The girl's eyes widen. "I'm Veil. Goddess..Aaron! We haven't heard from him since he left us after Ireland.. what happened? Where is he?"

Veil follows Cara, her worry for Aaron clouding her mind so that she doesn't even realize that the girl had walked past their Chantry wards like they weren't even there.

Cara leads her to the car, where Veil quickly climbs in beside Aaron. She only glances at him for a moment, shuddering at the sight of his grisley wounds, then turns back to Cara, her face a mask of sorrow. "I'm sorry, but he's dead.."

A brief smile crosses Cara's face, "Oh, he's always like that. Well, not quite so beat up. Here, I'll explain once we get him inside. Can you help me lift him? He's kind of heavy."
Cara and Veil struggled to carry Aaron's dead form into the church. Cara explained everything to Veil as they laid his dead body out on a pew. How Aaron had died, how he'd returned, and about the golden skinned man in Chicago.
"I've never seen him this bad," Cara said, as she unwrapped Aaron from his long coat, carful of his ruined arm. "He has always been so tough, he used to laugh of bullets and cuts like they were nothing!" Cara seemed to be nearly panicing, when she finally got away, and Tatsuko Sayo, Aaron's deadly katana fell from under his coat where he had gripped it in his cold hand. Cara kicked it under the pew, trying to get it out of sight. "God I hate that thing," she muttered, then turned to Veil. "He's always healed really quickly after being hurt, but he hasn't woken up yet. Can you help him? He always said what a powerful magician you are." Cara seemed nearly frantic.

Veil's jaw drops sightly as she listens to Cara's hurried explination of Aaron's life since he had left them. She looks at Aaron again, shifting her senses to include a more broad perspective. Veil nods thoughtfully, hazel eyes narrowed in concentration. "Yes, I think I see what's wrong.." She looks up at the altar at the end of the room. "We'd better take him to the Realm, it will be easier there, this is going to take a lot of work." She looks at Cara. "Don't worry, he's going to be ok." Veil stares at Aaron a moment, her eyes seemingly unfocused. Then she picks up her end and gestures for Cara to pick up the other.. Aaron's weight seems to have lightened considerably and the two women get him to the other end of the room and down the curving stairway with less problems than they had getting him inside.

As they climb down the smooth granite stairway, cool air wafts about them. A pale light illuminates the stairway, coming from everywhere at once. When they reach the landing, they walk swiftly through the small chamber at the base of the stairs, and Veil leads Cara through the large gilded doors that open silently as they approach.

As soon as they step through the doorway, candles blaze to life. A small fountain in the far left corner pours forth clear water, soothing Cara's fears with its gentle song. To the right and left are large stone statues, one of a man carring a cross-tipped staff with one hand and a small cross in his other hand, while the other statue is of a gentle-lookign woman with her hands clasped in supplication, eyes turned heavenward.

Veil moves past a large stain-glass window before Cara can get a good look at it, and leads them directly to a full-length mirror sitting in the corner. As soon as they near, blue light begins to eminate from the surface, and a faint reflection of the woman represented as a statue appears.

Veil nods respectfully to the Guardian and pulls Aaron and Cara through the mirror into the Realm beyond.

The world seems to shimmer and fade around them, then Veil is leading Cara through a lush meadow. There is a small dirt path that leads up to some low foothills, but Veil takes them off of the path and gestures Cara to let him down on the grass.

"I do my work better outside," Veil mutters to herself, setting Aaron down gently and helping Cara unwrap the coat from around him again.

Veil takes a deep breath, closing her eyes and casting a prayer out to the winds, that the Goddess might aid her in healing Aaron. A light breeze picks up, lifting Veil's dark burgundy hair about her in small tendrils. She reaches out with a pale hand and softly touches Aaron's shoulder, where it is so fragilely attached to the rest of his body.

Veil begins to speak in an old language, coaxing the flesh to knit back together, and after a moment it begins to do so. Almost faster than can be seen, the muscles and bloodvessels reattach themselves, pulling the arm back up to it's right place. Veil presses on the shoulder and a faint grinding sound can be heard as the bones mesh together.

Then she turns to the ghastly wound on his abdomen. Steeling herself, she places her hands over the rent in his belly and speaks more in a strange, lilting tongue. His insides seem to shift and writhe like serpents as Veil reforms and reknits them with her own hands. Then her hands are on his skin, pulling the wound closed. The skin bonds with itself, closing and disappearing without any trace of a wound having been there.

Veil finally finishes, speaking one final prayer of thanks to the Goddess. She looks up at Cara, face beaded with a thin line of sweat, and smiles. "I think he'll be okay now. I didn't catch your name....?"

Cara watched silently as Veil did her work. She seemed much calmer once Aarons body had been knitted back together. She looked up as Veil spoke.
"Oh, I'm sorry...I'm been kind of stressed out for the last day or so. I'm Cara. I'm Aaron's....friend." she smiled, and suddenly seemed exhausted, like she hadn't slept in days.

Veil quickly sends out a mental note to Nettle, asking her to please relay what has happened to Tania, and for permission to bring Cara and Aaron into the Ivory Palace. Along with the message she sends an imprint of everything that has just happened, so that Nettle gets it in one second's worth of time.

"Don't worry about anything, Cara. We'll take care of you. I'm just waiting for my friends to arrive, before I take you inside." Veil replies, smiling reasurringly at Cara, then glancing down to Aaron. "You have the Spark in you, I can sense it.. were you brought up within a Tradition?" Veil asks politely as they wait.

Cara looked nervous again, not quite sure what to say. She closed her eyes for a moment. She seemed to be remembering somthing.
"A Tradition. A gathering of True Magicians. One of the Nine mystick Traditions formed to oppose the technocracy, resist the radical changes of the Marauders, and fight the evil of the Nephandi." Her eyes opened again, and she looked back up at Veil. "No, I'm not a member of any tradition. I'm....well....its kind of a long story."

Veil smiles. "It usually is." She reaches out and takes Cara's hand. "Hey, no need to feel nervous around me, ok?" she squeezes it in a friendly gesture. "I'll help you out however I can. Aaron was a big help to us in Ireland, were it not for him and the other Garou he recruited, I don't think we would have made it out of there alive, so we all owe him. And if you're his friend, then you're welcome here too."

Cara took a deep breath, as if she was trying to steady herself. Tears came to her eyes, and then she told Veil, EVERYTHING. For the last two years of her life, she had kept it all bottled up inside her. For the last two years of her life she had run. First from her parents, and then from the unnamable thing, and now from the golden skinned man. For nearly two years, Aaron had been the only person who she had allowed to get close to her, the only person who she had allowed to really know her. But here, and now, she let it all out.
She told Veil of her youngest days, of the nightmares that had plauged her, the death of her adopted parents and what they had learned of her real parents in Chicago. She told her about the night of her eighteenth birthday, when Mr. White, the sorcerer had come for her. She told her about fleeing to Seattle, and meeting the motley of Changelings there. She told her about the battle at the mansion on Mercer Island, and how Aaron had come to save her, and take her away. She told Veil about the dreams that had driven Aaron. The same dreams that had first driven Aaron to the Chantry in Salt Lake, and that then driven Aaron to find Cara. She told her about what had happened in Wales, and how Aaron had gotten so sick. She told her about how the Get leader Wyrmhater had come looking for Aaron, and how they'd tried to heal him. She told her about living in New York, when Aaron's dead spirit had first returned to Cara, and how Aaron had clawed his way back from the lands of the dead. And then, she told Veil about Menthu.
The thing that had haunted her and Aaron through their entire lives. Who had driven Aaron to madness, and had forcefully awakened Cara. The thing that had come for them in Wales. She told her of It's never ending hunger, and she told her of how they'd run, and hidden ever since. When she was done, the lines of exhaustion were clearly etched in Cara's face. After so long, telling her entire story to someone had left her drained, and on the brink of collapse.

Veil's heart reaches out to the young Mage, an Orphan in more ways than one.

"You've come to the right place," Veil responds after a moment of silence. "This Realm is attuned to rest and contemplation. Exactly what the two of you need, though once he wakes up," Veil gestures down at Aaron, "I don't know how long you'll get him to sit quietly." she smiles, remembering the hot-blooded young garou from his previous time with them.

Cara smiled at that. "Yeah, sometimes he gets a little feisty. But don't worry, I'll keep him in line." Cara stood up and looked around for a moment. "Where are we anyway?"

Veil gets to her feet, absently brushing the grass from her long velvet dress. The wind still blows gently about the two women, bringing the scent of wildflowers in its wake. A sense of peace settles upon them as they take in the scenery before them.

