Men rarely (if ever) manage to dream up a god superior to themselves.Most gods have the manners and morals of a spoiled child.

--Lazarus Long

The dreams still came. They always came. Though he was longpast grieving, though he had long since moved on, still they came.

Sometimes, they would sneak up quietly, a glimpse out of the corner of aneye in that dream where Betty White serves guacamole to everyone but you. Othertimes, they were intense, and so palpably real that he woke up, gasping for airand disoriented until he looked around, and saw he was still in his apartment,still lying next to his wife, still alive.

He cursed, silently, every time the dreams came.

He had killed her; he had long since come to terms with it. Her death hadsaved thousands, even millions. And it was hard to argue with results. Thosebattles were done for, forever. There was peace now. And if he hadn't killedher--well, she wasn't listening to reason. She'd been insane. And he had donewhat he had to do, slaughtering her along with the best part of his soul.

He had done the right thing. He knew it.

Still came the dreams.

* * *

He was back there, back in Madison.Shrunk to two inches high. She kept him this height most of the time, though hewas in her complete control. Sometimes he was larger, the size of a Ken doll.Sometimes he was so small that he was barely visable to the naked eye. But hewas hers, utterly. The escape attempts had failed; besides, he wasn't sure he wantedto escape. When she was sane....

The rumble came. The box lid was removed, and he instinctively put his handup against the blinding light. She was standing over him, backlit, her longcurly red hair swaying like a crimson forest. She looked at him as one mightlook at a favorite pet. He relaxed. She was more sane than usual.

"LITTLE ONE," she said, her face betraying no emotion. "HOWARE YOU?"

"I'm fine, Liz," he said, reflexively, ignoring the little voicein the back of his head that said this isn't real, this is a dream, you'relying in your bed next to Teri. She isn't here, you aren't here. It's amirage....

"AND TERI?"

This puzzled him, briefly. The dream-him knew no Teri, save for a girl hehad known in high school. The now-him paused long enough to mutter anintemperate Ah. Something about now. Maybe now the dream will change scenes....

"She's wonderful," he said, and meant it.

"I AM GLAD. I NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT YOU WHEN I DO WHAT I MUST DONEXT."

"What are you talking about, Liz?"

She smiled, that brilliant white, dazzling smile he had come to love andfear. "YOU DON'T HONESTLY THINK I'M DEAD, DO YOU?"

Both soundtracks in his mind went quiet. Finally, he started to say,"Well yes, Liz, I killed you."

He started to, but her laughter drowned him out.

"SILLY. WHAT SPELL DID YOU USE? YOU DIDN'T KILL ME. YOU JUST DELAYED MEBY A FEW YEARS."

What spell did he use? Wait--he remembered. Shrink her to 1/5000th ofan inch, and bind it for ten years. No, she couldn't have survived it. Nochance.

"I'M TOUGHER THAN YOU GIVE ME CREDIT FOR, JAKE. I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. BUTI WISH YOU NO ILL. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THIS MESSAGE:STAY CLEAR OF MADISON.THE TOWN IS MINE."

"Liz--no. You know I'd have to defend Madison. I'm sworn to it."

"DO YOU WANT TO KILL ME AGAIN?"

The words hung in the air. He tried to respond, but before he could, a loudbuzzing filled the air, and suddenly, the dream world vanished.

* * *

He showered and shaved, trying to put last night's dream behind him.

It had been so real. Like he was back in Madison all over again, with her.

Liz--oh God, it had been so hard. He envied Scott. Scott had come to hiscrossroads, and he had gambled everything and everyone for love. And he'drolled boxcars.

But Liz, well, she was insane.

He'd done the right thing.

The drive to work was simple enough, listening to Tom Barnard bitch aboutimmigrants while stuck in traffic on Cedar. He needed to give more thought tomoving into the office--God knows he could make room for a mansion, if need be.Teri had broached the subject, but he'd demurred. There was something about thedrive that settled him, connected him to the real world. It would be easy tojust get sucked up into this, to become nothing but the GTS Purveyor. It wasgood to go home at the end of the night and watch American Idol andsnuggle with Teri. It made him more or less human.

He entered the office, and grabbed his morning coffee. Kari was in already,and Scott was settled in. Sarah's office was empty, of course--she rarely camein, what with her job as a law clerk for the Hennepin County Public Defender.

Jake smiled inwardly. Good for her, going off and doing something else. Itwould've been easy for her just to pal around with her husband, go Goddingaround. With the power they had, they could rule the world. But she simply wentto law school and studied hard and did her best. He had tremendous respect forher.

He knocked on Scott's door. "How's it going?" he asked.

"Just fine, boss," said Scott, looking up from his computer."Just going over the billing statements. Money's a little bit tightersince we hired on our star client."

"Make money, lose money, point is to have fun," said Jake,thinking idly he'd heard that somewhere before. "Besides, that's just onthe GTS Enterprises side of things. Our stipend from the GTS Society ensureswe'll never be living paycheck to paycheck--even if we shut 'er down now."

"Yeah, well, it would be nice if we could show a consistentprofit."

"Say, did you get the crystal out to Almovodar?"

"Of course, boss. But isn't he...."

"Gay? Well, yes. But he's also obviously interested in GTS. What hedoes with the crystal is up to him. The community owes him big."

"No pun intended, I'm sure," said Scott, grinning.

"Of course not. Now back to work."

He wandered into the office and slumped into his chair, and opened up hisemail. The date struck him. March 13. It had been almost ten years. He'ddefeated her on the Ides of March, he remembered, in 1993. Idly, he flippedthrough the inbox. Spam...Spam..."Thank You" from a gentleman at Northwestern University...Spam....

He cleared out the inbox and turned to the readings. Ingenious, really, the"listening" network that Scott had come up with. It measured GTSenergies across the globe. Well, in theory. Really, outside of the U.S., Canada,and Western Europe, most of the globe was acipher. But coverage here was good.

He looked it over, noting briefly that there appeared to be slightlyelevated readings in the upper midwest. Well, stick two adepts in St. Paul and you'll getthat from time to time, he thought.

He turned away from the readings, and back to the mounting paperwork infront of him. Well, time to get back to work, he thought.

* * *

The day ended, and Jake Thiessen closed up shop. Teri was out of town,visiting Victoria at Society Headquarters in Chicago.

He didn't want to go home alone, not tonight. He'd called her, midday, and related the dream.

"I'm never quite sure how to feel when you're dreaming about her,"Teri had said, simply.

"Oh, Christ, I'd never want to be with her. She was insane, Teri. Ijust--it rattles me, you know? I wish I could get past this, get it out of mysystem. I hoped telling you...."

He had trailed off. The conversation went away from the dream, and on to themore mundane and happy pieces of life.

The day ended, and Jake didn't want to be alone.

"Scott! Hey, are you busy tonight?"

"Nah. Sarah has class, and then she has to do research for about thirtyhours on her law review article. God bless WestLaw, I don't know how she'd dothe research if she had to go through the books."

"You want to grab a drink? I'm kinda on my own 'til Teri getsback."

"Sure," grinned Scott. He'd never admit it, but he loved gettingto hang out with Jake alone. Not that he didn't love Sarah, but he was in suchan intensively female-centric job that it was nice to get away from women oncein a while. "Let me give the wife a call and clear it."

* * *

Sweeney's is a little neighborhood bar not too far from the Cathedral--andnot too far from what used to be a bad part of St. Paul. It has everything a good localneeds to have--good drink selection, reasonable prices, an appreciation for theregulars.

Jake had been a regular here, briefly, a long time ago. He still homed in onthe place when he needed a comfortable place to pass the time. He ordered thescotch, drank it neat as he'd learned to, and sighed.

"I've gotta say, I've seen you happier," said Scott. "Youmissing Teri?"

"No. I mean, yeah. But that's not it." Jake sipped a little morescotch, chased with water. What had he told Scott once? The price to achievewhat we want is awfully fucking high.

"What then?"

"Madison."

"Madison."Scott rolled the word around, trying to load it with as much love and fury andanguish as Jake gave it. "You've never told me exactly what happened in Madison. I've read thebasic reports, but--"

"The basic reports are woefully inaccurate."

Scott stopped short. "But haven't you--"

"I gave them what information was needed, that's all. I wouldn't giveher up. That's the one decent thing I could do for her."

The air was thick for a while. And then, slowly, Jake said the words.

"Scott, I think it's time I told you about what happened to me in Madison. All of it."

Scott swallowed. Jake's exploits in Madisonwere legendary. They'd popped up once or twice in odd comments, or briefmentions of this or that.

"Okay, Jake, I'm listening," he said, taking a swig of his beer.

"What’s gone and what’s past help/Should be pastgrief."

William Shakespeare
The Winter's Tale, Act III, Scene 2

It was a crisp fall day in Madison, the kind you get in the uppermidwest in early September. The air was full of energy, and the world seemedsomehow more real than it normally would've. It was a Saturday. The Badgerswere playing an away game at Washington,so the campus was placid. I walked down Bascom hill toward Library Mall,drinking in the aura of my new home.

I was two weeks removed from Minnesota,and I was feeling pretty good about life. Today I planned to go down to State Street andkick around for a while, maybe grab a Gyro at the Parthenon, maybe try to sneakin and grab a beer at one of the myriad bars. I expected it would be a goodday.

I walked through the mall, half-listening to the street preachers tellingfolks that the end of the world was near. I passed by the fountain, and I sawher.

She was beautiful--long red hair, green eyes, a flawless, athletic physique.She was short--no more than 5'2"--but somehow she seemed bigger. I wasinstantly aroused the way you can only be when you're eighteen.

I passed by without talking to her. She was older than me, I could tell, andshe was out of my league. But her image was burned in my brain. I didn't knowat the time, but that was the first time I ever laid eyes on Liz Anderson.

* * *

Liz was a junior. She'd been at Madisonlong enough to know the ropes, long enough to fall in love with the city. Ondays when she was a little more giddy than usual, she'd tell her friends it washer city, that she owned it.

She was healing; her friends knew it, she knew it. She was healing from thatday in March when her date had taken her further than she'd wanted to go. Nopoint pressing charges; it was her word against his, and there just wasn'tenough other evidence to support her claim. She'd vowed revenge at the time,but now she knew that there was no point in that, either; if she killed him,she'd go to jail. She could try to beat him up, but he was much bigger thanher. So she worked it out as best she could, with friends and the folks at thecounseling center, and as time went by the wound scabbed over. It still cameout when she was a little more manic than usual, or a little more down.

She was in the library, poking around the back shelves. She was doingresearch on the Holocaust for her history class; a 20-page term paper loomed,and she wanted to get a start on things. She was flipping through a series ofbooks, including one by a holocaust survivor.

The book was old and worn--the publish date was 1952--and it seemed to callout to Liz. She opened it up and flipped through the pages. The smell of musttold her that this book had probably not been opened in thirty years. All thebetter to quote it, she thought, as she flipped.

Out of nowhere, a piece of paper dropped from the book. She bent down toretrieve it, looking at the folded piece of paper carefully. Curious, sheunfolded it, the yellow parchment almost falling apart from age. It was ahand-written note, in ancient black ink. What she saw would change her forever.

Die Grundregeln des Wachsens und des Werdens kleiner

The principles of growing and shrinking? she thought, as she lookedat the German text. She'd studied German for five years, had taken the AP teston it. She spoke it well enough to read the document in front of her.

It was a series of seven principles, seven incantations. Straightforward.And a simple notation: "Wenn eine Person diese Grundregeln mit malacein ihrem Herzen hervorruft, dann wird sie sicher verdorben, und ihr Verstandwird bewölkt. Diese Warnung, dann. Verwenden Sie diese Grundregeln nur für IhreVerteidigung gegen Männer."

Use these rules only for your defense against men, she mused. Shewould.

She carefully folded the paper and placed it in her breast pocket. Shequietly slipped out of the library, and back to the dorms.

* * *

She couldn't say why she thought the paper was real. It read like badscience fiction. But in her heart, she knew. They were there, the mainspells of GTS, the ones you've practiced and used: grow, shrink, parry, agereduction, claris, morpheus, and transport. Each one detailed, with rules andinformation. The way shrinking makes you stronger, the way claris gives youeyes in someone else's head.

Liz didn't know it, but she'd stumbled upon an original copy of the secretof GTS. The copy she held was written out in Bergen-Belsenby a Catholic Priest, who happened to be a Keeper of the Secret--a part of theorganization that predated the Cadre. He was so disgusted by the Nazis and thehavoc they had created that he gave the secret to a woman and her family,convinced that women could not fail but run the world better than men. Thisbetrayal of the secret--no betrayal in my mind--led to the formation of theLeague. And of course, we all know how that played out.

The woman had made three copies of the Principles. One found its way to theLeague. One has been lost to history. And one showed up in that book at the University of Wisconsin--Madison. And eventually,in the hands of Liz.

* * *

"Do you think it was coincidence?" asked Scott, sipping a Summit Maibock. "Ordo you think someone planted it there for Liz?"

"I don't know," allowed Jake. "I've long since learnedthat there is a destiny that shapes our ends. For whatever reason, though, shefound it."

* * *

Liz studied the document well into the night, well after her roommate had goneto bed. This was it. This was the key to it. This was her revenge.

She decided to test it out. Holding the paper, she incanted the shrinkingspell. Seconds later, she was two inches tall--the height she had hoped for.

She let out a whoop! and fell to the ground, laughing. After a few moments,she restored herself, and went to bed. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, she'd have herrequital.

* * *

Greg Vanderhague was a cocky, arrogant bastard, or so I'm told. He was a Fiji,the kind of guy who was on the football team in high school (but not the starquarterback), who is in the frat in college (but not an officer), who thinkshe's God's gift to women (but treats them like shit). He was a bit of a prettyboy, but that was more than trumped by the depths of his stupidity. If not forhis ineffable charisma, he would have been a loser.

But ah, that ineffable charisma. He could be described by a line from MyFair Lady: "Oozing charm from every pore/he oiled his way across thefloor." As such, he did get his share of women--for a while,anyhow, until they realized what a dunderhead he was. And he got his share ofsex--sometimes, by putting a toe--or other body part--over the line.

He was meandering down Langdon, heading for class, or maybe not--he thoughtmaybe a brewski would be good, it being the late hour of eleven A.M. Or maybehe'd stop and see that one girl--what's her name? Julie? She gave good head, orhad last week. Yeah, maybe he'd see if she was up for a little hide the banana.Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her approaching. He admired the body forhalf a second before he realized who it was. Oh, shit, that crazy bitch whocried rape on him. Well, yeah, technically she'd said no, but come on,she wanted it. They all wanted it, really, even if they said they didn't. Hecould see it in her eyes.

He started to turn when she called out to him. "Greg!" she said,smiling a winning smile.

"Uh, hi, uh--"

"Liz. Liz Anderson. You probably don't remember me," she said,tossing her hair.

"Uh--sure I do. Liz. Right. Um...so, how have you been?"

"Look, I know it's a little awkward," she said seductively,leaning in and dropping her voice a half-octave. "I know I said somethings I shouldn't before, but, well, I was scared. But you were so good...Imean, I just wanted to thank you."

Greg's mind was reeling. This was not an unusual development. The wheelswent round until they finally stopped on "SHE--WANTS--ME."

It's hell being that stupid.

"Um, well, yeah, well I knew you wanted it. You were justnervous."

"Well, duh! I mean, you're so much man, and I'm just me. I mean,I just wanted to pay you back what I owe you," she said, running herfinger down his chest. "That's all."

* * *

Five minutes later, they were back at the house. They bounded up the backstairs and into Greg's private room. He had asked her for a blowjob, and she'dassented. Well, there you go, proof in Greg's prowess. He was stripped nakedbefore she even removed a stitch of clothing. Liz turned to him and smiled.

"Oh Greg? Time for me to pay you back what you're owed."

He smiled, and leaned back, his tumescent cock ready for her lips topleasure him.

"Shrink," he heard, "1/24th scale."

What a funny think for her to say, he thought, as he waited. After afew seconds, he opened his eyes and started to sit up. What are you waitingfor? he was going to ask. He didn't have all day...well he did, but that wasbeside the point....

He didn't say any of that. He sat up, and his mind went blank.

This was not an unusual development.

But what had happened was. He was still on his bed, but it was enormous. Andthat girl--she was approaching him--oh Christ, she was enormous. She was ahundred feet tall. Oh, fuck oh fuck oh fuck....

"Well, Greg, I'm paying you back. You know, it's funny. You look sopathetic down there that I almost feel sorry for you.

"Almost." She grinned down at the tiny man, now scooting backwardsaway from her, a look of terror on his face.

"Where are you going? I didn't say you could leave." She reacheddown and grabbed him firmly, lifting him up into the air with a jerk.

Greg's stomach did flips as she held him in front of her enormous face. Hewas still trying to figure out what had happened. I mean, she had come on tohim, but now...his brain hurt. "I thought you wanted me!" he calledout. He could see immediately it was the wrong thing to say, though he didn'tknow why.

"Greg, you're an idiot. And unless I stop you, you'll do to other womenwhat you did to me." She grinned. She had been unsure about this lastpart, but now she knew it was perfect. Poetic justice. "You know, you likepussy so much, I think I'll give you a close-up view." She pulled herpanties down a bit and put him up her skirt, enclosing him between her thighs.

Greg was staring up at the enormous twat, trying to figure out what she wasgoing to do to him. He thought about reaching out to touch it, but he didn'tdare.

Then, suddenly, the pressure came. The thighs swung shut tightly, pushinghim into the pussy, forcing the air from his lungs. He gasped as Liz crushedhim slowly, his brain trying to understand what was happening. But in the end,it failed him. His last thought, incongruously, was of Coors Light beer. Or soI like to think. He was too dumb to ever realize why Liz had marked him fordestruction.

She reached into her panties after five minutes of squeezing and removedGreg's lifeless body. She laughed at it, and then shrank it away to dust size.She walked out of the house free as a bird, and lighter than air.

She thought as she walked down Langdon of how many women had gone throughwhat she had. How many women faced rapists and sexual predators, with no hopefor recourse. She could avenge them. She could give them justice. She had thepower.

This city was hers. She owned it.

* * *

"So where do you come into the story?" asked Scott, as he duginto the pasta. They were on their third round--time to start eating, or itwould be a very drunk night.

"Soon enough. But you'll miss a lot of background if we just skip tomy part of the story. This is all important, Scott. It's important you knowthat Liz started with the best of intentions."

Jake sipped his scotch, and said, sadly. "But it got away from her.It always does."

"So how do you know all the stuff that happenedbefore you got into the picture?" asked Scott. It was a good yarn, but hewas starting to wonder if he should call Sarah. This could take all night, atthe rate D.X. was telling it.

"Eh? She told me. Told me everything she ever did. Sometimes she wasproud of it. Sometimes less so."

"Then maybe she made it up. I mean, maybe her rapist didn'tdeserve--"

"Are you calling her a liar?"

Jake's countenance was cold, his eyes blazing.

"No, I just mean, maybe she misremembered."

Jake pulled back, and sighed. "I investigated pretty thoroughlyafter--after. By all accounts Greg Vanderhague was as big a jerk as she toldme. I won't waste two tears over the guy; other than his parents, I don't thinkanyone did. But are you gonna let me tell the story, or are we going to debateall night?"

"You're right, Dix. So she'd just decided to become Madison's avenging angel,right?"

Jake smiled a thin smile. "Right."

* * *

The next few days were a blur for Liz. She couldn't believe that she'dactually killed Greg. Crushed him to death between her thighs, next to thething he'd taken from her by force. Part of her was sickened by what she'ddone. He'd deserved it; she truly believed a rapist deserves death. But thatdidn't mean she didn't feel some guilt about being the judge, jury, andexecutioner.

Whatever qualms she felt about killing Greg, however, were more than trumpedby the feeling of peace it had given her. Her friends had mentioned it to her.So had her roommate, Sue.

Sue Nguyen was the daughter of Hmong immigrants, the first in her family togo to college. She was bright, witty, and insightful. She was also drop-deadgorgeous; I mention this only in passing. She had broached the topic with Liztwo days after the incident.

"I don't know what it is about you, but you seem happier than I've seenyou since...."

"Since March?" asked Liz, who was presently painting her toenailsa deep blood red.

"Well...yeah. Now that you mention it."

"Maybe I'm finally over it," said Liz, carefully buffing the nailsto a mirror shine. "It's been seven months. I don't know, I just feelmore...in control." With that, she laughed in such a way that Sue was putoff a bit--it seemed, well, evil.

"That's...that's good, Liz. I'm glad." Sue went back to herreading, trying to put the odd laugh out of her mind. Well, heck, Liz had beenraped. She was allowed a little weirdness once in a while. And she did seemhappy. That was a good thing.

As for Liz, she was getting ready to go out alone. It was a Saturday night,and she was going to try out her new found powers. She'd go down to Langdon andsee what was going on--and see what she could do to help.

* * *

The Claris spell still disoriented her briefly, but it was a quick way offiguring out what was going on--who was safe, who wasn't. The Sigma Chi partyseemed clean, she noted happily as she leaned against the wall. Nobody seemedto be getting groped beyond reason, and while there was plenty of fornicationgoing on, it all seemed pleasantly consensual. She didn't mind consensual sex.She was after the nonconsensual kind.

I'm going to have to get a costume, she mused to herself. Micro-Girl,or Giganta, or something like that. She laughed a little as she turned thecorner and walked by the Langdon.

Casually, she reached out to try a few minds. A boy and a girl were engagedin hot and heavy action. She tarried just a moment in the mind of the woman asher boyfriend licked her clitoris softly, achingly slow. Liz pulled out of themoment feeling happy and calm. Perhaps she'd go home.

She found her way to the Lakeshore Path, and walked along the darkened pathback to the dorm. She was relieved. She was starting to think that she didn'twant to be an avenging angel. Maybe it was better just to be a coed again,graduate, and move on with life.

A chill wind blew off of Lake Mendota. Liz shiveredinvoluntarily. And then she heard it.

It was muffled, coming from up the hill a bit. She turned, trying to hearwhat was being said. After a few moments, she gave up. "Claris," shewhispered, putting her consciousness in the mind of a girl.

She was on the ground, a rough hand covering her mouth. She struggled toscream, but he had her pinned well. The glove was thick and leather, resistingher teeth. He was trying to spread her open with the other hand, causing herintense pain, but he didn't care. He was going to take her, she could see it inthe eyes that peered out from the mask.

Liz pulled herself out of the woman's mind and started sprinting up thehill. "Back off! I know you're up here, and I know what you're doing. Getoff of her now!"

She saw them now, silhouettes in the moonlight. He stood up to face her, andpulled out the knife. "Fuck you, what'cha gonna do, bitch? Tell you what,you get on the ground, and I'll do you after I do her."

She slowed now. He was backing away. He was just looking for an exitstrategy--he didn't want to kill the women, at least not both of them.

But Liz was undeterred, and more than a little angry at the arrogance."What am I gonna do? This," she said, raising her right hand.

* * *

When he woke up, the man found himself unable to move. He struggled to lookaround, and saw himself in a field of brown grasses, about the same height ashe was. He looked down, and screamed, or would have if he had lips.

He was one of the blades of grass.

But that wasn't right. It wasn't grass at all. It was...hair.

He saw a slight clearing off in the distance. A yawning chasm. A familiarscent wafted from it.

My God, it was a giant pussy.

He tried to scream, to run, but he couldn't. He was no longer human. He wasjust a hair in the bush of a nineteen-year-old sophomore.

His life from that point on was grim routine. Watch her pee, watch hermasturbate, watch helplessly as she and her boyfriend had sex. Watch as theyears went by, and babies emerged from the great chasm in the distance. As faras I know, he's still watching today.

* * *

She helped the girl to her feet, helped her pull her panties back up and getback to a state of dress.

"Thank you," said the girl. "What did you do? Where did hego?"

"He won't bother you any more," said Liz, simply. "He'sgone."

The girl nodded. She didn't know what had just happened, but she wasgrateful. "I...I need to get back to my dorm."

"Where are you?"

"Bradley."

Liz smiled. "Okay, I'll walk you back."

They walked in silence along the Lakeshore Path, until they reached theLakeshore dorms. "Thank you again," said the young woman, turning tolook at Liz. "I never even got your name."

"I never mentioned it," said Liz. "Just think of me asanother coed who knows what you've been through."

The girl nodded. "My name is Angie. You saved my life. If you needanything, ask and I'll do it."

Liz smiled. "Just remember, it wasn't your fault. You need feel noshame. He was an animal, and that's all."

With that, Liz turned, and headed back towards Elizabeth Waters Hall. Shefelt a lightness in her step. She'd helped Angie. Saved her from rape, forsure; probably indeed saved her life.

It was her destiny, she thought, to end this evil that men could do. It washer destiny to fight for women on this campus. She would have to keep up herpatrols.

And she had to work on that costume--or at least the mask.

* * *

Liz didn't catch another rapist for two weeks. Despite what some feministliterature asserts, rapists are not common; they're nearly as rare asmurderers.

But they do exist. And it was only a matter of time before Liz had theopportunity to exact revenge on behalf of her sisters.

She was at a party at the Theta Chi house. Her friends had drug her alongafter noticing that she wasn't exactly doing a lot of socializing. It was agood time, she thought, though she demurred on a few passes her way; she wasn'treally interested in men right now. Instead, she danced and watched as theparty unfolded, ready to do what she had to do.

She saw him early on. He was grabbing women's asses, and getting shot downregularly. Liz' eyes narrowed; it wasn't rape, not quite, but it was close. Shekept a vigilant watch on him as he groped his way around the dance floor. Afterhe cupped a freshman girl's breast, Liz wanted to scream. The girl didscream, and threw a drink in his face. He just laughed and walked away.

It was at this moment Liz made a fateful decision.

She raised her hand and murmured, "Shrink, 1:576 scale." Thisdone, she went back to dancing.

She didn't realize she'd turned a corner; not at that instant. The guy was alout, but he didn't deserve to be shrunk; he wasn't a rapist, just a cad. Ofcourse, Liz told herself that she hadn't killed him; she'd just shrunk him to1/8". But we know different.

* * *

"How do we know different? He could've survived," said Scott."I did."

"You were a bit bigger than 1/8 inch tall. But your point is welltaken. He could've survived. People have. But he didn't. He died abouttwo weeks later, alone and scared.

* * *

Liz would check up on him from time to time, to see what he was doing. Hehad bravely survived being shrunk on the dance floor--not easy when half-miletall people are moving all around you. Fortunately, he'd been over by the doorwaywhen Liz struck. He was able to escape into a corner, where he tried to figureout a way to get in touch with somebody.

He had an opportunity almost immediately. A rather inebriated Chi Omegastumbled over to the corner and plopped down on the ground, pulling her kneesup to her chin and burying her face in her hands. She was wearing a shortskirt, which the man quickly entered. He crawled up the crotch of her pantieswithout hesitating a second; he was able to turn off the lothario act whensurvival was on the line.

But of course, she got up eventually, and went back to her sorority. Shepeeled off the panties, which he had clung to somehow, and tossed them in thelaundry. To make a long story short, he spent the next two weeks trying to getin touch with one of the girls in the house. He came close a couple times--oncehe even got into the ear of one of the girls, and if she hadn't been halfstoned, she may have realized that she wasn't hearing voices. But in the end,he finally met his maker by falling onto a bed while that stoned girl made loveto an equally stoned freshman girl; he was crushed under the breast of thefreshman, a breast he'd cupped at a party two weeks before.

* * *

"That's a helluva story," said Scott, pensively.

"It's hardly the only one," said Jake. "Once Liz decidedthat low-grade lotharios were worthy of death, well, let's just say thingspicked up a little. Over the next three weeks, three more guys disappeared.Well, when five people disappear from a college campus in a seven week period,it's bound to come out. And when there are rumors that a possibly mythicvigilante calling herself 'The Coed' is involved, well, that's when thingsstart to get interesting.

"It's also when I enter the story," said Jake, sipping his Macallan."And when I enter the world of GTS."

Meanwhile, in New York, an intriguing report was coming in from a fieldoperative.

Veronica Ceres listened as the woman on the phone detailed the goings-on in Madison. Nothingconcrete--men disappearing, rumors of someone calling herself "TheCoed," one rumor that the men seemed to just disappear.

Ceres gnawed on her pencil. She'd risen a fair ways in the hierarchy of theAthena League, but she'd failed to deliver the Big One.

Not that this was unusual; nobody had delivered the Big One. The Cadre hadpretty much foiled the League at all turns.

This thing in Madison.It wasn't necessarily GTS-related. But it might be. Could she afford not togamble on it?

She hung up the phone, and called her travel agent. She'd get in position.Just in case.

* * *

Liz sat and watched TV, trying to shake the odd buzzing in her mind.

It was always there, ever since she started to exact her revenge. Like thesoundtrack of a movie turned down almost to nothing, barely perceptable, exceptfor that occasional blip where you'd hear a car crash, or a scream, or a strayword.

She knew what the buzzing was telling her to do: go out, get vengeance.There were bad people out there, and she could do something about it.

She wished Sue was in. She needed someone to talk to. But Sue was offstudying.

Liz got up and turned off the TV.

* * *

It was late in the evening on a Sunday--Saint Crispin's day, as I recall.Liz walked through the cool streets of Madison,the chill breeze of early winter whipping through her bones.

She was heading for the southeast dorms, a likely location of illicitactivity. She shook involuntarily as the wind buffeted her, wondering why shewas out that night. She just knew she had to be. It was a duty. It was somethingmore.

Mentally, she started flipping through the rolodex of minds in Ogg Hall,trying to get a fix on any negative behavior. She had gained a great deal ofcontrol in the past few weeks. She could see the minds like apicture-in-picture, flipping back and forth while still utterly aware of whatwas going on.

She stopped on one. A man was pressuring a woman. No, it was more thanpressure. It was eerily similar to something she'd been through.

She turned, and entered the building.

* * *

I entered the elevator and headed to my dorm room. I had been goofingaround, playing on a MUD that my friend had showed me--MUDdog, as I recall. Itwas entertaining enough--a text version of D&D. I was kind of addicted toit, I thought, and I was probably going to have to get un-addicted, if I wasgoing to do well in class this week.

I flipped through my copy of The Badger Herald, and chuckled at theanti-Perot editorial. The guy writing it had some skills, I thought, as theelevator stopped. I exited, and headed to my room.

I put the key into the door, and opened it.

My roommate jumped up off his bed. "Christ, don't you knock?" hesaid, as an attractive young woman quickly rose and exited past me. "Shit,Julie...aw, Hell."

Tom Neiderman was a hard-drinkin' guy from Milwaukee,who seemed out of place in Madison.I disliked him intensely, but we were roommates, at least through the end ofthe year.

"Tom, it's my room too. If you want privacy, you've got to give me somefucking warning," I said, as I tossed my jacket onto my bed. I wasthinking I should turn around and head to the lounge--do some reading, andmaybe watch some TV. I grabbed my text of Plato's Republic and turnedaround.

* * *

She stood in the doorway, a picture of beauty. She was taller than she'dbeen before, by a couple inches. But I recognized her immediately.

She didn't look happy.

"So, a little date rape, eh? Boy, you picked a bad night to try that.Shrink, 1:24 scale."

