"It's nearly time," Lenka Leannan broke the silence. Terra Sancta Group sat sipping coffee at a sidewalk café on Ben Yehuda Street that reminded them somewhat of Paris. Their conversation, animated at first as they settled into the chairs and identified the building where they would soon see the shield--or whatever passed for it--auctioned, had quickly trailed off into silence as each one individually faced the realization of what they were heading into. So they sat, sipping their coffee, until Lenka's hushed reminder drew them back to the present.
Josh Cochran, sharing Lenka's table (she'd reminded him as they passed the Damascus Gate that they ought to spend a little time getting used to one another's company, if they were to act as a team at the auction), glanced at his watch and nodded. "Right. Let's go. 'Buyers' first; Vickie and Becki, cover us from here; Brad, see if you can find a back way in and get to the shield."
Sparing indulgent smiles for their leader's final reiteration of the plan he'd spent the whole trip from Mendellia running over with them, Terra Sancta Group leapt into action (though a somewhat slow and grudging action, given the long flight and long walk they'd just finished). Kristy and Crispy, Josh and Lenka, with Brad following near them but keeping to early-morning shadows, made their way toward the small souvenir shop above which Fir had told them the auction would take place. Becki and Vickie adjusted their chairs to be able to see that building well without appearing to take too great an interest in it. The two teams of Buyers vanished into the store's doorway; Brad vanished but they did not see where to. Vickie spoke softly into her comlink to signal Mike, hovering somewhere above them in the Red Home, that all players were in place. And thus it began.
Vickie let out the breath she'd been holding as soon as the doors closed behind the last of the buyers. "I do hope they'll be careful," she said softly.
Becki nodded in agreement. "Me too."
The older woman shuffled in her chair, leaning back to get comfortable for the long wait. "So, how's Thayer?" She tried to ask it as nonchalantly as possible, looking for her partner's reaction.
It was more than she'd been prepared for: an instinctive deer-in-headlights look, but it lasted only a heartbeat before Becki recovered. Shifting nervously in her chair, she glanced away down the street and shrugged a little too casually before answering. "I didn't see much of him these last two days, actually."
"Didn't you get together with him at all?" Vickie asked, alarmed.
"Well . . . yes."
"Good. You had me worried," Vickie teased. "Anyone would think you two have been avoiding each other. Strangest engagement I ever saw--don't you miss him? I know you do, remember when we talked about it on the Home, on our way to Paris at the very beginning of this mission?" It was difficult to keep her tone as light as she'd like. Yes, Becki's longing for her fiancé had been unmistakable that day, on their way to Paris, just over a week ago. But Vickie was too well aware of all that had happened in a week's time. She was all too aware of the part she'd played in it herself. She feared Becki might well have given up on missing Thayer by now. So, seeing her friend fidget and turn to watch the street in the opposite direction, Vickie wondered what part she could play now to undo the damage.
A strange, pensive look came over Becki's face and her eyes flicked briefly back to Vickie. "I remember."
"And you remember what I told you then?"
"You told me a lot then," Becki chuckled. "And it was good advice." She shook her head sadly. "I sent him an e-mail that day. He never answered it, Vickie."
An invisible fist seemed to tighten round Vickie's heart. "He is a busy man. . ."
"Over a week, Vickie. And anyway--" She seemed about to say more, but caution won out.
"And what?"
Becki shook her head. "Nothing."
"What? Becki, what's the matter?" The girl wouldn't answer, so Vickie ventured a guess. "You said you did see Thayer before we left Mendellia? Did something happen? Did you fight?"
Becki had tensed at the questions, but at the final one her eyes widened a little and her shoulders slumped as if in relief. Looking away again, she nodded.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Vickie hastened to say. "But look, it'll be all right. You'll make it up. Everyone quarrels sometimes."
Becki smiled dubiously and started to reply, but then her eyebrows rose at something she saw over Vickie's shoulder. "Vic," she whispered.
"What?"
"Behind you. Look around--slowly!--see the girl in the blue dress? Is it just me, or does she look familiar?"
Vickie turned around in her chair as if she was stretching. Her eyes drifted to the blonde woman trying very hard not to be noticed, but failing miserably. She recognized her immediately. "Damn, Llessur went ahead and got another lackey," she grumbled.
"What?" Becki looked at her quickly.
She cleared her throat as she turned back around. "Nothing. However, I do believe that is one of Llessur's ladies in waiting. Etidorhpa, I think."
