(The very latest, delete if you're not following this....)

:>Panda stopped at the top of the back stairwell to offer a hand to Vixxy as
they climbed out of the dojo's dusty basement. "I hope the Master doesn't
hurt them too badly, although I'm betting that his panda costume will slow
him down a bit. Oh... and where did all those other Panda's come from? I
wonder if the Blue Tigress had a paw in that... "

:>Vixxy giggled, and took Panda's paw. "Just remember something Pandy. I am
here here to take you back to the Taskmistress. So I am officially on business."

:>Panda helped Vixxy to the top of the stairs where the two looked out onto a
"T" junction of narrow alleys. Panda dusted himself off and replied, "Who
says you can't mix business with pleasure?"

:>Vixxy just smiled, and stepped into the alleyway. After a quick check of a
gadget she was carrying (a non-electronic compass<g>), she finally
announced, "This way!"

:>The set off in a jog down the east branch of the junction, the harbor coming
into view ahead of them. "I came here in a boat. We can use it to get to the
mainland and from there catch a plane to headquarters."

:>Panda nodded, his paws clenched around the cari-sak that contained the
disks with the fanfics on them. At this point he would be happy to see the
Taskmistress and deliver the fanfics. A simple delivery job had turned into 
a minor irritation, and a distraction from writing his own fanfic. Hopefully
he could rest on the flight to California.

And, he realized, that the second part of the battle would be to get back to his
home computer to get that special 'fic that the 'Mistress' boss wanted dearly.
He paused.  
The escaping pair slowed down as they approached the dock area, with Vixxy
guiding them through a maze of wooden ramps and narrow walkways. Finally the
panda and the curvaceous woman halted in front of a sleek Scarab powerboat,
complete with rear foil. "Very nice," Panda commented
admiringly. "Seems Taskmistressing pays well-"

"That's far enough," came a purring voice from behind, as the two escapees
hopped into the boat. Panda stood still, the tone of the voice *very*
familiar. He turned and his fears were confirmed. "Hello Sapphire. I thought
you'd never show up..."