Princess Rescue Inc

by Chris Hechtl

  “Yeah... I'm not exactly keen about the idea either,” Perry said observing the duo. “I think we'll need that school set up just to keep them busy.”

  “Good idea,” Ryans said smiling. “That just jumped to the top ten in the list.” He shrugged. “I'll see you at the meeting?”

  “Yup.”

  <==={}------------>

  “Your majesty about the gaijin leader's wardrobe...” Druzilla asked, dry washing her hands.

  “Yes, it is... different isn't it?” the Queen asked, looking up from a parchment she was reading. She'd taken over a room next to her husband's to keep tabs on him. Her door was open so she could see who came to his door.

  “I... he needs proper clothing majesty. Something in the royal colors perhaps? To remind others of his pending status?”

  “Interesting,” the Queen murmured. She set her hands in her lap.

  “Those drab greens and browns are so unbecoming. They may be fashionable in the wild but here? In the Imperium court?” the old woman said with a dry sniff.

  “Perhaps we can arrange a fitting,” the Queen replied. She looked over to the woman. “See to it,” she ordered.

  “I've tried majesty but he seems uninterested in such things.”

  “I'll have his page rearrange his schedule then,” the Queen said in good humor.

  “Ah, very well, thank you your majesty,” the royal chambermaid replied curtsying.

  “Dismissed,” the Queen mother said, picking up a feather fan and fanning herself with it. The other woman dropped her eyes and left without another word.

  “That won't work mother,” Deidra said, looking at her mother from the corner.

  “Oh?” the Queen asked turning to her daughter. “Come now daughter, all men are clothes horses. They like to look their best for the ladies,” she said with a small knowing smile.

  “But he's not interested in courting or in court appearances, he's focused on getting the job done,” Deidra admitted. That was something she had to admire about the man. He was intent on his job, whatever he chose it to be. He lacked direction though, focus.

  “I did notice he wasn't interested in attending to my gentle requests for an audience,” the Queen said haughtily.

  “You mean he didn't come at your call like a good pet,” Deidra replied. Her mother looked down her nose at her with scant favor. “I know what the court is saying about that mother. He has his own way of doing things and getting him to see things our way will not be achieved overnight.”

  “Or at all if you do not attend to your duties my daughter,” the Queen replied with just enough teeth in her voice to make her daughter freeze and frown ferociously. She folded the fan and smacked it into her hand a few times and then set it down.

  “I will do as duty requires if and only if it is necessary. He does not believe in following in our laws and customs so...”

  “He may not but we do my daughter. We are held to higher standards than the commoners.”

  “He's not a commoner mother. As you pointed out he's a gaijin. A powerful one.”

  “But he is not royal.”

  “But he is a leader mother,” Deidra sighed and shook her head as her mother picked up the fan once more. She could tell her mother was agitated by the entire situation.

  “He will learn,” the Queen finally said, looking away.

  “He's not going to bend to your will mother. I know the man, I've watched him. He's accustomed to getting his own way,” Deidra replied. “Force him and you, we, will regret it.”

  The Queen fanned herself once more. “We shall see about that. Even the reed must bend in the wind daughter. Else it will break.”

  <==={}------------>

  Ryans turned as he heard footsteps approaching. “You rang boss?” Sydney asked, hefting a camera.

  “Yeah, I've got a job for you.”

  Sydney frowned. “Can't...”

  Ryans shook his head meaningfully. Sydney's frown deepened into a scowl. “No, everyone else is tasked. Everyone that is except you,” Ryans replied crossing his arms. “The military contingent is busy digging in with their field, Max is up to his ears in engineering projects, and the others are all tasked. You're it.”

  “Crap,” Sydney frowned.

  “Oh, you'll love it I bet,” Ryans grinned evilly as he waved to the door at the end of the hall.

  “Right. From your expression, somehow I doubt it,” Sydney replied warily.

