Madison

Chapter Twelve

by D.X. Machina

* * *

Jake head-bobbed. "How long have I been asleep?" he asked.

"Just a few minutes," said Teri. "We figured you needed it."

"I'll be fine. I just had a dream about Katrin Goldfarb."

"The adept?" asked Scott.

"Yes," said Jake. He paused for a moment, then said, "Well, I guess I'd best finish the tale. We're almost to Madison."

* * *

It was the afternoon of Sunday, March 14, 1993. Something was going to happen, and soon.

We knew this. Liz had been specific.

We just didn't have a clue what something was.

I was grateful to Anon. He didn't have to trust me, he didn't have to take me in. He could easily have milked me for information and left me high and dry, but he didn't.

Instead, he made use of me. I had, we found, a natural facility for GTS. Not adept level, of course, but there were only five known adepts at that time and four of them were neutral. (All of them were women, too; that should have been a sign to we of the Cadre, but of course, we ignored it.) I was green, but I was willing and strong, and I had a strong motivation to succeed.

We decided to split up, to use our resources to try to find out what the plan was, and how we could stop it. I would confront Liz, while Anon would tail Ronnie. It was a dangerous gamble. Either one of us could find ourselves caught, attacked, or worse. But we had to do it.

So while Anon took up his position down the hall from Veronica Ceres' room, I walked back to campus, heading straight for Elizabeth Waters Hall.

I must've been insane.

* * *

Getting to the door of Liz' room was easy--a little misdirection here, a little transporting there. But daring to knock on the door...that was altogether different.

With trepidation, I knocked twice. A moment or two, and the door opened.

"Hello?" said Sue, looking up at me.

I had to supress a smile. Sue was barely five feet tall--gorgeous, certainly, but tiny. It felt strange to finally see her as a regular woman, instead of as a goddess.

Well...she was still pretty goddess-like.

"Um...is Liz here?" I asked, trying my best to stay cool.

"No, she's at class. Who are you?"

"Dave. Dave Machina. I'm in a study group with her, I need to leave her a message...you mind if I write her a note?"

"No, not at all. Here, her desk is over there."

I walked to the desk and grabbed a sheet of looseleaf paper, pausing just long enough to spy an open jewelry box. I fought the urge to hurl it against the wall violenly, and instead wrote:

Liz,

We need to talk. I can help you with the test you face tomorrow. You need to trust me. I have your best interests at heart. Meet me by the statue of Lincoln on Bascom Hill at 10 tonight. Don't bring Veronica or any of her friends--they're a bad influence on you. And I'm not looking for a fight. Let's agree on a truce beforehand--you leave your fight at home, I'll leave mine.

Dave Machina "Little One"

I smiled at Sue as I folded over the note. And then I left the room, my heart racing.

* * *

"I don't like it, mate. There are too many League operatives in town--I count twenty. The most we can get here by tomorrow is ten. I can't risk you going alone. I'll go with you."

"Anon," I said, trying hard not to look afraid, "I have to do this. If there's someone else with me, she's going to smell a rat. I hope to convince her, but if I can't, then I hope to find out everything I can about the plan for tomorrow."

"Well, good luck, because I got nothing," said Anon, grimly.

* * *

It was 10:10 PM. She wasn't going to show. Looks like I wasted my--

"You've grown, Little One."

I turned and smiled at her. She was radiant in the moonlight, the cold March wind whipping through her hair. She looked like someone who could command a city, or a nation, or a world.

"I eat my Wheaties," I joked. Then, "Liz, we can stop this."

"It's too late, Jake. Or are you 'David' now?"

"I don't know. And it's not too late. I've learned, Liz. I've learned so much about GTS in the last day. I've learned a new form that doesn't affect you like the scroll did. It's different mental images, a different approach. It works, Liz. You could learn it, you could have these powers and not the anger that comes with them."

"It's too late, Jake," she said, softly. "It's my destiny. My destiny to rule this city. The city is mine, Jake. I own it."

"Liz--"

"Little One, you have a chance. I know I was hard on you...so hard, so bitter. But I've changed now. I don't have the rage. Just a determination. I'm sorry, Jake, but I want you to be by my side. Veronica--she advised me against it, but I don't care. I love you. I want you to be my Prince Regent.And the voice of my better angels. You would have power, Jake. You would be my second-in-command. Together we could rule...and we could become more than lovers, or boyfriend and girlfriend. We could be together, forever. Don't you want that?"

