Andersonville 28 -- Freedom Fighters free porn video

Author's notes: Permission to use the names of my fellow authors (and good friends) was obtained before this story was written. Any negative events that happened in this story were explained before consent was given. Fade in... There was no doubt they were in love. My brother was lying on Sally's lap while she ran her long, delicate fingernails through his hair. Steve's injuries were healing nicely, and the doctor had said that he should be able to walk without his crutches by Christmas. Sally bent down and whispered something in Steve's ear, causing them both to giggle. They were soul mates, which made what I had to do next even harder. "Hi guys," I said. "Hey sis," Steve replied cheerfully while Sally smiled brightly in my direction. "All packed and ready for your big trip?" "Just about." I took a seat and counted to five silently. "I wish I didn't have to go. I'm not looking forward to it." "Peace River isn't so bad, Linda," Sally grinned. "Judge Jasper is a fair man if you give him the chance." "Is that why you made a deal with him, Sally?" I asked pointblank. Her mouth dropped opened, and I knew my suspicions were correct. "What are you talking about, Linda?" Steve asked cautiously. "I'm talking about the deal she made with Judge Jasper so he would heal your injuries." "In exchanged for what?" "In exchanged for the identities of the two people who escaped from his town more then three years ago, Steve. I told you who they were...and you told her - isn't that correct?" "Now wait a minute," Steve objected as he quickly sat up. "Yes I told Sally, but she promised not to tell another soul and I trust her." I looked at his girlfriend, who had guilt written all over her face. "Is that true, Sally? Did you tell anyone?" Her lips pressed tightly together as she fidgeted nervously. Steve put his hands on her shoulder, his face edged with concern that she hadn't denied what I had accused her of. "Sally...tell me the truth." "You were dying," she blurted out. "I couldn't let that happen to you. I couldn't lose you again. When Judge Jasper came to me...yes, yes, yes, I made a deal with him. I...I had too. Don't you see Steve, I had to." She buried her face in his shoulders, but somehow I didn't think she was quite as upset as she acted. "So you condemned two others to death to save one," I noted sharply, perhaps too sharply. Suddenly Steve jumped to her defense. "Would you rather I had 'died', Linda?" he asked in an acid tone. "Sally did what she did out of love...I can't fault her for that." "What about Jeff Summers and Tom McClain," I pointed out. "Her love for you makes their deaths alright." "You're being melodramatic, Linda. No one would've died. They would've been returned to their previous life in Peace River." "To some that is a death sentence, Steve. Ask Judy Hartford...wait, I'm sorry, you can't. She's dead because that bastard forced her to be return." "SHUT UP!" Sally screamed. "Judge Jasper is a kind and wonderful man. He saved my life, or do you object to that too, Linda? I've lived in his town, and it's not as 'horrible' as you make it out to be." "Then why aren't you living there now?" I shot back. "Because I love your brother!" she snapped. "One day we'll go back and start a new life there." "What?" Steve asked in complete surprise. Sally gave him an uncomfortable stare. She hadn't meant to let the cat out of the bag just yet. Giving him her best, sad puppy eyes, she said, "Steve, you know I love you with all my heart. As nice as Andersonville is, I can't see us living our lives here. Judge Jasper has given me - no us, an open invitation to live in his town. All you have to do is say the word and we can go there. I know it may be a few years before you're ready to leave, but I can wait." "Sally," Steve replied in a troubled tone. "Sally...my life is here. My family..." His voice trailed off in conflict. "It's alright, Steve," she smoothed. "You'll be allowed to visit your family a few times a year. I wasn't going to tell you about his offer until...until later." "Why him?" I demanded to know. The young woman turned and glared at me. "Because Judge Jasper cares about me," she stated. "He wants me to be happy, and part of that happiness is being with Steve for the rest of my life." "BULLSHIT!" I hissed. "There has to be other reasons for his offer. I know him too well." "YOU DON'T KNOW JACK-SHIT!" Sally yelled. "You think you know him, but you don't. Judge Jasper is like a father to me. He took me in, cared for me, gave me a new life and...Steve!" She turned back to my brother again. "Steve, your family is here...but my family is in Peace River...and unlike Andersonville, we don't have to let chance rule our life. In Peace River we can be young and healthy for the rest of our lives." "Minus three years," I pointed out. "No," she replied curtly. "Steve and I don't fit the profile, so we won't lose any time. We'll still get all the benefits of living there. Besides, Judge Jasper loves his people." "I can't believe I'm hearing this 'shit'," I responded in disgust. "At best, Judge Jasper...Jupiter, is a farmer tending to his flock. At worst he's nothing more than a slave owner who forces people to do what they don't want to do. There's no middle ground here, Sally!" But the young woman wasn't listening to me anymore. She was trying to sell the idea to my brother. "Steve, I love you," she cooed. "I would give my life up for you. For whatever reason, Judge Jasper favors me, and wants me to return back to him one day. You don't have to make a decision right now. All I'm asking is that you think about it." "What the Hell...Steve for crying out loud listen to what she's saying?" My brother glared at me. "Linda, I need to be alone with Sally right now." "Steve..." "Linda," he said a little bit more forcefully, "leave us alone. This doesn't concern you." I stared at my brother, who was looking back at me with almost no emotion. I didn't want to lose him, but if I pressed too hard I would only make things worse. "I'll talk to you when I get back." He nodded. "Have a nice trip, Linda." Sally gave me a victory smile, but if she thought I was going to roll over and let her have her way she was dead wrong. I grabbed my purse and left the room. Fade out... *** Voice of Linda Anderson - They say to judge someone; you must first walk a mile in their shoes. When I first came here, I regarded this town as a prison. In many ways that's still true, but only if you look at it superficially. Years later, with the benefit of hindsight, I can now see the town for what it is; a last attempt to bring peace between the Titans, the Olympians, and us, the human race. If the town succeeds, the people imprisoned in Peace River will finally be free and there will be peace. If it fails, the resulting war could end the world, as we know it. There are some on all sides of this conflict who have their own reasons for seeing the project fail. These are the stories of the men and women who made a difference during those dark days, and shaped history. It's also about those who had to face their deepest, darkest problems and what they gained from conquering them. It's a place of second chances, hope, and peace. The name of this town is Andersonville. *** Andersonville 28 - Freedom fighters Written by Kelly Davidson Edited by Geoff This story dedicated to my TG brothers and sisters around the world, who taught me how to love and respect others when they don't respect me. Thank you for the lessons learned. Fade in... Joan Banks placed the teacups on the round table in her dining room. Personally she preferred coffee, but her guests were tea drinkers and she didn't want to be bothered making two different drinks. The apartment she rented was larger than most in Peace River, and