In case you've forgotten.
"Me? Why would it...?"
Agent Stone shook her head and put up a hand to stop my questions. "I don't know. And it wasn't you personally it asked for. At least not at first. It wants to speak to all the Spellcasters. Anyone that can bend, it wants to have a visit with."
"...and?" I said, "Have you contacted other spellcasters? Do you intend to grant this ..thing's wish? Because, frankly, it sounds like a trap. Gathering all of us together like that is just asking for trouble. Especially since it was planted by a Fuman. I..."
Before I could continue I was interrupted by the sound of an engine outside revving to life and tires squealing, along with the lights inside flickering, and Aesop making an angry yowl from inside the bedroom. I noticed that Agent Sticks was missing, and had been for a while. I dashed into the bedroom and found the man holding Aesop gruffly as he squirmed in his arms, attempting to get away.
"Put hi..."
This morning was turning into one in which I was unable to complete a sentence, as I was interrupted again, this time by the sudden emergence of the sedan through my bedroom wall smashing into me, Agent Stone, and Aesop.
Showing posts with label spELlcaster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spELlcaster. Show all posts
Monday, September 08, 2008
Sunday, August 31, 2008
spELlcaster Part 4
"A seed? ...Like a child?" I was thoroughly confused. Fumans had left things behind before - vehicles, documents (largely indecipherable, although there were large groups of people attempting even to this day), weapons (oh, and the US military had had a field day with those), and various knick-knacks that presumably meant something in the year 748,282 AD [which is where we had determined they were traveling from], but had those of us still in the 21st century were only frustrating puzzle pieces. But they'd never left behind anything living.
Thus far the time travelers modus operandi had been to appear - generally outside some sparsely populated town - and then take things. Or people. Or animals. ...and then vanish again.
Sometimes they stuck around for a while, taking in the sights, and grabbing various souvenirs, but none of them had been in our time for longer than three days at a time. And the last one had appeared over a year back, when it had been believed that we had stopped them. "We" being us spellcasters, of course.
Because the Fumans were impervious to everything that the various world militaries had thrown at them. For the most part, conventional weaponary was ignored by the future humans. Occasionally they'd strike back, as if they were annoyed by an insect buzzing at them.
They had also largely ignored any attempts at communication - probably because they couldn't understand us. Or were choosing to. Lord knows we couldn't understand them.
The only thing that got through to them - in any way - was bending. We could hurt them with bending, we could stop them from moving, we could stop their weapons from destroying things, we could even send them back, and plug up their time traveling capabilities. Or so we had thought.
"No, not a child," Stone told me. "A plant. A ...well, a ..carrot. Sort of." She touched a few buttons on her handheld device and turned it to show me a photo. I saw a large glass aquarium, approximately 7 feet tall, filled with soil and a gigantic orange monstrosity. It was triangular and wrinkled and did somewhat resemble a carrot. But it also had a face. A human face.
I wrinkled my face in disgust. "Almost enough to make one swear off being a vegetarian," I joked, handing Stone her computer back.
"Yeah," she said, "Well, it gets odder. Two days ago, the carrot spoke. And it asked to see you."
Thus far the time travelers modus operandi had been to appear - generally outside some sparsely populated town - and then take things. Or people. Or animals. ...and then vanish again.
Sometimes they stuck around for a while, taking in the sights, and grabbing various souvenirs, but none of them had been in our time for longer than three days at a time. And the last one had appeared over a year back, when it had been believed that we had stopped them. "We" being us spellcasters, of course.
Because the Fumans were impervious to everything that the various world militaries had thrown at them. For the most part, conventional weaponary was ignored by the future humans. Occasionally they'd strike back, as if they were annoyed by an insect buzzing at them.
They had also largely ignored any attempts at communication - probably because they couldn't understand us. Or were choosing to. Lord knows we couldn't understand them.
The only thing that got through to them - in any way - was bending. We could hurt them with bending, we could stop them from moving, we could stop their weapons from destroying things, we could even send them back, and plug up their time traveling capabilities. Or so we had thought.
"No, not a child," Stone told me. "A plant. A ...well, a ..carrot. Sort of." She touched a few buttons on her handheld device and turned it to show me a photo. I saw a large glass aquarium, approximately 7 feet tall, filled with soil and a gigantic orange monstrosity. It was triangular and wrinkled and did somewhat resemble a carrot. But it also had a face. A human face.
I wrinkled my face in disgust. "Almost enough to make one swear off being a vegetarian," I joked, handing Stone her computer back.
