Saturday Super Stories - Skulduggery Part 3

"Malefactor, Reprobate, Charlatan, Neerdowell, or Gentlemen Thief, names associated with villainy.  I pull from the universe tales of Larceny and Legerdemain focusing on the evil that fills the world."  The Nameless.

Andreas Darkk spoke quietly to the man who lay before him at the bottom of the abyss surrounding Carcass, “I did not start life as the worst villain in the history of the universe, wait that’s not exactly true, while I am a master villain; I am not the worst or even the best.  In truth I am barely adequate.  But let me start at the beginning.”

Saturday Super Stories – Skulduggery 110 Part 3

“My life is hell, if it can go wrong it will.”  Jason said over his shoulder to his friend as they ran through the wooded area on the path cut in the soil by years of travel.

“Quit being so dramatic, it’s not so bad, it could get worse,” then the two friends fell into the multi-verse and landed in a world filled with great darkness, and the two friends lost their ways.

Andreas continued, “I fell in with the wrong sorts of people there and had to sacrifice part of my immortal soul to escape that plane, and that piece went on to become something terrible, but we’re not there yet,” he paused and took a breath remembering as the universe flashed before him in those first moments, so many visions of elseworlds, so little time.  “So I was exiled into the ether and visited many other planes I began to gather friends and allies in each of places I landed, slowly building an army so that I could one day find a way to return to my home plane,” he paused again and took a deep breath, “But that part of my soul that was lost had stolen from me my empathy and happiness, I became bitter and angry at my circumstances and I began to forge a new path.”

“I soon found a temporary home in the future where some of my newest and closest allies found a map that we could use to navigate that universes time stream.  So we moved back and forth plundering the weapons and resources that we believed could be used to return me home but gradually the group began to split apart and settle in different places.  I was once again left alone this time a few hundred years from my home time period and I finally decided to stay and let the map move on without me.”  Andreas stopped and craned his neck to look upwards at the chained island in the sky, barely a dot again the sunlight so far above him.

“It was several years later I ran into a man named Darion Gray who knew me but I did not know him and it was then that I knew my journey was far from over, so I handed over a part of my stash and left him behind searching for the moment I would move on and become the man he had met in his past.  I did not know the person he had met was the remains of my soul in a host body and a true threat to the galaxy.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?”  Chang Woe asked the man bound before him.

“Because I am the Darkness in the souls of man, I am Andreas Darkk and as one of my keepers you are a key to my release!”  Andreas seized the man’s head and squeezed, absorbing his soul into his own.  He sighed and began the long wait, for he knew that he had to gather his energy slowly so that he might travel backwards so that he might be imprisoned here.

“I really hate time travel.”

Sometime later, Super University...

“The villain Andreas Darkk suffers from a closed loop of time.  The day he became Andreas set his path to the loop.  He will amass an army and find three like minded individuals and together they will travel from 2199 to the Event in the mid 20^th century.  Once there he will be defeated and the woman Pandemonium will imprison him in the distant past beneath the city of Carcass, where his energies will be contained.  He will eventually manipulate one of his jailers to sacrifice himself to Andreas and then the slow build until his release in 2199, and then it starts again.  He cannot deviate from this path or the paradox will kill him.  The prison is ingenious.”

“Richie you really are a nerd.”

“SWALLOW YOUR SOUL!!”

TBC in Skulduggery Part 4

Saturday Super Stories - Skulduggery Part 2

"Malefactor, Reprobate, Charlatan, Neerdowell, or Gentlemen Thief, names associated with villainy.  I pull from the universe tales of Larceny and Legerdemain focusing on the evil that fills the world."  The Nameless.

Saturday Super Stories – Skulduggery 110 Part 2

Darion stepped from the portal, unsure of the year but knew it was the distant past at least several decades removed from his future.  He followed what was traditionally the time traveler’s friend, looking for a newspaper, something with the date on it.