Joan had decorated it with wonderful, feminine charm. The long, flower skirt she wore with the bright, pullover top complemented her mass of long, brown hair that flowed freely down her back. At 22 years old and standing at 5'7", Joan was a model citizen of Peace River, minus one flaw. She was a free-spirited woman...and that was where the trouble laid. The last thing the leaders of Peace River wanted was free-spirited people. "Would you like some tea, Terry?" she asked. "Yes, thanks Joan," the other woman answered with a shy smile. Terry Sarkel was a tall, blonde-hair bombshell, having the looks and figure men dreamt about. She was also the shyest of the group, preferring to stay in the background whenever possible. Two years ago she hadn't been any prettier than the other women in Peace River, but a failed escape attempt had changed that. Rather than make her younger, which was the usual punishment Judge Jasper imposed, he made her extremely attractive. It couldn't have been a worse punishment since Terry hated the stares men gave her all the time. "How about you, Prue?" Joan asked as she poured Terry a cup. Prudence Walker was at least 3 inches shorter than the others, but was just as pretty. Like Joan, she was 22 years old and well built. Her crop of dark hair was cut in a short, feminine style that added to her beauty. Unlike her friends, she hadn't been a male or a resident of the United States before coming to Peace River. Her home was in New Zealand...at least it had been before the people running this town had stepped into her life. "I'm fine," Prue replied. "I wonder where Julia is?" Joan laughed. "Late as usual. Now that she's getting married I suspect it's only going to get worse." "We're going to let her stay?" Terry asked a little surprised. "Don't know," Joan shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not going to push her out if she doesn't want to go." There was a knock on the door, and Joan rushed to answer it. Moment's later Julia Manchester stepped into the room clutching her purse. "Am I late?" she smiled. "The question should be, how late am I?" Prue grinned mischievously. "When have you 'ever' been on time, Julia?" "Hey, I've been on time...once...I think," Julia answered in mock seriousness. They laughed, and the future bride to be took a seat at the table. She was almost 26 years old, which was close to the deadline the Judge and his people had imposed on all new residents. Anyone who wasn't married, or close to being married by the time they turned 26 was matched up, thanks to the help of Mr. Cupler. Staying single in Peace River wasn't an option, any more than not having a family. There were so many things they weren't told about before coming here. Joan glanced around the table at each of her friends - people who she trusted with her life. If Judge Jasper ever found out what was going on, they would all pay dearly. "Let's begin," she spoke. Julia picked up her pen and started taking minutes. Joan decided to begin the meeting on a positive note. "We got a message from 'Mom' this morning. She was very pleased with our work last week. She says we really set the old man off." Her three friends beamed at the news. They had managed to flatten all four tires on Judge Jasper's car. It was a small but aggressive act of defiance, and the fact that it had pissed Judge Jasper off pleased them to no end. Like the other cells in Peace River, they had left their calling card so everyone would know who was responsible. "Any idea who she is?" Prue asked curiously. 'Mom' was the nickname of their unknown leader. Joan shook her head. "None...and I doubt we'll ever know until after this is over, Prue. It's too risky to make herself known." "What else did she say?" Julia asked in curiosity. "She wishes you good luck on your honeymoon, Julia. She says that sex and having kids is a wonderful part of being a woman. You can read the letter after we're done." Julia nodded that she would. Joan took a deep breath, and prepared them for the bad news. "There's some other business in her letter. She would like us to make a couple of contacts." The three women got quiet. Making contact was a very dangerous situation. While there were no statistic's available, a rough estimate was that at least 70% of the cells discovered were a result of contacts gone badly. Being stealthy was their best defense. "Who are the contacts?" Terry asked cautiously. "One of them is Linda Anderson from Andersonville. Judge Jasper is bringing her into town to do some investigating work for him." "But she works for them!" Prue protested strongly. "This is a suicide mission, Joan! Why don't we just wear T-shirts that say, 'I'm a freedom fighter?' That way it would save Judge Jasper the trouble of finding us. What Mom is asking us to do is unreasonable." "I admit it's risky," Joan started off, "but think of the rewards. Linda could be our voice to the outside." "And she could be our downfall," Prue argued back. "I'm as committed to this movement as the rest of you, but even I have limits. We're no use to anyone if we're discovered." "Prue, I know how you feel," Joan reasoned. "When I first read her request I was as shocked as you were. I admit the first thought in my mind was to turn the request down and not even bother bringing it up. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized all the benefits that could come out of this. Isn't that why our cell was created...to take risks?" "Sane risks, yes," Prue pointed out. "Insane is another matter." "You said there were two contacts, Joan," Julia interrupted. "Who's the other?" "His name is Carlos Aguilar, and he works for Sherry Feltton. As you know, Sherry is involved with Mark Merrick. In fact it's been rumor that they're going to be married soon. Obviously Mom thinks we can get some valuable information from Carlos if we turn him to our side. I don't know him personally, but I've been told he's not happy being here. He used to be a rich, teenage girl named Brittany (read AV 15) who was forced to stay here against her will. Sounds like an excellent candidate for our organization." "Do we have to take both missions?" Terry asked. "Nervous?" Joan questioned her friend. "Yeah...and you should be too, Joan. What happens if this Linda contact does blows up in our face? Do you know what Judge Jasper will do to us? Look what...what he did to me? I don't think I could stand another change." I understand, Terry," Joan reassured her. "That's why if we agree to do this, we'll take every precaution we can to protect ourselves. You should know this is not the only reason why we're contacting Linda Anderson. Mom suspects Judge Jasper is having her watched. If that's true, she wants us to spring a little surprise on them. That's were your expertise comes in my friend." Joan went on to explain how the contact would be made. Relief appeared on their faces when they heard the rest of the plan. "Any questions?" Joan asked. Everyone at the table shook their head. "Let's vote, then." Since each mission involved putting everyone's life on the line, the vote had to be unanimous. If someone voted 'no', they would turn down the mission and there would be no shame in it. As Joan went around the table, each of her friends nodded. "I'll place a drop tonight. With luck we'll hear back from Mom by tomorrow night. Prue and Terry will handle the contact with Linda Anderson. Julia, you and I will work on Carlos. Any questions?" There were none. "Let's say a prayer before go." The four women clutched each other's hand and prayed for success. *** "This is your office," Mark announced formally as he showed me the small room in the rear of his shop. "I've had all the information on the mailman brought here." I ruffled quickly through the pile of folders sitting on a wooden desk that had seen better