Remember. Remember.

[HuggieSunrise]

During the rainy season annie would make sure to store as much freash water as possible. Several of the water traps were set out behind the home so when she heard a strange male voice a feeling of panic struck her.

Papa!?

she said loudly running to the front of the home to see a man dressed in dark business attire. His hair was short and black and had dark circles under his eyes. Besides these ghastly features however was a man with a vary young face she assumed the worst however since this man had a weapon holstered on his side.

Annies father made a confused noise.
Annie? Whats the matter?

Papa. This man I have not seen him. I did not know we were exspecting guests.
annie said.

The person of interest introduced himself.
Madame. I am Alexzander Morte. I came here to confirm your fathers... personal arrangements.

Annie kept looking at the gun. She wasn't a stranger to rifles and other weapons for driving off vermin and sometimes predatory animals but that was a smaller quicker weapon. It made her uneasy and she looked it.

Ma petit... fetch tea, something, anything, for a few moments?
Monty begged.

Annie nodded and walked quickly into the kitchen. She only heard mumbling.

Alexzander straightened his shirt and sat down on an ottoman to an empty chair next to Monty.

We dont care for the titles, doing what we need to do comes from the blessing of the crown, but I would take it as a personal favor if you would consider it.
Alexzander continued from before.

Junkers and junkess's have all kinds. Im sure Michelle doesent need me to knight him even if he wants it so badly. Tell me... What is the real reason? Why trust them to do your dirty work? Your too capable to rely on them.
Monty questioned shifting his position on his rocker.

Mr Morte knew he was rushed. A young woman was about to enter the room and knowing the stalk of the Antoinette's made them inquisitive prideful and above all nosey.

Admiral. You did pay a great deal of francs. But most of whom I represent are too secretive and cautious. This would make arrangements afterward more permanent. And we will hear troubles ahead much easier.

Annie came from the kitchen with a tray service, she was still not the best cook, and Sir Reginald was recharging so the tea was rushed and the shortcake was... for all intents... freshly unfrozen.

Serving tea she kept her eyes on the strange man, who in turn kept his attention on her father.

After everyone had a sip of hot water papa spoke.

Vary well. If Michelle wants such a cursed thing so be it. Just. Hold up your end of the bargain.

With that Alexzander got up.
Madame your effort on the tea was commendable. I will take my leave of you.
Morte said setting down his tea, to Annie's horror to Alexzanders forwardness.

She couldn't help at that moment but become interested.

Papa clutched his chest suddenly.
Woman! Poison!
he put his tea down picking through the shortcake.

Papa. What was that about?
she inquired.

Im old. Your young. If you want to return to france after Im gone. I made sure you were safe.
He took a bite.

Annie somehow didnt trust this. Papa hated France, along with talking about the past, socks, and fake people. All these things and more came from france. But a man, prim, and armed? Couldn't have been a noble.

Papa. You dont have to lie. she said.

You dont have to ask silly questions. Brat.


Michelle La Grange was a junker. Not fowl but business like. In his thirtys and charming. Charming enough to keep Annies attention, especially after papa knighted him as a Knight of Antoinette.

Papa started to fade though. About a year after he was on some sort of life support or another. The aea air helped, but the home became a mortuary. Somehow news of Admiral Antoinette spread, Friends who were almost as old as he and younger men who had heard of or served under him came to the home and for a period of two months it was a constant reunion.

Annie was comfortable with the naval men as she had remembered most of them from when she was a child.

Story's of glorious fights amongst the stars and antics on the decks of the Rosalee. Even stories she never heard about how her own father had tracked down fleets of Bonn and Chantelle. They weren't teaching this history in schools anymore.

As papa drew closer to final breaths, those who remained in the home weren't so much revolutionaries as they where inspired by the example of the old admirals who despite paving the way of kings to power, where forgotten, force ably by the march of progress.

Montgomery Antoinette died leaving Annie to be the duchess of Antoinette. The vision showed the procession of years, as rivalries rose but quickly fell to her family's influence namely the knight of Antoinette, the junker Michelle. A knight who connected to all the scandal and dirty secrets made problems dissappear. As the Unione predicted.

Though as many in even these modern times. Junkers aren't tools to be used too often.

Michelle had courted Annie for some time. But it seemed whenever she came close to deciding it was the right thing to do. Alexzander would appear to talk her out of it. She had hoped he would be more assertive in her direction. But the arrangement was that he and the others of the Unione would look after and over her.

Things would become heated between the two men especially when it was about Annies lack of a husband and heir.

A cold night... came... She was roused form her bed by Michelle franticly.

Mon ami get dressed! We have to leave! There are bombs going off all over and I think there are ships coming to this house!
Michelle actually sounded scared.

He was outside screaming into the comm. She never let hasty men inside the house even if she did like them.

Annie wasn't in a mental state to scrutinize or ask questions. Alexzander had always had her pack a case and an outfit specificity for traveling if the worst occurred, but she always expected Alex to show up with men as he usually did.

Where is Alexander, Michelle?
Sleepily but with haste she was getting dressed. Sir Reginald stood with her bag ready and was haphazardly loading her gun for her.

Mon ami hurry. I don't know what kind of ships they are so we need to leave soon, if their police or navy we need to be fast!
Michelle exclaimed.

She was packed. Dressed. And holstered in five minutes. Alex would be proud. If he could be she thought. Outside it was dark and a storm was on the horizon, the small dual cockpit junker ship, improvised and used with vary little telltale markings. The wind was picking up.

She looked at her home.. to the observer it knew it would be the last time. Sir Reginald looking out the bedroom window for a moment looked like papa. She blinked repeatedly, waved to the old robot and climbed into the copilot pod of Michelles ship.


As the ship left, the stars shifted and the rainstorm was upon the house. The observer saw Three ships land around the home. One man. Alexzander went inside the home calling Annies name, cursing.

Where is she?

The robot said she left with La Grange.

If that fool gets her out of the system, everything falls apart.

No.. no. he'd take her to Bourbon. Get all the ships and men together.

What? Bourbons just a depot, He cant marry her or hurt her-

It doesn't matter! Tear it apart if you have to! We cant let that murderer become a duke!Alexzander was the first back in his ship.

<TBC>