OUR PLANETS DAILIES

Monday August 26^th 2233

The Future of Science is Now!!

Super Scientist Dr. Kristoff Eston unveils project to fix Earth’s atmosphere and energy problems.

    Today Dr. Eston will unveil his project at the Grand Convention Hall in downtown Megalopolis Superplex.

Darion smiled, “Seems that I made a grand decision after all.”  He waved a hand to hail a cab.

Later…

“I am Dr. Kristoff Nathanial Eston the IV, Quantum Engineer.”  He smiled wide at the assembled crowd gathered in the auditorium.  “I am here today to unveil my newest breakthrough in science and fundamentally change how we view the worlds.”

“I have developed 5 of what I am calling the EON Links, referred to in my notes as L, R, S, H, and P.  Only three made it to the final stages of testing as P and R had an encounter and it obliterated them at a molecular level.”

“What do they do?”

“They are Quantum Entanglement Devices able to pull at the strings of reality and re-write it as they see fit.”  Kristoff waved a hand and the EON Links drifted from the table and floating in the air behind his head.  “Take these flowers for instance.”  One Link peeled away from the group and scanned the flowers and a beam washed over them and suddenly they were a pizza, steaming from the heat of being cooked.  Scattered clapping sounded through the hall, and some murmurs.

“Organic or in-organic it doesn’t matter I can rearrange the matter however I see fit.”

“So potentially they could be used to turn water into something terrible, like biological or nuclear weapons?”

“Um, yes of course they could be used that way.”

“Then why create something that could destroy the world?”

“Because that’s what I want to do.”  The crowd’s stunned silence spoke volumes.  “I plan on taking over the world and with these none of you can stop me.”

One person began to clap at the far end of the room and with the deafening silence it echoed and carried to everyone present.

“Bravo!!”  Darion Gray called to Kristoff, “Quite the flair for the dramatic if I do say so myself.”  Kristoff cocked his head to the side to take the newcomer in.

“You have a name sir?”  He asked.

Darion bowed with a flourish, “Darion Gray, futurist and man of mystery!”  He shouted with a wiggle of his eyebrows.  Kristoff narrowed his eyes at the stranger.  “I have come backwards in time searching for a cure to my condition and I hope that your ability to re-arrange the molecular can assist me in this.”

The calm back and forth between the two men finally made one woman in the audience break and she screamed and started to run away and the crowd exploded into movement and followed suit.  In moments the convention hall was empty except the two men staring at each other.

“Do you think I am insane?”  Kristoff asked.

“Slightly, you did create devices that could unravel reality itself, and then announced it to the world.  When I come from we have people that don’t take kindly to those sorts of threats and take it upon themselves to deal with it.”

“We have those people too; the remnants of the Spider Legion and the legacies that have managed to elude the authorities since the Purge in 2200.  I don’t know how far forward you have come from but here they aren’t exactly a problem.  I can and will take what I want.”  Kristoff stepped away from the podium and stepped closer to Darion who was smiling wide.  “What’s so funny?”

“I remember this moment from the archives on the net.  This is the moment that the world realizes it needs its heroes, someone to stand against the darkness, because without the light the shadows will take over.”

“What are you going on about?”  Kristoff demanded.  Darion pointed at the camera’s which were still transmitting the whole scene.  “HELLS!!”  He screamed.

“You could come with me and we could leave this time, I have an escape planned, but you will never be able to return here, ever.”  Darion smirked as the sounds of engines roared closer from above. “Decide quickly, you may be overwhelmed by the force they send against you.”  Kristoff clenched and unclenched his hands and screamed.

“Fine, let us away.”

TBC in Skulduggery Part 3

Saturday Super Stories - Skulduggery 110 Part 1c

"Malefactor, Reprobate, Charlatan, Neerdowell, or Gentlemen Thief, names associated with villainy.  I pull from the universe tales of Larceny and Legerdemain focusing on the evil that fills the world."  The Nameless.

