Category: An Interlude

“I just don’t know, Jacob. Is he old enough for one of these things? What if it hurts him.”

Jacob wiped at a dark spot on the front of his son’s birthday present. “He’s five years old, Martha. That’s the age pediatricians are arguing for, now. And the thing’s got the latest safety protocols.”

Martha sighed. “I know. It’s just weird. I didn’t have my first until I turned sixteen.”

“Well they didn’t exist much before that, did they?”

“Ha ha. Fine… Go get him.”

Jacob returned a couple of minutes later. “Okay, Billy. Eyes closed? Good. Ready? Open!” He stood beside Martha and the present, beaming.

A look of shock mixed with curiosity washed over Billy’s face. His present was a blue and gray, six foot tall robot. It stood stalk still, gently glowing blue eyes staring at the far wall. Its rubbery face expressionless.

The robot abruptly sprang to life, making him jump. It smiled broadly as it spoke. “Hello, Billy! I am InterDev Robotics model 48, serial number 81539 dash 57 A. I am a personal assistant bot! Your father has designated me as Robert.”

Billy began to cry. A look of surprise and concern formed on the robot’s face. It turned to Jacob. The father held up a hand, shaking his head. Martha rushed forward to comfort the boy.

***

“My birthday is tomorrow. I’ve had you for a whole year, now!” Billy banged happily away on the robot’s knee. Its shiny metallic blue and gray paint had been haphazardly covered with various peeling stickers.

“I am happy to serve you!” The robot smiled. “Are you having success fixing my boo-boo?”

“Nah.” Billy smiled mischievously. “I think I need something heavier.”

The robot stopped smiling. “Your father has requested I do not allow you to damage me, again.”

“Shut up, Poop Butt.”

“He has also requested that I no longer respond to any name except Robert.”

***

“Hey, dork.”

“I told you to stop calling me that!”

Robert stepped forward. “Recorded and noted thirty-nine days ago.” The robot played back an audio recording of Billy through his mouth. “Don’t call me dork!”

“Shut up, robo-dork!”

“Hey! His name is Robert!” Billy shoved the other boy.

The boy shoved back. Robert watched the two boys begin to fight. The other boy brought back his fist to punch Billy in the face. A shrill alarm sounded.

Robert moved with lightning-quick reflexes, holding the other boy’s arm back. “DEFENSES ACTIVATED. I cannot allow you to harm Billy.” He pulled the boy back from Billy.

The child stood stunned for a moment. He began to cry. “My dad will sue you! You DORK!” He turned and ran off.

Billy turned to the robot, tears running down his cheeks. A look of concern crossed over Robert’s face. “Have you been injured?”

The boy shook his head, then hugged Robert tightly. The surprised robot gently patted Billy on the back. A slight smile graced his gray lips.

***

“Congratulations on being hired to your first job, Billy!”

“I told you to call me Bill.” He smiled apologetically at the crestfallen look on Robert’s face. “Thanks, buddy. Hey, we need to clean you up later.”

“Noted! I will remind you to clean me up, later.”

Bill pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket. He sighed. “I know what this is going to be.” He pressed the speakerphone button on the screen. “What’s up, Jon?”

“Hey, Bill! I uh… Did you have trouble with the Geometry homework? It looks like random squiggles to me.”

Bill gave Robert a knowing look. The robot smiled back. “Yeah, I got it done.” He looked at the time. “I was going to hit the mall before going to work, but I can come over and help you out.”

“Awesome! Thanks, man!”

Bill shoved the phone back in his pocket. “Didn’t I tell you? I knew it.”

Robert cocked his head. “Why are you choosing to help him if it will deny you leisure time?”

He shrugged. “Friends look after each other.”

***

Robert ran down the street towards the altercation. He had to swerve and dodge around the growing crowd of people outside the men’s dorm. His alarm sounded.

Bill and another young man were exchanging blows. Robert dashed forward, genuine anger flashing on his face. He grabbed the front of the other man’s jacket and hoisted him a foot off the ground. “Cease your hostilities!”

He tossed the man to the ground, where he fell in a heap. The robot moved to place himself between the two combatants. He turned to Bill. “Are you injured?”

Bill wiped a spot of blood from his lip with the back of his hand, glaring at the other man. “Nothing too serious, Robert. I’ll be okay.”

A young woman ran up to Bill. “Oh, my god! Are you alright? What were you thinking, Billy!”

“I’m fine, Mary.” He handed her a small plastic card. “Here’s the money he stole from you.” He glared at the proposed thief.

Robert looked at Bill confused. “Why risk imprisonment for a physical altercation over a small sum of money?”

Bill half-smiled at the woman. “Sometimes you do things because it’s the right thing to do… Even if it doesn’t make sense, I guess.”

