Learning that the Goth were leaving Berlin, the Mayor of the City arranged for there to be a parade along their exit route. The Mayor of Berlin invited President Hoffmann and President Valeska of Poland to attend and had a platform set up outside the camp where John might say goodbye to the city.

      John agreed to speak, sat up on the platform with Claudia, the Mayor and Presidents until it was time. Behind, the tribe were packed and ready to leave. The Mayor's event staff had arranged for them to leave by the parade route, after their escort of marching band, mounted police and local celebrities. The Presidents themselves were to ride in the parade just ahead of John, as he led the tribe in hovercar.

      The Mayor first gave a speech, praising the Goth for their good works throughout Germany and in Berlin and their efforts in bringing peace. President Hoffman was then introduced. Kirsten Hoffmann took the podium decorated in banners to match the German flag of black, red, and gold.

      Kirsten also praised the peace efforts of all the Goth. She even mentioned Regensburg, saying that their city and people were safe due to the work of the Goth and though Kirsten emphasized that she was not now Goth or advocating as President continued large scale declaration to the tribe she did make it clear she now respected the ways of the tribe and hoped that all their people could learn from the example of the Goth.

      "I must now ask President Valeska to join me in making an announcement," Kirsten said.

      "What can they be doing now?" Claudia asked, "The two of them?"

      "I honestly don't know," John whispered

      Ryan Valeska stood and went to the podium. He began by briefly adding his own support of the sentiments President Hoffmann just spoke of regarding the Goth and then said, "A day ago this afternoon, a proposal was put before both the German parliament and that of Poland, based here in Berlin. If passed by both houses of legislature and then passed by President Hoffmann and myself this proposed act of law would create a new nation encompassing both territories of Germany and Poland with claims to the borders of both former nations prior to invasion by all foreign armies during the past 18 months."

      "This proposed law was passed with clear majority in the German house of law," President Hoffmann said, "Same proposed legislature was passed by the Polish parliament with clear majority. Both President Valeska and myself have given our support and as of 6 pm Berlin time this evening, in six hours, this law goes into effect."

      There was mixed reaction from the amassed crowd of hundreds of thousands gathered around them which John oticed then included immediately about them Polish and German military. President Valeska spoke then. "Elections have been scheduled for July of this year, during which a head of state for the United Duetch-Polski States will be elected. A new judiciary council for the United Duetch-Polski states will also be eleceted this July. Elected officials will be sworn in at the end of this year. Until that time President Hoffmann and myself will continue in our positions as joint presidents and all legal matters effecting newly established union will be decided during the present courts of Germany until such time as new judiciaries are sworn in this December."

      President Hoffmann continued from there, "All local laws will be honored and there is no need for concern for any citizens of Poland or Germany. As joint Presidents, we are presently dedicated to finding the most peaceful solution to the ending of foreign occupation and war, and wish to ensure a safe homeland for all our people." There was some amount of cheering without any audible disapproval mixed in after this and the Kirsten went on. "As of 6pm Berlin time today our first acts as joint Presidents will be to put before the houses of legislature a proposal to recognize Regensburg as enclave of Goth not to be tresspassed by police or military of our United States and subject to laws instituted only by officials of Regensburg and Goth as per their own arrangement."

      There was clear cheering following the announcement that Regensburg would actually be given to the Goth. John was surprised himself. He had definitely not expected this from Kirsten Hoffmann.

      President Valeska spoke then, "As established by the Treaty of Alexandria, any nations currently part of the Union of Darkland Nations whose borders are changed by acts of war, treaty, partition or unification may renegotiate specific points of their association with the UDN as a new nation. President Hoffmann and I intend to go through with these negotiations in the coming days. It is our intention, and we believe supported by the peple, that we will remain part of the UDN and continue to guarantee same rights to all Darkling citizens of our newly established Union. However, we will ask certain conditions of the arrangement as allowed by the Treaty of Alexandria. We are going to request that all former citizens of Germany and Poland serving in Union military be dismissed and allowed to return home. We will ask that in future and ongoing conflict when the Union's Darkling Draft is in effect we reserve right to refuse the Union citizens of our States, who are Darkling, so long as they serve in our own military. This has been granted, in the past, to only the USNA, but we ask it so that no citizens of our newly established United States can be made to serve in a military conflict we do not support nor wish to join with loan of troops."

      "We wish to continue friendly relations with the tribe of Goth and will grant freedom of travel within our lands to the Goth," President Hoffmann said. There was now great support in the crowd. "We have been informed that the Goth intend to continue their travels now to Leipzig and invite their Leader John to come speak to the people of Berlin in farewell."

