The guards led them into the massive, squat red-and-grey stone building. The lobby was spacious and the tiled floor trailed off in several hallways. An attendant jumped up from the lobby desk and hurried over to them. He was a chameleon type, with a gentle face and quiet smile. If he was disturbed by the presence of a human, he showed no sign of it.

"They're guests of the Council President," one of the guards said. "Dr. Glick is to study the mammal."

"I have a name," Alex said more with resignation than irritation, resisting the urge to draw her Guardian sword for inspection.

"Of course you do," the attendant said smoothly. "I'm Hilto. And your names?"

"I'm Alex," she said. "This is Gabe, Cale and Rile. We're Guardians Called to your world to help."

Gabe glowered at Alex, Cale clacked his claws in anxiety, but Rile grinned.

"You just insulted our fearless leader by introducing him," Rile whispered into Alex's ear. "Introductions are his job."

"They are guests of the Council President and are to be housed as suits rescuers of his status." The green Iguana guard nodded to Alex and the brothers. "They call themselves Guardians and consider themselves on a mission here."

The attendant cleared his throat. "I would love to hear all about it some time. For now, do you wish to be quartered together or separately? Do you require one bed so you may sleep together?"

"No!" Alex gasped and all color drained from her face. "I never sleep with them! I mean, next to, sometimes, when one is sick or cold ..." Her voice trailed off and she looked down in shock at her wrist, where Gabe's claws indented her skin.

Rile flushed a deep angry red at Gabe's actions and Cale clacked his claws faster. The guards exchanged amused glances.

"Of course, of course," Hilto soothed, although his color turned a distressed blue. "I meant no insult, no inference of inappropriate sexual activity."

"No sex!" Alex squeaked and bit her lip when Gabe's claws dug deeper.

"The Anolis, as well as other species, have a group bed concept, but it was rude of me to infer," Hilto continued. "Please forgive me."

"Nothing to forgive," Gabe replied. "My team and I would like to be quartered together, but with separate sleeping arrangements."

Hilto snapped his fingers. "I have just the accommodation. It has four sleeping chambers that share a living and dining area. There is a common sand bath with a Necessary, if that is acceptable, ah, commander?"

"Team leader," Gabe replied. "That will serve us well."

"Please, we're tired from our travel and mission," Cale said, ever polite, but his gaze anxiously returned to Alex's wrist. "May we see our rooms now?"

Hilto bowed. "Please, follow me."

As soon as his back was turned, Rile clamped onto Gabe's hand that was digging into Alex's wrist. They exchanged angry hisses, but stopped when Hilto turned his head to look at them. Gabe dropped Alex's wrist and she rubbed it, gazing around the corridor instead of the brothers. The Komodo dragon guards surrounded them at a discrete distance, keeping watch, and checking the corridor ahead.

The corridor was decorated with paintings and the marble floors gleamed. Nooks were scattered about the hallway, with wooden carvings or marble statues of various species of reptiles stashed inside. Hilto stopped before an impressively carved nine foot wooden door. Reptiles, birds, and flowers intertwined throughout the panels of the door. Hilto opened it with its large brass handle shaped like a Komodo dragon, but two of the guards pushed past him. They investigated the quarters, opening the bedroom doors and the door to the sand bath before declaring it clear. Hilto motioned to Alex and the brothers to enter.

"I will have fresh fruit brought right away, as well as red and white wines. In a few hours, I will bring bread, cheese, and cured meats for the evening meal. Will that be acceptable?"

"Wine and cheese is all I need," Alex said, walking around the living area.

"Those provisions will be excellent," Gabe said, again glaring at Alex.

"We shall be outside," one of the guards said.

"I shall notify Dr. Glick of your arrival," Hilto said. "Anything else?"

Alex chewed her lip and waited until Gabe told him no. Then she dashed into the nearest bedroom.

"I call dibs on this one. Let me know when the wine arrives." She shut the door firmly.

