'Sorry.' He placed the platter on his desk, keeping his voice low so as not to wake their sleeping friend. 'I got away as soon as I could.' Turan turned on a small night-light with thought, and wore a grave expression as he took up Tory's hands. 'I have some news for you that may be rather shocking, I'm afraid.'

'What is it?' Tory couldn't imagine; she'd only been here a few hours. Surely she hadn't caused any major catastrophes yet.

'Let's sit down.' The Shar led her to the lounge opposite where Ray slept, and unable to think of any subtle way of telling her what he must, Turan decided to just come out with it. 'Lamamu, your husband was murdered.'

'How do you know?' Tory felt frantic. This was the last thing she expected. 'Why would anyone want to kill Miles?'

'Calm yourself.' Turan placed a hand over her heart, whereby Tory's anxiety subsided. 'I shall tell you all, if given the chance.'

The Shar confessed that since Tory's departure from Atlantis, he'd spent much time in contact with his future selves - Miles and Maelgwn in particular.

Through them he could spend time with her.

'I don't understand.' She was deeply touched and her voice wavered as a result. 'Taliesin said that you'd asked him to wipe all intimate memory of me from your mind.'

Turan gave a vague smile. 'I couldn't part with the fondest memories I have ...'

His emotions choked him a moment, and tears built in Tory's eyes, recognising the selflessness of his act.

'It just made the situation easier all round if you believed thus.'

He spoke the truth. It had.

'In any case ...' Turan shrugged off the past to get back to the present, 'I spent this afternoon in the E-abzu Temple inside a meditation chamber. I joined with your second husband to observe the events just prior to his death.'

'It was Doc Alexander.' Tory guessed the killer's identity. 'But why?'

'Because he mistook your husband for Maelgwn.

When the professor died under the pressure of a mind-induced heart attack, your foe figured he had the wrong incarnation.'

'Doc Alexander killed Miles by the power of suggestion. Is that what you're saying?'

Turan nodded.

'He must be of my line,' Tory decided with a heavy heart. 'But then how would he know Maelgwn? Rhun's son was not even born at the time of Maelgwn's departure.'

'Perhaps an enemy of Maelgwn's reincarnated into your descendancy?'

'Caradoc.' Tory's eyes narrowed. Noah had also suggested this connection. Maelgwn's treacherous brother was the same soulmind as Turan's twin brother here in Atlantis. 'Shar Alaric must under no circumstances find out that I am here.'

Turan shook his head. 'This man was not my brother.

Even if he'd incarnated I would still recognise him.'

'But what if he was disguising himself, as you suggested earlier?' Tory appealed.

'I think you might be right about Doc manipulating the minds of others.' Ray's voice came out of the darkness, as he propped himself up on his elbows. 'A lot of people radically changed their beliefs after coming into contact with him, me included.'

'And this man is friendly with nearly every political figurehead in the modern world.' Tory thought this was a bit of a worry. 'Well, I can see we shall have to do some serious research into Mr Alexander upon our return.' She knew hatred to be a complete waste of energy, but it was very hard not to despise this man for what he'd done.

'Good luck,' Ray scoffed. 'His personal files will be under tight lock and key.'

'Why Mr Murdock, I thought you said you were good with locks.'

'I just design and build systems,' Ray advised her. 'To acquire that kind of information you need a code breaker. A hacker, I ain't.'

'Then the universe shall have to provide us with one.' She looked to the heavens, hoping they were taking note.

In a little under a week, Turan had modified a hover-system and cloaking device to fit the Goddess and her reconnaissance subs, and arranged for the special parts to be made. These new systems would give their craft flight capabilities of up to a mile above ground or sea level, and render them invisible. Since the cloaking device absorbed all sonic, ultrasonic and electromagnetic waves, their craft could not detected by sonar or radar.

Ray adapted these new optional extras so they could be integrated and partly powered from the Goddess'

existing energy supply. Now he didn't feel as intellectually retarded as he had first imagined. Turan created a crystal generator to give the additional energy required to power the vehicles. This energy source was similar to the one installed in the chariot and, of course, in the everyday hovercraft employed in Atlantis - except this generator was powered by your average double-terminated quartz wand. Using the crystal generator meant that Ray could design a system to track the craft via its unique energy emission. This energy emission was something their foe would never track, not without sound knowledge of the type of power source.

One thing was certain though, these modifications would not happen overnight; there was a couple of years work in the re-routing of the circuitry alone, let alone the installation time.

This came as no surprise to Tory. All she had to do was to decide where they were going to hide out for such a long time span. Turan had arranged an audience with the new High Priestess and Nin Sybil for the morrow, though he hadn't stated his reasons for the meeting to the two women. If they consented to aid her, Tory planned to have all the parts and equipment sent to her father's secret cavern at Dinas Emrys until such time as she had sought out a safe haven where Ray could carry out the operation.

At the appointed hour, Tory manifested in the room that adjoined the High Priestess' council chambers underneath the great temple of Chailidocean. She had arranged to met Turan in this place. Her sudden appearance startled Nin Sybil, who was also awaiting the Shar.

Lamamu? Sybil was thrilled once she'd recognised the intruder. Surely I am dreaming.

'No.' Tory took hold of Sybil's outstretched hands, noting she no longer wore a veil. 'It is I, seeking the High Council's aid yet again.'

Well, of course they shall assist in any way they can.

We are all much indebted to you for our lives.

Tory laughed at this. 'Not if you consider that I was the reason your lives were under threat in the first place.'

Sybil shook her head at how modest Lamamu was.