days. At least the computer he had set up for my use was top of the line. I sat down and pressed the keys with my manicured fingernails. Mercury watched my actions silently. "Do you need anything else?" "No...it'll do," I told him. I did a quick count of the files and came up one short. Carefully, I looked at each file to see which one was missing. "Where's the file on Candy Baker?" (AV 14) "Well, I didn't think you would need it since you were there," Mark stated honestly. "I would still like to have it handy, Mark. There may be some things about the case that I might have forgotten." "No problem, I'll go fetch it for you." I held up my hand. "That's okay, I'll do it myself. I needed a reason to visit Ashlee anyway." "As you wish," the Roman God smiled politely. "I'll catch up with you later." *** When I entered her office Ashlee greeted me with a warm hug. The love between us was real, like that of two sisters. Nothing had changed about her since I had last seen her. She was still as pretty and feminine as ever. I felt envious that Ashlee had embraced her new womanhood so well, while I was still struggling with mine from time to time. "Are you here to see Judge Jasper?" she asked cautiously? The tone in her voice was clear. "Not a good time?" Ashlee shook her lovely head. "Not really. Those damn freedom fighters painted some slogans on a building this morning demanding to be freed. They have really caused a lot of unrest in our town these past few months. As you can imagine, the Judge is furious." "They have a point," I expounded. "All he has to do is release those who want to go and be done with them. You yourself said there aren't that many, Ashlee. Maybe a couple of hundred at best." "If you were living here and Judge Jasper said you could leave if you came to him, would you believe him Linda?" I thought about it carefully. "No, I suppose not. I would think it was a trap to smoke us out." "A catch-22," she said softly. "He can't let them go, and they won't be reasonable." "Perhaps Ashlee," I frowned. Unlike her, I didn't feel the Freedom Fighters were criminals who should be punished for demanding to be set free. Judy Hartford had been right; they were POW's. "Ashlee, I would like to ask you some questions about the mailman. Can we have lunch today?" "Sure," she smiled. "Why don't we eat at my place? Everyone will be gone, and the judge won't mind if I take some extra time to help you with your case." Then she added softly, "And no one will hear us there." I nodded, and Ashlee flashed me a smile indicating that she knew what I wanted to ask. "Good, I'll see you at noon. Oh, one more thing. I need to pick up the file on Candy Baker." "You won't find it here," Ashlee stated. "Oh?" I replied in surprise. "Where is it?" "It's in the locked file room down the hallway. Don't ask me why it's there. Judge Jasper told me to have all files concerning the mailman locked in that room. I'll have Karen open it for you." "Who's Karen?" I inquired. "A young lady who arrived here a few weeks ago," Ashlee answered soberly. "Be gentle with her, Linda. She's not very happy about being here. It's going to take some time for her to get adjusted." Her words sent shivers down my spine. This didn't sound like a typical case. "I thought all the people they brought here were screened first?" "She kind of found her way here," Ashlee explained calmly. My stomach turned. Here was another person being forced to live a lie in this place against their will. Since the death of Judy Hartford, (Judge Jasper insisted everyone call her Judy Chunn but those who sympathized with her cause still referred to her by her married name) I had become more aware of the number people in Peace River who were willing to risk death to escape. Sometimes they became so desperate their attempts amounted to little more than suicide. One person had tried to swim across the river with the mermaids in plain sight. She had been cut down in seconds, and it only showed her desperation of wanting to be free at any cost. "How can you stand it, Ashlee? How can you not want to help her out?" "What can I do, Linda?" my friend shrugged her shoulders innocently. "Even if I wanted to do something I couldn't. No one trusts me, except for one or two people. Besides, it's better for everyone involved if she does accept what has happened to her. All I can do is help Karen embrace her fate." "I suppose that's the best anyone could do," I agreed, when really I didn't. Ashlee could be so warm and loving about some things, and so cold when it came to other matters. I guess everyone had their own way of dealing with these issues, and this was hers. "Can you ask Karen to meet me at the file room, Ashlee." "I'll give her a call right now," Ashlee smiled as she picked up the phone. "See you at noon." "Bye," I waved as I left her office. Outside I frowned and felt a little miffed. I always felt that Ashlee and I were so much alike, but every now and then my friend would show me a side of her I didn't like. Was I doomed to become like her - lost in a system where I would be willing to do Judge Jasper's bidding to avoid causing waves? I knew it was unfair to judge Ashlee that way, but I had a hard time swallowing her reasons. When I got to the file room Karen was already waiting for me. In appearance she was about my age, with light brown hair that fell well past her shoulders. She had thin eyebrows, a small feminine nose, and extra-puffy lips. Her body was slim, and she stood about 5'6" in her high heel shoes. Overall Karen was a very attractive young woman - something she obviously found to be a curse. While on the outside the young woman didn't appear anger or upset, her body language indicated she wasn't happy. "I'm Linda," I introduced myself politely with a small smile. "Karen...Karen Carson. At least that's the name they gave me," she whispered while staring back at me curiously. "Ashlee's told me so much about you." "Oh?" I found that a little surprising. "Come inside," she said while unlocking the door. I walked past her to the file cabinet where the records were kept. It only took a moment to locate the file on Cindy Baker. I pulled it out and closed the drawer, but when I turned to leave Karen was leaning against the closed door. She just stood there staring at me strangely. "Something wrong?" I asked, suddenly a little nervous by her demeanor. She was after all, blocking the only way out. "I'm...I'm sorry," she spoke softly. "It's just so hard to believe you were a man...just like me. You seem so...assertive of that fact." I nodded in a sympathetic way. Ashlee was right; Karen wasn't handling her situation well - not that I blamed her. "Are you really able to leave anytime you want?" "Sometimes," I said. "I still have to ask permission when I do." Tiny tears formed in the young woman's eyes as she tried to hold back the floodgates. "I...I want to leave too," she explained. "My...my family...my mother and father must be worried sick about me...as is my...my sister. Oh GOD, now I'm just like my sister. I used to tease her about...about her peri...periods...and now...now I'm going to experience them too." I stood beside the distressed girl, and placed my arm around her back for support. "It's okay, Karen. You'll get past this. I know you're just scared." "No...it's more than that," she stuttered. "It's my mother and father...I have such a close relationship with them. It must be killing them not knowing where I am." 