Blood and Profit: Chapter 49

Mew woke more rested than she had felt in ages. She didn’t have a history of remembering her dreams but she could remember the vague sense of flying. It was one of those morning where her mind and body had woken at the same time. With nothing to do she felt no need to rush her morning along and decided to lounge in bed until the flying sensation was banished by the smell of bacon coming from the kitchen.

Her fuzzy slippers scraped along the floor as she shuffled out of her room in a furry blue robe that had always been two sizes too large for her, she considered this the one and only benefit of reaching her adult weight height in her freshman year of high school.

Her father was in the kitchen, making enough food to feed an invading army, her brother was nowhere to be found, but she saw a game of Galactic Alliances spread out on the living room coffee table.  “How late did you two stay up last night?” She asked as she shuffled toward the coffee maker.

Her dad shook his head a little. “long enough to that he’s been reading about GA strategies when he should have been working as this district's elected representative.” He grumbled fake offense as he flipped the pancake was cooking.

She pulled a coffee cup down from the cabinet, filled it and let the coffee warm her hands. “So he’s beating your pretty bad huh?” She asked using the coffee cup to hide her smile.

He glared at her playfully trying to avoid smiling. “I prefer to call it 'lulling him into a false sense of security'.” He replied.

She nodded. “Uh huh. And how secure would you say his sense is right now?” She asked.

He sighed heavily and lifted the pancake out of the pan. “Too secure for my liking.” He admitted.

Eamon groggily shuffled into the kitchen, his hair a mess.  “You two are loud in the morning.” He accused while grabbing a coffee cup out of the cabinet. “You know we could always play a different game.” He said as he filled his cup with coffee.

His father shook his head. “You are free to forfeit the game at any time, but it would be the first game of GA that you’ve lost in more than half your life.” He replied with a smiile.

Eamon turned around to face his father who was holding a big stack of pancakes, his father took the coffee out of his hands and replace it with the plate of pancakes and then ushered him out of the kitchen. Mew followed after her brother with the plates of bacon and eggs. Their father watched then set the food on the table and he drank coffee as his kids reconnect for the first time in over two years. 

Lidarion: Chapter 21

Lisa had never been to the Lidarion Docks in her life. But once she was past the district gate she felt instantly at home. The same could not be said for Squints. The second the smell of rotting fish hit his nostrils he turned an unhealthy shade of green.

Lisa was lost in the sights and sounds of the docks, the fish sellers, the supply shops, the ship design and repair guild, They hadn’t even reached the actual docks and her childhood was flooding back to her with incredible clarity. She looked down at Squints and saw him holding back the impulse to be sick. “Are you going to be ok?” She asked.

Squints burped and nodded with determination. “I have never liked this district. In fact I’ve never been a huge fan of the ocean.” He lamented.

Lisa looked confused. “You’re people are historically sea faring islanders, how can you hate the ocean?” She asked.

Squints shrugged his shoulders. “Dad moved us from the islands when I was a baby, I don’t remember him talking much about our home on the island and I’ve never had a desire to go back there. I’m a dry land Gnome I guess.” He explained.

Lisa nodded. “I’m the exact opposite. I love the ocean, I love sailing, I grew up in this world and I love every part of it.” She said with a smile.

They reached the doc masters office and made their way inside the tiny one room shack. There was an older gentlemen leaning back in a wooden chair, an old floppy tri-corner hat down over his eyes, his feet were up on the desk and he was snoring deeply. Lisa knocked on the door loudly. The man shot up, throwing his hat behind him in a panic. “I’m awake already!” The man growled with droopy half asleep eyes. He looked around the room, not stopping to focus on Lisa or Squints. He ran his hands through his gray hair. “Where’s my hat?” He asked himself more than anything else. He checked the floor, found it behind him and placed it back on his head. Finally acknowledging Lisa and Squints. “How Can I be of service?” he asked.

Lisa pointed to his log book. “We would like to book passage on the next passage to Cela’an.” She explained.

