"So, uh, where’s Andy?” Cal asked the assembled group. They had gathered back together again as planned to prepare for the upcoming battle in Dallas.
Andy’s absence was almost overshadowed by the drastic changes Frank had undergone. Cal had no idea how it happened, but Frank was slightly taller than Ralth. He hadn’t expected anything like this from Ethel.
“Andy and Bill have both been missing since the start of the loop,” Stan answered.
“I created a little island for them to practice some magic on. After a bunch of back and forth and some weird chalk letters, Bill opened a crack, and they both went through. The crack closed after them, and no one has seen them since. I’m very worried.” Barron filled everyone in on what he knew.
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about that right now. Either they show up before the Dallas defense, or we find out what happened in the next loop. They still have three days, but we should start planning as though they won’t be here.” Cal said. He wasn’t happy about this at all. He counted on Andy for strategy and quick tactical changes. He would do this without him if they had to, but he strongly hoped otherwise.
“Before you start, I have something else to add.” Barron interrupted. “On the day of the invasion, Bolt and I are going to attempt to harmonize our realms. This shouldn’t affect any structures, but things will look different when it’s done. Bolt and I will also be different. We will join together in a new form. This will help us progress in our growth.”
“Wait, so there will just be one of you?” Stan asked he had a look of concern on his face.
“No, we will both occupy the same physical form, but we will still be ourselves. It’s hard to explain to someone that is bound to their body. Frank may understand best, but even he will have trouble grasping it.” Barron answered.
“Well, I look forward to meeting the new you.” Jen tried to cover for her husband’s shock.
“Thank you.” Barron smiled.
“I think the first thing we need to decide is who all wants to be part of the Dallas lab defense?” Cal asked the room.
“I’m in. Bug, Jen, and I have been playing around in the simulator, and we can now reliably take down a couple of adepts as a group. So that will be a few fewer mages for you to worry about.” Stan looked at Bug and Jen. They both nodded in agreement.
“Frank and I will also be joining you. I don’t know that I can offer you nearly as much help as Frank will be able to, though, but I can hold my own.”
“Thank you, Ethel.” Cal felt Frank would become a massive asset in future fights. He should ask Ethel just how she had managed his growth. It might be useful for others.
“Many Legs wishes to join you all as well. We’ve been developing some tech for her unique form. I think she could be a great asset.” Albert spoke up.
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“Oh good, I’ve seen her fight before. She’s terrifying.” Ethel added.
“I will stay in reserve, but it’s best I only attempt to help you hold the building at the last moment. Once I enter the fray, they will move a lot more of their forces against me.”
“Understood Ralth.” Cal liked their odds. It was only two hours. He thought that was doable. He’d be much more confident with Andy, though.
“Was anyone able to get in contact with Melissa?” He had almost forgotten about her, but she was another potential fighter in this.
“Yeah, about her, I’m pretty much sure she was one of the scientists that joined us in the loops. I think she infiltrated our tech company last loop, as it was something that didn’t normally exist. The second this loop started, she seems to have vanished. I expect we will see more of her before the loop is over, but I don’t know if we will be making any alliances in time to help us.” Jen informed everyone of her discoveries.
“Damn, she’s probably going to need to be a priority next loop.” Cal rested his hands on the table.
“I believe Ralth has something he wants to tell us all, don’t you, Ralth?” Bug spoke up.
“Ah, yes, I do. It is concerned with the masked woman who helped you during your repeated deaths. Bug recognized her scent and also picked up a trace of mine on her as well. Please know I didn’t intend to hide this from you to cause any harm. I, in fact, did it to try to lessen the harm. Cal, Bug, Dad, the masked woman, is a version of Izzy from another universe. Camden and I teamed up with her for several years before I made my return. She wasn’t supposed to accompany me, but she forced her way into the portal and sent us both far off course, much further into the past of this universe than was intended. In her home reality, Cal and Stan both died to the Gryalth, and she was taken prisoner. I do not know the details of how she escaped, but she followed me here, determined to keep at least one version of Cal alive. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner.” Ralth frowned.
“I literally have no idea what to say to that. To be clear, I’m not mad at you, Ralth. I think I understand. I just, mom, but not mom. I don’t know, Bug, are you okay?” Cal’s stomach had dropped. A version of his mom was alive, and she had saved him. He had no idea what to do with that information.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I had more time to process it than you.” Bug rubbed her head against his leg.
“If she’s anything like our Izzy, the Grylath kicked a hornet’s nest when they hurt her family,” Stan said.
Before the conversation could continue, the room rocked. A loud ripping sound came from around them, and a door appeared on the wall where it hadn’t been before. It opened, and Andy and Bill walked out. Andy slammed the door shut behind them.
“NO ONE IS TO ENTER THIS DOOR. I’M MORE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS THAN I’VE EVER BEEN ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE!” He ordered the room.
“Woah, Andy, calm down. You’re starting to sound like me. What happened?” Andrew asked.
“Andy’s right. The world beyond this door is more dangerous than you all understand. We tried to open a crack to what should have been our newly formed realm after Andy infused me with a core, but instead we ended up in a place called the under library. We learned a great deal, but” Andy cut off Bill.
“It’s okay, Bill, I can tell the story. You go get some rest. I know what it took out of you to get this door created.”
“Thanks, Andy. I feel like death.”
“So initially, we were stuck in an entrance area until Bill figured out how to open a door. This led us to the What Is Wing, where there was a very creepy puppet librarian who gave us a little bit of information on how we could learn to get back. So we made our way to the area with the right books and prepared to figure this all out. Clearly, we did. The in-between was hell.”