Skulduggery 110 Part 1c - The Saga's for Darion Gray

Chapter 5 (Futures)

Darion walked once again through the portal outside the Free Zone, he had first gone to his apartment and retrieved the picture, concentrating to lift and place it in his jacket pocket, and he was amazed when it stayed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2273, four years later...

There were bright flashes overhead, followed by many reports. He had come through into a war. He glanced down at the picture and saw that it had made the journey with him. He smiled, and then he noticed that he could touch it with no problem. It had become as unstable as he had. 'Interesting" he thought.

Several bullets passed through him then, he looked down, ash pouring from the wounds. "You have made a mistake...?" An android stood before him, basically human shaped, but very alien in appearance. It auto loaded a new clip into its gun and shot him again. Again he was fine, his curse would let him live through this. Suddenly a ship flew low overhead and dropped several more of the androids to the ground; these seemed to be armed with laser rifles and pistols, these too passed through him leaving only a tingle in its wake.

He stopped next to a body, picking up its pistol. He turned to the first beast and shot it in the chest until the clip was dry. The monster stood there, still firing at him. He walked between them and they destroyed themselves, lasers easily cutting through their armor, and he picked up one of their pistols and started towards the city.


Old Neutron City, 2273

The city was a warzone, the new breed of android was systematically killing all of the populace, leaving only shells of buildings in their wake. The world was very different than when he had left, how could this have happened? He searched for a safe zone so he could get answers, he killed tens of the monsters to get to it, but he made it. The rebel leader against the beasts was called The Red Dragon, and he was soon brought before him.

The leader stood over a map of the city, an elemental made of concrete, dirt and rocks stood guard behind him. He had his generals nearby and conferred with them occasionally while devising battle strategies.

"I need answers." Darion spoke before waiting to be addressed.

"Yeah, well that’s real nice there; I need to win a war so I guess were even." He pointed out some locations on the map and sent a messenger off. "I hear your some kind of bad...ass?" Red Dragon stared at Darion for a long moment. "Kill him," and he turned back to the map. The Elemental moved to attack and Darion stood his ground.

"Why attack me, I’ve done nothing to hurt you."  Darion questioned.

"Because I hold a grudge." Red Dragon responded.

The elemental swung a huge fist and Darion collided with it, and he was flung backwards and slammed into a debris bin, knocked him, it, and its contents to the floor.

"I’ve never seen you before!"  Darion wailed.

"It’s been a long time, ten years give or take, but I remember you, you look different somehow, but I know it’s you." The elemental strode slowly forward and moved to stomp on Darion’s leg, and he backpedalled away, causing it to miss.

"I’ve never seen you before; I’m not even from here! This isn’t my world, I only want answers!" The Red Dragon waved his hand and the elemental stopped its attack.

"Leave us." His men objected but reluctantly left.  "Six months ago a force of androids marched out of the ReXunited ARCology. Led by an AI called TechnoSyde, they single handedly destroyed most of downtown, within hours of the opening. While authorities tried to stave off the attack, TechnoSyde sent huge transports to the other cities. NeoGothic City was nuked on the second day, DeeCee by the end of the first week. Within a month TechnoSyde and his followers had a foothold in the Americas.

"The entire time the underground was planning a counter assault. The blackrunners were united in a common goal; we made strikes against the ARCology and TechnoSyde's various forces biding our time, until we could get a hold of this." He walked over to a tarp and lifted it, a huge bomb sat there. "It’s an E.M.P. the most powerful one still on the planet."  Red Dragon finished.

"E.M.P.?" Darion asked.

"Electro Magnetic Pulse, an explosive device that sends a pulse of electricity so powerful that it knocks out all of the electronics in an area. I saw it in a movie once."  Red Dragon Replied.

"I can stop all of this. I can fix everything that has happened."  Darion responded.

