***Davidson Gaidin***

	Padding through the woods, Eddie and Davidson reached the fence.  Feeling
his medallion go cold, Eddie saw a perfectly round hole form in the fence,
then expand to a height of about 10 feet.  Creeping along, he saw Davidson not
caring whether he was seen or not.  "Hey, you're going to get us caught!"
Eddie yelled in the form of a whisper.

	"No they can't.  Right now, you and I are in an invisibility weave."  He
continued walking the grounds, and Eddie followed.  Reaching the back door,
Davidson said "She's inside.  And SHE'S HURT!"  Medallion freezing, he saw the
door get blown off.  Opening right into a cell.  With Jen in there, bruised,
and bloodied.  "Who did this?!?" he screamed, sending bolts of Fire into the
bars, instantly melting them.  She looked at Davidson, smiled grimly, and
raised her head, looking at the ceiling.  And giving Eddie and Davidson the
chance to see her a'dam encircling her neck.  Flying into a fit of rage,
Davidson saw the three Red Ajah that came in, trying to shield him.
Unsuccessfully.

	"He's too strong!  Get more Sisters!" One of them yelled, making it
known they were having a tough time.  Eddie leapt forward, but Davidson held
him back.  Smiling evilly, Davidson smashed the pathetic attempt of a shield
they made.  And he took the precisest of care as he Stilled them.  Stilled
them so that they may never again channel.  He laughed out loud, whispered a
word of caution in Jen's ear, and bounded out, Eddie following closely behind.
Right into a group of six Aes Sedai.  Eddie felt his medallion go cold, then
really hot.  So hot it burned an impression into his skin.

	"I'll never let you get away with hurting her!  Never!"  Davidson
screamed, sending 6 finger-thick bars of white-hot liquid fire right into the
midst of the group.  Red uniforms turned blue, then disappeared, fried from
the pattern.

      At this time, Eddie realized he had to cool Davidson off.  He could be
dangerous using balefire like that.  Muttering a word of forgiveness, he
butted his katana handle on the back of Davidson's head, but not before
Davidson had Stilled the two training Accepted and one Novice that were
looking on.  Snarling, Davidson fell over, unconscious from the blow.  



***Eddie Gaidin***

	Cursing, trying to figure out how to get them all out of here, Eddie
heard noises in the distance.  It sounded like pursuit, but he couldn't really
hear over the screams of the Stilled woman.  Kneeling next to Jen, he checked
to make sure she was okay.  She looked up, gave a weary nod, and closed her eyes.

	Suddenly, they were assaulted by a group of five guards, and Eddie sprang
into action.  Strangely, they were all outfitted with swords.  Not expecting
it in this day and age, Eddie flowed into familiar forms.  Apple Blossoms in
the Wind to slow their advance, Arc of the Moon removed two heads from their
bodies, but Eddie then felt a sharp pain in his side.  He looked around, and
saw that another guard, this one armed with a 9mm taking aim at him again.

	"Cease and desist, in the name of the Tar Valon Police." he commanded, his
voice booming.

	"Yeah, right. We won't even be tried, we'll just be killed," Eddie
muttered to himself, and then rolled to get the sword wielding guards between
him and the trigger happy one.  Knowing it was only a matter of time before
more Aes Sedai came around, and knowing that, even though they couldn't hurt
him, they could take Dav and Jen.  

	Getting desperate, his life blood leaking out of his side, Eddie spun into
Lizard in the Thornbush, taking out two of his four remaining opponents.  But,
the one with the gun was circling around to get off another shot.  Deciding to
go for broke, Eddie danced frantically, but in control, into Thistledown
Floats on the Whirlwind, but instead of landing lightly, he dove over the
falling guard and straight into the armed one.  A quick thrust into his chest
ended the threat from that one.

	Stumbling to his feet, knowing only a few seconds had passed from
beginning to end of the fight, he became aware of Liagala getting worried
about his pain.  He tried to evince confidence, but he knew she could tell how
bad his wound was.  Trying to stay on his feet, knowing two wounded and one
unconscious person could never get out of here, Eddie decided to give it till
his last breath.  He made his way over to Jen and Dav, and, with a quick, but
unfortunately painful, twist, he struck off the a'dam.

