Eddie
   Having missed the final showdown because of his wound, Eddie was determined
not to miss any more.  And from what he had seen, the other people in the
Tower weren't doing what was necessary.  People were passing blame back and
forth.  He and Davidson were getting flack for bringing the White Tower down
on them.  Lia, Sredny, and Sonja were in the proverbial doghouse for their
massacre, and Haplo was missing.  This was quickly getting out of control.
Word from the street was that the WT was amassing an invasion force.  This
could get VERY ugly, and no doubt would before it was over.  But, WHO it was
ugly for would depend on the Purple Tower's actions in the next few days.  And
Eddie was determined to make them the right ones.  He knew people had no
reason to listen to him, other than that he was right. (Man, what an ego on
me, huh?)  He just hoped that was enough.
   Entering the studio where this had all recently started, Eddie saw that Jen
had been tearing another piece out of Lia and friends.  Davidson was in here,
as was everybody else, including Liagala.  They still hadn't told anybody
about the strangeness of his wound.  Everyone just thought he was either a
quick healer or hiding his pain well.  He didn't care to reveal the truth.
   But back to business.  All these people assumed that the White Tower would
just go crawling back to lick their wounds now.  That was the furthest thing
from the truth, and Eddie had to somehow convince them.  Stepping into the
middle of the room, Eddie waited until all eyes were on him.  
   "I have some things that need to be said to everyone.  Is this everyone?
Good.  Now, first and foremost, we need to leave the Tower."  He waited
patiently for all the objections to be voiced, loudly and angrily, then
continued.  "I know none of you want to and you all fought hard to keep it.
But, think.  The White Tower knows where we are, and now that we have killed
any number of them, they will be out for nothing less than our complete
annihilation.  There is no other option.  We can wait here, always wondering
when the big one, the Balefire Bomb, was going to be used, or when we would be
snatched up on our way out of the Tower.  This is NOT an option.  We need to
leave.  Now.  By tonight.  We need to pack up all we can and get out of here.
It's either that or be nailed piecemeal.  I don't want to die, and I'm sure
none of you do either.  I hate to say this, but if you don't agree with me
that we have to leave, then I WILL leave by myself."  He knew Liagala was
going to say something, but went on, heedless.  "Now I would really hate to do
that, cause this has become my home.  And I have never been one to give up my
home lightly.  But, it's either that or die, and this IS just a place.  I know
it has symbolic meaning for us all, but our lives are worth more.  The only
way I would stay if you did is if Liagala decided here was where we need to
be.  I will NOT leave her, no matter what.  I swore to guard her life with
mine, and that I will do.  But I will not agree with it.  So, now is the time
for decisions.  We can wait and be slaughtered, or we can leave and plan a way
to get back what we lost.  Haplo is obviously a prisoner, as is Nyna and
Kelly.  We need to get them back, but we can't do that right now, as the White
Tower is most likely on full alert.  So, we need to pull back, regroup, get
our bearings, and plan our offensive.  But, and I reiterate, we NEED to get
out of the Purple Tower.  I now am done, and will await whatever you and, more
importantly, Liagala, decide."  
   Spinning on his heel, Eddie left the room, his color-shifting cloak
billowing behind him.  He didn't know what was going to happen, but he DID
know that whatever did, it would find him by Liagala's side.  Nothing else
mattered as much.  He just hoped they made the right decision.


