Sunday, June 10, 2018, 8:30 AM Norfolk time, Sunday June 10, 3:30 AM Local, Tahiti
I woke up as the clock finished striking midnight, after having rested for a full eight hours, my magical energies restored and ready to work on this enchantment. I quickly got to work setting out even more salt, into the various patterns, designs, and runic patterns needed for the various spells that were going to be worked in to the item. As everything was set into place, I found that the placement of the pendant was ready. Putting the pendant in the proper position, I started the focusing and meditation on the enchantments. The ritual started out fine, with the pendant taking in the mystical purity of the salt and the essence of the spells going into it.
At about two and a half hours into the ritual, a problem developed where the salt was going much faster than it should have. I disassembled the pendant as best as I could without damaging it, and the salt started flowing into the pendant even faster than before. The ritual finished up with the pendant sealing up all of the magic into it, and I mended it back together again. Picking up the finished item, I found that there was a special effect on this item as well. I’m beginning to think that this island truly is a magical place.
With three hours left until sunrise, I decided that I might be best served resting again, so I got everything sorted out about the process, set the pendant back into the box that Agent May had provided with it, and sent her a text. I don’t know enough about electronics or anything similar to that to say that the electronic aspects of the item are still intact and operational, so I added that to the text to Agent May, as well as the fact that she specifically needed to utter the phrase, “I am now transferring my ownership to you.”, to Coulson when she gives it to him, that a special property had been developed in this item. The item had developed the property to be able to be activated mentally by its owner, so this was an important part of the transfer. I set the box on the table by the door, used prestidigitation to sweep up all of the unused salt and put it into bags to be reused. I hoped that we could get this day dealt with quickly so that I can get back to Norfolk quickly.
Sunday, June 10, 2018, 12:00 PM Norfolk time, Sunday June 10, 7:00 AM Local, Tahiti
*****
I woke up at sunrise when I got the empathic sending from Rex about a brand-new day dawning. I got up from my nap, and packed up all of my belongings, and got ready for the trips today, both to the military base and also the trip back to Norfolk. I got a decent breakfast from what was available in the Bungalow and brought my gear out to the picnic table outside. The other cabin’s occupants weren’t awake right now, so I just sat around, conversing back and forth with Rex, who had flown down to the table and was getting scritches and preening. He was beaming with pride for how many fish he had caught, including how he had caught a very decent sized blue marlin, granted, he did that while transformed into his larger battle form.
While we waited, I went back over to try to scratch out every ounce of improvement I could for this one individual spell. Knowing that I didn’t have a lot of possibility to do better, I figured that I needed to get Coulson as much of a timeframe to wait as possible. It wasn’t like I was going to get into epic levels of capability any time soon, but maybe with extra effort, I could find a way to band things together to get to that point. Not finding much more in the way of solutions without the availability of additional research material, I just figured that I was going to have to give up at this point. Writing everything down for later, I decided to just wait for the two to get up and be ready to head back over to the military base.
Sunday, June 10, 2018, 4:00 PM Norfolk time, Sunday June 10, 11:00 AM Local, Tahiti time
*****
Not too long after I had put down my journal and pen (I LOVE THE PENS OF THIS WORLD), and put them away, the two other inhabitants of this isolated beach were coming out of their shared Bungalow. Coulson had the pendant on around his neck and was smiling broadly, like someone who had been handed the keys to the world and couldn’t figure out what to do with them. I bade both of them good morning and they replied in kind. Coulson asked if this was my idea, and I shrugged, noting that I knew that there was a lot that I couldn’t do right now, that I might be able to do better. I added that I had hopes that if he did end up being chosen to transport from this world to my home world, that this magic might be the thing that helps direct it to him. He thanked me again and said that it was a great gift anyway.
I was more than happy to tell him that it wasn’t anything major, and that I was glad to be of assistance in any event. I added that while I was glad to help otherwise, that it might be a good long time before I could possibly add more capability to have an effective chance of succeeding. Coulson and Agent May both nodded in understanding, and I continued with a different matter. I told the both of them that under no circumstances outside of risk of life, should they transfer the ownership. I gave the four command words, one for each ability, which turns on and turns off the power for the item.
