Notes Part 1: The characters from Xena Warrior Princess and Hercules the Legendary Journeys belong to StudiosUSA and Universal. The characters from Smallville belong to DC and the WB.

Notes Part 2: This is the second of a four part story, linking my three series: Super Lana, the Amazon Scrolls and the Dubois Chronicles. This installment follows “Trick or Treat” which is installment 13 of the Super Lana series. As always, comments directed to dante0220@yahoo.com are appreciated!

Spoilers: For Smallville and Xena, anything is fair game!


Preface [Amazon Village c.88 AD]

Gabrielle, Bard-Queen of the Amazons, writes….

Even with all of the adventures that Xena and I have shared, the situations we have seen since meeting David Dubois have proved astounding.

And yet, this one tops them all—a trip into a parallel universe to save the students’ counterparts. The hardest part of the whole thing is watching at Eve’s side as David and Xena lead Clark, Lana and Kyla into the direct battle against the Black Hand while Deirdre and Jasmine seek out the others needing aid in that universe.

As Lana and I share notes for our respective records, I have to assure her that such things do happen. (Hercules’ experience with the Sovereign has proven a big help in this regard!)

But to face two Children at once? Now there is a serious challenge!




Introduction [Concurrent with Chapters 7-9 of Trick or Treat]

The sun shone brightly on that mid-Fall day. For both Amazon and priestess, Samhain quickly approached, signaling winter’s impending arrival. Accordingly the former group trained as hard as they could before the snow flew, working the kinks out of their fighting motions. In addition, they assisted the priestesses in preparing for the upcoming rites.

Jasmine took the quickened pace in stride. As she had trained with her adopted tribe since that spring, she had honed her fighting skills into sharp and deadly ballets of precision. While already mastering most of the martial arts, her skill with weapons and hand to eye coordination improved.

On this day, she sparred with her classmate, Lana Lang-Kent. Instead of their usual Saturday morning training session, the two women opted for this spirited workout, focusing on inherent skills instead of just on their mutant abilities.

While she wasn’t yet on Jasmine’s level, Lana had trained with her best friend, Miranda Arighatto and had real fighting experience. As such, she reacted well to the Princess’ moves, ducking and weaving before returning a blow or two. Over and over, they continued this dance of endurance and concentration—neither one wanting to give ground to the other.

About an hour into the affair, Lana noted they had attracted an audience. “Uh, Jasmine?”

“Yes, Lana? Give up?”

“Not on your life but what are they doing?” Lana wondered.

“The sisters are watching us. They’re honoring you. It isn’t just anyone who stands up to an Amazon,” Jasmine complimented.

“Fine,” Lana agreed albeit more confidently than she felt. After dodging Jasmine’s last feint, she delivered a solid chop to her friend’s midsection followed by a kick in the same spot. “You okay?” She held her hand out.

The Princess grinned. “I’ll live. Now they know where I learned the spin kick from. You see, Lana? You’re a better fighter than you give yourself credit for.”

“Thank Miranda. She’s a great teacher,” the former cheerleader suggested. Over to the side, she saw her husband standing there. “You watched too?”

Clark smiled. “Just the last fifteen minutes. As soon as the training session finished, Deirdre brought me back here.” He looked around. “Umm, is it okay to offer a hug or anything around here?”

Xena smirked mischievously. “You might wanna be careful doing that around here.”

“Mother,” Eve admonished.

Seeing the two teenagers’ nervous looks, Gabrielle assured them, “It’s quite all right, Clark. I don’t see why the Amazon sisterhood would be offended by love on an equal footing.”

“Besides, it’s for a job well done,” he added, giving both Jasmine and his wife a hug before kissing the latter’s cheek.

“Very politically correct, Clark. I should talk to Papa about making you a diplomat,” Jasmine teased.

“And take him away from me? Not a chance,” Lana replied, knowing that their friend was kidding. “A girl needs her fan club.”

“That’s me all right. Rah, rah, rah,” he jabbed good-naturedly.

At that moment, Nai-Jin hurried over to their side. “Queen Gabrielle! You must know!”

“Nai-Jin, what is it?” Gabrielle wondered.

The elderly seeress pointed at the three students. “They are in danger and yet it is not theirs!”

Xena looked at Nai-Jin and then at the teenagers. “What? How could they be in danger and not in danger?”

