Andersonville 30 -- The Day Dennis Butz Died free porn video

Fade in - Andersonville Cemetery 50 years from now. Gently I placed the flowers on the grave of my beloved husband with much sorrow. Three long years had past since his death, and yet I missed him as much as the day he had died. Close by were the graves of my parents, also having long ago gone to their reward. The Anderson's hadn't been my biological parents, but I had called them my own just the same. Next to my parents was the final resting-place of my brother, Steve, AKA Al Parker. Unlike the others, he had died an early and violent death during the first Peace River riots. That left just Jennifer. Sweet, lovely Jennifer! How my sister enjoyed life. She was a grandmother now, having married and given birth to four, lovely children. I was also grandmother, only not like Jennifer. Unlike her, I hadn't been able to conceive any children in my marriage. It was something Tom and I had always regretted, although we had adopted over the years. Tom had been so understanding about the problem. He had been a wonderful husband. "Hello Linda," a familiar voice greeted me. I turned and smiled at the judge. Juno looked the same as she did 50 years ago, maybe even prettier. "Hello June," I replied nervously, knowing why she was here. I decided not to waste time with small talk. "Did he decide?" Judge Herns sadly shook her head. "I'm sorry, Linda, the old goat refused. I tried my best to change his mind." "I know you did. I was hoping...it doesn't matter." I stood slowly and brushed the dirt off my skirt. "I miss him," June said tenderly as she stared down at Tom's grave. "In fact, I miss all of the Anderson's. That's what I hate about living forever...having to say goodbye to the friends you make. It seems like they stay for just a little while and then they're gone." I didn't comment so June continued. "I remember when I first met Tom. I didn't like him much. He was, I hate to say this, a man." "It was hard for you to trust men back then, June," I stated the obvious. "Yes, that's true," Judge Herns admitted. "Tom was the first man I was able to trust in a long, long time. I wish the old goat had been more like him." Her words caused me to chuckle. "How is Judge Jasper?" "The same. He grumbles all the time about his new town, but if you ask me it's better than the old one." "It's warm in South America," I pointed out. "Yes it is," Judge Herns grinned. "But I didn't say the town was in South America, now did I? You know I can't tell you its location, Linda. We wouldn't want your military to know." I nodded, although I suspected the US government already knew where the town was but had decided not to do anything about it. Considering what the Olympians had done to the people of Peace River at the end, not going after them was a crime. It was only because Judge Herns and a few of the others had been in Andersonville at the time that the government didn't go after them. "I remember when there were just a few graves here," I commented. "Now look, there are hundreds." "At least most of them died of natural causes," Judge Herns pointed out. "They all lived long, full lives." "Do you know when?" I asked suddenly. Juno looked at me carefully. "Tomorrow morning." "Maybe I can speed things up," I replied as together we walked slowly back to my speeder. "What difference will a few hours make? Perhaps it would be better for everyone if I went in the middle of the night like my mother." "Do you want me to be there when the time comes?" I shook my head. "No June, I'll be fine. My family will be close by." Then I stopped for a moment, and looked at Juno with pressing concern. "Do you think I should tell them about Dennis Butz before I die?" The goddess's chin grew tight. "Dennis was a hero, Linda. His story deserves to be told." I chuckled softly and continued to walk. "A hero...I don't know about that. But I think you're right, June. After 50 years the truth needs to be told." "In that case I wish you well my dear. Since I won't see you again..." June hugged me tightly one more time. "I'm going to miss you, Linda." "I'll miss too, June. Do me a favor, and watch over Jennifer and my children for me." "It will be done," Juno replied as she released me and took one last look. "Goodbye Linda." "Goodbye, June." As we parted I didn't cry. I knew one day we would meet again, but perhaps not under such pleasant circumstances. 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 30 - The day Dennis Butz died Written by Kelly Davidson Edited by Geoff This story dedicated to the readers of my stories. Thank you for the comments and support you have given me while writing this series. It was and still is appreciated. Fade in... Kevin knocked on the partly open bedroom door. "Aunt Linda?" "Come in, Kevin," I said cheerfully. "What is it?" "There's a man outside from the US military. He says his name is Captain Myers." "Really? Are you sure his last name is Myers?" "That's what he said." "Tell him I'll be out in a moment. Has everyone else arrived?" "Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Rick showed up about ten minutes ago. They've been wondering where you are." "Tell Jennifer I'm not as quick as I used to be," I grinned. "And also tell her 'no', I don't need her help getting dressed. I'll be out in a moment." "Yes, Aunt Linda." Kevin, sensing that I wanted to be alone for a moment, closed the door as he left. I took a good long look at myself. I didn't really look that old. Oh, I had gray hair and some wrinkles on my face, but I had kept myself in shape. I looked to be in my early 50's, not my late 70's. Of course the reality was I was even older than that. The doctors couldn't understand why I was dying at such a young age. Carefully I brushed my hair one more time and added another layer of lipstick before leaving. It felt good to be pretty one more time. When I walked into the main room I took a good look at everyone. There was Jennifer with her husband, and two of her kids who were almost grown. My sister gave me a big smile. In the corner sat Kevin, the son of the late Ashlee Gang. He had come to live with us after Jupiter had executed the rest of his family. I worried about him. Despite my best efforts, Kevin still had a lot of hate and resentment toward Judge Jasper. It was my fear that he would try going after him one day. That would be a tragic mistake if he did. Next to him sat Melissa with her three kids. She was a lovely woman, with fluffy blonde hair that curled and hung gently down her back. Melissa looked as pretty as her mother, Sally Anderson, used to. Tom and I had adopted Melissa when she was only 2 months old, after the sudden death of her parents. Finally I turned to greet my guest. He was a short, handsome man who looked much like someone I once knew. I held out her hand and said, "Thank you for coming, Captain Myers." "Ms. McClain," he answered politely with a smile that indicated he was happy to be here. "You don't know how much of an honor it is to finally meet you." "Please, call me Linda. You're not by chance related to General Myers, are you?" The captain beamed. "He was my grandfather. My father named me after him. He used to work in the bunker until an unfortunate incident cost him his command. Did you ever meet him by chance?" "I knew your grandfather well...he was a good man. Did you know that after Dennis Butz removed your grandfather from his post, he reconsidered his decision and blotted out the incident from his record? Later on he recommended your grandfather for promotion." "No, I never knew that. My grandfather always wondered how he was able to make general with that reprimand looming