The barely away dock master rubbed his chin. “Not many ships make that trip anymore, and the ones that do, don’t do it very often.” He opened his log book to check the records he had of who was coming and going and when. “There’s one ship scheduled to dock in a few days that could make the voyage, for the right price.” He glanced at Lisa.

She smiled. “Price is not an issue. We just need to get there. What’s the name of the ship?” She asked.

He ran his finger down the page to the entry he was looking for. “The Woah Mom El” He groggily stumbled through the name.

Lisa shook her head. “It’s not Woah Mom El, it’s Womamel” She said trying not to smile.

Squints looked up at her. “How would you know that?” He asked.

She smiled down at him. “Because it’s my brother’s ship and It’s short for ‘Worst Mistake Of My Life.’” She explained.

The Dock master nodded. “Anyway, the Womamel will be docked here in the next few days, you might be able to book passage then. He said.” As he was already situating himself back into his napping position. Squints and Lisa saw themselves out. 

The XP: Chapter 21

In another private box on the opposite side of the Arena The Matriarch sits on the balcony overlooking the now empty arena. She has been working on her knitting and is almost done with an elbow high glove. Sezario comes out of the shadows and joins her on the balcony. “I was beginning to wonder if you would show up.” She said with a smile.

Sezario grabbed a chair to sit in. “Yeah, I’ve been around.” He said sitting down.

The Matriarch gave him a sidelong glance. “Around huh?” It wasn’t a question, but not an accusation either.

Sezario shrugged. “You know me.” He said with a blank face. Down in the Arena The End of the World Club returned from their ten minutes of preparation. Sezario was shocked. “I honestly didn’t think they were going to come back.” He said.

The Matriarch shook her head. “I never had a doubt in my mind.” She said.

Sezario looked at her. “You think they actually have a shot at beating Torcano?” he asked

She nodded. “ I think they have more than a shot.” She said not taking her eyes off her knitting.

Sezario looked back down at the group again. “You have anything to do with that?” He asked.

The Matriarch didn’t stop knitting. “You know me.” She parroted.

Sezario nodded as he watched Trart enter the Arena alone, running to catch up with the rest of the group.

Bob nodded at Trart as he rejoined the group. “You all set?” She asked. Trart Nodded. “Ok as this is officially the stupidest thing we have ever done.” She smiled.

“Hey at least we’re living up to our name.” Blackout Pointed out.

Bob nodded. “Well then, before we do this I only have one question.” Everyone looked at her. “Have you all figured out what class you’re going to start tomorrow?”

Trart fake coughed into his fist. “Later today.”

The others nodded, Bob included. “Fair enough, have you all figured out which class your going to start a half hour from now?” She asked, everyone nodded. “Well then there’s only one thing left to say. “Ladies and Gentlemen of The Almost Entirely Awesome Adventures of the End of the World Club it has been an absolute pleasure playing this game with you.” Bob threw her fist into the center of the group and the other four joined her in a five way fist bump.

The End of the World Club finished their huddle and Turned to face Torcano in a line. The Arena went crazy, the streets of spectators outside the Arena went Crazy and once the timer for the beginning of the match counted to down zero, the End of the World Club went crazy.

University of Console Herorics: Chapter 21

Faith was laid on Lacey’s bed, using her legs as a pillow of sorts. She had been crying, evidenced by the obscenely large pile of used tissues on the bed. Her eyes were red and its doubtful that she’s gotten any decent sleep in the last few days. Lacey was running her hand through Faith’s hair as she continued to cry. The Alarm on Lacey’s phone went off, sending her phone into a noisy fit. She grabbed it and quickly silenced it. “Ok, one hour till meeting, into the shower with you.” Lacy commanded.

Faith rotates and gave Lacey a comical pout. “I can’t just skip it?” She asked.

Lacey looked down at her friend. “The shower or the meeting? Because at this point I honestly wouldn’t recommend skipping either of them.” She couldn’t help the smile from showing. Faith stuck her tongue out. “Well that’s mature. Look, you and I both know that if you don’t do this now it’s going to eat you up inside for a very long time.” She was trying to sound as matter of fact as possible.