As she asked that, Lana locked eyes with Nai-Jin and was swept into another reality. Within the dreamscape she saw herself back in high school and with Clark dealing with intruders. However, she had Clark’s powers! Then she saw that blonde cousin of Clark’s…Kara? with some shadowy man in a cape. The next scene had them being attacked in Lex’s library. Miri locked steel with Arighatto once more, furiously seeking to protect her dearest friends. The Black Hand’s ninjas overwhelmed them, taking them prisoner—all except Jasmine, Chloe and her mother-in-law. The scene shifted to Amherst where fires lit the Halloween sky. Houses burned. A tall building collapsed into ruin. It was four against one defender struggling to stand. She recognized the opponents and knew the hunted’s identity. The scream cinched it.

The dream ended with her and Clark imprisoned. Then she saw that witch, Kara, gloating as she dragged her love away.

“LANA!” he screamed.

“CLARK!!” she retorted.

Clark shook her, snapping her out of it. “Lana! Lana! Come on; say something! What did you see?”

“She knows what has happened, Clark, in the realm beyond,” Deirdre informed her. “Come, Papa awaits you three on the other side of the mists.”

“He knows, doesn’t he? That his father and Lionel Luthor are behind this?” Lana gasped.

Xena and Gabrielle exchanged sharp looks with each other.

“Who else was there?” Jasmine asked. “Lana, you muttered something about four against one. Who?”

“Hold me, Clark,” she requested, hugging him tightly.

He looked at Xena and Gabrielle pointedly. “We can’t push her.”

“We don’t have to. I too have seen what awaits us. Jasmine, call your carpet. You shall have need of it.” Deirdre opened a portal to Jasmine’s room back in modern Arizona.

“What else is there?” the Middle Eastern Princess inquired, as she sent the telepathic summons.

“The four...are my grandfather, Lionel Luthor, the Rowenshire witch and Velasca,” the priestess declared. “In addition, your counterparts were brutalized by Hansei Arighatto and the one called Kara.”

“I’m going,” Xena asserted. “Mixing David with Velasca would be bad enough but with the other three too? I’m there!”

“We’re going too,” Lana added.

“You got that right,” Clark concurred.

“And I would never let my friends risk themselves without my company,” Jasmine agreed. Seeing Carpet swoop through the portal, she urged her friends onto it.

“Excellent,” Deirdre praised. Then she handed a skin to Clark and Lana. “Before you go, drink this. It’s from the Faerie Empress.”

The couple did so albeit hesitantly. A tingle surged through them and then they felt normal. “What was that?”

“You’re temporarily immune to kryptonite. Papa insists. Oh and be warned. He’s bordering on changing. Once we get there, he’ll be the Child.”

“I trust him to do the job,” Lana defended the Dark One, trying to assure the others.

Yeah I hope you’re right. Xena agreed, as they all flew into the mists.




Chapter 1
[Within the mists]

Dave sat stewing in his juices. For the past two days, he had dealt with the worst migrane in the history in the universe. Then the day before, the Child was so antsy, he was ready to pull his hair out. And then there was Cybelle’s vision.

His sister stood at his side, shaking her head. Why did those idiots have to clone DAD of all people? Oh this is going to be great!

Around them, the mutant students, Byron, Kyla, Samantha, Michelle, Mika, Chloe, Pete and Sebastian sat ready to help.

“What’s the plan?” Chloe wondered.

The medievalist glared at her. “It ain’t rocket science. We take out the Black Hand, restore order and help our counterparts. Beating up on my father is a bonus for me.”

Cybelle rolled her eyes. “Focus, Dave!”

“I AM FOCUSED!” he bellowed, seething with rage.

As the contingent from the Amazon village arrived, Lana rushed over to the Professor’s side. “Are you all right?”

“No but I will be once we take care of this stuff. Thank you for asking, Lana,” he noted. “All right, here’s the deal. According to the Faerie Empress’ mist portal, we have at least three scenes to worry about: UMass, Smallville and the road somewhere between Amherst and New York city. We’ll split up too. Sebastian, Samantha and Pete, I want you three to go to Smallville and deal with the arson going on there. Jasmine, you, Michelle, Mika and Chloe find the missing Duboises. Deirdre, can you go with them please?”

“Sounds good to me, Papa. What about you?” his daughter asked.

