"Hurry, it's not left yet!" the redhead yelled. The other two, a male and female college student ran.

"Wait, Pam! We've got ten minutes. It's OK."

"No it's not. We've got to get to Paris tomorrow."

"Pam, walk!" the brunette order, as the red head slowed down.

"I can't believe we almost miss the train just to get some stupid autograph," the redhead continued.

"Haven't you been listening to the news the past year? And she was just standing there, signing anything you handed her," the boy continued. They climbed on board the train, wandering through several cars.

"That's where we left the bags," the brunette yelled, as she opened the door to the cabin. The three rushed in, collapsing by the windows, startling another passenger, who appeared to have been sleeping.

"Oh, I hope we didn't wake you," said Pam.

"Oh, no. I was just dozing off. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. And you're an American! What school do you go to?" the brunette asked.

"I'm not a student. I'm just a traveler," the blond responded.

"Heh, guys, look! She signed her full name," the redhead began. "Queen Elektra Art.....Ar....."

"Artemis Buchanan," the blond finished, trying to see the picture. "And take my advice. Ebay is flooded right now. In a few years, she'll stop signing so many. It might be worth a lot some day."

"Hey, Jesse, look at mine. She signed it Electra Woman! Why?"

"Sounds like she has multiple personalities. Let me see."

The blond contributed again. "Now that one might get something. She doesn't sign too many of those."

"Boy she's hot," said Jesse.

"Yeh, except for the bolts on those boots and gloves. God! They're aweful!" responded Pam.

"Let me see that," the young man with jet black hair said. "She's OK. Very retro, basic. But this is the one I like."

"DynaGirl? Well, at least her gloves and boots aren't so tacky," Pam responded as the blond laughed.

The male pulled out the table, and placed a sketch pad on it. He opened up his magazine to a page, and began to draw. The blond looked at it.

"I haven't seen that magazine yet," she said. He smiled back.

"I think it just came out. A wedding tribute.......ah, The Year That Tourenbourg Shook the World. I like the head bands."

"You mean crowns."

"Is that what they are? They wear them like head bands. But the design is beautiful."

"Yes, I knew the person who created them. He was pretty talented."

"Just look at this. They were coronated infront of one hundred thousand people. Immediately after the Queen was crowned, the King proposed to her," he continued.

"Yuck! Too many people. Were you there?" Pam asked the strange blond.

"Yes. I've been in Tourenbourg awhile. But let me tell you," she responded. "I have never seen anything so romantic. Look at that ring." She pointed at the picture.

"Oh my God! It's soooo huge!" Jesse said stunned. "Oh, look at that kiss!"

"Yes. This is not Charles and Diane. They look like they are very much in love. They are just so infatuated with each other. Does this have pictures from the wedding?"

The black-haired student flipped to the end of the souvenir book. "Yes. Right here. There's a nice one of them dancing."

"And she's feeding him the cake, and ......what does this say...."Queen and Princess cut up the dance floor to the Pussy Cat Dolls!"

"Oh, yes. It was quite a sight."

"You were there?" the young man asked.

"Yes. My former work kept me involved in the activities in the kingdom this past year."

"Hey, Jason, can I look at that?" With a lurch,the train started moving.

"Well, I can't draw for a few minutes anyways."

"So what have you been sketching? Oh by the way, I'm Helen."

"Jason. Well, we're making our way from Italy to Berlin, checking out Cathedrals and such. I'm an art student, and this fall I'll be at Luxemburg." He showed her details of columns, arches, statues. Helen looked on as Jason told the place of each sketch. Then they got to Tourenbourg. "Now this is the base for the statue of Buchanan the first. And then there's this gravestone we found."

"Pam thought Jim Morrison was buried here."

"No I didn't!"

"It's pretty new. But beautiful. I loved all the objects left on top. Someone left a snifter half full of scotch and a old cigar butt." The blond was transfixed.

"You sketch beautifully."

"Thanks. We're on our way to Paris. So much to draw there. How about you?"

"The same. But I am just wandering."

"By yourself?"

"Yes, but I should do alright."

"Honey, some of those French dudes are pretty scarey. You'd better stick with us, at least until you get to the hostel," Jesse offered. The doorman knocked for tickets and passports.

"So,you still haven't told us," Jason continued. "What do you do?"

"Well, I sort of interned for this operation that outsourced from the CIA."