Faith rolled over to face the crappy romance on the TV again. “Or I could just move as far away from this school, my family, and boys, as possible.” She grumbled.

Lacey started to poke at her friend in an attempt to get her to move. “Uh huh, and when you find this mythical island of Amazon’s, what do you plan on doing there?” She asked sarcastically.

Faith held out her hands and made a wave motion with her right hand. “Weave baskets. Pretty ones, with shiny shells threaded in them.” She explained.

Lacy moved her legs out from under Faith plopping her on the bed by herself. “Well then, shall we take a basket weaving class first or you do you just wanna pack and jet?” She asked.

Faith sat up grumbling. “No, I can’t run away from my problems for the rest of my life. I’m a big girl, I’m getting in the shower.” She got up and grabbed her towel and stopped near the bathroom door to turn back to her friend. “You’re making me adult, I’m never going to forgive you for this.” She said with a smile.

Lacey pointed at the bathroom. “SHOWER, NOW!” She was trying not to laugh.

Faith opened the bathroom door. “RUDE!” She said as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Forty five minutes later Lacey and Faith were standing outside the Nu Tau Delta house. Faith had really cleaned up. Her makeup was perfect, she had her favorite Nu Tau Delta letter shirt on, her shoes matched the letters in the shirt. Sisters passed the pair and headed into the house. Faith watched as the last of the sisters headed into the house. She looked at Lacey to her left. “Whatever happens in there, we’re still friends, right?” She asked.

Lacey nodded and they headed into the house together.

In order to be a sister in good standing with the sorority you only had to attend ten hours of sorority functions a month, including weekly meetings. There were rules and regulations from their own organization as well as school that kept them from demanding a larger mandatory time commitment. The result was that these weekly meetings were often only ever attended by the girls who lived in the house, or were trying to become more involved in sorority politics. Tonight however the house was standing room only. Every active sister had arrived no less than five minutes early. Faith knew instantly that her sister had leveraged some very serious threats to get the entire sisterhood to be in the same place at the same time, and that it was supposed to embarrass and humiliate her.

Tanya and the other five girls on the sorority council were sitting at the only table in the room. Set right in front of the fireplace. Tanya rapt her gavel three times before she spoke. “I call this meeting to order. Before we get on with our official business we have a sister who would like to address the chapter.” She said with a smile on the verge of predatory.  Some of the girls turned to look at Faith, others were polite or reserved enough to wait for her to reach the front of the room, crawling over and stepping in between the girls filling every available space in the gigantic living room. Once she reached the front of the room there was no denying that every set of eyes was on her, many staring angry laser beams into various areas of her body, attempting to turn their mental judgement of her crimes into physical punishment by way of their eyes.  Faith looked around the room and realized that she couldn’t name even ten girls in the room. She cleared her throat. “Sisters of the Beta Sigma chapter of Nu Tau Delta. I come before you tonight to ask forgiveness. I come before you to clear my conscience. I come before you tonight, to admit my faults and failures.” Her opening did little to lessen the intensity of the stares she was receiving. Never the less she persisted. “Some of us thrive in this, class based society. Where it’s not what you do, it’s the image of yourself you present to the outside world. It’s not about the quality of your life, it’s the size of your bank account. It’s not how you make other people feel it’s all about how many people worship you.” A few of the glares had softened. Many soured and she could feel the silent wave of acidic rage washing over her from behind. “I am here to apologize because I thought I was immune to the realities of that system. You see, I had friends and a life before I became this, person.” She pulled the pins out of her hair, letting it fall messily to her shoulders. “I let my Sister warp and distort how I saw myself. They say you can become a brand new person in College and I was so afraid of who I might become that I somehow convinced myself to become the person I hate most.” She lifted her feet one by one and pulled her shoes off tossing them gently to the floor. “I’m not saying this world is wrong for everyone, or that it’s a horrible reality that destroys more decent human beings than it creates. Many of you will go on to become outstanding and exceptional people. But for me it means becoming a carbon copy of my sister. “She pulled off her Nu Tau Delta Shirt revealing a plain black tank top underneath. “And honestly I’d rather die.” She turned and tossed the shirt at her sister. Her fist picked it out of the air like a bear trap snapping shut. “So, Tanya, I quit.” She spun toward the door and stepped her way out of the room. Girls practically diving out her way this time.

