Take my hand, I've changed my mind again,
Really, I believed it true
That all who fell in love were foolish.
But I was wrong, I learned that lesson well,
All the way back home at midnight 
You were sleeping on my shoulder...


To free in me, the trust I never dared,
I always thought the risk too great,
But suddenly I don't hesitate,
So take my hand, 
Don't think of complications
Now, right now,
Your love is liberation.
	--the Pet Shop Boys



CHAPTER 6:  LIBERATION


	"Doctor, let me ask you a question..."
	"Goodness, I just noticed something."
	"What?"
	"You don't call me 'Professor' anymore."
	"Hm.  So I don't.  Maybe I always called you that before because somewhere in the back of
 my head I was saving 'Doctor' for when we were closer."
	"Well, it's a theory.  You were going to ask me something?"
	"It's about Angel."
	"Ah."  Ace and the Doctor were walking arm in arm in the Gardens.  The Domain, unlike 
the Stronghold, was a large and diverse realm.  It was set up like a town, with squares and 
streets and buildings, the largest of which was Guardian HQ, a huge complex with many wings 
and sections.  Surrounding HQ were the Gardens, beautiful, seemingly endless lush beds of 
flowers and lawns with paths and water and small structures.  Quite idyllic.  She'd finally 
drug him out here for a walk after she'd returned from lunch with Miryam to find him still 
poring over old dusty books.  "What was it that you wanted to discuss with him the other day 
when I went to Banner's lab?"
	"I just wanted him to know I was on to him."
	"Very good.  I knew you weren't buying it."
	"So you noticed too?  He was there all along at the Stronghold but he waited!"
	"He must have had reasons.  Surely you don't think he's working against Theo?"
	"No, actually, I don't.  It's just...weird."
	They came to a wide lawn next to a picturesque pond with a fountain.  The Doctor sat down
 leaning up against a tree as Ace wandered down to the water's edge.  "Man, it's beautiful here.  
Makes you almost want to stay."  She strolled back up the gentle slope to stretch out in the 
shade at his side.  He looked down at her, arms folded behind her head and eyes shut, enjoying 
the soothing sounds of nature that surrounded them.  He felt an unfamiliar but not unpleasant 
tightness in his chest as he once again surprised himself with the realization of just how much 
he loved her, and how good it felt to admit it and let himself feel it.  This was a peaceful place, 
and a good place for both of them.  For the first time in his long life he felt the instinct to 
hibernate, to just hole up here with her, to hide from the universe in this protected paradise...
but he knew that neither of them would be content with that for very long.  He looked out across
 the gardens.  Guardians walked here and there, some purposefully, some leisurely, and all of 
them secure in their safety here in the Domain.  He felt a twinge of guilt, for this place had been
 breached ever so slightly...by him.  He bore within his mind the presence of the enemy, like a 
time bomb that could go off any second...or perhaps never.
	He looked back down at Ace.  Her breath rose and fell with regularity.  He felt another
 twinge of guilt...this one at his words to her the day before.  He was having trouble reconciling 
the anger he'd felt and the harsh words he'd spoken with his own perception of himself and his 
responses.  It was becoming rapidly clear that he'd have to get used to feeling things differently 
if he wanted his new relationship with Ace to succeed...and he wanted it to succeed very badly.
	"Ace?" he said tentatively.
	"Hmmm?" she said, sounding like she was on the verge of dozing off.
	"I..."  He trailed off uncertainly, trying to cover by clearing his throat.  Ace opened her
eyes and turned her head to look at him, her brow creased slightly.
	"Doctor, what is it?"
	"I'm...I'm so sorry for what I said to you yesterday."  She sat up and crossed her legs, 
not looking at him.  "I can't believe I could have said those things to you."
	She shrugged.  "We both said some things we didn't mean."
	"That's no excuse.  I swung a couple of really low blows."
	"So did I.  We were both upset...and we're neither of us used to that kind of conflict."  She
 smiled at him.  "But we'd better *get* used to it, I suppose."
	"What?  Ace, I don't plan to..."
	"No one plans to, but all couples fight, Doctor.  It's normal...in fact it's unhealthy not to.  
