nic and renford

*nic at Renford’s door*

*nick...knocks XD, hears crashing and squawking

Renford from inside the door* calm down you tri-clopsian chicken! Don’t get mad at me! I didn’t eat all of your raspberries, you scarfed them like a beggar child...OW OW OW OW OW stop OW OW OW if you don’t quit it, I will fabricate a shoe for your beak, then we will see who pecks WHOM’S eyes indeed!

Nick: uh Ren?

WHO’S THERE? THE POLICE? I ALREADY TOLD YOU I STOPPED SYNTHESISING THAT STUFF LAST TIME WE TALKED...GO AWAY

Ren its nick, what’s going on?

Oh! Nick as in Nick?

Lets go with that *renford opens the door*

hello nick, how be thyself?

Sweet and savoury, can I come in?

Im not sure, can you? Is there a field in the way? *renford extends hand to test for a possible invisible wall* you are confusing me nick there is no field here, you should be able to come in

it was a question if I was permitted by you, for me too– fuck, never mind

fuck

okay first things first, how’s thyme– oh my god what happened you your face?! *one of renfords eyes are closed and there is a huge gash that runs from slightly above his eyebrow to the bottom of his cheekbone, he is all bloody and the right side of his lab coat looks like it just got back from a behemoth concert*

thyme likes raspberries

not answering my question! *exasperated worry in nicks voice*

ah, let me rephrase, thyme does not like it when I hide the raspberries...most of the red is raspberries...’cept for the red on my face..

...that is most definatly blood...

...and pain...

Dear god! Are you mistreating the bird?

No no...

I think she is mistreating me...

She wouldn’t let me fasten ever so gently an anchoring mechanism in to her skull so that I may mount a viewing lens over her third eye..

...which is in desperate need of researching

RENFORD, NO! You deserve what you got, no drilling or cutting or any intrusive actions toward this creature!

Poo...

Poo nothing you fuck, no vivisections on anything I give you!

Awwwwwww, those are the fun-est ‘sections

I came to tell you some shit that’s been happening

I like shit when its in the context of colloquial information...

Not poop...

Alright, you know Jasper?

Ah yes Jasper, a form of the mineral chalcedony related to the mineral quartz

not the rock dammit, Jasper, my friend, the one I am in cahoots with and who operates a now rather big group of salvagers and Data scrounges.

Oooohhh, your bad-tempered, brutish, vertically-challenged, lobster-faced, drug-addict hacker friend.

I like him, he was nice and gave me a cinnamon bun when I last encountered his presence.

Uh, yeah...him...he’s not a drug addict...kinda *thinks about*

...never mind

what of this jovial, sweet pastry loving individual?

He claims to have found something of incredible value

oh?

Yeah, he says it’s a high-purity silica data block

mmmm, those can be fun...details? *a mosquito flies around renford’s head as he replies, he claps it in his hand as he finishes*

we don’t even know what’s on it, I cant think of any boards that will even run something with such a low resistance, the other data blocks has a good quantity of iron in them, so the current high energy beams can read them pretty accurately.

The pureness of this thing make it so very little energy is required to read it, hypothetically, so it would be like putting a piece of glass in to the board’s cradle and expecting it to flair up in to a million terabyte sea of arcane information.

It wont do that

well, we don’t know that yet, but all known properties of our current data blocks say just that.

We may need to build, or (god forbid) find something that can extract the data off this thing.

Alright partner lets see this thing...*blood drips alittle from renfords eye* stupid pesky bleed-y thing...

you should really patch that up *Nick hands a small bluish, rod like crystal to renford*

naw, it will stop on its own

I feel tired, I am going to lie down

*falls over*

for god sake renford *nick runs over and produces bandages, and wraps up renfords head, the crystal rolls under the couch*

nick, and Eliza, being chum-y at one of the local coffee houses

nick: fuck, I just remembered I left something super important at my friends place

Eliza: oh? Like a blowup doll, or something else you cant sleep without? *Eliza makes a buzzing sound with her teeth, and shakes her hand up and down*

that and my oscillating gyro-phallus 2000, with life like action and a–

okay, too far, got it, sarcasm.

How important is important?

Well, it may possibly change the course of history and the world as we know it, many people will die. *says whilst smiling*

why are boys such liars? What your favourite game controller, the one with the sticky toggle, but you don’t care cause you pwn noob ass with it?

