tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91681419682434410142024-02-20T06:26:47.713-08:00Universes With MeaningThe Landscape of My ImaginationThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-32619448725103089162019-05-31T21:18:00.001-07:002019-05-31T21:18:12.633-07:00Breach World Championship 2081 Part 4: Dam<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>It's. Technically. May. So I win. Ish. Finals fucked me and this one took forever. But it's summer now, so we should be good. If you think this entry was worth the wait, please consider becoming a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepuppyturtle" target="_blank">patron</a>. There are numerous benefits, including deleted content, information from my personal notes, and the right to have me critique your story, or write one for you according to your specifications.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan scanned the theater to see who
else had been eliminated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All four
members of Ours is the Glory were still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sad Cake Binge Gaming was still there, except for the Lyfe Jay had
killed earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Phoenix was missing its
Clypeus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of We Rise as One and Dying
Gravity were gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan thought about going back into
virtual reality to watch the rest of the match, but there was something the
lobby had that virtual reality didn’t: food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan had left his plate of pastries on the table down there, and he
needed to get back down to them before anything happened to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He couldn’t let those go to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He left the theater and headed for the lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he walked, he pulled his phone out of his
pocket and pulled up a stream of the Battle Royale match.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breach-bot’s technology allowed a
more cinematic streaming experience than you could get from any other game. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan held his phone’s microphone up to his
mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s going on with Unbroken,” he
asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He held his phone up as he walked
downstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The screen showed him a
beautiful view of the fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot
was framing the shot for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot
piloted the camera anytime anyone streamed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breach</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a talented little director and showed
every viewer a different version of the broadcast, depending on what he
expected them to like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even though it had been a few
minutes, he chose to start Ryan’s playback at the moment he had died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot’s frame showed silhouettes of the
remaining members of Unbroken, in stark shadow from the bright light of the
fireball that had claimed Ryan and Joss’s lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Like everything Jayden saw through
Dash’s eyes, the explosion happened in slow motion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, thin streaks of fire shot like bottle
rockets over the wall Avaggdon had made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A cloud of dark gray smoke billowed up after them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fraction of a second later, the cloud
ignited into a fireball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fuck,” Sophia said, slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Really Jayden was hearing her more quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dash’s perception of time was different from
everyone else’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To everyone else, he
was fast, but to him, it was everyone else who was slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every second felt like ten to him, allowing
him to run, dodge, shoot and think faster than anyone else could ever hope
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia’s voice was deep, and she
seemed to take ten seconds to say that single word, yet Jayden had no trouble
understanding her, and so long as he was in Dash’s body, it was easy to match
the speed of her speech himself, ensuring that he’d sound natural to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We need to retreat,” Jayden said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before turning to run away, Mitch
tossed a bomb at the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fell at
the wall’s foot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch held onto the
detonator as he ran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the likely event
that Reigning Fire lowered the wall to pursue them, they’d get a nasty surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, Mitch’s three remaining bombs
would be enough to destroy the dam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sophia gave herself a speed boost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was the slowest of the three, even after
having her speed increased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
two had to slow down to avoid leaving her behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden looked over his shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth had flown over the wall and was
chasing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind them, the wall
lowered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth blocked Jayden’s view
of the other two members of Reigning Fire, but when Mitch detonated his bomb,
their monstrous slow-motion shrieks proved it had managed to harm them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shockwave even damaged Ichaboth as it
impacted him, blowing him forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jayden could capitalize on that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He pulled out his mini-flamethrower and ran up to Ichaboth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As he approached, Ichaboth reshaped itself
to try to envelop him, yet it did so with a listlessness that made it easy to
avoid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden fired his flamethrower
into the monster and dashed away from it before it could retaliate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He ran with his team for several
seconds, then dashed back to the Ichaboth, and shot it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster retreated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden could have pursued it, but it would
have made it back to its team before Jayden could kill it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster ran back to his teammates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huel-drark wasn’t among them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He probably hadn’t split off from the rest of
the team as part of some stratagem, so there was a good chance Reigning Fire
was down a teammate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had Ryan managed to
take Joss down with him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that turned
out to be the case, Jayden needed to buy Ryan a drink or something for managing
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you were down a teammate, you
weren’t likely to win a Battle Royale match.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course, that applied to them too,
but if they could destroy the dam, that wouldn’t matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unbroken ran until they were sure
Reigning Fire wasn’t following them, and then stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So that was a bust,” Sophia said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where do we go from here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not much has changed,” Jayden
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If anything, stealth has gotten
easier for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re headed for the
dam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully we can get to the top of
it without Ryan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m not sure we should be headed
toward an obvious landmark,” Mitch said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Other teams may have had this same idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“All the more reason not to waste
any time getting there,” Jayden said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“We can’t let another team destroy the dam before us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not much has changed,” Jay
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If anything, stealth has gotten
easier for us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That statement made Ryan
realize that knowing they were safe was enough, and there was no need to
continue watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned off his stream
as he entered the ballroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dozen
television screens scattered around the room, each with a group gathered in
front of it, showed footage of the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before doing anything else, Ryan walked over to the couches where his
team had had their strategy discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His pastries were still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
grabbed them and shoved one into his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Each of the twelve TV screens had a
smaller screen above it that indicated which version of the stream that screen
showed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot normally made a
custom stream for every viewer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of
the time, someone would watch a stream on their own phone or computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When that happened, Breach-bot would use the
information on those devices to figure out what content would most interest
them, and how they would most enjoy having it shown to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a party like this, though, people wanted to
watch the game together, which meant they had to be looking at the same
stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because there needed to be multiple
screens regardless, having different version of the stream on each TV was a
compromise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each stream was set up to
conform to a different set of tastes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was one set up for fans of each of the remaining teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Epidemic’s was in the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three middle-aged couples watched that screen
intently, along with a handful of other fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unbroken’s screen was next to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It had a few fans in front of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of them was cosplaying as Dash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No doubt it would be a pleasant surprise for them if Ryan were to stop
by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan started to go over there, but he
stopped in the middle of the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
should go get some punch first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sad Cake Binge Gaming had a large
crowd in front of their screen, though they were paying less attention to the
stream than they were to the eliminated Lyfe, who was mingling with his
fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pheonix’s screen had a lot of
people in front of it, including two members of We Rise as One.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The screens for Ours is the Glory and
Reigning Fire were on opposite sides of the hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan was pretty sure Ours is the Glory’s
screen was a bit bigger than the others, and Reigning Fire’s was a bit smaller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luciana Turner, the CEO of Thunderware, and
her husband, were watching the Ours is the Glory stream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The other streams were organized
around interests other than specific teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two screens were dedicated to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">General</i>
stream, the one Breach-bot constructed to be viewed by default, without making
any assumptions about the viewer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
pair of screens was dedicated to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cinematic</i>
stream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one was like the General
stream, except in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cinematic</i>,
Breach-bot was instructed to sacrifice realism for entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could alter the lighting in an area, speed
up and slow down the action, and alter the order of events, all with the aim of
making the stream more entertaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
would also replace the player’s in-game chat with dialog fitting the personas
of the characters they were playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many people found the existence of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cinematic</i>
mode abhorrent, but the crowds in front of those two screens testified to the
stream’s popularity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For those who couldn’t stand the
thought that what they were watching was anything less than the pure, unaltered
truthful light of truthfulness, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Realistic</i>
used non-cinematic filmmaking, wider, blander shots, no color alteration, and
minimal cutting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only one screen showed
this version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three people were watching
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan headed toward the less crowded
of the two <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cinematic</i> screens, punch
and pastries in hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two
couches in front of this screen, both full.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In front of that, there were some beanbags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan plopped down onto one of those.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the stream, the three remaining
members of Phoenix were fighting Epidemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan bit a pastry open and squeezed its chocolate filling into his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The screen showed a close-up of Phoenix’s
team captain, playing as Tharthan Azotum, a twelve-foot muscular tank of a
humanoid who wore intricate white armor and wielded a glowing white Warhammer
large enough that even he had to hold it two-handed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His teammate, a Canticum, sang behind him, empowering
him with her magic song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tharthan
charged at Epidemic’s Mog’Inub, his hammer in the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind him, his other teammate, Terraemotus,
who could manipulate the ground like Avaggdon could, stomped, causing the
ground below Tharthan to shoot upward and launch him into the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He flew forward pulling his hammer back for a
strike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He landed on Mog’Inub and slammed
his hammer into one of her countless eyes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dropped to his knees and grabbed the
now-blinded eye’s lower lid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
right to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mog’Inub began to shake,
and rock from side to side, trying to force its foe off its body, but the
monster was less mobile than he was strong, and he maintained his grip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terraemotus tried to summon forth spikes of
earth to pierce the monster, but Epidemic’s Avaggdon was plugged into the
ground, and held it in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth
rushed toward Tharthan and settled on top of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot cut to a tight shot of Tarthan’s
face, smirking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled out a
cleansing light and crushed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
explosion of light summoned shrieks from both Gray Fungi, causing Ichaboth to
shrink to a fraction of its former size, and making Mog’Inub fall limp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a panic, Ichaboth expanded, which, because
he was a cloud caused him to rocket upward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The camera shifted between Terraemotus
and Avaggdon as they abandoned their psychic battle over the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aveb-heth, Epidemic’s support character, fled
into the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terraemotus summoned a
wall to stop Aveb-heth from escaping, while Tharthan Azotum charged Avaggdon as
it slowly waddled away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smashed his
hammer into the monster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A huge chunk of
the soft creature’s flesh was ripped away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Canticum, while continuing to sing, charged at Aveb-heth and grabbed her
by the neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster squealed and
kicked as Canticum spun around and tossed her into the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tharthan took another swipe at Avaggdon, but
the monster jumped out of the way, only to be impaled by an unexpected spike
from Terraemotus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spike pinned it in
place, and before Avaggdon could plant itself to remove it, Tharthan smashed it
to pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tharthan dashed over to the wall,
where Aveb-heth had just stood up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
ran to the left, but Tharthan caught up to her in a single stride and grabbed
her, throwing her against the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
leapt forward and smashed her head in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It splattered, spraying the area with infectious fungal juices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terraemotus lowered his wall, and Phoenix
looked around for Ichaboth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
nowhere to be seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breach-bot cut to Ours is the
Glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were in a cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max’s Ocillo stood in front of a brown
leather couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Armigeri stood beside
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their Terraemotus was behind the
couch, connected to the ground via a hole he’d torn in the flooring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nullum was outside, visible through a large window
that reminded Ryan of the glass walls of Max’s mansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the floor, a Terran Navy Admiral, was tied
up and gagged with dark blue, glowing rope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Was that the Admiral from the mission briefing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cabin was wrecked from a fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remains all four members of Dying Gravity
were scattered around the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
team’s Lyfe was impaled on Max’s sword.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Max was speaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps he was really talking about something
else, but dialogue Breach-bot assigned him for the purposes of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cinematic</i> mode revealed that Ours is the
Glory had been sent to capture the same man Ryan’s team had been sent to kill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed they had actually bothered to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They intended to take their prisoner to a
rallying point near the dam, where they expected an Iron Star ship to be ready
to pick him up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Outside, Nullum snorted like a bull
and looked around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of Ours is
the Glory abandoned their conversation and looked out the window at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something startled Nullum, and he leapt
backward, his long, reptilian tail crashing into the window and shattering
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was staring at something in the
distance, but the others couldn’t see what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Max walked toward him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Easy,
boy,” he said, holding out his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Armigeri left the cabin through the front door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nullum screeched and bucked backward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Eas—” Max began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nullum turned around and jumped into the
cabin through the broken window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max dodged
to his left, toward the front door, and Terraemotus dodged to the right, toward
the back of the cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The camera panned
to reveal the cause of this disturbance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the distance, Spukee’s maggot-infested raven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nullum stampeded through the room and crashed
through the opposite wall, blowing a massive hole into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he ran into the distance, the building
creaked, and before Max and Terraemotus could stand, the building fell on top
of them, not killing them, but trapping them under the rubble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside, as Armigeri ran away from the raven,
Sord appeared behind him and stabbed him in the neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This broke the fear debuff, but right as
Armigeri turned around to retaliate, a hole opened underneath him and he fell
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sord flew off, and Spukee flew into
the hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spukee wasn’t normally worth
much in combat, but if he was alone with a single victim, out of sight of
everyone else, he received a buff that made him much more powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A circular wall of earth shot up
from the ground around the buried Terraemotus and flew outward, forcing the rubble
away from him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This worked, until a wall
of force appeared in the path of one part of the wall of earth reflecting it
and the rubble it was carrying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rock
and rubble hurdled toward the still-buried Terraemotus, striking the creature,
damaging it heavily, and launching it into the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Spukee’s fear effect lost its grip
on Nullum, and the beast turned around and charged toward the rubble of the
fallen cabin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it reached it, it lit
it on fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wouldn’t harm Max,
because members of the Legion of the Iron Star were immune to fire, but it
might help clear the rubble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beast
then turned its attention skyward, in search of a Pickcei to assault with its
fire breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Terraemotus lumbered to its feet and
also headed toward the rubble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
a close-up shot of Max struggling beneath it, and then another close-up on a
small section of the rubble moving to betray his location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terraemotus summoned a pillar from the ground
at that spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max was lifted into the
air, along with the small portion of the rubble that happened to be right on
top of him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of that fell away, but
he was still trapped under what remained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sord appeared near the pillar, on the opposite side from Nullum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terraemotus made a spike shoot out at Sord
from the pillar, but the creature ducked below it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nullum charged the other side of the pillar,
managing to knock some rubble off the pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sord darted out of the way of that too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nullum stepped back a few paces, preparing another charge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spukee emerged from Armigeri’s hole, cackling
and holding the creature’s helmet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
flew toward Nullum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nullum, close your eyes!” Terraemotus
shouted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both Nullum and Terraemotus did
so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spukee summoned another raven, but
neither of them saw it and it faded away after a few seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Terraemotus’ vision was obscured, Sord teleported
away from the pillar and appeared above him, then stabbed him through the top
of his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the speed of his
reaction, that must have been what Terraemotus was expecting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He reached up, grabbed Sord, and broke the
Pickcei over his knee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fairy went
limp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terraemotus tossed his remains
aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With one final heave, Max forced the
last of the debris off himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stood
and looked around, drawing his sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
saw Nullum below him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hold on, boy,” he
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He jumped onto the beast, settling
in his saddle and riding away from the rubble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He rode his steed around the clearing, keeping his eyes skyward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hadn’t found anything by the time Terraemotus
made it back to where they’d been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Brother, I think they have
escaped,” Terraemotus said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t want to give up yet,” Max
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He searched the clearing for a few
minutes more, before letting out a cry of frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rode Nullum back over to Terraemotus, and
conceded the fact that the Pickceiz were, indeed, gone, then lamented that
their mission to capture the Admiral had been thwarted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had, of course, not survived the collapse
of the building he was in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a
fresh conversation about what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
subject of the dam came up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, Unbroken
hadn’t been the only ones to speculate that it could be destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It would be an impressive thing to
accomplish,” Terraemotus said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Reason enough by itself to do it,” Max
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dismounted Nullum and allowed
Terraemotus to mount him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having the
slower Terraemotus ride Nullum would allow them to make better time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The camera cut to the fleeing Cloun
and Spukee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were both badly hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’d lost their Lyfe during their encounter
with We Rise as One and Unbroken, and so neither of them had healed since that
first match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew they wouldn’t be
around much longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their conversation
was about how to go out on a suitably amusing note.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We haven’t done anything to the
Gray Fungi, yet,” Spukee said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’re
easy to find, what with the trail of mushrooms they leave everywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah, and they’re pretty powerful,”
Cloun said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’d be awesome to take
them down a peg.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Definitely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unbroken was now close enough to the
dam that it seemed to loom over them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jayden couldn’t see any way of making ingress, but it was the dead of
night now, and the dam was still far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Besides, there had to be some way in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Near the top of the dam, evenly spaced from end to end, were artificial
waterfalls flowing down the dam’s surface and into a pond at the base of the
structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a one in a million
chance those waterfalls were just decorative, but far more likely, their
passage through the dam was being used for hydroelectric power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the machinery to do that was in the dam,
there would have to be a way inside so it could be maintained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering the waterfalls were near the top
of the dam, that way in probably was as well, meaning that what they were
really looking for was an elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Accordingly, Jayden was leading his team to the far east side of the
dam, which he calculated was the most likely place for such an elevator to
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The west side would have been
equally valid but was farther away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jayden smelled something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stopped walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Spores!”
he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the team stopped as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An Ichaboth emerged from the trees
to their right and flew toward Unbroken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They activated their masks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden pulled out his flamethrower and ran
toward the monster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Has Reigning Fire been following us
this whole time?” Sophia asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would
be a strange thing for them to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden
blasted the monster with his flamethrower as soon as he reached it, then dodged
back to avoid a counterattack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That doesn’t sound right,” Jayden
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe this is the other
Ichaboth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Epidemic’s?” Sophia said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Their Mog’Inub isn’t around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe it was killed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would make sense for Ichaboth to be the
only Gray Fungus to escape a lost battle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This Ichaboth didn’t retreat from Jayden’s
hit and run tactic like the other one had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the contrary, it was barreling toward the rest of Unbroken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch tossed a red disk onto the ground and
it unfolded into a flame-throwing turret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He used his jetpack to jump onto a nearby tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia stayed near the turret, and Jayden
retreated to her side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No other Gray
Fungi seemed forthcoming, so grouping together to tempt the Ichaboth into braving
the turret’s damage was worthwhile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
wouldn’t have any way of knowing about their masks, so it probably thought it
would have a significant chance of infecting them and gaining itself a crop of
new allies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The turret fired on the
Ichaboth as it enveloped them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
creature’s shriek was horrible, and it was hard for Jayden to suppress the
instinct to cover his ears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They weren’t
taking hit-point damage, so the monster must have been trying to infect
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia tossed a damage-boosting
buff at Jayden, who turned on his flamethrower and ran outside the Ichaboth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fired on it, his flames glowing blue with
the power of Sophia’s magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth
shifted to envelop him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden ran laps
around the monster, just barely avoiding its edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole time, the flame-throwing turret ate
it from the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was shrinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon, it realized that possibly infecting
Sophia wasn’t worth taking more damage from the turret and it flew toward Mitch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mitch flew away from the monster,
boosting himself toward another tree with his jetpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth followed him and enveloped him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch launched himself up to a higher branch,
but he was followed and re-enveloped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Ichaboth’s maneuverability surpassed his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jayden dashed toward the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sophia followed but couldn’t keep up with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden reached Mitch and Ichaboth in seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moving fast enough that his presence
might not be noticed before he could get a hit off, he ran to the tree Mitch
was flying toward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t climb as
fast as he ran, but he still reached the branch before Mitch did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch landed next to him, and Jayden shot at
the approaching Ichaboth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature screeched
and recoiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He leapt after the creature
and blasted it as he fell to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mitch followed him down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia
caught up to them and threw a speed buff at Mitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She missed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ichaboth swerved downward,
enveloping Sophia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden dashed over
and blasted it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster was small
enough now that he couldn’t hit it without harming Sophia, but that was an
acceptable loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature didn’t
flee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t much of it left to
flee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it shrunk, it moved upward to
envelop Sophia’s head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden blasted her
in the face to get at it, causing her to reel backward and fall on her back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fuck!” she shouted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature wasn’t even able to follow her
down before the last puff of it was incinerated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sophia took deep breaths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She stood up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“One percent,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fuck,” Jayden said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sophia took a deep breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Potion.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She used her anti-infection potion and was restored to normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If they encountered Reigning Fire again later, her not having that
potion would hurt them a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully,
though, their plan with the dam would work, and that wouldn’t be an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia got everyone healed up, and they resumed
their march.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The remainder of Sad Cake Binge
Gaming had an easy time locating Reigning Fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fungi left a gray scar in their wake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finding them was as simple as flying high
into the air and looking around for that scar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They found it at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually,
they found two such scars, but one ended with a dead Mog’Inub, so they knew
they wanted the other one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Mog’Inubless scar outlined a straight-forward path from a spot near the center
of the valley to a spot near the dam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Pickceiz flew to the end near the dam, and there Reigning Fire was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xig’zah hopped from tree to tree, Avaggdon
lumbered along the ground, and Ichaboth flew above them, keeping an eye on
their surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where the hell is Huel-drark?” Spukee
asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He must have gotten offed,” Cloun
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That sucks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe it doesn’t suck that much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without his cannon, Ichaboth is the only one
who can hurt us while we’re up here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Dude, we’re like, super injured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll die to a second of Ichaboth exposure.”<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh, right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who do you think offed him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Doesn’t matter now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could have been anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The better question is: How do we prank these
clowns?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three of the remaining
characters had trivial ways of escaping a pit, and none of them could shoot
projectiles, so Cloun’s reflective wall would be useless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s a hard one,” Cloun
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think your raven is the only
thing they’ll be vulnerable to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we
can set up some kind of hazard to scare them into?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That could work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure how we would set one up,
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe there’s something
hazardous around here we could take advantage of?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like that pit with the tentacles?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Cloun nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, like the pit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we’ll even be able to find it
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Split up and search?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meet back at this exact spot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They explored the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a pond back toward the center of
the valley, which Reigning Fire had already passed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In not-quite the same direction, there was a
hill with a small cave in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot
showed Spukee exploring the cave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He saw
something inside, and Breach-bot cut to a close-up of his face, lit up with
glee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rushed back to their appointed
meeting place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cloun showed up a few
minutes later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The camera cut to a wider
shot as Spukee explained what he’d found in the cave, then cut back to the
tighter shot as Cloun sprung up higher into the air, chuckling joyfully. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two agreed that they’d found their hazard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cloun zipped back over to the cave while
Spukee zipped down toward Reigning Fire, deliberately attracting Ichaboth’s
notice as he flew through the tree line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The creature fell for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it
followed Spukee below the tree-line, joining both of its allies, ensuring all
three of them could see the raven Spukee summoned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They fled from it, directly toward the cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Their
vastly different speeds forced them to split up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xig’zah sped through the forest, effortlessly
hopping from tree to tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth lagged
behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the cloud moved, he
expanded and rocketed into the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avaggdon
waddled far behind the two of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was only seconds before the Xig’zah was twice as far from the raven as he
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several seconds later, the spider
was in sight of the cave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cloun, who was
sitting on a nearby tree, waved at Xig’zah as it passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xig’zah was just outside the mouth of the
cave when the raven’s effect wore off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
spider turned around and charged toward Cloun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Pickcei darted into the air and pulled an air-horn out of his
jacket. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HONK!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xig’zah probably
realized something was going on, but he didn’t abandon his pursuit of Cloun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The ground shook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the cave charged a monster with dark
green fur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing looked like a giant
green bear, with dagger-long claws and snaggled teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It rushed at Xig’zah as Cloun flew into the
air to join Spukee, laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ichaboth condensed and rushed toward
Xig’zah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of them, in turn, rushed
toward Avaggdon, who lumbered toward the rest of his team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as they were close enough, Avaggdon
plugged into the ground and raised a wall of earth between them and the monster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The animal bashed into the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t even shake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beast tried again, and again, but it
couldn’t break the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Had it been a little smarter, it
might have thought to go around the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Given how thick the wall was, it probably wouldn’t have to go far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avaggdon and Terraemotus could only displace
a certain volume of earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once it
became clear that the monster wasn’t coming for them, Reigning Fire allowed
themselves to catch their breaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Rats,” Spukee said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is there any way of salvaging this one?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not without getting rid of that wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should we lead the critter somewhere else?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think any of the other teams are
close enough for that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Rats.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Avaggdon spun, and two sharp, thin
stone pillars shot up from the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cloun, who had been facing Reigning Fire and so had seen Avaggdon spin,
dodged to the left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spukee was impaled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went limp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cloun dashed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Crap! Crap! Crap!
Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth flew
upward and barreled toward Cloun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spikes
were shooting up all around the fairy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One shot up just to his left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another right behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
rose directly in front of him, and he crashed into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth was on him by the time he pulled
himself away from the pillar, and it only took a second of exposure to the
monster’s damaging vapors to end him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The camera followed his drained husk
as it fell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It landed in a tree, startling
a flock of birds. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a fit of
booing from the crowd in front of Sad Cake Binge Gaming’s screen as it switched
to displaying the general broadcast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan ate his last pastry as the camera panned back to Reigning Fire and
began to follow them as they moved through the forest, on their way to the dam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unbroken reached the dam before
anyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an elevator
upward, just as Jayden had hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
mechanism was simple: a platform attached to a metal pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The platform was at the top, barely visible
in the distance, when they arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
mechanism to summon it had been disabled, perhaps by evacuating civilians, but
it was a simple matter for Mitch to hack the device and re-enable it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the distance, the platform descended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And we’re sure there is going to be a way to
burst it open?” Mitch asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not completely,” Jayden said, “but
even if Breach-bot didn’t build a way in deliberately, some well-placed
explosives might manage it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we make
any hole at all, the valley floods, and most of the other players die.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Everyone who can’t fly,” Sophia
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That just leaves Pickceiz and
Ichaboths.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Barring the ones he’d encountered,
Jayden had no way of knowing which players were left and which ones had been
eliminated, but presuming it was only flyers who had survived, the only
remaining threats would be Sad Cake Binge Gaming, who’d lost their healer,
Reigning Fire’s Ichaboth, who wasn’t much of a threat on his own, and Dying
Gravity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The platform reached the bottom of
the valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbroken stepped onto it,
and Mitch activated it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
rose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden looked out over the misty,
moonlit forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not too far from the dam
were the remains of a collapsed wooden structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had there been a battle around there, or had
that been that way when Breach-bot created the map?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the former was true, at least one other
team was close to the dam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit
further, Mog’Inub’s L-shaped body was lying on its side in a clearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jayden caught some motion in the
corner of his eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the moonlight, he could just see something
like a patch of mist moving toward the dam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Was it an Ichaboth, or just a random patch of haze?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pointed it out to the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is that Ichaboth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s hard to tell,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They watched it for half a minute,
but still weren’t sure what it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If
it is Ichaboth,” Jayden said, “we’ll just have to work fast once we’re up
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we find the entrance, I’ll
go in alone and search for a place to plant the bomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You guys stay outside and keep watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call if you need me.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned to Mitch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Once I find a place to plant the bombs, I’ll
come back out and lead you right to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once the bomb is planted, we’ll run to the valley wall.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By the time they reached the top of
the dam, they could no longer make out the suspicious patch of mist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found an entrance hatch right away, and
Jayden climbed inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Normally, splitting up was a
terrible idea, but Dash would be able to get back to his teammates in no time
if they alerted him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That same speed
allowed him to survey the dam’s interior quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He already had a likely weakness in
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went straight to the mouth of
the nearest artificial waterfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There,
he found a facility filled with hydroelectric generators collecting power from
the passing water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were large,
impressive machines, rusty like Zap’s plating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I found a generator room by the nearest waterfall,” Jayden said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He darted around the room, looking either for
something that would amplify an explosion, or an obvious structural
vulnerability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He found neither.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But there would be one below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The generator was in this room, but the water
itself flowed through pipes underneath it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If the explosives could be placed in such a way that a pipe would burst,
the water would escape into the rest of the dam, and the dam would probably
fail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There had been a ladder outside the
generator room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Jayden had hoped, it
led him to a round, bulging wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden
put his ear up to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water was flowing
on the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mitch, come down
here,” Jayden said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch had three bombs left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He planted all of them, setting them up so
that he could detonate them remotely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Guys, hurry up,” Sophia said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ichaboth is at the bottom of the dam.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’ve got the bombs planted,”
Jayden said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re coming right
up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time they were up, the
elevator platform was moving down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Should they destroy it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
should have done it earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they did
so now, it would doubtless alert Reigning Fire to their presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe that wasn’t a problem, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth was the only one who could get up
here without it, and he couldn’t take all three of them on at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mitch, toss a grenade on the elevator.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He walked up to the edge where the dam
overlooked it, and gently tossed a frag grenade onto it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grenade clattered as it fell onto the
elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The explosion tore the
platform off of the rail it had been clinging to and sent it plummeting to the
valley floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbroken walked off the
dam and onto the cliff that overlooked the valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wanted to get as far away as they
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If water rushed through the gap
where the dam was now, it could erode the land nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth emerged over the edge of the cliff
but retreated as soon as it saw them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once they had been running for
several minutes, Jayden gave the order to blow the dam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch pressed the little green button on his
detonator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fireball burst out from the
dam, ripping a hole in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water gushed
through that hole like it was emerging from a faucet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it did, the force of the flowing water
ripped the hole open wider, allowing more water to flow into the valley.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Thank you to my patrons:</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Kevin</i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I also have a discord server, which you can join via patreon, or by contacting me and asking for an invite.</i></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-9324746492701572602019-04-08T16:01:00.000-07:002019-04-08T16:01:08.146-07:00Breach World Championship 2081 Part 3: The Spore<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In contrast to the last one, this entry is after my self imposed deadline. Hopefully I don't make a habit out of this. Mid-terms fucked me up while I was writing the first draft of this. The good news is, I'm about to finish an online class I've been doing this semester, so my schedule will soon have some extra breathing room. I hope everyone enjoys the entry. If you do, please consider becoming a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepuppyturtle" target="_blank">patron</a>. There are numerous benefits, including deleted content, information from my personal notes, and the right to have me critique your story, or write one for you according to your specifications.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan and Sophia were still catching
up—Ryan could have kept talking with her all night—when they heard a faint
whirring by the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In flew a
fist-sized red and white drone carrying a camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following behind it, looking straight into the
camera, was Marvin Blackwood, the captain of Sad Cake Binge Gaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two more members of his team entered behind
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both had their own mini-drone:
one blue and gold, one dark purple and black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The drones were AI piloted and programmed to follow them around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Presumably, they were using them to
live-stream their entrance to the party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“And here we are!” Marvin said into his camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept talking, but Ryan didn’t keep paying
attention to what he was saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max
walked off the stage, where he had been dancing, and over to greet the entering
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia stared at them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re thinking of pulling
something?” Ryan said to Sophia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“More like daydreaming,” Sophia
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’re good sports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can handle it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Marvin went to the dance floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other two headed toward the swimming pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan wished he could use the pool himself,
but he hadn’t thought to pack swim trunks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ten minutes later, the music by the
dance floor stopped, and Max’s voice rang out in its place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey, everyone, the annual Battle Royale game
will begin in about twenty minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone
should find their teammates and prepare to meet me in the lobby.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you think I can get away with not seeing
Mitch until we’re in-game.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re probably right.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan had agreed to come here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needed to think about Lisa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He filled up his punch glass and packed some
thickly sweet chocolate pastries onto a paper plate, and then he and Sophia
made their way over to the corner where Jay and Mitch each had an arm around
the other’s shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They adopted a
chaster posture when they saw Ryan and Sophia approaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan had expected some kind of glare from
Mitch, but instead, the look on his face reeked of awkwardness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was shorter than any of them, including
Sophia, and had neither a chin nor cheekbones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wore a gaudy light blue shirt under his jacket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey, guys,” Sophia said, sitting
down on the couch next to Jay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hi,” Mitch said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took a seat on the chair next to the
three of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Glad you guys came right over,” Jay
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We should spend a moment
discussing strategy before the match starts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I guess,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some things went unspoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were playing Red Arachnia, which, in a Battle
Royale match, was a very good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Battle
Royale matches differed from standard ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All eight teams would be set loose in one giant map, and they would go
around trying to kill each other, with each player’s death eliminating them
from the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, only one
team would still have living members, and that team would be the winner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this kind of match, it was
normally a good idea to try not go get into too many fights, and of all the
factions, Red Arachnia was the best at stealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They would have been even better off if they didn’t have Zap among
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Zap could be stealthier
than his size would lead one to expect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was immune to radar tools and wasn’t loud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breach-bot would have designed the
map so that hunkering down and hiding in one place would be unlikely to work,
but that didn’t mean a stealth-oriented strategy couldn’t be effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they played well, Unbroken could avoid
fights, set a lot of traps, and wait around while the other teams killed each
other off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, then they’d have
to take on whoever was left, which would probably be one of the strongest teams
in the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, they’d go into
that fight fresh, unlike their enemy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Reigning Fire is obviously the
biggest threat,” Mitch said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And since
there’ll be another Gray Fungus in the arena along with them, we need to be
very concerned about infection.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The other three agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“At the same time,” Jay said, “we
don’t want to do anything that will slow the spread of infection in the arena.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Infection was a status effect, meant to
represent the Gray Fungus assimilating you into their hive mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several of their abilities could affect you
with it, and if they did, you would lose some control of your avatar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you tried to harm Gray Fungi, or help your
teammates, there’d be a chance you’d seize up for several seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If untreated, infection grew worse over time,
and once it reached its final stage, you’d turn into an NPC drone, controlled
by Breach-bot and allied with the Gray Fungus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a normal match, you’d then respawn as though you’d died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Indeed, the infected often killed themselves
to begin the respawn counter early rather than put up with the status effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a Battle Royale, there was no respawning,
so infection was all the more powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a robot, Zap didn’t have to worry about it, and Dash’s cybernetic
components meant that he couldn’t be taken over completely, but for Mitch and
Sophia it was a very serious hazard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However, Jay argued, if they made
sure they were properly prepared to resist infection and then forged an
alliance with one of the Gray Fungus teams, where they would help spread
infection in exchange for being left alone, they would seriously harm the other
teams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t feel like Reigning Fire
would be up for an alliance like that,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I see where you’re coming from,”
Jay said, “but I think you’re wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
take it you met Joss?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yep,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Would it be bad form to talk to Epidemic, or
Reigning Fire I guess, out of game and coordinate this?” Ryan asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Probably,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m not so sure,” Jay said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe you should ask Max,” Ryan
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That would mean letting him know
we’re doing it,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If it’s allowed, most teams are
probably doing it,” Jay said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fair point,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jay rose from his couch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll go find him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He walked off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mitch scooted away from the chair Ryan
was sitting on and crossed his arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Objectively,
the second biggest threat is Ours is the Glory,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But for us specifically, I think to us it’s
a toss-up between Dying Gravity and Sad Cake Binge Gaming.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Agreed,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia scooted closer to Mitch, as if to
provide him moral support, and only then did Ryan realize what was going
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tried to think of something
mildly encouraging but non-awkward he could say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where Ours is the Glory and Pheonix are
concerned, I think we just need to be careful to lay enough traps to keep them
from fighting us at full strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s your job, of course.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right,” Mitch said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But back to the Pickciez teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiding from them is going to be a
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we have any particular
strategies in mind.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pickciez were
harder to hide from, because they were fast-moving and could search and area
efficiently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Be lucky, so they don’t happen
across us” said Sophia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s always plan A,” said
Mitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Failing that, though…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Our best answer is probably raw
power,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Especially if we
have an alliance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And if we don’t?” Mitch said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We can still probably take them in
a straight fight, so long as they don’t catch us by surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just have to be wary enough not to let
them sneak up on us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Stealthy approaches are sort of Sad
Cake Binge’s whole thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll have my all-around
vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the map, that’ll be
enough on its own.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I guess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The conversation paused when they
saw Jay coming back over to the couches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“He said no,” Jay said as he sat down next to Mitch and grabbed his
hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Drat,” Mitch said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sophia told Jay what they’d said
while he was gone, and by the time she was done it had been fifteen minutes or
so since Max’s announcement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do we know where the bathroom is?”
Ryan asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan stood up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Alright, I’ll see if I can find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll meet you in the lobby.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’re cheering for you,” Sophia
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When he was finished in the bathroom,
Ryan headed back to the ballroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
didn’t make it back to the couches before Max got back on the microphone and
told everyone to gather in the lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan got together with his team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
eight teams, save Ours is the Glory, gathered outside the door to the ballroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan could identify the Epidemic kids by
their age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only one of them had to be
eighteen to force the team into the senior league, and it was easy to tell
which one that was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We Rise as One stood next to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The youngest member of that team was middle
aged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were also the best
dressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actual suits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only other people wearing those were the
business executives and investors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dying
gravity were dressed the most casually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank you all for coming,” Max said
from the top of the balcony that overlooked the lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And thank you for indulging this little
tradition of mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure you know
better than I do how much the fans love this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For just a moment, he looked directly into one of Sad Cake Binge
Gaming’s camera drones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Please, follow
me upstairs to the theater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The helmets
are in there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The theater was large and dark, with
eight rows of luxurious dark-grey leather reclining chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They faced a large projector screen, like an
old movie theater, but each one also had a holo-helmet built into its headrest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even all eight world championship teams would
only take up half the seats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did
every chair have to have its own helmet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When did Max use all of these at once?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Take your seats,” Max said, himself
walking down to the front row and sitting on the rightmost seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took the closest seat to the
entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of his team funneled
in next to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan reclined his seat
all the way, then lowered the helmet over himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fit over his head snugly, making physical
contact with his neck and, microscopically, his spine, through which it would
affect his brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He switched it on and
closed his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world around him
faded all at once, like he was falling asleep, and a dream was beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a moment, he was weightless and blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, in an instant, the full proprioception
of Zap’s body kicked in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sudden
perception of weight made him stumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once he’d gotten his balance, the black interior of a ship popped into
existence around him, along with hum of electronics and the sound of working
metal pipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The room was caked with
rust, though the metal pipes in the corner seemed to have had recent
maintenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below Ryan, there was a
red-brown metal floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above him, bright
strips of light on metal planks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To his
right and left, his teammates, each half his height: Sophia as Boost, Jay as
Dash and Mitch as Spark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind him,
another wall with a manually-operated sliding door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In front of him, a holo-terminal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hologram of Blast appeared in the center of
the cabin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Greetings, Comrades!” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,” Ryan said, in Zap’s robotic
voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Greetings, Comrade Zap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you’ve all been enjoying your leisure
time, but I’m afraid I must end it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s a resort planet called Ju-Tai 2, and there’s a Terran general on
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a particularly nasty
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He once glassed a mining colony,
killing about a thousand families, because he believed I was being harbored
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t, but I still took the
gesture a bit personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scumbag is
allowing himself some R&R, because he doesn’t think we can figure out where
he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s in a little cabin in a lovely valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beautiful forests, and the most spectacular
waterfall you’ve ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shame to
visit it with violence, but I think we’ll be doing the place a favor by
scrubbing it free of this odious lump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’ll have a few guards, but I trust you can take care of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry to send you on a mission with such
little notice, but we only just discovered this opportunity, and we need to act
now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know when his vacation
will end. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will arrive there in a few
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equip yourselves for the fight
ahead, Comrades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be in contact with
you once you’re on the planet.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
hologram went away, and the four equipment selection terminals lit up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan walked up to one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he chose his items, the main factor in his
decision making was longevity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was
going to be a long match, and he might get into several fights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would prefer to avoid choosing items he
could only use a limited number of times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His minigun would never run out of ammo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He selected that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His grenade
launcher wouldn’t run out of its standard grenades, but it would run out of
special grenades, including stun grenades, which were one of its main benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m going mini-gun and rocket launcher,”
Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rockets were more accurate
and did more damage than grenades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
special grenades out of the picture, that made the rocket launcher a better
choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan took two packets of healing
potions hoping that would last him multiple combats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The expandable shield was so broadly useful
it was a must-have in any scenario, even though it was single-use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan also got a grappling hook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have a grappler,” he told the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Him selecting that meant they didn’t need
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was large enough that they could
all ride him while he climbed something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not needing their own grappling hooks meant they could use that slot for
air filters that would prevent infection, or for the potion that healed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When he was done selecting his
tools, Jay had everyone list their choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone agreed with Ryan’s decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mitch and Sophia made a few adjustments based on Jay’s advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone but Ryan had an air filter and at
least one anti-fungal potion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia had
taken the spell that suppressed de-buffs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jay told Breach-bot that they were
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blast led them on a short walk
through the ship to a hanger bay, where they boarded a landing craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the craft took off, they had nothing but
a display screen through which to see the outside world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their ship had stopped at the edge of Ju-Tai
2’s solar system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They traveled swiftly
toward its center, passing a bright blue gas giant surrounded by three
concentric rings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their destination came
into view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a tiny green dot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They approached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The planet looked like the earth, but with
the blue and green switched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made
contact with the planet’s atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You should be down there in just a few min—” Blast began, before being
cut off by a burst of static.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ma’am, you cut off,” Jay said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another burst of static.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A glob of Gray Fungal biomass came
into view from the corner of the viewscreen, careened toward the ship and
slammed into the hull, making the viewscreen go to static, and sending the
lander tumbling end over end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An alarm
sounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan grabbed Sophia, Jay and
Mitch and held them to his person to keep them from tumbling around the ship
and taking damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Warning, impact imminent,” said the
ship’s computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything shook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lander roared down toward the planet’s
surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A shield similar to Zap’s
invincibility shield appeared around the four of them as their ship crashed into
the valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ship disintegrated
around them, exploding, throwing their bubble off into the distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hit the ground and popped, the four
falling out onto a still clearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were surrounded by the strange and varied chirping of alien crickets and the
cawing and hooting of alien birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan
let go of his teammates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All four of
them stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below Ryan was bright-green
curly grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above him was an open sky
in the midst of a radiant pink and orange sunset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forest stretched off into the distance all
around them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The horizon was dominated
to the left by a giant, black metal dam which seemed to seal off the bowl-like
valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blast’s voice echoed through
Ryan’s head, fizzy and quiet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“…hostiles surrounding you, and we
cannot retrieve you any time soon…” and with one last burst of static, she
disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Other than the forest, the main
feature of their surroundings was a small dusty cabin, the size of a single
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you think the General is going
to be important?” Mitch said into his helmet’s communicator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His helmet was sealed, so if there were any enemies
around, they wouldn’t overhear him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Probably, or he wouldn’t have been
mentioned,” Jay said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe We Rise as One is protecting
him,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah, probably,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The others looked around to get
their bearings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m not seeing anything
notable about our surroundings besides that cabin, the woods, and that dam,”
Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Anyone disagree?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The sunset is pretty,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Our first order of business is to
find a good hiding place,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“From there, we can figure out how to contact one of the Gray Fungus
teams.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The valley seemed to be big
enough that, if the teams were distributed equally, they had a decent amount of
time before anyone stumbled across them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sophia conjured a blue-gray ball and
tossed it at Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a buff that
would make him quieter and lighter on his feet so he wouldn’t leave tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thanks,” he said, but as they went into the
forest proper in search of a suitable hiding place, Ryan still had trouble not
leaving evidence of his passing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zap was
agile for his size, but moving through the forest required some tight squeezes,
and he occasionally knocked over a rock or crushed a bush or bent a pair of
trees away from each other while trying to squeeze between them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After about ten minutes, they hadn’t
seen any sign of other players or of an obvious hiding spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We need to figure out a direction to head
toward,” Mitch said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wandering
aimlessly is just making metal-head over here leave more tracks for the other
teams to find us with.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan held in his
offense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re right,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Does anyone remember which way the canyon
wall was closest?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“West,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’ll start heading that way,
then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There might be caves in the valley
wall to hide in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They changed direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you think it’s possible break the dam?”
Sophia asked a few minutes later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What makes you ask?” Jay asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I mean, if I were Breach-bot, and I
was going to design a set-piece for this big important showcase match, I might
make a giant destructible dam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, if
we can break it without hurting ourselves, we might kill off everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ll head that direction if we don’t find a cave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A few more minutes passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Get down!” Ryan said, falling flat
against the path below them just slowly enough to make no noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others followed suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What is it?” Jay asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We Rise as One,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had just come into view behind Ryan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Their travel was far less subtle
than Unbroken’s had been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had their
own giant robot: The nine-foot Heavy Dynamic Operations Unit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked a lot like Zap, but more pristine:
his armored plates were sleek white instead of rust brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His movements were less agile, but stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His every step left an imprint in the earth
beneath him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In front of him walked the sniper,
Nealson, scanning his surroundings with his sniper scope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That thing could see through cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he looked in Unbroken’s direction, he’d
see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Rise as One also had a
McCormick, and this one carried a flamethrower, with which he was trying to
light the forest ablaze. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trees
weren’t taking to that strategy well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were burning, but the fire wasn’t spreading from tree to tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Rise as One’s captain, a Morrison, was
boosting the McCormick’s damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Will they see us?” Jay asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nealson was looking around,” Ryan
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If he thinks to look down while
checking this direction, yes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
crouched, so he wouldn’t see them if he didn’t dip his gaze below his eye level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Was he looking down?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I didn’t see him look down, but I
don’t know for sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could tell by the sound of H.D.O.U.’s
footsteps that We Rise as One wasn’t heading directly toward them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t think they know we’re here,”
Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Should we use this
opportunity to sneak attack them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That would kind of go against our
stealth strategy,” Jay said.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And a brawl would attract others,”
Mitch said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“True,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll buff us just in case shit goes
down,” Sophia said, and she threw balls at everyone, making Jay and Mitch
faster, herself more robust, and Ryan’s damage output greater.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then, the H.D.O.U. stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I see something,” he said, in a booming
mechanical voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This tree is
uprooted.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It could just be a feature of the
map,” the McCormick said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A moment passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t think so,” Morrison said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This dirt has been freshly moved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do we think it was another player,
then?” McCormick asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I think it just might be,” Morrison
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Either a Huel-drark or the Zap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Prep for battle,” Jay said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan pulled out his rocker launcher
and pointed it in the other team’s direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If he was lucky, he’d be able to score a direct hit on Nealson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Any idea when they might have been
here?” McCormick asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No way of telling exactly,”
Morrison said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They’re over there!” Nealson
shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The entirety of Unbroken sprang
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan fired a rocket at Nealson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay drew his stun pistol and rushed toward We
Rise as One’s flank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia summoned a
sphere of crackling yellow energy and threw it at H.D.O.U.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch strafed to the right and took cover
behind a tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps he intended to
hack H.D.O.U. from that position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The enemy’s Morrison shot a stream
of red energy at H.D.O.U.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now glowing
and crackling with said energy, the robot fired his rail-gun at Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick fired his flamethrower toward Jay,
and Nealson rained sniper bullets at Sophia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But neither side managed to hit the
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, everyone’s projectiles
struck an invisible wall, which shimmered with every impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick’s flames blasted back toward
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nealson’s bullets flew straight
back at the rifle that had fired them, phasing through it and hitting Nealson
in the chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>H.D.O.U.’s rail-gun slug
reflected back into him and knocked him backward and onto his back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia’s flew shot back at her, freezing her
in place. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan’s rocket flew back at him
doing a lot of damage and making him stumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan used a healing potion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay smacked
into the invisible wall like a pigeon, stopping dead and falling backward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laughter echoed in the trees above them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan had heard the same laughter before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It belonged to Marvin Blackwood of Sad Cake
Binge Gaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marvin’s character Cloun
had the ability to summon a reflective wall like that one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The wall went away after only a
second or two, but neither team resumed firing on the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Morrison healed him, Nealson pointed his
rifle upward, and shot through the canopy at something Ryan couldn’t see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan got an idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Give me a speed buff,” he said, once Sophia
was unfrozen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan shifted into sphere mode and plowed into
the weakest tree he could see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fell
in one clattering piece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fallen
tree’s contribution to the canopy was now gone, making a patch of starlit sky
visible above them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan ran straight
into another tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch got a robotic
drone out of his backpack, and threw it into the air, instructing it to seek
out Pickceiz and destroy them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay
dashed over to the area Ryan had cleared, pointing his stun gun upward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The H.D.O.U. seemed to like Ryan’s
idea of taking away the enemy’s cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He grabbed a nearby tree with both arms, and tore it out of the ground,
its roots ripping, then dangling from its base as H.D.O.U. tossed the tree
aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick switched to his
mini-gun and pointed it toward the new hole his ally had created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As H.D.O.U. got to work on another tree, Mitch’s
drone flew over the first gap H.D.O.U. created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It fired at something still hidden behind the canopy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nealson snapped his aim over to it and
started firing at a spot just past the canopy’s new edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took his humanoid form and pointed his
rocket launcher in the same direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He fired a rocket into the canopy, but it harmlessly brushed through
leaves and flew off into the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As the H.D.O.U. worked to uproot
another tree the ground he stood on fissured then opened below him, revealing a
pit lined with colorful stripes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
robot fell in and crashed into the bottom with a clank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A purple streak, which could only have been
SCBG’s Spukee, moved into the pit, taking a bit of fire from McCormick on the
way down, but managing to avoid a stunning shot from Jay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sounds of tearing metal and human
screaming echoed from the pit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Railgun
slugs rained out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A thin yellow
beam shot into the pit from above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay
dashed to the side of the pit and fired his stunning pistol toward the source
of the beam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hit its originator:
Lyfe, the Pickceiz’ healer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature
fell to the ground, stunned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took
his sphere form and rolled over the creature, crushing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was an explosion in the pit,
and Spukee flew out, cackling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was showered
with gunfire as he flew back into the trees but most of it missed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before he faded from sight, he summoned
an illusion, the image of a giant, sickly black, and rotting raven, crawling
with maggots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature spread its
wings and cawed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of the humans ran
away from it in terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only Ryan was
immune to the effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Rise as One ran
to Ryan’s left, and Unbroken ran to his right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan followed his team.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Behind him, Sord, the Pickcei with a
large magical blade, flew at the fleeing Nealson and buried its sword into him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That broke the fear effect and allowed Nealson
to turn around and retaliate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan
pointed his rocket launcher backward and fired at the pair of them, hoping to
hit the Sord dead-on and cause the Nealson splash damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opposite happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sord flew to the left, and the rocket blew
Nealson to pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sord turned around
and rushed toward Unbroken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All at once,
the fear effect on Unbroken wore off, and they turned back toward the battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan shot at Sord with his minigun, but only
managed to graze him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay fired a
stunning blast at the creature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
swerved to avoid that shot, and then flew back above the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbroken pointed their weapons upward, but
Sord did not return to menace them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We should leave, and let them fight
each other,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s very
unlikely that all of them will follow us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unbroken retreated, and, fortunately for them, were not pursued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once they were sure of this, they stopped,
and Sophia made sure everyone was at full health. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They slowed down and resumed trying to move
stealthily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were close enough to
the cliff face to see it looming over them in the distance through occasional
gaps in the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rock was light
beige and filled with thick orange stripes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They came upon another clearing, lit
by starlight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four moons loomed above
them. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One giant, bright white and full
of craters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was dark but gleamed
like marble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was small and dark blue,
and the final one was whitish blue, like a pale imitation of the third.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sky was thick with stars, and the Milky Way
streaked across it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ground was
covered in tiny gray mushrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch
and Sophia covered their faces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Spores!” Mitch said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
invisible, but no one could miss the scent of their wet, dusty, shroomy
rot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone but Ryan activated their
air filters, which would reduce their risk of infection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This is good,” Jay said, as he
adjusted his mask to fit snugly over his nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“We were looking for a Gray Fungus team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of them has been this way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We should track them, then?” Mitch
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes,” Jay said, after a
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We need to track them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And if they refuse our alliance,
the plan is to run away?” Sophia asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Only from Reigning Fire,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We can take Epidemic in a fight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This trail is from Reigning Fire,”
Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Look around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the trees are in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no way Epidemic’s Mog’Inub has been
here.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mog’Inub was the largest playable
character in the game: four stories tall and just as long, shaped like a giant
L with spidery legs, covered in eyes, mouths and rupturing pustules from which she
could summon horrible spawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would
be no mistaking the signs of that creature’s passing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s the better party to make the
alliance with, anyway,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Neither Mitch nor Sophia objected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took note of all
the mushrooms he could see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They formed
a line that bisected the clearing diagonally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The trail goes like this,” Ryan
said, pointing one arm ahead and to his right and the other behind and to his left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“So which way did they come from and
which way did they go?” asked Mitch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The right leads away from the
center of the valley,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s
probably our best bet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And that’s the way they went,
following the trail of mushrooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
occasionally encountered more than a mushroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were strands of fungal mass hanging from some of the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elsewhere, patches of ground were covered in
thick, rough fungal growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among those
patches of ground was the whole surface of a small hill in the shape of a
perfect half-circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half-sticking out
of was a fully infected Clypeus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clypeus
was a member of the Legion of the Iron Star, who normally possessed a massive
shield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This one, however, had lost
track of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster roared and
raved at Unbroken as they passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan
put it out of its misery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Things like these grew more common
as they advanced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were catching up
to their enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would Jay do to try
to get Reigning Fire’s attention?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
would they think Unbroken had to contribute to an alliance?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had speed and stealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was sort of the opposite of what
Reigning Fire had going for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were big and powerful but left this fungal growth everywhere they went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Eventually, there was stomping in
the distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbroken stopped following
the trail and headed directly toward it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jay picked up a rock and got out his laser gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used the laser to carve ‘we want to talk’
on the rock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m apprehensive about that plan,”
Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I am too,” Jay said, “but I think
it’s our best shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, I’ll be
able to gauge their reaction to it without having to put myself in danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll run back this way if anything goes
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay dashed ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he was out of sight, the others heard
Jay through their communicators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I see
them,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s Reigning Fire.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their footsteps came through as clearly as
Jay’s voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one made a terrible
squishy thromp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m throwing the
rock.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pittering sound as the rock hit
grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They saw it,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’re stopping to examine it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re talking about it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half a minute passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’re looking around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re raising their weapons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fuck! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fuck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Start running!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll catch up with
you!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbroken turned around and started
running.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How far away are they?” Ryan asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A few hundred feet behind you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jay caught up with the rest of the
group and slowed down to keep pace with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mitch pulled out another drone and ordered it to go back and hold off
Reigning Fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About a minute later,
they heard an explosion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not long after
that, a member of Reigning Fire came into view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was the giant cloud of fungal spores, Ichaboth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature was ten times Ryan’s size,
spread out like a bank of fog across the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan held his minigun out and fired into the
creature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These bullets wouldn’t do much,
but anything was helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay ordered
the team to spread out, forcing the creature to go after only one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It chose to follow Mitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It approached and then surrounded him,
causing him to disappear within its fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jay ran over, pulling out a little hand-held flamethrower, and shot it
at the monster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Something beeped inside
Ichaboth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster started moving
away from Jay at full speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay dashed
in the opposite direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitch flew
out of the top of Ichaboth, riding the blast of his jetpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grabbed a high branch of a thick oak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fiery explosion engulfed more than half of
the monster, making him dissipate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
reformed a moment later but was smaller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The rest of Reigning Fire emerged
from the trees behind them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joss’ own
character was in front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huel-drark was a
gray giant, covered in smooth, moist flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One arm was a cannon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
was a shield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind him, Xig’zah, a jagged
creature shaped like a ten-pointed star with a spindly leg protruding from each
point, skittered across the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
titanic walking mushroom Avaggdon lumbered behind the two of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joss pointed his cannon directly at Ryan, who
took sphere form and rolled out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan took his normal form, and shot a rocket at Joss, who was likewise able
to dodge him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>From the top of his tree, Mitch
tossed a grenade at the approaching foes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Xig’zah leapt onto the trunk of a different tree to avoid it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay emerged from behind yet another tree and
shot a paralyzing bolt at the spider, who fell back the ground, landing close
to the grenade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It exploded, throwing
Xig’zah into the air and setting him aflame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Joss jumped forward, allowing the blast of the grenade to push him
toward Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He aimed at Ryan’s chest,
then, when Ryan dodged, he took his actual shot, landing a hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia tossed a healing orb into him, and Ryan
used one of his own healing potions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Avaggdon plugged itself into the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It lit up, glowing bright
blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It spun in place, and the ground
shook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joss grabbed onto a tree to keep
his balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan had nothing to grab
onto, so he fell backward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophia
managed to keep her balance for a few strides, but then tripped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joss charged up his cannon, aiming at Ryan’s
prone form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took his sphere form
and barreled straight toward Joss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
laser blast shot through him, knocking off a chunk of his health, and he
crashed into into Joss, knocking him back and onto the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took his normal form and shot a pair of
rockets straight at Joss’s face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once Joss’ laser cannon recharged,
he fired up at Ryan, but Ryan anticipated this and dodged to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before Joss could stand, he leapt into the
air, took sphere form, and landed on his prone enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joss was half-crushed, but still alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lifted Ryan and threw him backward, away
from the rest of Unbroken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took his
main form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth flew over to Joss,
and settled over him, healing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Xig’zah leapt toward Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan
jumped out of the way, and the spider landed on the ground near him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With another spin, Avaggdon morphed the
ground around them, raising a great wall that sealed Ryan and Reigning Fire off
from the rest of Unbroken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xig’zah
jumped Ryan again, this time managing to latch onto his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster made a noise like a deep but
shrill chuckle and vomited a sticky viscous gray blob onto Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan ripped the creature off his face and
tossed it aside, but the glob stayed stuck to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan knew from experience that there was no
point trying to get it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same
time, Ichaboth reshaped itself to surrounded him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fog penetrated him, moving between his
rusty metal plates and leaking into his circuits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He expected to take damage but didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth was doing something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan’s one-million eyes went wide at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only one of Ichaboth’s debuffs would be
useful in this situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth could
inflict frailty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was ensuring the
bomb would kill him in one shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
only left one question left to be answered: Where was Joss?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d been down on the ground just a second
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan listened for the creature’s
squishy footsteps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They were to the left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan lunged toward them, tackling Joss as he
tried to escape the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan pinned him
to the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joss struggled, but Zap
was bigger than Huel-drark, and Ryan kept the monster under him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blob on his face exploded, consuming the
two of them in a flash of light and pelting them with sharp gray shrapnel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once he had exited the game, Ryan
took his helmet off and stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the
right of the theater, several seats away, Joss did the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan waved politely at Joss, but Joss didn’t
acknowledge him as he left the theater.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Thank you to my patrons:</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Kevin</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Mom</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>If you would like to help make that list longer and less embarrassing, become my <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepuppyturtle" target="_blank">patron</a> and gain access to behind the scenes content, information about upcoming stories, feedback on your work and potentially a story of your very own!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I also have a discord server, which you can join via patreon, or by contacting me and asking for an invite.</i></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-12332639923469361092019-03-03T17:43:00.000-08:002019-03-03T17:50:17.130-08:00Breach World Championship 2081 Part 2: Broken<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Here's another entry, and one day before my self-imposed deadline! I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please consider joining my </span></span><a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepuppyturtle" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">patreon</a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, for access to various special benefits </span>relevant<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> to my fiction, and, depending on how much you pledge, the option to have me critique your work or write something to your specifications!</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ryan spent the flight to New York on
his phone.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Airplane design had advanced
since the days of his ancestors, who would have had to deal with annoying
interruptions in their ability to access the internet.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ryan did not face the same inconvenience but
felt like he was wasting that privilege.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">He’d much rather watch a fucking movie, but he hadn’t been following the
professional </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Breach</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> season, and if he
showed up to New York not knowing precisely who his opponents were, Jay would
either be mad, or, worse, begin an exhaustive explanation of each and every one
of them.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">So here he was, about to spend
two hours looking up information on professional </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Breach</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> teams, wading through a lot of information he already knew
from being a professional player to get to the parts Jay might quiz him about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Reigning Fire had won last year and
was the favorite to win this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
played the Gray Fungus faction, which, in the lore, was an infectious hive-mind
which had invaded the Milky Way through an interdimensional portal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They now traveled the galaxy assimilating all
life they encountered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was their evil
that inspired the Terran Naval Marines to the extremes which sparked Red
Arachnia to rebel against them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unrelatedly, their Captain, Joss
Turner, was the son of Thunderware’s CEO.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Reigning Fire was an old team, and
one Ryan already knew a good deal about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Joss played as Huel-drark, an eight-foot monster whose right arm was a laser
cannon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fought alongside an Avaggdon
which was a spiky mushroom barnacle with the power to manipulate the terrain
around it, a Xig’zah which was a spindly ball of arm-knives that set explosive
traps, and an Ichaboth which was an amorphous cloud of fungal spores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a link to some footage of them in
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was them picking on an enemy
they’d isolated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ichaboth descended on
the area, buffing the three of them with beneficent spores while they passed
their poor foe back and forth like a rag-doll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Oh, by the way, they were probably
cheaters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least, that’s what Maximillian
Turner, who they’d fought against in last year’s final match had accused them
of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The footage of their battle, where Joss
unexpectedly pulled out the perfect counter to one of Max’s items, had been
torn apart and scrutinized by the internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one had found a smoking gun, nor had anyone, including Joss, been
able to explain why he happened to make such an odd item choice at the start of
the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He claimed he was following a
hunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others thought it more likely that
he’d used malicious software to smuggle in one or more “generic items,” which
he could turn into whatever he needed when he discovered he needed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot had detected nothing to indicate
cheating at the time, but it wouldn’t be the first time the bot had been
fooled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of only a handful, but not
the first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that Joss was the
CEO’s son made it seem just a teensy bit more likely for him to get away with
this sort of thing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But then again Maximillian, his
accuser, was the CEO’s son too, so maybe that cancelled out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the Captain of Ours is the Glory,
who’d gone undefeated last year until their possibly illegitimate loss in the
finals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They played as the Legion of the
Iron Star, who had invaded the galaxy through yet another interdimensional
portal, one which led to a universe so old that all that remained within it
were black holes and stars which had turned to spheres of iron over the course
of a trillion trillion years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
society had long ago advanced past having needs of their own, so they dedicated
their existence to traveling from dimension to dimension, distributing helpful
technologies, destroying evil empires and rescuing galaxies from pernicious
races like the Gray Fungus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ours is the Glory had an odd team
loadout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max played Occilo who was the
second-biggest member of Iron Star, but had the biggest sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also had a Terraemotus, who was a big
magic user.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was orthodox enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other team members, though, were a
Nullum, which was a strange bull-like thing on which other members, in this
case Max, could ride, and an Armigeri, another support character, who would
enhance Occilo’s fighting power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
odd to have multiple support characters when you only have one real
fighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most teams had either three
fighters and one support or two fighters, one support, and one utility
character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again, Nullum was a
fighter in his own regard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mount or not,
he did have the ability to breathe fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Probably the third most discussed
team was Pheonix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They played Iron Star
too, with a more orthodox team setup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The notable thing about them, in the eyes of the public, was that they
were assembled from a cancer support group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some friends who met at the group started gaming, and then entered a
tournament, and things evolved from there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They went up against Ours is the Glory and lost, but Max stayed in touch
with them, and wound up using family money to pay for their treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intricate medical testing had since confirmed
that they were cancer-free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their Captain
could be seen praising Max to high heaven in interviews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One piece written by an oncologist claimed
all four of them would have been very unlikely to survive without the
high-quality treatment they received, though a disclaimer at the bottom made it
clear that this was native advertising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The last team that attracted a lot
of public discussion was Sad Cake Binge Gaming, who Ryan and most others knew,
first and foremost, as a group of comedy streamers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They played the Pickciez, the creatures who
emerged from the third and final inter-dimensional portal in the game’s
universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pickciez were a comic
relief faction conducive to the kind of performance Sad Cake Binge Gaming
normally engaged in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that they
could go out of their way to prank their enemies in matchmaking and still
consistently win attested to their skill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course, when it came time for tournament play, they got more serious,
hence why they were also the current European Regional Champions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The rest of the teams were less
notable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We Rise as One played as the
Terran Naval Marines and had the worst win record of any team in the
championship despite marketing themselves on the fact that three of them were
real soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, having the
worst win record of the eight teams in the world championship still meant
having one of the ten best win records worldwide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About twice as good as Ryan’s team had back
when he was on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dying Gravity were
the South African regional champions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They played the Pickciez and had a reputation for unconventional and
inventive strategies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Epidemic played
Gray Fungus and had been the world champions of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breach</i>’s junior league last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was their first season in the senior league, and they were doing
better than anyone had expected of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last, and probably also least, was
Ryan’s team, the ironically named Unbroken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They played Red Arachnia, and according to most of the coverage Ryan
saw, consisted of Jayden Reece, a Dash, Sophia Jones, a Boost, Mitch Atkins, a
Spark, and Lisa Dodson, a Zap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
only one article on the car crash, posted a few hours ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ended by saying that “what this tragedy
means for Unbroken’s championship bid is also unknown at this time.” ‘Also’
because the article had just explained that no one knew if Lisa would ever wake
up from her coma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan’s plane would be landing
soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden looked through his
phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to such an important event,
he spent almost all his time researching, mostly combing through footage of the
enemy teams at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to know
their style, how they’d react to his choices, and how he could best react to
theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of the teams in this
tournament were new to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of
them, he’d played before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d lost
matches against Reigning Fire, Ours is the Glory and Sad Cake Binge Gaming
earlier this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others he’d
faced at some point in the past, except Epidemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d never looked into them that much until now
but had been making up for that in the last few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their style was polished, but with vestiges
of what you might expect from a group of children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had a bias toward flashier tactics and
over-relied on infection and other debuffs to prevent their enemies from
countering bold moves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>An announcer told Jayden that Ryan’s
flight had landed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few minutes later,
people spilled from the appropriate terminal, Ryan among them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden had started to forget what it was that
drew him to Ryan, back when he felt drawn to him, but the sight of him was
enough to remind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan was tall,
lean and tan-skinned, with adorable curly brown hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes were green, and always alert, as if
afraid to miss something important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jayden wished Mitch and Ryan weren’t the sort of men you had to choose
between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan was a lot of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jayden stood, and Ryan saw him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They walked to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey,” Jayden said, waving, trying to sound
cheerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,” Ryan said, not bothering to
sound anything but bored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You said you wanted to go straight
to the hospital?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m glad you remembered.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jayden was already working hard to
hold in his irritation at Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least
he had the decency to hold it in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Alright.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay had already ordered an auto to arrive a
few minutes after Ryan was due to land, so by the time they got to the parking
lot, it was waiting to pick them up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It suited Ryan that he didn’t speak
with Jay on the way to the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan
just listened to music and looked out at the city while Jay watched endless
footage of either Epidemic or Reigning Fire matches, staring at the phone with
intensity that should have summoned lasers from his eyes to melt it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan tried to recall what he’d seen in Jay,
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where it concerned literal sight,
that was an easy question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay was
diligent about his health and had the muscles to prove it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Ryan had met plenty of men with delicious
muscles and none of them had kept his attention for long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay had been so nice at first, so quick to
quip back and forth with him, so interested in everything that caught his
interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d been a furnace of
passion, but now he seemed to have frozen over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan was dwelling on Jay too
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because he was right there
didn’t mean there was any need to think about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was this what Jay wanted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did he take pleasure in Ryan’s annoyance with
him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that couldn’t be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d want Ryan in tip-top psychological shape
for the competition tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe Ryan
should have shared that goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he
should have taken this seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
was the championship, after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t
the prospect of being the champion have at least some appeal?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Eh, not really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan was looking forward to playing with
Sophia again, though, and he had missed some of the trappings of tournament
events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Audiences were fun, even when
they were against you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbroken had a
few fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This must be terribly exciting
for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An old favorite was stepping
up to stand in for his fallen comrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
would be a shame to disappoint them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Outside the window, it was just
starting to get dark, and some of the city’s lights had come on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the distance, there was a giant arch, tall
and skinny and sticking up over the skyline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The lights covering it were blue at the peak, green near the middle, and
faded toward red as they disappeared behind the closer buildings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They passed a giant Christmas
display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tree was something
spectacular: big enough to rival the city’s smaller skyscrapers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On its tip, an eight-pointed golden star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tree was covered trunk to tip with bands
of lights that shifted hues gradually and independently of one another. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally, two adjacent band’s colors would
happen to match for an instant, and they would merge into a single band of
color twice as thick as the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan changed songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay was still watching footage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Epidemic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a Mog’Inub onscreen, and Reigning
Fire didn’t have one of those.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The auto arrived at the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan and Jay got out and hurried toward the
entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was freezing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The hospital lobby was gargantuan
and ornate, dominated by a central fountain where water trickled over a
twelve-foot formation of sharp black rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jay knew the way to Lisa’s room from having visited her once
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He led Ryan to the elevator, which
they rode to the sixth floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lisa’s room wasn’t far once they got
off the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was whiter than
white, and brightly lit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the far side
of the room, a large square window overlooked the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan could see the same Christmas tree they’d
passed on the way here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lisa was on a metallic bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An apparatus of six robotic arms hung above
her, ready to respond to any sudden medical needs with swiftness and skill no
human surgeon could have ever achieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Behind her bed, an apparatus of monitors beeped and buzzed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lisa herself was clothed in casts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A thick white brace held her neck in place,
and a larger brace which reminded Ryan of a strait jacket seemed to be doing
the same for her spine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Purple casts
covered her limbs from base to tip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
bandage covered the right side of her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A bruise ringed her left eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Her spinal cord is severed in two
places,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They don’t know if
they’ll be able to fix it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan approached the bed, not
acknowledging him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll step outside, if you’d like,”
Jay said, in an unusual moment of consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’d been Lisa that first learned
what Mitch and Jay were doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the
benefit of hindsight, the signs were obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mitch was spending a lot of time around the team, and Jay was spending a
lot of time alone with Mitch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
possibility of what turned out to be true had occurred to Ryan, but Lisa had
found it more difficult than Ryan had to suppress her suspicions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Mitch and Jay had been behaving
suspiciously for a few months, she did some investigation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she was convinced there could be no
innocent explanation, she decided to confront Jay to hear his side of things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I won’t deny it,” Jay had later
admitted to saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You know how things
have been between me and Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
honestly think he’d even be that upset?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Then why don’t you tell him?” Lisa
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I will, after the tournament,” Jay
said, meaning that year’s U. S. regional championship qualifier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Is that really what’s important to
you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I thought it was important to all
of us,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you really think
it’s a good idea to break up with him right now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Christmas or Valentine’s day were coming
up, I’d wait until after those events to break up with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is definitely more important than that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lisa pretended to be convinced by
that line of reasoning but relayed the situation to Ryan later that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan’s confrontation with Jay wasn’t as calm
as Lisa’s had been and led to him leaving the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others had been on his side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he had asked them to kick Jay off, they
would have, but at that point, he’d already started having doubts about whether
competitive <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breach</i> was something he
really enjoyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of him welcomed the
excuse to leave behind the stress, the scheduling, the intense practicing, and
Jay’s constant nagging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan decided it was better that he forfeit
his spot to Mitch than to usurp Jay as team captain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lisa approached him later, offering
to give up her spot to Mitch instead, or leave along with him in protest, but
Ryan told her not to do either of those things unless she really wanted to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed she didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe she didn’t want to abandon Jay and
Sophia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In either case, their team was
shuffled around to allow Mitch on, and the resulting version of Unbroken was
creamed in the qualifier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan believed
it was due to the switch, and that he would have won it for them if he’d been
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did have to admit, though,
that this new team had found their stride since he left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never had his version of Unbroken made it to
the World Championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe Ryan was
in over his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan reached out to hold Lisa’s
casted hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A loud buzz made him jump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do not touch this patient,” said a speaker
above the surgeon-bot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“She has sustained
injuries throughout her skeleton and moving any part of her body could
exacerbate those injuries or cause internal bleeding.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It was somehow already six before
Ryan decided to leave the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
and Jay took another auto to the hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
of the tournament’s competitors were given free boarding, and it was simple
enough for Ryan to move into the hotel room that had been reserved for Lisa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was twice the size of a bedroom, with a
queen-sized bed against one wall, a forty-inch flat-screen against the other, a
mini-bar in one corner and a trio of chairs around a table in the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan plopped his bags on one side of the bed
and lay down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took out his phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According to the internet, the party
he was about to attend had been a thing for the past four years. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was held at the Turner mansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wouldn’t just be the competitors
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would be several members of
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breach</i>’s development team, some other
VIPs from around the industry, executives from all of the companies sponsoring
the tournament, a handful of players who came close to making it into the
tournament, some fans who won a sweepstakes, and some fans rich enough to
donate large sums to this year’s charity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(“Habitat for Humanity,” who had been hard at work for decades trying to
deal with the countless people who’d been displaced from coastal cities all
around the world due to rising sea levels.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The party was Maximillian Turner’s idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He held the first one the first year he
qualified for the championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max was
apparently no stranger to parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was a detailed article about Max and his near-weekly gatherings on a website
for rich New Yorkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least for the
sorts of people reading this site, it wasn’t hard to get oneself invited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Charitable contributions were often solicited
from guests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breach</i> related imagery wasn’t uncommon, but the article assured its
readers that the mansion was exquisite, and the parties not so unsophisticated
that only a young adult could enjoy them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The article did a good job of
maintaining the balance between seeming like a real rich person and seeming
like a human being with a soul, but this might have been a front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were debates in the comments about
whether it was okay that Max’s family had only been rich for a single
generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, Max’s father had
come from a family so lowly that it could almost be considered upper middle
class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man had only became extremely
wealthy when Thunderware found unexpected success in virtual reality gaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This apparently caused Max’s parties, and
everything else about his public behavior, to be far less sophisticated and
upright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also Max wasn’t white, but that
had nothing to do with these people’s objections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan didn’t even really want to go
to the party, except it would be his earliest chance to see Sophia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, there was a tradition where the eight
teams that had qualified for the tournament entered a battle-royale match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan wasn’t going to make his team miss out
on that just because these sorts of social events bored him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan decided he was bored of the
internet and switched to watching television, but after just ten minutes of
some old Christmas special it was already time to go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan changed into some less casual clothes,
used the bathroom, and went outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
met up with Jay in the hallway, and they left for the mansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To Ryan’s Shock, Jay put down his
phone to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When we get to the
mansion,” he said, “they’ll want invitations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He seemed to think this would be news to Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Max knows about our situation, so we should
be fine, but you might have to wait outside for a minute if there’s a
misunderstanding with whoever is checking them at the door.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re on a first name basis with
him?” Ryan asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve hung out with him some at events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he’d been trying to make nice with me
for some reason.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Weird.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He is, kind of, yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Upon seeing the mansion, it was
immediately clear to Ryan why the CEO’s son held so many parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had to do something to keep all that space
from going to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three people lived
in this mansion, yet it was three stories tall and twice as wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its outer walls looked like they were made
entirely of glass, held in place by a grid of steel window frames.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One could see the interior of every room in
the front of the mansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One room
appeared to be a dining room, with a long brown table and giant gold
chandelier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another might have been a
library, though there were so many shelves that some of them must have been
holding something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one could
read that much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a giant
fountain outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was shut off for
the winter but decorated with Christmas lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lights also covered the mansion itself, framing each of its giant
windows and circling its roof. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
lights were brightly colored, red, green, blue, deep yellow and white, and they
were all constantly fading and relighting themselves in different colors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan and Jay’s auto made it two
car-lengths in to a massive horse-shoe before the other cars present forced it
to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay got out of the car, and
Ryan followed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any other time of the
year, during an event like this, there might have been a crowd on the lawn, but
no one wanted to be outside in this cold, Ryan least of all, so he went
straight up to the door and knocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
well-dressed butler was camped by the door to answer it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He recognized Jay’s face, and so didn’t feel
the need to ask for their invitations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The walls of the entryway were
painted blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The floor was tiled with
marble, marred with blue veins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A curly
staircase with a golden handrail led to a brown door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the ground, a scarlet rug led to a gold
double-door twice the size of the mansion’s entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These doors were held open, and behind them
was a ballroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were more brown
doors to the right and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
couches in each corner of the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People Ryan didn’t recognize, but who were the right age to be
developers or businessmen, mingled on some of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan walked across the carpet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doors were flanked by statues: one of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breach’s</i> most iconic character, James of
the Terran Naval Marines, and one of the character Max happened to main, Occilo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The glass windows on the far end of
the ballroom revealed that it was as deep as the whole rest of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few dozen people mingled and danced to 40s
techno beats matching the style of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Breach’s</i>
soundtrack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan scanned the room and
saw Sophia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was speaking to someone
next to a table on which food had been laid out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan walked toward her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay went off on his own, probably toward
Mitch, but Ryan didn’t care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey!” Sophia said when she noticed
Ryan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The person she’d been talking to turned
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was, in fact, Maximilian
Turner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stepped back allowing the two
to greet one another with a brief hug.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry to interrupt,” Ryan
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turner was in a light blue shirt
and dark blue jacket and pants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His face
was smooth and flawless, his eyes soft blue and gentle, his mouth curved in an
eternal smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh, no, it’s fine,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He extended his hand, which Ryan shook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m Max Turner.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I recognized you,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m Ryan Jonson.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nice to meet you, Ryan,” Max said.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you’re Unbroken’s new Zap?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sophie says you’re pretty good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gestured toward Sophia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well I’m definitely not going to go
and deny that,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ha ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, it’s nice to meet you, and thanks for
coming at the last minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have
sucked for your team to have to step out because of what happened.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well that’s for sure,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ooh, Sorry,” Max said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No, no, it’s fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Max and I had just been talking
about the ’79 regionals,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah,” Max said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You guys did really well there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Think so?” Ryan asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, sure, I could have done better, but
you got third place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s pretty
impressive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You know, it’s not nice to tell
people you’re better than them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right, sorry about that!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll have my revenge once we start playing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ha ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to hold you to that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll get a good chance in an hour when the
match starts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll be fun no matter how
it goes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan would need to consider hitting on this man later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You four really did have a great
dynamic, though,” Max said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Some of the
best teamwork I’ve ever seen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There’s no need to thank me for
telling the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyways, you two must
have a lot to talk about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I
should let you two catch up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
still some people who are going to arrive, and I should greet them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No problem,” Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah, do what you need to do,” Ryan
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I hope we bump into each other
later.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Me too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and a word of advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brother isn’t as friendly as I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you see him, don’t introduce
yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you do, don’t say I
didn’t warn you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Uh, okay,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe you’ll see what I mean,” Max
said, and he walked off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sophia picked up a bit of bread from
the table next to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“So, what the
hell have you been up to for a year and a half?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically just gaming.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m surprised you’ve not found
yourself another team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like
there aren’t a million teams that would kill for a competent Zap.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Eh, maybe someday.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan scooped a ladel-full of punch into a paper
cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No offense, but I haven’t been
missing competitive play much.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sorry to hear that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope Jay didn’t strongarm you—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No, no, it’s fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m happy to be here under the circumstances,
and I’m psyched to play with you again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s just not my favorite playing environment.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan took a sip of his punch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good; pinkish orange and pretty darn
sour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t taste or smell
alcoholic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How did Mitch react to
learning that I was coming?” Ryan asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sophia had to think about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d definitely rather have you come than
forfeit the tournament.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He wasn’t happy about it though?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t worry about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden gave him the chance to say no and he
didn’t take it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t let him get away
with going back on that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh, I can take care of that myself
if the situation calls for it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
curious, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would you do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I dunno.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never had to answer that question
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get along with them fine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s you the two of them annoy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Heh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How someone could possibly stand Mitch, Ryan
didn’t understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same would be
true for Jay, if Ryan hadn’t dated him for so long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“By the way, how is it you guys managed to
get yourselves into the championship?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
leave and all of the sudden you’re championship material?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit, I’m a little wounded.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sure we’d have done it last
year if you’d still been on the team.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thanks for saying so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two continued catching up for quite a
while, until another team entered the ballroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mitch was in the corner, on a couch,
dutifully studying, bobbing his head to the ambient music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden walked over and sat next to him,
wrapping an arm around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,” Mitch said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,” Jayden said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Anything to share?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not that you probably don’t know,”
Mitch said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve mostly been looking
into Reigning Fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their item selection
patterns are pretty wonky.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That much I know,” Jayden
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weak teams warranted some
study, but at the end of the day you probably wouldn’t face them, so they
didn’t warrant the bulk of your attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reigning Fire were the ones to obsess over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only way you wouldn’t face them
eventually was if they lost to someone else, and the odds of that were low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The odds of them losing to Unbroken were low
too, but that didn’t bear thinking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Unbroken was going to win the championship, they were probably going
to have to beat Reigning Fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If
you’ve got them down, though, I’ll do Ours is the Glory.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sounds good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan would be shocked to hear it, but Jayden did
get bored watching hours of footage and pouring over game data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden just had the ability to power through
it with this little thing called dedication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jayden searched for and pulled up
some footage of Ours is the Glory playing against Unbroken earlier this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ours is the Glory had an odd
battle dynamic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone else was
dedicated to supporting Max’s Occilo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
rode the Nullum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Armigiri existed
mostly to buff him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terraemotus put a
lot of work into aiding him as well, and forcing enemies to fight him
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three of those players
weren’t people Max had known before he started competitive play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were hired by Max’s father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That didn’t mean Max was some upstart whose
daddy had bought him a team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A team that
made it into the world championship multiple times in a row had to have four
good players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, Jayden wished his
dad were rich enough to buy him the best teammates in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jayden studied Max’s movements in
the piece of footage he was watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max
was massive as Occilo, and he moved with power, riding his Nullum toward Zap,
played by Lisa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His sword glowed with
Armigeri’s magic as he slammed it into her chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sparks flew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being impaled by the sword locked Lisa in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nullum hit her with a breath of blue-white fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her rusty armor plating melted, bits of them
dripping onto the horned beast, but doing him no harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max wrenched his sword out of her and rode
off to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa’s body fell
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jayden studied the clip for
over ten minutes but couldn’t find any flaw with the technique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He scooted toward Mitch, who reciprocated,
and rested his head against Jayden’s shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Across the ballroom, another team
entered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan turned to see who was
entering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He recognized the first person
to enter: Joss Turner, Captain of Reigning Fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as Max probably wouldn’t want to hear
it, they looked a lot alike: both olive-skinned with puffy ridged cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joss, though, had a wiry beard, redder than
his head-hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was wearing a shirt
and jeans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of his team entered
behind him, only one of them dressed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Should I go introduce myself to
him?” Ryan asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Like Max told you not to?” Sophia
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Right, exactly,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m really curious.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reigning Fire split up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One member headed toward the stage to
dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two others walked over to the
couches where Jay and Mitch were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
were championship players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the
best in the league and the most dedicated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Maybe Jay would leave Mitch for one
of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have you met Reigning Fire before?”
Ryan asked Sophia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan was pretty sure
Unbroken had played them once back when he was on it, but he didn’t remember
interacting with them himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
weren’t quite as big of a team a few years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’ve played against them,” Sophia
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve not had any extended
conversations with them or anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Do you think he’s as bad as his
brother let on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Probably.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Joss was walking over to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toward the punch, Ryan realized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave Ryan a look that told him he’d
noticed Ryan’s staring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was rude of
Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, the look sort of sealed the
deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m going in,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll be here to cheer you on,”
Sophia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan waited for Joss to arrive at
the punch bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Joss was in front
of the bowl, Ryan walked up to and stood behind him, as if waiting in line to
refill his glass, which was long-empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Hi,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hi,” Joss said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He scooped punch into his cup, and, without moving
out of the way, pulled a flask out of his coat and poured its contents in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m Ryan,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re Joss Turner?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He moved over, and got a plate, which he
began to fill with artificial meat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s nice to meet you,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nice to meet you,” Joss said,
focused on his task.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan got his own
punch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Can I borrow some of what’s in the
flask?” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If only I had enough to share.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yikes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m here if you want to talk about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Believe me, there’s nothing you
could say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now please leave me alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I didn’t ask you to apologize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked you to go away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry,” Ryan said again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And what was it I just said?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Alright, alright, I’m going.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You say that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan took his full punch glass back
over to Sophia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Looks like that went well,” she
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We’re best friends now,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Cool beans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything worth sharing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“He has more foresight than me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He brought a flask to mix into his punch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m wounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you saying you’re not enjoying yourself?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I’ve not seen
Mitch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’d be as simple as looking right
over there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gestured toward the two
of them, half snuggling, half studying on the couch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Bleck,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fair enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t blame Joss for needing some help
getting through this, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There must
be a lot of baggage between he and his brother after the accusations.”<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I was reading about that on
the way here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve been more hooked
into things than I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think he
did it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“There’s not really any
evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole point of having an
AI govern the game is that it allows the rules to be a bit adaptable and the
game still be fair. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max had a second
Purifying Light in that match because Breach-bot allowed him to, and Joss knew
that that kind of thing could happen, so he prepared for it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t help but see him as the cheating
type, though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sure he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who play fair don’t become world
champions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What does that say about us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That we’ll get third place, like we
did at regionals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least that’s as
high as I’m letting my hopes get.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now I feel sorry for Jay and Mitch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Softie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<i>Thank you to my patrons:<br />Kevin<br />Mom<br /><br />If you would like to help make that list longer and less embarrassing, become my <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepuppyturtle">patron</a> and gain access to behind the scenes content, information about upcoming stories, feedback on your work and potentially a story of your very own!<br /><br />I also have a discord server, which you can join via patreon, or by contacting me and asking for an invite. I just made it, so it's not very populous as of yet, but I hope to make it a place for new writers and their audiences to chat and get feedback on their work.<br /><br />Cheers.</i>ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-20817701426711603772019-02-04T19:54:00.000-08:002019-02-04T20:20:02.969-08:00Breach World Championship 2081 Part 1: Hope's Vanguard<i>Well... I haven't managed one of these in a while. This is not, however, an isolated incident. I have indeed returned to writing, and will be posting serial chapters monthly for the foreseeable future. By the way, I have a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/thepuppyturtle" target="_blank">patreon</a> now. I've actually had it for a while, but have only now made the decision to become active, and so only now am producing content for it.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Joining it will offer a number of benefits depending on the amount you donate, including deleted passages paired with commentary on why they were removed, access to my early drafts as I complete them, feedback on your own stories, and even a story of your very own written by me according to your instructions.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lava
rained on Max in fiery orange globs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They would have harmed a lesser creature, but Max, well, Max wasn’t that,
so he hid himself by standing within a thick stream of molten rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His foe wasn’t clever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be fooled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here
came his foe now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster,
Huel-drark, was as large as him, but while his own broad build was encased in
bright-white, half-luminous armor, this creature was covered only in gray
wrinkly skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike Max, it was damaged
by each drop of lava as it spewed from the volcano it climbed, yet it
persisted, dodging, trying in vain to avoid the hot spray, for its objective
lie at the volcano’s peak.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At
the peak of the volcano was a weapon, so small that it could fit in Max’s fist
but with destructive power so great that its cleansing light would destroy this
vile creature and all those like him across the whole planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weapon would go off in just over a minute.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Stopping
this weapon only required the monster to reach it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he did, he could encase the shining
crystal in his vile, infections flesh, forcing its explosion to destroy only
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wasn’t going to happen,
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was time for Max to guarantee
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting for the creature to rush up
ahead of him, and be good and softened by the lava, Max leapt from his hiding
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster could only crane its
head before Max buried his enormous sword into its squishy flesh, all at once
dealing half the damage it would take to kill the creature.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
wasted no time retaliating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On its arm
was a great cannon, made from what pretended to be hexagonal metal plates, a
browner gray than the rest of its body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The monster pointed its barrel directly at Max and blasted him away,
forcing him back several yards and taking out almost a third of his health.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
that was what Max wanted him to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
rose from the ground in a single, graceful motion, no doubt eliciting cheers
from his excited fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His adversary had
blundered in taking his bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huel-drark’s
cannon took several seconds to recharge, and seeing as that was how long this
fight was going to last, that meant it was out of the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max gripped his sword and leapt to the
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature ran back from him,
but Max had no trouble closing the distance between himself and the fungal
monstrosity, baring his sword to mislead the creature about his
intentions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cleansing crystal that
would soon burst forth from the volcano wasn’t the only one of its kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max had another, smaller one, and when he
crushed it, it would explode, destroying this monster and ensuring his victory.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
was no way this creature could know what he intended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster ought to believe that he’d
already used up the one Purifying Crystal he was allowed to take into a
match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d made a point use it on the
very same player earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the
monster couldn’t know is that, in this scenario, each member of his team had
received an extra one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of the
others had used it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was at Max’s
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was important to keep his
enemy unsuspecting, for the sake of this very moment.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Max
swung his sword, causing the creature to raise his shield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He let go of his sword with one arm, and
followed the momentum of his swing until his hand reached his belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max activated his crystal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The championship was his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max’s bliss was as bright, as all-consuming
and glorious as the light that would soon consume this digital planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crystal exploded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The force of the blast, though harmless to
him, did push him away, so that he landed on the ground a dozen feet from what
ought to be the remains of his adversary.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Only
when the light cleared, his enemy was still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The creature appeared unharmed, and ran toward the volcano’s lip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What the hell?” Max shouted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How had this creature survived his Purifying
Light?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shouldn’t have been able to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can’t have activated a Pocket Black Hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max would have seen the monster do that and
taking two Black Holes into this match would be ridiculous anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your enemy would only ever have one Purifying
Light to use against you.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Max’s
composure returned to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In standing
dumfounded, he’d allowed his enemy a head start up the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monster had nearly reached its goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max rushed forward with all the speed he
could muster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max’s every step kicked
back a cloud of ash as the fire rained on top of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No,” he whispered aloud, as his enemy
reached the lip of the volcano, and leapt from it to the crystal, grabbing and
neutralizing it, leaving nothing of himself but a grayish goop which rained
into the volcano.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
Max was left alive, standing beneath the harmless lava as Breach-bot
spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Target neutralized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Game over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gray Fungus wins.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Around
Max, the world deleted itself, fading into blackness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Stop!” he shouted, as if he could reverse
this travesty if only he could stay here a while longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if he could, nothing he did here would
change anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long, he awoke in
his chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ripped his headset off and
threw it against the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max’s
teammates awoke in short succession, and each stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Max did not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He only simmered at the faint sound of the
crowd outside cheering for his opponents.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
of his teammates approached him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey,
you need to get up,” she said, holding out her hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He acted as if he hadn’t heard her, so she
continued, “we did our damnedest out there and we came within an inch of
winning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many people can say that?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jesus Christ, it isn’t that!” Max said,
yelling, but at the situation, and not his teammate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hoped she understood that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His voice lowered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think he cheated.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What?” another teammate said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
got my Purifying Light off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He survived
it without activating a Black Hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s no way that could have happened.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
now present to you,” said a voice in the distance, “our new World Champions, <i>Reigning
Fire!</i>”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "agency fb" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">One Year Later</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A
derelict building appeared around Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was the giant lobby of a hotel, moldy, musky, in disrepair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took a few steps to orient himself in his
chosen body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His form was of a
twelve-foot robot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His shoulders were
broad and strong, his head small and indistinct except for the bright blue eyes.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were only two of countless tiny
cameras that dotted his body, interrupting the armored plates, red with rust
and faded paint, which covered him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
many cameras allowed him to see in all directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In front of him was a wide terminal with four
small holographic projectors along it and a giant one atop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To his left an ancient front desk at which
wealthy guests might once have been checked in to gilded suites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To his right a lounge in which once-luxurious
furniture was speckled about most of the cavernous room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind him only wooden frames remained of
revolving doors which must have once held panes of sparkling glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far above him a vast chandelier somehow still
held its grip on the cracked domed ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Below him, a shaggy red and gold carpet, its luster faded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan saw all of this at once, as a single,
complete account of his surroundings, lacking any seam or split or edge to his
vision.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
was pretty used to playing this character, but it still took him a moment to
get used to changing bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zap was
supposed to be a reprogrammed robot, originally built for use by the Terran
Naval Marines, but re-appropriated by the militant organization Red
Arachnia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was one of the wonkier
characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His main form was humanoid,
but one of the character’s most powerful abilities was his sphere mode, which
he could enter to curl himself up into a loosely held together ball of metallic
scrap and electrical viscera, fit to roll over people and crush them.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not
everyone could play weird characters well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyone who played one would hear from some of those they defeated about
how unfair that was, but they were mistaken in thinking that Zap was better than
other characters.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
Ryan got his bearings, the terminal’s large projector activated, showing a whitish
outline of Red Arachnia’s in-universe leader, Blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a large woman, bulky, butch and
vaguely slavic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Welcome,” she said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,”
Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His voice was metallic and
distorted.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
have several engagements that could use your attention, Comrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What sort of thing are you looking for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promise, I can offer one just like it.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
not feeling picky today,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Anything four versus four.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Roger,”
Blast said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m bringing in some Comrades
to help you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matchmaking was rarely a long process, and
sure enough a team of three players soon appeared behind him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,
we have a Zap” one said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan turned
around.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Roger,”
he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one who’d spoken was
playing Dash, the second most mechanical member of Red Arachnia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every part of him, save half his face, was
covered in metal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dash had the fastest
movement speed in the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could
rush someone down with such force that he could jab with his rapier before they
had a chance to react.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Cool,”
said a Sneak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way the player drawled
the word out conflicted with his character’s voice, which was smarmy and
high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sneak was notable for being
stealthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can turn mostly invisible,
go completely silent, and do a lot of things to annoy his enemies while out of
sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The down side is that once he’s
revealed himself, he’s pretty much dead.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
final member of their team was a Boost, one of the few magically inclined
members of Red Arachnia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His job is to
cast the ubiquitous healing spell and to make everyone faster and stronger.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
guys warped in together,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You know each other?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah,” the Dash said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re actually introducing my friend here to
the game.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gestured to the Sneak.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Welcome
to Breach,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be rude
to let it on, but just about everyone he was likely to encounter on here was
new compared to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may well be that
Breach-bot matched him with a group containing a brand-new player specifically
in hopes that the two would balance each other out.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thanks,”
the Sneak said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How
long have you been playing Zap?” the Dash asked.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A
while,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t worry, I’m
proficient with him.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,
no, I didn’t mean it like that” the Dash said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Like I said, our friend is brand new.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
hologram of Blast reappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan leapt
over the three of them and did a one-eighty in the air, landing behind them so
they could see her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three watched
him, and Sneak seemed in awe.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“If
you’re done showing off, Comrade,” Blast said, “I’ve a mission for you.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry,”
Ryan said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“An
unprecedented opportunity has been given to us,” Blast said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was how every match began, with a unique
scenario invented by Breach-bot on the spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was a fully sentient creature, one of the most powerful of his kind
not in service to a government and he spent the milliseconds just before every
match lovingly hand-crafting an entirely new scenario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were normally simple, but no player ever
saw the same one twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them
contained elements which had never been seen before and would never be seen
again.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“In
accordance with the foolishness we’ve come to expect from them,” Blast
continued, “the Terran Naval Marines are oblivious to our presence on this
planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, they’ve chosen to
leave one of their battleships, the quite ironically named the <i>TSS Hope’s
Vanguard</i>, in orbit here with, shall we say, insufficient protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They believe they are deep in friendly
territory, so you should have little trouble infiltrating their ship using one
of our stolen landers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your real mission
begins once you’re on board.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Blast’s
flickery white form was replaced with a holographic projection of the <i>TSS</i>
<i>Hope’s Vanguard</i>, on which a red dot indicated a hanger bay close to its
bow. “You’ll enter here, in the starboard hanger bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be trivial for you to over-power
the crew there and Spark,” another playable member of Red Arachnia, talented at
hacking, “will take care of their automated defenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your job is to move from the hanger bay to
the bridge and overcome any resistance you might encounter.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan noted the path from the hanger bay to
the bridge as displayed by the hologram.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They would run down the short corridor, cut through the mess hall and
into another hallway, at the end of which was an elevator down to the bridge.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Once
you reach the bridge, you’ll need to jump to these coordinates.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A long string of numbers appeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ll be able to access them from your
HUD.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would take about a minute to
enter all of those numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t worry
about them harvesting this information if you’re captured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will delete itself long before they can
break its encryption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coordinates
lead to a stronghold in the Perseus Arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once you’ve taken the <i>Hope’s Vanguard</i> there, our waiting fleet
will have no trouble subduing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll
have one more ship, including all the data on it, and a large number of
prisoners.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Spark
can only keep the ship off-line for about fifteen minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re in control of the bridge by then,
it won’t matter, but if you’re still onboard without control of the ship after
that time, it’s not going to go well for you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most scenarios had that same time limit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The counter won’t start until you’re on the ship, so you have time to
equip yourselves properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lander is
outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose well and good luck Comrades.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hologram turned off, and the terminal’s
four smaller projectors activated.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Prior
to each mission, each character could select a series of weapons and tools to
take with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What these could be, and
how many they could take, depended on the character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Red Arachnia characters tended to have a lot
of tools at their disposal but didn’t tend to have the strongest weapons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their best weapons weren’t usually good
because of the damage they dealt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
instance, most of them had access to the electro-stun pistol, which, five times
per match, stunned an enemy completely for several seconds, but made them more
resistant to damage during that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All three of Ryan’s teammates were probably selecting that right
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a larger robot, Zap didn’t
have a stun pistol, but rather the ability to launch stun grenades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He selected a three-pack of such grenades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also got the minigun and grenade launcher.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Zap
could select four tools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a Red
Arachnia member, that wasn’t many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
extendable shield was good in close quarters and would let them get down the
elevator shaft easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grabbed a
packet of healing potions.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,
you’re grabbing quite a few smoke grenades,” the Dash said to the Sneak.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
figure they’re good for stealth,” the Sneak said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Am I wrong?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“In
a couple of ways,” the Dash said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Crap,” the Sneak
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They
can help you if you get spotted,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A more experienced player would get spotted rarely enough that they
wouldn’t be worth it, but for this guy, they’d be useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan grabbed visual enhancers that would let
him see through smoke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at the
Sneak’s display, he saw that he’d picked three packets of smoke grenades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Each of those slots is a pack of four
grenades,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You should probably
only get one.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No
problem.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Anything
else I should definitely get?” the Sneak asked.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to the display, the kid had already picked up a pack of healing potions, so
Ryan said, “You seem to be doing alright.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Okay,”
he said, though the Dash now became more intent about walking him through his
selections.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
got a shield,” Ryan said, “so no one else needs to bother with a grappling
hook.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once
they had selected everything, they went outside and got aboard the lander.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It lifted off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their surroundings faded, and then returned,
still depicting the lander’s interior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To their right, a video feed, showing them the lander’s
surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now it just showed
them stars.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Soon
the enemy ship came into view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
massive, flanked by two pathetic escort ships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those ships were actually the size of the lander they were in right now:
the one a giant robot could comfortably fit inside, but next to the <i>Hope’s
Vanguard</i>, they were specks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
ship grew more enormous as they approached it, soon filling their screen’s
display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seconds later, the whitish
shielding that covered the hanger bay was all they could see, and past it,
inside, there were more ships like their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The barrier split like a waterfall to admit them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hanger bay was cavernous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably three-dozen of the ship they were in
could fit inside it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were also
humans around, dressed in tight blue uniforms appearing to be mechanics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were not other players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were extras, unable to do any harm, and
Ryan and his team would be rushing through them quite callously on the way to
their actual battle.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Spark
spoke to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The others probably heard
him through an earpiece, but Ryan heard it like a voice in his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Get ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m shutting things down in three, two, one…”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
lights went out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rear of their ship fell,
forming an exit ramp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to his
built-in night-vision, Ryan could see the crewmen scrambling about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Red Alert!” a voice announced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Red alert!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Security systems compromised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Imminent attack—”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dash
was the first one out of the dropship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The extras, whom he ignored, reacted to him as though a gush of wind had
gone by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boost followed him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan was about to tell Sneak not to waste
ammo on these noncombatants, but he seemed to figure that out for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ran off after the others, and Ryan took
his sphere form and rolled out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making
himself roll forward was as intuitive as walking for Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He rushed over to the door to meet his
teammates, caring nothing for the four mechanics he crushed on his way there. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had already gathered at the end of the
corridor, just behind the door to the mess hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other team was probably beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps in their scenario, they were simply
dining, only to find themselves accosted by a surprise invasion from Red
Arachnian agents.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
door to the mess hall was locked shut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’ll get the door,” Ryan said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How?”
