Jack Stiles was not happy. For the past week he had been walking around the island,
a permanent frown on his usually jovial countenance. Emilia Rothschild was perplexed by
the abrupt change although she suspected that Jack's present mood had something to do
with his recent encounter with Jean Claude, their parrot messenger. Their feathered friend
had stopped by on Monday to see Jack. Emilia had only caught a brief bit of what JC was
saying; apparently he had just returned from America with a message from Thomas Jefferson.
She did not hear the rest for she was heading down to her lab to work on her latest project.
Jack came in a few minutes later and, instead of including her in whatever news JC had as
he usually did,  he stormed past her, walked around the lab once and then left.
      "Jack? What's wrong?" Emilia called after him, but he did not answer.
 

       "That's it!" Emilia had had enough. She had been patient, understanding, left her partner
alone since that day--now it was time for answers! Grabbing her shawl, Emilia went out. She
headed towards the Drunken Pig, the only tavern on their small island. She knew Jack would
probably be there for it was too early for the local brothel to be in full swing.
       " 'Ello Emilia!" a familiar voice squawked from nearby.
  Emilia stopped. "Hello JC. More great news?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
       "No news at all, actually," JC replied, ruffling his feathers. "I was just going to inform you
that if you are looking for Jack heis waiting for the U.S.S. Relations to dock."
       "He's at the docks?" Emilia was surprised. "Is he expecting something?"
       "Not something, madame. Someone."
       "Who?"
       "I am not at liberty to say. Vive La Resistance!" Before she could say anything more,
JC flew off.
   Emilia watched the parrot for a moment before turning on her heels and making her way
to the docks. She immediately saw her partner waiting as JC had said. "Jack!" she called.
        "Em?" Jack turned his head. He saw her weaving her way towards him. "What are
you doing here?"
        "I could ask the same of you," Emilia retorted as she joined him. Jack started to turn
away, but she reached out suddenly and grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to face her again.
"Please, Jack. You've been in the doldrums for the last week and I've not asked what it is
that's been bothering you, but now I am. What was JC's message from President Jefferson
about?"
   Jack sighed and shook his head. "You're not going to like it," he informed her after a
moment. "We are going to have a visitor--"
         "Not Kentucky Sue again, I hope!" Emilia quipped.
   Jack grinned ruefully. "No--much worse. My kid sister."
         "Sister?"
         "Yeah. She ran away from home and headed to Washington and blackmailed TJ in
to telling her where I was."
         "Blackmail?" Emilia echoed wondering just what sort of girl Jack's sister was. She
already sounded worse then her brother--if that were possible.
         "Yep."
         "I see. Well Jack, if you want me to open my home to her, you'd best tell me what you
can about her."
   Jack shrugged. "Truth is Em, it's been about four years since I've seen her and it's only in
cases like this when I hear anything about her."
         "Cases like this?"
         "Yeah. My sister Jackie has a bad habit of running away. One time she ran off she
went to find our brother Jackson who's an explorer. He kept her with him for a while until
something happened--never found out what--and he sent her home. She was thirteen at the
time. The last time she ran away, it was from a finishing school our folks decided to send her
too. I think that was about two years ago."
         "And now it's your turn?" Emilia said.
         "Looks that way."
         "How old would your sister be now?"
         "Nineteen, I think."
         "I take it you don't get home to see your family that often?"
   Jack shook his head. "No, I don't. Not like it'd be a full house or anything with Jackson off
with Davy Crockett..or was it Daniel Boone he was traveling with now?" he mused.
         "And would there be any particular reason why your sister would come looking for you
now?"
         "Oh, yeah. Besides wanting to be an explorer at one point in her life, she wanted to be a
spy."
   Emilia chuckled. "Something tells me you are responsible for that certain aspiration of hers."
         "Very funny," her friend muttered, but he was grinning.
         "Emilia!?" some suddenly called. Emilia and Jack turned their heads. While they had
been talking, the Relations had docked and passengers were now disembarking. Emilia's face
lit up with surprise and then joy as her eyes came to rest on a young man coming down the ramp.
         "Edward?" the woman gaped. "What brings you here?" she demanded as she was engulfed
in a tight embrace. Jack raised his eyebrows wondering if this mand should be considered friend
or foe; while Emilia sounded pleased to see him, there had been the all too familiar wary note in
her voice.
   The man released Emilia a moment later allowing Jack to finally get a look at him. He looked
to be about twenty-five, had dark blonde hair, blue eyes, and was a few inches taller than Emilia.
His clothes were simple but elegant. "--just came to see how my favorite sister was doing!" Jack
heard him saying.
         "Sister?" Jack looked at his partner.
         "Yes, Jack. Sister." Emilia rolled her eyes. "This is my brother Edward Smythe. Edward,
meet Jack Stiles, my attache'."
         "You mean partner, don't you?" Edward said with a wink.
         "Oh, don't tell me Dad told you everything?" Emilia groaned.
         "No, not everything," Edward quickly assured her. "Only enough so I wouldn't get in the
way if I suddenly decided to pay you a visit."
