Avitan knew they were coming, sensed then from afar and checked the view in his field glasses again.  He saw the ice cap to the north across the mountains he was in.  He spoke softly into his communicator.  "I still can't see them, but I know they are coming."

      Athracht and Andronic were within with Maudlin and Deric.  It was five to defend Cydonia against many, the estimates so far pointed to there being from sixty to one hundred new Earthlings on the planet, which made thirty or fifty coming this way.  They had not yet found the hidden base, the shutters were up and the tall triangular glass walls had only ever pointed toward the inner slopes of the range.  The entrance to the base from the outside was hidden and not easily opened, like the two tunnels it reached only the lower chambers of their base, those carved into the mountains and the passages were sealed by a series of thick air-tight metal doors. 

      Their weakness if any was the glass walls.  Avitan looked down through lenses in his helmet at the camouflaged projections of glass.  The shutters provided protection against most rays and probably bullets, but explosive devices of any kind would have a good chance of breaching them, and with them would go all the gardens, or at least one.  There were three separate upper gardens sealed from the rest of the settlement and from each other. 

      Avitan has crossbow and rifle at his side and good supply of ammo.  If they tried to get through the shutters he would do his best to shoot them down before they had a chance.  He checked the view to the north again, could see through a pass the edge of the water ice cap.  "I see them!  I can't tell how many yet, but they're there!  They had ice camo suits over their other suits, they are wearing a sort of gray color now I think."

      "Jade green, it looks gray in this light very often," Athracht's voice came to him.  "The sensors we placed have been tripped, they're in the hills. Less than we thought, fifteen perhaps."

      They had climbing gear and soon were on the slope of a nearby peak searching the area.  "They're up in the mountains," Avitan whispered as he watched them through his glasses.  "They seem to be using some scanning device."

      "They are in the lowland as well," Athracht said, "can you see how many now?"

      "I make out about eight right now."  Avitan watched as the group of humans made their way down the slope, the way they had come.  "I think they are leaving...no, just looking for a better path across."

      Within the base Andronic, Maudlin and Deric raced up the various ladders to a small chamber above where they locked all three garden doors so that they could not be opened again without code.  Quickly they returned to Athracht in the living quarters below.  She was in the central public room listening, glancing at a console that showed various outside sensors. 

      Andronic took his place a room away at the entrance to the Eagles Nest where Avitan watched. 

      Avitan saw the first of the invaders climb to one of the peaks opposing his position.  He took up the rifle, readied to fire and aimed.  Through the sight he saw the figure preparing an explosive.  He fired, saw the figure fall and take a second tumbling with them.  But there were more, keeping low now, Avitan fired a shot to warn them.  Again they tried to plant the device, and he stopped them. 

      They withdrew, lobbed a small object into the air and it hit the side of the shutters, rolled down, and then the shutters and glass were breached and the lower air pressure sucked dirt and plants from the gaping hole out onto the mountain slopes.  "They got Garden 2!" Avitan called. 

      Now the group of humans were climbing into the new opening.  Avitan looked at them angrily, loosed bullets at them one after the other as fast as he could.  A pile of wounded began to fill the hole. 

      "I've got an idea, let's get some kind of water up here, vaporators or something, if we ice the mountain slopes they won't be able to climb up!"  Avitan called.

      "We're working on it!" Maudlin called. 

      "They're  trying to get in from below!" Athracht shouted.  "If they get in, remember the lessons!  Suggestion does not work if they wear the caps.  Use your powers to shield yourself and to guide your attack!"

      A loud metallic resonance filled the air.  It was the sound of the slight vibration of the thick metal door between Garden 2 and the inner chambers as the humans pounded on it.  "There's only about three of them in there, I've killed the rest," Avitan called over comlink. 

      "Do you think they are equipped with plasma torches?" Maudlin asked.

      Athracht winced at the sound that filled the rooms.  "Not if they are trying to batter it down."

      "Should I go in after them?" Avitan asked.

      "I'll go up and open the door.  If there are not many we should be able to defeat them easily.  If I rig the doors behind me to stay open then the sudden change in pressure when I open the garden door will throw them to the ground," Andronic said. 

      "Angels and Saints go with you!" Athracht called.

      Andronic fixed his helmet to his suit and checked over his armaments quickly.  Maudlin and Deric did the same, as did Athracht, though she was not going up with them.  Andronic climbed the ladder first, when he came to the hatch above he opened it by code then programmed it to remain open rather than to automatically shut as safety protocols usually called for.  Maudlin braced herself against the ladder and waited.  Andronic was in the small empty triangular chamber above.  He punched in the code.  And alarm sounded as the door opened. 