They both took in the information and warnings and thanked me for warnings and information. I figured that Coulson would use the item responsibly, at the very least, and Agent May as well. The main thing is, I didn’t want just anyone to be able to take the pendant and then have the functionality of the item. Coulson told Agent May and I that we’d be taking the trip to the Base first thing this morning and say our goodbyes there. I nodded, changed my attire via my kote, and was then in the same style attire as yesterday, save for differing in decoration.
Coulson, Agent May, Rex, and I all piled in to Lola, with Agent May Driving today. I raised and eyebrow to this, as I felt that Coulson had a large amount of attachment to this vehicle. Along the way, Coulson asked me some important questions about what to expect about transitioning over to the other world, and what he might find there. I told him how David had at one time said that everything that he had in his vehicle had made the transfer. Coulson nodded and looked to Agent May for just a brief minute before asking me other questions.
With not much more that I could tell him other than what I had already told him, I kind of tracked off with just telling him that I was in his school for a few months, but after that, it wasn’t much time with him. I added that I did remember that one of his associates had mentioned working on a time portal once, but that was all I knew. Coulson then asked me about any thing I might know about any other associates. I told him everything I knew about Lady Rebekah Destrier, Faunra Felldoom, and Jonathan the Haunted. I added everything that I knew about each of them, especially the bit about Jonathan’s restaurant business, and where he can go to the best burger in Sandpoint or Magnimar.
By the time I was done talking, we were in the Base, Agent May having gotten us inside easily. We quickly went to the same area of the base, as the area with the temple ruins. Both Coulson and I got into position, where the optimal spellcasting could occur. Through focus and effort, as well as expending every component that I could, I got three of the nine possible castings to succeed to a large effect. I think I managed to actually a little more than five weeks more of a lifespan for Coulson.
I let Coulson know about the extension that he was provided, how it was slightly more than five weeks more now, and that I had a possible two successes left at this point. Coulson nodded, noting that this put him at maybe five months and change, and I offered up that I would keep in touch with Agent Jonathan to let him know if I had any breakthroughs in my capabilities. I also handed Coulson a slip of paper, written in Varisian, Elven, and Draconic, with what all I had discovered, what all I had done so far, and what could be expected for future attempts. Coulson asked me what this was, and I told him that it was what I had figured out from each of the tests and operatives that I had done, how far we had gone, and what would be the projected date of the end of the “bonus” lifespan. I told Coulson that he should have this paper on him everywhere he goes, in case there is some other instance where he gets transported.
Coulson looked it over and asked why I didn’t have it written in the Trade Tongue, and I replied honestly that Draconic was the most common language of magic, while Elven was the language of the Elves, a long-lived and very magical race of beings where I was from. Varisian was there in case he found someone who knew it, then they could lead him to Magnimar, and from there he could head to Sandpoint to reach David Drake and his associates. Agent May spoke up and said that the Quinjet was at the runway, waiting for me for the trip back to Norfolk. I thanked her for keeping me apprised of the status, and asked if we could head there promptly. Agent May and Coulson both agreed that we needed to head over there promptly, and we drove to the runway immediately.
On the trip over to the runway, Coulson continued his well-intentioned questioning over different aspects of life on my home-world. A lot of different questions about countries of the world, different dangerous creatures, factions that I might know about, just a whole lot of various information. I answered as politely and completely as I could, knowing my general lack of knowledge outside of Varisia in general, and Magnimar/Sandpoint more specifically. I didn’t really have a large opportunity to go too far away from the city and the town respectively. All of my knowledge of factions was generally whatever the basic training for the Sandpoint Guard had provided to me, which, for the most part, amounts to different possible nefarious actors and agents from those factions, and who might be able to help in other circumstances.
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Coulson was very congenial and respectful in his questions, not asking further when we reached the end of my knowledge on a subject and branching off into other topics when we reached those dead ends. I fully expected him to have been a capable former Agent for this organization, one who could get answers out of others and get results. Agent May had the air of physicality about her that was obvious from someone who had been exceedingly well trained and had even trained others to those levels. As we neared the runway, Coulson started asking me more about my experiences here on this world, and how things differed. I gave him as much information as possible about what I had encountered and experienced throughout my time here, and all of the many differences that I had grown to experience.