         "Nice to meet you, Ed." Jack held out his hand and Edward shook it.
         "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Stiles. My father told me about some of the tricks you two
played on each other during the Revolution."
         "Yes, well. Call me Jack," Jack said after a moment. "Say, you didn't happen to see a
lone female passenger on the Relations did you?"
   Edward frowned. "Not that I know of. Why do you ask?"
         "Jack's sister was supposed to be on the ship," Emilia explained before Jack could.
"Perhaps you'd better check with the captain and see if she was on the ship at all, Jack."
         "She was," Jack grumbled. "I know it!" He started to board the ship when he suddenly
ran in to someone coming off. Jack's eyes widened when he saw who it was. "I didn't know
you'd left the island Brogey."
   The Frenchman before him sniffed with disdain and snapped his fingers. Two soldiers were
suddenly behind him, their muskets aimed at Jack.
   Jack held up his hands. "Hey, I know we're not the best of friends but--" he started.
         "Aramis!" a familiar voice called from the docks.
   At the sound of his name, the man before Jack turned. Jack also glanced back and did a
double-take.
Captain Brogard was coming towards them, accompanied by his soldiers. But if that was
Brogard then who--?
         "Ah brother!" Aramis returned with a nod. "How good it is to see you again."
   Brogard came forward. "Likewise. I say, is this man bothering you?" he asked after a moment.
         "No, he isn't," Aramis replied. With a wave of his hand, his men lowered their weapons.
    Jack exhaled slowly, relieved. "Actually Brogey, I thought Aramis was you," he explained with
a chuckle.
         " 'Brogey'?" Aramis looked past Jack and at Brogard. "You allow commoners to address
you as such?"
   Jack was not sure, but he thought he saw Brogard involuntarily quake and blush. He did not have
a chance to think on it for long for Brogard suddenly slammed his fist into his stomach, causing the
American to double over in pain.
        "That will teach you to address me so informally, you cur!" the captain growled.
        "Much better, brother," Aramis nodded approvingly. "Keep doing that and you will soon be
promoted like me."
        "You really think so?" Brogard asked hopefully.
        "No." Aramis started to laugh. "Come, I would like a tour of this island." Slinging his arm around
the captain's shoulder, the two men walked off, followed by the other soldiers. As Aramis went by
Jack, still doubled over, he shoved the American off the ramp and in to the water.
        "Jack!" Emilia and Edward waited until Brogard and his brother were gone before rushing
over to help Jack who was just grabbing on to the pier.
       "Are you all right?" Edward asked as they hauled Jack out of the water.
       "Yeah!" Jack coughed. "Who was that guy?"
       "Didn't you hear?"
       "No, Em. I was too busy hurting!"
       "That's Brogard's brother--twin brother Aramis. He's a general in Napoleon's army," Emilia
explained.
   Jack nodded, breathing slowly. "Uh-huh. If he's in Nappy's army, what's he doing here?"
       "Visiting Brogard, apparently," Emilia said.
   Jack groaned and struggled to get to his feet. "Well, I'll say this about today--it's sure been
great for family reunions of sorts. Now to find my sister--"
       "HALT!! I said halt!!" Jack, Edward, and Emilia turned as a brown blur rushed passed
them being pursued by the captain and his men. The general and his men brought up the rear.
       "Excuse me, General?" Emilia called.
   Aramis heard a woman's voice and stopped. Glancing behind him, he saw Emilia. "Yes
madame? How may I be of service?"
        "What's going on? Who is that you and the Captain are pursuing?"
        "A street urchin, my dear. A thief. He just stole something from one of the jewelry
vendors. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go," and with that, he was gone.
   So was Jack. Edward looked around, confused. "I say, where did Mr. Stiles go?"
        "Probably to see if he could help capture the thief," Emilia said. "Don't worry. He'll
be back shortly. In the meantime, why don't we get you settled?"
 

   Jack slipped away unnoticed by Emilia, her brother, and the General, and headed for
Emilia's warehouse. The warehouse served as a storage place for Emilia's imports and
exports, but most importantly it served as a place for some of their spying equipment,
including Jack's Daring Dragoon outfit. Quickly he changed in to the legendary island folk
hero, ducked over to the stable next door, saddled his horse and then headed in the
direction the thief and French soldiers went.
   It did not take him long to find the thief or the soldiers. The thief had tried to double back
and lose his pursuers, but the general and his men had been smarter and expected him to
attempt something like that and were waiting for him when the thief returned. The thief was
struggling to get away from the general's men when Jack brought his horse to a stop behind the
crowd gathered to see what would happen.
   Brogard and his soldiers arrived a moment later. "So you thought you could steal and get away
with it," the captain sneered in the thief's face.
   The thief's only reply was to spit in Brogard's face. A gasp rippled through the crowd as the
people waited to see how the captain would react.
        "You will pay for that!" Brogard hissed, gingerly wiping the spittle from his cheek. Before
the thief could react, the captain double handed the thief, causing the boy's head to whip his head
side to side.
        "Now is that fair?" a voice Brogard knew all too well floated over the murmuring crowd.