Robert nodded thoughtfully before staring blankly back at Bill. “I thought you wanted to be referred to as Bill?”

***

“I do not understand why young Benjamin requires a separate robot to watch over him.” The look on Robert’s face was surprisingly close to anger.

Bill smiled, patting the robot on the back. “You know that I appreciate how much you care for him. Hell, I remember when he was younger! I didn’t think you’d ever let the nanny-bot do her job.”

Robert frowned. “I apologize for my actions.”

Bill grimaced. “Don’t you dare apologize! Friends look after each other. You were just looking after Benji, too.”

Robert nodded, smiling thinly. “Thank you for your kind words.”

“Silly robot!” Bill winked.

***

Robert examined his appearance in the decorative mirror in the entrance hall. His once lustrous blue and gray paint was beginning to noticeably dull. He would need a new face overlay soon, as well.

“What’s shaking, Robert?” Bill shuffled over to a nearby bench and lowered himself down with a groan.

“Nothing is shaking today, Bill. The technicians successfully replaced the motivator in my left shoulder this morning.”

The old man cackled. “I’ve been teaching you slang for seventy years now, and you’ve never heard that one?”

The robot stared off at the far wall, head gently ticking left to right. He turned back to Bill after a moment. “You have not, though my memory banks have degraded zero-point-zero-nine percent since I was first activated…”

Bill smiled. “Silly robot. What were you looking at in the mirror?”

Robert stared at his reflection. “I grow concerned that my gradual degradation will lead you to seek out a newer robot assistant.”

The old man laughed. “If one of us should be worrying about degradation, it ought to be me! I’ve told you before, friends look after each other. You’re my best friend, Robert. You’re not going anywhere.”

Bill struggled to his feet. Robert rushed forward and lent him support. Bill turned to him and patted him on the cheek. “One more thing. For the love of god, call me Billy.”

***

Robert stood back, dusting the dirt off his worn hands. He looked over the arrangement of flowers, judging his work. He nodded, satisfied.

Another robot, much newer, approached Robert. He bore a look of curiosity on his face. “You arrange flowers on this grave every two weeks during the spring and summer months. Why?”

“It is my duty.”

The robot tilted its head. “But Bill Sutherland has been deceased for two decades. You are no longer required to perform this function.”

Robert smiled at the robot. “I am aware. I tend this grave of my own volition.” He shrugged. “Besides, Billy was my friend…” He looked back to the grave. “And friends look after each other.”

An Interlude | An Interlude Continues

Jacob shielded his eyes from the intense sunlight shining into the mouth of the cave. He turned to Fred and did a double-take. “What the hell?”

Fred stared back at him through a pair of mirror-tinted aviator sunglasses. He hiked his eyebrows. “What?”

“You have sunglasses.”

“Don’t you?”

“Uh… No.”

“…Loser.”

Jacob sighed, rolling his eyes. He trudged out into the open air and breathed deeply. A fresh ocean breeze filled his lungs. He smiled. The details of their surroundings finally began to come into focus.

They stood on a sandy beach at the edge of an ocean. The beach stretched out of sight in either direction. Steep, smooth cliffs left no obvious way back onto the mainland.

Jacob looked out towards the ocean. A large galleon stoically stood out on the horizon. “Looks like that might be our best bet.”

Fred looked at the ship through a spyglass. “Well, I don’t see nobody boppin’ around on the deck…”

“Where did you get… No, forget I asked.” Jacob stared out at the ship. “Maybe we can use it to sail past these cliffs here. Guess we’re going to get wet.”

“Why in the hell would you wanna swim when we got this boat here?” Fred thumbed at a rowboat gently bobbing on the shore.

Jacob shook his head. “Sure! Of course! I’m fucking insane, aren’t I? I’m in a coma somewhere…” Shadow squeaked out a questioning meow. Jacob smiled. He scritched his head. “At least there’s you, huh?”

“Last one in the boat has to row!” Fred shouted from inside the rowboat.

“Seriously!” Jacob gently set Shadow in the boat before climbing aboard himself.

“Well you ain’t gonna make a frail old man do all that tough rowin’ are ya?” Fred made a pouty face.

“Right.” Jacob sighed and grabbed the oars. He shoved the boat off the shore and got them turned. He dug in and stroked the oars. He looked back to see that the galleon was now much closer than it had been. He looked back towards the shore, squinting.

“See? God damn gorilla manning them oars!” Fred cackled.

“Damn straight.” Jacob pumped the oars. Each time they got significantly closer to the waiting ship. The last stroke sent them crashing into the side of the galleon.

Jacob smacked the back of his head on the ship. Poor shadow tumbled mewing between his legs, while Fred fell forward onto his knees. His shades went flying off his face and into the water.