      John raised his eyebrows looking at Claudia and straightened his crown. She smiled at him. John stood and strode over the composite boards of the platform to the podium. He kissed both Presidents either side of their face and afterward they stepped away. John looked then over the crowd, a sea of people really. "Hello," he said. "I really never dreamed before that I could affect so much a response in the world. I did not believe that a boy, just 20, half American-half Polish and half Catholic-half Jewish could be responsible for leading so many, or be really listened to by so many. I truly thank God for allowing me to be part of all of this. I never truly feel it is deserved by me. I feel, however, I must do it, must say what I feel, must try every day to make a difference, because the alternative is too horrifying. The alternative is living with the knowledge that I did not try to stop the evils visible to me. The alternative to all of this is living with myself as a part of the evil that eats at the world." John paused and reached for Claudia. She came to him and he kissed her hand. He returned to the microphones bundled on the podium. "I did not always know these things, did not always have the strength to stand before so many people and speak. It is really Claudia, this girl here, who taught me. It is both of us together who somehow have effected change...and it is all the tribe really. The Goth call me Leader. The Goth want me to wear the Crown of Thorns. As Leader, I am more than myself, I have really become a tool of God and of the people of my tribe. I am the creation of the Goth, not their creator. I believe that the Goth may outlive me, they are strong and when my time is past, there will be another to represent all that is Goth. There will always be a Leader, someone who is servant of God and the Tribe who wears the crown, not because they are lord, but because they suffer the ultimate sacrifice of being under the weight of the resposibility that comes with the Crown of Thorns. That is the responsibility to put the people before ones self. I am Leader now, because they follow, because you follow. Today I lead the tribe to Leipzig, there is something we believe we can do there that will help others. I thank all of you, sincerely, who have welcomed us. I wish to thank...no today I wish to give double thanks to Ryan and Kirsten! Ryan and Kirsten and all those they represent as servants of their people have done a wonderful thing. They have united the nations of Poland and Germany without drop of bloodshed. I do not believe that has ever been done in known history." John allowed for the screams and shouts of joy and approaval, and gratitude. Minutes went by. Ryan and Kirsten bowed before the crowd, perhaps at the moment truly great leaders.

      John spoke again, "Though the people of Europe now struggling through war have been what I have most worked to save, the works of the people, the great buildings and the small towns have all become very dear to me. I have hope that whoever succeeds these two will be at least as great a leader as they both are. I am confident they will do all they can to make your new nation safe and strong. Farewell. I love you."

      A chant was picked up and as he moved away John thought it might really be his name. "John," Claudia said. He shook his head as if this could clear his mind.

      "Let's just get into the car."

                      †               †               †

      John had to ride in the hovercar at the lead of the tribe. The followed several local celebrities: pageant winners, actors, scientists. The mounted police were before them. And before the police was a large marching band with majorettes twirling batons. Claudia sat in the rear seat beside him while Justin drove.

      John waved to the crowd, threw kisses. He felt he had to, all along the streets masses of people gathered. They shouted their messages, or held up signs. Some threw roses. Actually many roses were being thrown from windows above as well as petals alone.

      Claudia made a small cry of pain and John quickly turned to see her swatting falling roses from her face. "This is what we get for naming things 'of thorns'" Claudia complained. A rose thorn had pricked her finger and it bled.

      John looked out at the crowds. He could read many of the signs, the letters being large enough and the language known, but there were some he did not even understand, so many different people were there. One sign urged people to vote John the next leader of their United States. Others showed that they declared themselves Goth or wanted others to do the same. There were the signs that simply professed love. A number of signs were directed at Claudia alone. They wished to say she was beautiful or that they were with her. John even saw a sign that said in German that those holding it were cousins to Claudia's biological parents.

      John wondered if that could be true. Claudia had been adopted by Louis when she was very young, but laws allowed her to know that she had been born in Berlin, that her birth certificate showed her name to be Claudia Klein and that she was classified as fully Human without known genetic predisposition to disease. It might be possible that someone in Berlin knew who had offered her for adoption and was really a blood relative.

      "Distant. I think it tasteless that they announce themselves in this manner," Claudia said. No doubt she had seen the same sign. She continued smiling and waving.

      John looked to the other side of the car. More shouts and signs, more gifts thrown toward the car and lifted by members of the tribe who chose to walk the parade route and work the crowd. Another sign said Germany should be declared Goth.

      Signs were held that did not direct any message to the Goth but to the politicians in the parade, or viewing footage in their home. Several said they wished their sons and daughters in the Darkling Guard to come home. Many told Russia to get out of Poland and Germany.

      As they reached the end of the designated route, the band and other paraders moved to the sides of the road as the Goth moved between them and continued out of the metropolitan area. Here a few cars tried to pace them, passengers hanging out windows waving and smiling.  The presidents were surrounded by their guards and swept away to more secure environs. John leaned back and closed his eyes. He was somewhat glad to be leaving.

