“So what’s the plan?” Stan asked as they pulled out of the driveway.

“Mostly, there isn’t one. I’m thinking Bill, Cal and myself go in first and try to lock down as much resistance as we can as quickly as can. If we find anything that is able to strongly oppose us, we radio for Frank to join in. Otherwise, we will go room by room, trying to capture as many people as possible. We can then throw up a temporary crack back to the house and get them secured in the void house.” Andy laid out what Cal was sure he considered a very basic plan.

“If this is going to turn into a common loop event, we are going to need better-holding cells in the void house. We’re probably going to need to figure out how to nullify any magical abilities anyone possesses as well. Any chance we can get that kind of information out of our current two guests?” Stan asked.

“Even if we do, we don’t know how strong their technique actually is there. I was able to overwhelm it pretty easily this time, and my raw strength doesn’t really compare at all to some of the Gryalth we’ve fought.” Cal’s voice still held the trepidation he had at working with the aliens. Considering how long it had taken him to warm up to Many Eyes, he wasn’t sure he would ever get over what they had done to him, but for the sake of the world, he had come around to at least trying.

Titan had been a bust, and without some help, he wasn’t sure if it would be any better in the next loop. Sure, he wasn’t lying when he thought Bill could probably get past the initial test, but that wasn’t nearly enough. They all needed to. Plus, based on the frog’s title, he had a focus on lightning. This just wasn’t an opportunity Cal thought he could pass up.

“I think before we go to the Under Library, it’s time for me to talk to them one-on-one. I want to see what mana threads I can detect from them, if any. I have a growing list of just what I plan to research when we return, and I may as well add their abilities to it.” Bill’s voice sounded resigned.

“You don’t have to meet them alone, Bill. I’ll come with you.” Andy pat his friend on the head. It seemed to relax him.

Cal knew Bug still liked to be pet, but he wondered if they were treating their animal companions wrong at all. It was something he’d need to talk to Bug about in depth. Did she still feel like a dog, or did she see herself as something new? Magic sure did cause a lot of existential questions that he supposed he couldn’t ignore forever. That damned reality was constantly intruding on his fun.

“This is the place, right?” Stan asked as he pulled the van into the driveway of a hotel.

“Yeah, this is where Bug and I found Cal. Bill, put your hood over your head. Stan park us near the front but make it look normal. I’d like to make it to the receptionist's desk before we are swamped.” Andy started giving out the orders as soon as they were in the parking lot.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The parking lot was mostly empty. There were a few vehicles closer to the building, mostly larger vans and trucks designed for transport. Cal knew from experience what they were used for. He hoped this meant there were plenty of people inside. Even if it meant a more brutal fight, he needed to get this out of his system. These were people who had killed his family without a second thought. They were one of the many factors in his growing rage, and today, he was going to heal that particular wound.

“Dad, give us a few minutes to get started inside, but can you and Frank, at least until we radio for him, start checking over the vans out for here for anything useful?” Cal had no idea what his dad might find, but he was sure the man would prefer it to sitting around waiting.

“Will do, Frank. Are you ready to rip some doors off?” Stan turned his head to look at the giant plant occupying the back row of the van.

“The might of Frank’s fists shall not be blocked by any puny van. The tree titan shall prevail!” Frank's loud announcement resulted in a round of laughter from the rest of the occupants.

“Alright, well, you two have fun. Time for us to start some trouble.” Cal opened his door and exited the vehicle. Andy and Bill soon joined him.

The three of them entered the building, and Cal scanned the room. There was only a single person behind the desk. He looked pretty normal, all things considered. Cal didn’t like the looks of his smile, though. There was something off-putting about it.

“Hey there, our dad is outside trying to change a tire on the van. Is there any chance we can use your phone to call our mom while he’s doing that? She’s expected us home, and we don’t want to worry her.” Andy said to the man as he approached the counter.

“Yes, of course, it’s right over here.” He pointed to a phone on the desk with his right hand.

Cal noticed Bill doing something with his hands. He wasn’t sure what, but knowing Bill’s abilities, something was happening with mana threads. Channeling mana into his hands, he shot a small blast of energy out of his finger into the man’s chest. It wasn’t enough to kill him, but it shocked him backward away from the counter.

Andy joined the assault and dropped a black ball over the man before he had a chance to respond to Cal’s attack.

“So, any reason you attacked so fast?” Andy looked over at Cal.

“Sorry, that was my fault. Cal saw me working a mana thread. I think he tried to alert the building, but I grabbed the thread from the signal and cut it.” Bill answered for Cal.

“Huh, well, if that was the only way they have set up for a general alert, that means we now have the element of surprise. Bill put the crack right here, and we can drag him through to the other side and have someone lock him up.” Andy instructed.

“Can do.” Cal did exactly as instructed.

Andy dropped his gravity ball that was holding the man against the ground, and they quickly forced him through the crack.