	With a small smile, despite the pain, Jen thanked him.  "But, I can't
channel."

	Expecting as much, Eddie nodded and rose.  He tore a piece off a guards
cloak, and tied it around his ribs.  Nodding encouragingly at Jen's concerned
look, Eddie lifted Dav, grunted in pain, and threw him over his shoulder.  

	Stumbling a bit, getting used to the added weight, Eddie led the way to
the fence and beyond, the woods.  Behind them, he heard shouts, but knew that
their only hope was in speed.  He could feel Liagala getting frantic. Shutting 
that part of him down for survival, Eddie continued on.  Jen stumbled ahead of 
him, and he gave her a shoulder to lean on.  

	Behind them, he could hear the beginnings of organized pursuit.  Cursing,
Eddie found the way to the stolen car just as a bar of Fire flew over their
heads.  "Damn!  We have to go NOW!"  He threw Dav into the backseat, helped
Jen in, and got behind the wheel.

	Pulling out hard, Eddie nailed the accelerator to the floor.  Fortunately,
Dav had picked a good car to steal, and they were doing 80 in no time, followed 
by shots of Fire.  He could hear a claxon in the distance, and realized they had 
finally decided to broadcast the escape to the general populace. Eddie smiled, 
knowing that the only reason the authorities had done so was because they knew they 
are going to make it.

	A sudden shot of pain exploded into his head, unexpectedly,causing him 
to almost lose control of the car.  Crying out, Eddie spun the wheel, getting back 
onto the highway.  The only hope they had was getting back to the Tower, and now.
He did 150 most of the way, when he wasn't blinded by pain.

	Pulling into the front of the Tower, Eddie blared the horn, and skidded 
to a stop.  Looking over at Jen, he saw hope flaring in her eyes.  In the back, he 
could hear Dav groaning.  Trying to get out of the car as he heard the doors opening, 
Eddie felt an odd pulling at his pants. 

	He looked up as Liagala neared him.  He saw pain in her eyes, as well as
tears.  Putting on a wan smile, Eddie murmured, "Look, I'm stuck in my own blood.  
Isn't that wei..."  Falling into her arms, Eddie knew no more.



***Ayende Jen***
Lai an Cuebiyar

	Everything happened so suddenly. One moment, Jen was inside a darkened 
room, still feeling the effects of a particularly malicious Red's idea of a 
game... "Fun with A'dam" or some such. Jen hardly cared herself. The next moment, 
her rescuers had arrived and Davidson was balefiring left and right and Eddie was
slicing and dicing guards and miscellaneous Novices. 

	Amidst the blood, gore, wreckage, and weeping and wailing Aes Sedai who
had lost their ability to channel completely, Jen could barely keep conscious
herself. She was foggy all through the high-speed chase back to the Purple Tower 
and even foggier once they had actually arrived. She hoped they'd lost the squad 
cars ...        

	Jen awoke to find herself on a couch in the Studio, light streaming in
through the skylights. She was wrapped in blankets and pillows and the like as
though she were some fragile porcelain that would break at any given moment.
She wondered what time it was, how long she'd slept. Giving the room a quick
survey to see if anyone had waited for her, and seeing no one, she fell back
into the pillow behind her, exhausted. A presence, however, prompted her
second glance.



***Ayende Patty***
Anima de Turrae

       Moonlight Dancing padded quietly toward the couch.  Jen was momentarily
startled.  It was still very strange having a wolf in the Tower.  But then
again, with all the different people and all their different talents gathered
in the Tower, why shouldn't Patty have a wolf companion?  Jen laid back
against the pillows knowing that Moonlight Dancing would've already sent to
Patty that she was awake.

       Only a few moments later, Patty arrived.  She came immediately over to
where Jen was settled and gave her a swift hug.  "Jen.  I'm so glad you're
back."  Patty pulled a chair over to where Jen was and sat down.  Then Patty
gave her a look.  "I think we're in big trouble."  That made Jen sit up.

       "Much as I was hoping Davidson and Eddie would be able to free you..."
she trailed off.  She looked at the mostly faded bruises on Jen's face that
had been inflicted on her while she was being held.  Patty could relate too
well to what that felt like.

