Episode IV – Invasion and Betrayals
Ever felt like a real chump?
Ever been conned into buying something you did not need or want?
Well join the club, it has probably happened to all of us to some extent.
Sometimes it is embarrassment at being caught out, or most likely the financial loss.
If you ever think of those emails people get from relatives of dead dictators or from some lottery people can not remember entering, people do get caught by them and loose thousands.
Sometimes a con can be potentially fatal, for Celeste has been tricked into being caught on a drow dark-space, by Consort Vabalavich, who through her has discovered the location of the last free humans on Earth, and is in the process of stabbing Celeste’s projection on the dark space which will kill her in the real world to maintain his element of surprise…
+ + +
The Drow dark space of Consort Vabalavich
Vabalavich brought the dagger down with all his psychic might to plant it in the projection on to the dark space projection of Celeste.
Just as the dagger was about to hit Celeste, suddenly she was gone and so, if there had been any, Vabalavich stabbed at thin air.
Outrageous
Vabalavich kept the dark space going, maybe Celeste had somehow teleported with in the dark space, after all she was rumoured to have had that ability like her father the Spirit of Death, but somehow that disappearance did feel like teleportation.
“Think you can hide little girl?” Vabalavich shouted.
Suddenly he spun around firing deadly psychic force blasts, in case Celeste had gone invisible.
Nothing!
Vabalavich played through some of the stolen memories from Celeste, there was only one particular explanation for Celeste’s removal from a dark space, another drow master, it had to be, and not only any drow master, but the one enemy amongst the drow he had not been able to liquidate in his putsch against those loyal to the former Drow High Council.
“So Major Bolak” Vabalavich called out, “I look forward to seeing your execution”
Vabalavich chanted an incantation.
+ + +
A hotel Room in Downtown Dallas
Earth
Vabalavich opened his eyes. There was his apprentice Jaigon holding Sophie Mitchell the personal assistant to the former chair of the old Inter Dimensional Entity Control organisation tightly by her upper arm. Sophie’s hands were handcuffed behind her back and she was sobbing.
“Is she dead?” Jaigon asked
Vabalavich shook his head, “Someone got her out before I could dispatch her” he said angrily, “I suspect an old colleague of mine who allegedly drowned a hundred miles short of Saint Helena”
“Shall we execute this one now my liege?” Jaigon asked, “I would be willing to do it as it would be my first kill in the service of the Hadreth”
Sophie just looked at the floor and then closed her eyes wondering how much it would hurt being put to death.
“I’m sorry Jaigon” Vabalavich replied, “But while Celeste lives she may still be of use, besides why execute her and make a martyr of her when we can use Hadreth mind control tricks I can show you later to present her to this world as a repentant sinner who has loyally assisted our glorious leader the Lady High Troll in crushing the resistance”
“Yes my liege” Jaigon sighed, “I still have so much to learn”
“Indeed you do” Vabalavich replied, “As did I when I was your age”
Sophie just continued to sob and wished they would kill her, because she was so ashamed at selling out the rest of humanity.
“But enough of this” Vabalavich then said, “Once I have dealt with that oaf who thought to use collars of strangulation I need to return to Karam Tag Chou to assemble our invasion force so we can wipe out the resistance once and for all, although I suspect thanks to the Major we may have lost the element of surprise”
“What do I do with her?” Jaigon asked pointing to Sophie
“Have her taken into custody of the Ghetto Trolls, I trust them slightly more than the bugbears and the other drow” Vabalavich answered
“My Liege?” Jaigon then asked
“Yes?” Vabalavich responded
“Will we be sending more nuclear devices to wipe out the resistance?” Jaigon pressed
“It is a very tempting shortcut Jaigon and at first look an excellent solution” Vabalavich answered
“But I have missed something yet again” Jaigon sighed
“You are becoming more Hadreth day by day Jaigon, just like your father did” Vabalavich smiled, “But you are right, wiping them out with a nuclear device could be arranged swiftly and it would do the job, but what you are missing is that sometimes when a resistance is crushed, the rebels must be seen by those who may have been inclined to follow them, to be punished in some kind of spectacle. To merely hear that they have been vaporised is not nearly as satisfying as a populace being made to see them either burn alive at a stake, drowned in a large glass tank or hanged slowly as they kick their feet in the air. Their deaths must be made to be agonising and slow to drive home the message, if you do not obey us, you and your children will suffer the same fate” Vabalavich added with venom.
“I see what you mean my liege, it was exactly what the orcs did when they placed the Lord Low Troll’s head on a pike at the beginning of their civil war”
“Almost” Vabalavich replied, “But his death was a little too quick, but anyway we are wasting time, I have an invasion to arrange, take our guest and make her secure, let the trolls know, she is to be kept alive as she is worth more to us in that condition. Even now she is thinking how best to commit suicide, I’m sorry Miss Mitchell” Vabalavich then addressed Sophie, “But I can not allow you to do that to yourself”
+ + +
A white space
Location Unknown
Celeste fell backwards and landed in what seemed like soft snow, but somehow it wasn’t.
Celeste then noticed that unlike in the dark space projection, she was completely naked in this white space
Where was she?
One moment she was in a drow dark space about to be stabbed to death there with a psychic dagger, the next she was here, where ever here was.
Carefully she stood up and looked around; it seemed as if there was white as far as the eye could see. She looked up and although the sky appeared blue, there were lots of clouds crossing it faster than any clouds she had ever seen.
Had she been dreaming she was on a dark space?
“I could not allow that drow to kill you” a voice came from behind her. It was unlike any voice she had ever heard, for it sounded like rushing water down a water fall.
Slowly and nervously Celeste turned around.
Coming towards her was a man in some kind of white toga whose brilliance hurt her eyes.
Celeste, uncharacteristically tried to use her arms to cover her modesty, she had learned this habit from her extended time with humans especially Simon. Then a though struck Celeste, maybe she was supposed to appear like this, given the way this creature had an aura of authority about him, so gave up trying, but at the same time felt very self conscious.
“You saved me?” Celeste nervously said as she put her arms by her side
The man in white did not answer the question but still kept approaching. The man then waved his right arm. Suddenly Celeste was very modestly dressed in a white toga that covered her completely, and it felt like it was made of some kind of silk, yet it was opaque.
Something felt wrong, so nervously Celeste started to back away, “Who are you” she asked in terror
“I am Raguel” the man said in his terrifying voice, “I am here to collect you, you do not belong with the humans”.
“But they’re my friends” Celeste protested; “My fiancé is one of them” she pleaded.