      Andronic felt the pressure try to suck him through the widening opening below the door.  Quickly Maudlin and Deric scampered up into the room, Deric reached out for Andronic.  Their fingers connected.  Maudlin got the hatch shut, throwing all her weight on it.  The pressure equalized and the door was open. 

      There were four humans out there.  Andronic was standing, a crossbow in one hand and he could see their faces through the helmet visors they wore.  They stood staring at the fierce animal shaped helmets, various missile weapons readied.  Maudlin was at Andronic's side shortly, brought up her virtual controls and adjusted her comlink to broadcast over range of frequencies. 

      "Get out of our home.  Call of all your attacks or get off the planet," Maudlin said in her best plain English.

      One of them answered by firing his weapon, Andronic was faster, put an arrow in the man's chest.  It caused the human's weapon to fire and strike the doorframe with intense laser then stop. Andronic, Deric and Maudlin all trained their weapons on the three standing. 

      Deric fired his revolver, and then everyone had to fire.  A moment later Maudlin stood with bullet wound just below the collarbone on her right side, bleeding from the hole in her suit.  Andronic had taken a laser to the helmet, it seemed it had not burned through all the layers.  Deric was presently unharmed.  All the humans were wounded, or dead.  Two of them retreated cautiously.

      Andronic called to Athracht, "Are they still below?"

      "They are in the area, but they don't seem to be trying to get in now."

      Andronic looked to the other two with him.  "It's a good thing Trip made everyone put a processing plant at each settlement.  We need to get this garden sealed again."

      "We'll get the plastic and make a temporary seal," Maudlin said as Deric taped up the hole in her suit.  "Avitan, you see them up there?"

      "They're leaving.  I'll come down and start repairs on Garden 2 if you can come up here and find a way to ice these slopes so they can't easily climb them."

      "Sure, I'll work on it," Maudlin sighed.

                      ?                ?                ?

      The hangar was before them, the large tent that sheltered the jet aircraft from wind and dust.  It was not hard to get so close.  Etan and Dori had done it several times, so had Athracht and Avitan.  These Earthlings had a large sprawling base on the slope of a mountain, surrounded at night by spotlights and sensors and guards fighting off sleep.  But in the day their perimeter was not any more brightly lit than the rest of the camp, there were many people moving about. 

      The trick of it was to wear the green suits then walk about as if knowing what your chores were in the camp.  And the other trick was getting inside, so that you were not seen coming in from afar.  They had accomplished this by sneaking close to the camp at night then rising to mix with the others during the day.

      And so Rozz and Tathai had reached the hangar. The plane was just inside the large tent, and they saw few people between them.  Rozz carried a box of tools and Tathai a small electronic pad, as if he had a list of chores or some decisions to approve.  They came to one end of the tent.  Nodded to the guard there.  The guard nodded back. 

      They were inside then, they spied the plane for the first time, and its sleek matte black figure loomed before them.  It looked powerful and frightening, something that could abduct you from your home in the darkness of night or blow up that home in seconds, both without leaving a trace. 

      There were some other people here, about five, throughout the hangar engaged in various tasks.  If their plan worked this plane would never destroy any of their homes.  Tathai took the tools from Rozz, with nod assured his son that he would perform the modifications while Rozz kept watch. 

                      ?                ?                ?

      The small bedchamber off the long hall was filled with voices and then, with the cries of two newborn children.  Easterwine had whispered women's wisdom.  Theodoric had done as all good fathers did and talked mate and child through their birth, and being the father of these twins that were born Etan had repeated Theodoric's words in his most soothing voice.  Blath had tried to cry out little, it showed weakness in her opinion.  And these two babies cried, Elaeth and Sith, sister and brother.

      Theodoric lifted Sith and placed him in Etan's arms.  Elaeth was being held by Easterwine.  Theodoric had explained the birth rituals to Etan many times since they'd come together with Blath to Hempshire.  He and Etan had both gone through the talk through.  Etan had worked at improving his silent communication, had been able to ease Blath and welcome the children into the world with love.  Now Theodoric asked him, "Care to perform the ritual of cleansing?"

      Etan closed his eyes a moment to steel himself for the task.  "I fathered these children, I should do it," Etan said as he opened eyes on his tiny son.  They had informed him of Lucifer's birth, but being a father had not seemed real until now.

      "It's not supposed to be punishment," Theodoric laughed. 

      "Dori, you do it, Etan can help."  Blath had spoken very softly.

      Theodoric smiled. "You've pulled through, with twins."

      "I will be well shortly," Blath whispered.