Hahaha, im not that much of a gamer, but close...equally important

wow, the fate of the world rests in your ample thumbs

that sounded almost creepy...

Thank you, I have been practising for you

is that all you’ve been practising?

Nick...*punches*

haha, oh hey, ow! Got quite the arm there slugger!

Don’t ever call me slugger again..xp

gotcha, unless I want my feeble typing arms broken

better believe it

and, uh, nick?

Yeah?

The colour visions haven’t stopped...

Oh? That’s the one where you get drawn to numbers and whatnot?

Yeah, and the colours, im a bit scared..

Sigh, don’t worry about it, there is a reason for everything. You will figure it out soon, and once you know what it is, it wont be so scary. People naturally fear the unknown.

Then we can get you going on some nice colourful pills, and you will be as right as a rhinoceros in a tutu twirling about to Beethoven’s ninth.

You bastard, *laughs* I hope you are right.

I am never wrong

that statement was wrong...

Eliza, alone in her rented apartment in nick’s complex.

Eliza: he’s right, there’s nothing to be worried about, the colours are just a weird artist borderline schizophrenic thing, nothing at all to be worried about.

Just an artist thing

*click click click*

oh god what was that?

*silence*

my overly active NON crazy, imagination

*eliza looks out her window in time to see an orange billboard advertising some new brain implant phone, and one of the numbers in the price, a two*

oh god, the orange two...gaaah, I always get a creepy urge to walk around when I see that...I hope im not crazy. *she waits on her bed for a moment, before rising abruptly*

FINE! FINE! I will go for a walk then!

Eliza’s journal: one

I have discovered, that when my focus is drawn to orange, or in the absence of orange, a two. I feel the urge to get up and walk somewhere. I am never sure where, but the feeling is there. Just the driving need to move about or head to a specific location. Where that is I cannot say, nor can I say my experiences with these mental phenomena are in fact simply my ganglia decomposing in to a hallucinogenic soup of the jittering crazies.

I hope it is not that.

On that particular night I learned to associated orange with the ‘get-up-and-go’ feeling. After putting on my boots and heading out, to no particular place I soon began to forget the feeling and the colour.

Eventually I noticed the moths, encircling a street light. It seemed none of the other street lamps were occupied by the insects. As I gazed upon them with the usual fascination and delight, one of the single minded creatures broke off from the swarm, and began to make its way in to the night, whereupon I followed. I lost it several times, and after about twenty minutes it landed on a stucco wall, where I nearly lost it again due to its camouflage. I then noticed a door, with one of those eye slots you see on a private doors, or parties.

I went over and knocked, the slot immediately opened, and a pair of intense eyes stared at me. I don’t know why I said what I did, but it seemed right.

“Two, orange”

to my utmost surprise, the door opened, revealing a short chubby boy, perhaps my age who had to stand on a stool to reach the eye-slot. Seeing the rest of him made his eyes seem less intense, but they still had a certain pierce to them. I shrugged it off and made my way inside like I knew what I was doing. I did not.

After descending several flights of stairs I came to another door, it was open a crack, so I peered inside.

There was what appeared to be a group of people with thier backs to the door I was looking through, facing two people: a young girl, per haps eight or so, and a person in a chair with a mask, the girl was talking. She had her hands on the masked person’s head. Im not sure I can remember everything she was saying but I will attempt to transcribe it as accurately as I can:

“As you all know, I have sent an invitation to those of you here to discuss some of the tail ends of things we did not cover last month.” the girl paused, as if thinking, or perhaps listening. “The federals have been becoming more aware of our numbers, and the resistance it entails, they know that we are dangerous, they have had a first hand experience of our power.” the person in the mask took a deep breath. “It is paramount that you continue your personal training and sharpen the blade we will use to unhinge this gate of oppression, I know it is frightening the things some of you have seen, and felt, and scried, but I assure you that is nothing compared to the torments you will endure if you are caught, and they discover your gifts.” another pause, the girls face did not seem to match the words she was saying, not to mention her size and age. She did not look like a revolutionary, let alone its apparent leader. Then something strange happened, the girl looked about confused then she asked the man in the mask if she could go, he shook her head and tapped his, she nodded in agreement. Then there was a question from one of the audience. “Why can’t we see your face? Why must you speak through the girl?” the person in the mask took another deep sigh. “My face is traceable, and so is my voice, the fact is some of you may recognize me, and we can’t have that, I speak through the girl to mask my voice, and prove my power, I’m sick of using a chalkboard...”

