"…. Last? Also, since when could you teleport us without touching or has that always been the case and you are just the odd one out of a race of touchy elves?" Andrew continued out of frustration, even though he no longer had an audience.

Andrew once again found himself in a new place, this time though he was alone and in a small cell only 4X4 meters or so. Unlike the previous cells he had been in, this one was shaped a bit like a Hershey Kiss. The cell surprisingly was not made of the alien marble-like material and instead seemed to be made from a very dense hardwood that he couldn't place. There was no door or energy barrier to be seen and unlike the previous elven cells he’d been in, light only seemed to come from a source about 5 meters up at the very top of the room. This by Andrew’s best guess was a skylight. He based this guess on the fact that it was the only source of light, that the color seemed more like natural light than whatever had been illuminating his previous cell, and he occasionally saw shadows of what he guessed were clouds or large birds go over it. Gravity in this cell was lighter than even it had been in his previous cells as well. He found he could jump and almost touch the ceiling. He spent quite some time treating his room like a bouncy house until he bounced into a wall and a swarm of small vines grew out of it. Within milliseconds the vines grew together into a mirror and sink. After staring at it for quite some time, he decided to walk around his room close to the walls to see what he could find. This search revealed that his cell had a bed, a toilet, the sink and mirror, and what he guessed was a tub. When present they all had the look of tiny roots or vines grown tightly together. The only stand out was the bed, which had a plush layer of moss growing on top. Just like with the vessel he was in before, when he left the area, the items would reverse the process and the roots and vines would retract back into the wall.

Once satisfied he had found everything, Andrew laid down on the bed to await his captors. To his amazement, he found that this bed was somehow even more comfortable than the benches on the previous vessel and those he had thought were orders of magnitude more comfortable than anything he had felt before that point. It seemed that no sooner had his head hit the square thing that he assumed was a pillow, than he saw a purple line come through the door and try to attach itself to his head. As with all previous attempts since he came into his “powers”, this attempt failed to connect.

"Instead of continuing to confirm my beliefs about your race’s general ignorance on consent. How about you…I don't know come in here and talk to me. I'm unarmed, what threat could I be to someone with MAGIC?" Andrew yelled in annoyance towards the section of wall he saw the energy line emerging from.

He waited but nobody appeared, instead his only response was a few more lines came into the room simultaneously all from slightly different angles, some looked stronger than others, but in the end, none connected.

"God your society makes drunken fratboys seem like models of consent. I’d say you should consider reading a book or ten on consent. Though I'm starting to think that it's a completely alien concept to you people. My body and mind are not yours to play with and as you can see, your mind tricks no longer work on me. So, if you have questions, then you should come here and talk. If you do come in, keep your touchy hands and magic to yourselves though." he yelled at the wall, a bit more annoyed than the last.

Andrew walked to the place where the purple lines had come from and stood waiting. For what he was unsure, but he knew he harbored the vane hope that he might be able to push past them and make a break for freedom. As he waited, he had a realization,

"Good one Lather, what would you do if you did make it out of the room? Where would you go? You're on a planet of mind rapists with weird magical powers and who knows what else. So, if you made it past the guards, what was your big plan Dufus?", he said to himself.

After a bit more waiting, he started to look around his room again. Upon approaching the sink, he noticed that this time there was a cup made of some metal he didn't recognize on the left side of the sink. On the right side was a device he didn't recognize. It was a capped-off cylinder, the outside of which was textured, and the inside had the appearance of wood yet felt silky smooth. Much to Andrew’s dismay, he couldn’t get anything out of it or make it do anything of note. After a long while of looking at the weird device, he decided to give up and have a drink of water. To his dismay, while it was clearly a sink, he saw no faucet and no other clear way to obtain water from it. He waved his hands around the sink madly and the instant his hand went into the sink, water, which had a blue glow to it, started to come out from the wall. Instinctually he retracted his hand like the water was lava, but surprisingly the water seemed to be the perfect temperature, and the blue glow dissipated with a look not unlike that of steam from a hot shower. Everywhere the water touched seemed to be refreshed and clean.

“I guess when you have magic you don’t need soap” Andrew muttered to no one.

