Dave's Home- Dave
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"I am coming with you tomorrow. And that is final" My wife Kathy said to me.
"I don't want to have you anywhere near this. It could be dangerous. The kid is an idiot with a list of crimes as long as my arm in just a week. Not to mention the possibility of Tyler being right... about anything... it could be much worse" I had broken down crying over dinner and confessed everything. Every single insane thing I had seen or been told. She had been kind enough not to laugh at me or call me crazy, but she was concerned. And now after hours at the table with the food going cold in front of us untouched she was finally taking back control of the conversation.
"If half of what you've been saying is true our best possible defense is 'that idiot child'. Besides. I have a lot to offer and the winter charity circuit hasn't started yet. I'm your free agent for the next 3 weeks at a minimum. I know everyone, probably even a few lizard people if I dig deep enough. I've always had my concerns about Karen at Veracorp." She said with a knowing smile. She was right. As much as I hated it. She could help, not just with the problem, but with me as well.
"Besides, someone has to keep you from lapsing into fits of dramatic melancholy when things get hard." She said with an exaggerated swooning movement as she fell backwards towards me. I was knocked back from the table and we tumbled together to the floor. She turned and looked me in the eyes and continued "Just like when you started your firm, remember? You were a wreck for weeks. But, you saw the opportunity, you analyzed the data and acted to make yourself a name; at the exactly. right. time." She said while poking me in the chest before coming in closer.
"I love you" I said. I meant it. I wanted to keep her safe. I wanted to keep her near me. The two opposites were at battle inside me.
"I love you too. Now do the smart thing and tell me I'm right" she said to me
"You're right" I said back
"And you know it. Now go get ready to onboard that whale captain Ahab. Starbuck will be waiting for you when you are done." She said, referencing my favorite comfort novel Moby Dick. She takes some heavy liberties with the source material. But I find I don't mind.
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Unknown location on the world of Vahin
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one.. two.. threefour. one.. two.. threefour.
The off beat tapping of metal on metal announced the return of the torturer. He takes his time walking to the cells. I think he enjoys the anticipation before the cutting starts almost as much as the act itself. He has the same smile arriving as he does in the thick of it.
Once I imagined myself strong enough to resist such men. I had been cured of that delusion. I had told everything I knew. And once that was gone, I started telling pretty lies I knew he wanted to hear.
one.. two.. threefour. one.. two.. threefour.
"Little wolf, little wolf. How have you been. Ssssleeping Ssssoundly?" He asked as he got to the door of my cell. I held my tongue. No need to give out information freely.
It wouldn't stop the pain from coming
He unlocked the door with his key, keeping hold of his fire poker/ music maker. Cold tip today. Wonderful.
"You lied lassst time we ssspoke. The young knight is sssstill misssssing. We burned a whole ccccity to check. Very naughty little wolf. You will be punisssshed." He hissed at me. Getting close enough to my face to breath on me.
I closed my eyes in shame. I had tried claiming ignorance, he had tortured me more. I gave names, he kills innocents we should have protected, and tortures me again. I have no options.
Save one.
I whisper sweet nothings too quietly for him to hear. Bating him to come closer. Looking weak and helpless. It is more true than I would like, but I have enough strength for this.
The ear comes away from the torturers skull with a tearing noise that sounded almost musical after all that had happened.
The fire poker jerked through me below my jaw.
Wherever you ran to Verdandi, keep running. And when you get there, avenge us.
Kill them all
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Gracja - Nearby incorporated world
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"More cities and towns go dark every passing day on Vahin. The attack seems to have originated from Lugaid-Polyxene" The councilor from a further continent on Vahin said to the assembled noblemen and court hangers on. The room was thick with tension.
"Is there any chance the lord regent of the fort has simply... decided to make a claim? It would not be the first time such an upstart has stepped beyond his station." A minister said placatingly. That would be a tragedy still, but not the same. I would not have called for such an audience if this were a local trouble.
"Not unless the lord wishes to rule over ash and corpses" I said in reply. Lugaid-Polyxene may not have been well liked, but he was no dark seeker. He would not have done this. And all assembled knew it.
Scouts had provided captured obscuras of the countryside. The minsters and councilmen had seen them. This was dithering to put off the necessary discussion of action. If Vahin were to fall to incursion than this world would almost certainly be next.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The wizards court spokesman rose. All heads turned to him. "Our court has observed the selllyrd reports and the obscuras of the countryside. Do you swear by their authenticity?"
"As much as one can in the fog of war my lord. These scouts are members of my house and loyal retainers to the last."
The wizard sat and re engaged in hushed conversation with his brothers and sisters. 3 acolytes were sent running out of the room on an urgent task.
"The incorporated worlds have been at peace for an age." The highest ranking minister and Daewongun(father of the king who has never been king himself) to the king himself stated from his position at the front of the room. With the king absent off world, he was king in all but name. "What would the Lugaid-Polyxene have possibly done to provoke such an attack. The last dungeon war cracked worlds."
"That may be just it your eminence." An older man from the wizards court said. It was a major breach in decorum to have any one other than the speaker address the room, but none dared call out a wizard.
"What have you seen Urre?" the Daewongun asked
"The forest here. Burned, yes. But that was not what destroyed it. The fire came later, from the invaders" the older wizard said to the room, holding the obscura for all to see
The informed among us knew immediately what that meant. Knew, and hoped beyond hope we were mistaken.