“Ya drunk son of a bitch! You’ll be paying for those!” Fred grumpily shook his fist.

“You pulled the damn things out of your ass!”

Fred looked indignant. “Do you know how much that costs? And don’t get me started on the chafing.”

Jacob ignored him and grabbed at a rope ladder hanging nearby. He scooped up Shadow and got him to cling to the collar of his shirt. “Don’t kill me with your claws, little guy.” He began to climb up.

By some miracle, Fred waited until Jacob was all the way up the ladder. He’d been certain the old fool would grab it and start shaking the thing, or something similarly inane. He climbed over the edge onto the deck, then let Shadow hop down.

He stood up and looked back down the side of the ship. The rowboat was still there, but Fred was nowhere to be found. “Fred?” There was no reply. “Hmm…”

Jacob turned around and let out a small shriek. Fred stood inches away from him in full pirate regalia. He started guffawing. “Ha haaa! You little goober! Thought you were done with me, didn’t ya?”

“Praying, actually. Cute outfit.”

Fred made a face. “Well, at least I have one!”

Jacob heard Shadow mew at his feet. He bent down and scooped him up. The kitten bore a tiny little eye patch with a diamond in the middle of it. “You, too?” The kitten purred.

“I suppose we should check the ship before we do anything else. Then if it’s safe, we can see about finding our way onto land.”

Fred popped a raspberry. “I say we sail the seventeen seas, see where this bitch takes us! ARRR! Aroo!” He began to dance around on the deck.

“Right, set sail in the middle of nowhere without knowing where the hell we’re going.” He tucked Shadow up on his shoulder. “Let’s go, kitty cat.” Jacob opened up a hatch and carefully lowered himself into the bowels of the ship.

He turned around and ran right into Fred. “Sure is dark in here.”

“God damn it! Will you stop doing that!”

“Doing what? Using my flashlight?” The old farmhand tossed it into a corner, where it went out.

“Are you some sort of punishment?”

“Aww! That’s no way to talk to widdle Shadow-buttons!” He held out his arm in the dark. The black cat stretched and hopped onto Fred’s arm. He ran up to the farmhand’s shoulder and perched there.

“Traitor…” Jacob turned his back to them both and felt his way deeper into the ship.

He heard a quiet click a moment later. Torches lining the wall suddenly caught fire and began to burn. He whirled around to see Fred with his finger on a modern-looking light switch. “What?”

Jacob shook his head and turned back around. This deck of the ship appeared abandoned. He spotted a ladder leading further down into the galleon and mounted it.

He dropped down onto the darkened bottom deck. Next to him was a light switch. He raised an eyebrow and flicked it. The torches on this level lit up like the others. He nodded his head. Naturally.

He stepped out of the way to let Fred down. Fred cried out, falling straight down. A sickening crack came from his ankles as he landed on his feet. “YEOW!”

“Holy shit, dude. You alright?”

Fred looked at him through watery eyes. “Aw! You do love me! And HELL NO I ain’t alright!” He peeled Shadow off his shoulder, who mewed in protest. He held the kitten out to Jacob. “Shoulda named him Velcro.”

Jacob took Shadow, smiling. “Uh huh…” He fed the kitten onto his shoulder and walked over to the only door on the deck. “Guess it’s here or nowhere.” He opened the door, one hand on his broadsword.

On the other side was a large pile of gold coins. Various jewels of every color glimmered in the light of the torches. In the middle of it all sat a skeleton wearing an eye patch and a tricorn hat. Its bony hand held a broadsword like Jacob’s own.

“Well golly-gee-willickers! Will ya just look at that booty!”

“Yeah, well don’t touch anything. It might be…” He turned to look at Fred, who was leering at a centerfold instead of the treasure. “…Booby-trapped.”

“Oh, I’d like to get trapped in those boobies…” Fred muttered to himself. He dropped the magazine and pointed at the gold. “Holy shit! TREASURE!”

The old farmhand ran over and scooped up a handful of coins. The skeleton began to stir, letting out an unearthly hiss. Its one eye socket glowed bright red.

“Great job, numb-nuts!” Jacob pulled out his sword. Shadow hissed at the skeleton and jumped down to the floor, running to a far corner.

“Suppose I shoulda asked first…” Fred held the handful of coins out. “Ya want some, skelly-man?”

The skeleton shrieked at Fred and swung its broadsword. Jacob leaned forward with his own sword and parried the swing. Fred dropped the coins. “Ho-lee cheesepuffs!”

Jacob put himself between the skeleton and Fred. Man and monster traded a series of blows before Jacob ran the sword through the skeleton’s ribs. The skeleton gave an eerie laugh, the sword having stuck fast.