Tanya stood up, barely controlled fury in her eyes. “You walk out of this house, I tell our parents everything. “ She threatened.

Faith threw up the middle finger on both hands still heading for the door. “I dare you, lets see who comes out of that info dump on top.” She said as she opened the door and headed out into the night. Lacey scampered out of the room and snuck through the door before it closed. The room was dead silent for a moment. Then the front door opened again and Lacey tossed her own letter shirt on the floor and closed the door again. For a split second Tanya lost control and tossed her gavel at the nearest window, shattering it. A majority of the room got up and filed toward the door, murmuring as they left the house. None of the girls picked up the abandoned shirt.

Shades of Justice: Chapter 25

The elevator stopped on the second level and the doors opened to reveal two Cretacian warriors. Dante made a grab for his glasses. “Step into Sh- ugh!” The Cretacian on his right kicked him hard in the stomach. He dropped to his knees clutching his stomach. “Well, if we’re not going to behave ourselves..” He groaned on the floor as he took a Cretacian fist to his left jaw.

There were a few people waiting for the elevator on level two. The indicator light turned on and the doors of the elevator opened to reveal Dante standing on his own two feet,  holding his ribs where blood had started to seep through his shirt, the wound visible under his hand and the torn fabric. His left eye was already sporting a quickly darkening fresh bruise, The cut above his right eye and his nose were both bloody. The two Cretacian’s were in two separate piles, crumpled on the floor of the elevator. Dante glared at the people waiting for the elevator. “You might want to call maintenance.” He said stepping out of the elevator and turning right down the hallway.

He had memorized the apartment number and hobbled his way down to the correct door. He found it and reached his hand out to knock . The door opened before he touched it.

“Come in.” a voice invited from the darkness.

Dante considered for a moment. His hesitation was noticed by the voice. “Do not be afraid. You were expected.” The voice assured him. Dante looked up and down the hallway and then back into the darkness of the room. Shrugged his shoulders as much as his broken body would allow and then walked into the room, the door shutting behind him, leaving him in total darkness. “Please hold.”  The voice asked and suddenly the apartment was bathed in light from lamps built into the wall. Against the back wall there was a bipedal creature with what appeared to be three heads, each at the top of their own three foot neck. Each of the heads had a set of video goggles on. The body was strapped into housing on the wall. The sight caused Dante to take a small jump back in surprise. “I apologize for my appearance.  It is disturbing, to be sure. But from what I have seen, this is only the most recent in a long line of disturbing things. “ The middle head spoke to him alone.

Dante’s hand brushed a chair causing him to look down. He grabbed it and moved it so he could sit down. “Are you the Witness?” He asked.

All three heads nodded. “We are the Witness. We know why you are here, do you?” All three of the Witnesses’ heads asked in unison.

Dante nodded. ‘I am looking for a Shimmeron named Lumarion.” He replied.

Even with the video goggles over their eyes all three of the heads looked directly at him. “You know nothing, you cannot ask the right questions or do what is needed with the answers I have for you. You must learn.” From the wall a robotic arm with a new set of video goggles extended out toward Dante. “Come, there is little time.”  The heads all said at once.

Dante gave a skeptical glance at the video goggles.  

Blood and Profit: Chapter 48

Eamon had always been closer to his mother. He and his father had never butted heads but he, like his mother, was a hands on real world problem solver, where his father was always more of a dreamer. He had turned his dreams into an impressive writing career which afforded Eamon and his mother the freedom to spend a majority of his youth volunteering and being involved in the community.

