Hector as a Wessen.” She says to him. Then she lets out a giggle before lifting up the blanket for him to enter.
 
Fernando shakes his head before climbing into his bed and lies on his back. Minerva takes blanket and covers him with it. She then climbs up partially on him, slightly diagonal with her chest on his and her face above his. She gives him a slight smile.
 
“What?” He asks.
 
“I’ll just say that you’re also better looking as a human than Hector is as a Wesson.” She tells him.
 
“Let’s say if that old man was Hector, and he returns as a Wessen, what then?” He asks.
 
“I don’t know. What or whoever turned him into an old man, he is going to want to have revenge against it.” She tells him.
 
“Then I hope he comes.” He says.
 
“What do you mean?” She asks.
 
Fernando sighs, and then tries to change the subject, “If I told you that children would be alright if you leave when I leave, would you go with me?”
 
“How can you promise that?” She asks.
 
“General Jastrey and her people will take care of them when I talk with her.” He explains.
 
“And where would I go? Where would I sleep? What would I have to do, I’m not whoring myself out for anyone.” She begins to say.
 
“You and that Cat Girl were about to whore yourselves for these children. But I was not going to accept that because no one should sell themselves for another.” He tells her.
 
“Why must you make a good time turn sour?” She asks.
 
“I’m just saying the truth. And you are keeping me from resting.” He tells her.
 
“I just wanted to talk.” She replies.
 
“And I want to rest.” He returns.
 
“And you will get it, but one in your job, I do not know how you can get it. People need to be constantly rescued.” She says before resting her head on his chest. After a few seconds of silence, she says, “I’m sorry.”
 
“No need to apologize.” He says.
 
She nods. She then asks, “You did not answer, would you marry me?”
 
“You willing to give up this life and leave with me?” He asks.
 
“You said that General Jastrey would take care of the children. I would like to talk with General Jastrey before I make such a decision to leave with you and make sure the kids are safe with her.” She explains.
 
“That is for you to decide. I have a mission to do and that means leaving this place in four or so days. Idiots like Hector or the Lawmen get in my way, and they will pay a price so high they will learn a lesson whether they want to or not.” He points out.
 
“Well... until General Jastrey comes, can I ask that I sleep here with you? I need a place to hide and be safe for the time being.” She asks.
 
“The space is tight in there as is with five females; you would have to sleep on the floor with one of them already there. I put down some padding for the floor to be warm and comfortable. And everyone works to earn their keep, though I would not know what you can do.” He explains.
 
“I would be out most of the day taking care of the kids but I need a place to sleep for the night and hide from the Lawmen and Hector’s goons.” She explains.
 
“I will see what I can do, whenever you are done with dealing with your children, come here and after you have something to eat and some set up and wind down time, go into your sleeping bag and sleep. I’ll be out for the first couple hours to check on the night guards and other things before I go in. I’ll be sleeping on the driver’s seat when I return. The cats will be with me in the front.”
 
Minerva looks down at him for a second before lowering her head down and planting her lips against his. He should have protested but doesn’t, letting it ride for the moment. The level of intimacy rises, it is also limited by the both of them. They separate and she lifts herself up on extended arms.
 
“I think we should stop before we end up practicing making babies.” He tells her.
 
“What do you mean by that?” She asks.
 
“I think we should stop before we end up having sex.” He tells her.
 
“If we go that far, I would not mind because it is with you.” She says.
 
“I see I am not going to get my rest here...” He says to himself. He then gets out from under her and sits up at the edge of the bed. He begins to gather his things to put on.
 
“Where are you going?” She asks.
 
“I’m not going to get my rest and there are things to do. “ He says as he begins to put on his briefs followed by his pants. The t-shirt and shirt go on next followed by the sox and boots.  Holster, guns, wallet and other items are checked and pocketed.  Glasses, hat, jacket, cane are taken. For some reason, Fernando reaches into the back of the front seat between the seat and the steel plate that separates it from the sink/cooking counter and the rest of bus. He pulls out his samurai blade his daughters brought over the day before and fastens it to his tool belt.
 
“Then hold on, I’ll go with you.” Minerva says as she pulls the blanket off her. She slides over to the edge of the bed as Fernando waits for her to get dressed. She gets her things from between the bed and the sink/stove counter to get her things. It sees to him that she is taking her time to get dressed. In the least as she sat on the edge of bed as she puts on her panties, getting up for a second to pulls them up on her, she steps up to him and gives him another kiss on his lips. It is almost like a newly-wed bride playing with her husband.
 
But he catches her by her waist and pulls her against him, “You want to go with me? I’ll be going to the bazaar to pick up a few things, and people might go after you.” He tells her.
 
“I have a few friends that will help out if anything happens.” Minerva replies. She tries to push off him but he holds her tight against him. She looks at him puzzled.
 
“I just want you to understand one thing, Minerva.” He begins to tell her, she nods in reply. He continues, “I am a serious man. I’m not into games or tom-foolery. I understand and do have fun but those times for me are rare and few. There is a lot for me to do and get done. I am not going to do a half-ass job and take shortcuts to get things done.  That includes relationships, and in that I do not like being teased and I do not like games. That might be too much for some but if you are serious about a future with me, you will understand this.”
 
