AE9 The Story of Iriisii Dovahkiin

     The 'Circus' private limo drives up into the KVJT visitor parking area having to park across three slots to make it out of the way. Julie looks over the vehicles, marking off who is here and who is not.

     Julie: "Yep, Kennerman is here all right, this should be fun."

     Tricia grins at Julie's comment, knowing from Martha and her friends' gossip what the situation is as well as Kennerman's reputation. The trio make their way to the front door as Joel walks out.

     Joel: "Julie! Have you heard the word going around?"

     Julie: "No, what is it that has you so excited?"

     Joel: "The tape of your interview. The results just came in on the viewership ratings. Girl, you just broke the all time record. Kennerman is having a fit. You left his record eating your dust! Hell, even the major networks picked it up after they got wind of it and you know that has never happened for him before."

     Joel looks up and sees who Julie is with. His mind starts racing at the possibilities, then the law firm that represents the 'Circus' drives up.

     Joel: "Tell me you have something up your sleeve!

     Julie smiles, "Don't go anywhere, stay a little bit behind and you will hear everything. Kennerman just thought he was having a bad day."

     Joel: "OMG, I know, I have a new toy this is perfect for. It can record vid and sound in ambient light and make it look pro. We need it on the record when you hand Kennerman his 'ass'. You are going to hand him his 'ass' aren't you?"

     Julie: "You had better believe I am."

     Joel: "Ok, I'm ready, lets go."

     Joel opens and holds the door to let the party through as he takes a position behind and to the side where he has a good vantage point. The first stop is the front desk. The receptionist looks up and sees Julie. As she rises to congratulate her on her 'win'. she sees the others behind her.

     Pam: "What can I do to for you?"

     Julie: "Is the owner in today by any chance?"

     Pam: "Yes, he is. He is with Stan in his office. You want me to buzz him you are here?"

     Julie: "No thank you, I will just go on up. I am expected. Oh, by the way, how is Kennerman?"

     Pam grins widely, "I have never seen him so tied up in knots over your interview ratings."

     Julie: "Just you wait, you have not seen anything yet. I may call down to you later. If things go as I hope, we may need the cops to escort Kennerman from the building."

     Pam: "Just say the word, I will be ready!"

     Julie: "Follow me everyone, I know the way from here, could sleepwalk and not miss a beat."

     Tricia: "Does everyone have it in for Kennerman and if so how has he kept his job for so long?"

     Julie: "All of us would like to know that. Even Stan hates his guts. He must have some dirt or something on the owner. It is the only thing that makes sense. Of course if the owner sells, then Kennerman is out the door and likely on his own, couldn't happen to a more deserving fellow."

     It only takes a few more minutes to reach the station manager's office. As Julie politely knocks on the door, Kennerman's voice can be heard off in the distance loudly berating the fact that he was upstaged by Julie. As the door opens and Stan's face shows itself. He recognizes Julie and opens the door for her. As the others file in also, he starts to object as the owner waves him away.

     Micah: "Julie, a pleasure to meet you at last. I saw the interview you did, solid work, my dear, truly solid work. Tricia, an honor to see you again, it has been too long."

     Tricia: "Indeed, Micah, I had no idea you were the owner of this station."

     Micah: "As you can see, I am unmasked." As he sees Iriisii, he falters for a second. "And you must be, Iriisii Dovahkiin. I am speechless at meeting you for the first time."

     He takes her hand and kisses her just before the knuckles.

     Iriisii looks deep at him and replies, "Leopard clan are you not? Now it starts to make sense."

     Julie looks strange, not quite picking it up.

     Iriisii looks toward Julie, "The reason Kennerman still has his job after all the things he has done and been accused of doing. The lever he holds over Micah is that he is 'Were' of the Leopard Clan. If it were known that a 'Were' owned a News Station, the outcry would soon cause it to be closed. The only thing worse would be if a vampire were the owner."

     Micah: "Indeed, my Lady, I have to wear contacts to conceal my eyes when in 'polite society'. They never look deeper than my skin and so they miss the other possible telltales. But you are right, my owning this station would be seen as my grasping beyond my proper position. It is regrettable that Kennerman learned the truth and decided to use it as he has. He is lucky I am a responsible person even though I am 'Were' or he would have disappeared long ago."

     Iriisii: "That is in part why we are here. You see, I wish to employ Julie as my press agent and liaison. This is because I value the work she has done and also wish to protect her from the attention of Psy-Ops. Her interview with me has brought her into their crosshairs. I realize that for her to be effective, she needs to get her work out into the public. And that would be difficult if the government started leaning on the networks that would otherwise carry her work.

     I do not wish to preempt every time I want to put anything out there, so I decided to see if it would be possible to purchase this station for Julie to present her work to the public. If I am her employer, and she owns the station, I would extend my protection not only to her, but to all of the employees here and their families, as well as to the building itself. The government cannot complain if she as a private citizen has ownership, and I can tie them up for years in the courts if they object to my employing her and giving her the money to perform her job effectively for me."

     Micah: "I see, all the way around, a 'win' for everybody involved, except perhaps for Kennerman. I have no problem making an exception in his case. He has long worn out any warm welcome he had. I have been looking for a way to divest myself of the station in order to move ahead with another project of mine. But I did not want to abandon everyone else here who have done all they can to make this a success. I take it you have come prepared to make me an offer?"