Rile rounded on Gabe. "What is your problem? Alex doesn't know Guardian team protocol. Let it lie."

"She should have known that I speak for the team," Gabe replied coldly. "I am the appointed team leader."

"How should she have known?" Rile hissed. "Her clan has a voting republic for government. There are no clan heads or Guardian teams."

"Common sense," Gabe hissed back. "They have leaders they defer to."

"This is not constructive," Cale said, still clacking his claws. "How can we function as a team if we argue among ourselves? Protocol isn't as important as our mission. We must find out what the rest of it is. Give Alex grace, Gabe."

"There is no grace on a Guardian mission. Lapses can be lethal. She must follow directions and orders exactly."

"Don't be such a drama dragon," Rile said. "She didn't disobey orders. She only spoke out of turn. Relax."

Gabe poked Rile's chest with his claw. "Do not tell me to relax. This is our first real mission. We must be ever vigilant."

Rile pushed the claw to the side. "Alex overheard the assassination plot. Not you."

Gabe hiss-growled deep in his chest, and Rile returned the challenge with his own hiss. Cale sidled between them, facing Gabe. He placed his hands flat on Gabe's chest.

"Please, let's sit on the couch and make a plan." Cale pushed gently until Gabe stepped backward.

A knock on the door made them all spin and face it like it was an enemy.

"It's Hilto," the pleasant voice said. "I brought the fresh fruit and wine for a light snack. May I enter?"

Gabe jerked his head so Cale walked to the door and opened it. Hilto bowed slightly, his actions impeded by a rolling cart with a large tray on it.

"Hey Alex, the wine is here!" Rile shouted.

"Thanks! In a minute," she called back.

Hilto rolled in the cart, unloaded it onto the waiting dining table surrounded by four chairs, and asked, "Do you need anything else?"

"When will the Council President meet with us?" Gabe asked.

"I'm sorry, I don't know. I'm only the hospitality attendant. I will let you know as soon as his staff sends word." Hilto bowed and left.

Rile flopped into a dining chair, grabbed a fruit, and examined it. "This is a Jaffa orange. I love these. Alex! Hurry up!"

Cale joined him and picked up a green fruit. "Cactus pear. Makes sense. Here, Gabe, have this yellow pitaya. You've always loved the red variety."

In her room, Alex drew her Guardian sword and sat on her bed holding it.

Some Guardian I'll make. Gabe is furious with me and I don't know how to use this.

The opal pommel stone had orange-and-red, blue-and-green cracks below the smooth surface. When Alex traced them, one of the orange-and-red cracks glowed.

You know how to use this. Trained for Middle East and Third World missions where females can't have weapons, much less guns. Swords are easier to conceal in caches for agents to find.

For once, Alex didn't tell the calm voice to shut up and go away.

I don't want to remember what happened to me.

A blue-and-green crack glowed.

Then don't. Stand up, hold the sword, and it will access training memories only.

The voice had a command to it, so Alex stood and her fingers perfectly fit into the grooves of the hilt.

What about that power rush when I faced that child molester? I want that.

That is for killing. Access training.

I didn't kill that child molester.

A wave crashed through Alex's brain so hard that she staggered backward and sat on the bed.

No! You are not a killing machine! Access training now!

Alex stood and brought her sword up into high guard position and the memories flowed in. She breathed deeply, calming herself, and the memories flowed in.

*****

Rile poured himself wine into a pottery goblet painted entirely around with chameleons. "Hey, bro's, you want wine or what?"

Gabe glowered at him, but Cale pushed a goblet across the table. Rile filled it, and Cale swirled it before sipping it.

"I'm worried about Alex," Cale said. "Fill this one as well, and I'll bring it to her."

"By my eggshell, I'm bringing it to her," Rile said.

"I'll speak with her," Gabe said. "Instruct her in the way of the Guardians."

Cale stood up and slapped his hands on the table. "No. Neither of you." He picked up the clay amphora of wine and two pottery goblets.

