Taking a deep breath of her surroundings, Merine looked around
the wilderness. Having tossed and turned in her bed for several hours
already, Merine decided that sleep was out of the question. She could
make up the sleep loss in the morning, but for now she'd rest.
        She hadn't out there for ten minutes when a kid with a yellow and
black bandanna appeared. He was carrying a backpack and some kind of
weird umbrella weird umbrella. He looked exhausted, and extremely
frustrated. "Where is the Tendo dojo?" Merine just couldn't believe it.
        "I have no idea."
        "Is this Japan?" he asked hopefully. She shook her head no.
"Sorry to disturb you." He started to walk off.
        "Careful, it's awfully muddy out here!" Merine warned. Too late -
the kid tripped. She wondered where he went and why there was a pig
squealing angrily, but it was none of her business, she supposed. The pig
left, and she was alone again.
        "Are you Merine?"
        She jumped a mile high. "Don't sneak up on me!" She exclaimed,
thinking it was somebody from the airship. Looking at the figure, she
realized she didn't recognize him. "Who are you, and how do you know my
name?"
        He bowed and held out a letter. "I am Lieutenant Oliver, and Lady
Sascha requested that I deliver this to you."
        "Sascha? Lemme see." Impatiently, she grabbed the letter from his
hands, and read quickly.

"Dear Merine-

     My old friend. Since your escape from Kohlingen, I have
heard nothing of you. How fortunate. But now intelligence reports
on the Returners have led me to believe that you are among their
numbers. Why, Merine, why? Their defeat is inevitable. They
cannot stand against our forces. I urge you to reconsider my offer,
and join me and share in the glory of the Empire! We could go on
adventures, and everything! It would be just like old times.
Please, Merine, I don't want anything to happen to you.

     If, however, you continue this folly, there isn't much I can
do. I will use my position to protect you to the best of my
ability, but there are some things I can't do.

     Merine, you were the one person who supported me when I
wanted to be something more than a waitress. Perhaps you can
understand that now, I have fulfilled my dreams. No one laughs at
me now. I have power; I have respect! You should see the way
people look at me when I walk by! They don't snicker behind their
hands like Rachel and my other 'friends' from Kohlingen. They look
up to me with fear and reverence! And it's all thanks to Akfek. He
rescued me when I had given up all hope. He has amazing power, you
know. Maybe even as much as his brother. If there's one thing I
can ask of you, it's not to cross him. He could destroy you
without a second thought, and that's not something I like to think
about.

     Please consider what I've said. We could share the power
Akfek has given me. I miss you, old friend.

     You can send any replies with the man who brought you this.
His name is Thomas Oliver. Please do not harm him for his service
to me.

               Yours always,

                         Sascha

P.S. Whatever path you chose to walk, remember that I'll always be
your friend. Take the ribbon with this message as a token of this
bond. I hope to see you again soon."

        Oh great, she thought. I KNOW she's wrong, but I just can't leave
her. She honestly wanted to cry - 'but don't I always want to?'
        "Do you have any pen and paper?" Amazingly, he did. Scribbling an
answer as quickly as she could, she sent him off. Watching him go away,
she knew that if the Returners heard of this, she could be very well be
considered a traitor. But it wasn't as if she was giving away the
location of their hideout, and in a way, she was helping the Returners.
But she'd better not tell anyone of this. Merine trudged back to the
airship, depressed.