Veil pauses in thought, careful to come up with an explination that Cara would understand. "Has Aaron spoken to you of the Umbra?" she asks, looking back at Cara. When she nods ascent, Veil continues. "This place is in a little bubble in the Horizon Realm, the barrier, between the near and deep Umbras. Many mages create pocket realms in this area, because it is more malleable to those who know how to control it."

"Here, reality is whatever the creators chose to make of it. This Realm has been here for a few hundred years, from what I can tell. It's infused with essences of rest and contemplation, as I mentioned before. I believe that it was created to be used for study, in a place safe from the dangers of the outside world. Healing magicks work especially well here, as do other magicks that promote rest and rejuvination. It is also very nature-oriented, close to the earth." Veil takes a deep breath, feeling cleansed by the very air around them. "I never tire of this place. I would stay here forever, if I could." She smiles a bit sadly, then turns back to Cara.

"Did my explination make sense to you? I do not know how far in your studies you have come.. do you have a teacher?" Veil asks.

Cara closed her eyes again, and looked as if she was again trying to remember. "The umbra, the spirit world." Her eyes opened again, and she seemed to understand. "Yes, I think I get it, and no, I've never really had a teacher, I've just kind of picked things up here and there."

"How long have you been Awakened...I mean.. how long have you been aware of your powers?" Veil asks, wondering if the girl's paradigm is close enough to hers so that she would be able to instruct her in the use of magick.

"About 2 years," Cara replied, "Since my eighteenth birthday, when...well, when It came for me." Cara had already told Veil of her fears of speaking Menthu's name out loud. "I've learned a lot of things since then though, just from books and from kind of trying out different things. And, well, sometimes I just know things, like how to pronounce words, and what they mean." Cara looked puzzled, like she didn't understand it herself.

Meanwhile...
Nettle and Alec have been a happily-married couple for 3 years-- still living at the chantry, and still working at Alec's record shop. However, Nettle's enterprising eye has turned the little record shop into one of the hottest places downtown! The building they're leasing has two stories and a basement. Before Nettle met Alec, he'd only been renting the main floor and basement. His business was slow, but steady. Slow, because of the habbit Alec had for throwing customers out who asked if he carried music by Barrow Manilow and other such undesireables. Steady, because Alec had a knack for getting his hands on imported and rare records that no one else could seem to find, and his reputation was well-known and respected around town. But with Nettle's ideas, the business had boomed.

The first thing Nettle did was advise Alec to also start renting the top floor of the building. They moved all the merchandise from the basement up to the main floor, concentrating the store there, and then turned the top floor and basement into a dance club. Ages 20 and under upstairs, and ages 21 and over could go downstairs...where there was a well-stocked bar and...well, lots of Alec's friends who were known to be able to get you anything you wanted, anytime.

But the real genius of the plan was this: the store-area was kept open and well-guarded as long as the club was open, and on the main counter was featured the D.J.'s playlists for the night, as well as all the albums and singles for the songs that were going to be played. This way, if a patron heard a song they absolutely loved, they could run upstairs and purchase the single or album immediately! Sales soared, and Alec and Nettle were living the sweet life! They had even been considering buying the building recently, but were always so busy and distracted that they hadn't gotten around to it yet.

As a gift to Nettle, Alec had recently given her permission to have her own little display in one of the corners called, "Nettle's Picks." There, and only there, was she allowed to display the music she loved that Alec dispised-- ABBA, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Dean Can Dance, Delirium...Nettle knew her customers and knew that there was a market for this here, not to mention that artists like Kate Bush and Tori Amos had a TON of rare, import, or hard-to-find albums out there that only Alec would be able to find!

Nettle was grinning and whistling and carrying the first box of CDs over to arrange on her display when Veil's mental message suddenly burst into her head. She set the edge of the box down on a ledge distractedly, and stared at the wall without seeing it-- her eyes wide and moving back and forth as she absorbed everything in her mentor's message. When it finished, she nodded her head slowly and turned-- forgetting about the box resting half on her hands and half on the ledge-- and the box went crashing to the ground, startling Nettle out of her daze. She looked down at the spilled box, let out an exasperated breath, and crouched down.

"Damn it, I hope none of these got cracked! Alec will never re-order them...it was hard enough to get him to order THESE!" she mutters as she turns the box right-side up and begins putting the CDs back inside.

"Oh my goodness!" Comes a cry from the backroom as the crash is heard. Suddenly there is another crash, "Damneet!" comes another cry as Jaf nearly falls out of the backroom door.
"Miss Nettle are you okey dere?"

"Crikeys, sugar." Comes a voice from the door to the club. Alec stands there in his new outfit just purchased yesterday. It is a burgundy over jacket with white pants. His pink sleeves puff out with lace from the jacket. He stands there his arms crossed.
"Those better not be me Beatles albums, right?"

Nettle feels a sudden frustration build up inside of her. "Beatles, Beatles, fucking Beatles..." she thinks sarcasticly, and then looks over at Alec, masking her face with fear and apprehension. "Oh God, Alec...I...I'm so sorry..." she holds a CD in her hands so that Alec can't see what exactly it is, or what shape its in, and masks her mind from his. "I...think the CD inside got cracked, too..." she looks at Alec with big eyes.

Jaf gets wide eyes and begins to walk backwards into the backroom.
"I have...I seem to ahh yes. I have something in de backroom yes," he says as he pulls the curtain and runs in.

Alec's eyes go wide and he walks over to Nettle. He hold his hands out and takes her hands. His hands shake as he touches her.
"Oh right, me love let's see it then...

Nettle opens her hands slowly to reveal...ABBA Gold, the Spanish edition. She looks up at Alec, and a huge grin spreads over her face. She leans in and whispers. "Oops, I guess I was wrong, baby."

Alec's eyes are suddenly filled with fire as he sees his nemesis, his archenemy stand before him on the album cover-- Bjorn Ulvaeus! He nearly hisses and shrinks back.
Alec begins to feel around the store, his head held up, he stumbles a little bit.
"I'm blind!...I'm blind!"

Nettle rolls her eyes, shakes her head, and smacks Alec on the arm. "You're just mean, Alec...MEAN! When will you give in to your higher tastes and just admit you like them? No group has been so immitated, covered, revived...none has had such international success! YOU of all people should know that!" she says, poking him in the arm and turning with a flip of her hair to place the CD back in the box.

Alec hears the terrible blasphemy of Nettle's words. He holds his hands to his ears.
"Crikeys!! I'm deaf too! What are you doin to me love?!"
Just then the door opens and a customer walks in. He is wearing a nice business suit and tie. He walks up to Alec and smiles.
"Hey could you help me? I'm looking for the latest Lionel Richie? It's for my daughter and--" he stops once he sees Alec's face begin to turn red.
"Lionel Richie? Your daughter..." he says taking a step towards the man, "...likes Lionel Richie? You do realize this is the year 2002, righty?" He says. The man begins to step back and back as Alec keeps walking towards him.
"Uhh..yeah yeah..."
"Then do you really..." he points both fingers to his head, "*Think* your daughter likes Lionel Richie?!"
"Uhh yeah I uhh think so," he says his back hitting the counter.
"You think so," Alec says nearly nose to nose with the man he shakes his head causeing the man to shake his.
"No she doesn't like Lionel Richie," suddenly an album appears in Alec's hand as he shows it to the man, "She likes Linkin Park, and you're in luck. I happen to have a rare import of b-sides."
"Really, you think so?" he says, taking the album from Alec and looking it over.
"I know so," Alec replies noding his head, "That's thirty dollars, man."
The man pulls out his wallet hands Alec the the money and nearly runs out of the store. Alec watches him leave and smiles as he puts the money in his pocket.
"Ah there goes another satisfied customer. Hey come back soon!!"

Nettle has turned to watch this little exchange with her back against the wall and arms folded. She has to bite her bottom lip to keep her face from cracking, and finally moves one hand to cover her mouth-- looking away. When the man leaves, she starts cracking up-- bending at the waist and holding her knees. "Alec..." she can't finish her sentence because she's laughing so hard. "Alec...come here..." she motions with one finger, turning her head down and gazing up at him with smokey eyes and a smirk on her lips.

Alec walks over to Nettle with a grumpy look on his face as he points his thumb over his shoulder at the door.
"Now there goes a musical moron," he says as he puts his hands around Nettle's waist.
"Hey there baby," he says giving her a wink.