Suddenly, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach, and the world seemed toslow. I saw the walls start to rush away from me, all at once. But that wasn'tpossible. I looked at the girl, and she was taller. Six feet. Eight feet.Twenty feet. But this wasn't possible.

When the ride stopped, she appeared to be a hundred feet tall. I gasped asshe took steps into the room, the floor shaking with each vast footfall.

"BOTH OF YOU NEED TO COME OUT WHERE I CAN SEE YOU," she thundered.I knew she wasn't referring to me--I was already in the middle of the room, andshe could certainly see me. Nevertheless, I walked towards her, looking up hermassive denim-clad leg to her face, ten stories above me.

Tom came out too, shaking like a leaf. I'm not sure why it never occurred toeither of us to hide; maybe we both instinctively knew that someone who couldshrink us to three inches tall wouldn't be dissuaded by our merely hiding.

The building-sized woman in front of us crouched down, and I gasped. So muchmass dropping so quickly--and then freezing perfectly. It was unreal. I lookedat the girl, and found myself getting aroused in spite of myself. So muchpower....

I was broken from my reverie by her booming voice. "YOU TRIED TO RAPE AGIRL, DIDN'T YOU?" This was aimed at Tom. I turned towards him. He wastrembling, and the look on his face gave him away.

"You tried to rape her?" I said, advancing on him. "Youcocksucker. You fucking son of a bitch." I was onrushing him now, andwithout thinking, I tackled him.

* * *

It had been four years before that she'd been raped.

My sister. Mindy. She was attending Rice on an engineering scholarship. Thiswas before my dad died, but after my mom. Mindy had come back from class, andwas studying in her room when the bastard struck. Broad fucking daylight. Thepolice said she struggled, but there's not much defense against a knife whenyou're bound and gagged. Happily, they found the rapist. And happily, he livedin Texas, sohe went to the chair.

But not before my dad passed on. Not before he had to travel to Texas to identify hisdaughter's broken body.

* * *

I caught him with a roundhouse across the jaw, not even conscious of thebizarre circumstances that surrounded me. Suddenly, I found myself lifted offof him--and then up--and up--and up.

The fingers were vise-like. I struggled, but there was little point in that.They turned me to face her.

Her red hair flowed like a raging torrent around her face. Her massive mawcould easily surround me now. It was drawn tight. Her face was the size of abillboard, a huge one. I tried to gather it all in, but it was like trying totake in a forest while your face was plastered against tree bark. Her greeneyes fixed me like a fly in amber. There was something odd behind them, somekind of internal debate I could barely recognize. "YOU," she said."WHAT PUNISHMENT WOULD YOU GIVE THIS MAN FOR ATTEMPTING RAPE?"

I thought not a second. "I'd kill him," I said.

"DOES HE DESERVE DEATH?"

"All rapists do." I wasn't lying, or trying to impress her. Ibelieved it--still believe it.

"WELL THEN," she said, turning to look at Tom, who lay prone fortyfeet below. "DEATH IT IS. SHRINK, 1:100 SCALE."

With that, Tom dwindled to nothing. Then she stood, and with tremendousforce, brought her tennis shoe down on the spot on the linoleum he hadoccupied. Then, for good measure, drug the foot. "CLARIS," sheintoned, cocked her head, and smiled.

I was trembling. She turned back to me, and my stomach flipped. I'dwitnessed a vigilante killing. A just one, but still. "NOW, WHAT AM I TODO WITH YOU?" she asked. It was a rhetorical question. "YOU AREBLAMELESS. YOU EVEN AGREED WITH ME ABOUT THE FATE A RAPIST DESERVES. I COULDJUST LET YOU GO, RETURN YOU TO YOUR NORMALSIZE."

For a second, my heart leapt. But it sank moments later.

"NO, I CAN'T DO THAT. YOU'VE SEEN ME, YOU KNOW WHO I AM. IF I LET YOUGO, YOU COULD LEAD THE AUTHORITIES TO ME."

"They'd never believe me," I said, trying to persuade her."Besides, I know if I told anyone I'd risk Tom's fate. You can trustme."

She looked at me, and I could see she was torn. But she shook her head,sadly. "NO, I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T TAKE THAT RISK. I'LL HAVE TO DISPOSE OFYOU."

She started to set me on the floor. I was crying, but I knew I had nochoice. I thought I might try to run as soon as I hit the floor. I'd have totry to live, even if only mouse-sized. It was a long shot, but the only chanceI had.

But before we reached the floor, the hand stopped.

"I CAN'T DO IT. I CAN'T KILL YOU," she said, one tear running downher cheek. "YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. BUT I CAN'T LET YOU GO, EITHER."With that, she rose back up to her full height, and opened her purse.

"I'M AFRAID YOU'LL HAVE TO STAY WITH ME. I CAN'T RISK ANYONE FINDINGOUT ABOUT MY SECRET."

With that, she unceremoniously dumped me into her handbag, and zippered itshut.

* * *

As the handbag swayed and I tried to avoid motion sickness, I tried to wrapmy head around this bizarre turn of events.

This afternoon I'd been a normal guy. Now, I was smaller than a smurf,prisoner of a probable serial killer. Because this woman was almost certainlyThe Coed, the vigilante who'd been kidnapping guys. Now I knew why they weredisappearing.

Were they all rapists? If so, I sure felt okay about her killing thebastards. Heck, I might even offer my assistance. If she'd unshrink me, I couldtalk to guys--hey, guys talk. Maybe I could offer her that....

No. I had to face reality. I was probably going to be stuck at three inchesfor the rest of my life.

I tried to think of what this meant, and struggled to. Images of Gulliver'sTravels swam in my mind, and The Borrowers. But they were all wrong,I knew immediately. The world was a big, scary place, and one lone person wasgoing to have trouble surviving in it without help.

Somewhere in this, the image of my captress pushed its way into my mind. Sobig, so powerful, so beautiful. Out of my league. But she was going to takecare of me. I was going to stay with her.

There was a bright side to this.

It was pretty dim, but it was brighter than the other side.

* * *

It had been a few hours. I'd been set down--the purse had, anyhow, and Iheard talking between my captress and another woman. I had tried to sleep alittle, but my sleep was fitful. Well, I shouldn't have been surprised--I wastrying to sleep in a purse. Finally, the purse began to move again, before itwas set down. The sky parted--well, the zipper, anyhow--and the face of thewoman looked down on me with concern.

"I'M SORRY TO LEAVE YOU IN THERE SO LONG. I DIDN'T WANT MY ROOMMATE TOSEE YOU. I FINALLY GAVE UP AND HEADED TO THE LOUNGE." She reached in andgently hoisted me out, and set me on the table in front of her.

I was just below breast level, which afforded me a spectacular view. Still,I forced my head northwards--I did not want to be caught ogling her. "I'MLIZ," she said, simply.

"Jake," I replied. "Jake Thiessen."

"WELL, JAKE, WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU?" She had adifferent countenance than before. Her face was softer, and her eyes wereclear. "I WISH I HADN'T SHRUNK YOU."

"I wish I hadn't been in the room. If I would have hung out in the labhalf an hour more...." I paused. "No, if I'd have waited, I wouldn'thave interrupted Tom. And that girl would have been raped, not justassaulted."

She looked surprised. "YOU'D TRADE THIS FOR HER SAFETY?"

"Yes," I said. "Yes, I think I would."

Liz looked down at me, stunned. She'd later tell me that at that moment, shestarted to have feelings for me. But she simply said, "YOU'RE A GOODPERSON, JAKE. I'M SORRY TO DO THIS TO YOU. ARE YOU HUNGRY?"

"No, I'm not. Thanks, though."

"WELL," she said, "YOU'RE PROBABLY TIRED. HERE, COME WITH ME,I'LL FIND YOU A PLACE IN THE ROOM TOSLEEP."

She picked me up in her hand, and cupped the hand around me. The flesh wassoft and yielding, and I felt utterly safe. She carried me gingerly back to theroom, and suddenly, opened the hand, dropping me into a drawer.

The cliché in Giantess fiction is that the man is made to sleep in theGiantess' underwear drawer. I had no such luck. She put me into her deskdrawer, and dropped in a handkerchief. She mouthed "Good night" tome, and seemed to wait just a second, as if she had something more to say,before she shook her head and walked away.

The lights were doused a few moments later, and I was left in darkness towonder what fate had in store for me.

* * *

There was silence between Scott and Jake for a moment or two. Finally,Scott said, "I never knew how your sister died. I'm so sorry, Jake."

Jake sipped his scotch, and looked at his watch. "I'm really tired,Scott. What say we continue this tomorrow? We'll clear the decks right away,and I'll continue regaling you with stories of my youth. Hell, bring Sarah. Sheprobably could stand to hear the story, too."

"Okay, boss. You want to settle up?"

"'Son me," Jake said, as he dropped a hundred dollar bill onthe table. He rose, and headed out to his car. Time to head home, give Teri acall, and see how she was doing.

And hope the dreams didn't come.

"Jesus," said Sarah, as she listened to thestory Scott relayed to her.

"No doubt." Scott felt like he'd been run over by a truck. Andnot just because of the four beers. He'd never seen Jake so...well, so down.D.X. was the sort of guy who was generally upbeat, the sort of guy who couldtake six irregulars into the heart of the League, and make everyone believethat they could win.

"Good thing I don't have class tomorrow morning. I think I probablyneed to be there. It sounds like he needs some people to talk to."

Scott sat down next to her. And then quickly embraced her. Jake's storywas also bringing up some old wounds. Scott had been orphaned, too. And shrunkagainst his will. At least he'd found Sarah.

Thank God he'd found Sarah.

* * *

"So do you feel better for telling him?"

"A little. I just want to get free of it. There's a piece of mestuck there, Teri. And I've been trying like Hell to free it. I just want tofree it. Or cut it off."

"No Jake," said Teri. "You don't want to cut it off. Youdon't want to lose your connection to Madison.It's part of who you are, and part of what you do."

Jake sighed. "Teri, I love you," he said into the phone.

"I know," she said, quietly. "I love you too. Pick me upat the airport at five?"

"I'll be there," said Jake. They said their goodbyes, and hehung up the cell phone.

He looked at the gate of the cemetery. It had been a while since he'dbeen here to visit her. It was late, and the gates were locked, but that washardly a problem. He shrunk the car until he could drive it under the gate, andproceeded a ways in before restoring it to the size of a remote control car.

He drove the paths by feel. He knew exactly where he was headed. Finally,he stopped at a corner of the cemetery, near a stand of willows.

He exited the car and restored his height to full. "Claris," hesaid softly. The guard was watching TV, and eating pizza; it would be a whilebefore she did a round. He walked forward, and saw them.

Donald Andrew Thiessen, born July 8, 1948, died August 12, 1991

Mary Elizabeth Thiessen, born October 4, 1948, died March 4, 1988

Melinda Elizabeth Thiessen, born March 11, 1970, died December 4, 1989

And Jake fell to his knees, and he cried.

* * *

And the dreams came.

"Little One," she said to him, "did you never loveme?"

"Of course I loved you."

"Then why did you try to kill me?"

...Try to kill her. There it was again. Her insistence that she wasalive. In his dream, he tried to initiate the "Claris" spell, but tono avail. No, she was surely dead.

"It doesn't matter, Little One. Only a few more days."

* * *

The office was a little more somber than usual. Scott and Sarah werechatting about the daily news, the run-up to war. They had barely noticed thetime--had they, they would have seen that D.X. was late. That's unusual.

A few minutes later, he appeared, bearing a box of Krispy Kreme donutsand some juice. "Sorry, guys, it was a weird night last night. Here,enjoy," he said, dropping the food on the conference table.

Scott and Sarah filed in, both took a donut, and both sat down. Andwaited. D.X. smiled. "So...story time, eh?"

Scott chuckled. "Well, I've brought Sarah up to speed...."

"Oky doky. So let's see," said D.X., munching a donut."Where were we?"

* * *

I awoke disoriented. I sat up, and instantly regretted it.

I was still in the drawer that Liz had put me in.

I had been secretly hoping she'd unshrink me while I was asleep, leave me tothink that it had been some odd dream. But she hadn't.

The drawer was open a crack. Carefully, I crept to the edge. I could reachthe top if I stretched. Doing my best, I pulled myself up. I found to mysurprise that it was not as difficult as it would have been if scaling asimilar wall full-sized. I pulled myself onto my elbows, and looked around theroom.

It was a pretty standard dorm room in Elizabeth Waters Hall, the all-women'sdorm. "The Virgin Vault," I snorted derisively under my breath; ofcourse, that wasn't quite true. And, backtracking in my mind, I realized thatif my sister had been living in an all-women's dorm, she might be alive today.

Liz was nowhere to be seen; she must have awakened and headed to class. Iwas surprised I hadn't awakened when she had.

The door swung open, and I prepared to drop--if Liz was returning, she mightnot be happy to see me halfway out of the drawer.

But it wasn't Liz. Instead, it was a gorgeous Asian woman with her hair wet,wearing a robe and carrying a massive container with bath products.

I probably should've called out to her, but I was too stunned. Especially afew moments later, when she took off her robe.

The woman--I would later learn her name was Sue--looked thoughtful for amoment, and then walked over and locked the door. Walking back to her bed, shelaid down, and spread her thighs, and dropped a hand between them.

I gasped as I watched her work on herself. She was just masturbating--but itwas awe-inspiring, watching this giant beauty work on herself. As she finished,I found myself rock-hard, gasping for breath. She simply finished, and after amoment or two of afterglow, she got up and dressed, and unceremoniously exited.

I dropped back into the drawer. I wasn't sure what the implicationsof this were. I didn't want to be three inches tall forever.

But I didn't mind the show.

* * *

It wasn't too much longer before Liz entered. She walked over to the drawer,and smiled down at me. "GOOD, YOU'RE UP. SORRY TO NOT BE HERE, BUT I HADCLASS."

I looked up at her, awed by her beauty. She had obviously just gotten out ofbed and rushed off to class--her hair was pulled up in a pony tail, and herface was bereft of makeup.

"No problem," I replied, stretching. "I just woke up a fewminutes ago."

"I BROUGHT YOU SOME BREAKFAST. SCRAMBLED EGGS. I HOPE YOU LIKETHEM--THOUGHT THEY MIGHT BE EASY FOR YOU TO EAT."

"Thanks," I said, meaning it. I was hungry. I had another urgentneed, as well.

"I also kinda, uh...."

"WHAT IS IT? DID YOU WANT SOMETHING ELSE TO EAT?"

"No! No. It's not that. It's...."

"OH. OH! OF COURSE. UM--ARE YOU TOO MODEST TO USE A PLANT?"

* * *

After I saw a man about a horse, we sat down to breakfast. Me, perched onthe edge of a plate from the cafeteria, eating handfulls of egg; she, seizingpieces of egg the size of my torso. We talked about her powers, about theirsource, about what she'd done.

"Any chance I can see the scroll?"

"HAH. NO, SORRY JAKE. THE LAST THING I NEED IS FOR YOU TO FIGURE OUTTHESE TRICKS TOO."

"Hey, we'd make a good team. Between the two of us we'd pretty muchhave the state of Wisconsincovered. If we found some people we trusted, we could branch out. Sort of likethe Superfriends."

She smiled a bemused smile. "I DON'T THINK SO, JAKE." Then, herface fell, just a bit. "NO, I WON'T DO THAT TO YOU."

"It's a burden, isn't it?" I asked, after a few moments.

"OF COURSE IT IS," she snapped. Then, sighing, she simply said,"I MEAN, I KNOW I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING."

"But it doesn't always feel right."

She just looked at me for a minute, like she wanted to correct me. Instead,after a moment or two, she smiled, and said simply, "ENOUGH OF THIS. SO,JAKE, TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF."

* * *

It was late evening when we finished talking. We were down by the lake, metied into her hair so I wouldn't get lost. We'd talked about just abouteverything--her rape, my sister's rape, the upcoming election, our mutualinterest in the new "alternative" music, whether she should fork overmoney for an email account, how cool gopher was, whether the Badger Heraldor the Daily Cardinal was a better paper, whether American democracy wassimply a means of impressing a patriarchal system upon the masses--the basicthings young students at Madison talked about when they were falling in love.

We were silent, now, looking out over the lake. She broke the silence in amost unexpected way.

"YOU KNOW," she said, "I HAVEN'T BEEN WITH ANYONE SINCE I WASRAPED."

"I would think not," I said. I wasn't sure how you could beintimate with someone after that kind of violation.

"IT'S NOT LIKE YOU THINK. I'M NOT AFRAID OF INTIMACY, OR EVEN OF SEX.I'M NOT EVEN AFRAID OF NOT BEING IN TOTAL CONTROL. I'M JUST AFRAID OF NOT BEINGAT ALL IN CONTROL. "BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S OCCURED TO ME," shesaid.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I HAVE ALL THE CONTROL I EVER COULD NEED." With that, she untiedthe knot of hair that held me in place, and brought me up to her face, andwithout a word, she kissed me.

To say I was startled would understate the point completely. I was sostartled that I failed to enjoy the kiss--at first. Indeed, I struggled andpushed her away. Well, tried to.

Actually, she backed off quickly. "OH MY GOD, I'M SORRY, I NEVERMEANT--"

"No! No no no!" I cried, realizing quickly my mistake. "I wasjust surprised. Had I been expecting it, I mean...."

"OH, LIKE IF I HAD SAID 3...2...1...."

"Yeah, that would have oomph!" She kissed me again at zero.

This time, I didn't struggle. Her plush lips played over my entire body,covering me in saliva. Her tongue pushed out slightly, licking me. I was bathedin her hot-pungent breath. I did my best to kiss her back--not that I think shenoticed much. But when she finally broke the kiss and pulled her head back andsmiled, I gasped and smiled right back.

Despite everything, I was the happiest man on earth.

* * *

I went to bed that night trying to envision what it would be like to be withher in the biblical sense. I tried to imagine what it would be like to makelove to a woman with a vagina the size of me. It was an awesomepossibility--one I'd never really considered before. I found myself excited bythe prospect. I hoped Liz would allow me the opportunity.

Certainly, she seemed like she cared for me. She'd kissed me good night, andstroked my hair tenderly. Of course, I was still in her desk drawer. But thingswould come together, all in good time.

* * *

"That's just sweet," said Sarah, munching on the burgers Scotthad brought back from Andy's for lunch.

"Yeah, Jake," said Scott. "It's a little like ourstory."

"Except I had nothing to do with your shrinking, and we didn't kissuntil later."

"It's just like us," said Scott, grinning wickedly. "Jakewas even spying on a woman while she--"

"Oh, we're going there, eh? Am I to surmise that you'd like me to morpheusyou right into my insole again?"

"Hey, come on, I'm just teasing. Put your hand down. Hey--don't makeme parry--"

"You won't parry. Not if you know what's good for you."

Scott and Sarah dissolved into hysterical laughter, falling back againstthe chairs and giggling until their sides hurt. Scott knew, of course, thatSarah really would turn him into her insole as punishment later--it wasn't likeshe hadn't done it before. But he'd go along with it, especially since theyboth knew damn well that he didn't mind it a bit. Later, he might turn herinto something. And if not, he'd probably just turn himself into himself, onlysmaller. It's good to know what you both like.

Jake smiled, and rocked back in his chair. "Are you two finished?I'm trying to tell a story here."

"And a sweet story it is, boss. Liz seems like a nice girl."

"Oh, she was. She was one of the top five women I've ever met. Ifthat asshole hadn't raped her, she could've become anything."

At this, the room fell silent, and Jake's face hardened for a second,before softening again. "It would get worse later, but that time--the endof 1992--that is one of the happiest times of my life."

He smiled, and said simply, "I've got to check the report quick.I'll be right back."

As he entered his office, Sarah looked at Scott, and said, for the eightthousandth time, "Honey, I'm sorry about New York."

"I know, Sarah. I know. I just thank God things turned out betterfor us than they did for D.X. and Liz."

"So...you want to be my insole tonight?"

He grinned. "Only if you want me to, my love."

Sarah laughed, and said quietly, "I do."

D.X. returned from the office slightly vexed.

"Anything wrong, chief?" said Scott, turning his thoughts awayfrom merging with various articles of his wife's clothing long enough to noticehis boss' concern.

"Don't think so. Just a bit of a spike in activity in the uppermidwest."

"Huh. Sarah and I weren't really parrying or anything there, youknow...."

"Don't make me go God-teacher on the bit, Scott. I know you tworapscallions were just engaging in a GTS version of a PDA. Which reminds me,when exactly are you planning on settling down into a boring, staidmarriage?"

"Right after Proteus strips us of our powers," said Sarah,matter-of-factly.

"Last week it was Gaia," teased Scott.

"Really, Sarah, you need some internal consistency. You had told meit was Loki."

"Truthfully, if Gaia, Loki, or Proteus show up and want to strip meof my powers, they can have them. Though it will destroy my dream of being InchHigh Attorney at Law."

Scott smiled. "I think I speak for men everywhere when I say I'dprefer Attack of the Fifty Foot Lawyer."

"Okay, you two, get a room. Sheesh. Anyhow, I don't think it'sanything to be concerned about. It's not even close to New York levels. Probably just a blip. We'dbest monitor it, though. That's an order."

At this, Scott sobered up. "Aye, sir. Sarah and I will trackit."

"Do more than that. Focus in on it. Give me vitals."

At this, Scott and Sarah closed their eyes for a second, and reached outfor the anomaly. "Nothing tangible," said Sarah, presently. "Butwhatever it is, it's wielding significant power."

"Adept levels?" asked Jake, concerned.

"Negative," said Scott. "But strong. Stronger than you,I'd wager. Could be an artifact of some sort. I'm not getting a clear sense ofconscious will directing it."

"Do you have a location?"

"Just a sense of a lake. That could be anywhere in Minnesota,Wisconsin, or Michigan."

"All right," said D.X., satisfied. "You two can come backin now. We're just going to keep an eye on this for now. If anything spikes,we'll go to a higher alert level, and story time will have to end." Thetwo nodded. "Of course, sir," said Sarah.

"But for now, where was I? Oh yes. The happiest time of mylife--before I met Teri, that is."

* * *

All in all, I wasn't sure I enjoyed being 1/4 inch tall.

Liz had decided that it would be the best way for me to accompany her--shetold me she didn't fell safe with me tied into her hair, but she wanted mesomeplace where she could hear me.

I think it was lonely for her. I think she just needed someone to confidein, to confess to, to share the experience with.

She wanted to keep her secret, so who better than me? Heck, it wasn't like Iwas going anywhere--and I sure as heck couldn't tell anyone.

I sat in her ear canal, listening to the steady whoosh of blood all aboutme. It scared me to be this small.

"HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP IN THERE, LITTLE ONE?"

Little One. She'd taken to calling me that over the past few days. Ididn't mind; if anything, I kind of liked it.

"Okay, I guess," I said, holding tight as best I could.

"CLARIS," she said, softly. She was quiet a few moments, beforesaying, "OH, MAN, I THOUGHT I GOT ALL THE WAX OUT OF THERE."

I chuckled. "I thought it looked good. I shudder to think what you'dfind in my ear if you were in it."

"YEAH. BUT IF YOU KNEW HOW MANY Q-TIPS I WENT THROUGH TRYING TO GET ITNICE FOR...."

She trailed off there, and I felt the heat in her ear rise with her blush.

"I think it looks great, Liz," I said, and immediately winced. Iknew I was blushing as deeply as she.

Neither of us said anything for a few moments, until Liz finally spoke.

"WELL," she said, "THAT WAS AWKWARD."

I laughed out loud; so did she. We walked on in silence for a while--that isto say, she walked on, and I rode.

After a while, she said softly, "YOU KNOW THAT I CARE FOR YOU, JAKE,DON'T YOU?"

"I know," I said.

"AND YOU KNOW THAT IT ISN'T THAT I DON'T WANT TO RESTORE YOU, RIGHT?YOU KNOW I JUST CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE. NOT YET. MAYBE SOMEDAY, BUT...WELL, IMEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, DON'T YOU?"

"You know I'd never betray you," I said. "You know I'd protectyour secret, no matter what."

"I KNOW, JAKE. I KNOW. BUT...I JUST CAN'T RESTORE YOU. NOT YET.BUT...BUT I PROMISE YOU I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU. I'LL PROTECT YOU, NO MATTERWHAT."

I leaned back. I wanted her to restore me. I wanted to be back to normal.

But what had normal ever gotten me? Two dead parents and a dead sister, anda bunch of soi-disant friends who couldn't understand why I didn't wantmy parents' home turned into a party pad for my senior year. (Well, except forTeri. She'd understood.)

So here I was, in the ear of a beautiful woman who had just sworn to protectme, and maybe, someday, restore me to my right size.

It was good enough for the moment.

"I understand, Liz, and it's okay," I said. "I like beingwith you. I care for you, too."

I felt the heat of her blushing again. "YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS, JAKE.I'M SORRY."

"It's the best thing that ever happened to me," I said. And Iknew, in my heart, it was true.

"YOU'RE SO SW--WAIT A SEC. CLARIS....OH, YOU SON OF A BITCH. OKAY,JAKE, IT'S GO TIME."

And suddenly, the leisurely walk became a full-out sprint. It was all Icould do to stay safely in her ear canal.

"What's up?" I asked, bouncing violently.

"SEXUAL ASSAULT. TWO GUYS, ONE GIRL. SHE WANTS OUT OF THE ROOM, THEY'RENOT LETTING HER GO."

"Where at?"

"THE LANGDON. THIRD FLOOR. WE'LL HAVE TO GET PAST THE GUARD. WAIT...NO,WE WON'T--ASSUMING THIS GOES RIGHT. TRANSPORT...."

* * *

It wasn't a fair fight. Of course, fights between mere mortals andsuperheroines rarely are.

Sarah dropped right into the room, as the woman was trying desperately tokick her way out of the fatter guy's grasp.

"OH, SO SAD. TWO OF YOU BOYS AND ONLY ONE GIRL. WELL, I GUESS I BRINGIT BACK TO EVEN, DON'T I?"

The fat man dropped the girl on the floor. She hit her ass hard, but quicklybounced up and backed away.

"What the Fuck is going on here? How did you get in?"

"I JUST DROPPED BY. IT SEEMED LIKE A PARTY IN HERE. SO, SWEETIE, WAS ITA PARTY?"

"I just went back to their room. They said they were going to give mesome pot," said the woman.

"OH, NEVER TRUST RANDOM BOYS WHO SAY THEY'LL GIVE YOU POT IF YOU JUSTCOME BACK TO THEIR ROOM, DEARIE. YOU MUST BE A FRESHMAN."

"Actually, I'm in High School. I'm just here visiting my sister."

I felt the heat in Liz' ear spike. "FUCKING HIGH SCHOOL? YOU TWO DUMBSHITS DON'T EVEN HAVE THE COMMON DECENCY TO ASSAULT AN ADULT, YOU HAVE TO GOAFTER A KID? OH, THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN. OH, JACOB, DARLING, WHAT DO YOU THINKI SHOULD DO TO THESE TWO?"

"Fuck that, Dan. Let's get her!"

"SORRY, LOVE, NO TIME...MORPHEUS MORPHEUS! OH, HELL, I RUSHED IT A BIT.MORPHEUS...THERE. PERFECT. THESE, MY DEAR GIRL, ARE FOR YOU. BE MORE CAREFULNEXT TIME." "What are you?" asked the perplexed secondarystudent.

"I AM THE COED," said Liz. "TRANSPORT."

With that, we were gone.

* * *

Alicia studied the gift of the woman for several minutes. Could she havepossibly seen what she thought she'd seen? Her two attackers had disappeared,and in their place....

No, it was impossible.

She studied the gift some more.

Maybe it was impossible. But it sure seemed real. And if that woman had donewhat Alicia thought she had done....

A smile played out over the high school junior's face as she thought. Shehoped this meant what she thought.

* * *

Dan woke up stunned. What the fuck had just happened? He and Damien had justbeen having some fun with the girl. They weren't really gonna rape her. Well,yeah, he had to admit, maybe they were. But she was a high school student.Didn't she want to score with some older guys?

He tried to call out to Damien, but found he couldn't speak. He tried to getup, but he couldn't. In fact, he felt completely different, completely changed.

Then, suddenly, the pretty high school girl lifted him up with one hand. No,wait, that wasn't possible. But it so was. She was enormous, and she washolding him in one hand, and a tennis shoe in the other hand. A wicked grinplayed out over her face as she dropped him to the ground.

He landed with a thud on the ground, and a mental groan. He saw her slideonto the bed, and take her socks off.

Then she advanced her foot on him, and slipped it inside him.

It stank. It tasted foul. And when she rose up and put her weight upon him,it hurt.

It hurt like Hell.

* * *

They would become Alicia's favorite pair of shoes. She wore them constantly.She ran in them, she jogged in them, she slogged through the mud in them. Theywere the most comfortable pair of shoes she'd ever owned.

And at night, when she was sure nobody could hear her, she'd whisper tothem, "Hey boys, I hope you enjoy your fate. I hope you enjoy my sweaty,stinky feet. I hope you enjoy every miserable footfall. We'll play againtomorrow." And every night, she'd go to bed smiling.

The shoes sat there, expressionless. Inside the left one, Dan swore, eachnight, that he'd figure a way out of this horrible world he'd landed in, buteach sunrise brought her feet back. Damien was more sanguine. He greeted hisgoddess each morning with a prayer, each footfall with a cry of thank you, eachfleck of dirt from her sole with reverence. He was surely insane. But he washappier than his once and current roommate. Happier by far.

* * *

"Shoes?"

"IT WAS A SUDDEN INSPIRATION. SORRY I COULDN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO PICK,THOUGH."

"Oh, that's okay. Frankly, I think you were probably a little morecreative than I would've been."

We were back in her dorm room, talking giddily about The Coed's latesttriumph. I was back at four inches tall, and I was sitting cros-legged on herdesk as she leaned back, looking down at me with a satisfied smile.

"OH, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. I BET IF I'D GIVEN YOU SOME TIME, YOUWOULD'VE COME UP WITH SOMETHING PRETTY DEVIOUS."

"Well," I said, standing up and stretching, "I didhave an idea...."

"REALLY? DO TELL." She sipped her enormous vodka coke, and smiledbroadly enough to show me she was getting a little bit tipsy.

I had no doubt that I was buzzed; Liz had been kind enough to pour me athimblefull of vodka. I had what amounted to a bucketfull of liquor in front ofme. I hadn't put much of a dent into it, but I was but a freshman. I didn'thave any tolerance at all.

I was a really cheap date.

"Well," I said, responding to her earlier query, "I was kindathinking along the lines of tampons."

Liz gasped, and then broke into howls of laughter. "YOU SEE? I TOLDYOU THAT YOU HAD A WICKED MIND. THAT'S A GOOD ONE! HMMM...PUT 'EM IN A TRUCKSTOP VENDING MACHINE, LET 'EM WAIT A GOOD LONG TIME NOT KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENEDTO THEM UNTIL...IT'S A HEAVY DAY!" At this, she broke out laughing again.So did I.

When I finally regained my composure, I said, "I like it, but I'd put'em in a high school. I mean, they wanted teen pussy so much...."

Liz smiled wider. "POETIC JUSTICE. I LIKE IT! I'M TOTALLY USING THATONE." She sipped her drink, and mused, "THIS IS SUCH A DESTRUCTIVEPOWER. I WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT I COULD DO WITH IT THAT WAS...I DON'TKNOW...FUN."