  “Observant. You'll need that,” Ryans said nodding as they went out into the courtyard. They rounded the camper to see a group of kids around Gregory the cook and go to guy. The Russian was happy to have some help but seemed dubious about the quality it seemed. The gopher was patiently explaining how to use the laundry machine. He looked up with hope to see Ryans.

  “Sorry to interrupt folks,” Ryans said and smiled. “I have your teacher here, well one of them. We're each going to take a turn,” he said. He nodded to Sydney. “Sydney here is a historian and journalist. He's going to check your skills and help those of you who need it.” He waved to Sydney who was looking a little pale.

  “Classes start at ten a.m. here in the courtyard or in the class room once we get one set up. How many of you can read?” he asked.

  Corgi and Answorth immediately raised their hands. A few others did tentatively. He was pleased to see it was a mixed group, boys and girls. The boys outnumbered the girls three to one though. “All right, we'll get you tested. Basic reading, math, and some history. The Kingdom's historian is going to help. I believe she is on her way.” He turned to see a frumpy big breasted woman stumble around the corner. She was squinting and had a rumpled dress on, not a good sign. “Ah, I think that's her,” Ryans said. Sydney turned and winced.

  “Miss Nirvana correct?” Ryans asked politely, trying hard to breathe through his mouth not his nose. Some of the court didn't believe in regular bathing, they preferred to dose themselves in perfumes and colognes and could knock a skunk over from a hundred yards downwind. The woman blushed and nodded. “And let’s see.” He turned to see a pair of teens approaching. “Your instructional aides.” He nodded to them. “These four people and a few others will be the core of the castle teaching staff until we get things sorted out. For now, please bear with us as we get things set up. Classes will run from ten a.m. to lunch, then from one until three. Then you’re off for the day.” He nodded to the new staff.

  “You'll have to split the students by level and probably into smaller class sizes. I was going to suggest using a nineteenth century schooling method, but its up to you Mr. Principal,” Ryans said with a nod to Sydney. He smiled to Sydney and then turned to the students and staff. “A principal or in your language a principium is the person who is responsible for the running of the schola or in our language school. We've got some private tutors who will be helping out once we get negotiations with them settled,” he frowned at that last bit.

  “You mentioned a classroom?” Gregory asked. Ryans smiled. He knew the Russian was just asking to hopefully get the kids out of what little hair he had. “Yes, I was told a store room in the east wing near the library will be used.” He turned to Answorth. “You know where it is right?” he asked. The lad nodded. “Good you can lead those who don't there.”

  Answorth snorted softly. Ryans had a distinct impression that what he had said was considered stupid. Most likely the kids had every nook and cranny of this place explored and mapped.

  “Get to work folks; we've got materials for you there.” He clapped his hands. The historian and kids moved off. The two junior instructors... actually squires to the King moved off to keep order. Sydney glared at him hanging back.

  “I'll get you for this,” he growled darkly.

  Ryans grinned. “Well, you could switch with Gregory here, he's got to train the military support staff as well as keep up with our own crew... and I think he's doing buzz cuts tomorrow... and cooking in the field when the army leaves.”

  Sydney looked at Gregory who looked h
opeful. Then he sighed. “Ah hell, I can't cook worth a damn.” He shook his head. “Dare I ask if there's a plan?”

  “I roughed out a syllabus and lesson plan last night before bed. It's in your e-mail. There's a print out for the staff as well. This is a pilot project Sydney, the first of its kind on a new world. Instead of reporting history, you my friend are making it. Congratulations,” he smiled.

  “Gee thanks,” Sydney said shaking his head.

  “Cheer up; it's only five or six hours a day. We'll all chip in when we can. You can contact each of us as guest lecturers and schedule us time permitting. See Answorth about my schedule,” he smiled. Sydney rolled his eyes as he walked off, shaking his head.

  <==={}------------>

  “My Dominus you have a scheduled appointment with the chambermaid for a fitting,” Answorth told him as he checked in with Max. Max had a prototype tracing lathe in pieces on his improvised work bench.

  “No, I don't,” Ryans replied, filing a bur off a gear. “I cleared my schedule this morning. And I told you to check with me before you add anything to it,” he said not looking up.

