"A fairy tale princess in a fairy tale castle." Jessie thought to herself.
"This is perfect!

She was stirred from her thoughts by the sound of footsteps. She rushed to
the window to see who approached. He was even more handsome that she
remembered. Long midnight black hair fell just past his shoulders. His eyes
the color of the purplish evening sky. His muscular body clad perfectly in
leather and cloth. Princess Jessica sighed.

"If only he'd look this way and see me." She thought wistfully. But he never
did. He just rode in, spoke to the King and counsel, then rode out again.
Why, she didn't even know his name!

"But tonight, I intend to find out!" Jessica thought grinning. "Tonight, I'm
going to join my father at dinner and meet this rogue knight for myself!"

And attend dinner she did, sitting at the King's right. Suddenly, the Knight
appeared next to her.

Princess Jessica nodded serenely. "Good Ev'n sir."

The Knight lowered to one knee as he tenderly took her hand. Placing his
lips gently against her knuckles his low voice whispered, "Good Ev'n to you
my lady."

The Princess' heart swooned at the gesture. She had to force herself not to
smile. "Will you honor me by sitting next to me?" She inquired.

To her delight, the handsome man smiled broadly. "Nothing would give me more
pleasure." He responded as he sat down.

From that point on, Jessica was all his. He told her stories of his
escapades, answered the many questions she bombarded him with, shared
humorous quips and tales from his travels abroad. So wonderful a
conversationalist was he, the girl barely touched dinner and didn't hesitate
to accept when he asked if she'd join him for an evening stroll.

"It's a beautiful night." The Princess exclaimed.

"That depends." He replied.

Jessica glanced sharply at him. "What ever do you mean?"

The man smiled sadly, revealing volumes in his expression. "I meant no
offense my lady. It's just that your comment does not ring true for
everyone. For example, for those still being held against their will in the
Moorlands, tonight is most certainly NOT a beautiful one!"

The girl nodded. "True. May I ask you a blunt question, one not typical for
a lady?"

This made her companion's smile change to that of amusement. "Of course."

"Why do you do what you do? I mean, you risk your life daily to free the
prisoners. Why?"

The Knight stopped walking and gazed at the star filled sky collecting his
thoughts. "I guess," he said with a sigh, "I do it because I can. Because
it's what I want to do. It's what I choose to do."

"With the orders of the King, however." The Princess completed.

The man violently shook his head no. "I serve no man. I am my own master. I
do what I do because I wish it."

"Why?" She breathed in wonder.

"Because I'm able to! No one should be subjected to following the rules of
another. Unless that is their choice. Everyone has a freedom to do as they
wish."

The Princess frowned. "Not me." She said very quietly. "I'm bound by the
rules of my father the King."

A warm hand lifted her chin till her eyes met his. "You are bound because
you choose to be." He rasped. "If you so choose, you can break this bondage.
Even you, Princess Jessica, deserve to be free!"

Something in his words struck a chord in her heart. For the first time in
her life, she felt as if a weight had been lifted. And understanding dawned.
"You're right!" She declared. "I DO have freedom! I AM my own person, and I
DO NOT have to follow anyone's rules but my own!"

The Knight smiled broadly again and nodded his approval. "That's it my lady.
Keep saying this to yourself and believing it in your heart."

He took her hand and, just like dinner, lowered himself to one knee as he
kissed it.

"You have to go now don't you?" She inquired sadly, already knowing the
answer.

Her companion nodded his smile disappearing. "Yes my lady, I must. I have
things to do. But I shall return." With this, he stood, turned, and
immediately began to walk away.

"Wait!" Princess Jessica called after him. She heard his cloak rustle as he
turned back to her.

"Yes?"

"Before you go, one more question I must ask of you."

"Just one, kind lady, then I must be off."

The Princess giggled. "Your name. May I at least know your name?"

"Jaius" the Knight replied bowing low. "My name is Jaius."

                                 **********

"What?!" Benton sputtered incredulous.

Race sighed visibly upset. "You heard me right Doc. She told me that she
wasn't going to go because she didn't have to. She had other things to do
besides always help the boys with their childish projects."

Dr Quest shook his head. "That doesn't sound like Jessie at all. What's
gotten in to her?"

Jessie's father let out a long breath. "I don't know, but it's really
begginin' to bug me. She just seems to be getting weirder and weirder!"

The doctor took a sip of coffee then stroked his mustache. "I'm beginning to
wonder if that little incident in QuestWorld hasn't had some sort of affect
on her."

His friend nodded. "Yeah. I've thought that too. But I can't figure out how.
We've checked everything. I mean, I've even thought about brainwashing again
since Surd pulled that one stunt. But there's no way. I doubt even he has
the capability to brainwash someone in just five minutes!"

The scientist frowned slightly deep in thought. "I don't know Race. As
totally far fetched as this may sound, perhaps it is just a phase she's
going through. She's fifteen. And a lot of things are changing for her in
her life right now. Emotionally, physically, mentally. This could all be a
result of these changes."