                      †               †               †

      They arrived in Leipzig several days after leaving Berlin, having travelled slowly, stopping often to rest or visit towns on the way. They had grown. The tribe was now much more than ten thousand, like a small city. If each Elder considered themselves responsible for the needs of a thousand there would still be members of their tribe with no one to turn to.

      Now, it was important that the newest members contribute by bringing or purchasing all they would need for the trip. There was no way the longer established members of the tribe could afford to provide entirely for them. Vehicles were needed, sleeping places, food.

      Now, everyone who was an Elder had to spend part of the day settling small disputes between members of the tribe. Even Miko was busy explaining to newlings older than himself how each smaller unit within the tribe had to be formed around doing chores in turns. Some units were five, others 200. All units shared chores among their number, cooked, cleaned, tended animals, crafted needed equipment or purchased it, drove, watched, gathered, hunted...anything that needed to be done.

      Claudia belonged to the oldest unit, that made up of all in their tribal government plus relations. This unit had within it sub-units. Many Guardsmen and Maidens ate together and traded clothes among themselves, took their turns on watch, hunting or driving. The techs kept house together, likewise cooked for each other, shared clothes and beds, assisted each other in their specialized duties. Those quite young, Maureen, Greta, and Alaric among them, could not do many chores and so they needed others to take turns in caring for them. This task often fell to the slightly older children when they were not otherwise doing chores. The Elders mainly shared all their meals, inviting guards or other close friends and helper that did not have a unit otherwise.

      Sammy was one of the members of the older unit, a former member of the Egypt Guard who had not boarded the plane with the others. He now wore the beret of the guardsmen and trained his fellow guard as he had been trained in the style of martial arts practiced by the EG. He often helped with hunts, and he took his turns with others cooking or washing. Sammy slept on a couch in the RV belonging to Elzbieta and Justin and was often standing over Elzbieta as if guarding her when he was not really on duty.

      Quentin as well was clearly part of their unit, though most of the artisans expert in crafting antique goods of excellent quality which had come from all parts of Europe to the Goth via the festival in Hamburg kept a unit among themselves. He slept in his truck and when he was not on watch or doing other chores he was in his truck crafting metalworks.

      Gerhard also had assimilated his team into their unit by their proximity and now could hold interviews over breakfast or lunch as well as cook.

      Some had given their units within the tribe names. Those of the craftspeople were called the artisGoths. Another small unit was called bonoGoths. The entire group of techs were sometimes netGoths.

                      †               †               †

      Camping southeast of Leizig proper, the Goth would be the first to encounter any Russian troops. As they had come through the city, the Elders had stopped to check with locals, that is to ask where an acceptible campsite could be found and what merchants stocked foodstuffs or textiles. Claudia had asked if there were any local businesses that manfactured computers. No one knew of any current companies like Claudia mentioned. Their largest industry was in media production, books, and zines as well as all manner of electronic media.

      That was what it seemed every other store sold, antique books, used media, video media, audio media, outdated format media and players, children's media, religious media...the list went on and on. As well there were the staples of every city, libraries, school offices, hospital, small museums, churches. There were enough well stocked grocers to supply them with food so long as they had money, supplies were not short here as they were in Poland.

      After settling in and making camp, Claudia took her mobile and walked about the city. There were locals but now everywhere she looked there were her own people, the Goth. Newlings were walked about accompanied by more experienced members of the tribe, taught to be courteous and respect local rules always. She saw Miko leading a small army of children all holding stacks of printed flyers.

      This was another of their projects. As Leipzig had been known in the past for political demonstration and more liberal thinking, it had been decided to print up a flyer listing things common citizens could do to help bring peace. For example, taking in the refugees that continued to come from the East. Another way to help was to spread the word about injustices witnessed so that responsible parties could be targeted and avoided. Generally, continuing to support local business while avoiding purchase of products that might give funds to a war effort.

      The children would ask permission to place the flyers in public areas so that all might see them.

      Claudia visited the technical media stores and shops selling electronic devices of which there were a few. She wondered who Michael had found. Someone would know to contact her though Claudia had no idea who it would be.

                      †               †               †

       The answer to Claudia's questions presented himself as she was sitting drinking coffee with Merideth inside a café. Little Alaric was sitting up uneasyily atop their table trying to grab hold of the many colored lengths of cable just sticking out of the opening of Claudia's satchel. "Nein," Merideth said to the baby, "Nein, Alaric. Claudia's." Claudia drank some of her café au lait as she folded the flap over the satchel's opening with one hand.

      "It's just optic cable, I could spare a piece if he wants to chew on it."