Patty 
       Patty had somehow lost most of her extensive vocabulary.  Anytime
anything new happened her most articulate response was shit.  These past few
days had been utterly unbelievable.  It was bad enough, when this all started,
that they were probably facing a trial to gain Jen's freedom.  But to say that
things had snowballed out of control would be an incredible understatement.
       The Purple Tower was on the brink of an all-out war with the White
Tower and there wasn't a damn thing any of them could do about it.  Sure, it
could be argued that the members of the PT had acted in self-defense.  And
they had.  But the public wasn't willing to hear that at this point.  Their
days of "pseudo-peaceful" coexistince with the White Tower had come to a
violent end.
       Patty was surprised her head hadn't already exploded with all the
things she was trying to keep straight.  But uppermost in her mind were Nyna
and Kelly.  They had heard nothing about them from the White Tower, for good
or ill.  Srendy hadn't been able to find anything out about where they were
being held, or if they were even still alive.
       And with all the double-crosses happening who knew what was really
going on?  The women of the Red Ajah had all apparently gone insane
simultaniously.  Could it be the work of the Black Ajah?  Patty was convinced
that was who was behind this whole mess, but the trick lay in proving it.
       And now Hap was among the missing.  Shit  Everytime Patty thought
things just couldn't get worse, the situation proved her wrong.  Maybe if she
stopped thinking that things would calm down.  Doubt it.  Shit.
       Patty made her way to the Studio for something like the 7000th meeting
in the past 4 days.  She sent a brief query to Moonlight Dancing for the
status outside the Annex.  ~~All is quiet sister.~~
       Well, at least there was that to be grateful for.  But quiet wasn't
necessarily a good thing.  Jeez, now I'm paranoid too.  Patty settled in
her favorite chair and tucked her feet under her as Jen lit into Lia and
Davidson again.  Patty gave a small sigh.  She could understand Jen's
frustration, but was was done was done and there was no use harping on it.
      Patty didn't notice when Eddie came in, at first.  He walked to the
center of the room and waited until all eyes were on him.  He said, "I have
some things that need to be said to everyone.  Is this everyone?  Good.  Now,
first and foremost, we need to leave the Tower."  Pandemonium.
       Eddie let the yelling and protests go on for a few minutes before he
asserted himself over the group again.  All the time he was speaking, Patty
was nodding to herself.  What he was saying made sense.  When the location of
the Purple Tower was a secret, that was one thing.  But Jen had been arrested
in her own office for Light's sake!  We're not safe here anymore....shit.
       Eddie had finished up his speech and stalked out of the room.  There
was a momentary lull in the room, so Patty took full advantage.  She spoke to
everyone, but looked at Jen as she spoke.  "He's right you know.  If we stay
here, they could blast us all at once, or pick us off one at a time.  And it'd
be their choice.  We need to get some control back in this situation."  Patty
noticed a few of the younger Nila and Stude's eyes go wide with the thought of
leaving their home.
       She addressed her next comments to them. "We can't just do this fight
or flight thing we're doing.  We need a plan of action, and a safe place to
plan from.  We need to work together..."  Patty stressed that last to Davidson
and Lia with a look.
       "Anyone know a good hiding place for a Tower full of people in a city that's
got death-warrents out on most of them?"  It was a feeble attempt at humor and
it failed.
       Patty sighed as she absently rubbed her temples.  "Shit."

      Patty had somehow lost most of her extensive vocabulary.  Anytime
anything new happened her most articulate response was *shit*.  These past few
days had been utterly unbelievable.  It was bad enough, when this all started,
that they were probably facing a trial to gain Jen's freedom.  But to say that
things had snowballed out of control would be an incredible understatement.
      The Purple Tower was on the brink of an all-out war with the White Tower
and there wasn't a damn thing any of them could do about it.  Sure, it could
be argued that the members of the PT had acted in self-defense.  And they
had.  But the public wasn't willing to hear that at this point.  Their days
of "pseudo-peaceful" coexistince with the White Tower had come to a violentend.
      Patty was surprised her head hadn't already exploded with all the things
she was trying to keep straight.  But uppermost in her mind were Nyna and
Kelly.  They had heard nothing about them from the White Tower, for good or
ill.  Srendy hadn't been able to find anything out about where they were being
held, or if they were even still alive.
      And with all the double-crosses happening who knew what was really going
on?  The women of the Red Ajah had all apparently gone insane simultaniously.
Could it be the work of the Black Ajah?  Patty was convinced that was who was
behind this whole mess, but the trick lay in proving it.
      And now Hap was among the missing.  Shit  Everytime Patty thought
things just couldn't get worse, the situation proved her wrong.  Maybe if she
stopped thinking that things would calm down.  Doubt it.  Shit.
      Patty made her way to the Studio for something like the 7000th meeting
in the past 4 days.  She sent a brief query to Moonlight Dancing for the
status outside the Annex.  ~~All is quiet sister.~~
      Well, at least there was that to be grateful for.  But quiet wasn't
necessarily a good thing.  Jeez, now I'm paranoid too.  Patty settled in
her favorite chair and tucked her feet under her as Jen lit into Lia and
Davidson again.  Patty gave a small sigh.  She could understand Jen's
frustration, but was was done was done and there was no use harping on it.
     Patty didn't notice when Eddie came in, at first.  He walked to the
center of the room and waited until all eyes were on him.  He said, ""I have
some things that need to be said to everyone.  Is this everyone?  Good.  Now,
first and foremost, we need to leave the Tower."  Pandemonium.
      Eddie let the yelling and protests go on for a few minutes before he
asserted himself over the group again.  All the time he was speaking, Patty
was nodding to herself.  What he was saying made sense.  When the location of
the Purple Tower was a secret, that was one thing.  But Jen had been arrested
in her own office for Light's sake!  We're not safe here anymore....shit.
      Eddie had finished up his speech and stalked out of the room.  There was
a momentary lull in the room, so Patty took full advantage.  She spoke to
everyone, but looked at Jen as she spoke.  "He's right you know.  If we stay
here, they could blast us all at once, or pick us off one at a time.  And it'd
be their choice.  We need to get some control back in this situation."  Patty
noticed a few of the younger Nila and Stude's eyes go wide with the thought of
leaving their home.
      She addressed her next comments to them. "We can't just do this fight or
flight thing we're doing.  We need a plan of action, and a safe place to plan
from.  We need to work together..."  Patty stressed that last to Davidson and
Lia with a look.
 "Anyone know a good hiding place for a Tower full of people in a city that's
got death-warrents out on most of them?"  It was a feeble attempt at humor and
it failed.      Patty sighed as she absently rubbed her temples.  "Shit."