     Iriisii: "Indeed, just name your price and I am certain a way can be found to meet it. I have resources far beyond what I currently have on hand here, and that is not, how do you say, 'chickenfeed'?"

     Micah laughs, "Yes, that is the correct idiom. Also I do appreciate the concern you express for the others who work here. I feel much less apprehensive, knowing that they will be protected and taken care of."

     Iriisii: "I have one million in this country's currency on hand for immediate payment. Would that be enough to settle this deal."

     Tricia: "But that is all that you have!"

     Iriisii: "And we are soon to start the 'world tour', you know that 'million' will be 'chickenfeed' to what we both will walk away with when it is over."

     Tricia: "That I cannot argue about, the cost/income projections the accountants came up with when we started talking about it blew my mind away. Just the low end projections will make you close to fifty million and the high end is a couple of hundred, maybe more the way they are clamoring for show dates."

     Iriisii: "So let us say after the 'tour' ends, I remit an additional payment of at least twenty-five million in the local currency, will that be enough to 'seal the deal'?"

     Micah: "More than enough, truth be told. For that, I would go ahead and give complete control to you and Julie. You can go ahead and make whatever changes you think needed."

     Tricia: "What is this new project you have in mind?"

     Micah: "I have been asked to stand as chairman to a coalition of all the preternatural community. Especially the lesser clans that tend to get run over by the bigger, more predatory ones."

     Tricia: "I can see the need and sense in something like that. If there is some way I can help, you only need to ask. Both Jean Claude and I see that all the clans need to see each other as equals if we are all to survive in what comes. We realize not all can fight, but there is a place for all to work together to ensure we all have a future."

     Micah: "Then it seems I need to talk to Jean Claude as well to see how to bring this about. I believe that Psy-Ops is but the beginning of the problems we will face."

     Tricia: "You need to speak with Herias as well. She knows more than I do, and what she knows addresses other matters than what Jean Claude is aware of. But the one you really need to speak to in depth is Iriisii. What she knows dwarfs the rest of what we know. Julie will soon have access to a treasure trove of information concerning her and I think it will prove to all our advantage, no, our survival that we listen to what she tells us. What Jean Claude and I have already seen goes beyond anything we thought we knew about what comes. We work to bring together the 'Were', the Vampire, and the Fae, or else we may all fall into the dark night of oblivion.

     There are private vids I can show you of things that have happened recently. I would not have believed what I saw if I had not been there in person to experience it. When you have time, get in touch with me and I will arrange it for you to see them. There are others who were there who can vouchsafe everything. We will hold nothing back, for what comes demands we come together or apart we fall."

     Julie looks toward Stan, "Do you by chance have a 'pink slip' with Kennerman's name on it hidden in your desk?"

     Stan grins widely, "As a matter of fact, I do. Here let me get it for you, then you can have the pleasure of signing it and putting it in his grubby hands."

     Stan retrieves it and quickly hands it to Julie, who signs it with a flourish.

     Julie: "I never thought that I would be the one person to hand this to him."

     Iriisii: "What is a 'pink slip'?"

     Julie: "It is a notice that his employment here has been officially terminated, in other words, he has been fired from his job here."

     They all one by one exit the room and proceed through the station with Julie looking for Kennerman. As the 'pink slip' is seen in her hands, the whispering rises throughout the rooms as everyone opens a way for Julie straight to Kennerman, who is regaling a story of something he did around the water cooler. Julie walks up to him, and as everyone is watching, gives the 'pink slip' to him. His mouth drops at first before starting to laugh.

     Kennerman: "Oh, but this is a fine joke on me. You really had me there for a second, then I realized that it was your signature at the bottom and not Stan's."

     Micah: "There is something you need to know Kennerman."

     Kennerman: "And what may I ask is that?"

     Micah: "I just sold the station to Julie, 'lock, stock, and barrel'."

     Kennerman bursts out laughing so hard he almost fell over and toppled the water cooler.

     Julie: "When you can get your laughter under control perhaps you might want to look at this."

     Julie hands him the paper authorizing the sale of the station to Julie, to take effect immediately.

     As he reads it, he finally comprehends that this is no joke. The 'pink slip' is real and valid, and his next destination is out the door.

     Julie: "I want you out of my station, now! I will have your personal effects gathered and sent to you. Your last paycheck will be with your effects, so there will be no need to ever darken our doorway again."

     As Kennerman staggers his way to the front door and steps outside, he can hear the cheering going on behind him. Even as the sound diminishes with the closing of the door, the sound seems to follow him as he makes his way to his car. Back inside, the 'congratulations' keep coming from all sides. Julie raises her hands for the room to quiet down.

     Julie: "I want everyone to know from this new beginning, we are on the trail of the biggest story you could ever imagine. And we have the exclusive scoop on this, no one and I mean no one is going to be able to steal this from us! Now, with that said, please understand that this is going to entail a lot of hard work. And we are going to meet a lot of resistance from Psy-Ops and the rest of the government, because they are in this up to their eyeballs. But I have made arrangements for security for you and your families.

     None of you will have to pay 'one red cent' for this, I am paying for this. You might ask how, but all I am going to say is that there are those who trust me to get the word out to the people on what is really going on out there. And they have backed me up by providing me with the means to buy this station, fire Kennerman, and protect all of you and yours. We have a big job to do, but I believe in all of you, and together we will get it done, and no one is going to stand in our way! Now who is ready to take over the 'anchor' spot that was Kennerman's, we need to get ready for the six o'clock news!"