If you never fight, it usually means that someone's burying their own selves for the sake of 
peace.  That's bad."
	He looked at her, amazed.  "You sound like quite an expert."
	"It's just common sense," she said, flushing.  She scooted over in front of him and leaned
 back against his chest.  He slipped his arms around her waist comfortably.  "Anyway it's sort
 of cathartic."
	"Well, healthy or not, I'd just as soon avoid it.  After you left, those were the longest few
 hours of my life...and that includes the ten years I spent alone in the TARDIS dying of radiation
 poisoning."
	"Um, I think I'm flattered."
	He thought for a moment.  "And I didn't mean what I said about committment."
	"Glad to hear it...but you're not going to ask me to marry you or anything, are you?"
	He frowned.  "Um...I wasn't planning to at this moment."
	"Good.  Just make sure you don't."
	He sighed.  "Now I'm really confused."
	"I just think it's all bogus.  Who says you have to have some stupid ceremony to have a committment?"
	"This is a bit premature, I think."
	"Agreed," she said quickly, seeming eager to drop the subject.  She disengaged herself and 
turned to face him, her face excited.  "I'd rather talk about Angel."
	"Uh-oh, someone smells a mystery," he teased.
	"Come on, I want to know what's up with him."
	"I never thought I'd say this, but I think we should leave well enough alone."
	Ace peered at him closely.  "You know, you *look* like the Doctor..."
	He wrinkled his nose at her.  "I'm serious.  I share your curiosity, but I'm also sure that 
even if Angel is more than he appears to be, his dedication to his job and to Theo is genuine.  
I'm not sure if it would be wise to go poking around someone so powerful."
	"Especially with Theo gone," she finished for him.  He nodded.  They sat in silence for a 
few moments.
	"I miss my TARDIS," he finally said gloomily.  She looked up at him and it was all she could
 do not to laugh at his hangdog expression.  "What's so funny?"
	"Look at you," she said.  "Could you be any more adorable?  No one does that sad, 
long-faced, dejected expression better than you do.  It just makes me want to wrap you up 
in a blanket and give you a bowl of soup or something."
	"I don't need a bowl of soup, I need my TARDIS." He fetched a deep sigh.  "If I had my 
TARDIS we could go searching for Theo ourselves."
	"I hate to admit it, but Angel was right about that.  We couldn't do any good, and it's 
even dangerous."
	"I know, but anything would be better than just sitting here doing nothing."
	"Well, at least it's a pleasant place to sit and do nothing."
	"I suppose so."  He stood up and examined some of the nearby flowers.  "Also I feel like 
I want to take you somewhere."
	She grinned.  "Where?"
	"I don't know...somewhere you've never been, somewhere romantic."
	"Ooh, like Paris?  True, I've been there, but it's terribly romantic."
	"No, no.  That's overdone...and Paris has some unpleasant associations for me."
	"How about Glenys Sete?  You always said it was so beautiful there."
	A strange look passed across his face.  "I haven't been there in several hundred years," 
he said.  "But I don't think so.  Based upon recent experience I don't think you and I would have 
need of a place like Glenys Sete." 
	Ace didn't quite understand that remark but let it slide over her head.  "Okay...where then?"
	He opened his mouth to answer her when they were both startled by an anguished scream. 
 Ace clapped her hands over her ears, but it didn't help...the sound was heard both by their ears
 and by their minds.  The Doctor grabbed her hand and hauled her to her feet as the scream 
tapered off.
	"Come on, it's coming from HQ!"  They ran towards the building.  Everywhere they 
looked Guardians were standing motionless, listening.


	By the time they reached HQ they expected the place to be overrun by Guardians wondering
 what was going on, but the place looked normal.  Ace looked around, puzzled, as they hurried 
down the hall to the Rotunda.
	"We keep forgetting they're all mutually telepathic," the Doctor said.  "They already know
 what's going on."
	The doors to Theo's office were standing wide open.  Ace and the Doctor hurried inside to 
find Angel bending over someone on the floor.  As they drew near, he looked up at them, his 
face grim.  Ace gasped...a human Guardian in Legion uniform lay on the floor, unmoving.  Miryam
 was kneeling at his head, cradling his upper body in her arms, sobbing.  It had apparently been
 she who screamed.  Ace crouched by the strange man's side as the Doctor moved to stand by Angel.