over his head." "There are many stories I could tell you, Captain, but I suspect you're here for one reason." "That's correct ma'am. I'm here to find out what really happened to Dennis Butz. There are all those rumors floating around out there. Is he really dead?" I pressed my lips together tightly. "Yes captain, he's dead. Some would say he died a hero's death almost 50 years ago...and until today only Judge Herns and I knew how. I suppose I should start at the beginning. Please, have a seat." Captain Myers sat down next to me and I took his hand. "Tell me Captain Myers, have you even experienced the trance power?" "No, but I've heard it's an incredible experience." "It is, if the story is enjoyable. Prepared to be blown away, Captain." I smiled and closed my eyes. Slowly but surely everything around us faded away. *** I should have been working, but my mind was flooded with too many things for me to concentrate on my job. In 27 days I would be married. Married, as a woman. If someone had told me my future when I was still a teenager I would've said they were nuts. Now I wondered if I wasn't nuts. Not only was I marrying a man...I was marrying someone who looked the way I used to. "Daydreaming again, Linda?" June ask humorously from her office doorway. "Sorry, Your Honor," I replied sheepishly. "I'm just thinking about next month." "I see." The judge smiled tenderly at me. "Is Tom stopping by today?" I shook my head. "He's out of town taking care of some personal matters." "Oh, that's too bad. It's always nice to see him here. He makes you so happy." I blushed. "I didn't know it showed." "It does," the judge laughed. "Don't worry Linda, I won't tell anyone." "Thanks," I grinned, and then frowned slightly. "It's a little scary sometimes, June. My life is going to change, and there are times I find myself wondering if I'm doing the right thing." "That's just nerves," June reassured me. "All brides feel that way as the time gets closer. A few years from now, when you have kids running around your feet, you'll be wondering what you did before you had them. Believe me Linda, your life is going to turn out just fine if I have anything to do with it." "And you do," I half-grinned. "Only when I'm needed," she replied truthfully. "This is your life...and like a friend I'll be there to support you when it's required. However, I'm not going to butt into your affairs. Your happiness is what you make of it." "Thanks June. That is perhaps the best gift anyone could give me." She chuckled. "If only buying all my presents were that easy. How about I take you out to lunch later on?" "Can I take a rain check, June? I'm suppose to have lunch with Dennis today...unless you want to join us?" She shook her head and gave me a humorous grin. "No, that's okay. We'll do lunch another time. If I know Dennis, he probably wants to talk to you about something he doesn't want me to know anything about." "I'm sure it's nothing," I laughed. *** "You have to decide," Crius insisted. "We cannot wait any longer. Can I count on your assistance or not? Dennis rubbed the top of his forehead. For years he had delayed giving Crius his word, although he hinted that he would when the time came. Now it had, and Dennis was about to make a decision that would affect the rest of the world. The fate of billions of people rested on his shoulders depending on what he said. The director had never backed away from making the tough decisions, but now he was feeling the heat. "I need more time, Crius." "Time!" he raged. "You've had time Rhea, plenty of time. The chemical is ready, my men are trained, and the day when it is most convenient to strike is fast approaching. I have to start finalizing the plans. There is no more time, Rhea. Either you're in or you're out." Crius prayed that he was in. He may have had the backing of his people, but it was Dennis who held the power. If he didn't join, it would leave Crius in a serious bind and the old god would lose face. "You're talking about war, Crius," Dennis defended himself. "I don't take that lightly...and you have been very vague about what my role will be." "Give me your word and I'll tell you everything," Crius promised. "If I give my word it's binding! What is it you want of me? Tell me first, then I'll decide." The old god sighed. Dennis was no fool; nor could he be told the entire truth. Crius decided to tell him just enough to get his cooperation. "After we strike Rhea, you will get the American planes and troops to attack. This will keep the Olympians busy, and weakening them at the same time. While this is going on my men will attack the caves and free our people. We will arm them, and when the time is right, strike at the heart of Peace River. Together we will bring the Olympians to their knees!" "And the people of Peace River? You promise that they'll recover from this chemical's effect?" "Yes, of course, of course," Crius lied in an irritated tone. "How many times do I have to tell you Rhea, this chemical will only put them into a dreamless sleep. They'll be fine, unless of course the Olympians do something to them. I can't prevent the Olympians from harming anyone." Dennis turned and looked out the window. How could he even consider doing this? He had made friends with some of the Olympians. Now he was going to stab them in the back! Could he allow himself to agree to this madness? If he did, what happened if the situation escalated? Dennis knew that despite what Crius had told him, he was the key to this operation. If he said 'no', there might not be an attack. If he said yes...things could get out of control very fast. But if he did say no and Crius attacked anyway, more of his people would suffer. Could he live with that - knowing he had the power to prevent that from happening? Suspecting Dennis needed one more push to commit, Crius played his trump card. "Think about your daughter and wife, brother. They're calling out for justice!" "I'm not sure either of them would approve of war," he stated. "Not war Rhea, justice. We will end the suffering of our people once and for all - and when we do we'll return to a time before the Olympians came. You remember that time, don't you Rhea. The humans called it the golden age, when there was only peace and prosperity. War and battles were unknown back then, and would never have been known if it wasn't for the Olympians. We owe the people of this planet a chance to return to that time once more...and we can do it if you join us. Rhea, think of all the crimes the Olympians are guilty of against our people. The time to repay them for their cruelty is now! The time to repay them for what they did to your daughter is now! The time to repay them for what they did to your wife is now!" The words bit hard into Dennis' conscience. Crius was right; the day of reckoning had come. His treaty with Jupiter was rocky at best. Although the King of the Roman Gods had agreed to release a certain number of Titans each year, there had been no more released since Crius. Every time there were talks about releasing more of his people, Jupiter would claim the Titan's had violated the agreement somehow and he wasn't required to release anyone. Technically Jupiter was within his rights to do so, but that didn't sit well with those Titans who were free and waiting for their loved ones to join them. They didn't care about the politics; all they wanted were results. Crius had heard their calls and stepped in, thus gaining him great power among their people. Unfortunately, he still needed the director's help to succeed. Dennis was tempted by the offer. He had slowly come to the realization that despite what Jupiter had promised; the