An hour after being locked in the room, Rahn decided the time to act would have to be now. All of the armed members had left the room and the rest of the group had been left in there alone.

Rahn had watched as people had broken off into different groups, discussing the situation. There were definitely some who agreed with what Daielle had said, but it seemed the majority did not want to resort to such violence and mayhem. Or at the very least, it seemed all agreed on how flawed his plan was and how likely it was to end in disaster.

Rahn drew in a deep, fortifying breath and slowly released it. She usually worked in the shadows, making moves with little to no witnesses. But this time she would have to step up in front of an audience. And she would have to speak, of all things.

She climbed up onto the stage and turned to face the crowd. "Everyone gather around!" She yelled. "Like it or not, we are all in this together and we need to discuss what's going to happen next." The murmuring and whispers died down and everyone gathered up in a circle in front of the stage.

Rahn hopped down and joined the circle. "Good, now that we're all together we can speak quietly enough that they shouldn't hear us outside."

The males and females all looked around at each other, and glanced out the windows. Many of them looked very nervous and uncomfortable.

"I've listened to many of you over the past hour. I know you haven't been happy with the way the premier has led over these past several years. And many of you have reasons to want change."

She watched as most of them nodded in agreement.

"However, I also know that most of you agree with me when I say that violence is not the answer."

A male spoke up from her left. "It is when they won't listen otherwise!"

"Have you even tried to talk with them?" Rahn countered. "How can they listen when no one will attempt straight forward, peaceful communication?"

"It doesn't matter, we don't have a choice." Another male said from further down.

"Everyone has a choice. You chose to join this organization because you believe our homeland can be a better place. Because you want change for the better. Not for the worse. Each and everyone of us can choose to not take part in attacking our own home! We are the only ones who know what is coming, and it is up to us to stop it!"

Several people nodded their heads in agreement and began whispering to each other.

"But they have those weapons!" a female argued. "And trained soldiers!"

The crowd began to speak all at once and more loudly. Rahn raised her arms to quiet them. "We must be silent to not draw attention." She paused as they quieted down. "Would you stand by while they use that training and those weapons on your neighbors? Your friends? Your family? And when life goes out of their eyes, would you have the last thing they see be your face as a part of their murder?"

"But they just said make a ruckus, not kill anyone! They will only hurt the guards!"

"Wake up, Tela, do you honestly think they mean no harm to innocents at this point? Look at what they just did to Whinn for simply asking logical questions." Another female responded.

Murmurs spread throughout, and Rahn worked to quiet them again. "There are helpless, innocent Qarthans that live all throughout the homeland, both surrounding the grand Hall and inside. Can you standby and do nothing as they burn down the homes of your grandparents? And as they slaughter innocent young males and females in front of their children? Possibly slaughtering the children themselves? Daielle has obviously lost his mind. He is not thinking clearly. He has lost focus of what the true goal is and he is simply doing all of this for power. Do not let him fool you!"

"What would you have us do? Who are we to even stop them?" A male asked.

"You are those who were brave enough to join this group in the first place! The ones ready and willing to take a stand to make the Homeland a better place! Now is your chance! Stand up for what is right, do not let Daielle use your goodness for evil! And in doing so, the premier will have no choice but to commend your efforts and listen to what you have to say!"

Relief flooded through Rahn as she saw heads bobbing up and down in agreement and she could feel the excitement turning in the air.

"OK, but how do we stop trained men with alien weapons?"

"We outnumber them 3 to 1. We go along with what they have to say until they are spread out enough for us to make our move. I am not going to lie to you." Rahn paused to make eye contact with several of them. "This is not going to be easy and not all of us will come out of it unharmed. But I for one would rather die doing what is right, than live knowing that I sent innocent Qarthans to their grave and let a power-hungry madman have his way with my home!"

"Hey!" A male voice called out from the doorway. Rahn noticed the crowd tense at the armed male's appearance. "What's going on in here?"