Nettle wraps her arms around Alec's neck-- still chuckling-- and gives him a very deep, energetic kiss. "You're a music-snob, but a very sexy...very funny music-snob, and I love you...snob." she says with a tiny smile.
Suddenly she remembers what started all of this. "Alec-- I dropped the box because Veil just mentally-communicate with me urgently. We need to get over to the chantry-- Aaron came back-- badly injured-- and Veil needs our help. We need to grab Tania, too...I'll explain the rest on the way over...you think Jaf can handle the store for a while?" Nettle's face has grown calm and serious, and she looks into Alec's eyes with intent.

Alec nods, "What with all the customers? I'll see if he can manage, love." Alec walks into the backroom and then back out a few moments later.
"Right, we're good to go then." He says walking behind the counter and slipping his vaccine guns into his holsters. He smiles at Nettle, and puts his arm arund her as he escorts her out to the gremlin.

*****

"It should not be taking this long..." Veil mutters to herself. She closes her eyes, sending out her senses to find Tania. With any luck, she'll be in the Realm already so they can get this done.

Veil was suddenly shaken from her reverie, as Aaron's dead body shot up, a blood curdleing scream shattering the calm of the realm around them.
Cara was next to him in an instant, her holding him and trying to calm him. She gently rocked him back and forth, trying to soothe him.
"Its ok, I'm here, you're ok." She whispered.

Veil kneels down beside the two, watching Aaron with concern. "Aaron, you're safe," she says in a soothing voice, trying to bring him back from whatever Nightmare still grips him.

Long minutes passed before Aaron started to calm down. His eyes started to focus on the world around them. "Where the hell are we." He finally croaked out.
"In Salt Lake," Cara said, "I brought you back here, Veil healed you."
Aaron looked around, and seemed to see Veil for the first time.
He smiled weakly. "Hey Veil, long time....no..." Aaron breathed in, drawing a calming breath that he no longer needed.
"Here, relax," Cara said, cradleing him in her arms. "God you scared me, I thought you were gone for good this time."
Aaron's eyes grew wide. "I...I think I was gone...."

"What happened to you?" Veil asks, eyes still dark with concern. "What did you see?"

Aaron just shook his head. "Its ok, I'm back now." Aaron looke around then, "Now where is that golden skinned fucker? I want a rematch."
Cara laughed and lightly punched him. "You dumb shit! He almost killed you! No fighting for you for at least a week!" she hugged Aaron again, and he chuckled, a sickly weak sound.

"Well well, there's some one I haven't seen in a long time," a voice says from behind them. The group turns to see Tania walking across the grass, approaching the others at a leisurely pace. She has changed little since last time Aaron saw her. She gives Aaron the once over with her eyes, then over to Cara.
"What was all the screamin?

*****

The Gremlin pulls up to the chantry a few minutes later. Alec hops out, stamps his joint and opens the door for Nettle.
"Here we are, love. Tania should be inside..."

Nettle smiles and steps out of the car, standing to the side as Alec shuts the door, and then taking his arm as they walk up to the front doors and enter. The wards set up to protect the place do an instant Life/Mind/Spirit scan on the two Mages and allow them to pass. As the two make their way down to where the mirror to the Horizon Realm is, Nettle turns her head to Alec. "What-- did you do a mental-call to Tania?"

"No, Tania had some repairs to do on that bench we ahh damaged a few nights ago," he says with a smirk. "You remember love, the bench with the huge crack in it?"

Nettle looks off for a moment, and then a grin lights up her face. "Aaaaah the BENCH!" she laughs and covers part of her face with her hand. "Damn, we should have had that fixed, ourselves! Now we're going to get another lecture! If I only knew a little more about the realms, I could have fixed that! I think I'll ask Veil to teach me..."

And speaking of Realms, Alec and Nettle finally find themselves standing before the mirror. It slowly begins to glow a shimmering blue and they can see Dalthania's form appear. Nettle bows before her, touching the fingers of one hand to her forehead...heart...and then kissing her fingers. Dalthania smiles and shimmers, and the couple walk through the mirror and into the Realm.

*****

Veil smiles at Tania. "Thank you for coming!" She approaches the leader of the Chantry and nods her head politely. "I've got a lot to tell you. Perhaps it would be easier if we just do it this way..."

Veil opens her mind again, holding out her hand for Tania to take it. Once she has done so, she reveals the events of the past hour or so, and her understanding of what Aaron now is and what has happened to him.

After she has 'explained' everything to Tania, she steps back. "Do you mind if we bring them inside? I would have waited to bring them to the Realm, but Aaron really was in bad shape," she turns and smiles apologetically to the couple. "I didn't know how much longer he could hold out. He still needs to rest, as you can see, he's not quite up to his normal self.."

Tania closes her eyes and lets the information sink in. Turning to Veil she nods. She puts her hands on her hips.
"Well looks like you got yourself into some trouble," she says.
"Let's get him to the empty bedroom. I just finished cleaning out Hank's old room." She kneels down by Aaron.
"You sure got yourself roughed up, Aaron. Now listen, if that thing is out there looking for you, the safest place is here in the realm. I don't want you leaving till you're one hundred percent." She turns to Veil.
"When we're finished, I'd like to up the strength of those wards. Especially spirit. We don't want whatever that thing was in here."
Tania looks up as the mirror shimmers and nods to Veil as Alec and Nettle step through.
"Well well, took you long enough."

Nettle grins nervously at Tania, taking Alec's hand. "Well, we work for a living! Had to get Jaf to cover the store...sorry about the, uh, bench." Nettle shifts her eyes to Veil. "Perhaps you can teach me more about the spirit worlds later?" Then her eyes fall on Aaron and Cara, and a big smile appears on her face. "Aaron! And this must be Cara!" Nettle releases Alec's hand and rushes up to take Cara's. "Welcome! It will be great to have you two here with us! We could go on double-dates...shopping...what kind of music do you like? Alec and I-- " she gestures behind her at Alec, "-- that's my husband, Alec. We own a music store...I'm sure Alec would give you a nice discount, right baby?" she calls back over her shoulder at him. "Ah, you ARE a cute couple! So...how did you meet?" Nettle starts rattling off happily as her curiosity kicks in.

Cara looked a little stunned with all the sudden attention. In the last two years she had rarely been around so many people talking to her. Aaron slowly pulled himself to his feet, still shaken from his latest brush with oblivion. He gently wrapped his arm around Cara.
"This is Alec and Nettle," Aaron said, "Thats Tania over there." He smiled at them, and turned to Nettle again, "I see married life is treating the two of you well."

Alec smiles as Nettle goes off on Cara. He digs in his pocket and lights up a joints. He takes a quick toke and hands it to Aaron.
"Right then, here you go this will make you feel better, cheers!"

Aaron shook his head, "Pass, it doesn't work for me anymore, and I don't wanna waste it. Thats what happens when you don't have a pulse anymore."

"Very curious..." Veil half mutters to herself. "I hope you don't mind.. but.. while you're here, I'd like to find out more about what exactly you are. The power behind it.. the effects on your physical form." Veil absently tucks a strand of her long burgundy hair behind her ear as she looks at Aaron. "You don't breathe either? Or need food? But your body doesn't decompose...hmm...curious."

She shakes her head. "Forgive me. I've been up here so long I'm afraid that I've become a bit of a recluse and I'm forgetting my manners! Lets get you inside.. we can use Hank's old room, Tania?" she flashes her a grateful smile.

"Yeah, I moved him to the church just a few days ago," she says and for a moment considers. "Alright, Aaron let's get you to the bedroom so you can get some rest," she says, "Can you walk?"

Aaron took a step forward, and stumbled slightly, before being caught by Cara.
He tried again and this time was able to walk with Cara's assistance.
"Lead the way," Aaron said.

Tania helps Cara with Aaron and puts his arm around her shoulders, while her arm helps support him. "It's not the hilton, but it will do while you get yourself rested up. Cara, if you'd like to move anything into that room go ahead and help yourself."

**********

Oswald looks at his latest creation, a large, semi-portable weapon, almost like a giant flamethrower. With one difference. The tanks carry salt water and once the water is sprayed on the target, lethal volts of electricity are carried across the water, electicuting the target.

It had been a couple of months since he had started his major experiments... in cloning. Granted, no one would truly approve of his... test subject, but, what they didn't know wouldn't hurt anyone. Still, it had been a nightmare, with the first group of clones either being incredibly mutated or mentally unstable. Some, he had to kill before they caused TOO much danger to himself... and others.

The last few were turning out okay. Granted, they were still young, but, Oswald had set it so that they would age a little more rapidly, being able to become 20 years old by the time they were technically 5 years old. Also, they were able to learn at a rapid rate, and even though the 6 clones he had were about 5 months old now, they had an 8th Grade intelligence. Soon, they could possibly have a PHD in any subject.