"Tell me." the Daewongun demanded. He knew just as well as the rest of us. Confused babbling of the lesser lords and idiot sons of nobles started in the hall.
"The forest shows all the signs of formation. Formation of a brand new and powerful core."
Silence reigned
I remembered the rhyme from my childhood.
twenty four and twenty four, life’s worth we explore
twenty four and twenty four, when the world is no more
A distant memory, free days we adore.
And as we dream, our spirits will soar,
In this endless dance, we ask for no more—
Just to live, to love, twenty four and twenty four
No more.
No more balance. This wasn't just an inclusion anymore. This was an end to the old balance that kept both sides in check.
"Minister! Can you hear me!" the Daewongun shouted at me. I came back to the room.
"Apologies your eminence." He waved me off and asked the question again
"Do your scouts believe the invaders are still active in the area?"
"Very, sir. All of the returning reported patrols, and 3 did not return."
"Then there is likely time. We must pray the core has not yet been found. That Lugaid-Polyxene and his knights either successfully ran with it or hid it. We cannot know which, so we must prepare for either. I want a scout sent to every world Lugaid-Polyxene would have been in contact with, and all the others besides. Call your banners, and prepare. War is coming."
Everyone, including me, made haste to act. Although I expect many a man was just trying to look busy. My holdings were closest to the incursion, just a continent away. It would fall on me and my house to coordinate the movement and feeding of troops. I would need to contact my sons, the quartermaster, our off and on world trading partners, the wizards court and so many others. I began to head to the message room. Travel would be needed for the more sensitive tasks, but the simple work can begin immediately. I just need to contact my underlings.
In the sudden shift in activity I barely noticed the prick of the needle into the short haired portion of my arm. When I thought to turn and look, no obvious suspects presented themselves. Lords and ladies, knights and servants. Passing this way and that with no rhyme or reason to it. All hurrying to nowhere, but doing it fast.
I didn't even have a chance to call for help before the darkness took me.
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Obsidian Crest Capital - Denver Office - Melvin
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"So.. Melvin. Let me just... summarize... what you said in 45 minuets of rambling, incoherent excuses." Mr. Woodhaerst said with barely contained contempt.
"You were told to acquire an asset, an income generating asset, for your portfolio to make up for your MONUMENTAL FUCK UPS, on multiple occasions." He continued going from zero to one hundred and back down in record time. "And you almost did it. You found a golden fucking goose. And then lost it, to a high school drop out garbage man, that managed to outsmart you. You have a nearly worthless contract and a pittance of cash on from a billion dollar business, and you want me to pull your ass out of this fire with my five thousand dollar an hour team of lawyers. Am I on track so far?" He finished, gesturing to me for a response.
I gulped and nodded.
"Well. I think this project is worth pursuing. Melvin. In fact, I think it's the only thing you are going to be pursing. I am revoking your trading access immediately. We don't want that tiny little portfolio to distract you from what's really important, do we Mr. Stein?" He asked turning to my boss's boss seated next to him.
"We do not." Mr. Stein replied in a grim monotone. You do not want to deal with Stein. He was Mr. Woodhaerst's 'guy'. Firings, sure. But everyone knew there was more to it.
"And since this project is so important we will have Mr. Stein monitor your progress, won't you Mr. Stein?" He asked
"Closely" He said in the same monotone. Not good.
"I want a solution on my desk next Monday. 4 days. Or I take your father's trash heap as compensation for your funeral costs. Get the fuck out of my office"
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Vail Police department
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"I am telling you man, there was a werewolf out there that messed me up. He was doing the bidding of this demon, the demon was holding a baby. You have to go out and find it! You gotta believe me man."
"Shut up rummy." Officer Myers said striking the bars of the holding cell with his palm.
If those two good Samaritans had beaten the guy and threatened him, it wasn't going into the report. That family would be dead without their help. Thanks to the ass hole in the drunk tank.
Thankfully none of his claims were even remotely believable. But apparently he's a fan of creature features. I should watch Tremors again, solid movie. I wonder how it holds up after all these years.
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Roy -4:32 AM
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Nola got the gate for us as we pulled in. Verdandi was awake in the back seat, stroking Burt who was dead to the world, but Tyler was out.
"I don't think there's too much of a point in going back to sleep now buddy." I said to Verdandi, forgetting his name again. I put the car in park near the front, where Tyler's truck had been.
"Likely not" He said absently. He seemed sad
"Are you alright?" I asked
"No. Not really." He said to me. Definitely sad
"Can I help?" I asked after a few more seconds of silence. The interior lights of the car turned off automatically leaving us in darkness
"Maybe one day. But for now, I am here, on this world. I will protect the innocent and do my duties. Even among strange people in a strange land of light and metal" He said, still stroking Burt on his lap.
We had driven through several towns and 2 cities on our way back. I think he was starting to realize how different Earth was. How alone he was in a world of humans.
He shifted Burt carefully off his lap and left him in the car. I went after him.
He moved himself to the lip of the garbage pit and sat down, looking at the full moon above us.
I sat next to him. I didn't say anything because it didn't feel right to interrupt.
I was there for if he needed me.
We watched the moon in silence until the morning came