      Theodoric nodded.  He bowed toward Etan tied off the umbilical of the newborn and bit the remainder off.  He ate this then, bolted it down.  Easterwine tied and bit Elaeth's cord, offered it to Blath as there were two. 

      "If Dori can possibly eat another I would appreciate it.  I'd like some water, please."

      "Of course, I'll get you a cup," Easterwine said.  She placed Elaeth in Blath's arms. 

      Theodoric took the second cord from Easterwine as she passed.  "I'd like to try," Etan said.

      Theodoric smiled.  "I had not realized until our conversations that births are so different on Earth...you don't have to."  Yet Theodoric was offering the umbilical to Etan. 

      Etan shifted the child into one arm then took the cord and brought it to his mouth.  Quickly he swallowed it down, gagged slightly, but managed to force it down with further swallows. 

      Theodoric congratulated Etan with a pat to his shoulder.  "Just bathe our new mother with water and towels then help her dress.  I'll lick the afterbirth from her body."

      Etan leaned in to Theodoric's ear.  "It tastes very good," he whispered.

                      ?                ?                ?

      They passed from the hangar, by the guard there.  Rozz trembled inside.  He wanted to run from the camp, but was forcing himself to walk slowly.  Tathai was anxious also.  They just had to get out of the camp and get to their truck.  They passed through more of the humans, breathing a sigh of relief at each one.  Ahead was the perimeter, a loose ring of sensors and periodic patrols. 

      Tathai looked from left to right.  The patrols had recently passed.  It would not be unusual for two of the humans to leave the camp on an assignment at this time of day.  Walking slowly they moved toward the ring of sensors.  Here witchcraft was useful, it did not effect the humans directly when they wore the caps but these sensors were simple devices, it was easy to visualize their mechanisms.  All Tathai had to do was concentrate on them failing and they would not register his passing without attached pass, or register him at all if he chose.

      They were outside the camp, but still within view.  They had about a fifteen-minute run to the truck.

      They made it in twenty minutes, starting slowly then running hard the last stretch.  Rozz ran to the far side of the camouflaged mass; there were people there.  "No!" Tathai called as it happened.  They shot Rozz.  He fell before he felt any pain, Tathai winced, sensing the mortal wound to his son.  They were training their weapons on him instantly.  Tathai threw up an invisible shield, had to concentrate to keep it up.

      Tathai knew he would be trapped if he did not change strategy now.  He leapt to the top of the covered truck then down onto the people on the other side.  And he wrestled for his life.

                      ?                ?                ?

      Etan walked Blath into the control room, Kieran was there already, listening.  His posture alone told them he had no good news.  "They're still lurking near Cydonia like a pack of wolves," Kieran said.  He turned to look at them and frowned.  "No word from Tathai and Rozz."

      "They should have been back by now, it doesn't take this long to get there and back in the truck," Blath said.

      "They could be held up for some silly reason," Etan said, "They might have completed the mission and had some completely random breakdown in the truck."

      "Etan, they haven't radioed in," Kieran said flatly.

      Blath walked to the console and took a seat there.  "We've got to assume the mission wasn't completed, go out there and find what we can on our way to—"

      "I've got something," Kieran said.  Etan reached forward to the control console and switched on the speakers.  It was Brittany.

      "...It's in the air!  Repeating, their plane is in the air presently heading East toward Hempshire, Airy and Eden."

      "No chance to get to their camp now," Kieran said. 

      Blath was on her feet.  "We've got to get the babies out of here!"  She was moving from the room and into the hall.  Etan chased after her, jogged to her side. 

      "Blath, what are you talking about?"

      "We've got a few minutes only before the plane is overhead.  We don't know what happened to Tathai and Rozz.  If they were made to talk that plane will be targeting us.  We need the babies to go to Sinai."

      Easterwine appeared, Elise in her arms.  "Blath, Dori is getting your children ready.  Please take Elise while I go prepare a droid to take them."

      Blath took Elise as Easterwine ran back through the hall toward the lounge.  "We're giving our babies to a droid?" Etan asked, following Blath into the room where their children slept. 

      Blath turned on him, tears welling up in both eyes.  "You will do what I tell you to, take Sith and put him into a carrier, make sure the air tanks are properly hooked up so the air will be exchanged."

      Etan went to the bed and lifted Sith.  "You used the voice on me, Blath," he said even as he did as she ordered.

      "Hurry," Blath cried.

      They ran through the hall, Blath, Theodoric and Etan each carrying a baby carrier.  They passed through the tangle of drapes into the lounge.  Easterwine was there to usher them thorough.  "I've got the old rustbucket hitched to a cart," she breathed.

      Blath was through the curtains first, put Elise's carrier onto the cart.  "I'll send them off, you go get into your suits," Easterwine said.