The people did not seem to question the girls words, it seemed they have gathered here before and trust this masked person. After the questions, the moved on to discuss something about trade routes, and which servers were under their control and how many new data blocks were being excavated from the lost cities. Soon people were getting ready to leave, and I booked it out of there as fast as I could. The boy at the door was no longer there, and I let myself out.

*nick climbing the stairs to Renford’s appartment*

I can’t believe I left that bloody thing here, priceless ancient technology, and I let it roll under the sofa like a cheap remote. *nick gets to Renfords door, crossed off in an ‘X’ of police tape*

oh fuck in a hand basket...*opens the door, sees the apartment in shambles, cushions cut open, stuffing everywhere, paper everywhere, general mess* they fucking tore the place apart!...fuck! They got it, and him! Fuck fuck fuck! *nick crouches down with his hands over his face partially gripping his hair*

Fuck! *he gets up and kicks the algae tank, which makes a ‘crong’ sound like a bell, the algae moves around happily making patterns to the noise, causing an eerie blue light to dance on the ceiling*

SHUT UP STUPID MICRO PLANTS!!

Nick and Dorean

Dorean: Why did you harass Jasper in to arranging a meeting? And here of all places? *gestures to giant comic convention*

nick: well first of all you enigmatic prick, your always insist on covering yourself in that super subtle PURPLE CLOAK and no one ever sees your face.

No need to get angry, its just every moment I spend here, I could be jeopardizing everything we have come to gain, and we’ve come so far Nicholas.

Don’t call me that, look, im here to talk about renford

*chuckles* oh is he too much for you? The reason I had you keep an eye on him is because I know you wouldn’t let him get in to any trouble, and that he listens to you more than anyone els–

thats the thing...I didn’t...I mean..

They got him..

Oh...

*dorean sighs* he was a valuable asset

don’t talk about him like he’s already gone! They arn’t going to kill him, they will torture him first, and if he spills anything about us were fucked, you said so yourself!

He wont talk

how do you know that?

He loves us too much to talk, plus, he’s a raving lunatic, if they do get anything out of him it will be so cryptic and garbles they wont know to make heads or tails of it.

As long as we still have the data chip

they got that too

WHAT?! You fool! How could you let that fall in to their hands?!? a lifetime of searching! gone! You better pray that they don’t have a method of extracting the Tome off of it, if they do, all is lost! Its obvious I cannot trust you with these matters! I will have to go and get it back myself! I will not let this whole operation crumble due to your asinine blundering!

*Dorean then whisks in to the crowd, and takes his pretentious

what about renford you selfish ass, what about him?

Even the bishops need to fall sometimes, if it means keeping your queen safe

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

*nick thinks to himself* what does he mean ‘Tome’ I thought he said he didn’t know what was on it...

renford, federal agent, and goons

Agent: We don’t have much of a file on you Dr. Strechl, other than your name coming up beside ones we don’t like.

Call me Renford

Agent: ...okay renford...*turns to accompanying agent goon* has he said anything?

Goon: we attempted sleep deprivation, and he managed to chat about everything but what we wanted for most of the 78 hours we kept him awake

renford: and im still awake *renford smiles as if he has accomplished something*

goon: what’s worse is her referred to all four of us on shift as “tiny jim”, no matter who was actually working.

Renford: yeah you might want to get Tiny Jim tested for multiple personality disorder, he was all over the place, it was like talking to three different people

goon: there were four of us

renford: one of them was boring

*agents ignore renfords comment*

Agent: you’re a hard man to catch doctor

thank you

it says you are only 20, how did someone such as yourself manage to acquire such a title so young?

I studied very, very, very ,very ,very hard...

And uh, as much as I love a hug from myself, I cant seem to move my arms...

This hug-coat is broken

it’s a straight jacket

its not very straight to me, more tubular with smaller adjacent tubes

and shiny buckles

they say you are mentally unstable

did the giraffe tell you that? Cause he’s a liar

*main agent turns to goon* did he say anything during the water-boarding?

Goon: no, he went on about how thirsty he was, and practically drowned, he didn’t even struggle

Renford: that was fun-ish, I saw the great, old one and she got mad at me for wearing different colored socks

goon: your not wearing socks

well duh, Tiny Jim put them in my mouth when they tickled my brain with the Sparkly light

*agent thinks, frustrated* we haven’t got anything...