“You are a child of death and fate and yet you have a soul” the man in white said firmly, “Your place is not with them but with us,”
“No” Celeste pleaded, “Please I have to go back and warn them” she went on
“We can not allow that” the man in white insisted, “We are forbidden from helping humanity, you must stand aside and let what will be, will be”
Celeste turned and tried to run, but just like in the dark space her feet would not move.
“I’m sorry” the man in white with his voice of many rushing waters went on, “This is not an option for you, you have no choice in the matter”
Suddenly a fire ball appeared in the distance in front of her heading right for her.
Celeste threw herself to the ground as it raced towards her, but the fireball seemed to be deflected harmlessly upwards.
Celeste looked up at where the fireball had come from.
There in front of her stood an almost identical figure, but this one was made of fire.
What is the meaning of this interference fallen one” the man in white shouted with such volume that it hurt Celeste’s ears.
“Us, interfere?” the fiery figure said in a voice that sounded like rolling thunder, “It is you who are violating the treaty by speaking openly with this mortal human”
“Bernael is it?” the man in white retorted, “She is no human, her parents are not of the world of humans but believed by humans to be one of us”
“This half breed has a soul of a human and the form of a human” the fiery figure went on, “She seems human to me, you had no right deflecting my fireball”
Just then Celeste heard a whispering voice she did recognise telling her they had found her, it was Shamus McTuckle the leprechaun from the former Irish special diplomatic service.
“We do not know why she has a human soul” the figure in white continued to protest behind her, “She belongs with us and not the humans, I am merely collecting her as is our right”
Suddenly Celeste was gone from this white space
“What have you done with her Bernael?” The man in white demanded
“I have not done anything with her Raguel” the fiery figure insisted, “I thought it was you who made her vanish”
“She must have returned back to mankind” the man in white said quietly.
“I will speak to Samael about what you have done” the fiery figure shouted, “And how you spared a mortal in violation of treaty”
“And I will speak to Metatron about how you Bernael interfered with my task of collecting one who belongs with us. The treaty Bernael does not allow you to interfere in our internal affairs” the figure in white replied, “And if you had taken time to check your facts you would see that neither of her parents are human” the man in white went on, “And Bernael, if she was human you are in violation because you fallen ones are only allowed to whisper temptations to the humans, not throw fireballs at them. By your own actions you showed that you knew she was not human. You will not catch me out Bernael in a treaty violation”
“We will discuss this another time Raguel” the fiery figure said angrily, “You would do well not to repeat the error of Karael, the other of you so called loyal ones, we heard that he was under arrest on charge of treaty violation”
“I know Bernael” the man in white went on, “Or had you forgotten what my role is”
“How could we not, for you were the one who betrayed us when we were voicing our disquiet about those revolting half breeds”
“You mean your rebellion” the man in white shouted accusingly
“Call it what you will Raguel” the fiery figure reciprocated, “The moment I can prove you loyal ones have been violating the terms of our treaty will be the moment we will be able to deal with these stinking half-breeds once and for all and then your kind will have no purpose”
“That moment will never happen Bernael” the man in white replied, “I will collect that one who should be of us, and we will abide by your infernal treaty”
“We shall see” the fiery figure sneered, and then vanished from the white space.
“I will find you Celeste” the man in white whispered, “You will come with me whether you want to or not” he added with renewed determination, before he too vanished and the white space dissolved into nothingness.
+ + +
Celeste woke up gasping and sat up. She was back in the cabin in her own night clothes. There in her room were both Shamus McTuckle and Major Bolak. Shamus was sitting on the bed while Major Bolak stood in the corner.
“You were on a drow space” Major Bolak said sternly, “I felt it as you drifted off to sleep”
“But then you were somewhere else” Shamus chipped in, “It was as if they were holding on to you and suddenly they let you go”
“As soon as they let go, I brought you back” Major Bolak added
Celeste closed her eyes and put her hands to her face, “I’m so sorry” she sobbed, “Doctor Henshaw was right, I’ve betrayed everyone”
“What do you mean?” Shamus asked
Celeste brought her hands down, “It was Consort Vabalavich, Mr McTuckle, he caught me in the dark space and thanks to me he’s discovered where we are”
“I should have guessed he would have tried that, although I wonder why he took so long” Major Bolak said sternly before adding, “Celeste, in order to find you he had to have had some kind of psychic link to you”
“Probably himself, from when they briefly met in that Venezuelan prison cell” Shamus interrupted
“No Mr McTuckle” Celeste sobbed, “it was Sophie, Sophie Mitchell. Shamus, he’s got Sophie”
“It was probably an illusion my dear” Shamus replied in as kindly manner as possible, “She was incinerated in the nuclear attack on the IDEC headquarters. He probably started coming after us because I was stupid enough to use my teleportation on this forsaken island, and you were just handy”
“No!” Major Bolak cut in firmly, “A drow can not disguise who they are in a dark space, they can only hide, just as I did when I took you onto one the other week to speak with that kobold”
“Yes I remember” Shamus replied in an irritated tone, “He kept accusing me of being a blasted gnome!”
“Anyway” Major Bolak interrupted, “Who is this Sophie Mitchell that they appear to have captured?”
“Just the PA to the late Kathryn Cooper” Shamus answered, “Celeste stayed at her house for just over a week or so”
“Well if they have had her all this time” Major Bolak went on, “what intelligence they would have got from her will have been useless to them, but her involvement with Celeste would have made her valuable for a dark-space trap which is what he used on Celeste. I’m afraid Celeste it was not a case that you were handy as Mr McTuckle suggests, but that you were deliberately targeted”
“Oh no” Celeste whimpered, “I’m so sorry, they’re coming and it’s all my fault”
Shamus closed his eyes and shook his head in disbelief, “But as you said Bolak, why did they wait so long?” he muttered and then he turned back to Celeste, “You said he caught you”
Celeste nodded, “He’s going to be sending one of those bombs they used before, isn’t he?” she sobbed, “and it’s all my fault”
Shamus looked her in the eye, “That’s rubbish my dear” he went on, “A drow dark space is hard to resist and can take anyone unaware of them. Only one being I know of managed to resist one, and that was only one time he managed it”
“I doubt he would send in a nuclear device” Major Bolak interrupted, “It would rob them of a show trial, they will want to show the remaining members of the human’s organisation that should have dealt with him all executed, most likely by hanging as a message to other humans, a quick capitation blow would just give us martyrdom and some would try and say that some of us survived. The Hadreth operate by crushing hope”
“What ever method they will be using against us, we have to warn the others now” Shamus then said as he jumped down from Celeste’s bed
“Yes” Major Bolak agreed, “I’m glad Mr Smith advised us to have cases packed for this eventuality”
“She’s going to say I told you so” Celeste squeaked out, but nobody heard her as the others were too preoccupied with warning the others
Celeste got out of bed and changed out of her night clothes into her normal clothes, even though she did not feel she deserved to wear anything, all the while thinking how even Simon might be turned against her for bringing the eye of the drow to Grytviken in South Georgia
Celeste located her emergency case and picked it up, it contained the bare essentials and as Pete had suggested when they first landed on this island, it was ready to grab in less than fifteen minutes. Pete had told everyone that he had read about this from some of the spy stories he used to read and they all needed to be ready in case they had to evacuate in a hurry. Little did anyone realise this would have to be the case.