The fact that he couldn’t figure out the point of the cylinder weighed on him. So much so that once he got bored, he went back and retrieved it to study it further. He sat on the bench and started to examine it closely. There were no switches or obvious ways to turn it on. This time though he did notice that around the opening there were some etchings. He was fairly certain they were writings, but he couldn’t be certain as they were so small. After a while his eyes hurt from straining to try to read, and he gave up and spun it idly in his hand. As he did, he noticed a faint white glow could be seen coming from the bottom of it when he gripped it with the closed end up. Yet every time he tried to turn it so he could look at it the white glow would go away. A short time later, he found himself trying to contort himself so he might see what was happening in the tube when he was holding in the way that activated the light. In the middle of doing this, he was startled as a green field swept through his room. He jumped to his feet and instinctively threw the device across the room. On the downswing of that throw, he caught his hand on the sink, leaving a small cut on the outer palm of his hand.

"What Lather never seen a healing cleaning field or whatever before?” he chuckled to himself while inspecting the wound.“I guess I’m more tense than I realized. I hope yall got a good laugh out of that, creepers."

As he nursed the small cut, he noticed the wound was knitting itself back together. It was doing so quite slowly yet it was still fast enough for him to be able to watch it happen. The realization that something was healing him prompted him to look at his chest. Only to discover that while his shirt still had a plethora of burn holes in it, he was no longer injured. It was then that the messages floating in his peripherical vision entered his awareness and he noted that his damage silhouette was almost completely clear. Those messages contained many updates about his healing progress. “Get it together Lather being this wound up can’t be good for you. If you break these creepers win.” He said to pep himself up, breathing and out deeply to try to calm his fraying nerves.

He took the cup and filled it, waiting for the weird blue glow to steam away before taking a drink.

"Who knows what weird cancer that blue stuff would give ya," Andrew said with a smile, thinking of his wife. As he felt she always thought everything caused cancer even Kata implants, so he was sure she’d think this would.

When he snapped out of his thoughts of Linny, he took a drink and almost spit it out. The chill of the water took him by surprise. While the water coming out of the sink was only slightly cool when he washed his hands, this time it felt as if there had been ice in it. How it knew this was what he wanted both astonished him and annoyed him, though he had to admit it tasted great either way. With his thirst sated, his mind turned to food and almost immediately another wood shelf appeared with one of those gelatin cubes for his last cell. As Andrew ate it, despairing at its terrible taste, his mind wandered to how what he really wanted to be eating was a steak. He choked as to his surprise; the flavor had turned to that of a great steak. Even the texture of the cube was exactly like that of a perfectly cooked steak.

"Well, that's something a guy could get used to," Andrew said with a sigh.

Andrew then thought about how he wanted some Bluebell vanilla ice cream and again the flavor and texture changed to that of ice cream.

"Yeah, ok well this captivity at least isn't all bad, amazing beds and any food I want," Andrew said to the wall.

"Well, we're glad to hear that it's not all bad, it will give us a good starting point for our discussions" A somber voice, which sounded a bit like Morgan Freedman, came from behind Andrew. Startled Andrew jumped and as he was spinning around threw the remainder of his meal at the elf who had appeared behind him. The half-eaten cube struck the elf on his left cheek. The elf that was sitting in the chair was tall and his skin had a similar wood color and pattern to that of the walls. The sclera of his eyes were the color of rich clay and his pupils seemed to be made of beautiful green hair algae. The hair on his head and the rest of his body were the colors of fall and while clearly hair, it was somehow reminiscent of dried leaves. All of this to say that his appearance was both striking and handsome even by Elven standards. Andrew could swear that the chair that had not existed just moments before. As it was made from the same wood as the floor, and had the look of melded vines, he assumed like everything else, it had grown from the floor.

Stolen novel; please report.

His suspicion was confirmed, as the elf summoned the green field to clean his face and with a small gesture of his hand another chair grew up from the ground. Andrew ignored it and remained standing just about arm's length from the elf.

"I knew you elves were color-coordinating with your surroundings! Also, what makes you think I'll talk with you?" Andrew said the first part like a kid who just figured out his parent's trick and the second part in a flat non-amused tone.