Sneak asked.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll show you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stick to the walls.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been better if they had a Spark
with them to hack the thing, but they didn’t, so cruder methods would have to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan rolled back a few paces, and
then bulled forward into the door, forcing it to pop out of the wall and fly
into the mess hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wary of potential
traps, Ryan was careful not to advance further into the room, where the enemy
team did, indeed, wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right in front
of him, ready to begin firing on them, was a McCormick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Red Arachnians had words for names,
supposed to be the nick-names their characters had come to use for each other
after years of fighting together, Terran Naval Marines had military
designations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the most powerful
Terran Naval Marine, Sgt. McCormick was a big, burly, mean drill sergeant who
wielded a mini-gun with enough power to pierce Ryan’s metal armor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some distance to the side of him was a
Morrison, who was to the Terran Naval Marines what Boost was to Red
Arachnia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Far in the distance was
Slater, whose job was to set just the kind of explosive trap Ryan had been
afraid of, which probably lay just in front of the door he’d burst open.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
didn’t see the fourth member of their team, for which there could be any number
of explanations, but that concern was over-shadowed by the sight of Sneak,
rushing into the room to engage with the enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Stop!” Dash shouted, too late to avert tragedy.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
explosion made Ryan roll back a few feet and knocked the Sneak forward, deep
into the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them were frozen
in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The McCormick burst into
laughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh my god!” he shouted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You actually just did that!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sneak was on the ground, not moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that Ryan’s team was stunned, it became
clear who the fourth member of the other team was: Nealson, a sniper, whose
bullets now rained onto the three of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’d not die even from a headshot, thanks to the damage resistance
that being stunned provided, but they’d be softened up for the coming battle.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
McCormick casually approached Sneak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
leaned down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thanks for matching
against me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed someone like you to
boost my rankings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be platinum
after this!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pointed his minigun
directly at Sneak’s head and unloaded it, which was more than enough to kill
the poor kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having had his fun, the
McCormick moved clear of the door, but he wasn’t that far from the door when
the stun wore off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With no more traps to
worry about, Ryan went straight into sphere form and rushed the McCormick
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind him, Dash ran toward
Nealson, which forced the sniper to hide below his cover and pull out a close
ranged weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Boost, probably
thinking Dash didn’t need his help, chased after Ryan, summoning a blue orb and
tossing it into Ryan like a fastball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a speed boosting spell.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Much
appreciated,” Ryan said, continuing forward, crushing tables in his wake as he
rushed into the McCormick’s fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Morrison fired a red line of energy from her own hand into McCormick, giving
his minigun’s fire the power to slow Ryan down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If Ryan didn’t have his own boost, he would have changed forms and fired
on his enemy, but thanks to his new friend’s help, he could still charge
forward faster than his enemies were able to back away.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then
Slater rushed at his ally from behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Watch behind you!” Ryan said, and he burst out of sphere form, and,
ignoring the shots behind him for the brief time he could, fired a stunning
grenade at Slater.<span style="color: #ffc000; mso-themecolor: accent4;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>He caught the Slater in the blast,
which forced him back and stunned him the same way his own mine had done to
Sneak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shots were raining on him from
McCormick behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boost ran over to
use him as cover and began to toss healing orbs into him in quick
succession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan left the slater to lie
for a moment, and turned around, firing on the Morrison.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She
flinched, denying McCormick his boost for a moment, and Ryan used that to press
into the medic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind him, his Boost
dropped the healing, and instead made a yellow ball form in his hand, which he
tossed between Ryan’s legs and into the distracted Morrison, stunning her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan wouldn’t be able to do enough damage
with his machine gun while she was stunned so he leapt into the air and went
into sphere mode at just the right moment to land on her, crushing her to
death.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That’d
made up their team’s lead, and now he had a Boost and his enemy didn’t, but his
health was low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick potion helped
but didn’t make up for the fact that he was being barraged by the McCormick
this very second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Slater woke up,
and shot a grenade straight into Boost’s chest, knocking him past Ryan and
McCormick and into some cafeteria tables, draining most of his health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan needed to buy himself just a second to
take care of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ran straight at
McCormick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t much distance to
close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sergeant stopped firing and
pulled out a small metal rod, which, with the press of a button, became the
handle on an energy shield as tall as McCormick was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
McCormick backed up slowly, ready to fire again if the situation changed to
demand it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan kept moving toward the
sergeant, until he was standing over him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He reached over the shield, at the cost of taking a few more shots, and
grabbed McCormick by the leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hey, what
the fuck!” he cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His weight was
considerable, even for Ryan in this form, but he was able to heft McCormick a
few dozen feet to the right and into another line of tables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan turned to face the Slater and unloaded a
single stunning shot, which knocked him back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryan charged at him, blasting him with bullets, and, upon finally
reaching his frozen form, stomped on him as hard as he could, killing him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Boost
stood, but needed to focus on healing himself, so Ryan used another
potion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All throughout his body, plates
welded themselves back together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Broken
wires reattached. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>McCormick
had already stood up by the time Ryan turned to face him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would have liked to use another stunning
blast, but only had one more, and didn’t dare leave himself with none this
early in the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pelted his enemy
with ordinary fire instead, expecting him to do the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, the McCormick fired a grenade at
Boost, who was still busy healing himself.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
jumped toward The McCormick, shifting into sphere mode, threatening to crush
his foe like he had the Morrison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
forced the McCormick to dodge out of the way, which bought the Boost a moment
to consume a healing potion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead,
presumably hoping to save it, he fired another spell into himself, leaving his
health low enough for McCormick to end him with another grenade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan couldn’t waste any time feeling
frustrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned his fire straight
on the McCormick, who did the same back to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bullets clanked and bounced off every part of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could take sphere mode and rush his enemy
down, but would McCormick be able to strafe out of the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he was skillful, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t something Ryan should risk, but it
wasn’t as though there was no risk in Ryan letting McCormick keep shooting him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two strafed and dodged around the open
area their battle had cleared away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
both managed to do a lot of damage to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan used another potion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That still left him with three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A pause in his enemy’s fire
telegraphed something coming to interrupt the status quo they’d formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also gave Ryan an opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shifted into sphere form and charged McCormick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This forced a dodge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan used another potion, and his enemy
pulled out a rocket launcher, and fired it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rocket forced Ryan off-course, and propelled him into Slater’s
corpse, blowing up in his face, forcing him out of sphere mode, and stunning
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ha!” the McCormick shouted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan lay on the ground, paralyzed, as the
enemy approached him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“After all that,
turns out you’re just as shitty as your friend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan had been stunned a million
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sensation was more
frustrating than frightening to him, and he had long since gotten over the
instinct to try to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time,
though, for just a moment, he forgot himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He must have managed to twitch, because McCormick said, “You can’t move,
dumbass.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He aimed a rocket at Ryan’s
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan expected the last thing he heard
to be an explosion, but instead there was a woosh, and then the image of
McCormick impaled on Dash’s rapier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
the fuck have you been?” Ryan asked, still stuck.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nealson
was trying to go invis--” was all the explanation Dash got out before McCormick
punched him away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stun wore
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan raised his arm and fired his
final stun grenade directly into McCormick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was officially too spent for a full fight after this, but fortunately
he was beginning to form some concept of how not to need one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This stun took hold, and opened McCormick up
to another rapier through the neck from Dash, which ended him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Both
of them fell over with what seemed to be exhaustion, though the game wouldn’t
actually allow them to feel something so unpleasant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of that had taken five minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sneak would respawn any second now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan stood up.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m
pretty spent,” Dash said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I doubt I can
take another full fight.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Me
neither,” Ryan said, “but I think we might be able to avoid that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It comes down to your friend coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Him rushing out like that was an anomaly,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s not normally dim?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Of course not!” but there was a
hint of defensiveness in Dash’s voice that made Ryan worry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I hope you’re right, because I have
an important job in mind for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Cheap-ass
bastards!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd ought to have had them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was about to have them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he shouldn’t let it bother him too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was still going to win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was four good players versus maybe two and
a half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, the retard they had
playing Sneak would get them all stunned again.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Breach-bot,
put on some music,” he said, when he respawned on the bridge, holding
McCormick’s minigun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tunes came on,
an old techno beat from the 2040s, much better than anything they were shitting
out today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd was happy to see that
everyone else on the bridge could hear it.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
front of him was a display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the time
it’d taken him to respawn, the other team had gotten their team-mates back and
managed to get to the elevator shaft.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nealson,
start picking them off,” Todd said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah,
I was already on that,” said the Nealson, as if Todd had insulted him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sure
doesn’t look like you’re shooting at them,” an error Nealson wasted no time
correcting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nealson had phasing bullets
which would be able to pass through the walls of this ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other factions, like the Legion of the Iron
Star, and the motherfucking Gray Fungus had answers to this, but Red Arachnia,
Red Arachnia were fucking chumps and they probably wouldn’t.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sorry
about before,” Sneak said before they descended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was perched atop Ryan, in his sphere form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were positioned in such a way that the
Nealson could only fire into him, and Boost could heal that damage faster than
Nealson could deal it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I probably
fucked things up for you, didn’t I?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,” Ryan
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We won that battle.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Heh,
no thanks to me.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
going to make up for it,” Ryan said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
makes you so sure about that?” Sneak asked.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Look
at them turtling like that,” Todd said to the rest of his team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Fucking pathetic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think they plan to run out the clock
like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they know they can’t
win, so they’re just going to waste our time to spite us?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>None
of them responded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The elevator car was
way above the other team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd could
control it from the bridge, so there was no way they were calling it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would have to find a way down the
shaft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd had expected the other team
to use grappling hooks to get down to the bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what Todd would have done if he played
Red Arachnia, not that he would ever lower himself to that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
other team finally quit jerking off up there and moved toward the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd grabbed his gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slater had already placed traps both at the
bottom of the elevator and right outside it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Todd just aimed his weapon at the elevator door, hoping that moron would
come right through it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Him having
done it the one time was funny enough, but to see him do the same thing again
would make Todd’s week.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then
the other team decided to make his month for him instead. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd burst out laughing, letting his minigun’s
aim droop downward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He watched the
hologram as the idiots clung to their Zap as it rolled straight into the
elevator shaft and fell down it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
seemed these morons really had accepted defeat and decided to end the
match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They fell cleanly down the shaft,
not tumbling, or hitting the walls, until they hit the bottom, setting off
Slater’s trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an explosion in
the shaft, which made one half of the double door fly open and the other one
swell out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shaft was filled with
smoke for a few seconds, and Todd composed himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the smoke cleared, where there should
have been scrap metal, was an undamaged Sphere Mode Zap, with his teammates
clinging to him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
the fuck bullshit is that?” Todd shouted.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">//////////</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
was a shield jump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the answer
to the McCormick’s question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’d
jumped down onto the trap, and, at the last moment, Ryan had activated his
shield, which created a bubble just a few feet in radius larger than his sphere
mode, which no damage could pierce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
lasted only a few seconds, but that was long enough to protect his entire team
from the fall damage and the explosive trap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone dismounted him and stood back while Ryan shot the trap that was
now outside the elevator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sneak waited
for a choice opportunity to cloak himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nealson fired a stream of bullets at Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dash ran outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan and Boost followed, and immediately
strafed left, until they were a ways from the door.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
bridge was miniscule compared to the mess hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was structured like a hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
the front, farthest from the lift by which they had entered, was the pilot’s
seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other seats and stations ascended
from there in four concentric circles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the center, highest of all, was the captain’s chair, in front of
which McCormick stood.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nealson
was next to McCormick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Morrison was
behind them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slater was off to the other
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dash ran over to him and
engaged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan shot a grenade in the
midst of the other three opponents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
dodged in opposite directions, but neither of them were able to escape the
damage radius in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boost gave Ryan a
damage boost, and Ryan used it to unload into the now-prone Nealson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was careful about his stray bullets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t know exactly where Sneak was, and
it was important that he never be hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the time Nealson was able to force himself onto his feet through the
barrage, most of his health was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sniper jumped to the back, trying to take cover behind the peak of
the bridge’s hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick fired on
Ryan.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Morrison
shot a healing line at Nealson while the sniper was still in mid-air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the sniper landed, Ryan rushed up and
over the top of the bridge’s mound, firing his weapon, accepting the damage
from the McCormick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boost followed,
staying in cover and keeping clear of the wall to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Ryan was over the peak, he fired down on
Nealson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sniper strafed backward and
fired back into him, but once one too many bullets had hit him, went limp and
fell back against a navigator’s desk.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
turned and shot at McCormick, charging up the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick strafed backward at a matching
pace, and they’d soon rounded the peak of the hill again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of their boosters healed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re going to run out of time before you
can kill me, dumbass!” the McCormick said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He may have been right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan
might have made progress eliminating his enemy team if he shifted his attention
to their Morrison, but he needed to force McCormick’s attention onto him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He strafed in a circle so that his back was
to the elevator, and the backs of those firing on him would be to the piloting
chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boost moved behind him, to use
him as cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A light turned on across
the bridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sneak was probably visible
behind the mound of bridge stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
Ryan lost either of his enemy’s attention, it would be over for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick threw a grenade at the two of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan decided to stay put and eat
the damage but Boost dove to the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the grenade exploded, Ryan took a harsh chunk of damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To
Ryan’s left, Dash slit the throat of the enemy Slater, freeing him up to leap
at McCormick, bearing not his rapier, which wouldn’t do enough damage, but his
stun gun, which would paralyze him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
would let them functionally end the battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Morrison on her own wouldn’t be able to harm them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dash fired the weapon, loosing a yellow sphere like the one Boost had
earlier conjured with a spell, and just before it hit McCormick square in the
breast, McCormick activated a reflector, shooting the thing right back at Dash
and stunning him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A spray of Ryan’s own
bullets flew back at him as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>McCormick strafed to where Dash lay sprawled with his head hanging over
the drop from one circle of stations to another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Morrison was able to keep her healing spell
up while she unloaded her side-arm into Dash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>McCormick stomped Dash’s head once, twice, and then thrice, leaving his
neck broken and his head hanging grotesquely from him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You’re
so predictable!” the McCormick said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“God,
how did I start to lose to you upstairs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It must be the way the scenario was balanced.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hologram appeared to their left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Serrano, another member of the Terran
Naval Marines.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll
have control back in one minute guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Great job holding out for us!”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No
problem,” McCormick said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They were
chumps.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then another voice rang through
the bridge.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Jump
drive engaged.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What?!”
McCormick said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a jerk as the
ship started moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan stopped firing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick turned around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sneak was visible now, sitting in the pilot’s
chair.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breach-bot
spoke to all of them in his default voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Match ended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Red Arachnia wins.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How
the fuck did you do that?” McCormick screamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The ship stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s such
bullshit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did you stay invisible
long enough to do that?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blast came onscreen
and greeted her cursing and protesting prisoner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCormick began to rant about the unfairness
of invisibility, but their surroundings mercifully faded away, sparing all of
them from having to listen.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They
were now at a rebel base, all four of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was different than the last one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A proper base, not the least bit disheveled. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it was supposed to be the one this
journey had got them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan could see
a black ship far above them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it
was the <i>Hope’s Vanguard</i>, but there was no way to be sure.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Holy
shit, great job, man,” Dash said to Sneak.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thanks,”
Sneak said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just did what our Zap
told me to.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
be modest,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You managed to
sneak across that room without alerting any of them that you were there, and
without getting hit by any stray gunfire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not everyone could have done that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An invisible Sneak fades into view for several seconds if he takes
damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had that happened even once, the
other team might have detected him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan
had planned for their distraction to be enough of an immediate concern for the
other team that this could happen a few times, and it possibly not ruin their
plan. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sneak had dodged the gunfire
better than Ryan could have expected and put the coordinates into the ship
quickly and inconspicuously enough that their distraction was successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You played very well.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thanks,”
Sneak said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Say, I’d love it if you
stayed partied with us for another match.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Yeah, if you’re
going to be playing a few more matches,” Dash said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
was about to say yes, but then Breach-bot flashed an icon across his
vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stared at it for a second.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s
up?” the Dash asked.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
just got a message,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m
sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to deal with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breach-bot, remember these guys so I can find
them again later.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Same
the other way around,” Dash said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Contact
information added,” Breach-bot said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll
see if I can’t join up with you after just one more match,” Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Cool,”
Dash said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Alright,”
Ryan said, looking up, as if Breach-bot could be found above him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke with an audible sigh. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Take me to him.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His
surroundings transformed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
message had said that its sender needed to speak with Ryan right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something terrible had happened, and he
needed Ryan’s help worse than he ever had before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan appeared deep within a Red Arachnia
base, surrounded by cobbled-together machinery, rusty metal on every panel of
the wall, floor and ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
dark, and there was a table next to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At its far end, sat a Dash, but with a completely different player
inside than the one he’d just been playing with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan sat down in the giant chair that had
been set up for him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
happened,” Ryan, willfully allowing the irritation to show in his voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He groaned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Breach-bot, make me not sound like a robot.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Vocal
alteration disabled.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
happened?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This had better actually be
important.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan and this man had disagreed
in the past about just which things were and which things weren’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It’s about Lisa,” the man replied.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
made Ryan’s stoniness melt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What
happened to Lisa?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa had been part of
Ryan’s old team, back when he had played the game competitively, along with
Jay, who he was speaking to now.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Someone’s
car glitched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It plowed straight into
her.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh
shit,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stared at Jay, but
the only face he got to see was Dash’s, half stoic and half cyborg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How is she now?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not
dead yet,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We don’t know if
that will change, or what sort of state she’ll be in if she lives.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
was a silence between them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thanks for
telling me,” Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Where is she?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A
hospital in New York.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were—still are—there
for the championship.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryan had heard
they’d made it in, though he’d had no plans to watch them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be a bit too hard rooting for the
half of the team he was still on speaking terms with, but not the half that was
Jay and the man Jay had left him for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lisa had tried to stop all of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’d offered to leave the team so there’d still be a slot for him, but
he didn’t want it, so Jay’s new toy started playing Spark like she had, and
Lisa moved to playing Zap like Ryan had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jay’s new toy just couldn’t get the hang of sphere mode, apparently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
then he realized why Jay was really here.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You’re not
just here to ask me to—”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not
just, not at all <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just,</i>” Jay said,
“but yes, we need someone to replace her, just for this one tournament.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only the top eight teams in the league
qualified for the world championship event.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
stood, pushing his giant chair backward behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fell over, crashing into the metal floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus Christ, Jay, no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the
fuck is wrong with you?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Alright,”
Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll tell Sophia, and Lisa if
she wakes up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jay himself stood and
began to walk toward the door of the base, as if this were a real base one
would leave through the door rather than an instance in a video game one would leave
with a command to Breach-bot.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ryan
watched him, thinking he ought to leave himself, but somehow not doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Is <i>he</i> still on the team?” Ryan said,
once Jay was several paces away.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jay
turned around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yes,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Believe me or don’t when I say this, but
Mitch was actually okay with sitting this one out for your sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the tournament organizer who put her
foot down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Replacing Lisa was one thing,
but there could be no other changes.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
wasn’t like Ryan to hate someone, but he made an exception for the man who’d
seduced Jay away from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his
clearer moments, he had to admit that things between him and Jay were doomed
regardless, but Jay hadn’t cordially broken up with him over their issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, he’d hooked up with someone he
thought would take things more seriously. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Why does it have to be me?”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Because
you’re the best Zap player I know of and I don’t have time to find someone
else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And you
absolutely need a Zap?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Our ideal arrangement includes
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hastily re-organizing our team
would make our case hopeless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
need you, Ryan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lisa, Sophie and I.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Fine,”
Ryan said.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank
you,” Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Your travel expenses
won’t be covered by Thunderware,” the company that owned Breach, “but I’ll pay
you back for all of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to be
in New York by seven tonight for the before-party.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll
be there by five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to see Lisa
first thing.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Alright,”
Jay said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lingered a moment and then
left.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Breach-bot,”
Ryan said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Tell those guy’s that I’m
sorry, but that I can’t make it back to them for now.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Message
sent,” the robot said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why couldn’t the
car robots be as faithful as this one?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<i>Thank you to my patrons:</i><br />
<i>Kevin</i><br />
<i>Mom</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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<i><br /></i>
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<i><br /></i>
<i>Cheers.</i><br />
<br />ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-23775449582303421422017-06-17T19:42:00.001-07:002017-06-17T19:45:00.964-07:00Angel of Death 1.29 All Our Knowledge<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>(Hello everyone! Sorry for the long absence. That was the result, first and foremost, of schoolwork. However, that won't be a factor again until the end of the year.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>In the meantime, something has changed. You see, Angel of Death is exactly the same it was before, except now you can give me money, through <a href="https://www.patreon.com/user?u=3698199" target="_blank">PATREON</a>. If you don't know what patreon is, welcome to the internet! We're all very happy to meet you! It's a crowdfunding site that allows you to give me money each time I release a new entry of Angel of Death, or any other web serial I start in the future, which I have some plans to do. I have this idea about superheroes in a post-apocalypse setting that will probably manifest at some point.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>You can pledge whatever amount you want, and I will receive payment in that amount every time I release an entry. No matter how long of an unannounced hiatus I take, you will never be charged until a new entry is released!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Becoming a patron gives you rewards, such as access to my notes, deleted scenes from early entries, access to the early drafts of upcoming entries as I complete them, and, (eventually) commentaries on various entries. At the highest level, I'll even craft a story, with the same minimum length as an Angel of Death entry, according to your specifications! So please, consider becoming a patron.)</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Reidel dropped his fork into the bowl in front of
him. He stared across the table at Steven,
wide-eyed. He saw Steven’s eyes sink
downward. Reidel could remember now. They had gathered around the table when the
ground shook, and a fissure opened up in Lester’s floor, right under
Allen. A golden cylinder rose out of it
and surrounded him, molded itself into a sarcophagus with Allen’s face and sank
down. <i>All of this, while Allen screamed.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He’d remembered it the whole time, Reidel realized… he’d
just also believed, like he knew it for a fact, that the school librarian had
broken into the house and killed Allen.
Reidel’s eyebrow furled. What the
fuck was wrong with him? The thought of
Bavandersloth’s smug face forced itself on his mind, and made him seethe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “So you remember too?” Steven said, his voice scared.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Reidel took a deep breath. “Yes,” he said. He reached out for Steven’s hand, which
rested on the table limply. He held it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet Fox sat at her news desk, reading from her
teleprompter. “Breaking News,” she
said. The next line flashed across the
screen. <i>How the hell do you say that on the air?</i> she thought. “As you yourself may well have noticed, what
scientists,” she held back laughter, “are calling a complex global memory
phenomenon has afflicted the globe.
Persons around the world are noticing what appears to be the sudden
abandonment of beliefs which, on reflection, are found to have been held with
unfounded dogmatism. It has been noted
that all of the beliefs in question pertain to the Angel phenomenon. We bring you now to Neurobiologist Carlos
Palmer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet took a deep breath and leaned back as the
broadcast cut to another newsperson interviewing the scientist. Damn the twenty-four hour news cycle. She was still trying to process what had
happened for herself. From her memory,
it seemed to her like every… “fact” she could recall believing was something
she’d heard from Light-rook while she interviewed him. She had tried to think of an exception, but
she couldn’t. He’d said that the
motorcyclists had been fighting Orichalcum over an evil book. He’d reassured her that the book was evil. He’d said everything about that other
dimension. He’d explained what had
happened in North Korea to her. She
couldn’t think of anything else in any other area of her life that seemed to be
part of--<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Her thoughts were interrupted by the teleprompter
flashing back on. “Thank you Carlos,”
she said. “Investigations into the
source of this effect, including possible relationships to the angel
phenomenon, are ongoing. In the
meantime, government officials emphasize the need to remain calm and proceed as
normal.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet ripped off her headset as soon as the camera cut
away from her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody lay back in the worn out velvet seats of
Bavandersloth’s plane. All was well,
after a fashion. Cody glanced several
rows up at Justin, who had finished crying, but was still not in the mood to
talk. He refocused his mind. With Bavandersloth gone, he had another
problem. <i>Everyone will have had their minds unaltered.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The public would know that they had been lied to. They would realize that their minds had been
tampered with. This would probably turn
them pretty strongly against Angels. To
a large extent, that was good. It might,
however, lead to just a speck of public unrest and the occasional riot. <i>How
much exactly would they realize?</i> Cody thought. They would notice that all of the lies had
had to do with Angels. They would notice
all of those lies had painted Angels positively. They would remember the book. Cody placed his hand on his copy, which sat
in the seat next to him. They would
probably assume that what they were told about it was false.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>Someone’ll want a
copy,</i> Cody realized. But should they
have it? <i>Would they be better off knowing about the devoured souls? Would that just cause more unrest?</i> Cody thought hard. On one hand, the real truth was upsetting. But would not knowing be worse? Would they fear the worst? Which way would they be less likely to lash
out at an innocent party?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>If I were them, </i>Cody
thought, <i>which would make me feel worse?</i> When he thought about it that way, it was
obvious. <i>They shouldn’t know.</i> He
remembered how he’d reacted when he first learned. Surely adding all of the information they
still lacked, that the world had just nearly been taken over by soul eating monsters,
would only make things worse. It may
leave them less prepared for the next time, but Cody already had plans to
exterminate the community, and Valthakar’s ritual would prevent any new liches
from being created. There wouldn’t be a
next time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “There has already been a death tentatively connected
with the incident, sir,” one of the DIAPP agents said. The Grey man took a deep breath. “Alright men, the question we need to answer
is this: how do we prevent more public unrest?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Should we try to spin this?” an agent suggested. “Perhaps, just maybe, we could spin the
devourers everyone saw as the result of some kind of genetic experimentat--”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “That’s stupid,” the Gray man said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “But most of the public won’t know that,” the agent said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Well we don’t need to calm down <i>most</i> of the public. Any
cover story we came up with would have to fool experts who have a deep
understanding of whatever we blamed, and given what all the public has seen,
that’s likely impossible.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Perhaps there’s nothing we can do,” another agent
said. “We could try to leave the whole
incident shrouded in mystery.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The grey man took a sip of coffee. He seemed to think for a moment. “That’s a bad idea,” he said. “We’ve got to come up with some kind of
story, something less upsetting than the truth, but believable in light of
everything the public has seen. We need
to tell them something that will make them think they should keep living in the
same world they were before. So,
pursuant to that - ideas?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> No one spoke for a moment. The Gray man looked around the room. “C’mon, people. What is the least disturbing thing they could
be?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Aliens?” another agent suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The Gray man thought for a second. “No,” he said. “Most of the devourers are specific people,
people with friends, even families for some of them. Body snatchers are scarier than what we
really have.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “What if we say that they’re those people,” another agent
said, “but we say that they made some kind of deal with an evil spirit, or
alien or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “That’s not too far from the truth,” an agent pointed
out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “That’s a point in its favor,” the Gray man said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The first agent nodded.
“Perhaps we could stage some kind of battle with whatever it was, make
it seem gone, and give everyone on earth a sense of victory.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Isn’t that a little silly?” someone else asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Actually, I don’t think so,” the Gray man said. “The public will doubtless feel betrayed and
defeated after being lied to for so long, and it’s that feeling which will most
likely lead them to anger. That’s what
we need to prevent.” He took another sip. “We’ll set it up. We’ll acquire some monstrosity and then film
ourselves killing it. Then we’ll tell everyone that we’ve been after it the
whole time.” The man shifted in his
chair. “That leaves us with a lot of
details to work out, but that can be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The DIAPP agents went on to discuss those details.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet lay across a couch in the break room, drinking
coffee, wishing it was more than coffee.
Her mind was on the Angel story.
She was sure that everything, all of the beliefs that had been altered,
had been things she’d heard while interviewing Light-rook. Not even Orichalcum. Just Light-rook.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>And everything that
the public was forced to believe, they heard from my interviews.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet stood up to get another cup of coffee. <i>You’ve
already had three,</i> a voice in her head told her. <i>Fuck
you,</i> she said back. <i>I can have as much coffee as I damn well
please.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> She picked her mug up from the table and walked across
the room. She grabbed the pot and poured
into her mug. “You’re a real Journalist!!”
the mug said. She’d gotten it when she
got her first job. <i>It was here,</i> she realized, though she’d worked elsewhere for part
of her career.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The pot emptied, and the mug was still half-empty. She started to summon one of the interns to
make more, but she didn’t. Instead, she
filled the empty space with creamer and sat back down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As she sipped the cold, sweet, milky beverage she had
created, she was finally able to get her mind off of the angels for a
moment. Instead, she remembered buying
this mug. She’d gotten it online<i>. </i>It
would have been… 2000, maybe?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> She’d had it specially made from a website that allowed
one to create a customized t-shirt or mug.
You could design any image you wanted to put on it. She’d written this message in paint or
something, and sent it to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> She looked at the mug.
She laughed. It looked silly, now
that she examined it. It looked like,
well, like it was made in paint. The
letters were blocky and zig-zagged, and bright green on a pink background. It looked childish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> She took another sip.
Perhaps it was childish, how she’d felt.
She was so overjoyed when she got that job. It felt so… so validating, to finally have a
real job in the industry, if only as a staff researcher. No matter what anyone said, she was
unquestionably a real journalist. She
was doing really, real journalism. It
was what she’d wanted to do since she was a child. She liked researching, discovering, and piecing
together, and she loved the presentation of it all even more. That hadn’t changed about her since she was, <i>what, ten?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> She took one more sip of the coffee, and set it down on
the table in front of her. She looked at
the design again. “You’re a real
Journalist!!” She picked the cup back
up. She had been around the angel story
more than anyone she knew. She was going
to get to the bottom of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Help!” the girl shouted.
Cody rushed toward her. Her fear
was pungent in the air around her, its pleasant odor tainted by the smoke of
the burning car.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The fear’s odor grew stronger for a split second when she
first saw Cody, but then it relaxed.
Cody smiled. He dashed right over
to the back of the car, and placed his hand on it. He willed the car to crumble into dust, and
it did, rust forming and consuming the car with an eerie swiftness. The car, and with it the fire, disappeared
before they had the chance to kill the girl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The girl now sat on the ground, shaking. Cody looked down at her as she sat in a fetal
position. Her injuries were not as bad
as they could have been, though that would not have remained the case for much
longer had he not intervened. Still, he
reached into a pocket he’d stitched to his true form’s raggy robe and pulled
out a cell phone. He dialed 911.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>I’ll need to figure
out what happened to her parents once I finish this call,</i> he thought, and
once he’d told the dispatcher of the nature and location of the emergency, he
crouched down and looked the girl in her eyes.
She held her nose, but didn’t crawl away. “Where is your mommy or daddy?” he asked, as
he placed his hand on her and tagged her burns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The girl looked back up at him, her voice nasally. “My daddy… He… ran off to get help,” she
said, her voice seeming to shake more from pain than fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Out of the blue, the scent of another fear, <i>no, many fears, </i>hit Cody like a flowery truck. His eyes widened. <i>For a
fear that strong, something horrible must be happening.</i> “Don’t move away from here unless it’s for
the ambulance I called or your parents,” he said, faster than he’d been
speaking before, “I need to go help other people.” He stood up and ran off before she responded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody heard shouting as he approached the source of the
fear. It was a booming mess of screams,
pleas, and angered snarls. When Cody
realized he was near the news station, he formed a guess as to what was going
on. When he reached the station, he saw
that he was right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It was surrounded by a crowd of rabid, shouting, people,
numbering in the dozens, perhaps as many as a hundred. The front door of the station was locked, but
the people were gathered around the door, working to bash it in. <b>SLAM</b>,
Cody heard. He dashed over, and as soon
as the crowd saw him, they turned.
“Fuck, that’s one of them right there,” someone said, and most of the
crowd descended upon him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody activated his shield straight away as the people ran
at him from all sides. The people were
armed with baseball bats, crowbars and axes.
They were no threat to Cody’s shield.
The pungent scent of fear had not vanished, and Cody looked above the
people surrounding him to the door.
There were still several people trying to break through it. Cody didn’t want to lower his shield While the baseball bats wouldn’t affect him,
a lucky strike with an ax could deprive him of a limb. Still, time seemed limited enough that there
was no other choice but to risk it.
Blasting them from this close a range would be more hazardous, and would
likely kill them, as would a magical beam.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody lowered his shield.
Immediately, the humans who has been bashing against his shield ran into
his cloud. Cody grabbed one’s arm and
inflicted a knock-out injury on him. As
the man fell, another tripped over him in the dark. Cody ignored him for a split second,
paralyzing three more, before returning to the one who had tripped. Once a pile of humans had formed, Cody leapt
on top of it, and, with the extra height, was able to jump over the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The door broke open.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody’s eyes widened.
A human from the crowd got into his cloud and punched him. Luckily, that was enough contact for a
paralysis, and Cody promptly administered one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> From there, a number of humans, about half of the crowd,
ran toward the door. Cody thought. <i>They’re
probably going in there to hurt someone… or kill them. </i>They’d been screaming enough about this
place broadcasting lies for Cody to be sure of their malicious intent. Keeping mobile to dodge the portion of the
crowd chasing him, Cody fired a thin magical beam at the ankles of the humans
running into the building.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody heard screams as the humans’ feet and ankles were
burnt. Cody had held back his beam to
avoid severing them. As the humans fell
on top of each other, Cody heard a crack from somewhere in the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> A few members of the crowd who could still walk limped
away. Another few hobbled toward him, a
few of them moaning as they came his way.
Cody paralyzed a few convenient targets in his cloud and then ran back
toward the entrance. He planned his path
poorly, and he heard another snap as one of the humans following him stepped on
one of the people he’d incapacitated.
Cody arrived in the entrance, standing to block it. Only one human had made it inside, and a
quick beam had him on the floor wailing like the others. Cody turned to the crowd and shot a weak
magical blast just in front of him, where it would harm no one, but where it
would seem like it was going to.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> A portion of the crowd stopped. “You’re not getting in here,” Cody declared;
his voice deep and booming. A few more
stopped, but some of them kept coming.
Cody clenched his fist. <i>Fine.
If they make me. </i>He crouched
down and fired another magical beam, making it sweep across the crowd’s feet and
legs. Many of them fell, but not quite
all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody gritted his teeth, and fixed that with a few more
sweeps. The crowd now lay in a
screaming, immobile pile on the pavement.
Cody looked around. He’d
accidentally gotten one of the ones he’d scared away in one of his beams. <i>Fuck.</i> He ran up to the crowd he’d just knocked
down. He started knocking out the humans
therein to spare them having to feel the painful burns.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> By the time police arrived in riot gear, they had little
to do but call ambulances. Cody tagged
the humans’ injuries as he knocked them out.
He found the broken femur that’d been the source of the crack he’d
heard. It’d take him a while to work
through all of these with humans he ate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As efficient as Cody had gotten with disease transfer,
the sheer number of injuries and illnesses he had tagged at any given time was
now enough to ensure that there was a waiting list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody was able to get all of the rioters tagged before any
ambulances arrived. He ran off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Jonah awoke to a pain in his stomach like he’d never felt
before. It was hunger, he realized, but
more intense than he’d previously imagined hunger could be. He stood up, already in his true form. He was in a dull grey room with concrete
walls. Lit dimly by a flickering
lightbulb were rows of unconscious humans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Jonah salivated.
He pounced on the first bed, manifesting his scythe to consume its
inhabitant. He didn’t take any time. He gorged himself, obeying a need deep within
himself to satisfy his aching belly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It took him only a few minutes to devour the souls. None of them woke up. They’d been knocked out by someone else, he
realized, and it was only then that he remembered having his form destroyed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Jonah felt less hungry now, but the urge to feed had not
subsided. He looked around. The walls were featureless. There was a door at the top of one wall. There were no stairs leading up to the door,
but it was opening.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Jonah stepped back to get a better look as it opened, revealing
Larngulal. “He--” Jonah began, but was
cut off when he felt two magical beams pass over his arms and legs, severing
the ends off of all four limbs. He fell
backward.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Hey, what the hell was that for?” he shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “To prevent you from rampaging,” Larngulal said. “That’s the last thing I need to deal with
right now. We’ll talk in a few hours
when you’re well.” She walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Hey!” Jonah shouted.
He wiggled his arms, flopping on the floor. He spent the next several hours struggling to
get up, with no success.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet had poured through her interviews. There were fewer than one would think. That this had all happened in a mere seven
months was so incomprehensible to Violet that it made her uncomfortable to
contemplate it. It did, however, allow
her to search through all of them relatively quickly. <i>October
23<sup>th</sup>, 2013, the Angel of Death, not Light-rook, comes into the news
station and asks to give an interview.</i>
<i>October 26<sup>th</sup>, 2013, the
Angel of Death gives the interview.</i>
It was interesting. The Angel of
Death and Light-rook had the same voice.
She’d not noticed that at the time, but having compared the recordings
over and over again, the two of them sounded exactly the same, but different
from Orichalcum, and the other angels who’d given interviews around the world,
and recorded 911 calls supposedly by the Angel of Death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>December 28<sup>th</sup>
2013. The first devourer attack. </i>Even at the time, the possibility that
the devourer had been Light-rook had occurred to Violet. Even now, though, it didn’t make sense. Why?
Why go through so much to craft a positive public image; then jeopardize
it? Perhaps they wanted to be seen to
have a villain to stop? Why not make it
seem more different from them? Perhaps
they couldn’t? Why not use the canine
creature that had been seen aiding the Angel of Death?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Alternately, what if Light-rook rampaged around the city
for another reason, and invented an imaginary species to blame it on? There was no mention of devourers from anyone
until just after Light-rook’s body was destroyed for the first time. Orichalcum introduced the term during his
first interview. If it was a lie, it
must have been something they came up with in anticipation of the rampage. That meant that they knew that the rampage
was going to happen. Indeed, even in the
cell phone footage of Light-rook being killed, he started to ask the agents if
they thought he was something. When
Violet listened closely, it sounded like he had started to say “devourer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet sighed and fell back on her bed, her legs still
hanging off the edge. On some level, it
felt like it made sense to just assume that the angels were the devourers. They were obviously evil if they’d
mind-controlled every human on the planet for months at a time. But that wasn’t good enough. Violet wanted to be sure. She wanted to be able to prove she’d found
the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> On January 6<sup>th</sup>, 2014, the whole business with
the book had happened. Motorcyclists in
glowing rainbow armor, matching that of the government agents seen elsewhere,
were riding, their path consistent with them being headed toward the station. A man shot them, as well as several standers
by, and took the book from them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Light-rook had said that the book was full of lies and
slander regarding them. <i>That was what an evil being would say</i>…
when those words passed through her internal monologue, Violet had to stop and
process the fact that they had. She sat
up in her bed. Every surface in her room
was scattered with documents. That was
as it should be. She closed her eyes and
pictured the mug at her office. This world
was going insane. She was mostly sure
she wasn’t in a padded cell somewhere.
If someone was that far gone, Violet supposed they’d not know that they
were. They may well think that they were
in their bed, documents scattered about, a laptop glowing with thirty tabs
open, when they were in fact in a strait jacket, banging their head against the
pads that lined the walls of their cell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>If I’m that far
gone, there’s no harm in continuing. An
evil being would lie and claim that a book exposing their plans was full of
lies.</i> Somehow, that felt like an
obvious conclusion to jump to. Knowing
that the angels had used some sort of mind controlling magic…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> …mind controlling magic on everyone, made them seem evil.<i> </i>Light-rook
had said the book’s principle lie was that angels and devourers were the same
creatures. If that was what it said, it
seemed, by the obvious line of reasoning, that they were.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It was right after he’d said that that the strangest
thing had happened. Violet had brought
up the angels’ critics. Light-rook’s
response had been peculiar. <i>“I gained a new power last night. The power of any one of us is constantly
growing by drips and drops. One of my
powers requires me to be with someone face to face, or at least it did, until
last night.”</i> Violet had asked what
he meant. “<i>Oh, simply that the various fears based on the facts that I just
mentioned are false. You should think
nothing of them.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> A power… a mind control power that he’d gained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> On February 8<sup>th</sup>, Light-rook made his last
public appearance. Violet was pretty
sure none of her beliefs came from after that date.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> On February 10<sup>th</sup>, a pair of apparent devourers
had perpetrated the Central Square Massacre.
This was the one that gave the game away. Most of the way through the massacre, one of
the devourers stood over the body of one of the victims for quite a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet had wondered why that might be. Hoping to figure it out, she did some
research into who the victim was. He was
a teenager named Lester Green. His parents
had died with him in the massacre, but he had a sister who was alive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet intended to speak to her. Violet had taken inspiration from Det. Leon
Williams, the police officer who had first investigated the Angel of Death
murders. He had first determined that a
human was responsible for them by observing the extra time the black cloud had
seemed to spend in Cherie Lambert’s hospital room. He had died in a fire which had initially
been ruled arson, but regarding which the police had dropped all investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> He had arrested a suspect, a teenager named Cody Giles,
Lambert’s boyfriend, in the case. On a
hunch, Violet had checked, and Giles and Green went to the same school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> If Violet was right, the devourer had been Giles, and he
had reacted unusually to the realization that he had killed someone he
knew. Perhaps he hadn’t done so up until
that point. He’d originally been cleared
of suspicion by the fact that another angel had healed a woman while he was in
jail, but there were at least two angels capable of that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Violet had met Williams when he was alive. He was brilliant, and throughout all the time
she’d covered news around Goldfalls, he’d never proven to be wrong. If he had suspected Giles was the Angel of
Death, it was probably true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> If the Angel of Death were Cody Giles, and the devourer
who had stood over Green’s corpse was Cody Giles, that meant that this devourer
was the Angel of Death, meaning Angels and devourers were the same creatures,
seemingly engaged in a conspiracy to take over the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As Justin waited for the DIAPP agent to arrive, a drop of
water fell onto him from one of the leaky pipes above. He and Cody were in their true forms, with no
darkness around them. Even though no one
was around, this was the most public place Justin had ever been without the
cloud, which made Justin feel naked. The
boy stepped aside, out from under the leak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The walls and floor of the room were covered in impressive
looking occult symbols, the crown jewel of which was the giant pentagram in
which the liches stood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin heard the door open, and saw the DIAPP agent
enter. The man smelled just the tiniest
bit scared. He was in an exterminator’s
usual suit. The thing was turned off
right now, though soon it would begin to play its horrible music and flash in a
million ugly colors. In his hand, the
agent held a large, ornate dagger, with a blade which looked like a single
sharpened ruby. The handle was golden,
and studded with a mix of blue and purple jewels. At the back of the handle was a small golden
skull.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Hello,” Cody said, as the man entered the room. His fear-scent grew a tad stronger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Hello,” the man said.
He stared at the two for a moment.
“Any reason not to start?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “I can’t think of one,” Cody said. “Justin, are you ready?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Yeah,” Justin said after a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The agent activated his suit. Justin came close to covering his ears as the
music played. The agent turned to the
left, and shot a clear liquid at the wall next to them. The stuff bubbled as soon as it hit the wall,
releasing a thin smoke. At the same
time, Cody charged at a washing machine in the basement, smashing it. Justin fired a beam of green energy at the
wall, tracing a sweeping path from one wall to the other. All of this was for the purpose of making it
appear that a fight had started here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> They continued like this for about thirty seconds, until
the basement was sufficiently destroyed, and the DIAPP agent ran upstairs. Cody fired a magical beam up through the open
door as he left. Justin ran up the
stairs after him, Cody following shortly behind. The man ran out the open door, into broad
daylight outside, eliciting stares from bystanders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Gasps followed as the liches chased him outside. Many of the people around ran away. The DIAPP agent jumped at Justin, who grabbed
his arm. He could have made the suit
decay away at this point. Given the
noxious sound it was producing, he was tempted to. However, he held back, and did nothing more
than flip the agent over, so that he landed on the ground face-first. <i>That
was too fast,</i> he realized. <i>Cody said I needed to fight badly enough
that people would believe he beat me later.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The agent tripped Justin from the ground. The boy hit the sidewalk hard. He heard a magical blast land behind him. He stood up, spitting out a grey-brown
tooth. As he did, he saw what DIAPP had
hoped would occur. Some stupid, suicidal
human was filming them. <i>Even after central square…</i> Justin turned around to see the DIAPP agent
running down the street. He followed,
firing a magical blast on the road beside the agent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The three ran, the human slowly enough that Justin had no
problem catching up, until they were out of the neighborhood they’d been in,
and near a bunch of businesses, and a larger crowd. It was then that Cody closed in for
melee. Summoning his scythe, he swung it
at the DIAPP agent, allowing him to parry it with the bejeweled dagger. Justin ran into the fray and did the
same. They fought, with their scythes
and the dagger, like Justin had done many times before with his friends, using
toy light-sabers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>We’re two monsters
from another realm,</i> was the lie which DIAPP would release to give context
to this show. <i>The only two, a pair, one in a black hood, the other white robes.</i> DIAPP hoped the color thing would help people
believe that they were the only two, but that having two there rather than one
would provide an out if more were to surface somehow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin heard a whoosh, and felt something pierce his
heart. He looked down. The agent had gotten him. Justin stumbled backward as the agent pulled
the dagger out of him, grunting. Cody
stared, feigning shock. Justin fell onto
his back, moving his head to look out onto the stupid humans, whom he supposed
were willing to have their souls devoured if it meant getting to post footage
of the fight on the internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin was facing the wrong way to see the fight behind
him, and he couldn’t turn to look now. <i>If I move, they’ll know I’m not dead.</i> So he listened to the clack of magical scythe
on pretend magical dagger, until he heard a squish, and the smack of Cody
falling against the pavement. The DIAPP
agent hit the ground right afterward, heaving, out of breath. The crowd still looked on. After a moment, a cheer began. The man stood up behind Justin, and stepped
toward the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Then the crowd looked up at the sky, some pointing dumbly,
screaming. Justin heard the loudest
thunder he’d ever heard before as a bright light engulfed his vision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Tracie Green wore green.
Her demeanor was not as bright as her clothing, though perhaps it had
been at some point in the past. It felt
cruel, speaking to this girl, no older than twelve, about her dead
brother. Had the story been any less
important, Violet wouldn’t have done it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The two sat in the grass, next to a cute little garden
the girl had planted. Though spring
wouldn’t begin until later that week, some of the flowers had already bloomed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Did your brother know a boy named Cody?” Violet asked
the girl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Oh, him?
Yeah. They were best
friends. He was over all the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “This was Cody Giles?
The boy who was arrested in October on suspicion of being the Angel of
Death.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Yeah.” Tracie
gave Violet a look. “Is that what this
is about?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Yes,” Violet said.
She didn’t explain why.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Oh,” the girl said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “They were quite close, though?” Violet pressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Well, yeah, I guess,” Tracie said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The interview continued for a while, but that had been
what Violet needed to know. Violet’s
suspicions had been confirmed. She would
present her research to her managers, and then say it on air, and post it
online, no matter what they said about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The giant bird flew into Justin’s field of view. It was black and white, with a feathery
crested head and a long, thin beak. Blue
arcs of lightning crackled all across its body.
The creature dove straight for the crowd, and the idiots finally
scattered. Perhaps this would teach them
common sense, Justin thought, as he stood up and shot a magical beam at the
bird, his aim true.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The creature let out a thunderous squawk, its head
turning to gaze at Justin. The boy
stepped back. <i>That probably should have done more damage</i>, he thought, gazing at
the bird as he heard another crash of thunder, and light overtook his vision
once again. He could see past the
light. He could no more be denied his
sight by the overabundance of light than he could by the lack of it. He saw a thick, blue bolt erupt from the
bird’s beak and strike him, knocking him backward. Beside him, he could now see the crisp-black
legs the DIAPP agent. It seemed his
upper half was elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody had already stood, and was firing at the bird. He raised his shield immediately after he
fired on the creature. Seeing the logic
in this, Justin raised his shield as he stood up. The creature opened its beak, and shot a
lightning bolt at Cody. The sound was
again deafening. Despite his shield,
Cody was thrown backward by the blast.
Justin turned to see him fly back and slide against the pavement. After just one blast, his shield was
faint. <i>Crap,</i> Justin thought.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin turned his attention back to the creature. He jumped to the side, lowered his shield,
fired a blast, and raised his shield again.
He turned around and ran away from the creature in zig-zags. He saw Cody stand up and run back toward the
creature, firing a beam. After a moment,
Justin turned around and fired again at the creature. Just as he lifted his shield back up, another
bolt hit him, throwing him back and to the ground. As he stood, he realized his shield was
already at half strength. Out of the
corner of his eye, he saw Cody waving his arms inside his shield as he jumped
about to avoid the bird’s fire. Once he
saw he had Justin’s attention, Cody made a gesture, sticking out his thumb and
pinky to make a telephone shape and putting it to his head like he was speaking
into it. They had agreed a while back
that that signal meant for Justin to lower his shield so they could talk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin rolled to the side, by luck, actually dodging away
from a bolt, and lowered his shield for a moment. Cody lowered his as well. “I know what that is,” Cody shouted. “It has to be set on fire. Nothing else will hurt it.” Justin nodded and raised his shield back
up. He turned to look for the
flamethrower on the exterminator’s back.
He found it, along with the exterminator’s head and shoulders. What remained of the metal tank was well and
truly exploded. <i>Being struck by lightning must have ignited its fuel.</i><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin looked around.
He saw Cody running toward a gas station. Justin moved in the same direction, keeping
his eyes on the monster, jumping around like Cody had been doing. He was apparently doing it worse, however,
because the creature managed to strike him mid-air, throwing him toward the gas
station and popping his shield. <i>Crap</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin stood back up.
He saw that Cody was inside the gas station’s building, waving his hand,
motioning for Justin to move to Cody’s right.
Justin moved that way. He
stopped, but Cody’s waving only got more frantic. Justin ran.
As he did, another bolt of lightning knocked him forward and onto his
face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Justin heard his left arm skitter away as he hit the
ground. Using his other arm, he forced
himself up, only to see the bird directly under the gas station’s hood. Across the street, a human was cowering in
the bushes with a cell phone camera pointed at the creature. It stepped slowly toward Justin on its giant,
thin, stick legs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> As it did, Cody ran out of the gas station and, without
missing a beat, grabbed one of the gas pumps and sprayed the gasoline at the
creature. The sparks moving throughout
its feathers seemed to be all that was needed to ignite it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Cody dropped the pump after only a second and dashed away
from it. Justin followed him. He heard frantic, pained squawks behind
him. After a few dozen feet, he turned
around to see the bird flailing around, flapping its wings in an attempt to put
the fire out, but it seemed to have no success.
After a couple hundred feet, the two stopped. They turned around, and watched the bird, now
fully engulfed; flail around for another minute or so before collapsing to the
ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Well, that ruined everything,” Justin commented after a
moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “It did,” Cody said.
He turned around and walked off.
Justin looked over his shoulder.
The human was still in the bushes.
Justin nearly aimed an energy beam just above the moron’s head, just to
scare him, but he held back. He turned
and went off with Cody.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The Grey Man sat, whispering the phrase “Damn it to hell”
periodically. His computer was open to a
cell phone video of the devourers who had agreed they’d pretend to be
dead. They were pretending to be heroes
instead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The Grey Man heard a click, and then a voice. “Sir, something requires your attention.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The man pressed a button.
“What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “According to our source at the Channel 4 news station in
Goldfalls, one of the anchors there, Violet Fox, intends to report on an
investigation she carried out into the Angel of Death case.” The voice paused. “She’s come to a lot of correct conclusions,
sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The Grey Man sighed.
He leaned back in his chair. <i>There’s no lying to the world after this,</i>
he thought. <i>Someone is going to figure things out sooner or later.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Let her do what she wants.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Sir?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Don’t give me that.
I said to let her do what she wants and I meant it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> There was a short pause.
“Very well, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The Grey Man turned off his computer. He stood up and left. (He was off work in ten minutes anyway.) He’d be stopping to buy a drink on the way
home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “We’re on in sixty!” Violet heard. Nervously, she fiddled with the papers she
held. Her palms felt disgustingly
sweaty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “On in five, four, three, two.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Good evening, I’m Violet Fox. This is channel 4 news at 6:00,” she
said. “Our top story tonight continues
to be the angel saga, as well as new information, gathered by this reporter
personally, which may shed new light on the events.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>That sounded okay
so far</i>, Violet thought. From there,
she went on to lay out her theory. <i>Cody Giles was the Angel of Death. Devourers are angels in disguise, or perhaps
the other way around. They just tried to
take over the world.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> It left a lot of unanswered questions, not the least of
which being why whatever mental control Light-rook had been using had stopped
working. No one had heard anything out
of him for over a month, since the same day a mansion in the Northern part of
town had exploded. <i>Perhaps he had died in that explosion?</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> This would be Violet’s last broadcast here. She’d be going into hiding for a while. Between the riot on Wednesday and her
announcing that a bunch of monsters had been planning to take over the world,
monsters that might come after her for revenge, she didn’t feel safe in
Goldfalls. She’d said goodbyes to her
family and friends. She’d be leaving as
soon as this broadcast was over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> She might end up regretting this; if she found a devourer
standing over her, having tracked her down to avenge their plans. No, that wasn’t right; most of them could
turn invisible. She wouldn’t be able to
regret anything before they’d already killed her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Still, even if she somehow would regret this, she knew
that she shouldn’t. That was what
mattered. She’d done the right thing. The camera stopped, and she took a long, deep
drink from her mug before getting up to leave for the airport.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <i>The world reacted
poorly to Violet Fox’s broadcast at first.
It seemed, for a month or two, as though she had made a terrible
mistake.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> But
the human species was more invested in its own status quo than some might have
predicted. In the end, when the worst of
the riots were over, the humans had to eat.
To do this, the bulk of them had to perform labor for the higher
classes. As a result of this labor’s
necessity, it continued. As the labor continued,
so did the human’s schedules. With
these, the normal state of human societies went on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The
angel incident had far reaching implications, of course. Human existence would never be precisely the
same as it had been before magical beings had tried to take over the
world. Scientists and philosophers were
immensely concerned with the issue, and amateur organizations popped up
alleging to assist in the fight against the remaining devourers, whom DIAPP
would have to track down, even as the monsters became ever more desperate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Still,
Valthakar’s spell went perfectly with the materials I sent, and it seems, in
the end, their world shall continue as it always did.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-6314292944578226602016-02-03T22:20:00.000-08:002016-02-03T22:39:19.791-08:00Angel of Death 1.28 Death Throes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Zachary rushed away from the prison, pulling the sphere
out of his pocket. The Angel of Death
had said some magic words right before Pink fell and started changing. Could that have been a coincidence? He’d never seen an Angel need to use nonsense
words before. Everything they did, they just did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The Angel of Death had said this sphere was a good luck
charm. Maybe the opposite was the case. Zachary tossed the sphere away from him,
causing it to land on the grass a distance away from him. He kept running.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody followed the fear trail Zachary left behind
him. His frightened scent grew more
powerful as Cody drew near to its source, and before long, Zachary was in
sight. The human found a sudden burst of
speed somewhere inside him as Cody approached, but it did him little good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody reached Zachary and tackled him to the ground. The human’s fear was pungent in the air as
Cody pinned him, but the scent faded away when Cody knocked Zachary
unconscious. Cody closed his eyes and
scanned through his mental catalogue of the diseases he had to tag. He started with the most serious ones which
were not immediately life-threatening.
He tried to strategize his transfers to move as many illnesses as he
could. He went through the pettier
illnesses, and then the most dangerous ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Finally, Cody moved over a group of life-threatening
injuries in a single burst before snatching up and eating Zachary’s soul before
the human could die. When he’d done
that, he lay back for a moment, and then stood up to go back to the
prison. Explaining this to Larngulal
would be easier if fewer Selechii goons survived this affair, and in a few
days, Cody would be in a position to scrub the organization from the face of
the earth. With both their leader and
Zach working for him, he’d be able to find all of their hide-outs, track down
every one of them and either kill them or send them to the police. He just needed to wait for Valthakar to find
Bavandersloth and he’d be golden. He
smiled. He really was going to win. Perhaps Cherie wouldn’t have to wait until
next Valentine’s Day for another night as special as their last.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie sat down in the training academy the next day with
her work on her desk. Some of the other
trainees talked amongst themselves as they waited for the instructor. Cherie looked over her work. It still seemed satisfactory to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A few moments before class was set to start, the
instructor walked in. “Good morning,” he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Good morning,” half of the class repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Alright, everyone, you should all have completed the
sheets I gave you last Friday over the weekend.
Today, we’re going to go through them.
For each of the scenarios, you were asked to write down questions you
would want to ask to help you identify the kind of monster which had attacked
the place in the text. Today, I’m going
to answer them. Now, let’s read back
over the first scenario.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The instructor got out a sheet of paper and read aloud
from it. “You are in the field when your
squad meets with you to give you information.
They tell you that the rural Ethiopian village in question has faced
three disappearances. Each one has been
a woman who went out to collect water and did not return. The ground near the bank of the river is
muddy, but there have been no unusual footprints found.” The instructor looked up at the
trainees. “You were asked to list two
questions you would ask to help you figure the answer out. Would any of you like to ask one of your
questions to me now?” One of the other
trainees raised their hand. “Church,”
the instructor called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “The question said no unusual footprints were found, but
was anything else unusual found in the area?
Not just on the bank, but anywhere on the path these women would take to
get there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “That’s a good question, but not in this case, no.” The instructor looked away from him and back
to the class as a whole. “He was doing
something right when he thought of that, though. Outside the box thinking is critical in this
job. One shouldn’t let themselves be led
to assume that the bank is where these women are being snatched from. That’s possible, but it also might not be the
case.” The instructor turned to another
student whose hand was up. “Yes,
Ackerman?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “About it being possible for them to have disappeared
from the bank, I think I spotted something that might rule that out. If these women went there to collect a day’s
supply of water in the morning, wouldn’t they have been seen by other women?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The instructor smiled.
“Now <i>that</i> is a very good
point. Your colleagues press the women’s
families further on that point, and discover that all of them had gone out at
night. There’d been a disease epidemic
in the area, its symptoms are all naturalistic, and these women had each gone
out to get extra water for family members dehydrated by the illness.” The trainee who had given that answer
grinned. Cherie decided now was the time
to put up her hand. However, the man
behind her was called on first.
“Williams?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes, I was wondering if any of the women’s buckets were
found, especially near the river bank.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Interesting question.
Why do you ask?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “According to the book, auhizotl will call out to their
victims in a way that imitates the voices of their loved ones. I reason that if one of these women heard such
a call and went after it, they’d have left their bucket behind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see,” the instructor said. “Upon searching the area, your group finds an
empty water vase. With further
questioning, you discover it to have belonged to one of your victims. Also, out of curiosity, how many of you
narrowed in on an auhizotl as one of your guesses?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Looking around, Cherie saw several students with their
hands up, other than her and Williams.
“Hmm, I see,” the instructor said.
“Lambert, what’s your question?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie looked at the instructor. “The scenario said that there were no unusual
footprints found on the river banks.
What kinds of footprints were found?
I ask because it might be that the monster responsible left footprints,
just ones we didn’t recognize as unusual.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The instructor smiled at Cherie. “Ah, another good question. There were snake tracks in the area, along
with those of a mud turtle, and those of a wolf.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Would wolf prints be consistent with an auhizotl?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “They would. It’d
take close inspection to tell the difference.
The absence of any blood or evidence of a struggle near the bank had
caused both you and the villagers to rule out a wolf attack, or indeed, any
wild animal attack.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Are there any prints around for us to do that inspection
on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes. You do the
inspection, and you discover that the prints are indeed those of an auhizotl.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie smiled. <i>Yes,</i> she thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Now then, onto question two.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth felt a voracious hunger as his
consciousness returned. He’d felt this
same hunger before. Quickly, he recalled
what had happened at his mansion.
Kandrinarkora had told him Odelarch and Tkoralkiarch were working with
Gborin’gargoth to betray him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth stood up.
He was in a dirty cave. He could
see no light nearby which might indicate an entrance. However, sniffing the air, he smelled a
pungent fear. It was distant, but
intense. Bavandersloth salivated as he
rushed through the cave, following the scent to what he presumed would be a
fresh soul for him to devour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> As he ran, he thought.
His phylactery had been hidden in the Rocky Mountains, so it could be
presumed that that was where he was. It’d
been thirty days since Bavandersloth’s last memories, or else an entirely new
form would not have been built for him.
He didn’t remember how his form had been destroyed. He hadn’t felt, seen or heard anything
unusual, except of course Kandrinarkora’s voice. That was probably the trigger, indirectly. Gborin’gargoth had destroyed his form to
prevent him from alerting the community to what Odelarch and Tkoralkiarch had
done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth reached the mouth of the cave, and stepped
out into a dawn-lit snowy valley, surrounded by trees and with looming
mountains to his left and right.
Bavandersloth followed the scent across a creek and up one of the
mountains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> If his form had been destroyed by Gborin’gargoth, his
absence would have to be explained. Not
knowing how Gborin’gargoth had done it, it was difficult for Bavandersloth to
guess whether Odelarch would have been able to explain the whole affair
away. If Gborin’gargoth had been clever,
he’d have made sure to destroy his form in a way which would seem impossible
for his collaborators to achieve.
Depending on what that was, any number of persons may be blamed for what
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth run up the mountain a ways, and then turned
to walk around its face. The smell was
coming from a nearby hill. Bavandersloth
could tell that much. He made the
mountain subtly smooth itself as he walked on it, to keep the terrain from
slowing him down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It was unfortunate that Bavandersloth would have to
punish Odelarch and Tkoralkiarch, the latter especially. Bavandersloth had grown to like the boy. Perhaps Bavandersloth could use a binding
spell as Tkoralkiarch’s punishment. Yes,
that was exactly what he would do. His
phylactery collecting ability was too useful to waste.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth would be less merciful to Odelarch. He’d been a troublesome boy from the
beginning. Bavandersloth has seen
promise in him, but any possibility of him being an ally in the future was
offset by the fact that he had made himself Bavandersloth’s enemy now. He should be dealt with cruelly and without
hesitation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth felt a blade of grass crunch beneath his
foot as he smelled the fear, closer, but only on account of Bavandersloth’s
motion. The fearful human didn’t seem to
be moving at all. Perhaps they were
stuck where they were, maybe pinned by a rock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It was a difficult problem, Bavandersloth realized,
working out how to exact his retribution on the boys. As much as he’d love to gain Tkoralkiarch as
a bound servant, getting his phylactery would be obscenely difficult. He could call it back to himself at any time,
and if he did, getting it back would require entering the range from which he
could retrieve Bavandersloth’s phylactery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Wait, no.
Kandrinarkora had blocked Tkoralkiarch’s retrieval ability once. There was no doubt he could do it again. Yes, that would work. As for Odelarch, Bavandersloth would acquire
his phylactery once he had Tkoralkiarch serving him. He’d bind him, make him lead Bavandersloth to
his friends and family, (if Gborin’gargoth was communicating with the boy,
there was no doubt he’d hidden them away), kill them in front of him, and then
kill the boy himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Of course, it was possible that Larngulal or Kgobauru had
already seen to their punishments.
Bavandersloth hoped she’d not secured them by doing something rash. At one of their earlier council meetings, she
had advocated a large-scale attack on a major city to draw attention. It was one of the rare times Bavandersloth
had been united with Ntullnarlth against her.
Such an attack would inspire too much fear and panic. The right amount of those things would bring
in the audience Bavandersloth needed for his final broadcast. Too much of them, and fuck knew what would
happen. Suspicion would brew. Riots would rage. Just about anything would be liable to occur
in such an atmosphere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth finally reached the source of the scent; a
little girl, sitting on the mountain, crying.
Bavandersloth was invisible, so she couldn’t see him. He rushed toward her and buried his scythe in
her stomach, killing her. Immediately
after that, he raised his shield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Sure enough, his shield was immediately struck by a giant
glowing blast of magic, shattering in an instant. Bavandersloth’s eyes widened. There was only one lich who could have
created a blast that large.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth jumped back into the valley, dodging
another incoming blast. He looked to see
where it’d come from. He reasoned out a
direction, but was unable to figure out his attacker’s location from that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth hurried back into the wilderness. That blast had come from Valthakar. He’d scared that little girl, and then used
her to lure him to that specific spot.
He’d know Bavandersloth was there when he saw her die, and that’s when
he fired. That meant Valthakar was no
longer under Bavandersloth’s control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> That was bad. That
was very, very bad. But who could have
freed him? It must have been one of the
traitors, but neither one was powerful enough to reverse a binding spell. Could they have powered themselves up? No, that was absurd. They’d have had to kill hundreds, something
neither of them would ever consider.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Or… perhaps, would they?
Cody had become rather ruthless as of late, it was true. By all accounts, his killing of Ntullnarlth
had been quite cold. Still… it seemed
unlikely. The far more likely option was
that they’d gotten some third person to assist them. If that was the case, the culprit was likely
a fellow do-gooder. How many others were
there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Off the top of his head, Bavandersloth could name
three. Vargrilog, who, when
Bavandersloth last knew, was in Abuja, Nigeria, promoting civil rights as he
fought crime. He had become a lich
around three-hundred years ago, originally to fight the North Atlantic Slave
Trade, of which he had been a victim. It
was a shared background over which he and Bavandersloth had bonded, and his
judgement was normally good enough for him to be more than worthy of governing
that area, but Bavandersloth knew his loyalty to the community would be more
than tested by this plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> There was also Ngulakoro, in Warsaw, Poland. Now that Kaburlduth was gone, she was the
last remnant of the storm of lich creation that was World War II. Her original intent had been to leave Poland
with her family during the invasion.
Later, she returned to actively fight the Nazis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Finally, there was Kagzuwehl, the Oldest Living
Do-gooder. Just a smidge too young to
bind Valthakar himself after freeing him.
He was a product of the crusades, one of the smaller ones. He’d turned to magic to repel the crusaders
who invaded his lands. He was in
Jerusalem at the moment, if Bavandersloth recalled correctly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth thought.
Any of these three would have been able to release Valthakar from
him. Which one had, however? The book could easily have informed Odelarch
about any or all of them, though contacting them might have been difficult.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth wracked his brain as he sniffed for more
fear. He could smell a few faint whiffs
in the distance. He licked his
lips. Perhaps they were from a
settlement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar cursed.
His blasts had hit nothing but the snow.
Bavandersloth had sensed his trap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar jumped to the far side of the mountain from the
one he’d hit, the location where Bavandersloth was less likely to be, all
things considered. He waited a few moments,
and then took his human form. He grabbed
his cell phone and then took his true form again as soon as he could. He dialed Cody’s number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Hello,” the boy said before the first ring ended. Valthakar stood up and ran toward the nearest
town as he spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I didn’t get him,” Valthakar said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He’s probably going to the closest town, Palisade. You should call your friends at DIAPP, their
special ink would be very helpful to us, and when you’re done with that, you
should take the first flight here, perhaps on one of their helicopters. Bring Justin, and the dog if you can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I don’t think Sparky would do well on a helicopter
ride,” Cody said, “but Justin and I will head over as soon as we can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Get here as soon as possible. Try to do it while Bavandersloth is still
frenzying if you can. His compulsion to
feed will be advantageous to us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Of course.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Alright then. I’m
out.” Valthakar hung up. He took a deep breath and zoomed off at his
top speed, kicking up a white, snowy mist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody put the phone down.
He lay back and waited a moment for Agent Lambert to call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The phone rang.
Cody answered it. “Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “The DIAPP office in Grand Junction, the closest one to
Palisade, has already been alerted, and the whole area is being evacuated on
the pretense of an incoming tornado. As
for you being transported there by helicopter, it’d take too long. We do have a plane that could get you there
in less than an hour and a half. I’ll
have it prepared at the Goldfalls Municipal Airport.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody smiled. “Thank
you. Justin and I will be there in about
twenty minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Alright. We’ll
prepare the jet as quickly as we can.
Oh, and there’s one other thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “We can loan you some of the sonar goggles our
exterminators use. They’ll allow you to
see Bavandersloth while he’s invisible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody’s eyes widened.
“Wow. Really? That’d be great. Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You’re welcome.”
Mr. Lambert hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody put the phone in his pocket. He turned to Justin, whose eyes were on a
brightly glowing cell phone. “Hey,
Justin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin turned around and looked at Cody. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “We’re going to Colorado to help Valthakar fight
Bavandersloth.” Justin’s eyes widened,
but Cody continued. “Mr. Lambert is
preparing a plane for us now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin sat up, and then looked down at the floor. He took a deep breath, and took his true
form. “Alright,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar slid down one last cliff and ran into Palisade
before Bavandersloth had a chance to. Tornado
sirens blared in his ears as soon as he approached the small community. An evacuation order was being issued over
loudspeaker. Odds were this was a ploy
by DIAPP to empty the city. Looking
around as he walked through the small farming neighborhood around him, it
seemed to have worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar thought.
DIAPP helicopters were already in the sky; their pitch black metal skins
blending into the midnight above.
Valthakar should seek some kind of shelter, he realized. Bavandersloth was much slower than him and
wouldn’t be here for a while, so there was no point in him being out in the
open. Hopefully, DIAPP’s sonar would
detect and ink Bavandersloth as soon as he entered the little town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar looked up.
One of the helicopters was approaching him. His eyes widened and dashed around. He ran into the nearest empty house. He waited.
The helicopter hovered over him for a few minutes before touching down; perhaps
realizing a rampaging Bavandersloth wouldn’t sit and wait like he was. He decided to de-cloak, though he put his
shield up at the same time as an exterminator jumped out of the helicopter and
approached him. The woman stayed a good
distance away and with her flamethrowers pointed at him. Valthakar stayed where he was as the woman
eyed him, her fear detectable to him, though foolishly mild. Valthakar didn’t pay her much mind as she had
a rather confused conversation through her earpiece, presumably about him. He just sat, waiting for Bavandersloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jeremy sat in the helicopter, his guns primed at where
Bavandersloth was expected to arrive. Of
all of the military operations he had been involved in, this was by far the
most sophisticated and important ever to involve paintballs. Not ordinary paintballs, true enough, but
paintballs nonetheless. They were
certainly the purplest thing which had ever been fired from a chain gun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jeremy pressed his lips together. A small part of him was impatient for the
lich to arrive, but the much larger part that remained knew better than
that. He listened for the woman at the
radar to shout out that they had detected something. She didn’t of cour—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Hold on! I just
caught a blip on the sonar. It’s the
right size and speed, but it’s headed for Grand Junction!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jeremy’s eyes widened.
His full attention snapped toward his gun, sparing the little bit he
used to listen to the conversation happening behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Straight for Grand Junction? He must have figured we’d be here. All helicopters pursue. Goggles on.
Fire on sight. Disregard all
collateral damage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes, sir!” Jeremy shouted, along with those in the
helicopter with him, including the other gunner behind him who held the actual
weapons. Jeremy took a deep breath as
the helicopter moved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar raised an eyebrow as he saw the exterminator
near him react to a radio message and the helicopter above him land. The exterminator turned toward him and said
something, but Valthakar couldn’t hear it through his shield. He sighed and lowered the thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Bavandersloth has been spotted heading straight for the
next town over,” she said. Valthakar’s eyes
widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin looked down at his feet as he sat on the plane,
thinking. He’d have to kill
Bavandersloth soon. He remembered how
eager, how excited he’d been to avenge his parents when he’d thought it’d been
Valthakar who killed them, but for some reason, he felt different about it this
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He tried to settle back in his seat. His seat was hard and lumpy, unlike
Bavandersloth’s jet. All the same,
Justin never wanted this plane ride to end.
He wished he could just sit here forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin sat on the velvet couch, tears in his eyes,
staring downward at the brown hardwood mansion floor underneath him. He closed his eyes as drops of water fell
onto that floor. He recalled his
mother’s warm embrace, how she used to cheer him up. How she’d held his hand during his first flu
shot. He’d not believed her when she
said it wouldn’t be that bad, but with her there, it really hadn’t been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin felt a hand on his shoulder as he cried. He turned around and opened his eyes. Bavandersloth was there, smiling down at
him. His smile was warm, soft,
comforting, kind. Justin looked up at
him as he walked around the velvet couch and sat next to him, not saying a
word. Looking up at him, Justin
thought. This man had saved his life. The Angel of Dea—no, the thing impersonating
him, it would have taken him too if this man hadn’t been there to save him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin felt the seat below him depress as the man sat
beside him. Justin looked down, before
embracing the man in a hug, head leaned over his shoulder. Bavandersloth squeezed him just tightly
enough as Justin cried over the man’s shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin squeezed the armrest as he heard the plane’s
engines whirr around him. The whole
time, it’d been Bavandersloth. He’d
stolen his parents’ souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> They would be freed after Bavandersloth was dead, Justin
remembered, a thought which quieted his tears a bit. He looked up at Cody, whose attention was
focused on the copy of <i>On Soulless Ones</i>
which was spread across his lap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Tears still trickling down his face, Justin turned over
his hand and placed it in front of Cody, who looked at him, at first
quizzically, but then with a faint smile as he took the hand and squeezed
it. Justin leaned over and rested his
head on Cody’s shoulder as he read, closing his eyes, squeezing the last few
tears out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth rushed across the sand toward the second
nearest settlement. Valthakar no doubt
lurked at the nearest. He’d get more
food at the larger cluster of humans to its west. He could smell more fear from there than he
might have expected. Why would that be? The odor wasn’t enough for it to be Valthakar
in devourer’s garb, or in any form. Perhaps
DIAPP was faking a disaster to have the town evacuated? Yes, that would explain it. It would also imply that Valthakar had told
DIAPP what he was doing and they had listened.
The alliance that would imply had been made was more than unfortunate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Then again, it could also be a real natural
disaster. That would be quite the
coincidence, however.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> In any case, any likely cause of a fear of that strength
made it doubly pointless to go for the nearest town. No doubt it would soon be evacuated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth continued toward his destination as he
heard helicopters fly up behind him. His
eyes widened. He turned around. There were several of them in the distance,
and they were zooming toward him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth looked ahead as he dashed for the city, but
kept watch on the helicopters over his shoulder. It was only a minute or so before they caught
up with him, and then slowed down to keep pace.
He aimed his hand up at the helicopter nearest to him, but in the time
he did that, five helicopters had him in their sights. They pelted him with paintballs. Bavandersloth seethed as he saw his once-invisible
form become covered in neon purple ink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The lich ran ahead nonetheless. If DIAPP was after him, Valthakar was as
well. Bavandersloth raised his
shield. It was soon covered in ink, ink
that would fall on him as soon as he lowered his shield. The shield was still faint from Valthakar’s
destruction of it a while ago.
Bavandersloth seethed. It was vital that he avoid another encounter with
Valthakar, but he wasn’t sure how he would avoid it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth ran to the side as the helicopters
repositioned themselves in front of him, but to no avail, as they pelted the
front of his shield with ink just as they had the back and sides until he was
finally blind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Being blinded did not stop Bavandersloth from sprinting
forward with all the strength he could muster.
However, as he did, he felt his shield pop at the hands of a magical
beam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He turned around, even as the ink spilled on him,
covering himself in a devourer’s cloud.
He saw another shot, a magical blast, come toward him. He jumped to avoid it, but felt the shock of
it hit him like a million tons as it hit the road, a shockwave tearing off his
legs and throwing him a large distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth felt himself, his back flat against the
ground. He lifted his head up to look in
front of him, when he saw the magical beams which sliced off his arms. He grumbled as Valthakar walked toward him. “Wait!” he shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar uncloaked in front of him and grinned. “I won’t be doing that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I ate out some of the ski lodges! I got my fill already. If you blow me up, you’ll just have to search
for my phylactery again, and the monsters will be just as dedicated to keeping
you from finding it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar stopped.
He turned around, shouting up at the helicopters behind him. “Do any of you have any contact with someone
with a copy of the book?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> One of the agents nodded.
“The head of every base has one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Find out if what he just said is true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth lay back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The agent spoke again about a minute later. “It is,” the human said. Bavandersloth grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar turned around.
He walked the rest of the way and kneeled down next to the prone Bavandersloth. He matched Bavandersloth’s smirk. “Well, congratulations, you get to live an
extra few hours.” Valthakar stood
up. “Tkoralkiarch will be here inside
the hour, however, so I wouldn’t get too comfortable.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I wish you could understand how wonderful it is to see
you just as upset about your own death as any common mortal,” Valthakar
said. “You think you’re some lord of
amorality, but you’re as obsessed with preservation as Odelarch is. The only difference is what you want to
preserve. Thinking you can live
forever--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I don’t think I can live forever.” Bavandersloth looked up at Valthakar. “I knew when I became a lich that my phylactery
would <i>eventually</i> be destroyed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’m not talking about that kind of knowledge, Bav. No one is so consciously delusional that they
believe they’ll live forever. But at the
same time, you feel like you can live forever, don’t you? How often do you really think of your life in
terms of a finite span of time? At any
point in your eight-hundred years, did you ever really <i>realize</i> that you would die someday?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth sneered, but as he tried to think of a
response, he struggled. “Perhaps not
often, I’ll admit, but yes. I have.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see.” Valthakar
sat down, clearly intending this to be a long conversation. Perhaps inflicting himself on Bavandersloth
was the only way he could pass the time until Tkoralkiarch arrived. “If I didn’t know better, I’d admire your
honesty. I’m still greater than you in
this respect, however. I always think of
it that way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth turned his head and looked Valthakar in the
eye. “Really? Always?
I imagine that’s exhausting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar nodded.
“It is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth tilted his head. He looked back up at the sky. A starry night swirled around above him. He recognized every constellation by heart
from the days when you had to sail on a boat to really get anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “The alternative, however, is delusional.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth looked back at Valthakar. He chuckled.
“Delusional?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Look at you. You
have all of your big plans. Tell me,
were you thinking about how long you would rule the world? I mean really, truly thinking about it? No.
You acted as I would expect someone to if some part of them thought they
were going to be in charge forever, because some part of you did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth scoffed.
“At least I’m after something.
You scream and cry about how finite your time is, but you insist on
doing nothing of value with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “There is nothing of real value to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth smiled.
“Really? You’re that much of a
fool? ‘Oh, dear, I won’t be able to do
things forever, therefore there’s no point in doing anything at all!’ Grow up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Says the eight-hundred year old man to the
twelve-thousand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth chuckled.
“Yes, says me to you. Even
Odelarch’s worldview is more adult. At
least when he doesn’t get his way, he doesn’t wail like an infant about it for
over ten millennia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’ve not wailed about Atlantis since about a month after
it sank. I don’t care about it anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “And yet you spend so much time looking for it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Curiosity,” Valthakar said, “if it could even be called
that. I have to pass the time
somehow. Looking for Atlantis is as good
a way as--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth’s laughter grew louder. “Are you lying or are you honestly that
deluded.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar glared. “Your
youth denies you perspective,” he said.
“Perhaps when you’re my age, you’ll understand. Oh, wait, I forgot,” he grinned, “you’re going
to die in a moment, aren’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> That managed to silence Bavandersloth. A subtle grimace flashed on his face, but was
gone before Valthakar would have been likely to notice. Bavandersloth lay back, closing his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You may exit,” Justin heard soon after the plane
landed. He stood up. He’d been seated at the front of the plane,
so Cody was the only one ahead of him as he walked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Several exterminators got on motorcycles behind him, but
Justin and Cody ran straight for the desert where Bavandersloth was
stranded. Regardless of any other
respect in which he may be conflicted, Justin was quite uncomplicatedly
relieved that he would not have to fight a battle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin sprinted forward inside his cloud of darkness,
looking down. He just had to grab the
phylactery and snap it. It would be that
simple. Cody had said Gborin’gargoth
would stop Kandrinarkora from blocking him this time. Justin didn’t even have to hear a word
Bavandersloth said if he stayed inside his shield. He’d just do it and his parents would be
free. All of the deceptive spells
Bavandersloth had cast would be reversed.
Valthakar would then cast that anti-lich spell, and all of this would be
over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin took a deep breath. Over.
He’d felt like this would never be over, but it would be, at least where
Bavandersloth was concerned. The
community of liches would be defeated.
No new liches would be created, so it would just be a matter of hunting
down the ones that were left. Justin
would probably be a huge part of that, he realized. He was the one who could get any phylactery
he wanted. There were so many different
strategies liches had come up with to protect their phylacteries. Some liches hid their phylacteries in
secluded locations, from mountain ranges, to Antarctica, to lakes and rivers,
even outer space. There was one lich
who’d found a way to get his phylactery onto the international space
station. There was another who’d somehow
gotten it onto a space probe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> None of that mattered where Justin was concerned,
though. He got it, Sparky burned it,
that’s all there was to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin looked up as he heard the DIAPP helicopter twirl
above him. He looked back at the road in
front of him, and he saw Bavandersloth.
He clinched his fist and activated his shield. He stepped forward. Cody followed not far behind him, no
expression of any kind on his face.
Justin took another step. A tear
fell down his cheek. A moment later,
Cody said something, and then tapped Justin’s shield, but Justin didn’t respond. He did move again though, after a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin was alone with his thoughts inside the
shield. <i>Why had the plane landed?</i> he thought. <i>Why
couldn’t the ride have lasted longer?</i>
He moved perhaps five steps in the first minute of his approach, but soon
discovered that by picturing his mother’s face, he was able to speed himself
up. Soon, he was close enough to
Bavandersloth for the lich to look back at him.
His lips moved, but Justin did not lower his shield. After a moment, he summoned courage to bring
Bavandersloth’s phylactery to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth looked at the boy inside the shield. It was true what they said, he
discovered. When you’re about to die, your
entire life flashes before your eyes, though perhaps it only happened to some
people. His childhood flashed before
him, the quiet farm on which he’d been born.
He still remembered his mother’s face, after all these years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> As vivid were the memories of the chains he’d worn off of
the farm, and the heat of the sun and ache of his muscles once he’d been moved
to his new one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> More clearly than any of that, though, he remembered
her. She was the reason he had become
what he became. He’d become a lich so he
could save her, and he’d traded his soul so he could kill her. She’d been a weakness by the end, a
liability. She knew too much of him, and
her word and welfare held too much sway over his mind. Now, he only wished he’d done it sooner. He would have spared himself several
unpleasant incidents. Still, perhaps it
would be the one good thing about the Underworld. He might see her again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> After Georgia’s face faded from his mind, he remembered
the past few months, the most eventful in his life. His plan had been so intricate, so well laid
out, so wonderful. It would have
succeeded, but for the intervention of Gborin’gargoth. Bavandersloth could see the smile on
Odelarch’s face, as though the boy had just won their little game. He’d not.
He was not a player. He was a
piece. He was just a pawn in
Gborin’gargoth’s game against Kandrinarkora.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bavandersloth lay back, closing his eyes as he felt a
sudden pain in his gut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin lowered his shield as he dropped Bavandersloth’s
phylactery to the ground in two pieces.
Valthakar walked right over and picked it up, changing into his human
form, pocketing it, and then taking his true form again. “Good job,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin nodded, his eyes downcast. “Right,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia sat at the table of plenty in the Underworld when
a stone she was meant to keep with her vibrated. She picked it up, activating its display.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Bavandersloth has died,” the alert said. “Would you like to see him before he begins
standard processing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It’d been a while since she’d gotten such an alert. Without a second thought, she touched the “no”
option and resumed her meal.</span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-17226064526332073572015-08-07T18:35:00.001-07:002015-08-07T18:35:34.345-07:00Angel of Death 1.27 The Healing Angel<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Chris snarled as he held the phone to his ear. “What did you just say?” he shouted through
gritted teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “They stole our entire stock, sir,” the man on the other
end of the phone repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Chris put the phone down and seethed. Light-rook had assured him the odds of
anything going wrong were minimal. Chris
had been sure they’d honor a deal orchestrated by an Angel. How hard was it to allow one shipment through
your territory?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Chris sighed while Zachary looked at him, concerned. He picked the phone back up. “And how much did we waste on what we were
giving them <i>to</i> let us through?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “About twenty-thousand, sir, on top of the cost of the
shipment itself.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Chris gritted his teeth.
“Alright. Is that the only news
you have for me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Yes, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Very well then.
Goodbye.” Chris hung up the
phone. He looked at Zachary. “Oregon betrayed our trust” he said. “We made a deal with them. In exchange for letting us deliver a shipment
through their turf to Canada, we gave them the tools they needed for one of
Light-rook’s orders. They took our
tools, twenty-thousand dollars of them, and they took our shipment, fourty-four
million more. Go there and see to it
that no one ever considers betraying us like that again. I want your sister to make them wish they
were in hell. I want her to make the
devil himself shake his head in disapproval.
Am I understood?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Yes, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good. Go off and
see to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary nodded and left the room. Chris sat back and put his feet up on the
desk. He’d never normally have risked
this much, but Light-rook had assured him that it was a good idea. It still had been, now that he thought about
it. Some of his advisors had said Oregon
would never pass up that much meth no matter the risk, but what did they know
about Oregon? It had been a good and
advisable plan. It was by freak accident
that it had gone awry. It was a one in a
billion chance for it to go wrong. This
had merely been that rare billionth time.
Yes. That must have been the
case. Chris just knew Light-rook had
told him the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar punched a cavern wall as he left yet another
cave in failure. He seethed. Nothing?
Still? He’d been out here for a
week! How many caves were in the Rocky Mountains?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar looked down.
There was clearly some kind of trickery going on here. There was no way he could remember the
location of the phylactery this badly. It
must have been moved. By whom,
though? Could it have been Kgobauru? No, it couldn’t have been any lich. Without their souls, they’d not be able to
find it except by random chance, an extremely unlikely event. Could Kandrinarkora have messed with it
somehow? It seemed he must have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar sighed and sat down. If that had happened, what should he do? Well, he supposed the only thing he could do
was open a portal to the underworld and find the thing there. That’s where Kandrinarkora would have hidden
it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar sighed.
How had the boy contacted Gborin’gargoth? He’d bowed his head, like he was praying to
him. Hardly atypical of the boy,
Valthakar supposed. However, while
Valthakar’s pride protested such an act, he’d have to swallow it. He bowed his head just as he’d seen the boy
do, willing himself to speak to Gborin’gargoth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hello? Can you
hear me?” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Yes. What do you
need?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar’s eyes widened.
The voice was real and audible, though it didn’t seem to come from any
one direction. He stood up. “I think Kandrinarkora has hidden
Bavandersloth’s phylactery.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I see… yes” the voice said. “The Phylactery is in the Underworld. I can sense it. One of Kandrinarkora’s monsters must have
taken it there. I can sense where you
are. There’s a cave behind you. I’ll open up a portal inside it, one that’ll
lead right to where the phylactery is hidden.
I can keep Cerberus under control long enough for you to enter and
leave.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar stood, taking a deep breath. “Thank you,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “No problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar turned around and entered the cave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody’s eyes widened a bit. “Where are you, then?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “On an assignment.
We were betrayed by another organization. We have to take retribution.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody sighed. “Can
you not come back and then leave again to finish that?” He wanted to kill Zachary before
Bavandersloth died, and that could be any day now. As soon as his phylactery was snapped, all of
his mind control spells would be reversed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Sorry. Orders.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody gripped the cushion of the torn up old couch he was
on. “From who?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “The boss. The one
in charge of the Selechii Syndicate.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody closed his eyes.
His face tensed up before he took a deep breath. He thought.
His eyes flashed open. He came up
with an idea. “Could I meet with him,
then?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hmm… I could contact him, I suppose. Where would this be, and when?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Anywhere private, as soon as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I see. I’ll tell
you what, I’ll call him and see.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody took a deep breath.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “It’s alright.”
Zachary hung up to make the other call.
The Selechii Syndicate’s leader would be the worst criminal he’d gotten
rid of, and as much as he didn’t want to admit it, the most valuable soul he’d
have gotten. Cody closed his eyes, took
a deep breath and lay back. He looked up
at the moldy ceiling above him, trying to admire it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> As Valthakar walked through the cave, he scanned for the
portal he had been promised. Finally, he
bowed his head again. “Where exactly in
the cave is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “In the back.
You’re almost there.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar looked around.
He could see into the chamber at the end of the hall. There was nothing beyond it. “I can see the back of the cave. It’s straight down the hall. I don’t see a portal.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Just go into the back chamber. You can’t see from outside, but there’s a
portal to the left.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar looked up.
He sighed. He walked into the
back room. There was no portal. He looked around. Too late, he heard a snicker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> He turned around and saw a cat-like creature standing
erect. His eyes widened. He lunged toward the creature, but a rock
slid and fell on him as he hurdled through the air, its weight knocking him to
the floor and crushing him against his stomach.
The cat walked up to him and grinned.
“Whoops, did I do that?” it asked.
Valthakar snarled. “Oh well, I’d
better split,” the cat said. “Oh, by the
way, you picked the right cave on your third try. Well, it used to be the right cave. I’d never tell you which one is right
now! Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA.” Valthakar’s eyes widened. The cat ran away, emitting an unpleasant,
nasally laugh. “Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA. Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar seethed.
He closed his eyes and made the rocks pinning him decay away. He bent upward and looked at his back. Crushed, nearly half way up. The flat part of his back may as well have
been a layer of paint on the cave floor it was so flat. Valthakar sighed. He couldn’t feel anything from his legs,
meaning the crushing must have been so severe that, for magical purposes, that
section was severed from him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar groaned, raised his palm and finished severing
that bit of him off with a magical beam.
With that done, he stood up on his hands. He’d done that before, of course, though his
speed would be reduced by quite a bit while he did it here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar growled and rushed after the cat on his hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary called Cody back.
“I was able to arrange a meeting for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Really? Where?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “At the Waterside Resort, room 226, this Thursday at 9:15.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody tilted his head.
That was a few days away. “Can he
not meet me any sooner than that?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “He’s a busy man.
He’ll be there when he said he’ll be there, and stay for fifteen minutes
if you don’t show up, or an hour if you do.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody sighed.
“Fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody lay back as he hung up the phone. He turned to lay on his side and closed his
eyes. He made himself think about his
night with Cherie, calling images of her to dance in his mind. Her soft breath, the feel of her warm skin
against his cold, dead flesh, not that he had taken his true form with her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody sat up. He
looked over at Justin, who he’d finally talked into reading one of the <i>Starstreamer</i> books. He closed his eyes again and thought about
Cherie. “Next Valentine’s Day,” he
whispered to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie thought about Cody’s smooth, soft skin as she
gazed out the window. “Next Valentine’s
Day,” she thought. She heard the door
open and turned her head, snapping out of her daydream to see her instructor
walk in. She took a deep breath and
looked at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good morning, class,” her instructor said, shutting the
door behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie smiled at him.
“Good morning,” she said, along with a few other DIAPP trainees. She was by far the youngest person
there. She was studying for the “monster
identifier” job for now. Being an
ethicist would require a certain amount of experience working some other duty
anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Thank you,” the instructor said. “Now, we’re here to learn about the
identification of magical creatures and artifacts.” The instructor held up a book. It was forest green, with two yellow circles,
one inside the other, on its front cover.
There was yellow text inside the smaller of the two circles. “Now, first, before we do anything else, I’m
going to introduce you to this. I can
see all of you brought your own as you were instructed to. Go ahead and look at it. If you’re going to identify monsters, you’ll
rely on this book. It’s called the Compendium
of Paranormal Entities and Objects. All
of you should have edition 7.0.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie looked down at her copy. The book was tall, wide and thick. Opening it up, she found it to be printed on
very thin paper, with the print being tiny.
She saw that the pages were numbered at the top, so she flipped to the
back of the book. Landing on not quite
the last page, she saw it was numbered 3,137.
She looked back up at her instructor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “The CPEO7 is a comprehensive compendium of every known
magical artifact and monster. The
creatures are listed first in the book, alphabetically by name. The items are listed second, in the same
manner. An object’s description will
usually be about two pages long, but some of them run longer. For example, flip to page 149.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie did. She
saw the entry for ‘Light Dragon,’ alphabetized as ‘Dragon, Light.’ “You’ll probably not encounter this
particular creature in the field.
However, notice the way the entry is structured.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie studied the page.
The monster’s name was in the top-left corner, followed by an artist’s
depiction of it, with a human for scale.
Below it were a series of listed bulled points under headers.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “<b><u>Abilities<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “* Oral emission of light, including
high energy lasers capable of causing lethal injury and both large and small
scale destruction of environment and property.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “* Winged flight at speeds up to 300
Mph and averaging 225 Mph.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “* High intelligence, including
complex and deceptive tactical maneuvering.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Other abilities included speech, high lifting strength,
and a powerful bite. Below its abilities
were listed its typical behavior, weaknesses, recommended tactics for fighting
it, and a header for miscellaneous information.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> When the instructor finished his explanation of the
format for a magical creature page, he moved to the magical item section. This page was formatted in a very similar
way, but with different headers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Now,” the instructor said, “let’s consider the most
important section of this book. In the
back, taking up a third of the CPEO7, is a large index. In it, countless traits, signatures,
behaviors and abilities are listed in alphabetical order. There’s an entry for fire. There’s an entry for necklaces. There’s an entry for creatures which can fly. There’s an entry for creatures with distinct
tails. There’s an entry for creatures
which glow. Etc, etc.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie flipped toward the back of the book to see what he
was talking about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Below each of these traits is a list of creatures and
objects associated with it, including their page numbers. Mark the page in question with one of the
strings attached to the book’s spine, and then either go through the entries it
lists, or, if there are several entries under some trait or you know quite a
bit about the creature or item in question, look for more than one trait and
cross-check them. A great effort has
been made to ensure these listings are complete. Now, I will note at this point that once you
are assigned a team to work with, you will primarily use the electronic version
of this book. It is much more easily
searchable, and has more complete information and more categories through which
you can search. However, it may not
always be an option. If you’re on the
go, or if there’s a power failure, or if your base of operations is compromised
and the database destroyed, and you’d be surprised how often that happens,
you’ll have to rely on this book.
Because the two systems work the same way, we’ll usually be using the
harder one in this class. If you can use
this more difficult system, you should be able to use the easier electronic
one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Now, let’s practice.
Say you’re working in the field, and your team of agents tells you that
a rural village is being terrorized by an orange monster with wings and one
eye. It has pointed ears and visits
people in the night. It has yet to cause
a death, but rather assaulted its victims, and in some <i>gravely unsavory ways</i>, if you catch my meaning. Look through your book for the monster I’m
talking about and mark its page once you’ve found it, but do not tell anyone
what it is. I’ll give you all several
minutes to find it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The instructor sat down at his desk and turned to his
computer to do something. Cherie looked
down in the book. She thought about his
description. She figured the most
important traits for identifying a monster would be the rarest, so she began
with the creature’s manner of assault.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Under “Sexual,” she found only three page numbers: 341,
633, and 701. She marked the page with
one of the strings and then moved to page 341.
It pertained to fertility spirits, which didn’t match the rest of the
instructor’s description. Page 633
pertained to mermaids. That also didn’t
match the rest of the description.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Page 701, however, had a perfect match. The Popobawa was the monster described on
this page. It was a one-eyed
pointy-eared thing with bat wings and the tendency to torture and not
kill. Cherie marked the page and closed
her book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Several minutes later, the instructor turned to the
class. “Has everyone found it?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Yes,” several students said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Alright, so,” the instructor turned on the projector,
which showed the same picture of the Popobawa from the book, “the monster I had
in mind was this one, the Popobawa…” Cherie smiled a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody went to the hospital at 5:30 PM. This was the earliest he had ever gone, so
the hospital’s inhabitants were surprised to see him. When Cody entered, the hospital
receptionist’s eyes widened. She stood
up from the desk and stared at him. Cody
smelled her anxiety. The massacre at
Central Square was fresh in her mind.
Cody’s greetings at hospitals had been colder ever since these people
had realized that he could be a devourer in disguise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> None the less, there were dozens of humans gathered in
the room into which the doors led, and several of them walked to him and
crowded around him as soon as he entered.
These were pilgrims. They had
come from all around with countless different illnesses hoping to experience
Cody’s healing powers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The first one to reach Cody was a young woman, whose
diabetes Cody could sense as soon as she touched him. He tagged it.
She didn’t immediately know that of course, so he had to speak to her,
even as the crowd gathered around him.
“I’ve done it already. You may
walk away now,” he said, looking at her.
He looked up from her face and around the room. “There is no need to rush around each
other. Form a line. I will get to you all.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> They did. Many of
them had probably seen news reports of Cody doing this before, so they knew he
was being truthful about the lack of a need to rush. Cody had the various members of the crowd
pass before him. A little girl. A man with his infant son. A woman with her infant daughter. They all passed in sequence, about forty of
them. Each one walked into the cloud
when their turn came. Cody laid his
hands on them and tagged any illnesses he sensed, and then told them to move
along. Many wretched at his smell, but
it ultimately did not hinder them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> When he was done with the pilgrims in the waiting room,
Cody walked up to the receptionist. “Do
you know who can guide me around the facility?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The receptionist stood frozen for a moment, and then
nodded, getting an official, who guided him through the hospital, allowing him
to work with the ill he came across in each room. The emergency room was the first area he was
directed to. He caught a glare from a
woman who was there as he passed through.
Though the influx of pilgrims had kept hospitals from going out of
business (each one of them had been paying for their seat in that room) Cody’s
work had still had a massive effect on the hospital industry, at least in
Goldfalls. The glaring woman’s grievance
with him was probably the cost of this emergency room visit. As Cody and Justin reduced the number of
those with the need to stay in the hospital for any long period of time and
cured chronic conditions which kept many of them returning perpetually, the
hospitals had been forced to raise the prices of ambulance rides and hospital
stays to make up for their losses. In
the hospitals in poorer areas of town, such glares were more common. Once, a girl had spat at him for bankrupting
her family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Still, no hospital had refused to admit Cody, as there
were many people willing to pay the higher price for the chance of one of his
miracles. In addition, each criminal
Cody ate could only be given so many illnesses, which kept him from healing
everyone quickly, so the hospital stay was far from totally abolished.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> After making his way through the emergency room, Cody was
guided through the other wings of the hospital over the course of the next four
hours or so.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> At one point, his guide turned to him. “If I may say,” the man began, “this is…
earlier in the day than you usually come.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I have my reasons,” Cody said. “My schedule has become freer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Shortly before 9:00, Cody finished tagging the whole of
the hospital and left. He had taken a
bit longer than he’d expected to, and so he needed to get to the hotel soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The hotel’s beauty annoyed Cody as soon as he entered its
lobby. The walls were a soft beige,
decorated by dark gold triangular bars which ran along them. In the center of the hotel was a marble
statue of the Roman god Vulcan. Cody
kept his head down and tried to see as little of the scenery as possible as he
made his way to the elevator, which he rode up to the second floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> When the elevator opened and revealed the hallway to
Cody, he took a deep breath and stepped out.
The hallway was much less ornately decorated, though it still made Cody
a little nauseous. Cody hurried through
the halls, trying to find room 226. It
took him about five minutes before he was able to find it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> When he finally did, he took a deep breath, looking down
as he cleared a lump from his throat. He
knocked on the green hotel door. A tall,
white, balding man opened it. He looked
down at Cody. “Yes? How can I help you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I was told to come here,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man raised an eyebrow. “Were you now? Come in.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody entered. The
man closed the door. “I will say,
though, that it is my understanding that you were to come in about ten minutes
ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I am very sorry for my tardiness, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man smiled. “I
hope you are.” He sat down at the
table. As Cody ventured into the room,
he saw a large man in the room with them.
“However, you did arrive within the margin of error I accept. Before we begin, though, I hope you wouldn’t
mind proving your identity?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody nodded.
“Sure,” he said. He took his true
form, covering it with a black cloud as quickly as he could after revealing it,
and then took his human form again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man looked up at him with shocked eyes and an open
mouth, but soon cleared his throat and regained his composure. “Please, sit.
What was it you wanted to discuss?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody sat down.
“Well, I’m sure you’ve noticed that Light-rook has been indisposed of
late?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Indeed, similarly to how he was once before, I suppose?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody nodded. “Yes,
and he’ll be gone for as long. I’m meant
to manage things around here while he’s gone.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The old man tilted his head and grinned. “Really?
You? What of that other angel?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “He is running a long errand. In any case, to avoid redundant conversation,
how far into the future did you already have plans with Light-rook?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “He and I had operations planned for most of the next
several weeks. According to whatever
hoax he is spinning, I will admit I have not followed his newscasts, our
organization is meant to be supplying most of his weapons. We are the premier source of such things in
this area.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody nodded. “Is
there anything he had promised to do for you that I’ll need to do instead now
that he’s gone? I wasn’t in the know
about the details of his arrangements with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “There was a thing or two he’d agreed to do for us in the
next few weeks. The man, or whatever he
is, seems to have paranormal powers of persuasion along with everything else. Some of the things he’s convinced
organizations to do are unthinkable.
He’s brokered deals I’d have said impossible.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I see. Could I
get some kind of proper list of things he promised to do?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “There’s a pad and paper over there,” the Syndicate
leader said, pointing to a bedside table in the room. “I’ll list them to you; you can write them
down.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody nodded. He
stood up and walked over to the table on which the pen and paper sat. He picked them up and walked back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Alright then. So
there are three deals in question here.
His biggest favor, Light-rook was to convince the Russian Mafia to
accept a deal to ship us one-thousand tons of meth in exchange for a single
shipload of weapons, half of which were to be used to carry out one of
Light-rook’s schemes. He also promised
to talk down a casino which we had been taking protection money from, the Sky
Palace, and he was to secure us some territory in Las Vegas relevant to that.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody scribbled the information down as the leader
repeated it to him. “What weapons did
they need for the attack on Russia?”
Cody wasn’t sure exactly how much half a shipload was, but it sounded
like a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Explosives,” the leader said. “I don’t know where or how they’re meant to
be used.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I see.” Cody
sighed. “One other question. You’ve probably guessed that we need… people
for something, with the kills we take.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Do you know how we might go about buying some, to store
them for rough times, perhaps?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man’s lips curled up and he emitted an airy
laugh. “What do you need to buy that
for? Can’t you knock just anyone out?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “We can, but there are reasons to buy. The person is already missing from the
perspective of the law, for one thing, so it’s less noticeable.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man laughed again.
“I think I like you more than I thought I would, boy. That’s one market the syndicate doesn’t deal
in. The Armillo Family is where you’re going
to want to go for that. I can give you a
number.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody nodded and handed the man the pad of paper. “Please do.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The man wrote the number down and handed the pad back to
Cody. “They’ll pretend to be a
laundromat until you say the passcode I wrote down there.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody looked down at the pad of paper and smiled. “Right.
I think that’s everything I need from you.” Cody took his true form and pressed his foot
to the man’s ankle, looking for the bottom of his pants. As he did, he held his hand out and shot a
magical beam at the guard’s heart, killing him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The crime boss’ eyes widened and he stood up and bolted
for the door, but Cody jumped up and dashed after him, catching him and pinning
him to the ground. He placed his hand on
the man’s bare scalp and knocked him out before transferring to him a wide
selection of the illnesses he had tagged at the hospital. He had to make a few decisions about who to
save, that was always hard, but he was done quickly enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody prepared his scythe and then, with what was almost
one motion, moved several mortal injuries over to the crime boss and scooped
his soul before they could kill him. He
ate it, its rich, smoky flavor indicating the depth of this man’s sins over the
course of his career.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody destroyed the man’s body, and then that of his
guard. He took his human form and walked
out of the hotel. He balled his fist
around the scrunched up piece of paper in his pocket. The Armillo Family sounded like an
interesting future project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody called Zachary’s number as soon as he got back home
from that night’s hunt. Perhaps he
should be hunting during the day too, he thought. With Angels primarily hunting at night, more
and more crime was moving to the daytime.
Now that his schedule was freer, he should go out more often.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody put the phone to his ear as he waited for Zach to
pick up. After several rings, he finally
did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hello?” Zach said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Your boss didn’t show for the meeting,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “That’s impossible.
The boss honors his arrangements.
Are you sure you went to the right room and right hotel at the right
time?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Absolutely positive.
And by the way, I’m not accusing him of lacking punctuality. If he’s as trustworthy as you say--”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “He is.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “If that’s the case, it might be that something happened
to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> There was a pause on the other side of the phone. “You’re right,” Zachary said. “That could be the case. I’ll look into it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good. In any
case, I was never able to have the meeting with him I needed to have. I still could stand to talk to you,
though. When will you be back here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary sighed.
“Not for a while, still: maybe around the beginning of March.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Oh.” Cody
clenched his fist. That was still about
a week away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Is there no one else in Selechii you could meet with?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody thought. “No.
I suppose someone else could do if it
was absolutely necessary, but I’d rather wait for you if it’s only going to be
a week or so, unless of course you are able to get back into contact with your
boss.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I see. In that
case, I’ll call you when I get back to Goldfalls. I’d invite you to meet up here, but I’m too
busy to meet you right now, regardless of where.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I will ask though, why me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody smiled.
“Rank, mostly.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Right. Well, I’ll
call you about a meeting when I’m done up here.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Alright. Thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “No problem.”
Zachary hung up the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody took a deep breath and lay back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar saw a blur in the distance, and his eyes
widened. He turned in its direction and
scrambled straight toward it, as fast as his arms could carry him, his torso
scraping against the ground. The cat
looked at him as he approached, a wide grin on its face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar sprung up with his hands to pounce on the
bastard. The cat leapt aside, escaping
his grasp. Valthakar fell flat on his
stomach. The cat looked at him while his
face was flat against the rocky mountainside.
“Hey there,” it said. Valthakar
tried his best to ignore the cat as he stood up. “Hey, hey there. Wanna know a secret? You wanna know it? You wanna?”
Valthakar stood up on his palms and turned toward the cat. As quickly as he could, he lifted his palm
and fired another magical beam at it, but it rolled out of the way, landing
right next to him. “Alright,” the cat
said. “The secret is that you suck. Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA. Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA.” The cat ran away, Valthakar looking at it and
seething.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary put down the phone and sat on his hotel bed,
looking over at his sister. His sister,
who sat at a table in the corner dipping a chicken nugget into ketchup, looked
back at him. “What did he say?” she
asked. “You said something was
impossible. What was impossible?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “He said the boss didn’t show up.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Pink’s eyes widened.
“What? That really is impossible. What do you think happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary looked down.
“I don’t know. I…” he looked up,
“he could have gotten hung up on something.
We should assume that instead of something worse, at least for now, but
I need to call him to see.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary sighed and looked back at his phone. He picked it up and dialed his boss’
number. He put the phone to his ear and
listened to the rings. It rang once, and
then twice, and then thrice, and again, and again, before going to
voicemail. He put the phone down,
sighing. He looked up at his
sister. “Don’t worry about it,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> She tilted her head, her eyes wide. “Don’t worry?
How could I not worry? He…
missing a meeting is so unlike him.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zach stood up and walked over to his sister. He put his hand on her shoulder, causing her
eyes to relax and her to smile. “I’ll
call someone still back in Goldfalls and have them look into it. There’s no reason for us to be distracted
from our mission.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Pink looked down at her plate of chicken nuggets. “I guess,” she said. Zach stood up and walked over to the
bed. He dialed another number.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> A few days later, Valthakar lay on the side of a
mountain, his legs half-regrown, though still not fit to use as
transportation. He’d been laying there
most of the time for the past several days.
He’d go down to the town once a night to feed, but then he’d come right
back to his spot on the mountain to sit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> As Valthakar sat, he heard a chuckle. He sighed and lay back, resisting the urge to
look around. He heard another chuckle,
this time sounding closer. He just
slumped back and closed his eyes. “Hey,
hey stinkface,” he heard, in the high-pitched voice he knew belonged to the
cat. “Hey, hey, hey stupid, hey, hey,
hey. Hey, I’m talking to you
maggot-face. Hey. Hey.
Hey, hey.” Valthakar ignored the
creature, even as he could hear it getting closer. “Hey, hey,” the creature said. “Hey, your mother was a stupid-head! You’re a stupid-head too! Hey!
Rot-breath, can you hear me! Cat
got your tongue? It’s okay, I’ll give it
back to you. Hey! Hey!”
Valthakar felt the cat step onto his stomach and walk up to his
face. “Hey! Hey!
You smell like a dead skunk wearing gymsocks. You look like a monster ate your face and the
other monsters had to use ugly juice to repair it!” The cat leaned down from his face and shouted
in Valthakar’s ear. “Hey! Come on!
I stole the phylactery you need!
Hey! Pay attention to me! Hey!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar sat back.
The cat stopped shouting in his ear and looked directly at his
face. “Hey! Hey!
Hey!” Valthakar raised a shield. The cat looked behind him. Its eyes widened as Valthakar’s opened. The cat turned around and looked at
Valthakar. “Hey, what are you
doing? You can’t do that! That’s cheating! I--”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar leaned down and picked the cat up. “Let go of me!” it shouted. It started clawing at Valthakar’s chest,
ripping his clothes, though they grew right back after each slash. “Hey!
C’mon, put me down! C’mon!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “You do realize I can’t feel that, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The cat seethed.
It looked up at Valthakar. “What
do you want?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “For you to tell me where you hid Bavandersloth’s
phylactery.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The cat smirked.
“Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen!
I’m under orders, maggot-breath.
I can’t just go and help you!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I see,” Valthakar said.
He sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The cat looked at him.
“Hey, what are you doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I’m sitting here, with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I can see that, puke-for-brains, but why?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Because there’s no point in me getting up if you won’t
tell me where you hid it. If I was ever
going to find it on my own, I’d have done so before I ever encountered you, and
if I ever really came close to finding it, you’d just move it again. I’d be stuck looking until the end of time.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hey… c’mon, man…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Of course, you could tell me where it was, but I have no
reason to trust you, so I’d have to keep you in here until I got to wherever
you said it was, and if it wasn’t there, I’d have to sit back down again and,
not let you out, and wait for another, hopefully true this time, answer.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Hey!” The cat’s
eyes were wide and his mouth tilted down.
“You can’t do that! C’mon, that’s
not fair!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Well, what’s fair and isn’t fair isn’t important now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “What do you mean?
I… You… You’ll have to let this shield down if you ever want to eat, you
know!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar lay down on the rocky plateau, and rested on
his side. “I suppose I would, but I’ve
gone without souls for a few days before.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I…” the cat looked down.
“I… I hid it in a valley. I found
some place near a river and buried it in a hole, inside its big box.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar smiled.
He looked at the cat. “I
see. Thank you.” He stood up.
“Can you lead me there?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The cat nodded. “I
can.” Valthakar started walking down the
mountain, the cat kept near him by his shield.
“You’ll want to take a right as soon as you get to the bottom of this
mountain,” the cat said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Valthakar nodded.
“Thank you. I will.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> As soon as the first of March came, Cody called Zachary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “What is it?” Zach asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “This is the Angel of Death. Have you discovered anything about your
boss?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “No,” Zachary said.
“Nothing. However, we are just
now coming into Goldfalls. Would you be
willing to meet me at the Seal Bay correctional center, in, say, three hours?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody tilted his head.
“Why three hours? That seems like
a while.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “I have to report back to some colleagues of mine about
my work, and find space to store a few things I got.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Oh… of course.”
Cody was smiling a bit. This was
going as he’d planned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Thank you for understanding. Meet me in Cell Block B, that’s the visibly
smaller one, at 9:00 tonight. I’ll be
near the entrance.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Got it,” Cody said.
He hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie sat in her apartment, looking through the CPEO7,
with homework in her lap. She hadn’t
expected her training her to feel so… schooly, but it did make sense when she
thought about it. Cherie wasn’t training
to be a soldier, but a sort of field expert.
Physical training wasn’t a priority, though she had noticed some of it
on her schedule. It still wasn’t a tenth
of what those exterminators must have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It was also much to Cherie’s relief that the test, and
there would only be one test, would be open book. Learning to use the book was, after all, the
point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie looked at the assignment.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> “Question
1: You are in the field when your squad meets with you to give you
information. They tell you that the
rural Ethiopian village in question has faced three disappearances. Each one has been a woman, who went out to
collect water and did not return. The
ground near the bank of the river is muddy, but there have been no unusual
footprints found. List two questions you
would want to ask to gleam more information, and two plausible suspects for the
creature or object responsible. Present
your reasoning for both your questions and your guesses.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie thought.
The obvious first step was to consult the index to find a list of
aquatic monsters. When she did that, she
found an entry lasting several pages.
There must have been a hundred entries there. She couldn’t reasonably go through them
all. She had to think of something else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> No one going to a river for some water would wade into
it, so whatever was dragging them away was most definitely coming out of the
water, and therefore leaving footprints.
It must be, then, that its footprints were not unusual. Cherie thought. Her instructor had stressed the importance in
class of knowing the area you served.
Knowing what typically dwelt in a place would help you learn what was
and wasn’t unusual. She wrote down as
her first question.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What
‘usual’ footprints have been found?
Reasoning: As described, it does not seem likely that the creature did
not leave footprints. It must be, then,
that its footprints were seen and mistaken for those of a local animal or
person.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> What else? She
looked through the scenario again. It
specifically specified a river. She
opened the Index to “river-dwelling.”
This included a much smaller number of entries, but still too many to
search through. She thought. She marked the ‘river-dwelling’ page and
moved to ‘disappearances.’ This was
another large entry, but it wouldn’t contain monsters which would be likely to
leave bodies behind, or who did not directly kill their victims at all. As she cross-compared the two, the first
intersection she noticed was the Kappa.
It was a Japanese monster, not African, but she knew that didn’t matter. While some monsters were better suited to
kinds of terrain which were common in one area or another, any monster could in
principle appear anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Still, it couldn’t be the Kappa. Its webbed feet went against the statement
that no unusual footprints had been found.
Webbed footprints large enough to belong to a Kappa would have been
considered unusual anywhere. There was
no animal with feet like that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The next intersection she noticed was the Aztec monster
Auhizotl. It was more promising. It had a dog-like body, and therefore
dog-like feet. She decided to make it
her first guess.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Auhizotl: It is a river dweller
who drags people into the water and drowns them. Its footprints would have resembled those of
a wolf or dog, and thus would have gone unnoticed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie looked through the book. She threw out more intersections, before
happening on another possibility.
Mermaids could have lured the victims into the water, thus not coming
out on land to leave footprints. That
the victims were women didn’t matter.
Even if it was certain that they were all straight, Mermaids were shape
shifters. Their top halves could easily
have been those of attractive men rather than women.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Mermaid: They could have lured
the victims into the water without coming onto the bank to leave footprints.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Alright, so she just needed one more question. If anyone had seen the monster, the question
would have mentioned it, so there was no point asking for a physical
description. What about the
victims? The underworld always
dispatched its monsters on some kind of mission. Usually, if a monster was killing people,
they had some kind of significance to it.
However, that train of thought wouldn’t give her the kind of question
she needed. She needed to identify the monster,
not figure out why it’d been sent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> She thought.
Perhaps she was thinking too inside-the-box. A flying creature also wouldn’t have left any
footprints. That gave her another idea.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Gabriola; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Are
there any large mountains, caves, or forests in the area relatively
nearby? Reasoning: If it is a flying
creature, and one large enough to lift a human, such a thing must be around for
it to hide in, or it’d have been seen by now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cherie smiled and leaned over to the table to take a sip
of her soda, then looked back at the book for the next question.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody walked into the prison about three hours later, like
he’d said he would. He’d been to the
hospital and tagged a large number of new illnesses. Tonight, he’d use some of them on Zachary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Under his dark cloud, Cody walked through the doorway
into the rusty room into which the main door in the prison led. There was some graffiti in the corner, though
it was old and faded.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody looked around.
He saw nothing he thought was of note.
Where were Pink and Zach?
“Hello?” Cody shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Over here,” Zachary said. The sound had come from one of the
halls. Cody looked down the hall in
question, and saw Zachary motioning for him to come closer. Pink was on the ground. “She ran off down this hall,” Zach
explained. “She fell, and, I think,
sprained her ankle.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody tilted his head.
“And you didn’t take her home?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “It happened just a second ago,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody looked down the hall. That struck him as unlikely, which made it
likely that his plan had worked. “I
see. Well, it was you I wanted to speak
with. Why don’t you come over here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary looked down at her, and then back up. “Actually, I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you help me carry her out to my
car? We could put her in the back, and
then you and I could talk up front.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody looked at the cells on either side of Zachary. After a moment, he smiled. It had clearly gone as he intended. Zachary had figured out that he’d killed the
syndicate’s leader, as anyone would, and laid a trap for him. Having a trap prepared for your enemy was
smart, but made things all the worse for you when something went horribly
wrong. “Mollin Rath Olimachgor,” Cody
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Zachary tilted his head.
“What?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Pink started shaking on the ground. Zachary looked down at her. His eyes widened. “Oh shit!
Oh shit!” He looked up at
Cody. “How did you make that
happen?” Cody didn’t answer. Zachary stood up and started running. He looked at the cells to his left and
right. “Subdue her!” he shouted before
running away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> About a dozen Selechii goons spilled out of the prison
cells, descending upon Anita. As she
woke up, rubbing her head, she looked around.
Her eyes widened. Cody thought. The most prudent thing to do might have been
to leave, or to chase after Zachary.
However, he saw the fear in Anita’s eyes as she stood up, and smelled it
wafting off of her. He gritted his
teeth. He ran outside, hearing Anita
shout. “Wait,” she cried, “help
me!” Cody ran outside of the building
and looked around for Zachary’s car. He
saw it, dashed over to it, and spent about fifteen seconds making it decay,
leaving it a useless rust-covered ruin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody rushed back inside, seeing, as he expected, that
Anita had been knocked unconscious. He
clenched his left fist, but extended his right palm to fire a magical blast
into the nearest Selechii goon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The explosion ripped the woman he’d fired on apart,
throwing her innards around. The cluster
of goons in front of her also fell over, the nearest ones dead, the farther
away injured.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> The sound of the blast made the rest of the goons turn
around, and then gasp, but then, several of them pointed large weapons at
him. Cody’s eyes widened and he raised
his shield as a grenade flew toward him.
He dashed to the side, away from the entrance. When the grenade went off, the doorway to the
hall he’d been in collapsed. Cody heard
the crowd of Selechii goons rush away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody stood up, keeping his shield raised. He’d intended for Zachary to figure out what
he’d done and set some cowardly trap for revenge, but he’d not expected quite
as many men as this to be available to fight him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody left the building through the door that he’d entered. Looking around, he saw Zachary walk out of a
door, and then walk back inside and close it as soon as he noticed Cody. The scent of his fear was sweet. Cody rushed toward the door and swung it
open. To his left, he saw two of the
goons from before carrying Anita, and a third one behind them with a grenade
launcher of some sort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody was able to raise his shield before the woman’s shot
hit him. He ran after her. She fired another shot, which hit his shield,
making it flicker. Her mouth widened as
he got closer, and she abandoned all attempts to fire at Cody and ran ahead of
the two goons carrying Anita, who both shouted at her as she did. Cody just ran forward. The goons ran faster as they dashed away, but
Cody was able to catch up to and tackle them.
He transferred several injuries and a case of blindness to one, with
instantly fatal effect. The other he
kept pinned down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> As Zachary scurried away, Cody looked at Anita. He should have done this months ago, he
thought, as he touched her, tagged her Disassociative Identity Disorder, as
well as the head injury that was currently keeping her unconscious, and moved
them over to the goon he had pinned, along with a batch of other illnesses, one
of which killed him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Anita awoke from her state of being slumped on the
ground. She stood up. She looked down at the dead goons, and then
up at Cody. “Did you see which way
Zachary went? I probably only have a few
minutes before that demoness takes me over again.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “He ran down the hall behind you, but you are on no time
limit. Pink should be gone now. I cured you of her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Anita’s eyes widened.
“I… You…. I…”
She looked at her hands, and then down at the floor. She looked back up at him. “I… Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Cody smiled.
“Don’t mention it. I’m going to
go look for him too, though I’ll go a different way than you. If you encounter him, he’s likely to have a
magic sphere on his person. It’s a sort
of bad luck charm. Shout ‘Mollin Rath
Olimachgor,’ when you see him, and you’ll activate it, causing something bad to
happen to him. Just what, I can’t
say. When I did it a minute ago, it made
you emerge, forcing him to abandon his trap for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Anita nodded.
“Mollin Rath Olimachgor,” she repeated.
“I’ll make sure I remember it.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Good. His car is
in no condition to be used, so he’s running around on foot somewhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Got it. Thank you
again.” Anita walked away, down the
hall, Cody ran in the other direction.
He could smell pungent fears all around him, but only a few were far
enough from the prison to be likely to be someone running away, and it happened
that the strongest was also the farthest.
Cody dashed after it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-91165230948611189392015-08-01T15:17:00.000-07:002015-08-01T19:38:48.424-07:00Angel of Death 1.26 Creation of a Soulless One<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo closed his eyes and tried to pretend none of them were
there. He was back at home with his
mother, inside the small hut on their farm.
The men shouting bids for him were just bleating goats and neighing
horses. The hot sun on his bare body was
the warmth of a fire, lit from wood gathered by his brothers and arranged by
his father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> His exercise in pretend was successful until he’d been
sold. At that point, his eyes opened and
his head bent to the side to see the man who had bought him. His buyer’s skin was dark, like the inside of
a felled log, which was still much lighter than the coal-black skin of most of
the slaves in the crowd. The man wore a
loose green cloth over his body, and white cloth was balled up over his
head. He had a medium-length dark beard
and light brown eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He spoke to the man who’d been managing Samo up until
that point in a tongue Samo did not comprehend.
He would want to learn it fast, Samo supposed. His master’s voice was hoarse, quiet, and
made it seem as though he spoke only with great pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo’s former handler guided Samo off of the auction
block and into his new master’s carriage.
There, he sat next to one of the other slaves who had been sold there, a
woman he’d first seen on the raiders’ ship the day he’d been taken. Farther up, he saw a dark-skinned woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He turned to the woman next to him, and tried to think of
something to say, if only for the sake of hearing words he could understand
from someone other than that handler. He
couldn’t think of anything, though. He
looked down and closed his eyes again, trying to imagine that the tears hitting
his feet were a gentle rain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo’s muscles ached as he pulled the dull scythe toward
him, his skin seared by the baking sun.
He heaved for air and then fell forward into the wheat he was
harvesting. He closed his eyes. He’d been doing this for seven years. He should be used to it by now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo took a deep breath, grunted and stood back up,
scything a satchel-full of grain. Sweat
leaked from his brow to the ground as he carried the grain he had taken to
growing pile of wheat near the barn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> As he walked, Samo heard a horse neigh. He turned to see has master’s carriage
leaving. That was the way to the market,
Samo thought as he heaved. Samo kept
walking toward the growing pile of grain and added his many strands of wheat on
top of it. He turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The grain field was sprawling, stretching far into the
distance, halfway to the horizon. The
whole field was dotted with workers, mostly dark-skinned men and women from
East Africa, with the odd fairer-skinned slave mixed in, and still more rarely,
pale men like Samo himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo walked toward the field of grain, heaving for air. His eyes widened, and it felt like his lungs
were closing. He looked up at the
sky. It was well past noon, though the
sun’s heat was no more merciful for it.
His work… his work would be done in a few more hours… yes…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo felt his face smack against the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo awoke on a cot in a room he didn’t recognize at
first. Was this his room? Things weren’t usually so blurry in his
room. Samo blinked as he looked around. He was finally able to make out the vague
shape of a woman standing above him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I… Where…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The blurry image of the woman looked down at him. “Shh,” she said. “It’s okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The world around him slid into focus as Samo held up his
hand to rub his head, but the woman grabbed his arm. “Don’t touch the towels,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo tilted his head.
“Wha… what’s going… what…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He felt the woman pat him on the stomach. “Shh.
You fell over while you were working.
The heat had gotten to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I…” Samo still couldn’t see the woman very well, but her
voice was soft and assuring. It made him
relax. He put his hand back down, and
lay his head back on the wet pillow below him.
“How… long…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Master has forgiven you for your failure to work,” the
woman said. It was an attempt to dodge
his question, but Samo knew that if Master had come back before he’d woken up,
it must have been several hours. “I even
heard him say a prayer for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo sighed. “I
see.” His vision was clearing. He could now make out more about the woman
above him. She had fair skin like
his. Fairer, actually. Years of farming had tanned Samo’s skin. However, unlike Samo, this woman had dark
hair and bright green eyes. She was
dressed in garb that covered her more completely than anything Samo had worn
since before. “Say, who are you?” Samo
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’m Georgia,” she said.
“I’ve been looking after you, changing your towels.” Georgia stood up. “That reminds me. I should go get the healer to tell him you’ve
woken up.” She looked down at him. “I’ll be right back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo nodded. He
closed his eyes and thought. Georgia
must have been a house servant. Perhaps
that’s why he’d not remembered her. He
felt water drip from his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo’s eyes snapped open as he felt his breath
constrict. He heaved and huffed, but
felt like he wasn’t breathing at all. He
tried to gulp the air down, but couldn’t.
He gripped the sheets on either side of him, trying to force air
in. After a minute or so, he was finally
able to. He took several deep breaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> About a minute later, Samo heard Georgia and the healer,
a tall dark man with a scraggly grey beard, enter the room. The healer walked to his bedside, where
Georgia had been standing before. He
looked down at him, placing his hand the wet rag on his forehead. “How are you feeling?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I…” Samo began.
“I’m… well I er… I’m still hot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “We’re all hot,” the healer said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “No… not like that amount of… hot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The healer moved his hand from Samo’s forehead to his
chest. “I see. The man who brought you to me said you
sometimes have trouble breathing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Oh, that? It’s…
it’s nothing…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The healer shook his head. “I heard you just a moment ago. That was not nothing.” The healer looked down and closed his
eyes. “You never should have been put to
work in the fields at all. How was it
that the healer before me allowed it? I
would have recommended you be kept in the house as soon as I first saw you
spasm.” The healer sighed, changing the
towel on Samo’s stomach. “Regardless of
why it was ever permitted, I’ll council Master to take you out of the fields.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo’s eyes widened.
“Re… really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes. How long
have you been having these problems?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Since… since I was… since three years ago sir. No wait, four. The physician here then… he was a free
man. He… he didn’t like me. That’s why he allowed it I think.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The healer took a deep breath. “I see.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head.
“In any case, it’s only a matter of time before you die if you’re made
to labor like that. I’ll advise master
as such. You should either be serving
inside here, or be sold to another owner where you could do such work.” Samo looked away from the healer and at
Georgia, than back. “Hopefully, he’ll
heed my council. If not, may God have
mercy on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia nodded.
“May God have mercy on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo leaned back.
He closed his eyes and smiled. It
would be much easier if he didn’t have to work the fields; that much he
admitted. He looked back up at
Georgia. “Inside…” he said. “That’s where you work?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia nodded.
“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo smiled. The
healer looked down at him and smiled as well.
He turned to Georgia. “Continue
as you were. Change his towels. Never let them grow hot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia nodded.
“Yes, sir.” She looked back down
at Samo as the healer left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> That night, Samo dreamed of Georgia. His dreams did not center on her subtle face,
nor her full breasts, nor her curvy thighs.
Instead, he dreamed that the two of them were at the church where Samo
had gone as a child, reading from the books there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> When he woke up he didn’t realize the dream was over at
first, She was there, sitting patiently,
reading. Samo looked at her. “You can read?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia turned around and looked at him. A hint of a smile appeared on her face,
making more than a hint of one appear on Samo’s. “Not well,” Georgia said. “My father was the physician here before the
last one, so he had to be able to, and Master let him teach me on the condition
I read from the Quran at least as much as I read from other books.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo tilted his head.
“Do you?” Samo’s master was a
devout man. It’d been to master’s
frustration that Samo had not yet converted, but since the day of the raid
which had taken him, Samo had not had any faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia sighed and sat down. “Just now, I was reading over some instructions
pertaining to making a certain cure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see. I’ve
always wanted to know how to read.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia tilted her head.
“Have you, now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo nodded.
“Yeah. I… when I was younger, and
even now when I can, I’ve always liked to learn things.” When he was a child, Samo had fantasized
about being some kind of scholar, not that that was likely. When he first came down here, he heard about
certain Arabic universities. Until he
was about fourteen, he used to dream about someday escaping and going to one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I might see if Master will stop me from showing you a
bit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo beamed.
“Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia nodded.
“Really. Oh, that reminds me;
Master heeded the healer’s council. He
will let you be servant to one of his sons.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo tilted his head.
“Who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Ayman,” Georgia said.
“His thirdborn. He’s to turn
thirteen during the moon after next. He
was go be given a slave then, but master decided to give you to him now instead. He’s been waited on his whole life, of
course, but you’ll be the first slave to be especially his.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see.” Samo’s
eyes looked down a bit, and he took a deep breath. He lay back.
“When will I begin working?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Tomorrow. The
healer believes you’ll be well enough to work by then. Can you sit up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo moved his arms and legs a bit, to see how mobile he
was. “I think I might be able to,” he
said. He placed his hands flat against
the bed and flexed the muscles in his stomach.
He grunted, but he rose. He took
a few deep breaths. His eyes
widened. He thought it might be an
attack. He felt his breath constricting,
but then it stopped. He turned to
Georgia and saw her looking at him, bug eyed.
“False alarm,” Samo said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She didn’t seem relaxed as she placed her hand on
him. He smiled. He took his arm away from the hand and took
it into his. She looked down at the
hand, and then up at him. “You say
you’ve always wanted to read. How much
do you know of how?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’ve seen words,” Samo said. “I don’t know how the shapes move into
sounds.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia looked at him, and then down at the document
she’d been reading. She got up and sat
next to him on the bed, holding the scroll in front of him. “You see this shape here?” she said, pointing
to one of the squiggles on the page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked down at it.
“The one that looks kind of like a scythe?” Samo asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes,” Georgia said.
She moved her finger to a different place on the page. “Now, do you see this here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yeah,” Samo said.
“It’s the same shape.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Exactly,” Georgia said.
“That shape is called a laam. It
represents the ‘Lla’ sound.” She looked
at him. “And that’s how all of the
sounds work.” She looked back at the
scroll and pointed to a different shape.
“This shape represents the ‘Rra’ sound, and this one is the ‘Sha’
sound. Every sound has a shape, and the
words are made by taking the sequence of sounds for the word you want to write
and putting the shapes for those sounds next to each other in order.” Samo looked at the scroll, looking for more
shapes he could see in more than one place.
“There are basically twenty-eight shapes,” she said. “It’s a little more complicated than that of
course, but that’s the basics of it. To
learn to read, all you have to do is memorize which sounds go with which letters.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked down at the page. “I… I think I can do that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Most can,” Georgia said, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo stared at the page.
It was still an enigma of squiggles to him, but for the first time, he
was beginning to truly believe it might be more someday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia stood up, taking the scroll away from Samo. “For now,” she said, “I need to sort this, and
then I should change your rags.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked at her.
“Right,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo sought out Georgia as soon as Ayman’s daily
schoolings began. The boy did not need
to be attended during such lessons, and so Samo was free to speak with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> When Samo reached the medicine room where Georgia worked,
he took a deep breath outside the door.
When he entered, however, he was greeted by a smile. Samo smiled back. “Hello,” Georgia said as Samo closed the door
behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Hey,” Samo said.
“Are you free?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I can talk,” Georgia said. “I need to crush these leaves.” She put some leaves in a weird bowl and
started crushing them with a stick thing.
Samo sat down. “How is the boy?”
Georgia asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “As you would expect,” Samo said. “And I mean that in the negative sense.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Ooh,” Georgia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yeah,” Samo said.
“I mean, he’s not … <i>that</i>
bad. He’s just young, and spoiled as any
child of his wealth would be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see,” Georgia said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked down. He
thought. He looked back up. “Hey, Georgia?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yesterday, you said that Master had allowed you to learn
to read so long as you read the Quran at least as much as you read other
books.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She nodded. “Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I asked you if you did.
I… I don’t remember what you said.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia looked at Samo.
She sighed. “I’d say I read it
about half as much.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Oh. I see.” Samo smiled.
He was happy to learn that she wasn’t devout. “Are you--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see.” That made
Samo smile even wider. He sat back in
his chair. “I’m sorry to ask such
difficult questions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia looked up at him.
“Oh, it’s fine.” She smiled. “When does Ayman retire for sleep?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “One hour earlier than Master. Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He won’t require you then, correct?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He won’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Good.” Georgia
looked down at her bowl of now thoroughly crushed leaves. She dumped the powder into a jar. “I spoke to master about teaching you reading,
and he did not object. I’m given no
other duties at that time in case I’m needed to assist in some medical
emergency. Unless such a thing occurs, I
will be free. Come down here and I may
teach you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo beamed. “I
will,” he said. “I most definitely
will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia smiled. “I
am glad to hear it.” She put another
bunch of leaves into the bowl and crushed them.
“I am still practicing the craft myself, but I look forward to teaching
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked down at the scroll in his hand as he sat
waiting for Georgia to arrive, if she would.
Ayman’s fifteenth birthday had been a difficult affair. Beyond the fact that the boy was as immature
as he had been when Samo had first been given to him, (perhaps it was from
shouting at him to behave that his master’s voice had grown hoarse), another
slave, a dark skinned woman, had collapsed in shakings while cutting
bread. Georgia had announced that the
wound on the woman’s arm was not likely to be fatal as soon as she saw it, but
it still required attention. She had
later told him to wait and practice where they typically did while she helped
the old healer to clean the woman’s wound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo squinted a bit, muttering the words to himself as he
read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Informal Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Andalus;"> “Every soul will taste of death. And you will be paid your reward fully on the
Resurrection Day. Then whoever is
removed far from the Fire and is made to enter the Garden, he indeed attains
the object. And the life of this world
is nothing but a provision of vanities.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked up at the door as he heard Georgia enter the
room. He put the scroll down and looked
up at her, smiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She looked back down at him, smiling too. “The healer dismissed me,” she said. “He retired himself as well. The woman’s wound will be monitored, but he
does not expect it to become infected.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “That’s good,” Samo said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He has commented on the degree of time we spend
together,” she said. “The healer, I
mean. He says there are rumors that we’re
fornicating.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked at Georgia.
He stood up and drew close to her, touching her waist. She smiled and held him in the same
place. “We are not,” Samo said. He had wanted to, but he had known such a
thing would be imprudent. It was only
for a free man to violate a slave outside of marriage. Samo would be punished fiercely for it, and
Georgia’s fate would be still worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes, but if master comes to believe otherwise, it would
be dire.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see.” Samo
looked down at his feet. He gripped
Georgia’s sides with either hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “There is a solution, however.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked up at Georgia, eyes wide. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia smiled. “It
is permissible for a slave to marry, with their master’s permission.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked up at Georgia. He smiled, feeling a warm joy overwhelm
him. “Georgia that…” Samo had wanted
such a thing for over a year now. “…I
would love to.” Samo looked at
Georgia. He hugged her. She hugged him back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Would Ayman consent to it?” Georgia asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Most likely,” Samo said.
“I think if we asked them, he and master both would be thinking about
little slaves we would make for them, who would be a part of their wealth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia looked down even as she hugged Samo. “Little slaves…” she pulled away and looked
him in the eye. “Is that something you
want to give them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked down, smiling, crying with joy. “With you, I do.” He hugged her, squeezing her tight, his face
on her soft, firm, full breasts. “I love
you, Georgia. I have loved you for two
years. Free or slave, our love should
bear children. I would not mind that
shackles swing from my wrists forever if you were there with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia let out a noise that was half a joyful sob and
half a giggle. “Your argument is
persuasive. I will speak to master of
it. Perhaps you could speak to Ayman as
well. If they allow it, we will plan to
wed shortly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked up at Georgia. “Yes,” he nodded. He sat back down, next to her. “Yes, I would love that. I shall speak to him.” Samo’s heart beat with joy as he held her
close.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ayman had said yes.
Samo beamed. Ayman had said
yes. It had been as Samo expected, but
his joy nonetheless flew to the distant stars when it was confirmed to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He entered the room where he and Georgia met every
day. He saw her sitting, mixing some
powders for an herbal remedy. She turned
to look up at him when she heard him enter, and he saw her eyes. Instantly he knew, and what had once been his
joy fell back to the earth. Still, he
asked. “Did master…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo looked down.
He closed the door. Perhaps it
had been too much to expect. He looked
up at her. “I see.” He sat next to her. “Did he say why?” It wasn’t all that common, truth be told, for
a house servant to marry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia shed a tear.
She nodded. “Yes, he said why.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Georgia looked away.
Samo looked up at her. He placed
his hand on her thigh. “Georgia--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’m to be sold.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo sat back. His
eyes went wide as he looked up at her, her head still turned away from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Master said I had become experienced enough in the
healing arts to be sold to another house for a high price.” She looked down. Samo heard her sobbing. “I asked if you could be sold too, but he
said Ayman would never consent to that.”
That was the truth, Samo knew.
Samo turned away from her and looked down at his feet. Tears fell from his eyes and splashed onto
the wooden floor below. He clenched his
fist, balling a bunch of his clothing in it.
He seethed, but he knew there was nothing he could do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He turned to Georgia and hugged her from behind, wrapping
his arms around her stomach. She folded
her hands on his. Samo closed his eyes
and looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo lay in his quarters, on his side, his eyes wide
open. He looked at the blank wall across
from him, mere feet away. His pillow was
wet with tears. He looked at the wall,
and then down at the wooden floor below it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo tilted his head.
His eyes widened. How on earth
did that get there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> On the floor, there was an object. It was a book, Samo realized. It was the biggest book Samo had ever
seen. It was dark blue, but with a
silver skull on its cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo stood up from his bed. He looked down at the object. What was it?
He hadn’t seen it around the house before but… <i>oh crap!</i> It looked really
valuable. It probably was something from
somewhere around the manor, or else maybe something a guest left behind. If someone came in here and saw it, they’d
think Samo had stolen it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo leaned down and picked up the book. He needed to put it back where it belonged,
wherever that was, before anyone saw him with it. Samo felt himself breathing heavily. He took the book under his arm. If he was to learn where it went so he could
put it back, he had best read it. He
left his quarters and took it downstairs to the first room he could think of
where he knew there was a candle and where no one would be: the medical room,
where he used to meet with Georgia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Samo carried the book to that room. It was the middle of the night, so he was
able to move about undisturbed. When he
reached the room, he sat down and, with a little effort, lit the candle next to
him. He opened the book to its first
page, hoping to find a title, or perhaps an owner’s name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> There was nothing on the inside cover, but the first page
had some text written on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “On
Soulless Ones”</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> On Soulless Ones?
That was a strange… it didn’t matter.
Samo thought. This clearly wasn’t
a medical text. Perhaps it was a
religious text? Samo turned the
page. Maybe there was more information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I A description of the soulless
ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “II On the process of becoming a
soulless one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “III On the spells common to all
soulless ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “IV On the spells unique to one
or some soulless ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “V On the other properties
unique to one or some soulless ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “VI A list of soulless ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “VII Questions and answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “VIII Glossary.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo looked
down at the page. He’d seen tables of
contents in a few books before, but they always had page numbers next to
them. Wasn’t that the whole point?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It didn’t
matter. Samo turned the page. He wanted to see what this book was so he
could figure out where he needed to put it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This tome is a collection of
facts about the soulless ones, undead beings of supreme magical power. The object you hold in your hand is not the
tome itself, but a gateway to it. By
turning the page with any intent, you summon to you the page you wish to see
among the countless pages making up the actual tome. In addition, you may turn to the Q&A
section and write in a question directly.
If the answer to your question pertains to this book’s domain, it will
be provided to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo tilted
his head. What in the world could this
be? He was confident that magic did not
exist. Still, who would orchestrate a
joke like this? This book was covered in
giant blue gems. It was absurd to
imagine someone spending that much money on a joke… or indeed, on any book. Despite himself, Samo turned the page,
specifically intending to see that Q&A section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> He saw
it. He gasped. Two boxes, with a feather quill next to them. He picked the quill up. His hand shook. He’d never actually written before, he
realized. Still, he tried to hold the
quill firmly and form the letters.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Gigi; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How did this book end up in my
room?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This tome is sent from the
Underworld to those who it is believed will be most likely to make use of it,
and in ways which will accomplish the ends of whichever actor in the underworld
sent it. In your case, as in most, that
actor was the Underworld itself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo’s eyes
were wide. The book had responded… and
it was for him. Keeping out of trouble
was still on his mind, but his curiosity had now been peaked. Samo picked up the quill again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Gigi; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What does one use
this book for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Primarily, to become a soulless
one. After that, to learn about other soulless
ones.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Gigi; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What is a soulless
one?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Please turn the
page for the beginning of this tome’s explanation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Samo took a
deep breath and did.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I A description of the soulless
ones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Soulless ones are those who
have, through magic, cast their spirits into objects in order to gain the power
to accomplish their dreams. They walk
among mortals in the forms they once knew, but must reveal their true forms,
those of dead and deathly creatures, in order to cast their magic...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo
thought. Accomplishing one’s
dreams. That was what the book had been
sent here to do for him. He wanted to
marry Georgia. He wanted to have
children with her. He wanted to spend
the rest of time with her. Plus, if he
could have whatever he wanted… he still wanted to run away to those
universities he knew about. He would
leave this place. He would learn with
her, forever. Perhaps she would become a
soulless one too. Yes, that was what he
wanted. Samo turned the page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“…which they must
do regularly, as they must sustain themselves on the souls of the living, which
only magic can scythe. Such devoured
souls are the method by which soulless ones increase in power. They are not destroyed, but rather, they
linger with and serve the lich who ate them.
It is by commanding these that soulless ones animate the dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Samo’s eyes
widened. He read that paragraph a few
times. He looked down. That… was awful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo closed
the book, but then opened it again. He
thought, and then he clenched his fist.
The people who wanted to sell Georgia like a piece of cattle were
awful. The man who’d nearly worked him
to death in the fields was awful. The
men who were working the slaves serving right now were awful. He’d seen the states many of the slaves had
been reduced to. Georgia had told him
stories of the worst things she’d seen.
There were plenty of estates just like his throughout the world. There were plenty of wicked men and women who
deserved no better than what that book had just described. Indeed, it was a rich irony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Samo needed
little more convincing. He turned the
page, willing to see how to become a soulless one.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “II On the process of becoming a
soulless one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “If one wishes to join the ranks
of the soulless ones, one must first consider carefully if this is truly what
they wish to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> It was.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Many have cast out their souls,
and the vast majority of them come to regret it later. To give up life, and yet remain in this world
indefinitely, is no small prospect, and you should remember that whatever it is
you seek to preserve will nonetheless parish eventually, and you may still yet
have to live without it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Not if he
could convince Georgia to become a soulless one like him. He knew she loved him like he loved her, so that
should be no trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “If you are sure it is what you
desire, the process of becoming a lich is not very difficult. You need merely place the object into which
you desire to place your soul, called a phylactery, on the blank page at the end
of this section, and then say the incantation on the page next to it. Once you do this, there will be no going
back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo turned
the page. He saw the incantation, and
the blank page next to it. He looked up
from the page for an object he could put his soul into. He saw a feather quill on the table. He smiled.
It was symbolic of his intentions, he supposed. He picked it up and put it on the page,
before reading the incantation. “I call
upon the power of the Underworld to cast my soul into this object, so I may
become a being of death, disease and decay.”
Samo immediately felt nauseous.
He bent down and opened his mouth.
Nothing came out. He heaved
again, and again, hard, as his body fought to reject something deeply lodged in
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When his
soul finally flew out of his mouth, he saw through its eyes as he flew into the
quill. His body was hunched over limp
when he re-entered it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Samo took a
few deep, shocked breaths as he sat up straighter. He smiled.
He looked down at the book and laughed, trying to keep from doing so too
loudly. He opened the book back up to
see precisely what powers he had. He saw
a page of information about himself.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Bavandersloth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A lich of knowledge. An angry lich. He thirsts for understanding, of the universe
around him. He has been oppressed for
most of his life, and intends to take revenge on those responsible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Soul Count: 0<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Unique Powers:
The moving of decay on written material, the moving of the false beliefs of
mortals, the theft of knowledge from both the living and the dead, and the
implantation of false beliefs in mortals.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo
smiled. Those really were the skills
he’d want if he was to learn with Georgia forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo stood
up, carrying the book with him, straight to his master’s chamber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The door was
unguarded. Samo did feel the slightest
guilt over what he was about to do, but it vanished as soon as he opened the
door and saw a young dark-skinned slave girl in master’s bed. Samo shut the door behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He had shut
it too loudly, he realized, because both Samo’s master and the woman woke up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> They both
looked at him with confusion for a moment, the slave girl more so, as she did
not recognize Samo, whereas Samo’s master clearly did. The old man’s eyes were wide as he looked up
and down Samo. He could see Samo’s
intent on his face. “Help!” he cried, in
his hoarse voice. Samo grinned and
shifted into his true form. His cry was
far too quiet for anyone to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo’s
master screamed as soon as he saw Samo’s true form. Samo looked his master in the eye, as the
slave on the bed next to him shuddered and shivered. A sweet, floral smell came from both of them,
one which made Samo salivate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo held
out his hand. He’d start out by using
his power. “There’s no one who would
come for you,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> His master’s
eyes widened. He stood up from the
bed. He ran toward Samo. Samo grinned.
“That’s a bad idea,” he said. His
master stopped moving. Samo smiled. Countless whippings he’d received came back
to his mind. Orders he’d received,
either from this man, or from those this man had ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo turned
to the slave still shuddering in the bed.
As sweet as her fear smelled, he felt sorry for her. “You have nothing to be afraid of,” he
said. She calmed down a bit, but not
completely. Merely believing that you
had nothing to be afraid of did not by itself eliminate fear. “You should come here and take my hand,” Samo
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The woman
stood up. Samo’s master was crying and pleading
for mercy in the corner. He would soon
be given the mercy he deserved, the same he had given Samo. The woman reached Samo and put her hand in
his. He inflicted her with a head injury
to knock her unconscious. It would last
only for a few hours, and cause no permanent damage. There was no need for her to see what was
about to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Samo turned
to his master. The scent of the man’s
fear grew. Samo took a deep breath,
inhaling the intoxicating aroma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “S… Sss…
Samo,” his master said. “I… please, you
must understand, I did not wish to sell her to spite you, and I have changed my
mind! Georgia… you and Georgia, I free
you both, right now! Simply do not harm
me or my family--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “It’s too late for that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> His master’s
eyes widened. “Wh… what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stepped across the room, slowly, savoring the moment as he approached his
master. “I loved her. I think you knew that. I wanted to start a family with her. A small family, just the two of us and some
children, and I was content with the prospect of this family serving yours for
as long as it lived.” Bavandersloth
reached his master and stood over his slouching form. Bavandersloth smirked. “But you didn’t care about that. You cared not for my love for her, nor her
love for me.” Bavandersloth grabbed the
man by the neck of his garment and pulled him up, lifting him off the ground
and looking him in the eye. “You took
that family away from me,” Bavandersloth activated his power, “so I took yours
away from you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
master cried. “N… Noo… Nooo…” He looked down. A shower of tears fell from his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,” he
said. “I went door to door, cursing
them. As you can see, I’ve acquired some
demonic powers, and I damned them all.
All of your wives, your children, even your littlest baby, they rot in
hell now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
master struggled and wept. Bavandersloth
put his finger to the man’s neck and made a gash run down his back, like a dull
claw-mark, making the man scream in pain.
Bavandersloth slashed the man’s vocal cords as well. Hoarse voice or no, it was still possible his
screaming would eventually wake someone up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Everyone
and everything you love will suffer forever now, in a manner graver than God
himself could devise for you. And now,
you will join them. I’ll put you too far
away to contact them, too far away to comfort them, too far away to love them,
but just close enough to hear them scream.”
Bavandersloth ripped open three more gashes on the man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The Soulless
One inhaled the scent of the man’s fear.
Implausible as they were, this man truly, in his heart, believed every
word he was saying. Good. Bavandersloth had only a few minutes, so for
justice to be achieved, all of the suffering, all of the pain, all of the ripped
apart families, all of the dead and exhausted workers, the punishment for all
of that needed to be contained in just these few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> With his
thoughts, he broke the bonds holding the man’s skin to his body, flaying him
slowly. He started with the man’s
finders, pulling the skin off each one like the edge of a glove, and then moved
up each arm. He couldn’t work as slowly
as he would have liked, as he didn’t want the man to die. Still, the man’s face seemed as though he was
in incomprehensible pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Bavandersloth pulled the man’s skin from his arms, and then torso, and worked
his way both up to his head and down to his legs, he heard a low, impotent
moan, the vain attempt of a man without a throat to scream in agony. Tears overflowed in the man’s eyes, until
Bavandersloth flayed the nearby skin away from them and blood poured onto his
pupils.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Finally,
when Bavandersloth sensed the life draining from the man, he willed the scythe
to appear in his hand, and it did. He
plunged it into the wailing creature’s torso, just as he did when he harvested
grain for him. He ripped the soul out
and put it in his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As he
chewed, he moaned with pleasure at the soul’s meaty taste. He closed his eyes, savoring its flavor,
before finally gulping the thing down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
took a deep breath. He thought. If he left the body there, it would horrify
all who heard of it. He and Georgia
would be searched for no matter what, but perhaps their pursuers would be more
dedicated if they saw what was left of the slaver. As delicious as their fear would be, it would
not be the best thing for Bavandersloth pragmatically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> However,
there was a flip side to that. Fear
might keep make it so no man was willing to chase after them. Indeed, that might be the best thing. Bavandersloth turned around and left the
corpse as it was, walking away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When he
reached the slave girl, he picked her up and set her down outside of the
room. Hopefully, she wouldn’t see his
handiwork. There was no need for her to
be so scarred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
took his disguised form and headed to Georgia’s room, stopping at a basin to
clean himself a little. With the book
from before still under his arm, he entered her sleeping chamber to awaken her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He shook
her. “Georgia,” he said. “Georgia.
Georgia, wake up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She did,
groggily looking up at him. “Wha… what
is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We need to
go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I said we
need to go, now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You… Samo,
no. An escape attempt is… what is that
you have under your arm… wait, why do you have blood on your face.” Georgia gasped and looked up at
Bavandersloth, bug-eyed. “Samo, what did
you do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
explain later. Right now, we need to
go.” He took his true form, causing her
to reel back. “I promise you we’ll
escape. I love you, Georgia. Please, I need you to trust me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Georgia
looked at him, and then down at the floor, before standing up and taking his
hand. He lifted her up in his arms and
ran away with her.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-91074848025810845832015-07-04T13:03:00.000-07:002015-07-04T13:24:51.221-07:00Angel of Death 1.25 Ill of the Dead<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody held the phone up to his ear as he waited for Larngulal to pick up. The phone rang, and rang, and he got voicemail. He sighed. “Hello,” he said. “This is Odelarch. I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Someone answered the phone. “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes, Larngulal?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What do you need? I can only talk for a few minutes. Like I said earlier, I’m dealing with an urgent matter here in--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Listen, we have a problem. I was right, apparently, Nglavingithu and I, about Valthakar being free. After Tkoralkiarch got Kgobauru and Nglavingithu’s phylacteries, Valthakar attacked them. They’re both dead, and Valthakar is running around free.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It took a moment for Larngulal to respond. “I… I see. Why didn’t he kill you too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I don’t know for sure. If I had to guess, it was because of his… ideological thing. He doesn’t want to kill me until he can ‘convert’ me to his beliefs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see. Do you want me to send someone to help you manage things? That’s all I can do for you right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody thought. He didn’t, of course, but Larngulal would become suspicious if she knew that. “I don’t need help here,” he said. “I don’t know for sure, but I think it’s most likely that Valthakar is on his way to the Rocky Mountains right now. That’s where Bavandersloth’s phylactery is, and Valthakar would know its location more precisely than that, because he hid it there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Larngulal gasped. “You’re right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I was planning to go there to try to intercept him. Perhaps you could send me someone to help with that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Hmm. I’ll tell you what. I’ll send someone to follow him. It’ll be no use for you to do so. You’ll be too slow. Stay where you are. Bavandersloth’s contacts in Selechii are still there in Goldfalls. I’ll need you to interface with them while he’s gone. Meet up with them as soon as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Very well. I must go now, but I wish you luck.” Larngulal hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “How did it go?” Justin asked Cody as Cody put away the phone and turned around. The dank feel of their new house still appealed to Cody. The peeling wallpaper, the patchy carpets, the ruined furniture, it was beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Well,” Cody said. “She’s sending someone to counteract Valthakar. I’m not very worried, though. He can handle himself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin nodded. “Right. How long did Valthakar say it would take him to find it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “A few days. He doesn’t remember exactly where he put it, but he thinks he can find it pretty quickly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin lay back on the dusty, torn up old couch he’d been laying on. “Of course.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody walked over to Justin. He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Hey, it’s--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin looked up at him. “When has you trying to comfort me ever worked out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked down. He took his hand away, a tear falling from his face. He stood up. “Alright then. I’m going to go see if anyone is looting or anything, trying to take advantage of the black out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin nodded. “You do that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody sighed. He walked over to the door and left the house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar ran to the Northeast at full speed, kicking up dust as he went. He wracked his brain, trying to remember exactly where he’d put Bavandersloth’s phylactery. The cave he’d put it in had been about two thirds of the way up a mountain, or a little more. The mountain in question had been taller than those immediately around it, though Valthakar had been able to see an apparently taller mountain from outside the cave where he’d put the quill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The quill had been placed relatively deep within a cave to protect it from the elements. Within the cave, it was trapped within a locked box, though said box would serve as no barrier to Valthakar, as he could simply make it decay away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar felt his stomach growl. It was past 4:00 AM, he realized, and he still hadn’t eaten. He’d do that once he got to the little town he’d started his climb from originally. He groaned. That was still four hours away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The next day, Cody knocked on Cherie’s door. “Just a second,” Cherie’s mother said from inside. After about thirty, she opened the door, a weak smile on her face. “Cherie’s downstairs,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Alright, thanks,” Cody said. He walked through the entry way which led straight to the stairs, and walked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, Cody turned to see Cherie sitting on a couch watching TV. Cody smiled. “Hey, Cherry, what’s up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie turned around and looked at Cody. Her fake smile was even worse than her mother’s. “Hey,” she said. Her eyes followed Cody as he sat down on the couch next to her. Cherie seemed to drop the fake smile as he sat down. She sighed and turned off the TV. “I saw… what you did on the news this morning,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked down. He took a deep breath. “Cherry, it was urgent.” He shed a small tear. “I had no other choice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie nodded. “That’s what my dad said. You needed more souls… or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked up at Cherie. “I had assurance from someone who could basically see into the future. There was no other way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie looked down at her feet. She took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> There was a long pause. Cody tried to think of a way to break it, but he came up with nothing. “My dad is planning to send me into hiding soon,” Cherie eventually said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody’s eyes widened a bit, but soon relaxed. “I should have figured.” He leaned against her, resting his head against her breast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie wrapped her arm around him. “I do think we’ll have Valentine’s Day together though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody smiled. “That’s great. What do you want to do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie leaned toward Cody, her head resting on his, her blonde hair draping over him. “I don’t know. Something big, if it’ll be the last time we see each other for a while. We could go to Barron Shores,” that was a Country Club, “and eat at their restaurant.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody smiled. “Alright. That sounds wonderful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie patted him on the back. “But as for right now, what do you want to do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Well, we could go watch the new <i>Starstreamer</i> movie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Oh, c’mon, you said you liked the books. You even reread them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie sighed. “Yeah, about that, I actually lied about reading them the first time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody’s eyes widened. He looked at Cherie. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I said that I’d read them and liked them to make you happy. When I ‘reread’ them, that was my cover story after I realized I’d not be able to fool you much longer given how often you talked about them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked at Cherie. Cherie sighed, and then smiled. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll go to the movie with you on one condition.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody tilted his head. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie smiled. She rubbed Cody’s thigh. “There’s something else I want to do after dinner on Valentine’s Day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What?” Cherie rubbed Cody’s thigh harder. Cody’s eyes widened. “Oh… are you serious?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked at her. “Oh… okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie smiled. She kissed Cody on the head. “Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked up at her, and then smiled after a moment. He stood up. “Alright then. Let’s go to the movie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie stood up. She sighed. “Alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar left another cave empty handed. He clenched his fist. He could have sworn this was the right cave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar felt something cold touch his shoulder. He looked up at the sky. Snow? He turned around and looked up the mountain. He wasn’t past the snow line, though that didn’t mean it couldn’t snow where he was, especially in February. As he walked, he brushed more snow off of his shoulders. He jumped up from the ledge he was on to another one, which was in sight. He landed on it, his feet leaving a mark in the snow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody knocked on the door to Reidel’s house. Nothing happened for a minute or so. He knocked again. He heard a raised voice in the distance, and then the sound of footsteps approaching. Steven opened the door. He gave Cody another fake smile. “Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody smiled back at him. “Hey, I just wanted to visit one last time. I, uh, I heard from Cherie that you were leaving today and--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Steven frowned. “Hey, listen, maybe you could just call me later? Reidel… doesn’t want to see you right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody took a step back from the door. “Oh… okay then…” As Cody turned around to leave, he heard someone running toward him. He turned back around to see a fist hurdling toward him. It slammed him in the nose, making him fall backward and hit the concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I change my mind,” Reidel said. “He can come in now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody grunted as he stood back up. He saw a bit of blood drip out from his nose as he stood. He looked up at Reidel, whose eyebrow was up as he seethed. “How the hell does a dead guy bleed?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Reid...” Steven began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel looked at him, and then down at the floor. He took a deep breath and stepped away from the doorway. Cody stood up and walked in. Steven closed the door and Reidel raised his foot, slamming Cody between his legs. Cody grabbed his groin as he fell backward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Reid!” Steven said, his eyes darting between Reidel and Cody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel looked over at Steven, his arms crossed. “He <i>killed</i> Lester, Steve,” Reidel shouted. Reidel walked back over to Cody and stomped on his shin. “I’m just giving him, what, maybe a billionth of what he deserves?” Reidel stomped the other shin, prompting Cody to take his true form. The pain vanished in an instant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel choked on his breath and pinched his nose. He stepped away, his eyebrows curling. “Well then, maggot-face reveals his true self. Couldn’t leave me be. Had to come here and stink up the place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody let out a subtle sob, though Reidel somehow managed to notice it. He stood up. Steven was steadily walking backward to get away from Cody’s stench, but Reidel’s feet were planted in place. Reidel glared up at him. Cody looked back, frowning, eyes downcast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What’s the matter?” Reidel asked. “Is killing your best friend finally too much?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody sobbed again. “If only you fucking knew,” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel smiled. “Aww, are you sad?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Reid, back off,” Steven said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel turned his head around. “Why?” He looked back at Cody. “He’s a piece of shit. The police would kill him if they knew what he’d done. He’d eat any of us in a second.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked down, soon falling to his knees. He wept on the floor. The image of Lester’s dead body flashed in his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You’re pathetic, you know that?” Reidel said. “You’ve killed, what, well over a hundred, maybe even two-hundred people at this point. You don’t give a fuck about them.” That made Cody’s sobbing intensify as he collapsed further, onto his hands and knees. “But now that it’s someone you care about, you’re a crying heap on the ground. It makes me wonder if you really care about anyone but yourself. Did you ever really give a shit about Lester, or were you just attached to him like a psycho?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody let out another sob, but then clenched his fist. “Stop,” he seethed, looking up at Reidel. The boy was off put at first by his true form’s voice, but he regained his composure in only a second or two. “I… I am a hypocrite,” Cody said. He let out another sob. “You’re right about that. I… Reidel, do you think I wouldn’t stop this if I could? Do you think I wouldn’t smash my Phylactery if I could?” Cody’s sobbing took him over at that moment. If tears could have hit the ground, they would have soaked through to the center of the Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel looked down at Cody. He sighed. “All but one of my friends has died in the last six months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel turned around. “I’m going back into my room to finish packing. Be gone before I come back out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody nodded, taking his human form and unleashing an avalanche of tears. Steven ran over to him and knelt down to where he was. He started to hug Cody, who sat up and returned the gesture. Cody cried on Steven’s shoulder for the next few minutes before Reidel emerged. Cody left the house and walked down the sidewalk in the direction he knew led away from where the DIAPP agent was meant to pick them up. Each step sent a pang of pain up through his ankle, but Cody gritted his teeth and bore it. It’d go away on its own soon enough. Cody walked until he found an alley where he could take his true form out of sight and run back to the Northwest District under a cloud of darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Later, Cody sat inside <i>Fishy Joe’s Marina</i> with his copy of <i>On Soulless Ones</i>. He opened up the book to see the spell he needed to cast to prevent lich creation on Earth.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;">“To make a celestial body hostile to the casting out of souls, a soulless one with at least 3,439,664 souls must spread a coat of moly leaves on rocky ground and sprinkle the dust of a crushed Samaratian Sea Snail’s shell, powdered smaragdus, and the golden sugar of the Underworld. Sprinkle this mix with water from Bahamut’s gills and cast the remnants of a broken phylactery on top of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody thought. Killing a lich now would attract attention. It would be best to wait until they had Bavandersloth’s phylactery and use that for the spell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Steven felt the black car stop as he reached his destination. He stepped out of it. His mother stepped out with him. After another moment, Reidel and his father got out on the other side. A DIAPP agent got out of the driver’s seat as Steven and his mother walked around the back of the car to meet her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Your new apartment is in this building,” she said. “It’s 321. You’ve already been briefed on your new identities?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel’s father nodded. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The agent smiled. “Good. Never break character.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Of course,” Steven’s mother said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “If something comes up, there’s a number in your luggage. Don’t be too shy about calling us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel’s father nodded. “Right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Good. Now, go on in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The four turned around and looked up at the apartment complex. For Las Vegas, it was nothing fancy, Steven thought. There wasn’t even any neon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The four walked into the building, Steven’s mother and Reidel’s father holding hands. Steven himself walked next to Reidel. Reidel turned to him as they walked. “Hey, look, about earlier--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “It’s alright,” Steven said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel looked down. “No, it wasn’t. I shouldn’t have wailed on him like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You were angry,” Steven said. “It’s totally understandable. I wanted to do the same thing when I first saw what had happened on TV.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Reidel looked down. “Yeah, I guess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The two sighed. They held hands as well as they walked through the building’s front door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> As soon as Lester and the other souls from Central Square emerged from Justin, still later that day, Cody was called from where he’d been -- investigating the Golden Falls -- to the house where they had taken residence. Cody entered, opening the door and shutting it behind him. Justin turned to him as he did. Lester’s soul was above him. Justin had apparently sent the others away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin looked up at Lester. “He’s here,” Justin said. Lester’s eyes widened. Cody shed a tear as he looked at Lester’s face. This was the first time he’d ever seen the soul of someone who he’d known in life. What was left of Lester’s soul took the form of a human head, but one with very generic features. It was white and luminescent. Its shape was very spherical, more so than most human heads Cody had seen. There were hair-like wisps coming from the top of the head. The unique structure of Lester’s face was not retained. His cheekbones were nothing like their previous form. His nose was small. His eyes were distinctly human, but not particularly reminiscent of Lester.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Can he hear me?” Lester asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He can,” Justin said. “It’s only you that can’t see him. He can see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Lester looked down. “Right.” Lester turned to face in Cody’s general direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody smiled up at his best friend. “Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He says hi,” Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Lester looked back down. His eyebrows were curled a bit. Cody waited for Lester to speak. “Cody,” Lester said. The soul sighed. “Cody… I was just…” the soul sunk several feet lower, sobbing, though no tears escaped his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked down. “Tell him he doesn’t have to do this if he doesn’t want to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin looked up at Lester. “Cody says you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Lester cried. “No… It’s not… I… Cody… I understand why you had to do it…” Cody walked toward Lester, sitting down near him. “I just… it… it hurt.” Lester took a deep breath and let out another sob. “It hurt a lot… inside him… the teeth… the acid…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A tear fell down Cody’s cheek. “I know,” he said. “I’m sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He knows,” Justin said, “and he’s sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I…” Lester said. He sank down further. Cody clenched his fist. “I… do you know when Gborin’gargoth will let us see again?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “When we’ve defeated the community of liches,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “When we’ve beaten the community of liches,” Justin repeated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Right,” Lester said. He looked down. “I… I look forward to then.” His eyes closed, and he took a deep breath. “I… Can I actually go talk to my parents now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Go if you want to,” Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Lester was off. Cody looked down, tears dripping from his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin walked over to him, but Cody’s eyes were firmly shut. He gripped the muddy carpets in his fists as he dripped a solid stream of tears onto the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar walked out of yet another cave, cursing into the snowstorm which raged in front of him. He’d been here for a few days now. How the hell had he not found Bavandersloth’s Phylactery? He sighed and brushed more snow off of his shoulder. He looked up. This blizzard sure wasn’t helping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Then, Valthakar heard something behind him. He turned around and saw a dark cloud, like what the boys made, rushing toward him. He squinted. Inside it was a lich wearing a tattered prison jumpsuit with a skull mask on. Valthakar saw a sudden glow come from the lich’s hand, the wrong color to be a magical blast. He put up his shield, only to see a ball of lightning strike it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar tilted his head as the lich finally reached him and started hurling magical blasts his way. He didn’t have much to worry about while his shield was up. Valthakar took a moment to remember who this could be, but then it occurred to him. A while back, Bavandersloth had had Larngulal create a weather controlling lich. She must have sent him down here to sabotage his efforts. Valthakar sighed. Threat to his person or not, he’d best get rid of this pest if he wanted to finally find Bavandersloth’s phylactery. This blizzard, which this lich had probably caused, had certainly slowed him down quite a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar jumped up into the air and to the side, letting down his shield and firing a magical beam at the lich. The lich rolled out of the way and put up a shield. He mumbled something to himself, and then Valthakar heard a lightning strike. He turned around to see a bolt of lightning strike very close to him. Another soon did the same. Valthakar put up his shield. Another bolt of lightning fell, and then another, and then another, in very short succession. Valthakar’s field of vision filled with lightning in every direction, the blizzard around him still raging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The lich below Valthakar ran down the face of the mountain, seemingly headed for a valley. Valthakar gritted his teeth and jumped down after him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> With Valthakar’s speed, he was able to follow the lich, gaining on him as he jumped down from plateau to plateau, reaching the tree line in a few seconds. Several of the trees around him were on fire from the lightning. As the lich stood, in the darkness of the clouds, snow at his feet, fiery trees to his left and right, he whispered another few words, and Valthakar’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A swirl of flame erupted from the tree in question. Valthakar jumped up and away from it, again causing the other lich to anticipate a strike and jump and roll to the side. Valthakar pointed his hand at the lich and fired a magical beam, this time managing to strike the lich and knock him out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar smiled as the lich fell to the ground, unconscious. He jumped down off of his ledge and created a fireball in his hand, with which he lit the lich on fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Valthakar dashed away from the lich as he burned, smiling and resuming his search. The blizzard quieted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody smiled as he sat across from Cherie at their two-person table at <i>Barron Shores</i>’ restaurant. The place was beautiful to Cherie. There was a small fountain in the corner, carved to look like a cherub, spitting out a stream of water. There was a well-lit view of the ocean to Cody’s left. The walls and ceilings were dark brown. The cushion on which Cody sat was soft, and the table in front of him was covered with a white cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody had deferred to Cherie at every step of the ordering process, himself having no hope of navigating the various dishes. He’d recognized a few Spanish words. There was apparently a fancy restaurant version of the taco of which he had previously been unaware. God, how long had it been since he’d actually legit used Spanish?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> At the moment, Cody was swallowing a bite of rich brownie Cherie had gotten them for desert. When his mouth was no longer full, Cody spoke. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, what are you planning to do while you’re away?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie smiled. “Actually, I’m probably going to train to work with them full time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody tilted his head. “Why? Does your father want you to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie shook her head. “Oh, no. He very much wants me <i>not</i> to. It’s far too dangerous. I want to do it because… well, for one, I don’t really want to do much of anything else, but, mostly, I feel like it’s where I can make the most… difference, ya know? Do the most good?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody nodded. “Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “If I train with them, it’ll take several years before I can be a ‘real’ agent. You basically need a PhD in monster hunting.” Cherie put her fork down. “Exactly what all it takes depends on what you plan to do for them, of course. I’ve not decided what exactly I’m planning to do. There are a couple of things I’m kind of leaning towards.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody took another bite. “What?” The hot fudge topping the brownie was just cool enough not to scald his tongue. He savored it as he chewed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie sipped her iced tea. “Well, it’s really two major ones. The more practical one would be to be a researcher. Have you ever seen <i>Paranormal Four</i>, that show where the four college students fight ghosts?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody shook his head. “Not the show itself. I think I read a tie-in novel from the school library one time after Steven swore it was amazing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Well, do you remember that guy in the wheelchair who they tell about the monster they’re hunting and who researches to figure out what kind of monster it is so they can learn how to beat it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Vaguely.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Well, the first option is to basically be that guy. The Agents and Exterminators they send into the field can’t always recognize what it is they’re fighting. There are so many different monsters to keep track of that they give each team a member who’s just in charge of doing that and nothing else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody tilted his head. “I thought Exterminators were mostly for killing liches.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “No, not always. Sometimes it’s that, yeah, and then the man in the wheelchair’s job is to check the book to who it was and what their phylactery is. Then there’s some work to actually find it, the book will never tell you where it is, and then that’s that.” Cherie took a bite of brownie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “However,” Cherie said, swallowing her bite, “there’s also things other than liches. DIAPP only has one copy of <i>On the Underworld</i>, so you have to do much harder work to figure out about, say, a cursed object, a monster, a magic material, things like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody wiped his face with the napkin in his lap and then took another bite of dessert.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “But that’s just one job. The other one, the one that’s actually more appealing, is to be one of their ethicists.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody tilted his head. “Ethicists?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie nodded. “Yeah.” She smiled. “It’s much harder, though. It’d take an extra few years of real school, you have to have an actual PhD in ethical philosophy, and more importantly, there’s very a limited number of positions like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see. Now that I think about it, that does seem like the kind of thing you’d like.” Cody took another bite of fudge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie took a sip of her tea. “DIAPP has a few dozen ethicists in its employ at any given time. Their job is to set policies regarding monsters and such. What kinds of monsters are more urgent threats? What tactics are acceptable under what circumstances? What kinds of magical tools are acceptable to use? That’s the biggest one. DIAPP wasn’t originally set up mostly to fight the paranormal. Its original purpose was actually to militarize it, but that became secondary when they found out that the primary paranormal entities are, well, liches. With a few exceptions during the Cold War, no one in DIAPP was ever willing to have someone eate--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I get your meaning,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Oh, right. Sorry. Anyways, recruitment of liches has been zero since the sixties, and it was never much higher than that. However, there are a few magical objects which are considered ethical to use, and whenever another one is discovered, there’s a panel of ethicists to decide whether it can be used, and how.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see,” Cody said. There were about two bites of brownie left. Cody took one and let Cherie take the other. When they were done, they both leaned back in their chairs. Cherie called the waiter over to give them their check.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yolanda stood in the kitchen of the home DIAPP had provided for them, cleaning up after dinner while Samuel watched television. Her thoughts couldn’t escape her son; her sweet little baby boy. She thought of him as she loaded the dishes from the meal into the dishwashing machine on the wall, something her old home hadn’t had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She looked down. She hoped this whole business would pass over soon. She wanted to see him again. She wanted to talk to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She heard her husband’s snoring, so she went into the main room to turn off the TV. As she entered, however, a news report came on about another devourer attack, this time in Central Square. She looked at the screen. You could tell devourers from Angels by how they looked. Devourers were humanoid shadows when they were visible. Angels were spheres. However, in the footage she saw, two devourers had disguised themselves as Angels by taking on spherical appearances, before revealing themselves and attacking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Yolanda knew from Light-rook’s interviews that Angels and Devourers were like twins of each other. They were identical and yet opposite. Yolanda sat on the couch, saddened, as an interview with an Angel she didn’t recognize called Shieldcraft came on. She wondered what the devourer opposite Cody would be like. The thought soon passed over her, however, and she resumed thinking about normal Cody. She turned off the TV. “I’ll see him again,” she thought to herself. “I only have to wait and I will see him again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody and Cherie went straight downstairs when they got back from their restaurant and Cherie went straight into her bedroom. Cody took a deep breath as he stood outside. He clenched his fist. He had killed four liches. He had outrun a dragon. He had eliminated entire street gangs in a single night. He could do this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody went into the room and saw that Cherie had already finished undressing. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped when he saw her. “Cherr…” he muttered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> She looked at him and smiled. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “You’re…” Cody took a deep breath, and then smiled. He turned around and locked Cherie’s bedroom door. She laughed, and then so did he. The joy, not pleasure yet, but joy, overcame him like a glowing hot sun. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> Justin sat on the couch in the abandoned house he and Cody had settled into. Lacking anything else to do, he read from <i>On the Underworld</i>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “The Conquest of Gborin’gargoth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “It was about twelve-thousand years ago that the old king of the underworld fell. On a small planet in a galaxy larger than the average one, there was a world. It was unconnected from its galactic community at that time, so the Underworld sought to take it into its dominion. The world was divided into nations, and among those nations was a despotic and corrupt oligarchy. This nation was small in size, but powerful and built for war. The Underworld would have had it that this nation be the one from which to conquer the others, but for one fact: its leadership was wrong for such a task. Its dictator was not only corrupt, but cowardly and self-absorbed. And so, it was from among the common people of this nation that a lich was created. This lich was meant to take over the local government and then use its war machine to subdue the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “This he did, and in a short time. He was given the power to absorb the souls of all those he or his underlings killed, scythed or not. It was a useful power for a conqueror.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Justin sighed as he read through the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> When it was time for Cherie to leave Goldfalls, Cody followed her out to say goodbye. He stood on her driveway while DIAPP’s escort vehicle waited by the curb. The two’s arms were wrapped around each other, both crying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’ll miss you,” Cherie said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’ll miss you too,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I love you,” Cherie said, after a pause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I love you too,” Cody said. Their hug lasted for a little while longer before they each took half a step back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “We will see each other again, though,” Cherie said, Cody’s hands clasping hers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody looked down and shed a tear. “Yeah,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie hugged him again. “So cheer up,” she said. “This isn’t goodbye.” This hug was shorter as Cherie stepped away. She rubbed her hand down Cody’s side. “And when we see each other again, we’ll have a night as good as tonight, alright?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody took a deep breath. “Alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie looked down at him. “Hey, listen, I’m going to make you a promise, and I want you to make me the same promise back, okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody tilted his head. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Let’s promise each other that next Valentine’s Day, we’ll be sure to have as good of a time as we did tonight.” Cherie wiped a tear from her eye and looked down. “You’ll save the world by then, okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody nodded. “I promise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cherie hugged him. “I promise too, then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The two cried into each other’s shoulders for the next few minutes before Cherie waved Cody goodbye. He waved back, his tears dripping against the pavement below him. Cherie got into the car, her mother stepping in next to her. “They’ll keep each other company,” Cody whispered to himself. He almost fell to his knees again, but stood up this time. “Next Valentine’s Day,” he whispered to himself. “Next Valentine’s Day. She promised. I promised.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The next day, Cody called the number which was supposed to be Zachary Shepherd’s. He put the phone to his ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Hello?” he heard after a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes, this is the Angel of Death. I was supposed to catch up with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What? You? Why not Light-rook?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “He’s unavailable.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “No need to concern yourself with that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Zachary didn’t speak for a moment, but then sighed. “Whatever. Well, there’s not much to report, really. I’ve done everything he’s told me to. There’s only one other thing I’d like to talk about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I think I might have some kind of magical artifact.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody’s eyes widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yeah. Me and Pink were in the Northwest District a few weeks ago.” Zach took a deep breath. “While we were there, this… thing fell through what we think was a portal. It was a black orb,” Cody sat up to grab <i>On the Underworld</i> as he listened, “it had a faint purple glow around it. It felt like glass or marble when we touched it. We have no idea what it was.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody pointed at the book as Justin was reading it. “I need this real quick,” he mouthed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “What for?” Justin mouthed back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I’ll explain in a moment,” Cody replied. He picked the thing up and walked back over to the couch. He sat down and opened the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “At the time,” Zachary said, “we thought it was a trick. This was before Light-rook spoke to us. We buried it in the Northwest District. It wasn’t until earlier today that I thought to ask you about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see,” Cody said. He opened the book willing to see the artifact of which they spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “That information is not present in this tome. Please consult ‘On Magic’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody sighed. “I’ve not heard of an artifact like that.” Cody thought of something. “You said you found it in the Northwest District, was that in Joy’s Coast?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Yes. How did you know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody thought. Telling the truth would be inconvenient. “I know a portal opened there around that time,” he said, standing up to give the book back to Justin. “I think I know where to look to find out what it is you found. In fact, I’ll be able to do it in a second here. It’s just in the other room.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Is the thing dangerous or useful? That’s mostly what I care about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Of course.” Cody put the phone down and bowed his head. “What did you give them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “It’s a cursed orb,” Gborin’gargoth said. “Say the activation phrase, in this case it’s ‘Mollin Rath Olimachgor,’ and something bad will happen to whoever is closest to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Something bad?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “It’s different each time. The orb twists fate, casts spells, does whatever it has to do to screw with someone. Different colored orbs require different activation phrases and have differently severe effects. For a human eye, the purple auraed ones, which is what I gave them, are about two thirds of the way along the spectrum, toward the bad. Whatever it makes happen will put its victim in mortal danger, though it might not be fatal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Why not give them a guaranteed kill?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Because by the time the misfortune it visits is bad enough to make death a certainty, the death in question would be… inhumane to say the least. Worse than even I’d be willing to subject a man to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody nodded. “I see.” He picked the phone back up. “It’s actually a really, really powerful good luck charm,” he said. “Keep it on your person.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Zachary gasped. “Really? Wow, that’s better than I expected. Why do you think we got that through a portal? Who sent it to us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “A friend of mine from the dimension the portal led to. You wouldn’t know him. Light-rook probably had his contact with you planned a while before it happened. He might have had this friend send it to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “I see.” Zachary’s voice made Cody imagine him with the most brainless smile on his face. “Well, tell your friend I say thanks, I guess. I’ll go to where we buried it and get it.” Zach hung up the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Cody smiled. He bowed his head. “Zachary says thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> “Duly noted,” Gborin’gargoth said.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-78676564221358220472015-06-19T21:53:00.000-07:002015-06-19T21:53:42.603-07:00Angel of Death 1.24 I Told You So<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody and Justin rushed out of the
stadium, chasing Valthakar. As soon as
Cody left, he turned his head to the right and looked down the street where
Valthakar was running. He was already a
distance away. Cody dashed after him,
hand outstretched and firing a magical beam.
Sparky ran ahead of him, shooting flames at Valthakar, but he was too
far away. Cody had never seen Valthakar
at his top speed before. Perhaps even
this wasn’t his top speed, but in any case, Valthakar’s sprinting was swift
enough that he soon vanished over the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A few minutes later, Cody stopped
running, and told Justin to do the same. “It’s no use,” Cody said. “We can’t outrun him. We’re going to have to do something else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What else?” Justin asked, his voice
shaking a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody took his human form. “This’ll be a start,” he said as he got out
his bugged phone and spoke into it.
“Hello, Mr. Lambert? This is urgent. Things have gone south and--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent Lambert called him. Cody answered. “I’m here,” Lambert said. “I just handed your parents off to another
agent. What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We were able to take out Kgobauru
and Nglavingithu, but Valthakar’s phylactery was too strong for Sparky to get
rid of. He’s running out of the Northwest
District right now. If he gets to a
payphone, or kills someone and takes their cell, it’s over. Can you do anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let me think. I could cut off cell phone coverage around
here, and engineer a black out to shut down pay phones and land lines. That’d force him to go out of town if he
wanted to make any calls, or find a phone powered by a backup generator. Did he manage to get his phylactery back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then you’ll have until he gets out
of town to figure out how to destroy it.
I’ll give the order to shut down power and phone coverage right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody nodded. “Understood.”
He hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody turned to Justin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What did he say?” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’s going to shut down all of the
phones around here, and the power too.
That’ll give us until Valthakar finds a way out of town to figure out
what to do. Let’s go back to the stadium
for the books. We’ll ask them about
things there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin nodded. The two ran back to the stadium. Cody went straight for <i>On the Underworld</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “What, if anything, that I could
access in the next few hours, can destroy Orichalcum?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Nothing.
Orichalcum emits an aura which protects all substances near it. The only thing on your planet which might
destroy it is magma, and even that would not do so quickly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody closed his eyes. He thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Anything?” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We can’t destroy the phylactery.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin shed a tear. “So, that’s it then? We lose?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Maybe,” Cody said. Then something occurred to him. “Hand me <i>On
Soulless Ones</i>,” Cody said. “If we
can’t destroy his phylactery, maybe we can use it to release Valthakar from his
binding spell. We’ve said before that
he’d have good reason to side with us if it weren’t for Bavandersloth’s spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We can’t,” Justin said. “I’m a few hundred souls away, and you’re
even farther, and the version we’d cast would take too long either way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody clenched his fist. “Hand it here anyway,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin sighed. “Alright.”
He handed it over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody opened the book and wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “How many more souls would Justin need
to be able to free Valthakar quickly enough for us to complete the ritual
before Valthakar reached a phone, and with materials we can reasonably acquire?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “For the version of the ritual lasting about seven
minutes, perhaps five if he hurries, Tkoral’kiarch will need 529 more
souls. Turn the page for a description
of the ritual.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “To free a bound lich in the second way, a lich with
1002 souls must place the phylactery of the lich meant to be freed in seawater
with the remains of a lifeform killed by the caster. They must then recite the following chant
while shaking the container: ‘Soulless One, bound to service, may your bondage
end this day. Cast off all chains. I free you!
I free you! I free you!’ Once the chant has been recited 34 times, the
container will slip out of the caster’s hands regardless of any effort they make
to hold onto it. If it shatters when it
hits the ground, the ritual will succeed and the lich will be freed from
bondage. If it comes to a rest and is
still intact, the ritual will fail. The
one who attempted to cast it will have 37 seconds to declare a lich’s name, and
they will be bound to that lich. If they
declare no name, they will join the lich they tried to free in service to its
master.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody looked up at Justin. “You’re five-hundred-twenty-nine souls away
from being able to cast the spell in seven minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Right. That’s like a year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody looked at Justin. He took a deep breath. “Justin, there’s a prison across town from
here. It has more than enough peop--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s eyes widened. “You can’t mean--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Justin, the fate of the world is at
stake here. If Valthakar contacts
Larngulal, both of us are going to die. The
only way left after that to save the world would be for DIAPP to find Bavandersloth’s
phylactery by chance, with us knowing nothing of where it is but that it is
somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, or for them to flatten the area with bombs
powerful enough to kill way more than five-hundred-twenty-nine people. Are you willing to risk every last person,
including all of those prisoners, being ruled by Bavandersloth? Are you willing to risk Kandrinarkora coming
back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin looked at Cody. He hung his head down, and shed a tear. “I guess not.” He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody put his hand on Justin’s
shoulder. “It’s okay.” Justin wasn’t consoled. Cody kneeled down and looked him in the
eye. “Hey, listen. If you don’t, they’ll probably still be
eaten, but not by you. This way, at
least there’ll be something for them after you die.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin took a deep breath. His tears didn’t stop flowing. Still, he looked up, and Cody stood. “Al…right,” Justin said. He took his true form. Cody did the same.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s for the--” Cody began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Stop,” Justin said. “I said I’ll do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody nodded. The two ran out of the stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar dashed out of the
Northwest District, frowning. He
wondered how long the boys had been working against his master. It couldn’t be that they were responsible for
the souls going blind. They weren’t
powerful enough. Not unless… unless they
had outside help. Was that it,
then? Who would it be? It’d have to be Gborin’gargoth, it seemed. Valthakar could think of no other
possibilities which stood up to scrutiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yes.