“Xena, Clark, Lana, Kyla and I get the big job: cleaning up the situation at UMass. Some of those victims tonight are my friends and then there’s the damage to my counterpart,” Dave indicated. “Okay, you all have your assignments. Hop to it, Gang. Good luck to us all.”

“Save Smallville,” Chloe requested, as she radiated on and flew through the appropriate portal followed by the others on Carpet.

Cybelle opened another portal and addressed the Smallville travelers. “Each of you will end up in a different place within Smallville. The fires all burn brightly, consuming the Talon, the Kent Farm and the Luthor Mansion quickly. Understood?”

They all nodded.

“May the goddess be with you then!” she wished, as they stepped into the mists. “Hey, Bro.”

“Now what?” Dave groused.

“Keep your head on straight,” she advised.

“I can try,” he suggested. “But I don’t think it’s going to happen.” He opened the last portal. “Let’s go, guys.”

With that, the others followed him in, allowing the portal to close behind them.

This has Pandora written all over it. Goddess help us all!






Chapter 2 [Super Lana Universe—Smallville]

Whenever the Black Hand moved in on a target, they did a complete job in all regards: grab the victim(s), destroy evidence and disable local law enforcement. In the case of Smallville, they had locked the sheriff in her own jail and sent the fire department off on a wild goose chase, leaving them free to burn several important sites, further breaking their enemies’ spirits.

Kara had done her work well, sweeping around the town and setting fire to the Talon, the Kent Farm and Luthor Castle. Being on a tight schedule, however, she rushed off after seeing the first big blossom of flames in each place.

This gave an opportunity to the targets’ friends to try and put the fires out. Fortunately for them, help was on the way.


****


[Talon]

Kara laughed loudly, feeling secure in her triumph over Kal-El’s “lower life form.” In addition to getting Kal-El, the girl’s favorite place in the world would soon be gone.

Within the café, she heard a terrified scream. Someone was trapped inside.

“Get away!” a male voice growled.

Kara turned to see Byron’s Dark Poet persona lumber toward her. “You! Stay away!”

“Not with Sandra in there!” he bellowed. “Sandra?”

“BYRON! Help!” his girlfriend called.

Kara fused the hydrant’s spouts closed with her heat vision. “Too bad, Boy! There will be another time! I have an appointment with Kal-El!”

“What? Where are Clark and the others? TELL ME!” he demanded, ripping up a section of pavement and throwing it at her.

She leveled the projectile with a single punch. “You’re lucky that after here and that Luthor brat’s place, I don’t have time for you!” With that, she disappeared into the night, heading for Metropolis.

The enraged poet ran over to the door. “Get back!” he yelled. Running on adrenaline, he barely felt the searing doorknob burn his hands as he ripped the door from its hinges. Rushing into the restaurant, he called, “SANDRA!”

“Byron, over here,” she called to him from the staircase.

He quickly picked her up and got her out of there. “Ya ‘kay?”

“That witch made me sprain my ankle. Byron, she said she’s going to hurt Lana and Miranda. Why?” she wondered, hugging him tightly.

“Don’t know! Gotta do somethin’ about this first!” he ranted.

At that moment, Sebastian appeared in front of them.

“Byron, look!” she indicated.

“Who the Hell are you?” the Dark Poet demanded.

“I’m a friend and I can help. Byron, can you rip this hydrant off and get some water spraying? Trust me,” Sebastian requested.

“Yeah,” Byron agreed, grabbing the hydrant and working it loose, producing the desired water spout. A series of punches really opened the flow. “Now what?”

“Stand back!” Sebastian told them. He focused, working on water direction, temperature and pressure. As he did so, he lowered the second to forty degrees and maximized the latter. Then he changed the direction of the flow, letting the water jet extinguish the flames. He winced. “Oops. I overdid it a bit.”

“At least you put the fire out,” she complimented, as they went back inside. “Oh it’s going to take months to undo the damage.”

Sebastian brushed his hand across the slightly sooty plaque. At least I saved this place for you and Lana, Professor Dubois.

Then she realized, “Oh gosh! Mr. Luthor’s mansion! She did something to there too!”

“How fast can you get us over there?” Sebastian queried.

“My truck’s in back! Come on!” she told them as they ran toward it.


*****



[Kent Farm]

Pete and Samantha appeared in the midst of the burning house and barn. They heard the screams of terrified animals.