Davidson
     Davidson sighed as Jen scolded himself and Lia again.  They exchanged the
same look, as if to say "Why aren't Eddie, Sredny, or Sonja getting the same?"
Sighing again, he sat there and listened to the lecture.  But he just couldn't
get mad.  Not with his life and love.  He smiled at her, and she returned it
with an incredulous look, as if she thought he was enjoying it.  After she was
done, he thought about Eddie's idea.  It seemed far fetched and dangerous, but
he was willing.  As long as Jen was safe. 


Lia
 Lia just knew that everyone would expect her to come back with some sarcastic
retort, some rebellious challenge to all that would try to take the Annex from
her, so she stood, and quietly Spoke a few words, " Eddie, he's right.. we do
need to get out of here..."   


Kat
	Leave? Kat stood up. "So what are we going to do about Haplo?"--My
brother, she thought silently--"And Kelly and Nyna, too. It's been what, 
four days, already, and more for Nyna and Kelly. How long will they keeep them 
just locked up?" She looked at Jen, and Patty. They were both out of it. She 
sighed. "They're going to pull something to force us to move, and it's going 
to hurt us if we don't prevent it. I think that maybe we should organize into 
two temporary groups to take care of the two most pending problems: going into 
hiding"--many of those assembled flinched--"and getting the advantage away from 
the Aes Sedai." She refused to call it the Tower. They're a bunch of hypocrites 
either way.  "If we try to do both at once, all we'll do is confuse ourselves 
anyway. Now, we need one leader for each group. Any volunteers?" Don't do
anything stupid, Hap. We need time...