You guys are fun and all, but I kinda need to go and feed my snake, he’s hungry, I can hear him

first tell us what we want to know

uh, what was that agin?

For god sake: who is the hacker known as Nick, and his accomplice J

the big red guy who delivers presents, and the tenth letter of your alphabet

fuck

sir, we cant keep him detained any longer, and the fact he didnt say anything could have us in very hot water, technically we detained and interrogated–

and tortured *Renford interjects*

–a civilian, who has technically done nothing wrong

fine get rid of him, oh and doctor?

Yes?

We will find your people

sure...sure, whatever ya say *whispers to goon* he seemed stressed*

nick running through the street.

Nick: fuck fuck, what am I going to do? I don’t even know where Renford is, Dorian mentioned something about a small federal station around here but I don’t know, they may have even flown him out of town on the shit that HE knows.

Nick bumps in to Renford.

Holy shit Renford, how did you escape? *Renfords eyes are kinda glazed and in two directions, opens mouth and makes a ‘blaaa’ sound as a bunch of water gushes out* oh dude, ewww *Renford’s blank gaze refocuses and stares at nick, a quick smile forming*

renford: oh hi nick! I think I drank too much, it was in my lungs...

Oh my gods! where have you been? Are you alright?

Hey the top of your eye is stitched up, did you go to the hospital?

No no, just some guys asking a lot of questions I didnt know, they stitched me up, something about passing out from blood– *renford collapses*

shit dude! *catches* we need to get you some rest.

*Soon at Jaspers house*

jasper: aww dude, why did you bring him here? He’s weird...

Shut up and be nice, he out cold and wont even notice

*renford sleep talks* i...know lots of things...lobster-faced...cinnamon buns....

Jasper: what the hell is he talking about?

Nick: uh, nothing, probably just having crazy dreams you know how mad scientists are. But bad news bro, the data block is gone, the feds got it.

*renford mumbles something*

jasper is silent, kinda going red

nick: look man, I feel shitty, this was like a huge break and all–

jasper: break? BREAK?!?!? *starts in a calm voice* nick, if there were a machine to measure how mad I am right now, it would spontaneously combust in to an ashy pile of rage-irradiated nano-particles.

I fucking hate you...

*renford mumbles something louder*

AND FOR GOD SAKE SHUT THAT INVALID UP! *Renford is awoken*

renford: oh hey! It’s Shorty Mcporn-addicted psycho, hows it hangin’?

SHUT UP!! *renford cringes*

renford: so who stuck his bottom with the rage needle, its not like there was a bird attempting to peck out his eyes or nuffin.

Nick: we are both a little stressed cause we lost the data block

jasper: a LITTLE stressed? My entire life was bent around that find and it was ripped from my euphoric grasp by a madman and his (and mine) ham-fisted friend.

Renford: am I your friend? *Jasper-glare* is that a yes, but not right now cause im mad? Oh and your crystal-y thing is still under my couch.

Nick and jasper look at each other then at renford* are you sure? They say in unison

renford: most certainly! Thyme says its there. And she is really, really smart...mind you she gets a little violent and single minded when there are raspberries at stake.

Nick: we need to go now

jasper: yes we most definitely need to fucking go, wrap up that crazy in whatever kind of restraints you have, I don’t want him pressing any buttons in my car.

He might blow us up.

Nick: why does your car have button that can blow us up?

Jasper: there isn’t any ONE button that will do that, but certain combinations of buttons may or may not flood the cab with horrible burning acid, or suddenly jettison the seats in to the rigid ceiling...

Why do you have ejector seats in your car, and a non detachable roof? That’s the stupidest bullshit I have heard today, and I’vebeen walking around with renford

they were on sale, and EXTREMELY comfortable. For the most part I switched some wires so the rocket function is offline.

Why didnt you just remove the rocket packs?

Im a computer hacker nick, not a mechanical engineer, I don’t want six hundred and fifty cc’s of rocket fuel going off in my handsome face ruining my aspiring modelling career

are you even aware of how ugly you are? This is why you have no mirrors in your house

dude shut up I have feelings to. Don’t worry, as long as your crazy friend doesnt pull any of his weird shit, we should be okay.

*in the car, controls and buttons everywhere very spacious*

nick: wow these are comfortable, they really cradle the kidneys.

Jasper: see? Worth every penny of death inducing danger should even the slightest thing go wrong right?

Nick im not answering that.

