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caretaker,
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They had been arguing for a good hour straight. The dishes in the tent had already been thrown. Fortunately they hadn't been broken. They had bounced off Alec's chaos field and a few of them had turned into odds and ends. Braxious sat watching on the other end of the very spacious tent, his eyes wide. Sari was sitting next the Caretaker sucking on her fist. She didn't seem to notice anything going on, still silent and rocking a little.

The arguement was about what to do. In general and with Sari.

Verra still wanted to try the elf's bane. Alec was against it.

They had been going on and on about this. Round and round and round.

Alec wanted to fight some how. He thought he could do something. Verra was against it. She didn't trust his abilities, afraid that they would fail at the wrong time.

She wanted to go.

Alec didn't want her to go, he wouldn't risk her.

She didn't want him to go for the same reason.

Both of them couldn't go, who would watch the children?

Another pot went flying, it bounced off of Alec's field and slammed into the floor before walking off, a small scurring hedgehog. It joined the blue porcelin fish and a small squadron of rainbow devil duckies. Trey squaked loudly at the hedgehog.

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Caretaker hadn't intended to come back to the Troven's tent to sleep, but his core universe was on the other side of the multiverse, and he'd deliberately picked this one for the Troven's precisely because it was a low profile, non interest world. There was no magic, low population, and most importantly, no Sues. As long as Alec and his family kept their heads down, the Caretakers would most likely ignore this world in favor of the Clockworks universe, only a few strands away.

So he'd used his jacket as a pillow and laid down behind the sofa, intending to sleep only long enough to make it back home.

Unfortnutly, a week without sleep, far too much stimulant, and the fact that he was moderately safe all conspired and put him out for nearly a day. When he awoke, he discovered that he'd been covered by a blanket, there was a painted handprint on his cheek, and he'd reverted to his core universe form. He hoped that had happened after the blanket and handprint, or it could raise questions he really didn't want to answer.

He could also hear the Trovens arguing at the top of their lungs.

He shifted back to his Caretaker form and laid there for a bit, thinking about the end of the meeting. He had no idea if Samus would grant his request, but he didn't know who else to ask.

Something broke and Caretaker sighed. Pushing the blanket off him, he sat up and used the sofa back to pull himself to his knees, muscles protesting, and took in the scene before him.

"I wouldn't bother them... they might turn their attention to you," Braxious said from his seat near him. He looked frightened and tired. His shirt had been slept in and his hair was messy. "And that would be bad."

Caretaker shrugged. "Under most circumstances, I'd agree with you, but I have --" He broke off as a vase was thrown, hit the wall and became a porcupine, joining a group of animals that had formerly been pottery.

He checked the shield. It had been an afterthought, a dome of nuetral qauntum states that blended with the universe's own state to hide things. It had been a favorite trick of his when a cadet and you had to be looking for it to register the minute differences. Mostly it was there because he wasn't sure about Troven's self control, and there were kids to consider.

The shield however, was intact, cheerfully running off the universe's own qauntum state. That had been another innovation of his. Most Caretakers tied the shield to their own power. It made it easier to know when it had been penetrated and such. But if they didn't maintain some sembalance of concentration, it fell apart. Had Caretaker done that, his sheer exhaustion last night would have dropped the shield and the universe would have lit up like a neon bulb as soon as the Trovens had started fighting.

As it was, he felt a little better, but he really needed to get home and live his other life for a while, just to recharge.

He looked at the child. "Why don't we just wait for them to finish, then?" He paused. "You eat yet?"

Braxious gave him that smug look that only dragons and children can give when they know that they're right and they told you so too. "Yeah, I did. They started fighting after dinner." He pointed to what looked like a lasgauna... except that it had a pair of eyes and was hiding under a chair, "That was the first casulty.

The fight, however, appeared to be winding down as Alec exclaimed, "I don't know! I don't know! I'm sorry but I don't know!" He slumpped into a chair, and ran his hands through his hair, "I don't know what to do... to protect you, all of you. I want what's best... but I'm scared and a complete loss at what to do."