   Brogard, Aramis, and everyone else looked up and saw the masked man dismounting. The
crowd parted in the back and continued to split as he came forward. "The Daring Dragoon!"
Brogard growled.
        "The one and only!" he bowed mockingly. As he lifted his head, his eyes met those of
the thief and he groaned inwardly. Should I really be surprised? he thought to himself.
Nope. "Say Cappy, why don't you release the boy there and fight him one on one? Or is that
bad odds for you?" the Dragoon suggested after a moment, ignoring the glare from the thief.
          "What sort of fool do you think I am?"
          "A big one!" the thief grumbled loud enough for everyone to hear. He was quickly
silenced by a blade to his throat, but not before everyone had a good chuckle at the captain's
expense.
   Brogard seethed silently. "Very well, Dragoon," he said after a moment. "But it won't be
the boy I'll be fighting, it'll be you!"
   Jack sighed beneath his mask as he was quickly surrounded by Brogard's men. He should
have known the captain would do this. Now it was especially important because his brother
was watching. "If that's how you want it, then I'm happy to oblige." He  drew his sword and
waited for Brogard to make his move.
   Brogard raised his sword and charged. Jack waited until he was a few feet away before
stepping to the side and the captain rushed on by. "Hey Cappy! I'm over here!" he taunted.
Brogard snarled and, moving faster then ever, slashed at the Dragoon. Jack barely had enough
time to parry the attack.
   As the two men fought, the thief felt the soldiers' hold on him loosen. Taking the chance,
the thief stomped down on the foot of the soldier holding his left arm. The man cried out, but
before he could regain his hold on the thief, the boy had punched the other soldier and broke
away, scurrying through the crowd. The general pointed and the remaining soldiers went after
the thief.
   Out of the corner of his eye Jack saw the boy escape. Taking the offencive, Jack
attacked, backing Brogard in to the crowd and towards his horse. Brogard could not
keep up with the Dragoon's pace and suddenly tripped, stumbling backwards. He landed
on his back and waited for the final blow.
         "You've been practicing," the Dragoon commented as he got on his horse. "Still,
you've a long way to go!" Clucking once, the Dragoon rode off after the thief, hoping to
get to him before the soldiers did. "Come on, Nutcracker! Faster!"
    They headed in to the woods. Jack could hear the soldiers' shouting ahead of them
and even caught a quick flash of their uniforms. Jack turned Nutcracker off the path and
galloped through the trees until they passed the French and caught up to the boy. With
another cluck, Jack steered Nutcracker back on to the path and behind the thief. He saw
the thief speed up at the sound of pounding hooves behind him.
         "Oh no you don't!" Jack nudged Nutcracker once more, making the horse go faster.
When they were almost on top of the boy, Jack reached out and, grabbing him firmly, hauled
him up on to Nutcracker in front of him.
          "Aaaaaiiiiiieeeeee! Let me go!" the boy yelled, arms and legs flailing.
          "Hey! Quit that!" Jack grabbed the back of the boy's neck and squeezed hard.
         "Owww! That hurt!"
         "Good! Now, be still!" With one last growl, the boy complied and Jack circled
around the woods and headed back in to town.
   As soon as they reached the warehouse and stopped, the boy slid off and started to
run. Jack almost fell in his hurry to dismount and chase after him. Luckily for Jack, the
boy was tired and he was able to catch him before he reached the open market. After
tackling the teenager, Jack threw him over the shoulder, causing the boy's hat to come
off. A wave of long dark hair fell forward.
         "I hate being right!" Jack muttered as he carried his burden back to the
warehouse.
         "Let me go!" the girl shrieked, beating his back with her fists.
         "Jacqueline Marie Stiles! Stop that this instant!" Jack hissed as he tried to
open the door.
         "Jack?!"
         "Yeah, it's me." Jack finally got the door open.
         "Good. Can you put me down now?"
         "No." Reaching for Nutcracker's reins, Jack entered the warehouse. He let
Nutcracker go and turned to close the door behind them and bolted it.
          "Oh, so you'll let the horse go, but not me?" Jackie was indignant.
   Jack rolled his eyes. Slowly he lowered Jackie to her feet, yet kept a firm grip on
her wrist. With his free hand he took off his hat and mask. "Jackie, what the hell are
you doing here?" he asked finally.
          "Well, that's a fine how do you do! Not the greeting I was expecting," Jackie
grumbled.
          "You want a special greeting? How's this?" Before she knew what he was
doing, Jack was sitting with her over his lap, one arm holding her down across her
waist. He lifted his hand.
         "You wouldn't dare spank me!" Jackie twisted her head and looked in her
brother's eyes.
   Jack glanced at her and groaned. "Not the puppy eyes!" Jackie kept looking at
him. "And the pouty lips? Ack!" Sighing, Jack released his sister.
         "Knew you couldn't go through with it!" Jackie exclaimed as she hugged Jack
and sat next to him. "So, you're the Dragoon TJ told me about."
         "Hold on sister! One thing at a time. First of all, why did you run away from
home--"
         "Again?"
         "And what did you blackmail TJ with?"
