“I just thought it’d be more dramatic. I didn’t think it’d be…blink, boom, you’re here.” Thran said, as he stared down at his boots and kicked at tufts of ethereal smoke.
“It’s a portal, What did you expect?” Rayne immediately took in the haunting aura of their surroundings.
“I mean, add some pageantry, you know? Sound effects, lazer light show, smoke…that whole… deal.” Thran seemed disappointed at the notion.
“It’s not a theme park, my darling.” Rayne raised her lightsaber.
“That’s exactly what I mean! They lack vision! Think of the merchandising opportunities!” The heavy TL-50 Repeating Blaster hummed as Thran raised it.
Thran had seen many unique places and many odd things in his years galavanting around the galaxy. None were quite as unique nor as odd as the location he found himself in now. Just moments ago he was stepping off the loading ramp of a finely furnished private yacht in Eos City. His eyes now took in the watercolor impression of a world half imagined and half real. What it lacked in corporeal fortitude, it certainly made up for in haunting dreamlike surreality. The Reflection of Eos City was like a memory half-forgotten.
Thran looked back at the portal. It was their way in. It was also their only way out. Worry danced across his mind for a moment. He could survive on the battlefield, but couldn’t help but shake the feeling that he didn’t belong in this realm. He felt trapped between life and death, press-ganged into service in a personal crusade for yet another delusional Sith Lord. He sat on the thought for a moment, before shaking it free.
His hand gripped the charging handle on his “New Toy” and pulled it back sharply. The Aurodium plated weapon hummed as the powercells came to life. Thran raised the weapon, pressed his cheek to the stock, and lined up his eye with the optic. He lowered the gun slightly and took several steps forward.
“I guess we’d better clear the immediate area and wait for the others.” Rayne said.
“Plushies.” Thran replied.
“What?” Rayne asked.
“Those little squirt bottles with the fans on ‘em. Sno-cone stands as far as the eye can see. And the best thing is…There’s only one portal, so they HAVE to stay until we say they can leave.” Thran stepped forward, unsure if the ghostly walls around them actually provided any meaningful cover.
“Not more than five minutes ago, you suggested that we just push all the fusion bombs we have into the portal and call it a day. Now you’re developing a sales pitch?” Rayne stepped forward, opposite of Thran.
“Well, they didn’t exactly like that first idea…So, I’m exploring other angles.” Thran said with a smirk.
“Well I, for one, think the fusion bomb idea would have been spectacular.” A black armoured figure strode up, idly juggling a silver orb. “Unfortunately, Force Users are such tiresome targets, always repairing or running away or…” The hatred from the figure was palpable.
The portal shimmered for a moment as a lone figure emerged. Dressed in dull crimson battle armor the figure struggled for a moment as his cloak snagged in the ethereal goo that hung suspended in the gate.
With a strained final step forward his cloak snapped free, fluttering majestically in the still air of the new realm. Emperor Kamjin scratched at the charred mark on the chest of his armor, the remains of a recent assassin’s shot.
Poised like a conqueror surveying the field of battle he took in the logistical situation as he desceded the ramp. “Compensating for something, Thran?” he asked, as he joined his Vizier. He nodded politely to Rayne while looking around to see if there were any others who had joined in this expedition and noticed Titius. Kamjin sighed, he had recently banished his daughter for acting without thinking and causing more damage than was needed and here stood a mirror image of her.
“Case in karking point.” Titius looked up at the towering figure. “Imperial Majesty, good to see your assassin was a poor shot.”
Rayne smiled, shaking her head slightly. Leave it to Thran to see opportunity everywhere. She took a moment to survey their surroundings. Faint, ethereal whispers could be heard around corners and in every nook and cranny. This realm and everything in it was… wrong and she could not explain it. She visually studied what she could to get some read on this place. Anything that could help her understand this realm. In all her years exploring the galaxy, this was something else entirely. Her attention was brought back to the two men joining them.
She acknowledged the mercenary, sensing his hatred of the situation without even trying. Good, perhaps we can siphon that hate to fuel ourselves, Rayne thought to herself.
“You’re up and about, Emperor. The medics clear you for duty already?” she asked.
“Yes, thought it was less the medics doing than the Opal and my youngest son,” Kamjin said as he looked around. “I’ve been here before…though, it was different. I was different. This place is unnatural and it presents an opportunity for us to advance the agenda of Scholae Palatinae.”
Kamjin gave Thran a look as he finished speaking.
“As much as we’d love to hear what wonderful ideas you have, Kamjin, I suspect the Iron Throne would quickly lay claim to any stake the Empire may have here and take it for their own. Must maintain the feudal system, afterall. Besides, I think it’s best we not linger here.” Thran leveled his powerful blaster at a coagulating mass of ethereal fog.
The mass grew slowly, occupying a small space before them. It was only around a meter tall. They watched in disbelief as it manifested before them. Fully formed arms and legs branched forth from the now corporeal torso and a large round head, with a mop top of hair, rose up to complete the human-like form. The figure seemed every bit as tangible as the weapons at their sides.
Dull lifeless eyes looked up at them. Its face was devoid of emotion. The specter’s haunting youthfulness sent shivers down each of their spines. Clutched in its fully formed hands was a stick, topped with a colorful swirl of candy.
Some of them had read the early report, which contained detailed accounts of such apparitions. Thran had only “skimmed” the document.
“Hey there little guy! What are you doing out here? Where’d you get the candy?” The actor said, slightly lowering his weapon.
The spirit turned its head sharply towards Thran. It twisted and contorted. Bones and ligaments cracked and popped. The child faced him, mouth agape. A guttural and shrill wail filled the area as the boy’s narrow mouth snapped open. Its jaws stretched and stretched, like those of a large constrictor snake readying to devour a meal whole. It snapped into action, charging recklessly headlong at Thran.
“HE’S COMING RIGHT AT ME!” Thran screamed as he raised his weapon and depressed the trigger.
A staccato eruption of bolts erupted from the weapon. The blaster wasn’t so much aimed as it was swept over the place where the horror stood. The rapid rate of fire on the TL-50 allowed for the “Spray-n-pray technique” to remain surprisingly effective. A half dozen of the bolts impacted the spirit, returning it to the vapor that it had coalesced from. A hissing shriek echoed for a moment.
“Wait…The Avatar Spirits only attack those that wronged them.” Rayne said, reciting the report she had thoroughly read.
“Ehp. Ehp. Ehp. Ex-nay on the eelingstay andycay for a ildchay.” Thran said, halting any need for further explanation of past events. He turned back to Kamjin and Titius, “So, as I was saying…I think we’d better get a move on.”