My heart was so heavy I thought it would pull me into the ground. "I want that more than anything, Liz. But you asked me to stop you, you asked me to do it out of love. If nothing else, Liz, delay it. Wait a few days."

"No. The Cadre--a league of men bent on male domination--they have gotten wind of the plan. No, it's tomorrow, or never."

I looked at her and she at me. It seemed like I saw her across a canyon, from far, far away. I knew then that it was not my Liz that wanted to forge ahead.

I wasn't sure if she existed anymore.

"Liz, I need to think...about us. Where can I find you tomorrow?"

She smiled. "Be on Library Mall at 1:30. But don't be right by the Library. I hope to see you there, my love."

"I hope to see you," I said to my Liz.

We parted under truce; neither of us tried anything. We were both honorable.

And we were now enemies.

* * *

Anon met me in the Rathskeller, and got me up to date.

"We haven't been able to nail anything down on Ceres, but we know that a number of League bigwigs have come to town. We're moving to a new base of operations to get things set for tomorrow. Unless, of course, you convinced her to abort the plan."

"Well, I couldn't talk her out of it," I said, "but I think I know where it's going down."

I relayed my conversation to Anon. He smiled, just a bit.

"You know, D.X., you'd make a hell of a field agent. You should consider coming to work for us when this is all over with."

"I just might, Anon, I just might. So, do you need me for anything else?"

"Indeed. It's time for you to meet the Chair."

* * *

The new base of operations turned out to be a lovely, large home a few blocks from the Capitol. I didn't enquire as to how the Cadre laid hands on it; indeed, I was too awed by the situation I found myself in to think about much of anything.

There were about a dozen younger men hanging out in the great room, playing cards and chatting, while in the corner, two men were chatting amiably. One had grey hair and a fatherly manner. He sipped scotch out of a snifter, and smiled at Anon warmly. The other had thinning cinnamon-sugar hair and a pointed vandyke, and an odd, otherworldly appearance. He commanded respect, and I instantly felt a bond with him.

"D.X., I'd like to introduce you to my father, John Smith the Sixth," said Anonymous, gesturing to the grey-haired man.

"The pleasure is mine," said the elder Smith, smiling warmly and shaking my hand. "I'd like to introduce you to the Chair of our organization, Mr. Koschei."

With that, the Chair rose, and smiled at me. "Mr. Machina. Anonymous has told us of you. It is an honor to meet one who survived an encounter with a Giantess."

"It was little of my doing that saved me," I said. "She set me free."

"Indeed. But you perservered through trouble. You survived long enough to change her mind. You are the kind of man we could use around here.

"But now, to business."

* * *

For hours we discussed the possible plans for tomorrow. Scouts plotted out Library Mall, a few more footsoldiers showed up, bringing our contingent to a robust seventeen, counting me.

We slept between two and five, and were back up again, going through our drills, planning our attack. Liz could not be allowed to do damage--she had to be stopped.

I was going to be in on the attack, but not at the forefront of it. My job was to stay back with the Chair and provide tactical analysis. It made sense. I knew Liz better than anyone, and I'd be able to alert the Chair if I had an idea.

Of course, I doubted I'd be much help, but we would see.

By nine-thirty, we were at our posts in and around Library Mall. The Chair and I were stationed on the third floor of the bookstore. From there, we had a good view of the proceedings. All men were in position. We were ready.

All there was to do now was wait.

* * *

The hours drug by. Ten. Eleven. Noon. By one-fifteen, I was tense as a charley horse, and frightened as a little girl. I nearly jumped when Anon's voice came over the radio.

Anonymous, spot League forces, a pair of 'em, coming in from the East, over. The reports started coming quickly then.

Bigg here, I've got three of 'em in from the North.

Little, three Leaguers coming out of the library.

Stainless, got a wave of four coming up off of State.

And then, came the news we were waiting for.

Anon here. Four League agents. Ceres, Leah Thompson, Katrin Goldfarb, and The Coed. Repeat, I have visual of The Coed."

"All Cadre forces, this is the Chair," said Koschei, crisply. "On my mark. Three, two, one, mark."

The battle was joined.