Mew had been asleep almost an hour before Eamon got around to updating his father on the current situation. At first he had only intended to tell his father about passing his seat to Kepi but once he started talking it all came out, from the vision the Starseeds had shown him, to the danger the colony was in and how strongly he felt that he needed to help the Starseeds record their memories. By the time he had finished he had been talking for almost two hours.

His father had listened patiently and made very little commentary. When it was clear that Eamon had reached the end of his rambling his father nodded. "Sounds like one of my books." He said with a smile.

Eamon nodded. "It does, I'm sorry I quit my job." He said almost as a reflex.

His father shook his head. "No you're not, and you have no reason to be. You are your mothers son. You both had such altruistic ideas about what could be accomplished with that much power. She was always too busy getting actual work done to run for office but you were determined and I think this outcome was the best possible way this could have ended for you. Besides, I think your mother would be just as proud and probably even more so with your new mission in life." he assured him.

Eamon finished his tea, got off the couch and went into the kitchen. "I didn't hit me until just now how much I'm going to miss this house when were gone." he admitted as he reached for the tea kettle.

His father stood up. "About that." He said moving into the kitchen. "I'm not leaving." He stated flatly.

Eamon almost dropped his cup. "W - What?" He stuttered.

His father took his cup from him and refilled them both as he explained. " You mother is here, you kids are grown and ready to take on the universe. I'm going to stay here, with her." He said sadly.

Eamon was still in shock. "Dad..." he trailed off, not knowing what else there was to say.

Lidarion: Chapter 20

It took Squints all of an hour and a half to gather every piece of writing that said anything about the Sigil’s of the Paragon’s because every piece of writing happened to be one paragraph in one book. Squints still took a few more hours to look through the catalog of each library searching of anything he could think of that might lead to information about the sigils. After two days of research he still had just the one book.

He dreaded returning to his friends with the book because all it said what that far to the south, beyond the Gnome’s island chain was the Elven continent. There they would find the city of scrolls, where five scrolls held the secrets of how to find, and procure the sigils of the Paragon’s. Two days of research and all he had found was a book that led him to another series of books on the other side of the planet.

His mind returned to the present to find that it was well past sun down and he had been standing outside Alex’s bar for some time. He sighed heavily gripped the book in his hands and charged toward the bar as if he were walking against the wind.

Alex had closed the bar less than an hour ago, she and Lisa were wrapped up in a conversation when Squints entered the nearly empty building with determination. He looked around the bar in confusion. “Where’s Trent?” He asked.

Lisa and Alex glanced In his direction. “He and Brooke are off enjoying their much delayed wedding night” Alex answered.

Lisa saw the book in Squints hands. “Is that our first clue?” She asked.

Squints walked over to the bar and hopped on up a chair. He placed the book on the bar. “This is our only clue.” He said with finality.

Lisa didn’t get it. “I’m sure once we go through the rest of the library district –“ She started.

“This is the only mention of the Sigil’s in the entire kingdom of Lidarion.” Squints interrupted.

Lisa paused and then shrugged her shoulders. “One book’s still a lot to go on.” She acquiesced.

Squints shook his head and opened the book to the relevant page. “It’s just one paragraph, on one page. Nothing more, thankfully nothing less.” He grumbled.

Alex and Lisa looked at the paragraph together. Lisa’s lips moved as she read the passage to herself. Then she looked up at Squints. “We’ll need a ship.” She pointed out. Squints nodded. “I’m pretty sure I can help with that.” She offered.

Alex raised an eyebrow. “How and what do you know about ships?” She asked in surprise.

Lisa smiled. “Everything my father could teach me without my mother finding out that he was grooming his daughter to be a sailor just like her old man.” She answered.

Alex smiled. “When you get a moment I would love to know how you went from being a second generation sailor to a healer.”

Some of the light disappeared from Lisa’s eyes. “Its not much of a story. The wind is always ready to catch your sail, you just have to want it bad enough. The same cannot be said for my mother.” Lisa shook off the sadness. “But that’s a story for another time. Tomorrow we get charter the first leg of our quest.” She said with a new smile.