Verra leaned over him, her forehead touching his as she ran her hands lightly over his face and shoulders. "I know... it's hard for both of us, not fighting."

They stayed like that for a moment before Alec looked over at the Caretaker and Braxious. "Kid's awake." he grunted.

Caretaker wasn't sure if they meant him or their son. He hoped it was the son as he pushed himself to his feet and picked up his jacket, muscels and joints protesting and demanding more rest.

"I'm sorry for not asking first, but I wasn't sure I could make it home in the state I was in." He pulled the jacket on and stretched, rolling his shoulders and mostly just trying to get the kinks out.

Alec meant Dale. But if the youngness of the Caretaker bothered either Verra or him, they didn't show it. Instead he waved off the apology. "It's not a problem. It's your tent anyway."

For the moment the two of them looked very tired and very... mortal. Yet there was also a more chaotic aura around Alec than normal. It flickered and sputtered like a flame in the rain, but it was near visible.

"Actually, it's the Ministry of Magic's, really." Caretaker shrugged. "Like it'll be missed. Anyways, the least I can do is make . . ." He trailed off and looked at the ceiling and then quickly at Alec, as though to verify that he was standing there and then back at the ceiling. "Get the kid out of here," Caretaker snapped.

He brough his arm down, swung it back like casting a fishing line and then brought it down again and someone fell out of thin air to land face first on the tent floor.

The reaction was immediate. Alec fell through his chair, scooting back and away, a wide eyed panicked look on his face, definately cowering. Verra snaked into dragon form and bore down on the Caretaker, one claw slamming onto him.

"How DARE YOU bring that THING near my children and husband. Do you KNOW What it is? What it could DO!?" she growled, baring her teeth.

The individual, looked up and around confused and dazed. It was Lorac Seriph, the one man who would do anything to be with Alec.

Caretaker gazed cooly up at Verra. "No. Who is he?" He ignored the man on the floor save for keeping him pinned down as Caretaker slowly stood up, his mind racing.

The reaction of the Trovens said that this guy was bad news. So Caretaker was keeping him pinned right there until he knew what the hell was going on.

"That's... it's... he's... we were lovers once. I got thrown back to his time and we fell in love. I bonded to him. When I left his time, his mind snapped and he destroyed his home to get enough life energy to live until I was born. If he didn't do that... my home would have never been built and I would have never met Ve-"

Verra's head snapped back towards Alec, "Don't you DARE give him that credit Alec. I won't believe that thing had anything to do with our meeting!"

Cowed, Alec gulped, before stammering on "He's... he's the only wizard who ever learned how to use life magic, not even I can do that. He'll do anything to be with me. ANYTHING. He can't be reasoned with... or... where did you find him?"

Lorac, didn't seem to be interested in moving. His gaze was locked on Alec, watching his every movement.

Caretaker frowned. "He was headed this way on a direct course, like he knew where to go." At that moment, it clicked, a mention in Troven's file, added as an afterthought, almost.

"Ah yes, Lorac." It made sense now. "He must have sensed the house blowing up but knew you couldn't be dead, so he started following the bond." Caretaker regarded the man on the floor. "Which led him here . . . and he wouldn't have been careful about hiding his tracks. PHRACK!"

Reality started to bend a little, reflecting just how angry Caretaker was and it was directed soley at the man on the floor.

If Lorac noticed the anger, he didn't show it. His eyes were locked on Alec, who stared fearfully back. The two of them seemed to be stuck in a contest of wills. And it looked like Alec was losing.

"No. Why should he," Verra growled derisively. "He has no reason. No need to. All that matters to him is Alec."

"Right." A wave of the hand and the Trovens vanished from the tent to reappear outside, and the door shut to them. However, they could still hear.

To Lorac's senses, however, they weren't even in this dimension. Invisible hands lifted the wizard to hang suspended in mid-air.

Caretaker crossed his arms and waited for the madman to put two and two together.