     Tricia looks toward Iriisii as Iriisii looks toward Tricia, both with big smiles on their faces.

     Micah: "Yeah, I do believe she will get the job done. Now may I take you two lovely ladies out for a celebratory drink before the news hits the streets?"

     Tricia and Iriisii each take one of Micah's arms and walk together toward the door.

     Later, as they drop Micah off back at the station for him to retrieve his car, Iriisii hands him a slip of paper that she had jotted down a note on. As he takes it and reads it, he raises his head in surprise.

     Micah: "Are you certain of this, I do not mean to presume, but..."

     Iriisii: "Indeed, I want you to come. There will be many there of all different persuasions, some I am certain you might not have encountered. I can safely say it will be the occasion of the century if not the 'Age'."

     Tricia: "You are inviting him to your wedding, I take it?"

     Iriisii: "Yes, I am."

     Tricia: "Micah, please come, as a favor to the both of us. Anyone who is truly anyone will be there. We have plenty of security ready in case Psy-Ops or anyone else dares to show their face. And I understand Iriisii and her entire group of mates are going to perform. As I have seen myself it will be a wonder to behold."

     Micah: "Although I have not been to one of your shows, I have heard about them and I must admit I am very curious about the effect you have on your audience."

     Iriisii: "Then come and see it first hand, I promise you will enjoy it."

     Micah: "Very well, you talked me into it. I will see you there. Fare thee well, lovely ladies, until we meet again."

     Micah shuts the limo door and walks to his own car. As the limo slides out into the street and merges with the traffic.

     Tricia: "He is definitely everything I have heard about him. And will make a nice catch for someone if he stands still long enough."

     Iriisii laughs, "If he does not find a woman quicker on the uptake than he is. If so, he will find himself before the marriage altar before he knows what happened."

     Tricia: "I have been meaning to ask."

     Iriisii: "Go ahead."

     Tricia: "You really set Serana up with someone else?"

     Iriisii sighs, "Yes, I did. First to avoid problems with Rigmor. Second, I hoped she would find happiness with him, as they both had at one time or another declared their love for me. And if not for my already having committed myself to Rigmor, I would have had a very hard time choosing between them. As I have had time to think back and examine what was going on in the back of my mind, I have come to realize that Serana was like another I was acquainted with although for very different reasons. She needed to learn what it was like to truly love someone more than their own life. Having spent thousands of years entombed, still a child emotionally. Then when she was awakened, she fixated on me as I did not treat her as a child. Not to mention I did not try and destroy her on finding out she was a vampire as many others would have."

     Tricia: "When did she have her humanity restored?"

     Iriisii: "Just before she married Casius."

     Tricia: "And you never spoke to her about it? Never asked if she would do it for you?"

     Iriisii: "No. I felt it was something that she needed to decide on her own, for her own reasons, not mine or anyone else. You have to understand, what she went through in the ritual to become a vampire...it was not of her own will, and very few survive it. I have heard of nothing even close to what she went through happening in this world, when one is turned to either 'Were' or 'Vampire'."

     Tricia: "That bad, huh."

     Iriisii: "Truthfully, only some of the things I saw in Olaf's mind. Things buried deep within him, things that drive his outward reactions toward certain women. Those things are the only ones that come close to what she went through. I felt the best thing was to let her come to her own decision, in her own time, for her own reasons."

     Tricia: "What did you see in Olaf that...forget I asked, I am not sure I really want to know."

     Iriisii: "There resides in all of us things we would rather forget, bury deep, lock away. But they continue to reach out and affect us in different ways. Letho of Gullet, a fellow Witcher of Geralt's, but of a different school, was one who embraced what made him different. When I met him, every hand from every ruler on that world was raised against him. He knew too much of what they did not want anyone walking around knowing of them.

     I saw what his future was going to be if he stayed, and I also saw what he could become if someone took the effort to show him another path. One where he could feel his skills had true value, his life true meaning and true value. And so I showed him what I saw in him, and asked if he wanted what I could offer to him. He accepted my offer and pledged himself to me. On the battlefield against the Tsaesci, when I gave Rigmor into his arms, to take her back behind our lines. I told him, I would release him from his pledge once she was safely behind the shields."

     Tricia: "And he still gave his life to save hers, because he knew how much she meant to you. And he felt strongly enough about you to stay in your service even after you released him, even if it meant his life, which it did. Such loyalty is a very rare thing to earn. I think that is why you have risen so far and high. You have the ability to inspire that kind of loyalty in those you meet."

     Iriisii: "And so, when I looked into Olaf, I saw some of the same in him as I did in Letho. For very different reasons, but enough that I could work with him, and in time do wonderous things with him. And then there was Cyprian Wiley, but that is a totally different story. He is the first of my 'Heralds'. Those who will go out and proclaim the 'Time of the Choosing'."

     Tricia: "I still cannot wrap my head around that Jihad of Truth. A three way war with you in the middle."

     Iriisii: "That is in part why I was chosen out of all the possibilities. Some were chosen early and they failed for one reason or another. Why matters not, the fact that they failed is what matters. Because I cannot, must not fail. I will do what I have to, whether I live or die makes no matter, that I succeed, that is what matters. That life goes on for everyone else in existence."

     Tricia: "But you do not intend to die, do you?"