* * *

The League wasn't expecting it; that was the only reason that we had a chance.

They had us easily outnumbered, and worse, they had an adept on their side. But they didn't know the Cadre had made them. (They knew about me, of course, but didn't consider me a threat.)

We led with transformation spells and transport spells--disorienting, confounding spells that instantly thinned the ranks of the League to more even strength. Quickly, they fell back into a defensive ring around Liz and began firing back with AR spells and shrinking spells. We expected that move, and parried nicely. If Bigg had held his position, we probably could have wiped 'em out quickly.

But Henry Bigg was always a bit of a hot-headed glory hound. He saw a chance to get to Liz, and he took it. With a war cry, he charged out of his position, with the Chair screaming at him to hold his position, and started to raise his arm in a triumphant transformation spell...

...only to find himself suddenly whisked away by Adept Katrin Goldfarb, who simply willed him into the Chi Omega house at the size of 1/4 inch.

The League counter-struck then. Katrin held back. It was now obvious that she was around to protect Liz. But it was also now obvious that the tide had turned. Stuart Little went down next, turned into...well, a mouse by Veronica Ceres. Then Stainless Clock lost his battle when he was turned into a bit of stubble on the ankle of a woman passing by.

"We're losing. And it's almost 1:30," I said to the Chair.

"I know," he said. He looked at me gravely. "You need to get down there, D.X. You need to join the battle."

I didn't hear the end of the sentence. I leapt, and was transporting myself before the thought was completed.

* * *

Even among those skilled in GTS, there is often a tactical blind spot.

Those who have been shrunk are forgotten about.

I could see this instinctively as I watched the battle, which is why I materialized behind the League's line of defense at three inches tall.

I crept along, passing a few comely women doing their best to destroy the Cadre. Carefully, I crept by Veronica Ceres, and was almost to Liz. Only a looming grandmotherly figure remained. Quickly, I grew myself and started to strike....

Suddenly, time stopped.

The elderly woman regarded me carefully, and suddenly, split the barrier in my mind as easily as one might break an egg.

This was not GTS. This was an older magic.

I felt the last five months flowing out of me, my pain and anguish and anger and fear streaming in an unbearable torrent. And then deeper, with my dad...my sister...my mother....

I tried to scream at her to stop, to please oh God make it stop I don't want to remember this I don't need to please I'll do anything I'll please oh please oh please....

And then suddenly, the scenery changed, and the memories were of Liz, kissing me down by the lake, making love to me, promising to release me. Of her freeing me, asking me to stop her. To kill her if I had to.

The old woman regarded me carefully, and after an interminable time, said simply, "You are an honorable man. You must do as you promised, Yacob."

And the world started moving again. The old woman winked at me, and then collapsed.

I had a clear path to Liz.

I took it.

The chimes struck for one-thirty.

Liz smiled at me, onrushing her. "It's too late, Little One. We're going to do it! We're going to smash the Patriarchy! No woman will ever cower at her boyfriend again! No woman will ever suffer rape again! The bullshit macho garbage that passes for society will be swept away, and finally, women will have their place at the head of the line. Hey, boys, what do you think of me now?"

"I can't let you Liz. I can't let you do this."

The League noticed that they had let me slip through. They were turning to attack me.

"Please Liz," I said, "don't make me stop you."

"You can't," she sneered. "The Liz you plead to is dead. Bow before your Goddess!"

I saw her start to raise her hand in slow motion, felt the air start to rush away from her as she started to grow. I had come to the cusp. I had to make a decision.

My heart was as heavy as an anvil, and my stomach was tied in knots. But I had no choice. Or, more to the point, I had but one.

"Shrink," I said, "1:1000 scale. And bind for ten years."

My hand had sprung up of its own volition. I threw my spell at Liz with everything I had.

The spells hit each other and bounced off each other and pushed and pulled. But it's easier to cast a shrink spell than a growth spell, and easier to maintain it agaist a counterveiling spell. I only had to wait her out. I could see her strength ebbing. One last time, I cried out to her.

"Liz! Remember, I always loved you. I always will. I'm sorry, my love. I'm so sorry."

She turned to me with a look of anger and recrimination. She seemed to be mouthing profanity at me. And then, suddenly, there was a look of clarity, and she mouthed to me, "Thank you."

And suddenly, she was gone.