      "I'll have to see if I can wear the old suit rather than my maternity one," Blath said.  She touched a kiss to the carriers then ran from the antechamber.  Etan stood looking at the ordinary looking stack of cargo until Theodoric tore him from where he stood and pulled him through the curtains. 

      "The li'l rustbucket's been through a lot with us, he'll get them through to Sinai," Theodoric said.

                      ?                ?                ?

      Brittany leaned her head heavily into the palm of one hand as she stared transfixed by the radar blip moving inward on the screen before her.  Only Carlo was with her.  The others knew the plane was in the air, but Blaith was delivering twins in the chambers below.  Mara and Kei were needed by Blaith.  And Martin and Alix were elsewhere, perhaps wracking their brains to come up with some new brilliant alternate plan. 

      "Blath?" Brittany called.  Her unborn child kicked her as Brittany tried to listen for any response. 

      "We're still here!"  Brittany could hear happy cries in the background of Blath's transmission from Hempshire.  "It's passed over."

      Brittany smiled.  Then she shivered.  "Perhaps I should have brushed sacrificial lamb's blood on the doorpost."

      "Vas?"

      Faintly Brittany could hear Etan's voice explaining that Brittany's father, and his father before him had been Jewish.  Brittany sighed and doubted Blath would understand.  The joke was lost now, and hadn't been as funny as it had been eerie.  The plane was still headed toward Eden.

      "We're afraid Tathai and Rozz may have died trying to sabotage the plane," Blath spoke over the radio. 

      Brittany nodded.  She lifted herself up from her chair and made her way into the new lower sections of the Great Pyramid, leaving Carlo to send apologies.  He came after her when he had sent the transmission, found Brittany hugging her round belly.  "Are you OK?" Carlo asked.

      "Fine.  It's only a few minutes until it's overhead."  Brittany descended the ladder into the newer chambers.  She could clearly hear Blaith's cries of childbirth, she was expecting twins, fraternal, one a boy.  Already Blaith had named them Maik and Flora.  In her line of maternal descent it was almost tradition that a woman of each generation be called by a name deriving from the ancient words that described that which springs up from within and signifies life.  Blath, Lade, Blaith, Elaeth, Flora. 

      Brittany's experience with archaeology had taught her many languages had root in a more ancient common tongue.  Blood and Flowers were so similar in etymological history, yet now obviously different things.  Though Vampyres cried tears of blood and when emotional flowers fell from the eyes of Angels. 

      Brittany came into Kei's private room in this new section of their base, a long corridor of living quarters.  A gush of blood and newborn cries greeted her as Brittany saw that already one baby was in Kei's arms.  The child Mara held by its ankles was Flora, was female.  Brittany heard the voice of their local healer within her mind: What of the plane?

      On its way here...didn't touch Hempshire.

      Kei had noticed Carlo standing in the hall and called him in.  Kei held Maik forward, high so that Carlo could look on him.  "My son, Maik."

      Carlo smiled, seemed lacking in congratulations.  His own newborn son, Ramón was hidden away in Midway with Athené, and Carlo had never seen him.  "The plane is on its way here," Carlo said flatly.

      Blaith moaned.

      "Brittany, if you would take Maik..." Kei began.

      "Of course," Brittany said.  No one meant to be sexist, it was just practical at the moment that all the women and children remain shut in this room and Kei and Carlo go seek out Martin and Alix so they might track the plane further.

                      ?                ?                ?

      The small barrel shaped droid towing the cart containing three sleeping children rolled slowly over the hard packed soil of the Cydonia-Sinai tunnel, its upper appendage retracted within its dome-shaped head and a small dish scanning for movements ahead or signals transmitting new instructions.  As the small droid passed by another tunnel beacon it registered within its computer brain the fact that the tunnel section known as Mariner Pass should be reached shortly. 

      Mariner Pass was one of the oldest sections of tunnel, a tube of thick extruded transparent plastic three meters in diameter and several kilometers long supported by trusses of metal that made possible travel between the northern and southern sides of the vast Martian canyon, Valles Marineris.  Now the compact droid came to the metal grating that served as road through the pass and with optical sensors  was able to see what was beyond the concave interior of the tunnel.  A deep wide geological form.  Thin clouds of water vapor.  Ten figures moving down a cliff face toward the tunnel.

      The droid transmitted its standard hail, a series of tones that would identify itself to its makers.  No response. 

      The small droid halted.  It rotated its dome-like head to view the cart it towed.  Within the shock resistant chamber three of the young of its makers still slept.   A moment to calculate.  The droid could not reach the opposite side of the pass  before these approaching creatures could breach the tunnel and discover it and its cargo.  Its top speed while towing the weight of the loaded cart was insufficient. 