"We're just having a chat. Want to join us?" Rahn said casually.

"Not particularly." He said as he approached them. "Are you up to trouble?"

"We are just discussing what's about to happen. We can't fight for a new homeland if we don't get our heads together, can we? They're nervous and need reassurance that we're doing the right thing."

"And you're the one to give it to them?" He asked as he got closer to her.

"Someone had to." Rahn shrugged. "How much longer do we have?"

The man glanced up at the sky and then shrugged. "Won't be long now."

"Can we do anything else to prepare?" Rahn asked as she stepped toward the male, creating space between them and the crowd. "How can we help?"

The male looked Rahn up and down. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

Rahn shrugged but inwardly grimaced. She was afraid someone would recognize her. "I don't know, have you been with this group long? Maybe we've crossed paths."

"No, that's not it." He shook his head as he kept looking at her. "I know you from somewhere for sure. What's your name?"

"Lana." She answered.

"No..." he shook his head again. "No, that's not right." She watched as the male's eyes went from concentrated to surprised, his eyes changing from scrunched up to big and round. "I do know you! And I know you're no deserter-" the male began as he went to grab his weapon.

But Rahn was faster. She quickly grabbed a knife from the male's vest and held it up to his neck. "Move and I won't hesitate to split your throat. If you know who I am, then you know not to question my resolve." Rahn whispered to him and noticed him swallow as he held his breath and remained frozen. "Good. I see I have your cooperation."

"Lana?!" A male asked in surprise from behind her. The crowd grew anxious and wasn't sure what to do.

"Slowly sit the weapon on the stage beside you." Rahn didn't bother whispering now. "Good, now let's step away from that so no one gets hurt." They moved slowly away from the stage until she felt he couldn't reach for the weapon.

"You can't get out of here. Even with my weapon, there are many others out there. You're outmatched." The male argued.

"That's for me to worry about. Now you be good and keep quiet."

The male opened his mouth to speak but Rahn moved in a split second to hit him on the head with the hilt of the knife, knocking him unconscious.

"How did you do that?!" A female asked from beside her.

"Practice." Rahn answered as if it were something she did everyday. She retrieved the weapon from the stage and began looking it over.

"Do you know anything about weapons?"

Rahn's face split into a smile at the male who asked the question. "You could say that."

"Who are you?"

"Someone with more training than those fools out there." She smirked and then turned to call out to the group. "Everyone circle up, we don't have much time before they notice their buddy is missing."

"What are we going to do?" A female asked.

"He's right, they have way more manpower than we do." A male voiced his concern.

"Then we'll simply have to even the playing field." Rahn explained. "There's a supply closet on the far corner. Go gather all of the chemicals, we're going to make some weapons of our own. Hurry, while we still hold the element of surprise."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't think I'll ever grow tired of seeing the Grand Hall. With the sun setting on the emerald stones, it's breathtaking." Ashima said to Kietnan as they sat on a rock face overlooking the grand hall and the large river that flowed below it.

"It truly is." Kietnan said as he wrapped his arm around her. "I'm so glad you love it too."

"I do. And I love you." She turned to him and gave him a quick kiss.

He chuckled as she laid her head on his shoulder and circled his waist with her arms. "I love you too."

"Kietnan, there's something I've been meaning to speak with you about."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Do you have therapists here?"

"What are therapists?"

"Psychiatrists?"

"I'm sorry I don't know that one either." He sighed.

"Someone a person can go talk to when they've got things they need to work through. Emotional or mental type things. Especially if someone has gone through a traumatic experience."

"You know you can talk to me about anything." He leaned away from her so he could look at her in the eyes as he rubbed comforting circles on her shoulders.

"I do." She placed her hands on his chest. "And I love that I can talk with you about anything. But not everyone has someone like that in their lives. And not everyone has someone taking care of them. And even those of us who do have loved ones, sometimes we need a trained professional to help us sort out our emotions and move on in a healthy way." She sighed. "I hope I'm explaining this clearly. I don't want you to think I don't need you too. I absolutely do."