"Wow! Do you know secret stuff?" Pam asked.

"Not really. But I never went to college, and I figured it was time to go out on my own." The conductor passed back the tickets and passports.

"Jesse, give me the Dom Perignon."

"Are you going to open it?"

"We've got all night on this train. Why not? Want some?"

"Thank you." Jason poured the champagne into paper cups, passing them around. "What do you think?"

"It doesn't taste the way I thought it would," said Pam.

"I think it tastes great," Jesse responded.

"How about you?" Jason asked the guest.

"I'd rather have a Coor's light."

"So would I!" he laughed.

"So, um, Helen. We got here the day after the wedding. Doesn't it all seem a little over blown?"

"What do you mean, Jesse?"

"It's just royalty. Why the big fuss?"

"It's hard to explain. Tourenbourg is culture traditionally built around a strong matriarch. They see the Queen as more than a woman."

"I still don't get it," interjected Jesse.

"Hey, look!" Jason said. The train had reached the top of a ridge as it made its way to the mountains, offering a stunning view of the city.

"Is that the cathedral in the center?" asked Jason.

"Yes. I've never seen it from here. It's so beautifully lit. And look at the coloring of the castle," Helen responded.

"What's that on the hillside?" Jason asked again.

"It's some Roman temple," responded Pam.

"It's the temple of Artemis," Helen continued.

"As in Queen Artemis Buchanan?" Jason responded.

"Yes." Helen suddenly had a revelation. "Jesse, this is it. The virtues of Artemis are the Archetype for the Kingdom's Queen of the Earth. Regina Terra."

"You mean there are two Queens?" the brunette asked.

Helen stayed focused on the city. "Actually, she's just an ambassador for the people of the kingdom. Someone of rare character. Who understands the triumph and tragedy of life. Its seductions and its salvations."

"Then who is the real Queen?" Jason asked, intrigued. Helen leaned back,stunned at the epiphany.

"Regina Coeli. The Queen of heaven."

"Huh?" Pam said confused.

"Oh, I don't know about that. You, see, I'm a Christian." Jesse resonded. Pam proceeded to cold cock her, as Jason laughed.

At the edge of the balcony of the King's suites, the Queen kneeled, the rosary in her hand. ".........now and at the hour of our death. Amen. And please follow and guide Judy Loomis through this night and her journeys. Please bless my special friend. Amen."

Lori looked up. She kissed her rosary and looked into the distance, wondering where her friend was. She gazed down towards the cathedral, and stood, folding her arms. She wore a white bathroom on this mild evening. .

"Hey, Barbie! You coming in?" Alex came out wearing drawstring PJ bottoms and a bathrobe. He was in the process of rolling a joint.

"I wasn't in a rush. Come on out." He sat, finishing his task. Lori kept staring at the Cathedral. "So, Alex, I was just thinking about the prophecy that you used to justify my title as Regina Terra."

"What about it?" he asked as he lit up.

"Artemis was know as a chaste goddess. And as for your Patron saint, well......."

"Hey, Jesus had a brother. Or half brother. Oh, you unreformed Catholics ignore that part of the gospels."

"Alex, that's not the point."

"What is?" he asked after he exhaled.

"My history with you is one based around sex."

"That all depends on how you define sex."

"Don't get Clinton with me!"

"Want some?"

"Sure." Pause. "Anyways, I would count playing food inspector the night we met in school as sexual."

"Hey, that's right. I inspected you cantelopes for ripeness while you pinched my...."

"Grapes." She smiled as she handed him the joint back. "Anyways, that would seem to confuse the wording of the prophecy."

"Well, Lori, Ron and I discussed this many a nights." The King inhaled deeply. "It seems the oldest versions aren't clear on who the second person formal refers to. Artemis, her charge Dione, or both. But we agreed that the first part of the prophecy had already occurred."

"Is the word for chaste the same as virgin?"

"No. They are different."

"Well, Alex, I think the Regina Terra is right now on her way to Paris."

"But her experience with Ron."

"Her first experience, he knocked her fillings out, he's dead six hours later. I don't think that she's going near another man for awhile."

"Let her go. She has her own life to experience."

He walked up to her and put his arms around her waist. "Nice bathrobe."

"Wedding present. I can't believe how it feels! It must be so expensive."

"Welcome to the European upper crust." He kissed her cheek, her neck, and began to kiss her upper breasts.