      The droid rolled back the way it had come, pushing the cart before its metal body.  It emitted a series of tones; moments later red earth fell from the wall as a long abandoned automatic door opened.  The droid pushed the cart within.

                      ?                ?                ?

      The jet aircraft passed over the three large smooth-sided  pyramids of Eden Base.  Mara and Alix watched its video image on one of the large monitors before them in the communications room.  On another monitor they saw that Kei, Carlo and Martin were suited up and armed, just inside the stone-lined hall of the largest pyramid. 

      The plane banked to its right, hard, and made a turn around.  It seemed to grow in size across the glass screen.  "It's going to land," Mara said. 

      Brittany called over their comlink, from rooms in the labyrinth of underground chambers and passages that ran beneath all the large monumental surface structures.  "Landing?" she asked.

      Mara and Alix were both silent.  They were still also as the jet came down vertically to land on the smooth strip of land that was the avenue before the Great Pyramid.  They waited in watch, two beings climbed slowly from the craft parked on its landing wheels just before the Pyramid. 

      "Two Earth humans, one heavy rifle," Kei whispered over the com. 

      "What's going on?" Brittany called.

      "They landed on the avenue," Alix spoke. 

      A sharp whistle was heard from all speakers, a transmission broadcast on a wide band.  And then a human voice spoke in English, "We come in peace.  We just want to talk.  Show us to your leaders."

      "Yeah, that's pretty much what the Martians said in Mars Attacks!" Alix said bitterly.

      "I'm going out," Kei called to the others. 

      "Take care," Blaith called quietly, still hidden away in rooms below with Brittany and her two newborn children.  

      A moment later Kei set his own comlink to broadcast over a wider range and called to the visitors.  "I am Captain Kei Yamashiro.  I am acting commander of this base.  I will come out to speak to you.  Lay your weapons on the ground.  I will do the same.  If you make a move to attack my teammates will fire on you.  Comply and you will be unharmed."

      "Hi, I'm Ken Madine, This here's Tasha Martin, my pilot.  We're part of a team funded by an Earth conglomerate here to settle Mars.  We were hoping you could share your research with us."  The man seemed distinctly American, smiled behind his transparent visor.  Behind him the woman he introduced as his pilot lay her weapon down carefully and with the side of her foot then pushed it to one side.  The move struck Kei as being practiced, the gesture of someone often in the same situation of making a show of disarmament.

      "It's good to see other Earthlings after so long," Kei said.  "I must be cautious, don't you know there are others here on Mars?  And it was my understanding until now that all Earth governments had agreed to keep from sending further groups to Mars until the international group of which I am part had returned.  Was there no resistance to your privately funded launch?"

      Ken Madine laughed.  "Just like you military types.  Don't worry, Captain, no one on Earth objected to our flight.  How's about we go inside and talk?"

      "Then you know there are others on Mars?" Kei asked cautiously.

      "We've seen some evidence of that.  Have they bothered you?"

      "No.  I just wonder what profit there is in sending a group to Mars when it is already settled.  The Areians were here before my team landed.  They are many and though not hostile toward us have made it clear they will remain in control of what happens to Mars."

      "I'd love to hear about them," Madine said.

                      ?                ?                ?

      The old droid waited near the southern end of Mariner Pass.  It was silent, scanning for the movements of the intruding creatures.  They were ten in number, having form similar to the makers but were such as the droids sensors could determine smaller, more dense and slower than the race of its makers.   It remained still until it perceived the last of the intruders descend into the tunnel.  They spoke a language not so far removed from the maker's language and so the droid understood that they were here to steal control of the pass. 

      Their attention must be drawn to this southern end of the tunnel, away from the hidden children. The little droid would not have left his cargo if this strategy was not the only viable option it could compute.  At once it chirped and whistled a series of tones that the makers would have understood as a taunt.  "Look here you slow organic water-guzzling intruders!"  

      Their attention had been drawn.  Three of their party quickened their pace and ran toward the droid, encumbered by their heavy weaponry and gear.  The droid moved slowly, so that the intruders would not perceive so great a distance between them and their goal that their crude logic told them the chase was futile. 

      And as they got closer the droid stopped, rotated its head to one side and projected a hologram into the space beside its body.  They were startled, hesitated in their chase.  The hologram seemed to be a tall heavily armored maker with fierce mask and bladed weapons flashing. 

