Chapter CXVIII: Conform With the Foe

C.R. frowned. He rose from the couch, moving towards the door. Ian looked confused and followed him. The Rip watcher walked out into the hall, then turned and knocked on the adjacent door. It opened and Ray Noh stood there, holding a remote control in one hand. He jumped when he saw who it was. “N-NYAH!” he yelled. “Who is it??” a voice, probably D’Nel’s called from further in the room. The capsule droid was joined by his master shortly afterwards.

Seeing C.R., D’Nel started to. “OY! It’s HIM!” he worried aloud. C.R. looked calmly at the two. He spoke just as calmly. “Now look, I know you two were hot roddin the Rip recently-“ There was a nervous glance exchanged between the two. “-but I’m not here to discuss that.” The two exhaled in relief. D’Nel nervously chuckled. “Well, sure am glad of that. So, what’cha want?” C.R. crossed his arms and looked slightly as if he was about to drop a serious case of blackmail on the two; which he did.

“Well, since you asked, I need to ask you two, in payment for your little ‘joy-rides’ in the interdimensional transportational system I am in charge of-,” he looked sternly at the two, “to compensate by volunteering your services in a mission we are engaged in currently.” D’Nel looked to Ray Noh who whispered something to him. He nodded and looked back to C.R.. “We do owe you that much, I suppose.,” he replied. The Twilighter grinned and stepped back a bit. “Well then, will you two gentlemen accompany me back to our method of transportation?”

Ray Noh scratched his head. “You mean that techno-jazzed train?” C.R. nodded. “Yes, the ‘Spectrum’ it’s called.” Ray nodded and started out the door, stopping as he noticed Ian. “Hey,” he said, poking Ian in the shoulder, “It’s that weird kid we met awhile ago. You know, you’re kinda a weird guy.” D’Nel nodded and stepped forward. “Yes, I’d have to agree, definitely strange.” Ian flat-eyed and promptly responded, “Well, I’d call you two some adjective, but I doubt even Webster’s has one that’d suit you.”

C.R. and Ian started back to the Spectrum, Jaded and Scilas falling in with their ranks. D’Nel and Ray stood there, blinking. They finally looked to one another. “Hey, did that kid just..?” “Yeah…that was a good one. Wish I could have made one that quick that good.” They shrugged, running to catch up with the others.

On board the spectrum, they crew milled about and took seats on the couches. Jaded slung the still unconscious body of Rainy on a bed. Omega was already at the controls, and Prismaya was lying down in one of the beds on board. It was then that something sparked D’Nel’s mind to be more attentive. “HEY!,” he yelled, leaping up, pointing to Scilas, “He’s the one who nicked my coat!!” Ray muttered something under his breath and Scilas smirked. “Bout time you noticed.” “That coat’s been missing since last time I was in Kazi and we ran into you! Gimme it back!!,” he yelled, lunging for Scilas. The assassin leapt and flipped backwards, landing a safe distance away, and D’Nel only managed to over-turn the sofa. He tried to grab Scilas again, but only managed to plow into the wall. As Scilas chuckled, C.R. quickly walked in and put a hand on D’Nel and his shoulders. “O-K, we gotta work TO-GETHER here, so Scilas, give ‘im back the coat-“ Scilas grumbled, removing the red jacket and tossing it back. D’Nel caught it in one hand and slipped it on, muttering something about getting it dry cleaned. “-and let’s stop the fighting!,” C.R. continued. “That goes for everyone!”

They all nodded in agreement, and this seemed to please C.R., so he settled down in an arm chair. He conjured up a slew of small Rip-holes and dropped through each one a small, handheld electronic device that resembled a walk man. "They should be able to use those to get to here.," he murmured.

There was a loud CLANG! From the engine room, Kenzo strode in, whistling to himself. “Hey gang!,” he began. “Apparently, C.R. dragged me back for something. So what’s the game?” He looked at D’Nel and Ray Noh, puzzled. “What are the Screw-ups doin here?” “WE ARE NOT SCREW-UPS!,” D’Nel yelled. Ray was about to shout something to, when a strange darkness fell on the room. It suddenly felt much colder too. A shadow in the center of the room began to clear and form into a person. As it solidified into a ghostly form, everyone gasped in shock at what was definitely Sir Pseudo Havering!- the Time Bender himself!