Renford: do I have to wear these things? *holds up cuffed hands*

nick: im sorry renford, but jasper says if you want to ride in his car, you have to be restarined

renford: poo...

*upon getting to the outside of renfords apartment, the trio notice a group of federal trucks and haz-mat suited individuals*

nick: renford?

Renford: yes?

Nick: you didn’t leave anything perhaps hazardous lying around did you?

*renford crooks the corner of his mouth down and raises his eyebrow*

renford: what do you take me for? A kinder garden science teacher? Nearly everything I own is hazardous...even the toilet, you see I stole it from a space station and it has this reverse suction so if your not careful you can kiss your innards goodby–

nick: okay too much info

renford: if you mean dangerous like uranium..I haven’t owned any of that in quite a few months, unfortunately they have my picture at the chemical supply depot, so they wont sell it to me.

And every time I show up at the military base to borrow some its always “who are you? How did you get in here, you don’t have clearance here how did you get past the dogs” blah blah

Jasper: you’re a freaking nutcase

renford: don’t talk to nick like that, he’s just trying to help.

And he is perfectly stable, I tested him myself.

JSPR: *facepalm*

Nick: we need to get the block back. *as nick says this renfords face grows stern and quite serious*

renford: this is my fault, therefore the responsibility lies with me to return the object you so desire.

*he is somehow out of his handcuff as he exits the vehicle*

Nick: hey where are you going? We need a plan get back here!

Jasper: let him go, he’s probably the best for this job...he has a fools luck. *nick thinks a moment and nods in agreement*

Nick: your right, he has pulled of crazier shit. *renford disappears behind the building.

Meanwhile, inside the apartment renford climbs through his fourth story window. Walking through his house he finds a trooper rummaging through his stuff. After a few moments the trooper picks up the data crystal from under the couch. Unsure of what to make of it.

The trooper sees renford

trooper: hey, you live here?

Renford: why yes I was just leaving, but I needed to get something

trooper: sorry these premises are locked off and nothing can be removed

renford: sorry-sorry, its rather trivial you see, in fact you have it there in your hand

trooper looks at data crystal: this thing?

Renford: yes, that’s my...uh... you know...

trooper: what?

Renford: vibrator? Rectal titulator? Butt plug?

*the trooper looks confused for a moment, then extents the thing as far away from himself as he can whilst still holding on to it with his index finger and thumb*

trooper: oh...uh, jeez, here just take the damn thing, I didn’t see you

Renford takes: thank-you! I will think of you when I use it next *trooper nods in disgust

meanwhile back at the car. Renford gets back in, staring forward, look of heavy handed triumph

jasper: did you get it?

*Renford places the block in to Jaspers hand*

jasper how did you get it? Did they see you?

Renford: yes, they almost took it, but I told them it was my vibrator...and he couldn’t press it in to my hand fast enough.

Nick stifles a giggle: did you really say that?

Renford: if I had used any other excuse he would have taken it–oh hai, im ju5t h3re to c0llect the multi-tri11i0n do11ar data b10ck, y0u kn0w the the0retical kind that sh0uldn’t exist 4nd pr35um4bly came fr0m an era w3 th0ught didn’t have any t3chn010gical signific4nc3? Y34h th4t 0n3, thank you soo much, tiddy-boom. Gone.

Nick: good point. But seriously, that was genius. And creepy.

Mostly creepy.

trio continued:

JR: well it looks like we can’t hang out at Renfords house anymore. *mumbling half to self, half to nick*

Not that I ever personally did.

Cause he’s nuts.

NK: I hung out there...sometimes.

RF: I am sad for some reason.

And I don’t see how embryonic plant children have to do with me.

I miss my pond scum...

NK: when the feds finally tear through the place–which they will–they are going to be asking a lot of questions. I hope they don’t find the bird, I went through a lot getting her, birds don’t like to swim.

RF: don’t worry, we have a rendezvous point.

We discussed it in detail.

JR: see? He talks to animals.

No one does that, except for animals.

And crazy cat people.

And people who dress up their dogs to look like little people.

NK: shut up jasper, and I hope you pull through Renford.

RF: its not on me, its on Thyme.

Heh pun.

JR: please. Please be quiet. *sweats and is pale*

RF: your friend is looking a little pale.

NK: are you alright? I know we came close there...

JR: Shut it, im tired.

And im out of medication.

