Reka's Point of View
"Oh, Julie, you look wonderful!" Reka threw her arms around her friend in greeting, such was the success of their first foray into the apothecary trade.
Julie had always been a plump girl, but fair withal, though the men of this world seemed to favor slimmer beauties. Whenever Reka ventured forth she always felt the eyes of other men upon her, much as she disdained them, but now Julie was drawing just as many lustful gazes, perhaps even more.
Her friend burst into tears. "Reka I can't believe you!" she cried desperately, burying her head in Reka's collarbone. "Some girls don't want to be outshone at their wedding, and you went out of your way just to make me beautiful for yours!"
Reka just held her closer and received her feelings with good grace. Julie really was beautiful now, with a delicate face that might pass for a half-elf, radiant blonde hair that seemed to capture the spring sunshine, and a slender, yet womanly body with breasts even larger than her own.
She's a bit short, though, Reka thought. They hadn't managed to make a pill for that. Well, no matter.
Her wedding was in three days. All had been prepared: the dress, the rings, the venue.
"In which god's temple shall we consecrate our vows, my love?" she had asked Brad a month ago. They had never really discussed what gods he prayed to. She had expected the god of the sea from his past as a sailor, or perhaps the god of smiths for engineering.
"I'm not really religious these days," Brad told her, "but when I was a kid my family went to the Methodist Church."
"Methodist" was a curious name for a god, but Reka didn't particularly care, so the United Methodist Church in San Guillermo had been contacted. The followers of "Methodist" were only too happy to have them. Their wedding promised to be the social event of the year, with powers and princes from the world over vowing to attend.
The priest that was to preside at their wedding was a woman, which Reka found curious. Perhaps Brad was so obedient because his instruction as a child in the temple of Methodist made him amenable to a woman's authority. Yet again fate itself had prepared Brad to be hers.
Other endeavors fared less well. Her undying legions were not so legion as might be hoped. The Rainforest company was a truly mammoth organization, and the great work of producing automatons to staff their many warehouses across the world was not complete. Diverting production to warlike purposes without being noticed was no simple matter. Galiban informed her that she could only command a few dozen "hunter drones" and even fewer "infiltrators", and those not for long. An enduring power source eluded them for the nonce.
Reka sighed. Her war for supremacy would just have to wait. Perhaps she'd been overeager in her desire to crown Brad. Her love was thrilled at the prospect of their nuptials alone, and that would suffice for her. The crown would come in time; they had an eternity to look forward to.
She and Julie took Reka's car to the bridal shop while Galiban and Alice were left behind as a guard detail for Brad. Alice's valor of late made an impression on Reka. The honor of protecting her beloved would be the first of many for the young monk.
"We're shopping here?" Julie asked in awe. "Isn't this the place where they film that reality show?"
"Perhaps," Reka said noncommittally. She watched television programs with Brad but couldn't recall one set in a dress shop. "I am told 'maid of honor' dresses are sold here in addition to the white ceremonial gowns."
"Reka, I'm sorry about all this," Julie said regretfully. "I know we're cutting it a little close."
"Nonsense," Reka said confidently. "The attendants within made every effort to accommodate my desires when I came for my wedding dress. This shall be a speedy process, never fear, and there is always Galiban."
Julie blushed. "What about Galiban?" she whispered to Reka while they walked into the store.
"Alterations, of course," Reka told her. "Faithful Galiban is a more than competent tailor. If the dress doesn't fit perfectly he can fix it for you."
"Right, right, he can fix me," Julie said in agreement.
The attendant that rushed to greet them looked positively terrified. "Is there a problem with the dress, Dr. Regis?"
Reka smiled kindly at the poor girl, pleased to be addressed with Brad's name. "Not at all, my dear. This is my best friend and maid of honor: Julie Winchester."
The attendant's eyes snapped to her friend, taking in Julie's beauty. Like a good merchant, she instantly anticipated her customer's desire. "The color for the bridesmaids is forest green, correct?" she asked in a businesslike manner while shrewdly examining Julie's form.
"Just so," Reka confirmed. "You have appropriate merchandise, I trust?"
"Right away, Dr. Regis!" the attendant said zealously. This one might be an appropriate addition to her cult.
"As you can see, Julie, they have been most accommodating. You needn't worry about delaying anything. Galiban handled most of the planning in any case."
They followed the attendant to a pavilion used to showcase dresses amidst an array of mirrors. A thought occurred to her. "Now that we're here, you might summon Galiban on your phone. It would be well for him to take a look to insure harmony with the rest of the bridal party."
Julie fumbled a bit with her phone but eventually managed to open a connection with her butler. Reka hoped she would relax once they began trying on dresses.
"Your grace, my lady," Galiban greeted, ever polite.
Her friend became emotional more than once as she and Galiban praised her. Time and again they would have to briefly halt the parade of fine gowns while Reka embraced her and dried her tears. It wasn't like embracing Brad, not at all, but there was a certain satisfaction in sharing affection and comfort between two women.
At last Julie tried on a fetching strapless gown with a sturdy built-in bodice for support.
"What do you think?" Julie asked timidly, turning this way and that so Reka could get a good look.
"My lady is a beauty surpassing description," Galiban said, his voice coming over the phone's speaker in a rich baritone.
Reka could only agree. "Galiban," she addressed him, "Do you suppose this dress shall suit? I find it agreeable myself."
From the blush on her face it seemed Julie thought so as well. They both waited expectantly for her butler's answer.
He was silent. This was passing strange.
"Galiban?" she called out in confusion. "Is ought amiss?"
"Your grace is under attack," he said direct as death.