'If they think you're still alive,' I almost said, then thought better of it. Would the fact that they thought she was dead ease her mind? The young woman sniffed and with tear-filled eyes said, "Linda...I know you don't know me...but I need a favor from you...plea...please! Can you call my parents...and let them know I'm okay?" She shoved a piece of paper containing her parents phone number into my hand. "Tell them I'm okay...that their son Adam is alive." "Karen...Adam, what you're asking me to do isn't easy. It could upset them more by..." "Pleeeeeease," she begged. "Please, let them know." "I'll think about it, Karen," I replied while placing the paper into my purse. There was a knock on the door, and Karen quickly wiped her tears away. I nodded that she looked okay, and Karen opened the door. Mr. Cupler was standing in the hallway looking concerned. "Is there a problem?" he asked politely, but carefully. When he saw Karen's red eyes, he pushed his way in. "I can see that there is." "No," Karen whispered so softly that I almost didn't hear her. "Please, I'm okay now, Mr. Cupler. See, I'm even smiling now." She forced a smile on her face. "It's okay, my dear," he reassured her with his own smile. "I can see you're not happy. I only want to help." "No, I'm really okay," she pleaded in a low, nervous tone. Seeing her despair, I stepped in front of Karen and faced the smaller man. "Leave her alone, Mr. Cupler. She just had to get something out of her system. She's fine now." "Don't interfere," he ordered in a strong manner. Cupid waved his hand, and I found myself being pushed out of the room by some invisible force. I stumbled into the hallway and the door closed on it's own. Then I heard Karen scream. I tried opening the door but the knob wouldn't budge. I pounded on the door yelling to be let in when a pair of hands grabbed me from behind and pulled me away. "Linda, come with me," Deimos said in a no-nonsense tone. "Go to hell," I responded to my former boyfriend. Not taking 'no' for an answer, Deimos pushed me into a conference room with little effort and closed the door. He stared at me with frustration. "Didn't you hear me," I yelled. "I told you to let me go." I tried to rush pass him, but he grabbed me with one hand and pushed me into a chair. Then he took off his sunglasses, and faced me with his cold, black eyes. "Listen to me," he said forcefully. "What I'm doing is for your own good. Cupid may be small, and he may be a god of love, but even he has his breaking points. We all do that for matter, and if you keep pushing at them you'll find yourself in a whole lot of trouble, Linda." "A threat, Deimos," I lashed out. "Good advice," he answered sternly. "I don't want to see you get hurt, Linda. It's time you remember who you're dealing with. We could crush you without breaking a sweat, and some of my people would enjoy doing so immensely. We don't like it when your people try to interfere in our plans. Over time we've mellowed, but not that much. Do I have to prove it to you?" "No, I believe you," I answered with contempt. "Am I free to go now...'master'?" Deimos eyes darkened like two black swamps, and his lips trembled in rage. "Master? Maybe I am your master, Linda. I've treated you with respect, and you've repaid my kindness by spiting on me." He grabbed me roughly by the arm and pulled out of my chair. "GET OUT!" he hissed. "GET OUT NOW...before it's too late." Fear took over, and I ran out the door. But I didn't get very far before a funny feeling came over me. My legs felt like rubber, and I found myself trembling in fright. I lost my balance and I collapsed on the floor just as Ashlee was walking out of her office. She saw me fall, and rushed over as fast as her heels would allow. Carefully she placed her arm behind me and lifted me up. "Let me help," she whispered in a calm, comforting manner as if she had seen this before. Slowly we moved down the hallway together. *** Thank God for Ashlee Gang. Unable to talk after my meeting with Deimos, she drove me to her house and helped me inside. Once there, she forced some warm milk down my throat and put me in her bed. I slept, for how long I don't know. When I woke I was still shaky. "How do you feel," Ashlee asked softly as she handed me a cup of hot coffee. Gratefully I took it from her. "Tired," I responded in a rasp voice. I took a drink...it helped. "Thank you," I whispered. She smiled lovingly and said, "I owed you, Linda. I put some sleeping pills in your milk to help you relax." "What...what happened? What did Deimos do to me?" "Do you really need to ask? You pissed him off, didn't you?" I indicated that I had. "He has powers that can frighten people. He doesn't use them often, but when he does the results are most impressive. He stopped by earlier with Mr. Cupler, but you were still sleeping. I think he wanted to apologize." "I'm going to fight them," I said with determination. "I'm going to stop them...somehow." Ashlee looked at me with wide, understanding eyes. "Don't talk like that," she admonished me. "Such talk is very dangerous. You're not even considered a guest here, Linda. The rules of being a citizen or guest don't apply to you. They can make them up as they go along." "Rules?" I blurted out, finally raising my voice above a whisper. "They have different rules for each?" "Yes," Ashlee admitted. "Residents have certain rights, and guests have other rights." "But not the right to live how they want," I pointed out. "It's different in Andersonville?" she asked harshly. When I didn't reply she continued. "Whatever you might think of our town Linda, we have order here. The rules may seem harsh at times, but they're applied evenly. No one gets special treatment, and everyone knows what is expected of them." "I don't question that, Ashlee." I stopped myself. All my arguing was going to do was upset her, something I didn't want to do considering everything she had done for me. "Thanks for the coffee." I tried to stand, but still found myself still too weak to do so. "Take it easy," Ashlee said while placing her hands on my shoulders to make me sit. "I'm sorry for getting short with you. Look, why don't we talk about something else?" Her change in demeanor surprised me. A moment ago she wanted to rip my head off; now she was my caring friend. It had to be a result of the visit with Mr. Cupler earlier today. Had she been too concerned/worried about me? Maybe Cupid had used his magic on Ashlee like he had with Karen in the file room. Maybe he planned to do the same thing with me. Suddenly I felt so alone and afraid. I pushed the thought away. I would deal with that problem when it happened. "You wanted to know about the mailman," she mentioned. I nodded with interest. The mailman was a mysterious person who was delivering TS women to Peace River. Although many of the Freedom Fighters thought he was a hero for standing up to the Judge, I felt his motives were less than pure. "How did you get involved with him?" Ashlee sat on the bed next to me and sighed. "Someone sent me a note asking me to supply them with information. I knew it was wrong, but at the time I was weak. My best friend...she had died trying to cross the river. As you know, I don't have a lot of friends here. So I did what they asked, and since then I've been giving them what they wanted." "And you have no idea who these people are?" "None what so ever," she answered. "They don't contact me unless it's to change the drop site. I know the routine. The moment a new person arrives, I give them what they want." "What about other information?" Ashlee shook her head. "No, the only information they want deals strictly with the mailman. Nothing about when Judge Jasper or anyone else will be gone. Strange, isn't it? I suspect that the person or persons aren't really part of the Freedom Fighters organization." I thought about it for a moment. It seemed strange that the Freedom Fighters wouldn't use Ashlee to gain information if they knew about her connection with the mailman. Unless of course, the Freedom Fighters got their information from another source. "Ashlee, can you get a message to them?" She saw where I was