Lorac immediately tried to get to the Caretaker and strangle the life out of him. He looked like he wanted to rip his throat out with his bare hands, his face twisted in an animalistic snarl of hate, "BRING. HIM. BACK." He demanded, his voice gutteral and thick.

"No. You have irritated me and must pay the penalty if you wish to see him again."

A wind picked up in the tent, taking things in the tent and sending them swirling in a whirlwind. Lightening started to crackle around Lorac as his eyes glowed. "And who are YOU that I should appease? Bring him back to me, NOW!"

A snap of the fingers and the whirlwind died, pieces falling to the floor. It was showy, and Caretaker knew it, but Lorac's blind obsession had put the Trovens in danger, and Caretaker was pissed

"I am the Caretaker. Troven has sworn alliegence to me and your foolishness has put him in great danger. I should kill you here and now . . . but perhaps you may yet be useful to me." Caretaker nodded, thinking fast and improvising for all he was worth. "Yes, yes, perhaps you might be at that."

Lorac's teeth ground loudly, before he asked "And I get Alec?"

"My terms are this: You will accomplish twelve tasks as I assign them to you and you will keep your distance from Troven. Failure to complete any task set to you, or if you go near Troven before completion of the twelveth task, I will strip you of your powers and cofine you to a universe without magic . You will never see him again. Suceed, and I will send you to where he is now. What happens after that is up to you and he. Do you accept?"

"You will send him to me. He won't be where he is now when I'm done with these tasks of yours. I'm no fool," Lorac spat at him.

"The evidence says otherwise," Caretaker said calmly, thinking fast. He'd been hoping Seriph would miss that part. "If you were not a fool, you would have realized that he had gone into hiding and running to him would only endanger him. If you were not a fool, Lorac Seriph, you would not be the target of my displeasure or attempting to dictate terms. I am being merciful in offering you the chance to atone for your stupidity, do not insult me further by refusing it."

Lorac laughed. It was a mad man's laugh. "You don't know him very well. He always hides from me. He denies that he loves me, but I can see it in his eyes when ever he looks at me. He will come out on top from whatever trouble he's in and I will have him in the end." He looked down at the Caretaker, and sneered, "You wish for me to play your games. Fine. I'll play them, little boy. And then I'll have Alec to myself. It's been written."

"I'll have your solemn, Oath, Lorac. Swear it to me that you agree to and abide by my terms." The Invisble hands forced Lorac down to one knee. "Swear it."

"I swear that I will do ANYTHING to get Alec," Lorac said, looking defiantly up at the Caretaker. "And I will destroy anything that gets in my way." Though he didn't say it, the Caretaker was definately included in that statement.

Caretaker nodded. "Then I accept your oath. For now, you will return to your home, prepare yourself for war, and await your first task. Go, and remember the price of oath-breaking." The hands released him.

Lorac stood up and tossed his head, looking at the Caretaker for a moment. Any vestige of sainty was gone from his eyes as he stepped up to the other man and drew a finger down Dale's face lightly. He then leaned over and kissed him lightly before whispering, "It's a shame I'm taken, or I'd take you with me."

He then drew back and vanished.

Caretaker let out a snort when Lorac had vanished. "You're not my type," he muttered to the empty air and then released the door. "You can come in now, he's gone."

The four of them came back in the room. Verra looked beyond furious, Braxious looked like he wasn't sure if he should hide or cry or something. He looked as if he was in shock as he clung to his mother. Alec held Sari, who was the only one oblvious to what had just happened. Alec... well he was as white as a sheet and barely able to stand.

He slumped onto the couch as soon as he reached it.

"You don't intend to keep that promise...do you?" he asked, stroking the baby's hair.

Verra glowered at the Caretaker as she led Braxious out of the room.

"I doubt I'll have to," Caretaker replied. "He overlooked a couple of key points, like that I have to be satisfied that the task is complete, or that he has to keep his distance. You know him best, do you really think he'll be able to wait too long? There's also the matter of time between tasks. I can keep him waiting for the next five billion years if I need to, but there's no question he'll be useful for the war."