      "But then Alaric would think he could always chew on cable, I don't think he's at the age where he can understand possession entirely. Besides, he might get the idea to chew on one that's plugged in."

      "I suppose that's right." Claudia looked at the little boy dressed in infant coverall decorated with cute dragons. "Who is our smart little boy?" she asked in babytalk, "Kleiner Alaric, ja? Un Petit Alaric. Oui, c'est vous. Alaric. I see you."

      Claudia sat back then, sipped from her cup. She saw there was an older man at the counter picking up one of their flyers to read. He looked up then across the room directly to Claudia. "I wonder what this one will say," she said.

      "You must get used to it. Now people are even recognizing me," Merideth said. She moved Alaric to her shoulder and rubbed his back.

      Claudia looked up over the room. The man was moving toward them, gray-haired and walking with a cane. He wore a black trenchcoat and darkly tinted glasses. He stopped right at their table. "Hello, Quick," he said and sounded very much Russian.

      Claudia dug her nails into her palm, "Que?" she asked.

      The older man smiled and looked right at her. "You are Michael's protégé," he said, "Lady Claudia. You may call me Romeo."

      Could he be? He knew she was Claudia as well as Quick. He knew of Michael. He could be sent to her. But why Romeo? Claudia wondered if this was the legendary one. "Romeo? Not...?" Claudia began.

      "Yes," Romeo said before she could say the full name, even though it was not his real name, not here. "My legend still lives then." He looked at Merideth.

      "This is Lady Merideth," Claudia managed to say.

      "Yes. I suspect she is Quick's newbie Iris. Merideth does hold the camera and have a lovely eye. Really, it's so dangerous you hosting the site and posting information about your tribe's members. Anyone with half a mind to it can figure who all the Berlin Computer Gang are by watching who you give double thanks to for tech work, besides they all dress alike. And the even more new Robot Dan? The most clever one among them is Sly's little girl and he doesn't have much to say about her these days. But Mickey says you need help and it's for a good cause...so, how may I help?"

      Claudia drew in a long breath. She really should have expected this. An older hacker, very old school, could not allow themselves to give credit to the new, even though all old hackers had once been new. He could not give them credit for being self-trained but had to mention their teachers. And of course he probably knew very well what BCG was meant to stand for even though the BCG did not tell people. Claudia knew one thing: they did not like to be called Berlin Computer Gang. "Shall we go to my camp?" Claudia asked.

      "Very well, Madmoiselle."

      †               †               †

      Claudia led Romeo into camp where Ceci and Sammy were on watch. The girl had acquired a certain animal awareness since joining the Maidens and almost seemed to sniff at the stranger. "This is Romeo, just a visitor," Claudia told them. She led Romeo around the long way knowing Merideth would be rushing to prepare the others. Claudia wanted Romeo to know no more than he had to about what they did.

      They came to the crew trailer and Sascha's RV was actually alongside it, forming a sort of alleyway in which the crew stood with Merideth now with them. She seemed to have gathered them all quickly and they stood looking as pretentious as they could, measuring the visitor.

      "This is Romeo Tulle," Claudia said to the group, "It's the name he gives me."

      "Let me guess," Romeo said smugly. "He looked over the group quickly. "Well e to the i ? equals negative one and that has to be the tall dark one," Romeo said of Marcus. "Three in one makes a Trinity and I do believe this pretty blonde must be it. Of course either way you write it NEO is the ONE and who else would be on Trinity's arm? Oh, and who else is there? Dose, playfully spelled Spanish for the numeral that stands for two. And who is greater than all these numbers. Miss Cherry Pi herself with the sexy red hair."

      Sascha raised her eyebrows silently and the others kept poker faces.

      Romeo started in on the Robot Dan then. "Obvious that this kid here is Robot, net defender of pretty girls and not so well built as the machines he pretends at being. I know about you, Nevermore, learned most of what you know at a very young age from the one we call Sly. Morbid reference to what Poe's raven says, he also wrote a poem named Leonore. Of course Helen launched a thousand ships and the sea men filled a horse in Troy where Helen lay. And Generic Guy is just that, the other one in Team Robot. And who might the little one here be? Well as Quick's photographer friend is Iris you must be the Pupil."

      Miko pressed his lips to each other and rolled his eyes in effort to not burst out.

      "All right Romeo," Robbie said, "You sure got us, but let us show you how homework is done."

      "Roman Uly Tchaikov," Sascha said.

      "Russian national," Marcus added.

      "Legendary Tragic Lover of the Net, Romeo Tulle," Miko said with a smile.

      "Arrested in 2142 for alleged launch of the Juliet's Spiral virus," Melitta said.

      "But never tried due to mysterious lack of evidence," Marek said sharply.