“Kark, Thran…that was a child” Kamjin said, mortified at the callousness.
“I clearly said he was coming right for me,” Thran replied, cycling the recharge on his TL-50. Kamjin rolled his eyes and walked towards the mist. There must have been a source of the spirit that they couldn’t see. “I can assure you that the coming right for me defense has been used in no less than fifty cases of self-defense against children in the last twenty years within the Caperion system.”
“Quiet, do you smell something,” Kamjin said, ignoring Thran’s continued spouting of legalize that he could only have learned from years of K'vin, his small furry bipedal lawyer, who routinely had to save him from legal entanglements.
The mist was pungent like the smell of used tissues that had be left to rot in a trash bin. A young lady emerged from the mist wearing the old skin-tight training uniforms of the Brotherhood. Her brunette hair hung in lazy curls past her shoulders and a lazy smile spread as Kamjin locked eyes on her.
“No…Rakhela,” Kamjin’s eyes went wide as the beauty’s smile opened wide into a gapping maw. Her hair igniting into flames as she lurched forwards, swipping at Kamjin. Kamjin’s blade ignited instantly and slashed through the spirit, dispelling it. Kamjin grasped at his chest as he heaved.
“Oh, I’m the bad guy for killing a kid but no one is supposed to bat an eye when you bifurcate a young lady,” Thran said, raising his eyebrows towards Rayne for a reaction.
“Who was she?” Rayne asked.
“She was my friend…or lover, depending on the day and who you asked. We were in the Shadow Academy together until I betrayed her. I thought she was going to betray me and I was wrong. Things didn’t…” Kamjin left the rest unsaid.
A ghostly apparition suddenly screeched to life right before Rayne’s eyes. It was a smoky visage of a tattered woman, mouth frozen open in a banshee scream. To the average person, this would be terrifying to behold. Rayne knew which specter from her past she was dealing with. Out of all the spirits, it had to be this one. This was an old hate from long time ago. The ghost seized the moment to lunge at her, intent on killing their adversary once and for all. With her lightsaber drawn, she quickly sliced right through the being with ease and it howled as if wounded before it slowly vanished into thin air.
“Who was that?” Kamjin inquired.
“Nunya Bidnis. Someone from my past.” Rayne replied, after a brief pause.
“Very impressive, Thran. I cant wait to see you shoot the side of a Star Destroyer next.” Titius mimed a clapping motion.
Thran whipped towards the Equite, prepared to eviscerate him under a flurry of words and gnashing of teeth. However, over Titius’ shoulder the Elder’s eyes caught the wisps of phantasmic fog re-coalescing into the formed body of a creepy child.
Time froze for a moment. Titius felt an unnatural awareness flow through his mind. He could see cause and effect, he could see the threads of the universe, and he could, most importantly, see hints of the future.
Thran raised his weapon again, leveling it to fire at the growing ghost. He gave no concern that Titius stood between him and the target. His grip tightened and he depressed the trigger.
The Equite dove to the ground as a wall of burning hot bolts sprayed his direction. The rate of fire of the TL-50 caused the barrel to climb ever so slightly. The spray impacted into the ghost of the small child, dissipating its form for but a moment. The hideous spirit quickly regained its form.
“Uh-oh.” Thran said.
“G-G-G-Ghosts!” Kamjin replied, swallowing hard.
“Jinkies…” Rayne whispered.
“Jinkam? Have you seen him?” Kam replied.
“Who?” Thran inquired.
“Not now, handsome.” Rayne said, as her eyes leveled on her own spectral assailant. “Guns and sabers won’t do the job.”
“Explosives it is, then” Titius said, as he stood up from the dust.
“No.” the trio of others said in harmony.
Before the group, the three spirits that they had struck down moments before had lined up under a passing fog. Horrendous shrieks filled the air. Rayne extended a hand, crooked fingers targeting the specter of her past. Violet-blue arcs of unbridled power jutted forth from her fingertips.
“UNLIMITED POWAH!!!” Rayne screamed as she felt the depth of the Dark-Side consume her.
Kamjin and Thran followed suit. In short order, the entire street was filled with arcing bolts of lightning. The apparitions evaporated. Certain the ghosts of their past had been vanquished, they released their arcs of electricity. The street fell silent.
Thran turned to Rayne. “What was that?”
“Hrm?” Rayne said.
“The shouting…” Thran said.
“Oh…Umm…It’s a Nightsister thing.” she said, looking to the place where the ghosts once stood.
To their surprise, where the ghoulish apparitions once were were. There were now three smoldering corpses. Thran scarpered over to them. Inspecting the remains, he kicked at the bodies slightly.
“Uh-oh.” he said half under his breath.
Kamjin joined him, inspecting what proved to be a pile of bedsheets. “Uh-oh.” he added.
“What are you on about?” Rayne said as she joined them. “Oh…Uh-oh.” she added inspecting a small paper bag, etched with the words “Trick or Treat”.
“What do we do?” Kamjin said, stroking his chin.
“I thought they were just called The Children of Mortis…I didn’t think they were actually…well…children…On the plus side, we can’t be charged for crimes in the Ethereal Realm in real space. I think. Possibly. Maybe.” Thran said.
“Do we need to bring Kevin in on this one? I mean, this looks bad.” Kamjin said
“No. No. What Kevin doesn’t know doesn’t hurt him.” Rayne said. “They didn’t even say ‘Boo!’ or anything.”
“What do we do? I won’t cut it in Ethereal Realm prison. They’ll pass me around like a beach-ball at a Zax Keevo Concert.” Kamjin said.
“Zax Keevo is a bigger criminal than we are.” Thran said.
“What? We just murdered three children!” Kamjin said.
“Yeah…Zax Keevo murdered MUSIC.” Thran screamed.
“Stop it you two…” Rayne said. “We need a level-headed plan here.”
Thran looked at Rayne. Rayne looked at Kamjin. Kamjin looked at Thran.
“Bail?” Thran said.
“Bail.” the other two affirmed in harmony.
The three erstwhile companions kicked up a cloud of dust as they scrambled away from the corpses. Titius, not as familiar with the members of the summit, came tottering after yelling, “Wait for me!”
The Ethereal Realm shimmered through the ever present fog. “Let’s…rest here,” Kamjin huffed, doubling over and dry heaving. “There’s no way they can find us here or know anything about,” Kamjin said, gasping for breath, as his communicator beeped. Rayne, Thran, and Titius starred at each other.
“Nah,” Titius said, shaking his head. Rayne crossed her arms as she muttered ‘nope’ over and over to herself. Thran turned his gaze to Kamjin. “Well…they’re waiting.” Kamjin activated the comm.
