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Time Enough (Lady Nightshade and Mr. M)

Well there was one thing she didn't want to do. That was leave with someone that supposadly knew her and was her " partner". Her wound was also still healing and if she left the place would be in an uproar.

"I guess I could stay."

Jowe seemed to look upset, or relieved. She couldn't decipher which. As tired as she was, thing would be better when she slept.

"I'm too tired to move around anyway."
 
Joe did look a little uncomfortable at that. "Yeah, well... some of that is going to be the memory enhancers settling in. The good news is that you've got eidetic memory, now; you'll never forget any detail you pay attention to, and most that were just happening in the background. It's a requirement when you jump around timelines; you have to remember things that were said, clues you learned, etc. So the little nanites help with that."

"Now, in the morning, just ask for your manservant. That's my cover, here. I'll fill you in on what has happened in the realtime backflow, so you'll be better grounded when you're dealing with Michael and the others. You'll be fully adjusted by then, so you'll be able to keep all of it straight. And I patched your wound, but it'll still be better with a good night's sleep." He stood, and moved to the window, then paused and looked back at her.

"You know, I remember when I was first recruited. It was 'for aptitude, unusual mind-set, and eyecandy,' I was told." He chuckled. "Well, that last was mostly a joke. But I remember the feelings I had, mostly because the memory enhancers were the first things I got. The nervousness, the outright fear of what might happen... but also the excitement. In a lot of ways, Athena, I envy your first few steps into this world, into this life. There's nothing like it, and you're going to be exploring it all for the first time."

He grinned at her, then without preamble grabbed the windowsill and hopped out. She didn't hear a scream or a crash or anything, so he must have gotten away clean.
 
Sleep had claimed her only moments after Joe had left. Thankfully, it was nothing bu blessed nothingness. So it was when the sun creapt up onto her face did she wake. At first, Athena lay there thinking eveything was just a dream. It was the sown of horses and swords clanging that the memories flooded back.

"Wonderfull.."


Streaching, she sat up. Wincing at the pain from the wound. As if on que, there was a knock on the door and the Nurse came in with bandages to change them out.

"Good to see you're awake My Lady."


Athena didn't say anything as she was helped out of the bed and the bandages changed. It stung, but nothing worse for wear. The Nurse hummed a soft tune and she thought it vaguly familiar.

"Michael will be here in a moment to see you my dear. He is very worried over you. I had to beat him over the head with a broom to get him to stay away last night I did. Said you needed your rest." She chuckled and Athena couldnt' help but chuckle herself. "Now for something appropiate for you. The clothing you came here in is strange, but ruined I am afarid." She hummed again, telling her not to get up as she swooped out of the room like a busy honey bee. Onlymoments later to return with a light shade of blue clothing. A dress. Ok, shoot me now. I hate being in those...
 
Despite her dislike of the dress, she had nothing else to wear. Nurse assured her that there were no other options that befitted her station or her gender; it was either this dress or a fancier, frou-frou-ier one, and Nurse had remembered how much Athena appreciated simplicity.

After she'd laid out the clothes, Nurse left Athena alone with her thoughts to do her usual morning routine and get dressed. Nurse had said the wound was much healed, and complimented her on having God's grace. It was very much healed, moreso than a simple antiseptic and liquid bandage would have accounted for. She started to wonder what was in that spray that Joe had used on her.

Ah, Joe. A whole different set of concerns. Could she believe what he'd told her? The evidence he'd shown was compelling; some kind of functional and lifelike artificial arm that held little tools he could use, holographic projectors mounted invisibly into his eyesockets? She'd seen that with her own eyes, and up-close. Even now, she could remember it crisply and with high-definition detail, unusual for her memories, although it seemed many of them were coming into sharper focus. Regardless, it was a clear indication that at least some of what he'd told her was accurate.

But what could she do about it? She had no idea what to expect, what her purpose here was. Joe had said he would tell her more today. about her "job" and the local situation, if she would summon him as her manservant, but he wasn't the one waiting outside her door; that was the knight, Michael, who was part of the local situation and also apparently adored her. She knew she'd have to deal with both of them, but which should be first? Decisions, decisions...
 
