Simon got a far-off look in his eyes. He began to ramble.

"Help me keep safe for the next few days. After that, I would say the future is wide open. But that would be a lie. It's only going to get worse. The visions I've seen, the dreams I've had... we must form an alliance to stand against the Combine, as they are allied with far darker and older powers. Forces that have been around for a long time, long before the War, even. The War gave them power. Now they won't stop until they have it all. America caused this war, made the biggest mistakes, and we've paid the highest price and this is where it will be decided. I used to wonder what happened to the rest of the world, why we never saw any ships or aircraft from other places. What if they're not there anymore, or we're not on Earth anymore? have we been cut off? Quarantined? Isolated?"

Night had fallen in Junkyard by the time they returned from the Arena.

The hotel, which occupied an entire block of the old city, was put on lockdown by Militia MPs. Patrols of the halls, perimeter, grounds and underground were heavy and continual.

Junkyard itself did a creditable job of approximating a pre-war city, at least the part that had been sheltered under the Iron Sky. There were streetlights reflecting off the buildings and the remains of the Dome, even some car traffic, many pedestrians. What was lacking were sounds of violence. Few waster communities of any size could boast a peaceful night without the pops and echoes of gunfire.

There was also no haze of wood smoke; no trees or wood grew inside the outer perimeter wall or for miles around the city. Instead, cooking heating and lighting was courtesy of the city power grid. A cluster of smokestacks on the side of Junktown encompassing the base of the adjoining Wasatch mountains belched smoke. These were the factories, coal-fired electrical power plant and Spook Juice refinery that comprised Junkyard's industrial base.

Peter was glad Simon was fine. That meant he didn't have to worry about it. He idly wondered if they needed to stand watches, but dismissed the thought. And, well, honestly, he would be awake a few hours after he went to sleep.

He went into the room he and Jane were sharing and took off his shirt and boots. He then sat down on the bed and lay back, letting out a happy sigh as he did so. "This is a nice change of pace."

Rowan sits there feeling like a student in front of he master once more.

" I was always taught that time turns Simon, and what we do each day echoes down through time. In the end all we can do is our best with the tools and the chances given us".
"I am witch, I am healer I am Rowan, I walk the road."
" We are taught the following Simon, perhaps it may be of use to you and yours."

I move in rhythm with the earth.
I am held steady
My true path never wavers for an instant
My purpose is clear before me as a wide road
Of no more importance to the universe than a leaf is to a tree
I am still
I share the life
I am one with it
I guide upon the wilderness
I take no advantage
I give no quarter
I defend my own
I am as strong as I need to be
Powerful or weak
I am become whatever I would chose to be
I give what I can no one owns me
I am sacred to my self; no one can touch myself
I am free
I am my only master

Rowan finishes and gases into space, "Simon I will make you an offer, if we survive what we are going to meet, then I will return and help you as a medic and friend rebuild the home". "There should be a true centre there, homes families schools and from that under the knights protection truly we could make a song worth singing in this life time".

Looking more relaxed than she'd seen him before, Simon smiled and nodded.

"That would be a fine, fine thing. You are right, we need such a thing! It's a deal, then. I'll hold you to it."

In reply to Simon (msg # 113):

Rowan Smiles back
"Done and Done" she says softly

Jane smiled when she saw Peter relaxed.  She remembered from days long ago that there used to be two things that she would automatically do after coming home so she could relax.  Tonight she decided that she would institute that ritual again so she took off her boots and then smiled at Peter while she took off her bra.  Finally, as she climbed up on the bed with him, her shirt still on but unbuttoned, she too laid down and gave a happy sigh.  "I had forgotten how good this feels."

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg # 114):

Poking his head in the room, Schaeffer said, "I may as well, if it means staying with you. I'll stay here tonight. Unless you want to take a watch, Rowan?"

Peter put on his best innocent face. "What, not having a bra on?"

He held the face for a moment longer before letting out a rumbling chuckle. He put an arm around her and gave her a long kiss.

"Shall we sleep, my pretty soldier girl? Or shall we put the bed to other uses?"

