Bi-Weekly
Issue # 4 – The Gathering
By: Robert Rock
Note: This storyline is set prior
to "Tempus Fugit" in Pendragons
Romany's Flat
Eccles stepped across the threshold into Romany's flat and for one of the few times in his life was in awe.The look and feel of the apartment was beyond all that he had been prepared for, on a count of several reasons.
First, the apartment was much bigger inside that it could possibly be in reality. Eccles wondered idly if she had had any contact with the Doctor as the apartment seemed to function like his TARDIS.
The second reason was much harder to actually pin down; it was more of a feeling about the place.It felt like the descriptions he had read of people's experience with Otherworld.It was almost if reality had gone a bit hazy inside the apartment.
The last reason was the assembly of creatures milling about.Several fairies were flying quickly around the head of an ogre that seemed to be taking a nap.They sang to him in their high sing song voices that seemed to be mockery more than lullaby.A rangy, little satyr was talking up a pair of nymphs, who giggled wildly at his coarse, gruff words.
As Eccles continued to move through the apartment, the fantastic and unbelievable seemed to be commonplace.
"Now no more rough housing you two.The way you play someone is going to get seriously hurt.I'm not a miracle worker you know, I can only do so much," Romany admonished two baby trolls, as she sent them on their way, one with a bandage in his knee and the other with one on his forehead.
"Doesn't look that way to me Romany.This place seems to be the very definition of miracle." Eccles called to her.
"Chief, how are you?" Romany asked looking up. Eccles could tell that she was surprised to see him.
"Yes, you know Romany
dear, using other people to fight the good fight and keep queen and county
safe."
"Yes, I know what you mean.So let me ask, how do you need to use me?" Romany asked with a matter of fact look on her face.
"Always quick as a whip, you. There seems to be a new bad guy on the scene named Mortigen.I'm putting several people on the scent to gauge if he is or is not a threat." Eccles says.
"A threat to whom Chief," Romany asked obviously meaning more than she'd actually said.
"Queen and county
dear, queen and country."
"We can play spy chief
gently roping in the young innocent all day, but we both know you hate
to play sly spy games and I'm not exactly what you'd call innocent.Cut
to the chase chief, I have things to do."
Eccles stared at her
for a moment, "Romany if I wasn't so old, I'd ask you to marry me on the
spot. What I need is for you to keep you ear close to the ground for any
rumbling about Mortigen and what he's up to. With your "unique clientele",
someone here has to know something. Oh and Pete sends his love.He
said that he drop by when he finished looking into something for me."
"Pete? He's ok? You've seen him?
"Aye, he seems well
enough.The barrier and what it's
done to him still has him rattled though.Hopefully
he's coming out of it and is ready to get back into the game.I
don't necessarily trust all those Pendragons."
"And you trust Pete?"
"I know Pete for what
he is."
"And what's that Chief?" Romany asked.
"What ever he needs to be to get the job done," Eccles said as his eyes wandered the room.
Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of what he could only describe as a small demon slipping quietly out of the front door.
"Perfect," Eccles said almost more to himself then Romany.
"What was that Chief?" Romany asked
"Nothing dear, so,
will you ask around for me?"
"Could I refuse such
a sweet man as you Chief?" Romany added with a smile on her face. "Be sure
you send Pete 'round soon as you next see him, understand."
"Ye, I'll do that.
Cheers love," Eccles said as he started for the door.
Mortigen walks down the hall of a darkened office tower.He is dressed in a grey pinstripe suit and is sporting a cell phone to his ear.
"Altar, what have
you heard?"
"Eccles of F.66 was
inquiring about you in the flat of the Wisdom girl.He
has asked her to gather information for him.They
are attempting to gauge whether you are a threat or not.They
do not seem to have any idea of your true plans lord."
"At least that is
good news. I instructed you to attend this meeting, why are you not here?
I detest tardiness."
"I'm only minutes
away my lord, I beg forgiveness."
"See that you're here very soon Altar, or you'll be very unhappy with my disappointment."
With this, Mortigen snaps the phone closed and enters a large boardroom.
The boardroom is very expensively decorated, but the one piece that attracts the eye most of all when entering the room is a large sun made of beaten gold.The piece looks immeasurably old and is on the crude side.
All in the room stand on Mortigen's entrance, they are a collection of various mythical races. Some look quite humorous in business suits, but others look right at home in the boardroom.
Mortigen reaches the head of the table and seats himself in front of the golden sun.It gives those around the table looking at him the impression that he has a halo.
In unison they all chant
"Ra is the one god
Ra is the sun god
One god, sun god
Ra,
Ra, Ra."
Mortigen indicates all of them to sit with a motion of his hands.
"Thank you all for coming this evening.As you know the progression into the light has been slow going.We know stand on the cusp of a new age, an age that will return us to our height of power and prestige.
Soon all of you will
be given specific tasks in achieving our mutual goal."
Hot knives flared at the end of Peter Wisdom's fingers.He glared down at the minor demon he had pinned with his foot.
"Right talk, or I
fry your ass and make you feel like it's old home week for you."
"You're making a mistake
here Petey," the small demon said."What
going on you want no part of.Crawl
back into your hole and pretend that your world hasn't gone upside down."
"Shut it you little red shite."
"Oh Petey, I can feel
the magic bleeding off you and you still choose to use your little mutant
power.I would really be scared
if you were threatening me with your true powers now."
The mocking in the demon's voice matched the mocking almost always present in Peter's mind since the Barrier went up.The rage was building to an explosion in him and he knew he was going to be able to contain it.
"Be gone," Peter screamed.A flash of eldritch blue flame erupted from Peter and engulfed the demon.It screamed and seemed to wither to ash and disappear.
Peter sank to the
ground, exhausted."Bloody hell,
what's going on with me?"
Next: The Vatican
becomes interested in Mortigen's affairs and sends their new enforcer to
look into him.Unfortunately, he
doesn't seem to want to play nice with Dept. F.66
Authors Notes
Sorry it's taken this long to get #4 out.I hope my delays are behind me and all my titles will get back on track.As usual, comments would be appreciated and can be sent to rarock2002@yahoo.ca
Cheers,
Robert