         "Well, I ran away 'cause it's boring without you and Jackson to liven things up.
Besides, I wanted to see you and prove I could be a spy--"
         "I thought you wanted to be an explorer like Jackson?"
         "Too many creepy crawlies to deal with," Jackie shuddered. "I don't know how
Jackson deals with it on a daily basis--"
         "Okay." Jack held up his hand. "And TJ?"
         "I wanted to find out where you were and since Mom and Dad only communicate
with you through the President, I went to see him. He wouldn't tell me or help me until I
said I would tell the press about a little known rumor I heard about him and a slave of
his--"
   Jack groaned. "I can't believe you blackmailed TJ! He's our friend for crying out
loud!"
         "I know that, Jack. Believe me, I feel bad for stooping so low, but I had to
find you and get away from home for a while."
         "If you think you're going to be here long, forget it! There's a ship that will be
heading to the states at some point in five days. When it leaves, you'll be on it!"
         "Jaaaaack!" Jackie whined.
         "Don't whine, sis," Jack growled. Jackie made a face at him and ignored him
as he started to undo his cape. "That reminds me. What did you steal from the market?"
         "Nothing!" Jackie exclaimed. "Don't look at me like that, Jack! I didn't! It was
one of the General's men that took something from one of the vendors. I just relieved
him of it and dropped it back on to the cart it came from. Unfortunately that's when the
captain saw me and thought I had taken something. You don't believe me, do you?"
   Jack shrugged. "That's a pretty flimsy story, kiddo. I'll check it on our way home.
But first, I think you should change out of those clothes. You can put them in this,"
he tossed her a satchel. "Chances are Brogey and his brother are still looking for
the thief."
        "Jack, I don't have anything to change in to." It was faint, but Jack heard it.
        "What do you mean, you don't have anything else?"
        "Just what it sounds like. I had to travel light, so basically I just have what I'm
wearing and a little bit of money," Jackie huffed.
        "Great." Jack scanned the warehouse, searching. "Ah! There it is!" He walked
over to a couple of chests.
   Jackie slowly wandered over. "What?"
   Her brother held up his hand signaling she had to wait a moment. Interlacing his
fingers, Jack stretched his hands and cracked his knuckles. Then he reached for the
latches on the first chest. He did  the same for the other and then he lifted the lids.
Peering inside, Jackie saw dresses and other women's clothing.
   She glared defiantly at her brother. "I am not wearing any of that!"
       "Do you want to be caught by Brogard?" Jack asked.
       "No--"
       "Then you are wearing a dress. You pick." Jackie folded her arms and met her
brother's gaze. "Jackie, I'm not kidding. Pick a dress or I'll pick for you."
       "Fine, but I won't wear it!"
       "Yes, you will."
       "No I won't.
       "Yes, you will!"
       "No!"
       "Yes!"
       "NO!"
       "JACQUELINE MARIE STILES! YOU ARE WEARING A DRESS AND THAT
IS FINAL!" Jack roared, his eyes wide and menacing.
        "Okay, okay..."
 

   Brogard had never been so humiliated in his life! To be beaten by that insolent Dragoon
yet again and this time his brother had been present to witness his failure. The captain could
barely meet his brother's eyes as they returned to the marketplace.
       "Do not fret, brother. You shall defeat the insolent cur one of these days," Aramis said
soothingly.
       "You don't understand! I have been fighting that masked nuisance for the last ten months
yet he remains free! He mocks not only me, but the Emperor and France."
       "Yes. The Emperor has told me a bit about the Dragoon. Says he's even fought him
himself and that he's almost won a few times."
   Brogard nodded. "True. But still..." the captain ground his teeth, making his jaw twitch.
        "Brother, stop that! Thinking about the battles you've lost will not help you win the war,"
Aramis placed his hand on Brogard's shoulder. "You must plan for your next encounter with
the Dragoon."
        "My next encounter?" Brogard frowned.
        "Yes! And I will be with you! Together we shall defeat him and then..." Aramis paused
dramatically. "Then you shall be promoted like you've always wanted!" Glancing at his brother,
Aramis saw that his words were sinking in.
        "You would do that for me?" Brogard asked after a moment, a slight falter in his voice.
        "Oui! After all we are brothers! Family! If we can't depend on each other then who can
we depend on? Oh, look," Aramis nodded towards one of the merchant carts. "Isn't that the
dog from the docks?"
   Brogard lloked where Aramis was looking. "So it is. Messieur Stiles and a young lady I've
never seen before."
        "Really? Then perhaps we should go over and introduce ourselves," Aramis suggested,
running his hand over his hair. "Come." Aramis started towards Jack and the lady with him.
Brogard followed a split second later.
         "Hello again," Aramis greeted the American. "I do apologize for the confusion earlier."
         "Yeah, well no hard feelings," Jack said, grinning slightly and wondering why the General
and Brogard were talking to him.
         "Good," Aramis said.
         "Jack, who, may I ask, is this lovely lady?" Brogard ask, motioning to the young woman
in the violet gown.
