Spoilers Sweetie: Part 1

Hasina, keeping her bow deep and respectful followed Alex's gaze. She winced, making the connection as to who was stood there.

"Ah, Mister Alexander Noble Chief Craftsman of the Most Honourable and Worthy Sun God Ra. This is not your wife. This is..."

"WIFE?!" Alex and Jade blurted out simultaneously. Hasina looked confused, standing up she peered closer at Alex.

"Alex? What are you doing? You look like one of them." Jamie queried.

"Quiet! This is..." Hasina hissed at Jamie.

"What do you mean Wife?" Alex asked, looming over Hasina from on the camel.

"Jaaday is your most esteemed companion and you are bound together as spouses." Hasina ventured, expecting a trap. She pronounced Jade's name to almost rhyme with Chardonnay. Jade winced at the pronunciation.

"Bullshit." Alex said bluntly.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Jade glared at him in the way that only a woman can do when her looks have been insulted.

"It's our Alex." Jamie said to Hasina. Looking closer, she did notice the thinner features, less definition to the muscles, longer hair.

"Fine. Then I will rescue him too." She said simply. "Follow. The others are located elsewhere. From my quarters in the Palace we can get you to the rebellion. You will be safe there."

***

They approached (or in Alex's case returned nervously) to the Palace. Amazed that Kepi had not raised the alarm. Perhaps she was too scared to do so. The guard once again lay himself almost prostrate on the floor, babbling greetings and niceties to the group. Jade was dizzy, along side the growing list of complaints that she had, she could now add a several mile trek through stupidly hot sand in bare feet to the list. A limp was developing.

"Oh Mister Alexander Noble Chief Craftsman of the Most Honourable and Worthy Sun God Ra and Most Gracious and Beautiful Consort to Mister Alexander Noble Chief Craftsman of the Most Honourable and Worthy Sun God Ra. Please pass with the blessings of Ra." Jade pulled a face at the impossibly long title. Mush to the peeping man's fear and horror.

"Do you call me that every time you see me?" She asked.

"Oh yes Most Gracious and Beautiful Consort to Mister Alexander Noble Chief Craftsman of the Most Honourable and Worthy Sun God Ra." He continued to lay face down in the dust, beginning to tremble.

"Well just this once, you may look upon our faces. Get up and tell me your name." She looked down at the poor man, obviously scared out of his mind at so much attention.

"Herunebi. Herunebi Khenti." He kneeled, refusing to get up any more, and still keeping his head lowered.

"Well. Good job. Keep it up." Jade smiled. Hasina glared at her from within the helmet.

"Apologies Most Gracious and Beautiful Consort to Mister Alexander Noble Chief Craftsman of the Most Honourable and Worthy Sun God Ra but we really must press on." Hasina was also concerned for Jade's well being. She was looking even paler in the heat.

"Yes... My... Darling... You do look... unwell." Alex said, teeth almost gritted. He forced the words out, an alien phrase that his mind rebelled against. Jamie stiffled a snigger and Hasina rolled her eyes, gently shoving Jamie forwards.

The quadrillogy of people moved in through the looming, shimmering gates and into the courtyard. The sand gave way to paved paths through lush gardens and brightly coloured flowers. Nothing useful grew, purely decorative.

"No wonder the water is short here." Jade said, her breathing laboured, she reached to drink from the water skin. It was empty. She was becoming increasingly dizzy and light headed after the long trek.

Someone waved excitedly from a balcony.

"Is that?..." Jade winced against the bright sun looking up.

"Looks like Anubis and one of your companions. No matter. Anubis is a friend. He can handle the extraction on his own for your friend." Hasina was on edge, matter of fact and constantly looking around for trouble. Jamie stuck close to her, like a protective older brother.

"She's your alternate isn't she?" Jade asked, having just about caught up to the story of the crashed Blue Dwarfers.

"Yes She is." Hasina replied on Jamie's behalf. Not aggressively, but with enough insistence that the chit chat ended.