Oswald smiled, this was truly an inspired experiment, but, now... now he needed to rest. There was some things in the Chantry he had to get and maybe, some sleep. He hadn't slept in three days, working on this gun... and the clones.

Heading out of his warehouse, Oswald got in his VW Van and started heading to the Chantry.

******

Veil takes the initiative and leads the group towards the Palace.
The small dirt road leads up through the small hills, and opens up to reveal a large marble palace. The cream colored walls to the east are covered with large rose bushes, and a small well-tended garden spreads out beside them.

The path leads straight to the large doors, which open to reveal a large entranceway with a beautiful bowl-fountain in the middle.

Veil leads you through the palace until you reach the now empty bedroom. A simple twin-sized bed rests along one wall, and the other walls are covered by a large bookshelf and a desk. A small closet opens to the left of the doorway, and a window above the desk looks out to the peaceful scenery of the Realm.

Aaron staggered over to the bed, and flopped down, Cara right next to him. Aaron settled back against the wall, and Cara laid her head down on his lap. She was asleep in moments. Aaron smiled and stroked her hair. He no longer had to truely sleep, but periodiclly he needed to rest, in a sort of half sleep.

Nettle and Alec watch for a moment as Veil leads Aaron and Cara away towards the Palace. Nettle turns to Alec. "Hmmm...I think we better let them have some privacy, and we can talk to them when they're rested." Nettle gets a familiar glint in her eye. "Speaking of privacy..." she takes Alec's hand, and then two start walking off toward their favorite field. When they think they're out of view of the others, they change their pace to a run, and after anothing moment, they start creating a trail of clothing as they run and finally stop-- their laughter and noises, unfortunately, echoing faintly across the field.

******

Oswald approaches the Chantry in his beat up old VW van. Noticing no one outside, he heads into the Chantry, and goes to his room downstairs. On several work benches are various experiments that are being worked on.

Looking for some parts, and finding nothing, he heads upstairs. Still finding no one, he begins snooping in various rooms, not sure what he's looking for.

Tania exits from the horizon realm and hears a door close upstairs. She looks up and thinks a moment. "Oswald..." she thinks and smiles heading up the stairs.
"Oswald, what are you looking for?" she says loudly, hoping he'll hear her.

Oswald sees Tania as she comes up the stairs. "Oh, I thought I had left my Temporal Spectral Electro-Analytic Conversional Matrix Heliostrobe around here," he says, bluffing his way out of saying he was just snooping. "I'm lost without it, and I've checked everywhere. I cannot for the life of me recall where I put it." He smiles a bit at Tania. "Course, I figured I'd be smart and start looking in the last places first, but then, that means, the first places I look will be last.... hmmmm."

Tania looks at him and nods her head.
"Mmm-hmm, well it's a good thing you're here. Aaron showed up a little while ago. He was hurt pretty bad but he's fixed up now and sleeping in the realm. He brought a lday friend too," she says as motions for him to follow.
"So what does this Temporal electro thingamajig look like anway?"

"It looks like a large, metal burrito," explains Oswald as he follows Tania. "Can't miss it really."

Tania gives Oswald a strange look as he describes this electro thingamabob. "Sophisticated name for a large metal burrito. What does it do?" She folds her arsm across her chest and looks at Oswald, "Is it safe to have here in the chantry?"

"Well," he begins. "It's handy for picking up charged ion transmissions. Also useful as an etheric beam locator. After my last experiments, I've been a little worried about my place, so I wanted to give it a once over. I mean, you'd be worried too if one side of your room was normal time, another was slow time, and a third was fast time, and the last one was reverse time! Especially if it's the bathroom." Oswald shudders, especially with what the experiment was, the first Nettle clone, which was horribly mutated.

Tania chuckles at Oswald and smiles at him. She holds up a hand.
"Ok ok, have you checked your lab here? Or just the one at home?"

"Both," replies Oswald. "Which is why I was looking upstairs. Hey, you never know with me. So, since no one is here, what's going on? Anything special?"

Tania shakes her head, "Well except for Aaron and Cara showing up, no not really. Jake is working on some new wards for the chantry and the baby is doing well. Alec and Nettle are in the realm doing...Alec and Nettle things," she says with a chuckle.
"What's new with you? Haven't seen you around recently."

"Not much Tania, been working on some secret stuff. Nothing too extraordinary," he adds with a chuckle. "You know me, always messing about in my labs."

Tania laughs, "Lets get to the realm. I'm sure Alec and Nettle are done now and would like to catch up with you." she says leading him to the portal.

"Very well," replies Oswald, a little hesitant, but ready to go. "But knowing those two, it may take a while longer before they are done."

Tania opens the portal door and walks through. She looks to see if she can find Alec or Nettle in sight. Tania sighs, 'Still at it I bet.'
"Alright you two, we have company! Oswald is here!" she shouts, her voice echoing through the realm.

Alec tries to untangle himself from underneath Nettle's leg. Lifting himself on his arms, "Did you hear something, love?"

Nettle pauses, getting up on her elbows. "Ah damn-- baby, we better get dressed. That sounded like Tania...and I think she said something about Oswald!"
Alec and Nettle do a twisted impression of the Kama Sutra meets the Keystone Cops as they disentangle themselves from one another. Then they go running around the field in circles, locating each article of clothing and putting it on as they find it. By the time they run up the hill to the path, Nettle's dress is on inside-out and her platform boots are on the wrong feet.
Alec's attire is impecable. His frock and shirt are neatly hung about his shoulders, and the crease in his pants are razor sharp.
Nettle glances over at Alec and does a double-take. "How...?" she looks down at her dress and boots. "Oh for the love of..." she bends down and unlaces her boots, getting them on the right feet, and is in the process of lacing them back up when Tania and Oswald walk up to them. She looks up-- giving Tania her biggest toothy smile as she continues lacing...her hair falling into her face. "Why hello there Tania...Oswald...what brings you both here?"

Tania crosses her arms and shakes her head.
"You two, don't you ever get enough?"

Nettle finally stands up, looking at Tania with surprise. "No. Do you?" She turns to Alec. "And I thought the idea was to find someone that you never got enough of!"
Alec shrugs at Nettle and cocks his head. "Some people just don't get it, love."
Nettle turns back to Tania with a worried look on her face. "Are...you and Jacob doing OK?"

Tania raises her eyebrow and chuckles. "Ok kids, just be careful of the decibal level."

Nettle raises her eyerbrows and looks at Tania for a moment with a trace of a grin on her face, and then turns to Oswald and smiles. "Ozzie! It's been a long time since you've been around! What have you been working on? How is your greenhouse doing?"

"Things are going fine," Oswald says hesitantly. "Nothing really new. The greenhouse is fine, I have some new Dionaea muscipula if you'd like to see." Oswald thinks for a second, and then adds, "or I could bring them by. I haven't planted them yet."

Nettle smiles, putting her hands on her hips and then looking down. She furrows her brow when she sees that her dress is on backwards, and then quickly looks back up with a little laugh. "Are you sure everything's fine, Ozzie? You sound a little strained. You don't have to bring the plants by-- that would be too much hassle, and they might get damaged. We could go by with you, and I could help you plant them!" Nettle turns to Alec, putting her hand on his back and rubbing. "How does that sound, Alec?" She turns back to Oswald. "Wasn't Alec having you grow some canabis for him?"

Alec nods at Oswald and lights a joint, "Too right, sugar. Oswald-- how's me buds growing?"

Tania shakes her head and sits on the bench listening to the kids talk. checking her watch she stands up quick.
"Be right back," she says walking towards the chantry.

"Oh, the canabis," mumbles Oswald. "It's doing fine. But really, I have some... experiments that are a little... hush hush for the moment. Besides, it's not any trouble at all."

Nettle grins and gets a sparkle in her eye. She leans in to Oswald and elbows him. "Hush-hush, you say? Aaw, come on Ozzie! How long have we known each other? Besides, we've been to your lab before! You can trust us!" Nettle folds her arms. "You know you need my help, Ozz! You can be so, well, absent-minded at times that I'm surprised your plants do as well as they do!"

Alec laughs and puts his arm around Oswald, "Yeah Oz, if there's something you need help on you can ask us?" He says with a smile and offer Oz a drag of his joint.

Oswald waves away the offered joint. "No no, it's not that, it's something else really. You guys can come down, but... I'd have to put away the six cl- uh, class eight defibulators away," he finishes with a weak grin.

Nettle grins and squeezes Oswald's arm. "Great! I know you just got here, so we don't have to leave right away, but whenever you're ready we'll follow you! I do need to ask Veil something before we go-- did you happen to see her?"