     Iriisii: "No, I do not, but I must go on as if it could be just around the next corner, in the next fight, battle, war. I must expect it, deal with it, accept it if there is no other way, for my life is a very small price to pay for everyone else to live."

     Tricia: "Somehow I believe behind all of that, in your deepest self, you are at peace with yourself, with your life, your path forward. In that place you are unassailable, invincible, truly immortal. From there, you will win, because no enemy can touch you."

     Iriisii: "My presence has pushed you further along your own path. You are beginning to see with your deeper senses. Trust them when all others fail you, walk your own path one step at a time, and believe in yourself. One day, how many days ahead are uncountable. But we will stand and look back together upon this moment and realize that this is when we saw the truth of and in each other. When one immortal reached out to another almost there, yearning to find the way forward. And the one said, follow me and set your feet firmly on your path. Remember these words above all others, strive to find the balance in your inner soul, then when your outer self is in balance with your inner soul, you will become what you most desire to be."

     Once they arrive back at the 'Circus' Tricia notices the sun near the horizon.

     Tricia: "Jean Claude will be rising soon and I need to speak with him once he is up. I will leave you to do whatever you need."

     Iriisii: "Go, I have a training session with the guards to oversee. They are coming along very well, better than I expected in fact."

     Tricia: "Both Jean Claude and I have noticed that, thank you very much for your efforts. The Harlequin have changed their position about you, both by what you have done with the guards, and the ten who went over to your side. They have seen what you have done with their brothers and are quite impressed. That is something that has not happened in a very long time. But I must hurry, thank you again for all that you have done."

     Iriisii nods her head as Tricia disappears through the door into the 'Circus. She is about to head inside when a whiff of something crosses her senses. She immediately turns and starts looking round. There are some normal visitors beginning to arrive early for the shows listed on the marquee, as well as some of the workers changing shift. Try as she might, it is difficult to pin down where the odor is coming from. Slowly she rules out some more distant possibilities mainly because there is no breeze, thus it must be close.

     She clouds herself from the visitors all around, for their safety more than hers. She cannot allow them to become involved in what may be a fierce battle. Then she feels some of her 'Hand of Blood' warriors move outside from the 'Circus' to take positions nearby. She has begun to notice that they are now able to directly sense her different 'moods'. Like now if she is concerned or agitated, they know and some will find her and place themselves where they can assist if needed. She motions for them to be alert but to maintain their distance.

     Then she catches the odor once again. She inhales deep and tries to read as much information as she can from it. It is strong, that is for certain, must be newly turned then, could probably pass as a normal human for a bit. For some reason, she feels it does not wish to attack, that its purpose is for something else. It is subtly different from the previous interactions she has had with it. Perhaps not the same controlling entity? If so, how does this either complicate or simplify things. Then she sees what she is looking for, sitting on a bench, in the shade of one of the nearer buildings. Iriisii sees another bench close enough to talk to whatever this is without getting too close. She thinks this is intentional to pique her curiosity. Whoever is controlling that body is right in that motivation.

     She again motions her 'Hand of Blood' to follow but maintain their current distance from her. As she sits in the nearby bench to her target, she absorbs all that she can from its appearance. On the surface it is just another normal denizen of the city. Underneath however, much is different with this one. She doesn't detect the same toxicity as she has previously detected, nor is the same corrosiveness present. Yes, evidently this one is either of the same species, or the same beginnings but has taken a different path.

     Iriisii: "You have my attention, so please tell me why you have come all this way to find me."

     Adam: "My name is unpronounceable, even to one such as you. This shell is called 'Adam' so you can refer to me as such. As to why I am here, now, speaking with you, is to see why you have drawn the ire of another of those like I am. He is as I am sure you now know, quite different from myself."

     Iriisii: "Indeed, any other he would have sent would have attacked me by now rather than engage in conversation. Please continue, I am sure your appearance here is no coincidence."

     Adam: "As I said, I came to see why he is so adamantly interested in you."

     Iriisii: "There has to be more to it than that, after all he was exiled from this Existence a very long time ago, now it seems he has somehow found his way back. Other than that he sees me as a threat to his return, or at least whatever plans he has made for his return."

     Adam: "Yes, we were aware of his exile. He came here into your Existence after being exiled from ours after he attempted...I am sorry there are no concepts in common to understand what he wanted to attempt."

     Iriisii: "Hmmm, I am not certain, but it may be that I have the resources needed to understand, it simply requires a different means of communicating the information."

     Adam: "I agree, but direct contact with you is impossible. You have traces of substances within you that would completely disrupt my hold on this subject. Releasing that hold would return me to my home Existence, and both of us would be none the wiser for it."

     Iriisii: "Let me consider other possibilities, I will need a little time to converse with some allies I know. It is possible one of them may be able to act as an intermediary between us."

     It takes a few minutes discussion among the Ancestral Memories but they come up with a recommendation for her. Their idea is to create a 'homunculus' and link it to the Krang to provide real-time translation. She considers this and trusts her Ancestral Memories to know what they are speaking about.

     Iriisii: "It has been suggested that I create a 'homunculus' and link it with my Krang to provide translation in real-time. Although I have never done this specific procedure before, I have done similar things in the past without problems."

     Adam: "How will you create this 'homunculus'?"

     Iriisii: "I will use the particulate matter all around us. It will not be a living being but instead a construct animated by my power, once we are done, I will disperse it back into the material used in its creation."