Celeste carried her emergency case in to the main room. Both Shamus and Major Bolak had gone, out to warn the others that they had to escape, but to where?
The technicians Pete, Sue-Lim, Doctor Henshaw and her beloved Simon were trying to work out how to make the artificial wormhole generators invisible to this satellite system they went on about called Sky-Guard. The whole irony of that system Pete had told them was that it was originally part of the IDEC, but it had fallen into the hands of the forces of the Lady high Troll and was now used by them to maintain control.
If they started up a wormhole generator up or used a dimension jump orb, then the satellites would home in on it in seconds, which was now, thanks to Celeste’s stupidity so she thought probably irrelevant as they now had their location anyway.
She kept expecting anytime now to be vaporised by a nuclear blast, or for a drow, troll or orc invasion force. It was too cold for bugbears, which was the only small mercy they had.
Celeste also found herself nervously looking around for that man in white, according to that other figure made out of fire, the man in white’s name was Raguel and he was trying to take Celeste away from the man she loved,
although Simon would probably hate her as well now Celeste suspected
Celeste wandered out of her front door carrying her emergency case in to the cold night air
Celeste considered herself worse than useless, “Oh daddy I screwed up big time” she wailed
“Evening Celeste” a voice came from behind her.
Celeste almost jumped out of her skin.
She turned around.
It was Padow, the former clan chief of the Manjura troll clan
“I came to see Major Bolak and Mr McTuckle” Padow told Celeste, “Are they in?”
Celeste looked into the eyes of the troll and shook her head.
“You’ve been crying” Padow observed, “Something is wrong”
“I should never have come here” Celeste went on, “I’ve ruined everything” she wept
“What’s happened” Padow asked with concern now in his voice.
“I was in a drow dark space” Celeste went on, “The drow who shot you, he had Sophie and like an idiot I ran to her and the drow caught me and has found out we’re here”
“Have the major and Mr McTuckle gone to inform everyone?” Padow asked
Celeste nodded, “I’m so sorry I let you down” Celeste sobbed, “Doctor Henshaw was right all the time, I’m useless”
Padow shook his head, “But you healed me and teleported me to the ship Celeste, I hardly call that being useless, I just wish I had remembered to thank you, but with the evacuation it went clean out of my head until now.”
Suddenly it felt like a thunderbolt had hit Celeste at this news. She had been told that the GPS locator had started to work and Major Bolak and Mr McTuckle had had to come in and rescue them.
“But they said Major Bolak and Mr McTuckle pulled us out of there after I had some kind of seizure because I tried to teleport and I was still unable to”
Padow groaned and put his head in his hands, “I did not realise, you did not know”
“Why would they tell me that” Celeste asked the troll
“Maybe they wanted to protect you” the troll guessed, “If you knew you had that ability what would you have done?”
“I would have done something to help Padow sir” Celeste replied
“Exactly and probably ended up being captured Celeste” Padow told her
“Maybe I should see if I can teleport” Celeste suggested, “I have to save Sophie if I can after what she did for me, maybe I could find her and rescue her”
Padow shook his head, “And that would be a mistake especially with the drow of the Hadreth order”
“What are you saying?” Celeste asked, suddenly feeling annoyed, “We give up without even trying?”
“As hard as it seems Celeste, I would resist even trying” Padow went on, “When we arrived at the Bataan that day, you passed out and ended up in the infirmary there, who is to say that by bringing me to the Bataan that you once again over taxed your teleport ability and it is still lost to you.”
“Maybe I should try” Celeste suggested, “But I better get undressed first” she added without thinking
Padow clasped both his hands on her arms to stop her from taking any clothing off, “But if you try to teleport, you could bring the attention of the drow even quicker.” He warned her
“Too late I already have” Celeste replied, “All because I got caught out by a dark space, Doctor Henshaw is going to have a field day with that one”
Padow sighed, “I suppose we better get going to the Andrews, they will need help with the children during the evacuation”
“Where too?” Celeste asked
“I don’t know” Padow responded, “There is one thing I need you to do”
“What?” Celeste asked suspiciously
“I would prefer it if you did not let Mr McTuckle or the major know that I told you what really happened that day, I would rather not have a lecture from either of them. They can get quite sanctimonious at times”
“Right” Celeste said nervously
+ + +
Karam Tag Chou
The Citadel of the Troll Emperor
Vabalavich stepped out to review the assembled shock troops of drow, and Ghetto trolls as they were assembling in the great hall, normally used for the inauguration of troll emperors.
Then in front of him a figure he had not totally expected to see entered the great hall, but being Hadreth, he did not show his surprise one bit. It was his supposed lover, Brameana, the Lady High Troll in full battle dress.
Vabalavich kneeled before her and kissed her hand, “We are so glad you could make it on this great day your highness” he said out loud, mostly for show
Then Vabalavich quietly said, “Brameana your presence is a joy to see you down from the imperial palace, but do you not run the risk of dignifying this runt of a pathetic resistance by going into final battle against them?”
“I want to make it clear” Braemeana told Vabalavich, “If my half brother still lives, I want them to make sure he is kept alive to see all the others either dance in the wind at the end of a rope, or my favourite, I want him to see them breathe water as they are held under by the chains in the drowning tank”
Vabalavich smiled, “If only you had been a drow, you would have made a good Hadreth queen”
“If only you were a Ghetto troll” Brameana reciprocated with a cheeky smile
“Quite so your imperial majesty” Vabalavich replied, “I plan to use your trolls as the main shock troops assisted by drow to defend against magic” he explained
“So my warriors will be in the front line” Brameana said with pride in her voice, “But why no orcs or bugbears?”
“Simply because where the fugitives are is a very cold place” Vabalavich went on, “They chose well as trolls and drow are the only ones who can stand those temperatures”
“Do we have the element of surprise?” Brameana asked furtively
Vabalavich shook his head, “I fear not my lady, I was in the process of dispatching that urchin Celeste when somehow she was removed from my dark space. I suspect by a former Major still loyal to the old Drow High Council”
“Then what are we waiting for” Brameana said impatiently and then turned to face the assembled troops, then she turned back, “Do we know if they are still on the island?”