Tania exits the house and walks towards the group. Her little daughter Sarah walks next to her holding her hand until she sees Oswald. She lets go of Tania's hand and runs towards him.
"Uncle Ozzie!" the three year old shouts with delight. Sarah is tall for a three year old, her long curly black hair bounces on her shoulder as she runs for Oz, her arms wide open.

"Okay," says Oswald. "But first comes first. Hey kiddo!" And takes up Sarah in his arms, giving her a big hug. "What have you been up to lately? Haven't seen you for a spell." As he talks to Sarah, he pulls from his pocket a small paper bag. "Jelly bean?" he offers her.

Sarah laughs and takes a jellybean and pops it into her mouth. Her yellow-green eyes blink as she looks at Ozzie as if scaning him. Her slitted pupils uncover and she smiles at Ozwald.
"You're ok, Uncle Ozzie!" She says.

Nettle smiles and laughs delightedly until she sees Oswald offer Sarah a jelly bean, and then she feels a little bit of panic in her stomach. "Ozzie...you didn't happen to make those, yourself, did you?" Nettle puts a hand on her hip. "OK, Ozz...what do they do?"

Oswald looks at Nettle confused. "No, I bought these at the corner store, like I always do. You act like I've lost my marbles Nettle," and, while holding Sarah, and the bag of jellybeans, somehow is able to reach into another pocket and pull out a bag of marbles. "See, I haven't lost them at all."

Nettle raises an eyebrow at Oswald, and then bursts out laughing. "All right, all right, Oswald, I apologize!" She grins, and then reaches over and takes Sarah from Oswald's arms before something gets dropped. She balances Sarah on one hip and grins at her. "Hey Sarah-baby! What have you been up to, cutie?"

Sarah laughs as she gets tranfered from Ozwald to Nettle. She looks at Nettle and puts her hand up to her lips.
"Nothin, Auntie Nettle. Mommy's been taken me out on walks! And gardner said that he'd make some more of those really purple plants! Crisanmums!" She turns her yellow-emerald eyes to Alec and seems to study him as she did Ozwald. When she's satisfied she leans in and whispers in Nettle's ear. "He's ok too, Auntie Nettle."

Nettle feels a slight vibration in her arms as Sarah peers at Alec, and looks at Sarah in surprise. "Why Sarah, you're getting really good at that! Such a fast learner!" She rubs Sarah's leg, peering over at Tania for a moment-- giving her a look-- and then back at Sarah. "Yes, Uncle Alec is VERY OK, Sarah-toes. Thanks for checking for me." She smiles at Sarah, still with a look of wonder in her eyes. Tania returns her look and shrugs slightly.

Sarah smiles and then concentrates on Nettle. She gets a look of surprise and nods solemnly. "You're emptying right now because Uncle Alec hasn't planted yet," she whispers quite loudly.

Nettle lets out a loud laugh-- her face turning bright red-- and not many people can make Nettle blush anymore!

Alec winces and takes another toke from his joint.
"But don't think we haven't tried already today, Sarah love." He says grabbing Sarah's back and tickling her.

Tania shakes her head and laughs. "Hey now get your perverted innuendos away from Sarah," she says jokingly.
Sarah laughs and squirms in Nettle's arms. Alec lets go of her sides and puts his arm around Nettle, putting out the joint in his other hand.
He kisses Nettle on the cheek and smiles down at Sarah. Sarah leans in and kisses Nettle's other cheek.

Nettle grins a big grin, closing her eyes and putting a hand on Sarah's cheek and a hand on Alec's cheek as they kiss her cheeks. "Aaaw, I feel so loved right now!" When she opens her eyes, there's a softness to them that Alec has learned to dread recently. "Oh Alec-- isn't this so wonderful? Sarah's such a sweetheart...and there's this sense of completion right now that I want to have all the time...oh Alec, couldn't we?? Please-please?"

Tania smiles watching her friends play with Sarah. She looks to Ozwald and walks over. Leaning in, "I made these the other day," she holds out her hand to show him a clear plastic contact lens case. In the case are two brown-eyed lens. "I'm thinking of taking her out today. Do you think these will be ok?"

Alec looks at Nettle and Sarah. He thinks a moment and pushes his sunglasses back up to his eyes. He purses his lips in thought.
Sarah smiles at Alec.
"We'll see..." he says finally.

Nettle grins at Alec and bounces Sarah on her hip. "Oh good! Thank you for at least thinking about it! You've been brushing me off for months now!" She turns to Sarah. "Did you hear that?? Uncle Alec might be 'planting' soon! Won't that be wonderful! It must get a little lonely here with no other little kids around to play with!" Nettle exclaims-- her face glowing with excitement.

Sarah claps her hands and hugs Nettle. "Yay! Uncle Alec plants! Uncle Alec plants!! Can it be a girl like me!?" She asks excitedly.

Alec sighs as Sarah shouts. He looks at Nettle giving her that, 'Thanks for letting the world know.' He shakes his head.
"We'll try for a boy, Sarah love."

Nettle's grin turns into a sceptical eyebrow-raise. "Oh REALLY, Mr. Won't-Talk-To-Me-About-Babies-For-Months-And-Now-Wants-A-Son!" She turns to Sarah again. "Can you believe that? He wants a b-" Suddenly it dawns on Nettle that Alec said "we WILL try for a boy," and she turns back to Alec beaming, and pulls him into a hug with her free arm-- squishing the three of them together. "Oh Alec!! Yes, of COURSE we'll try for a son! Whatever you want, baby!"

Alec hugs her and smiles. "Maybe we should start trying now love. It seems time that we should start. I mean we are quite settled wouldn't you agree?"
Nettle nods quickly and pulls back a little to wipe her eyes so Sarah doesn't get alarmed if she sees her crying. "Yes, it's time, baby, it's time."

Oswald looks at the lenses that Tania has. "They should be fine when you go out. I know, not many people would understand. Too bad, she's a great kid."
Looking over at Nettle and Alec with Sarah, it's almost like one big happy family. "Man, this is such a Kodak moment."

The Gideons and Sarah continue grinning at each other for another moment, when Nettle remembers that she wanted to ask Veil something. Rather than leave the group, she decides to try their mind-link.
"Alec, honey, will you hold Sarah for a minute? I need to ask Veil something." Nettle hands Sarah over to Alec, and then plucks the joint from Alec's fingers-- grinning and enjoying the spectacle of Alec holding Sarah awkwardly for a moment as he tries to find a comfortable way to carry her. Nettle winks at him, takes a drag from the joint, and turns to walk a little ways away to stand with her back against a tree facing away from the group.
She opens the small, black, fringed bag she keeps at her hip-- the long, thin strap crossing across her chest and back diagnally-- and finds the little velvet bag containing her pack of tarot cards. She shuffles the cards until she finds the Queen of Swords, and then puts the rest away. Closing her eyes and holding the card to her forhead, she sends her mind out to try to link with Veil's.

Tania shakes her head, looking at Sarah proudly.
"Her eyes are fine, it's reality that's wrong, Oswald. In Voudoun she has the prophet's eyes."

Alec takes Sarah awkwardly and looks down at her. Sarah smiles and takes his sunglasses off and puts them on. The glasses are two sizes two big. Alec looks at Nettle and raises his eyebrow at her.
"Hurry up with that, love."

Nettle's arm suddenly appears from behind the tree and waves in a hushing-gesture to Alec as she continues to concentrate.

"Yeah, true," replies Oswald. "So, what do you have planned with Sarah?"

"Teach her here at the chantry. She's already so adept at it, she may need a more gifted teacher." Tania says with a sigh.

Nettle feels resistance as she attempts a mind link with Veil, but the wall quickly gives as Veil realizes who is trying to reach her. She sets aside her ritual tools and clears her mind, opening it to Nettle and offering a warm greeting. Nettle can't help but pick up on the keep disappointment that Veil is feeling as her efforts to find any trace of the dragon spirits has failed again.

"I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you, Veil...I'm very sorry that you weren't able to find the dragon spirits." Nettle pauses for a moment, her face reflecting her sorrow. "I have a few questions for you-- important questions-- so I'll come right out with them and ask you, in case you need to get back to something." Nettle pauses and collects her thoughts.
"First, I was wondering if you could teach me how to see into the spirit-world. Alec has..." Nettle thinks for a moment, "...a problem where he'll never be able to do it, himself, so I think it's important that at least one of us can. My second question is, will casting magick while pregnant affect a baby? I've been observing Sarah lately, and she hasn't even Awakened yet, and she can already use magick!" Nettle pauses, waiting for Veil's response.