      The intruders called for more of their company to join the chase and then renewed their pursuit.  As they came the droid rolled toward the tunnel section beyond the pass accelerating as it went to put a greater distance between itself and the intruders.  The droid rotated its head, made the hologram seem to run ahead.  And as it reached the packed earth roadway it transmitted a series of tones to the receiving tunnel beacon markers.  Four seconds later a heavy metal door descended from hidden ceiling slot and closed off the southern tunnel sections from Mariner Pass.  If the devices still functioned another door would close off the northern end of  Mariner pass just a moment later.

      A momentary connection to the nearest beacon told the droid the pass was sealed at both ends.  No longer having the priority of having to evade and inhibit the intruders the droid remained still and transmitted a new message to its makers, informing them of its position as well as those of the children and the intruders.

                      ?                ?                ?

      The large doors at Hempshire opened and in new tunnelcar Etan and Easterwine entered the tunnel with Easterwine at the stick and screeched around the bend toward Mariner Pass.  They didn't speak, too concerned for the abandoned children.  The sleek new three-wheeled car reached excellent speed through the thin cool tunnel air. 

      The chirps of passing beacon markers went slowly and then soon became a nearly constant chirping that was at least a quick regular rhythm.   Their speed was enough that they soon came within sight of the lighted door enclosing the pass and the sound of metal striking metal. 

      Etan touched Eaterwine's arm and knowing she slowed the car.  Etan hopped to the ground below, and instantly began running.  Soon Easterwine was at his side, faster than he was by merit of blood.  She reached the smaller doorway first, could see the marks in the reddish dirt that told her the door had been recently disturbed.  With a thought she opened it, bent to crawl in before the door was raised entirely. 

      "Lady in Heaven!" she swore.

      "Easterwine?" Etan called.

      The door was fully open then bet there was no room for Etan to join her inside.  Easterwine was on the floor bent over a body in a mars red suit and at her side the baby carriers sat intact, though Etan could hear crying.  Or perhaps he sensed their discomfort at wanting clean diapers and fresh food.  

      "It's Rozz," Easterwine said.

      "Is he?"

      "Nothing there, brain dead," Easterwine said, her voice all the more thin via their link.  She leaned over the carrier.  "He gave them his oxygen supply.  I don't know how he got here."

      "There's tape on his suit, blood," Etan said quietly, peering down around Easterwine's side. 

      "He must have been injured, but we heal quickly, he must have somehow made his way here, though probably still weak, maybe still in pain.  If he had not found them here we may have found them dead."

      "Then Rozz gave up his life to save the three of them," Etan said solemnly.  "Is there a special place he would want his body lain?  A ceremony?"

      "So long as his body is given to Mars, especially within our gardens he would be happy.  Help me take them to the car.  We can give Rozz services at Hempshire."

      Easterwine took up the carrier, backed out of the small room.  When she had passed Etan stepped in and lifted Rozz's body into his arms.  They hurried to the car. 

      There was room for the babies in their carrier inside the car.  With no other choice they had to place Rozz in the cargo area behind the enclosed cabin.

                      ?                ?                ?

      War had begun and Trip could no longer remain a hermit, his family needed him to lead them.  And so a secondary base of operations had been established in a second floor room of the castle in A Den.  Here Trip could be found nearly all hours of the day with Rachael and various holograms and of course newly installed gear that allowed Trip instant communication with family, allies, satellites and computer systems across his planet. 

      Mars was his.  Not in the way possessions were, more like children belonged to parents until a certain age.  Trip had cared for Mars, raised it, instructed it, and now felt responsible for it's protection and honor.  Mars could not fall into the hands of Earthen rapists with uncaring drills and dozers, and all the ills of human society. 

      If Trip had taken more from human civilization he might have used nuclear reactors to power Areian civilization.  But the vast fertile triangle had been born without such power, only with use of wind, water, fire, arethermal forces and the hands, blood, sweat and tears of his Shi Vampires, his Areians. 

      Valor had just been sent out with a team to capture the humans trapped in Mariner Pass and bring them to Sinai for interrogation.  Word had come that Rozz was dead and a hero.  Two humans were at Eden Base with the jet.  Tathai was missing. 

      Sadian, mother to Tathai and Grandmother to Rozz sat in a chair nearby, in concentration.  They had all felt the absence of Rozz, perhaps as the Jedi and wizards of epic tales felt the absence or birth of another.  Valor, being Rozz's mother had left filled with rage and Sadian worried that she would not take many captives.  

      Trip lent his mind to Sadian.  He and his daughter had long shared this: been able to follow each other's train of thought, to be nearly a collective.  Tathai was not dead, but he was certainly alone and perhaps out of fear or shock of some sort he was blocking.  They could not read his mind.