"This is probably unknown to you as of yet. We elves live forever. Well, if nothing happens to us that is. So, you might say that having to wait your lifetime wouldn't mean as much to me as it would to you. I mention this as from what I have read and watched about you, that just might be an option you would consider. Seeing as I have heard rumors that mind magic seems to hold no sway over you, I guess that choice is up to you. Though I ask you to participate for both of our sakes. As my bosses would not be pleased if I failed to get you to talk and I'm the least intrusive to your health method they are likely to try. On the bright side, if you talk with me, maybe I'll make a mistake and give you the information you need to mount an escape. Though I'm not sure what escape would accomplish. Where would you go? Do you even know what planet you have been brought to?" The elf calmly stated.

Andrew stared blankly at him.

"Ekkomera," the elf said in a slightly magnanimous tone, as he if were bestowing gifts upon Andrew.

Andrew blinked.

"Ekkomera," the elf said again, this time a in slower more enunciated tone.

Andrew yawned as if bored and not understanding.

"What I am trying to convey is that Ekkomera is the planet you're on." the elf said, a slight hint of exasperation leaking in.

Andrew again just stared.

"Your wife was once here you know?" the elf said with a practiced nonchalance.

Andrew’s anger got the better of him, forcing him to give up the game and he almost snarled, “What do you mean she was once here?"

The elf stared.

Andrew, even knowing the elf was goading him, grew angrier and stepped closer. Fists balled up.

"WHAT do YOU Mean my wife WAS here?"

The elf blinked.

Andrew, not wanting to give the elves what they wanted so easily, started to gain some of his composure back. Once he felt he could be moderately calm, he said,

"What do you mean my wife was here?"

The elf yawned. Andrew, knowing the elf was mimicking exactly what he had done, waited for the elf's eyes to close as part of the yawn, and decked him. In the light gravity, the elf flew across the room and slammed into the wall. Andrew wasted little time launching himself toward the elf. Though before he could make it even halfway across the room, brown energy flew from the elf’s outstretched hand. When it struck Andrew, he found his hands forced together and yanked to the ceiling by crystal shackles that had formed. As the elf got back to his feet and strolled across the room, Andrew was left stuck to the ceiling swinging slowly back and forth, shoulders aching from the strain.

As the elf regained his seat, the other chair was absorbed back into the floor and with a wave of his hand Andrew found himself being lowered towards the floor until his toes just touched.

"Mr. Lather…." the elf started.

"No, you will tell me what you meant, or you can explain to your bosses how you couldn’t get anything out of me. I get it will be bad for me, but I doubt it will be pleasant for you either," Andrew cut him off.

"Mr. Lather, I feel I have made a gross miscalculation and ask that we restart. " The elf said in a soothing voice.

"No! I will not play your silly games until you tell me what happened to my wife!" Andrew snarled.

"Mr. Lather I apologize for the stress I have caused you. Truthfully, I don’t know what transpired with her, but I was one of the first to speak with her and She was a truly delightful person. Unfortunately for both of us, she wouldn’t speak to me either and we had to resort to other methods."

"You keep using the term WAS, is my wife alive?" Andrew said with narrowed eyes and through gritted teeth.

"Mr. Lather, how would I know? She was transferred from my area when she was found to have the ability to access magic better than many humans, though nothing as remarkable as yourself. I’ve literally never heard of a human with your abilities." said the elf, before raising a hand to quiet Andrew down.

Andrew saw a pale purple line snake out and fail to attach.

"Did you try that with my wife?" Andrew said with a leonine smile.

The elf smiled " How delightful! So, the rumor is true, you can't be affected by mind magic. That said I must apologize for that. Honestly, I had to see, as outside of a few of the Getl I’m likely the best at this type of magic within this sector. Where are my manners? I know your name and many details of your life, but I have yet to introduce myself. I am Leikni Cebisi Atari of the Ikolis Okusiga though I serve the wise and merciful Geld Enver Biaobel." the elf said.

"Yeah, don't think I didn't notice you again dodged my question, but we'll get back to that. What part of that "Lichen Cebiki Atari Idolis Opossum stuff was your name? Please tell me it's Atari, that would be awesome." replied Andrew with a bit of a smirk.