It raised its sword to strike. Jacob stopped pulling at the sword and instead pushed. The skeleton squawked as it tumbled over backwards onto the pile of coins.

The bones of the skeleton scattered on impact. Jacob howled in triumph. He placed his foot on the skeleton’s rib cage and yanked his broadsword free. The skeleton’s eye socket went dark once more.

Shadow jumped and hissed at the fallen skeleton. He batted at its finger bones playfully. Jacob plucked him up, smiling. “I think that’s got him, tiger.”

“That’s the shit, young fella! See if he tries to claim MY gold again! HA! Ha ha!”

“Your gold?”

“Well it’s my ship, now ain’t it? The ess-ess Motherfucker!” Fred laughed gustily.

“Your ship… So you knew this fucking thing was here!” Jacob shoved him.

Fred shoved back. Shadow hissed in protest, digging into Jacob’s shoulder. Jacob cried out in pain. “He wasn’t here the last time I was aboard…” Fred looked up, scratching at his chin.

“I left Masterson in here to protect the treasure. Locked him in even!” Fred’s eyes grew large. “Masterson!” Fred plucked the tricorn hat from his head and held it over his heart. He waved it dismissively a moment later. “Never liked the fucker anyway. Let’s get topside!”

Jacob was climbing the ladder to the deck a few moments later. He paused as a large, dark figure appeared over the opening. He reversed direction before being shouted down.

“Hold it right thar, ye scurvy dog!” The pirate above pointed a flintlock pistol at Jacob’s head. “Reverse direction and haul yer filthy carcass topside!”

First Jacob, then Fred emerged onto the top deck. The pirate growled at them both. “Just what are ye thinking, boarding me ship without permission?”

Jacob reeled on Fred. “You said this was your ship!”

“It was! This fucker stole it from me.”

“I didn’t steal nothin’ you crazed old man! Now drop to your knees and beg fer life!”

Jacob defiantly crossed his arms. “Who’s gonna make us? Huh? You only got one shot!”

The pirate captain grinned, pointing behind Fred and Jacob. “Aye! So do they…”

Jacob slowly turned around. A raucous cheer erupted from the gang of pirates that had gathered behind them. “Oh…”

Lightning lit up the countryside in ethereal shades of blue and white. The resulting boom of thunder was only slightly louder than the constant pounding and splashing of the torrential rain. The deafening cacophony made the young knight’s horse rear up, crying into the night in fear.

The knight turned the horse and dismounted. The horse shuffled and hopped nervously. The knight removed her helmet and shook down her black hair.

She rubbed the horse’s neck. “Easy, boy. I’ll walk from here.” She led the horse to a stand of trees and said a silent prayer for his protection.

She slipped her helmet back on and started the slow trek to the castle in the distance. The ground here was soft, saturated by the unending deluge. Each step felt like three.

At last she stood before the castle. The great oak doors swung open as she approached. So she was expected. She wearily walked into the Great Hall. The doors behind her shut with a boom, moved by unseen hands.

She removed her helmet to better see her new surroundings. She stood upon a plain cobblestone floor. The walls on either side of her were studded with intricate stained glass windows that stretched fifteen feet in the air. Torches between each window lit the hall.

Several feet in front of her began a wide, red carpet fringed in gold and silver thread. It stretched up onto a dais upon where a great throne resided. Between these two points stood an old man.

His long white hair blended in with his equally long beard. He wore long, dark blue robes fringed with gold. His eyes were kind, but his demeanor was stern. “Welcome, Alanna. Are you prepared?”

Alanna bowed deeply. “I am ready to face the trials.”

“Once begun, they cannot be stopped. Succeed or die.” The man’s face softened subtly. “Good luck, child.”

The robed man disappeared in a rising puff of smoke. Out of the smoke came running a wiry warrior in leather armor twirling a bo staff. He stood at a short distance, twirling and dancing the staff along his body. He swung the staff up and across his back and waited.

Alanna calmly sat her helmet on the ground beside her. She pulled her sword from her sheath and prepared herself. The warrior smiled. Breaking his bo staff free from his back, he ran at the knight.

The warrior brought the  staff down on Alanna. The knight deflected the blow with her armor-clad arm with a thonk. She winced despite the padding the armor afforded her. She swung back, missing the lithe warrior’s flank by inches.

The staff whirled and struck first one side of her, then the other. Alanna swung her sword true and cleaved the staff in two. The warrior stared at her in wide-eyed indignation.

Alanna relieved him of his life, his head dropping separate of his body onto the cobblestones below. The body faded away before her eyes. A loud boom brought her attention back to the opposite end of the room.

A towering knight in gleaming silver armor stood where the old man had been a short time ago. His hands rested atop the hilt of his long sword. He hefted the impossibly large weapon and assumed a battle stance.