But, thanks to you, our nation and the Antillians are at peace. I feel quite sure that the Council will take this into account.

When Turan made an appearance, Nin Sybil entered the High Priestess' chamber to familiarise the Priestess with the situation before the meeting commenced.

'I know I haven't had much time to spend with you this trip.' Turan made conversation whilst he and Tory waited. 'But I shall miss you when you leave.'

Due to the recent loss of her husband, Turan had kept his distance, knowing that Tory still mourned Miles. Tory, on the other hand, didn't feel it fair to start something she couldn't possibly finish.

'Oh Turan, I am so sorry.' She wanted to confess how badly she felt about the way things never seemed to work out between them, but the Shar wouldn't hear a word of it.

'I understand. Believe me, I do. I've seen what you and I have been up against at various stages of the Earth's history, and I also realise we have the whole of eternity to be together.' Then he smiled. 'Maelgwn is coming for you.'

'What do you know of it?' Tory became most curious.

But Turan clammed up as Sybil opened the door of the council chamber and invited them both to enter.

8.

INCONCEIVABLE.

The round chamber was dimly lit. The decor, in dusty shades of red, brown, green and blue, gave the large, regal room a rustic quality. In the middle of the chamber the High Priestess sat calmly in her large throne-like chair, which was carved out of timber and lined with fur. Within seconds of setting her eyes upon Tory and Turan, the holy woman's hands were clutching at the ends of her armrests.

What kind of mockery is this? The veiled face of the Priestess gave nothing away.

Forgive me, your reverence. Sybil was stunned by her reaction. But I do not understand.

Please, leave us. Temperance instructed Sybil. If you, too, would be so kind, my Shar.

Of course. Turan bowed, gripping Tory's hand briefly in encouragement as he followed Nin Sybil from the room.

Once the door was closed, the Priestess looked back to Tory and observed her for a moment in silence. So, you are the one. The Goddess of love and war, time and space ... the famous Lamamu.

'Yes, highness.' Tory humbled herself, for the holy woman had a very peculiar edge to her tone. 'I am sorry if I have offended you in some way.'

Not offended so much as startled, she clarified, holding a clenched fist to her heart.

'Is your holiness feeling alright?' Tory took a step closer. It was hard to know what to do with that damn veil hiding the woman's facial expression.

Temperance held out a hand to stop Tory in her tracks. I have been a student of the High Order of Heliona since birth, and in all my four hundred years in this world, I have observed the sacred ways of my order.

'Yes Nin.' Tory frowned. Why was she telling her this?

In all that time - the Priestess stood up - no one, not even my parents or peers, have glimpsed the face behind this veil.

Oh no, here we go again ... Tory kept the thought to herself, for this had been the story of Nin Sybil's life before they'd met.

The High Priestess lifted her veil and Tory backed up in fear and astonishment.

'You're me!'

Although she had once had a visit from her future self, Tory had never before met with a past incarnation - not a live one in any case.

The Priestess nodded. And you are the woman Shar Turan has been pining for this year past. Temperance plonked herself back into her seat, exasperated by the realisation. I was offered the option to marry before I decided upon whether or not to take up this position. When the one man I desired held no interest in marriage, my fate was decided for me.

'Turan.' Tory swallowed, realising what she'd done.

'Didn't you show him who you were?'

How? Temperance scowled. He would not even meet to discuss the matter, for his heart was lost to another.

'But that was me ... you!' Tory cried.

Was I to know that? She turned her rueful stare from Tory to the floor, and bowed her head to let her anguish pass.

'It's not too late ...' Tory appealed, her heart going out to her.

It is! Temperance curbed her remorse as she recalled her position. I wasn't forced to assume this appointment, I chose it freely ... and I will stand by my decision.

'Great!' Tory threw her arms in the air, it was just like her to be so damned righteous. 'So both you and Turan will live a long life of loneliness and misery, because you can't admit you might have made a mistake.'

I made a mistake! Temperance was on her feet, outraged. I am not the one who has been playing havoc with the time continuum. How dare you presume to defy the Gods!

'Look, I am only following the orders they give me. I am not afraid to follow my heart, and by doing so I serve and honour the will of the universe. And, I might add,'

Tory placed hands on hips, 'if you didn't insist on wearing those stupid veils all your lives, Turan would have fallen for you centuries before I even got here.'

You don't know that. Temperance hated to think Tory might be right.

'Are you kidding me?' Tory emphasised her point, motioning to herself. 'You're talking about the man we have loved from one end of eternity to the other.'

The holy woman was bemused, excited and maddened all at once.

'There is no way I'm not going to tell him,' Tory informed Temperance, bluntly.

The Priestess was alarmed, then stood tall to look down upon her tiny double. If you do, I shall withdraw my council's aid to your cause.

'Goddamn it.' Tory wanted to punch something.

'You're making a huge mistake! Doesn't the very nature of your name tell you that!'

Temperance looked on, unconcerned. Do we have a deal?

Tory tamed her frustration, trying to figure the best way to get around herself. 'You have no idea what you're giving up.'

Vow to me your confidence, or find another to aid you.

The priestess resumed her seat, appearing very confident of getting her own way.

'Alright then,' Tory was fuming again. 'Die a bitter old woman. See if I care.'

Thank you. I trust your word is as good as my own.

She waited for Tory's answer.

'I shall not tell him.' Tory confirmed their arrangement.

Then you may go. Temperance lowered her veil. You can count on the support of the High Council of Chailidocean.

Tory gave a slight bow, turned, and stormed from the room.