The elf smiled and said "My name is Cebisi Atari. That other 'stuff' is also important too though, some would say even more so. I am a Leikni, which is a very respectable rank in our society. A rank that is rare enough that there are generally only a handful on any planet, except for planets like this which will have quite a few. I'm also probably the only Okusigan you'll likely ever meet as most of us fled with a traitor to hide from the wrath of the Getls. Of which Geld Biaobel is the greatest. His greatness is demonstrated through the fact that most of my Ikolis, which roughly means school, are hunted and definitely not allowed to have the influence I enjoy."

"Wait, so your last name is Atari? Like for real life?" Andrew said incredulously.

Cebisi, eyebrow raised, replied "Yes, but of all of that. That my surname is Atari is what is of note to you?"

"On my home world, Atari wasn't a little thing. It changed the world, so it's kind of amazing that you're named Atari. I mean what are the chances that two cultures separated by millions of light years have similar words? " Replied an amused Andrew.

"You know your wife was also amused by my last name as well and said something similar. Point of fact we have found our cultures do share a few words in common, but so far, we haven't found any that share a common meaning, though many of those are surprisingly close. Unfortunately, she and I got…… distracted before she could tell me the significance of my name to your culture. Do you mind elucidating me on this?"

"Nah I won't, especially not until you start answering some of my questions. Like, what all did you personally do to my wife while she was in your power?" Andrew said starting with a jovial tone but ending in a tone that was less than welcoming.

"Wait, are you trying to insinuate that I would do something sexual? Much less with a human. How disgusting do you think I am? Do something sexual to her just because she's under my influence. I’m not sure I could think of something that would be more insulting. I’m not some dwarf, even if I were why would I choose you animals to risk my life to mate with?” Cebisi paused in thought before he continued,” I know you have been told our culture doesn't mate in animalistic ways. So, I'm assuming this is just to try to get me to be insulted, which I inexpertly fell for. To directly answer your question, so you don’t accuse me of dodging your questions, no I didn't touch your wife. " Cebisi said affront clear on your face.

"It is a relief that you didn't do that. I mean not a huge one as it sounds like you tortured her, but it does at least eliminate one reason I might have to end you. What did you do to her exactly?" Andrew said eyes narrowed and teeth showing.

"Calm down Mr. Lather. Yes, we mind-controlled her, though to give her credit she was not easily swayed. It would have been better for her if she were though, as breaking into a well-guarded mind can be quite unpleasant. Of course, one of the questions I could never get an answer to was how she learned to put up a guar………" Cebisi said in a placating tone before he cut himself short a look of horror drawing itself across his face as he stared wide eyes at Andrew’s wrist.

Andrew relished the look on Cebisi's face as the shackle on his right arm shattered until the pressure of his will. Followed very quickly by his left. Cebisi's mouth drooped open, as Andrew landed on his feet and quickly threw a punch. A pale tan bubble appeared around Cebisi and intercepted Andrew’s fist. Andrew winced in pain as it did and an audible pop could be heard.

[Contusions on right hand detected]

[Boxer's Fracture in right hand detected]

Then a pale tan flash sent Andrew flying into the wall above the tub. The tub growing out of the floor in time for Andrew to be unceremoniously dumped into it. Water pouring out of the wall and over his head when he landed.

[Multiple minor contusions detected]

Andrew wasted no time and jumped out of the tub the second he got to his feet. Thanks to the low gravity with a single jump, he flew across the room toward Cebisi. Water trailed behind him like a cloak of sparkles and rainbows as if he were some anime character jumping out of a waterfall.

Cebisi, confident in his safety, smiled from inside his pale tan bubble waiting to see Andrew’s other hand break as it hit his barrier. For a second time that day, his confidence shattered along with his magic, as his protective shell shattered moments before Andrew’s fist would have impacted upon it. The remaining shards of energy bounced impotently off the front of his fist as it effortlessly passed through where the barrier had once been. The punch connected with his chin and sent him sprawling back into the wall yet again. Cebisi regained his feet, his eyes showing his immense surprise as he touched his lip, and his finger came back bloody.

Lifting his bloody finger Cebisi growled, "That unfortunately is something I cannot just ignore."