Kandrinarkora was imprisoned on earth, and would be trying to get
free. Gborin’gargoth would want to stop
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It was clever, Valthakar had to
admit. Not on the boys’ part, but on
Gborin’gargoth’s. His readings of <i>On the Underworld</i> had already made it
clear to Val that Gborin’gargoth was working to suppress Kandrinarkora. If he did just a few things, large scale
feats, he’d be able to confound the community of liches with minimal
effort. The rest, he could have his weakling
avatars do, and no one would suspect them because the largest acts had been
beyond their ability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It was so clever that the pleasure
of destroying it really did work toward making what Valthakar was going to do
worth it. It still wasn’t, of
course. That he would aid Bavandersloth
to victory pained him. That he would do so
again and again for as long as Bavandersloth reined pained him more so. Still, there was one fact that comforted him. No matter what happened, Bavandersloth’s rule
would end eventually, as would the earth, as would he. For others, that fact brought sadness, but
for him, it dulled it. No pain of his
would ever be eternal. However long the
next order lasted, it would not be forever, nor would the next, nor the next,
and one day, before he knew it, the order without him would arrive, and he
would never suffer again. Curse as he
did that blasted necklace’s magic, it could only imprison him for a finite time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent Lambert was on the phone with
one of his agents. “I’m almost there,”
the agent said. “Just one more push of a
button--” The call was dropped, which in
this case was a good thing. A few
seconds later, the lights went out.
Agent Lambert took a deep breath and turned off his phone. He wasn’t going to get any calls, so he may
as well save battery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He sat back down in his chair and
took a deep breath. He didn’t know what
the boys were planning. Cody was clever,
but this situation did seem hopeless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Soon, the building’s backup
generators took over, and Lambert pressed a button to speak to another
agent. “Get fifteen helicopters out
there scanning the city. Destroy
Valthakar’s body upon detection.”
Lambert took a deep breath.
“Disregard all collateral damage.
Killing him is to be your first priority.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Understood, sir,” an agent said in response. Lambert sat back. This base would still be able to communicate
with his own men through short range radio transceivers, and receive updates on
what they saw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester stood in line at the theater,
his parents in front of him. A trip to
the movies was a rare thing for Lester, but the new <i>Starstreamer Chronicals </i>movie was more than worth going to. His sister had also been delighted; not to
see the movie, but to have the house to herself for almost three hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester looked to either side to see
the posters around him. Of the four
films being advertised, two concerned Angels.
One was a documentary which credited “Light-rook” as a producer. The other was an action movie starring an
Angel who apparently called himself “Shieldcraft.” That poster was on the far side of the room,
so he couldn’t see who was meant to make it, though he imagined Bavandersloth
had a role in it as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As Lester stood in line, the lights
went out. His eyes widened. He looked up and around. The building had gone dark. Had the power gone out? He hoped not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After the lights remained out for a
few minutes, and given that the desk clerk didn’t seem to know what was going
on, Lester had to conclude that is what had indeed happened. Crap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It wasn’t too long before a woman
came through the door to confirm what he already knew and send everyone
away. Lester grumbled, but left the
theater. When his parents tried to call
a cab, he discovered that they had no reception. With nothing else to do, the three walked to
the sidewalk near the highway and held out their arms to signal for one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar finally encountered a
payphone and took his human form so he could retrieve his wallet from his
pocket. A few of the humans around were startled
by his seeming to appear out of nowhere, his invisibility deactivating as soon
as he took on his human disguise, but time was of the essence here. Bavandersloth had said on several broadcasts
that no human should interfere with an apparent Angel’s business, so he was not
bothered by the humans. He reached into
his wallet and took out two quarters. He
deposited the first into the phone, and then the second, and then the area
around him became much darker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar looked around. He could see no lights. Soon, he realized that there had been a
blackout. He smiled. It was possible that this was a coincidence,
though given the existence of DIAPP it seemed more likely that it was not. He looked around. He found a young man fussing with his cell
phone and approached him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello, excuse me; I left my
cellphone at home. Do you mind if I use
yours to call my daughter?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The boy looked up at him. “Oh uh… sure.” The boy handed the phone over. Valthakar entered Larngulal’s number, but
then saw that there was no reception. He
tried to make the call anyway, but he couldn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It doesn’t seem to be working for
me. Could you help me?” Valthakar handed the phone back to the boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After a moment, the boy looked
up. “Crap,” the boy said. “Apparently, I don’t have any reception. Sorry dude.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar sighed. “Oh, it’s quite alright. I’ll see if someone else can help.” He walked away. When the next such attempt played out
similarly, Valthakar realized DIAPP was almost certainly involved. If that was the case, they’d have extended
the blackout as far as they felt they could.
Valthakar thought. Running out
that far would be tiresome. It would be
much easier to find some place with a generator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar grinned. He knew of only one facility in the area,
with a phone anyway, which he was certain had such a device. He turned around and ran to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin headed toward the prison,
covered in a cloud, his feet smacking concrete with each step. As he did, the power went off around
him. He reflexively slowed down for a
moment, but sped right back up, his surprise short lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He tried to think of anything other
than what he was going to do, but his thoughts wouldn’t budge from that
subject. He turned to look at Cody and
whispered as he ran. “Which prison is it
we’re heading toward?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I don’t know the name. It’s not the one your brother is in, if you
were worried about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin looked down. He tried to shed a tear. “Okay.”
Justin’s thoughts continued to torment him. Regardless of whether he would encounter his
brother, he’d encounter other people’s brothers. They’d be no less sad when they died than
he’d be about his own brother. If he was
willing to do that to them, shouldn’t he be willing to do that to himself? Why was his brother so special?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin looked up at Cody again, but
then looked back down. He tried to think
about something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Look out!” Cody said.
Justin looked up, ahead of him.
His eyes widened as he just barely managed to stop before smacking into
a wall at top speed and dropping the glass of shredded grass and seawater he
planned to use for the ritual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin looked over at Cody. “Thanks,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody smiled. “No problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward took a deep breath as he
sat back. He pressed the intercom
button. “Agent Thomson, any progress?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Odelarch and Tkoralkiarch are
nearing Central Square. We have a
helicopter on their tail. We’ve seen no
indication of where…” Agent Thomson stopped speaking. “Sir, something is making the locks on the
main entrance to this facility decay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Disable the generator,” Deerward
said, “and our phone lines as well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes, sir.” The intercom clicked as it deactivated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A few seconds later, the lights went
out. It had occurred to Deerward that
Valthakar might try to use this facility’s power to make his phone call, and he
had had a contingency plan prepared in case of such an attempt. Deerward took a deep breath. Now it was simply a matter of the generators
not being re-enabled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward reached into his drawer for
a brightly colored pill. It was striped
yellow, lime green and sky blue. He
placed it on his desk, just in case he needed it. He didn’t expect to, though. The generator was in the basement. It would be quite the detour for Valthakar to
come all the way up to his office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As Lester’s cab inched down the
street, he saw a light out of the corner of his eye. Was the city’s power back on? No, he realized. It was Central Square’s Big Digital
Projector. The thing was connected to a
backup generator, he reasoned. It must
have been, as the streetlights in the square were still out. It being the only structure around with power
explained the crowd in the square, as Violet Fox was on the screen, talking
about the blackout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester turned to his parents. “Hey, is it okay if I roll down the
window? I’d like to hear what’s going on
from the BDP while we’re near it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Go ahead,” Lester’s father said
before resuming his conversation with his wife.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As Lester turned down the window, he
noticed a noxious smell. Immediately, he
turned the window back up. He looked
around, before noticing two dark spheres running to his left, toward the
square. Cody and Justin? Why?
As his father gasped upon noticing the same thing, Lester tracked the
clouds of darkness with his eyes. Was
this blackout something to do with them?
Were they out hunting early, now that Cody’s parents were gone? Were they hoping to prevent crime during the
blackout?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Soon after he saw the liches, Lester
heard the helicopter following them.
That had to be DIAPP, he supposed.
He watched them, thinking that he’d ask them about this later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As soon as John finished putting on
his suit, he dashed into the stairwell. An
alarm blazed, and sprinklers full of purple ink fell from the ceilings. He kept his head down to keep any of the ink
from getting on his visor and interfering with his vision.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He emerged from the stairwell in the
basement. He ran down the hall and
barged into the generator room, his right arm extended to shoot a blast of
flame at anything inside. The generator
was scorched and blackened, but not deformed.
A devourer-shaped figure of ink in the room was on fire. It turned to face him. John fired some liquid nitrogen from his left
arm at Valthakar’s feet, but not before he was able to move out of the
way. Valthakar dashed straight toward
John and extended his ink-covered scythe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> With the exterminator swallowed,
Valthakar turned back to the generator.
He pressed a button on it and turned it on. Light flooded the basement. A few seconds later, another exterminator
entered the room. Valthakar turned
toward her and fired a magical blast, which, despite her managing to drench him
with the flamethrower once again, did succeed in killing her. Valthakar put up a shield and then dropped
and rolled to get the fire out. He
couldn’t run straight to the phone. Last
his souls had known, there were perhaps twenty exterminators in this
building. He needed all of them to run
at him before he could leave the generator alone, as otherwise, they would
simply turn it back off, or perhaps even destroy it with their grenade
launchers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As he thought that, Valthakar got an
idea. He walked over to one of the
hallways leading into the generator room, the one on the right, and made the
floors decay away into spikes, as Bavandersloth had once. He did the same with the hallway across from
it. He left through the third and final
hallway. An exterminator immediately saw
him and launched a spray of liquid nitrogen, but Valthakar dove out of the
way. He dashed at full speed at the
exterminator, and crossed the distance to her before she could react. He ate her soul. Next, he spiked the floor of the hall leading
up to the generator room. After firing magical
beams down both halls, eliciting the scream of another exterminator, Valthakar
spiked both of the halls on one side of him, ran to the stairwell, and then
spiked the other side. He ran up the stairs,
eating another exterminator on the way up, and, once he was on the ground floor,
he made the stairs decay away. This was
only one of several stairwells in the building, he didn’t doubt, but its
absence would at least hinder them.
Valthakar ran out into the ground floor lobby, looking around for cubicles
in which he might find a phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward stood up as the lights came
back on in the facility, his eyes wide.
He activated the intercom.
“Where’s Valthakar?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “On the second floor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can you turn the generator back
off?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We tried, sir. Valthakar must have done something down there
to stop it from working remotely, and the exterminators report the area to be
inaccessible. We were able to shut off
most of the phones, but about an eighth of them are still intact.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward thought. Was there anything to do? If he were lucky, he had fifteen minutes
before Valthakar called Larngulal and got all of them killed. With the entire community of liches acting
against them unconcerned about keeping their actions covert, their defeat was
all but certain. “Have the helicopter
after Odelarch send him a message. I
don’t care if a civilian hears it. Tell
them that they have about fifteen minutes to do whatever it is they need to do
to stop this. At the same time, keep
throwing exterminators at Valthakar however you can. Slow him down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert’s eyes found themselves
looking toward that pill. If
Bavandersloth won…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’s in the base,” Cody heard. “You’ll be out of time within fifteen
minutes.” Cody stopped in his
tracks. The people around him backed
away from his odor, but most of them were so unthreatened by his presence that
they didn’t leave the Square.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin turned to him. “Is… is fifteen minutes enough--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nowhere close. There’s no way we’re getting to the prison in
time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s head hung down. “Is… is that it then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody thought. If Valthakar’s call made it through,
Larngulal would send whoever and whatever was necessary to kill Justin and him
for defying the community. The world’s principle
hope would be gone. DIAPP might still
stop the community, but was that worth the risk? They hadn’t been able to stop them in future
Cody saw. Cody bowed his head. “Look into the future the same way you showed
it to me. If I let Valthakar make that
call, does Bavandersloth win?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gborin took a moment to
respond. “Yes,” he said. “The community deduces that I have assisted
you. They descend on Goldfalls in the
guise of devourers to destroy you.
Because you cannot allow yourself to be destroyed peacefully for the
same reason you cannot smash your phylactery, their efforts involve a
large-scale assault on the city. With
the help of a weather controlling lich under Larngulal’s command, all attempts
to hold them back fail. The resulting
fear and panic from their destruction of this city, by devourers as far as
anyone can tell, gives them the worldwide audience they need to make the
broadcast as soon as Bavandersloth returns.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody clenched his fist. Bavandersloth had told him a while back that they’d
not been willing to attempt such a large-scale attack to get the attention they
needed because it risked backfiring if even a few people suspected it was the
community. It seemed that such a risk would
have paid off after all. Cody looked
around. The helicopter message hadn’t
driven anyone away. He closed his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody?” Justin said. “Have you thought of a way to get to the
prison in time?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody turned around. “I’ve not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So… that… that’s really it then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody shook his head. “The prison isn’t the only place with souls,
Justin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s eyes widened. He took a step backward. “You can’t… you can’t mean…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody gulped. He felt like a vice grip was keeping him
still. He had to fight just so he could
nod.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You have to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s eyes were wide. “I can’t,” he shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “<i>Shhhhhh</i>. Don’t let the people around here hear you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I…”
Justin looked down. “There’s no
other way? Is that what Gborin just--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.” Against his will, Cody’s eyes focused on the
people behind Justin. He closed
them. “I’ll start paralyzing the people
around here. You… you know what I need
you to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin sobbed, though his form
prevented any tear from escaping him. He
fell to his knees, drawing a few looks due to the sudden motion of his
cloud. “I…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Stand up, Justin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin sobbed a few more times. He stood up and raised his scythe. Both liches mutated their shadows into a
humanoid form so the community could pass this off as a devourer attack. He was still pretending to work for them. Cody rushed to the edge of the hole his scent
had made in the crowd, lay his hand a person in the crowd, and knocked them
out. He did the same thing with his
other hand. He moved his first hand to a
new person and did the same thing to them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s scythe scooped out the soul
of an old woman first. She tasted sweet
and fruity. The old man next to her was
similar. As people started to collapse,
the other people near them noticed and screamed. As Justin chewed another soul, the crowd
dispersed and people started running away.
Justin pounced a young woman, and took her soul, still letting out his
dry sobs. He dashed over to a man about
his brother’s age and ate him. As the
crowd ran away from him, he saw someone push someone else down to get them out
of his way. The pusher’s eyes were wide
as he looked back. Justin ran toward
him, causing him to speed up. Still, the
human had no hope of outrunning Justin, who could taste that final push on the
man’s soul as he gulped it down. Justin
ran back over to the girl who’d been pushed.
She was around Cody’s age. She
stared upward as Justin approached her.
She screamed, and franticly tried to get up, but one of the others in
the crowd must have trampled over her ankle or something, because she
couldn’t. Justin dipped his scythe down
when he reached her and ate her soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As he looked up from her body, he
set his sights on another passing man.
He held out his hand and knocked him down with a magical beam to the
ankle. The man fell to the ground,
scraping his knee. As Justin ran toward
him, another man carelessly stomped on him, making an audible crack and
eliciting a scream. Justin turned his
head toward that person and ran after them at full speed. He scooped out their soul and ate it, noticing
it tasting vaguely of chocolate milk.
Justin tackled and ate a few more humans, including a couple who
reminded him of his parents, before making his way back to the man he’d
disabled. There was a bloody spot on his
upper leg from another person stomping on him, and a woman had tripped over him
and fallen. He tried to take her soul
first, but she had apparently already been trampled to death. Justin sobbed and then turned to finally take
the first man’s soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody looked up from his work as he
heard a helicopter arrive. It bore a
camera on its front and a Channel 4 News logo. He looked back down. He had to knock these people out
strategically. If they were trampled,
they’d be wasted. He turned toward
another woman. Her face looked kind of
like Cherie’s, though her hair was bright red.
He knocked her out and then threw her onto his low pile of mortals. Over the screaming, he could sort of hear
Violet Fox reporting on what he was doing over the news.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The crowd thinned faster than Cody had
imagined it would. There had been
something like a thousand people in the square.
All but a few hundred had already been caught or had escaped. Cody tackled a woman to the ground. This one looked like his mother. He knocked her out, and then leapt straight
to another person, an older man who reminded him of his grandfather, and did
the same to him. He heard a yell. He looked up and saw someone running toward
him, preparing to punch him. Cody just
stood there and magically knocked the man out as he touched him, making the man
fall to the ground with his fist still in a ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As Lambert sat in his office, he got
a radio message. He pressed a
button. “What is it?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Our helicopter watching the boys
says something’s happened with them.
They’ve started slaughtering the crowd.
One of them is eating them while the other is incapacitating and
gathering them into a pile. They can’t
tell if the civilians in the pile are dead or unconscious. They’re asking for permission to fire on the
devourers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert’s eyes were wide. He thought.
Why would… wait…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sir?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hold on a moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert opened up his desk and got a
copy of <i>On Soulless Ones</i> out of a
drawer. He opened it and asked it a
question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Edwardian Script ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Freestyle Script"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Are the boys gathering souls they need to cast a spell that
will stop Valthakar?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert thought. That must be how they’d reacted to his alert. Could he allow this? Knowing Cody, if he was working with
Gborin’gargoth, he’d not do this unless he thought there was no other option,
and the fact that they did this meant they were planning something
specific. Whatever they were doing, it
was probably the only way to save the world…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert pressed the button. “Tell them to hold their fire. Sit back and observe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You heard me. They are not to fire on Odelarch or
Tkoralkiarch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sir, letting them attack a crowd of
civilians would be a violation of--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I am ordering them not to
fire. I am your superior officer. Is that understood?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The agent took a moment to speak. “Understood, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert sat back. He turned the intercom off and buried his
face in his palms. He was putting a lot
of faith in Cody, but Valthakar was minutes away from success. This was humanity’s last chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin stood up from another kill to
see someone running for the space between two cars. He dashed over to them and ate them. He heard an unusual scream and turned his
head. Cody ran through his peripheral
vision, but Justin ignored him. He saw a
boy about his age looking around for his parents. He sobbed.
He didn’t even think about killing that boy. Instead, he turned to look at the people
running away from the cars. He saw a man
in a taxi driver’s uniform. He ran after
him and ate him. A woman near him turned
around. When she saw that he was so
close, she screamed and sped up, that seemed to be everyone’s reaction to
Justin at the moment, but Justin ate her, and then the man she was running
with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There was another boy, about Cody’s
age, who looked familiar to Justin. Still,
he couldn’t place his face, and, despite his sob, he supposed it didn’t
matter. He tackled the boy to the
ground. After this one, he thought, he’d
go back to eat the ones Cody had knocked out.
He was pretty sure there’d been enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The teenager squirmed. “Yo, man, please…” Justin raised his scythe. As he scooped out the teen’s soul and popped
it into his mouth, he heard the boy’s last words. “Cody, don--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s eyes widened as he heard
Lester’s cry. It couldn’t possibly be…
he, abandoned the human he’d been chasing and ran straight toward the
voice. Justin looked up at him, still
leaning over the dead body. Cody could
see his friend’s form from where he was.
He stared at Lester’s corpse, whose open eyes were still pointed up at
Justin, frozen in terror. Cody fell to
his knees and cried. It was a dry cry,
but every bit as much of a cry as it would have been in his other form, Cody
realized. He crawled over to Lester’s
body. He put his hand on it. He looked at Justin. “Go eat from the pile until you’ve had
enough,” he said. “Perform the ritual.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin nodded and stood up. Cody looked down at his best friend. Memories flashed through his mind. Several were of times Lester had given Cody
advice. A few were some of his favorite
games he’d played with him. One was the
lunch they’d had together after a grueling test. The last was about a year ago, when he and
Lester had talked about what they wanted to be when they grew up. Cody had wanted to be a historian. Lester… Cody couldn’t remember what Lester
had wanted to be. It didn’t matter now,
he supposed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody sobbed, his head against the
stomach of Lester’s corpse. After a few
minutes, he heard the crowd dissipate as everyone got away. Not too long after that, he heard Justin
shouting the chant the book had told him about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Soulless One, bound to service, may
your bondage end this day,” Justin said, his voice shaking. “Cast off all chains. I free you!
I free you! I free you!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody was painfully aware of the news
helicopter above him, but he’d come up with some explanation later as to why
the devourer he was playing would take an interest in Lester’s corpse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He looked back down at Lester’s
body. He would see his friend again, he
supposed. He would see his friend
again. It would be as one of Justin’s
souls, but still. As Cody thought, he
remembered the time he’d talked to Lester about Valthakar. He told Cody that if he had the choice, it
would be better to kill him than let him be eaten, by Cody or Valthakar. That was months ago, but Cody didn’t think
Lester had changed his mind. “You were
stubborn about that sort of thing,” Cody whispered to Lester’s body. His arms, which had been holding Cody up from
the ground, finally gave out, and he collapsed on Lester and uttered a mindless
sob, whispering his friend’s name repeatedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar frowned as he finally
found a phone. He rushed over to it,
picked it up and dialed Larngulal’s number.
He stood, waiting for her to answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As he stood, he felt something
strange. It was mild at first, but
escalated. It rushed over him like a
cool breeze, making him feel lighter. A
weight lifted off of him, making him beam.
Had those two… had they really?
They had. They’d freed him. He could tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello? What is it?” Larngulal said. Valthakar smiled and hung up. He laughed.
He laughed hysterically. He fell
on the floor and started rocking back and forth. “Ha Ha ha ha HA ha ha Ha ha Ha Ha HA HA HA
HA.” Free at last! He couldn’t remember the last time he was
this happy. He was going to have so much
fun exploding Bavandersloth’s carefully laid plans. This just might be the best time he’d ever
had in all his twelve-thousand years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent Lambert received another
message. He pressed a button and listened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sir, Valthakar has been seen
leaving the facility. Whatever Odelarch
and Tkoralkiarch did, it seems to have worked.
He used one of the office phones to make one call, but he hung up
immediately afterward. He didn’t give
the recipient any information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent Lambert let out a massive sigh
of relief. “Acknowledged,” he said. He smiled and put his pill back in the
cabinet. He needed to get Cody’s friends
out of town, he realized, so he couldn’t rest just yet. However, he allowed himself a few minutes
with his eyes closed, his head back, and his mind relaxingly empty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody looked up from Lester’s corpse when
he heard Valthakar approaching. He
started to speak, but then Valthakar ran at him and punched him. “Away, cur!” he shouted, and punched Cody in
the stomach, sending him flying into a nearby car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What the heck?” Cody asked, but
then he realized what the answer probably was.
He was still disguised as a devourer.
Valthakar, made to look like an Angel, couldn’t be seen to contact him
except hostilely, or to allow him to slaughter civilians unmolested. Cody stood up, but Valthakar went at him
again, this time taking him out of the view of the news helicopter. Cody immediately took his human form. Valthakar did the same. They moved into a different alley before
Valthakar sat down. Cody looked at
him. “Do I have to worry about my
friends now that you’re free?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar smirked. “Cody, you never had to worry about
them. Is that not what I told you? A lot of grief, including what you feel right
now if that body was who I thought it was, would be saved if you didn’t worry
about them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody shed a tear. “Shut up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ooh, so it was who I thought it
was.” Valthakar leaned back. “Typical do-gooder. You killed all of those people, who had best
friends, wives, children, parents, and cry as you might, you followed
through. As soon as it’s someone you know
however--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s eyebrows curled and his face
reddened. “I told you to shut up!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar looked at Cody. “You did, didn’t you?” He reached under a dumpster and pulled out a
rat. The thing squirmed and bit him as
he gripped it in his arms too tightly for it to escape and stroked it gently,
as one might a lap dog. “Well, I suppose
it’s unfortunate for you that I don’t take orders from you, or anyone. I thought you’d be happy about that. You just murdered one of the friends you used
to go to such lengths to try to protect from me to arrange that circumstance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody seethed. “When this is over, I’m going to kill you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar grinned. “Ah, there’s the Odelarch I like to see. I do hope I’ve not hurt your feelings too
badly, I really do want to work with you.
It’s just so hard not to say I told you so when, well, I <i>did</i> tell you so, over and over again,
for weeks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody seethed. “I’m going to kill you <i>painfully</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar chuckled. “Or else the reverse. Or else you’ll see my way of things.” He stroked the rat’s furry head as it
struggled. “Regardless, in the meantime,
I have every intention of cooperating with you, and I see no need to alienate
you, so your friends are safe. Well,
safe from me. Nothing is ever actually
safe.” Valthakar set the rat down and
stomped on its tail, causing to run away from his foot, and into traffic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody sighed. “Alright then.” He tried to push Lester out of his mind and
do some planning with his new ally, but before he could, Valthakar resumed
talking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I don’t suppose I’m in any position
to mock you for being a do-gooder. The
paradise I bought my way into has a purgatory preceding it, so I don’t expect
to think any differently from you during my time there.” He lay back, resting his head on his hands. “Still, even that won’t last forever. Perhaps if Gborin’gargoth is usurped, it will
be by someone who will let me see the truth of things again as I do now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody clenched his fist. “Well, before that can happen, we need to stop
the community. As I reason it now, that
involves two crucial things. First, we
have to kill Bavandersloth. Second, we
have to make it impossible for a new lich similar to Bavandersloth to be created.” Cody put his head down. “Is there a way to stop any new liches from
being created on Earth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Actually, there might be,” Gborin
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s eyes widened a bit. “Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. You could cast a spell on the Earth to make
it hostile to lich creation for a time.
If Valthakar were to do it, he could make it last perhaps a year, with
an hour-long ritual. It’d require some
normally impossibly rare magical substances, but I could send them to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What did he say?” Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re powerful enough to cast a
spell that could temporarily prevent lich creation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar lay back. “I see.
Speaking of seeing, I don’t see the little one. Where is he?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m not sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar sighed and then stood
up. “Well, we’d best find him and
regroup. With the mansion gone, it might
be best to base ourselves out of the Northwest District. There are some lovely houses there. As soon as we have one picked out, I’ll run
to the Rocky Mountains. I was the one
who put Bavandersloth’s phylactery there.
I don’t remember exactly where, but I think I’ll have the easiest time
finding it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sounds good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar stood up and took his true
form. Cody did the same, looking down,
and letting Lester enter his mind again.
He punched the dumpster as he walked by it, making a dent. Valthakar turned around and said something
sarcastic, but Cody didn’t listen this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-56549359226800003232015-05-31T19:58:00.001-07:002015-05-31T20:01:06.487-07:00Angel of Death 1.23 Fallout<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
was heading out to hunt when he heard Gborin’gargoth’s voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody!”
it said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”
Cody whispered as he jumped down from his roof onto the alley between his house
and the next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Kandrinarkora
just contacted Bavadersloth.” Cody’s
eyes widened. “He told him
everything. I had to destroy the entire
mansion, and Bavandersloth’s form, in order to keep him from alerting
Valthakar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood for a moment. “Are the books still
there?” Copies of <i>On Soulless Ones</i> and <i>On the
Underworld</i> were indestructible.
Being near the center of an explosion shouldn’t have harmed them at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They
should be somewhere nearby,” Gborin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
retook his human form and got out his cell phone, the bugged one. He called one of Justin’s disposable phones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was a minute before Justin picked up.
“Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
situation has come up. You should meet
me back at Bavandersloth’s mansion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
right outside the hospital right now.
What is it that we can’t talk about over the phone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought for a moment. “Actually, I guess
we can. Gbroin’gargoth just contacted
me. He said….”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
trembled when Cody told him what had happened.
He didn’t talk for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Justin?”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
swallowed and took a deep breath. “I’m
here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay. Well, I’m headed over there right now to grab
Bavandersloth’s books, both <i>On Soulless
Ones</i> and <i>On the Underworld</i>. After that, I suppose our priority is to
explain the lack of Bavandersloth to the community of liches in a way that does
not lead them to realize what we’re doing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. “Right. Any ideas there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
yet. Our best bet would be to steer
suspicion toward Valthakar. Between the
blinded souls and this, it will be easy for the community to figure out that a
lich is working against them, and he’s the only one around here that’s not
either of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
he’s under that spell. He can’t--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’d
have to convince them that someone broke it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Who?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Just
from thinking right now, I’m going with Ntullnarlth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What? Why him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “First,
he was here. Second, it would have been
possible for him to turn invisible and obtain Valthakar’s phylactery. I think he had enough souls to break the
binding spell and cast a new one to make Valthakar obey him. Third, he’s gone, so he won’t be able to deny
it and the spell would have died with him.
That would have freed Valthakar to pretend to be obedient while working
against Bavandersloth. Fourth,
Valthakar’s deal with Allen assured him eternal paradise upon his death, but
Kandrinarkora would abolish the afterlife if he retook control of the
underworld, so Valthakar would have incentive to work with Gborin’gargoth and
against Bavandersloth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
how long has it been since you heard about this explosion?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
could have sworn he heard Cody smirk over the phone. “Less than five minutes. I learned from Bavandersloth himself. Now, there’s a DIAPP agent listening to
everything both of us are saying right now, and I expect them to be willing to
help us out with this. It’d be to our
advantage for the community to send someone to investigate. We could find a way to trick them into
believing the version of events we need them to. From there, it’d be a matter of finding
Bavandersloth’s phylactery somewhere in the Rocky Mountains and destroying it
in time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay. So, what’s our plan when it comes to tricking
someone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
that far yet. In the meantime, it should
take long enough before Valthakar gets back to the mansion for me to swipe both
of the books. He usually hunts until the
early morning. I’ll give the <i>On Soulless Ones</i> book to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward
picked up the phone and called Cody. He
had to wait a moment to get an answer.
“Hello,” Cody said when he finally picked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,”
Deerward said. He took a deep
breath. “We were listening. I’ve spoken with the Grey Man, that’s the
leader of DIAPP, and he agreed that it’s in our best interest to help you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “As
I expected. Now, I’m not much closer to
figuring out how to make anyone think Valthakar did what we need them to think
he did than I was when I spoke to Justin.
I’ve come up with ‘plant some evidence,’ but I’ve not thought of what
would prove that Valthakar caused that explosion. Do you have any ideas?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “Let’s think for a moment. If Ntullnarlth had taken control of
Valthakar, what would he have him do?
It’d have to be something subtle that it would make sense for no one to
have noticed until now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward
thought. “Ntullnarlth wanted to expand
his cult. What good could Valthakar have
done for him there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not sure. Valthakar doesn’t have any
mind control powers. As a slave, he’s most
useful for his raw fighting power, but Ntullnarlth’s cult didn’t have any
enemies besides Valthakar and me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
raised an eyebrow. “Did you ever
actually do anything against it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
few things, mostly small. I could,
however, arrange for our records to show instead that we had attempted
something and it had been foiled by Valthakar.
An investigating lich could then be arranged to find such records.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
why wouldn’t you have told me, and me told Bavandersloth, and Bavandersloth
told the other councilors?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
were Bavandersloth’s henchman at the time.
Why would we tell you everything we did?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
a pause, Cody said “You’re right. That
makes it work. How soon can you arrange
for everything to be prepared for that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Only
as long as it’d take me to forge the documents; though something else just
occurred to me. Would there have been
souls watching Valthakar?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Maybe. Hold on.
I’ll check.” Cody took a minute
to get out the book. “During the
Ntullnarlth affair, Ntullnarlth, Kgobauru, Bavandersloth, and … and Nglavingithu
all had souls after Valthakar at some point.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward
tilted his head. “That’s all?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Too
many souls would have obstructed his vision, which Bavandersloth would have
objected to, and he might have used that as a pretext to keep too many liches
from spying on him even before it became a legitimate problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ah. So Ntullnarlth is dead and Bavandersloth is
gone. We need to kill Kgobauru and
Nglavingithu and make it look like Valthakar did, and then we need to kill him
too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Right. So, how do we do that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
first step would be gathering all three of them at the same place, then
Tkoralkiarch could kill them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
last time Kgobauru was here, it was for my contest with Ntullnarlth. If I could get Nglavingithu here, and get
into a contest with him, Kgobauru would probably come down to mediate it and
Valthakar would spectate on Bavandersloth’s behalf.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
would you arrange for Nglavingithu to get here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’d
call him, tell him about the explosion, and ask for his help figuring it out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
how would you get into a contest with him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’d
make it look like he ate one of my humans.
Everyone in roughly the downtown area belongs to me. If someone else preys on them, I can object.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
how would you make it look like Nglavingithu did that? You’d have to be able to prove it wasn’t you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause, and then the line went dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody?”
Deerward said. He thought. His eyes widened a bit. Every one of Cody’s kills had several
terminal illnesses, but Nglavingithu’s wouldn’t. If Cody killed a person in his own territory,
but didn’t use them to heal anyone, no one would believe that he’d done it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward
turned the phone around to dial the number to call Cody back, but then he
stopped. He thought for a moment,
clenched his teeth, looked down at his feet and put the phone down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
he had finished his nightly rounds, eating one soul and stopping a few dozen
criminals, Valthakar approached the mansion.
His eyes widened when he didn’t see it on the horizon. He ran toward it. It was nothing but a pile of ash. He saw no sign of his master, Cody’s dog, or
his master’s boy. The boy had gone out
hunting before he had, but was usually back before he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
took his human form and took his cell phone out of his pocket. He dialed Bavandersloth’s number first. The call went straight to voice mail. A few more of Bavandersloth’s phones did the
same thing, until Valthakar had exhausted all of the ones he could remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
groaned. Had Bavandersloth been
destroyed in this explosion? It had been
one thing to substitute for Bavandersloth when he had planned for it the first
time, it would be much harder to do it now, all while trying to figure out how
this had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
thought. On the very rare occasion he
actually used the most powerful magical blast he was capable of, he would have
been able to replicate this feat, but just barely, meaning that whoever was
responsible for this was at least as powerful as him. The scorched earth and ashes where the
mansion had been were sufficient to show that it had not been made to decay
away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
were two beings on earth who could have done this: Kandrinarkora and
Kgobauru. Kandrinarkora seemed absurdly
unlikely, so Kgobauru must have been responsible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
dialed another number on his phone, calling Tkoralkiarch. It took two tries before he got an answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
was in the middle of a kill. What do you
need?” Tkoralkiarch asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There’s
been an incident. I got back to the
mansion and it was destroyed. I wasn’t
able to get a hold of Bavandersloth. I
think Kgobauru is behind it. He’s the
only other lich on earth who would be able to do this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tkoralkiarch
didn’t say anything for several seconds.
“Tkoralkiarch?” Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy finally answered. “I uh… ” Valthakar
thought he heard a sob, “alright. I… I’m
catching another scent. I guess you
should keep working on it. I… I’d rather
just stay out hunting?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
took Valthakar a moment to respond too.
He sensed something off. “Okay”
Valthakar said. He hung up. He put the younger boy out of his mind and
focused on the older boy. He dialed his
number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Odelarch
didn’t answer. Of course not. He would have been at mass with his parents
at this time on a Sunday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked around. If Kgobauru had done
this, he must have been in town to do it, which meant that he’d have taken his
plane, which meant that there might be a record of its landing at the airport. Valthakar turned invisible and ran off to
check for that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
walked upstairs from his room as soon as he got home from mass. He got out his cell phone and held it up to
his face, not dialing a number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello? Hello?
Mr. Lambert? There’s something I
need to--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
phone rang and Cody answered it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is it?” Lambert asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. “I want to talk
about getting my parents and friends into hiding, in case my plan with
Nglavingithu doesn’t work out, or in case something happens later to expose
me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There
are procedures for that,” Lambert said after a moment. “You’re right. We should have done it sooner. Of course, it will involve telling your
parents about what you’ve done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “I know. Once you’ve gotten them to safety--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
going to have to tell them yourself.
We’re not going to waste our effort abducting them when you could tell
them to come with us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. “But--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody,
what do you expect them to do if they hear it from us? They might not believe it. In any case, the first thing they’ll want is
to contact you. It would be much easier
for them to hear it from you first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
head sank farther. “Alright,” he
said. “Can we arrange for it to be done
this evening?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. You’d better tell them as soon as
possible. Give them more time to deal
with it before being taken away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Alright. Be here at 7:00. I’ll tell them in a few hours.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay.” Agent Lambert hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath and waited a few minutes before opening up his book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What
is Nglavingithu’s phone number, including area code?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “312-555-0119”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
picked up his cell phone and then put it down.
DIAPP would no doubt prefer that he let them listen in to this
conversation, but Nglavingithu no doubt knew that the phone was bugged. Using it would look suspicious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
opened up one of his disposable cell phones and dialed the number. In the future world Gborin’gargoth had shown
him, this was the lich who had been responsible for his losing the battle he
now fought. As the phone buzzed, Cody
felt his lip curl into a slight sneer before he took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
phone was answered after two rings. “Hello?”
Nglavingithu said. His voice was dry,
dull, almost bored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
Nglavingithu?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. Who am I speaking to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
is Cod—Odelarch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
have you called?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. “Bavandersloth’s
form and mansion have been destroyed. We
have no idea how. I went there to get
something from him and found it reduced to scorched earth and ash, and he
didn’t respond to my calls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Did
you recover his books?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
didn’t see them. They’re probably
somewhere around there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
is possible that the perpetrator of this already stole them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah,
I suppose that could be. Now, I’d like
you to come down here if you could and help me investigate. The only lich who I know of that is down here
and could have destroyed the mansion like that would be Valthakar, and he’s
been bound to Bavandersloth for months.
Kgobauru is also powerful enough, but as far as I know, he isn’t here. You know the community better than I do, and
are probably better at doing investigations like this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. “I shall come,”
Nglavingithu said, after a moment. “I
shall arrange for a flight as soon as possible.
I will start by asking Kgobauru to fly me there. If he approaches from the South, where he is
supposed to be, it will be clear that he is not responsible. If he approaches from the West, where you are,
his responsibility will be all but confirmed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled and nodded. “Yes. That sounds perfect. We should meet soon after you get here. Where?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “My
first stop will be the mansion. Meet me
there at eleven, your time. I wish to
see its ruins for myself. Do not alert
Valthakar to my arrival. As impossible
as it seems, if Kgobauru is would be best for him not to be warned of our
arrival.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Alright.” He hung up.
This was perfect. This was
absolutely perfect. He wouldn’t even
need to arrange a contest. He’d be able
to just meet the two of them on the tarmac and kill them as they arrived, then
run straight to Valthakar and kill him too.
He could then tell the last councilor, Lorn-something, that he’d come
across Agent Lambert’s false records of Valthakar working for Ntullnarlth, and
that he’d seen Valthakar kill the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Wait,
no, there was one problem with that.
He’d need to explain how Valthakar had gotten both of their
phylacteries. He picked up the quill pen
and wrote to the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Do Nglavingithu and Kgobauru carry
their Phylacteries with them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Kgobauru usually keeps his wherever his current base of
operations is at any given time.
Nglavingithu’s is hidden in Antarctica.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
worked out well for his original plan then.
He’d say Valthakar got Kgobauru’s phylactery from him and that Justin
had gotten Nglavingithu’s from its hiding place for the contest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. Was there any way to get around
the contest entirely? He could find a
way to make it look like Valthakar had tricked Justin into retrieving it, but
that could have negative consequences for Justin. He may even be executed for it. Cody needed Justin. He’d be at a considerable disadvantage
against the community of liches without Justin’s powers. He put his head down. He had to frame Nglavingithu for the murder
of one of his mortals. There was no way
around it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
waited at the airport for Kgobauru. It
would have been better if he had his own private jet. He needed to look into that. He shouldn’t be relying on Kgobauru for
transportation. Then again, it did help
him in this case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
looked up at the sky. He saw Kgobauru’s
jet. It was turning to align itself with
the runway. He only would have had to do
that if he’d come from the South. If he
came from the south, that indicated that he was in St. Louis, where he
purported to be. More importantly, he
had flown here in a little over an hour.
He couldn’t have gotten here from Goldfalls that quickly, unless he was
already on his way back, but Nglavingithu had called him on his cell phone,
which he wouldn’t have been willing to use while he was on his plane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
was one of two suspects all but ruled out, then. The problem was that the other suspect had
already been all but ruled out. How
likely was it that the binding spell on Valthakar had been broken?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> But
perhaps it hadn’t been. Maybe this was
part of a plan by Bavandersloth, who had ordered Valthakar to destroy the
mansion. Why would he blow himself
up? Perhaps he wanted to frame Kgobauru
to get him out of the way. With
Ntullnarlth gone, Kgobauru was his greatest opponent on the Council. No, that didn’t make any sense. Surely if he intended to frame Kgobauru, he
would have done a better job at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then
again, flight records aside, Nglavingithu would be the only one who knew for
sure that Kgobauru hadn’t been in Goldfalls at the time, other than his
friends, and the book, but the book was fickle.
God knew if it would answer a question like that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was unlikely, put perhaps Bavandersloth had some kind of hidden design. In either case, the plane was landing, and
Nglavingithu needed to get on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
landed at the airport after a four hour flight.
As he’d imagined, his copy of <i>On
Soulless Ones</i> had been uncooperative.
You could ask it any question, but it didn’t always feel like
answering. It had never refused an
inquisitor one of its little poems, or a lich’s soul count, but when asked about
finer details, the thing gave or denied answers according to its own whims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
looked back down at the book in front of him.
Its poem was the most he’d been able to gleam about Odelarch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Odelarch,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “A Lich
of Benevolence. A utilitarian lich. Cunning, he stalks the night and day seeking
to bring about his kind and horrific designs.
For the right purpose, there is nothing he would not do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was as uselessly cryptic as every one of those poems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru’s
voice rang out over the intercom, telling him to exit the plane. He did, walking down the stairs and onto the
tarmac. As he walked, he smelled
something, like gasoline. It stank. He turned his head as Kgobauru followed him
out. The plane was leaking something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru’s
eyes widened for a moment, but then he just grumbled. Nglavingithu looked up at him. “How bad is that?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru’s
teeth were gritted. “Bad enough that
I’ll not be flying home for a few days.”
Nglavingithu kept looking at him for a moment, but then turned away and
walked on, into the airport. He went
into the bathroom, found a stall, took his true form and turned invisible, then
exited. He knew where Bavandersloth’s
mansion was, so he ran straight toward it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
approached the mansion’s ruins once again at 11:00, finding Nglavingithu
already there. Sparky was by his
side. Nglavingithu turned to notice Cody
as he walked up to him. The older lich
looked around in the trees near Bavandersloth’s mansion. Cody took a deep breath. This lich…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,”
Nglavingithu said, climbing down from the tree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Have
you found anything?” Cody asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
shook his head. “No. Bavandersloth’s copy of <i>On the Underworld</i> is nowhere to be seen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood there for a moment. He clenched
his toes as he looked up at the lich. “I’ve
been thinking on how Valthakar could have been released from his bounds. I think I’ve come up with a possible sequence
of events.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
tilted his head. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright,
so the only liches who’ve been in town with the ability to release Valthakar
from the spell and rebind him would be Ntullnarlth and Kgobauru.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Wait,
you raise a very important point. I’ve
been thinking of this in terms of whether Kgobauru or Valthakar did this, but
it could be that both of them did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood for a moment. That was actually
better than what he’d come up with. He
thought. Were there any holes in that
scenario? No. He couldn’t think of any. He could easily invent a time Kgobauru and
Valthakar had been alone, and that Nglavingithu was considering it seemed to
indicate that his monitoring hadn’t been sufficient to rule that out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
problem with that might be that DIAPP probably hadn’t been surveying Kgobauru
like it had been Ntullnarlth, so Cody might not be able to use his falsified
records plan. Still, he might not need
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up. “So you think Valthakar might
be bound to Kgobauru?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
nodded. “Yes. You mentioned your own sequence of events,
though? Was that not a part of it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Crap. It might not be best for him to give out his
original scenario. If he presented it,
and then he found proof for it, would Nglavingithu suspect something? He thought.
He might say as little as possible, or feign at simply having been wrong. “I thought it might be more likely that
Ntullnarlth had released and rebound Valthakar, and that Valthakar was freed
when Ntullnarlth died.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Possible,
but unlikely,” Nglavingithu said. “Given
Valthakar’s nature, he’d run off as soon as he was freed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
wouldn’t be very smart of him,” Cody said. “Bavandersloth could just track him down and
use Justin to get him back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “True. Has he had any good opportunities to kill
Justin since Ntullnarlth died?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. “I can’t think of a specific
one, but I’d imagine he would.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see.” Nglavingithu looked up at the sky,
seeming to think. “My souls were keeping
track of Valthakar during all of his interactions with Ntullnarlth. Besides, unless Valthakar is planning
something big, he’s not patient enough to feign service to Bavandersloth for
that long. Kgobauru… I know he was in
St. Louis before he flew here, but it’s possible he had Valthakar wait until
now. Why, though?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. “Perhaps he was waiting until
he could create a new lich, and now he has?
One with Bavandersloth’s powers?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Might
be… I’ll check the book. In any case,
Kgobauru being responsible is by far the most likely scenario. That deduction should be sufficient grounds
on which to hold a contest with him… except that he’d beat me at anything he’d
agree to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He could have a contest
with Kgobauru instead… but then how would he explain why Justin had gotten
Nglavingithu’s phylactery? He needed him
killed, too. “Is there a way we could
team up? Bavandersloth was my mentor and
my friend, so I’d have a grievance. I’ve
taken down powerful opponents before.
The two of us together could get rid of Kgobauru.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’s
powerful enough that he might agree to a two against one contest. However, your victories against Kaburlduth
and Ntullnarlth were only possible because they underestimated you, and in both
cases, you came within a hair’s width of losing. You must understand, Kgobauru is one of the
most powerful liches on earth. The
others are nothing compared to him. The
only reason he’s a suspect in this is because of his immense power. He obtains every ability in a miniscule
fraction of the time it takes anyone else to get it. Things neither of us will live to be able do
with rituals lasting years, he can do with a thought. He has so many powers, he needs another power
just to index them in his mind and keep them all straight in his mind. He will not be easy to defeat, especially
given that he won’t allow you to use your dog.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky’s
ears perked when he was mentioned. Cody
took his true form and started petting him with his right hand, his dead flesh
cooking from the dog’s heat. “So, you’re
saying we can’t beat him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
not likely… but then again, Kgobauru has other enemies, and Bavandersloth other
allies. What about Tkoralkiarch? Larngulal?
Actually, that’s most likely our answer.
Yes. Larngulal. She’s the only other councilor alive, and
she’s historically sided with Bavandersloth in most disputes. She has every reason to want Kgobauru
gone. She could force him to agree to a
competition he can’t win, so long as it maintains the trappings of fairness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “That would work. We’d kill Kgobauru.” And then Justin would kill Nglavingithu and
Valthakar in one blow. All of their
problems would be solved. Nglavingithu’s
death would also be the first absolute proof that he had changed the future
he’d seen, as the other lich had been alive in his hallucination. Cody clenched his fist a bit. “Is Kgobauru still in town?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
nodded. “Yes. We shall challenge him now, and plan the
contest for tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
got out his phone and called Kgobauru.
“Greetings.” he said, “this is Nglavingithu.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello. What is it you need?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
done some investigation of the events around here, and spoken with Odelarch,
who’s here with me right now. I’ve come
to the conclusion that you are responsible for the explosion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
said that--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
yes, I know what you said. That’s
absurd. How did I cause the explosion
from so far away? Powerful as I am, I
can’t just do whatever I like.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Valthakar
cast the spell to cause that explosion, but you ordered him to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
how would I do that? He cannot defy his
master, who, I’ll remind you, is Bavandersloth, not me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “At
one point, but perhaps no longer. What
if you are his master? You’d have an
easy enough time breaking the spell on him, and casting your own.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
was silent. Nglavingithu continued. “You held his phylactery in your own hand
while you were here during the Ntullnarlth incident. You could easily have broken the spell and
recast your own while you did, without anyone knowing. Hence, Odelarch and I are challenging you to
a contest. My reasoning is more than
concrete enough to compel you to acc--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Wait,
what do you mean you and Odelarch?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
have wronged both of us, hence you will face both of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
nonsense!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
it? There’s only one other councilor to
make that ruling, and I get the feeling she’ll side against you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “She
won’t. Why would she set that
precedent? Another group of liches could
use it against her later on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Unless
she keeps from violating the conventions or the rights of another lich. Honestly, you are coming off like a
coward. I’d think the two of us in
tandem are necessary to make this contest fair, given your magical power.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
seethed. “Fine! You’ve challenged me. I’ll get to work on a two on one
contest. I promise you, when this is
over, you’ll be begging me to cast a binding spell on you, and I’ll decide then
if I think I should.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
hung up. He turned to Odelarch. “It’s done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Odelarch
nodded. “Good.” The boy’s smile was wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
put the phone in his pocket as he lay back on the couch in his hotel room,
gritting his teeth. He took a deep
breath. This wasn’t going to kill him. This was more of an annoyance than anything
else. Both of Bavandersloth’s pets were
clever, the boy especially, but they were also both weak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Still,
it was failing to take the boy seriously that killed Ntullnarlth. It would be a mistake to do anything but put
his full effort into this contest. That
began with its construction. Odelarch’s
strength was in his mind, Nglavingithu’s too.
Kgobauru was a match for either of them on that front, but it would be
safer to force their challenge to take place in a domain in which Kgobauru was
superior. He had better, stronger spells
than anyone else. He couldn’t challenge
them to a straight magic competition, as Larngulal would likely rule that
arrangement unfair. However, he would
not need to do that. His best course of
action was a straightforward fight to the death. There was a sports arena in the Goldfalls
Northwest district, Kgobauru was pretty sure.
He couldn’t recall what sport it had been for, but he didn’t imagine
that it would matter. He’d look it up
later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
smiled. Plus, he could and should demand
an ally. Two on one wasn’t fair. He could use this as a pretense to get
Rngwelokt to help him. His shields would
be beneficial in this contest. Then
again, perhaps a monster from the underworld would be more advantageous. Yes, that would do. He’d summon something large and powerful
which would demand the other two’s full attention, and while they were focusing
on it, he would activate his speed boost and use it to enhance himself, and
take them out before they could do anything about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> But
what creature ought he use? Kgobauru
thought. He should demand Valthakar’s
copy of <i>On the Underworld</i>. He’d look through that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Cody got a call from Agent Lambert.
He was outside. It was time for
Cody to get his parents to leave. The
two were downstairs. He hadn’t talked to
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can’t
you tell them? If you think they need to
hear it from me to believe you, I could tell them it’s true over the phone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
might work, but if you tell them in person, you’ll have the option of showing
them your real body. They’ll be
guaranteed to believe you then, at least as much as they could be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
shed a tear. “I suppose. They’ll be out in a few minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay.” Agent Lambert hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sat in his bed for just a moment, curled up with his hands clasped around his
knees. He closed his eyes and took a
deep breath, than another, than another.
He unclasped his hands and put them to his side. He lay back in bed for a moment, then stood
up. He forced himself downstairs, where
his parents were chatting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
soon as Cody’s mother saw him, she tilted her head a bit, and got a look in her
eye, a worried, innocent look that stabbed Cody in the heart. “What’s wrong, Cody?” his mother asked,
concerned and confused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
clenched his fist. He took another deep
breath, which made his mother shift to an even worse expression than she had
worn before. “Mom,” he forced out, “and
dad…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is it?” his dad asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There’s
a car outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother stared for a moment. “What?” his
father asked. “What do you mean? Whose car is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
Mr. Lambert’s, but it’s from his work.
It’s not his green van.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody,
what’s wrong?” Cody’s mother asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sobbed. “Mom, dad, you need to get in
the car.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why?”
his mother looked at him. Her eyes
scorched his soul with hellfire and made him fall to his knees, crying. His mother stood up and walked over to him,
his father following behind. Before they
could get too close, Cody took his true form, right there on the stairs. He didn’t put up a cloud. He didn’t deserve one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Both
of Cody’s parents stopped, and took a half step backward. Cody took his human form again. He looked up at them, eyes drenched with
tears. “I think you know,” he put his
head down, closed his eyes, and cried. “Please don’t make me tell you,” he said as
the first of many tears hit the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother looked down. She took a few steps
toward him. She put her hand on his
shoulder. She stroked it, and then
hugged him. His crying waned a bit and
he opened his eyes, and looked up at his father, who was looking down at him. Cody closed his eyes again, and cried on his
mother’s shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
a few minutes of this, Cody pulled his hands back to his side, ending his
mother’s hug. She leaned away and looked
him in the eye. He looked away. “You need to go,” he said. “Angels… we’re not what we seem. Not most of us, anyway. Light-rook, the one on television… he’s…” it
just then occurred to Cody that he wasn’t sure how much the two of them had
seen of Light-rook’s interviews. If
they’d seen the wrong ones, there would be limits about what he could tell
them. “You’re in danger. Cherie’s father… he’s… he’s… it might sound
weird, but he can protect you. Once you
get in that car, you’ll understand why.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother put her hand on Cody’s cheek. She
tried to look him in the eyes, but he wouldn’t return her gaze. “Alright, Cody,” she said after a moment. “Go upstairs for your things. We’ll go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
shook his head. His mother’s eyes
widened. “I have things I have to do
here. I can’t go with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “If
Cherie’s father has anything to do with this, I’m sure he can take care of
anything--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. He can’t.”
Cody’s head sunk. “I’m sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother hugged him again. “A few months
ago… The black death--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Was me. Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother squeezed him tighter. “You saved
me, Cody.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
closed his eyes, as tears welled in them.
He nodded. “And now I’m going to
save you again. You need to go. I’ll see you again as soon as I can. I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
love you too.” Cody’s mother gave him
one final squeeze, than leaned back, and stood up. Cody’s father still stared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
love you, too, dad,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
father shed a tear. “I love you,
too.” His father kneeled down and hugged
him for about half a minute. After that,
his father stood up. Cody watched as the
two left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
sat on the stairs, sobbing as he waited to hear, and then heard, the car drive
away. He sobbed and sobbed, before
punching the railing on the stairs and making a chunk of it rot away. He cried, and then threw a few more punches,
wailing. He kicked and ripped at the
posts which held the rail up. He tore
one out, and broke it over his knee, sobbing.
He shouted as he ripped the rail itself off of the remaining posts. He made it rot away as he fell to his knees
and cried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
a few more minutes, Cody stood up and walked upstairs to his room. He looked around. He got his lime green backpack and stuffed it
full of books from his shelf. He was
only able to fit maybe a third of them in there. He thought for a moment, before getting an
old backpack, the one he’d used until he got his current one five years ago,
and put several more books in it. He was
able to put the rest of the books, his cube, and most of his clothes in his
pillow case, which he then tied shut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
he was done with that, Cody turned off all the lights in his house, unplugged
everything, checked both sinks, locked the upstairs window he’d used to sneak
out, grabbed a house key from the kitchen, and left, locking the door behind
him. He got a strange look from a woman
who lived across the street from him.
His eyes met hers, welling with tears.
He turned away and walked down the street until he could find an
alleyway where no one was. There, he
took his true form, hid himself and his things with a cloud of darkness, and
ran to Bavandersloth’s mansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
apologize that I couldn’t come to you in person,” Larngulal said. “I have urgent business here in New
York. I can’t possibly fly down there
until it’s dealt with.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
acceptable,” Nglavingithu said, nodding next to Cody. Kgobauru, nodded as well, from his hotel
room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Now,”
Larngulal said, “let’s get down to business.
Nglavingithu’s case that you, Kgobauru, acted against him and Odelarch
with a single act validates their joint challenge against you. As the challenged party, you may dictate the
nature of the contest you have with them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
want a straight fight,” Kgobauru said. “There’s
an old football stadium in the Northwest District. It belonged to the Goldfalls Flying
Squirrels, before the district was evacuated.
Myself and a monster of my choosing, within reason of course, will do
battle with Nglavingithu and Odelarch, who will be unassisted. I assert that that me having a monster to aid
me is more than reasonable in the face of a two on one fight.” Larngulal nodded a bit as he spoke. “I will win if either Odelarch or
Nglavingithu’s form is destroyed while mine is intact, or if all three of our
forms are destroyed. They will win if my
form is destroyed while both of theirs remain intact.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
object,” Nglavingithu said. “His win
condition is too broad. He should have
to destroy both of us, not merely either of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
nodded. “I agree.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “In
that case, they must destroy my creature’s form as well as my own in order to
win.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
think all three of us would prefer that the creature be part of the contest
prize,” Cody said. “Destroying it would
make that impossible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
get to keep the creature no matter what if I win, so I don’t care about
that. Besides, if you win, Nglavingithu
could bind me and make me summon whatever creature he liked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
nodded. “Kgobauru is right. If it’s a two-on-two fight, both combatants
from either team should have to be destroyed for the other team to win.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
gritted his teeth, but then sighed.
“Fine”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
nodded. “Alright then. As I said, it will be impossible for me to be
physically present for the contest, so I see no reason for you not to hold it
right away. Odelarch, Nglavingithu, take
Tkoralkiarch and Bavandersloth’s copy of <i>On
the Underworld</i> to the stadium.
Kgobauru, meet them there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
nodded. “My pleasure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
monster you select shall be no more than one-thousand feet in length, width or
height, whichever is greatest. It shall
weigh no more than two-hundred-twenty-five tons. Its presence on the world shall not be a danger
to it, nor to any parties not involved in the contest, humans included. It shall not be a specter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Acceptable,”
Nglavingithu said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
Kgobauru said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Very
well. It is my understanding that
Valthakar asked to spectate on the contest.
He may. Now, go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Nglavingithu
nodded and ended the call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
turned off his computer. He sat back on
his couch for a moment before standing up.
The hardest thing he was going to do today was decide whether to kill
the two pests, or bind them to himself.
He tended toward the latter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
Cody, Valthakar, Justin, Sparky and Nglavingithu entered the football stadium,
Kgobauru was sitting in the stands. He
turned to face them. “Ah, there you
are,” he said. “You have the book?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. He handed it over. Valthakar had avoided this whole ordeal. Despite his knowing that Kgobauru was
innocent, he knew his master would benefit from his being killed. Besides, any attempt to clear Kgobauru’s name
could be explained away as a lie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good,
good.” Kgobauru opened up the book and
sat back down with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned to Justin. “Get everyone’s
phylacteries,” he said. Justin
nodded. He took his true form and used
his power to obtain them. First, he
retrieved Kgobauru’s, and set it on the stair beside him. He then got Nglavingithu’s and set it in the
same place. Next, he went for
Valthakar’s, and placed it on the step.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
turned around and raised an eyebrow.
“Wait, what do you need mine for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smirked. He won. He was about to free millions of souls and
make it most of the way to saving the world in one stroke. In another world, Nglavingithu turned him
evil, but in this one, Nglavingithu died.
Cody pointed at the phylacteries.
“Sparky, destroy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru’s
eyes widened. “Wait, wha--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
breathed out an avalanche of searing flame, scorching the phylacteries. Cody turned his head and locked eyes with
Nglavingithu, who fell to his knees as his phylactery was burnt. He didn’t say a word. He just stared. Kgobauru turned to face Cody. “So… that’s what this was abo…” he tried to
stand up, but fell and sagged over the next lower row of seats. Cody smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then
he heard a magical blast coming toward him.
His eyes widened and he dove backwards.
When he sat up to look at its source, he saw Valthakar running out of
the stadium. His eyes widened and he
gasped. He looked over at the pile of
phylacteries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other two were gone, but Valthakar’s was unharmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up at Justin, who was watching Valthakar leave, paralyzed with shock. Cody stood up and dashed down to Kgobauru’s
corpse. He grabbed <i>On the Underworld</i>. He opened
it up to its Q&A page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What,
that’s on Earth, wouldn’t a hellhound like Sparky be able to burn?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “A
hellhound cannot burn some magical materials.
The only one that has ever been common on earth, humans call
Orichalcum.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He dropped the book. He turned around to look at the bright red jewels
in the Necklace Valthakar had placed his soul into. Cody walked up to the Phylactery and grabbed
it. He took his true form and tried to
rip it, or break its chain, but he couldn’t.
He stood back, and hit it with his best magical blast. It was intact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up at Justin. “If Valthakar gets
back to the mansion and calls Larngulal, it’ll be over for us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “C’mon,”
Cody said. “We have to stop him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. The two ran out of the stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-27613594442657473602015-03-18T22:25:00.000-07:002015-03-18T22:25:15.039-07:00Angel of Death 1.22 Boom<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat in front of a green screen conducting an interview, live via satellite,
with a reporter for a large News Agency.
“Thank you very much for agreeing to appear on our program,” the
reporter said, his mouth curved into a smile, but his face otherwise forlorn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you for having me,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
very welcome.” The reporter looked down at
some notes. “After the train bombing
that occurred this morning, a video appeared online of a figure claiming
responsibility for the attack and threatening to attack again. Do you know who the figure in the video was?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He
was a devourer. That’s the most I can
say for certain. I’d have to have seen
his true form, the parts of it hidden under the veil of darkness he cast, to
know whose double he is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
reporter shifted in his seat. “The
figure in the video threatened to attack again in a week’s time. Do you think you’ll be able to stop him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
makes you so confident?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’s
only one devourer. He might have a few
more helping him, but I would have noticed a dimensional rift large enough to
bring very many of them here. The very
nature of devourers means that there’s at least one Angel exactly as powerful
as him, and there are a few thousand more angels on top of that to help fight
him. He knows that, and he’ll try to
accomplish his attacks while remaining undetectable, but he’s unlikely to
manage that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’d
rather not reveal that information. He
could use it against us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright.
In the video, he mentioned something
that’s been controversial in--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
activated his power. “Let me stop you
right there. His outrage is not
genuine. He knows perfectly well that,
sometimes, it’s necessary to slay the guilty to save the innocent. Situations come up sometimes where there’s no
way to keep from killing a perpetrator.
It’s as simple as that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
interviewer nodded. “Of course, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. The interview continued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
pulled up to his mansion and walked inside.
He lay back on his great room’s couch and pulled out one of his
phones. He called Odelarch. After a few rings, the lich answered. “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
Odelarch. You’ve noticed the recent
events in the news involving the bridge?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. “Steven saw it on the news
this morning. I assume it was you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. Now, I was just calling to tell you not to
kill or thwart any criminals with green bands around their arms.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What? Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
starting to work with the Selechii syndicate to ge--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
doing what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
am working with the Selechii syndicate.
They’ve agreed to mark their arms with green bands. Just don’t attack any criminals with green
bands. Standard threat applies: everyone
you love. Now, I remember that you
couldn’t handle that demand back when you dealt with Kaburlduth. Do you think you can handle it now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Odelarch
sighed. “Yes,” he eventually said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Are
you sure?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Excellent. Thank you for understanding. Don’t tell Justin, obviously. I’ll not put him under the same restriction.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
won’t?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Odelarch,
how would that look? I can’t have him
suspecting anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
grumbled. “Understood.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Splendid.” Bavandersloth hung up the phone and called
Zachary’s number. Zachary answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Greetings. So then, it’s done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’ve
told all of the Angels to stop targeting us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “With
one exception, yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Wait,
what? What do you mean with one exception?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed. “I apologize, but my plans make
it impossible for me to tell one of my--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Um,
yeah, that’s not going to work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
used his power. “It’ll be fine. You’ll only lose a man every few nights,
maybe once a week.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
sighed. “Yeah, sure,” he said, “but how
will it make us look?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “To
whom?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “To
the people we might want to recruit. To
the people we might want to retain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
kept his power switched on. “Well, you
don’t have to tell them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Maybe
not, but what will the boss think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’ll
be fine with it.” Bavandersloth thought
for a moment. He got an idea. “I’ll tell you what: Can you arrange a
meeting with him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. “Maybe. I’ll have to see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can
you get back to me about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah. I’ll check with him and call you later?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright
then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
awoke to the ringing of his phone. He
grabbed it from his bedside table and put it to his ear. “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
Lester, this is Mr. Lambert, Cherie’s father.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester’s
eyes widened. “What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
worry. Nothing bad has happened. I need you and your friends to come to the
facility here in town with me today.
I’ll let you take the day off of school.
You’ll see a black car when you get off the bus today. Get in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
raised an eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sat in a room at DIAPP’s Goldfalls Headquarters with Steven and Reidel on
either side of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mr.
Lambert walked into the room. “Thank you
for coming,” Mr. Lambert said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
are we here for?” Reidel asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “To
get protection.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Steven
tilted his head. “Protection? From what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
three of you, especially Lester, are officially considered accomplices to a
lich.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
the fuck?” Reidel asked. “I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
agreed to work with him,” Mr. Lambert said.
He sat down. “I don’t know how a
panel would rule your and Steven’s involvement, Reidel, but I don’t think it’s
a risk we want to take.” Mr. Lambert
looked at Lester. “And you, if you get
in front of a panel, you’re doomed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
three of you at least stand a chance of being convicted as accomplices, and
that would lead to punishment by covert execution.” Reidel started to interrupt, but Mr. Lambert
raised his finger and quieted him down.
“The only way to keep that from happening is to get you to agree to work
for us. You’d spy on Cody for us, follow
orders when they are given, it doesn’t have to be much. We just need it to be clear by the end that
you were on our side.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
kind of orders will we get?” Reidel asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’ll
probably be put on standing orders to smash Cody’s cube, if you get a chance to,”
Lambert said. “We might have you go
somewhere to spy with him. You won’t be
asked to do anything that you wouldn’t be able to. Now, just say the word and we’ll give you a
few days of training.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay,”
Lester said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert
looked at Steven. Steven took a deep
breath. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert
looked at Reidel. Reidel looked down,
and then back up. He sighed. “Fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Alberto flew through the water, everything went dark. He stopped.
“Huh?” he thought. He looked
around. He couldn’t see or hear
anything. None of the weird squids he’d
been watching, none of the weird corals he’d been around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Alberto
rose. He couldn’t see anything at
all. He couldn’t hear anything either,
or smell anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
could still sense the locations of his lich and his lich’s other souls. They were all moving around, gathering
together. Maybe the same thing was
happening to them. Alberto moved to
where the nearest gathering was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
he arrived, he saw the other souls around him.
He heard them speaking to each other.
One of them turned to look at him.
Alberto looked back. “So the same
thing happened to--” he began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other soul nodded. “To everyone here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Alberto
floated backward a bit. He sensed his
Master’s location, even from as many light-years away as he was. He decided to go to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Alberto
arrived to find his master lying back, though he could not see what on. He was already in conversation with the other
souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
you’re just letting this happen to us?” one of them said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
the boy said. “Until I stop
Bavandersloth this is going to be necessary.
Targeting the soul of every lich here is easier for Gborin than
targeting--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Easier?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
the only thing that’s easy enough. Look,
I asked him specifically not to do it this way, okay? I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
long will this last?” another soul asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
very long. No more than a few months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “<i>Months?</i>” another soul protested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Just
where do--” still another soul began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Look,
there’s no way I can turn this off, okay?
I’d like to. Coming here and
annoying me about it isn’t going to change anything. Now, the sooner I get back to reading from my
book and planning, the sooner I might be able to beat Bavandersloth and the
sooner this can stop.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
crowd of souls moved back a bit. Alberto
tried to shed a tear. Just one. He couldn’t.
He gritted his teeth. His master
looked down. “I’m sorry, but can I please
ask you all to go away?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Instantly,
Alberto found himself flying backwards, away from his master. Alberto’s brow curled. There was another soul next to him. He turned and looked at him. The soul looked back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Months?”
the other soul said. “What the hell are
we going to do for months?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Alberto
looked down. “I’m not sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two sensed a larger gathering of souls forming, and they moved toward it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
looked down at his feet as he watched TV.
He turned the television off. He
shed a tear. Why would Bavandersloth do
everything Cody said? Maybe for the same
reasons Ryan had done bad things. Maybe
he was right before he threw out his soul.
Maybe some people were just bad.
Why was he such a magnet for them?
He stood up and walked over to the phone. He called Cody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
a few rings, Cody answered. “Hey,”
Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey
there,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
been thinking about what you said last time we went hunting together,” Justin
said. “I’ve been thinking I’d like to
talk to you about it more. Do you want
to go hunting together tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
voice was warm. “I’d love to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
smiled. He hung up. He went back over to the couch. He opened up Bavandersloth’s book to the
Q&A section. He picked up the
quill. He gulped. It’d occurred to him a few days ago to ask
the book if it was all true, but he’d put it off. He was too afraid to know the answer. A bead of sweat dripped off of Justin and
onto the book as he put pen to paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Who killed my parents?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Bavandersloth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
head sunk. He dropped the quill, and it
appeared back in its usual place in the book.
Justin sobbed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
met Justin in the alley they’d agreed upon.
He stopped. He looked at his
phone. He was seven minutes early. He stood.
It was about ten minutes before Cody saw Justin walk into the alley,
Sparky standing next to him. Cody smiled
and approached Justin. “Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
head was down. “Hi,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t smell anything around here. Do you
want to walk and talk?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. Cody motioned for Sparky to
follow him as the two walked down the sidewalk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I…” he took a deep
breath. “I asked the book if it was
true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
put his hand on Justin’s shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I… I just… Every time. It always ends up like this.” Justin looked over at Cody. “I used to look up to my older brother so
much. He was so awesome. He was real nice. He was good at everything. Then he did what he did and I learned that he
was a bad guy. So much of what he’d done
had just been a cover for the money he’d been stealing. I looked up to you in the same way. I already told you in the amusement
park. Then everything with Valthakar
happened. By the time I knew you were
better, it was Bavandersloth and--” Justin sobbed. “I… I remember when I first started this,
when I was hunting, I thought I was helping them get better, the souls I mean,
you know? I thought I was helping them turn
good again. I thought fighting, even
being forced to fight on the right side for a while… I thought maybe they’d
start to really turn good, you know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody hugged him. Justin cried on his shoulder. Sparky nuzzled Justin’s thigh. “I… I still don’t want to kill
Bavandersloth. Do you think he can
change?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t know,” Cody
said. “But it’s not worth the risk. You have to kill him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin hugged Cody
tighter. After a few seconds the hug
broke up. He looked down. “When?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“As soon as
possible. If you wait any longer than
May the twenty-sixth, it’ll be too late, and he’ll keep hurting people from now
until then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin sobbed. “O… Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody put his hand on
Justin’s shoulder. “It’s okay. You’ll always have me. By the way, you’ll need to get Valthakar
along with him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin didn’t say
anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody thought. As sad as Justin was, his plans were going
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was another few minutes before Cody and Justin caught the scent of fear. The two traced it back to its source.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
they approached the house from which the scent came, they heard screaming
inside. Leaving Sparky outside, they barged
in and ran into another room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
were two men inside, one holding a gun to the other. They both turned their heads. The scent of fear Cody had smelled before
softened, but it was replaced by a more intense one from the armed man. Cody tackled him to the ground and pinned him. As he held him down, the man started to
beg. “No, please, the boss said
you’d…” Cody only now noticed a green
band around the man’s arm. This man was
with the Selechii Syndicate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned around and looked up at Justin.
“Does Bav know you’re with me tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned back around. The man was in
tears. He closed his eyes and put his
hand on the man. He had more than a
hundred illnesses to transfer. He
couldn’t possibly give them all to this one person and have him live long
enough to even take his soul. Cody
thought. He had five cases of
diabetes. He transferred those in order
of severity. He had a girl with chronic
nosebleeds too, and a few allergies. He
moved those over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Please, get off of--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Don’t bother,” Cody
said. He added a few infections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man cried. “But I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody took a deep,
silent breath. He moved the broken bones
next. The man screamed as his ribs and
legs shattered. “Please, please,” the
man cried. Cody clinched his fist and
moved over the cancers as fast as he could, then a few organ failures, and
finally a heart attack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As quickly as he could,
Cody scooped out the man’s soul. He was
able to get it before the man’s body died from the heart attack. When he put it in his mouth, the soul wasn’t
as meaty as he’d expected it to be. Cody
sighed and made the body rot away. He
stood up. Justin was waiting by him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Alright,” Cody
said. The two moved on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Bavandersloth sat with his feet up, sipping a glass of wine, he heard his phone
ring. He picked it up. “Hello?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “One
of your Angels killed one of our men last night,” Zachary shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
this concerns me how? I made no
agreement that that wouldn’t happen, only that most of my agents would refrain
from--.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
boss is furious, Light-rook. He’s
demanding--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let
me talk to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let
me speak to him.” Bavandersloth
activated his power. “You should give me
a number by which to contact him. If
he’s so angry at me he can talk to me himself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
sighed. “555-0133,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Alright then. You should go back to what you were
doing. I’ll call him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright,”
Zachary said and hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
put the phone back on the receiver and then dialed the new number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
waited for the other man to pick up.
After a few rings, he did. “What
is it?” the man asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
this is Light-rook.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man gasped. “How… How did you get this--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth turned his
power on. “You should continue to
participate in my deal regardless of any casualties my men inflict on yours.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man sighed. “Fine,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth
smiled. “Splendid.” He hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
approached the mansion, having finished hunting with Cody. He ordered Sparky to go into the backyard. He took a deep breath and buried his hands in
his face. He held it there for a few
minutes and cried. He forced himself to
look up and enter the mansion. He took
his human form, fished around his pockets for the key, and put it into the
lock. He entered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
walked past Bavandersloth, who was reading by the fire in his human form. “Hello, Tkoralkiarch,” Bavandersloth said,
warmly, but without looking up. Justin
didn’t say anything. He walked past,
toward the stairs. When he reached them,
he took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
turned around and faced Bavandersloth. “I
can kill you when I’m ready to,” he thought.
“There’s no reason I have to watch.
I’ll take your phylactery upstairs.
No, that wouldn’t be a good idea.
I need to get rid of Valthakar first.”
Justin’s eyes widened. Could he
bind them both, like Bavandersloth had done to Valthakar? Maybe he should. He put his head down. Could he change them if he did? That would be the point of doing it. He looked back up. He couldn’t do anything without
Bavandersloth’s phylactery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
willed the phylactery to appear in his hand.
It didn’t. Justin gasped. Bavandersloth turned around and looked at
him. “Is something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
eyes widened. He shook his head. “No.
No. Not at all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
look sad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No,
I just…” Justin sighed. “I don’t want to
talk about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Are
you sure?” Justin looked down. He tried to use his power again. It didn’t work. Bavandersloth tilted his head. “You really do look like something’s
wrong. You can tell me anything,
Justin. I only ask because I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin clinched his
fist. He tried again. He couldn’t summon the phylactery. Bavandersloth sighed. “Suit yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
tried a few more times. No feather
appeared in his hand. Why? Justin’s eyes widened a little. What was going on? Justin stood up. “Bavanderslo…” Bavandersloth turned around. Justin took a deep breath. He held back tears. “Can I barrow the book?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
on the coffee table.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. Bavandersloth turned back
around. Justin gulped. He forced himself to walk to the table and
pick up the book. As he did,
Bavandersloth spoke. “You really can
talk to me about anything, Justin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
met eyes with Bavandersloth. He took the
book under his arm and walked upstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
he got to his room, he lay on his bed.
He opened the book to the Q&A section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Why can’t I
retrieve Bavandersloth’s Phylactery?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You are being blocked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Who
is powerful enough to block me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Gborin’gargoth,
Kandrinarkora, Kgobauru, and several liches out in space.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
thought. It had to be Kandrinarkora
then. Gborin’gargoth wouldn’t block him
and Kgobauru wouldn’t know to block him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Is
there anything I can do to make him stop?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “There
is nothing you could do to override the block.
Other, more powerful beings might be able to counter it, however.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Well
that was just great. Justin grumbled and
lay back on his bed. Cody had said that
Kandrinarkora wanted Bavandersloth’s help to escape. Justin thought. He sighed and sat up. He picked up the quill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Is there any way
to transfer Bavandersloth’s binding spell to make Valthakar obey me instead?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
would have to release him from his original binding, freeing him totally, and then
use a new binding spell on him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Do I have
enough souls for that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Does Cody?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You have more souls than Odelarch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
clenched his teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Well,
how many souls away am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
have 468 souls. If you are able to
obtain Valthakar’s phylactery and perform the longest form of the ritual, about
103 minutes, you will need 797. You need
329 more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
flopped back on the bed and sighed. That
wasn’t worth it. Justin sighed, lay on
his side, curled up into a ball and closed his eyes. He needed to rest for a minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
sat back up and opened the book again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Do
I need the same number to perform the binding spell on Bavandersloth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Segoe Print"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You’d need 122,362 more souls to perform one on any lich
with too few souls to actively resist, (which is true of every lich on your
planet).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin groaned and lay back down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
went out hunting again with Justin that night.
As Cody sat, he felt several of the injuries he’d tagged disappear,
indicating that the people with them had died.
He looked down as soon as he noticed, and shed a few tears before taking
a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This
had been a problem lately. Unlimited access
to hospitals had meant Cody had to start making choices about which illnesses
to cure. If he killed a person while
transferring diseases over to them, they’d die and their soul would go to the
underworld before Cody could eat it. That
would mean he’d have to kill a second time that night. Then again, maybe he should start moving
diseases in multiple batches. He’d only
need to eat one, and if he could save more people than he killed, it might be
worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
thoughts were interrupted by Justin’s arrival, along with Sparky. Sparky bounded toward Cody, who embraced him
in a hug, petting him. “Off, Sparky,” he
said after a few seconds of cuddling.
Justin smiled. Cody stood
up. “I don’t smell anything, so same as
last time, walk and talk?” Justin
nodded. They started walking. Justin was silent for the first minute or so
before Cody turned to him. “So, you
wanted to talk?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a deep breath. “I tried.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head. “Tried? Could you not bring yourself to do it…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
like that!” shouted Justin. Cody looked
at him for a moment. He sighed. “I wasn’t able to get his phylactery. My powers didn’t work. The book said they were being blocked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked at Justin. He put his hand on
Justin’s shoulder. “Hey, listen, I know
this is hard for you, but you really need to do it, okay? Is there anything I could do to make it
easier?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
eyebrows furled. “I’m not lying. I really couldn’t. The book said that only Kandrinarkora,
Gborin’gargoth and Kgobauru would be able to block me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He put his head down. “Is it true?” he asked Gborin’gargoth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can check for you. Hold on.” There was a pause. “Yes.
It is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He grumbled. He took a deep breath. “Well, is there anything we can do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
could work toward finding a way around it,” Gborin said, “but I’ll not be able
to do much while holding Kandrinarkora back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. “Fuck.” He thought.
He looked at Justin. “Do you know
where Bavandersloth’s phylactery is right now?
Maybe you can get it without your power.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. He put it back in one of his hiding places a
few weeks ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
in a safe in some cave in the rocky mountains,” Gborin said, “but I don’t
remember where exactly. It’d take power
to check, and I’ve none to spare right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
rolled his eyes. “Well that’s just
great.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
fell on Valthakar’s shoulders to lead the second attack. As Bavandersloth had predicted, the humans
had done nothing to destroy their kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This
attack was to occur in a public place, in front of as many cameras as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sighed as he neared the destination assigned by his master: a port in a very
rich segment of the city. Valthakar,
keeping invisible, headed for the docks, boarded one of the ships, and then
waited for Bavandersloth’s signal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was a few hours before the signal came.
In that time, while Valthakar sat on top of a high structure, numerous
people came on the ship. A little while
later, the ship left the port. A little
while later than that, the signal came.
Valthakar smiled. He had to admit
this would be fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked down at the deck of the ship. He
found an empty spot and then jumped to it.
Then he activated his fog of darkness in the shape Bavandersloth had
instructed him to use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
people around him were startled at first.
Their eyes widened, or they gasped, or they took a step back. After a few seconds, they started to realize
what was going on, and they ran away screaming.
Valthakar laughed. “We’re on a
ship!” he shouted as he hit a few of the humans with magical blasts. “Where do you intend to go?” Reason didn’t forestall the panicking mortals,
of course. It never did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
ignored the humans after they ran away.
Someone needed to get the media out here. Valthakar turned his attention to another
ship visible in the distance. He held
out his hand and fired a magical beam, damaging it as much as he could. It was beyond repair before a minute had
passed. Hopefully, everyone on board would
die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar did the same
to a few more boats before the news helicopter arrived. That was when Valthakar began his real
work. He crouched down, in full view of
the helicopter. He looked up at it. “Get a good shot of this,” he shouted. He placed his palm flat against the ship, and
made it start to decay away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
yacht was the size of a cruise ship. In
truth, Valthakar could have reduced it to nothing inside a minute, but he
slowed himself down. He allowed the metal
rails behind him to rust away, for rot to creep across the wood in front of
him. The News helicopter flew a few laps
around before Bavandersloth activated his full sphere of darkness, jumped down
from the roof Valthakar had been on, and tackled him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
grunted as he let Bavandersloth pounce on him.
As he allowed Bavandersloth to execute the maneuver, all of the ways he
could have prevented this in a real fight flashed through his mind. He could have blown Bavandersloth in half with
a magical blast as he jumped. He could
have rolled out of the way, making Bavandersloth fall on his face. He could have put his arms up to grab
Bavandersloth’s outstretched arms and throw him off of the ship, though that
might have failed if Bavandersloth realized what was happening quickly enough
and retracted his arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Instead,
Valthakar pretended to be taken aback, and let Bavandersloth pin him to the
deck of the boat. He kept the boat
decaying. He figured that’s what the
devourer he was impersonating would do.
Bavandersloth spoke in his special hero voice that made it hard for
Valthakar not to burst out laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Too
bad the humans didn’t kill me, eh, dev?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
fought more laughter, before realizing it would actually work just fine here
and letting it out. “Oh, not at all,” he
chuckled, “them leaving you alive just means another soul for me to take. I’ll be honest, I secretly hope everyone I
attempt to persuade resists. Their fate
is always so much more fun that way.
Have you ever tasted anything quite so wonderfully crunchy as one soul
simmered in hellfire and seasoned with the fried and ground up remains of
another? I’d imagine not. You really should though. It’s the most wondrous thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
pulled his hand back at that point, and punched downward, breaking Valthakar’s
arm, which was, of course, of no consequence.
Valthakar feigned pain though, screaming like a small child, before
pushing Bavandersloth off of him with his intact arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
let Valthakar do that much, and Valthakar threw another punch. Bavandersloth blocked that one, and met it
with another, which Valthakar blocked.
The two feigned trying to push each other over for a while, though
Valthakar could have easily thrown Bavandersloth off the ship by now, until
Valthakar pretended to be overcome and drop his block. Bavandersloth seized the opportunity and hit
Valthakar in the gut with a magical blast, forcing Valthakar against the rail
of the ship. Valthakar stumbled upward,
as slowly as he could manage while appearing to be genuinely trying, ensuring
that Bavandersloth would be standing over him before he could do anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
punched Valthakar several times.
Valthakar pretended to be hurt.
Eventually, he lifted Valthakar up and dangled him over the edge of the
ship. “Now, I think this world has had
its share of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “Oh, on the contrary. Your world has had only a taste of me, and me
only a taste of its people.” Valthakar
swung his foot around, keeping it under the rail on the ship’s edge, and kicked
Bavandersloth in the leg, allowing Bavandersloth to fall down to his feet on
the deck, and allowing himself to fall off of the boat into the water. He made a splash as he entered the ocean,
removing his veil of darkness underwater while no one could see him through the
brine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
came to the surface of the water, invisible.
He looked out toward the land.
The docks were nearly on the edge of the horizon. He sighed.
He had a long swim ahead of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
he swam, memories of his days as king flashed back to him. He’d been in his palace when the sinking had
struck it. The whole place had filled up
with water, from the bottom to the top.
When he realized some of his people had been trapped in air pockets in
the palace, he had to consider whether to let them die of thirst. Eventually, he decided to make the palace,
and a great deal of Atlantis, decay away, drowning many of his people. At the time, he’d cried, though today, he
only regretted not eating them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
he’d asked <i>On the Underworld</i> about
the sinking of his city, the book had told him that Kandrinarkora had sank
Atlantis, after being imprisoned on Earth.
It annoyed Valthakar that he might never be able to get any
revenge. Kandrinarkora had no doubt been
the source of the aura that had lured him to Goldfalls. In retrospect, he wished he’d gone somewhere
else. Perhaps he’d be rampaging for real
now, spoiling Bavandersloth’s image. It
would have been so amusing to watch the world crumble. Perhaps, if he was ever freed, he could use
that line about a soul seasoned with another soul. Sadly, though, that would probably never
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stood in front of the reporter, inside his ball of darkness. “…here to report on today’s tragedy, which
claimed the lives of three-hundred in Goldfalls, California,” the reporter
said. “The attack, which a devourer had threatened
would kill over two-thousand, was cut short by the intervention of
Light-rook. He has agreed to an
interview with us. Light-rook, first, on
behalf of everyone here, let me thank you for the lives you saved today, in a
city so wrought with tragedy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Nothing to thank me for,
sir. I’m just doing what anyone would.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
reporter smiled. “Alright then. Now, despite your efforts, it is my
understanding that you expect another attack?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
victory I won today was a partial one. I
don’t deny that. A perfect victory would
have come in time to stop the first attack one week ago. A better one would have ended without the
devourer getting away. It is my hope,
however, that I will be able to stop the next attack, and then perhaps bring
this devourer to his end.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you believe he’ll attack during the week to make up for his failure, or will he
wait until next Saturday?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
difficult to say.” Truth be told,
Bavandersloth had not yet decided. The
character of the devourer no doubt would attack again, but more deaths might
make this victory seem hallow. “I hope
to be ready for him again if he does.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you expect that all future attacks will be on this city?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not entirely sure. He is attacking this
city because of my presence here, I’d imagine, but there are Angels everywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you recommend for people who are able to do so to move out of the city as soon
as possible?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
is possible that a mass exodus from this city will provoke an attack on some
popular destination. The devourer might
want to send the message that no one can escape him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
doesn’t really answer my question.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned his power on. “It’s sufficient. It’s all I have to say on the matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright. Do you have anything additional to say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Only
that I offer the families of the victims my deepest condolences. Though I know that it is the good, and only
the good, I have done that has led to this, I can’t help but feel some
responsibility for the retaliation it has brought. I am truly sorry to the many who have lost
loved ones, and I hope that I can prevent your number from growing any further.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay
then. We’ll be back after the break with
more from Light-rook….”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat in his mansion. He’d narrowed down
all of the networks who’d offered him a show, and he now had only two
candidates left to choose from. He
thought. The Network for North American
Television would get him a broader audience in the US and Canada, but the
Pacific Broadcasting Company would be his better bet internationally. The PBC might be more likely to drop him, but
his getting cancelled was so unlikely in either case it wasn’t worth even
thinking about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
thought. Unless he himself added
subtitles to his show, anyone hearing his enchanted messages who didn’t speak
English wouldn’t be affected. One had to
understand the proposition to be forced to believe it. The PBC would allow him to do separate shows in
a few other languages. At the very
least, his final broadcast would need to be released in essentially every
language in the world. He could have
more liches made with his broadcasting power, but that might risk making him
redundant. If Kgobauru was truly trying
to usurp him, it was be best to keep himself essential.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Bavandersloth thought, he heard a voice.
“Bavandersloth…” it said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened. He sat up and looked
around. “Who’s there?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
am Kandrinarkora.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
raised an eyebrow. That was extremely
unlikely. “Be truthful,” he said. “I’m not to be played with.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not playing with you, whelp. I’m
contacting you because we each need the other’s help. Gborin’gargoth is attempting to circumvent
your efforts.” Bavandersloth stood up
and walked toward the stairs.
Kandrinarkora continued.
“Tkoralkiarch tried to kill you earlier today.” Bavandersloth stopped walking. “He used his power to claim your
phylactery. Had I not blocked him, he
would have acquired your phylactery and snapped it in half.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
thought. That did explain how Justin had
been acting. “Did Gborin’gargoth tell
Tkoralkiarch what--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. Odelarch did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened. He started back down the
stairs. That do-gooding idiot! Of course he would ruin it eventually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Now, I need your
assistance,” Kandrinarkora said, “and as I have just proven, you need
mine. I only ask one thing of you. When you have control of the world, see to it
that I am freed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“And how am I supposed
to do that?” Bavandersloth asked, reaching into his pocket to call Valthakar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I am imprisoned in the
Golden Falls in your own city. Its color
is the refracted image of my tomb, though a spell ensures that all who walk
behind it see a false back. Only a very
powerful spell may release me, and only then if Gborin’gargoth ceases his
meddling. It is a spell which demands
ingredients from far and wide, and which must be cast by a lich of untold age,
though your Kgobauru is also capable of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth finished
dialing Valthakar’s number. He put the
phone to his ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gborin’gargoth’s
eyestalks raised. He let out a screech. He needed to act quickly. He clenched his fists. Reluctantly, he moved the power away from
guarding Kandrinarkora’s release, and into addressing this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
lay down outside, in the mansion’s yard.
He smelled something funny. He
stood up and followed the scent into the small forest behind Bavandersloth’s
mansion. As he walked away, he heard a
loud noise behind him. His ears perked. He turned around and looked at the
mansion. He tilted his head. All he saw was a fireball. It was a large, pretty fireball, but still
only a fireball. Where was the mansion? After a moment, Sparky ran off to find his
master. He might want to know about
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-12668752660707063002015-01-07T20:37:00.001-08:002015-05-31T20:02:26.471-07:00Angel of Death 1.21 Confessions of a Soulless One<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Bavandersloth sat in his home, a massive swarm of souls appeared in front of
him. He looked up and gasped. “What is it?” he asked. They all started talking at the same
time. Bavandersloth couldn’t understand
any of them. “Stop talking,” he
said. They did. He pointed at one. “You, what’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “My
two partners and I were tracking Cherie Lambert as you ordered, sir, and, out
of nowhere, everything went dark. We
couldn’t see or hear anything but each other.
The other two stayed behind and I came straight here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can
you see anything now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can see you, master.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
that all?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. Around you, it’s just black.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
even the chair I’m sitting in? Nothing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nothing,
master.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked down. He took a deep breath and thought. He’d never heard of something like this
happening before. He didn’t know it was
possible. He looked up at his souls. “Any of you who this didn’t happen to, or who
know of one of my souls who this didn’t happen to, come forward.” None of them did. Bavandersloth sighed. “Alright then, disperse.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
master,” they all said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned to his phone. He picked it up and
dialed Nglavingithu’s number. After a
few rings, Nglavingithu answered. “This
is Nglavingithu,” he said. “Why have you
contacted me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
this is Bavandersloth. Something has
happened to my souls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know. One of the souls I use to watch
you just came here and told me so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
the same thing hasn’t happened to you then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. Of the liches I keep watch over, only you and
Valthakar have been affected.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth took a
deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright. I’m going to try to figure out why this is
happening.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Acknowledged. Do you have anything else to say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. Thanks for your help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Acknowledged.” Nglavingithu hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
put the phone down, stood up and grabbed his copy of <i>On Soulless Ones</i> from his bookshelf. He picked up the quill that rested on one
page and wrote on the other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "French Script MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Do
you know of any means by which all of a Lich’s souls may be blinded and
deafened to everything but each other and their master?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "French Script MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“There is a spell which does that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
tuned the page, wishing to see the spell’s entry. There it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Soul Blinding, Level 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Requirements: The Lich casting this spell must be in their
true form and possess 51,810,065 souls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth did a
quick calculation in his head. A lich
with that many souls would be around one-hundred-fifty-thousand years old. Bavandersloth kept reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“At least one soul owned by the lich targeted must be
sufficiently close, the range being determined by the caster’s soul count.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Method: For soul counts greater than 85,951,428, the effect
need merely be willed. For soul counts
lower than 85,951,428 but higher than 51,810,065, the lich desiring to cast the
spell must sit upon a small surface such as a cloth or a sheet in some solid
structure in an enchanted space and perform the following ritual:”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The ritual the text
went on to describe was quite long and elaborate and called for the sacrifice
of a child. The ritual was far too
elaborate to perform with one of Bavandersloth’s souls in range without them
noticing. Perhaps one of his souls had
been bound in place? He could do a tally
of them to try to see if that was the case.
Either way, he knew of no lich on earth old enough to cast the blinding
spell with or without a ritual. There
was, however, Kgobauru. Perhaps
Bavandersloth had been wrong to think he had nothing to do with the incident in
the amusement park. Perhaps Kgobauru was
making some sort of move against him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
felt his stomach growl as he climbed into his window and rushed into his bed. As he waited for his mother to come and try
to wake him up, he thought. What would
prove that Valthakar didn’t kill Justin’s parents, and that Bavandersloth did? Cody had initially figured it out because
he’d found it too convenient that Bavandersloth had just happened to be in the
right place to save Justin, but that fact would only be enough to make Justin
suspicious, which could cause Justin to ask Bavandersloth about it, thus
telling Bavandersloth that Cody was trying to stop him. What’s more, Bavandersloth could claim that
he’d had some of his souls following Valthakar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody could try to prove
that Valthakar was somewhere else at the time.
As far as Cody knew, Valthakar had gone to his old mansion when he left
Cody’s house and been there until Bavandersloth bound him later that
night. Was there any way to prove that
Valthakar was there at the moment Justin’s parents were killed? What traces do people leave when they’re at
home? Cody could try to figure out if
there was a call made on that house’s landline around that time. Before he could do that, though, he needed to
know when that was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He didn’t remember off
the top of his head on what date he’d been arrested, but he could look up the
date of the police station fire and learn if from there. As for the time, hospital records would also
show when Cherie was admitted, and he was arrested right after that. He’d contacted Bavandersloth with his soul a
few hours later. Justin’s parents had
been killed sometime between then and when Cody went to Bavandersloth’s mansion
afterward. Off the top of his head, it
seemed like that’d been between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM or so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That also might have
been a good time to figure out when Bavandersloth gave the speech Cody had
heard. It was seven months to the day
after the first interview. It would be
best if Cody could stop Bavandersloth before that date.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As Cody thought, his
mother opened the door to wake him up.
Cody feigned drowsiness as he sat up and got out of bed to get ready for
Mass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
Mass, Cody walked over to Lester’s house.
When he knocked on the door, Lester opened it. He smiled and invited Cody upstairs. As Cody walked in, he heard Lester’s mother
working in the kitchen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two got up to Lester’s room and Lester sat down on the bed. “What’s up?” he asked. “Justin called me earlier to tell me you were
alright. What happened?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
lot,” Cody said. His eyes widened. “Hey, what happened to the window that got broken
by” Cody paused. He’d nearly said
‘Gborin’gargoth.’ “the creature who kidnapped me last night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
tilted his head. “I was going to bring
that up later. After the thing was a
ways away, I debated whether or not to chase after it. I ended up deciding to use your phone to try
to tell Cherie’s dad about it. I turned
around to pick up the phone and when I looked back at the window it was fixed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood. He wasn’t as surprised as he
thought he should have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
what happened?” Lester asked. “Justin
told me you ended up in the Northwest District.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Yeah, at a place called <i>Joy’s Coast</i>.” Cody told Lester the entire story of what
happened in the park, from waking up on the raft to leaving. Lester listened. His eyes widened when Cody mentioned his
interpretation of the specter’s allegory.
Cody finished the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
you just came home?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
shook his head. “I was only about half
way done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
what happened next?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. He put his head down and
whispered for Gborin’gargoth to get rid of any souls after him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
was that?” Lester asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
found a way to keep Bavandersloth from spying on us. It might be possible for us to stop him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
gasped. “What?” He stood up.
“How?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
told Lester about the rest of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
was back sitting on the bed when it was over.