     Adam: "Very well, once you are done, I will connect to it and feed it the information I have."

     Iriisii begins drawing small amounts of whatever is loose in the area around them. Changing its molecular structure into a flesh-like construct eerily like the cloned one of Desidarius she got from Shai-Hulu'ud. Although this one does not look like Desidarius, its makeup is close. She creates the link with her Krang to it, in which the Krang is waiting to provide translation of the information it will receive. She gives 'Adam' the signal to link and send 'his' information.

     Whatever form it is in, it takes the Krang a lot of resources to process it, parse it, break it down, translate it, rebuild its structure for Iriisii to understand, then send it to her through the 'homunculus'. Even it is surprised at what is flowing through the link. The structure of the raw data, so very different from anything it has so far encountered. It requests Reaper to link and monitor to ensure everything is correct as some of the algorithmic forms are similar to his own. It is the ones that are not, that prove to be the most surprising.

     The information floods into Iriisii. As she takes it in and collates it with what she already knows, the 'Poison of Transcendence' still remaining in her bloodstream activates in a completely different way than it has in the past. She sees the information provided by 'Adam' in a multi-dimensional/multilayered configuration. Like watching a vid and being in it at the same time, seeing and experiencing from both perspectives meshing into a singular form.

     She does not try to project understanding, but rather lets it immerse itself into her. Her consciousness becomes multi-dimensional, opening itself to unbounded realizations, jumping with leaps and bounds, stretching the boundaries of her thoughts to encompass all that she was, is now, ever will be. She sees what 'Adam' wants her to see with regard to her 'nemesis'. And with herself meshing with her Ancestral Memories for a split second, she undergoes an epiphanic realization of what it means to be her. Of who she will need to become to overcome the exiled nemesis. And what it could mean to Existence when she does this. She knows why she must relinquish this state of being before she is thrust out of this Existence. What hangs in the balance if she does not do so, before the 'Blind Dreamer' feels what she is now, before her Nemesis knows the border she has crossed over, before the one who holds the 'eye' that is even now yearning for her to find it. That wants to impart its own legacy into her hands, to save its own Existence from an evil that seeks to turn it to his own purposes. And so pose a greater threat to the Omniverse than any yet born. And all of this is passing through the homunculus, her creation, that in this supreme moment, undergoes a 'Quantum Event'. It forms a soul, fresh, pristine, innocent, and is imprinted by Iriisii's composite soul. And becomes a new being, her Neochild.

     Iriisii looks at her newest accomplishment and quietly remarks to herself.

     Iriisii: "What have I gone and done now?"

     Adam: "Something I had not believed possible."

     The Neochild looks at herself, examining her physical body with great interest. Only now becoming aware of physical sensations and where they are coming from. Marveling in the interactions of her physical form with the environment around her. She looks up at Iriisii and feels something else form within her.

     Neochild: "What is this that I am feeling as I look at you? I have no name for this or what function it serves."

     Adam: "What will you do with her? You cannot return her to her former materials. She is alive and developing an awareness for herself both inside and outside herself."

     Iriisii: "I know."

     Iriisii squats down and opening her arms, beckons her Neochild to come to her. As the child hesitantly takes one step at a time toward Iriisii. She stumbles as a loud voice exclaims.

     Rigmor: "What have you gone and done now!"

     Iriisii makes a quick catch and taking her Neochild in her arms, lifts herself up to face Rigmor with her child in her arms.

     Adam: "If I may, perhaps I can explain what happened best."

     Rigmor: "Well someone needs to!"

     Adam: "I was endeavoring to pass along to Iriisii, information concerning certain particular threats she has seen evidence of and will encounter later. The information, because of my different nature could not be transmitted directly but needed to be passed through a construct to act as a buffer. One that could also link to your Krang for translational and computational needs. She informed me that the production of a homunculus was the correct path to take. The process did indeed work, however we did not understand the effect of that much raw power, the multi-dimensional nature of both power and information, the structure of the information along with how it could be broken down then reassembled in a nature Iriisii could understand and absorb, would have on the homunculus. The metaphysics here are very different from my home. What happened here could not happen there. And so a soul was created within the homunculus and she became a living being."

     Rigmor: "You know this is as clear as mud don't you?"

     Reaper: "If I may, Mother Rigmor. The explanation is as concise and accurate as it is possible to convey given the circumstances. There is simply far too many pieces to this puzzle to go into. Even the Krang itself was stretched to its limits to process the information given to it. And our clear lack of knowledge about our own Metaphysics not to mention those of Adam's home, then to know how they would interact. There was no way any of us could anticipate this would occur. And yet, it has, and so we must take responsibility for the result and deal with it accordingly."

     Rigmor: "So just what does that mean, specifically?"

     Iriisii: "'I' have a new child to rear. She is closer to the 'Child of Infinity' in how she came to be, but that is of no matter now. She is here, she is alive, she bears a soul, I claim her as my child and I will see to her needs. You do not have to bear any responsibility for this. This is mine and mine alone."

     Rigmor: "That is not what I meant and you know it!"