"What's a Mendellian Lady doing all the way in Jerusalem? How on Earth did she get here?"
"That's what I want to know." Vickie stood and moved towards the street and turned to go down the road. Once out of sight, she slipped between the buildings and went in the back door of the cafe.
"Where did the other one go?" Naira hissed at her sister.
Eti stretched and looked. "Hm, I don't know. Maybe she's gone to report to Llessur."
"Llessur? What do you mean?"
"Oh, she's the one with the ferrets, remember?" Eti kept her eyes narrowed at Becki. "Hm, we have to do something about her, though."
Someone behind them cleared her throat. "Excuse me ladies, but what are you doing here?"
The sisters spun around to see Vickie standing behind them. They both yelped in surprise. "C... Captain Boyd, isn't it?" Eti chuckled nervously. "I never expected to see you here."
The older woman raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? I was about to say the same thing. I think you two have some explaining to do." She waved at Becki to come over.
Eti donned a look of innocence so guileless as to be nearly convincing. "Explaining? I don't understand, Captain."
"I'll use small words," Vickie said with a predatory smile, indolently settling into a chair at the sisters' table. She waited until Becki had joined them in the fourth chair to begin, but in all that time her eyes did not leave Etidorhpa's face. The Mendellian lady kept her head high, chin thrust out in a tacit defiance.
When they were all settled, Vickie continued, nodding first to Becki. "The ladies here," she explained, "were just about to tell me what brings them to Jerusalem. Oh, by the way, Becki, this is Lady Etidorhpa Neris. She and I have met before, in Mendellia. And this one--" she glanced at Naira-- "what was your name again?"
"My sister," Eti sullenly answered for her. "Dohrnaira Neris."
Playing along, Becki nodded to each in turn with an affable smile. "How nice to meet you. And isn't it a funny coincidence, our meeting here in Jerusalem? We certainly didn't expect to see anyone from Mendellia here."
"Indeed, a curious coincidence," Eti simpered, as Naira watched her sister with mounting alarm in her eyes. "Nor did we expect to see anyone from the celebrated Terra Group here--least of all she who will soon be our queen." At this she bowed her head a little as in deference to this would-be queen, but the smile froze on Becki's face.
Vickie came to her rescue. "So just what exactly brings you ladies to Jerusalem?" she prompted again.
"Oh . . . we . . ." Eti shrugged. "A little vacation, you know. It is lovely to play the tourist, isn't it?" She tossed her head lightly and glanced from one to the other of the Terra Group agents.
"Lovely," Becki said drily, "though maybe lovelier a little later in the year. I'm surprised you planned your trip for so early in the rainy season. . . ."
"Well, it's not raining now, is it?" Eti challenged.
"Wait a day," Becki grinned.
"Anyway," Eti said, "might one ask what you people are doing in Jerusalem?"
"One might," Becki said calmly, "but one had best not expect an answer."
"Oooh," Eti enthused, "it really is Terra Group business, then?"
Vickie did her best to mimic the innocent look Eti had given her earlier. "What business? Why, we're just as much tourists as . . . as you are, my dear ladies." As she said this, she fixed the sisters with a stern look and centered herself in the Force, stretching out her awareness toward the two. Terra Group might not truly be tourists, but might her disingenuous claim be true nonetheless? It depended on just how touristy the Mendellian sisters really were, and it shouldn't be too hard to find that out. The Force was strong here, yet had a dark overtone. That bothered her, but this was something important. She probed their minds, not a hard job with as "blonde" as they both were. Oh wonderful, they're on their own agenda.
Becki noticed the frown on her partner's face. Something was not right. "I'm surprised Llessur allowed you to travel by yourselves," she said making small talk.
Naira rolled her eyes. "We are not children."
"But Etidorhpa is one of the Ladies in Waiting, is she not?"
The younger sister had her eyes glued on the Jedi. "Naira, I believe we had better go now." She hastily stood. "It's been a pleasure speaking with you."
Naira stood in confusion and followed her sister. They hadn't gotten far when an explosion occurred across the street. The sisters grabbed each other in fear and screamed.
Vickie jumped up and moved to check the damage. She scanned the area for the other Terra Group members. "I think I've found everyone," she said as Becki appeared at her shoulder. She put a hand on Eti's arm and began to drag her away. "Come on, we need to get these two somewhere safe and then find the others."
Becki nodded and took Naira's arm, dragging her off. "Hey," she protested. "Wait a minute. I want to know what happened!"
"We'll tell you later," Vickie growled as they ducked down an alley.