Alec bit his lip thoughtfully, still stroking Sari's hair gently. "He waited a thousand years for me to be born. But you can't keep him from the power of the narrative. When the story demands it... when ever that is, he'll break the oath to follow the narrative. We all will. It won't be for a while though...

"You say war. It's not going to be much of a war with the three of us, him and Tak and Samus. Unless you found other allies?"

"I'm looking for them. In the meantime, you had best pack up. He's likely to have drawn attention and none of us want to be here if anyone comes looking."

"Right, here... hold Sari while I get Verra so we can get ourselves together," he said, holding out the infant to the Caretaker. Sari blinked and chewed on her fist.

Caretaker gently took the infant and held her carefully. Moving slowly, he sat on the couch and made balls of light dance in the air over her head, hoping to amuse her.

But as he played, he considered the problems ahead. Tak and Samus had yet to agree to join him, and now he had Lorac to worry about. The one difference between the two was Seriph could wield Life Magic and Troven couldn't. Well there was also the insanity to worry about, but that was just icing on the damn cake.

"Always something, isn't there?" He said to Sari. "Always something that needs taking care of."

"Gah goo," Sari pontificated. "Ba," she added.

Caretaker laughed to himself. It felt good to laugh. But then he sobered up and tried to plan his next move. He could set the Trovens up on the Crag Cat, leave something here to make Lorac think Troven hadn't left the universe. After that, he would have to report in and hopefully, get leave for a recharge cycle.

"Mah ga boo ba," Sari said.

"She's finally decided to start talking again?" Alec asked as he came back into the main room. The duffel bag with the weapons was on his back, and he was dressed in his armor.

Verra had the baby things and Braxious... well he didn't look so good. Tension between parents and hiding and stuff never was a good thing for any kid.

"Or at least making noises," Caretaker said as he handed the baby back to her parent. "One last thing to do."

A sphere hovered in the middle of the room, its inner light pulsing gently.

"There. Now Lorac won't know you've left." With that, they fell.

Or perhaps fell was the wrong word. It was as though the world around them suddenly rose, and forgot to take them with it.

They plummeted through dark and empty space, around them, glowing strands of pure light stretching out to impossible distances. Then one loomed up before them, they hurtled through space, and then there was a giant golden sphere.

Then, just as suddenly, they stood in a grassy field. A large manor house with a courtyard stood nearby and a lake glinted in the sunlight. There was a sense of peace about the place.

"Welcome aboard the Imperial Warship Crags Cat," Caretaker said. "Fifteenth to bear the name, built about five thousand years ago, commissioned by the Emperor of the Fourth Empire as part of his personal gaurd. Unfortunutly, no sooner had it been delivered and staffed, then an artifical virus got loose, spread via a matter-transmission system, and wiped out all the organic life it could get its hands on." Caretaker shrugged. "The virus is long since dead, but the ships of the Empire remain. Waiting . . . and dying."

"Well... now I know how Slartibartfast felt." Alec commented.

"This is a space ship?" Braxious asked dubiously. It was the first thing he had said since he last spoke to the Caretaker.

"Yup." Caretaker squatted down so he was eye level with the child. "In fact, this is where the Captain lived. The Empire built their warships out of planetoids and large moons, so they had plenty of space." He looked up at the parents. "The Empire intended their ships to be deployed for as much as fifty years at a time, and they had all this space, so they took steps to be sure that the crew was as comfortable as could be. Despite appearances, this room is a bona-fide living ecosystem, restored by the Cat's own maintence drones after the virus attacked using seed and cell stores. About the only in here that's fake is the sun up there. There's about a hundred and fifty acres in here, plenty of room to run and play. There's fish in the lake, and birds hanging around. A shed around the back of the house has fishing gear and a small boat."

He stood up and looked around. "A word of warning. In the west wall of the courtyard of the house is a bright red door. That leads to the rest of the ship and is locked. This whole place is mage-shielded, so don't worry about frying electronics, and Sari should just reappear where she was if she tries to teleport. Same for Alec."