“I have heard word from my apprentice Jaigon who has just returned from the world of Humans and he tells me that there had been no report from Sky-guard control to indicate any wormholes, either by orb or the human device that creates them” Vabalavich replied
“And how reliable is this Sky-Guard?” Brameana asked
“Totally, ever since we managed to find that hidden programme that sent it into a maintenance cycle over a week ago” Vabalavich replied. “I am hoping that the human who did this will not realise he no longer has the ability to shut it down like he did before”
“I trust Manjura trolls will have orbs” Brameana asserted.
“Not this time, the drow are operating them” Vabalavich answered, “It was Qwi-chong’s idea”
Brameana shook her head in disgust, “What kind of clan chief is he if he can not trust his own Manjura trolls”
“A clan chief who has not forgotten he is a usurper and that some may be secretly loyal to his predecessor” Vabalavich replied.
“Why do we still put up with him?” Brameana complained, “You said we could dispose of him”
“We will” Vabalavich said to Brameana with a smile,
“And I will dispose of you Brameana at the right time also” Vabalavich thought to himself.
Brameana turned back to the troops, “Today Victory is ours” she shouted
The trolls let out a massive roar of approval
“We will smite the last of the human resistance who have eluded us for so long”
Another roar of approval
“Before we go and take the island of our enemies I have one thing I need to tell you” Brameana went on, “If you find a certain troll, who was once the Clan Chief of the Manjura, I want him alive. He is my half brother and I want him to see as many of the others you are able to capture, put to death before that usurper is put to death at my hand”
“We obey our Lady High Troll” the trolls roared back in unison.
Brameana stood there drinking in the adulation, while Vabalavich stood at her side looking impassive as was his style.
Then Vabalavich stepped forward, “Hadreth open the gates” he yelled in drow tongue.
Immediately multiple blue vortices started up
“I want to lead my troops into battle” Brameana announced and then pulled out a sword she was carrying
“Very noble I’m sure” Vabalavich told her, “But what if the first action of the humans and their allies is to put a bullet into you”
“I am not a coward Vabalavich” Brameana retorted
Vabalavich put up his hands, “I would never imply that my lady” he replied, “I am merely being selfish in wanting to protect the love of my life”
“That’s why I love you so Vabalavich” Brameana whispered, “You are always thinking of me”
“You are never far from my thoughts” Vabalavich replied, “Your troops are professionals, they have trained for war, you are trained to rule. Let them do their job and let us keep out of their way” he then suggested.
Brameana sheathed her sword, “As you say my love” she whispered, “I always value your advice as well as how you please me in bed”
+ + +
The four former IDEC technicians, Simon Hargreaves, Charlene Henshaw, Pete Smith and Sue-Lim Wang frantically worked on one of the artificial wormhole generators
“I told you that b***h” was trouble Charlene grumbled
“It’s not her fault” Whined Simon as he put his screw driver down, “Shamus said it was his fault for teleporting on the island”
“Well she was the one who gave us away in that dark space” Charlene countered, “And Shamus only teleported because that melodramatic drama queen ran out after I called her out for showing she cared more about her own selfish interests than the Andrews family”
“And what about the way you went on when we called
you out for going on at her all the time” Sue-Lim responded, “I really don’t understand why you’re the only one with a problem with her”
“I’m not the only one Sue-Lim” Charlene countered “Captain Philips…”
“Can we get on with the matter in hand” Pete interrupted, “The invasion force will be here anytime soon, if they’re not sending a nuke, and we need to boost the power on this one if we are to evacuate everyone on time”
“I’m here to let you know that the Andrews, the O’Kerry’s, the twins, the Commander and Jenny have just left in the fishing boat over to
Stromness.” The voice of Shamus came as he entered the cabin,
Shamus was accompanied by four figures, about a foot tall, wearing green hats and little else. They were Cornish pixies and they stood quietly just inside the door
“That old thing?” Charlene asked, “I wouldn’t have thought it was sea worthy” she added.
“It was all we had Doctor Henshaw, there was no way we could get to Stromness over the mountains with the children” Shamus protested, “I’m so glad that the colonel and Mr Andrews spent the time they did restoring it. Mitch O’Kerry and his wife are trying to maintain a distraction spell along with a couple of Cornish pixies to try and conceal it in case there is a sea attack”
“Once they drop them off are they coming for us?” Simon asked
“I suspect the invasion will be started by then” Pete replied
“Quite so” Shamus replied, “Anyway in case we have to get off of this island totally I came to see how you are getting on”.
“Well we would be making better progress if this lot were not bickering about Celeste” Pete said in exasperation
“That’s unfair Pete” Sue-Lim complained, “its Charlene”
“Enough” Shamus butted in, “Whatever that child did or did not do is not relevant, we have to get off this island before whatever response that drow is going to send”
“I only pointed out” Charlene tried to speak up, but Shamus was having none of it.
“If you had been in that dark space Doctor Henshaw you would have been caught out exactly the same, so let’s not get on your high horse, we don’t have the time” Shamus spat back, “Now what progress have you made”
“Sorry Mr McTuckle” Simon said quietly, “The isotope we used to power it is not powerful enough to keep the wormhole on long enough or big enough.”
“What about that trick you did to get us off that LCAC?” Shamus asked as he walked over to Simon.
“Still the same issue Shamus” Pete spoke up, “The isotope is also badly decayed, and we could probably only get one use out of this if that, apparently Timothy Zachary had a similar problem on IDW02 according to Jenny”
“If we were at IDEC headquarters we could have swapped it for a more powerful isotope” Sue-Lim explained, “But then if we had our headquarters we would not be in this position”
Simon put his hand up
“What is it my lad” Shamus asked.
“Miss Green said Timothy Zachary used some amulet to power the one he had” Simon piped up
“Those were amulets of empathic protection” Shamus explained, “And then they needed the Spirit of Lust to transfer the magic from them to that isotope thingy of yours”
“My Celeste is a major spirit of virtue” Simon spoke up
“Nice try Simon” Charlene interrupted, “But we don’t have any such amulets”
“My father has one” Sue-Lim said quietly
“As does the colonel” Pete added
“Oh come on” Charlene complained, “even with those there is no guarantee that that creature you call a spirit of virtue can transfer the power”
“She’s my fiancée” Simon insisted
“I SAID ENOUGH” Shamus shouted, and then in a quieter voice, “I will get the amulets, Sue-Lim you find Celeste, this has to be worth a shot if it’s all we have”
With that Shamus teleported out
“I thought they weren’t supposed to do that on the island” Sue-Lim commented as she watched the leprechaun vanish”
“Well thanks to you know who they already know we are here” Charlene snapped back
Cough, Cough
One of the pixies stepped towards Sue-Lim, “I can help you find Celeste” he told the technician, “My friends here are here to teleport you out should it come to that”
“Where to?” Charlene asked
“We know of another island that the trolls have not bothered with, but we will let you know if need be”
“Yeah right” Charlene retorted, “Do you want us to strip off now or do you do that when you teleport us?”