His eyes were wide. “So… what the
lich alien or whatever told you… this really is all about you being willing to
let me die?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
how you made it sou--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
not going to die. I’m going to kill
Bavandersloth and save the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
gulped. He sighed. He looked down. “If you say so.” He looked back up. “If you are going to try this, there is one
thing I would like.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
raised an eyebrow. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
gun, if the alien can get me one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head. “A gun isn’t going to
do anything if Bavandersloth comes after you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
not for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head for a second, and then understood. His eyes widened. “Oh.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Just
as a last resort. If Bavandersloth comes
after me I can keep him from getting my soul.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “I’ll see if that’s possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
smiled. “Okay. We might want to do the same thing for Steven
and Reidel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He thought. “Probably,” he said. “We’d have to tell them everything,
though. Well, almost everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know. It’s long past time we did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. “Okay then. Let’s do it after school tomorrow. They might make a scene if we do it at
lunch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
nodded. “Okay.” There was a pause. “So you said you wanted to look up some
dates?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah. I could do that on your computer real quick.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay,”
Lester said. “So long as you clear it
from my history afterwards. If you
don’t, Bavandersloth might figure out what happened.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. He turned around. History.
His eyes widened. He turned back
around. “The house where Valthakar was
living would have had a computer. Once I
have the date and time, I can look in its web history to see if Valthakar
loaded a web-page around the time he’d have to have been away from that house
if he killed Justin’s parents.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good
Idea,” Lester said. There was a
pause. Cody sat back down. He opened his browser. He googled ‘Goldfalls Police Station Fire
2013.’ An online encyclopedia page came
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The
Goldfalls Police Station Fire refers to the burning of the primary police
station in Goldfalls Ca. on October, 20 2013.
The fire resulted in the deaths of over one-hundred prisoners and police
officers, including Leon Williams.
Though the initial police investigation concluded that the fire was the
result of arson, subsequent investigations have shown that there is little
reason to think anything of this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">October
Twentieth. Cody repeated that a few
times in his mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Next,
he looked up the date of Bavandersloth’s first interview. He found another page which included a
timeline of all of the interviews Bavandersloth and Valthakar had given. The first one was on October Twenty-sixth. Seven months after that would be May
Twenty-sixth. Cody looked down at the
corner of Lester’s screen. It was
January Twenty-sixth. He had four
months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned around. “Alright,” he said. “I have the dates.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
long do we have?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Four
months to the day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked down. “Are we sure we can do that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’re
sure we don’t have any proof that it’s impossible. I might not even need that much time. It might be possible to do it tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
took a deep breath. “Okay.” He lay back on his bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You don’t have to help
if you don’t want to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No,” Lester said. “I do.”
Lester sighed. “By the way, do
you plan to get help from DIAPP?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
not decided yet. I’m not sure they’d be
willing to work with me. I offered to
help them with the dragon last month and Cherie’s father refused. It’s possible that this whole thing’s big
enough that they’ll take my help, they also might do something to ruin my
chance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Like
what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Anything
that’d let Bavandersloth know what I’m doing.
As soon as he realized there was a danger of someone helping Justin find
out the truth, he’d probably kill Justin, and that’d be the end of it. With Valthakar protecting him, no one poses
any threat to Bavandersloth in straight combat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “If
it comes to that, could you try to separate them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. “Maybe. I don’t know.
I’ll definitely look into whether there is a way to break the binding
spell on Valthakar, though without Bavandersloth to control him, he’ll go back
to being as dangerous as he was before.”
Cody looked up. “I’ll think more
about getting DIAPP’s help. Maybe, just
maybe, they have something that could let them beat Valthakar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright. Maybe the four of us could vote on it? Us, Steven and Reidel I mean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course,” Cody said. The two continued to
talk as Cody turned back to the computer to find Valthakar’s old address.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
thought as he walked the streets, hunting.
His souls hadn’t started working again at any point. Should he postpone his plans? No.
That’s what Kgobauru, or whoever was behind this, probably wanted. He should keep on with his plans as he’d
originally intended. No part of it
centrally depended on him being able to use his souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked down at his prey. Without his
souls, it’d been more difficult, but not impossible, to find this man. He was a member of the Selechii Syndicate. Bavandersloth jumped down and landed right
behind the man. He put his hand on him
and knocked him out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
walked to Valthakar’s old house. He’d
remembered the name of the gated community it was in, so he only had to check
to see if anyone in the area had disappeared.
He was able to find the information.
A man named Kenneth Kurt Rogers had gone missing here around the time
Valthakar would have moved in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
felt a chill rush down his spine as soon as he saw the house. He approached it. There was still blood on the porch from when
Justin had been blown open by Valthakar’s blast. Cody went inside. He saw a cup of coffee on the table. The cream in it smelled rancid. Cody couldn’t resist a quick sniff. He went into another room. From there, he could see a pool outside. The pool was full of leaves and insects. Cody saw a computer in the corner. He walked up to it and tried to turn it
on. He couldn’t. He tried a few more times before it occurred
to him: the power bill here hadn’t been paid.
Cody thought. Was there any way
to access the information? Eventually,
Cody thought of something. He took his
human form, reached into his pocket, and got out his cell phone. He’d brought it with him in case something
went wrong. He turned it on and pulled
up the web browser. He looked up how to
remove a computer’s hard drive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
was able to find a guide, but he couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Cody placed his hand on the computer. He closed his eyes, and willed it to begin
decaying. As soon as he began to use his
power, he was able to sense everything inside the computer and make everything
but the hard drive rust away. Cody
smiled. If he inserted this into another
computer of the same type, he’d be able to look at the web history, or anything
else that had been stored on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
put the device in his pocket, turned his phone off, took his true form, and left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man Bavandersloth had taken awoke in a haze, his arms tied behind him around a
tree. Bavandersloth smiled. “Hello,” he said. The man’s gaze snapped over to him. His eyes widened and he screamed and yanked
against the ropes around his ankles and wrists.
Bavandersloth shushed him. The
man struggled and thrashed. “Be quiet,”
Bavandersloth shouted. The man sweated. He flexed and pulled as hard as he could. Bavandersloth slapped the man. The man flinched. He gritted his teeth. He stopped screaming and took a few deep
breaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
pulled an envelope out of a bag he had with him. He held it up. It looked like it had a severed finger in it,
but perhaps also a note. “There’s no
need for you to be frightened,” he said.
“I’m not planning to kill you. In
fact, I need you to do me a favor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man looked up at Bavandersloth. He shed
a tear and pulled harder against his restraints.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
need you to deliver this letter to Zachary Shepherd,” Bavandersloth said. “That’s all I want. Can you do that for me? I’ll let you go as soon as you agree to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man looked at the envelope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
can speak now, by the way. That thing
about being quiet was just while you were shrieking before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man gulped. He struggled against his
restraints. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll take it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good,”
Bavandersloth said. “Don’t open it
beforehand. Give it directly to them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man hyperventilated. “Alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Good.” He undid the ropes and gave the man the
letter. The man took it and, after a few
minutes, walked off with it, still reeking of fear. Bavandersloth turned around and when back
into town to hunt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
turned his head as he heard his door open.
One of his underlings came in.
“Sir,” the man said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “One
of our dealers is outside. He says an
Angel abducted him and made him promise to deliver something to you. Should I send him in?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary’s
eyes widened. He nodded. “Of course.”
Zach’s guard left the room and the dealer came in. He was a kid, around the age Zach was when he
started dealing. He was sweaty and
trembling. He held the note.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
sir,” he said. “I was… I was out on the
job and I--” He took a deep breath. “So I was out in an alley, doing my job, when
I just fell unconscious. The next thing
I knew, I woke up tied to a tree in the Northwest District, just on a random
street. An Angel was standing over me. He gave me this,” the dealer held the note
up, “and told me he needed me to give it to you and your sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can
you hand it here?” Zach asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay,”
the dealer said. He took a step forward
and handed the note to Zach. Zach opened
the envelope. He gaged and held it away
from him. It smelled awful. He held the envelope at arm’s length and
pulled out the piece of paper inside. As
he pulled out the note, a desiccated finger fell out. Zachary staggered backward. He held the note as far away from him as he could
and read it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hello, Zachary Shepherd. ‘Tis I, Lightrook. I wish to meet with you on the night of
Monday, Jan. 27<sup>th</sup> 2014 in the lobby of the old Goldfalls Museum of
Natural History to discuss a proposition I have for you. I believe you will find it most interesting
and to your benefit. I can assure you
that I will be alone, and so long as only you come, I will make no effort to
harm you at any point. Anyone else who
comes with you will be killed, of course.
I believe the two of us can do great work together. Sincerely, Lightrook.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zachary stared at the
note. This was obviously a trap. He looked up at the dealer. “Thank you,” he said. “You can go now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If I may, there’s
actually one other thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zachary raised an
eyebrow. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“He… he stole all of
the products I had on me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zachary’s eyes
widened. “How much?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Wel… more than…” the man
gulped. “More than $4,000 worth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zachary’s eyes grew
wider. He clenched his fist. The dealer backed out of the room. Zachary sat down. He groaned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
returned home the next morning. As he
crawled through his window, he bowed his head and whispered for Gborin’gargoth. Gborin’gargoth answered. “Hello, Cody.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey.” Cody lay down on his bed. “So I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There’s
no need to tell me what you’ve been doing.
I’ve been watching you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
lay back and rolled his eyes. “Right, of
course.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
have to if you’re going to be able to talk to me on demand. Regardless, there is one thing I want to tell
you. It occurred to me after our
conversation that it would be better if I just left all of Bavandersloth’s
souls disabled permanently.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “Oh? You can do that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. From the start of our second conversation,
they’ve been unable to see or hear anything but Bavandersloth and each
other. The ones near you also shouldn’t
remember the first time their senses were disabled. As far as Bavandersloth should be able to
tell, all of his souls stopped working at the same time. He’s already noticed, and he believes
Kgobauru is responsible. It’s possible
that once Kandrinarkora shows himself to him, he’ll figure out that I did this,
but, if anything, that will make him suspect you less.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
and there’s one other thing you should know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
about Pretty Pink Ponytails. Bavandersloth
sent her a note.” The two conversed
until Cody’s mother came in to wake him up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
school, Cody, Lester, Steven and Reidel walked into Lester’s house. Cody had wanted to tell them that they were
just going to hang out, but Lester insisted that they tell them that they had
something to tell them. When they got
in, Lester invited them up to his room.
They followed Lester upstairs and into his bedroom. Lester lay down across his bed and Steven sat
in the computer chair. Cody stood up in
the center of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
what did you need to say?” Reidel asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked down at the
floor, a bead of sweat running down his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Go on,” Lester said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked up at his
three friends. “Have you seen a
Light-rook interview in the last three weeks or so?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No,” Reidel said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m at work at 6:00
when they come on,” Steven said. “I
haven’t been able to catch them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody took a deep
breath. “Okay. Good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reidel raised an
eyebrow. “Hey, man, what’s going on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody took a few deep
breaths. He looked down at the
floor. “I’m the Ang…” Cody took a deep
breath. “The… you know enough from
that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reidel’s eyes widened. He stumbled backward. “You…”
He stared at Cody, his mouth agape.
He looked at Lester, who nodded.
He looked back at Cody.
“Why? Why have you--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I have t--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Don’t give me that!”
Reidel shouted, his eyebrows slanted, his whole face contorted in anger. “You don’t have to do anything! What the fuck could justify you killing,
what, is it a-hundred-fifty people now?
How many times have I sat across from you, played games with you, not
knowing that you were a fucking murderer?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Calm down,” Lester
said. “Let him finish explaining.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reidel turned to face
Lester. “Clam down? Don’t you tell me to calm down! You!
You knew about this too! Where do
you get off--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Please, listen,” Cody
said. Reidel turned his head back to Cody,
fuming. A tear ran down Cody’s face. He took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fine,” he said. “This had better be good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked at
them. Steven just sat in the chair,
mouth agape, saying nothing. “Back in
August,” Cody said, “as I walked home after visiting Cherie at the hospital, I
came across a book….” Cody spent the next twenty minutes telling them
everything. He told them about the
magical book, and about becoming a lich.
He told them about a lich’s diet, and about how he defeated the Black
Death. He told them about Bavandersloth,
how they met, and what he was doing now.
Finally, he told them about the Underworld, Gborin’gargoth, and what he
and Lester were doing now. He didn’t
tell them the truth about what had happened to Allen, because he knew that
Bavandersloth’s spell meant nothing could convince them of anything other than
what they’d been forced to believe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the end of it all,
Steven hadn’t said a word. Reidel glared
at Cody. He took a deep breath. “So the big thing to stopping
Bervandersloth--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Bavand--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Shut up. The point is to prove to the kid that
Berwhatever killed his parents?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“More or less.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So you need to check
that hard drive’s web history?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reidel pressed his lips
together. “We need to find someone
better with computers than us for that.
If we mess it up, we might accidentally wipe the thing and lose our only
chance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Maybe,” Cody
said. “That might be a reason to get
DIAPP involved.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No need,” Lester
said. “We could go to any <i>Good Buy</i> and have someone there get the
data off of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But that would cost
money,” Reidel said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“True,” Lester
said. “What’s the most we could pool
together?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I could ask
Bavandersloth for the money,” Cody said.
“He’ll probably be willing to lend me some, if nothing else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
a pretty big risk,” Reidel said. “What
if he finds you out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He
won’t. There are plenty of reasons I
might want money. I’ll have no problem
convincing him that this is nothing to do with me trying to stop him. He doesn’t even know I have the hard drive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Reidel
sighed. “Alright,” he said. Cody smiled.
He stood up. Over the next few
hours, the four worked out a few more details about exactly what their plan
would be, and Cody answered a few questions about him from Steven and Reidel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
and Valthakar walked, invisible, up to the house where they knew Zachary and
Pink to be hiding. A line of
Bavandersloth’s souls had followed Bavandersloth’s severed finger, which they
were still able to see. One of them had
stopped in place every few moments. By
following the trail this left, Bavandersloth had been able to work out where
the note had been brought to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The liches climbed up
the walls by taking advantage of various fire escapes, pipes, and dumpsters nearby. They made sure not to leave any climbing
holes behind so there’d be no evidence that a lich had been there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
reached the window to the room Zachary was staying in. He took a brick he’d carried with him and
shattered the glass. Zachary awoke. Bavandersloth leapt into the room and pounced
on top of him, immobilizing him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
screamed for Pretty Pink Ponytails to come help him. She ran into the room, holding a Molotov
cocktail. Before she could throw it,
Valthakar tackled her and forced her hands behind her back, dragging her with
him as he took a seat in front of the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey!”
she shouted. “What are you doing, you
big smelly meanie?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
uncloaked. Pink gagged as his scent
suddenly rushed into her lungs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
uncloaked too. Zachary’s eyes widened
further. He struggled to force
Bavandersloth off. Bavandersloth waited
for him to stop struggling, and then rolled toward the window and forced him
off the bed. He sat in front of the
window. “Why hello, Mr. Shepherd,” he
said. “Did you get my letter?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
panted as he stood up. “Yeah,” he
said. He looked up. “I take it there was a tracking chip in the
finger.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
no need to reveal my methods,” Bavandersloth said, smirking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see,” Zachary said. Pink still struggled
in the corner, but was unable to escape Valthakar’s grip. “So you’re here to kill me because your trap
failed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No,
I’m here to discuss the proposition I wanted to discuss with you. I really did wait for you at the museum. It would have been lovely if you had come. Nonetheless, the discussion needed to be had,
and your paranoia could not be allowed to impede it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hurry
up then,” Zachary said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
afraid that might not be possible,” Bavandersloth said. “For there’s something of a story behind the
proposition, and I believe it’d be best if you knew it. You see, I am not the do-gooder you believe
me to be. I do not wish to elaborate too
much, but rest assured, I am much more like you than I am like a police
officer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
raised an eyebrow. Bavandersloth smiled. He continued.
“You may have noticed I have the media in my pocket right now, and I
want to make my programming demand more attention. Unfortunately, I am doing too well in my
crime-fighting endeavors. Since my kind
went public, crime has dropped by an alarmingly high amount. People aren’t afraid anymore. Granted, I tried to engineer that myself in
the early stages, but now I need something better. I need a boogeyman, and that is what I want
you to be. My kind has already
eliminated maybe half of the criminal organizations in the world, mostly small
things individual ones of us could take out in a short time. Now I need the rest of the criminal world to
strike back, and I’m prepared to give you the resources to do so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
sat down in a chair in the corner of the room.
He leaned forward. “What kind of
resources?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Money,
labor, and information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
asking to work for us--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh
quite the reverse of that I assure you.
You see, I intend to contrive that a devourer will appear, quite
suddenly, in this world, and cause trouble.
He won’t really exist as such, but the public won’t know that. In order for people to believe in him,
though, I need him to do dastardly deeds which I may then feign combating. I will give you the aid of the odd one of us
to help in your enforcement, reanimate corpses to perform petty labor for you,
and use my powers to acquire information which will help you find those who
defy you, especially the police, and destroy them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
can re… you can bring back the dead?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
chuckled. “Not properly. They’re just drones. Their consciousness is nothing to do with the
soul that once inhabited the body and they have none of the person’s
personality and memories.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked down. He was thinking. Bavandersloth smiled. Zachary looked forward. “I can’t make this agreement on my own,” he
said. “I’ll need to contact the boss,
and he may want to talk to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Of course, but you’re
interested?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
am.” Zachary smiled. “And I imagine he’ll be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Splendid.” Bavandersloth grinned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
knocked on the door to Bavandersloth’s mansion.
Justin opened it for him. Justin
smiled. “Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh,
hey,” Cody said. “Is Bavandersloth
here? I need to talk to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
shook his head. “No, he’s out
hunting. What do you need?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Money,”
Cody said. He sighed. “I’m planning to collect reward money for
catching a criminal, Pretty Pink Ponytails’ brother. I need Bavandersloth to make a fake I. D. so
I can claim the reward under a false name.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
nodded. “Alright,” Justin said. “I’ll tell him when you get back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
turned around and started to leave. “What
do you need the money for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
thought. Should he say? Should he lie? He’d look suspicious to Justin if he didn’t
answer, but he might look suspicious to Bavandersloth if he was truthful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No,
that was ridiculous. Surely he could be
vague enough. Cody turned around. “I need to switch hard drives on a computer. I’m planning to hire the guys at <i>Good Buy</i> to do it so I don’t risk
breaking something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh,”
Justin said. Cody started to turn
around, but right as he did, he noticed Justin’s face looking downcast. He turned around. “Hey, is something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
sighed. “I…” he looked up. “My brother might be able to help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
tilted his head. “Oh. Does he know a lot about comput--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
nodded. “Yeah, you could say that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What
do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
looked down and sighed. “He used to work
for <i>Macroware</i> as a hardware
developer. He should know how to do it,
and he’d probably do it for me for free.
He’d not be able to do it in person, but he could walk you through it on
the phone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
thought. Having someone walk him through
it might cause a miscommunication. Cody
didn’t want to take any risks he could avoid.
“Is there any way for him to do it in person? If he’s out of town, I could find a way to go
there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That
can’t happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are
you sure? Where is he exactly?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
looked down. “In jail.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s
eyes widened. “Oh.” He took a step back. “I’m sorr--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Don’t
worry about it.” Justin took a deep
breath. “But yeah, there’s no way for
him to do it in person. I might be able
to get his help over the phone, though.
Bavandersloth could get them to allow it. I could use my cell phone and put him on
speaker phone for you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Where
is he? Do you know what jail?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No,”
Justin said. “I mean, I don’t know what
it’s called. It’s around here and I’ve
been there before. His name is Ryan
Cooper though. You could look it up. I think he’s on the <i>Online Encyclopedia</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
tilted his head. He sighed. “Go ahead and ask him,” he said. He smiled.
“Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin
sighed. “You’re welcome.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
turned around and started walking away.
He thought. Out of curiosity, he
pulled out his phone. Cody did a search
and pulled the <i>Online Encyclopedia</i>
page up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According
to it, Ryan Cooper had used his access to <i>Macroware</i>
company servers to interrupt the flow of money from the company and transfer it
to several accounts run by his accomplices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in left 394.15pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody
questioned if he wanted to work with him, but concluded that there would be no
opportunity for Ryan to do anything wrong here.
He decided to go through with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was a few days before they were able to work everything out. Bavandersloth helped Justin arrange the
visit, under the impression that this was a favor for Cherie. It turned out that her computer was
compatible with the Hard Drive Cody had gotten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. With Ryan’s help, Cody
had finally finished getting the accursed clump of incomprehensible metal into
Cherie’s computer. He thanked Justin’s
brother over the phone. “No problem,”
Ryan said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin turned off the
speaker phone and held the phone up to his ear.
“Okay then,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin turned off
speaker too. Cody smiled. “Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” he
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin raised an
eyebrow. “Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do you want to go hunting with me
tonight? We’ve not worked as a team in a
while and there’s a spree killer I’d like your help to take down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Alright then, go ahead
and meet me here at Cherie’s tonight, say around eleven?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Alright. That sounds good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Okay then, see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“See you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody hung up. He got out from under Cherie’s desk and
smiled. “It’s done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie smiled
back. “Nice job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reidel nodded. “So where are you going from here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll tell my parents
I’m staying the night here. When Justin
shows up, I’ll bring him down, explain where the hard drive comes from and tell
him everything. Justin was pretty
motivated to get revenge against Valthakar right after his parents died. I’m hoping that that hatred hasn’t worn off
so it can transfer to Bavandersloth, which would make Justin kill him, getting
rid of the community’s only mind controller.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked at Cody. “You’ve said Justin was
made by Bavandersloth just to heal me.
Will other liches be able to do the same thing with this? Will they be able to create another lich with
the same powers?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “They probably will. The good news is that lich will be really
weak. Mass mind control through the
media is a really strong power, so that lich will be weaker in other areas. Also, after we’ve gotten rid of
Bavandersloth, we’re going to leak the truth out about what,” Cody sighed,
“what liches eat. Without Bavandersloth
to come up with something clever, the community probably won’t be able to get
around that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Wait,”
Reidel said, “if they can get powers like that, why not just have a lich that
snaps his fingers and gives them everything they want?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Because
that’d take more power than a new lich can have. There’s an upper limit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
said they’ll be weak,” Cherie said, “but the other liches would protect a new
world-conquering lich, right? When they
make a new one, what will you do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Still
kill them if I can,” Cody said, “possibly through Justin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
we’re sure that’ll be enough?” Reidel asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
entirely, but it might be.” Cody looked
at Cherie. “Have you told your father
what we’re doing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded. “He approved it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good. Also tell him everything I’ve just said. I won’t be able to do much to keep the
community from broadcasting like they plan to, and I won’t be able to
exterminate lichkind on this planet, which is what I’ll have to do in the long
term. DIAPP will have to do a lot of the
work here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
few hours later, Justin arrived at Cherie’s house. Cody closed his eyes as he heard the
knock. “There’s no way for Bavandersloth
to learn about this?” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There
are no souls watching you,” Gborin’gargoth said. “I’ve spread the soul disability throughout
the community. Right now it’s affecting
the entire counsel and most of the liches closely affiliated with them. Soon, it will affect all of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Could
you make the fog around them wear out when they leave earth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’d
take a lot more energy. Why do you ask?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’d
like mine to be able to keep exploring space… and stuff.” Cody looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. “I’m sorry, Cody,” Gborin
said. “I’d have to use enough magic to
risk Kandrinarkora getting out. I can’t
do that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Okay then.” He took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Who
are you talking to?” Cherie asked. “Also,
is someone going to answer the door?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. He started walking
upstairs. After a few paces, he turned
around and looked down the stairs.
“Gborin’gargoth,” he said. “Look
it up in the book.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
walked upstairs. He opened the door for
Justin. Justin looked up at him. “Hey,” he said. “So do you want to just turn around and
leave?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down and Justin. He took a deep
breath. “No. There’s something I want to show you first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
tilted his head. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come
downstairs,” Cody said. “I need to tell
you the secret Bavandersloth and I have been keeping.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Wait, what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody started to walk
downstairs. Justin raised an eyebrow and
followed. “Do you remember about what
time your parents died?” Cody asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a moment to speak. “It was the
middle of the night,” Justin said. “I
think early on. Maybe around midnight? Why do you ask?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
Valthakar would have needed to be away from his house, all the way across town
in yours, to do it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
eyes widened. “What are you saying?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
got Valthakar’s hard drive from his house,” Cody said. “It still has the web history from that night
stored on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
gasped. “Wait… you think he didn--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
followed Cody over to the computer. He sat
down in the chair and looked at the web history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> At
11:17 p.m., Valthakar had logged onto a television streaming site. This might have been right after he got home
after injuring Cherie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> At
12:02 p.m., he’d google imaged “gore.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
jaw was on the floor. “It… No… It can’t
be…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
is. The timeline makes sense. 11:17 is the right time to be right after he
got home from hurting Cherie. If he
watched one episode of something, it’d take him about forty minutes, not much
less than how long he spent on that video site. I think a lich would be more likely than
anyone else to want to look at random gory pictures.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
he can’t… so…” Justin turned around. “So
you think Bavandersloth made a mistake?
Why didn’t Valthakar tell him?
The binding--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
needed someone to heal Cherie to clear my name and get me out of prison, and
who could defeat Valthakar,” Cody said. Justin’s
eyes widened. “He wanted someone who’d agree
to kill whoever he asked, and who would be loyal to him afterward, so they’d
not use their power to retrieve phylacteries against him. He chose you.” Justin’s eyes widened. He started to cry. His head fell downcast. “He killed your parents. I figured it out pretty quickly. I wondered why he’d just happen to be around
you. He threatened to kill my friends
and family if I told you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tears
streamed down Justin’s face, sobs escaping him every now and then. “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
would I lie to you about this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I…
I don’t… why are you telling me now, then?
If he’s going to kill every--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “His
souls are disabled,” Cody said. “By
Gborin’gargoth. I’ve been working with
him. He caused the whole thing at Joy’s
Coast.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I…”
Justin sat, crying. He pulled his knees
up and wrapped his hands around them.
Cody moved to put his hand on Justin’s shoulder, but Justin swatted him
away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
has been planning something big,” Cody said.
“You know that he’s been mind controlling people in his interviews.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Stop!” Justin cried.
“Just stop.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
need to kill hi--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’s
planning to take over the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
said stop! I don’t believe you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Turn
aro--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
face was red. He screamed at Cody. “For the last fucking time I said to stop!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
quieted down. Justin sobbed. “I… I don’t know what to think, alright? Give me time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. He nodded. “Alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
tell Bavandersloth I said any of this,” Cody said. “The threat also included you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
looked down. He cried. Cody walked into Cherie’s bedroom, where
Cherie and Reidel were waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pretty
Pink Ponytails smiled as she skipped toward the train tracks. She looked at the train bridge. She beamed.
She could have so much fun with it.
She couldn’t wait! She ran up to
it and stuck the funny glowing spheres Light-rook had given her onto it. They were so easy to stick. They didn’t adhere to her hand at all, but once
they were on the tracks, they were immovable.
She had to stick them to just the right places, though. Light-rook had said so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
Pink was done, she skipped away, heading back to her brother’s car. Her brother drove away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Georgina
drove her train forward down the tracks.
She came to a bridge. She looked
forward and squinted. She thought she
saw a weird glow coming from the tracks up ahead. That color…
That was the same shade of green Angel magic used. She wondered--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
laughed as he turned on his camera. He
shrouded himself in a layer of darkness with the shape of an elaborate caped costume. He made sure it covered his chains.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
turned on the camera. He smiled. “Hello, people of the Earth,” he said,
distorting his voice to make it sound as menacing as he could. “In the last few months, you have become
aware of the existence of a group of beings you know as Angels. You have learned that they have been living
among you for thousands of years. Their
community, two-thousand strong, has fought on your behalf, or so it has seemed
to you. They have fought against the wisest
among you, those you deem most malignant.
That cannot be allowed to go on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Several
of the organizations your heroes have been opposing have contracted me to,”
Bavandersloth cackled, “compel you to cease tolerating the Angels. I’ll admit, when I was first approached, I
wasn’t sure what I could do to propel you along. They have already killed you by the thousands
and you have not cared. However, after
several hours of thought, something occurred to me. You have not cared because they have been
wise themselves. They have targeted only
the humans whose lives you do not value.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
suppose then, to convince you to act differently, I must destroy those humans
whose lives you do value.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned around. Right on cue, he saw the
train come into view. As it did, he
closed his eyes and willed the mystical spheres Pink had set to explode. They did.
The bridge exploded into a million pieces right in front of the
train. The train surged forward, unable
to stop. It plunged right off of the
tracks and crashed into the valley below.
Bavandersloth turned back around, as slowly as he could, for dramatic
effect. He waited until the last car
fell off the tracks to continue speaking.
“Now now, don’t feel too sad. We
arranged to have the cars separated.
Several train cars toward the back are perfectly safe on the tracks a
ways back. Let me explain. There are two-thousand-one-hundred-sixty-one
angels in this world right now, a few more than the number of humans that were
on this train. We cut the train such that
precisely Two-thousand-one-hundred-thirty humans would die in the crash. We went into the remaining cars and shot
thirty-one more. In other words, the
same number of humans have been killed as Angels remain on this world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth took a
step toward the camera. “Now, here is
the rule. As of this moment, it is the
morning of Saturday, February the first, 2014.
One week from now, on the eighth, another tragedy shall strike, and once
again, a number of humans shall die equal to the number of remaining angels on
this planet. Your task, humanity, is to
do anything you can to reduce that number.
Kill as many Angels as you can.”
Bavandersloth raised his fist for the camera. “Arrange for their executions. Hunt them down. The more of them you eliminate, the more
humans you shall save.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
grinned. “You have one week,
humanity. One short week to begin
exterminating them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll manage to get rid of them
entirely and subvert the tragedy all together.”
Bavandersloth chuckled. “But probably
not. You might as well try though. After all, what do you have to lose?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
laughed for a few minutes and then turned off the camera. He’d trim the footage a bit and then upload
it online.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
cloaked himself and started down the road.
He looked up in the sky. Just as
he had planned, the smoke from the explosion had risen. With Kgobauru’s enchantments, it should
remain there for the foreseeable future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
smoke, having risen, split and clumped together, shaping itself into a string
of characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Consolas; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“2161”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-53022906319357651462014-11-16T19:17:00.000-08:002014-11-16T19:17:01.885-08:00Void<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
am in outer space. I look at my wrist. There’s an indicator on it telling me I have
ten minutes of oxygen left. When it runs
out, I will not be able to breathe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
hear something behind me. There’s no
sound in space. It’s like a
screech. I don’t know what it is. I turn around. I see my ship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
wonder if it’s possible to get back to the ship. We had been delivering something. I don’t remember what it was. Was I ever told? I look at my wrist. Five minutes already? I don’t think I was ever told what I was
delivering. All I was told was not to
touch it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I
hear the screech behind me again. I try
to turn around. I set myself
spinning. My eyes widen as I see it in
the distance. It’s like a shadow, a
screeching shadow. I check my wrist. Seven minutes. The thing comes closer. I’m spinning around, and each time I turn to
face it again, it’s closer. The Ship
behind it is beyond repair. That’s
clear. There’s no hope for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
shadow never moves when I look at it.
It’s just closer when I face it the next time. I check my wrist. I have Three and a half minutes to live. I feel short of breath. I can see the creature now. It’s much closer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> My
heart beats. I feel sweat dripping down
my face. I look at my wrist. I have just over four minutes. When I look up, it’s only feet away. I look into its eyes. I look down at my oxygen indicator. It’s out.
I have no time left. The creature
reaches out to grab me. My eyes widen,
and then close. I can feel the creature
sticking its hand through my suit and squeezing on my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-79817770888525047552014-11-09T18:32:00.000-08:002014-11-09T18:32:02.364-08:00A Fate Worse than Death<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Johnathan pulled up to
the stadium in his car. He got out and
ran towards the woman whose name he’d seen on his mystical stone earlier. She’d been targeted by a specter. If the creature could be prevented from
touching the target it had designated, in this case her, while she was alive,
the creature would die. If it was
allowed to touch her while she was alive, it would claim her soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Johnathan
ran through the entrance to the stadium. Through his enchanted sunglasses he could see
the specter approaching its victim.
Johnathan rushed through the crowd towards the woman as the specter
headed towards her. As he ran, the crowd
noticed him. The woman turned, looked,
and screamed. Knife outstretched,
Johnathan was barely able to dig his dagger into her throat before the specter
could put its hand on her. Blood
spattered onto Johnathan’s sunglasses and mask.
The woman fell to the ground.
Having been prevented from absorbing its targeted soul, the specter
faded away. As it did, all of the souls
it had collected until then were freed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The entire crowd looked
at Johnathan, eyes widened. The band who
they had gathered to see had ceased playing.
Johnathan looked out at the crowd while holding his blood-soaked
knife. He could see a few of them
fiddling with their cell phones. Johnathan
needed to get away if he was going to get to the other targets in time to stop
the rest of the specters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He reached out into the
crowd and grabbed a young boy. As he
did, the boy’s mother screamed.
Johnathan held the knife up to the boy’s throat. “Out of my way,” he said, “or the kid gets it.” Over the next several seconds, the crowd
parted to make way for him to leave.
Johnathan walked away, carrying the child. People would gasp as he passed by them. The child was begging for his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Please, please put me
down. Let me go,” the child said,
crying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll put you down when
I don’t need you anymore,” Johnathan said.
Johnathan kept the child until he was outside the main auditorium. He turned around. Johnathan saw the boy’s mother running
through the crowd towards him. He held
the knife closer to the boy’s throat.
The mother looked at Johnathan with pleading eyes. Johnathan looked back with his own eyes
obscured behind his glasses. The woman
fell to her knees, sobbing. Johnathan
continued towards the stadium’s exit. He
didn’t have very long before the next specter struck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After exiting the
stadium, Johnathan walked with the boy all the way out to his car. Once he got there, he let the boy go. Crying, the boy ran back towards the stadium. Johnathan entered his car and sped away. He needed to hurry to the next target.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-91283787934266927622014-11-07T21:17:00.000-08:002014-11-07T21:17:22.700-08:00Angel of Death 1.20 The Fate of the World<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Onyx; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You are now entering
the realm of Bavandersloth: Master of the Council and Lich King of the Earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stared at the sign for a while. Was this
real? Was it another hallucination? It had to be one. Gborin’gargoth had just said he was going to
show Cody what the world would be like when Bavandersloth won. It had to be a hallucination then. If that was the case, that meant there was a
way back home. Gborin’gargoth would only
have bothered with a hallucination if he wanted Cody to act differently than he
otherwise would because of what he saw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> So
how would Cody find the way out? Gborin’gargoth
said he needed to see what the world would be like under Bavandersloth’s rule,
so doing that would probably get him back.
The best way to learn that would be to explore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took his human form and started walking.
He followed the road he was on, heading toward the sign, into
Bavandersloth’s territory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
wasn’t long before he gave up on using his human form and moved to covering
more ground in his true form. He’d
initially been concerned about what would happen if someone saw him, but that
gave way to his concern that he might never get anywhere at the speed his human
form restricted him to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
he walked, he encountered large fields of various crops. He saw orchards first: thick forests full of
apple and peach trees. Several miles
later, he came across wheat and corn fields.
Past that, he found fields of carrots and potatoes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
re-took his human form when he saw a group of buildings just on the horizon. He was finally getting close to a town. It was about half an hour before he arrived
near the limits of the town. As he
approached, he saw a tall, steel wall.
In the center of the side he was facing, there was a large gate. Cody saw guards on top of the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. He probably wanted to get
inside. That should be easy enough. If this was a world run by liches, he ought
to be able to ask for entrance and be granted it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took his true form and, uncloaked, approached the gate. “Guards,” he shouted. The guards’ eyes widened. They looked down at him. They kneeled, closed their eyes and bowed
their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Lord,
why do you honor us with your presence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. This was going well. “Unpleasant reports have come in about this
area. The gravity of these reports
demands that a lich come in person to investigate. Bavandersloth asked me to go into your city
and do so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
guards gasped. “What accusations have
been made, Lord?” one said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
might be better if I do not say. Simply
arrange that I am allowed to enter the facility and navigate it freely without
human interference.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course, Lord.” The guards pressed a
button and opened the gate. Cody went
inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked around. There were various sheds
lining the inside face of the wall. They
were clustered in groups. Cody entered
one of the sheds. He found bales of
wheat inside. He left that shed and
looked at the next one. He found the
same thing. Cody checked more. All of the sheds were used for storage. Many of them stored food. Others stored parts for various machines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Cody neared the center of the city, he saw a series of tall towers. He raised an eyebrow. Those were by far the largest buildings he’d
seen here so far. He walked closer. There were guards on the inside of the
door. He negotiated his way past them,
and was given a key-card he could use to access locked rooms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
lobby of the building was empty, for the most part. Its most prominent feature was an
elevator. Cody ignored it for now. He looked around the bottom floor. He was able to find an office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
went inside. There was no one there just
now. He saw something on the desk. His best guess was that it was a computer. He was able to find the button that turned it
on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
computer operated on a touch screen interface.
After poking around for several minutes, Cody was able to find a
database of humans in the facility. He
touched the first name on the list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "MS Outlook"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Human
00000E00800000X1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Given
Name: ‘Hana’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sex:
Female<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Occupation:
Breeding Stock, Mechanic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Chronic
Illnesses: None<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Needed
Treatments: None”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It went on to describe
her height, weight, and various other statistics about her. At the bottom, there was a description of her
personality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Human
is somber, yet obedient. Her weary and
somber demeanor usually renders her complacent and cooperative around guards
and liches. She is visibly uncomfortable
around assigned mates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Notable
Incidents: Incident 050021E6: Human was charged repairing a hydraulic
pump. When given assignment, human
protested that an injury she’d received rendered her unable to perform task
without significant pain. Despite being
assured that this was irrelevant, she continued to request reassignment to a
less laborious task. After several
minutes of continued defiance, she was taken to floor 2E for procedure
041018. Afterwards, she complied.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody took a deep
breath. He looked down and closed his
eyes. Visions of his family and friends
flashed into his mind. He looked back up
at the screen and scrolled down. He read
several more profiles. There were
significantly more women than men in this facility. The men were assigned various jobs, but all
of the women’s occupations were listed as breeding stock, followed by something
else. Cody didn’t see any female guards
or farmers. All of the serial numbers
began with “00000E008,” but varied thereafter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody left behind the
files and looked up “protocol.” He
noticed he could have them sorted by category.
He did. He looked up the category
for human behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Universal
Regulations:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“060010001:
All humans are to listen to a recording of Bavandersloth’s Commands three (3)
times daily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“060010002:
Humans are not permitted to exit their site of residence except while complying
with authorized evacuation procedures.*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“060010003:
Humans are not permitted to physically assault each other.*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“060010004:
Humans are not permitted to tamper with equipment of any kind.*”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody peeked down at the
footnote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“*Regulation
is not applicable to humans with some occupations. To find exceptions, consult the regulations
for those occupations.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody read through the
last of the regulations. Near the end,
punishments were prescribed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“6001010E:
Humans in violation of the rules given to them are to be taken to Floor 2E for
appropriate discipline. See set 06081
for guidelines.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Next, Cody looked at
the regulations for “Agricultural Laborer.”
He took note of one of the rules.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“60E0095:
Agricultural Laborers are permitted to leave site grounds in exception to
general regulations only to enter assigned fields to perform assigned duties.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
spent a few more hours looking through the database.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
Cody was done with the lowest floor, he moved to the elevator. Inside, he saw the elevator buttons were
notated strangely. There were evidently
thirty-six floors. They were labeled
“00, 01, 02, 03, 04 etc… 09, 0X, 0E, 10, 11etc… 1X, 1E, 20 etc…” It was base twelve, Cody realized. The serial numbers on the computer had been
the same way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
pressed the button to go to the top floor, ‘2E.’ The computer had said this was where
discipline took place. After the
elevator brought him there, he exited.
He was on the roof. His eyes
widened as he looked around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
most obvious feature on the roof was the row of five tables lined up in its
center. Each table was covered in
straps. Next to each one was a rack
containing a whip, what looked like a large pizza cutter, several metal spikes,
a meat cleaver, and a device Cody didn’t recognize. All of the devices looked clean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
wanted to turn around, but forced himself to look further. There was another obvious feature of the
roof. It was surrounded on all sides by
a small fence. The stretch of fence on
the side opposite him had a latch on one side and two hinges on the other. Cody shuddered, but was able to make himself
approach the latch. After he made a
padlock decay away, was able to swing the gate right open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. His eyes widened. He saw a metal pad below. No, it wasn’t a pad. Cody saw a track next to it. It was a cover for something underneath it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked around. He found a button. He gulped and approached it. He pressed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
looked down at the pad as it opened to reveal a pit. When he saw inside, he stepped back from the
roof and covered his mouth. The pit was
full of corpses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He tried to cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
moment later, Cody heard a voice behind him.
“I trust they are decomposing in a manner compliant with protocol?” Cody turned around. His eyes widened. It was Bavandersloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
got an interesting call from one of my guards at this facility, something about
an inspection I never requested.
Naturally, I was curious about how this mistake came about, so I called
you. I’m sure you remember. You told me that you had no idea what I was
talking about, and that you were in your palace having dinner. Just to be sure, though, I came myself, and
look what I found.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
approached Cody. Cody backed away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
wouldn’t back up too far. A form isn’t
of much use once it has fallen from a rooftop.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What’s
the matter? This is hardly the first
time you’ve seen a facility for execution by impact.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
backed up another few paces. He found
himself on the edge of the roof. He
couldn’t go any farther back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
raised an eyebrow. “That wasn’t you I
called earlier, was it?” he asked. “Who
are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
Cody.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody? You’ve not answered to Cody in a while.” Bavandersloth paused. He took a few steps closer to Cody. “Take your human form,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Take
your human form.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a few breaths. Bavandersloth held
out his arm. “Do it now, or I’ll blast
you off the edge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He took his human
form. Bavandersloth gasped and took a
step backward. “Well, well,” he
said. “That’s… interesting.” Bavandersloth put his hand down. “Do you mind coming with me? I’m sure we can get this sorted out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stepped to the side, toward the hinge which connected the section of fence on
the right side of the roof to the section he’d unlatched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come
now, Odelarch. It’s Bavandersloth. Even at that age, I seem to recall us being
on the same side.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tried to shed another tear as he stepped closer to the gate until he was on the
corner of the roof near the hinge.
Bavandersloth approached him.
Cody put his hand on the gate. He
felt it swing in the wind as he touched it.
He heard its hinge squeak.
Bavandersloth took another step.
Cody held tightly onto the gate as he jumped off the roof. He let go with one hand and climbed onto the
gate’s opposite side. He looked over at
the next lower floor. He saw a
window. He swung over, jumping from the
gate to the window. He punched the glass
and climbed inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
found another office. He ran out into
the corridor. At its end, he found the
door to a room labeled “Nursery.” He
opened the door. There were rows of
babies inside, each in a medical pod of some sort. There were tags near each of their
tables. About two thirds of them read
“2E” in large letters. Cody gulped. He thought about his family again. He ran out the room’s other door and to the
elevator. When he reached it, it
opened. Bavandersloth was inside. He stepped out. Cody turned around and ran. Bavandersloth reached out and fired a magical
beam at Cody, causing Cody to fall over.
Bavandersloth ran up to him and grabbed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
forced Cody’s hands together with one arm and put the other around his neck as
he stood Cody up. Cody fired backward,
but Bavandersloth kept Cody’s palms pointed away from him. Cody struggled, but Bavandersloth was able to
keep his grip. “Calm down, Cody,”
Bavandersloth said. “We can…” Cody
continued struggling. “Do you know
what? Fine. Be like that.” Cody felt a pressure against his back. He blacked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
awoke in a concrete cell. He stumbled to
his feet and looked around. The floor
and three walls were made of cement. In
front of him was a row of rusty bars.
Bavandersloth sat on the other side.
He looked at Cody and smiled.
“Ah, good to see you awake.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
glared at Bavandersloth. “Where am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “My
palace. There’s a special dungeon
designed specifically to contain liches.
It’s a maze, actually. You’re at
the back of it, and I have a specter making sure it’s impossible for you to see
your way around. If you try to leave,
I’ll know long before you have any chance of navigating it blind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
these bars aren’t real?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down and took a deep breath. He
sat down on a cot in the corner of the room.
Bavandersloth scooted forward.
“Look,” he said, “I want to help you.
I know you must be a great deal more confused than I am. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you
have.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up at Bavandersloth. He clenched
his fist. “Okay. The last thing I remember is leaving <i>Joy’s Coast</i> after the incident with the
specters. Tell me everything that’s
happened since then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Alright then.” He scooted forward, closer to Cody. “I believe by then I’d already started to use
my powers over television?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Yeah, for about three weeks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
I did it more. At first I only used it
to keep suspicion off of me and keep my public image as positive as
possible. After a while, though, I
started to use it a little more actively.
First thing, I got my own show. I
was able to get a prime time slot on a major network. That was the point of going public. I was trying to keep the world’s interest
high. On that show… well, I did a lot of
things, but the most important one was that I used the power to make them keep
coming back. I grew my audience. I told them all that they had to get their
friends to come watch, and when their friends watched, I told them the same
thing. I arranged for the show to be
played in waiting rooms and in hospitals.
As time went on, I became more accepted, and could be bolder. I created sound files that had the same
effect. I spread them everywhere. I put them in ads at first. Eventually I started having my souls drive
trucks down streets, playing those sounds out of loudspeakers. It took a while, but I was eventually able to
grow my audience to the point where I could make my boldest move.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
raised an eyebrow. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “I told them that I was their
master. I told them that it was their
obligation to do everything I say.”
Bavandersloth sat back. “Of
course, that’s not quite the same thing as controlling their minds and forcing
them to do it, but it’s still near enough that it worked. The people who hadn’t seen the show didn’t
realize what was going on in time to react, and after a short war and a long
period of clean-up, every human was under my thrall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “From
there, I set out to build a society for our kind. I gave the book to eight-thousand humans to
increase our numbers and the council divided the world into ten-thousand slices
and gave one to each lich. Most of the
territories, called realms, operate in basically the same way, including
mine. There are a few outliers, but the
city you saw was typical.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
the infanticide?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
few reasons. Firstly, I received help in
conquering the world from Kandrinarkora, and one of his conditions was that I
ensure the creation of as many souls as possible. Many of the humans created are useless except
for that purpose. All they need is to
exist, and only for a moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Does
Kandrinarkora rule the underworld now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. The other part of the deal was that I help
him take it back over.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> So
that was why Gborin’gargoth cared so much about keeping Bavandersloth from
taking over. It was a threat to his rule
of the underworld.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
did you help?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
chuckled. “That’s a long story. I wasn’t done with your last question. There are two other reasons for the
infanticide. First, desirability. We select for the traits we desire, both in
general, like obedience, and for specific occupations. Guards should be aggressive. Farmers should be strong, etc. Those not well-suited to any task are tagged
for re-evaluation and if no error was made they are killed. Second, the gender ratio. I presume you saw in the computer that most
of the humans are women. That is,
essentially, because a woman may be impregnated about once every
two-hundred-eighty days, while a man may impregnate a woman once every two days. Hence, it is most efficient to have one male
for every one-hundred-forty females as breeding stock. That is why we use almost every female for
that purpose, and use only men for anything mutually exclusive with pregnancy. Still, we don’t need anywhere near one-hundred-thirty-nine
males to do that work, so some of them are killed. If you’d stayed in the nursery longer, you
would have noticed that almost all of the ones labeled for infanticide were
male.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
you just throw them off a building?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
the mode of death that uses the fewest resources. You should be happy. We torture the ones we execute for
disobedience before removing them, but for the babies and the old, death comes
before there’s any opportunity for pain.
The roof is too high up for there to be any risk of them surviving, even
for a moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
happened to Lester, Cherie and my parents?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They’re
brainwashed like the others. Legally
speaking, they’re your live-in servants, though you treat them well. Their fate is certainly better than it would
have been if you had resisted me.”
Cody’s head hung down.
Bavandersloth stood up and entered Cody’s cell, passing right through
the bars. He put his hand on Cody’s
shoulder. Cody swatted it away. Bavandersloth frowned and stepped back. “Look, I know what you’re going through--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No
you don’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes
I do. I’ve seen you go through it
before. I watched you, and helped you,
as you adapted to this new world. It
took a long time for you to cope with this state of affairs, but you managed
it, and you can manage it again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
gulped. He took a deep breath and stood
up. “Can I speak to my future self?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “What? Why not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He
specifically requested not to see you.
He doesn’t want to be reminded of his past. He finds the memories too painful.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He tried to cry. He allowed himself to fall onto the floor so
that he sat with his knees bent. He
wrapped his arms around his legs. He
looked up at Bavandersloth. “Are there
any other liches I am allowed to see?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
sure. Anyone but Tkoralkiarch is fine,
really. You can talk to Rngwelokt,
Kgobauru, Nglavingithu--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nglavingithu?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
student of mine. I’m sorry; it slipped
my mind that you’d not met him yet. He
helped you a lot the first time you adjusted.
I was too busy managing things to be as big of a help to you as I wish I
could have been. Building all of those
facilities, managing the whole human population, all of that was a lot of work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
leaned back on the cot. He sighed. “I’ll think on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “You do that. If you don’t mind, I’ll go ahead and leave
you alone now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
walked away. Cody sat, clenching his
fists. He tried again to shed a tear. He still couldn’t in his true form. He waited until he was pretty sure
Bavandersloth was farther away. He
gritted his teeth and seethed. He
shouted and punched the wall behind him, leaving a hole in it. He took his human form and fell to his knees,
sobbing, his head down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
were right,” he whispered. “You were
right, Gborin’gargoth. I am a coward.” Cody’s head sank lower. “No, I was.
You can go ahead and take me back now.
I’ll help you. My parents, my
friends, they’re not worth this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard Gborin’s voice. “Not yet. There’s still more for you to see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
more could there be?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Try
to find your own way back to the past.
You will discover it in the course of that path.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
wiped a tear from his face. “In case you
didn’t notice, I’m not exactly free to leave this dungeon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
voice took a second to respond.
“True. I can help you with
that.” There was a pause. “I’ve cast the specters away from you. That should make it possible for you to
escape.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
he’ll still see me. He probably has
souls watching me right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “True. Let me take care of those.” There was another pause. “Alright then. They’re not a problem anymore. You can sneak out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. He stood up and
turned around. Sure enough, there were
no bars. Cody took his true form and
ran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
came to a fork in the road. He could
either go right or left. He went
right. That led to another fork, where
he could go straight or right. He went
straight. That led him to a dead
end. He turned back and went right at
the fork. A few paths branched from
there, but they were all dead ends. Cody
turned back to the first fork and went from there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
followed the next fork. He didn’t do
much better at first, but he was eventually able to find a door. It required a code to open it. Cody tried to make the wall next to it decay
away. He got a few inches in before
encountering a strange gelatin-like substance.
It was beige and semi-transparent. Cody willed it to decay away. It didn’t.
He raised an eyebrow. DIAPP had
substances that liches couldn’t make decay.
Maybe Bavandersloth had worked on developing that technology
further. Cody punched the blob. His fist was buried into it, but nothing was
accomplished. He thought. He made more of the wall decay away. He stood back and blasted the gelatin. He was able to make a hole in the blob. It took a few more blasts before he could get
to the other side and make the opposite wall decay away. He did the same for the next wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> By
this method, he was able to find the exit in a few hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
peaked around the corner and up the stairs.
There were guards there. Cody
thought. He got an even better
idea. He went a little ways back into the
maze and tunneled downward. He was able
to make the ground under him disappear and make sand appear around him,
imitating the natural decay of rock by wind and rain. Before too long, though, he ran into more of
the gelatin. He tunneled to the side. Cody tunneled for a while, but when he
reached the edge of the maze, he encountered another sheet of the strange
jelly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Like
it?” Cody heard behind him. His eyes
widened. He turned around. Bavandersloth stood behind him. “Our chemists created it. It’s a substance that doesn’t decay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
glared at Bavandersloth. He looked down
and took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
bother escaping? What is there for you
on the outside?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. Gborin’gargoth said to try to
get back. Cody’s future self would be
the one most likely to help him.
Bavandersloth had probably lied about his future self not wanting to see
him. If all of this happened, Cody would
do anything for a second chance. Cody
looked up at Bavandersloth. He looked
down. He closed his eyes. “I need he--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Suddenly,
Cody was outside the palace. He looked
around. He was in a farm. He didn’t see anyone around. He looked up.
“Where am I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
for you to figure out. I only help you
when there is no other way for you to escape.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
why didn’t you poof me out at the start?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Because
you could have gotten out with the help I gave you. You just weren’t smart enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What? How?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
let you figure it out for yourself.
Here’s a hint: The guards didn’t know what you looked like.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood. He looked down and sighed. He needed to figure out where he was. He saw trees in the distance to his one
side. The last farm had been ringed with
apple trees. He was standing in a field
of wheat. He remembered what the last
city had looked like. According to the
computer, the orchards were always the farthest fields from the city’s center
so fleeing humans would be out in the open for as long as possible before being
able to hide in the trees. That meant
that if he went away from the trees, he’d approach the city’s center.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
did just that, and it worked. He walked
through a few more fields and eventually neared the wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
sun was rising by the time Cody was close enough to the wall to see the guards
standing on top of it. Their backs were
to him. Cody heard music playing in the
distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
moved along the wall, hoping to find a place where he might be able to enter
the city. As he neared one corner, he
heard the music get a little louder. A
second later, he heard Bavandersloth’s voice speak over the music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
humans, great and small, rich and poor,” he began, “for seven months, as of
this very day, I and my community of Angels,” there was a pause, “of liches, I
may as well frankly admit, have served your interests. Through our heroism, we have reduced crime to
a fraction of what it once was. We have
stopped disasters. We have healed the
sick and dying. We have brought villains
to justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“However, at the very
same time, you have seen the villains of the world fight back. Despite our vigilance, and the reduction of
petty crime, countless lives have been lost in several recent tragedies at the
hands of various criminal organizations.
Governments that ought not to have fallen have fallen in recent months. Others have been tainted by scandal to a point
where you, the people, rightly, do not trust them any longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Because of these
facts, I am forced to commit drastic action.
This action saddens me for its desperation and difficulty, but also
fills me with hope for the opportunity it represents. I am both afraid and delighted to announce
that I believe it necessary for this planet to give over its governance to the
community of liches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“World leaders, you
must submit your land and powers to our community. You must not resist my appropriation of your territories. Common folk, you must bend and not resist my
coming reign. To all, you must bend to
my will. You must accept me as
humanity’s master. You must obey my
every command as I will it, and you must do the same for any I should appoint
to represent me in any capacity. You
must never act in any way against my will, and you must never disbelieve
anything I say. You must obey me as a
perfect slave obeys its master.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I will not lie to you;
it is likely that this will be difficult at first. However, if there is one thing I know about
humanity and my community, it’s that there is no challenge that our power and
your resolve, when combined together, cannot face and conquer.” Cody heard a pause. “With this scythe in hand, I shall devour the
souls of the unrighteous, as shall all my kind, and when they have left, we
shall establish an ideal order: a society in excess of any other: One where our
kind and yours shall live in glorious harmony for all eternity, and one where
prosperity shall be present for all, and where peace shall reign as I do,
forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The humans inside the
wall cheered. Cody thought. Seven months to the day. He needed to remember that. He repeated it a few times in his mind to
commit it to memory. He heard a human
speak. “And now, in the name of our Lord
Odelarch and our God and King Bavandersloth, let the day begin.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes
widened. He was in his realm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. He needed to learn where his
palace was. His first instinct was to
just show himself and get inside, but if Bavandersloth had put out a message of
some sort, he might be apprehended. No,
that was stupid. These were human
guards. Let them try to apprehend him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then
again, they might give away his location.
Still, he’d be well clear by the time Bavandersloth found him, and
Gborin’gargoth would bail him out if worst came to worst.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
approached the gate as two guards stood at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Guards,”
he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
guards turned around and looked down at him.
They kneeled. “Lord Odelarch,”
one said, “why have you honored us with your presence?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
no need to explain it to you. Simply
allow me inside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
would be happy to, master, but…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
what? Did you not hear what
Bavandersloth said? You must obey me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Master,”
one of them said, trembling, “we are honored by your visit, however, only half
an hour ago, we learned that there is an imposter on the loose. By your own orders, we request that you show
us your human form before we let you pass.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
clenched his teeth. Drat. He thought.
If he was caught, Gborin’gargoth would probably let him out again. Still, he would be back to square one. Perhaps there was an easier way to learn the
location of his palace. These humans
still respected him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Pop
quiz,” Cody blurted, “which way’s my palace?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
to the northeas… wait, why did you--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
was off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
ran northeast for about three hours before he saw the boarder of his realm’s
capital. The farms outside it were much
smaller than the ones outside of both of the other cities he’d seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Cody neared the wall, he thought. He
needed to get inside the city, ideally without being noticed. Could he climb over the wall? Perhaps.
Cody walked part of the way around the wall. It was made of steel. Cody got an idea and smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
made sure there were no guards nearby, and then made a section of the wall decay
away. Not too much of it; just a small
hole. He used the hole to climb up the
wall. He created several more holes, and
used them to support himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> At
one point, Cody heard some guards coming.
His eyes widened. He couldn’t get
away in time not to raise any alarm.
Cody rushed up the wall and climbed up the ledge onto the top, stepping
right in front of the guards, intending to immobilize them before they could
alert anyone to his position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Before
he could knock them out, both of the guards pressed buttons on their
suits. An alarm sounded. Cody heard people screaming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
jumped off the wall and landed in the city.
He dashed toward the palace. He
could see it in the center of the city, only a few minutes away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Grass
was flattened by Cody’s feet as he ran.
He saw a guard coming from the left.
He swerved to the right, forcing the guard to end up behind him. Cody was able to outrun the guard with
ease. Another guard came at him from the
right. Cody used the same maneuver. It took him a few minutes to get to the steps
of the palace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
whole place was built to accord with a lich’s idea of beauty. Fountains of blood, possibly fake blood,
mixed with slimy dark brown goop flowed outside. The handrails on the palace’s sickly green
steps were coated with rust. The columns
which held up the disgusting brown roof were coated with something squishy and
pink. Carrion flowers sat in gardens
rimming the palace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
dashed up the steps, feeling them smack against his feet. He approached the palace’s large doors and
yanked them open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Once
inside, he looked around. There were
indoor fountains similar to the outdoor ones Cody had seen. Hideous paintings covered the walls. More carrion flowers were potted and
scattered around the hallway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
took Cody about ten minutes to stumble on the throne room. He barged in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
future self stood up when he saw Cody enter the room. His eyes were wide. Cody stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two stared at each other for a moment.
The older lich’s guards pointed machine guns at Cody. The older lich waved his hand. “At ease,” he said. Cody smiled, but then his older self held out
his own hand. He stepped forward from
his throne. “Bavandersloth is concerned
that you’re a threat to our order. Are
you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stepped back. It seemed like his older
self’s voice had deepened a bit. He took
a deep breath. “Are there souls in here
to worry about?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There
are,” the older Cody said. “However, we
can go into my private chamber if you want.
Bavandersloth’s souls are forbidden to follow us into there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. He nodded. “That sounds good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Odelarch
turned to his guards. “Stay here.” They nodded.
Cody and Odelarch walked down the hall.
“I feel I should clarify,” Odelarch said to Cody, “that when I asked if
you were a threat, I meant more along the lines of attacking our structures in
this world. There’s no one who doesn’t
know that you’d like to go back in time and change things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
that possible?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
has forbidden it for you. He wants you
to be kept here where you cannot be a threat.
Either he or Nglavingithu--or I, if I have a say in it--shall mentor
you, and you will be given control of the next realm to lose its ruler.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
year is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “2042
on your calendar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two arrived at Odelarch’s private chamber.
A middle-aged blond woman sat on the bed. Odelarch smiled at her. “Cherry,” he said. The woman looked at Odelarch, then at
Cody. She moved back, her eyes
wide. “I need you to leave the room for
a moment, Cherry,” Odelarch said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
stood up. She nodded. She didn’t say a word as she left, but walked
slowly past Cody. Once she was gone,
Odelarch closed the door. The two sat
down on the bed Cherie had been on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
how can I go back?” Cody asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
does not matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “What? What do you mean it does--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody,”
Odelarch said, “I remember the trip to the future you’re going through right
now. I know exactly when you’ll go
back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “When?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Before
this conversation is over.” Odelarch
looked up. “At the time, I wasn’t sure
it was real time travel, but I suppose the fact that I’m experiencing this now
proves it.” Odelarch looked back down at
Cody. “That proves nothing to you, of
course.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
how do I go back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Gborin’gargoth
brought you here because he wanted you to learn about this future. He hoped it would inspire you to action. He failed, in my timeline, and since this
trip has gone as I remember it, I suspect he fails in yours too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “No! That can’t be true. There still has to be a way to change things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Maybe,
but probably not.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can’t accept that. I have to try. Do you remember what happened before you were
sent back? Can we recreate that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Odelarch nodded and
took a deep breath. “We can do just
that.” He put his hand on Cody’s
shoulder. “Cody,” he said, “you must
understand that I am wiser than you. In
many ways, I am precisely a wiser version of you. With my wisdom has come understanding.” Odelarch looked down at Cody. “And with that understanding has come
evolution. The truth Gborin’gargoth
thinks you will find so horrible is how my thinking has evolved.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “Wait… You’re not saying…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t want you to change the past or the present,” Odelarch said. “I like things just the way they are.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He trembled a bit. He stood up and backed away. Odelarch’s gaze followed him. “I remember how it felt,” Odelarch said. “Go ahead.
Say it. I don’t mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
a monster.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Valthakar
was right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
could you say that? How could you
cave?” Cody tried to shed a tear. “After all of the fighting I did, after all
of the people I saved, how could you cave?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “When
a person casts their soul into an object they are not simply casting out a lump
of spirit. They are dooming their soul,
Cody. Notions of goodness, of even the
vaguest sort, decay like all other things, most especially in us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.” Cody took another few steps back. He took his human form so he could sob. “Damn it Cody, you know better than that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “On
the contrary, you know better than what you’re saying. Have you ever questioned what your ideals are
grounded in, Cody? They’re a
fiction. They’re a fiction created by
evolution as an aid to the survival of a race to which you and I no longer
belong. Throughout your entire life, they
have only ever caused you pain and suffering.
All your life, you’ve sacrificed your happiness to uphold them, and all
your life you’ve plunged yourself into sadness when you could not. You can never live up to them in any form,
and you know it. You’re a lich, Cody.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
doesn’t matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
doesn’t matter?” Odelarch stood up. “Good God, Cody, listen to yourself. You devour human souls for sustenance. You spend your days helping a man take over
the world. Do you think anything’s going
to change after this? You love your
friends and family far too much to let them die. That is your weakness. It’s my weakness too, and it’s a weakness I
will have until their bodies grow too old and I have to devour them to keep
them on this earth.” Cody took another
step back. “You haven’t the power of
will to suffer loss. Not even
close. You’ve always been a slave to
your emotions. They are the reason you
have been good and they are the reason you shall be evil.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
cried. “That’s not true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
why am I standing here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sobbed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Odelarch
took a step toward Cody. Cody moved
backward. He stood up, took his true
form, and turned around. He ran.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Before
he got too far down the hall, he saw a portal up ahead. He sprinted for it. He could see the parking lot he’d been in
before on the other side. Cody jumped
through, landing on his stomach. Gborin
was standing there outside, waiting for him.
Cody thought he heard the portal close behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gborin
looked down on Cody for a moment. “Are
you willing?” he finally said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood up. He looked up at Gborin. “My future self said he remembered you
sending me there. Does that mean there’s
nothing that can be done?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gborin’s
head sank a bit. “That means it hasn’t
been done yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Then what do I do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
kill Bavandersloth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Okay.” Cody waited a moment. “Was all of that real time travel, or just a
hallucination?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Neither.” Gborin took a step toward Cody. “It was a shadow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
shadow?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
wills of mortals make exact prediction of the future difficult, but I’ve long
known of a creature that, casts a shadow of what it calculates to be the most
likely future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
none of that suffering has happened yet?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. The people you met were philosophical
zombies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good.” Cody looked down. “So, will Bavandersloth kill my family?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Very
possibly. I’ve blinded his and
Valthakar’s souls, so no one can see us right now, but I can’t to anything to
ensure he won’t figure out that you’re trying to stop him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
not kill him yourself? You had that
opportunity when you took him, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gborin
shook his head. “No. I didn’t have his phylactery.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Still,
couldn’t you get it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
necessarily. Justin’s ability is not as
easy to use as it appears, and I’m currently using a large portion of my power
for something else.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
keeping Kandrinarkora from coming back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
less I tell you, the better, but Kandrinarkora is trying to come back, and this
planet is essential to his efforts. With
me doing what I’m doing right now, he can’t release himself. Someone from the other side, though, could
release him, and there are plenty of beings who’d volunteer. It’d be a long and complicated process, though,
and the people of this world would want to try and stop him. That is, of course, unless Bavandersloth
pacifies this planet. If that happens,
he shall return.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
that why he sent that dragon then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. His goal then was to end life on this
planet. That way, his agents can run
around here as they will and release him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So,
like, is he here or--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Gborin
shushed Cody. “The less I tell you, the
better. All you need to know is
this: If you lose, not only shall the
whole of the human race face slavery at Bavandersloth’s hands, but his reign in
the Underworld would resume. That would
mean that this world would be far from the only one to look like the Spirit
Farms of old. Worse still, he’d abolish
the afterlife. Souls are at their most
efficient when they’re deactivated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Deactivated?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “When
a soul is forced into a dormant state, consciousness ceases. Because it doesn’t have to do anything, even
think, all of its magic is up for grabs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
the underworld just wants magical energy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Right. It was originally programmed to supply energy
to the gods, but a glitch in their instructions caused it to stop them from
taking its power. Now it simply collects
magic to no end at all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay
then,” Cody said. He clenched his fist. “I think I can do this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good. I’ll be available for you to talk to any time
you want. What little power I can spare,
I’ll be happy to use, but the bulk of the responsibility here lies on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
already have a plan. We need to find a
way to ensure Justin will believe me when I tell him the truth about
Bavandersloth. If I just tell him now, it’ll
be Bavandersloth’s word against mine, and Bavandersloth will probably be able
to weasel out of that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
need proof, then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Exactly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Think
on that, then. I’ll think about it
too. We’ll speak again soon. If you need me, just whisper my name. Bavandersloth’s souls won’t be able to hear
you if you’re quiet enough. They’re not
usually that close to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay,”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
and that thing you do where you eat extra souls to try to keep them out of
hell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Stop
that. I won’t say anymore, but it’s
based on a misconception of how things work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He looked down. “Oh, okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
feel bad. You didn’t know any better.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “Alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned back to the abandoned streets of the Northwest District. The sun was creeping up on the horizon. Odd, it’d felt like he’d spend longer in the
future. Perhaps Gborin had compressed
time for him. Was that possible? If he had, he hadn’t done it enough. Cody’d have to go without food tonight if he
was going to get back home in time to be there when his parents woke up. Cody sprinted home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-48967050431410053472014-10-31T20:21:00.000-07:002014-10-31T20:39:00.516-07:00Angel of Death 1.19 The Coward's Cage<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stayed behind and helped Lester clean up the game pieces after his usual group,
minus Allen, finished playing their game.
“So you’ve still managed to avoid it?” Cody asked as he folded up a game
board.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sighed. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. “Well that’s good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “My
parents have both seen it though. Same
with my sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. “Oh.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
shed a tear as he put an orc statuette into a bin. “Do you remember when I asked you about what
you’d do with me if Bavandersloth won?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
never said.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
ask Bavandersloth what options he has available.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
shed another tear. Cody went over to
him. “Hey, hey, it’s alright.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked up at Cody. “Shut up,” he
said. He looked back down. “It’s not and you know that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He sighed and went back
over to the table and put away a few tokens.
“I’ll do whatever I can to keep you and your family safe – Steven and
Reidel too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
how much will that be?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
paused. “Look, Lester…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Lester
I haven’t actively helped him since--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Since
his rampage. That was, what, a month
ago?” Cody was silent. Lester took a deep breath. He walked over and put his hand on Cody’s
shoulder. “Look, I get it. I really do.
Bavandersloth isn’t giving you a choice,” Lester took a step away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “If
there were any way of stopping him--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester’s
eyes widened. “Don’t use the S
word. Not after Allen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked at Lester. Lester looked down. Cody walked over as Lester began to cry
intensely. Cody sat down next to him and
also cried for a few minutes before Cody heard a bump. His eyes widened. He stood up.
“What was that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked up. “I don’t know.” He gasped.
“You don’t think Bavandersloth’s coming again, do you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
shook his head. “We didn’t talk about
stopping him.” Cody looked down and
signed. “Close your eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
hesitated, and then did. Cody took his
true form and smelled for fear. He took
his human form again. “I can’t smell
anyone outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
stood up. “It’s probably nothing.” He walked over to the board. “C’mon, we still need to finish up before
your--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
window was shattered. Cody’s eyes
widened and he turned his head to look at it.
He stepped back. He saw a green
creature with moist fur. It looked like
it was made of decaying flesh, like him, but it clearly wasn’t a lich. It was tall, like a cylinder with a bulge at
the top which was decorated in eyestalks.
It had four long, spidery legs at its base and four longer arms emerging
from about a third of the way down from its head.</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody stepped back as it walked
toward him. He squinted.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
probably a servant of the--” the creature lunged at Cody. Lester screamed. Cody rolled out of the way as the creature
slid over the table. Cody stood up and
took his true form, but the creature grabbed him with one of its hands. Cody felt a blast coming from its hand and he
lost consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
read over some papers while Justin and Valthakar played a game together in the
next room. Just a week ago, he’d sent
letters to various networks seeking to get a show of his own. Being restricted to a short interview on the
news each night wasn’t doing him any favors, and he needed to reach more
people. He’d gotten a response from
every network he’d contacted, as he’d expected.
Most of them had already sent him a contract to sign.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
he read, he thought he heard something outside.
His eyes widened. He looked
around. He summoned a soul. “What do you want?” the soul asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Look
outside. I thought I heard something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul nodded and went. A few seconds
later, the soul came back in. Its eyes
were wide and it was gasping for air. “There’s
something out there,” the soul shouted.
“It was horrible. It has these
long tube arms, four of them, and its legs, and its eyes. Oh, God its eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
heard something crash into the mansion.
He turned his head. He saw a
large creature standing in front of him.
He stood up and took his true form.
He squinted. “What are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
creature stretched out its hand.
Bavandersloth’s eyes widened. He
jumped as a blast of magic flew out of it.
He heard gasping in the other room.
The creature pointed its hand at the door. Bavandersloth fired his own blast at the
creature, but the creature jumped over it, bending down as he jumped to keep
from hitting the ceiling. Valthakar and
Justin ran in, and the creature hit them both with magical beams, knocking them
out. Bavandersloth turned invisible as
he stood up. He heard the creature
screech. He turned to face it, and saw
its hand pointed at him. It fired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pretty
Pink Ponytails woke up in her bed. She
thought she’d heard something. She sat
up, looked around, and then hugged her stuffed unicorn. She heard another noise. She looked at her unicorn. “I think I hear a monster outside, Tiffany,” she
said. She hugged the unicorn closer
before putting it down. She reached for
the pink and blue guns on her bedside table.
“I’ll be right back after I take care of it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
skipped out of the room. She opened her
door and went outside. Her eyes
widened. The creature turned toward her. It held her brother in its arms. She held up her guns. “Who are you?” she asked. The creature walked toward her. She smiled and paced backward. “Not a chatterbox I see?” She held up her guns. “I guess we’ll have to play then. What’s your favorite gun-game?” Pink shot one of the creature’s legs. It reeled back but recovered a second
later. “You have a lot of legs.” She shot an arm this time. The creature sped up. Pink turned and ran. She tried to think. She should lure it to a place where she could
shoot something more powerful than it could take. She needed to go outside. Pink ran for the exit. As she went, the creature gained on her. Before she could get to the door, the
creature tackled her. Pink’s eyes
widened, and then she fell unconscious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
rubbed his head as he woke up. He felt a
hard slab of wood underneath him, and then felt a bit of water splash him. He raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”
He looked around. His eyes
widened. He saw a cage around him and
four people standing outside it.
“Hello?” The people didn’t
move. He stood up. He looked down and realized he was on a
wooden raft in a body of water. On
closer inspection, he realized he was in a flowing river. On still closer inspection, he realized that
the bank was only a few feet away from the river’s edge… and was made of
concrete.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked out into the foggy night and saw broken benches and overgrown
walkways. Near the river was a building
with a long-dead neon sign on it. It
read “Restrooms.” Cody was in an
amusement park, on a ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took another look around. Something dead
in him loved the look of the decaying buildings obscured by the fog just dense
enough to reveal their frames. Each one
seemed to hide beautiful secrets waiting to be discovered. It took Cody a moment to force himself to
focus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
looked back at the humans outside.
“Hello?” he said. “What’s going
on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
guards seemed to spring into life. The
one Cody was looking at started to breath.
Cody stood back as the creature in black metal armor turned around. Cody’s eyes widened as he looked at the woman
in the suit. “Cherry?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other guards turned to face Cody. He
looked around. “Mom? Dad?
Lester? What are you doing here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Quiet,
prisoner,” Cody’s mother said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody stepped back. “Prisoner?”
These weren’t his real loved ones, or if they were, something was
controlling them. “What’s going on
here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
are being escorted to your execution,” Cherie said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “My what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
are a coward,” Lester said. Cody turned
around. He felt the raft shake beneath
him. He looked ahead. The water was getting rougher.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked around. He felt a splash. “You have let your fears control you,” Cody’s
father said, “and acted contrary to your duty.
For this crime, you have been sentenced to death.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
gasped. He felt the raft dip. He fell over just in time to get covered in
water by the splash. He tried to stand
back up, but slipped. The raft came upon
a turn in the ride. The Cherie guard
spoke. “And to think, you came so close
to doing right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
are you talking about?” Cody asked. He
felt a bump. His eyes widened. The raft scraped against the edge of the
ride. Cody stood up again. Why was this happening?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
know what your duties are,” Lester said.
“If you are not a coward, prove it and leave here.” Cody heard squeaking. He looked ahead, and saw the cage door
open. Cody looked out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course,” Cherie said, “if we fail to deliver you to your execution, it is us
who will be made to die.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He turned to them. “No!” he shouted. He hit another bump in the river. He fell down and felt the edge of the raft
scrape against the ride’s edge. He was
rolled over to the side of the cage, and felt his arm pressed against its
bars. He looked ahead. His eyes widened. He saw a machine in front of him. It was a metal hill with a large piece of
black rubber going around it, like a conveyer belt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked down at Cody. “Then again, if
whatever’s on the other side of that hill is capable of killing you, who knows
what it will do to us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He closed them. This wasn’t real. This couldn’t be real. Something forced his eyes open again. He felt another splash and saw the metal hill
nearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
your choice to make whether or not you will leave this cage,” Cody’s father
said. “But you must make it before time
runs out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
are not the only one who has been sentenced to death,” his mother said. Cody stood up, but was knocked back down by
the river.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
might have the chance to save them all,” Cherie said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Guys,
get off the raft. Try to stop it. Is there anything you can do?” The raft met the metal hill and was lifted by
the black rubber.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
have to stop it,” Cherie said. Cody
heard screaming. He turned around. The river behind him was backed up with
rafts, each with a caged person on it.
Cody turned back around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
you won’t stop it,” Lester said. “You’re
a coward.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Guys,
no.” Cody rose higher and higher. His raft lifted up over the head of the
hill. Cody looked down. He saw the water plunging into a black,
endless abyss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Looks
like we’ll fall down there too,” Cherie said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood up. He clinched his fist and ran
for the cage exit. It slammed shut. Cody’s eyes widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
just had your chance,” Lester said. “You
were warned. After a while it will be
too late. That time has come.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother smiled and leaned down. “Once you
get to the top of the hill, there’s no going back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No!” Cody looked down. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his
neck. The raft lifted itself over the
edge of the hill. Cody ran toward the
back of the cage, but fell back to the front as it plummeted into the dark
abyss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
is what happens to cowards,” he heard his mother say. Cody shed a tear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
felt water splash over him as he reached the bottom of the hill. When the water had flown away, he looked
around again. He was no longer in a
cage, and the guards were gone. He was
in a small wooden building, strapped onto a raft. He looked down. He was able to undo the strap with the push
of a button.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood up. He saw a door with an exit
sign over it and left through it. He
left watery footprints behind him as he walked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
awoke in a dark room surrounded by mirrors.
He squinted and looked around. He
saw a door behind him. He went straight
to it and tried to open it but it but could not . He took his true form and willed the door to
decay away. It didn’t work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
squinted. “Huh?” He tried again. The door was still there. “C’mon door, decay. I said decay.” The door remained intact. Justin grumbled. He turned around. The building was dark. In front of him was a long hallway. Justin sighed and walked forward. After a few steps, it occurred to him that he
could summon a few of his souls and have them look around to see where he
was. He summoned two souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is it?” one asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
woke up in this building. I’m not sure
where it is.” Justin pointed to one of
the souls. “I need you to go outside and
look around. Come back in a few minutes
and see if you can give me a basic idea of where I am.” That soul nodded and flew off. Justin pointed at the other one. “And you, go down that hall and tell me
what’s up ahead. I get the feeling that
I’m going to have to go that way if I want to get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
there’s an open door behind you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
raised an eyebrow. He turned
around. The only door he saw was the one
that he’d tried to destroy a second ago.
“Where?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul flew in front of the closed door.
“Right here, master.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
door’s closed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul turned around. It tilted its
head. It turned back around. “It looks pretty open to me, master. In fact, come to think of it, I don’t see a
door at all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
thought. The soul couldn’t lie to him
unless it thought he’d want that, and Justin couldn’t think of a reason it’d
think that now. Had he succeeded in
making the door decay earlier? It still
looked closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Master.” Justin turned around. He saw the other soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
appear to be at Joy’s Coast in the Northwest District. It’s an old amusement park. This building is the hall of mirrors.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
thought. He’d been vaguely aware of this
place. He sighed. “Thank you,” he said. “You may go on your way.” The soul nodded and flew off. Justin turned to the other soul. He sighed.
“You’re sure that door isn’t closed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
looks that way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
sighed. He walked up to the door. He pressed his hand up against it, and then
tried to place his hand through it. He
saw his hand pressed against the doorway.
He could feel it squeezing on his palm.
“Is my hand passing through the doorway?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
pulled his hand back. He sighed. “Well, even if it’s open, I’ll have to go
through the hall if I don’t want it to look and feel like I’m walking around in
this room for the rest of my life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul nodded. It went ahead. After a few minutes, it came back. “I just see an ordinary hall of mirrors,
master. I don’t see anything dangerous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. “Alright,” he said. “You can go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul flew off. Justin stepped
forward. He looked to his left as he
entered the hall. He saw a mirror. It projected back a funny picture of him with
a giant head. He chuckled and moved on. He looked to his right and saw another
mirror. It showed another image of him,
but really tall and skinny. He laughed. He looked back over to his right. He saw a picture of Cody’s true form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
jumped back, and then tilted his head.
He looked around. Cody was
nowhere in sight. Justin looked at his
own arms. The same white cloth was
draped over them as always, and yet, when he looked back in that one mirror, he
saw Cody’s patchy rags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
thought. What could be doing this? Was it the same things that had attacked Cody
during his contest with Ntullnarlth? It
seemed a lot like them. If so, that
probably meant a lich had summoned them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
kept walking. He saw Cody’s reflection
in the next few mirrors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
took another step and looked at another mirror.
He flinched. He saw himself
again. He also saw the reflection of his
back in another mirror behind him. He
realized he’d never seen the back of his own outfit before, or the massive
bloodstain on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
went forward. In the next mirror he saw
a small, black figure. No, it wasn’t
small, it was far away. The mirror in
front of Justin and the mirror behind him reflected off of each other, making a
hallway that looked like it went on forever.
Justin turned around. He didn’t
see anything in the other mirror. Justin
walked forward. In the next mirror, the
figure was there again, but closer. It
was shaped like a human, with white, glowing eyes. It just stood there, maybe forty feet
away. The hall Justin was in was only
about ten feet wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a few deep breaths. He walked
forward. He closed his eyes as he walked
by the next mirror. He didn’t want to
see it. As he walked, he heard a bump to
his right. Startled, he opened his
eyes. He saw the creature again. It was only about twenty feet away. Justin looked at it closer this time. He could see it subtly swaying back and
forth, and at one point, he thought he saw it blink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a deep breath. He kept going. In the next mirror the figure was only about
ten feet away. Justin gulped. He looked at it. He kept watching the mirror as he moved
forward. The figure’s head tracked him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In
the next mirror, he saw the creature five feet away. This time, he could see it watching him as he
walked by. “Who are you?” Justin
asked. No response. He sighed.
He thought about turning back, but there was nowhere for him to go. The door was still shut for all intents and
purposes. Still, Justin called one of
his souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul flew in. “What is it, master?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
think there might be something dangerous around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul looked at him. “Where?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m not exactly
sure. I’ve only seen it in the mirrors.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The soul looked
around. “I don’t see anything in any of
the mirrors, master.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin looked
down. “I suppose you wouldn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin moved forward
and motioned for the soul to follow him.
Justin braced himself for the next mirror. He looked at it as he passed. It was him.
He sighed. Apparently that was
over. Then he looked his own reflection
in the eye and saw the same glowing white dots he’d seen on the figure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a few deep breaths. He turned. He saw the end of the hall of mirrors coming
up, and the exit door was open. He
looked back at his reflection. It didn’t
move with him; it just stood as he walked away, tracking him. He passed by the next mirror. He saw himself again, with the same eyes, but
with a rope around his arm. Someone was
pulling on the rope to move the arm up and down. The next mirror was the same, but with a rope
around his other arm too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
do you see?” Justin asked his soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “In
the mirror?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Your
reflection.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nothing
odd about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No? Do you see something wrong with it? It looks the same to me as you’ve always
looked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
sighed. In the next mirror, there were
ropes around his legs too. Justin stood
back. His reflection, eyes glowing,
danced. Justin heard a bump above
him. He looked up. He saw Bavandersloth in a mirror above him,
holding onto the ropes. He
squinted. “Huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
turned and faced forward. He
sighed. There were no more mirrors. He ran outside of the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pretty
Pink Ponytails opened her eyes. She sat
up and rubbed her head. Where was
she? What had that thing been? She stood up and looked around. She raised an eyebrow. She was on a carrousel. She tilted her head. What was she doing here? The area looked decrepit. She saw graffiti on nearby buildings, trash
and leaves were everywhere, and the gates around the carousel were rusty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
looked back at the carrousel itself. It
wasn’t rusty at all, and its paint was as bright as it’d ever been. Pink walked around it. When she got about half-way around her eyes
widened. She saw her brother. She dashed over to him and started shaking
him. “Bro?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
a few seconds, he stirred. “Huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
smiled. “Bro. Are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
sat up. “Yeah, I think so.” He looked around. His eyes widened. “Where are we?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not sure.” Pink stood up straight. “Before we got here, I saw a monster carrying
you. I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
saw it.” Zach stood up. “So this is Light-rook and his group then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
nodded. “Probably. Do you think maybe that was what they look
like under those clouds?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Could
be.” Zach sighed. “That’d explain why they don’t want anyone to
see them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
what’s that you got in your hand?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Huh?” Zachary looked at his hand. He was holding a wrench. It was covered in blood. He stared at it. “I don’t know where this came from.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Either
way,” Pink said, “if the Angels are the ones who brought us here, they’re
probably around here somewhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
nodded. “Yeah. We’d better get out of here as soon as
possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Agreed,
but that’s probably what they expect us to do.
There’s probably a trap around.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
groaned as he stood up. “Maybe, but…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
looked at Zach. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
doesn’t make any sense. If they wanted
to kill us, why didn’t they kill us while we were out instead of moving us
here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink’s
eyes widened. “And if they wanted
information, why not tie us up and be right there to ask when we wake up? And why not separate us? If I were them, I’d have moved the two of us
across town from each other.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
nodded. “Yeah. Something about this doesn’t--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
carrousel’s lights flashed on. Pink and
Zach’s eyes widened. Pink flinched as
the carrousel started moving. Zach
walked toward the edge to get off, but when he reached the edge, something
forced him back. He hit his head on the
carrousel’s center bit. Pink went over
to Zach. “You okay, bro?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah,”
Zach said, rubbing the back of his head.
It took him a second, but he stood up and grabbed a pole on the ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
turned her head and looked out from the ride.
Her eyes widened. “Bro, look.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
looked. “What?” Zach’s eyes widened. In front of both of them, outside the
carrousel, was an image of them outside their childhood home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
nearly dropped the wrench. “Wha…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Whoa,”
Pink said. She looked at herself as a
six year old, clutching Tiffany. She
realized that one of the horses on the carrousel looked a lot like Tiffany.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
are we leaving?” the younger version of Pink asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Because
it’s not safe here anymore,” the younger Zach said. “The people who killed our parents will come
after us.” The younger pink squeezed her
unicorn. “There’s a bounty on our
heads. We need to go find another place
to live now. Somewhere none of them will
find us. I’m going to try to get into
contact with some of mom and dad’s friends from work and see if they can help
us, but they might not be able to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
younger pink shed a tear. The younger
Zach walked to her and hugged her.
“Nita…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
older Pink took a step toward the unicorn on the carrousel that reminded her of
Tiffany.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
scene went away. Zach clinched his
fist. Pink turned to him. “Are you okay, bro?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Before
Zachary could respond, the outside changed again. Zach and Pink looked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
younger Zachary stood in front of an adult.
“The boss says alright,” the adult said.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zach’s face lit
up. “Really? Thank you so much Mr. Harriso--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Provided,
of course, you carry your weight around here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
stopped. He squinted. “Well, obviously. Did you think I thought I’d not have to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. The boss is curious as to how you plan to,
though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh. Easy.
My parents brought me along on a few jobs to train me. I can smuggle product, off people--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
by yourself?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah. Of course.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harrison
sighed. “I’m not sure about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach’s
eyes widened. “What? But I… I mean… in other organizations--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
have higher standards. It takes an adult
to do an adult’s job. The amount of
training you’d have gotten if your parents hadn’t died would have been enough,”
Harrison looked down, “but as it is, you’re going to have to think of something
else to get you by while you learn to do real work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
stepped back. He looked down and
sighed. “Okay.” He looked back up. “I’ll think of something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harrison
nodded. “I hope so.” He sighed.
“I’m sorry. I’ll help you any way
I can, but I can’t take care of you and your sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
nodded. He went outside, downcast. Anita was waiting on the steps. She smiled as he emerged. “Big bro.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
smiled and sat on the steps next to her.
“Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
how’d it go? Are we going to live with
mommy and daddy’s work?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
looked down. “Yeah. Probably.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Anita
raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” Zachary was silent. “You know, we could talk to Mrs…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary’s
eyes widened. “No!” Anita leaned away. Zach sighed.
“Sorry, sis. I just… if you say
the wrong thing, I could get caught, and if I get caught…” Zachary put his head
down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know. I’m sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
sighed. He looked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In
reality, on the carrousel, the real Zach scooted back. He clenched his fist. After a second, he closed his eyes and looked
away. Pink raised an eyebrow and looked
back at the scene. The younger version
of her brother looked across the street at a lady who wasn’t wearing very
much. He watched a man come up to her
and walk away with her. His eyes
widened, like he’d gotten an idea. He
turned to Anita. He sighed and looked
down. “Hey, Anita, would you do anything
to help us survive?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
are you even asking? Of course I would.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Even
if it was hard?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bro,
what’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked down and sighed. He put his hand
on Anita’s shoulder. He shed a
tear. “C’mon. We need to go back inside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Anita
leaned back. “We?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
nodded. He went inside. The scene went away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked up at Pretty Pink Ponytails. He
heard something. Pink looked at the horn
on the unicorn that looked like Tiffany.
It shook. She stood back. Its shaking intensified. Pink moved back further. It looked like it was going to fall off for a
moment, but it settled down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
went over to Zachary. “You alright bro?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
sighed. He smiled. “Yeah.
I’m fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
opened his eyes. He looked around. He was in an empty room with black walls and
a single window. He heard thunder clap
outside. He tried to stand up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He was able to sit, but
as soon as he did, some sort of straps wrapped around him and pulled him back
onto the table. They held him against
it. More wrapped around him. He tried to rip through the straps. He couldn’t.
He tried again. He gritted his
teeth. He cursed. The straps held him back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
thought. Why couldn’t he get through
these? What material could they possibly
be made of that he couldn’t break? No
such material existed, so far as he knew.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
grumbled. He thought. He summoned a soul. He waited a second. None arrived.
His eyes widened. He summoned
another one. None arrived. He seethed.
Why wasn’t anyone showing up?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
jerked. He couldn’t get free. He turned to his left. His eyes widened. He saw another lich there, one he didn’t
recognize. The lich sat on a table much
like his. Valthakar could see the straps
on the other table, though that lich wasn’t bound by them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
you,” Valthakar said to the lich.
Suddenly the lich’s eyes widened.
One of the straps rose and wrapped itself around the lich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
the…?” the lich said. The lich jerked
against the straps. He wasn’t able to
break himself free. Valthakar laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other lich turned to him. “Hey, what’s
so funny? I’m trapped here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
what’s funny. Misery loves company, I
suppose. Regardless, do you think
there’s a way to break these?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
lich pulled against his. “I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
lay back. “I doubt it. If I couldn’t do it, there’s little chance
any lich could.” Thunder clapped outside
again. Both liches looked at the window,
and then looked away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There’s
a storm outside,” the other lich said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
there?” There was a pause. “Who are you, by the way? Do you have any idea why we’re here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
lich struggled. “I’m Imornath.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
tilted his head. Imornath. That name sounded familiar. Where had he heard it before? “Do I know you?” Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t know. Who are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
Valthakar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other one’s eyes widened. “You.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
seem like you do know me, then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Know
you? You ruined my life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “Well, that could apply to a lot
of people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other lich jerked against his bonds, trying to move toward Valthakar. He made no progress. Valthakar laughed. “There’s no point in resisting those
straps. If I couldn’t get out of them,
there’s no way you can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other lich gritted his teeth and seethed.
Valthakar laughed. He didn’t so
much care about his straps anymore. He
lay back, listening to the other lich struggle and shout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
awoke on a Ferris wheel. He sat up and
rubbed his face. He looked around. It didn’t take him long to figure out he was
at Joy’s Coast. He recalled visiting it
once, in fact, back when it was open. He
summoned a few souls and had them look around.
He lay back. He thought about the
creature he’d seen. Based on its
abilities, it seemed to have been a lich, but its appearance seemed to indicate
it had been a monster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat up. No, there was another possibility. It was probably—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
thoughts were cut off by the sound of a woman singing. Bavandersloth moved to look at the road near
the wheel, making his seat in the Ferris wheel rock a bit. He looked down at the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
could see her. He shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Georgia?”
he said. The woman was too far down for
him to be able to tell if she’d responded.
He looked around. He lay back. So there was a specter about. That had to be what this was. The same creatures Ntullnarlth had used
against Odelarch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
laughed. He still couldn’t believe
Odelarch had managed to kill Ntullnarlth.
That boy had something in common with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
shook his head. He rubbed his
forehead. He didn’t feel well, like he’d
had too much wine, back when that worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed. He looked up. “I know she’s not real, you know. You can’t torment me by trapping me up here
and keeping her down there. Besides, I
haven’t cared about her in years. I did
kill her after all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Ferris wheel moved. Bavandersloth
flinched. He grumbled. He put his hand on the wheel. He thought of making it decay away, but
realized he was too high up. His body
might splat when it hit the ground, which would seriously disable him for a
while. Bavandersloth sat back and
sighed. He’d just have to wait until the
wheel reached the bottom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
walked down the park’s wide, road-like paved pathways, looking for the
exit. As he walked, he saw a large map
on the wall of a building. He walked
over to it. The glass the map was behind
had a spider-web crack, but Cody could still see the map inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a large, red X with “You are here” written next to it in the lower right
corner, near <i>The Riveting River</i>, the
ride he’d been on. Cody traced the path
with his finger. To get to the exit, he
needed to go straight until he passed <i>The
House of Horrors</i>, and then take a left, then a right after he passed <i>The Tunnel of Love</i>, and then continue
straight until he reached the square from which he’d be able to see the exit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned back to the path. As he walked,
he thought. The creature he’d seen had
taken him all the way here just to see what he’d seen on that ride. Why?
He ran back over the scene in his mind.
He was in a cage. His friends and
family were guarding him. He didn’t
escape because he was a coward. Escaping
would kill them. Not escaping would kill
him and them. After not escaping for a
while, he lost his chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
thing that had brought him here was a creature of the underworld. So were the spirits that most likely showed
Cody those visions. That meant either
that Gborin’gargoth or Kandrinarkora found some interest in him, which was
unlikely, or that a lich had summoned them.
Most liches couldn’t summon creatures from the underworld. According to the book, that power usually
required that the lich using it to have more than seventy-five-million souls,
making them likely more than two-hundred-thousand years old. There was one lich he knew of, however, who
could still access that power: Kgobauru.
Kgobauru accessed powers earlier than other liches. He had to somehow be involved in this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Still,
that seemed to clash with what he’d seen.
If he was interpreting the allegory correctly-- <i>crash</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
thoughts were interrupted by a collision.
He fell back. “Hey, watch it,” he
said. He looked up. His eyes widened. It was Justin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody?”
Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah,”
Cody said, standing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
are you doing here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t know. I was brought here by this
big creature. It was green, had glossy
fur, four arms… but I’m guessing you’d tell the same story?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. “Pretty much.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “So what did it show you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
raised an eyebrow. “It showed you weird
stuff too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. The two started walking forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I woke up in the hall
of mirrors, and the only way out was to go through. I saw all kinds of weird things in the
mirrors. There was this dark figure, and
you, and me with ropes around my hands and feet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ropes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah. In the last image, I was being puppeteered by
Bavandersloth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh?” Cody looked down. That one was easy enough to interpret.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
think it’s a bad guy,” Justin said.
“Trying to trick me. He wants me
to think I’m wrong to do good by working for Bavandersloth.” Justin looked down. “At least that’s what I think. I’m not sure.
