Shimei Crosover2 12\26\98 *1* Universal Salidihm Narnia took her group to a wood a days trek from the village she would eventually have them protect. She motioned for them to sit. "I am the Soul Warrior of Narnia, however I have a life, like you. My name is Catherine Musselwhite. Please call me Cat unless I am in transformation and then I would prefer to be called Narnia. This world is in the middle of a terrible war. The village I am bringing us to is called Karidan. It has a population of about two hundred people all told. They do not know they are going to be attacked in about a week. We shall split up and enter separately as to not draw attention to ourselves. Once there, you will find an inn to stay in around the general area I assign you. We will be protecting this village. I am known in this village as a mage and will be staying at the Governor's house." She smiled slightly and her harsh image faded a bit. "I'm sorry you can't join me there." "What world are we on?" Cassandra asked. Narnia smiled more. "It is in the Universe called Sword. It is pretechnological world with magic." The dark haired teenaged boy looked dubious. "Your morphing ability is a type of magic in some people's perception, Jake." she told him. A glowing holographic, 3D map appeared in front of Narnia. It showed a village with intricate detail of buildings and objects. A red pinpointed light indicated the center. "Cassandra and Morph will take lodging in the Joker's Inn. They will be our meeting point. Cassandra can keep tabs on you telepathically and teleport you around if needed. Morph can find our information. Cassandra will go as a Higher Born, but not High enough to warrant attention. Morph can be her escort. Agreed?" Narnia looked willing to change if they wanted so they both agreed. "Magneto and Madison you two are going to the Bear's Heart, an inn on the south edge of town. It's a rough neighborhood, but you can handle it. You are going as father and daughter escaping the increasing hostilities. You are to defend the south quarter of the village." Magneto looked over at the female teenager. "I don't want to work with a child. I won't have time to protect her." Madison just laughed. "You have absolutely no idea." Narnia's gaze became strict. "You will have time to change your minds. Do you agree or shall I assign you to Jake instead?" Magneto reluctantly agreed. Madison just shrugged with an evil smile playing on her face. "Good. In the northern quarter, I want Jake and Sekhmet to go as brother and sister to the home of an old woman. You will be helping her to keep up her house and delivering packages. She knows she has to give you a detailed map. Agreed?" They both nodded. "Amanda and the Invisible Woman shall take the western quarter. I will need you to pick up a few items from the rather rich collectors. It won't be easy, but you two should do fine." Narnia told them and they both nodded. "And finally, I want Uranus, Luna, and Artemis to take the eastern quarter. You can get a job as a bouncer for a bar. You can get a room and free food. Gather a number of people you can form into a militia. Luna and Artemis can be your ears. However, I think at least one of them should be another creature. A ferret will do." Narnia said. Both cats backed away in fear. Narnia laughed. "It won't be for long." Suddenly, Luna found herself smaller, shorter, and longer. However, Artemis had wings. "When folded down no one will see them, but you may need speed." She addressed the group. "Now for a few last minute details......." *2* Madison stood behind Magneto, Joseph, as he was going by now. He had left the X-men before she had come. They'd never met, but she had heard of him. Obviously, he didn't know of her. She played the part of a young woman paying enough respect, but just enough to get by with. It was an easy part to play. Some of the people eyed her studiously, placing her as a prime candidate for rebellion. She made eye contact with a few before turning to follow her "father" upstairs. When they were alone she grinned. "Take a nap, "daddy". I'm going to get in trouble." He rolled his eyes. "You better not get in too much trouble. It would be a pain in the butt if I had to save you." She made a show of creeping down the stairs. As expected, a young barmaid drew her aside. "Hello, I'm Kirillan. Where are you from?" "The wood, not far off. But my father kept us apart from the villages. He's asleep now. My name is Adenine, but I am called Addy." Madison said. "Where are you going? It's dangerous downstairs." Kiri said. "Isn't that the point?" Addy asked naively. Kiri looked her over and shrugged. "Just stay out of Garret's way. He is the big man in the corner." Addy nodded. "Thank you." Then she headed down to the common room. She, as a sheltered naive girl, went to the safest place as possible: the bard's fire. A number of men and women in travel garb sat there telling stories and singing. She sat by them. A kindly middle aged women smiled at her. "Would you like to hear a story?" Addy looked over at the singers with exaggerated longing. Of course the woman noticed. "Can you sing?" Addy nodded. "Do so. I'll tell you how good you are and maybe you can be a bard someday." Addy nodded agreement after a moment. She began to sing a song from the Irish called "Newry Town". As expected, due to sonar enhancement, all the bards loved it. The woman grinned at her. "I need a person to do a duet with me tonight. Can you learn fast too?" Addy nodded. "My mother was a good singer. She...." her voice trailed off and she looked down at the ground. "She's dead? Was it the war?"the woman asked.Addy didn't answer and she took it as a yes. "I saw you come in with your father. Will he let you?" Addy nodded. "He'll be happy to find something to earn him money." "Good. My name is Aritan. I will be staying for a few weeks. This is what I had planned for tonight....." * * Cassandra wondered out how comfortable she could be in this time period. She inwardly sighed, it had been much easier when things were more like this. She was shown to her room and sat by the window. Surely she was to do more than wait..... * * Madison immediately "tagged" Garret. She knew he was looked up to by the others. HE was the one she had to tame. She made sure she attracted his attention that night and then sat outside. He came out and leaned in the doorway, watching