"I told you once before, Time Travel. I must warn you that you will only make things worse the more you mess with time." He continued to stare at Darion. "How are we to know that all of this didn’t happen because you went back and changed things."

"Because I haven’t left yet, this is my world too." He pulled the picture from his pocket, there was going to be a gate soon, within hours. He tucked the photo away. "I need all the information you have, I know I will get it if what you’ve said is true, because no matter what I have to leave."

Red Dragon stared at him long and hard, minutes passed as he contemplated the ramifications of this decision. He grabbed some files from a cabinet and threw them at Darion. As they flew through the air, it bubbled and rippled as one of the ARCologies creations stood before them. It swatted the files out of the air and they smacked into the ground.

"Shit." Dragon hissed and willed his elemental to fight, as he started casting at the same time.

Darion scrambled and grabbed the files as the fight started right above him. He rolled out of the way and the machine stomped a foot at him. He stood and began to run, Dragon glared at him and cast his spell. The area flooded with light and Darion was blasted away, flying through the air, smashing into a half wall. He lay dazed for a few moments and then shook his head clear and began to move again as the battle raged behind him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

He stepped through the portal to his next destination, this time in the past; it was time to change things.

TBC in Skullduggery Part 2

Saturday Super Stories - Skulduggery 110 Part 1b

"Malefactor, Reprobate, Charlatan, Neerdowell, or Gentlemen Thief, names associated with villainy.  I pull from the universe tales of Larceny and Legerdemain focusing on the evil that fills the world."  The Nameless.

Skulduggery 110 Part 1b - The Saga's for Darion Gray

Chapter 3 (Remnants)

He spent weeks wandering the city, production had been halted immediately, and all the YG series androids that could be found were recalled and destroyed. 

He had tried to find Jason but was unable to locate him, he had seemingly disappeared, but some blackrunners he had hired were able to locate him; and a group of people he was traveling with, by tracking down where they had been. The blackrunners could not find them per-say  for they had seemed to vanish soon after they had been located, it was odd. 

He mailed the pictures to an associate of his, with the intent of using the pictures to find their back-story, and went about his life as best as he could, the Dragons curse filling his ears every moment of everyday, but he tried his best to forget about it. 

Then came the day his building was attacked. Some blackrunners had planted explosives and destroyed the upper levels of the building knocking it into the streets below. Then the next morning an employee killed himself for no apparent reason. Perhaps the curse meant he would never again be successful.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Several days passed and his contact was murdered in his home, there was no apparent break-in, but all of the photos had been stolen. This was beginning to bother him; it was as if someone was systematically destroying his life piece by piece. He tracked down one of the people responsible for runs, a fixer called Bryon. Bryon told him about the workings in the darkness and how to go about hiring blackrunners to get things done. He stored the information away for later and began to work on revenge, starting with those who had slighted him in the past.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The first of the revenge plan would be a runner called the Janitor. He was an expert at infiltration and poisons. He was one of the ones who had blown up his building. He tracked him down on another job, and what would come would be the revelation that would fuel his passion for destruction.

His fight awakened him to the nature of the curse. He blindly attacked the Janitor and was shot several times, and fell many stories to his death. He woke on the street looking up as the glass from the window he had broke rained down on him, this was his second death. Then a secluded eye cruiser clipped his body and sent it spinning into a hydrant breaking his neck and spine and crushing much of his skull, his third death, and finally the explosive he had for the Janitor detonated killing him another time, and all the passersby that had stopped to see what had happened.

He stood up and brushed himself off; a fine ash covered his body in many places. His curse was Immortality?!? How could this be a curse? He laughed long and loud, as the bodies lay in ruin around him. He walked into the street and he noticed then, he could see through himself just slightly. He touched the street, and while it felt solid his hand passed through it. His curse was more than Immortality; he was out of phase with the world around him. 

Dragons can be a cruel race.