         "This is my sister, Jacqueline--Jackie for short. She just arrived today and will be
staying with me for a few days. Jackie, meet Captain Brogard and his brother Aramis."
         "That's General to you," Aramis growled at Jack. Then he turned to Jackie. "Were you
on the Relations dear?"
         "Yes sir, I was," Jackie replied after a moment, and only with a nudge from her brother.
         "I don't ever recall seeing you on board," the General said slowly, suspecting there
was more to the girl then he was seeing.
   To his surprise, Jackie chuckled bashfully. "And you unfortunately wouldn't have, my
good sir. The captain made me promise that I would remain below lest I tempted the
crew and all the men on board. Jack here had to come get me before I was even allowed
to place one foot on shore."
         "I see. You know, there's something rather familiar about you..."
    Jackie shrugged and smiled shyly. "I guess I just have that kind of face. It was really
an honor to meet you two, but Jack and I really have to be going."
         "Of course." Aramis and Brogard bowed. Jack and his sister returned the courtesy
before parting ways. "A charming young lady," Aramis said thoughtfully.
         "Yes," Brogard nodded his agreement. "Too bad she is related to Messieur Stiles."
 

        "That was close!" Jackie gasped when she and Jack lost sight of Brogard and his brother.
        "No kidding!" Jack panted beside her. Both had been holding their breath, expecting
the General at least to make the connection between Jackie and the thief. "Say, you weren't
flirting with the General or Brogard, were you?"
   Jackie rolled her eyes. "Well I had to play the sweet, innocent girl Jack, otherwise the
General may have figured out who I was. I mean, the man is a bit more quick than his brother."
        "True. All right, since your story checked out--"
        "Told ya!"
        "--we can go home."
        "Good!" Jackie linked her arm through her brother's and the two walked through the
market.
   They walked until they came to a two-story home. Jackie's jaw dropped. "You live here?"
she asked, looking up.
        "Yep. Come on," Jack pulled gently on her arm, leading her through the front
door. "Emmy, I'm home!"
   Jackie gaped. "You're married!?" she squealed just as Emilia and Edward came in
to the hallway.
         "We aren't married," Emilia said before Jack could. "You must be Jackie." Jackie
nodded, inching closer to her brother. Emilia glanced at Jack who shrugged. Then he
looked at Edward and immediately understood. Emilia followed Jack's gaze and suppressed
a chuckle. Edward was looking at Jackie, his eyes wide. "Jackie, I'm Emilia Rothschild and
this is my brother Edward Smythe."
         "Nice to meet you," Jackie held out her hand and Emilia shook it. Jack nodded
appreciatively at her.
         "Likewise." Emilia released her hand and went over to her brother. "Edward?"
         "Huh? Oh. Pleasure to meet you. Were you on the Relations?" Edward asked after
a moment. Jackie groaned.
         "Jackie!" Jack warned.
         "Yes, I was on the ship, but not in this," she said finally, glaring at Jack.
         "You were in boy's clothing?" Emilia asked. Jackie nodded and Emilia narrowed her
eyes, thinking. "You wouldn't be the thief  from the market, would you?"
         "She is Em, but she said she didn't take anything and I checked her story on the way
home. The kid's clean," Jack spoke instead, defending Jackie.
         "For now," Emilia sighed.
   Jackie bristled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
         "Nothing," Emilia said. She looked at Jack. "Edward's already settled in the guest room.
I suppose Jackie could stay in the lab with you--"
         "Jackie can have the room," Edward said suddenly.
         "But you're already settled."
         "It's not that big of a deal Em--" Edward started but Jack shook his head.
         "Thanks for offering, Ed, but I want to keep an eye on her so she's in the lab with me."
   Edward glanced at Jackie since she had not responded. His blue eyes met her gray ones.
Jackie felt herself blushing.
          "It was a sweet offer, Edward, but I'll be fine," she said.
         "Please, call me Ed." Edward came forward and cautiously took Jackie's hand in
his. She did not pull away like he thought she would. Slowly he lifted her hand so her fingers
were facing him. Then, ever so gently, he brushed his lips across her knuckles. Glancing up
he saw Jackie smiling shyly at him.
          "Oh brother!" Jack muttered.
 

   Jackie and Edward's first couple of days on Pulau Pulau were filled with exploring and
dinner at the Governor's mansion. Jackie had, at first, refused to go to the mansion, declaring
she had had her fill of the French.
        "Believe me Jackie, we know how you feel, but the Governor expects to meet you,"
Emilia explained the first night as she helped Jackie change for dinner upstairs in her room.
"Apparently you made quite an impression on the General and the Captain."
        "Told ya!" Jack said from the doorway. Jackie growled and, snatching the closest thing
near her hadn, a brush, chucked it at her brother's head. She missed him by a couple of inches.
Emilia chased him out after that and warned him the next time he said something to provoke his
sister, she would be the one to throw something and she would not miss.