her. He sat on the arm of the chair she was in. "You have a beautiful voice. It suits such a beautiful girl." Adenine blushed. "Thank you, but I'm not so good. My mother was better." Garret knelt in front of her and took her hand. Kissing it, he said, "Don't say such things. It was marvelous." He smiled slyly. "I know of a place where great voices gather. Yours would be appreciated, I'm sure." She blushed harder. "I don't know, my father....." "It's not far and your father shouldn't mind. He seemed enthusiastic at dinner about you learning to be a bard." he said smoothly. "All right...." she said, rising nervously. "But not too long, my father would get worried." "Of course," he said as he led her out of town. Madison inwardly grinned, almost feeling sorry for the man. Almost. * * "Where are we going? I don't see anyone?" Addy asked plaintively. "We're going someplace special. Your voice will get a real workout." he said, tightening his grip. She dropped the Adenine persona. "Really?" she asked in a cold voice. He turned and was momentarily surprised by the change. Her eyes held experienced depth and hardness. Her stance was sure. She was grinning mischievously. This was a woman, not a girl. "You men are SO easy." she said in a smooth voice. She stepped closer. "Want to heat things up?" After a moment of surprised hesitation he embraced her. "You really are a catch." "I know." she whispered. Suddenly fire sprang up around her. He jumped away in fear. Addy looked at him in hurt confusion. "I thought you wanted it hot?" "Witch!" he yelled. "If I scream people will come running." Madison laughed. "You bring girls here nightly. No one is nearby. You make sure of that. "What do you want?" he asked bringing himself under control. While fire was a weakness of his, he was still a man of war. "I don't have time to chat." "I don't want anything major." she said. "I know you lead the men of this town. That is a coveted position." He laughed. "This is no way to get it. They won't follow a woman." He drew his sword. "You're a feisty one, but still a woman." She regarded him impassively. "I suppose we'll have to fight before you'll listen to me." He ran at her and tried to trip her using the sword as a distraction. She merely dodged. He jumped back and landed on his feet. He held his sword up and..... She gestured and the sword flew out of his hand. An invisible force shoved him backwards. She glanced witheringly at him. "You can't possibly win. I know what you are going to do before you do. I don't want to kill you, but you try my patience." She raised herself into a tree by use of the wind. "I merely want to be your friend. You will bring me into the leadership as your.....chosen. I will use my skills to increase your power." "An enticing offer and one that I think would be mutually beneficial. I agree." he said. Suddenly they were outside the inn again. She snuggled up to him. "Be good. And stop thinking about how you could report me to those witch hunters if I annoyed you." She headed inside. "Goodnight!" Garret became aware of the admiring eyes on him. Most had their own ideas on what had happened. He grinned back at them and headed for bed, alone. *3* Uranus was thrilled with her guise. She was a female mercenary, down on her luck. The war demanded officers, not mercenaries. She strode into the bar and up to the innkeeper. "I'm looking for a job for a few days. Don't need money, just a room and some food." Before he could speak she cut him off. "I'm talking crowd control. You've got a pretty mixed group here 'causa the war. Lotsa fights." As she spoke a fight broke out. The short barkeep nodded. "I'll give you a few days as long as you keep the peace. Starting now. I'll have my wife take your things upstairs." Luna crawled out of Haruka's pack and onto her shoulder. The barkeep frowned at her, but didn't protest. Another cat was welcomed to kill the mice. "My name's Haruka." she said the Keep. "I'll take care of that." She walked over to the brawling men who were both drunk. She kicked one in the groin and then knocked their heads together. She threw their unconscious bodies in the alley. "This can't be too hard." * * Jake and the beautiful Sekhmet arrived at the old woman's house. She smiled at them and showed them in. "Catherine told me you were coming. Poor kids, no family after the war." She chuckled, "Oh well, you can stay with me awhile. She can share a room with me and you, my boy, can sleep in the main room. I aint got much, but what I have I'll share." Sekhmet gave the woman a sincere smile. "Thank you, I'm sure it will be enough." "Of course," the woman said and handed them a map. "You should acquaint yourselves with the town in order to make morning bakery deliveries easier." They both nodded. The woman walked back into the kitchen. Jake looked over at Sekhmet. "Are you a shapeshifter?" Sekhmet smiled. "I am for now. Let's go." The town had a number of short cuts that the two cats found easily. They also found places perfect for hiding people in when the attacks started. Because he was in morph form Jake was telepathic. He heard low frequency telepathic mutterings and convinced Sekhmet to help him find the source. They found a huge red dragon a few miles away. Jake had morphed into eagle and they'd flown to it. He stared in awe of such beauty. It studied him. Sekhmet answered. the red dragon sent. He hesitantly touched Scarlet and she became still. A moment later it was done. "Thank you great one." They returned back late that night. * * Amanda and Susan easily found the first home. It wasn't up to Amanda's standards, but this was where what she wanted was, oh well. They crept inside. Amanda was very experienced in being practically invisible and Susan was invisible. Amanda knocked out a guard with the hilt of her sword. Susan took out another with a sedative. Then they continued further into the house. First they found the knife. It was small and plain. It was easy to lift from the glass case. The sword was a bit harder, but together they managed it with limited telekinesis. Finally they needed to get the pendant. It was on a velvet pad, but with no precautions. They were both immediately suspicions. They shrugged. All they could do was try. Then they heard many footsteps and men carrying swords. (Half hour later) They had the pendant and.............many more houses to go. *******