Alanna found her helmet and brought it down on her head. She tapped it with the end of her own sword before assuming an attack position. She crept forward, edging to one side as she approached the behemoth.

The knight tracked her movement as she approached. Alanna screamed out, breaking into a run. The knight moved much swifter than his size and heft should have allowed. His mighty sword crashed broadside into Alanna’s ribs.

She cried out, flying through the air. She crashed to the ground in a heap of squealing metal. She found her sword and quickly stood. She hugged her side, wincing.

The knight swung his mighty sword up and in. Alanna feinted to the side and brought her own sword around. The strike missed the knight’s arm. Alanna scrambled backwards, trying to put distance between them.

The two warriors paced to one side, squaring each other up. Alanna scanned the knight from head to toe, looking for any weaknesses, and found none. The knight lifted and stretched his neck, making it crack loudly. Alanna smiled.

She stopped and stood, resting her hands on the hilt of her sword as the knight had before they had begun their dance. The knight paused, dipping his sword. He raised it suddenly, stepping forward to strike.

Alanna did not move. The knight swung his sword at the girl. Alanna flicked her sword up and jumped. The massive sword whistled through the air just below her lifted feet.

The knight yelled out in frustration as he arrested the weapon’s movement. He hefted it high above his head. Alanna smiled, springing upwards once more, her sword leading the way.

The tip of her weapon found the narrow slit between the knight’s chest armor and helmet. She could see the knight’s wild eyes widen in horror through his slotted visor. He released a strangled, bubbling scream as crimson blood poured from the fatal wound.

Like the first warrior, the knight faded from existence, leaving Alanna’s sword hanging in the air. She leaped forward as it began to fall. She rolled forward as she grabbed it and stopped on one knee.

The vaulted ceiling above her boomed and rattled. Dust fell from the buckling roof as a great, unseen beast howled into the night sky. Alanna stood, swiftly walking backwards.

Half the roof gave way, crashing into the Great Hall. The driving wind and rain extinguished the torches, leaving the hall in complete darkness. The ground below Alanna suddenly gave way.

She hit the unseen ground with a deafening clunk. Her helmet popped free of her head, skittering clear of where she landed. She cursed in her mind as she groaned and curled on the rubble-strewn ground.

Her sword lay close beside her, having been tightly gripped in the fall. She grabbed it and stood with great effort. She found it hard to breathe, but she could still fight.

Wherever she found herself was pitch black, and completely silent. No, there was something else. Some unseen foe flashed by her. She cried out, slapping her hand to her cheek. There was a thin cut there now.

Something hissed nearby. Alanna swung out with her sword in a blind panic. The dark foe knocked the weapon free from her hands. It scraped against the ground as it was lost to the darkness.

Alanna pulled free her dagger and gripped it tight. She strained her eyes as she tried to see her surroundings. Her breathing became ragged, harried. Something growled as it thumped into her chest.

She flew backwards onto the ground. She cried in pain as old wounds were teased awake by the impact. Somehow she held tight to her dagger.

She willed herself to her feet once more. She fought to control her breathing, closing her eyes. Silence wrapped around her like the darkness.

A nearly imperceptible hiss floated to her from her right. Then came the slight sound of nails scraping on rock as the unseen creature looked for purchase. Alanna reeled about and aimed her dagger.

She thrust out, finding flesh in the darkness. She pushed forward, burying the dagger deep into the unseen foe’s flesh. It let loose a high-pitched squeal as it grabbed at Alanna’s forearms.

Its grip slowly loosened. The slain beast slipped off the dagger, collapsing to the ground before her. A blinding light fell on the ground, revealing a twisted, black creature dead on the ground. It, too faded away to nothing.

Another light illuminated a figure a short distance away. Alanna froze, mouth agape. The figure was dressed in battered armor, and was armed with a long sword. The knight was missing her helmet, revealing the face of Alanna.

The true Alanna snapped her attention to the ground, looking for her own sword. The impostor Alanna started her run. The true Alanna found her weapon and scrambled to the ground after it.

She brought it up to counter the impostor’s blow. She kicked at the impostor’s knees. She cried out as her own knees burned. She rolled to the side and fought back up to her feet.

The impostor Alanna was on her almost immediately. The two knights’ swords clashed and clanged as they both fought for an opening. The impostor landed a successful kick to Alanna’s stomach, doubling her over in pain.

Her double raised her sword to strike. Alanna crashed her fist into the other’s chin. It was Alanna who cried out, spitting blood onto the floor. The impostor grinned wildly, swinging her sword back around.

Alanna dodged it and quickly put distance between her and the doppelganger. She thought desperately as the two foes paced around each other. Alanna came to a stop.