going and shook her head. "I can, but they won't help you, Linda. You want them to assist you in catching the mailman, their hero. Do you really think they would co-operate?" "No, I suppose not," I answered truthfully. "I just wish I had more information on him. My time is short." Ashlee smiled as if everything would be fine. "You'll work it out, I know you will. Come on, get dressed and I'll drive you home. You can deal with this tomorrow." *** My new apartment was a far cry from the one I had been assigned during my first visit. Compared to that apartment, this place seemed small and drab. Not that it was a roach house or anything like that. It had one large room that served as both the living and dinner area, with a small kitchen off to the side. A short hallway led to a bathroom on one side and a medium size bedroom on the other. My view outside was the brick wall of another apartment building ten feet away. Maybe the rules were applied evenly in Peace River, but this town did have their different classes. I suppose the happier a person was, the more energy the Olympians were able to extract, and they in turn rewarded the person for this, thus increasing their happiness. I began to see how clever the Roman Gods were...except there was the fly in the ointment, the Freedom Fighters. I went into the bedroom to put my clothes away. Unlike before, there were no muses to help me unpack. I opened one of the drawers and a note fell out. I picked it up, and was surprised to see that it was addressed to me. I opened it, and read the contents. Welcome to Peace River, Linda. Now that you've had a taste of what it's really like living here, how do you feel? Is it still warm and pleasant, or something else? We're offering you a chance to join our cause. If you're interested, write a reply and go to Finney's market at 5:30 tonight. Shop a little, then go to the bathroom. In the last stall behind the toilet you'll find a loose brick. Remove the brick, put your reply in the hole, and replace the brick. We'll contact you later about setting up a meeting. If you're not interested in helping us become free then say nothing. Do not hurt our movement. Cell 25 - the truth seekers. I read the letter twice. I knew the freedom fighters were divided into cells of four or five people, and each one had a slogan they lived by. Some called themselves the hell fighters or the red demons. They carried out what would be considered the more violent acts in Peace River, like bringing down power lines and setting fires to buildings. Cell 25 must have been more passive, relying on facts to fight their battle or perhaps even passing information on to other cells. Apparently they figured I had a lot to offer. There was a knock at my door, and I shoved the letter into my purse. "Who is it?" I asked. "It's Mark Merrick," I heard Mercury say. When I opened the door I saw he wasn't alone. Mr. Cupler was standing behind him, a small smile edged on his face. Next to him was Office Deimos. His expression indicated he was still upset about this morning. "Can we come in, Linda?" he asked politely. "Sure, please do." I motioned with my hand for them to enter. "I would offer you something to drink, but my refrigerator is bare. What can I do for you...gentlemen?" "We need to talk about this morning," Mercury began. I held up my hand to stop him. "Yes, I agree," I told them. "I owe each of you an apology." My words surprised them. "How's that?" Mark asked suspiciously. "In Mr. Cupler's case, I shouldn't have tried interfering. That was wrong of me. I'm sorry Mr. Cupler, for being so rude to you this morning." "That's quite alright, Linda," he smiled. "If I seemed harsh with you, it wasn't personal. I was only trying to help Miss Carson adjust to her new life here. I understand how such a misunderstanding on your part could have taken place." I nodded, and then looked at Deimos. There was a great deal of tension in his expression. "Deimos, I'm sorry for pushing you this morning. I was angry, but I had no right to take it out on you. Will you forgive me?" A small smile of relief appeared. "Of course I will, Linda. I feel just as badly about today as you do. Can we just forget about it?" "Yes, that sounds good to me." I grinned, and looked at Mercury. "Mark, I'm sorry that you had to get involved in all this. I know I'm more trouble than I'm worth at times." Unlike the other two, Mark didn't smile. In fact a small frown appeared on his lips, and he turned to the other two. "If you don't mind, I'll like to talk with Linda alone." "Certainly," Cupid replied. "It looks like I'm not needed here. Come on, Deimos. You can drive me back to the courthouse." "See you later, Linda?" Deimos asked hopefully. "Why don't we do lunch tomorrow," I grinned. He agreed, and followed Cupid out. Mercury closed the door and gave me a stern look of contempt. "You're not as cleaver as you think, Linda," he said tensely. "I don't know what you mean, Mark." "Sure you do," he insisted. "Cupid isn't sensitive to your emotions, and Deimos is in love with you, but me, I see things just fine. I can sense you weren't totally sincere with your apologies. In fact, it feels like you're hiding something." "Maybe I am," I replied, choosing my words very carefully. "To be honest, I don't think what happened today was totally my fault." "It was," he stated flatly. "You forgot that while we treat you as our equal, you're not our equal. You don't have a say in how our town is run and what we do to make sure it operates smoothly." I bit my lip hard so I wouldn't lash out while Mercury stood there with a smug grin on his face. I felt my cheeks burn in rage at being treated this way, as if I needed to learn my place. Maybe it was their town, but I didn't like the method he had used to make his point. "Thanks for the advice. I'll try to remember that next time." I worked hard to make sure it didn't sound sarcastic, but failed. "So, are you going to punish me for being deceitful? Mercury shook his head slowly. "I should, but I won't... at least not this time. Just remember something, Linda. You may have fooled us this time, but you won't fool us all the time...and we have no tolerance for those who try to make us look like fools." Clearly it was a threat that I shouldn't take lightly, but there was something more. I had never seen Mercury so edgy before. In fact, I noticed he wasn't the only one around here who was. "Jesus Mark, what the hell's wrong?" "That's not your concern, Linda," he said firmly. "Once your job is completed you can go home. Until then we have to work together. I can either be an asset...or a liability. It's your choice. I'll see you tomorrow." Before I could say anything he had already left. One second he was there, the next he was gone. Whatever was bothering him, it had to be something pretty big - bigger than the Titans. What the hell could it be? *** Prue watched Linda Anderson shop from a distance. Would she take their offer and leave a reply? It was hard for her to act natural as she picked up a few apples. She felt so exposed. What if Linda gave the note to Judge Jasper? This could be a set up. The young freedom fighter followed her target around the store for almost 20 minutes before Linda entered the bathroom. Prue breathed a sigh of relief and quickly moved away so no one would suspect she had been watching her. She picked out a few more items that she needed and checked out. As Prue was driving home via the park, she spotted Terry sitting on a bench reading a book. Prue didn't dare acknowledge her presence as she stopped at the intersection and revved her motor to catch the attention of her friend. From here she could turn left or right to go home. Prue turned left. The direction of her travel alerted Terry to what had happened. A few minutes later the attractive