	"Constantine?" he asked quietly.  Angel nodded, not taking his eyes off the wounded spy. 
 "What happened?"
	Angel sighed and turned to him.  "Miryam and I were in a meeting when a Legion soldier 
appeared in the middle of the room, carrying Constantine's body.  He just dumped it and vanished."
	"This is bad," the Doctor commented unnecessarily.
	"It's a warning," Ace said.  The Doctor was surprised at her tone.  Her casual speaking 
voice, despite her age, still sounded rather girlish and lighthearted...but she had seen and 
experienced much in her life, and this was the mature, knowledgeable voice of a woman who 
had been a professional mercenary and a warrior.  She went on, "They're trying to get us to 
give up searching for Theo.  This is a message to tell us that if they can find him, they can find
 anyone, including her."
	"Will he be all right?" asked the Doctor.
	Angel's face was pale.  "His injuries are very severe," he said.
	"He can't die, he's immortal!" Ace exclaimed.
	The Doctor shook his head.  "That only means his life will never end naturally, of old age. 
He can still be...killed."
	Miryam looked up sharply.  "He's not going to die!" she hissed.  Ace drew back a little.  She 
looked up at Angel, who fixed her with a steady gaze.
	 he said into her mind.  She
 nodded, understanding.
	"We should call the doctors," Ace said, looking from Angel to the Doctor.  They both had sad
 looks on their faces.
	"No need," came a new voice from behind them.  Ace turned to see a man standing by Theo's
 desk who hadn't been there when they entered.  He was about 30 and extremely average.  
Average height, average build, average brown hair, average everything.  He wore clothing that
 would look more at home on a middle-class suburbanite...Dockers and a polo shirt, with a sweater
 tied around his neck.  He wore wire-rimmed glasses...and he had a definite air of power about him.
	"Get out of here, Daniel!  He doesn't need you!" Miryam cried, pulling Constantine's body 
closer to her chest.  The man she'd called Daniel walked slowly forward.  He moved with deliberate
 grace and Ace got a sense of infinite age from him.  He hunkered down between Miryam and Ace.  
	"Miryam, he needs my guidance now.  I've come to help him."
	"No, he's not ready!  He's too strong for you!"  Ace's eyes widened as she had a sudden 
thought about who exactly it might be crouching next to her.  Daniel turned to look at her...his 
eyes were so compelling, she couldn't look away.  He wasn't trying to influence her, he was just
 looking to her for help.  She glanced up at Angel, whose face confirmed her suspicions.  He 
nodded slightly at her.  Ace stood and moved over behind Miryam.  She put her hands on the 
Guardian's shaking shoulders and started gently moving her backwards towards her.
	"It's all right, Miryam.  You've got to let him go."
	"No, no, no...it's not fair," she sobbed.
	"I know it's not fair, it's terrible, and I know exactly how you feel."  She leaned forward 
and hugged Miryam from behind, pressing her smooth cheek against Miryam's furry one.  She 
began rocking her gently.  "It feels like someone's got your heart in a vise and they're making 
it tighter and tighter, and you think that if you don't let go of him, he'll always be there, and 
he'll never die.  But he'll still always be there, Miryam, as long as you remember him.  You
 will remember him, won't you?"
	Miryam nodded.  Her sobs were quieting and her vise grip on Constantine was loosening.  
Angel and the Doctor were both staring at Ace as she continued on, a single sympathetic tear 
slipping down her own cheek.  "Death doesn't mean that he's gone.  Death just mean that he 
only exists in our hearts."  She fell silent, rocking Miryam, who had almost stopped crying.  
Ace slowly reached down and gently grasped Miryam's wrists, drawing her arms up and away
 from Constantine's body.  Miryam let her do it.  Daniel nodded a brief thanks at Ace and leaned 
forward, placing his hand on Constantine's shoulder.
	"Constantine?" he said gently.  His eyes opened, incredibly.  
	"Daniel?" he whispered.  Miryam let out a rattling sigh at hearing his voice, and Ace held 
her more tightly.  "Is it time?"
	"It's time to come with me.  Miryam and Angel are here with you."