"Oh, I don't know about that. I can think of a few fun things."

"OH REALLY? LIKE WHAT?"

"Well...."

"'WELL' WHAT?"

For the second time that day, I was blushing. "Um...uh...erm...."I stammered, struggling to come up with a nonsexual "fun." Liz staredfor a bit, waiting for me to answer. Then, suddenly, her eyes got very, very,very wide.

"OH," she said. Then, for good measure, "OH."

There was a pause that seemed to last forever.

Then, slowly, a smile began to creep across her face.

She looked thoughtful for a moment, before saying, gently, "WELL. THATREALLY MIGHT BE FUN.

"I'M GAME IF YOU ARE, LITTLE ONE."

* * *

Meanwhile....

* * *

"Whoa there! Hold up there D.X. The story was just getting good, andyou throw in a 'meanwhile'?"

Jake just stared for a second, before saying, simply, "Sarah, gladas I am that you're finally enjoying the story, there really is a method to mymadness beyond titillating you two."

Sarah blushed. "Sorry, D.X. You're right. And it is a good story.Really."

Jake chuckled. "Sarah, can't you tell I'm just harassing you? I knowwhen a story's getting good--and this one is. Just one aside, and then the goodstuff, okay?"

Sarah smiled her adorable smile, and said, "You're the best, boss. Ipromise I'll be good."

Jake leaned back. "So, where was I?"

"Meanwhile," said Scott, helpfully.

"Ah, yes. Meanwhile."

* * *

Meanwhile, across town, Ronnie Ceres was ecstatic.

It was GTS at work. She had sensed it. She felt the boys transform, felttheir delightful pain.

But what had been so amazing was that when The Coed left, the boys stayedshoes. They stayed what they had become.

It was a truth the League had found. Transformations were impermanent. Ifthe transformed party didn't believe in GTS, they would return to their formslater. GTS was a temporary phenomenon--unless the transformed subject believed.

But this--this had been permanent. Why? Did this woman have more power thanothers? Or was it something else?

She was meditating on this, now, waiting for her next move. This was it.This was their chance.

* * *

D.X. leaned back, and smiled.

"Okay, time for the good stuff?" asked Scott.

D.X. smiled wider.

"So anyhow, I have to see a man about a horse. You two grab a cokeor something."

Scott and Sarah immediately groaned. "You're just going to leave ushanging?" asked Scott.

"Not for long," said D.X. "Not for long."

D.X. returned, and said, "So, probably we should dosome work. I'm sure there's something I could find for you two to do...."

"Oh, now you're just being mean. Sarah?"

"Right, honey, Shrink, 24:1...."

"Oh, insubordination, eh? All right, well, I suppose I couldcontinue the story. I mean, if you want me to."

Sarah lowered her hand, and said, "Well, Jake, I think we weregetting to the good part, right?"

D.X. closed his eyes, smiled, and said, "Right."

* * *

"I'M GAME IF YOU ARE," she said, smiling.

I swallowed hard.

Now, you have to understand, at the time I was pretty inexperienced withwomen. That is to say, I essentially had no experience with women. In my lifeto that point, I'd gotten to the make-out stage of a relationship, and nofarther. More to the point, as I had stated earlier, Liz was way out ofmy league.

To say I was daunted was an understatement.

"Um...well, I mean...uh...yes?"

She giggled loudly. "OKAY, LITTLE ONE. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TOSTART?"

"Well...." I goggled. I had little enough idea of where I'd startwith a girl my own scale.

"TELL YOU WHAT. LET'S COME OVER TO MY BED, AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME IDEAOF WHERE TO BEGIN, OKAY?"

"That sounds good," I allowed, as she grabbed me and carried meover.

She laid back and rested me on her stomach, her face obscured by her breastsmomentarily, before she lifted herself up on her elbows. "WELL, FIRSTTHINGS FIRST. WE NEED TO BE UNDRESSED. I'LL UNDRESS YOU FIRST, OKAY?"

She didn't wait for my response. Instead, she lifted me, and carefully removedthe little wisp of fabric that had passed for my clothes. She looked me over,and giggled at the proof of my ardor. "SO APPARENTLY YOU ARE ATTRACTED TOME?"

I laughed self-consciously. "I don't know how anyone could fail tobe."

Her laugh turned into another emotion, still happy, still pleasant, but muchmore subdued. "YOU'RE SWEET, YOU KNOW. OKAY, NOW YOUR TURN TO UNDRESSME."

"Um...." She set me back onto her stomach, and laughed again."WHY DON'T YOU START WITH MY SOCKS?"

Well, this was an impossible task, but I decided I would give it the oldcollege try. Carefully, I started walking toward her feet. Occasionally, alaugh from Liz would knock me down, but each time I got back up again, andcontinued.

Presently, I reached her jeans. Tentatively, I pulled myself onto the denim,realizing full well just how close I was to her vagina. I looked down at herfeet, still well over ten yards distance away. I weighed my options, anddecided the most expedient way to them was also the most fun.

Ever-mindful that I may quickly be dealing with a perturbed giantess, Imoved towards the zipper of her jeans, and reversing course, carefully climbeddown onto the bed below. I heard a surprised gasp, and then the body I climbeddown shook slightly as she sighed happily.

I stood in a valley between two denim-covered thighs. I jogged the length ofthe legs quickly, and then stopped as I saw her foot.

The white socks encased feet far bigger than I. I looked at the soles,covered in dust and grime from a day of wear. How in the name of Jebus was Isupposed to do this?

I decided that maybe I'd have a shot if I started rolling them down. Thatthis was but the first sock and I had no shot at actually disrobing Liz in herentirety did not register with me.

Carefully, I pulled myself up inside the leg of her jeans. I reached the endof the socks, and pushing with all my might, I moved the sock about aquarter-inch. I tried again, with similar results. After a few minutes of this,I heard a gale of laughter. Liz pulled her pant leg up enough to see me, andlaughed again.

"LITTLE ONE, I DON'T WANT YOU WEARING YOURSELF OUT ON MY SOCKS. I WANTYOU WEARNG YOURSELF OUT IN OTHER PLACES. HMM...I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU JUST RESTHERE ON THE BED. I HAVE AN IDEA."

Liz carefully got up and walked to the middle of the room, facing me. Shethought a second, then walked over to her boom box and started playing somemusic--Enigma, I think it was. Then she walked back to the middle of the room,gave me a wink, and started dancing.

It was but a few seconds before she slowly, seductively removed her shirt.

I marveled as I watched this giantess going through a striptease. And I knewas I watched her that there had been no chance in Hell I ever could havedisrobed her myself.

Watching her dance, I was quite okay with that.

When she was down to but her panties, she returned to the bed and sat downnext to me. She swung her leg over me, and again I was in a valley between twothighs.

"COME BACK UP ONTO MY STOMACH," she purred.

The way there was obvious. I walked up to her white cotton panties andgrabbed them carefully. They were slightly damp, and I could feel theblast-furnace heat of her vagina just millimeters from me. Trying to keep mymind clear, I climbed up the fabric, and walked onto Liz' bare stomach.

It was like nothing I could possibly describe--nothing at all. Her skin feltlike a wrestling mat--but far sexier and softer than that. Below it, I couldfeel each flex of her abdominal muscles. I walked towards the foot-deep divotthat was her navel, trying to determine what she wanted me to do next.

"KEEP WALKING," she said as I paused. So I did. Closer and closerto her mammoth, glorious breasts.

"PICK ONE," she said, "AND CLIMB ABOARD."

Carefully, I moved into the valley between her breasts. Choosing randomly, Ibegan to slowly ascend her left breast. I climbed, and climbed, and climbed,and after a bit, I realized I wasn't getting anywhere. I stopped, and looked atthe suddenly-much-larger Liz, who was grinning at me wickedly. "SORRY,LITTLE ONE, I COULDN'T RESIST. HERE, LET ME HELP YOU." She reached out afingernail, and lifted my now-quarter-inch body up and onto her nipple.

I reached down and felt the nub, amazed at the level of detail I could see.Carefully, I caressed it, and then, I bent down to kiss it.

The whole world shook as Liz exhaled with pleasure. "THAT FEELS VERYNICE, LITTLE ONE. VERY NICE INDEED."

Suitably encouraged, I continued my ministrations, only more so. After a fewminutes, I felt the nub shrinking beneath me as Liz expanded me again. Once Iwas back to four inches, she picked me up, and brought me to her face, andkissed me, hard.

Not that she hadn't kissed me before, but this was something else. She wasfuriously working me over with her lips and her tongue, which brought meperilously close to climax. Just when I thought I couldn't stand it any more,she suddenly slid me head first into her mouth.

I yelped as I found myself moving toward an open throat, and yelped again asthe throat became larger, while Liz shrunk me to a more manageable size. Then,slowly, she began to roll me about her mouth with her tongue.

It was unbelievably erotic, her soft-rough tongue pushing me against theroof of her mouth, her breath surrounding me, literally the air I breathed.After a few minutes, she removed me, dripping and happy, and said,"SO...WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO ALL THE WAY?"

"Oh, my, yes," I said.

She lowered me back into the valley between her thighs. I noticedimmediately that she'd removed what clothing she'd previously retained. Herlabia stood in front of me like an immense gate. Even as she restored me tofour inches tall, I knew that this was to be a daunting task.

Carefully, I stroked the outer lips, trying to figure out what to do. Themoan I got in response told me I was on the right track. I slid my hands alongthe slit, until they reached beneath the hood that shrouded her clit.

I was standing on my tiptoes to reach it, until I stepped into her vaginafor leverage. This caused my world to shake with feminine lust. It felt nice tome, too.

I strained to touch her clitoris, gently. This got me my most significantreaction yet, so I continued to massage it.

Suddenly, two fingers lifted me and plunged me feet first into Liz, leavingmy head and shoulders facing upward, where I could continue working on herclit.

"SORRY TO SURPRISE YOU, HON, BUT...OOOH...."

The "Oooh" came when I immediately set back to work on her. Hervaginal muscles contracted, squeezing me seductively with viselike power. I wascoated in her juices as I continued to work on her. After a few moments, I feltmyself come, but I continued to work on her through my orgasm. A few momentslater, she came, tightening her pussy and squeezing the breath out of me. Irealized her entire pelvis was bucking with her release. Finally, her muscles relaxed,and I could breathe again.

I lay back, surrounded by Liz, staring up through a field of red grasses atthe ceiling of her dorm room. After a few minutes, she reached down and slid meout of her, bringing me up to her face. She laughed happily as she saw my wet,disheveled body. "OH, LITTLE ONE...YOU WERE RIGHT. THAT WASFUN."

"Thanks," I said, awed at the beauty of my captress. "Thatwas amazing."

She kissed me, gently, and laid me on her pillow. We stayed like thatthrough the night, both of us asleep, both of us happy.

It was the best way to lose my virginity I could've imagined.

* * *

D.X. leaned back in his chair, a wistful look on his face.

"That sure was the good part," said Scott, who was eyeing Sarahwith lust.

"Glad you enjoyed it," said Jake, checking his watch."Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get my wife from the airport. Youwant to drop by later? I can tell you a bit more of the story, if you'dlike."

"We'll be there," said Scott.

As D.X. left, Scott turned to Sarah and said, "So...four-and-a-halfinches or so?"

Sarah just smiled. "I think someone's forgotten he's still got somepunishment coming."

"Oh no," said Scott, beaming. "I'm counting on it."

Teri tossed her bags in the trunk, bounded into thepassenger seat, and gave her husband a long, soft kiss.

"So, did ya miss me?" she said playfully, stretching out hercompact frame as seductively as she could behind the seat belt.

"More than you could possibly know," said D.X., smiling. Thingsalways seemed brighter when Teri was around. "How was Chicago?"

"As you'd expect. Ronnie has her hands full with the United Board.She wanted to have me tell you that you dodged a bullet when she got namedchair."

"Don't I know it. Any interesting news?"

"A spike in GTS activity in the midwest. Otherwise, no. So how areyou?" The last question was pointed.

Jake sighed as he pulled onto Highway 5. "Actually, I'm doing okay.Talking to Scott and Sarah has been therapeutic. I don't think I always realizehow present Madisonis."

"Well, that makes one of us. I'd be insanely jealous if Liz wasstill alive--or if I was prone to jealousy."

Jake smiled. "I would never choose Liz over you, Teri. I like her. Iwish it hadn't ended like it did. But I wouldn't trade you for anyone."

"Damn straight. So, how long do we have before the Wonder Twins showup? And are you thinking Authentic Thai or Davanni's?"

Jake paused. "Uh--how'd you know the Chelgrens were coming? And I'mthinking Davanni's."

"I know you. Once you started telling the story, you were going tofinish. So, when will they be by?"

"About seven."

Teri grinned. "Well. That should give me enough time."

"For what?"

"To make you forget about a certain red-haired ex of yours. That is,if you don't mind."

Jake pulled into the passing lane and accelerated.

* * *

Two hours later, Teri was puttering around cheerfully, getting the houseready for company. If she hadn't made Jake forget Liz, she mused, she'd atleast given him some big reasons to be happy with his lot in life.

For his part, Jake was swimming happily, feeling better than he had indays. Teri had done her best to make him forget Liz, and while that wasimpossible, it's impossible not to enjoy an evening that starts with your wifethrowing "Gett Off" on the stereo and shrinking you down to sixinches tall.

Jake grinned in spite of himself. He and Teri may have known each otherfor 3,000 years and forty-odd lifetimes--Teri said so, and he refused todiscount anything given events in his life--but he doubted they'd ever beenhappier together than now.

Teri wandered into the room, and let out a mock-discontented sigh."PLANNING ON SWIMMING ALL NIGHT, DEAR? IT'S ALMOST SEVEN."

Jake smiled up at her. "Maybe I am. Scott and Sarah can join me ifthey want to."

"MMM-HMM. RIGHT. TIME TO GET OUT, HONEY."

"Well, I don't think--hey!" Jake sputtered and cursed as Teripoked her index finger into the sink and splashed him. "That's notnice!"

"OH REALLY? WELL, IS THIS NICE?" With that, Teri pushed Jakeunder for just a second.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming out. Sheesh!"

"OH, I'LL HELP YOU, DEAR," said Teri, gently plucking herhusband from the bathroom sink and placing him on the counter. "THERE.BETTER?"

"Much. What time is it?"

The doorbell rang. "SEVEN," said Teri, smiling.

She walked to the door and opened it, leaving Jake to towel off anddress. "Hi, Sarah! Where's Scott?"

"Oh. Umm...l kinda forgot." Sarah slipped off her pumps andsaid, simply, "Morpheus."

From nowhere, Scott appeared, smiling broadly. "That was fun,"he said. "Hi, Teri."

"It was supposed to be punishment," said Sarah, her eyebrowcocked.

"Oh, it was. Horrible punishment. Hey, D.X."

"Hi, guys. Pizza?"

They sat down to diner, expressing the usual pleasantries about life.After a while, D.X. said, "So...I guess I should continue." And hedid.

* * *

All things considered, it was a happy time.

Liz and I spent as much time as we possibly could together. We had afabulous time, and I'm not just talking about physical relations. I foundmyself falling or Liz, and I think she was falling for me.

As Thanksgiving approached, I felt sure that there would be a happy endingfor us. Eventually, she would unshrink me (well...most of the time), and we'dget married and have a good life together.

I was young and foolish then. Too young to realize how foolish I was.

The weekend before Thanksgiving, I asked Liz if I was going back with her.Her family lived in Monroe, a little town near the Illinois border. I was hoping to go, eventhough I knew I would be hidden.

"NO, LITTLE ONE. IT WOULDN'T BE SAFE FOR YOU. I'D FEL BETTER WITH YOUHERE IN THE DORMS."

"But without you, how will I be safe? What if someone comes into theroom and finds me?"

"I'M WAY AHEAD OF YOU. I'VE DEVISED A LITLLE SPELL FOR YOU. IF SOMEONEIS ABOUT TO FIND YOU, YOU CAN USE IT TO SHRINK YOURSELF TO 1/8 INCH TALL--TOOSMALL TO BE FOUND." She taught me how to shrink myself--the first GTSspell I ever learned.

I still am a bit surprised she taught it to me; if she had known thefuture.... We were both young and foolish. Pity. * * *

The Thanksgiving holiday was largely forgettable for me. Liz was gone, andwhile she did give me access to the remote control, I missed her terribly.

I was sitting on the floor, moping about how lonely I was, when I heard thekey in the door.

I leapt up. It was late Saturday evening, and neither Liz nor Sue weresupposed to be back until Sunday afternoon, and I was out in the open.

I hoped and prayed it was Liz; maybe she had missed me too, and had come offof vacation early to see me. I strained as I saw the tennis shoe came throughthe door to see if Liz was attached to it.

Then I heard the laugh, and my right hand sprung up of its own accord.

"Shrink," I said, "1:48scale."

There were no guarantees. Liz had taught me one trick only, not theunderpinnings of GTS itself. But as I envisioned myself shrinking, I found Iwas, indeed, shrinking further.

Sue and her boyfriend stumbled quickly into the room and embraced, as Sueclosed the door with her right hip. The two embraced and locked lips, and Iboggled.

I've already told you about witnessing Sue masturbating, and that she was atremendously attractive woman. I'd certainly had the opportunity to see justabout all of Sue over the past few weeks, and while I was very much in lovewith Liz at the time, I am a man, and we just can't help noticing an attractivewoman, no matter how faithful we are.

But this--this was something new. If the me of a few seconds before had seenthe me of that moment, I'd appear but an inch-and-a-half tall to him. I wasused to Sue appearing about sixty-six feet tall or so, but now she appeared tobe a bit over half-a-mile tall, kissing a boy a bit taller than her.

I swallowed hard, and started looking for cover.

Sue and her boyfriend (Keith? Kyle? I never did find out) walked into theroom, hanging on each other and giving the appearance of general drunkenness. Ishuddered. A drunk pair of college students were not what I wanted to dealwith. I started to wish I hadn't shrunk myself out in the open, but insteadwaited to get to cover--these two wouldn't have noticed. But it was too latenow.

Sue turned to her boyfriend, and whispered something in his ear. Why shewhispered was beyond me; it's not like they thought anyone was there. But henodded emphatically, and with one motion grabbed the comforter off of Sue's bedand tossed it on the floor.

I saw the mammoth tarp spread out, and was sure that I was going to becrushed under it. Fortunately, it displaced air as it fell, pushing me out theside and up into the vapor stream. The air then blew back over the comforter,depositing me towards the top just as Sue and the boy deposited themselvesheavily on top of it as well.

I gulped as I looked around. The lovely face of Sue was to my right, thesomewhat less lovely face of the boy to my left. Certainly, they didn't noticeme; I was but a mote of dust that was quickly hidden under their faces as theysmooched again.

I panicked as Sue's hair blanketed me, tree-sized black vines whipping allaround me as above me two pairs of lips entwined. I tried to get up, but justas I did the pair rolled over, with Sue on top of her boyfriend continuing tofrench him while moaning loud enough to wake the dead. I had grasped a hair,and found myself tossed onto her back.

I had no time to figure out where to go; the shirt I was on was being pulledover Sue's head, and again I was tangled up in her hair. I watched two enormoushands undo the clasp on Sue's bra.

This was moving entirely too fast.

Then, we were rolling again, this time with what's-his-name on top. Iscreamed, thinking I'd be crushed under Sue's head, but again her hair whippedin the breeze, and I found myself being thrown through the air, landing onsomething soft.

I moaned with pain as Sue moaned with pleasure. I stood, and wished Ihadn't. I was on Sue's nipple.

The boy was shirtless now, and he was about breast level. I prayed that hewould work on her left breast first, give me a chance to escape, and for once,my prayers were answered. I slid down the part of Sue's breasts toward herface. I thought I had a better chance of surviving a fall from a shoulder thanthe breast itself, and with luck, I could find my way into her hair.

No dice. Sue chose that moment to rise just enough to throw me off balance.I slid down her sweaty abdomen, watching her panties--the only item of clothingshe still wore--coming up fast.

I watched as his hand reached into her panties--he wasn't doing anythingyet, just giving her an encouraging pat--but it lifted the elastic about fortyfeet into the air, giving me more than enough room to end up entangled in Sue'sbush.

Then, he removed his hand and the lights went out.

* * *

They made out for a very long time, a time that made me constantly afraidfor my life. If the panties were pulled off and his penis came into play....

But I didn't have to worry. I don't know why, but heavy action was all thepair wanted that night. About half an hour later, both went to bed. I wonderedif he'd gotten a blow job or not; I don't think I could take half an hour ofheavy action with no release--certainly not in college. As I felt Sue and ThatGuy go to sleep, I carefully pulled myself out of the damp panties, andcarefully made the journey off of the blanket. I'd gotten very lucky.

But I'm not saying it wasn't kinda fun.

* * *

When Liz returned the next evening, she apologized about thirty times.

"I 'CLARISED' YOU A FEW TIMES DURING THE WEEKEND, JUST TO CHECK IN. OH,JAKE, I HAD NO IDEA SUE WAS COMING BACK SATURDAY NIGHT! IF I HAD, I NEVER WOULDHAVE LEFT YOU THERE. WHEN I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO YOU...."

"Oh, it's okay. I managed to survive it. Hey, it was interesting. Imight want to check you out at that size."

Liz blushed, then grinned. "WELL, MAYBE LATER. I HAVE TO GO TO THE LABTONIGHT--THAT HOLOCAUST PAPER IS DUE. WANT TO GO WITH?"

"Oh, sweetie, you never get work done when I'm there. I'll just get tosleep. Tomorrow we'll have fun."

She smiled. "YOU'VE GOT THAT RIGHT."

* * *

Liz left the lab at about 11:30.She thought she might do a quick sweep of campus for rapists and molestersbefore going home, or maybe not. She had missed me that weekend. Heck, shemissed me right then.

She was getting tired of being an avenging angel. She didn't like how itmade her. She was angry all the time--angry at everyone but me. She was sick ofit.

No, she was going home, and then she'd destroy that fucking scroll--rightafter unshrinking me. She'd miss the sex as a giantess, but she thought shemight be able to enjoy intimacy with me at a normal size. She knew how I feltabout rapists. She knew she had nothing to fear.

Then, suddenly, she heard a voice.

"You're her."

She spun, to see an attractive woman in her late twenties with raven hairand dark eyes and a serious demeanor. The woman took a couple steps toward Liz."You're The Coed," she said, quietly.

"You must be mistaken. I mean, The Coed is just a myth," said Liz,her heart beating a mile a minute.

The woman shook her head. "You have the power to shrink men, to turnthem into objects, to punish those that deserve punishing. I am not wrong, amI?"

Liz stared. "Who are you?"

"Veronica Ceres. My child, we have been watching your work, and we arevery, very impressed. You have powers beyond even ours. We need you."

"Who?"

"Women," said Ceres. "All women, everywhere. You can protectus from men. You can punish the wicked. You can destroy the patriarchy, andusher in a new era, an era where women rule the world."

Liz was stunned. She simply nodded when Veronica asked her, "Would youlike to join me for a drink? We have much to talk about."

But Liz never told Veronica her name. Not then, not ever. Ronnie called herT.C. for short; she didn't mind. Because from that night on, Liz belonged tothe League.

* * *

It was 2:20 in themorning when Liz stumbled home along the Lakeshore path, wild ideas bouncing inher brain, the standard of womanhood wound into her soul. Ceres had told herthat she had untold power. She! Liz Anderson! She could be the most powerfulperson on Earth.

She saw him walking down the path, his head down, wearing dark clothes. Hewas walking toward her.

"Rapist!" she cried, as he looked up, startled.

"What? No! I'd never...."

"Liar! You want me? You want to take me? Take this you fucking pervert!Shrink, 1:24." The man dwindled before her and she grabbed him. Hepleaded, but she threw him to the ground. He blacked out, which is just aswell; she stepped on him, putting all her weight on him until he was flat as apancake. "Shrink, 1:1000 scale," she said, disposing of the evidence.

And then, she stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. She stared at thespot. She knew.

He was not a rapist. He was just a man. And she had destroyed him.

And the voice in her head whispered.

He was a man. He deserved his fate.

"He was a human being. He didn't do anything. He was just walking andI...Oh God...."

Yes, he was just walking...for now. But how much longer until he struckout. They are all guilty of wanting to. You must stop them, Liz.

"Not Jake. He's not guilty of anything."

The voice was silent. Crying, Liz stumbled into the dorm and went to sleep.She was more frightened than she ever had been before--more even than when shewas being raped. Because the person she feared more than anyone was herself.

* * *

The pizza was mostly done, and Jake pulled a French Silk pie out of thefridge. "Anyone for dessert?"

"I'll take some of that," said Teri. "You know, if you'reever trying to decide between me and Liz, remember that I never killedanyone."

"You tried to kill me," said Scott, finishing his piece ofpizza.

"That was different. There was a war on."

"I'll never have to try to decide between you and Liz, Teri. Forone, she's dead, and even if she was magically resurrected and sane, I couldn'ttrust her. Not after what happened to her."

Jake poured himself some wine, and looked distant. "I didn't knowthat Liz killed that man for a long time. But from that moment on, thingsstarted to get worse between us--and much worse for me."

He sipped the wine, closed his eyes, and said, "Let's take five. I'mgoing to put some music on--I've got Mike Doughty's new one, Scott, I thinkyou'll like it. Then, we'll continue. I just...I need a moment."

Silently, the others cleared the table as Jake pressed play on the CDplayer. He didn't want to tell the next part. Not just yet, anyhow.

"I resent the way you make me like myself...."

The song by Mike Doughty rambled along, beautifully simple. Jake hadgrown to love this disk in the past few weeks. It wasn't Soul Coughing, butthat made it interesting. Doughty had done a helluva job reinventing himself.

"So," he said, "I was telling you about when it allstarted to go horribly wrong, is that right?"

Nobody spoke. Well, that was to be expected. Jake started to saysomething when Teri interrupted.

"Honey, I know this part. If it's too hard, I can tell it."

Jake looked up at his wife and smiled. "No," he said, exhaling."No. I had to go through what I did to get here. It's part of who I am.And it stings less with each passing year."

* * *

Liz had promised me fun the next day, but that would suggest that Liz wasanything other than alternately sullen and frightened and sad and bitter. Shehad snapped at me more than once today--damn frightening, when yoursixty-foot-tall girlfriend is swearing angrily at you. But those outbursts weretempered by tears, and apologies, and grief.

"What happened, Liz? What happened to you?"

"I CAN'T TELL YOU, SCOTT. I JUST...A MISSION WENT REALLY BAD. LET'S LEAVE IT ATTHAT."

I didn't know what she meant; it didn't matter. I loved her, and I didn'tcare how it went bad. (Of course, I thought most likely that she'd failed toprevent a rape, or prevent a murder. But even had I known the truth, I wouldhave stood by her. I would have tried to help her, and I wouldn't have excusedit, but I would have stood by her.)

"Liz...maybe you should quit...."

"NO!" she thundered. "NO! IT IS MY DESTINY TO DO THIS, LITTLEONE! YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND SUCH A RESPONSIBILITY AS THIS! YOU COULDNOT POSSIBLY HOPE TO WIELD POWER LIKE THIS! YOU DON'T KNOW!"

She paused for a few moments, head down, before looking up at me. There wasa look on her face I'd never seen. It was a plea for absolution, a request tobe relieved of her duty.

It flashed for a second, and then it disappeared.

* * *

The next few weeks were like a Minnesotaspring--one day beautiful, blindingly bright, perfect; the next, wet, cold, anddepressing. When Liz shone through the gloom, I knew I was in love. When thegloom overwhelmed her, I was frightened. Frightened for myself, frightened morefor her.

We got through finals, and Liz informed me that she intended to take me to Monroe over Christmasbreak.

"Why now?" I asked.

"BECAUSE. I DON'T WANT YOU ENDING UP CRUSHED BY SUE IF SHE AND THEBOYFRIEND DECIDE TO GET IT ON OVER BREAK. BESIDES...I WOULD MISS YOU TOO MUCH.I KNOW I DON'T TELL YOU ENOUGH, BUT I DO LOVE YOU, JAKE."

It was a good day.

We got into her '79 Corolla and headed south towards Monroe ("Home of theCheesemakers"), and I felt lighter than air. As we left the city I couldfeel a weight being lifted, off of me, off of Liz.

* * *

Monroe is a little farming town in southwest Wisconsin, a sleepyhamlet that is home to The Swiss Colony (of cheese log fame) and not much else.Liz had grown up there, and while she was not sad to have left for thecomparative metropolis of Madison,she still had a soft spot in her heart for the area. As we passed throughPaoli, she chatted amiably about growing up, playing soccer and running track(Liz was never one to be merely a cheerleader), and taking rides with friendsto Orangeville and Freeport and Madison on the weekends.

It was a pleasant ride, and the unpleasantness of the past few weeks wasfading away. I wondered to myself if I should suggest to Liz that she quitagain; maybe here, away from the epicenter of her "duty," she'dlisten.

We drove up the driveway, and she looked down at me, safeguarded in hercleavage. "WE NEED TO HIDE YOU, YOU KNOW. DO YOU MIND IF I BUTTON ONE MOREBUTTON?"

I grinned at her. "I would mind if you didn't."

* * *

Liz' family was a picture of Americana.Mom and dad were pleasant and friendly (Liz favored her mom, I thought),teasing her genially; her sister, Sandra, was a cute sophomore with a mop ofred hair the same color as Liz'. I actually had a good vantage point--I couldsee a lot through the gap in the shirt, but I doubted I was visible to anyonewho wasn't looking very closely.

By the time we made our way upstairs to Liz' room, she was in a good mood,and so was I. For the first time in weeks, we didn't talk about the duty Lizfelt, or her power, or rape. We just talked. It was lovely.

* * *

It was a nice few days. Oh, sure, there were some dull times: Liz went outwith her family or friends and left me behind; Sandra came in to talk to Liz,and I was forced to hide (though I didn't mind the view); Liz went down to bewith her family, leaving me to while away my time in her underwear drawer. Butthe times together were sweet. On Christmas Evening, Liz came upstairs, andplacing me--and her--on her bed, she whispered her incantation, and joined meat my scale.

"A Christmas present," she said. "One of three."

"Aw, and I didn't get you anything," I joked. She smiled, and Idid too. It was strange, seeing her at my scale--seeing anyone at myscale, for that matter.

"Jake, you have stood by me when nobody could've. That you would showme any affection at all--much less love--is all I could ever ask of you.

"So I'm giving you two more gifts. First, I'm out of the superheroinebusiness, effective right now."

My jaw dropped.

"You're right, Jake. I'm not myself when I'm using my powers. I had toget out of Madisonto realize that. Thanks for pushing me on that. And this, of course, leadsinexorably to my third gift."

She paused but a second, before saying excitedly, "When we get back to Madison, I'm unshrinkingyou--as long as you promise not to rat me out." The last was said with asmirk.

My heart leapt. This was everything I could've hoped for. "We've got afew weeks to come up with a convincing story. Something that doesn't implicateme in my roommate's death."

"Or me," she said, cuddling up to me. And we shared our first kissat an even scale. And a bit more.

* * *

For five-and-a-half days, it was bliss.

