Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Maxine and the rest of my OC's. they're mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

-

Continuing on the storyline I started with “New Blood” Read that first so you will know who is who and what has happened in the 'Verse.

Warning: This storyline includes 'gasp' fem slash. It won't be graphic but I know some are offended by any depiction of homosexuality. If you don't like this kind of thing... stop reading right now.

AN: Just when things are going well...

-

Guardians

-

Chapter Three

-

The town of Colbyville was deceptive. Appearing at first glance to be a rustic backwater, upon closer examination modern touches could be found.

Electric streetlights, a modern food market and the horses were nearly outnumbered by the hover mules and ground cars. Even the port was a bustling enterprise.

Of course, this had only happened in the last three years. Ever since Patience had started allowing the slave markets to set up shop in the warehouses near the docks. The influx of cash had done many things.

None of them good for the average citizen of Whitefall. The bars were rowdy and a dangerous place for those not either under Patience's protection or working for the markets themselves.

Even the whores in the bordellos were under either indenture or held as slaves.

And the queen of it all was Patience. An old shrew of a woman who thought nothing of placing her fellow man in bondage. It was just business.

As most mornings, the queen held court in the town's largest Hotel/Whorehouse/Saloon. Since she owned the place and over eighty percent of the usable land on Whitefall, Patience ruled the moon with an iron fist.

At first glance, she looked like an old washed up prairie farm wife but the rough exterior held a sharp mind and not a single sympathetic bone in her body.

As she ate her breakfast, surrounded by her trusted lieutenants, she was not happy at being interrupted.

“What is it Joshua?” Patience growled.