“My Lord, it’s good to hear from you. There was an incident at the staging area. We’ve found the corpses of three children. Since you were first through the portal did you see anything?” the voice of an Imperial officer inquired of his Lord.
Kamjin’s mouth hung open, pleading with Thran to think of something. Rayne started pulling on her hair as she started to pace, “I can’t go to prison. I won’t survive in prison.” Thran sighed and grabbed the comlink. “Yes. I mean, no. No. I definitely didn’t kill any children. Sorry, static here,” Thran said, rubbing the comlink across his chest. “There were no children, alive or otherwise, when we left. You’ll need to handle it,” Thran said, shoving the comlink back at Kamjin while mouthing ‘do your job’.
“Yes…YES, that’s right. We’re all okay and don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kamjin said, flashing a thumbs up. Thran facepalmed himself.
“My Lord, is everything okay? That sounded like someone was hit.”
“We’re fine!!” Kamjin’s voice broke. “Have we gotten word on our mission?” Kamjin asked, trying to change the topic. “Uhh…right,” the officer continued. “We haven’t received any updates from the recon team. Their last report said they had found an approach to the fortress. You shouldn’t be too far away from their last reported position. Confirm their intel and proceed to the fortress…”
“Roger,” Kamjin said, turning off the comlink. “Alright, we’re going to find that recon team.”
“What the kark are you talking about?” Titius cut in. “We’ve got to go back and hide those bodies. If they start looking they’re going to find those kids are roasted alive with electricity that only you three can do here. It’s game over man. Game over. They’re going to eat us alive. We may be the Empire and you all may be Sith what’sit but no one is going to stomach dead kids.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Than casually said, dusting himself off and picking up his oversized toy. “Let’s continue on and put that behind us. It’s not like we’re going to run into any other kids in here.”
Something manifested from the nothingness, hellbent on attacking Titius. He pulled out on of his explosives, primed it, and hurled it at the figure, purely on instinct.
“No, wait!” Rayne yelled, quickly trying to remedy the situation. She shot a quick blast of lightning at the ethereal attacker. It screeched as the burst hit and zapped it back from where it came.
That problem was solved, however–
A loud explosion and debris kicked up everywhere at that moment. The grenade had detonated away from them. It had impacted a large stone vase, pieces of it were broken everywhere and it had tipped over, revealing something odd, even for this place. An orange extension cord had been hidden around the vase.
“Hold on…” Rayne said, pondering something. She went over to inspect it. She grabbed a hold of the cord, following where it leads. Now that it was exposed, it was easy to see. All of them held the cord and followed it as it lead them away from their destination, behind a fountain in an obscure place was an electrical socket.
They looked at each other puzzled and finally pulled the plug. Could it really be this simple?
The place went dark. The show was over. One big mystery of the mirrored Eos City was solved. It was simply one giant illusion. The systems powered down and the magnificent laser light show turned off, leaving only some low lights on. There was nothingness in either direction. Only the vast platform that once held the city, the portal behind them and a ways ahead of them was the Corpse Fields.
It took the group a moment to process what just happened.
“Whoa. Would you look at that..” Kamjin exclaimed.
“Let’s hurry. We’re almost to the bonefields.” Rayne said. Shaking off the unsettling feeling of it all.
“Score!” Thran was in that moment entirely too ecstatic in this ghostly and desolate place.
One Hour Later…
“This is bullshit!” Thran whined as he dragged his feet
“What is it now?” Kamjin replied.
“False advertising! Chicanery! Deceitful!” Thran replied.
“What are you on about?” Titius added.
“This is not what I was imagining when we said we’re going to the Bone Zone or whatever!” Thran complained
“But…Look. Look at the bones, man. What were you thin-” Kamjin replied, halting further inquisition as the realization hit him.
Rayne had immediately realized Thran’s meaning and stifled a laugh.
Thran kicked at a pile of bones. The actor was covered in dust and soot from the trudge through the massive ossuary plain. They had been walking for nearly an hour, but in Thran-attention-span time, it felt like eons. They had quickly dispatched several of the Children of Mortis’ horrific zombie warriors not more than 10 minutes ago, but that action didn’t hold his attention. He was bored already.
The Adept bent over scooping up a stained bone from the bottom of a pile. The remaining structure collapsed with a clatter and rattle. The selected bone was roughly twelve inches in length, with a small domed cap on one end and a distinct tri-lobed terminus opposite. Thran waived the bone slightly at Rayne.
“I have a bone to pick with you. This isn’t humorous. It’s very serious.” Thran sassed.
“Oh, of course this is serious, but it is a humerus.” Rayne replied, rightfully identifying the bone as that of the upper arm.
Thran looked to the bone, then back to Rayne. “Ah…I see what ya done there.”
“You know I’ve got your back.” Rayne said, pushing over a stack of vertebrae.
“If I could just interject…I know I’m not hip…But TIbia honest, we marrowly escaped that last attack.” Kamjin said with a smirk
Rayne and Thran turned to Kamjin simultaneously, letting out a “D’aw” and wagged their fingers at him. “Seriously though…No fibulas…There are bound to be more of those crystal monstrosities out here.
“You’re right, we’d better… leg… it.” Rayne pointed at a femur and smiled.
Thran picked up a cranium and forced his hand through bottom of the dusty bone. With the head resting on his hand, he could slightly articulate the jaw. He’d found himself a puppet. At least it might keep him from whining for a while.
“The other clans will be pushing forward too. We’d better stay a*head*.” Thran said in a gruff voice as he articulated his new pet.
“I think the numskull is right.” Rayne replied, smirking.
“Woah, hey there hot stuff…You can’t get under my skin. Get it? HA! I’m bad to the bone!” the puppetted skull replied.
Rayne shook her head, the jokes were wearing thin already
“Say, sugar, got any hobbies? Me, I play the Saxo-bone! HAHAHA! What do you say we go out for pizza sometime? Spine-apple and ham? Then we go back to my living room and we can bone!” the skull laughed.
The Firrerreo woman tilted her head. Her primal senses ] had alerted her to something. Through the stench of death, she could smell fresh blood. She looked over her shoulder, catching just a glimpse of red crystal and scales ducking behind a mound of bones. She turned back. Rayne gave Thran a swift thwack on the back of the head. Her icy blue eyes flared. Thran recoiled.
“Ow…” he replied, rubbing the spot where he’d been hit.
“Enough.” She whispered firmly.
“Fine. I guess this is bone voyage to you my new friend.” Thran said to the skull.
“You too Mr…Kast. I always felt like you set me right. Eh?” The skull replied.