  When Answorth didn't leave he looked up to the lad. The boy looked distinctively uncomfortable. “What?” he asked.

  “It's by order of the Queen sir,” he said.

  “I don't follow the Queen's or the King's orders. We gaijin have diplomatic immunity. Furthermore, I've got better things to do than to stand around while women cluck over my choice of wardrobe,” he growled. “You can tell her majesty that too. Now get out or you'll be drafted.”

  “Um...”

  Ryans sighed. “Just tell the chambermaid no and leave. I'll deal with it, you're clean.”

  “As you say my Dominus,” the lad said and gulped. Ryans waved to him to scoot.

  Max looked at him, hands on the casing for the gear train. “Was that wise?”

  Ryans turned in disgust. “I'm not some overdressed lap dog. I want them to get that through their thick heads now. I've got better things to do than play political pissing matches over something so petty and stupid. Can't they figure out there is a war on?” he demanded, hands up in disgust.

  “Yeah, I getcha, sometimes I wonder about them,” Max said, shaking his head and going back to work. “The good news is the casting tech they've got is pretty good. They use sand casting and even have a binder. Just got this flash to clean up and a quick quality control check and we can put some of the pieces together.”

  “I'm not happy about this thing being water powered,” Ryans grumped. “Damned inefficient,” he said.

  Max shrugged. “Right now I'll take what I can get. Yeah it'll be slow and buggy but it'll hopefully work.”

  “Hopefully.”

  “If we finish sometime soon,” Max said. Another artisan came in with a load of parts. He frowned. “Which isn't going to be anytime soon as long as we keep jawing about it and not doing nothin'. I'll get on that, you finish here,” he said.

  “Gotcha,” Ryans said nodding and turning back to the gears.

  <==={}------------>

  About an hour later a shadow in the doorway blocked out the light they were using to see. Annoyed Max turned and noted the guards and then poked Ryans. Ryans turned. He took in the no nonsense guards and set the file down. One hand drifted to his pistol butt. “Problem gents?” he asked.

  He waited for the translation to clear. He still had trouble speaking the native tongue but he had a half ass grasp of it now. It helped that English was based in Latin and other languages and many of the root words were there with the same meaning.

  “You are required to attend to the chambermaid,” the lead guard, a big guy with black hair and a scar on his right cheek said, hand on the pommel of his sword. “By order of the Queen.”

  “Seems like we've got a bit of a Mexican standoff here gentlemen. The Queen agreed I am not under her command. And I frankly have better things to do than listen to a bunch of over dressed peacocks right now,” Ryans said, half snarling.

  “Be that as it may my Dominus you will attend.”

  “Really,” Ryans asked softly, hand gripping the gun butt. “Wanna bet?” he asked softly, cold eyes locking onto the guard's.

  The guard with him backpedaled, gulping visibly, He pulled the scarred fellow to the side and quietly warned him about the gaijin's thunder weapon. Scar face turned back to Ryans. “You dare threaten a soldier on Queen's business?”

  “You dare order me around?” Ryans asked thinly, eyes flashing. “Why don't you contact Maximus and see if he wants this to go down now.”

  “I have my orders,” the guard replied stubbornly, not moving an inch.

  “Okay,” Ryans said using his free hand to touch his bluetooth. “Ryans to Perry.”

  There was a click and then a momentary pause and then distant sounds of a phone ringing. “Perry here,” Perry said.

  “We've got a situation here and it's spiraling out of control fast. It seems the Queen is reneging on her end of the bargain.”

  “Shit,” Perry growled. “Are you telling me what I think you're telling me?”

  “I think you better be aware of the situation. Find Maximus and alert the team.” He turned to Max. “Max is with me. He'll be enroute. Close up shop.”

  “Frack, I'll get on it. What about you?”

  Ryans explained the situation, eyes never leaving the three guards. “I think their majesties and I need to have another heart to heart,” he said finally.

  “All right.”

