VRDET Op: The Marraketh Connection
Segment #13: "Would you like a refill?"
By: nexxus
========================================


        "People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made
of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of 
viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes." 
		- John Dee, in Preludes & Nocturnes, Neil Gaiman


        "Please." nexx replied. "Oh, and can we get some more of these
cookie things?" she asked, making a grab for the last little pastry as 
it scrambled towards the edge of the table. The waitress picked up the 
plate and the teapot, bowed and floated away.
        "So where was I?" nexx asked as her hand slammed down on the
rogue pastry with a loud thud. The teacups jingled softly.
        "YOU WERE IN THE CASTLE, WITH THE SHADOWED ONE."
        "Right. Anyways, Mal and I made our way to the dungeons where
Katze was being held. He was right when he said we didn't have much time. 
If we'd been just five minutes later things might have turned out very 
differently. When we got there, Katze was already gone. Fortunately, Red 
was locked up in a cell and had seen what had happened." nexx paused and 
bowed her head slightly as the waitress set down another plate of cakes 
and poured them both another cup from the silver teapot. The waitress 
bowed and drifted away into the darkness. "Red is the young technician 
who'd wandered off on his own," she explained. "more than once, I was to 
find out later."
        "HIS WANDERING SERVED A PURPOSE."
        "Yes, it did, he saw who and where they'd taken Katze. And he
could also explain Josh's presence. I was not happy to see Josh, after 
all he'd done I was more than willing to escort him into the next world. 
Had Red not explained that Josh was shot while attempting to help Katze 
escape, I probably would have done so. After releasing Red we left him 
and began making our way to the throne room with Mal in the lead." nexx 
paused to take a sip from her little gold cup and absently prodded
one of the pastries. It squeaked and moved away. "I should quit playing
with my food." she smiled and took another sip.
        "THERE IS NO HURRY. TIME DOES NOT EXIST HERE."
        "Yes, that's right." she smiled again. "I don't believe I'll
ever get used to that. Now, where was I? Oh yes, we were running for 
the throne room. Mal was in the lead because he knew where it was. I 
was right behind him and Red was..." she paused. "A little ways behind 
us. When we reached the rear door that led into the throne room it was 
locked. Mal simply blasted it open, we didn't really have time to stop 
and think about such things. The song, "
        "WHAT SONG?"
        "The HellWyrm Chant.
        "OH. YES, THAT'S RIGHT. DO FORGIVE ME."
        "Like I was saying," nexxus continued after a brief nod of the
head. "The song had started up somewhere between the middle and the 
top of the stairs. We knew we had to hurry. The door flying open only 
caused a brief pause. We all scanned the room for the other Rangers but 
they weren't in the room. There were just a bunch of scared courtesan, 
and Katze." nexx paused for a quick drink. "She was standing in the 
middle of the room, and she had the strangest look on her face. Like 
someone just on the verge of a major revelation. There was a tall, thin
man facing her and he had an equally strange look on his face but it 
was more the look of a man struggling for his life. They were having an 
argument of sorts. It was all very unusual. There was a door on the 
opposite side of the room, the one the other Rangers would have to come 
through. Mal and myself both started for the door but I stopped halfway 
there. Mal blew the door off it's hinges. Red went in search of the 
source of the Luv song. The Rangers had been just outside the door 
fighting off the last of the guards. They swarmed in as soon as the 
smoke cleared. I was still about halfway across the room." nexx 
stopped. She jabbed one of the sleeping pastries with her index finger. 
It squealed and tried to dart across the table. She raised her hand, 
giggled and with one swift hand movement, caught the pastry. She popped 
it into her mouth and sighed a very satisfied sigh.
        "YOU ENJOY THAT ENTIRELY TOO MUCH."
        "Do I?" she replied, poking at another pastry. "I'm part 
	feline."
        "AS WAS YOUR MOTHER."
        "I don't remember her." nexxus shrugged and stared into her
teacup. "Not much anyways." There was a long pause before she looked 