      "Went corperate two years later working for Russian goverment contracting firm Technovia in security," Helena sang.

      "Asked to resign, but given large settlement in 2158,"Robbie said.

      "Emigrated to Germany 2159 and founded Nuovotech in 2160, in Leipzig," Sascha added.

      "In the business of building custom machines," Leonore said, "But much of German market goes to standard machines and the entire custom computer market is not that big for Europe and America or Japan already dominate other countries markets. In few words, you are not really doing that well. And if I may add, Roman, much like Sly, you may be a technical guru of some kind, but you don't know a thing about women. These kids here," she said with gesture to all the male members of their crew, "treat a girl well and still manage to work out some heavy technical stuff."

      Romeo brushed a hand through his spiky gray hair and grinned. "Perhaps mentioning Sly was not such a good idea at all, Leonore."

      "Damn Right!" Leonore said, "now do you still have your factory and if so can we use it and any contacts you have to build a large number of cookie cutter machines to our specifications?"

      "OK, you do good work," Romeo admitted, "But it is my company. What's your scheme?"

      "Let's go in the RV. It's more comfortable," Sascha suggested.

      Claudia gave a nod, was so very proud of all the crew. Based on knowing they would meet someone in Leipzig they had dug all that up before knowing who their contact really was. She went last into the RV and shut the door.

      Romeo was seated in a chair, Marcus asking if he would like a coffee drink. Claudia stood, put her things down on the floor. Jayne and Erik climbed up behind her to their loft rather than make room on the floor.

      "Our scheme, Romeo, is to knock out as many cookie cutter machines as possible. I mean as many as we can afford to make with no profits made and as cheaply as possible. We have a limited amount of funds we can appropriate. And once these machines are off the assembly line we mean to send them to the households of all high ranking officers in the EL armies and then if we have more go on down the ranks. We want to put in their children's reach the information that will make the men cringe when their wives and kids ask how they can be so evil? We want peace through truth. We want freedom of information."

      "IT terroism?"

      "Pretty much."

      "And you need what exactly?"  Romeo asked.

      "Suppliers of raw materials at cost. An assembly line. And that's pretty much it. We do the rest. Oh, and it would be helpful to acquire the mobile line addresses of the machines we send out. To keep track."

      "Risky," Romeo said.

      "But you can do it, with us," Claudia told him.

      Romeo nodded. "It can all be done. You have the addresses of the houses you want to send to?"

      "In the process of compiling and finding them," Robbie said. "Marcus and Leonore are working out the final schem of the machines we would build, from all our input. A bunch of us are getting the destinations. Sascha is mainly working on the software to be included with various help from the rest of us who program. Claudia is running things."

      "Yes," said Claudia. "We require your full cooperation. And we need any contacts you have for suppliers, especially old black crafters who can get you stuff cheap or free. But it has to be of good working quality. This isn't a profit scam."

      Romeo nodded. "You have this well planed for the most part. What were you thinking on doing for processors?"

      "Do you have a lab?" Claudia asked.

      "There is a lab and robots, but it has not been used at all since the factory was retooled. You'd be better getting someone who has a new processor and wants it tested out, free advertisment? Or maybe someone who wants to design processors but hasn't had a chance, needs to have a product to show so they can get work."

      "Exactly, we need anyone with reasons to work without getting cash in reward," Claudia said.

      "My company gets credit. The logo goes out on every machine."

      "Agreed," Claudia said.

      "I think I can find us processors, but it will take time to know for sure."

      Claudia nodded. "Get on it. If you show us to your factory we can get started."

                      †               †               †

      Three days John had not seen Claudia at all. Merideth had only been seen when feeding Alric or putting him down to sleep. Half the Elders were missing and so John was kept busy settling small disputes. Most were based on those whose turn it had been to do a certain chore and that person being missing. Even a number of the Guard were gone, mostly the Maidens but Quentin was gone as well. The two vehicles Cladia might have visitied or slept in were vacant of all their occupants and much of their gear.

      It was afternoon, still early enough in the year that it would be dark in a few hours. John walked about camp. Still ten thousand but the small number gone missing was noticable, gone in chunks from familiar units. A number of artisGoths were gone with Quentin.

      John made a walk around and back to his own unit. He kncked at Elzbieta's RV. Adelle came to the door. "Where are they all, Adelle?" John asked her in Polish. Elzbieta appeared behind her, holding Alaric and showing now that she was pregnant.

      "We don't know exactly," Elzbieta answered for them in same language, "Merideth left Alaric with me."

      "Patrick is with them. Spoke of the office. And they are all dressed strangely, the crew, as Claudia calls them."

      "Office?" John asked, "How did you see them dressed, Ady?"

