Lucas had calmed a bit when she looked at her familiar/new angel woman body.
That didn't mean it was bulletproof.
"Goddess... You are telling me to go against them with a lance. They have planes, helicopters. They could shoot me..."
"Not in your dream, Lucas. You don't get it, do you? You are officially taking control of this dream. This is a lucid dream, only you'll wake up when you darn well please. Touch that wall with your lance. Lightly, please, VERY lightly.
Lucas did. The wall crumbled as if a demolition ball had gone through it.
"Whoa."
Soldiers behind it began shooting... water squirts.
Lucas looked at her lance. Then at the soldiers whose guns now squirted water. Then at her lance. Then at the VERY unfortunate soldiers. This process was repeated a few times by Lucas, for humor.
"HOORAY! A NEW PLAYTHING!" - She yelled out, smiling a dangerous smile.
Neruite smirked and tuned out the sounds of what Lucas was now doing to the entire Airstrip One as she proceeded to repair Lucas's dreamscape and psyche.
Airstrip One was no more. In its place, an angel stood on the top of a tall building, overlooking an immense city that was modern, beautiful and free.
"You built it beautifully." - Said Neruite, smiling lightly, behind Lucas - "We should get going, though. Cass is waking up soon, and I have a request."
"Anything for you, Neruite... You saved me. I would gladly ser..."
"Cut that out this instant." - Said Neruite - "That lance of yours, that Free Lance of yours, is not a toy. It has no powers outside this dreamscape beyond what your sword does, it's true, but it's still a symbol of what you are. You looked for a goddess that did not require this kind of treatment. You are free. I did not save the life of a free spirit to get a servant."
Lucas blushed.
"Sorry. Er... You did still have a request...?"
"It's a job. One you will be paid for. Because you have no lords or masters, but you do have clients. And friends. And I am both. Now wakey-wakey."
Lucas opened her eyes to see Cass opening hers.
Cass spoke first.
"Lucas! Talk to me! Are you okay???"
Lucas hugged Cass tight.
"Yes... Neruite saved me... I... think..."
Cass hugged Lucas tight. "I was afraid I'd lost you..."
The two kissed for a long while. Then realized they were on a bed in a room...
"Okay, where are we?"
The window gave way to a barren landscape with a black night MUCH more filled with stars than the one they knew. And adding to it... was Earth.
"Huh. Looks a bit like a marble, doesn't it?" - Said Lucas.
"Glad to know you're okay, Lucas." - Cass smirked - "Why are we on the Moon and how are we breathing?"
"That would be because I don't care for suffocating my guests." - Said Selene as she entered the bedroom.
Lucas blushed. "Goddess! Er... Cass, meet Neruite... Neruite, meet Cass..."
Cass smiled. "Lucas, she presented herself to me as Selene when she saved you."
Selene nodded. "You can call me Neruite, for that is what I am to you, but I'm also Selene. Or Luna. Or a lot of other names, really."
Cass smirked. "Time for that perception game again? Okay. I see a tall siler-haired woman with moon ornaments on her."
Lucas blushed. "Er, smallish, cute, long black hair. Pale. Wearing a long nightgown and a skirt."
"So, to me she looks imposing, to you she looks adorable. That it?" - Cass smirked.
"She's also in the room." - Selene quipped - "And she's your host, so treat her right." - She smirked - "Now. You two had a very hard time, so we'll talk over tea. I have a request to make. A paid one, Lucas..."
"Neruite, with how much I owe you..."
"Really? How much did you charge from Robert when you saved her life?"
"Nothing." - Lucas blushed - "Well, I joked about him giving me a few bottles of Dr Pepper, but that was a joke."
"That settles how much I'll charge from you. At most, a few bottles of Dr Pepper. Also, I doubt Robert will charge anything for sending me to help you." - Said Selene.
"Huh?"
"Her prayers had... had me informed. The prayers weren't for me, but I was made aware of you two by them, as... something informed me. That something isn't God... Or may be. I don't know what 'God' is or isn't, but... Anyways, I digress. I saved you because I could and because it was the right thing to do. And especially because we're old friends. As surprising as it may be for you to know that. Saving you does not entitle me to use you as cheap labor, and your reward for this job I'll ask of you won't inconvenience me anyways."
Lucas smiled. "Thanks..."
The trio sat down for tea in a huge Greek-styled veranda. This time, the emptiness around them wasn't unsettling like in the other world. It was, rather, peaceful and comfortable. In her peaceful bliss, Lucas failed to notice that her sword was now a lance with two small silvery wings near its tip...