Her answer came in the form of a knock at her door. Athena stood and went over to the door and opened it. Miachel was standing there with a smile on his face. A tray of food was in his hands filled with fruit and cheeses. It made her stomach growl loud enough that he could hear it. When was the last time she had eaten?

"Uh.. Good morning Michael."


Stepping back intot he room she knew he was following her. The door shut with a gentle click as she turned to get a better look at him. This time, he was not wearing any armor. The clothing was not that of a pesant either, but of royalty. He was draped in a red/burgandy tunic with gold trim and black pants with matching boots. Now that she had slept, she blushed and felt her heart skip. He really was handsome.
 
"Good morning, Lady Athena. I hope you're feeling better. You look lovely!" He set the tray on one of the tables at the side of the room. He seemed shy today, or awkward, but still quite happy to see her. The way he gazed at her... it would make any young woman melt.

"I wanted to let you know, we dealt with all of those bandits. Their camp was right where you had told me it was in your letter. But the last thing I expected was to see you there! I thought you had returned to Cornwall -- that's what Joseph told us. We weren't sure why you would leave your manservant behind, but he told us you planned to return. If only you'd sent word ahead, I would have arranged for an escort and none of this would have happened!"

He moved closer to her, his arms half-raising as if he wanted to embrace her, but stopped himself. "I'm just glad you're safe now."
 
Letter? What Letter? Making a mental note to ask Joe later on she nodded in argreement to Michael. She still didn't know why he and others were calling her Lady Athena. Joe never went over what status she was here. Obviously it wasn't a low status, but she probably wasn't a princess either. At least she thought that.

"I don't need to have someone following me around."

That was partly true, and if she did everything as he said; it wouldn't had mattered. Still, everything was playing over and over in her mind that she had learned. It was the look in Michael's eyes that made her stop. The smile made her knees feel wobbly and she made the move and hugged him. Athena still wasn't sure of why she was here, but when his arms came around her in a protective embrace, nothing else mattered.

"I am here now, and safe Michael."

Her face turned up to look him. Their faces were suddenly oh so very close and it didn't bother her a bit. Only a light pink blush came across her face as she waited.
 
As she came close, his arms automatically completed what they'd hesitated to do before, and embraced her. Then she turned her face toward him, and it was like his breath was taken away. His eyes smoldered with the emotion he was keeping in check, and he only half-moved toward her when she met his eyes...

And then he was kissing her, his lips warm and soft and yet firm, pressing against hers, slightly parted, as he hugged her close, drawing her against his muscular chest, his arms strong and quietly urgent as the held her in the kiss, hands spread against her back.
 
It was her first kiss with Michael as far as she was concerned. He was soft, gentle and so much more as a shiver rolled down her spine. Normaly, she never had much intrest in men or dating. Now, it made more sense to her as she was in the wrong time period. He was strong, muscled and she felt safe. Her heart beat quickened its pace. Beating rapidly against her breast when the kiss broke.

"Michael.."


Athena started to say something when a hand came sliding up from her back. She shivered, but didn't look away from him. His eyes had her transfixed. She felt as if she was falling into them, wrapped in a blanket of warmth, comfort and saftey. His hand then gently ran up across her chest. A light brush of the hand before cupping the side of her face and pulling her as close as humanly possible for another kiss. Once more, she was brought to a place where she felt that this was right and thus deepend the kiss. Parting her lips to tease her tongue over his lips at an invitation for more.
 
His mouth opened onto hers, his tongue flickering against hers, as his fingers slid through her hair, gently cupping the back of her head. He leaned forward just slightly, bowing her back a bit, but supporting her fully with his strong arms. She felt simultaneously vulnerable and completely safe and secure, and more. Oh, so much more. Her roiling emotions were pitched even higher when she was pressed against him and could feel his irrepressible male reaction to the nearness of her body. Perhaps that wasn't something she'd thought about much, either, but the evidence was unmistakable now, and it seemed as though it was soon to be...

There was a light rapping on the door, and someone lifted the latch. "Are you there, my Lady?" It was Joe's voice, but sounding entirely more subservient than he had last night. His accent also matched the surroundings... reasonably well, at least. She could still hear a bit of Minnesota nasal in some of his vowels, but otherwise, he was doing a good impersonation of a local.