	Constantine rolled his eyes upward to look at them.  "Miryam?"
	"I'm here, Con," she said shakily.
	"I'm sorry...sorry..."
	"No, don't say that, this wasn't your fault," she managed.
	Angel squatted down next to the dying Guardian.  "You were very important to us, Constantine,
 and we'll miss you."
	Constantine smiled up at him.  "Tell Theo...tell her I tried to...to..."  He couldn't finish.  His 
head slumped over to the side before he could get the next word out.  Miryam gave a strangled cry.
	Daniel closed Constantine's eyes.  He touched Miryam's shoulder with a smile of sympathy, 
then stood.  He extended a hand over the body, which began to rise off the floor.  When it reached 
chest height, Daniel reached out and grasped it in his arms, carrying it gently.  He began walking
 away from them...and with each step he grew more and more indistinct until he had faded away 
completely.  Ace drew Miryam to her chest and held her gently.
	"Was that..." the Doctor began.
	"Yes," Angel answered.  "That was the Eternal, Death.  He's actually a very nice fellow."  
He bent and extended a hand to Miryam, which she took.  He drew her to her feet and guided her
 out of the office, one arm around her waist.  Ace remained kneeling on the floor for a moment, 
then stood, swiping one hand across her eyes.  She watched Angel and Miryam walking slowly 
through the Rotunda, her arms crossed over her stomach.  The Doctor went to her and put a 
hand on her shoulder.  After a silent moment he drew her into his arms and she hugged him 
gratefully, drawing a shaky breath.
	"Man, that was rough.  I've never seen anyone actually taken by Death before."
	"You were so wonderful with her," the Doctor said, his voice muffled by her hair.
	"Yeah, well, I've had a lot of practice...and personal experience," she said, squeezing him 
tighter.  "Just don't ever make me watch that guy take you away, okay?"
	"Only if you promise the same thing," he said, not wanting to think about it.
	She nodded, and after a few moments started shaking alarmingly.  The Doctor was beginning
 to be concerned when he realized that she was not crying, but laughing.  He drew back and peered 
into her face.  She was struggling to hold it in.
	"Help, I don't want to get the giggles at this inappropriate moment, say something really sad."
	"Um...well, what's funny?"
	"I just can't believe it..." she said, pressing a hand to her mouth.  "I just can't believe...that 
the Grim Reaper's name is Daniel!" she burst out, one guffaw escaping her mouth before she 
slammed both hands over it.  The Doctor stared at her for a moment, then his own mouth began 
to quiver and his chest began to hitch.  "No no no, don't you start," she said, attempting sternness.
  "If Angel catches us in here in hysterics he's going to definitely get the wrong idea," she said,
 hoping the threat of this happening would calm her down.  No such luck.  Pretty soon they were
 clutching at each other, trying to keep from erupting into wild brays of laughter.  Neither of 
them could breathe with the effort.  They looked like two people doing some kind of strange dance,
 both of them jumping from foot to foot and teetering on the edge of balance.  Ace was just 
starting to get control of herself when she felt the Doctor grab her arm for balance.
	"Don't fall over, you'll drag me with you," she began, but stopped as his hand suddenly
clamped down tightly.  "Hey, you're..."  She looked up at him and gasped in shock.  His face was
 frozen in a fearsome grimace, his eyes wide and unseeing.  "What's wrong?" she said urgently,
 reaching forward to grab his shoulder.  Her eyes widened...every muscle in his body was 
tensed up and rock-hard.  She winced in pain as his hand squeezed her arm tighter.  "Doctor!" 
she cried in alarm as his other hand flew to his forehead and his body began to spasm alarmingly.
  Ace tried to run out into the hall for help but he still had her arm in a deathgrip.  "Angel!  
Banner!" she screamed, hoping someone would hear her.  
	All at once he stiffened and collapsed onto the floor, his hand releasing her arm.  She fell 
on her knees next to him, her hands wanting to reach out and *do* something but she had no idea
 what.  She flipped up his eyelids; the eyeballs were rolled back into his head.  She hauled his 
shoulders onto her lap, trying to keep him from hurting himself, but it was all she could do to 
hang on to him as severe convulsions racked his body.  