***

Alex stood with feet shoulder-width apart, on the balls of her feet, knees slightly bent. She thrust and then launched a shoulder attack from above at an angle of about 45 degrees. The blade swished clean and true on a straight line. As Alex raised it again, she heard a soft scratching on her door.

"Alex? It's Cale. I have wine."

She wiped her forehead with her sleeve and opened the door. "Come in, o' bringer of wine. Have a seat."

"You have tiny droplets of water on your skin," Cale said with concern. "Do you have that 'flu' again?"

Alex smiled, shook her head and sat on the end of the bed. She patted next to her. "Please, pour that. I was working out with my Guardian sword."

"I knew you had sword skills," Cale said loyally. He filled both goblets, set the amphora down, and sat next to Alex.

"They were buried deep in the brain damage," Alex said. "Would you think I was crazy if I said I think my Guardian sword brought it out?" She drank deeply, too afraid to watch his reaction.

"It sounds perfectly sane," Cale said. "Very logical, too. Our Guardian swords are gifts from a higher power, not mere metal. If we lose them, or leave them behind in an enemy, or are taken from us, they dissolve and reappear later. Also, don't be alarmed when after a battle, they glow white-hot. They clean themselves of blood and gore. We still polish and sharpen them, though."

"That's handy." Alex swirled the wine once then drank again. "What's wrong with Gabe?" She still refused to look at Cale.

Cale placed a tender hand on hers. "This is our first real mission. We were dumped on Earth to hide and heal. He's under great stress and wants it to go well. The slaughter of our clan haunts him as his failure."

"Failure? You weren't even Guardians. How could three swords stop a slaughter anyway?"

Cale shook his head. "We wouldn't have made a difference. But a Clan Heir bears great responsibility. E feels we were exiled on Earth: taken away from our home and all we love, without friends, family, or even our own kind to comfort us. It stripped him, us, of our sense of belonging. Please give him grace and mercy. He'll return to his former self. Soon, I pray."

Alex drank the rest of the wine. "I'll try. Now I'm taking a nap. Don't bother me when the food comes."

"You should eat," Cale said with concern.

She waved that away. "I won't die from missing one meal. But my mind frays with lack of sleep. None of us want to see that."

"Sleep knits up the raveled sleeve of care." He dared pat her shoulder.

Alex crawled to the head of the bed, curled into a ball, and closed her eyes. "Thanks."

Cale closed the door quietly behind him. He found Gabe talking with someone at the entrance to their apartment. Rile, nodding his head, stood directly behind Gabe.

"Cale, prepare to leave," Gabe said. "We have business to attend."

"But Alex-"

"She'll be fine. There are two guards here, and that Dr. Glick is coming to meet with her. Take up your sword and staff and we're leaving."

Reluctantly, Cale sheathed both. He noticed three females of the same type that had spoken of the assassination.

"The Anolis ambassador wants to meet with us," Rile told him. Then he whispered, "Remember, the Council President said trouble was brewing in the Anolis nation. This could be our mission."

Cale nodded and the brothers followed the Anolis females while the guards scowled after them.

**

Alex awoke at the rapping on the apartment door. She jumped up and looked around wildly. Seeing no one, she backed to the wall and surveyed her surroundings. Remembrance seeped back into her mind and she slowed her breathing. The raps sounded again.

"Hold on! Who is it?" She picked up her Guardian sword.

"Dr. Glick has arrived," a deep voice announced. "May we enter?"

Alex laid her sword on the bed with reluctance and made her way to the front door. She opened it to see a humanoid Iguana, his golden-brown muzzle slightly silvered with age and a benign smile on his face. His eyes, though reptilian, regarded her with a kind gaze. He wore a dark-brown lab coat, the pockets overflowing with papers and gadgets.

"You're beautiful," he said, obviously entranced. He lifted a hand and asked, "May I touch your hair?"

"Uh, okay." Alex glanced at the two guards, who smiled in encouragement.