blonde gathered her things and headed home. In a couple of hours she would be visiting Finney's Market, and their bathroom. *** The next morning I woke early, showered, dressed, and made my way to the Peace River diner. Stephanie Hall was extremely busy at this time, but had agreed to meet me for breakfast so we could discuss the mailman. I didn't know what to expect from her. The last time we had talked, she was pretty upset about the way Judge Jasper had used her in his puppet trial of Judy Chunn/Hartford. She arrived a few minutes after I did, all smiles. "Hey girlfriend, long time no see," she said in a gleeful mood. "It's great to see you too, Stephanie," I smiled while offering her a seat. "Sit down and order what you want, it's on me. "Oh no, I couldn't let you do that, Linda." I waved off her protest. "Don't worry about it; this is going on my business account. Judge Jasper will be paying the bill." The attorney laughed. "In that case I'm going to have the steak and eggs." I joined in on the laughter, and we proceeded with the usual small talk until the waitress took our order. After that it was time to get down to business. "Stephanie, have your clients told you anything about the mailman that I might find useful? Something that you didn't report to the judge?" The lovely blonde-hair woman shook her head. "Sorry Linda, but I didn't hold anything back. There wasn't any reason to invoke the attorney/client privilege in these matters. Besides, these people wanted in. Any information on the mailman they turned over would've helped their case." "I see," I replied a little disappointed. "I was hoping there was something, but I didn't think there would be. By the way, how are they doing?" "Wonderful," Stephanie smiled. "They're happy to be here and enjoying their new female roles. Half of them are already married. Not one complaint! I wished I had such a good life." The last part was an attempt at humor, but it had a sting of truth to it. "Something wrong?" I asked innocently. Stephanie's lips tightened. "Linda, have you noticed anything different about Judge Jasper and his people?" "Well, they seem to be more on edge since the last time we talked." "More then that," she whispered and looked around to make sure no one could hear us before continuing. "They're worried about something. I don't know what it is, but something...or someone, has them running scared." "Can you be more specific?" Stephanie frowned. "They become very threatened if they think you're stepping out of line. I've seen Officer Merrick exploded over a few traffic violations, as if the violator were challenging his authority by running a red light or going a few miles over the speed limit - and he's not the only one. In court it's been a nightmare dealing with Judge Jasper. He's been handing out harsh punishments for things that don't deserve it. I mean like a $500 fine for a parking ticket, and things of that nature. It's crazy?" "Maybe the Freedom Fighters have something to do with it," I suggested. "No," she stated adamantly. "They've been dealing with the Freedom Fighters for years. This is something new, something bigger; something even more threatening to their way of life than the mailman or anything else they've had to face. This is a new threat, yet for the life of me I can't figure out what it could be. Nothing has changed around here." "No clue here," I admitted in defeat. "I asked Officer Merrick what was bothering him and he told me to mind my own business. I've never known him to be so rude and aloof." "It's funny you should mention the Freedom Fighters," she commented, changing the subject. "They've been busy lately, aggravating the situation." "You know Stephanie, I don't blame them," I admitted, and looked carefully to judge her reaction. "They're dumped into this town with no say as to how they get to live, and just thinking about leaving is a crime. So no, I don't blame them for protesting their treatment here." "Neither do I," she replied with a straight face. "What they did to Judy..." She angrily bit her lip. "I've defended some Freedom Fighters in the past, and have always thought Judge Jasper has been too hard on his punishment with them. They aren't criminals - far from it. They just want what every person on this planet wants - their freedom. It may be wrong, but I respect them and hope they get what they're fighting for." Her words shocked me. I always figured Stephanie held the same opinion about the Freedom Fighters that Ashlee Gang did. Instead the young attorney had just admitted she supported their fight. I noticed the serious expression Stephanie wore as she phased the next question carefully. "Tell me, Linda. If they asked you to join their cause, would you?" The question made me uncomfortable. I was being forced to choose. No, that wasn't right. To me the answer was a no- brainer. If I could help them out somehow I would. What made me uncomfortable was admitting to someone that I would. It was like I was crossing some imaginary line between safety and real danger. More than that, her question sounded like a test, as if she were probing to see where I stood. I decided to play it safe. "I suppose it would depend on what they wanted me to do. I don't believe in violence, Stephanie - nor do I agree with every action they've done. If I joined, it would be to work with Judge Jasper on getting them released." Stephanie nodded in interest. "You know what, Linda. I have a feeling that they're going to be contacting you soon." Then just as quickly as Stephanie said the words she changed the subject. I found myself bewildered. Was she just guessing, or was it something more? And if it wasn't a guess that meant she was heavily involved with them. Then I realized something I hadn't thought of until now. The Freedom Fighters hadn't appeared until after Stephanie had arrived. As the city's attorney, she had full access to all the files in Peace River. Was there a connection? If there was the young attorney was playing it cool. Our food arrived, and not another thing was said about the Freedom Fighters. *** On the other side of town Julia was making her move. She parked her car outside the door and entered the dirty garage run by Sherry Felton. "Hello?" she yelled when no one greeted her. "What do you want?" a male voice asked in a dejected manner. Carlos Aguire pushed himself out from underneath a car and stood slowly. He reached for a rag to wipe off his hands; his overalls covered in so much grease and oil that there wasn't a clean place he could use. "My car's making a funny noise," Julia smiled. "I was wondering if someone could check it out and tell me what's causing it?" Julia noticed that Carlos was tall and skinny, and clearly miserable. His dejected manner broadcasted that fact loud and clear. "Sherry's off due to the birth of her daughter," the young man explained. "You'll have to take your car somewhere else." "What about you? Can't you look at it?" The teenager hesitated. "All I know about cars is how to do oil changes. This work isn't really my cup of tea." A deep scowl of contempt appeared on his lips. "I know what you mean," Julia replied, testing the waters. "This isn't the life I had in mind. I'm getting married next month - to a man. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to react to his advances." Carlos narrowed his eyes and in a low whisper asked, "You're just like me, aren't you?" "You mean trapped in the wrong body...I guess you could say that. What I wouldn't do to be retu...never mind. We shouldn't talk about things like that." However, Julia could see the young man was clearly interested in what she had to say. Carlos looked around carefully, and expressed softly, "I'm...I'm a woman...and this place is hell! They stole my life and my freedom. They tell me what to do, how to act, everything that's so damn unnatural to me. The worst person is that prick, Officer Merrick. He's here all the time. In fact, so is rest of the police force. It's like a donut shop for cops, only without the donuts. I want...I want to leave. Even if I can't...can't be a woman again...I want out of here. I would give anything for my freedom!" Julia nodded...Mom had been right. Carlos was an excellent candidate for their organization. "Anything Carlos? Even if it meant risking your life?" "My life is already gone," he stated in a low, angry hiss. "They took it all; my father, my friends, my money. I want them to pay!" Carlos caught himself. He knew that expressing too many negative emotions would bring someone running. Their masters hated it when people expressed themselves in such a way. "Ever hear of the 'freedom fighters', Carlos?" The man's eyes sparkled. "I've heard of them. The cops talk about them all the time. Are you...one of them?" The question terrified Julia. She had wanted to wait and reveal herself when the time was right, but Carlos had figured it out. Should she lie? Would he believe her if she did? "I've been assigned to see if you're interested, Carlos. What I'm offering is dangerous work, and there's no guarantee that by joining us you'll earn your freedom." "But I'll get to fight them, won't I? I'll get to hand them back some of their crap they've given me, right?" "Maybe," Julia cautioned. "We're more of an intelligence cell. We collect information and pass it on to other cells." "I see...and what better place to gather information than a place where the cops hang out at all the time." Julia nodded seriously. "You get the picture, Carlos. In your position, you'll be able to find out what they're up too? They're so arrogant they don't even try to hide their secrets. Imagine the blow we can give them by passing on what they say to other groups?" Carlos wiped his greasy hands on the rag and sat down. He thought about it carefully. "Those bastards are going to pay," he said angrily. "You tell your leader I'm in. Just say the word." "Okay Carlos...I'll get back with you in a couple of days. Until then act like nothing is wrong." The young man smirked. "Easier said then done. Every time I have a negative thought one of those pigs show up - aww shit, see what I mean?" A cop car turned into the driveway and parked. The cruiser belonged to Officer Ganymede, who said something on the radio and slowly got out of his car. "I'll take care of this, Carlos," Julia told him. "Just stay calm, and I'll see you in a few days." Carlos nodded as Julia made her way out. She met the young officer outside the front door. "Good morning, Julia," Officer Ganymede greeted her with a warm smile. "Hello, Officer Ganymede," Julia replied pleasantly. She liked Officer Ganymede. Unlike the other cops here, he would overlook minor offenses and let you off with a warning. It was too bad he was working for them. If it weren't for that, Officer Ganymede would be an okay guy. "How's the wedding coming along?" he asked curiously. "Fine sir. I'm a little...nervous, but I'm told that's normal." "Yes it is," he grinned pleasantly. "I wish there was something I could do to help ease your nerves. But then, I'm sure even if I could this is something you would rather work out on your own." "Most definitely," Julia agreed. That was what separated Officer Ganymede from all the others. He was willing to let you work out your problems instead of sending you to see Mr. Cupler or Mrs. Marshall. "Are you here to see Carlos?" Officer Ganymede frowned and nodded. "Yes, I got a call and was told to check it out." "Officer Ganymede." Julia touched him on the shoulder. "This was my fault. You see, I was talking to Carlos about his past and it made him angry." "You?" Officer Ganymede asked in surprise. "That's not like you, Julia. You know better than that." The young woman lowered her head. "I know, sir. I didn't mean to break the rules, it just happened. I guess...I guess you should take me to see Judge Jasper now." Officer Ganymede stared at her carefully, then shook his head. "No, that's not necessary, Julia. I'll just radio that Carlos hit his thumb with a hammer and that's why he's upset. But please be more careful in the future. You know some of my co-workers will hold you to the letter of the law. Consider this an early wedding present." "Thank you, Officer Ganymede. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. Officer Ganymede, in all the time I've been here, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say your first name. You do have one, don't you?" The cop grinned. "I have one, but it's a secret. Go on now, Julia. Enjoy the day." "See you later, Officer Ganymede." She flashed him a smile before getting into her car and leaving. The cop grinned as he watched her go. Julia was one of his favorite residents. In fact at one time he had thought about becoming romantically involved with her, but Jupiter had forbidden it. The cop didn't understand why, all he understood was that you didn't go against Jupiter's wishes unless you were willing to pay a steep price. He frowned at what could have been, and turned to go inside the garage. *** From the darkness of the shop Carlos watched as the young woman and the cop conversed. Not a brave person to begin with, the teenager was now having serious misgivings about what he had agreed to. This was real...life and death - not some storybook novel where things turned out okay in the end. He was risking his life, such as his life was. Was this really what he wanted - to play spy for a group of misguided strangers who might get him killed? No, it wasn't. At the very least he wanted to be free, but at best he wanted to be a young woman again. Would working for the freedom fighters cause that to happen? Maybe the first part, but only after years of struggle and putting his ass on the line. Was there a better way to get what he wanted? An idea popped into his head. What would Judge Jasper pay for information like this? Enough to win his freedom and maybe even his old life back? Maybe, if he offered to go undercover and help expose their movement. How could he turn him down? At least it would be safer than what this woman was purposing. "Hello Carlos," Officer Ganymede said with a sigh. "I got a call on you, 'again'. You're not going to make me come here every hour to check on you, are you? I really don't want to take you in." The cop was friendly enough, and Carlos noticed there was even sincerity in his tone. Perhaps this was something else Judge Jasper would be interested in. "What's the point? Even if I say 'no' you're still going to take me to see Judge Jasper or Ms. Marshall." The cop shook his head. "Only if I have to, Carlos. I'm willing to cut you some slack if you behave. What good does it do you to get all worked up over this?" Carlos eyed the cop carefully. Should he trust him? No, not this one. Maybe Officer Merrick or his sidekick, Deimos, but Officer Ganymede was just a small fish in this organization. He wanted to see the headcheese. "I want out," he demanded furiously. "I'm not going to play this game anymore. Change me back to who I was and give me back my old life this instance." "I can't," Officer Ganymede stated truthfully. "Then take me to the person who can," Carlos almost screamed. "No, you don't want me to do that," the cop said softly. "This is not a good time..." "NOW!" Carlos yelled. *** Judge Jasper wasn't pleased. These were trying times, and he wasn't in the mood for an open rebellion. Ashlee eyed her boss carefully, and smiled in an attempt to calm him down. She too had noticed the tension in the Olympians recently. Searching through the memories of her past co- workers, she checked to see if this had ever occurred before. It hadn't. Why