“Ha, good one Bonesy! I really wish we had more tiiii-” Thran paused as he saw the movement.
They were fast, unnaturally so. Their claws were like swords and their hides were thick as durasteel. They chittered and croaked. They hunted in packs too.
“Goddamnit, how many times do I have to say it…NO DINOSAURS!” He dropped the skull and drew his lightsaber.
Titius tracked the movement and tossed a grenade on its trajectory. “Dinosaurs? More like Dino…” The grenade exploded, throwing a raptor in a less than graceful arc. “…Soar” finished the mercenary, giggling like a child. “OOOOH lets do that again!”
“Why did we bring him along again?” In true hypocrisy, Thran cast an iritated glare at Titius’ puns, head still smarting.
“Representation…and a distinct impression we may have use of a distraction…er…psychotic pyromaniac before this is done” Kamjin seemed completely at ease with the rapidly approaching carnivores.
Titius continued to run rampant, dropping explosives like rose petals at a marriage ceremony. Wheeeeeee
Kamjin regretted his words at once as Titius’s haphazard use of grenades started to roll back towards them. “You’re going to kill us all,” Kamjin screamed as he body tackled Titius, sending them sliding down an embankment. Above them they heard the explosion.
Kamjin pushed Titius into the ground as he struggled to stand up. I exiled my Daughter for this behavior…for this one I’ll just kill him. As Kam struggled with pulling his cloak out from under the temporarily unconscious pyromaniac he heard a chirping noise in the nearby brush.
A small dinosaur like creature appeared. A fan of crystals shaking on either side of it’s neck. It came up to Kamjin’s waist as it tilted it’s head and chirped again, the crystals clinking as they quivered.
Kamjin laughed, nervously, “That’s nice…gotta go.” He turned his back and started trying to climb up the embankment. Maybe it would attack Titius, that’s not a bad idea. The chirping grew louder as Kam turned to see the small crystal dinosaur had followed him.
“Ah, nice boy…nice boy. Nice crystal dinosaur. Thought you were one of your big brothers, you’re not so bad. You’re not so bad; what do you want? You want food? Look at me, I just fell down a hill. I don’t have any food. I have no food on me. I have nothing on me. Wanna play fetch?” Kamjin asked, picking up a loose stick on the ground. “Wanna play fetch? See the stick? Here…here, stick stupid. Fetch the stick,” Kamjin said, tossing the stick towards the crystalline dinosaur. The stick hit Titius in the head forcing a groan from him.
The dinosaur turned, unmoving, before turning back chirping. “I don’t know why Thran dislikes you so much. You’re stupid enough that you’ll go extinct on your own. When I get back up there I’m going to get Thran’s rail gun and mow you down.” Kamjin turned and began scaling the embankment, finding leverage this time, he quickly made progress back up the side.
As he prepared to crest the top he turned at the sound of the same annoying chirping. Turning again, “What?” he said as the crystal plume flayed open and the dinosaur spat a thick greenish-black mucus onto Kamjin’s face. It burned as Kamjin screamed and grabbed at his face.
The dinosaur lunged at Kamjin before being incinerated in a hail of laser fire. Thran, scowled at what remained of the creature. “Life…uh…didn’t find a way, you ancient piece of poodoo,” Thran spat on the carcass. “Would you wipe that oil off your face?” Thran said, looking at Kamjin flail on the ground.
“Did you say oil?” Rayne asked, perceptive as always.
“Yes, oil. It’s clearly oil. I don’t know why he’s freaking out,” Thran said, for a moment miming that he had a pipe in one hand as was sharing the most obivous of revelations.
“Thran, dinosaurs don’t spit oil. They become oil…over millennia,” Rayne said, walking over and inspecting the dinosaur. “Thran, this thing is an animatronic!” Rayne held up the pieces of the carcass showing the exposured wiring and fiberglass shield.
“Are we on a ride? Does this place have…you know, actual dinosaurs?” Thran asked, puzzled.
“Well, they spared no expense. So…maybe?” Rayne said.
“Sounds like we have a real mystery on our hands, gang!” Kamjin added, wiping the sticky substance from his eyes with the bottom of his cloak.
“Rut-roh” Thran mumbled under his breath “Hey… where’d you get that ascot?” He added.
The thick mucusy spittle had caused Kamjin’s cloak to bunch up on his chest, appearing as though it had been meticulously placed there as a fashion accessory. Kamjin reached up and pulled the cloth away. It fell back towards his feet, bouncing slightly.
“Listen up. I think we may have discovered something here. First there was the laser light show and now this? Who could be behind a years-long plot that is full of such craziness?” Kamjin said, stroking his chin. “I think we might need to gather more information. Maybe if we head up to those islands above, we can get a good view over the area and see if we can find any clues! Oh, yes…I love a good clue. We can unearth more information about the Mother and then I can finally not be the crazy one on the Council! We must gather more information! What do you think?” Kamjin postulated
“Gather more information? What? It sounds like you’ve known about this for some time.” Thran said, casting an accusatory glance at Kamjin. “What else do you know that you haven’t been telling us!?”
“I’ve been trying to keep you two in the loop about The Mother for over a year, but frankly you don’t listen. You have very short attention spans.” Kamjin defended himself stoutly.
“NO WE’RE NOT!” Rayne shouted
“What? That’s not even a response to what I said!” Kamjin replied.
“YEAH, WE’RE NOT THOUGH!” Thran added.
“What in the hell are you two talking about?” Kamjin wiped away more goo from his face, confused by the response.
“We’re totally not! Besides, I stopped listening six minutes ago” Rayne added.
“Yeah, cause you’re boring.” Thran said as he turned to Rayne and exchanged a high-five.
“Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t we head up to those islands above and see if we can get a better view?” the Firrerreo woman suggested.
“Yeah, that’s a great idea! I bet you wish you thought of that…NERD!” Thran said, pushing past Kamjin.
The team marched forward, looking for a place where they might ascend to the smattering of gravity defying rocks above. Each took turns trying to leap from the tallest mound of bones or the large crystalline structures that spat out zombies and other horrors. They moved from point to point, trying to find a way up. Between batches of monsters, Titius started to run low on explosives. In the end, the Privateer had proved somewhat useful.
Attempt after attempt, they failed to reach a place where the peculiar gravity wells around the floating islands could be used to their advantage. Thran stopped, exasperated by the series of defeats.
“Hold on, I have an idea.” Thran said.
“Rut-roh” Kamjin said under his breath.
“Juniper Scented Candle!” Thran exclaimed.
“What-what-whatnow?” Titius asked.