     Iriisii calmer, "Yes, I know what you meant. This child was not planned or anticipated by me or anyone else. But she is here and I and only I bear the responsibility for her. She is a child, albeit in a young girl's body. She is learning how to interact with what she is physically feeling, what her mind is telling her about the sensory information flooding it right now, and then add the awakening of emotions that she has no way to know what they mean or how to handle them. The knowledge that was poured through her is likely copied into her brain, just filed away until she has dealt with the current situation. She will need help when she begins to access all of that and process it. But like I said, I do not expect anyone else to do anything but accept that she is here now and that I love and claim her as my daughter."

     Rigmor: "...I am sorry, I did no mean..."

     Iriisii: "I know, but this is not the time or place to discuss what you meant. That is for a more private setting when we can be alone, don't you think?"

     Rigmor: "Yes, you are right. It is just that I keep having to put it off because of all the things happening. And there never seems to be a good time to talk to you about it."

     Iriisii: "You are right about that, so we will make time to talk about it. I promise you that."

     Rigmor: "Ok, I know you keep your promises. So I will be patient and wait until then."

     Iriisii: "Thank you, it will not be long."

     Iriisii looks to the child in her arms.

     Iriisii: "Now what name are we to give you? Hmmm, I know, you remind me of a young girl I know. Her name is Hannah and I think I should name you Hennelly."

     Hennelly: "I sense your feelings toward her as you said her name. I like the way it made you feel toward her and toward me. Therefore I like the name you have given me."

     Rigmor: "I agree, it is indeed a nice name and perhaps some day you can meet Hannah, I think the two of you would get along well together."

     Hennelly: "I would like that. I do not know anyone right now but I can sense that you and mother know many people. That you have many friends who care and respect you. That is what I want too."

     Rigmor: "It will come, I can assure you of that."

          They resume the shows within the 'States' before attempting to go across the ocean. The show in De'ver is rollicking along, word is the rest of the 'US' dates are sold out and the venues are clamoring for extending Iriisii's appearances. She takes a few seconds to breathe, then walks back out on stage.

     Iriisii: "I have a new song for you tonight, De'ver!"

     The noise level in the arena reaches outside and can be heard even in the nearby mountains. 

     Iriisii: "Have you ever really had someone you loved? And then had to send them away from you? You have no idea if you will ever see them again. If perhaps when you do, will they even want to see you, be with you, hold you in their arms? I have been there, and this song is what I heard on the winds of my adopted homeland as I gazed at the gates where I let her go through, four years before. You say why did I not find someone else? Why not try and forget in the arms of another? 

     Truth be told I did try. But I could not get her out of my mind. She was always there, no matter what I did, where I went, who I was with. I went adventuring, like the old heroes of legend did. And found someone along the way. She stayed with me, knowing my history, knowing the memories that burdened me. We never took our relationship to that next level because of those memories. And then I heard one day that someone was looking for me.

     So I did as many would do and went to my favorite tavern to sit, drink, listen to the music, and let fate find me. It did as an old friend sat across from me at the table I had chosen. He greeted me, and then slipped me a letter. I have to admit, my hands were shaking as I opened it and read it. 

     It was not from the one I left four years ago, had it been, who knows what my reaction would have been. It was from her mother, trouble had come and found my first love. Her mother could not help her, only I could do that. So she asked me to come and help her daughter against the trouble that had found her. Now, how was I to go and tell the one waiting for me at home that I needed to go and help the one from my past?

     But that is what I had to do and be able to live with myself. Fortunately she understood me better than I knew myself. She sent me onward, telling me that if things did not work out, she would be waiting for me. And if they did, then it was not meant to be for us. So as I stood at the top of a pass in the snowy mountains, looking down at the gates as I once did four long years before, when I sent my Rigmor to her home to follow her destiny, and I stayed, going back north to my own destiny. But this time I went on south, and as I went down that snow covered track, I heard these two songs on the winds. The first described what had gone before, what was clawing at my heart. And the second? The second spoke of my hopes, my dreams, what I desperately needed.

     (Momma, I'm Coming Home)

     Times have changed and times are strange

     Here I come but I ain't the same

     Mama, I'm coming home

     Times go bye, seems to be

     You could have been a better friend to me

     Mama, I'm coming home

     You took me in and you drove me out

     Yeah, you had me hypnotized, yeah

     Lost and found and turned around

     By the fire in your eyes

     You made me cry, you told me lies

     But I can't stand to say goodbye

     Mama, I'm coming home

     I could be right, I could be wrong

     It hurts so bad it's been so long

     Mama, I'm coming home

     Selfish love yeah we're both alone

     The ride before the fall, yeah

     But I'm gonna take this heart of stone

     I just got to have it all

     I've seen your face a hundred times

     Everyday we've been apart

     And I don't care about the sunshine, yeah

     You took me in and you drove me out

     Yeah, you had me hypnotized

     Lost and found and turned around

     I've seen your face a thousand times

     Everyday we've been apart

     And I don't care about the sunshine, yeah

     'Cause mama, mama, I'm coming home

     I'm coming home, I'm coming home

     I'm coming home

     (Faithfully)