With a pop, the air moved into the space she had been in. I staggered as I knew that the spell had worked; Liz was gone. She was no longer a threat.

With their champion gone, the fight went out of the League. Quickly, most abandoned their posts. One, however, kept towards me.

"You!" screamed Ronnie. "You destroyed a great moment for women! I worked with her for months, and...."

"Shut the fuck up you bitch, you killed her," I screamed, lashing out with everything I had.

Ronnie parried just in time, which is fortunate, as she would have been dead once my spell connected. I'm not even sure I remember what it was--only that it was very lethal. "Well, the little boy has some fight. The Coed was right about you. We'll settle this...later. Mr...."

"Machina," I said, "D.X. Machina."

"D.X.," she smiled, and vanished.

And with that, I collapsed on the ground, and wept.

* * *

The rest, as they say, is history. I joined the Cadre, they helped clean up my history and clear me of any wrongdoing--turns out I'd been in California interning with Disney. Michael Eisner wrote a personal letter to the Madison police department. It didn't matter. The name on the Arizona--and California--and Washington--and Florida--and Nevada drivers licenses I carried was David Xavier Machina. Jake Theissen was almost a memory to me now.

I first dreamt of Liz the very night I killed her.

"LITTLE ONE," she said to me gently, "THANK YOU."

"I killed you, Liz," I said, resting on her knee and crying.

"SILLY," she grinned at me. "LOVE NEVER DIES. BESIDES, YOU DID WHAT YOU HAD TO. WHAT I WANTED YOU TO DO. YOU DESTROYED ME TO SAVE ME. I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD'VE DONE THAT FOR YOU. I KNOW I WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO."

"I miss you already, Liz."

"OH, DON'T WORRY," she said, smiling. "I'M NOT GONE FOR GOOD. I PROMISE."

* * *

The group arrived at the Parthenon at 1:55 AM, having checked in at Inn on the Park. Veronica met them there, as did Anonymous. There was concern in the room, not least because D.X. was so quiet.

But slowly, they regained their equilibrium as they planned. And there were a few surprised--Ronnie had never realized that Katrin had betrayed the League in '93. "That evil witch," she said admiringly. "Thank God she was smarter than me."

They retired to bed, and were up again in the morning, back at Library Mall. This time, D.X., Scott, and Sarah were the frontline, and there was nobody between them and the spot Liz died.

"One thing you never mentioned," said Scott, as they waited. "What was the deal with Katrin Goldfarb? I mean, she was working with the League, right?"

"Well, the way I worked with the Cadre. She believed in balance. She was the daughter of a Jew and a Gypsy. She lived through the Holocaust and came to America with the secret of GTS. She could have had unlimited power, like you and Sarah, but she didn't want it. She believed any idea forced on people will fail. So she was leery to begin with when the League recruited her. And she openly disdained Project Rowena.

"But she did her duty, protecting Liz. When she saw me, though, she realized what Liz was capable of. She let me stop Liz because she didn't want one woman ruling the world any more than one man.

"She met with me later, when I was in Arizona trying to find myself. She taught me about GTS, and balance, and respecting this gift we've been given. And she taught me to forgive myself. I owe her much. We all do."

They were quiet, until Anon's voice came over the radios. "1:29," he said, simply.

The field of GTS energy was palpable now. It was collapsing quickly on the spot Liz died. D.X. raised his hand, and prepared a transport spell that he hoped would buy him time. He said a little prayer. This time he would have time. This time, nobody would be forcing his hand. This time he'd get it right.

The clock chimed. One-thirty.

The field collapsed. And collapsed. And collapsed. D.X. raised his hand, and for a split-second there was a flash, an outline of a fifty-foot-tall woman in blue sparkles. "Trans--"

And suddenly, it faded away.

"--port."

There was an interminable time where the only sounds were of students moving across the nearly deserted square, until D.X. said, "Um...Scott, what's our reading?"

Scott looked out serenely. "Negative. Nothing there. The field has utterly collapsed." He turned to his friend, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Jake."

D.X. wanted to cry, but a General doesn't cry in front of the troops. Instead, he calmly picked up his radio and said, "All personnel, stand down, field has collapsed, no GTS activity repeat no GTS activity."

He looked out over the mall, and sighed.

Liz was gone forever. It was done.

It was done.

End Part One