Liz was clear of the awful burden she had carried, and it was as if all ourtroubles had melted away. For the first time in too long, we were having fun.

New Year's Eve came, and Liz was preparing for a party at a high schoolfriend's house. She smiled over at me and said, "I WISH I COULD TAKE YOUWITH ME." Then, she mused, "MAYBE I CAN. I COULD UNSHRINK YOU FORTONIGHT, THEN SHRINK YOU BACK WHEN WE GET HOME."

I will never know why I said what I said next. If I could have one decisionback, this would be it. Maybe I was nervous about meeting Liz' friends. Maybe Istill feared that she would realize how out of my depth I was. Maybe I wasthinking long-term about alibis and explanations.

Maybe it was just the way it had to be.

At any rate, I said to her, "Much as I'd love to, it's probably best ifI stay here."

We chatted a bit longer before she left. She kissed me gently, smiled, andsaid "I'll see you after the party, my love."

But she was wrong.

I would never see that Liz again.

* * *

Liz pulled her car into the gas station and started filling up. The partywas out in the country, and she sure as Hell didn't want to run out of gashalfway to New Glarus. Once was enough for that, she mused.

She paid the cashier and hopped into the green Toyota.

"You're a hard person to get a hold of," said the figure in thepassenger seat.

Liz jumped, then swore under her breath. "You scared the piss out ofme. How the Hell...."

"An easy trick. I bet you could figure out how if you wanted to,"said Ronnie Ceres, taking a swig of water. "So, T.C., we're targetingMarch for Operation Rowena. I just stopped by to give you an operationalbriefing."

There was something in Ronnie's countenance that belied the blandness of thetopic, like she expected Liz to say, "You can count me out, Veronica. I'mdone."

"Oh, I don't think so, T.C. You wouldn't let down half of humanity. Youwouldn't fail your wounded sisters."

"I can and I will. I'm in love, Ronnie. I don't know if it will lastforever, but I think it might. It feels good. Better than revenge, that's forgoddamn sure.

"I'm done, Veronica. Find another standard-bearer."

Ceres leaned back in her seat. "Even men you trust are a danger, T.C.That will be proven to you tonight. This love of yours is nice. But he is notworth throwing your power away."

Liz fumed. "What do you know, huh? I didn't ask for this. I didn't wantthis. I'm done. Leave me alone."

"As you wish," said Ronnie, as she vanished into the ether..

* * *

The party was like any party thrown by twenty-one-year-olds back fromcollege. There's the general incongruousness of the situation, the strain offriends who have already gone their separate ways trying to pull back togetherfor a few hours. Not that it wasn't fun; it was. But it was odd.

Liz spent her time chatting with friends and half-flirting with her ex,Jason.

I suppose I should be jealous, but I have it on good authority that Liz alwaysflirted with Jason; they'd dated three years in high school, it was a hardhabit to break. Besides, Jason was engaged to a girl at NIU, and Liz--well, Lizhad me.

It was about one-fifteen in the morning. Liz was standing out in the bitter Wisconsin air, staring up at the stars and drinking inthe first hours of what would be the last year of her life.

She didn't know Jason was there until he groped her.

She startled and backed off. "What in God's name are you doing?"she asked, knowing too well what the answer was.

"C'mon, Lispeth, you know ya been givin' me the green light allnight," slurred her ex, the scent of vodka and cheap champagne assaultingher senses. He started in once more.

"Jace...no. What about Holly?"

"Got m' whole life with Holly. C'mon, just a little kiss...for oldtime's sake...."

And then he was upon her, backing her up against the car, holding her downas she struggled against him, kissing her face, reaching his hand up herblouse. She thought of using her powers against him, but knew that in thissituation, it would be obvious who had killed him, obvious that she was toblame.

He turned for just a second, and that was all the chance she needed. Shekneed Jason, and he sunk to his knees, howling in pain. "What the fuck wasthat for?"

"Believe me," said Liz, eyes aflame, "I could do much, muchworse. Get out of my sight." She turned on her heel and got in the car,fired it up and started backing away.

"Fuckin' tease! Lead me on and then this! Screw you, Liz!" sheheard Jason howl as she pulled onto the road.

Asshole.

What had happened to him? He was a good guy in high school. He'd waitedeight months for her to be ready after he'd first broached the idea.

And now he had tried to--well, molest her at least.

She drove the road, the words of Veronica Ceres echoing in her head.

"I won't say I told you so," the passenger said.

"You just did," said Liz. She didn't want to have thisconversation.

"They're all the same. They all have too much drive for them to keep itunder control. So they assault, and they rape, and they cheat. And the ones whodon't would, if they could get away with it."

Liz studied the road. "Jake wouldn't," she said.

"Exactly. Because you control him. If he was full-sized, would he stillbe yours?

"Or would he become like your ex-boyfriend: just another man?"

* * *

It was almost three before Liz made it up to her room. I had stayed up togreet her, and my heart jumped as it always did as she majestically strode intothe room.

"Hi, honey. Did you have fun at the...."

She looked in my direction, and I froze. Because I could see immediatelywhich Liz had shown up.

"What happened?" I asked.

"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS ASK THAT? NEED SOMETHING HAVE HAPPENED? DOES IT MAKEYOU FEEL GOOD TO HAVE BIG OL' ME HURT?"

My jaw dropped. "What the Hell happened? I love you! It's because I don'twant to see you hurt that I ask: what happened?"

Liz sighed heavily. I could see the battle lines in her face; the part ofher that was her wanted to tell me, to apologize. But it was quicklyoverwhelmed by The Coed.

"DO NOT ASK THAT QUESTION AGAIN. I WOKE UP TO REALITY, THAT'S WHATHAPPENED."

I grasped instantly what she was saying. "You're not going to quit, areyou?"

"YOU'D LIKE ME TO, WOULDN'T YOU? GIVE UP MY POWER FOR 'LOVE,' RIGHT?AND I'M SURE YOU'LL TREAT ME JUST LIKE YOU TREAT ME NOW, RIGHT? YOU WON'TCHANGE? YOU WON'T BECOME LIKE THE REST OF THEM?"

"Like the rest of who, Liz? Damn it, I love you! I want you to behappy, and this hasn't made you happy."

"IT'S MY DESTINY."

"Are you going to restore me?"

She looked at me, and the agonized look crossed he face for just a moment."I CAN'T. YOU WOULD BETRAY ME IN THE END."

"I will never betray you Liz! Never! I--love--you! Something happenedout there, didn't it? Tell me what happened to you!"

"STOP ASKING THAT QUESTION," she said, turning away from me.

"What happened to you?" I screamed, trying to shake the Liz Iloved free from what had possessed her.

"STOP ASKING THAT QUESTION!" she shouted back, as she spun andcaught me with the back of her hand.

I flew across the dresser, already suffering the effects of being hit by acar-sized hand. I hit the wall at an easy forty miles an hour, and crumpledinto the surface of the dresser. As everything went black, I knew that I wouldnot be waking up.

* * *

But I did.

My eyes fluttered open to a brightly lit room. I struggled to my side, thenslowly lifted myself up. I was still in Liz' room, still on the dresser. Ipulled myself up to a standing position, and instantly wished I hadn't. My headhurt like I'd been knocked silly by a sixty foot tall woman. Still, I had tomove; she'd be coming back soon.

I walked to the edge of the dresser--I would have ran, but I just didn'thave it in me--and looked down. Way too far to jump. I'd need to climb down.Was there a lamp? Maybe I could use the cord....

I paused. Instinct had told me to run, but now my head was clearing enoughto recall the events of the previous--was it the previous night? How long had Ibeen out? I looked back at where I had come from and realized that I'd pushedaside a blanket-sized bit of fabric. Where had that come from? And the thimbleof water?

I walked back, and suddenly heard the groan of the opening door. I turned,and saw Liz enter.

"OH, THANK GOD YOU'RE AWAKE. I THOUGHT...."

She stopped, seeing that instinct had caused me to throw my hands up in afeeble defense.

"OH. OH MY GOD. OH, JAKE, I'M SO SORRY. I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT. ITWAS TERRIBLE WHAT I DID. OH, HONEY, PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I WISH IT HAD BEEN METHAT TOOK THAT HIT. I'D RATHER DIE THAN HURT YOU."

I dropped my hands, and saw the tears in her eyes. Heavily, I sat down."Liz..." I groaned, falling backwards again.

* * *

I was only down a few minutes this time before I woke up again. She wastruly sorry. I could see it. She really felt bad about what she had done, andshe promised never to do it again. She didn't promise to unshrink me, but aftershe told me her experience with Jason, I knew why she had been driven back tosuperheroine status.

I forgave her. I shouldn't have, I know. But I loved her. And I knew thatshe just had to get back to where she'd been this past week, and it would allbe over.

The drive back to Madisonwas not so light, not so fun. I felt the weight on both of us. On me. On Liz.

* * *

Jake got up to change the CD. He threw in an old Semisonic disc, andreturned to the group.

"I don't know how you went back," said Scott.

"Why do battered women stay with their spouses? Love lets yourationalize all sorts of things, Scott. And I did love Liz. More to the point,I knew that something was having an effect on her."

"GTS?" opined Sarah.

"That, and the League," said Jake, reclining a bit. "Youknow, things did get better for a little while after that."

He looked down for a moment. "They were better for a little while,"he repeated.

The phone rang, and D.X. started. Teri got up to grab it,while D.X. began refilling drinks.

"For you, hon. Ronnie."

That's ironic, thought D.X. as he grabbed the cordless. "Hey,Veronica. How's tricks?"

"Well, we've got a bit of a situation," said the Chair, a hintof concern in her voice. "You know that spike of activity you've beentracking?"

"Yeah, generalized midwest, about 1.2 kilogridrigs of GTS energy.What about it?"

"The energy level is staying the same, but it's getting moreconcentrated, collapsing on a point located at or about 43 degrees, eightminutes north by 89 degrees, 20 minutes west."

Jake was silent as he pulled out his PDA, going to the map of the worldhe'd installed. Somehow, he knew the city that would come up before it did.

"Madison."

"Exactly," said Ronnie. "At the rate we're tracking, itshould hit its maximum concentration somewhere around 1320 hours CST."

Jake stumbled a bit, before saying, "That has to be acoincidence."

"One would think. But...well, ten years to the day, right?"

Jake thought back. The dreams were so vivid. The insistence that shewasn't dead.

Impossible.

"I've got Isis, Oberon, and Titania with me right now. I'll giveAnonymous a call. I'm taking it we're going condition red?"

"Yellow, for now. We don't know it's T.C...."

"Her name was Liz, Ronnie. Liz Anderson."

There was silence. "You've never told me her name before, D.X. Whynow?"

He looked down, and said quietly, "Do you think it's her?"

"Maybe. I don't know how it could be. Maybe it's just an echo of thespell you cast."

"If it's her, will you help me keep her alive? I owe her that. Wehave more power arrayed on our side this time. I think we could maybe help herget sane."

"D.X., as your friend, I tell you I think we'd both undo what wasdone in '93. Yes, I'm on my way too. If it's T.C....Liz...if it's her, we'llprotect her, and we'll save her."

"Probably fastest to drive. We'll meet at the Parthenon at 2 A.M.Machina out."

He hung up the phone, and turned to his friends.

"Well, it looks like I'll be telling you the story on the way."

"Jake, is it her?" Teri looked at him with concern, mostly forhim, but slightly for what this might mean for them.

"If it is, honey, we'll have our hands full. But if it is, I wanther taken alive. She didn't deserve what happened to her before."

"Do you think it is?" asked Scott.

"Oberon," said D.X., using the code name assigned to the adept,"I doubt it. My spell was cast ten years ago when this levels off. Myguess is that we're seeing the end of a spell cast with the full emotion of mysoul behind it. But we'd better be in position.

"Titania," he said, addressing Sarah. "Call Anonymous.Tell him to meet us at the Parthenon at 2 A.M. He'll know where it is."

"First off, you can still call me Sarah. Second, why don't we justteleport?"

"First off," said D.X., smiling, "we are in a missioncalled by the Chair herself. Code names in public, Sarah--I want to make surewe've got that in our heads right off the bat. Second, I don't want ananogrildrig of power wasted here."

"She's that tough?"

"She has faith," said Jake, grabbing his wallet. "She hasfaith."

* * *

The Ford Windstar pulled out onto highway 52. Teri was driving fast, butnot so fast as to arouse suspicion. It was only just nine o'clock; they wouldeasily make Madisonby two.

"So," said D.X. from the passenger seat. "You probablywant me to continue the story, eh?"

"Actually, I'd say it's mission-critical," said Sarah."We'd better know what we're getting into."

"Indeed," said D.X. "Well, let's see. Where were we....?"

* * *

It was several weeks before Liz and I were able to reach a detente, buteventually, we did. I felt guilty--had I but been there to defend Liz...but Iknew that there was no undoing my decision.

Liz, for her part, had been as apologetic as she could be. She had gone outof her way to do anything I wanted (save restore me--but I had given up on thatfor now). She offered herself to me early and often, and it took me weeks toagree

But it was several weeks before I was able to take her up on the offer. (Ofcourse, I did avail myself eventually--I am a man, after all.)

We were back on a mission again. I was in her ear as per usual, and we weredoing what we did. I think she wanted me there as much for conscience as forcompany.

Tonight we were driving around out by West Towne Mall because Liz though sheshould branch out beyond campus. We drove around in her beat-up Toyota, Liz looking fortrouble.

"LITTLE ONE, DO YOU HATE ME?" she asked, softly. There was apleading in her voice that was unmistakable.

"No, Liz, of course I don't. I love you. I worry about you, but I don'thate you. I never could."

"I LOVE YOU TOO, JAKE. I...I KNOW YOU SHOULD HATE ME, EVEN IF YOUDON'T. I JUST CAN'T DO WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR YOU. I HAVE A DUTY I CAN'T IGNORE.I PROMISE YOU, THE DAY WILL COME WHEN I CAN RESTORE YOU. I MEAN THAT,JAKE."

"I know you do, Liz. I can wait."

We drove on in silence for a while, before Liz said, "WELL, I THINKIT'S GO TIME, LITTLE ONE."

* * *

It was late in the evening when Liz pulled up in front of a nice home, wheregrunge music was being played at levels just low enough to avoid drawing policeattention. Liz bounded out of the car and strode up to the door.

Nobody noticed Liz as we entered the bustling high school kegger. She gavethe kid at the door six bucks for a cup that she immediately dropped. She madeher way up the crowded stairs towards the bedroom upstairs.

Liz surveyed the situation before picking out the appropriate room. Wastingnot a moment, she strode to the door and shrunk it off its hinges.

The girl lay motionless, half-awake and half-naked, as a boy fondled her."SOMEHOW, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A CONSENSUAL AFFAIR. MORPHEUS,TRANSPORT."

The rapist disposed of, Liz rushed to the girl's side. She covered her witha blanket, and picked up the bedside phone and called 911.

She hung up and left the room, moving quickly towards the door. As shemoved, she was jostled. As her head snapped, I found myself sliding out of herear. "Liz!" I cried as I found myself falling out into mid-air.

As I drifted to the ground I saw Liz walking away.

* * *

The next few minutes are a blur. I fell down into a sea of feet and beercups, and I knew I would be lucky to survive the hour.

A bus-sized boot landed a few inches to my right, knocking me off my feet.Staggering up, I started running toward the nearby baseboard. I was approachingthe wall when suddenly, a massive plain of blue dropped in front of me. I fellbackwards and stared up at the immense leg of a young woman.

She had dropped down to tie her shoe, and I found I was just a few inchesfrom her knee. If I ran, I could grab onto the denim--and maybe get out of thisbad situation I had found myself in.

I ran.

I threw myself at the knee of the girl just as she finished her task. Sherose, and I clung desperately to the rough fabric, hoping that she wouldn'twalk too fast.

We moved out through the party, the world moving by like a blur. Suddenly,there was a blast of cold air as the young woman walked out into the night.

I shivered violently--almost enough for me to lose my grip. But somehow, Ihad the presence of mind to start climbing towards the pocket of the girl'sdungarees. It wasn't an easy climb, but I managed to make it in about tenminutes--about a minute or two before frostbite would've set in.

I slid deep into the pocket, grateful for the warmth of the young lady'sthighs behind me.

Finally, I had an opportunity to think. How would I get in touch with Liz? Iwas so small, I couldn't hope to make it to campus unaided. Hopefully, shecould figure out where I was, and come get me.

For now, I just had to survive.

* * *

I awoke with a start. I couldn't have been asleep for more than a fewminutes. But I could feel we were inside now--the denim on the outside wasstarting to warm up.

Carefully, I began to ascend the pocket, hoping that I could find my way tosafety; I had no desire to end up in this girl's laundry basket. I could asliver of light above me. I aimed for it, when suddenly the wall became afloor.

It took me but a moment to realize that the girl had sat down. This wouldmake things much easier. I crawled quickly until I reached the egress of thetunnel.

I pulled myself up and out, and looked out at the vista of the girl's lap. Itook a few steps forward and looked up the body of the titanic teen. Her facewas partially obscured by small, pert breasts, but I could see the phone cordlooping up into her right hand, and I heard her chatting away about something.

I thought about what I should do. I could try to contact the girl, but whatwas the point? It wasn't like I could get unshrunk without help from Liz. Isupposed that she could help me find Liz, but the risks of this girl being lessthan helpful far outweighed anything she could do for me.

I was standing on top of the girl's left thigh. I decided I should try todescend her leg onto the chair, and from there find my way to the ground.

I didn't get the chance.

Without warning, her arm came crashing down between me and her knee, and herhand wandered lazily into her crotch area. I thought I would have to wait but amoment or two as she scratched an itch, but instead, five-story-long fingersbegan to softly slide along the fly of her jeans. I lost my footing as her legsparted, slightly. I watched in awe as she stroked herself slowly, languidly.

And then the fingers reached for her fly.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Anaheim,a dapper field agent cooled his heels outside the office of the Chairman.

(A groan came from the back of the van. Jake ignored it.)

Jon Smith VII was in his mid-thirties, and he was fast developing areputation as one of the Cadre's top agents. He was bright, and daring, andwilling to stick his neck out on occasion. He wasn't especially adept inGTS--sadly, he had little natural ability in it--but that was far outweighed byhis skill as a detective.

The door opened, and a familiar voice called him. Jon rose, and walked intothe office where his father and the Chairman sat.

"Jonny," said his father, Jon Smith VI, in a clipped Oxford accent, "we'vegot a pretty serious assignment here. We need to you go to Madison, Wisconsin.The League has sent one of their top field agents there. We want you to go.Alone."

Smith looked up, surprised. He had always been teamed with someone, firsthis father (who had served on the board, like his father before him), then withHenry Bigg. But never before had he been entrusted with a solo mission.

"Anonymous," said the Chair, using Smith's code name, "Thisis serious. We have convincing information that the League is planningsomething significant. Ceres' operation is the lynchpin of the operation. Weneed you to follow her, figure out what is going on, and communicate back tothe Cadre."

"Why me?" asked Smith.

"You've done a lot of hard work, son, but the League isn't familiarwith you yet. We don't want to let them know we're on to them--not yet, atleast. You need to get to Madisonimmediately. We've arranged for a car that will take you to LAX. From there,you'll fly on a red-eye to Minneapolis, whereyou'll connect to Madison.Here's the information you need," said Smith VI, handing his son a manilaenvelope. "Good luck, son."

Anonymous walked out into the street and got into the back of the Town Car.He forced himself to sleep. He doubted he would get much chance later.

* * *

Back in Madison,I watched in awe as a mammoth zipper clank-clank-clanked open, and as a handdeftly unbuttoned the fly of the girl. Then, suddenly, the hand swept back andtoward me.

I was caught in a tsunami of flesh as the girl swept her hand back acrossthe denim landscape. I hoped against hope that I would fall off, but as thehand pushed me off the cliff between jeans and panties, my hope ran out. I flewinto a wall of flesh, just as the girl lifted the waistband of her underwearand slid her left hand into her womanhood.

I dropped quickly into the bush of the girl, smelling her sweet young scentand becoming instantly aroused. The girl was sliding her index finger along herslit, and it was only a matter of time before she got me. I tried to climb, butit was to no avail; I was suddenly pushed along by a house-sized digit into thearea just inside the girl's lips.

I tried to find a way out, but the fingers were sliding back and forth, backand forth, and the walls were getting slippery as the girl talked dirty to theunseen caller. I hoped that she was just fiddling around, that she was nottrying for the ultimate outcome, but I was wrong.

Two fingers plunged into the cave, pulling upwards. I was caught on the tipof her index finger, which quickly found its destination. I was pushed firmlyinto the girl's clit as the index finger pushed and prodded, working for ahappy outcome.

I felt like I was about to burst. I couldn't breathe, and I was bruised allover. As the world began to buckle with her orgasm, the world became hazy, andthen, all was black.

* * *

I awoke to see Liz standing over me, at a more reasonable size differencethan my sometime hostess. "Thank God," I mumbled.

I was wrong about that.

"SO," said Liz. "TRYING TO ESCAPE, EH? IT SURE DIDN'T TAKELONG FOR YOU TO FIND YOUR WAY INTO ANOTHER GIRL'S PANTIES, NOW DID IT?"

My jaw dropped. I didn't even respond, I was so flummoxed. Finally, Istammered, "Liz, I--"

"SAVE IT. I THOUGHT YOU WERE DIFFERENT, JAKE. TURNS OUT I WASWRONG."

With that, I looked around and saw that I was in a jewelry box. "Liz!No, I--"

The lid closed, and a latch clicked.

And I was in darkness.

* * *

They drove on for a moment, before Scott asked, "So what happened tothe date rapist?"

"Eh? Oh, right. Well, since he enjoyed having sex with women whenthey were inert, Liz had decided to let him know what it was like. So hedisappeared into the Pipefitter--a head and sex shop down on State Street. He had become a redsilicone rod, about eight inches long."

"A dildo?"

"Correct, Sarah. He was purchased after a few weeks by a member ofone of the sororities as a gag gift. He ended up in the possession of areasonably attractive sophomore who would gladly take him out and use him--ifshe didn't have a boyfriend or anything. Actually, his life wasn't, and isn't,all that bad. Last I could determine, he'd been stolen by the woman'sfourteen-year-old niece. That was about four years ago; pretty girl. He couldhave it a lot worse."

"So how did you get out of the box?"

"Well, that's where this story takes a rather odd twist," saidD.X. "A rather odd twist indeed."

The minivan pulled into the gas station at LyndonStation, and the four passengers inside got out; Sarah, Scott, and Teri headinginside for snacks and a chance to answer nature's call, Jake to pump somegasoline and wash the windows.

They were making good time. With luck, they'd even have a chance to getchecked in at a hotel before they had to meet Anon and Ronnie. They didn't evenhave to speed, which was good, as Wisconsin state troopers love nothing morethan to write tickets to drivers from Minnesotaand Illinois.

Teri walked out of the station sipping on a Fresca and fretting. She hadno reason to believe that Jake would ever, ever leave her. She knew well howbadly Liz had mistreated him, and she believed him when he said he would nevergo back to her, even if she was alive.

But of course, that was easy to say because she wasn't alive. Butif it suddenly turned out she might be, would Jake be so sanguine?

She shook off the feeling. No, he loved her. He wouldn't leave her foranything. It was just jealousy she felt.

"So," said Scott as he reached the van, "I don't take itthings were heading in a good direction with Liz."

Jake laughed ruefully. "You could say that," he said. Then, inwhat seemed like a non-sequitur, he said, "Have either of you ever seen myback? I know you have, Teri."

"I have," said Sarah, blushing slightly.

"Oh...yes, of course. Anyhow, you should see this, Scott." Withthat, he lifted his shirt about halfway up, revealing a clean scar running thewidth of his back. It was fading a bit now, but the scar tissue was still clearand evident--as was the pain the injury must've caused.

Scott looked, then gasped as he realized what had caused the injury."A fingernail?"

"Exactly," said D.X., pulling his shirt back down.

"Liz did that to you?" asked Sarah.

"That," said Jake, "and much, much more."

* * *

I don't know how long I was in the box that first night. It seemed likeforever. I'm pretty sure it wasn't more than two or three days; I'm almostcertain it wasn't any less than half a day. At any rate, suddenly there was aclick, and blinding light streamed into my prison. I raised my hand up toshield my eyes, and heard a booming, "GET ON YOUR FEET, ASSHOLE."

I stumbled to my feet, and said, "Liz, I didn't--"

"SILENCE! I DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ONE WORD OUT OF YOU. YOU HAVE WRONGEDME DEEPLY, AND YOU WILL PAY FOR YOUR ERROR. MORPHEUS."

"But Liz," I tried to plead. I wasn't able to plead, though; I wassuddenly without a mouth.

I tried to struggle, but I was unable to.

I was no longer human.

With mammoth fingers, Liz reached down and plucked me from the box, and heldme up to her deep green eyes and squinted just a little. Then, without comment,she lowered me to an enormous portal and dropped me into a chamber filled withperson-sized white objects. Then, she shook the chamber.

Had I been able to, I would've cried out in pain as the objects crashedagainst me. I came to rest along the side of the chamber as she tossed the boxinto her purse, able to read ")IT )AT" backwards through the clearwalls.

This couldn't be good.

* * *

The next several hours were torture, waiting for my execution. More thanonce, Liz poured some of my fellow tic-tacs into her hand and devoured them, oroffered them to others. Finally, after a long wait, she poured me out into thehand of a woman I'd never seen before. She wore her blonde hair short and hersparkling blue eyes regarded me and the other two candies in her hand forbarely a second before we were popped into her mouth.

I was tossed and turned by an enormous tongue, sucked on and slathered insaliva as the woman went about her business. Had I had any genitalia, I likelywould've come from the stimulation--it was surprisingly erotic. But I wasabruptly moved by the tongue to her molar.

And then she bit down.

My mind howled in pain as my confection body was crushed into a thousandpieces. Somehow, I maintained consciousness as the pieces of me were movedbackwards, and then pulled down her gullet. Then, the pieces started impactingher stomach acid, and I howled again at the pain of the acid, dissolving mybody. The world swam as I felt the end drawing near for me....

And then, suddenly, I was back in darkness. For a second, I thought I haddied, but I realized that I could move again, that I was human again. And thatthe chamber I was in once again was Liz' jewelry box.

There was a click, and the lid opened again, and Liz looked down at me oncemore, a look of fury on her face.

I began to wish I had died.

* * *

The next few weeks are hazy in my mind. I remember getting the fingernail inmy back after I tried to escape. I know at one point I was turned into Liz'tampon, and at another I was her deodorant. Much of the time she just beat onmy tiny body.

I tried over and over to tell her that I hadn't tried to leave her, that shewas mistaken, but that only made the beatings worse.

She was creative, I'll give her that. Once, she put my consciousness into asoccer ball being used at an indoor women's tourney. When she got bored with mebeing booted around, I became one with a midfielder's sock. When that bored her,she made be a piece of dirt in a goalie's cleat, and when she tired even withthat, I found myself 1/16th of an inch tall in the panties of an enormousstriker.

And in between episodes like that, I was punished. I was sat on, stepped on,hit and kicked. I was deprived food for days, treated like dirt.

And in between it all, I was back in the box, with nothing and nobody tokeep me company save my pain and my own thoughts.

I knew in my heart that this was not Liz that was torturing me. The Liz Ihad fallen in love with could never hurt me the way the Liz that currentlypossessed me did. There was something deeper at work here. Whatever gave Lizher powers was driving her mad.

And it seemed I was the focal point of her madness.

I would find out later that The Coed had been active during this time. Eightmen disappeared between January and March of 1993. Were they guilty? I don'tknow. I doubt all of them were.

Certainly, I wasn't.

What drove me craziest, though, were the times that Liz would reappear.There would be a flicker of kindness in her beating, a hint of the love sheonce felt for me. Some nights she would just take me out and talk to me, andfor a few minutes I could almost believe I had imagined the horror my life hadbecome.

But those moments never lasted.

I knew that I would not remain Liz' punching bag forever. Eventually, shewould kill me, and I would have the release of death. Indeed, many times Iwished that I had been snuffed out by her months ago. When the box opened inearly March, I could see that my ending had come. And I was grateful for it.

* * *

"SO, LITTLE ONE" she said, looking down at me. "THIS ISGOODBYE. IN JUST THREE DAYS, I WILL BECOME MORE POWERFUL THAN ANY HUMAN INHISTORY. I HAVE NO NEED ANYMORE FOR A LYING, CHEATING...MAN."

The last word was delivered with a cold sneer.

"Liz, I didn't cheat on you! I didn't...."

"SILENCE. YOUR GUILT IS EMBEDDED IN YOUR Y CHROMOSOME. YOU WERE GUILTYFROM THE START. NOW, JAKE, YOU WILL DIE."

She raised her hand high, and prepared to drop it on me like a ton ofbricks. I closed my eyes, waiting for the blow. The end was coming soon, sosoon. I would see my parents again, and my sister.

I was at peace as I felt the wind from her onrushing hand begin to buttressme.

And suddenly, the wind stopped.

I opened my eyes, to see Liz' hand a few feet above my head. Suddenly, Lizstumbled backwards, shuddering violently.

"NO...NO...CAN'T..." she murmured."I...CAN'T...WON'T...NO!" The last word was delivered in a deafeningscream.

"Liz?"

She looked at me with a look of shock and surprise on her face. Then, thelook was replaced with grim determination.

"LITTLE ONE, ARE YOU OKAY?"

I looked at her blankly. "Y--yes," I stammered.

"THERE ISN'T MUCH TIME. QUICKLY, I HAVE TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING. YOU HAVETO READ IT AS FAST AS YOU CAN. I HOPE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IT. JAKE, YOU HAVE TOSTOP ME."

"I don't understand," I said, perplexed.

"JAKE, I AM NOT ME. YOU KNOW THAT I COULD NEVER HURT YOU. BUT THE THINGI'VE BECOME...."

A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she wiped it away morosely. Withthat, she pulled a piece of paper from her desk, and unfolded it in front ofme. "SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH?" she asked.

"Ja," I replied. I had five years of German behind me, andI was already reading the yellowed, handwritten paper as fast as I could. Itwas all here, all of the spells that Liz had cast over the past half-year. Iwas trying my best to remember everything I could.

"LITTLE ONE," said Liz. "I CAN FEEL WHAT I'VE BECOME TRYINGTO PUSH THROUGH. I'M GOING TO LEAVE NOW. YOU'LL HAVE FIVE, MAYBE TEN MINUTES ATBEST. JAKE, MOST IMPORTANT...YOU HAVE TO GET READY. I HAVE TO BE STOPPED."

"Liz, I don't...."

"SHHH. KILL ME IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT. OR I'LL DO TO OTHERS WHAT I'VEDONE TO YOU. STOP ME. I LOVE YOU, LITTLE ONE. I'M SO, SO SORRY." Withthat, she bent down, and kissed me, gently.

And she turned, and fast as she could, ran out the door.

"I love you, too," I said to the closing door. And I meant it.

* * *

I raised my hands. "Shrink, 1:36scale," I said. The massive parchment in front of me dwindled down to thesize of a regular 8 1/2 by 11 sheet of paper. I picked it up and folded it, andjammed it into one of Sue's purses, which I'd shrunk into an oversized dufflebag.

