Off the Coast of Nilbog Island

The Keldish sailed west out of the sunrise following an odd heading.

“This is a research vessel, not a bloody battleship.” Captain Oliver grumbled.

“Look at it this way,” Shipwreck said. “We're exploring.”

Oliver gave the military man a sour look. “Exploring. Running to the rescue of a head of state, and a kid from a bloody magical island, and in the process apprehend the worst terrorist the world has ever known. I signed up to ferry scientists, not conquistadors.”

The ship had been intended for the Nilbog project, to take the marine archeologists out to their dive sites. But it had been comandeered by G.I. Joe. Billy, Scarlett and Shipwreck were their representatives on board.

“Don't think you're off the hook.” Duke had growled when Billy told him the plan. Billy shrugged. Just wait till he sprung the Baroness from jail. That'd really piss the spook off.

Thinking that magic might be put to good use in tracking down potentially magical enemies, Billy had called the only person he knew who might be able to help. Only to learn that Leda had been abducted by the same creatures that had his daughter. The good news was that now they knew where to go.

Strider, Sila, Polaris, and Agents Prescott and Ross were going too. Momoko was missing as well, but given the life of a superhero it was entirely possible her disappearance was unrelated.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Prescott asked Ross. “You know Mera's probably going to be there.”

He swallowed, closed his eyes for a moment, and nodded. “I'm the only one who knows how to get there. I'll just, you know, stay on the ship.”

Prescott hesitated, then laid a hand on his shoulder. Things were still strained between them, but she hoped he wouldn't pull away. "I'll make her pay for what she did to you. I swear."

Sila and Polaris were up at the bow, trying to ignore the fact that Strider was staring daggers at them.

“If looks could kill.” Sila muttered. She gave her mother a worried look.

“I don't need his approval.” Polaris scoffed. She knew her daughter well enough to guess what was bothering her. “Or his understanding.”

“What about Mom's?”

That hit home. “You know why it didn't work out. How many times do we have to have this conversation?”

“With me? Mother I...I get, what the problems were. I don't understand why, if you still love Mom why you can't work them out. But what's bothering me is, I don't think you ever had a proper conversation with Mom about it.”

“I tried darling. But you know how Leda gets.” Maybe when her ex, and her daughter were both older, they'd understand a bit better.

Island of the Fomors, Noon, Sunday

The original plan had been to use Leda as the host for Domnu. They'd thought it poetic justice for the last of the house of Danan (adoptions not-withstanding) to be the instrument of it's destruction. But when they'd learned of the child's nature, the plan had changed.

Now if only she'd be a good little girl and stop running away so effectively!

On the plus side she was leaving a clear trail for Pythona to follow.

Ana had no idea where she was going. She wasn't even really paying much attention to that. She was too busy trying not to panic, and not doing a very good job. Tears began to blur her vision at the thought of how disappointed her mother would be just now, to see her daughter fleeing like some frightened rabbit. What would Master Storm Shadow think? How could she expect to become an Arashikage Ninja if she couldn't control her fear?

I'm only eight! another part of her chided.

Pythona rounded a clump of trees, and spotted the girl just ahead of her. She grinned, thinking the chase was almost over, when something small and green launched itself at her head.

“Ack!” She jerked back, and something dashed out of the brush, rolled at her ankles, and tripped her.

“Come on!” Gobo yelled to Ana. “Let's get out of here!”

But the brief respite was all Ana had needed. “No.” she said. “I can't leave Miss Leda and Mister Tim.”

Pythona had not simply tumbled to the ground however. She'd rolled smoothly back to her feet, and stared incredulously at the two creatures who'd come to the girl's rescue.

What in the name of Balor are those things? Never mind. It was time to end this. Pythona was getting increasingly frustrated. Between time-tables and needing to keep certain people alive and unharmed, she'd been hampered at every turn. She pulled a seed pod out of a cloak pocket, and squeezed. The pollen erupted towards Ana, who quickly succumbed, her hesitation finally proving her undoing. The two creatures who'd come to her aid, apparently lacking noses, scampered off into the bushes.

With a sigh, Pythona hoisted the sleeping girl onto her shoulder, and made a note to hunt those things down. They didn't need any more surprises.

[Continued from here. No need to go to another journal for the next installment, just click next.]

Island of the Fomors, Sunday Night

( The Epic Conclusion! )

[Continued from the previous entry in this journal. Open for pings from Gwynn.]