“Why would we want you to do that?” the lead pixie asked
“Because you can’t teleport a being with their clothes on?” Charlene ventured
“That’s fairies” The Pixie retorted, “We can teleport you fully clothed as you will see” The pixie then grabbed Sue-Lim’s hand and then she and the pixie vanished.
+
Sue-Lim found herself down by one of the abandoned whaling huts near the harbour where Celeste and Padow the troll were sitting waiting.
Celeste looked as white as a sheet, her face red from where she had been crying, the troll had an arm around her shoulders.
“Miss Wang!” Padow exclaimed as he stood up, “Why the honour, do you have news of where we are to evacuate to?” the troll then asked.
“Oh dear” squeaked the pixie, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t realise you were with the Spirit of Second Chances your eminence”
Suddenly Sue-Lim’s clothes above her waist dissolved into nothingness.
Sue-Lim was caught by the sudden cold and gasped for breath as she quickly folded her arms to preserve her modesty.
“Put your arms down” the pixie angrily told Sue-Lim, “You in the presence of a clan chief”
“What?” Sue-Lim said in shock to the pixie
“He needs to see your assets or he will be offended” the pixie growled back.
“What?” Sue-Lim repeated, but it was no use arguing as the pixie used it’s telekinesis to force Sue-Lim to uncross her arms and forced them by her sides
Padow shook his head in disbelieve and closed his eyes, “I do not need to see your assets” he told Sue-Lim as she was almost on the verge of tears as memories of her rape back in Miami filled her mind.
The pixie then pointed at Celeste, “Do you want me to attend to the Spirit of Second Chances as well your eminence and remove her top clothes” the pixie then asked.
“NO!” Padow retorted as he opened his eyes to give the pixie a cold hard stare, “Leave her alone. Now why did you do this to poor Miss Wang? Release her and bring her clothes back immediately” he ordered
“But she’s not yet married” the pixie answered as if the troll had asked a stupid question.
“She’s human not a troll” Padow reprimanded the pixie, “Release her and bring her clothes back now”
Sue-Lim felt her arms become free of the vice like grip by the pixie and then crossed her arms in front of her again.
“Her clothes?” Padow growled
“That power is beyond me your eminence” The pixie replied, crest fallen, “I only wanted to make sure you were not offended by a single female with a top as is your custom”
“That is an out of date troll custom you buffoon” Padow growled as he removed his cloak, “And I was never offended by fully clothed females, troll or otherwise”.
“Are you marrying her?” The Pixie asked pointing to the troll’s cloak
Padow stopped and looked at Sue-Lim standing there, topless and shivering in the cold, closed his eyes again and shook his head”
“You better put this on Miss Wang” Celeste said to Sue-Lim as she got up and removed her jacket and offered it to Sue-Lim
“Are you marrying her?” The pixie asked Celeste quizzically
“That is not how non trolls do things” Padow insisted, “And anyway this is my cloak, not my tunic you idiot”. The troll waved Celeste away and placed his cloak around Sue-Lim’s bare shoulders. “Put your garment back on Celeste” Padow then said to Celeste
The cloak was scratchy yet warm as Sue-Lim pulled it around herself.
“Why did you bring her” Padow then asked the pixie.
“We need Celeste” Sue-Lim nervously spoke up as she fought back her emotions that were overwhelming her, “One of the artificial wormhole generators is low on power, we thought Celeste maybe able to help”
Celeste looked up, confused, “How?”
“You’re a major Spirit of virtue” Sue-Lim
“Yeah but how?” Celeste replied
“The others think you may be able to transfer magic from some amulets to recharge the isotope which powers it” Sue-Lim explained
“Where did you get that idea?” Celeste asked, still confused.
“The Spirit of Lust was able to do it, so they thought you might be able to do it as well” Sue-Lim explained further.
“That is quite an assumption Miss Wang” Padow interrupted, “Some powers are common to the major and the minor spirits but by no means all of them”
“We don’t have much of an option” Sue-Lim insisted
“We better get going” Celeste nervously agreed
“Can you teleport?” the pixie asked Celeste
Celeste looked up at Padow, should she reveal what he had told her? Should she even try? Celeste looked back at the pixie, “I’m not sure”
“I can only take one human or human size creature” the pixie insisted
“You take Celeste” Sue-Lim told the pixie, “The others can get by without me”
“I will walk Miss Wang back to her cabin” Padow told the others, “So she can find more clothes”
“Ok” replied the pixie as he took hold of Celeste’s hand and tried to concentrate.
Nothing
“I can’t teleport” the pixie replied, “I’m being blocked”
“And I think I know why” Padow exclaimed as he pointed to part of the bay where numerous blue vortices were appearing, spilling out drow and trolls
“My cabin” Sue-Lim shouted at Celeste, “Run”
Celeste started running as fast as she could up towards the settlement, in the distance she could hear the sound of the assembling army, behind her was Sue-Lim, Padow and the pixie trying to run as well.
In the distance was the rushing sound of a fireball as it headed towards the running figures. Celeste turned to look. It was coming straight for them.
“Why are you stopping” Screamed Sue-Lim as she caught up, clutching at the troll’s cloak.
Celeste stared in terror up into the sky.
Sue-Lim turned and saw the massive fireball heading for them as Padow caught up and let out a scream in terror.
Instinctively Celeste put up her right hand just as the fireball was about to hit, it deflected off of an invisible force field.
Suddenly felt momentarily weak as if she had been drained.
Sue-Lim gave up holding onto the cloak and let it fall as she rushed to help Celeste walk.
“Allow me” Padow instructed as he insisted he was going to be carrying Celeste in his arms
“I’m ok” Celeste insisted as she started back running to the settlement
Sue-Lim hesitated a moment about picking up the cloak, and then made the decision it was hard to run while clutching it, she would have to run topless using her arms to cover her modesty.
Suddenly another fireball hit one of the cabins destroying it in seconds. It was the one where until that morning she had been staying.
+ + +
Aboard an old fishing boat
In the waters off of South Georgia
Jenny heard an explosion in the distance as she stood on deck and looked back along the coast they had been sailing close to since their emergency departure from Grytviken to see if she could see anything, but the failing light and the weather obscured things, which in one sense was a blessing.
She was just about to join Mark in the wheel house when a very heavily pregnant Angela came up from down below.