“Lizards are the future. The plan is simple…I take this flaregun, this rope, and this lizard.” Thran said, digging through his bag.
“This won’t end well…But, I’ll be honest, I do wanna see how this plays out.” Kam said.
“Bets?” Rayne said, smiling.
Kamjin stared at Thran in disbelief as the items materialized and the Adept got to work. Thran drew forth the flaregun, a rope, and a small lizard. The Gorvin Snu chittered and blinked at Thran as he told it the plan. He laid out the rope and pointed upwards. Thran articulated to the small lizard that he was to tie off the rope once on the island. He placed one end of the rope in the small lizard’s mouth, then stuffed the small lizard firmly into the flaregun.
“Godspeed, my brave little boy.” Thran said, raising the flaregun and pointing it skywards.
“Thran, you should really think this through…” Kamjin said.
“Nonsense, Juniper Scented Candle always lands on his feet!” Thran squeezed the trigger.
A streak of smoke and the trail of the rope hurtled towards the nearest island. Thran counted out loud and fixed the rope to his belt loop. He looked down at his wrist, measuring the time passed on an imaginary chrono. A second later, a poof of burning red hot phosphorous appeared in the air.
“Is that what happened to Jenny Three?” Kamjin asked. “I’ve told you before you sonuva-We… We don’t talk about that.” Thran seemed to be holding back tears.
“You know there’s no way that lizard survived that, right?” Kamjin said.
Just then the rope went taut. Thran tugged on it slightly. It seemed firm.
“Life…ah…finds a way.” Thran said, tipping his head to another batch of incoming robo-Raptors.
“Shall we?” Rayne said.
“Let’s.” they all said in agreement.
Thran, Rayne, and Kamjin leapt easily into the air approaching the nearest bobbing island. Like graceful birds Thran and Rayne dove towards one island and then another. It was more like swimming than jumping.
“Hey!!! You all can’t just leave me here,” Titius yelled up at the three Force users as he failed to leap more than a foot off the ground.
“Guys, we need to…” Kamjin started before seeing both Thran and Rayne having a finger against their nose and their tongues stuck out. “Oh come on…” Kamjin moaned.
“Suck it, dweeb,” Thran said as Rayne laughed as she flipped over and backstroked towards the next island. Kamjin sighed as he jumped back down.
“I’m not getting on your back,” Titius said, scowling at the look Kamjin gave him.
“Oh good, then we are aligned,” Kamjin smirked as he grabbed Titius from his collar and heaved him towards the nearest floating island. Kamjin chuckled as the man’s scream pulsated as he tumbled head over heel.
Kamjin kicked off again, catching Titius in mid-air. He spun their bodies around and kicking off Titius to propel himself towards Rayne and Thran while Titius bounced off one island and ricoheted towards another.
“This place feel familiar,” Rayne said, gliding gracefully around Thran’s orbit. “Everything is backwards here. Like, on the other side of the portal is the real world and here is more of a dream.”
“I see you,” Thran said, in awe at the woman’s grace as she continued her ascent.
“What was that?” Kamjin said, ruining the moment as he flipped onto a smaller rock, running along the side, before leaping towards the rock Rayne was aiming for. His cloak fluttered behind him as he punched one arm forward.
“It is hard to fill a cup that is already full,” Thran muttered to himself.
“What was that?” Titius said, grunting as he continued to ping-pong amongst the stones. Gravity now continuing his momentum more than anything the Force users were doing.
Thran rolled his eyes as he grabbed Kamjin’s cloak and lazily let the Emperor carry him to the rock. He rubbed his jaw pondering their next move once they reached the top.
Up was down and down was up. The experience would be nauseating for most people, but fortunately for this group of heroes they had spent enough time among the stars that they would not be surrendering their lunches just yet. Some had spent time behind the controls of a TIE Fighter and had whipped and whirled around in the void.
Thran drifted slightly away from Kamjin and landed softly on a nearby rock.. His intrepid partner, Juniper Scented Candle, had not been seen since the Gorvin Snu’s fated flight. Kamjin was right, something just like this had happened in the past. The legendary disappearance of Jenny III was a tale few knew and one that even fewer spoke of. Thran missed his little friend.
Perhaps it was the loyalty shown by the diminutive reptiles which had garnered such affection from Thran or perhaps it was just the fact that in their empty blank stares Thran found a reflection of himself, regardless he did love the lizards. Of all people, Thran knew that small things were capable of great things. It was not the size of the lizard that mattered, but how it was used. Just then, Thran noticed movement.
“JSC!?” He shouted.
“squiii” Juniper Scented Candle replied.
“YOU MADE IT! OH I’M SO GLAD!” Thran said, with tears welling up in his eyes.”Come to me, my son!”
The small lizard leapt from the adjacent rock. Thran caught the Gorvin Snu and held it for a moment in a tender embrace.
“Well done, my boy. My little rotten soldier! I’m so proud of you. We’ll promote you to Major for this.” Thran said.
“Wait…Is that lizard a Captain?” Kamjin asked.
“Not for long. He’ll be a Grand Admiral in no time!” Thran replied, as he bounded off a rock to the next island. “PARKOUR!” he shouted.
Rayne too bounded off another rock joining in the chorus of “Parkour!”. They leapt from stone to stone, island to island until they gained the height necessary to survey the lands of the Children of Mortis.
Kamjin sighed. “Parkour.” he said, disappointedly following them upward..
Titius caught up to the group, landing gingerly behind them as they looked out over The Shattered Plains, The Corpse Fields and beyond to the very spooky looking crystalline fortress. As far as evil castles go, it was a six out of ten. Nothing new, but impressive all the same. Thran thought it could have used more spikes or blades on the outside, it would have given it that real edgy vibe the Children of Mortis were so desperately craving.
“There. That’s where we’re headed. Whomever is behind this charade will be there.” Kamjin said pointing.
“Whomever?” Thran asked.
“I used proper grammar, Thran. Try it, you might be respected.” Kamjin replied.
“Your mom uses proper grammar.” Rayne snipped.
“Ha, roasted!” Thran replied.
“Emotionally, I feel like you two are really try-” Kamjin began.
“Emmemememme, Me mee me me mee” Thran mocked Kamjin’s vocal cadence.
“Hey, what’s that?” Rayne said, pointing out to the Children of Mortis’ base.
“Huh?” Thran and Kamjin said together.
“Oh, nothing I just thought I saw like a big red eye scanning back and forth. Must’ve been another illusion” Rayne said.
“Don’t be silly…This isn’t Mordor.” Kamjin said.
“Mordor?” Thran asked.
“Yes, Mordor. 5th planet in the Phrodo system. Seventeen Parsecs from Dantooine.” Kamjin said.