Dr. Glick ran his claws through the ends of her hair, murmuring, "Lovely and soft, too."

"Well, uh, thank you." She looked at the guards again, questions in her gaze.

One winked at her and the other smiled more broadly.

"Please, will you turn around for me? Completely around, please."

Alex twirled for him and he inhaled sharply.

"Ah, you have no tail. Amazing. Absolutely amazing specimen of a sentient mammal, like nothing I've ever seen before."

"Uhm, thank you again? My name is Alex." She stuck out her hand awkwardly, unsure of proper greeting protocol.

He clasped it in both of his. "Forgive me. My name is Dr. Glick. The Council President sent word that you had saved his life and I should meet you. Please accept my thanks. He is one of our best presidents and has worked tirelessly for peace."

"That explains why someone wants to kill him. Come in?" She looked at the guards and they inclined their heads. "I have wine and fruit."

"Of course," he said. "Please tell me all about yourself."

He sat at the table where the fruit tray and the wine amphora had been replaced. Alex poured for both of them.

"Please, tell me all about yourself," Dr. Glick said. He fumbled in his pockets and finally pulled out a notebook and pen.

"There's not much and it's very boring," Alex said and internally winced at the similarity of the words she had told the now murdered Robert so long ago.

"Ah, not one to brag?" Dr. Glick smiled gently. "I shall tell you a bit about myself. I've studied the only mammals with hands and they are called chitterers. They cannot speak and have only animal level intelligence.

Alex poured more wine and pushed a goblet to him. "Sounds like monkeys. We have them too. What can you tell me about the Anolis empire? The Council President?"

"I'm afraid I keep out of politics," Dr. Glick said. "I rely on my lovely permanent sleepmate Glaza to negotiate the day to day details of our family. I concentrate on my research."

Alex sighed and resigned herself to a lengthy, useless talk.

***

When the brothers returned, one of the guards told them that Dr. Glick had come and gone after another amphora of wine had been delivered. Rile opened the door and started to call for Alex when Gabe elbowed him.

"Let her sleep," Gabe said. "We must strategize anyway."

"Without Alex?" Rile asked.

"The Portal Guardian said you couldn't leave her off the team," Cale said.

"I'm not leaving her off the team, just this mission. Cla, Caj and Deela are all secondaries to their queen, who they call Kuni. This is political maneuvering. Alex doesn't fit in here. This is our world."

Cale sat at the table, poured himself wine and began to drink with determination. "This isn't our world. This isn't Olam."

Gabe threw up his hands and paced. "You know what I mean. This is a reptilian world. Not a mammalian one like Alex's Earth. She's a liability here. We can't fail this time."

"This time?" Rile asked and sat next to Cale, who poured him a goblet of wine. They drank liberally and watched their oldest brother pace the living area.

"You know what I mean," Gabe waved a hand. "Our family, our entire clan, slaughtered. This time will be different. We'll insinuate ourselves with these three. Soon they'll introduce us to their queen. I know it. We'll find out what the disturbance is and position ourselves to calm that storm. We solve the problem and mission is a success. The Portal Guardian will then either send us home or on another mission."

"I don't think it'll be that easy," Cale said and Rile clinked his goblet to his.

"Are you going to criticize or are you going to help?" Gabe asked. "What is wrong with you, Cale?"

Cale looked about to answer, but then looked down at the table. Rile nudged him but he shook his head.

"What about you, Rile?" Gabe asked. "This is your sort of thing."

Rile cocked an eye-ridge at him. "My sort of thing? What do you mean?"

Gabe flushed a deeper gold. "The female thing. Getting what you want from them."

Rile laughed and Cale looked between them in shock.

"Do tell, brother," Rile said. "Do you want to learn about the fine art of wooing the female sex of a species?

Gabe flushed deeper. "We need information from them, not, not...that."

Rile chuckled nastily and Cale drummed his claws on the table. Rile filled a goblet of wine and sauntered over to Gabe.

"Here, brother, drink this and thus begins the lesson."