“Why are you up here in your condition” Jenny asked her former boss
“I could ask you the same question Jenny” Angela retorted
“I’m not as far gone as you Angela” Jenny replied. Jenny then noticed that Angela had been crying, which was not typical of the former ever resourceful coffee shop manager she first met when they both lived on Tyneside in England. “you’ve been crying?” Jenny asked
“Graeme just told me what that b*****d the Lord Low Troll wants in return for his help” Angela replied
“That” Jenny responded
“You mean you knew as well?” Angela accused
“Mark told me” Jenny replied, “I thought you knew as well Angela”
“No I didn’t” Angela went on, “He’ll be executed” Angela said before breaking down in tears.
“It won’t come to that” Jenny said trying to be reassuring, “Sue-Lim told me that the time rolling back time stuff is not possible and hopefully we won’t need him”
“What if they nuke the island” Angela pressed, “They should have come with us”
“There wasn’t room” Jenny answered back, “The only other place left was for Celeste but we couldn’t find her in time”
“Mummy” a voice came from below, “Daddy wants’ you to come back down”
“You better go” Jenny told Angela
“I wanted him to see his other son or daughter grow up” Angela protested, “I wanted to have more children with him, he’s been such a great father to Sarah and Paul”
“I know” Jenny replied
“I don’t want to loose him” Angela said and then turned around and headed back down into the below deck part of the fishing boat.
In the distance there sounded like another explosion
Jenny rushed into the wheel house where Mark was steering the boat as best he could.
“How are we doing?” Jenny asked
“I would be happier if we were further along than this” Mark answered, “We still don’t have enough cover if they send in a tactical nuke, let alone a hydrogen bomb”
“I think they’ve started already” Jenny remarked
Mark shook his head slightly as he concentrated on piloting the boat, “I just hope that distraction spell Mitch and Cherry are working on keeps them away from this boat”
“I saw them down below” Jenny remarked, “They seem to be quite intense doing it, they had one of the pixies working on it while Cherry was giving her baby a feed”
Mark gave another sigh and then pointed to a box on the floor, “I know you’re not supposed to handle heavy objects in your condition, but please could you take the contents of that below, you know how to operate it just in case”
Jenny opened the box; it was an artificial wormhole generator
“It has two more goes before it exhausts Jenny. The destination co-ordinates are set for some place on the Mystical Realms called the Way-Long Mountains. Mr Vee said we should be safe there if we have to leave Earth”
“That’s where the Lord Low Troll is, isn’t it” Jenny challenged
“Yeah” Mark conceded, “But if they make a move on us we don’t have much option since everywhere else is under the control of the Lady High Troll.”
“What about you?” Jenny asked
“I have to pilot this boat” Mark replied
+ + +
The settlement was now in flames from the continuous fireballs being hurled by drow using their magic, no where was safe.
The pixie had lagged behind and had dropped out of sight. Padow the troll was now at the rear, with Celeste and Sue-Lim up front running for their lives and trying to dodge the hail of fireballs as they passed the settlement and were climbing up one of the hills following the river upstream from where it had forked.
The trolls had landed and were now racing up to the settlement brandishing swords and seemed to be gaining ground.
Colonel Samuel Peters along with Captain Sandra Philips met up with Celeste, Sue-Lim and the troll. The two marines were at least armed with M16 rifles, “borrowed” from the USS Bataan, but against such odds it did not seem much.
“What happened to you?” Samuel asked Sue-Lim
“A Pixie did this” she replied breathlessly “Have they hit our cabin” Sue-Lim then asled
“Afraid so” Sandra replied as she pointed to the cabin in the distance now in flames
“Pete?” Sue-Lim asked with a look of utter devastation
“Over here” Came Shamus voice above the noise. Celeste looked at where it was coming from, and there with him was Mr Vee and Pete Smith waving their arms.
“Over there” Celeste shouted as she pointed to a rise away from the small river valley. The group headed in the direction Celeste had pointed as they raced to meet up with the leprechaun.
Suddenly Celeste heard a sickening sound coming up from behind, it was another fire ball, headed in the direction of Shamus. “No!” Celeste screamed.
Suddenly Celeste vanished in front of Sue-Lim’s eyes
+ + +
A white space
Location Unknown
Celeste found herself back in this strange field of white emptiness, this time she was still in her normal clothes
“Send me back” She screamed, “I have to save my friends”
“I can not do that” a familiar voice that sounded like many rushing waters came from behind her
Celeste turned around; it was that strange man in a white suite she had seen earlier.
“I am Raguel” the figure in white introduced himself, “Your use of some kind of shield helped me find you”
“But my friends need me” Celeste pleaded
“That can not be helped” Rageul insisted, “You belong with us”
“What!” Celeste exclaimed, “Why?”
“You are a child of those who mankind believed are of us” Raguel said with irritation.
“I have to save my friends” Celeste sobbed, “I have to save my Simon” she added
Suddenly Celeste was gone
“How could she do that” the man in the white suit asked in astonishment
“You underestimate the power of love lord Raguel” a female voice came from behind him
“Bath-Kol” Raguel said in surprise as he turned to see the female figure in a brilliant white toga that shone as brilliantly as his own. “What brings you here?”
“I had wanted to see this child of an almost namesake of mine” the female figure replied.
“I had her and she left without my permission” the man in the white suit complained
“She is young lord Raguel” the female figure went on, “If she has been told, she is also a child of a prophecy so maybe we should allow that to play itself out”
“But she should be with us” the man in the white suit insisted, “and like us, she should not be interfering in the affairs of mankind”
“But she has a human soul” the female figure argued, “Are you sure she belongs with us”
“Absolutely, that soul is just a distraction” the man in the white suit countered, “When I bring her back, it will be dealt with”
“If we let her help her friends, and if need be fulfil her prophecy, what harm will it do lord Raguel” the female figure asked
“The treaty?” the man in the white suit replied
“I do not believe she is covered by it lord Raguel” The female figure insisted, “She came to be well after we were bound by it”
In the distance, unbeknown to the two a figure of fire lurked listening in.
“Hmm” the fiery figure mused, “Raguel believes that offspring from that other world with a human soul is covered by our treaty. I’m sure lord Samael will be interested in that”
And then the fiery figure disappeared back to his realm.
+ + +
Celeste found herself alongside Shamus and Mr Vee, with the fireball almost upon them.
She raised her right hand instinctively and instantly the fireball deflected off of an invisible shield.
Celeste turned around to see just down from the rise that her beloved Simon was safe alongside Major Bolak and Doctor Henshaw who was carrying one of those artificial wormhole generators and a number of emergency suitcases and three Cornish pixies. Celeste felt weak from the energy drain of the shield she had produced, and then momentarily passed out.