Roman God would continue to find ways not to honor his agreement. It was almost as if Jupiter were trying to goad them into war. Could his dream succeed under these present conditions? Dennis knew it couldn't. He still believed, but he also knew there needed to be a change. He made up his mind. "Juno will not be harmed, nor will any of the others," he stated outright. "Cronus made the mistake of allowing it - I will not! The Olympians will be treated with respect after this is over, Crius. There will be no paybacks for old debts. Instead we will work with them to smooth out old hatreds. After their defeat, we'll bring them here to live in peace with any of our people who wish to join them. Unlike other wars, there will be no retribution for past mistakes." Crius was in anguish at what he heard. No retribution? The Olympians were to be treated as 'guests'? His followers would never agree to that. "Some of our people won't like that ruling," Crius pointed out. "This isn't debatable," Dennis replied forcefully. "If we don't stop the circle of hate, than this war will be like every other war...just a number in a series of wars. I want this to be the last! If you want my support then you'll swear to me right now that you and your followers will abide by my wishes." "You're our leader, and I think it is a wise ruling brother. I give you my word that what you say will be obeyed by me and my followers." Crius almost choked on the words. "When does this begin, Crius?" "Two nights from now." "So soon?" "The moon will be full and close to the earth. It's a time when they'll be at their weakest. I've already delayed this operation by two months so we could take advantage of this situation." Dennis nodded. "I'll talk to the general, and tell him the people of Peace River are in grave danger. This will force the President to allow military action to begin against them. I only hope it doesn't spread." 'With us on the inside they don't have a chance, Rhea. We'll end this before they know what hit them." "I hope you're right, Crius." Dennis looked at his watch and frowned. "I have a meeting to go to. I'll talk to you later, Crius." "I look forward to it, brother." Crius walked him to the door, then smiled brightly after he was gone. He put his hands together like he was praying and held off shouting for joy. There was reason to celebrate, but it would have to wait until after the mission. Lucas walked into the room frowning. He had heard them talking, and he didn't like what had been agreed to. "No retribution!" he hissed. "Her words, not mine," Crius replied calmly. "After this is finish, Rhea will be a liability to us. She'll need to be taken care of ...do you understand?" "With her powers?" Lucas questioned. "You'll have to make sure it's done 'before' she gets them back," Crius explained. "Obviously I had to agree to her terms. Make sure she dies as a hero. I may be able to make use of that later on." Lucas nodded. *** "You seem troubled, Dennis," I observed while shoving some salad into my mouth. The director had barely touched his plate or said much. That in itself was unusual. "I'm sorry, Linda. I was talking to Crius before we met. He mentioned my wife and...it doesn't matter." "If it bothers you than it does matter," I replied. "Look, if you want to talk about it..." "No," he shook his head. "No, we should be talking about something else, like your upcoming marriage." "Don't take this the wrong way Dennis, but I'm sick of talking about my wedding. That's all everyone wants to talk to me about...especially my mother. It's taken over my life." Dennis laughed. "It wasn't so bad in the old days when we ruled. Now it's a social event." "Or worse," I agreed. Then I soften, and took his hand. "Dennis, I would really like to help you get through this. I know it hurts. Talk to me." "There's nothing to talk about, Linda. She's dead, and the person who killed her is walking around free." "Do you know who it is?" "I've known for years," he frowned. "Crius found her killer a few days after it happened." "Who did it?" "Mars," he answered. "He killed her because of the attacks on his wife and brother. I swore on my wife's grave I would deal with him properly. Now I just made an agreement with Crius that I won't." "Crius told you he didn't want him harmed?" I asked in amazement. It was no secret that Crius hated the Olympians immensely. I had even heard rumors that he wanted to go to war with them. "Not exactly. It's better that you don't know all the details. I just hope..." "What?" I pushed. "Linda, please understand that I don't want you or any of your people harmed. There was a time when I looked down on your race, but I've become quite fond of them. Being forced to live as a human year after year has given me a new outlook on your people. You can accomplish so much if you put your mind to it." It sounded like a farewell speech, and made me uneasy. What had happened in his meeting with Crius? "Dennis, what's going on?" He smiled as if trying to relieve my fears, but failed. "Nothing Linda. If things work out as planned, and they should, your people will be sitting high." "And if it doesn't?" "Then you won't have to deal with me anymore." He frowned and shook his head. "I'll go pay the check." "Dennis!" He looked at me sadly. "It's okay, Linda. It's better that you don't know." As he left I followed him with my eyes. Dennis was stiff and tense. I had seen him like this once before - at Olympus (AV 18). Then a horrible thought hit me. The Titans and Olympians were going to war. *** "June, can I speak with you please?" The judge looked up from her paperwork and smiled. "Of course, Linda. Come in." I took a seat in front of her, and found myself shaking. June picked up on my condition, because she came over and sat down next to me. She took hold of my hand and asked, "What is it Linda? What's got you so worried." "Judge, I just heard something and I don't know what to do about it." "Well, you can tell me? I'm sure together we can work this out." "It's not that simple, June. I don't really know if what I suspect is true - and I don't want to panic anyone." Humm, I see," she nodded slowly. "This has something to do with Dennis, doesn't it?" "June, please don't ask me to tell..." "It's okay, Linda, I won't. Can you at least give me an idea of what it's about?" "His wife. He thinks that Mars killed her." "Do you believe that, Linda?" "I don't know June. Mars has a pretty bad reputation, and he did kill that person who took the place of Judy Hartford (read AV 19). I don't want to accuse him of killing Mrs. Butz, but I could see him doing it." "Don't believe everything you read or hear," she said. "I can assure you that Mars didn't kill her. He was on an assignment at the time." "But Dennis thinks he did." "Dennis is wrong," she stated firmly. "He's been wrong before. The reason why Crius told him that was to win his support. I hope you're not suggesting that he has." "I don't know, June. All I do know is that it's affecting his relationship with your people. Mrs. Butz was murdered, but why?" "I don't know, Linda. Perhaps we'll never know." That wasn't an answer I could live with. Somehow I knew her death played a major role in all this. Something big was about to happen because of it, and I had to find out what that was. "June, I need to ask you a big favor." "I already know what you're going to ask, Linda. Let it go. She's dead! What good will going after her killer do?" "It'll put Dennis' mind at ease, June. It may even restore the relationship between your two people. I noticed Dennis has been acting pretty distance this past year." I looked carefully at the judge. "June, I'm getting