Without hesitation Reka gathered Julie in her arms and took cover behind an artistic display, her nails and teeth sharpening with but a thought. With her keen senses she detected armed men storming the front of the boutique, calling for her surrender. They would be upon them in moments.
The firearms of this world were a danger, especially since she emptied her ring this morning. Fingering the locket at her throat, she realized transformation was beyond her. Her magic was low, but with speed and the element of surprise...
"Galiban, can you guarantee Brad's safety if I make a fight of it?" she asked, bracing for battle.
Her butler did not answer immediately. Reka liked that not.
"This one apologizes profusely, your grace," he said in despair.
Julie was freaking out, but Reka couldn't worry about that right now.
"You are to protect him at all costs, Galiban! Do you hear? There are no limits. There is no price too high! Am I clear?" she demanded an answer of him.
"Crystal, your grace. The pieces are already in motion."
Reka stood up straight, glaring imperiously as the armored soldiers approached, dark iron in the hands.
"GET ON THE FUCKING GROUND!" they shouted. "REKA FEKETE! YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!"
"Very well," Reka agreed. "I shall let myself be taken, but if this effects my wedding there shall be a reckoning beyond wrath."
**************
Alice's Point of View
"Alice, you must go now," Galiban said urgently. The evil-looking robot actually sounded afraid.
"What's wrong?" Brad asked in alarm.
"There is no time, your grace. Our foes approach! This Galiban may delay them with electronic warfare, but only for a short space."
Not wasting any more words, Alice unlocked her silverback spirit and grabbed Brad's wrist, dragging him out the door and sprinted towards her car parked outside.
Maybe Reka isn't paranoid at all, Alice thought. Somebody really is out to get her.
With the touch of a button the doors popped open and Alice all but tossed Brad into the passenger seat. Hearing sirens in the distance but not daring to look back, Alice slid over the hood of her supped-up Haneda Citizen and eased behind the wheel.
"Where are we going?" Brad asked in panic. "What's happening? Where's Reka?"
I wish I knew.
There were really only two places to go: north to San Ricardo or south to their old college town. Knowing about the insane traffic in Silicon Valley, Alice choose to go south.
She checked her rear camera as they merged onto the highway. "It doesn't look like we're being followed," she said just to fill the silence. The car responded to her touch like a lover, not that she really knew what that felt like. Darthaniel never loved her. The silverback spirit concentrating her mind and speeding up her reflexes made that intrusive thought hurt just a little less than she expected.
Brad and Reka really loved each other. Observing it was educational. Alice had never experienced anything like what they had. The poor guy had tried to call her at least ten times and was freaking out pretty badly. On the eleventh attempt his phone showed an incoming call from Galiban.
"What happened?" Brad demanded. "Where's Reka? What's going on? What about you, Galiban, are you okay?"
The golem did not answer immediately, pausing as if to gather thoughts. It was a very human reaction, Alice couldn't help thinking.
"This Galiban is flattered by his grace's concern," the butler said. "He has managed to extricate himself safely. Her majesty the queen is presently confined by the authorities."
"Confined, confined how? Was she arrested? Reka didn't commit any crime, Galiban! Why is this happening?"
Alice watched Brad out of the corner of her eye while still watching the road. She'd have to make sure he didn't do something drastic.
A notification appeared on Brad's phone. "Executive order?" he asked, puzzled.
"Regency has been declared a hostile foreign company," Galiban explained. "Her grace is being held hostage. There is precedence for this. The CEO of Tianhua, a Chinese phone company, was likewise seized in this manner."
"Hostage?" Brad gulped. "What do they want?" He sounded like he was willing to pay anything to get her back, poor lovesick boy that he was.
Alice knew. "Information," she said simply. "They want to know how she makes her fusion crystals. They'll hold her until she cracks."
"It is as the captain of the guard says," Galiban confirmed.
"But even I don't know how she makes them!" Brad said desperately.
"Be at ease, your grace," Galiban said comfortingly. "Assets are already being placed to contrive a rescue. It is your safety that the queen tasked me with preserving above all."
It didn't look like that was what Brad wanted to hear, but there wasn't much he could do other than sit in the passenger seat helplessly.
"Alice," Galiban addressed her with gravity. "There is a certain remote marina situated on the San Ricardo bay. I've taken the liberty of inputting the location into your vehicle's GPS."
Alice glanced down and cursed. They'd have to turn around and go north. The likelihood of running into hostiles just shot up.
"This Galiban will do what he can," the robot assured her. "It is within my capabilities to interfere with their communications and navigation, removing many from your path. Failing that, there is a final alternative," he added ominously.
Knowing she really didn't have a choice, Alice turned them around, eyes on a swivel for pursuers.
It looked like they slipped the net at first, but just as that thought came and went she spotted a blockade rapidly enlarging as they got closer. There were vans and government SUVs marked "Department of Commerce" with men in body armor fanning out on both sides of the highway.
Not even silverback spirit is getting us through that, Alice thought darkly, wondering whether she should turn around and flee.
The decision was made for her as what looked like a dragonfly the size of a small dog with a Gatling gun for a mouth dove down from the clouds. There was a high-pitched mechanical whir that cut through the air like the screams of the damned in hell and the men in body armor were cut down en masse as the dragonfly strafed them.
The government SUVs were torn apart, and, seeing her chance, Alice spotted a gap that her Haneda Citizen might be able to pass through. Swerving around the dead and the dying and the wreckage Alice threaded the needle, winning clear of the blockade.
"What the hell was that, Galiban?" Brad asked, holding his phone like a life-preserver.
"One of our assets, you're grace. The hunters, I fear, can carry very little ammunition. Another is routed toward your position and should see you safe to the marina."
"And what shall we find there, Galiban?" Alice asked.
"Safe passage, Captain."