       "Here's the problem.  With them blasting in there and grabbing you out
of there, it gives the impression of guilt.  Like you were running away from
due process.  Like it you'd stayed and played by the system, you'd have lost.
And..."  Patty sighed not knowing how much Jen remembered of the rescue, "they
guys did some serious damage.  Eddie actually decapitated two people, and
Davidson St-Stilled a number of women.  Not just Aes Sedai, Jen.  Accepteds
and Novices too.  They'll be calling for his head."

       Jen's eyes went wide as Patty was speaking. She couldn't believe all
this had happened.  "That's not all, Jen."

       "There's more?  It can't possibly be worse than that!"

       Patty leveled a look at Jen.  "The White Tower hasn't made any actual
moves yet.  But they've basically got us surrounded.  We're at a stalemate.
They can't get in, but we can't get out.  That's not what concerns me though.
When you were arrested, Nyna and Kelly were arrested too.  They're still in
the police station.  At best, they can be used as hostages against our
behavior.  At worst, they'll be killed outright."

       Patty finished speaking and Jen tried to take all the information in.
Things were getting way out of control at an alarming rate.  Okay, first
things first.  One thing at a time.  "Where are Davidson and Eddie now?"

       "Davidson was brought up to your room and is sleeping there.  He's got
a nasty bruise on his head.  Someone really got in a good shot at him.
Eddie...Eddie's down in the ICU.  It was really touch and go there for a
while.  I still don't think he's out of the woods yet.  Liagala's with him."

       Jen sat up all the way and started to peel the covers off.  "I need to
go see Davidson.  Then I'll need to speak with you, Kait, Lia and anyone else
who is available."

       Patty nodded her assent.  "I'll start rounding people up."  Jen watched
as Patty left the room with Moonlight Dancing traililng behind her.  "Time to
get back to work." she muttered to herself.  She threw off the last of the
bedcovers and went up to her room to check on the state of her husband.



***Davidson Gaidin***

        Waking groggily, Davidson pried his eyes open and looked at his
surroundings.  A moderate sized room, not unlike his and Jen's at the Purple
Tower.  "Geez, they even got the color purple down pat."  Feeling a lump on
his head, he realized something.  He was in the Purple Tower!  Breaking into a
broad smile, he jumped out of bed - and fell.  Flat on his face.  Muttering
incoherently, he raised his head, and found himself looking straight at who he
was looking for: his beautiful wife Jen.  He stood up slowly, and hugged and
kissed her, then hugged her some more, glad beyond words she was back.
Dressing quickly, he smiled and asked "Was that all a dream?  Or did I really
do that?  The Stilling...the balefire..."  Looking disgusted with himself, he
flopped down on his back on their bed.

	"Yes, you did do that.  But it was for the better good of the Tower.  I 
knew you'd come for me."  Her voice was so beautiful, like chimes in the wind.
"The only thing I'm worried about is the future of the Tower.  You may have started 
a war..."  She trailed off, leaving him to think things over.  He rose, stretched, 
and walked out of the room.  Strolling down the hall, he realized he was hungry, 
so he made a direct line for the kitchen.  Passing the Medical Ward, he glanced in 
the ICU and saw someone.  Eddie. 

      "Oh, shit!"  He was lost for words as he pushed the doors open, straight
to Eddie's bed.  And right into the teary eyes of Liagala.  "Liagala, I'm
sorry...he came with me on his own, and after one of those witches at the jail
bashed me over the head, I-"

      "I'm not mad.  I'm happy.  He's going to live!"  Liagala's voice was
shaky, with a touch of glee.  "For some reason, conventional Healing wouldn't
work.  It was as if...as if those bullets were evil!"

      Davidson made a quizzical expression appear on his face, then looked
down into the opening eyes of Eddie.  "Welcome back, friend!  You're safe!"
Eddie smiled, looked at Liagala, and smiled broadly, with Liagala smiling back.

      "Before you go, Davidson, I have to tell you something."  Eddie's voice
was barely beyond a whisper, but there was a sense of determination.

      "What is it?  But be sure to tell me a couple times.  After those
witches hit me on the head, I've been having trouble remembering things."
Smiling with an expectant look on his face, Davidson waited for an answer.

      "Umm...nothing...I'll tell you later."  Looking at the bump on Davidson's 
head, Eddie drifted back into a restful sleep with a smirk on his face.