      Adelle hesitated. "Well, not like Goth. No seconds, no military uniform, no antique styles...like the latest fashions."

      "John," Elzbieta called, "We haven't seen Claudia if that is why you ask, but I'm sure it is her doing, not any...well they are not lost or in danger, only doing something secret."

      John gave a nod. There was not a thing he owned that was not custom made to look antique and old fashioned or else part of a military uniform dyed to red or black. But if all the crew were gone with her they would not see him take clothes belonging to Marcus or Marek, and some of theirs might fit.

      John left the women without another word and made his way back to the side-by-side trailer and RV. A few minutes digging about between trailer, RV and van and John thought he had the disguise correct. The latest fashion called for one layer to be of thin synthetic fabric in garment that clung to the forms of the body. John found Marcus had leggings and tee of very dark blue that would do. Now John was fairly sure that depending on climate there might be a sheer transparent layer somewhat looser than the first and often shorter than what was worn with it, or else if colder a seemingly thick knit garment of natural fibers. John was able to find a gray sweater that might have been Cyprian's to wear that had been folded neatly with matching socks. Now lastly, John needed a cinching outer garment. This he also found in Marcus' drawer, a black vest that was really combination of waist cincher and suspenders with dangling garter straps but clearly a men's outer garment from its fabric and sizeing. Finally there was the shoes, rather than full boots the more fashionable civilians would wear something that was neither beach sandle nor athlete's shoe but combined forms and materials of both with the height of a riding boot, or perhaps more acurately the ancient Roman footwear they had been inspired by.

      The clothing felt unnatural to John. He felt naked in parts and restrained in others, but he was certain he wore the disguise correctly. He wet his hair from a bucket of melted snow outside and combed it flat with neat part as he walked. He took Alric's bicycle down to ride.

      From there, it was simply following the tracks at the perimeter of camp until enough led off in the same direction. They had gone east. John rode along the road without sign and as he was about to turn back he saw figures ahead. He sped slightly and then seeing it was a grouping of Russian soldiers camped John almost braked hard enough to flip from the cycle. 

      "You, where are you going?" One of them asked in German.

      "To the office," John answered slowly.

      Another soldier tapped the first on a shoulder and said something John could not hear. "Another from Nuovotech?" the first asked.

      John nodded.

      "All right, move along, stay on the road, move straight through."

      Another nod and then John peddled back up to speed. The costumes must be to pass the soldiers, he thought. But why risk being recognized to go to the offices of some company called Nouvotech? It sounded Russian to him.

      John cycled directly through their small camp, keeping to the road as directed. He peddled hard after leaving the soldiers behind and soon found an industrial park that seemed very much abandoned. Even though Germany was better off than other parts of Europe it still had many technology and industry companies that had long been out of business or bankrupt by the vast outnumbering of consumers to skilled workers that had collapsed the industries. Now those skilled workers had passed on and not trained others, so teachers in these fields were short and the entire cycle of progress was stalled.

      John saw some vehicles near one of the buildings. He cycled over the asphalt cracked and broken by weeds toward the building. He saw a logo and the name Nouvotech and between the spelling and the Cyrillic letters within the logo he knew it had to be owned by Russians.

      The door here was locked and John abandoned the bicycle and walked around the building until he came to the next door. There was a wide lobby being dusted and cleaned by a girl in everyday civilian garb. She spoke into a headset as she turned. "Mute...can I—" It was Ceci and she recognized him. "Unmute," she said, "You have a visitor."

      Ceci stood still, listening to instructions. She used the affirmative several times. Then looked up to John. "She's in a meeting, Sir, may I offer you a beverage while you wait?"

      "Who is she in a meeting with?" John asked.

      "Suppliers, sir," Ceci said, seemed afraid to move her feet.

      "You better call someone else to explain all this, Ceci." John frowned at her, folded his arms across his chest.

      "I'll have to go now, CK," she said and then "off." Ceci moved to the reception desk, behind it and appeared to be looking something up. Only moments passed before an interior door opened and John saw Anna walk out.

      Anna also wore business attire but she had a stunner on her belt. "Come with me," she said, the trained authoritative tone evident in her voice. She keyed the pad near the door and it unlocked again. Anna held it in wait. John dropped his arms and walked through the door.

      "I apologize for the subterfuge. Did you pass the soldiers all right?"

      "Yes."

      "It's important to Claudia and her project that no one realize the Goth are involved. Not only did we need to pass the soldiers but the suppliers and distributers can't know they are working with the Goth. So it was better no more of the tribe than necessary know what was going on...so they could not give us away accidentally."

      "What is her project, and how did we get control of these offices?" John asked.

      "We thought you knew," Anna said slowly. She stopped, the section of hall just like the rest, occasional pieces of inexpensive art reproductions or large run prints interspersed with articles featuring the company, walls all neutral toned. "Claudia said you knew."