married in less than a month. This may be my last chance to investigate a case." "You're going to need that time to get ready for your wedding," she pointed out. "My mother is taking care of that. This is her wedding, not mine. I'm letting her enjoy herself. I have an opportunity to do something bigger here. I have a chance to put an end to a friend's nightmare. I owe Dennis a lot, June. We've had a rocky friendship over the years, but I do respect him and...care about him." "So all you want from me is to approve your leave?" "No, I need you to find someone from Peace River to travel with me. I would prefer Apollo, or Mercury." She shook her head. "Unfortunately, for reasons I can't explain, none of our people in Peace River are available." She thought about it carefully. "There is someone I could get. You've never met him before, but I can vouch for his character. He would serve your needs well." "What's his name?" "Phobos...Ambassador Phobos. He works in our European market." "Isn't he Deimos' brother?" I asked, wondering what market she was talking about. "Yes, he is...although they're as different as night and day. He owes me a favor. I'm sure he could accommodate you, and get you into Peace River again." What makes you think I'll be going to Peace River, June?" "Because I suspect that's where your investigation will take you. I know how your mind works, Linda. Even though I just told you Mars was on assignment and didn't kill Mrs. Butz, you're still going to check it out. I suppose that's the only prudent thing to do. Do you want me to see if he's available? "Yes, please." Judge Herns picked up her phone and made a call. When the other person answered, she started speaking in a language I couldn't understand. It sounded like Latin, but I wasn't sure. They conversed for a few minutes and she hung up the phone. "He'll be here tonight. You can leave in the morning." "Thank you, June." She frowned. "Linda, this favor comes with a price. While I respect Dennis and his people, I'm still loyal to my own. If my people are in some sort of danger, I expect you to tell me about it right away. Is that clear?" "Yes June. If something is up, you'll be the first to know." "Then lets get back to work," she smiled gently. *** The Ambassador wasn't what I expected. Short and heavy, he had just a small crop of his original hair left. Phobos was by far the most out of shape god I had ever met. It made me wonder why he didn't use his powers to make himself more fit. On the other hand, he was dressed in a tailor made English suit that would have cost me a months salary - if I were still wearing suits that is. He smiled cordially and stuck out his hand. "So, you're the young lady who's held my brother's infatuation all these years," he said. "Guilty," I grinned. I liked the ambassador. He was nothing like his father, who seemed grumpy and angry all the time. Nor was he like Deimos, who was shy and withdrawn. Phobos was open, friendly, and looked to be something of a practical joker. "Linda Anderson," I said taking his hand. "You can call me Linda, Mr. Ambassador." He chuckled. "So formal. Please, call me Dan. I'm only an ambassador when I leave the States. Juno has told me what you need. I'm to assist you in any way I can." "Thanks, I appreciate your help, Dan." Phobos just smiled as if it were no big deal. "Give me a call when you get there, Linda," June said. "And make sure you call your mother every night. If you don't she'll worry about you." "I will June," I promised. "Then good luck," she replied. "Take care of her, Phobos." "My lady, she's in good hands," the young god replied smoothly. *** We were flying high somewhere over the state of South Dakota. Judge Herns' private plane wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either. It was meant to seat 20 or so people, and being alone in the main cabin made it seem bigger. I gazed out at the ground below, wondering if I was doing the right thing. Maybe I was sticking my nose someplace where I shouldn't be sticking it. I kept telling myself that I was doing this for Dennis, but the truth was it was more than that. This was my last chance to relive a part of my old life...to be Tom McClain, private eye. Okay I was a female now, but that wasn't going to stop me from enjoying this. I was going to make this moment count. The door between the cabin and the cockpit opened, and Phobos stepped in and sat down next to me. "Enjoying the flight?" he asked. "Yeah...wait a minute, who's flying the plane?" "I am," he grinned. "Relax Linda, I'm still in control. So, a penny for your thoughts." I laughed at his openness. "I was thinking about my life, and how it's changed. Soon it'll change again." "Life is like that," he grinned. "A few years ago I was a traffic cop in Peace River. Now I'm jetting-setting around the globe." "What is it that you do, Dan?" "I represent my people, Linda. As you know, the Titan's have a 'pact' with your country, and a few others. Our people have done the same. The problem is, someone has to talk to them from time to time. My grandfather is too busy with Peace River, so I represent him in different matters." "Like snatching their people and whooshing them off to Peace River?" He chuckled. "Those are strong words, Linda. We give those who are dying a second chance to live." "I've heard that before, Dan. I'm not arguing that you save their life. What bothers me is that you don't tell them the full story about living in Peace River." "True...it's a 'buyer beware' situation. Humans rarely ask the right questions. In fact they hardly ask any questions at all. Most of the time all they want to know is if this is on the up and up. On the other hand, 97% of the people who live in Peace River are completely happy. I don't know of any other town that could beat our numbers." "You could be open and honest about what they're getting themselves into," I suggested. "True, but than so could the people we bring to Peace River, Linda. Most of the time they're also hiding something. I disagree that we're any more dishonest than the people we bring to our town. If they asked the right questions, we would tell them the truth. Most humans don't even ask." It was the same argument I had heard from the others. We're doing this for their own good. We're providing our people with a safe place to live, and we heal them from their life-threatening illnesses. We want them to be happy, so we provide them with a job and a nice home. Yet none of the Olympians ask themselves why so many of their citizens died each year trying to leave. None of them ask why the Freedom Fighters not only existed, but were growing in leaps and bounds. Not one of them wondered if there wasn't a better way to deal with the human race. Dennis was right; the Olympians didn't respect us as a race. We were no more than little children to them, who needed to be watched all the time. Then I considered all the trouble we got ourselves into, and wondered if there wasn't some truth to their reasoning. If we didn't respect each other, how could we expect others to respect us? "Can I ask why you were picked, Dan?" Phobos sighed. "I wanted to get out of Peace River for a while. Don't get me wrong Linda, it's a lovely place, but I had been there since its creation and I needed some excitement. My grandfather recognized that I could relate to your race easier than the others so he gave me the job. I also watch over the others still in stasis." "How many are there?" "A couple hundred. If the town ever grows we can wake them up...'if' it ever grows. So many problems I'm afraid." "Like what?" "Water, food, and the right people. Creating the river around Peace River was a