Worse for Pete, the place resembling the one in his reality would be gone. “Damn!”

“Focus, Pete!” she urged. “We have to get the animals out of there!”

“Right,” he concurred, racing into the fiery mess. Without a second thought for his own safety, he opened the stalls, helping the animals out. Using his elemental abilities, he absorbed enough fire to allow the animals to run toward the pastures in the back. “That’s it!”

“Great! My turn!” she agreed, taking off into the air above the scene. Concentrating, she created a giant air bubble equal in area to the house and barn. Then she sucked the air out of that area, effectively strangling the fire.

He finished off the embers by absorbing the last bit of heat.

“You see? We saved the house and barn. Well for the most part,” she comforted him.

“Yeah but this shouldn’t have happened. And…crap! Lex’s place! Come on! Can you give me a lift?” he asked.

“Of course,” she agreed, letting him wrap his arms around her waist. Then she took off, using air pressure to shoot them over the distance between places rapidly.


*****


[Luthor Castle]

Having been the first target, the fire swept through much of Lex’s mansion complex, destroying the stables and gutting the castle as it went. Fortunately for the staff, the Hand had dispatched them in the initial break in. Still it was quite the disaster in progress.

Sandra slammed on the brakes. “What do we do?”

“Is there a water source near here?” Sebastian asked.

“There’s a lake a mile away. Why?” Byron growled.

“That’ll work. We just need to get there,” the water mutant indicated. Seeing his classmates streaking toward them, he waved. “And we have the answer. Guys!”

“Pete?” Byron and Sandra wondered.

Playing along to keep them calm, Pete nodded. “Later though, okay?”

“Where did you end up?” Samantha queried.

“The Talon. Byron and I put that fire out,” Sebastian replied. “And you both?”

“Clark’s place. It’s a little charred up but we got there in time. What do we do about this?” Pete inquired.

“They say there’s a lake down the road about a mile. Samantha, if I give you a geyser and aim it in this direction….”

“Operation 7 from our sessions. Sounds great! Hang on!” she concurred, grabbing onto him and taking off. Two minutes later, she returned. “He’s in position.”

“He can’t move that much water!” Sandra doubted.

“Try him,” Pete countered.

On cue, an enormous water spout rose into the air. At the top of its trajectory, it did a right angle and flew toward the burning structure.

“My turn!” Samantha called, shooting up into the night sky. Reaching the water spout, she created a wind funnel, readjusting its direction so that it hit the mansion. Just as a baker would use a pastry bag for frosting flourishes on a cake, so she used the water for that purpose. “There! Be back!”

The castle smoldered but it was out of further danger.

With Sebastian in tow, Samantha landed beside the others. “That should do it. Are you both okay?”

“We’ll be all right,” Byron assured them tersely. “Do you know where our friends are?”

“Trust me; we’re working on that situation too,” Pete told them. “Stay by the phone. If I need you, I’ll call. Okay? You know Clark and me. I’m not letting my man down!”

“We know, Pete. Thanks to you and your friends,” Sandra expressed.

“Our pleasure!” Samantha announced, as she and her two classmates vanished from the scene, leaving Byron and Sandra to wonder what had happened.

Chapter 3
[Althanor—Duboisverse]

Within her hut, Cybelle and the Faerie Empress observed the events in the other universe through the scrying pool. While the group’s attention still needed to go three ways, at least one of them was under control.

“Smallville’s fires are out. The students succeeded there. Thank the goddess!” Cybelle declared.

“Indeed we should. Yet we are not out of the woods as you mortals might say. The Amherst situations still loom large. Those need to be taken care of before we can worry about the main problem,” the Empress reminded her.

“Freeing the children and their companions. Yes. If I might say, Milady, something though needs to be done to hold the line on that front.”

The Elf-Queen nodded. “Indeed.” She smiled. “He’s awake.”

“Jor-El?” Cybelle asked.

“Yes. Good news indeed,” the Empress declared, vanishing from view.



****


 

[House of Healing, Althanor]

Floating within a special energy bubble off to the side of the room, Jor-El felt his strength returning to him. Since the strange elf woman had brought him back there, the mortal women tended to him with some sort of magic, healing the burns and the doubt. I need to see to my charges.

“You should give it more time,” the Empress pointed out, appearing in front of him. “While my heart sings to see you up, you are in no shape to deal with opposition, my friend.”