"You're not disturbing me at all," Veil responds through the mindlink. "I was nearly finished anyhow... nothing new." She sighs quietly. "And I'd be glad to teach you spirit, you're long overdue for your lessons as it is! When do you wish to begin?" When Nettle asks her about pregnancy, Veil chuckles. "I think that Sarah is a special case. Your magic casting shouldn't affect your pregnancy, as long as you're careful."

"Have you thought of having each of us teach Sarah, at least the Magic that we're proficient in?" asks Oswald. "I think it would show her what each Tradition holds, what each believes in."

"Oswald has invited us to go to his lab-- I'm going to help him plant some new plants...I believe he called them "Dionaea muscipula"-- if you'd like to come? After that I would love to start training in spirit with you!" Nettle pauses, and then does a little giggle. "Veil...Alec finally...well, I'll tell you in person! Oh say that you'll come, too!!"

Tania thinks about it a moment and nods. "That's a good idea Oswald. I think we could figure out something."
She looks at Sarah and Alec and turns to Oswald.
"Think we could tag along?"

"Okay, just let me check on some things and we're off," says Oswald, a little hesitantly.

Veil smiles, feeling cheered by hearing Nettle's unabashed enthusiasm. "I think that someone should stay behind so Aaron and Cara don't wake up alone," she responds. "But thank you for the invitation! Come find me when you've returned and we can start your spirit lessons."

"Well, if everyone's ready, we can get going," says Oswald. "But I gotta make a quick call before we go.

Nettle's shoulders sag a little when she hears that Veil won't be coming. "Oh Veil-- you should stop spending so much time out here. The Lady's will must be in this...perhaps she means for you and the earth to be separated from the dragon-spirits...we just have to trust in that." Nettle pauses. "I agree, though-- someone should be here when Aaron and Cara wake up or they'll feel like they've been abandoned! If they wake up while we're gone, tell Cara that I mean it about us taking her shopping!" Nettle grins. "I'll see you when we get back!"
Nettle slowly breaks the mind-link with Veil, puts the tarot card back, and walks back to the small group.
"Well, I'm ready to go now Ozz--" she looks at Tania and Sarah's expectant faces, and grins. "So...it looks like we're all going, then! Good! Sarah will love the lab!" Nettle's smile suddenly fades a little, and she walks over to Oswald, leaning in and whispering. "Be careful with those bugs, OK?"

Oswald nods and heads to the phone. "Yeah, yeah hi. Yeah, well listen, they're coming over so... okay, yeah, stay in there for the time. See if you can get those working. I don't know, try the green wires. Well, I don't have it in front of me. Well, work it out with your sisters okay. Yes. And remember what I said before... yeah, okay. When they're gone we'll go for ice cream. Okay. Bye bye sweetie." The voice on the other line is muffled, but sounds like a child and is... familiar. Oswald looks at the rest of you quizzically and then smiles. "Okay, ready to go."

Nettle grins and takes Sarah back from Alec. "You ready to go on a trip, Sarah-toes?" she asks excitedly. She's about to take Alec's sunglasses off of Sarah and hand them back, but then thinks differently. "I'm sure Uncle Alec won't mind if you wear his sunglasses in the car like a big girl, right Alec?" Nettle quickly explains to Alec through their mind-link that with Sarah's eyes the way they are, it's probably a good idea.

Alec gives Nettle a quick nod and smiles at Sarah.

Tania disappears for a moment, and then returns carrying a baby-seat for the car.

"Tania and Sarah can come with us, and we'll follow you in the Gremlin, Ozz!" Nettle says, and takes off jogging with Sarah bouncing and laughing in her arms as Nettle makes airplane-noises.

"Sure," says Oswald as he entires his VW Van. "You guys remember the way?"

Nettle thinks for a moment. "We better follow you, Ozz. Now, we have a little kid in the car, so no speeding!" Nettle raises her eyebrow and looks sternly from Alec to Oswald.

Tania hooks the car-seat into the backseat of the Gremlin, and gets Sarah strapped in. Then she walks around to the other side of the car and gets in next to Sarah.

Alec opens the passenger-side door for Nettle, and after she's in, he shuts it and walks around, getting into the driver's seat. Nettle rolls her window down and sticks her head out. "OK Ozz-- ready to follow!"

"Rightio," replies Oswald as he gets into his VW Van and heads out to his warehouse, occasionally checking to make sure the rest are behind him.
After a few minutes, the cars enter in the familiar lot of Oswald's old wwarehouse, the windows still broken, graffiti everywhere, trash in the parking lot. You drive to the entranceway and go into the garage. Oswald stops and gets out, "Well, home at last."

Alec and Nettle get out of the Gremlin as Tania unbuckles Sarah and lifts her out of her car-seat. Nettle takes Alec's arm and looks around. "You get anymore prowlers around here, Ozz? I can see why you have the outside of your lab look like this-- what with all the top-secret stuff you have in there. No one would even know anyone lived here, or think it was anything of worth! That might be why no one's tried to steal Alec's Gremlin, either!" Nettle suddenly laughs and covers her mouth, shifting her eyes to look at Alec with a nervous grin on her face.

"Yeah, something like that" replies Oswald.
"Hey boss," comes a gruff voice from a pile of rags. "What's happenin'?"
"Nothing Buzz," waves Oswald at the rags. "Just some friends."
"I hears ya, hey, you got my stuff?"
"Yeah," says Oswald, taking a bottle of Mad Dog out of his coat pocket and tossing it to the rags. An arm shoots out and grabs it, then disappears into the rags again.
Oswald looks at the rest of you as he heads for the elevator. "What?" he asks.

Alec scowls, "They try to steal the gremlin and they'll get quite the surprise, love." he says with a chuckle and hits the car alarm. He pats the car lovingly.
"My baby."

Tania walks behind Oswald, holding Sarah. She steps lightly past the rags and looks at Oswald. Sarah rests her head against Tania's shoulder half asleep.
"What was that?"

"Oh that, that's Buzz. He's pretty cool. Good friend. Lets me in on a few tricks with the werewolves."
"We prefer's the term Garou, Boss," mumbles the rags.
"Sorry Buzz. My apologies," as he hits the elevator door. "Don't worry, he wouldn't harm a fly. Bad guys though, well, that's another matter."

Nettle folds her arms and rolls her eyes. "Alec, if the Beatles were to suddenly appear sitting inside your Gremlin, I think you would go into apoplexic shock!" She holds out her arm and raises an eyebrow. "Now come escort your third love into Oswald's lab, baby."

Alec smiles and bows to Nettle. He holds out his arm to her.
"If the Beatles were to appear in the gremlin love, we'd all go into shock. You know I've been thinking lately of starting a band, what do you think?"

Nettle takes Alec's arm and looks at him in surprise as they approach the elevator. "Really?" Nettle's eyes grow distant as she thinks for a moment, and then she beems a smile. "I think it could work! You've got a great voice and you play the guitar really well...Jaf is actually a very accomplished keyboardist! Did you know that? And Willie told me that he used to play bass in a glam-band! And..." Nettle's smile gets even bigger, "...that leaves a drummer! Alec-- I've ALWAYS wanted to be the drummer for a band! I'll start taking lessons right away! Oh can I be the drummer, Alec?? Think of all the aggression I'll be able to get out on the drums! It will feel so good to slam drums for hours!" Nettle unconsciously clenches her fists and swings one of her arms wildly.

Alec looks at Nettle swinging her arms and chuckles, "Sure baby, I bet you'd be good at it! We could call ourselves Alec and the Purple Ooze! That's great that is. We could play at the club an all that."

Nettle halts the walking for a minute and gives Alec a long, even stare. "No. For the love of GOD, Alec, this is the year 2002! PLEASE think of a different name!!"

Alec looks at Nettle in surprise and shrugs. He gives her the peace frog.
"It's all about the music baby," he says with a smirk.

Nettle continues her disapproving stare. "Well, there won't be ANY music with a name like that!" Nettle looks around. "We can talk about this later, baby."
Nettle looks at the pile of rags, and then narrows her eyes and Alec can feel his arm tingle where Nettle's holding it. "Aah! You must be one of Oswald's Garou-friends that I've heard so much about! My name's Nettle, and this is my husband Alec! And this is Tania and her daughter Sarah!" Nettle says, gesturing to each person as she introduces them.

"Mighty fine meetin' ya lady," and out pokes a wrinkly old man's face, stubble and dirt all over. "De Boss, he likes being called dat, he don't bring company over. Especially pretty company over. So, you goin' down to the big lab huh? Them buggies freak me out, but dey cool. Especially when we get's in a big fight with the Wyrmies. They's helped us out pretty good.
"But I'm boring you kids. Go on, go play. I watch the cars and make sure no one be stealin' them."