The impostor also stopped, a look of confusion upon her face. Alanna cast her sword to the ground and stood staring at her double. The impostor’s sword shattered in her hand, falling to dust at her feet.

The doppelganger snarled, snatching her dagger from her belt. Alanna fetched her own, then dropped it atop the sword at her feet. Like before, the weapon fell apart in the double’s hand.

Frustrated, the impostor Alanna charged at the real Alanna, fists raised. She thrust out as she approached. Alanna feinted to the side and embraced the impostor. The double cried out as Alanna squeezed tight. The doppelganger’s body began to glow with pure white light.

The light faded away. Alanna blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision. She stood in the Great Hall once more. The roof was intact, the torches burning brightly. Her sword and dagger lay inside their respective sheathes, her helmet tucked under one arm.

She stared at the old robed man with a look of disbelief. He smiled back at her, nodding his head gently. “Bravo, young warrior. I welcome you to the fold.”

 

 

Continued from An Interlude.

Jacob felt like he was walking through cool water. Sounds were muted, distant. Even with his eyes closed, he could sense the light growing dim about him as he proceeded.

He passed through the other end of the portal. Pulling away from it was like pulling free from taffy. The fluid-like substance of the portal snapped backwards with a slapping sound.

Jacob looked around. He was in some sort of damp cave. The only light came from the portal behind him. The portal that was now closing. “Oh, shit.”

He slapped frantically at his pockets. He smiled. He pulled a disposable lighter out of his pocket and flicked it to life. Its small flame did little to dispel the darkness about him. “Can’t see shit.”

“I know! Sure is dark in here.” Jacob hollered, dropping the lighter and cussing.

A flashlight clicked on somewhere in front of him. It flicked up into the face of the old farmhand he had just left behind. “Hiya, toots!”

“Jesus! You scared the shit out of me. What the hell are you doing here?”

“Well fuck you, too!” The old man nearly looked hurt.

“No, I…” Jacob sighed. “You were over there.” He jabbed a thumb behind him. “Now you’re here, but you said you came from here, but…” He rubbed his forehead. “Now my head hurts.”

The old farmhand chuckled. “I came from there, but I didn’t come from here. This here’s different from the other here I came from to go there. See? Simple.”

“Right…” Jacob stared into the darkness. “Why did you follow me? Thought you couldn’t wait to see me gone.”

The old man shrugged. “I was having too much fun slapping your dick around.”

Jacob grimaced, slowly shaking his head. “Maybe it’s best we just go our separate ways now?”

“Aw, come on, now! It’ll be fun. Here!” The farmhand stuck out a gnarled hand. “Name’s Fred. Just Fred.”

Jacob reluctantly took the hand and shook it. “Just Fred. Okayyy… I’m Jacob Decker.”

“Decker? More like Pecker!” Fred broke into a fit of laughter. Jacob ripped his hand away. Fred made a fist and shook it up and down, laughing even harder.

“Hey just… You know what? Fuck you.” Jacob stumbled off into the darkness.

“Aw, come on now, sweetheart! Maybe I’ll let you on the next date.” Fred followed after Jacob, lighting the way.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Coming along! DUH.”

“Great.” Jacob strained to see what lay ahead in the dim light of the flashlight. Water dripped from some unseen source in the distance. The walls were damp, black with mildew.

A click came from behind him, plunging him back into darkness. “What the hell did you turn the light off for?”

“Thought it would be more fun this way.”

Jacob said nothing. He continued forward, shuffling his feet across the gritty stone beneath him. Fred clucked behind him. “You should really be watching where you’re going, you know.”

“I am, now.” Jacob squinted at a faint glowing area in the distance. “I’ll just get my own light source.” He found a patch of fungus glowing a faint blue-green color along the base of one wall. A pair of luminescent mushrooms curled jauntily out of the mass.

“Ah HA!” He crouched down and plucked one of the mushrooms. The light drained out of it almost immediately. “What the… Aw come on!” He tossed it to the ground in frustration.

Fred dropped to one knee beside him. “Well I’d stop glowing if you plucked me, too!” He scooped some of the fungus from the ground and sniffed at it. He shoved a wad up his nose. His eyes began to glow green. “HOO! Ha haaa!”

Jacob looked on in shock and disgust. “What the fuck are you, man?”

The old man plugged one nostril and shot the mold out of the other. The light faded from his eyes. “I’m whatever I need to be, I guess.”

“Whatever.” Jacob grabbed up a handful of mold and held it out in front of him. The substance provided just enough illumination to see a few feet in front of him.

He took a few steps forward before a deep rumbling growl echoed from up ahead. “That… Yeah, that doesn’t sound good.”

“Sounded fine to me!” Fred smiled in the blue-green light.