     Highway run into the midnight sun

     Wheels go 'round and 'round, you're on my mind

     Restless hearts sleep alone tonight

     Sendin' all my love along the wire

     They say that the road ain't no place to start a family

     Right down the line it's been you and me

     And lovin' a woman like me ain't always what it's supposed to be

     Oh, girl you stand by me, I'm forever yours, faithfully

     Circus life under the big top world

     We all need the clowns to make us smile

     Through space and time, always another show

     Wondering where I am lost without you

     And bein' apart ain't easy on this love affair

     Two strangers learn to fall in love again

     I get the joy of rediscovering you

     Oh girl, you stand by me, I'm forever yours, faithfully

     Faithfully, I'm still yours

     I'm forever yours, ever yours

     Faithfully

     As the speakers blast forth the music, Iriisii's voice carries home the lyrics, and scenes from her memories of Rigmor play across the giant video screens. Scenes as she carried Rigmor to Rose's camp in her arms, fought the Thalmor as they went into Fort Black in search of Rose, finding instead a little girl locked in a prison cell. As Iriisii ravaged her way through the acolytes within that mine north of Dawnstar to stop the sacrifice of Rigmor on that altar. To watch as she carries Rigmor through the town of Dawnstar holding Rigmor in her arms. To the final tower where she leaves Rigmor sitting on the stone floor to go up and confront Tylar Aedriath. As the last of the songs fade, Iriisii looks at the crowd, as they silently wait for the rest of the story.

     Iriisii: "Do you want to know what happened after?"

     The crowd makes their desire known with a resounding 'YES'!!

     Iriisii turns to offstage and extends her hand, "Then help me welcome..."

     Rigmor in a flowing gown of Elihal's design is caught by the video screens running to Iriisii with tears flowing. She runs straight into her arms and begins a kiss that seems to ignite fires everywhere between other couples in the arena. As the crowd shifts their view from the stage to the video screens, they can see enough of Rigmor's face to know this is not an actress playing a part. This young woman is the very same one they watched on the videos. And the passion, emotion, the fiery heat of this kiss is real. When they slip apart, Iriisii looks back to the crowd.

     Iriisii: "I want you to meet the one I married after what you saw on the screens and a great deal more that happened, this is Rigmor Ragnarsdottier, of the House of Ragnar, former High Queen of Cyrodiil, my first mate and mother of our first child. 

     I know what question you have next, but all I can say to that is that the answer is Divine Intervention. Your next question is, do I have more than one mate? The answer is, yes. How can I get away with that? The laws of our homeland allow for it, so long as we can take care of all their needs. And whether you count my wealth with gold and gems, or with my mates, I am rich beyond all the dreams of avarice."

     Iriisii looks back at Rigmor and kisses her once again as the crowd roars its approval. Once they are done, Iriisii shouts to the arena, "Good Night, De'ver! And may you dream of what your lives could be like if you believe strongly enough."

     The lights come up as Iriisii and Rigmor exit the stage.

     Rigmor: "Where did you learn to do that? Not at the Bards College back home that is for sure."

     Tricia: "Yeah, I want to know too. If we could bottle and market it, we could make several fortunes!"

     Jean Claude: "Tricia, something like that cannot be bottled like wine. It is something learned by living life, the good and the bad. And then learning how to show others what you learned."

     Iriisii: "Indeed, many of these people will never experience anything like the lives that we have led. In fact they would likely never survive those experiences, but we can give them a glimpse if only for a fleeting few minutes, and show them what could be. Come on, we have plans to make, and see what plans this government has in mind."

     Iriisii turns to Jean Claude, "Have you spoken to any of the clans in this area?"

     Jean Claude: "Yes, I have. We have a meeting set up for tomorrow night, the 'Weres' will speak to you during the day."

     Iriisii: "What kind of place have the 'Weres' settled on for the meeting? And will I need bodyguards as a show of force?"

     Tricia: "It would be wise to take a few, they will look more serious at you than if you came alone, no matter how powerful you are, some would have forced challenge on you to prove yourself. I know they would not survive, and while there would be no repercussions it would still make things more difficult."

     Iriisii: "I understand. I want them to know I do not seek to undermine their leaders authority. I do not seek control of them. I only seek cooperation from them, and that only for so long as to accomplish our goals, after which they may return to their normal affairs. Should any wish to discuss a more formal alliance, I am willing to entertain discussions and see where they lead."

     Tricia: "I will pass along your words, some there are who would look favorably toward an alliance once they see how powerful you are, and how those who join you are treated."

     Iriisii looks back to Rigmor, "I meant to ask earlier, has communications been established with the Fortress?"

     Rigmor: "Yes, with the Krang acting as an amplifying relay, communications has been established. The Custodian reports all is normal back on Nirn, for the nonce anyway. However it does look like Aleytys is doing as you said she would and has made a spectacle of herself in her pursuit of Arioch, before finally catching him."

     Iriisii: "So he is caught?"

     Rigmor: "Yes, he was able to stay ahead of her for quite a long time. Kintyra had already had Blackwell send a 'Writ of Censure' to her, to get her to give him more space."

     Iriisii: "She moved faster than I anticipated. I may have to let him rest in one of my safe spaces, I did not want it to be too easy for her to catch him, and I must still keep up appearances."

     Tricia: "Who is this that was being chased? And by whom, if I may ask?"

     Iriisii chuckles, "My half-dragon daughter, Aleytys, was chasing the man she will marry, Arioch, Lord of the Courts of Chaos. He was trying to avoid her as he attempted to woo my other daughters to see if one would be interested in him. Aleytys had already decided she wanted him for her mate and warned off her sisters as she hunted him. The chase and evasion fed her 'dragon' nature, strengthened her desire for him. He on the other hand was trying to evade her not because he was not interested but to avoid confrontation with the male dragons of my world, who were also interested in her.

