~~~~

title: A Different Dragon

author: Rodlox

category: AU, ?

divergence: shift the aim of that bullet (in the opening of the episode _The Dragon_), just a bit, and watch the outcome swing around

archive: why would anyone want to archive anything by me?

summary: Santa Helena will survive the death of Kami...but how far will her teacher go to get justice?

~~~~~~~

Robert Helm gingerly rolled over, bracing himself with the less sore of his two arms. After being flung into a cabinet, he'd stayed right where he'd landed, answering the man's questions while hoping no vital nerves had been severed.

Nothing broken yet, Robert noted. Just woefully sore.

But nothing to match the expression on that Japanese man's face when he'd told the man that his pupil hadn't survived the attack. Mind, it wasn't that far of a distance between his soreness and the expression.

The Japanese man, a master of some art, Robert was given to understand, had stormed out of his office. As he levered himself into a position to slowly slowly stand up, Helm wondered if that man would go to Montoya -- or if he would be brought before Montoya.

A muscle on his arm twitched, distracting him - Robert nearly toppled over. Even with the near-fall failing, he ached, hurt, wanted to lie down for a long while. "Not sure there's enough water in the province to soothe that," Robert muttered.

Distantly, he heard a polite rapping at his door. His mind ran through the list of people who could be doing that -- once he realized it was his own front door being knocked upon. "Uno momento, don Hidalgo," he said, grateful that his lungs could say that without being as sore as his spine.

~~~~~~~~

Kami's words echoed in his mind, battering away at a calm he was working to shore back up: "My only fear is that I will not serve you well."

Images clinging to him, visible everytime he closed his eyes, even for a blink: Kami fighting alongside him, fighting to defend him from the bandits, fighting and - and being slain by a gun. A gun!

There was a reason, the traditionalist in him reiterated, the Home Islands turned those things away two hundred years ago, focusing its efforts on the nation, not on the surrounding lands.

And there was another part of him, one that vhelmently argued to let justice be done. More fitting if the butchers met their end by their own weapons, filthy as they doubtlessly were.

All he knew for certain, was that there _would_ be justice. For him...and for Kami.

~~~~

ALVARADO HACIENDA:

"No."

"Marta!"

"I am serious, Tessa. You have no friends," using the masculine form of the word, "to host that man."

"Then we can -- then we will."

Marta looked to be holding back, restraining herself from saying something stinging, or biting, or both.

"What?" Tessa asked.

"If I have to, I'll put you on the next ship to Spain. You used to be familiar with propriety."

"I'm still familiar with it."

"Regardless of what the Queen of Swords does, Maria Theresa must remain the pinnacle of propriety."

"I have to do something, Marta!"

"Then do something. But nothing that diminishes your chances for marriage."

"I've still got a few years left! This man needs to be protected from Colonel Montoya today!"

"Are you so sure?"

~~~

LATE EVENING / EARLY NIGHT:

HELM'S RESIDENCE:

Okay

Okay now

Okay, easy now

Eeeeeasy, Robert thought to himself, easing himself into the tub. His arm muscles'd been almost completely shot all day long – which hadn't made dona Hidalgo's check-up any easier; fortunately it'd consisted mostly of questions and answers -- and he felt he was _still_ no closer than before to knowing the source of her persistant heartburn, particularly given what a small woman she was.

Don Gaspar, on the other hand, was still the picture of health, and had been congratulated accordingly.

Robert blinked, half sure he'd heard a window open. Where was I? he asked himself; oh yes -- His arms, not in a shape to lower him into the water in fits and starts, definately refused to pick him up from where he was. Point of fact, both hands _let go_ of the rims, plopping him the remainder of the way into the tub, water sloshing

over the sides.

Just enough, Robert knew, ignoring the flares along his thighs, bottom, and belly; just enough strength remained in one arm to grab his drying-off towel from a neighboring stool, now blanketing the tub.

Seconds later, in walked La Reina. "There you are, doctor! I've been looking everywhere for you."

"Here I am."

"Yes you are."

Here's where I've _been_. "What is it now?"

"What do you mean? Can't I just stop by to see how you're faring?"

I've heard more believable innocence from Frenchmen during the War. "It'd be a first."

She frowned.

A minute passed, silent and neither about to make the first move. Finally -

'Pitcher."

"What?" the Queen of Swords asked.

"Get a pitcher of hot water and pour it in here."

La Reina's eyes went wide. "But you're -- You --"

"Well, so there really is no word in Spanish for 'naked'," using the English word. "If you're not going to do that, be sure to close the window on your way out." I don't like the breeze chilling my water, Robert thought to himself.

Indignant, La Reina spun around and walked away. A few steps later, she stopped.

"Oh fer -- what now?" Helm asked.

"I was just wondering...whatever became of the man who'd gone in your office today?"

"Many men use my office, as do many women."

"I meant the foreigner."

Deliberately obtuse, "Captain Grisham's was yesterday."

"Not him. The one wearing robes."

"Ah, Mister Kiyomasa," pronouncing it to the best of his abilities.

"What's happened to him?"

"He's safe."

"Doctor!"

"He is." Looking at the back of her head, "Now, change your mind about that pitcher?"

She stormed right out.

That window slammed shut.