It doesn’t really explain most of the other things I saw.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
doesn’t.” There was a pause. “Kgobauru has to be involved with this
somehow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
raised an eyebrow. “Kgobauru? Why him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
only ones who could have summoned a creature from the underworld would be
Gborin’gargoth, who’d have no reason, Kandrinarkora, who’d have no reason, and
Kgobauru.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Wow,”
Justin said. “I never thought of
that. But wait, it could be
Kandrinarkora. He’s brought things to
Earth before. What if he’s trying to
destroy the world again? We stopped him
last time. What if he’s trying to get us
out of the way?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Maybe,”
Cody said. “But why not just kill us, or
at least destroy our forms? We were
unconscious. He had the opportunity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
eyes widened. “That’s true.” Justin looked up at Cody. “Man, you sound like that detective that used
to chase after you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Williams?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. “Yeah.” Justin looked up. “I remember watching him on TV. He always seemed so smart. It was confusing.” Justin looked back at Cody. “I wondered why a guy like him would chase
after a guy like you. You were my hero…
up until what Valthakar did of course.
When he pretended to be you.” Justin
clenched his fist. “I felt so
betrayed.” Justin relaxed. “But then Bavandersloth showed up, and things
got better for me. I learned that I’d
been right to think you were a good guy all along, and I got to be like you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
bit his tongue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two walked through the park, past several stores, shops, and restaurants, each
one abandoned in haste. Cody could smell
rotten meat coming from one of them as he passed behind it. Another store had rats inside. Cody could tell by the smell of their fear
that several of them were being chased by a cat, or perhaps an owl. No, not an owl. The building wasn’t tall enough. The next building was virtually intact,
glowed, and was surrounded by spirits.
Cody’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
the…” Cody stared at the shop for a second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
are those things?” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t know,” Cody said. “I think they
want us to go inside that building, though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ya
think?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. He walked toward the
building. As Cody neared, the spirits
cleared away from the door. Cody opened
it and went inside. Justin followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Justin entered, Cody heard a snapping sound.
Cody turned around. Justin had
stepped on a feather quill and snapped it in half. Justin jerked his foot away, and then put it
back. He stepped further into the
store. Cody turned around. He thought.
Bavandersloth’s phylactery was a feather quill. Maybe Justin was right to an extent, and
these spirits were trying to get Justin to kill Bavandersloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked around the store. It was just one
room. The shelves were stocked with
various items. Cody saw a few whips on
the wall across from him. There was a
lich costume on a rack in the corner.
Two bins in the center were full of glowing white balls. They looked just like human souls, but
smaller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard a <i>slam</i> behind him. His eyes darted to the door. It was shut.
Justin gasped. He held out his
hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Wait,”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
turned around. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
won’t work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Blasting
the wall won’t help us escape. The door’s
probably still open anyway. It’s just
our senses that are trapped in here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
looked at Cody. He put his hand
down. He sighed. “Right.
So what do we do then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Those
things lured us in here to show us something, and they’d only do that if they
wanted us to act on it. Unless we’re
meant to act on it in here, they probably plan to let us out. We should look around until we see what they
want us to see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
looked down. He looked back up and
nodded. “Alright.” He went over to the shelves to examine
them. Cody went over to a table by a
window. He saw bars outside of that
window that reminded him of the bars on the cage he’d been in earlier. He looked down on the table. There were a few boxes on it labeled “Baby
Lich’s Soul Farming Play Set.” Next to
the boxes was an assembled product. It
was a tall tower. It could be opened
down the middle to see inside. Cody did
so. Inside, there were a bunch of cells,
each containing one human. Most of them
were female.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned around and looked over at the shelves.
He saw rolled up posters. He took
one and looked at it. He saw
Bavandersloth’s face. He closed it. He grabbed another. It depicted his. He closed it too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
turned to Justin. Justin held something
in his hand. He raised an eyebrow. “What have you got there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Powdered
candy, I’m pretty sure,” Justin said.
Cody looked at the object. It was
decorated to look like a feather quill.
“Only one way to find out if I’m right,” Justin said. He snapped the thing open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Justin,
that’s been there for over thirty year--”
The area around Cody and Justin went dark. Cody’s eyes widened. He looked around. He was in an old, decaying toy store. There was a plastic play set on the table and
a rack of stuffed animals in the corner.
The door was open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin looked at his
hands. “Where’d my candy go?” He sighed.
He looked over at Cody. “I guess
we’re done here then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
shook his head. “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
left the store with Justin, thinking about what he’d just seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
sat down next to her brother as another scene began in front of them. The younger Zachary, Anita, and Harrison sat
on a couch. Zachary was looking down. Harrison turned to Zach. “Hey, kid, you don’t have to do this if you
don’t want to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes
I do.” Zachary took a deep breath and
looked up at the man. “Unless there’s
some other way to make enough to survive.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harrison
took a deep breath. “Not with us there
isn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
this is the only way. I have to be with
you. Anyone else will kill me on sight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Anita
turned to Zach. “Really, bro, you can
tell me what I’ll have to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
turned to his sister and sighed. “You
don’t have to do anything. Just lay
back. He’ll do everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a knock at the door. All three of
the people in the room looked over.
Harrison stood up. “That’s
probably him.” He looked down at
Zach. “Last chance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Just
do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harrison
nodded. He went to the door. Zachary turned to his little sister. “Anita, I need you to go into the other room
and lie down on the bed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Anita
raised an eyebrow. “What? Why?
You can tell me bro. I told you,
I’d do anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’ll
find out in a second.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Anita
looked at her brother for a moment and obeyed.
A few moments later, the client came by.
Zachary looked away as he entered the room where Anita was. When he heard the door shut, he opened his
eyes. He looked up at Harrison and took
a wad of cash from his hand. He lay back
on the couch. Harrison locked the door
from the outside and sat down next to Zach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
lay back. “Hey, what are you
doing?” Anita said in the other
room. Zach lay back. He listened as Anita yelled a few more times,
and then called his name. After a few
minutes, she stopped saying anything and started crying. Before too long, Zachary got up and went
outside the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
turned around as the scene went away.
Her brother had his eyes closed and was covering his ears. Pink shook him. After a second, he opened his eyes. He put his arms down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
was about to ask if everything was alright, but she turned around when she
heard the next scene starting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked a few years older. He opened the
door to the same room as before and walked in, carrying a fast food bag. “Hey, sis,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Anita
walked out of the bedroom with her hand behind her back. She looked a little bit older too. Zach smiled.
“Hey, sis, what do you got there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
laughed. “If you say so.” He held up the bag and walked toward
her. “Look, I know work today was kind
of hard, but it earned enough money for me to get us a treat.” Zach took cups out of the bag. “Look, I even got ice cream with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Anita
took a step toward her brother. He hat
down. She walked up beside him, still
holding her hand behind her back.
“Brother, can I please quit working?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Now,
Nita, you know you can’t. We need the
money.” A tear dripped down Anita’s
face. Zachary looked at it. He looked over at the bag of food and got out
his fries. “Look,” he said, getting out
the box of chicken nuggets and putting ketchup in the top of the container,
“I’m going to turn eighteen in just a few months. I’ll be able to do more complicated jobs
then. I’m already running errands for
them, and when I’m eighteen, I’ll be allowed to do some of the more serious
work, and maybe get enough money to live on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
I don’t want to stop in a few months. I
want to stop now. They hurt me,
Zach. I’ve been doing this for years and
it hurts every time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Look,
I’m sorry sis, I--” Zachary gasped. His eyes widened. He turned.
Anita had plunged a knife into her brother’s shoulder. She took out the blade and put it back in
somewhere else. Zachary fell over. Anita stepped over to his head and knelt down. She started stabbing her brother over and
over again. She stabbed him near the
base of each arm a few times to keep him from moving, and then started to stab
around where she thought his heart should be, though Pink knew she was off by
quite a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked up at his sister. “Sis…” he said
softly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Another
tear fell down Anita’s face. “I’m sorry,
brother.” Another tear fell down. “It’s the only way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
started to cry at that point. As he
faded into unconsciousness, Anita’s eyes widened. She dropped the knife. Zachary, only half aware, squinted. Anita fell unconscious. Zachary shed another tear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
saw the one unicorn’s horn shake again.
She moved next to her brother and sat down. The thing shook for a few minutes, but still
didn’t break off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
soon as the Ferris wheel came close enough to the ground that Bavandersloth
wouldn’t be damaged by the fall, he jumped out and onto the ground. He approached the apparition of Georgia. When he got within about twenty feet of her,
she walked away. Bavandersloth
sighed. “Are we really doing this?” Georgia kept walking. Bavandersloth rolled his eyes. “I guess so.”
He followed her. Something about
the sound of her voice made him smile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
and Justin kept walking toward the park’s exit.
As they traveled, they couldn’t help but enjoy the decrepit nature of
the area around them. Soon, the two
reached the square. As they entered the
large, open section, they could see the exit. They both smiled and walked to
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
exit was a rusty iron gate, on the other side of which was a row of
turnstiles. The liches could see the
parking lot from where they stood. Cody
put his hand on the gate to make it decay.
It didn’t work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
smile drained from Justin’s face.
“Drat,” Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There
must still be something we’re supposed to do here,” Cody said. Justin grumbled. “C’mon,” Cody said, motioning for Justin to
follow him. “Maybe it’s nearby.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
maybe it’s not. What if there are ten
things left for us to look for? What if
we spend hours in here? Or days?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Complaining
about it won’t make it any faster.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
groaned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two didn’t finish looking around the square before they found another
attraction glowing in the same way the toy store had. It was the petting zoo. The two went toward it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
they entered the area, a gate closed behind them, trapping them inside. The two looked around. There were two enclosures in immediate
view. Both were hexagons about thirty
feet across. The feeding troths inside
them were full of dirty water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Cody and Justin walked toward the enclosures, they suddenly saw round areas
open up, with caves on the other side.
Cody gasped. Those were portals
to the underworld. There was one in each
enclosure. Creatures that looked like
monkeys entered through the portals, and they closed. Cody recognized the creatures as
Satoris. He turned around. The gate was still closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Satortis each jumped over the gate and out of the enclosure. Each one spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What? Those?
Why them?” the one closer to Justin said, just as fast as Justin thought
those same words. “Are they going to
attack us like the one on Mt. Everest did?
Are they even real? They could be
hallucinations.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “If
they’re hallucinations,” the one closer to Cody said, “why did they come
through portals. Either they’re real, or
whoever did this wants us to think they’re real. If they are real, Kgobauru must be nearby. But why would these be here either way? Wait.
I know. It all makes sense. The image of them calling me a coward… Crap!
I can’t let Justin hear any of this.”
Cody ran backward until both of the Satori were closer to Justin than to
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What? Why?” the Satori said in unison. “Cody did the same thing last time we
encountered one of those things.” Cody
took aim at the Satori nearest to him.
He fired a blast of magic at it.
It hit. The creature screeched
and vanished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What?” the remaining
one continued. “Why did he do that? What’s he hiding from me? Does he not trust me with something? Is he doing something wrong? No.
Cody wouldn’t do anything wrong enough that he needed to keep it a
secret. I’ll turn around and ask him.” Justin turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you hiding
something from me?” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No,” Cody said. Cody jumped to the side and fired a blast at
the Satori. Justin activated his shield
and jumped in front of the blast. His
shield nearly broke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin lowered his
shield. “Then prove it,” he said. “Come over here. Let the Satori tell me what you’re thinking.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody thought. On the water ride, he was in a cage being
guarded by his friends and family because Bavandersloth had been threatening
them to keep him in line. They called
him a coward because he should have been willing to let them die to stop
Bavandersloth’s plans. In the store,
Cody saw a glimpse of what the world would be like if Bavandersloth
succeeded. The person behind this wanted
Cody to get Justin to kill Bavandersloth, which Cody might be able to do if he
could get Justin to realize that Bavandersloth, and not Valthakar, killed his
parents. After what happened at Mt.
Everest, Justin would be likely to believe whatever the Satori said. If, however, Cody told Justin everything and
Bavandersloth was able to get out of it, Cody, Cherie, Lester, Cody’s Parents,
the rest of his family, and Justin himself were all doomed. Reidel and Steven were too, probably. Bavandersloth was more than clever enough to
get out of it if Cody told Justin everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody thought. “Fine, I’m hiding something,” he said. “It’s something that it’s better if you don’t
know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Why?” Justin asked.
“Are you doing something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Then why can’t you
tell me? If it’s an adult thin--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s nothing like
that.” Cody looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
rubbed her finger across her gun for comfort.
She watched the scene in front of her as Zachary woke up on a hospital
bed. He was groggy. Harrison stood at the edge of the bed. “Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked around. “Wha… What
happened?” He lay down. “I remember I was getting food ready and
Nita…” Zachary’s eyes widened. “Nita.
Crap. She stabbed me.” Zachary looked down. He saw Nita standing by the man’s legs. “Holy crap--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harrison
shushed him. He looked behind him at the
door. “I know,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
is she in here? She tried to kill me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harrison
looked down. “Cailyn, introduce yourself
to your brother.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
squinted and raised an eyebrow.
“Cailyn?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hi,
big brother.” Cailyn said. “My name is
Cailyn.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked down at her, and then back up at Harrison. “What’s going on here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “She’s
been like this on and off since she found you,” Harrison said. He came closer to the bed and whispered. “I did some research. It turns out you can get Multiple
Personalities from…” Harrison sighed, “from that thing we rent her out
for. When she calls herself Anita, she
can hardly think about anything but trying to get away and kill you, but when
she calls herself Cailyn, she doesn’t seem to remember anything that happened. Everything about her is just like what she
was before you hurt her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked down at his sister. He
smiled. “So… So she won’t try to kill
me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Shouldn’t.” Harrison smiled. “This is a chance for you to start over when
it comes to her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
smiled. He put out his hand. His little sister held it. “You’re right,” he said. “And I won’t make the same mistakes.” He looked up at Harrison. “How long have I been out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Four
days.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
sighed. “Is there any way we can get me
some work?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Harrison
nodded. “Yeah. I might be able to arrange that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
did too. She realized what the next
scene was as it came up. It was some
time later, in one of her favorite places: Her training gym.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
walked into the gym.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cailyn
turned around. “Hey, bro.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
Cai.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cailyn
smiled. She ran forward. Zachary put a frog down in front of
Cailyn. “You remember what I said we’d
be doing today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cailyn’s
smiled faded. She looked down and shed a
tear. “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
go on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
pointed to the frog. Cailyn shed another
tear. She entered a full cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Tears
won’t do it, sister,” Zachary said.
Cailyn looked down. She clenched
her fist. She’d done this a few times
before. Pink remembered this training
session in particular. She wondered if
Zachary did too. Zach had been giving
her a frog once a month for over a year by then. This time, the training finally started to
work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cailyn
pulled a knife from her pocket. She held
it. Anita flashed into her mind, trying
to get out, telling her to let her out, but she didn’t listen. She loved Zachary. Cailyn pressed the knife against the living
frog’s belly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Uh
uh. Limbs first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Brother,
please.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cai,
the more you do it, the sooner you can get used to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know but--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
the sooner you get used to it, the sooner you can go help Selechii. You want to help Selechii, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course I do. I…” Cailyn put her head down. She held up the knife and chopped off one of
the frog’s toes. It screeched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> On
the carousel, Pink smiled. In the
vision, Cailyn finished killing the frog after a while, though not as long as
it’d actually taken. It was night by the
time Cai was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
patted her on the head. “Good job, Cai.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cai
looked up. She smiled. “Thanks,” she said. Pink loved training with her brother during the
later times, after it had started to stick.
She’d had a lot of fun with the frogs later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
carousel stopped. Pink flinched. She turned around and looked at her
brother. He still had his eyes closed. She went over to him and shook him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked up. “Wha?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
okay,” Pink said. “The memories are gone
now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
gulped. He took a deep breath and stood
up. “Yeah. Gone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
tilted her head. “What’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nothing,”
Zach said. “Let’s get out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
turned her head as the unicorn shook again.
She and Zachary backed away. The
horn thrashed from side to side in a single rapid motion. Pink perceived a crack starting to form at
its base, but in the end it settled down and was still secure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
turned around. “Alright then,” she
said. “Now we can go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two stepped off of the carousel. As they
walked, Pink looked at her brother’s hand.
“Bro, you still have the wrench.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zach
raised an eyebrow. “Huh?” He looked at his hand. He turned around and tossed the wrench back
toward the carousel. The two walked
away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
tell me what it is. What could you
possibly need to hide from me?” Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
clenched his fist. He looked up at the
sky. He thought. He couldn’t tell Justin as long as
Bavandersloth wasn’t around. His souls
would run off and tell him, and he would dart off to kill Cody’s friends and
family. Cody widened his eyes. “Something is trying to trick us,” he
said. “Tell me again, did the thing that
kidnapped us bring Bavandersloth here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
the Satori blurted out. Alright then, so
the thing probably meant for Bavandersloth to arrive near them soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
followed the apparition of Georgia to the square. She took a left. Bavandersloth sighed. He wondered what she was leading him to. He walked forward, until he heard shouting up
ahead. He soon realized it was Odelarch
and Tkoralkiarch. They were shouting. He listened to what they were saying. They were having an argument. It was over Odelarch keeping a secret. There was a Satori around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened. He ran toward them. It sounded like Odelarch hadn’t said anything
yet. Good. All he had to do was get there and kill the
Satori.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned around as he heard the gates swing open and Bavandersloth run in. His eyes widened. This was his chance. He thought.
If he blurted the truth out right now, what were the odds that
Bavandersloth would get away? Cody
wasn’t sure. He only had seconds. All Bavandersloth would have to do is run away
fast enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
might go faster if Cody shouted at Justin to get Bavandersloth’s
phylactery. Cody’s eyes widened. He thought of an idea. “Justin, get all three of our Phylacteries,”
he said. Bavandersloth’s eyes
widened. So did Justin’s. He closed his eyes and summoned them. He ran away from the Satori. Bavandersloth blasted the creature and it
died.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked at Bavandersloth. He looked at
Justin. He thought. Without the Satori, what was the chance
Justin would believe him? Was it high enough
to risk him losing his friends and family?
If Bavandersloth talked Justin into handing his phylactery back over,
there would be no real hope for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned to Cody. “Why did you have him
summon our phylacteries?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “In
case whatever took us was at the mansion planning to destroy them,” Cody
said. “That possibility occurred to me
just now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
took a deep breath. “Very well. Let’s go then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. He nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
lay back and smiled as he continued to listen to the lich struggle. There was something deeply amusing about the
futility of his jerks and tugs. As the
lich jerked and pulled, he turned to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
just laughing it up, aren’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “On
the inside. You’d hear it if I were
still laughing on the outside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why? You’re in the same situation.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No
I’m not. I’m not struggling hopelessly
against these bonds. You are.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
made one attempt to break them, and that was hours ago. How do you know they’re even hard to break?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Because
I tried them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah. Once.
A couple of hours ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’ve
been trying them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
maybe that button you’ve been pressing has been holding me back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
button?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked down at his hand. Sure enough, it
had been resting on a big, red button.
His eyes widened. What the
heck? How hadn’t he noticed that? He lifted his hand off of the button. The other lich struggled more. He didn’t succeed at first. Valthakar sat back and laughed more. After about another thirty minutes, though,
one of the other lich’s straps broke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar’s
eyes darted over as he heard it snap.
His eyes widened. “That’s only
one,” he said, and yet he began to struggle a bit. It was only a few minutes before he broke the
first strap. He was stronger. In half an hour, the other lich had broken
two of his five straps, and Valthakar had broken all of his. He stood up and left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
aren’t you going to help me?” the lich said as Valthakar left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
turned around. “You look like you’re
doing fine,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,”
the lich said as he struggled. “Come
back here!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
left the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
he was out, he turned around. He’d been
in the haunted house at Joy’s Coast. He
raised an eyebrow. Why? One of his souls rushed to him. He looked up.
It began to explain about how the others had been brought here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Pretty Pink Ponytails skipped out of the amusement park, she saw a large, dark
circular shape appear in front of her.
She gasped and stopped in her tracks.
As she looked at the circle more closely, she saw that it was a picture
of some sort. No, it was a movie. She liked movies! This movie was of a cave. There was a long ramp, and a ball was rolling
down it toward the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
the heck is that?” Zackary asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t know,” Pink said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two looked on. When the ball reached the
screen, Pink realized that it wasn’t a movie.
The ball fell out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
leaned down and grabbed it as it rolled out onto the pavement. She smiled.
“Got it,” she said. She turned
around. Her brother approached. The object was pitch black, save for a faint
and inexplicable purple glow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you have any idea what that is?” Zach asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
scratched her chin. “Hmm…” she
said. “I think that what we just saw was
a portal to the world that Light-rook likes to talk about. They must have taken us here hoping we’d see
it open or something. They might have
wanted us to have this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
we should get rid of it,” Zack said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Maybe…”
Pink said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
do you mean maybe? If our enemies want
us to have it, it’s probably a bomb or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
maybe we could study it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Study
it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah! And we could learn how it works. Think about it. This is a real magical artifact. It might be possible to use it to do all
sorts of things for Selechii.” Pink
smiled. “From his interviews, Light-rook
didn’t seem to have much control over his realm. Maybe he didn’t even intend for us to get
this, but if he did, it’s probably dangerous, but it might also be useful
enough that it’s worth keeping it. If he
did set this up, he might not have had much control over what came through.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
still not a good idea to keep it,” Zach said.
“I’m sorry, sis. It’s just too
dangerous.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
looked down and sighed. She looked at
her brother. “Fine, how about this,” she
said. “Let’s go home, get a shovel, come
back and burry it somewhere around here.
If it’s a bomb, we might know in a few days if it explodes. If we ever learn what it is or are sure that
it’s not dangerous, we can dig it up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Zachary
looked at the orb. “Alright,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pink
smiled. “Alright then, let’s go.” She skipped away. Zach followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Cody, Justin, and Bavandersloth left the park, Bavandersloth turned to
Justin. “Tkoralkiarch, do you mind going
on ahead and hunting? I want to stay
back and speak with Odelarch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
this about the--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
you know it too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “Yes, and believe me, you’ll
learn it as soon as I think it’s necessary for you to know.” Bavandersloth put his arm on Justin’s
shoulder. “But right now, I need you to
trust me and Odelarch that it’s best for you not to know. We have good reasons.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
looked down. He sighed. “Okay.”
He looked up. “I trust you.” He smiled and ran off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
walked back over to Cody. “Good job,” he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
didn’t tell him a single thing. I
swear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
worked that out.” Bavandersloth
smiled. “You know, Cody, I realized what
you were doing as soon as you told Justin to get our phylacteries.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
did?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “I did.” Cody looked down. “But you didn’t do anything in the end, so
I’ll let it slide.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. Bavandersloth turned
around and walked away from him. Cody
went in the other direction. He headed
straight toward a truck. He turned
around to make sure Bavandersloth wasn’t watching. He pulled his fist back and punched the truck
with all the strength he could muster. A
large dent appeared in the thing, and it slid a few feet. Cody clenched his fist. He looked up at the sky, gritting his teeth. “Damn it,” he shouted. He took his human form. He took a few deep breaths. He looked down and shed a tear. “They were right,” he whispered. “I am a coward.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes
you are.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He turned around. He saw the creature that had kidnapped
him. He stepped back. He took his true form and stretched out his
hand. The creature put a shield up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
bother,” it said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Who
are you?” Cody asked. “What are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
creature stared at Cody through its shield.
He laughed. As he did, Cody
realized that nothing on him seemed to be moving to cause the noise. “I apologize,” the being said. “Not for calling you a coward. You undoubtedly are one. Yellow as your star and rabbit-like as a
hare. Still, I am perhaps at fault for
not remembering how you would react to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took another step back. “What are you
talking--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Please,
allow me to finish answering your original questions before you ask more. The point I was building up to was this: It’s
hard to remember how delicately you have to treat members of uncontacted
races.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes
widened. “Wha--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Please let me
finish. The point is that I’m from
another planet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody gasped. An alien?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The creature
sighed. “And that’s not all,
either.” He paused. “Look, there’s more to the human struggle
with Bavandersloth than the fate of your race.
Much, much more. If Bavandersloth
is allowed to seize control of this planet, far more will be lost than the
freedom of all humans.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes
widened. “What? How so?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The creature paused. He grumbled.
“Do you know what? It might be
better if I don’t explain it to you. No. You’ll find out soon. Then again, it still might be best to delay
it as long as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You still haven’t told
me who you--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m the only alien
lich you know of who can summon creatures from the underworld, human. I am Gborin’gargoth, the King of the
Underworld.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes
widened. “What? You--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Shut up!” Cody quieted down. He took a few steps back. Gborin’gargoth took a few deep breaths. “I summoned those creatures to try to coax
you into stopping Bavandersloth. You
wouldn’t know this, but his success won’t just mean disaster for this planet,
but disaster for the whole of the universe and every living thing within
it.” Gborin’gargoth paused. Cody didn’t dare say a word. Gborin’gargoth continued. “While you were in there, I tried to show you
glimpses of what this Earth will be like if you allow Bavandersloth to take
over, but perhaps, before I tell you of the cosmic significance, I need to show
you much more than a glimpse of what he will bring upon your race.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Wha? But--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Worry not. Everything will be explained to you in due
time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What? Why wait?
I’d much rather you explain everything to me now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The alien ignored
Cody. He simply closed his eyes and
extended his arm. Cody was thrown
back. He flew several yards before he
landed on a small patch of rough gravel.
He could see the parking lot he’d been in through a round, window-like
hole ahead of him. His eyes
widened. A portal. He ran for it, but it closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody gritted his
teeth. He shouted and seethed. After a few moments. He calmed himself down. He looked around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other than the road on
which he sat, the only features around were a cement road and a large
billboard. His eyes widened as he looked
up at it. He read it off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Onyx; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “You
are now entering the realm of Bavandersloth: Master of the Council and Lich
King of the Earth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-46307802661435023522014-10-08T20:08:00.000-07:002014-10-26T00:24:17.965-07:00Angel of Death 1.18 You Should Think Nothing of Them<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Adeyemi
hummed as he sat in his office. The
phone rang. He picked it up. “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
is Bavandersloth,” he heard. “The
shipment you asked for should be there any minute now. I had to get some friends of mine to drive
the trucks. You’ll need to be downstairs
in order to receive it. They won’t trust
a group of zombies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Adeyemi
smiled. “Ah, I see. Thank you very much for bailing us out like
this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re welcome.” Bavandersloth hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Adeyemi stood up, put
some nose plugs in, and went downstairs.
A few minutes later, a group of trucks arrived, driven by Adeyemi’s own
men. Adeyemi raised an eyebrow. Bavandersloth had just said he’d sent his own
people to drive the shipment in. It
wasn’t like him to misremember something like that. Was this not the shipment? One of the men coughed as he exited the
truck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Damn,
boss. Why do you have to keep all of
these… things around?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They’re
our workers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They’re
from hell is what they are.” The man
coughed a few more times. He looked down
and sighed. “Whatever. I have the shipment here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see that you do. If I may ask, though,
did something come up at the last minute?
I was on the phone with Bavandersloth just now and he told me that some of
his own men were bringing it in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man tilted his head. “I don’t know how
that happened. Some of his men gave me
this thing maybe half an hour ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Adeyemi
squinted. “Strange. You don’t happen to know if--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Johnathan’s
eyes widened as a bright light flashed in front of him and he was forced out of
the body he’d been controlling. He
looked around. He was inside a
fireball. Though it caused him no pain,
he still felt the urge to fly above it, along with all of the other souls
around. When he did, he looked
down. His eyes widened. Several buildings were gone. A few others were on fire. John flew back to his master.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked up as several of his souls entered his mansion. He smiled.
It was done, then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Master,”
one of the souls said, “there was a--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “An
explosion, I know. Be assured that
nothing I am not okay with has happened.
In groups of two, go to some of the souls monitoring DIAPP agents and
follow their assignments around until they bring you to agents who aren’t being
monitored yet. At that point, one of you
should start following them, and another one of you come tell me about it. I’ll send a third soul your way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
souls nodded and flew off. Bavandersloth
put aside his book and picked a phone.
He called a leader of a different organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello?”
the man on the other line said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
done,” Bavandersloth said. “Their
facilities in the area should be beyond use.
You’re free to set up shop if you want.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Excellent. Will you be supplying us with workers?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Possibly
at a later date. I’m using every spare
familiar on something else right now, but if that threat is ever resolved, I’ll
contact you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh. Disappointing. I suppose we can make due, though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
trust that you can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
hung up. He dialed another number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
hello, this is Bavandersloth. I’ve just
learned that the shipment I sent you has been hijacked by the Okoro family and
filled with explosives. They’re going to
blow up your facilities when the shipment arrives. You’ll want to stop the shipment as soon as
possible. It might already be too late. I wish I could have told you any sooner, but
I only just now learned.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause on the other end.
“Understood.” The phone was hung
up. Bavandersloth smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat across from Violet Fox in the studio.
His interviews here had become so regular that they may as well have
been a nightly segment on the ten o’clock news.
There was even talk of Bavandersloth getting his own show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In
the other room, an anchorman spoke. “Our
top story tonight, Last Night, a rebel faction, has forcefully removed the
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un from power.
The United Brotherhood, a group previously unknown to intelligence
officials and experts, has violently, but without any human fatalities, get
this, single-handedly taken down the regime overnight, and it appears that the
strangest detail in the case may give us a hint as to how that’s possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
broadcast, displayed for Bavandersloth by a screen on the wall in front of him,
cut to footage of the green light from Valthakar’s wish-granting. The light had arced across the Pacific Ocean,
widening as it went from the size of a pinhead to the size and shape of the
affected area: North Korea. In addition
to the area it enveloped, the light had been seen from Alaska, Russia, China,
South Korea, and Japan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
light,” the newscaster continued, “whose color, I’m sure you notice, resembles
that of force fields used by Angels on camera in the past, was seen throughout
the area. The Light enveloped the whole
of North Korea, seeming to have traveled from an arc originating right here in
Goldfalls. Sitting in the studio with my
co-anchor Violet Fox to comment on the issue is the Angel Light-rook.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you, Dave. Light-rook, do you know what
happened here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
yes. First, I want to state outright
that this was indeed our doing. It was
Orichalcum, actually. He took advantage
of a special opportunity to cast a very powerful spell. There’s no safe way to induce it to happen on
command, but in this case we were able to see it coming and capitalize on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can
you elaborate on the nature of this spell?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed. “Well, I’ll try I suppose. It’s to do with a buildup of magic in our
home dimension, but not just anywhere there, in a specific area, a place where
magic can more easily leak from that realm to this one. Magic moves through that realm randomly. Build-ups like this can happen at any
time. I’ve seen days when five of them
occur and I’ve seen stretches of fifty years where none do, and sometimes they
go away before you get a chance to use them.”
Bavandersloth smiled. “What I’m
trying to say is don’t get your hopes up too high for it to happen again
soon. Still, this time, things worked
out well, and North Korea was the first thing that occurred to us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
your influence the reason for the lack of casualties?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
how did you make sure of that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
were able to specify it in the spell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
why did rebels end up overthrowing the government because of your spell? Why didn’t the regime just vanish?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can’t say for sure. We think that with
events like this, whatever we specify happens by the most likely scenario available. In this case, a new rebellion was formed and
they overthrew the government, damaging only property.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see. So what about…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
interview continued nearly until the end of the newscast. Bavandersloth felt sorry for the political
analyst they’d gotten on to speak on the implications of the spell. He only got to speak for a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert turned off the TV. He turned to
one of his fellow agents. “This has gone
too far,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
North Korea or the…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
of this.” Agent Lambert put his head
down and took a deep breath. He looked
back at his fellow agent. “I think…”
Agent Lambert sighed, “I think it might be time for us to tell the public
everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other Agent’s eyes widened. “You can’t
be serious.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert nodded. “I am.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
that’s against the highest of our protocols.
If everyone knew how those things worked, some people, the wrong people,
would want to be like them, and that book always appears for anyone who knows
everything and still wants to be one of them.
Besides, how would the public react if they knew about liches? Bad as real liches are, the rumors and
suspicions about innocent people would give McCarthy nightmares.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know.” Agent Lambert sighed. “But that’s better than letting Bavandersloth
take over the world. If we don’t tell
the world everything soon, Bavandersloth will win. It’s the only strategy left.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
what if we spur the community of liches into an all-out attack?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
could they possibly do that’s worse than what Bavandersloth has in mind?” Agent Lambert clinched his fist. “No.
If we can unite humanity together against them, we’d be able to stamp
them out.” He looked down. “This has become a different type of threat
than we usually deal with. We can’t beat
Bavandersloth in our usual way.” Lambert
gritted his teeth. “We can’t afford to
care about the consequences. There’s nothing
we could ever do that’s not preferable to the least horrific of Bavandersloth’s
possible endgames.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other agent sighed. “If that’s the case,
we’d better speak to the Grey Man right away.
Bavandersloth’s souls are probably already on their way back to him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They’re
already there,” Agent Lambert said, standing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
put down his book and looked up at the soul who’d approached him. He raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Agent
Lambert is speaking about revealing the truth about your diet to the press.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened. “What? Didn’t that go against their--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They
say they’re desperate enough. Agent
Lambert plans to speak with the Grey Man soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stood up. “Alright then,” he said. “Keep a close eye on Agent Lambert.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul nodded. “Yes, master.” It flew away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Agent Lambert entered a video conference with the Grey Man. “Thank you for agreeing to speak to me this
soon, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
had little other choice. The fact that
an agent of your competence thinks that what I hear you’re planning is necessary
is all the proof I need that the matter is more urgent than anything I had
planned.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert nodded. “Let us begin,
then. I’ve put some thought into it, and
I think I know how to convince the public of the nature of Bavandersloth’s
plan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
listening.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’ll
show them one of our copies of <i>On
Soulless Ones</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
how will we do that? If we try to get to
any news station, any publisher, any radio station, or any person whatsoever
with the book, they’ll cut us off, and Bavandersloth will be able to come up
with an excuse as to why that happened.
The public is in love with him right now. They’ll believe anything he tells them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Surely
a group of exterminators could get it there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Grey Man sat back. He thought. “Perhaps enough of them might be able to do
it.” The Grey Man looked up at the
camera. “How many do you want?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
many can you send?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “As
many as you need. For this, I’d send
them all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert took a deep breath. “I think any
more than fifteen would be overkill.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
I ought to send twenty-one. This is a
big deal. If you succeed,” the Gray Man
sighed, “a lot of things will happen then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert smiled. “Twenty-five then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Got
it. Thirty-two agents will be sent to
Goldfalls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. Not here.
That’s too obvious. Send them to
New York.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Grey Man raised an eyebrow. “New York?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’re
not sending this to Channel 4.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Grey Man sat back. “Alright then. New York it is. I’ll also send five your way, as I understand
you don’t have any stationed there right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert
nodded. “Thank you, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Very
good. Is there anything else to discuss?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Grey Man raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “With
all due respect, sir, I don’t want to announce the details of my plan in front
of the souls watching us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Grey Man sighed. “Very well. Go on then.
You have my permission to break the Highest Protocol.” The Grey man looked down. “I trust you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert nodded. “Thank you, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert turned off the communication. He
sat down and sighed. That part had gone
well. Now for the next part of his plan. He reached into his pocket, got out a cell
phone, and called the biggest news Agency that came to mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
got an automated message. “Hello, you
have reached the Galactic, America’s #1 News source. Thank you for calling. If you’re calling to report an error in a
recent publication by the Galactic, press 1.
If you’re calling to report a lead--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert
pressed 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you. Please hold.” Music played.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert
grumbled. He needed this not to take
long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you,” Bavandersloth told the soul who’d come to him. “Go back and observe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
Master,” the soul said. It flew
away. Bavandersloth thought. There was only one reason Agent Lambert would
contact the Galactic in advance, to tell them the book was coming. If he got his side of the story out fast
enough, he’d be able to prevent any attempt to keep the book away from that
station. Bavandersloth had to stop this
call.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
a moment, Bavandersloth smiled. He
picked up his own phone. He called
Larngulal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
answered. “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello. This is Bavandersloth. Our plan is about to fail. Goldfalls’ chapter of DIAPP is contacting the
Galactic to promise to send them a copy of the book. If that phone call goes through, we may have
no realistic way of recovering. I need
you to do whatever it takes to prevent them from receiving that phone
call. You have until Agent Lambert comes
off of hold.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Could
you have possibly told me this any earlier?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. Please, hurry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
sighed. “Alright. I’ll send a friend after it. He’s near there, I think.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
sighed again. “No problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat back. Assuming she succeeded, that
would only put off the inevitable. The
Galactic would be able to take calls again within a few days no matter what,
and there were more locations than that one to call. Bavandersloth slammed his fist on the
table. How had this happened? He couldn’t stop DIAPP for long. They’d call another paper. They… wait.
No. He was going about this all
wrong. He picked up the phone and called
Larngulal again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
now?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Change
of plans. I have a better strategy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Hold
ended. Agent Lambert reached the
receptionist. “Hello, thank you for
calling the Galactic. You have a tip for
us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. It’s about the Angels. I’m from the Agency that’s been opposing them
recently. I need you to publish the fact
that in a few days, perhaps tomorrow, we are going to bring a book to your
offices.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
book?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. It’s a magical book. It contains information on the Angels that is
vital to the public interest. I’m
calling you because it’s inevitable that the Angels will try to stop you from
receiving this book.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. I see.
And how will this book come to us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
soldiers in the special armor you’ve seen. We’re getting thirty-two of them to
escort the book to you. The Angels will
try to attack them on their way, especially if you don’t publish this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see. Well, your tip has been noted. Thank you for calling.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’re going to
publish it right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sir, we receive hundreds
of these sorts of tips. We cannot write
stories on them all. If your claims are
true, we will be sure to inform the public of your call.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Wait. Listen to me.
I need you to--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The phone buzzed. She’d hung up. Lambert clinched his fist. He sighed.
Please, let thirty-two be enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay,
what’s your plan?” Larngulal asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
need you to stop any planes from landing nearby tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well
that’s much easier said than done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know, but I have an idea for how you’re going to do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
what I did with Tkoralkiarch. Find a
human willing to become one of us, and make sure they come out with the power
to manipulate the weather, more specifically to cause fog.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. “Ok. Oh.
Yes, that just might work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you think you can do it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course I can do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Good, then. Get going.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
hung up. Bavandersloth sat back. He was on top of this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few hours later,
Larngulal snuck, invisible, into a federal Prison. Souls around her kept watch for guards as she
walked through the facility, looking for a specific criminal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She stopped outside of
his cell. She smiled. That was him.
Fifteen years ago, that man had terrorized this city by killing over
forty people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Larngulal placed her
hands on the bars of the cell and made small parts of them rust away. She took the rest of the bars away from the
cell and set them down. This way, it
might look like they’d been destroyed gradually over time, perhaps with
something as simple as dental floss and sand.
She entered the cell. Her target,
Jonah Harrison, was on the top bunk. She
climbed the ladder and shook him awake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He opened his
eyes. Larngulal pulled her hands
away. Jonah sat up in bed. “Huh?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hello,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jonah looked
around. “Who’s there?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m on the ladder,”
Larngulal said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jonah looked. “I don’t see any… wai--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Don’t scream. I’m not here to kill you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jonah stared for a
second. Eventually, he smiled. “Alright then, what are you here for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I need help,”
Larngulal said. “And you’re perfect for
the job I need done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m listening.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll tell you
everything after I take you out of here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jonah’s eyes widened. “You’ll get me out of here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I believe that’s what
I just said, now come on.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well you don’t have to
ask me twice.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Larngulal smiled. She helped Jonah out of bed and then walked
with him out of the prison. Whenever one
of her souls warned her of a guard, she’d leave Jonah behind, go to them and give
them injuries similar to the one’s they’d get from being punched out, removing
a bit of their memory in the process. It
wasn’t too long before they’d left the prison.
Larngulal put Jonah in the back of her truck and drove off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
grabbed the criminal as his next meal stood over the man it’d been
assaulting. The mortal struggled. Bavandersloth grunted as it tried to wriggle
away before he finally managed to pin the human to the ground. He scythed the man’s soul and ate it. The victim tried to stand up. Bavandersloth turned to him. “Don’t,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
victim looked up at him. “Huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
too injured to safely move. I’m sorry to
say I’m not one of the healers. Do you
have a cell phone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man pointed nearby. Bavandersloth walked
over to the device. It was on the floor,
cracked, and damaged to the point of uselessness. He sighed.
“Hold on a moment.” Bavandersloth
stepped away, took his human form, reached into his pocket, grabbed a phone,
and changed back into his true form. He
went back into the room. “Here,” he
said. “Call an ambulance. Your injuries need to be treated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man on the ground nodded and dialed the phone as Bavandersloth ran off. He smiled.
That last soul had put him over a threshold he’d been looking forward to
crossing for a century. The DIAPP issue
ought to be sorted out by tomorrow and he’d be ready to deploy phase two of his
plan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
led Jonah to her headquarters, a large house in a wealthy New York suburb. She pulled into the garage before helping
Jonah out of the trunk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jonah
coughed. “Damn it’s hot in there.” He took deep breaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
ignored him and pointed to a plastic bag hanging off of the garage door. “There are street clothes in that,” she
said. “I’ll go on inside. Come in when you’re dressed, and bring your
prison uniform so I can destroy it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jonah
nodded. Larngulal went inside and walked
into one of the other rooms in her home.
She grabbed her copy of <i>On
Soulless Ones</i> and walked back to the kitchen. A few minutes later, Jonah stepped in. “Come on in,” Larngulal said. “Sit down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jonah
smiled and obeyed. “Wowzers,” he
said. “Who knew an Angel would look so…
Angelic.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
took the book from her side and placed it on the table. Jonah’s eyes widened. “Woah.
Are those gems… real?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”
Larngulal said. “But they are of no
value at all compared to what is inside this book.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Meh,
books have never been my thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
I imagine this one will be.” Larngulal
smiled. “You see, we Angels need another
one of us.” She opened the book to
Chapter Two. “The community of Angels is
currently suffering through a less-than-small problem, and the only way to
solve it would be to have one of us use weather controlling powers to bring a
thick blanket of fog upon a large area surrounding New York City.” Larngulal frowned. “Sadly, there doesn’t happen to be an Angel
capable of doing that.” She looked Jonah
in the eye. “But you can become one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jonah
beamed. “Sign me up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
was hoping you would say that.” Jonah
reached for the book. Larngulal closed
it. Jonah looked up. “First, though, there are a few rules that
need to be established.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “First,
you need to know a secret. We Angels, we
eat human souls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jonah
raised his head. He paused. “Interesting,” he said after a moment. “So… that’s why you kill criminals?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
nodded. “One every night. And if you become one of us, you’re free to
do that too. You’ll have to find
criminals to do it with, but if you want, you can paralyze them, bring them
back here, and do whatever you want to them before you eat them, so l--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Just
skip to how I do it already.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
opened the book back up again, this time to the end of Chapter Two. “You need to select an object, pick something
hard to destroy, and put it on here, then read the incantation here.” Larngulal pointed to the text on the opposite
page. “That will transfer your soul into
the object you choose.” Jonah got
up. Larngulal looked over at him. “Don’t forget, will yourself to get weather
controlling powers, strong ones, strong enough to allow you to bring down that
blanket of fog right away.” Demanding
something that powerful and specific would make him weaker in other areas, but
Larngulal wasn’t going to mention that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
wasn’t long before Jonah came back with a small metal statue of a chicken. He placed it on the book, looked down, and
squinted. “I call upon the power of the
underworld to cast my soul into this object, so that I may become a being of
death, disease, and decay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
sat, her hands folded. Jonah became
dizzy, and stumbled a few steps forward.
He couged. He had a few dry
heaves, and then vomited out his soul.
It flew toward and made contact with the statue. A few seconds later, Jonah opened his eyes
and stood up. He took a few breaths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Larngulal
smiled. “Good job.” Jonah looked at the statue. He walked to it and picked it up. “Now,” Larngulal continued, “cast the fog.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jonah
smiled. He looked over at her and
nodded. He closed his eyes and whispered
for a thick fog to come down. Larngulal
looked out the window. She could already
see it. It wasn’t quite thick enough
yet, but it was getting thicker by the second.
She got up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Where
are you going?” Jonah asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “To
call a friend of mine. There are some
papers on the table. Grab one from each
stack. They’ll explain the rules you’ll
be expected to abide by.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Jonah
frowned and then sighed. He stepped over
to the table as Larngulal went into the other room, picked up the phone, and
dialed Bavandersloth’s number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “In
other news,” a reporter in New York said, “a sudden, thick fog has caused
flight delays all across New York. Our
meteorologist Ned Jackson is here to comment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you Jennifer, the fog came suddenly just a few hours ago and blanketed a large
portion of the New York metropolitan area.
All incoming flights to New York have been delayed…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert slammed the phone into the receiver.
“Damn it!” he screamed. He
seethed. Another agent looked at him. Lambert looked down and took a deep breath,
putting his face in his hands. He looked
up. “I think I might have another idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
agent raised an eyebrow. “What, sir?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’d
be better if I don’t tell you. I don’t
want to give Bavandersloth any time to react.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stepped onto Cherie’s porch, carrying a bag with his copy of <i>On Soulless Ones</i> inside. He knocked on the door. After a few seconds, Cherie opened it. “Hey,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. “Hey,” he said. “You said we needed to talk, and to bring the
book?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head. “Is this a…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
yeah. I’m getting information from this. Didn’t you suspect that coming here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. That’s not it. You…”
Cody looked around. She was
lying. This was a trap, but what
kind? DIAPP didn’t need his book, or any
information they’d learn out of it, or any information he could tell them about
it. They had several copies of their
own. What else could it be? He’d left the cube at home. Cody’s eyes widened. He’d left the cube at home. Cody put down the book and ran away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody,
wait,” Cherie shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
ran off, ignoring her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Thomas
stayed hidden behind the bushes until the devourer was far enough away and
Cherie was inside. Eventually, he ran
out, grabbed the book, and rushed onto his motorcycle. Four other exterminators followed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
poured his wine from his glass, keeping an eye on Justin, who was outside on a
swing. A few of Valthakar’s souls came
up to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth,”
one said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked up. “What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
group of exterminators have taken Odelarch’s book. They’re on their way to the news station
right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened. “What?” He turned around and dashed into the other
room. Valthakar sat, reading from <i>On the Underworld</i>. “Stand up and hurry, Valthakar.” Valthakar looked up. “Exterminators are rushing toward the news
station with Odelarch’s copy of <i>On
Soulless Ones</i>. Run over there right
now and stop them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. He got up and ran toward the
door. “Wait,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
turned around. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Go
downstairs and get some of the weapons.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
think magic ought to be sufficient.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
it will also make it clear that we did this.
Run over there in your true form, but make yourself look like a human
criminal and use conventional weapons to defeat them. Go for heavier ones. Those should get through the exterminator’s
light bullet-proof vests. Don’t pay any
mind to collateral damage.”
Bavandersloth thought. “On second
thought, do. Given how I’ll spin this
later, I’d prefer there to be as much as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded and ran downstairs to grab some guns.
Bavandersloth clenched his fist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
rushed through town on a course that should allow him to intercept the
exterminators if they were on their way to the news station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
about twenty minutes, Valthakar saw the exterminators. He smiled.
Bystanders were looking on, so Valthakar found a hiding place, took his
human form, and stepped out bearing a machine gun. He aimed and fired at one of the exterminators;
hitting him and making him slouch over.
People around screamed and ran away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Tom?”
a woman’s voice screamed from another bike.
Valthakar fired a few more shots at him, making his blood spatter onto
the road and causing his bike to fall over.
Valthakar aimed upward at the others. He hit two more before they rode out of sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked down and saw that none of the ones he’d hit was carrying the book. He sighed.
He got on one of the motorcycles and rode after the other two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
saw them again within a few minutes. He
raised his gun and opened fire, managing to hit one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
other one turned around when she saw her partner hit. She gasped.
Valthakar looked. She was
carrying the book. The exterminator
turned and drove into an alley.
Valthakar pulled back harder on his motorcycle’s handle and followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
he emerged on the other side of the alley, Valthakar looked both ways and saw
the exterminator riding off to the left.
His eyes widened. The News
Station was close. Valthakar sped that
way, firing, but the exterminator swerved.
She was probably keeping an eye on him through her motor-cycle’s
rear-view mirror. Valthakar retook his
aim, but with the same result.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
exterminator accelerated ahead.
Valthakar tried to do the same, but was already going as fast as he
could. He gritted his teeth, reloaded,
and took aim again. He saw a turn coming
up ahead. Valthakar smiled. He waited for the exterminator to slow down
for the turn and fired. He hit. The woman fell off of her motorcycle and
rolled away. A car slammed on its breaks
to avoid hitting her. Valthakar
abandoned his own bike and ran toward the woman. She tried to stand up, but Valthakar shot
her, forcing her back down. She shouted
for help, but Valthakar fired again, killing her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Everyone
around was screaming and running away.
Valthakar turned around and fired on them. When no one was left in the vicinity,
Valthakar walked to the exterminator. He
reached down and grabbed the book. He picked
it up, ducked into an alley, took his true form and became invisible. He ran back to Bavandersloth’s Mansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert picked up his phone. “Yes,
hello. Did they…” The agent on the other end sighed. Agent Lambert’s eyes widened. “What…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
sorry, sir. The devourers got the book
back and all of our exterminators are dead.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert gasped. He shed a tear. He clinched his teeth. He threw the phone against the wall. “God damn it.” Several of the agents around backed
away. Lambert punched the couch he was
on repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. “Why?
Why? Why? Why?
Why?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
knocked back on Cherie’s door. Cherie
opened it. “What?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
was that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
sighed. “It was a DIAPP thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well
I worked that out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
sighed. “Come in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
followed Cherie downstairs. They sat on
the couch. “Alright,” Cody said. “What was that? You acted like you were going to kill me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
what you were supposed to think.” Cherie
looked down. “That’s what dad said. He didn’t say anything more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down and sighed. “When he does,
mind informing me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Bavandersloth sat in his usual spot for his nightly interview with
Violet Fox. The subject of the tragedy
that had just occurred downtown was being discussed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “…The
motorcyclists there were in the standard armor of the government agency that
you’ve interacted with. Do you know
anything at all about that incident?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Well, I don’t know the exact
story of how the conflict between them and the perpetrator came about to start
with, I’m sorry to say. I do, however,
know what they were fighting over.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
eyes widened a bit. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
was a book.” Bavandersloth sighed. “A terrible, terrible book. That tome is nothing short of pure evil. It comes from our home dimension, and its
magical nature reveals itself upon casual examination.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
leaned forward. “How?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
for one thing, the tome is totally indestructible. I’ve experimented with copies myself and I’ve
never managed, nor known of anyone to manage, to inflict the slightest damage
on it. Water falls right off of its
pages, fire abhors it, and no weight ever supplied has managed to crush it.” Violet started to speak, but Bavandersloth
interrupted. “That, though, is far from
its strangest property. If you open the
book to any page while having nothing in particular in mind as to which of its
passages you want to see, you will see a table of contents. If you open it to any page having something
in mind, it will display whatever you willed to see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
mouth was wide. “And you said it was
evil?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
paused. “In the worst possible way,” he
finally said. “The sort of magic it contains
is not the normal kind that I use, but what is considered Dark Magic.” Bavandersloth audibly gulped. “When that book makes a statement of fact
about anything but a spell, it cannot be trusted. Its pages contain an elaborate history and
cosmology, the whole of which is utterly fabricated. The one respect in which it is truthful is in
its spells. It contains the instructions
by which one could use magic to do truly heinous things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Can you give an
example?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Not with a clear
conscience. Believe me; you do not want
to know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“So where is the book
now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There are numerous copies. Many of them are buried. A few are safeguarded by some of us; as I
said, the book can be trusted to tell the truth about its own spells, and
sometimes it yields information useful to combat wicked men who have discovered
it. I believe the government agency has
at least one copy as well, probably several.
The one over which the battle today was fought, though, is now in much
more dangerous hands.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Violet’s eyes widened. “Who has it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The man who collected
it, and who is responsible for every death in that incident, was a member of a
criminal organization. In those hands,
it could be used to cause untold destruction.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Wait; do you know
which organization has it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No.” Violet looked down. Bavandersloth continued. “We have some idea. We know a few it can’t be, and a few dozen
it’s most likely to be, but that’s it.
I’m afraid I can’t say much more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you going to
contact the police about this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth nodded. “We already did, but we’ve not heard
back.” Bavandersloth stood up. “In fact, that’s part of the reason I came
here tonight. I’ve already contacted law
enforcement asking for their cooperation, though not long enough ago that I’d
expect to have received a response by now.
Just to be sure, though, I wanted to say this publically: I intend to visit the police personally
tomorrow. For a while now, the police
have been doing little to combat us, and I appreciate that, but in light of
these events, I feel I must ask for more.
I think it’s time that the community of Angels and police around the
world begin officially cooperating. I
believe that we can do much more together than apart. Our community has done much to combat crime
both in America and around the world, and with official support; I believe we
could do much more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There were a few gasps
in the studio, though not as many as Bavandersloth had expected. Some of the people around might have
suspected this would happen soon.
Bavandersloth sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Violet Fox took a
moment to respond. “I see,” she
said. Bavandersloth smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert seethed when he saw Bavandersloth’s speech on the television. He tried to force himself to calm down. Bavandersloth was winning. Lambert took a few deep breaths. He called another agent: an expert in
criminal justice. He waited a minute
before she picked up the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hello, sir,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you watching
this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lambert sighed. “In your opinion, Agent Reynolds, how likely
is it that the police will go along with them?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Agent Reynolds
paused. “It’s hard to say. I’m not sure how likely it is that the police
will be willing to go along with a group known to kill people. Then again, after North Korea…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Agent Lambert looked
down. He shed a tear and slammed the
phone against the receiver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
interview continued. “So who made this
book anyway? Where did it come from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Our
dimension. The exact details are lost,
but we believe it was created by a devourer intent on sewing mistrust against
us. I’ve read the book myself. Its chief purpose, other than giving humans
access to powerful magic, is to make us seem synonymous with them. This might be why this government agency
thought that was the case at first, and might still think so now. As I said earlier, they no doubt have several
copies of the thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
looked down. She looked back up. “I see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t blame them. It’s natural to trust
something that seems to come from a magical source, especially when it’s the first
side of the story one hears. I’d happily
extend my offer for cooperation to that organization as well, if they’re
interested. Indeed, it might take all
three of us to combat these criminals.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
nodded. “I see.” She sat back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth raised an
eyebrow. “Is something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Violet pressed her lips
together. She looked down, and then back
up. “How do we know the book is
dishonest? How do we know you’re not
lying right now? A lot of people out
there distrust you, and a lot of them make seemingly good points.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
paused for a moment, and then chuckled softly.
He sighed. “That’s a good
question,” he said. “Truth be told, I
can’t think of a way to prove it. You
have, I suppose, never seen any Angel and their devourer in the same place at
the same time. It is odd that a
benevolent race like us would hide ourselves for so long and that just shortly
after our unveiling that these other forces would suddenly emerge. Truth be told, I can’t think of any proof I
have that our community is trustworthy.
However, there is one thing I can say.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
eyes widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “I gained a new power last
night. The power of any one of us is
constantly growing by drips and drops.
One of my powers requires me to be with someone face to face, or at
least it did, until last night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert’s
eyes widened. He grabbed his remote and
turned off his TV. He picked up a
microphone and turned on the intercom.
“Everyone, TV’s off now. Cover
your ears. Close your eyes. Look away.”
Lambert paused. “Cut power to the
facility just to be safe.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
are you saying?” Violet asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
closed his eyes. “Oh, simply that the
various fears based on the facts that I just mentioned are false.” Bavandersloth used his power to induce false
belief on all who were watching. “You
should think nothing of them.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/09/angel-of-death-117-soulless-ones.html">Last Entry</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Next Entry</span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-84400983658353803422014-09-19T19:20:00.001-07:002014-10-26T00:22:56.513-07:00Angel of Death 1.17 Soulless Ones<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sat in the attic by the safe. He opened
Bavandersloth’s copy of <i>On the Underworld</i>
and turned to the table of contents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I A Description of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“II On the History of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“III On the Sections of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“IV On the Souls of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“V On the Creatures of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“VI Questions and Answers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“VII Glossary”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
thought. He turned to <i>On the Sections of the Underworld</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Since Gborin’gargoth came into power, the infinite expanse
of the Underworld has been split into three principle sections, two of finite
size and one of infinite size. The
largest of the finite planes is the ever-growing paradise Gesolouri, the final
destination of all those in whose hearts lie either goodness (as understood by
Gborin’gargoth) or the potential for goodness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar raised an
eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“If a person is without need for moral correction, as is
often true of those who die young and is true of all beasts, their souls are
sent straight to Gesolouri. If, however,
there is either some evil in their heart or some sin for which they need atone,
and if these flaws can be extinguished and this evil atoned for in any finite
amount of time by any means, they shall be moved to the vast Expanse of
Quulianis. Because Quulianis is composed
of the entirety of an infinite plane save for two small sections that have been
cleaved from it, it contains every environment which the Underworld can contain,
and does so infinitely many times. Those
in need of redemption are brought into the environment judged necessary for
them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar
chuckled. That didn’t sound so bad,
actually. Then again, he really couldn’t
imagine what would ever make him into a do-gooder. He read on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He eventually came to the
description of the third realm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The final and smallest by far of the Underworld’s realms is
the dominated and corrupted Caves of Nklonglerokt. In this prison lay all those whose nature is
so corrupt that it would require an infinite amount of time to bring about in
them even the will to redeem themselves.
Because no such expanse of time is available and souls cannot be
destroyed, such persons, a group which, it must be stressed is absolutely
miniscule in number, are sealed in the Caves of Nklonglerokt and allowed to
suffer eternally.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar’s eyes
widened and he dropped the book. He
stood up. Valthakar clenched his fist
and took a deep breath. He picked up the
book and opened it. He turned to the
Q&A section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His hands trembled as
he picked up the feather quill and wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Am I among the ones Gborin’gargoth
considers irredeemable?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I am not permitted to answer that question.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar gasped. He furled his eyebrows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What do you mean you’re not permitted
to answer that question? I need an answer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Gborin’gargoth has not permitted me to answer that
question.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar clenched his
fists. He felt his heart racing. He seethed.
He brought his fist back and punched the book. It had no effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Seething, Valthakar sat
down. He opened the book back up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“If I am, do I have any recourse?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“By definition, no.
If you are among those people, it would take an infinite amount of time
for you to change your ways. No such
stretch of time can ever pass, by definition.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar slammed the
book shut. He closed his eyes and
cried. After a few minutes, he looked up
then ran downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth lay on
his couch, working through a month’s worth of newspapers. Sparky lay on the floor next to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
heard someone rushing down the stairs.
He looked up. It was
Valthakar. He was in tears. Bavandersloth raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Have
you ever read the section of <i>On the
Underworld</i> about its different parts?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded, sipping from a wine glass next to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar’s
eyes widened. “So you… Did it tell you
that you were redeemable?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
refused to say.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
are you so calm?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
I made a deal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar’s
eyes widened. “A deal?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat up and looked at Valthakar. “Yes, my
friend,” he nodded. “A deal. That’s where we find a human and get them to
agree to become walking suits of armor that are bound to serve us eternally in
exchange for one wish.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
seethed. “I know what a deal is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
lay back and rolled his eyes. “And you
apparently don’t know what sarcasm is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
ran over to Bavandersloth. “Look, this
is serious. I could be locked in caves
and made to suffer for all eternity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed and rolled his eyes. He sat up,
taking another sip from his wine glass.
“Well, do you know if you’re actually irredeemable?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked down. He clenched his fist and
looked up at Bavandersloth. “Of course I
am. I don’t regret anything I’ve ever
done. This is just some random guy who
happens to be the King of the Underworld deciding morality for everyone. It’s not even genuinely wrong, just like I’ve
always thought.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
lay back. “Well, make a deal like I did,
then. I tricked a human into requesting
a spell that brought infinite happiness to the world. Hence, I cast a protection spell on myself
which ensured that I would experience infinite happiness instead of infinite
suffering. I think I did the same thing
for his brother or something, which is how I got him to agree to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
took a few deep breaths. He stood
up. “Alright then,” he said. “That’s exactly what I’ll do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
gathered his books into his backpack and stepped out of class. “You’ll be getting your tests back in a
week,” the teacher said as the students scrambled out of the classroom. Lester walked over to Cody as the crowd
dispersed in the hall. It was pizza day,
so the students were speed-walking toward the cafeteria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So,
how well do you think you’re gonna do on your mid-terms,” Lester asked as they
walked down the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hmm,”
Cody said. “I don’t know. I’m not worried, if that’s what you’re
asking. I think I did fine, but I’ve not
put much thought into it.” Cody
sighed. “I’ve mostly been focusing on
other things as of late.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
put his hand on Cody’s shoulder. “Yeah,
I guess--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
crud,” Cody said. “That reminds me,
Bavandersloth told me to go straight to him after class. I’m sorry, I can’t come to lunch. Catch you later.” Cody turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you want me to bring you some pizza?” Lester asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No
thanks,” Cody said, shaking his head. “I
don’t really need any.” Cody ran
off. Lester sighed. He turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
carried his tray to his table. He was
the last member of his usual group to arrive.
“Oh, hey Lester,” Allen said as he approached. Lester sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sup,”
Lester said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
much,” Reidel said. “We were just
talking about the last Angel interview.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Reidel
thinks they’re hiding something,” Steven said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
almost flinched but was able to resist.
He clinched his fist a bit under the table. “Oh,” he said. “What makes you think that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Reidel
sighed. “It’s just all so convenient;
like, their story. I mean think about
it, they just happen to have perfect duplicates of themselves runnin’ around
being evil, and one of ‘em just happens to attack their biggest enemies right
when the good guy just happens to be trapped behind some portal we’ve never
seen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
felt a bead of sweat run down his neck.
He clenched his teeth inside his mouth.
“They say it’s cuz of some Lovecraft shit,” Lester said, “like, that’s
why we can’t see them, or at least that’s how it seemed to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Reidel
sighed. “Yeah, maybe, but isn’t that
pretty convenient too? And that doesn’t
address the other stuff. What if it’s
more like V, where they don’t want to show off their appearances because it’ll
make them look bad?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
heard some people say they’re liches,” Allen added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
nodded. “I’ve heard that too. The problem, I think, is that lore about
liches isn’t old enough. I mean, if
there were one of them who was ten-thousand years old like they say, there
ought to be more stories about them, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Liches
go back a little longer than D&D,” Allen said. “There’s this Russian character,
Koshy-something. He was an old, evil
dude whose soul was inside a needle way away from his body.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sighed. He looked down. “Yeah true.”
He looked up. “So you guys are
thinking the all liches are evil angles or…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
dunno,” Reidel said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let’s
not forget that they kill people,” Allen said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “To
help other people,” Lester said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
they claim,” Allen said, taking a sip of his milk. “But think about it. They can paralyze people like that.” Allen snapped his fingers. “Why should they need to kill anyone? Then there was that girl in the armor,
supposed to be a crime boss. Did you
hear what she said?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Unless
they’re really the same things as those devourers.” Reidel looked down and shuddered. “Then it all makes sense.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
was a crime boss,” Lester said. “Didn’t
the cops confirm it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
are you so defensive?” Steven asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not defensive, I just think it’s important not to…” Lester looked down. “Never mind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Reidel
raised an eyebrow. “Yo, you okay man?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked up. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Reidel
squinted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Drat! How much should Lester tell them? Siding with his best friend was a no-brainer,
right? No, it shouldn’t be. Siding with humanity should be the obvious
choice. Wasn’t Bavandersloth supposed to
be planning something big? What if
Lester could help stop that? What if he
got himself killed? Was one of
Bavandersloth’s souls watching him right now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
tried to keep out of the conversation, saying as little, and staying as vague,
as possible, just letting Reidel and Steven talk. That’d work for now. It was all he could do until he was alone to
think more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
walked through the inner city of Goldfalls in his lich form. There had to be someone around here who’d be
willing to make a deal, right? It would
entail their death, of sorts, and he couldn’t lie to them about that or the
deal wouldn’t work. Still, there had to
be someone. All he had to do was come up
with a way to formulate their wish that involved keeping him out of hell. He could do anything that technically
satisfied their request and did not resort to haggling over synonyms or
homophones. There also couldn’t be a
blatant ride-on; the deal was for one wish, not two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sniffed. He smelt a fear coming from
somewhere nearby. He smiled. There was a small chance this was his
lead. If not, it might be his meal for
the night. He followed the smell to a
sidewalk across an alley. His eyes
widened. He saw a little girl clutching
a teddy bear walking down the sidewalk. The
streetlight above her flickered. She was
brown-skinned and had short, curly hair tied up into two balls. She was looking down at the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
turned around, intent on walking away. But
as he walked, he heard the girl crying behind him. Maybe he could make the deal with her? Yes, he could. A little girl was the perfect person to trick
into making his deal. He grinned, took
his human form and walked over to her.
“Hello, little girl,” he said, walking up to her. “What’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
girl looked up at him. She stepped
away. She looked back down. “I’m lost,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see,” Valthakar said. “Is there anything
I can do to help?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
girl wiped a tear and sniffled. “Could
you take me home?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Certainly,”
Valthakar said. “Where do you live?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Near
Claudina St.,” the girl said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see,” Valthakar said. “Come with me,
then. I’ll lead you there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
girl looked up and smiled. “Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. He began walking and headed away
from Claudina St, but the girl probably wouldn’t realize that. The girl followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What’s
your name?” Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
little girl looked down and squeezed her teddy bear. “I’m Keisha,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “That’s a lovely name.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you,” the little girl said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two walked under another streetlight. It
was out. “Why are you lost?” Valthakar
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
looked down. “I…” she shed a tear, “I
ran away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
tilted his head. “Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
gulped. It took her a moment to
speak. “I… I did something bad. I ran away because I was afraid I’d get in
trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
feigned a frown. “Are you still afraid
of that now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
little. Right now I just want to get home. I’m more scared out here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
exactly did you do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
shed a tear. “I… I…” She squeezed her bear tighter. “My momma kept a special picture on the
table. It was of my sister Latoya. She died because an Angel killed her, back
when they were bad.” Valthakar raised an
eyebrow. This was an interesting
coincidence. “I got mad at my mommy
because she wouldn’t let me go to a Christmas party, so I threw the picture
into the fireplace.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
Christmas party? So this was at least a
week ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
nodded. “Momma was so mad. She was yelling and screaming at me. She made me sit in the living room while she
went to the kitchen and made lunch. She
said she’d have a punishment ready when she got back. I was really scared, so while she was gone, I
ran out of the house and down the street.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
grinned. Here was his chance. “That sounds really bad,” he said. “You’re probably going to be in a lot of
trouble when you get home. I don’t know
that your momma will ever forgive you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
looked up. She cried, squeezing on her
bear. “What? Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
might get time out for years, or lose all of your toys forever.” Valthakar looked down and shook his
head. “Running away made it even worse.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
really think she’ll never forgive me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can’t say for sure,” Valthakar said. He
looked down, trying to keep from chuckling.
“But I doubt it.” Keisha looked
down. Tears bubbled up from her
eyes. Valthakar grinned. This was his chance. “Though I can think of one way out of it, if
you want to hear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
looked up. “What? What can I do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
moved and stood in front of Keisha. She
flinched. Valthakar kneeled down in
front of her and looked her in the eye.
“First, let me tell you a secret.
I’m an Angel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha’s
eyes widened. She took a step
backward. “You’re...” she fumbled, “an
Angel?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. “Yes. And if you want, I can use my magic to make
sure your momma will still forgive you, even after you destroyed the picture.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
stumbled back. “I… how?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “One of our traits, us Angels,
is that we can do almost anything by making deals with humans. I could make an agreement with you to reduce
the amount of punishment, that’s people getting in trouble, in the world by a big
number called aleph-null, and when I do it, I can make sure that part of that
aleph null is you getting in trouble with your momma.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
what do I have to do?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
took a deep breath. “Unfortunately,” he
said, “I can only demand one thing from you.
I’ll cast a spell on you that will give you a lot of magical power. After you have that, you’ll have to come work
for me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha’s
eyes widened. “What? For how long?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked down. “For a long time. However, it will be worth it, compared to the
forever that your mommy will be mad at you that you broke the picture.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
took another step back. “I…” Valthakar looked at Keisha, suppressing his
grin. Valthakar thought about an
incident during his childhood when he and his mother had had a similar
exchange. He hadn’t run away, but he had
broken something in the palace. He
recalled his mother’s disapproving gaze.
He thought about it. He clenched
his fist and banished it from his mind.
He looked at the girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
need an answer,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
little girl looked down. She looked back
up. She shook her head. “No,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar’s
eyes widened. “What? What do you mean no?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Keisha
looked down, and then back up. “I mean
no. I want to get back home right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
your mommy will be mad at you forever.
Is that what you want?” Keisha
looked down. She took a step backward. Valthakar grinned. “I wish I could give you a better deal, but
you’ll only work for me for a little while compared to how long--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Please
just take me home,” Keisha said. “I
don’t think you’re right about my momma.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar’s
eyes widened. “Fine,” he said. He took his true form and activated his cloud. The girl’s eyes widened. She ran from him. Valthakar thought. He sighed.
As delicious as she would be, her rescue would also be good for the
Angels’ reputation. He chased after her,
caught her, put her to sleep and wiped a large chunk of her recent memory. He ran toward the police station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next day, Cody and Lester sat together during lunch. The others hadn’t arrived yet. Lester looked up at Cody. He sighed.
“So I’ve been hearing the word Lich associated with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “Yeah, so have I. I think Bavandersloth might be working on
something to take care of that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
hearing it from the others,” Lester said.
“I was talking here with Allen and Reidel yesterday. They think the Angels are hiding
something. A lot of people think so
too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester looked
down. “It was really hard not to tell
them that they’re right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody stopped
eating. He looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester looked at
him. “Oh, no, no, no. I don’t mean I’d ever bust you.” Lester sighed. “I just wish I could maybe help them reach
some of the right conclusions. Maybe it
could even help stop Bavandersloth’s plan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’d imagine. I wish I could too,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester looked
down. “That’s easy for you to say,” he
whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked at
Lester. His eyebrows furled. “What was that supposed to mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester looked back up
at Cody. His eyes widened. “Oh.
Sorry.” He looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody slammed his fists
on the table. “No, I really want to know
what you meant by that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester looked back
up. Cody’s eyes were locked onto
him. Lester scooted back. “Woah, dude, calm down.” Cody kept staring. Lester sighed. “I just… never mind, okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fuck you, man.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester flinched. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You think I just don’t
care about the people around me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No, no. Not at all.
That’s not what I meant.” Lester
looked down. “Look, I’m sorry,
okay? You’re right. It would suck for you if Bavandersloth
won. Still, I think I’m safe in saying
I’d be worse off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked at
Lester. He sighed. He looked down, and then back up. “Yeah, I guess,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s not hard to work
out what Bavandersloth’s planning,” Lester said. “He wants to subdue humanity; to enslave us
somehow. Nothing else would work for him
long-term. All of this discussion going
on shows it. He can only keep looking
like a good guy for so long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody took a deep
breath. He looked down. “Yeah.”
He looked up. “According to <i>On Soulless Ones</i>, back when liches were
slaves to the underworld, they used to take over worlds and farm mortals. The goal then was always to get the population
as high as possible. The more souls that
were created, the more souls that could be harvested.” Cody looked down. “I guess the parts about farming wouldn’t
really apply now, but a lot of the rest…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester’s fingers
fidgeted a bit. He clenched his fist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There’s nothing I can
do about it, though,” Cody said. “Well,
nothing that I’m not trying to do.
Still, I don’t think I’ll succeed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester felt a bead of
sweat roll down him. He put his head on
the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes widened. “You’re protected, though. Bavandersloth would need the better part of
the community to agree before he could get rid of that convention, and plenty
of liches, including councilors, have loved ones who they care about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester sat back. “Yeah,” he said. He picked up a grape from his tray. “So what do you think you’d do with me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t know. The best thing I could, I guess. I don’t know what my options will be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester looked down. He took a deep breath and took a bite out of
his apple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Valthakar went back to the Inner City.
This was Odelarch’s territory, technically, but it didn’t matter. Deals had to be freely chosen on a mortal’s
part, so they did not count as utilization of the mortal by a lich. He ran around, invisible, sniffing for human
fear. The strongest trail led him to an
apartment complex. He could hear
shouting from an upstairs window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
ran into the building and up a stairwell inside. He sniffed and followed the scent to the
right apartment. He broke in. He saw a bruised woman cowering on the
couch. A man stood over her, holding a
rod. Both of them were looking at the
door, probably having been startled by Valthakar breaking it open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
ran toward the man. After a few moments,
the man’s eyes widened. He seemed to
realize what was going on. Valthakar
tackled and paralyzed him from the neck down.
The woman looked at the man as Valthakar turned around. She seemed to have figured it out, too. Valthakar stood up and placed his hand on the
woman, willing her unconscious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
heard the man shouting at him. He
activated his cloud and turned visible.
He kneeled down in front of the man.
“Greetings,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man looked up. His eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
have something I need to talk about with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man squinted. “Huh? What could you possibly need from me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sighed. “You’re probably going to get in
trouble here. You just beat the shit out
of what I presume to be your girlfriend.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
fuck you. What does--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
offering to get you out of trouble.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man’s eyes widened. He squinted. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “In
fact, you strike me as someone with a pretty long rap sheet. I can feel your every illness just by
touching you. You’re addicted to things
that didn’t even exist when I was your age.
Some of them are making you rot away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
shut up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t think you want me to do that.
Someone’s probably called the police.
You were pretty loud, and have way too much melanin for any of this to
be ignored. However, I happen to have
means to get you out of trouble. In
fact, I might be able to keep you and whoever else you want from ever being in
trouble with the police again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man squinted. “No,” he said after a
moment, shaking his head. “This is a
trick. You’d never--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
not? I’ve only been killing criminals
because our kind follows rules that say we have to. I have no problem with making sure you get
away.” A bead of sweat fell down the
man’s face. “I’m right about the record,
aren’t I? How long would you get?” The man gulped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see,” Valthakar said. “Here’s my offer
then: Unbeknownst to you, my race has
the ability to do almost anything we want if we can get a human to make a deal
with us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man squinted. “A deal?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
a deal. Here’s how it works: You make one
wish, and I grant it. In exchange, I set
a date, usually right away, but I’m flexible.
You will live invincibly until that date. It can be years into the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sighed. “Well, then you’ll be buried
alive in a magical coffin, decay alive for a year, and then become my armored
servant after the coffin reforms itself into a suit of armor around you. Still, that’s years away, and it really won’t
be as bad as it sounds.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Fuck
no, man. I’m not gonna be anyone’s
slave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Are
you sure about--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man spit in Valthakar’s face. Valthakar
sighed. “Suit yourself.” He scythed and ate the man’s soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
flinched as something shook him awake.
He opened his eyes. He sniffed,
and his eyes widened. He looked at the
computer chair in his room.
Bavandersloth sat there, chains dangling from his wrists. Lester gasped. He sat up in his bed and scrambled against
the wall, gagging at the lich’s scent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,”
the lich said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester’s breathing was
erratic as he tried to balance his instinct to gasp for air with his need to
shut out the lich’s horrid smell. “He…
he… Hel…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
not be so afraid,” Bavandersloth said.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
Bavandersloth stood up. Lester
jerked backward. Bavandersloth sighed
and sat down. “I’m merely here to
talk. The souls I have monitoring you
have said some very interesting things about your recent conversations with
certain friends of yours.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
was noth--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
wouldn’t be here if it was nothing.”
Bavandersloth stood up. Lester’s
eyes widened further, and his breathing became heavy even as he pinched his
nose. He scooted away, toward the foot
of his bed. “Oh, clam down,”
Bavandersloth said. “If I were here to
eat you, I would have done it while you were asleep. I’m no sadist, and even if I were, you
wouldn’t be worth it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester’s
breathing and scooting slowed down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Besides,
you’re an important piece of leverage against Cody. Killing you would be a waste of your
strategic potential.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sat on the edge of his bed, cross-legged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled as he sat down on Lester’s bed. “Besides,
I’m not that mean of a guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester’s
breath was still heavy. Sweat rolled
down his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
then, regarding what I wanted to talk about: You seem to be considering the
prospect of disseminating some of the knowledge you’ve gained from Cody to the
public in order to harm the public’s opinion of the community of liches. What do you think I think about that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sat, breathing, saying nothing, fighting the urge to scream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “C’mon;
answer. What do you think I think about
that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked down. He gulped. “You’ll want to kill me,” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Pardon? I didn’t quite hear you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked up. A bead of sweat ran past his
eye. “You’ll kill me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Maybe,”
Bavandersloth said. “Maybe I’ll kill
you. Maybe I’ll kill someone you
love. You do have two parents, four
close friends and a sister. Maybe I’ll
not kill any of them and instead rob you of something you care about.” Bavandersloth smiled. “Of course, all of that is if and only if you
counter my ends, and you haven’t yet.”
He leaned forward toward Lester.
Lester leaned back away. “However,
I don’t take enemies lightly, Mr. Green.
Don’t expect to be able to cross me and get away with it.” Bavandersloth sat back. “Just remember that your actions have
consequences.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
stayed back. Bavandersloth was
still. “Will you remember?”
Bavandersloth asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
didn’t respond.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Tell
me you’ll remember.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester’s
eyes darted around the room. His breaths
were still heavy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
raised his scythe. “Will you remember?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
remember,” Lester shouted. His eyes
widened. Shit. That might have been loud enough to wake up
the whole house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “Good.” He stood up, turned around, and walked to
Lester’s bedroom window. He lifted it
open and stepped out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
lay awake in his bed an hour later. What
should he do? Saving humanity was
obviously worth risking his life, but what about the chance that the risk
wouldn’t pay off? If Lester just told
people everything he knew, there was a chance no one would believe him. He had to come forward with proof that
Bavandersloth couldn’t possibly spin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
book! If Lester gave <i>On Soulless Ones</i> to the press,
Bavandersloth would be screwed. How
could he possibly get around that? But
how would Lester go about stealing it?
Could he get Cody to give it to him?
Maybe. There was a good chance. But how could he ask for it without provoking
Bavandersloth? Maybe if he waited a
while, he’d be able to come up with an excuse.
Then he just had to get it to the news station.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Where
was the news station? Lester didn’t
know. It’d be too dangerous to look it
up. The souls watching him would see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
shuddered and pulled his covers over him a bit more. There were souls watching him right now. Lester sighed. He had to find some plausible excuse to look
it up. After that, he had to figure out
an excuse to go there, with the book, without raising any suspicion. No, that was probably impossible. As soon as he headed that way with the book,
Bavandersloth would head him off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
took a deep breath. Was there any way he
could tell anyone about this? He could
tell Cody, but Cody wouldn’t help him.
Lester’s eyes flashed open.
DIAPP! Contacting DIAPP was as easy
as calling Cody on his cell phone, and it’d probably be plausible enough for
him to want to contact Cody right away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
reached over to his nightstand and got his cell phone. He checked its clock. It was 2:00 AM. Crap.
Cody’s phone wouldn’t be on right now.
He was out on patrol. Lester
could call him in the morning though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
groaned and settled back into bed. That’s
what he’d do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next morning, Lester woke up. He
stretched, and then got out of bed. As
he moved to get in the shower, he remembered that he needed to call Cody. He clenched his fist. He needed to make it clear to DIAPP that he
needed help. Maybe there was a chance
they’d give it to him. He grabbed his
cell phone off of his nightstand and called Cody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
picked the phone up. “Hello.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
Cody,” Lester said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
hey. What’s up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sighed. “Bavandersloth came to my room
last night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
gasped. “He what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
you didn’t know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No
I didn’t…” Cody sighed. “Do you think it’s the best idea to discuss
this on this phone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can’t imagine how it’d matter if DIAPP knows this.” Lester sat down. How much could he say? Could he hint somehow that he wanted
help? No, any way to do that would
probably be too dangerous. If he didn’t,
though, would DIAPP know to help him? “Besides,
I wanted to talk to you as soon as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “Well, what exactly did he say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
if I ever did anything to stop him, he’d kill me, my loved ones, or both.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “Okay. Well, I’m not sure of anything I can do.” Cody sighed.
“Just do what he says. Don’t be a
hero. There’s nothing you can do to hurt
him and it’s not worth the risk to try.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
looked down. “Okay.” He should act disappointed. That would be more believable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know that’s easy for me to say,” Cody said.
“But it’s true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
lay back. “I know.” He rubbed his forehead with the back of his
head. “Okay then. I guess I’ll see you at the game tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yep. Can’t wait.”
Cody hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat in his great room on the phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Look,
there was nothing we could do, okay,” the voice on the other end said. “Sometimes the police show up and interrupt
your plans in this business, y’know? We
need you to--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth sighed. “Fine.
I’ll try to arrange for a shipment to get to you some other way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thanks,
Bav. You’re the best.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed and hung up. Before Cody had
destroyed public ignorance, Bavandersloth had worked closely with various
criminal organizations in the third world.
He’d reanimate bodies for them, and in exchange, he’d be paid for their
labor. He’d been able to make agreements
with certain liches to protect the groups he worked with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stood up, intending to get a book of contacts out of one of his safes
upstairs. One of the organizations he
worked with had just had their cocaine manufacturers taken down by a police
raid, and they’d called him to bail them out.
As he walked, a soul came to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked up. “What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Lester
Green, master. He placed a call to
Odelarch, knowingly using the bugged phone.
There is a possibility he’s trying to alert DIAPP.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
scratched his chin. Was Lester smart
enough to think of that? Why would he do
it? If he did do it, it would have been
because he was feeling helpless, but still wanted to resist. This wasn’t what Bavandersloth had
predicted. He had to be careful. Lester might be the kind of human for whom
threats would only make him feel forced to act.
Bavandersloth’s eyes widened. He
got an idea. He looked up at the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Go
back and continue observing the boy.
I’ll take care of this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul nodded and flew away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. Finally, he’d found a mortal who
would make a deal with him. Valthakar
stood across from the mortal who’d agreed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
this’ll get my family off the…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. “Your family will never be
forced to endure a single bit of punishment again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This
boy’s grandparents were refugees who fled to the United States during the
Korean War. His Grandparents’ siblings
hadn’t been so lucky. Their decedents
were still facing retribution for their ancestor’s crimes, as was the region’s
custom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “Let me just say, though, if you
want to, you could be a bit more ambitious.
I could take down the entire regime.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy’s eyes widened. “That’d be even
better. Much better.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “Good, then. Now, make your wish. You will be summoned to fulfill your end of
the deal at a later moment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy gulped. “And when will that be
again?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
intend to do it tonight. I told you
you’d be giving up your life for this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy nodded. A bead of sweat fell down
his face. “Yeah, you did.” He looked down. “And I said it was worth it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
do it. Believe me, if I could do this
without having to take the price I must take, I would.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy gulped again. He shed a tear. He clenched his fist. He chuckled.
“To think this is the way something like that is going to end.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
can only stall so long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy gulped again. “Right.” He took a deep breath. He looked down and shed a tear. “I… I wish that the amount of punishment in
existence will be reduced by aleph-null, and that at least a portion of that be
done through the permanent destruction of the tyrannical state in North Korea,
which must occur overnight tonight, bring about no severe or fatal injury to
any human and must not be followed by another tyrannical government at any time
in the future.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. Finally. He felt power swelling up inside him, and
then condensing within him. Pure magic
built up within the bounds of his material body, begging for release. He closed his eyes, and willed for the boy’s
wish to take place, with the remaining infinity in the reduction of punishment
being filled by his own punishment in hell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
beam of bright green energy came from him and rose upward in a column, splitting
into two forks high above him. One went
back downward and plunged itself into the underworld, while the other would
move to North Korea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
the beam had passed, Valthakar took his human form. “Thank you,” he said. He smiled.
“Your brave sacrifice has improved the lives of millions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy smiled. “I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
finished getting everything set in place for his RPG session that night. A few hours later, Reidel arrived, then Cody,
then Allen, then Steven. When Cody
arrived, he pulled Lester aside for a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Any
new developments?” Lester asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
chewed me out for not hanging up on you.
Other than that, no. I was
actually going to ask you the same thing.
Has he contacted you again?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nothing’s
happened today,” Lester said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
pressed his lips together. He took a
deep breath. “Alright.” The two rejoined the group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
began to narrate the paragraph he’d written down earlier; words spoken by a
village leader to the party of adventurers.
Lester heard the front door open as he spoke, but assumed it was one of
his parents and paid it no mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Lester neared the end of his speech, he felt the ground around him shake, and
then shake more. Lester’s eyes widened. The pieces on the table in front of Lester
jiggled. Lester, Cody, Reidel and Steven
scrambled under the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lester looked
around. His eyes widened. He saw Allen’s legs. Allen still stood up. “What the hell are you doing, Allen? It’s an earthquake.” Lester said. “Take cover.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Suddenly,
Lester noticed a rift appearing right bellow Allen. He gasped and jerked back, hitting his head
on the bottom of the table. Allen
levitated over the rift as it tore open, forming a hole in the ground. Allen screamed. Lester gasped. Steven and Reidel frantically shouted at each
other. The ground below the hole didn’t
go very far, only an inch or so of rock.
Lester heard Cody gasp behind him.
Below the inch of rock, there was a vast expanse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Allen levitated over the expanse, a golden object, a cylinder, came up from the
hole and enveloped Allen, blocking him from sight, though his screams could
still be heard. Lester heard a loud
bang. The cylinder changed shape. Lester shed a tear. Reidel and Steven screamed. Cody crouched with his mouth wide. The cylinder sank into the rift. As it passed, Lester saw that it was now a
sarcophagus bearing Allen’s face. Allen
screamed and banged on the sides of the coffin.
“Help,” he shouted. “Get me out
of here. Guys, help me. Someone, please get me out of here. It hurts.
Help.” Allen kept screaming and
protesting as the coffin sank into the hole.
The ground shook again. Steven
and Reidel covered their heads. The hole
in the ground closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
lay on his stomach, his mouth wide open.
He felt a weight fall on his legs.
He turned around. His eyes
widened. He saw Bavandersloth pulling
Reidel out from under the table. Steven,
Cody and Lester scrambled out from underneath the table and stood up. Bavandersloth leapt over the table and
touched Steven, rendering him unconscious.
Lester stood. He shed a tear. He
saw his parents and sister nearby, also unconscious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
the hell did you just do?” he screamed, crying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
didn’t do a thing,” Bavandersloth said.
“You did. I warned you about what
would happen if you defied me, and you attempted to contact DIAPP.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
clenched his teeth and furled his brows.
Tears streamed down his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
hope you’ll listen to me next time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Go
fuck yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. He turned to Cody. “I’m not going to be at the school library
anymore. I’m planning to let the cover I
use there take the fall for this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stumbled backward. He nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. He turned to Steven and
Reidel. Lester stood in front of them,
but Bavandersloth forced him aside. “I’m
going to take them upstairs,” he said.
“I’ll wake them up and use my powers to convince them that they saw the
librarian break in the house and murder Allen.
If either of you don’t want to experience further consequences, you’ll
go along with it.” Bavandersloth turned
around to face Lester. Lester’s face was
red with tears. “Understand?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Fuck
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “I’ll take that as a yes. Next time it will be someone even closer to
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked over at Cody. Cody nodded and
shed a tear. Bavandersloth looked back
over at Lester. “Remember,” he said,
“I’m watching you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
carried the two teenagers upstairs. Lester’s knees wobbled. Cody ran over to him as he collapsed to the
ground, crying.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/09/angel-of-death-116-bavandersloths.html">Last Entry</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/10/angel-of-death-118-you-should-think.html">Next Entry</a></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-23383396895522741362014-09-04T21:25:00.002-07:002014-09-22T17:01:06.398-07:00Angel of Death 1.16 Bavandersloth's Rampage<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sat on a bed reading. He heard barking
behind him. He turned around. He saw Sparky sitting and wagging his
tail. Cody smiled. He put his book down, stood up and took his
true form. He bent over and patted his
knees. “Here, Sparky.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
ran up to and pounced on Cody, leaving a trail of black, smoking paw prints
behind him. Cody fell back as Sparky
licked him. Cody laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked at the door when he heard it open.
Valthakar stood there. “It’s
almost time,” he said. “We need to get
down there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody took a deep breath. “Right,” he said, nodding. He looked up at Sparky. “Off.” he said. Sparky stepped away. Cody stood up and followed Valthakar
downstairs. He called Sparky to come
with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood in front of the door to the basement, next to Valthakar. Justin was on Valthakar’s other side. They waited a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> They
heard stirring downstairs as Bavandersloth awoke and ate the thirty humans
they’d brought to him over the past few nights.
They braced themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> One
of Valthakar’s souls phased through the basement wall. “He’s got all of them,” the soul said. Valthakar nodded. The three waited for Bavandersloth to burst
through the door. Valthakar sent the
soul back in. Bavandersloth didn’t come
out. Cody breathed deeply, clenching his
fist. Bavandersloth would no doubt turn
invisible, but he would have to use the door to escape, or else make a hole in
the wall. As soon as anything opened,
Valthakar would blast Bavandersloth, destroying his lower body and keeping him
from moving until his frenzy was over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
few minutes later, a hole appeared next to the door. Valthakar fired a magical beam at it. He moved the beam up and down so
Bavandersloth could not crawl under it or jump over it. A section of the basement below was worn
away, but Bavandersloth was not hit. He
must have jumped back from the hole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar’s
soul came back out. “Small holes, like,
finger sized, are appearing in the walls.
I think he’s trying to climb them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Where
are they exactly?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “To
your left.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. He kept his one hand on the door
while holding out his other hand, prepared to fire on any holes that appeared
in the wall. Soon enough, one did. Valthakar let out another magical beam. Like the last, he moved it up and down to
keep Bavandersloth from sneaking past it.
“Odelarch,” Valthakar said, “stand in front of the wall to the left of
me. Prepare to fire.” Odelarch nodded and obeyed. Bavandersloth’s shield would be able to block
Odelarch’s blasts, but by using his shield, Bavandersloth would reveal his
location. Sure enough, a hole did
appear. Odelarch fired several blasts,
making craters in the basement floor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul came back out. “He’s climbing over
the first hole,” it said. Valthakar
nodded. The soul went back inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Tkoralkiarch,
prepare to fire on him from my other side.”
Tkoralkiarch nodded and took a few steps to Valthakar’s right. A hole appeared there and Tkoralkiarch fired
a series of magical bursts, one after the other. Another hole appeared nearby and Tkoralkiarch
fired with his other hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Another
hole appeared. Tkoralkiarch took a deep
breath and alternated between the two closest holes on his left. Another one appeared next to that. Valthakar alternated between what were now
the two closest holes on his right. When
another hole appeared next to that, Valthakar repositioned himself, firing at
two holes with his left hand and two with his right. Holes continued to appear until each lich was
occupied with four holes, two for each hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
few minutes passed. Valthakar’s soul
emerged at one point and said he didn’t see any new climbing holes forming in
the basement. Valthakar nodded and the
soul went back in. As Valthakar focused
on the holes in the wall the door swung open and a shot emerged from it. Valthakar’s eyes widened. He activated his shield while Bavandersloth,
presumably, ran out. Blasts from the
other two liches flooded the area, but to no avail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
thought. Bavandersloth wouldn’t go out
through the front door. That’d be too
predictable. He’d expect someone to be
ready to fire at him as soon as it opened.
Instead, Bavandersloth would go for a window. Valthakar turned to the others. “I’m going to cloak myself. You two split up. Odelarch, you stay on the third floor,
Tkoralkiarch, take the second. I’ll
summon some souls to monitor every inch of the house. When one of them comes to you, do whatever it
says. There’s no telling what kind of
destruction could be wrought if Bavandersloth makes it into town.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two nodded and ran upstairs. Valthakar
cloaked himself. He summoned an army of
souls and ordered them to monitor the house.
He stood in the great room, looking around. A few minutes passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
soul approached Valthakar telling him that a window on the third floor had
broken. Valthakar’s eyes widened. He ran outside, firing his magical beam
around in a circle, but nothing came of it.
Eventually, Valthakar stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
ordered his souls to get the other liches.
They did, and the others ran downstairs.
Valthakar decloaked as they came out the front door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
are we going to do?” Tkoralkiarch asked, his eyes wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sighed. “We’ll split up. You go out and search for him,” he said. “Try to predict his behavior. Above all, what he wants right now is food. He’s going to look for large groups of humans.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tkoralkiarch
looked at Valthakar. “What about you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
going to warn the public about this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Tkoralkiarch
squinted. “Wait, wha--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
gave me a script a month ago. I know
exactly what to say.” Valthakar looked
out into town. “He also made some plans
for how he’ll act right now. He may want
souls above all else, but his other desires are still extant, and if it doesn’t
lower the amount of food he gets, he will still obey them. He still doesn’t want to ruin his own plan.” Valthakar looked back at the others. “Get going.”
The others nodded and activated their clouds. They went off, Sparky following them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
ran back inside the house and grabbed a pre-paid cell phone. He called 911.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “911. Where is your emergency?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
is Orichalcum, the Angel. Something went
wrong with Light-rook’s restoration. The
portal we summoned to let him come back here… something else got in. It’s running away from our headquarters. I should be somewhere in Northwest Goldfalls,
not too far South of the Northwest District.
I have no idea where it’s heading, but it’ll want to run to a population
center and kill anyone it sees.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
911 operator took a while to respond.
“Alright then. I’ll alert the
police. Please stay on the line.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
will, but would it be okay if I called someone else on another phone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’d
be fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
put the phone down, putting it on speaker, and picked up another one. He called Channel 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
you’ve reached channel 4 news. How can I
help you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
is Orichalcum. I have urgent news. Hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of
lives are at stake. Put me on air now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man on the other line was silent for a moment.
“Okay, sir. I can give you the
mana--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Please
do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
were a few beeps. Another man came on
the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “This
is Orichalcum. Something’s happened and
a disaster is imminent. If you have a
way of broadcasting me--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Our
means of bringing back Light-rook has brought something else back instead. It’s one of the creatures I mentioned in my
first interview; a devourer. I don’t
know exactly where it is, but it’s heading into town, and it’s liable to kill
hundreds, maybe even thousands of people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. “Yes, alright sir. I’m trying to get you on the air right
now. Violet’s in the studio.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
few minutes later, the man came back on.
“Alright, we’ve got you on with Violet in one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
Fox came on air. “We interrupt your
regularly scheduled programming to bring you a message from the Angel
Orichalcum. He’s joining us over the
phone. Orichalcum, please speak.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you Violet. A few minutes ago, we were
working on bring Light-rook back. The
actual process of restoring his body is done by now, in theory. However, the body was built somewhere else
and had to be moved here. We opened a
doorway to let him step through, but he was blocked, and a devourer came
through.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
devourer?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. As I said, they’re like our evil twins. They have a lot of our powers, and one is
created in their dimension every time one of us is born. They have an irresistible urge to kill, but
there’s nothing they can kill where they live, so whenever they come here,
they’re itching to cause destruction.