  “I'll keep the channel open.” Ryans turned to Max. “Max circle the wagons,” he said.

  Max grunted and then eyed the guards. “Damn it. Stupid,” he said and left by another door. Ryans watched him go, pushing past another pair of guards standing there.

  “All right gentlemen; let's go talk with the Queen.”

  “The Dominus chambermaid ordered...”

  “Did she order this or the Queen?” Ryans demanded.

  “She speaks for the Queen...”

  “We'll see about that,” Ryans said. “After you,” he said. Waving. Scarface gave him a cold look and then left. The four other guards followed behind in their wake.

  Scarface led the way but when it came time to go to the Queen's chamber he turned left instead of right. Ryans however didn't follow; he kept going to the Queen's chamber. He could hear the guard’s boots scrape on the stone as he turned and then cursed. Ryans smiled slightly but kept going.

  When he arrived at the door he walked in, glad it was open. “You wanted a chat your majesty?” he asked, eyes glittering.

  The Queen looked up from her conversation with a count and blinked at him. “I did not send for you,” she said and waved.

  “No, but someone sent a pack of your guards after me. I'm not happy about that,” he said indicating scarface as he came into the threshold of the doorway. The guard caught sight of his monarch and bowed deeply to her.

  The count looked from the Queen to the gaijin and the guard. Ryans frowned, one hand on his hip. After a moment when no one said anything he crossed his arms.

  “There must be a mistake,” the Queen finally said.

  “Yes, I believe someone made a mistake. I made it clear I am not going to change my clothes or my way of doing things for anyone at anytime. I am not a clothes horse and I have better things to do with my time than stand around while a bunch of women cluck about my appearance,” he snarled coldly. “There is a war to be fought here and a duchy to save,” he growled.

  The count gulped slightly, looking at Ryans in sheer shock. “Madness,” he muttered under his breath.

  “No, I have diplomatic immunity,” Ryans replied. “Which means I don't answer to the Queen or anyone. I and my people are immune from control and the law. That includes your Vita Sodalis law.”

  He watched as that news struck home. The count turned to the Queen who was sitting back, eyes cool but glittering. “Is that so?” she asked softly.

  “I know what you're doing. I know the level
s of what is going on here. I know you let the chambermaid pull this for plausible denial-ability if it fell apart, but also to make me more presentable to your daughter and the court. Won’t wash. I like my life and the way I live it. I am an outsider to your people, a gaijin as you say and I'm damn proud of it. I plan on staying that way. Deal with it or get the hell out of my way,” he snarled. “I, and your people do not have time for this petty posturing crap,” he growled.

  “I will excuse your behavior since you are overwrought with this situation. As I said it is a mistake,” the Queen replied after a long moment. She seemed thoughtful but also slightly shaken. Ryans was blunt and strong willed, something she hadn't known. She smiled slightly but the smile didn't reach her eyes. “I regret this misunderstanding and I will correct it.”

  “Right. We need to focus your majesty. Duluth. Now, do you want to play petty political games with me? Try to force your will on me, and me and mine are gone and you can deal with the consequences.”

  “As I said it is a regrettable misunderstanding,” the Queen said through gritted teeth.

  He eyed her for a second and then looked at the count. He was making the Queen eat crow in front of an audience and that wasn't very bright but he wanted to make it clear to her. Perhaps he was getting a little carried away. He'd ground the point into her face enough, he realized. “Fine then. I apologize for the intrusion. Now, can you...” he turned and indicated the guards behind him.

  “Yes, yes, you and your people are free to go about your business,” the Queen said. “Decadus see to it that this situation doesn't happen again,” she said looking directly at scarface.

  “Um, yes your majesty,” Decadus said, sounding confused. He nodded to Ryans. Ryans nodded back and left without a backwards glance.

  <==={}------------>

  “This is Ryans, all clear. I say again all clear. But all Terrans report to the quad for a debrief,” he said into his bluetooth. He waited for a response. When he got an okay from the major players he nodded. “Right. See you there in ten,” he said moving off.