Sredny
    Sredny smiled as the last Aes Sedai dropped. Turning to look for one more,
he saw Hap sending one on their merry way.  He quickly aimed and fired, but
there was only a click. "Bang. Your dead." Grinning more, he jammed new clips
in, and holstered the weapons. reaching into his pocket he pulled out a pack
of cigs. He lit one for himself, then bent over an Aes Sedai corpse and put
one in between her lips, and lit it as well.
     "Was it as good for you as it was for me?" Laughing he half walked half
danced over to the assain clad women.
 Congratulations Gholam, " Lia smiled, " Welcome to the Purple Tower's
renegade squad...  Let's get you rested.." 
   " Welcome aboard... " Sonja laughed....
      Grinning he bowed, trenchcoat still fluttering out behind him. A part of
him still wanted sleep, but it would have to wait for the adrenaline to wear
off. "No rest for the wicked" he thought to himself. He turned back to the
corpses, bowed agin, and they all flew into flames. A few minutes later, they
died down, and with with a gesture as if summoning more appluase, a couple
dozen snake rings flew to him.
       Taking another drag of his cigarette and still moving to his own beat,
he turned back tot the former Ajah members. "Names. Vashtar. Sredny Vashtar.
Not gholam. Doesn't roll of the tounge nearly as nicely. And thank you for
your most gracious welcome." He grinned, reached into his sleeves and pulled
out two roses, and with a flick of his mind made them purple, and with a flick
of his wrist sent them sailing into the womens hair. "Now sleep sounds fun,
but i'm grabbing some food first." With that he continued in his own little
half dance to the kitchen, which had been relatively untouched by the fire and
the firefight. He ate, then fell asleep, chair leaning against the wall. The
coat still sprawling out.  
      Sredny awoke to a slap across the face. He grabbed the hand that should
have been there, only to find that it wasn't there. He saw a stick hoveing in
the air, and Patty staring at him.
      "What the Ghul happened to you? And Why in the name of the Creator did
you feel the need to kill Aes Sedai?"
     "I sent you the information you asked for, then had to get a few toys
that had been taken from me. As for your second question, it needed doing, and
I was there. Now chill." He grinned a devoniar smile,  then reached into his
pocket to pull out another pair of mirrored shades, he had lost the others at
some point during the fight.
       "Oh. . .shit. just shit. Come on, were having a meeting in the Annex."
Sredny grinned again, went liquid the reformed to get rid of a crick in his
neck, The walked over to the Annex, feeling much better after eating and
sleeping. He grabbed a seat, layed back and smiled at Lia and Sonja.  He
grinned at Davidson as Jen llashed into him again. 
       "Boy, she sure keeps you on a short leash."
       Jen twirled to glare at him, but as she opend her mouth Eddie came in ,
gathered attention, and made his announcment. Way to go Eddie he thought.
Grinning he waited till everyone calmed down, and Patty concurred with him. He
smiled at the joke, then an idea struck him. He waited for a second before
speaking up.        "I hear Shadar Logoth is great this time of year."
 He grinned as pandemonium retook the room.


Jen
       "WHAT?" Jen exclaimed. "Are you out of your MIND?"
       "He's right you know," Patty explained, turning to her. "If we stay
here, they could blast us all at once, or pick us off one at a time.  And it'd
be their choice.  We need to get some control back in this situation. We can't
just do this fight or flight thing we're doing.  We need a plan of action, and
a safe place to plan from.  We need to work together ... Anyone know a good
hiding place for a Tower full of people in a city that's got death-warrents
out on most of them?" Patty's joke fell flat on its face. 
      Jen inhaled, a deep breath so she could prepare herself for whatever
reactions she'd have ... and decided not to yell. They did appear to have good
logic behind this, which Jen couldn't necessarily have. Yes, she was biased.
They'd fought so hard to win this place, and now they were being forced out,
and for what reason? Jealousy. Because the Purple Tower could win channelers
over. It was more than attractive, it was aware of beauty in life. And they
would retain their honor, if it meant throwing dignity out the window.
"Alright," she acquieced. "But once we've won, we're moving right back here."
A pause; she still had their attention. "So I requestion Patty's query: anyone
know where we can go? Besides the 7-11? Tar Valon doesn't exactly have many
abandoned buildings; it was a miracle the school system let us use this one,
you know. Of course ... " and Jen chewed her lower lip in thought, the idea
coming to her as she spoke, "...what if we went by pseudonyms and ... " And
her train of thought derailed. She willed someone, anyone else to speak.  


Lia
      The meeting went without insight....   Eddies announcement, and Lia's
reply....   LIa looked over at Sonja and Sredny as if to say I want to talk to
you later and searched for Patty...   
      Finding her.. She laid a hand on her arm... " Patty, What I say goes no
further than you and I,    What we did was wrong, but it might just have
gotten the message accross, that we were no longer going to be toyed with,  if
they want a war, then we are more than prepared,and willing to give it to
them...  Patty, we are stronger in the power than most Aes Sedai can ever
dream of being," Lia saw Patty wince, " if only for the fact that we use it
for the things we want to, not what we are told to, and the minute amount of
Stress in our lives....  They know that we could kick their rule-ridded asses
if we so chose, but they also thought we wouldn't act without Jen..  We proved
that wrong..  We also prooved that we won't take their shit anymore...  But
now, we have to leave here, and it's best that we all know exactly what we can
do to protect ourselves....   Sredny has a point, noone will think of us in
Shayol Ghul...  but can we survive there..?    I think maybe we can...   
     Patty,   there's one secret that very few know about stilling, it's only
a block, a shield.....    Stilling is only permenant because we all were
brought up to think it was....  All it really is, is a block, a strong one,
yes, but still only a block, the reason many women can't get through it, is
because they believe they can't....   The same is said for burning yourself
out.....  Think of the Kin, they just don't know the rules, so they don't
apply....   Patty,  you can, and could always heal yourself,   you just have
to believe you can....   "   
    With a smile, she walked away, flipping a dagger in her hand..