Jacob shook his head and continued forward. They rounded a gentle corner. Something lay piled on the ground ahead of them. The walls rumbled slightly with another growl from up ahead.

He nervously approached the pile on the floor. The slowly-dimming light fell on the glistening white bones of a skeleton. A broadsword was stuck through the skeleton’s rib cage and into the ground. Its jewel-encrusted guard shimmered eerily in the light.

A dim roar issued down the cave walls, making the bones tremble. Jacob shook the lifeless mold from his hand. He found the handle of the sword and pulled the weapon from its resting place.

“You sure that’s a good idea? What if he ain’t done with it, yet?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he’s done with it.” Jacob hefted the sword. It felt good in his hand. “Will you please turn on that flashlight?”

“Ho-lee shit! You said the magic word again!” Fred cackled, lighting up his face from below with the flashlight.

Jacob continued on, emboldened by the thirty inches of sharpened steel looming in front of him. They rounded a rather sharp corner. The dim light of a way out greeted them in the distance.

The light was suddenly obscured by something very large, and very dark. Whatever it was let out an earsplitting roar. Jacob heard a now familiar click from behind him, plunging them both into darkness.

“What are you doing! Turn the damn light back on!”

“Maybe it can’t hurt us if we can’t see it?”

The unseen beast took two thunderous steps towards the men. “I really don’t want to test out that theory! Turn it on!”

“Fine! You big crybaby.” Fred mumbled the last under his breath.

The flashlight spilled light over Jacob’s shoulder and onto… “A kitten?” A small black kitten sat quietly where the beast had been only a moment before. It mewed weakly, tilting its head.

“Careful now! It might nibble yer tit!” Fred guffawed.

Jacob glared at Fred, lowering the sword. He cautiously approached the kitten and dropped to one knee in front of it. He held out his free hand. the kitten sniffed it daintily and rubbed its cheek against it.

He smiled and rubbed at the kitten’s head. “Big personality in a little package, I guess.”

“Yep.” Fred sniffed. “That’s me!”

Jacob ignored the old farmhand. He scooped the kitten into his hand and stood up. “What should we call you? How about Shadow?” The kitten purred.

“Shadow! Oh, real original, shithead!” Bright light ringed the kitten’s neck. A dark red collar appeared there. A small metal tag dangled from it, bearing the name “Shadow”. “Oh, well fine. So boring.” Fred stuck his finger in his mouth and rolled his eyes.

“You’re just jealous.” Jacob smiled at the kitten. It crawled painfully up his shirt and onto his shoulder. It settled down, looking at him expectantly. “Alright, then. Let’s see what’s on the other side of this cave.”

 

Here I am, being odd again. I felt like rolling up the old writing sleeves again. I hope you enjoy my momentary lapse into fiction.

Gabriel gently urged Ezekiel on with a gentle kick to his flank. He grimaced as he did so, knowing the pain the creature was in. He hugged himself closer to the dragon. “Only a little farther, old friend.”

The blue-black creature looked back with one unfocused eye, crowing weakly. It slowly craned its head back around and down as it redoubled its effort to keep them in the air. Gabriel nervously rubbed Ezekiel’s neck, trying to reassure both of them.

The young man sat up in his saddle and surveyed the land below them. This was the final journey. He had wanted to give Ezekiel one last thrill, one last  journey, together. A single tear slipped down his cheek. His lip trembled.

Ezekiel cried out quietly, flinching his head and wobbling dangerously. Gabriel clinched the pommel horn with white knuckles. “Easy, old one. Easy now.” Ezekiel mewled. A tear like a jewel pooled at the corner of one eye.

Gabriel stared off to the horizon, where the last rays of the sun stretched across the forest below. Lake Hanover came into view on their left. The gentle waves rippling on its surface twinkled like golden diamonds from up here.

The forest below gave way to arid grasslands beneath them. Ezekiel’s breathing became slower and more labored. Gabriel laid across the dragon’s neck and held him tight.

He watched the ground rush by below them. The grass faded and dispersed, replaced by lifeless sand and gravel. He squeezed his eyes shut and hugged the struggling dragon. They were nearly there.

He pulled in a hitching breath and blew it out forcefully. He sat himself back upright and reluctantly patted his friend on the back. “Alright, Ezekiel. Descend.”

The dragon weakly cried out  at the sky and slowed its wing beats. Gabriel held on for all his worth as Ezekiel lowered them unsteadily towards the ground. He nearly pitched forward as they crumpled to the earth below.

Ezekiel roared in pain. Gabriel righted himself and massaged the dragon’s neck. “My poor beauty! My poor friend.” Tears rolled down his cheeks. Ezekiel looked back, mewling. Pain and fear burned in his eye.