huge mistake - and yet because so many of your people would leave if we took it away, we need it there. What's the expression; we're stuck between a rock and a hard place? I'm sure my grandfather will work it out in time. He's always been able to in the past." Phobos paused for moment then asked, "Tell me Linda, what is it your people want?" "The same as what you want, Dan. The freedom to live and make choices...and to travel where ever we want without being harassed." "Really?" he stated in all seriousness. "Because if you ask me, people have that now and they still aren't happy. Look at all the depressed, lonely people out there. Look at all those healthy people who kill themselves every day. They could do things to improve their life and the lives of many others yet they don't. Instead it seems that the more a person gets, the more miserable they become...and in the process they bring other people down with them." "You're talking about a few people who have problems." "Am I?" he questioned. "I'm talking about your people as a whole, Linda. I've traveled around your world, to places you haven't even heard of. Do you know what I've seen? Leaders who live high off the hog and don't give a damn about the people they're supposed to be serving. Masses of people who could improve their life, but would rather complain about their problems then fix them. In fact it seems the more opportunities people have, the more they complain. Look at all the people in your country who live in nice homes, eat great food, and have at their fingertips 100's of different entertainment options. You live like kings compared to the rest of the world, and yet you complain the loudest about how hard life is. It's clear material things don't make you happy, so what does?" "I don't know, Dan. It's different for every person. If I knew what would make everyone happy I could bottle it and be a billionaire. Sure we complain, but we also enjoy life to the fullest. Everyone gets down, and sometimes when we do we complain too much. But that doesn't mean as a whole we're unhappy all the time, or even most of the time. Don't you ever get down?" "I suppose, but we act differently." "How so?" "We take our frustrations out on others." "You mean humans." "I suppose that's true," he confessed. "Our people can be very cruel at times." I had heard tales about the gods; how they had used humans as playthings for their amusement like bullies on a playground. I hadn't seen much of that type of behavior around Peace River, but I had wondered if it still existed. Phobos looked out the window and remarked, "We're almost to Baltimore. I guess I better get up front and land this plane." "What?" I looked out the window, and indeed I could see Baltimore just ahead. "How in the heck did we get here so quickly? We've only been talking for ten minutes." "Good tailwind," he grinned just before entering in the cockpit. "Yeah, right," I scoff. "And if pigs had wings they could fly." "You're right, they could," he replied with a grin. "But my grandfather didn't think that was natural, so he put a stop to it." Phobos closed the cockpit door, leaving me to wonder if he had been serious. *** Phobos had arranged everything the night before. He taxied the plane over to a hanger where some steps were wheeled up to the door. From there it was only a short walk to a waiting 2002 Buick Lesabre. A minute later we were outside the airport gate. "Pays to be a diplomat," Phobos smiled. "Sure does," I agreed. "So, where do we go first?" Sudden it hit me - I had no idea. I had been so caught up in the moment of investigating my last case that I hadn't thought about how it was going to be conducted. I felt very foolish. "Let's go to the police station and talk to the detective who did the investigation." "Sure thing, boss," Phobos answered with a smile. As he drove I took out a small notebook and made up a list of questions I wanted to ask. Luckily I finished before we got to the police station. "Mind if I come in?" Phobos asked. "I've never seen a real investigation before, except on TV." "Sure Dan," I chuckled. "Only it's not as exciting as they make it out to be. Mostly it's asking questions you already know the answer too." "They why ask them?" "Sometimes the way they're answered will surprise you." We walked inside and asked to speak to the detective in charge of the investigation for Mrs. Butz. As we waited I looked around the police lobby silently. Except for a few posters on the walls, there wasn't much to do but wait. The side door buzzed, and a man with a mustache wearing a wrinkled tan suit, walked out. "Miss Anderson?" he asked. "Yes, that's me." I took his hand. "This is Dan Phobos." "I'm Detective Kesselring. Why don't we go to my office to talk?" He led the way down the narrow hallway of a police station build long ago. His office wasn't much more inviting. There were books stacked on the floor and papers scattered over his desk. The detective picked up a thick file and placed it in front of me. "I had a copy made of all of my notes, just as you requested." "I requested?" I stated in confusion. Phobos cleared his throat. "I figured we would be coming here, so I asked for copies to be made. I hope you don't mind." "No...thank you," I replied, suddenly feeling foolish at how rusty I had become? Maybe it was a good thing this would be my last case. "So, what questions do you have?" Detective Kesselring asked. "Actually, I was wondering if we could visit the accident site and I could ask my questions there." "Sure, my cars out back," the detective answered. He stood, and we followed him to his car. Along the way he explained how his investigation was going. It had more or less reached a dead-end. The license plate had been registered to a fictitious person and address. The witnesses had allowed the police to draw a picture of the man, but no one had been able to identify him. Although it was a crude drawing, I could tell it was someone who looked like Mars. We pulled into a store parking lot and got out. "This is where the car was sitting," he said pointing to an empty parking place. "Mrs. Butz parked in this row, 17 spaces from the front, and was walking toward the front entrance. The driver pulled around this way," he made a motion with his hands, "and accelerated toward her. We estimate he was doing 35 to 40 mph when he struck her, causing her to fly onto the hood of the car and hit the windshield. After the suspect stopped, Mrs. Butz slid off the hood and to the ground. The suspect then accelerated again and ran over her, crushing her skull." "I understand he got out of his car to look," I said. "Yes, he did," the detective frowned. "At first I thought this was a hit and run accident. I figured the driver hit her by accident...panicked...got confused, and ran over her. Then he got out of the car, saw her condition, panicked even more, got back into his car, and drove off. But when we found the car abandoned and registered to a fictitious person, I knew we had a murder on our hands." The detective had explained things so well that there wasn't much to ask. I did question him about a few things, just so I wouldn't look stupid, but nothing much came from the answers. Finally we got to the tape. "The cameras over there," he pointed to the rooftop of one of the stores. "It caught the entire event. Unfortunately, it never got a good shot of his face because of the positioning, so we had to rely on the witnesses who were there. As you can imagine, most were in shock so that didn't work out very well. Since this was most likely a professional hit, we sent the drawing to the FBI. They came back with nothing. The case has been at a