'Besides the usual war and political tension, is there anything out of the ordinary going on in the Middle East at present?'

Floyd appeared somewhat aghast at the question, but was not given the chance to answer.

'Are you shitting me!' Noah's head popped up from behind his portable computer, which he'd set up on one of the many benches in the dining quarters. 'Haven't you been watching the news?'

Tory swung round in her seat to view him. 'Noah.

Between training, study and test driving Merlin, when do I get the time to watch the news? That's what you're here for.'

Noah was gratified. He liked the suggestion that in some small way Tory relied on him. 'A Middle Eastern terrorist group who, reports say, are religiously motivated, claim to have a nuclear warhead aimed at New Mexico.'

'The host station for the grid,' Tory remembered, thinking back to her dreams. 'I seem to recall a huge explosion, but ...' she bit down on her lip, perplexed.

'But what?' Noah pressed.

'Never mind.' Tory decided it was irrelevant. 'What action have the Americans taken?'

'None,' Noah said wryly. 'They're still procrastinating.'

'Well, that's not exactly the whole truth,' Floyd intervened. 'When I heard the host station was under threat, I procured for myself a copy of Doc's schedule for this coming week.'

'I was under the impression you couldn't do that,'

Tory told him, 'as Doc's PC is not connected to the ICA's main-frame computer.'

'But his secretary's is,' Ray deduced, knowing the setup.

'Quite correct,' Floyd confirmed. 'And as Doc is, as we speak, on a charter flight to Baghdad, I'd say the US are sending him in to negotiate, wouldn't you?'

'Well, the fusion grid is his monster, I suppose,' Tory mused aloud. 'But what of these terrorists? What name are they going by? Who is their leader?'

Noah shrugged, as far the media was concerned, this had remained a mystery.

Floyd startled everyone by casually stating: 'They're calling themselves the Unken, and name their leader as one, Lugal-Shamash.'

Noah began madly typing the references into his computer, concluding his labours with a grunt.

'Interesting. Unken is an old Babylonian term meaning 'council of elders' or 'circle of people'. The 'Lugal', or 'great man', was the head of this council. And the name Shamash you already know the history of.'

'Inanna's twin brother.' Tory enlightened everyone, as she pondered the rest of the information. 'Babylon ...

wasn't that where the Tower of Babel was supposedly built?'

Noah nodded in response, punching up the relevant references on his computer. 'Then the god of gods descended out of the heavens to view the city and the tower that mankind were building, and he said, This is just the beginning of their undertakings; from now on, nothing they scheme to do shall be impossible for them.

Come, let us go down and confuse their language. If they cannot understand each other, then work on the tower will cease. Then the Lord scattered mankind across the face of the Earth.'

'That's right.' Teo recalled his time spent, under sufferance, at Sunday school. 'Humans were attempting to build a tower that reached to the heavens. Quite frankly, I always thought the story to be complete bullshit.'

'Indeed.' Noah seemed to share his opinion.

'Ancient texts claim they were building a rocket launcher under the guidance of one Lord Marduk.'

' Mankind has come full circle from the Tower of Babel.'

Tory uttered her thought aloud.

'I suppose so,' Noah agreed. 'If one considers the level of communication we have sustained via technology, and mankind's advancement into space.'

'No.' Tory corrected his misconception. 'That is not an observation, but rather a message that came through in my dream.'

Brian, who was finishing up his coffee, shrugged.

'Hey guys, I really don't think that events that took place in the Middle East five thousand years ago have anything to do with us.'

'Yes they do!' Both Tory and Noah insisted at once, but it was Tory who pursued the argument.

'It has everything to do with us,' Tory stated, knowing Marduk was their grandfather. Perhaps it had been he who sent the dream.

'Alright. Settle down.' Brian held up both hands in truce, surprised by the conviction behind her words.

'I tell you what.' Floyd grinned. 'I'd sure like to be a fly on the wall at that meeting in Baghdad tonight.'

'Yeah!' Noah stood, rubbing his hands together, to second the motion.

'Let's do it,' Teo encouraged them, eager to see some action.

The others were enthusiastic also, but not Ray.

' Now hold on. With all that's going on in the Middle East, you want to take the Goddess there? Have you all taken leave of your senses! We could cause a major international incident.'