RF: illigal medication

JR: *makes angry wtf face, partially passes out and almost crashes, vehicle tosses violently*

RF: they should fix those pot holes.

NK: *wide eyes* im driving now.

RF: I like your house. Its roomy.

I think Jasper is dead.

*jasper coma*

NK: hes not dead.

At least not yet.

He’s really got to lay off the ruby.

RF: illegal medication is dangerous.

NK: unfortunately you cant quit cold like that.

Makes bad things happen, im worried. I might have a tiny bit around here somewhere, it might help him out of it a bit.

RF: Nick, im disappointed.

NK: naw, its just stuff he left, it should be in my spare desk.

I have to go see my boss.

RF: oooh! The nice fellow who wanted you to have his desk so badly, he stuck your hand to it.

NK: bye Renford.

Nick, goon, giovanni

Goon: huh, still got all your fingers eh? Usually when people mess up as bad as you, they are fed to some sort of carnivorous animal.

Or shot.

NK: im lucky?

Goon: no, your valuable, but watch out, soon as you stop scoring the goods...well, you know.

NK: yes yes, I know, out with the weeks trash. Thank you, my anxiety has been greatly reduced. I will sleep like a child in a pile of fluffy nothing, guarded by bears who love only me.

Thats how safe I have been feeling.

Goon: just get in there.

*door*

Gio: nick! Glad to see you, sit down.

NK: Id love to, but you see my friend’s sick, if we could just–

gio: Sit. Down. *boss glare*

NK: aaaaand im sitting. Please take your time.

Gio: I have heard some troubling news about your friends building.

NK: wow word travels fast in this neck of the woods.

Gio: nick, I deal in information, the least you could do is stop treating me like a politician.

NK: huh?

Gv: I look like I know everything, but don’t.

NK: right, sorry

GV: I’ve just lost my train of thought. I’ve shot people for less.

NK: don’t have to tell me twice. *rubs hand scar*

GV: ah. Right, the pigs in suits have your friends apartment. You better hope that you haven’t left anything sensitive to our operation.

*gestures to bowl* chocolate covered almond?

NK: uh, not hungry

GV: they always say that.

NK: have you eve considered offering during praise or pay cheque opposed to intimidation and your quote on quote ‘business discussions’?

GV: come to think of it...no.

the only time I ever talk to people in here is when they are in shit.

This is my shitting on people office.

NK: probably why it smells like urine and fear.

GV: I hope I will see you in my promotion office, it smells like brandy and ‘smug’. You better hope they don’t end up at your place, or we will be having a few more talks in here. I suggest you pack up and disappear for a while.

NK: what about the money? What if I just run off, like I fully intend on doing? I mean if they cant find me, then you probably cant either.

GV: I knew you would say something like that. So I have prepared some precautionary measures.

NK: I don’t like that tone your using...it seethes with...smug

*gio tosses folder across the table filled with pictures of Eliza*

*nic looks in between the pics and giovanni for a while*

NK: you’re a bad man

GV: *laughs* I didn’t get to where I am by ‘spreading the cheer’

oh and nick, I nearly forgot.

NK: sigh, yes?

GV: I heard an interesting rumour, that I hope you have nothing to do with. Im not usually one to deal in the physical aspect of data–too traceable–but I heard from somewhere that a relatively valuable artifact has turned up and is generating some buzz on the market, would you know anything about that?

NK: no sir, not at all.

GV: I was only asking because I know that other friend of yours...the angry one, has a puny operation digging them up. I figured I would cover my bases so I wouldn’t kill anyone I didn’t need to.

NK: well thats good to hear your uh, holding up a strict business policy. Well I don’t know anything sorry to say, if I did, I would be probably be on a beach somewhere.

GV: while your in hiding, I don’t want to have to hire trackers to find you again. So here is this nice convenient communicator.

So that we may exchange words when I need to.

NK: uh thank you, its great to see my shackles have enough care for me to want me to call when im going to be out late.

GV: see you around nick.

The old shamanist, Kona, Skol, and Bruta. Middle of the desert.

Old Shamanists: Skol! Someone has lain eyes on it! Someone has seen the book, for the first time in ten centuries!

Skol: what? You mean we have a chance to redeem ourselves?

OS: yes! The ancients will be pleased!

SK: seven decades of wandering this barren waste and we can finally say we have accomplished something. Now I can spit on the graves of my arrogant forefathers. I will soon have collected the most important piece!