“That’s far too remote to be an effective reference. You may fire when ready.” Thran replied.
“Hey. Enough.” Kamjin, the Alderaanian, replied.
“What? I didn’t do anything. Did I do anything?” Thran asked of Rayne.
“Not a damn nuffin.” she said.
“Okay, Okay. How do we get to Castle Doomstone? Thran, your little pal have any routes to get us down?” Kamjin asked.
Thran scooped up Juniper Scented Candle. He held him tight and spoke with the small reptile directly. They seemed to be hatching a plan. After several quick moments, Thran rejoined his humanoid companions.
“Ok, so…JSC says that if we get to the bottom of an upside down gravity island, we should be able to use the coriolis effect to maximize the fluctuation of the wane shaft and reduce the modial reaction of the flux. He lost me after that. Look, it’s very technical. He’s an astronaut, I trust him. In short it’s like some kind of slingshot type… thing.” Thran said.
“I mean…I don’t have a better plan.” Kamjin said.
Just then one of the errant floating islands crashed into the island upon which they stood. They were jostled and rustled, rumbled and tumbled. Kamjin fell into a pile, scraping his knee pretty badly. He clutched it and rocked. Titius was sent somersaulting to a place near the edge of the island. Even Rayne stumbled a little bit. Thran too was effected. The bump caused him to lose his balance, he flailed to regain his equilibrium. In doing so, brave little Juniper Scented Candle was tossed upwards relative to their current position. The small lizard floated away from Thran.
The lizard drifted between two of the islands, caught between their opposing gravities. Juniper Scented Candle’s mass was small enough, he was stuck in an eddy between them. He began to spin along the sagittal plane.
“Oh no…JSC!” Rayne cried out. “He always lands on his feet and both ways are where his foots should be!”
“NO, MY BOY!” Thran screamed.
The others swore they heard a tiny voice reply “Father, help!”, but it was likely just another illusion of this terrible place.
The small lizard had picked up significant speed. Caught in a gravitational paradox, where the lizard could not fall either direction, he spun and spun. The speed was blinding and continued to build and build. Juniper Scented Candle had become a reptilian blur. As he reached the speed of light, JSC became a physics defying gecko. There was a flash of bright white light. JSC was gone. The only thing that remained was two one centimeter wide paths of flame. It was Jenny III all over again.
Rayne surveyed their surroundings. Huge rocks seemed to ignore gravity outright. It was surreal. Her eyes caught something unnatural that stood out against the background, even more so giving the circumstances. She cocked her head to the side trying to determine if her mind was playing tricks on her, if it was the nature of this place, or if it was in fact really real.
She got closer to the anomaly and reached out to it. It was… a hidden door? It was painted so perfectly as to blend in unnoticeable. That can’t be right she thought to herself. Running her hand along the outline of this door, it was tangible. It was in fact a door. She reached for the door handle and pushed it open which opened to a hallway dimly lit with ceiling lights. It stood out like a sore thumb against the rest of the scenery of this ethereal place.
The others stopped what they were doing, fascinated by this new discovery and went over to investigate it. After a moment of pause, Rayne stepped over the threshold into the hallway. There were brooms leaning against the wall. A mop bucket neatly tucked away. Random items of janitorial and maintenance along the path. The group pressed onward, passing by a dressing room. A man was in there, smoking a cigarette with his headpiece off. The deer antlers and the long dark mane looked suspiciously like a full mask of the head of the Shadowseers herself, Rose Telsniw.
“Hey” he said nonchalantly, paying the group little mind as he was just trying to take a break, like a guy behind the scenes of a stage production who was waiting for his part.
They pressed on and open a door to a new surrounding. Following around the long corner, they recognized where they were as the Fortress of the Unchained itself was right there. Somehow against all odds, they had found themselves underneath their destination in a corridor with multiple doors on each side.
“Unbelievable…” Titius said.
“Yeah… On that, we can agree,” Rayne replied.
“Like seriously?” Titius huffed. “I was promised explosive entries and all I get is some waltz through a department store costume aisle. AND I feel like I have been in a tumble dryer. EVERYTHING HURTS.” Stomping petulantly, Titius continued bemoaning the situation, decrying the lack of entertainment, his bruises, how wasted his money was and how the sky was the wrong color.
“ENOUGH!” Kamjin had finally had enough. “Being here is a privilege and you whining makes me think you dont want to be. Now zip your lips or Ill turn this whole parade around!” He twisted on his heel and continued on. Titius blew a raspberry at the departing Emperor. “I heard that!” Kamjin tossed over his shoulder.
Rayne gave Thran a sidelong glance as if to say Get a load of this numpty. Thran nodded comically before letting his eyes survey the tunnels. “Do you think we could bring tours through these?” he mused aloud. His boot landed in a puddle of brown liquid. “And I just found the hole in my boot. Best not”
This definitely looked like the backstage of some Avant Garde theatrical production. The corridor was full of doors decorated as if to represent the performers within. Kamjin gave a low whistle as he saw it stretched off into the infinite with unending branches. Maybe he’d just leave Titius here after all of this.
“I thought the seer was a woman?” Kamjin asked. Rayne and Thran looked at each other.
“I didn’t read the brief,” Rayne said.
“I’m here to lead, no read,” Thran echoed.
“I read it,” Titius pipped in. Kamjin shot him a death glare.
“One of these doors has to lead us to the fortress,” Kamjin said, trying to get back on track. As he reached for a nearby door a voice echoed down the corridor.
“What’s the meaning of this? Jacque told me I’d be playing the Emperor.” Kamjin turned to face a familiar face, HIS!
“What is the…”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” the imposter Kamjin said, his voice growing higher in pitch with each word. “Look at you. You look like a Arx Halloween rip-off. That cloak is so gauche and that armor looks like it’s made of foam.” The actor jabbed a finger in Kamjin’s face. “I’ve never seen you at rehearsal. Just who the hell are you?!?”
Kamjin blinked as spit flew into his face. “I am Kamjin Lap'lamiz. Who the hell are you?”
The actor threw his arms up in a fit. “I can’t stand method actors.”
“Who the hell are you?” Kamjin cut in.
“I am Jinkam! I’ve impersonated the Emperor from Arx to Aliso to standing room only crowds.”
Thran and Rayne sniggered. “Ya, I can see it,” Rayne said.
“No way, he looks far more regal than this impostor,” Thran said, stepping over to Jinkam’s side. Titius quietly joined Thran, nodding his head in agreement.
Kamjin now threw his arms up, in a mirror of Jinkam’s movement. “Fine, you be the Emperor.”