Already done my love she says turning and giving Simon a smile. Every thing to its time and place Simon."
Rowan leads Shaffer back their room.
I am making the most of this my love she says kissing him as they step inside, She slides out of her clothing, looking over her shoulder at Shaffer, and wriggles invitingly as she pads to wards the shower

In reply to Rowan Dawson (msg # 118):

"Oh well, I guess if Kira is taking the first watch we can relax a little. Simon, Librarian Biletnikoff, until later, then." He followed back to her room.

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg # 119):

"We'll be fine for now. Most often the villain attacks at dawn, anyways."

Smoker trundles off to his bed and luxuriates...


... but wakes up in the night, feeling strangely too comfortable, and ends up rolled in a blanket on the floor.

Jane chuckled at Peter's expression.  "I think we should do both my warrior."

Jane stopped chuckling and returned Peter's kiss.  After she got her breath back, she whispered into Peter's ear some suggestions for the "other uses".

<fade to black>

In reply to Jane Guin (msg # 122):

"(Sigh) All right, mien fraulien. Time to get back to work, ya? Sleep well, my love."

After enjoying Rowan's company, Schaeffer napped, then cleaned up. He then relieved Kira on watch in Simon's room. He made sure his M4 was cocked and locked, suppressor locked on the muzzle.

Everyone faded to sleep. It had been a long week of travel, time to make up some lost sack time!

Some time later that night, Schaeffer (who was on watch) banged on everyone's doors, waking them up.

"Everyone, get up! Meet me in Simon's room, five minutes."

"Bleurgh?" asked Smoker, who had nearly been trodden on having been curled up on the floor.

Muttering, he got up and padded down the hall in shirt and trousers, carrying the rest of his stuff.

In reply to COL Kurt L. Schaeffer (msg # 125):

Jane moaned and stretched when she heard Schaeffer calling roll call.  She turned to look over at Peter and gave him a good morning lazy kiss.  It certainly had been a night to remember but duty called once again.

"Duty calls once again Peter.  I get the shower first."  Jane quickly scooted out of the bed and slipped into the shower.  If there was one thing that she had learned, it was to take a quick shower when needed because you never knew when you'd get your next one.  It took a couple of minutes out of the designated five but she did feel better for it.

Afterwards she waited for Peter to get ready and then went to the meeting with him, carrying her stuff with her in case they had to immediately leave.

Peter was awake. Luckily he hadn't woken up screaming for once. But he had still woken up after only a few hours of sleep. Coffee. He would need coffee today. Surely a hotel would have coffee. He nodded to Jane.

"Feel free. I just need to finish getting dressed. I've been up for a bit unfortunately."

He pulled his clothes on and grabbed a couple of guns as well, waiting for Jane.

Rowan snoozing lightly as she always has snaps awake her hand reaching for her blade then realises it is Shaffer's voice. And slides out of bed into clothing and grabs gear. Calling trickster to her she pads after her love

In reply to Peter Firecrow (msg # 128):

Jane gave Peter a smile after she got out of the shower.  "It is unfortunate that you didn't sleep more but I still bet you got better sleep than you have in a long time and that IS a good thing."

Jane quickly got dressed glad that she normally didn't bother with make up and other fancy stuff.  She walked over to Peter to give him one last kiss and hug before leaving the room.  "That's for the road.  Can't pass up an opportunity you know.  We can grab coffee on the way to the meet."

Schaeffer looked serious but not concerned.

"Ok, do not worry. We are not under attack. But there was some kind of police incident in an alley a block over. Probably nothing. Does anyone want to volunteer to check it out, make sure it's nothing we need to be concerned about?

The rest of us will remain on alert to make this is not a diversion of some kind."

"One night... is it too much to ask?" groused Smoker. "OK. You woke me up already, might as well go and take a look."

Peter let out a sigh and shook his head. Schaeffer woke everyone up for that? That seemed excessive. He glanced at Smoker and gave a shrug of his shoulders. "I will not be getting any more sleep tonight, so I suppose I shall accompany you."