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** ** A Scarborough Fair Story

by RedFox6

Chapter Two

Celebrate

Confederation of Independent Star Systems

Tir na n'Og Space Station

Present Day

When the Scarborough Fair came out of hyperspace near Tir na n'Og, Tollel was so engrossed in her favorite RP, Cavern Crawlers, that she didn't even notice the transition. Thus, it was somewhat of a shock when the game paused, and Leu's voice came over the speakers.

"Tollel," he said, humor lurking in his voice. "we're almost at Tir na n'Og. We have reservations at Tony's in an hour, so you might want to get ready."

She blushed as she realized that she had let time get away from her. She quickly saved the game, and prepared herself. She hurried to the bathroom for a quick shower and grooming, then returned to her room to select appropriate clothing for the party. After dressing, there was only the barest hesitation as she placed her collar around her neck. A last once over in the mirror, and she went to the airlock to join Leu. He was dressed in his formal suit, and escorted her into the station. CHI went quickly, and they traveled through the controlled chaos of the zocalo to the elevators.

"He was right," she thought to herself, holding his arm and snuggling close as they went through the zocalo. "After awhile, you do get used to this."

Reaching Tony's, they entered to find Tony himself behind the main desk.

"Welcome, my friends," Tony said, gesturing. "Come, come. We have been holding your table for you. This way."

As he was leading them to their table, Leu looked around, then asked, "Where are Vito and Andy?"

"Ah," Tony said sadly. "Still at Farport with the Kataki hospital fleet. The modifications made to Andy were more extensive than we first thought. It will take a long time to correct them. And the surgeons are not sure that they will be able to reverse them all."

"I imagine Vito is less than amused," Leu responded.

A nasty grin, then, "He keeps talking about getting a nuke and returning to the facility. And if the Kataki did not follow the Path of Moderation, I believe they would send a hospital fleet to the Empire just to scorch the entire planet. It is not easy to tell, but they are most disturbed by what happened there.

"In fact," he went on. "I would not be surprised to hear that Kataki commandos had raided the place and destroyed it. I think they could rule that as justifiable violence.

"But come," he said. "We have much more enjoyable things to talk about. It is your anniversary, and we have prepared a feast for the both of you."

The meal was wonderful. Part of the restaurant had been roped off, leaving Leu and Tollel in semi privacy. The waitstaff unobtrusively brought each course as it was needed, and kept the wine and water glasses topped off.

At the end, a cake was brought out, along with ice cream. Tollel wondered at the birthday symbols on the cake.

"They are for you, we have combined the two," Tony explained. "That day was the first day of your new life, so we have made it a birthday for you, my dear, and an anniversary for the two of you.

"Now, eat up and enjoy."

Afterwards, they found Sgt Anders and his partner waiting for them outside in the corridor.

"Captain," he said. "Ms. Tollel. If you would come with me. Billie wants to see you."

"Any particular reason why?" Leu asked.

"Didn't really tell me, Captain," was the reply. "But Billie said to bring you in after your party. Don't think it's anything to worry about, though, otherwise they would have sent more patrols." A grin took the sting out of the words.

Going up to the top level, Sgt. Anders led them to a suite, knocked and ushered them in.

As Leu entered the rooms, a vixen morph looked up from her desk and said, "Captain Leucidion. It is good to see you again."

"I know you, don't I?" he answered. Mentally he subtracted ten kilos, and added a collar and whipmarks. "Of course," he went on, smiling. "You were that Draco's slave."

"Yes, Captain," she answered with a warm smile for him as she rose from her seat and came around the desk.

Leu glanced around the room and continued, "Looks like things are looking up for you a bit."

"Oh, yes, Captain," she continued. "Lord Aurelius was very angry with your defiance that day. He spent quite some time beating me because of your response."

Leu winced and said, "I'm sorry."

Aisha smiled and said, "Don't be Captain. Despite the beating, it was the best day I have had in a long time. The end result was that I was purchased and freed by Billie. I have been her companion ever since. Things are definitely, as you say, looking up for me."

At that moment, Billie came out of the next room. Seeing the two, she rushed forward and hugged Tollel, saying, "Leu, Tollel, I'm so happy you came."

Stepping back a little, she went on, "Oh my gatos! That dress! You look so beautiful."

Hastily looking at Leu, "You look good too, Captain."

Laughing, Leu responded, "Thanks for the compliment, kid. But I think you need to work on your sincerity a little more. You forget, I have to look at myself every morning when I shave.

"You, on the other hand," he went on. "are going to be quite the heartbreaker when you get your full growth."

Embarrassed, Billie glanced down, before saying, "Thank you, Captain. I think."

Then, more soberly, she went on, "But the reason I asked to see you is because I Saw something that involves you both. You have to buy someone in Siwa's Slave Market and Pet Emporium on Deseret, and you have to do it in the next 74 hours, or something really bad will happen."

"No!" Tollel declared. "I'm not buying anyone, or going to a slave market, for any reason.

"Leu, tell her..." Tollel's voice trailed off as she turned and saw the expression on Leu's face.

All trace of humor was gone, replaced by grave concern, as he said, "Something bad? What?"

"I don't know, for sure," she replied. "You know it doesn't work that way Captain. But I Saw both of you there, buying someone. And if you don't, really bad things will happen. So you have to go there now. It's important, to both of you."

Turning to Tollel, she went on, "I really am sorry, but you both have to be there to stop the bad thing from happening."

Leu sat down heavily, muttering "Frag! Why does drek like this always happen when we're happy? Couldn't it wait until we're in a bad mood instead, so we wouldn't mind it so much?"

Looking at Billie, he went on, "I hate Deseret. I haven't been there in years, not after what happened the last time. Why does it have to be Deseret?"

With a sad, wry smile, Billie replied, "Maybe because Fate has a nasty sense of humor?"

"And why can't Fate have a nasty sense of humor with someone else?" he asked.

Sighing unhappily, he went on, "Looks like we're going to Deseret."

"Leu!" Tollel started.

Interrupting her, he said, "We don't really have a choice in the matter. If Billie says we have to go to Deseret and buy some one, we have to go to Deseret and buy someone. She's one of the most powerful Sensitives around. She's almost never wrong."

"But, buying a slave," Tollel began.

"Look," Leu answered. "It's not like we'll keep him a slave. We're really freeing him. Isn't that a good thing?"

"I don't care!" Tollel responded, almost in tears. "I don't want to go to any slave market."

When Leu moved to embrace her, she turned away. As he dropped his arms helplessly, Billie came forward to comfort her. They walked off a little, and spoke in such low tones that Leu couldn't hear them.

While the two talked, Aisha approached Leu and handed him a credstick. "For the purchase, Captain," she said. "Billie said this should be sufficient. If it is not, just put in a request for reimbursement. It will be approved."

She looked over to where Tollel and Billie stood. "It will be all right, Captain. Billie will help her to understand that everything will work out for the best."

A few minutes later, Tollel and Billie were done talking. Dejectedly, Tollel walked over to stand by Leu. He was smart enough to keep his mouth shut as Sgt. Anders escorted them to their ship.

Walking beside a grim faced Leu, Tollel returned to the Scarborough Fair with her head lowered, ears flattened and tail drooping. Billie had convinced her that what they were doing was necessary, but it still saddened and depressed her.

When their launch window came up, the Fair set off for Deseret, containing a much less happy pair than had left it just hours earlier.

All in all, it was a terrible ending to what had been a wonderful day.