Chapter 4 (Crossroads)

He returned to his home some time later, sort of willing himself to stay in one place to ride the lifts up. He pushed himself through the door of his apartment passing through it and he called to the alarm the correct code to disable security. He had found that while hard to react to the physical plane he could talk just fine.

He walked around his place, looking at the items he had recovered from Jason’s gift. Many different swords, books, colored magazines with crazy stories of fiction, maps torn from other books, pictures, and a backpack full of strange items. The Capsule that contained the Truck lay on his desk, a remembrance of times before. He looked over the photos and that’s when he saw it, a map.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It took many days, but he finally moved the picture to his desk and had the computer analyze and enlarge it. He superimposed the image on his wall sized Vid. Selecting and zooming in on the map in the hands of the strangers. It took many hours of planning but he found a doorway, a permanent one, here in NeoGothic City, and he had no idea where it would take him but he had to find out.

He left for the portal, and arrived outside the Free Zone several hours later. The portal lay in between several crumbled alleyways two vagrants slept under it, as if they could not even see it. Perhaps only those who knew were a portal was could see said portal, hmm this could bear looking into. Then he was gone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

2269, four years later.

He stepped out of the portal, he glanced around the area was different, it looked older somehow. He walked into the city, watching and absorbing what he saw. It was four years later, some of the blackrunners tech looked slightly different, advanced, but it wasn’t like that was strange, Argus OneWorld was constantly making advancements, but he noticed the name on one of the pistols, ReXunited, but ReXunited didn't make weapons, they made cyborgs, and hacking gear, plus when he had left the ARCology was still under siege by the "AI" TechnoSyde.

The world was different in those four years, he had to get to the map, he ran for NeoGothic City and that’s when he realized he wasn't in NeoGothic City or even outside the Free Zone anymore. It looked a lot like DeeCee.

"So the portal was stable, but the exit point wasn't?" He started walking then, avoiding eyes that had been watching him as he ran.

"Darion Gray." A voice came out of an alleyway nearby. "Stop, but don’t look."

"Who are you?"

"A friend. Someone who knows what has happened to you, and someone who can help slightly."

"But why help me?"

"Because you would do the same for me." He stood with his back to the alley, trusting that the stranger would not kill him, or couldn't, at least not permanently.

"You have many days ahead of you Darion, you must plan for the future. Return to the portal and find your destiny."

"Why do you keep calling me Darion, my name's..."

"Because you are not that man anymore." The voice interrupted, "Because your condition is similar to that of a 19th century story. That and it sounds mysterious."

"Okay, but I still don’t understand why."

"Someday you will, and on that day all will make sense in your life, all the hardships, and the pain, all of it. You should be prepared for anything, a deck can be stacked, but occasionally a wildcard slips into the game."

"What game, what are you talking about?"

"The game of life."

He turned around and looked into the alleyway, but it was empty. He had the feeling that his life had just gotten more complicated.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

He started the journey back to NeoGothic City it would take many days, maybe even weeks but he would do what he had to find his destiny...

TBC in Part 1c on Friday!!

Saturday Super Stories - Skulduggery 110 part 1a

This week I will attempting something different, the next chapter will be three days this week instead of just Saturday, so theory suggests a post from the Super U for the next six days.

"Malefactor, Reprobate, Charlatan, Neerdowell, or Gentlemen Thief, names associated with villainy.  I pull from the universe tales of Larceny and Legerdemain focusing on the evil that fills the world."  The Nameless.

Skulduggery 110 Part 1a - The Saga's for Darion Gray

Chapter 1 (Returner)

A wind blew.

A dog barked.

Litter blew across the streets of Old Neutron City, kicking up some dust and the stench of decay. It had been some time since he had had a good meal, real warm food, cooked by a professional chef, not scrounged from a debris bin after hours. He rolled over and pulled the newspapers closer to his body to keep warm.

Morning...

The morning traffic roared past him, the common folk of Old Neutron City ignorant to his pain and suffering. He smiled at the occasional passerby and begged for some spare coin, then moved on to a different locale.

