Tunnels 04, Closer

celebratory rally. But now the previously well-kept area was overrun with weeds -- and a perfect spot for the FA233s to land without being seen by anyone in the city itself.
    The Limiter General was supervising his men as they escorted the New Germanian prisoners from the helicopters, corralling them down one end of the field where three long, vertical banners stirred in the dying wind. Each of these banners had once proudly displayed the New Germanian national symbol -- an eagle against a stark red and black background. However, in the intervening years they had become so sun-bleached and tattered, the eagle and the stark colors had faded almost to nothing.
    The prisoners were standing with their hands on their heads, their eyes downcast as they waited for instructions.
    "Load of wimps," Rebecca Two commented.
    There hadn't been a single casualty at the pyramid as the Limiters had take the whole complement of New Germanian soldiers by surprise and assumed control of their fleet of helicopters. The Rebecca twins had been far from impressed by the soldiers' willingness to lay down their arms and surrender.
    "It's a failure of leadership," Rebecca One agreed, curling her lip disdainfully. "That's something we can fix."
    "Leadership? You mean the fat bloke who lives in the arch, with his shiny hair and a taste for the good life?" Rebecca Two asked, raising an eyebrow.
    Rebecca One tittered snidely. "Yes, him -- the fat Chancellor. Though Coxy seemed to have a soft spot for him."
    "Poor old Coxy. Did we bring his body back with us in the end?" Rebecca Two said.
    "We did. Why?"
    Rebecca Two was thoughtful for a moment. "Because I think the first official engagement the fat Chancellor presides over -- as our puppet, that is -- should be a full state funeral for Cox. You know, a band playing, military honors, and an aircraft fly-by and--"
    "Yes, and a statue. A very lifelike and a damned great statue, in that square where the Chancellery is," Rebecca One proposed, then chuckled. "And it should be just outside the fat Chancellor's window, where the doofus has to see it every day. Coxy would be amused by that."
    The merriment suddenly left her face and she gave a small hum, as if irritated.
    "What is it? her sister asked.
    "It's Will and Elliott. I can't believe we let them slip through our fingers again. It was fun dispatching Dr. Buckwheat, but we were just getting into our stride when Elliot caved like that, and gave us back our virus. Pity... we had Will right here." Looking at her hand, she clenched it into a tight little fist. "We had him right here, and we let him go."
    Rebecca Two smiled sanguinely. "Don't be disheartened. We achieved the main objective, and there will be time enough, time to mop up the little annoyances later. One needs something to look forward to -- that what makes life worth living." She stopped speaking as she watched the young blond-haired officer being conducted away from where the other New Germanian troops were being held. He was between two Limiters, a third following close behind with a small case in his arms.
    "So the processing begins," Rebecca One observed.
    Her sister nodded in the officer's direction. "That's the soldier who met us when we first entered the city. He's a good man -- he saw sense when I threatened him. He saved your life with his quick thinking."
    "Right," Rebecca One said in a drawn-out way, a slight smile playing on her lips as she threw a sideways glance at her sister.
    "I hope that they're not too rough, and they don't break him," Rebecca Two said earnestly, still watching as the group headed toward one of the archways set into the banked ramps of seats at the side of the stadium. "You know, if you don't mind, I think I'd like to sit in on his session... make sure they do it properly."
    With a knowing chuckle, Rebecca One prodded her sister. "Don't you come over all serious with me and pretend that this is purely business -- you really like him, don't you? You've got a thing for Captain Goldilocks over there."
    "Captain Franz," her sister said, then regretted it.
    "Ha! You even know his name!" Rebecca One cawed, then dissolved into peals of laughter.
    "Don't be silly," Rebecca Two mumbled, making an embarrassed tutting sound as she began to walk quickly toward where the Limiters were leading the officer.

    * * * * *

    Due to their increasing weightlessness, Will and Elliott were moving through the Ancient's passage at a rate of knots.
    They merely had to kick