      "I wonder what that was all about?"  Davidson asked Liagala, who
shrugged and turned her attention back to Eddie's still form.  Bruise
throbbing, he shook it off, and continued on his course to the kitchen.  



***Ayende Jen***
Lai an Cuebiyar
  
	"Time to get back to work," Jen muttered to herself.  She threw off the 
last of the bedcovers and went up to her room to check on the state of her husband.

        She walked the length of the school and up a flight of stairs to their
room, where Davidson was muttering groggily and half-awake, if that. She could
tell he was hurt; someone had knocked him out good back at the cell block.
Calmly she walked to the bedside ... she was glad he was back, but after what
he'd done ...

        The next thing she knew, he was apparently wide awake and smiling, and
falling right onto his face. She reached out to catch him and after he had
steadied himself, he greeted her with a deep and genuinely euphoric kiss. Jen
had to admit she was glad to see him too, and that was something of an under 
statement. He looked at her, into her eyes, smiled and asked "Was that all a 
dream?  Or did I really do that?  The stilling...the balefire..." Looking disgusted 
with himself, he flopped down on his back on their bed. 

       Jen wasn't sure how to answer that. She was more than glad to see him
back, and in one piece, and she was glad to be back herself, and it had helped
them escape; if he hadn't done what he did, they might not be here alive today
... but that didn't justify it. This was not going to look good when it came
time for the trial. If there even was a trial ...

       "Yes, you did do that," she answered slowly. "But," she added, "it was
for ... the better good of the Tower." She sat on the bed beside him. "I knew
you'd come for me," she whispered. 

       After a while, she got up and paced across the room. "The only thing
I'm worried about is the future of the Tower.  You may have ... started ... a
war..."  She trailed off unsure of what to say next. She knew he couldn't help
it; there were so many things going on back there ... so many things had
happened. 

       Spontaneously, he stood up and left the room for no apparent reason.
She called after him, but he likely didn't hear. He probably needed to be
alone with his thoughts ... she let him go.  



***Eddie Gaidin***

	Waking up, Eddie could feel something in his side.  It was throbbing, 
and distantly, he wondered why the Healing hadn't been completely successful.  
He should have felt only a tiredness, and hunger, yet he felt an ache akin to
something half-healed.  Moving his hand, Eddie felt the wound.  It was
swaddled in massive amounts of bandages, yet he could feel a heat there.
Groaning, Eddie opened his eyes and looked...directly into Liagala's beautiful
blue-green eyes.  Feeling tentatively at the section of his mind that held the
Bond, Eddie could sense that she was scared.  She was covering it with hope
and joy, but underneath he could sense a bone-chilling fear.  What in the
Light has happened to me?

	"Hey there, Lia."  His voice was nothing more than a faint whisper.

	"Shh.  Don't talk, Eddie.  You're gonna be just...fine."  Tears threatened
at the corners of her eyes.
	What isn't she telling me?  Eddie thought, and voiced the question.

	"Nothing.  But you need your rest."  She turned away.  Just then, Patty
walked in, and called Liagala to go see Jen. Eddie's voice stopped them.  

	"Are Jen and Dav okay?  Did I get them out all right?"  He struggled to
sit up, but found he couldn't.  He hoped he hadn't hit Dav too hard when he
had laid him out, but he had been totally out of control.  Balefire should
NEVER be used, but he had been beyond reasoning.   Eddie just kept telling
himself he had had no choice.

	"Yes.  Other than a few bruises, they are both fine. You have done well,
and have the gratitude of the whole Tower.  Now rest."   Turning on her heel,
Liagala hurried out, followed closely by Patty.

	Cursing his lack of strength, Eddie struggled mightily to rise.  Gritting
his teeth, crying out, he finally made his way to a sitting position.  WHAT
happened to me?  He swung his feet over the edge of the bed, and stopped,
feeling light headed.  Something important is going on, and I have a feeling
Dav and I started it, or at least pushed it over the edge.  I'll be damned if
they're going to keep me out of it.  Groaning, he slowly stood.  He wobbled
around for a few minutes, but finally forced himself to stand.  Seeing stars,
he braced himself, and continued.