"My lady, there are some matters of our home kingdom that..." he stopped as he entered, blinking at Michael as the knight hurriedly released Athena and stepped back a pace, looking embarrassed to be caught kissing. "Why, Sir Michael, whatever are YOU doing here?" The delivery was so stilted, so much like a sit-com, Athena was certain Joe had known all along that Michael was there, and was only putting on the surprise.
 
Her face was flushed to a deep red crimson that nearly matched Michael's tunic. Then, she was mad that Joe had intrupted her on a moment she hadn't been in for a very long time. Her heart was still pounding and she still wanted to be alone with the Knight. Even if the mood was broken for now, she still wanted his company.

"I asked him to be here."

Athena replied to keep Michael from saying anything. With the mood broken, her head was much clearer, but she stepped close to the Knight and brushed her fingers against his. Joe couldn't see what she was doing, but the look in his eyes told her diffrently. He would play the game for now as she stayed by Michael's side.

"What business?"

Athena asked and arched an eye at the word of ' Home kingdom'. Now she wanted to know exactly who she was here and why Michael had moved away from kissing her. The most likley was that it was for her.

"I was just going to ask Michael how we had met. I remember ,but I wanted to hear it from him."

She then looked up and smiled lovengly at him. There was somethign about him that clicked.Making it feel right as things became more clear.
 
Joe just blinked innocently, eyebrows high, as if he didn't really think there was anything going on, just surprised to see Michael there. "Ah, I see. Very well, milady." He stepped to the side of the doorway, his back against the wall, playing the role of the good servant.

"By all means, milady, Sir Michael, please continue. I can give milady the news in private at leisure." There was perhaps the ghost of a smirk on his face, but he affected a show of bored indifference.

Michael, on the other hand, smiled shyly when she mentioned how they had met. "Ah, yes. I shall not forget the day. It was the evening when you and your manservant appeared at the gate. With my father ill in bed, it was up to me to take stock of the newcomers. I remember being... taken aback by your self-possession, the way you were just so confident. It was... entirely new, to me. I have since grown to cherish that quality in you, my lady. That's also when you gave your first information to me, about a bandit ambush of the supplies wagon coming the next day to restock the fort, here. You even sent your skilled manservant to accompany us in our endeavor," Michael looked up at Joe, smiling, and Joe just modestly ducked his head.

"But that first night... I remember the torchlight on your hair, the sparkle in your eyes as I supped with you, refreshment after your long journey. I thin I was already beginning to fall for you, my lady." And he lifted her hand in his and kissed her knuckles, all courtly.
 
Athena smiled and courty blushed as they made it slowly down the steps. The way he described her was , well, magic. Though partly down the stairs she had mis-stepped and begain to fall when Michael caught her under her arms and pulled him to her.

"Thank you. I think I caught myself on my dress. I really do hate wearing these things."

She told him and looked to Joe who seemed to give a sly smile of amusement. A sigh came from her as she straightened herself and winced from her bandaged wound.

"I'm alright. I don't need the Nurse. I'm not made of lace."

With a cool draft of air rushing to greet them at the bottom, her eyes looked to Joe as she really wanted to know who she was here. My lady wasn't a good enough answer for her.
 
"Thank you. I think I caught myself on my dress. I really do hate wearing these things."

Joe made a little noise behind them, like a sharp breath drawn between teeth. Michael's brow furrowed. "But, what else would a woman wear? My lady, you do speak so strangely lately; such bizarre statements. Is it the ammynesia?" He shook it off and helped her steady herself.

Athena's look to Joe was enough prompting. "Sir Michael, my Lady, if we are headed to walk a while in the fields, perhaps milady and I should walk apart a short while, so I can give her news from her father, the Earl of Maytag." He said this with a look to Michael, as if warning him of the difference in social status between a knight and an earl, but it also served to clue her in a little bit on who she was supposed to be. "I'm sure you both will have ample time to enjoy the amber waves of grain, or as you like."

"Amber waves of grain," repeated Michael. "That's like poetry, Joseph. Well done."

"Oh, you should hear me wax poetic about purple mountain's majesty, above the fruited plain," he said wisely as they came into the cultivated area outside of the fort walls. The community maintained itself almost entirely within the fortress's protection, but of course, the acreage needed for cultivation couldn't easily be enclosed, so there were expanses of crops; it was the closest thing to a garden the locals had, other than the woods themselves, and she'd been in the woods enough yesterday.