“No, Jacque will need to beg me to come back after this slight,” Jinkam said, spittle flying into Kamjin’s face.
“Fine,” Kamjin said, shoving the imposter aside. “We don’t have time for this,” he muttered as he went to open a nearby door, keen to find the way out. Kamjin’s face went white.
“Gah…gah…gah…GHOSTS!” Kamjin screamed, pointing at the room full of ethereal spirits. He grabbed Rayne and spun her around as he rushed down the hallway.
“Sithspit,” Rayne said, as she, Thran, and Titius chased after Kamjin.
“Ha, that cloak moves like it’s made out of plastic,” Jinkam said, howling with laughter as the ghosts exited the room.
“Here, this way,” Kamjin said, as he opened a door and ran into it.
“Where the hell are we?” Thran said, as instead of stepping into a room they stepped out into the same corridor but further along. Jinkam and the ghosts were 20 yards away now and now rushing towards them.
“Whereever we are we can’t stay here,” Rayne said, opening the door across the way and rushing through. “Woah!” Rayne said, as her companions ran into her back. This door had opened next to the rushing ghosts. “Other way!” she yelled as the ghosts came rushing after them.
Rayne led them back and then through another door. Jinkam, who had stopped following the ghosts stood shocked as they raced through one door and came out another multiple times.
A short man, wearing a poor fitting bear suit that showed his face through the mouth, appeared next to Jinkam. “What the hell is happening?”
“I don’t know but the chorus is going to get exhausted if they keep chasing those understudies,” Jinkam said. “Wow, your Howie costume looks amazing!”
“I know,” the shorter man said, twirling. “They really did a great job getting the eyes right,” he said, dipping his head to show off the sparkling dead black eyes.
After some time, Thran grabbed Titius and Kamjin by the collar and pulled them to a stop. “Enough! We need a plan,” he said, breathing heavily. “We’re going nowhere running through random doors. We can’t keep doing this forever and we seem to have lost the ghosts.”
Rayne cleared her throat, gesturing several doors down to a giant double door with crystals bordering it and a hanging sign reading ‘To Secret Fortress’.
“How did we miss that?” Kamjin asked.
“Following your stupid acts,” Titius mumbled as they headed towards the door.
Kamjin pressed both palms onto the doors and pressed to no avail. “It could not have been that easy, huh?” Kamjin muttered. “Here, let me try!” Titius spoke, pulling a ream of detcord out of a sleeve. “OH for the love of…, NO!” Thran slapped Titius across the face. “This is prime real estate and I will not have your pyromania leaving scorch marks!” He then turned to Kamjin “You push on one and Ill do the other.” Titius looked on grumpily and began stuffing the detcord back like used tissue.
Through all the commotion, Rayne reached forward and grabbed the dainty handle inset to the door. A high constrast sign beside clearly read Pull door which Rayne obliged. “Oh..” came the chorus of sheepish realization. “Just get in..” Rayne sighed, rolling her eyes.
Through the door, a staircase ascended draped in the most hideous beige tread. The walls were deep crimson as a gaudy gold banister stuck out from the side. As if the situation couldn’t be worst, every step up insisted on creaking like a felled tree. SHH No YOU SHH You stepped on my toe! At least Im not the weight of a bantha. You take that back!
The squabbles continued for several steps.
“What the kark is all that noise?!” A figure appeared at the top of the flight. Rapping a clipboard loudly, they continued “You have been told explicitly, over and over, that you are to be silent while backstage. Now get to your assigned wings… QUIETLY”
The group wended their way around several looming structures, following the gentle curve of the wall around. A space opened up, filled with folding tables bearing canapes and rigging tools. Bustling around the tables were several people looking vaguely familiar…
“Hell yeah, catering!” Thran walked over and began a thorough investigation of the open chafer pans.
“Anything good?” Rayne stepped up onto her tippy-toes to steal a peek.
“Eh, there’s crudites, some little mini-quiche things, and…Oh my…” Thran’s voice raised with sudden interest. “Jackpot.” he said, snagging a small paper plate.
“What? What is it?” Kamjin said with enthusiastic interest.
Thran reached for the tongs. Before him was a tray of the most marvelous delicately fried purses of wonton, cheese and Krab. The proverbial jackpot. Rangoons. The tongs were snagged before he could close his grip. He snarled at the gloved hand.
“‘Scuse me” the trooper said.
“Eh, eh, eh. Hold it there super chief.” Thran said and snagged the pinching tool from the Stormtrooper.
“Oh…Shit.” the modulated voice of the trooper said.
Thran quickly picked through a trio of crispy crunchy creamy Rangoons and deposited them on his plate. He turned back to the trooper and lifted one of the snacks to his mouth. The edible wrapper crackled and crunched as he chewed. Thran fully embraced the gastronomical delight. It was like a hug for his soul. His eyes closed briefly as he savored the taste. When they opened again, he was staring directly at the Imperial Cog emblazoned across the trooper’s chest. It was a Scholae Palatinae trooper, in full armor, complete with helmet
“Mi’lord Vizier.” He squawked and bowed slightly.
“Are those Crab Rangoons?!” Kamjin exclaimed, as he rushed headlong at the buffet table. “I friggin’ love Rangoons!” he piled up the snacks on a plate.
The Soldier snapped to attention. He saluted Kamjin as the Emperor tucked into his mountain of fried delights. Though a long standing officer of various fleets, Kamjin discarded protocol in light of the pure flavor explosion that occurred in his mouth. He half raised an arm, waiving a chicken-winged salute at the soldier. Titius and Rayne made their way over to peruse what other delights craft services might have left.
“Hey…You’re…one…of…the…Recon…team” Kamjin said between bites.
“Yes, Mi’lord.” the trooper said. “We were delayed by…Well…you see.” he gestured to the table.
“Where is the rest of your squad?” Thran asked. “Johnson, bring me back a Sprite!” came the calling voice of another Stormtrooper.
“We have company, SF-2219.” the trooper called back over his shoulder.
“SF-2219? Why are you using my government name? Bro, I thought we were ch-” the other trooper paused as he joined the massing group “iiilllll. Mi’lord!” He snapped to attention.
Kamjin returned another half-arm half-elbow driven salute. Rayne had also amassed a plate of amuse-bouche and came to join them. She lifted an asparagus spear wrapped in medium rare beef to her mouth and took a bite. Her prominent canine teeth teared at the meat. She savored the taste of the meat and waived the half eaten snack.
“Hey, you’re the scouts.” she said. “So…You’re a little late coming home.”
“Yeah, about that.” the first trooper scratched at the back of his helmet.