Pseudo cackled, letting his purple cape flow. “Afternoon, kind sirs!,” he sneered, then took on a look of mock fret. “What ever is the matter? You all look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He laughed heartily at this. C.R. growled in his throat, and D’Nel took a step back, Ray Noh quickly following suit. “P-P-Pseudo H-Havering?!,” D’Nel stammered. “B-but you’re….you’re-!” Pseudo smiled ruefully at them. “ Deceased? Finished? Dead?” He snickered. “Not hardly.” He stretched, groaning. “Oooh, my does being sealed twice tend to make the bones ache!”

Scilas stood, snorting. “What do you want, Havering?” Pseudo put on a look of mock surprise. “Want? My presence must always mean I want something??” He blinked, then sneared, causing his snifter, which also was opaque to appear in his see-through hand. “Very estute call, assassin.” He took a sip of wine, grinning his demonic smile. “Well, let me lay the metaphorical cards out on the table, shall I?” He paced over to a window. “As you plainly see, I am…well…indisposed to put it lightly. I’m not all physically here. I’m more a specter than a living being.” He frowned, shaking his head, then instantly snapping out of the thought. “That is where you all come in. You see, that blasted Twilighter Council has taken it upon themselves to destroy the remaining Creation’s Weapons. This wouldn’t be too bad for me, though the power of a few was used to bring me here, and thus it is the remaining power of them and of the undiscovered weapons that holds me here. If they destroy the weapons, I’ll be cast back into the Mid-Dimension to await escape.”

Jaded smirked. “Well then, why don’t we just let ‘em and be rid of you?” Havering looked over, a serious expression on his face. “Because, dear mercenary, you cannot afford them doing that.” “Eh? Why not?” “It’s quite simple really..” Havering walked over to a wooden panel on the wall and banged on it with his fist. A hidden compartment swing open and an unopened bottle of a very aged and exotic spirit was revealed. Havering continued as he finished the rest of his snifter, then uncorked the bottle and poured some of it’s contents in. “Think about it: the Council destroys weapon after weapon. Like the metaphor of socks out of the dryer, the residue of power that the weapons used to contain will be released and stick to them, increasing their own power substantially; even more so than if they had wielded the weapons!”

Jaded frowned. “Then, why don’t we just toast the weapons, send you packin, and become untimely strong in the process?” Pseudo drank a bit of the wine. “You’d like that, but there’s a hitch.” “Ain’t there always..,” Jaded muttered. Pseudo continued. “You see, to prevent the destruction of the weapons, the ‘Forces that be’ responsible for their creation safeguarded them with this fact- a person who destroys a Creation’s Weapon forfeits their soul.” The passengers winced. “Ouch,” said Ray, “So, won’t the Councilmen hesitate from doing it, if they know that? Or Don’t they?” Pseudo nodded. “Oh, they do. They know it well. But, like myself,” he brushed aside a lock of his hair, grinning devilishly, “They’re willing to forfeit that for power and eternal life.”

“So, what’re you proposing we do about this, and how’s it involve you?,” Jaded asked. Pseudo took on a serious expression again. “I am simply saying, you must crush the council while keeping as many of the weapons in tact as possible, and to report to the Demon’s and Magi Council back on Caelum. He raised a brow. “Only I am officially one of the Demon’s Council, even if I have been shunned by my own kind. I know the passwords in, and I hold the knowledge of the arcane style of “Ancient Rhenzin” used there most often.” Ratch nodded and spoke up for the first time. “So, yer sayin’ we gotta take you with us, or no go?” Pseudo looked him in the eyes, grinning slightly. “No, Havoc, old general, I’m saying…you must all be in my service until such a time when all this Creation’s Weapons business is behind us. The Spectrum, your crew, the folks you allowed to go off, ALL of that is in my control.”

There was a panicked murmur amongst the group, and finally they looked at C.R. to see his thoughts on the matter. He frowned. “Hmm, I dunno….pretty risky, trusting you, Havering.” Pseudo laughed, grinning evilly. “You’re still just jelous T’ariana wished to marry ME!” C.R. growled and closed his eyes. “What’s past is past, and just to show you it isn’t in anyway that; yeah, I say alright. We’ll work for you for a time.” Havering sneered, raising his snifter in a toast. “I’ll drink to that. Wise choice, heir Rip watcher.” C.R. headed towards the engine room, looking down as he walked. “I just pray to the Forces that be that this wasn’t a fatal decision..”