~~~~

NEXT MORNING:

ROSE GARDEN, COMMANDANCIA:

"Once again, you have outdone yourself," Luis told his cook.

"Thank you, Colonel," his cook said, then saw someone walking to this rose garden's entrance and stopping there. "Um, Colonel..."

"Yes?" Looking around for the source of his cook's distress, "Ah, good morning, Senor Kiyomasa," standing up and giving a welcoming bow. "Please, come in, sit down."

"Thank you," Kiyomasa said, reciprocating a bow, and doing as invited.

"Would you care for some tea?" As a youth, he'd been addicted to that for a few years...and he'd learned which nations had it as a national beverage.

"I would."

To his cook, "Another cup," Montoya said, glad to have a fellow drinker in the region: Dr. Helm seemed to steer clear of tea, and it was common knowledge that Grisham's countrymen had become - thanks to their revolution - avowed coffee-guzzlers (besides which, Luis thought, it would seem off, somehow, if Grisham were to take up tea).

Cook brought it swiftly and was dismissed from the Garden.

Kiyomasa poured his own cup to the depth permissable. As he was about to sip -

"I apologize, senor," Luis said, "that the tea will likely taste strange to you; it is only the brand flavor," pouring and sipping at his own tea from the same server: to show its safety.

Sipping, Kiyomasa then said "I have had Dutch tea before. I prefer this to that."

"Gracias." A silence, then "If you do not object, senor, might I inquire how your accomodations were last night?"

"You may. The Hidalgos were gracious hosts; thank you for reccommending them."

"De nada. I am happy to have helped."

Kiyomasa thought, then said "Hidalgo-san has told me of a bandit woman who robs your stores and harries your soldiers," and, then and now alike, Kiyomasa had considered: wondering if the woman was of any connection to the killers he had sworn to destroy.

Montoya nodded gravely. "Yes, I have long been haunted by that spectre -- 'La Reina' is the name many call her," when they're speaking politely. "Not only does she harry, she has also sent -- at one time or another -- many of my soldiers to our local doctor."

"Pursuit of false leads?"

"Many times, that may be preferable: though La Reina normally carries a sword and a whip, those are far from the only way which she inflicts terrible pain." Like the Ancient Greeks with the Amazons: amplify and exaggerate the features which make her a worthy challenge -- the reasoning had been, back then, that any less-than-worthy challenger, once defeated, wasn't a great victory. Since time immemorial, the victor was judged based upon the vanquished.

"Does she have any allies? Any supporters?"

Luis refrained from implicating Dr. Helm. He did, after all, still had need of a doctor -- as did Salan.

But -- "I have found that, whenever a bandit or team of bandits is in the vicinity of Santa Helena, La Reina is never far away."

Memories swarmed like flies, and Kiyomasa paid them no heed, though it was an effort to do so. "Which suggests what, to you?"

"Either of two things: Either all thieves are under her rule, or she readily switches from one bandit lord to another."

Both of them had empty tea cups now. "I thank you for your time, Colonel," Kiyomasa said.

"You are welcome. I hope I was able to help shed light upon matters."

"Quite so," standing up, bowing -- and Luis stood up & bowed back -- then walked towards the entryway (now an exit) of the Rose Garden.

Then 'flies' of memory were unavoidable now. He had not been the only one to think about the world beyond the Home Islands...but he had been the only one tricked, the only one betrayed -- thusly & therefore, the only one given a choice: leave the Home Islands, or suffer a shame that would cling to his family, his students, and his

teachers.

So Kiyomasa had left the Islands, never having told Kami that he risked dishonor if he ever returned to the Home Islands. _She has died without knowing that shame,_ he said to himself. And now I will avenge her murder.

Turning back around, giving a shallow bow. "Montoya-san, I regret that I have no way of aprehending this La Reina. I would appreciate any assistance you might bring."