“No need to explain. Free all you can eat Crab Rangoons is enough explanation.” Thran said.
“Hell, I’m tempted not to go back.” Kamjin wiped the corner of his mouth with his cloak.
“So, like…Do you have any idea what’s going on here?” Thran asked of the soldiers.
“It’s…complicated.” they said in harmony. “It’d be easier to show you.” The lead on, towards stage right.
They walked back towards where they had previously been scolded by the stage manager. The leading trooper placed a finger over the small black spot over where the vocal processor was on his helmet. They passed under a canopy of catwalks filled with lighting rigs and walked past the tangle of ropes and cables that made up the fly system. They stopped and looked out over the stage.
“Holy shit…” Thran whispered.
There on the stage before them, lightsabers in hand, Darth Nehalem and Telaris Cantor were engaged in a duel. Thran narrowed his eyes. All was not as it seemed.
“Hey, it’s Other Mav,” Kamjin said through a mouthful of crab rangoon.
“I thought you were Other Mav,” Titius pipped up.
“Shut up,” Rayne snapped. “Morons,” she muttered as she came up besides Thran. “Is that Evant and Telaris?”
“No,” Thran said, again miming having a pipe and taking on a sophisticated tone. “Someone down there is not real. A puppet or a man-puppet. A muppet? No, he’s a Sith so a Suppet? That doesn’t seem right. Let’s go with muppet for now and we can wordsmith it for the report later,” Thran said, taking an imaginary draw on his invisible pipe.
“How do you know so much about puppets?” Kamjin asked, coughing on a bit of crispy rangoon wanton edging.
“Oh, that’s an easy one. You see a few years back animation was all the rage on Ragnath and they wanted me to do a voice over and I told them no cartoon could possibly hold my image. So they convinced me to voice over a puppet…”
“Thran, dear. Focus,” Rayne said, gently putting her hand on his arm and lowering the invisibile pipe.
“Right, right you are dear. Now is not the time to try and culture this swine. Now, we know one…or more…of those people below aren’t real. We also know if we go down there one of us will probably die,” Thran said as he, Rayne, and Kamjin all turned to stare at Titius.
“Wha?” Titius mouthed. The three Force users shook their heads in unison and returned to listening to Thran.
“This is a classic move and will work well here. If you look around there are various sandbags up here holding up the rigging. If we all position ourselves near one and release it at the right time we can send the bag crashing onto their heads.”
“Then it’s lights out!” Kamjin exclaimed.
“Shhhh,” Thran hissed. “No you moron, if you undo the rigging for the lighting you’ll burn the whole place down. Just focus on the sandbags,” Thran said as they began the climb into position.
The four infiltrators climbed into position. They had slithered and slunk up the rigging equipment as if they were snakes climbing into the jungle canopy. One by one they all reached their positions above the dueling titans. Thran looked to his compatriots, silently mouthing a countdown. On zero, they were to cut free the sandbag counterweights held aloft in the rafters sending them careening down upon Telaris and Evant.
Four, Three, Two, One, Zero! Each made a swift move, slicing at the thick ropes with lightsaber or blade.
The rigging fell from the sky. A great crash and boom filled the air. Kamjin had not listened to the instructions and cut free the lighting rig that held them all aloft. With the counterweights having been cut as well, the structural support fell to the stage below. They landed with a thud.
“Listen, Linda! You had expressed instruction and you mucked it all up!” Thran yelled as he gathered himself from the ground.
The beam had collapsed on top of Telaris and Evant, pinned the former to the ground and revealed that Evant was little more than a scarecrow that had been affixed to Telaris. The stick and string connection had been constructed in such a way that the “puppet” Evant would mirror all of Telaris’ actions.Telaris groaned.
“Hey, it was dark up there and I couldn’t see the right rope. Besides, it worked.” Kamjin defended himself.
“Ugh…” Thran couldn’t bear to admit that Kamjin was right. It had worked. “Quick! Get Telaris!” Thran exclaimed.
The team huddled around the writhing body of Telaris “Mav” Cantor. The grand mystery was set to be solved.
“Here we go…Mav…or should I say…” Rayne said grabbing at the former Grand Master hair.
She yanked upwards, revealing the face of Telaris Cantor was naught but a mask. Beneath the mask the face of the real culprit was revealed. He was an older man, graying at the sides, with the sort of perpetual scowl typically reserved for the neighborhood curmudgeon that cursed children for treading on his lawn, and a scar marked the left side of his face. It was a face they all recognized.
“BUBBA!” they all shouted in unison.
“That’s right! And I would have gotten away with it too! If it weren’t for you meddling Palatinaeans!” Deputy Grand Master Dacien Victae shouted.
“Palatinae. It’s already plural.” Thran corrected. “Palatinae…Palatinaeans…Palat…Shut up! I would’ve gotten away with it if it were for you!” Bubba cursed.
“Wait if Telaris “Mav” doesn’t exist… does that make me Regular Mav now?” Kamjin inquired.
“No.” Bubba and the others said in harmony.
“So Bubba was behind it all! The Children of Mortis and the Ethereal Realm!” Titus said.
“You got me. Dave! The jig is up, don’t break the chain!” Bubba shouted.
The Father, Mathias Westland, poked his head out from back stage. “You sure boss?” he said.
“Dammit Dave! Don’t make me say it again!” Bubba roared.
“Gotcha. That’s a wrap gang! We’ll pick up here tomorrow!” The Father exclaimed to a group of stagehands and other actors before disappearing into the darkness
“How did you catch me?” Bubba asked.
“It was easy.” Rayne said. “The first clue was the laser light show. Evant was a boozehound, not a spice jockey. The lights would’ve made him ill. The second clue was the Crystal monsters, especially the dinosaurs…Only a person who was deliberately trying to come up with some crazy crap that appeared out of this realm would come up with that. I mean seriously? Operation Raptorstrike? It’s too out there. Finally, Evant thinking he’s could actually bring all the clan’s together? That’s just plain out of a fairytale!” She concluded.
Bubba’s grumbles were deep and dissatisfied.
“I’ve been saying it for years. Evant isn’t real. But would anyone listen to me? Noooooooo” Thran said.
“What now? Do we like…arrest him or something?” Kamjin asked.
“We could explode him…” Titius said.
“No.” they said in unison.
“Hey, yeah…what do we do now?” Thran added.
“Ummm…I don’t know. I mean, Bubba is just doing the Sith thing.” Rayne said.
“I’m not even sure this is a crime. So…I mean…Ummm…” Thran added.
The group looked at each other, then looked to Bubba, then back to each other.
“Bail?” Kamjin asked.
“Bail.” The others affirmed.