"Shall we walk ahead, milady?" Joe gestured forward through the fieldrows, and increased his pace, while Michael looked at Athena warmly, squeezed her hand in temporary farewell, and slowed a bit.
 
With a sweet smile that promised many things to Michael, Athena walked off with Joe. The air was still cool, but she knew better. The dew was already drying and the sun was already warming the earth around them.

"Father? Ear? What the heck is an Earl and I have no father."

She was now once again, cofused as she kept her voice low enough for only Joe to hear. with her hands clasped gently in front of her, Athena sighed. Things were getting confusing, and yet she was accepting them better then she thought possible.

"Would my father disaprove of Michael? "

There was venom in her voice and she wanted answers.
 
"Jeez, relax, would you? I wanted to wait to tell you the cover story until I was sure your memory enhancers had settled in; this way you won't forget it."

"Okay, so, you're the only daughter of the far-away Earl of Maytag, Georg Undtner. Yes, it's very German, but remember, the Norman invasion of 1066 wasn't really all that long ago. Now, in Britain, an Earl is a level of nobility, kind of like a Duke or a Count over on the mainland. They're responsible for managing affairs of a region, usually several shires, and leading the king's armies in wartime. That's what an earl is."

"Now, we needed a cover story, and casting you as the child of nobility gave us the best access. We made it an earl, because at this point, the faraway regions are as good as across the world, in terms of anonymity. That's why you have a fake father. I had to bring him up to get you in private to give you all this information, dig?"

He shook his head. "Now I see your stubborn streak was there since the beginning! Damn, woman! Can't you see I'm trying to be helpful here?"
 
Athena listened to the information that he gave her. It was a sound plan, but she didn't like that it was a lie to everyone. Wouldn't they need papers stating her ' nobel blood ' ? Of course, Joe could easily get something like that faked. It reminded her of A Knights Tale just then. Except that she doubted she would have the Dark Prince to save her if caught for lying.

"Did you even consider what would happen if they wish to meet this man? I would be certian that this person would claim me as not his offspring."

Part of her wondered how she even got into this situation. Yet, she knew that it was all real and still, it seemed science fiction. Plus side, there were no Dragons or some other mythical creature that could come after her.
 
"Well, the idea was to resolve the Snag and get the hell out. It's not like we're moving in!" Joe hissed, still friendly but seeming a little frustrated. "You and me, we're secret agents, going through time, fixing things that once went wrong. You're the motive power and sensor system for the track of history, I'm your backup, protector, and toolbox. We've lived with bone-age Cro-Magnons and post-human bio-robot constructs, possibly back-to-back. I trust you with my life when we skip, and you trust me with yours when we're in the field."

He sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little frustrated with this. I wasn't prepared for a first contact when we came in here, so I'm a little... Oh, good grief. Your pan-tidote." He raised his left hand to look at it, and the little hypo-spray rose out of the port in his palm. "This is supposed to protect you from the diseases and toxins from time zones other than your own, things you have no natural immunity to. It also protects others from the germs you carry, yourself. I didn't have any stored, so it took all night for the nanofac to create some. If you like, I can also cancel the pain simulator, if you think you can fake it. That cut of yours ought to be fully healed by now, but I left some simulators in there so you would still act normally, as if you were still injured." He raised an eyebrow at her, putting the ball in her court.
 
"So, what am I suppose to fix here?"

All this about time-skipping and fixing things was almost too much. What she wanted right now was time to think and let things settle. It wasn't like she asked to be some special freak. Yea, that was what she was thinking herself of. How could she go back to her old boring life. Not that she really could anymore.

"Well, if you think it will help. Just make it quick."

Athena huffed with some annoyance. All she wanted right now was to learn more about the area she was in, and more about the Knight. She didn't miss the hint of annoyance, or what was that, jelously. Of course why would he be jelous?

"I appreciate that you trust me. I don't really understand how you know me, and yet this is my first time-skip. If I can come and go to whatever place, wouldn't I run into myself and things never end?"