	She barely noticed as the walls of Theo's office disappeared around them as they were 
transported to Banner's lab, then Banner herself was there with a few assistants.  They reached
 down and lifted him onto a worktable.  A pair of arms grasped her from behind and drew her 
back.  She resisted, wanting to be there next to the table and see what was happening.
	"Let me go, let me go," she said, struggling.
	"Ace, calm down, Banner will take care of him," said Angel's voice.  Ace twisted around 
to glare up at him.
	"What's happening?  You said he'd be all right!" she shouted.  Banner threw an annoyed 
glance at Angel, who grabbed Ace by the arm and hauled her into the little room behind the 
one-way mirror.  She fought him tooth and nail.  "Lemme go, Angel," she kept repeating, unable 
to offer any more articulate protest.
	Angel shut the door to the small gallery.  "Ace, they need it quiet in there to concentrate 
and you're not helping him by throwing tantrums," he said sternly.  Ace stared fiercely at him 
for a moment, fists clenched, then seemed to realize that her anxiety shouldn't be taken out on
 Angel.  She turned towards the window, first striking it with a fist in frustration, then leaning
 against it, palms on the glass.  She and Angel watched helplessly as the Doctor continued to 
convulse on the table, two of Banner's assistants holding him down.  Banner positioned herself 
on a stool at the head of the table and placed all four of her hands on his head, her many flexible
 blue fingers almost covering it.  She leaned over him and appeared to fall into a trance, her 
tail tracing a rythmic circular pattern on the floor.  Angel moved forward and put a hand on 
Ace's shoulder.  She seemed to be holding her breath.  Her fingers were pressing against the 
glass so hard the tips were white.  After a few moments the Doctor's convulsions died down 
and finally stopped.  Banner leaned back, her eyes shut, and one of her arms detached from 
his head and reached out to take a small instrument from one of her assistants.  She turned his
 head to the side and pressed the instrument against the base of his skull.  Ace turned towards 
Angel.
	"What's she doing?" she asked, her face worried.
	"It looks like she's modulating his brainwaves."
	"Oh God," Ace whispered.  "This is bad, isn't it?"
	"Now let's not get crazy about this before Banner tells us what's going on," Angel said.
	Ace turned back towards the window and leaned her forehead against the glass.  She spoke
 almost too quietly for Angel to hear.  "I can't lose him, Angel.  Not now."  Angel put an arm 
around her shoulders but she shrugged it away.  In the lab, Banner seemed to be finished.  She 
took her hands off his skull and gently said his name a few times.  The Doctor's eyes slowly 
opened and he sat up with the help of Banner's assistants, swinging his legs over the edge of 
the table.  Ace's shoulders slumped and she let out a huge, relieved sigh.  Banner motioned them
 into the lab.  Ace rushed in and went to him.  She stood at the side of the table, one hand 
protectively on his leg, and touched his head gently, looking into his face.  "Are you all right?"
 she asked.
	"I've been better," he said, smiling ruefully.  "But I feel surprisingly well after what I 
can only assume was a brain rebellion."
	Ace turned towards Banner.  "What happened?  You said you'd taken care of that."
	Banner nodded.  "I know...my best guess is that the Doctor's mind responded to the presence
 of the Legion that had been so recently in Theo's office.  The small Legion intrusion became more
 active, and his brain tried to compensate.  It will now be more difficult to control the outward
 signs of the trauma.  I've performed a brainwave modulation that should prevent any further 
influence by Legion presences.  However..."  She hesitated.
	"What?" Ace asked.
	"Well, being here isn't helping matters.  You need to be among nontelepathic mortals.  The 
high level of psi energy around here will only accelerate the deterioration."  They all looked at 
Angel significantly.  The deputy Guardian appeared as if he was feeling the full weight of his 
responsibilities as Theo's proxy.
	"Well, Doctor, it looks as though I should allow you access to your TARDIS after all," he 
said reluctantly.
	"Angel, I assure you that's the best course of action," the Doctor reassured him.  "Don't 
forget that the TARDIS and I are telepathically linked.  I am at my most secure when I'm inside 
it, and it can augment my mental stability."  Ace smiled at him.
	"Look we're going to get to take those trips after all," she said.  He grinned and hopped 
down from the table, hugging her with one arm.