I was sorry to steal it from her, but I didn't have time to dawdle. At leastseven minutes had passed, and I knew that I was already on borrowed time.

I had tried immediately to restore my size, and immediately found myselfpushing against that rubbery wall of a spell cast in earnest by one skilled inGTS. I could feel the bar push against me and move, slightly, but the best Icould do was to increase my height by an inch or two--not nearly enough tomatter.

Fortunately, other spells were not so restricted. I could shrink almost anything,including myself. And I could transport myself short distances within the room.I even thought I might be able to transform myself, though I didn't want totest it on myself until I was sure.

For now, I was on top of Sue's dresser, gathering some items I thought mightbe useful--an earring (the end would make a nice spear), a piece of gum (whichI may need to ward off hunger), and a pair of Sue's panties (because I wouldneed something for warmth. Why else?) I was just about to leave when the doorflew open.

"Shrink 1:100 scale" I whispered as the Liz-who-was-not-Lizstormed into the room. My heart was in my throat as the three-and-a-half miletall beauty strode toward her desk.

I was barely above the microscopic; the world was disjointed and weird. ButI could hear Liz swearing, then, saw a streak of red hair exiting the room, nodoubt in search of me.

"Grow 100:1 scale" I murmured, and I was back to two inches tallagain. My plan would have to change. I couldn't escape the room the way I had planned--byjust walking out. Liz would certainly spot me. I would have to try another....

I felt the push at my mind, and suddenly I was parrying the Claris spell.Liz was trying to see through my eyes, I could feel it. "No, damnit," I muttered, before pushing hard and closing off my mind.

It was the first spell I had cast with full emotion behind it, and it workeda little too well. My mind was closed completely; only an adept could getthrough the parry spell I had cast. (This would later annoy Teri, but I hadgood cause).

I knew I couldn't just sit around all day waiting for Liz to come back. ButI also couldn't just run out pell-mell. I needed a bit of luck.

And then, deus ex machina, Sue Nguyen showed up.

She was wearing a spring coat and carrying a backpack, muttering to herselfin Hmong, quickly scanning the room. She checked her watch, and then headed fora duffle bag sitting by her desk.

I didn't know where she was going, and I didn't care. I was in the bagbefore she even reached it, and as she lifted up the bag, I prayed that I wason my way to freedom.

* * *

The bag swayed as Sue carried it though campus. Most likely we were walkingdown Observatory Drive;I could hear the occasional car passing, which ruled out the Lakeshore path. Icould tell we were walking westbound, away from campus, probably toward thelakeshore dorms.

Was Sue going to her boyfriend's for a little assignation? It was possible,but I found it unlikely. From what light was filtering into the bag, I couldsee that Sue had packed shorts and a t-shirt and a pair of sneakers--not thekind of clothes one would bring to a men's dorm for changing into after alittle kanoodling.

No, more likely she was going to work out. I knew there was an athleticcenter right at the edge of campus. Undoubtedly she was going there to try tokeep her phenomenal figure phenomenal.

And I was going with her.

I tried to grow again. I could get to about eight inches before theresistance of Liz' spell arrested me. I shrank back down again.

If I had patience, I knew I would be able to break the spell completely. ButI also knew that I didn't have forever.

I had less than three days.

* * *

We arrived in the women's locker room, and I huddled down in the corner ofSue's bag. I would have to get away from Sue, that was certain. Going back withher would lead me straight back to Liz, and that meant likely death. I found myway to her shoelace, diminished my height to one-fourth of an inch, and grabbedon. I hoped I could find an opportunity to work my way to someone else, and atleast be able to find a safe place to crash.

My stomach dropped as Sue grasped her shoe and lifted it into the air. Ihoped she would drop the shoe onto the floor to put it on. It would give me theopportunity to run to the shelter of the bench and plot. Sue didn't help me outthere, though. She put the shoe on the bench and lifted her tremendous foot upto insert it.

I was on the outside part of her left shoe. I dropped to the bench andsprinted away from Sue. The locker room was pretty empty, fortunately, and Iwas able to get away while Sue tied her shoelaces and tossed her stuff in thelocker.

I waited for an opportunity, and it entered in the form of a sweaty womanwith short, dirty blonde hair, wearing bike shorts and a t-shirt. She walkedover toward my bench and began disrobing.

She was pretty, but that didn't enter into it. She was a ticket out of here.I walked toward the clothes she had dropped on the bench, and knew as I reachedthem that I had a chance. As I was tossed with the clothes into her gym bag, Iwas already plotting how I could regain myself in time to stop Liz.

I didn't even know what she was intending to do.

* * *

The bag was carried unsteadily to the woman's home. I hoped we were in alakeshore dorm, or somewhere off-campus. I didn't want to find myself back atLiz Waters. Even though I might be in another wing, I didn't want to be in thesame building as Liz.

The bag opened, and a pair of hands yanked tennis shoes out of the bag,before the bag was inverted. I fell, surprised, into a heap of clothing thatsmelled of sweat and female pheromones.

I gritted my teeth, concerned that the basket might be lifted, that tonightmight be laundry night. But I soon relaxed. She had just been neat; better toput your gym clothes in the hamper right away than leave them to fester.

I started to plan. I'd wait until the woman (and her roommate, if she hadone) went to sleep, and then I'd make my escape--just a transport spell or two.Then, I'd find my way to a quiet corner of whatever dormitory I was in and tryto restore my size to something approaching normal.

I also needed to try to find some clothes at some point.

The door to the room opened with a boom, and I heard the woman's roommateenter. They were chatting away about my hostess working out.

"OH, YOU'RE A SWEATY BITCH," said the roommate, jovially. "SOWHERE ARE THE CLOTHES?"

What the heck was this about, I wondered.

"I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ERICA."

"OH YES YOU DO, JILL. THEY IN THE HAMPER?"

Okay, I wasn't sure at all where this was going, but I wasn't going to takeany chances. I quickly reduced my height to 1/8 inch, and tried to figure outwhat in Sam hill was happening.

I timed it well. An enormous face filled my horizon, pretty, with short,jet-black hair and a nose stud in a button nose. She reached down for the itemI was on, which I realized quickly was a pair of--Jill's?--panties. The garmentand I were lifted to the woman's face, and she breathed in the heady aroma. Theair displacement caused me to lose my grip and fall past lush, unpainted lipsto the front of a black t-shirt.

"DELICIOUS," said Erica.

"THAT'S DISGUSTING," said Jill.

"YOU KNOW YOU LIKE IT, MY LITTLE LIPSTICK LESBIAN."

With that, Erica came up behind her seated lover and kissed her on the neck.

I was too shocked to do anything. I was in a bad situation. But then again,I was male.

So I stayed put for the moment, and waited to see what happened.

* * *

D.X. sat back in the seat and sighed. "It was really stupid. Reallystupid. But pretty fun."

The group was silent, until Sarah piped up.

"Uh, Boss, you going to give details?"

Jake smiled. He loved teasing Sarah. It was so darn easy. "YeahSarah. In just a second or two."

The van drove along I-94, with everyone silent.

For about eight seconds.

"Okay, it's been two seconds, chief. Spill the beans."

D.X. laughed. "All you think about is sex, ain't it, Sarah?"

"No. I also think about how I'm going to one day transform you intopodiatric shoes for the folks at the Bosky Dell Nursing Home for the Senile andDeranged. That, and torts."

Jake cracked his knuckles and mused internally about whether Sarah hadsome attraction to women as well as men. Wouldn't surprise him--though hethought that mostly, she was just interested in GTS erotica because she was sotied into it. She was an adept, and it was so woven into her soul that therewas no telling where she ended and GTS began.

Lucky girl. And lucky Scott, he added, mentally.

"So, you want to know what happened between Jill and Erica?"

"Oui," Sarah replied.

"All right," said Jake, "I'll tell you."

* * *

Erica had leaned in behind Jill and was kissing the nape of her neck, tryinggamely to get her girlfriend into the right mood.

"HONEY, STOP, I NEED TO STUDY. I'VE GOT AN O-CHEM MIDTERM COMING UP ONTUESDAY AND IT'S KICKING MY ASS."

"COME ON, IT WON'T TAKE THAT LONG. YOU'LL BE ALL RELAXED AND HAPPY, ANDTHE STUDYING WILL GO QUICKER."

Jill wavered, and moaned just a little bit as Erica kept her ministrationsup. "UM...YOU KNOW DAMN WELL IT'LL TAKE PLENTY LONG, YOU DYKE. WE'VE NEVERHAD A QUICKIE YET."

"FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING, LOVE. WE COULD GET EACH OTHER OFF QUICKLY,AND THEN GO BACK TO BEING RESPONSIBLE COLLEGE STUDENTS. WHAT DO YOU SAY?"

At that suggestion, Jill turned and gave Erica a quick buss on the lips."OKAY. BUT IF WE'RE NOT DONE IN ONE HOUR...."

"I SWEAR, HONEY, I'LL KEEP IT QUICK."

* * *

It took them about three hours, but Jill really didn't seem to mind.

I was on the floor, looking up at the two girls dozing in each other's arms.They were obviously in love, or at least in lust, which is pretty good forcollege.

I envied them on a number of levels. First, just on pure simplicity: aslesbians, they could cheerfully live together in the dorms. Second, they weretogether with the person they loved, and they were enjoying each otherimmensely.

I felt a stabbing in my gut as I thought of Liz, the woman I loved, buriedunderneath layers of insanity. I wanted to help her. I wanted to save her. Buthow?

* * *

"D.X., at the risk of sounding crass, given the pain I know you feltand still feel--details?"

Jake had to laugh at that. "Scott, it's nice to see you asking forthe details for a change. All right, well, I'd put myself in a pretty dumbposition three hours before...."

* * *

I clung desperately to Erica's shirt as Jill rose and embraced hergirlfriend. I was crushed between the chests of the girls as the lovers kisseddeeply and warmly. I was immediately erect as I felt the warmth of the titfleshenveloping me. It didn't take long for me to lose my grip, but thankfully, bythat time they were maneuvering into bed.

I fell onto the chest of Jill as Erica rose up above her. With a sly wink,Erica pulled her shirt off over her head, revealing a simple black bra whichwas also removed. Erica was well-endowed, but there was no sag to her breastsas she dropped back down toward Jill. Enormous mams landed on either side of meas the two began to kiss some more.

I knew, of course, that it would be best if I just transported out of there.I knew, of course, that my continued presence as an ant-sized voyeur on a younglesbian's chest was anything but safe.

But I was nineteen, and there were warehouse-sized breasts surrounding me,and I was just too amazed to do a goddamn thing.

The two lovers rolled over, and I found myself dropping suddenly to Erica'scleavage as Jill now was disrobing. Her breasts were smaller than Erica's. Butthey were no less impressive. And then they were back to kissing, and now therewas no barrier between me and the women.

It was somewhat painful. But it was amazing fun.

It wasn't long before I saw Jill's head drop down to Erica's tits, suckingand licking on them passionately. Then, to my horror, her tongue slid down theinside of Erica's left breast and enveloped me before I had a chance to react.

I made my move on sheer instinct. I was covered in Jill's saliva, and inreal danger of being swallowed. I should've used a transport spell, butinstead, I cried "Morpheus!"

And I was quickly one with Jill's tongue.

We were sliding across the surface of Erica's stomach, and I was more thanaware of the soft, delicious skin. And we were sliding until suddenly, wereached something slick and hairy. Erica's bush.

It was just a second before I found myself sliding across moistened lipsand, well, moistened lips as Jill began to work on Erica. I was thrust in andout, before being worked up to Erica's clit. As Erica began to tense up withorgasm, I sighed mentally. This could become addictive, I thought.

* * *

So it went for the next couple hours. I experimented with morpheus andtransport and shrinking and growing spells as the girls went at it, droppingmyself off in all sorts of fun spots. When they finally dozed off, spent andhappy, I transported myself onto the floor, and looked up at them, full ofenvy, but grateful for the experience.

I walked out into the hall, and pushed my height up to eighteen inches. Thenquickly, pushed it back down as I heard a door open. As intriguing as it mightbe to be found by a fetching young coed, I had work to do.

I headed down the hall towards where I thought a study lounge would be. Icould tell I was in a lakeshore dorm--Bradley, maybe, or possibly Cole. I couldsee the lit room down the hall, maybe a twenty minute walk or so away. I'd goin there and try to break the spell Liz had put on me. And then, God willing,I'd go stop her. Whatever that meant.

* * *

It actually took me a good deal longer than I thought, as young women wereconstantly wandering out into the hallway. It was a Saturday--March 13, 1993, to beexact--and the girls were having fun. Next week was the last before SpringBreak, so mid-terms would be in full swing. Best to party it up.

I was stopped in my tracks more than a few times by conversations and jokesand girls returning from the showers before heading out for the evening. Once,I ended up directly under the robe of a girl as she chatted amiably aboutsomething-or-other, and I got a good view of her unadorned womanhood. It took agreat deal of willpower, but I kept moving along. I didn't have time todawdle--two days, Liz had said. That's all.

I finally made it to the study lounge. The room was deserted, and I snuckover to the lee of the couch, and with everything I had, I started blastingaway at Liz' spell.

It was hard work. As hard as I have ever had to work to break a spell.Dozens of times, I put everything I had into my growth spell, only to grow aquarter inch, or a half inch, or not at all. Finally, when I thought I hadnothing left, I threw everything I had at the spell, and felt it break away asI sped upwards to my full height of five feet, ten inches tall.

It took me a second to gain my bearings. It had been months since I had beenthe size of a human being. It was odd. Very odd, indeed.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a girl stared at me and screamed. I lookeddown at myself, and realized that I was still naked. "Transport," Isaid, and as I dematerialized, "Sorry."

I'm sure I probably scarred her for life, but I didn't have time to discussit. I had transported myself into a male dorm room one floor up, one that wasthankfully empty. Quickly, I grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt out ofthe closet of one of the men, and morphed them to my size. I then pulled onsome shoes, and with a quick transport spell, I was away.

* * *

It was a cool night in Madison,and I walked the streets, unsure of what my next move was. I knew that Icouldn't just pick my life back up--inevitably, I'd come under suspicion forthe murder of my roommate, and while I wouldn't be found guilty--Liz had leftno physical evidence whatsoever--I didn't relish going through a policeinvestigation.

More to the point, I still had to uphold a promise to the woman I loved. Ihad to stop her. Kill her, if I had to.

I prayed I wouldn't have to.

I had morphed my face to match that of a friend from high school. I knew Ididn't want Liz to notice me--I was not in her league yet as far as GTS goes,and the last thing I wanted was for her to start dueling me.

But I still had to find her, figure out what was going on.

So I waited outside of Liz Waters Hall in the shivering cold, watching forher to show up.

At about nine o'clock,she exited, beautiful as ever. She looked around briefly, catching my eye forbut a second. She looked away, and then looked back. I smiled a flirtatioussmile, hoping she didn't see me for who I was. But she simply scowled andwalked out into the night.

I let her walk a fair pace ahead before I turned and followed, morphing myface into that of another friend's as I went.

* * *

We ended up at a bar on State Street, one of the less happening ones. Liz hadwandered in, and was sitting at a table with a woman I had never seen. I satdown a few tables away and ordered a Budweiser; I had no money, but the napkinsin front of me morphed quickly into twenties, just as a coaster had doubled asa Minnesota I.D. for a David Xavier Machina, age 22. I don't know where thename came from--sudden inspiration, I guess. I sipped on the beer and watchedthe women talking, trying to figure out what they were planning.

When they got up, I went to follow them.

So did someone else.

I'd seen the man eyeing them. I had thought perhaps he was just attracted tothe pair, but now I realized he was casing them just like I was. And he wasgoing to follow them, just like me.

The two women split up almost immediately, and I decided to follow Liz'compatriot, a beautiful woman in her early thirties, with jet-black hair and agorgeous figure. I followed at a safe pace, and I noticed that my fellow spywas doing the same.

As the woman went into Inn on the Park, Iturned my attention to the man. Surely, he knew something. I transported myselfright behind him, and said, simply, "So who is she?"

The man jumped a few feet, turning suddenly. "Who the Hell areyou?" he asked in a British accent.

"D.X. Machina," I said, improvising. "And you?"

"Anonymous," he said. "You're the chap from the bar, aren'tyou?"

He'd made me. Quickly, I weighed my options. I looked at the man, andsuddenly, I morphed my face back to my face. (I did the same to my I.D.)"Actually, my name's Jake Theissen. I don't know who it is you'refollowing, but the woman she was with tonight is very dangerous. She held mecaptive for months."

Anonymous rocked back on his heels, and his eyes widened. "You arefamiliar with GTS then?"

"I've got a document," I said, pulling out the yellowed parchment."This is where the woman your subject met with got her knowledge."

Anon looked up in surprise. "Bloody Hell," he whispered as hestudied the document. Then, he looked up at me. "Well, come on. It lookslike we have some things to discuss."

I don't know why, but I knew right away that Anon was a friend. Just instinct,I guess. Together, we went up to his room at the hotel, and we sat down andshared intelligence--him, about Veronica and the League, me about Liz and TheCoed.

He wasn't thrilled with my news.

"Two days," he said, grimly. "Doesn't leave much time. I'llcall in the cavalry, but if your Coed is as strong as you say, I don't know ifwe can get enough agents in place to stop her."

"She's not evil. What she's become is evil, but she's a good person. Ifonly I could talk to her, reason with her...."

"Sorry, Jake. This is a powerful scroll with powerful effects. It'sfortunate you found me now, before you began to suffer from its effects. Ishould be able to teach you more of GTS before Monday, a more pure form of itthat doesn't carry the same kind of mental damage this does."

"I don't follow," I said.

"We've had the opportunity over the years to learn from our mistakes.To use GTS without having it corrupt us. They're not major differences, butthey keep you from losing yourself in the power. And that makes all thedifference."

My heart leapt just a bit; maybe, I thought, if I could get this informationto Liz, she could be saved. I hoped so.

And so I began training with Anon. Refining my skills. Learning new spells.We worked through the night, and by morning, I was woefully inadequate--butthankfully, too inexperienced to know. I was strong enough for the moment, thatwas all I could ask.

We slept in. When we woke up, it was two in the afternoon. We had less thantwenty-four hours before Liz would strike.

* * *

The Dells were behind them, now, and the van drove by Cascade Mountain,where skiers still were gliding downhill in the last gasp of winter. Jake couldfeel Madison inhis gut. It was closing quickly. Something was happening. He knew it.

He prayed it wasn't what he thought it was.

Jake leaned back and rested his eyes for a moment. It washard, telling this story. It got harder every time. But he had to. Scott andSarah needed to know what they were getting into.

"No time for sleeping, liebschen. You have much work todo."

D.X. looked around, startled. He was in the desert of Arizona,on a crystal clear fall evening. He shivered just a bit at the cold, though heknew he wasn't really there.

An old woman sat by the fire. She was small and frail, but only theunwise would believe in her frailty. She looked up at him with those eyes, andsaid, simply, "Come, sit, my young apprentice."

"Katrin?" he said, quizzically.

"You were expecting Obi-Wan Kenobi, perhaps? Who else would come toyou in this way? You don't have an infinite reserve of dead teachers." Shedelivered these lines in a thick German accent, with a hint of something else.

"I haven't seen you since--since--"

"Since the day after I died. Yes, yes, I've been busy. The afterlifeis not all beer and skittles, Yacob. There is much work to do there, and Hekeeps me on my toes. Not that I mind. He's a good kid, that one." Sheswept her long white hair out of her eyes, and smiled. "Besides, you havedone well for yourself in my absence."

Jake sat down by the fire and looked at her. His mind told him he waslooking at Katrin Goldfarb, the most powerful adept ever to live. And theperson who taught him how to make GTS a positive force. But he knew it wasimpossible.

"What, impossible. Impossible is your Elizabeth talking to you in your dreams.Impossible is fifty foot women. A dead God-teacher coming back to instruct you?Happens all the time. Ask Luke Skywalker."

Jake smiled. If this wasn't Katrin, she was a dead ringer. "Why areyou here?" he asked.

"Because," she said, "you need me."

"Why do I need you?"

"You know why."

"Liz?"

Katrin smiled, and shook her head. "Not so simple as just Liz. Bigthings are going to happen, Yacob. You will find that what you think ishappening is indeed happening, but what you think has happened has not. Youwill find that what you think is the crossroads is indeed the crossroads, butanother crossroads lies just beyond. You will have the chance to redeemyourself, but you will also find challenges you have not dared toimagine."

Jake leaned back. "What does that mean?"

"I can't tell you that, Jake," said Katrin. "I would beviolating the God-teacher's union bylaws to just spell it out for you--and youyourself would be the first to try to censure me, you stickler for the rules. Ican tell you this: you must trust yourself, and your compatriots. Yourinstincts are good, Yacob, and so are your adept friends. And most of all, soare your wife's.

"Now," she said, rising, "it is time for me toleave."

"Teacher," he said, "I never thanked you properly. Foreverything."

"So? You have. You have done well by GTS. You have made it into apowerful force indeed, Yacob. That is all I could ever have hoped for. AufWiedersehen, Yacob."

"Farewell, Teacher," he said, as the scene faded away.

* * *

Jake head-bobbed. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked.

"Just a few minutes," said Teri. "We figured you neededit."

"I'll be fine. I just had a dream about Katrin Goldfarb."

"The adept?" asked Scott.

"Yes," said Jake. He paused for a moment, then said,"Well, I guess I'd best finish the tale. We're almost to Madison."

* * *

It was the afternoon of Sunday, March 14, 1993. Something was going to happen, and soon.

We knew this. Liz had been specific.

We just didn't have a clue what something was.

I was grateful to Anon. He didn't have to trust me, he didn't have to takeme in. He could easily have milked me for information and left me high and dry,but he didn't.

Instead, he made use of me. I had, we found, a natural facility for GTS. Notadept level, of course, but there were only five known adepts at that time andfour of them were neutral. (All of them were women, too; that should have beena sign to we of the Cadre, but of course, we ignored it.) I was green, but Iwas willing and strong, and I had a strong motivation to succeed.

We decided to split up, to use our resources to try to find out what theplan was, and how we could stop it. I would confront Liz, while Anon would tailRonnie. It was a dangerous gamble. Either one of us could find ourselvescaught, attacked, or worse. But we had to do it.

So while Anon took up his position down the hall from Veronica Ceres' room,I walked back to campus, heading straight for Elizabeth Waters Hall.

I must've been insane.

* * *

Getting to the door of Liz' room was easy--a little misdirection here, alittle transporting there. But daring to knock on the door...that wasaltogether different.

With trepidation, I knocked twice. A moment or two, and the door opened.

"Hello?" said Sue, looking up at me.

I had to suppress a smile. Sue was barely five feet tall--gorgeous,certainly, but tiny. It felt strange to finally see her as a regular woman,instead of as a goddess.

Well...she was still pretty goddess-like.

"Um...is Liz here?" I asked, trying my best to stay cool.

"No, she's at class. Who are you?"

"Dave. Dave Machina. I'm in a study group with her, I need to leave hera message...you mind if I write her a note?"

"No, not at all. Here, her desk is over there."

I walked to the desk and grabbed a sheet of looseleaf paper, pausing justlong enough to spy an open jewelry box. I fought the urge to hurl it againstthe wall violently, and instead wrote:

Liz,

We need to talk. I can help you with the test you face tomorrow. You needto trust me. I have your best interests at heart. Meet me by the statue of Lincoln on Bascom Hill at10 tonight. Don't bring Veronica or any of her friends--they're a bad influenceon you. And I'm not looking for a fight. Let's agree on a truce beforehand--youleave your fight at home, I'll leave mine.

Dave Machina "Little One"

I smiled at Sue as I folded over the note. And then I left the room, myheart racing.

* * *

"I don't like it, mate. There are too many League operatives in town--Icount twenty. The most we can get here by tomorrow is ten. I can't risk yougoing alone. I'll go with you."

"Anon," I said, trying hard not to look afraid, "I have to dothis. If there's someone else with me, she's going to smell a rat. I hope toconvince her, but if I can't, then I hope to find out everything I can aboutthe plan for tomorrow."

"Well, good luck, because I got nothing," said Anon, grimly.

* * *

It was 10:10 PM. Shewasn't going to show. Looks like I wasted my--

"You've grown, Little One."

I turned and smiled at her. She was radiant in the moonlight, the cold Marchwind whipping through her hair. She looked like someone who could command acity, or a nation, or a world.

"I eat my Wheaties," I joked. Then, "Liz, we can stopthis."

"It's too late, Jake. Or are you 'David' now?"

"I don't know. And it's not too late. I've learned, Liz. I've learnedso much about GTS in the last day. I've learned a new form that doesn't affectyou like the scroll did. It's different mental images, a different approach. Itworks, Liz. You could learn it, you could have these powers and not the angerthat comes with them."

"It's too late, Jake," she said, softly. "It's my destiny. Mydestiny to rule this city. The city is mine, Jake. I own it."

"Liz--"

"Little One, you have a chance. I know I was hard on you...so hard, sobitter. But I've changed now. I don't have the rage. Just a determination. I'msorry, Jake, but I want you to be by my side. Veronica--she advised me againstit, but I don't care. I love you. I want you to be my Prince Regent. And thevoice of my better angels. You would have power, Jake. You would be mysecond-in-command. Together we could rule...and we could become more thanlovers, or boyfriend and girlfriend. We could be together, forever. Don't youwant that?"

My heart was so heavy I thought it would pull me into the ground. "Iwant that more than anything, Liz. But you asked me to stop you, you asked meto do it out of love. If nothing else, Liz, delay it. Wait a few days."

"No. The Cadre--a league of men bent on male domination--they havegotten wind of the plan. No, it's tomorrow, or never."

I looked at her and she at me. It seemed like I saw her across a canyon,from far, far away. I knew then that it was not my Liz that wanted to forgeahead.

I wasn't sure if she existed anymore.

"Liz, I need to think...about us. Where can I find you tomorrow?"

She smiled. "Be on Library Mall at 1:30. But don't be right by the Library. I hope to see youthere, my love."

"I hope to see you," I said to my Liz.

We parted under truce; neither of us tried anything. We were both honorable.

And we were now enemies.

* * *

Anon met me in the Rathskeller, and got me up to date.

"We haven't been able to nail anything down on Ceres, but we know thata number of League bigwigs have come to town. We're moving to a new base ofoperations to get things set for tomorrow. Unless, of course, you convinced herto abort the plan."

"Well, I couldn't talk her out of it," I said, "but I think Iknow where it's going down."

I relayed my conversation to Anon. He smiled, just a bit.

"You know, D.X., you'd make a hell of a field agent. You shouldconsider coming to work for us when this is all over with."

"I just might, Anon, I just might. So, do you need me for anythingelse?"

"Indeed. It's time for you to meet the Chair."

* * *

The new base of operations turned out to be a lovely, large home a fewblocks from the Capitol. I didn't enquire as to how the Cadre laid hands on it;indeed, I was too awed by the situation I found myself in to think about muchof anything.

There were about a dozen younger men hanging out in the great room, playingcards and chatting, while in the corner, two men were chatting amiably. One hadgrey hair and a fatherly manner. He sipped scotch out of a snifter, and smiledat Anon warmly. The other had thinning cinnamon-sugar hair and a pointedvandyke, and an odd, otherworldly appearance. He commanded respect, and Iinstantly felt a bond with him.

"D.X., I'd like to introduce you to my father, John Smith theSixth," said Anonymous, gesturing to the grey-haired man.

"The pleasure is mine," said the elder Smith, smiling warmly andshaking my hand. "I'd like to introduce you to the Chair of ourorganization, Mr. Koschei."

With that, the Chair rose, and smiled at me. "Mr. Machina. Anonymoushas told us of you. It is an honor to meet one who survived an encounter with aGiantess."

"It was little of my doing that saved me," I said. "She setme free."

"Indeed. But you persevered through trouble. You survived long enoughto change her mind. You are the kind of man we could use around here.

"But now, to business."

* * *

For hours we discussed the possible plans for tomorrow. Scouts plotted outLibrary Mall, a few more footsoldiers showed up, bringing our contingent to arobust seventeen, counting me.

We slept between two and five, and were back up again, going through ourdrills, planning our attack. Liz could not be allowed to do damage--she had tobe stopped.

I was going to be in on the attack, but not at the forefront of it. My jobwas to stay back with the Chair and provide tactical analysis. It made sense. Iknew Liz better than anyone, and I'd be able to alert the Chair if I had anidea.

Of course, I doubted I'd be much help, but we would see.

By nine-thirty, we were at our posts in and around Library Mall. The Chairand I were stationed on the third floor of the bookstore. From there, we had agood view of the proceedings. All men were in position. We were ready.

All there was to do now was wait.

* * *

The hours drug by. Ten. Eleven. Noon.By one-fifteen, I was tense as a charley horse, and frightened as a littlegirl. I nearly jumped when Anon's voice came over the radio.

Anonymous, spot League forces, a pair of 'em, coming in from the East,over. The reports started coming quickly then.

Bigg here, I've got three of 'em in from the North.

Little, three Leaguers coming out of the library.

Stainless, got a wave of four coming up off of State.

And then, came the news we were waiting for.

Anon here. Four League agents. Ceres, Leah Jackson, Katrin Goldfarb, andThe Coed. Repeat, I have visual of The Coed."

"All Cadre forces, this is the Chair," said Koschei, crisply."On my mark. Three, two, one, mark."

The battle was joined.

* * *

The League wasn't expecting it; that was the only reason that we had achance.

They had us easily outnumbered, and worse, they had an adept on theirside. But they didn't know the Cadre had made them. (They knew about me, ofcourse, but didn't consider me a threat.)

We led with transformation spells and transport spells--disorienting,confounding spells that instantly thinned the ranks of the League to more evenstrength. Quickly, they fell back into a defensive ring around Liz and beganfiring back with AR spells and shrinking spells. We expected that move, andparried nicely. If Bigg had held his position, we probably could have wiped 'emout quickly.

But Henry Bigg was always a bit of a hot-headed glory hound. He saw achance to get to Liz, and he took it. With a war cry, he charged out of hisposition, with the Chair screaming at him to hold his position, and started toraise his arm in a triumphant transformation spell...

...only to find himself suddenly whisked away by Adept Katrin Goldfarb,who simply willed him into the Chi Omega house at the size of 1/4 inch.

The League counter-struck then. Katrin held back. It was now obvious thatshe was around to protect Liz. But it was also now obvious that the tide hadturned. Stuart Little went down next, turned into...well, a mouse by VeronicaCeres. Then Stainless Clock lost his battle when he was turned into a bit ofstubble on the ankle of a woman passing by.

"We're losing. And it's almost 1:30," I said to the Chair.

"I know," he said. He looked at me gravely. "You need toget down there, D.X. You need to join the battle."

I didn't hear the end of the sentence. I leapt, and was transportingmyself before the thought was completed.

* * *

Even among those skilled in GTS, there is often a tactical blind spot.

Those who have been shrunk are forgotten about.

I could see this instinctively as I watched the battle, which is why Imaterialized behind the League's line of defense at three inches tall.

I crept along, passing a few comely women doing their best to destroy theCadre. Carefully, I crept by Veronica Ceres, and was almost to Liz. Only alooming grandmotherly figure remained. Quickly, I grew myself and started tostrike....

Suddenly, time stopped.