   The first night had gone by quickly. Governor Croque just wanted to meet Jack's sister. He
was surprised when he was also able to meet Emilia's brother. He, the Captain, and the General
were impressed to hear that Edward was training to be a doctor. When inquiring after Jackie's
interests, she was careful to avoid the subject of being a spy, although no one at the table took her
seriously when she said she wanted to be an explorer. Mocking laughter from everyone present,
with the exception of her brother, Edward, and Emilia, burned her ears. Jackie bit down on her
lower lip, stifling the urge to lash out with her tongue.
   The next night proved to be worse. Everyone was more tense. Jackie and Edward attributed
the tension to the sudden arrival of the Governor's brother, the Emperor of France, Napoleon
Bonaparte and his entourage. Brogard, Croque, Jack, and Emilia were noticeably nervous.
   All through supper, Napoleon and the General regaled the guests with tales of their conquests.
Jackie could not stop looking at the Emperor. To be sure she knew that he was not of an average
height, but she did not expect him to be as short as he was. At one point Napoleon's eyes met
hers.
        "Madameoiselle Stiles, do you have an eye disease?" he addressed her quite abruptly.
   Jackie blushed and glanced down. "No, your Grace, I do not."
        "Then why have you been staring at me all night? Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Jackie raised her eyes and saw the Emperor's eyes flash dangerously.
        "If I have, I did not realize it, nor did I mean any disrespect by it. I am just amazed that
a man such as yourself has done so much!" Jackie explained hesitantly.
   There was a long moment of silence as everyone waited for Napoleon to react. All present
knew what the girl had meant by her last statement and all were fearing the response such a
statement would receive. Jack kicked his sister under the table, glaring at her.
        "Hahahaha!" The emperor started to laugh. Slowly everyone, with the exception of Jackie,
joined in. When the laughter faded, Napoleon walked across the table and stood before the young
woman. "I suppose it would be hard for an American to fully comprehend that the little man is not
as helpless or non-threatening as he or she would believe." He stared in to Jackie's eyes. Jackie did
not quake or flinch. She held his gaze for a long time before looking back down. Napoleon smirked
and looked at the other guests, his eyes resting on Jack. "A charming sister you have, Jack!" he said
after a moment, saying the American's name the same way he had when he had had Jack and Emilia
test his wine.
        "Thanks, Nappy, I think--"
        "Insolent dog!" the general jumped to his feet. "You shall address his Greatness as
Emperor, Empror Napoleon, your Grace, or--"
        "General. I thank you for making sure I am addressed properly, but Jack and I go back
a bit. If I had had a problem with how he addressed me, I would've dealt with it long before
now," Napoleon flung the last part in Jack's direction and chuckled when he noticed him quake.
   The general nodded and slowly sat back down, humiliated that he had been chastised in a
public forum. He glared at Jack. The American would pay! He would be sure of that.
   When the meal ended, everyone was invited to a night of music and dance. "Please, I insist
that you join us!" the Emperor said as Jack and Emilia prepared to leave with their siblings.
       "Well...I suppose we could stay for a while," Emilia said after a moment.
       "Excellent! Emilia, my sweet. Would you do me the honor and dance the first dance with
me?"
       "I'd be honored," she replied after hesitating a second. She took Napoleon's hand and
walked out on to the dance floor. Edward, Jack, and Jackie watched for a little while. Then
Edward was pulled on to the floor by one of the ladies from Napoleon's entourage. Jack heard
Jackie exhale sharply beside him. Looking around, Jack saw that he and his sister were the only
ones besides the Governor and Brogard who were not dancing.
       "Say, sis. Care to give it a go?" Jack asked.
   Jackie shrugged. "Okay." Taking her brother's arm, the two Americans joined in. As they
danced, Jackie noticed the general glaring daggers at Jack. "I think you've got a fan, bro,"
Jackie quipped with a grin and nodded.
   Jack looked where Jackie was looking. "Wonderful."
   Jackie resisted the urge to laugh. "I think you're on his hit list."
        "Nothing new," Jack shrugged as he twirled his sister around.
        "Still, you might want to be careful around him. He seems to have a personal vendetta
against you now, and I think the Emperor's overturning certain protocol is the cause of it."
   Jack glanced down at her. " 'Protocol'? 'Vendetta'? Is that what they taught you in that finishing
school?"
  Jackie shrugged. "A little bit of what they were able to teach me while I was there."
        "Why'd you run away from the school, Jay?" Jack asked after a moment, using the family
pet name for her.
        "I didn't like it there, especially when the new girls came from the city," Jackie replied
finally. "They were snobby and they turned everyone else against me. So I left."
        "Mom and Dad wrote me as soon as they heard you ran off," Jack informed her. "I think
they were afraid you were going to try to find me then."
   Jackie chuckled sadly. "Nah. I actually missed being home, so I returned there. And no, our
parents weren't thrilled I ran away. But they were more understanding when I explained why
I left."
         "That's good," Jack said as the music for the first dance ended and a new song began.
         "Excuse me?" Jack and Jackie turned to see Edward standing behind them. "Jackie, would
you care to dance?" he asked nervously and held out his hand.