Alec gives the man the peace frog, "Groovy man, keep the faith." He says.

Nettle chuckles at Alec, wondering if that was really just a joint he'd been smoking earlier. She turns to the Garou and smiles. "You're quite the gentleman...Buzz, is it? Pleased to meet you, Buzz, and thank you so much for watching the cars! Alec would be inconsolable if anything happened to his 'baby!'"
Alec and Nettle finally join Oswald, Tania, and Sarah at the elevator. "Those big bug-robots know you have guests with you this time, right Ozz?" Nettle asks, looking a little nervous.

"Oh sure, sure. Not a problem." Oswald takes out a notebook and starts jotting down some figures. "You do know what we are planting don't you? Very rare species of Venus Fly Trap, each plant is about 3 feet tall."

"Oooh!" Nettle looks at Oswald in surprise. "I'm very curious to see them! What are you growing them for, anyway, Ozz?" Nettle suddenly giggles. "What if one of your mechanical bees flies into one?!"

"Symbiosis," amswers Oswald. "Insects pollinate the plants, help them grow, and even hinder their growth, and plants eat insects at times. Besides, the flowers are so beautiful. There bright reds and yellows."

"But Ozzy-- wouldn't it hurt the plant to try to ingest a mechanical insect?" Nettle asks worriedly.

Oswald looks at Nettle like a high school teacher looks at one of his more idiotic students. "Not the robots. They've been programmed not to go near them. I'm talking regular insects. Besides, most plants normally, once they've done it, realize oddly enough. It's pretty interesting to almost see the plants understand what is and isn't food."
As Oswald talks, the elevator finally stops at the bottom.
The lab stretches for several hundred yards, with hundreds of mechanical insects leaping, flying, walking, crawling and scurrying around. Huge tanks filled with literally tens of thousands of insects form corridors down towards Oswald's main lab where tables are stacked with various bits and pieces of equipment.

Nettle clutches Alec's arm as she scans the room. "Oh goddess...there are TONS more now..."

Alec nods and smiles. "Groovy, Oswald. These should be real useful as guards."

Nettle looks at Alec incredulously. "You're not scared?? Look at it!" she exclaims, motioning to the room in a sweeping-gesture.

Alec walks in, curious about the mechanical bugs.

"Of course, I'm always getting new species," Oswald explains as he walks down the corridors, the mechanical monstrosities seemingly buzzing past him. Oswald almost seems like Moses parting the ways through a plague of giant locusts.

"No, baby. These are neat-o." Alec says.

Nettle shrieks and lets go of Alec's arm as he starts walking in.

Tania looks at the bugs and sighs. "There are a lot of them Oswald. Planning on having visitors?"

Sarah laughs and claps her hands. "Buggies!!"

"No, just useful helpers." Oswald answers.

Nettle looks with relief at Sarah, but it does nothing to help her fears.

Sarah walks into the lab looking at all the bugs.

Tania walks cautiously in after Sarah, trying to hold onto her hand.

As Sarah walks past the giant insect farms, they all seem to be..."following" her.

Nettle watches everyone walk in, takes a deep breath, counts to three, holds her arms over her head, and runs after Oswald shrieking.

Sarah watches the bugs and laughs, picking up one and looking at it real close.

"Nettle, I thought I told you last time that they couldn't hurt you." Oswald explains.

"What's this one??" Sarah asks.

"That's a Cicindela formosa, the Tiger Beetle.? Oswald answers.

Nettle barely hears Oswald, swiping about her head and grabbing his arm tightly.

Alec lights a joint, takes a toke and hands it to Nettle.

"Calm your nerves, sugar."

Sarah walks over to Auntie Nettle.

Nettle grabs the joint eagerly, and crouches down on the floor with one arm still over her head, and the other bringing the joint to her lips for a deep inhale.

"Look a tigger beetle, Auntie Nettle!" Sarah says holding out the bug.

Nettle coughs out smoke and shrieks, stumbling backwards.

Alec shakes his head. "You can smoke the whole lot, baby."

Sarah walks back over to Oswald.

Nettle nods, shaking, and runs over to stand behind Alec, now clutching HIS arm tightly.

Sarah looks intently at the bug. "It's metal!"

Nettle inhales the whole joint in about 3 inhales.

"Ouch, love. I need the blood to go to my hand." Alec exclaims.

The gray and white colors of the metallic beetle cascade into different colors.

Sarah watches the colors.

"Well Sarah, all of the insects outside are metal. The ones in the farms are real. I wouldn't want any of them to be hurt." Oswald says.

Nettle grins and coughs. "Sorry baby..." she lets go of Alec's hand and stumbles over to Oswald, grinning. "Where the big old flytraps Ozzeeeee??" she asks, and giggles.

"That's it. Nice and smooth." Alec makes a gesture with the flat of his hand.

"In the greenhouse, where else?" Oswald says as he walks further into his lab.

Tania takes Sarah's hand and follows Oswald into the green house.

Nettle follows after, not seeing bugs now, but shinies. Pretty shinies.

Alec puts his hand on Nettle's back and leads her after Oswald.

Nettle looks back at Alec and grins-- almost stumbling into Tania's back.

Alec pulls out a bag of chips from his pocket. He feels Nettle will need these in a bit.

After a few minutes, the group arrives at two huge, wooden doors. Oswald opens them and inside, a magnificent green cathedral of root, stem, leaf, and flower.

Nettle walks into the greenhouse. "O" she says, making her mouth into that shape.

Tania looks around at the plants in awe. "Oswald these are beautiful..."

"Good work me old china." Alec nods in approval.

"Oh yeah...beautiful...hey Ozzie-- where's those stained-glass ones. I want one..." Nettle says, looking around with squinted eyes.

Oswald motions for the group to go in, but stays outside.

Nettle turns and faces Oswald. "Hey now-- where are the stained-glass ones??"

Tania turns to Oswald.

"Sorry, I really can't go any further then this." Oswald states.

"Is it safe?" Tania asks.

Alec raises and eyebrow at Oswald.

Nettle folds her arms. "Ozzie, you're a weirdo!" she says, taking an unsteady step.

"Oh, it's fine, but... it's me." Oswald begins.

Alec helps Nettle stay steady.

"The plants are on the left though, but... I just can't go any further." Oswald point out.

Nettle sees the bag of chips Alec's holding and snatches it from him, tearing it open and grabbing some chips.

"Why not?" she asks, through a mouthful of chips.

Tania looks to the left and then back at Oswald. "Yeah why not?"

"I'll kill the plants." Oswald finally explains.

"Five alarm chili, eh Oswald?" Alec grins.

Nettle starts laughing hard, and then starts choking.

Alec smacks Nettle on the back and shakes his head.

Alec thinks Nettle can't handle her smoke.

Tania nods.

"No, plants just die around me." Oswald says.

Nettle coughs and grins at Alec. "My hero!" She throws her arms around him and kisses him.

"Maybe next time we are in the chantry I could take a look at that for you." Tania offers.

Alec kisses her back and discreetly takes her bag of chips and stuffs it into his pocket.

"Maybe. I've been like this ever since I became a Son." Oswald answers.

Tania nods.

Nettle releases Alec and looks back at Oswald. "You're a sun? That's why you're so bright?! HAHAHAHAAH!" Nettle makes herself crack up.

"But hey, come on, you guys wanted to plant them, so start planting." Oswald commands good-naturedly.

"Hmmm, we'll take a look at it then." Tania nods.

Alec raises an eyebrow at Nettle and shakes his head. "Hey Tania could you ah?" he says motioning towards Nettle.

Oswald nods his head.

Nettle looks around and detects that she's the only one laughing, and clears her throat. "So uh, where's the freakin' huge flytraps?"

Tania smiles and wags her finger at Alec, "She's your wife, Alec."

Tania gets some gloves and begins to plant.

Sarah stays near her mother helping her.

Oswald stays slightly outside of the greenhouse.

One of the Venus flytraps bends towards Sarah. It sniffs her hair and waggles it's tongue out.

Nettle turns and walks shakily over to the flytraps. "Holy GODDESS these are HUGE!"

"I told you." Oswald says.

Nettle turns back to grin at Alec. "Hey baby-- these are flytraps, so keep your special bits away!" Nettle starts cracking herself up again.

Sarah turns to the Venus flytrap and stares at it a moment. "Hey watcho doing Veener flytraps?"

"I'll be right back." Oswald calls.

Alec watches the flytrap. He lets go of Nettles hand and gets ready to move to stop it if it tries anything.