      "Knew what?" John asked.

      "About the propaganda tactics. About finding a way to bring news to Russians who might take support from either the Pope's or the military's reasoning for the war."

      "Oh," John said. He had known, just not the details. "Is that what this is then? I didn't know the details of the plan."

      Anna smiled, more comfortable not being placed between John and Claudia. "Yes. It involves the building of small computers, but I am here to play the part of company security agent. Leonore could tell you more." Anna gestured ahead.

      They passed through another door, this one transparent and nearly like real glass. Another section of hallway and then several turns through a large bay of cubicles into a brightly lit room. There was real glass here and John could see the room beyong the small glass chamber was likewise brightly lit. There were computers there, business machines without decorative casing, cables and wires exposed. The floors were raised above the rest of the office's, likely to allow for more cables to be run.  On the right, there was another wall of glass leading to room of clean white walls that John could not see more of.

      Anna touched a button on their wall and spoke, "Leonore? John is here. Can you come speak to him?"

      Leonore's voice came from a small speaker set in the glass of the wall. "I'll be right out." John saw her move from the furthest room in some manner of protective clothing.  Leonore stood right outside the door she had come through and removed these, gown hat gloves and mask of pale fibrous material.

      She came to the door between them then, her own clothes but looking like a technician who worked in such offices, so far as John could tell. Leonore opened the door and came out. She smiled. "Found us did you?" she said more as a joke with herself than a question. "I'll take him, Anna, thanks."

      Anna gave a nod and returned the way they had come. Leonore led John through the cubicle bay and then into a lounge where seats tables and couches of neutral tones sat between counters, cabinets and kitchen appliances. Leonore opened the refrigerator and offered John a bottled soda.

      John took the cola and opened it. Leonore was sitting down at a table and he took the seat across from her. "She thought you would eventually find your way over."

      "Why didn't she just tell me the details?"

      Leonore shrugged, "maybe Claudia wanted to see if you would find her. She'll be pleased really. You shouldn't bother her here, though. You're face is even more recognizable."

      "Maybe."

      "She's well disguised and turns out to be good at acting when she's got enough known people about for support."

      "Why aren't you with them?" John asked and sipped cola.

      Leonore shook her head, "They need to work with some people I knew. I'd rather not see them. They will do what Claudia needs all right and are skilled, just not the kind of people I want any personal relationship with."

      John nodded, "It's all right the tribe does business with them?"

      Leonore shrugged, "They have the needed skills and replacements would be too hard to find, no, I'll just have to avoid him."

      John nodded, "Him," he repeated.

      "You have one of those? I only know there was something that went bad with that Nephillim Spawn, Velvet?"

      "Maybe, what did yours do?" John asked.

      "I wouldn't want everyone to know," Leonore said cautiously, "But it might help you understand, and you have always been honest with all of us about yourself."

      John nodded, "You don't have to tell me."

      "Before I moved to Warsaw," Leonore began quickly, "I had left my parents house after some differences with them and I stayed with various friends when I could, or found places to sleep. I managed to work some so I had a little money. I was into the clubs. So I met Sly there. He did teach me a lot of technical stuff, generally introduced me to texts and sources I might not have found on my own so fast, so that I was then self-trained quite young. Most people didn't have computers and if they did they were really old and since the decline caused so many networks and ISPs to go under or degrade even if you had one you couldn't always link to anything, and to learn there were ways, even if illegal or obscure, that you could have a computer and get it to traverse this labryinth of phone lines, radio antenaes and ancient satellites and connect to a system at MIT or Stanford...it seemed the best thing that ever happened to me, but apart from that, the good teaching part of what he did, we lived together, and I really thought that I loved him and we would get married...but he just stopped feeling the same, talked about being with other people. Started picking on me for stupid reasons. I got so messed up, convinced I was at fault that I left. Really I guess he had made me leave, acted in a way that I would leave so that he wouldn't have to be the one to break things off, so I would feel it was my own doing when I missed him, or missed what he had been like. It was all pretty bad. I somehow managed to get my head straight enough to move to Warsaw. They were desperate enough to find skilled workers to stay in business that my age didn't matter they actually helped me fake legal working status on my ID."

      "How old were you when you moved?"

      "I'm seventeen now. I was just going to turn sixteen."

      "And you...?"

      "Yeah, had been with Sly for over a year before that...and he was much older."

      "And he was with you, when you were fourteen?"

      "I was big enough to claim I was sixteen and when he offered me a place to stay I sort of felt I should do it. Believe me, I know what you are thinking. I don't much like to think of it now either. It was all a horrible mistake, and I wish I could have all that time back, to never have believed it was love."