         "Sure." Jackie grinned and placed her hand in his. Jack wandered over to the food table
and munched on a handful of crackers while he watched Edward and Jackie dance. He saw that
he was not the only one; Aramis was also watching the young people, his eyes focused intently
on Jackie. Looking around, he saw Brogard, Croque, and Napoleon watching Emilia's brother
and his sister, although he was not as worried about them watching her as he was about the
general. Jack seriously wondered if Aramis would try to harm Jackie to get to him. Suddenly he
saw Aramis' expression change. It went from just being moderately threatening to very threatening.
       Stop it Jack! She couldn't possibly have anything or know anything he'd want! 
Jack told himself. Still, he could not shake the feeling that something was not right about
the general.
 

   Two days after the second supper at Croque's, disease hit the island. The first people to
come down with the symptoms had been present. The symptoms included nausea, vomiting,
chills, and fever. However they did not appear until around noon. By then several others had
been exposed. It was a communicable sickness; by nightfall half the island, including the governor,
was ill.
      "Mon dieu! This is terrible!" Brogard said wearily as he joined his brother in the Governor's
office, both officers summoned there by Napoleon.
      "Yes, it is," Aramis agreed.
      "Gentlemen," Napoleon called them to attention. "I am leaving tomorrow to return to
France. While my brother is ill, I am leaving you, General, in charge of the island. A quarantine
shall go in to effect once the ship has sailed. No ships are to come in or go out. Anyone who
attempts to leave are to be shot on sight! Understood?"
      "Yes sir!" Aramis and Brogard chorused.
      "Good. Captain, you are dismissed." Brogard saluted and left. "General Aramis."
      "Yes Emperor?"
      "You've not yet caught that thief you told me about, have you?" Napoleon asked.
      "No sir. He seems to have disappeared."
      "Fool! This is an island! Search the houses! Search the forest!"
      "Your Grace, I have! I even checked the Relations again before she left! Again, nothing."
       "Very well, but if the thief is able to reveal to the Dragoon what we are up to, then I will
have your head!"
   Aramis said nothing but saluted smartly and left the office. Damn that thief! Aramis knew
the boy had been on the Relations but neither the captain or crew would confirm it, and now
the ship was gone.
      You were careless! a nagging voice in his head chimed. You should have checked
the cabin before revealing the plan!
      It's too late....
      Never did tell the Emperor that it was the Dragoon who saved the thief...
      Have to find the thief! He's the only one who knows!
 

        "You are going and that is final!" Jack shouted.
        "No I'm not!" Jackie pounded up the stairs and out of the lab.
        "Yes you are!" she heard her brother call after her.
        "Over my dead body!"
        "Don't tempt me sister!"
        "Jackie and Jack Stiles! Stop it right this instant!" Emilia and Edward were coming down
the stairs, Edward carrying his bag. It had been announced the night before that the last ship
allowed to leave the island would be doing so at noon the next day. Anyone who was not ill
would be allowed to leave. After that, the entire island would be quarantined.
   Jackie looked at Emilia, defiance in her eyes. "I'm not leaving Em."
   Emilia sighed. Ever since she and Jack decided to send their siblings away, Jackie had
resisted the longest. Edward refused at first, saying he could help with whatever Jack and
Emilia were going to do, but his sister talked him down. "Jackie, we've been over this several
times already. We are sending you off--"
         " 'Because it is in our best interest.' " Jackie mimicked Emilia's accent perfectly. "Right.
You and Jack just want us out of the way so you won't have to worry so much."
         "Can you blame us? It's been a while since we've seen you--"
         "Come on Em! Ed and I don't need to be babysat! We're adults now and are perfectly
capable of making our own decisions!"
         "Yeah, but ours still outrank yours, Kid!" Jackie yelped; her back had been towards
the fireplace and she had not heard her brother come up from the lab. "You're. Going."
         "But the Emperor's going to be on that ship!" Jackie whined.
         "No dice Kid. Come on, we have to hurry if we're going to get you two on that ship!"
Jack started out the door with Emilia and Edward following. Jackie turned and went upstairs.
"You two go on ahead. We'll catch up," he sighed and chased his sister up the stairs.
         "Come along, Edward." They had not gone far when Jack caught up carrying his sister
over his shoulder.
         "Put me down! I can walk you know!" Jackie shouted, her voice partially muffled
by Jack's back.
         "Nothing doin', sis. I know you, you'd just dig your heels in the dirt and make me
drag you. Trust me--you don't want that!"
         "Jack!"
         "NO!"
   Defeated for the time being, Jackie went limp and closed her eyes. She did not open
them again until they were at the docks. Several of the healthy families were already there
waiting for someone to say it was all right for them to board the ship. The Emperor was,
of course, already on board. There was a lot of murmuring about that amongst the wealthier
families.
   Jack, Emilia, and their siblings were directed to the back of the crowd. Jack finally
decided it was safe to let Jackie stand on her own, but he still kept a firm grip on her wrist.
          "Maybe they'll run out of room before they get to us!" she suggested thoughtfully.
          "Don't get your hopes up, Jackie. They've made enough room for all who wish to
leave and food for them too," Emilia told her.
          "Great," Jackie sighed glumly.