The elderly woman regarded me carefully, and suddenly, split the barrierin my mind as easily as one might break an egg.

This was not GTS. This was an older magic.

I felt the last five months flowing out of me, my pain and anguish andanger and fear streaming in an unbearable torrent. And then deeper, with mydad...my sister...my mother....

I tried to scream at her to stop, to please oh God make it stop I don'twant to remember this I don't need to please I'll do anything I'll please ohplease oh please....

And then suddenly, the scenery changed, and the memories were of Liz,kissing me down by the lake, making love to me, promising to release me. Of herfreeing me, asking me to stop her. To kill her if I had to.

The old woman regarded me carefully, and after an interminable time, saidsimply, "You are an honorable man. You must do as you promised,Yacob."

And the world started moving again. The old woman winked at me, and thencollapsed.

I had a clear path to Liz.

I took it.

The chimes struck for one-thirty.

Liz smiled at me, onrushing her. "It's too late, Little One. We'regoing to do it! We're going to smash the Patriarchy! No woman will ever cowerat her boyfriend again! No woman will ever suffer rape again! The bullshitmacho garbage that passes for society will be swept away, and finally, womenwill have their place at the head of the line. Hey, boys, what do you think ofme now?"

"I can't let you Liz. I can't let you do this."

The League noticed that they had let me slip through. They were turningto attack me.

"Please Liz," I said, "don't make me stop you."

"You can't," she sneered. "The Liz you plead to is dead.Bow before your Goddess!"

I saw her start to raise her hand in slow motion, felt the air start torush away from her as she started to grow. I had come to the cusp. I had tomake a decision.

My heart was as heavy as an anvil, and my stomach was tied in knots. ButI had no choice. Or, more to the point, I had but one.

"Shrink," I said, "1:1000 scale. And bind for tenyears."

My hand had sprung up of its own volition. I threw my spell at Liz witheverything I had.

The spells hit each other and bounced off each other and pushed andpulled. But it's easier to cast a shrink spell than a growth spell, and easierto maintain it ageist a countervailing spell. I only had to wait her out. Icould see her strength ebbing. One last time, I cried out to her.

"Liz! Remember, I always loved you. I always will. I'm sorry, mylove. I'm so sorry."

She turned to me with a look of anger and recrimination. She seemed to bemouthing profanity at me. And then, suddenly, there was a look of clarity, andshe mouthed to me, "Thank you."

And suddenly, she was gone.

With a pop, the air moved into the space she had been in. I staggered asI knew that the spell had worked; Liz was gone. She was no longer a threat.

With their champion gone, the fight went out of the League. Quickly, mostabandoned their posts. One, however, kept towards me.

"You!" screamed Ronnie. "You destroyed a great moment forwomen! I worked with her for months, and...."

"Shut the fuck up you bitch, you killed her," I screamed,lashing out with everything I had.

Ronnie parried just in time, which is fortunate, as she would have beendead once my spell connected. I'm not even sure I remember what it was--onlythat it was very lethal. "Well, the little boy has some fight. The Coedwas right about you. We'll settle this...later. Mr...."

"Machina," I said, "D.X. Machina."

"D.X.," she smiled, and vanished.

And with that, I collapsed on the ground, and wept.

* * *

The rest, as they say, is history. I joined the Cadre, they helped cleanup my history and clear me of any wrongdoing--turns out I'd been in California interningwith Disney. Michael Eisner wrote a personal letter to the Madison police department. It didn't matter. Thename on the Arizona--and California--andWashington--and Florida--andNevada driver'slicenses I carried was David Xavier Machina. Jake Theissen was almost a memoryto me now.

I first dreamt of Liz the very night I killed her.

"LITTLE ONE," she said to me gently, "THANK YOU."

"I killed you, Liz," I said, resting on her knee and crying.

"SILLY," she grinned at me. "LOVE NEVER DIES. BESIDES, YOUDID WHAT YOU HAD TO. WHAT I WANTED YOU TO DO. YOU DESTROYED ME TO SAVE ME. IDON'T KNOW IF I COULD'VE DONE THAT FOR YOU. I KNOW I WOULDN'T HAVE WANTEDTO."

"I miss you already, Liz."

"OH, DON'T WORRY," she said, smiling. "I'M NOT GONE FORGOOD. I PROMISE."

* * *

The group arrived at the Parthenon at 1:55 AM, having checked in at Innon the Park. Veronica met them there, as did Anonymous. There was concern inthe room, not least because D.X. was so quiet.

But slowly, they regained their equilibrium as they planned. And therewere a few surprised--Ronnie had never realized that Katrin had betrayed theLeague in '93. "That evil witch," she said admiringly. "ThankGod she was smarter than me."

They retired to bed, and were up again in the morning, back at LibraryMall. This time, D.X., Scott, and Sarah were the frontline, and there wasnobody between them and the spot Liz died.

"One thing you never mentioned," said Scott, as they waited."What was the deal with Katrin Goldfarb? I mean, she was working with theLeague, right?"

"Well, the way I worked with the Cadre. She believed in balance. Shewas the daughter of a Jew and a Gypsy. She lived through the Holocaust and cameto Americawith the secret of GTS. She could have had unlimited power, like you and Sarah,but she didn't want it. She believed any idea forced on people will fail. Soshe was leery to begin with when the League recruited her. And she openlydisdained Project Rowena.

"But she did her duty, protecting Liz. When she saw me, though, sherealized what Liz was capable of. She let me stop Liz because she didn't wantone woman ruling the world any more than one man.

"She met with me later, when I was in Arizona trying to find myself. She taught meabout GTS, and balance, and respecting this gift we've been given. And shetaught me to forgive myself. I owe her much. We all do."

They were quiet, until Anon's voice came over the radios. "1:29," he said, simply.

The field of GTS energy was palpable now. It was collapsing quickly onthe spot Liz died. D.X. raised his hand, and prepared a transport spell that hehoped would buy him time. He said a little prayer. This time he would havetime. This time, nobody would be forcing his hand. This time he'd get it right.

The clock chimed. One-thirty.

The field collapsed. And collapsed. And collapsed. D.X. raised his hand,and for a split-second there was a flash, an outline of a fifty-foot-tall womanin blue sparkles. "Trans--"

And suddenly, it faded away.

"--port."

There was an interminable time where the only sounds were of studentsmoving across the nearly deserted square, until D.X. said, "Um...Scott,what's our reading?"

Scott looked out serenely. "Negative. Nothing there. The field hasutterly collapsed." He turned to his friend, and put a hand on hisshoulder. "I'm sorry, Jake."

D.X. wanted to cry, but a General doesn't cry in front of the troops. Instead,he calmly picked up his radio and said, "All personnel, stand down, fieldhas collapsed, no GTS activity repeat no GTS activity."

He looked out over the mall, and sighed.

Liz was gone forever. It was done.

It was done.

"If it became possible for me to shrink you, say inthe privacy of our own home, would you let me do it to you?"

--Dreamwatch, A Small Weekend

It's funny how life brings us back around to where we'vebeen.

Ronnie had headed back to Chicago;Sarah, Teri, and Anon were on their way back to the Cities. And Scott and Jakewere sharing a pitcher of Capital Hefeweitzen in a bar in Memorial Union.

Ronnie had offered field ops to do the mop-up work required after this kindof event, but D.X. had wanted to do the job himself. For one thing, he stilldidn't trust the Bigg-Little team, and besides, this one was hisresponsibility.

Scott had stayed back too. He knew his friend needed him.

"I'm sorry, D.X." he said. "I was hoping it was her."

"Thanks, Scott. But I'm not sorry. Liz was pretty miserable by the end.I'd hate to think of her alone for ten years...."

Jake shuddered involuntarily. "Liz would've tried to implement ProjectRowena. I think we would've stopped her, but I'm glad we didn't have to try.

"It's unlikely she would've done lasting damage. But I didn't want tokill her again."

They were quiet for a moment or two, before Scott said, "Why no lastingdamage?"

"Eh? Fundamental organizing principle of the universe, multipersonsolipsism. Until the world is ready for GTS, GTS can have only limited impact.You know--you were in New York."

Scott looked at D.X., and said, softly, "What if the world isready?"

Jake shook his head. "No chance. We live in a practical world, ascientific world. There's no room in it for GTS."

"Isn't there? Think about everything that's happened in the lastdecade. We've gone from Liz having permanent powers being novel to GTSEnterprises. We've had movies like Attack of the Fifty Foot Women and Honey,We Shrunk Ourselves. And most important, look at the content on theInternet.

"I don't know, D.X. Maybe we're not ready now, but I think we'regetting closer to the day this thing is going to explode into the world'sconsciousness."

"God help us all if that's true," said D.X. "I love GTS asmuch as the next guy--let's face it, more. But this would be such a radicaltransformation for society. Think what would happen if anyone could access GTS;think how different our world would look."

Scott nodded. "I'm not saying it would be easy or good. But GTS is aforce of nature, like a tsunami or a hurricane. And I worry one day it's goingto blow in and hit humanity, and we're not going to know what hit us."

"Well," said D.X., "if you're right, then our organization isgoing to be busy. Because we're the only ones with the experience tohelp."

Scott sipped at his beer, and grimaced. "That's what bothers me,"he said.

They were quiet for a few moments, before Scott said, "You know, it'sfunny. What we've become, you and I. We were both washouts in the traditionalsense, and here we are, with power beyond what we can comprehend."

"True enough," allowed D.X. "Though I had an excuse. You weretrying to stay in college forever."

"True enough. But still...we're both damn lucky for everything, youknow."

"Luck," said D.X., solemnly. "It's a son of a bitch. I wouldtrade all the power I ever had never to have met Liz, never to have felt thepain I felt when I killed her. The only things I wouldn't trade away are Teri,Sarah, and you--my wife and my best friends. And since I couldn't have met youwithout Liz, I'll bear up under it.

"But I don't have to like it--and I don't."

Scott sipped the beer and said, "D.X., you said Katrin trained you.How?"

"Huh? Same way I trained you, only she was a better teacher and I was aless gifted pupil."

"Why did she train you?"

D.X. looked off into the distance. "I don't know, Scott. I think it'sbecause she saw in me a desire for balance. When she looked into my mind, sheknew all I wanted was to keep my promise to Liz--nothing more. I harbored noill will towards women or men.

"I think she thought my destiny lay along the path I followed--or maybethat it could, if she helped me. I'm grateful. If not for her guidance, I mayhave fallen into the Cadre's mindset--like Bigg and Little, who no matter howtalented will never rise above their mindsets."

Machina closed his eyes. "I hope I've been a positive force. So muchbattling, so much war...but it brought peace, right? It broughtstability."

"It did, Jake," said Scott, quietly, as a tear rolled down hisfriend's face. "You did it. It's thanks to you that people can enjoy GTS,not fear it. The Liz you loved would have been proud."

D.X. smiled wanly. "I hope so, Scott. I hope so."

* * *

The party was wrapping up, and the students were heading home to get somesleep. It was a Saturday night, and things were starting to get warm enough forstudents to roam Langdon freely.

John Fyock was a Junior. He'd been having a good time tonight--he'd finallygotten some action from Alexis Harrington, a cute Senior he'd pined for sincehis Freshman year. It was enough to carry his drunk self happily toward hisapartment, blissful and free.

He bumped into the girl a little harder than he intended to."Sorry," he drunkenly mumbled as he staggered away.

"Oh, no problem," said the girl. Then, "Say there, do youhappen to have a few dollars I could borrow? I seem to have mislaid mypurse."

He looked back at the girl. Damn, she was fine. If he hadn't just hooked upwith Alexis....

"Uh, sorry, I don't have any cash on me right now. You, uh--y'needawalk back to your dorm or somethin'?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Huh?" he said to the girl, who was narrowing her eyes at himsomewhat.

"Never mind," she said, turning on her heel and sashaying away."I can take care of myself just fine. Just fine indeed."

"The Moving Finger Writes; and having writ
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it."

--Omar Khayyam, The Rubiyatof Omar Khayyam
(transl. by Edward Fitzgerald)

The Coed remains one of the most elusive killers inAmerican history. She killed over twenty in her six month reign of terror, andyet little evidence remains to tell us who she may have been, or why hermurderous business concluded as abruptly as it started.

What ended the mysterious disappearances that plagued Madison in 1992 and 1993? What stopped TheCoed?

Nobody knows. Perhaps she was killed, or perhaps she feared beingunmasked. Perhaps she simply tired of killing and simply walked away. What madeher stop is as maddeningly unknown as what made her start in the first place.Like Zodiac before her, she burst onto the scene in a fit of mayhem, only tovanish like the wind at the peak of her powers.

The mysteries of The Coed will be solved someday. Someone will find theplace she disposed of her victims; someone will stumble across heretoforeunseen physical evidence in the effects of the deceased. And the killer will beunmasked for all the world to see.

Until that day comes, though, we who tracked The Coed will always wonder:What happened to The Coed? And will she ever strike again?

--Det. Marcus T. Rimbauer (Ret.), Gone:The Mystery of The Coed (Doubleday, 2001)

SIX WEEKS LATER....

Scott closed the book and sighed. He felt sorry for Detective Rimbauer; the Madison police departmentwas ill-equipped to deal with a foe with supernatural powers. Perhaps, ifAgents Scully and Mulder had dropped in from a parallel universe, they would'vehad a chance.

But real-life cops? No chance.

Only someone like D.X. could stop someone like Liz. Or Sarah.

Or himself.

"SO, WAS THE BOOK GOOD?"

The booming whisper came floating down from above, where Scott's wife wasspeaking sotto voce.

There wasn't much time before Sarah had to take finals, and she was readingher Professional Responsibility text and highlighting passages furiously whilesitting in a study carol at the Warren E. Burger law library at WilliamMitchell College of Law. Scott was shrunk to three inches tall, lying back on ahammock that she had set on the desktop.

He smiled, and gave her a thumbs-up. He had asked to come along because hewas missing her lately. It wasn't her fault. Law school is a bitch, and Sarahwas a good, conscientious student with a legitimate shot at graduating cumlaude. She needed to study, and he usually left her alone. Indeed, that wasbasically what he was doing now--just reading while he watched his enormouswife study, enjoying being in her presence.

"ALMOST DONE FOR THE NIGHT," she whispered, and smiled.

* * *

"Almost done, honey?"

"Yeah, Teri. Just have to check one more thing, then I'll have businesswrapped up for the night."

Jake checked through the reports, humming idly to himself.

There had been no dreams since March 15. Not one. He didn't know what thatmeant, and frankly, he didn't care. Ten years is a long time to hold on to amemory--too long. It can destroy you if you don't let it go.

Maybe he'd finally laid Liz to rest. Maybe he'd finally come to terms withher death.

Or maybe, just maybe, the piece of her trapped in this real world by hisspell was finally free to go on to the next place.

Whatever it was, he was more relaxed than he'd been in--well, he didn't knowhow long. It was so far in his past he couldn't remember.

He knew only that he was finally happy.

The listening network reports were pretty standard. Slightly elevatedreadings in San Franciscowere to be expected, what with half the Society already there for next week'splenary meeting. That reminded him, he needed to verify his flightinformation--Scott and Sarah had offered to transport him, but he really justwanted to take a normal flight. Besides, the Wonder Twins could do a lot, butit was pushing them to transport him, Teri, Scott, Sarah, and Anon all the wayto the coast.

He signed on to Orbitz, and switched back to the listening network to shutthe program down. He clicked on the box to shutter it. As the program stopped,he noticed a blip.

It was a white dot, which caught his eye. White indicated the highest levelof GTS activity. He opened the listening program, and looked at the map of the US again.Nothing unusual.

He was going to shut the program down again, but just for his edification,he scrolled back a minute in time.

Nothing, nothing, nothing....

Enormous white dot covering the upper midwest....

Nothing.

He was dialing his cell phone three seconds later. * * *

The woman strolled down Langdon, looking at the street as if she'd neverseen it before.

She was aware of the world on a strange and different level than she everhad been before. It was as if she could sense every perturbation in theatmosphere, every stray thought and emotion flowed through her. She could tastethe air, smell pheromones on the wind.

She was a predator. And she was searching for prey.

She walked through the doors of the fraternity, listening, feelingthe pumping music as it rolled through her. She didn't know the song, whichdidn't surprise her. She knew the room though. She had been here before.

Upstairs! came the thought, unbidden, and she knew it immediately tobe the case. Showing no sign of concern, she slipped out of the room and trodup the stairs. Third door on the right, she knew.

She turned the knob, and pushed the door open easily. The girl was stillsprawled backwards on the bed, rubbing her jaw from the punch her boyfriend hadlanded. The two turned to see the visitor standing in the doorway.

"Hello there," said the woman. "Bad timing, that."

And with that, she struck. * * *

"I don't know what it is, but we saw it too," said Ronnie Ceres,rubbing her temples. "An enormous flash of power and then--poof!"

"It was near-adept levels, Ronnie. Power like that doesn't just go'poof.'" D.X. was searching the records for similar anomalous readings,and getting nothing. "Can we localize it at all?" "We're trying.God damn it, get me those numbers!" The second sentence was barked atHenry Bigg, who was grabbing data as fast as he can.

"Well, centerpoint is about 43 degrees north by 90 degrees west. That'sthe best we can do right now," Bigg called out.

"43 north by 90 west, approximately," relayed Ceres.

D.X. was silent for a moment. "Ronnie--that's awfully close."

"Close to where--oh!" she gasped, as she realized exactly where."But--Jake, it wasn't her."

"Pretty coincidental. Maybe we were wrong. Maybe we weren't seeing Liz'rebirth. Maybe it was something else. But this is a massive outlay ofpower."

Ronnie knew he was right. "Okay, Jake, take Scott and go back to Madison. See what you canturn up. We're not upgrading our threat level based on this. Not yet."

"Acknowledged," said D.X., hanging up. He had another call tomake.

* * *

The woman advanced on the now-tiny men, eyes gleaming. It had been too long.

"Now," she grinned, "what am I going to do with you?"

The man was stumbling backwards, his inch-tall frame staggering at the sightof the she-demon. "Please," he cried, "I'm sorry, Iswear...."

"Sorry, are you? Yes, you're sorry all right. I'm a bit hungry littleboy. You can satisfy that hunger."

She plucked the little man off of the ground and, opening her gullet wide,tossed him down.

He fell into the empty cavern of her stomach and immediately howled in painfrom the acid. He thrashed desperately, trying to stay alive somehow, butslowly, the pain became too much. He died, choking on bile, a few hours later.

As for the woman, she simply turned to the girl, who was staring wild-eyed,and said, "Tell your friends not to worry anymore. I'm back."

And with that, she turned and strode out of the room, out of the party, andback out onto Langdon.

* * *

Scott's cell phone was ringing as they got into the car. "Yello,"he answered, smiling at Sarah.

"Oberon, this is D.X. Machina."

Scott sobered immediately, and gave the verification code. "The handsomestamong these Maids of Honour...."

"...a pleasant frolicksome Girl of Sixteen," completed D.X."We have a situation."

* * *

The next morning, Professor Angela McMartin was up bright and early. She hadjust celebrated her thirtieth birthday with the news from her department headthat she probably would not get tenure. Not that she was surprised; it was hardto break into any college, not to mention her alma mater of Madison. And it was niceof Janis to let her know in advance. It would give her the opportunity toinvestigate the women's studies departments at some other schools.

She turned on the radio to bland pop, and jumped into the shower. It was acouple minutes in that she paused.

"Madison police are investigating thedisappearance of a University of Wisconsin student.Bradley Michaels was last seen at a party at a local fraternity. Michaels, atwenty-year-old from Sun Prairie, was wearing...."

She stepped out of the shower and toweled off. Strange. She had an oddfeeling about this.

Suddenly, her mind flashed back to ten years ago, the stranger with theknife, the woman who had saved her.

It was just a flicker. Odd, that her memory of almost-rape should reappearnow.

She listened to the story continue, and wondered how odd it was.

* * *

"So do we have any clue what's going on here?" asked Scott, overbreakfast.

"None. But this kind of power...it's beyond comprehension. We can'ttake a chance."

"It can't be her, can it?" asked Teri.

"Of course not. But it's someone." D.X. poked at his eggs, andsilently stewed.

Whomever--whatever--it was, it was dangerous. Damn dangerous.

Angela raced through her classes that day, only half-present as sheinstructed her students about the corrosive effects of male-dominated thoughton society. (Of course, her students were only half-present too, but that'sanother story entirely.) Her mind was occupied by the disappearance of BradleyMichaels, and the recurring image of her assailant--and her savior.

Something big was happening. She could feel itin her bones. It wasn't based on anything tangible, but she knew instinctivelythat it was valid. That it was real. She hadn't questioned whether therewere things beyond the ken of mortal man. Not since that night ten-and-a-halfyears ago.

She probably should've been surprised by theknock at the door. Office hours had ended half an hour ago, and she was stillhere only because her mind was wandering. Still--

"Come in," she intoned.

The door opened to reveal a pretty young woman,her hair tied back in a pony tail and a fresh bruise on her chin."Professor McMartin, do you have a minute? I need help, and I don't knowwho else to talk to."

* * *

D.X. watched the news, transfixed by the sense of deja vu he felt.Yes, it was just one man. And yes, it was just being treated as a mysteriousdisappearance--not even a kidnapping. But he remembered the pattern all toowell.

"I don't know. I don't think it's her. Maybe it's a copycat," hehad told his wife and friend.

"I don't see how it could be a copycat. Besides you, Ronnie, and Lizherself, nobody knew what Liz was doing. Not exactly, anyhow."

"Scott's right," Teri added, grimly."Our best hope is that it's just a coincidence. Either that, or it'sher."

"Impossible," said D.X. blankly."I--we wouldn't have missed her back in March. No, something else is goingon here.

"And I don't have a good feeling aboutit."

* * *

Briana Thomas was the last person to see herboyfriend alive, and a witness to his death. Not that she could share the storyof his death with anyone, at least without seeming insane. So she'd done whatany normal person would do: she'd lied her ass off to the police.

She said her boyfriend had wandered off downLangdon, saying he was heading back to his dorm, but he never made it there.She sported a bruise from where he hit her--yeah, what of it? She'd called hisplace around five to see if he was there, wanting to break it off--the cellphone record showed that the call had been placed. But she certainly hadn't killedhim. Besides, her whereabouts were pretty solid for most of the night, andthere didn't seem to be enough time for her to have killed Brad anddisposed of the body.

The police had taken her statement--a littleskeptically, maybe, but without any real dissent.

But Briana knew what she'd really seen,and she knew it had really happened. She wasn't insane. And she needed to tellsomeone. So she sought out her women's studies professor, who had once told theclass, in an odd moment, that she believed she'd been saved from rape by avigilante with supernatural powers.

So she told Professor McMartin the whole story.And Angela leaned back in her chair and took it all in, understanding full wellwhy her memory had taken its latest turn.

"You're not crazy," she finallyreassured Briana. "You've had an encounter with The Coed--or maybe herspiritual heir."

"Is that why she told me to tell myfriends that 'she's back?'"

"I think so," said Angela,thoughtfully.

"You know, I didn't want him dead. I mean,he was a jerk, but he wasn't evil."

"Maybe so," said Angela. "But inthe heat of the moment, sometimes it's hard to tell. I probably wouldn't behere today if not for The Coed. She saved my life last time around. Who knows?Maybe she knew something you didn't.

"But," added Angela, "nobody'sgoing to believe you saw a man shrink. Well, other than me, and maybe a coupleother recipients of The Coed's protection. I saw a man vanish into thin air. Ibelieve you, Briana, and you did the right thing."

Briana smiled in spite of herself. So didAngela.

* * *

Three days later, D.X. was about to call offthe search.

The plenary meeting was in three days, andthere was nothing besides his gut suggesting that there was anything at allamiss in Madison.Oh, sure, the coverage of Brad Michaels' disappearance continued unabated. Butit seemed maybe he'd wandered off drunk after fighting with his girlfriend.Maybe, D.X. thought, the listening program was off. That had to be it. Hehoped.

So he was writing his report on a warm Thursdayevening, with Teri curled up in bed watching "The Daily Show," whenhis wife suddenly sat bolt upright.

"What's with you?" he asked,jovially.

"Shh!" she hissed, silencing him witha wave. She closed her eyes, and reached out, as if to deliver a blow.

She could feel the event, even if she couldn'tplace it. She saw the man--forty, neatly dressed, country club type. His hairwas short-cropped, graying a bit. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as heforced himself on her, his tumescent cock pushing towards its destination.

The eight year old was pushing back with allher might, eyes wet with tears. She was ashamed that he was doing this to her,ashamed that she couldn't stop him. She knew she couldn't tell on him--her momdidn't believe her before. She couldn't stop him. But she wasn't going to makeit easy for him.

The bastard. He was supposed to be herstepfather.

And Teri felt the rage welling up inside her,the sheer fury as she reached out her hand and in a voice that was not her own,said "Shrink, 1:500 scale."

He dwindled to a speck before her eyes. Shesmiled, triumphantly, and said, "Transport," and his tiny figuredisappeared. She knew he was going to be dropped into an elementary schoolwhere he could ogle the kiddies as long as he lived--which figured to be a few hours.

She felt a satisfaction as she turned on herheel and left.

And then, suddenly, the connection was brokenand she was back in the real world, gasping for air as her husband movedtowards her.

"The Coed--"

"Are you okay?" he was saying, butshe waved him down.

"The Coed struck again," she wheezed.

Just then, D.X.'s phone rang. He grabbed it,and answered fluidly. "I know, Ronnie," he said before he even heardthe Chair speak. "A massive outlay. We're going to investigate.

* * *

Angela returned to her apartment late in theevening. She'd taken a walk down by Lake Mendota, her mindreplaying the information Briana had relayed to her.

The Coed was alive! She was sure of it. Thewoman who had saved her life and the lives of countless others lived. Over thepast decade, she had worried--when the disappearances had stopped....

But that was over now. Thank God.

Angela walked into the studio apartment andlooked around. She wandered over to the kitchen and took a glass down out ofthe cupboard, opened the fridge and grabbed the half-empty bottle of Gewürztraminerand poured a glass. She sipped the wine, a silent toast to her savior.

"Hello, Angie."

The professor wheeled around, shocked by thevoice that came from behind her.

The woman was sitting in a chair, smiling. Sherose, and strode towards Angela, her long red hair swaying with each step, asmile across her face.

"Oh my God...you're her."

And Elizabeth Jane Anderson smiled wider, andsaid, simply, "Yes."

Angela swallowed hard. She had so much to say!How could she ever repay this woman, who had risked so much? She wanted tothrow her arms around her, thanking her for hours on end.

What she said was simply, "Would you carefor a drink?"

"You've no idea how much I would likethat."

The two drank in silence. There were no wordsthat seemed appropriate for Angie to say...and Liz was so out of practice attalking that the silence seemed utterly natural.

At long last, she who was and is The Coedspoke.

"A long time ago...it seems like eons, thoughit has been only ten years...I saved you, no?"

"You saved more than me. You saved thewomen of Madison."

Liz cocked an eyebrow at the effusive praise."You promised me you would help me in any way you could, do youremember?"

Angie nodded. "I could never forget. I'mready to serve you."

Liz smiled. "You already have, my dear.I...used some of your energy to restore myself. I know you've probably feltrun-down in the past month. But that is over now. Thanks to a few incidents,I've been able to restore myself to perfect health. Now, all I need is a placeto stay."

"You've got it."

"And I need something else."

“Anything you need.”

“What I need,” said Liz, smiling broadly,"is a partner."

* * *

For now, they would sleep.

"So, liebschen, how are things?"

"Katrin, I don't know. I'm so confused.It--it can't be Liz."

"Why not?" asked the Goddess-Teacher,stirring the fire.

"Well, for one thing, she's dead."

At that, Katrin let out a loud, bellowinglaugh. "Ha! And so am I, and yet you don't seem to hold it againstme."

"Well...you're not real. I'm dreaming.You're the product of my dreams."

"So that's what you think this is, eh? Youhave much to learn, Yacob. So very much to learn. But that is true of us all, Isuppose."

They were silent. A coyote broke the silence ofthe desert, and Jake looked intently at his mentor. "It is her, isn'tit."

Katrin looked back at him. "Not just her,Jake. But yes."

He stared at the fire. "I can't kill heragain, Katrin," he whispered.

"I know, liebschen, I know. Butstill, you must stop her. Or all that we worked to stop ten years ago shallcome to pass--only the consequences, I fear, shall be far worse than ourdarkest imaginings."

And Jake shuddered. For his darkest imaginingswere black as deepest night.

* * *

The two were kissing frantically, with Angelaleaning up against the wall while Leah fondled her. Dimly, in a long-lostsector of The Coed’s mind, she knew that this was nothing she ever would’vewanted in her former life. But that life was long gone, and if she couldn’ttrust Jake, she couldn’t trust any man. Her lover, her partner...she would haveto be a woman.

As for Angela, she had no doubts about therightness of this moment. She was certainly not the first lesbian to major inWomen’s Studies, and she certainly was not the last. She had been attracted toLiz a decade ago–and here she was, looking as young and fresh and beautiful andincandescent as she did back then.

“I want to try something with you,” said Liz,huskily, into Angie’s ear. “To show you what can be done with this....”

“I am yours,” replied Angie, and she meantit.

And at once, Angela was falling down. No, thatwasn’t right. She was shrinking.

Liz smiled down at her. “I think you’re goingto enjoy this,” she said huskily.

* * *

Meanwhile, back in the barren desert that livedin the subconscious of Jacob Thiessen’s mind, he was going through the samedrills that Katrin had made him learn many years ago. The drills he had shownScott, the drills he had shown Sarah.

“You are out of practice, Yacob. You must be atthe top of your game to win the way you want to win.”

“I know, Teacher.”

“You know nothing. Again. We will drill again.”

Jake reached out and pushed at the force Katrinhad enveloped him with. An AR spell, damn her. He had always struggled withthem. And here he was, defending himself against the full power of an Adept.

And she was trying.

“Teacher, I am not as strong as you. Even if mytechnique was perfect, I could not defeat you.”

“Strength is as strength does, liebschen. Wereyou stronger than Elizabethwhen you stopped her? No. You knew then how to win. You know now how to win.”

“No, it’s too much! I can’t–no, wait....”

He thought he knew the answer. He could tasteit. He started the parry....

* * *

The alarm clock buzzed, and Jake sat boltupright. “Shit!” he cried. He had it. He had it.

He had Katrin beaten, and he knew how to stopLiz.

Well, he had known how to stop Liz. Butnow...it was gone.

“What is it, honey?” asked Teri, rousingherself.

“It’s–nothing. Nothing. Just a dream.”

Teri looked at him a long moment. “Okay, it wasa dream about Katrin. She was drilling me, and she was pushing me hard. And Ialmost thought I knew how to beat her, and then....”

“The alarm.” Teri slid into a sitting position,naked as she usually was. “You know, my Psych professors would suggest thatthis is simply a matter of sublimation–you using the image of your formerteacher as a metaphor for your problems.”

“What would you say it is?”

“I’d say you need to listen to what Katrin istrying to tell you. She obviously knows what she’s doing.”

“So you believe that it’s really Katrin? Imean, really....”

“Jake, have you forgotten I was working as aPsychic when you met me? I’ve seen weirder things.”

Jake pulled himself out of bed.