“Celeste” yelled Simon as he saw his girlfriend go down and tried to run towards her, but was grabbed by Major Bolak
“Let me go” Simon insisted, “She needs me”
“You don’t feel it then” Major Bolak said cryptically
“I have to get to Celeste” Simon pleaded as he tried to struggle to get free.
“It’s ok Simon” Charlene started to say.
Then in front of them a blue dot appeared in mid air as another vortex was opening up.
“Her little trip has drawn their attention” Major Bolak shouted, “Mr Vee” he then yelled, “Use your orb here”
Simon stopped struggling and saw Mr Vee pull out a blue orb, within seconds in the enlarging blue vortex another blue dot appeared, and then there was a sudden release of energy as the blue vortex collapsed knocking Simon, Charlene and Major Bolak to the ground.
+
“A vortex in a vortex is seldom a good idea except in this case” Mr Vee remarked before he turned his attention to Shamus who was attending to Celeste on the ground.
Sue-Lim finally caught up and ran into Pete’s arms; “I thought you were dead” she sobbed
“As soon as we saw the first building go, I knew we would be sitting ducks if we stayed in side” Pete replied, and then he looked down at her naked breasts, “What happened to you?” he asked, “mind you I must say you have a beautiful body as well as a wonderful mind and personality Sue-Lim”.
“Thanks Pete” Sue-Lim replied to the man she adored. The pixie disintegrated my clothes” Sue-Lim quickly explained, “But if you want me like this, like the trolls do, I’ll do it for you, because I’m so glad you’re alive” she forced out before breaking down in tears of relief.
If one day they were to be married, she would have to put behind her what happened in Miami and increase her intimacy with her Pete, and she wanted to show him she was trying. Indeed if Pete wanted her to go naked, at this moment she would comply, so grateful she was that he was still alive
“Maybe on our own at another time” Pete replied, then he quickly took off his coat and placed it around Sue-Lim and did it up, to prove to the love of his life, he was a gentleman and worthy of her.
Pete’s jacket felt really warm and this act of gallantry made her one hundred percent sure, this was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, should they be able to, raising a family with him.
The colonel and the Captain caught up with Padow the former Clan Chief of the Manjura troll clan only just following behind.
Samuel fired a burst from his machine gun in the direction of the invading trolls, but it was not much use, there would be too many of them if they were in range, which would be soon. There was no way they could out run them.
Sandra lifted up her machine gun to fire, but gave out a scream as a crossbow bolt sank itself into her chest and sank to the ground.
“Sandra” Sue-Lim Screamed, but Pete dragged her down the rise
Samuel spotted the lead drow who had fired it and returned fire. Instantly the drow burst into flame as the burst of gunfire made short work of him.
Celeste came to as Shamus was shaking her, she glance round to see the captain lying on the ground. Then Celeste saw the captain’s life thread which appeared only to Celeste, being the daughter of the Spirit of Death. Such a sight indicated the thread was about to break from the captain meaning she was dying of a mortal injury, namely the crossbow bolt in her chest.
“Oh no you don’t” Celeste shouted and without realising she could do it, fired a green bolt at the female marine captain.
The crossbow bolt dissolved into nothingness and Sandra began to roll on her side, “what happened” she asked
Samuel saw what had happened and rushed over and pulled her to her feet and the two marines headed down the rise a short way so they could take a firing position.
Celeste suddenly felt a strange surge of power course through her, as if the resuscitation of the captain had energised her somehow.
“Come on” Shamus shouted at Celeste, so she scrambled to her feet as they headed down the rise
As the two of them got to where the others apart from the two marines had congregated, Shamus then produced the two amulets of empathic protection and showed them to Celeste
“We need you to transfer the magic from these to the isotope thingy that powers their device, now hurry”
“What?” Celeste asked
“Shamus, why don’t we just use this” Mr Vee interrupted showing them a blue orb.
“Why didn’t I think of that” Shamus said as he slapped himself on the head
“That was our fault dad” Sue-Lim cut in, “We were so focused on trying to get the wormhole generator working”
“Let’s get out of here” Mr Vee said in his unflappable manner and chanted an incantation.
Immediately a blue dot appeared in the air, swirling as it grew
“Can they intercept this” Pete asked
“Not that I’m aware of Padow replied, then with a suspicious tone, “Pray where did you get this”
“Your father” Mr Vee replied
Suddenly the sound of gunfire rang through the night as both the Colonel and the Captain started firing desperately at the advance trolls who were almost coming up the rise
“Come on” Mr Vee shouted as the wormhole reached it’s maximum size
Pete and Sue-Lim jumped through first carrying as many cases as they could followed by Shamus also carrying an emergency case
The pixies then passed through the wormhole
Charlene jumped through next.
Simon grabbed Celeste’s hand,”Come on my love” Simon said to Celeste
Celeste was momentarily taken aback, “I thought you would hate me for all this” she said to Simon as she waved towards the rise where the colonel and the captain were defending to give them time to escape, “I’m the moron who gave you away in that dark space”.
“Shamus said it could have happened to anyone” Simon replied, “Now come on” he added in a new but to Celeste a pleasing masterly manner as he pulled Celeste through the wormhole
“You next my troll friend” Mr Vee said to Padow, who seemed hesitant.
“But I will not run like a coward!” Padow protested as he looked at the wormhole, “My place is here”
Mr Vee gave a brief nod at Major Bolak
“That’s not an option troll” the drow major said to the troll and suddenly a blue bolt of light flew from his hands and hit the troll, knocking him through the wormhole.
“Have you told them where they are going” Major Bolak asked Mr Vee quietly
“They’ll find out soon enough” Mr Vee replied
“I better collect our soldier friends” Major Bolak said as he pointed at the Colonel and the Captain.
+
“There’s too many of them sir” Sandra shouted to Samuel, “I’m almost out of ammo”
“We fight until we can’t fight any more” Samuel shouted back, “That’s what we signed up for when we joined the corps”
The trolls were almost upon them.
Samuel’s gun stopped. He was out of ammo.
Then up the hill came several trolls with battle axes waiting to bear down on them. There was no way they would survive this one. Defending the rise so the others could get away had turned out to be a suicide mission.
Suddenly the trolls froze
“What?” Samuel asked
“I don’t understand” Sandra chipped in
“Don’t lie there” Major Bolak shouted at them, “I can not keep this time stop for too long, the other drow will detect it and use counter measures, so get down to that wormhole now”
Samuel and Sandra rapidly got up and ran down the hill followed by the drow major. The wormhole and Mr Vee were frozen in time as well
“Don’t try and enter it yet” Major Bolak shouted
Samuel grabbed Sandra’s hand to prevent her from entering the wormhole just in time.