Coulson did caution me to not discount what can be learned or done through technology, to which I agreed that it was wise to not throw away any possible source of power or capability. As we pulled up, I saw the Quinjet with the rear ramp down as it had been when I entered into it, and I turned to both of them. I shook both of their hands, thanked them to the opportunity to help Coulson in any way that I could, and that if they needed my assistance, they need only reach out to me, and I would try to find my way to them. Coulson smiled and told me that he hated to say goodbye for the last time, but he had a feeling that he would never see me again. I echoed the same sentiments and wished him good luck in his future travels and that if he does end up meeting up with David Drake, to thank him for me for all of the training in technology and science that he had provided to me.
Agent May shook my hand and told me that if I ever had need of assistance, that I could reach out to her, and she would work to clear the path for me through any S.H.I.E.L.D. obstacles. I thanked her again, and wished them both well, and told Coulson to go ahead and experiment with the limits of his pendant, that he might learn new things that I did not even know about. Coulson smiled his genuine smile again and said that he would definitely do so. Agent May escorted Rex and I back onto the Quinjet, back to the seats that we had been at before, and ensured we were secured in with the gear that I had come with. I thanked her for the last bit of assistance, before telling her the last little bit of advice that I had, that you rarely know when you might end up having a difficult journey that could take you away from everything you know, so it is best that whatever you might need be close at hand.
Agent May seemed to pick up on what I was inferring, without adding anything to it, and then left the Quinjet. She stopped with Coulson just inside of my line of sight and I saw that the two of them were talking in a very relaxed manner to some one or a group of people that were just outside of my line of sight. After a few minutes of conversation back and forth, I saw a pair of feminine arms that were wearing some kind of bracers hug Coulson and Agent May, before the hatch started closing. Keeping to myself, I started writing down all of my notes, filling out my journal to keep everything up to date. After I finished off, I decided a nap would be in order, after Rex started getting comfy and sending those feelings subconsciously.
Sunday, June 10, 2018, 10:00 PM Norfolk time
*****
I didn’t know what to expect when we landed back at military base in Norfolk, but I certainly didn’t expect to come back to the situation that I was in. The SUV was back at the hangar when we landed and taxied into the it. The rear drop gate lowered, and I released Rex’s safety belts and my own, before collecting all of our gear and started to walk down the hatch. Not long after I reached the floor of the hanger, the rear gate started going back up and as soon as it was all the way up, the Quinjet started to self-taxi out of the hangar and back up into the air. I looked to the SUV and the rear seat’s door popped open, showing the rear seat that was empty and available for Rex and I to move in to, which we both did.
Once we got in the back of the SUV, I saw Jonathan in the front passenger seat again, and saw that his demeanor was very much more downtrodden than I had expected it to be. I offered up that I could provide all of my findings for the time that I was down there if that would help. Jonathan nodded, and said that there was an issue here, while I was away for the weekend. I asked him what had happened, and Jonathan told me that apparently the Painkillers figured out where I had been leaving from, and they decided to torch the safehouse looking for me. With a lack of local agents, there wasn’t anything that could be done, so any of the items that were left are now gone, as the house was razed to the ground.
I sighed, knowing that I had put a lot of work into that place as a base, and thanked Jonathan for waiting to provide me with that notification. Jonathan noted that he only found out this morning when he was checking on the place to drop off my new electric bike. I thanked him for getting me the bike and noted that I would definitely need it now that my old bike and cart were gone. I thought back and remembered that the tools that I had improved, the salt that I was ready to use for enhancement of items, and the room set up where I was tracking everything was all gone and that I would have to start anew. I pulled out of my thoughts when Jonathan brought up that he thinks that there was a GPS tag in something that I might have brought back from my most recent sting.
Apparently, my habit of stealing the bulletproof vests was figured out, and so they took advantage of it. I thought back on things that I had heard, and asked flippantly if a GPS could track something inside of an extradimensional or non-dimensional space. Jonathan seemed a bit perplexed before saying somewhat ruefully that Fitz would have been the best person to answer that question, but that he would be glad to do trials, if I could come up with some way to test it. I thought about it and figured that if I had the chance, and that it might take some time, I might try my hand at making a handy haversack as soon as I found what I considered a suitable pack. I spoke up quietly and asked Jonathan if there was a possibility of having another place set up, with the promise that I wouldn’t be using it as a base of operations for more actions.