There is one rushing towards town right now and I have no way of tracking
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Should
people evacuate their homes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. I’m not sure if there is a good way to
protect yourselves. If everyone tried to
evacuate, that’d just cause traffic jams, which would be like giant buffet
lines.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Wait,
buffet? Do they consume par--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
think about it. If you want my advice,
just stay in your homes. Avoid large
groups of people. This thing’ll go
wherever there are the most people for it to kill. Don’t bother barricading your doors. That won’t do any good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
stood, mouth wide. The interview went on
for quite a while longer. Before too
long, Valthakar picked up the cell phones and went outside to search for
Bavandersloth himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
ran along the road, rushing toward a destination he already had in mind. He saw a car approaching. He stopped.
He licked his lips and stood, crouching on the side of the road. He thrust himself into the car as it passed by,
landing inside with his waist on top of a child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
car contained a man, a woman, and two young children. The woman gasped. The child Bavandersloth now lay across pushed
on him and screamed. Bavandersloth put
his hand on the car’s vinyl and willed the whole car to decay away. The man, who’d turned around, widened his
eyes. He slammed on the car’s breaks,
but the car was gone before it could reach a full stop and the humans tumbled
onto the road. Bavandersloth rolled too,
landing next to the older child. He
extended his scythe, and then scooped up and ate the child’s soul. He stood up, listening to the adults
scream. He ate the other child and
destroyed his body. The adults ran away,
but Bavandersloth chased, caught and devoured them. When he was done he turned around and resumed
running for his original destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
and Justin stood in Goldfalls’ Central Square, watching Valthakar on Channel
4. Central Square was always crowded,
even now, so it was not too unlikely that Bavandersloth would come here and
attack the many humans waiting nervously for taxis and fighting over busses. If he didn’t, the many screens all around,
all broadcasting news, could alert them to where else he struck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Cody watched, trying not to enjoy the thick smell of fear around him, he saw
Violet Fox’s eyes widen. His did
too. Violet interrupted Valthakar. “Sir, sir.
We’ve got some breaking news.
Several police have been called to <i>The
Jackal</i>. That’s a bar in the
Northwest of town. The creature is
apparently attacking there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
and Justin stood up and ran in that direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Andrea
and Felix rode up to <i>The Jackal</i> on
their colorful motorcycles. DIAPP’s
helicopters roared above them. They
heard screaming inside. The two rushed
in. Andrea grabbed an ink bomb from her
side and activated it, covering her helmet’s visor with her arm. The bomb threw out a smoky mist of purple ink
which clung to every surface, including the devourer in the corner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
devourer turned around. There was a
group of civilians behind it. Andrea and
Felix lifted their left arms and pointed their liquid nitrogen hoses at the
devourer. They fired. The devourer ducked away, the liquid nitrogen
hitting one of the civilians behind it. Andrea’s eyes widened. She clenched her fist and looked at the
devourer. It activated its shield and
ran at Andrea. She dashed to the
side. The creature swerved, changing
direction and rushing toward Felix. The
creature lowered his shield, got close to Felix, and then reactivated it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Felix
fell backwards onto the wall of the magical bubble. The devourer leaned down and ate Felix’s
soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Andrea’s
eyes widened. She shed a tear. She gritted her teeth and lifted up both
arms, aiming both her liquid nitrogen hose and her flamethrower at the
devourer. She waited for the devourer to
try something. It didn’t. It just circled around Andrea. The creature still had Felix’s body. It lifted it up. The devourer ripped off parts of Felix’s body
and used them to defile others. Andrea
clenched her fists and seethed. The
devourer kept going, moving toward the door, mocking her with Felix’s corpse. Andrea clinched her teeth. The devourer moved, staying inside its
shield, until it was just outside the door.
It lowered its shield and quickly raised it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Reflexively,
Andrea shot her flamethrower at the creature as its shield lowered. The building lit up. Part of the door collapsed, probably due to
the devourer, trapping Andrea inside.
Her eyes widened. She looked around. She saw the devourer approach a window from
the outside and made the wall around it collapse. She ran toward the next window, but the
devourer beat her to it, and to the next, and to the next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
turned around, looking at the pile of civilians in the corner. She couldn’t tell if any of them were alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
stood at one end of the bar and shot the other with a grenade launcher. The wall collapsed, making no hole. She seethed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened as he approached <i>The Jackal</i>. It was ablaze, and was surrounded by
firefighters. Bavandersloth was long
gone. Sparky looked at the fire. He wagged his tail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. If Bavandersloth did have a
specific destination in mind, and he probably did, he’d run straight toward it. The mansion was to the Northwest of this bar,
so Bavandersloth was heading Southeast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody,
Sparky and Justin ran off along the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Through
a camera on one of DIAPP’s helicopters, Agent Lambert watched the devourer run
as he sat in his organization’s headquarters.
He searched the area. There were
no humans around. He smiled. “Fire,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
helicopter launched a rocket downward, toward Bavendersloth. Bavandersloth put his shield up and slowed
down, forcing the rocket to overshoot him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert ordered another shot to be fired.
Bavandersloth sped back up, dodging it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stopped running. The helicopters zoomed
past him before he they were able to turn around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert aimed the camera behind the helicopters. He gritted his teeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
pointed his arm up at one of the helicopters and fired a magical beam. He hit its main propeller. The helicopter fell to the ground. Bavandersloth licked his lips and rushed over
to where it seemed like it was going to land.
He jumped up and through the helicopter, scything and chomping a few of
the souls inside. Rockets hit the
helicopter as he exited it, making it explode and propelling him forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
fell on his face. He stood up and
ran. Agent Lambert ordered his
helicopters to fly up higher and rain bombs downward. The helicopters rose. Bavandersloth looked up. He lifted his arm and aimed up at one of the
helicopters, but his magical beam missed at first. Bavandersloth smirked and waved his magical
beam from side to side. Hitting them,
but not for long enough for a magical beam to do enough damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
took a deep breath. He held out his arm
and jumped upward, firing a magical blast at one of the helicopters. He missed.
Agent Lambert smiled. The bombs
were almost armed. Lambert turned to his
side to take a sip from his glass of water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
closed his eyes ran to the side. He
jumped up as the helicopters’ bomb hatches opened. He fired a magical beam into one, and then
the other. The bombs exploded. Agent Lambert’s view screens went blank. His eyes widened. He crushed his glass, cutting his hands. He seethed and shed a tear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled as he watched the helicopters explode into millions of pieces. After a second, though, he frowned. He could have eaten those people. Oh well, there were still plenty more souls
out there, and he was almost to his first big destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
ran, wishing he’d brought a phone so he could stay in contact with
Valthakar. He and Justin kept
going. A while later, they passed by a series
of televisions in a display window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “…now
attacking the <i>Isle Hotel</i>…” Cody’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
rushed up to the hotel, Sparky and Justin on either side of him. People were running outside. Justin sent a soul inside. A few minutes later, as the pair entered the
lobby, it came back. According to the
soul, the lowest several floors were evacuated, but Bavandersloth had trapped
people on the upper floors by destroying the stairs and creating spike pits
below them by making negative spaces of the right shapes decay away. There was a SWAT team inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
jumped to the second floor and then dashed upstairs, looking for Bavandersloth. He’d only decayed away the bottommost flights
it seemed. Just after he and Justin
split up, he heard a scream. He ran
toward it. He saw Bavandersloth
cornering a family. He held out his
hand. He thought. Was there any way he could hit Bavandersloth
without killing the family?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked to his side. “Sparky, do you
think you can get Bavandersloth without harming those people?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright
then. Sick ‘im, boy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
ran at Bavandersloth, barking.
Bavandersloth turned around.
Sparky tackled him and blew a bit of fire from his mouth on him. Bavandersloth’s eyes widened. He punched the hellhound, who flew off of him
with a yelp. Bavandersloth rolled to try
to put the flame out. Cody called Sparky
back and stretched out his hand. He shot
at Bavandersloth’s legs. Bavandersloth
raised his shield. The blast put a crack
in the hotel floor. Cody’s eyes
widened. He kneeled and whispered a plan
to Sparky. Sparky nodded and ran
downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
blasted the ground below Bavandersloth, making him fall through the floor. Cody ran to the hole he’d created. He looked down. Bavandersloth’s shield had broken, and he lay
two floors below Cody. Cody shot
downward, but Bavandersloth rolled out of the way. Cody’s eyes widened. He ran downstairs, got sparky, and ran down
more stairs. By the time he reached the
next floor down, Bavandersloth was nowhere in sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
walked through the hotel gathering people and helping them down the broken
staircase. Bavandersloth had not only
made the stairs decay away, but also much of the floor. Liches could make things decay according to
any pattern they liked. Bavandersloth
had taken advantage of this, and created a pit of two-foot long spikes below
every staircase. It was long enough to
prevent emergency responders from using ladders to help people down from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
reached the edge of the staircase with a family in tow. He turned around. He put out his arms. The family stared at him. “My arms are out. Hand the baby to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
mother nodded and set her infant down on Justin’s arms inside the black
cloud. Justin held the baby close. She was asleep. Justin activated his shield and jumped
down. The impact with the spikes made
his shield fainter for a split second, but the shield withstood it. Justin rolled his shield across the spikes
where a fireman waited. Justin handed
the baby to him. He turned back around
and stepped into the spike pit. The
spikes impaled his feet, but he felt no pain.
He walked to the other side and jumped up. He wasn’t able to make it up, and he fell
back down. The spikes impaled him. He stood back up. He tried the jump again. He made it.
He lifted up the toddler and helped him down in the same way he’d helped
the baby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar,
invisible, walked into the hotel. He
found a staircase; he had to admit the spike pits were a clever touch, and
jumped up. He sent a flood of souls out
to find Bavandersloth, and it wasn’t long before one did. Valthakar rushed up a dozen floors to
Bavandersloth’s location. He saw
Bavandersloth. Bavandersloth’s shield
was up. Valthakar smiled and stretched
out his hand. He aimed at
Bavandersloth’s legs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As he ran, Valthakar’s
eyes widened. He collided with A SWAT
officer, who fell over. Bavandersloth
turned around. His eyes widened. He dashed away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
ran toward the back of the hotel. As he
ran, he summoned all of his souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
whole area was clouded by a dense fog of souls, obscuring Valthakar’s vision. Bavandersloth ordered them to shout, and they
did. Valthakar covered his ears. He ran forward, but had no means of following
Bavandersloth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard a huge crowd of people shouting on the floor below him. His eyes widened. He and Sparky ran to and down a
staircase. Cody waded into the fog of
screaming souls. He couldn’t see a
thing. He looked down at Sparky. His eyes widened. “Sparky, can you send these souls back to the
underworld?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
shook his head. Cody frowned. He sighed.
“I don’t suppose you can see through this fog either?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
looked down and shook his head again. He
whimpered. Cody petted Sparky. “It’s okay,” he said. Cody sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
kept running. He couldn’t see through
his fog of souls either, but they guided him.
He ran to a staircase and went down.
He called his souls downstairs with him.
The stairwell he’d chosen ended just two floors below, so he searched
for another one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
saw the cloud of souls disperse. His
eyes widened. He ran down the stairwell
nearby and found another cloud of souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Something
occurred to Cody. His eyes widened. He smiled.
Bavandersloth seemed to be going downstairs. Cody stepped away from the staircase and put
his hand on the rail. He made the flights
of stairs below him decay away. Bits of
rusted metal fell into the spiky pits below.
Cody smiled. He went back
upstairs. He ran around, searching for
another stairwell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If
he made all of them decay, he would trap Bavandersloth with him in the hotel
where he could wait for his hunger to end.
They were on the forty-second floor, high enough that Bavandersloth
might not be able to safely jump down into the spikes. If he destroyed the stairs above
Bavandersloth as well, Bavandersloth wouldn’t be able to reach any humans save
the ones on the floor he wound up on. It
wasn’t perfect, but it was better than nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
found another stairwell. He almost ran
out. His eyes widened. It was decayed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stepped away from it. He closed his eyes
and thought. He put his hand to the
ground and made the floor below him decay away.
He did the same thing with the floor below that and the floor below
that. He did this for a few minutes,
stopping to eat a few people he ran across, until he was on the second floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There,
he found a window that led to the pool behind the hotel. It had been evacuated, and there were
emergency workers outside. Bavandersloth
smashed through the window and out into the pool area. People around looked, and then ran. Bavandersloth ran into the crowd of workers
and ate them. When there were no more in
sight, he ran into the water. The ink on
him started to fade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> DIAPP’s
ink was made of chemicals that didn’t decay, at least not in the way liches
could induce. Bavandersloth smiled. It seemed that they hadn’t been able to find
a waterproof ink with that property.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After
Bavandersloth had been in the pool for a while, the ink was gone. Bavandersloth stepped out of the pool and
dried himself off. He smiled. He was invisible again. He ran away from the hotel, setting off for
his second major destination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert slammed his fist against the desk.
“We lost him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
woman nodded. “Yes, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert seethed. He took a few deep breaths
then sat down. He closed his eyes. If Bavandersloth was headed back into the
hotel, he’d know in a few minutes, but why would Bavandersloth waste this
opportunity? DIAPP once again had no way
of tracking him. Agent Lambert looked
down. “Just do as you were before you
got the ink on him the first time,” Agent Lambert said. The woman nodded and left. He needed to encourage their chemists to work
on a better ink. The one they had now
could be removed by chlorinated water.
As far as the realm of the magical was concerned, that didn’t count as
being able to decay, as solid masses of chlorinated water didn’t appear in the
air under normal circumstances, but it still made mishaps like this one happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert sat back and put his feet up on his desk. He took a sip from his coffee. He called an agent. The agent ran in. “What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
long has it been since Bavandersloth’s rampage started?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Agent looked at his watch. “Four hours,
sir.” Agent Lambert sighed. So there were two hours left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sent out his own army of souls to find the others and arrange that they meet on
the second floor. Valthakar stood as
they approached him. Justin looked up at
him. “What happened,” he said. “The soul said Bavandersloth--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
took a deep breath. “Yes. He’s gone, and DIAPP’s ink is off of him
too. All we can do is leave and wait for
him to strike.” Cody and Justin looked down. Valthakar made the wall next to him decay
away and the three left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> For
the next two hours, Bavandersloth moved unpredictably enough that neither Agent
Lambert nor the other devourers pursuing him could catch him. Though his frenzy meant he couldn’t help but
stop and feed whenever prey came in sight, he was able to move from place to
place quickly enough that DIAPP wasn’t able to ink him again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> His
movements were random enough that his next destination could never be predicted
with certainty. Over time, Agent Lambert
noticed he seemed to be heading, in general, toward the downtown area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> At
different times during the next two hours, both Cody Giles and Justin Cooper
returned to their own homes under the excuse that they had to deal with some
urgent business at the portal Bavandersloth was supposed to have come through
in their version of events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert sighed as the clock passed 6:30 AM.
Bavandersloth had begun his rampage more than six hours ago, so it was
over. He sighed and sat back. No doubt he’d march back to Valthakar and
stage one final battle in which he would be defeated. Perhaps it was possible to get Bavandersloth
then? Agent Lambert sat up and thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked up at the sky as he walked. He
saw a soul approaching. He looked
up. “What is it?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Master
Bavandersloth is no longer in his frenzy state.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. “I see. What are his instructions for me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Follow
me and await further instruction.
Bavandersloth isn’t done with his rampage just yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
tilted his head and squinted. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert stood up from his desk and went to the break room to make more
coffee. As he poured coffee into his
mug, he heard an alarm. His eyes
widened. That alarm meant that a
supernatural force was attacking the building.
Agent Lambert ran out to the hall, intending to evacuate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
ripped the soul out of another DIAPP agent.
He’d been planning this since he let himself be destroyed last
month. Why pass up an opportunity to
raid DIAPP’s base while he had a plausible excuse?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stepped onto a staircase, kneelt down, and made the ground below him decay into
spikes. He ran up the stairs and made
them decay away. He turned the
corner. He was in a cubicle room. He summoned several souls and ordered them to
look around. They managed to find nine
hiding agents. Bavandersloth
smiled. Still invisible, he followed his
soul to one of the agents. Before the
man even knew he was there, Bavandersloth stuck his scythe into him, taking out
his soul. Bavandersloth followed the
soul to the next person, and then to the next.
Eventually, he reached a group of two men cowering under their
desks. Bavandersloth stood back and
thought. He had to eat one of them
first, but didn’t want to alert the other, lest they reveal that he was in the
area. Bavandersloth kneeled down. He thought of a plan. He touched one of them and severed his vocal
cord. He snatched the other one’s soul
before they realized what was going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
one whose cord he’d severed banged on the desk above him. Shit.
Everyone around panicked and ran off.
Bavandersloth ate the agent and ran out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert gritted his teeth. The sprinklers,
which in this building were filled with DIAPP’s special ink, should have gone
off by now. Bavandersloth must have
disabled them. Agent Lambert ran
downstairs. Unlike the hotel, this
building had recourse against Bavandersloth’s spike pit trick. Then again, if Bavandersloth had guessed it
was there, he would have destroyed it. Agent
Lambert closed his eyes. Please, let it
still work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
ran up to the next floor, leaving a spike pit behind him. He ran around devouring souls. He moved on to the next floor and did the
same. He kept this up until he was about
half way up the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert heard a beeper buzz as he moved downward. He pressed a button. “Attention, Agent Lambert. Judging by the set of stairs Bavandersloth
has spiked and the set of stairs he hasn’t, you’re on the same floor with as
him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert’s
eyes widened. He took a deep breath and
clenched his fist. That meant the next
set of stairs would be spiked. Please,
let it work. Agent Lambert pressed on. There was no use going back. He just had to hope not to run into Bavandersloth. He neared the staircase. He activated the contingency for spiked
staircases, an extendable cover near the bottom of the staircase and an
extendable ramp near the top. Nothing
happened. Lambert’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert
felt an arm reach around his neck, choking him.
Bavandersloth uncloaked himself, but raised his cloud. He dragged Lambert backward as Lambert
squirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
bother trying to escape,” Bavandersloth said.
Bavandersloth forced Agent Lambert down, and then reduced his cloud to a
humanoid shape, one that only just covered his form, even allowing the rusty
chains that dangled from him to be exposed.
He looked down at Agent Lambert, and then up at the security camera and
then back down at Agent Lambert. He
whispered. “Guess what, I’m done with my
little frenzy. I’m in my right mind
again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert spat on Bavandersloth. “I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
created a bulge in his cloud in the shape of a smile. He spoke up.
“You know a lot about us then.
You can’t possibly comprehend how wonderful it is to be allowed to roam
free in another dimension when you’ve been imprisoned for so long.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert’s eyes widened. He opened his
mouth. Bavandersloth leaned down. He used his magic to cut agent Lambert’s
vocal cord. “Ah ah ah,” he said. “No interrupting. It’s time for your agonizing death.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lambert
struggled. Was this it? Did Bavandersloth have him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Suddenly,
Agent Lambert heard a voice. “I might
have something to say about that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert looked up. He saw another black
cloud, presumably Valthakar.
Bavandersloth turned around.
Valthakar reached down and jerked Bavandersloth upward, throwing him
across the hall. He ran to Bavandersloth,
who struggled to get up. Valthakar fired
a blast of magic at Bavandersloth, putting a hole in his stomach. Bavandersloth screamed. Valthakar fired another blast, then another,
making a few more holes. With each one
Bavandersloth screeched, until the last one, where Bavandersloth went limp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
grabbed Bavandersloth’s body. There was
still a veil around it. Valthakar jumped
downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
and Bavandersloth turned invisible not too long afterward. They ran back to the mansion, where they
turned visible and took their human forms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
long should we wait to tell the press of your return?” Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
it later this afternoon,” Bavandersloth said.
“Tell them that you managed to get me back after you subdued the
devourer, and that I can be interviewed by Violet Fox the next day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello
everyone, and welcome to Channel 4 News at 6.
The world is reeling from yesterday’s devourer attack which is estimated
to have resulted in the deaths of seven-hundred people and caused nearly
six-hundred-million dollars in damage.
I’m here, for the first time since November, with Light-rook to comment. Thank you for coming.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you for having me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Violet wiped away a tear. “Indeed.
Now, yesterday’s attacks have been a great tragedy. Please, could you please tell us what exactly
happened yesterday?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“First, let me express
my utmost condolences to the families of the victims. As for your question, it ultimately traces
back to a month ago, when that agency imprudently destroyed my body.” Bavandersloth looked down. “My command of magic allowed me to restore it,
or create a new one, really, in my own dimension. I did that, but in order for me to get here,
it was necessary for Orichalcum and the others to open a portal to that
dimension. Unfortunately, there’s no
way, or at least no reliable way, to filter what comes through. We took every precaution we could, but
something got through. There was no way
of predicting it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sir,
you call this other realm your own dimension, but it seems clear from previous
statements you’ve made that you’re a human.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed. “True. I do come from here, I suppose.” Bavandersloth looked down. “I’m trying to decide how much to tell
you. As Orichalcum said, too much
information about magic can be a bad thing.
It’s like… it’s like I, we, feel a kinship with that world. I’ve been like this for more of my life than
I haven’t been, so it’s hard not to think of it as my home. It’s strange, I know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
looked down. “Alright. Now, about the creature that attacked the
town, Orichalcum said they were your rivals?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat up and sighed. “Yes. In fact, each time one of us is born, one of
them is created there. That usually
doesn’t matter because there’s nothing for them to do there. The problem comes up whenever they come
here. It doesn’t happen often, which is
why it isn’t recorded at any point in history.
Actually, to tell the truth, it was hypothetical until today, as far as
I knew, which is why we were willing to open the portal at all without
gathering a large force of our people in case this happened. The thing was attracted to the reformation of
its partner’s body, so it was able to find the portal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Some
might say that’s awfully convenient.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed. “I suppose they might. I don’t really have a counter to that. All I can do is try to be honest with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see. When the creature attacked the man
the Angel of Death later healed, Deerward Lambert, he showed a bit of his form
and there were chains dangling from it.
Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sighed. “Those are a part of him,
basically. I have them too. As a pair, our appearances match, and his is
decided by what I was like as a… well, before I was what I am now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
why chains?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
pressed his lips together. “Alright, now
this is going to be one of those big ones.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
eyes widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
was a slave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
mouth widened. “Oh. So like, in Mexico or--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
Middle East.” Bavandersloth sighed. “Think about it. I was completely destroyed and I came
back. What do you think happens when we
have heart attacks? Well, we don’t, but
the point is, what do you think happens any time we quote-unquote die?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
gasped. “Wait, so you’re…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
eight-hundred.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
mouth grew still wider.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not particularly old, a least compared to the mean. Orichalcum chose his name because he’s old
enough to be from Atlantis if it was real.
There are a few of us who lived on Earth as Plato wrote. Most of us are younger because there has been
a rush of us since the industrial revolution and human population growth. Still, measured from the mean of our ages, I’m
not all that old.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
sat. Her eyes and mouth were wide. Bavandersloth smiled. He went on.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/08/angel-of-death-115-roma-invicta.html">Last Entry</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/09/angel-of-death-117-soulless-ones.html">Next Entry</a></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-46739415350131371992014-08-14T22:29:00.002-07:002014-09-22T16:59:52.027-07:00Angel of Death 1.15 Roma Invicta<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “In
other news,” Violet Fox said, “the last few weeks have seen the rise of a new
quazi-religious movement centered mostly in Goldfalls, CA. While many of the people in Goldfalls have
taken a positive view of our handful of Angels, few have taken it as far as
this group. Dubbed ‘Angel worshipers,’
this mysterious cult seems to follow a religion based around them. Beyond that, very little is known about the
group, including whether or not they do literally worship angels. Members of the cult rarely talk about their
beliefs, insisting that in order to discover the truth, one must join their
organization. Given their association
with what is widely regarded as real supernatural activity, plenty of people
are doing just that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
turned to her left. “Joining me today to
discuss this issue I have an actual Angel, Orichalcum. Welcome back to the show.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
grinned. “Thank you for having me back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Orichalcum,
first, a lot of people who have joined the cult have said that they’ve chosen
to do so because the cult seems to revolve around genuine supernatural
activity. Do you have anything to say
about that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
knowing as little about the cult as I do, I can only say so much to that. I will say that I’m not aware of any god
associated with us, nor do we generally identify as gods. I’d also like to caution anyone who assumes
that just because an organization has a genuine connection to the supernatural
it must be something you want to be involved with. Just because they’re not making everything up
doesn’t mean they’re good guys.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
sort of practices would you recommend for anyone wanting to get into touch with
the supernatural?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Honestly,
I’m not sure that that’s a very good question.
There’s really no specific interaction with the supernatural a given
person will definitely want to have.
There are ways of interacting with us, but there’s nothing like a ‘true
religion’ associated with us in the sense you’re talking about.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see. What do you think of the people who
are seeing this group in a more sinister light?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, I don’t blame
them. For the record, the organization
is under investigation by the community of Angels. If there is anything sinister going on, we’ll
discover it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar’s
soul entered the house as ordered. He
looked around for its occupant. He found
him in the bedroom. The man was white
and seemed to be in his late twenties.
He was a reasonably well-known member of the cult of lich worshipers. The soul flew downward to look at the
man. He hovered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> About
half an hour later, there was a ring at the door. The man stood up and walked to the door. The soul followed him. When the homeowner opened the door, the soul
saw another man standing outside. He
seemed about ten years younger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
homeowner looked down at the other man.
“Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. The younger man took a deep
breath. “So, according to the website,
this is--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
homeowner nodded. “Yep. So you’re here to join?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy nodded. “Yeah. The site said you’d...”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yep. I’ll take you there. I’ll have to blindfold you and take you in my
car. I hope that’s alright. This is our most sacred site and—”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy nodded. “Yeah, I understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
older man slapped the younger man’s back.
“Don’t worry, man, it’ll be worth it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
younger man nodded. He followed the older
man through the house and out to his car.
The cultist put the blindfold on the new recruit and drove away. The soul followed the car out of the older man’s neighborhood, across
town and into the Northwest District.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> When
it entered the district, the car drove to an abandoned factory. The soul raised an eyebrow. Humans didn’t normally go into the Northwest
District for very long. It was supposed
to be dangerous. The car parked outside
the factory and the cultist led the new recruit in, still blindfolded. The two went together through the rusty
building and down a flight of stairs.
They entered a pitch black room.
“Sir, I bring a new charge,” the cultist said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Despite
the darkness, the soul could see perfectly.
He looked down. He saw a man at a
throne at the far end of the room. The
man on the throne looked right at the older man as he entered. The soul’s eyes widened. He flew behind the man on the throne. If that man could see in the dark, he might
be a lich. The soul looked around. The room’s walls were covered in various
artifacts. There were bronze shields,
spears, and a few swords. The cultist
brought the new recruit to the throne.
“Leader,” he said, “I bring a new student who wishes to learn the right
way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can see that,” the man on the throne said.
“Young man, is this true?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
recruit took a deep breath. A bead of
sweat fell down his face. “Yes sir. I mean, you guys have the real magic so I
figure if you have a religion, you probably have the <i>true</i> religion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man on the throne nodded. “Indeed we
do. However, before I initiate you, I
must warn you. The truth is not always
pleasant, and once you learn it, you will no longer be able to back out. There is a chance that your life will be
greatly enhanced by the knowledge I have, but there is also a chance, a much
greater chance, it will be made a great deal worse.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
new recruit bowed his head. “I don’t
care how my life turns out. I want the
truth. Please, teach me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. The man on the throne
nodded. “Very well.” The man changed into his true form. He was a lich. The soul could see a bronze helmet on the top
of his head, with the red hairy Mohawk thing ancient roman soldiers had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
recruit reeled back at the smell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Stand
before me,” the lich said. The recruit
clinched his fist. He held his breath as
he walked up to the lich. The lich put
his hand on the recruit’s soldier. “Now,
may you learn the ways of the wise men of the past, and may you see the virtue
of living by them.” The two stayed in
that position for a few minutes, the cultist from before watching from a ways
back. A few minutes later, the lich took
his hand off of the recruit’s shoulder. “It
is done,” he said. He smiled as the boy
stepped back. “How do you feel?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
boy stood eyes and mouth wide. “I… I’m
speechless. All this time, we, everyone,
had it so wrong, but so long ago they had it right. What seemed… What seemed like progress was
just… just everyone fooling themselves and someone else had really had the way
all along.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
lich chuckled. “I am glad you like
it. So you see the value of places?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
recruit nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good
then. Now it is time for us to learn
yours. Come back over. I will assess your ancestry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
recruit nodded. He stepped forward. The lich put his hand on the recruit’s
shoulder again. He closed his eyes and
took a deep breath. After a few seconds,
he frowned, and then opened them. He
took his hand away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is my place?” the recruit asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
lich took a deep breath. “You, I fear,
must play the necessary role of a <i>servus</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
recruit’s eyes widened. “What? Are you sure?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Absolutely.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
recruit’s jaw opened. “No. No.
No, that can’t be. I…” The recruit looked down, clinched his fists,
and took a deep breath. He looked back
up. “No.
You’re right. If that’s my role,
I ought to be grateful that I can fulfill it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
lich put his hand on the recruit’s shoulder.
“That’s the spirit. Remember that
it is the natural way of things. What
you are doing is neither an unjust hardship nor a noble sacrifice; merely a
necessary place, a cog in the wheel of society.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
recruit nodded. The lich waved them away. “Auction him off at today’s meeting,” the
lich said. “Or is there time to get it
set up by then?” The older man nodded. “Ah, good.”
The cultist walked away with the recruit, whose head was down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sat in the mansion’s Great Room reading <i>On
the Underworld</i> as Justin watched TV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’ll
be right back to KoolKidz TV’s Christmaspectacular Christmas Special Marathon
right after these messages.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
turned and looked up at Valthakar as he grabbed the remote. “Hey, so, Christmas is coming up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked away from his book and down at Justin.
“So it is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
sat. “Well, are you going to give me a
present?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
already did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
tilted his head. “Really? That early?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
closed his book. “Bavandersloth went
into what he did planning for his form to be destroyed, Justin. The idea was to make DIAPP look trigger happy
and irrational by having them destroy a beloved figure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
looked at Valthakar. He squinted. “But wait, aren’t they?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
opened his book back up. “Yes, but the
public didn’t know that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
soul flew in to speak to Valthakar.
“Master,” it said, “I return with information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
put his book down. He looked up at the
soul. “Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
followed the cultist as you instructed and watched him initiate a new member. He took him to a factory in the Northwest
District and brought him before a lich.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Which
lich? What did he look like?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
I saw of his true form was the back of his head. He had on an Ancient Roman helmet. The wall was lined with stuff which I think
was from Ancient Rome too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ntullnarlth,
then. Alright, you were saying?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He
got the human to agree to receive ‘the truth’ and put his hand on his
shoulder. When he was done, well,
whatever the human was told, he bought it.
Then the lich put his hand on the human’s shoulder again and ‘assessed
his ancestry’ to see what his ‘place’ would be.
Long story short, he got slave, and he was like, okay with it. I mean, he looked a little disappointed, but
that’s all, and he went along with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
lay back. “I see. Anything else of note to report?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
no. That basically just happened. I came right back. I figured that was your answer as to whether
they were violating the conventions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
took a deep breath and stood up. “I
see. Well, it certainly warrants a talk
with Ntullnarlth. I’ll go do that
now. Lead the way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul nodded. Valthakar put his book down
and turned toward Justin. “I’m going to
leave you alone here now, then. Be good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. “Okay.” He turned back to the TV. Valthakar took his true form, cloaked
himself, turned to the door and ran off, following the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
retained his invisibility as the soul led him to the Northwest District, then
to a factory. Valthakar looked
around. He saw several cars parked
outside. The soul led him to the factory
door. Valthakar looked around and sent
the soul inside. The soul peeked into
the room then came back outside. “There
are people right inside,” the soul said.
“There’s no way to open the door without them noticing.” Valthakar thought for a moment. He smiled.
He walked over to one of the cars outside. He pulled his arm back and slammed his fist
into it. Its alarm sounded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
stood by the door and waited. A cultist
came walking out, opening the door.
Valthakar slipped inside as the cultist turned around to close the door
behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Upon
entering, Valthakar heard shouting. He
looked around. He saw a crowd in front
of him, seemingly composed of a few dozen people. They were all looking up at a young man, or
perhaps boy, standing on a chair naked with his hands bound. The young man looked down at the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Two-hundred
dollars,” someone in the crowd shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
heard two-hundred. Do I hear
two-twenty-five?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Two-twenty-five,”
someone else in the crowd shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
two-twenty-five going once, going twice,”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Two-thirty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Two-thirty,
that’s two-thirty going once, going twice, sold for two-thirty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
winner walked up to and claimed the young man.
The boy put his head down as he stepped off the chair. The winner put his arm around the boy’s
shoulders. “Hey,” he said, “don’t feel
so bad.” The boy looked up at his new
owner. “Most people end up with the same
rank as you when they get their ancestry checked. It’s nothing to feel bad about.” The man took a deep breath then smiled. “Now c’mon.
Let’s go get you dressed so I can take you home.” The young man looked down, but followed his
new master.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
crept through the room, staying close to the wall, as the crowd disbanded. His soul flew down to him, and motioned for
him to go downstairs. Valthakar
did. He stepped down. When he reached the bottom step, he looked
around. Ancient Roman artifacts lined
the walls, and Ntullnarlth sat on a throne at the end of the room. Valthakar walked forward until he was
standing right in front of Ntullnarlth, then uncloaked himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
flinched. “What the… oh. Valthakar?”
He squinted. “What are you doing
here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Investigating
your organization. And from what I’ve
seen upstairs, you seem to be violating the eighth convention.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
smiled. “Oh, I assure you I am in no
such thing. The humans who have been
sold as slaves to my cultists consented with the utmost freeness to the
interaction.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
after you brainwashed them. Believe me,
I wish I could do that too, but we can’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
did not brainwash them. I enlightened
them. I showed them the truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
fact that you believe it doesn’t make it not brainwashing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
about the fact that they asked for it?
The humans that come in here ask to be enlightened, and I give them what
they ask for. The fact that they may
superficially seem to be harmed by the role that leads them to accept of their
own free will does not matter. I show
them the truth and they choose to act on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And
what truth is that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
stood up. He took his true form, which
wore the uniform of a high-ranking Roman Soldier. He walked a few steps away from his
throne. “Let me explain a simple fact to
you,” he said. “Every society, every
last one, no matter its pretentions to the contrary, functions on the backs of
rabble of some sort.” He turned
around. “In my time, we built society on
the backs of slaves. In the middle ages,
that changed to serfs. After the
enlightenment, or so it was called, it became slaves again. In today’s age, the entire globe is one
society, and the slaves are those in Africa or China who work tirelessly to
make civilization function.” Ntullnarlth
took a step toward Valthakar. “Closer to
home, we have immigrants, then the poor.
No matter what name they go by, every society has them. My goal, with my faith, is to create, or
rather recreate, something beautiful.”
He looked at Valthakar. “Do you
know when Rome fell?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
off the top of my head.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
smiled. “The Roman Empire, in all its
wondrous and glorious majesty, fell no later than February the Seventeenth, 380
CE.” Ntullnarlth looked down. He seethed.
“That was the cursed day the Edict of Thessalonica was issued, declaring
Christianity the state religion of Rome.”
Ntullnarlth stood up. “The
problem wasn’t so much Christianity itself.
As a faith, its theology is unremarkable and its iconography, save for
the cross, is rather boring. Its stories
are an assorted collection of tales, varying more or less randomly in quality
and insight.” Ntullnarlth clinched his
fist. “Its values, though, are another
matter.” Ntullnarlth took a deep
breath. “These ideas were not born from
Christianity, but it was under its rule that they were first encouraged by a
state. Regardless of the imperfection of
this in its early years, that cursed superstition contained the seed of an idea
that has poisoned most of modern society.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let
me guess, love? Charity maybe? Equality?
Something else that it’d be stupid for you to say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
grimaced. “Joke all you want. What I speak of is the rejection of hierarchy. Christianity spread by appealing to the lowly,
and to the rabble. It grabbed at their
hearts, assuring them not only of some grand heaven to look forward to after
they die, but the idea that they are, in some invisible and,” Ntullnarlth held
his hands up and wiggled his fingers, “mystical way, really the same as those
they serve.” Ntulnarlth seethed, and
punched the wall, denting it. “That idea
is poisonous. What is the very premise
of all of society if not that the low serve the high, or at least that a low
serve something? What else have all
societies had in common? Not all
civilizations have had technology. Not
all of them have had trade. Not all of
them have had money. The one single
thing every single society throughout history has had is slaves.” Ntullnatlth looked up. “No matter the society’s name, form, or
belief, they have all had slaves. The
enlightenment made it worse, for it reckoned that this one fundamental basis of
society should be abandoned altogether.
In its foolishness, it sought to deny the rabble their rabbleness, and
then it thought us immoral?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
this speech going to end any time soon?
I’d like to just take your phylactery and kill you for breaking the
rules. You’re very annoying.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
turned to and glared at Valthakar. “Ah,
but I have broken no rules my dear. I
have received consent from these mortals to enlighten them, and then again
their consent to live by the truth. You
are free to watch a recruit being initiated if you doubt that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
eighth convention isn’t about right and wrong.
You’re missing the point. Do you
think the public would approve of this if they were to discover it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They
can’t discover it. I have played my
cards in a way that ensures that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
Blue Butterfly said the same thing. He’s
dead now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
but he was wrong.” Ntullnarlth
smiled. “What do you have to say about
it anyway? I am a councilor, in case you
don’t recall, the same thing Bavandersloth was.
I know all about Bavandersloth’s plan.
I voted for it. I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
grabbed Ntullnarlth’s neck. “Look
here. You and I both know that you are
in violation of the rules.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
chuckled. “And we both know that you
have no right to do anything. You do
remember that there’s a seventh condition right before the eight one that you
adore so much? That’s the one that says
that you need the approval of the community at large to take action against
me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
gritted his teeth. He threw Ntullnarlth
down. “I can get approval.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
stood up, laughing. “Oh, I doubt you
can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “We’ll see.” He walked off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
do you mean I can’t do anything?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’re
sorry, Valthakar, we really are, but…” Kgobauru began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “If,
as even you concede,” Larngulal, another councilor said, “he has retrieved
consent for every step of this process, we do not see anything objectionable
about his behavior.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
slammed his fists against a desk. “This
is outrageous. You wouldn’t tolerate
this behavior from a younger lich.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Are
you accusing us of favoritism?” Kgobauru asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t think I stuttered, did I?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
leaned toward his camera, making his face appear large on Valthakar’s computer
screen. “Now see here. Slave to Bavandersloth or not, you are, in
the eyes of the community, nothing more than a common criminal. To hear you…” Valthakar sighed and left the
chat. He sat back in his chair. He had to shut this down. His master would want that. He just needed to figure out a way. Valthakar thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
answered his phone. “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
have a problem,” Valthakar said. “Come
to the mansion tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
knocked on the mansion’s door. A few
minutes later, Valthakar opened it. “Ah,
hello,” he said. “Please come in.” Valthakar walked to the great room. Cody followed. Valthakar gestured for him to sit down and he
did so. There was a glass of water on
Valthakar’s side of the table. “Thank
you for coming, Cody. I imagine you have
a guess as to why I’ve called you here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s about that cult,
right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. “I investigated it, and I’m
afraid it’s worse than I thought. It’s
run by one Ntullnarlth, a prominent member of the community, much like
Bavandersloth and Kgobauru. The cult is
composed of people he’s brainwashed.”
Cody’s eyes widened. “He recruits
them, takes them to a spot in the Northwest District, uses a mind control spell
to force them to adopt the cult’s ideology, then assigns them to one of several
castes, including a slave caste.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright
then,” Cody said. “So he’s broken the
rules. Punish him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
not that simple. I’d need the community’s
permission and I don’t have it.” Valthakar
gritted his teeth. “They’re playing
favorites with him, basically. Either
that or they don’t like me. Either way,
they’re no help.” Valthakar smiled. “Fortunately, I have one recourse.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
raised an eyebrow. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Some
of the humans he took were from your hunting grounds. Three of them, in fact, and two are in the
slave caste. That means tha--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
do it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “That’s my boy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
sat on his throne. “Master,” he heard
one of his cultists say, “there are two angels here who demand to see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
sighed. “Send them down.” He rubbed his fingers against the armrests of
his throne. He looked up. He saw two clouds of darkness. Ntullnarlth stood up and took his true
form. “Please, my dears do go ahead and
take down those clouds. There’s no need
for privacy here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
liches obeyed. Ntullnarlth looked at
Valthakar’s companion. “Ah, you must be
this Odelarch I’ve heard so much about?”
Odelarch nodded. Ntullnarlth
turned to Valthakar. “By what means do
you intend to annoy me today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’ve
violated my territory by making use of my mortals as servitors and by
subjecting them to illicit abuse,” Odelarch said. “I challenge you to a contest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
looked at Odelarch. He laughed. “Pft.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha
ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. That’s a good one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
seriou--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know, and that’s what makes it so hilarious.”
Ntullnarlth walked backward and set his hand on the armrest of his
throne. He laughed for a few more
seconds before looking up at Odelarch.
“But do you know what? I think I
accept your little challenge. It’ll be
good for a laugh. After all,”
Ntullnarlth took a few steps toward Cody, “I am two-thousand years old. But hey, I can see myself benefiting from
this. In fact, from what I’ve heard, I
think Bavandersloth benefits from it, too.”
Ntullnarlth turned to Valthakar.
“So perhaps you have served your master well after all.” Ntullnarlth turned back to Cody. “But anyways, sure, I’ll be happy to take
part in this contest. As you’re
opponent, I won’t be qualified to moderate it, but I’ll be happy to get
Kgobauru down here for that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Odelarch
smiled. “Alright then, it’s
agreed.” Ntullnarlth saw Valthakar
glaring at him. He smiled. The two liches turned around and walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth sat in an airport, waiting for Kgobauru to
arrive. He looked up as he saw
Kgobauru’s plane touch down outside. He
sat back and read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“There
you are,” Kgobauru said a few minutes later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ntullnarlth looked
up. He smiled and stood. “Indeed I am,” he said. “Thank you for coming.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The two turned and
walked toward the airport’s exit. “I’m
happy to help with this,” Kgobauru said.
He took a deep breath. “Odelarch
is a nice kid, but sadly, his nature is such that he probably ought to go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Who said anything
about him going?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kgobauru turned to
Ntullnarlth. He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?
What do you plan to do with him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Same treatment Bavandersloth
gave Valthakar. It’s been a while since
I’ve done that with one of my conquests.
It didn’t work out so well last time, but I’ve become more experienced
since then. I think I can handle a slave
of my own.” Ntullnarlth smiled. “Of the lich variety I mean.” He looked up.
“In fact, I think I’ll enjoy it immensely.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kgobauru chuckled. “I see.”
He turned to Ntullnarlth. “I will
warn you, though, don’t let your guard down.
Remember, he was able to defeat Kaburlduth. The threat he poses is not negligible, and I
won’t be any more on your side then on his.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ntullnarlth turned to
Kgobauru. “You won’t?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m not willing to rig
a contest for you.” Ntullnarlth looked
down. Kgobauru raised a finger and
smirked. “That said, though, there is
one totally fair provision I’d like to suggest including in your initial
proposal.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ntullnarlth raised an
eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
arrived at Bavandersloth’s mansion to negotiate the contest. He knocked on the door. Justin opened it. He looked up at Cody. He looked down. “Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a deep breath. He looked back
up. “You’re about to get into a contest
with a two-thousand year old lich. Are
you sure you can beat him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No,”
Cody said. He looked down at Justin as
he closed the door behind him. “I have
to try, though.” Cody looked up. “I’ve done too many things to the human race
not to protect them when I can.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody walked into the
Great Room. He saw Ntullnarlth sitting
in the center of a couch and Kgobauru sitting on a chair. Valthakar sat in a chair opposite Kgobauru,
and Cody took a seat on the couch opposite Ntullnarlth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
looked at Kgobauru. “Go ahead,” Kgobauru
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
looked at Cody. “I propose that we
select a large space, it will probably have to be in the Northwest District,
and that we assign, as far apart as possible, bases. In each of these bases, on a pedestal, is to
be placed a ball light enough to be lifted by a zombie, but relatively
difficult to destroy. Each of us shall
be granted the use of sixteen souls, all of whom must possess complete, adult
corpses.” Cody’s eyes widened. “With the help of these zombies, we shall each
seek to acquire our opponent’s ball and transport it back to our base. The winner shall be whoever accomplishes this
first. Should either of us destroy our
own ball, we shall be disqualified.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can’t use souls,” Cody said. “Last time
I was in one of these, Bavandersloth said--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
isn’t here,” Kgobauru said. “You’re free
to drop the challenge if you don’t like it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked at Ntullnarlth. He clinched his
fist. “But--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
waste your breath.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked back at Kgobauru. He gulped and
took a deep breath. He looked down and
shed a tear. “Fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
smiled. “Good. So with that settled, do you have any other
objections, Odelarch?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. “I don’t suppose I
could say it’s unfair that I’d have to engage in a contest partially about open
combat with a lich two-thousand years--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No,”
Kgobauru said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. He looked up. “Alright then. No objections.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Okay
then,” Kgobauru said. “As for the
location,” he turned to Ntullnarlth, “after you told me about this proposal at
the airport, I took the liberty of doing a bit of research. I believe that <i>Vergangen Asylum</i> would be the best location. It’s symmetrical, at least to a large extent,
and I know just where the two bases would be.
Do either of you object?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Nope,”
Ntullnarlth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No,”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
smiled. “Very well, then.” Kgobauru looked at Ntullnarlth. “Is there anything else?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
looked at Kgobauru for a moment. He
smiled. “Actually, yes, one more thing
I’d like to do. I propose that along
with our sixteen souls, we each summon one creature from the Underworld. We will each be allowed time to scour
Bavandersloth’s copy of <i>On the Underworld</i>
for a suitable creature. Kgobauru will
summon it, and then give control of it to us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Absolutely
not,” Valthakar said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh
come now,” Kgobauru said. “It’s not like
Bavandersloth never loaned it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
very rarely, and when he was here to supervise things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
think it’s a good idea,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
looked back at Valthakar. “See, even he
thinks it’s a good idea.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
also think part of the prize should be the winner being allowed to keep theirs,”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
smiled. “I like the way you think.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
glared at Cody. “What the hell are you
thinking? You know this is just their
ploy to get access to the book.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked at Valthakar. “Of course I know
that, but they’re not the only ones who have something to gain from accessing
that book. For one thing, I’d like to
look around in it. And for another, I might have use for a creature of the
underworld if I could actually tame it long-term. Think of it this way, no matter who wins, the
creature will go into service of your master’s big plan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
raised an eyebrow. “True,” he said. He turned back. “Alright then, but the book shall not leave
this mansion at any point.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
smiled. “That’s fine.” He picked up a piece of paper from the table
next to him. “So, I’ll just write down
the formal terms.” Kgobauru wrote for a
few minutes. “On December 24<sup>th</sup>
2013, both Ntullnarlth and Odelarch shall arrive at <i>The Vergangen Asylum for the Mentally Ill</i> by 10:45 PM. They will then be escorted to bases, which
will have been set up prior to their arrival, and which shall consist of a
platform, a pedestal, and a colored ball atop the pedestal. Odelarch’s shall be blue, and Ntullnarlth’s
shall be red. They will each be permitted
to use souls to animate sixteen provided corpses. No other souls may be used. They shall also each be permitted one
creature from the Underworld that shall be made loyal to them through the use
of a binding spell. This creature shall
be selected by them and approved by me.
Neither Odelarch nor Ntullnarlth may use any external method to attempt
to discern what creature the other has selected. Invisibility shall not be used. Odelarch will be the victor if he, his
zombies, or his selected creature are able to bring the red ball into physical
contact with the pedestal in his base, or if Ntullnarlth deliberately destroys
either ball. Ntullnarlth shall be the
victor if he is able to bring the blue ball into physical contact with the
pedestal in his base or if Odelarch deliberately destroys either ball.’ Are there any objections?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No,”
Ntullnarlth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. He shook his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good
then.” Kgobauru looked at
Valthakar. “Please retrieve the copy of <i>On the Underworld</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next day, after Ntullnarlth had selected his creature, Cody was allowed to
spend time looking through Bavandersloth’s copy of <i>On the Underworld</i>. He took
it as Valthakar handed it to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Be
careful,” Valthakar said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
indestructible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sighed. He looked down. “Right.”
Valthakar took a deep breath and walked off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked at the book in his lap. He opened
it to the Q&A section and picked up the quill. He took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Could
you give me a list of the most powerful creatures in the underworld that the
binding spell I plan to use could be used on?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Bahamut<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A Fish of Enormity.
A galactic fish, his size is so great that he cannot safely enter the
realm of mortals. He can easily swallow
entire galaxies, and should a mortal see him, they would go insane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Falak<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A serpent of enormity. A galactic serpent, his length is so great
that if one were to stand in front of his head, the light from his tail would
not pass them for many epochs. He cannot
fit between the stars in galaxies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Antimatter Dragons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Beasts of atypical charges. Destructive Beasts, they take advantage of the
most fundamental laws of the universe to create explosions rivaling none. With one breath, they can destroy an entire
planet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What are some of the most powerful
creatures of the underworld that the binding spell I plan to use can be used on
and whose size, composition, powers and personality lend themselves well to use
first to help me with my contest with Ntullnarlth, then to assist me in future
battles?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Gryphons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Beasts of Predation. Hunting beasts, they soar in the sky and haunt
the ground looking to devour the enemies of the underworld. They are bored easily, and will destroy easy
prey quickly so they may move on to challenges they consider worthy of their
talent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hellhounds<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Beasts of Pursuit. Persistent Beasts, legions of them shall track
any soul who ever escapes the underworld. They are very hot, and leave a trail of
blazing footprints anywhere they go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nuckelavee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Demons of Disaster. Malevolent demons, they have the power to
cause untold destruction in any way they wish. Their shocking appearance brings terror to all
who see them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Nurikabe<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Walls of shadow. Morphing walls, they block paths and roads to
serve various ends of the underworld. One
cannot go around them, as they will extend themselves until they circumnavigate
the planet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody thought as he read
several more entries. He needed to make
his choice based on raw power. That was
the primary strength Ntullnarlth had over him.
Cody scratched his chin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He spent about an hour
with the book before he made his choice.
He called Kgobauru, who approved the decision and cast his binding
spell. Soon, Cody’s creature jumped
through a portal and appeared in the realm of mortals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next night, Cody got home from a Christmas Eve party at 9:00. His parents went to bed at 9:30. Cody waited until 10:00 to sneak out through
his window. It took Cody about half an
hour to reach the quiet streets of the northwest district. He ran down them, following instructions he’d
been given to reach <i>Vergangen Asylum</i>. When he arrived, he was led by Valthakar to
his base.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. Sixteen corpses lay on the
ground. He shed a tear as he called sixteen
of his souls to animate them. The zombies
stumbled to their feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “An
alarm will sound off in a few minutes indicating the challenge has begun,”
Valthakar said. “Stay here until
then.” Cody nodded. Valthakar walked away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. There were two basic strategies
available to him. He could stay at his
base, on defense, and send his zombies out to get Ntullnarlth’s ball, or he
could go out to get the ball himself, and leave defense to his zombies and the
creature he summoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> What
would Ntullnarlth be most likely to do?
He’d probably come after Cody’s ball.
He was powerful enough that Cody couldn’t do anything to stop him from
just taking it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. His creature might have
something to say about that. In fact,
his new friend would be the equalizer here.
Its magical power would be the best way to combat Ntullnarlth. Cody’s force wouldn’t make much of a difference. Given that, it’d probably be best to go after
Ntullnarlth’s ball and leave his creature to defend his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard an alarm roar through the building.
His eyes widened. He took a deep
breath. Cody turned to his zombies. “Listen,” he said. They turned to him. “I need,” Cody pointed at two of them, “you
two to come with me. Everyone else, you
see the ball on that pedestal?” Cody pointed
to the pedestal. “Take it off, go to the
corner, and pile yourselves on top of it.
Try to stay in a posture where you’ll be able to get up easily. If another lich or any other lich’s zombie
comes, do not let them take it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
zombies nodded and did as instructed.
Next, Cody whistled. He heard
growling behind him. He turned around
and saw his creature. He smiled and
knelt down. The creature sat. Cody petted it. “Hey, Sparky, I need you to stay here,
okay? If another lich or another lich’s
zombie comes around here, and specifically if they try to get the ball behind
that pile of zombies,” Cody pointed to the pile, “I need you to stop them,
okay? Do this if you got all of
that.” Cody nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
nodded too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. “Great.” He stood up and looked down the hallway. He motioned for his two zombies to come with
him. They did, moaning. Cody shushed them. They quieted.
Cody looked back down the hall and walked forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Cody proceeded down the hall, he passed by several rooms. Many of their doors were open, and several
had graffiti inside. All of them were
dusty and covered in cobwebs. Cody heard
nothing but his own footsteps, those of his zombies, and faint laughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. Laughter? He looked around. He didn’t see anything. Could it have been Ntullnarlth? Ntullnarlth’s creature perhaps? The laugh was coming from the path in front
of Cody. Cody looked ahead. He saw nothing out of the ordinary. He walked.
Left foot. Right foot. Left foot.
Right foot. Left foot. Right foot.
Left foot. Right foo-- Cody’s eyes widened. As he set his foot down, the environment
around him changed. He was outside now. He looked around. It was daytime. He was in the middle of a field of some sort. No, not just of some sort, of wheat. He tried to take a step forward. He heard a buzzer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Warning,
patient <i>PRG-R35</i> is attempting to
escape his bounds.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked around. He didn’t see anyone
nearby.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
okay,” Cody heard from another voice.
“He can’t move until it’s time.
He needs to see something <i>savage</i>.”
the voice chuckled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
the heck is going on?” Cody shouted.
Cody pulled his feet upward for a few more seconds. He grumbled, unable to lift them. He looked around. He saw someone. He tried to run to them, but his feet
wouldn’t move. He shouted. “Hey, you, over there. Could you come here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
person, a man, wore simple cloth garb.
He looked over at Cody. He was
holding a plough. “What’s the matter?”
he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t know how I got here. Could you
come over? I can’t move?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man raised an eyebrow. He walked over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
dude, are you okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
don’t know. Who are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Who
am I? We met at the auction dude.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “Auction…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. Do you not remember? Do you need to call one of the--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I… I don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> This
had to be the work of Ntullnarlth’s creature, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard a loud crack as he saw a whip hit the man in he’d been speaking to. The man fell to the ground. Cody looked over his shoulder. He saw a man on horseback holding a whip.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Back
to work,” the man with the whip shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man Cody’d been talking too stood up.
“Yes, sir,” he said. He ran back
over to the plough and kept walking.
Cody tried to move again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard the second disembodied voice again.
“Oh, look, he wants to move forward.
Should we let him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
he needs to see the rest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ha
ha. True. Okay then, go ahead and walk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up. He lifted his foot. The area blurred. He moved.
The environment transitioned until his feet locked in place again. Cody fell forward, landing on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
heard a voice above him. “Hey there,
need help?” Cody looked up. He saw the slave from the last scene, but
dressed differently. His face was dirty,
covered in some kind of black, powdery substance. The man held out his hand. Cody took it.
The man lifted him up. “Thanks,”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man nodded. “Don’t mention it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked around. There was a conveyer belt
in front of him. The walls and floor of
the large room were metal. There was a
lever to Cody’s left. He looked at
it. He heard the man’s voice behind
him. “Better work,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned around. “Huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hurry
up with that lever. You don’t want the
boss to get mad, do ya?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head. He turned around. He put his hand on the lever. After a pause, he pulled it. He looked down. On the other side of the lever was a pile of
red slush. Cody’s eyes widened. He looked at the conveyer belt. The lever was attached to a large smashing
instrument. On the side that went into
it were tiny cages full of little animals.
In the next coming cage, there was a cow. In the next one, there was a chicken. In the next one, there was a pig. They were all the size of a mouse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard the disembodied voice again. “Just
a few more smashes.” Cody looked
up. “C’mon. They’re not even real.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He looked at the tiny
cow. He closed his eyes. He yanked the lever and heard a squeal. He did it a few more times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Alright then. You can move on,” the voice said. Cody looked up. He took a deep breath. He turned to his side and stepped
forward. His surroundings blurred
again. When they’d refocused, he was
sitting behind the counter of a grocery store.
Cody looked in front of him. He
saw the man from before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,”
the man said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked at
him. “Sorry,” Cody said. Cody looked down. There were a few items below him. He sighed and passed them over a
scanner. He looked back up at the
man. He was wearing the same uniform
Cody was. Was he on break? Cody finished his job with the man. He looked up.
“Okay, I get it. There have been
slaves in every generation. Every society
blah blah forced labor blah blah lower class blah blah. I understand what you’re trying to say. Can this please end?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The environment around
Cody blurred again. When it came back
together, Cody was laying back on a couch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Do you really?” a man
said. Cody turned. He saw a man with a white beard next to
him. The man wore a suit and tie. “Do you really understand? You say that, but what I still see here is a
man who wants to change things, at least in one case. Why believe that something that has always
existed can simply go away?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked
around. He was in an office. There was a plant in the corner, and a
painting on the wall. It had a curly
golden frame around it. It depicted a
table. Several people sat around the
table. One wore a clean, white toga. Another wore a black business suit. Another wore purple robes and a crown. Delicacies lay across the table. In the foreground, away from the table, two
men, one dressed as an ancient roman soldier and another dressed as a U.S.
Marine stood with whips. The roman
soldier whipped a young white boy with a harp, while the marine whipped an even
younger Asian boy who held a shoe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man with the white
beard continued. “All of the things
you’ve just seen were forced out of being by law or else may soon be, yet each
time, the next one, which was functionally identical, came into being to
replace it. What makes you think that if
the current order is ever abolished, a new order won’t simply replace it? Slavery gave way to the factory. The factory gave way to the low minimum
wage. Yet you propose that the low
minimum wage will give way to the utopia those other things were meant to be
the last step away from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody sat up. He looked outside. The area looked modern and urban. There were children playing in a playground
outside, all being watched by a man on a bench.
Cody squinted. Was that the man
he’d seen in each of his hallucinations?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s delusional,” the
man with the white beard said. Cody
looked back at him. “It is quite simply
delusional.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked at the
man. “How do I get out of this?” he
asked. “How do I return to the real
world?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The bearded man
smiled. “This is the real world. It’s realer, at least, than the one you were
in before. But nonetheless, all you need
do to escape it is wait. Soon,
Ntullnarlth will have your ball, the contest will end and you will be awoken to
servitude.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh, relax,” the man
said. “Look at your skin. Think of your class. Is it any different than when you were born?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody ignored the man
and stood up. He tried to leave the
room, but the door was locked. He tried
to jump out the window, but smacked into the open window as though it were
painted on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What do you hope to
accomplish?” the man asked. “There’s
nothing out there. This is all in your
mind. You’re really just running around in
a hospital, and you have been this whole time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked down. His eyes widened. He looked back up. He turned to the doctor. “So when I walk around here, I actually walk
through the hospital?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man nodded. “Yes, but that fact is of no use to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody smiled. “I beg to differ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody turned to the
window. He was sure he came from that
way. Wait, no. When he’d been woken into this room, he’d
been laying on the couch. That meant, if
he was moving in real life, that he was on his side now, prone. No, it wouldn’t work that way. It would make more sense for it to be about
the muscles moved than the changes in spacial position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody grinned. He turned to the window and walked into the
wall. The therapist laughed. “Did you not hear a word of what I just
said?” Cody didn’t respond. He ran, touching the wall. He felt his feet slamming into it, but he
ignored it. He’d not made any turns this
entire time, so running this way for long enough should bring him back to his
base. On his way back, he called out to
his beast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sparky,” he
cried. “Here Sparky. I need help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody kept this up for about
five minutes before he heard barking. He
smiled. “Yes,” he said. He felt heat above him. He smiled.
The scene around him blurred again, and when it snapped into focus, he
found himself in a hallway with a hellhound standing over him. The creature was pitch black with large
glowing orange speckles which moved and morphed like the wax in a lava lamp. It had pointed ears, glowing red eyes and a
large snout. It barked and wagged its
tail. Cody sat up. Hellhounds had the ability to force spirits
to return to the Underworld. It must
have been that some sort of spirit caused those hallucinations. Cody hugged the creature. “Who’s a good boy?” he said. Sparky wagged his tail. Cody stood up. He looked around. There was about thirty feet of hall ahead of
him. He ran its length and looked at his
base. His eyes widened. The pile of corpses was gone from the corner,
and the ball was nowhere in sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked around. He clinched his fist and rushed back down the
hall, calling for his hellhound to follow him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
arrived back at Ntullnarlth’s base ahead of him. Ntullnarlth must not have been running. He looked around. He heard a moan. His gaze snapped to the sound’s source. There were several zombies around. Cody looked down at Sparky. “Sick ‘em, boy,” he said. Sparky barked and launched streams of fire
from his mouth at the zombies. Cody held
out his hand and shot magical blasts at some of them. It only took a minute for them to finish all
of them off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked. He saw the red ball. Should he grab it and run back? No.
That’d probably just mean Cody wouldn’t be around when Ntullnarlth
arrived. Cody ducked back into the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
waited several minutes before Ntullnarlth walked into the area, humming. He neared the pedestal. Cody looked down at Sparky. He clinched his fist. “Attack,” he whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
dashed out. Ntullnarlth turned his
head. He squinted, and then rushed
forward toward his podium. Sparky
reached him, tackling him and pinning him to the ground, barking. Sparky opened his mouth and released a jet of
flame, drenching Ntullnarlth in fire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Get
the ball, Sparky,” Cody shouted. Sparky
looked at him, then down at the blue ball.
He took it in his mouth and carried it to Cody. Cody pointed at the podium. “Other one too, boy.” Ntullnarlth stumbled to his feet. He fired a magical blast at Sparky, but
sparky dodged it and jumped into Ntullnarlth’s base, knocking over the podium
and grabbing the red ball in his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
stood and pointed his palm at the hellhound, but Cody fired on him. A chunk of Ntullnarlth’s side came out as
sparky ran back. Cody pointed Sparky
toward the base and rushed in that direction alongside him. Ntullnarlth ran behind them in the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned around and fired a magical blast back at Ntullnarlth, but Ntullnarlth
raised his shield. He ran. Ntullnarlth’s age made him faster. He gained on Cody and Sparky. Cody looked down at Sparky. “Can you go any faster? I don’t care if you leave me behind. Make the red ball touch my podium; the one
we’re running toward.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
tilted his head and sped up. Cody
stopped in his tracks, turning around and putting his shield up. Ntullnarlth crashed into him, breaking Cody’s
shield. Cody’s eyes widened. Cody dashed to the side as Ntullnarlth
lowered his shield and fired at him.
Cody dodged and fired his own blast at Ntullnarlth, removing a chunk
from his other side. Ntullnarlth
flinched, and then panted. Cody ran,
firing at Ntullnarlth, but Ntullnarlth raised his shield back up and Cody
stopped firing. Ntullnarlth fell to his
knees, panting inside his shield. Cody
took a few steps back. Ntullnarlth
looked up and held out his hand. Cody’s
eyes widened. He turned around and
rushed away. Ntullnarlth fired a magical
blast that knocked Cody over and put a large hole in his stomach. Ntullnarlth walked toward Cody, smiling. He fired a thin magical beam, keeping Cody to
the ground. When he reached Cody, he
leaned down and took the blue ball out of his hand. He looked down at Cody.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
cheer up. You put up a good fight. That’s more than any of my souls can
say. Now, I’ll be taking this and using
it to earn your phylactery so I can cast a, well, the term Valthakar spell has
become popular, on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He tried to get up as
Ntullnarlth walked away, but Ntullnarlth kept the magical beam on him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sparky
rushed forward. His master had ordered
him to take this ball to the stick he’d been in front of. Sparky dashed forward, taking a few minutes
to reach the podium. He rubbed the ball
against it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
heard the voice of one of a soul around him.
“The Challenge has ended,” it said.
“It is called in favor of the lich Odelarch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
gasped. He turned around. Cody rolled over. “What?” Ntullnarlth asked. “No, that can’t be. How could…”
Ntullnarlth looked down at Cody.
“How could you win this? You’re
just a boy. You’re just some random
boy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
grunted as he got up. “Ya know, I used
to think so too, but between this and Kaburlduth, I’m starting to reconsider.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ntullnarlth
grumbled. He looked down. He took a deep breath. He looked up.
He sighed. He looked at
Odelarch. He bowed his head. “Very well.
If I may say--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m going to kill
you,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ntullnarlth’s eyes
widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You were about to
plead your case? Don’t bother. I’m more than happy to move you to the
Underworld if it means freeing your souls.
I did the math, and you have well over six-hundred-thousand of
them.” Ntullnarlth’s mouth was
wide. Cody turned around and
walked. “I’m going to get Justin,” he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ntullnarlth stood
there. He watched the hellhound come
back to Cody. His mouth was wide. He… that thing was going to kill him. Ntullnarlth looked down at the floor. He lay on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took the Phylactery, a spearhead, out of Justin’s hands. “Thanks,” he said. He handed it to Sparky, who melted it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
shed a tear as he looked down. Kgobauru
came up behind him. Cody turned
around. Kgobauru trembled a bit. Cody looked up. “Sorry about your friend,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
took a deep breath. “It’s fine,” he
said. He stretched out his hand. Cody took it and shook it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
I get to keep Sparky?” Cody said. He
heard Sparky bark behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
whether or not Bavandersloth will let you have him is a matter yet to be known,
but as far as I’m concerned, yes. I
couldn’t deactivate the binding spell if I wanted to, though you’ll lose
control of him when I die.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. He turned around and put his
hand on the hellhound. He looked
up. “Will Ntullnarlth’s spell over those
people break?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
nodded. “I plan to make Valthakar find a
way to deal with that. We can’t let the
things Ntullnarlth did get out to the public.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Right.” He stood up, his hand still on Sparky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
took a deep breath. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody stood up. Justin, who’d stood off for a moment,
approached him again. “That was
awesome,” Justin said. The two walked
away from Kgobauru.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah,”
Cody said. “By the way, I don’t think
I’ll be able to keep Sparky at my house.
It might be best if he stays in the mansion.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’d
be awesome too,” Justin said. “So,
anyways, what are you doing for Christmas?
It’s tomorrow you know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
frowned as the two walked away. He
looked down at the pile of melted metal that remained of Ntullnarlth’s phylactery. He sighed. “Farewell, friend,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/07/angel-of-death-114-cold-snap.html">Last Entry</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/09/angel-of-death-116-bavandersloths.html">Next Entry</a></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-37976367949564363982014-07-27T23:00:00.000-07:002014-09-22T16:58:03.775-07:00Angel of Death 1.14 Cold Snap<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
grunted as he lifted a pile of snow over his shoulder. “This is… supposed… to be… California,” he
wheezed through exhausted panting. He
was almost ready to collapse by the time he was finished. He looked at the driveway. It seemed clear enough. He went up to its owner’s door and knocked on
it. A young woman opened it. “I’m… done…” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
woman peeked outside, holding a cup of hot chocolate. She went back inside. She came back to the door and handed Cody
thirty dollars. Cody panted as he
accepted the money. “Thank… you…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“You too,” the woman said. She nodded and went back inside. Cody turned around. He looked down the road. He’d been hired to clear four more of those
things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
panted and looked down. He fell forward
into the snow. He gritted his
teeth. He reached for his phone and
called Lester. “Hey, man,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,”
Lester said. “Something wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. “No. I’m just lying out here; in the snow; on the
path to someone else’s driveway; while you’re inside; with hot chocolate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
laughed. “I feel ya, man.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. No you don’t.” Cody stood up. “I mean, good gosh, I shouldn’t even feel
cold. I should be able to just make this
snow melt in a few seconds by touching it.
But no, I have to stand out here in the cold with a light jacket on
because that’s the closest thing to a winter coat the thrift store wasn’t out
of. I mean, so yeah, I can’t actually
freeze to death, but these people don’t know that. What kind of sadistic--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody,
did you just call to complain?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He took a deep breath. “Yeah.
Sorry. I shouldn’t have bothered
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sighed. “No, its cool man. You have every right to complain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. “Yeah, I do. Well, I should probably get to the next
house.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright,
see ya later.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “See
ya.” Cody hung up. He put the phone in his pocket. He walked forward, headed toward the next
house. About half a minute later, he
felt something on his hand. He looked at
his hand then up at the sky. It was
snowing again. “Oh you’ve got to be
kidding me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stumbled into Cherie’s house, wet from snow and groaning. His family had been staying there ever since
their pipes froze. He heard Violet Fox
on the television. “…massive…” she
paused, “massive worldwide cold snap still leaving scientists baffled. Early in the morning one week ago today,
global temperatures took a sharp dive, and have only decreased since. By now, places from California, to Florida,
to Egypt, to South America are reporting up to two feet of snow falling every
hour. Wildlife is being devastated. Experts warn that if this trend continues for
much longer, permanent damage could be done to the environment, and that could
prove disastrous…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother greeted him at the door. “Cody,
you’re back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Yeah, with all
one-hundred-fifty of those dollars you needed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother put her hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you very much for doing this for us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
blushed and handed her the money.
“You’re welcome.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There’s
hot chocolate in the kitchen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. He went into the kitchen. He saw Cherie’s father getting a cup. The last of the boiling water dripped into
his mug. Cody’s eyes widened. Cherie’s father turned to look at him. “Oh, hello. Sorry” he said. “You can boil some more water if you want.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Thanks.” He took the kettle from the stove, filled it,
and set back on the stove. He looked at
Cherie’s father. “Hey, if it’s alright
for me to ask, how is D.I.A.P.P. looking to handle this--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
can ask all you want. I’d be executed
for treason if I answered, but you may ask all day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. “Oh.” He looked up.
“Because I was thinking that maybe my friends and I could help you out. I mean, it’s obviously something from the…
place, and--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
interested.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh.” Cody sighed.
“Okay then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father looked down. He took a deep
breath. He approached Cody. “Look, if it becomes apocalyptic before we
can get a handle on it, all bets are off, but until then, we don’t work with
your kind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
put his head down. “I understand.” Cherie’s father walked out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Cody snuck out of his fold-out bed.
He crept up Cherie’s staircase and looked around. He didn’t see anyone. He opened the window, rushed out, and closed
it behind him before too much snow could get inside. He ran off but slipped, falling on his
face. He stood up, brushing himself
off. He walked, at the steadiest pace he
could manage, toward a hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> On his
way, he caught a whiff of fear. He moved
from his course to find its source. He
found an alley and looked inside. He saw
a homeless man sitting in the cold, shivering.
Cody’s eyes widened. He rushed
over. The homeless man looked up at him as
he approached. His eyes widened. Cody knelt down to the man’s level. He saw the body of another homeless man next
to him. That man’s skin was blue. “Hey, it’s okay,” Cody said. The living man looked up at him. Cody put his hand on the man’s shoulder. He sensed severe hypothermia. He tagged it.
“We need to get you to some place warm,” Cody said. The homeless man looked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
had learned where the shelters were from previous incidents like this. Cody put his hand out. The man took it. Cody lifted the man and walked off, carrying
him. He moved as fast as he could toward
the nearest shelter. He felt the man
getting colder and colder. Cody ran a
little faster. He had to be careful not
to slip again. He felt the man
cooling. As he sensed the man’s
hypothermia worsening, he looked around.
He was still pretty far from the shelter. He looked down at the man. He tried to shed a tear. He dashed forward. A few minutes later, he felt the man’s life
fade away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He cried for a minute. He took a deep breath and looked ahead. He saw another alley. He walked to it. He set the man’s body down in the alley on a
bulge in the snow. He put his hand on
the man’s forehead and bowed his head.
He looked up. He sniffed for another
fear. He sensed one and rushed toward
it. He took a deep breath when he
reached it. It was another homeless
man. Cody sighed. This one was covered in a thin blanket. He looked up at Cody. He put his hand out. “Help,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. He took the man’s hand and stood
him up. Cody sensed that the man’s leg
was broken. He tagged the injury. They walked toward the shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I…
I thought I was going to freeze.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Don’t
worry. I won’t let that happen. Just follow me.” Cody led the man to the shelter. He was able to make it this time. The shelter accepted the man, and Cody dashed
off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Soon
after, Cody was able to reach a hospital.
He entered through the front door.
No one stopped him. He spent
about an hour walking through the hospital, tagging countless cases of
frostbite and the victims of numerous car crashes. On his way out, Cody also tagged a nurse’s
chronic migraines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was another hour before Cody found a crime, a home burglary. He rushed inside the house and tackled a man
who held a gun pointed at a woman, pinning him to the ground. The woman stepped back. The man looked up, his eyes wide. He squirmed, but Cody kept him pinned. Cody closed his eyes. He moved the chronic illnesses over first; a
few cases of cancer, a few of diabetes, and three cases of chronic migraines. Cody tried to shed a tear. He moved the frostbite to the man. The man shouted and whaled, begging for mercy. The woman ran upstairs. Cody fought a smile as he heard the man’s
screams. Cody moved each case of
frostbite over in increasing order of severity.
The man shivered. His lips turned
blue. His fingers froze more and more. “Please, stop,” the man shouted. Cody ignored him. He grinned.
He clinched his fist and forced his face to stay straight until he was
finished. He took a deep breath. The car crashes came next. The man cried out as his legs and arms were
broken, then all but one of his ribs. He
screamed. “Please, please, just kill
me.” Cody tried to shed another tear,
despite the grin the man’s screams brought him, as he inflicted the final
injury, which entailed Cody’s victim losing both legs and an arm. The victim shouted. Cody stood up and dipped his scythe into the
man. He took out the man’s soul and ate
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned his head toward the stairs. “I’m
leaving now. Come lock your door,” he
shouted. He looked up at a clock on the
wall. His eyes widened. It was 4:13 AM. He left the house. As he stepped away, he heard the door lock
behind him. He rushed back to Cherie’s,
scrambled into the window and ran downstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
lay under the covers reading for the next few hours. At six, his mother came downstairs to wake him
up. Cody closed his book, rested his
head on the pillow and closed his eyes.
He feigned grogginess as his mother approached and shook him. He opened his eyes. “Wha… hi, mom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother put her hand on him. “Good
morning, Cody,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. “Good morning, mom.” He sat up.
“Are we going to church today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother shook her head. “No. There’s too much snow on the roads to drive
anywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
yawned. “Oh well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can
you be upstairs in an hour, though?
Cherie’s father is serving breakfast.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. “Wouldn’t miss it.” Cody’s mother patted him on the head. Cherie wasn’t awake yet, so Cody got up,
showered, and brushed his teeth. He went
upstairs and got his cell phone. He went
back downstairs and dialed Bavandersloth’s number. He waited.
Valthakar answered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
Valthakar.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody,
are you mad? You know that the phone
is--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Relax. We’ll just not say anything that we don’t
want anyone to hear, okay? Besides, this
is just to arrange a meeting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sighed. “Let me guess, the weather?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. “Something like that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
to tell you the truth, I was thinking the same thing. Go ahead and be over here tonight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
hung up the phone. He stood. He looked at the shelves in the Great Room,
scanning for a specific book. He didn’t
find it. He sighed and went downstairs
to the basement. He opened the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
saw a swarm of souls waiting around Bavandersloth’s phylactery. On the ground lay the better part of a lich’s
torso. Valthakar smiled at the sight of
it. One of the souls approached
Valthakar. It squinted. “Hey.
What do you want?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Relax,”
Valthakar said. “I’m not here to harm
his phylactery. I just need to know
where he kept his copy of <i>On the
Underworld</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul flew closer to Valthakar’s face.
“Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Because
I need to look something up in it. Look,
this could make the difference between success and failure for <i>our</i> master’s plan. I have no Ill-will. I can’t defy him any more than you can.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul sighed. “True. It’s in the attic, in a safe. The combinations are 28, 49, 46 for the
leftmost lock, 25, 41, 19 for the center lock, 36, 46, 28, for the rightmost
lock, 15, 2, 30, for the top lock, and 28, 35, 5, for the lower one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
raised an eyebrow. “Mind following me up
and walking me through that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul turned around. He looked at
Bavandersloth’s phylactery. He
sighed. “Fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
went upstairs and unlocked the safe, one of several. He opened it and took the book out. The outer cover was made of amethyst stones
which interlocked in the same manner as the sapphires on <i>On Soulless Ones.</i> There was
a golden skull in the cover’s center. Valthakar turned around. “That’s all I needed. Thanks.” he told the soul. It nodded and went downstairs. Valthakar smiled and carried the book to the
great room. He lay back on one of its
couches, resting his head on a pillow.
He opened the book and saw its title page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“On the Underworld”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar turned the
page. He saw the table of contents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I A Description of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“II On the History of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“III On the Sections of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“VI On the Souls of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“V On the Creatures of the Underworld<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“VI Questions and Answers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“VII Glossary”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar turned to the
questions and answers page. He saw a
quill, just as one would in <i>On Soulless
Ones.</i></span><span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He picked it up and
wrote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Is a creature of the Underworld
causing the lowered temperatures on the planet Earth?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar raised an eyebrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What sort of creature?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A cold dragon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What can you tell me about cold
dragons?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Turn the page willing to see the answers you seek.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar turned the
page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Cold Dragons<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Beasts of Small Vibrations. Lethargic Beasts. Servants of the underworld, their magical
breath chills anything it touches to absolute zero. Their very presence cools any world they
visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Powers: Ambient cooling, freezing breath, the carving of
mountain caves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“They prefer colder homes.
They can survive in absolute zero.
They can fly. They can speak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Methods of killing them: Decapitation, atomization, burning,
bleeding, suffocation, destruction of brain, destruction of hearts…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth flipped
away. He went back to the Q&A
section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Where is the dragon?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“In the alcove, now a cave, you call Green Boots’ Cave on
Mt. Everest. He has deepened it to suit
his needs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar got up and
went to Bavandersloth’s computer. He
googled “Green Boots’ Cave.” He noted
its location and stepped away from the computer. He opened the book back up and quizzed it for
another few hours before putting it back in its safe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Cody set out again. He performed
his usual routine and rushed to Bavandersloth’s mansion. He knocked on the door. He entered and he, Valthakar and Justin sat
down in the Great Room. “Alright then,”
Valthakar said. “I’ve done some
research, and I’ve found out what’s behind this.” Cody raised an eyebrow, and then smiled. “According to <i>On the Underworld</i>,” Valthakar continued, “these recent events are
the result of a Cold Dragon settling on this planet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. His jaw dropped. Justin’s eyes also widened. He smiled.
“A dragon?” they said in unison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded. “I don’t believe you’re aware of
this, Justin, but dragons are real creatures; actual servants of the Underworld. I fought them when I was the King of
Atlantis.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
beamed. “So you’re telling me I get to
fight a dragon?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “My
plan was long those lines. This
situation is urgent. I should have
looked into it sooner, but a cold snap in December, even in California, odd as
it was wasn’t enough by itself to tip me off to the supernatural activity.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
raised an eyebrow. “Where is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
near the top of Mt. Everest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “What? I won’t be able to come, then. I can’t possibly get away from my parents
long enough to climb Everest. It takes
six weeks to get to the top of that thing and back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
Valthakar said, “for a human. We can
walk much faster, and won’t have to stop during the night, or take any rests,
so long as we keep our true forms, which there’s no reason not to do. The lack of oxygen at high altitudes won’t
bother us, and our strength will make it easier to use equipment.” Valthakar smiled. “Also, I have someone in mind that can help
us. There’s a lich named Kgobauru, whose
unique power, well, one of them, is to grant fantastic speed not only to
himself, but to other liches as well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh. Alright then.
But what about--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “As
for getting you away from your parents, I have an idea that I think might
work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
raised an eyebrow. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody’s
what?” Yolanda asked, her eyes wide.
Cherie’s mother gasped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’s
under arrest. Now that it’s known that
more than one of the Angels can heal, his original exoneration is no longer
valid.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
this is--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Relax,”
the man at the door said. “If he’s
innocent, he’ll be out soon enough.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
can it possibly wait until this weather clears up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
came upstairs. “What’s going on? I heard my name.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yolanda
turned around. “Cody, this officer says
you’re being arrested again. The police
still think you’re the Angel of Death.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “What? But--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
last exoneration was based on the premise that only one Angel existed. We now know there are many more, and at least
two, who live in this town, can heal.
Cody Giles, you are under arrest for one-hundred counts of first degree
murder. Put your hands behind your back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He put his hands behind
his back. He was cuffed. He looked up at Yolanda. “It’ll be okay, mom. I didn’t do anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yolanda
cried. “Cody…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not dying or anything. You’ll be able to
come visit me as soon as the weather clears up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yolanda
walked over to Cody. She put her hand on
his shoulder. She hugged him. “I love you, Cody.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I love
you too, mom.” Cody shed a tear. He and the police officer walked out. Cherie’s mother ran down to get her daughter
out of the shower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
walked out to a police car with Valthakar.
His head was down, and a few tears dripped from his face. “How did you get the cop stuff anyway?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Connections.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up. “With whom?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
police, obviously. Bavandersloth always
keeps a few of them under his influence, at least to some extent.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “Right. So, how are we getting to Mt. Everest?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Private
jet. I didn’t want to bring too large of
a party on this climb, but I was able to get the help I mentioned last
night. The lich I mentioned, Kgobauru,
owns the jet in question. A friend of
his, Rngwelokt, will also be assisting us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
sure just five liches can fight a dragon?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “Well, one of those five liches
is me, so yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. “Alright.” Cody clinched his fist. He turned around and looked at the
house. “I’m sorry,” he thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two drove the police car as far as they could before leaving it behind. They ran to Bavandersloth’s mansion to get
Justin and from there to the airport to get onto Kgobauru’s plane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
three approached the jet. Valthakar sent
a soul inside to alert Kgobauru that they were there. Stairs descended from the jet’s side and the
group came aboard. Rngwelokt waited for
them at the top of the stairs. “Hello,”
he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,”
Valthakar said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come
on in. Kgobauru is in the cockpit. The plane will take off in about ten minutes,
so hurry up and find a seat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked around. The interior of the plane
was sickly green, orange and brown. The
disgusting colors made Cody smile. All
of the seats were large. Cody walked to
a nearby one and sat down. He strapped
on a seat belt. Justin, Valthakar and
Rngwelokt sat nearby. The plane took
off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
plane touched down in Nepal on the airstrip of a closed, empty airport. The five liches left it behind and rushed
toward the mountain. When they reached
its base, they looked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Woah,”
Justin said his mouth wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Does
everyone have their equipment?” Valthakar asked. Everyone nodded. “Good.
Now, we’re going to ascend as quickly as possible, with a few
caveats. First, we mustn’t be separated. Second, we mustn’t do too much damage to the
mountain. Understood?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
hardly think you’re in any position to demand understanding from me,” Kgobauru
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course not, I merely did all of the research for this little mission of ours,
am the only one who knows the way to the right cave. I am by far the most important part of our
combat force, and represent Bavandersloth in his absence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Must
I remind you that were it not for my power to enhance our speed, it’d take us a
month to get up that mountain? Unless,
that is, you have your own way to travel at three-hundred miles per hour with
all of the caution it takes to ascend Everest.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Guys,”
Justin said. The others looked at
him. “This isn’t helping anything. The sooner we get up there, the sooner the
world gets back to normal, and the less chance that the damage done by the time
we finish will mean there’s no chance to save the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Kgobauru
took a deep breath. “Fine.” He and Valthakar grumbled and the group began
their ascent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
five liches were a day into their ascension of the mountain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Man,
I can’t wait to get home,” Justin said.
“I’m so hungry.” He closed his
eyes. “Oh, I can just picture it now. A nice, warm soul. A mugger.
No, a serial killer. That nice,
strong taste of murder. I can just
picture it: that crunchy, glowing outer shell breaking away, the thick yet
runny inside bits splashing all over my tongue--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Quiet,
boy,” Valthakar said. Justin looked
up. He clinched his fist and continued
on. They reached an icy ledge. Valthakar put his hand on it and made much of
the ice decay away, forming a staircase.
They climbed up, mindful of its slipperiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
others heard Justin’s voice behind them.
He sounded like he was speedtalking.
“Oh, man, this sucks. Why did I
have to come here? I just had to go and
slay the dragon--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
said, quiet,” Valthakar said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
that wasn’t me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well
then who do you propose it was?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
thought it was Rngwelokt. He’s the only
one behind me right?” Justin’s voice
sped up. “Besides, his entry in the book
called him a coward or something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
turned around. “Listen bo…” Valthakar’s eyes widened. The other liches turned around too. They saw a grey, hairy, creature. It looked like a large monkey. “Who’s saying that?” it said, speed-talking
in Justin’s voice. “Crap, I hope
Rngwelokt isn’t mad. Why’s everyone
turning around? Holy crap, what the heck
is that thing? Why’s it talking like
that? Is it reading my thoughts?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He ran up to it, standing
closer to it than Justin. “I’m sure I
know what that is,” it said, now in Cody’s voice. “I’ve seen it somewhere, in some class? It’s from Chinese, no, Japanese
mythology? Maybe?” Cody’s eyes widened. He backed away. “Huh?
What was Cody so afraid of just now?
Does he have some kind of secret?”
Cody backed up further.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
turned to Valthakar. “Do you have your
copy of <i>On the Underworld</i> with you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. I left it at the mansion?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What? Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Because
there are only three known copies of it on Earth. I wasn’t going to bring it up here and risk
losing it.” Valthakar looked
forward. “I didn’t expect us to
encounter anything from the underworld up here besides the dragon. Apparently I was wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He turned around to the
others. “Holy, crap guys, I just
realized what that thing is. It--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
creature pounced on Justin. Justin’s
eyes widened. He fell to the
ground. Justin kicked at the creature,
but its grip on him was too strong. It
shredded at him with its claws. “Holy
crap!” it said. “What is this
thing? Get it off of me.” Cody rushed over to it. The creature turned toward him. Cody ducked out of the way of a swipe of the
creature’s claws. He grabbed the
creature’s arm. It squirmed. Cody yanked the creature off of Justin’s body
and wrapped his arms around it, placing his forearm under the creature’s chin. “Gah, this thing is squirmy. It’s almost over my arms already. Crap, it’s getting away,” the creature said
as it leapt away. It ran off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
stood up. “What was that thing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “A
satori,” Cody said. “It’s a creature
from Japanese mythology. They’re
supposed to run up behind travelers, read their thoughts aloud to confuse them,
and then try to eat them.” Cody took a
deep breath. “Fortunately, they’re also
really frightened by a counter-attack.
That thing shouldn’t be back any time soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a deep breath. “That’s good, at
least.” He brushed himself off and stood
up. “Hey, Cody?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “When
it started reading your mind, you backed away.
Why was that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. He smirked. “Oh, just keeping those secrets grown-ups
have to keep from kids.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
raised an eyebrow as the group started walking again. “Huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’ll
find out when you’re older.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
clinched his fist. He moved
forward. He looked down. That was close. Cody clinched his fist again. Had he thought for just one second about what
really happened to Justin’s parents, it would have been a disaster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
five continued until they were about two thirds of the way up the
mountain. They were walking along a
plateau. Valthakar stopped. Cody looked up at him. “What is it?” Kgobauru asked. Cody looked at the path ahead. His eyes widened. He saw a pale woman in white walking toward
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
took a deep breath. “It’s obviously a
creature from the underworld. Rngwelokt,
can you make a shield big enough for all of us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright
then. Everyone get close to him.” They all did.
Rngwelokt cast his shield, and they all got inside. The woman walked forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes
widened. “Holy crap, I think she’s got a
little kid with her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s a trick. Think.
How’d a little kid survive up here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody took a deep
breath. He nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eventually, she reached
them. She stopped in front of them. Her lips were blue, and her skin pale. She held the hand of a small girl, who looked
similar to herself. Cody looked
down. There was no trail of footprints
behind the woman. Cody took a deep
breath. The child cried. The liches moved forward. The woman followed them. They kept going for another several miles,
and the woman stayed right behind them.
Kgobauru turned to Valthakar.
“We’re going to need her off of our trail before we can fight the
dragon,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar nodded. “True.
Does anyone have any idea what that thing might be?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No,” Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What about you,
Cody? You identified the last creature.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody thought for a
minute. His eyes widened. “Actually, yeah. I do think I know what that is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What?” Kgobauru asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It might be a
Yuki-onna. They’re these ghosts, also
from Japanese folklore. There’s a bunch
of different versions of their legend, but in every case, they have some way of
making you freeze to death, and the way to kill them is to expose them to
heat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rngwelokt turned to
Valthakar. “Valthakar,” he asked, “if I
made a hole in my shield, could you launch a fireball at it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“In theory. Cody, will it attack us?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’ll probably take
its first opportunity to attack. They’re
supposed to be aggressive. In some
legends, they have a cooling breath.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar sighed. “Alright, Rngwelokt, here’s what we’ll
do. We’ll keep walking normally. When I say to, you need to create a hole in
the shield behind us. I’ll shoot a
fireball out as fast as I can. Hopefully,
it won’t have the reflexes to harm us first.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That might work,” Cody
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar nodded. “Alright.”
They kept walking for a few minutes.
The woman followed them. “Now,”
Valthakar said. He shot a fireball at
the back of the shield. Rngwelokt opened
a hole. It hit the woman. She evaporated with a scream. The shield closed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nice shot,” Rngwelokt
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar smiled. “Thanks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Many
hours later, Valthakar stopped the five liches.
He pointed upwards. “You see
that?” he asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
others looked up. Justin squinted. “No,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Look
closer,” Valthakar said. “That is Green boots. He’s the corpse of a man who died trying to
climb this mountain. The cave he’s in
front of, that’s where the dragon is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
eyes widened. He salivated. “You mean we’re almost done?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sort
of. We’ll also have to climb down, but
that might not take quite as long as getting up here did. Either way, we’re about to fight the dragon.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
smiled. “Awesome. So what’s our plan?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
huddled in closer to the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
walked into the dragon’s den, invisible.
He felt his stomach grumble. He
looked down. He clinched his fist and
looked back up. He walked toward the
back of the cave, looking around, seeing ice covering every surface. After a few minutes, he heard a rumbling
noise that wasn’t his stomach. He looked
ahead. He saw the tip of the dragon’s
tail sticking out of a chamber. He
stepped over the tail and went inside.
The dragon was lying down, but it wasn’t asleep. Rngwelokt moved forward. He took a deep breath as he walked. He tripped on the dragon’s back leg. He fell down, and his eyes widened. He put his shield up. He looked at the dragon. He saw it stir. It stood up, shaking, and stretched its
wings. It looked down at Rngwelokt. Rngwelokt looked up. The creature looked only vaguely reptilian. Its scales looked more like stone than flesh. Its claws and teeth were grey. It inhaled.
Rngwelokt flinched. The creature
let out a blast of frigid air, breaking Rngwelokt’s shield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
scrambled up and ran toward the chamber’s exit.
The dragon rushed to it and blocked it.
“Who are you?” it asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
clinched his fist. He stood, turning
visible. “I am Rngwelokt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
dragon arched its head downward. “What
are you doing in my cave, soulless one?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
stepped back. He took a deep
breath. He thought. He looked up.
“Sir, I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but your being here is
destroyin--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course I’m aware of it. Do you take me
for an idiot? That’s why I’m here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt’s
eyes widened. “What? Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
under orders. Kandrinarkora told me to
come here and wreck the place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
raised an eyebrow. “Wait,
Kandrinarkora? He was supposed to be
sealed away. Things like you aren’t
supposed to--” a magical blast hit the dragon from behind. The dragon turned around. Rngwelokt put his shield up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked up at the dragon. It looked
around. “Where are you?” the dragon
asked. Valthakar fired another shot at
its neck. The dragon dodged. He scoffed.
He fired a blast of freezing breath down on Valthakar. Valthakar put his shield up, turned and ran
toward the cave’s entrance. The dragon’s
eyes followed him. The creature walked
outside with him as he went, smiling.
“You do realize that it’s advantageous for me to battle outside,
right? I’m the one who can fly.” Rngwelokt came up behind the dragon and fired
on him. The dragon ignored him. Valthakar ran out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
dragon’s eyes widened. “You’re quite the
fast soulless one, aren’t you?” He
smiled. He ran outside. Rngwelokt followed him. When he reached the end of the cave, he
spread his wings and jumped out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up at the Dragon. He put out his
hand and fired. He missed. The dragon turned around. Cody and Justin raised their shields. The dragon let out a burst of breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
flinched as the breath impacted his shield.
He closed his eyes and fought to keep it up. After a few seconds, Kgobauru ran out. Cody felt a surge of magical energy flow
through him as Kgobauru neared. He focused,
and dashed to the side. It seemed to
take the dragon ages to move its head.
When the dragon’s breath finally came back into contact with Cody’s
shield, he dashed to the side and out of the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Rngwelokt
ran out, his shield up. The five liches
were in a line, each moving back and forth, keeping out of the way of the
dragon’s breath. The dragon took a deep
breath and flew up. As soon as the
dragon turned away, Valthakar lowered his shield and tossed a fireball at the
dragon. The dragon felt the heat behind
him. He smiled. He dove down, under the ball. Valthakar raised his shield back up. The dragon flew around the mountain, out of
sight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
few minutes later, Cody felt a powerful burst of air hit his shield. He turned around and saw the dragon. His eyes widened. The wind blew him off of the ledge of the
mountain. He tumbled downward. Cody looked around and saw Kgobauru and
Justin tumbling away. Rngwelokt tumbled
toward him. Valthakar was still on the
ledge. Cody tried to steer his shield
like a hamster ball. He and Rngwelokt
managed to stay relatively close together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
turned around and looked up. The dragon
was following him, and gaining on him.
Cody’s breathing was heavy. He
steered his shield closer to Rngwelokt.
He looked at the other lich, who looked back and nodded. Cody steered until his shield was but inches
away from Rngwelokt’s and Rngwelokt expanded his own shield around Cody’s. Cody lowered his shield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
was clever,” Rngwelokt said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thanks,”
Cody said. The two used their combined
weight to roll down the mountain more quickly.
Cody looked over his shoulder.
The dragon faded into the distance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
rocketed down the mountain with the help of Kgobauru’s speed-enhancing
aura. He ignored his grumbling stomach
as he moved downward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
cloaked himself. He waited for the
dragon to come back. After a while, it
did, flying back up toward its cave from below.