	Realizing he was in nothing but a johnny, Eddie looked for his clothes.
They were in a bag across the room, soaked in blood.  That can't ALL be mine,
can it?  I was only shot once.  Shivering, Eddie found some clothes in a
nearby closet.  He looked down at his side as he dressed, and noticed that the
bandages were stained with blood. Tensing, he decided to ignore it for now,
since there was nothing he could do about it anyway, and kept dressing.

	Finally, he finished, and went out into the hallway.  He had no idea 
where they were going to meet, so he decided to go to the studio they had met 
in before.  Slowly, wincing with every step, he made his way down the hall,
determined not to be left out.



***Ayende Jen***
Lai an Cuebiyar
  
	Jen knew the Tower was surrounded. She knew there were squad cars 
circling the school discreetly, she knew there were Reds posted in a certain 
proximity, and she knew that the tension was high. But she didn't know exactly 
how high the tension was. Perhaps she'd missed some things while she was ... 
away. She wasn't sure. 

	She was still in her room when she heard the alarm go off. Being that 
the breaking/entering alarm was only the fire alarm, albeit rigged, she thought 
maybe some other Reds had come in to abduct another Purple Tower member, 
and with this thought she ran down to check out any and all entrances.  The 
main entrance was the nearest, but there was no sign of anyone breaking in. 
People milled about the Tower, confused, people Jen should know but somehow 
didn't. A sense of dire urgency filled the air and ultimately Jen's mind, and 
she began to run. She raced through the hallways, searching classrooms, and 
then ... then she found it. A deep scent of smoke hung in the air. She could see 
tongues of flames licking the cornerstone of the building, out by the west lot 
and dangerously close to the Lilac wing. Both full Ayende Vera who were Lilac 
were gone ... Laraina was gone for Light knew what reason Nyna was ... 
somewhere ... and Jen had to tell someone. At a loss for what to do, she ran 
through the halls even faster than before simply shouting, "FIRE!!! FIRE! 
They're setting us on fire!!! FIRE!!!!!!!"    



***Ayende Lia"***
Plum SianSepta

	Patty caught Lia's hand and held it.  "I do have to.  I couldn't 
have gone to see Mayadi without falling apart.  Not yet.  I just really appreciate 
you going.  You've been taking care of all of us, and I just wanted to let you
know that I know."  Patty gave Lia's hand a squeeze.  "Thanks."

	Lia's cold silver eyes flashed a moment, and when she turned back to
look at Patty, they seemed softer, warmer, "Patty,  I know I haven't been the 
nicest person here.   I'm often too quick to attack first and ask questions 
later.  I keep thinking it's all due to what Aunt Liandrin did when I was a 
child, you know, I still have flashbacks...

	"When Jen created this Ajah, I was quick to enter, quick to help her
out, even though I knew it was going to be hard.   I knew it'd be seen like
the Black Ajah, a treasonous group, even if we weren't.  I knew that this
was best, and I could never say why, just that it felt right, even if it did
have far too much in common with the Black Ajah.

	"Then when Jen broke us apart from the Tower, and Gave us the strength
and the power to become ourselves, under our own set of rules, like Salidar so
many years ago, I knew it would be worse then.  But I had to remain...

	"Jen says I'm like an onion, every time a new layer is shown, I peel
away another, and keep everyone guessing...  That's true, more true that even
I like to admit, The truth is though,  I just don't want anyone to know who I
really am, who Liandryn Sierra Jadia Merit Blayde ~ Rose really is, inside,
under all this anger and pain and Hate,  and if I keep changing, and keep
everyone unsure of me, noone ever will know...

	"Sooner or later though, I'm going to run out of layers to hide behind,
I'm going to have to show everyone exactly who I am.   That scares me.   It
scares me almost as much as telling you all about my past scares me.   But
I've learned a few things here, with you, Patty, and with Jen, and Haplo, and
Deida, before she left us.   I learned about caring, about friendship, and
even about Love.   I learned that People aren't expendable, and they aren't
just here for their purpose.   

	"You needed us before, and I conquered a fear I never let myself believe
I had, I always wanted to be fearless, no one could ever muss Lia,  But I
conquered Tel'aran'rhiod to save you Patty, and I had to conquer a Forsaken
to Save Vree, now, I had to Conquer the fear of Aes Sedai and the White Tower
to Save Jen,  all these things are easy, but what happens when the time comes
to conquer myself to save someone, and what happens if the person I have to
save then, is myself..?