standstill ever since." "I'll like to see the tape." "It's back in my office," the detective replied. I took one more look around before getting in the car. Something cold touched my shoulder. Was it Mrs. Butz ghost trying to communicate with me? I shrugged the feeling off and got in the car. *** The tape was violent and bloody. Watching the event unfold, it made me wonder how someone could do this to another person and not be bothered by it. I forced myself to watch the accident several times. The man in the car got out, but never looked directly at the camera. If the camera had been a few feet to the right we may have gotten a good shot of his face. Phobos stared at the screen silently, and it was hard to gage what he was thinking. Finally I let the tape roll. "What are you doing, Linda? Why aren't you watching the crash again." "Because I've learned as much as I can from it, Dan. Now I'm watching to see if anything else happens." The small group of people around Mrs. Butz grew. There must have been a doctor close by, because a man was kneeling beside her body trying to render assistance. A few of the women stood there with their hands over their mouths in horror. Fortunately the quality of the tape wasn't good enough to show all the gruesome details. "It's sad," Phobos observed. "People do this for money?" "And other reasons," I answered. "Sometimes for love, sometimes for revenge. Other times they...Whoa, wait a minute." I leaned closer as a new person entered the picture. He looked familiar. "What is it, Linda?" Phobos asked while watching the screen. "I know him," I gritted my teeth. "Damn it, I know him. He's from Andersonville. Turn around and look at the camera guy." Unfortunately, the man didn't follow my suggested. He looked at the body, then turned in the opposite direction and disappeared off the screen. "SHIT, I know him!" "You can tell by looking at the back of his head?" Phobos questioned in astonishment. "Yes I can Dan. I've seen him before, I know it." I rewound the tape and played the part where he walked in again. Unfortunately, the camera didn't pick up enough of his face for me to recognize him. "Now what?" he asked. I didn't answer. I kept playing back the tape praying for a break. Then I saw it. "There!" I froze the picture and I pointed to a young woman on the screen. "We need to find out who she is." "But why?" Phobos questioned, now more confused than ever. "Look at what's she doing, Dan." Phobos did and smiled. "She's looking right at him." "Which means she knows what this person looks like. Go get detective Kesselring." "Will do, boss," Phobos exclaimed, bursting with excitement. A moment later he was back with the detective in tow. "Can you tell me who this is, detective." He looked, then frowned. "That's Dorothy Augustin. She was a witness to the accident, but doesn't remember much." "Do you know how I can contact her, detective?" "She moved recently, I know that. I asked her to keep in touch with me and she called me a few months ago. Let's see, where is her new address and phone number?" Detective Kesselring shuffled through his papers until he found the information. He pulled it out and handed it to me. "I only have a home number and address." "No work number?" He shook his head. "It wasn't necessary. Besides, she changes jobs frequently. Why do you find her so important?" "No reason," I lied. "She was close by when this happened. I'm hoping she can provide me with some more information." "You're wasting your time, Miss Anderson. I've had her here several times already. She's too traumatized to be of much help." "Sometimes women open up more to other women, detective. Perhaps she'll open up to me." The detective rubbed his chin doubtfully. "I guess it's your time, Miss Anderson." *** "What time is it?" I asked nervously. We had been sitting in the car outside Dorothy Augustin's door for almost two hours now waiting for her to show up. "The same time it was the last time you asked Linda, only five minutes later," Phobos answered in an exasperated tone. "At least I know what to buy you for your birthday - a watch." "Where could she be?" I asked absent-mindedly. "It's after seven already. Most people get home by 5:30 or six." "Maybe she had a date, or stopped to have a few drinks with some friends," Phobos replied. "Calm down, Linda. We'll find her." "I'm sorry Dan. I don't mean to be so nervous. I just feel like something big is brewing at home, and my time is limited. Perhaps if we talked about something else it will take my mind off this." "Sure, what would you like to talk about, Linda?" "How about you, Dan. Were you in the war?" "Wow," he grinned. "Now that's a loaded question. I really shouldn't be talking about this with you, Linda. What the heck, I guess it won't hurt. I wasn't around during the first war, but I was for the second." "There were two wars?" "Yeah, but you probably only heard about the first one called the Titanomachia. That war lasted over ten years and won us our freedom. The second war happened almost 200 years later. That's where the mermaids and Cyclopes came from." "What caused the second war?" "A small group of Titans, left over from the last war, built up a large army in secret and moved against us. It almost worked too, but we were able to stop them and regroup. The major blow came shortly after the war started, when we ambushed Crius and his army as they were crossing what is now known as the Black Sea. 20,000 men perished in that battle. Well, it wasn't really a battle. As I said, it was an ambush. We had help from Demoe, (read AV 11), who betrayed Crius for the promise of his own power. Without their military leader, it was only a matter of time before the Titans fell." "I thought Dennis was their leader?" Phobos chuckled softly. "Dennis, or rather Rhea, is no military leader. Politically she shines, but on the battlefield she's an amateur. In fact she didn't join Crius until a few weeks before they moved, shortly after her daughter was murdered. My grandfather crushed her on the battlefield by leading her army into a trap. Her men fault bravely, but he held the high ground. They were soundly defeated." "Why haven't I heard of this war before?" Phobos tugged at his small beard. "That's a good question, Linda. Unlike the Titanomachia, there weren't really that many battles. Most of them were what you would call small skirmishes, sometimes less than a hundred men on each side. Secret weapons were the theme, like the creation of the Cyclopes and the mermaids, among others. There were only three major battles, the first attack followed by the two I just mentioned. In less then a year it was over. There were no glorious victories in this war...and without glory there wasn't any reason to remember it fondly. Sort of like the difference between World War II and the Korean War. The remaining Titans in that war were defeated and banished below." "But not Rhea," I pointed out. "If she was the leader of this second war, why wasn't she imprisoned like the rest? Why does Jupiter allow her to walk the earth, even if her movements are monitored?" "Aww, but now you're getting into an entirely different area, one which I shouldn't talk about," Phobos smiled. "My grandfather's reasons are his own, Linda. Let's just say he owed Rhea, and repaid her." "Owed her for what?" "Sorry, family secrets," he grinned. "I wonder how many skeletons I would find in your family's closet," I commented dryly. "A great many I would imagine." "If your grandfather was repaying Rhea back, it doesn't explain why all these years he forced her to live as a man. Did she do something similar to him?" The thought of Jupiter being forced to live his life as a woman somehow appealed to me. "Oh no," Phobos shook his head. "Rhea was punished for her role in that war. If anything, my grandfather was lenient on her." "Lenient!" I shouted. "How can you say such a thing?" "Because if he had placed her down below with the other Titans, it's unlikely she would be alive today. Some of her people would like to kill her for what she did." "Which was?" Phobos grinned. "Again, that's not my place to say. If anyone should tell you it should be Rhea." "And she doesn't talk much about her past," I grumbled. "In fact, she, or rather Dennis Butz, doesn't talk about much of anything when it comes to their history." "An unfortunate situation," Phobos grinned knowingly. "What about his daughter, Rommona? Why did Jupiter kill her?" "He didn't." "What? But Dennis thinks he did." "We know." "And?" "And what Linda?" he asked while eyeing a car that passed by. "And what did Dennis say when he was told Jupiter didn't kill her?" "To my knowledge, no one has ever discussed this with him?" My eyes came close to bulging out. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. "You're joking, Dan. After all these centuries no one has tried to set him straight?" Phobos shook his head in puzzlement. "No, why would we?" "Because your grandfather is being accused of a crime he didn't do," I stated in an exasperated tone. "So what," he replied, completely mystified at the point I was trying to make. "My grandfather knows he didn't do it. We know he didn't do it. Why should he have to deny something that we know isn't true?" "Because maybe if you had there wouldn't have been a second war!" I stated. "Why else would Rhea join forces with Crius? It was for revenge." "We weren't concerned about her joining him." "That's not the point," I countered. "Actually it is, Linda. You want to put human values on us, but we have our own values we live by. If war happens, we fight. We don't try to prevent it from happening or run away from it. Rhea was one more log on the fire we had to put out - but it was a fire we 'could' handle. Crius severely underestimated us back then...and if he tries to move on us now, he'll see that he made the same mistake." "My gosh, what aren't you telling me, Dan?" "A lot of stuff," he replied with a frown. "We haven't been just sitting around all these years Linda - nor is money the only thing that motivates your inventors. A nice house in a quiet, peaceful community along with a healthy body that doesn't age past 30 is a pretty good incentive to some people - not to mention unlimited funds at their disposal. You would be amazed at some of the gadgets your people have invented for us over the years. " "I thought you were all powerful," I reply coldly. He laughed. "We are Linda, but how do you think we got this way? There is power out there in the universe, if you can tap into it. Unfortunately, your people are starting to learn how." "And that bothers you because we might challenge your authority?" "No," Phobos shook his head sadly. "It bothers me because you'll kill yourselves in the end. Only some of your people have the wisdom to handle such power, but as a whole your race does not. I fear if such knowledge is discovered, your people are doomed." "Sorry Phobos, but I have a hard time believing that would happen." "Your people take drugs, smoke, and drink in excess with the full knowledge it is harmful to their bodies - with full knowledge, Linda," he said pointedly. "Do you really think such powers are safe in their hands when they discover all the things they can do - both good and bad?" "How did your race survive then?" "Because we had different standards, Linda. Not better, just different. Our race was better adapted to handle this power." He looked up at a car pulling in. "I think Dorothy is here." I turned and watched as she got out of her car. Her hair was shorter than in the picture Detective Kesselring had taken of her years ago, but it was still a dirty blonde. She was wearing nice pants and an expensive jacket, as if she had been out somewhere. "Just when things were getting interesting," I commented. Phobos smiled and shrugged his shoulders as if he were saying 'what can you do'. "Lets go talk to her." Phobos followed my lead and walked beside me as we approached. "Dorothy Augustin?" I asked. She turned and eyed me with suspicion. "Yes." "Hi, I'm Linda Anderson and this is my assistant, Dan Phobos. We're private investigators. I was wondering if we could ask you some questions?" "About what?" she questioned warily. "I've been hired to investigate the murder of Mrs. Butz, the lady who was run down in the parking lot a few years ago. I'm going back and talking to all the witnesses who were there." "I see." She hesitated uncomfortably for a moment as if searching for what to say next. "Look, Miss Anderson..." "Call me Linda," I smiled, hoping it would ease her discomfort. "Look Linda, I would like to help but...it's like this. I spent months trying to block the image of what happened to that poor woman out of my mind. I used to wake up in a cold sweat because I kept dreaming of the accident. I even had to see a therapist for a few months to get through this. I don't...I don't want to go back there again. Please, leave me alone. I can't help you." "Miss Augustin, I understand your reservations, but the questions I need to ask have nothing to do with the actual accident. It's what happened afterwards that I'm interested in." "Like I said, I can't help you," she brushed me off. "I'm sure one of the other witnesses can." "Dorothy, I've seen the tape. You saw a man who may be behind all this. You looked directly at him." "Are you telling me that I'm in danger?" she asked in alarm. "I don't know. But if you help me, I'll make sure that you won't be." "And if I don't tell you anything then there's a good chance he'll leave me alone." "Maybe, but..." "No," she stated firmly. "No, don't you see, I can't go through this again. I'm sorry she was murdered, but I can't help you." "I only need his face, Dorothy. Please, just watch..." "NO!" she said more forcefully. "No more - it's over." She grabbed her purse and walked away in a rush. I was at a loss as to what to do. Thankfully, Phobos was not. "Miss Augustin," Phobos said in a forceful manner. "If that had been your mother who was run over and it was Mrs. Butz who had seen everything, would it sit well with you if she walked away from this - despite her fears? Or would you want to see that justice was done?" Dorothy stopped dead in her tracks. With her back still turned to us she said, "That lady wasn't my mother, detective." "She was someone's mother, someone's friend, someone's lover, someone's child," he stated. "Maybe you didn't know her personally, but you know people like her. For that brief moment she touched your life, and you cared about whether she lived or died. Don't let that concern for her end just because she did, Miss Augustin. There has to be a better reason for not caring anymore. Help us help her, Miss Augustin." She stood there for a moment trying to decide what to do. When she turned I saw conflict in her eyes. "What do you want to know?" "Perhaps it would be better if we went inside out of the cold," Phobos suggested, now taking charge. "This way," she replied. Dorothy unlocked the door to her apartment and let us in. There were boxes stacked all around as if she were in the process of moving again. "Can I get either of you something to drink?" she offered. Phobos looked at me and replied, "No, we're fine." We took a seat, and she sat down across from us. "Okay, what do you want to know?" "Linda," Dan said, giving the control back to me. I opened