Gabriel slid to the rocky ground, sniffling. He looked forward. There was Soulfire Point, just off in the distance. To the two companions, it appeared miles away.

“One more time, friend. Hup!” Ezekiel struggled to find his feet. His body trembled, ultimately collapsing. It cried out in pain, a brief burst of orange-blue flame licking from its mouth.

“Oh, Ezekiel!” The boy hugged the dragon’s neck. He caressed the side of Ezekiel’s face. “I know it hurts, friend. I know… but you must find a way.”

He stepped back. Ezekiel wearily raised its head and turned towards the boy. Gabriel nodded nervously. The dragon lowered its head and pushed with all its might. Its massive body slowly lifted from the ground.

“There’s the way. Come on, now.” Ezekiel lurched forward. His breathing came in sharp rasps. Gabriel placed a gentle hand on his friend’s shoulder and walked beside him.

The cliff edge drew closer, an uncomfortable representation of the end that was coming. It all hardly felt real, and yet here it was. Gabriel felt a queer sense of relief, interspersed with a grieving that felt like icy death itself clutching at his heart.

Ezekiel squealed in pain and fell, shaking the ground below him. “No! Ezekiel…” Gabriel looked towards Soulfire Point. So close, and yet it may have been a mile away. He began to cry.

He pressed himself into the dragon and wept. “So close! You’re so close…” Ezekiel cried weakly. “I know. You’re too tired, old friend.” Gabriel stood and looked to the sky. “I don’t know what to do!”

Somewhere in the distance, a ground-shaking roar tore through the twilight sky. It was joined by a second, louder roar. Twin jets of blue-orange flame peeled across the sky, illuminating the dragons behind them.

“Look, Ezekiel! We are saved!” The weary dragon weakly turned its head skyward. Its one good eye sparkled. It clucked weakly.

The two dragons, one blood red, the other a blackish-green, touched down gracefully behind the weary travelers. Their immense wings pounded the air, sending dust and debris swirling into the darkening sky. The rider of the red dragon held up a solemn hand. “Hale, friend Gabriel!”

He patted and rubbed the dragon beneath him. “Darien caught Ezekiel’s cries on the winds.” He surveyed the broken dragon soberly. “So it is time.”

Gabriel nodded, tears in his eyes. “It is so. I fear he doesn’t have the energy to finish the journey.”

The rider held up his hand. “Speak no more.” He turned to the other rider and nodded. The other rider nodded back and nudged his dragon forward.

The dragons settled on either side of the fallen dragon and his companion. Gabriel stood before Ezekiel. “Spread your wings one last time, old friend.”

Ezekiel squeezed his eyes shut and raised his wings onto the other two dragons. Darien and his companion effortlessly stood, lifting their fallen comrade from the ground. Ezekiel’s feet gingerly pressed into the ground.

The three dragons slowly, solemnly made the short trip to the edge of Soulfire Point. Ezekiel lowered himself painfully to the ground. He breathed a sigh of relief. He rested his head on the ground and gazed at the last rays of the sun that were quickly slipping away.

The other dragons quietly retreated, heads bowed. Gabriel looked to the red rider uncertainly. He nodded back. “It’s time, son. Make your peace.”

Gabriel ran to Ezekiel and hugged him tightly. He whispered, tears falling from his tired eyes. “Goodbye, old friend. It’s time to go now.”

Ezekiel locked his gaze on Gabriel. The look was one of serenity, and gratefulness. Gabriel stood, then stepped back hesitantly. The darkness stole away the last of the sun’s warming light. Ezekiel’s eye closed for the last time.

“Hale! Ezekiel! Great dragon of the north!” The red rider cried. “Seek peace, and fly your way to eternity.”

A brilliant white light poured from beneath Ezekiel’s body. It licked up over his body, shimmering and flickering like flames. Its tendrils tracing over and enveloping the old dragon.

The light grew in intensity, blinding the others. It slowly faded, revealing a brilliant translucent blue dragon. It stood proudly, unfurling sparkling wings.

It turned its massive head, looking one last time upon its faithful companion of old. It turned to the rising moon and flapped its powerful wings, lifting into the night sky.

Glittering points of light like diamonds fell away from its wings as it flew into the night sky. With a mighty roar, it disappeared into the nether realm, leaving it’s companion for the last time.

The red rider looked to Gabriel. He placed his fist to his chest, and solemnly bowed his head. The two dragons took flight, returning the way they had come, leaving Gabriel to mourn.

The young man silently walked to where his friend had lain. He knelt, placing a hand on the still-warm earth. He closed his eyes and smiled, tears on his cheeks. “Goodbye, Ezekiel.”

He sat upon the edge of the cliff and watched the moon rise. He would leave here without his friend, but knew in his heart that he would never be alone again.