'And we could also prevent one.' Tory voiced her feelings.

Brian smiled, delighted by the opportunity to settle a few scores with Doc Alexander. 'Well, boys and girls, it looks like we got ourselves a mission.'

Time did not allow for a detailed strategy to be formed, and Ray got his wish. They all decided the Goddess was too large and cumbersome to make it to the Middle East in such a short span of time. Although Tory was reminded that Rhun could psychokinetically transport any vehicle to the said location, the task would drain him, and she thought it best to have him fully functional.

Thus, it was decided that Rhiannon and Rhun would transport themselves psychokinetically to Baghdad to keep an eye on Doc's movements. Meanwhile, Tory and Brian would pilot Merlin I and II overland to rendezvous with Rhiannon and Rhun at approximately the same time as the meeting between Doc and the Unken was scheduled to take place. Even though Floyd had a copy of Doc Alexander's itinerary, the details concerning the meeting place for the negotiations had been conveniently left out. The best they could do was wait at the hotel, and trail Doc's party from there.

The four members of their crew going on the mission wore basic combat fatigues simply because army wear had proven to be the most durable and practical form of dress for such occasions. Tory, Brian, Rhun and Rhiannon could make their uniform outwardly appear to be that of any army. They didn't expect to have any trouble blending in. Even their distinctly different racial features could be camouflaged.

The rooftop of the building across the road from Doc's accommodation was where Rhun and Rhiannon would take up position. Should the diplomat manage to elude their ground surveillance team, Tory and Brian could seek out the ICA party from the air in Merlin I and II - provided, of course, they could make Baghdad before the entire event was over.

Tory made quickly for her transport and was alarmed to find Teo, suited up and awaiting her, alongside Merlin I.

'No, Teo,' she stated, firmly. 'Immortals only. It's too dangerous.'

'Look ...' He followed her to the ladder that led up to the hatch. 'If you guys are only allowed to transmit in an emergency situation, I'm serving no purpose here. I'll go nuts!'

'Teo.' She turned back to him, one hand gripping the stair rail ready to hoist herself up. 'I'll not risk losing you on a routine surveillance mission.'

'Oh, come on. Our mission objectives are not going to get any easier from here.' He took a step backward, sounding slightly offended. 'Am I then to assume that my services in this regard are redundant?

Tory, I'm the best fucking fighter you've got! I realise I do not possess your talents, but it's not like I won't blend in anyway.'

This was quite true, for although his darker skin colour was tinged red, he was also rather tanned at present. His ebony hair and eyes would pretty much guarantee he'd pass unnoticed where they were bound.

'Or perhaps you think I'm getting too old for this sort of thing?' he posed, wryly, folding his arms.

He stunned Tory with the question. Even at fifty years of age, Teo still appeared, and was, a man in his prime. 'Heavens no, that's not it at all.'

'Then let me come.' He gripped hold of her shoulders in exasperation, yet she was still reluctant to agree. 'Tory, you can't keep me sheltered here forever, sooner or later I am going to die.'

Tory's eyes darted up to meet his. All her closest kin were immortal like herself. Teo was the only one she stood to lose. Perhaps she was being overprotective of him, and, in all reality, she had no right to be.

'I refuse to go quietly in my sleep, Tory. That's not my style, and you know it.'

She hung her head. Her gut instinct was to forbid him to come, but it was not her decision to make.

'Alright,' she conceded, before gripping hold of his vest.

'But you stay within an arm's length of one of us at all times, understood?'

Teo placed both arms around her, and announced with a grin, 'Perfectly. But just in case something should go wrong.'

The kiss took Tory completely by surprise. It had been so long since she'd been close to a man that she found the experience somewhat arousing. Though it had been some forty-seven years, by Tory's reckoning, since she and Teo had been on intimate terms, his kiss was immediately familiar. And, though Tory struggled to deny it, welcome as well.

'Damn it,' he said softly as they parted. 'I really pick my moments, don't I?'

'You sure do.' Her voice was hoarse with shock and bewilderment. That old spark was still there, and it had only taken that brief caress to ignite it into full flame.

Tory turned back to the ladder to resume her course, conjuring an image of Maelgwn when last seen which helped to quell the burning sensation in her chest and stomach.