A few seconds later Major Bolak caught up
“I am about to start time up again” Major Bolak said hurriedly, “As soon as I do, jump”
“What about you and Mr Vee” Samuel asked
“They may have dampened everyone else’s ability to teleport” Major Bolak smiled, “But I know how the Hadreth do it, so I know how to get around it”
Suddenly there was the sound of the trolls shouting.
“JUMP” Major Bolak yelled
Samuel yanked Sandra though the wormhole
Major Bolak grabbed Mr Vee by the shoulder as the wormhole evaporated.
To the disappointment of the trolls rushing down the rise, Mr Vee and Major Bolak vanished into thin air
+
Consort Vabalavich stepped onto the beach and looked up at the Grytviken settlement as it burned through the night.
A drow officer came to greet him. He kneeled before Vabalavich and gave him his sword
“I surrender my life my liege for my failure” he said to his drow master
“Why do you say this is a failure” Vabalavich asked as he took the sword, “We have cleared this settlement of this so called resistance”
“But we did not get to kill any of the humans or capture them” the drow officer responded, “They escaped through a wormhole”
“One of theirs?” Vabalavich asked
“No my liege, one of ours, a troll reported it was blue not green”
“So they had help then” Vabalavich answered
“That still does not excuse my failure” the drow officer replied
“Oh come it is not all yours, for I was the one who lost us the element of surprise, for that I spare your life this time.” Vabalavich continued.
“That is most merciful my liege” the officer replied
“Did you capture anyone” Vabalavich asked
“We captured this creature” A troll interrupted as it held up a struggling pixie, “Shall I snap it’s neck now?”
“No!” Vabalavich insisted, “Bring him here”
The troll carried the struggling pixie to Vabalavich
“You won’t get anything from me” the pixie squealed
“Oh won’t I?” Vabalavich smiled as he placed his hand on the pixie’s head, “You see pixies are so scattered in their thoughts and not at all disciplined like a drow of the Hadreth order”
The pixie screamed as Vabalavich overcame the pixies psychic shield
Vabalavich stepped back, looking a little shocked. “Now you can dispatch it” he said to the troll.
The troll took the pixies head in his other giant hand and twisted it until there was a cracking sound, followed by the sudden incineration of the pixies body.
The drow officer looked up, “My liege”
“Get up” Vabalavich ordered
The drow officer stood up, looking confused.
“Some of us need to return home” Vabalavich told him
“And I am to be sent home in disgrace” the drow officer replied
“No, you still have work on this island” Vabalavich growled, “Some of the humans escaped by sea and are heading for some other settlement on this island, a place called Stromness. As soon as it is located I want you to welcome our sea travellers with a welcome they will never forget” he added handing back the sword
“Will you be joining us in rooting out these remaining humans?” the drow officer asked
“No” Vabalavich answered, “It appears our leader the Lady High Troll’s father is very much alive”
“And you are going to tell her this happy news?”
“You know what?” Vabalavich smiled, “I’m not sure I will”
“As you wish my liege”
“Carry on” Vabalavich replied as he then gave a hand gesture to another drow with an orb.
Soon there was a swirling blue dot, building to a vortex and within a minute, Vabalavich had left for the Mystical Realms
+ + +
Deep inside a lava tube
Location unknown
“Where the Sam Hill is this place” Samuel asked as the wormhole collapsed as he and Captain Sandra Philips were the last through
“I think I know Colonel” Pete spoke up and then pointed to the out side, “Those are stinger fans”
Samuel turned around and looked into the distance at the strange plants in the distance, “Those are strange trees” he remarked
“Those are not trees Colonel, they’re animals” Pete went on, “From your commander’s report and that from Jenny, this looks like that world Timothy Zachary managed to create, he called it
Aurelia”
“What!” Captain Philips exclaimed
“Yeah” Pete replied, “and I wouldn’t go out, there is some kind of solar storm outside bathing the planet here with radiation lethal to us but not to the stinger fans. We are safe inside this lava tube for now”
Sue-Lim came up behind Pete, still wearing his jacket, “You’re right Pete” she said to Pete, “My father has been here before, he left us supplies”
“I don’t understand” Sandra replied, “What’s going on, I thought we were going to somewhere on the Mystical Realms”
Samuel shook his head, “Since he or Major Bolak didn’t come with us, it’s obvious what he’s done”
“He sold us out, hasn’t he” Sue-Lim said angrily, “My own father and that Major Bolak have been working for the Lady High Troll all along”
“Nope” Samuel contradicted, “They’re not in league with her, or we would have been delivered to Karam Tag Chou”
“Then who are they working for” Sue-Lim Asked
“His father I suspect” Samuel said pointing at a bewildered Padow who was coming up to meet the colonel.
“He’s after Graeme Andrews I believe” Padow suggested, “After all this Mr Vee of yours and my father were friends for many years”
“You knew that all along and you never told us?” Samuel asked with incredulity
“I apologise” Padow replied, “I never felt it relevant until now”
+ + +
Aboard an old fishing boat
In the waters off of South Georgia
Major Bolak and Mr Vee appeard on the deck of the fishing boat. They had the element of surprise. So far the commander in the wheelhouse had not noticed their arrival.
“Will they be alright in that cave you sent them to?” Major Bolak asked
“We left enough supplies on IDW02” Mr Vee replied, “They have Celeste, the amulets and a generator if we can not get back to them. Pete and Sue-Lim should eventually be able to make their way back to Earth in due course”
“Doesn’t time pass slower in that realm?” Major Bolak asked
“I believe there was a mismatch, but then since wormholes to that world were opened, it seems to be in lockstep with our world” Mr Vee answered
“OK let’s do what we came to do” Major Bolak said as he looked up at the wheelhouse.
“Agreed” Mr Vee replied, “The sooner we act the sooner we can get rid of our more immediate problem namely this blasted invasion”
“Mr Vee?” a female voice came. It was Jenny Green, “Major Bolak, what are you doing here”
“I’m so sorry” Mr Vee replied, “But you have someone on this boat we need”
Suddenly Jenny was looking at a blue vortex as it was collapsing.
There was a scream from below, so Jenny raced down to find Angela, Sarah and baby Paul in tears.
Both the twins, Caer and Fidelity were sitting in shock at something that had happened
“He’s gone” Angela wailed, “My husband has just vanished”
“It was Mr Vee and Major Bolak” Jenny exclaimed in realisation, and then she noticed to her horror that the two adult leprechauns were unconscious, and no longer performing the distraction spell. A pixie was recovering, “We were attacked by Major Bolak it whined, “He said they needed a diversion and we were it”
“Oh No” Jenny thought and she raced up on deck to see her Mark, only to see another blue dot hovering above the deck between her and the wheel house and the dot was growing..
To be continued