     I fear she will have no choice but to kill a few of the dragons if they get too close, for she will brook no interference from them. And her antics have forced her sister, our first daughter, Kintyra, to whom I have given my throne, into having to 'censure' her for some of the things she has done to try and catch Arioch. Even though in private her reactions have been of such a nature, that our Lord Chancellor Martin Blackwell, has had to resort to threats of 'removing wagging tongues with hot pincers' to keep the palace staff quiet."

     Tricia: "Surely he was joking about the pincers, he would not actually do something like that, would he?"

     Iriisii: "If he thought it necessary, he would do more than that. After Rigmor and I, with our army, fought across the breadth of Tamriel, all the way to the gates of the Imperial City. He sued for peace as we stood at the bridge leading into the city. The next day she and I went alone to talk with him and the Emperor.

     The Emperor immediately ordered his guards to draw swords and cut us down. Lord Blackwell countermanded the order and not a single man moved to draw. The Emperor then realized he was undone, he began trying to lay all blame onto his Queen, who had already fallen to my blade several days before for crimes of a different sort. My Rigmor took ill, and emptied her stomach against one of the pillars in the Throne Room."

     Tricia: "You are kidding me?!"

     As she sees Rigmor shaking her head back and forth, she laughs and exclaims.

     Tricia: "You go, girl!"

     Iriisii: "I went to see what I could do to help her, but I had no time to consider what the reason for her illness was, as I felt the Emperor's dagger sliding across the back of my armor."

     Eyes wide, Tricia exclaims, "What did you do?"

     Rigmor: "She took his head. I watched as it rolled down the steps and came to rest, his eyes wide and his mouth still trying to speak. She helped me to my feet as we heard the Legion Guards calling out, 'Do vah kiin, over and over. I had to direct her to go and speak to Lord Blackwell. As she walked to him, she asked why? He replied to her, if she would accept and sit upon the Ruby Throne of Dragonborn Emperors and Empresses. That her anointing from Akatosh, making her Dragonborn gave her a clearer right to the throne than anyone else."

     Iriisii sighs, "I wanted nothing more then, than to turn and run, as fast and far as I could."

     Tricia: "Why didn't you?"

     Iriisii: "Because I knew what was coming, and the battles that would be fought over who would sit on that throne would leave an Empire already a shell of its former self in shambles, unable to defend itself against the Tsaesci. Who would come sailing across from Akavir in only four years time. It had already been told to me, if we failed and did not repel the invasion, the 'Age of Man' was over for eternity, and the 'Age of the Undead' would reign for all time.

     I knew I had no choice, my life, Rigmor's life, and the lives of every other man, woman, and child, would be forfeit if I did not take the throne. It was no foregone conclusion we would win. But it was our last chance to do so. I could not walk away and leave all to die. So I climbed the steps and sat on the throne. Lord Blackwell then asked Rigmor to take the High Queen's throne. Once she did, I knew I would never leave her. Especially after I heard her reply to Lord Blackwell after he inquired as to her health that she was with child.

     But to answer your question, after we had cleared the Throne Room and Lord Blackwell returned to us, he asked my permission to 'clear up a few loose ends', to wit, to assassinate the noble lords who fought against us on the field of battle. The only ones to live were those who abstained from battle or joined our side. The widows of those who died were allowed to keep their lands and titles, with the understanding that should they ever take up arms against us again, there would be no mercy for their entire families."

     Tricia: "You are not kidding are you?"

     Iriisii: "No, I am not, our world can be as vicious as they come. People are pretty much the same everywhere, most are good, hard working, only want to make a living for themselves and their family. But then you have the ones who for whatever reason feel they are better, more deserving than everyone else. And take that to mean they deserve everything and those others deserve only what crumbs fall from the master's table. Those deserve what comes their way when they stand against what is right."

     Tricia: "Then who decides what is right?"

     Iriisii: "Honestly? When you come across the answer to that, let me know, and we will both know the answer then. I seek to find the balance between 'light' and 'dark', 'good' and 'evil'. For in my experience, only the 'balance' allows both sides to live and continue onward. If either side completely won, then existence would die, either in chaos and destruction or in stagnation and apathy, pick your poison."

     Tricia: "I can see your point and agree with it. You make a lot of sense."

     Jean Claude looks at Tricia, he agrees with Iriisii, he is just amazed the someone could explain in just a few words and get her to see and agree to something he has been trying to convince her of for years with no luck.

     Tricia looks back at him, "Don't look so startled, if you had not already planted the seed of what she said, it would have taken, oh, at least another five minutes to convince me."

     Jean Claude laughs and smiles, "Now you see why I love her so much. She makes up her own mind and speaks it when she wishes to, and she does not care who hears what she has to say."

     Tricia: "Come on, it is getting close to sunrise, you need to be ready to sleep when that happens, and we have a meeting with the Were clans later this morning."

     Jean Claude: "As you say, mon cheri, lead on."

     They head back to their hotel rooms, specially designed for special guests. Theirs are below ground, with walls armored all around like a vault to prevent intrusion. Security is tight, with cameras, normal light, infrared, and ultraviolet, armed guards, all ex-military or former merc. And Jean Claude even has his own special guards, the Harlequin. Composed of both Were and Vamp, ancient, deadly, and totally loyal.

     Iriisii wakes from her dreams and hurries to meet Tricia in the main hall of the hotel before heading for the meeting with the 'Were' clan leaders.