"Alex...." kiss kiss kiss "Alex, I'm ovulating."

"I have White Snake on the stereo." She grabbed the joint from his hand and threw it over the balcony edge. A castle watchman soon got lucky.

Lori pushed Alex onto the bed, as he lost his robe. She stood back, and dropped hers. She wore a brief white silk teddy. "Like it? This was Judy's gift!" He just watched, as Lori grabbed the remote. The music blasted as she jumped from across the room, onto Alex, and lap danced the entire song.

Alternate Ending Chapter 14

Many influences were involved with this story. But I would say that it begins with the fact that I find the characters of Lori and Judy interesting in and of themselves, and not to mention their alter-egos.

I seriously considered killing off Lori. I worked out several scenarios. The one I kept working at was the Empress/Princess killing her, before DynaGirl takes care of them. But I always found the story more interesting with her alive.

When I decided to write the story, I had watched Glitter Rock, thinking about all the assumptions made with respect to Lori and Alex. That was easy part of this. Private school, a sexual background, and Tourenbourg having a strong American presence all seemed necessary if we bought this episode.

I had also found myself enjoying the movie "Van Helsing" with Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. They were a basis for Lori and Alex.

Next, I went to the Avengers episode called Castle D'Eath, a charming one where Steed and Peel go under cover at a 'haunted' Scottish mansion. It had McNee and Rigg as wonderful as any show, with a theme of international espionage. The labyrinth in the north tower is borrowed from the movie "The Name Of The Rose."

The Tourenbourg Castle is directly based upon Edinborough Castle, as is part of the city. Tourenbourg itself is a cross between Luxembourg and Monaco. Indeed, Grace Kelly in 'To Catch a Thief' and her own marriage to Prince Rainier played some influence.

The name 'Buchanan' comes from royal family in "The Sword of Shannara". It sounds as waspy as Evans. In this book there is a charming romance between a rugged highland prince and a would-be princess of a lost royal line. I borrowed some of that. And yet because Lori and Judy save the kingdom, I had not to worry about political correctness or a contemporary feel. Indeed, I had trouble keeping Alex in a light of authority.

This is a story of happy characters caught in an all too realistic situation, where there are no easy choices. They end up dealing with life, sex, violence, salvation, the damned, and death as best they can.

I used Ali as the villain because he seemed to fit what I needed. I took advice from a book that said the nastier the deeds of a villain, the better they are. So I made him particularly foul in this story.

I have written parts of other stories that are not finished. One features an encounter between the dynamo duo and the dynamic duo. In that one, Batman gives the voltage vixen a Bat resonator. Hefflin then adapts it to the device used in Chapter 12. During this adventure, we discover Lori's catholic roots as they pursue the Riddler into a cathedral. Judy also has a sexual encounter with Dick Grayson, who is just simply not up to the task at hand.

In Blood On Her Hands, I wrote a story that focused on a crisis in Lori's life as a superhero. In the 100 Billion Dollar Debut Of DynaGirl, I obviously focused on Judy. In this story, I seemed to start with Lori being the main focus, and every time developed it towards Judy instead. From the relationships, to the final confrontation, and the last scene, this is more about what happens to Judy as she becomes a woman.

The concept of the 'Return Of The Queen' is of course lifted from Tolkien.

I have gone as far to sketch out further stories. They run this way. Lori provides future Buchanans, as Judy returns to solo as a heroine with Hefflin in MetroCity. But a few years later, Judy returns to Tourenbourg as Lori is dying from breast cancer. Judy is made the legal guardian of the children with Alex. After Lori's death, Alex goes into depression, and uses some of Lori's blood to have a clone made. Lucretia returns, creating a cyborg to destroy Judy and the Buchanans. Judy must protect the children from someone who looks exactly like Lori, and knows her every weakness. There is a battle royal on the roof where the Minister fell. The evil Lori is in white, and is far deadlier than ElectraWoman on the Coptic Eye, or even an evil DynaGirl.

Finally, one comment on religion. The use of it in the story seemed appropriate, given Lori's past visions, Joseph Campbell's comparative mythology and his Hero's Journey, and the mystical nature of catholicism in Europe. Campbell talks about a hero having experiences that conect them to the spiritual world. This happened to Lori in 'Blood on Her Hands' when she has a vision of her father. My use of religion bears little resemblance to what is worshiped over here, except in liturgy.