	"When can we get the TARDIS back?" he asked.
	Angel shrugged.  "No time like the present," he said.
	Ace sobered.  "What about Constantine?  I'd like to stay for the funeral."
	"There will be no funeral.  We Guardians mourn differently than you do.  We have all 
already paid our respects to Constantine in our minds, and his body no longer exists.  Miryam 
is seeing to his inclusion in the ranks of the honored dead, and that is all there is to it."
	"I feel like there should be more," she said.  Truth was she felt more than a little guilty 
that the Doctor had been restored to health, at least temporarily, while Constantine had died.
	"It's the way we do things," Angel assured her.  Ace got the feeling that he knew exactly
 what she was thinking.  They walked back to the Rotunda.  He stopped outside Theo's office
 doors, turned towards the center of the room and stared significantly into space, his eyes 
narrowed.  A moment later, a familiar wheezing thump was heard, and the TARDIS appeared 
in the middle of the round chamber.  The Doctor grinned broadly and went to his ship, patting 
its blue side affectionately.  He looked at Ace.
	"Are you ready to go?"
	"Just a moment, I'd like to say goodbye to Miryam."
	"Of course.  Take all the time you want."  She dashed off down the corridor as Angel 
walked over to chat with the Doctor.


	Dimension came up behind Theo and looked over her shoulder as she watched the unfolding 
scenes in the Domain.
	"Is this supposed to happen?" he asked doubtfully.
	"Oh yes.  Try and relax for once, will you, Dimension?" she said, not looking away from
 the viewscreen, which was not unlike her Glass.
	"You're never wrong, are you, Theo?"
	"Not when it comes to Angel."


	She found Miryam in her office, her head in her hands.  Hesitantly, she knocked on the 
office door.
	"Miryam?  Are you all right?"
	The feline spy looked up and smiled wearily.  "Yes, Ace, come in...I'll be okay.  It was
just the shock, I think."
	"I'm so sorry about Constantine."
	"Me too.  But, he knew the risks that come with this work, and he died in the line of duty.  
That's all we can hope for."
	"The Doctor's had a...a brain episode."
	"Oh no!  Is he all right?"
	"For the moment, but Banner thinks it's best if we leave and get away from all you telepaths."
	Miryam smiled.  "That's sensible.  So you're leaving in the TARDIS, then?"
	"Yes."
	"I'll bet you're excited.  It'll give you a chance to enjoy each other for once without a bunch
 of stuffy old Guardians hovering around you."
	"Well, if I know the Doctor, and I know him very well, anywhere we go we'll end up having 
a perilous adventure.  But if I have anything to say about it, we'll at least work in some romantic
 sunsets," she said, returning Miryam's conspiratorial grin.
	"Just try not to kill each other, okay?" she said, standing.
	Ace went around the desk to hug her.  "We won't.  And I'm sure we'll be back soon."
	Miryam looked at Ace intently.  "And try not to worry.  He'll be all right, and we'll soon find
 Theo."
	"I really hope she's okay," Ace said softly, meaning it.
	"Of course she is.  Theo's too smart to let herself get destroyed by the likes of Seth.  And 
she's way too much woman for him to handle anyway," Miryam said.
	Ace laughed and started out of the office.  "Don't be a stranger," she said.  Miryam smiled 
at her as she left.
	She got halfway down the corridor when suddenly her way was blocked by Banner, whose
 huge frame had appeared out of thin air.  She approached quickly and spoke, low and intent.
	"I've got to make this quick, Ace, because I don't want Angel to know about it.  The Doctor 
may have more brain episodes while you're away, and you might not be able to get back here in time."
	"You'd better tell me how to deal with it, then," Ace said, matching Banner's urgency.
	"To deal with it, I'm going to have to let you borrow some of my mental power."
	Ace's eyebrows shot up.  "Can you do that?"
	"Not with just anyone, but you have some latent psi talent and I can magnify it, but I have to
 do it right now."