now? Could they sense some kind of danger she wasn't aware of? Even Officer Merrick, who was rather laid back, would become irritable at her from time to time. Officer Ganymede sat Carlos in front of Judge Jasper. Ashlee noticed the expression on cop's face indicating this wasn't his doing. "Wait for him outside," the Judge ordered. The cop nodded politely and closed the door as he left. Judge Jasper frowned at the young man who was fast becoming more trouble than he was worth. It was time to make an example of him. "What do you have to say for yourself," he stated dryly. Carlos turned and eyed his secretary. "Your Honor, if I may speak with you alone." "I'm in no mood for GAMES," he said sternly. "My secretary is here to record my judgment on you. What you have to say to me, you will say in front of her." "Please, Your Honor. What I have to say needs to be kept private." Judge Jasper shook his head in frustration and frowned. "Ashlee, please wait in your office." "Yes, Your Honor," she replied nervously. Ashlee gathered her things and left the room. "This had better be good," he growled after his secretary was gone. "I've been in contact with the Freedom Fighters," Carlos blurted out. "WHAT!" Judge Jasper shouted in surprise. "I've been in contact with the Freedom Fighters," Carlos repeated weakly. "Today, just before I came here. They want me to join their cell. I told them I would, then came here." "Why?" Judge Jasper demanded to know. "I'll be honest, Your Honor. I was hoping you'd give me back my life and let me go." "I'm sorry to dash your hopes, 'Carlos', but that's not going to happen," Jupiter told him in a snotty tone. "The best your information buys me is three or four other people. It's worth something, but not what you're asking." "What if I were to supply you with more information, Your Honor? I'm taking about long term. I can find out how they operate, and expose more cells for you. I can alert you to future attacks, and maybe get you the name of their leader. I can be useful. Sure it'll take years, but I can help you bring down their organization." Judge Jasper stared at him impassivity. "Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" "I do," Carlos responded nervously. The king of the Roman Gods turned away in disgust. The young man was a coward and a traitor - and Jupiter hated both. It was one thing to supply information that was required by the law; it was another to purposely sell out your own people for personal gain. "What is the name of this person who contacted you?" Carlos blinked his eyes nervously. "I...I don't know." "YOU DON'T KNOW?" Jupiter questioned in a frightful tone. "You ask to work for me and yet you don't even have the basic information like a name." Carlos felt dampness in his underwear as his bladder let go. "She...she never told me, Your Honor. But Officer Ganymede knows her name. Check with him. He can tell you. They were talking like old friends." "If I do that than I expose you." "You don't trust him?" Carlos replied in shock. "For now, the fewer number of people who know you work for me the better. The question is, what to do next?" Jupiter walked over to the window to survey the world he had created. In the beginning it had been so easy. He commanded his citizens to do things and they obeyed. Now he was forced to deal with pants-wetting traitors to keep his control over them. Angry at what he was now compelled to do; Jupiter faced the young man with fire in his eyes. "I accept your offer. Help me bring down the Freedom Fighters, and I'll return you back to your former self. However, if you cross me young man...I'll personally throw you into the river and let the mermaids take care of you. Do you understand?" Carlos swallowed hard, and found himself peeing his pants again. "Yes, Your honor." Judge Jasper slowly brought his hand up, and pointed it directly at Carlos. "Cry," he commanded. Carlos found tears forming in his eyes without a reason. He sniffed, then broke down and started bawling. "I couldn't let you leave here without people thinking you had been punished," the judge explained. "When they asked what I did, tell them it's too painful to discuss. Now don't come back here again. I'll have someone contact you from now on. Is that clear? "Yes...yes," Carlos sobbed. "You did well by coming to me. I will remember that. Now go, and tell no one about what we talked about." Jupiter made the words sound sincere, but his feelings didn't match the tone. The idea of working with this person turned his stomach. He had more respect for the Freedom Fighters who opposed him than for this coward. At least they had pride in themselves. Foolish to go up against him yes, but they were still brave in their actions and he could respect that. Carlos, still crying, opened the door to where Officer Ganymede was waiting. Ashlee gave him a sympathetic stare, as he was lead away. Curious as to what he had wanted, she knocked on the open door. "Judge, can I get you anything? Coffee or tea?" "Tea," he said dryly while taking a seat behind his desk. Ashlee fixed him a cup, and placed it in front of him. "Thank you, Ashlee." "You're welcome, Judge. Can I ask what Carlos wanted to talk to you about?" Judge Jasper waved his hand in disgust. "Some mumble-jumble about buying me a yacht if I let him go. You think he would have learned by now that I can't be bribed." "I hope you didn't punish him too harshly, Your Honor." "Humph, not harsh enough. He was still able to walk out of here on his own. Now that that unpleasant business is out of the way, it's time to get back to work. Please get me the ECO reports on the river for the past month, and have Mr. Marshall report to my office at once." "A problem with the river, Judge?" Ashlee questioned. Jupiter frowned as he took a sip of his tea to try and get the bad taste of his encouraging words to Carlos out of his mouth. "Very minor, but I have some questions I need answered. Thank you for the tea, Ashlee." The young woman smiled and left her boss's office to do as he had ordered...totally unaware of what had just transpired. *** "You did what?" Joan asked in horror. "I told Carlos who I was," Julia explained. "Actually, he guessed. Look, it was either lie to him or extend my trust." "You should've lied," Joan admonished her friend. "You were supposed to find out if he would fit in, not offer him a spot. Do you know what happened after you left? Officer Ganymede took him to see Judge Jasper." "Oh," Julia stated in surprise. Officer Ganymede had promised he wouldn't turn him in. Had he lied to her? "Perhaps it's nothing," Terry suggested. "Carlos could've have said something to piss Officer Ganymede off." "And what would that have been, Terry?" Joan asked sharply. "He's the most laid -back cops here...not to mention honest. If he told Julia he wasn't going to turn Carlos in, I believe him." "Look, Carlos doesn't even know my name," Julia pointed out. "For Chris sake Julia, how long do you think it will take for the Judge to ask Officer Ganymede who you are? You can't make yourself invisible here. Peace River is a small town, and you're well known." "What are you suggesting, Joan?" "That maybe it's time you retired, Julia. You can hide out for a few weeks at home and after you're married the danger will pass." The young woman was shocked by her friend's suggestion. Yes, it was normal for members who got married to retire. Judge Jasper had some strange ideas about justice when it came to dealing with the Freedom Fighters. If you got caught the punishment was severe, but if you left the cell and were found out later, he didn't go after you. Apparently he figured punishing someone that used to be a Freedom Fighter did more harm than good. Besides, young children needed a loving mother for continued happiness...and everyone here