Kona: it is not a competition against them, there is no need for disrespect, they did not have spite in mind when collecting them. They were lucky is all, to have found the first ones so close together seemingly without incident.

SK: you are mistaken, wench. I will be the one to complete the set, not only that, but to heave the most important one atop the others.

My accomplishment will dwarf the pitiful escapades of their needless meanderings. They were nothing more than useless old men with the jewels practically dumped in to their pampered laps!

Bruta: uh, my grandfather said that when he acquired the last jewel, he had to wrestle it from the innards of a thrashing beast, who’s name has been lost to the aethers. A beast so terrible merely to speak its name can spell misfortune and death for the speaker.

SK: clamp your maw you hideous wart! He was a dullard and a liar! Stories frighten stupid children such as yourself!

BT: whaa? You bastard! He was your ancestor too! *tackles Skol* have some respect!

SK: ohh? We have a traitor in our midst! You bring this upon yourself scum. *Skol opens his mouth and points it at bruta’s face where there is a thunderous screeching sound and a flash of light, whereupon all that is left of Bruta is a skeleton and the remnants dust that made up his flesh*

KN: you did not have to do that! He was your brother! What kind of man would–

SK: would what? Kill a traitor? A smart, virtuous man. One that will ascend as the ancients have told. If you wish to join him, continue, if not, be still.

*kona is silent*

that’s what I thought, you are smart, thats why you have lived nearly as long as me. Im glad to see you are still loyal. Oracle! What news of the book? Is that all?

OS: nothing more my sovereign, alas, it has only been gazed upon, and not read. Once a single symbol of its knowledge is absorbed by any, I will know where it is.

SK: good, tell me the moment it happens, wake me if need be.

KN: are you sure? If you are sleeping it might–

SK: I know what it will do and im willing to risk it! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Nick and Dorian

NK: I think renford may need to stop doing weird stuff, he’s getting us in to trouble.

DN: I don’t think so, did you see how many feds there were? And the bio team? They don’t just make house calls like that.

NK: true, what are you saying?

DN: they were after the bird.

NK: Thyme?!

DN: you shouldn’t have named it, its just going to die under their knife if they catch it.

NK: stop referring to her as an ‘it’.

DN: you obviously don’t know what they are capable of, they know about the door, they just don’t know where it is, but as soon as they find you, or figure out that a little syndicate has its oblivious hands on something so huge, everyone is done for. Those doors are rare, and there have been others.

The seeds that grow the plants that produce the chemicals that are crystalized in to the drug that three quarters of this whole city are addicted too came from that door.

But you would know that, seeing as how you were the one to bring them across.

NK: what?! But Giovanni said they were useless and that they are growing by his windowsill looking pretty.

DN: a half truth, I know he does in fact grow the nameless plant by his window, but he is cunning and had it analysed.

NK: oh god...

DN: there is no god, only suffering Nick. If you know what’s good for you– you will kill the bird before they catch it and do worse.

NK: stop talking! Iv had enough of your callous selfishness!

DN: selfish? Dammit nick, you don’t know what they are like! I barely escaped their ‘program’ and my...my father...only his mind was lucky enough to have made it out. And even then it’s a shadow of what it used to be.

NK: your father is still alive? You said he died a long time ago.

DN: he practically did, when I escaped all I could get of him was his brain...

There are troubling times ahead nick, my dreams have grown even more violent and restless. I will be seeing Markus relatively soon, perhaps he can help us with this failing ordeal.

NK: my boss said something similar, im considering desperate measures if things get too hot.

DN: the same boss that threatened your friend? Eliza was it?

NK: how do you know about her?

DN: I saw her once, at one of my meetings, she...sensed my signal. She was even lucky enough to see victoria interpreting my thoughts.

NK: signal?

DN: I have a set of color number codes I meditate upon when I wish to convey basic information to my comrades that share my...gifts.

NK: crap, I knew you were good and all but thats what that was? She was complaining about seeing that stuff all the time and I just called her crazy all the time.

DN: she is a powerful user, but she needs training.

NK: wait wait wait, your NOT pulling her in to your anti-government shinanigans! That’s unfair!

DN: there’s no point, you have already pulled her in to your problems, weather you like it or not, I simply propose that I take her to see markus, a place you know she will be safe, not to mention to develop her abilities, which I say in confidence, will far outweigh my own. Despite my...augments.

NK: I will talk to her about it.

DN: in the long run, neither of you have a choice.