      Trip disengaged, blocked everyone for a moment.  And then he opened again, a simple thing, like the raising of eyelids and saw Rachael was hovering as usual.  "She's fine, in the catacombs with Alix and Blaith, the babies."

      Trip smiled.  Rachael was in telepathic communication with Mara so Trip was not too distracted by doing that himself.  He did worry about Mara, would certainly be lost without her calm womanly strength, adoring smile and much-needed pep talks.

      "Tell her again how much I love her," Trip said quietly. 

      Rachael smiled, shared for a moment in the love between the two she had known since their childhood.  Smiled at Trip's boyishness and Mara's tolerant reply.  "Want she should steal the jet away and pilot it here?" Rachael said with Mara's laugh.

      "Please," Trip said. 

      Claudia suddenly projected before Trip.  "I have located Tathai in the tunnel.  He is coming through the doors into A Den now."

      Sadian stood up.  As soon as the doors opened Tathai was open to them all, broadcasting.  "They did it.  Tathai has the codes and device that will enable us to control the aircraft by remote!" Sadian cried happily.

      "Rachael," Trip called.

      "Already doing it," she said.  She was silent after that, in communication with Mara. 

      "The plane?  What's the status, are the humans still with them?" Trip asked impatiently.

                      ?                ?                ?

      Kei got a call, a silent secret message only he could hear, if it was hearing.  He looked to the visitors, Kenith and Natasha.  "You've been straight with us so far, lets go into a more comfortable chamber," Kei said, made sweeping gesture with his arm toward the higher end of the hall they stood in.

      The two visitors exchanged glances before Ken accepted.  Together they went with the three from this base into the heart of the pyramid, removing their breathing gear and helmets.  Here they found the hall gave way to a spiraling staircase.  Martin took the lead, exiting the staircase at one of its branches onto a higher floor with modern materials in its construction.  "This way," he said, gestured as Kei had toward the dining room.  

      At their approach the door opened automatically revealing part of the newer construction, a roomy yet cozy dining room now set with warm meal.  There Mara, Brittany, Alix and Blaith sat amid the Egyptian and Sumerian murals.  "Mara Jewel!" Tasha cried out, touched her head.

      With small gesture from Mara Tasha's hair was taken by a wind and from her head a metal band flew toward Mara and was caught neatly in her right hand.  Mara smiled, calm as she studied the cap.  She deactivated it.  "Really, they don't bite unless you ask nicely, and I'm certain your thoughts aren't particularly desirable to any of us, you really should have a seat and join us."

      "Certainly," Ken said, betraying nervousness, but it really was expected.

      The room to the hall was closed now and the table being set there was no need to open the second door into the kitchen.  The group were all here for the duration of their meal. 

      Mara kept an eye on the visitors, really not interested in their private thoughts but took a quick impression from their minds to judge their intentions.  Ken had another weapon on him but Mara would allow him to keep the blade in his boot so long as it put him at ease.  She had a knife strapped to her forearm. 

      Now Kei sat down beside Blaith, gave her a small nearly unseen kiss as she showed to him the babies beside their chairs in bundled fabric and baskets.  Carlo and Martin sat either side of their guests, cautious, as they should be.  And Alix, liking to be near Martin these days, moved to the seat at his other side. 

      "Really," Mara said, seeing the manner of the visitors.  "We offered them peace and in return they offered loyalty.  We'd offer peace to you but somehow the attacks on our homes in Cydonia and at Mariner Pass and the treatment of those scouts sent from Hempshire cause us to think you wouldn't accept and really do prefer to meet hideous defeat at our hands."  She smiled, thought Trip would be proud of her witty sarcastic toned remarks.  He so wanted to seem to strangers the sort of rouge one fell in love with in movies. 

      The guests weren't speaking.  "I suppose it's understandable," Alix said, "If art imitates life then humans like stories about slaughtering aliens."

      "Wouldn't you if they fed on you and used your kind to propagate their species?" Tasha snapped.

      Blaith giggled.  "Darling, wasn't it horrible when I laid eggs in your head and my babies devoured you alive from the inside out?"

      Kei smiled but said nothing.  He was a private man. 

      "It's different with women," Tasha said, so softly it seemed she'd regretted her words as she spoke. 

      "I am human," Mara said knowing Tasha looked at her, "And I've had three children that were Shi Vampires and survived them all."

      "It's well known you're a witch," Tasha said and again seemed to regret speaking.  She had wanted to remain calm, not be pressed into giving away anything. 

      "Let's just eat," Brittany suggested.  "I worked hard to prepare this meal, grew the vegetables and raised the animals here in Eden myself, with help from the others here of course."  She scooped the various foods from the clay and metal serving bowls onto her plate, itself painted with wheat, geese and fish.  As she chewed her first bite of food the others that lived at Eden Base began to eat.  Brittany smiled over her fork at the visitors.  "Eat," she said, "It's perfectly safe."