Patty
      Patty nodded in agreement as Kat proposed two groups: one to prepare the
move into a place of safety, and one to try and get the upper hand away from
the women of the White Tower.  
      "I'll work with getting us organized for the move."  She tried not to
give a big sigh, "I wouldn't be much use on any kind of assult team..."  She
gave a wry sort of smile, "and I think we all know why."  She was still unable
to really verbalize to anyone except Kaitlyn how useless she felt since she'd
been stilled.  But orgainzation was a stregnth of hers, and it hadn't been
ripped away from her when she'd lost the ability to channel.
      "While we're still looking for a place to go, we can start to pack."
She gave a look to some of the younger Stude and Nila.  "And I will brook no
nonsense about what we take and what we leave behind.  Wall posters of
Leonardo DiCaprio are not items we need to take with us."  Some of them
ducked their heads sheepishly, and Patty started to make out lists of the
things they really needed to take along. 

      After the meeting, Patty was walking down the hallway toward the kitchen
to check out food supplies.  Lia caught up with her and placed her hand on her
arm.  "Patty,   there's one secret that very few know about stilling, it's
only a block, a shield.....    Stilling is only permenant because we all were
brought up to think it was....  All it really is, is a block, a strong one,
yes, but still only a block, the reason many women can't get through it, is
because they believe they can't....   The same is said for burning yourself
out.....  Think of the Kin, they just don't know the rules, so they don't
apply....   Patty,  you can, and could always heal yourself,   you just have
to believe you can....   "    
     With a smile, she walked away, flipping a dagger in her hand..

      Patty watched speechless as Lia walked away.  What did she...?  Who
did she...? Oh Light, what if she's right?   It was almost impossible to
think about.  Patty'd been brought up with stories about Aes Sedai, then she
went to the Tower to train.  Because only an Aes Sedai could train another Aes
Sedai.  And they knew everything about the Power, didn't they?  Because that's
what we're all taught to believe.
      But in Patty's time at the Tower she learned that Aes Sedai are just
women.  Women with power to be sure, but people with flaws and weaknesses just
like everyone else.  And wouldn't it make sense, the Tower being what it is,
for them to remain ridgid in thier thinking?  If something was true 200 years
ago, then in Tower-thinking, it must be true now as well.
      Then came Jen and her stereotype shattering approach to Power.  Her new
ways of thinking; her ability to prove that always was is not necessarily
always true.  And she gathered to her those who could also think along those
lines ~ not simply humans, but those who could use the Power in their own
ways.  And use it in ways the women in the White Tower never imagined.
      Patty moved over to lean weakly against the wall.  Her knees had gone
weak and she slid down to the floor as the implications of Lia's secret began
to sink in.  Moonlight Dancing had picked up on her distress and padded to her
side.  Patty absently hugged the wolf to her.  ~~Can it be true?  What Lia
said, do you think it can be true?~~
      ~~It is not what I think that matters, Sister.  It is what you belive
in your heart.~~  Moonlight Dancing responded.
      The hope that rose in Patty's chest was exquisitly painful.  To be able
to channel again.  To feel the One Power flowing through her body...it was
almost too much to wish for.  Patty closed her eyes, and willed with all her
might to feel something.  At tingle; a quiver; anything...just a sign that it
could be true.
      There was nothing, just like there had been nothing since the night the
stilling had occured.  Patty let out an almost-sob in disappointment.  She
heard an insistent voice in the back of her mind saying it can't be done.
      She screamed back in her mind, Yes it can!  It can!  I will beat you
and come out stronger in the end.  No one else has ever done it because they
believed it couldn't be done.  They lived their whole lives tied to the Tower.
      I am no longer of the White Tower!  I can think in new ways.  I have
seen things no one ever imagined could be done with the Power, done
effortlessly by my friends. I can do it!  I will!
      From Moonlight Dancing came feelings of comfort, stregnth and calm.
Patty held on to these feelings as tightly as she held on to the wolf herself.
Outloud Pattty said, "Okay, I can't deal with this now.  We have other things
to do.  We need to get to safety, and I'm not helping anyone sitting here on
the floor."  She gave Moonlight Dancing one last hug and got back on her feet.
But it was with a lighter step and a hopeful heart that she set off down the
hallway again.