"Yeah," she said, "Well, it gets odder. Two days ago, the carrot spoke. And it asked to see you."
spELlcaster Part 3
I led the two agents into my living room, mentioning them toward the couch, while I headed toward the kitchen. "Either of you care for something to drink? I've got bottled water, or I can put on some tea or coffee."
Stone, sitting on the couch, shook her head. "I'd rather just get to business, if that's okay with you, El."
Sticks was still walking around the living room, investigating my bookshelf, looking at the artwork on my walls, taking it all in. The stress of having these two intruders in my home was building. Especially given my history with their organization. If they truly needed my help, they could've been much more personable, and at least attempted to put me at ease.
I ground my teeth and opened the fridge, grabbing myself a bottle of Aquafina and making my way back into the living room. I stood, leaning against the wall, facing Stone. I took a sip of the water and said, "So. How'd you guys find me?"
Stone raised an eyebrow slightly. "I thought that would've been obvious. The RDA is able to track all spellcasters. Of course, having several in our employ is helpful, as well."
Now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "I didn't think that the RDA was still using spellcasters. After the president was turned into a dinosaur during..."
Stone cut me off, "Yes, that was an unfortunate misfire."
"Well, bending can be unstable," I said. "Which is part of the reason I've stopped."
The two agents shared a look at each other. Sticks spoke up, "You are still able to bend?"
Offended, I said, "Of course I can! I just choose not to. It does take a toll on us, you know. There are many reasons why bending shouldn't be done. Least of which is the accidental transformations of political figures. When we spellcasters bend, we are fucking with reality. Playing God isn't something that should be done on a consistent basis."
Stone cleared her throat, stopping my tirade. "Well, you may change your tune when you see what we have to show you."
"Yeah," I said, "you mentioned that the Fumans have returned."
"It appears so," Stone said, "two weeks ago, one was spotted outside of Wiluna, Australia."
Despite not wanting to get reinvolved, my interest was piqued. "Did it take anyone? I don't remember hearing about this on the news."
"We kept it away from the media," Stone responded, "but, no, this time it didn't take anybody. It left something. In fact, it was a seed."
Stone, sitting on the couch, shook her head. "I'd rather just get to business, if that's okay with you, El."
Sticks was still walking around the living room, investigating my bookshelf, looking at the artwork on my walls, taking it all in. The stress of having these two intruders in my home was building. Especially given my history with their organization. If they truly needed my help, they could've been much more personable, and at least attempted to put me at ease.
I ground my teeth and opened the fridge, grabbing myself a bottle of Aquafina and making my way back into the living room. I stood, leaning against the wall, facing Stone. I took a sip of the water and said, "So. How'd you guys find me?"
Stone raised an eyebrow slightly. "I thought that would've been obvious. The RDA is able to track all spellcasters. Of course, having several in our employ is helpful, as well."
Now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "I didn't think that the RDA was still using spellcasters. After the president was turned into a dinosaur during..."
Stone cut me off, "Yes, that was an unfortunate misfire."
"Well, bending can be unstable," I said. "Which is part of the reason I've stopped."
The two agents shared a look at each other. Sticks spoke up, "You are still able to bend?"
Offended, I said, "Of course I can! I just choose not to. It does take a toll on us, you know. There are many reasons why bending shouldn't be done. Least of which is the accidental transformations of political figures. When we spellcasters bend, we are fucking with reality. Playing God isn't something that should be done on a consistent basis."
Stone cleared her throat, stopping my tirade. "Well, you may change your tune when you see what we have to show you."
"Yeah," I said, "you mentioned that the Fumans have returned."
"It appears so," Stone said, "two weeks ago, one was spotted outside of Wiluna, Australia."
Despite not wanting to get reinvolved, my interest was piqued. "Did it take anyone? I don't remember hearing about this on the news."
"We kept it away from the media," Stone responded, "but, no, this time it didn't take anybody. It left something. In fact, it was a seed."
spELlcaster Part 2
My mind began racing.
Fumans? The RDA? Needing my help? ...no. Nonononono.
I opened the door.
Agent Stone and her partner stood there stoically. Agent Stone flashed her credentials, her partner did the same - he was identified as Agent Sticks. Oh, the RDA, always with the jokes. Sticks and Stone? The message was clear to me - they could break my bones. Names, of course, despite what the children's rhyme promised, could hurt you. If you were a spellcaster, like myself, knowing names could hurt a LOT of people.
"May we come inside, El?" Agent Sticks asked. I could sense his vision scanning the room behind me, no doubt trying to locate the elusive Aesop.
It bothers me that I considered bending to get out of there. The desire was so strong. The past eight months had not been easy for me. Bending is, according to some, a vital part of who I am. Imagine trying not to breathe for eight months, or not to blink. Fortunately, I do not buy into that particular philosophy. I was proof that spellcasters do not have to be benders. And now, the government was here to ask me to break my streak, to bend again.