      "So long as you stay away from the pomegranates," Blaith joked. 

      Kei blushed red and took a sip of watered juice to hide his snicker. 

                      ?                ?                ?

      Athracht woke from short forced rest and shook out her long red and black hair.  She pulled on her boots, and a short tunic, felt nauseous.  She reached for a thermos of herbal infusion and sipped a mouthful of the warm liquid.  She felt better, needed food.  Athracht  then walked out into the hall.  Andronic was there working on some wiring.  It was part of Athracht's latest project.  She needed to get to the monitors and talk to Sinai, but she was fairly certain they would be needed to move from Cydonia  soon.  The base would have to be left secure.

      Andronic looked up and kissed her leg as she passed.  Athracht rumpled his hair.  Cruel of dear Blaith to abandon her previously chosen mate, but then for Blaith's part it seemed sensible to leave for the Earth man.  Dutifully Athracht took Andronic for herself, was certainly commanding and woman enough to handle a second, and it inspired fiercer loyalty in Andronic. 

      Now Athracht stomped down the hall and up a ladder to the next floor.  Here she found Avitan in the big chair taking his watch before the monitoring equipment.  "They all pulled out, moved over the pole and South," he said as he sensed Athracht's presence. 

      "As we expected," Athracht said.  She bowed over the back of the chair and nipped at Avitan's ear.  "How goes it?"

      "Sabotage nearly complete.  You may set the codes for arming and disarming the devices yourself.  The default code is all zeros."

      Athracht smiled, pushed Avitan from her chair forcefully and scanned the displays before her.  Trip and his holograms had set up automatic overtext scrolling on transmissions from the various bases so that Athracht now saw that Eden reported two of the intruders secured at their base and Sinai had six.  There was still the one casualty of war on the home side, two recently on the enemy team. 

      Satellite surveillance showed a new larger level of build up and movement around the human's base at Tharsis.  Not only were their troops from the North regrouping with those at the base but it seemed there was deployment of most of their number to the southeast.  That would indicate another attack on Mariner Pass or a direct assault on Sinai. 

      It was this predicted deployment Athracht was concerned with.  The hateful humans had come expecting to exterminate a small number of freaks and found the small group had grown over quick generations into a much larger number, had found themselves nearly matched in number and certainly outmatched one on one in speed, strength and mental gifts.  Besides, Athracht's people had the advantage of knowing the terrain and their bases better than the intruders could. 

      She almost pitied them, the hateful creatures having reached their point of no return before finding out that Xian was dead or that the number of the Shi Vampires had grown.  What choices did they have?  Make the return trip home, fight a loosing battle, or stop hating.  It took a lot of strength to stop hating.  Desires of any kind could be distracting and weaken physical and mental strength and concentration, especially in battle. 

      Athracht noticed Avitan had fallen asleep at her feet, his head lain on her lap.  She let him rest.  Soon Maudlin and Deric wold be awake also and they would set the traps and elaborate Scorched Earth system of preprogrammed system failures before making the trip south. 

                      ?                ?                ?

      "Your comrades are amassing to attack Sinai," Kei said to the two Earthen visitors Ken and Tasha.  They looked with him at the monitor that displayed satellite surveillance photos.  "Meaning to rescue captives, or wage battle once and for all, to the utter defeat of one side or another?"

      "We don't know," Ken said.  

      Kei shrugged.  Efforts in convincing just two of the invading humans to make peace was proving more difficult than he had imagined.  Ken remained falsely enthusiastic and Tasha defensive.

      Kei went from the room, leaving the visitors to watch the troop movements.  Their plane was gone, they had no way of joining their team.  Now Kei went into the lower chambers.  Here, in a sitting room with cozy hearth and the scent of stewing meat and vegetables, were his friends. Athene had come from Midway with her infant son Ramón and was comparing nativity tales with Blaith.  Brittany looked uncomfortable, nearly due to give birth to her own child.  Carlo, Martin and Alix were playing a card game.  

      "Any news?" Martin asked.

      "Nothing new," Kei said sadly.  "All we can do is follow Mara's advice and wait out the coming battle here.  I do agree it is best Carlo and I stay here with the children.  But, Martin, you and Alix may go to Sinai if you like.  This base is well defended."

      "We thought of that, but Brittany would feel better if we remained her guardians," Alix said as he lay down several cards.

      "I didn't realize," Kei said quietly.  "Can I do anything, Brittany?"

      She shook her head silently.  "There's nothing to do but wait."