Valthakar held his hand out and struck the dragon with a bolt of
lightning as it approached. It
fell. Valthakar looked down and tossed a
fireball at the creature. He hit its
wing. It yelped. It showed its teeth and ran up the
mountain. Valthakar activated his shield
as the dragon rose up and covered the plateau with his breath. Valthakar stood in place. The dragon crawled up to Valthakar. It leaned down in front of his shield.
Valthakar lowered his shield. The dragon growled and seethed. “Puny one.
It is not wise to make a dragon angry.
Now, prepare to--” Valthakar
nailed the dragon in the head with a fireball.
The dragon reeled back. Valthakar
hit the dragon in the neck, melting its head off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
sun came and went twice before Justin reached the mountain’s bottom. He slowed his shield down, then stopped it. He let it down and took deep breaths. Kgobauru did the same. Justin looked around and turned to him. “Hey, did you figure out what happened to the
others?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
saw Odelarch and Rngwelokt get blown to the South of us. Valthakar was still on the ledge.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,”
Justin said. He looked up. “One of them has probably won the fight by
now, him or the dragon I mean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.” Kgobauru turned to Justin. “Come with me. I have a plan to get them down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
use my power to slow down time around my jet.
It’ll be pretty easy for me to fly by them and let them jump into it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
eyes widened. “Wait, you could have just
flown us up?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There’d
have been nowhere to land, and Valthakar wanted me to be able to fight with
you. Let’s just hope he managed it by
himself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
two ran to Kgobauru’s jet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
arrived at Cherie’s house. He knocked on
the door. His mother opened it. She gasped.
Her eyes widened and she smiled.
“Cody,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Mom,”
Cody said, hugging her. She cried. “Everything’s okay now,” Cody said. “They cleared it up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
that’s wonderful,” Cody’s mother said.
After they hugged for a few more minutes, Cody’s mother went around the
house and informed the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
Fox sat across from Valthakar in the interview room. “Good evening everyone. Welcome to Channel 4 News at 6. We’re here once again with Orichalcum, who
wished to comment on the recent changes to the Earth’s environment.” Violet turned to Valthakar. “You have the floor sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “Well, ma’am, you may recall
that just over a month ago, my colleague, Light-rook, announced that he had
defeated the Blue Butterfly killer.
Well, I have a similar announcement to make now. My friends and I tracked the source of the
planet’s cooling and stopped it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
gasped. Her eyes widened. She didn’t speak for a while. “What was it?” she finally asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
took a deep breath. “It was a creature
from the realm from which we hail. It
was hiding on this earth, and its magic allowed it to cool it, which it
did. We tracked it down and slew it.” Valthakar chuckled. “I myself fired the killing shot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
ground in the underworld shook.
Kandrinarkora’s growl reached its every corner. Souls from throughout its span gazed
upward. Kandrinarkora ceased his growl. The inhabitants of earth were more persistent
than he thought. He smiled. Very well, then. He’d just have to try harder next time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
sat in the great room with his copy of <i>On
the Underworld</i> open to the Q&A section.
He took a deep breath as he lifted the quill and pressed it to the page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “On
the day Atlantis sunk, I saw two lights in the sky. One was bright green, like a magical beam or shield,
and the other was dark purple. What were those lights, and what, if
anything, did they have to do with the reasons for the sinking of Atlantis?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Blackadder ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/07/angel-of-death-113-deerward.html">Last Entry</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px; text-align: start;"> </span><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/08/angel-of-death-115-roma-invicta.html">Next Entry</a></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-30076937264891445122014-07-20T22:10:00.001-07:002014-09-22T16:56:21.222-07:00Angel of Death 1.13 Deerward<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
Father knocked on Cherie’s bathroom door.
“Cherie, honey, we need to talk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
stepped out with a toothbrush in her mouth.
“Hmm?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
Father looked down and took a deep breath then looked back up. “Cherie, honey,” he said, “you can take the
day off of school. I need you to come to
work with me today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What’s
going on, dad?” Cherie asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
need your help.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
squinted. “What? How?
You told me your job was top secret.
I’m not even supposed to know what it is. I <i>don’t</i>
know what it is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cherie,
I will explain everything to you when we get there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
pressed back against her seat. She took
a deep breath. “This isn’t you doing
something illegal, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.” He took a deep breath. “I waited a month for permission to do this.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked around her father’s office. It
buzzed with activity. The people walking
around all wore the same black suits Cherie’s father went to work in every
morning. Cherie followed her father down
the hall. They stepped into a dark room. It had a white tiled floor and two chairs sat
near the center. “Sit down,” Cherie’s
father said. Cherie walked to the seat
and sat down. Her father closed the door
and sat down across from her. He looked
down. He took a deep breath. He looked her in the eye. He looked down again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie’s put her hand
on her father’s knee. “What is it, dad?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie’s father swept
her hand off and shed a tear. He took
another deep breath. “Cherie…” He looked down and then back up. “First, you need to know what I do.” He looked to the side, then back at
Cherie. “This place, where I work; it’s
called the Division for the Investigation and Appropriation of Paranormal
Phenomena.” Cherie’s father looked
down. “We know what Cody is.” Cherie’s eyes widened. Her father looked up. “We fight it.
We fight those things. We protect
people from them.” Cherie’s father
pressed his lips together. “We kill
those things, ideally. We’re a branch of
the United States government dedicated to combatting the threat that they
pose.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Dad I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Cherie, if you weren’t
my daughter you’d be dead right now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie gasped. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I love you.” Cherie’s father put his hand on Cherie’s
shoulder. Tears streamed down his face. “I love you more than I love anything. That’s why you have to listen to me,
okay? I’m going to give you an offer and
I need you… I need you to say yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie looked at her
father. She looked down and took a deep
breath. She looked back up. “Okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Cherie, I need you to
inform on Cody. We already have a way of
spying on him, but you, as a person, can press him for information. You can ask him important questions. You can get him to say things we’d never
learn just by bugging his pho…” Cherie’s father pressed his lips together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That thing’s…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Cherie if you don’t do
this, you’ll die.” Cherie’s father
looked up, his face red and soaked with tears.
“You’ll be killed. We have your
confession on tape. The closest thing
you’d get to a trial has already happened, and you were found guilty. If you don’t do this; if you don’t inform on
him for us; you’ll be executed.”
Cherie’s father looked down. A
stream of tears dripped from his face onto the floor. “There’ll be nothing I can do to stop it
Cherie.” He put his hand on his
daughter’s shoulder. “I love you so
much. You’re the most important thing in
the world to me. Please say--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie’s father’s eyes
widened. He sat back in his seat. He smiled.
He hugged Cherie. “Thank you so
much,” he said. He took a deep breath. “I thought I…” he sat back. “Never mind.
We’ll spend the day giving you some training, and you’ll report here every
day after school for more. This is
dangerous, but Cody’s one of the few devourers who won’t kill you if he finds
out.” He took his daughter’s hand. “Thank you so much, Cherie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie took a deep
breath. She hugged her father back. “No problem, dad.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
took a deep breath. She clinched her
fist. Cody was supposed to come over
today, after school. She heard the
doorbell ring. Her eyes widened. She took a deep breath, got up, went to the
door, and opened it. It was her friend
Julie. She flinched, then smiled. “Oh, hi Julie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
Cher, I got your homework today.” She
held up several pieces of paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
thanks.” Cherie took the papers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
welcome. I’m sorry you got sick, but you
look better. Do you think you’ll be able
to come back to school tomorrow?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh.” Cherie nodded. “Yeah, I think I might.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
great.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> They
stood for a moment. “Cool. Well, see you around,” Julie said. Cherie closed the door. She walked toward the couch. After a few steps, she heard the bell ring
again. She clinched her fist. She turned around and opened it. It was Julie again. “Hey.
I’d put your math book in my backpack and I’d forgotten to give it to
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thanks.” Cherie took it. She closed the door and turned around. She heard another ring. She turned back around and opened the
door. It was Cody. Cherie’s eyes widened. She clinched her fist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,
Cherie,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
sighed. “Hey, Cody.” She let Cody in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up at Cherie. He squinted. “What’s wrong?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked down. “School trouble,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
tilted his head. “Oh. That bites,” he said. He put his hand on her side. “It’ll probably turn out alright though.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
walked down her stairs. “I don’t
know.” Cody followed. “It’s one of those things where all of the
outcomes are bad, you know?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. “Yeah.” He took a deep breath. “I know the feeling.” They arrived in the basement, and Cherie sat
on a couch. Cody sat next to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked at Cody. “But never mind
that.” She clinched her fist. “What’s going on in your life?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. “The others and I are
planning an attack on a gang’s headquarters.
Some of Justin’s souls tipped him off about it.” Cody looked up. “I should be happier right now. I’m still only eating one person a night,
even though I’m stopping more crimes than that.
I’m probably saving a dozen lives for each one I take.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Where
are these headquarters?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
in the northwest district, like half the criminal activity around here. One of the old houses. Why do you ask?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
pressed her lips together. She needed to
figure out where exactly. What could she
ask without looking suspicious? She
clinched her fist. She couldn’t think of
anything. “Oh, just curious.” Cody squinted at Cherie. “So, do you want to watch some TV or
something?” Cherie asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sat back and smiled. “Sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked down. “He told me that they were
planning to bust into a gang’s headquarters somewhere in the Northwest District.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father put his hand on her knee.
“Okay. Where exactly?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
all I got.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father’s eyes widened. “Cherie, why
didn’t you press him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Was
I supposed to ask him for the address? I
don’t want to look suspicious.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father looked down. “I know.” He took a deep breath. “You did well, it’s just... What you said might be enough for us to find
it in time. He said it was tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father leaned back. “Okay. I’ll get my guys on it. Do you know how he got the information?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
was supposed to be from one of the souls one of them ate.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father nodded. “Okay then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father put his hand on her shoulder.
“Hey, listen; you’re doing a good thing.” He sat back and took a deep breath. “Have I ever told you the story of why my
parents gave me my name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked up. “Yes; several times. They called you Deerward because they were
animal rights activists and wanted you to help them protest hunting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Right,”
Deerward said. “It means ‘protector of
the deer.’ I used to be ashamed of it. I thought it was weird. When I was your age, I’d get people to call
me Wade instead.” Deerward smiled. “Now, though, I wear it as a badge of
pride. That’s what I do here, sort
of.” Deerward put his hand on Cherie’s
knee. “I protect people from things that
want to hurt them. That’s what we’re
doing here, and that’s what you’re doing now.”
Deerward leaned forward. “No
matter how nice Cody is, and he is a good kid, what he’s doing means he needs
to be stopped eventually.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked down. She shed a tear. “I know.
When I first found out what he was, he told me he wanted that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward
put his hand on his daughter’s knee. “He
does. It’s not uncommon for them to want
to.” He sat back. “There have been a few times when I’ve taken
down a devourer that I’ve been thanked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
sobbed. “Dad, how will Cody die? I mean, how will you kill him when--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Right
now, we’re keeping him alive on purpose.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked up. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward
took a deep breath. He looked down. “The devourer he works under, Bavandersloth,
he’s got some kind of big plan going on right now.” He looked back up. “We don’t know a lot about what he’s
planning, but we know it’s bad. He’s the
one the public knows as Light-rook. His
plan has something to do with the public appearances he’s making. Beyond that, we don’t know much. Cody might be the key to getting enough
information to stop him.” Deerward
leaned farther in. “In the past, and on
other planets, these things have been known to enslave whole species.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded, then sat up straight. She
squinted. “On other planets?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Deerward
looked down. He pressed his lips
together. “Has Cody told you about the
devourer’s spellbooks?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
have a few. They contain lists of every
single devourer. A lot of them are on
other planets.” Deerward sat up
straighter. “Look, the point is,
whatever Bavandersloth is planning could mean disaster for us; all of us. What you’re doing could well save the entire
human race.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
took a deep breath. She looked
down. “No pressure then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father patted her on the shoulder. “I’m
sure you’ll do fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody,
Justin, Bavandersloth and Valthakar arrived in the Northwest District. They approached the address they’d been given
and saw red and blue lights. Cody
squinted then tilted his head. “Police?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”
Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked. He saw several police cars
surrounding the house and a few officers coming out with people in
handcuffs. There were S.W.A.T. officers
around. “Looks like the police got here
first,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
doesn’t make any sense,” Bavandersloth said.
He looked at Justin.
“Tkoralkiarch, didn’t you say that the soul told you that no one knew
about this place?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
was supposed to be really secret, yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
approached one of the police officers.
“Excuse me, officer,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
officer sniffed and looked at Bavandersloth.
“What are you doing here?” the officer asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
were planning to take this place down, but apparently you beat us to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
officer raised an eyebrow. “Really?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
did you find out about this place? We
were under the impression it was top secret, for that gang I mean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
got an anonymous tip this morning,” the officer said. She looked back at the house. “The chief ordered us to get out here
tonight. She said that if this were the
real deal it could--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
understand,” Bavandersloth said. He
walked back to the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
happened,” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’ve
got trouble,” Bavandersloth said.
“Come. Let’s get out of earshot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
four ran a few miles to another neighborhood.
“Tkoralkiarch, summon the soul who helped you find that place.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. He summoned the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is it?” the soul asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
told your master that the house you directed him to was rather secret. Exactly how many people knew about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
leaders and their closest associates; I’m pretty sure you’ve been tracking all
of them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “I have. Had any of those people informed on your
organization, I should have learned about it.”
Bavandersloth scratched his chin.
He looked up at the soul. “Thank
you.” He turned to Justin. “Dismiss him.” Justin dismissed the soul. It flew away.
Bavandersloth looked at the others.
“I’ll interrogate my souls tomorrow to see if one of them failed to
inform me due to a lapse of judgment.”
He pressed his lips together.
“Still, this doesn’t feel like the result of an informant. They wouldn’t just up and use information
they knew could only come from one of about twenty people, not this blatantly
anyways, and under such comparatively non-urgent circumstances.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “So
what do you think it was?” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
possible that we’re being spied on somehow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
others’ eyes widened. “What makes you
say that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No
one intelligent would use information they knew could only have come from a
high-ranking member of a gang. You’re
not supposed to let your enemies know that you know their secrets. If someone were spying on us on the other
hand, they might have heard that we learned of this house from someone we
ate. Most of the criminals we eat are
relatively low-ranking, so they might assume that if one of them knew it, most
of the people in the gang might know it.
We’ll check the mansion for bugs.
We’ll do the same with Odelarch’s house.” He turned to Valthakar. “Get your souls on that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
and Justin stood outside of the mansion playing catch. Justin smiled. Bavandersloth turned as Valthakar came out of
the mansion. “What is it?” Bavandersloth
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
souls have reported back,” Valthakar said as the ball hit Bavandersloth’s mitt. “There was nothing out of the ordinary in the
mansion, but Odelarch’s home was a different story.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened. “It was?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “His
cell phone has a piece of equipment that shouldn’t have been there. I did some research and there’s no accounting
for it. That phone is probably
bugged. It’s possible that it’s been
recording every word we’ve said while it’s been on and near us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked down. “I see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,”
Justin said, “you gonna throw the ball?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “Yes.” He pulled his hand back and threw the
ball. Justin caught it. He threw it back. Bavandersloth caught it. “Send a soul to alert him to this. Make sure he’s instructed not to react.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
and Lester sat in Lester’s house playing video games. “Odelarch,” Cody heard behind him. “Go to the bathroom. Leave your phone on the counter. We need to speak.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. He paused the game. Lester tilted his head. “What’s up, man?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
need to use the bathroom,” Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
okay. Did you uh, eat late last night
or--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. He walked away, leaving his
phone on the counter. He entered the
bathroom and locked the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What?”
Cody asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You’re
phone is bugged.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Your
cell phone. It has a bug. It’s been recording everything you’ve been
saying around it while it’s on. We’ve
not been able to tell who the information is going to, but you need to be
careful not to bring up any sensitive information around it, okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Um,
okay.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good. That is all.
Speak with Bavandersloth after school tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul went away. Cody stood up. He went back into Lester’s living room. He sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
okay, man?” Lester asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next day, after school, one of Bavandersloth’s souls called Cody to the
library. Cody walked to the library and
went in. “You asked for me?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
Bavandersloth said. “Come with me to the
back room.” Cody obeyed. Bavandersloth closed the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
your phone on?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good. What opportunities might someone have had to
bug it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. “Let’s see, basically any time
I’ve been charging it I guess. That’s
when I’ve been away from it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “Where do you normally charge
it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Either
at my house, Cherie’s house, or Lester’s house.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
scratched his chin. “Hmm. Has there ever been an incident where you’ve
noticed something odd about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
that I can think of. By the way, I’m
usually at least in the building with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked up. “I see. When have you not been?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
thought. “I left it at home when I went
to school one time, and I left it at Cherie’s house…” Cody’s eyes widened. “I left it at Cherie’s house the day she
found out what I was.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But
she couldn’t have bugged it. She wouldn’t
know how.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Probably
not; still, the possibilities are narrowing.
Well, that is all, I think. You
may go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
don’t seriously think that Cher--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
said you may go.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
clinched his fist. He nodded and walked
away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
stood as Cody walked out of the room. It
made sense for DIAPP to use Cherie as an informant. From the beginning, she was known to have a
connection to the Angel of Death. If
this organization wanted to fight him, she’s who they’d go to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
summoned a soul. “Yes?” it asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
need you to follow Cherie Lambert for me.
She lives at 6708 Carobwood Ave.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
master.” The soul flew off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
afternoon, Bavandersloth was playing a board game with Justin when his soul came
back to him. “Master,” it said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned to it. “What is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ms.
Lambert is definitely working for DIAPP.
I saw her go into their office.
She’s receiving training. She
seems to be working as an informant for them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
nodded. “I see. Go back to her. I’ll send some souls with you to keep an eye
on that office.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “With
all due respect master, there’s more.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked up. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “The
agent she’s working with is her father.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
“What? You’re sure?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Certain,
master.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
looked down. He turned back to the
soul. “Is that all?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Then
go back. I’ll send several more souls
after you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul flew away. Bavandersloth turned
back to the board and drew a card. He
realized he now knew where DIAPP was stationed, at least locally. He smiled.
As grave as the news of Ms. Lambert working for them was, it was nothing
compared to the advantage he had to gain from this knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned his mind back to the situation at hand and schemed. After a few minutes, he had the rough
outlines of a plan in mind, and after a few hours, he had it hammered out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Cody left his cell phone on the charger as he went out to feed. He sniffed for a fear. Before he could pinpoint one, one of
Bavandersloth’s souls approached him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked up. “What now?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come,”
the soul said. “Master Bavandersloth
needs to see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down and took a deep breath. He
followed the soul to Bavandersloth’s mansion and knocked on the door. Bavandersloth greeted him. “Come in,” he said. Bavandersloth led Cody to the great room. They sat down. “Gentlemen,” he said, “and in particular,
Cody, I have grave news.” Bavandersloth
looked at Cody. “I have already told you
about DIAPP I believe? That’s where the
exterminator came from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good
then.” Bavandersloth took a deep
breath. “Cody, I’m sorry to have to tell
you this, but I had a soul spying on Cherie today, and both she and her father
are working for DIAPP.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “They…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
sorry Cody.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He shed a tear. He clinched his fist. He took a deep breath. He looked up, eyes wet. “Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Her
father seems to have worked for them for some time. As for Cherie, it is impossible to know.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. “I see.” He closed his eyes, shedding another tear. “She’s probably doing the right thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Listen,”
Bavandersloth said. Cody looked up. “You need to keep your emotions in
check. This could be a major blessing
for us. We now have a means by which to
feed them false information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
wasn’t a question, Cody. I already have
an idea in mind. We can only do this
once before it will become clear that we’ve discovered the leak.” Bavandersloth looked down. “Normally, that’d make me want to save the
opportunity.” He looked back up. “But not in this case. I’ve thought it through, and I know exactly
what I want to feed them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next night, Thanksgiving, Cody rushed to Cherie’s house well after 11:00 p.m. He knocked on the door. Cherie’s mother answered it. “What is it?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
panted. “I need to come in. I need to see Cherie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
mother called her. Cherie ran to the
door, her eyes wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He clinched his fist. He took a deep breath. “We need to talk in the basement,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
and Cody rushed downstairs. They sat on
the couch. “What is it?” Cherie asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He took a deep breath. He looked back up. “Bavandersloth is planning to attack the Midnight
opening of the mall tonight, the one that’s in less than 10 minutes. He told me just now. He said he planned to eat everyone there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
eyes widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Liches
get more power with each soul they eat.
He said he’s nearing a threshold.
He only needs a few hundred more souls before he can cast a mind control
spell powerful enough to affect people basically by thinking about them.” Cody looked down. He shed a tear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
sat, mouth open. Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you telling me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath. He put his hand on
Cherie’s knee. He gulped. “Bavandersloth spied on you,” he said. “I know what you’ve been doing, with DIAPP,
with your father.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
gasped. She looked down. “Cody, I--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
shed a tear. “It was the right thing
Cherie.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked up at Cody. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
hugged Cherie. “I can’t help you win,
Cherie, but I want you to. You should be
siding against us, and against me. It’s
the right side to take. I wish I could
take it myself.” Cody sat back. He looked up, his face wet with tears. “You’re doing the right thing, Cherie, and I
want to help you however I can. I want
to help you stop me from hurting anyone else.”
He looked down. “But I can’t do
that. ” He looked up. “Whatever I can do, though, I want to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
nodded. She hugged Cody back. They kissed. She stood up.
“I’ll go call my father.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
nodded. He cried as she ran out of the
room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
rushed to her telephone. She dug into
her pocket. Her father had given her an
emergency number to call in situations just like this. She dialed the number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Her
dad picked it up. “Hello, Cherie?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Dad,
that Bervandersloth guy is planning an attack on the Black Friday midnight
opening.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
dad gasped. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody
told me he just found out. He said
something about Bavandersloth being about to get better mind control powers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> There
was a pause. “Thank you, Cherie. You’ve done well.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Thank
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Did
he say what kind of force they’re coming with?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father sighed. “Alright. Is that all?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked down. She shed a tear. “He knows everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Excuse
me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “About
what we’ve been doing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
father didn’t speak for a minute.
“That’s unfortunate,” he finally said.
“We can deal with that later though.
I love you. I need to work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert ran from the phone and into the office.
“We’ve got a possible attack on the mall in five!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> An
agent’s eyes widened. “Five?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. Five minutes.
Is there an exterminator on standby here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
another agent said. “There are two
actually.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
want missiles aimed at the parking lot of that mall. If a lich shows up and you can get a clear
shot, fire immediately. Get those
exterminators over there as fast as possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert sat down. He took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
approached the mall, invisible. He walked
to the edge of the crowd and waited. He
looked around. After a few minutes, he
saw two exterminators on motorcycles pull up.
He smiled. One of the
exterminators took out a megaphone and spoke.
“Attention,” she said, “by order of the United States government, clear
away from the mall.” The humans in the
crowd turned around. One of the
exterminators fired a machine gun into the air.
The people screamed and dispersed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. He activated his cloud of
darkness. “Are you two here about
me? I think there’s some kind of
misunderstanding.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Lower
the cloud and put your hands in the air.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Woah,
take it easy. I can’t lower the
cloud. There are security cameras
around, and seeing my true form could harm someone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Comply
with the order or you will be shot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Go
ahead. Bullets won’t do anything to
me. But as I said, there’s no need
anyway. I’m not here to hurt anyone. One of my healing friends and I are here
because a few people are normally trampled to death at each of these
things. I was cloaked because I didn’t
want to show off my smell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
said comply. This is your last chance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
laughed. “And who are you to order me to
do anything? I recognize your
suits. You’re from the same organization
that crime lord stole her equipment from I suppose? I’ve been curious about you. Your suits seem perfectly designed to target
the weaknesses of our kind.”
Bavandersloth looked around. He
saw someone recording the event with their cell phone. “But I wonder if it’s really us you’re after,
or if it’s something else that you’re mistaking us for, something similar, with
perhaps similar weaknesses. Indeed, I worry
that it might be that the only--” Bavandersloth heard a sound above him. He saw a small missile. He gasped.
He rolled out of the way, activating his shield as the missile hit,
breaking his shield and blowing a hole in his chest. Bavandersloth cloaked himself. The Exterminators rode their bikes after
him. Bavandersloth smiled and dashed
away. He cast his cloud and turned
visible. He looked behind him. One of the bikes was gaining on him. He stopped and smiled. “Look, surely we can make an arrangement. Don’t the dozens of lives I’ve saved testify
to my benevolence? I think you think I’m
a dev--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Exterminator blasted his flamethrower at Bavandersloth. Bavandersloth smiled. He turned around. The woman with the camera was still holding
it. He turned toward her. He fell forward. He rolled, but the exterminator blasted him
again. Bavandersloth smiled as the
flames consumed his form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
Fox stood in front of the mall. “Ladies
and gentlemen, I’m standing in front of the West Coast Plaza where just moment
ago, a woman recorded this footage in which the Angel, Light-rook, who’s given
multiple interviews for Channel 4, is apparently struck with multiple blasts
from flamethrowers by figures resembling the one he lured to St. Joseph’s
Memorial Hospital. The connection of
this incident with that one is so far unknown.
However, one of Light-rook’s companions, an Angel identifying himself as
Orichalcum, has agreed to comment on the subject tomorrow morning. Please remember to tune in for that when it
happens.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
carried Bavandersloth’s phylactery, a feather quill, downstairs to the
basement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “How
exactly is this all going to work?” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “As
soon as I set it down, that is, when it’s stable, Bavandersloth’s phylactery
will begin the process of constructing him a new form. That process will take about thirty
days. While he’s down here, his souls
will instinctively reanimate any nearby corpses and use them to protect him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “Wait, thirty days? And he won’t be--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Precisely. When Bavandersloth awakens, he’ll be
starved. He’ll wake in his frenzy
state. The only way to bring him down
from it is to feed him thirty souls, at which point, a sort of countdown will
begin, and he will frenzy for about six more hours before he calms down. We can make the first part easy by having
thirty humans waiting for him, but the second part will be harder.” Valthakar clinched his fist. “Even I will have to be inventive to keep him
in here. He’ll have no rational thought. He won’t even be able to speak and he’ll
happily decay away this entire mansion to escape.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
looked up at Valthakar, eyes wide. “Are
you sure you can do it, like, contain him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
looked down at Justin. “If anyone can,
it’s me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,”
Violet Fox said. “And welcome once again
to Channel 4 news at Noon. We’re here
today for an exclusive interview with an Angel requesting that we call him
Orichalcum.” She turned to
Valthakar. “First, where does that name
come from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “It’s a metal. It was supposed to be produced by
Atlantis. I was brainstorming for a name
and it was the best I could come up with.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
nodded. “I see. So, we’re all very concerned about the loss
of--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let
me stop you right there. Light-rook
isn’t dead. He’ll heal in a month.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
eyes widened. “What”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’ll
heal in a month. It’s just a matter of
waiting for his… for his body to be restored.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,”
Violet said. “Well, a lot of the
questions I was going to ask pertained to--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ll
be leading the pack around here until he’s back, if a crisis comes up. We might try to avoid any big operations
until then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see.” Violet looked down. “Do you have any comment on the men who
killed him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “We believe them to be part of a
government task force of some sort, a kind of men in black, if you will. The truth is that we’ve suspected such a
thing existed since before we went public.
You see, there are other supernatural creatures besides us.” Valthakar looked down. “And many of them are malevolent to
humanity.” Valthakar looked up. “In fact, one of them is a sort of evil
counterpart to our kind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
eyes widened. “Oh…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “They’re
called devourers. I’ll spare you the
reason why. They act and smell a lot
like us, but there are a few key differences.”
Valthakar took a deep breath.
“One feels sorry for them, actually.
They’re more or less forced to be the way they are. Still, what they are is harmful.” Valthakar looked up. “We, the creatures you call Angels, are their
rivals.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
mouth was wide. “I see. Is there anything--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’d
rather not say any more until Light-rook returns. I’m not sure what all he’d want me to tell
you. The wrong information, about both
good and evil, can harm a human mind.
That is part of the reason we cover our forms. They’d damage a human psyche.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
nodded. “I see.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
interview went on for another several minutes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next day, Cody showed up at Cherie’s door.
She opened it. “Hi, Cherry,” he
said, smiling. Cherie slammed the door
in his face. Cody knocked. “Cherie.
Cherie. C’mon, Cherie, at least
give me a chance to explain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cherie opened the
door. “You have five seconds.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth
made me by threatening to kill you and my parents.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
eyes widened. She stopped, looked down
and took a deep breath. “Come in,” she
said. Cody entered. He followed her down to the basement. He sat down on the couch. Cherie sat next to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “All
of those things I said to you Cherie, about wanting to help people, about
wanting to stop Bavandersloth’s plan, about wanting to help your side, that was
all true.” Cody hugged her. “You mean everything to me, Cherie.” Cody looked down. “I’m the bad guy here, I know that.” He looked up.
“And I know it’s my fault.” Cody
shed a tear. “You have no idea what that
feels like.” Cody clinched his
fist. “But I’m not making any excuses
for myself. I say I want to stop
Bavandersloth,” Cody looked down, “stop what I’m being forced to help him
with,” Cody looked back up, crying, “and I mean it.” Cody put his hand on Cherie’s knee. “I’ll do whatever I can to make up for the
help I give him.” Cody looked down, and
then back up. “And hopefully, I can die
when this is all over. I won’t be able
to make that happen, but I’m sure DIAPP can beat me in a fight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
shed a tear and hugged Cody. “I
understand,” Cherie said, “and I believe you.”
She took a deep breath. “I want
to help you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
hugged her tighter. “Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
sat in her dad’s office. Her father
looked down. He looked back up. “I’ll definitely want to accept any help he
can give…” Cherie’s father looked down. “I don’t think we can trust him though.” He turned around. “After all, we just did, and now the public
knows about us, more or less.” He turned
around. “I mean, they don’t know what
we’re called, but they know…” he looked down.
“They know too much.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know,” Cherie said. “Of course we can’t
trust him.” She looked down. “But maybe we can find some other use for
him?” Cherie shed a tear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Like
what?” Cherie’s father asked, sitting down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
took a deep breath. “I’m not sure. Maybe as a double agent. He could perform a surprise attack on them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert looked up. “Yes, he could.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie
looked down. “Dad,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
Cherie?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you really think we can win this thing?
Against this Bavandersloth guy I mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert took a deep breath. He looked
down, and then back up. “I think we
can,” he said. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t
be trying. If we will or not, that’s
another question.” He sat back. “And it’s one I don’t know the answer
to.” He put his hand on his daughter’s
shoulder. “But I do know this: We will
do everything we can. We are the
protectors of humanity.” He looked
down. “The protectors of the vulnerable;
of the weak.” He looked back up. “Of prey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In
a frosty chamber in the underworld, a beast slumbered. With each snore, it chilled its
surroundings. All but the most magical
of life was unable to enter his chamber and share the company of those
unfortunate souls doomed to it for purgation or damnation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
ground shook. A soul fled a falling
icicle. The creature sniffed and
snored. A stalactite fell on him from
above. He stirred. He sensed an aura. He looked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Master?”
he asked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
my pet,” he heard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
creature stood. He kneeled. “Oh, how pleasant it is to hear your
voice. I thought that usurper would
forever--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Silence!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
creature bowed. “Yes, my lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
a task for you. I need you to rise,
travel to the realm or mortals, and visit a small planet, and I need you to
cool it. Cool it until it is dead. Cool it until there is not a single living
thing there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
will be done, my lord.” The beast bowed
lower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
ground shook. The beast retreated away
from a stalactite. “This is the most
important thing you will ever do, understand?
That world’s destruction is the key to ending my imprisonment.” The shaking stopped. The beast stood. “My servants need act there if I am to be freed. The things living there now,” the ground
shook again for a moment, “the soulless ones in particular, they may stand in
my way. In order for me to succeed, it
would be best if I were to simply destroy the life there, and with it, that
which preys on life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
beast bowed. “It will be done, my
lord.” A door from the chamber
opened. The beast spread its wings and
flew into the vast cavern of the underworld, looking for a portal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In
the middle of the night, Cody stood up from his bed to hunt. He went outside. “Odd,” he thought, “it feels colder than
usual out here.” He ran, sniffing for a
fear. He found one. He ran to its source, another back alley
mugging. He stopped it, and paralyzed
the perpetrator. He headed for a
hospital. As he exited the alley, he
looked up. Something was falling from
the sky. He squinted. “Is that… snow?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/07/angel-of-death-112-people-need-fear-no.html">Last Entry</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> </span><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/07/angel-of-death-114-cold-snap.html">Next Entry</a></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-32568304812379338362014-07-13T20:40:00.002-07:002014-07-20T23:37:01.607-07:00Angel of Death 1.12 The People Need Fear No Longer<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mia
stumbled out of <i>The Jackal</i>, leaning
on the man she’d been speaking with all night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “C’mon,”
the man said. “I’ll drive you home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mia
chuckled. She looked up at him. She took a step. She fell forward. She looked around. She’d tripped off of the curb and hit her
head on the man’s car. She felt
something warm on her forehead. She put
two fingers on her head then moved them into her line of sight. Her head was bleeding. The man helped her up. “Go on in,” he said. She turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
dunno,” she said. “Mayb… may… maybe I
should call a--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come
on,” the man said, hoisting her up. She
stepped into his truck. She looked at
the dashboard and saw some pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Who’s that?” she
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man paused for a
moment. “Wife and kids,” he finally
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mia squinted at the
pictures, and then back at him. “Those
kids look a little old to be yours.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m older than I
look,” the man said. He drove
forward. Mia took a deep breath and sat
back in her seat, holding a tissue to her bleeding scalp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mia
came to in a basement. She looked
around. Her eyes widened. She was under the light of a dim, swinging
lamp. She looked around. The stairs in front of her were rusty. She could see broken glass in one
corner. She looked up. There was a small window near the ceiling. She tried to stand. Her arms and legs were bound to the bed. She felt a bead of sweat rolling down her
face. She heard a laugh. She jerked.
Her gaze snapped to the source of
the sound. The man she’d walked out with
stood at the top of the stairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
stepped down the stairs as she struggled.
She yanked on the ropes. “You can
keep on that M’Lady,” the man said. “It
won’t do you any good.” He smiled as he
approached her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Please
don’t hurt me,” Mia shouted. She shed a
tear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man slapped her. “Shut up.” He reached to his side. Mia’s eyes widened. She screamed.
The man held the needle of a tattoo machine in his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hold
still,” he said. He moved her head to
the side, and placed the needle against her neck. He drew the outline of a butterfly, and then
filled it in with dark blue ink. He put
the machine aside. He smiled as he
reached for a table. Mia jerked on the
ropes. The man picked up a serrated
knife and pressed it against the tip of her toe. He rubbed the knife back and forth, cutting
into her. The woman screamed, tears
streaming down her face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Blue Butterfly’s knife slid across the last of his victim’s flesh. He finished his final cut. He smiled.
She was all diced up. The Blue
Butterfly grabbed the pieces and threw them into a pile. He turned and picked up his special piece, a
bit of her skin, off of the table. He
placed the strip of skin he’d tattooed on top of his pile. He chuckled.
It was all ready for the media to find.
He turned to get his machine and dragged it upstairs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Our
top story tonight: three more victims
were found throughout the residential area of the Northwest District. Police now estimate that up to fifty murders
have been committed this month by the Blue Butterfly Killer.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
police man came onscreen. “We’re doing
everything we can to find this guy. We
have units out in the Northwest district.
It’s just a matter of time before someone stumbles across him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
reporter spoke again. “Despite these
assurances from the police department, citizens of Goldfalls are less sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> A
woman holding a child came onscreen. “To
me, it doesn’t really seem like they’re going to catch him any time soon.” The camera cut to a shot of the Northwest
District while the woman’s voice played.
“I think unfortunately if it was as easy as they’re saying, then why
haven’t they got him by now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Goldfalls
police have refused to comment on how the killer has evaded surveillance. In the meantime, many of the people of
Goldfalls will simply choose to stay inside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
report went on for several more minutes before the news went to
commercial. Cody’s mother muted the
Television.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
seems like just a few weeks ago we were all scared of the Angel of Death,”
Cody’s father said. “Now we’ve got another
one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know what you mean,” Cody’s mother said.
She bowed her head. She took a
deep breath. “Lord, protect us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Are
you still sure of going shopping tonight?” Cody’s father asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
mother nodded. “There’s no other time to
get it done. I’ll be working or sleeping
the rest of the week.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
lay back on his bed, reading. He reached
the end of a chapter. He marked his
place and picked up his phone. He called
Lester. He waited a few moments for
Lester to pick up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,”
Lester said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hey,”
Cody said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
are you calling?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
want to do something about this Blue Butterfly guy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’ve
been wondering when you’d say that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well
I’ve not been sure what I could do that the police couldn’t that didn’t involve
using… you know what.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Have
you thought of something?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. That’s why I’m calling you. I need to think of something, and I need to
think of something soon. I haven’t seen
this town so afraid since Valthakar was killing.” Cody looked down and took a deep breath. “I feel like a cat that can’t protect ants
from mice.” Cody clinched his fist. “I’m the one who can do something; in theory
anyway. I need an idea before I can do
anything in practice, and you’ve had some to spare in the past.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Lester
sighed. “I don’t know. I mean maybe you could try to figure out
where he’s getting his people from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can’t keep track of that efficiently without using souls. Do you have any idea how many bars, grocery
stores, malls, restaurants, and other places he could be picking people up from
that are in this city?.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
is there any way you could narrow it down?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Not
that I’ve thought of.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
about distance? Every body’s been found
in the Northwest district. If he’s
killing a few people a day, he has to be taking them from close by, right? I mean, he’d have to abduct them, drive them
over, tattoo them, and chop them up into little bits, times three, every
night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sat up. His eyes widened. “That’s true.
He can’t be more than a few miles away from the Northwest district. Still, that leaves a lot of options. How can we be sure where he’s taking them from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hmm…
How often are you guys around that area?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “About
as much as anywhere else. Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh. I was just wondering if you could smell the
fear of the people as he took them away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood up. “Wait. No, maybe not as he’s taking them. But as he’s killing them,yes. That’s it!
I could go down to the Northwest District tonight. It’d only take me a little while to smell
something.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah,
probably. But wait; didn’t you smell
that exterminator girl from across town?
Why haven’t you smelled one of those fears already?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
smell was amplified to attract us.
Anyways, thanks man. I owe you
one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No
problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
hung up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
and Justin hunted near the Northwest district.
They smelled several fear trails leading to a convenience store. They neared it. Cody looked inside. He saw two masked men robbing the store. The cashier was handing them money. Cody and Justin burst inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
robbers looked at them. Their eyes
widened. Cody pounced on one of them,
paralyzing him. Justin dashed over to
the other, doing the same. Cody stood up
and turned around. People were running
out of the store. Cody approached the
clerk. “They’ll be able to move again in
a few hours,” he said. “Do you mind
getting the police to come pick them up?”
The clerk stared at Cody.
“Ma’am?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hold on,” Justin
said. He approached her, put his hand on
her. “Her shock doesn’t look too bad,”
he said. “It should go away in a few
minutes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody sighed. “Get the phone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin nodded and went
outside. Cody looked at the woman. “I’m sorry,” he said. She clinched her fist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin walked in with a
pre-paid cell phone. He handed it to
Cody. Cody took it. He dialed 911. “Hello, 911, what is your emergency.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Hi. This is the Angel of Death. I’ve got two people paralyzed in the 711 on
Almond. They’ll wake up in about seven
hours if you don’t get down here.” Cody
hung up. He and Justin left the store,
sniffing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody’s eyes
widened. He picked something up. “I think I smell something,” Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Me too,” Cody
said. It was coming from the northwest
district. They ran after it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody smiled as he
entered the Northwest district. It was
his favorite part of town, at least aesthetically. He clinched his fist and followed the smell. It let him to a small house on one of the
abandoned streets. Cody trudged through
the long grass. He went inside the
house. He sniffed. He looked around for a staircase. He heard humming. His eyes widened. “Hide,” he whispered. Cody scrambled under a table. He took his human form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody saw a man’s feet
come into view. The man stopped on his
way to the basement. He sniffed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody tilted his
head. The man stepped closer. Cody’s eyes widened. The man bent down. He looked at Cody. “Hi there,” he said, smiling. “Who are you?” Cody moved backward. The man bent under the table. “I have a friend downstairs,” the man
said. “Would you like to join her?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody crawled out from
the other side of the table. He stood
up. He saw Justin pounce on top of the
killer behind him. Justin plunged his
scythe into the man’s torso, and pulled it out.
Nothing came out. Justin gasped. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The killer turned
around. He stood. Cody took his true form. The killer followed suit. Cody’s eyes widened. “You’re a lich?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin ran after the
killer. Cody jumped over the table,
planning to pursue. The scent of fear
from the basement intensified. Cody
looked down. He took a deep breath. He went downstairs. He saw a woman, tied up and unconscious. She turned to him. “Help,” she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody rushed to her and
made the ropes around her limbs decay away.
He helped her up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you okay?” he
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The woman panted. “I think so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
rushed after the lich as it ran to a car, got in, and sped away. Justin stretched out his hand and fired a
blast of magic at the car. He hit a
tire. The car flipped. Justin ran toward the car. The other lich burst out of it and hurried
off. Justin jumped over the car and gave
chase. The two ran for a while with
neither one gaining on the other. Justin
stopped. He shifted into his human form,
reached into his pocket, and got out his phone.
He called Bavandersloth as he retook his true form and ran after the
lich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bavandersloth,”
Justin said, firing a magical blast at the killer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
is it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Cody
and I are out getting the Blue Butterfly Killer. Long story, well, it’s not really that long
of a story… point is, he’s a lich.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
gasped. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “He’s
one of us. I’m trying to chase him, but
I’m not catching up very fast. I’m
shooting at him, but it might be a while before I can land a shot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hold
on.” Bavandersloth didn’t speak for a
moment. Justin fired another magical
blast at the killer, to no avail.
Bavandersloth spoke again.
“Alright, I got his entry in the book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Werorgorlok,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A Lich of Murder. A
creative lich. He haunts his home,
searching for mortals to dismember. He
thinks of his acts as a form of artistic expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth mumbled
as he read on. “It says he has the power
to hide himself and objects around him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That must be how he’s
escaped the cops.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Probably. Are you close enough to retrieve his
phylactery?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin tried. “Not quite.”
Justin fired another shot. He
missed. He put the cell phone in his
pocket. He rushed forward and fired
another shot. He missed. He looked ahead. The lich was about to run by a car. Justin stopped and looked at the car. He stretched out his arm. He aimed, and hit it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The gas tank exploded,
knocking Werorgorlok away. Justin rushed
to him. Werorgorlok was on fire. The lich rolled, trying to put it out. Justin willed Werorgorlok’s phylactery to
appear in his hand, and it did. He
pulled out the phone as he ran way.
Werorgorlok chased him, but Justin had his shield up. Justin called Bavandersloth back. “I got it,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Good,” Bavandersloth
said. “Does he know you have it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t think so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Find a way to alert
him to that fact.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin nodded. He stopped.
He put up a shield. He held up
the phylactery, a blue marble. He
dropped it to the ground and, inside his shield, pointed his hand down at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Werorgorlok’s eyes
widened. He stopped. He put his hands up. Justin grabbed the phylactery and held
it. He let down his shield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Who are you?” Justin
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m a lich, like you,”
Werorgorlok said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin clinched his
fist. “I knew that. Why were you killing those humans?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Werorgorlok
smiled. “For fun and art. Why else?
What do you care? You do it too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I save people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“And you kill as
many. Have you ever asked a soul what
it’s like to be eaten? I have. I love listening to their stories, over and
over again. Before I found the book, I
used to think I’d tape my kills when I finally worked up the courage to start
them, but now, there’s no need.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin gritted his
teeth. “Liches are supposed to be crime
fighters. We save people. We’re the protectors of humanity, of good
people. We’re not killers.” Justin held out his arm, pointing at the
Phylactery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Werorgorlok stepped
backward. He smiled. “There’s gotta be a whole bunch of you,
right? There must be rules? There’s no way you’re allowed to just--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’m allowed to take
this thing to someone who is.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Werorgorlok looked
down. He grumbled. He looked up.
“Fine, then. I’ll come with you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin’s eyes
widened. “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll come with you. I’ll follow you back to him. We can work things out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin stared at
Werorgorlok. He called Bavandersloth
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes?” Bavandersloth
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“He wants to come and
see you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Should I lead him to
you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“No. I’ll come over there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin nodded. “Okay.”
He looked up at Werorgorlok, keeping his hand pointed to the phylactery. “He’s coming here,” Justin said. Werorgorlok smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
opened his car door as he arrived. He
stepped out. He approached
Werorgorlok. “Greetings,” he said. “My name is Bavandersloth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
took a deep breath. “Hey,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let’s
get straight to business. According to
my friend over there,” Bavandersloth gestured toward Justin, “you’ve been
violating the conventions of our community.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
didn’t know about any--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know. That’s why you’re not dead. Nonetheless, allow me to elaborate upon the
eighth convention. It’s the newest, and
the one you have been violating.” Bavandersloth
got out a sheet of paper. He cleared his
throat. “Liches shall not engage in
unnecessary malevolent behavior towards mortals except with the permission of a
member of the community trusted to give such permission, or in circumstances
where there is no reasonable way that these malevolent actions will ever be
known of by the general public. Feeding,
both for sustenance and power, the transference of affliction, and other things
which require the ending of human life, shall be done with criminals,
dictators, or other persons perceived by the general public as negative and
whose lives will not be mourned by the general public.” Bavandersloth looked up. “The fact that it is not immediately obvious
by your killings that you are one of us does not matter. You are killing mortals whose deaths are not
welcomed by humanity, and in doing so, are harming our ends. You may do whatever you want with mortals you
have captured, so long as they are among those who will go unmissed, and you
dispose of the evidence of their suffering.
But you may not risk hurting our reputation if the mortals of the world
discover that you are one of us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
killer stood. He looked Bavandersloth in
the eye. He smiled. “You’re serious?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Completely.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
killer laughed. “I never expected the
guys who eat souls to be such goodie goodies.”
He took a step toward Bavandersloth.
He crossed his arms. “Look, I’m
an artist, okay? I can’t just make these
pieces and hide them, or even destroy them, and I can’t use people who no one
cares about.” He stepped back, and
spread his arms out. “It’d have no
impact, man. No spice. Good stuff’s gotta have a certain punch to
it.” He chuckled. “It’s like a saying I’ve got. Anything can be art, so long as it’s got that
special punch. Nothing can be art if
it’s not got it. I’m not messing with
anything you’re doing. You can still
hunt for people you don’t like, and no one’s going to figure out that I’m a
lich like you.” He looked down. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll start leaving some phony evidence behind
to make it look like there’s some way I’m getting in here that makes
sense. How about that? No one’ll have any reason to suspect that I’m
a lich.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I’m
not here to ask you for your opinion on the conventions. I’m here to enforce them. Will you play ball or not?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
killer looked at Bavandersloth. He
laughed. He took another few steps
back. “Look, I’m sure you’ve got a good
reason for your conventions, okay? But I
think we can work something out.” He
stepped forward. “I do this because it’s
who I am, okay? I can’t just not
work. Could Batch just stop making
songs?--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bach.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
killer laughed. “Whatever, man. The point is that this is who I am. You’re asking me to stop it just because of
some old traditions?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
walked up to Werorgorlok. He grabbed his
tattered blue T-shirt and pulled him closer.
“Stop that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
killer laughed. “What do you me--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
know your type,” Bavandersloth said.
“I’ve dealt with it before. You’ve
wanted to kill for years. You fantasized
about it. You dreamt of it. But you were always too much of a coward to
do it. All of the sudden, a book comes
along and you realize you can be the perfect killer, or so you think.” Bavandersloth tilted his head. “Am I on the mark? I bet I am.
I’ve lost count of the number of people just like you who become
liches. The difference is that most of
them are smart enough to listen to reason when I approach them. So let me make this clear. There are two options here. You either play by our rules or you die. That’s it.
There’s no compromise. There’s no
talking your way out of it. There’s only
death and submission.” He blasted
Werorgorlok with a small burst of magic.
Werorgorlok flinched. “And your
charm won’t work on me. I’m not a human,
and I’m not like a human.” He fired
another burst. Werorgorlok gritted his
teeth. “I’m something else. I’m something better. Better at thinking, and better at
accomplishing his ends.” Bavandersloth
threw Werorgorlok to the ground. “So
I’ll ask you again. Yes or no? Are you going to play ball? If not, you can have a free trip to the
underworld; see the source of your powers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
stood up. He looked at Bavandersloth,
eyebrows bent. He took a deep
breath. He looked down. “Can I think on it?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “If you want to, sure, you may
think about whether or not you want to die.
However, if it were me, I must say, I don’t think there’d be much to
think about.” Werorgorlok grumbled. Bavandersloth got out a piece of paper. “And by the way, while you’re thinking, you
may as well look over the other conventions as well, just to make sure we don’t
have any other problems.” Bavandersloth
handed the paper to Werorgorlok.
Werorgorlok took it. “Those rules
are binding. Follow them, or you will be
killed. It’s as simple as that. If you’ve anything to say to me, call the
number on the bottom of the page.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
seethed. “Fine,” he said. “Give me back my phylactery and I’ll think
about it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Actually
we’ll be keeping that for ourselves for now, just to keep you in line.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
clinched his fist. He sneered. “Fine.”
He disappeared as he walked away.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth walked
over to Justin. “Where is Odelarch?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t know. Last I saw him, he was with the woman the
Blue Butterfly was gonna kill.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Clark
ran past the cops in his car. He
smiled. He was completely
undetectable. He took a right and
circled around them for a few minutes.
He laughed. They were oblivious
to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Eventually,
Clark ran back into the Northwest District.
He looked around for a parking lot.
He found one on the coast, outside of a place called <i>Fishy Joe’s Marina</i>. He smiled as he looked at the place. It was a small building made of rotting wood
and smelling of dead fish. The windows
were all broken, and the door ajar.
Clark couldn’t resist entering.
He went inside, carrying his copy of <i>On
Soulless Ones</i>. The scent of dead
fish and worms intoxicated him. The ugliness
of rotten wood brought him joy. He sat
down on the counter. He opened his book
to Bavandersloth’s entry, and willed to see other information below it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Bavandersloth,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A Lich of Manipulation. A clever lich. He uses clever strategies to bring about his
own interests. He gains satisfaction
from the pursuit of knowledge. He has
trained himself to be rid of emotion on a whim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Soul count: 175,443.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Unique Powers: The moving of decay on written material, the
moving of the false beliefs of mortals, the theft of knowledge from both the
living and the dead, and the implantation of false beliefs in mortals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Phylactery: A feather quill.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He turned the page, now
willing to see the information on the other three liches in Goldfalls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Odelarch,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A Lich of Guardianship. A protective lich. He fights on behalf of the mortals of his
world, defending them from each other and other liches. He can give and take life, often moving it in
the way he finds most efficient.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Soul Count: 130<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Unique Powers: The migration of Illness and the migration
of injury.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Phylactery: A cube-shaped puzzle toy. Called a ‘Rubick’s Cube’ on his world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Tkoralkiarch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A Lich of Ideals. A
Naïve lich. He goes about the world
fighting for his ideals. He is young,
and does not comprehend moral complexity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Soul Count: 79<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Unique Powers: The migration of Illness, the migration of
injury and the summoning of phylacteries when standing sufficiently close to a
lich’s form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Phylactery: A sphere consisting of a wooden core and
surrounded with a layered fabric casing.
It is intended for sport, and the name of a well-known athlete is
written on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Valthakar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A Lich of Abandoned Dreams. A pessimistic lich. He once fought to preserve life, but has
fallen into despair. His will has been
bound to Bavandersloth’s command, and he serves him. Though he serves his master; he does not
personally care much for the struggles of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soul Count: 4,390,562<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Unique Powers: The throwing of balls of flame, the freezing
of liquids, the liquefying of gasses, the production of electricity from the
hand, the firing of a powerful blast of air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Phylactery: A piece of decorative clothing consisting of a
string and several pearls.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Clark’s
eyes widened when he saw the last one’s soul count. His jaw dropped. He turned to the book’s Q&A page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“How
old is Valthakar?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Slightly
more than 12,000 years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clark sat for a moment, mouth
open. He took a deep breath. He sat for several minutes before going
outside. He looked around to make sure
there were no police officers. He found
none. He approached the car he’d
stolen. He reached inside for the paper
Bavandersloth had given him. He carried
it inside the marina. He looked at it. It was a list of conventions; rules that this
Bavandersloth wanted him to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“1: The Convention of
Partial Public Ignorance: Liches shall not, intentionally or out of negligence,
engage in behavior which is likely to bring about awareness by the general
public of the appearance, dietary habits, or malignant history of liches. Nor shall they do the same for important facts
regarding the source of our magical powers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“2: The Convention of
Non-Revelation: Liches shall not alert mortals to the identities of liches
other than themselves, except with the consent of any such liches. Nor may they deliberately arrange
circumstances in which the identity of a lich other than themselves will
inevitably be revealed to a mortal, or in which the avoidance of such a
revelation requires the other lich to make an unreasonable concession, except
with the consent of all such liches. Nor
shall they reveal to the general public the identities of any liches
whatsoever, including themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“3: The Convention of
Regulated Contests: Liches shall initiate the settling of disputes only through
contests organized and approved by a third party who is considered by the
community of liches to be qualified to organize such a contest, and who does
not have any significant interest in the outcome of the contest. Any lich may challenge any other, though the
challenged party is only compelled to accept if the lich organizing the contest
recognizes a sufficient grievance, and if the offending lich either will not
agree to cease such behavior, or has already knowingly done such grave damage
that the offended lich has the right to pursue punishment. If, after making such an agreement, the
offending lich goes back on his word for any reason other than to prevent an
offense against himself he will be terminated without recourse. If he goes back on his word to prevent an
offense against himself, a contest will be held with the other party being
treated as the one challenged. The
challenged party will always propose the nature and rules of the contest,
though the contest’s final form must be approved by the organizer after he
hears any complaints about the nature of the rules by the challenger. Acceptable complaints include that the
competition is for some reason unfair, that it is decided to an unacceptably
high degree by chance, or that victory will inevitably come at an unacceptable
loss to either party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“4: The Convention of
Protected Mortals: The living friends and family of other liches shall not be
harmed, unless the avoidance of such a result would require an unreasonable
concession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“5: The Convention of
Limited Destruction: Liches shall not, intentionally or out of negligence,
cause mass destruction of life or property, whether by the engineering of
plagues, or natural disasters, or the setting of fires or any other means. Mass destruction is defined as destruction
sufficient to incur notice by the living in general, or to do significant
damage to mortal society or population levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“6: The Convention of
Non-Abandonment: In all cases, the community shall appoint a lich to investigate
the status of a lich who has fallen out of contact with the community for what
is, for that lich, a highly unusual amount of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“7: The Convention of
Community Enforcement: These conventions shall not be enforced except by agents
appointed by the broader community of liches. Such agents shall act as assigned by the
community, and be accountable to it. They
must disclose the actions they take while performing this duty in good faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“8: The Convention of
Superficial Benevolence: Liches shall not engage in unnecessary malevolent
behavior towards mortals except with the permission of a member of the
community trusted to give such permission, or in circumstances where there is
no reasonable way that these malevolent actions will ever be known of by the
general public. Feeding, both for
sustenance and power, the transference of affliction, and other things which
require the ending of human life, shall be done with criminals, dictators, or
other persons perceived by the general public as negative and whose lives will
not be mourned by the general public.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Clark looked at the
sheet. He held it to his side. He thought.
He would not abandon his art. He
opened his book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Would
it be possible to cloak myself, grab my phylactery before…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He left the page to look
up the youngest lich’s name.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “</span><span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Would
it be possible to cloak myself, grab my phylactery and get away before
Tkoralkiarch was able to summon it back?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Theoretically,
but not in practice. You’d have to be much
faster than you are to be likely to manage it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Clark
thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “</span><span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Could
I paralyze him somehow?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“You couldn’t. One
with more powerful magic could, but you couldn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Would
that include Valthakar?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What if I could somehow trick
Valthakar into firing on him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Freehand521 BT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“That could paralyze him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Clark
thought. Wait a second, there was no
need for Tkoralkiarch to be there at all.
He could just arrange a meeting between himself and Bavandersloth,
arrange that Bavandersloth brought his phylactery, and use his cloak to steal
it from him. He’d run off before
Bavandersloth could get him, and he’d go into hiding. He could start hopping from town to town. Clark smiled.
He picked up his book and pages and ran back home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When he arrived, he saw
a news report about one of his killings.
He smiled as he heard an interview from a terrified woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next day, Bavandersloth sat in his mansion, reading a book. He heard a call from one of his cell
phones. He picked it up. “Hello, this is Bavandersloth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
this is Werorgorlok. I’d like to meet
you by <i>Fishy Joe’s Marina</i> in the
Northwest District if you don’t mind.
Oh, and can you bring my Phylactery?
I’d like to have it back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
take it you’ve decided to follow the rules, then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
yes. Very much so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good,
then.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
drove to <i>Fishy Joe’s Marina</i>. He held a large marble in his hand. He waited for Werorgorlok to arrive. He stood outside, in the parking lot, a good
deal away from his car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> About
five minutes after he arrived, Werorgorlok approached Bavandersloth. “Hello,” Werorgorlok said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Hello. Sorry I took so long to arrive. I had business to take care of on the way
here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
I see. So, is there an oath I need to
swear or what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
just say you agree to follow the rules and I give you the marble.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
chuckled. “Fine then. I agree to follow the rules.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright
then.” Bavandersloth handed Werorgorlok
the marble. “That’s an interesting
choice of Phylactery.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
killer laughed. “Yeah. It’s supposed to be strategic. I got it at a toy store. There are thousands like it, and no one can tell
it apart from the others.” He looked at
Bavandersloth “Anyways, that’s really it?
We’re cool now?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
more does there need to be?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
smiled. “Nothing, I guess.” He paused.
“See you around I guess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “You too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
entered his car. He smiled. He shouted.
“Yes. Holy crap I can’t believe
he fell for that. He just gave it to
me.” He chuckled. “So much for being the lich of manipulation,
eh, Bavvy?” He drove off, intent on dumping
his car and running as far as he could to the Southeast for his next
killing. He could be in Texas in time if
he ran fast enough. Wait, he still had
to go back home for his tattoo gun.
Still, that shouldn’t take him too long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok
smiled as he entered his apartment for the last time. He grabbed his tattoo gun. He’d put the thing on wheels. It had to be plugged in to work, and he’d
lost his generator when he first met the other liches, but that didn’t
matter. It might also slow him down, but
he’d still be able to move a ways before he needed to kill again. He laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> About
twelve hours later, Werorgorlok was running.
He heard his cell phone ring. He
stopped. He looked at the Caller ID. It was Bavandersloth. His eyes widened. He took a few deep breaths. He clinched his fist. There was no reason to panic. After all, he had his phylactery. What was there to worry about?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
answered. “Hello?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,”
Bavandersloth said. “Where are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok’s
eyes widened. “Oh. I’m in my apartment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Really? That’s interesting. The souls I have spying on the place don’t
see you. Where are you? You have no reason to cloak yourself there
that I can think of.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok’s
jaw dropped. “You what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
a funny story really. You see, that
marble I gave you wasn’t your real phylactery.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok’s
breathing became heavier. His eyes were
wide. “It…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “See,
I know the typical advice you’ll hear from people is to make your phylactery
something common, like a pebble, indistinguishable from millions of others just
like it. Truth is, that’s not always the
best strategy. The problem is that while
it’s true that other people can’t pick your phylactery out from millions of
identical objects, neither can you.”
Werorgorlok’s jaw dropped. He turned
back towards Goldfalls and rushed in that direction. “See,” Bavandersloth continued, “this was a
test. I knew that there was a good
chance you’d try some method of taking your phylactery and just killing again
anyway, so on the way out to meet you, I stopped by a store and bought another
marble, presumably from the same bin you got yours from. I placed a few souls, some of Valthakar’s,
ones able to avoid Odelarch’s detection even after he knew about them, in your
apartment. It was easy to figure out
where that was. You drove your own car
out to the Northwest District, and of course, had to decloak yourself in order
to drive out into traffic. It was easy
to follow you home. Once there, it was
just a matter of checking each apartment in your complex for a tattoo gun. There were only a few hundred. Not hard when you have millions of souls to
search with. When you came back and your
tattoo gun disappeared, the way anything does when you use your powers on it, I
knew that you were taking it somewhere else.
From there, I just waited. I gave
you twelve hours to sell it, return to your apartment, or do anything else to indicate
that you weren’t skipping town to go on a killing spree. But, no surprise, you were.” Bavandersloth laughed. Werorgorlok clinched his fist and tried to
cry. “Now then, for remaining obstinate
in violation of the eighth convention, you are to be executed. And I just happen to have a tiny rock crusher
right here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Werorgorlok’s
eyes and mouth widened. “No,” he
shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
just gotta turn this little crank.”
Clark heard squeaking. He felt a
horrible pain in his abdomen. He
screamed. He fell down. He clinched his fists and gritted his teeth. He heard Bavandersloth laughing over the
phone. He couldn’t stand to get up. He let out a final scream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat across from Violet Fox at an interview table. “Hello, Goldfalls, we’re here in the studio,
once again speaking to Light-rook.”
Violet turned to Bavandersloth.
“Mr. Light-rook, we put out a poll asking twitter users what they’d like
me to ask you, and a surprising number of them wondered about your name.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “My
name?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
Light-rook.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “I like to play chess. That’s it really. That’s where it comes from. That, and the association with light as
goodness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Ah,”
Violet said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
chuckled. “By the way, I do have one
major announcement to make.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh? What?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
got the Blue Butterfly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
eyes widened. She gasped. “Excuse me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
got him. He’ll never kill again. My friends and I tracked him down. We wound up in a struggle with him, and he
unfortunately didn’t survive to face justice.
But nonetheless, the cessation of the killings should testify to what
I’m saying.” Bavandersloth turned toward
the camera. “The people of Goldfalls
need no longer fear him, thanks to us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
amazing. Who was he?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
didn’t recognize him, and his body wound up in the ocean. We battled in the Northwest District, near
the coast. We didn’t think to bother
going in after it. That’s our bad. Like I said, though, that we’re telling the
truth should be evident from the fact that the killings stop.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sat at home, watching the news. He heard
the phone ring. He picked it up. It was Cherie. “Is it true?” Cherie asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
laughed. “Yep. It’s true.
We did get him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cherie’s
mouth was wide. “Holy crap, that’s
awesome.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
smiled. “Yeah. It is, I guess.” He put his feet up and conversed with Cherie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Cody left his room to go hunting.
As soon as he changed forms, he was overwhelmed by several strong scents
of fear. His eyes widened. He rushed toward them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
ran up to a bank. He sensed fear trails
coming from both the inside and the outside.
He saw police gathered outside.
He turned around to leave. He heard
a scream inside the building. He turned
back around. He ran toward the
bank. He ran in front of the
police. He stopped. He turned around and looked back. They weren’t firing on him. He looked at them, tilting his head. One of the officers gestured for him to go
inside. Cody’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“How many are in
there?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Just one perp,”
another officer said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked at the
officer. He smiled. He turned around. He traced the building, looking for a good
spot on the wall to enter through. He
found one. The police still didn’t fire
on him as he made the wall decay away.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-indent: 0px;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/07/angel-of-death-111-felisha.html">Last Entry</a></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-indent: 0px;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0px;"><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/07/angel-of-death-113-deerward.html">Next Entry</a></span></div>
ThePuppyTurtlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18219247297093284910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9168141968243441014.post-89911403371951711822014-07-06T21:17:00.000-07:002014-07-20T23:39:54.473-07:00Angel of Death 1.11 Felisha<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert sat with his colleagues around a large metal table. They gave their attention to a plus-sized man
in a grey suit. “Welcome everyone,” he
said. “Thank you for gathering here
today. We’ve two things to discuss in
light of the new developments regarding the Angel of Death: what is being
planned, and how we must respond. Agent Lambert,
as the head of the East Coast subdivision, I’d like to hear your opinion on
this issue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert nodded. “Thank you, sir. First, let me state that I am very confident
that Bavandersloth is behind this plan.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What
makes you say that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
recently gave Cody Giles, the real Angel of Death, a bugged cell phone. Bavandersloth has been mentioned by name
several times during the boy’s conversations.
We have found his trademarks in the area. There is a secluded mansion perfectly meeting
the criteria for a standard residence of his not far outside of Goldfalls’ city
limits. Cody’s conversations make it
clear that he was the one who was initially sent by the community to respond to
the Angel of Death incident.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see. What do you believe his endgame
is? Or do you believe his public
statements about the community of liches’ intent to take on the Angel’s feeding
habits should be taken at face value?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
cannot be sure, sir, but I suspect that there is an endgame this. It is a big risk for the community of liches
to reveal themselves to the public, and the longer they stay revealed, the
greater the risk to them that their secrets get out. It’s not like Bavandersloth to stay in such a
risky situation for so long. I believe
he must have some long-term plan to remove the threat of public knowledge
altogether,” Agent Lambert took a deep breath, “which would likely entail
disaster for mankind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you have any ideas as to what he is planning?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Countless,
though none in particular stand out compared to others. Given that he now has three other liches,
including Valthakar, under his control, it’s difficult to discern what his long
term plan could be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see. Is that all you have to say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Agent
Lambert nodded. “Yes, sir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good
then. Sit down.” Agent Lambert nodded and sat. “Now, do we have any ideas as to what we
ought to do about these events?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We
could send in an Exterminator,” one of the agents said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
grey man nodded. “Yes, this does seem
like just the time for one. I move that
an Exterminator be sent to Goldfalls, CA to exterminate the Angel of Death,
Bavandersloth, and Valthakar.” The grey
man turned to Agent Lambert. “You
mentioned a fourth devourer?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,
sir. He’s been mentioned in several
conversations. His name is Justin
Cooper. He was an eleven year old boy
whose parents were killed one week ago, seemingly by Bavandersloth, judging by
Cody’s statements, though Cooper believes that Valthakar is responsible. He’s currently living with Bavandersloth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
see. Well then, I move that an Exterminator
be sent to exterminate all four of the devourers currently residing in
Goldfalls, CA. Does anyone object?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> An
agent raised her hand. “Sir, isn’t it
risky to put an Exterminator up against four devourers, including Valthakar no
less? If she is devoured, D.I.A.P.P.
could be exposed to the community of devourers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
grey man scratched his chin for several seconds. “You are right to call it a risk,” he said. “It is still, however, our best chance. Exterminators have won harder battles, and if
Agent Lambert is right, then Bavandersloth’s plan must be of a scope that
justifies risks much greater than this.
Are there any other objections?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> No
one spoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Very
well then. The motion is approved.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
dashed around the city, cloaked in darkness.
He smiled as he jumped around, sniffing for fear. It was a while before he caught a scent. He followed it. He found a man holding a gun to another man,
demanding his wallet. Justin smiled and
stood outside the alley. He crouched
down and pounced, tackling the man who held the gun. The victim ran away, screaming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
man Justin was pinning looked up at him, eyes wide. “Plea--” he began. Justin plunged his scythe into the man and took
out his soul. He ate it. He savored its taste for a second, and then
swallowed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
picked up on another fear trail. He
sniffed a few times. Something was off
about it. He wasn’t sure what it meant. He stood up and rushed over to its
source. As he neared, he saw that it was
leading him to the Northwest District.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
chased the trail, detouring from it to stop another crime along the way, before
entering the Northwest District. As he
entered the district, the brilliance of its decrepit nature struck him. He felt the cold wind on him, and smelled
salt in the air. He focused on the
trail. He walked. The decay in the area around him made him
smile. It was marvelous. The trail of fear led him to an old house in
the district. He approached it. He heard noise coming from inside. It made him cringe. Was that classical music? Justin fought the urge to cover his ears as
he reached out, turning the knob and opening the door. He looked inside. His eyes widened. He saw a single figure. It was covered head to toe in strange tiles
that flashed in bright colors. Justin
gagged at their beauty. The figure
turned toward him. In its hand, it
grasped a hose of some sort. It was
connected to a large tank behind the figure’s back. Justin’s eyes widened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
leapt backwards as a burst of flame came out above him. He scrambled to his feet and ran away. After a few seconds, he heard a motor
starting. He turned around to see the
figure riding after him on a bike with the same flashing lights as the suit. Justin rolled aside as another burst of flame
came from the figure’s hose. The bike
overshot Justin, who shot a magical burst at the figure. It missed.
The figure turned the bike around and looked back at Justin. He scrambled away from another burst of flame
as the bike zoomed toward him. He fired
several magical bursts backward, but was unable to hit the figure. He could never bear to look back on the
figure’s flashing lights for too long.
The classical music made it hard for Justin to focus. He heard the flamethrower burst right behind
him. He raised his shield. The flames passed around it. He raised an eyebrow. He stopped in his tracks, keeping his shield
up. The bike swerved around the
shield. As it passed next to him, Justin
pounced on the bike. Its rider fell off
and rolled aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
picked up the bike as the figure pointed their flamethrower at him again and
fired. Justin rolled under the flame,
going downhill toward the beach. He
hugged the bike and made it decay away before the figure reached the hilltop
above him. Justin ran forward and to the
right, evading the flamethrower. Justin
ran down the beach and into the water.
He swam out. His true form was
buoyant, and he had a hard time forcing himself below the water. He swam to the end of a large dock, and dove
down, hugging the beam that supported it.
He waited. He looked up as he
heard the figure approaching. He saw it looking
down at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
figure pointed the other hose down.
Justin’s eyes widened. He
scrambled down the supporting beam. The
water above him froze. Justin shimmied
downward to evade the freezing water. He
saw a fish above him freeze in place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin heard a splash
behind him. He turned around. He saw the figure in the water. It held out a hose in its left arm, and the
water in front of it froze. Justin
rushed away, swimming for the shore. He
stepped out, dripping onto the sandy beach.
He ran forward. He heard the
figure chasing, but it was unable to catch Justin without the motorcycle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
next day, after school, Bavandersloth approached Cody as he walked toward the
bus. “Cody, I need to speak with you,”
he said. Cody turned around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “About
what?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come
with me. I’ll explain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stood for a moment then followed Bavandersloth to the back room of the library. Cody closed the door behind him as he entered. “What is it?” Cody asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
took a deep breath. “Last night, Justin
was lured to the Northwest District and attacked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened. “What? By whom?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’re
not sure, hence the urgency. We don’t
think it was Pretty Pink Ponytails, though even that is uncertain. I’ll call your mother and make up an
excuse. You must come to my mansion
immediately for a meeting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
four liches sat around the coffee table in Bavandersloth’s great room. Valthakar took a sip of wine. “Thank you for gathering here, everyone,”
Bavandersloth said. “As you are all
aware why I have brought you here, I shall cut to the chase, so to speak. Tkoralkiarch, please tell your story to all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
I was out hunting last night, and I smelled a fear. It was kinda funny though. Now that I look back on it, I think it was a
bit off; like it didn’t smell just right.
Anyways, I followed it, and it led me to this one human. He was all covered in sparkling pieces of
glass, like tiny screens. It was really
hard to look at. He was playing ugly
music too. As soon as I went into the
house where he was, this was all up in the Northwest district by the way, he
shot a flamethrower at me. I ran away,
but he followed me on a motorcycle. I
was eventually able to get a hold of it and make it decay. After that, I ran into the ocean. I tried to hide underwater, but he saw me and
jumped down. He shot something
else. It wasn’t the flamethrower. It made the water in front of it freeze, like
really fast. I barely got out, but
without his motorcycle, he wasn’t able to chase me, so I ran away.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
took a deep breath. “Gentlemen, if this
account is true, I fear something formidable is against us. The Selechii syndicate would not have the
resources to be behind such an incident as this. In particular, they’d be unlikely to have
access to large supplies of liquid nitrogen, or an equivalent, which this human
must have to make the water freeze as Tkoralkiarch describes. What we are facing is much grander.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do
you have any idea what it might be?” Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “My
first guess is the United States government,” Bavandersloth said. “We’ve always thought we’d managed to hide
ourselves from the governments of the world, but it seems we might have been
wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That
probably is it,” Valthakar said, laying back.
He laughed. “What do you propose
we do? I could send my souls out to
search for things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin’s
eyes widened. “No.” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
leaned forward. He smiled. “Not all of them, little one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
worry that that will accomplish little,” Bavandersloth said. “By the time they’d find anything, we’d have
already acquired and eaten this pursuer.”
Bavandersloth smiled. “Speaking
of which, that is my plan. I hope to
gather together to attack the figure. I believe
that between the four of us, it might be possible to devour them. Once we have, we need only wait until they
have been digested and interrogate them as to their origins.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded. “That sounds good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I agree,”
Valthakar said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned to Cody. “Odelarch, what say
you?” he asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Is
there any way not to eat them?” Cody asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No,”
Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
took a deep breath and looked down. “Do
I have to help?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
wouldn’t you want to?” Justin asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
closed his eyes. He took another deep
breath. “If you’re right, this person is
basically innocent.” He looked up. “I mean, look at us. We eat people. I’m not surprised if someone wants to kill
us.” He looked down. “If I wasn’t a lich, I’d want to kill them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
put his hand on Cody’s shoulder. “Hey,
c’mon man. We’re helping people. I remember what you said about not taking
eating people lightly, and I don’t, but I also have to be willing to do it for
the greater good.” Justin took his hand
away. “If we leave this unchecked,
someone might stop us from helping people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down. He heard Bavandersloth
grunt. He looked up. Bavandersloth held a baseball in his
hand. He gestured toward the fireplace
with it. Valthakar chuckled. Justin turned around. Bavandersloth stopped moving his hand. “Oh, hey, don’t you think we should leave
that here?” Justin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
I was going to,” Bavandersloth said. “It
is your phylactery after all.” Bavandersloth
looked at Cody. Cody’s eyes
widened. He looked down. “Also,” Bavandersloth said, “I think you told
me you had an engagement with Ms. Lambert you needed to get to.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
clinched his fist. He took a deep
breath. He looked at Bavandersloth. “Fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good. So, tonight, let’s all hunt as a unit, and do
so every night until Justin recognizes the unique scent he detected. Then, we shall chase down this figure and
devour it.” Bavandersloth looked at
Cody. “Oh, and Odelarch, may I speak
with you privately for a moment?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
gritted his teeth inside his mouth. He
pressed his lips together. “Alright,” he
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
pulled him aside. “Here’s a fun piece of
information for you,” he said. “Whenever
a potential existential threat to the community of liches comes into being, the
conventions are suspended.” Cody’s eyes
widened. Bavandersloth grabbed Cody’s
shirt. He seethed. “If you stand in the way of all our lives, I
have every right to take Cherie, your mother, and everyone else you care about,
and kill them.” He let go of Cody. “But if this one human, who tried to murder a
child, means more to you, go ahead.”
Cody shook his head.
Bavandersloth smiled. “That’s
what I thought.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> That
night, Cody snuck out of his window and met up with the others near
Bavandersloth’s mansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Here
is how it shall go,” Bavandersloth said.
“Valthakar and I shall remain invisible.
Odelarch and Tkoralkiarch shall remain cloaked. All of our noses shall contribute to our
hunt, though I shall make final decisions on who we target. Each night, we shall rotate who eats first. Tonight, Tkoralkiarch shall have the first
meal, then I, then Odelarch, then Valthakar.
Tomorrow, I shall go, then Odelarch, then Valthakar, then Tkoralkiarch,
etc. We shall continue this each night
until we come across the figure Tkoralkiarch described. As soon as we do, Odelarch shall approach
them and lure them out. When they
emerge, they shall have the other three of us to contend with. Are there any objections?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
do I have to be the bait?” Cody asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Because
you’re the one who isn’t invisible, but whose shield will likely still be able
to stand up to just about anything they’ll likely have.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
sighed. “Fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
four hunted in that matter for four days without incident. On the fourth such night, it was Valthakar’s
turn to eat first. The four ventured
out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
caught a specific fear trail and the four followed it north. They came across one man beating
another. Valthakar became invisible and
ran up behind the assailant. “Now, have
you--” the assailant began, speaking to his victim, his fists covered in
blood. Valthakar ripped his soul out and
devoured it. The victim’s eyes widened
as his perpetrator fell to the ground.
Valthakar allowed the victim to run off as he left the perpetrator’s
body behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
Valthakar returned to the group, Justin sniffed the air. “I think that’s it,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
raised an eyebrow. “You mean the scent
you caught--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yeah. I think this is it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Let’s follow it then,” he
said. He turned to Valthakar. “Can you smell it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
Valthakar said. “I think I know what the
boy is talking about. It’s coming from
the Northwest district, and it does smell just off of the normal scent of fear.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Can
you lead us there?” Bavandersloth asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,”
Valthakar said. He ran. The others followed him into the Northwest
District. Valthakar stopped them when
they neared St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital.
“It’s coming from inside the hospital,” Valthakar said. “Relatively high up, in fact. I’m not sure how we’ll all advance without
the figure noticing. I think it best if
Justin hangs back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. It is not wise to split up,” Bavandersloth
said. “Not for him, at least. Perhaps you, Valthakar, could go without us. Simply remain invisible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Let
me first send a soul to scout the location out,” Valthakar said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright
then. Send one,” Bavandersloth said. Valthakar summoned a soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What is it, master?”
the soul asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Go up to the seventh
floor of the hospital two blocks from here.
There should be an armored figure.
Inspect them. Learn everything
you can about them in a few minutes and come back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Yes, master,” the soul
said. It flew off. The four stood for a minute, waiting, before
the soul came back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What did you see?”
Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“The figure was alone
up there, in a hallway. She’s wearing
strange armor, and carrying a flamethrower in her right hand, and another hose,
connected to a tank of a cold liquid in her left. There’s lovely music coming from her suit.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Was there anything
that could indicate a trap?” Valthakar asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Other than her, no.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Very good. You are dismissed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The soul nodded. “Thank you, master.” The soul flew off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll go up,” Valthakar
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Come back the instant
something goes wrong,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Valthakar nodded. He headed off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
was silent as he walked toward the hospital.
The parking lot was overgrown, as was the path leading up to the
entrance. Valthakar went inside. He took the stairs up to the seventh floor. He was careful that the rusty stairs didn’t
collapse under him. When he arrived on
the seventh floor, Valthakar looked around.
He saw most of the windows broken.
There was a bird’s nest on a windowsill, where a young bird and its mate
slept. Valthakar crept by them. He approached the figure. It was scanning the area around it. Valthakar smiled. He approached the figure, his scythe at the
ready.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
figure faced him. Valthakar didn’t
slow. The figure stopped rotating. Valthakar advanced for another few seconds
until his eyes widened. A shower of fire
erupted from the figure’s hose.
Valthakar dove aside. The flame
spewed behind him. He heard the birds
fly away. He looked up as the figure
launched liquid nitrogen onto him. He
tried to jump out of the way, but the nitrogen froze his legs. His eyes widened. He struggled.
He looked over as the figure prepared the flamethrower. Valthakar put up his shield. He waited inside, summoning a soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Go
alert the others to get away,” Valthakar said.
“Tell them that this person can see us when we’re cloaked.” The soul nodded. Valthakar stood underneath the shield. He turned to the figure. He smiled.
“You’re never getting past this,” he said. “It’d take centuries for my shield to break
if it were submerged in lava, let alone due to your flame.” He looked down. “Then again, that also means you can’t hear
me,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
stepped back as one of Valthakar’s souls neared. He looked up.
“Valthakar is cornered,” the soul said.
“He said that the person attacking him can see liches when they are
invisible.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth’s
eyes widened. “What?” Bavandersloth turned as another soul
approached from the south. It was one of
Bavandersloth’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Master,” it said,
“Your mansion is on fire.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth
gasped. His jaw dropped. He turned to Justin. “Justin, summon your phylactery, now.” Justin nodded. The baseball teleported into his hand. “Odelarch, yours is at your house, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Justin, you have to go
up there,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“What? But if that thing can beat Valthakar--”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“If it can beat
Valthakar, then all the other liches in the world combined won’t be able to
stop it unless you save him, and that means getting close enough to get his
phylactery back from the house. Odelarch
and I will come with you. We should be
able to just stay behind our shields and be fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Justin gulped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The three hurried to
the hospital. They rushed up the stairs
to the seventh floor. They donned their
shields as they entered the stairwell.
As soon as they opened the door, a shower of Liquid nitrogen came down
upon them. Cody heard the music from the
figure’s suit. He cringed. Justin ran forward. The figure looked at the other two liches
before turning around and launching Liquid Nitrogen at Justin, making his
shield flicker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody ran at the figure,
and was able to crash into them with his shield. The figure flew backward. After a moment, the figure stood up and
ran. Cody and Bavandersloth pursued,
Cody knocking the figure back again. The
figure stood and reached behind its back for something it had strapped to its
shoulder. It pulled the object, a long
metal cylinder, out and fired at the ground beneath Cody and
Bavandersloth. A grenade came out of it
and exploded on impact with the ground, making the floor crumble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody and Bavandersloth
fell through the floor to the level below them, and crashed through it to the
level below that. Cody’s shield
popped. He stood up and dashed away,
expecting grenades to rain down on him.
Instead, he heard more explosions above him. The figure had probably blown up more of the
floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“That explosion would
be powerful enough to destroy Justin,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cody looked up. “Crap,” he said. “Justin has his phylactery on him, doesn’t
he?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bavandersloth’s eyes
widened. “Yes.” He punched a wall. “Damn it.
I forgot it was there. How could
I let him carry it into battle?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
ran from the figure as it shot grenades at him.
Each one made his shield flicker.
He clutched his baseball. He ran
forward. Before long, he saw Valthakar
in front of him. He was inside a shield,
frozen to the ground. Justin ran up
beside him and willed his Phylactery into his hand. He got it.
He held the necklace. He felt
another explosion. His shield went out
for a second when it hit. He raised his
shield back up. He ran around a corner. He looked around. He saw an elevator shaft. He smiled.
He approached it and ripped its doors open. He jumped inside, hearing a grenade follow
him in. He looked up. He saw the elevator higher in the shaft. A grenade was shot downward, toward him. It broke his shield as he left the
shaft. He ran outside the hospital,
passing a rusty wheelchair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> As
soon as he got outside, he turned around to see the figure grappling downward
with a hook affixed to the roof of the hospital. Justin sped up. He saw that the figure was heading toward a
new motorcycle. It was too dangerous to
go back for it. Justin sped away, eyes
wide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
lowered his shield as the figure went away.
He looked back on the lower half of his body. He looked forward. He closed his eyes and gritted his
teeth. He planted his hands on the floor
below him and pushed with all his might.
He felt the skin around his waist stretching. He closed his eyes. He took a few deep breaths. He pushed again and, with all of his
strength, ripped the upper half of his body from his frozen legs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> He
took a moment to gain stability on his hands.
He felt an intestine trialing behind him, but no pain. He walked on his hands, his torso swinging
back and forth. He went to a window and
climbed up to its sill. He saw the rope
the figure was grappling down on. He
smiled, and grabbed it in his hand, making it decay away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
heard a crash behind him. He turned
around to see the figure’s grappling rope cut.
He saw the figure stand up off the ground. It walked.
It looked down at its feet. It
had a limp. The figure looked over at
their motorcycle and limped to it. They
mounted it and sped off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
and the Angel of Death ran outside of the hospital. They approached Justin. “Summon Odelarch’s phylactery,” Bavandersloth
said. “The figure might go after it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
nodded and called the Angel of Death’s cube to appear in his hand. He handed it to the Angel. “Are we sure he won’t come back?” Justin
asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
ran away because it was injured,” Bavandersloth said. “Unless that was an act, it’s not coming
back.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
good,” Cody said. He took a deep
breath. He looked up. “So how do we get Valthakar down?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
walked over to the hospital. “Come
down,” he said. “It’s safe.” Bavandersloth took several steps backwards as
Valthakar activated his shield and dropped down inside it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
walked over to Valthakar, picked him up and carried him to the others. They looked at Valthakar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’ll
grow back,” Valthakar said. “You can
bring me food until then. For now
though, you have a more important question to think about. How are you going to kill that thing?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
have an idea,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthakar
smiled. “You always do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That’s
why I always come out on top, even against you.” Bavandersloth turned to the others. “It will require a few days to put together, but
I’m very confident that this will work.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
entered the news studio and approached the receptionist. “Hello,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
receptionist’s eyes widened. She rolled
her chair backward to the wall. “Mr.
Angel of Death,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “An
associate of his, actually,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh. Well, what is it you want? Do you want to schedule an interview, too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Eventually
I will, but that is not why I’m here now.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh. Why are you here now then?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “To
give you this,” Bavandersloth said.
Bavandersloth handed the receptionist two envelopes. “I am going to take newsworthy actions
later. The exact nature of those actions
is revealed in the message in the blue envelope, which you are to open and read
on air at 11:00 PM. The second envelope
must not be opened until later, when I instruct you to do so. When I do, please open it and read both of
the pages inside. One of them is written
on notebook paper. The other is not. The one that is not written on notebook paper
is to be read first, and the other is to be read second. Your network is free to hype this up as much
as it wants, but you must not open either letter so much as a second earlier
than requested.” Bavandersloth handed
the receptionist another sheet of paper.
“Here are the instructions written down just so you’re sure to remember
them. Do you understand everything I
just said?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
receptionist sat speechless for a moment, mouth open. She shook herself out of a daze. “Uh, sure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. “Thank you.” He walked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
ran to the others. “Ah, at last you have
arrived,” Bavandersloth said. “All
things are ready. We shall now get into
our positions. Justin, I hope you’re
ready to play your part?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
took a deep breath. “Yeah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good,
be off then. It’s time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
ran off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
did his best to stay out of sight as he approached a Laundromat. He looked around. He saw a woman. She was looking at her watch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Another
customer turned to her. “Is there a
problem?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh,
I just ma-- Justin burst into the Laundromat through the door, but was careful
not to break it. He grabbed the
woman. She screamed as he carried her
outside and ran off with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
ran with the woman back to where the others were. “Got her,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Good,”
Bavandersloth said. He looked at a
pocket watch. “It’s about time,” he
said. “Let’s head over to the hospital.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
was 11:00. “And with that,” Violet Fox
said, “it’s time for us to read the Angel’s first note.” The media had taken to calling all liches
‘Angels.’ Violet opened the letter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "French Script MT"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Hello,
Channel 4. By the time you are reading
this, Some friends and I have ki[napped a woman by the name of Sarah Rogers. One of my friends is holding her on the
basement floor of St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital in the Northwest
District. Should the police, or any
vigilante, or anyone save a very special, very flashy person who knows who they
are, come in an attempt to rescue her, her knowledge will be stolen and she
will be killed. If our special someone
isn’t here by 3, she will be interrogated and killed. It is recommended that Channel 4 news spread
this message as widely as possible, to ensure that it reaches the special
someone I have in mind. Yours truly, <i>Light-rook</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet’s
eyes widened as she looked up at the camera.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she said, “I don’t know what to make of
this. Remember that there is still the
second envelope. It may well shed light
on the issue. Until then, I suppose one
of our interns is busy calling the police.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
Exterminator’s eyes widened as she saw the broadcast. Her jaw dropped. Hadn’t the devourers been trying to set up a
better image for themselves?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
turned off the television and went to her room to suit up. Either way, there was a person in danger, and
she had to save them. This was obviously
a trap, but she might be able to handle it.
She said a brief prayer as she strapped on her armor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
news and police were gathered outside.
Cody stood in front of the door, holding them back from entering the
building, and ignoring questions. Why
did these people feel the need to run up to a serial killer guarding a hostage
and ask him a question?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody’s
eyes widened as he saw the figure appear behind the crowd. He looked at it. The news-people murmured and turned around to
see the figure. It put aside its
motorcycle and walked through the crowd.
As it did, several reporters shoved microphones in its face. “Who are you?” asked one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Why
do they want you here?” asked another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
figure stopped and stood, taking a deep breath.
Cody raised his eyebrow. The
figure turned to the reporters. She shed
a tear. “I am a protector; of people, of
humanity, of all of you. They want me
because they’re what humanity needs to be protected from.” She turned her head and looked into a camera. She clinched her fist. “Never, ever believe anything they say to
you. They are your enemies. No matter what good they do for you, they
will always be your enemies. Never trust
them. Never obey them. They don’t murder to help, they murder
because…” she looked down. She turned
toward the door. The reporters stormed
her with follow-up questions, but she ignored them, heading straight into the
building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Felisha
entered, clad in her armor. She raised
her flamethrower, preparing herself for a fight. She walked downstairs. She came out of the stairwell and entered the
basement. She looked out. She could see a devourer holding the woman
who’d been taken inside a shield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Felisha
turned on her radar goggles to check for invisible liches. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She hyperventilated. She turned for the door, but a devourer
stepped in front of it and eclipsed it with his shield. Felisha stumbled back. She turned around. There were hundreds of devourers down here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Felisha
pulled a gun out of a holster and pointed it at her head. A devourer grabbed her arm. “No, no,” it said. “We can’t have that.” Felisha felt the gun being ripped out of her
hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Bring
her over to Rngwellokt,” one of the devourers said. Felisha looked up at him as she was dragged
through the pitch black room to another devourer. She jerked, but it availed her nothing. She was presented to another devourer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
my dear lady,” it said. Felisha’s eyes
widened. “Silent type I see. Oh well, may as well do my work.” The devourer made a shield form around
Felisha’s tanks. They phased through her
hoses. The devourer left a small hole to
the side, which led to a long tube of magical energy. Felisha felt light headed. She gazed, sweating, as one of the devourers
positioned its hand over the tube. It
fired in, and the hole was pinched before the magical blast could hit Felisha’s
tanks. They exploded, but their force
was contained inside the shield. Another
devourer came up behind her to and took the tanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Felisha
was led over to the devourer who’d spoken before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,
well, aren’t you interesting?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> She
spat at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh, how rude. Oh well, I suppose you’ve figured out there’s
nothing about your fate that can be changed.”
The devourer prepared its scythe.
Felisha tried to wriggle away.
She failed. The devourer sunk its
scythe into her and scooped out her soul.
It clutched her in its hand. It
held her up to its face. “I’m going to
savor you,” the devourer said. It tossed
her in its mouth and chewed. Felisha
tried to scream in pain as the devourer’s teeth crushed her. It did savor her, chewing for what felt like
a few minutes before swallowing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Justin
and the woman stepped outside of the shield.
They took the stairs back up and outside. Bavandersloth followed behind. He turned to the cameras. “Open the second envelope,” he shouted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Violet
Fox grabbed the second envelope form her lap.
She sorted the papers inside.
“It’s some kind of legal document,” she said. She gasped.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I, </span><span style="font-family: "Edwardian Script ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Andrea Jones</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">, consent to be lifted and
carried to the abandoned and legally enterable St. Joseph’s Memorial Hospital
at 11:00 PM on the evening of November the Thirteenth, Two-thousand-thirteen,
and remain in its basement for up to several hours. I understand and accept that numerous false
threats will be made against my person.
I state that I am fully aware of the baselessness of these threats, and
understand that they are made because it is necessary that a certain appearance
be presented to the public; and in particular to a specific individual.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Violet looked up at the
camera, her mouth wide. She gathered her
composure and moved on to the other page.
It was a note.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Edwardian Script ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“To the members of my family and to the
public, I have recently agreed to accept $10,000 in order to assist a group of
Angels in attracting a major crime lord.
I allowed myself to be ‘kidnapped’ while notes accompanying the incident
and presented to the press identified me as a high-ranking criminal whose
identity the Angels had uncovered in the course of their investigations. The theory, which you will know the accuracy
of by the time you read this note, is that the crime lord will believe that my
capture was a threat to the security of sensitive information and attempt to
rescue me, doing so herself because of her belief that she was uniquely
qualified to combat Angels with equipment thought to be stolen from the United
States government. To ensure I wasn’t
identified by the press, I left my home after curling my hair and dyeing it
blonde. I apologize to any persons whom
I have upset, but between the money and the knowledge that I might save
countless lives form this criminal, I couldn’t say no to the arrangement. I beg the forgiveness of all those to whom I
have caused distress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Edwardian Script ITC"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Sincerely, Andrea Jones.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Reporters
ran up to Bavandersloth and fired off questions. “All inquiries can be answered at a later
time,” Bavandersloth said. “In the
meantime, I must attend to business. We
believe that the crime lord we just apprehended recently committed an act of
arson, and intend on restoring the house which was burnt. Fortunately, it was unoccupied at the time.” Bavandersloth walked away from the hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Sir,
what do you have to say to the comments the individual made before entering the
building?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
turned around. “Probably an attempt at
revenge against me for foiling its plan.
Either way, I assure you, there’s no truth to what she said. I am your friend, as are most of my kind.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Cody
looked down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
reporters attempted to follow Bavandersloth but he, Cody, Justin, and
Valthakar, ran off, traveling off-road to prevent news vans from following
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">*****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I
can’t thank you enough, Vathurlaken,” Bavandersloth said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It’s
no trouble,” Vathurlaken said. “In fact,
I enjoy it. That old hospital deserved
the damage much more than this beautiful mansion. It was a worthy trade to move this building’s
decay to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well
I think you, nonetheless.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Valthurlaken
nodded and ran off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled as he stepped into his newly restored mansion and into its
basement. He turned out the lights, and
summoned the most recent soul to emerge from him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Greetings,”
he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hello,
master,” Felisha said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Tell
me, who are you working for? Who sent
you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The
soul tried to cry. “The Division for the
Investigation and Appropriation of Paranormal Phenomena.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
raised an eyebrow. “The what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
is a branch of the United States government responsible for dealing with
paranormal entities. Primarily, we
combat supernatural threats to human life and liberty. In theory, our mission is just as much about
finding practical use for inert paranormal forces, but so far as I am aware, no
such thing is yet to reveal itself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
smiled. He lay back, chuckling. “That’s very interesting. What can you tell me about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It
has existed since the nineteen-fifties.
It is, at all times, led by a figure called ‘the Grey Man.’ ‘The Grey Man’ is a title, not a single
person. I was an ‘Exterminator.’ I’ve killed several devourers, that’s what we
call you, in the past. I was not told
much about the organization, because it was known that this exact scenario
could happen, and I would be pressed for information.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
chuckled. This was very
interesting. Any organization that had
evaded the community’s notice for this long must be formidable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Bavandersloth
sat up. He reminded himself that he had
quite the fight ahead of him. If his
plans were to succeed, it would be best if he were to totally destroy this
organization. Barring that, he needed to
take some action to end its threat. He
looked up at the soul. She tried to shed
a tear as he thought about his next question.
Bavandersloth smiled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/06/angel-of-death-110-everything-i-ever.html">Last Entry</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </span><a href="http://xhawk77x.blogspot.com/2014/07/angel-of-death-112-people-need-fear-no.html">Next Entry</a></div>
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