As if on que she looked over and saw that Michael was walking back over towards them. He must have seen that she was getting riled up or distressed. There sure was a purpose in his steps to her.
 
He leaned in casually and touched her forearm; the injector hissed and she felt the tiny sting, but it passed quickly. So did the lingering pain from her wound; maybe it really was all healed, but she'd have to pretend it wasn't occasionally, or draw suspicion. Maybe it was good he waited until he could tell her about it.

"I don't know what the Snag is; the future-you didn't tell me before she disappeared. I think part of her mission was to set things up so I would meet you and introduce you to this life. And maybe so you could meet ... well, him." He glanced over at the approaching knight. "We'll have to talk more later; there's so much I need to fill you in on."

Michael came striding up. "I apologize for interrupting; it seemed like you were receiving difficult news, but I might have to add to it. I just received word that Plague has broken out in a village not far from here. It's unusual, in that there have been no reports of the Plague from any surrounding communities. You wanted me to tell you about any unusual occurrences..."

Joe looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "This might be worth investigating, my lady," he said softly.
 
Future me... I don't think I am ever going to get use to this.

With news from Michael about a plague, it was concerning. Why would a plague only be in one villiage and not spreading. If there were outbreaks everywhere, it would make more sense. This was something entirly diffrent.

"That is concerning. I don't like the sound of it."

Athena looked from them both and she didn't even know how to handle something like this.
 
"Is it far, Sir Michael? Can we investigate?" Joe sounded hopeful. Michael looked doubtful.

"It's a ride. If we leave now, we'd have to camp out for the night."

"Excellent. I'll get our things together."

"Are you certain? With Lady Athena's injury..."

"Sir Michael, I assure you. My talents as a healer are at least as effective as Nurse Appleby's. I judge Milady to be healthy enough to travel, if she takes it carefully, and this is definitely something we ought to investigate."

Michael sighed. "Very well. I shall gather some of the men at arms and some supplies. Can I trust you to see the Lady to her quarters to pack?"

"But of course, sir," Joe nodded, and cast a wink at Athena when Michael turned to hustle off. Once he was out of earshot, Joe leaned toward Athena and murmured "Sounds like it could be the Snag! Or at least a clue."
 
"A clue for what exactly? If you already met the future me, and was to meet the me now. Wouldnt the future me have already fixed this problem or mention what it was?"

Athena spoke to Joe once they were out of ear shot of anyone that could hear them. The fact that they were now leaving to ride horses to a place she didn't know was strange enough. Even more concerning was the fact she didn't know hoe to ride a horse!

"Joe, I.. uh, can't ride a Horse. I never have before."

It was embarressing to let someone know that.
 
He nodded. "Future you knew all about this. That's why she left a letter about the bandit camp when she skipped out, because she knew Michael and his men would be there to meet you when you arrived. She brought me here so I would still be on hand to help you and protect you. And she didn't tell me anything because when she was you, she didn't remember there being any new information or clues."

"Now, we know a few things, just from that: this was all supposed to happen, because she set it up so that it would unfold like she rememered it. We also know that we won this one; certainly, you have to survive to become her. So that's reassuring. We know that we figure it out, because if we couldn't do it ourselves, we'd already have been given a clue."

He paused, and looked at her. "I know, it twists up the mind a bit."

"But don't worry about riding a horse. Mostly you'll just have to hold on; I'll stay close and help you out if you need to. Eventually, however, we're going to want to head upstream to Precon Base, and get you wired for skillplants. But that's later. A lot of it is instinctive, but I'll be onhand to help." He reached out and took her hand, smiling at her with a twinkle in his eye as she squeezed it reassuringly. "Hey. You're my friend and partner, even if you don't know it yet. I got your back."
 
Athena let go of his hand and blushed a bit. Joe was really sweet and nice. It wasn't somethign she was really use to yet. They went back inside and the Nurse took her away to the kitchen for something to eat.

"Shame on you Joe. The Lady hasn't eaten yet. I saw the full plate of food up in her room."

She couldn't help but smile as the older women seemd to dote on her and treat the others like little children. In the kitchen she was handed a platter of food and was told to eat it all or she wasn't going to go. The fresh apples and cheese were some of the best she ever had. By the time she had finished the cook returned and handed her a travel basket filled with food for them.
 
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