“You know, Jake, I can help you get in touchwith her in waking life. It may help.”

Jake looked back at his beautiful bride,smiling quietly. “That would be great. But I’m kind of afraid of what Katrinmay say to me if I was wide awake.

“What she says in my sleep is frighteningenough.”

* * *

In another room in Madison, another pair of lovers were layingin bed, comparing notes.

“So, you really think this will work?”

“Trust me, Liz,” said Angela, laying againsther lover’s thigh, a bare six inches tall. “I know the women we’ll need. Overthe next six days we’ll have a dozen trainees. And a month from now, we’ll takethis town–for you, my Queen.”

“No,” said Liz, stroking Angie’s hair like onewould pet a favored cat, “for us, Angie.”

And Liz smiled.

This town was hers. She owned it.

Veronica Ceres looked out the window of the 757, staring as the plane leftthe tarmac. She was leaving San Francisco, bound for Milwaukee–not exactly thedirection one would usually choose.

But of course, this was not a vacation; there was something afoot here,something deep and dark and evil.

Her place was with her comrades.

Actually, she was breathing easier, as she looked across the aisle at thefigure of Jon Smith, who was studying a ream of documents. Most of the keyfigures in the Society had been in San Francisco. She had rallied them, set them to work onfinding out how it was, after ten years, that The Coed had risen again.

The Coed. She cursed inwardly, the all-too-familiar lump in her gut fromwhat she'd created. She had talked with D.X. more and more lately about whathad happened back then, and she was filled with regret. Liz could've been somuch more; she was wasted on Ceres' dreams of success.

Yes, but had you not come so close to success in Madison, you never would've risen in theLeague. When the crisis came in 1998, you would've been powerless to stop it.

She sighed. She knew it was true; Ronnie had built her career on the graveof Liz Anderson. It was the closest the League would come to winning–until New York, of course.

But now, it appeared her creation was back from the grave. And Ronniewouldn't be able to control her this time. The Coed was on her own now. She hadto be stopped.

And Ronnie knew that she would have to do it.

* * *

D.X. gnawed gingerly on the bagel, trying to figure out where to go fromhere.

He wanted to run away. He wanted to have this cup taken from him, and goback to being an ordinary man.

He couldn't kill her again.

Sarah had arrived ten minutes ago. She had transported directly in, notbothering to ask her CO if she should. D.X. was glad. Had it been up to him, hewould've told her not to–drive in, instead. But she was here, and it helped. Hefelt a little better with two adepts to back him.

"All right," he said, after a long pause. "We know that Lizis going to resurface in a big way. We know she's resumed her vigilantepattern; we know that she's moving against the rapists and molesters. And if Ibelieved she would be content with that, I might just let her be."

D.X. looked around the table, hoping someone would say, "Yeah, that'sprobably all she'll do, let's go home." But of course, nobody did.

Instead, he looked down. "We all know," he said, quietly,"that she's not going to be content with that.

"Teri, Sarah, I want you to track down this girlfriend of this missingboy."

"Why?" asked Sarah. "According to the papers, she didn't knowanything."

"Yeah, well, according to the papers, he's missing, not probably killedby an avenging angel skilled in the GTS arts. Scott, you're with me. We'regoing to do a little reconnaissance work, see if we can get a sense of whatwe're dealing with."

"Are we sure this is Liz? I mean, I know this person is calling herselfThe Coed, but do we know it's literally Liz Anderson?"

D.X. stopped for a moment, and considered. "I'd like to believe thatwas true. And maybe it is. But whomever is doing this is channeling Liz, if itisn't her. Her modus operandi is exactly the same as Liz's. If it isn'ther, it's her twin.

"And either way, we've got to be on our guard."

* * *

Angie would've skipped down the street had she been twenty years younger.Instead, she headed up Bascom Hill light as a feather, still reeling from thenight before.

She felt gooey inside, like a toasted marshmallow. Liz has shown her thingsshe didn't think were possible, and Angie felt reborn.

She turned into the building and headed for the classroom, her mind spinningbackwards to the events of the previous evening....

"I want to try something withyou," Liz had whispered into her ear. "To show you what can be donewith this gift."

"I am yours," she had replied, and she meant it.

And then it felt like she had boarded an elevator, descending rapidly.She looked up in surprise at a growing Coed who smiled, and said, "I thinkyou're going to enjoy this."

She reached out her hand, and marveled as it slid along Liz' leg, herknee, her ankle. When Liz finally stopped shrinking her, she stood only fiveinches tall.

"My God," she had said,looking up at the ninety-foot-tall woman, resplendent in jeans and a t-shirt."I should say, my Goddess."

Liz dropped to a knee in front of herpartner. "Yes, you should. Here, let me undress you."

And she was rising, and Liz wasremoving her clothes matter-of-factly, like an eight-year-old undressing adoll. Liz smiled down at her. "You're pretty, Angie. A pretty, perfectdoll." And then Liz started licking between her legs, Liz' tongue the samesize as Angie. And the tongue hit the junction of her legs, and she cried outin ecstasy....

Angie smiled to herself. And she wasn't even thinking about her laterexperience pleasing Liz. Now that...that was something she'd remember forever.

She shook her head, slightly. Enough of that. She had a job to do.

Briana Thomas walked by Angie and smiled. "Bri," said Angie,smiling back. "I need to tell you something."

* * *

"Do you think there's a chance we're going to find her this way?"asked Scott, as he and D.X. walked down State Street.

"I doubt it. But we've got to try. And the other option is just sit inthe hotel room, and I can't do that right now."

Scott sighed. "I know, D.X., but we also have to proceed in a sensiblematter. If you don't feel...."

"I'd hold that thought if I were you. I'm not locking myself in,"said D.X., visibly annoyed. God damn it, this was tough enough without Scottpiling on.

"I was going to say, sir, that if you don't feel this ishelping then perhaps we should consider something else proactive we cando."

D.X. looked at Scott, and dropped his head. "Scott...I'm sorry. I wasout of line. It's just...."

"Hey, I couldn't kill Sarah when I had to. We're just lucky she came toher senses in time. Two seconds more, and maybe I hand the keys to the world tothe League. You...you took Liz down. You had to, and you did it.

"One time facing that decision was too much for me. I wouldn't go backto that cusp for anything. And here you are, and I don't blame you for feelinga bit insane right now, Jake. But if we're going to beat Liz we needyou. We need you present and in the moment, we need you making decisions forthe right reasons. Sarah and I are strong, Teri's prescient, Ronnie and Anonare en route and they're great. But you're the Supreme Allied Commander, Jake,and we're not going to make it without you."

D.X. sighed a deep sigh, and raised his head again. "Let's head back tothe hotel. We're just wasting energy doing this. We'll see what the girls comeup with, and tonight we'll run three patrols–and really track her down."

* * *

Briana walked out of the class, her mind buzzing. Tonight? She was going tomeet The Coed tonight?

"She'll want to meet you," the Professor had said, smiling."She wants to recruit some people to help her."

"Help her do what?"

"Protect women. And I know you'd be a great candidate, Bri. You reallyshould come."

She was going to help protect women?

By killing men?

She had a bad feeling about this.

It wasn't that she mourned Brad. Well, actually, yeah it was. He hadn't hither before that night. He wasn't perfect–he was too hot-headed, too angry. Butgiven what his uncle had done to him....

She shivered. No, Brad didn't deserve to die. And if that was The Coed'sidea of "protection," she didn't want anything to do with it.

A couple of women approached her. "Briana Thomas? I'm Isisand this is my associate, Tanya. We have a few questions to ask you."

Great, she thought. She didn't want anything to do with this, either.

* * *

Liz sat in Angie's empty apartment, reaching out her mind.

There had been dozens of women that she had helped, the first time around.She reached out to them, in little ways, imploring them to come.

She didn't expect to reach all of them and she didn't succeed in doing so.But she found the ones she had wanted. They were on their way.

She smiled to herself. There would be about fifteen of them tonight. Her ownpersonal army. They would take this town soon–sooner than anyone would expect.And then it would be cleansed.

She smiled wider at that. Yes...the cleansing would be fun.

And if you knew her well, you would've seen just a flash of something afterthe smile, something that Liz was unaware of.

Something that looked like terror.

* * *

D.X. sat at the desk, trying to draw up a patrol that made sense. The bestwould to be to break it out into six solo patrols, but they were spread toothin. No one of them could take down Liz on their own. Not even Sarah.

He sighed, scribbling a few notes in the margin, as the door opened.

"We've got news," said Teri, as she entered.

D.X. rose, and turned to face her, and Sarah.

And another.

"Well," said D.X. "I guess we do."

* * *

"Look, I know it looks bad. I mean, I covered up what I knew, but it'sjust–"

"You didn't know that the police would believe you. You're right. Theywouldn't. But we do, Briana, and we know this wasn't your doing."

D.X. leaned back, just a little. They weren't playing good-cop-bad-cop. Theywere all good cops, and they were trying to convince this girl to turn doubleagent.

"Yeah, well, I mean, why is what The Coed doing so bad? I mean, she'sprotecting women, right?" said Briana, sounding as if she was trying toconvince herself.

"If she just stopped there, it would be fine," D.X. said."But she can't. Trust me, I was with her the last time around. I was herbest friend, and the only friend she had who knew her secret. And I couldn'tkeep her from hurting innocents."

Briana dropped her head at that. "Brad wasn't evil. I mean, he hit me,and that was wrong, and I was going to dump his ass. But...he wasn't evil. Hewas just screwed up."

"Exactly," said Teri, soothingly. "He needed help. You neededout. That's fine. But he didn't deserve to die.

"Briana, more people will die if you don't help us. Where is thismeeting being held?"

Briana started to cry. "It's...it's at Prof. McMartin's house. Youcan't tell her I told you. But I can't...."

"You're not a murderer, Briana. You're not guilty. You're a goodperson, and you've helped us a lot. You should be proud," said D.X.,making a mental note to ensure this girl got help from a macrophilepsychologist he knew. She would need it.

"Now, friends," said D.X., "we've got three hours to gettogether an attack plan. Let's do it."

* * *

The women were filtering in two and three at a time. The first to arrive, toLiz' great delight, had been a pretty woman in her late twenties, that Liz hadrecognized instantly.

"Alicia! It's so nice to see you again!"

"You...I never thought I'd get to thank you!" said the youngwoman, hugging her former savior. "This woman," said Alicia to nobodyin particular, "she gave me the best pair of shoes I've ever owned."

"Are those–" said Liz, smiling as she looked down at the batteredtennies Alicia sported.

"Yep. I've been wearing them ever since. They've held up supernaturallywell, don'tcha think?"

Liz laughed. "They look great. Hey guys, remember me?"

Of course, the shoes didn't reply, though a few expletives were thought byone of them.

Others filed in as the hour of the meeting approached, including, towardsthe end, a smiling Briana.

They gathered in a semicircle around their hero, all of them quiet as Lizbegan.

"My friends, my sisters, it has been too long."

She paused as the room filled with applause. She smiled, reveling in thewarmth.

"I started out just like all of you–powerless in the face of a man whowas trying to dominate me. He succeeded in dominating me, my sisters. I wasforced down by him and raped, and there was nothing I could do about it.

"I wanted to fight back–who wouldn't? But who would believe a girl? Whowould believe that a coed could be assaulted by a fraternity brother? Why wouldthe police take my word over his?

"And so I was sent off on my own, to try to recover from a badge ofshame that I had not earned. And like so many women before and since, I wasforced to watch my assailant go free.

"But that would soon change."

She stepped back, letting the room hang on her words.

"Ten years ago, I first became possessed of a gift. It allowed me togain my revenge on the man who raped me. It allowed me to protect the women of Madison. I had hoped togo further, to take this city once and for all for women–but men, fearful ofwhat that meant, prevented me from doing so. One man in particular, a man Itrusted, a man I once loved–he consigned me to a hellish prison that I wouldnot escape."

She paused just enough to nail the applause line.

"Until seven weeks ago."

The room exploded in shouts and applause. She smiled like a masterpolitician, and waited for the applause to again subside before proceeding.

"In the time since, I have resumed my calling. I helped our youngfriend Briana here. I helped a child being molested by her stepfather. And Ihave been ever-vigilant, watching for those who would take what they have notbeen given.

"But my friends, you and I know that one woman, working alone, cannotsucceed. Yes, I can punish–but I cannot always prevent. No, one woman, workingalone, is not enough.

"But all of us, working together–together, we can defeat the patriarchyonce and for all, and take this town–for–ourselves!"

And the room was up on its feet, cheering with all their might. Liz baskedin the glow. She was their leader. She was their messiah. And she would deliverher sisters from bondage....

"NOW! Shrink 1:24 and hold, morpheus, claris!" shouted Briana, whowas suddenly ducking and weaving out of her position. Except it wasn't Brianaat all.

The door collapsed, and five men and women strode through the door, armsraised and deadly serious. The woman who was not Briana fell back to join them.

And the man in the center of the group stepped forward.

"It ends tonight, Liz. I can't let you destroy this city."

The women who surrounded Liz were panicked, but Liz simply smiled, and witha confidence borne of sheer faith, said "Little One, you're right aboutone thing: it ends tonight."

And with that, she struck.

The moment seemed to stretch into infinity.

Jake was looking at Liz, seeing her for the first time in more than tenyears, and as his hand rose and he told her to stand down, a part of his mindcouldn't help but notice that she looked exactly the same, like she hadn't ageda day. She was radiant–beautiful as ever–the woman he had loved.

And yet he saw the eyes, those cold eyes he had become so familiar with. Thewoman he had loved was buried behind those eyes, he knew it, but she wasnot coming out.

For her part, Liz was smiling, facing down her former pet and his friends.There were women with him, he noticed.

He wore a ring, she noticed.

She had dreamed often in the past ten years of seeing him again. In manydreams, she thought they had connected. Perhaps.

(Part of her knew they had. Cherished the dreams. Knew that she'd hadcontrol, sometimes. Wished she had it now.)

"You're right about one thing. It ends tonight," she said, raisingher hand to strike him down. She had loved him once, but he was going to stopher.

She couldn't let him stop her.

And she struck.

The room was chaos as Liz's first strike was successfully parried by D.X. Hefired back quickly with a shrinking spell that he hoped would disorient her.

"No! You can't hurt her!" cried Angela, hurling herself betweenD.X. and Liz. Angie began to shrink, while Liz readied an attack.

"Scott, Sarah, clear the decks," D.X. said, and the two adeptsobliged. "Transport," they said in unison, moving the women out ofthe room and onto the sidewalk.

Liz, for her part, realized that she might be outgunned. She would have totrain her pupils another time.

"It's over, Liz. Give up. We've got you surrounded." Jake wasadvancing on her, as his fellow agents encircled her.

"Well, well, well, Leah. Went over to the dark side, huh? How does itfeel, selling out your star pupil?"

Leah winced. "Liz, you...."

"'Liz?' Aw, Jake, you told my little secret! You didn't marry Leah, didyou? Convert her?

No...not her. Another, though...."

"Liz, stand down. I'm warning you. I've hurt you once. I don't want todo it again."

"...yes...not the youngster there...though you're pretty, dear. No,it's...her!"

And with that, Liz struck at Teri. "Morpheus!"

Teri gasped as the spell hit her full bore. "No!" cried D.X.,desperately trying to throw a parrying spell in it's way, sprinting to herside.

Teri was fighting, but she was no match. She was sinking down into Liz'curse. "And bind. For...ten years, right?"

Jake turned, his face purple with rage. "Damn you to Hell!" hescreamed, and rushed at her.

"Boss, no, I need a clean–"

"Transport," said a beaming Liz, before she vanished.

"–shot," finished Sarah, as The Coed slipped away.

Jake turned back to his wife. In her place sat a simple, unadorned stone.

And he fell to his knees.

"No...Teri...."

"Damn it!" said Scott, punching the wall. So close! They'd been soclose to stopping her.

But she was gone. And they might not get another chance.

* * *

Teri awoke strangely.

She was shrunk–she knew it immediately. And she'd been transformed. Damn it.

She hated transformation. She liked being a girl, darn it.

So she quickly transformed herself back.

She quickly transformed herself back.

She quickly...

Uh-oh.

She looked around at her comrades, and her husband, who lookedgrief-stricken–for her, no doubt. So putting aside her fears and concerns, sheconcentrated, and thought.

Did we win?

Jake's head rose, slightly. He'd been keeping vigil for twenty minutes,praying that what Liz had done hadn't killed his wife, had merely imprisonedher.

Such a terrible, terrible prayer.

Scott and Sarah had tried to break the spell, but it was cast in earnest byone with great skill.

"If she isn't an adept, Jake, she's damn close," Scott had said,sweating profusely and throwing himself into it again.

Jake, for his part, had merely watched, ashen, as his friends tried to savehis wife.

"No, honey," he replied, softly, as comforting as he could."We lost."

Well, thought Teri, at least there's only one casualty. What areyou all standing around for?

"She got away. I–I let her get away. After she struck you...."

Everyone was watching Jake, watching him shudder at his failure.

"I've failed."

"No you haven't," said Anonymous, quietly. "She didn't killus, didn't even kill Teri. She distracted us. It's been too long since we wereat war. And we weren't prepared for a casualty."

Exactly, love. Now, can we get me changed back?

"Well," said Sarah, after seeing that Jake couldn't say it."There's a problem with that, Teri."

I was afraid you were going to say that, thought Teri, Well, whatare we standing around for? Let's get back to the hotel. If I'm going to bestuck like this, then there's no sense wasting tears on it. We've got to getLiz before things get any worse.

Jake carefully lifted his wife, and held her to his chest.

He couldn't sacrifice her. Not like this.

* * *

It was an empty classroom that the women rematerialized in. And right behindthem came Liz.

"Well, that was an adventure, no?" she said, smiling. "Yousee, there are those who want to stop us."

"How did you–" said Angie, her heart leaping at the sight of herlover.

"I've got skills," said Liz, flippantly. "And after tonight,the rest of you will, too."

She walked to the blackboard, and began to write.

* * *

"Get 'em up. All of 'em. Every op, every spook, every coder, everycook. Get 'em all up, and get them to Madisonas soon as possible. We have a Code One."

Leah Ash was not one to be questioned. She had a great deal of experience atthe upper echelons of bureaucracy, and she knew how to give an order.

She was mobilizing everyone in the Society–five hundred fifteen operatives.It would take them three days to get to full strength, and it would make this aless-than-stealthy operation. But she had no choice; Liz had to be stopped.

And unfortunately, her best operative was in no shape to do it.

D.X. sat in a chair in an empty room, holding a rock in his right hand andsobbing.

I know it's hard, honey, but I keep trying to tell you that you didn'tfail me! I should've been on guard. Liz was leading up to a strike on me, it'sobvious in retrospect. I should've been ready.

"I hesitated," said D.X. "I had a clear shot. I could'vekilled her right then and there. And I hesitated."

Well, we all know that you didn't want to....

"I DIDN'T WANT YOU HURT, GODDAMN IT!"

He hung his head. In his concern for the well-being of the woman he'd onceloved, he'd failed the woman he now loved, the woman who loved him.

Jake, honey, please. I know you didn't want me hurt. But if I'm going tobe a rock for the next ten years, I need you not to be blaming yourself thewhole time. You won't be very good company.

He wanted to laugh. But the laughter came out in tears.

* * *

"Good, good. Nice, Alicia. Angie–try to visualize a vise. It helps.Good work, Nikesha!"

Liz was strolling through the room, watching with pride as the women worked.Not all of them could do the spells, which didn't surprise her. They couldstill help, she knew.

If they were going to pull this off in two days, they'd have to.

"All right. Now, we'll move on to the morpheus spell." She walkedback to the front of the room, and all eyes were on her. "Now this spellcan really pack a wallop."

* * *

Calm down, honey, and relax. I want you to think of a happy time.

"I can't, I..."

Shhh...focus on my thoughts. Calmly.Calmly. Come back to a happier time....

Leah was working furiously to bring her husband back from his breakingpoint. She had to. They needed him. If she was to have any hope–heck, ifhumankind were to have any hope–they needed him.

Let's remember a happier time, huh? I know a good one....

* * *

They were sitting in Teri's living room, upstairs from her studio. Ashattered dollhouse sat in dust and disarray.

"So that's the story, Teri. That's what happened. I'm sorry Icouldn't come back for you, but...."

D.X. trailed off. It had been a long, hard day. The battle with Leah hadtaken a lot out of him, and he had just told Teri the story of Madison, and that had just about wrung himdry.

He started to cry.

And Teri walked over to him, tentatively at first, but then moreassuredly. She wrapped her arms around him and let him cry it out.

And he cried for a long time.

But when he was finished crying, he looked up at her, and he leaned in tokiss her.

And they kissed for a long, long time.

They moved into the bedroom, still kissing, and clutching each other likethey filled the gaps in each other, like one person.

They moved to her bed, still disheveled from the night before, and fellinto it.

"I have an idea," he said, and suddenly he was shrinking.

"You don't have to...."

"I know," he said, as he approached the six-inch mark. It wouldbe perfect for what he had in mind.

When he reached his desired height, he walked down to her now-bare foot.He touched the sole gently, caressing the pad lightly as he walked around it tothe inside of her leg.

Slowly, reverently, he walked up the length of her leg to her knee, andthen slowly up her thigh until he reached the juncture of her legs, and herenormous vagina.

He touched it lightly, kissing and caressing her. He stroked herclitoris, before pushing his way inside, headfirst.

It was a tight fit, but not unpleasant. Teri kept herself clean; thescent was inviting, not pungent. He filled the chasm nicely.

And then, he grew a couple inches.

And then, he shrank.

Teri gasped as she suddenly realized what he was doing. "Oh, Jake,you're a fucking genius," she said, leaning back and enjoying the feeling.

Jake enjoyed it too. Each time he grew and shrank, the folds of Teri'svagina caressed his member. It wasn't long before both of them came, nearlysimultaneously.

He was pulled out by the feet, and brought up to her chest. She looked athim, dreamily, and they both dozed off.

Morning would come, and she would tell him that he hadn't needed to do that.But of course, he had.

* * *

Jake was calm now. Calm and clear as a bell.

He looked at the rock that encased his wife, and imagined her stuck likethis for ten years.

He couldn't let that happen.

Not when he knew how to fix it.

He thought about the paper he'd found. "The usual place. The usualtime. You come, alone, and I release her. No tricks. My word as it was givenlast time. Liz." He knew what she meant. It was 9:40 now. Just enoughtime to walk there.

"Teri," he said, quietly, "I love you. I'll always love you,no matter what."

Jake, what are you thinking?

"I'm going," he said heavily, "to save you."

He set her on the table, and kissed her gently. And then, with a transportspell, he was gone.

Damn it! Scott, Sarah, I need you!

* * *

The statue of Lincoln stared down over thecity of Madisonas it had for decades. Jake approached it with trepidation. "Liz," hesaid quietly, "I've come as you asked. Now release her!"

"With pleasure," said Liz, stepping out from behind the statue."On one condition, of course."

"Name it."

"Your personal, unconditional surrender to me."

He sighed. He'd known it would come to this. "You give me your word.You'll change her back to herself? No tricks?"

"No tricks, Little One. I give you my word."

"All right," said D.X., heavily. "I surrender."

* * *

They were trying to get in touch with him, frantically pushing at hisblocked mind. "Son of a bitch! D.X., what are you up to?"

Suddenly, where a rock was sitting a full-sized (albeit petite) womanappeared. "Am I back to being me?" said Teri.

"Yes," said Leah. "But..."

"Only Liz could've reversed that spell," said Anonymous. "Ithink I know what D.X. is up to. And I fear we're going to have to make dowithout him."

"What?"

"Teri," said Anon, gently, "he traded himself. For you."

Teri looked out the window. "Jake...no."

* * *

"No!" he cried, as the fingernail slashed him.

"WELL, WELL, WELL. YOU SURRENDER TO ME BUT YOU WON'T GIVE ME DETAILS OFYOUR MATES."

"That wasn't part of the bargain! I surrendered myself. The Society cando as it wishes. I will not betray them."

"EVEN IF IT MEANS YOUR DEATH?"

"Yes, Liz."

Liz smiled. "ALWAYS THE BRAVE IDEALIST, LITTLE ONE. ALWAYS THE MARTYR.YOU KNOW I WON'T KILL YOU. I'LL TORTURE YOU," she said, flicking his ribswith her fingernails. "BUT I WON'T RISK KILLING YOU, BECAUSE MY...MYSOFTER SIDE MIGHT COME OUT THEN, AND I DAREN'T RISK THAT. NO, JAKE, YOU'VEBOUGHT A LIFE OF PAIN."

She looked down at him, malice on her face. "BUT I'VE GOT TEN YEARS OFPAYBACK COMING, AND I AM OWED MY REQUITAL!"

* * *

The five senior staff members of the Society sat in the hotel room, tryingto figure out how they could save their friend.

"Maybe he tried to trick her. Maybe he'll turn on her once he knows I'msafe."

"No, Teri, I don't think so. He's too honorable. If he surrendered,he'll stay surrendered."

"Sarah's right. Besides, he wouldn't risk it," said Leah."Liz can change you back. He knows that. He's trying to give himself up tosave you."

"The jerk," said Teri, eyes red with tears. "I could've livedas a rock for ten years. It wouldn't have been the best life, but...."

The words hung, as they sat quietly, until Sarah perked up.

"You know," she said, "we can't just jump there. The spellswe cast won't let us jump there. But there's the bracelet...."

"Yes!" said Scott. "The Bracelet of Alteration! It's got someheavy-duty software. If the wearer was thinking correctly....Damn, that'sit!"

Teri straightened. "I know just the operative to do it, too. Get theVoyeur going."

"The Voyeur? You mean the test pilot?" Leah asked.

"Yes," said Teri, grinning. "If anyone can sneak into Liz'slair without being detected, it's him.

* * *

The enormous vagina was arrayed in front of him, teasing him with itscloseness. He wanted to reach out and touch it, but of course that wasimpossible; he was melded with the cotton crotch of the woman's panties, andshe had no idea that while she ate a late dinner she was providing a show toGTS Enterprises' top test pilot.

"Priority One message, urgent," came the voice inside him.

"Damn. This was just getting fun," he said. "Now. Formchange. Transport back to human form in the driver's seat of my car."

"Form change and location accepted. Transport to new area in3...2...1...."

Abruptly, he was back behind the wheel of a relatively new sedan."Voyeur," he said to nobody in particular.

"Hi, Voy, this is Scott Chelgren. We have a situation that requiresyour skill."

"No problem, chief. What do you need me to do?"

Scott told him.

The Voyeur was quiet for a moment. This didn't sound fun.

Then again, he'd come to think of these people as his friends. Theycertainly had done well by him.

"All right," he said. "I'll let you know as soon as I'm inposition. Now. Form change."

"Choose your form. Item/Size/New Object."

"Human, 1/4 inch tall."

"Form change accepted. Choose location."

"The floor of the room in which D.X. Machina is held."

"Location accepted. Transport to new area in 3...2...1...."

And he was there.

The Voyeur crept along the floor, trying to get a good read on thesituation.

Hewas skilled at this. Not that he had any formal training or anything like that.He'd just been experimenting with situations such as this one in his sparetime. A lot.

Heenjoyed spying on women, and he'd had plenty of opportunity to do thatBfor fun.

This,however, wasn't fun. It was ulcer-inducing, stress-filled work, and he wascreeping along like his life depended on it--which it very much did.

Threewomen in the room, he noticed. It was a pretty nondescript hotel room, with onewoman in bed, one in the bathroom, and one sitting at a desk, looking atsomething out of sight. She was smiling viciously, obviously enjoying whateverit was she was doing.

"Youknow I'll never give up, Liz. You know that."

Heheard the man's voice from up on the table, and knew instantly it had to beD.X. The voice was on a miniaturized scale--it wasn't booming, but normal.

Thebooming voice belonged to the woman. "YOU ALREADY GAVE UP, JAKE. WE'REJUST DISCUSSING TERMS NOW. TELL ME: WHERE ARE YOUR ALLIES? WHERE IS RONNIECERES?"

"Itold you, Liz, I'll die--aye--yeagh!"

Thewoman was suddenly pushing down with great force on the man, her face contortedwith the strain. It was all the Voyeur could do to keep from lashing out--buthe knew he had to.

"IWON'T KILL YOU, JAKE. BUT YOU MAKE ME ANGRY. AND YOU REMEMBER HOW CREATIVE IGET WHEN I'M ANGRY, DON'T YOU?"

"Doyour worst, Liz." The voice was breathless, but defiant. The Voyeur hadonly met D.X. a few times, but he had newfound respect for the man. He had tolet his friends know what was going on.

Heplaced the object on the floor, and muttered the commands to get him out ofhere. When he returned, he wanted numbers.

** *

"Doyour worst, Liz," Jake intoned, looking directly into the eyes of hisenemy. He wouldn't move against her--at least, not yet. But she was sorelytempting him. If he could strike out and win....

No.Not yet. He was alone, and he had surrendered. He'd done it to freeTeri--because he knew, instinctively, that the Society needed her right nowmore than it needed him. He was the best non-adept in the world at wieldingGTS, but Scott and Sarah could eat his lunch, and he knew with them, the societywould be fine. He was great at strategy, but so was Ronnie, and he wasunperturbed that she would be in command.

No,his job was to be here. Take the blows. And wait for his friends to arrive. Itmay be hours, or weeks. But he had to be here, now.

Itwas fate's dictate.

"WELL,LITTLE ONE, YOU CAN'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU," The Coed (he knew that shewas no longer his Liz) looked down on him and raised her hand. He closed hiseyes, and started to pray.

** *

TheVoyeur rematerialized, full-sized, in the hotel room amidst the command crew ofthe Society. "I've got 'em," he said,triumphantly.

"Where?"said Scott, rising. "Let's go."

"No,wait," said Sarah, calmly. "We need to think this through."

"She'sright," said Ronnie. "We can't go in half-cocked. We need aplan."

"Wecan't just wait while Jake is being tortured. Look, we have the element ofsurprise...."

Teristood in a corner as the matter was discussed, eyes closed. She was focused,trying to reach out to her husband.

Hismind had been blocked as he left—she knew that he had not wanted to bedissuaded

Butshe got just enough of what was happening with him that she knew he was notclosed off now.

Shewas patient. He had to be out there. She knew,if she just waited....

Then,suddenly, their minds were one.

** *

It'sstrange how the mind works. It had beenover a decade since Liz had tortured Jake. More than ten years had passed sinceshe subjected him to humiliation and pain.

Andyet, here they were again. And for D.X., it was like no time had passed.

Lizhad struck creatively. He was 1/16th of an inch tall, stuck to the anus of afreshman girl who was dancing the night away.

Withevery booty shake, D.X. was pulled and twisted, mashed and compacted. He wasnearly indestructible, of course. Liz wouldn't have had it any other way.

Hetried to retreat into himself, tried to become the quasi-human shell he hadbeen before, tried to distance himselffurther...further....

Don'tyou dare.

"Teri,"he said, firmly, "you don't want to be here."

Youand I are in this together, Jake. You know that. I'm not going toabandon you, and I'm not going to let you trade yourself for me.

"Toolate," he murmured. "And Liz made me swear no takebacks,so there."

Teri'sbrow furrowed as she felt the pain her husband was enduring, the sheer tortureof it--and he was still lucid.