"I believe I understand what you are saying." Kietnan sighed. "But Qarthans aren't always very open with their feelings."

Ashima laughed. "Really?" She rolled her eyes. As if she hadn't noticed. "Humans aren't always either. And many would never consider speaking with a therapist. But they can really help. I was thinking the other females could really benefit from that, actually. Especially Biechta. Even before we were taken, she really had some stuff to work through."

"Yes, I could see where she might need someone to help her adjust. She's lucky to have you as a friend."

"I'll help her in any way I can." Ashima drew in a deep breath, steadying her nerves. "And I was also thinking about... um...."

"Yes?"

"Do you know much about your mother's upbringing?"

"My mother?"

Ashima nodddd.

"She has never spoken much about her childhood. And her parents passed on when I was very young."

"She said some things to Biechta recently... she didn't specifically say not to tell anyone.. and you're her son, so..."

"What are you going on about, Shima?" He looked at her confused.

"It seems her upbringing was not unlike Biechta's."

Kietnan's eyebrow muscles scrunched up in confusion. "Really? She said that?"

Ashima nodded. "Pretty much. She said she was put under the same pressures and given practically the same restrictions Biechta was given. But whereas Biechta became a sweet, innocent, soft spoken female, your mother said she became..."

"... what did she say?"

"Just know these are her words, not mine."

"You won't offend me, Shima. I do not see my mother on some high pedestal after everything she did to you."

"I know, but she's still your mother and I want us all to have a good relationship."

"And I appreciate that about you. But tell me what she said."

"She said her upbringing caused her to be obsessed with being in control. She said when she was young, she could barely function without touching every single item in a room to make sure it was exactly where she wanted it to be. Apparently it was very crippling. And with an unsupportive family just fussing at you to get over it and be perfect... well I'm sure it just made it worse. Anyway, she said it took years of practice and learning meditation techniques for her to get to where she could function fairly normally."

"I had no idea." Kietnan said thoughtfully.

"But she said the need is still constantly pulling at her and she has to meditate several times a day. Kietnan, I think she really needs help. No one should have to live like that. Do you think she speaks with your father about it? I don't think she does. As soon as she opened up about it, it was as if she was shocked she'd said the words and immediately shut down again."

"I don't know what to say. She has always been rather pushy but I had no idea she was struggling with this so much. I'll speak with my father and see if he has any ideas on these... therapists."

"Oh, good. Thank you." She placed a kiss on his cheek and then he tucked her into his side again so they could look at the view.

"What is that?" Ashima asked in shock as they both stood. "Is something on fire?"

"Yes. Something big." Kietnan stared at the view ahead of him. Across the gorge in front of them, the opposite direction from the Grand Hall from where they were, a huge plume of smoke was rising in the distance.

"We have to go." Kietnan told Ashima as he helped her down from the rock. "They won't see that as easily from home. If it spreads, there won't be enough time to stop it, or to evacuate everyone on that side of the homeland. Quickly." He said as they ran through the woods back toward their home.

"Kietnan, go on without me. You'll get there much faster."

"I can't just leave you out here an hour hike out in the wilderness."

"Ki." Ashima pulled his hand to make him stop. "An hour's hike for me, we both know you can get there in less than half the time if you hurry. Maybe a third. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Homes and lives are at stake. Go warn whoever needs to be warned and I'll be right behind you."

Kietnan smiled. "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"Not nearly enough. Now go." She pushed at his chest as he leaned in for a quick kiss.

Ashima watched as Kietnan turned and sprinted through the trees while she was trying to keep a decent pace behind him. Once he was out of sight she let the carefree smile fall from her face as the worry took over.

What would cause such a large fire? And would they get everyone to safety in time? Would the fire stop before people lost their homes?