up my laptop and turned it so she could see the screen. "This picture was taken shortly after the accident." I pointed to the person standing near her. "This is the man I'm interested in. You got a good look at him just before he left. Do you remember him?" Dorothy searched her memory, then slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry, I don't recall anything. It was years ago, and I was upset at the time." "It's okay," I reassured her. I looked over at Phobos, and he nodded to go ahead. "Dorothy, there's a method I can use to help you remember. The process isn't painful and there are no lasting effects." "What do you want to do to me?" she asked in an uncertain tone. "Nothing that involves needles or anything like that," I explained. "All you have to do is hold onto my hand. From there I'll take you back to that time, and we'll see his face together. That's all I need from you." "Who are you?" she demanded to know. I looked at Phobos and swallowed hard, then turned and faced her again. "I'm part of a secret government project. I have the abilities to step into other people's lives and see what they see. This woman you saw murdered was...well, that's classified...but she was very important. Knowing who had her murdered could be the key to stopping a war." "A war?" She stared at us as if we were nuts. "I know this sounds crazy, Dorothy. Look, all you have to do is take my hand and I can prove that everything I just said is true. Please, trust me by giving me that chance." By now the young woman didn't know what to think. She looked at Phobos, who gave her a small, reassuring nod. Slowly she held out her hand and I took it. We connected, and the room began to fade around us." "What's...what's happening?" she asked in a scared voice. "It's okay, Dorothy," I replied in a calming tone. "It takes a few moments to move within your mind. Here it comes now." The parking lot came into view, and I was staring down at the mangle body of Mrs. Butz. It was even more horrible than the pictures I had seen. "Oh no," I heard Dorothy cry. "Oh please, not again." "It's okay, Dorothy, I'm right here," I reassured her. "I know this is painful, but hang in there a few seconds longer. This will all be over soon, and then I'll take you home." Something caught the corner of my eye, and I saw a man push his way through the small crowd. He looked at the body, then at me. There was an expression of joy on face for a job well done. I recognized him immediately. He turned and left without saying a word. Quickly I brought us out of the trance so we wouldn't have to view the body again. Dorothy covered her eyes and started crying. I nodded to Phobos that I had gotten what I came for, then placed my hands firmly around the crying woman. "I'm sorry, Dorothy. I know reliving this again was upsetting, but the information you had was important." "Do you know who did this?" she sniffed. "I have a good idea." "Can you stop this war?" I shook my head. "I don't really know, Dorothy. I haven't got the full picture yet. There are pieces still missing that I need to find." Then I smiled at her gently. "You've been a big help to me. Thank you." "You're welcome." She sniffed and then looked at me nervously. "What do you plan to do with me now?" "Nothing, Dorothy," I reassured her. "In time you may find out what role you played in all this. Until then, I'm asking you to keep this a secret." She gave me a sick chuckle. "Who would believe me?" Phobos cleared his throat. "We better get going, Linda. There are other places we need to visit." I nodded in agreement, and turned to the other woman. "Thank you again, Dorothy." She smiled as if to let me know she was okay, and we let ourselves out. Phobos waited until we were outside before saying anything. "Who was it, Linda?" "A Titan called Lucas. Do you know anything about him, Dan?" "A bit," he scowled. "He works for Crius, and was one of the Titans who attacked Ms. Marshall and Officer Merrick." "You mean Venus and Mercury," I corrected, growing tired of the name games when there was no one around. "That's another way of putting it," Phobos smiled. "Diana, Apollo, and Mercury set a trap for him, but ended up catching his partner, Leo instead." "I guess it wasn't your lucky day," I replied. "Where's Leo now?" "Underground," he answered nonchalantly. I knew what he meant. Leo was being held in the caverns below Peace River, known to the Olympians as the Tartarus. "Did your people question him, Dan?" "Yes, but he wouldn't talk." "Why didn't you make him?" "Torture!" Phobos stated in mock surprise. "What do you think we are Linda? Barbarians?" "Do you really want me to answer that?" The Roman God laughed. "Oh, you're a funny one, Linda. It's a good thing I have a sense of humor." Then he stopped laughing, and got serious. "The truth is Linda, we figured Leo didn't know much anyway. He was a small fish following orders from a bigger fish. If it weren't for his buddy Lucas, he wouldn't have gotten his hands dirty in the first place. So, where does that leave us?" "I'm not sure," I said slowly. "Your father, or someone who looked just like your father, murdered Mrs. Butz with the help of Lucas." "You still think my father is involved in this?" Phobos questioned with a just twinge of anger to his tone. "I haven't ruled him out," I admitted carefully. "Maybe he was working with Lucas." "Clearly you don't know my father," Phobos scoffed. "He would never work with those Titan scum." "You may be right, but I have to find out for myself. Besides, that's not what's bothering me. Why did they kill Mrs. Butz in the first place? She didn't have anything to do with this." "Do you think Dennis would agree to war if she were still alive?" Phobos stated boldly. A cold chill went down my spine. Could there be any other reason? Phobos saw my reaction and smiled triumphantly. "Peace River then?" I nodded slowly. "Peace River." "Excellent," he grinned while pulling out his phone. *** I was standing in a huge room surrounded by polished, oak benches that rose up to create a circle pit. The scene was something straight out of the Roman Empire era. Each god had his or her place; the less important sat higher up although I suspected each had an equal say in things. So this where the Olympian's came to debate and hash out their problems. I could just imagine old Jupiter walking around the pit expressing his opinions while the others looked on. It had to be an impressive sight Slowly the room began to fill as each god came in and took his or her seat. I found myself a little intimated as they stared down at me with pressing concern. Fortunately, they sat together on one side of the forum. Judge Herns was also there, sitting prominently in the front row. She gave me a reassuring smile to calm me down. It helped knowing I had at least one friend in the room. Jupiter sat next to her looking over some notes. When the last Olympian arrived, he stood and held up his hands to silence everyone. "I've been approached by Ambassador Phobos who is requesting an audience for Linda Anderson. It seems our Titan friends are up to something, and Miss Anderson has been investigating the matter. I am granting his request." Jupiter then stopped and glared sternly in my direction. "Miss Anderson," his voice boomed out in a harsh tone. "You've being given an honor that few of your people have ever had - to address us in a formal setting. With that honor comes responsibility. You will therefore be respectful to us at all times. Although this is a place of debate, you will not be getting into a shouting match with us. You will state your business clearly, respectfully, and without any of your usual sar