	Ace nodded, not sure what to expect.  "Go for it," she said, and no sooner were the words 
out of her mouth than Banner was upon her.  The scientist placed two of her hands on either side
 of Ace's head and lowered her own, concentrating.  It was a very strange sensation, like being 
plugged into a low-wattage power outlet.  Ace could feel the interface with her brain through 
Banner's hands, and she could feel...it was like someone was blowing up a balloon in her brain, 
as if something in there was expanding.  After a few moments Banner took her hands away.  Ace
 felt no different, but she realized that she could hear faint whisperings of the Guardians' thoughts.
  It was damn distracting.  Banner saw her discomfort.
	"You'll learn to shut out the background noise, it's not hard.  Listen carefully.  If he has 
another episode, it'll be up to you to contain it.  It's pretty easy, almost instinctual, but what 
you need to do is put your hands on his head like I just did to you, and then visualize entering 
his brain like a train going into a tunnel.  Find the Legion intrusion..."
	"How do I do that?"
	"You'll know, it's lit up like a neon sign.  When you find it, just press it back like you would 
 press dirt into a hole you're filling up.  Got it?  I don't think you'll have any trouble, the
 brainwave modulation I performed should do the trick, but I wanted you to be prepared.  The 
level of psi energy I gave you is low enough that you shouldn't notice any other effects.  Okay?"
	"Thanks, Banner," Ace said, but before she'd gotten out the name, Banner was gone.  Ace 
shook her head, scarcely believing that that had just happened.  She resumed her walk back to 
the Rotunda.  By the time she got there she'd gotten the hang of shutting out the noise and felt 
quite normal.


	"Damn it, Banner," Theo said.
	"I take it that wasn't supposed to happen," Dimension said archly.  Theo shot him a look 
that shut him up fast.
	"Let's just say it will introduce new variables."
	"Well, you know...best laid plans of mice and Guardians."


	The Doctor was waiting for her at the TARDIS doors.  She walked to Angel and shook his 
hand, giving him a speculative look.
	"Goodbye, Angel.  I still hope to hear the real story of your life someday," she said 
dryly.  Angel shook his head, chuckling.
	"Goodbye, Ace.  Take care of yourself.  And you too, Doctor," he added, shaking the Time
 Lord's hand.  "Don't try to find Theo, we'll take care of it.  Just think of it as a vacation," he 
added, his eyes twinkling.  Ace laughed.
	"Vacation?  The Doctor doesn't know the meaning of the word.  Always on call, that's the 
life of a Time Lord."
	The Doctor slapped at her shoulder, grinning, as she went past him into the TARDIS.  He 
doffed his hat to Angel and followed her.  Angel stood there until the TARDIS vanished with an 
emphysemic wheeze, then sighed and headed back into Theo's office.


	The Doctor strode triumphantly into the console room, his arms thrown wide.  "Did you 
miss me, old friend?" he asked the air.  Ace stood on the other side of the hexagonal console, 
grinning at this rapturous reunion.  His face lit up like a Christmas tree, the Doctor flitted 
around the room, touching the console, the hatstand, the walls, the viewscreen.  "Liberated!" 
he exclaimed.  "Free to go where we choose and when we choose!"  He practically skipped over
 to the console, where his hands flew over the controls.
	"Where are we going?"
	"Nowhere at the moment!  I'm setting the TARDIS for temporal orbit...hovering, in a sense."
	"So now that we have our ship back, we're going nowhere?"
	"Ace my love, sometimes when you're at your most energetic, that's when it's time to 
say 'Don't just do something, sit there!'"  He glanced at her, smiling mischievously.  "Although
...we have better options than just sitting here."
	She returned his smile, her eyebrows arching.  "What did you have in mind?"
	Without preamble, he strode over to her and picked her up bodily, eliciting a brief laugh 
of surprise.  "Are you not woman enough to know?"
	"Is this a trick question?" she said, linking her arms about his shoulders.  
	"Good answer," he said, and pulled her closer to kiss her.  He backed out of the console 
room doors and started down the corridor.
	"Can you make it to your quarters carrying me like this?" she said, the words coming 
in brief, breathy spates between kisses.
	"Never underestimate the power of adrenaline," he answered in similar fashion.  "Besides
...who said anything about quarters?  Where's your sense of adventure?"
	Their laughter echoed through the corridors of the TARDIS as it floated patiently in the
 Vortex, waiting for a destination.