Jonathan said that they had already set up a temporary hotel stay at the Wyndham Garden Hotel, but that I would need to find a new place on my own within a month. I thanked him and S.H.I.E.L.D. for their consideration and said that I would definitely have something set up for whatever I needed by then. I asked if there was a way that they could set me up with a small chamber or something somewhere nearby that I could work on what I needed to work on, in the interim. Jonathan noted that he could set me up with a storage unit for a little bit too, and started typing something out on his phone, before saying that he would send me a text with the information about access and number for that as well. I thanked him and remained quiet for the rest of the trip to the hotel.
When we got overhang just outside of the front desk, Rex and I got out of the back seat, with Jonathan climbing out of the passenger seat. He walked around to the back of the SUV and pulled out my bag of gear for me. He handed me the gear, as well as telling me that my cell phone would operate as a room key, just needing to place my phone over where the card would be swiped, and then the door would unlock. Jonathan added that the new electric bicycle was already in the hotel room, and that he would contact me tomorrow with more information. I thanked him and apologized for not being able to do more than extend the Agent’s lifespan.
Jonathan looked at me with a bit of surprise and noted that they had not received anything for any updates, so he didn’t know that there was any effect, and asked me if I could tell him anything more. I didn’t want to breach any confidence that I might have gained with Agent May or Coulson but figured that I could give a minor bit of information, without much of an issue. I told Jonathan that I had possibly increased his available lifespan by another few months. Jonathan was more relaxed after that, but then reflected that the world is getting even more chaotic after the Blip, after a LOT of services and utilities have started to break down. He added that the S.H.I.E.L.D. bike, the hotel, and the storage unit are sadly probably the last things that he would be able to arrange.
I asked if he would be okay with a job, and Jonathan told me that S.H.I.E.L.D. still had the capability to keep a long-term Agent like himself paid and in service, but that since my records were more slipshod, I could only be an affiliate until the Agency as a whole recoalesced once the world got righted. Jonathan noted quietly that my methods would probably be a lot more needed now that law, order, fire, rescue, and utilities are now all in flux. I asked if it would be a difficulty to get simple things like pallets of salt. Jonathan quirked an eyebrow and told me that he could arrange a pallet of salt to be at the storage unit location, just out of sheer humor and curiosity. I thanked him and said that this would be very helpful, and that I would try to get something made for him out of it, when it was all said and done.
I empathically sent to Rex that he should fly up to the top of the hotel until I go out on to the balcony of my room, and that I will send him a summons to come back down. Rex looked me over, and then took off, flying up into the roof to wait. I walked up to the lobby and then made my way to the front desk, while the SUV with Jonathan pulled away. When I got to the front desk, the person who I thought of as the Innkeeper was there, waiting with a smile. I walked up to them and told them that I had a room reserved for me, possibly under the name of Curtis Zine.
The innkeeper looked to be going through their tablet until my name was brought up. She told me that it was suite five hundred and three on the fifth floor. I thanked her by saying, “Many thanks fair Innkeep.”, to which she stifled a giggle as she pointed to a room with sideways closing doors that the innkeeper said was called an elevator. I entered the room and looked around as the sideways closing doors, closed. I saw that there was a panel with different numbers on it, which one was labelled “five”, so I pressed that button.
When I got off on the floor, I saw that there was a hallway with widely spaced doors, with the numbers on those doors going from five hundred and up. I stopped at room nine hundred and three and placed my phone over what looked like a block above a door handle. I heard a chirp, and I opened up the door handle, to reveal a room with a single large bed, a desk, a separate bathroom, a set of doors that go out to a balcony, and a bathroom. My new S.H.I.E.L.D. bike was by the desk, propped up on the kickstand. I locked the door behind me, went to the balcony, opened up the door, and sent the empathic summons to Rex, who immediately flew down and landed on the balcony, before walking in.
I closed the door as soon as Rex walked in and started talking to Rex, telling him the ground rules for the room, mainly that he’d have to leave the room at sunrise, cautiously, and then come back after dark, because we didn’t have possession in this room, much less, this who building. Rex agreed with the rules, and I closed up everything for the night. I finished up on my notes, noting that I was going to have to head directly to the shop early enough to get there on time tomorrow morning. Mending and cleaning all of the appropriate gear that I needed, I discovered a “Do Not Disturb” thing to hang off of a door handle. I put it outside my door and then got finished getting ready for sleep.