The Navy SEAL also frowned. "Yes. I suppose it could. But, well, heck
Benton! I miss the old Jessie Bannon! And, I'm not so sure I can deal with
the new one that's suddenly come knocking!"

His friend nodded. "I do too Race. I do too."

                                 **********

Jeremiah's laugh made Julia's heart sing. She loved to hear him in such good
spirits. "You're having the time of your life aren't you?" She inquired.

To her delight his eyes actually glinted. "Indeed I am my dear. It's such a
perfect plan. Poor daddy. He has no idea that I'm turning his precious
daughter into one of my minions!"

Julia softly strode towards the doctor. Her smile turned sultry as she said,
"You always were so brilliant Jeremiah."

He gazed up at his paramour, his expression matching the tone of her voice.
"Of course I am. I chose you didn't I?" The vocoder playfully whispered.

"Everything checks out ok Boss!" Lorenzo declared entering the room and
breaking the spell of the moment. Both Julia and Jeremiah sighed.

"Thank you." The scientist barely muttered. He stole one last look as his
love before turning the container back to the monitors. "Everything's coming
together perfectly. Only a few more sessions and Jessie Bannon will be
mine!"

"What's next Boss?" Surd's burly bodyguard asked.

Again the doctor frowned at the use of the term 'boss'. "Two more dream
sequences. In these last two, I will completely win her over to my way of
thinking. Then she'll do whatever I ask her to."

"And no one will be the wiser because as far as they're concerned, it's just
a phase she's going through!" Jeremiah's assistant finished happily.

Again the scientist stole her a soft glance. "That's correct my dear. Now,
it's on to the next dream."

                                    ^^^^^

"A Mafia Kingpin!" Jessie declared to herself. "Or rather, since I'm a girl,
I guess I'm a QUEENpin!"

She laughed heartily out loud.

"That though amuses you doesn't it?" A rough voice from behind her
questioned.

With a gasp she turned around. He stood at the bar, drink in hand. Even
though they were mortal enemies, she had to admit he looked absolutely fine
this afternoon.

"What do you want Jeremy?" She inquired harshly.

He finished his drink and set the glass on the bar before replying. "Nothing
at all. Just asked you a question."

"What question was that?" Jessie asked icily.

" 'That thought amuses you don't it' is what I said."

Jessie strode towards him, her hand instinctively going for her gun. "A lot
of things amuse me Jeremy. You're not one of them."

To her surprise, he heartily laughed. "Oh you're a feisty one all right! My
God girl, I just came in for a drink and to get out of the rat race for a
bit. Lay off me eh?"

"Dang he looks good in a suit!" The teen thought to herself. Out loud she
replied, "The minute you leave me alone, I'll leave you alone. You know the
rules."

He barely raised a hand to the bartender indicating he wanted another drink.
The barkeep quickly responded. "Look, little lady, I'm not bothering you.
I'm merely standing here having a drink. Nothing in the rules against that
now is there?"

Much as she hated to admit it, he was right. "No." She growled. "There's
nothing against that. Just make sure you leave me alone!"

With a tired sigh, he turned away from her his gaze resting on his drink.
For some reason, however, Jessie couldn't leave him alone. Not this time.
Stealthily she crept towards the bar until she was within arm's length of
him.

"What is it about you that has the dames all crazy?" She whispered.

Startled, the man nearly spit out his drink. He quickly recovered and
swallowed before replying. "Just look at me." He replied with a slight
smile.

The teen snorted in disgust. "Typical male. Big ego."

Jeremy's smile broadened. "That's not the only big thing I have." He
taunted.

Jessie backed away incredulous. "I can't believe you!" She sputtered. "Just
who do you think you are?"

At this question, the man set down his glass and walked towards her. He
continued to do so until she was pinned against the wall. "The godfather of
the Underground. That's who I am." He hissed. "And, for your information,
the other big thing I possess is power. Lots of it. More than you'll ever
have."

Jessie bit her lip. She knew he was right. She was the Queen of the streets.
But the man in front of her ruled a far vaster kingdom. A she wanted his
secret for success. "What's your secret?" She asked. "The secret to your
success?"

He backed off a bit, but still stood close to her. "Number one rule? Don't
take no for an answer if you want a yes." He licked his lips and leaned
close to her. "Rule number two?" He whispered. "Always make sure that you
have at least one card up your sleeve. No matter where you are or who's
calling the shots."

The teen blinked. Everything he said made sense. Suddenly, she saw exactly
how he'd gotten where he was. She nodded. "You and I could make a formidable
team." She breathed.

Jeremy grinned. "Rule number three." He stated. "The only boss you need to
have is yourself. Make yourself number one and you'll never get hurt!"

"I guess that means you don't accept my offer." She remarked ruefully
looking down at the floor."

A hand softly lifted her chin until her eyes met his. "I didn't say thatÉ"
His voice huskily said.

The girl could help but laugh.