I know. This test will make them stronger. But like any teacher, I worry for them, he admitted.

“And with good reason. Your son is still lost to us but we will find him. As for Lana Lang, I can help you speak with her if you’d like,” the Empress offered.

Kara tortures her with impunity! If I get my hands on that impure excuse for a Kryptonian, I’ll tear her apart!

“Calm yourself. Focus with me now,” the Empress advised.



*****


[Black Hand Headquarters—Metropolis, Super Lana Universe]

Several hours had passed since Kara took Clark away. However for Lana, the pain continued to echo. After the first hour, she had sobbed herself out. By that point, the resentment phase had set in, driving her to struggle with her bonds.

Through the air conditioning vent, she heard Miri’s screams.

This is insane! Stop feeling sorry for yourself, Lana! Get yourself loose! She yanked at the bonds. If I get my hands on Arighatto, I’ll teach him what torture is! Then again, once the Protector’s finished with the Hand’s goon squad, he’ll be here. We need to be ready when he is. She pulled at the chains again—only to receive an automatic burst of kryptonite energy for her trouble.

Keep your focus, Lana Lang, Jor-El advised, as he appeared in front of her. Seeing her about to speak, he urged, Act as if I’m not here and use your telepathy.

All right. She relaxed for a minute. These metal chains are too strong. And they jolt me with kryptonite every ten minutes or so.

Be strong. You must carry yourself proudly no matter what these dogs do to you. And I am with you, Daughter, he stated.

She stared at him. You called me ‘Daughter’?

That is what you are, isn’t it? Kal-El has chosen you. I have made you one of us. You are never alone, my Dear.

I failed you. Clark’s gone and we’re all here.

This is a setback. As for failing, you sacrificed yourself for the Greater Good and you did so without second thought. That is not a failure, Lana Lang. That is the greatest love one can show, he disagreed before kissing her on the forehead. The kiss of fealty and love. For Kryptonians, there is no greater link than that.

Wow. Thank you. Great, that sounded so dumb….

It came from your heart, Lana Lang.

Jor-El, would you please call me ‘Lana’? I’d like that.

All right…Lana. I must go and rest now. But I wanted to reassure you before I did. Be safe and have heart. Help is already there and working its way toward you, he concluded before disappearing.

For fifteen minutes after that, she mused over the conversation, trying to wrap her head around the conversation. He’s made me one of the family? I don’t know whether I should be happy or scared! She took a couple of breaths, closed her eyes and made herself focus on the situation. After everything, that is a good position to be in. Once I…we get Clark back, I can pursue it further. And, Clark, we will get you back. I love you and would never abandon you. Count on that.

****

[House of Healing—Althanor]

Jor-El opened his eyes and felt invigorated.

“You see?” the Empress asked. “Lana is holding up well under the circumstances.”

She is. Truly Kal-El has chosen well.

“I applaud your support to her,” she added.

The kiss is a standard way of welcoming a consort to the clan on Krypton. She has earned the right. When this travesty has been dealt with, I will speak to Kal-El about formalizing things.

“Think a bit on that, Jor-El. Let things develop naturally. In this case, they are on course. Rest now. Soon you will be needed there,” she advised.

He concurred, allowing himself to relax.

The strength of the young ones will indeed be tested soon. Thank the goddess Jor-El made the effort for that universe’s Lana Lang will be a key figure in this struggle before it’s over. She teleported back over to Cybelle’s side. “Anything new?”

“The Black Hand’s caught up with the Singletons,” the priestess noted. “And the drama unfolds still at the university.”

The Empress nodded, observing Gabrielle and Eve entering the area. “Welcome, Queen Gabrielle and Princess Eve.”

“Any news?” Gabrielle wondered.

“The alternate Smallville is safe. Now the scene shifts to Amherst and two stages most dire for David and his students,” the Elf-Queen indicated.

“What of Mother?” Eve asked with concern.

“She’s on the precipice but her time has not arrived yet. First others need our aid,” the Empress declared. “Cybelle, if you would?”

The high priestess nodded, focusing the pool on one event…..

Chapter 4 [Route 116—just over the Amherst/Granby, MA town line, Super Lana Universe]

Garth drove the car as fast as he dared; given a desire to avoid attention yet get away from their attackers. His mind was torn between rushing his wife, daughter, sister-in-law and nieces to safety on the one hand and going back to help his brother-in-law on the other.