      John sighed. "If it makes you feel any better I do have one of those, I actually have one story that's worse."

      "Can I just pretend it's very much what happened to me and you don't tell me details?" Leonore asked.

      "Sure, if you like. It's not that I like telling it, but you told me."

      "That's the mistake there," Leonore said, "feeling obligated to give something because another gave to you. Things given rather than earned or purchased are supposed to be free, or else it's not giving. Exchanging gifts is nice, but really has to be done willingly on both parts."

      John nodded. "You sound like you won't let it happen again. That's better than getting caught up and letting it continue."

      "I suppose. I've known of people who were like that, lived out a mistake. I'm not sad now even though I have regrets. Really, John, I had Robbie and Helena as good friends before I left Warsaw, they were great to me, but now I have the tribe. I can't speak for others obviously, but for me, I have never been happier than working to help the tribe. I really feel I belong. Corny?"

      John shook his head. "I supposed we can push that touchy-feely line, but at least it is meant sincerely and freely. I'd rather be thought a bit weird and corny for talking about having real love than be lonely ever, cold..." Those were things Joy had promised, but it had not been she that gave them. Perhaps the tribe was really good for people. "I was just thinking that some of the things Velvet promised she could give I only found after the tribe was formed. I'm glad it helped you. Even if it was only you and me that found somewhere to belong it might be worth it, but I think it's many more."

      Leonore giggled. "Happy thought," she explained.  She looked over John's clothing, he did not think it was his body particularly. "You may as well go back to camp. The rest of us have work here and Claudia is busy."

      John nodded but he knew he wouldn't leave yet, even if Leonore wouldn't help. "Couldn't I just see her?  Look at her from somewhere, carry a serving try into the room?"

      Leonore's face melted to a smile and she nodded. "Let's go," she said. "They are upstairs over looking the assembly line."

      They walked to the stairs as Leonore explained there was a single working elevator and they only used it with suppliers. The upper hall was much like the lower, same color scheme and type of decorations. Here and there John saw Goth in business clothing, some as he was dressed and others in actual suits. David had owned similar suits, they'd been cutting edge fashion then.  These also had short sleeved jackets though the shirts beneath were long. Often shirt tails were cut into neat shapes and worn with jackets with complementary lines.

      "She should be right over here," Leonore said. The large room she pointed out had a door and window of glass-like acrylic and the blinds that lent privacy were not entirely closed on the door.

      John peered into the room. He did not recognize particular faces at first but saw an oblong table and wide transparent pane overlooking a large room of which he could only see rafters and tips of machinery. A gray-haired man and woman dressed in red were speaking to those assembled; John noticed then the woman was Claudia.

      Her hair was pulled up in style John had never seen her bother with, the ends gathered in a net. She wore a dress that was clingy, gray, and low at the neckline. Over that Claudia wore a bright red jacket with some manner of reinforcing along the waist and ribs sewn into it. "Ah, no one's even going to see her face," John sighed, sadly perhaps. Between the absolute flimsiness of the dress and the corset-jacket fastened just below her breasts he wanted to cover her in something.

      "Maybe you shouldn't have seen?" Leonore questioned.

      Claudy. She was moving about the table, the dress hardly falling to her thighs and the heeled shoes threw the curves of her body so that John felt bad looking. Claudia was beautiful and here she was still beautiful only she now looked she was trying to show it. The trying to show her gifts, that wasn't Claudia. Kewl tinted glasses and bright lipstick besides...John knew no one could have talked her into it. Claudy must have known that someone would have to use distraction to their advantage and the majority of these suppliers were male. She would never have made someone else do it.

      "She had to do it. It's only clothes. Just go back to camp. I'll try to get her to go back and see you."

      John moved away from the window and looked again to Leonore. "How long will this project take?"

      Her expression said he wouldn't like it. "We need to go into production, it could be months. It depends how fast we get the supplies and get the first machines built. It's possible Roman could carry on part of it without us. He wants a chance to start up production again."

      "But Claudia...all of you only have to dress up and act so long as there are these suppliers coming around? They'll be gone before soon?"

      Leonore nodded. "That's true. That part won't have to go on very long." She smiled now. "We'll still need a crew of some sort until the line is seen to work and the first machines are tested. Then Claudia has to find distributors."

      "Distributors? You mean to deliver right to the houses of..."

      Leonore shook her head. "To aid in the purpose of the machines being build and delivered hidden Roman will have records enough to show some other group paid him for the machines. He will be the innocent manufacturer. Most likely someone in the Metro Noir will help Claudia with setting up the purchase records and going through a shipping company. A legitimate shipping company without knowledge of the plot will deliver the machines."

      "And then we'll be done here?"

      "Yes, here," Lenore said.