up, pushed her hair out of her face and smiled. "Now lets see...I was 
standing in the middle of the room still several feet from where Katze 
was. The Rangers began dispatching the guards who'd been too surprised
to move up until then. It was chaos. People trying to escape, guards 
and rangers fighting, that horrible song echoing through the room. It 
all seemed to suddenly fade into the background the minute Katze went 
silent. There was such a look of determination on her face. I knew, I 
could tell she remembered and just as suddenly as the silence seemed to
hit it was broken by the sound of Kat completely losing control. Others
tried to interfere but Mal, Calc and myself kept them away. It was Kat's 
moment. She'd been stuck in the admin department of life for long 
enough."
        "SHE REMEMBERED HER NAME."
        "In a major way it seems." she confirmed. "Next thing you know,
Sid's head exploded like a water balloon filled too fast. As soon as it 
happened, Kat fainted. I dropped my gun, and ran to see if she was ok. 
The Marrakethian army showed up about this time as well. After that, we 
did the usual post-mission stuff before going home. We discovered no 
trace of Kapella, our best guess is that he was sent to an entirely
different place when they were scattered. We had a memorial service for
him when we got home. Kat was pretty upset after this whole thing, but 
who could blame her. She's taking some time off. Calc and Phoenix have 
retired and Cyohtee has taken a leave of absence as well. In the 
meantime, they're working on the dimensional gate."
        "INTERESTING. VERY INTERESTING."
        She nodded in agreement as she checked her watch. "Wow, have we
been here that long? It's already the 16th. I'd better get going, I've 
got a meeting with Mal today."
        "I'LL WALK WITH YOU."
        "O.k." she replied. She smiled as she got up off the cushion
she'd been sitting on. The waitress drifted up to the table and 
collected the dishes. She bowed before turning and drifted away with a 
wisp of mist. It whispered, "Come back soon." before disappearing.
        Nexx walked towards a darker spot in the surrounding fog and
emerged in a forest. Seconds later she was joined by a dark figure with
a pale complexion. Together they walked in a seemingly aimless fashion 
until they reached an overgrown rose garden lit only by a sliver of 
moon. They stopped by a crumbling fountain and the dark figure spoke.
"WE MUST DO THIS MORE OFTEN. I ENJOY OUR LITTLE VISITS."
        Nexxus looked at the wingless angel who's wings had crumbled
long ago and sighed. "I know." she said after a moment. "I could use 
more time here, it's very peaceful. I shall make every attempt to visit
you again before Halloween. It's not long."
        "YES. THAT WOULD BE NICE. I'D LIKE THAT VERY MUCH."
        "O.k. then, it's a promise. I'll come again before Halloween.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I really must be going. I'm nearly late 
as it is." she said, taking the dark figures' hand and bowing politely 
before dashing off through an opening in the rose bushes.
        "PLEASANT DREAMS..." the dark figure whispered after her.
"NEXXUS."
        Nexxus appeared out of thin air behind Mal. He was leaning
against the front of his desk, facing the door to his office. "I must 
be late." she smiled mischeviously to herself and quietly as possible, 
sat in Mal's chair. If he knew she was there he didn't let on so she 
leaned back and plopped her feet down on his desk. She watched with
amusement as he visibly cringed upon hearing her combat boots come into
contact with his desktop. Slowly, he turned around and was about to 
yell at her when a slightly startled look came over his face. "What? 
What is it Mal?" she asked. Was her hair messed up? Was there something
behind her? She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
        "Nothing." Mal replied, the startled look disappearing as
quickly as it appeared. "I thought you were someone else for a minute 
there. It's nothing. Just forget it."

                                * * * * * * * * * *

        "When the first living thing existed, I was there waiting.
         When the last living thing dies, my job will be finished.
         I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn out the lights, 
         and lock the universe behind me as I leave."
                                                -Death, Dream Country


                                        ...The End