Minerva nods, almost nervously at him. He lets her go, “Now if you want to go with me, please do not take your time getting dressed and ready.”
 
“I won’t.” She says as she puts on her bra next, followed by her shorts, then shirt and tool belt with her radio in the pouch. Her shoes slip on her feet with ease. She then steps up to him, “I’m ready.”
 
“Then let’s go.” He says before opening the side sliding door. She steps out before he does, he closes the door behind them. He steps a few feet to the Dub Box trailer, seeing Ichigo at the tables. “I’m stepping out to the bazaar for a moment. When it is done, hold my lunch for me if I am late.”
 
“Alright!” Ichigo says. “I’ll be hiding in the camper soon as this area gets lonely.”
 
“Do what you got to do, all the doors are locked except for the sliding door. Lock it if you go inside. I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He tells her.
 
“See you and thanks.” Ichigo says.
 
Fernando starts walking to the parking lot exit, Minerva walks with him at his left side though a bit apprehensive. They walk to the Bazaar with those around them mumble but no one does anything against them. They make their way to the Asian restaurant Fernando was at the day before. He stops at the door before going in. He pulls out a small sack of gold and silver coins, handing it to her.
 
“You get these kids something to eat during the day. I also have something in there for them but I forgot to get it for them during the celebration. We can get it now and you go feed it to them.” Fernando explains.
 
“Oh? You did?” She replies.
 
“I’m not going to let these kids starve if I can help it. But you would be a better judge of their needs than I. So let’s go in.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Stop where you are!” A voice says loud enough to get their attention. A male Dog Wessen, a male Cat Wessen, and four male humans step to them with guns drawn. They do not notice Fernando twisting the crystal on his cane.
 
“Well, well... If it ain’t Minerva... Hey Min... Hate to break your date with this Sugar Daddy but there is reward on your tail. Thing is, who to send you to as both rewards are the same.” A wretched old man lumbers over to them. He reaches to her with a mechanical claw but Fernando parries his arm to keep him from grabbing her. “Looks like you Sugar Daddy has some balls. Too bad they will need to be cut off.”
 
“If anybody will be doing any cutting, it will be me.” Fernando hisses at him.
 
“Men, shoot hi-*!” The wretched man begins to say but Fernando acts in his mid sentence, pulling out his blade and swings it about in an arc, cutting extended arms with guns at half way up their forearms. The sliced off arms holding the guns rotate downward to the floor as screams can be heard. The mechanical claw is also cut, leaving a stump of cut metal and arcing wires on its former owner's arm. He runs away with a howl that fades in the distance.
 
Fernando looks at the others before he swings his blade, slicing heads off from their shoulders. He picks up the mechanical arm off the floor and then reaches out and pushes Minerva through the door before stepping through himself. He closes the door behind them.
 
The same counterperson from the day before steps out with a shot gun, “What happened outside?”
 
“Some idiots tried to rob us. I took care of them.” Fernando tells him. He adds, “Sorry for the attention that is to come, we will need to leave through the back entrance after we take care of business.” He reaches into his pocket, pulling out two $100 gold coins and handing it to the counter person. He adds, “Before I go, your establishment makes Lo Mien?”
 
“Yes we do.” The counterperson says.
 
“OK. Same order as yesterday, plus 50 spring rolls and a large pot or 20 or so large boxes of vegetable Lo Mein. Also add some garlic chicken separate from the beef – same amount as the beef. How much would that be and how long will it take?”  
 
“$450 would cover for everything. It should be done in a couple of hours.”
 
“Take your time with it – do it three hours, I’ll be out running errands and take that long to return.” Fernando explains as he receives two bags, one with the 100 cooked spring rolls and the other with the frozen ones. He hands the one with the cooked spring rolls to Minerva. “Now, can we use your rear exit?”
 
“Right this way.” The Asian counter person leads the way to a rear door that leads to a back alley.
 
Fernando looks around, before Minerva taps his chest to get his attention. She then trots over to manhole that opens up from within. “This way.” Minerva hands the bag to someone in the manhole, one of the children. She begins to climb down into the hole.
 
Fernando walks to the edge of the manhole and looks down into it. Minerva and three other Wessen children are looking up at him.
 
“I’ll find my own way. Minerva, I’ll get more food for the children for dinner, have them come around 6 tonight and we will feed them. Have them washed up and clean for them to eat.” He tells her.
 
“I’ll do my best.” Minerva says back to him.
 
“I’ll slide this back in place, you do what you do to secure it. See you then.” Fernando tells her.
 
“See you...” Minerva says before she throws a kiss at him.
 
Fernando uses his cane to move the manhole cover onto the hole. A squeal coming from it says that they locked it from inside. Fernando looks around and starts to head back to camp.
 
Getting back to camp, Fernando hands the frozen spring rolls to Ichigo, telling her to tell Ruth that they need to be cooked: fried or baked, and have no meat so is it safe for the Wessen.