[Celuien]

I should have stayed with Payne. Balrogs, singing and rescue missions. Blargh. Panakeia was a devoted self-preservationist, and this business of rescuing Alli from a balrog sounded dangerous. Yet she pitied the girl. Panakeia hoped that she would manage an escape. And hopefully, Mardil would handle any balrog-battling that was to take place.

She listened to Mardil's conversation with Sai. Get out of an official contract? That didn't seem likely. RCA's lawyer's were sure to fight anything of the sort. If they were unable to escape their obligation to RCA, Panakeia wasn't planning to wait for them. She had already been delayed enough on her journey.

Mardil strode off. Sai said, "Come on, let's go to the studio." She led the way to a door.

What a sight met Panakeia's eyes! A gaping fissure sat in the center of the stage. Red light shone outward from its depths, illuminating the room with an eerie glow. The room was deserted. Panakeia caught Sai looking at her quizzically. She realized that she must look terrible with her filthy dress, broken shoe and gum-smeared hair. Panakeia smiled wanly, "I know I look terrible. It's been a hard trip."

Sai snapped. "I wasn't thinking about that. I'm worried about poor Alli. How are we going to save her?"

"I don't know. But in the meanwhile, I suppose I should take the opportunity to clean up. You wouldn't happen to know where there's a restroom, would you?"

"Restroom? How can you think about your appearance at a time like this?"

"My dear, there are some things that are unforgivable. One of them is for a lady to go about looking like a draggled-tailed...street pigeon. In any case, if we're waiting for Mardil to finish negotiating, we're going to be here for sometime. I might as well use it."

Sai looked at Panakeia in disgust. "I didn't notice. You're on your own." She sat on the edge of the hole in the stage and said nothing more.

"Oh, sulk then!" she exclaimed. "I'll be back." Panakeia left the room and headed down the hall. She was in luck. The third door down from the studio was marked with a star. "Dressing rooms." Panakeia entered. Another hallway stretched out before her. She walked down the hall. It too was hung with portraits. With a start, she recognized the images of her friends from the train. All three were smiling. Payne doesn't look quite so frightful when he cracks a grin, she thought. He really should try it more often. She kept walking. A pink door was marked in gold. Ladies. Panakeia stepped inside.

For such a lavish studio, you'd think they could find a better cleaning staff. Soap scum covered the sinks. The mirror was so smeared that Panakeia couldn't find her reflection. She pulled out her scarf and wiped a spot clean. I really do look dreadful. How embarrassing. She turned on a faucet. Cold water poured out, but the side marked hot was not functioning. Better than nothing. She opened her sample case. A change of clothes was stashed in the bottom. Out came a bottle of Residue-free Gentle-cleansing Shampoo for Dyed Hair to tackle the sticky mess in her locks. She only hoped it wouldn't double as a hair-remover. There were no extra shoes. After thinking for a moment, she took off the undamaged shoe and broke off its heel. At least I'm on even ground now.

15 minutes later, Panakeia emerged looking like her old self, if a few inches decreased in height and with shorter, greener hair. The shampoo hadn't done much to help her remove the gum, so she had been forced to trim off the involved areas. Worse yet, it didn't mix well with Pearie Ockside Potion, accounting for the change in hue. I should know better than to use my own products, she thought ruefully.

Panakeia made her way back to the studio and peeked inside. Sai was still sitting at the edge of the balrog hole. There was no sign of Mardil. She poked her head inside. "Have you seen Mardil?"

"Not yet." Sai stared. "What happened to you?"

"Never mind. I'll wait out here."

Time passed. Just as Panakeia was about to set out on her own again, Mardil appeared at the end of the hall. "It's Mardil," she shouted. She listened as he unfolded his plan.

The entrance of the tanks startled Panakeia. This was most impressive. A new respect for the strange man of Gondor and his influence rose in her. It was a masterstroke to have the tanks bring them to Edge-Where. Panakeia really did not want to return to the BliddyUnnergrind. She eagerly boarded the tank, forgetting temporarily that they were about to go searching for a balrog. However, she was soon reminded of that fact when their driver announced that one was directly ahead. She watched in amazement as Mardil exited the tank. Panakeia was not about to look out the hatch, but she wanted to know what was going on.

"Isn't there any way to look out of this thing?" she queried the orc-in-command.

"Gunner's slit, just above. Be sure you don't block his view. We may need to fire."

Panakeia reached the opening just in time to see Mardil running back toward the tank, the balrog just behind him. "Retreating already?" she said “And I thought he was trying to be a hero.”

"Look again," Sai said triumphantly. "He has Alli!"

Panakeia had failed to notice that fact. "I only hope they make it back before that beast catches them." She watched in astonishment as Mardil flung his blade and the balrog's leg changed color, then shattered. It seemed that Mardil could do more than talk. At the same time, Panakeia was annoyed at his showing off. It made her feel all the guiltier about her own unwillingness to face danger for her companions. But what what Alli doing? She appeared to be screaming at Mardil.

Mardil and Alli climbed into the tank. The commander barked. "Back to Edge-Where!" Alli continued to yell at Mardil. If that's the way she thanks him for getting her out of trouble, I shouldn't feel quite so guilty about being less than eager to come to her aid. The tank rumbled and turned down yet another tunnel. Alli's hysterical screaming about the Balrog was beginning to grate on Panakeia's nerves when a soldier gave her an injection. Alli dropped off to sleep. "Thank goodness," Panakeia murmured.

A few minutes later, they stopped. The driver announced their arrival. "Edge-Where."

Mardil flung the hatch open and leapt gracefully from the tank, carrying the still unconscious Alli. Sai quickly followed. Panakeia brought up the rear.

Behind them, the tunnel gaped back into darkness. A mist hung about everywhere, making it difficult to see where one thing ended and another began. If this mist is around all the time, Panakeia thought, I see why this place is called Edge-Where. I can't find the edges of anything.

"Well, here we are," she said cheerfully. "Where to now?"