Okay, that was unfair. They hadn't asked me anything yet. But Stone had mentioned Fumans, and the only way they'd been defeated previously had been through bending, so it stood to reason that that's what they'd expect of me. It wasn't like I had any other skills to battle time travelers with, after all.
"Do I have a choice?" I responded to Sticks' inquiry about entering my abode, as I opened the door and allowed the Reality Defense Agency back into my life.
Fumans? The RDA? Needing my help? ...no. Nonononono.
I opened the door.
Agent Stone and her partner stood there stoically. Agent Stone flashed her credentials, her partner did the same - he was identified as Agent Sticks. Oh, the RDA, always with the jokes. Sticks and Stone? The message was clear to me - they could break my bones. Names, of course, despite what the children's rhyme promised, could hurt you. If you were a spellcaster, like myself, knowing names could hurt a LOT of people.
"May we come inside, El?" Agent Sticks asked. I could sense his vision scanning the room behind me, no doubt trying to locate the elusive Aesop.
It bothers me that I considered bending to get out of there. The desire was so strong. The past eight months had not been easy for me. Bending is, according to some, a vital part of who I am. Imagine trying not to breathe for eight months, or not to blink. Fortunately, I do not buy into that particular philosophy. I was proof that spellcasters do not have to be benders. And now, the government was here to ask me to break my streak, to bend again.
Okay, that was unfair. They hadn't asked me anything yet. But Stone had mentioned Fumans, and the only way they'd been defeated previously had been through bending, so it stood to reason that that's what they'd expect of me. It wasn't like I had any other skills to battle time travelers with, after all.
"Do I have a choice?" I responded to Sticks' inquiry about entering my abode, as I opened the door and allowed the Reality Defense Agency back into my life.
spELlcaster Part 1
Aesop woke me, making an alarming racket that nearly caused me to involuntarily bend. I didn't, of course, even after gaining my senses and realizing what Aesop's incessant noise meant, because I'm done bending. Have been for eight months, ever since I acquired Aesop and went into hiding.
But now. Aesop's constant siren song could only mean one thing.
They'd found me. Or, rather, us. Aesop was just as wanted as I was, if not more so.
I picked Aesop up, and stroked his back several times, causing him to turn off his alarm mode, and he began to purr. He flicked his tail, and the computer screen to my left blinked to life. A GPS style map of the area around my apartment was displayed. A man and a woman were getting out of a black government issued sedan and heading toward the door.
Aesop looked at me, the question of What now unspoken, but certainly requiring an answer. I rubbed Aesop's chin, which shut off the computer, and turned on a few lights in the living room. "Now, Aesop? We see what they know and we do what we always do - improvise."
A knock on the door.
"Showtime."
I put Aesop down and approached the door. "Yes?" I asked, peering through the peephole. I could see the male agent had been the one to knock. The female agent held a handheld computer of some sort. Aesop may be able to manipulate it, but it could take up to 15 minutes before he would be able to. Could I delay them for that long? Would I even have to?
"Is this the residence of --" the male agent began, but was interrupted by the female agent who said, "El, this is Agent Stone with the RDA. We know you are in there. We know you have the cat. You need to let us in so we can speak with you." She paused momentarily, probably swallowing her pride before saying, "We need your help. It looks like the Fumans are back."
But now. Aesop's constant siren song could only mean one thing.
They'd found me. Or, rather, us. Aesop was just as wanted as I was, if not more so.
I picked Aesop up, and stroked his back several times, causing him to turn off his alarm mode, and he began to purr. He flicked his tail, and the computer screen to my left blinked to life. A GPS style map of the area around my apartment was displayed. A man and a woman were getting out of a black government issued sedan and heading toward the door.
Aesop looked at me, the question of What now unspoken, but certainly requiring an answer. I rubbed Aesop's chin, which shut off the computer, and turned on a few lights in the living room. "Now, Aesop? We see what they know and we do what we always do - improvise."
A knock on the door.
"Showtime."
I put Aesop down and approached the door. "Yes?" I asked, peering through the peephole. I could see the male agent had been the one to knock. The female agent held a handheld computer of some sort. Aesop may be able to manipulate it, but it could take up to 15 minutes before he would be able to. Could I delay them for that long? Would I even have to?
"Is this the residence of --" the male agent began, but was interrupted by the female agent who said, "El, this is Agent Stone with the RDA. We know you are in there. We know you have the cat. You need to let us in so we can speak with you." She paused momentarily, probably swallowing her pride before saying, "We need your help. It looks like the Fumans are back."
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