Then Karen’s eyes went wide. “Garth!”

“PAPA!” Cassie and Angie wailed.

“What is it?” Marti asked, cursing that her own mutant gifts didn’t involve a mental link of any kind.

He flipped on the radio and tuned it to the news station out of Northampton. “Come on! Come on!”

At that moment, the announcer reported, “….More on that standoff at UMass. At this hour, we have learned that one of the librarians engaged the terrorists holding the building and got the hostages out of there. However, I…oh heavens! We’re going to our onsite reporter, Arlene Thomas. Arlene?”

“What?” Garth demanded. “What is it?”

“Dave….” Karen muttered, shaking and crying in pain.

“What’s happened?” April pressed.

The reporter revealed, “Yes, Doug. The building just collapsed with the librarian still inside! What a tragic end for the unknown man! That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a true act of heroism and…wait! There’s something hitting the three terrorists! My God! The man’s still alive although he’s in some sort of walking trauma. He’s badly wounded and now the terrorists are….AAAH!”

“Arlene! What’s wrong?” the studio voice asked. “What’s that laughing?”

“Th…there’s a ghost now too! Some really intense woman with an old accent! Sh…she’s got some tie to our wounded man and….” Arlene continued before a crashing noise was heard and she was cut off.

“Great!” Garth seethed. “Those three idiots attracted the witch, as if Dave didn’t have enough to worry about!” As they sped through Granby, they could see a line of cars with black suited ninja waiting for them. “It’s a stinking roadblock!” He slammed on the brakes, doing a U-turn and speeding back the other way.

However, the Hand had blocked the road behind them as well, forcing them to slow down.

“They got us!” April realized.

“Not without a fight,” Karen asserted, rubbing her husband’s arm. “They won’t take the girls.” She looked back at Marti, Cassie and Angie.

Her husband checked the three pistols he had with him. “They’ll have to kill us first.” He stepped out of the car, aiming his weapon defiantly at the mob in front of him. “Drop it, guys! You’re messing with a Federal agent!”

One of the goons yelled into a megaphone. “We know who you are, Singleton. Too bad, that didn’t work for Petersen! We have a place waiting for you all as well! High Leader wants your company!”

“Too bad I’m busy!” Garth retorted, taking aim and firing; his shot taking out the main searchlight. “Too bad you didn’t pay the electric bill!”

“Get them!” the head ninja ordered.




*****


Meantime, Jasmine guided Carpet right over the scene. With Mika’s sensitivity to the woman who would have been her mother, it had been easy to find the refugees. Now they saw that they had arrived just in time.

“This stops now!” Mika seethed, focusing on the woods on both sides of the state road. “Sasha! Big nest about 500 yards into the woods!”

“I feel them!” Sasha concurred, sending her summons to the worker bees in the trees. “I have instructed them not to touch the animals—only the black dressed men.”

“Thanks,” Mika expressed.

Within seconds, the swarm could be heard, buzzing at a deafening clip.

From the woods, a pack of wolves accompanied by a large bear approached the group.

“I’m going on ahead! Deal with the creeps on the other side!” Chloe told the others before streaking off toward the southern end of the road block.

“I’ll follow her,” Deirdre informed them, vanishing in a poof of mist.


****

 

Garth and the others heard the buzzing noise coming from the forest. “What the?” Then his eyes went wide as the swarm headed his way. He dove back in the car, making sure the windows were up tight.

Outside, he saw the bees attacking the ninja, stinging and dropping them like a bad habit.

As the ninja fled, they ran into an animal roadblock of wolves and a bear. They tried to attack the animals.

In response, the animals retaliated but kept it to a few choice wounds thanks to Mika’s suggestions.

“Papa, look!” Marti indicated. “The other way!”

Everyone turned to see a glowing woman swoop out of the sky, emitting some kind of energy on the other group.

Beside her, another woman dressed in green waved her hands, knocking the snot out of the Hand’s attackers.

“Who are they?” April whispered frantically.

“They’re like Dave and me. They’re mutants,” Karen replied. “I wonder if they’ll kill us next?”

Not a chance, Mo…uh I mean Ma ‘am, Mika assured her telepathically as Jasmine landed the flying carpet. You’re safe now.

Who are you? Karen wondered.

We’re friends and you’re still in danger, Mika advised. We’ll get you to safety.