'Hey, sunshine.' Teo stopped her again. 'I know this is not the time or the place to go into this, but -'

'Exactly. So let's focus on the task at hand. Coming?'

She bounded up the ladder before he could reply.

A hot gust of wind hit Doc the second he stepped out of the private jet and onto the tarmac at Baghdad airport.

His discomfort was only momentary, however, as the diplomat climbed straight into a limousine that whisked him away to his hotel.

Twenty years ago this would have been unheard of.

Then, even a diplomat of Doc Alexander's status would have been grilled by Iraqi security for hours before entering the city, and would have been observed closely for the entire duration of his visit. The Middle East had known relative peace in the last ten years, however, and their new President was well disposed towards Doc for lending ICA assistance to rebuild his shattered nation.

Doc had also organised United Nations support for Iraq and her neighbours during an extremely bad drought that had yet to break.

Baghdad was no longer the exotic ancient city that the name had once conjured to mind. During the strife of the late twentieth century, when the city was under the rulership of Saddam Hussein, many of the great buildings had been periodically levelled by invaders.

But, through the combined efforts of the Iraqi government and the ICA, a large slice of Baghdad had since been rebuilt. Towering hotels and modern housing blocks now accommodated the international community that was trading with Iraq.

As this was an unofficial visit, accommodation for Doc Alexander's party had been arranged at a hotel on the outskirts of the city, though it was still luxurious.

Doc and his associates had personally overseen the rebuilding of this hotel.

Shortly after their arrival, Doc summoned his team to the hotel's conference room to finalise the agenda for the rest of the day. The meeting had barely commenced when Doc brought the proceedings to an abrupt halt.

He spoke the word - his secret word - that served as a trigger to send his entire staff into a trance state.

Motionless, and unaware of the psychological manipulation taking place, all present awaited his instruction.

'As far as you will all recall,' Doc began, getting more comfortable in his chair, 'the negotiations scheduled to take place this afternoon, were, at the last minute, cancelled. After reviewing the situation and exhausting all possible channels to re-establish contact with the Unken, we were forced to concede that my hope for a peaceful solution to this crisis was unrealistic.

Tomorrow I will report to President Langford and convey these views. Until then,' Doc stood to take his leave, 'you will stay here and keep busy. My absence shall not be noted, for I never left the room.'

As the door clicked closed behind Doc, all the chatter and commotion of the meeting resumed.

'They're at the hotel.' Rhun materialised on the Goddess' control deck to report.

'Right on schedule,' Floyd grinned, impressed. 'The meeting isn't due to take place for a few hours yet, so you and Rhiannon stay put. Let us know if Doc makes a move before your air support arrives.'

'We picked up the hire car.' Rhun informed the base personnel. 'It's there, waiting, if we need it.'

'Well, with any luck, you won't.' Floyd threw a curious glance toward Jenny and Nick behind the crystal-emission tracking system, where they were following the progress of the two smaller craft.

'They're less than an hour away.' Jenny took an educated guess.

'No worries.' Rhun was closing his eyes to return to the stake-out, when Ray grabbed hold of his wrist.

'Careful, Murdock,' Rhun broke from his concentration to advise, 'you nearly found yourself in Baghdad. What's up?'

'You take care of her.' The way Ray said this made it sound more like a warning than a request.

'Ray, you know as well as I do, no permanent harm can befall Rhiannon.' Rhun reclaimed possession of his arm.

'You don't know Doc Alexander like I do. He has ways and means around everything.'

'So do we,' Rhun stated in a cocky fashion. 'That's why the Agency haven't caught us out yet, and never will.' He closed his eyes and faded from view.

'Be warned,' Ray yelled after him, 'you arrogant little ...'

By the time Rhun arrived back on the rooftop in Baghdad, the hot afternoon breeze had noticeably dropped in temperature - it was only about one hundred degrees now. Rhiannon was still poised behind her binoculars focused on the building across the road.

Rhun shook his head at the sight of her, bent over so as to rest both her elbows on the wall and support the weighty glasses. Rhiannon might have been his sister, but that didn't detract from the fact that she had a great backside. 'What's cookin', good lookin'?'

'Fortunately, not a thing.' She didn't budge. 'How much longer will Mother be?'