He looked around. "The kitchen is fully stocked and there's a grill on the patio and a firepit in the courtyard. If Verra wants to fly, she shouldn't get beyond a mile or so into the air, and the Captain's office is in the back on the first floor. I locked the door since the Empire was a tad paranoid about security and there's nothing useful in there anyways. Oh, and it rains in here, so mind the clouds. The weather computers mimic the weather on the Throneworld and it's winter there right now. Any questions?"

"So we're trapped here?" Alec asked.

Caretaker looked ashamed. "I guess that's one way to look at it. I was thinking more about preventing accidental teleports."

Verra and Alec looked at each other and there was a rapid fire discussion between the two of them. They had lapsed into their native tongue, it didn't sound like they were arguing, more like deciding if this was a good thing or not.

"Well, it would be nice if we didn't have to worry about Sari for a little while. She's very good at circumventing those sort of things, when she's upset. And I guess if it came down to it, I could circumvent it too, using my chaos abilities, which aren't magic." Alec said.

"No worries," Caretaker said, "I know this has to be rough on all of you. If Sari does get out, call me. There's parts of the ship that do have vaccum and many more that simply aren't all that hospitable. Especially for a baby. I'm trying to find a more permanat sanctuary that can both be shielded, and won't feel like a prision."

"How are we supposed to call you?" Verra asked.

Caretaker handed her a device. "Press the button, but be ready to leave here immeditly if you do. You shouldn't have too much trouble though. If all goes well, I'll be back in a couple of weeks, hopefully with a sanctuary and better laid plans." He turned to go and then turned back. "Oh, one more thing. The computer terminal in the main living area has a text only link to the Sages Nexus, Patchwork Earth and a couple of other places. Use it sparingly, but if you do contact friends, obviously, don't tell them your location, but you may want to alert them to the Caretaker threat, but be careful if you do."

He turned away again and was gone.

*****************

Out in the Multiverse, Caretaker once again plunged home, but in a controlled trajectory, he had one more stop to make . . . in the Dragonball universe.

When he was done there, he left, this time making no attempt to conceal his exit from his brethern. Instead, he crossed his arms and spoke.

"Log on Caretaker, Dale, Matthew, Agent class. ID Three thee one Ro Alpha Niner."

Before him manifested a small image of what appeared to be an octopus with one eye.

"ID name verfied," it said. "The Agent will report."

Will report? That was new. "I've located three targets," Dale said out loud. "One target has been terminated, two remain at large and have gone to ground."

The head was silent, the eye blinking at him. "The Agent will speak to Superior Officer." Then it vanished. A moment later, his boss was there, or an image of him, anyway.

"What's this about Targets being left alive? Dale, what have you been doing for the past week?"

Trying to save the multiverse from all of you, Dale thought to himself. "These are clever and tricky Sues," he said out loud. "They've done their research. I'll get them, but I'd like to take a recharge cycle first."

Dale was one of the few Caretakers wiling to spend any length of time in the Dragonball Universe, even to the point of immersing himself in it. He enjoyed the madness.

"It should only have taken you a day at most. Tear them out of there."

"But the protocols--"

"What protocols? The Lady has never set protocols. It interferes with Her work."

Dale thought fast. "I recieved a memo that we were to avoid judicious use of power to keep disruptions down."

"A prank, no doubt."

"It came from Elder Klepp's office, or so it said."

"I'll attend to it. Take your recharge and then I want those Sues in containment and on my desk. In Eris' name."

"Pax Discordia," Dale replied, hoping that was the correct response.

The Warden nodded and vanished, and the one-eyed octopus returned. Evidentally so.

"Log off," Dale snapped and the interface Daemon vanished.

Somehow, Dale doubted that the real Eris was behind this, but three things were now clear; Why he'd been spared, why they wanted Troven dead, and why they wanted Sues.

Dale rushed home. He had plans to make . . . after some sleep.

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