Smiling, "But of course," Montoya said. "It gives me great pride to assist in the great course of justice." And he excused himself a moment, heading inside to bring out his collection of Oriental weapons: throwing stars, swords, and even a few daggers.

~~~

NOT LONG BEFORE LUNCH: THAT SAME DAY:

SANTA HELENA GAOL:

"Buenos dias, capitan," Montoya said, walking into the front corridor of this gaol -- intersecting as it did the flank corridor between both rows of holding cells.

Grisham looked up, waved. Didn't stand.

"Has our most recent guest been any trouble?"

"Only if you count whining protestations that he's innocent."

"Nothing more original?"

"Nope."

Saying nothing to that, Montoya strode down the flank corridor; Grisham got up and followed -- just in case. "So, senor," Montoya said to the prisoner, "have you changed your mind now?"

"No," the prisoner said.

"Then how did you come by the Japanese silver?"

"What silver?"

"The coins you had when you were apprehended. Surely you remember those."

Nothing said.

'There is something to be said for a thief who does not lie.' "Very well, if you will not tell us where, then you will lead us to where you have the remainder of the silver."

"I won't."

"Habla Espanol, senor?"

"I understand fine."

"I think not: I had not asked you to lead -- I informed you that you would."

"No! No I can't!"

"And why is that?"

"He'd kill me!"

"'He' whom?"

"My boss."

"He'd kill you dead?" Grisham asked.

"Si, si!"

"Is that all?"

Trying to back up against the wall.

"As you may infer -- you do know that word, yes?" Montoya said; "my capitan is far more imaginative in that department."

Trying to press through the wall.

"But, and I would be woefully negligent if I did not mention a way for you to yet live."

"I'm listening," a wary step forwards taken.

"You have heard, I trust, of the Queen of Swords..."

~~~

THAT AFTERNOON:

BETWEEN MESAS:

Kiyomasa and Grisham were on horseback - Luis'd loaned one of his spare horses to Kiyomasa - and Grisham was riding Quadralateral, his own horse. On foot, the prisoner had finally ceased his complaining. "Why can't I have a horse?"

Well, mostly.

"You in a hurry to get there?" Grisham asked.

Shrug. "You said you'd keep my boss from killing me."

'A dishonorable vow,' Kiyomasa thought to himself; he'd been escorted to the - gaol - to hear Grisham make that bargain with the prisoner.

While Colonel Montoya was silent. Speaking an English peppered with Dutch and Spanish words, "Why do you do this?" he asked of Grisham.

Replying in English, "There's nothing worse than being betrayed." Bitter experience had taught him that lesson; it'd been a straw breaking him from his comfortable East Coast life...and that showed in his tone, as he'd said the earlier sentance about betrayal. "Strike that: there's one thing worse -- and this guy'll experience it firsthand."

Suspecting, "You do not intende to honor your part?"

Grisham looked over at Kiyomasa, then forwards again. "If there was honor among thieves, this little cutthroat wouldn't have agreed to turn over his boss."

"That is true," Kiyomasa agreed.

"What you two talking about?" the prisoner demanded, in Spanish.

In Spanish, "How much to give you, after this, and if it should be in gold or silver," Grisham said; 'I don't have 13 pieces on me, but will you take a silver bullet instead?'

"Keep talking then! Don't let me stop you."

'Never was a problem on that score.'

~~~~

NEXT DAY:

MORNING:

SANTA HELENA:

The gallows had been set up for the bandit leader's hanging.

"Simply dreadful," Tessa said, making herself shudder as she looked at the gallows.

"Instruments of justice are what they need be," Kiyomasa said.

Making only enough of a face to be socially appropriate, Tessa changed the subject: “Will you be in Santa Helena long?" Tessa asked.

Kiyomasa thought on that. Mostly about what had taken place yesterday...

With the prisoner, he and the Captain had tracked down the bandit leader...

The bandit leader, a man, had stared down at his lackey, denying all the while the lackey's attempts to get the boss to agree that they both worked for the Queen of Swords.

And then the bandit shot his lackey.

He said you'd do that, Grisham said.

First time he's been right in ages, the bandit had said.

'But,' Kiyomasa thought to himself, 'was that bandit truly the top of his command -- or is his loyalty to this La Reina so great that he will allow his own death, rather than betray her?'

"I find this to be a satisfactory country," Kiyomasa said. "I shall explore it further."

Tempting as it was, Tessa didn't say that he was being silly: after all, Spanish explorers had already been all over this nation.

What Kiyomasa did not say, was that he intended to keep an eye on this area, and to be on the lookout for this La Reina. 'I will not search specifically for her, but I will never avoid her.'

"Have fun," Tessa said as Kiyomasa gave a shallow bow & walked away from her.

~~~~

the end of this story.