He walked through the back alleyways and scouted for a place to sleep later, and some discarded scraps. He came around a corner and that was when he saw it, a fresh apple just sitting there atop a waste bin. He stalked closer to it, creeping, slower, slower, than he was on it, reaching for it, his fingers touched the skin, and a hand closed around his.

He felt the pressure than heard the snap as cartilage and bone was destroyed. "Excuse me I do believe that is mine." He forced his head up to look into the face of his captor, who grinned.

"My name is GT, let’s be friends."

* * * * * * * * * *

Months later...

He adjusted his suit, checked his tie, put on his cufflinks, and put on his dress jacket. He looked in the mirror one last time, and smiled. He had come a long way since the alleys, and he owed all of it to GT. He had taken him from the streets and helped him regain his prestige, helped him rebuild his fortune, aided him in forming his new company, and had become his best friend.

The banquet tonight was to be held in his honor, and he really had to go. He called for his car, and took the private elevator to the bottom floor. He met the car at the front, and rode the way in silence. He arrived at the party fashionably late, but no one greeted him at the door, everyone was inside watching the Vids. He watched over their shoulders at the news just coming in. 

"...the new President elect has just been assassinated. We repeat Dun..."

He shrugged, and went into the building’s interior. 'Serves the bastard right, a Dragon can’t run this country...'

* * * * * * * * * *

The reading of the Will was a blow to the world. The balance of power had shifted and it seemed the Dragon had one upped the planet. His company, only a few months old was swept out from underneath him, and his assets were all gone, once again he was penniless. He walked into the night to see where it may take him. Weeks later he found himself in NeoGothic City; it was time to rebuild...

Chapter 2 (Dragons)

He arrived in NeoGothic City with little difficulty, skirting the patrols, and maneuvering into the Dragon run city. He was a vagrant and most passed him by just as they had when he was in Old Neutron City. He soon found a place where he could squat and set up shop.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Months later...

He stumbled out of the alleyway and hit the pavement hard, a black truck slid to a stop just inches from his head. The driver got out bitching and grabbed his soiled shirt. He pulled him up hard and held him at arm’s length. His nose scrunched from the smell, "I ought to kill you for almost dinging my ride, why don't you fly off little dirt, get out of my sight."

"GT?!?"

"What did you just call me?"

"GT, my old friend, I’ve been looking all over for you."

"I’m not GT, the names Jason, and I’m new here. You've got me mistaken for someone else, let me buy you some coffee.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Some time later...

"Hmmm, what you've said is interesting. It is possible that I have a double, they say everyone does somewhere in the world. It’s possible that you met mine. You know you’re not a bad guy for being a stinky vagrant. Let me help you get on your feet." He dug in his pockets and pulled out a small capsule. "You just press the button and stand back, but not indoors." He thanked the man and left with his gift.

He pressed the button and the capsule vibrated and got heavy, so he dropped it on the ground, gas and steam began to erupt from the sides, and soon a cloud filled the street, when the cloud cleared the truck that had almost hit him sat on the street before him. He smiled, he could sell it, maybe get a good price for it, and it looked vintage, then he saw what was in the back, a robot.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The dragon looked down on its servant, shocked slightly at the news that was just given to it. A new type of android had hit the markets, an assassin droid that were all designated YG class, had recently influxes into the market. Some of the other Mega Corporations had taken to using these instead of blackrunners to do their dirty work. He demanded that the creator of these monstrosities be brought before him.

So he was brought before the great Voidwalker, ruler of the Free Zones of NeoGothic City. The great Dragon lay stretched out before him, its massive belly prone, almost inviting deceit. As soon as he was in position he began to growl and spoke. The augment at his side began translating...

"You have been brought before me, for crimes against nature. Your machines are deemed offensive to the nature of the world. You will stop their production and order a recall on all the models that have been sold prior to this meeting."