Whatare you up to?

"Trustme."

Terifelt the pain in him, and yet....

Doyou want us to strike now?

"Not yet, Teri. Not yet. They're on their guard andthey're training right now. Patience. I'll tell youwhen."

Idon't want to leave you like this.

"I'vehad worse. She can't do anything more to me than she already has."

Comeback to me, my love.

"Iswear I will."

AndJake felt Teri withdraw, for now. He cried out in pain, but he was in control.

Shehadn't broken him before, when it was completely hopeless.

Shedamn sure wouldn't break him now.

** *

Teristrode into the middle of the argument, calm and collected.

"Weneed to wait," she said simply. "He knows what he's doing."

"LikeHell he does," said Anon. "But he's going todo it anyhow. Did you reach him?"

Terinodded. "Yes, he's alive."

"Wellthen," said Leah, "we'd best start sleeping in shifts. They couldstrike at any time. We need to be at the top of our game."

** *

Lizlooked at her sleeping friends, and considered her next move.

Theyweren't ready--not in the least. But they had some abilities.

Herfoes were powerful, she realized. And they likely had some powerful friends outthere.

Shewould need some help.

Sheclosed her eyes, and concentrated. So many sisters dispersed to the wind--butthere was one she felt was still there.

Yes--thereshe was. A binder on the braces of a twelve-year-old girl held her spirit. Shehad been placed there by a powerful person years ago, but nobody had paid hermuch mind since.

Shewas trapped. But Liz was skilled.

Itwas just an hour later when Leah Jackson rematerialized in the room, lookingshocked to be there.

Shelooked up at Liz, disbelieving, and then a sudden bit of recognition crossedher face, along with a broad smile.

"DoI have you to thank for freeing me?" she asked.

"Yes,Madame President. I need your expertise. You see, I have tried to reorganizeus, but a traitor is aiding them."

"Youmean Ceres, of course. Betrayed womanhood, chose theCadre over us."

"Exactly,"said Liz. "And if we don't move quickly, we're going to be in bigtrouble."

"Well,"said the President of the Athena League, showing no signs that she'd spent thepast several years trapped in a never-ending cycle ofdegradation, "we'd best move quickly then."

** *

D.X.was really wishing that this girl had decided to get down to business with herboyfriend on a different night.

Lizhad chosen to affix him with an imagined dollop of petroleum jelly to thegirl's behind, but now the sweat of their lovemaking was causing him to slidecloser to ground zero; even indestructible, he had no desire to get swept up inthat.

Naturally,though, he did, falling in between engorged lips as an office-tower-sized cockslid by, pulling him into the vortex. He was violently beaten as the shaft slidin and out of a girl that its owner had met just hours before.

Justas the boy was about to come, he was pulled back to the hotel room with Liz. Helooked up, and blinked in dismay.

LeahJackson. Just what this party needed--another psychotic bitch.

** *

Thehours of torture that D.X. endured won't be recounted by me. That he enduredthem was a testament to his strength, and his desire to see his wife again.

Whenthe two women finally allowed him to pass out from the pain, Liz smiled deeply.

Itwas a bit ahead of schedule perhaps. But she knew the time had come.

Tomorrowthey would strike. There was no time to delay—delay would only strengthen theiropponents'—hand.

No,by the end of the next day, they would finally achieve what they had failed toaccomplish ten years earlier. In a few short hours, they would have theirvictory.

"So,Liebschen," said Katrin,solemnly, "are you ready?"

The dream seemed to stretch on forever. D.X. was weary, he wanted only torest.

"Rest soon enough. But are you ready?"

"No! Damn it, no, I'm not ready."

"Good," the wizened teacher smiled. "Knowing you are notready is one of the best indicators that you are, in fact, ready."

"It's today, isn't it? That's when she's going to strike."

"Ja. And you will have to defeat her, ready or not. Now, timefor one more drill before you wake."

"Please, Katrin, I need some rest."

"I know, Liebschen. Soon enough. But now…."

Katrin threw every bit of herself at D.X., and he saw it coming, and knew itwas too much to stop.

But this time, he saw it—saw the way to redirect it.

The parry was awesome in its skill. As the force of her spell dissipated,the God-Teacher smiled at her best pupil.

"Yacob," she said, "you are ready."

* * *

The day dawned cold, as D.X. stirred in the cage in which he was imprisoned."Damn," he said, quietly. He struggled to a sitting position, thebroken bones in his left foot aching terribly.

"Morpheus," he said, quietly, fixing his foot as best he could.The injury backed down to a dull throb—good enough to walk on, he figured.

He turned, and—

"Shit!"

"CALM DOWN," said the woman, who stood beside the cage, eyesclosed. "BE QUIET. DO YOU WANT TO WAKE ME?"

"Wha—"

"NO TIME, LITTLE ONE…IF I WAKE UP, I LOSE THIS MOMENT. THIS IS ALL THETIME I HAVE LEFT. TRANSPORT!"

D.X. rematerialized in a dorm room that was instantly familiar, the way onlyone's former home could be. He was still three inches tall, but he knew everysquare inch of this place.

"Thanks, Liz," he murmured.

And before the two sleeping giantesses in the room could awaken and noticehim, he was transporting himself.

* * *

Teri saw the future clearly. It was the near future, she knew; everyonelooked exactly as they did now, altered only by dream-imagery.

They were in Madison,but the dream-Madison sat in the midst of a desert. Jake called to her, but hisvoice made no sound. Instead, she focused on the giantess in the middle of thetown. Liz.

"Jake! Don't!" she cried, though she didn't know why.

And suddenly, the cliff opened up, and she saw him falling away.

And then, suddenly, Terri felt herself bathed in a blinding white light. Shestarted to cry out, but suddenly, she felt very, very calm.

"Now," she said, to nobody in particular.

And then…

…her eyes fluttered open, and she saw him standing by her, six inches tall,smiling.

Was she awake? She wasn't sure. It was that twilight moment, betweenconsciousness and unconsciousness, and she wasn't quite sure which was which.

She picked him up and lifted him onto her chest, and sighed happily as hegrew himself to a normal height.

They made love as normal people do; there is nothing remotely wrong withthat.

Slowly, she awoke fully, and he was still there. He had escaped from Liz.She didn't know how, she didn't care how.

He'd come back to her.

Thank God.

* * *

"So that's what I know," said D.X., a few hours later. He wasdressed and ready to go, his foot fixed as best they could (for there werelimits even to what GTS could do), his back bandaged, his soul on fire.

"Leah, you say," said Ronnie. "Well, she's gotta bepissed."

"You have no idea. We need to start killing our enemies until they'redead. This poetic justice thing just isn't working out like one wouldhope."

"So what now?" asked Sarah, munching a bagel. (D.X. had longagreed with Napoleon; a good General studies his history.)

"Now? We go to Library Mall and we wait."

"Isn't that just what they'd want us to do? Shouldn't we make themforce us out into the open?"

"No, Scott," said Ronnie. "We can't risk what they'd do toother people while we sat idly by. This fight doesn't belong to some poorsophomore. It belongs to us."

"Right," said D.X. "And if we're going to fight, we'd betterfucking win."

"So we just go down there and rumble? Sharks vs. Jets?" asked thefemale Adept.

"Less dancing involved," chuckled D.X. He liked Scott, but he knewScott would end up junior to his wife eventually. Scott knew it too, of course;he didn't mind much.

"Seriously, we've got twenty-eight operatives here now. We'll haveabout a hundred by three o'clock, which is why they'll strike as soon aspossible."

"One-thirty?" said Ronnie, archly.

"You stick with what works, right?"

* * *

Leah Jackson stood boldly in front of the group. She had known for theinstant that she rematerialized that she wasn't in charge; she wasn't stupid.But The Coed had shown remarkable humility. Liz had insisted that Leah designthe battle plan—"You have more experience in this, Madame President. Whenwe finish with this, I'll take Madison.You can have the rest of the world."

And so Leah admonished and cajoled the assembled women. They weren't up toLeague specs—but Leah knew that the Cadre would have enough troops here soon tooverwhelm them.

It had been her idea to let Machina escape. For all the good it would dothem. He was still conflicted about The Coed. He was as much a liability asanything.

But he knew that they wanted a fight now, and he'd bring it. She wascounting on it.

And so she gathered her group of irregulars and directed them to leave, bytwos and threes, and prepare for the coming battle.

"Thirteen Thirty," she said, smiling. "That's zerohour."

For her part, Angie wasn't sure she liked her girlfriend passing up commandand control. "You're sure this is a good idea, Liz?"

"Don't worry, dear. She knows what she's doing. So do I." Shepatted Angie's tush gently, warmly. "Tomorrow you'll be Princess ofMadison. What do you think of that?"

"Sounds lovely," said Angie, smiling to cover the butterflies inher stomach.

* * *

It was one-twenty-eight in the afternoon, Central Daylight Time, on abeautiful Wednesday in May, as the two sides approached.

Liz's irregulars were arrayed in a classic League formation—a ring aroundthe command structure. D.X. had his group spread in what Anon's dad used tocall the Spotted Dick formation.

D.X. knew there'd be satellite ops coming out of nowhere, at least if Leahhad anything to do with it.

"Okay," he said, quietly, "everyone on your guard."

"Jake," said Teri, "I've got a bad feeling about this."

"Me too, hon. But I've always had a bad feeling about stuff like this.Okay, ladies and gentlemen…on my mark…."

Before he could call out the attack, Leah called out hers—"NOW,ladies!"

And the battle was joined.

Abruptly, the women broke their formation into an offensive, one-on-onestrategy.

"You magnificent bitch," he muttered. "Go! Go! Go!"

The women who had pledged their lives to The Coed may have lackedexperience, but they made up for it in ferocity. They showed no inclination tosimply trade spells—they would throw an attack and follow it in, kicking andbiting and punching and trampling, overwhelming the Society's irregulars. D.X.could see immediately what the plan was—throw enough chaos into the situationthat his side's tactical supremacy was neutralized.

They were just buying time. Time to get Liz to full size.

He kept looking for the shot, as did Scott and Sarah. They were busy tryingto keep the attackers off their mates, and they were all that was keeping thisfrom becoming a rout. They were back to back, firing at will.

But D.X. knew immediately that it wasn't going to be that easy. As Liz casther growth spell on herself, he lifted his hand to attack—

—and was caught unaware by an AR spell from Angie. Not a great spell, butenough to throw him off-guard, just long enough for Liz to reach a triumphant200 feet tall.

"Damn! Sarah—break off and go!"

Sarah knew what the order was for. She cast the spell on herself, and onehundred and ninety-five more feet later, she was sprinting for the giantess inthe center of the square.

She caught Liz with a roundhouse that sounded like thunder to the assembledthrong. Liz staggered back into the bookstore, hitting the façade with a loud"WHANG!" The front of the store crumbled and fell to the ground.

"Oh, you bitch. You're gonna pay for that," said Liz, as she movedback on the Adept.

* * *

Meanwhile, several hundred miles away, in a physics laboratory in Minnesota, SashaPeterson was cursing.

"Damn! A decade working on this thing, a decade patiently breakingabout eight laws of physics to make this thing happen again—all without havinga full idea of exactly what we're doing—and today, all of a sudden, everythingseems to work precisely backwards. Jane! What's going on?"

"Everything's exactly right," said the grad student, peering intothe bowels of the device. "I can't explain it. Either every singlemeasurement device we have is completely screwed up, or the laws of physicshave decided to take a holiday."

Jane idly fingered a locket around her neck. She seemed to hum slightly,just once. She was about to mention something more to Dr. Peterson, whensuddenly, the intercom buzzed.

"Doc? Doc! Quick, CNN! Now!"

"Like we have time for that. This better be good," she said, asshe turned on the monitors.

Jane and Sasha looked at the screen for a hard moment, and both said theonly thing they could.

"Holy shit."

* * *

Sarah and Liz were busy throwing punches and spells, while Scott was busytrying to keep his friends alive. Leah and Ronnie had squared off mano amano, and were trading spells with reckless abandon. Anon was busy fightingoff two lovely young coeds, who were just about an even match for him. Terriwas fighting to the best of her ability, which wasn't spectacular.

And D.X. was still waiting for his shot. He had hoped Sarah would'vedistracted Liz, but if he'd hoped a two hundred foot woman would make an easytarget, he was sorely mistaken.

* * *

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you…well, I don't know exactlywhat we're bringing you. You're looking live at Madison, Wisconsin,where…."

Susi Kensington watched the television, mouth wide open. "Karen—is thatreally—"

"Yeah, Susi. It really is." Susi was sick, and Karen had come downbetween classes to see if her little sister needed anything (like Susi neededthe help—she was fourteen, for God's sake).

Truly, Karen hadn't known why she wanted to go home, just as Susi hadn'tknown why she'd felt sick enough to stay home that day.

But as they both watched their sister fighting for her life, they knew.

"But how did she get—"

"It's a long, long, long story."

"Does Scott know?"

Karen would've chuckled if she hadn't been so scared for her older sister."Oh yes. Scott knows."

* * *

"She's getting beat up, Jake! I've gotta go in there!"

"No, Scott! Damn it, hold your position! I won't let Sarah down, you'vegotta trust me!"

But D.X. wasn't sure he trusted himself. Ronnie had fallen—collapsed in aheap, dead or unconscious, he didn't know. Leah was leading her troops tovictory.

And he was still waiting for his shot.

* * *

"Yeah, Laurie, I see it. No, it's worse, I know that girl. Yes, it is!Damn it, this is no time to be reliving our past, Sarah's in trouble!"

The mayor's office had come to a complete standstill, and Kelly was doingher best to talk without drawing the attention of the entire office. Everyonewas watching the absolutely impossible spectacle unfolding on television. AndKelly watched too, her heart sinking.

She'd been in New York.She knew what was going on there.

"Damn it, guys, I'd be there if I could," she said, tearfully.

* * *

"Jake! It's now or never!" shouted Terri. "You've got tofight!"

D.X. looked on in horror. Sarah was holding her own, but she was just aboutthe only one. She and Liz were evenly matched.

"Sarah!" he called out suddenly. "Shrink!"

* * *

"Sandy!You see this?"

"Chris, you'd better not be calling me in the middle of a lesson justto tell me there's something good on television."

"Trust me. You must turn this on. Now."

Sandra looked at her class, and muttered, "Is it newsworthy?"

"It's on every channel there is. I think HGTV just broke in."

Against her better judgment, Sandra Archer turned on the TV in theclassroom, and saw something impossible happening. She knew instantly why Chrishad told her to watch it—and yes, it was newsworthy.

"You're right…it's definitely something my class and I would beinterested…."

She trailed off, and then let out a muffled scream.

"Honey! What is it?"

"Oh my God, it's Liz."

"What? Your sister? She's dead."

"Yes, she is," said Sandy,ashen. "But she's the redhead."

And with those words, she fainted.

Sarah looked at the woman across from her with a mix of fury, contempt, awe,and respect.

Liz Anderson might not be an adept, but her focus was unparalleled. And thathad made this a fair fight.

Too fair, indeed; Sarah realized about halfway through that she waslosing.

The only thing that had kept things going this long was the fact that Lizdidn't know how badly she had Sarah outclassed; it had kept her from cuttingloose, as she hung back and tried to analyze Sarah's power. That, in turn, hadgiven Sarah a chance to transport the few unlucky college students in theirgeneral vicinity out of danger; if not for an instinctive transport spell, atleast twelve underclassmen would've been crushed by ass as she fell from aroundhouse punch.

But the fight was reaching its apex now. Liz had just about sussed theextent of Sarah's power, and she was just about to start the endgame, whensuddenly, Sarah heard D.X. call out from below.

"Sarah! Shrink!" he said, and as any good soldier does whenordered by her commander, she reacted unblinkingly.

Liz's spell zipped over her head as she quickly resumed her more commondimensions. She stared up at the awesome figure above her, a woman resplendentin a short denim skirt and simple white top, and no shoes.

"Clear out, Sarah. Take Leah," said Jake, advancing to the front."This one's mine."

* * *

The man watched the television, dumbfounded.

He had paid little attention to the breaking news alert; had to be the war,he reasoned. Nothing major.

When the image appeared on the screen, he blinked, hard. Then blinked again.He turned the television off, and back on again, just to be sure he wasn'tdreaming it.

Then, he let out a whoop that filled his empty apartment, the sound of purejoy.

Within three minutes, he was online, fatfingering the login half a dozentimes in his excitement. He started the thread in all caps. The creator of theboard would be annoyed by that, but if ever something called for shouting, thiswas it.

"IT'S REAL!!!! IT'S REALLY REAL!!!!" he typed, joyously. He wasn'tthinking about what was actually going on in Madison, what those events were like for thepeople on the ground.

For that moment, he was only aware that what he had always dreamed of couldbe. For that moment, he knew that his fantasy could be achieved in real life.

Within minutes, the thread had dozens of respondents. And nobody complainedabout the capitalization.

* * *

The foot smashed into the ground, just missing D.X.

"Nice try, Liz," he shouted. "But you've proven you can beatme by brute force. You're going to have to beat me with GTS."

"AND WHY WOULD I BOTHER CASTING A SPELL WHEN I CAN SIMPLY CRUSHYOU?" came the blasé response from above, as another foot crashed toEarth.

"You haven't crushed me yet, Liz. You're going to have to engage me. Transport!"he cried, as a foot came a bit to close.

Meanwhile, Leah was squaring off with Scott and Sarah.

"You won't beat me this time, kids," said the deposed President."Not that easily."

"Oh, I don't know," said Scott. "Seems to me we beat youreally, really easily last time."

"Yeah," said Sarah. "I mean, Scott barely had to try."

"And Sarah wasn't involved at all."

"Threatening me, eh?" chuckled Leah. "I wasn't expecting yourattack. But I am now. I'm on my guard, adepts. Have at me."

* * *

Gen. Mitch Michaelson paced outside the Oval Office. It was natural thathe'd be summoned. His failed Operation Beanstalk had been the closest anyonehad come to achieving the kind of effects that were occurring in Madison.

Indeed, they'd succeeded—but unfortunately, the documentation on Finney wassketchy, and they'd never succeeded in replicating the effect. And Finney, damnhim, had escaped, and was probably dead long ago.

Michaelson hadn't lost his rank—after all, Beanstalk was never supposed towork at all. Instead, he'd bounced around for a while before ending up at thePentagon.

He didn't talk much about the events that had occurred in Ames. But that was about to change. Thosebitches had the power, and he knew that the nation was in peril until andunless the military could harness the same power.

"General Michaelson, the President will see you now," announcedthe secretary, curtly.

"About goddamn time," he muttered, walking through the door.

* * *

Teri watched the events helplessly. She knew this wasn't going to end well.She didn't know how, or why, but she knew.

She watched as Sarah and Scott grappled with Leah Jackson, trading blow forblow with an opponent of superlative strength and tactical sense. They'd winthis fight; Teri knew it wasn't close.

Anon was tending to the wounded on their side, trying to stem the tide.Ronnie was badly hurt—unconscious, and breathing shallow.

And then there was Jake, daring Liz to bring the pain.

Teri watched as her husband dove and weaved and shouted at the giantess, andshe knew suddenly what he was trying to do.

"Jake, no!" she screamed.

And then she was running. Running full-speed toward the battle in front ofher.

She was about ten feet from Jake when Liz struck.

* * *

Frustrate a giantess long enough and eventually she'll snap.

D.X. wasn't just expecting Liz to cut loose with everything she had; he wascounting on it.

This was the only way. He knew it in his heart. This would end it all, allthe pain, all the suffering, all the madness. This would bring this sadspectacle to an end.

It was the only way.

He knew it.

He didn't have to like it.

"ALL RIGHT, YOU FLEA," said Liz, coldly. "YOU WANTED ME TOATTACK YOU? WELL HERE YOU GO."

And she cut loose with an attack that would undoubtedly destroy hererstwhile lover, an attack with homicidal intent.

The spell crossed between her and Jake, a red streak of anger andfrustration.

And it kept streaking.

And it began to glow white hot.

* * *

They watched on the television, and on the streets of Madison. Lovers and friends and siblings,those who knew of this thing that was happening and those addled beyondcomprehension. They saw the giantess hold out her hand and shoot the beam oflight at the tiny man who had nearly been crushed a dozen times, and they sawthat light grow and grow and grow.

The man stood at the center of it, calm and serene, his eyes closed, hissoul at peace. And the light enveloped him and began to resonate into deep,clear blues.

And suddenly, the beam stopped.

The giantess looked down, quizzically, and stumbled backward, and fell.

And suddenly, from the man at the center of the light, there came anexplosion of power, as Jacob Thiessen channeled the power he had taken from Lizoutward, pushing it away from himself and the world, and her.

Reality bended and warped, and there was a great rumbling groan from thefabric of spacetime.

And then, suddenly, everything stopped.

And Jacob Thiessen fell.

* * *

"The most noble fate a man can endure," said the voice. "Atleast, that's what Heinlein said."

"Just a few more minutes, Katrin. Please."

"Ja. Just a few more."

* * *

Teri caught him before he hit the ground. He was already coughing up blood.

"Scott! Sarah! Get over here, quick!"

Sarah quit toying with Leah Jackson and transported her to the moon."Let's see if you can live without oxygen, bitch," said Sarah, as sheturned to see Teri cradling Jake's head in her arms.

"Oh, shit."

They reached Jake simultaneously, Sarah and Scott and Anon. Quickly, Sarahbegan to look Jake over, trying to think of what to do.

"Don't," croaked D.X., weakly. "The attack did more damagethan you can fix. You'll only waste your strength."

"Jake, we're not letting you die."

"Only God could stop that now," said D.X., quietly. The attack hadwarped his insides, transposing organs and altering the size of his heart; evennow, it was struggling to pump the blood it had to in order to keep him alive.

"Maybe we can transform him into an inanimate object, that might buysome time."

"No, Scott. No. There are limits to what this power can give us; Itaught you both that long ago. I knew what I was giving. I did what I had todo."

Teri sobbed above him, from a long way away. "Liz's power is gone now.She's just a woman. Have pity on her. She wasn't the person she became."

As if on cue, a short, beautiful coed stumbled to her feet. "No…."she moaned, as she saw her only love cradled in his wife's arms. "No…no…Ididn't…." she cried, as she collapsed in a heap.

"Scott…Sarah…especially you Sarah…."

D.X. coughed again. But he had to say these things. There wasn't enoughtime.

"You have to pass on what I've taught you. What Katrin taught me. It'son you now. You'll be great teachers of this. I swear it."

He looked over at Anon, who was very still and calm; he nodded at hisfriend. They'd both seen agents die before. It was part of the game. Words atthis point were superfluous.

Besides, he had few words left, and he was saving them all for the lastperson.

"Teri," he said, looking up at her swimming visage, "yousaved me. You brought back the best part of me. If not for you, I'd be lost.

"I don't want to leave you, my love," he said, as her face swamfrom view, "but I have to go. Besides, we've known each other six thousandyears," he said, smiling at the thought. "This isn't goodbye."

Teri was sobbing, and the truth of what he said was irrelevant. "It'sgoodbye for now," she said. "Damn it, Jake, I don't want to loseyou."

"I won't be lost," he said, creakily. It was hard to get the wordsout now, but he had to."I'll be with you forever, Teri. You know how tofind me. Always. I love you."

He paused for an eternity, and then said, finally, "I think Katrinawould be a nice name."

And with that, D.X. Machina died.

* * *

The world would roll itself back up now. It always did. The news coveragesuddenly disappeared, and the skies cleared and the damage undid itself.Multiperson solipsism, they called it—the world wasn't ready for this. It wouldpretend it didn't exist. That had happened in New York. It would happen here.

The operatives arrayed around D.X. knew it, knew it certainly.

And yet—

Nothing was happening. There was still the crush at the periphery of groundzero, still the whir of helicopters above. There were still minicam crewstrying to get good shots.

The shot was still live.

And it slowly dawned on them, through the grief of the moment, that this wasnot going to roll itself back up. Not now. Not ever.

A line had been crossed. Critical mass had been reached.

GTS was real now.

Scott looked at Sarah, and over to Anon. "Do we transport out?" heasked quietly.

"Bloody hell, I don't know. This is D.X.'s—I mean…."

They sat, paralyzed, for a few seconds, before Sarah sat up. She wiped atear away, and touched Teri's hand. "Teri, I have to go for a minute. Ihave to…."

"I know," she said. "It's up to you. That's what Jakewould've wanted."

"I can wait—" said Sarah, but Teri shook her head emphatically.

"Now," she said.

Sarah rose. She wiped off the dirt and blood, and noted that most of itdidn't come off. Fuck it, she thought. We just fought a goddamn war.

She strode toward the cameras, which were already surging toward her."All right," she called out, crisply, "I've got time for a briefstatement."

"Ma'am, you're going to have to come with me," said a policeman,stepping forward.

Sarah didn't blink. She threw an offhanded shrink spell at him, and pickedup the toy soldier.

"Officer, with all due respect, you are out of your league here.Control the crowds, keep the square clear. That's what you can do."

"Y—yes ma'am," the tiny officer stammered, before Sarah returnedhim to the ground, and to his former stature.

"All right, men, you heard her, establish a perimeter…" he said,walking away very, very quickly.

Sarah turned to the cameras. She ran a hand through her hair, grimacing asher finger touched her already puffy right eye. She looked like she'd been tenrounds with Lennox Lewis.

She didn't care.

"My name is Sarah Chelgren," she said. "I'm an adept with asociety that has controlled the secret of growth and shrinking. Untiltoday."

She looked over the group, and she stood a bit straighter. "Today, oneof the best officers, and best people, I have ever known sacrificed himself toprevent a disaster of unimaginable scale. Jake Thiessen died a hero today tokeep the world safe from the misuse of this power.

"That is what our organization is sworn to do," she said, he voicerising firmly, her back now ramrod straight. "We are here to protect youfrom those among you who would harm you. We will never waver in that task.

"The next weeks and months will be difficult and confusing—for all ofus. But today, I promise you that we will never abandon our posts. We are theGrowth Triumphant Society, and we are at your service.

"I'm sorry, there will be no time for questions. We have to go bury ourdead. Transport," she said, and with a wave, the square was cleared.

* * *

The news was filled with the events of the day. Scientists tried toreconcile how the laws of physics and biology appeared to have no meaning.Philosophers and theologians argued what this meant for mankind. A fewministers began proclaiming the end was nigh.

And on a few websites, there was a muted celebration. It was tempered by thedeath of someone; it's hard to feel truly joyous when a man has died.

But as the days moved into weeks, and more and more was revealed about thepossibilities, these people celebrated more and more.

The world as it had been was gone. The age of reality was gone.

The age of giantesses had begun.

"O, Wonder/How many goodly creatures are there here!/How beauteousmankind is! O brave new world/That has such people in't!"

--TheTempest, Act V, Scene I

One Year Later

Sarah entered the house as she had so many times before. "Hey, Teri!How are you doing?"

"Tired," said the weary host, smiling as she cleared off herdining room table. "Be quiet, I finally got Trina down for her nap."

"You know I've got some time off next week. Why don't you let me watchher? She's so dang cute. Jake would've loved her to death."

"He did," said Teri, quietly. She'd almost reached closure now.Jake had given up everything for them, she knew. It was horrible to lose herhusband. But she was so proud of what he'd done for them.

It almost made up for him leaving her alone with a three-month-old.

Almost.

"I saw you on 'The DailyShow' last week. I can't believe you actually shrunk Jon Stewart!"

"He asked me to. Besides, how are we ever going to get people used tothis thing if we treat it like it's the lost secret of Ramses? I figure it'sbetter to show people that it's just a thing—that way, maybe they don't panicwhen someone actually uses the power."

"Well, if you ask me, he was pretty focused on your breasts, Sar. Scottjealous?"

Sarah grinned wickedly. "Yes. Constantly. God, can you imagine how he'dbe if I'd actually said yes to Playboy?"

"No. The poor boy is paranoid enough as it is. By the way, where isScott?"

"The hearings."

"Ah, yes," said Teri, glad her widowhood had at least spared herthat spectacle. The government was dealing with GTS the way it dealt with anyperceived threat—by trying to control it.

But of course, you can't control it. It's a force of nature, like anearthquake or a tsunami. Scott had said as much the day before, angrily staringdown a righteous Pennsylvaniasenator who had spoken a bit too carelessly about the moral impact of thispower.

"When do you testify?"

"Next week. You'd think they'd actually schedule Scott and I together.But I suppose they're afraid of what we might do!" said Sarah, ruefully.She hadn't seen nearly enough of her husband in the last year. Celebrity hadits drawbacks.

"At any rate, I just wanted to see how you're doing, Teri. I haven'tseen you enough lately."

"I'm okay," said Teri, meaning it. "You know, I was a psychicbefore this all happened. That didn'tchange. I used to know how to attempt to contact the dead, and I didn't forgetit."

"You've talked to Jake?" said Sarah.

"Not exactly," said Teri. "It's not like we've got cellphones. Communicating with the dead is about emotion and feelings. It's abouttalking with the soul, not the mind.

"But yeah…I think I've reached him once or twice."

Sarah was quiet, as Teri closed her eyes and smiled. "It was like anisland in the Atlantic, cool and calm, but chilly like New England, or maybe Canada. He puthis arms around me and held me for as long as he could. He had work to do, Ithink. But he was glad to see me. Glad I came. And best of all, he washappy."

"Did you tell him about Trina?"

"He knew," said Teri. "The one sentence I know he said was'Tell Katrina I love her.' And I do, every day."

"She'll be proud of her daddy, Teri. We all are."

"I know," said Teri. "Which reminds me—what's going to happento Liz?"

"Ah," said Sarah, smiling. "We've sort of reached anunderstanding with the Madisonpolice. She'll serve a life sentence, reduced to six inches tall at leagueheadquarters."

"It's almost unfair," said Teri. "As much as I want to hateher, I know 'she' didn't want this."

"No," said Sarah, "but she did it; she's responsible. Andshe's the first one to say it. But you know, it's funny; she's almost becomingan asset. She lets people try out new spells on her, she'll scrimmagetrainees—she's going to pay her debt, and then some."

The two women talked some more before Sarah bade her farewell. Teri smiledas Sarah's car left the driveway, then sighed as the cry of a baby broke herreverie.

She walked up the stairs and lifted the little girl into the air. She hadher father's eyes, thought Teri. And a bit of his soul, as well.

* * *

Meanwhile, in another place, a man wandered along a beach.

The beach didn't really exist; it was a metaphor—at least, that's what Hesaid, and He would know, wouldn't He?

When the man thought about it more, he thought that He was having a goodjoke.

He tossed a pebble into the ocean (which was a simile—dang it, it was ajoke!), and sighed happily. She'd come to visit him, finally—and he'd huggedher and told her everything he could. He knew she wouldn't understand it all.He knew he was lucky she understood any of it. But he'd kissed her anyhow, andas she faded back to her world, he cherished her memory anew.

It had been a good life. The best of all his lives. But now, he had newchallenges. And he would meet them all.

"Jacob! We're meeting!"

The young woman smiled as she passed him, moving quickly up the hill to theGod-Teachers' Guild. "Well, you coming?"

"Of course, Katrin," he said, cheerfully. Without a care in theworld, he bounded up the hill. It was a good life, he thought, in that world,or the next.

THE END