   A little later, the people were allowed to start boarding. As Emilia said, they did have a
lot of room and were able to get all the people on the ship who could leave and had passed
the health inspections before boarding. Those who did not pass the inspection were refused.
Five minutes to noon, Jackie and Edward had been checked and were on board. They stood
at the railing and waved good-bye one last time to Emilia and Jack. Then Edward took Jackie's
arm and started to lead her below deck.
          "Ed, I can't!" Jackie cried suddenly, digging her heels in to the deck.
          "Jackie, don't be crazy! You know they'll shoot anyone who tries to go back and
Lord knows what your brother would do to you!"
          "I don't care! I know something that Jack and Em'll need to know!"
   Edward stared at her. "If it's so important, why didn't you tell them before?"
          "Why do you think? I'm not exactly their favorite person at the moment and besides,
whenever I thought I'd be able to, they would either brush me aside or the captain and his
brother would be nearby." Jackie looked in Edward's eyes. "Ed, please! I have to go."
   Edward nodded after a moment. "All right, but I'm coming with you. I know I can be of
some use if Em would just let me."
   Jackie smiled. "I'm not going to stop you if you want to come with me," she said softly.
For a moment they looked deep into each other's eyes. Slowly they started to lean towards
each other, their lips about to touch--
           "You two! Down below now!" a sailor yelled at them.
   Jackie quickly pulled back. "Yes sir." She glanced back at Edward. "It's now or never!"
   They waited until the sailor who yelled at them turned his attention to something else. Then,
before he or any of the other sailors could stop them, Jackie and Edward raced for the railing
and climbed over, falling in to the sea below.
           "Passengers overboard!" The cry rang out several times.
   Jack and Emilia stopped as they heard the cry and the crowd start to shout. Turning, they
could see the sailors rushing to unhook life-saving devices. The two spies glanced at one another.
           "You don't suppose..." Emilia started.
           "My sister and your brother? You bet! Come on!" Jack and Emilia raced back. When
they arrived, Jackie and Edward were being hauled out of the water by Brogard and his soldiers.
           "You two are under arrest!" Brogard told them, his voice rising above the din.
           "Why?" Edward cried.
           "You were told that once you boarded the ship to leave, you were to stay on it! And
because I am in charge here for the moment," Brogard told him. Then he turned to the rest of
the people. "The island is now quarantined. Return to your homes and stay there! If you are seen
out and about, you will be arrested and thrown in to jail! Go!"  No one moved. "I said go!"
         "Captain, if I may, you are being ridiculous," Jackie said after a moment.
   Brogard whipped his head around and glared at her. "Oh?"
   Jackie sighed. "The island is quarantined, right? And the last ship just left and no more will
be allowed in until this thing is cured, so what good is it locking anybody up, especially someone
who might actually be able to find the cure?" She glanced at Edward. "Besides, you'll need able
bodies to help care for those who are sick."
        "The girl has a point, Captain," one of Brogard's soldiers said after a moment.
    Brogard fumed silently. Scanning the crowd, he could see the fear and anxiety. He hated to
admit it as well, but the girl was right. The island would serve as a prison for the time being
and the young man was training to be a doctor. Perhaps he could come up with a cure.
        "Very well," he finally relented. "Release them. Messieur Stiles!" the captain glared in
Jack's direction.
        "Yeah?" Jack replied.
        "I expect you to keep a close eye on your sister!"
        "Sure thing, Broge--er Captain."
   Jackie and Edward were released and Brogard and his soldiers left. The crowd also slowly
dispersed until only Jack, Emilia, and their siblings were left.
        "That was some fast talking," Edward whispered. "Hope you've got more where that
came from!" he added with a nod as Emilia took him aside and Jack stormed over.
        "Jacqueline Marie Stiles! What the hell did you think you were doing pulling a crazy stunt
like that!?" he demanded, stopping two inches from her face.
   Jackie inhaled deeply, mustering all the strength she could. "I couldn't go Jack. I've got
unfinished business here. Besides, I can help--"
        "I see," Jack interrupted. "What sort of unfinished business?"
   Jackie was about to answer when she saw the General walking by. "I'll tell you when we get
home."
       "You tell me now or you won't be going!"
       "Jack--!"
       "I mean it, Jackie! Tell me or--"
       "Emilia!" they heard Edward cry suddenly. Turning, Jack and Jackie saw Edward cradling
his sister in his arms. Forgetting their argument the two ran over.
        "What happened?" Jack asked.
   Edward shook his head. "I don't know. One moment she was scolding me, and the next she
fainted!"
        "It's the disease," Jackie declared sadly, taking her hand away from the woman's forenead.
"She's got it."
        "Are you sure it's not just a reaction to the shock you two just gave us?" Jack asked wryly.
        "If it were, I would've been crushed under you a moment ago," Jackie retorted.
        "Besides," Edward started before the two could start to argue again. "My sister never
faints." He sighed. "I thought she looked wan this morning, but she said she was fine."
   For a moment no one said anything. Finally Jack cleared his throat and looked at the two
young people. "Come on. Let's get on home and figure just how we're going to get out of this
mess!"