* * * EARTH – WASHINGTON DC * * *

Sally settled herself cross-legged on her comfy cushion and looked through the tiny peephole near the ceiling of the room. She grinned at Teddy who twirled his mage’s staff and smiled back. The two rat ’folk looked down at the gathering of self-important bureaucrats and federal agents as they readied themselves to listen and record.

Sally grinned to herself. Those poor things were unaware that there were new rats in town, and that they were no longer the top of the rat totem pole. She easily suppressed her desire to snigger, after all, rat ’folk were the best spies around bar none.

‘And we are rat ’folk not man-rats. We’re on Earth after all, we can’t call ourselves man anything, not if we want to blend in with these poor things...’ she thought to herself.

* * *

Down below, the heads of the FBI’s newest division gathered – rather grumpily – to attend a conference call with one of their most senior field officers. The man was in Florida and claimed he had important news for them.

Director Perez looked round the table before connecting the call. She waited for a couple of seconds before saying, “Go ahead agent Walker. What was so important that you felt it necessary for us to hold this meeting.”

At one of the local FBI offices in Florida Jeremiah Walker and Damian Hunt sat round a much more pedestrian table with the local head of office. Jerry grimaced slightly but replied politely to his superior.

“We met Ms Silvestre on Mars. She has an alien with her and can speak their language. She implied that they would do her bidding.”

Director Perez maintained her face expressionless though there were a few exclamations of surprise around the table.

“Anything else Walker?” asked Perez calmly.

“Yes Ms Perez. Apparently Ms Silvestre is throwing a party offworld. She has issued a couple of invitations. We have also found out that her father and stepmother were invited and are no longer on Earth.”

“Which probably explains where her mother and brother have disappeared to,” uttered a balding man sitting to Perez’s left.

Perez shot a quelling glare at that individual. “What are the details of that invitation? And do you think we should accept?”

“She invited agent Hunt, me and up to four others. She also invited corporal Roy Anderson, significant other and four guests. We have the corporal and his lieutenant waiting outside.”

“When is this?” snapped Perez irritably.

“Today. The invited have to report to one of the portal shops between twelve and four.”

Perez sighed internally, how was she to know that the standard delay for the sake of grandstanding would bite her in the ass like this? They had less than an hour before the deadline started. “So who do you have available down there in Florida?”

“Um, director, there’s a portal place in DC two blocks from that fancy new restaurant you like, several in the Hawaiian islands and one in Portland too.”

Perez glared at Markowitz who set his jaw and glared back. “Get to the shop with a representative of the local office at three. I’ll supply the other three invitees. Call the military guys in, I need to know what they’re planning.”

Then there were the sounds of chairs being pulled up to a table and a new voice was heard. “Good morning. My name is Lieutenant Burton James.”

“What are your plans lieutenant?”

“Admiral Forrester, his wife and aide are on their way to the DC portal shop. Commander Meadows and sergeant Perez are on their way to the shop in Maui. Corporal Anderson and his wife Gloria are just waiting for this call to end. And yes, we have cleared the extra guest with Ms Silvestre.”

Director Perez glared at the phone as she forced herself to calm down. “Do you have anything else to tell me?”

“We have men guarding all the shops we know of on US territory. There will probably be some other nations represented.”

“Thank you lieutenant,” said Perez icily as she cut the connection. “I find it annoying that the army seems to be ahead of us. Markowitz will you go?”

“Yes director.”

“Good, and find two – persuasive – individuals to go with you.”

Markowitz smiled coldly as he nodded once.

* * *

Sally watched as the humans left the room, she rubbed a communications focus. “Mycroft. You have to hear this...”

* * * EARTH – COMMANDER MEADOWS * * *

Meadows dropped the secure phone’s handset back into its cradle with a look of disgust. ‘Morons! No wonder Tod went AWOL. “He can use any of the local pools” indeed! Fresh water is a pain according to the youngsters, as for the chlorinated water! They might just as well told Tod to go take a walk in a room full of chlorine gas!’