He interrupted the Dragon, anger filled his voice. "I will do no such thing. I’m tired of you Dragons telling the common people what to do, because of your kind I have had to rebuild my company three times, this will not pass. My androids comply with all governmental standards and are completely legal in every way; they are classified as Bodyguards not assassins, what the consumer does with them after the purchase is not my problem!"

Voidwalker flipped over and reared onto his hind legs, he took a deep breath and roared, the death smell on his breath made him stagger back, and the wind knocked him down. In broken common, Voidwalker began to scream.

"IF I DEEM ANYTHING THAT YOU MORTALS CREATE UNWORTHY, THAN YOU WILL COMPLY, WITHIN THESE WALLS MY WORD IS LAW, DO YOU STILL DISOBEY MY ORDERS?"

"Yes, I do."

"SO BE IT." The magical energy that was released was catastrophic; the flash of power and light filled the NeoGothic City sky. When the sky cleared, things had been changed in the room. He stood there wondering what had just happened, the augment had excused itself, and Voidwalker had taken his human shape, a tall white haired human male.

"You are now cursed, forever to roam the universe until I deem you worthy of death." He looked down at himself, he didn’t look any different, and he didn’t feel any different.

"What have you done to me?"

"I have changed you."

"But...how, what did you do to me?"

"Someday you will figure it out. Perhaps now you will treat your elders with some respect" Then Voidwalker was gone, and he was left alone.

TBC in Part 1b on Wednesday 

Stand Alone 9

Sapphire sighed. She had been doing that way too much these days. “That didn’t tell me anything. I have no context for that meeting.” 

Zoe spoke up at her side. “Perhaps you asked the wrong question?” 

Sapphire shot her a dirty look. “I am being given free reign over The Knowledge, and when I was with the Archivist I was given specific ‘visions’, and those led me to other specific trains of thought. So now I see a catalyst moment in time without context, and I’m supposed to try and gain some kind of epiphany from it?” She frowned at Zoe and then threw herself to the ground and sat crossed legged. 

“I have no idea what to ask next." She thought for a while, and at last something emerged from the edge of her memory. "…Everyone has a boss...”

Stand Alone 9 - Authoritative Action

“Everyone has a boss.” He spoke to his minions beneath him.

“Even you, sire?” One of them asked.

Nearby, Darion leaned forward to regard the minion with wonder. They hadn’t been designed to question, and this was an enormous oddity. 

He smiled at it. “Everyone, even one such as I, has someone that they must answer to. But I am very near the top of our chain of command, and that is something that I have worked very hard to achieve.”

His lieutenants, Darion and Kristoff, walked over to his side. “I am their boss, and you answer to them. Someday you might gain enough status to have your own henchmen to command and so on and so forth.”

The minion smiled, “I hope so, sire! I truly hope so.” He beamed at the masters and their lord. 

Kristoff leaned forward and held out a palm, and the orbs within incinerated the small being. “The cattle shouldn’t speak or think for themselves.” Darion snickered as he flickered in and out of phase-space. 

“I am sorry, my lord, if I acted out of place.” Kristoff bowed.

“Do not be hasty, Kristoff. You eliminated a potential threat to your command... but I do feel that it might prove interesting to watch over.” He snapped his fingers and the total obliteration of the minion was reversed, and the being began screaming as soon as it was whole again. Kristoff shot his lord a look, who merely shrugged. 

He stepped forward and laid a hand on its head and it quieted down. “Little one, you have proven to be a curiosity, and so I have decided to give you a chance at life... a chance to survive against all odds.” The being smiled at its lord.

“Thank you, sire. I will try my best.”

The lord smiled at it and snapped his fingers again and the being vanished. Kristoff cocked an eyebrow. “You will keep an eye on it for me, Kristoff. Do not interfere with it at all, or you will be punished severely.” Kristoff frowned. “Keep me informed on Project Genesis.”

TBC in Religion 108