	"I guess what I'm trying to say Patty, is that we all have fears, but
when those fears keep us from those we care about, when they keep us to
ourselves, what good is the protection of the walls, when they keep you in, as
well as keep others out..?" 

	Lia touched the ring on Patty's hand softly, "All I've ever wanted
was a real family, a real life again, without having to run away and hurt
other people, this ring, this old school, and you, and everyone else here,
gave me the first dream, all I have to do, is help you give me the second one.
A lot has changed in my heart, and it's time to be who I really am, and not
who I was trained to be, at least here, with my friends....

	"Right now, Jen needs us, as you needed us, as everyone here will
someday need us, and I've heard that Kelly and Nyna need us too, I can't help
anyone without love, Illyena had to wake me to that, It's far beyond time I
showed it too.... "  

	Lia touched Patty's forehead a moment with her fingertips, and Patty
could once again feel the power hiding inside her, but the tingling sensation
vanished with the feeling of Lia's touch...  "Lia..?!" 

	"All one ever has to do is ask for what they want Patty, I know Kaitlyn
wants to help you herself, but maybe she's not looking in the right place for
answers.." 
	The soft light faded from Lia's eyes, and the rest was completed in silence.


  
	Lia finished her walk and talk with Patty, and slipped to find where
Haplo had gone, his antics were hurtful, but she couldn't help how she felt
about him, and now it was time to let him know....  before the entire Tower
could be taken apart before them....   From somewhere she heard a shout....
"FIRE.. They're setting us on FIRE!!"      

	"Shit.. Shit shit and Double Fuck...  What else can go wrong..?!
Racing to the voice, she found Jen, and muttered sarcastically, "What goes
around comes around Huh..?"  Jen looked puzzled,  "Nice to have you back,
Mom."  

	Lia channeled and began dousing flames, momentarily using her link to
Pertho to pull the Fire curtain in the Theatre,  "That should cover the Plum
and the Actor Wings...  Gotta love Asbestos..."    

       Soon after Pertho came out using a Fire hose and and Lissette
channeling like mad.. Trust a Seafolk to know how to control the water...  Jen
joined them, and helped putting out the fire, moving wing to wing and
controling it....      

	Lia called over her shoulder to Jen....   "This was stupid, Mom.  They
must know we can put this out together with no problems.... " 

	Jen nodded, "Yeah, unless they are planning somethign else while we're
busy...."
	"Oh Damn.....  " Lia swore...

	Suddenly there was a firey scream as Pertho's cape caught fire, Lia
turned, feeling burning that wasn't her own.... and covered her mouth...  The
twitching stopped and the Myrddraal lay still.... and Lia fell to her knees..
"Damn Bond.... Well, at least the fire's out, and then, so was Lia...."   



***Haplo Gaidin***

	Haplo and the dog headed back to their Hole, both still bored with all 
that was going on around them, heard that there was a fire in the Tower, but 
they figured everyone else would be able to handle it.  "Hey, dog, think I'm 
gonna head in ta town, get us some eats, ya game?"  
	No, master, I think I'm going ack to the Hole, catch up on some sleep, 
you go ahead.  
	"Alright, boy, have fun with yaself," Haplo laughed as he headed toward 
his truck, the dog trotting towards the Hole.  Haplo reached his truck and started 
it up, putting in one of his favorite CDs and just having himself a fine time 
jamming out to the tunes when he heard the dog talk to him. 
	Master, we have a visitor, I think she's a little upset with you, she's 
dressed mostly in red, sort of like those women that pick...  The connection 
stopped abruptly and Haplo slammed on the brakes, turning the truck around and 
heading for home.  He already feared the worse and rage began to boil in his veins, 
unchecked without the link.  He drove right though the Gardens to the Hole, jumping 
out of the truck and running into the Hole.  His home was a shambles, everything 
ransacked, then he noticed the small hole in the wall.  He fell to his knees, and 
sniffed at it, he could smell the power there, balefire had been used.  Haplo rolled
into the corner, his grief assailing him, overcoming the rage, Haplo did something 
that he had never done before, he cried....

******