Meadows rose to his feet and headed to the door of his office. ‘So now they’ve lost the chance to study a dungeon establishing itself. And I’ll lay odds this “party” they want me to attend with Jo is happening because they managed to spook Mary. How they expect me to lure her back from the Moon or Mars I don’t know... Especially if the idiots who seem to be getting the upper hand in Washington have tipped their hands.’

Meadows found the majority of his team in the living room watching TV. Lt Partlow muted it at Meadows signal.

“Bad news. Sergeant Harmond has vanished. I had to explain that the fact that he went for a swim and didn’t return doesn’t mean he committed suicide,” Meadows rolled his eyes. “Also, that telling him that he could use chlorinated pools during his last month or so as a sea human...” Meadows took a certain ironic satisfaction in his teams winces, “Was not a good idea.”

“So Tod is officially AWOL?” asked lt. Partlow.

“Yes, that’s so Anna,” confirmed Meadows. “Jo, pack a bag. Mary has issued an invitation for a party and reception somewhere off Earth. The powers that be want you and me to attend. Pack for three days.”

Jo looked at Meadows wide eyed. “A barbie? On the Moon? How is she planning to do that?”

“A reception does not sound like a barbie. Admiral Forrester and his wife will be attending. Dress uniform I think.”

“Yes sir,” agreed sergeant Jo Perez.

* * *

It was just after midday when Meadows and Jo, resplendent in their dress uniforms, emerged from the car being driven by Art. They had to make their way through a thick crowd that was speculating as to why the small shop in the local strip mall had a military guard.

The guard commander snapped a salute and allowed them to enter. The bored teenager behind the desk looked up from her book and removed earbud speakers from her ears.

“Commander Meadows and Sergeant Perez. We have an invite to attend a reception.”

The girl looked at them and smiled. “Please step through the portal. You are expected.” She touched a button on the desk and a steel door slid open with a muted hiss revealing the portal.

« You have found: Mock Turtle Dungeon »

Meadows blinked in surprise. That was new! He flicked the alert away and stepped through the portal followed by Jo.

A rabbit girl smiled at them and rose from her rocking chair. “My name is Claire, and you are Commander Meadows and sergeant Perez? Thank you for letting us know when you intended to arrive unlike the FBI lot. Please follow me.”

Clair led the way through an unmarked portal and into a large airy reception room with open patio doors and windows. They weren’t the first arrivals.

Meadows moved into the room and saw:

« You have found: Blue Lagoon Dungeon »

He contemplated the message for a moment before making his way to the nearest window. The sight of a busy port full of tall ships stunned him. It was a sight that would have been at home in the eighteenth century. Well with the exception of the two modern patrol boats and the airship bristling with turrets that floated overhead. He knew he wasn’t on Earth anymore.

When he regained an interest in his surroundings he overheard a trio of well-dressed individuals discussing the sight in French. He was able to understand them thanks to the skill crystal he had obtained via Mary. Just beyond them stood an ill-assorted foursome that included a black skinned elf with silver hair and a gnome woman with a pair of humans.

* * * MOON – JERRY & DAMIEN (FBI) * * *

Jerry stepped through the by now familiar portal to find a neatly dressed rabbit woman holding a clipboard waiting for him.

She smiled and said; “Good afternoon agent Walker, I’m Claire.” She glanced at her wristwatch and continued, “I hope you and agents Hunt and Castro don’t mind waiting three minutes. Assistant-director Markowitz and his two minders are just arriving.”

Claire held the folder carelessly at her side and restrained a smile as Elaine “Helly” Castro edged sideways so she could see the top sheet on the clipboard. ‘C’mon Helly, Mother wants you to see that printout of Markowitz’s personnel file... That’s a good girl...’

And then, almost exactly three minutes after her speech minder one stepped through, followed by Markowitz and minder two. Clair flipped up her clipboard and went into her spiel.