Tania turns to see the flytrap and smiles at Sarah. "It likes you."

As the group continues planting, Oswald heads over to another doorway near the lab. Other voices can be heard behind it. A minute later, Oswald returns and watches the group plant.

Nettle walks over and kneels beside Sarah and Tania, helping them plant.

Sarah pets the flytrap. "Good Veener."

"It's a pity I can't help you and enjoy this place more." Oswald says regretfully.

"It says it's name is, tgahgdkkd na." Sarah explains.

Alec watches Sarah and bends his sunglasses down.

Oswald stares at Sarah.

Alec looks at Oswald and shrugs.

Nettle looks over at Oswald. "Well if you can't come in here, how do you take care of them, hmmm?"

"How'd you... how'd it..." Oswald stutters.

Sarah shrugs. "It spoke to me."

"The mechanical insects. They?re everywhere. I can only enjoy this place by the windows." Oswald says to Nettle in exasperation.

"Oh Ozz...such a waste! At least you appreciate plants, even though you can't get close to them! Now where did you put the stained-glass ones, and can I have one this time? Please-please, Ozzie??" Nettle begs.

"Yes yes yes, they're...ohhhhh," Oswald snaps his fingers. "They're down the way. I gotta get the map though. I can have one of the bees show you the way-- they know all the ways to it."

"It says it likes the women who take care of it." Sarah continues.

The flytrap wraps a tentacle around Nettle and hugs her a moment and lets go. Then it does the same for Tania.

"See!" Sarah exclaims.

Nettle stares at Sarah for a second, and then a big grin spreads across her face. ?WOMEN, Ozz??"

"At least it has taste." Alec grins.

Oswald smiles. "Never seen them do that. Must not like the bots too much. I need some real people to be here more often."

Nettle stands, brushing off her knees. "Alec-- will you go find the stained-glass plants...oh, and the cannabis, too. Ozzie-- where are you keeping these...women?!?"

"Little girls like me, it says." Sarah says.

"Women," stutters Oswald. "What women?"

Alec looks at Oswald with a raised eyebrow.

"The women who tend to the plants, of course! I KNEW you had to have some crazy secret-life you weren't letting us in on!" Nettle exclaims.

"I don't know what your talking about." Oswald says flatly.

Tania stands and looks at Oswald, a sly smile on her face. "Nettle, let Oswald be."

Nettle sticks her tongue out at Tania. "Spoil-sport!"

"He can have a private life if he wants," Tania says winking at Oswald.

Nettle reaches into the bag hanging at her waist and starts fumbling until she finds the tarot card for the Hermit.

Nettle grins and closes her eyes, sending her mind out to touch Oswald's. She detects that there ARE females who help him in the greehouse.

Tania feels the vibration and looks at Nettle. "Nettle, stop that."

Nettle drops the card back into her bag and claps her hands. "I knew it!!"

Tania touches Nettle's shoulder.

Nettle grins at looks at Tania. Nettle is now completely sober.

"WHAT?!" Oswald cries.

Nettle's smile falters a little and she blinks. "Whoah...what a downer Tania."

"Nettle," Tania says in a low voice, "that is enough."

Alec shakes his head chuckling.

"You're in trouble now me old china. Once she learns you have a secret she won't stop." Alec laughs.

Nettle sighs. "All right, all right. I'm just sick of people refusing to answer my questions! What harm can it do to say you have women in your lab! Especially if me and Alec find out! We'd slap him on the back and say 'good for you!'"

"We'd want the details, baby. We want the details." Alec grins in agreement.

Nettle grins and nods firmly, putting her arm around Alec's shoulders.

"Because they're not women." Oswald sighs.

Nettle's head whips over to look at Oswald. "Wha...?"

Alec looks at him not quite getting it...yet.

Tania stands up and looks at Oswald.

"I won't say anymore. Just don't ask about it." Oswald seems more defensive and angrier than usual.

"Ok let's get back to planting, Nettle." Tania says quickly. Tania continues to plant.

Nettle looks at Oswald with her mouth hanging open, and then turns to Alec. "Transvestites, do you think? But Ozzie can't be gay, can he??" she whispers very quietly.

Alec shrugs. "To each his own, me love."

Nettle nods slowly, looking confused. "But the plants would only know the gender of the person touching them...they couldn't be men..."

"Let it be love, he wants to keep it, let him." Alec says gently.

Tania looks over her shoulder. "Nettle..."

Nettle feels her frustration growing and clenches her hands.

Oswald looks at Nettle, angrily.

"Fine, fine..." Nettle throws her hands in the hair. "SORRY." She walks over to one of the mechanical bees. "Um..." she clears her throat. "Stained-glass plants, please."

Sarah continues to walk about the room talking to the plants.

The bees heads off in a direction, down some pathways to the stained glass plants.

Tania, after a time, finally plants the last seedling. "Done."

Nettle follows after the bees, starting to warm to them a little, and glancing back to grin at Alec at the novelty of this.

Alec smiles, "They are something eh, love?"

Nettle looks through the plants until she finds the one she wants, and then asks the bees, "How should I care for this?"

Alec looks at the plants, and then looks for the cannabis.

Nettle nods at Alec. "Yes they are! I'm still scared they could malfunction and go crazy, but I'm trying to stay calm."

The bees stare at Nettle through their prismatic eyes and say nothing.

"Ah don't worry love, they are fine. Oswald makes these things right as rain." Alec says confidently.

Nettle watches the bees for a minute, and then looks at the others to see what lighting they're under, and how wet the soil is. She walks back over to Sarah and squats down. "Look at this, Sarah! This is my favorite of all the plants! Will you ask it how much sunlight and water it likes, and how I should care for it?"

Sarah looks at the plant and nods. Sarah begins to repeat what the plant says.

Nettle nods and listens attentively.

Alec shakes his head. "How does she do that?"

Tania smiles to herself.

Nettle looks up at Alec. "She must be chosen by the Goddess!"

"I don't know. I'd love to find out though. Very intriguing." Oswald murmurs.

Tania stands. "She is chosen by a goddess. The Green Woman."

Nettle looks back at the plant and then smiles at Sarah. "Such beautiful petals! Like a rainbow! I wonder if the sunlight would create a prism of rainbows on the wall!"

Tania wipes her hands on a rag and walks over to the rest of them.

Nettle stops her chatter and looks up at Tania. "She is?? How...how do you know?"

"I can see it in her. I can't explain it." Tania says.

Nettle nods in agreement. "I'm with you there, Tania!"

"Anything else you needed, Oswald?" Tania says, turning back to Oswald.

Nettle looks up at Alec. "Hey baby-- you found the cannabis?"

"Yeah!" Alec says holding up the plant he just found in the corner.

"Not really Tania. So," begins Oswald, a little less hostile than he was earlier. "Nettle has been rewarded for helping me, would the rest of you like something from the greenhouse?"

"Groovy! This will be some good stuff, crikeys!" Alec exclaims.

Nettle laughs and stands again. "Good!" She holds up her plant. "Check this out, baby-- isn't it gorgeous??" She turns back to Oswald. "I'm sorry Ozzie...thanks a lot for the plant. I've been wanting one for years-- ever since I saw them the first time."

"I'm fine, Oswald. Just happy to help." Tania says.

"Anything for Sarah?" Oswald asks.

Sarah looks at the plants and shakes her head. "They want to stay here. They like the attention."

"Okay. How about I make you a deal Sarah, anytime you want, you can come and talk with them." Oswald offers.

Nettle blinks at Saraha's words, and then looks back at Oswald, studying him.

Sarah nods and smiles. "Yay! Uncle Ozzie is ok!"

"Of course I am," smiles Oswald.

"We should head back. I don't want to have Sarah out too long," Tania whispers.

Nettle pretends to be looking over Alec's cannabis, but keeps glancing past Oswald out into the laboratory as if trying to catch a glimpse of something.

Alec nods and smiles at Oswald.

"Yeah, why don't we get home and fix something to eat." Alec suggests.

Nettle looks from Tania to Alec in disappointment...sure that if they just stay a little longer...

"Well, next time you guys come over, I'll have to have some dinner ready for you guys." Oswald says.

"Oh yes! I would enjoy that! And we could meet your..." Nettle trails off and quickly glances down at her plant.

"No. Not really." Oswald says.

Tania picks up Sarah and looks to Oswald. "We should get going," she says smiling at Sarah.

Nettle sighs regretfully and starts following the others to the door-- constantly peering around into the lab.

Tania follows Oswald out.

"I'll solve this riddle...someday..." Nettle thinks to herself with determination.

Alec puts his arm around Nettle and walks out, admiring his plant.

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